Located across Ala Moana Center, hidden gem 430 PKWY opened in December with a cocktail menu and the promise of food menu to come.
Those who prefer snacking on shareable dishes with their drinks no longer need to wait — 430 PKWY’s food menu is now available.
The food menu is served from 5:30 to 10 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturday. Seating is still first-come, first-served, but on a Friday night, we showed up at opening and had no problem getting seats at the bar.
The food menu is on the smaller side, but chances are, you’ll still want everything on it. Some dishes like the tuna brioche — a staple from chef Chris Kajioka, who co-owns 430 PKWY, MIRO Kaimukī and Leila Kaimukī with chef Mourad Lahlou — are immediately recognizable, while others like the black truffle chicken “hot dog” have more intrigue.
If you’re a fan of MIRO Kaimukī, getting the tuna with smoked oyster and tare on brioche ($14) is a must. The signature dish tasted just as good as I remembered — the lightly torched ‘ahi with smoked oyster aioli was perfection, as was the slightly crispy, buttery brioche.
Of the dishes we tried, this was probably the most unique. A crispy Raiz blue corn tortilla came topped with avocado spread, Hokkaido scallops and chili crisps. This dish was all about contrasting textures and flavors — the creamy, fresh scallops against the crunchy tortilla and smooth avocado spread with a dash of spice.
Even if you’re at the lounge with one other person, you probably won’t want to share this dish.
At first glance, the shrimp toast looked like a brownie, but appearances are deceiving. The buttery, square toasts have a savory shrimp filling — and each bite is to die for.
If you had previously dined at Izakaya Agaru — the business’s temporarily closed sister restaurant — you’ll be familiar with this next dish’s flavors. Crab dynamite ($28) features crab with a spicy mayo and unagi mixture, complete with sushi rice on the bottom of a cast iron skillet. It’s served with crispy nori for customers to create their own hand rolls. I loved how the nori was salty in and of itself — perfect for snacking — and its saltiness takes the umami concoction to the next level.
If you want to elevate this dish, you can add uni ($25 more).
While the dishes are small, the bites were indulgent with rich flavors, so we filled up quicker than expected. While the tostada was a standout, the black truffle chicken “hot dog” ($20) and monaka with vanilla ice cream and caviar ($32) — talk about a luxe dessert — are up next on my list.
CONTACT
430 PKWY Cocktail Lounge
430 Pi‘ikoi St., Honolulu
808-490-5492
Instagram: @430_pkwy
Open 5:30 p.m.-midnight Tuesdays-Saturdays
Kelli Shiroma Braiotta can be reached at kelli@alohastatedaily.com.
