The Cheesecake Factory

We went to Waikiki for the 4th of July weekend.  There are so many places to eat in Waikiki that it was hard to choose where to eat.  We have always wanted to try The Cheesecake Factory, but every time we pass by, it's always crowded and they don't take reservations.  This time we decided to just try it out.  There was no line when we arrived at 5pm.  If you are early eaters like we are, then you should try it out. You won't have to wait in a long line if you go early.

I must say that Cheesecake Factory has a variety of foods for all to enjoy from pasta, to burgers, to fish and seafood, to steaks and chops, salads, and of course desserts.  The ambiance is a little loud, but enjoyable enough to have a conversation and not have to yell.  The restaurant is located on the Diamond Head end of the Royal Hawaiian Center.  Parking is in the Royal Hawaiian Center and is free for the first 3 hours with validation.

Chicken Fingers-Keiki meal

This was my son's dinner.  He just loves his chicken and rice or french fries.  I must say, the chicken was not dry but very moist.  The batter was lightly seasoned with salt and pepper and was not oily.  He enjoyed it very much.

Bang -Bang Chicken & Shrimp

If you like coconut and Thai curry, this is the dish for you. It's not your true flavor of Thai curry but it is decent.  It's not too spicy but there is enough spice and flavors.  There is sauteed vegetables added and a large scoop of rice in the middle.  To top it all off, they add shredded baked coconut all over.  They give generous portions of chicken and shrimp that is not overcooked but just right.                                                  

Chicken Madeira

The Chicken Madeira was actually better than the Bang Bang Chicken and Shrimp.  This is their most popular chicken dish.  It's sauteed chicken breast topped with fresh asparagus and melted mozzarella cheese, fresh mushroom Madeira sauce and served with a healthy portion of mashed potatoes.  The chicken was moist and tender, and the Madeira sauce was flavorful.  The mashed potatoes was creamy yet chunky, just the way i like it.

Caramel Pecan Turtle Cheesecake

My wife tried this dessert.  She loves caramel and pecans.  This is a pecan brownie and caramel-fudge swirl cheesecake, topped with caramel turtle pecans and chocolate.  That dollop of chocolate on top of the cheesecake was very sweet, and you can only eat so much of it.  The combination of pecans and caramel was just right making this dessert not too sweet but just enough to enjoy it.

Reese's Peanut Butter Chocolate Cake Cheesecake

Now, I love peanut butter and chocolate.  When I saw this on the menu I had to try this.  The picture doesn't do any justice but I tried to take it so you could see how big it was.  I figured this cheesecake to be at least 3-4 inches thick.  That on top of the cheesecake is a dollop of peanut butter which was way too sweet to eat...I couldn't eat most of it.  This was a monster of a cheesecake.  There were chucks of Reese's peanut butter cups inside which added a little crunch to the cheesecake.  The chocolate cake is the thick dark layer in the middle which was moist and delish.  Unfortunately, I have to say that the cheesecake got the best of me.  I could not finish it because it was too sweet for me.


The Cheesecake Factory is a good place to eat if you are HUNGRY and love sweet desserts.  The meal portions are BIG and the desserts are just as big and sweet.

I give Cheesecake Factory 4 stars.