MUD HEN WATER
Delicious Contemporary Local Cuisine
Mud Hen Water is a restaurant in Kaimuki that serves breakfast, lunch, dinner, and Sunday brunch in a space exuding care and aloha.
It is a gastronomic tour de force helmed by Ed Kenney, an O‘ahu-born chef passionate about sustainable cuisine.
"Ed Kenney studied business at the University of Colorado Boulder and worked in commercial real estate development, then backpacked across the world before deciding he really wanted to feed people at his own restaurant. He gave himself 10 years to learn to cook, attending the Kapi‘olani Community College culinary school and working in spots around Honolulu.”
Mud Hen Water, Kenney’s third restaurant venture, opened in 2015 and consistently garners rave reviews from Honolulu Magazine, Eater, Tasting Table, The Infatuation, AFAR, Hawaii Business Magazine, and many more.
Mud Hen Water offers bar seating, table seating, and outdoor dining options. Their tagline is “a Hawaiian sense of plate.”
The restaurant's name is not only unique but also deeply symbolic. It is a direct translation from the road it resides on, Waialae Avenue. In Hawaiian, wai translates to water and alae to mud hen. According to Hawaiian legend, a fresh water spring in the area used to be frequented by people and mud hens.
For Kenney, this name held profound significance, as he hoped his restaurant would be seen as a communal gathering spot, a modern-day watering hole.
Did you know? Malia Obama interned at Mud Hen Water during the summer of 2017!
The restaurant’s decor exudes a charm that's both warmly rustic and elegantly contemporary. Recycled wood furnishings set against a backdrop of a bright, spacious dining room, and a patio decorated with vibrant murals, make it evident that the eatery places as much emphasis on ambiance as it does on its culinary delights.
Fried chicken (from J. Ludovico farm) with limu salsa verde
Mapo rice cakes with pork (from 2 Lady Farmers), tofu, black bean and chile
The menu at Mud Hen Water embodies Kenney’s dedication to 'aina-based cuisine (food of the land), crafting dishes that encourage communal dining and encapsulate the island's distinctive flavors. It also tips its hat to Hawaii’s rich multicultural tapestry and global influences.
Here, tradition meets innovation, yielding dishes that delight while still being approachable and promoting food, culture, and sustainability.
The next time you find yourself near Kaimuki, head to Mud Hen Water for a culinary experience that marries tradition and innovation to create very tasty eats!