Gluten free bistro and bakery

The More You Know 

Required Reading For the uninitiated:

If you haven’t been to Tai Shan Farms before or it's been a while, let me explain a few things so you understand how things work here.  Tai Shan is a small farm 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.  If you think you're helping me by clearing a table and walking into my kitchen with a stack of dishes, I assure you it is not helping. The best way to help is to just sit back, relax and let me do the driving. Additionally, please don't come into my kitchen space unless invited. If you're trying to talk to me from the dining room while I am in the kitchen area, I can't hear you over the loud exhaust fans.  During nonbusiness hours 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 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. There are plenty of other food options that will cater to your fast food needs. My place isn’t for everyone and that’s 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. Again, there are many other options around the island that cater to a vegan diet.  This is not a good choice for people with small children as wait times can be long. Generally there is live music on Mondays and Tuesdays.  The music can be loud for some people.  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 to book a table.  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. I stagger the reservation times, this allows me to control the flow so I can serve in a more timely manner.  The Farmstand is an intimate space with limited seating where we interact through the entire meal since I play all of the roles. This is not a normal eatery, 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 betweeh 4 and 4:30. Every other Friday I host a reservation only pre-fixe 4 course dinner that I call Dinner on the Farm. To make reservations or ask questions call 808-929-9613 between the hours of 8am and 3pm Monday through Friday.  Please understand that I need time off and only call during those. I only take reservations over the phone.  I rarely answer messages on FB and I don’t answer questions on FB post replies.  I DO NOT answer the automated CHECK WAIT TIME calls from Google. 

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.   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.  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 probably fit my model.  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.

Notice! Due to 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. 

Weekly Schedule 

Monday May 4th

Open 4-7

Take out pick up between 4-4:30

Reservations Taken - Tables available for limited walk-ins

Piano with Liz

Tuesday May 5th

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 electric guitar. Tommy loves to entertain and have a good time.  This is a unique experience that only Tai Shan provides.

Warning! The music can be loud for some people 

Wednesday May 6th

Open 4-7

Take out pick up between 4-4:30

Reservations Taken

No live music

Closed Thursday, Saturday and Sunday

No dinner on the farm this week

Dinners On The Farm

Schedule

May 15th Tables available

May 29th 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. 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.

Notice!

I will be on Vacation the week of May 18th through the 22nd

and will be closed that Monday through Friday