Thirty Eight (38) brings polished fusion plates to Honolulu

The public verdict

Thirty Eight (38) holds a Google rating of 4.6 from 103 reviews, a strong early signal for this Honolulu restaurant. Public feedback points to seafood, Hawaiian influences and Asian fusion served in a polished, contemporary setting. Diners repeatedly notice the presentation, and several describe the flavors, sauces and ingredient quality positively.

The broad impression is promising rather than flawless. Enthusiastic reviewers praise the hospitality, atmosphere and range of food and drinks. More critical diners question whether the portion sizes and overall taste justify the mid-range price point. That split makes Thirty Eight better suited to diners interested in composed plates and a modern restaurant experience than those prioritizing generous servings.

Food and presentation

Presentation is one of the clearest strengths across the available reviews. One diner said everything ordered looked impressive and tasted high quality, while another acknowledged that the restaurant serves a decent number of good dishes even while expressing doubts about value. Sauces and flavor also receive favorable mentions, although the praise is not universal.

Named dishes in the public feedback include salmon, wagyu tataki, calamari katsu and Caesar salad. The salmon appears in a positive account of an enjoyable first visit. Wagyu tataki and calamari katsu were ordered as appetizers by a reviewer who liked aspects of the meal but ultimately found the taste-to-value ratio less convincing than at competing restaurants.

The Caesar salad is the clearest caution. One diner found it dry, bitter and short on dressing. That same review characterized portions as somewhat small, despite finding some of the food flavorful. With only a limited sample of dish-specific comments, the safest approach is to focus on the preparations that align with the restaurant’s seafood and fusion identity.

Service and room

Service reports vary sharply. Several diners describe friendly, attentive care, including water glasses kept full throughout dinner. Another review from the soft-opening phase praised the hospitality and particularly upbeat service. A separate diner, however, reported a rude welcome, a long wait to order and no check-in from the server afterward.

The dining room earns steadier approval. Reviewers mention a pleasant atmosphere, familiar decor from the venue’s previous restaurant and an open kitchen. Those elements give the meal a little more energy without distracting from the plates.

Bar experiences may depend on timing. A soft-opening lunch review found the bar counter closed because no bartender was available, which limited alcoholic drink choices. A later account praised the alcohol selection, and another diner enjoyed a Dock Worker, described in the review as a riff on an old fashioned. Current bar availability is worth confirming when drinks are central to the visit.

Who should try it

Thirty Eight looks best for an early dinner, a date night or a meal where thoughtful presentation matters. The strong aggregate rating supports giving it a try, especially for seafood and Asian-fusion diners. Still, inconsistent hospitality and concerns about portion-to-value balance keep it from being an automatic recommendation. Choosing appetizers and seafood dishes mentioned positively in reviews appears to be the most sensible starting point.