It’s hard to explain the food at Liholiho Yacht Club in one sentence, so we’ll use this one instead: Get here, now. Hawaiian, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean influences color the punchy, in-your-face dishes at this Lower Nob Hill spot—silky shaved pig’s head slices are served with a zippy frisee and asian pear salad, and ribeye is charred and topped with a nose-clearing mustard and black sesame sauce. Digging into a spread while surrounded by a buzzing open kitchen, a massive mural of the chef’s mom, and desserts with birthday sparklers is always a good time.

Inspired but not defined by the chef's native Hawaii, Ravi Kapur's lively restaurant is known for big-hearted, high-spirited cooking. It offers contemporary riffs on staples like poke and Spam, as well as squid served with crispy tripe and manila clams in coconut curry. The dining room and front bar area are perpetually packed, and are dominated by an enormous photo of a beaming woman who happens to be none other than the chef's mother.

Hawaiian food is pretty prevalent in San Francisco these days, but nowhere does it with more creativity and flair than Liholiho. The trick, perhaps, is that Liholiho doesn’t serve only typical Hawaiian fare, but rather dishes that also take inspiration from Chinese, Indian and Californian food. Yes, there’s Spam, but it’s house-made and served with kimchi fried rice, a smoked egg yolk, tamari, and clamshell mushrooms.

Still a tough reservation to get, Liholiho Yacht Club is San Francisco’s take on Hawaiian paradise. It’s soul food, using local ingredients via the Hawaiian Islands, and somehow it just works. The space buzzes around its open kitchen and is tended by servers who seem genuinely happy.

There’s no happier place to eat in the city than this imaginative shout-out to Hawaii from Ravi Kapur, a native of the 50th state. From his screaming-yellow open kitchen in the center of the airy dining room, the guy with the sky-high Afro sends out eye-catchers and palate-pleasers such as beef tongue with kimchi in pillowy steamed buns, fried game hen in tamari glaze with flowering kale, and Baked Hawaii (with roasted pineapple ice cream beneath the swirl of toasted meringue).

Liholiho Yacht Club offers some of the most exciting private dining opportunities in San Francisco. Take the whole family (or 8-14 members) to the Ohana Table to have a shared family-style feast, featuring tuna poke, duck liver mousse, fried game hen, and more. Or book out the Gen Gen Room for 10-18 and enjoy a myriad of appetizers, one entree per guest (Ling Cod with a shrimp crust, Lyc Spamm with hurricane rice, or sweet and sour fried game hen), and two delectable desserts.

Reservations book out a month in advance at Oahu-native and James Beard Best Chef finalist Ravi Kapur’s Liholiho Yacht Club. Luckily for last-minute planners and those who might be short on time, bar seats are easier to come by (especially before 6 p.m. on weeknights and 5 p.m. on weekends). Order like a local and ask for the off-menu spam, made in-house and served over furikake rice, or tuck into popular appetizers like tuna poke or beef tongue steamed buns.

Hawaiian-born Ravi Kapur named the restaurant Liholiho Yacht Club to honor his uncle’s beach pop-up on Maui that had great local food, music, and fun with Ohana — which means “family” in Hawaiian. Here you’ll find one-of-a-kind dishes like fat rice noodles with bacon, cabbage, fermented black bean sauce, and the delectables coconut turmeric fried chicken with fermented cabbage salt. The drinks are all winners, but our money is on the Okinawan Sour.

For some of the most fun, adventurous food (Hawaiian inspired cuisine) on this list, check out Liholiho Yacht Club. This is a San Francisco favorite located in the Tenderloin from acclaimed Chef Ravi Kapur. Their food is wonderful, the setting is lively and I have never taken anyone here who didn’t fall in love with the cuisine, the great service, and the killer scene.

Good vibes and delectable flavors make Liholiho Yacht Club a great place to indulge on dishes such as whole fried fish and Korean-style short ribs, as well as strong libations like the Pink Flamingos (a mixture of potato vodka, hibiscus, pomegranate lychee, kumquat, and lime that's clarified with coconut milk before served over crushed ice).

Nightcap: Loló, 974 Valencia St., MissionKapur’s preferred spots are small businesses in the Mission, where he lives and works. Because of its diverse crowd and “dynamic” cocktail menu, he gravitates toward Mexican restaurant Loló, where it’s “always welcoming, always a vibe.” He typically orders a mezcal margarita.

The playful back and forth between Golovin and his father about the restaurant’s name reflects the spirit of the new project from Golovin, who is executive chef, and partners chef Ravi Kapur (Liholiho Yacht Club, Louie’s Gen Gen Room) and Jeff Hanak (Nopa, Liholiho Yacht Club, Louie’s Gen Gen Room).

Liholiho Yacht Club is a welcoming spot in San Francisco that draws on Hawaiian heritage in a fun and relaxed way. Co-founded by Ravi Kapur and Jeff Hanak, it offers a wide range of dishes alongside a solid bar and wine program. The comfortable setting is perfect for sharing plates with friends.

Chef Ravi Kapur celebrates his Hawaiian roots at this lively Lower Nob Hill eatery. Delectable dishes – served family-style in portions designed for sharing – include whole Maine lobster with preserved black bean sauce and twice-cooked pork belly with pineapple, Thai basil and fennel.

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account. A post shared by Liholiho Yacht Club Restaurant (@liholihoyachtclub). To check out a new trendy SF restaurant, I’d recommend Liholiho Yacht Club, which offers what they call “heritage driven food”.

A post shared by Liholiho Yacht Club Restaurant (@liholihoyachtclub). Liholiho Yacht Club serves up Hawaiian-inspired dishes in a vibrant, upbeat setting. The menu is a mix of small and large plates, designed for sharing, and features bold flavors and fresh ingredients.

Back in Hawaii in the early 80's the Kealoha uncles would race Hobie Cats, and throw "pop up" parties to pay for their supplies. They would go to the beach, fire up the grill, ice down the beer, and get a band to play. They charged a modest price wit...

- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (341 reviews)- Detailed ratings: Food (4.5/5), Service (4.5/5), Value (4.0/5)- Type of cuisine: Asian, Hawaiian- Price: $$ - $$$- Address: 871 Sutter St Cross street: Leavenworth, San Francisco, CA 94109-6168- Read more on Tripadvisor

We spent a remarkably long time trying to figure out how to categorize Liholiho Yacht Club. Hawaiian was our first thought, but chef Ravi Kapur rejects the term, which he reserves as a descriptor for food indigenous to the islands.

While many would mention other notable names like Acquerello, Boulevard, Birdsong, Bon Delire, Chapeau, Fog Harbor Fish House, and Liholiho Yacht Club, it's Benu's innovative approach that consistently sets it apart.

Liholiho Yacht Club (Nob Hill): Want a taste of Hawaii in California?. Then head to Liholiho for some Hawaiian inspired dishes from steam buns to a baked Hawaiian. Their cocktails are also amazing!.