Henry T.

Great bar. Live music. Unfortunately supports Virginia Tech! But I'm sure the owner is cool otherwise.

Skye W.

Chicken salad with macadamia nuts on avocado?!?! WHAT? YES. it is one of their HUGE salads, and it is delicious. Cute place to stop for lunch. I didn't get any drinks here, but was told by local that this is the best bar.

Diana L.

The Hanalei Moa burger with cheddar cheese- Ginger marinated chicken breast grilled - was mouth watering. Coconut spinach soup was also surprisingly good. Outside seating available, though no alcoholic beverages allowed. Service was great even though the place was pretty packed. Prices are reasonable - especially compared to other restaurants in Hanalei. And did I mention, live music!

Craig H.

Nice little place with big TVs, we enjoyed watching sports while eating at the bar. We ordered: -Hanalei Sailor (Reuben sandwich): Very good -Hanalei Moa (Chicken Sandwich): The marinade and the pineapple aioli sauce were great. -Dewey's Gorgonzola Burger: Awesome, great flavor, best thing we ordered. -Northshore club: Least favorite item, it was dry and lacking turkey.

Andrea C.

the food is pretty good. the service was ok, not the friendliest bunch or the cleanest but the food is good. we had a Chkn sandwich that had great flavor & good sauce. the Waldorf salad was really good just too much dressing so get it on the side. The fries & specials are great! they did not give me a coke refill once & the service wasn't friendly enough to give it more than 3 stars.

Patrick R.

Hanalei Gourmet is an awesome local spot. Great food, friendly staff and cold beer. I love sitting at the bar and talking to a mix of locals and tourists. Can't miss place in Hanalei.

Holden M.

My preferred place for a burger in Hanalei. UNfortunately it is nowhere near consistent, and it is always crowded. Fish tacos are good sometimes. Music is fun, but dont expect room to dance. Super crowded.

Steve M.

Great for comfort food. Fish and chips was good. Fries overdone. pretty affordable and family friendly. Service was very welcoming. Food was nothing to write home about. The drinks were good. The passion fruit margarita was excellent.

Scott W.

About the best burgers (Big Tom's & Gorgonzola) to be found on the north side. Basic fair done well and better then anywhere else in the area. If you don't feel like driving south give it a look. Fish & chips are good too, fresh caught and fried well.

Kirsten B.

We came at 7 PM on Thursday night with a party of 4 for the fish taco special. We waited until 8 for a table, and I was beginning to wonder whether I'd been led astray by the people who recommended it. The fish tacos were great!!! Worth the wait for sure. They don't use a traditional tortilla, they home make one, and it's a nice change of pace. One word of warning - don't order the house red wine.

Brad B.

The coconut encrusted fish with curry sauce was five stars while the fish sandwich was only three stars. The nice thing about Hanalei Gourmet is you leave there full......and your pocket book is not drained!

trexD C.

We were so hungry after our awesome journey on the Kalalau trail. We went to Tahiti Nui where they were no longer serving food until dinnertime. They referred us to Hanalei Gourmet. We were not disappointed! Super service, amazing Mai Tai's (!), yummy fish and chips, and a super tasty (and original!) Oregon shrimp sandwich - GET IT. THE BEST PART - THE MOUNTAIN VIEWS FROM THIS LITTLE GEM OF A PLACE ARE SURREAL.

T S.

Grilled fish sandwich was succulent and the homemade lemon drink was refreshing. Dinned on the lanai and had a very beautiful time, very nice wait staff.

Marika M.

Great local spot. Most nights they have live music and I happened to catch a band that was featured in the film The Descendants. I took the advice of my fellow Yelpers and ordered the fish and chips. The fish was perfectly fried and wasn't greasy at all. I comes with a wasabi aoili but I also got a side of their pineapple aoili for a little variety. Not only did they fry the fish perfectly but the french fires were perfect too.

Joe H.

Driving back from a long day at Tunnels and needed to make a pit stop for drinks and shopping. Could have tried the Calypso across the street but this place looked a bit more relaxed. Mostly locals drinking happy hour beers. Plenty on tap but we were really in the mood for margaritas. Ordered it with Cazadores and looked like fresh squeezed lime and good triple sec with island salt on the rocks. I had 2. Bartender knows what he's doing. This would be my go-to bar in Hanalei. No dive vibe but something about it feels more authentic even though it looks modern.

Martin Y.

If full be sure to put your name on the blackboard on the door. Some people miss it. Great lunch place. Try the fish sandwich and you'll be hooked.

Ragini S.

Avoid this place! The food is bland and boring. We ordered a couple of sandwiches and they were terrible! The only good thing was the fresh fruit plate that we ordered and the didn't have to do anything to it. But what made this experience even worse was the bartender. He was incredibly rude to us and to our waitress. He alone is what is making me give this place a 1 star instead of 3. Owners - please fire this bartender, he is ruining your business!

Austin O.

We had lunch and drinks. The food and service was awesome. Not a fancy place, but in a very historic location....the old Hanalei School. It's very Hawaiian in that locals eat there. The dinner menu is on the gourmet side and the price reflects it. Based on my lunch experience, I will try their dinner on my next trip.

Ryan N.

Food was good but the service wasn't so much. I would have given a 4 if the service would have been better

Adam G.

Food is solid but overpriced. Felt claustrophobic in there- place tries to cram too many people in and the service was mediocre at best. If its not busy, it's not a bad choice for dinner, bu if it is, there are other places nearby that would be a better bet.

Debra B.

We've been in town for 10 days and we've tried many of the restaurants in the area. We have two more days here and there is no place else we'd rather go. Food is excellent. Waldorf Salad is the bomb and they can blacken any fish. Garlic mashed potatoes, please! Servers are downright sweet and the atmosphere is awesome. Too bad you can't drink on the patio but...what can you do. So, in about an hour--well be back...and every time we come back to Kauai.

Jim P.

Have eaten here several times. As has been posted below, more of a bar vibe than restaurant that has a bar,,, but dont let that hold you back from going. The food is about average for Kauai. The whole island not being a foodie paradise. Not amazing,,, but not bad. We take that for what it is. The island offers so many other amazing things,,, we accept the food is not why we come to Kauai. We have been coming here since 1998. The food is not why we come... Its a casual vibe which I like, you can walk in wearing shorts and a T shirt and feel comfortable. It gets very busy around dinner time so you may end up waiting on the porch. The procedure is come up to the door and write your name on the chalk board then wait on the porch. This situation would be MUCH better if you were allowed to have drinks on the porch while waiting, but their liquor license doesnt allow that,,, and its too small inside to wait at the bar,,, so that is a downside. No real ability to have drinks while waiting for a table or a place at the bar. If taking a table, Once seated its a little tight on the table spacing,,, but not the worst I have seen. If eating at the bar, once again spacing is tight but not insufferable. Its a small place, I get it. The table wait staff are hardworking,,, our girl ran her a$$ off,,, I think she needed more help on the floor or whoever was working with he was lame. Having said that she smiled and made us feel like we were wanted there every time she stopped at our table so high marks to her. We tipped her accordingly. The bartenders,,, when seated at the bar, much less so. Way more interested in talking to other friends / locals seated at the bar than checking on bar patrons. Not so high marks there. On one visit I had the fish and chips,,, good. Not the best I have ever had, but certainly not the worst. The fish was chewier than I expected if that makes any sense. On another visit I had the shrimp scampi. Pretty good. Again,,, not great, but better pasta than I expected (I'm an Italian from the Northeast, very picky about my pasta). Portion size on both entrees was good. I was full after each meal. If you order Mai Tais will be straight from a Trader Vics Mai Tai bottle with a topping of dark rum. Again,,, not bad,,, but nothing special. They have about 5 beers on tap, they have Gordon Biersch Marzen which I like so I was in luck. One tap seems to always be Steinlager (yech) which seems to be a local favorite,,, a wheat beer and I cant remember the others. Pricing is about normal for Hanalei which means way higher than you would pay for equivalent quality and quantity of food in most cities on the mainland,,, but factoring in that its Kauai and averaging around the area,,, normal. You cant go to Kauai and not expect everything to cost 40% more than it does anywhere else. Its just how it is here. Accept it and move forward with having a great time.

Schuyler G.

This is a good place to have a meal if you're checking out Hanalei. The crab cakes were good, not great. The rum drink is nice and strong. But the best part is the open air and windows looking onto the fabulous lush greenery looking inland towards the mountains. The restaurant has a very easy going vibe with table service and strong drinks. It is near all of the shops, and probably the best place in this little strip. It doesn't feel as touristy as Tahiti Nui, which is another fun place. I'd go to the Nui for dinner.

Kristy S.

We had dinner here one night on our recent trip to Kauai and one take out lunch from their sandwich counter. If we would have tried The Hanalei Gourmet on our first night we would have eaten here everynight! Don't miss... Waioli Salad: Chilled, grilled vegetable salad with artichoke hearts, red bell peppers, eggplant, baby corn and zucchini on garden greens with sonoma goat cheese and chef's mango vinaigrette. We shared this salad to start. Delish! ($9.25) Mac Nut Fried Chicken: I just could not resist! Fried chicken breaded with Japanese style panko flakes and Hawaiian macadamia nuts. Served on a bed of cabbage with a guava lime sauce ($21.95) Fresh Island Fish Sandwich: Sean tried this and really liked it. A daily selection of charbroiled fresh fish (Mahi Mahi this particular night)served with a lemon caper and dill mayonnaise and "the works" on a fresh kaiser roll with french fries ($14.95) And for dessert - try the Lemon Cooler Cake! It is only $4.50 and fantastic! The next day, we ordered fresh deli sandwiches (made to order). Lots of fresh veggies, including sprouts. Sean's chicken salad was on the dry side - perhaps ask for mayo on the side.

Carly D.

Went here for lunch the other day. Yum! Two in our group had snapper and chips which they loved. One had soup of the day and a half Waldorf salad which was huge and delicious (I tasted it, fantastic!) I had the sandwich special and it was super tasty. Despite the name this is a nice casual little spot with quality food and great service.

Claytonian C.

Not bad. Lots of indoor seating. They have a lot on their menu so it's a good place if you have a diverse bunch of eaters or a picky eater. They have fresh fish specials. Good place to stop for lunch, then hit Paradise Shave Ice next door for dessert!

Jeff S.

The Hanalei Gourmet wasn't overpriced in comparison to other joints in the area, but it still cost more than it should have. The ambiance was crowded, and the service was horrendous, but the fish tacoes were AWESOME. Seriously, the best I have ever had. Will go through the pain of visiting the place again simply to tast their tacos once more...Possible will utilize their takeout service next door this time.. Fish tacos = 5 star Everything else 2 star or worse

Louis V D.

Nothing fancy, but really great fish and chips! Can't complain about a thing. Fast service, and I nearly licked my plate clean. 'Nuff said.

Greg E.

Very casual Hanalei eatery that gets more than its share of locals. Well priced (for Kauai) menu items, a few tables out on the deck, most are inside with two TVs behind the tall bar. Waioli Salad for $9.25 is one of the better healthy options available at any of the nearby restaurants. Popular Fish and Chips, and Fish Tacos on certain nights. Happy Hour 3:30 - 5:30, Early Bird Dinners 5:30-6:30. Adjacent Deli part of the same business and good for To Go. Can be loud in the evenings.

John B.

Great local restaurant. Food was excellent,reasonably priced. Fish sandwiches and fish and chips were outstanding

Rachael T.

I was supping at the Hanalei Gourmet the day Michael Jackson died. This turned out to be a very comforting place to be under the circumstances as everyone at the bar shared reverence for the late King of Pop over very delicious bowls of excellent Portugese bean soup and beautifully prepared local beef or fish burgers. Picnic sandwiches, which can be ordered in the adjacent deli are also substantial and gratifying for the Hanakapi'ai trail or beach nearby. Thriller, food style.

Alyssa E.

I enjoyed this charming little spot. Service was friendly and the atmosphere was nice. My husband and I shared the smoked Hawaiian seafood sampler and the Oregon Bay shrimp sandwich. Both were very yummy - not a big fan of the breadsticks with the sampler and my husband complained about the sandwich having too much sauce in comparison to shrimp. Would still recommend both. Had a nice beer on tap selection. Would definitely go back.

Mike S.

Guess what? Everything in Hawaii is expensive and overpriced! They import something like 80% of all of their goods. It aint cheap to do that. Ok, now that you understand and are looking for a good place to have dinner and are prepared to spend $20 per person, you can go have yourself a fun and delicious meal at Hanalei Gourmet. This would have been a five star review except we wait for an hour for our table. They were busy - not really their fault, but five star reviews dont come easy for me. First off, order a mai tai. Not too strong, but it aint your luau mai tai either. One of those and I was nicely grooving. Our waitress brought a big coloring book and crayons for the kids - something they had been lacking our whole trip thus. Also, they had live music - a trip doing hawaiian and reggae music - an added fun factor for sure. Wifey and I ordered crab cakes to start and I had the udon noodles and she had the greek pasta. Her pasta was really unique and the mussels were great. My udo was also very good and the borth was perfect for me. The focacia that came with the dish was perfect for sopping up the leftovers. My son had a bbq'd hotdog and my daughter had the peanut butter, banana and honey sandwich. Both had happy plates, suffce it to say. We finished off the meal with the brownie ala mode. That one speaks for itself. THE perfect meal to end end our trip. So glad we went.

Griffin K.

Good burgers, not great. Spotty service. Will not be back considering the high quantity of quality options in Hanalei.

Cindy C.

LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!! We recently ate at the Hanalei Gourmet our last trip to Kauai and thoroughly enjoyed it! I had the fish tacos which was one of the specials and they were amazing!!!!! The hubby had a pasta dish which he loved but for me it was an overall terrific casual dining experience.

Kelly O.

This is our third time here in Hanalei. We are always here with a minimum of 8 people. They always accommodate us with a smile. Good beer on tap, good burgers, fish it's all yummy! If looking for a filling meal with a fun atmosphere, this is your place. We will be back!

Bri B.

I am dissapointed in this place. First of all, their $12 sandwiches are a gouge to tourists. If I am going to pay that much for a sandwich, it better be pretty dang tasty! But, unfotunately, their sandwiches don't have anything special about them. They actually made my order totally wrong. I said no mustard, and of course, there was mustard. I asked for no tomatos on my husband's club, and mine also did not have any...which I wanted tomatoes..just cuz' one sandwich doesn't have them doesn't mean they all don't. My deli sandwich said it came with vinegarette..but did not have any. It was a dry sandwich. I ended up waiting over 10 minutes just to place my order and then another 15 to get the order...so almost half and hour for two sandwiches that cost with a soda and bottle of water $30!!! The poor guy making the sandwiches was also the guy to take the ordersc he was swamped while the owner just walked around doing nothing to help get orders out faster. I think this owner has gotten used to ripping tourists off and making them wait too long while his employees rush around and do everything. The guy making my sandwiches was clearly stressed and was sweating profusely over our food. Yuck. But I don't blame him.

Christina C.

Huge burgers, live music, and mediocre drinks. You get a lot for your money here. Their burgers are 6oz AFTER cooked, which means a full half-pound burger. I got the Moe's ultimate burger which came with pepper jack cheese, avocado, and bacon amongst the rest of the burger toppings. The burger was pretty good. It was quite massive and more of a fork-and-knife burger than hold-in-your-hand burger. I think I finished about 75% of it. The fries that came with it were not that great- overcooked and almost stale I asked my server for a drink recommendation and ordered the passion margarita. The taste was ok, very light, and had a decent amount of alcohol. They do have live music there at night. Varies between Hawaiian music and like soft rock. Service is a bit slow, but at least you know its cooked right then and there. Get the burgers, skip the fries, and face the live band for some nice entertainment to wind down your night.

Lara E.

Went there twice on our vacation as we loved the nice but laid back atmosphere, reasonable prices and yummy food. loved looking at the palms and mountains out the back window. The mango salsa and sauce that came with my teriyaki burger were very yummy!

Asa R.

Probably the best food we had on the island. Quick, prompt, efficient service (we had an older woman serve us who was on point and an expert at her craft). We went with the specials of the day, black bean soup and fish tacos. The soup was heavenly, smooth, flavorful, with a slow spice that complemented the beans without overpowering them. Fish tacos were fresh, tender insides with crispy outsides, very light seasoning. When in Kauai you want fresh fish that probably was swimming that morning and the Gourmet did not disappoint. Two notes, one the chalkboard outside is for seating inside, put your name down and don't be a dork who steals a table. Two, there is only alcohol service inside, the outside tables (while offering cool breezes and lovely views are alcohol free). Come here, expect a local vibe with good food and prompt service and you won't be disappointed with the cost, the quality, or the experience..

Ashley S.

Fantastic everything! Burgers are thick, juicy and lean. Best mai tais in Hawaii. Four layer chocolate cake! Tasty, hot and flavorful fries. This is the place to go!

Jessica O.

The food and drinks are pretty good. But it's the atmosphere that brings my husband and I back! They are a friendly VIRGINIA TECH bar! We love it!

Amanda R.

I had one of the best fish sandwiches here of my life. The catch of the day, opa, I think was so fresh and flaky. Mom had the moa chicken burger and said it was to die for. My friend had the black and blue burger and he said it was pretty good but not amazing. I did make a mistake with ordering the passion fruit or guava margarita. It didn't really taste like anything. We ended up coming back a few days later and eating here again and it was just as good the second time. I opted for an outdoor table this time even though that means no alcohol. It was fine though, they were really great about refilling my ice tea glass. We had excellent service both times.

Emily M.

Silly yelpers, creating two listings for the same place. I had the Garden Isle Burger. It was pretty good, but the wait was RIDICULOUS. The rest of my family ordered and finished their meals at the burger place next door long before I received my order. It definitely wasn't crowded, either. I liked the fries.

Katie C.

I love The Hanalei Gourmet! I have to eat gluten free and everyone here has always been super helpful. I tend to always get the same thing, though. The Shrimp "Old Bay" Boil is some of the best shrimp I've ever had. It comes with bread to dip in the boil, but I ask for rice. If you love shrimp, it's really worth stopping by to try.

A N.

Funny name that does not really fit. The place has a great local feel and vibe and the food was great.Great casual eats

Levent T.

Reselling Costco food items still in the box, still with price tag left on, at the deli ran by the same kitchen of The Hanalei Gourmet...WTFish?!?!?! The items on the menu and chalk board got me thinking this place was going to be A-OK, however, it is bad diner food at best. There is nothing gourmet about this joint. Fish sandwiches were Meh and made with smashed hamburger sesame seed buns and even the kids meals were bad...noodles drowned in butter with some parsley sprinkled on top?!?!? HG...you should be ashamed of what you're dishing out and I can't believe I'm giving a 1 Star review to a place that is boardering on four stars! The sweet Hanalei air must be masking the senses of my Yelping peers!

Tammy M.

We go to Hanalei just for the gourmet. Tap beer always cold and food is delicious! I look forward to waipouli salad which is grilled veggies, goat cheese, and balsamic... Ooh yea! Other reviewers can't believe every review. Probably had lunches here 18 times over the years

Pamela B.

Best fish & chips ever! Great little gem. Be prepared to wait for food, but drink up and relax....it's Hanalei....seriously still dreaming about the yummy, crispy fish.....

Rachael B.

Hanalei Gourmet is one of those places that is really, really good after a long day in the sun - when you don't feel like cooking or going to the store and you just want something yummy and satisfying. I always get the Waldorf Salad with a piece of local grilled fish - they have great fries that stay crispy and crunchy even after sitting for awhile (a true feat in the humid weather). Ingredients here are fresh for the most part but don't expect ... well, Gourmet. Overall a great spot to grab something when you're covered in salt and sunscreen.

Diane Y.

We visited for a quick lunch, and found the food to be hit or miss. But the great service and the setting were redeeming factors. The shrimp sandwich had tiny "bay shrimp" and the advertised "remoulade sauce" appeared to be thousand island dressing. Not impressed. We also ordered a cold pasta dish, advertised as "mango pasta" but couldn't figure out where the mango came in. It didn't taste of mango, and certainly had no actual mango in it. It seemed to be pasta with bell peppers, and was bland. But the artichoke bread - copious amounts of cheese melted over artichoke on generous slices of french bread - that almost made up for the rest of it. My one recommendation about this place? Go for the Kauai pie. Oreo cookie crust, Kona coffee ice cream, mac nuts and coconut shavings. Simply to die for.

Mary Ann W.

4 of us ordered sandwiches yesterday and without question the worst sandwiches we every had. Stale bread ordered hot pastrami, it was not only cold as a brick, when I asked the very rude counter guy, he said "no, the microwave was being used". We went outside to eat only to open the sandwich to find 3 small slices of meat, dry bread with none of the condiments we ordered. We went back inside to ask for mustard to be told "we're out of mustard" at a deli with a market across the street! This employee needs another career that doesn't involve customer service, try house painting . Simply put terrible.

Bil Y.

Delicious food great service and casual atmosphere. The best value in hanalei hands down. Try the artichoke hearts with the turkey club. Food prepared with pride. Okay if you like perfect! Aloha.

Mon S.

SO we got here and it was incredibly crowded but there were Patio tables so we sat there. Only bad thing is no alcohol allowed on the patio. We ordered the opah fish and chips. The waitress brought us fish tacos. She quickly went back and corrected it though and brought us our correct orders. This was the best fish and chips I have ever had. They serve it with a really good Wasabi Aioli sauce(I asked about it and they offered to bring me something else if I didn't like it but I was asking cause I did like it and don't care for tarter sauce so was pleasantly surprised.) Glad we got there when we did because as we were leaving they had run out of opah and the new fresh fish for fish and chips was ono. I am sure that was probably good too.

Jonathan G.

Food was mediocre. Kids pasta was super oily. My catch of the day was overpriced and the veggies were bland. My wife's greek salad was also nothing special. Very disappointed. Service was good

Danny A.

Went here on a recommendation from many locals and really enjoyed it. I was looking to get some fresh native fish that I couldn't get in Texas and was initially disappointed when the fresh catch was Ahi, and even more so that it would be "cooked", but I went for it anyway and am glad I did. Despite being medium rare, it retained the soft texture and fresh flavor of good ahi sashimi, and the rich sauce that accompanied it only enhanced rather than drowned out that flavor. The garlic mash was good and my coworker really enjoyed the mac nut fried chicken (to the reviewer who was expecting something more traditional, how about "asking"?). I also liked the fact that the place seemed to be more about the food and not a particular scene or image. We walked out of Bar Acuda (too fancy, not "Kauai-y" enough) and Tahiti Nui (too packed/loud) that night before coming here. The wait staff was nice/helpful, location was comfortable/convenient, and price was right in line w/ the competition. I think the only negative reviews of this place are from people with pre-conceived expectations and/or lack of contextual awareness (complaining about a $10 lunch or $20 dinner in Kauai? seriously?).

Gregory P.

We LOVED this place. The location is very convenient, the place is cute, the food was great and reasonably priced. There was a long wait (lots of families) so we waited at the bar and had delicious (and very reasonably priced) cocktails. Once we sat down, the food was great. Lots of stuff sounded good so it was really a hard choice. This is a great casual spot we would definitely go back to.

Vivian J.

Cool little place with bar, restaurant and has live music! We came for lunch and I got the crabby patty and fries. It took a while but once I got it boy it was worth it! It was like a huge crab cake that was cooked just right and was so juicy!! The fries were just average and nothing to rave about. Hubby got the Nachos and they were huge with black beans, cheese, jalapeño's and salsa! He could barely eat it all! Service was pretty good and they have a huge menu and specials on the wall as well. Prices were very responsible costing us $25.00 for two for lunch! Yes somewhere cheap in Kauai! Overall a cool place to hang and get great food for a reasonable price!

Bottomless B.

- food: fresh, basic, and consistent - atmosphere: local hangout - staff: friendly - price: appropriate additional info: - live music can be jarring

Scott B.

Danger in Hanalei but NO GOURMET: Two of us ordered the expensive special Guacamole Catch of the Day with our server Vicky at @$26.50 each. When the food showed up, we were told that they didn't have guacamole and that they took it upon themselves to give us "Pineapple Fish" instead. We were never asked if that was acceptable to us. Also, we waited minutes with no utensils and tried the fish, so dry it was returnable, with our fingers. One of us went in to ask for utensils and Vicky told us to go to other tables and get them ourselves. Seemly begrudgingly, she agreed to give us a bit of avocado to replace the missing guacamole, about a tablespoonful. I thought we were quite kind not to return the entree we had not ordered. We ordered Guacamole Catch of the Day -. Not 'pineapple fish'. The fish was dry. We had to get our own forks. There was never a request as to how our dinner was or whether we needed anything after the food was served. We agreed that neither the kitchen nor the server deserved much of a tip. The check was $78.23 and we left $80.00 cash on the table. We mumbled to each other that it was poor service and poorly prepared food. There was no name calling of any kind from any of us. The BIG SURPRISE came when we began walking toward our car. A well-built man came running across the street shouting at us "You called my wife a "f'n" bitch!" he was shouting. We all said "No, no one called her anything and no one used that word." He appeared to be about to hit one of us, wildly gesturing his muscular arms "No one calls my wife a bitch!" We all remained calm, but we all felt very threatened. He continued, "If my wife said you called her a bitch, you called her a bitch." We all repeated our denial. Finally after fully arousing our blood pressure and destroying any chance we had of calmly digesting our dry, overcooked pineapple ono that we did not order, he left shouting back at us half way across the street. This is the first time as a resident in Hawaii I've felt in danger and it is unbelievable that it was because a server, upset over not receiving a tip, had her husband chase me and threaten to rough me up. Unbelievable! BTW this was the second and LAST time, I'll receive bad service at "Hanalei (non)Gourmet"

Kristen F.

The food isn't bad here, I had a fish sandwich and fries. I can't remember what the fish was, but it was pretty good actually. The atmosphere seemed like quite a few locals, which is usually what I am looking for. Service was pretty good and the prices are fairly reasonable. However, after looking at the glass my ice tea was served in, I saw just how dirty it was. Do they wash the glasses there? I think that's kind of gross (and I had the same dirty glass experience at another place that same week) At any rate, I'd probably go back, but check your glass.

Andy B.

THE "HANALEI GOURMET" is not a oxymoron! The fish is as fresh as anywhere on earth. I have been several times, and have always had a fish plate of some kind... my most recent visit was for a FISH AND CHIPS (Opah), and it was better than any fish-chips I've ever had in Ireland/England. Not that this says a lot, but I can't compare this anywhere else. The seating and atmosphere feels like an old school classroom, it's mostly locals, and very casual... I think shirts and shoes are optional.

Melissa G.

Great food, loved it! Great bar! Can't ask for more. Try it out!

Greg D.

The lunch menu looked good. We decided to have a birthday lunch here. Been to other nearby restaurants during the week and and a few visits to the north shore over the years. There was a waiting list. When seated, it was obvious the servers were overwhelmed. Took forever to order. The servers were very nice, but service was terrible. My fish sandwich was raw. I bit into it and it was cold and raw in the center. The server said "ewe" when I asked to take it away. The tomato bisque soup was only warm. All of us had French fries that were room temperature and no ketchup. The server dropped off food and never had a chance to come back. Never an opportunity to ask how things were. Chicken sandwich was dry, and asked for mustard on the side, but never got. This was a birthday lunch and we should have gone to Kalypso or The Dolphin instead. Or even Bubba's Burgers which is better and cheaper. I let the servers know and they did apologize and offered a free dessert. We declined. Bad service and food isn't made better by a free dessert. It's just bad.

Joel C.

Just got back from backpacking the Kalalau trail and couldn't have asked for a better post-trek meal. Even though it was packed, the service was good and the good came quickly. The beer battered fish and chips was super fresh and had a great wasabi aoli. You have to get the limeade, it's really tart and refreshing. My wife had the 1/2 Waldorf salad (which was a huge portion) and black bean soup. Only complaint was the soup was more of a dip consistency (we took it home and made nachos later). I highly recommend this place.

Brenda C.

They had a live music with a few songs by a hula dancer while we were there, which was fun for us mainlanders. On to the food: The Grilled Veggie Salad, added the fresh fish of the day, which was Opah, and mango vinaigrette. YUM! The Lo-Mein noodles, with chicken and about two gardens worth of veggies. YUM! This was rec'd by our server, Katie, who was prob the best server I've had in a year. She was helpful and fun and efficient and sweet. Enjoy!

Ray K.

Recently had the privilege of hanging out in Hanalei Bay for 2+ weeks or so. Only wish I'd discovered the Hanalei Gourmet sooner. The owner's and staff should be very proud of the experience they've created for visitors and locals alike. Friendly service, a diverse menu, welcoming atmosphere with reasonable prices made the Hanalei Gourmet a "must try" and/or "must go again" destination. Recommendations: Mai Tais (hey, I was vacationing), fried artichokes, artichoke bread, onion soup, Po Boy Sandwich, Italian Sandwich, Roast Beef Sandwich, any of the burgers...and the ruben (think it's called the Hanalei Sailor). Additionally, while I can't say I tried all of them, the salads and deserts looked fantastic. Additionally, they have a deli, adjacent to the restaurant, that does to-go orders.

Tom B.

Not great, disappointed.

Ray D.

The name of this place doesn't fit - it sounds too stuffy. Located alongside some dive shops and clothing places in the Old Hanalei School building, it's a fun drop-in spot with an active bar (2 big TVs- we watched NCAA Tournament on one and Surf competition on the other), and limited seating both inside and outside. It's a cool place. Bubba's Burgers is right next door - tried that the day before and they get a 1-star from me. Had the Gourmet's Ultimate Burger with pepperjack cheese and bacon. This one gets 5-stars - it was everything a burger lover wants. Price was pretty good. Service was a delight -all the servers help each other. We went early evening (6pm) on Sunday and had no waiting. Hanalei Gourmet was recommended to us about a month before we came to Hawaii, not for the food, but for the wonderful entertainment. Mango Brothers lived up to the billing - they were great. And a special treat when their wives stepped in to entertain with Hula Dancing. Looks like they play every Sunday.

jazzy l.

We came here because Fodor directed us here. Plenty of food options to choose from but because we wanted sandwich and a light snack to eat, we came here. The service was slow as I was the only person ordering (but they have a sit down service next door as well). The girl who took my order was a bit slow and she forgot to give me a fork. Sandwiches are $9.50 and $1.50 if you want a slice of cheese with it. The salami sandwich we got had 2 very thinly sliced salami pieces in the sandwich. The side salad had a mango vinaigrette and priced at $4.25.

Angelina L.

Places seem to shut down early on the island and Hanalei Gourmet is one of those places. They close at 10:30pm. Being from the city, this is sometimes when we are just heading out to go out on the town. So, some adjustments were made and we were able to grab a couple drinks here. It is one of the businesses located in the old school building and they have definitely made it their own. The inside reminds you of a tropical hut that is on the beach that serves food and drink. When we arrived, they had live music from someone who was singing and playing the guitar. After he was done, some of the locals and friends of the artist got up and tried to strum a few chords and sing also, but we all laughed because he wasn't as talented. The bartender, Amy I think it was, was extremely friendly and helpful on where we could go next that stayed open a bit longer. Great environment, great service, good drinks, good place to be around more locals than not & just be able to chill. I think the only thing one of us had a complaint about was they didn't know how to make a Washington Apple (his staple shot), but then again, no where we went knew how to.

Kalae P.

Headed to the beach? Hit Hanalei Gourmet up for some sandwiches and drinks first! Coming back from the beach (somewhat clean)? Hit Hanalei Gourmet up for a sit-down meal and cocktails! I'm not too sure of the drink specials, but boy the sandwiches are good. Just to warn you so you are not misled, the sandwiches are pretty much the norm. Your basic bread, meat, and additional preferred add-ins. There's no 'special' flavor so to speak, but the sandwiches do taste good, are filling, and in a weird sense, refreshing. Sitting in? Order some of the soups and/or pasta. The flavor is there and it sure warms you up on/after a nice day out in Hanalei!

A L.

Not easy to find. Using Yelp on my iphone, I clicked on the address given for Hanalei Gourmet and then clicked on Yelp's "Google Map" button, which took us to a place that turned out to be several miles east of where the restaurant actually is. Then I phoned the restaurant. A person with a valley-girl accent answered. I asked for the street address. She said she didn't know. She asked somebody else and was still not able to find out. She said it was in a certain shopping village. I asked her to spell out the name of the village because she was slurring her words. It turned out she was saying "Ching Young" Village. (In addition to spelling out "Ching Young," she also spelled out "Village.") However, when we found it, the Hanalei Gourmet was not in the Ching Young Shopping Village. It was across the street from it. The restaurant was crowded with patrons -- typically an indication of a good restaurant. It was so busy that I couldn't get anyone's attention. I walked up to the bar whereupon the bartender turned his back to me (I honestly think he didn't see me). I spoke up in a loud voice to get his attention. The ono sandwich was excellent. The Hanalei Moa Sandwich, described as a grilled ginger marinated chicken breast, didn't taste like it was marinated at all (although it could have been). The fries were warm. The coffee, described as Lappert's coffee, was so cooked that I added half-and-half to it (I normally drink coffee black). The half-and-half curdled. The server, who was nice and attentive, brewed a fresh pot for me and actually brought me fresh half-and-half in a cup.

J G.

We had the fruit smoothie, and it was so delicious! It really hit the spot on a hot afternoon.

S R.

I wouldn't call this gourmet. Our first impression was the surly hostess, no smile from her. Luckily our waitress was very friendly or we would have left. I had the Oregon shrimp sandwich and it was terrible, couldn't even finish it. It was smothered in spicy sauce and melted cheese which had gone cold. Couldn't even taste the shrimp.

Jeff J.

The food is average. The crab stuffed mushrooms were so so, the deep fried artichoke wasn't so bad, the fish and chips (Opah) wasn't the best I had, burger was overpriced. The veggie burger was store brand..ehh...I won't return but the live music and tasty drinks make this place a good chill spot....otherwise just turn around...hope this helps... :-/

Jim O.

Okay just returned from this place Jan 2012 and for all us Celiacs that are excited they can have GF options here BEWARE they have no concept of gluten free or cross contamination. When i asked the server about the GF options on the menu she said don't order anything that has bread. Don't despair there ARE places on Kauai that do understand Celiacs you just need to do a bit of research.

Peter T.

This is one of my favorite places. Perfect location. Great food. Wonderful people. Incredible live music. Strong Aloha vibe. Just wish they served breakfast...

Randy C.

Had a nice dinner. Fish tacos were very good, as was the Cobb salad, sashimi, and burger. Prices weren't bad for Hanalei. Service was fine. The restaurant is small and plain with about 1/3 of the space taken up by the bar. Two large TVs show surf competitions. Eating out front provides a nice perch for people watching in downtown Hanalei.

Aimee R.

This place is good, but as a vegan i'm pretty limited with what i can get here. We went twice on our vacation and both times i could really only order the garden burger. That being said, it's a good garden burger and portions are generous. One needs good sized portions on Kauai after a long day of hiking/snorkeling. Setting is very casual, and busy, a little noisy. A good place to stop in for a relatively quick sit down lunch.

zach e.

best fish tacos i've had in a long long time. great service. lovely atmosphere.

Kimber C.

sparlkling vodka lemonade definitely makes a wonderful pau hana drink...hell...makes a good drink anytime. I also can't pass up a place that offers chicken and wild rice soup, something that I can't find just anywhere on an island.

Burrito M.

Worst meal of our entire trip...! What do you expect when you see "fried chicken" on a menu? I expect tender, juicy piece of chicken breaded and fried - i.e. wing, drum, breast, and thigh. What did I get at the Hanalei Gourmet when I ordered the Mac Nut Fried Chicken? 2 thin pieces of tasteless chicken breast fillets deeply coated in panko and mac nut and deep fried. It had absolutely no seasoning in the breading! Then it was topped off with this weird pink guava and lime sauce which was sour and gingery, again, not properly seasoned. These dry ass chicken breasts were served with lifeless mixed veggies and undercooked brown rice. All of this for the low low price of $21! What a horrid meal! Whoever is the chef at this joint either doesn't taste his/her own cooking when developing a dish, or just has a straight up shit palate.

lonni f.

We stopped here on the way to hiking the Kalalau trail to pick up sandwiches. $9 for a sandwich seemed kinda steep, but the reviews were so positive, that we figured it was worth it. While they were good, they really weren't $9/each good. I'm not sure that there's any context where $9 for a cold deli sandwich is ever justified (and that's not even with any cheese). We were all a bit shocked when we realized that the mustard that they used had horseradish in it. I like horseradish, but neither my wife or son like it at all, and it ruined their sandwiches. Worse, my wife didn't even want mustard on her sandwich, yet they made it with mustard anyway. Seriously, go to the Subway across the street to have a sandwich made to order, for less than half the price. Subway may not use super premium organic ingredients, but at least you know they're making them the way you like them.

s k.

This restaurant is in the heart of Hanalei. Great place to stop and grab a bite and people watch. I'm not sure this would fall under the category of "gourmet' in other cities, but the food was adequate with lots of options.

Dan G.

Fish and Chips, Monster Burger, Kaluia Pork Quesadilla - all excellent! Beers on tap, nice selection. Thumbs up...

Michael F.

St. Regis recommend it. Food was good but tainted by the bad service. It got busy, waited 15 min for a second glass of wine when finally our waitress said the bar was backed up. If she could pour it herself she would but that didn't happen! Waited another 20 min to have our table cleared and another 15 to get our bill. This place has terrible services the stars are just for the food. We had the coconut shrimp, it was great. Too bad the services here is so horrible.

Stacy M.

Best fish tacos I have ever had. Thursday is taco night, so arrive before 6:00 or you will be waiting.

Alexandria B.

This place was pretty good. I had fish and chips, and it was great. The portions were a bit small for the price, and the restaurant is a bit in a touristy location. But it was a good stop for a bit to eat. I'd probably eat there again, but there weren't hardly any vegetarian options aside from salad. But if you just want some fish or burgers, this is your joint.

David P.

Hanalei has a speacial place in our heart. It's were I asked my wife to marry me. We love this town. After my wife said yes to be my best friend forever, we had dinner at the Hanalei Gourmet and ate there several times while on Kauai. After being on the Big Island, Oahu and Kauai this is the ony place we have found steamed peel and eat spicy shrimp. They also have gret salads my wife enjoyed. Prices are very resonable and the atomsphere is very relaxed and casual.

Callie G.

We rolled in from a long day of sightseeing and beach going. We were still in our suits, but covered up. This little restaurant doesn't look like much from the outside, but it's got a great vibe. Its casual, but does feel like a nice night out. There was a bit of a wait for an indoor table, so we sat at the bar. They've got 2 big screen tv's, so we caught up on sports highlights. Hubs and I both liked our food a lot! He got a pasta special and I got mac nut fried chicken. We really loved the live hawaiian music. It really made the dining experience special.

Alexandra G.

Every time I come home to Kauai one of the first things I do is pick up a Turkey and Swiss sandwich on Rye from Hanalei Gourmet on the drive home. I LOVE their sandwiches and the staff are always friendly and very helpful. The food, in my opinion, is always delicious. Prices are reasonable as well. I don't know... if you are not in the mood for a Bubba Burger try a Hanalei Gourmet sandwich.

Julie H.

We visit this place every time we visit Kauai. It is a casual first come first served pub style restaurant. But the food is always delicious. I especially like the smoked fish platter, which is ironic, because I'm not a big smoked fish lover. But somehow they just do it right. This past timed we all had the Fish and Chips made with Opah. The Opah was buttery and I love that the breading is light and not heavy.

Jeremy G.

We stopped here two times and had two completely different experiences. We came for lunch first. The food was really good and the server was excellent (server 26 whoever you are). I had the fish and chips and my girlfriend had the veggie burger. We ended with the coconut cake - delicious! The experience was so positive that we decided to come back that evening for a cocktail. We sat at the bar and ordered some Mai Tai's. The bartender was so unfriendly that I couldn't believe we were in the same place. There were only a few people in the restaurant at that time and we had to wait and wait for him to give us our drinks or acknowledge us in any way. I observed that his general attitude was not just directed our way, the poor guy sitting next to us tried repeatedly to give him a credit card to pay and was ignored to the point of having to intercept a server!! Here's a tip: if you hate tourists, don't work at a bar in Hanalei. Owners: fire the bartender!!! We would have given you four stars without this bar experience.

Chris C.

The fish and chips were great! Soft on the inside and crispy on the outside. The special of the day, pulau pulled pork was great. Not a lot of seating, but we were lucky to not have to wait.

Paul B.

I have to give a four star rating because the swordfish fish and chips was amazing. Yes everything North Shore is expensive. And the decor is pretty Jimmy Buffet, but best fish I had in Kauai so far.

John C.

Best Hanalei lunch spot. Can be a bit busy and that slows service down, but otherwise a broad menu and friendly staff make this an easy place to stop for lunch after a busy morning at the beach.

Jesse T.

The only reason I'm giving this place 2 stars is because the fish and chips didn't suck. However that can't be said about EVERYTHING else. The "happy hour" is a joke. $6.00 for a small Mai Tai is NOT happy. All in all just follow the yelps and avoid this place.

Tiffany G.

The Hanalei Gourmet wasn't incredibly overpriced in comparison to other eateries in the area, but it still cost more than it should have. The food was okay, the ambiance was crowded (and not in a fun way), and the service was subpar.

Mark D.

We arrived at this restaurant with relatively low expectations. We showed up around 7 and noted they had a band playing. An area was created for the band by shoving a bunch of tables to the side. We waited around 15 minutes and, despite our earlier mood were cheered up by the friendly staff and the good music. While the place is cramped and a bit stuffy, everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves and the mood quickly caught on with our party. Since I wasn't very hungry, instead of an entree I tried the peel and eat shrimp. These ended up being a great choice as they were very tasty. Others in our party tried the fried fish, which they indicated was a bit dry but still very good. We will definitely check this place out when we are in the area again.

Kate F.

Yum! Best sandwich I've had in a long time, a panko-crusted local swordfish special. They should make it a regular thing! Prices are decent, but no free refills on drinks, which is a little cheap. Would definitely go back and recommend it.

Chuck L.

We ate at the Gourmet several times during a recent 3 week trip to Kauai. I would have to say that the meals were the best of our vacation. Simple fresh fish, the best tartar sauce I've ever had, good service and a casual atmosphere make the Hanalei Gourmet a must-eat for anyone visiting the north side of Kauai.

Astrid O.

Ordered fish & chips and the avocado sandwich. Fish was fresh and solid. Substituted for an extra $2 a locally grown salad instead of fries. Avocado sandwich had tasty dressing. My husband said it was good but not anything special. Carrot-ginger soup was pretty good. You can only drink alcohol inside where it can get loud. We met some friendly locals. We wouldn't go back on vacation but if I lived here I would.

GREG J.

Next door to the Bubba's Burger joint but a cut above when comparing the hamburger's the two places serve. Do yourself a favor, at least if you are wanting a burger, not to give Bubba's a second thought. Fresh, high quality beef and great service. You get what you pay for!

Tony Z.

My wife and I stopped by once. We arrived early before the place opened and told the person cleaning up that we'd be back. We returned and sat at the bar. We ordered a veggie burger. The place was empty except for two guys sitting at the bar. Unfortunately, the bar person ignored us. (I do not think he was the same person we'd spoken to earlier.) He talked to two men sitting around the corner of the bar while I waited for the veggie burger. My wife and I had questions for him about the town, etc. It was our second day in Hawaii. After they left, he went to talk to an off-duty waitress who had come in for a salad. Our veggie burger and fries arrived timely and was good. The prices were higher than other places in the area. We did not return during our 7-day stay because of the bar keep.

Dusti H.

Great food and great service. This little spot gets busy but the table turnover is pretty quick. I had the fresh fish of the day fish and chips. It was cooked perfectly, nice and fluffy. Next time I'm in Kauai I'll definitely stop by again.

Jerry S.

We decided to stop in and give the gourmet a try for a late lunch. It was a great surprise. The staff took care of us quickly and our waitress was very attentive. She made good recommendations. We ordered the burger with bacon and avocado, the grilled fish sandwich and the egg plant sandwich . Both the burger and fish sandwich were excellent. The eggplant was good but not up to par with the others. We also ordered the Mai ties which were fantastic. We are definitely coming back .

kahau m.

Been to this place numerous times. usually leave full and with a buzz! Great atmosphere, bar is usually full or close to it. tables outside do not serve alcohol. Best place in hanalei for causal eats and drinks.. big tims burger- good hanalei sailor- good. fish and chips- great! artichoke dip- soso. drinks- great!

David H.

Have only gone for lunch, but was pleasantly surprised. The food is very good and the crowd has a local flare. Fun place to grab a sandwich and beer. Try the local fish sandwich. It is always tasty.

Brski B.

Yeah, of course it was the 'Fresh Island Fish Sandwich' (Opah this day), which was topped with the usual and came with hot fries. The service was good and fast and the food came hot and fast and the beers were cold and exhilarating in this charming little joint. I keep rounding up at joints like this because what I get is excellent. There is nothing more to add.

Jon G.

Great service. Well known place for locals. Fish and chips were great Salad was very fresh.

Bill S.

After walking the Na Pali Coast and snorkeling all day we were looking for a good solid meal well done. All three voted it a 9 and if the fries had been sweet potatoe it would have been a 10 all around. Casual - we were. Great food Gargonzola burger, ginger marinated chicken sandwich, and Oregon Bay Shrimp Sandwich on rye with a remoulade sauce. Full bar and windows looking up at the mountains.

alex t.

Expensive but food was fantastic

M L.

Service: Casual and warm waitstaff in tees and flip-flops. Ambience: Small, open-air neighborhood sports bar with whitewashed walls, local art for sale, and a view of the incredible Na Pali peaks. Live music randomly appeared in the middle of our meal in the form of two guys with a bongo drum and a steel guitar. Awesome. Food: Simple and delicious. Had the BEST burger and the finest pina colada (they make their own mix with real juice!) of my entire trip. May travel back to Kauai just so I can go back to this place again.

Floyd D.

A great experience. Service was incredibly friendly, and the fish special was delicious. Then there was the cake. Their chocolate cake was worth the trip all by itself. This is a gem and highly recommended.

Tiffany B.

located in the old hanalei school building. fast paced. big bar to sit at and a deli on the other side. i would describe their food as very "home made kind of style" nothing too fancy but definitely good! stuffed mushrooms artichoke dip mussels salads fish and chips...... the list goes on

Jeni E.

I think it's hilarious to go BACK to yelp after it has directed you to a place, re-read the reviews, and say WTF? Haha that being said, i'm not mad or anything, but this place is just whatever. Reasons: 1) Went for fish taco night on Thursday, bc like every tourist, everyone wants to do the "local" thing, even though we're not fooling anyone. But still. Anyways, I ordered 2 fish tacos a la carte ($5/taco, the plate is $12, but I didn't really care about the beans/rice. I'm just trying to be thorough in my explanation, be patient). I also asked if I could have the fish in the tacos grilled instead of fried, and the server was like "hmm, geeee.. I would normally say yes, but I just sat a huge table and slammed the kitchen with their order.. so they're not going to have the time to grill them instead." I honestly thought she was kidding, and mind you, this HUGE table was like maybe 8 people. So I say,"Ok, I get it. Will you just tell the cooks I want them grilled, but not to stress about hurrying? I will be as patient as they need me to be." The server said sure, no prob. My other half ordered the fish and chips. I'll get back to that later. 2) A pint of draft beer (Pacifico) was $5. It could have been colder, whatever. I wouldn't even ding them for that. Just saying. 3) The tacos come. The server brings me the plate instead of a la carte. Whatever. They're fried. Grrrrrr. 4) The fish/chips come. No lemon. Grrrrr. No malt vinegar brought to the table until halfway through the meal. Grrrrrr. Like 10 fries. Grrrrrr. (I love my fries, shut up.) 5) The fish itself was fine. Fried to crispy, none of the pieces were soggy.. a little heavy-handed on the sauce, but not a huge deal. But the tortillas?? They were this weird half-fried consistency, but still soaked in oil. They roll the tacos like burritos, kind of. But strange, bc the two tacos was one huge oily, not fully fried tortilla cut in half... what if you only order one? (if you are still reading, you are extremely dedicated) 6) The straw that really pissed me off (that's right, no camel) was that when we got the bill, the fish/chips was $19.95. Someone must have leaned against the blackboard outside and smeared it so it LOOKED like $11.95. To pay $20 for the fish and chips that we got was absolutely ridic. I feel much better now. Ending thoughts: you're not a local.. so if you're trying to do the whole "let's do the local thing," just don't do this one.

Jim B.

For the Money it's hard to beat! Outdoor seating in colorful Hanalei town at King Young Village. It's truly Gourmet with Paper Plates

Eric C.

Recommended to us by Hanalei Surf Company in the same plaza. Overpriced for what it is. We ordered takeout: nachos topped with grilled fish, tuna fish salad, and another dish that I forgot. Total came out to $47. I'd rate the food on par with food you might otherwise get from a local diner -- simply mediocre.

Evan H.

Im kauai resident and frequent the north shore for surfing, after a good session I usually stop somewhere in hanalei to grab some grindz, usually shy away from hanalei gourmet just because Im to cheapbut the other day I was craving a burger so bad that I went and spent the 13 dollars for a burger. after they give me my burger and fries i ask for ketchup, and they say theyre out! wtf why would u let me order a burger and fries without telling me u have not ketchup! and wtf big save is across the road, go BUY SOME KETCHUP! GEESH so I drove home eating my plain burger and fries with only mustard, on top of that it was under cooked and the service is horrible! no aloha not even a smile. neva waisting money there again

Linda S.

Ordered a bowl of chicken noodle soup and got a cup of penne pasta with a little broth over it. It was a special that day and the preparation left me wanting a bowl of real soup. The service was mediocre and I overheard them telling potential customers they had to tip in order to sit at a table. Really?

E E.

Went there for dinner with a brand new designer purse. The purse is yellow. Went Hanalei Gourmet for dinner and sat along a bench wall, with a purple plant hanging overhead. In the middle on my dinner, a thick dark substance dripped from the plant, slowly like molasses, on to my brand spanking new purse. I wiped it off, but the purse was stained. The proprietor, Tim, told me to send him a bill for the repair and he would reimburse me. I sent him a bill, and a check arrived in two weeks, along with a gift - a purse holder so that I would no longer need to put my purse on benches, chairs and floors - cheeky Tim.

Leslie K.

Super fresh fish. Today's fish was marlin. We had a grilled marlin filet on green salad (yum) with mango dressing and a marlin sandwich. Both were excellent. Good value, well prepared fish. We'll be back.

Jessica G.

GRilled Veggie salad was good...the ginger chicken sandwich was tasty too...a bit overpriced however for what you get better prices than elsewhere in Hanalei...

Chico R.

I know it's been said many times before...those Mai Tai's! We were happy to see a veggie burger on the menu which went well with their carmelized grilled onions and gorgonzola cheese. Their Greek salad was outstanding as well. Did I mention the mai tai's? One you are quite happy and two or three you need a ride home.

Emily W.

This is our go-to place for lunch when we are in Hanalei, so it feels like home to us. The service is friendly and helpful, and reasonably fast. The food is home cooked and almost always good, yesterday being the exception - the carrot/ginger soup was bland with the exception of having too much salt. But the salad and minestrone were fine, and we have found this place to be consistently reliable, with the exception of the one soup. We love the setting in the old school house, with the lawn out front and the jungle out back.

Randall H.

Went here for dinner, and it was good and the service was just fine. The Asian Crab Cake appetizer was stellar! The spice, while present, was not at all overbearing. It gave me just a slight tickle in the back of the throat that was very pleasant. My entree was okay, too, but it was lacking compared to the starter. I had the pork tenderloin...it was served with steamed spinach and a carrot garnish, with your choice of mashed potatoes or rice (I chose the mash), and veggies. The veggies had a great flavor. The pork, and to a lesser extent, the mashed potatoes, however, were just a little bland. Given another chance, I would likely get two orders of the crab cake appetizer and I would be completely happy!

Jacqueline G.

The bread (which I believe is made fresh on site) is AMAZING!!! Our whole family got our sandwiches on a french baguette and loved it! Good variety of sandwich toppings and choices. Good for a quick lunch before or after the beach or a hike. Not really many places to sit, as the restaurant side uses most of the tables, but we were able to find a place. Definitely would recommend for a good sandwich!

Kimberley M.

This place usually has some live music, the food they serve up is fresh and delicious and they make good drinks. Though I don't doubt that they would serve you some dinner even with a child present, this is really a spot where island residents go to hang out with other adults. It has the feel of a Bar and Grill, with outstanding, simply prepared seafood. Come here for drinks with friends! They get very crowded on the weekend or when there is music, so don't wear too many clothes or you will get hot in here!

Larry M.

Good solid choice if you are on the North Shore. Located in the old Hanalei School building and has a pretty cool atmosphere. Nice TV's at the bar and they show most sporting events. Kid Friendly. They have a phenomenal Passion Fruit Margarita. Can't go wrong here.

Linda T.

Had an amazingly fresh and yummie swordfish sandwich for lunch a couple of days ago. I absolutely loved it. My husband had the basic burger, which was ok, but i expected it to be more flavorful, especially because the menu said the meat patty is handmade. Both sandwiches came with delicious fries, which were perfectly crisp on the outside. My picky 5 yr old had the peanut butter, honey, and banana sandwich, but without the banana. He loved it. The menu said the sandwich comes with fruit, but it was just a wedge of orange, so that was a little disappointing. Oh, we started with the crabcakes, which weren't good. Not the crabcakes I'm used to in SF and Maryland. Instead, they were doughy, not breaded, and didn't taste fresh. Nevertheless, our 15 month old baby ate a bunch of it. We ended the meal with the 4 layer chocolate cake. It was ok but the portion was literally 4 times as big as I imagined. The service was friendly and the way the place is done up is nice for a restaurant/bar. I would definitely go back here and concentrate on the daily fresh fish.

Stell L.

This place has a nice atmosphere with some very delicious food. Live music at night too.

Mark C.

The service and food was great. After a long day in the sun we were looking for some comfort food. We ordered the burger with Blue Cheese and Caramelized onions. It was AWESOME. They were also very accommodating and allowed us to make some substitutions (like a veggie patty and side salad). We would definitely visit again. It's one of our more memorable meals. The prices in Kauai aren't the best and this place, relatively, was a better value than most.

Dodie E.

Fun restaurant; funky place, looks like locals frequent. We ate lunch at the bar and I had the special: Kalua Pork Sliders on Taro Rolls. My gawd! Those were the best rolls and the inside was purple! The pork just melted in your mouth. Friendly staff.

Janet D.

I do love the setting in the old Hanalei school...very quaint and right in the middle of town. I asked the server for her recommendation between the two specials that peaked my interest - ahi fish & chips or the Thai ahi wrap. She recommended the ahi fish sandwich. OK...that doesn't happen very often...kind of built up my anticipation. I was really craving the homemade lemonade, which made it so disappointing to suck up sour lemon water (isn't sugar a Hawaiian specialty?). My sandwich was average and over-priced for what it was...the $13.95 price tag could have been justified if they threw on something gourmet (like carmelized onions. I didn't know whether to be disgruntled that I was steered away from something better or grateful that I was saved from eating something worse. I may go back here during my occasional week stays, but only if I'm really burned out on the better places...

Harry D.

The fish sandwich was pretty tasty, but for 14.95? Simple, it comes with fries which were very ordinary. Good salads. Seems they waitstaff was overwhelmed at dinner, not very big of a place, and a lot of tables crammed in. Not my style.

Geoffrey E.

Food is decent... prices are cheap. Nothing too fancy - friendly staff. Hot as hell inside - could maybe stand to get some fans! Staff was very friendly - ACC football was playing overhead.

Lee B.

The fresh fish sandwhich was awesome! The place is very casual and cool. The friendly waitress even gave us some great local tips. I highly recommend for a quick bite to eat

J R.

It was ok, nothing spectacular. It's a quick, easy dive to hop into for a meal. I hear the fish taco nights are great (Thus nights) but we went on a Mon for supper and it was nothing to write home about. My eggplant sandwich was excellent, except the bread was completely overcooked and rock hard. Note-to-self, next time get untoasted bun! My children's burgers were great and my husband's fish sandwich of the day was great. Limeades were refreshing.

Mary K.

The fish and chips here always make me smile. Fresh catch, and the best is the Opah if it is available that day. Love their draft beer and shrimp sandwich too. Mahalo for good memories

Chris K.

The only "gourmet" about this place was the price. The service is horribly slow, and when the waitress finally asked if we wre ready to order and we said yes, she said "hold on a sec" and ran off and never came back. I had to flag down another waitress to take our order. We didn't see our original waitress until she dropped off the check. As if that wasn't bad enough, I ordered the Northshore Club and the bread wasn't toasted and none of the meat was warm (including the bacon, yuck). It was truly the absolute worst club sandwhich I've ever had, much less for $15. My girlfriend is a gluten free vegetarian and was able to get one of the salads which wasn't too bad, but the dressing they brought with it was bad (as in expired) and made her sick. We honestly wanted to just leave without paying as giving them money would only be adding insult to injury (but unfortunately we did).

Jason C.

"You won't be sent to the principal's office here" My folks live in Hanalei and I kind of grew up there, so a bit of history of Hanalei Gourmet might prove helpful -- if not boring to some. The long structure that houses "The Gourmet" and their surfwear/sunwear shop neighbors used to be the Hanalei school building built circa 1911. It was moved there within the last 20 years, but the original architectural integrity has been maintained all the way to the kid-like restrooms at either end. The Hanalei Gourmet has been around since this move, but for locals, it seems nearly as old as the 1911 building. Serving and embracing the locals is the key to survival of any eaterie in areas a bit removed from hotels. This is true with any travel destination. And, the Hanalei Gourmet has been a local watering hole since before the tourists started finding Hanalei back in the 80's/90's. I recall the non-partying locals complaining about the late night music loudly echoing into the otherwise black nights. A time when all you would hear were frogs and the waves lapping in Hanalei Bay. But, that's progress. "Red", the owner operator, is not only a restauranteur (or restaurateur by Mirriam Webster's standards), but he's a politician of sorts. And, he's done a good job of staying friends with everyone. His frequent catering of local events helps, and there are always familiar and friendly servers to keep tabs on locals. Ah, but the food. We're all human and it seems that many people want the option of familiar comfort food with just a touch of something different, and all with a price that's down-to-earth. Hanalei Gourmet delivers exactly that. Fresh and thick turkey sandwiches, Big Tim's hamburgers, and everything in between. I'm not a fried food regular, but their beer battered fish&chips hit the spot after a day of swimming in the bay. Of course, while on any of the Hawaiian islands, you have to try their myriad of fish dishes. Hopefully you'll be lucky enough to have one of Hanalei Gourmet's fresh catches. If not, try their Smoked Hawaiian Seafood Sampler for the table to share. It's a local catch winner. By the time you hit the North Shore of Kauai, and you cross that historic bridge over the Hanalei River into Hanalei town, you begin to feel the angst of civilization slowly drain from your soul. Slow down long enough to try Big Tim's piece of Ohana. Oh. One more thing. Try ordering in my trademark Samoan/Hawaiian style. Order 2 dishes!

Sam E.

Stopped here for some dessert ... Amazing brownie a la mode with milk! Our server was a very sweet lady but the hostess needs an attitude adjustment ... She was crazy rude to a guest and spilt water on a passerby.

Carrie M.

This was a great little place to eat my husband and I found. For an app I had the Asian crab cakes and they were delicious with the aioli served with them. They were 2 large cakes which would have been good for an entire meal for me. I also got the green salad with grilled chicken which was amazing as well. I wasn't sure on dressing so out friendly waitress offered to bring me two. I got the balsamic vinaigrette and the mango vinaigrette both of which were great. My husband for Tim's burger which he said was good, he added bacon of course and pepper jack cheese. It's local beef which is always nice to have local items. We also got one fish taco to share because they looked so delicious, and they were to die for!!! Tonight was opah fish and they were amazing with a little bit of heat to them. I would highly recommend this restaurant. It's small inside so be willing to wait a little, I promise the food and staff are well worth the wait. Last but no least true drinks were great also, they tasted great but had a ton of alcohol in them. ( no skimping here ). Our waitress and the entire staff there were friendly and very helpful!!!!

Ross W.

After a strenuous hike at Napali Coast, we desperately needed to recharge, and Hanalei Gourmet is the perfect place. A relaxed setting, it reminds us of the Caribbean scene even though we've never been to the Caribbean before. Our server who might be the owner is super friendly, polite and attentive. We started out with fried artichoke. It hit the right spot, and it certainly got our neighbors' attention. My eggplant sandwich was good, and Hubby enjoyed the Hawaiian chicken burger immensely. Rejuvenated, we were ready for more adventure.

Christy A.

Great food & value with a nice local atmosphere! I ordered the garlic Caesar salad that was huge & delicious as well as the lentil soup - Yummo! Hubby ordered the cold cut sandwich which was very large & tasty.

Tulip S.

Had two GREAT meals here on my recent trip to Hanalei - salads are HUGE (get a 1/2, or share) and the fish is fresh fresh fresh. Prices are quite reasonable given the location, and the service was friendly and efficient.

Jackie Z.

Stopped on the way to Tunnels Beach.. I had the Chicken Moa Sandwich .. Hubby had the burger.. Very yummy and juicy, loved that the fries weren't oily, only really crisp. Maybe the cheapest meal we've had on the island.

erin b.

This was my favorite restaurant we ate dinner at in Kauai. I got the mac nut fried chicken (which someone below really hated) but I liked it, and thought the sauce on it was super good. We also got a salad that was huge and really good also. Overall I wasn't that impressed with the food in Hanalei for how expensive everything was, but I really liked this place. It also seemed to be filled with locals which is always a good sign of course. The only problem is they close too early!

Kristine R.

We walked by a lot of restaruants reading menus trying to find what to have for lunch, and this one caught our eye. It was very busy for lunch, I had the chicken sandwich and my husband had the fish and chips, both were excellent. They were just a little different than average, with accompanying sauces that really made a difference. The guava daquiri and fruit smoothie are delicious too!

Paul Z.

In an old school house, playin reggae music and cold beer on tap. Food was solid, fish sandwich was tasty and the wife enjoyed the smoked fish.

Marc G.

For Kauai, it really does not get any better than Hanalei Gourmet. When I first came to Kauai I camped o. Hanalei beach, and did a LOT of swimming and hiking, and very physical activities. During that trip this place was a beacon of culinary wonder, and I have gone there ever since. The seating can be either indoor or out. I prefer outdoor, as the inside is quite loud and warm, whereas the outdoor seating allows you access to the cool Hawaiian breeze, which is a profoundly relaxing feeling after a long day of sun and sweat. The service might well be consistently the best I receive anywhere. The waitresses (no waiters by my many experiences) are casual and friendly, and always offer up some kind of recommendation for drinks/desserts. The food can take a while to arrive, but it makes it taste all the better. I tend to get this chicken sandwich with this sweet honey mustard sauce, although I have also gotten the artichoke dip, the cheeseburger, and the chili bowl. Magnificent, all of it. If you have a spouse or friend, DO NOT LEAVE without trying the chocolate cake. It is five bucks, but huge and incomparably good. Seriously. Overall my favorite place to eat on the island, probably one of my favorite places period. When I think of Kauai, Hanalei Gourmet is only a second behind.

Matt C.

We've been going to Kauai and Hanalei Gourmet for years. On our latest trip this became our default lunch place. I favored the fish sandwich, my wife favored the Waldorf salad. My buddy and I thought the Mai Tais were great; my wife thinks the Lava Flows were the best she had. Friendly people even though the place was jammed most of the time. Just a great casual place.

Francisco M.

We had the pork loin and ginger chicken. Both were Super bland and overpriced. Ridiculously large portions.

Evan M.

We stayed at the colony resort so we ate here a few times. Our friends wedding reception was here as well. They did a great job with the food and service.

Yvette H.

During our vacation to Kauai, on our last night we decided to go for a nicER dinner as we had been making most of our meals at our cottage the rest of the week. After debating and still being a little unsure, we went with the Hanalei Gourmet... boy were we disappointed! Though the service was fine, all of our food was unimpressive. Portions were decent, but quality was lacking. Maybe lunch would be a better bet?

Barbara B.

Dinner tonight was delightful! Service was prompt and friendly and the fish fresh and yummy.

Caroline K.

Distinctly unspectacular. I was excited about the panko and Macadamia nut crusted fried chicken (for $21.95) only to find two dry half breasts covered in some kind of sickly sweet red sauce that was trying to be Asian but was just annoying. The bites I was able to find that did not have the sauce were underseasoned - turns out panko and Mac nuts sound yummy, but don't pack a lot of flavor on their own. Wife ordered the beef stroganoff special which was distinctly unspecial - "tastes like it came from a can", I recall hearing her say. Very kid friendly - they brought each kid their own entire coloring book, which is great. And the atmosphere definitely has that laid back North Shore of Kauai feel you want. But for $70, you want a meal that tastes decent.

Frank O.

I don't know how anyone could not enjoy this place. They have tables inside and out in a building that used to be an old school house. We had the fish and chips. The fish this day was Opah. I'd never eaten that fish nor did I ever hear of it before this day. I have to say, though, it was the best fish and chips I've ever eaten. It even topped the greasy fish and chips we ate at numerous places in England. The people are nice, the help is friendly, the atmosphere is pleasant, and the food is great.

D N.

Came here twice during my visit to the North Side of Kauai. Amazing. Had the fish tacos one night, had the burger w/ bacon, guac and cheese the other night. Loved them both. Service was great- waitress was chatting it up and super friendly both nights. Wasn't too bad of a wait for food unlike what other diners encountered. We also had the Kauai dessert which was coffee ice cream w/ macadamia nuts and coconut. While it was popular, and not exactly what the waitress recommended, my b/f and I ordered it because we can't get it in NY. Yea- we should have listened to the waitress and got the lemon bundt dessert or whatever else she recommended it. It was good- just not great. We didnt let it ruin the rest of our meal though because the burger was perfect.

Anthony D.

Solid lunch spot. Nothing fancy, good sandwiches and salads, good beer on tap. Service was a bit slow but we were there at peak lunch hour with a group of 8, so was to be expected. Great spot to hit on the way back from Ke'e beach.

Tony L.

Really impressive. I had a burger and fries and was amazed. Fries were simply perfect. The gorgonzola was drippy, runny, and mui delicioso. I'll be back.

Maye C.

Went to the deli part of the restaurant to get a turkey sandwich to go for the beach. The sandwich wasn't impressive, it took 15 minutes to get it and it's missing the cheese and sprouts we had asked for. We would have been way better off walking across the street to the Subway in Big Save. Did't make it to the main restaurant but I bet they do a better job than the deli.

A. B.

Eeeew. I'm not sure what everyone else found appealing about this restaurant's food. The fish tacos were the worst I've ever had (the sauce is nasty), the pork is dry and relatively tasteless, and the nachos are drenched in what appears to be salsa out of a jar. The young woman who took our order was nice, but beyond that, take your hungry stomach elsewhere. Oh, and the rice and beans were cold cold cold. The rice was crusty, like they'd dished it onto a plate hours ago and the outside grains dried out. It was just gross.

Jimi M.

Good eats and good to go on the right side. Head left for some strums while you chew.

Seton S.

I would say that this place is most certainly underrated. I was extremely pleased with the meal, service, and atmosphere.

Lisa Ann P.

a little pricey, but during happy hour (that seems on extended time0 here on the island (thank goodness) not too bad! I had the crab cakes and garlic potato's thinking if I ate more garlic the mosquito's would leave me alone (no such luck) anyway the food was great the drinks were good, service good too! would try other things on the menu another time!

L U.

Solid brunch or lunch menu after a surf session at Hanalei Bay. Satisfying sandwiches and burgers. Expect a bit of a wait to be seated during lunch hours at peak tourist seasons. Locals as well as tourists frequent this establishment. If you're looking for that local plate lunch, then head across the street to Polynesia Cafe at the Ching Young Village.

Tiffany K.

Awesome little spot in Hanalei--definitely worth an afternoon lunch visit. Have the Waldorf Salad (add Chicken or Fresh Fish) and don't miss the locals bar scene (apparent every afternoon we stopped in). Service is a bit light, but well worth it for the atmosphere and yummy flavors.

Smoothie M.

At lunch, an uninspired menu of American food, primarily sandwiches and salads. I had the Tutto Tuna Salad and the tuna was really dry and without many additions. We didn't go back.

Affinity J.

The fish sandwich was "ok." The special is swordfish "market price." It was good, what there was... 14.95 is the market price per pound for swordfish at Dolphin down the street. Usually, a fish entree or sandwich is about 1/3 lb. This was about 1/8 lb. It was the thinnest smallest fish sandwich I have ever had. It was a nice cut, it tasted good. Even here, it is not a 10 sandwich. And at 14.95, it's a steal (for them).

John K.

Another great find on Kauai. Very fresh food, friendly attentive service and great mai tais. What else do you want on vacation?

jill j.

Great little cafe/deli/bar with good food and drink, great service, and without the gouging tourist-prices. The locals seemed drawn to the fish and chips, which were lightly-breaded sizeable chunks of fish. I had the fish sandwich which was also very good. Sodas, very tasty not-too-sweet fresh tropical fruit smoothies, and drinks from the bar make up the drink menu. I understand the bartender is great. The one downside is that this place is NOISY. Just focus on eating and admiring the mountain view through the back window so that you don't have to shout at your dining partners.

maggie m.

i learned to appreciate local places that have salads on their menu (not as common as california) and this place has a little bit of everything and the service is great. however, the quality is mediocre and you aren't missing much. think TGI Fridays or Applebees. 2 stars for the food plus another one for mango margaritas.

Jane R.

Friends from Virginia highly recommended this place. We ate at the Hanalei Gourmet twice while visiting Princeville, HI. Once for dinner with a 20 minute wait and once for lunch - no wait - we ate at thebar. It is a small deli, restaurant and bar so it fills up fast. Lots of locals eat here. I had the chicken salad in a paypaya for dinner - a light meal and a hamburger for lunch. Both were good. It is a laid back vibe with friendly staff.

Mike S.

My wife and I treasure the Hanalei Gourmet. From our honeymoon to our sixteenth anniversary, we have enjoyed the people working there, the food, the music and the Gecos. Obviously we are sentimental, but that is what makes the HG so special, it is everyone's sentimental favorite.

A. Christine T.

Very tasty, high quality cooking. We went for lunch and all got lemonade or lime-ade spritzers which were delicious and refreshing. I had the fresh catch of the day as fish and chips- terrific! Everyone enjoyed their food (but mine was the best).

Coast W.

Very so-so, bland deli fare I'd say stick to the fish and chips if you eat here. The rest of our table were all generally disappointed. My "gourmet" gorgonzola burger was topped with something akin to ranch dressing with gorgonzola in it. I'd recommend going to Bubba's across the lawn if you are looking for good burger or sandwich. Some nice art the walls, however, if you are interesting in feeding your soul.

kathi r.

We go to Kauai every other year (from the East Coast) and end up eating 75% of our meals at Hanalei Gourmet. The food is fresh and delicous, and the prices are reasonable. The live music (Mango Brothers are awesome) is a plus. We will be on this beautiful island again this summer and can't wait to have one of their 'Waldorf Salads with a side of fresh ahi'!

azeem n.

Went in during early afternoon in the middle of the week. Bar area was full, but the tables were empty. We had the nachos for appetizers. They were good, but they are not layered at all, so once you get past the top layer, you'll have a bunch of chips left on your plate. For the main course, I had the fish and chips with the fish of the day (swordfish). It was very tasty and properly prepared. My wife had half of the astoria salad, which was also very good. So why the three starts? I had a coke with my meal, and it was 90% ice/water and 10% Coke. You know what coke looks like when you are near the end of a glass, and the ice starts to melt and dilute the color? That's what the first glass, and the refill started as. The service was super slow, and it took forever for the food to get to us. We were 2 of only 5 people sitting down, so it is not because they were busy. I've read the other reviews, but for some reason today, they folks behind the bar, and the waitress were more intent on chatting it up with each other instead of taking care of the people in the restaurant.

Harry L.

Recommended by a helpful local. Good food; reasonable prices. We stopped in for lunch. I had the marlin fish and chips; my wife had the marlin sandwich (special of the day). The food was well prepared and tasty. For dessert we split a piece of Kauai pie (coffee ice cream streaked with chocolate and a chocolate graham crust). It was excellent. The service was very friendly. We would definitely eat here again.

Tofoi Y.

Can't stay away from this place. Love the service, always friendly and warm. Love the food, always hot and tasty. We had gorgonzola burger, loaded burger, fish and chips (swordfish last night), fish tacos (swordfish again) and kids chicken nuggets. Food came in a timely manner, waitress was very sweet and attentive and it was HOT and so good. We will continue to come back here.

Tracy D.

Fresh fish and brews in a chill location... The fish tacos were amazing, and my ahi sandwich was perfectly done. The Gourmet has ruined other pub food for me. Gotta love Allie, the bartender, too-- she rocks.

Sammy D.

Lilikoi margaritas and happy hour after 330. Perfect place to escape the rain in the late afternoon before the dinner rush gets in. The daily specials are usually delicious and large enough to share with a friend.

Katie L.

Go for taco night on Thursdays....lightly fried fish in soft tcorn tortillas with yummy salsa. And definitely get a Passion Fruit Margarita...they're only 4 bucks, so have a few!

AJ W.

Excellent local place. Live music at night. Prices are not stupid expensive and the food was very good. There is a variety on the menu for all tastes. I had the fish sandwich, which was delicious. I would skip dessert though, it was nothing special. Also, important to note...if you sit on the patio you cannot drink alcohol. They don't allow it.

Neesh Q.

Friendly staff, fun vibe. We went off peak dinner rush time, which was a good thing since this place apparently gets crowded. The crab cakes were ok, but the fish and chips plate was probably one the best I've ever had. They fry up the fresh fish of the day and that day was snapper. Big portions! Great pit stop if you are driving around the island with plenty of touristy shopping and restaurants.

Don G.

Friendly service and great location. It is fun knowing that it used to be a classroom for the Hanalei School, they still have the black board which they post specials on. Mondays and Thursdays are TACO nights and they are DELICIOUS (ONO) and only 5 bucks. They have a Gorgonzola Cheese burger with grilled onions that is SO GOOD! They have a full bar that makes great Mai Tais and just about anything else you can think of.

Alyce H.

This place has really good food. We went here after snorkeling @ the tunnels. 3 of us had the good ole greens with the fresh grilled opah & mango vinaigrette.... Delicious from first bite to last & fresh! One of us ordered the fish & chips which he tho't was excellent as well. The pale ale on tap was a nice combo with the food. Service was pretty fast & good. Eat here if you want decent priced food & a fresh selection.

Lindsey K.

Ok, so this is frequented by locals, is immensely casual and has indoor and outdoor seating. Note: You cannot have alcohol if you eat on the porch! There, got that out of the way. It is not air conditioned, if that matters to you, and you may find yourself swatting a few flies. But none of that will matter because you'll be sipping on an amazing House Mai Tai and watching hot surfers compete on the big screen televisions. I ordered the nachos with fish, sans cheese and extra salsa. Are they really nachos whithout cheese? That I don't know, but they are good regardless. I ended up ordering extra salsa. It's fresh and delicous. The kids peanut butter, honey and banana sandwich invoked serious food envy. My daughter ordered it, and despite being full from my nachos, I felt the need to finish her sandwich. So good and NOT just for kids. Another great find is the house made lemonade. It is like fresh limonata. YUM! Just add vodka :-)

Paul S.

Everything was amazing. Food, drinks, service all were spectacular. Kids and adults loved it. The fish sandwich, not fried but fresh (changes by the season), was outstanding.

Howie D.

Stumbled upon the Hanalei gourmet after my wife went into another bar across the street would not show the San Diego Charger game on 11/30. We ended up having an amazing time at the Hanalei gourmet. Our bartender Mia was awesome, it was awesome to see her make our bloody mary's from scratch and not just use a mix. Mia makes the best bloody mary's on Kauai! She's also a Charger fan which give her bonus points. Mia was very attentive and took excellent care of my wife and I the entire time we were there. We were so impressed with the service that we came back again for the Thursday night game and the food was amazing. This will definitely be one of my stops the next time I'm in Hanalei. Don't even bother with the so called sports bar across the street. The service and the food just can't compare. Thanks Mia and Go Chargers!

Chelsea R.

We were so disappointed to only try this place once, and on our last day in Hanalei...had we tried it sooner we would have certainly eaten here multiple times. The crab stuffed mushrooms were so good!! I had the fish (opah) and chips and husband had pasta, they were both very tasty and the service was quick and friendly.

Sam A.

One of the better places we ate at on Kauai but it is still a bar type place. We enjoyed our ribeye steak but mash potatoes and veggies cold and not a single roll included. $33. Also tried articoke dip...good flavor but need to cut up the large chuncks of articoke. Service was pretty good but rushed due to crowd.

Brenda W.

The fish sandwich was yummy and everything else was ordinary. I had lunch at this place because of the positive reviews and definitely one of the best fish sandwiches I experienced...I loved the sauce!

Derek G.

Very good food. A nice sit down place for lunch. You can sit at the bar or outside and have a nice view of the Hanalei shopping area. For hawaii standards, the food is reasonably priced. Our server was funny and accommodating. If I ever come back to Kauaii, I will be sure to come back to this place.

Phil L.

My wife and stayed in Princeville for two weeks and had lunch here one day early in our stay. I had a burger and she had a fish sandwich that was out of this world. We were so impressed that we asked our very friendly waitress about the fish used in the sandwich (monchong) because she really liked it. She then told us about their fish tacos and said they were a special on Monday and Thursday evenings. We want back a couple of days later on Thursday and both ordered fish taco dinners. Oh man, all I can say is that these were the best fish tacos we have ever eaten! They came with rice and black beans, perfectly complementing the two delicious tacos. Well, we couldn't resist the temptation to come back a second time and had them again the next Monday night. And just because we could do it one more time, we came back on our last night in Kauai and ate them one last time. So good. Also need to say how terrific the waitresses were. Each night we had a different one and each was so darn nice! They made the whole experience at the Hanalei Gourmet even more memorable. Good job! Can't wait to get back someday.

M. O.

Really good fish menu items. We had excellent Opah fish tacos, Opah fish and chips and grilled Hebii fish sandwich. Service was nice but a little slow. Hey..it's Kauai. Hardly any atmosphere, but not a dive either. Gourmet is a odd choice of names but who am I to critique that. Call it whatever you want just keep the good food comin! Would have liked to go with 3.5 stars, but certainly better than just 3 stars A-OK. Definitely a stop.

Raphael S.

Gotta hand it to these guys. My family had a very nice dinner at the end of a long day, but when we left, I forgot my credit card. I realized it was there, but only after we'd left Hawaii the following morning. I called up, spoke to Big Tim himself, and my card came back in the mail right away. That's taking care of people -- thank you, Big Tim!

Kristen L.

We stopped in for Happy Hour and were a little bummed to find they only had drink specials. We stayed for a drink and really enjoyed the atmosphere. We liked the open windows with a breeze blowing through, light and open,white trim and causal feel. It was a nice place to relax for a drink. They had two large flat screens above the bar. The bartender was friendly and I really enjoyed my frozen drink with local fruit. We decided not to stay for the food since we wanted something a little less pricy.

Jason S.

The service and food were both excellent! They have several island beers on tap as well as a full bar. Bloody Mary lovers take note; it seems to be the specialty, as I saw several made from scratch! The guava smoothie was a real treat. We had one of the burgers (delicious), fresh fish sandwich (awesome) and one of the chicken sandwiches (wonderful). Finished the meal with the largest piece of ice cream cake I've ever seen served at a restaurant. The perfect lunch to finish off a long morning of swimming and sunning at Ke'e Beach!

Tiffany S.

This is my second time in Kauai and my second time eating at Hanalei Gourmet and it was just as good as I remember. Definitely come here if you have a chance.

Justin B.

Wonderful fish tacos and ambience. My family and I went on a Thursday and had the fresh fish catch of the day, Marlin. It makes great fish tacos and fish n chips. Top that off with a Lava Flow for my wife and a local beer for me, it made for an excellent dinner choice.

Kathleen K.

Nice, casual spot to grab a fish sandwich for lunch, or a salad, fish tacos and drink for dinner. I enjoyed the live music. The hubby was happy to be able to catch the game. We like the people, the area and the atmosphere here and always come back. Enjoy a Mai Tai here and you won't mind it if the servers take their time.

Jessica S.

We could eat here every night. Oh, wait. We practically have. Seriously we've gone 2 or 3 times a week on each visit here and I have yet to have a bad meal. There's 1 waitress who seems to dislike people in general, but we haven't had her during this trip...and the rest of the staff is awesome, especially Victoria!!! Peel and eat shrimp are killer, anything with the word "artichoke" in it kicks ass, their salad dressings are worth mentioning, especially the Creamy Garlic, and the nightly fresh fish is reliably fantastic (though the grilled preparation is a little bland so maybe only go there if you're on some crazy health kick and need to avoid all oils). Live music and a super great Mai Tai top it all off for the 5th and final star.

Julia J.

We've been visiting Kauai for over 10 years. Hanalei Gourmet has been consistent in providing great service and good food. We come here a few times during our visit (we stay for 3 weeks). Sometimes they offer live music. Mai Tais are tasty and I really enjoy their salads - although I've had other entrees and they are all very good. The Ginger chicken is on the top of my faves. There is also a little deli (separate door) and they have good cookies there. :)

LuLu M.

Unfortunately, there is nothing too special about this place for me. I ordered a margarita which was too sweet and syrupy. I also ordered the shrimp boil and although there were plenty of shrimp they were pretty tasteless. Their saving grace is that they have nice servers and it's in a good location.

Marguerite C.

Excellent choice, great ambience, and a mai tai that tasted like RUM with a little fruit juice. Loved the smoked fish plate. Definitely coming back!

Allie M.

This place was recommended by a local. When we first arrived we wanted to eat outside but you can't drink on the porch. So instead we were going to grab a drink at the bar then go outside. But the bar service was so friendly and prompt we ended up eating there. We had the fish tacos, recommended by the bartender, and they were amazing - served with black beans and rice (not anything amazing but pretty good). But for "bar" food everything was great. Wouldn't really say it's gourmet but to eat out in Hawaii for under $40 with one person drinking and both having a great meal, it's pretty damn good. We're going back tonight for the fried artichoke as burgers. Hopefully everything is just as good.

Tina H.

The energy of whirling waitresses getting everyone seated and fed is amazing. Despite a crowd they get it all done and to perfection. This just adds to the vacation atmosphere with the treat of great food from the kitchen to savor. So I would sum Hanalei Gourmet as fun and delicious. Wide variety of items on the menu and since we try to eat as much fish as possible when in Kauai we were very pleased with the marlin and mahi dishes we had.

Dusty B.

Great lunch experience. The fried artichoke hearts were wonderful and the grilled fish sandwich with caper sauce was delicious. The service was prompt and friendly. A great stop!

Shannon D.

So we had a long hike to Queen's Bath and thought we would head to the market for beer and lunch-- we were NOT disappointed!!! By either!!! We shared and had more than enough- half garlic Caesar salad and fish burger (based on daily fish special) and it was great!!!! Fries-- ehhh par for the course-- but the rest-- completely worth it!!!!

S C.

We came here for dinner with our 2 kids. Music was good, food is OK. My husband enjoyed his crab cakes & my son liked his burger. I mean you can't really mess up a burger. I have 2 issues that prevent giving this place 4-5 stars: first, this place offers no free refills on soda or iced tea; and second-- parents beware, the kid's meal is super small-- better suited for a toddler.

Peter T.

Seriously bad food prepared without love... Nothing gourmet about the food! We tried the scampi pasta & the Fresh Catch special, both were bland & just barely edible. This is a bar trying to be a restaurant. Did notice a lot of diners ordered the burger, maybe that's their specialty...

Carol P.

We are here on at Patricks day. They were having their 24th year celebration with saint paddy's specials. A giant leprechaun came by and gave me a green carnation. A band started at 12:30. I enjoyed $5 corn beef sliders and a limeade. I also got a pickle that cost $1 which I thought a bit weird since the sliders were so cheap. Why charge a dollar for a small pickle? I enjoyed eating outside but sad that they couldn't serve alcohol out there.

Rene L.

Good fish and chips and nice local beer , pretty close to my vacay rental in pale ke kua. The po' boy samich wasnt good. I had better but then again I had worse!

J W.

I live here on kauai and would highly recommend hanalei gourmet. Dont let the name fool you, this place isnt a stuffy rich person restaurant, rather its a very causal with 2 tv that have sports playing. the food is good and the service is good as well. tourist and locals both should check this place out. DONT goto Kalypso across the street. get fish and chips

Ellene G.

The absolute worst food I have ever had !!!! The chicken salad in the avacodo tasted like it had lard in it. No chicken taste at all ! The artichoke dip was watery and tasted like it had been frozen !! Never go here!

Jill D.

The food here is really good considering the high tourist ratio and the surrounding touristy shops. I got a chicken salad and it was huge and incredibly filling. My daughter's kids meal was massive! I really appreciate restaurants that give you good value for a kids meal, this is DEFINITELY one of them! She loved her hamburger and fries and my mom, who was visiting said her hamburger was "wonderful" and was thoroughly impressed. Loss of one star because our server had a case of "bitch face" but the owner's sweet attitude made up for it. Prices are reasonable and the menu is huge.

Tim K.

The po boy was the best I've ever had. They must marinade the fish in magic unicorn dust because I haven't had anything this good in a while. Mai Tai good too.

Jen M.

Def not "gourmet." It's pretty typical bar/grill type food. Had the crab cakes. They were too hot, overloaded with peppers. Don't think I've ever had peppers in crab cakes before. I don't care for the combo. Draft beer was good. Had the Maui Brewing Bikini Blonde. Waitress was nice and pretty much on point. My mom had the clam chowder. She said it was all right but has had better. Of course, she spends 4 months a year on the Cape, so... Asked for a to-go box and was given a paper plate and sheet of tin foil. Kinda weird for a place that has a whole take-out business. But whatever... Island life. Why was I taking it home of it was so mediocre? 'Cause I hate wasting food. It'll get eaten, it just won't be a meal to remember.

Fred P.

Been coming here for 16 years and it remains our favorite Hanalei restaurant for dinner. Service is not always fast but what's the hurry! Very good food at a reasonable price. The fresh fish is always good. Sit on the lanai for a relaxing casual meal. No alcohol outside so if you need a drink sit indoors.

Caroline L.

Wonderful Mai tai. Very casual ambience. Restaurant is pretty loud but the food is good. We had the fish and chips and fish special.

M M.

Fantastic spot. Great food in classic setting. Can get a bit crowded. Be patient. Try the fish and chips. Totally awesome.

Evey G.

Dropped into this place based on yelp reviews. We had planned to eat the poolside grill at the St. Regis, but it was just a bit too stuffy for our liking so we looked for an alternative in the area. The shop is super cute and seemed very popular. I can see why, I would totally go there all the time if I was a local. The menu looked fantastic, though we only did drinks and nachos. The guava daiquiri and the house mai tai were both delicious, and the nachos were pretty good. The chips weren't the best ever, and there was a lack of distribution with the toppings, but it was still very tasty. We found all the servers to be laid back, prompt, friendly, and welcoming. I wish we had the chance to try other dishes on the menu that sounded so tasty, and I'm sure if we visit the island again we will find a time to eat here. I will be recommending it to any of my friends who take a trip out here.

Maggie G.

We had a late lunch here and had the turkey sandwich with the works and the the ultimate burger... Both we're pretty good... I liked that the sand which had sprouts on it with Dijon mustard, something a little different from the norm.

Pollack L.

Great food- broiled mushrooms and fried artichokes are really good. This place is usually very crowded but worth the wait. Waitress was really nice and a musician named Santiago performed last night and we really enjoyed his music.

Cheryl R.

Pricey, but the food was really good. The fish and chips was outstanding. Lightly battered but not greasy at all. The wasabi dipping sauce had great flavor without being wasabi-hot. The hamburgers were good. 2 fish & chips, 2 burgers, 3 beers $80 for lunch. Service was quick and friendly.

Aimee E.

I got the deweys gorgonzola burger and my husband got the fish and chips and both were awesome. Small place... nice staff...good live local music.

Chris H.

Once again, excellent! Took my family up to Hanalei because mom is visiting from Chicago. Couldn't help myself and had to have the ribeye again, cooked to perfection! My wife had the burger which she loved. My brother had the shrimp Scampi which smelled so good across the table and mom had the scallops which she devoured. Live music was just starting as we were getting ready to go but we hung around for a bit to listen, the live music at Hanalei Gourmet never disappoints. Highly recommended!!!

Patrick T.

I don't know what the fuss is all about... We were treated dismissively, were served very slowly, food was average at best, incomplete order, no one checked on us, and we were unceremoniously handed the bill as if it were a favor to eat there. Wish I had just stayed at my hotel... Total disappointment.

Jolene H.

Cook your beans, yo! I was just going to leave it at that but I'm going to add that the fish tacos, uncooked beans, and rice gave me a huge gut ache all night. The tortillas were greasy and hard and even the beers were overpriced. Sad times in Hanalei! Should have gone back to the pizza joint.

Bobbi B.

We really enjoyed the food. We had the Ruben and fish and chips and it was delicious. Cute little area. No alcohol on the patio which was a bummer.

Abby M.

Good and service were both excellent! Didn't have to wait for a table, staff is super friendly! Fast and efficient. Definitely get the fish sandwich-always the catch of the day!

Becky L.

This place was just ok. I think the prices are a bit extravagant for the quality of food and service you get. We got here around 6:30 on a Monday night and it was just getting busy. When we got done eating there was a huge line (around 7:30). Anyway they pushed two very wobbly tables together and put us against the wall, which made for a not too enjoyable dining atmosphere. The server was also not really friendly and didn't really stop by after giving us our food other than to give us the bill. We ordered the mussels, stuffed mushrooms, fish and chips (mahi mahi), pork loin, and the chicken burger. I thought the mussels were probably the best dish out of all of them. The sauce it came with was very tasty and complimented the taste of the mussels perfectly. However, the other dishes were not so great. The mushrooms were not very flavorful, and the mahi mahi was very dry and overcooked. The pork loin was tender, but again not very flavorful. My mom got the chicken burger and she said it was dry and tasted like charcoal. Overall not a great experience.

Brian S.

The fish and chips were great. Actually went back 3 times while there. Each time a different type of fish which was cool to try. My wife also had the Waldorf salad which she said was amazing. We will be back and I hope it will be soon.

Lena H.

Great fish and chips. Clean place to eat with great service. A gem here in hanalei!

Rob J.

This is a solid place for lunch after having made the drive out from Poipu. I don't know that it's any better than the dozen other places that are in Hanalei, but the menu was pretty standard lunch place fare, and the prices were reasonable. There was nothing really on the menu that would make me pick this place over trying one of the others around the area.

Crystal U.

We ordered the fish tacos, which was delicious but we were sorely turned off by the hostess attitude. She was not friendly, did not explain that you needed to write your name on a board to be seated and didn't tell us until after we ordered alcohol that we could not be seated outside. We were skipped over twice for tables because of this, which made our wait about 45 minutes. Atmosphere is very local and enjoyed that part of the visit.

Samir S.

Had lunch and diner at The Hanalei Gourment. Loved both the meals. While the place is small and unassuming, the food is great. Think of it as a bar with a really, really good kitchen attached to it. Suggestions would be to get there early as the place does fill up quickly and seating is limited (if you sit outside there is no alcohol served outside). The service is also a little bit weak/slow but that is probably due to the fact that the staff is overwhelmed when the place is at or near capacity. But none of this really detracts from the food. Would have had more meals there if a all possible. Prices are also in line with what you would expect to pay on the island, but not over the top. 2 people, with a glass of wine/beer and an entree would be somewhere in the $60-$75 price range - very reasonable.

Kelly G.

The seafood here is SO fresh, and they have live bands with outdoor seating. Fantastic island restaurant.

Alix C.

My husband and I both had the passion fruit margaritas and the fish tacos. The tacos were amazing! They had a spicy chipotle sauce that was delicious. The margaritas weren't bad either.

Rebecca C.

Me and the hubs went here twice (maybe more soon ;) during our stay in Kauai. We had the fish and chips plate and the fish sandwich. The fish and chips are unreal - so so good. The fish sandwich is also very yummy. The fish has the perfect amount of batter, crispy on the outside. The fish is perfectly cooked, very juicy. The fries are perfectly cooked too, I like mine with some crisp to them. And I won't forget to mention the sauce that comes with it, unreal. You won't be disappointed. Considering most places in the area are very expensive $13.95 for the fish and chips is not bad at all. Staff is very friendly too :)

Darren N.

Opted for their 6 oz burger made to order and chocolate chip peanut butter cookie. The burger was great and cleanly prepared. Fresh ingredients and awesomely crispy bacon strips made the dish. I also like the thin cut fries, McDonald's style, rather than the crinkle cut or steak cut fries that other burger places opt for. Unfortunately the chocolate chip peanut butter cookie wasn't as tasty as it looked in the window. Although they make their own cookies, I think they cut back on the peanut butter, chocolate chip, and/or the sugar. Basically it was very bland. Prices were similar to other specialty burger restaurants but this restaurant also offers a variety of other dishes such as seafood and pureed soups. Take out or dine in but you'll have to look for parking across the street as the only thing in front of the place is a grass lawn. 4 stars for the good burger (with bacon) and fries.

Manuela V.

We went for dinner at this place yesterday. The waiter was so rude and impolite that we ended up leaving even before getting the chance to order our food. She said we were silly for ordering less ice in our drink and we told her off as we found it derogatory to call your customers silly and the to laogh about it. Before leaving we wanted to tell the owner (if she/he were around) about the conduct of her employee plus her attitude. However, the waiter wouldn't give us her name. We asked a colleague of hers and found out her name was Victoria. We're very happy we didn't eat there in the end and were very pleased with the atmosphere at the restaurant across the street. I wouldn't recommend this place to anyone.

Jennie M.

Great place for lunch! Good food good service! Great atmosphere too! Garden burger was moist and cooked just right!

Lauren L.

I got the wai-something salad it was a heaping plate of lettuce, 3 slices of zucchini, 1 slice of eggplant, 3 baby corn, and 1 heart of artichoke.... Just terrible, Not worth the money. Very limited options for vegetarians. Best thing about this place is the live hawaiian music for free put on by the locals that do the luau at Tahiti a nui.

Sarah P.

Great choices on the menu. For the price you get so much food. I had the Mac nut fried chicken and my husband has the fish n chips. Both were delicious and so filling.

Karen C.

We drove over to the North side of the island and happened upon Hanalei Gourmet for lunch. We were able to get a table right away even though it was a busy lunch hour. My mom had the fish & chips special and I had the grilled fish sandwich. Both were made with one of the local Hawaiian white fishes. Both entrees were very good. The fish was flaky and tasty. Fries were good too. I did not really like the cole slaw that came with the fish & chips (not saucy enough) but otherwise we enjoyed our meals. Our waitress was attentive even though she had a lot of tables to manage. This is a good stop if you want something fresh and local.

Trevor D.

I knew this place was good as soon as I tried the cole slaw: not the usual gloppy, mushy stuff that you get at most places, obviously made with some care. Any place that bothers to get the cole slaw right usually does a good job on the entrees too. The fish and chips was about the best I've ever had. If you go there more than once, you'll see that they make it with a different fresh catch every day. I really didn't intend to have dinner here 2 nights in a row (I like to check out a range of restaurants while on vacation), but trust me it was no hardship. It's just a shame that they don't get at least 4 stars overall. In this case, the lines of people waiting on the porch for dinner are probably a better gauge than the Yelp rating.

Jenni E.

My boyfriend had their fish n chips (swordfish) which he said were amazing, and I had the fish tacos which were excellent. The food was so good that we came back the next night for dinner again. and we were not disappointed twice.

Megan S.

We ate here on our way back to Poipu from our hike on the North Shore. We ate outside after reading some reviews about the heat indoors. Service was great and the food was delish! My husband got the fish and chips and I got the shrimp sandwich. We also started with the fruit platter (out of this world papaya). I'm so glad we made it our lunch destination!

Eli M.

My wife and I stopped for lunch today and got the Roasted Eggplant Sandwich and a beer, the food was good but service was poor. Our waitress serviced every other table with water and even an occasional "how is everything?" except our table. To make matters worse, she brought us our check before asking us if we wanted anything else! We were also the only two minorities being serviced, which made us feel as though she was discriminating! The way she was acting made us feel very uncomfortable!

David L.

Ok, let me start off by saying that my FISH n CHIPS was pretty amazing for $16.95. I'm giving this place 3 stars because my wife got a udon dish, which was crap. The sauce was extremely watery and it wasn't worth $22... so a little word of advice, don't get it! It's better if that dish was taken off the menu. Besides the awful udon dish, the atmosphere was cool and lively. People seemed to be enjoying themselves with the live music. The bassist/singer was fantastic. Service was good except for the fact the waitress lied to our faces about the udon entree. She said it was "good" when it really wasn't, so that right there deserves 3 stars again. We would've not ordered the udon dish if she was HONEST and told us it wasn't good. I hate waiters/waitresses who lie period. Don't you love how this review revolves the udon dish? Well it's because the dish sucked for it's price. It's like ordering a steak medium rare (I want steak now) and the kitchen cooks it well done. What the freak right and you have to eat it and pay up. Exactly, it sucks. I hope your experience will be better than mine... Enjoy Hanalei!

Isabella P.

Fresh fish, more casual than gourmet...but maybe it is gourmet for Hanlei standards? Decent place to grab a quick lunch. We had lunch at Hanalei Gourmet after an unsuccessful excursion to hike the trail to Na Pili coast. Hubby and I had the two fish specials, Fish N Chips and fish sandwich...the sandwich was kinda small, gave hubby half of my fish n chips. Service is what made this a 2 star rating...just dropped off our food, made me feel like she has better things to do than her job. That sort of pissed me off a bit. I don't expect to find life long friends when i am eating at a restaurant, but it would be nice if you could try to give non-mono-syllabic answers. In conclusion, decent food, not the best service, Hanalei Diner? Yes, not Hanalei Gourmet.

Joanna J.

The atmosphere may not match with the 'gourmet' in the name (it's much more rustic than gourmet), but the food is great and I adored the quaintness. It made me feel like I was part of the island, not just a tourist. Prices were just fine for a couple from NJ. My husband and I eat meals out a lot here at home and when we were in Hawaii we rarely spent more on a meal than we would eating in NJ. Loved the fried artichokes (which I paired with a Caesar salad). The live entertainment was a bit rough around the edges. It's not a good idea to bring your children there in the later hours if the entertainer is always cursing that much - and though I'm not easily offended, I found it a bit distasteful. I do not know if they have more than one band play. What I love about Kauai is the lack of chain restaurants so you know that you are supporting local small business all the time. I still dream about those fried artichokes...

Paula B.

We started with nachos, with fresh fish (marlin) vs meat. Super good. Reuben sandwich was okay. Nice vibe, fun waitress.

Geoffrey B.

Don't let the name fool you, this isn't gourmet. But it is darn good. The burgers are better than Bubba's - and the fries are great. Service was fantastic. It's a perfect stop in a scenic venue for a burger and beer. Fish and chips were great too.

Stephanie H.

Really great burgers and try and the pineapple aioli. The burger patties tasted fresh not frozen, and the service was fantastic and food and drinks were very reasonably priced. Perfect lunch spot after hitting Hanalei Beach.

Bob E.

Great food, drinks and home town feel. Not your run of the mill tourist trap. Great fresh fish served with casual local style.

Chloe C.

Great little place in Hanalei that I would stop at again. I ordered the chicken boat in an avocado shell, and not only was it delicious, I got way more than I thought I would (very good dressing). The live music was great, and it was nice that I got to watch Rip Curl Pro 2014 while eating on their 2 TVs. The only thing that my table didn't like was their Manhattans. We sent one back because it tasted too watery, and they were nice enough to give us a new one.

Joaquin A.

YUM YUM YUM. Great fresh food in a cool, laid back setting with some of the very nicest wait staff in Kauai. We loved everything we had, especially the fish sandwiches and the green salads. The french fries were, like, Paris good. This place is a gem. Great food, great atmosphere, cool vibe. Awesome !

Birch R.

Stellar service during lunch hour, awesome Ruben!!! and great airy, open atmosphere. Highly recommended for an easy, enjoyable lunch.

Ashley K.

No kids allowed gets an automatic three stars. We had an infant and wanted a snack around noon and they wouldn't let us come in. Not sure why we've been able to bring him to very other establishment on the island that serves alcohol. Read the reviews anyhow, looks like they have terrible food.

Young Hi R.

My husband and I came here last year and don't remember it being memorable, but decided to give it another go. We got the plain salad, fish and chips and button mushrooms stuffed with crab. The salad and the french fries were the best part of the meal. The salad was a very nice sized portion and a great price and the french fries were perfect. As for the rest of the meal, the fish and chips were bland and the sauce that came with it didn't seem to go. We added malt vinegar and asked for the creamy dressing that came with the button mushrooms and it improved the dish. The downside was that we spent most of the fish experimenting on how to make it more delicious and by the time we found a good combination, it was almost gone. The coleslaw was also very bland, but add a little balsamic vinegar dressing (that I had with my salad) and it made it very good! Again, we only figured out this combination when there were only a few bites left. The stuffed button mushrooms were also very bland. It was good when doused with the dressing that came with it, but on its own, it was quite flavorless. Overall, our food was disappointing and we will not likely return. It was definitely not worth the price. We left wishing we had eaten at Bubba's Burgers next door. They have good burgers, good chili rice and good prices!

David E.

We took a ride to the north shore on a rainy and windy Sunday in Poipu We found this place on yelp and it was excellent. All the locals and the tourists know it.. The service was causal, friendly and very attentive. We had the swordfish sandwich and the chicken salad stuffed in an avocado. The chicken salad was awesome ...had crushed macadamia nuts and a yummy dressing served on the side. It is a long ride to get here but if I head north again, we will definitely stop here.

Jeri S.

Super Sunday brunch-time experience for this former-California-now-Kauai resident. Incredibly efficient and friendly wait staff even during this busy time of day, delicious hebi fish sandwich and French fries that are to die for, fun atmosphere, and totally interesting clientele! Great for people watching and enjoying the trades that breeze through the dining area. We'll be back!

Mary B.

I have gone to this place off and on for years. The idea of a Waldorf salad should be disgusting, and it normally really is disgusting. But the Gourmet revolutionizes this salad. It's delicious. As are most of the other entrees. But recently I ordered my child chicken fingers and to my shock and dismay...they were the Mickey Mouse chicken fingers. A Costco special. Come on, Gourmet! This is not your best self! So if you're eating out for adults, I doubt you will be disappointed. But with kids in tow? Head directly to t he Costco snack counter for dinner. It will sting less.

Nuttybits W.

I walked by Hanalei Gourmet and one of the waitresses struck up a convo with me and told me that Mondays and Thursdays was their Fish Taco night... she was really sweet and I made a promise I would be there on Monday. The tacos were GREAT! I can't recall the fish right now but it was really good. The staff was very friendly and efficient and the price was perfect. We went back for lunch a couple of days later. Side note: there was a waitress who was feeding the most beautiful wild kitten outside the front door. The kitten was so young and tiny and yet here this kind waitress was crumbling hamburger for him so he would be fed. I will always make a point of eating there when I visit every year because of that act of true kindness. EAT THERE! SUPPORT THEM!

Chris M.

Stopped here for an early dinner in Hanalei. The wait staff was awesome and the food was great.

Brad H.

Came here for my 40th bday with my sweety. Watched giants win Super Bowl. Had fish n chips which is the best in the world. Also had 1/2 pound peel n eat shrimp. Soo tasty. Wifey had tutu Tuna salad. It was awesome. Eat here Beers and tequila. Perfect. Draft lager and Payton silver. Yummy.

Gary W.

Nice place to hang out in early afternoon for lunch and a cold beer. The bottled beer is very cold and they provide frosted glasses. I recommend ordering the fish catch of the day as a sandwich that comes with fries. Saw a few order the fish and chips and it looks good, but didn't have this dish. Just go to the counter and skip sitting at the tables and mingle with some of the locals. I prefer Hanalei Gourmet over other places as the tourists typically skip this place.

Greg H.

Decent food, Skunky beer! Had two different pours, both had funny aftertaste, might need to clean those lines folks.

Christine N.

Special. The kind of place my husband and I would probably have Sunday dinner every week if we lived in Kauai (pipe dream). We'd say hi to old faces, quietly complain about the tourists taking our favorite spots at the bar, silently be thankful for the tourists for bringing in money to the restaurant, and sing along with the band that plays crammed in between the tables. You can't go wrong if you always order the fish of the day and if the skinny darling at the bar makes your drink. This was the only place on our honeymoon that we dined at more than once. Sit at the bar and don't forget to tip the band. Oh, and don't order the artichoke.

Michael M.

My girl friend and I went there for lunch. She ordered the artichoke sandwich and I ordered the roast beef sandwich on sourdough w additional provolone for extra $. Wasn't impressed for twelve bucks you'd think you would get a decent sandwich. Not so. The beef even smelled rank. The next evening we wanted to go with my parents but wanted to make sure they had mahimahi. First I called to ask they said no. The fresh catch was swordfish. My father really wanted us to go with so he called again. They again said no mahimahi. We decided to pass my parents went anyway and guess what. My dad had mahimahi fish in chips. I was pissed. So my girl friend called again and asked. They said no. She explained my father was eating it as we spoke. They still denied they had it. My conclusion is. The employees are all dipshits. Must have hit their heads on the ocean floor to many times while surfing. We ate at a number of places in Kauai. Everything is over priced and they can't cook worth crap. Especially Mexican food. They can't make tacos or tamales if they tried. I'm a chef from tucson az. So we know what we're talking about, especially w Mexican food. Take my advice Skip Kauai. Go to Maui. At least you get what you pay for.

L W.

A wonderful atmosphere with a view of the mountains behind the bar. Staff was very friendly and the food was fantastic. We had the fish and chips and Big Tim's burger. Exceptional.

Gina YeeJi S.

Meh,, Cute restaurant at a cute place but the food's just aight My hubs and I shared a 1/2 portion waldorf salad and he ordered the fish and chips and I got the ultimate burger. The salad was pretty tasty and pretty big portion for a half size, but it's not really something you can seriously mess up on. The battered fish was crunchy and came with cole slaw that was sorta flavorless in my opinion. The burger was ok but I woulda preferred more flavor once again. Overall it's ok and nothing special to it

Jocelyn T.

After checking out the botanical gardens, we were looking for a quick bite before heading back to Poipu. The Hanalei Gourmet place was on our list of restaurants to check out and noticed their was also a deli attached to it. We felt like taking our food to go and eat at a nearby beach so we ordered the mahi burger with fries. The guy who took our order seemed like he didn't want to be there and looked annoyed when I was telling him our order. I asked if he knew a nearby beach and directed us somewhere that was 10-15 minutes away which we ended up finding a beach 1 minute away. The burger was pretty descent but the experience left a bad taste in my mouth.

Matt F.

This is a goto place for my wife and I. We love the small town feel of the place and haven't had a bad experience in the 4-5 visits. Try their Bloody Mary... order it "spicy spicy". It's a bar with good food. Take a chance with this place.

Jeff P.

We tried all the restaurants in this area and The Hanalei Gourmet was the best. We ate here 2 out of the 7 nights on island and were very happy with both visits. The service was exceptional and the seafood was Awesome. We got lucky on our second visit and there was live music playing which really topped off the whole dining experience. Limited seating here so make sure you are prepared to wait a little while

jenn g.

We were seated promptly, but not tended to for a while. No water was provided until we asked for it, and wasn't received until about 20 min after sitting. We had delicious beer, a specialty local brown ale. The food was mediocre, they messed up our order and brought the wrong burger, so they took this off the bill. It was good they acknowledged the mistake, but unfortunate it was made. The fish tacos were okay, huge and edible. Nothing stands out about then aside from the size. The Mac nut fried chicken was dry and all white meat. The mashed potatoes were standard, but good. We had to ask for water refills more than once. It seemed like the servers spent a lot of time at the register talking with each other instead of checking their tables. For the cost it wasn't worth it. If this was a $ restaurant maybe, but $26 for the chicken definitely not worth it.

Matt L.

Pleasantly surprised. Had the best burger I've had in a long time tonight with fast, friendly service. Since they are the only shop in town for bites after about 8 pm, I had zero expectations. Not only did we have great food that arrived quickly and exactly as ordered we also got to listen to some great live music. I have already sent friends who are visiting in Princeville to Hanalei Gourmet. The Gourmet will become one of our many "must eat" places when we visit Hanalei.

Seanna S.

This place is awesome. We have ordered sandwiches to go from the deli which were super good. We also sat and had a early dinner on our last trip with a big group of people. They were very accommodating since they were super busy and we had a party of 9. Good beer. Awesome food. I had a burger with grilled onions and blue cheese. Oh man it was GOOD!! Really good spot to relax and eat after a long day hiking or hanging at the beach.

Marc G.

The Waldorf salad version they do is phenomenal. We were told by a friend that we HAD TO order it... Yes!!! We also went on fish taco night, Mondays and Thursdays, I think... which was perfect. Best fish tacos I have had in a long time... maybe ever... They just hit me right. My wife said she did not like her Mango Chicken... But I did not taste it... I was too happy. She did love the salad, though.

Letie W.

I ordered the Chicken Salad Boat-Mac Nut Chicken Salad on top of 1/2 avocado over a bed of lettuce with some dressing. Very light, hit the spot on late night dining. If ever in the area, I would definitely visit again. I went to the take-out/deli window to order, took 1/2 hour to make (as the kitchen also serves the restaurant), wandered around the shops, and came back to pick-up. Staff in kitchen are great & very personable. Offered free cookie and extra bread for my meal. A bit pricey, but isn't everything on North Shore pricey??? Check out my pics. what2eatz.blogspot.com/2…

Claire J.

Our first night in Kauai and didn't really have a plan where to eat for dinner. I was a little hesitant to eat here due to bad reviews but decided to give it a try. It was a bit slow for Friday night... but hey it's Kauai! Fried artichoke was good... I mean can you really go wrong with fried? Not really. The rest of the food was aight. Hubby's burger tasted okay, not worth the price we paid. My fresh fish sandwich was bland. I do believe in letting the freshness stand out, but it was just bland. I would've been okay paying the amount if it had more flavor. The food didn't welcome us at all. Service was good though. They had aloha. Oh yea they had the sugar packets that had hibiscus flower, it was cute and I took a pic of it.

Eric C.

We've been here before and loved it and wanted to come back. We had the fish and chips (opah), last time it was (mahi mahi) and the charbroiled fish sandwich (opah), last time it was (ono). Both times both dishes were some of the best versions we'd ever had. It was a really busy place at lunch both times we've been here and the service was OK. They have a togo counter too that I don't remember from the first time.

Jennifer H.

Fantastic marlin fish tacos can be found here!! They don't always have marlin, because the chef serves whatever fresh fish is brought in that day, but last Thursday night, it was marlin, and the tacos were "oh-so-delicious" and scrumptious! The tacos weren't the average tacos in a folded over tortilla. The tortillas were thin and wrapped around the tacos like a wrap and they were slightly golden brown - as though they've been fried, but without being that crispy or oily. The tacos were served with black beans and rice, which were not very Hawaiian, but full of flavor and complimented the tacos well! You know what else complimented those marlin tacos? Guava daquiris! it's not every day you can find fresh guava daquiris from locally grown guava. The atmosphere is chaotic - at least on Thursday nights. They only have fish tacos twice a week on the menu. If you get there right at the beginning at around 5:30ish pm, then it's easier to get in than when we came at closer to 8pm. You write your name on a chalkboard list to get a table. Most people want to sit inside, since alcoholic bevs can only be served inside, and it gets really packed! The waitress turned a two-seat table sideways to accomodate 4 of us and get us in after waiting for nearly half an hour. We didn't care as long as we got our food! It seemed like there were only 2-3 waitresses handling all those peeps there that night and it was definitely confusing and difficult for them handling the constant flow of people in addition to weaving through the crammed in tables. It seemed stressful for them! We got our food in a timely manner surprisingly, but when you come here, I would definitely expect to wait a little bit and kick back with a drink.

Doris D.

I think this is a good place when there's live music. We went on a Sunday night and the Mango Brothers were playing some tunes. It was quite lively. We waited about half an hour for a table because the crowd was lingering so the NBA playoff final could finish. I got the regular burger with cheese and fries, about $10. I ordered my patty medium but it came out like medium-well so it was a tad dry. I guess I should've said medium rare. The fries were good. My husband got the burger with avocado and bacon for about $12. He cleaned up his plate! We ordered an appetizer of artichoke dip which was good but a smidge runny for my taste. The service was a bit slow but it was quite busy. It took a while for the waitress to get our entrees out after we sat with the empty appetizer plate for what seemed like a long time. Good thing for the music!

jenay e.

This is our go to good food restaurant in town. Always a winner. Most of the servers are kind and happy to see you. Prices are reasonable. Opa fish sandwich and tacos are amazeballs! We came here quite often after we were shocked at the less than hospitable service people around this area.

Regina L.

We were looking for a quick lunch, and noticed that the Hanalei Gourmet had a deli attached to it. The options looked good, so we ordered turkey sandwiches. The guy who took our order was superrrr rude, and clearly had an issue with "non-locals". He wouldn't even answer my question or really give us the time of day. Our sandwiches were really small, the bread tasted packaged, and the deli meat was average. I could have gotten a better sandwich at a nearby grocery store. Overall, not a great experience.

Vanessa E.

The food was decent; what killed was the service. This was the only place so far we've dined at that didn't offer refills on beverages. I ordered the chicken salad in a papaya which said it had mayo and celery - I found ONE small piece of celery in the whole thing. The chicken was a bit dry and needed mayo too. Only thing that saved it was the poppy seed dressing and macadamias. Husband ordered a basic burger which was just that: basic. Nothing special. Just a sesame seed bun with lettuce, onion. And condiments. Patty was a bit thin in my opinion. And we had to ask another waitress to refill our water as ours disappeared for 15 minutes. But to top it off, we would would have been satisfied - and I mean just "ok" with the meal and experience - until our waitress reappeared and we asked for our check and she said (and I quote), "Sure, all I have to do is find the smallest check in here and that's yours...." I'm sorry, come again?? We stared in amazement on how many ways we could interpret this. Small as in dollars spent, or amount of food...? Hmmm. Either way, BAD comment. And it's not like we walked in and shared one appetizer and some water. We each ordered full individual meals AND drinks. So we left a comment on the bill. So strange and rude. Could have had almost had 3 stars, but even that would be generous. I'm sure their other meals are decent, but won't be going back after that. Ugh.

Lynn D.

Great fresh fish sandwich and fries! Was super hungry and it hit the spot. Service was fine. Friendly enough but most importantly fast. Definitely recommend

Barbara Z.

Great food. The grilled fish sandwich was fresh and tasty. We had great service. Friendly and responsive. Definitely one of our faves.

David T.

Had lunch here after a morning of horseback riding. I ordered the fish and chips which was Ono, both in type of fish and taste.

Gaemus C.

Good food, exceptional Mai Tais.

Susan S.

Ok for burgers and sandwiches. Gourmet is definitely a misnomer. It would help if the waitress understood what the word "ingredients" means and which ones are actually in the food. Not a good place to go with a food allergy.

Michael B.

This place is awful, just awful. Food was overlooked, served cold, and the salad we had was tasteless and not fresh. This place is extremely busy with every single touristy family staying on the north shore trying to fight each other for one of the few tables inside. Don't waste your time and money eating here.

Zombie C.

I ate here a few times. I had the Opah fresh fish sandwich, and the something 'ultimate burger' and both were very good. The service was friendly and attentive I like this place. They have two large T.V.s showing games so it looks like a good place to catch a game.

Anne P.

I have been going to the Hanalei Gourmet for more than 15 years and have never had a bad meal there. Their limeade is the best. Ever. Sure, when it's crowded, the service can be a little slow, but why would you be in a hurry while on vacation in Kauai? Also, the Sunday night performance of the Mango Brothers is not to be missed! It's worth going to the Gourmet for a drink and great music!

Tamera S.

Hanalei gourmet food tastes home made. It seems like the chef takes pride in offering clean, fresh and mostly healthy food. Our party ordered fish and chips, a hamburger, a fish sandwich and a club sandwich and everyone was pleased with their meals. Try them and you will not be sorry.

Charla H.

Lots of sandwiches so would've preferred to come for lunch. Had nachos - very cheesy, made with real cheese (not canned). No refills on sodas and service was very bad. More interested in talking at the bar than us. Low price, food okay. Lots of sandwiches so would've preferred to come for lunch. Had nachos - very cheesy, made with real cheese (not canned). No refills on sodas and service was very bad. More interested in talking at the bar than us. Low price, food okay.

Jamie W.

While a regular stop for lunch or dinner at least once when I'm in town, this place doesn't have a particularly inspiring menu or high quality food. For example, tonight the special was blackened swordfish which was a very small piece on over cooked vegetables. Hardly worth $26. Cabernet was served very warm and tasted like it had been opened for a week. The childrens menu is very weak and bland. I miss the live happy hour music from last year which now doesn't start until 8:30pm, except maybe on Sundays.

Tim G.

Hanalei Gourmet was a yummy find. This is a great place to enjoy Hawaiian Bar Food. So I think I have to give this place a solid 4. Not quite at a 5. When we arrived we did receive a little attitude from the hostess who really seemed like she did not want to be there. There were three of us and she had three seats open at the bar. However, we were looking to be able to relax a little more and comfortably chat with one another so bar seating was not something we wanted. This seemed to perturb her a little, since she had two tables open right next to each other that she would have to pull together. Once this was done, she sat us. One of the tables was really wobbly, and she stated, "The table is like this, that's why I wanted to put you at the bar", however we were cool with it. Once our waiter arrived it was a completely different experience. He was very nice and calm. I ordered the burger, which was pretty tasty. My wife ordered the fish sandwich which she enjoyed. The highlight here is their drinks and their deep friend artichokes! Yummy! Parking is in the back so be prepared to walk a little if you don't find parking directly behind the restaurant. I would recommend stopping in and enjoying dinner here. They have a pretty laid back décor. Next time I will try their swordfish tacos. :)

Myron C.

Good price, good food!

Edward L.

Great sports bar with a backdrop of a beautiful area. Had fans and open windows with a great breeze. Friendly staff, people having fun. Definitely some good vibes coming from this place. Has your typical bar fixin's but with that Hawaiian flair. Got the Fresh Island fish sandwich and fish and chips. The Sandwich: Great fresh fish. Had an lemon/dill combo mayo that complimented the charbroiled fish. Very tasty. I'd get it again for sure. Fish and chips: Again, absolutely, it's all about the fish. Excellent battered/fried so you had that crunch, but it wasn't overpowering. Fish definitely the star . If I was in the area, wanted a sporty/bar atmosphere, would come here. Two big screens!

Phil B.

The restaurant is located inside what was originally a school house. The wall behind the bar is open to the outside and has a nice view of tropical plants and the mountains. The decor is very casual and all of the specials are written on the chalk board. It was crowded the first time I stopped by for lunch on a work trip and was crowded last night for dinner. I had a cheeseburger and fries which was great but there must have been a potato shortage on the north shore because there weren't very many fries. My wife and one of our friends had the fish tacos made with Marlin which was the fish of the day. Both of them raved about how good they were and they don't even like fish tacos. I had one bite and it was very good. Our other friend had a chicken salad which she liked but said the chicken part of the salad was dry and had to ask for more dressing. Overall our dinner was very satisfying and I would recommend this place to anyone of my fiends.

Houman E.

Food is okay... Some hiccups occurred though... We ordered an avocado ham sandwich special for about $15 (came with soup) and they forgot the avocado (it's called an avocado sandwich)... The cole slaw on the fish and chips was not very good... So far our experience with food in Kauai has been fantastic but this experience was not up to par... Yet we paid for par... Staff is very friendly though ....

Mae D.

Here again and I just wanted to say the servers are outstanding. Always a friendly greeting and smile even with so many tourists coming through. They are always so welcoming and friendly.

Chris L.

Fish and chips were excellent. Sat on the porch and watched it rain. Live music was playing inside.

Antonia S.

Got a sandwich for about 10$ which was absolutely overpriced since it was really really small. Also the bread didn't taste great and it took longer to make than it should've for a little sandwich. The service was absolutely rude.

Jamie O.

Small place but great food and music. We went back two nights in a row since the food was so good. First night I had the garlic Caesar salad and the mussels. The Caesar salad had roasted garlic cloves in it and the mussels were cooked just right. The second night I had the wailai salad and the scallops which were amazing. My husband had the fried chicken which is a must try. We can't wait to come back. I still have a few things I would like to try.

Sam W.

Been living on Kauai my whole life and today was the first time I went! I'm not a huge fan of sandwiches... But their Hanalei Moa sounded delicious and the waitress recommended it. IT WAS A M A Z I N G! Don't know what they put in the sauce, but whatever it is, they're doing it right. The sauce went perfectly with the sandwich and I had enough left over to use with my fries! Everything was extremely fresh. I walked into this place not expecting much, and left only wanting more.

Stephanie B.

Friendly service and delicious food. The prices were a teeny bit high but not surprising. We were promptly seated and our server came out not long after (we opted to sit outside). I had the Hanalei Moa chicken sandwich - very tasty but a little messy. My husband had the rib eye and cleaned his plate. This place had a nice vibe and I definitely recommend it if you're in the area.

Reza N.

Actually closes way before time noted in yelp. Came in on a Wednesday at 9:30pm and they were closed.

Dana Z.

It was raining..... raining only like it can rain in Kauai on the wet side. We are talking DELUGE! We had plans, ya know, drive to Ke'e beach, pay our respects to the Hula heiau, ya know plans. But the rain encouraged us to find this place and have lunch. We didn't have high of hopes and it turned out that we had one of the best fish sandwiches of the trip here. We were so excited! We had literally been eating our way across Hawaii trying to find the fish sandwich that stood up to the one at Paia Fish Mart in Maui and this was the place that came the closest. The service was excellent, the salads tasty and a most excellent lilikoi ice tea. We ended up enjoying the fact that the rain chased us in there, away from our plans...

Stephen H.

I think that the people giving this place four stars are crazy, but my wife and sister think I'm crazy, so consider the jury still out. :-P We ate at The Hanalei Gourmet a few times, and sampled a wide variety of their offerings -- fish of the day, fish and chips, Greek pasta, burgers, and I'm sure a few others that I'm forgetting. After sampling all of those dishes, I can say with some authority that they basically serve cafeteria food: food that's prepared quickly, relatively inexpensive, provided in large quantities, but not particularly flavorful or nuanced. This isn't a criticism per se. I didn't dislike The Hanalei Gourmet -- it's a reasonable option if you're in a hurry to get to the beach, or to get some quick calories on your way back from said beach. It's just not "gourmet" or four stars by any stretch of the imagination, in my books.

V B.

We tried this place the other day after a few hours of snorkeling. We were starving after skipping lunch so we chose this place because of the yelp ratings. Overall, the service was friendly and the food was tasty. However, the portions were very small. We ordered opa fish and chips and a mahi mahi fish sandwich. They ran out of the shrimp boil so we decided to not order an appetizer. We finished our entrees and then went next door to grab some burgers at Bubba's.

Jennifer M.

Had a nice lunch here:) wish there were more outdoor dining options, seems like the smart people grabbed an outdoor seat before the lunch crowd.. Enjoyed my Caesar salad(homemade dressing), and liver my Mai tai!! Will be back in the future!!

Rick G.

A great place for lunch or dinner or Happy Hour! The food is excellent and the bartender knows what she is doing. Love this place. Very friendly at the bar.

Jules T.

Fresh food. Crispy salads topped with grilled fish. Fish & chips with a crispy coating, fresh fish and not greasy and comes with a side of fries. Tasty burger like made n the backyard BBQ and ginger chicken is a generous portion. Try the piña colada, good stuff! Wine by the glass. Saturday nights had talented live music. Interior can be cramped but it's cosy enough. Pricing very reasonable based on quality.

Meg R.

We went here for Thursday Fish Taco Night and it was great. On Thursday and Mondays, you can get 2 fish tacos (whatever the daily catch is) along with rice, beans, and salsa for just $12.95. It's a great deal and the portions are BIG. The tacos were perfectly fried and I loved the thin taco wrap they came in. The ambiance is also very beach-y and causal and the restaurant is located right in the heart of Hanalei. It is a great place to grab grub and drinks after a day at the beach!

H B.

Amazing food, vibe, and service. The fish sandwich was delicious and I highly recommend the passion fruit margarita. Also shoutout to Victoria the waitress, she was great!

Emily M.

I had the fish taco plate - nicely fried fish without a "fishy" taste. Nice size as well. The side of black beans and rice was okay - nothing to write home about. My husband had the burger with avocado and bacon. He said it basically tasted like a chain burger - Chilis, Applebee's, etc. Honestly it's in a good location and close to our hotel, so that's a plus but maybe staff there don't exactly care about service. It was just a hand you your plate and walk away kind of place. Didn't check up on us at all - didn't offer anything, didn't ask us if we needed anything - really nothing. Only thing giving it 3 stars are the tacos and the location.

Kate R.

Yummy burgers and a great selection of beer. The four of us really enjoyed our burgers and the service was prompt and friendly.

Jane L.

Fun place to hang out and unwind after a long day at the beach. Place does get packed at dinner rush, so get there early, or sit at the bar. I love the local band that plays in the evening. Restaurant is small, and has that intimate local feel to it, where the waitress seem to know all the regulars. Fish & chips was excellent.

Melissa B.

While visiting Hanalei and debating where to go for dinner on a Saturday night, we settled on Hanalei Gourmet. A little reluctantly because of some of the reviews. It was me, my parents, and my two small kids (2 & 4). We were greeted immediately and seated immediately as well (6:00 on a Saturday!). Kids got coloring books and water with a cherry which delighted them greatly. I ordered a lava flow and it was probably the best I had on the trip. I had another one before we left. Our order was take. Right away, the mussel appetizer and the fish & chips were heavenly. Everything was seriously wonderful and we were all happy. The next night... still debating where to eat we just decided to come back (my husband joined us this time). Sunday night around 6. We were seated right away, kindly. No coloring books offered and no cherry in the waters. I ordered a Lava Flow, naturally, as did my husband and father. This time it was actually kind of... Yucky! Kind of salty or something. It was not good. The mussels were still yummy. The coconut shrimp were "meh". The fish and chips were still DELICIOUS. As a bonus, shortly after we were seated, live music started - The Mango Brothers. It was really great, and the kids loved it. We were seated next to the table where their friends or wives(?) sat and they were very friendly and helped teach my 2 year old how to do the hang loose gesture. So, my overall take is that it just depends on luck here- especially with the bartender- and who's serving that day. Coming early (5:30) helps in getting seated at dinner time. And you can't go wrong with the fish & chips! The dipping sauce is awesome too. Not tarter sauce! Love the cute little old schoolhouse room but seating is limited. Good luck!

Neil M.

Big bar plus table seating. Went for late lunch. Fish and chips are excellent and service is great. Very casual.

Sarah B.

This place was highly disappointing. I popped in to grab a sandwich and was ignored for awhile by the staff. I walked over to the deli where employees continued to look at me and simply walk right by. I finally asked if I was in the appropriate place to order a sandwich and the only response that I got was from a man behind the counter who said he was too busy to make me a single sandwich because he had an order of 8 sandwiches ahead of me. Nevertheless, I left. Just up the walkway was an organic supermarket where I got a sandwich quickly and politely.

Ask K.

Very decent lunch spot. We got seated early but the wait time can get ridiculous. Lucky you have the option of jumping lines to eat at Bubba's burgers if you change your mind.

Trish s.

This is a great comfortable place to hang out and have a drink. The bartender is funny and makes good drinks. The frid chicken was freaking awesome and the fish and chips were perfect! Best of all, you can watch surfers on the telly. Its just a nice casual place.

Jeffrey W.

Good food, good service. This restaurant with bar is located in the Old Hanalei School House built in 1926. This alone makes it a cool place to visit. I had the club Sandwich. It was very good.

Naomi K.

Went here for a sandwich because I saw on their menu they had gluten free bread. I ordered a roast beef sandwich with onion and mayo on gluten free bread. It was a decent sandwich, the slices of bread were smaller than a normal size piece of bread but when you order gluten free you never really know what you are gonna get. If I had seen the bread before hand I wouldn't have gotten a sandwich because instead of being a standard white sandwich bread, it had sunflower seeds on the crust and seeds in the bread that made it resemble rye. It didn't have a nice flavor to it either in my opinion. The rest of the sandwich was edible and got the job done but I can't really recommend it and I wouldn't go back.

Kathy T.

Fantastic dinner! We've owned at Hanalei Bay Resort for over 10 years and never eaten here. I had the Greek Pasta which was out of this world. Lou had the pasta special of the day which he liked just as well. The Mai Tai's were the best!! We will definitely be back.

Ellie B.

This place was busy when we came for lunch but we found two seats at the bar. They don't serve alcohol on the outside patio. Dan got a fish fry and I got a chicken sandwich and they were both really good. Service was friendly and prompt.

Tina J.

This place is amazing. The atmosphere is wonderful food is great. I recommend the burger,and the club sandwich which my mom said was Amazing

Dave S.

More divey than gourmet, the Hanalei Gourmet is a decent enough spot for lunch and/or a beer or 2. Several large TVs make it easy to watch your games. It was one of the few places in Kauai that had the Rose Bowl showing. Food is mediorce, hence the unremarkable 3 star rating. I had the grilled chicken sandwich which came with a pineapple flavoured aioli. It was just ok, but did the trick as we were hungry after a morning at the beach. It's not the cleanest place, menus are sticky, and despite not being too crowded the service was a bit slow. Initially I got turned off as the couple seating next to us told us to leave as their food was inedible (it looked like she had some campbell soup-esque dish), but we were so hungry that we stayed anyway....and while not the best meal ever, it was definitely edible. The accompanying fruit smoothie I had was also tasty. There are better spots for sure on Kauai's North Shore, but sometimes convenience and simplicity matter.

Monica J.

Great food and service. I had their guava dacquiri and it was yummy. Their fish sandwich was tasty. The fish was fresh and the caper dill aioli was perfect along with fish. Great atmosphere and food!

Pudge S.

We've been coming to Kauai each year for the last 12 years. We love The Hanalei Gourmet! The food is great, prices reasonable, and service is always with a smile & outstanding.

Laura C.

Stopped in for lunch. 2 fish sandwiches, a couple of beers & a couple of mai tais later, & we felt great! Friendly, fast service. Good buzzes from their mai tais!

Jack G.

I don't understand the lesser reviews since on this last trip to Hanalei, Kawai we ate diner TWICE. First time we sat at the bar,watching the surf competition, drinking and talking to a local and we started with an order of mussels. Great,great garlicky sauce with onions, tomatoes Greek seasoning it was awesome, the BF and I literally wolfed it down. Next we split a large garlic Caesar salad with well done crunchy croutons, delicious ! By now you've surmised we have split out dinner. Plenty for two. Now comes the main course, a big rib eye also cooked with garlic and extremely tasty which was plenty for the two of us. Soooo, two days later it was back at the bar. For the main course this time , a well seasoned tasty pork tenderloin and man was it good. Did I mention friendly. Generous servers and bartenders. The restaurant will be visited by us again on our next trip tho paradise.

Analisa B.

Had a good dinner with kids. Fish and chips were fantastic. The fish special was very flavorful and well cooked. Service was friendly and efficient. We arrived around 5ish and sat down at a table without waiting. By the time we left all tables were full and folks had to wait to be seated. They allow you to seat yourself when the place isn't full. This can result in less that maximum availability of tables if patrons don't pick the smallest table they can sit at.

Reed N.

I was here no less than three times during my week in Kauai. Ono sandwich and their chicken nachos were my food items. I drank a few beers here, too! ;-) I really enjoyed the sandwich, and the nachos were tasty as well. I finally figured out they dotted the nachos with drops of tabasco sauce or some other hot sauce. It really helped add flavor and a little heat. The place gets very busy. It is pretty much open air dining, and if you are not drinking you can sit on the decking out front.

Karen R.

A really wonderful spot! Open air and a relaxed vibe start off an excellent experience. They have great fresh made lemonade and limeade. We had sandwiches for lunch that were fresh and delicious (love the sprouts). After a day of surf we came back for happy hour and the drinks at the bar are fantastic. A nice mix of locals and tourists. Do not miss this spot if you are in Hanalei.

A A.

Monday - wait for lunch was 1 hour, completely crowded and no a/c. By far the most uncomfortable dining experience I have ever had. Had to step out just to get fresh air - if it wasn't for our large party I would have left. In no mood to eat hot food when the temperature inside is as hot as the food. Lost my appetite completely.

Colin C.

The young lady working as hostess had very little clue how to run the front of the house. This is always a busy place with a wait list that's first come first served. As my family waited patiently for our table we witnessed multiple tables that were sat on the lanai disregarding the social order. Very frustrating and not to worth it for a sandwich. Sorry the food is good but a waste of time while your on vacation.

Alison D.

Food was solid. Very bare-bones atmosphere though. Nothing to write home about. If you are in the mood for a decent, quick, reliable meal... then stop here. The fruit smoothie was AWESOME! I highly recommend that!

Scott W.

Been coming to the Hanalei Gourmet for years. If you ever have the oppty, order a Good Ol Green and a Mai Tai - you'll be in heaven!

Katrina F.

Tasty shrimp appetizer! ! The chicken/avacado salad looked yummy too. Nice atmosphere and drinks!!!

Bryce K.

Average prices and nothing too outstanding about the take-away deli menu...it was cool that we could get an insulated backpack to take on our hike, but the cashier was definitely not the friendliest fella. Overall a good experience, but doesn't make me super eager to return.

Arthur F.

We have to split this review into two parts because the Hanalei Gourmet has both a full service restaurant/bar as well as a take-out deli. We first visited the Gourmet on their Monday night fish taco night. The fish taco's were excellent. The only thing I would have changed would have been the preparation of the fish, which was deep fried, I really prefer grilled for an authentic fresh taste. Ala-cart : $7, or the plate with two tacos and rice and beans for $13. The plate was worth it. The Mai-Tai was awesome. This was a four star experience. Two days later we stopped in at the take-out deli. This was a two star experience. Dry tasteless bread, skimpy condiments, wilted lettuce, you get the picture, nothing special about this $11.00 sandwich. Skip the Deli, come for the tacos and Mai-Tais.

Cindi M.

The food and service were both great! Our waitress smiled the whole time she served us! The artichoke baked on toast was such a great starter for the 2 of us and was almost a little too filling! The fish sandwich was amazing! It is all very fresh and you can tell.

Ros S.

Pretty good for lunch. Sadly they were out of Ono so I didn't get to try the Ono sandwich. We had the artichoke dip...one word: Decadent:) and the fish and chips was ok. POG drink was yummy! Definitely recommend if you don't want an alcohol beverage. Server was super friendly and had pretty god recommendations!

Nichole M.

The hubs and I really liked this place. They had some great specials, decent prices, and delicious mai tais. Our server was so sweet and took good care of us. We had a mango pasta primavera which was delightful. If we ever get the chance to come back Kauai, we'll stop here.

Katie S.

Great live music, we sat outside which made the volume perfect (a little loud inside). The food took a little while to come out (it was very busy) but it didn't bother us as the atmosphere was lovely. Our waitress was friendly and the food was very good. Quite pleased with our first dinner out on Kauai.

Scott D.

Okay, this was a place a local said we should try. Service was fine, good home made iced tea, but... and I say this as a 52 year old guy who has eaten burgers everywhere (and I'm a picky bastard)--this really may have been the best burger I ever had. Seriously. It was the Moe's Ultimate Burger. Came with bacon, pepper jack cheese, avocado. I asked for it medium rare and it was medium rare. I told the waitress how much I liked it and she said it was Kauai beef that was never frozen... man, it was great. My only regret is we only went to it once.

Briget P.

After a strenuous hike, I came here for a bacon cheeseburger and it did the job well, very hearty if you have a big appetite. The shrimp boil was decent with butter and cocktail sauce on the side for dipping. The menu is mainly normal bar food nothing too exciting.

Laure C.

What a wonderful place to eat! Stopped in for lunch after snorkeling at Tunnels. Fish and chips were great as was the shrimp boil. I would go back in a heartbeat. Waitresses were excellent and so pleasant! A definite must on the north shore!!!

Angelica H.

This place was perfect for a quick lunch! We thought this was the best lunch you can get in Hanelei. My husband and I both wanted good sandwiches and that is exactly what we got.. great turkey club (they happily subbed the bacon for a generous side of avocado for no charge) and my husband got a Reuben and was really pleased. Very friendly service/ great food and priced well. Would recommend to others and return. Also, important to note that they had a lot of other great looking items on the menu.. there was a carrot soup and platter upon platter of fish and chips that came out of the kitchen looking great!

Tom A.

Nice place. Good food nice variety reasonable prices. If you go around 8pm you will be treated to some live music. We had a great solo guitar player of classic rock. I would have like to stay longer but my kids did not.

Claus K.

The inside was full, seemed loud and crowded, we sat outside, the only drawback is no alcohol allowed outside. Menu is seafood and burgers, check the specials. I went for the fish tacos, local fish and Fresh made..yummy !

Christine E.

The Hanalei Gourmet was recommended to us while we were visiting. I asked where the locals usually have a drink and lunch? This is the place to hang for a drink and some great food! The Mai Tai's especially nice and the crab cakes delicious! We came back another day for lunch and had the fish sandwich. I have to say the Grilled Ono fish sandwich was one of the best fish sandwiches I have ever had! The building is 100 years old and used to be an old school house - they kept the original chalkboards, where they list out their drink specials with colored chalk. I really enjoyed the vibe here they have a take-out deli next door for those that want a quick bite to eat on the go! They have seating outside on the porch however no alcohol is allowed while dining outside. I recommend place for lunch appetizers or cocktails!

Kim F.

Our waitress was great. The bartender was talented and generous. The food was fresh, delicious and the prices were reasonable. This is definitely one will keep on "the list"

Amy L.

Good deli food. Had a turkey sandwich and side Caesar. Sandwich was great! Put you name on the chalkboard outside by door for wait list! And alcohol is only served inside!

Mark F.

Cute little place in Hanalei. Located in the Old Hanalei School. Service good and friendly. Delivery of food was SLOW, slower than molasses. We waited over 40 minutes for fried fish and a salad. That being said the food was great. Piping hot and fresh salad. I would recommend it as I don't think the wait we had was normal.

C A.

Wife had the fish sandwich and said it was good. However my turkey ruben lacked the turkey... Two pieces of thinly sliced turkey for 10.95,waz rip off. My fault for not sending it back.

Meg O.

Should've listened to the reviews on this one. The seating outside was nice, but I guess since my husband I decided to sit outside that means your server will ignore you. She always seemed too busy and would walk away before we could finish asking her what we wanted. We order the fried artichokes, which were delicious. I ordered the nachos and my husband ordered shrimp sandwich. My nachos were okay, nothing special but when I asked for sour cream she never brought it to me. She never even came back outside to see how we were doing. My husband took one bite out of his sandwich and could not continue. It smelled like old, stinky fish. There was no flavor at all. Food - shitty Service - fucking horrible I would never recommend this place or come back, ever!

Lawrence F.

The Hanalei Gourmet is a great place to have a our "home base" here in Hanalei! They offer great food, great service, and a fine location with a beautiful view of the mountains. I recommend the food very much! It was great to socialize with the many "locals" who have come here for years. Don't forget to order the "Kauai Pie"....quite possibly the greatest dessert ever! I can't wait to return!

Mark R.

We ordered for pupus the smoked fish sampler, coconut shrimp, and artichoke dip. The smoked ono and opah was amazingly delicate and perfectly smoked. The coconut shrimp was dark brown and very flavorful, and the artichoke dip was very watery but not watered down; it thickened on standing as it was very hot. The tequila in my rocks passion margarita overpowered the lilikoi and could have been a bit more tart. My daughter's chicken gorgonzola was tangy and the chicken cooked very well. My wife had the opah and crab cake. The fish was grilled perfectly, and the crab cake was great but a bit peppery. My pork loin was tasty but tough. The garlic mashed were the okinawan potatoes, which we absolutely love. A bit sweet and complemented the pork nicely. No room for the Lappert's Kauai pie on the dessert menu. Next time! Service was fabulous. Very attentive staff. Natalie is great for dinner service!

Jarrett H.

Service was meh, to say the least. The food was incredible though. We had the fish tacos (tasty), the Asian crab cakes with pineapple aioli (delicious), and the coconut shrimp (to die for). This place will always have a special place in my heart due to the fact that's it's the first place I ever tried Big Wave by Kona Brewing Company.

Kathy G.

This place is AWESOME!!!!!! I am Gluten Free and I swear the bread they toast for the sandwiches tastes like Cake!! So good!! We ate here two days in a row and were not disappointed at all!!!

marc o.

Food Highlights: -Fried artichokes with garlic dip was awesome and the highlight of the lunch. -Son had Kiki burger which was massive and he really liked it. -Daughter had Kiki chicken strips and they were OK, but not great. -Clam chowder was mediocre. Had basic mix and too high of a potato ratio. Oh...the best part of lunch: The Bloody Mary which was spiced with Sriracha hot sauce which was a nice change from the traditional tabasco. Service was great, and overall good experience.

Jamie G.

Awesome place!! Great feel for a casual place with an amazing affordable menu. A must stop for your trip through town !

Gary S.

I'd been hearing fantastic things about this restaurant for a long time from my Uncle, a self-described local, and finding myself on the North Shore, I decided to try it out. The food was phenomenal (the artichoke hearts are an absolute must-try; I could've had an entire meal of those). The fish was fresh and the fries were delicious, and my soda came with a great lime. Now, the only reason I am not giving my overall experience 5 stars is because the service was poor. I reasoned that it was permissible that a casual, laid-back town might have laid-back service but we've had great service in Hanalei up until now so to me there is no excuse. Also, they charge for re-fills which to me is crazy. All in all, a good quality dining experience.

Lily P.

Great fish of the day sandwich, and the burgers are juicy too. You can hang out here and watch games during the day and it has a laid back atmosphere. The servers are super friendly and nice to actually be around. Back to the fish sandwich...it was cooked perfectly (not dry at all) and I love how they just give you the works along with your sandwiches. The drinks are reasonably prices and it is also a very family friendly place for those who want to sit at the tables.

Val H.

Fish tacos were amazing. It is a true casual spot that reflects the way the islanders live and eat. The wait staff hustles and the vibe is full of energy. I would say this is a must try. Especially on taco Thursday.

Rick j.

We stopped by one afternoon after having been at the beach. The place was packed with Monday night football fans. We were told they had good shrimp and fish in general by the manager at the coffee shop when we had a cup early that same morning. It was standing room only and then a table was vacated right at the doorway. We were promptly served water and beers. I ordered from the pupu list, 1/2 # shrimp with slaw. My wife got the fish and chips. The food was good. The atmosphere on the other hand was not GOURMET.....with the sudden cheers from the crowd rooting for the Packers. I would suggest going here when it's not busy, unless you like that sort of thing.

Bob D.

Had the Caesar and mussels-EXCELLENT! My wife had the coconut shrimp - very light and tasty! Great friendly service!

Mike J.

The seafood sampler was probably the worst appetizer I've ever had. While the sampler had decent smoked fish on it, there was only one kind and it was a mystery, an extremely meager mystery at that. The "gourmet" breadsticks were absolutely flavorless in every way and obviously came from a box. The service was slow for a Monday evening and indifferent.

Permahungry C.

So here's the thing, I had super low expectations for this place... I'm not sure why, I just did. But I was pleasantly surprised with... well... everything! Came for dinner on a Thursday night. There was a bit of a wait, but we put our names on the chalkboard and it moved pretty fast. Food - They had fish tacos that night (apparently they don't always have them), so we got an order of those, the gorgonzola burger, and a couple of beers. Boring, I know.. but we were hungry and tired. ;) Everything was delicious! Fish tacos were battered (which I don't normally love) but super well cooked, very well seasoned, and not too heavy on the batter or the sauce... Burger was juicy and tasty... Beer was cold. Happy Campers. Service/Atmosphere - So the restaurant itself is in this old school house, along with some other shops.... Pretty Rad (yeup, I said "rad". Deal with it.). As others have mentioned, outdoor seating if you're not drinking, indoor if you are. Simple, clean, comfortable....albeit a bit loud if you're really looking for deep conversation. Service was fantastic - everybody was super friendly and helpful! In conclusion - in an area that is lacking for reasonably priced options, Hanalei Gourmet was a very pleasant surprise. Definitely a great place for some grub and some drinks!

Dean B.

This is a good choice for a lunch stop and we love to sit on the lanai out front. The lunch food is very good, but not great, and I have never had dinner here, so can't speak to that menu. I often have the fish sandwich, which is good, and simply prepared on the grill. Unfortunately the bun is a basic hamburger bun and would be better if it were toasted. The fish and chips are also very good, light and crunchy, and the nachos are also very good. The service is always great.

azeem n.

Went in during early afternoon in the middle of the week. Bar area was full, but the tables were empty. We had the nachos for appetizers. They were good, but they are not layered at all, so once you get past the top layer, you'll have a bunch of chips left on your plate. For the main course, I had the fish and chips with the fish of the day (swordfish). It was very tasty and properly prepared. My wife had half of the astoria salad, which was also very good. So why the three starts? I had a coke with my meal, and it was 90% ice/water and 10% Coke. You know what coke looks like when you are near the end of a glass, and the ice starts to melt and dilute the color? That's what the first glass, and the refill started as. The service was super slow, and it took forever for the food to get to us. We were 2 of only 5 people sitting down, so it is not because they were busy. I've read the other reviews, but for some reason today, they folks behind the bar, and the waitress were more intent on chatting it up with each other instead of taking care of the people in the restaurant.

Harry L.

Recommended by a helpful local. Good food; reasonable prices. We stopped in for lunch. I had the marlin fish and chips; my wife had the marlin sandwich (special of the day). The food was well prepared and tasty. For dessert we split a piece of Kauai pie (coffee ice cream streaked with chocolate and a chocolate graham crust). It was excellent. The service was very friendly. We would definitely eat here again.

Tofoi Y.

Can't stay away from this place. Love the service, always friendly and warm. Love the food, always hot and tasty. We had gorgonzola burger, loaded burger, fish and chips (swordfish last night), fish tacos (swordfish again) and kids chicken nuggets. Food came in a timely manner, waitress was very sweet and attentive and it was HOT and so good. We will continue to come back here.

Tracy D.

Fresh fish and brews in a chill location... The fish tacos were amazing, and my ahi sandwich was perfectly done. The Gourmet has ruined other pub food for me. Gotta love Allie, the bartender, too-- she rocks.

Sammy D.

Lilikoi margaritas and happy hour after 330. Perfect place to escape the rain in the late afternoon before the dinner rush gets in. The daily specials are usually delicious and large enough to share with a friend.

Katie L.

Go for taco night on Thursdays....lightly fried fish in soft tcorn tortillas with yummy salsa. And definitely get a Passion Fruit Margarita...they're only 4 bucks, so have a few!

Maye C.

Went to the deli part of the restaurant to get a turkey sandwich to go for the beach. The sandwich wasn't impressive, it took 15 minutes to get it and it's missing the cheese and sprouts we had asked for. We would have been way better off walking across the street to the Subway in Big Save. Did't make it to the main restaurant but I bet they do a better job than the deli.

Don G.

Friendly service and great location. It is fun knowing that it used to be a classroom for the Hanalei School, they still have the black board which they post specials on. Mondays and Thursdays are TACO nights and they are DELICIOUS (ONO) and only 5 bucks. They have a Gorgonzola Cheese burger with grilled onions that is SO GOOD! They have a full bar that makes great Mai Tais and just about anything else you can think of.

Alyce H.

This place has really good food. We went here after snorkeling @ the tunnels. 3 of us had the good ole greens with the fresh grilled opah & mango vinaigrette.... Delicious from first bite to last & fresh! One of us ordered the fish & chips which he tho't was excellent as well. The pale ale on tap was a nice combo with the food. Service was pretty fast & good. Eat here if you want decent priced food & a fresh selection.

Lindsey K.

Ok, so this is frequented by locals, is immensely casual and has indoor and outdoor seating. Note: You cannot have alcohol if you eat on the porch! There, got that out of the way. It is not air conditioned, if that matters to you, and you may find yourself swatting a few flies. But none of that will matter because you'll be sipping on an amazing House Mai Tai and watching hot surfers compete on the big screen televisions. I ordered the nachos with fish, sans cheese and extra salsa. Are they really nachos whithout cheese? That I don't know, but they are good regardless. I ended up ordering extra salsa. It's fresh and delicous. The kids peanut butter, honey and banana sandwich invoked serious food envy. My daughter ordered it, and despite being full from my nachos, I felt the need to finish her sandwich. So good and NOT just for kids. Another great find is the house made lemonade. It is like fresh limonata. YUM! Just add vodka :-)

Paul S.

Everything was amazing. Food, drinks, service all were spectacular. Kids and adults loved it. The fish sandwich, not fried but fresh (changes by the season), was outstanding.

Howie D.

Stumbled upon the Hanalei gourmet after my wife went into another bar across the street would not show the San Diego Charger game on 11/30. We ended up having an amazing time at the Hanalei gourmet. Our bartender Mia was awesome, it was awesome to see her make our bloody mary's from scratch and not just use a mix. Mia makes the best bloody mary's on Kauai! She's also a Charger fan which give her bonus points. Mia was very attentive and took excellent care of my wife and I the entire time we were there. We were so impressed with the service that we came back again for the Thursday night game and the food was amazing. This will definitely be one of my stops the next time I'm in Hanalei. Don't even bother with the so called sports bar across the street. The service and the food just can't compare. Thanks Mia and Go Chargers!

Chelsea R.

We were so disappointed to only try this place once, and on our last day in Hanalei...had we tried it sooner we would have certainly eaten here multiple times. The crab stuffed mushrooms were so good!! I had the fish (opah) and chips and husband had pasta, they were both very tasty and the service was quick and friendly.

Sam A.

One of the better places we ate at on Kauai but it is still a bar type place. We enjoyed our ribeye steak but mash potatoes and veggies cold and not a single roll included. $33. Also tried articoke dip...good flavor but need to cut up the large chuncks of articoke. Service was pretty good but rushed due to crowd.

Brenda W.

The fish sandwich was yummy and everything else was ordinary. I had lunch at this place because of the positive reviews and definitely one of the best fish sandwiches I experienced...I loved the sauce!

Derek G.

Very good food. A nice sit down place for lunch. You can sit at the bar or outside and have a nice view of the Hanalei shopping area. For hawaii standards, the food is reasonably priced. Our server was funny and accommodating. If I ever come back to Kauaii, I will be sure to come back to this place.

Phil L.

My wife and stayed in Princeville for two weeks and had lunch here one day early in our stay. I had a burger and she had a fish sandwich that was out of this world. We were so impressed that we asked our very friendly waitress about the fish used in the sandwich (monchong) because she really liked it. She then told us about their fish tacos and said they were a special on Monday and Thursday evenings. We want back a couple of days later on Thursday and both ordered fish taco dinners. Oh man, all I can say is that these were the best fish tacos we have ever eaten! They came with rice and black beans, perfectly complementing the two delicious tacos. Well, we couldn't resist the temptation to come back a second time and had them again the next Monday night. And just because we could do it one more time, we came back on our last night in Kauai and ate them one last time. So good. Also need to say how terrific the waitresses were. Each night we had a different one and each was so darn nice! They made the whole experience at the Hanalei Gourmet even more memorable. Good job! Can't wait to get back someday.

M. O.

Really good fish menu items. We had excellent Opah fish tacos, Opah fish and chips and grilled Hebii fish sandwich. Service was nice but a little slow. Hey..it's Kauai. Hardly any atmosphere, but not a dive either. Gourmet is a odd choice of names but who am I to critique that. Call it whatever you want just keep the good food comin! Would have liked to go with 3.5 stars, but certainly better than just 3 stars A-OK. Definitely a stop.

Raphael S.

Gotta hand it to these guys. My family had a very nice dinner at the end of a long day, but when we left, I forgot my credit card. I realized it was there, but only after we'd left Hawaii the following morning. I called up, spoke to Big Tim himself, and my card came back in the mail right away. That's taking care of people -- thank you, Big Tim!

Kristen L.

We stopped in for Happy Hour and were a little bummed to find they only had drink specials. We stayed for a drink and really enjoyed the atmosphere. We liked the open windows with a breeze blowing through, light and open,white trim and causal feel. It was a nice place to relax for a drink. They had two large flat screens above the bar. The bartender was friendly and I really enjoyed my frozen drink with local fruit. We decided not to stay for the food since we wanted something a little less pricy.

Jason S.

The service and food were both excellent! They have several island beers on tap as well as a full bar. Bloody Mary lovers take note; it seems to be the specialty, as I saw several made from scratch! The guava smoothie was a real treat. We had one of the burgers (delicious), fresh fish sandwich (awesome) and one of the chicken sandwiches (wonderful). Finished the meal with the largest piece of ice cream cake I've ever seen served at a restaurant. The perfect lunch to finish off a long morning of swimming and sunning at Ke'e Beach!

Tiffany S.

This is my second time in Kauai and my second time eating at Hanalei Gourmet and it was just as good as I remember. Definitely come here if you have a chance.

Justin B.

Wonderful fish tacos and ambience. My family and I went on a Thursday and had the fresh fish catch of the day, Marlin. It makes great fish tacos and fish n chips. Top that off with a Lava Flow for my wife and a local beer for me, it made for an excellent dinner choice.

Kathleen K.

Nice, casual spot to grab a fish sandwich for lunch, or a salad, fish tacos and drink for dinner. I enjoyed the live music. The hubby was happy to be able to catch the game. We like the people, the area and the atmosphere here and always come back. Enjoy a Mai Tai here and you won't mind it if the servers take their time.

Jessica S.

We could eat here every night. Oh, wait. We practically have. Seriously we've gone 2 or 3 times a week on each visit here and I have yet to have a bad meal. There's 1 waitress who seems to dislike people in general, but we haven't had her during this trip...and the rest of the staff is awesome, especially Victoria!!! Peel and eat shrimp are killer, anything with the word "artichoke" in it kicks ass, their salad dressings are worth mentioning, especially the Creamy Garlic, and the nightly fresh fish is reliably fantastic (though the grilled preparation is a little bland so maybe only go there if you're on some crazy health kick and need to avoid all oils). Live music and a super great Mai Tai top it all off for the 5th and final star.

Julia J.

We've been visiting Kauai for over 10 years. Hanalei Gourmet has been consistent in providing great service and good food. We come here a few times during our visit (we stay for 3 weeks). Sometimes they offer live music. Mai Tais are tasty and I really enjoy their salads - although I've had other entrees and they are all very good. The Ginger chicken is on the top of my faves. There is also a little deli (separate door) and they have good cookies there. :)

LuLu M.

Unfortunately, there is nothing too special about this place for me. I ordered a margarita which was too sweet and syrupy. I also ordered the shrimp boil and although there were plenty of shrimp they were pretty tasteless. Their saving grace is that they have nice servers and it's in a good location.

Marguerite C.

Excellent choice, great ambience, and a mai tai that tasted like RUM with a little fruit juice. Loved the smoked fish plate. Definitely coming back!

Allie M.

This place was recommended by a local. When we first arrived we wanted to eat outside but you can't drink on the porch. So instead we were going to grab a drink at the bar then go outside. But the bar service was so friendly and prompt we ended up eating there. We had the fish tacos, recommended by the bartender, and they were amazing - served with black beans and rice (not anything amazing but pretty good). But for "bar" food everything was great. Wouldn't really say it's gourmet but to eat out in Hawaii for under $40 with one person drinking and both having a great meal, it's pretty damn good. We're going back tonight for the fried artichoke as burgers. Hopefully everything is just as good.

Tina H.

The energy of whirling waitresses getting everyone seated and fed is amazing. Despite a crowd they get it all done and to perfection. This just adds to the vacation atmosphere with the treat of great food from the kitchen to savor. So I would sum Hanalei Gourmet as fun and delicious. Wide variety of items on the menu and since we try to eat as much fish as possible when in Kauai we were very pleased with the marlin and mahi dishes we had.

Dusty B.

Great lunch experience. The fried artichoke hearts were wonderful and the grilled fish sandwich with caper sauce was delicious. The service was prompt and friendly. A great stop!

Shannon D.

So we had a long hike to Queen's Bath and thought we would head to the market for beer and lunch-- we were NOT disappointed!!! By either!!! We shared and had more than enough- half garlic Caesar salad and fish burger (based on daily fish special) and it was great!!!! Fries-- ehhh par for the course-- but the rest-- completely worth it!!!!

S C.

We came here for dinner with our 2 kids. Music was good, food is OK. My husband enjoyed his crab cakes & my son liked his burger. I mean you can't really mess up a burger. I have 2 issues that prevent giving this place 4-5 stars: first, this place offers no free refills on soda or iced tea; and second-- parents beware, the kid's meal is super small-- better suited for a toddler.

Peter T.

Seriously bad food prepared without love... Nothing gourmet about the food! We tried the scampi pasta & the Fresh Catch special, both were bland & just barely edible. This is a bar trying to be a restaurant. Did notice a lot of diners ordered the burger, maybe that's their specialty...

Carol P.

We are here on at Patricks day. They were having their 24th year celebration with saint paddy's specials. A giant leprechaun came by and gave me a green carnation. A band started at 12:30. I enjoyed $5 corn beef sliders and a limeade. I also got a pickle that cost $1 which I thought a bit weird since the sliders were so cheap. Why charge a dollar for a small pickle? I enjoyed eating outside but sad that they couldn't serve alcohol out there.

Rene L.

Good fish and chips and nice local beer , pretty close to my vacay rental in pale ke kua. The po' boy samich wasnt good. I had better but then again I had worse!

J W.

I live here on kauai and would highly recommend hanalei gourmet. Dont let the name fool you, this place isnt a stuffy rich person restaurant, rather its a very causal with 2 tv that have sports playing. the food is good and the service is good as well. tourist and locals both should check this place out. DONT goto Kalypso across the street. get fish and chips

Ellene G.

The absolute worst food I have ever had !!!! The chicken salad in the avacodo tasted like it had lard in it. No chicken taste at all ! The artichoke dip was watery and tasted like it had been frozen !! Never go here!

Jill D.

The food here is really good considering the high tourist ratio and the surrounding touristy shops. I got a chicken salad and it was huge and incredibly filling. My daughter's kids meal was massive! I really appreciate restaurants that give you good value for a kids meal, this is DEFINITELY one of them! She loved her hamburger and fries and my mom, who was visiting said her hamburger was "wonderful" and was thoroughly impressed. Loss of one star because our server had a case of "bitch face" but the owner's sweet attitude made up for it. Prices are reasonable and the menu is huge.

Tim K.

The po boy was the best I've ever had. They must marinade the fish in magic unicorn dust because I haven't had anything this good in a while. Mai Tai good too.

Jen M.

Def not "gourmet." It's pretty typical bar/grill type food. Had the crab cakes. They were too hot, overloaded with peppers. Don't think I've ever had peppers in crab cakes before. I don't care for the combo. Draft beer was good. Had the Maui Brewing Bikini Blonde. Waitress was nice and pretty much on point. My mom had the clam chowder. She said it was all right but has had better. Of course, she spends 4 months a year on the Cape, so... Asked for a to-go box and was given a paper plate and sheet of tin foil. Kinda weird for a place that has a whole take-out business. But whatever... Island life. Why was I taking it home of it was so mediocre? 'Cause I hate wasting food. It'll get eaten, it just won't be a meal to remember.

Fred P.

Been coming here for 16 years and it remains our favorite Hanalei restaurant for dinner. Service is not always fast but what's the hurry! Very good food at a reasonable price. The fresh fish is always good. Sit on the lanai for a relaxing casual meal. No alcohol outside so if you need a drink sit indoors.

Caroline L.

Wonderful Mai tai. Very casual ambience. Restaurant is pretty loud but the food is good. We had the fish and chips and fish special.

M M.

Fantastic spot. Great food in classic setting. Can get a bit crowded. Be patient. Try the fish and chips. Totally awesome.

Evey G.

Dropped into this place based on yelp reviews. We had planned to eat the poolside grill at the St. Regis, but it was just a bit too stuffy for our liking so we looked for an alternative in the area. The shop is super cute and seemed very popular. I can see why, I would totally go there all the time if I was a local. The menu looked fantastic, though we only did drinks and nachos. The guava daiquiri and the house mai tai were both delicious, and the nachos were pretty good. The chips weren't the best ever, and there was a lack of distribution with the toppings, but it was still very tasty. We found all the servers to be laid back, prompt, friendly, and welcoming. I wish we had the chance to try other dishes on the menu that sounded so tasty, and I'm sure if we visit the island again we will find a time to eat here. I will be recommending it to any of my friends who take a trip out here.

Maggie G.

We had a late lunch here and had the turkey sandwich with the works and the the ultimate burger... Both we're pretty good... I liked that the sand which had sprouts on it with Dijon mustard, something a little different from the norm.

Pollack L.

Great food- broiled mushrooms and fried artichokes are really good. This place is usually very crowded but worth the wait. Waitress was really nice and a musician named Santiago performed last night and we really enjoyed his music.

Cheryl R.

Pricey, but the food was really good. The fish and chips was outstanding. Lightly battered but not greasy at all. The wasabi dipping sauce had great flavor without being wasabi-hot. The hamburgers were good. 2 fish & chips, 2 burgers, 3 beers $80 for lunch. Service was quick and friendly.

Aimee E.

I got the deweys gorgonzola burger and my husband got the fish and chips and both were awesome. Small place... nice staff...good live local music.

Chris H.

Once again, excellent! Took my family up to Hanalei because mom is visiting from Chicago. Couldn't help myself and had to have the ribeye again, cooked to perfection! My wife had the burger which she loved. My brother had the shrimp Scampi which smelled so good across the table and mom had the scallops which she devoured. Live music was just starting as we were getting ready to go but we hung around for a bit to listen, the live music at Hanalei Gourmet never disappoints. Highly recommended!!!

Patrick T.

I don't know what the fuss is all about... We were treated dismissively, were served very slowly, food was average at best, incomplete order, no one checked on us, and we were unceremoniously handed the bill as if it were a favor to eat there. Wish I had just stayed at my hotel... Total disappointment.

Jolene H.

Cook your beans, yo! I was just going to leave it at that but I'm going to add that the fish tacos, uncooked beans, and rice gave me a huge gut ache all night. The tortillas were greasy and hard and even the beers were overpriced. Sad times in Hanalei! Should have gone back to the pizza joint.

Bobbi B.

We really enjoyed the food. We had the Ruben and fish and chips and it was delicious. Cute little area. No alcohol on the patio which was a bummer.

Abby M.

Good and service were both excellent! Didn't have to wait for a table, staff is super friendly! Fast and efficient. Definitely get the fish sandwich-always the catch of the day!

Becky L.

This place was just ok. I think the prices are a bit extravagant for the quality of food and service you get. We got here around 6:30 on a Monday night and it was just getting busy. When we got done eating there was a huge line (around 7:30). Anyway they pushed two very wobbly tables together and put us against the wall, which made for a not too enjoyable dining atmosphere. The server was also not really friendly and didn't really stop by after giving us our food other than to give us the bill. We ordered the mussels, stuffed mushrooms, fish and chips (mahi mahi), pork loin, and the chicken burger. I thought the mussels were probably the best dish out of all of them. The sauce it came with was very tasty and complimented the taste of the mussels perfectly. However, the other dishes were not so great. The mushrooms were not very flavorful, and the mahi mahi was very dry and overcooked. The pork loin was tender, but again not very flavorful. My mom got the chicken burger and she said it was dry and tasted like charcoal. Overall not a great experience.

Brian S.

The fish and chips were great. Actually went back 3 times while there. Each time a different type of fish which was cool to try. My wife also had the Waldorf salad which she said was amazing. We will be back and I hope it will be soon.

Sarah P.

Great choices on the menu. For the price you get so much food. I had the Mac nut fried chicken and my husband has the fish n chips. Both were delicious and so filling.

Karen C.

We drove over to the North side of the island and happened upon Hanalei Gourmet for lunch. We were able to get a table right away even though it was a busy lunch hour. My mom had the fish & chips special and I had the grilled fish sandwich. Both were made with one of the local Hawaiian white fishes. Both entrees were very good. The fish was flaky and tasty. Fries were good too. I did not really like the cole slaw that came with the fish & chips (not saucy enough) but otherwise we enjoyed our meals. Our waitress was attentive even though she had a lot of tables to manage. This is a good stop if you want something fresh and local.

Trevor D.

I knew this place was good as soon as I tried the cole slaw: not the usual gloppy, mushy stuff that you get at most places, obviously made with some care. Any place that bothers to get the cole slaw right usually does a good job on the entrees too. The fish and chips was about the best I've ever had. If you go there more than once, you'll see that they make it with a different fresh catch every day. I really didn't intend to have dinner here 2 nights in a row (I like to check out a range of restaurants while on vacation), but trust me it was no hardship. It's just a shame that they don't get at least 4 stars overall. In this case, the lines of people waiting on the porch for dinner are probably a better gauge than the Yelp rating.

Jenni E.

My boyfriend had their fish n chips (swordfish) which he said were amazing, and I had the fish tacos which were excellent. The food was so good that we came back the next night for dinner again. and we were not disappointed twice.

Megan S.

We ate here on our way back to Poipu from our hike on the North Shore. We ate outside after reading some reviews about the heat indoors. Service was great and the food was delish! My husband got the fish and chips and I got the shrimp sandwich. We also started with the fruit platter (out of this world papaya). I'm so glad we made it our lunch destination!

Eli M.

My wife and I stopped for lunch today and got the Roasted Eggplant Sandwich and a beer, the food was good but service was poor. Our waitress serviced every other table with water and even an occasional "how is everything?" except our table. To make matters worse, she brought us our check before asking us if we wanted anything else! We were also the only two minorities being serviced, which made us feel as though she was discriminating! The way she was acting made us feel very uncomfortable!

Paula B.

We started with nachos, with fresh fish (marlin) vs meat. Super good. Reuben sandwich was okay. Nice vibe, fun waitress.

Geoffrey B.

Don't let the name fool you, this isn't gourmet. But it is darn good. The burgers are better than Bubba's - and the fries are great. Service was fantastic. It's a perfect stop in a scenic venue for a burger and beer. Fish and chips were great too.

David L.

Ok, let me start off by saying that my FISH n CHIPS was pretty amazing for $16.95. I'm giving this place 3 stars because my wife got a udon dish, which was crap. The sauce was extremely watery and it wasn't worth $22... so a little word of advice, don't get it! It's better if that dish was taken off the menu. Besides the awful udon dish, the atmosphere was cool and lively. People seemed to be enjoying themselves with the live music. The bassist/singer was fantastic. Service was good except for the fact the waitress lied to our faces about the udon entree. She said it was "good" when it really wasn't, so that right there deserves 3 stars again. We would've not ordered the udon dish if she was HONEST and told us it wasn't good. I hate waiters/waitresses who lie period. Don't you love how this review revolves the udon dish? Well it's because the dish sucked for it's price. It's like ordering a steak medium rare (I want steak now) and the kitchen cooks it well done. What the freak right and you have to eat it and pay up. Exactly, it sucks. I hope your experience will be better than mine... Enjoy Hanalei!

Rebecca C.

Me and the hubs went here twice (maybe more soon ;) during our stay in Kauai. We had the fish and chips plate and the fish sandwich. The fish and chips are unreal - so so good. The fish sandwich is also very yummy. The fish has the perfect amount of batter, crispy on the outside. The fish is perfectly cooked, very juicy. The fries are perfectly cooked too, I like mine with some crisp to them. And I won't forget to mention the sauce that comes with it, unreal. You won't be disappointed. Considering most places in the area are very expensive $13.95 for the fish and chips is not bad at all. Staff is very friendly too :)

Isabella P.

Fresh fish, more casual than gourmet...but maybe it is gourmet for Hanlei standards? Decent place to grab a quick lunch. We had lunch at Hanalei Gourmet after an unsuccessful excursion to hike the trail to Na Pili coast. Hubby and I had the two fish specials, Fish N Chips and fish sandwich...the sandwich was kinda small, gave hubby half of my fish n chips. Service is what made this a 2 star rating...just dropped off our food, made me feel like she has better things to do than her job. That sort of pissed me off a bit. I don't expect to find life long friends when i am eating at a restaurant, but it would be nice if you could try to give non-mono-syllabic answers. In conclusion, decent food, not the best service, Hanalei Diner? Yes, not Hanalei Gourmet.

Joanna J.

The atmosphere may not match with the 'gourmet' in the name (it's much more rustic than gourmet), but the food is great and I adored the quaintness. It made me feel like I was part of the island, not just a tourist. Prices were just fine for a couple from NJ. My husband and I eat meals out a lot here at home and when we were in Hawaii we rarely spent more on a meal than we would eating in NJ. Loved the fried artichokes (which I paired with a Caesar salad). The live entertainment was a bit rough around the edges. It's not a good idea to bring your children there in the later hours if the entertainer is always cursing that much - and though I'm not easily offended, I found it a bit distasteful. I do not know if they have more than one band play. What I love about Kauai is the lack of chain restaurants so you know that you are supporting local small business all the time. I still dream about those fried artichokes...

Stephanie H.

Really great burgers and try and the pineapple aioli. The burger patties tasted fresh not frozen, and the service was fantastic and food and drinks were very reasonably priced. Perfect lunch spot after hitting Hanalei Beach.

Bob E.

Great food, drinks and home town feel. Not your run of the mill tourist trap. Great fresh fish served with casual local style.

Chloe C.

Great little place in Hanalei that I would stop at again. I ordered the chicken boat in an avocado shell, and not only was it delicious, I got way more than I thought I would (very good dressing). The live music was great, and it was nice that I got to watch Rip Curl Pro 2014 while eating on their 2 TVs. The only thing that my table didn't like was their Manhattans. We sent one back because it tasted too watery, and they were nice enough to give us a new one.

Joaquin A.

YUM YUM YUM. Great fresh food in a cool, laid back setting with some of the very nicest wait staff in Kauai. We loved everything we had, especially the fish sandwiches and the green salads. The french fries were, like, Paris good. This place is a gem. Great food, great atmosphere, cool vibe. Awesome !

Birch R.

Stellar service during lunch hour, awesome Ruben!!! and great airy, open atmosphere. Highly recommended for an easy, enjoyable lunch.

Ashley K.

No kids allowed gets an automatic three stars. We had an infant and wanted a snack around noon and they wouldn't let us come in. Not sure why we've been able to bring him to very other establishment on the island that serves alcohol. Read the reviews anyhow, looks like they have terrible food.

Young Hi R.

My husband and I came here last year and don't remember it being memorable, but decided to give it another go. We got the plain salad, fish and chips and button mushrooms stuffed with crab. The salad and the french fries were the best part of the meal. The salad was a very nice sized portion and a great price and the french fries were perfect. As for the rest of the meal, the fish and chips were bland and the sauce that came with it didn't seem to go. We added malt vinegar and asked for the creamy dressing that came with the button mushrooms and it improved the dish. The downside was that we spent most of the fish experimenting on how to make it more delicious and by the time we found a good combination, it was almost gone. The coleslaw was also very bland, but add a little balsamic vinegar dressing (that I had with my salad) and it made it very good! Again, we only figured out this combination when there were only a few bites left. The stuffed button mushrooms were also very bland. It was good when doused with the dressing that came with it, but on its own, it was quite flavorless. Overall, our food was disappointing and we will not likely return. It was definitely not worth the price. We left wishing we had eaten at Bubba's Burgers next door. They have good burgers, good chili rice and good prices!

David E.

We took a ride to the north shore on a rainy and windy Sunday in Poipu We found this place on yelp and it was excellent. All the locals and the tourists know it.. The service was causal, friendly and very attentive. We had the swordfish sandwich and the chicken salad stuffed in an avocado. The chicken salad was awesome ...had crushed macadamia nuts and a yummy dressing served on the side. It is a long ride to get here but if I head north again, we will definitely stop here.

Jeri S.

Super Sunday brunch-time experience for this former-California-now-Kauai resident. Incredibly efficient and friendly wait staff even during this busy time of day, delicious hebi fish sandwich and French fries that are to die for, fun atmosphere, and totally interesting clientele! Great for people watching and enjoying the trades that breeze through the dining area. We'll be back!

Mary B.

I have gone to this place off and on for years. The idea of a Waldorf salad should be disgusting, and it normally really is disgusting. But the Gourmet revolutionizes this salad. It's delicious. As are most of the other entrees. But recently I ordered my child chicken fingers and to my shock and dismay...they were the Mickey Mouse chicken fingers. A Costco special. Come on, Gourmet! This is not your best self! So if you're eating out for adults, I doubt you will be disappointed. But with kids in tow? Head directly to t he Costco snack counter for dinner. It will sting less.

Nuttybits W.

I walked by Hanalei Gourmet and one of the waitresses struck up a convo with me and told me that Mondays and Thursdays was their Fish Taco night... she was really sweet and I made a promise I would be there on Monday. The tacos were GREAT! I can't recall the fish right now but it was really good. The staff was very friendly and efficient and the price was perfect. We went back for lunch a couple of days later. Side note: there was a waitress who was feeding the most beautiful wild kitten outside the front door. The kitten was so young and tiny and yet here this kind waitress was crumbling hamburger for him so he would be fed. I will always make a point of eating there when I visit every year because of that act of true kindness. EAT THERE! SUPPORT THEM!

Chris M.

Stopped here for an early dinner in Hanalei. The wait staff was awesome and the food was great.

Brad H.

Came here for my 40th bday with my sweety. Watched giants win Super Bowl. Had fish n chips which is the best in the world. Also had 1/2 pound peel n eat shrimp. Soo tasty. Wifey had tutu Tuna salad. It was awesome. Eat here Beers and tequila. Perfect. Draft lager and Payton silver. Yummy.

Gary W.

Nice place to hang out in early afternoon for lunch and a cold beer. The bottled beer is very cold and they provide frosted glasses. I recommend ordering the fish catch of the day as a sandwich that comes with fries. Saw a few order the fish and chips and it looks good, but didn't have this dish. Just go to the counter and skip sitting at the tables and mingle with some of the locals. I prefer Hanalei Gourmet over other places as the tourists typically skip this place.

Greg H.

Decent food, Skunky beer! Had two different pours, both had funny aftertaste, might need to clean those lines folks.

Michael M.

My girl friend and I went there for lunch. She ordered the artichoke sandwich and I ordered the roast beef sandwich on sourdough w additional provolone for extra $. Wasn't impressed for twelve bucks you'd think you would get a decent sandwich. Not so. The beef even smelled rank. The next evening we wanted to go with my parents but wanted to make sure they had mahimahi. First I called to ask they said no. The fresh catch was swordfish. My father really wanted us to go with so he called again. They again said no mahimahi. We decided to pass my parents went anyway and guess what. My dad had mahimahi fish in chips. I was pissed. So my girl friend called again and asked. They said no. She explained my father was eating it as we spoke. They still denied they had it. My conclusion is. The employees are all dipshits. Must have hit their heads on the ocean floor to many times while surfing. We ate at a number of places in Kauai. Everything is over priced and they can't cook worth crap. Especially Mexican food. They can't make tacos or tamales if they tried. I'm a chef from tucson az. So we know what we're talking about, especially w Mexican food. Take my advice Skip Kauai. Go to Maui. At least you get what you pay for.

L W.

A wonderful atmosphere with a view of the mountains behind the bar. Staff was very friendly and the food was fantastic. We had the fish and chips and Big Tim's burger. Exceptional.

Gina YeeJi S.

Meh,, Cute restaurant at a cute place but the food's just aight My hubs and I shared a 1/2 portion waldorf salad and he ordered the fish and chips and I got the ultimate burger. The salad was pretty tasty and pretty big portion for a half size, but it's not really something you can seriously mess up on. The battered fish was crunchy and came with cole slaw that was sorta flavorless in my opinion. The burger was ok but I woulda preferred more flavor once again. Overall it's ok and nothing special to it

Jocelyn T.

After checking out the botanical gardens, we were looking for a quick bite before heading back to Poipu. The Hanalei Gourmet place was on our list of restaurants to check out and noticed their was also a deli attached to it. We felt like taking our food to go and eat at a nearby beach so we ordered the mahi burger with fries. The guy who took our order seemed like he didn't want to be there and looked annoyed when I was telling him our order. I asked if he knew a nearby beach and directed us somewhere that was 10-15 minutes away which we ended up finding a beach 1 minute away. The burger was pretty descent but the experience left a bad taste in my mouth.

Matt F.

This is a goto place for my wife and I. We love the small town feel of the place and haven't had a bad experience in the 4-5 visits. Try their Bloody Mary... order it "spicy spicy". It's a bar with good food. Take a chance with this place.

Jeff P.

We tried all the restaurants in this area and The Hanalei Gourmet was the best. We ate here 2 out of the 7 nights on island and were very happy with both visits. The service was exceptional and the seafood was Awesome. We got lucky on our second visit and there was live music playing which really topped off the whole dining experience. Limited seating here so make sure you are prepared to wait a little while

jenn g.

We were seated promptly, but not tended to for a while. No water was provided until we asked for it, and wasn't received until about 20 min after sitting. We had delicious beer, a specialty local brown ale. The food was mediocre, they messed up our order and brought the wrong burger, so they took this off the bill. It was good they acknowledged the mistake, but unfortunate it was made. The fish tacos were okay, huge and edible. Nothing stands out about then aside from the size. The Mac nut fried chicken was dry and all white meat. The mashed potatoes were standard, but good. We had to ask for water refills more than once. It seemed like the servers spent a lot of time at the register talking with each other instead of checking their tables. For the cost it wasn't worth it. If this was a $ restaurant maybe, but $26 for the chicken definitely not worth it.

Matt L.

Pleasantly surprised. Had the best burger I've had in a long time tonight with fast, friendly service. Since they are the only shop in town for bites after about 8 pm, I had zero expectations. Not only did we have great food that arrived quickly and exactly as ordered we also got to listen to some great live music. I have already sent friends who are visiting in Princeville to Hanalei Gourmet. The Gourmet will become one of our many "must eat" places when we visit Hanalei.

Seanna S.

This place is awesome. We have ordered sandwiches to go from the deli which were super good. We also sat and had a early dinner on our last trip with a big group of people. They were very accommodating since they were super busy and we had a party of 9. Good beer. Awesome food. I had a burger with grilled onions and blue cheese. Oh man it was GOOD!! Really good spot to relax and eat after a long day hiking or hanging at the beach.

Marc G.

The Waldorf salad version they do is phenomenal. We were told by a friend that we HAD TO order it... Yes!!! We also went on fish taco night, Mondays and Thursdays, I think... which was perfect. Best fish tacos I have had in a long time... maybe ever... They just hit me right. My wife said she did not like her Mango Chicken... But I did not taste it... I was too happy. She did love the salad, though.

Letie W.

I ordered the Chicken Salad Boat-Mac Nut Chicken Salad on top of 1/2 avocado over a bed of lettuce with some dressing. Very light, hit the spot on late night dining. If ever in the area, I would definitely visit again. I went to the take-out/deli window to order, took 1/2 hour to make (as the kitchen also serves the restaurant), wandered around the shops, and came back to pick-up. Staff in kitchen are great & very personable. Offered free cookie and extra bread for my meal. A bit pricey, but isn't everything on North Shore pricey??? Check out my pics. what2eatz.blogspot.com/2…

Claire J.

Our first night in Kauai and didn't really have a plan where to eat for dinner. I was a little hesitant to eat here due to bad reviews but decided to give it a try. It was a bit slow for Friday night... but hey it's Kauai! Fried artichoke was good... I mean can you really go wrong with fried? Not really. The rest of the food was aight. Hubby's burger tasted okay, not worth the price we paid. My fresh fish sandwich was bland. I do believe in letting the freshness stand out, but it was just bland. I would've been okay paying the amount if it had more flavor. The food didn't welcome us at all. Service was good though. They had aloha. Oh yea they had the sugar packets that had hibiscus flower, it was cute and I took a pic of it.

Eric C.

We've been here before and loved it and wanted to come back. We had the fish and chips (opah), last time it was (mahi mahi) and the charbroiled fish sandwich (opah), last time it was (ono). Both times both dishes were some of the best versions we'd ever had. It was a really busy place at lunch both times we've been here and the service was OK. They have a togo counter too that I don't remember from the first time.

Jennifer H.

Fantastic marlin fish tacos can be found here!! They don't always have marlin, because the chef serves whatever fresh fish is brought in that day, but last Thursday night, it was marlin, and the tacos were "oh-so-delicious" and scrumptious! The tacos weren't the average tacos in a folded over tortilla. The tortillas were thin and wrapped around the tacos like a wrap and they were slightly golden brown - as though they've been fried, but without being that crispy or oily. The tacos were served with black beans and rice, which were not very Hawaiian, but full of flavor and complimented the tacos well! You know what else complimented those marlin tacos? Guava daquiris! it's not every day you can find fresh guava daquiris from locally grown guava. The atmosphere is chaotic - at least on Thursday nights. They only have fish tacos twice a week on the menu. If you get there right at the beginning at around 5:30ish pm, then it's easier to get in than when we came at closer to 8pm. You write your name on a chalkboard list to get a table. Most people want to sit inside, since alcoholic bevs can only be served inside, and it gets really packed! The waitress turned a two-seat table sideways to accomodate 4 of us and get us in after waiting for nearly half an hour. We didn't care as long as we got our food! It seemed like there were only 2-3 waitresses handling all those peeps there that night and it was definitely confusing and difficult for them handling the constant flow of people in addition to weaving through the crammed in tables. It seemed stressful for them! We got our food in a timely manner surprisingly, but when you come here, I would definitely expect to wait a little bit and kick back with a drink.

Doris D.

I think this is a good place when there's live music. We went on a Sunday night and the Mango Brothers were playing some tunes. It was quite lively. We waited about half an hour for a table because the crowd was lingering so the NBA playoff final could finish. I got the regular burger with cheese and fries, about $10. I ordered my patty medium but it came out like medium-well so it was a tad dry. I guess I should've said medium rare. The fries were good. My husband got the burger with avocado and bacon for about $12. He cleaned up his plate! We ordered an appetizer of artichoke dip which was good but a smidge runny for my taste. The service was a bit slow but it was quite busy. It took a while for the waitress to get our entrees out after we sat with the empty appetizer plate for what seemed like a long time. Good thing for the music!

jenay e.

This is our go to good food restaurant in town. Always a winner. Most of the servers are kind and happy to see you. Prices are reasonable. Opa fish sandwich and tacos are amazeballs! We came here quite often after we were shocked at the less than hospitable service people around this area.

Regina L.

We were looking for a quick lunch, and noticed that the Hanalei Gourmet had a deli attached to it. The options looked good, so we ordered turkey sandwiches. The guy who took our order was superrrr rude, and clearly had an issue with "non-locals". He wouldn't even answer my question or really give us the time of day. Our sandwiches were really small, the bread tasted packaged, and the deli meat was average. I could have gotten a better sandwich at a nearby grocery store. Overall, not a great experience.

Vanessa E.

The food was decent; what killed was the service. This was the only place so far we've dined at that didn't offer refills on beverages. I ordered the chicken salad in a papaya which said it had mayo and celery - I found ONE small piece of celery in the whole thing. The chicken was a bit dry and needed mayo too. Only thing that saved it was the poppy seed dressing and macadamias. Husband ordered a basic burger which was just that: basic. Nothing special. Just a sesame seed bun with lettuce, onion. And condiments. Patty was a bit thin in my opinion. And we had to ask another waitress to refill our water as ours disappeared for 15 minutes. But to top it off, we would would have been satisfied - and I mean just "ok" with the meal and experience - until our waitress reappeared and we asked for our check and she said (and I quote), "Sure, all I have to do is find the smallest check in here and that's yours...." I'm sorry, come again?? We stared in amazement on how many ways we could interpret this. Small as in dollars spent, or amount of food...? Hmmm. Either way, BAD comment. And it's not like we walked in and shared one appetizer and some water. We each ordered full individual meals AND drinks. So we left a comment on the bill. So strange and rude. Could have had almost had 3 stars, but even that would be generous. I'm sure their other meals are decent, but won't be going back after that. Ugh.

Christine N.

Special. The kind of place my husband and I would probably have Sunday dinner every week if we lived in Kauai (pipe dream). We'd say hi to old faces, quietly complain about the tourists taking our favorite spots at the bar, silently be thankful for the tourists for bringing in money to the restaurant, and sing along with the band that plays crammed in between the tables. You can't go wrong if you always order the fish of the day and if the skinny darling at the bar makes your drink. This was the only place on our honeymoon that we dined at more than once. Sit at the bar and don't forget to tip the band. Oh, and don't order the artichoke.

Lynn D.

Great fresh fish sandwich and fries! Was super hungry and it hit the spot. Service was fine. Friendly enough but most importantly fast. Definitely recommend

Barbara Z.

Great food. The grilled fish sandwich was fresh and tasty. We had great service. Friendly and responsive. Definitely one of our faves.

David T.

Had lunch here after a morning of horseback riding. I ordered the fish and chips which was Ono, both in type of fish and taste.

Gaemus C.

Good food, exceptional Mai Tais.

Lena H.

Great fish and chips. Clean place to eat with great service. A gem here in hanalei!

Rob J.

This is a solid place for lunch after having made the drive out from Poipu. I don't know that it's any better than the dozen other places that are in Hanalei, but the menu was pretty standard lunch place fare, and the prices were reasonable. There was nothing really on the menu that would make me pick this place over trying one of the others around the area.

Crystal U.

We ordered the fish tacos, which was delicious but we were sorely turned off by the hostess attitude. She was not friendly, did not explain that you needed to write your name on a board to be seated and didn't tell us until after we ordered alcohol that we could not be seated outside. We were skipped over twice for tables because of this, which made our wait about 45 minutes. Atmosphere is very local and enjoyed that part of the visit.

Samir S.

Had lunch and diner at The Hanalei Gourment. Loved both the meals. While the place is small and unassuming, the food is great. Think of it as a bar with a really, really good kitchen attached to it. Suggestions would be to get there early as the place does fill up quickly and seating is limited (if you sit outside there is no alcohol served outside). The service is also a little bit weak/slow but that is probably due to the fact that the staff is overwhelmed when the place is at or near capacity. But none of this really detracts from the food. Would have had more meals there if a all possible. Prices are also in line with what you would expect to pay on the island, but not over the top. 2 people, with a glass of wine/beer and an entree would be somewhere in the $60-$75 price range - very reasonable.

Kelly G.

The seafood here is SO fresh, and they have live bands with outdoor seating. Fantastic island restaurant.

Alix C.

My husband and I both had the passion fruit margaritas and the fish tacos. The tacos were amazing! They had a spicy chipotle sauce that was delicious. The margaritas weren't bad either.

Darren N.

Opted for their 6 oz burger made to order and chocolate chip peanut butter cookie. The burger was great and cleanly prepared. Fresh ingredients and awesomely crispy bacon strips made the dish. I also like the thin cut fries, McDonald's style, rather than the crinkle cut or steak cut fries that other burger places opt for. Unfortunately the chocolate chip peanut butter cookie wasn't as tasty as it looked in the window. Although they make their own cookies, I think they cut back on the peanut butter, chocolate chip, and/or the sugar. Basically it was very bland. Prices were similar to other specialty burger restaurants but this restaurant also offers a variety of other dishes such as seafood and pureed soups. Take out or dine in but you'll have to look for parking across the street as the only thing in front of the place is a grass lawn. 4 stars for the good burger (with bacon) and fries.

Manuela V.

We went for dinner at this place yesterday. The waiter was so rude and impolite that we ended up leaving even before getting the chance to order our food. She said we were silly for ordering less ice in our drink and we told her off as we found it derogatory to call your customers silly and the to laogh about it. Before leaving we wanted to tell the owner (if she/he were around) about the conduct of her employee plus her attitude. However, the waiter wouldn't give us her name. We asked a colleague of hers and found out her name was Victoria. We're very happy we didn't eat there in the end and were very pleased with the atmosphere at the restaurant across the street. I wouldn't recommend this place to anyone.

Jennie M.

Great place for lunch! Good food good service! Great atmosphere too! Garden burger was moist and cooked just right!

Lauren L.

I got the wai-something salad it was a heaping plate of lettuce, 3 slices of zucchini, 1 slice of eggplant, 3 baby corn, and 1 heart of artichoke.... Just terrible, Not worth the money. Very limited options for vegetarians. Best thing about this place is the live hawaiian music for free put on by the locals that do the luau at Tahiti a nui.

Skye W.

Chicken salad with macadamia nuts on avocado?!?! WHAT? YES. it is one of their HUGE salads, and it is delicious. Cute place to stop for lunch. I didn't get any drinks here, but was told by local that this is the best bar.

Diana L.

The Hanalei Moa burger with cheddar cheese- Ginger marinated chicken breast grilled - was mouth watering. Coconut spinach soup was also surprisingly good. Outside seating available, though no alcoholic beverages allowed. Service was great even though the place was pretty packed. Prices are reasonable - especially compared to other restaurants in Hanalei. And did I mention, live music!

Craig H.

Nice little place with big TVs, we enjoyed watching sports while eating at the bar. We ordered: -Hanalei Sailor (Reuben sandwich): Very good -Hanalei Moa (Chicken Sandwich): The marinade and the pineapple aioli sauce were great. -Dewey's Gorgonzola Burger: Awesome, great flavor, best thing we ordered. -Northshore club: Least favorite item, it was dry and lacking turkey.

Andrea C.

the food is pretty good. the service was ok, not the friendliest bunch or the cleanest but the food is good. we had a Chkn sandwich that had great flavor & good sauce. the Waldorf salad was really good just too much dressing so get it on the side. The fries & specials are great! they did not give me a coke refill once & the service wasn't friendly enough to give it more than 3 stars.

Patrick R.

Hanalei Gourmet is an awesome local spot. Great food, friendly staff and cold beer. I love sitting at the bar and talking to a mix of locals and tourists. Can't miss place in Hanalei.

Holden M.

My preferred place for a burger in Hanalei. UNfortunately it is nowhere near consistent, and it is always crowded. Fish tacos are good sometimes. Music is fun, but dont expect room to dance. Super crowded.

Steve M.

Great for comfort food. Fish and chips was good. Fries overdone. pretty affordable and family friendly. Service was very welcoming. Food was nothing to write home about. The drinks were good. The passion fruit margarita was excellent.

Scott W.

About the best burgers (Big Tom's & Gorgonzola) to be found on the north side. Basic fair done well and better then anywhere else in the area. If you don't feel like driving south give it a look. Fish & chips are good too, fresh caught and fried well.

Kirsten B.

We came at 7 PM on Thursday night with a party of 4 for the fish taco special. We waited until 8 for a table, and I was beginning to wonder whether I'd been led astray by the people who recommended it. The fish tacos were great!!! Worth the wait for sure. They don't use a traditional tortilla, they home make one, and it's a nice change of pace. One word of warning - don't order the house red wine.

Brad B.

The coconut encrusted fish with curry sauce was five stars while the fish sandwich was only three stars. The nice thing about Hanalei Gourmet is you leave there full......and your pocket book is not drained!

trexD C.

We were so hungry after our awesome journey on the Kalalau trail. We went to Tahiti Nui where they were no longer serving food until dinnertime. They referred us to Hanalei Gourmet. We were not disappointed! Super service, amazing Mai Tai's (!), yummy fish and chips, and a super tasty (and original!) Oregon shrimp sandwich - GET IT. THE BEST PART - THE MOUNTAIN VIEWS FROM THIS LITTLE GEM OF A PLACE ARE SURREAL.

T S.

Grilled fish sandwich was succulent and the homemade lemon drink was refreshing. Dinned on the lanai and had a very beautiful time, very nice wait staff.

Marika M.

Great local spot. Most nights they have live music and I happened to catch a band that was featured in the film The Descendants. I took the advice of my fellow Yelpers and ordered the fish and chips. The fish was perfectly fried and wasn't greasy at all. I comes with a wasabi aoili but I also got a side of their pineapple aoili for a little variety. Not only did they fry the fish perfectly but the french fires were perfect too.

Joe H.

Driving back from a long day at Tunnels and needed to make a pit stop for drinks and shopping. Could have tried the Calypso across the street but this place looked a bit more relaxed. Mostly locals drinking happy hour beers. Plenty on tap but we were really in the mood for margaritas. Ordered it with Cazadores and looked like fresh squeezed lime and good triple sec with island salt on the rocks. I had 2. Bartender knows what he's doing. This would be my go-to bar in Hanalei. No dive vibe but something about it feels more authentic even though it looks modern.

Martin Y.

If full be sure to put your name on the blackboard on the door. Some people miss it. Great lunch place. Try the fish sandwich and you'll be hooked.

Ragini S.

Avoid this place! The food is bland and boring. We ordered a couple of sandwiches and they were terrible! The only good thing was the fresh fruit plate that we ordered and the didn't have to do anything to it. But what made this experience even worse was the bartender. He was incredibly rude to us and to our waitress. He alone is what is making me give this place a 1 star instead of 3. Owners - please fire this bartender, he is ruining your business!

Austin O.

We had lunch and drinks. The food and service was awesome. Not a fancy place, but in a very historic location....the old Hanalei School. It's very Hawaiian in that locals eat there. The dinner menu is on the gourmet side and the price reflects it. Based on my lunch experience, I will try their dinner on my next trip.

Ryan N.

Food was good but the service wasn't so much. I would have given a 4 if the service would have been better

Jim P.

Have eaten here several times. As has been posted below, more of a bar vibe than restaurant that has a bar,,, but dont let that hold you back from going. The food is about average for Kauai. The whole island not being a foodie paradise. Not amazing,,, but not bad. We take that for what it is. The island offers so many other amazing things,,, we accept the food is not why we come to Kauai. We have been coming here since 1998. The food is not why we come... Its a casual vibe which I like, you can walk in wearing shorts and a T shirt and feel comfortable. It gets very busy around dinner time so you may end up waiting on the porch. The procedure is come up to the door and write your name on the chalk board then wait on the porch. This situation would be MUCH better if you were allowed to have drinks on the porch while waiting, but their liquor license doesnt allow that,,, and its too small inside to wait at the bar,,, so that is a downside. No real ability to have drinks while waiting for a table or a place at the bar. If taking a table, Once seated its a little tight on the table spacing,,, but not the worst I have seen. If eating at the bar, once again spacing is tight but not insufferable. Its a small place, I get it. The table wait staff are hardworking,,, our girl ran her a$$ off,,, I think she needed more help on the floor or whoever was working with he was lame. Having said that she smiled and made us feel like we were wanted there every time she stopped at our table so high marks to her. We tipped her accordingly. The bartenders,,, when seated at the bar, much less so. Way more interested in talking to other friends / locals seated at the bar than checking on bar patrons. Not so high marks there. On one visit I had the fish and chips,,, good. Not the best I have ever had, but certainly not the worst. The fish was chewier than I expected if that makes any sense. On another visit I had the shrimp scampi. Pretty good. Again,,, not great, but better pasta than I expected (I'm an Italian from the Northeast, very picky about my pasta). Portion size on both entrees was good. I was full after each meal. If you order Mai Tais will be straight from a Trader Vics Mai Tai bottle with a topping of dark rum. Again,,, not bad,,, but nothing special. They have about 5 beers on tap, they have Gordon Biersch Marzen which I like so I was in luck. One tap seems to always be Steinlager (yech) which seems to be a local favorite,,, a wheat beer and I cant remember the others. Pricing is about normal for Hanalei which means way higher than you would pay for equivalent quality and quantity of food in most cities on the mainland,,, but factoring in that its Kauai and averaging around the area,,, normal. You cant go to Kauai and not expect everything to cost 40% more than it does anywhere else. Its just how it is here. Accept it and move forward with having a great time.

Schuyler G.

This is a good place to have a meal if you're checking out Hanalei. The crab cakes were good, not great. The rum drink is nice and strong. But the best part is the open air and windows looking onto the fabulous lush greenery looking inland towards the mountains. The restaurant has a very easy going vibe with table service and strong drinks. It is near all of the shops, and probably the best place in this little strip. It doesn't feel as touristy as Tahiti Nui, which is another fun place. I'd go to the Nui for dinner.

Adam G.

Food is solid but overpriced. Felt claustrophobic in there- place tries to cram too many people in and the service was mediocre at best. If its not busy, it's not a bad choice for dinner, bu if it is, there are other places nearby that would be a better bet.

Debra B.

We've been in town for 10 days and we've tried many of the restaurants in the area. We have two more days here and there is no place else we'd rather go. Food is excellent. Waldorf Salad is the bomb and they can blacken any fish. Garlic mashed potatoes, please! Servers are downright sweet and the atmosphere is awesome. Too bad you can't drink on the patio but...what can you do. So, in about an hour--well be back...and every time we come back to Kauai.

Kristy S.

We had dinner here one night on our recent trip to Kauai and one take out lunch from their sandwich counter. If we would have tried The Hanalei Gourmet on our first night we would have eaten here everynight! Don't miss... Waioli Salad: Chilled, grilled vegetable salad with artichoke hearts, red bell peppers, eggplant, baby corn and zucchini on garden greens with sonoma goat cheese and chef's mango vinaigrette. We shared this salad to start. Delish! ($9.25) Mac Nut Fried Chicken: I just could not resist! Fried chicken breaded with Japanese style panko flakes and Hawaiian macadamia nuts. Served on a bed of cabbage with a guava lime sauce ($21.95) Fresh Island Fish Sandwich: Sean tried this and really liked it. A daily selection of charbroiled fresh fish (Mahi Mahi this particular night)served with a lemon caper and dill mayonnaise and "the works" on a fresh kaiser roll with french fries ($14.95) And for dessert - try the Lemon Cooler Cake! It is only $4.50 and fantastic! The next day, we ordered fresh deli sandwiches (made to order). Lots of fresh veggies, including sprouts. Sean's chicken salad was on the dry side - perhaps ask for mayo on the side.

Carly D.

Went here for lunch the other day. Yum! Two in our group had snapper and chips which they loved. One had soup of the day and a half Waldorf salad which was huge and delicious (I tasted it, fantastic!) I had the sandwich special and it was super tasty. Despite the name this is a nice casual little spot with quality food and great service.

Claytonian C.

Not bad. Lots of indoor seating. They have a lot on their menu so it's a good place if you have a diverse bunch of eaters or a picky eater. They have fresh fish specials. Good place to stop for lunch, then hit Paradise Shave Ice next door for dessert!

Jeff S.

The Hanalei Gourmet wasn't overpriced in comparison to other joints in the area, but it still cost more than it should have. The ambiance was crowded, and the service was horrendous, but the fish tacoes were AWESOME. Seriously, the best I have ever had. Will go through the pain of visiting the place again simply to tast their tacos once more...Possible will utilize their takeout service next door this time.. Fish tacos = 5 star Everything else 2 star or worse

Louis V D.

Nothing fancy, but really great fish and chips! Can't complain about a thing. Fast service, and I nearly licked my plate clean. 'Nuff said.

Greg E.

Very casual Hanalei eatery that gets more than its share of locals. Well priced (for Kauai) menu items, a few tables out on the deck, most are inside with two TVs behind the tall bar. Waioli Salad for $9.25 is one of the better healthy options available at any of the nearby restaurants. Popular Fish and Chips, and Fish Tacos on certain nights. Happy Hour 3:30 - 5:30, Early Bird Dinners 5:30-6:30. Adjacent Deli part of the same business and good for To Go. Can be loud in the evenings.

John B.

Great local restaurant. Food was excellent,reasonably priced. Fish sandwiches and fish and chips were outstanding

Rachael T.

I was supping at the Hanalei Gourmet the day Michael Jackson died. This turned out to be a very comforting place to be under the circumstances as everyone at the bar shared reverence for the late King of Pop over very delicious bowls of excellent Portugese bean soup and beautifully prepared local beef or fish burgers. Picnic sandwiches, which can be ordered in the adjacent deli are also substantial and gratifying for the Hanakapi'ai trail or beach nearby. Thriller, food style.

Alyssa E.

I enjoyed this charming little spot. Service was friendly and the atmosphere was nice. My husband and I shared the smoked Hawaiian seafood sampler and the Oregon Bay shrimp sandwich. Both were very yummy - not a big fan of the breadsticks with the sampler and my husband complained about the sandwich having too much sauce in comparison to shrimp. Would still recommend both. Had a nice beer on tap selection. Would definitely go back.

Mike S.

Guess what? Everything in Hawaii is expensive and overpriced! They import something like 80% of all of their goods. It aint cheap to do that. Ok, now that you understand and are looking for a good place to have dinner and are prepared to spend $20 per person, you can go have yourself a fun and delicious meal at Hanalei Gourmet. This would have been a five star review except we wait for an hour for our table. They were busy - not really their fault, but five star reviews dont come easy for me. First off, order a mai tai. Not too strong, but it aint your luau mai tai either. One of those and I was nicely grooving. Our waitress brought a big coloring book and crayons for the kids - something they had been lacking our whole trip thus. Also, they had live music - a trip doing hawaiian and reggae music - an added fun factor for sure. Wifey and I ordered crab cakes to start and I had the udon noodles and she had the greek pasta. Her pasta was really unique and the mussels were great. My udo was also very good and the borth was perfect for me. The focacia that came with the dish was perfect for sopping up the leftovers. My son had a bbq'd hotdog and my daughter had the peanut butter, banana and honey sandwich. Both had happy plates, suffce it to say. We finished off the meal with the brownie ala mode. That one speaks for itself. THE perfect meal to end end our trip. So glad we went.

Griffin K.

Good burgers, not great. Spotty service. Will not be back considering the high quantity of quality options in Hanalei.

Bri B.

I am dissapointed in this place. First of all, their $12 sandwiches are a gouge to tourists. If I am going to pay that much for a sandwich, it better be pretty dang tasty! But, unfotunately, their sandwiches don't have anything special about them. They actually made my order totally wrong. I said no mustard, and of course, there was mustard. I asked for no tomatos on my husband's club, and mine also did not have any...which I wanted tomatoes..just cuz' one sandwich doesn't have them doesn't mean they all don't. My deli sandwich said it came with vinegarette..but did not have any. It was a dry sandwich. I ended up waiting over 10 minutes just to place my order and then another 15 to get the order...so almost half and hour for two sandwiches that cost with a soda and bottle of water $30!!! The poor guy making the sandwiches was also the guy to take the ordersc he was swamped while the owner just walked around doing nothing to help get orders out faster. I think this owner has gotten used to ripping tourists off and making them wait too long while his employees rush around and do everything. The guy making my sandwiches was clearly stressed and was sweating profusely over our food. Yuck. But I don't blame him.

Christina C.

Huge burgers, live music, and mediocre drinks. You get a lot for your money here. Their burgers are 6oz AFTER cooked, which means a full half-pound burger. I got the Moe's ultimate burger which came with pepper jack cheese, avocado, and bacon amongst the rest of the burger toppings. The burger was pretty good. It was quite massive and more of a fork-and-knife burger than hold-in-your-hand burger. I think I finished about 75% of it. The fries that came with it were not that great- overcooked and almost stale I asked my server for a drink recommendation and ordered the passion margarita. The taste was ok, very light, and had a decent amount of alcohol. They do have live music there at night. Varies between Hawaiian music and like soft rock. Service is a bit slow, but at least you know its cooked right then and there. Get the burgers, skip the fries, and face the live band for some nice entertainment to wind down your night.

Lara E.

Went there twice on our vacation as we loved the nice but laid back atmosphere, reasonable prices and yummy food. loved looking at the palms and mountains out the back window. The mango salsa and sauce that came with my teriyaki burger were very yummy!

Asa R.

Probably the best food we had on the island. Quick, prompt, efficient service (we had an older woman serve us who was on point and an expert at her craft). We went with the specials of the day, black bean soup and fish tacos. The soup was heavenly, smooth, flavorful, with a slow spice that complemented the beans without overpowering them. Fish tacos were fresh, tender insides with crispy outsides, very light seasoning. When in Kauai you want fresh fish that probably was swimming that morning and the Gourmet did not disappoint. Two notes, one the chalkboard outside is for seating inside, put your name down and don't be a dork who steals a table. Two, there is only alcohol service inside, the outside tables (while offering cool breezes and lovely views are alcohol free). Come here, expect a local vibe with good food and prompt service and you won't be disappointed with the cost, the quality, or the experience..

Cindy C.

LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!! We recently ate at the Hanalei Gourmet our last trip to Kauai and thoroughly enjoyed it! I had the fish tacos which was one of the specials and they were amazing!!!!! The hubby had a pasta dish which he loved but for me it was an overall terrific casual dining experience.

Kelly O.

This is our third time here in Hanalei. We are always here with a minimum of 8 people. They always accommodate us with a smile. Good beer on tap, good burgers, fish it's all yummy! If looking for a filling meal with a fun atmosphere, this is your place. We will be back!

Ashley S.

Fantastic everything! Burgers are thick, juicy and lean. Best mai tais in Hawaii. Four layer chocolate cake! Tasty, hot and flavorful fries. This is the place to go!

Jessica O.

The food and drinks are pretty good. But it's the atmosphere that brings my husband and I back! They are a friendly VIRGINIA TECH bar! We love it!

Amanda R.

I had one of the best fish sandwiches here of my life. The catch of the day, opa, I think was so fresh and flaky. Mom had the moa chicken burger and said it was to die for. My friend had the black and blue burger and he said it was pretty good but not amazing. I did make a mistake with ordering the passion fruit or guava margarita. It didn't really taste like anything. We ended up coming back a few days later and eating here again and it was just as good the second time. I opted for an outdoor table this time even though that means no alcohol. It was fine though, they were really great about refilling my ice tea glass. We had excellent service both times.

Emily M.

Silly yelpers, creating two listings for the same place. I had the Garden Isle Burger. It was pretty good, but the wait was RIDICULOUS. The rest of my family ordered and finished their meals at the burger place next door long before I received my order. It definitely wasn't crowded, either. I liked the fries.

Susan S.

Ok for burgers and sandwiches. Gourmet is definitely a misnomer. It would help if the waitress understood what the word "ingredients" means and which ones are actually in the food. Not a good place to go with a food allergy.

Michael B.

This place is awful, just awful. Food was overlooked, served cold, and the salad we had was tasteless and not fresh. This place is extremely busy with every single touristy family staying on the north shore trying to fight each other for one of the few tables inside. Don't waste your time and money eating here.

Zombie C.

I ate here a few times. I had the Opah fresh fish sandwich, and the something 'ultimate burger' and both were very good. The service was friendly and attentive I like this place. They have two large T.V.s showing games so it looks like a good place to catch a game.

Anne P.

I have been going to the Hanalei Gourmet for more than 15 years and have never had a bad meal there. Their limeade is the best. Ever. Sure, when it's crowded, the service can be a little slow, but why would you be in a hurry while on vacation in Kauai? Also, the Sunday night performance of the Mango Brothers is not to be missed! It's worth going to the Gourmet for a drink and great music!

Tamera S.

Hanalei gourmet food tastes home made. It seems like the chef takes pride in offering clean, fresh and mostly healthy food. Our party ordered fish and chips, a hamburger, a fish sandwich and a club sandwich and everyone was pleased with their meals. Try them and you will not be sorry.

Charla H.

Lots of sandwiches so would've preferred to come for lunch. Had nachos - very cheesy, made with real cheese (not canned). No refills on sodas and service was very bad. More interested in talking at the bar than us. Low price, food okay. Lots of sandwiches so would've preferred to come for lunch. Had nachos - very cheesy, made with real cheese (not canned). No refills on sodas and service was very bad. More interested in talking at the bar than us. Low price, food okay.

Jamie W.

While a regular stop for lunch or dinner at least once when I'm in town, this place doesn't have a particularly inspiring menu or high quality food. For example, tonight the special was blackened swordfish which was a very small piece on over cooked vegetables. Hardly worth $26. Cabernet was served very warm and tasted like it had been opened for a week. The childrens menu is very weak and bland. I miss the live happy hour music from last year which now doesn't start until 8:30pm, except maybe on Sundays.

Tim G.

Hanalei Gourmet was a yummy find. This is a great place to enjoy Hawaiian Bar Food. So I think I have to give this place a solid 4. Not quite at a 5. When we arrived we did receive a little attitude from the hostess who really seemed like she did not want to be there. There were three of us and she had three seats open at the bar. However, we were looking to be able to relax a little more and comfortably chat with one another so bar seating was not something we wanted. This seemed to perturb her a little, since she had two tables open right next to each other that she would have to pull together. Once this was done, she sat us. One of the tables was really wobbly, and she stated, "The table is like this, that's why I wanted to put you at the bar", however we were cool with it. Once our waiter arrived it was a completely different experience. He was very nice and calm. I ordered the burger, which was pretty tasty. My wife ordered the fish sandwich which she enjoyed. The highlight here is their drinks and their deep friend artichokes! Yummy! Parking is in the back so be prepared to walk a little if you don't find parking directly behind the restaurant. I would recommend stopping in and enjoying dinner here. They have a pretty laid back décor. Next time I will try their swordfish tacos. :)

Myron C.

Good price, good food!

Henry T.

Great bar. Live music. Unfortunately supports Virginia Tech! But I'm sure the owner is cool otherwise.

Bil Y.

Delicious food great service and casual atmosphere. The best value in hanalei hands down. Try the artichoke hearts with the turkey club. Food prepared with pride. Okay if you like perfect! Aloha.

Mon S.

SO we got here and it was incredibly crowded but there were Patio tables so we sat there. Only bad thing is no alcohol allowed on the patio. We ordered the opah fish and chips. The waitress brought us fish tacos. She quickly went back and corrected it though and brought us our correct orders. This was the best fish and chips I have ever had. They serve it with a really good Wasabi Aioli sauce(I asked about it and they offered to bring me something else if I didn't like it but I was asking cause I did like it and don't care for tarter sauce so was pleasantly surprised.) Glad we got there when we did because as we were leaving they had run out of opah and the new fresh fish for fish and chips was ono. I am sure that was probably good too.

Jonathan G.

Food was mediocre. Kids pasta was super oily. My catch of the day was overpriced and the veggies were bland. My wife's greek salad was also nothing special. Very disappointed. Service was good

Danny A.

Went here on a recommendation from many locals and really enjoyed it. I was looking to get some fresh native fish that I couldn't get in Texas and was initially disappointed when the fresh catch was Ahi, and even more so that it would be "cooked", but I went for it anyway and am glad I did. Despite being medium rare, it retained the soft texture and fresh flavor of good ahi sashimi, and the rich sauce that accompanied it only enhanced rather than drowned out that flavor. The garlic mash was good and my coworker really enjoyed the mac nut fried chicken (to the reviewer who was expecting something more traditional, how about "asking"?). I also liked the fact that the place seemed to be more about the food and not a particular scene or image. We walked out of Bar Acuda (too fancy, not "Kauai-y" enough) and Tahiti Nui (too packed/loud) that night before coming here. The wait staff was nice/helpful, location was comfortable/convenient, and price was right in line w/ the competition. I think the only negative reviews of this place are from people with pre-conceived expectations and/or lack of contextual awareness (complaining about a $10 lunch or $20 dinner in Kauai? seriously?).

Gregory P.