After 25 years, Kaka‘ako Kitchen at Ward Centre to close next year

Kaka‘ako Kitchen will be closing early next year, after 25 years serving upscale plate lunches at the entrance to Ward Centre.

The restaurant announced Thursday that its lease is up in March and the owners have chosen not to renew.

Chef and co-owner Russell Siu said he could reopen in another location, possibly under a different name, but those plans are uncertain.

Siu, who also owns 3660 on the Rise in Kaimuki, opened Kaka‘ako Kitchen in 1995. The restaurant is known for its menu of elevated local fare, such as furikake-tempura catfish and an island-style chicken linguine. Bread pudding and lemon bars are favorites among desserts baked in-house.

Co-owner Marcy Uyehara said she and her staff have been informally letting customers know about the plan to close, and that negotiations are underway with a new potential landlord.

Uyehara emphasized that any catering jobs booked for next year would be honored, as they could be fulfilled in the 3660 kitchen if a new location is not found by March.

She also said regulars are being asked to sign the restaurant’s holiday “aloha wall” with their favorite stories of dining at Kaka‘ako Kitchen. “It makes us feel good that we have provided good memories with our food.”