001: Executive Chef

Michelle Karr-Ueoka

Born and raised in Honolulu, Michelle Karr-Ueoka obtained a college degree in Travel Industry Management from the University of Hawai‘i. Her passion for cooking was eventually ignited after an externship with one of the pioneers of Hawai‘i Regional Cuisine, Alan Wong. Pursuing her culinary dream, Karr-Ueoka furthered her training at New York’s Culinary Institute of America and completed stages at award-winning restaurants Daniel and Per Se, as well as an externship at The French Laundry. It was at Per Se, where Karr-Ueoka realized she wanted to be a pastry chef.

In October 2013, Karr-Ueoka and husband chef Wade Ueoka opened their first joint venture – MW Restaurant – with a menu focused on Hawai‘i Regional Cuisine. Both have traveled around the world, and draw inspiration from their journeys, but none bigger than the melting pot of Hawai‘i and its exotic local bounty. Since 2014, she has been a three-time James Beard Award semi-finalist for “Outstanding Pastry Chef.”

James Beard award-winning chef Michael Mina partnered with Karr-Ueoka on his second Hawai‘i restaurant concept, The Street Food Hall. Michelle and Wade curates the menu for Burger Hale, one of the 10 food stalls found in The Street, where they put a local twist on traditional burgers and the local favorite – the Loco Moco.

002: HNL

A local twist on an American classic.

Award-winning local chefs Michelle Karr-Ueoka and Wade Ueoka from acclaimed MW Restaurant in Honolulu bring their twist on a modern classic with Burger Hale. Burger Hale takes traditional American hamburgers and imbues the flavors of the Hawaiian Islands. Embracing the ethnic flavors of Hawaii’s diverse culture, Chef Wade Ueoka pulls inspirations from Japanese sukiyaki, Korean spicy barbecue, and Southeast Asian cuisine to craft unique burgers and loco mocos.

Walk into Burger Hale and you’ll notice the walls decorated with a gorgeous mural from post-pop artist Aaron Kai that immediately catch your eye and drop your jaw. Keep your jaw ajar while you browse our menu and contemplate which burger or loco moco to choose from. Whatever you choose, your tastebuds will be delighted and your stomach will be satisfied.

By the way, the “Loco Moco” (in case you don’t know what that is) is a local dish that combines cultures with rice, in our case FRIED RICE, a juicy hamburger patty, sunny-side-up egg and gravy all over.

Top all of that off with one of Michelle Karr-Ueoka’s refreshing Shave Ice Milkshake – melding the best of both dessert worlds. Cool and savory, you’ll leave wanting more at Burger Hale. Not to worry – we’re here all day, from 11am – 10pm daily.