Cheesecake Factory gets ready to open at Ka Makana Ali`i

A new restaurant, The Cheesecake Factory®, is set to open on Tuesday at Ka Makana Ali`i. This second Hawaii location boasts the largest menu in the entire 194-restaurant chain, including 25 dishes only found in Hawaii.

During a training session before the grand opening, media and local business partners were invited to sample the menu. Although it was lunch, we were treated to the generous dinner-sized portions that the restaurant is known for.

The Fried Calamari ($13.95), Stuffed Mushrooms ($7.95), and New England Clam Chowder (6.95) came out first, and while they were all tasty, my table far and away loved the soup. It’s just the right consistency and flavor – not too thick, not too watery, and perfectly creamy.

Entrees were the Bacon Bacon Cheeseburger ($15.95) and the Almond Crusted Salmon Salad ($17.50) which came off the “Superfoods” menu (rather than the Salads). Both, excellent.

I’m a bacon queen, and three strips were laid out beautifully in an asterisk pattern over the hamburger patty. Heaven. I actually also really like kale, and that’s the greenery in the salmon salad.

The chef sent a Mango Eruption ($15.50) mixed libation to our table, and while I’m not much for alcohol, who am I to turn down a gift? This rum, banana liquor, and tropical juice concoction was as tasty as it was pretty, but since my tolerance is so low, I shared it with a newspaper reporter and a Japanese magazine writer.

Finally, to top off this ultra decadent lunch, I shared a Mango Key Lime Cheesecake, which floats on the tongue like sugar perfection. The famous cheesecake is topped with mango mousse on a vanilla macaroon crust. It was pretty hard to choose from two pages of desserts but I was more than happy with this choice!

Senior PR director Althea Rowe told me that for its second Hawaii restaurant, the eatery hired more than 320 staffers. The Ka Makana Ali`i restaurant has 350 seats, and its menu features more than 250 dishes – some which are not available at the Waikiki location.

Additionally, the Kapolei location will offer brunch until 2 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday, whereas the Waikiki location currently only offers it on Sunday.

Doors open at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, September 19, at Ka Makana Ali`I, 91-5431 Kapolei Parkway.

The Cheesecake Factory
Ka Makana Ali`i
91-5431 Kapolei Pkwy.
Kapolei, HI 96707

Beginning September 19:
Monday – Thursday 11:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Friday 11:30 a.m. to 12:00 a.m.
Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m.
Sunday 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.

More at https://www.thecheesecakefactory.com or www.kamakanaalii.com