Olive Tree Café

I love Mediterranean food. I’ve eaten at Mary’s Mediterranean Kitchen in 99 ranch, the Fat Greek on Wailae, and Yamas in Kailua. This is the best of the bunch. It is cash only, BYOB and parking is difficult to come by, but the food and service makes up for it. It’s a very busy establishment, but the staff remains friendly and handles it in stride. I do find it strange that you order your food, eat it, and then pay cash at the register after you’ve eaten.
I had hummus, baba ghanoush, and dolma as appetizers. This was all great. The baba ghanoush was pleasantly smokey, and the dolma was actually served warm which was quite a change from most other places. I was less impressed with the schwarma, which I found to be greasy and fairly uninteresting. To be fair, I thought much the same of the schwarma at Yamas. I also had the baklava, which was just about perfect as far as baclava goes. I’d recommend you grab a bottle of white wine and head here early before it gets too crowded.

We’ve been coming here for many years and always have enjoyed the food and though counter service they are always nice and genuine. Always ask for the specials because the lamb shank is superb, the Moussaka is another favorite, but if they have fresh yellow tail they put a quick sear on it and put in the pita bread as a souvlaki with a nice salad, the lamb souvlaki is also tasty, and for a different pita sandwich platter try the shawarma, a grilled lamb burger on pita with a nice sauce that has a little bite to it. Of course the dolmades are excellent as a starter and their eggplant or hummus dips are good. The true taste of greek food can be tasted in the baklava with the hint of the natural rose water they use, it isn’t real unless you taste that with the honey… I expect I will be returning again and again and again etc. And BYOB!!! If you forget and it’s after 6:00pm the wine shop next door makes it real easy…

Olive Tree is a good place if you like Greek food and casual dining. Such a great place for BYOB! I usually order the shaorma sandwich and it’s filling. The hummus is also delicious. They have a wine place next door in case you forget to BYOB. It does get crowded here so the best time for eating here is for an early dinner. Can’t wait to go back! Also, Olive Tree is cash only but the prices are reasonable so $ 20 should be more than enough!

Still great after all these years.
Parking was a bit tight as 3 stalls were cannabalized by construction
Establishment had a steady flow of dine in and take out for. Monday nite
Most tables had a bottle of wine from next door.
Dined on
Souvlaki (for extra $ the lamb is fresh)
Shaorma
Baklava
Ginger beer (non alcoholic)
Will be back when Greek food calls…

I’ve been coming to Olive Tree for years and I have to admit the quality has always been consistent and the food delicious. Hands down the best place to grab Greek food on island!
The restaurant offers a decent selection of Greek entrees and appetizers. My personal favorites include the baba ghanoush (nice and garlicky with good-​quality olive oil), yeagantes (Greek white beans in a spicy tomato sauce), dolmadakia (stuffed grape leaves), the fish souvlaki (perfectly cooked white fish with a tangy and tasty tzatziki sauce), and of course the baklava!
Like many others have written, the outdoor patio and BYOB are a great combination, especially for a romantic date night or a chill evening out with friends. The little wine shop named «Oliver», literally right next door to Olive Tree, has a decent selection of Greek whites as well as ouzo for those so inclined.
My only complaint is that the interior of the restaurant is in desperate need of an expansion or renovation to handle the increased customer volume over the past few years. The current layout and ordering process can be confusing to the uninitiated and is made worse my the many people coming in and out for their takeout orders. It might be a bit annoying to sit inside so definitely try to get one of those coveted outside tables.
Despite that one shortcoming, the food and atmosphere at Olive Tree are great and I highly recommend!

Love the food here and love the low key atmosphere as well. Have to admit I was a little skeptical when my other half suggested we eat at the Olive tree because I had never had Greek food before but I was pleasantly surprised. I definitely will be back!

I give this review based on hardly ever complain or bitch about places I choose to eat, but this one I can’t hold in! I have eaten here many a time and will admit he good is good! But for what ever reason (they are always packed super busy) the customer service lacks something to be desired! More so it’s their policy of ordering that needs improvement or at least clarification!
After waiting in a lone 10 deep and finally getting to the counter, I’m told to hold on, ok, as I’m ready to order there is a little sign faded and old that’s says no credit cards, cash only! Wtf seriously!!! So you could not post that at the front door before k spent 20 minutes in line? Luckily I live right around the corner and rush home, get my wallet (I only had my card). I come back, wait in line again and then place my order. Well turns out the entire reason I chose to come here was based on a dish that never tried yet and looked so good in a photo I saw. Turns out they don’t serve it today, only Wednesday! Wtf! Again! So now I order some souvlaki which I have had each time I’ve ever been here and ask it to go! I offer to pay and they say pay once you pick up!!! Wtf again!!! So I could have ordered and left the first time to get my cash, come back and paid then??? Seriously! So then she tells me it’s going to be 20min to wait but it’s been more like 30min!!! Wow bend me over and screw me again after waiting already!
I think that since they are so busy and packed each and every night they figure what they are doing is good and fine! But too many people in kahala are gullible to socialite wanting to be part of the crowd status! Of the food was not good, I’d boycott this place! Maybe it’s been a long day and employees are to busy to care? But set up the ordering better with signs posted at the front door of your policy with no cards, pay after at time of pick up and that you can expect an30 min wait!!! You think? Hour later and I finally get to eat! Not the way I want to cap off a great day!
I will make a note that maybe many do like to eat here and business is booming so they don’t have to accommodate change for just one person, but I’m a foody and eat many places and know thousands of people so I won’t be recommending here. If the owner would like to contact me and sit with me, I’ll gladly change my review and rating! Being a small business owner myself for over 25 years and that depends on word of mouth I know a bad review stings! But it also opens our eyes and helps us improve! Please take heed and post up your policy clearly and put there well in advance. Don’t assume we are all regulars, or remember the last time we where here to know! Much mahalos and wish you much success!

Let me start with, WOW. Olive Tree Café is an absolutely wonderful restaurant. It is located adjacent to Kahala Mall, near the McDonalds. The actual property has Olive Tree, a new Bakery, wine shop (owned by Olive Tree), Subway and a few offices.
The vibe of the restaurant is low key. They are only open in the evenings so the crowd seems to be the after work and late dinner bunch. It’s a pretty quiet and intimate restaurant so it’s great for a date or more relaxed dinner. It’s also BYOB, which is amazing because you can bring whatever you like best! And of course, the wine shop next door is very convenient.
There lay out has outside seating along with a few indoor tables. It’s first come first serve and can get crowded so be prepared for that.
Okay, now the food. Nothing but 5 out of 5. I have had a few different things on the menu and everything I try keeps getting better! It’s very simple yet delicious greek food. It’s fresh and a lot healthier than many other dinner options. The prices also happen to be fantastic. You can get a dinner for two plus appetizers for about $ 20-​$ 30. Thats a deal!
Make sure that you head to the Olive Tree sooner than later for your next dinner outing!

One of the better Medi places on island but usually packed and service can be spotty. Food is good –limited seating (outside) makes for a mostly weather dependent outing.
Needs more vegan friendly options.

Had a crazy long wait, but food was worth it. Info for first timers… you wait in line to order but they hold your order until you have a table. When you get a table you go back in and tell them. You take your drinks after you order but don’t pay (cash or local check only) until you pick up your food. If you order apps, they call those out first. A little crazy if it’s packed, but if you can be patient the food is pretty terrific. Had Falafel, Shaorma, and Lamb Souvlaki, all which were great.

Olive Tree Café is one of my favorite. Well actually my only favorite Greek restaurant. The atmosphere is very busy but, it’s a relaxing atmosphere. I love the fact that there is a wine shop next door and your able to bring it over to have your wine with your dinner. I love their food it’s very tasty and delicious. I’m not sure how difficult it is took cook n prepare Greek food but, the ones that I have tasted so for this place is my favorite.
Parking can get a little tight if you are coming during their peak time but, street parking and the mall parking is always available. The staff is always amazingly nice and very helpful. You need to bring cash because it’s cash only and you pay after you pick up your dinner.

I don’t understand how inconsiderate people can be when driving or parking. If you’re going to park and leave your car in a place where you aren’t supposed to park to «quickly» pick up something or do something, at the very least, try to park where you are not blocking the way of other cars trying to get through. COME ON! You’re not just blocking me, you’re also blocking the line of other cars behind me. Give me a break! If you’re wondering, the parking here is tight and oddly shaped, so good luck. Apologies for the vent.
After that furstrating event, I hope some good food is on the way. As I entered, I’m wondering if this a sit down restaurant, or a fast food place because there wasn’t any clear directions or were we even greeted but, apparently, you order as if you were in a fast food place. The inside of this place was really small with even smaller tables, but it also has an outdoor seating area as well. It had your typical vine and climbing plants, but nothing else that screamed Greek culture.
Looking through the menu, every item seemed a bit overpriced, and the selections are limited. I ordered the Shaorma at $ 10.51. It is a ground lamb patty with onions and tomato and a tahini sauce in pita bread with a side of salad consisting of lettuce, two cherry tomatoes, a few slices of cucumber, and a couple of onion slices. No feta? Everything looked good and fresh, but man, it appeared way too simple and did not look like a $ 10.51 plate of food. I get it’s lamb, but I’m just getting a patty of ground lamb in a pita bread. The flavors were all right, but I didn’t get any of the sesame taste from the tahini. The lamb was decent, but I didn’t get that gamy taste you typically get. The pita bread wasn’t as warm or as soft as I would have liked, and the pita was thick and dominated the whole shaorma because there wasn’t much lamb and filling. The salad was okay. There was just barely any on the plate.
After finishing the meal, we took our plates to the front. Now, why am I leaving tip for zero waiter service? I paid for the meal because Olive Tree is Cash Only, and my friend suggested to leave tip, but even though I strongly disagreed, I couldn’t say «No» because he is in this business. Oh well. He paid me back, so it’s okay.
Overall, the food was good, but nothing special. It was way too simple and too small portions for that high of a price. I didn’t care for the ambiance or the service, or lack thereof, because it felt like a fast food place.

ANYTHING WITH LAMB
This small restaurant does really well. Always busy and full of locals.
I love their lamb and cooking style.
Simple, light, easy, fresh but flavorful
Coffee
I ordered coffee and it was bad. Just get bottle drink from here if you need to order one. Ginger beer was good.
Customer service
Not so great but busy and not enough worker.
It’s ok I just need to take out my food.
Parking
Limited. Always lots full.

Absolutely the MOST HORRIBLE SERVICE! I“ll never come back and will Never recommend this place due to the service. I don’t come here very often because the parking is limited and there’s usually a long wait for a table however the food is pretty good and I was in the mood for greek.
715pm I placed a Take out order they quoted me ready at 745pm i thought that was pretty long but appreciated that they were upfront from the beginning so i decided to wait it out thinking it would be worth it and I was craving the fish souvlaki. I went next door and purchased a wine to take home and came back at 735pm and waited. At 745pm I went up to the front counter person and gave them my name and they said almost ready…
8pm they call me, I picked up my order and when i double checked it wasn’t my order! They went looking and responded, «Oh sorry your ticket fell on the floor we can start it now» Are you Freaking kidding me I just waited 45min this is totally unacceptable. I’ve worked in the restaurant business and if its a small place like this with 2 cooks and you see a customer waiting for a long period of time you should be concerned and check on her food order. When i went up at 745pm they should have double checked as well.
I was looking forward to a great review and dinner but alas not happening since I didn’t get any Food from here after waiting 45 min for nothing. Never again.

Great place for seeing old friends from kahala you have not seen in years…
Everyone goes hear. It’s not that the food is amazing, it location location location.
Bravo for making this a go to
Place, the food is Arabic style, not as good.
It’s funny how people are so scared now to say Arabic anything,
If you have falafel, shawarma, grape leaves, baba g, baklava… Etc.
Your serving Arabic food…
Accept this! Lol

My all time favorite Greek food restaurant. Keep in mind that I live in Ewa Beach, it is a very long tiring drive just to go here but it’s worth it! The location is perfect, it’s a small restaurant but the ambience is quite relaxing. You know what’s so convenient? The fact that the restaurant is located right next to a shop that sells wine and all types of Greek foods. You can just walk next door to purchase alcohol and you’re all set!
I do urge you to start off with the pita bread and hummus! The best pita and hummus I have ever tasted thus far!
Thumbs up to the exceptional customer service as well! Keep up the amazing job!

It’s a solid four star review! After watching Mission Impossible we trekked over to Kahala to wait about a half hour for the Café to open. There is seating outside with small café tables under the traditional blue awning.
Promptly at 5:00 the doors opened with ten people already waiting. There is a limited menu with two specials changing each day. No need of the specials we ordered:
Avgo Lemono Soup — a bowl of pure heaven, half puréed-​half semi solid full bodied with a light lemon flavor. This is my favorite soup from a Greek restaurant in San Jose and I am happy that I’ve found a place in 808 to enjoy it again.
Baba Guanoush with pita bread — yummy, silky, flavorful. Wonderful serving with a divot in each mound filled with olive oil. I will order this whenever it’s on the menu and it’s a must try here.
Mussel ceviche — I would eat a double order of this for a meal another time. Cleaned, ice cold mussels. Not a traditional ceviche but it is topped with an olive oil, lemon, caper sauce that is outstanding.
Tabbouleh — heathy serving, great fresh fresh fresh and the dressing was light, flavorful and matched perfectly.
Greek Salad — one of the best Greek Salads I have ever tasted. The feta cheese was whisked into the dressing which gave it an interesting consistency. Very good.
Fresh fish Souvlaki — today the fresh catch was Opah and it was grilled, served in pita. Split three ways, it was fantastic, fresh, flavorful.
New Zealand Lamb Souvlaki — I am a lamb fanatic, this did not disappoint, again split three ways.
To top it all off… Baklava! Officially awesome.
Seems like a ton of food however we did not take anything home. The servings are not huge or pricy so you can order plates and share as we did. Lien went next door to Oliver’s Liquor, specializing in Greek fare and picked up some pistachio Halva to enjoy with the bottle of Prosecco she brought for dinner.
As if it couldn’t get better… it’s bring your own bottle, BYOB. If you forget or didn’t know, Oliver’s opens next door at 5:00 too. Thank you Lien for a great choice for dinner, the bottle of Prosecco and the beautiful Ravel roses! Will be back soon.

I really like this place, the food is really good, and it’s in a cool non touristy part of town.
But, I had to bring it down to three stars because;
They don’t serve any alcohol
They don’t take credit cards
And, the seating is limited, and «first come first serve».

Olive Tree could only be better if there was a statue of a male greek god in the middle of the plaza and wine flowing from marble fountains.
Their falafel is to-​die-​for, their pita is fluffy yet flavorful and their vegetables are crisp and fresh!
I would highly recommend a date night here (with friends or love interests) very soon, You should prepare for your night by getting a nice bottle of wine or a couple of craft beers (yes, I am an alcohol snob!) and bringing a sweater, as it can get chilly on the patio. (Sitting on the patio is part of the experience!)
If you forgot to BYOB, there is a charming little wine and beer shop next door to Olive Tree.
Start by ordering at the counter… the hummus and pita or any of their unique salads (which you can view in the glass case) make a great starter. There isn’t a wide variety of entrees but all are flavorful and delicious. My boyfriend loves the chicken dish and I crave the falafel. Each comes with a small greek salad. Their greek salad is excellent and the large portion is enough for a table to share. The food comes out next to the register and then you pay– BRING CASH!
This is a great spot on island… enjoy your time here :)

What better place to go to for my cheat meal than to Olive Tree? First of all, bring cash! Unless you’re one of the few that carries a check book around… They don’t accept credit or debit cards. But if you’re there and realize you forgot your cash and check, luckily there are ATMs in the area you can briskly walk to before your food is finished. They don’t take payment up front. You pay when you get your last order.
The menu is short, but that just means that their items are quality. And it sure is quality! I usually order their chicken souvlaki. So tender and flavorful. Flavor and juices just burst in your mouth with every bite.
Also, they are BYOB! If you forget your bottle of wine or beer, not to worry! They’ve got a wine shop next door. How convenient, huh?
This place is tucked away next to Kahala Mall. Don’t drive too fast or you’ll miss the driveway to turn in!
And lastly, the service: excellent. So fast and SO friendly.
Enjoy!

I love Olive Tree Café!
Customer service is top notch, the food is so awesome… great prices for great food and portion size.
I personally could not finish my dish but then again I am a super light eater. I had a «Shaorma» — Which is a spicy ground lamb patty with tomato & onion, served with tatini sauce.
I normally do not enjoy spicy foods but this was really good. Again, did not get to eat it all and saved the remainder for the next day but it was tasty!
I want to try their greek salad with feta cheese. Sounds great right about now…
Possibly to return this weekend for a salad!
This little place can get really crowded fast so there may be a little wait for seating.

Every once awhile I get a craving for Greek food and last night was one of those times! I almost always get the souvlaki platter which meant the lamb arrived in a pita all sauced up and ready to eat. Ordering the platter also meant I was deserving of a small side salad (lucky me!) that comes with a tasty dressing that I liked. Although the menu is limited overall, my vegetarian friend was still pleased with her order. Since it took roughly 20 minutes before our platters were ready, it proved advantageous that one of my friends ordered hummus and pita bread to nibble on while we waited. BYOB if you feel like having beer or wine with dinner. You also have the option of eating indoors (with the a/​c going of course) or outdoors on their patio.
Parking lot is a little small but manageable. If you arrive at dinner rush hour, be prepared to stand until a table opens up for your party. I hope the menu becomes more extensive at some point. I will be back next time my Greek food craving hits!

This place is AMAZEBALLS. Oh man. SO many vegan/​vegetarian options– I’m in LOVE. The falafel, oh the falafel…
Here’s what you need to get: Falafel platter, Tabouleh, Dolmadakia, Hummus, Baba ghanoush. All for you! Just kidding, you can share. I guess. I wouldn’t.
Mmmmmm, I just thought about the food in my head and I started drooling. That’s how good this place is. You just need to go.
But first, limited parking. There are only a handful amount of parking spots right on the lot but it’s usually packed. If you can’t find street parking and McDonald’s is also full, there’s garage parking right across the street for free. The restaurant is BYOB with a cheap glass fee so bring a bottle of wine or some beer! And of course, limited seating and very crowded. Maybe one day they will expand. But until then, I promise you, the food is totally worth waiting for.

I can’t believe I haven’t written a review for this place yet. This is by far, one of my favorite restaurants on the island. There are so many reasons to be turned off by it (limited parking, limited seating, extremely loud, crowded, always long lines, cash only) BUT its one of those restaurants where the negatives in some way add to the total ambiance and vibe – great ambiance and great vibes. Complicated I know, but once you come you’ll understand.
Above all, excellent food quality! Everything is served fresh, they always have new and different special items on the menu. If they haven’t sold out yet, all specials are a must. Every special we’ve tried thus far have been amazing. Otherwise, I’d highly recommend the following:
Toubouleh salad: so fresh, crisp, clean, strong herbs. The best part is the dressing that always comes on the side.
Hummus or baba ganoush: delicious! I want to believe its all homemade but I’m not entirely sure. Either way, they taste homemade and come with toasted pita bread.
Souvlaki lamb: pita pocket with grilled or roasted lamb and the white Greek yogurt sauce – yum!
Baklava: oh this dessert is so good here and unlike anything you’ll try on the island. It’s extremely sweet but airy and fun to eat.
Byob: another plus! If you forgot your own bottle of wine, they conveniently have a wine store next door.

I love this place but it’s always busy! Which is a great sign but I’ve drove away many nights because the line is to long and no seats. Got there close to 6pm tonight and there was 1 table outside left must of been waiting for me and my friend! This is BYOB and also has a place that carries a good selection of wine and spirits next store! I always get the caviare, it’s delicious. The mussels are great too. Slovakia is great, tonight we share a fish and the lamb. Really fresh ingredients and just a nice atmosphere to have a great meal. Love all the Greek dinnerware. This is always a great spot for Greek food.