Gluten free bistro and bakery

 The More You Know. 

Required Reading For the uninitiated:

Aloha friends and neighbors, if you haven’t been to Tai Shan Farms before or it's been a while, please take a moment to read through this information so you understand how things work here.  Tai Shan is a small farm and food business owned and run by me, Kevin.  I am a one man show on my farm.  I do the entire business, soup to nuts, all by myself. When you come up to my place, I’m your host, your server, the chef who preps then cooks your food, the busser who cleans the tables, the dishwasher and cashier.  Since I do all the roles at once, I have a process. People are always so nice and feel they need to help me. The best way to help me is to just sit back, relax and let me do the driving. When I’m not cooking dinner I’m also the baker, farmer, mechanic, electrician, dog butler, interior designer, janitor, and carpenter just to name a few of my other duties.

My goal is to offer my friends who visit me a slow food experience in a relaxed homey atmosphere.  If you’re in a hurry or don’t have patience please don’t come to my place. I don’t rush making your food because fast food isn’t good food. My place isn’t for everyone and that’s kinda the point.  I offer a unique dining experience for those who are feeling homesick for the home cooked meal they never had. I serve comfort food, made from scratch, with love, that just happens to be 100% GF.  If you’re Celiac, my place is completely safe for you. I source as much of my ingredients from Hawaii as possible. I use only grass fed butter, olive oil, peanut oil for baking, sautéing, and for deep frying. My menu is also mostly seed oil free. The only items that contain seed oils are the shoestring fries, tots and buns. Nothing I use contains high fructose corn syrup, artificial sweeteners or dyes. The food I make for you is the same food I make for myself, my wife and our friends. If I don’t eat it personally, I don’t serve it to my guests. I offer a couple of vegetarian options but that’s not my focus.  I am not vegan friendly. Generally there is live music on Mondays and Tuesdays.  The musicians are amazing and adds to experience that will leave you feeling better than when you arrived. I feel the music adds to the overall experience and is appropriate. The music can be loud for some people with hearing issues.  Wednesday there is no live music, this is your day if you don't enjoy that sort of thing.  

I am now taking reservations Monday through Wednesday and I recommend calling ahead to book a table.  Nightly walk-ins will be based on available tables. I update the table availability daily. Check the bottom of this thread to find out if I have tables open or not for a given night. I stagger the reservation times, this allows me to control the flow so I can serve everyone in a more timely manner than when it was open seating. Since I’ve made the switch to taking reservations, wait times have been reduced as is my stress. When you choose to come here, you are not going to an ordinary business, you are a guest at my home. 

Logistics and Directions

I am open Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 4 to 7 pm where I offer dine in with a regular menu and a daily special. Take out is available between 4 and 4:30. Every other Friday I host a reservation only pre-fixe 4 course dinner that I call Dinner on the Farm. Check at the bottom to see the dates for Friday night dinners. To make reservations or ask questions call 808-929-9613 between the hours of 8am and 3pm Monday through Friday. If I don’t answer I’m momentarily away from the phone. Don’t leave a message, I check my caller ID log and will return your call when I’m available or wait 10 to 15 minutes and try again. The number listed is a landline and won’t receive text messages. Please understand that when you call the number posted you are calling not just a business but my home. I take weekends off to be with my family and work on my farm or other projects.  Please only call during the posted hours and be mindful of time zones. I only take reservations over the phone.  I rarely check facebook anymore, so I won’t get messages or questions posted there in a timely manner.  

Tai Shan is located on the big island of Hawaii off the main HWY by a few miles in the city of Ocean View. Use Google maps, not Apple. Or better yet turn off your phone and just drive up Lehua Ln, go past Hukilau and you’ll see me on the left as you drive up the hill.  If you drive to Ocean View PKWY, you have gone too far. If you park on the road make sure your vehicle is completely off the pavement.  A tire on the road will cause my neighbors to call the police.  I want to be a good neighbor, so please help me do that by either parking inside the gate or completely off the pavement. The elevation on the farm is 2850' and the space is open air so it can get chilly when the sun goes down, so bring a sweater.  I take cash, cards, including Apple and Google pay or trade.  I prefer cash.  If you're at a small business I encourage y'all to use cash whenever possible.  Small businesses lose revenue for your convenience.  The only ones making out are the credit card processors and the banks when you don't use cash.   Bathrooms involve a field trip as I need to escort you to and from since it is located in my commercial kitchen on the other side of the property.  I try to take a group all at once but locals know to go before or use the farm and go alfresco.

In Conclusion

If you’ve read this far, you are my people.  I try to cover all the basic questions here.  I built my place to be somewhere people take the time to enjoy the moment, meet their neighbors, listen to music, and make new friends. I want to cultivate a calm atmosphere by setting realistic expectations outlined here.  Come over for a home cooked meal made with love.  Leave your phone in the car and bring your sense of adventure, your aloha, and yourself just as you are. A fine dining experience you can enjoy in your work boots.  

Attention! Starting the week of 4/20 I will be taking reservations on all days I’m open.  Walk-in's will be based on the number of booked tables.  I will offer take out between 4 and 4:30.  The schedule will be updated daily.  If you’re coming up without a reservation, check the site before you head up. Small parties of 1-3 people I can usually accommodate without a reservation.  Large groups of 4 or more, please call to make a reservation.

Notice! Due to ongoing shortages from my various vendors some of my regular menu items are becoming hard to come by.  My menu will be changing based on what I'm able to obtain as far as ingredients from my vendors.  

I’m back from vacation and ready to go! I was able to make some updates to the kitchen while I was closed.  I’m looking forward to seeing all my friends and neighbors again!

Weekly Schedule 

Monday May 25th

Open 4-7

Take out pick up between 4-4:30

Reservations Taken - Tables available

No piano with Liz this week, she is on vacation

Special - Pastrami burger: Quarter pound beef patty topped with shaved pastrami, melted swiss cheese, whole grain mustard and mayo.  Comes with your choice of side

Tuesday May 26th

Open 4-7

Take out pick up between 4-4:30

Reservations Taken-Tables available

Tommy will be rocking the house from 5-7 with his special brand of fun. Tommy loves to entertain and have a good time.  This is a unique experience that only Tai Shan provides. I think the volume is appropriate for the space and most people find it enjoyable, but some people with hearing issues do find it can be loud

Special - Mongolian Beef with rice

Wednesday May 6th

Open 4-7

Take out pick up between 4-4:30

Reservations Taken - Tables available

No live music

Chicken Dinner - This should be a Sunday dinner as it’s the ultimate in comfort food.  Two oven roasted chicken thighs, mashed potatoes with homemade gravy, and buttered peas.

Closed Thursday, Saturday and Sunday

No dinner on the farm this week

Dinners On The Farm

Schedule

May 29th Tables available

June 12th Tables available

June 26th Tables available

Dinners on the farm are a 4 course prefix menu that range from $60-80.  There is live music with Tommy. Sometimes when her schedule allows, my wife Esther accompanies Tommy singing her heart out for a truly amazing experience. Dinners usually last between 1.5-2 hours. Please arrive after 5 and no later than 6pm.  Music starts around 5 and goes to about 7.

Call 808-929-9613 between 8am and 3pm Monday through Friday to make reservations.