Marketplace Café

Confession: I spend a LOT of timing shopping at Nordstrom. And when you shop, you work up an appetite, right? Well thank goodness for the Marketplace Café! This gem is conveniently located on the first floor of Nordstrom, near men’s shoes.
— SERVICE: always excellent, in true Nordstrom fashion. Staff here are so friendly and on top of things. Although the restaurant is semi-​cafeteria style, the waitstaff here are all so attentive!
–FOOD: everything is good, and my husband and I have tried almost the entire menu– no joke. I’ll let you in on my little secret… the kids grilled cheese meal is great deal! I actually order this a lot because you get a grilled cheese sandwich, a cup of tomato soup, fruit, and a fountain drink… all for less than $ 7. My husband and I also usually order a salad to share… our favorites are the ginger panko crusted chicken salad and the cilantro lime chicken salad. But seriously, you can’t go wrong with anything on the menu! Check it out!

Normally during lunch around noon there’s a line out the door to wait to get in. The food is a bit on the pricier side the portions are average but the food tastes great.
They’re quick to make your food when you order take out. When I call during lunch break at work I can just walk over and pay and my food is ready.
There are a few times that they have messed up really badly on my orders, giving me someone else’s food or not giving me the right orders. Once I got no utensils. I’m used to the time frame but at one point I waited 30mins only to find out they didn’t make my food after I paid and called it in. Included the calling time it was about 45mins. I had to get a refund since I needed to get back to work. The person who ring me up asked what was wrong with the food and I said «I don’t know what’s wrong with it because I didn’t get it and I waiting 30mins» I didn’t wanna sound mean to them but they were testing my patience.
Tonight I’m giving 4 stars, even with the mistakes they constantly made… I really like their food and Todd, our server tonight, was absolutely the best. He was on top of everything and my sister and I really had a wonderful time at dinner. Super friendly and happy, accommodating everything we needed.
I was going to give 3 stars but, Todd was so good I had to give 4 stars.

My favorite dining option at Ala Moana shopping center. Marketplace Café provides rather relaxing ambiance away from all the crowds.
The ordering system is kind of funny. First you get in line and get a tray to order your food. If it is something they can give you right away at the counter, then you just pay for it and done. If the item you ordered is from the kitchen, then you get a number and wait for your meal to come at the table. A server will come to your table and serve your meal. It is a semi waiting service.
I love the fact everything on the menu has calorie counts. I have tried tomato basil soup, shrimp tomato angel pasta and mushroom raviolis. Everything is delicious and the prices are not bad for the food and ambiance.

This place is our go-​to and I’m never disappointed. The food is delicious and refreshing and the waitstaff is always nice and perky! They definitely brighten my day and go the extra mile!

Once in a while, my mom and I will visit Nordstrom’s Marketplace Café for lunch. It’s her favorite destination for Plantation Iced Tea. She usually gets a salad of some sort, while I opt for a sandwich.
This Café always has a line, so we try to go close to opening, if possible. Plus, they only let diners in as customers leave, so wait times will vary.
The last time we visited Marketplace Café was during Hawaii Restaurant Week … it was such a good deal! For about $ 25, we both were able to get soup and an entrée! There was a good assortment available, plus, for the price we paid, it was totally worth it! A lot of other diners must have been thinking the same thing, because the line for lunch was longer than usual!
Since it was just my mom and me dining in, it actually didn’t too long for us to be seated. Service is usually pretty good at Marketplace Café. You go through the upscale, cafeteria-​style line, select your tray and your entrée (if you get soup, they’ll give you the cup as you go through the line. Otherwise, they’ll take the order for your entrée on a pad). You can also tell them if you want any add-​ons, like drinks and dessert. Once you pay for your meal, one of the staff will escort you to an open table and take care of your drink orders. Shortly after, your entrée should come out (expect a delay if the café’s really crowded).
Here’s what we ordered during the Hawaii Restaurant Week special:
«Soup du Jour»: I don’t really like the Roma Tomato soup here – even though it’s extremely popular – but to my relief, the «Soup du Jour» of the day was incredible. They were featuring a «Turkey and White Bean Chili» that was fantastic. Chili is often hit or miss for me, since it can sometimes give me an upset stomach, but the Nordstrom one was delightful. I really enjoyed the chunks of turkey and the chili’s savory flavor. Best of all, there was a welcomed kick to the chili, giving it some extra zing and added spice. It was a little too spicy for my mom to handle, so I was more than willing to finish up her cup for her. I hope this soup is thrown into the regular selection of rotations … I would love to order it again sometime!
«Ginger Chicken Salad»: My mom loves this salad because of the panko ginger chicken that’s included. It comes with mixed greens and an assortment of other toppings. This is the most popular salad that the café offers, and it was available during restaurant week. My mom said the taste, flavors and textures are always consistent. This was definitely a good deal for restaurant week!
«Kalua Pork Sandwich»: I didn’t feel like getting a salad, so I opted for one of the sandwiches. There was a great assortment to choose from, but I went for this kalua pork version, since I hadn’t tried it before and I wasn’t sure if it was part of the regular menu. Can I just say that it was love at first bite! The pork was tender, juicy and tasty … broke da mouth goo! I also liked the ciabatta bun that they used; everything tasted fresh and the bun had the right amount of crispiness and flakiness. The sandwich came with fresh-​cut chips, of which I didn’t finish all, but I had to make myself stop at only half a sandwich in order to take the other half home. It was so delicious that it was hard to stop! If this is ever available again, I would definitely order it, no questions asked.
«Chocolate Cupcake»: I was eyeing the dark chocolate cupcake in the display case, and my mom asked me if I wanted to share it for dessert. We normally don’t order dessert from the café, but since our lunches were such a good deal, we decided to get dessert during this visit. I was glad that we tried the cupcake, but it was a tad try and not as chocolaty as I would have expected. The main fault lay with the buttercream … I expected it to give the cupcake more flavor. It was like there was something missing. If the frosting on top was richer or more moist, the cupcake would have been a hit, because the cake in of itself wasn’t bad. Hopefully they come up with other cupcake flavors to try as well! It’s always fun to look at the desserts from here; hopefully I’ll get the chance to try something else during a future visit.

This is my newest favorite place. Sipping on bottomless plantation tea can’t get any better unless a twist of vodka was in the mix. The food is quality in preparation, taste, and presentation!!! In addition, the portions are great.
The comfy setup makes for a pleasant dining experience at any visit. I really like the service as well, it’s very fast and courteous.
My fave… cranberry/​turkey ciabatta, giant snicker doodle cookie and prosciutto /​arugula pizza… AMAZING options guaranteed to satisfy any appetite!!!

The tomato soup here is to die for! So yummy and delicious and a nice treat from a long day of shopping. The crostini is also very delicious to eat with the soup. If you want soup and need something to go with it, order the kids grilled cheese which comes with a grilled cheese on sourdough or whole wheat, a cup of soup, and a cup of fruits. This is a well balanced meal and only $ 6.50.
I also recommend the mushroom ravioli because it is very rich and creamy and very delicious if you want a something on the heavier side. The portion is a little on the smaller size, after you finish the plate you’re sitting there wishing you had one or two more pieces to eat. But definitely a star on their menu.
The ahi nicoise salad is very delicious. I love lots and lots of toppings on my salads and this has it all. And if you’re not a fish person try one of the other ten different salads they offer. You won’t be disappointed.
Hope you enjoy and take a break from all that shopping! (:

Nordstrom Marketplace Café food is great and the service too BUT snobbish patrons are a bit of a pill.
Go with the recommendations not what you normally get, that way you can be sure to enjoy your meal.

This is a very nice getaway from your shopping experience and a decently priced cafeteria style dining.
We tried the mushroom ravioli that was superb, the sauce was nice and thick while still being light.
The spicy shrimp angel hair pasta dish was properly portioned and while it had a nice kick to it the spice wasn’t too much for this dish.
The chefs tomato basil soup was very tasty and thick; you can buy a jar to take home and heat in a pan with some heavy cream.
While we wanted to try the dessert, crème brûlée to be more specific, we will come back for it next time.
Btw, Nordstrom will be moving to the new wing and unclear if the café will also move locations.

«A haven from da shopping madness»
Over the years we have been here for a light meal, a respite from the huddle and bustle of the shopping mall scene. What’s really nice about this place is the consistency. The service is great, the food is delicious, the portions are just right. And the dining setting, somewhat muted lighting with comfortable seating, some of the most comfortable seating for a casual meal in the center. It’s real easy to lose track of time over a nice meal and great company at Marketplace Café– very relaxing. The ambiance for informal dining is one of the best we have been to.
The food has always been consistent. They do it cafeteria style where you get a tray, pick up or order your food (and given a number to place on your table) pay for your order and find a place to sit. The servers come by in a timely manner to offer water or if you have opted for a cold beverage the fountain is right past the cashier area and is self-​serve. You can also get complimentary bread and butter to go with your meal, just ask your server.
In the past we have had their tomato basil soup which is a staple in their line-​up. Rich and creamy, it is delicious and hits the spot especially on a cold day. (Like any day under 70 degrees for us islanders)
On our most recent visit we had the Margarita pizza and the tofu salad mix. The pizza was done just right, a thin crust with just the right amount of cheese, sauce and tomato slices. I’m a sucker for this pizza because triple cheeses and Roma tomatoes make this bruddah a happy camper.
We also really enjoyed the miso tofu salad– organic greens mixed with watercress, tomato, scallions bathed in a sweet miso sauce and served with tofu cubes sprinkled with furukake and topped with fried lotus root for a nice crunch. This salad is a winnah and according to their posted information, only 480 calories. (So you won’t feel guilty when you wolf down da sweets later)
Marketplace Café is a worthy option when considering a bite to eat at Ala Moana Center.

This little café located on the bottom floor of Ala Moana’s Nordstrom, is convenient, fast and delicious. Don’t be fooled by the long lines because it actually moves pretty quickly. The elder man who works up front usually walks down the line to see how many people are in your party. He’s super friendly and it was enlightening when I heard him speaking Chinese to the Asian customers behind me.
When it’s your turn to go in, just like a cafeteria, you grab a food tray. The worker at the first station takes your order for soups, sandwiches, pizzas and entrees. They give you a number tent to place on your table once your food is ready. Salad orders are placed at the next station where they make it right there and serve it to you when it’s ready. And last but not least, any drinks and desserts are ordered at the cash registers. After you pay, a worker escorts you to your reserved table.
I’ve never experienced any bad customer service there, but the lady at the salad station just looked like she hated her job. She wasn’t very friendly to customers and made more engagement with talking stories with her coworker instead of her customers. Other then that, everyone else is really friendly and the food is delicious. Their pizza is a bit oily as I had to damp it with a dry napkin, but it’s still really yummy. And my boyfriend loves their Plantation Ice Tea. Since refills are free, I catch him refilling his glass at least 2−3xs every time we dine here. Pricing is around the $ 12-​$ 18 range.

Nordstrom Café in Honolulu, HI *MISO TOFU SALAD*! Is bombdigitty!
~*MISO TOFU SALAD — I want to give the tofu salad FIVE stars, TEN if I could!!! They don’t have this anywhere except at this location in Hawaii. Mainland will not have it.
So I’m from Hawaii, born and raised, an island girl at heart. Hawaii will always be my home. I visit every summer. My mom wakes me bright and early in the morning to have breakfast and stroll somewhere, at a mall. Sometimes Ala Moana, Kahala Mall, Ward, Windward, etc. Well when we come to Ala Moana, we sometimes drop in Nordstrom. We were afraid at the cost of the food so for a while, we kind of avoided this place until one day we said, what the heck. It’s just ONE time. We can have a real treat! It’s not exactly FAST food here yah know. They have pizzas and pastas, made to order, salads, made right in front of you. I ordered the Margherita pizza and Tofu salad and WOW. Me and mom split it, and the rest is history! It’s become our weekly tradition to come here! Sadly, the locations in the mainland are not the same. Not the same vibes, no tofu salad either. I have to fly back home!
I took off a star because service can be really good one day, and horrible the next. You order your food at the counter and wait for your food. Seat yourself anywhere. Where are the servers?! Do I get my own water? I guess? But sometimes, we sit, and they get it for us. Some days, no one is there and I have to chase the server down for things I want. They do have breakfast but for the price, I’d skip it and have lunch instead. 10am the crowd is still chill but at 11am, gets crazy packed.
No restrooms inside either. You have to leave the restaurant to use the restroom so make sure to use before you go in. I cannot wait til I go back and have more of that tofu salad!
Thanks for reading!!! :)
~*kenzie*~

My husband and I were planning on eating at Mariposa at Neiman Marcus initially, but they weren’t open yet so we decided to check out the Marketplace at Nordstrom instead.
We ordered the shrimp and arugala salad with sweet corn, which was super good. Shrimp tasted fresh and it was grilled perfectly. I also loved the dressing and the parmesan crisps on top of the salad. Yum!
We also got the French dip sammie and turkey cranberry sammie which I thought were okay. Lastly, we ordered the tomato basil soup, which was on the citrusy/​tangy side. I guess I’m used to my tomato soups to be creamy and sweet, so I wasn’t really into this one. I did, however, really enjoy the cheese crostini that was served with the soup.
I do have to say that the service here was really good. Our server was so super sweet and animated, and she had the biggest smile ever. She reminded me of someone working for Disney or at one of the Disney restaurants. She was super smiley which made our experience really nice.
As everyone has stated, the setup here is cafeteria-​like. So you get your trays, order your food, pay, and then seat yourselves at an open table. I wasn’t really into the ambience of the place, as it’s on the ground floor and it feels kind of dark in there. But I guess if you’re just looking for a casual place for a bite to eat, this place is decent.

Tucked away on the ground floor of Nordstrom’s Ala Moana Shopping Center is Marketplace Café. This quaint, nice getaway of a restaurant boasts a nice ambiance, great food, and great service! This is a great casual dining experience away from the large crowds and the noisy and busy food court! Marketplace Café used to be a great secret hideaway in the mall, however, I have noticed through the years people have caught on to the place and it has gotten busier, especially during the peak lunch and dinner hours! I would recommend having an early or late lunch, or early or late dinner! They are especially busy during holidays and weekends!
I have tried most of their dishes and all are delicious! I have never been disappointed!
One of my favorites for a light meal is the blacken salmon Caesar salad! This dish is always prepared to perfection! I don’t know of other places that serve up a salmon Caesar salad like theirs!
On a «heavier» note, I like to order the grilled salmon over sautéed vegetables, or a steak, which include a variety of vegetables from asparagus, artichokes, potato or broccoli. The vegetables will vary from time to time.
The pastas are always creamy and delicious if you are in the mood for pasta as well! Oh, and don’t forget the dessert! :p
I do notice parking stalls in the Ala Moana Shopping Center on the Nordstrom side of the mall tends to be overly crowded or full, so I tend to park in other areas of the mall. But hey, if you’re lucky to find an open stall, congratulations!
Prices of the dishes at The Marketplace Café is considered moderate, very reasonable, and would recommend dining here not just for the great food, but for a beautiful restaurant, ambiance and service! :)

Looking for the best tomato basil soup on the island? This is right place to Go. Their Tomato soup is absolutely delicious, and paired off with a very tasty bread. I always come here just because of the tomato basil soup! Hands down the best ever!
Also, please… I urge you, no I beg you, do try their iced tea! I can’t recall the exact name of the iced tea but it’s absolutely amazing. Refills upon refills, upon refills!
In addition, that mushroom ravioli is amazing! Notice that there are many food I recommend you try at this place because I absolutely love it here! The service and the food is definitely a must try and it will continue to keep returning for more.

Enjoyed lunch here today good place to do a pre or post shop lunch. The cafeteria style is a good break from the ordinary and its good to see the food as you go through. I noticed on the line in they were somewhat strict about how many people were being let in at a time, perhaps there is fire code considerations or just traffic management, either way it was pretty packed and got more packed.
We had the tomato soup and Salmon and it was good. The staff kept our waters full and were helpful scoring us some replacement grindz when our soup bread didn’t come out.

This is one of my number one lunchtime picks! I love Nordstrom’s Marketplace Café or Nordie Café as we like to call it. It is walking distance from work and always has great food and great service. The line to get in can get long but they do their very best to keep the flow of the lunch hour rush going. You order a the counter with an array of yummy selections from light fare of soups, sandwiches or salads, to pasta, pizza or regular meals. Plus desserts! Some items are grab and go and others will be brought to your table. Service is fast and if you decide to add to your meat the staff can place an order for you.
My faves
Plantation Iced tea
Tomato bisque with crustini (wish they would give more than one)
Margherita Pizza
Roast Chicken with Rosted Veggies
My absolute Fave!!!
Ginger Panko crusted chicken salad is amazing! And yes if I get salad I can get a chocolate chip cookie!
Also love the Crème brûlée
They also give a complimentary after meal chocolate mint if you want to be cheap and not buy dessert. But one of those mints although delicious will not satisfy you quite like a cookie would. Just sayin
Ok time to go back to the office but if you can’t find me I’m probably napping under my desk… shhhh don’t tell

The Marketplace Café can be found inside of Nordstrom Ala Moana on the bottom floor. This is the third time that I’ve been here and I love it. The food is on the pricier side but it’s Nordstrom.
I had lunch here yesterday with the hubby. We came when they opened at 11am and the place was nearly empty. By the time we left at noon, the place was packed with a line forming out the door.
The format here is like cafeteria style. You grab a tray, order what you want and pay for it at the cashier. After it’s paid at the cashier, they’ll give you a number that you take to your table. Once the food is ready, they have servers that will bring the food to you. We waited about 15 minutes for our food to arrive. The servers can also take drink orders. The hubby ordered a plantation iced tea, which was awesome. It wasn’t overly sweet and had the right mix of pineapple juice to iced tea. Plus, this place gives free refills. They keep coming around to keep the glasses full.
I ordered the special of beef luau and salmon salad with rice. The beef luau was decent but a little too salty for my liking. The salmon salad was really good. It was made with some kind of olive oil. The hubby got the cranberry turkey sandwich. It was hands down the best sandwich I’ve ever tasted. The cranberry was on the sweeter side and went perfectly with the turkey and the sprouts. It came with a side of kettle chips which I’m sure was store bought. The best item from here is the crème brûlée. I always order crème brûlée when I’m out. This place has the best one that I’ve come across. It’s made with real vanilla bean. The hubby took the first scoop and I saw something black on the bottom of the dish. At first he thought it was part of the dish but it looked like black specs to me. After taking a closer look at it, I knew it was vanilla bean. I worked at a very well known bakery here for 5 years. It was the exact same thing that they used in their crème anglaise sauce for their Japanese cheesecake. Want to take a guess at what bakery I worked at? Anyway, I waved the server over and she clarified that it was indeed vanilla bean. She commented that she got asked that question a lot and was surprised that I knew lol. If you have to try one item from this place, get the crème brûlée.

Oh, my! Looking at my first review of Marketplace Café in 2008, I don’t know if I was jet-​lagged or if it has improved or what. In any case, I have been here several times since that first review, and my family and I really like this place a lot now. In fact, if we aren’t having dim sum when we are at Ala Moana Center during lunch time, you will probably find us here. I have had the chicken Panini, pear and blue cheese salad, and most recently, the kalua pork sandwich. The other day I also had some plantation iced tea, which really hit the spot after walking around outside in the 100-​degree heat index weather for over an hour. The food has been fresh and tasty, and the service consistently friendly, professional and attentive. This last time our server was Diana, and she gets the award for the friendliest smile and demeanor. This is our new go-​to place for lunch!

WHY!!! why!!! WHY!!! Do they have to transform Nordstrom’s cafeteria into another sit down restaurant? You do know that’s the plan for their new location right???
In the mean-​time lets get as much of the soup, salad, and pizzas in our belly as we can.
The staples: arugula prosciutto pizza and today because I’m feeling extra healthy a plain Caesar salad and a side order of zucchini.
Oh and plantation iced tea. ALWAYS! ($ 26 for everything)
Service is hit or miss, but today our girl was on point. She offered to get me a plantation iced tea to go. Yay!!! And remembered my crushed red pepper and Parmesan.
I’ve noticed they’re really stepping their dessert game up. Important to know that they serve Otto Cheesecake. Today there was a special on cheesecake for $ 3.50, I asked the manager if he was price matching Otto’s Labor Day special but he said no, they just get a lot of it and need to sell.
Nordstrom Café please stay a Nordstrom Café (teria)!!!

Cafeteria style ordering with servers in the [fancy] dining room, and also a café placed on the first floor between men’s shoes and apparel… everything about the Nordstrom Café is juxtaposition.
I enjoyed the easy flow of looking at the displayed food in the cases on the cafeteria line and ordering from the man behind the counter. You then slide over and pay at the register, taking a card with a number on it to deliver to your table. The dining room is dimly lit in the evening, and even has a bit of a high end feel to me. The wait staff and servers are beyond attentive, checking on us frequently and refilling our glasses. I think the service here is certainly the Nordstrom way, and is one of it’s strongest points for this dining experience.
Pricing of the food was fair, if not a little high. I paid $ 14 for 6 mushroom ravioli and $ 10 for a glass of Cabernet to accompany my meal. I find it weird that there was no place to add a tip on my receipt since there is technically a wait staff. The food was pretty good, I really enjoyed my meal and time chatting with my girlfriend. The menu items include soup, sandwiches, pizza, salads, and pasta.
I think its a nice get away from the mall, and I recommend it for anyone looking for a simple yet classy meal while shopping.

Tucked inside Nordstrom’s clothing store. This place seems to always have a line when I pass by. I always wanted to just peek inside and see what’s it like. No need for that anymore. Randomly came here one day because we were hungry.
Of course there’s a line around 1:30ish. But it wasn’t too bad of a wait. The restaurant is similar to cafeteria style but also has servers. When we got in, there’s a food bar where most of the entrees are displayed. You pick what you want then they serve it up right on the tray you grabbed. Certain food serves right away like the soup, salad, and desserts. We got the tomato basil soup bowl size that comes with a toasted cheese bread. You can ask for more bread for free and it comes with butter. Then we ordered the chicken tomato Alfredo pasta. The pasta comes out later. So we paid and looked for a table. I thought they would come up to you and seat you. But I guess we look for a table ourselves?
When we got seated that’s when a server came up to us. She got us the bread when we asked. Though it took a loooong time and we were halfway done with our soup. Pasta took a while to come out because it looked really busy. When we were out of water, I don’t know we’re we suppose to get water ourselves or does the server give us more water cuz they have pitchers. We were mostly on our own the whole time.
Anyways, the food reviews. The soup was really delicious and very tomatoey! A lot of Unilocal reviews mentioned it. It was a good choice. The pasta was delicious. The flavoring was just right. Food is really amazing here. You get chocolate sticks after.
I knocked off a star for the service and the layout of the restaurant. It confused me what is going on here cuz it’s like half cafeteria style and the other half you get service? You’re on your own learning nowadays.