Paul
We had an absolutely amazing dinner with Chef, Max and Austin! He helped us select an amazing set of courses from several suggested menus, and everything was positively fabulous… We had several foodies in our group of 10 (which also included three teenagers) and to a person, everyone thought it was among, if not the best meal they had ever had. The flavors, textures, presentation, everything was over the top. To boot, they are both great guys - highly professional but a real pleasure to be around. We cannot recommend Chef Max highly enough.
Cindy
Chef Max is a dream come true and his food is amazing. We've hired Chef Max for many dinners at our home, lunches on our boat, and cocktail hours, too!
Chef Max handles everything from
-Menu planning based on your personal preferences/dietary restrictions
-Providing his own cooking equipment and tableware (if necessary)
-Professional service with an upbeat attitude (he's a joy to have around, but he also knows how to appropriately give you and your guests space and quiet when you're trying to entertain, which is a rare gift!)
-Full cleaning of kitchen space, dishes, trash, etc. after the meal
-Organized pricing based on food selections beforehand, followed by electronic invoicing (pay online!)
Perhaps most importantly, his food is incredible. He uses big, bold flavors in innovative ways. Some of the best dishes I've had in my entire life have been with Chef Max. Most of time, I ask him to create a menu on his own because I know he'll knock it out of the park. I also really appreciate his willingness to work with dietary restrictions, though. He even made us several gourmet lower-calorie, low-carb meals when I was trying to lose weight right after having a baby, but our guests had no idea!
Max is an incredible chef, really cool guy to have in our home, and we're so grateful to have found him!
Steve
Chef Max is an outstanding chef and a delightful person. He was punctual and extremely well organized. Our kitchen was not superb, but he adapted immediately and didn't miss a beat in terms of getting food cooked well and on time.
Each course was absolutely delicious and the portions were perfect for the 4 of us.
At the end, the kitchen was just as it was when he entered. We didn't have to do any other clean-up!
From start to finish, this was one of our most favorite events in our time on the Big Island!
If you are looking for a fun and delicious event, I highly recommend Chef Max Okamura! You will not be disappointed!
Nicole C.
Chef Max Okamura is the best! If you're looking for a private chef on the Big Island, look no further! He has been cooking for my family and friends for the past three years and is phenomenal! We've tried several chefs in Hawaii and he is by far our favorite. Max is an incredible human - he is so nice and easy to talk to, very professional and his food is DELICIOUS. He usually cooks for just my husband, my son and myself, but he has also prepared many meals for large groups or intimate dinner parties with our friends and extended family. Everyone is always amazed with how tasty his food is! He is so clean and leaves your house immaculate. He has excellent hygiene practices and all the qualities you would want with someone cooking in your home. I cannot say enough great things about Max and have recommended him to so many locals and Big Island visitors. He has become more than just a private chef to our family but a really good friend that we look forward to seeing :) He is fantastic and you should definitely give him a try!
SHaun
I recommend Chef Max Okamura if you want THE BEST prepared meal on the Big Island! He's previously worked at some of our favorite restaurants in San Francisco and Napa, and his momentum hasn't slowed down since.
We hired Max and his wonderful sous, Rosie, to cook for our parent's 50th anniversary and it was easily the highlight of the trip. They used all local/seasonal ingredients and highlighted the very best of modern Hawaiian cuisine. We're still drooling thinking about the trio of taro desserts!
gerianna
Chef Max was amazing! We booked him to do a private dinner for my MIL for her 60th birthday. My FIL said it was one of his top 10 dinners ever, which is pretty amazing because he's been all over the world.
Max was easy to communicate with and responsive. The kitchen was left spotless when they left, it was as if they never were there. The food was fresh and had a wide variety.
We would definitely use him again if we are ever back on the island!
Andrea
Chef Max was exceptional. A great fresh menu that hit the spot for our mixed group of eaters--foodies and 'midwestern' palates. It was some of the best food we had on the island! It was a very special way for the six of us to celebrate our parent's 50th anniversary celebration. Max and Amber were polite, professional, expedient, conversant and very sweet. We highly recommend Chef Max and would seek his services again the next time we visit the Big Island.
Allysa
Hands down best meal I've ever had. Never has someone put so much thought, time, and creativity in one (6 course) meal. The plates are complex yet in perfect balance. They are beautiful and taste even better. He grows the herbs himself and uses locally sourced food. Their catering felt indulgent and healthy ar the same time. I recommend Chef Max and Amber to anyone doing small weddings and dinner parties. You will not be disappointed.
Erin
Max and Amber are a dynamic duo; they create exceptional food that will amaze your palate. They catered our small wedding reception; to be completely honest, it was one of our highlights. They are true professionals that do not exude an ounce of arrogance; Max was in constant communication with us and made sure we were happy with the menu. Each course of the meal was unique and complemented one another. Aside from the exceptional cuisine, Max and Amber are personable and genuine, it was an absolute pleasure to have them cater our wedding, we wouldn't have had it any other way.
nicole p.
Max and Amber put together a wonderful birthday dinner for my wife! Max was easy to communicate with over email in advance. They came to our rental house about 2 hours before we wanted to eat to get started. The rental has a small sized kitchen and I worried that it wouldn't have what they needed. They brought basically everything they needed on the preparation side, as well as beautiful dishes and and place settings - which was a lovely touch, especially since the rental had a mismatch of everything. We we're wanting pina coladas, and Amber was kind enough to offer to make them for us with the ingredients on hand.
We had a four course meal, and everything was so delicious, so thoughtfully prepared, and so beautiful. Chef Max told us about each dish as it was served and highlighted the local news ingredients. It was such a lovely, special evening overall. I would highly recommend Max and Amber - delicious food and thoughtful service.
Anthony
Chef Max created incredible meals for our family on our recent trip to Hawaii.
We bring a large family on our trip to the Big Island: seven adults and four children, ages 16 months to 7 years. It is challenging to secure restaurant reservations for a group that size, and to keep the children entertained during a long meal.
Max and Amber helped tremendously by bringing great meals to our condo. Max worked with us in advance to create menus that respected everyone's food preferences and restrictions while showcasing the best ingredients the Island has to offer. Once we arrived he gladly fine-tuned the menus with as little as a day or two's notice. The children played and ate kid-friendly dinners while we adults relaxed and enjoyed the incredible courses.
It was a great overall experience, and we hope to see Chef Max and Amber on future visits!
Chrissy
What an amazing dining experience we had with Chef Max and Amber! The food, service and professionalism were top notch. Each course was delicious, so much so that we could not pick a favorite. Each dish was beautiful and "moan worthy", our highest praise. Our close friend stated that this was a top dining experience for him, and I would agree. If you would like an intimate dining experience with amazing food and a passionate creative Chef; we highly recommend Max. We book them every time we visit the island.
Nicole D.
Chef Max Okamura is phenomenal! If you're looking for a private chef in Big Island, look no further - he is the best!! We've tried several chefs here during our stay in Hawaii and I wish we hired him sooner so he could've prepared all of our meals! He was very accommodating to my vegetarian diet and made a fabulous dinner for my family. We had pork/tofu buns, veggie fried rice, miso glazed sweet potatoes, kale salad and banana bread -- everything was incredible! He is so nice and easy to talk to, very professional and the food was *very* delicious - we felt like we were at a 5 star restaurant. He is so clean and left our house immaculate! Not to mention, our meal was prepared during COVID times and we felt super safe being around him. He wore a mask the entire night and practiced hand washing constantly. We cannot say enough great things about him! Even our picky 12-year-old son loved Max's food so much. He is fantastic and you should definitely try him if you're searching for an excellent private chef!!