One of the most recognized national restaurant chains in Hawaii, the California Pizza Kitchen has become a fixture in many local shopping centers. From Pearlridge Shopping Center to Kahala Mall, CPK offers local residents a wide sampling of different pizza dishes, in addition to its other menu items.
The one major drawback to people who might want to give CPK a try is the restaurant’s “no reservation” policy. CPK garners such a large customer base that even without accepting reservations, the restaurant is still usually packed to near capacity. My suggestion would be to avoid CPK at peak dining hours. But, if you can’t, lines usually run about 15-20 minutes for a table from my experience.
Upon entering the restaurant we were greeted very kindly by the hostess. Since we had come during an odd hour of the day, there was seating available immediately. The hostess was kind enough to accommodate my request for a booth. After being seated our server stopped by and asked us for any drink orders. CPK offers a menu of alcoholic beverages throughout the day encompassing everything from wines to margaritas. I sometimes partake in the alcoholic selections, but today I opted for something a little more refreshing for a hot day.
Peach Lemonade, $2.99
I really do enjoy a great lemonade, and CPK’s various flavored lemonades does not disappoint. I usually favor the Peach Lemonade, as the subtle peach flavor helps to offset the sour lemonade taste. The drink itself is refreshing in both taste and appearance, making it a perfect summer-time drink.
Spinach & Artichoke Dip, $9.99
One of CPK’s big claims to fame is its Spinach & Artichoke dip. This cheesy concoction is one of CPK’s most popular dishes, and with good reason. The dip itself is served steaming hot with white and blue tortilla chips. It’s a wonder how anyone decided to throw spinach leaves and artichoke hearts into combination of melted cheeses, but whether by design or by sheer outlandish discovery, the combo works! The dip features a strong medley of all three primary flavors, which marries perfectly with the saltiness of a tortilla chip. The only downside to our order today was that the white tortilla chips provided were a bit stale, but otherwise a great appetizer.
CPK Cobb Salad (full order), $12.99
Not in the mood for anything very heavy, I elected to go with an indulgent salad. The CPK Cobb Salad is really no different from what you’d expect in a traditional version of the dish. I had ordered my salad without beets and mixed with blue cheese dressing. The real star in this salad are the bits of bacon and Gorgonzola cheese, which offer a salty and sharp taste to the palate. Complimented by the fresh flavors of tomato, avocado, and cilantro, the entire ensemble of ingredients comes together very well. There’s a reason why the Cobb salad is a mainstay in salad recipes, and CPK does a fine job in replicating this simply delicious salad.
Wild Mushroom Pizza w/ Chicken, $13.49
CPK’s Wild Mushroom Pizza features a variety of different mushrooms, including cremini, shiitake, portobello and white mushrooms. The mushrooms are sliced and rest on a bed of fontina and mozzarella cheeses with a wild mushroom pesto, all topped off with Italian parsley. The medley of mushrooms come together well, creating a rather interesting taste to the pizza. I was a bit disappointed with the flavor of the pesto sauce, as I had expected it to be a bit stronger to compliment the relatively weak taste of the mushrooms and mild cheeses. The lack of real punch from the pesto makes this a very mild pizza.
CPK offers two different doughs with their pizza menu. All pizzas are served by default on their standard dough, which is similar to most common pizzas. By request you can have your pizza made on a “honey wheat” dough, which works well with certain pizzas on the menu. Ask your server what they’d recommend if you are unsure!
Final thoughts: I have frequented California Pizza Kitchen over the years, and regardless of location CPK has offered a consistently good dining experience. Although lacking in real punch or dishes that “wow” you, the menu offered at CPK is very well designed and competent. CPK offers a variety of great dishes from their salads to pastas, and definitely would require multiple visits to sample their menu fully. Service and atmosphere have always been excellent at CPK. The only real downside to CPK is that at times it does suffer from the pitfalls of being a large chain restaurant, with some specific things falling through the cracks (like today’s stale white tortilla chips).
| Service: |   |
Above Average |
| Food: |  |
Average + |
| Atmosphere: | |
Above Average |
| Overall Value: | |
Above Average |
*Star ratings are based in comparison to similar establishments
California Pizza Kitchen Ala Moana
145 Ala Moana Blvd Honolulu, HI 96813 in the Ho’okipa Terrace
Phone: 808.941.7715
Tags: Hawaii Food, Hawaii Food Review, California Pizza Kitchen review, Ala Moana, Ho’okipa Terrace
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