UMI by Vikram Garg

Simply shocked at the quality, flavor, texture, and service from a hotel restaurant. We’ve tried several options off the breakfast menu during our stay at the Halepuna and they all hit the spot. Favorites include the chia seed parfait, fried rice, and locomoco. Futhermore, the service is quite special from all the staff and I appreciate their kind and sincere demeanor. Overall, UMI is plate-lickin good!

Grateful for a beautiful evening at Umi with family. Incredible food, warm memories, and an honor to meet the renowned Chef Vikram Garg!

Great place - delicious food, stylish vibe, and excellent service. Loved the pancakes and fresh pastries. Highly recommend! 🤍

We went to Umi by Vikram Garg in Waikiki on our first night in Honolulu and had to walk to in to make reservations. What we didn't know was that we would end up having two meals and bottomless champagne and wine thanks to the work of the chef for 3 decades in reimagining Michelin star experiences around the world. His and his wife's nurturing personality and commitment to his art, each guest, and each glass of wine shows in his presence and how much he cares. The service from customizing my Indian meal towards my dietary needs and my husband's Seafood tasting we were both warmed by the chef giving personal attention to our needs and diet restrictions and checking in to make sure we were happy. We even went for brunch next morning to have their delicious masala omelette and french toast with one of the best bottles of champagne. It felt like we were sitting in Italy with the down to earth conversations and very loving and warm vibes that you are likely not going to get anywhere else in Honolulu. We highly recommend meeting the staff, trying the delicious meal tastings, champagnes and having a conversation with them. My personal favorites were the dessert at dinner which I did two rounds of called Umi, a true Hawaiian delicacy done to perfection. I would come back to Honolulu just for that and to meet them. Thank you Chef Garg and Abhilasha and the staff for such a warm welcome to Honolulu.

Amazing Not only did we meet Vikram but we also got a surprise desert for our 30th wedding anniversary Just lovely

After 7 years, I finally returned home to Hawaii and stayed at the Halepuna. For breakfast I ordered the fried rice, took one bite, and was transported back to my youth when my mom made it. I started to cry. I truly felt like I was back home.

We’ve been to UMI several times now, so it warrants a review. The food is absolutely divine, as expected from such a talented Chef and kitchen crew, but what truly sets them apart from the rest is the magnificent service. Every-single-time, without exception, the staff here have been extremely attentive and kind, especially the Manager, Abbie, she makes us feel like family and has such a wonderful glowing attitude that it is contagious and you can tell the staff is happy. I love this restaurant, it’s like a hidden gem in Waikiki.

Booked our stay at Halepuna Waikiki through Amex. Received a complimentary breakfast. 10/10. Delicious food. Great service.

My daughter and I were craving steak and decided to try UMI since we were staying at the hotel. Upon arrival we were told that the chef was substituting the ribeye on the tasting menu. I explained how much I wanted the ribeye and the chef’s wife made it happen. She was lovely and the food was great! We will definitely be back for the French fries the next time we are in Waikiki. Thank you chef!

What an amazing time we had dining at Umi. Abbie went above and beyond for us. Not only by providing amazing customer service she also came to our wedding that we had on the 21st of this month and recorded it for us. She made us feel so welcome and loved the entire 10 days we were in Hawaii. Umi is a place that MUST be experienced while visiting Hawaii. The food is beyond amazing as well as the service. Thank you Abbie and staff for an amazing and unforgettable experience.

Everything we tried--from the cocktail to the sides to the desserts--was a unique and fun and delicious experience. The mushroom-crusted abalone was like nothing I've ever tried. The mango popsicle was heavier and richer than I could have imagined...it was like eating cake. Service was on-point and we felt the prices were totally reasonable for fine dining at this level. We recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for a nice dinner in Waikiki. If you are an adventurous eater or even if you are looking for something more familiar with an elevating twist, you'll surely find something you'll absolutely love and the staff will make sure you do! We look forward to trying breakfast!

We visited UMI by Vikram Garg several times as a family in February and left delighted after every meal. UMI blends comfort with understated elegance—the décor is warm and inviting, making it intimate enough for a family dinner, yet refined enough for a special night out. The service was consistently exceptional: gracious, punctual, and attentive. The sommelier truly elevated our experience with knowledgeable and thoughtful wine pairings that complemented each dish perfectly. We felt genuinely cared for on every visit. The kitchen was outstanding. During our stay, we enjoyed both à la carte selections and the signature tasting menu. Every dish was beautifully plated and a masterclass in both texture and flavor. Our personal highlights included the smoked oysters, scallop, salmon, lobster, and the melt-in-your-mouth koji-aged ribeye. We also had several breakfasts at UMI, and these were just as memorable. The homemade granola and the avocado breakfast were true standouts—beautifully presented and absolutely delicious. It was the perfect way to start the day. The attention to quality, taste, and detail at UMI rivals Michelin-starred restaurants we’ve visited elsewhere, and they demonstrated this dedication every time. We were never disappointed. For Hawaii, UMI offers outstanding value. Dinner tasting menus ranged from around $99–139, which is an excellent price for the level of ingredients, skill, and presentation. UMI by Vikram Garg is a true Waikiki gem. If you are looking for world-class dining, exceptional wine service, or memorable breakfasts, don’t miss this place.

This hotel and restaurant hold a special place in our hearts, and the main reason is the exceptional hospitality of the owner’s wife, who manages the restaurant. She truly goes above and beyond for her guests, and her dedication is one of the standout reasons we’ve chosen to return and make this our favorite place to stay. One memory that perfectly illustrates her kindness and care happened during breakfast one morning. A couple with a fussy newborn was struggling to enjoy their meal, and without hesitation, she stepped in to help. She held their baby for almost an hour, giving the parents a much-needed break, while continuing with her duties. It’s that kind of thoughtfulness and genuine humanity that makes her, and this place, so special. It’s clear she pours her heart into every aspect of running the restaurant, ensuring not only that guests are satisfied but also that her staff feels supported. Even during the busiest times, she handles things with a level of compassion and professionalism that’s hard to come by. I’ve always been impressed with the quality of the food and the efficiency of the waitstaff, but the personal touch she brings is what truly sets this place apart. She’s a manager who cares deeply, not just about logistics, but about making meaningful connections with her guests. I understand that everyone’s experience can differ, and sometimes customers can be very entitled, but for us, she has consistently been a highlight of our stays. If you’re looking for a place with wonderful food, hardworking staff, and someone who genuinely cares about your experience, this is the spot. Highly recommend, and we look forward to returning again!

I very much enjoyed eating here the other day. It was an interesting new experience. As a local, it's nice to try Noma's influence in Hawaii without having to travel so far. I like the value this meal provides compared to other high end course places around Hawaii like Pai's and Miro. However, service can be improved. I very much appreciate my husband being given the cutlery to try the course menu I picked while he had chosen something else. I also very much appreciate having been given a sample of some special wine they had. However, the menu my husband got vs the one I got was different. Also, it was funny how someone dropped the shades and raised it again to change their mind in a matter of seconds. I also love how I'm not being rushed here and how the servers are very calm and affable. Overall, service could tighten up to match the class of the food, but I appreciated it nonetheless.

Very friendly and attentive waitstaff. We did everything a la carte and the prime ribeye was excellent, probably the best I’ve ever had. Was so tender you could cut with a fork (trust me I tried). The owner chef and his wife were extremely friendly, and our servers were two of the best we’ve come in contact with. Overall a great dining experience I’d recommend to everyone!

Outstanding experience and perfect amount of food as well. Everything tasted amazing. Service was also extremely attentive.

Upon entry of the restaurant, we were greeted by one of the owners (they’re a couple). The wife was warm and pleasant. She complimented our bright and vibrant attire and then walked us into the restaurant to identify a seat that best accommodated our needs. We had laptops so needed a larger table than the average for two. It was early in the AM, so the restaurant wasn’t too busy which led her to take a few more minutes to engage us about the menu, make tea suggestions, and tell us about native items curated for the menu. We then received the a la carte menu which had a simple but intentional list of food items. She made suggestions based on our interests such as rice if you’re going to be out touring for the day and want something substantive to hold you over (thoughtful) or sweet vs. savory. Our waiters were attentive, welcomed us back from the day before, and ensured we were well accommodated. The food was incredible. I ordered the Umi Fried Rice (without shrimp) and an espresso martini. The beverage was not on the menu, but they were happy to accommodate me. It was incredible. I also had the earl grey loose leaf tea with honey. The vibe was calm and intimate. I’ll be honest, I have not had a bad or cocktail here since arriving. They truly channel the spirit of Aloha! Mahalo!!

We just arrived at the Halepuna after a long travel day and stopped in at Umi which was in the lobby of the hotel for an early dinner (6pm). I wish I had the foresight to get everyone’s names. Because the service was outstanding. From the hostess who we believe is chef’s wife, to the sommelier, to the waiter, everyone was so attentive. The wine list is stellar. I started with a glass of Lallier champagne followed by the sommelier recommended old world Pinot Noir (wonderful recommendation). My husband had an espresso martini that was mixed exactly to his liking (no Baileys so not overly sweet) followed by a glass of Caymus. I wasn’t too hungry so I opted for the scallop and risotto appetizer as my entree (chefs kiss). It was the perfect size and the scallop was cooked perfectly. My husband had the 16oz rib eye cooked a perfect medium. We added the forbidden rice side because it’s one of our favorite rices and we rarely find it on a restaurant menu. I helped him tackle the steak and really enjoyed the tempura okra and marinated mushroom that accompanied the steak. The steak was seasoned just right. And we would have polished it off but we wanted to save room for dessert. And I’m so glad we did! For dessert, I had the pavlova, a yummy meringue on a bed of creme englais filled with a tart passionfruit sorbet topped with whip cream and lilikoi pearls. It was a delicious balance of sweet and tart. My husband had the ice cream Sunday with chocolate fudge and toffee bits. We both agreed it was the perfect ending to an absolutely wonderful dinner experience. If you’re looking for a fine dining experience in the heart of Waikiki, please try Umi out.

​We made it a point to sample the entire breakfast menu during our stay at the Halepuna, and the kitchen did not disappoint. Every dish was beautifully executed. The Croque Madame and Avocado Tartine were standouts for the adults. The French Toast and Mai Tai pancakes were a hit with our less adventurous kids. Highly recommended for families looking for a high quality breakfast where everyone leaves happy.

I don’t write reviews unless I feel really moved to do so and Lee and Damien deserve to be talked about! Thank you for the over the top service and making the experience amazing. Food 10/10 for my appetizers: cold smoked oysters and the beef tartare, as well as my wagyu cheek for dinner. Will be back and recommending to everyone!

Been eating breakfast here during our stay. I look forward to trying a new breakfast item and starting my day right. I have tremendously enjoyed each dish & hard to say which one is my favorite! The yogurt parfait with chia seeds & blueberry compote is delicious and has the right amount of sweetness. The yogurt is rich & creamy. My mom has gotten the french toast 3 times and absolutely loves it! She said it is the best she has ever had & is already miss eating it! The frech toast has a buttery crisp texture on the outside and is soft & pillowy on the inside. It's not overly sweet and has the right amount of syrup. The caramelized banana goes well with the French toast and gives it a harmonious level of flavor. The avocado toast, loco moco, mai tai pancakes, croque madam, fried rice, rosa omelet & shasuka are all very wonderful! I have tried all the dishes and have not been disappointed. Each dish is carefully and lovingly created & presented. You can tell the chef puts his heart & soul into each dish & plating. The soft boiled egg is cooked perfectly. Has just the right jamminess. Pancakes are fluffy. I can go on and on. The ingredients used are of high quality & freshness. The staff are wonderful & work very hard. I would highly recommend eating here & you should give it a try. It's an elevated dining experience.

I ate at UMI for three days during my stay at the Halepuna. I ordered the Masala Omelette twice, as it was an excellent old fashion American dish with a dash of Indian spices cooked to perfection. I highly recommend that you request the hot sauce, which is made in house. Also the Operating Partner is lovely and gives high level service to guests.

Every morning we started with a different unbelievably great breakfast. The hotel Halepuna Waikīkī by Halekulani included breakfast as part of the room package. I am leaving Hawaii with the thought of how could I stay at any other hotel given the breakfast prepared by a great chef and his wife from their restaurant UMI. This is not a hotel buffet, the dining experience was terrific.

We went to UMI as apart of our included breakfast at staying at Halepuna. Amazed is an under statement! The breakfast selections is a course meal with options. It’s so flavorful and amazing! If you like hot sauce request their secret hot sauce it’s to dieeee for! The servers were amazing - although you don’t have to tip we are from the east coast and know what it’s like so we left something for them each time because we just had such an awesome experience! Attentive and kind ! The views in the morning are relaxing and calming! Highly reccomend - we did not go for dinner so this is just a breakfast which starts @ 7 am review but folks in the hotel did say it’s so good! Keep in mind it is pricey!

Quite a neat restaurant in hotel halepuna by halepuna . Good food and comfy settings.

Ordered Curry tasting menu. The rice was from Hokkaido Japanese rice. I preferred a good Basmati rice to the curry I had. Curry was thick and sweet. Japanese rice is sweet side, so Basmati would have been a good balance that’s only my preference. Kale salad was interesting. Good Tamarind dressing. I didn’t care for the fried battered onion and bean powder mixture. It had no taste but added soggy texture to the salad. I would have preferred something crispy as a texture. Great service. Nice interior. Comfortable yes, Food is normal not surprisingly great for the price they charge. Tourist, Hotel price maybe. Maybe breakfast is better? I am not sure this is a place I’d go back right away for a dinner.

Unique dishes.. very small portions.. Plaint Walls without arts. Peaceful Quite no background music. Get to meet Chef Vikram Garg. Very nice!

The atmosphere was welcoming & lovely. For a Friday evening it was not busy; a 2-top, 4-top during the time we were there. We were a party of 24 with a set starters served family style, a choice of entree, and all desserts from the menu placed so 4 or so could share. Plating and presentation was excellent. The winning entree was the steak-cooked to order, flavorful and tender. Everyone who ordered it was not disappointed. I had the salmon. It was well done & flavorful. I didn’t understand or like the asparagus & whatever else was on the plate. Flavors odd to my palate. Worst service ever! I asked for ice with my water at least 4 times and didn’t get it until the gentleman next to me got the waithelp’s attention. I asked for coffee and that’s all I got. No offer of sugar or cream. Service was very dismissive. Will I go back? Not ever! Would I recommend it? Not likely. I won’t badmouth the restaurant but if asked I will be truthful about my experience.

Ended up getting the UMI prix fixe tasting menu for $139. Started off strong with great scallops and very tender abalone for starters. Wine pairing was close to perfect and the servers were nice and very attentive. The prime rib eye steak is where it all went downhill. Overcooked and dry. It was the worst cut of meat I’ve ever had at a restaurant before. I politely let the waiter know, and he brushed it off as if they get complaints like this all the time. Didn’t even offer to re-fire. Would expect way more for the price. Will not be coming back.

I rarely leave reviews, but our experience here was so bad, it warrants documenting. For context, I was a guest at this hotel for 6 nights with my family, totally party size of 8. The food was good, and the service from the waitstaff was also good. However the owner’s wife, “the manager,” was horrible from the first day. Honestly, she was so bad, that she is the sole reason we wouldn’t stay at this hotel again (since breakfast was included with our room charge, and this restaurant is the only option). We were friendly since our first encounter, but the manager huffed and puffed to any requests from us, further adding tension to our relationship every day. One day, she even berated one of her own staff members for accommodating a change in our group size. (For context she said we couldn’t add people to our table since she and a party of 16 waiting to be seated, but over the course of the next hour, this mysterious 16 person party never appeared) I recognize that staying at the hotel during busy holiday time adds extra pressure to the wait staff and kitchen, but her way of handling our group size was illogical and unnecessarily hostile. She tried to make her kitchen and seating problems our problem. It’s quite bizarre. Avoid this place

Came here for breakfast thinking it would be a place for a great brunch. Well, I was wrong, and I am very disappointed, from service to food. I've had better places and food for brunch. I should've just went to orchids for this price with more choices of food. Ugh, I hate getting bad food or service. Waitress did not even bother to check in on us. First of, we waited thirty minutes for our food to arrive. It's breakfast food for crissake! The bowl of fruit $9 was not fresh at all. Coffee was barely hot and didn't get a refill at that. Pineapple $9 5oz. And you are literally served with tap water. The French toast are three slices of baguette with drench in runny sauce in the bottom of the plate. The Salmon tartine, the toast was burnt and hard to chew, some oil splatter on the plate. There's nothing really special about this smoked salmon. The chicken sausage tasted like something I would buy at a local market. I mean this place is supposedly "sophisticated"? All I can say is, not a place I would recommend for my guests or family. Not worth over $100 dollars for brunch for sure.

Found an eggshell in my LocoMoco bowl. Talked to the server. Got replied with very flippant tone saying “Oh I will talk to my manager”, then “We talked to the chef and will make sure this will not happen again”. Then left like nothing happened. This is a food safety issue! Any restaurant should not act like this when happening! Great disappointment as I love this hotel and had a great experience in 2022. The service in the restaurant are also expected to be high.

Where do I even begin? My experience at Umi by Vikram Garg was terrible. I wish I could rate this place zero stars, but unfortunately, I had to give it one because of our “helper” Juliette, who was actually great. However, that’s the only positive part of this night. To start, the owner's wife came out and said she was our server for the evening. She was nice, but you could tell she was more of a manager than an actual server. In reality, it was Juliette who served us, which was confusing from the get-go. The restaurant seems set up for either a tasting or à la carte menu, which we were fine with. I ordered the caviar (an expensive side), which was the only thing that was actually delicious. The scallops were the other item we tried, and while they weren’t bad, they were off-balance with a high acidity level. The wait, however, was absolutely ridiculous. After waiting for over an hour and twenty minutes for our second course, we asked for our tab. Another 15 minutes passed before the owner’s wife came to apologize. She didn’t offer to take care of the tab, cover our drinks, or even offer a reasonable solution. Instead, she promised to buy us dinner the next time we visited (which, given that we’re not locals in Hawaii, was laughable). The least she could have done was take care of our meal or drinks that evening, but no—just empty promises. She also mentioned they have another 14-year lease on the business and that, hopefully, next time we visit, they can afford to have more help. Very interesting thing to say to a customer, and it’s probably the reason they didn’t take care of the tab. By the time we gave up and decided to leave, we were still hungry. We had already spent $240 and were starving, so we ended up going to another restaurant. For our 10-year anniversary, this was a complete disaster. Oh, and the abalone was so overcooked it was inedible. I’ve had abalone before, and this was nowhere near the quality I expected. Do yourself a favor and skip this place. The experience was terrible, and I won’t be back. Not worth it, especially for the price.

Coffee is good ☕ Service is okay 😏 Breakfast is horrible. I ordered the Umi interpretation of French Toast 🤣🤣 It was three slices of buttered toast in a skillet with no flavor 😳😳 Halepuna Guests don't actually get a discount no matter how many staff you tell (host or server). I cannot recommend this umi by vik Garg 👎👎👎👎👎

Please be aware that this restaurant charges $50 per person for a reservation that is not cancelled within 48 hours. I find this to be an exorbitant fee and I had reserved a table in the morning the day before the reservation so I didn't even have the opportunity to cancel it within 48 hours. I did cancel it a few hours later, so it was cancelled on the calendar day before our reservation. I didn't just not show up, i was respectful of their seating/business and what I got for that was a ridiculous $100 charge on my credit card for nothing. I even contacted them to say I would certainly be willing to pay a SMALL fee, maybe $25, but that $100 was absolutely ridiculous, but they did not budge. I would suggest never making a reservation at this restaurant because god forbid your plans change unexpectedly. And since reservations are required, I would suggest just not going there because it is not worth the risk.

Place looks nice, but that’s about it. The food was not very good. My wife had the salmon and it did not taste fresh. I had the Branzino was is was meh. It tasted like any other fish I’ve ever had. The portions were tiny. Drinks were astronomical. The service was slow. Took almost 2 hours to get our entree which was 1 hour after appetizers. They asked my son (9) to turn if the iPhone as eating there was an experience. They were right, a horrible experience. The bill for 5 people was over $600. Honestly I felt robbed. They asked my 9 year old son to turn of the iPhone was eating there was an experience. They were right, a horrible experience.

Waiter was clumsy or the type doing too quickly without being cautious. He spilled hot coffee over my son’s arm. Owner came but she was protecting herself and restaurant to defend and insisted the coffee temperature is not as hot as you get burns. The problem was the waiter is not well trained and doesn’t know how to service hot coffee professionally. He should have moved the cup to the center or serve away from the table especially for this type of waiter who is very careless. The owner’s attitude was also not nice as she was more defending themselves than apologizing.

They charge 50$ per person per HOUR to sit and have a breakfast. They will tell you once you are half way through your meal and there is no signage.

I wanted to enjoy this place and experience. I found it fell flat completely. The service was subpar mixing up our courses and my wine glass was empty too long. Overall, the food lacked seasoning. I think the presentation was nice but it doesn’t matter if the food doesn’t deliver. Given the “fine dining” atmosphere and price point, I expected to be wowed. The hot dishes were cold and it was disappointing.

What should have been a great evening celebrating my friends birthday was ruined by the server. She brought lobster to our table and we informed her we didn’t order the lobster. She kept saying that we ordered the dish and we clearly did not. She was rude and disrespectful while she was scoffing at us. She eventually acknowledged that we didn’t order the lobster but refused to apologize for being rude and blaming us. It was another staff member who apologized to us, and she wouldn’t. The food was good, but the service was awful. We definitely will not recommend or return.