Ah, Chinese food-- something so dear to my heart.
I grew up eating many banquet dinners
on the island and in Hong Kong and China.
So my assessment is based on several decades of eating Chinese food.
I've eaten dinner at Legends Seafood Restaurant a few times growing up,
but it has been a while since my last visit as we
typically come for their Hong Kong-style Dim Sum.
Their Seafood Dinner Set ($268 for a table of 10) comes with:
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Items are brought out as its freshly prepared from the kitchen so
not really in any particular order other than for the soup and dessert.
The soup was an all around winner as declared by everyone.
I made sure to take some home to inspire me to re-create it at home later.
It looks like there's Silken Tofu, Egg Whites, Minced Bay Shrimp, Straw Mushrooms,
Vermicelli noodles in a Chicken-based broth with tiny bit of cornstarch.
Lovely and clean on its own or accentuated with a dash of white pepper.
A light and delicate beginning to start the dinner (feast).
not really in any particular order other than for the soup and dessert.
The soup was an all around winner as declared by everyone.
I made sure to take some home to inspire me to re-create it at home later.
It looks like there's Silken Tofu, Egg Whites, Minced Bay Shrimp, Straw Mushrooms,
Vermicelli noodles in a Chicken-based broth with tiny bit of cornstarch.
Lovely and clean on its own or accentuated with a dash of white pepper.
A light and delicate beginning to start the dinner (feast).
DESSERT
Coconut Tapioca & Taro and Red Bean Azuki Soup (both served hot).
For dessert, you can pick between the Tapioca with Taro or Azuki Bean Soup served table-side.
I recall eating their tasty fish-shaped Mango dessert on past visits which looks like a Koi Fish swimming.
Though I presume it's something that needs to be pre-ordered.
Despite it's name, their Seafood Dinner Set is not their fanciest nor priciest.
But for those who enjoys Chinese food but am not hardcore fans of abalone
or sea cucumbers, I think this is a very safe option to appease a variety of taste.
I think their Banquet Dinners are an excellent value especially if you are comparing it with
other Chinese Restaurants in the vicinity or on the island.
Portions are very generous with enough leftovers to take home.
It's quite hard to pick which were my favorite of the night as
dish after dish was expertly cooked and seasoned.
If I had to choose, I would have to say it's between their
Dungeness Crab that was fresh, huge, succulent and full of meat and sweetness
and their Fried Pork Chops with plum sauce;
full of crunch on the outside with super juicy meat inside.
Their Steamed Chicken also easily induced a melt-in-your-mouth feeling.
ROASTED PIGEON
(Squab)
Roasted Baby Pigeons ($18 per order; we opted for 2 orders here).
Roasted Pigeon. Yes, you heard that right.
It's included in their "Aloha Dinner Set ($308)"
but you can order it individually per bird ($18 each which was what I did
and I requested it when I made the reservation weeks before).
Don't ask where it's from, just eat it.
Though I'm pretty sure these are farm raised Baby Pigeons.
It tastes similar to Peking Duck but with super tender meat and less fat.
Very flavorful with the crispy roasted skin and a sprinkle of seasoned salt.
Even those in our party who was initially unsure of the idea
gave it a try and was surprised at how delicious it was.
The service was very attentive up until they got super busy (understandable).
While they enforced a 15% automatic gratuity to the final bill,
I felt their service warrants that and more as our server
kept changing out our plates and re-plating each course half-way
to make sure there's room on the table
for the new dishes that came out.
Overall, I would say Legend's Seafood Restaurant serves up
one of the best Chinese (Cantonese) Food in Oahu.
BONUS PHOTOS
Lobster E-Mein from another visit-- Market Price. Though for that specific day it was ~ $40 (Chinese New Years). Finger bowl (to wash your hands) included whenever you order a Lobster or Crab dish.
I was told that lobster dishes are available after 11am.
I found this out when we tried to order this for breakfast once.
I like that the restaurant brings out the fresh Lobster or Crab to show you before they cook it.
 Just like in Asia, there's fancy chandelier, but the ambiance can get loud when the restaurant is packed. | NOTES
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Legends Seafood RestaurantChinatown Cultural Plaza First Floor 100 North Beretania Street Honolulu, HI 96817 RESERVATIONS 808.532.1868 MON-FRI 10:30am-2pm (Dim Sum) 5:30pm-9pm WEDNESDAYS- CLOSED SAT-SUN 8am-2pm 5:30pm-9pm Holiday Hours may be in effect. Please call and check with the restaurant. | PARKING available inside Chinatown Cultural Plaza (Maunakea Parking Lot)
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Ala Carte Menu | Banquet Menu ($238-$428 before tax) | Dim Sum Menu
+ 15% automatic gratuity for set dinners (though for Dim Sum, it's sometimes not enforced but
there's a card on the table meant for international travelers as a recommended tipping guide).
If you prefer a more up-scale and laid-back Chinese dining experience,
I also highly recommend Kirin Chinese Restaurant (my review).
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