Uncle’s Fish Market Bar & Grill — which was located at Pier 38 for about 14 years before closing in 2020 — is still open at Pearlridge Center (Wai Makai side, with the theaters).
The eatery is now under new ownership, and its menu has been updated. Regular customers don’t need to worry, though — many of the signature dishes are still there, but feature more of a gourmet twist.
Chef/owner Chad Yang says he bought the business last year, but has been gradually restructuring the kitchen and making updates to the menu. Yang previously led operations for Chef Mavro restaurant and Morimoto Waikīkī.
“I kept the names [of the dishes] the same, but [featured] new techniques,” he explains. “For example, the garlic ‘ahi is a classic here, but I use a traditional beurre blanc.
“The steak (bone-in rib-eye) is new; the Coho salmon is new,” he adds. “I try to rotate fish; one of my fish that I bring in from Japan — the snapper — I order directly from Tsukiji Fish Market. It’s really consistent and the quality is good.”
The menu still features a variety of appetizers, salads, sandwiches, and seafood entrees. The poke tower ($38) continues to be one of the eatery’s signature appetizers. It features a stack of short-grain rice layered with ‘ahi poke, guacamole, ‘ahi tartare, masago, nori and sesame seeds, and is served with housemade corn chips.
The cubes of ‘ahi poke are the highlight of the dish; they’re fresh, flavorful and clean-tasting. We especially enjoy the dish’s proportional rice-to-seafood ratio.
The fish tacos feature your choice of grilled or blackened ‘ahi topped with slaw, Sriracha aioli and crème fraiche in a flour tortilla. The tacos are served with housemade salsa.
The Sriracha aioli results in some lingering heat, but the ‘ahi is perfectly cooked.
The red snapper ($55) is one of the restaurant’s most popular daily specials. It’s blackened and drizzled with beurre blanc, and served with rice and seasonal vegetables.
The fish is flaky, moist and tender, and pairs perfectly with the light-yet-creamy beurre blanc.
If you prefer dining early, check out the eatery’s early bird special, which is available for dine-in form 4 to 6 p.m. (not available on holidays). The early bird special features two course menus — priced at $55 and $68 person — that include a starter (petite house or Caesar salad), choice of main entrée, and dessert. Entrée choices include garlic ‘ahi, fish tacos, garlic cream linguini, shrimp scampi, fresh local fish and chips and more.
“We added it (the early bird special) during the late summer,” Yang says. “(Previously) we did a bar menu, but I didn’t feel anything caught on. We started getting traction from the early bird menu.”
Be sure to check out the featured daily specials, which are listed on the “daily action” section of the menu. Popular options include salmon chazuke, offered on Thursdays, and Kona lobster melt, which is featured on Sundays.
The lobster melt ($38) is a showstopper, featuring about 5 ounces of buttery Maine lobster with tomatoes and melted cheese in a sandwich.
The specials listed under the “if you know, you know” section are available for preorder (customers must pre-order 48 hours in advance).
“Kauaʻi garlic shrimp, gnocchi and steamed whole snapper are all popular — people ask for them,” Yang says.
The eatery also now has an expanded dessert selection, thanks to pastry chef Cherie Pascua, who previously was at d.k Steakhouse and Sansei. While regular menu features sundaes and gelato, daily specials range from haupia cake ($15) and blueberry cheesecake tarts ($15) to lilikoʻi orange white chocolate cups ($15) and coffee crème brulee ($12). Keep an eye out for any featured seasonal specials.
The eatery also features live music from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. every Friday and Saturday.
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CONTACT
Uncle’s Fish Market Bar & Grill
Pearlridge Center
98-1005 Moanalua Rd, ʻAiea
808-275-0063
unclesfmbarandgrill.com
Instagram: @unclesfmbarandgrill
Open daily, 11 a.m.-8 p.m.
Kelli Shiroma Braiotta can be reached at kelli@alohastatedaily.com.
