Kau Kau

I don't usually write reviews but I think Kau Kau deserves a 5 star!

We had an incredible dining experience at Kau Kau! The food was truly exceptional - unique, flavorful, and expertly prepared. The chicken katsu waffles were a highlight, with a delightful twist from the pink salt-infused butter and sweet mango syrup. The Benedict dish was also a standout, featuring crispy fried taro that added a delightful texture. And don't even get me started on the decadent hula pie!

But what truly made our experience shine was the hospitality of the owner. He went above and beyond to make our family feel welcome and comfortable. When my 5-year-old accidentally threw up in the restaurant (talk about a stressful moment!), the owner was understanding, kind, and accommodating. My little one's verdict? "The food was too good, I ate too much!"

Thank you, Kau Kau for a wonderful experience that we won't soon forget. We can't wait to come back and try more of your creative dishes!

My friends and I came here for brunch. We decided to share everything. I liked their Hawaiian spin of chicken and waffles- mac nut waffle with chicken katsu. The waffle could be crispier though. The hamburger patties for the loco moco were dry. The chicken long rice is a comforting dish, but bland. The Kau Kau benedict with crispy taro cakes was unique. I didn't care for the homemade spam though. I like spam just the way it is.

We also shared two desserts: lilikoi chiffon tartlet and mini hula pie. I was especially looking forward to try the lilikoi dessert, but both desserts were ruined by the rum whipped cream. Everything was well presented, but overall the food was just ok.

A hidden gem! Came here for Saturday brunch around 11:45. Walked in and were greeted by the owner Chris. Most tables were taken. My friend and I were seated at the counter since couple of the tables available were reserved for bigger parties.

Simple menu but decent selections. Everything on the menu sounds good. It was really hard to choose. We ordered Island French Toast and Kau Kau Benedict. French toast was made with taro. It was super big and fluffy! Pineapples were tangy and a bit spicy from the ginger. Whipped cream was interesting since there was rum. Syrup was interesting as well. Not your typical syrup with French toast :). The benedict was so good. I've actually never had benedict before lol. Loved the taro cakes and their house made spam! Definitely tasted better than those canned spam! The eggs were cooked to perfection. Everything on that dish was superb.

Services were awesome. Chris was really nice, friendly and funny. While we were there, it wasn't too packed because of the State Fair that was going on. He made the time to conversate with us. We had good conversations. We talked a lot about different things and topics. We also met the lady boss, Amanda. Our server was really nice and attentive as well. My friend and I really enjoyed our experiences here. Great food and excellent services. Will definitely be back to try other dishes!

Such a fun fun brunch place! Drinks were excellent, service was excellent, the Kau Kau Benedict was BOMB! Our table also tried the Loco Moco, Sliders, and the French toast. Sliders were the highlight besides the Benedict I would say! The sauce on the loco moco was really yummy too. What really made this such a fun brunch was the exceptional service and fun ambiance. Cheaper than a trip to the islands

Enjoyed visiting this spot on a day trip to Sac! The decor inside was beautiful and tropical and elegantly done. The service was prompt, friendly, and relaxed; we never felt rushed or unattended.

Food wise, it was good and a few minor tweaks could make it great. We ordered the Loco Moco and the burger patty was tasty and cooked a perfect medium. Very juicy! The rice, however, was hard and dry. Not sure what happened there, but that was a miss. The gravy had good flavor (very peppery--so children or adults who don't like heat, be warned), but the texture was a bit too starchy. A little more reduced broth and a little less cornstarch would fix that right up.

We also ordered the SPAM musubi which my daughter enjoyed; me, not so much. The huli huli sauce made the rice too wet and separated (probably because the rice was dry and hard to start with) and the seaweed wrapper turned rubbery. I'd suggest maybe ordering the musubi with the sauce on the side for dipping to help keep it together and not overwhelm with too much sweetness.

The butter mochi cake was DELICIOUS and the guava ice cream that came with it was very tasty and not overly sweet. Home run!

I'll definitely return to try out their brunch. Looking forward to that katsu waffle and SPAM benedict!

If not for Yelp (and my fellow Yelpers), there's a really good chance we never would've discovered the wonder that is Kau Kau. Tucked away in the most unexpected of places (a small retail complex filled with antique shops), it's ridiculously easy to miss this place, as you can't even see it from the street regardless if you're walking or driving by. However, IYKYK. And at the risk of too many if you finding out, you really, really should!

Even though their location isn't ideal, it's also positive in some regards. Not only is it relatively easy to get here (it's right off J and Elvis), there's plenty of parking both in the lot and on the street, and there's interesting things to see in the neighboring antique shops, which is great if you should encounter a wait for a table (though, we never have for brunch or dinner). Inside, the look of this place isn't overtly Hawaiian themed, but that's just fine - I think the cute, brunch/afternoon tea vibes suits them better. Both the brunch and dinner menus, on the other hand, are filled with Hawaiian inspirations and favorites - from staples like Loco Moco, Poke Bowls, and Kahlua Pork to more unique dishes like French toast made with Punalu'u taro bread, homemade SPAM sliders and musubi, and Macadamia Nut Waffles with Chicken Katsu.

-- MACADAMIA NUT WAFFLE WITH CHICKEN KATSU Served with Sriracha Mango Syrup...$18
We opted to get this after seeing the group next to us get it and it didn't disappoint! The katsu were fried perfectly (golden on the outside, moist on the inside) and I liked the syrup's sweet and spicy tang. Part of the waffle felt a little soggy under the katsu, but it was still great overall.

-- KAU KAU BENDICT - Crispy Taro Cakes with Griddled Homemade Spam, Poached Eggs, Sesame Miso Hollandaise, and Smoked Salt...$18
I was a little dubious on this one, fearing the taro would be overcooked or dense, but it was so good! The taro cakes were crispy and not all that heavy, the housemade SPAM tasted like a less salty version of the real thing, and the hollandaise was both unique and delicious!

-- LILIKOI CHIFFON TARTLET - Sweet Pastry Tart Filled with Airy Passionfruit Filling and Topped with Rum Whipped Cream...$7
In simple terms, this tasted as good as it looked. The passionfruit filling was delicious with just a smidge of tartness while the crust had the perfect consistency. Also, both the filling and the whipped cream weren't cloyingly sweet either (though, I didn't eat much of the latter).

-- KAHLUA PORK SLIDERS - Three Toasted Hawaiian Rolls with Slow Roasted Shredded Pork, Huli Huli Sauce, and Vegan Pineapple Slaw...$12
More solid than spectacular, but still pretty good. While I liked that the pork wasn't super salty, I do wish it was a bit more peppery. Also, it sucks that the buns got a little soggy towards the end, but I loved the pineapple slaw, even despite how wet it was.

-- LOCO MOCO - Two Housemade Ground Burger Patties, Two Easy Eggs, Homemade Brown Gravy, and Green Onions over Two Scoops of Rice...$20
Our first server mentioned this might be more of a dinner option and I can see why. Between the beefy patties and rich gravy, this would've made for a heavy, albeit tasty, brunch. The patties were juicy and well seasoned while the gravy was super flavorful.

-- GARLIC SHRIMP - Crispy Shrimp with Garlic Scampi Sauce, Two Scoops of Rice, and Choice of Mac Salad or Vegan Pineapple Slaw...$22
The ones I've had in Hawaii are better, but this is still solid in its own right. I liked the shrimp and slaw, but I do wish that the scampi sauce had been a bit more buttery and garlicky. Also, the brown rice was okay, but would've been better with the heavier Loco Moco than this one.

-- ISLAND FRENCH TOAST - Punalu'u Taro Bread Griddled with Vanilla Custard and Served with Pineapple-Ginger Compote, Rum Whipped Cream, and Mango Syrup...$15
This was as awesome as I hoped it would be. The taro bread had a nice crust yet had a soft, gummy-ish center and I loved the custard's creaminess. The compote was a little heavy on the ginger, and the syrup was a little sweet, but they complemented each other in moderation with the bread.

-- PORTUGESE SAUSAGE & EGGS - Homemade Linguica Patties with Two Eggs and Two Scoops of Rice...$18
I wasn't sure what to expect, but this wasn't too shabby. The sausages had a slight kick to them and I liked how big they were. However, I do wish they had been slightly juicier/fattier, as they tasted a little too lean and crumbled apart.

While you could make the argument that the food is closer to a four than a five, the service more than validates rounding up from FOUR AND A HALF STARS. From the servers to the co-owner(?) Chris, who works the front of the house like a rockstar, all of them are just really good people. Honestly, every visit has been such a good time that even after visiting several times already, it's not a question as to if I'll be back, but when!

And congrats, now you're in the know, too.

Got the chicken long rice and it was delicious. I ordered take out and it came out promptly, had a nice conversation with chef while waiting and she was extremely nice. Cute little place tucked into a little strip mall of 57 th .

I have been wanting to try this place and I am glad I did. I was greeted by a server and he was so funny and kind! Server was starting a conversation with me and I loved it because service is a big PLUS for me. The food was also super good! I'm not a big fan of this kind of food but I am glad this place has changed my mind. I love this place a lot! Inside isn't to big or small but it's perfect! Also, the mimosas were super good!

First things first the service was hands down phenomenal!!! 10000/10 if nothing else I would come back for that. Zane and Chris were amazing, knowledgeable, and accommodating to all of our questions.

As a person that is not a fan of Hawaiian food I have tasted in the past I came in treading lightly and anticipating disappointing bland food but boy was I surprised.

To start we had the poke sampler and pork sliders
The sliders were so flavorful from the delicate texture of the meat to the pineapple slaw everything was a perfect blend mixture complementing each other.

I'm not a big fan of poke, while I did try some of everything and it was good my friends loved it so give it a try.

For the piece de la resistance aka the Garlic shrimp oh emm geee I ordered it with the sushi rice and macaroni salad. I was so overjoyed with the flavors . The plate was so good!!!

Drinks: We began with a bottle of:

pedroncelli sauvignon blanc
Followed by a Cabernet and finished with the Dows Porto to accompany our dessert.
My favorite was the Port but each bottle had its own.

Overall I enjoyed everything about this place and would recommend. The ambiance is definitely one to return to.

I had a really pleasant evening dinning at Kau Kau. The Nigori sake was too bitter for my liking. I asked for a sweeter sake, which is apparently not available. The poke sampler was great; however, the chips to poke ratio was not well balanced. I enjoyed the spam musubi. Thr Huli Huli chicken was tender and flavorful. However, I was expecting roasted chicken, which is how this dish is typically prepared. I absolutely love the butter mochi, which paired very nicely with the guava ice cream. Best mochi in the Sacramento area. I would like to try their brunch menu during my next visit.