Hukilau Lanai was located near our hotel, so we decided to give this place a try. We attempted to make a reservation over the phone but they didn't have a table at our requested time. Instead, we walked over and took a seat at the bar. The server brought over some complimentary bread, which tasted great. It was some tomato-herb-cheese crusted bread served with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. We definitely enjoyed it. We ordered the lobster and goat cheese wontons for an appetizer. They were not as amazing as one of the other Yelp reviews mentioned. They tasted more like what you'd expect from crab rangoons at other restaurants. Lots of cheese on the inside, with small pieces of protein. I didn't think it was worth it. We also ordered the mahi mahi and the Hakilau mixed grill, which included a shrimp skewer, two types of fish, and orzo pasta. The shrimp and pasta were tasty. I don't recall which fish I tried, but I only liked one of the two. The mahi mahi was really good -- fresh and flaky. We didn't have room for dessert.
(4)
Sennette B.
This is definitely one of the best restaurants on the Island. We asked our server what he recommended. He said honestly it's all really good. I was like surrreeee! But it really was! Everything we ordered was really good. They also have a large selection on the menu. I ordered the tasting menu that comes with 5 small entrees, and they were all very tasty! This is a must go to!
(5)
Janna V.
Celebrated our 1st yr wedding anniversary here and it was amazing! The location was a bit confusing but other than that, it had a great ambience. We requested to be seated in the lanai which had nice views of the coconut trees and a hint of the ocean. The view wasn't remarkable but it was pleasant. Our server was nice and kept greeting us Happy Anniversary throughout the whole night lol. We didn't order appetizers because the salad that comes with the entree served as our appetizers. I ordered the arugula salad while my husband had the caesars salad. Our server asked so casually if I wanted cheese with that (normally whenever I eat arugula salad it comes with the cheese already, so I said yes), and forgot to mention that the goat cheese was $3.50. Uhh okay. Anyway, the entrees had a nice presentation and the portions were good. I had the Hukilau mixed grill which is basically a sampling of Island grilled seafood and sugar cane skewered shrimp, served with a creamy sauce and orzo pasta. My husband had the prime rib. Both had great flavors but the mixed grill sampling stood out the most. For dessert, we had the lava cake with vanilla ice cream. It was a bit pricey but what can you do. You gotta have dessert! :) They added a cute little sign made out of milk chocolate that said Happy Anniversary. I wish it was complimentary or discounted at least. Overall, I was satisfied with the food and service.
(4)
Ashley W.
We stopped in here for a late night snack and some drinks. Their martinis were great and the servers brought us bread but acted like he didn't mean to when we told him we were just there to order appetizers. The food was pretty good and there was a live band playing. The resort it was at was beautiful. It seemed a little snobby and upscale but we enjoyed it nonetheless.
(4)
Zach L.
By far the best restaurant my wife and I ate at during our honeymoon on Kauai. We weren't sure if we were in the right place to start as there was a wedding in the room next to the restaurant when we got there, and we weren't dressed for that type of occasion. The restaurant was busy, even late at night, we got there around 830 and needed to wait 45 minutes before we got a table. However, the wait was well worth it. Our appetizers were the perfect start to the night. We both got the dinner specials which were amazing, and shared a desert after which was a great cap to the night. Both of our cocktails were made incredibly well. The only downer was the table next to us had a screaming child who was running around the table, but we didn't care because the food was so good. If you are on Kauai make a reservation for dinner at Hukilau Lanai, you won't regret it!
(5)
Pat M.
Haven't been here in years, don't know why!!! The best restaurant on Kauai !! We ordered the calamari with their special sauce, Poke Ahi Nachos and the ribs. The ribs were my favorite. I haven't tasted any ribs better than Hukilau Lanai. It has an Asian sweet flavor with a light crisp on the outside and tender almost fall off the bone meat. I had thoughts of ordering take out ribs, but had already ordered prime rib ( I had better) but was still good! Our server Mark ( daddy of twin boys)) was great!! He was so accommodating and gracious. We definitely will back!!!
(5)
Jon P.
Wow! This place is great! Every bite was amazing. I ordered the Fillet Minion with the soup of the day and a "Manhattan Honey" cocktail (two of them!!). My wife had the macadamia nut crusted chicken and a Caesar salad. Bread - prior to our soup/salad showing up, we were served bread with an olive oil & balsamic vinegar dip. The bread had a touch of cheese and tomato on the top, so it was almost like eating a light, high end pizza. The flavors and textures were great. Soup - the soup of the day was a chowder with pork/bacon bits incorporated. Oh... My... It just melted in my mouth. I highly recommend it. The flavors were complimentary and it was perfectly salted. Salad (wife's) - the Caesar salad was made from scratch with their own dressing. The salad was crisp, fresh and flavorful. The dressing was tasty and not overly fishy/salty like some Caesar dressings. It was a great salad! Fillet Minion - I ordered my steak medium, and it was definitely a nice medium. The exterior had a pleasant, light char and the steak was so tender it barely required a knife to cut. Each bite was juicy and delicious. The red wine sauce (almost like a gravy) really added to the dish. The potatoes were a sweet potato which were good on their own, but I would have liked something a little more savory to be paired with the steak. It was still delicious! Macadamia nut crusted chicken (wife's) - the chicken was tender and cooked well. The macadamia nut crust was delicate (almost like a panko crust) and added a subtle, delicious flavor to each bite. The nuts were not overdone, and was an excellent compliment to the chicken. Manhattan Honey (cocktail) - yes.. Just order it! I ordered two! I like my drinks on the boozy side and this was definitely a great balance between the alcohol and the honey. Some cocktails are just too sweet, but this one was balanced very well. Dinner here was a real treat!
(5)
Leah S.
While staying at the Kauai Beach Hotel for the first leg of our honeymoon, we stopped in for a reservation at the Hukilau Lanai. We were super pleased to get a table on the same night as we wanted without much preplanning, and one with a gorgeous sunset view of the ocean and palm trees. The evening was a bit chilly, but the seating area was warm and the tables were comfortable. Our waiter was attentive, professional, and friendly, quick with menus, specials, and recommendations. We started with some off the house focaccia with balsamic and evoo, which was warm, chewy and flavorful. Wonderful man selected some drinks for us, and we began the meal with the soup of the day, which was a Marketplace Seafood Bisque, and I opted for the Caesar salad which has been the best I've had to date. Soup was savory, with generous servings of fish, and seasoned just enough to let the flavor of the fish's freshness through the base. Caesar dressing can be quick to blend zealously viscous, and can be powerfully too salty or acidic, but this was perfectly balanced between garlic, parmesan, and lemon. Our entrees were challenging to decide upon, given pretty much everything on the menu looked delicious. I decided on the Mixed Grill, which had butterfish, Cajun mahi, prawns skewered on a sugarcane, all over an amazing pilaf, and my husband chose the Ono filet over white rice, topped with a sesame cucumber sunumono. All the fish was exceptionally fresh, simply seasoned, and not overcooked. As usual, I fought my husband for his dinner, to which he acquiesced, to my delight. This was only topped by my delight over dessert, the amazing 20 Minute Chocolate Lava Cake. It did need the full 20 minutes, so we ordered in advance, but it was well worth the wait. This was accompanied by literally the best vanilla bean ice cream I have ever tasted, made locally, and PACKED with flavor. Ambiance of the actual restaurant is indeed a little on the cheesy side, but the resort makes up for it with its selective clientele base, and decidedly relaxed atmosphere. For dining guests not staying at the hotel, there is ample parking, beautiful grounds for after dinner strolls, and a full bar for wine, cocktails, and after dinner aperitifs. Live music, vendors, and events come through the lounge depending on day and time, but it seems like its target audience is a little older than our age group.
(4)
Tawni H.
Gorgeous restaurant and very high quality dishes. Was suggested to me by a local, glasses I listened!
(4)
L C.
After reading all the reviews on Yelp and Trip Advisor, we decided to check out this restaurant. It was underwhelming and disappointing. I ordered the curried Lobster bisque and it tasted like Thai coconut milk curry sauce. It was awful! The candied ahi was okay but a little salty. The mixed grilled plate was average. Very disappointed after reading all the rave reviews about this place. honestly, we had better food at the food trucks like Kikuchi and Green pig. Sorry, I have to be truthful in my review.
(3)
Ray W.
To cap our Kaua'i vacation, I made reservations with OpenTable to the Hukilau Lanai, which is the in-resort restaurant of the Kaua'i Coast Resort at the Beachboy, after reading good reviews on Yelp and Tripadvisor. We were staying at the resort and after our experience, I regret that we didn't visit earlier during the stay. To think, an excellent restaurant located a mere 3 minute walk from our unit and we ate there only on the last night! We started with calamari. Unlike the fritto misto that is usually served as a 'standard appetizer,' it was panko and furikake breaded and was so amazingly tender. Served with an aioli to die for, the appetizer was consumed within minutes and we were left wanting for more. We wouldn't give up the aioli, wanting to savor it for the rest of the meal. Soup of the day or salad come with an entree. We ordered a soup (much like a bisque), arugula salad, and a Caesar salad. All were fantastic; the arugula was nice and tart. For entrees, prime rib, pumpkin-seed breaded opah (moonfish), and ono (wahoo) were ordered. Our child, who has become somewhat of a prime rib connoisseur in a short 12 years, loved it. My opah was super awesome umami, served on a bed of brown rice, tomatoes and beets; my wife's ono was tasty too - but I tend to prefer lighter, flakier fish. We wrapped up with a lava cake and to be honest, it's probably the best lava cake I've ever had. It outclasses any lava cake we've had on the mainland for sure. I checked 'not sure' on the question of whether the restaurant is known for its dessert, but it definitely ought to be known for dessert! I admit that perhaps it is a bias or stereotype of mine that resort-attached restaurants try hard but find it hard to deliver, but the Hukilau Lanai certainly humbled me by delivering big time. That they serve locally grown fare wins extra respect from me. Well done, we're definitely coming back.
Went here to celebrate my son's birthday. Food was great BUT I couldn't believe these guys charge me for his dessert! Come on guys....no complimentary dessert for the birthday boy? Geez!.....Don't go here if you are celebrating a special occasion. Very disappointed!!!
(1)
Destiny G.
Highly recommend this romantic luaua feel restaurant. Delicious food, great ambience and overl delightful. The Hawaiian mixed grill was perfection! The bread was soft warm and delightful and the ahi nacho appetizer was awesome!
(5)
Mido U.
Basically if you are looking for a great tasting, locally sourced, delicious meal with excellent wait staff and service, this is it. Great food and great experience. Wait staff awesome. Menu unique. Poke nachos, lobster bisque, local beef meatloaf, local fish grill platter. Awesome. I was really looking for a local kind of experience and meal that was higher end. Pretty much was here. Only complaint is I ordered the Orange wine. It was different, but pricey at 70 for the bottle, and it tasted like a five dollar bottle. Would not recommend, but it was different
(5)
Craig D.
(3.5) ~ good, but not great...the servers were friendly, but, they had to be b/c the kitchen was soooooo slow;)lol Note: $$$$ OUR MENU: DRINKS: * Loco Lemonade = (4) very good * French Press Kauai Coffee = (4) very good * water(tap) = (3.25) pretty good FOOD: * Foccacia Bread = (4) very good * Pork Tenderloin = (3.75) Good * BBQ Ribs = (3.5) good * Filet Mignon = (3.5) good * Dark Chocolate Bar(Hawaii) = (3.5) good * Gazpacho = (3.25) pretty good * Poke = (3) ok...had better * Chocolate Mousse = (3) ok...had better
(3)
Gloria G.
Great service, great food, great location (I'm a Shell Vacation owner and stay here). They accommodated us this time last minute in the lobby with 7 and the food was incredible. The fresh fish and Keiki meals were perfect!
(5)
mermaid m.
Service by Andrew excellent. If you have great service like this, makes for a lovely dining experience! Waiting for our reservation about 15 minutes. Food was very good, ahi poke nachos were not as good as they used to be, not much ahi and tortilla chips were off. Lobster and goat cheese wontons, amazing. Tahitian vanilla Ribs fall off the bone delightful. Kailani farm salad with preserved lemon dressing and maytag blue cheese was tasty. Crusted opah with mash potato perfectly cooked and moist. Crown steak rare was tender and cooked just the way we like it. Lava cake topped it all off.
(4)
Mauro Q.
We went to celebrate our 25th Anniversary Dinner with our adult children . The menu was okay but the service was HORRIBLE. The waitress didn't even acknowledge our celebration while the other couple next to our table were mentioned several times on their special event. We didn't even get a complementary dessert. Being Italian and a Chef this was not acceptable!!
(1)
Alex L.
Came here on recommendation of some other travelers we met. Was horribly underwhelmed. Service was excellent but unfortunately the food wasn't quite there. We tried the tasting menu and a number of the other pupus. The Ono was well seasoned. Ribs were dry. Candied ahi was a little strange but with the coconut milk worked well. The lamb ragu could have been amazing but it ended up tasting like it came from a can. There are a lot of great spots to eat on the island, go to one of those places.
(2)
Lee L.
Not too impressed, especially since we had dinner the night before at Tidepools at the Grand Hyatt in Princeville. Service was meh. The server wasn't very engaging and the host staff (3 people) were young and seemed all over the place. Maybe instead of having 3 people stand up front, perhaps have 2 of them serve and bus tables. Food overall was good. Little cheaper than Tidepools. You get complimentary bread and a soup or salad with your entree. Goat Cheese and Lobster wontons- Cheese overpowered the lobster and the guava plum sauce had a strong tamarind? taste to it that was a bit too much. Ahi Nachos- Not bad, needed more sauce. Wally's salad- Good Rib Eye- Slightly chewy at med rare and the mushroom sauce was a little bitter. Fish Special: Swordfish with Mashed potatoes a tomato chutney- The sauce really made the dish. I just wish there was more chutney. "Original Hawaiian Chocolate Factory"- Perfect! There is no romantic view here. If you're lucky to get an unobstructed view, you can see some of the hotel landscaping and their pool area . . .or if someone leaves their curtains open, you might enjoy a "free show" from one of the rooms of the hotel.
(3)
Leah F.
This is my second time to Kauai and I decided to try this restaurant as a birthday dinner for my mom. We were not disappointed. Everything from the starter soup and bread was so flavorful and tasty! The bread was light and melted in our mouths. My compliments to the chef. The ambience was superb. We had a table overlooking palm trees lit by tiki lights -- perfect for a great evening. The fish was to die for...drizzled with garlic butter sauce and the filet was extra tender. Normally I have to add salt to my meals but this was definitely seasoned perfectly and one of the best meals I've ever had on Kauai island. We will be back!!!!
(5)
Reese C.
Situated in some vacation club/hotel place, this was a surprising find, thanks to Yelp! The restaurant was packed so we opted to sit in the lounge for dinner. Much more relaxed and lively. While dining we were rewarded with fantastic live music. We split the Lobster and goat cheese wonton and now I can never have a wonton any other way. Holy smokes. We also split the baby back ribs. The Hawaiian twist in these ribs was the vanilla bean/hoisin sauce that covered them. The fall of the bine meat was tender perfection. We also each enjoyed a salad with local greens, which were great but honestly a salad is a salad, especially when compared to the other options.
(5)
Jacqueline W.
10 out of 5 for this restaurant! Fabulous food, great service & very nice location. Everything we ordered was delicious...starting with the lobster bisque, arugula salad, Caesar salad & soup of the day. For our entrees we had mixed seafood grill that include sugar cane shrimp, Pacific escolar (Walu) & striped marlin served over orzo...absolutely fabulous!! Mum had macadamia nut crusted chicken in a light curry sauce & Dad had pork tenderloin in a Marsala sauce...both clean their plates. My daughter order filet mignon with mashed tarot...delicious. We order two Original Hawaiian Chocolate Factory warm cakes with vanilla bean ice cream & a Hukilau Coffee...divine We will definitely be coming back!
(5)
Gisselle L.
My husband and I came to this restaurant three times while vacationing in Kauai. It was next door to our resort/walking distance. I don't recommend the tasting menu- stick with their main menu. I recommend their ribs and fishes. Their desserts were ok to good I recommend trying their daily special. Service can be hit or miss depending on the waiter/waitress. Overall, I would recommend this place. Bring a sweater as it does get windy/cold (they are by the water)- Mai Tai pretty good here
(4)
Melissa A.
My husband and I dined here twice on our trip and it was fantastic! J was our server both nights and described the dishes superbly. We enjoyed the sunset view and live music. The food was of the highest quality and many dishes featured local ingredients. The chocolate tart was rich and delicious! The fish was flaky and so yummy! You will not regret coming here to celebrate a special occasion.
(5)
Harold P.
The tasting menu that is offered between 5-5:45pm is such a good value - 5 well portioned courses for $28 without the wine pairing, $40 with wine. I was hoping they would offer both tasting menus as posted on their web site but they only offered the non gluten free menu when I went. All the dishes were well prepared and delicious. Some of the sauces lacked the delicate refinement you would find at Roy's but Hukilau Lanai is also over half the price. I will definitely be back. Thank you to the reviewer who warned about mosquitoes! I knew to cover up based on that tip alone and I watched plenty of tables around me scratch their way through dinner.
(4)
Julie A.
Saw an ad in a local paper for this place with a picture of their ahi nachos! WOW! had to have them and they did not disappoint. Beware! This place is closed on Monday! Also had the lobster goat cheese wontons very good but skip the plum sauce. Too overpowering. The lobster bisque was also fabulous. Worth the $2 upgrade. We both had the fish ono and opha. Both good but ono was better - moist and the shrimp sauce had great flavor. I would go back just for the nachos!
(4)
Kaytlin G.
I've been to some pretty amazing restaurants and this place truly had some of the best food I've had in a while. Every single thing we got was amazing. Lobster and goat cheese won tons, calamari, bone marrow, ahi nachos...all incredible! My husband and I got the seafood samplers for dinner and the fish and shrimp were cooked perfectly, and our moms had prime rib and they said the same thing. We got 4 desserts, all wonderful. Our waiter was nice, attentive, and he catered to the fact that we had a one year old with us. Ps- there's a great lawn area for kiddos to run if they get a little rambunctious during dinner. Best meal of the trip.
(5)
Greg R.
Just finished a great Mother's Day meal. The wife had the mixed grill with an Arugula salad. She loved it. I had surf and turf with chowder. I was in heaven with the filet and the fish I had. The service was excellent.
(5)
Paul H.
We had the tasting menu with the wine, and it was delicious and more than enough food. As a warning, they only do this for the first hour, but it was totally worth it. All the items were good, and the wines that they paired with each course were well-chosen. My wife didn't care for the port-style muscat with the dessert course, but not that big of a deal. Presentation was excellent, and many courses were served on warmed dishes, which is a nice touch for those of us who don't like lukewarm food! Our waiter was attentive, but not overbearing. We sat outside, and the view of the ocean and the beautiful resort were a definite plus. We would go there again if we're on Kauai.
(4)
Carolyn K.
Food Was Fantastic, Service "So So" We had great expectations about this restaurant because several individuals had mentioned how wonderful the food is. And, it was! From the sweet potato ravioli to the short ribs, everything was cooked to perfection. The restaurant offered one Cabernet by the glass from Obsidian Ridge in Sonoma Valley, and it was exceptional. Too bad the quality of the the service didn't match the food! We had reservations at 8:30 on a rainy night when flood warnings had been broadcast throughout the island. We arrived at 8:00 thinking that perhaps we could get in a bit early. No such luck! Although they had open tables. we weren't seated until 8:35. I asked the waitress for some bread to tide us over until we could order, and she said, "Bread is on the way!" It was ten-fifteen minutes before bread arrived. We had a wonderful meal, which was all brought to our table by someone other than our server. When it came time for dessert, we ordered the hot molten cake (which takes twenty minutes to prepare). Our server breezily said, "Oh, we ran out of it because we have been so busy tonight. I kind of lost track." Ouch! An early warning that we should "save a portion" of their most popular desert might have been nice. Or an apology with a recommendation for a replacement. The restaurant is a bit pricey, and the food is wonderful. In spite of the spotty service, I would go again.
(3)
Sara H.
Absolutely amazing!!!!! Started with drinks in the bar waiting for our table. Awesome drinks, solid bartender (didn't catch her name). Got to our table and our waitress Debbie was on point. Super friendly, very knowledgeable on the menu, great recommendations. We got the calamari and it was spectacular. I got the Caesar salad before my dinner and my husband got the arugula salad and both were fabulous! Finally our meals came and it was the prime rib and filet. Out of this world! Melt in your mouth meats! HIGHLY recommended! Favorite place we ate out of our whole trip to kauai! Will definitely be returning! Ignore any negative reviews, this place is OUTSTANDING! Also, it is not super expensive which helps. Yes, it's a little pricey, but you get your money's worth!
(5)
Nick F.
by far the best on the isand. Cool, warm staff to greet you, perfectly executed meals with fish so fresh! Nothing fishy about it! make a rez. grab a drink, and thank me later...this place does it right
(5)
Missy L.
This place was delicious!! Yes it's a bit pricey but one of the best restaurants on the island. I only have two complaints. The service could have been a little better but honestly I think we just caught her at an odd time, it seemed like as the dinner went on she got friendlier. Also, I had put in the reservation request that we were celebrating our recent engagement. My boyfriend had proposed a couple days prior and we wanted to celebrate. It would have been nice if they would have done something......not asking for a free drink or dessert (which would have been nice) but at least said something.
Great food. Mixed grill was amazing as was the ahi. Appetizers were also way above par...ribs and calamari. Jason was a great waiter..very knowledgeable on the food offerings and prep. Highly recommended. Reservations a definite must.
(5)
Becka C.
Mahina was one of the best servers I've ever had. Her exceptional service added to the outstanding overall experience at this restaurant. We had the passionate-tini and the citrus buzz - both were great! Then we shared the lobster and goat cheese wontons - a must! Even their bread was delicious! We decided to add $6 to one of their entrees so we can share and each get our own soup/salad. Which was perfect the perfect portion for me and my friend. We both liked our salads (arugula and mixed green). We shared the filet mignon which came with sun dried tomato mash potatoes - sooo yummy! And on top of all of that - we shared their signature chocolate lava cake. I'm so happy Mahina recommended it because it was soooo good. The entire experience exceeded my expectations and would recommend it to all locals and visitors of Kauai!!! It's a must!!
We came here for my mom's 60th birthday for a special dinner. We arrived early and waited in the lobby until the exact time of our reservation. We were seated and greeted by our server. They wished my mom a happy birthday, which was nice of them. We all ordered drinks, and their Mai Tai's are really delicious, and so are their other cocktail drinks. Between the four of us, we ordered the Mahi Mahi, Filet Mignon, and the prime rib. The mahi mahi was freaking amazing. It came with a curry sauce on top of rice and it was perfect. The filet and prime rib were both perfectly cooked and came with some mashed potatoes, which were OK. I wanted to give this place 5 stars, but the service wasn't five stars. We saw our server a grand total of 3 times the entire visit (seating, order taking, bill delivery). We ordered drinks that never got delivered, and we really didn't feel like we were being taken care of which was a bummer. It took a while to get our soups and salads, and it just felt slow. The food is freaking amazing though so I think that this is still an amazing place to go. Maybe she was having a rough day, or whatever but considering al of the positive reviews on the service, I'm assuming this was an isolated incident. I wouldn't hesitate to visit again. Great seafood, great drinks, and delicious desserts. They also have a gluten free menu, which is very extensive.
(4)
Barrah C.
Reserved via OpenTable for 7pm on 6/21, called them at 6:50p and told them we'd be 5 mins late... arrived at 7:03p and was told it would be a 15m wait... also on the request, had requested garden view... was seated on 2nd tier while garden tables appeared to be open... :( It rained so this might have been ok... Service was pretty good... Debbie was helpful and informative during the order process... however, we didn't see her more than two other times... had to request bread and water refills from another staff member. Salads were pretty good (Wally's) however the Lobster bisque had coconut milk and some curry which both negatively impacted it compare to the pinnacle benchmark being from Bob's Steak and Chop house (Plano). Ordered Mixed Grill, which had Cajun Swordfish (5 Star), Wahoo (4.5 Star), and Grilled Shrimp (3 Star); wife ordered Surf and Turf special as did one of my daughters... it appeared cooked to order and they both cleaned their plates... youngest ordered Macadamia crusted chicken which she raved about... Desserts were the Chocolate cake & ice cream (order at beginning since it takes 20 mins to make) and the macadamia tart with Lapperts cinnamon ice cream... yum! ProTips: 1) use bugspray before you go on your legs/ankles; 2) Diet Cokes are $1.75 per glass, no free refills here 3) Lappert ice cream will be on any dessert with ice cream and if you read my reviews, you know what a fan i am...
(4)
Catalina H.
Wonderful meal at a wonderful price. We only learned about the place the day before we were leaving and it was a great way to end our Kaua'i experience. The service was outstanding and everything was delicious. My husband had the tasting menu with the wine pairings and it was amazing to think that it all cost $40! This was not a 40 dollar meal. We ate at Red Salt the night before and it was more than twice the price for food that was better in taste and quality. I had the Sweet potato ravioli as an appetizer (every bite a slice of heaven), the lobster bisque as the soup for my entree (creamy, hearty deliciousness), the surf and turf as the main course (OMG that fish was like butter in my mouth and the lemon caper creamy sauce was an explosion of flavors in my mouth) and I closed the deal with the Macademia Nut tart which was crunchy and sweet but perfectly paired with the cinnamon ice cream to cut the sweetness. In a word: YUM! Our server was Ryan who was warm, upbeat and showed real interest in us without being overbearing. He even gave my hubbie a little gift for his birthday (chocolate truffles anyone?). The cherry on top was that I left a very precious scarf at the table and only realized that it was missing at the airport on my way to Honolulu and they agreed to mail it to me to LA. That is outstabnding service!
(5)
McKane D.
This place was amazing. We took a party of 11 and everyone loved it. The food was phenomenal. Service was prompt and attentive but waiter acted like he didn't care or want to be there.
(5)
Fred P.
This is probably our favorite restaurant on Kauai. It is a great combination of quality and value. The food is interesting and well-prepared and the service is always excellent. The views from the lanai are very nice. This is a great place to stop for your final meal before heading to the airport for an evening flight. If you are seated before 5:45 you can enjoy the tasting menu which is a really creative assortment of five courses. Shout out to a great server Debbie. We've never had a bad dish at the Hukilau Lanai!
(5)
Justin S.
I would give this about a 3.5 star review (based on the tasting menu). It was a fun experience doing the tasting menu and trying all the food they had to offer. The portions I saw for the main menu looked really big and this menu gives you just enough food to feel satisfied yet not bloated beyond belief. For the value I say the tasting menu is pretty good $28 for food and $40 with wine (if you like to try different wines this is fun). The food I and my wife felt was a bit on the salty side and there could have been a better variety of flavors for this price point. The gazpacho was tasty with the sorbet. If you are a fan of gazpacho you will enjoy it. One of my favorites. The candied ahi and sausage while tasty after a while felt a bit overwhelmingly salty so those sensitive to salty flavoring might not enjoy it. The mahi with the vinaigrette was okay not too salty but not the most outstanding mahi I have had. the cheese plate was pretty good, but only get this if you are a fan of cheese. The honeycombs are also tasty and compliment the stronger cheese on the plate very well. Overall it was a fun experience and the tasting menu was a pretty good value and not bad taste wise but this was not my favorite meal in Hawaii, I might have been expecting something a little more.
(3)
Chris M.
We first ate here for our wedding dinner. It was a small group and we had a dining room to ourselves. It was a nice way to end an amazing day, and the service was great. The food was only average, but I was willing to overlook it because everything else about the moment was so nice. When my wife and I returned to Hukilau a few years later, our experience wasn't very memorable. Bottom line: their fish is just not that great. I don't know if it's the quality of the seafood, the flavors, the preparation, or a combination, but it just isn't quite there for me. I currently live in the middle of the United States, and I'd expect a dish at Hukilau to be better than any seafood I can get in Chicago. It's just not. The ambience is very nice, though, especially if you manage to sit outside. Lot's of people seem to like it, so it's worth a shot. For fine dining on Kauai, I prefer Tidepools at the Hyatt in Kola. The food isn't significantly better, but it has an even nicer atmosphere and the Hyatt grounds are a really fantastic place to walk around at night after dinner.
(4)
Adina B.
The restaurant was amazing! They served us even if they were fully booked, and the food was amazing. Highly recommend.
(5)
Ari H.
Great food, pretty good atmosphere, would definitely come again
(4)
Sayler F.
My husband and I came here for our anniversary. The athmosphere was great and wonderful. The whole experience was fabulous. From making reservation to the end of our meal. Too bad that we were too full to order any dessert. Debbie, our server was wonderful. The food tasted excellent, cooked perfectly and was the right portions for us. At the end of our dinner, we got complimentary chocolate truffles. I would definitely come back again when I am back in Kauai.
(5)
Joyce L.
Hukilau Lanai is a fine dining restaurant located inside Kauai Coast Resort. We only ate one fine dining meal while in Kauai and it was worth the splurge! I had the mushroom meat loaf which was very tasty. It came with a side of soup or salad. I chose the fish chowder and it was fantastic. The entree price was only $19! Considering a fish burritto at a food truck in Kauai cost $12, I think this pricing is a deal actually. My husband ordered the Mix Grill which he absolutely loved as well. Portion size is generous here (I got two big pieces of meat loaf) so plan accordingly if you want to enjoy dessert. We didn't order any appetizer and we are glad because with the entree size, we would likely have no room for desserts if we had ordered appetizers. But we did order two desserts because I didn't like the passion fruit tart that my husband ordered. I enjoyed the macademia tart very much though and it was the perfect ending to a perfect meal. Service was great and I thought our server did a good job considering how busy the restaurant was and it seems to me he had a lot of tables to tend to. If you only have one splurge meal in Kauai, make it Hukilau Lanai! :)
(5)
Jarod H.
Five stars. Loved the ambiance here. The prime rib is to die for. A good cut of meat and tender n juicy. Filled me up good. Enjoyed the service and atmosphere. A nice local flavor to a tourist area. Enjoy!
(5)
P L.
I expected a lot more given the reviews this restaurant got and was a bit disappointed. The food was okay, but nothing exceptional or incredibly fresh tasting. I got the house lemonade which basically tasted like 20 packets of sugar in a cup. The fish was decent but nothing impressive. Our server was pretty much non-existent - we ended up asking other servers for basic things like more water because she only appeared at the beginning of our meal and at the end when we paid the check.
(3)
K D.
We went here on Mother's Day. The pupu and bar items were great! Mains disappointed us. We'd go back, but only for happy hour.
(3)
Lizey B.
This was our favorite meal of our 10-day honeymoon trip on Kauai. My husband and I can be food snobs and our expectations were low based on other restaurants we had already ate at in Kauai. The service was outstanding--our waiter was great and we arrived early for our reservation and were seated early. We shared the clam appetizer, which was delicious. The lobster bisque and caesar salad were also great. My husband had the surf and turf and I had the mixed grill--both were great and portions were large. I would highly recommend this restaurant. It was one of the pricier meals we ate, but it was worth it.
(5)
Jesse D.
Delicious pupus and nice live music. We went for a pupus only dinner in the lounge and were really impressed by the food. The general ambiance was nice and the server was pretty good. Our drinks took a while but would definitely go back for more. A little pricy though.
(4)
Susie K.
Really enjoyed my experience here. Originally we planned to come for the happy hour tasting - but everything on the regular menu looked too good to pass up. We started with the lobster and goat cheese wonton --yummy! Each entree gets a choice of soup or salad (old school awesome!) -- I had mixed greens very fresh. My husband upgraded to the Lobster Bisque - which was totally worth it and he ate it up before I could get more than one spoonful! I had the seafood platter - they change up the offerings based on what the local farmers have. Was really tasty and fresh. My husband had Ono with a honey glaze and cranberry dressing. He was worried it would be too sweet - but it was perfection. We saved room for dessert and tried the macadamia nut tart -- super yum!! I also like that they take reservations. Very popular place so I recommend you make reservations ahead of time.
(5)
Aloha L.
Excellent choice for dining in Kapaa. We constantly recommend them!
(5)
Sandy C.
Overall service was quick. I had expectations that the seafood will be great. I ordered the Ahi (rare = quick sear on both sides). I was quite surprised when my cut was stringy. I had to eat around that stuff. I didn't press the issue when the waitperson came by later. I did share that the cut was not ideal. He seemed surprised but did not offer anything. Mostly because I ate my meal already. The dessert, the chocolate cake with warm fudge in the middle topped with vanilla ice cream. That erased most of my entree's experience. It was REALLY good. But not good enough for me to have wanted to go back for dinner.
(2)
Heather H.
Based on the reviews we chose the Hukilau Lanai's early price fix wine pairing dinner for our anniversary (must be seated before 5:45). It was perfect. Beautiful location, fairly good service, great drinks, good food, nice wine pairing, and with tip and tax it was $100 for 2!!! Make your reservation early, though, they were turning people away.
(5)
A S.
Great all around. Ended the trip here and had no regrets. A super finale to a wonderful trip. The service was tops. The meal was lovely. Candied ahi, perfectly prepared calamari, the swordfish, the striped marlin, the honey manhattan, all so good. I might recommend the seating in the back next to the open yard with trees and the night sky.
(5)
Jo C.
We made reservations through open table and were seated promptly. Other people who didn't have reservations were quoted an hour wait on a Sunday night. I go here for their delicious Prime Rib! I'm surprised some of the other recent reviewers didn't mention it, it's one of the best. The calamari and the poke wonton chips was also very good. We had great service and I love the setting and the feel of the restaurant very relaxing and great food! Will be going again next trip to Kauai
(5)
Denny M.
We had a wonderful meal with friends. Everything was prepared and presented beautifully. 3 of us had various fish entres, and my wife had filet mignon. The filet was do tender that it just melted in her mouth. Service was great as well. Highly recommend this restaurant.
(5)
Daniel H.
I think Hukilau has gone downhill in the last two years. I live nearby. I used to come here for happy hours and pupus fairly often and it was pretty good. But in the last couple years Hukilau has gotten very popular with the tourists and you need to make reservations a couple of weeks advance, which we did, to take out a friend who was visiting Kauai. Unfortunately, this is my second below average experience here in last two months. I probably won't go back until I hear they change management. Tonight, the poke tortilla appetizer looked like a giant mountain of schlop. IIt could have been dinner for two. 'll admit it t was HUGE, so if that's your thing, the maybe you like it. I ordered two appetizers and a salad and it was enough below average food for an elephant and NJ Mayor Christie and Mayor Carvalho. Our dogs and chickens will be eating leftovers for a week. The calamari was not bad though. It was understaffed. The waiter forgot our bread, and when I asked for it the runner pedantically explained that the bread comes after the appetizers - instead of just saying "oh sorry". It was like 20 minutes between glasses of wine. Overall, tonight's dinner seemed more like a Costco spinoff for unsuspecting tourists. Our waiter was nice and he was hustling - it wasn't his fault. Its just the food was just not high-end and it looks like its turned to a profit-off-of-tourists machine. Please Hukilau, you used to be good. That is how you got a good reputation. Spend a little money on more sous chefs, servers and bartenders - and save costs by adjusting your portions to serve the less than morbidly obese. We skipped desert as we boxed takeout for the pets. As of 2-2014, on the East side of the island, I'd nix Hukilau, and go with Oasis, or old faithful Kintaro, or Bushido, or even the East Side has gotten up to maybe a "B ". I think Joscelyns on S. Shore is best on Kauai these days.
(2)
Holly C.
We ate at the Hukilau Lanai 3 times on our trip to Kauai. The first time we ate there was during our wedding reception. Many of our guests commented that the food was the best they've had at a reception. The buffet food was served hot, even though our party arrived late. We cannot thank Manda, the event manager, enough for her helpfulness in putting together this event with us. She was always very quick to return emails and calls, and her quote for the evening's bill was right on! The next two dining experiences were just for dinners. We made reservations, because it gets very busy at the Hukilau, and for good reason. This was by far the best meals we had while on the island. The fish was so tender and fresh! We will certainly be back on our next trip to Kauai!
(5)
Leah L.
Without yelp, I'd never have found this restaurant. It's hidden away in a condo type resort, and doesn't look like much from the outside. The seating is very nice though, all on a lanai (hence the name, I suppose!), and facing the grounds with the ocean in the background. We had two great appetizers- the ribs and and candied ahi. Both exceeded my expectations. My husband and I both had the Hawaiian catch, which included two local fishes and a skewer of shrimp. They were also nicely presented and good. The macadamia tart was awesome. I'd eat here again.
(4)
Betty N.
**YES, ONE OF THE BEST SEAFOOD DINNERS I'VE HAD** Had 7:15PM reservations on a Sunday night. Arrived early and waited in the lobby area for a few minutes. Sat outside with tiki torches. Romantic, yes. Good service, yes. Fantastic seafood, double yes. ORDERED: **ISLAND LAVA FLOW ($7.50) Not too sweet and had enough rum kick. **LOBSTER CURRY BISQUE (Price N/A) Lobster, red curry, sherry, AND coconut milk. Say no more. Loved dipping the soup with the provided delicious bread. **HUKILAU MIXED GRILL ($27) A sampling of Island grilled seafood and sugar cane skewered shrimp. OMG, this dish was INSANELY RIDICULOUSLY good. The fresh fish and those shrimps could feed a village. Great portions and the Thai coconut sauce was the highlight of my meal. "Original Hawaiian Chocolate Factory" WARM CAKE ($10) 20 MINUTES TO PREPARE . . . oozing chocolate center and vanilla bean ice cream was the perfect ending. Very good cake. Dinner for two with cocktails was around $100. GREAT SPLURGE DINNER. Definitely the best dinner we had on the island. WILL RETURN. HIGHLY RECOMMEND.
(5)
skorp g.
Among the best dining experiences we had on Kauai. We made early reservations, as we wanted to try the tasting menu, which is only offered from 5:00 to 5:45. Fifty bucks for five courses with wine- what a deal! We ended up ordering one tasting menu, plus several courses off the regular menu. We are every bite! Delicious food... The cocktails weren't our favorite, but it hardly put a damper on our evening. We look forward to eating here again!
Our favorite restaurant on Kauai! We go here every time we are on the island. The food is fresh. I love the salad with beets and corn.
(5)
Eric A.
This is, in my opinion, the best restaurant on the island. Great fish plates, great appetizers, imaginative plates! Drinks are strong and delish!!! You can roll off the beach on your tanks and flip flops and enjoy an appropriately priced meal.
(5)
Spencer L.
Amazing food, great service, definitely went out of their way to make my wife and I feel special for our anniversary. Definitely go for the fish, top notch!
(5)
Justin N.
Good food and nice relaxed atmosphere. Everything tasted great but I wasn't a fan of the lemon drink they had. Other than that, everything was great. Would highly recommend.
(4)
Mark P.
Loved the food, service and setting. Perfect for a romantic night out!
(5)
Annie S.
POKE NACHOS. Get them. You definitely don't want to miss out on them. It's a fun twist on the hawaiian classic poke, served up with thick cut fried tortilla chips. That was definitely the highlight of our meal there. Everything was delicious, from the kabocha soup to our main dishes, mostly featuring different types of fish. However, I would skip out on the sweet potato dumplings, they're taro dumplings with a lot of coconut milk in/on them. The flavor and texture just didn't work for me. Remember to make reservations early on, as they book up really fast, otherwise, your other option is to sit in their lounge/bar area, which isn't a bad set up, as you can order from the full menu, but you might have a hard time eating off the coffee table in front of you.
(4)
Amanda F.
Had a beautiful dinner here with my hubs. Grass-fed steak and local caught fish make me happy!! Delicious food and gorgeous presentation. They had a musician playing in the front room-the music was great and wasn't overpowering to our conversation.
(5)
Kawika K.
What can I say, I've never been disappointed here! I've eaten just about every dish on the menu, and I've never been disappointed. The first date I had with my soon to be wife was here, and we've been coming back regularly for the past 2 years. The menu is not overly cluttered or overly pretentious, and it has a nice selection of items from each category. They also have a nice wine list selection. Aside from the menu, their staff has always been tops in my book. Fast, courteous, and helpful... Never an issue.
(4)
Bethany I.
This is one of the best restaurants on Kauai... We got the lobster & cheese wontons to start.... Excellent! The bread that was served was delicious.... My husband & I both ordered the mixed fish grill. It was the best fish we had on the island! The fish melted in our mouths! The grilled shrimp was also delicious... The dessert menu looked great, but we were too full to order dessert. This place was hopping on a Saturday night... Call & make reservations! Closed Mondays.
(5)
Miranda O.
10 STARS! One of the best restaurants I've ever been to! Service was impeccable and the food was unbelievable! I ordered an assortment of pupus for my meal. The goat cheese and lobster wontons and the bbq ribs! Flavors were so unique and so delicious! The Wally salad was amazing too. They also offer a gluten free menu! Live band with soft music, cool ocean breezes, what more could you want?! Love this restaurant!
(5)
Greg F.
This is one of the best restaurants on the island bar none! The ambience is impeccable and the food is first class awesome. Located on the east side of the island, in a Shell Vacation Property, this fine dining restaurant will no disappoint you. The food choices are many, appetizers are a must here, and portions, seasoning and plating are incredible. This is one dining experience you don't want to miss, service is very attentive and by all means get the lava cake desert! Seating inside as well. I have eaten here with my wife since 2006 and have enjoyed it everytime.
(5)
Erik B.
Curious how this place got 4.5 stars. Yelp seems to be a bit misleading in the Hawaiian Islands. I'll admit that maybe I got the wrong thing, so take this review with a grain of salt. We got the 5 course tasting menu with wine pairing. I wanted to like several of the items that came out, as part of that menu, but everything was so salty. The fish course (Ono) was really good. The problem I have is the dessert. The two dessert options were Creme Brulee and a Cheese Plate. I ordered the Creme, wife got the cheese plate. Hers wasn't bad, I just don't care for a cheese plate when I order dessert. The creme brulee...not so much. It was vanilla pudding. Not creme brulee...vanilla pudding. And quite frankly, I would bet $ that it was instant pudding. The consistency was not that of a creme brulee and it almost tasted artificial...hence the negativity. The cost was affordable, so that's a star. The waitress was really nice and helpful (another star). Again, maybe I ordered the wrong thing. Curious if I would feel different had I ordered off the menu, as opposed to trying the 5-course tasting special. For the price, you could do worse...shit ain't cheap on Kauai, but I was expecting more.
(2)
Surfdawg M.
We visit Kauai 2-3 times/yr & this has become our favorite restaurant. An eclectic menu of mainly local ingredients, but with dishes prepared with a world view. Lobster raviolis, prime rib, fresh fish, island greens, local lamb sausage apps. Way too many items to list that unusual & tastefully prepared. Many items have an Asian flair, but the chef's style is so varied it's hard to label. Great wine list with very reasonable prices too -- French, American, Spanish. The cocktail list is amazing. Thank god I don't live here as I would spend all my disposal income here every night.
(5)
Don G.
My favorite restaurant on our Island. CONSISTENTLY great food, great service, wonderful local ambience and REASONABLY PRICED! It doesn't get any better than the Lobster Bisque or the Sweet Potato Ravioli or the Crab Wontons and I won't list their entire menu but since they have been open I have never had a bad meal here.
(5)
Kailyn G.
Came for dinner - no reservation so we didn't get to sit on the lanai, but the restaurant was just fine for us. FOOD: We got the poke nachos (mmmm good) for an appetizer and for entrees we got the Ono and the Mixed Grill. So delicious - though I thought the Ono was better. It was in a nice creamy sauce that paired great with everything on the plate. And the fish was cooked perfectly. ENVIRONMENT: Beautiful view off the lanai. Even though we were in the restaurant, you can get a pretty nice view. Spacious with lots of natural light. I love that it's such a nice place without being overly dressy. Felt a little bit country club-ish. SERVICE: Good. I got the feeling our waitress was kinda new - she didn't offer a lot of information that I would think was standard (like what fish was in the mixed grill). But she was friendly and our entire dinner went very smoothly.
We Hukilau Lanai while in Kauai. It was a bit of a hike from the Hyatt but it was worth it. I thought it was a great meal and a great garden view. We had a lanai table and the garden is impeccable. The food was fresh and well done. We started with the poke nachos which were one of our favorite dishes of the trip. The flavor was wonderful. My wife had the mixed grill with the Walu and butterfish. The walu melts in your mouth. I had the ono and loved it-I think ono is my favorite fish when done well. The service was good and our meal was terrific. We skipped dessert and opted for ice cream close to the Hyatt. I would definitely go back and I felt the prices were reasonable.
(4)
Dayton R.
My girlfriend and I went here for a nice evening dinner. We were fortunate to call the day of our reservation and get a table during their last seating time at 9pm, this place gets packed so get reservations early! We requested a seat outside, they have a very romantic outdoor area and fortunately something opened up. The wait staff was extremely pleasant and accomodated our sharing of various dishes and we never felt rushed even though we were the last to leave the restaurant. Get the Seafood Grill dish which features their fresh fish of the day with prawns and their special sauce. My girlfriend liked the Sweet Potato Ravioli, but bear in mind you only get three :).
(4)
Jon S.
If you want to try this place (and believe me, you do), try making a reservation a couple days in advance. We made the mistake of trying to get one on the day of and weren't successful. Instead, we tried our luck and got there around 5:30, and were told we could get a table in around 90 minutes or find a spot in the bar/lounge. The bar lounge isn't really conducive to eating dinner, since there are mainly couches and low tables. We went for a walk and came back, and ended up waiting the estimated hour and a half. I was surprised this restaurant was located in a hotel lobby. The restaurant itself looked a little dated (as did the hotel), but all of the tables were located parallel to a wall of (open) windows and there was a patio outside as well. There was a nice view of a courtyard as well as the ocean. The food was delicious. Definitely try the Poke Nachos. There was a generous serving of ahi poke, topping wonton chips covered in nori seasoning along with teriyaki and wasabi sauces. All entrees are served with a side salad (I'd recommend Wally's salad, that papaya seed dressing was so good). I ordered a medley of grilled seafood that came with two types of fish and four shrimp served with a pineapple-y sauce and orzo. I loved every bite. The service was great too. Our waiter was very attentive, and was constantly refilling our water, and checking on us to make sure we were okay. Overall, it was a little pricey, but totally worth it. If I'm ever in Kauai again, I'll definitely be back. Worth the drive no matter where you're staying on the island.
(4)
Fernando B.
The environment of the restaurant is good and it is inside a good resort (Kauai Coast Resort). When we went there, we ordered an appetizer with lobster that tasted nice. But when we order the two main entrees, we didn't like: 1) the presentation of the plate wasn't nice; 2) the combination of the ingredients wasn't good; 3) the food is so heavy;4) the service was regular. Besides the romantic environment, they need to make better combinations of the ingredients of the plates.
(3)
Michael M.
Went to the Hukilau Lanai on a Friday night to celebrate my birthday. As suggested in other posts, make a reservation, they get fairly busy and you can wind up waiting a while for a table. Dinner overall was good. Service was good and we didn't wait too long for our order or to get our food. I ordered the Hukilau Mixed Grill (fish and shrimp) and my wife ordered a fish dish. My fish was cooked perfectly and was very good. My wife's fish however was undercooked and we had to send it back. The server apologized and a fresh plate was brought out in a short amount of time. Our server and a Manager checked back to be sure the dish was okay. Again, good service and, once cooked properly, the food was very tasty. I would give 5 stars if we didn't have to send my wife's plate back, not a complaint as they handled the issue quickly. Oh yes, and my daughter liked the chicken fingers and the "Original Hawaiian Chocolate Factory" Warm Cake. Lastly, keep in mind this restaurant is not on the beach, you can see the beach from the patio seating, but you are looking through the pool area of the Kauai Coast Resort.
(4)
Kimmy K.
The Hukilau Lanai offers a Food & Wine Tasting Menu featuring local products available daily from 5-5:45pm. You may get food only for $28 or food and wine for $40. On the mainland this meal would be an exceptional value. On Kauai, it was a steal. The Hukilau Lanai Tasting Menu is one of the best ways to taste a variety of entrees while at Hukilau Lanai. Each plate is beautifully presented with quite generous portions. The evening we went the menu for the night featured Island Gazpacho, Candied Ahi, Sausage and Warabi, Fresh Catch of Mahi Mahi, and Big Island Vanilla Crème Bruelle. Instead of only being able to order one big entree, we got a full taste of Hawaii through the Tasting Menu. We both completely enjoyed everything we had on Hukilau Lanai's Tasting Menu. This is a meal you won't want to miss while on Kauai. We know we will be back to visit Hukilau Lanai, again next time we are on the island.
(4)
Lauren G.
So glad that Yelp led me to this gem while we were on Kauai.... it was one of our favorite dinner spots of the trip. Its rare you can find fine dining for a decent price on any of the islands.. but Hukilau Lanai not only offers a well-priced menu, but a really reasonable wine list as well. All of our entrees came with soup or salad.. I had the lobster bisque which was good despite there not being any actual pieces of lobster in it, and my husband had the caesar salad, which was better than your average for sure. We both ended up getting the surf n turf, which was a 9 oz NY strip, a piece of grilled walu in a demi glace with mashed potatoes... everything was fabulousss. The walu was to die for! The only thing that could have been better was how long it was taking to get our drinks/wine. Granted, it was a busy night and I know the bar was swamped.. our waiter was incredibly apologetic, but it was still a little on the frustrating side. If you can make it for an early dinner you can also take advantage of the prix fixe menu which is an incredible deal with the wine pairing. Either way, come enjoy the gorgeous view, a delicious meal and a couple drinks... it will be one of your best experiences on Kauai!
(4)
Shannon B.
Delicious!! A MUST visit when on Kauai. Everything from the live music to the appetizers to the entrees and even dessert was fantastic. We will definitely be back.
(5)
Bruce A.
Stopped in for the first time last night for drinks and pupus. The drinks were good and so was the calamari. Very pleasant Hawaiian music was playing while we sat in the lobby lounge. We didn't have dinner, so not sure about their mains, but I would definitely recommend this place based on my brief encounter. We will be back and will send guests here as well.
(4)
Pink P.
We came here to celebrate my parents' 70th birthday. You will need to make reservation between 5:00 - 5:45 if you want the tasting menu. Reservation is always recommended as this place do get packed. We sat in the outdoor patio area and it had a beautiful view of the garden of Kauai Coast Resort Hotel with tiki lights all around. The service was excellent and the tasting menu was wonderful. Don't get concerned with the portion of the tasting menu as you will be full by the 5th course. We had also ordered the Ahi Poke nachos and calamari for appetizer and they were excellent. We will definitely be back on our next visit to Kauai.
(4)
Sarah C.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME! My bf took me here for my birthday. We made reservations for 6.30pm. We were given a seat outside overlooking a garden where there was a wedding going on. I felt that all the service people were actually happy to be there. Since it was my birthday we went all out. Island Lava Flow - With strawberry. It was good and tasty. Sausage & Warabi... (housemade spicy longanisa, marinated local fern shoots, tomato, ginger, onion, bell peppers) - It wasn't too spicy but very good. You get four really big pieces. The veggies on the bottom was so delectable! We wished we had more! Lobster Curry Bisque... (lobster, red curry, sherry, coconut milk) - We both got this for an additional $2 with our entrees. I love lobster bisque. It was good and they give you a lot! Hukilau Mixed Grill... (A sampling of Island grilled seafood and sugar cane skewered shrimp. Ask your server for the daily offerings and preparation) - I love shrimp so I know when I am having good shrimp! It came with 4 shrimps on a wooden chopstick. It was a bit difficult to get the shrimp off but maybe I was over- eager. It was cooked perfectly! It came with two decently sized fish. I liked one more than the other. One was tougher than the other. Comes with a small serving of orzo. I though the orzo was a pleasant surprise. It was a good balance to the heavy protein surrounding it. I wasn't able to finish my food and was too full to get dessert. O did I mention that their complementary bread is the best bread I had during our week long vacation. We went to three nice restaurants that served complementary bread and this place's bread is by far the best. Comes with an olive oil/balsamic for dipping. We didn't even have to ask for more. They just switched our empty basket with more bread. Definitely wouldn't mind coming back!
Thank you for a wonderful dining experience! We made reservations for 8:30 and were seated right on time. The music in the bar was very nice and the general ambiance was just what we were looking for. Our server was attentive and knowledgeable about both the wine list and the menu. We ordered a bottle of Allegrini and decided on the fresh catch and a new menu item, swordfish. Everything was prepared very well, fresh and piping hot. Though I enjoyed my dinner, the swordfish was the most amazing dish of the night. If you are looking for a quality dining experience and a special evening, I would highly recommend Hukilau Lanai.
(5)
Daniel T.
Do make a reservation, it does get packed. We got there right when our reservation was and they seated us within 2-3 minutes. They led us outside but after the reviews about mosquitoes, we asked for an inside table and they accommodated for us. Wife and I shared their mixed grill and got three types of fishes. They're smaller sizes but when added up together, you get more fish for the same price and get to try different types of fish. Our came with mahi mahi, ono, and opah. They were all good except the mahi was a little dry but still really good. The calamari was good, not too greasy but fresh. We then shared a macadamia nut tart to go which was really good. Hot tart with ice cream and lots of flavor. Very friendly service as well.
(4)
Felicia H.
Excellent menu!!! Drinks from the bar are great!!! We had the BBQ ribs as an appetizer and an Mahi Mahi as an entree. Excellent meal. We even went back for appetizers another night. Live music is relaxing and romantic. Enjoy!!! Make reservation, unless your just visiting the bar area. It books up for a reason!!! Our concierge handled this for us. Also, visit the Pool Bar if you get there before 5 pm. Great and reasonable specials for lunch and good drinks. Say hi to Sylvie!!!
(5)
suz o.
Wow! What a find. Amazing meals (yes we went back) at prices you do not find anywhere else on the island. Farm to table at its best. Tasting menu cannot be beat. Brian was an excellent waiter, very friendly. Our second night there was equally as delicious although waitress not as good, in fact order got messed up but the other staff was enthusiastically covering for her which was actually nice to experience. Be careful, their homemade cheesy focaccia bread is addictive. Also great wine menu with good bottles under $20, featuring organic family wineries as well.
(4)
Annaleis W.
We had our reception dinner after our wedding here. We had a party of 16 with some special food needs also. They created special dishes for us, at no additional cost. The food was amazing, the semi private room has a wonderful view, and the staff was great. I looked at a lot of places. They not only have amazing food, but were very reasonably priced. As far as planning, their office manager was very helpful and created several custom options and menus. We even had personalized menus with our names on them. It was just a wonderful and delicious evening. We are so glad we selected Hukilau Lanai
(5)
Phil A.
This was a wonderful restaurant to end our trip to Kauai. Service was exceptional and food was good.
(4)
Kimberly E.
Great value for good food! The ambience of the restaurant was nice. You could see the ocean from a distance as they play soothing music. Our sever was very informative when we asked about how dishes were prepared and about the drink specials. The mixed grill was great due in large part to the butter fish which was sublime. My husband got the tasting menu and said everything was tasty but raved about the candied chipotle ahi. The dinner ended with the warm chocolate cake which surprisingly taste similar to the Flemmings molten lava cake. So we obviously loved it.
(3)
Jasten M.
Dined here while at the Kauai Coast Resort(otherwise, it would be difficult to find and/or park here w/o gps... It's near the coconut market, where parking is convenient). Apps were the lobster goat cheese wonton(not too much), calamari(not too tough) and lobster bisque(just right, w/ a coconut twist!). I tried the mahi mahi and my friend had the lasagna. For 20-30ish $'s, the presentation and ingredients blew us away. The mahi mahi was impeccably moist/light/n flaky and fell into those horizontal layers that make u wanna cry b/t bites. The lasagna had pesto sauce(a first) and just made sense. Veggies galore and not too much cheese. Portions were just right to keep a beach body a beach body. Dessert: a perfect, modern creme brulee with a thin, light surface. Menu: brought together by HI/local flavors and fresh, local ingredients. Very diverse(seafood, meatloaf, Italian). Cool wine tasting hour I always missed. Looking around, seafood dishes had the most heart and soul behind them. Tasteful, live music @ nighttime. Try to get a patio seat, with the lush resort(take a walk during your wait) and the ocean at your beck and call. Very romantic spot. This place(and Roy's HI Fusion and some Mexican place on kuhio hwy beside the boring Kountry Kitchen here-but not here on yelp) are the only cool Kauai spots I suggest with any enthusiasm. (I've learned to stock up @ the markets here, which assuages any guilt over flying to Hi... amazing ready-to-eat foods for cheap $'s galore).
(5)
Tony L.
We feasted. And were feasted on. Hukilau Lanai was the perfect culinary destination to catch up with a few friends over cocktails and well-prepared meal. The dimly lit dining area opened to the sound of waves swishing on shore. The appetizers were pretty, delicately shaped and bursting with color. My wife had the meatloaf. Pretty good stuff. Now what did I have... I know I had it with the mashed potatoes on our servers suggestion... and I had a feeling it was pretty good. But otherwise, it was pretty forgettable. That's something, isn't it? You like a place, but you forget what you ate. Hey, it happens. As was our leg buffet to those savage mosquitos. Those bites I won't forget, swollen and sweaty like warts off an old witch's nose. So in short, good food. Great ambiance. Tasty, though ultimately forgettable food. And lots and lots of mosquitos.
(4)
Sa A.
Food is excellent. We are repeat customers. I would recommend this place for the food, choice of menu items, live music, service, and surroundings.
(5)
Eloise v.
Excellent service and food. Very gluten free friendly with some of the best gf bread I've had in a while. The dishes were creative twists on trendy dishes with reasonable prices. The snapper and hebe (sp) were cooked perfectly but the mahi mahi was overcooked/dry. Gazpacho with pineapple basil sorbet was bright tasting and fun for the palate.
(5)
Jason J.
The Hukilau Lanai is located in the Kauai Coast Resort at the Beachboy, right next to the Coconut Marketplace, which is conveniently...well....exactly where we stayed when The Ladyfriend and I went to Hawaii in early December '10. The ambiance is nice, with some light live music, and it's well decorated. It also have a fantastic open patio that looks out to the well kept grounds at the KCR, which is where we sat. The menu isn't terribly large but does maintain a diversity of choices. Like lots of things on Kauai, the food is overpriced, though I'm sure there are worse than this. I thought the service was good, but the food itself lacked something. It wasn't bad, it just didn't put me over the top into a 4th star. Not a bad place at all, especially if you're staying here, but one huge drawback is that it closes at 9. So no latenight drinks anywhere at KCR. But if you're looking for dinner, definitely do Hukilau Lanai. It won't blow you away, but it won't really disappoint either.
(3)
Kris C.
We were so looking forward to dining at the Hukilau, and experiencing what other Yelp reviewers raved about. I must say that the drinks were wonderful, and the ambiance was delightful...just what we were hoping for on Kauai. The food left a lot to be desired. The appetizers (lobster wonton and the nightly special of steamed clams) were tasty and beautifully presented. The salads were average, and the entrees were well below average. The prime rib was cold, and had to be sent back to be reheated. The vegetarian lasagne was so rich that two bites was enough. The macadamia nut encrusted chicken was dry and overlooked. Our waiter was obviously new to the Hukilau and we were more than willing to give him a break, however it quickly became apparent to all four of us that he was trying to BS his way through when he confidently answered our questions then had to come back and correct himself a number of times. We waited until our last night on this island piece of paradise to treat ourselves to dinner. I wish we had gone somewhere else!
(2)
Bobby And Estee F.
Quiet and relaxing atmosphere, outstanding menu, and absolutely excellent service. Everything we ordered was delicious. The live Hawaiian music was perfect, not too loud, and definitely added to the whole evening. Our table was on the lanai had a beautiful view of the grounds and the ocean in the distance. Reservation was at 6:45 pm so next time we'll make it between 5:00 and 6:00 so we can try the Tasting Menu.
(5)
Donald M.
Great food. The rib appetizer is very good. We almost didn't make it past their hostest with the mostess, who each time I came near her asked if we'd be joining them for dinner that night. Yep, nothing has changed since you asked me 20 seconds ago. We sat near the entrance to the dining area, and we're not sure why, but the people watching was phenomenal. From hipsters to combovers to wedding parties to tank toppin fatties, this place had it all...which was as good as the xylophone player in the lounge.
(4)
Erica L.
The Hukilau Lanai was a quick walk down from the Marriott we were staying at, so we made reservations and went there on our last night in Kauai. Soooo good! We had: -Cocktails: Loco Lemonade (very good) and Wailua Bay Breeze (good, but weak) -Lobster and goat cheese wonton with a plum sauce (good, but nothing extraordinary) -Husband had a caesar salad, I got the Wally's salad, both were fresh and satisfying -Husband got the Opah and I got the Ono, both were mouthwateringly delicious. It was one of those meals where you literally just there and go "mmmmm" "ohhhh" "yummmm" "oh my godddd" the entire time. -And THEN we got the "Original Hawaiian Chocolate Factory" Warm Cake, which takes 20 minutes to prepare and comes with homemade vanilla bean ice cream and whipped cream, DELICIOUS! And not so overwhelmingly sweet and rich that you feel sick afterwards The only thing that prevented me from giving the Hukilau 5-stars is our waiter was a little...blah. The service was fast and efficient but our guy just seemed like he wanted to be anywhere but there, it was a little off-putting.
(4)
KSU S.
The tasting menu was fantastic, and the service was attentive and polite. Neither my husband nor I like fish, but we both really enjoyed the fish preparation on the tasting menu. All of the the sauces were wonderful. The view from the Lanai overlooks the well-maintained garden with an ocean backdrop -- very nice way to enjoy dinner.
(4)
Brenda B.
We loved the service, the food was delicious, and the view was stuning. We recommend this restaurant for a lovely dinner and we made reservations to return.
(5)
Chuck B.
As a walk-in we had a short wait, they had a broad gluten-free menu (including gluten-free bread), and very fresh fish. Service was superb and the view spectacular as we watched the sun set over the ocean while eating dinner. Our appetizer was ok, one of our dinners was exceptional and the other very good. For the price we felt the appetizer could have been better but that might have been personal taste. I recommend going at dusk and listen to your server for suggestions.
(4)
Jimmy B.
If it wasn't for the long wait for food, I would've easily given Hukilau 5 Stars. Set in a hotel lobby, next to a dated tourist mall, I've passed by for years never even thinking about fine dining. BIG mistake. Thankfully a friend recommended Hukilau. The ambiance is nice, looking out over the gardens and tropical setting of the hotel. But the food...just fabulous! We had the fresh fish dish and prime rib. The Parmesan focaccia bread was amazing. Wine selection was good and reasonably priced.
(4)
Colleen H.
Our favorite restaurant on the island - without a doubt! We started here / and / we ended here... The restaurant environment is laid back and comfortable. We loved our wait staff and the food was incredible! The Sweet Potato Ravioli is incredible, the tuna appetizer, the 'butter fish'.. Definitely a must ~
(5)
Christopher C.
Our wedding reception was held in the private banquet room at the Hukilau Lanai, and it was fantastic. First, the food. It's epic. As the other reviewers have said, you must try the ahi poke nachos. My other favorites were the lobster & goat cheese wontons, and the opah (moonfish). The Hukilau Lanai also made our wedding cake. In my experience, taste is often secondary to appearance when it comes to wedding cakes. Not here. Our cake was beautiful *and* delicious. The lemon cake was made with real lemon juice (as opposed to extract) and the sweetness of the raspberry filling was a perfect complement to the lemon. Next, the staff. I was blown away by the level of service - not only was the staff very attentive, they all seemed genuinely happy to be of assistance. I guess that's what happens when you live in paradise. In the lounge outside of the main dining room, local artists entertain bar patrons and people waiting for a table. If you are lucky enough to hear Ben Ahn play ukelele, tell him I said "Hi!". The restaurant is very clean, and the floor plan is designed to give the majority of diners a view of the ocean. It seems to be a local favorite, though, so make sure you have reservations. We will be returning to the Hukilau Lanai for years to come.
(5)
Rose E.
My husband, our 7 month old daughter, and I came here twice during our one week vacation. We loved everything about this restaurant. It was walking distance from where we stayed and the food down to service was excellent. We loved the ahi nachos and the lobster and goat cheese wontons! I ordered the prime rib the first time and the pork tenderloin the second time - both were delicious. My husband ordered a fish dish the first time and the macadamia nut chicken the second. He didn't have any complaints either. We have talked about returning to Kauai again and I'm sure we'll by eating here again
(5)
Daniel N.
Had dinner here with my wife last Wednesday. Overall: This place had amazing food and above average service. Only draw backs were: price (expected) and the fact that we were not seated until nearly 15 minutes after our reservation, and it took a while to get any food (appetizer, bread, or salad) and my wife and I were both starving after a day of kayaking. We quickly forgot the slowness of bringing food by the exceptional quality of the food. The ambiance was great, we had 730 reservations. I ordered the mixed grill, and my wife had the wahoo fish. Both were exceptional, the fish moist and perfectly grilled, my shrimp was sensational. The salads were top notch. The pre-meal bread ciabatta was a little cold, but still very tasty. This is a great place for a quiet romantic meal, mello live Hawaiian music, sensational seafood... If you are planning a high end romantic meal, this place is not to be missed.
(5)
Jennifer S.
Since I read that this is where the locals go for a special night out, I picked the Hukilau to celebrate our 14 year anniversary. They use fresh ingredients from local farmers in Kauai and the neighbor islands. I do have to say that their advertisement of "ocean-view dining" is a little deceiving. It's more like a lanai where you "view" the ocean from afar. We order their famous ahi poke nachos, which is delicious. And since they have impeccably fresh fish, I order the Opah (Hawaiian moon fish). It's similar in texture to a sword fish and not fishy at all. The Opah was served on a big bed of fettuccine in parmesan sauce. It came with their Wally salad, which had romaine, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, bacon, red onion, croutons, mandarin oranges, papaya seed dressing. And my daughter gets the Ahi - black & white sesame crusted with a citrus sauce. My husband gets the Prime Rib au Jus season in Hawaiian salt & secret spices. It came with mashed potatoes, and there were greens infused into the mashed potatoes. All the servings are large and we each take leftovers back to our condo. For dessert, we decide to share the Hawaiian Vanilla Bean Creme Brulee, which is decadent. Since we were celebrating our anniversary, they gave us a chocolate Happy Anniversary card, as well as two chocolate truffles! They have a full gluten-free menu & vegetarian options as well. We didn't know that if you ask for gluten-free starter bread, they'll bring it out for you instead of the regular bread. When we found out, my husband asked if we could try some - and it took almost 15 minutes because they had to bake it! It came in the dish it was baked in and it was good- kind of like a focaccia bread, pretty dense and a bit on the dry side. The service was good, however the waitress never introduced herself, so we never knew her name and she didn't wear a name tag. We noticed another waiter approaching a new table, and he also didn't introduce himself. I wish she would have introduced herself because I believe that personal touch can make a huge difference.
(4)
Siao W.
This is the best attempt at Hawaiian "fine dining" that I've ever had. This includes merrimans and even Kauai Grill. Definitely getting their early enough for the tasting menu. All of the dishes were delicious, slightly inventive, and incorporated local ingredients. -Gazpocho was refreshing. The basil sorbet was a good balance to the sweet pineapple flavors. Great starter. -Candied Ahi surpassed my expectations. One of my favorite things ever is fresh Ahi, so I do not feel that making it candied is necessary. However, the dish was delicious. There was a perfect amount of seasoning and grilled just enough to keep it juicy. Not to sweet at all. -Sausage and warabi is a solid dish. Never had warabi before. Its like a mix of bamboo and asparagus. Very good. -Ono with quinao and kale salad was great. Another perfectly balanced seafood dish. -Creme brulee was amazing as well. One of my favorite meals on any of the islands. My only complaint is that all of the wines included in the pairings were too sweet for my taste.
(4)
Emanuelle O.
Food was pretty good considering every dinner on the island seems to cost in a similar price range, except for fast food dinners. I was pleasantly surprised by the grilled ono entree since grilled fish typically leaves much to be desired. Husband's drink was not too good, tasted like cough syrup concoction. He had pork tenderloin which was alright- tasty but fish was better.
For those looking for a dinner with family or a Rehearsal Dinner or maybe just a nice place for dinner after a wedding, the Huki Lau Lanai is the spot. The food is steller but what really caught my attention was a gal I watched during our daughters rehearsal dinner. Attention to detail, bent over backwards to make sure the flow of our little party was smooth. As a professional catering to guests myself in the wedding industry and having gone to a million restaurants in my lifetime, I especially thought their service was 5 star. The food is probably the best on the Island. I just felt a need to let everybody know just how good the Huki Lau Lanai is.
(5)
Laura G.
Everything was very tasty and service was excellent. Food was pricey but that I'd to be expected. Ahi poke nachos were perfect, sweet potato ravioli was delish but very small, ribs were well cooked but pretty salty for my taste, Wally's side salad was well sized and flavorful, and the Shutome was excellent! Definitely recommend making reservations!
(4)
Fiona H.
Amazing food. We spent 5 days in Kauai and were not thrilled with some of the Yelp review choices, however this place had an excellent menu and very flavorful dishes. We ate in the bar area both nights and one of the nights the waitress was a little dismissive and clearly was overwhelmed by the number of seatings she had. The bartender was very friendly and i am glad we chose this place!
(4)
Cindy D.
This was our "splash out" dinner for this trip but with budget in mind. We went specifically for the five course food & wine pairing special between 5-5:45pm for $40. We actually did not have reservations and took a chance because we happened to be in the area. We lucked out and got the last table available. Everything was good to excellent and the wine pairings were spot on. Island Gazpacho with Koloa Rum Pineapple Basil Sorbet - Great start to dinner (~St. Gabriel Riesling Auslese, Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Germany~) Candied Ahi -- Delicious! coconut chipotle sauce (~Gazela Vinho Verde, Portugal~) Sausage & Warabi -- Fantastic! char-grilled housemade longanisa, local warabi & tomato salad (~Torres Las Mulas Rose, Central Valley, Chile ~) Fresh Catch --We had Butterfish, sumptuous summer quinoa & kale salad (~Poggio Anima Sangiovese, Toscana, Italy~) Artisan Cheese Duo -- We were so full by this point that we took the cheese home to snack on next day. (Humboldt Fog and a Manchego) Two cheeses, baguette, accompaniments (~Tonight's Cheese Wine Pairing~) Awesome value for dining on Kauai.
(4)
T S.
Excellent dinner. Creative flavors, the sweet potato ravioli were great and the lobster curry bisque was so good that I wanted to lick the bowl. Dining on the lanai was so peaceful and romantic, this was a top-notch dining experience.
(5)
M M.
Had a wonderful dinner here on the last night of our stay in Kauai. Started with the poke nachos which were soooo good, my BF and I loved it. I had the Ono which was wonderful and had a delicious sauce, I just wish it had more sauce. Nice service and atmosphere, very relaxing and enjoyable meal.
(5)
Lindsey J.
Amazing food and wonderful ambiance. Great for a date night!
(5)
William B.
5 stars for the food and the setting. Service leaves a bit to be desired although the staff seems to really try- they're just a little slow. Every table has an ocean view! Live music really makes it a great evening. Order the tasting menu if you dine before 6:00. My wife's was fantastic even before you factor in the price - only $28!
(4)
Luis G.
Ok food but I was expecting better. The lobster bisque was great the mixed grill was just ok, it had to pieces of fish one of Walu which was good and another piece of a type of sword-fish which was not good at all. Al of that was topped with grilled shrimp which again were OK but not nearly great as stated in some other reviews. The food at the Cocount Beach Courtyard hotel is better overall, the cheff at the Courtyard had a great selection of very tasty food.
(3)
Charlene K.
Beautiful fine dining and live music in the evenings. Outdoor seating with a view of the garden. Full bar. Fresh seafood dishes. *hint. The Prime rib is the talk of the locals. I really enjoyed my food and the dishes were very well prepared.
(4)
Kevin S.
You can't go wrong here. Gluten free menu is superb. Had the ribs (best ever) and Wally's salad (so good) plus minty Mo drink and the opah was outstanding.
(5)
Nancy B.
Wonderful food, service, live music and ambiance while in Kaapa area of Kauai We had two nights here at the resort and simply wanted a nice evening without driving all around the island looking for a place. Just steps away from our lanai we found this great restaurant and decided to give it a try since Yelp had such great reviews. I am now going on Yelp for all our travel needs as they have been right on. The first night we ate at the bar and John made us great drinks and told us the chef has a passion for his food. We ordered Ahi and Calamari and both were excellent. We came back the second night and sat in the restaurant overlooking the courtyard which had the torch lights on. It was very romantic and we also had a wonderful meal. Again we tried what the Yelpers said, the Ahi Poke Nachos and I had the mixed grill. The sauce was so great I just emailed the chef for the recipe. I was very impressed as the server who knew I was gluten free, brought me a wonderful gluten free version of the menu and a special baked muffin. I wish we had this kind of service and menu here in Southern CA!! Be sure to make a reservation as they are booked. It was a fun time and we are glad we trusted Yelp!
(5)
Cherry J.
Best food we ate on Kauai, hands down! Service and food were both perfect. The butterfish appetizer really started the evening off right. It was so good! My drink, the non-alcoholic Mint & Ginger, was refreshing and delicious. Even the salad was amazing--love the papaya seed dressing and wish we could order it on the mainland! The resort location was a little weird at first, but we ended up enjoying it because we were able to take a nice stroll after dinner and enjoy a few minutes sitting in one of the hammocks. :)
(5)
mia n.
Such an overrated place. After dining at Joseline's bar and grill with 4 star reviews, I had high expectations for this place which has 4.5... Was so disappointed. First of we were greeted by this really snobby hostess. Well by greeting as in ignoring me for minutes. I told her my reservation was at 7pm she then gave me a dirty look because we dared coming in 18 minutes earlier. I ordered the wontons, lobster bisque and mixed grill. The hubby ordered vegetarian lasagna and salad. The lobster bisque did not taste like lobster at all, it was a gross mix of curry and coconut milk that I both enjoy separately but the soup was aweful. The crab wontons were a bad version of those you can get at Cheesecake Factory. I also ordered a fresh coconut juice for $4 and it was watered out and tasteless. Then came the main dish and that was the only thing decent. Though the shrimp was undercooked a bit. The two stars go to 1 our waitress who was very nice, the second star is for my half decent main dish.
(2)
Lisa D.
We made reservations here (recommended as they are busy). We started with the sashimi appetizer which was delicious and fairly large for sashimi! Excellent. My husband got the filet mignon for his main course and it was heavenly. I got the mixed grill which came with two types of perfectly grilled fish and a skewer of shrimp with mango dressing over orzo. We finished the meal with vanilla bean creme brulee which was the perfect end to a wonderful meal. I will recommend this place and hope to eat here again!
(5)
alli t.
We ate our first dinner on Kauai here. I choose to eat here on Saturday night b/c of the live music. I made reservations through Opentable and noted food allergies in the notes section. When we arrived, the restaurant was very busy. The musicians were playing and gave the restaurant a relaxed feel. The restaurant was full of people, the lobby area was full of bar spill over, and the bar didn't have room for another body. After we were seated with our menus the waiter came around eventually and introduced himself. He put out his hand for a handshake. Caught off guard, I shook his clammy hand. I should have faked a cold and denied him a hand. I am not a big hand shaker b/c that's how germs spread and it's not appropriate at a restaurant. I was already cranky b/c it was beyond my bed time, and that just put me over the edge. I should have washed my hand immediately. The positive part of this dining experience is that our waiter explained that the folks in the kitchen would make sure the plate for Mr. Food Allergy wouldn't be touched by prepares handling those allergens. Sounds good. Pre dinner, focaccia served in a small bamboo steamer landed on our table w/some chili dipping sauce. Serving focaccia in a bamboo steamer was too fusion for me. I couldn't taste the chili in the dipping saucy stuff. When we finished the just ok focaccia, the steamer and the dipping oil disappeared. Ok, no refills, but we didn't need the carbs anyway. Dinner came w/soup or salad. The soup of the day was seafood miso. We went w/their house salad, aka Wally's salad. It was delicious. The greens were tossed w/tasty cherry tomatoes, crutons, canned mandarins and papaya seed dressing. Food Allergy enjoyed his filet that was served w/mashed potatoes mixed w/carmelized onions. I was on the fence w/my opah aka moonfish. The handshake was still on my mind although that shouldn't have affected my tastebuds. The opah was crusted w/cashews and served w/pineapple timbale. The fish was sitting atop of sticky jasmine rice. There was a lake of spicy sauce on the plate took away from the flavor of the fish. I don't know what they could have served w/the dish besides rice. I was disappointed it was plain white rice b/c I can cook that at home. When we got the bill the waiter told us how great the kitchen was w/food allergies. Also, he's never worked at a restaurant that was so flexible. They're willing to change the preparation of items on the menu if diners ask.....as in mix and match preparations and proteins one the menu. I wish I knew that it was a mix and match menu. I would have studied it more. When we left, the music was still going strong. Thumbs up for the music, Wally's salad and the allergy alert kitchen. I expected more from the food for the price. I think this is a tourist hangout. Attire ranged from "I just got off the airplane" to "nice resort casual."
(2)
Bob H.
Reasonable pricing for a Hawaii beach seafood restaurant. Food was OK, not exceptional. Overall, "reasonable" is the right description.
(4)
Renata V.
Great restaurant. Our waiter Ryan was very nice and he served us very well. The food was delicious. The tastes of the ingredients were a perfect combination, nothing was too dominant. The wine (Chardonnay) was really nice. Also the cocktails were good. Not too strong. And you have a great view over the garden of Kauai Coast Resort. This was the best restaurant we've been on Kauai!
(5)
Anita S.
Made reservations for 6:00 pm had to wait about 10 minutes for seating. Our dinner view of the grounds and ocean were partially blocked by a support beam, but still a pretty view. However, the fish tank behind our table seem to attract every kid in the restaurant, though. We are not child friendly adults and the kids leaning their filthy hands on our table and chairs, and their squeally voices was not part of the experience I expected to have. Where are your parent? Ah yes, enjoying their quiet dinner. However, at about 8 PM all the keiki went to bed and we enjoyed an adults only meal. Our waiter was attentive, but there was some miscommunication with our meal. While there was no problem substituting vegetables for mash potatoes and asking for salad with no dressing, but it came dressed twice to the table. I was starving, since I don't fill myself on bread and my last meal was about 10 hours before this I was starving and it was a tease every time they served it to me. A bit frustrating but they finally got it right, and our meal was the best meal we had on the island. We ordered ahi poke nachos as an appetizer. I just ate the poke part which was very fresh and seasoned flavorfully that enhanced the fresh fish. Definitely a nice twist on poke and nachos. Our entrees either come with the soup of the day or a Wally's salad. My husband ordered the grilled ono with crab corn chowder soup...I had a bite of the soup and it was very made with bits of longanisa sausage, crab and corn. It showed quality, in spite of it being the soup of the day. The Ono came with rice in a lemongrass coconut milk sauce. Really eye catching plating as well as perfectly grilled ono and the perfect amount of the tasty sauce. I had the locally raised pork chop with longanisa sausage over request mixed vegetables which was a treat in itself (bok choy, zucchini, mushrooms). I had reservations about ordering pork since most times it is overcooked, but this time was the best ever. While dinner seems pricey, I thought it was bargain given the classic Hawaiian setting, the locally raised ingredients, ample portion, and included a salad or soup. Dining here was a very memorable part of our stay in Kauai.
(4)
Diana L.
Adams Poke Nachos were disappointing. :( Tasted like something from Cheesecake Factory and the Wally Salad tasted like a salad from Wendy's fast food joint. Resort itself is nice and comfortable but I'd pass on the restaurant (good service but overpriced bad food) and go get yourself some real delicious island food - lunch plates and ahi poke. If you want fine dining hit up Napa or San Francisco in Cali.
(2)
Kauai B.
Great place for dinner with friends. Casual Island atmosphere, mixed menu with fish fusion style cuisine and American eats.
(5)
Corinna O.
We loved it here! Sat in the bar as we did not have reservations. I had the filet with a red wine sauce and potato of the day. It was served with a first course of tomato pineapple gazpacho and fresh out of the oven gluten free bread!!!! My SO had the veggie lasagna and was in love with it. My filet was cooked perfectly and the sauce was amazing. Service was great and you could tell there was a good team environment. The price - very humble! A bottle of wine for $26 and an entree that includes a first course for $15-$33. We were impressed and hope to make it back!
(5)
Dub M.
When we checked into the Beachboy Resort they told us not to bother searching for another dinner spot because the best restaurant on the island was on the premises. I shrugged it off as cheap advertising. However, after 8 nights of trying every other nice restaurant, this truly was the best food on our trip. If you're looking to party or pick up mermaids, this is not your spot- sorry spring break dude. However, if you are looking to eat decently, sit down and relax. We got a seat next to the 300+ gallon salt-water tank, which I just love. A musician by the name of Ben Ahn was playing Ukulele that night, which I also love. I was across from my beautiful new bride, who I love the most. What a great night! Our appetizers were lobster and goat cheese wantons and lobster bisque. For entree I ordered the steak and was not disappointed. The meat was corn-fed, but hey, I'm from the Mid-West. My wife ordered the fresh catch, which was a trio of fish. It was really the best meal we had on our trip. Everything was fresh and cooked just how we ordered. Everything was timely, beautiful, and unique. I have no complaints, only my credit card suffered. Seriously though, an excellent experience and right where we were staying.
(5)
Su-Lynn T.
We went here for dinner on our first real night in Kauai. I had made reservations (recommended) for our party of 6 the day of. I could only get 8pm reservations. Considering we're from the mainland, and us from the East coast, it was definitely hard to adjust to the time, but I am glad we did as we enjoyed our dinner here. Service at the Hukilau was great. We had to wait a few minutes for our table to be ready but we sat in the lounge area in the hotel right outside the restaurant. Our server was also extremely friendly and very informative about the day's specials. Menu consists mainly of seafood-laden island favorites. The requisite mac-crusted fishes, ahi tuna poke, as well as a few pasta, steak and seafood items. In terms of creativity, they were a few levels above your typical mid-priced island restaurant. The ahi tuna poke was actually quite good, served with crisp-fried wonton wrappers which gave the dish a nice savory crunch. All entrees are served with choice of soup or salad. The soup that night was a seafood stock type soup. It was not bad. You had a choice of caeser salad or house salad, which is served with my favorite, papaya seed dressing! Fish dishes were all fresh and well-prepared. The prime rib was also good, and well-cooked. I had the hebi, which is a fish I hadn't tried before, and after hearing our server's recommendation for the dish, I went for it, and it was tasty! It's a firm white fish, kind of like mahi mahi. I think everyone really enjoyed their dish, except for maybe 1 person, but I didn't get to try their dish. Most items are served with either rice or potatoes. I usually get rice. We were so full that we ordered 1 dessert for the 6 of us to share, lillikoi chiffon pie. It was yummy! Light and fluffy but with the richness of key lime pie. I liked it better than the same pie at Hanmura Saimin. I would come back to Hukilau Lanai if I'm in the Kapaa area.
(4)
Albie F.
Thank god for Blackberries, and thank god for the Yelp ap on Blackberry devices because as we were making our way back to Kapaa, we needed to find a quick place to get some food and didn't quite want to settle for fast food while spending 4 precious days on Kauai. After a little bit of mobile Yelping, I found quite a bit of rave reviews regarding the sweet potato ravioli here at Hukilau Lanai. We were so impressed by the reviews that we took two orders to go. Each $9.25 order of the sweet potato ravioli consisted of 4 or 5 homemade raviolis covered in a rich but mouth watering lemongrass sauce. The mix of the local made feta cheese and Okinawan sweet potato made a nice hearty filling that did not disappoint the taste buds. Unfortunately I didn't get to see the inside of the restaurant or try anything else off the menu, but the ravioli itself deserves a 5 star rating.
(5)
Christina A.
I chose this restaurant to celebrate my birthday, and I couldn't be more pleased with my choice. We easily made a reservation using Open Table and the staff accommodated all of our special requests. We had a table on the lanai and had a great tropical view facing the ocean. There were five adults and one child, so we ordered a few appetizers so we could try a bit of each. We had the calamari, lobster and goat cheese wontons, and the ahi poke nachos. The wontons and nachos were to die for, but I passed on the calamari. The texture was too much like soggy bread for me. They also brought out a homemade focaccia bread with a balsamic vinegar and olive oil dipping sauce that was pretty tasty. While we were enjoying our appetizers, we were also sampling some cocktails. I highly recommend the lilikoi blossom martini. It was sweet but not over powering, and had a beautiful orchid garnish. Everything was brought out quickly and the staff was very friendly. My daughter kept wanting to get up and walk around and even though I'm sure we were in the servers way, he was extremely nice and I never felt the "Ughh why did I get stuck with the toddler" vibe from him. We all ordered something different but the winners of the night were the Opah and the Prime Rib. The prices were very reasonable for the quality of service, quality of food, and portion size. I was very impressed with the quality of the kids menu as well. For $9 my daughter got a pineapple appetizer, fresh sauteed farmers market vegetables, a homemade meatloaf and a keiki bowl of vanilla ice cream. To top it off, I was brought a complimentary molten lava cake and house special dessert. Both were divine but had to be shared five ways since we were all so full. Dining in Kapaa does not get much better than The Hukilau Lanai. I highly recommend it!
(5)
Crystal S.
Great dinner with a view! Good honeymooner dinner. We started with Lava Flows. Get the Fried Calamari (seriously the best I've ever had). I got the soup of the day described as a light Thai soup mmmm delicious. My husband had a salad he enjoyed. The bread and oil/vinegar is so good. We both ordered the Fillet Mignon and it was the best, juiciest fillet ever. Great portion. We ordered the chocolate souffle (remember it needs 20 minutes to cook). It was worth it. We walked out so deliciously full. Money well spent. Five star quality!!!! Compliments to the chef!
(5)
Jacqueline C.
Hukilau Lanai was pretty good. It is not quite the Hawaiian food I had been hoping for; it was more European-inspired than we would have liked, with either use of local fish or some other island influence (i.e., through the addition of macadamia nuts, tropical fruit/produce, coconut milk, etc., to otherwise non-Hawaiian dishes). The seating was indoor/outside, with tiki torches providing an island tiki ambiance. The service was friendly and helpful. The noise level was lively. We came here as a group of 6. Since there wasn't any lomi lomi or lau lau, I went for the filet mignon. My bad for not picking something more Hawaiian, but it was cooked perfectly and was very tasty. Noteworthy was the Lobster Bisque with red curry and a drizzle of coconut milk -- that was good! If I hadn't been so full, I definitely would have gone for the creme brulee! All in all, a fun night!
(4)
Chris H.
Best meal we had during our trip. My friend's wedding reception was held here. Mai Tais and Baybreezes were excellent. We had goat cheese wontons and braised ribs for appetizers-Excellent. I ordered the Sesame Crusted Opah and it was AMAZING! Great views and nice waitstaff.
(5)
Vanessa B.
Make reservations. amazing options for the special menu made for Christmas dinner. Live band was a plus!
(4)
F E.
Excellent dinner, pricey but worth it (dinning on the entire island is pricey fyi) and service at Hukilau Lanai is excellent!
(4)
Ben O.
TL; DR: Excellent! You must eat one meal here if you are staying in Kapa'a. Best meal we had on Kauai. Great service, beautiful atmosphere in a lanai setting (as you might expect). I ordered the Ono, my girlfriend had the chicken dish. Both were just amazing. I'm used to SF Bay Area prices, and I thought it was extremely well priced for the quality of food and the experience. Make a reservation and go here at least one night while you are on Kauai, especially if you are staying on the East Side of the island.
(5)
Mike T.
We had a wonderful evening celebrating our wedding anniversary. We enjoyed sitting outside. We ordered the lava cake for dessert and it was the best part. Check out the picture!
(4)
Gayle V.
We have passed this place so many times before but on this trip looked into what "yelpsters" had to say. Ate dinner here twice and it was very good. The ahi poke nachos are FANTASTIC! The lobster bisque soup was best!! They have it every day but you have to pay $2 more and you have to ask for it . My husband and I had fish both times and loved our dinners. The reason I gave only 4 stars was due to the service. The server at the first dinner was great but the second dinner server was terrible. He lacked personality and was over whelmed with how many tables he was servicing. Anyways, great place for dinner! Make reservations as they can get very, very busy!
(4)
lauren p.
When we were planning our honeymoon, we had decided to have one 'nice' dinner on each of the three islands we would visit. After a lot of research, we selected Hukilau Lanai for the Kauai portion. Extra bonus for it being so close to the lovely Fern Grotto Inn where we were staying. We started with the Ahi Poke Nachos, which were very tasty. The wasabi crema was a bit much, as neither of us is a wasabi fan, but if you like it you will be all over this stuff. Spi-cy. For the second course I had the Wally's salad, which was a fresh and bright as others have said. The hubs upgraded to the lobster bisque, which did not disappoint. Then I went on to the mahi mahi, and he had the mixed grill. We spent a lot of time trying to figure out which kinds of fish he had, and we wrong on all accounts, but what wound up being the ono was delish- very smooth and buttery. My mahi mahi was delicious as well. We could barely squeeze in a dessert but managed to split a macadamia tart. Worth the effort. The prices are high, but seriously, EVERYTHING IN HAWAII IS EXPENSIVE. And the portions are HUGE, so you shouldn't feel like you getting ripped off. Service was very friendly, and the resort setting was lovely!
(4)
Todd J.
The food was okay, not great. My prime rib was way too fatty, my wife liked hers, but she likes fatty. On the plus side, they comped mine since they saw I left half of it uneaten. It was a reasonable location, the service could have been better, and the hostess definitely need to remove the pencils from their butts.
(3)
laura m.
Nice atmosphere, cool entertainment, good drinks, and a friendly staff.
(4)
Krystal S.
This place was sooooo good and our bill was about the same that we paid at junk Tomcats. we had the poke nachos, calamari, and lobster and goat cheese wontons to start off. I ordered the ono, my boyfriend had the mixed grill, my brother had the crown royal medallions, and his girlfriend had the prime rib. One of the gripes my brother always has is when he orders his steak medium rare, it always comes out overcooked at other restaurants. Not here! all of our food was delicious and we all wished we weren't so full so we could keep eating. Our waiter was pretty funny too. Next time we're in kauai, we're going back!
(5)
Kevin C.
We went to have dinner on a Thursday night, and since we hadn't made reservations, we had to wait in the bar for an hour. The mango margarita the wife had was so-so, bu the beer was good. Fortunately, there was an amazing musician playing the ukulele and singing all kind of songs with his own hawaiian twist. We had a great time just sitting there at the bar and decided to just order pupus with our drinks. We had the poke nachos, the calamari and the lobster and goat cheese wontons. The flavors worked well together and made for a light tasty dinner. We were pleasantly surprised by the high quality of the food and we know we will stop there again when we come back to Kauai.
(5)
Jason K.
We don't eat out much when we are in Kauai because we have a condo with a kitchenette. But we were told that Hakilau was the best place to eat on the island. It didn't disappoint. Both my wife and had the prime rib and it was awesome. The restaurant is also child friendly, my daughter is 4 and she has a good time and she liked her food. If we come back to the island we will eat here again.
(5)
Mark Y.
My wife and I yelped Hukilau Lanai before we went on our vacation to Kauai last Friday. We haven't been to Kauai in 7 years and we usually go to Duke's in Nawiliwili and/or the Bull Shed in Kapaa. I was surprised to find on Yelp and also from friends on Kauai that the Bull Shed went downhill - too bad. So anyway we read these rave reviews about Hukilau Lanai and as luck would have it I found that it was right next door to our hotel (Islander on the Beach) as I literally walked by the place. So on Friday we made reservations and went. Normally I at least put on slacks, nice shoes and an aloha shirt (I'm local) but chanced it and wore shorts, a polo shirt and sneakers. Not to worry, most of the diners were similarly dressed - the atmosphere is pretty casual. Our waiter was very attentive, read their specials - I think it was an ahi stack, and proceeded to take our drink orders. They give you a full carafe of water but fill your glass if they notice it less than 1/2 full. All tables get a serving of focaccia served with olive oil/balsamic vinegar for dipping. We started off with the goat cheese-lobster-macadamia nut wontons (4 per serving) as an appetizer, and as others have said it IS truly wonderful. They're served with a guava, chili sauce that is just right - not too sweet nor hot. I had the ceasar salad - a just-right portion of romain with croutons and shaved parmesean. I would say that it would have been nice if they offered fresh ground black pepper but that's a minor detail. For the entrees my wife ordered the Chinese kalua chicken salad stack - she wanted to eat light. I had the fillet mignon. Both were delicious. My steak was done to perfection and it was perfectly seasoned. Tenderness? Like buttah! It was served over a sauce, probably some kind of tarragon-slightly tomatoey butter/cream. There was also small portion of salsa, mashed potato and a potato crisp as garnish. The acidic salsa worked well with the richness of the beef. I let my wife try a piece and she shared a piece of her stack. It was also nice - smokey shredded chicken with greens in a slightly sweet dressing. The restaurant offers a warm chocolate cake (their version of chocolate decadence) that must be ordered 15-20 minutes before serving. I ordered that and my wife ordered the lilikoi chiffon pie (a ubiquitous Kauai treat). Both were good, not great mind you, but good. The chocolate ganache in the center of the cake was milk chocolate; I actually make a pretty good one if I say so myself, hehe, and I use a good premium dark/high cocoa content bar when I make mine. Still, it was alright. My wife's lilikoi chiffon was also alright, not as good as Hamura's, but still nice. The restaurant has a full wine list - I'm not a big wine drinker and settled for bottled Heineken. They also offer locally brewed lager and ale on tap. The total for the 2 of us with 2 beers and a 20% tip came out just under $100. I think the price point is just right. This place is just under a Roy's restaurant in terms of what they both have to offer but I'd say Hukilau Lanai is a better deal. P.S., our friend took us out to this same restaurant on Sunday night before we left and it was just as good. Wish we had a place like this on Oahu. ;-)
(4)
Pico C.
I previously wrote a bad review, and the owner contacted me and I felt terrible. He was lovely, apologetic, and obviously really cares about what he's doing. Still can't say we had a good meal or experience, but his concern and effort in reaching out really touched me and made me feel like dog shit. All I can say is, if something sucks just tell the owner. I'm betting he will try to set it right. And tell him I said sorry
(3)
Erich D.
The star rating reflects more the food rather than the overall experiences I had here. Broken down below. Food: 3 stars Shared appetizer was the kalua chicken, I ordered the ahi, medium rare, as my entree, and we all shared a chocolate lava cake for dessert. The kalua chicken was quite good, very flavorful and really couldn't tell the difference in taste in comparison with kalua pig. The ahi entree featured a pretty large quality piece of ahi but the dish was swimming in a pool of so many thick, creamy sauces that it took away from the centerpiece of the dish. When restaurants do this I always feel like they are hiding something in terms of the quality of the food (this is completely unsubstantiated of course). The chocolate lava cake wasn't exactly my favorite, it was very mild in flavor and I've been spoiled with the excellence of another restaurant's chocolate lava cake also specializing in pan-Asian cuisine (Roy's). If I were to come back for the food it would have to be for the early bird special $40 tasting menu which includes wine pairings! That's a savage deal! Service: 4 stars Our waiter was attentive and very professional. Apart from one of the other waitstaff's evident indifference about his job, service was congenial. Ambiance: 4 stars You're in paradise, the Garden Isle, how can you complain. When dining al fresco at this restaurant you are delighted with a view of a perfectly manicured resort courtyard with palm trees and tiki torches with the ocean in the distance and looking out into infiniti. Live entertainment: 5 stars I'm admittedly slightly biased here. My uncle, Dennis Chun, performs here weekly and plays excellent renditions of classic Hawaiian tunes as well as contemporary ones, putting you in a perfectly relaxed island state of mind. In all honesty though, even if I didn't know him I would still think that he was a very talented and entertaining local musician. It's a little difficult to hear the live entertainment if you are seated in the restaurant or even on their patio area, it's much easier to listen and enjoy in the bar/lounge area.
(3)
april w.
Was looking for a place to have a nice dinner to celebrate my birthday.. Since the island practically shuts down at the stroke of 6, it was now 7:30 and I was desperate to find a nice decent restaurant. Yelp reviewers led me to this location and I was not disappointed. Ordered the lobster bisque, Mahi with the mushrooms and mashed potatoes, and the prime rib - all were DELISH! I also received a happy birthday chocolate lava cake..yum
(4)
A Z.
Great fresh food. Nice outdoor seating in the evening. You must order the Poke' Nachos!
(5)
Michele W.
Had dinner with friends on a Sunday (5 of us). Had to wait a few minutes for our seats but it was worth the wait. Sat in the back right near the open window by ourselves for a good amount of time. Next up....drinks. Had the special. Believe it was called Gardener's Party made with kefir limes from the garden. It was delicious and refreshing! Then on to the Calamari! So tender and tasty! Worth a try. Next, the Ahi stack (think it was a special). That was to die for!!! Hope it is on the menu for my next visit. (which will hopefully be next year!) I had the Ono with a miso sauce for my entre. Last but certainly not least was the dessert special. Chocolate brownie infused with habenero chili peppers and a Dulce de Leche sorbet! YUMMMMM!!! So if you are in search excellent food in a relaxed non pretentious setting try Hukilau Lanai on Kauai!
(5)
Jana M.
My third or fourth dinner at Hukilau and it didn't disappoint. To start we had the ahi poke nachos and those were awesome as usual: fried wonton pi for the chips all topped with tasty poke, even their focaccia bread that they give is delicious. For drinks I had a citrus breeze and my mom had the mango margarita, both were a little too sweet. Dinner comes with soup or salad, I got the caesar, mom got the wally's salad, and my husband got the soup of the day, a fishermans pesto. The soup was amazing, like nothing I've ever had before-creamy and smooth with a slight basil flavor. For dinner I had the opah, it was a big portion served on orzo and my husband had the prime rib, which he said was tastier and softer than the one from Dukes or Keokis. Everything was tasty and service was attentive, we will be back, soon I hope.
(5)
Maile F.
A few years ago, my future in-laws hosted my husband and my rehearsal dinner here on a private patio room. The staff worked with my in-laws to put together a menu for both meat and fish eaters, with great choices. They also set up a host bar in our room. There was a bit of mix up on who was actually paying for drinks (hosted vs. no host bar) and my aunt ended up picking up that part of the check, even though it was clear in the contract with my father-in-law that everyone would be paying for their own drinks. The reason for my 4 star rating comes from the scramble we had to do to pay for this tab at the end of the night with the manager handing me the bar tab (with my aunt saving the day). I am all for paying for your own drinks, we all, after all drank that much, but it was uncomfortable. In the end it was all sorted out, but wasn't the nice "day before my wedding" feel I'd hoped for. Other than that, food was amazing, service was pretty good, and the private patio was amazing.
(4)
Robert P.
My first impression on arriving was one of concern. The outside of the building looked sort of tourist trappy. We were greeted and seated by a very nice hostess and our server was fabulous. He helped select from the menu items we did not understand or weren't familiar with and was very personable. Tone food was excellent and every item very nicely presented. We are planning to return as often as we can. The prices were very reasonable and the inside view was very nice. Be sure to make reservations. Enjoy!
(5)
Paul A.
On the recommendation of a local we came here for dinner. Made a reservation via open table as suggested because this place gets booked up for the early seating. We ordered the tasting menu which in only available from 5 to 5:45 . It's the best deal on Kauai... $40 for a five course meal including a wine flight. Overall, the food was pretty good and the wines were paired well. Our favorite course was a candied ahi which doesn't sound so great but it surprised us with its sultry smoky chili coating. We were seated on the lanai and had a nice view of the ocean and garden which made for an enjoyable relaxed dinner.
(4)
Eric W.
What can I say that hasn't already been said... In a sea of mediocre food on the island of Kauai - this place stands out as a unbelievably fantastic oasis of delicious food and drinks. If you're here on vacation, splurge once or twice at this place, you won't be sorry you did. Mahalo Hukilau Lanai!!
(5)
Courtney D.
This place is INCREDIBLE! My husband and I were recently married in Kauai. We had our post ceremony dinner in the banquet room at The Hukilau Lanai. The service and food were absolutely incredible. We could not have asked for a more perfect evening. The Banquet Coordinator, Manda, was an absolute joy to work with and extremely personable. We ran into her the following evening at a local restaurant and she shared her appetizer with us! An incredibly genuine person. Special mention also goes to the amazing bartender, Sylvie. She felt like a member of our party, and such service! We ended up eating at the restaurant 2 more times during our week. Everything was excellent. Our last night there, my husband ordered the tasting menu - excellent choice if you can't decide! I am convinced everything on the menu is to die for. A must if you are visiting Kauai.
(5)
gerard f.
Hands down! The best place on the island for dinner. We always take guests here for the old fashion Hawaiian feel. Get here before 6:30 and try their tasting menu. An unbelievable bargain. Make reservations. It s always busy.....for a good reason. But the tables are spaced well apart and you never feel crowded. Service is impeccable.
(5)
Benjamin S.
Wow. And.. wow. I actually heard about this place on TripAdvisor when reading reviews for the hotel we were staying, which was right next door. People were saying it was "a must," so I made a reservation online for our first night on the island. Boy, was that a great idea. We showed up a few minutes early, so they asked if we'd like to sit out front in the lounge, which has really comfy couches and tables. A cocktail waitress approached us right away and we ordered some mai tai's (of course). It wasn't more than another 5 minutes and we were seated out on the lanai, which was gorgeous. May as well cut to the only thing that really matters, here. As an appetizer we ordered the calamari, and I've never had better. It was some of the largest I've seen and was breaded perfectly with just the right amount of fresh lemon drizzled over it. For entrees I had the Mahi Mahi and she had the Mixed Grill. Both were delicious, but the sweet curry flavor (and portion size) of her's was my favorite. The fish in each was cooked perfectly, to the tune that you find yourself savoring each bite slowly. Also, both dishes came with a choice of soup or salad, and we both went with the soup which was a chowder on this evening. Also incredible. We loved it so much we at here our last evening of the trip as well and had the exact same great experience. Lives up to all the hype!
(5)
Anna L.
We came here on our last night on Kauai and had a great time! Loved the fusion food here and really enjoyed the quality of the food and the romantic ambiance. The mixed grill was my favorite! Great variety of super-tender fish, sugarcane-speared shrimp, and the risotto was just amazing!! Other standouts were the lobster bisque and the lobster and goat cheese wontons! Unfortunately, the arugula salad and caramel mac nut tart and ice-cream dessert was just ok. The food can be rich and filling, and the food can take awhile, so try not to order too much--we were too full at the end of our meal! Also don't forget to make reservations!!
(4)
Mike B.
As a well traveled gourmand and probable future diabetic... this place is awesome. The fillet Mignon was cooked to perfection; so soft, so moist, so juicy that it is probably one of the few occasions OK to see a grown man cry. The macadamia crusted Oppa was a playful little dish, topped with a tropical salsa, made of lord knows what, but was just awesome. The juxtaposition of the crunch of the mac-nut crust and the soft flaky fish will be seared in my memory right above the memory of the loss of my virginity in the back of a 1989 Honda Civic. The Oppa came with a banana rum sauce; a lightly sweet sauce with just a hint of banana and only after could you taste the rum, which was quite pleasant with the creaminess of the sauce overall. Perfect match for the fish and salsa. The chocolate lava cake was death by chocolate. Not overly sweet, a fluffy cake with rich warm gooey filled chocolate center. I would die a happy man just drowning in it. The Verdict: There are some food experiences in your life that you can't get out of your head, and essentially chase the dragon until you find it again. I will definitely go back again. Chance of getting laid by your SO after coming here: Good to quite good
(5)
Emily B.
This was our first (and best) meal in Kauai! The restaurant was located in the Kauai Coast Resort and I recommend reservations because the wait was about 45 minutes without. When we arrived, there was a lounge near the hostess' station and lounge singers performing Hawaiian music. Once we were seated, the atmosphere was nice and fairly quiet. We had a view of the resort grounds and pool, looking out towards the ocean. We ordered the lobster and goat cheese wonton, prime rib, and surf and turf (which came with steak and some kind of Hawaiian butterfish). My husband got a beer and I got the Coconut Coast Cooler (by server's recommendation). Everything was delicious!!! The fish and the prime rib were AMAZING. The entrees also came with the soup of the day, which was quite good. Our server was super friendly and gave great recommendations based on the preferences we gave her. The bill came to about $100 without tip, and we passed on dessert. FOOD: Fantastic! Definitely order the prime rib or fish. LOCATION/AMBIANCE: Convenient location, peaceful/beautiful, nice view SERVICE: Perfect PRICE: Pricey, but worth every penny BOTTOM LINE: You MUST eat here while visiting Kauai!
(5)
Joyce K.
This was the best restaurant of 6 that we dined in during our stay in Kauai. The service was impeccable (even if the order got mixed up--a sincere apology is appreciated), and the food was stunning. We stayed on North Shore and ate here before our airport departure late at night, and it was such a great choice. Terrific fish; reasonable wine list, and sufficient diversity for those who are not fish lovers.
(4)
Tammy M.
Aaaahhhhawesome! A must try. Romantic yet pleasant for children who can sit and have conversations. Beautiful to walk toward the beach and hammock swing :)
(5)
Helen T.
We had dinner here on the recommendation of a local, who said it was the best restaurant on the island. I think she may be right. We had a fabulous meal, and excellent service. I had the sweet potato ravioli, and lobster and goat cheese wontons. Both were delicious. My husband ordered the pork chop, which was a special for the night; it was tender and flavorful. We had a lovely table on the lanai, overlooking the lawn, which made for a romantic setting. We were staying in Hanalei, so it was a bit of a drive for us to get there (35-40 mins.), but well worth the trip!
(4)
Chris C.
We ate here finally towards the tail end of our trip since it is the restaurant of our hotel. It is overpriced however if you get the pairing meal for dinner, which is $28 you will have two appetizers, two entrees and two deserts which will leave you happy. My had the paring and I had the filet. Her pairing was: a sweet potato ravioli, some sort of sausage, the Mahi Mahi, the pork loin, and for desert cheese and the sorbet. The sorbet was crazy in which one of the three flavors was a mango and jalapeno flavor. Overall, the plating of every dish was excellent. The ambiance isn't that bad either with a nice view. However, the service was horrible, but the manager stepped in and was helping each waiter and waitress which was nice to see. I would recommend Hukilau Lanai to eat while on Kauai. Cheers!
(4)
Anna M.
I usually shy away from restaurants inside of hotels, but this place is so delicious! Had the ahi poki nachos, ohno, and mixed seafood plate. The service was also great. They have a gluten free menu and a happy hour at the pool until 5PM.
(5)
ryan r.
hukilau lanai was a major reason we decided to come back to kauai for my birthday. food on kauai is pretty meh but this restaurant is by far the exception. everything was excellent. the sweet potato ravioli is a must; the lemongrass sauce is phenomenal! the lobster bisque is excellent and the wally's salad is very good (you may want to ask for the dressing on the side if you prefer less). prime rib is delicious and you can't really go wrong with the mixed grill plate. always fresh fish but this time our marlin was a bit dry and the shrimp under seasoned; the mahi was great. we ate so much we unfortunately didn't leave room for desert.
(5)
Josh T.
It was good, but sort of an awkward place. The drinks were great, but the food was so-so. I think we need to see this place one more time and give it another shot. We had the Opah and Ono, but we wanted the Mahi Mahi, but they ran out. They also ran out of the appetizer we wanted. How did we strike out twice with two choices? Like I said, maybe an off night - as I could see they can do better. We also has this loud group behind us, which may have affected our mood.
(3)
Kevin H.
Food and atmosphere are fantastic. Make your reservation on a night and time when there is a live musician. If they have the Kona coffee, brown sugar glazed ahi appetizer, order it! Also, highly suggest the mixed grill plate, but ask to double up the Walu.
(4)
Matthew C.
One thing i've learned with my stay in Kauai...order the fish! Came here with the fam. Decided to share everything so we could all try a little bit of everything. ! Appetizers...stick with the poke nachos, cannot go wrong! The calamari was also excellent! very tender, not chewy at all! We tried the lobster and goat cheese wontons, which were good, but I'm not a big fan of the deep fried wonton shell, probably should keep it the traditional wonton style and that'll boost it up. Now I'm a big beef person, so I ordered their prime rib, which was good, cooked to order, but nothing spectacular, but still a good cut of meat. BUT their grilled ono (wahoo fish) was seriously one of the best pieces of fish i've had to date. Came with a curry sauce with rice...soooo good! Wrapped up dinner with their warm chocolate cake. I'm not a big chocolate person, especiallyh when it comes to cake because it can tend to be too sweet or rich, but I have to say their warm chocolate cake was delicious. Not too sweet, it was warm and contrasted nicely with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Note, this takes 20 minutes to prepare, so order this ahead of time if its what you want. All in all, a great dining experience! great environment and ambience, friendly staff...but I'm all about the food, and the food was great!
(4)
Jennifer O.
The BF and I went here for our last meal in Kauai. It was sooo good! I made a reservation through open table, which was a good idea because the place was full. We had a seat outside overlooking the resort, which was nice atmosphere. They also position you so you don't have one person getting the view and the other looking into the restaurant, we were both looking out, so that was a nice touch. We started with lava flow drinks which tasted fresh and sweet...very good drinks. I had the chicken, which was crusted with macnut and was very tasty! The chicken was crunchy, the veggies it was served with were perfectly cooked, and the sauce was rich and delicious. Additionally, the meals come with soup or salad. I had the kahlua pork and potato soup. It was wonderful! The pork was tender, the soup was thick and hearty and full of flavor. The bread that came with it was crusted with cheese and flavorful herbs. The BF had the caesar salad which had an incredibly rich and garlicky dressing. I could have drank it (but I didn't....)The BF got the ono fish (We both do not generally like fish, but were hoping to find a fish we liked in hawaii). The fish was amazing! We both liked it (which was shocking). They grill it and serve it with mashed potatoes, a creamy yet light sauce and caramelized onions on top. Unfortunately we were too stuffed to have dessert, but if I am in Kauai again I will definitely eat here again. Thanks Hukilau Lanai for turning me on to a delicious fish!
(5)
Emily B.
Food was excellent. The lobster and goat cheese wantons were great, as were the poke nachos. A good cheap wine selection. We didn't have a res but sat on the sofa in the lounge which was nice actually. Great kids menu.
(5)
Ryan J.
The one spot on the island that deserves a standing ovation. Excellent setting that is enhanced by some of the freshest and most creative culinary options on the island. Highlights: Sweet Potato ravioli with curry sauce, macadamia nut encrusted chicken, and seared ahi.
(4)
Charlie A.
Should I let the cat out of the bag... or should I not? Oh... What the hell! WOW! JUST WOW!! I've been coming to Kauai for over 25 years and this is, by far, the best restaurant that I've ever eaten at on the Garden Isle. I read about the Hukilau Lanai on Yelp, and so I booked a table with a request for lanai seating via OpenTable for my tenth anniversary.When my wife and I arrived for our 8pm reservation we were seated at a spacious table on the lania right next to the garden area. It was quite impressive with the tiki torches and beautiful landscaping. Our hostess was really helpful in her recommendation of adult beverages and the the various cocktails we tried were all excellant. Our server, Andrew, was one of the best waiters I've ever encountered in all of my years of fine dining. It was almost surreal receiving such service from a waiter dressed in slacks and an aloha shirt, but trust me, Andrew is exceptional. You're in for a treat if seated at one of his tables. We were looking at appetizers to start, but Andrew recomended something not usually found on the menu... candied coconut ahi. Brown sugar, coconut and ever-so-slightly seared cubed ahi make up this app and HOLY COW was it delectable! My wife then ordered the Hukilau Mixed Grill and upgraded her salad to the Mixed Greens and Maytag Blue , while I ordered the Grilled Ahi and upgraded my soup to a cup of the Lobster Bisque. The bisque was just amazing, as was the perfectly prepared ahi. My wifes salad was equally good, but I felt a bit overpowering when tried next to the significantly subtler lobster bisque. She thought that her entree was very well-prepared and we were both quite happy with our meals. Something that needs to be mentioned here is that the pacing of our meal was never, ever rushed and Andrew and the other staff members were all very attentive during our dinner. For dessert we shared a (not on the menu) recommendation by Andrew, a powdered sugar key-lime eclair along with some chocolate truffles for our anniversary! BRAVO!! Altogether this was a most amazing dinner, especially on Kauai. As mentioned before, I've been coming to Kauai for over 25 years and I've tried them all... twice if I liked them. When it comes to food quality Hukilau Lanai surpasses them all, even the St. Regis in Princeville. Now here's the best part... our bill for this amazing dinner including 3 cocktails and 2 glasses of wine was... wait for it... $125.00!! Do yourself a favor before the place gets over-run. GO! ASK FOR ANDREW! BE AMAZED! TIP WELL!
(5)
Michele N.
The whole package was excellent: appetizers, bread, fish entrees, wine, bar drinks, dessert. We went once for a full dinner and once for drinks and appetizers during our trip in Kauai - great service and experience on both occasions. Try the coconut coast cooler!
(5)
Josh L.
This was my favorite place we ate at on our honeymoon. The ahi poke nachos were fantastic, and the mixed grill was perfectly cooked. Good drinks too, and they're not all fruity rum drinks. The macadamia tart was delicious, too. I read somewhere that the portions were on the smallish side, but I think that's a good thing. Most places on the islands, in my experience, stuff you so you walk out feeling a bit ill (at least if you're like me and refuse to not finish a delicious meal). Great place, and I'll recommend it to anyone traveling to Kauai for sure.
(5)
Christine C.
My husband is quite the refined and adventurous eater. Me- not so much. And yet we both loved the tasting menu at the Hukilau. If I had to describe the tasting menu I'd say that it is gourmet food that is inspired with undeniable class for "foodies"...but is still very approachable and enjoyable for the rest of us. We opted for the menu that included wine selections for each course. The price is reasonable as well ($40.00) considering you're getting a 5 course gourmet meal with half glasses of wine that compliment each course. (You can do the tasting menu sans wine for $28.00.) Everything was superb. As a picky eater, let me break it down: I loved the sweet potato ravioli (I don't like sweet potato), I ate every last bite of the Ono (I don't eat seafood- at all) and the accompanying arugula salad with beets (BEETS?!), meatloaf ("not your grandma's meatloaf") and crème brulee (heaven with a hard candy shell) were to die for. It was all fantastic! My husband opted for the cheese platter for dessert which he loved. I didn't care for it personally (cheeses were bitter and pungent). But we both left extremely happy with our meals and the experience as a whole. The service was also perfection. Very prompt, attentive and courteous. Let's not forget the specialty cocktails. Their martinis are made with liquors that are infused with indulgent flavors right there on site. We ordered a lemon drop (made with limoncello and lemon infused vodka), a vanilla bean and macadamia nut infused vodka drink (tasted like a cookie) and a "Hot and Dirty" martini that was a smoky pepper vodka concoction. All were made stiff and delicious- and were very reasonably priced compared to specialty drinks at similar establishments that aren't nearly as creative.
(5)
Jeff W.
produce from the farmers market such as the romaine lettuce that was so sweet it nearly did not need the garlicky caesar dressing. and dishes that wonderfully takes advantage of the fresh fish available here. i had the mixed grill which featured shrimp on a sugar cane skewer, waloo (butterfish) and opah (which was overcooked). but a meer mention of the fact I did not like the opah and out came another piece of butterfish comped by our server. very nice touch. it was accompanied by a nice thai chile coconut milk based orzo pasta. all the dishes had sweet and savory components that really complimented each other. the curry lobster soup was to die for. the candied sear fresh ahi tuna was amazing. i may have to come back here before the week is over! JYW likes it a lot!
(4)
Scott C.
I really wanted to not like this place because it is a bit cheesy. That said, they really delivered on the food and when you are overlooking the water, it is hard to be a hater. To start, i had the firecracker fish soup. This was probably the worst dish though it was pretty good. It tasted like tortilla soup, but could not taste the fish at all. Also had thw wallie salad. This was one of the better salads i have had on the islands even though it is basically their house salad. It had a good mix of vegis and dressed really nicely. For entrees i had the mixed grill which was two tastings of fresh fish of the day and a skewer of prawns. They did a great job of balancing the fish tastings. One fish was firm and meaty cooked cajun style. The other was a oilier fish which was a nice textural contrast to the firmer fish. On top of all of this, the service was very friendly and attentive without being intrusive. This place has been arounf for a while and for good reason.
(4)
Nali M.
so i got my husband to take me, and we had a really good time. he ordered the lobster curry bisque and we shared the wonton. i ended up eating a lot of his bisque. it was SOOOOOO delicious!! i think we regretted the items we ordered: he got the farmer's market lasagna and i got the filet. these are things we could have made at home. my recommendation if you dine here: get what they do best; seafood! i'll definitely be heading back again and again!
(4)
Ethel A.
My husband & I decided to eat @ a nice restaurant on our last night @ Kauai and saw the reviews about this place so we decided to try it. The place was nice and clean. We were seated out @ the patio, but soon realize a few flies were around as well. They had a 5 course menu deal from Sun-Tues 5pm-7pm (I think) @ $28 bucks, I thought 5 course $28 that's a good deal. I find out the portions are small, thus the $28...so really not worth it and get a regular entree. My husband had their prime rib and I thought that was pretty good. Overall the place was nice and the prices match the portions.
(3)
R S.
This was a great find (thanks to the Yelp iPhone app). About 6pm on Sunday, while daughter was playing at the wonderful Lydgate Beach Park, we searched on yelp, found this place then made a reservation for 8:15. We showed up a bit early, grabbed a couple of drinks at the bar and they seated us a few minutes later, on-time. Waiter was very helpful, even taking a late change of order (decided to get the Ahi after all... and I'm glad I did!). Order took some time to arrive, but it was delicious. Ambience was good - not too upscale but not loud or boisterous. Perfect for tourist families. All in all, our favorite restaurant of our trip. Island cuisine with a hawaiian flavor. Good seafood. A bit pricey, but worth it.
(5)
Keikilani S.
We have been dining at Hukilau Lanai since it opened! Now, that it is under different ownership we still continue to go there because the menu is practically the same, the food is consistent, the staff is efficient and courteous and the price is right! Our favorites include: sweet potato ravioli, swiss chard and hamakua mushroom tart, Wally's Steak Crown Royal, Pork Tenderloin and all of the fish choices. Great "20 under $20" wine list and fab desserts! The kids menu is also wonderful! The Hawaiian entertainment by Dennis Chun makes the entire experience memorable!
(5)
Julie V.
Romantic ambiance, great service, and delicious food.
(5)
Jimmy B.
Came here because it was walking distance to our courtyard marriott hotel and so glad we did! Menu looked awesome, and everything we had was great! Ahi tacos, opah fish, and pork medallions were all winners. Service was great and ambiance was nice. Really can't wait to go back here!
(5)
Mel G.
After reading all of the reviews, Joe and I decided to check this place out. I ordered the filet mignon, and it was delicious. Our server was also friendly and attentive, and the casual -- yet nice -- environment of this restaurant made for a very lovely evening. Would definitely recommend!
(4)
Linda C.
Hukilau Lanai is wonderful. It definiely blows the over-hyped and overpriced Beach House out of the water. I was certainly was skeptical. I never, ever, ever would have eaten at a restaurant in a hotel-lobby restaurant at timeshare if it hadn't been for the yelp reviews. I love the atmosphere. It's beautiful and tranquil with a lot of island style-- without being over the top. (No tikis or grass-covered bar). The restaurant overlooks a beautiful garden and the Wailua beachfront. The food is very good and reasonably priced. The homemade foccacia was okay (3 stars) but the olive oil/balsamic/chile oil was FANASTIC! Wow. (5 stars) Great selection of wines for $20 a bottle or less. That's not easy to do in Hawaii. All of these wines were available by the glass. We had an excellent Italian wine from Montepulciano (Chianti) (5 stars) My husband gives five stars to the Navy bean soup, I give five stars to Wally's salad. Super fresh, tasty organic greens. Best tomatoes I've had on Kauai (which means they were okay). Four stars for lobster wontons with plum sauce. Our entrees were very good. I had Opah and my husband had the meatloaf. The Opah was at least four stars or more. The mashed potatoes were excellent. Five stars. Coffee is three stars--meaning A-OK. Lilikoi pie was good, but not as good as the pie at Hamura's Saimin. (Hamura's pie is 5 stars and Hukilau Lanai's pie is 3 stars. Sorry.) Price is excellent by mainland standards and exceptional by Hawaiian standards. Two glasses of wine, one order of pupus (appetizer), two entrees with soup or salad, one dessert and coffee for totalled $84.00. Imagine! Made reservations for a lanai (patio) table on opentable.com . We got the best table right in the middle of the lanai! Awesome. Glad I did that because the place was packed on Sunday night. Word is getting out. By the way, they have music in the bar every night. (See schedule on website) The kane (man) who performs on Sunday evening is five stars EXCELLENT and the volume is just perfect. I've endured so many meals accompanied by too-loud, marginally-talented entertainers that I really appreciated him. We stayed in the bar after dinner to appreciate the music. The bar is a very relaxing setting (couches and chairs) and has a nice energy. More appealing than Stevenson's Library. We may or may not eat in the restaurant again. We tend to avoid fancy food and places that cater to haoulis (white folk) in Kauai because that's not what they're good at. We eat local style. But we absolutely, definitely WILL be back to have pupus and drinks in the bar. May even spring for the awesome-sounding five course wine/food pairing tasting menue someday.
(4)
Kevin A.
Great dinner at Hukilau tonight prior to the tsunami warning. The mixed grill is a terrific choice. I have not had a bad meal at this seafood delight.
My wife and I ate here during our stay on Kauai. This place is located at the Kauai Coast Resort which also was the resort we were staying at during our stay. We heard good things about this restaurant and our overall opinion is that is was just so-so. The food was good, but pricey. We shared the lobster won tons which was good but pricey for a fried food app. I had the prime rib, which was decent. My wife had the meatloaf which was also good. Both of our entrees included salad and the wolley wolley salad was probably the best part that stood out the during our meal. Our server was nice and on point. Overall this place was just ok; there are better options on the island. Definitely call ahead we had to wait over an hour on Wednesday night.
(3)
Paula B.
this is such a fun place! we're going back for 2nd time tonight, with reservation. we didn't hv one our first visit, but sitting in the bar is prime people watching spot. poke nachos yummy, ck! love freakin hot chocolate martini!
(4)
M. J.
The signage is a little Survivor and the location would make you think you were in for some sub-par restaurant lobby food, but Hukilau Lanai is actually a dinner you'll remember. The ono was grilled to perfection and served on top of white rice with pineapple and green curry. My husband's lightly fried opah with soba noodles was so good he almost didn't share. The wine list was nothing spectacular but the food was compelling enough that we didn't mind. And don't miss the goat cheese cheesecake! Sounds weird but it was perfect. Dinner for two with appetizers, entrees, one drink each, and dessert will run you $100 including tip.
(5)
Mike W.
My favorite place on the island. Went here twice last time we were on Kauai and went twice again this trip. Love it! Every single thing, each time we ate was perfect. From the salads to apps to drinks to entrees and that chocolate lava cake were all to die for. Not cheap but not the rip off Beach House is. A must visit if you're on the island and want to impress.
(5)
Julie R.
We had dinner here on our first evening on the island and it was a very good experience. We had drinks at the bar listening to live music. Music was good but drinks too sweet. Then we moved to our table. Very nice setting, with view to the pool and ocean behind. Service was nice and our waiter had good advices. Menu was really interesting and featured local food. Food was good and entree are served with soup or salad. Entree price are in the $20 to $30 range. They have a nice selection of wine around $20 the bottle. For dessert, we had the macadamia tart, which was good. They do not serve expresso but only regular coffee. We came back again a few days later and had the lobster bisque with coconut cream and tai curry (really nice) and the fish mixed grilled (amazing!) our waiter was great and had very good advices on wine pairing. I will recommend this place and will likely come again.
(4)
MJ J.
Great location, great food, we celebrated my son's 8th birthday here. excellent service, good prime rib, good wine.
(4)
Josh H.
This was one of the best places we ate on our trip this past summer. We came back a couple more times throughout the course of our trip and each dish was delicious!
(5)
Wendy W.
Pricey - yes. Worth it? Yes! This was our splurge dinner and it was worth every penny. I had Wally's Steak - which is a filet mignon quality beef with a wonderful light bourbon sauce. Perfection. My spouse had the catch of the day and it was wonderful. We followed it with the chiffon pie and wished we'd have ordered one to go. Outstanding service, outstanding food. We used the Yelp/Open Table for our reservations and it worked great. Reservations highly suggested.
(5)
Walter J.
Ok so I really wanted to like this place but.....I didn't. Hukilau was recommended to my by a man that owned a condo a few properties down the street. The service was very courteous and fast, but was rather 2 dimensional. The food was good but almost institutional in quality,,kind of like what you might get at a wedding or on a cruise ( a bad cruise). We had reservations for 3 at 8:30 for three. I felt like they wanted to really rush us thru the meal. in and out with drinks appetizers, salads and main course, out in under an hour. Although the food was not worth lingering over every bite, i am also not into speed eating. Polite but there is no way we should have been done that quick.the restaurant in in a time share resort and maybe the kind of person that would go for a time share ( or Vegas buffet) might buy into that this is high end fine dining, but its not
(2)
Craig H.
This was our third stay at the Kauai Coast Resort, and we ate twice this time around at Hukilau Lanai. It is still terrific. The food is so expertly prepared and served with as many LOCAL ingredients as possible. The accompanying sauces for each dish and dessert make sense and compliment the tastes well. The friendliness of all staff at Hukilau Lanai is genuine and sincere. This restaurant has to be one of the stars of Kapaa and Kauai. My best advice is to make a reservation - you won't be disappointed with any meal here, and it will be a memorable experience.
(5)
Jaye J.
Ok, decided to go here our last night in Kauai. From the other Yelp reviews, we weren't expecting much from the waiters, but thought the location and food should be good. It was really great! We made a reservation on Open Table for 5 p.m. We got there early around 4:30ish and sat at the bar that is just outside of the restaurant, in the hotel lobby. The bartender was really nice. I had a wonderful pomegranate marguerita. My friend had a mai tai and my husband, who is our designated driver had a club soda. We were there long enough to order two. Delish! Promptly at 5 p.m., the dining room opened. I ordered the tasting with the wine. Really delicious. We started with squash blossom appetizers that were special that night. They were stuffed with a horseradish cheddar. Totally yummmmm. My husband, who NEVER eats fish, ordered the opakapaka, which was the special fish dish that night. It's a Hawaiian red snapper. He LOVED it! My friend, who was also traveling with us, ordered the pork and she LOVED that. The waitress was wonderful and the servers who brought my tasting dishes separately were ok, not nearly as personable as the waitress. All in all, we agreed that on our next visit to Kauai, we would made sure we had at least one dinner at Hukilau Lanai! Aloha and Mahalo!
(4)
Mike G.
Amazing!!! The best place for (an all around) dinner we found over 2 weeks on the island. We tried different places every night but wound up spending our last 2 nights here (as well as our 3rd). Make reservations a day or two in advance to get a time you want because this place is packed open to close.
(5)
Mark T.
My favorite place that I ate at in Kauai. Good quality food for a good price. Wine list was affordable and decent enough quality. Tried going a second time on my trip, but couldn't get a reservation (book on OpenTable). Highly recommend.
(5)
Ailin K.
The tasting menu was delicious and well proportioned. We got to try the best of the restaurant, and everything was as delicious as it could be. Service was great, very efficient. The wine pairing was well done. The fish dish came with Merlot pairing, which was out of ordinary, can't say that I get the concept or found it paired well, but it was an interesting idea. We left feeling satisfied and look forward returning to the place again.
(4)
Lisa L.
My original plan was to go partake in their 5 course $40 tasting menu (yes, with wine pairings!), but since I went on Christmas Eve with my parents, we had to order from the special holiday menu. The kahlua turkey was tender, but very smokey and a tad to salty for my taste. The prime rib came out perfectly cooked and was a very generous portion. Side dishes (garlic mash, stuffing, sweet potato mash) were decent, but nothing to write home about. There's also a bread basket with warm foccacia bread. My favorite part of the meal was actually the Wally's salad (romaine, tomatoes, pecans, mandarin tomatoes, and croutons with a ranch and papaya vinaigrette) which was the perfect combination of salty, sweet and crunchy. The service was great, super polite and friendly, and the ocean view while dining was a lovely bonus! They also have a 20 wines for $20 menu which is pretty fun. I'd definitely go back, but more for a festive happy hour or scenic lunch than a sit down dinner.
(3)
Mike H.
Hukilau provided the best food we had on the island. It was one of two places,I thought, provided food good enough to compete anywhere in the world. I had their tasting menu coupled with wine. It was interesting and surprising. The wine varietal choices were bold in that they were not the usual suspects; Muscat anyone? The pairings worked quite well even when we were less than thrilled with the course. My least favorite was the "Not Your Mother's Meatloaf", even though its preparation was perfect it had too much cumin for my taste. Service was good, more diner than dining. We were there before the music started and the restaurant filled up. Hukilau is one of the few places worth seeking out for the food on Kauai and worth seeking out is by definition 4 stars. Mike
(4)
Paula F.
Wonderful Wonderful Wonderful!!! Our group started with drinks and the bar and didn't even order anything specific, just that the bartender fix us something pretty with an umbrella it is. Perfect! We sat outside and the temp & breeze were just perfect. Wally's salad is a very good start. We each tried something different and each had a great experience; Mac Crusted Chicken Breast, Veggie Lasagna, Pork Loin and the Mixed grill of Wahoo and sugar cane speared Shrimp. Yum!
The food is very good. We went there twice in July 2010. The first time we didn't bother to book a table, and because we didn't want to wait one hour we had dinner in the lobby. That was the mistake. We ended up waiting one hour anyway to have our food. The waitress forgot to order our appetizers but brought bread (which is very good and can serve as an appetizer ;) ) several times as an apology. Then we shared the mixed grill with my husband. It was delicious. Even our baby loved it. So we decided to give it another try. This time we booked a table and had dinner in the dining room. The waitress did everything she could to make our dinner nice, even if our baby didn't cooperate a lot. The service was very fast (maybe too fast this time) and we got to taste the Sweet Potato Ravioli which is a must have! And we ordered the mixed grill again and it was delicious again. I wanted to try their desserts but our baby was screaming... So two not so good experiences but a great staff and some very good food!
(4)
G L.
If I judged a restaurant only by the food, I'd say this restaurant would be rated "good". However, the service, ambiance, and total experience make this restaurant special. I definitely recommend it, and we plan on eating here again on our next trip to Kauai. I ordered from the "Gluten Free tasting menu" and some items were great, others just ok, but it was enjoyable to try various selections Next time, I'll select the one menu item that really catches my eye, but either way you go, you'll enjoy yourself.
(4)
Blake H.
Great food, great preparation and presentation. Live music, was a great dinner experience.
(5)
Eilene R.
This place was so awesome we went 3 times on our vacation and it was completely out of the way. I've been meaning to write this review for some time. Try the Koloa rum. My husband got their blueberry soup even though it sounded strange and loved it. We got something different every time and it was always amazing.
(5)
c L.
This was one of the best meals we ate in Kauai...most of the meals we ate on this island were just okay until we came here. My husband ordered the prime rib which was fantastic. I ordered the mixed grill which was good but was sitting in too much curry sauce...if it was plain, it would have been so much better. I had the lobster bisque which is curry based and tasted just like drinking curry sauce so if you dont like curry, dont order it, it is not your typical lobster bisque. The caesar salad and creme brulee were excellent. Our waiter was a brunette gentlemen in his 30's, he was an awesome waiter. Very attentive service..would definitely recommend this spot..it blows the Beach House away as far as the food goes.
(5)
No B.
The Hukiulau Lanai: Careless wait staffers who are dog tired of tourists, along with creative sounding but very mediocre food at high prices, all the while pretending to be a fine restaurant. What's not to dislike? The prices do not bother us. It is what you receive for the money that will keep us from returning. Ever. The beautiful garden lanai setting is overcome by a very mediocre "basic low-to-mid-level hotel" kitchen and the self important, sometimes rudely interrupting wait staff. Fails big time.
(1)
Ben T.
Favorite Dinner in Kauai. Very delicious and reasonably priced.
(5)
Tracy Z.
Hukilau Lanai is a pretty solid bet for dinner, though it is on the pricier side. I guess this is to be expected since it is a hotel restaurant. The restaurant has a nice ambiance with a terrace/veranda-overlooking-the-garden vibe going on. Somewhat plantation-esque. We had the ahi poke nacho appetizer to start. Mmmm, yummy. The wonton chips used to replace nacho chips was a nice touch. The fisherman's chowder that came with my entree was also delicious. It was seafood-y without being too "wild" tasting and had copious amounts of veggies + fish. I had opah (moonfish), which was prepared with an Asian-influence. The fish itself was lightly breaded and perfect. The accompanying veggies were done with a typical teriyaki/soy sauce-ish flavoring. Dad had the ahi tuna. Good quality and came with some yummy, creamy orzo. Mom had the mahi mahi, served atop polenta. All in all, the fish we ate were fresh and delicious (with a nice texture too!). We tried the macadamia nut tart fort dessert. This was sort of a let down since it was basically an overdone pecan pie. You couldn't really taste the macadamia since the whole thing was so drenched in caramel flavoring. Luckily it came with cinnamon ice cream, which was interesting to try and very good.
(4)
Samantha S.
Had dinner here last night and I can't wait to go back again. Yes, it is in in a resort and you pause for a moment, but the food was fantastic. We had 7:30 reservations and were seated a few mins after arrival. It was a little loud which was hard for my mom who wears a hearing aid, but the place emptied by 9 pm and the problem was solved! Everyone in our party loved their meals and cleared their plates (Opah, Mixed Grill, Wally's Beef dish cut like butter, prime rib, and pork). We each had a dessert as well. The prices are reasonable and although the service started out slow, it was competent and other staff members jumped in to make sure we had what we needed. Adding this place to my must have dinner at when I visit Kauai.
(4)
Leiann B.
My husband & I came here, based on Yelp reviews - was close to our condo in Kapaa & served local specialties - with a view on their lanai. I ordered the mixed seafood grill (shrimp & 2 fresh local fish) topped with Thai coconut sauce over orzo -- wow, fantastic. Service was good, altho our drinks ordered first took awhile to arrive, probably due to busy bar orders. Still, we'd love to come back on a future visit to Kauai! Highly recommended as a great "date night" restaurant. :)
(5)
Frank Y.
Great food and great presentation. We ordered two fish dishes, both are really great! The food are beautifully presented and the fish are so tender and moist that they brew us away! We should have reserved seat (we ended up waiting for 30 min, but it's worthwhile!)
(5)
Scott M.
Ahhhh...That was an excellent dinner. I am all smiles right now. Get the Poke Ahi Nachos...delicious, refreshing and a great starter. The peppercorn crusted tenderloin medallions were melt-in-your-mouth tender and perfectly cooked with an excellent Crown Royal demi-glace. Mmmm. I am still thinking about that. If you get a chance to try Waloo, do so. It's local and perfectly described as a butter fish and it came with the mixed grill dish.
(5)
Adam G.
We come to Kauai often, but only recently discovered this gem. Don't be fooled by the 70s decor or the depressing Coconut Grove shopping center. On our most recent trip to Kauai, this was by far the best meal we had. The mixed grill was one of the best entrees I have ever eaten. A very relaxed and friendly atmosphere.
(5)
Angie K.
For some reason I only remember how great their Mango Crisp was. Maybe the wine got to me but dinner was yummy too.
(4)
megan b.
this place definitely seemed to attract an older crowd, my husband and i definitely felt like we were sitting at the"kids table" at thanksgiving dinner. the service was alright, our waitress seemed a little frazzled and forgot to bring me my drink. she also seemed to rush us a little bit through some parts of our meal - asking about dessert before we even had our entrees served to us. the food seemed to be hit or miss. the chicken stack appetizer was really sub standard. it tasted like the chicken came out of a can or a pouch. for entrees, i had the ono with some type of dijon sauce which was excellent. my husband had the opa, which was also quite delicious. we were on the full side and one of the last lingering tables, so we opted against dessert. the entrees were delicious, the appetizers and service left a little to be desired.
(3)
B L.
We stopped by this place based on the Yelp reviews. The food was so-so. We ate the sweet potato ravioli, the poke nachos, the lobster and cheese won tons, and two salad plates (argula beet/corn and some other chevre cheese salad). Secret: If you really want to dine here, come between 5 pm - 6 pm and try the tasting menu. You'll get to eat for $28 per person without wine and $40 per person with wine pairing. Here's what they include with the tasting menu: 1) sweet potato ravioli, 2) beet salad, 3) market fresh fish, 4) pork tenderloin, 5) artisan cheese plate, 6) trio of housemade sorbet. This is a bargain. Too bad we didn't know about this.
(4)
Laurel E.
We did the tasting menu and that could have been our problem. We liked the sweet potato ravioli, but the rest seemed like it had been cooked earlier in the day and then just shoved in the oven. Not super tasty. Also, we sat outside and it seemed to be infested with fruit flies. I was constantly shooing them away. I asked for more bread and never got it and had to ask a few times for more water. Not the best experience at all.
(2)
John C.
This restaurant is at the hotel we stayed at and it was our one "splurge" dinner while on Kauai. We ate at the bar and tried a variety of appetizers, all of them excellent. The service and atmosphere were great.
(4)
Joe O.
Atmosphere isn't great, but the food was good. The sweet potato ravioli app is a must have.
(4)
Paul Z.
Great food, good wine list and well done service. I really enjoy restaurants which utilize local organic ingrediants, that is what they do here. The ambiance was a bit kitchy, but overall the best dining option in Kapa'a and points north!
(4)
R M.
Great restaurant in a surpising timeshare resort. The ravioli was amazing as was the curry lobster bisque. I had the halibut prepared in the "catch of the day" style... Yum! The only downside was that the resort seemed kinda sketch and it was a bit pricy for what you got (food and service wise). But, I would definitely recommend if you are looking for a great dinner.
(4)
Gamebebe C.
This is our second time here and it is still great. Alan is very nice and polite and the portion is good size. The atmosphere is very nice.
(4)
Tanya N.
Our first night in Kaua'i, we decided to stick close to the hotel and ambled over to Hukilau, which had been recommended to us by several people. We were seated promptly and enjoyed the view of the garden and beach. They have a great selection of "wines under $20," and I was pleased with my Argentinian Cab. We had the nacho poke appetizer, which was strongly recommended by our waitress while I drooled over the thought of a lobster and cream cheese wonton. Our appetizer was good, but when is poke ever bad? The wonton crisp "chips" were a little too oily, and there could have been more of the wasabi cream sauce. I continued to drool over the lobster appetizer that we forewent. I ordered the prime rib and D had the chicken and shrimp skewers, and we both opted for the lobster bisque with our meals. The lobster bisque was definitely the highlight of our meal - made with coconut milk, with hints of lemongrass and curry, mine was inhaled in all of two seconds. My prime rib was good, and D really liked how tender his chicken was. All in all, I would say Hukilau is a safe bet for dinner, with interesting and good menu and wine choices (even if the food items don't fully live up to their promise), but not the best meal that you'll most likely have on the island. Broke da mouf?* A little, but nothing that can't be fixed. *D and I have discovered the phrase 'broke da mouf' and thinks it's the best and funniest thing ever, so all Kauai reviews this trip will have a 'broke da mouf' rating."
(3)
Phillip S.
We've travelled to Kauai ten times over the past eight years, and my one complaint has always been the restaurants. Maui is a culinary goddess compared to the other islands, with Oahu being a close second. Kauai, unfortunately, has always been the bastard step-child when it has come to eating (however, the other 'features' of the island still make it my favorite). Roy's has always been the leader on this island for fine dining, and nothing has ever come close to them with quality or preparation. Until now. Hukilau Lanai is a wonderful place to eat. So much that we went there three times this past week. THREE TIMES. The first time there I had the Ahi Poke Nachos for an appetizer. This sounded strange, and wouldn't have been something I would order, but the concierge at the Marriott told me that I had to try it. So I did, and it was an awesome decision. Won ton chips, covered with tomatoes, avocado, ahi sushi, tobiko, and a cream wasabi sauce. This was near orgasmic. An absolutely incredible appetizer. My friend got the Lobster and Cream Cheese Wontons, and it was pure delight. It was an absolutely wonderfully decadent appetizer. We got these same appetizers on the next two trips, as they were that good. For main course I got the Crown Royal beef tenderloin, and it was awesome. The meat, chicken and fish they get here is all natively farmed/grown. This is one of the few restaurants that doesn't bring everything in from other islands, and the quality is just incredible. My friend got the Filet, and it was perfectly prepared. My son even got the Jr. Paniolo Prime Rib, and hoovered it down. It was well seasoned and perfectly prepared. My daughter got the hot dog, and loved it. On my second trip I got the Shiitake Meatloaf, and thought it was good. It lacked something in flavor, but I couldn't put my finger on it. Overall, it was good, but not a knock your socks off taste. I recommend this place wholeheartedly.
Hukilau Lanai was easily the best restaurant we found on Kauai. The food was more original, better prepared, and more attractively presented than at other similarly rated establishments. After ordering them for a third time, our party agreed that the calamari appetizer was the best we'd ever had. Our entrees were nearly as satisfying. The Hukilau Mixed Grill consists of two moderately sized, island-caught fish fillets and about six sugar cane skewered prawns. For $26.00, we were more than pleased; our fish were perfectly cooked and seasoned, while the prawns were a bonus beyond what I would expect for the price. Our cocktails were original and generally decent, though certainly not outstanding. For example, the chili-infused vodka and cinnamon cocktail sounded great on paper, but didn't stand up to a few sips. Hukilau Lanai wouldn't receive a five star rating if compared to the best places in most large cities, but easily competes with anything else on Kauai.
(5)
Haley K.
The patio seating is delightful. It provides a pleasant view of the hotel's property and ocean. The food was tasty and the drinks were strong. We had candied ahi appetizer which came over white rice. My boyfriend had the the ahi entree which was cooked perfectly.
(5)
Jeremy P.
Excellent seafood, wonderful setting and great ocean views. Can't go wrong! And try Adam's Ahi Poke - totally amazing! They will cook your fish to order which is nice (I like my Ahi very rare). We went back for a second dinner during our trip and it was excellent as well. Only negative is the soup we had was too small and unspectacular for the price (lobster bisque, $7 for a cup), but go here for fish entrees and you will not be disappointed.
(4)
Young K.
the ahi poke nachos were awesome. i've never tried anything like it. the lobster & goat cheese wontons were aiite. wife ordered the mixed grill and found it too sweet. i forget the fish i got, but i thought it was okay. the location is nice and although it was too dark to see, i think there would normally be a nice view of the ocean. definitely don't miss out on the ahi poke nachos.
(4)
James G.
We dined at this establishment based on the reviews we saw on Yelp. Reservations were a bit tough to get, however we ended up with a nice 6:30pm spot. The overall experience was great. The view was very nice (garden view), but definitely not beach view. We ordered the calamari appetizer, which was sub-par. My wife had the Wally salad and loved it. For the main entree, defintely get any "O" fish (Opah or Ono) -- those were excellent. Recommend trying the Mojito -- a bit different from LA mojitos, but decent overall.
(4)
Anthony D.
Just spend 12 days on Kauai and this place was our favorite. Killer appetizers, especially the Ahi Poke. Ceviche was also great. Awesome drinks, favorite was the Pomegranite margarita. Heard the meals were really good too but after all the drinks and appetizers we were "all pow". This place is da' kine!
(5)
R S.
This was our last night in Kauai and I was hoping for another excellent meal. I am shocked by the fantastic reviews for this restaurant. This was possibly one of the worst meals I have ever eaten. Everything tasted like it came out of a frozen food bag from Costco. The fried goat cheese in my salad had a strange chemical taste-not freshly fried chevre as advertised. The lobster and goat cheese wontons were obviously heated up frozen food and the sauce was no doubt straight out of a plastic packet - chemically and the taste and texture of the sauce had nothing to do with the appetizer itself. Awful! I ordered the Ono fish. It also tasted like it had been sitting in a plastic bag of soy sauce marinade for far too long, the "grill lines" on the fish were artificial at best, and the mashed potatoes under the fish also seemed quite processed. After a few bites, I had had quite enough and could not finish my meal. This meal cost as much as some of the really fantastic restaurants where we dined during our stay on Lanai. If you appreciate good, fresh food, stay away from Hukilau Lanai. If you like frozen meals from Costco or Wal-Mart, then this is the place for you.
(1)
M J.
Nice place with nice atmosphere if you get a good table. Try the Sweet Potato Ravioli. That is the dish that keeps us coming back! After dinner you can stroll through the hotel ground and the beach.
(4)
Judgey Von Judge O.
tucked away, we found it through other yelpers. so good, we ended up canceling a reso for Roy's down in Poipu for a repeat performance here at Hukilau; only this time: tasting menu (for only $40 with wine pairings!). ps: ginger martini = good times.
(5)
A C.
I absolutely LOVE the aki poke nacho appetizer! hands down the best thing i had on our honeymoon trip. the sausage appetizer was pretty good too. the ambience was very romantic and the service was excellent. price was very reasonable considering the quality and location. definitely will go back the next time we go back to kauai!
(4)
Halley S.
This restaurant is located in the resort that we were staying at so it was definitely convenient and a added plus was that it was the best meal we had on Kauai. With that said we came here twice for dinner during our trip. Everything was phenomenal! From beginning to end... drinks, apps, dinner and dessert along with the service were perfect. This place should not be missed!
(5)
Jerry W.
This was probably the best full service meal we had in Kauai. Service was a little spotty, but the food was great. Finally fresh seafood that was well prepared. The bisque was great. The dessert sorbets were exceptional. Good drink menu too. There is also a nice view. It was a great meal to cap off our trip to Kauai.
(4)
Paul S.
The food was great as well as the service. We tried to stop by a second time for dinner, but they were already booked up at 5:45.
(4)
Shirley D.
My husband and I went to this restaurant for our first wedding anniversary and have had a great and excellent dining experience. I wanted to celebrate somewhere close to our resort and I Google's n asked local for recommendations. Good thing I listened n did my research. Nicole was our waitress n she was great, attentive n accommodating to make our nite special. We tried the sweet potato ravioli is ooohhhh sssooooooo good. My husband was so thrilled n impressed with it that he only gave me a small piece to try - which means he loved it. He devoured the 4 ravioli n cream around it. I ordered the lobster wonton n it was delicious. They accommodated to my husband who is vegetarian n his lasagna was excellent. My mixed grilled seafood was mouthwatering. The shrimp was skewered in a sugar cane n it interesting n most importantly deliciously devoured. For dessert we had key lime for dessert n let me tell u I'm not a big fan of key lime pie, but once I tried it here I had a change of mind. It was nice n tart n worth having another one. My husband n I were both happy at how well the night went. When we come back to this island we will surely be back to this restaurant.
(5)
Lori D.
This is our favorite restaurant in Kauai, we always eat there at least 2 or 3 times during our weeklong stays. We love it so much that when we got married in 2007 we decided to get married at the resort and have our reception in the restaurant's private room. Everything is always delicious! Our favorite is the Ahi Poke Nachos...yummy! The location is perfect, prices excellent for what you get, especially in Hawaii and the service is always great. This will be our favorite for years to come!
(5)
april k.
This place was just fantastic. Lovely setting, attentive staff. We have two, and four year old children so they seated us near the fish tank. The Keiki menu was not insulting - it's real food. Make reservations or you will have a wait. Come early if you want to sit outside, which I would recommend. Appetizers were great, I recommend the lobster bisque. Also the lobster and goat cheese won ton was yummy, though the wrapper was a little tough. Had the sampler for dinner that had sugarcane skewered shrimp, butter fish and a couple of others, all wonderful. And all the fish were OK by 'seafood watch'.
(5)
sunil t.
excellent seafood. bit pricey. strongly recommend reservations. any of the seafood dishes are incredible.
(4)
Neil E.
We ate at Hukilau Lanai again tonight. Again four stars. As usual we got the ahi nachos. They were still tasty, although a tad lacking in ahi tonight. I got the mixed fish plate instead of the tasting menu. The mixed plate tonight was cajun ono and shoyu spearfish. Both were delicious, although the cajun spices on the ono detracted a bit from how tasty ono is on its own. As usual the orzo "risotto" was too cheesy for my tastes. But that's ok, you go for the fantastic fish, not the orzo :)
(4)
David D.
My wife and I tried the tasting menu with wine pairings. We did not care for three of the five wines, and two of the five food items were too salty for both of us, and we usually don't have a problem with salt (the fish course and the meatloaf were both too salty). The fish was Ono. We would have preferred Hawaiian Butterfish, but it was no longer on the menu. The sweet potato ravioli was very good. In retrospect, we should have dined off of the appetizer menu. Not worth the $$$. It is sad, because we dined here on a prior vist 5 years ago and the Butterfish then was fabulous.
(2)
S W.
Wow, what's not to like. Incredible food, awesome romantic setting, live quiet music. My meal started with lobster currie bisque that was superb while my wife had the Wally salad, outstanding. For my entree I chose the mixed seafood grill, which included sugar cane skewered shrimp, swordfish, and butter fish (Wahoo I think?). The butter fish just melts in your mouth and was served with a currie flavored orzo. My wife had swordfish on top of pasta with a cream sauce that was to die for. It is a little pricey but even with wine, our meal was under $100. Well worth it though and one of the best restaurants on the Island. They also support the local vendors so the food is super fresh. Our waiter (sorry I forget his name) just recently moved to Kauai but was very knowledgeable and spent time talking with us and made sure we had a great experience. It's suggested you make reservations a day in advance though so plan ahead and know they are closed on Mondays. We even went back a second night just for a drink and the Creme Brulee' as we were staying at the resort where it's located. Don't miss this one in Kapaa at the Kuai Coast Resort At The Beachboy, right by the Coconut Market Place. Enjoy.
(5)
Joel D.
Three of us had the tasting menu (only available from 5:00 - 6:00). Almost all of it was spectacular. We didn't like the second course, but it was fun to try some new things. Each course was small, but it was plenty of food. Two of us had the tasting menu with the wine pairings. Most of the wine was just OK and the pairings didn't add much. The other person in our party had the Ono. It was also very good. The food presentation was beautiful. The service was friendly. The view was very pretty. The food is worthy of a very formal place, but the atmosphere is casual.
(5)
Philly P.
Hands down the best meal and best service we had in a week of eating out in Kauai. Great fish entrees and a nice selection of 20 wines for $20 a bottle. Great atmosphere and view and good service. Highly recommend it.
(5)
william f.
we both had the happy hour tasting menu. i would have loved to enjoy the view but it was hurricaning that night...category 5 style. the menu was sweet potato ravioli, arugula salad, some random fish that tasted great, meatloaf and creme brulee. since we didn't have it paired with the wine, it was $28. very good value. hostess was very nice.
(5)
Martha C.
We ate twice here during our week's stay on Kauai. My recommendation is to make an early reservation between 5 and 6 so you can try the tasting menu. After being tantalized by the well thought out and executed dishes, you will find yourself trying to decide when you will make a return visit to try out more dishes. Fresh local produce and seafood prepared to showcase the stellar ingredients served by an outstanding waitstaff.
(5)
Dante C.
I'm sure glad we decided to go here. The wait staff was friendly and knew the ingredients well, the tasting menu was spot on and the wine choices were pretty good. I loved the view, however I love the view everywhere here. Next stop Maui, for hopefully 5 stars.
(4)
Jeremy F.
During my wife and I's one week visit this is the only restaurant we revisited. In fact we came back 3x. The third time is when we got engaged. Ambiance, staff, food -- FRESH FISH-- were all great. Top that off with a couple of Lava Flows and a wine pairing and life doesn't get much better.
(5)
Michael B.
Just returned from Kauai and had loaded myself up with Yelp reviews. Was really anticipating a wonderful meal at the Hukilau Lanai...and I wasn't let down! Was tremendous! Food, service, restaurant, and attention to detail. Was there to celebrate a 30+ anniversary and let the server know. They made the whole evening special. Only reason I didn't give it all 5 stars is that the location is pleasant, but not over the top which is what I expect from my 5 star experiences. Found out this is owned by the same folks that have Gaylord's over on the plantation. I can't compare one-for-one to them since we went to Gaylord's for lunch and it was just so-so. The meal was terrific, from start to finish (real Hawaiian "fresh" fish...see my note on the Beach House regarding "fresh"). Wine list for under $20, a bottle, was a good bargain, given that there were a lot to choose from. The server was on top of things, and the cool ocean breezes ordered up in just right amounts to make the open air experience divine. Can't wait to go back to try it all over again! Don't miss out on this place...and don't "miss" the turn past the north end of the Coconut Market Place since it's tucked in the back.
(4)
Daniel H.
We tried the tasting menu. It was pretty bad. After receiving the first course, I thought we were off to a good start. The sweet potato ravioli was pretty good. The wine was decent. Then, came the salad, which felt like it came from the bag. Very simple green salad. The wine was okay. Then, the meatloaf! The description says this is not your grandma's meatloaf. Damn straight. It's worse, way worse. It tasted like paste and mine had a bone chip in it. The fish course was okay, nothing crazy. The wine, however, was not drinkable. Then, the worst thing was the dessert wine. Which was absolutely putrid, tasted like gasoline. All in all, it's an interesting scene and you should support the local economy, but I'd rather spend my money at Pono Market, or Mark's Place. Bottom line, good bargain for the amount of food in this setting, but I'd skip the wine and I wouldn't expect delicious, just okay.
(2)
Erik S.
This was just a poor dining experience. My wife's salad with the papaya dressing was the high point of the meal. The BBQ rib appetizer tasted like a bad internet recipe for a root beer based sauce. Second, for a supposed seafood place, the ceviche was less than pleasant. The worst part of the meal was my ahi tuna. It may have been rare when it left the grill (perhaps giving them too much credit), but it was nearly cooked through and dry by the time the plate made it to the table. The polenta under the fish was very salty and somehow the grilled shrimp was even more dry than the ahi. Let's just say the service was nearly equal caliber to the food.
(1)
Darrel O.
My wife and I went to Kauai for our 10th anniversary and stayed at the Beach Boy, which is one of our time-share properties. While we were checking in with the concierge, he recommended the Hukilau which is on the property. He recommended reservations and went ahead and made them for us. I had moderate expectations because the recommendation came from in-house personnel, but I was very pleasantly surprised. We sat out at the edge with a nice ocean view and had a wonderful dinner. I like to try calamari where ever it's offered, and theirs was quite good. I saw a review saying it was like soggy bread, but I couldn't disagree more. Ours was nice and tender and quite good. I ordered the filet mignon for my main course and my wife got the seafood sampler. Both were cooked perfectly and were excellent. After the main course, we ordered the creme brulee and the molten lava chocolate cake, and both were excellent. The whole dinner from start to finish was great, as was the ambiance and the service. For the two of us, the bill came to something like $120 and included a bottle of wine. The only other place we dined while in Kauai was at the Beach House down in Koloa, and that place ran us about $200. I'll grant that the ambiance was nicer there, but the food was not nearly as good. Given a choice, I'll take the Hukilau over the Beach House any day of the week.
(5)
Crystal H.
Had dinner at Hukilau Lanai in Kappa inside the Coconut Coast Resort. Service was average and food was good. We made reservations for 8pm on a Wednesday. The restaurant was packed. The resort lobby and eating area is very nice with many tropical plants/tiki torches and a view to the ocean from some seats if it were still daylight out. My husband had a mai tai (very good, 8 out of 10). Tried the sweet potato ravioli. Really good. Sauce was sweet but tangy (9/10). Casear salads were average (6/10). Matt had the sampler plate with 4 shrimp, a Cajun spiced darker fish, Hawaiian butterfish and a creamy orzo (9/10) (I think the sauce was the same sauce as was on the sweet potato ravioli). I had the vegetable lasagna, which was surprising good (8/10) and had a yummy cream pesto on top that I wish I had more of. Food was also served with a good focacia bread, only wish it was warm (7/10). Also ordered their version of a lava cake, which was not as heavy as a typical lava cake, served with vanilla bean ice cream. Very good (8/10). Spent about $85, which isn't bad for a drink, appetizer, food and desert. Service wasn't great (4/10) (slow and un-attentive). But considering this is Kauai, service + food = 4 stars
(4)
Andie Q.
the food is great and the view from the lanai complimented our memorable experience. my husband and I had dinner here while on our honeymoon, it was perfect for a romantic dinner. The lobster bisque was amazing - so creamy and buttery. And our fish entrees were fresh and moist, it melted in our mouths. I highly recommend this restaurant for dinner. The service, view, and food is all excellent. You might get lucky and witness a celebrity citing - we were tickled to spot Jeff Bridges across from us! LOL!
(4)
Marcella M.
One of the better restaurants on Kauai. I had the lobster bisque for starters which warmed me up on a chilly winter's evening. Our main entrees were filet mignon and prime rib which were both melt in your mouth goodness. Portion sizes are appropriate. The service is top notch, too.
(4)
Sau y.
In all its beautiful garden isle glory, the food seriously sucks on the island of Kauai. However, Hukilau Lanai was a safe haven from all the "breaded and fried" meals I had to endure. I've spent weeks on both Oahu and Maui... and I already felt the food was second rate at best, but Kauai was an all new low. This restaurant was a bit pricier than most meals on the island (meals on the island range $8-15... an entree here went from $20- 25, which was well worth it in my eyes. We had good bread, salads and meals... and dessert to boot! It reminds me of the decent edible food I get back home (hallelujah!), on Kauai-- it was a GOD SEND. For 2 people, it ran roughly $80-- appetizer to share, soup/ salad with our entrees + 1 dessert to share. Service was great and the view was lovely. If I ever visited Kauai again, I would know where to go for a solid meal!! :)
(4)
d l.
we went here on thanksgiving day for dinner at the last minute and got squeezed in due to a cancelation . we shared the nachos and i had prime ribe and my significant other had grilled fish but not sure what type it was . the nachos i didnt care for they were fried wonton chips with ahi . the rib was great and the wifys fish was good . pricey but that hawaii for you
(4)
Jennifer D.
Their pupus are really good. We had their pre-fixed menu with wine and it was excellent. We also ordered the lava chocholate cake and it was super duper. This stuff came out hot, and did flow like lava when cut. It's one of the best lava cake I've had.
(4)
Andrea F.
The atmosphere is iconic Hawaii - a breezy lanai, view of the ocean, tiki torches - lovely and romantic, but not too formal. The food is fresh and satisfying. Service was good but not exceptional. I'd recommend the sweet potato ravioli and ahi poke nachos to start. The mixed grill (shrimp plus two types of fresh fish) was tasty and perfect for those of us who have a hard time making decisions.
(5)
Eric L.
We had a great time here... the prix fixe early dining menu was very tasty, and they did a great job by not stuffing you on the early courses. If you add on top of that the wine pairing was only $20, you have one of the best meals on Kauai. I would definitely make an effort to dine here during sunset.
(5)
Ryan T.
Best meal we had on the Island. My only regret is that we made this our last meal...if we had gone here in the beginning of our stay we would have gone here multiple times. Food and Service was awesome. This did not disappoint.
(5)
Cynthia H.
My husband and I had our first "fancy" meal on Kauai at Hukilau during our honeymoon, and it turned out to be a solid choice for a romantic and scenic dinner. We were seated at one of the tables on the lawn level, which looks out at a lovely landscaped area and the ocean beyond. Service was friendly and suitably attentive throughout, and all our server's recommendations were spot-on. We felt warmly welcomed and quickly relaxed. There is a tasting menu available from 5:00-5:45pm that is an excellent deal (five courses for $32, or $50 with wine pairings), but we opted for entrees off the regular menu. We started with the chilled tomato gazpacho with pineapple sorbet, which was delicious, along with warm focaccia. Next, the charcuterie plate of local pork pate, smoked sausage, and mortadella, served with toasted bread and pickles. Each charcuterie item had a distinct flavor and was not overly salty, and the portion size was spot-on for two people to share. Our entrees were the Hukilau Mixed Grill (snapper, butterfish, and skewered shrimp on a bed of creamy rice and vegetables) and the macadamia nut chicken (with yellow curry and vegetables). Everything was excellently prepared and generously portioned, and in retrospect we definitely didn't need the appetizer(s). The flavors were generally familiar and even comforting, but the preparations were refined. Based on the amount of food, we really could have done without the gazpacho or the charcuterie! To accompany, we shared a bottle of crisp Grenache off the "20 wines for 20-something" list (another pleasant surprise). Our dessert was the restaurant's signature warm chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream, and a small box with two dark chocolate truffles was set down alongside. By dessert, the sun had nearly set and the tiki torches were cheerfully lit. A wonderful evening!
(5)
Anthony M.
We ate here and did the tasting menu which is available between 5:00 and 5:45. The tasting menu is a 5 course meal paired with different wines. The food was wonderful, however my advice is no matter how much you want that fruity umbrella drink or want to eat more than a half piece of their wonderful bread don't. The tasting menu is quite filling and if you fill up on other items you won't get to completely enjoy.
(4)
Karen D.
Great entrees, great pupus, and great wine selection with reasonable prices. Every night they've got live music. Thursday is Dennis Chun and Friday is Pancho Graham. Sometimes there's a wait but it's well worth it.
(5)
David C.
We visit Hawaii at least twice a year and have probably dined at 90% of the quality restaurants on Kauai, Oahu, and Maui. This restaurant is tough to beat for sheer quality of food and preparation. The Ahi is tremendous, the tenderloin was shockingly good, on a par with any high end steak house. Lobster Bisque was tremendous. The side items were also top notch, as were the desserts. Even my martini was superior. Cannot recommend this restaurant highly enough. Reservations are a must, as this is a very popular restaurant with locals as well.
(5)
Ying L.
This is our first time dinning at this restaurant while visiting the island. While checking on Yelp, I found this restaurant and was able to get a reservation at 5:30pm on a Wednesday night. We arrived early and got seated right way with a beach view table. We opted out the tasting menu and ordered from the main menu. Food: mixed grill, 2 island grilled fish and grilled shrimps on a sugarcane skewer. It came on a bed of orzo pasta. The presentation of the entree was excellent. This meal was the best meal I had since I arrived on the island. The taste is just right and the fish was not overlooked. 5/5 stars Pasta of the day. It was made from hand-made fresh pasta with sausage and veggies. It was done perfectly. Very good! 5/5 stars My son had the kid's meal: meat loaf with french fries. He is a picky eater but he finished the entire entree so it must be good. The meal also came with a small size of ice cream. It is a great deal for $10. Dessert: we got the chocolate lava cake. Make sure you ordered ahead. It takes 20 mins to bake. It was very good. The cake was moist and not too sweet. It also came with a size of vanilla ice-cream. $10 is a little pricey but it was worth it. Service was excellent. Our waitress was super nice and attentive. She was knowledgeable about the menu. She explained what the was on the entrees when she brought out the food. 5/5 stars I forgot my credit card and she was nice enough to come after us to return it. Parking: plenty of free parking around the hotel. Tip: there is a nice beach right in front of the restaurant. I would recommend to check out the beach after dinner.
(5)
Gale M.
What a disappointment. We arrived on time for our reservation, only to be asked to wait. Ok, no problem, but then we noticed that the party that arrived just before us--without a reservation--was seated before we were. When we finally did get a table, it was next to the busboy's station which was filled with dirty dishes. We each were bitten by mosquitoes before we got our menus. When we requested to be seated indoors, we were told sure--if we were willing to wait an hour. We were prepared to spend a lot of money for a good dinner and pleasant hospitality. We were not willing to spend it to eat next to a pile of dirty dishes and among hungry mosquitoes, so we left and spent our money at a restaurant that was happy to serve us.
My wife and I ate here on our honeymoon trip. We did not need a reservation to be seated right away. The Yelp reviews looked good and they did not lead us astray. We highly recommend this restaurant for its delicious meal offerings and beautiful Kauai view. The Good: Easy parking and seems to be shared with a hotel, friendly hosts, beautiful nighttime outdoor seating. Very friendly and attentive server. Our food arrived quickly and without issue. The Bad: Nothing to report. Yay! Our order: Starters all delicious: lobster bisque, sweet potato ravioli and tomato pineapple gazpacho. High praise for that gazpacho! Main was also delicious and recommended: Prime rib au Jus. Great au jus with perfect nappe. Dessert was good but not noteworthy: coconut lilikoi tart.
(5)
Josh B.
This place has almost 5 stars for a reason. It's amazing. I've been here quite a few times, most recently on my honeymoon. My wife said it was the best dinner she ever had. The calamari is amazing. The mixed grill is delicious and the meatloaf is holy moly good. Would highly recommend requesting to sit on the patio, it's beautiful, quiet and romantic. Your lady will love it. It's dimly lit and not to loud. Will definitely be returning many times.
Everyone & everything pointed to dining here -- the Andrew Doughty Kauai tour book (that gave it a top "ONO" rating), the locals and online reviews. You get great food and great atmosphere here, the service was exemplary, and the servers were informative. We had a choice to eat on the covered terrace or inside, which was really outside also, as all windows and doors were wide open (see photo). The ambiance is lovely, wherever you sit, as it overlooks the tiki-torch-lit grounds and greenery of the hotel in which the restaurant is located. Live mellow music wafts into the restaurant from the nearby bar area. Gary, my husband, had a fish dish while I, being an avid "taster" type of "eater" opted for the "Tasting Menu" and a coconut water beverage. It's a 5 or so course meal and the various flavors pop, from fish to vegetables to lamb. A focaccia bread was served, also. I took a photo of my course list, but for ease: gazpacho, vegetable tart with savory "jam," grilled mahi mahi fish set on sesame rice and drizzled with miso sauce, lamb ragout in small dutch oven container (cute) with homemade pasta noodles, and creme brulee. All delicious! Not on complaint or issue on anything from beginning to end. SMART DINING TIPS: Make reservations, for sure. This place is popular with both locals and tourists. If you want the "Tasting Menu," it's offered only 5-5:45 pm -- so reserve for the earliest dining time. And I do recommend it, so you get a full flavor experience! It was plenty of food, even with Gary tasting some of it! Free parking in front of the hotel (yay!).
(5)
Popples E.
The food was delicious and service was excellent! I ate the filet mignon, sweet potato ravioli and mocha chocolate cake....mmmmm....heaven! Cannot wait to come back! Heads up tho: My co-worker and I ate in the bar area because they didn't have a table available. I definitely recommend making a reservation!
(5)
Jim C.
The setting is magnificent with the fire lamps, beautiful vegetation and sea only a three wood away. While you wait for your table there is live music and it's the kind of place where you feel comfortable in a jacket and tie or in shorts and a tee shirt. Our waitress was probably the best we have ever had. My goodness she was knowledgeable about all the drinks and dishes without being obnoxious or lording it over on us. The food was the best we have had on the island. Our group had the yellowtail tuna, Ono and prime rib. They were all perfection--cooked so perfectly with subtle and outstanding flavors. We finished it off with the molten lava cake and ice cream and, again, the quality and flavors were the best. Come her without any doubts. It's delicious. For 4 people with 3 cocktails and a bottle of wine our meal came to $200.
(5)
Lindbergh B.
If its your 1st time here, definitely go during happy hour and do the "wine & food pairing"!!! The pairing is on point with the wine going so smoothly with the food. We came here during our Kauai vacation and it was the most memorable experience we had. Will be back!
(5)
Kevin K.
This was a really excellent restaurant. Food: Really tasty 5 course tasting menu with good portions. The lobster/goat cheese wontons were really great starters and their fish was sooo well cooked. Service: Outstanding, on top of it without being intrusive, friendly. Ambiance: Very nice overlooking the grounds/pool area/ocean at the resort. Value:$32 for a 5 course tasting menu (before 545 PM). WOW Amazing. The other entrees are $25-30 and come with soup or salad and were delicious as well. We only had one other "nice" meal in Kauai and that was at Tidepools in the Grand Hyatt. There was no competition. Hukilau Lanai was WAAAAY better.
(5)
Sarah S.
- Good Food - Great Service - Nice Atmosphere - A little pricey, but you can hardly get a taco for less than $7 on Kauai, so you have to take that into consideration. - Not all menu items are local/organic, like the corn in the chowder, and I would prefer
(5)
Paul S.
Really disappointing. Fish was over cooked and the service wasn't anything special.
(1)
Len S.
My wife & I had dinner at Hukilau Lanai on Thursday 7 May. This is our special treat dining experience when we visit Kauai twice a year. My wife ordered the fish special - Opa served with mashed potatoes and a starter salad. She finished with the chocolate lava cake - what else could compete? We had to wait an extra 10 minutes for this dessert. The lava cakes are made to order and the first attempt broke apart, so the chef would not serve the dessert without proper presentation. I am stuck on ordering the tasting menu with the wine pairing ($50). On this visit there was the apparently standard gazpacho taste bud wakeup call, then a tasty roasted vegetable tart, the fish coarse was Mahi Mahi served on rice, and the meat coarse was a lamb ragout. I finished with the cheese selection. I could find no fault with any of these courses nor the wine pairing - that is why I am stuck on the tasting menu. Be advised, the tasting menu is only offered from 5 unit 5:45PM, so make an early dinner reservation if you are interested in this culinary tour de force. Our total bill, including two Mai Tai's, was $114 - OK not cheap, but what is on Kauaii and what is more memorable then a delicious dinner, with a scenic view of a tropical garden and the ocean - at no extra cost.
(5)
Joanna F.
Best appetizers I've ever had in my life! Candied ahi and fall off the bone ribs was all I needed to be full. The server was very sweet, they had live music with good musicians and well balanced drinks. I will be coming back here as often as I can on my trip here.
(5)
Elizabeth T.
Large portions. Good service. Nice setting. Definitely try the SwissChard and Mushroom tart, that was fantastic. The sweet potato ravioli is ok, the potato is a little too heavy and overwhelming for a delicate ravioli. Mixed Green salad was surprisingly great, possibly the best simple salad that I've ever had: lush + great tangy creamy dressing. Lasagna is huge! and it came with a massive salad. It was good but nothing special.
(4)
Elizabeth C.
We did the 5 course tasting menu with pairings and we left very satisfied. Each offering was very good and the service was excellent. Next time we will order from the regular menu but it was a really nice way to get to know the restaurant in a special way!
(4)
Anoop S.
Very good food. Had the special, which was a combo of shrimp and two fish, one a meatier kind and the other a more buttery kind (totally blanking on which fish they were). The preparation and flavors were really excellent. Biggest knock against Hukilau (and all the other sit down restaurants in Kauai) is that you can get better tasting food for less at food trucks / market stands.
(4)
Michelle R.
I almost hate to review the Hukilau Lanai because it will make it even harder to get reservations! We live on island and if people ask for a restaurant suggestions, we always recommend the Hukilau Lanai. Every item is delicious! My personal favorites: Ahi Poke Nachos Sweet Potato Ravioli Goat Cheese Wontons Filet Mignon I worked at the restaurant over ten years ago and at the time wouldn't eat fish because I'd had some bad fish in restaurants. The Hukilau Lanai converted me back to fish. It is always fresh and expertly prepared.
(5)
Debby S.
Wondeful dinner tonight. Didn't have reservation but they got us a table outside anyway. Hostess staff were so friendly. Once seated, we were greeted right away and explained the menu. She took our drink order and was back quickly with our wine choice. Once we ordered the courses came out on time but not fast so we could enjoy the food and the view. We ordered the lobster and goat cheese wontons to start - so yummy. Then had salads before our entrees. Hubby had the ono and I had the crown royal medallions. Both so good and prepared perfect. Finished with the warm chocolate cake. Worth the wait. I have noticed that other reviews had issues with service but for us it was great. Fast, attentive and helpful. Will be back and highly recommend.
(5)
Avi D.
I had the Ahi fish, which was nothing short of perfection, the sauces tasted great, and the fish was cooked perfectly. The overall dining experience was 10/10. I would definitely recommend this as the best restaurant on Kauai.
(5)
Mark L.
Excellent restaurant! All the 5 star reviews are correct... Had the BBQ pork ribs, (falling off the bone and in a tasty hoisin sauce), house green salad with blue cheese, and macadamia nut fresh Opah. All were terrific as well as very good service. Great experience.
(5)
Lynda H.
Ahi poki nachos are fantastic and the calamari was tender and the lemon garlic dipping sauce is to die for.
(5)
Matthee P.
Wife and I had a great anniversary dinner here. The setting is beautiful, and the food was delicious. We had a wide variety of dishes and there were all super tasty. Nice selection of inexpensive wines as well. The decor is a tad dated, but not a big deal. Check it out for sure. Make sure to get a reservation.
(4)
Michael P.
You absolutely need to try the Crab-cake Benedict for breakfast! Great view, great service!
(5)
Andrew R.
If you're trying to watch your wallet here, get the poke nachos. It's a complete meal and completely delicious. Slightly different than other poke you might find, it's paired with some crispy chips that provide an excellent contrast. If you despise your wallet, you can't go wrong with most of the fish specials. That said, one of the 3 I tasted wasn't very good at all. If it sounds good and is a fish you normally know to be good, stick with that. It's a great setting, wonderful atmosphere, and the service is good.
(4)
Geoffrey C.
Exquisite! The food and expedited service was outstanding. Not even into dessert and we are pleasantly plump and happier than a fish in the sea. Filet mignon (so tender, cooked to perfection with lovely additions) and the curry chicken were our entrees and they were outstanding both in terms of taste and value ($34 and $24, respectively). The entrees also came with a wonderful Caesar and Outstanding mixed green with deep fried goat cheese. We typically like to venture around but WE WILL be back tomorrow without question. Keep in mind we are on only a two night getaway from Maui. Must go know for our molten lava cake!!!
(5)
Rita M.
We had a wonderful evening at Hukilau Lanai, excellent, friendly and prompt service. Our glasses never went below the 1/3 mark for a refill. My husband ordered the Panko Fried Calamari Strips, which I try often at other places and never like. I must say that this restaurant's Calamari Appetizer reigns supreme for this non-Calamari liking person. They were perfectly seasoned, not overly fishy tasty, extremely tender, served with a light and flavorful lemon Aioli Sauce. I could actually eat the whole piece that I had. My husband commented on how good they were. The Focaccia Bread, brought semi warm to the table, was moist and seemed to have spots of cheese in the middle, it was served with Balsamic and Olive Oil and was quite delicious! I ate more of this than I had planned on. The fish dishes we ordered were creatively and artfully plated, and had layers of flavor with different textures of Creamy Orzo on my husband's 2 Island Fish Plate that had a Sugar Cane Skewer of giant shrimp on top and I had Wahoo Fish over Quinoa Pilaf and a delightful olive and pepper relish. Our salads were also the best I have had on our trip to Kauai. I had an Arugula Salad covered with Sprouted Garbanzo Beans, Cherry Tomatoes and Candied Macadamia Nuts. The flavors and textures played wonderfully together. It was a surprise to me that something seemingly so simple could be so good. The so-called 'garnish' was more like extra toppings, as they did not scrimp on toppings, like some restaurants do. Everything at this restaurant is so fresh, and definitely not the boring average seafood entrees. Our waiter, Mark, was very friendly and attentive. This is our new favorite Kauai fancy dinner restaurant and for the price, we like it better than most others in the fine dining realm. The desserts of Macadamia Nut Tart and the Old Hawaiian Chocolate Factory Molten Cake served with Lappert's Ice Cream were a perfect finish to a perfect evening and the coffee was perfect, as well. I'm glad we didn't miss trying this place. We enjoyed walking down to the beach afterwards. Lovely!
(5)
Malanta K.
Fabulous meal. We were seated outside and enjoyed the wonderful pacific breeze during dinner. We enjoyed every course of the meal. The lobster bisque and Caesar salad were delicious. We ordered the pork, chicken and beef dishes for our entrees. They were all so tasty but my favorite was the pork. For dessert we ordered the mango tart and French press coffee and were not disappointed. I would highly recommend this restaurant.
(5)
V Y.
I highly recommend making a reservation because the restaurant is so popular and packed even at 5pm when they open. Between 5-5:45pm, they have 2 tasting menus (there's a regular one and a vegetarian one) that are each 5 courses. We got one of each so we could try both and my husband got the wine pairings with his. My daughter got the keiki menu meatloaf and mashed potatoes which starts with pineapple and ends with an ice cream dessert. Everything was delicious! It was a very satisfying meal and service was excellent. The view from the dining area is nice and creates a great ambience for the meal.
(5)
Noe P.
Called to make reservations and spoke with Mya who was not helpful as she said she would not be able to accommodate our party since we had 7 adults and 2 children. I asked if we walked in and waited if we could be seated and was told we would be turned away. Requested to speak with supervisor Steven who was basically repeated what Mya said earlier. If yelp offered a negative star service i would give it. I would highly recommend not eating here. Customer service is obviously not top priority nor is repeat and local business.
(1)
Catherine P.
We went here on the strength of previous reviews and we were not disappointed. This was by far our best meal on Kauai. Hubby started with Adam's poke nachos- a clever Hawaiian take on the classic Mexican dish: crispy wonton-like chips contrasted wonderfully with the sushi grade ahi tuna with avocado chunks and wasabi cream. I ordered 3 apps for dinner: arugula salad, tomato & pineapple gazpacho with a dollop of citrus sorbet, and baby clams in a yummy broth albeit a tad salty (all our meals had way more salt than I am used to). Hubby's main was a mixed grill of local fish and skewered shrimp, over creamy orzo in a Thai chile coconut sauce. Most of the food is locally sourced. Dessert was chocolate mousse with salted toffee bits. I still think about it. Service was excellent, nice wine selection. When you first walk in, it's a bit weird, like a budget hotel, but sit on the lanai looking over the torch-lit garden. Tip: reserve early, this place is popular.
(5)
David H.
I can't say enough about this place. This is the second time in the past year we have gotten the five course tasting meal, and every item from the gazpacho to the amazing veggie pastry shell to the fish & Ni'ihau lamb was as good as I've had in a long time. The pricing on the wine parings has gone up appreciably since last summer, but if you're a couple it's just as easy to save the $36 on wine pairs & get a couple of glasses, or even a decent bottle in the mid-twenties. Go early if you can to avoid the wait (& yes, they are on Open Table), but GO!
Absolutely excellent from soup to nuts. Lovely dining room with a far off ocean view, excellent service, DELICIOUS food, amazing cocktails and GLUTEN FREE BREAD! Hukilau Lanai is by far the best restaurant on Kauai. We had a mixed grill plate of fresh fish and shrimp accompanied by a tropical cream sauce and another member of our party had prime rib au jus. The fish was truly fresh and the prime rib was a generous portion and so delicious. Their cocktail selection is superb. So fun to have a drink in this dining room and take a walk around the grounds of the resort with tiki torches lit. The gluten free bread was such a nice touch. It's made fresh to order and absolutely delicious.
(5)
Dr. B.
We stayed at the resort where the restaurant is located. I have to say, the food is excellent and clearly 5 stars. I was pleased with the service and cost (for Hawaii). Be aware that this is pricey and not a shack. If you want to decrease your cost, try to find a time share presentation which will give you a voucher for here.
(5)
Richel R.
Second best meal I had during my visit to Hawaii. We came here for my mom's birthday dinner. The lobster curry bisque was made just right, not too salty and the curry was complimentary and not overpowering. The salad came with a nice, light, dressing. For my entree I ordered one of the dinner specials, the swordfish with pesto and risotto. I honestly don't think you could go wrong with any of the fish entrees here. I sampled the ahi, macadamian chicken, mixed grill, opa, and the vegetable lasagne. For the food and service, I definitely rate 5-stars. After dinner, our server was kind enough to take a picture of our family by the garden adjacent to the dining area. Mahalo!
(5)
Martina V.
First time here food was excellent Had the pork loin with hawaii mushrooms sauce portion was just right worth the price lovely ambiance. Great service
(4)
Gerald G.
Very cool ambiance. We ordered the macadamia crusted chicken and the mixed grill plate (2 fresh fish combo). Both were very good (the fresh walu on the fish plate was the bomb diggity). Our server Jessica was very attentive and always checked up on us, which was awesome. Since it was our anniversary, we were greeted by servers and waitresses all night long. Then we got a 2-truffle gift box as a gift. This is a great spot. Good food, great waitress. Thanks!!
(4)
Mike P.
This one will be short. All of the positive reviews are spot on, ignore the negative ones. Tasting menu for us. Food was great and the wine generous. $50.00 is cheap for this meal. Service was attentive but unobtrusive. We were lucky to meet Manny, on of the cooks the next day. After talking a bit he said, "you're the anniversary couple!" How fun is that? Man knows his job
(5)
Wesley L.
Wife and I had an adult night out while vacationing in Kauai. Both of our meals were outstanding. I had beef and she had two kinds of fish. Server Mark was great with his recommendations. Even waited the 20 mins for the brownie dessert. May go back again on this stay.
(5)
barbara k.
We went for our traditional 1st night dinner, and somehow my memory of the meat not being up to par had faded, so I ordered the filet mignon with Crown Royal sauce. The sauce was interesting and tasty, but the meat, slightly overcooked, was pretty tasteless. Husband had pork tenderloin, which was cooked properly, and was moist, but he didn't care for the mushroom sauce at all. I also had the arugula salad, which was quite good, had preserved lemons in the dressing. From now on, I WILL stick to fish here, but ask to sub the basil mashed potatoes, which were definitely the best part of our dinner!
(3)
Nicole N.
I wish there were more stars! This place is amazing. Seriously. You have got to go there! We ordered all apps...lobster wontons, spare ribs, sweet potato ravioli, calamari, Wally's salad. Everything was delicious, perfectly balanced flavors, wonderful textures, simply scrumptious. Staff is crazy nice, very attentive, and so sweet to my niece. We sat in the bar area and the service was wonderful. Go eat there soon! Seriously.
(5)
John D.
The cuisine and setting here were quite nice however the waiter here definitely had a "I'm too cool to be polite" attitude about him. I'd probably dine here again, but am not rushing to do so.
(3)
A O.
I rarely write reviews but I just had to share my wonderful experience here. My wife and I are on our honeymoon and we found this place on yelp! and it just happened to be at the hotel were we are staying. The staff was very friendly especially our waitress Jessica who was very attentive also. The food was so delicious for such a reasonable price. Before I looked at the menu I assumed it was going to be pricey but I was so wrong! We had the lobster won ton and ahi tacos for pupus. Our main entrees were the ahi and Hukilau grilled seafood mix and we just had to have the Hawaiian chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream. All of the dishes were so good! Worth every penny! Jessica made our dinner so enjoyable. It's no wonder they're opened for only 4-5 hours because they put a lot of work into quality. I would definitely eat here again and recommend to anyone who will be going to Kauai! Also the bar is very good. Their mixed drinks are perfect!
(5)
Prin D.
I was very happy and satisfied with my meal, service and value. ($125 for 2) I ordered the "freaking hot chocolate" martini, the sweet potato ravioli pupu, the local greens salad with blue cheese, mahi mahi, a coffee and the Hawaiian chocolate warm (lava) cake. A feast! Lol I wanted to be rolled out! My husband had the macadamia martini (can't recall name), a salad, the prime rib and a soda. We were both happy. The food itself was beyond any criticism. Pairing of seasonings was A+ and the freshness of the food could only be explained by a clear loyalty to using local ingredients. I was very impressed. Portions were fine, especially with everything I ordered. Great date night! Sat outside. Only critique... Both martinis were not out of this world though. I think the names and descriptions sounded better than the taste and I'm a big martini drinker. Mine had limited Creme de cacao and my husband's tasted too strong without a real hint of the nut. They were nice to sip but I've had amazing martini mixes in my life, being from nyc. Eat here! ;)
(5)
Zzajj J.
always on point with their food and wonderful staff. I try to hit the place at least once when i come to the island, and it is totally worth the price and wait, but seriously make a reservation because this place is always poppin'
(5)
Mindy F.
1-12-15 Went back because our experience was so good the previous visit. On the east side of the island this is the only place to come for dinner. This time our service by Janet was impeccable. Might be one of the best dining experiences I've had....ever. The food is so perfectly prepared it's quite amazing. Served cooked to perfection and hot. Everything was delicious. The chef is quite impressive whoever he/she/they may be. What a place! 1-7-15 The waiter arrived as we were seated, asking what we wanted to drink. Not even a few seconds to get situated and look at the menu. He was nice enough but completely lacked any personality or flare. He was stiff and looked scared.... The food was incredible. Everyone loved their entrees. I was thinking I should get seafood but was over the moon about the filet mignon I got. The most perfect piece of meat I've ever eaten. The atmosphere is very nice, cocktails good but the food was a pleasant surprise. Great place! Highly recommend!
(5)
Mark D.
Great evening great atmosphere. Very fresh ingredients. Hot and dirty martini was just that. Yowsers! My ebi dish with homemade pasta was fantastic too. Price point was more reasonable than other restaurants we visited. Very surprised. Mahalo Krissy for a beautiful evening. We will be back!
(5)
Judy F.
By far, the best dinner experience the whole week! Go appetizers! The calamaria was perfect. The Sweet potatoe raviolli was really out of this world. The Lobster and Goat Cheese wontons were heavenly However it was presented with just 3, there were 4 of us so they kindly removed it and returned it with a serving for each of us! They melted in your mouth! The mixed grill was very nice with 2 different fishes that were nicely done. The shrimp were acceptable but not unique. A side of purple sweet potatoes was deicious. We were very pleased. Mark, our server was attentive and perfect. You will not be disappointed! Parking is easy, the outdoor area was nice to stroll through!
(5)
Sean M.
Best meal we had on Kauai. The tropical fish sampler was divine. We were so amazed by the taste of one and later learned that it was Walu/Escolar; perfect to have a small amount in a shared sampler as it isn't recommended you eat much (google). Kale salad excellent too. Very generous deal where you can split a main dish and get two salads for a small price -- not on menu so ask. Get table outside overlooking patio.
(5)
Jow H.
Mediocre in the guise of something better sums up the experience here. Some allowance for it being kauai as restaurants do not excel here. Food is overly fat and not particularly interesting. I tried 3 appetizers, lobster bisque, the veggie Lasagna and the Caesar salad. Simply nothing special. Service was efficient but somehow also left me cold. Not recommended.
(3)
Lauren G.
Stopped for appetizers after reading reviews and it did not disappoint. The lobster wonton and Kauai clams were awesome. I would definitely recommend to others and come here again.
(5)
Matt Y.
11/30/13. Dinner Hukilau Lanai is located inside the Kauai Coast Resort in Kapa'a. It truly lives up to the praises of Yelpers and Dinner Choice on Open Table. The restaurant was booked full that evening. We were seated promptly at 5:30pm on the upper section in the dining room. That was actually a bliss for two reasons. First, our server Sandra was absolutely professional. She greeted us with such aloha spirit bad explained the menu in full details. Second, a storm was passing over Kauai that night so even in the tented patio you would be sprayed. Cocktails were wonderful. The Pear Passion was made with Grey Goose pear vodka and passion fruit juice. Tasty start for our vacation. All dinner entrees at Hukilau Lanai came with a choice of Wally's salad, caesar's, or soup. Wally's Salad: chopped romaine with bacon bits, cherry tomato, crouton, in a special house dressing made with papaya seed and ranch. It's also available in full portion. Caesar's: also chopped romaine with a rich Caesar dressing. The salads are accompanied by focaccia bread with crusted asiago, which is addictively tasty. *Mushroom Meatliaf ($19): a very generous portion served in brown butte sauce. Meatloaf was made with crushed mushroom and braised beef. Flavor is strong but bit overpowering. *Hukilau Mixed Grill ($29): with two kinds of fish and a skewer of four shrimps. You get a pan-seared fish and a marinated blackened fish. Rice is a Thai-inspired coconut curry risotto. The whole meal was very delightful and delicious. We were most impressed by Sandra's knowledge and professional disposition. We actually made another reservation on OpenTable to cone back on our last night in Kauai. I highly recommend Hukilau Lanai for its outstanding quality of food and great value. I also appreciate the many gluten free choices on their menu. The dinner tag cane to $78 for two.
(5)
Natalie Y.
Found this place on the back to the airport from Princeville and wish we had found it sooner! From the St. Regis to the new Roy's... This had to have been one of our best meals of the trip! I highly recommend this place to everyone. Amazing food, great service, and a great view!
(5)
Jacquelyn F.
Don't get the vegetable lasagna, yuck! The crab wantons have a weird texture and Mac Nut Chicken is just okay. Very disappointed considering all the good reviews.
(1)
Kathleen M.
The food is good. But if you are there to celebrate an Anniversary or a birthday don't count on them remembering to do anything...even if you told them a few times. Very disappointing.
(2)
Brittney D.
Mediocre food. Decent service. Food was somewhat bland. Hair found in children's menu dish. Fish was ok.
(2)
Mark G.
Just had a wonderful meal. The fish was very fresh and the blending of flavors unique and savory. The soups, we had two different ones, were very tasty and just filling enough. The service was very good and the wait time was reasonable. The dessert was phenomenal; an almost familiar red velvet cake
(5)
Nancy C.
Hukilau Lanai was our "fancy dinner place" during our trip to Kauai. It was, indeed, a very nice restaurant. I split three appetizers (sweet potato ravioli, poke nachos, and lobster wontons) with two friends, all of which were very good. My main course of the seafood sampler plate was also delicious. I really enjoyed the butterfish. However, the cajun mahi mahi, though good, did not blow my mind. And my shrimp was undercooked, so we requested to have it cooked a little longer just to get the gray color out, after which it was delicious. But for what we were paying, I expected everything to be spot on. The outdoor seating space is really nice. However, beware the critters that attack you if you sit close to the grassy areas, because that was certainly an issue with our table.
(3)
Tony R.
Ya know...this is one of the only places we dare take family and friends...NEVER a bad meal, or bad service in 4 years. One of the most consistent, if not THE most consistent place to eat on Kauai. Not one of the least expensive, but you definitely get what you pay for at the Hukilau Lanai. Make a reservation a head of time if you are coming to visit the Garden Isle to make sure you have the time you wish. Absolutely a winner!
Everything about the place was fantastic - Food selections and mix of flavors, service and locale. It was especially nice to find a place so cognizant of gluten allergies. One of best meals we've had on multiple trips to Kauai.
(5)
Ellin C.
You can't really beat the value of a $28 dollar five course tasting menu. Everything in it was delicious, starting from the gazpacho with a koloa rum pineapple basil sorbet on top which was a refreshing start. The candied ahi was unique and had a kick to it, which was served with some sprouts over a bed of rice. Sausage and warabi were good. We got the mahi mahi for the catch of the day and it was very tender, and the quinoa was flavorful. We ended our meal sharing the artisan cheese duo which had a truffle-flavored italian cheese along with the vanilla bean creme brulee. Overall, a good tasting menu. Service was okay. Wish I could have been there during good weather because our visit was slightly dampened by pouring rain so we didn't get a great view seated at the tables.
(4)
Sarah S.
Hukilau Lanai was a restaurant my husband and I bookmarked to try at the very beginning of our week-long trip in Kaua'i. After one failed attempt to eat there - we called early afternoon and were told there were absolutely zero reservations available that evening - we called two days ahead and booked for 7:15 on a Thursday evening. The parking lot is definitely not big enough for this place. We went across the road to the motel where the woman at the front desk was kind enough to give us a temporary parking pass to park there. Upon arrival, I was glad to have made a reservation because the lobby was PACKED. We ordered drinks at the bar while we waited and found a spot on a comfortable sofa. When our name was called, we were led to the second tier of the dining room which overlooked the garden. There was soft lighting everywhere which made for a very romantic atmosphere. Our server, Andrew, greeted us and offered his recommendations on the menu. We received our complimentary foccacia bread (delicious!) with balsamic dipping sauce. We ordered goat cheese and lobster wontons which Andrew assured me the goat cheese was not too pungent. He was right, it was almost the consistency of cream cheese and just as mild-tasting. They were pretty phenomenal. The entrees included a soup or salad, so I selected the Wally's Salad (simple and yummy) and my husband upgraded (an extra $2 or so) to the lobster bisque which was fantastic. For entrees, my husband ordered the Ahi and I chose the Hukilau Mixed Grill. Andrew explained the fish in the mixed grill (one short-billed fish, and one long-billed, if I remember correctly, and a skewer of succulent shrimp) and they definitely didn't disappoint. The orzo on my plate was bland and under seasoned, but the fish was so good I didn't care. My husband was disappointed with the Ahi from the beginning, and could hardly eat it because it was so tough and overcooked. I happily finished my meal and urged my husband to say something about his Ahi, but before we even had to, our server Andrew sensed he wasn't too impressed and asked for his honest opinion. We told him that the Ahi wasn't very good at all, and he sincerely apologized and set off to make it right. Hukilau Lanai really takes pride in their food and especially their seafood, which became obvious when the owner came to our table and made things right. I sincerely appreciate the lengths both the owners and our server Andrew went to to ensure we had a pleasant dining experience. I can't wait to come back and enjoy another special meal!
One of our favorite restaurants on Kauai. We had our rehearsal dinner here in 2009 when we got married, and just returned in May of 2015. Still fantastic! The fish is cooked perfectly, and the flavors are just enough. Romantic setting. The only think that bugs me about the location is that we had a timeshare sales meeting in the restaurant during the day once. Didn't like the confusion of the atmosphere. Two feelings, same place. One where they tried to sell us "memories", and we said no... and the other a romantic night away...
(4)
Laurie D.
Loved the Aloha spirit. We sat in the lounge and had great, attentive service. The lobster wontons were ridiculous. Absolutely yummy. Just perfect and the hoison sauce with vanilla was a great companion. The ribs, however, were stand out--you MUST try.
(4)
Tammy G.
Our meal was delicious...the appetizers left me feeling a little worried because it wasn't too exciting. We had the lobster won tons and the sweet potato ravioli. But when the entrees arrived...it turned the entire meal around. Everyone that ordered meat was pleased with their meal. and the fish was delicious too. the prime rib was so soft that you could cut it with a fork and the flavor was perfect. the crown royal tenderloins were melt in your mouth.
(4)
Susan C.
The food is ok, nothing spectacular. I had the ahi and the hubby had the ono. It's not quality food. The service is pretty good, but not worth coming back for.
(3)
Diane E.
My daughter and I splurged one night and had a very nice dinner here and pulled out all the stops by ordering a bottle of wine to go with our meal...as well as a dessert to share. It was a lovely dinner and since we were staying at the Kauai Coast Report at the Beachboy...we only had to walk a few steps to get back to our room.
A gem of high class food and wine; I've been to many restaurants that offer tasting menus with wine pairings. This offers just the right portion size and variety / balance of tastes. The waitress was very accommodating, and at one point helped protect us from our eyes being bigger than our stomachs, even if it meant less profit to them. She helped us order just the right amount, and the food as spot on. The ribs appetizer was outstanding - loved the pickled watermelon as a counter balance to the sweet and savory sauce; so tender too. Poke nachos were delightful. Opah and Mahi Mahi were perfectly moist. Nice casual attire, sandals and shorts are appropriate! Great place to visit if you're passing by the airport or Kapaa. Make reservations online, and they will confirm quickly. NOTE: Tasting menu was only available from 5-5:45pm; not sure if that's usual for them, but plan accordingly!
(5)
Michael M.
Attended here for Kauai Community College International Education program graduation. It was my first time being here, throughout my whole life on Kaua'i. The food was really delicious!!! The staff was very accommodating, and cleaned the plates off the table quick. The dessert was by far really good, very nice presentation and delicious.
(4)
Cathy S.
Hukilau Lanai has a lovely outlook over a well manicured garden and the ocean in the distance. Since it faces east, you aren't going to have gorgeous sunsets but it is lovely nonetheless. We arrived a little early for our reservation so we sat at the bar for a cocktail but they were able to seat us at our table about 5 minutes ahead of schedule. The first thing the server asked us was if we were celebrating anything special. Our response "dinner?" was treated as a surprise so I take it that this is a special occasion type of restaurant. Allegedly this restaurant is the nicest on the island. A pleasant surprise was the affordability of their wine menu. It is not often that one sees a lot of options in the $20 range. We started with the Lobster and Goat Cheese Wonton appetizer. It looks like there was lobster in the wonton but all I tasted was the chèvre. The macadamia nut ingredient added no value other than a crunch. They were edible but nothing special. We both ordered the Wally Salad which was a run of the mill green salad but the lettuce was fresh and ripped into proper little pieces, the little tomatoes were ripe and firm and the salad was not overdressed so it was very good. We also both ordered the Hukilai Mixed Grill which consisted of grilled Walu and Hebi and grilled shrimp on a bed of orzo with a Thai curry sauce. My husband and my plates looked quite different because the sauce on my plate had broken. If this truly is a fine dining establishment if it serves an entree that has a broken sauce on it? The star of the plate was the Walu which was moist and delicious. The grilled shrimp was also very nice but my Hebi was a little on the dry side and my orzo was overcooked. The sauce, broken or not, was far too abundant and added a richness that I still feel in my stomach 12 hours later, and not in a good way. Our server Ryan was very professional and attentive as were all of the other people who served us. I hesitate to send food back particularly when the person I am dining with doesn't have any problems, as you just end up watching each other eat, so I made the decision to just suck it up. I have no doubt that the restaurant would have made it right, but it would have been kind of nice to get it right the first time. Is it the best restaurant in Kauai? I hope not or that doesn't bode well for the island. It is however, as the Yelp 3-star rating says, A-OK.
(3)
Sam S.
First place we ate at in Kauai. Very good food. Great service, a little spendy. The salads were amazing as were the lobster wontons. Open air dining or dining outside. Friendly bartender.
(4)
Milena P.
Great place! Our best meal during our honeymoon in Kauai was served at this spot. Ask to be seated in the Lanai :) My husband was sick and they were nice enough to accomodate our request for him: a plain grilles chicken and white jasmine rice. Hubby thought it was the best plain grilled chicken he has ever had lol! I had the grilled onu with jasmine rice and asparagus. Sooooooo fresh and tasty! My best meal during the entire trip. It came with the soup of the day.. Delish! Ps. Great jewlery sold by a very nice lady. Hubby got me a pretty coral necklace !
(5)
Derek W.
Walking through the breezy courtyard into the Kauai Coast Resort evokes an array of positive sensations, though not necessary the feeling you are about to have a world-class meal. Sure, you are overcome with pure relaxation and the expectation of a fun and carefree night, and you know you'll get it here. But as we ducked past the hostess stand and made our way toward the dining room, nothing prepared us for the exceptional cuisine that awaited just past the small bar that mixes a helluva good Mai Tai. It was after dark when we sat down, but the ambiance was pleasant island casual in the open-air dining room, and our view in daylight would have been quite nice. We arrived just after a massive party, and a server from a different part of the restaurant graciously took our order and brought our drinks. By the time our intended server joined us, we were past the point of pleasantries and didn't get much love, so on balance I'd say the service overall was the only less-than-spectacular element here. But oh...the food. Everything we tried was incredibly well done and especially delicious. First to arrive were the ahi poke nachos, a no-brainer order that sounded and tasted like heaven, a pile of unusually good fried wonton chips with dreamy poke adorned with creamy avocado, salty tobiko (roe), and wasabi cream. The nachos re-introduced us to the concept of generous portions, a phenomenon seen seldom if ever elsewhere on the island. With the nachos, we enjoyed a sweet and savory gazpacho comprised of tomato and pineapple along with a whimsical scoop of pineapple basil sorbet made with local Koloa rum. We found a consistent commitment to local ingredients here, and the rum was one of many opportunities to sample the glories of Kauai. Our next course continued on with the fresh fish theme, starting with an ahi sashimi "stack" mixed with crunchy Asian slaw and sweet chili sauce. While in the same general family as the poke, the sashimi stack was striking and unique, and can you REALLY have too much ahi? Then we cut into a masterfully wood- grilled slab of out-of-the-water-this-morning ono (also known, more broadly, as wahoo). The fish sat atop a pleasant heap of short-grain cilantro rice, and the whole thing was encircled with generous streaks of curry sauce in different stripes. One alleged to be a Kabocha squash curry sauce, and all were decadent and delicious. We didn't really "save room for" so much as we were "pulled towards" dessert, a magnificent chocolate lava cake with a couple large scoops of vanilla bean ice cream. I get drawn in by cakes that have, as Hukilau Lanai describes it, an "oozing chocolate center. Once I started I couldn't really resist finishing, an act of gluttony well-justified by the quality of the meal.
Loved the poke nachos. Every bite of every course was packed with flavor. They were also very accommodating with kids. They gave us an outside table next to the courtyard which was very helpful for restless kiddos.
(5)
Jim T.
What a beautiful place to have a great dinner with that special someone. Service and food where 5 star and the view was just perfect
(5)
Natalie C.
Meh. Everything tasted good, but this is not my style of eats. I refer to this type of dining as "old people food" (no offense, senior citizens). Heavy, heavy, heavy. Lots of cream-based sauces and soups, and obnoxiously large portions. One of their claims to fame is waterfront view with a beautiful garden. But you're so stuffed after your meal that you have no interest in waddling through the garden, all you want to do is lay down and fall into a food coma. The service is another issue for me. We may have had the worst server on all of Kaua'i. A few members of our party showed up a bit late, and he was deliberating whether or not they could still order the tasting menu. Meanwhile, our seating hostess had said it would be no problem at all, since our reservation was clearly before the cutoff time. Another member of our party eats gluten-free, and was unsatisfied that the in-house menu does not note which items can be prepared gluten-free (online, there is an entire menu dedicated to this). Again, the waiter seemed incredibly put-out by her questioning which items would follow her dietary restrictions. For future gluten-free diners, they do serve a gluten-free bread that is the best I've tried, so make sure to ask for it.
(3)
Kelly M.
One word of advice, get reservations to go to this restaurant unless you like waiting around for about an hour for a seat. The good news is that even if you don't have reservations, you can still get in. Additionally, if you don't mind the wait, you can get drinks and whatnot and hang out in the comfortable chairs (but small tables) of the hotel lobby. If you're by yourself, you can just eat at the bar and completely skip the wait. Now that the advice dispensing is done, once we did get in for our food, it was outstanding. Our waiter was quick and made excellent suggestions on the food without being pushy. The sides of the restaurant are open, allowing cool night breezes through, looking out on a courtyard lit by torches. The food itself is really good, especially the small chocolate cake that comes out fresh from the oven. I don't think you could go wrong with any of the food here. Prices wise, even though this was probably the best meal we had on our vacation it wasn't the most expensive meal we ate on the island.
(5)
Chrissy B.
Great Food! Even better atmosphere and Aloha Service. What more could you ask for!
(5)
Kelson H.
A hotel restaurant. Waited about 30mins for a table, very busy restaurant. Not a cheap restaurant, but the food was tasty. Appetizers - BBQ Ribs (very tasty, the meat fell off the bone) - Ahi Nachos (This was okay, a mixture of fresh ahi cut into little bite sized chunks and a fried wonton chip as the chip) - Portuguese Sausage with fiddle head ferns (Okay, the fiddlehead fern was interesting tastes like a pickle in a smaller form) Dinner Mixed Grill: Ono, striped marlin and shrimp on a sugar cane with creamy orzo and thai chili sauce. (Very tasty a good one to order and one recommended for newbies to the restaurant) If you want fresh fish, this is a good choice. Dessert Lava Cake with vanilla ice cream: Basically a mini chocolate cake with melted chocolate in the middle. Good Macadamia Nut Tart with vanilla ice cream: Nice caramel flavor enjoyable although the actual nut was second while the caramel took a dominant form on this dish. The server tried to be as good as he could, but for some reason it seemed as if everything in the restaurant was rushed. Things were just flying everywhere. Service:2 Food:3 Decor:3 Would I go back? They had good fish, although the service well, lets hope they get more help. I'd go back, just not my first choice.
(3)
Christine C.
We didn't have a reservation so we were lucky to find 4 seats at the lounge. The service was really mediocre. The food for an average of $30 per dish, it was also mediocre. However the dessert was delicious - we ordered macadamia nut tart with cinnamon ice cream!! The atmosphere was really nice. There was live Hawaiian music with light hula dancing - it's like a Hawaiian jazz. Overall, it was ok.
(3)
Aaron L.
This place was perfect - excellent food, excellent service, atmosphere, everything. Great wine prices. Food is pricey but the execution is spot-on and well-worth it for a nice night out in Kauai. Do it. The wife says it's the best meal she's "ever" had.
(5)
Frank S.
This place is just awesome. The staff, the service everything was perfect. We always stop here on the way to the airport at the end of our holidays and it never fails to lighten our hearts when our holiday is ending. On our last visit, I forgot my cell phone at the restaurant and boarded a plane home hours later. I thought that I had left the phone on the plane and could not find it anywhere. About a week later my wife was contacted on Facebook by Ron Miller the owner. He had found the phone at the table, checked the bill for our name mailed it back to me. Best service ever!
(5)
Jim S.
Everything about this meal was tremendous. My wife and I went here for a night out without our baby, and we were not disappointed. We were seated promptly and the service was attentive throughout the evening. They begin by giving you a delicious bread; when we told the waiter that my wife is allergic to gluten, they even brought her out some gluten-free bread. We had the sweet potato raviolis, which were divine, as was my wife's Wally Salad and my lobster bisque. At this point, we were feeling great. Then came the main course; we each got the mixed grill. Two words: ON POINT. The dish was a work of art, all elements and flavors combined to make the dish truly incredible. The portion size was perfect and the fish was absolutely succulent. We finished with the creme brule, my wife's favorite, and it was also great. All of this, combined with a $20 bottle of wine, made this meal very memorable. We will definitely be back next time we visit Kauai!
(5)
Alison M.
I love a good tasting menu, and this location came up in my search. I made reservations a few days in advance. We sat on a covered patio with a great view. I had the tasting menu, my husband did not. They wine parings were done well and the pours were heavy. Not the most memorable meal I had on my trip, but a solid evening out that we both enjoyed.
(4)
Jonathan C.
The ahi nachos were so good! The fish so tender and the accompanying tastes so well balanced my eating companion thought them tomatoes for a while. The macadamia nut pie with cinammon ice cream was to die for. Would recommend this place to anyone visiting!
(5)
T S.
I would give it a 10 star! How can food be this heavenly! We started off with bread which was delicious! Then we ordered ahi poke with nachos. Then we got the salad and lobster bisque. The dressing of the salad was extra-ordinary! The chef and our server were kind enough to offer us some dressing to go since we loved it! Unfortunately we couldn't bring that to mainland. The lobster bisque was also very good. I would go there anytime just to have the bisque. For the entree, we got one mixed grill and Hebi. Two pieces of fish in the mixed grill along with shrimp. I can just say oh my god for all the fishes and the sauces with them. It was the best preparation, made to perfect! We were considering between this and the Merriman's. I am so happy we chose this one!
(5)
Anthony L.
We normally cook for ourselves when in Hawaii; and for good reason. But, we've also had our fair share of dining experiences, and nothing I can remember quite compares to the Hukilau Lanai. The ambience was second to none (we sat out on the lanai for a sunset dinner with our three small kids); all of the food was very good, the service was great, and the price was very reasonable. We'll definitely come back next time we're here.
(5)
Julia W.
Started with the crab and goat cheese wontons, which were tasty. Entrees typically come with salad and soup. We got Wally's salad. It was decent but not amazing. The lobster bisque was definitely worth the extra money. If you are a fan of Thai flavorings it's a good soup for you. Coconut milk dribbled on top for extra creamy goodness. The filet mignon was cooked well and the reduction was delicious. Definitely make reservations. Even the people who had reservations had to wait (45 min!!!) We didn't make reservations and just sat in one of the comfy lounge chairs, which turned out better than sitting at a table anyway. Service was not great. Initially we sat at the bar and the bartender didn't even bat an eye at us until we said something. I could've pulled the menu or a drink from over the counter without him noticing. Kind of felt like because we were younger and didn't "look" like we were going to spend a lot of money that resulted in us being ignored by the staff most of the night. Could just have been the night though ... Everybody has bad days sometimes.
(3)
Patrick M.
Amazing food and atmosphere was relaxing... Was recommended to us after our wedding and was perfect
(4)
Steve M.
Went here on our last night in Kauai for a nice family dinner. The lobster bisque was incredible. The candied ahi was also amazing. The entrees fell short of our expectations. My wife had the opah with risotto which was just ok. My daughter had the pork tenderloin with mushroom Marsala sauce. This was very good. I had the prime rib which was tough and really fatty. It tasted like it had sat out for a while before it arrived at the table. For dessert, we had the chocolate mousse which was very good! Service was mediocre and impersonal. All in all, not the best night for the Hukilau.
(3)
Kurt D.
Service was top notch. Ahi tuna was perfect. Salad was good. Prime rib tasted wierd but it was cooked perfectly. the au jus was salty though. Chocolate cheesecake was decadent. Lemon Chiffon pie was tangy mmm delicious. Coffee was rich and bold. Overall, We really enjoyed our experience at the Hukilau Lanai!!
(4)
Lan B.
Fresh seafood, fine local ingredients and great service combined to make this one of our best meals on Kauai this trip. The complimentary starter of focaccia bread with a dipping sauce of balsamic vinegar, olive oil and chili water was a tasty teaser. Our calamari appetizer was well seasoned and delicately fried and chard and mushroom tart was savory and delicious. Our entrees came with soup or salad and we upgraded to the lobster bisque and fried goat cheese salad. The bisque was smooth and well balanced with just a pleasant hint of curry. The ball of fried goat cheese was a delight to cut into and paired well with the fresh arugula. I had the seafood mixed grill over orzo, starring walu, shrimp and another fish I can't recall. The walu was decadently moist and buttery. My husband had seared Ahi over cous cous in a light tomato sauce; very good. After all the dishes, we could only muster up room for one dessert, the coconut tart, my only disappointment with the meal. I could not detect any coconut because passion fruit prevailed, even in the sauce decorating the plate. Overall, we enjoyed a solid meal and highly recommend this restaurant.
(4)
Duane H.
John of the bar made me the single best mai tai of the trip. We had a couple of appetizers at the bar as well that were truly stunning. One was a fresh Ahi poke nacho concoction that was amazing. The other was a handmade sausage and fiddlehead Fern salad that took us by surprise it was that good. This place was worth going out of our way to find.
(5)
Jill D.
Had it out with the ex-boyfriend here after a night of epic drinking so it was one of the more uncomfortable meals I've ever had LOL. However, even slightly hungover, I was able to appreciate how delicious everything was and how good the service was (it was St. Patrick's Day) for a night most people spend getting hammered. We were also left alone enough for our awkward conversation to unfold appropriately and I appreciated that since it was fairly obvious we were having a serious chit chat and didn't need extra solicitous service. My salad was huge and delicious and the fish I had for my main course was super tasty as well. I'd definitely come back here again...obviously sans ex-boyfriend LOL. The food was excellent and maybe took some of the sting out of me calling my ex out on his BS and lies. Maybe.
(4)
Taylor S.
I would just like to say how wonderful and fabulous and marvelous and great the service and the food is at the Hukilau pool bar specially the service from Sylvie . I eat there at least three times a week and her service is impeccable. And if anybody has a Aloha on this island its that girl
(5)
Kevin N.
While we have been to Kauai many times, this was the first time at this restaurant. We called a day in advance to make reservations, but could only get 5:30p for a party of 7. The restaurant is nice and has a good amount of outdoor patio seating with a nice view. Service was excellent and we received our drinks, appetizers, and entrees in a timely manner. The food was well prepared. This included the ahi appetizers, and the mahi mahi, ono and meatloaf entrees. Dessert was also great with a good selection. Overall a great experience.
(4)
Ann W.
During our 16 day visit to Kauai, we actually ate at Hukilau Lanai four times. On two of the visits we had appetizers and dinner (amazing 'Surf and Turf' and Mixed Grill) and on the other two we just opted for the appetizers and Lobster Bisque. Our favorites are The Candied Ahi - it has the most amazing rub and the Ahi just melts in your mouth, and the Ahi Nachos. I couldn't tell you which one we enjoyed more than the other. The Lobster bisque is not to be missed and you actually have your choice of any soup or salad on the menu with your dinner selection. We were always so stuffed we could not try the deserts. My compliments to the chef on his fine sauces. The entire wait staff was terrific and very attentive. We will be back next year!
Fantastic food! We ordered a prime rib with the mashed potatoes and the the opah with jasmine rice and both were exceptional. The prime rib was cooked to perfection and the fish was extremely fresh. We both ordered the Wally's salad with out meal and had a fantastic dressing that was somewhat similar to ranch with an island twist. The lava cake was fresh and tasty as well. Overall an amazing experience!
(5)
Jay R.
01.14.15 with 5 others well deserved 5 stars. The service and food was excellent. We arrived early and ordered drinks from the bar and waited in the lounge area. As we got seated from start to finish the wait staff was so attentive and nice. The table ordered apps of calamari and mushroom tart - no complaints here My husband and i shared the Ahi and the Mahi Mahi dishes - both yummy. Great portions of salad and great tastes in each dish. A must visit for any tourist who wants great fresh seafood and even better service.
(5)
Denise E.
Delicous dinner experience! We showed up at about 7:30p with no reservation and were informed the wait was about an hour and a half. So we made dinner reservations for the next evening. Since we were there and hungry, we decided to have a drink and appetizer in the bar which was more like an open air lounge, with cozy chairs and loveseats, plus a few tables. The only seats open were two cozy looking chairs flanking a small table, literally right next to the entertainer. I hesitated to take the seats because I'm not a big fan of ukulele music, especially right next to a big speaker, but the spot was so inviting in every other way that we went for it. THEY HAVE A SPECIAL GLUTEN FREE MENU! Huge for me, as I have Celiac Disease and cannot tollerate even minute amounts of wheat, rye, or barley. I ordered 2 gluten free appetizers: ahi poke and BBQ ribs. My husbad, being the evil man he is, ordered lobster/goat cheese wontons off the regular menu. The ahi poke was the best "sushi" I've had since my Celiac diagnosis. It was melt in the mouth tender, creamy, flavorful, fresh tuna! Seasoned with wasabi cream sauce, avacado chunks, with bits of flaky salt that spread across my palette surprising me here and there. All served on a bed of rice. I greedily offered my husband only one bite. But I felt justified as I watched him savoring each crunchy creamy delicious bite of his lobster wontons that I could not sample. We shared the BBQ pork ribs, which were so tender that the meat kept pulling off the bone when we would try to lift one onto our plates. Needless to say, we polished off every bite. I had a non-aloholic drink of fresh orange guava and passion fruit juice which was fantastic. I was surprised that my husband's coctail was even better. He had the citrus buzzz... Refreshing with honey flavor that lingered after each sip. We ended up switching to a real table in the bar and having a full dinner which was as flawless as our first courses! We are looking forward to returning for dinner tonight in the actual dining room. Oh! By the way, Ben the ukulele singer was fantastic. The best I've heard. He played the instrument like it was a twelve string guitar!
(5)
Sammy Z.
Food is excellent, a great variety. The drink menu is pretty awesome. The ambience is one of the most beautiful. The live music, what a plus. Highly recommend.
(5)
Shannon S.
Back again and we loved it again! Food was great, we had the ono & ahi. Hubby said the ahi was cooked perfectly. Waiter was attentive without being invasive. Reservations a good idea!
(5)
Chuck B.
After traveling to Kauai for 17 years, this is a gem that I have been missing all this time. Great food, service, and live music. We started with the Adam's Poke Nachos and the Sweet Potato Ravioli on recommendations from locals. After having poke all over the island, they had a refreshing twist. Likewise with the ravioli. I had the Hukilau Mixed Grill with two different fish and shrimp. My wife had Wally's Steak Crown Royal. Both outstanding.
(5)
Jennifer R.
For this side of the island, this restaurant is the best - nice view, great food excellent service and VERY reasonable prices
(5)
Ann W.
One of the first places that our concierge recommended to us was Hukilau Lanai, which she said was a popular local favorite. I can definitely see why this would be a cool spot to go to for dinner and drinks. The service is great. We had interactions with at least 5 different employees and they were all consistently friendly and helpful. I would say that the menu consists of American style food with an Asian twist. We ordered an ahi tuna appetizer, which was seared with soy and brown sugar and served with rice. It was ok at first and then it began to grow on me. There is no distinct sweet or savory flavor, and some of the pieces were more tasty than others. For entree, we both ordered the mixed plate. Hubby also had lobster curry bisque, which tasted like curry sauce, and I had Wally's salad, loaded with veggies and served with a delicious papaya seed dressing...yum! On the mixed plate, there was grilled shrimp skewered on sugar cane, soy marinated walu, and Cajun styled moonfish, served with risotto. The walu was easily our favorite. Soft, flakey, and rich, I can see why walu is also called Hawaiian butterfish. The moonfish did not have the same soft texture, so I didn't really enjoy it as much. The shrimp were cooked perfectly, though I wasn't sure what the sugar cane added to it. I didn't eat the risotto since risotto isn't my favorite. For dessert, we shared star fruit sorbet, served with macadamia biscotti. The sorbet was delicious and tasted exactly like a bite of juicy, sweet, and tangy star fruit. It was the perfect end to the meal. I also have to give props to their drink menu. I thought it had something for everyone--even great selections for non drinkers such as honey lemonade and mint & ginger. I opted for the Citrus Buzzzz, which is a delicious and refreshing blend of Limoncello, honey, and guava. It is probably one of my all time favorite cocktails. Overall, it was a pleasant dining experience. I would suggest making reservations and trying to sit out on the lanai, and definitely treat yourself to drinks and dessert!
(3)
W. T.
We came We ate We conquered!! The tasting menu was the BOMB. I was so freakin stuffed after!, We did the wine paring which was ok... Next time I'll use the $12 for a big glass of something I want instead! We had the standard tasting menu but my husband substituted the sausage for the mushroom tomato tart since fish is the only meat he eats. We also shared a sweet potato ravioli appetizer cause it sounded so good. And guess what.... It...so...freaking...was!!! The sausage course was -meh- The patio is absolutely delightful, which made the pouring down rained and lightning all the more cozy It took us close to 3 hours to get through the meal, so I understand why they only offer it for the first 45 minute sittings. We've decided that next time we will order the ravioli again plus the ahi appetizers. Hubby had the chocolate lava cake. Oozy chocolateay goodness!!
I don't want to write the same stuff everyone else already has...so 3 Things: 1) The Butterfish...FUCing AMAZING!!!!!!!! 2) All entrees include soup or salad!!!! (I'm such a cheapass...) 3) If you've already had the ahi poke at Koloa Fish Market or Pono Market, skip the $13 Ahi Poke Nachos. I think some of the male waitstaff are potheads...but they were all friendly and efficient, eat here! :D
(5)
J.D. P.
Glad we stumbled into this place on a whim after I was forced to bust some hula moves during a show at a Coconut Marketplace. Great service, kids loved their food (nuff said) and wifey and I dug our fresh fish. Actually, I went surf and turf with some local beef alongside the fresh Walu. Yum. Caesar salad rocked. Mai tai was mediocre and we passed on desert even though they looked really good. Place was better than I expected when walking up to the older resort it is part of so don't be scared off. Gluten free menu was a nice option for us too.
(4)
Cherie G.
Good but not great food. The exception was the sweet potato bisque, which was nicely flavored with ginger and delicious. The opah was good, but the mashed potatoes a bit heavy. Our server was very personable. Good place to eat. Ocean is within view.
(4)
K K.
Really happy that we went there for their happy-hour tasting menu. Great service and fresh, locally-sourced menu. The tasting menu that day was already gluten-free, but they brought out freshly baked gf bread, which was awesome. I added them to my list for gluten-free on Kauai: raeraegoesreal.wordpress…
(4)
Rami C.
We wish we were there for the happy hour tasting menu, but we didn't know till later. Dinner was delicious. Classy atmosphere, we were seated overlooking the grounds with tiki torches lighting the way. I had the gazpacho soup and hubby had the lobster bisque, which we both enjoyed. Hubby got the candied ahi, which he found creative and tasty. For entrees, we had the veggie lasagna, which was decadent and huge, and the nightly fish special. All were very good. For dessert, the Coconut Lilikoi Tart was creative and very unique. We enjoyed our dinner at Hukilau Lanai, would come back.
(4)
Sandy N.
I love this place! Our first time here was back in August of this year and we didn't have reservations. Which was fine since we were able to snatch a table at the bar area. We know better and make reservations when we plan to dine here. The food is amazingly great! I enjoyed this place so much more than the other places that we tried on the island. We had their Ahi poke nachos and their fisherman's soup which we both enjoyed. As for the entree their prime rib is very good and cooked to our liking. As far as their service goes, hmm... we had 4 people come to our table checking on us. Our main server introduced herself then was no where to be flagged. So, we would order from the other servers as opposed to our main server who would skip our table constantly. Everyone did a great job, but the main server. Once it was time for our check the main server would come by and be extra friendly and thanked us for joining them for dinner. Which we didn't have interaction from her until the end of dinner. We loved this place so much that we had our wedding dinner reception here. We had a party of 10 and didn't reserve a private dining area, we dined in the main area. Everyone did a fabulous job and served us as if we had a private room reserved.
(5)
Kristin H.
THE best meal I've had on many trips to Kauai! And their kids menu my 8 and 10 year old loved as it had mocktails for them to choose. Short rib, sweet potato ravioli and lobster-goat cheese wonton pupus were fantastic. Fried goat cheese salad and lobster bisque were yummy (the kids were served fresh pineapple for their before dinner course, a nice touch). Ono with jasmine rice, turmeric, coconut and pineapple salsa and mixed grill of mahi mahi, striped marlin and shrimp over orzo was scrumptious. Artisian cheese plate and warm chocolate cake completed the meal. Cocktail and wine list were great. Our waiter was superb and the view from our patio table leant itself to a great family picture our waiter graciously took.
(5)
Bellabee L.
Have been here before and enjoyed the Early Bird special. So made reservations early just to be sure to get this again. We were not seated until 6:00pm, even though we arrived early, and our reservations were at 5:45pm. Our waiter would not honor the Early Bird menu howerver. Bad service!! So we ordered from regular menu, which is a bit pricey. The filet mignon and steak were very tender and delicious. The Ono was a bit dry. Wine was excellent! Mai Tai's had NO Rum and we had to order an additional shot of Rum to add to our drinks. Again, the bar/waiter should not have charged us for that. Overall, meal was good, but definitely the Early Bird is the way to go.
My step daughter had her wedding and reception here! The staff was warm friendly and went above and beyond all I our expectations! He dinner was fabulous - my Mahi Mahi was cooked superbly and all the appetizers were beyond delicious!!
(5)
Ali K.
First night in town we headed here. It was amazing food, great service, and kept the kids happy! We will definitely go back!!
(5)
Jae K.
I seriously drove 1 hour to from the Grand Hyatt to Dine at this restaurant. Service- Worst. I made reservation for 8:45pm. I got there at 8:46pmish and been told that they are running late and I was to wait another 10 min. I asked if I could go to the cocktail lounge to wait and I was told that was fine. I was sitting down and the lady skipped over me. I got up to ask if I had to go order it at the counter and they said I could sit and order. I waited and the lady came and I asked if there was a menu. She pointed at the menu that was on the table, and left again. I was again with this menu for another 5 mins and before she came, my table was ready and I was sitted Food- Absolutely not the best in the island. I had the Calamari and the Sausage. I can tell they use the fresh ingredients but absolutely not par with the any of the nice restaurants. I had the Island meatloaf as the main dish. The food is ok, but nothing special at all. I would give the food 3/5 stars maximum. Again I can tell the ingredients are fresh but there is nothing wow or special about them. If I was in mainland, this would probably compare to golden corral, or home town buffet status. Vibe- This place looks run down and very outdated. Looks like motel 6 renovated to look like motel 6 ultimate. I came down from Grand Hyatt to dine here and it was seriously a disappointment. I can't believe this place seriously had a 4 star rating. Ive been a yelper for years and this is probably the biggest disappointment yet. Finally, I would really skip this restaurant and trust me. I never leave a 1 star rating review but this is not worth the drive espeically if you are staying at the grand hyatt. Try Tidepool, Redsalt, Tapas, Merrimans. You would thank me if you didnt come here, if you are a real foodie. Worst decision I have made in this whole trip was to dine here on my last day. Not worth it!!
Mixed grill and filet mignon! First night ~ heard reservations were needed. Since staying so close decided to chance it and they had one table available (our wait was under 5 min) Salad and bread served was fantastic! The mixed grill with 2 types of fish and shrimp was AMAZING. However my husband (the steak guy) feels his filet could possibly be the best he has ever experienced. Try it for yourself. I shall repeat: Mixed grill and filet mignon. Wonderful for our first meal....now lets see what else this island has to tempt us with!
(5)
Kevin B.
This place doesn't need more 5 star ratings but it was awesome. I got the lobster bisque and meatloaf. Both had a ton of flavor. Also, the cocktails were great. I got the manhattan honey. I felt like a lot of places on Hawaii had inflated reviews but this place lived up to the hype. Pretty reasonable prices too.
(5)
Jerry M.
The best food we had on the island during the week we were there. I had the chicken dish. One of the most tender dishes of chicken I have ever had. Sauce was just excellent....really excellent. My wife had the pork dish. It was good but she kept eating some of my chicken dish. Service and waiter was also excellent.
Wow! This is the most allergy-friendly restaurant I've ever eaten in. I called to ask whether we could bring in our own food for my daughter who has Celiac as well as MANY severe food allergies. They said "certainly, but if you let us know what her allergies are, we will talk with the chef and identify what she can eat from our menu." They took down her long list of allergies and called us back to let us know what she could eat. When we arrived, all the servers knew her list of allergies and we're completely and sweetly accommodating. Bonus: the food was fabulous--for all of us! We had appetizers as well as entres, and everything was divine! The only downside is that they book up quickly. I strongly recommend making reservations a few days in advance. We got lucky one night but not later.
(5)
Montgomery N.
What an incredible experience! And, I mean experience... We dined here on Mother's Day, tonight. The food was absolutely delicious. Being Gluten-Free, it's almost always difficult to have a nice, hassle-free dining experience. The Gluten-Free menu and choices were exceptional. Our service professional, Kristine, of Kawaii Cupcakes, was awesome! We really appreciate the dedicated professionalism of the staff. Kristine was super attentive, courteous and friendly, even on a Holiday with a full restaurant. The owners Krissi and Ron are clearly training and managing a fabulous staff. The wine list, cocktails, and beverage menu are exciting to find in Kauai, especially with the logistical constraints. Great Job all around!
(5)
Rochelle P.
We had an extraordinary dinner at Hukilau Lanai. It was the best meal on Kauai, comparable to LA and NY standards. It was one of the best meals of my life, and for the price - $40 - you couldn't beat it on the island. I ordered the 5 course tasting menu which came with a flight of wine with each course. But the bread and Ahi Poke Nachos we started with were divine, and definitely something I could eat every single day of my life. I remembered how exquisite Hawaii's Ahi Poke was but this just proved what I was missing out on.
(5)
Theresa M.
Amazing food! Professional staff well trained in delivering impeccable customer service. THE best place to eat a fine meal on all of Kauai! I would not miss the chance to dine here!
(5)
Salina Z.
We had our rehearsal dinner here the night before our wedding and everything exceeded our expectations! We booked the semi-private room and everything was super organized and responsive, extremely professional. The view was lovely when we arrived and we were quite impressed with the setting. Overall, the food was seriously amazing, not one dish was a miss. The pupus were plentiful: lobster goat cheese wontons (perfectly crispy, pork ribs (fall off the bone tender), and the ahi nachos (flavorful). I was lucky enough to taste each entree which included a choice between pork tenderloin (not at all dry, loved the crispy polenta), filet mignon (with mashed potatoes), and the fish of the day which was mahi mahi with this delicious rice in a coconut sauce. Everything came out hot and fresh, which is not easy with almost 30 people! Desserts were decadent, I highly recommend the creme brulee though everyone seemed to be happy with the mousse and cheesecake as well. The service was top notch, so incredibly warm and friendly. Everyone was always all smiles and wanted to be helpful. One of the waitresses heard my husband mention he was allergic to milk so she had the kitchen put his sauce on the side! They also saved menus for us (they had been printed with our name and date!) and were extremely communicative. A really love experience and we can't wait to go back when we return to the island! Also want to mention we found the prices to be quite reasonable for a rehearsal dinner compared to pretty much every other restaurant on the island that was comparable in atmosphere (trust us, we did our research). Awesome, awesome.
(5)
Taylor L.
This is the best restaurant in Kauai, hands down. We started with the Ahi Poke Nachos. They were amazing. No, first we stared with a sazerac and another cocktail. The cocktail menu here is 1) advanced and 2) tasty. I got the Ahi Tuna dinner with fisherman's catch soup. Both were 5-star. My wife got the meatloaf. It was suitable for 5 people. The portions are big, the food is amazing, and the view is very intimate. Not overly priced, but not cheap either. Go here; you won't be disappointed.
(5)
Maki N.
I asked a local Kauai person where to go for dinner. He told me to go here. Thank god! It was delicious. Staff were so nice. the steak was tender, yummy. It is grass fed from the local farm. get the steak! Three of us went there without a reservation, but the wait was not that long. You can have a drink while you wait for your table. Out of all the food in Kauai, this place was the best place by far... totally recommended.
(5)
Lindsay H.
Our favorite place so far on Kauai! Saw other reviews on yelp and decided to go there. Great live music in the bar area while we waited for a table. Was a little thrown that it is in a hotel but once we got into the restaurant itself, it was so cute and open air and had a great ambiance. Poke nachos were delicious! Ono was great, as was the lilikoi coconut tarte. Definitely go there on your stay on Kauai!
(4)
jenn w.
One of the best meals that we had on Kauai. The 5 course tasting menu served between 5-6pm was exceptional. For only $40, you get wine pairings with each course. Definitely a great value for such quality. Everything was super fresh and delicious. Recommendations: -Make reservations for 5-6 since the tasting menu is only served at these times -Try to sit inside since the weather is unpredictable and you might get rained on -Try the coconut coast cooler as a cocktail
(5)
Rian F.
Another great meal at the Hukilau. Wife ordered the ono and I had the surf and turf with the ribeye and waloo. Drinks were good too, and the focaccia bread was very appetizing too. We'll be back again next year!
(4)
David M.
We went here on the last night of our visit to Kauai on the recommendation of some locals we met at the beach. I was skeptical given my experience with resort restaurants but I wanted a nice celebratory dinner for my partner and this fit the bill. First selling point for me was the availability of a gluten-free menu on their website. While I don't keep gluten-free, my partner does and I'm constantly (and overly) cautious about whether restaurants will give him options other than yet another salad. What sold the restaurant for us was a very simple thing that made a world of difference for my partner. After hearing his dietary restriction the waitress brought out gluten-free bread to go with my focaccia bread. Very simple thing but as long as my partner has been gluten-free, this was the first time this has been offered to him. He told me one thing he's missed over the year is being able to enjoy some bread with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. The meal followed the same tone with excellent fish selections. I highly recommend this restaurant to other travelers.
(5)
Alisha A.
This was our big date night while on vacation. The food, ambiance, service and location were excellent. We enjoyed it so much that we sent our friends there for their date night and plan to squeeze in one more meal before we head back to San Francisco. The clams were amazing, loved the mixed grill and local goat cheese salad. Looking forward to trying the ahi nachos and ribs tonight!
(5)
Brenda P.
We travel to Kauai often, and have been wanting to try Hakilau Lanai. It was our last night on the island and actually the only day we could get a reservation. We were excited to try a restaurant with such high star ratings, unfortunately I won't be giving this place any kudos. Our dinner reservations were at 5:45. We were seated on time, received our appetizers on time and then everything went down hill from there. My husband's soup came out 45 minutes later, we stoped and asked a server (not our server) how much longer our food would be, she returned and told us our server would check and get back to us. An hour and 15 minutes later, our food was still not served. My husband told our server to cancel our order...a minute later our food arrives. My husband was so disgusted that he got up to tell our server to just give us the check and take the food back, the manager just happened to be there, apologized and told our server to take care of us. We never got to try the entrees, but boy were they quick at giving us the bill. I would have expected more from a restaurant like this...we were charged for my full entree, yet I never got to try it. I will never step foot into this restaurant again, nor will I every recommend it.
(1)
Aaron K.
We came here twice during our trip to Kauai -- the first time we stopped in on a whim for drinks and appetizers and we were impressed enough to come back a second time for dinner. The food was probably the best we had during our week on the island. The dishes were creative and interesting, and tasted great. (We had the the candied ahi during our first stop, and the poke nachos, the sweet potato ravioli and the fish entree during our second stop). The service was attentive and the outdoor atmosphere was great for a romantic evening. We had a nice stroll down to the beach after dinner. Highly recommended.
(5)
Little D.
Located in Kauai Coast Resort Hotel. We dine here at least once when we come to Kauai. One of the best restaurants in Hawaii. Good food, good service, nice environment. Tip1: Make a reservation. This place could get packed. Tip2: If you don't care for music, go early. Tip3: Poke Nachos is pretty good. (but I like the Sashimi Napoleon from Haliimaile in Maui the best). Tip4: They divide food for two with additional $5. Nice presentation as well. YELP 365 - 216/365
(5)
Mona N.
I was pleasantly surprised when we ate here for dinner. At first I thought this was a tourist trap, but then as our dishes came out, they were all delicious! The sweet potato ravioli was very unique. The Wally salad with the papaya dressing was nothing I had before. The fish entree was done very well. The lemonade was a bit sour, but that was the only downfall. Definitely recommend this place!
(4)
Cyndi C.
Fourteen nights in paradise. Two islands. Three coasts. Nine nights of fine-dining (read "expensive" dining) and Hukilau was by FAR the worst fish preparations we tried at any of them. My sweetie had the "special" sesame crusted swordfish and it was thin and dry with no flavor and an overpowering sauce that couldn't hide how mediocre the fish was. I had the mixed grill that included 2 fish - a delicious walu that later gave me gastric distress and one that was terribly dry from overcooking and 3 shrimps on a sugarcane skewer that had no flavor at all. The Wally Salad was delicious. The lobster bisque was unremarkable. The prepared food was awful. The waiter was excellent. The hostess was a nightmare. She needs to be fired. We - like most Hukilau guests - were from out of town and were on a vacation schedule and had no idea how far our snorkeling beach was from the restaurant or how hungry we might be that night, so we made a later reservation. We showed up 2 hours prior to the reservation as they were opening and the place was empty. When she heard that we were early she very bossily told us we'd have to sit in second tier. I had no idea what that was and I said so and she gave me such a scathing look for my ignorance! When she asked if I wanted to go look at the seating I assure her that second tier would be fine. It was. But the "first tier" remained empty during our entire visit. The first tier has a slightly better view, but whatever. It was her attitude that we had so desperately put her out personally by showing up early that she had to punish us by seating us behind empty tables with a view. My boyfriend said something to her on the way out and she got super snotty AGAIN about how first tier is held for reservations. Weird. AVOID this place and go eat in Koloa!
(1)
Vicktor V.
Food was great, and so was the service. The fish pairings for the mixed grill was excellent. Anything with Okinawa sweet potatoes are my new favorite thing. The size of the salad or soup that comes with your meal is generous. Seriously....come hungry. We were too full for desert and regret that fact because everything looked great. Also the cocktail list is fantastic. Some great old school selections on there. Wife and I liked it better than Gaylords.
(5)
Mark S.
Love love love hukilau lanai! it's one of my top picks! and when I want a nice meal! or have friends in town! we usually always go here! Never had a bad meal, and every entree I've had or my friends have had has always been good. The menu doesn't change much, but that's good with me, when I like something I like to keep going back.
(5)
Melissa N.
Food was pretty good but the service is what makes this place stand out. I have several allergies and our waitress made certain that the chef could do a fish dish with things I could eat. She was so kind and patient with me. I can't say how far that goes in the restaurant business. It was as if we were her only table (even though all the tables in the place were full). Prices are reasonable for what you get, but the food wasn't the best I've ever had. Worth trying if you want a lot of seafood choices though.
(4)
Cody K.
The steak I had was definitely not worth the $33. Staff was nice and the bread and salad were really good.
(2)
Chelsea R.
This place was good, but I think a little over-hyped. I don't think Kauai is known for "fancy" restaurants, so for one to even come close gets people excited. We tried the Lobster and Goat Cheese Wontons, which were good, the Lobster Bisque which tasted like it had coconut milk in it (neither of us cared for that flavor and we cook with coconut milk often, so we like it...just not with Lobster Bisque), the Tortilla soup was okay and the Hukilau Mixed Grill and Opah for dinner were decent. All in all it was a decent meal but nothing to rant and rave about. A word to the wise, I guess the place is "dressy" so we got several weird stares by the hostess and wait staff for being in shorts and t-shirts. We have dined at some nice places and are of the opinion that if I'm paying what the table next to me is paying (which obviously I am) and there is no written dress code, don't look down on me for dressing comfortable...not every wants to wear slacks and dresses to go eat dinner.
(3)
Lisa K.
YUMS! Have eaten here twice so far, both times off the gluten free menu, ordering the exact same meal because it was so tasty: a Wally salad with poppyseed dressing, the smoked pork back ribs with a Hawaiian vanilla bean hoisin BBQ sauce topped with pickled watermelon and micro-greens, and a warm gluten-free bread roll. Filling and delicious. We'll be back! :D
(4)
Sylvia R.
Dropped my phone in the restaurant today. Went back and was told nobody had found it. We looked around the grounds a bit and then remotely activated the "find my iPhone feature". When the sound played, our waitress suddenly remembered that she had my phone in her apron. Honesty is not the policy here :(
(1)
Hay S.
Amazing good and service!! We are staying in princeville but totally worth the ride! The server was so sweet and asked us hoe everything was during each course. The steak was amazing! So were the lobster wontons. And the lava cake is a must! Highly recommended on your visit to Kauai.
(5)
Patricia B.
Disappointing after what we saw in the reviews. We went on Christmas night and despit a reservation had to wait 30-40 minutes. Ordered the wontons for an appetizer. Good flavor but they were over-fried. My daughter ordered the prime rib and it was small and flavorless. They messed up my order but I decided to keep what they delivered because I didn't want to wait for the correct entre since the kitchen seemed slow in getting meals out. I keep the mixed seafood platter and it was good. There were apologies for the error but not effort to do more. Our waiter was just okay. All in all, a disappointing holiday meal. Much better places on the island.
(2)
Noel W.
Unbelievable!!! The food and drinks here are so good, my wife and I made this a nightly excursion. You have to try the sweet potato ravioli and any of the fish plates.. You will not be disappointed. Service was great as well. This place is not heavily advertised, but you must reserve a day in advance or you will be waiting in line for a table for 2-3 hours. They have a relaxing atmosphere with live music almost every night. It is THE place to be.
(5)
Christine D.
My friend and I briefly glanced at the online menu and saw that they had butterfish. We immediately thought to ourselves we have to go here! Sadly, when we got to the Hukilau it was so busy we had to make reservations for the following night because we didn't want to wait over an hour for dinner. The night we had our reservation they did not have butterfish on the menu!! I didn't take into account that the menu we looked at online was a "catch of the day" list. On a positive note, my friend and I tried the opah and ono and my oh my it tasted so fresh and flavorful! The main dish also came with some bread and a choice of caesar or "wally" salad. The Wally salad was basically a garden salad with bacon and papaya seed dressing which is really delicious if your tastebuds like the whole tropical sweet sensation. We told ourselves that we had to eat as much macadamia nut food items as we could while we were on the island so for dessert we decided to try the macadamia nut tart which came with a scoop of cinnamon ice cream. It was different and quite a treat!! What made it even better was the live Hawaiian music, lighted tiki torches, beach view and just being in Hawaii period.
(4)
Michael P.
Very good tasting menu particularly when you consider the price. Freshly made gluten free bread was a bonus for the wife. Candied Ahi was great. Wine pairings were fine but a bit uninspired. The restaurant isn't much to look at it, but it has a great view. Good service.
(5)
Lindsey C.
Omg this was soooo good! Local ingredients, menu changes often- creative dishes, amazing flavor- you cannot go wrong here. The ambience is very pretty and the waiter was wonderful- very knowledgeable and very friendly. You need to come here for some tasty seafood in Kapaa
(5)
j m.
This place was recommended to us by several locals, which always bodes well given the resort location. Not too sure about the view; much of the dining room is set back a bit from the windows. We arrived early for our reservations and had pre-dinner cocktails on the cushy couch in the nifty lounge area and elected to do dinner at a high-top table with a view of the pool and beach. After our trip we found ourselves craving poke everywhere and the poke nachos took this to another level (even if you think you are "not a raw fish person", as one of our nearby diners insisted loudly, you must try poke and especially this dish). At our (super friendly and thoughtful) server's recommendation we split that appetizer, a Wally's salad and the mixed seafood grill - two types of the most fantastic (cooked) fish I've ever experienced. The chocolate lava cake was a minor letdown, more or less a standard dessert, but somehow it did get eaten!
(5)
David H.
Food was delicious, and a lot of it sourced locally. Staff were efficient. Our waiter, Ryan, really knew his business, and service was exactly right. The fish stew was wonderful, the ahi nachos were everything they were cracked up to be, and the meal and experience were well worth the expense. *If you have a reservation during Kapa'a's "rush hour," pad your driving time. There really can be gridlock on their stretch of the Kuhio Highway.
(5)
Leslie C.
I am in love with this restaurant! During our 4 night island hop trip to Kauai from Maui (where we live), we came to Hukilau Lanai twice! First, you absolutely must make reservations. I did on Open Table and saw several people turned away without reservations at the hostess stand, or told to check back in 1.5 hours. You can sit in the bar, but the tables in the dining room are way nicer and more romantic. Both times, we made 5:30PM reservations and showed up around 5:15PM. There are two major benefits to this- 1) You are the first seating and get the premium two top tables on the lanai with the loveliest view, which is why we showed up a little early. 2) If you like, you can do the $40 5 course prix fixe menu with includes wine pairing, which is only from 5-6PM seatings. So, we actually decided to pass on the prix fixe and order off the regular menu. Nothing on the prix fixe menu sounded good to me that night and we ate cheaply for all our other meals, so weren't that concerned about getting the screaming good deal. Appetizers: we tried the lobster and goat cheese won tons. Delicious. Also, the lemongrass sweet potato ravioli- colorful dish with yummy cream sauce. Salads: your entrees come with caesar or Wally's salad. We tried both. The caesar was yummy and the Wally's salad sounds like a weird combo of ingredients but totally works and the dressing is tangy and refreshing. I will warn that the salads are heavily dressed- fine by us, but if you don't like that, ask for your dressing on the side. Entrees- OMG- the MIXED GRILL! I liked it so much I ordered it again the 2nd night. Two types of fish with shrimp in a coconut cream sauce with orzo pilaf. Good sized portion- seafood cooked perfectly. The first night, my fiance got the ahi entree. We were disappointed with that so wouldn't recommend it, but the 2nd night he got the swordfish pasta, which was so amazing. Nice cream sauce, crisp veggies and perfectly cooked fish. Dessert- they talk about the molten chocolate cake, but both nights we got the Mac Nut tart. I was lured in by the cinnamon ice cream and it is soooo good. Like a pecan pie but with mac nut and the caramel and cinnamon ice cream are the perfect compliment. Don't think, just get it! Drinks: lots of option, my fiance really liked the mai tai and we have had a lot of mai tais- this was one of the best! I can't wait to come back to Kauai so I can come back and eat here!
(5)
Gopi V.
Not good as the reviews seem to imply. The calamari was pretty good and so was the Wally salad, but the entrees were a huge disappointment. The mixed grill had bland shrimp and the fish were ok. The accompanying dressing was a medley of various sauces which failed to work together. The other entree of opah fish was very dry and the sauce was bland and did not work as well. The rice was super dry. We were so disappointed we walked away from the dessert course.
(2)
Gianna N.
Great food. GREAT portions. Great, friendly service. The hotel it's in is a bit dated. We thought it was a retirement home at first, but the food helps you forget. We went pretty late at night so the scenery was a bit lost on us, but it's also hard to compare to restaurants with water views. This was our best meal in Kauai.
(4)
Andrea B.
My husband and I were very surprised with our experience. The gaudy resort decor didn't prepare us for the meal we enjoyed. We were also apprehensive about the $$$ rating after we got our bill. This review is for the early tasting menu they offer. Some background: We were hungry at 5pm (23-year-olds going on 73). We Yelped all the local spots near Kapa'a, and we found Hukilau Lanai. It was our last night in Kauai, so we decided to go for it. The early bird tasting menu is a real steal of a deal. For $40, I got 5 courses AND wine pairings (unheard of in SF), while my husband got an appetizer and entree (included salad or soup). Yes, they let us do that, which alone was pretty great. We had the lobster and goat cheese wontons as an appetizer. Good start - not too oily, rich flavor, 4 large pieces. My first tasting course was a gazpacho with a basil ice cream. This was an interesting way to start my meal, and I enjoyed the coolness of the ice cream, though I found it a tad on the sweet side. My husband really enjoyed his Caesar salad - he likes it heavily dressed and hearty, and it was a good size. The next tasting course was a slightly blackened spiced tuna over rice with a yummy sauce. I loved this. Really good. The next course was a homemade chorizo on top of local veggies. Got to be honest, I didn't love it at first, but it did grow on me. This was probably my least favorite course. My husband's entree was the mixed grill - which included two generous slabs of their fresh fish, prepared really well, on top of orzo pasta, as well as a skewer of shrimp. Fresh and delicious. The entree of the tasting menu was a mahi mahi "fresh catch" on top of quinoa and fresh veggies. Delicious. Vanilla creme brulee for dessert. It was definitely a lighter creme brulee, but it was tasty and not too sweet. The wine pairings were all very good - two white whines, then a rose, then a red. They were gracious enough to allow me to repeat the red wine instead of getting the dessert wine that came with the creme brulee, since I really dislike sweet wines. Service was stellar. Our server was knowledgeable, kind, and prompt. He was from Santa Cruz, but I don't remember his name :( Totally recommend.
(5)
Ann S.
I always get the mixed grill when I come here. Two kinds of fish and shrimp over thai coconut rice. I did REALLY miss the butterfish this time. Their bread is really good and they'll bring as much as you want. Their chocolate lava cake is heavenly. Whatever chocolate they use is deeper and richer than the other famous lava cake on the island. I remember when you could just show up there and get right in. Not anymore. You'd better be making reservations a minimum of a week in advance unless you want to sit in the lounge with your plate on your lap. (We passed and made a reservation for later in the trip) So if you're going, make reservations ahead of time so you can get the time slot of your choice and not 8:45.
(4)
Diane B.
By far our best overall dining experience on. Kauai. This was our second visit to Kauai and we were looking for a really good meal with a Hawaiian feel. The Hukilau Lanai fit the bill. The outdoor dining, lighting provided by tiki torches, was wonderful. The Chef's Special Clam appetizer was a great beginning. I chose the mixed grill and was not disappointed. My husband thoroughly enjoyed the meatloaf. We treated ourselves to the Macadamia Nut Tart with cinnamon ice cream. Possibly the best dessert we have ever enjoyed! Can't wait to return to Kauai and the Hukilau Lanai.
(5)
Belle N.
11/12/11 Great service and environment...It was dark and lit with tiki lights, slightly breezy and we started off with the calamari as an appetizer and lilikoi blossom martini and a manahattan honey cocktail. The BF had the Opah which was delish and I had the the filet mignon which they made exactly as ordered medium-rare...the only issue we had was the timing of the food that came out to us! Our main dish came out later than expected that we had to cancel our order of their chocolate flowing cake that takes an extra 20minutes to prepare. It was a great evening to celebrate our meetaversary and we had a great time! The servers were nice and very accomodating...very dark and romantic..be sure to ask to be seated outside and make reservations!
(4)
Leslie H.
Fantastic food and value for the $40 tasting menu w/ wine pairings. The sauces and accompaniments were perfectly prepared and presented. All of us loved the sweet potato ravioli and the sausage with the local fern, wasarbi or something like that. The creme brulee is out of this world. One of the best creme brulee desserts I've ever had (and I've had a few). It had a rich, vanilley taste that really couldn't be improved upon. Nice, resorty ambiance and even better cuisine, I hope we make a trip back to the Hukilau sometime.
(5)
Steven N.
Loved the sauces! Server was attentive and helpful.
(4)
Chris G.
I thought this place had pretty decent value for the entrees. You get a nice fish dinner plus a salad for about $30, which seems pretty good for a nice restaurant in Kauai. The setting was also quite nice if you get to sit outside. The service wasn't fantastic. We had to wait about 15 mins after our reservation time, then the service was kind of slow. But overall it was a solid restaurant.
(4)
Jackie L.
Wow, everyone needs to eat here when visiting Kauai. It's the best sit down restaurant with great food, great views and decent prices on the entire island (Ok fine, I didn't visit the entire island but definitely this place is at the top for the Princeville/Kappa location)! It's right next door to the Coconut Coast Marriott Hotel. Made reservations for this a week in advance to ensure we got an ocean view around sunset but too bad it was raining that day so they had let down their clear rain curtains. The ocean was still visible but didn't get the full experience of sun and wind blowing into my face, and food. Hubz and I were blown away by the food here. Truly amazing seafood dishes. We practically licked our plates clean because most places we had visited didn't keep up with the hype, except for Hukilau Lanai! I had the mixed grill seafood dish and hubz had another fish dish. The waitress also informed us about the special Mango Crisp dessert that was going to sell out soon so we decided on dessert BEFORE we even ordered our entrees! It was so popular that the waitress actually had to leave us for a second to lock in that dessert order for us and then come back to talk our actual entree orders. HAHA what a great waitress!
(5)
Francine N.
Ahi tacos are amazing love the service and location I love bringing my husband there for a romantic night out
(5)
Sue T.
We made reservations here for Valentines Day based on the great reviews we read. Very accurate! The lobby and restaurant is open air and breezy, and there are tiki torches on the perimeter and outside seating on the lanai. Perfect setting. We hung out in the 'bar' lobby area on a couple of couches, with a live musician in the background. (Avoid getting the "Citrus Fizz" drink. Sounds Hawaiian-y but yuck! Should've opted for a Mai Tai.) Although the service was slow (of course, it was a holiday) the food was really excellent! From the warm bread to the salads to the soups to the main dishes, every single item was flavorful! WOW! Highly recommend. Didn't break the wallet either.
(5)
Raych D.
First time I came here was years ago when my brother threw me a graduation dinner and I've been coming here since. I recommended to all my friends who lives on Kauai this place because not only is the atmosphere pretty, but the food is just so fricken good! I've been here like hundreds of time already and tried almost everything but my favorite has got to be the Prime Rib. If you know me, you'll know I love meat especially Prime rib. The quality in the prime rib is so rich and high quality so you get for what you pay for which in my opinion isn't even very much at all. When I went back home this past Christmas I organized a dinner with my girlfriends on Kauai and chose Hukilau Lanai. The bread with olive oil and balsamic vinaigrette they give as appetizers are so good that I could eat them all night. I constantly ask the waiter to keep refilling our bread because it's that good! Another dish that comes with you're meal is the "Wally's salad" and it so let me tell you that it's sooooo yummy! It has fresh sweet orange slices with lettuce, tomatoes, some sort of crispy thing and bacon. And most importantly let's not forget desert, the warm chocolate cake with vanilla bean is a MUST try no matter how full you are. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT! the waiter usually gives you a heads up before hand that this dish takes 20min to prepare which right there tells you how good it is, if you have to give that much time to be made.
(5)
R W.
Big fan, especially of the tasting menu. The service was attentive and friendly. The food was bordering on great. Flavors worked, especially with the wine pairings. I agree that the focaccia was tasty. The atmosphere is relaxed and romantic with the right dining companion. We also tried the calamari appetizer and it was spot on. Highly recommended. We will be going back.
(5)
Adkinl A.
The food is top notch. The bar area is fantastic, we met so many great people sitting in the various couches and chairs. Unfortunately there were so many people on those sofas/chairs as the dining room was full and seatings were taking place every hour or so. Still, the ambiance of the bar area and the food definitely means this place gets 4 stars.
(4)
Jennifer K.
We came here for our wedding dinner. Everything was amazing!! From the service to the food & atmosphere. It was super busy & we still felt taken care of. On our way out we were also surprised by some truffles to take home.
(5)
Barb V.
Our waitress, was just superb, the timing of each course couldn't of been better. I had the MacNut chicken, my two other friends had the filet and the catch of the day. All were awesome. It was truly a wonderful experience.
(5)
Brian W.
Lots of reviews so I don't need to say much. Ahi poke nachos were great! Loved them. We were both in the mood for steaks and got the filet mignon, medium rare. They came *perfectly* cooked. Red throughout and a nice cool dark center. Fantastic! They also have a really good wine selection in the $20-$30 range, which is all I would ever pay for a bottle of wine. Unfortunately our waiter initially forgot to serve it but he quickly brought it out once we reminded him. I say this is worth 4.5 stars. I'd go to five if the prices were just a little more reasonable. But considering the location I suppose it's not too bad. To give you an idea, we had two appetizers, salad, bisque, two main courses, three cocktails, and a bottle of wine for $167 including 20% tip.
(4)
Alex B.
This place is classic Hawaii. You aren't going to walk in and get all the basic Hawaiian "touristy" menu items: They serve real food that is REAL good. Everything on the menu is local if it can be. I had the mushroom meatloaf and it was delicious! For a "Pretty Food" restaurant (See Photos), the menu prices aren't that bad. All in all, if you are up by coconut beach, take a trip up to Hukilau Lanai...And get a Reservation!
(4)
Tom L.
Honeymoon trip romantic dinner out. Reservations for 7:30 pm, arrived on time and asked to wait. Seated near bar with live music and server came to assist us with drinks during our short wait. Seated comfortably facing courtyard and promptly served. Food was excellent, ambiance was lovely for our romantic evening.
(5)
Mertani G.
Hands down one of the best dining experiences we've had! My husband and I went here to celebrate our wedding anniversary while on vacation in kauai. I chose this place based on yelp reviews and the menu. For the first time, I had reserved thru open table and had indicated that we were celebrating our anniversary and wanted to sit in an area with an ocean view. I've been to places before where I have requested or mentioned something and upon arriving, it seems as if nobody has remembered. This visit was different. Upon our arrival, both hostesses wished us a happy anniversary before seating us in an area with an ocean view. Our server's name was debbie and she greeted us as well. She mentioned all the specials and was very thorough about knowing the menu. I ordered the mahi mahi and my husband ordered the filet mingon. He also had salad while I ordered the kahlua pork chowder. The food was excellent! One of the best meals we have ever had. For dessert, we shared the lilikoi tart. When our dessert arrived, it came with a huge piece of dark chocolate with "happy anniversary" written in it. They even gave us a tiny gift box with two truffles in it as a gift. This restaurant definitely gave us an unforgettable experience for our vacation. Whenever we decide to come back to kauai, this will be a definite stop :)
(5)
Shauna S.
Zomgz, what a happy surprise. This place is so good. For the starter we had the poke nachos. The blend of ahi poke on wonton chips was amazing. I loved the wasabi cream (along with the other ingredients, obviously) but it's the main sauce that stood out. Very different from what I've normally seen but very good. I got a house salad along with my meal and I loved the dressing. I know it's not something one would pay much attention to, but the papaya seed dressing is delicious. Especially since it's topped with bacon. I had the Macadamia Nut Chicken -- normally I'm not even a fan of chicken but this was so well prepared that I couldn't help but love this dish. The vegetables and curry sauce blended so well with one another which really pulled together this dish. It's a nice blend of flavours and everything was perfectly prepared.
(5)
Malcolm M.
I wasn't disappointed, but I really hoped for more... Nachos-Good Calamari-Average Fish of the day-Average Meatloaf-Good Lots of affordable sub $30 wine choices-Very Good It was good enough for Kauai, but not worth visiting if the restaurant was on the Mainland. True Story.
(3)
Cassie P.
We usually look for "frugal" choices, but decided to splurge one night on our trip. This was a great place to do that! The poke nachos were awesome. I had the mac nut chicken, which I know is a "boring" choice, but I was sharing with my one year old, so I tried to keep it simple. Oh, yes, our one year old and seven year old were there too, and they were great with children for an upscale restaurant! And yes, my dinner was wonderful, especially with the glass of wine chosen by our server, Tim, who was also absolutely stellar! We finished with the mac nut pie which I had to stop myself from licking the darn plate. Great live ukelele music, calm and beautiful view, great food, great service - definitely enjoyed the Hukilau Lanai!
(5)
Renee G.
Pricey but delicious. The Mai Tai with local made rum is $2 more than regular which I don't understand. But it was good. The bloody Mary is the best I ever had. They infuse the vodka with chili pepper and chipotle. The were serving a sushimi stack appetizer with cabbage salad so we shared that. Next came the wally salad for my hubby and a tomato pineapple gazpacho for myself. The dressing on the salad made it special. The gazpacho had a little spiciness that was perfect. The hubby got the hukilau mixed grill which was 2 different fresh local fish in a Thai coconut sauce and a skewer of shrimp. I got the Mac nut crusted chicken breast which came with local veggies in an amazing curry sauce. They have a dessert menu that looked incredible. But we were full at that point. Service could not have been better. Not rushed. Beautiful patio dining. Tiki torches. If you go, call first and get a reservation. It seems a popular place.
(5)
Katie B.
SO good! I tried to reserve a spot online, but it said there were no reservations available. I called and left a message and got a call back with a spot available for the same night! I did the $40 five coarse dinner with wine tasting. So fun and SO yummy!!!! The glazed Ahi was my favorite by far! But everything was good, service was great. A fun night out for sure!!
This was by far the best dinner on Kauai my husband and I experienced during our honeymoon. We started with the poke nachos, which ended up being our favorite dish -- soooo ono! Great wine list as well, decent cocktail list... I had the mixed grill that included Walu and a cajun fish I can't remember... excellent choice. Husband ordered the opah pasta dish which was also great. Both entrees were around $30, the appetizer $14 -- very reasonable for Kauai prices (especially since we stayed in Princeville) and delicious food. The view of the ocean, torches and live music made for a very romantic setting for our first night on Kauai, would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone visiting the island!
(5)
Andrew I.
What a beautiful place!! Came here at night for a very nice dinner, and it definitely surpasses our expectations. I did not have a reservation, so we waited about 25 minutes. In the meantime, we walked around the pool area toward the ocean, and it was such a cute walk. Fire lights the way around, and there are some lounge chairs as we get toward the ocean. There are some people selling jewelry and trinkets as well, at reasonable price. There's a bar area in case you're waiting. Of course it's a bit pricey in here, but with the open patio, perfect weather, and clear skies, everything was just perfect. The music is lively, but not too exciting or distracting. The focus is, of course, on each other and we did just that. Our waiter is an older gentleman, and he was extremely respectful, courteous, and complements us on everything! It wasn't done in an overkill kind of way, though. There are couples and families of all ages, all dressed formally or just casually beautiful. I got the swordfish, and it was cooked perfectly! It was neither dry, too raw, or had the fishy aftertaste. Our waiter gave us a perfect pairing of wine for our dishes, and we stayed until the place almost closes practically, then walked back to our hotel. Could not have been any more perfect of a dinner than that. I second all yelpers that recommend this place, your night will be beautiful.
(5)
Amanda G.
This is one of my favorite places in Kauai. Great place to just have drinks and appetizers. If you are planning on eating here, I advise that you make reservations as they are very busy. Their drinks are yummy, but the food is amazing. I recommend the ahi nachos, lobster bisque, Wally's salad, Wally's steak dish. The place is a little pricey but very worth it. I recommend trying this restaurant if you have not been here!! Also MUST try the Chocolate Lava Cake.
(5)
Lawrence H.
I really had high hopes for this place based on the prior reviews. Warning that I'll focus more on service as the food was ok (see paragraph 4 below). The mediocrity began with the hostess. We arrived at 8:17 for an 8:30 reservation. We were told that our table was being "prepared." No worries, we thought, as we had arrived early for our reservation. We grabbed a Mai Tai at the bar (which was no better than the Mai Tai we received on our Hawaiian airlines flight). At 8:30, the hostess came to the bar and told us the area that was supposedly being prepared for us was in an area that was unsuitable due to weather condition and that they were just waiting on people to leave to seat us. While we drank our mediocre Mai Tai at the bar, we noticed that at 8:40 a couple who arrived after us was being seated. I brought this fact up to the hostess and she said "I'm not sure why they are being seated before you." Which I though was very odd. Also, she offered no "sorry" or no "their reservation was prior to yours." She was able to seat us a short while after, but again, no sorry, just "have a nice night." Generic. Contrived. Our waiter was ok. He knew the menu and the wine list. We ordered the ono and prime rib with the Manhattan chowder and Caesar salad. The chowder was good but did not taste any different than a crockpot pot ragout. The Caesar salad dressing had an extra kick which I appreciated. The ono was good and the sauce was delicious. The prime rib was good but nothing special. It was more well as opposed to the medium rare that I ordered. The waiter arrived with our bottle of wine prior to our food coming out but never once came back to re-pour the wine. Bottom line - service borderline at best, food ok, drinks so-so. For the same amount of money, I would suggest Oasis just down the road.
(2)
Ben D.
Ate in the bar on Thanksgiving pressed for time to catch our dreaded flight home. Perfection. Awesome Hawaiian style turkey dinner with lilikoi cranberry sauce, wild mushroom stuffing, Okinawan Purple Sweet Potatoes, mashed potatoes and very flavorful chicken. Enjoyed an incredible lilikoi martini (with a splash of pomegranate liquer to make it interesting). Kids had giant lavaflows. $120 for five with drinks and desserts on Thanksgiving night and we made our flight with plenty of time to spare. Note, this is in a kind of cheesy timeshare and the restaurant is several notches higher in class than the hotel itself. I have been to Duke's several times prior to catching flights and (fortunately) couldn't get in due to Thanksgiving. I would absolutely go out of my way to eat at Hukilau again.
(5)
Lori B.
One of my favorite restaurants! Always great fresh food. Sitting out on the lanai is the best! All staff are friendly and accommodating. Enjoy!
(4)
Leslie R.
I would give this place 6 stars if possible. Great, open air atmosphere & live music. Reservations a must. Feel free to arrive early to have a drink in the bar. We ordered some of the lobster & cheese pupus - deeeeelish. One member of the group ordered the tasting menu w no wine. A great value at $28, especially if you like fish. I know this sounds strange, but I ordered the local beef meatloaf. It came in two large slices; the beef literally melted in my mouth. Yum! A truly amazing place that all should visit when on Kauai.
(5)
Moira M.
Wonderful!!! This was by far our favorite dinner in Hawaii. We went on our last night in Kauai based on a recommendation (from the waiter at Scotty's BBQ, another awesome place.) There was live music, which my friend and I really enjoyed and the place was nice inside, nothing super special, but nice. We started with the lobster wonton, which were tasty. I had the lobster curry soup, which was good as well, I did expect a little more of a kick to the soup, but it was still good. I got the mahi mahi with linguine for my entree and it was out of this world delicious. I loved it. My friend got the mixed plate and loved it as well. We were stuffed and still got dessert. So good as well!!!
(5)
Kathy Q.
Great place, great atmosphere, nice staff! Food was delicious and prices very fair. Would highly recommend.
(4)
Linda S.
The atmosphere is lovely. Our waiter was terrific. The meatloaf is excellent and the Mahi Mahi is fabulous.. The only complant I have was the filet minion was too rare, like cold in the middle grill marks on one side, not on the other and I ordered med-rare. I tried to eat it, but it was just too rare.. They took my whole plate back and RE-COOKED the meat.. It was an 8oz steak before it was cooked.. Thought it would have been in better taste to have cooked a whole new steak. I surely would eat here again.. :)
(4)
Logan J.
Saved the best for last!! It is our last night here! So far we haven't had anything terrible but nothing that really wowed us either. We decided to have a nice dinner to celebrate our last night and my birthday. I called to see if we needed a reservation. They said they highly recommend them and the earliest they had available was 8:45. However, they do have a first come first serve bar area and you can eat from the full menu!! We got there a little before 6pm (Friday) and there was plenty of seats to choose from. We had the Ahi Nachos which were amazing! For dinner we both had the Filet Mignon and it was absolutely DELICIOUS!! Our server was friendly and knowledgable. I would highly recommend Hukilau Lanai!!!
(5)
Bob V.
Surprising to find such a impressively good restaurant connect to a mid-priced hotel. A rare discovery indeed. I have eaten here a two different occasions, six months apart. Varied menu with lots of freshly prepared fish. I must say I has drawn to the classic meatloaf with mushroom gravy! Very yummie and a rather large portion, as I love veggies I ordered a side of fresh vegetables with my meal which were cooked to perfection. I was too full for dessert. Highly recommend stopping here for diner, with reservations, beware it can get rather crowded during prime times. Bon appetite!
(4)
Sharon C.
My husband and I went to Kauia to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary and we had our celebratory dinner at Hukilau upon the recommendation of our tour guide. We went on our last night in Kauai - saved the best for last. This place is quite famous in Kauia and I can tell you a hundred reasons why. They were packed for the night and when I made a reservation, I requested for a table at the lanai and they said that it may not be possible because they're full that night and everyone requested for a table at the lanai. When we checked in, they remembered that it was a very special evening for us and they greeted us. Not only that, they gave us a table at the lanai. Our server was very nice and he was always checking on us. We had the potato ravioli and lobster and goat cheese wonton to start. That was very filling so we decided to split the main course (and they did not even charge us extra for that!). We also brought our own champagne bottle and they only charged $10 for corkage. We had the Mixed Grill - yay, finally got a chance to try the signature Hawaiian Ono Fish (really meaty yet tender and yummy)! We went to several restaurants when we were in Kauia but we had the best experience at Hukilau. 5 star service and the price was not bad at all. All the main courses came with soup or salad. For a minimal fee, I had the salad and my husband had the lobster bisque with our split meal. We really wanted to try some of their desserts but seriously, my belly was going to explode so we skipped that but our waiter brought a little gold package and inside it were 2 pieces of truffles. I was so full that I was not even able to take a small bite. My husband said it was heavenly so he finished all of it:)) It was pretty dark when we went so we didn't really see the view but we came back the next day just to check out the view and it was indeed very romantic. They must have the most amazing sunsets! When you come, make a reservation around sunset time. The place is very romantic, very quiet, and scenic and the service excellent. This restaurant is one of the reasons why we will come back to Kauia. We love this place so much.
(5)
T C.
3.5 stars generally; I'd give the ahi nachos a solid 4 stars alone. Those nachos are pretty great - the chips are thick and crunchy and have a toasty after taste; the chips remind me of pork rinds (they're not, mind you). The dish is served with an abundant amount of ahi (yay!) and a drizzle of some dark, sweet sauce over it (~$14). The sweet potato ravioli was absurdly and unnaturally sweet, but filling despite the two ravioli serving (~$11). The lobster curry bisque was good (~$7 for a cup) - decadent, rich, curry-ee, coconutty, and lemongrassy. The bbq ribs were completely forgettable (~$11). The mixed grill was a-ok and nothing uber special to write home about (~$30). Other important info: inside Coconut Marketplace, ahi nachos are a not-to-miss dish, service is hit or miss depending on who is waiting on you, seems like they use the same sauce in every single dish (coconutty and lemongrassy taste), likely the best food I had on the island (note: they don't have stiff competition; good island food is pretty scarce), and reservations don't guarantee they'll seat you promptly.
(3)
sheri d.
Absolutely the best meal and service in the entire island. The tasting menu with wine was a perfect sampler of the entire creative menu, starting with an island gazpacho and finishing with inventive breads and cheeses. Definitely our favorite and go to restaurant on Kauai.
(5)
chris r.
Busy Labor Day weekend but with reservations, we were seated. The menu reads like a culinary" labor of love". My husband started off with a glass of white. I asked the wait person for a recommendation for a special drink and she said the Ginny Hendricks, which is not too sweet and goes well with the ending of a nice day. She was right. For dinner, my husband chose the Opa and I, the Ono. The presentation was lovely enough to take a picture yet the taste was even better. The fish was tender, flavorful on either a bed of delicately mashed potatoes or pistachio rice. We finished off with a coconut macadamia nut crusted lilikoi pie that instead of sharing, we seem to find ourselves bargaining over the last piece. A lot of 'ohhing" and "ahhing.." going on around us. 'Fresh ' is the word here.
(5)
Juan C.
Definitely in my list of top 5! I celebrated our anniversary here, and it was amazing from finish to start. From the crisp calamari, to the red snapper fish over mashed potatoes, prime rib, corn jalapeño chowder, lobster bisque curry coconut soup, and the most delicious chocolate lava cake.... Oh my goodness!!!! Best ive ever had! Great job chefs! I will def be back. Excellent service, quick time to cook the food, unpretentious decor, and excellent view= love love love
(5)
Jakki N.
This was one of my favorite places for dinner when I first moved to Kauai and, nine years later, it still is. The food and service are consistently above average. They have the best selection of local fresh fish on the east side. I recommend the ahi poke nachos and the Wally's salad for starters. I also love the Farmers Market Lasagna because it is never exactly the same and always delicious. I've been friends with a few Hukilau employees and can say that they all enjoy and appreciate their work environment and it shows in the sincerity of customer service you get. The staff is very knowledgeable about the menu and wine list. They handle modifications and accommodate special dietary needs well. You may have a short wait even if you make a reservation (I recommend making a reservation even on a week night) but the lobby has nice sofas to sit on and there is always good live acoustic entertainment. The setting is comfortable and open-air with tiki torches, candles and still plenty of light for you to read the menu. Its a good place to go if you are celebrating a special occasion or just want to treat yourself. Its not cheap, but the pricing and portions are more than fair - not jacked up resort pricing. I've been to a few banquet-style functions at The Hukilau over the years and found the food and service to be excellent at those events also. The Hukilau Lanai is an east side landmark that has really earned their good reputation. Try it. You will not be disappointed.
(5)
Michele W.
Nice view, great food. Good selection of food and drink items.
(4)
Amy K.
This restaurant, in Kapaa, Kauai, has the look and service of a 5 star but the prices of a 3-4 star restaurant. It was withing walking distance from the village resorts that we stayed in so it was about a 2 minute walk since its within the same complex. This place is great for romantic dinners or special group celebrations. The tikis and candles had a nice touch to it. Everything we ordered was very good and at the right temperatures. We ordered appetizers and I remember having our entrees come a little earlier than we expected, but not by much time. Try the Squash Blossom, Lobster Bisque (really good and spicy) for appetizers. The entrees were a little more pricer then everything else on the menu, around 28-35 dollars per plate. Appetizers were around 6-10 dollars. For dessert, we ordered the Creme Brulee and Chocolate Warm Cake. Nothing to complain about except a stuffed stomach. They have a wine list too! So check that out if you want to get a bottle to wine and dine your lovebug :) There is an ocean view, but since we were there after sunset, we could only hear it, not see it ;( Live Hawaiian music plays on certain days and times. It was a very relaxed atmosphere. If you've ever been to Roys, the service and etiquette is comparable to them. For two, our bill came to $122 before tip. This was for 2 apps, 2 entrees, 2 desserts, 1 drink and bottle of wine.
(5)
Anna K.
Warm cake is perfect! all of the deserts are good actually. However, they have really bad coffee and tea, service is really slow
(4)
Y I L I W.
all food items are handcrafted, and house~made using ~ as local of ingredients as possible ! !! + : pretty darn delish food: . .. great service, with attention to details . .. beautiful setting, kinda reminescent of French Polynesia . .. understood why they get high ratings . .. Chef works to accomodate allergies even on Tasting Menu . .. loved my passion fruit and poha berry sorbet, paired with an orange Muscat . .. several delish items exuded comfort~ÿ food feel while presenting "upscale~ÿ" . .. =) * heavenlÿ * d: -- : no espresso machine but they have Kaua'i coffee . .. hope to be back again VeRÿ sOoN
(4)
Chris N.
Best restaurant I have eaten at kauai by far! Service and the food is amazing along with a gentle ocean breeze that brushes in your face! Wally's salad and the Creme Brulee were amazing! I had the macadamia nut chicken which was 5 stars and my honeymoon wife had a great vegetarian lasagna! Thinking of going again!
I expected more... and make sure you make a reservation if you plan to have dinner after 6 PM here. We came here twice, the first time we expected to walk in and wait for seats, but the wait turns out to be over an hour. For 2 ppl? Wow! Anyway, we ended up sitting in the bar and got spotty service for the following: Cheesy topped bread (free) - Really delicious! We can snack on them all day. Lobster Curry Bisque - The curry flavor overwhelmed the lobster taste Gazpacho (soup of the day) - I like it, done well BBQ Ribs - Delicious! I liked it but my wife loves it! Opah (Hawaiian Moon Fish) - Not tender enough. As my wife described it, "the fish around here swims too much" so its meat is overworked and chewy. Prime Rib - While the fish was a hard swimmer, the cow this prime rib came from was a lazy cow, chunks of fat lined this prime rib. The chunks of fat doesn't go well w/ the medium rare cooking temperature. I definitely had better. Dragonfruit Ginger Sorbet - Delicious, but the ginger was a bit strong. Makes me wonder how it would taste w/o the ginger. On our 2nd visit several days later, I was still recovering from food poisoning earlier in the day (not from here) but this time, we came here early for their Happy hour tasting menu. Sweet Potato Ravioli - Unique white color pasta, but taste was not memorable Swiss Chard & Mushroom tart - Pie crust and mushrooms are good, but vinaigrette overwhelmed the delicate flavors of the ingredients in the tart Sausage & Warabi - sausage is too spicy, veggies too oily Fresh catch - I think we got the Moon fish again... Vanilla Creme Brulee - I didn't dare to try this as I was still sick. My wife finished it. The service this time is a lot better. But while I was waiting for dinner, a mosquito came by and got his from my arm. Remember to wear mosquito repellent everywhere! My wife ordered the ribs again and this time I couldn't even have one as I just had zero appetite. There's definitely better restaurants for dinner in Kauai, but in Kapa'a, not really.
(3)
Megan P.
Beautiful view, tasty food, delicious libations. Got seated quickly and server was friendly and prompt. I got the mac nut crusted chicken and the hubs got the fish duo special and both were excellent (clean plate club good)- sweet potato ravioli pupu was a bit lackluster (sauce was drool-worthy but needed a hint of salt and acid, maybe lemon?). Love that they use local produce and meats as much as possible and give back to the community. Great spot for a nice meal. We'll be making it a regular date night stop for sure!
(5)
Courtney C.
The good: The view (we sat on the lanai. No problems with bugs.) The service! Service was efficient and friendly. Joe remembered my relatives from earlier in the week, as well as their orders. Dessert: chocolate mousse or coconut tart. Sweet potato ravioli app Butterfish(!!!) The cocktails They have an excellent, reasonably-priced, and locally sourced set menu. They have gluten-free options pretty readily available. The Eh: Poke nachos were good, but no wow factor. Maybe if you're not accustomed to poke already? The ribeye special was kind of oddly textured and not the most flavorful. Several of them on our table were less than half-eaten. Bummer. The verdict: If you've got the need for a romantic location with excellent service, go ahead.
(4)
Christina C.
You must get the wine and food tasting for $40. Their homemade foccacia bread is really, really good. This was by far one of the best meals of my Hawaii trip. For $40, you get a nice sampling of their menu with accompanying wines. Foccaia bread ( static.px.yelp.com/bphot… ) Round 1: Sweet Potato Ravioli paired with St Gabriel Riesling ( static.px.yelp.com/bphot… ) Very light and tasty. Round 2: Warabi and Sausage paired with Protocolo Rose. ( static.px.yelp.com/bphot… ) I didn't like this pairing. The sausage was good, but the warabi was really sour and the wine was really bold. The flavors were quite unbalanced Round 3: Ono fish basted with tapenade on orzo pasta and lemon basil pesto paired with Lurton Torrontes. ( static.px.yelp.com/bphot… ) Light, tasty, citrusy. Wine was well matched. My 2nd favorite paring Round 4: Pork tenderloin with mushrooms paired with Protocolo Tempranillo ( static.px.yelp.com/bphot… ) This was my favorite pairing. The pork was tender, the mushrooms were cooked just right, the sauce was delicious. The wine was mild, yet fruiting. Round 5: Blue cheese, fig compote. something wine. ( static.px.yelp.com/bphot… ) Not really a fan of blue cheese, but the fig helped balance the flavor Round 6: Trio of sorbets. ( static.px.yelp.com/bphot… ) Lava flow (coconut and rasberry or strawberry) was good, strawberry mango was quite tasty, and the banana curry was quite interesting So, plan ahead to come here. The food and wine pairing is only available 5-6pm. It really is a great way to sample many things. Some diners at surrounding tables were quite jealous plate after plate. Service is pretty good. Opt to sit outside for some fresh air. This is located behind the Coconut Marketplace. Its actually next to the lobby of the Kauai Coast Resort. Can't miss it- right infront of the swimming pools and jacuzzi.
(5)
John D.
Tasting menu of 5 courses for $28 would be a great deal on the mainland. On Kauai it is exceptional. Food was yummy and Ryan did a great job with the service. IMHO this meal topped much more expensive meals we had on Kauai and Maui.
(5)
M j.
It's really 4 1/2 stars! We've been here a few times & I must say it's really great! The 1/2 point taken out since the server was a little out of it tonight & my usual filet wasn't as exciting as all the other times & the mashed potatoes were very salty! But in all honesty it's one of the best restaurants in Kauai & we've been to pretty much most of them (we've been coming here yearly for the past 10 years)! Their food is very consistent so I really don't know what happened tonight, however, it's a great place & make sure to ask to sit in the lanai area:-)
(4)
Rica S.
I had my wedding dinner here. We rented out the semi private room for 24 people. Absolutely amazing. Though it was a hectic day, I really enjoyed my time here. My guests were raving about how every dish was perfect and delicious. The decor I had brought in were all arranged so nicely. One who side of the semi private room are all windows so you really get the island feel. I owe it all to the great staff especially Manda, the banquet coordinator. It was absolutely perfect. My sister even came back the next day because she was craving the ahi poke nachos and the sweet potato ravioli. I really wanna go back already... maybe for our anniversary next year.
(5)
Julie K.
We stopped a Hukilau Lanai for our last dinner in Kauai before flying home tonight on the strength of the reviews here and elsewhere. The restaurant was lovely and the service was friendly and personable. The food was somewhat of a mixed bag, primarily because every dish was surrounded by a type of cream sauce with differing flavorings that over-powered the delicate flavors of the main item in the dish. My daughter described the lobster wontons as crab rangoon on steroids, and she was correct. They were very crisp with a very rich filling that required no accompaniment. Neither of us cared for the overly sweet guava dipping sauce and ended up not using it. We also ordered the purple sweet potato ravioli appetizer which was also served in a sweet cream-based sauce. Salting the ravioli helped balance the over-sweetness, but not quite enough. The strong sweet pineapple cream sauce that accompanied my husband's fish was so off-putting that he could only eat a couple of bites. My daughter's mixed grill was cooked well and the seafood and fish were good, but the cream-based coconut curry sauce was too rich. I ordered the beef tenderloin medallions coated in peppercorns in a Crown Royal demi glace with mashed potatoes done medium, but it arrived medium well. Still, it was tender with a sauce which had a good flavor and the portion was large, so I easily shared it with my husband. The highlight of the meal was the creme brulee with a silky custard and slightly charred sugar crust. My main advice to the chef would be to keep cooking the fish exactly as you are doing, but work on lighter, not cream based sauces that compliment the delicate fish, rather than cover it up.
Food was really excellent, I got the mixed plate and my wife the macadamia encrusted chicken breast (perfectly cooked, super crunchy coating and juicy and tender chicken breast - how do they do that?!). The fish on the mixed plate was cooked perfectly and the sauces were some of the best I have had since being in New Orleans. The Lobster won tons were just OK, I definitely would not order again. Service at the bar and the hostesses were excellent, but I had to knock off one star because of our waiter - very unprofessional for such a nice place. Would go there again in a heart beat, I just don't want the same waiter.
(4)
Steph M.
Pretty good stuff! Kauai doesn't have a ton of food, but this place was really decent. The Nachos are AMAZING.
(3)
Susanna W.
For our first dinner on Kauai, J and I decided to be early birds and try Hukilau Lanai's sampler menu (available 5-6pm daily). Annoying that we had to wait (in an empty restaurant) before being seated, despite having made reservations. AMBIANCE: Loungey in the front, super super casual, with an open air lanai facing the hotel pool/ocean. Very relaxed atmosphere... not sure if it gets more lively later on in the evening. SERVICE: Friendly but I found it to be meh. Maybe its because we were there right when they opened? The waitstaff seemed confused and a bit chicken-with-its-head-cut-off-ish, while the hostess was slightly scatterbrained. FOOD: A-OK. We tried the 5 course tasting menu ($28 w/o wine pairing) and a separate fish entree (I think $26-28?). I forget which fish entree we ordered, but it came with risotto and was SO oddly sweet and barbecue-y all at once. Not the best pairing IMO. My favorite dish of the night was the vanilla bean creme brulee dessert-- perfect portion size, nice and creamy with a crunchy sugar top. OVERALL: Nice to try, but I won't be hurrying back anytime soon and it wouldn't be the first restaurant I'd recommend to friends.
(3)
Hiep N.
Service was atrocious, the food was over cooked, and overall the restaurant was a disappointment. The waiters were careless, and it was clearly obvious that they were dog tired of tourists. They have forgotten that they're in the hospitality business. Instead of bantering with young, attractive girls my waiter should have checked on my table and checked on where my entree was. I would have responded with sitting on a tray for the past 15 minutes while numerous food runners ignored it. On top of waiting 45 minutes for my entree to come out the, opah I ordered was not fresh and it was dry and unpleasant. The mahi we ordered was also dry and overcooked. Not the best experience at all.
(1)
Kristen Y.
Loved this place! Service was efficient and waitstaff was extremely friendly and helpful. The food was delicious. Everything from the fresh focaccia bread to our salads (Wally and Caesar) was just amazing. The papaya seed dressing : yum! Our entrees included the Prime Rib and the Pork Tenderloin. Both were flawless. The prime rib was seasoned well with the perfect amount of char. Inside, the meat was so juicy! The pork loin was ridiculous especially how incredibly moist it was! My husband and I were floored by the way it melted in our mouths, and could not figure out how they got the meat this way! Superb dining experience! Totally worth the bit of extra money. A must when visiting the island! Good idea to make a reservation. Place always seemed bumping!
(5)
Ambreesh K.
Because my wife is vegetarian, and kids are not fish fans (fish are friends not food!), I was unsure of the place. We ended up having a lovely meal, in an excellent setting - sitting outside by the pool which was next to the ocean. Reservations are recommended, the place was full while we were eating, which was around 8pm. Wife and I split 3 appetizers - Swiss chard and mushroom tart, sweet potato ravioli and a cold gazpacho, all excellent. I also ordered an ahi special, coated with coffee and some other spices - over sticky rice. Fantastic. My older one ordered the pork tenderloin which she did a fine job demolishing - how much can a teenager eat! And yes, the souffle was fantastic as expected. Had a great time.
(4)
Gloria C.
We came here because it was rated a Fodor's choice restaurant as well as being the top restaurant on every online review we pulled up for Kauai eastside restaurants. However, to be honest, I don't think it was 5-star quality. We ordered the Ahi Poke Nachos to start, and they were delicious! Really recommend trying this if you like ahi poke and if you like nachos. The chips are deep fried and definitely have more of a kick than regular nachos. We loved them! For entrees, you can order a side salad or upgrade to the Lobster Curry Bisque for an extra $2. I had Wally's salad, which was decent, but nothing special. Recommendation: Order the bisque, it was much better. In reading previous recommendations, I wanted to try the Walu. But they didn't have it on the menu as an individual item anymore, so I ordered the Hukilau Mixed Grill, which had a filet of Walu and a filet of another fish that actually tasted like chicken (a little bit weird that a fish would taste and have the consistency of chicken). I very much liked the Walu better and should have substituted both filets for Walu, they call it the Hawaiian butterfish, and it tastes like a black cod or sea bass. I didn't care much for the risotto that came in with it. It tasted like a mix between asian sauces and cheese, which was also kind of odd for me. My boyfriend ordered the Opah fish, which comes with rice and had a coconut curry-type base. I personally thought my meal was a lot more delicious. For drinks, I ordered the Citrus Buzz, which was stronger than it tastes. Then again, my tolerance for alcohol is not very high. It contains lemonchello. But since it tasted light, I pretty much drank it really quick. My boyfriend ordered the Honey Lemonade, which I liked because it tasted like it was made from real lemons. But he thought it was way too sour and wanted to water it down. Don't order it if you don't like sour. Portions were good sized - we didn't have room for dessert.
(3)
Gail Q.
Our decision to eat dinner here was heavily influenced by the presence of poke nachos, which combines two things that are already awesome: poke, and nachos, and somehow manages to make a thing which is, in fact, even more awesome. It was Christmas Eve so they had a special menu. I don't remember exactly what I ate but I do remember the post-eating part, in which I was so full I almost couldn't breathe, but I was like, "No, I can eat more, I can do this," because the food was telling me I should keep eating it. Also, our server was really sweet, and he took our picture and spent a lot of time recommending drinks and explaining the ingredients in the special dishes, and then we ran into him at the supermarket a few days later (SMALL. ISLAND.) and he came over (with his adorable baby) to say hi and ask how our vacation was going! OMG love! Yay for great service and POKE NACHOS.
(4)
Sabrina C.
Food is superb! Chantry and Angela in the hostess station are super efficient! Nicole our waitress knows her stuff. As a former food server and now a local concierge it is vital that I send my guest to great restaurants. We eat out often and Hukilau Lanai is always a great choice. Living on Kauai we are a bit limited. But if you want food food, great service and a nice night. Make your reservations early and enjoy! I like the tasting menu. Give it a shot. If you dont drink it's one of the best deals on the island.
(5)
Todd C.
Very favorable experience. Excellent service, wonderful setting outside on the terrace, divine food, convenient parking and the price is right! We were staying over in Poipu but found the drive over to be effortless and well worth the trip!
(5)
Aleah W.
My husband and I came here for our last dinner before we left that island and I am disappointed that we didn't come earlier in our stay so that we could have eaten here multiple times. The location is beautiful. Unfortunately, we had late reservations and the sun had already set so we did not get the full experience. I will make it a point to be here for sunset the next time we come. I had both the Ginger Martini and the Lilikoi Blossom Martini. Both were delicious, not too sugary or sweet. My husband and I shared the poke nachos for an appetizer and they were AMAZING! We both love poke but this took it to another level. The wonton chips added the perfect level of crunch and the sauces were so full of flavor. I think even those who are not big fans of raw fish would enjoy this dish. For our main entrees, I had the opah and my husband had the ahi. Both were insanely good. The sauces were incredible. So flavorful but not too much (they definitely did not over power the flavor of the fish). From beginning to end, this was one of the best meals I have ever had. Even the complimentary bread was delicious. Every single bite was exquisite! We will definitely be returning on our next trip to Kauai. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!
(5)
Nick D.
Excellent food. Can't say enough about that. Had the mixed grill and the Lobster Won Ton. Very reasonable.
(5)
Jay C.
Excellent, excellent meal. Make reservations ahead of time, as they fill up fast. The bread? Incredible. Appetizers (sweet potato ravioli? Wow...) delicious...entree options were all very good - and not as expensive at comparable restaurants on the island! The dessert options looked great, but we were pleasantly stuffed! The serving staff were very attentive and friendly. The view? Awesome, especially at sunset. Highly recommended!!!
(5)
Heather G.
Dated, unclean and not worth it. We were greeted by three cockroaches crawling out from underneath the outdoor servicing station. I totally understand that bugs are a part of Hawaii, but when your paying these prices the expectations are higher. The service was the worst we had on the island. The bartender was incredibly unfriendly. The food was just meh... I would avoid this place.
After a week of sub par food our tour guide from Rainbow Kayak told us to go here, yelp reviews looked good so we gave it a try. Out waitress Sandra was EXCELLENT and very attentive to all of our needs. Every ounce of food from the complimentary bread, aptz, entree and dessert was OUTSTANDING and they absolutely knock it out of the park. Spoke with what we thought was manager turned out to be co owner and told him how pleased we were. He said the other co owner works the kitchen and doesn't let anything come out the isn't 100% perfect. I truly showed.
(4)
Mary N.
Best meal we had on the island. Get the poke nachos. Everything we had was really good. I would suggest making reservations because we had to sit in the bar. Great service, sunset, and food.
(5)
Andy W.
6 years ago when my friends came home from their honeymoon, they raved about ahi poke nachos from Hukilau. Coincidentally, we ended up booking the same location for our honeymoon and they gave us a giftcard so we could experience the same excellent meal they did. From top to bottom, everything was fantastic. The staff was excellent. We met at least 5 different people while we sat at our table who brought us food, refilled water, delivered our gift card, not to mention our actual waitress. They were all very friendly and knowledgeable about their menu. The food was outstanding. The ahi poke nachos lived up to their reputation, fresh ahi and crispy wonton chips with avocado were just delicious and so unique. My wife had the special fish which had a name I can't recall but had an excellent texture and flavor and came with delicious mashed potatoes. I had the mixed grill which also changes throughout the week. I had two different types of white fish that were prepared in slightly different ways (one marinated and one rubbed). It also came with a shrimp skewer which was delicious. The creamy orzo was an excellent addition. We had a couple bucks left on the card so we ordered the chocolate mousse with salted toffee chips. We were stuffed and knew we couldn't touch it that night so we ended up taking it to go. It was so great the next day. We're really considering going back for a second time to get those nachos. If you're okay with spending a bit more than normal on a great dinner and a beautiful patio view, please go to Hukilau Lanai.
(5)
Emilee J.
We ate here twice during our stay and the food was excellent! They did all they could to fit us in because we didn't have a reservation (didn't wait more then 5 minutes). The staff is friendly and attentive and the setting is great! one of the best restaurants in Kapaa
(4)
Lee D.
I had checked out this restaurant ahead of our trip and really was excited. We chose to sit at the bar because it's active and fun to watch. The bartender was great and friendly. With discussion we found that all the vegetarian food had cheese and we were thinking we had to go elsewhere. The bartender spoke to a lady who turned out to better he owner. NEVER in my 33 years vegetarian has someone been so accommodating. Not because she needed my business, the place was packed, but she really cared. She talked to her Chef/husband and came up with numerous options and the lady knew what rennet is. She then brought out the local cheese they use to show me the ingredients. Score! I had their arugula salad and sweet potato ravioli which was just perfect! My husband had the surf and turf special and loved it...like butter he said. I have many years restaurant experience and was also very impressed with the staff's interaction. They were all so helpful and kind to one another. RUN don't walk here when you are in Kauai.
(5)
Travis H.
Stayed at the resort here and only managed to get in once, so plan accordingly. I had the Fresh Fish and it was awesome! Side note: took the Fam, & my son really didn't like what he ordered (Ahi) the waiter comped it and he got the Fresh Fish as well and loved it!
(5)
Timothy F.
I don't get it. Despite the many positive reviews our experience here was mediocre at best. As is the case with many restaurants the menu promises but the kitchen can't deliver. The wines for $20 or so looked good but the two that I chose were "unavailable" so, we ordered off the regular list while our waiter(who knew nothing about wine) continued to try to upsell us to more expensive wines. I felt like I was on a used car lot. As I said, the menu was interesting, but the actual food presentation was disappointing. Everything felt "rushed"-it was very busy and sloppy. Noisy. The actual restaurant looked old and tired. I can't believe that "foodies" liked this place.
(2)
J D.
One of the best restaurants on the island. Consistently good presentation of food, quality, and very good service. Prices are reasonable, and atmosphere is from casual to dressy. Live music in evenings. Sweet potato raviolis are regularly featured and highly recommended. Fresh fish varies. Deserts are too good.
(5)
Shannon F.
As someone who lives on the island and has eaten here many times, I can say the food here is always consistently amazing. Special props on the meat, it's the tenderest, most delicious meat ever - the mac nut chicken and filet mignon is to die for. And I always have to try and not fill up on that bread. Shout out to Adam in the kitchen! This is one of Cameron and I's favorite places to eat for special occasions or a romantic date night. Love the live music, it always seems to set the mood. And the service is usually excellent. We love the Hukilau!
(5)
Lena H.
Love the chocolate lava cake, macadamia nut encrusted fish, salads always fresh, dressings yummy, breads great. Staff always friendly. Eat outside to see a great ocean view. Best place to eat on the island.
(4)
LL C.
28 dollar for 5 course tasting menu, yes please! ahi nachos were delicious, as were the sweet potato ravioli...the warabe (fern) that was paired with the sauage was delciious also.... nice view of water/beach...friendly wait staff
(5)
john h.
I came here twice. The first time I had the tasting menu and the Ahi Poke nachos. The nachos were awesome and the tasting menu was fun. The second time we had the BBQ Ribs appetizer which was excellent. I also had the Opah dinner, which was fine, but it was probably my least favorite piece of fish that I had on my entire trip.
(4)
Harry D.
Make a reservation, or you may end up waiting for a while. It's our go to place for a great quality dinner. Service is always top notch, food never disappoints me, and it's pretty casual. It is on the more expensive side, but you'll get plenty of food.
(4)
Jeanette H.
Based on the wonderful yelp reviews, we did the tasting/wine pairing at this oceanfront restaurant. We were not disappointed! The food was beautiful and delicious. We tasted some wines that we would not usually try, in a beautiful location, served by efficient and pleasant waiters. And all for $40 per person! Terrific value. They even had a vegetarian tasting menu :)
(5)
Stephanie G.
Lemme just say that my table had the only non-white people in the whole place (besides staff). It was like a game of bridge was in danger of breaking out at any second. The restaurant actually overlooks a hotel pool so you can look forward to seeing all that goes along with that. The beach is visible from some tables (not ours). We went for the five course, five wine pairing for $40/. This means we had to eat at 6PM, but whatever. It was all pretty good. More importantly it was reasonably priced and they brought us pretty big glasses of wine. If I can remember what I ate...It was a Okinawan sweet-potato ravioli with some kind of shaved Maui onion on top, a remarkably unremarkable, over-dressed green salad, a piece of white fish that my husband who will eat anything referred to as "spongy," meat loaf and a side of corn that was actually excellent despite it's unfortunate name, and a glorious cheese plate that had the honeycomb on it....ask for extra slices of bread for the cheese though, they give you 3 waif-sized slices which is not enough for the amount of cheese you are given. I also ate someone's creme brulee which was creamy and perfect. P.S.: They don't have espresso here...the waitress offered to make me a french press, but after a giant meal and five glasses of wine I need espresso. The service was very good though. It was attentive but not overbearing.
(3)
Adam H.
The best thing about this place was the island vibe. My gf and I went one night during our vacation because we heard it was the best meal on the island... While I can't agree with that, our food was very good. We both had fish and I can't complain at all about our meal or experience. Being able to sit on the open patio on an awesome night looking out toward to beach was definitely a highlight.
(4)
Brian E.
My wife and I had our Wedding reception at Hukilau---What a wonderful experience. Manda, Brian and their entire staff exceeded our expectations in everyway. The food was delicious---Ahi Poke Nachos, Sweet Potato Ravioli, these massive shrimp and scallops! The lilikoi pie, and wedding cake were perfect. We couldn't have asked for a better experience from Hukilau. I'm a tough customer to please, and they delivered. Thank you!
(5)
Daphne J.
We repeat visited this great spot when we were in Kapa'a. They do a great job of using local ingredients and doing some really creative things! I loved the sweet potato ravioli! I think the early-bird tasting menu that pairs courses with wine is an excellent deal. It was $50! The wines were not my favorite, but they did pair well with the food courses--which were ONOlicious! The patio seating gives you a lovely view of the palm trees and the ocean. The lounge area near the bar is a comfy place to sit and chat. I was really skeptical about a place called "Hukilau Lanai"--how stereotypical cheesy Hawai'i can you get, right? It's not in the name, it's in the ingredients--and the food doesn't lie.
(4)
Kai T.
I ate here on 06/17/11. Somehow I forgot to yelp it. I recommend the steak medallions. That was really good.
(4)
Abbey P.
Based on my food, I would give it a 3.5 star. Overall, I would give it a 4 star. THis is hard for me except that my fish was just a bit overcooked. Flavor was otherwise good. The Mai tai was good- actually, very good. Ahi Poke nachos- yum..i would recommend just for that. I had the local grilled fish with saffron sauce. The sauce was really good. But like I said, the fish was just overcooked. My bf got the mixed seafood plate- two types of fish with shrimp. It wasn't the cajun fish but the other was perfectly cooked. I wished i just had that. The shrimp was also just okay. I forget the dessert we had- something with ice cream and that was very good. sorry... :)
(4)
Todd B.
Went on the advice of Yelpers. Will come back based on our own personal experience. Lobster curry bisque was so rich and cozy on a cool February night. I had the prime rib, and it was some of the best steak I have ever had anywhere! Wife had the mixed grill which included some Walu (Hawaiian butter fish). It was just a perfect harmony of many subtle flavors, none of which overwhelmed the others. Mom got the vegetable lasagna. She was glad she ordered it, but will try something new next time. Portion was plenty for lunch tomorrow. Service was very friendly, although the bar was a little bit slow. We will likely come early for the prix fixe later this week. I don't award too many 5 star reviews, but this place deserves one.
(5)
Lena D.
I love that this restaurant is adjacent to the condo we always stay in on our yearly visits to Kauai. I have eaten at the Hukilau more than six times, trying almost every dish on the menu. Here's the deal. This place WINS FOR PUPUS: The Ahi Poke Nachos are from Heaven. Sashimi grade ahi poke on top of fresh and crisp wonton chips (nice chipy-dippy size, to boot) with a silky wasabi cream sauce. YUMMMAMI! Another winner are the ribs. They only give you three! Well, OK it is an app, but man, the hoisin sweet glaze and watermelon salad that it comes with is DEELISH. Must also give a shout out to the Lobster and Goat Cheese Wontons, which were crispy on the outside, creamy and lobstery on the inside (nicely balanced, not too cheesy to boot). The Hamakua Mushroom Tart and Calamari were also winners. I tried to bribe the waiter into giving me more of that flaky, buttery crust all by itself, but alas I was shut down. And for calamari, well crispy, warm and cooked to perfection... what more do you want in friend calamari? The only Pupu lacking was the Kalua Chicken with the ancho guava sauce. The chicken was overcooked, the sauce was weak, and the watercress that it was served on top of had too many stems and not enough yummy leaves. SALADS All times, my salads were over dressed. The Arugula Salad with fresh corn & Kauai Kunana Dairy Chevre Salad would have been nummers, IF they weren't swimming in their dressings. SOUPS The curry bisques are great, I had a lobster version one time, then a pumpkin version most recently. Both excelled in flavor, well balanced and silky -- more than made up for the over seasoned, too thick corn and bacon chowder I sampled three nights before. ENTREES: Definitely go for the fish here. This is where they shine. The mix grill plate is ONO. They do it differently --on a weekly basis, i think-- because the three different trips I have been here, the mix grill has been the same fish & preparation for the duration of the week. The Opah is also a winner, being pank & herb crusted and served over orzo in a lemon-caper-cream sauce, although the portion is HUGE. My hubby has ordered the pork tenderloin, the steak crown royale and lasagne. All had excellent flavor, and would get an ONO but definitely not a YUMAMI rating from me because of various textural/ accompaniment reasons on different occasions. Besides eating steak outside in 85 degree weather is just not my cup o' tea, yeah? DESSERT The creme brulee, sorbet trio and mac nut tart are right up there with the ahi poke nachos, with the sorbets having a narrow lead. The creme brulee gets props for not going all lilikoi on us like most CB's in Hawaii. Instead, they take advantage of the BEST vanilla bean in the world right here in Hawaii and use it advantageously. The mac nut tart is rich, toasty and the crust is sooo buttery good. I recommend sharing both of these as the portion is generous and they are very. rich. The sorbet trio is probably the best. The flavors always change, but are always amazing. They serve them on ceramic soup spoons; one little scoop per flavor, and are the perfect, refreshing end to an amazing meal! THE REST Service is chill, waiters are nice, real, not overly attentive but there when you need. Get a table in the lower part of the restaurant, up against the tiki torch parameter if possible. The view is beautiful at sunset and afterward the tikis and garden setting make for a romantic tropical ambiance. The upper level is okay, just isn't the same experience. The wine list is well thought out and well priced. Most bottles are $20 or less and they have a fresh modern approach to their selections. I especially enjoyed that most were available by the glass, so I could mix and match with each course. The cocktails are strong, sweet and cold, what more do you need? Another cool thing is that the chef maintains a small herb garden in front of the outdoor section of the restaurant. Hubby and I got sucked into a time share presentation one morning and we were lucky enough to see one of the kitchen assistants walking out and selecting herbs for the soup of the day. That was the BEST part of the whole sales presentation, as you can probably imagine ;op
(4)
Jeremy D.
Atmosphere: Like hotel restaurant/bar Service: Good, our only complaint being that our server disappeared after they closed and didn't offer dessert and we had to ask for our check. Food: Good to great, everything tasted fresh and creative. 1st course: poke nachos, very good 2nd course: I had the Wally salad, very good. Wife had the lobster bisque, very good 3rd course: Mahi, very good Sweet potato ravioli: good, maybe a little sweet, but it's sweet potato... Lava flows were delicious and the lager on tap was a solid beer. . Overall: not cheap, but if you have the means, I would highly recommend it. Good date night.
(4)
Allison G.
I have been to Kauai 9 times and this was my favorite meal on the island, so far. The servers were fantastic, friendly, and I honestly felt that they cared for us. Most of all, the food was delicious. We went for my grandmother's 75th birthday and they made it very special for us. The Coconut Coast Cooler is a great drink as well as the Mai Tai. The calamari appetizer was excellent and the Ahi was the best that I had ever eaten at a restaurant (and I live in San Diego where I eat lots of seafood). Overall, it was a great experience and I can't wait to go back again next year.
(5)
Robert B.
You owe it to yourself to enjoy this place at least once while on vacation in Kauai. Make a reservation for dinner to sit outside on the patio. Make the reservation early in your vacation, because I can almost guarantee that you will want to come back more than once. The calamari appetizer was delicious. I don't think you could go wrong with any of the fresh fish main courses. I had the ahi with a beet and eggplant ragout and gnocchi. It might sound weird, but it was great. My wife had the ono with a light coconut curry and jasmine rice. It was simple, not overpowering, and amazingly delicious. They have a "20 under $20" wine list, which is a really nice touch. The selection isn't amazing, but I really appreciate not being raked over the coals for wine at a nice restaurant. They have more expensive bottles available as well. We were too full to make it to dessert. Our server was attentive and the outdoor seating area was very nice. I can't think of one thing I'd change about our experience.
(5)
Brian K.
This was the first place I ate when I got to Hawaii and it turned out to be the best place on a three week trip that covered three islands. Food was excellent service was great and the atmosphere was perfect.
(5)
Paul T.
I have to say, this is a must visit - especially if you have kids. The location is great, looking out onto a garden next to the beach. They have a really good kids menu (if your kids are under 4 you might want to consider splitting a dish, as the kids options are a bit pricey). The food was really good, I got the Hukilau Grill which was really tasty - a couple of grilled fish of the day, and a shrimp skewer. Also, the overall cost of the meal was surprisingly good considering Kauai's general prices!
(4)
Jack N.
Food was ok. Service not even so good. A bit of an attitude and not too attentive. Quite pricey for what is offered. Drinks were ok. Better than Burger King... ;0)
(2)
Kevin G.
We had our wedding reception here on 10/5/11. Manda, the banquet manager, was fantastic from the beginning to the end. We had a lot of questions and she always responded promptly. We had a small wedding of 26 people and I think this was the perfect amount of guests. The wedding went fantastic. The food was of course delicious, we had plenty of choices for drinks and the cocktail hour before the reception was a nice touch. If your considering having a wedding at the Hukilau Lanai, I highly recommend getting in touch with Manda and booking the event!
(5)
James H.
The meal started with Focaccia Bread with Basalmic vinegar and olive oil, different, but very good. Small clams are farmed on the West side of Kauai. They were served in delicious sauce as an appetizer. They left my wife and I wanting to sop up the juices with bread. My wife had the Gazpacho soup, excellent , I had the Tomato and Basil with seafood soup which was also very good. For dinner I had a Mahi-Mahi special that was prepared simply, but delicious. My wife had the mixed grill that included fish and shrimp. She very much enjoyed.
(5)
Shana O.
This is my favorite restaurant on Kauai. Best dinner we had when we were there in March 2008, and on our latest trip last week, we were staying at the resort in which it's located. Having 2 young kids, we were not eager to attempt many dinners out with them, and we ended up ordering take out from Hukilau on 3 of our 7 nights there. The Mixed Grill I had on our first night had the most delicious fish I've ever tasted -- I believe it was the Walu. The creamy orzo that came with it was also amazing (available to order as a side w/ anything). The skewered shrimp were also above average but not phenomenal. The seafood creamy soup (not sure of the name) was delicious, though I had to eat it the next day b/c I was so full from my mains. The calamari was the best I've ever had -- plump, moist, lightly breaded -- a far cry from the dry, brittle stuff you can end up with. And the chile coconut sauce is perfect. The lobster curry bisque was very good, though I think I'm more of a traditionalist when it comes to lobster, so it wasn't my favorite. The sweet potato ravioli and ahi poke were delicious though not as amazing as that calamari! The food here is amazing, even for take out, and the in-restaurant dining experience is also exceptional.
(5)
Cindy H.
The mixed grill (seafood + shrimp) was melt in your mouth delicious. The cilantro-lime seafood chowder was amazing. We ate there a second time for our last night on the island.
(5)
Melanie N.
Definitely get reservations! This place fills up quickly. The food is amazing, the service great. The Hukilau griller features all island fresh caught fish. The filet mignon was the most tender I've ever had. Great time, can't wait to go back!
(5)
Darlene C.
AMAZING!! First thing I have to say. We stayed at the Kauai Coast Resort at the Beachboy for our honeymoon, and this is the restaurant in that resort. We actually only ate here once, but after that we wished we had eaten dinner here every night (if we could afford it). It's about as pricey as any really good restaurant, and the food really does deliver. They start you off with bread with oil and balsamic vinegar. The bread had this crust of cheeses on top. It was really good. The top actually kind of tasted like pizza. Hubby had the Mixed Grill. He got two kinds of fish, grilled shrimp skewered on sugar cane, served over something like orzo or cous cous. I don't remember. He looked like he was in heaven eating this thing! I got the shrimp fettuccini, and I was in love. It was really really good. For dessert he had the creme brulee. He said the ratio was not what he preferred. Because the dish is deep, he got more cream and, in his opinion, not enough of the sugar shell. But he said it was still really good. I had the chocolate warm cake, which you have to order early to allow about 20 minutes to make (it says in the menu). I asked them to serve the vanilla bean ice cream that comes with it on the side as I can't have it (but the hubby can). Really really delicious. All the staff we encountered were really nice and attentive. I really do wish we had eaten there sooner to at least have another dinner there. A good excuse to visit Kauai again.
(4)
Spencer G.
Ambience was good. Service excellent. Food outstanding. Best dining on Kuaui
(5)
Cynthia H.
I have never had a disappointing dinner at the HukiLau Lanai. Everything I've had there has been absolutely delicious - from the specialty cocktails to the fabulous entrees. I've eaten there a few times with my sister, and since neither one of us can eat soup or salad plus a whole entree, we always split something. The kitchen is kind enough to offer an extra soup or salad for a modest $5, and then serves each of us a beautiful plated entree which they divide in half so that we don't have the cumbersome job of trying to do that ourselves. The atmosphere is relaxed with a nice view of the gardens. The staff is efficient and eager to please. This restaurant will always be at the top of my list when in Kapaa. I highly recommend it!
(5)
Sunny S.
Hukilau Lanai is AWESOME! The only downfalls are that they are NOT open on MONDAYS and the PARKING is limited. The restaurant is in the KAUAI COAST RESORT, so a lot of stalls are taken by guests and employees. However, it is only a short walk from the Coconut Market Place (which has a LOT of parking available). So you can always park there and walk. My FAVORITE dish there is the POKE NACHOS. If you LOVE "poke" (raw fish) and wonton chips then this is the dish for you. The fish is more "seared" rather than "raw" though. The LOBSTER AND GOAT CHEESE WONTON is amazing too! And so are the BBQ RIBS...mmmmmm! As far as the "entrees/main dishes" go, I recommend EVERYTHING on the menu. My favorite however is the PORK TENDERLOIN. It is MAGNIFICENT! And you must DEFINETLY try some of the FRESH FISH. They are all bought by LOCAL FISHERMAN so you know that its FRESH and not a bunch of "frozen junk" like some restaurants have. There are a handful of dessert choices, but my favorite is the CHOCOLATE CAKE. This takes 20 minutes to prepare so if you are a chocolate lover or think youre gonna try this be sure to let your server know ahead of time (however, they will also ask you in advance) I cant remember the name of the cake but its pretty much a "chocolate molten lava cake" (chocolate cake with more chocolate oozing out) with some ice cream on the side. It is the BEST! I also had the Hawaiian Vanilla Bean Creme Brulee and its wonderful. But my favorite is the chocolate cake. If you have "keiki" (children) this place is VERY KID FRIENDLY. I have a 1 year old daughter there and she loves the food and the staff there. The "keiki menu" is very simple and includes choices of pasta, chicken fingers, hot dogs, fish or PB&J. They also include some "drinks" like Lava Flow or "Hukilau POG" (my daughters favorite). All the kid meals start with some fresh pineapple and end with DESSERT (scoop vanilla ice cream) Oh and of course, the prices are reasonable too. All entrees are under $30 so its pretty easy on your wallet. However, they do have an 18% gratuity of parties over 8 (which is normal for most restaurants) I give this place 5 STARS! Id give it MORE if it was possible but 5 is the limit. Great food, staff AND atmosphere. If you are ever in the island or in the area, be sure to save a night to have dinner at HUKILAU LANAI. I promise you will NOT regret it. I go there every chance I get.
(5)
Adam C.
This place is amazing. It was a Saturday night at 8:30pm and I called in to asked what time they closed. A very nice receptionist said they stop seating at 9pm and bid me to come in. She said that they would be happy to serve me. When we got there every thing was perfect. They had a band playing and we were seated very promptly. Our server was fantastic and the food and local made and bottled mead, yes mead, was delicious. Dessert was a cake made with chocolate from the oldest chocolate factory on Kauai. 5 stars easy.
(5)
Michelle P.
Great little open air restaurant. Close, but not on the beach. They had a some nice quiet live Hawaiian music in the lobby while we waited for our table and had a drink from the bar. We tried three apps. Lobster goat cheese wontons-Yum. HIMM. Heaven in my mouth. Fried goat cheese arugula salad. Yes. My wife digs the goat. Also tried the rib appetizer which was good in small doses...the sweet BBQ sauce was a little much as I grubbed on the 4th one. The liqueur coffee was a great way to finish off the dinner. Expect to pay for any of their entrees...$20-30 a piece. If/When I go again, I'd get the wontons and one of their delicious looking entrees.
(5)
Toni F.
Hukilau was very good for Kauai - not the best but very good. Staff is friendly and efficient, ambience is very nice if you can get a table closest to the courtyard, and we very much enjoyed our experience. We would definitely try it again.
(4)
D L.
Expensive, but worth it. The BEST Gluten-Free vegetarian pasta I've had EVER. Their gf menu (yes, they actually have a separate menu for us) has hardly any vegetarian options, but they are more than willing to make something for you... So I had the "gluten free fisherman's pasta" without the fish ;-) It was delicious oyster mushrooms and other elegant vegetables in a drool-worthy gluten free white sauce. Not heavy or greasy, just delicious. A friend took me there on my birthday and they brought my creme brulee with a chocolate square that said "Happy Birthday" on it in icing as well as a complementary mini-box (with a bow!) of a couple of their homemade gluten free truffles --- delicious and I felt so special :-) Also, to assuage the hunger pangs of the forever-forgotten "glutards" (as a friend calls us) - they actually bake you a fresh gluten free mini-bread so you don't have to gaze longingly at the delicious bread basket with balsamic and oil everyone else is enjoying while wringing your hands under the table!
(5)
Lance T.
Great service and seafood for dinner. However, the open air restaurant allows mosquitos so beware of any exposed skin.
(4)
Allison L.
Good dinner and really good food. Resort and restaurant are older and tired looking. Could be much better with major facelift.
(4)
Tom C.
Loved this place! The prices were fair and the food was delicious! We started with the Calamari as an appetizer, which was fantastic. Definitely fresh! The Wally salad was out of this world. I had the local mushroom meatloaf, and my wife had the opah. We both loves our entrees. For dessert, TRY THE MAC NUT TART with Cinnamon Ice cream (made fresh)! We will be returning here on our future trips! Didn't get five stars because the server was a bit annoying in continually asking if I wanted 20 minute chocolate pie, and gave us the check while I was still enjoying my meal. MAKE A RESERVATION! We went here on a Wednesday and were told it would be an hour and a half wait, we made reservations and went the following night and walked right in.
(4)
Sarah S.
Locals and our resort alike (and even the guide books) all raved about this place so we decided to try their special tasting menu. Yes, their purple sweet potato ravioli was good. Yes, the ambience with blooming plumeria was beautiful. Yes, our server explained the wonders of local produce and herbs grown in a garden within sight of the restaurant. All of that can't make up for a poorly paired meal. I'm no wine afficionado but I might have done a better job pairing wines with the foods (I think I got a Cab with seafood or something like that). I would say only one of the five dishes was appropriately paired. I'd skip this and opt for something that feels more local. I definitely felt like one tourist among many others.
(3)
Holly H.
Came here for my anniversary on the 17th (my first time) and we loved every minute of it! Especially our waitress Jessica!! She is wonderful. We both were admiring how everyone worked together. We didnt have to wait long for anything. Food was excellent. We tried just about every appetizer. Thei sweet potato ravioli was my favorite! For the main course I had the filet and he had the prime rib. Best on island so far. We will be back next week. Mahalo!
This is one of my FAVORITE restaurants on Kauai! The food is excellent and the service superb! I have eaten here at least 15 times in the past three years and eachtime enjoy myself tremendously. The filet mignon, ceaser salad and all of their fish dishes are fabulous! The OHC Chocolate Mousse is the most fantastic and delicious dessert I have ever tasted in my life!
(5)
Tim B.
First I must start by saying get a reservation. We did not know this and it was an hour wait, late in the evening on a Tuesday. The service was the best on the island by far!!! The drinks were delicious and fairly strong. I had the Opah, Amazing!!! My GF had the mix seafood, also delicious. The Ahi Nacho appetizer was awesome!!! all round great restaurant
(5)
Robyn U.
Fish was not cooked well and was dry. Service was good.
(2)
Sangeetha S.
Eh, it wasn't that great. We thought this place would be just as stellar as our kayak tour guide's other suggestion (Mermaid's Cafe), but we were left wanting. We got the mixed plate, which was unfortunately so forgettable that I can't even remember what two types of fish were included. The mixed plate also came with some ridiculously creamy and heavy orzo, which I found unpalatable. Per the recommendations of some of the other reviews here, we ordered the sweet potato ravioli as an appetizer. My boyfriend relished it, but I thought it was unpleasantly sweet (yes, I know it's *sweet* potato, what else would I expect?) and had an odd texture to it I didn't care for. We DID have this amazing mixed fish soup there that was incredible, but overall not enough to save the entire meal. The restaurant has both indoor and outdoor seating. I'm insanely sensitive to temperature, so I found the inside of the restaurant to be freezing (AC turned way the hell up). Sitting outside was pleasant. Service was so-so; our waiter was pretty distracted because his family, including is adorable granddaughter, were seated in the table right next to us, but I can't really blame him (I mean, with a granddaughter that cute?!). Overall, a very OK experience.
(3)
K M.
I was lucky enough to be invited here twice in one week for 2 different events which means my dinner was FREE!! So, I can't comment on the prices, I didn't even see them. I can comment on the food. The first event was a Christmas Party and we ordered off of a custom menu. I had sweet potato ravioli was very pleasantly surprising, and the ahi poke nachos were so unbelievable! I also had the NY steak which was cooked perfectly and had a wonderful sauce with it and the lobster curry. (I'm allergic to lobster, but I had to try it and it was literally to DIE for!) The second event was a buffet for an awards ceremony and everything was delicious, amazing, and interesting. They don't serve ordinary foods, they take it up a notch to extraordinary! I didn't know what I was eating most of the time without reading the signs, but everything was delicious and some of it was unusual. What is even better is that they use fresh local ingredients.
(5)
Polina D.
Good food. Great service. Get the tasting menu - it is the way to go.
(5)
Alison H.
We had a lovely dinner at Hukilau Lanai. The atmosphere is very romantic by the water with tiki torch-lit garden that the dining area is open to. Also, when we came in there were no tables, and they let us start ordering from the big comfy couches next to a big fishtank. We almost stayed there the whole meal just relaxing on the couch watching the fishes. The sweet potato ravioli is really something else. whoa! this is not orange-yam sweet potato, forgive me if I am clueless but I assumed... this is Okinawan sweet potato which is bright purple and certainly very sweet. I like sweet and this was actually just about too sweet for me. Also the flavors are Asian, not Italian... shouldn't it be called a gyoza or potsticker or something? but whatever. The double-fish special dinner was very good. As everyone says the focaccia is quite good and I don't even usually like focaccia. I had a goat cheese salad and made a little bruschetta with the focaccia - mm. The salad was good but small. I also couldn't resist ordering the ahi poke nachos. It just sounded so interesting. Well, we shouldn't have gotten this. The 'nachos' are these oddly very sweet fried wonton strip things that were awful. so we ate most of the poke off the top and that was decent but not especially good. Plus this is a mountainous app and it ended up being too much food. By the way, our service was quite good. A bug fell into my drink twice (understandable given that we were in an open-air setting in the evening) and the waiter ran to replace it and kept our water topped off.
(4)
Cindy G.
This restaurant is one of my "regulars" with good reason. They have their act together. A nice view, you can see the ocean before dark, but pretty grounds and tikis - you know you're in paradise. The food is fantastic and consistently so. If you like to sample a lot of the menu but without stuffing yourself completely, try the Chef's tasting with or without the wine pairing - but it's only available the first hour. Reservations are strongly recommended - everyone else knows they're good, too. I love the food. Nice mix so everyone can find something they will love.
(5)
Tracy S.
Had a great steak here on Mother's Day. Delicious!
(5)
Baxter C.
Get the warm cake. Order it with your dinner so it's ready right after you're done.
(5)
Kellev B.
This was elegant dining (at least by our standards) with really good food. As a bonus, when we mentioned that our family does not eat pork or shellfish, the server was able to immediately tell us which dishes to avoid, and, even better, which ones could easily be adjusted to fit our needs. Truly excellent service.
(5)
jon r.
The food is superb. This would get 5 stars, but the view of the ocean is a bit obscured and the hotel that the eatery resides in is outdated
(4)
Colin M.
Restaurant was nice, food was pretty good - not many non-seafood options. View is of the nicely landscaped, and very green courtyard, which leads to the ocean. Restaurant is a part of a hotel, so you enter through it's lobby to get there.
(4)
Colin B.
Hukilau Lanai was easily the best place we found to eat while on Kauai. When I travel I want to eat local food, something I can't get 4,000 miles away in Texas. I don't want Mexican, I don't want a burger... we do those better in Texas. I promise. I want fish I can't pronounce and produce from down the road, the stuff that we pay double for and only get at specialty grocery stores. This was Hukilau Lanai. We ate here twice while we were there. You must have the sweet potato ravioli, an awesome purple Okinawan sweet potato. Get the mixed fish grill and make sure it has butterfish on there. Best fish we had on the island. Make this your first dinner and go back and try other stuff. Great place. Great service, too.
(5)
Dawny M.
As other reviews stated the food was very good and service was attentive. I had the Ahi with mushroom topping, my husband had the Seafood mixed grill. High marks for both. I had their house special salad, which was better than most house salads. My husband had the Cesar, which was your everyday Cesar, nothing special in our opinion unlike one of the other reviewers stated. Tried the lobster wontons, as others raved about them, but found they were more cheesy than lobster, so can't recommend them. Enjoyed the hot lava cake for dessert. Overall a very good meal and experience here on Kauaii. Remember as several reviewers stated, get a reservation, or your wait may be crazy.
(4)
Stephanie H.
Eureka! Best food on the island of Kauai hands down. If you don't believe me see my other reviews! So good you want to pinch yourself for a fear of dreaming the food is so amazing! This restaurant is farm to table the freshness and quality surpasses my expectations. I wish I would have found this treasure sooner. My husband and I ate here on a Sunday and we wanted to eat here every night after. The restaurant is closed on Monday so we booked another reservation on Tuesday. It was well priced and the flavors exploded in our mouths. My husband ordered the Mahi Mahi pasta twice both nights with the Caesar salad. I had the lasagna one night with goat cheese salad and the meatloaf the next time with the pineapple gazpacho soup. Both nights we had the sweet potato ravoli knock your socks to the moon goodness. Just don't be afraid the sweet potatos in Hawaii are purple. I miss the fresh flavors. Food is so good I wanted to kiss the cook... I am sure my husband wont mind.
(5)
Johan S.
Their Adams tuna poke nachos is one of the reasons to visit Kauai in the first place!
(5)
Johnny S.
Probably one of, if not the best place I've eaten at on Kauai. Started out with ribs as an appetizer and they were excellent. No fat on them and they fell right off the bone. The homemade sauce only made them better. Had the filet mignon for dinner, which I ordered well done. It came out cooked perfectly and didn't even need to be butterflied. The sauce made it even better. For dessert we had the lava cake, which was also amazing. The whole dinner was great from start to finish and the service was impeccable. I would definitely recommend this place.
(5)
Brandon R.
Best dinner we've had on the island yet! We had the poki nachos, opah (monk fish), and mixed grill (which changes based on the fresh catch) and it was all awesome. Half the price of the Beach House and equal in quality of food and service.
(5)
Ro S.
Sept 24, 2011 - W O W... Service with a smile.. Literally. Every server wears a smile. We had 6pm reservations (made that day) for 12. Seated so comfortably. Drinks came quickly.. Salad next. Wonderful salads. Focaccia bread came - delicious. Ordered the mushroom tart.. Shared it 4 ways.. should have ate it myself - it is so wonderful. I had the prime rib - grilled. Delicious. Had the molten lava.. was so full.. Everyone on the table just raved about the food and the service. We kept comparing the lousy service we had at Keoki's Paradise in Poipu/Koloa and said we should have had our dinner party here. Prices are lower - food was excellent - the service was the best. They brought my grandson's dinner out later than the rest of ours.. apologized to him... and brought him a complimentary chocolate sundae. The owner came to our table to check on us..she was very gracious. Note: I asked our server how long she worked for the Hukilau.. 5 years plus (i think).. She loved working there and said the owners were so good to their employees. It totally shows! We will be back and I have shared with our Alaska Airline customers flying to Kauai how wonderful this place is!
(5)
Mark W.
Surprised when we pulled up and it was in a resort hotel. But after that, all of the surprises were good ones. Don't let the nachos name fool you, the poke nachos were the best/lightest appetizer we had on our trip. Thank goodness our server pretty much insisted that we try them! All of the dishes were fantastic, best of the 10 day trip. Blows away better known restaurants such as Roy's or Duke's. Oh and back to being in a resort, turned out to be a wonderful atomesphere and a bonus of shopping village right next store. It will be a must go to on all future trips!
(5)
Amy I.
Relaxed atmosphere. The appetizer was ok (I don't even remember what it was), but the meatloaf was actually really good. The service was good and we had a ocean view.
(4)
Tony S.
We found ourselves drawn to Hukilau Lanai twice after our initial visit. Twice we ate at the bar where we enjoyed the Wally Salad and calamari. The other time we arrived early for the pairing special, which serves before 5:45 pm. The four or five courses and wine selections were excellent.
(5)
Scott K.
We went here on the recommendation of a woman we met in Kapaa, near where we are staying. She said it was one of the best gluten-free places on the island (we have one family member with celiac disease). It was really good. The had many gluten-free choices and they prepare the food in a gluten-free environment. There was a nice selection of gluten-free choices, especially baked goods. We had a wonderful meal, and great service, and yes, the place is really beautiful.
(4)
Cyndi W.
Melt in your mouth fish and beef. Great ocean view. Amazing salads... Great wine list! They have a 5 course tapas meal paired with wines for $40 per person.
(5)
Edward S.
Good food and good service in a nice setting. Not really close enough to be "by the beach" but it didn't matter. Had a good meal and would definitely recommend this place. Probably the best food we've had in 3 weeks on the island and we've eaten at some nice expensive places.
(4)
Joyce Y.
4.5 stars This is definitely one of the best meals we had in Hawaii and definitely the best in Kauai! I thought this was better than Mama's Fish House (and cheaper) in Maui! We both got the mixed grill plate that comes with the delicious Wally salad. Wally salad was amazing! I know it's just salad but it was good. The bread that came before our entree was nice and warm, too. The mixed grill came with two kinds of fish. I can't recall what kind of fish it was but it was sooo tasty and yummy! The fish was nice and tender and moist and had great flavor. One was a cajun flavor while the other had a teriyaki flavor. It also came with shrimp skewered on a sugar cane on top of a bed of orzo. Yummy!! Definitely make a reservation if you can. It gets really crowded. We didn't make reservations and the wait was going to be really long. But we decided to eat in the lounge area instead of the restaurant and were seated quickly! Prices are definitely expensive. About the same price as if you go to Roy's. But it's worth it! Parking is actually a little bit difficult to find! Most of the spaces are already taken by the hotel guests so it's kinda hard to find a space! Overall, one of the best places we ate in Hawaii.
(4)
A C.
For a resort based restaurant, Hukilau Lanai certainly went beyond our expectations. Especially trying some of the other more expensive ones on the island. However tempting the meat choices were, we went with the local catches. The Mixed Seafood Grill and Opah were both excellent, but the Mahi was the best. Of course if you love chocolate, don't miss the "Original Hawaiian Chocolate Factory" Warm Cake. Hukilau Lanai is a must, when visiting Kauai.
(5)
Sonya S.
We enjoyed my birthday dinner here on a Saturday. With reservations, we were given a prime seat overlooking a pleasant outdoor square. Parking was rough... had to park nearby on the road, as both lots were packed. My first drink, a lilikoi martini, was strong for my taste, and came in a plain glass, no garnish, because the waiter made the decision it was better to get the drink to me sooner rather than wait for new martini glasses... I appreciated that, though did not understand why waiters waiting on tables would not get preference over the walk-up bar crowd (heavy this night due to nearby wedding). Ahi taco appetizer and swordfish dinner were superb. They brought wrapped chocolates and placed a little chocolate happy birthday sign on my pie... Nice touch! Despite a downpour, we stayed dry... they can pull down plastic shades as needed to keep the rain out. All in all, an upscale experience w/small, forgivable glitches--easily overcome with thoughtful service.
(4)
Agnes C.
We had reservations here (if you don't make reservations, expect to wait an hour). The butterfish 'catch of the day' was wonderful. He had lobster bisque which I tried and was wonderful. I had sweet potato ravioli and would go back to have it again.
(5)
Benoit R.
Good location conveniently located at walking distance from other hotels. The food is good. Some servers are really knowledgeable, some are just so so. The food selection was nice, the flavors were unusual and balanced, and the wine list was good and affordable. Definitely a good place to have a nice dinner with your better half.
(4)
LuckieMaounds P.
Yeah. It didn't work out for me. We had a 6:15 reservation. So we show up at 6:14 and are seated by our hostess with the menus. We don't know who our server is for a good 10 minutes, as no one comes by, not even to bring water. Around 6:30 our server comes by, tells us he'll be right back, and then doesn't return until about 6:40. I was really ready to walk at that point but I was so excited about the great food reviews so I stuck it out. When he does return he pours water then whips out his pad and tells us what the soup of the day is... and then silence. Of course we are ready to order so we order it all at the same time without a word from him: drinks, app, salads, dinner. 10 minutes goes by and the ahi nacho appetizer comes. It's really good and different! not exceptional. But tasty and I am hungry and it disappears off the plate pretty quick. THEN our drinks come. I am served a lemondrop, which I did order, with a really horrible, sour-tasting flavor-to-booze ratio and no sugar. I want to send it back but no one ever comes, not even to remove our empty app plate. The server drops off bread very quickly and disappears - I am calling after him "excuse me...?" but he doesn't hear me and he is gone. A busser brings the salads. The bread was very good - foccacia with oil/vinegar dip. The caesar salad was better than the house salad which came with a sweet dressing that I wasn't digging. Server comes back again later to drop off more bread. At that point I had given up on/ forgotten about my nasty drink. Dinner is served by another busser. He got the mixed grill and I got... I think it was the ono. The menu didn't say it was breaded but when it came out it was. Lightly breaded, but breaded and void of flavor. It came sitting on a bed of orzo or couscous or something and sitting in a crushed tomato sauce. Plain and forgettable. That mixed grill, tho, was outstanding. The shrimp was fat and flavorful and the fish came with a curry that was out-of-this-world delicious. I would order this again in a heartbeat... if I ever come back. Because dude, the service was really weird. After we finished, we sat. And sat. And sat with dirty plates. And then we saw our server. He was headed toward us, walked right past and went to the table next to us. At this time he greeted his new customers, told them about the specials (what specials? we were never told about any specials) and wine pairings!! (wine?? we wouldnt even have known there was a wine list at all!!) We've both worked in the restaurant and service industry. We are not rude restaurant patrons, and even a bad experience gets a tip (and I hate it but I still do it because it is really wrong not to). We had to flag down another busser to ask for our check. A minute later, our server came walking by. I flagged him down as well, we told him we want our check and he silently went to get it. No dessert sell, no coffee. Not even a "thank you for coming" on a $100 dinner. I seriously did not, and still do not get this guy.
(2)
Morgan C.
Tasting menu was great. Nice open air seating area
(4)
Benjamin L.
Delicious pasta with fish and desserts. Very nice ambiance. Yes, you'll need a reservation for the main dining room, but not for the bar/lounge area, which is just as nice. A high point of our stay at the hotel.
(4)
Mike M.
I went here for my last night in Kauai. For starters we had the Poke Nachos! The GF ordered the seared ahi and ordered the Waly's steak crown royal. This was the most expensive meal dinner we had on the island and well worth it. Service was good!
(4)
Bob W.
After eating some poor to average meals at high prices, we were starving for a restaurant that provided excellent food at a reasonable price, with good service and nice ambiance. The Hukilau Lania had it all! It was a little difficult to find since it's off the main highway on the Aleka Loop, which is not an obvious road and looks more like an entrance to a few stores. Look for the Kauai Coast Resort, and the Hukilau Lania is inside that resort. As soon as you see the front of the building and parking lot, you know you're at a quality place. Our server was named Brian, and he was excellent. He was easy to talk with and made us feel right at home, not to mention quick with service. The food was the best we had during our entire vacation, and the overall price was less than we had paid at other restaurants for food that couldn't compare. Everything we ordered came hot and perfectly prepared. The chef in this restaurant is definitely one of the best in the area. If we ever come back to Kauai, we'll definitely be back at the Hukilau Lanai. We can recommend it without reservation.
(5)
Dorcee S.
Wonderful last night on island dinner. Sept 14th, our last dinner on Kauai had to be spent at Hukilau Lanai (it's my favorite splurge restaurant). Called the day before for reservations at 5:30 pm. We're having dinner with good friends Karen & Conrad. We were seated on the lower terrace with a peak of ocean. I already know I want to try the tasting menu and that's exactly what I & Conrad had. Skip (my hubby) & Karen went with the Wally's Royal Crown Medallions (3 fillets). Skip is picky about well-done beef - his was perfect!!! Karen's too. 5 stars I also opted to have the Lobster Bisque - 5 stars +++++++ I could make a meal of this! Tasting Menu: Sweet Potato Ravioli - 4.5 stars Mushroom Tart - 4 stars Longaniza Sausage & Warabi (Fiddlehead Fern) - 0 stars from me, no like - Conrad nearly licked his plate and mine too - for him 5 stars Mahi Mahi with Shrimp Fennel Sauce - 4.5 stars Crème Brulee - 5 stars Shared Banana Foster Cheesecake - 5 stars Our server Brian, was great, we had a table on the lower terrace (where I wanted). After dinner we walked around Kauai Coast Resort. Wonderful evening spent with wonderful friends. A really great close to two weeks on Kauai! $180.00 for food, wine, beer.
(5)
Richard A.
Very good food with an older crowd (my son - 19 months - was the only toddler and most of the diners were clearly over 50). We enjoyed the fish (opakapaka, ono) and meat loaf. They have a nice fish tank and live entertainers that kept my son happy during the occasional breaks during our meal. The candied ahi was a little spicy for my taste. I'd like to return and try the tasting menu.
(4)
Randall K.
This restaurant was fantastic. The atmosphere was wonderful, the staff very attentive, and the food was amazing. I had the filet mignon while my girlfriend had the seafood platter. While the steak was hands down one of the best I've had in recent memory, the seafood was amazing, and I ended up stealing delicious morsels off her plate. We'd definitely return, and we're encouraging our friends that visit Kauai to make it a point to dine here at least once.
(5)
Cynthia D.
This place is a winner. The food is outstanding. All the tables face out to the lawn and ocean. Thee was a gentle waif of evening flowers in the air. The wine list appears to be reasonable. We tried the poke nachos, the candied poke and the wontons with lobster and goat cheese. I don't remember really finding any lobster in the wontons so they were not my favorite dish. The ahi poke was great, so fresh and the candied was good in a very different spectrum very unusual heavily spiced dish. The Wally salad was a fun, fruit and lettuce with sweet vinaigrette, not everyone will like it but I did. The Opah and Opakapaka were wonderful, light flaky delicious. Pretty presentation of all the dishes.The Opakapaka was served with a subtle tomato buerre blanc sauce. The only down side was twice the waiters dropped their tray of dishes somewhere near us. That just shouldn't happen. Then the waiter when serving us entrees , placed the Opah in front of me, then removed it and placed another Opah in front of me. Exact same presentation. My Opakapaka was given to the companion next to me. The wait staff didn't seem to really know what the differences in the fish being served. There is live music and just flows nicely into the room and the overall ambiance is nice, gentle and somewhat romantic.
(4)
Wes Y.
We started off with the Lobster wontons which were tasty and creamy. Then I had the lobster bique which was good. For the entree I had the Hukilau Pasta which had chicken, sausage, and shrimp, in a creamy tomato sauce. For dessert, I had the chocolate cheescake. Everything was good, but the cheesecake was disappointing. I think they basically froze it and let it defrost if someone ordered it. Overall, it was ok. I really don't think it's worth it, considering how much it costs. However, the filet mignon and prime rib looked good...now I wish I ordered that instead...
(3)
Wallace G.
I try not to eat a lot of red meat, but the steaks at Hukilau are just too good! Can't help myself. It's always busy because it's popular with the natives -- that's always a good sign. It's become a regular stop for us whenever we visit Kauai. They stick to their knitting, but they are consistent and very good at what they do. You won't see a lot of creative, cutting edge items on the menu, but if you're looking for prime rib with mashed potatoes, you'll be very happy.
(4)
Darlene L.
Very good pricey food accompanied by sloooww service which detracts from the experience. Fish entrees, particularly the tender and sweet opakapaka, are very good. This place has a following of older diners and groups. Our waiter abandoned us for 20 minutes tending to one of the groups never bringing the dessert we ordered. It had to be taken off the bill after we summoned the person who seated us.So we departed feeling disappointed.What this place needs is polished service, a renovation, and jazzier music to liven up the vibe.
(3)
Evan M.
Great seafood. A little far from where we stayed but it was worth the drive.
(4)
Holli H.
My husband and I wanted a nice romantic dinner while on our honeymoon and at the recommendation of his mom who is a local we tried Hukilau Lanai. It is in the lobby of a hotel resort so I was a little unsure at first but I'm so glad we went. We ordered the ribs from the appetizer menu and they were perfectly flavored with the right amount of sweet and just a hint of spicy and it fell off the bone. For our main course, my husband had the filet minon and I had the Hawaiian sampler which consisted of a portion of blackened Mahi-Mahi and a portion of grilled Hebe, also referred to as spearfish. Let me just say that my hubby is not a fish eater and he said my Hebe was better than his filet and he said his filet was excellent. I had the Parducci Sustainable white blend with my meal and it was amazing. I would definititly recommend it with the fish. The service was great, the atmosphere was nice, the view gorgeous...it was the perfect romantic dinner!
(4)
Cheryl M.
Excellent, even after multiple years. My mother and I were there two days before Christmas and the food was wonderful even with the changes in the menu. The fish was fantastic, and my mother had steak which she said was wonderful also. Hukilau Lanai is one of my favorite restaurants of all time. Great service and cocktails.
(5)
Aileen C.
I didn't expect that one of the top rated restaurants on Kauai would be in a restaurant lobby. It kind of killed the ambiance and made the restaurant appear really touristy. We started with the Ahi Poke Nachos which were really good and the Lobster Bisque which was REALLY good, so when our entrees came we were super excited, only to find the food fell flat. The opah seemed fried and greasy and overall everything just tasted like it needed some kind of flavor. Maybe our tastebuds were wasted on the apps... either way, the entree should have the leading role, not play best supporting actress.
(2)
Heather D.
This place was great! Like most restuarants on the island, it's safe to plan on spending about $30 per person for dinner here. We tried the sweet potato ravioli, but it wasn't as yummy as I'd hoped! The salads were tasty, but watch out for the bacon if you're a vegetarian! The bread and balsamic oil dip were so delicious we ordered a second batch. I tried the orchid martini, which contained vanilla; it was so strong that I had to summon courage to get it all down. It was pretty and worth every penny, but not exactly a smooth concoction. We didn't have a reservation, so we had to eat in the lounge section, but we found two comfy chairs and a table right on the water, so it was perfect!! I had a fish dish served with penne, that was spicy with a corn kernels in the sauce. So amazingly delicious!! I hope to try and replicate this at home!! I'd love to come back! Note: this restaurant is right across from the Coconut Marketplace, a fun place to get souvenirs for yourself, friends and even your dog!
(4)
Sharon W.
My husband and I wanted to celebrate our 5th anniversary and the Hukilau Lanai's 5-course tasting menu seemed to be a perfect fit for the evening. The portions were perfect for enjoying all five courses and feeling full, but not overstuffed. Our favorite course was the candied ahi. The ahi was of the highest quality and just melted in your mouth. The seasonings were complex, flavorful, and kept forcing me to make yummy sounds, despite my desire for constraint. The gazpacho with rum pineapple basil sorbet was a close second. It was an unusual match of ingredients, but sometimes experimenting pays off. That is the case with this wonderful concoction. Their wine pairings were well matched to the various courses and provided a wide array of flavors and experiences. While we were enjoying our dinner, they had some live music. We were both pleased that it enhanced the dining experience and the volume was kept low enough that we could still easily enjoy our own conversation. The staff was busy, but considerate. Overall, it was a great experience and was the finest dining I've enjoyed on any of the islands.
(5)
Norm G.
Our first night on Kauai, we treated ourselves and ate at this restaurant, which was located in a hotel right next to ours (Islander on the Beach). It already earned a star right off the bat for being kid friendly: they gave the kids pictures to color and crayons as soon as we were seated. I ordered the Tenderloin Medallions crusted with peppercorns and glazed with Crown Royal. It was just the right amount of meat, and was cooked to perfection. The "special potato" it came with was simply mashed potatoes. I also ordered a "Wally's salad," which had a very nice dressing. The foccacia bread, I was told by my family, was also superlative. I am avoiding yeast products temporarily, so I could only watch my family members eat my favorite bread with a very special "hangdog-martyr-poor me" expression. The children had a great time running around the grounds right next to the restaurant after we ate (see the picture of the grounds I uploaded), giving my wife and I the rare treat of actually responding to each other in complete, uninterrupted sentences. To top it off, our waitress was a sweet woman who was friendly and, we also learned, has children of her own. If you don't mind spending the bucks, I would definitely recommend this place. And, yes, we made reservations, and were seated immediately. Perhaps it helped that we got there early also (5:30 in the evening).
(5)
Robert C.
This is the best dinner I've had since being on the island. It's best to make reservations as we did for a party of two. I started with the lobster bisque which was creamy and tasty. A great way to start off a meal ! The main entree I had was the mixed seafood grill. The two fishes for the night were butterfish and spearfish. This was accompanied with a skewer of shrimp and risotto. All this was surrounded by a nice creamy sauce. I thought the sauce reminded me similarly of the bisque. For dessert I had the creme brulee. A nice touch. I believe living in the bay area in California has made me spoiled at times. It's been tough truly good food here. You won't be disappointed at this restaurant. This place is located inside a resort.The restaurant opens up and faces toward a nice view of the interior grounds. Tiki torches light the walkways.
(4)
Arrrrgh R.
We had been eating Saimin & BBQ for most of the week we were there and were looking for a change of pace. This place was recomended by the Marriott concierge. For this type of food (seafood - fusion) - this was the best one on Kauai. I had the bisque as a started and the Mixed Grill as an entree. The fish as butter fish and ono that night. The butterfish was delicious! as was everything else. I was very pleasantly surprised with the food. The prices were very reasonable. The place is fancier than others on the island but certainly not stuffy - the service is casual.
(4)
Brent T.
We decided to try this place based on yelp reviews and some other sites. The restaurant is inside of the Kauai Coast Resort (some fancy pants resort) and has a lounge area outside (basically the resort lobby). There was about a 45 minute wait since we didn't have a reservation. They did give us a buzzer so that we could walk around and check out the shops at the Coconut Marketplace across the street. When we did get seated, the only table available was a huge one (there was only two of us). Mango Margarita (drink): This drink was average at best. Maybe I was spoiled from the delicious margarita I had the other night, but it just didn't do it for me. 5 out of 10. Coral Crush (drink): This was an average mixed drink. I can't remember exactly what was in it, but the alcohol taste was strong and didn't balance well with the flavors. 4 out of 10. Ahi Poke Nachos (appetizer): This was an interesting dish and different from what you usually see on appetizer menus. It consisted of chunks of ahi tuna (sashimi), avocado, onions, masago (tiny roe) and a slightly spicy sauce on top of crispy fried won ton strips. It was a decent dish, but I felt like it took away from the freshness of the tuna. The onions and sauce overpowered the fish and didn't balance well overall. 6 out of 10. Mixed Grill (entree): This entree included four grilled shrimp, two cuts of grilled fish (ahi tuna and some unidentified white fish) on top of some orzo (rice shaped pasta) and a creamy/spicy sauce. This dish overall was a disappointment. The fish was overcooked and dry. It felt like there was a bit too much sauce and was kind of strange that it was below everything (so the fish and orzo were sitting on top of it). The best part of the dish was the shrimp; it was fresh and perfectly grilled. If it was just the shrimp, I'd rate it a 8 out of 10, but the whole dish gets a 6 out of 10. Service: Average service. The staff seemed a bit rushed and didn't check in too often. 7 out of 10. Overall, this restaurant was a disappointment. The food was sub-par and the wait just wasn't worth it. For a seafood restaurant in Hawaii, we expected better, more fresh fish. SUMMARY (TL;DR version): - If you decide to come here, a reservation is the way to go - Ahi poke nachos are interesting, but nothing to rave about - The shrimp was delicious, everything else was bland and uninteresting
(2)
Philip M.
The Ahi nachos, lobster bisque and mac nut chicken are da bomb!!! Slightly on the pricy side, but well worth it for the quality of meal. Not the biggest of portions, but great presentation and flavors. We ate twice here for dinner on this trip cause it was that good.
(5)
j k.
I looove this place! The last time we we're in Kauai we dined here 3 times and this time we had dinner here twice! The first night we had the lobster bisque, lobster wontons, poke nachos, wally salad, mixed grill and a fish entree....cant remember which one. The second night we tried the sweet potato ravioli, ribs, lobster bisque and wally salad, mahi mahi and filet. The lobster wontons and lobster bisque were the best I've had that I can remember. the poke nachos were really good. The ribs were tender and sweet. The entrees were delicious as well. I wanted to come back and do the tasting menu, but we ran out of time. The wine selection is pretty good and they have a great list of wines for under $20 a bottle. Can't wait to go back the next time I'm in Kauai!
(5)
jean H.
The tasting menu knocked our socks off. There sausage was to die for and everything was 5 star, top notch quality. The view was amazing, the music was great and the service was the best.
(5)
Denise L.
We ate at Hukilau on our first night in Kauai. It's was absolutely the best meal during our entire trip! The food was fantastic! We didn't have any reservations, but since we were starving, we decided to dine in the lounge. This area was perfectly fine. We had a nice high table with high bar chairs right by the window. We had a nice view of the resort, ocean area. The lounge was small, but nice with a duet playing Hawaiian music. It was so relaxing and peaceful. We started off with some bread and dipping oil. Since we were pretty hungry, we ordered the mushroom quesedia as an appetizer. The portions were good for sharing and it was tasty. Every entree came with either soup or salad. If I had known this, I probably wouldn't have ordered an appetizer. It was a basic salad with greens, bacon, tomato and red onions. It had too much dressing, but overall it was good. For my entree, I had the ono over udon noodles in a light broth. I loved the fish! It had the right texture and it tasted so good with the udon noodles. They were chewy and soft. Overall, the flavors were so tasty and light. I don't remember what my bf had, but I just remember eating a huge prawn from his dish. We were so full that we didn't even order dessert. I highly would recommend coming here for dinner on your visit to Kauai. Food is so fresh, light and delicious.
(4)
Anna H.
After reading all the amazing reviews here on Yelp, my husband and I decided to spend our last night's Dinner at Hukilau Lanai. We didn't make a reservation, but thinking it was a Thursday night, why would we need to anyways, right? NO! Big mistake, we should have made reservations way advance. We waited 1 hour and 30 minutes to get our tables, partly because we suspect the hostess forgot about us. It seems that the restaurant values the dinning experience more than the pre dinner wait experience. Once we finally got it, we realized that there were only a handful of couples' tables. Our server was wonderful. We order a mai tai and pina colada, friend lobster wonton; for entre - the pork loin, and the seafood mixed grill; for dessert - chocolate mousse cake with ice cream. It was a very delicious meal, and the nightly view of the courtyard was wonderful. Again, for that perfect dinning experience, reserve well in advance. ;)
(4)
Dee V.
*Review for a wedding reception* We had our wedding reception in the private banquet room recently. Manda (private party coordinator) was awesome! She always got back to me really quickly leading up to the event and was also very attentive the day of the reception. Food: All our guests loved the food! We had appetizers (lobster/goat cheese wontons, garlic shrimp, sweet potato/feta ravioli, ahi poke nachos); lobster curry bisque; prime rib, filet mignon, and the fish special of the day (mahi mahi). I usually don't like feta or goat cheese items but these appetizers tasted great. I had the prime rib and it was huuuge and delicious (guests had same reaction). Same for the filet mignon. The one thing people didn't seem to like was the fish option. I had a bite and didn't care much for the taste either. It was cooked well and nothing was wrong with it really, just maybe lacked flavor. Cocktails: drinks on our menu included mai tais and loco lemonade which were both very popular. Dessert: We had the strawberry chiffon wedding cake which was beautifully decorated and also tasted great. Overall, this was an excellent location for a wedding reception. I would still give it a 5 if I was basing it off of just a review of the food alone.
(5)
Clint D.
Where do I start. For 30 years we been staying in Kapaa at The Islander on the Beach. Its right across from the Coconut Market Place - which has several places to eat. BUT right next door is the BEST restaurant on the island - hidden away in the Kauai Coast Resort. Great food - not cheap, well worth the cost, it is always a 'special night out' for us. The first thing I do after checking into the IBO is to call next door to the Hukilau Lanai for Resos (a must). We usually stay 2 weeks and end up eating there at lest twice. Its run by the folks at Gaylords, but much better. Great fresh seafood, super salads, desserts (Lava Cake to die for!), Tenderloin Medallions with Crown Royal sauce, beer/ale, drinks, and a good wine list. (I haven't tried the Fixe menu, but it sounds like a good idea) Great service, and I hesitate to say this, great place for families, they really go out of there way to make the children happy. Beautiful setting, looking out from the Lanai (porch) is a view of the courtyard of the hotel, and in the distance the ocean.
(5)
The H.
We came here on the last night of our honeymoon for a decent meal. The food and drinks were great! Lobster and Goat Cheese Wonton PuPus were delish. We tried the crown royal steak medallions because it sounded interesting, but I think next time we would choose the Filet (we were all seafooded out!). The veggie lasagna was delicious and the tomato bisque was the wife's favorite part. The only downside was our not so attentive server. This could be classified as two and a half dollar signs because we had a pupu, a bottle of wine, entrees, dessert, and dessert drinks for a reasonable "fancy dinner" price.
(4)
Michael V.
Good high end service, great food (Lava cake is the best we have ever had). Get the Prix Fixe menu, and if you like wine get the tasting menu. The wines were all quite good, and the pairings were spot on! Also a little tip, the waiter told us that if you don't like the prix fixe choices or want to get it again before they change it, call and ask for a different prix fixe- if you give them 48 hours notice he said the chef can usually whip something up for you.
(5)
Jared M.
best meal on the island. my wife and i celebrated our honeymoon in kauai and are avid Yelp fans, and hands down this was our favorite find. great service, amazingly fresh food, lovely view of the beach. i requested an ocean view on opentable the day of our meal and they were happy to oblige. as far as menu goes we had the poke nachos, lobster wonton, lobster curry bisque, and the ono [shared]. all are recommended. inc wine our total bill was around $100.
(5)
Asha S.
This place was excellent (literally the best place we ate at in Kauai and we went to some really nice restaurants)!! The fish was so fresh and really well cooked and the service was great as well. We asked our waitress for recommendations and everything that came out was super delicious...we were so wowed we tried to come back the next night for dinner but the restaurant is closed on Monday nights. It's kinda hard to find because it's located in the hotel behind the Coconut Market Place but it's definitely worth the search!
(5)
Andy M.
The view was good...the restaurant and staff were nice, but the food wasn't worth the price. My favorite part about dinner was the ahi tuna nachos...they were delicious. The drinks were watered down and overpriced for what you got. I ordered the breaded chicken...and it was delicious, but served over a bed of tree shrubs...was only able to eat the chicken. The rest of the entrees in our party weren't that great either. There are a lot of better restaurants on the island...This was an ok restaurant, but not one id recommend or ever go back to
(3)
Elissa S.
I'm giving this place a five star rating based solely on what an amazing deal the tasting menu is. The food was great - not the best meal I've ever had, but really, really good, and at $40 for 5 courses with wine pairings, a really incredible deal. It's a lot of food, and although the pairings weren't great (I forgive them for this - wine pairing is not easy), the food was excellent. I would have paid twice as much for this meal and still loved it. The service was great, and you're right on the water - east side of the island, so no sunset views, but still terrific. The $40 tasting menu is available from 5-5:45 (even if you sit down right at 5:45). We had reservations, but when we arrived at 5:40 the place was empty (although it quickly filled up).
(5)
Nene S.
Some of the best fish we've had on the island. The ginger martini was really good. It's difficult to find a good martini on Kauai! My husband and son enjoyed their meals too. Great place overall make a reservation though. They get booked up early.
(4)
Renee A.
For an appetizer we ate lobster wontons which were delicious.and the sweet potato ravioli which was good but the picture made it look better than it was. We had 3 of the 4 fish entrees and everyone loved their choices. I had the filet cooked med-rare which was delicious. The $20 bottle of wine was great. It was a little chilly out so they have sweaters and blankets they will let you borrow if your cold. For dessert we had macadamia nut tart w cinnamon ice-cream which was good. The experience was one that I would definitely recommend. The food was delicious and it was reasonably priced.
(4)
Sophie W.
We had the calamari which we could have eaten 3 plates of. My hubby had the tasting menu and everything was really good. Jason, our waiter, was very accomodating for my daughter's food allergies and kept us informed as to what was in each item. The tomato/eggplant soup and veggie lasagne were fantastic! We will definitely go back when we visit again.
(5)
Tiffany B.
cool casual place to eat out on a week day. never had a bad experience. Only innocent mikstakes, awesome ginger infused kamakazi martinis! One thing on their menu that sticks out is their sweet potato ravioli.
(3)
Lovanna L.
My husband and I decided to try the tasting menu at the Hukilau Lanai. It seemed quite a deal for $40 which comes with a tasting of wine per course. hukilaukauai.com/menu-ta… The tasting started with the sweet potato ravioli and a riesling. I had read a lot about the sweet potato ravioli and was excited to try it. For the tasting though, you only get one ravioli. It's good so savor it. The item is the argula salad which is...a salad. The fresh catch is their fresh island fish which we had a mahi mahi I think. It was really good but again, the portion is small since it was a tasting. Then the meatloaf that followed was quite good. I had the creme brulee dessert and my husband had the cheese dishes. I'm not a huge wine drinker but my husband enjoyed most of the wines except for a couple. The tasting menu was alright. I think I would've enjoyed my visit much better if we had just ordered full entrees and the sweet potato ravioli as an appetizer.
(3)
Triple Threat T.
went for dinner with my handsome boyfriend while on vacation. we arrived 20 mins before they closed, but they were happy to serve us. food was AWESOME, atmosphere was very pleasant. we sat in front of the huge fish tank near the dining room's entrance. go ahead and splurge for the $30-something bottle of honey mead (made on Kauai) because it is like drinking liquid gold mana from heaven; my boyfriend doesn't even drink, but he sure drank THIS! :)p try any of their seafood entrees, it's all wonderful and you wont be disappointed. also: the warm chocolate cake for desert is a MUST! it's made with chocolate from the island's cocoa factory and will make you wet yer pants it's THAT TASTY! :D
(5)
Eric G.
This is a small hotel restaurant with good food, so be prepared for a wait. But in the meantime, you can sit in the hotel lobby and they'll serve you drinks. The seafood sampler platter was excellent. It's a sample of fresh fish items. Although it wasn't exactly cheap (hotel prices) Hukilau Lanai was the best value we found on the island. Be warned: some of the drinks here are stiff. Be careful
(5)
Andrea M.
We love, love, love the food here. But after one incredible meal (and pretty pricey), we started realizing that we love the appetizers even more. Lobster won tons, yummy! Any green salad they prepare, also very good. Now we eat in the bar (very good pours) and order the sampler platter with a dessert to share. Three years ago we ordered a mango yogurt cheesecake that we are STILL talking about. I have to say that we enjoy the musicians that play in the bar in the evening, but we really enjoy the whole Hawaiian breezeway where the bar is located. It just doesn't get any more relaxing (with alcohol and top notch food). I love Hukilau.
(4)
M F.
Wonderful, Wonderful! If your looking for the best place to have a high quality meal around Kapaa' this is it. One of the best prime rib I've tasted. My wife had the filet and could literally cut it with a fork. The best meal we had in our week on Kauai. The service was equally as pleasant as the food. Also, 20 wines for $20 was a pleasant surprise. Don't bypass this place on your visit to Kauai!
(5)
Shanna V.
Well, while everyone else had a good experience, ours wasn't fantastic unfortunately. Our server ignored us a lot and chatted with a table of his friends for the majority of the time that we were there. My father and brother were starting to get angry about it. The food was pretty good, but by the time it got to us, we had filled ourselves up on bread because it took more than an hour for the food to get out to us. BUT the food was VERY good. If I could I would give the food a four score.
(2)
Jacqueline S.
The food was really good and the service was great. We started with the calamari which was very tender. The breading had a nice spice to it and the dipping sauce was pretty good. I had the chevre salad and the mixed grill which had a nice peanut sauce, my husband had the soup of the day (yellow pepper and artichoke creamed) and the filet mignon, my older son had the lobster bisque and the prime rib and our four year old son had mahi mahi grilled with some butter. They were more than willing to special prepare for our youngest and he ate every bite of his fish. My older son seemed to enjoy the lobster bisque as he was making all kinds of "this is good" sounds while he ate it. I'd say my husband's order was the winner. He had to share his soup with all of us and by the end of the meal we were all taking bread and helping him finish the sauce. We'd eat here again.
(4)
David F.
If I could give it 10 stars I would. Party of six with appetizers and entrees so tried a lot of the menu and it was one of the best meals I have had in a long time. Really Amazing. The poke nachos were so outstanding.
(5)
Don H.
We went twice during our week on the island, and that should say a lot about how much we enjoyed it, since there are so many other available options. They may be a resort restaurant, but they also had some of the best cooked fish we had on the island. The mixed grill is Totally the way to go - you get 3 different types of seafood, and they're all delicious. I also love that the chef changes up the menu regularly, and is experimental (and talented) with his flavor combinations. The cocktails are also quite tasty, and not fake sugary abominations. The wine list was definitely marked-up to resort level, but there are some good, mostly reasonably-priced white options that go well with the fish. (I recommend the Grenache Blanc). Appetizers were also wonderful, and again - more great and inventive flavor combinations. The sweet potato dumplings were a huge winner (we ordered them both times).
(4)
Doug G.
Can't say enough. Service was great and the food was delicious and beautifully presented. We will return! The tasting menu was a delight and a great value. Sandra was our server and she was very knowledgeable, professional and personable.
(5)
Heather J.
The islands of Hawaii have long been my go to getaway. By far, Hukilau Lanai, offered the best food I have had on any of the islands! So how did I hear about this place. Lady sitting next to us at our resorts pool talking about where she was spending her birthday. Imagine that, it's my birthday too. Enter my friend who tagged along on this excursion to Kauai and she is all over the food quest (being a chef herself). She peppers the lady with questions...30 minutes later we have a reservation (recommended). We checked the place out on yelp and found that many of you were BIG fans, especially of the ahi poke nachos. Psst...not a real big fan of ahi poke...however...when in Rome...er Kauai! SO GOOD! Once again yelp has not failed me! So let's talk about the morning after...all we could talk about was the great food...it was our last night...what should we do...let's go to Hukilau Lanai again. And we did!
(5)
Gina B.
Yum. Great service. The employees are so friendly here...they make you feel welcome and want you to have a great experience. Everybody was kind here! The Wally's salad was really good...those croutons..yum! The table bread was great, the added fried goat cheese on the salad was tasty! My husband ordered the Sizzlin Bloody Mary and it was hot!!! All of the food and drinks were great. I had the veggie lasagne..chalk filled with butternut squash! We would come back here and again....make a reservation...they are busy!!!
(4)
Erik H.
Meatloaf was absolutely awesome! Gf had the prime rib and she loved it. We came at 8pm and they didnt have any seats in the restaurant available. We sat in the lounge area tgat had a full menu and the service was great and fast.
(5)
Andy S.
Best restaurant in Kaua'i that I've been to. Have been back three times over the course of two years and Hukilau never disappoints. Love their mixed grill and their filet mignon. And their 20 wines for $20-something list is a nice touch. Atmosphere is great as well, often with live music. Great service. Highly recommended.
(5)
Lorie M.
We've been here almost two weeks and have been hitting the small little places to eat. We knew we wanted to try to get in at least once, so last night it was. Truly the most memorable of meals, I had the the hukilau mixed grill, fish was excellent cooked perfectly, prawns sweet and tender and the orzo pasta and sauce great. Wife had the pork tenderloin with polenta in Marsala and found it to be quite good. Added a couple of blue hawaii's and koloa rum Mai tai's to top it all off. Hoping to get there for appetizers before we leave. A little pricier but well worth it. We've paid far more at home for a meal not as good as this.
(5)
Pixie G.
Came here for the 5 course tasting menu which was $28 without wine ($40 with wine). Such a deal and the food was so delicious. I wish I had known about it sooner so we could have eaten it every night for dinner. We did it without the wine, since we're not big wine drinkers. We made reservations at 5 PM and were seated very promptly, had a nice table on the outside veranda with a view of the ocean. Started off with focaccia with rosemary oil/vinegar, which was tasty. Our server offered seconds, which we gladly took. First course was a tomato gazpacho with pineapple sorbet. This was SO good. The pineapple sorbet really added another depth to the gazpacho that I never would have thought of. Second course was candied ahi. There were 6 good size pieces of ahi tuna, encrusted with some kind of wonderful sweet and slightly spicy sauce. I wanted to lick the bottom of my dish, this was so good. Third course was sausage, and it was really smokey and savory and delicious. Fourth course was the fresh catch of the day (mahi mahi) served with quinoa and a lemon vinaigrette. Honestly, maybe it's just because I'm not a lemon vinaigrette fan, but I wasn't as impressed with this dish. It was tasty enough, the fish was admittedly prepared very very well, very moist and flaky, but lemon vinaigrette has never excited me. Hubby really liked this one though. Last dish was a vanilla creme brulee. The crust was perfectly crispy/crunchy and delightfully custardy.
(5)
K B.
So I work in all the islands and eat at lots of local dives. This is the best I have yet to experience on Kauai! I had the Wally's salad and Wally's steak, only because it seemed highly rated by my fellow yelpers. As usual, they were on it. The location is a little cliche... but most restaurants I'm Hawaii are. If you want a 4 star dinner in Kauai, eat here. If you want to meet some really cool people, sit at the bar.
(4)
Melisa O.
This restaurant came highly recommended by the owners of the condo we stayed in and it lived up to our expectations! We made a reservation several days in advance, glad we did as the restaurant was full when we arrived. The only challenge we encountered the entire evening was with the bartender during our wait to be seated. He was busy but it took him a long time to acknowledge me and once he did he made it clear it would be a while before he got to me. Not great service. Dinner was fabulous, probably our best experience dinning out during our vacation. The service was impeccable, we were very well taken care of from beginning to end. Our waiter timed our food perfectly, allowing us to dine and not feel rushed. The food, from the Ahi tuna nachos for an appetizer to the fish and shrimp and surf and turf entrees were perfect! We enjoyed the dessert special that night, chocolate perfection! I would certainly recommend this restaurant to all that want to enjoy a fabulous meal in a beautiful setting, with great service and incredible food!
(4)
Ted S.
Excellent food, moderate price. The filet was tremendous, prepared near perfectly. The salads and bread very good as well. Diverse wine list as well. Would definitely return.
Happy to report that Hukilau Lani is still a home run! Great ambiance sitting on the terrace near the garden. Very professional, knowledgeable, friendly staff. Love the interesting wine list with many options for wines under $20. BRAVO for the BYOB option with a fair $10 corkage fee. And last but certainly not least....the food. The rib appetizer was delicious. The blueberry beef soup was perfect. Who knew I would enjoy that combo so much? The Chef knew! The fish entrees were perfect. And dessert was THE BOMB! Chocolate, macadamia nut stuffed strudel. It came with Lapperts vanilla bean ice cream. It's a steal for $7!
(4)
Ribec F.
Yum everything was great, we had salads, soup, the filet, and an amazing dessert (cocunut tart). there is a great view from the dining room and local musician playing, I will def hit up this spot again.
(4)
Laura S.
I went here for my birthday dinner. I couldn't have asked for a better experience. The mai tai was amazing. Super fresh and strong. They had a gluten free menu which was great. They had homemade gluten free bread that was super tasty. I had the macadamia nut crusted chicken. It was so good. The server was really attentive and friendly. I also enjoyed the beautiful patio and live music. It was an excellent experience all around.
(5)
Candyce A.
Hands down best meal we had in Kauai. Everything was amazing. We especially loved the pork tenderloin with polenta. I wish we could have eaten more meals here!
(5)
J. M.
I've dined at the Hukilau several times and it's never the same as far as the food being 5 stars. Sometimes it's 3 stars. Sometimes 5. Same with the service! I don't want to down grade what they are trying to do, because the are very nice people and it's fairly popular. BUT I mean BUT, they NEED TO BE CONSISTANT!!!!
(3)
Brent V.
One of my favorite restaurants on Kauai.....
(4)
Sebastian Z.
Don't be fooled by the random location and strange / dingy appearance of the building. This place is the best dinner you can have on the entire island, along with amazing service, and a fantastic wine list. This was by far the best meal I had anywhere in Hawaii...make a point to go here if you're in Kauai.
(5)
Claudia C.
Dinner for party of 8, super friendly service, nice outdoor seating (bring some bug spray though). Food: all good, nothing bad to say! Perfect for anyone who likes seafood, but doesn't want anything too exotic and price is very reasonable. - Start: * Complimentary house focaccia with rosemary oil/vinegar for dip (yum) - Appetizers: * Tuna Poke Nachos - hefty portion, savory with soy sauce and sesame oil * Lobster Wontons - great if you're a crab wonton fan normally (but don't expect too much lobster flavor/meat) * Sweet Potato Ravioli - exactly what you'd expect, comes with cream sauce (a little bland to me, but great if you're vegetarian/carbaholic) - Entree: * Came with soup or salad - Fish Chowder: very creamy, fish pieces were a little sparse, but overall great considering it came with the entree * Mixed Plate - 2 kinds of fish (~3 - 4 oz each) a 1 shrimp skewer (4 med - large shrimp) with creamy coconut orzo, our fish were mahi mahi and a Hawaiian fish (forgot the name) but was described as "more buttery" - Mahi Mahi: just like mahi mahi anywhere, chicken of the sea... always good - Hawaiian fish: very flaky and buttery, more delicate than the mahi, BUT not as good as Japanese black cod (sablefish), just a heads up for anyone whose standard of "buttery fish" equates with sablefish - Dessert: all 8 of us shared 1 dessert because we were stuffed... * Macademian Nut Tart: very sweet with lots of nuts, crust was flaky and not grainy/too dry, came with a scoop of ice cream and whipped cream (forgot if ice cream was coconut or vanilla, but went perfectly with the tart)
(4)
Keri M.
Delicious food! Service was a little slow but we enjoyed just hanging out at our table in their open air seating with a view of the beautiful grounds and tiki torches. Their fish was fresh, homemade pasta was very yummy and definitely recommend the Yam ravioli appetizer.
(4)
Nancy A.
The best steak I've ever had in my entire life!!!!!! I am not kidding! I am a big steak fan and have eaten more cows than I'd like to admit, but the filet here was like no other. It melted in my mouth, I almost wet my pants it was so good! It seriously broke da mouth. I tried the fish as well and it was also delicious. The crowd here is a little older, so if your under 50 don't let that or the three dollar signs scare you away. The food is totally worth it. If you're planning on just one pricey meal during your stay in Kauai let it be here.
(5)
Billie D.
We keep going back....always consistent. Make your reservations early as they book up fast.
(4)
Jeff S.
Hukilau Lanai is a good option for a more upscale, gluten-free meal. They have a gluten-free menu and were good about accommodating our dietary issues. The gluten-free dinner rolls they brought out were amazing. I should have asked where they got those from. We all wound up having the Hukilau Mixed Grill consisting of grilled shrimp over two samplings of fish. The fish was a touch on the dry side, but the shrimp was outstanding. Our server was great with my two little kids and even asked them what color umbrellas they wanted with their drinks.
(4)
To The M.
Had an amazing New Years dinner facing the ocean.... Open air tropical atmosphere... Great dinner, great service. Amazing Ono... Highly recommended
(5)
Bella P.
My dining experience at the Hukilau Lanai, was one of the worst experiences ever. So here's a breakdown of my entire experience: HOSTESS-she was rolling her eyes as I was checking in for our reservation. I guess she didn't like that we were early for our dinner? Could have been handled a bit more tactfully. LOUNGE/BAR AREA-We were told to find a seat in the "lounge" (really hotel lobby), but it was jammed packed. We had no choice but to stand by the bar. The hosted walked over and directed us to a dirty table, and said to have a seat there and someone would be by to clean it. So, we sit down and a server stops by to say she'll be right with us. Then 5 more minutes, then another 5 minutes. Meanwhile a haole couple sit down in a table across from us, gets their table cleared immediately, and is presented with menus. Meanwhile it's been 15 minutes since our waitress initially stopped by. So, we decided to clear the table ourselves, but dumping everything onto the ledge behind us. At this point, the same waitress has return to said couple, taken their order, while we are sitting at the same dirty & unserviced table. It was only after our own clearing of our own table, did a busser finally appear to "clear the table". Another 5 minutes passes before our waitress finally arrives to take our drink order. Granted she was nice, but what wasn't nice, was the OBVIOUS difference in treatment of guest based on the level of your "natural tan" if you catch my drift. It was apparent the paler your tan, the quicker you would be served. It took another 5 minutes after this before we finally got a glass of wine. DINING ROOM-We were finally seated at 7:45pm even though there were plenty of open tables. The hostess that sat us, poured water for us and also managed to pour some on my foot without even acknowledging it or apologizing. At this point, we should have up and left, but I guess I'm a glutton for punishment. Then comes our "I guess I'm stuck serving your waitress". No offer to explain the menu or specials, it was simply a "do you want to order any pupus?" Left us be for a long while, came back and "do you know what you want to order?" Didn't even ask if we can questions. I guess my "natural tan" at this point dictated to her. Food runner was no better, no eye contact, looking around as he half hearted asked "do you need anything else". This continued on until we got our check, and even then it was basically handed to us without a single word of thanks. We never even got our glasses of water refilled! FOOD-not even memorable. It was ok, but nothing to write home about. I think you could find better options to make your own surf and turf at Foodland up the way. Even if the service was better, it still wouldn't make this a place worth visiting. You're better off saving your money and splurging at Michael Mina. To sum up this long rant-I wouldn't never return. In all my years of traveling the Islands, I've never encountered a place where service was based solely on outward appearance.
(1)
Todd H.
Great ginger martini and pupus. Sit in the lobby near the musician overlooking the pool for a easy, unpretentious way to relax at the end of the day. Main courses are rather pedestrian and underwhelming. Thumbs up for the poke and BBQ rib pupus.
(4)
Tawney M.
After having lanai recommend to us by a guide on our ziplining adventure a few days earlier we made a reservation for four. Right away we were seated at a lovely table overlooking the garden and beach which is further away but still in view. Our server, tim was extremely helpful and was very good at his job. The food was amazing, we ordered a variety of things in addition to drinks. For the appetizers we ordered the calamari; lobster and goat cheese won tons, and a bbq rib. They all had great presentations and tasted great. All of our meals were great (prime rib, pork medalions, meatloaf and macadamian nut chicken) though we did send back the meat loaf in exchange for something else. It had this liquid smoke taste to it that we didn't care for. But that was just personal taste preferences and not of the quality of the dish. Our server was very nice about it and brought out new dishes as quickly as he could. For dessert we ended with the chocolate mousse and creme brulle. Overall it was a perfect experience and will definitely be back, hopefully before our trip is over.
(5)
Geoffrey B.
The food is excellent. The fish was the best I had on the island. The service is friendly and accommodating. The ambiance is not quite as nice as some of the other top-tier Kauai restaurants, due largely to the fact that attached hotel feels a little Disney-ish, and checking into the restaurant involves a conspicuous trip through the lobby. But the overall experience was great, and I look forward to returning on our next trip to Kauai.
(4)
Kim O.
There is a great 5 course tasting menu served from 5-5:45. We got the wine pairing with the tasting menu and it was definitely worth it! Our first course was a lovely gazpacho served with a kalua rum-pineapple sorbet paired with a reisling. Hints of sweet and spicy! Second course was candied ahi served over rice with a citrus cream sauce! It was amazing, especially paired with the white wine blend from Portugal. Third was homemade sausage with an interesting pickled fern salad. Fourth was a beautifully grilled mahi mahi with 3 sauces served over quinoa with a lemon Parmesan kale topping. Paired with a dry red wine, this dish tasted like lamb. And last was a duo cheese plate. Lovely rich blue cheese with local honey and an amazing manchego with macadamia nuts! This was paired with a tasty madera! Great meal! Great service! Great view!
(5)
Shirl W.
We highly recommend the Hukilau Lanai to everyone. We live on Kauai and have eaten here twice in the last 3 weeks and will eat here the first week in September for our anniversary. We had the tasting menu. I had a tiny problem with one course being too salty and others at the table thought that the sausage was too strong. I had the same dish and it tasted wonderful the prior visit. The manager came to talk to us after I mentioned this to our waiter and more than made up for the rare problem. Our "birthday woman" received a couple of nice surprises with dessert and we got to try a new flavor of ice cream that is being developed. Thank you for the excellent service and food. We look forward to more delicious times with you. As for the view, we had a garden-side table and could see the pretty grounds as well as the ocean.
(5)
Angela B.
Normally, I don't think I would've been inclined to try a place like this. It's in a hokey resort, and it has the word Lanai in the name. BUT, our guide book swore by the food & also complimented the drinks, so we decided to give a shot. Typically reservations are a good idea so we made them for a few days ahead. Meanwhile we needed somewhere to eat *tonight,* so we figured we'd walk the third of a mile & check out how busy their lounge was (where seating is first-come-first-serve, but the full menu is available). Happily, there was a small table available right by the huge open lanai, so we snatched it up. I ordered the Coconut Coast Cooler (again on the recommendation of our guide book) and LOVED it. (This is saying a lot, as I typically do not drink fruity girly drinks & am incredibly picky about cocktails in general.) It was strongly coconut flavored, but the sweetness was subtle & mostly from fruit, & the whole thing was well-balanced overall. (I got the same thing when we went back a few nights later.) We were not impressed by the Mai Tai (clearly from a mix & not a very good one), but enjoyed the well-made after-dinner drink we shared. Again, we headed the advice of the guide book & started with the sweet potato dumplings which did not disappoint. (These were so good we ordered them on our second trip as well.) I was skeptical about the poke nachos at first but they turned out to be delicious as well. Another guide book recommendation was the mixed grill, and WOW. The only place we had better fish was at Red Salt. Perfectly cooked, & seasonings / sauces that served to perfectly balance the fish without overwhelming the flavor. This was another thing we ordered on both trips. Sitting in the dining room wasn't bad, but to be honest I preferred the more casual, right-by-the veranda atmosphere in the lounge, so if we were to go back, this is what I'd advocate for (maybe with a reservation as a backup. It's not like they can't fill them). Service was also excellent both times. My only criticisms are: 1) The salad. Bonus, it comes with the meal, which is nice, and it's a good portion for one person. But it just pales in comparison when you compare it to how amazing the starters & entrees were. 2) The dessert menu. Just wasn't inspired by much. Bottom line, although a healthy fear of resort restaurants is absolutely warranted, Hukilau Lanai is a lovely option with excellent food & priced more reasonably than you might expect, all things considered. It was especially nice to be able to walk there from our condo in Wailua.
(4)
Nancy t.
We went back. Hubby had the "spaghetti and meatballs" island style. Omg. It was heavenly. We also tried the ahi nachos and the ribs as an appetizer. All delicious. I may have to come back to Kapaa just to eat here. Love it
(5)
Lizzi M.
The food was delicious!! Desserts were scrumptious! Great atmosphere!! Our server was very personable, friendly, and attentive! We will be back!!
(5)
Allison B.
Excellent food. Excellent service. Great drink options. Definitely a must when you want a nice dining experience for a nice evening. We've been there 4 times in two trips... that says a lot!
(5)
Rami C.
We wish we were there for the happy hour tasting menu, but we didn't know till later. Dinner was delicious. Classy atmosphere, we were seated overlooking the grounds with tiki torches lighting the way. I had the gazpacho soup and hubby had the lobster bisque, which we both enjoyed. Hubby got the candied ahi, which he found creative and tasty. For entrees, we had the veggie lasagna, which was decadent and huge, and the nightly fish special. All were very good. For dessert, the Coconut Lilikoi Tart was creative and very unique. We enjoyed our dinner at Hukilau Lanai, would come back.
(4)
J.D. P.
Glad we stumbled into this place on a whim after I was forced to bust some hula moves during a show at a Coconut Marketplace. Great service, kids loved their food (nuff said) and wifey and I dug our fresh fish. Actually, I went surf and turf with some local beef alongside the fresh Walu. Yum. Caesar salad rocked. Mai tai was mediocre and we passed on desert even though they looked really good. Place was better than I expected when walking up to the older resort it is part of so don't be scared off. Gluten free menu was a nice option for us too.
(4)
Cherie G.
Good but not great food. The exception was the sweet potato bisque, which was nicely flavored with ginger and delicious. The opah was good, but the mashed potatoes a bit heavy. Our server was very personable. Good place to eat. Ocean is within view.
(4)
K K.
Really happy that we went there for their happy-hour tasting menu. Great service and fresh, locally-sourced menu. The tasting menu that day was already gluten-free, but they brought out freshly baked gf bread, which was awesome. I added them to my list for gluten-free on Kauai: raeraegoesreal.wordpress…
(4)
jenn w.
One of the best meals that we had on Kauai. The 5 course tasting menu served between 5-6pm was exceptional. For only $40, you get wine pairings with each course. Definitely a great value for such quality. Everything was super fresh and delicious. Recommendations: -Make reservations for 5-6 since the tasting menu is only served at these times -Try to sit inside since the weather is unpredictable and you might get rained on -Try the coconut coast cooler as a cocktail
(5)
Mike T.
We had a wonderful evening celebrating our wedding anniversary. We enjoyed sitting outside. We ordered the lava cake for dessert and it was the best part. Check out the picture!
(4)
Gayle V.
We have passed this place so many times before but on this trip looked into what "yelpsters" had to say. Ate dinner here twice and it was very good. The ahi poke nachos are FANTASTIC! The lobster bisque soup was best!! They have it every day but you have to pay $2 more and you have to ask for it . My husband and I had fish both times and loved our dinners. The reason I gave only 4 stars was due to the service. The server at the first dinner was great but the second dinner server was terrible. He lacked personality and was over whelmed with how many tables he was servicing. Anyways, great place for dinner! Make reservations as they can get very, very busy!
(4)
lauren p.
When we were planning our honeymoon, we had decided to have one 'nice' dinner on each of the three islands we would visit. After a lot of research, we selected Hukilau Lanai for the Kauai portion. Extra bonus for it being so close to the lovely Fern Grotto Inn where we were staying. We started with the Ahi Poke Nachos, which were very tasty. The wasabi crema was a bit much, as neither of us is a wasabi fan, but if you like it you will be all over this stuff. Spi-cy. For the second course I had the Wally's salad, which was a fresh and bright as others have said. The hubs upgraded to the lobster bisque, which did not disappoint. Then I went on to the mahi mahi, and he had the mixed grill. We spent a lot of time trying to figure out which kinds of fish he had, and we wrong on all accounts, but what wound up being the ono was delish- very smooth and buttery. My mahi mahi was delicious as well. We could barely squeeze in a dessert but managed to split a macadamia tart. Worth the effort. The prices are high, but seriously, EVERYTHING IN HAWAII IS EXPENSIVE. And the portions are HUGE, so you shouldn't feel like you getting ripped off. Service was very friendly, and the resort setting was lovely!
(4)
Todd J.
The food was okay, not great. My prime rib was way too fatty, my wife liked hers, but she likes fatty. On the plus side, they comped mine since they saw I left half of it uneaten. It was a reasonable location, the service could have been better, and the hostess definitely need to remove the pencils from their butts.
(3)
laura m.
Nice atmosphere, cool entertainment, good drinks, and a friendly staff.
(4)
Jason K.
We don't eat out much when we are in Kauai because we have a condo with a kitchenette. But we were told that Hakilau was the best place to eat on the island. It didn't disappoint. Both my wife and had the prime rib and it was awesome. The restaurant is also child friendly, my daughter is 4 and she has a good time and she liked her food. If we come back to the island we will eat here again.
(5)
Melissa A.
My husband and I dined here twice on our trip and it was fantastic! J was our server both nights and described the dishes superbly. We enjoyed the sunset view and live music. The food was of the highest quality and many dishes featured local ingredients. The chocolate tart was rich and delicious! The fish was flaky and so yummy! You will not regret coming here to celebrate a special occasion.
(5)
Mark Y.
My wife and I yelped Hukilau Lanai before we went on our vacation to Kauai last Friday. We haven't been to Kauai in 7 years and we usually go to Duke's in Nawiliwili and/or the Bull Shed in Kapaa. I was surprised to find on Yelp and also from friends on Kauai that the Bull Shed went downhill - too bad. So anyway we read these rave reviews about Hukilau Lanai and as luck would have it I found that it was right next door to our hotel (Islander on the Beach) as I literally walked by the place. So on Friday we made reservations and went. Normally I at least put on slacks, nice shoes and an aloha shirt (I'm local) but chanced it and wore shorts, a polo shirt and sneakers. Not to worry, most of the diners were similarly dressed - the atmosphere is pretty casual. Our waiter was very attentive, read their specials - I think it was an ahi stack, and proceeded to take our drink orders. They give you a full carafe of water but fill your glass if they notice it less than 1/2 full. All tables get a serving of focaccia served with olive oil/balsamic vinegar for dipping. We started off with the goat cheese-lobster-macadamia nut wontons (4 per serving) as an appetizer, and as others have said it IS truly wonderful. They're served with a guava, chili sauce that is just right - not too sweet nor hot. I had the ceasar salad - a just-right portion of romain with croutons and shaved parmesean. I would say that it would have been nice if they offered fresh ground black pepper but that's a minor detail. For the entrees my wife ordered the Chinese kalua chicken salad stack - she wanted to eat light. I had the fillet mignon. Both were delicious. My steak was done to perfection and it was perfectly seasoned. Tenderness? Like buttah! It was served over a sauce, probably some kind of tarragon-slightly tomatoey butter/cream. There was also small portion of salsa, mashed potato and a potato crisp as garnish. The acidic salsa worked well with the richness of the beef. I let my wife try a piece and she shared a piece of her stack. It was also nice - smokey shredded chicken with greens in a slightly sweet dressing. The restaurant offers a warm chocolate cake (their version of chocolate decadence) that must be ordered 15-20 minutes before serving. I ordered that and my wife ordered the lilikoi chiffon pie (a ubiquitous Kauai treat). Both were good, not great mind you, but good. The chocolate ganache in the center of the cake was milk chocolate; I actually make a pretty good one if I say so myself, hehe, and I use a good premium dark/high cocoa content bar when I make mine. Still, it was alright. My wife's lilikoi chiffon was also alright, not as good as Hamura's, but still nice. The restaurant has a full wine list - I'm not a big wine drinker and settled for bottled Heineken. They also offer locally brewed lager and ale on tap. The total for the 2 of us with 2 beers and a 20% tip came out just under $100. I think the price point is just right. This place is just under a Roy's restaurant in terms of what they both have to offer but I'd say Hukilau Lanai is a better deal. P.S., our friend took us out to this same restaurant on Sunday night before we left and it was just as good. Wish we had a place like this on Oahu. ;-)
(4)
Pico C.
I previously wrote a bad review, and the owner contacted me and I felt terrible. He was lovely, apologetic, and obviously really cares about what he's doing. Still can't say we had a good meal or experience, but his concern and effort in reaching out really touched me and made me feel like dog shit. All I can say is, if something sucks just tell the owner. I'm betting he will try to set it right. And tell him I said sorry
(3)
Erich D.
The star rating reflects more the food rather than the overall experiences I had here. Broken down below. Food: 3 stars Shared appetizer was the kalua chicken, I ordered the ahi, medium rare, as my entree, and we all shared a chocolate lava cake for dessert. The kalua chicken was quite good, very flavorful and really couldn't tell the difference in taste in comparison with kalua pig. The ahi entree featured a pretty large quality piece of ahi but the dish was swimming in a pool of so many thick, creamy sauces that it took away from the centerpiece of the dish. When restaurants do this I always feel like they are hiding something in terms of the quality of the food (this is completely unsubstantiated of course). The chocolate lava cake wasn't exactly my favorite, it was very mild in flavor and I've been spoiled with the excellence of another restaurant's chocolate lava cake also specializing in pan-Asian cuisine (Roy's). If I were to come back for the food it would have to be for the early bird special $40 tasting menu which includes wine pairings! That's a savage deal! Service: 4 stars Our waiter was attentive and very professional. Apart from one of the other waitstaff's evident indifference about his job, service was congenial. Ambiance: 4 stars You're in paradise, the Garden Isle, how can you complain. When dining al fresco at this restaurant you are delighted with a view of a perfectly manicured resort courtyard with palm trees and tiki torches with the ocean in the distance and looking out into infiniti. Live entertainment: 5 stars I'm admittedly slightly biased here. My uncle, Dennis Chun, performs here weekly and plays excellent renditions of classic Hawaiian tunes as well as contemporary ones, putting you in a perfectly relaxed island state of mind. In all honesty though, even if I didn't know him I would still think that he was a very talented and entertaining local musician. It's a little difficult to hear the live entertainment if you are seated in the restaurant or even on their patio area, it's much easier to listen and enjoy in the bar/lounge area.
(3)
Krystal S.
This place was sooooo good and our bill was about the same that we paid at junk Tomcats. we had the poke nachos, calamari, and lobster and goat cheese wontons to start off. I ordered the ono, my boyfriend had the mixed grill, my brother had the crown royal medallions, and his girlfriend had the prime rib. One of the gripes my brother always has is when he orders his steak medium rare, it always comes out overcooked at other restaurants. Not here! all of our food was delicious and we all wished we weren't so full so we could keep eating. Our waiter was pretty funny too. Next time we're in kauai, we're going back!
(5)
Kevin C.
We went to have dinner on a Thursday night, and since we hadn't made reservations, we had to wait in the bar for an hour. The mango margarita the wife had was so-so, bu the beer was good. Fortunately, there was an amazing musician playing the ukulele and singing all kind of songs with his own hawaiian twist. We had a great time just sitting there at the bar and decided to just order pupus with our drinks. We had the poke nachos, the calamari and the lobster and goat cheese wontons. The flavors worked well together and made for a light tasty dinner. We were pleasantly surprised by the high quality of the food and we know we will stop there again when we come back to Kauai.
(5)
Harold P.
The tasting menu that is offered between 5-5:45pm is such a good value - 5 well portioned courses for $28 without the wine pairing, $40 with wine. I was hoping they would offer both tasting menus as posted on their web site but they only offered the non gluten free menu when I went. All the dishes were well prepared and delicious. Some of the sauces lacked the delicate refinement you would find at Roy's but Hukilau Lanai is also over half the price. I will definitely be back. Thank you to the reviewer who warned about mosquitoes! I knew to cover up based on that tip alone and I watched plenty of tables around me scratch their way through dinner.
(4)
Julie A.
Saw an ad in a local paper for this place with a picture of their ahi nachos! WOW! had to have them and they did not disappoint. Beware! This place is closed on Monday! Also had the lobster goat cheese wontons very good but skip the plum sauce. Too overpowering. The lobster bisque was also fabulous. Worth the $2 upgrade. We both had the fish ono and opha. Both good but ono was better - moist and the shrimp sauce had great flavor. I would go back just for the nachos!
(4)
Jana M.
My third or fourth dinner at Hukilau and it didn't disappoint. To start we had the ahi poke nachos and those were awesome as usual: fried wonton pi for the chips all topped with tasty poke, even their focaccia bread that they give is delicious. For drinks I had a citrus breeze and my mom had the mango margarita, both were a little too sweet. Dinner comes with soup or salad, I got the caesar, mom got the wally's salad, and my husband got the soup of the day, a fishermans pesto. The soup was amazing, like nothing I've ever had before-creamy and smooth with a slight basil flavor. For dinner I had the opah, it was a big portion served on orzo and my husband had the prime rib, which he said was tastier and softer than the one from Dukes or Keokis. Everything was tasty and service was attentive, we will be back, soon I hope.
(5)
Maile F.
A few years ago, my future in-laws hosted my husband and my rehearsal dinner here on a private patio room. The staff worked with my in-laws to put together a menu for both meat and fish eaters, with great choices. They also set up a host bar in our room. There was a bit of mix up on who was actually paying for drinks (hosted vs. no host bar) and my aunt ended up picking up that part of the check, even though it was clear in the contract with my father-in-law that everyone would be paying for their own drinks. The reason for my 4 star rating comes from the scramble we had to do to pay for this tab at the end of the night with the manager handing me the bar tab (with my aunt saving the day). I am all for paying for your own drinks, we all, after all drank that much, but it was uncomfortable. In the end it was all sorted out, but wasn't the nice "day before my wedding" feel I'd hoped for. Other than that, food was amazing, service was pretty good, and the private patio was amazing.
(4)
Robert P.
My first impression on arriving was one of concern. The outside of the building looked sort of tourist trappy. We were greeted and seated by a very nice hostess and our server was fabulous. He helped select from the menu items we did not understand or weren't familiar with and was very personable. Tone food was excellent and every item very nicely presented. We are planning to return as often as we can. The prices were very reasonable and the inside view was very nice. Be sure to make reservations. Enjoy!
(5)
Paul A.
On the recommendation of a local we came here for dinner. Made a reservation via open table as suggested because this place gets booked up for the early seating. We ordered the tasting menu which in only available from 5 to 5:45 . It's the best deal on Kauai... $40 for a five course meal including a wine flight. Overall, the food was pretty good and the wines were paired well. Our favorite course was a candied ahi which doesn't sound so great but it surprised us with its sultry smoky chili coating. We were seated on the lanai and had a nice view of the ocean and garden which made for an enjoyable relaxed dinner.
(4)
Eric W.
What can I say that hasn't already been said... In a sea of mediocre food on the island of Kauai - this place stands out as a unbelievably fantastic oasis of delicious food and drinks. If you're here on vacation, splurge once or twice at this place, you won't be sorry you did. Mahalo Hukilau Lanai!!
(5)
Dayton R.
My girlfriend and I went here for a nice evening dinner. We were fortunate to call the day of our reservation and get a table during their last seating time at 9pm, this place gets packed so get reservations early! We requested a seat outside, they have a very romantic outdoor area and fortunately something opened up. The wait staff was extremely pleasant and accomodated our sharing of various dishes and we never felt rushed even though we were the last to leave the restaurant. Get the Seafood Grill dish which features their fresh fish of the day with prawns and their special sauce. My girlfriend liked the Sweet Potato Ravioli, but bear in mind you only get three :).
(4)
Courtney D.
This place is INCREDIBLE! My husband and I were recently married in Kauai. We had our post ceremony dinner in the banquet room at The Hukilau Lanai. The service and food were absolutely incredible. We could not have asked for a more perfect evening. The Banquet Coordinator, Manda, was an absolute joy to work with and extremely personable. We ran into her the following evening at a local restaurant and she shared her appetizer with us! An incredibly genuine person. Special mention also goes to the amazing bartender, Sylvie. She felt like a member of our party, and such service! We ended up eating at the restaurant 2 more times during our week. Everything was excellent. Our last night there, my husband ordered the tasting menu - excellent choice if you can't decide! I am convinced everything on the menu is to die for. A must if you are visiting Kauai.
(5)
gerard f.
Hands down! The best place on the island for dinner. We always take guests here for the old fashion Hawaiian feel. Get here before 6:30 and try their tasting menu. An unbelievable bargain. Make reservations. It s always busy.....for a good reason. But the tables are spaced well apart and you never feel crowded. Service is impeccable.
(5)
Benjamin S.
Wow. And.. wow. I actually heard about this place on TripAdvisor when reading reviews for the hotel we were staying, which was right next door. People were saying it was "a must," so I made a reservation online for our first night on the island. Boy, was that a great idea. We showed up a few minutes early, so they asked if we'd like to sit out front in the lounge, which has really comfy couches and tables. A cocktail waitress approached us right away and we ordered some mai tai's (of course). It wasn't more than another 5 minutes and we were seated out on the lanai, which was gorgeous. May as well cut to the only thing that really matters, here. As an appetizer we ordered the calamari, and I've never had better. It was some of the largest I've seen and was breaded perfectly with just the right amount of fresh lemon drizzled over it. For entrees I had the Mahi Mahi and she had the Mixed Grill. Both were delicious, but the sweet curry flavor (and portion size) of her's was my favorite. The fish in each was cooked perfectly, to the tune that you find yourself savoring each bite slowly. Also, both dishes came with a choice of soup or salad, and we both went with the soup which was a chowder on this evening. Also incredible. We loved it so much we at here our last evening of the trip as well and had the exact same great experience. Lives up to all the hype!
(5)
Anna L.
We came here on our last night on Kauai and had a great time! Loved the fusion food here and really enjoyed the quality of the food and the romantic ambiance. The mixed grill was my favorite! Great variety of super-tender fish, sugarcane-speared shrimp, and the risotto was just amazing!! Other standouts were the lobster bisque and the lobster and goat cheese wontons! Unfortunately, the arugula salad and caramel mac nut tart and ice-cream dessert was just ok. The food can be rich and filling, and the food can take awhile, so try not to order too much--we were too full at the end of our meal! Also don't forget to make reservations!!
(4)
Paul H.
We had the tasting menu with the wine, and it was delicious and more than enough food. As a warning, they only do this for the first hour, but it was totally worth it. All the items were good, and the wines that they paired with each course were well-chosen. My wife didn't care for the port-style muscat with the dessert course, but not that big of a deal. Presentation was excellent, and many courses were served on warmed dishes, which is a nice touch for those of us who don't like lukewarm food! Our waiter was attentive, but not overbearing. We sat outside, and the view of the ocean and the beautiful resort were a definite plus. We would go there again if we're on Kauai.
(4)
Jesse D.
Delicious pupus and nice live music. We went for a pupus only dinner in the lounge and were really impressed by the food. The general ambiance was nice and the server was pretty good. Our drinks took a while but would definitely go back for more. A little pricy though.
(4)
Mike B.
As a well traveled gourmand and probable future diabetic... this place is awesome. The fillet Mignon was cooked to perfection; so soft, so moist, so juicy that it is probably one of the few occasions OK to see a grown man cry. The macadamia crusted Oppa was a playful little dish, topped with a tropical salsa, made of lord knows what, but was just awesome. The juxtaposition of the crunch of the mac-nut crust and the soft flaky fish will be seared in my memory right above the memory of the loss of my virginity in the back of a 1989 Honda Civic. The Oppa came with a banana rum sauce; a lightly sweet sauce with just a hint of banana and only after could you taste the rum, which was quite pleasant with the creaminess of the sauce overall. Perfect match for the fish and salsa. The chocolate lava cake was death by chocolate. Not overly sweet, a fluffy cake with rich warm gooey filled chocolate center. I would die a happy man just drowning in it. The Verdict: There are some food experiences in your life that you can't get out of your head, and essentially chase the dragon until you find it again. I will definitely go back again. Chance of getting laid by your SO after coming here: Good to quite good
(5)
Emily B.
This was our first (and best) meal in Kauai! The restaurant was located in the Kauai Coast Resort and I recommend reservations because the wait was about 45 minutes without. When we arrived, there was a lounge near the hostess' station and lounge singers performing Hawaiian music. Once we were seated, the atmosphere was nice and fairly quiet. We had a view of the resort grounds and pool, looking out towards the ocean. We ordered the lobster and goat cheese wonton, prime rib, and surf and turf (which came with steak and some kind of Hawaiian butterfish). My husband got a beer and I got the Coconut Coast Cooler (by server's recommendation). Everything was delicious!!! The fish and the prime rib were AMAZING. The entrees also came with the soup of the day, which was quite good. Our server was super friendly and gave great recommendations based on the preferences we gave her. The bill came to about $100 without tip, and we passed on dessert. FOOD: Fantastic! Definitely order the prime rib or fish. LOCATION/AMBIANCE: Convenient location, peaceful/beautiful, nice view SERVICE: Perfect PRICE: Pricey, but worth every penny BOTTOM LINE: You MUST eat here while visiting Kauai!
(5)
Joyce K.
This was the best restaurant of 6 that we dined in during our stay in Kauai. The service was impeccable (even if the order got mixed up--a sincere apology is appreciated), and the food was stunning. We stayed on North Shore and ate here before our airport departure late at night, and it was such a great choice. Terrific fish; reasonable wine list, and sufficient diversity for those who are not fish lovers.
(4)
Tammy M.
Aaaahhhhawesome! A must try. Romantic yet pleasant for children who can sit and have conversations. Beautiful to walk toward the beach and hammock swing :)
(5)
Nancy A.
The best steak I've ever had in my entire life!!!!!! I am not kidding! I am a big steak fan and have eaten more cows than I'd like to admit, but the filet here was like no other. It melted in my mouth, I almost wet my pants it was so good! It seriously broke da mouth. I tried the fish as well and it was also delicious. The crowd here is a little older, so if your under 50 don't let that or the three dollar signs scare you away. The food is totally worth it. If you're planning on just one pricey meal during your stay in Kauai let it be here.
(5)
Billie D.
We keep going back....always consistent. Make your reservations early as they book up fast.
(4)
Jeff S.
Hukilau Lanai is a good option for a more upscale, gluten-free meal. They have a gluten-free menu and were good about accommodating our dietary issues. The gluten-free dinner rolls they brought out were amazing. I should have asked where they got those from. We all wound up having the Hukilau Mixed Grill consisting of grilled shrimp over two samplings of fish. The fish was a touch on the dry side, but the shrimp was outstanding. Our server was great with my two little kids and even asked them what color umbrellas they wanted with their drinks.
(4)
To The M.
Had an amazing New Years dinner facing the ocean.... Open air tropical atmosphere... Great dinner, great service. Amazing Ono... Highly recommended
(5)
Helen T.
We had dinner here on the recommendation of a local, who said it was the best restaurant on the island. I think she may be right. We had a fabulous meal, and excellent service. I had the sweet potato ravioli, and lobster and goat cheese wontons. Both were delicious. My husband ordered the pork chop, which was a special for the night; it was tender and flavorful. We had a lovely table on the lanai, overlooking the lawn, which made for a romantic setting. We were staying in Hanalei, so it was a bit of a drive for us to get there (35-40 mins.), but well worth the trip!
(4)
Chris C.
We ate here finally towards the tail end of our trip since it is the restaurant of our hotel. It is overpriced however if you get the pairing meal for dinner, which is $28 you will have two appetizers, two entrees and two deserts which will leave you happy. My had the paring and I had the filet. Her pairing was: a sweet potato ravioli, some sort of sausage, the Mahi Mahi, the pork loin, and for desert cheese and the sorbet. The sorbet was crazy in which one of the three flavors was a mango and jalapeno flavor. Overall, the plating of every dish was excellent. The ambiance isn't that bad either with a nice view. However, the service was horrible, but the manager stepped in and was helping each waiter and waitress which was nice to see. I would recommend Hukilau Lanai to eat while on Kauai. Cheers!
(4)
Anna M.
I usually shy away from restaurants inside of hotels, but this place is so delicious! Had the ahi poki nachos, ohno, and mixed seafood plate. The service was also great. They have a gluten free menu and a happy hour at the pool until 5PM.
(5)
ryan r.
hukilau lanai was a major reason we decided to come back to kauai for my birthday. food on kauai is pretty meh but this restaurant is by far the exception. everything was excellent. the sweet potato ravioli is a must; the lemongrass sauce is phenomenal! the lobster bisque is excellent and the wally's salad is very good (you may want to ask for the dressing on the side if you prefer less). prime rib is delicious and you can't really go wrong with the mixed grill plate. always fresh fish but this time our marlin was a bit dry and the shrimp under seasoned; the mahi was great. we ate so much we unfortunately didn't leave room for desert.
(5)
Matthew C.
One thing i've learned with my stay in Kauai...order the fish! Came here with the fam. Decided to share everything so we could all try a little bit of everything. ! Appetizers...stick with the poke nachos, cannot go wrong! The calamari was also excellent! very tender, not chewy at all! We tried the lobster and goat cheese wontons, which were good, but I'm not a big fan of the deep fried wonton shell, probably should keep it the traditional wonton style and that'll boost it up. Now I'm a big beef person, so I ordered their prime rib, which was good, cooked to order, but nothing spectacular, but still a good cut of meat. BUT their grilled ono (wahoo fish) was seriously one of the best pieces of fish i've had to date. Came with a curry sauce with rice...soooo good! Wrapped up dinner with their warm chocolate cake. I'm not a big chocolate person, especiallyh when it comes to cake because it can tend to be too sweet or rich, but I have to say their warm chocolate cake was delicious. Not too sweet, it was warm and contrasted nicely with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Note, this takes 20 minutes to prepare, so order this ahead of time if its what you want. All in all, a great dining experience! great environment and ambience, friendly staff...but I'm all about the food, and the food was great!
(4)
Jennifer O.
The BF and I went here for our last meal in Kauai. It was sooo good! I made a reservation through open table, which was a good idea because the place was full. We had a seat outside overlooking the resort, which was nice atmosphere. They also position you so you don't have one person getting the view and the other looking into the restaurant, we were both looking out, so that was a nice touch. We started with lava flow drinks which tasted fresh and sweet...very good drinks. I had the chicken, which was crusted with macnut and was very tasty! The chicken was crunchy, the veggies it was served with were perfectly cooked, and the sauce was rich and delicious. Additionally, the meals come with soup or salad. I had the kahlua pork and potato soup. It was wonderful! The pork was tender, the soup was thick and hearty and full of flavor. The bread that came with it was crusted with cheese and flavorful herbs. The BF had the caesar salad which had an incredibly rich and garlicky dressing. I could have drank it (but I didn't....)The BF got the ono fish (We both do not generally like fish, but were hoping to find a fish we liked in hawaii). The fish was amazing! We both liked it (which was shocking). They grill it and serve it with mashed potatoes, a creamy yet light sauce and caramelized onions on top. Unfortunately we were too stuffed to have dessert, but if I am in Kauai again I will definitely eat here again. Thanks Hukilau Lanai for turning me on to a delicious fish!
(5)
Emily B.
Food was excellent. The lobster and goat cheese wantons were great, as were the poke nachos. A good cheap wine selection. We didn't have a res but sat on the sofa in the lounge which was nice actually. Great kids menu.
(5)
Ryan J.
The one spot on the island that deserves a standing ovation. Excellent setting that is enhanced by some of the freshest and most creative culinary options on the island. Highlights: Sweet Potato ravioli with curry sauce, macadamia nut encrusted chicken, and seared ahi.
(4)
Josh T.
It was good, but sort of an awkward place. The drinks were great, but the food was so-so. I think we need to see this place one more time and give it another shot. We had the Opah and Ono, but we wanted the Mahi Mahi, but they ran out. They also ran out of the appetizer we wanted. How did we strike out twice with two choices? Like I said, maybe an off night - as I could see they can do better. We also has this loud group behind us, which may have affected our mood.
(3)
Kevin H.
Food and atmosphere are fantastic. Make your reservation on a night and time when there is a live musician. If they have the Kona coffee, brown sugar glazed ahi appetizer, order it! Also, highly suggest the mixed grill plate, but ask to double up the Walu.
(4)
Christine C.
My husband is quite the refined and adventurous eater. Me- not so much. And yet we both loved the tasting menu at the Hukilau. If I had to describe the tasting menu I'd say that it is gourmet food that is inspired with undeniable class for "foodies"...but is still very approachable and enjoyable for the rest of us. We opted for the menu that included wine selections for each course. The price is reasonable as well ($40.00) considering you're getting a 5 course gourmet meal with half glasses of wine that compliment each course. (You can do the tasting menu sans wine for $28.00.) Everything was superb. As a picky eater, let me break it down: I loved the sweet potato ravioli (I don't like sweet potato), I ate every last bite of the Ono (I don't eat seafood- at all) and the accompanying arugula salad with beets (BEETS?!), meatloaf ("not your grandma's meatloaf") and crème brulee (heaven with a hard candy shell) were to die for. It was all fantastic! My husband opted for the cheese platter for dessert which he loved. I didn't care for it personally (cheeses were bitter and pungent). But we both left extremely happy with our meals and the experience as a whole. The service was also perfection. Very prompt, attentive and courteous. Let's not forget the specialty cocktails. Their martinis are made with liquors that are infused with indulgent flavors right there on site. We ordered a lemon drop (made with limoncello and lemon infused vodka), a vanilla bean and macadamia nut infused vodka drink (tasted like a cookie) and a "Hot and Dirty" martini that was a smoky pepper vodka concoction. All were made stiff and delicious- and were very reasonably priced compared to specialty drinks at similar establishments that aren't nearly as creative.
(5)
Charlie A.
Should I let the cat out of the bag... or should I not? Oh... What the hell! WOW! JUST WOW!! I've been coming to Kauai for over 25 years and this is, by far, the best restaurant that I've ever eaten at on the Garden Isle. I read about the Hukilau Lanai on Yelp, and so I booked a table with a request for lanai seating via OpenTable for my tenth anniversary.When my wife and I arrived for our 8pm reservation we were seated at a spacious table on the lania right next to the garden area. It was quite impressive with the tiki torches and beautiful landscaping. Our hostess was really helpful in her recommendation of adult beverages and the the various cocktails we tried were all excellant. Our server, Andrew, was one of the best waiters I've ever encountered in all of my years of fine dining. It was almost surreal receiving such service from a waiter dressed in slacks and an aloha shirt, but trust me, Andrew is exceptional. You're in for a treat if seated at one of his tables. We were looking at appetizers to start, but Andrew recomended something not usually found on the menu... candied coconut ahi. Brown sugar, coconut and ever-so-slightly seared cubed ahi make up this app and HOLY COW was it delectable! My wife then ordered the Hukilau Mixed Grill and upgraded her salad to the Mixed Greens and Maytag Blue , while I ordered the Grilled Ahi and upgraded my soup to a cup of the Lobster Bisque. The bisque was just amazing, as was the perfectly prepared ahi. My wifes salad was equally good, but I felt a bit overpowering when tried next to the significantly subtler lobster bisque. She thought that her entree was very well-prepared and we were both quite happy with our meals. Something that needs to be mentioned here is that the pacing of our meal was never, ever rushed and Andrew and the other staff members were all very attentive during our dinner. For dessert we shared a (not on the menu) recommendation by Andrew, a powdered sugar key-lime eclair along with some chocolate truffles for our anniversary! BRAVO!! Altogether this was a most amazing dinner, especially on Kauai. As mentioned before, I've been coming to Kauai for over 25 years and I've tried them all... twice if I liked them. When it comes to food quality Hukilau Lanai surpasses them all, even the St. Regis in Princeville. Now here's the best part... our bill for this amazing dinner including 3 cocktails and 2 glasses of wine was... wait for it... $125.00!! Do yourself a favor before the place gets over-run. GO! ASK FOR ANDREW! BE AMAZED! TIP WELL!
(5)
Michele N.
The whole package was excellent: appetizers, bread, fish entrees, wine, bar drinks, dessert. We went once for a full dinner and once for drinks and appetizers during our trip in Kauai - great service and experience on both occasions. Try the coconut coast cooler!
(5)
Blake H.
Great food, great preparation and presentation. Live music, was a great dinner experience.
(5)
Eilene R.
This place was so awesome we went 3 times on our vacation and it was completely out of the way. I've been meaning to write this review for some time. Try the Koloa rum. My husband got their blueberry soup even though it sounded strange and loved it. We got something different every time and it was always amazing.
(5)
Julie V.
Romantic ambiance, great service, and delicious food.
(5)
Jeff W.
produce from the farmers market such as the romaine lettuce that was so sweet it nearly did not need the garlicky caesar dressing. and dishes that wonderfully takes advantage of the fresh fish available here. i had the mixed grill which featured shrimp on a sugar cane skewer, waloo (butterfish) and opah (which was overcooked). but a meer mention of the fact I did not like the opah and out came another piece of butterfish comped by our server. very nice touch. it was accompanied by a nice thai chile coconut milk based orzo pasta. all the dishes had sweet and savory components that really complimented each other. the curry lobster soup was to die for. the candied sear fresh ahi tuna was amazing. i may have to come back here before the week is over! JYW likes it a lot!
(4)
Scott C.
I really wanted to not like this place because it is a bit cheesy. That said, they really delivered on the food and when you are overlooking the water, it is hard to be a hater. To start, i had the firecracker fish soup. This was probably the worst dish though it was pretty good. It tasted like tortilla soup, but could not taste the fish at all. Also had thw wallie salad. This was one of the better salads i have had on the islands even though it is basically their house salad. It had a good mix of vegis and dressed really nicely. For entrees i had the mixed grill which was two tastings of fresh fish of the day and a skewer of prawns. They did a great job of balancing the fish tastings. One fish was firm and meaty cooked cajun style. The other was a oilier fish which was a nice textural contrast to the firmer fish. On top of all of this, the service was very friendly and attentive without being intrusive. This place has been arounf for a while and for good reason.
(4)
Josh L.
This was my favorite place we ate at on our honeymoon. The ahi poke nachos were fantastic, and the mixed grill was perfectly cooked. Good drinks too, and they're not all fruity rum drinks. The macadamia tart was delicious, too. I read somewhere that the portions were on the smallish side, but I think that's a good thing. Most places on the islands, in my experience, stuff you so you walk out feeling a bit ill (at least if you're like me and refuse to not finish a delicious meal). Great place, and I'll recommend it to anyone traveling to Kauai for sure.
(5)
Nali M.
so i got my husband to take me, and we had a really good time. he ordered the lobster curry bisque and we shared the wonton. i ended up eating a lot of his bisque. it was SOOOOOO delicious!! i think we regretted the items we ordered: he got the farmer's market lasagna and i got the filet. these are things we could have made at home. my recommendation if you dine here: get what they do best; seafood! i'll definitely be heading back again and again!
(4)
Ethel A.
My husband & I decided to eat @ a nice restaurant on our last night @ Kauai and saw the reviews about this place so we decided to try it. The place was nice and clean. We were seated out @ the patio, but soon realize a few flies were around as well. They had a 5 course menu deal from Sun-Tues 5pm-7pm (I think) @ $28 bucks, I thought 5 course $28 that's a good deal. I find out the portions are small, thus the $28...so really not worth it and get a regular entree. My husband had their prime rib and I thought that was pretty good. Overall the place was nice and the prices match the portions.
(3)
R S.
This was a great find (thanks to the Yelp iPhone app). About 6pm on Sunday, while daughter was playing at the wonderful Lydgate Beach Park, we searched on yelp, found this place then made a reservation for 8:15. We showed up a bit early, grabbed a couple of drinks at the bar and they seated us a few minutes later, on-time. Waiter was very helpful, even taking a late change of order (decided to get the Ahi after all... and I'm glad I did!). Order took some time to arrive, but it was delicious. Ambience was good - not too upscale but not loud or boisterous. Perfect for tourist families. All in all, our favorite restaurant of our trip. Island cuisine with a hawaiian flavor. Good seafood. A bit pricey, but worth it.
(5)
Keikilani S.
We have been dining at Hukilau Lanai since it opened! Now, that it is under different ownership we still continue to go there because the menu is practically the same, the food is consistent, the staff is efficient and courteous and the price is right! Our favorites include: sweet potato ravioli, swiss chard and hamakua mushroom tart, Wally's Steak Crown Royal, Pork Tenderloin and all of the fish choices. Great "20 under $20" wine list and fab desserts! The kids menu is also wonderful! The Hawaiian entertainment by Dennis Chun makes the entire experience memorable!
Was looking for a place to have a nice dinner to celebrate my birthday.. Since the island practically shuts down at the stroke of 6, it was now 7:30 and I was desperate to find a nice decent restaurant. Yelp reviewers led me to this location and I was not disappointed. Ordered the lobster bisque, Mahi with the mushrooms and mashed potatoes, and the prime rib - all were DELISH! I also received a happy birthday chocolate lava cake..yum
(4)
A Z.
Great fresh food. Nice outdoor seating in the evening. You must order the Poke' Nachos!
(5)
Linda C.
Hukilau Lanai is wonderful. It definiely blows the over-hyped and overpriced Beach House out of the water. I was certainly was skeptical. I never, ever, ever would have eaten at a restaurant in a hotel-lobby restaurant at timeshare if it hadn't been for the yelp reviews. I love the atmosphere. It's beautiful and tranquil with a lot of island style-- without being over the top. (No tikis or grass-covered bar). The restaurant overlooks a beautiful garden and the Wailua beachfront. The food is very good and reasonably priced. The homemade foccacia was okay (3 stars) but the olive oil/balsamic/chile oil was FANASTIC! Wow. (5 stars) Great selection of wines for $20 a bottle or less. That's not easy to do in Hawaii. All of these wines were available by the glass. We had an excellent Italian wine from Montepulciano (Chianti) (5 stars) My husband gives five stars to the Navy bean soup, I give five stars to Wally's salad. Super fresh, tasty organic greens. Best tomatoes I've had on Kauai (which means they were okay). Four stars for lobster wontons with plum sauce. Our entrees were very good. I had Opah and my husband had the meatloaf. The Opah was at least four stars or more. The mashed potatoes were excellent. Five stars. Coffee is three stars--meaning A-OK. Lilikoi pie was good, but not as good as the pie at Hamura's Saimin. (Hamura's pie is 5 stars and Hukilau Lanai's pie is 3 stars. Sorry.) Price is excellent by mainland standards and exceptional by Hawaiian standards. Two glasses of wine, one order of pupus (appetizer), two entrees with soup or salad, one dessert and coffee for totalled $84.00. Imagine! Made reservations for a lanai (patio) table on opentable.com . We got the best table right in the middle of the lanai! Awesome. Glad I did that because the place was packed on Sunday night. Word is getting out. By the way, they have music in the bar every night. (See schedule on website) The kane (man) who performs on Sunday evening is five stars EXCELLENT and the volume is just perfect. I've endured so many meals accompanied by too-loud, marginally-talented entertainers that I really appreciated him. We stayed in the bar after dinner to appreciate the music. The bar is a very relaxing setting (couches and chairs) and has a nice energy. More appealing than Stevenson's Library. We may or may not eat in the restaurant again. We tend to avoid fancy food and places that cater to haoulis (white folk) in Kauai because that's not what they're good at. We eat local style. But we absolutely, definitely WILL be back to have pupus and drinks in the bar. May even spring for the awesome-sounding five course wine/food pairing tasting menue someday.
(4)
Kevin A.
Great dinner at Hukilau tonight prior to the tsunami warning. The mixed grill is a terrific choice. I have not had a bad meal at this seafood delight.
(5)
alex t.
Very good food
(5)
G L.
If I judged a restaurant only by the food, I'd say this restaurant would be rated "good". However, the service, ambiance, and total experience make this restaurant special. I definitely recommend it, and we plan on eating here again on our next trip to Kauai. I ordered from the "Gluten Free tasting menu" and some items were great, others just ok, but it was enjoyable to try various selections Next time, I'll select the one menu item that really catches my eye, but either way you go, you'll enjoy yourself.
(4)
Michele W.
Had dinner with friends on a Sunday (5 of us). Had to wait a few minutes for our seats but it was worth the wait. Sat in the back right near the open window by ourselves for a good amount of time. Next up....drinks. Had the special. Believe it was called Gardener's Party made with kefir limes from the garden. It was delicious and refreshing! Then on to the Calamari! So tender and tasty! Worth a try. Next, the Ahi stack (think it was a special). That was to die for!!! Hope it is on the menu for my next visit. (which will hopefully be next year!) I had the Ono with a miso sauce for my entre. Last but certainly not least was the dessert special. Chocolate brownie infused with habenero chili peppers and a Dulce de Leche sorbet! YUMMMMM!!! So if you are in search excellent food in a relaxed non pretentious setting try Hukilau Lanai on Kauai!
(5)
Jaye J.
Ok, decided to go here our last night in Kauai. From the other Yelp reviews, we weren't expecting much from the waiters, but thought the location and food should be good. It was really great! We made a reservation on Open Table for 5 p.m. We got there early around 4:30ish and sat at the bar that is just outside of the restaurant, in the hotel lobby. The bartender was really nice. I had a wonderful pomegranate marguerita. My friend had a mai tai and my husband, who is our designated driver had a club soda. We were there long enough to order two. Delish! Promptly at 5 p.m., the dining room opened. I ordered the tasting with the wine. Really delicious. We started with squash blossom appetizers that were special that night. They were stuffed with a horseradish cheddar. Totally yummmmm. My husband, who NEVER eats fish, ordered the opakapaka, which was the special fish dish that night. It's a Hawaiian red snapper. He LOVED it! My friend, who was also traveling with us, ordered the pork and she LOVED that. The waitress was wonderful and the servers who brought my tasting dishes separately were ok, not nearly as personable as the waitress. All in all, we agreed that on our next visit to Kauai, we would made sure we had at least one dinner at Hukilau Lanai! Aloha and Mahalo!
(4)
Mike G.
Amazing!!! The best place for (an all around) dinner we found over 2 weeks on the island. We tried different places every night but wound up spending our last 2 nights here (as well as our 3rd). Make reservations a day or two in advance to get a time you want because this place is packed open to close.
(5)
Mark T.
My favorite place that I ate at in Kauai. Good quality food for a good price. Wine list was affordable and decent enough quality. Tried going a second time on my trip, but couldn't get a reservation (book on OpenTable). Highly recommend.
(5)
Ailin K.
The tasting menu was delicious and well proportioned. We got to try the best of the restaurant, and everything was as delicious as it could be. Service was great, very efficient. The wine pairing was well done. The fish dish came with Merlot pairing, which was out of ordinary, can't say that I get the concept or found it paired well, but it was an interesting idea. We left feeling satisfied and look forward returning to the place again.
(4)
Lisa L.
My original plan was to go partake in their 5 course $40 tasting menu (yes, with wine pairings!), but since I went on Christmas Eve with my parents, we had to order from the special holiday menu. The kahlua turkey was tender, but very smokey and a tad to salty for my taste. The prime rib came out perfectly cooked and was a very generous portion. Side dishes (garlic mash, stuffing, sweet potato mash) were decent, but nothing to write home about. There's also a bread basket with warm foccacia bread. My favorite part of the meal was actually the Wally's salad (romaine, tomatoes, pecans, mandarin tomatoes, and croutons with a ranch and papaya vinaigrette) which was the perfect combination of salty, sweet and crunchy. The service was great, super polite and friendly, and the ocean view while dining was a lovely bonus! They also have a 20 wines for $20 menu which is pretty fun. I'd definitely go back, but more for a festive happy hour or scenic lunch than a sit down dinner.
(3)
Mike H.
Hukilau provided the best food we had on the island. It was one of two places,I thought, provided food good enough to compete anywhere in the world. I had their tasting menu coupled with wine. It was interesting and surprising. The wine varietal choices were bold in that they were not the usual suspects; Muscat anyone? The pairings worked quite well even when we were less than thrilled with the course. My least favorite was the "Not Your Mother's Meatloaf", even though its preparation was perfect it had too much cumin for my taste. Service was good, more diner than dining. We were there before the music started and the restaurant filled up. Hukilau is one of the few places worth seeking out for the food on Kauai and worth seeking out is by definition 4 stars. Mike
(4)
Paula F.
Wonderful Wonderful Wonderful!!! Our group started with drinks and the bar and didn't even order anything specific, just that the bartender fix us something pretty with an umbrella it is. Perfect! We sat outside and the temp & breeze were just perfect. Wally's salad is a very good start. We each tried something different and each had a great experience; Mac Crusted Chicken Breast, Veggie Lasagna, Pork Loin and the Mixed grill of Wahoo and sugar cane speared Shrimp. Yum!
The food is very good. We went there twice in July 2010. The first time we didn't bother to book a table, and because we didn't want to wait one hour we had dinner in the lobby. That was the mistake. We ended up waiting one hour anyway to have our food. The waitress forgot to order our appetizers but brought bread (which is very good and can serve as an appetizer ;) ) several times as an apology. Then we shared the mixed grill with my husband. It was delicious. Even our baby loved it. So we decided to give it another try. This time we booked a table and had dinner in the dining room. The waitress did everything she could to make our dinner nice, even if our baby didn't cooperate a lot. The service was very fast (maybe too fast this time) and we got to taste the Sweet Potato Ravioli which is a must have! And we ordered the mixed grill again and it was delicious again. I wanted to try their desserts but our baby was screaming... So two not so good experiences but a great staff and some very good food!
(4)
Jimmy B.
Came here because it was walking distance to our courtyard marriott hotel and so glad we did! Menu looked awesome, and everything we had was great! Ahi tacos, opah fish, and pork medallions were all winners. Service was great and ambiance was nice. Really can't wait to go back here!
(5)
Mel G.
After reading all of the reviews, Joe and I decided to check this place out. I ordered the filet mignon, and it was delicious. Our server was also friendly and attentive, and the casual -- yet nice -- environment of this restaurant made for a very lovely evening. Would definitely recommend!
(4)
c L.
This was one of the best meals we ate in Kauai...most of the meals we ate on this island were just okay until we came here. My husband ordered the prime rib which was fantastic. I ordered the mixed grill which was good but was sitting in too much curry sauce...if it was plain, it would have been so much better. I had the lobster bisque which is curry based and tasted just like drinking curry sauce so if you dont like curry, dont order it, it is not your typical lobster bisque. The caesar salad and creme brulee were excellent. Our waiter was a brunette gentlemen in his 30's, he was an awesome waiter. Very attentive service..would definitely recommend this spot..it blows the Beach House away as far as the food goes.
(5)
No B.
The Hukiulau Lanai: Careless wait staffers who are dog tired of tourists, along with creative sounding but very mediocre food at high prices, all the while pretending to be a fine restaurant. What's not to dislike? The prices do not bother us. It is what you receive for the money that will keep us from returning. Ever. The beautiful garden lanai setting is overcome by a very mediocre "basic low-to-mid-level hotel" kitchen and the self important, sometimes rudely interrupting wait staff. Fails big time.
(1)
Ben T.
Favorite Dinner in Kauai. Very delicious and reasonably priced.
(5)
Shannon F.
As someone who lives on the island and has eaten here many times, I can say the food here is always consistently amazing. Special props on the meat, it's the tenderest, most delicious meat ever - the mac nut chicken and filet mignon is to die for. And I always have to try and not fill up on that bread. Shout out to Adam in the kitchen! This is one of Cameron and I's favorite places to eat for special occasions or a romantic date night. Love the live music, it always seems to set the mood. And the service is usually excellent. We love the Hukilau!
(5)
Lena H.
Love the chocolate lava cake, macadamia nut encrusted fish, salads always fresh, dressings yummy, breads great. Staff always friendly. Eat outside to see a great ocean view. Best place to eat on the island.
(4)
LL C.
28 dollar for 5 course tasting menu, yes please! ahi nachos were delicious, as were the sweet potato ravioli...the warabe (fern) that was paired with the sauage was delciious also.... nice view of water/beach...friendly wait staff
(5)
Stephanie G.
Lemme just say that my table had the only non-white people in the whole place (besides staff). It was like a game of bridge was in danger of breaking out at any second. The restaurant actually overlooks a hotel pool so you can look forward to seeing all that goes along with that. The beach is visible from some tables (not ours). We went for the five course, five wine pairing for $40/. This means we had to eat at 6PM, but whatever. It was all pretty good. More importantly it was reasonably priced and they brought us pretty big glasses of wine. If I can remember what I ate...It was a Okinawan sweet-potato ravioli with some kind of shaved Maui onion on top, a remarkably unremarkable, over-dressed green salad, a piece of white fish that my husband who will eat anything referred to as "spongy," meat loaf and a side of corn that was actually excellent despite it's unfortunate name, and a glorious cheese plate that had the honeycomb on it....ask for extra slices of bread for the cheese though, they give you 3 waif-sized slices which is not enough for the amount of cheese you are given. I also ate someone's creme brulee which was creamy and perfect. P.S.: They don't have espresso here...the waitress offered to make me a french press, but after a giant meal and five glasses of wine I need espresso. The service was very good though. It was attentive but not overbearing.
(3)
Adam H.
The best thing about this place was the island vibe. My gf and I went one night during our vacation because we heard it was the best meal on the island... While I can't agree with that, our food was very good. We both had fish and I can't complain at all about our meal or experience. Being able to sit on the open patio on an awesome night looking out toward to beach was definitely a highlight.
(4)
Brian E.
My wife and I had our Wedding reception at Hukilau---What a wonderful experience. Manda, Brian and their entire staff exceeded our expectations in everyway. The food was delicious---Ahi Poke Nachos, Sweet Potato Ravioli, these massive shrimp and scallops! The lilikoi pie, and wedding cake were perfect. We couldn't have asked for a better experience from Hukilau. I'm a tough customer to please, and they delivered. Thank you!
(5)
Daphne J.
We repeat visited this great spot when we were in Kapa'a. They do a great job of using local ingredients and doing some really creative things! I loved the sweet potato ravioli! I think the early-bird tasting menu that pairs courses with wine is an excellent deal. It was $50! The wines were not my favorite, but they did pair well with the food courses--which were ONOlicious! The patio seating gives you a lovely view of the palm trees and the ocean. The lounge area near the bar is a comfy place to sit and chat. I was really skeptical about a place called "Hukilau Lanai"--how stereotypical cheesy Hawai'i can you get, right? It's not in the name, it's in the ingredients--and the food doesn't lie.
(4)
Kai T.
I ate here on 06/17/11. Somehow I forgot to yelp it. I recommend the steak medallions. That was really good.
(4)
john h.
I came here twice. The first time I had the tasting menu and the Ahi Poke nachos. The nachos were awesome and the tasting menu was fun. The second time we had the BBQ Ribs appetizer which was excellent. I also had the Opah dinner, which was fine, but it was probably my least favorite piece of fish that I had on my entire trip.
(4)
Harry D.
Make a reservation, or you may end up waiting for a while. It's our go to place for a great quality dinner. Service is always top notch, food never disappoints me, and it's pretty casual. It is on the more expensive side, but you'll get plenty of food.
(4)
Jeanette H.
Based on the wonderful yelp reviews, we did the tasting/wine pairing at this oceanfront restaurant. We were not disappointed! The food was beautiful and delicious. We tasted some wines that we would not usually try, in a beautiful location, served by efficient and pleasant waiters. And all for $40 per person! Terrific value. They even had a vegetarian tasting menu :)
(5)
Abbey P.
Based on my food, I would give it a 3.5 star. Overall, I would give it a 4 star. THis is hard for me except that my fish was just a bit overcooked. Flavor was otherwise good. The Mai tai was good- actually, very good. Ahi Poke nachos- yum..i would recommend just for that. I had the local grilled fish with saffron sauce. The sauce was really good. But like I said, the fish was just overcooked. My bf got the mixed seafood plate- two types of fish with shrimp. It wasn't the cajun fish but the other was perfectly cooked. I wished i just had that. The shrimp was also just okay. I forget the dessert we had- something with ice cream and that was very good. sorry... :)
(4)
Todd B.
Went on the advice of Yelpers. Will come back based on our own personal experience. Lobster curry bisque was so rich and cozy on a cool February night. I had the prime rib, and it was some of the best steak I have ever had anywhere! Wife had the mixed grill which included some Walu (Hawaiian butter fish). It was just a perfect harmony of many subtle flavors, none of which overwhelmed the others. Mom got the vegetable lasagna. She was glad she ordered it, but will try something new next time. Portion was plenty for lunch tomorrow. Service was very friendly, although the bar was a little bit slow. We will likely come early for the prix fixe later this week. I don't award too many 5 star reviews, but this place deserves one.
(5)
Lena D.
I love that this restaurant is adjacent to the condo we always stay in on our yearly visits to Kauai. I have eaten at the Hukilau more than six times, trying almost every dish on the menu. Here's the deal. This place WINS FOR PUPUS: The Ahi Poke Nachos are from Heaven. Sashimi grade ahi poke on top of fresh and crisp wonton chips (nice chipy-dippy size, to boot) with a silky wasabi cream sauce. YUMMMAMI! Another winner are the ribs. They only give you three! Well, OK it is an app, but man, the hoisin sweet glaze and watermelon salad that it comes with is DEELISH. Must also give a shout out to the Lobster and Goat Cheese Wontons, which were crispy on the outside, creamy and lobstery on the inside (nicely balanced, not too cheesy to boot). The Hamakua Mushroom Tart and Calamari were also winners. I tried to bribe the waiter into giving me more of that flaky, buttery crust all by itself, but alas I was shut down. And for calamari, well crispy, warm and cooked to perfection... what more do you want in friend calamari? The only Pupu lacking was the Kalua Chicken with the ancho guava sauce. The chicken was overcooked, the sauce was weak, and the watercress that it was served on top of had too many stems and not enough yummy leaves. SALADS All times, my salads were over dressed. The Arugula Salad with fresh corn & Kauai Kunana Dairy Chevre Salad would have been nummers, IF they weren't swimming in their dressings. SOUPS The curry bisques are great, I had a lobster version one time, then a pumpkin version most recently. Both excelled in flavor, well balanced and silky -- more than made up for the over seasoned, too thick corn and bacon chowder I sampled three nights before. ENTREES: Definitely go for the fish here. This is where they shine. The mix grill plate is ONO. They do it differently --on a weekly basis, i think-- because the three different trips I have been here, the mix grill has been the same fish & preparation for the duration of the week. The Opah is also a winner, being pank & herb crusted and served over orzo in a lemon-caper-cream sauce, although the portion is HUGE. My hubby has ordered the pork tenderloin, the steak crown royale and lasagne. All had excellent flavor, and would get an ONO but definitely not a YUMAMI rating from me because of various textural/ accompaniment reasons on different occasions. Besides eating steak outside in 85 degree weather is just not my cup o' tea, yeah? DESSERT The creme brulee, sorbet trio and mac nut tart are right up there with the ahi poke nachos, with the sorbets having a narrow lead. The creme brulee gets props for not going all lilikoi on us like most CB's in Hawaii. Instead, they take advantage of the BEST vanilla bean in the world right here in Hawaii and use it advantageously. The mac nut tart is rich, toasty and the crust is sooo buttery good. I recommend sharing both of these as the portion is generous and they are very. rich. The sorbet trio is probably the best. The flavors always change, but are always amazing. They serve them on ceramic soup spoons; one little scoop per flavor, and are the perfect, refreshing end to an amazing meal! THE REST Service is chill, waiters are nice, real, not overly attentive but there when you need. Get a table in the lower part of the restaurant, up against the tiki torch parameter if possible. The view is beautiful at sunset and afterward the tikis and garden setting make for a romantic tropical ambiance. The upper level is okay, just isn't the same experience. The wine list is well thought out and well priced. Most bottles are $20 or less and they have a fresh modern approach to their selections. I especially enjoyed that most were available by the glass, so I could mix and match with each course. The cocktails are strong, sweet and cold, what more do you need? Another cool thing is that the chef maintains a small herb garden in front of the outdoor section of the restaurant. Hubby and I got sucked into a time share presentation one morning and we were lucky enough to see one of the kitchen assistants walking out and selecting herbs for the soup of the day. That was the BEST part of the whole sales presentation, as you can probably imagine ;op
(4)
Jeremy D.
Atmosphere: Like hotel restaurant/bar Service: Good, our only complaint being that our server disappeared after they closed and didn't offer dessert and we had to ask for our check. Food: Good to great, everything tasted fresh and creative. 1st course: poke nachos, very good 2nd course: I had the Wally salad, very good. Wife had the lobster bisque, very good 3rd course: Mahi, very good Sweet potato ravioli: good, maybe a little sweet, but it's sweet potato... Lava flows were delicious and the lager on tap was a solid beer. . Overall: not cheap, but if you have the means, I would highly recommend it. Good date night.
(4)
Allison G.
I have been to Kauai 9 times and this was my favorite meal on the island, so far. The servers were fantastic, friendly, and I honestly felt that they cared for us. Most of all, the food was delicious. We went for my grandmother's 75th birthday and they made it very special for us. The Coconut Coast Cooler is a great drink as well as the Mai Tai. The calamari appetizer was excellent and the Ahi was the best that I had ever eaten at a restaurant (and I live in San Diego where I eat lots of seafood). Overall, it was a great experience and I can't wait to go back again next year.
(5)
Robert B.
You owe it to yourself to enjoy this place at least once while on vacation in Kauai. Make a reservation for dinner to sit outside on the patio. Make the reservation early in your vacation, because I can almost guarantee that you will want to come back more than once. The calamari appetizer was delicious. I don't think you could go wrong with any of the fresh fish main courses. I had the ahi with a beet and eggplant ragout and gnocchi. It might sound weird, but it was great. My wife had the ono with a light coconut curry and jasmine rice. It was simple, not overpowering, and amazingly delicious. They have a "20 under $20" wine list, which is a really nice touch. The selection isn't amazing, but I really appreciate not being raked over the coals for wine at a nice restaurant. They have more expensive bottles available as well. We were too full to make it to dessert. Our server was attentive and the outdoor seating area was very nice. I can't think of one thing I'd change about our experience.
(5)
Brian K.
This was the first place I ate when I got to Hawaii and it turned out to be the best place on a three week trip that covered three islands. Food was excellent service was great and the atmosphere was perfect.
(5)
Paul T.
I have to say, this is a must visit - especially if you have kids. The location is great, looking out onto a garden next to the beach. They have a really good kids menu (if your kids are under 4 you might want to consider splitting a dish, as the kids options are a bit pricey). The food was really good, I got the Hukilau Grill which was really tasty - a couple of grilled fish of the day, and a shrimp skewer. Also, the overall cost of the meal was surprisingly good considering Kauai's general prices!
(4)
Jack N.
Food was ok. Service not even so good. A bit of an attitude and not too attentive. Quite pricey for what is offered. Drinks were ok. Better than Burger King... ;0)
(2)
Kevin G.
We had our wedding reception here on 10/5/11. Manda, the banquet manager, was fantastic from the beginning to the end. We had a lot of questions and she always responded promptly. We had a small wedding of 26 people and I think this was the perfect amount of guests. The wedding went fantastic. The food was of course delicious, we had plenty of choices for drinks and the cocktail hour before the reception was a nice touch. If your considering having a wedding at the Hukilau Lanai, I highly recommend getting in touch with Manda and booking the event!
(5)
Shana O.
This is my favorite restaurant on Kauai. Best dinner we had when we were there in March 2008, and on our latest trip last week, we were staying at the resort in which it's located. Having 2 young kids, we were not eager to attempt many dinners out with them, and we ended up ordering take out from Hukilau on 3 of our 7 nights there. The Mixed Grill I had on our first night had the most delicious fish I've ever tasted -- I believe it was the Walu. The creamy orzo that came with it was also amazing (available to order as a side w/ anything). The skewered shrimp were also above average but not phenomenal. The seafood creamy soup (not sure of the name) was delicious, though I had to eat it the next day b/c I was so full from my mains. The calamari was the best I've ever had -- plump, moist, lightly breaded -- a far cry from the dry, brittle stuff you can end up with. And the chile coconut sauce is perfect. The lobster curry bisque was very good, though I think I'm more of a traditionalist when it comes to lobster, so it wasn't my favorite. The sweet potato ravioli and ahi poke were delicious though not as amazing as that calamari! The food here is amazing, even for take out, and the in-restaurant dining experience is also exceptional.
(5)
Cindy H.
The mixed grill (seafood + shrimp) was melt in your mouth delicious. The cilantro-lime seafood chowder was amazing. We ate there a second time for our last night on the island.
(5)
Melanie N.
Definitely get reservations! This place fills up quickly. The food is amazing, the service great. The Hukilau griller features all island fresh caught fish. The filet mignon was the most tender I've ever had. Great time, can't wait to go back!
(5)
Darlene C.
AMAZING!! First thing I have to say. We stayed at the Kauai Coast Resort at the Beachboy for our honeymoon, and this is the restaurant in that resort. We actually only ate here once, but after that we wished we had eaten dinner here every night (if we could afford it). It's about as pricey as any really good restaurant, and the food really does deliver. They start you off with bread with oil and balsamic vinegar. The bread had this crust of cheeses on top. It was really good. The top actually kind of tasted like pizza. Hubby had the Mixed Grill. He got two kinds of fish, grilled shrimp skewered on sugar cane, served over something like orzo or cous cous. I don't remember. He looked like he was in heaven eating this thing! I got the shrimp fettuccini, and I was in love. It was really really good. For dessert he had the creme brulee. He said the ratio was not what he preferred. Because the dish is deep, he got more cream and, in his opinion, not enough of the sugar shell. But he said it was still really good. I had the chocolate warm cake, which you have to order early to allow about 20 minutes to make (it says in the menu). I asked them to serve the vanilla bean ice cream that comes with it on the side as I can't have it (but the hubby can). Really really delicious. All the staff we encountered were really nice and attentive. I really do wish we had eaten there sooner to at least have another dinner there. A good excuse to visit Kauai again.
(4)
Spencer G.
Ambience was good. Service excellent. Food outstanding. Best dining on Kuaui
(5)
Cynthia H.
I have never had a disappointing dinner at the HukiLau Lanai. Everything I've had there has been absolutely delicious - from the specialty cocktails to the fabulous entrees. I've eaten there a few times with my sister, and since neither one of us can eat soup or salad plus a whole entree, we always split something. The kitchen is kind enough to offer an extra soup or salad for a modest $5, and then serves each of us a beautiful plated entree which they divide in half so that we don't have the cumbersome job of trying to do that ourselves. The atmosphere is relaxed with a nice view of the gardens. The staff is efficient and eager to please. This restaurant will always be at the top of my list when in Kapaa. I highly recommend it!
(5)
Sunny S.
Hukilau Lanai is AWESOME! The only downfalls are that they are NOT open on MONDAYS and the PARKING is limited. The restaurant is in the KAUAI COAST RESORT, so a lot of stalls are taken by guests and employees. However, it is only a short walk from the Coconut Market Place (which has a LOT of parking available). So you can always park there and walk. My FAVORITE dish there is the POKE NACHOS. If you LOVE "poke" (raw fish) and wonton chips then this is the dish for you. The fish is more "seared" rather than "raw" though. The LOBSTER AND GOAT CHEESE WONTON is amazing too! And so are the BBQ RIBS...mmmmmm! As far as the "entrees/main dishes" go, I recommend EVERYTHING on the menu. My favorite however is the PORK TENDERLOIN. It is MAGNIFICENT! And you must DEFINETLY try some of the FRESH FISH. They are all bought by LOCAL FISHERMAN so you know that its FRESH and not a bunch of "frozen junk" like some restaurants have. There are a handful of dessert choices, but my favorite is the CHOCOLATE CAKE. This takes 20 minutes to prepare so if you are a chocolate lover or think youre gonna try this be sure to let your server know ahead of time (however, they will also ask you in advance) I cant remember the name of the cake but its pretty much a "chocolate molten lava cake" (chocolate cake with more chocolate oozing out) with some ice cream on the side. It is the BEST! I also had the Hawaiian Vanilla Bean Creme Brulee and its wonderful. But my favorite is the chocolate cake. If you have "keiki" (children) this place is VERY KID FRIENDLY. I have a 1 year old daughter there and she loves the food and the staff there. The "keiki menu" is very simple and includes choices of pasta, chicken fingers, hot dogs, fish or PB&J. They also include some "drinks" like Lava Flow or "Hukilau POG" (my daughters favorite). All the kid meals start with some fresh pineapple and end with DESSERT (scoop vanilla ice cream) Oh and of course, the prices are reasonable too. All entrees are under $30 so its pretty easy on your wallet. However, they do have an 18% gratuity of parties over 8 (which is normal for most restaurants) I give this place 5 STARS! Id give it MORE if it was possible but 5 is the limit. Great food, staff AND atmosphere. If you are ever in the island or in the area, be sure to save a night to have dinner at HUKILAU LANAI. I promise you will NOT regret it. I go there every chance I get.
(5)
James H.
The meal started with Focaccia Bread with Basalmic vinegar and olive oil, different, but very good. Small clams are farmed on the West side of Kauai. They were served in delicious sauce as an appetizer. They left my wife and I wanting to sop up the juices with bread. My wife had the Gazpacho soup, excellent , I had the Tomato and Basil with seafood soup which was also very good. For dinner I had a Mahi-Mahi special that was prepared simply, but delicious. My wife had the mixed grill that included fish and shrimp. She very much enjoyed.
(5)
Adam C.
This place is amazing. It was a Saturday night at 8:30pm and I called in to asked what time they closed. A very nice receptionist said they stop seating at 9pm and bid me to come in. She said that they would be happy to serve me. When we got there every thing was perfect. They had a band playing and we were seated very promptly. Our server was fantastic and the food and local made and bottled mead, yes mead, was delicious. Dessert was a cake made with chocolate from the oldest chocolate factory on Kauai. 5 stars easy.
(5)
Michelle P.
Great little open air restaurant. Close, but not on the beach. They had a some nice quiet live Hawaiian music in the lobby while we waited for our table and had a drink from the bar. We tried three apps. Lobster goat cheese wontons-Yum. HIMM. Heaven in my mouth. Fried goat cheese arugula salad. Yes. My wife digs the goat. Also tried the rib appetizer which was good in small doses...the sweet BBQ sauce was a little much as I grubbed on the 4th one. The liqueur coffee was a great way to finish off the dinner. Expect to pay for any of their entrees...$20-30 a piece. If/When I go again, I'd get the wontons and one of their delicious looking entrees.
(5)
Toni F.
Hukilau was very good for Kauai - not the best but very good. Staff is friendly and efficient, ambience is very nice if you can get a table closest to the courtyard, and we very much enjoyed our experience. We would definitely try it again.
(4)
D L.
Expensive, but worth it. The BEST Gluten-Free vegetarian pasta I've had EVER. Their gf menu (yes, they actually have a separate menu for us) has hardly any vegetarian options, but they are more than willing to make something for you... So I had the "gluten free fisherman's pasta" without the fish ;-) It was delicious oyster mushrooms and other elegant vegetables in a drool-worthy gluten free white sauce. Not heavy or greasy, just delicious. A friend took me there on my birthday and they brought my creme brulee with a chocolate square that said "Happy Birthday" on it in icing as well as a complementary mini-box (with a bow!) of a couple of their homemade gluten free truffles --- delicious and I felt so special :-) Also, to assuage the hunger pangs of the forever-forgotten "glutards" (as a friend calls us) - they actually bake you a fresh gluten free mini-bread so you don't have to gaze longingly at the delicious bread basket with balsamic and oil everyone else is enjoying while wringing your hands under the table!
(5)
Terrence G.
My wife and I ate here during our stay on Kauai. This place is located at the Kauai Coast Resort which also was the resort we were staying at during our stay. We heard good things about this restaurant and our overall opinion is that is was just so-so. The food was good, but pricey. We shared the lobster won tons which was good but pricey for a fried food app. I had the prime rib, which was decent. My wife had the meatloaf which was also good. Both of our entrees included salad and the wolley wolley salad was probably the best part that stood out the during our meal. Our server was nice and on point. Overall this place was just ok; there are better options on the island. Definitely call ahead we had to wait over an hour on Wednesday night.
(3)
Paula B.
this is such a fun place! we're going back for 2nd time tonight, with reservation. we didn't hv one our first visit, but sitting in the bar is prime people watching spot. poke nachos yummy, ck! love freakin hot chocolate martini!
(4)
M. J.
The signage is a little Survivor and the location would make you think you were in for some sub-par restaurant lobby food, but Hukilau Lanai is actually a dinner you'll remember. The ono was grilled to perfection and served on top of white rice with pineapple and green curry. My husband's lightly fried opah with soba noodles was so good he almost didn't share. The wine list was nothing spectacular but the food was compelling enough that we didn't mind. And don't miss the goat cheese cheesecake! Sounds weird but it was perfect. Dinner for two with appetizers, entrees, one drink each, and dessert will run you $100 including tip.
(5)
Mike W.
My favorite place on the island. Went here twice last time we were on Kauai and went twice again this trip. Love it! Every single thing, each time we ate was perfect. From the salads to apps to drinks to entrees and that chocolate lava cake were all to die for. Not cheap but not the rip off Beach House is. A must visit if you're on the island and want to impress.
(5)
Julie R.
We had dinner here on our first evening on the island and it was a very good experience. We had drinks at the bar listening to live music. Music was good but drinks too sweet. Then we moved to our table. Very nice setting, with view to the pool and ocean behind. Service was nice and our waiter had good advices. Menu was really interesting and featured local food. Food was good and entree are served with soup or salad. Entree price are in the $20 to $30 range. They have a nice selection of wine around $20 the bottle. For dessert, we had the macadamia tart, which was good. They do not serve expresso but only regular coffee. We came back again a few days later and had the lobster bisque with coconut cream and tai curry (really nice) and the fish mixed grilled (amazing!) our waiter was great and had very good advices on wine pairing. I will recommend this place and will likely come again.
(4)
MJ J.
Great location, great food, we celebrated my son's 8th birthday here. excellent service, good prime rib, good wine.
(4)
Josh H.
This was one of the best places we ate on our trip this past summer. We came back a couple more times throughout the course of our trip and each dish was delicious!
(5)
Wendy W.
Pricey - yes. Worth it? Yes! This was our splurge dinner and it was worth every penny. I had Wally's Steak - which is a filet mignon quality beef with a wonderful light bourbon sauce. Perfection. My spouse had the catch of the day and it was wonderful. We followed it with the chiffon pie and wished we'd have ordered one to go. Outstanding service, outstanding food. We used the Yelp/Open Table for our reservations and it worked great. Reservations highly suggested.
(5)
Walter J.
Ok so I really wanted to like this place but.....I didn't. Hukilau was recommended to my by a man that owned a condo a few properties down the street. The service was very courteous and fast, but was rather 2 dimensional. The food was good but almost institutional in quality,,kind of like what you might get at a wedding or on a cruise ( a bad cruise). We had reservations for 3 at 8:30 for three. I felt like they wanted to really rush us thru the meal. in and out with drinks appetizers, salads and main course, out in under an hour. Although the food was not worth lingering over every bite, i am also not into speed eating. Polite but there is no way we should have been done that quick.the restaurant in in a time share resort and maybe the kind of person that would go for a time share ( or Vegas buffet) might buy into that this is high end fine dining, but its not
(2)
Craig H.
This was our third stay at the Kauai Coast Resort, and we ate twice this time around at Hukilau Lanai. It is still terrific. The food is so expertly prepared and served with as many LOCAL ingredients as possible. The accompanying sauces for each dish and dessert make sense and compliment the tastes well. The friendliness of all staff at Hukilau Lanai is genuine and sincere. This restaurant has to be one of the stars of Kapaa and Kauai. My best advice is to make a reservation - you won't be disappointed with any meal here, and it will be a memorable experience.
(5)
Tim B.
First I must start by saying get a reservation. We did not know this and it was an hour wait, late in the evening on a Tuesday. The service was the best on the island by far!!! The drinks were delicious and fairly strong. I had the Opah, Amazing!!! My GF had the mix seafood, also delicious. The Ahi Nacho appetizer was awesome!!! all round great restaurant
(5)
Robyn U.
Fish was not cooked well and was dry. Service was good.
(2)
Tammy G.
Our meal was delicious...the appetizers left me feeling a little worried because it wasn't too exciting. We had the lobster won tons and the sweet potato ravioli. But when the entrees arrived...it turned the entire meal around. Everyone that ordered meat was pleased with their meal. and the fish was delicious too. the prime rib was so soft that you could cut it with a fork and the flavor was perfect. the crown royal tenderloins were melt in your mouth.
(4)
Susan C.
The food is ok, nothing spectacular. I had the ahi and the hubby had the ono. It's not quality food. The service is pretty good, but not worth coming back for.
(3)
Sangeetha S.
Eh, it wasn't that great. We thought this place would be just as stellar as our kayak tour guide's other suggestion (Mermaid's Cafe), but we were left wanting. We got the mixed plate, which was unfortunately so forgettable that I can't even remember what two types of fish were included. The mixed plate also came with some ridiculously creamy and heavy orzo, which I found unpalatable. Per the recommendations of some of the other reviews here, we ordered the sweet potato ravioli as an appetizer. My boyfriend relished it, but I thought it was unpleasantly sweet (yes, I know it's *sweet* potato, what else would I expect?) and had an odd texture to it I didn't care for. We DID have this amazing mixed fish soup there that was incredible, but overall not enough to save the entire meal. The restaurant has both indoor and outdoor seating. I'm insanely sensitive to temperature, so I found the inside of the restaurant to be freezing (AC turned way the hell up). Sitting outside was pleasant. Service was so-so; our waiter was pretty distracted because his family, including is adorable granddaughter, were seated in the table right next to us, but I can't really blame him (I mean, with a granddaughter that cute?!). Overall, a very OK experience.
(3)
K M.
I was lucky enough to be invited here twice in one week for 2 different events which means my dinner was FREE!! So, I can't comment on the prices, I didn't even see them. I can comment on the food. The first event was a Christmas Party and we ordered off of a custom menu. I had sweet potato ravioli was very pleasantly surprising, and the ahi poke nachos were so unbelievable! I also had the NY steak which was cooked perfectly and had a wonderful sauce with it and the lobster curry. (I'm allergic to lobster, but I had to try it and it was literally to DIE for!) The second event was a buffet for an awards ceremony and everything was delicious, amazing, and interesting. They don't serve ordinary foods, they take it up a notch to extraordinary! I didn't know what I was eating most of the time without reading the signs, but everything was delicious and some of it was unusual. What is even better is that they use fresh local ingredients.
(5)
Polina D.
Good food. Great service. Get the tasting menu - it is the way to go.
(5)
Brandon R.
Best dinner we've had on the island yet! We had the poki nachos, opah (monk fish), and mixed grill (which changes based on the fresh catch) and it was all awesome. Half the price of the Beach House and equal in quality of food and service.
(5)
Mike M.
I went here for my last night in Kauai. For starters we had the Poke Nachos! The GF ordered the seared ahi and ordered the Waly's steak crown royal. This was the most expensive meal dinner we had on the island and well worth it. Service was good!
(4)
Alison H.
We had a lovely dinner at Hukilau Lanai. The atmosphere is very romantic by the water with tiki torch-lit garden that the dining area is open to. Also, when we came in there were no tables, and they let us start ordering from the big comfy couches next to a big fishtank. We almost stayed there the whole meal just relaxing on the couch watching the fishes. The sweet potato ravioli is really something else. whoa! this is not orange-yam sweet potato, forgive me if I am clueless but I assumed... this is Okinawan sweet potato which is bright purple and certainly very sweet. I like sweet and this was actually just about too sweet for me. Also the flavors are Asian, not Italian... shouldn't it be called a gyoza or potsticker or something? but whatever. The double-fish special dinner was very good. As everyone says the focaccia is quite good and I don't even usually like focaccia. I had a goat cheese salad and made a little bruschetta with the focaccia - mm. The salad was good but small. I also couldn't resist ordering the ahi poke nachos. It just sounded so interesting. Well, we shouldn't have gotten this. The 'nachos' are these oddly very sweet fried wonton strip things that were awful. so we ate most of the poke off the top and that was decent but not especially good. Plus this is a mountainous app and it ended up being too much food. By the way, our service was quite good. A bug fell into my drink twice (understandable given that we were in an open-air setting in the evening) and the waiter ran to replace it and kept our water topped off.
(4)
Cindy G.
This restaurant is one of my "regulars" with good reason. They have their act together. A nice view, you can see the ocean before dark, but pretty grounds and tikis - you know you're in paradise. The food is fantastic and consistently so. If you like to sample a lot of the menu but without stuffing yourself completely, try the Chef's tasting with or without the wine pairing - but it's only available the first hour. Reservations are strongly recommended - everyone else knows they're good, too. I love the food. Nice mix so everyone can find something they will love.
(5)
Tracy S.
Had a great steak here on Mother's Day. Delicious!
(5)
Baxter C.
Get the warm cake. Order it with your dinner so it's ready right after you're done.
(5)
Kellev B.
This was elegant dining (at least by our standards) with really good food. As a bonus, when we mentioned that our family does not eat pork or shellfish, the server was able to immediately tell us which dishes to avoid, and, even better, which ones could easily be adjusted to fit our needs. Truly excellent service.
(5)
Johnny S.
Probably one of, if not the best place I've eaten at on Kauai. Started out with ribs as an appetizer and they were excellent. No fat on them and they fell right off the bone. The homemade sauce only made them better. Had the filet mignon for dinner, which I ordered well done. It came out cooked perfectly and didn't even need to be butterflied. The sauce made it even better. For dessert we had the lava cake, which was also amazing. The whole dinner was great from start to finish and the service was impeccable. I would definitely recommend this place.
(5)
Colin B.
Hukilau Lanai was easily the best place we found to eat while on Kauai. When I travel I want to eat local food, something I can't get 4,000 miles away in Texas. I don't want Mexican, I don't want a burger... we do those better in Texas. I promise. I want fish I can't pronounce and produce from down the road, the stuff that we pay double for and only get at specialty grocery stores. This was Hukilau Lanai. We ate here twice while we were there. You must have the sweet potato ravioli, an awesome purple Okinawan sweet potato. Get the mixed fish grill and make sure it has butterfish on there. Best fish we had on the island. Make this your first dinner and go back and try other stuff. Great place. Great service, too.
(5)
Dawny M.
As other reviews stated the food was very good and service was attentive. I had the Ahi with mushroom topping, my husband had the Seafood mixed grill. High marks for both. I had their house special salad, which was better than most house salads. My husband had the Cesar, which was your everyday Cesar, nothing special in our opinion unlike one of the other reviewers stated. Tried the lobster wontons, as others raved about them, but found they were more cheesy than lobster, so can't recommend them. Enjoyed the hot lava cake for dessert. Overall a very good meal and experience here on Kauaii. Remember as several reviewers stated, get a reservation, or your wait may be crazy.
(4)
Stephanie H.
Eureka! Best food on the island of Kauai hands down. If you don't believe me see my other reviews! So good you want to pinch yourself for a fear of dreaming the food is so amazing! This restaurant is farm to table the freshness and quality surpasses my expectations. I wish I would have found this treasure sooner. My husband and I ate here on a Sunday and we wanted to eat here every night after. The restaurant is closed on Monday so we booked another reservation on Tuesday. It was well priced and the flavors exploded in our mouths. My husband ordered the Mahi Mahi pasta twice both nights with the Caesar salad. I had the lasagna one night with goat cheese salad and the meatloaf the next time with the pineapple gazpacho soup. Both nights we had the sweet potato ravoli knock your socks to the moon goodness. Just don't be afraid the sweet potatos in Hawaii are purple. I miss the fresh flavors. Food is so good I wanted to kiss the cook... I am sure my husband wont mind.
(5)
Johan S.
Their Adams tuna poke nachos is one of the reasons to visit Kauai in the first place!
(5)
jon r.
The food is superb. This would get 5 stars, but the view of the ocean is a bit obscured and the hotel that the eatery resides in is outdated
(4)
Colin M.
Restaurant was nice, food was pretty good - not many non-seafood options. View is of the nicely landscaped, and very green courtyard, which leads to the ocean. Restaurant is a part of a hotel, so you enter through it's lobby to get there.
(4)
Ro S.
Sept 24, 2011 - W O W... Service with a smile.. Literally. Every server wears a smile. We had 6pm reservations (made that day) for 12. Seated so comfortably. Drinks came quickly.. Salad next. Wonderful salads. Focaccia bread came - delicious. Ordered the mushroom tart.. Shared it 4 ways.. should have ate it myself - it is so wonderful. I had the prime rib - grilled. Delicious. Had the molten lava.. was so full.. Everyone on the table just raved about the food and the service. We kept comparing the lousy service we had at Keoki's Paradise in Poipu/Koloa and said we should have had our dinner party here. Prices are lower - food was excellent - the service was the best. They brought my grandson's dinner out later than the rest of ours.. apologized to him... and brought him a complimentary chocolate sundae. The owner came to our table to check on us..she was very gracious. Note: I asked our server how long she worked for the Hukilau.. 5 years plus (i think).. She loved working there and said the owners were so good to their employees. It totally shows! We will be back and I have shared with our Alaska Airline customers flying to Kauai how wonderful this place is!
(5)
Mark W.
Surprised when we pulled up and it was in a resort hotel. But after that, all of the surprises were good ones. Don't let the nachos name fool you, the poke nachos were the best/lightest appetizer we had on our trip. Thank goodness our server pretty much insisted that we try them! All of the dishes were fantastic, best of the 10 day trip. Blows away better known restaurants such as Roy's or Duke's. Oh and back to being in a resort, turned out to be a wonderful atomesphere and a bonus of shopping village right next store. It will be a must go to on all future trips!
(5)
Amy I.
Relaxed atmosphere. The appetizer was ok (I don't even remember what it was), but the meatloaf was actually really good. The service was good and we had a ocean view.
(4)
Tony S.
We found ourselves drawn to Hukilau Lanai twice after our initial visit. Twice we ate at the bar where we enjoyed the Wally Salad and calamari. The other time we arrived early for the pairing special, which serves before 5:45 pm. The four or five courses and wine selections were excellent.
(5)
Scott K.
We went here on the recommendation of a woman we met in Kapaa, near where we are staying. She said it was one of the best gluten-free places on the island (we have one family member with celiac disease). It was really good. The had many gluten-free choices and they prepare the food in a gluten-free environment. There was a nice selection of gluten-free choices, especially baked goods. We had a wonderful meal, and great service, and yes, the place is really beautiful.
(4)
Cyndi W.
Melt in your mouth fish and beef. Great ocean view. Amazing salads... Great wine list! They have a 5 course tapas meal paired with wines for $40 per person.
(5)
Edward S.
Good food and good service in a nice setting. Not really close enough to be "by the beach" but it didn't matter. Had a good meal and would definitely recommend this place. Probably the best food we've had in 3 weeks on the island and we've eaten at some nice expensive places.
(4)
Joyce Y.
4.5 stars This is definitely one of the best meals we had in Hawaii and definitely the best in Kauai! I thought this was better than Mama's Fish House (and cheaper) in Maui! We both got the mixed grill plate that comes with the delicious Wally salad. Wally salad was amazing! I know it's just salad but it was good. The bread that came before our entree was nice and warm, too. The mixed grill came with two kinds of fish. I can't recall what kind of fish it was but it was sooo tasty and yummy! The fish was nice and tender and moist and had great flavor. One was a cajun flavor while the other had a teriyaki flavor. It also came with shrimp skewered on a sugar cane on top of a bed of orzo. Yummy!! Definitely make a reservation if you can. It gets really crowded. We didn't make reservations and the wait was going to be really long. But we decided to eat in the lounge area instead of the restaurant and were seated quickly! Prices are definitely expensive. About the same price as if you go to Roy's. But it's worth it! Parking is actually a little bit difficult to find! Most of the spaces are already taken by the hotel guests so it's kinda hard to find a space! Overall, one of the best places we ate in Hawaii.
(4)
A C.
For a resort based restaurant, Hukilau Lanai certainly went beyond our expectations. Especially trying some of the other more expensive ones on the island. However tempting the meat choices were, we went with the local catches. The Mixed Seafood Grill and Opah were both excellent, but the Mahi was the best. Of course if you love chocolate, don't miss the "Original Hawaiian Chocolate Factory" Warm Cake. Hukilau Lanai is a must, when visiting Kauai.
(5)
Sonya S.
We enjoyed my birthday dinner here on a Saturday. With reservations, we were given a prime seat overlooking a pleasant outdoor square. Parking was rough... had to park nearby on the road, as both lots were packed. My first drink, a lilikoi martini, was strong for my taste, and came in a plain glass, no garnish, because the waiter made the decision it was better to get the drink to me sooner rather than wait for new martini glasses... I appreciated that, though did not understand why waiters waiting on tables would not get preference over the walk-up bar crowd (heavy this night due to nearby wedding). Ahi taco appetizer and swordfish dinner were superb. They brought wrapped chocolates and placed a little chocolate happy birthday sign on my pie... Nice touch! Despite a downpour, we stayed dry... they can pull down plastic shades as needed to keep the rain out. All in all, an upscale experience w/small, forgivable glitches--easily overcome with thoughtful service.
(4)
Agnes C.
We had reservations here (if you don't make reservations, expect to wait an hour). The butterfish 'catch of the day' was wonderful. He had lobster bisque which I tried and was wonderful. I had sweet potato ravioli and would go back to have it again.
(5)
Benoit R.
Good location conveniently located at walking distance from other hotels. The food is good. Some servers are really knowledgeable, some are just so so. The food selection was nice, the flavors were unusual and balanced, and the wine list was good and affordable. Definitely a good place to have a nice dinner with your better half.
(4)
LuckieMaounds P.
Yeah. It didn't work out for me. We had a 6:15 reservation. So we show up at 6:14 and are seated by our hostess with the menus. We don't know who our server is for a good 10 minutes, as no one comes by, not even to bring water. Around 6:30 our server comes by, tells us he'll be right back, and then doesn't return until about 6:40. I was really ready to walk at that point but I was so excited about the great food reviews so I stuck it out. When he does return he pours water then whips out his pad and tells us what the soup of the day is... and then silence. Of course we are ready to order so we order it all at the same time without a word from him: drinks, app, salads, dinner. 10 minutes goes by and the ahi nacho appetizer comes. It's really good and different! not exceptional. But tasty and I am hungry and it disappears off the plate pretty quick. THEN our drinks come. I am served a lemondrop, which I did order, with a really horrible, sour-tasting flavor-to-booze ratio and no sugar. I want to send it back but no one ever comes, not even to remove our empty app plate. The server drops off bread very quickly and disappears - I am calling after him "excuse me...?" but he doesn't hear me and he is gone. A busser brings the salads. The bread was very good - foccacia with oil/vinegar dip. The caesar salad was better than the house salad which came with a sweet dressing that I wasn't digging. Server comes back again later to drop off more bread. At that point I had given up on/ forgotten about my nasty drink. Dinner is served by another busser. He got the mixed grill and I got... I think it was the ono. The menu didn't say it was breaded but when it came out it was. Lightly breaded, but breaded and void of flavor. It came sitting on a bed of orzo or couscous or something and sitting in a crushed tomato sauce. Plain and forgettable. That mixed grill, tho, was outstanding. The shrimp was fat and flavorful and the fish came with a curry that was out-of-this-world delicious. I would order this again in a heartbeat... if I ever come back. Because dude, the service was really weird. After we finished, we sat. And sat. And sat with dirty plates. And then we saw our server. He was headed toward us, walked right past and went to the table next to us. At this time he greeted his new customers, told them about the specials (what specials? we were never told about any specials) and wine pairings!! (wine?? we wouldnt even have known there was a wine list at all!!) We've both worked in the restaurant and service industry. We are not rude restaurant patrons, and even a bad experience gets a tip (and I hate it but I still do it because it is really wrong not to). We had to flag down another busser to ask for our check. A minute later, our server came walking by. I flagged him down as well, we told him we want our check and he silently went to get it. No dessert sell, no coffee. Not even a "thank you for coming" on a $100 dinner. I seriously did not, and still do not get this guy.
(2)
Morgan C.
Tasting menu was great. Nice open air seating area
(4)
Benjamin L.
Delicious pasta with fish and desserts. Very nice ambiance. Yes, you'll need a reservation for the main dining room, but not for the bar/lounge area, which is just as nice. A high point of our stay at the hotel.
(4)
Bob W.
After eating some poor to average meals at high prices, we were starving for a restaurant that provided excellent food at a reasonable price, with good service and nice ambiance. The Hukilau Lania had it all! It was a little difficult to find since it's off the main highway on the Aleka Loop, which is not an obvious road and looks more like an entrance to a few stores. Look for the Kauai Coast Resort, and the Hukilau Lania is inside that resort. As soon as you see the front of the building and parking lot, you know you're at a quality place. Our server was named Brian, and he was excellent. He was easy to talk with and made us feel right at home, not to mention quick with service. The food was the best we had during our entire vacation, and the overall price was less than we had paid at other restaurants for food that couldn't compare. Everything we ordered came hot and perfectly prepared. The chef in this restaurant is definitely one of the best in the area. If we ever come back to Kauai, we'll definitely be back at the Hukilau Lanai. We can recommend it without reservation.
(5)
Dorcee S.
Wonderful last night on island dinner. Sept 14th, our last dinner on Kauai had to be spent at Hukilau Lanai (it's my favorite splurge restaurant). Called the day before for reservations at 5:30 pm. We're having dinner with good friends Karen & Conrad. We were seated on the lower terrace with a peak of ocean. I already know I want to try the tasting menu and that's exactly what I & Conrad had. Skip (my hubby) & Karen went with the Wally's Royal Crown Medallions (3 fillets). Skip is picky about well-done beef - his was perfect!!! Karen's too. 5 stars I also opted to have the Lobster Bisque - 5 stars +++++++ I could make a meal of this! Tasting Menu: Sweet Potato Ravioli - 4.5 stars Mushroom Tart - 4 stars Longaniza Sausage & Warabi (Fiddlehead Fern) - 0 stars from me, no like - Conrad nearly licked his plate and mine too - for him 5 stars Mahi Mahi with Shrimp Fennel Sauce - 4.5 stars Crème Brulee - 5 stars Shared Banana Foster Cheesecake - 5 stars Our server Brian, was great, we had a table on the lower terrace (where I wanted). After dinner we walked around Kauai Coast Resort. Wonderful evening spent with wonderful friends. A really great close to two weeks on Kauai! $180.00 for food, wine, beer.
(5)
Richard A.
Very good food with an older crowd (my son - 19 months - was the only toddler and most of the diners were clearly over 50). We enjoyed the fish (opakapaka, ono) and meat loaf. They have a nice fish tank and live entertainers that kept my son happy during the occasional breaks during our meal. The candied ahi was a little spicy for my taste. I'd like to return and try the tasting menu.
(4)
Randall K.
This restaurant was fantastic. The atmosphere was wonderful, the staff very attentive, and the food was amazing. I had the filet mignon while my girlfriend had the seafood platter. While the steak was hands down one of the best I've had in recent memory, the seafood was amazing, and I ended up stealing delicious morsels off her plate. We'd definitely return, and we're encouraging our friends that visit Kauai to make it a point to dine here at least once.
(5)
Ryan T.
Best meal we had on the Island. My only regret is that we made this our last meal...if we had gone here in the beginning of our stay we would have gone here multiple times. Food and Service was awesome. This did not disappoint.
(5)
Cynthia H.
My husband and I had our first "fancy" meal on Kauai at Hukilau during our honeymoon, and it turned out to be a solid choice for a romantic and scenic dinner. We were seated at one of the tables on the lawn level, which looks out at a lovely landscaped area and the ocean beyond. Service was friendly and suitably attentive throughout, and all our server's recommendations were spot-on. We felt warmly welcomed and quickly relaxed. There is a tasting menu available from 5:00-5:45pm that is an excellent deal (five courses for $32, or $50 with wine pairings), but we opted for entrees off the regular menu. We started with the chilled tomato gazpacho with pineapple sorbet, which was delicious, along with warm focaccia. Next, the charcuterie plate of local pork pate, smoked sausage, and mortadella, served with toasted bread and pickles. Each charcuterie item had a distinct flavor and was not overly salty, and the portion size was spot-on for two people to share. Our entrees were the Hukilau Mixed Grill (snapper, butterfish, and skewered shrimp on a bed of creamy rice and vegetables) and the macadamia nut chicken (with yellow curry and vegetables). Everything was excellently prepared and generously portioned, and in retrospect we definitely didn't need the appetizer(s). The flavors were generally familiar and even comforting, but the preparations were refined. Based on the amount of food, we really could have done without the gazpacho or the charcuterie! To accompany, we shared a bottle of crisp Grenache off the "20 wines for 20-something" list (another pleasant surprise). Our dessert was the restaurant's signature warm chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream, and a small box with two dark chocolate truffles was set down alongside. By dessert, the sun had nearly set and the tiki torches were cheerfully lit. A wonderful evening!
(5)
Anthony M.
We ate here and did the tasting menu which is available between 5:00 and 5:45. The tasting menu is a 5 course meal paired with different wines. The food was wonderful, however my advice is no matter how much you want that fruity umbrella drink or want to eat more than a half piece of their wonderful bread don't. The tasting menu is quite filling and if you fill up on other items you won't get to completely enjoy.
(4)
Ying L.
This is our first time dinning at this restaurant while visiting the island. While checking on Yelp, I found this restaurant and was able to get a reservation at 5:30pm on a Wednesday night. We arrived early and got seated right way with a beach view table. We opted out the tasting menu and ordered from the main menu. Food: mixed grill, 2 island grilled fish and grilled shrimps on a sugarcane skewer. It came on a bed of orzo pasta. The presentation of the entree was excellent. This meal was the best meal I had since I arrived on the island. The taste is just right and the fish was not overlooked. 5/5 stars Pasta of the day. It was made from hand-made fresh pasta with sausage and veggies. It was done perfectly. Very good! 5/5 stars My son had the kid's meal: meat loaf with french fries. He is a picky eater but he finished the entire entree so it must be good. The meal also came with a small size of ice cream. It is a great deal for $10. Dessert: we got the chocolate lava cake. Make sure you ordered ahead. It takes 20 mins to bake. It was very good. The cake was moist and not too sweet. It also came with a size of vanilla ice-cream. $10 is a little pricey but it was worth it. Service was excellent. Our waitress was super nice and attentive. She was knowledgeable about the menu. She explained what the was on the entrees when she brought out the food. 5/5 stars I forgot my credit card and she was nice enough to come after us to return it. Parking: plenty of free parking around the hotel. Tip: there is a nice beach right in front of the restaurant. I would recommend to check out the beach after dinner.
(5)
Gale M.
What a disappointment. We arrived on time for our reservation, only to be asked to wait. Ok, no problem, but then we noticed that the party that arrived just before us--without a reservation--was seated before we were. When we finally did get a table, it was next to the busboy's station which was filled with dirty dishes. We each were bitten by mosquitoes before we got our menus. When we requested to be seated indoors, we were told sure--if we were willing to wait an hour. We were prepared to spend a lot of money for a good dinner and pleasant hospitality. We were not willing to spend it to eat next to a pile of dirty dishes and among hungry mosquitoes, so we left and spent our money at a restaurant that was happy to serve us.
Great entrees, great pupus, and great wine selection with reasonable prices. Every night they've got live music. Thursday is Dennis Chun and Friday is Pancho Graham. Sometimes there's a wait but it's well worth it.
(5)
David C.
We visit Hawaii at least twice a year and have probably dined at 90% of the quality restaurants on Kauai, Oahu, and Maui. This restaurant is tough to beat for sheer quality of food and preparation. The Ahi is tremendous, the tenderloin was shockingly good, on a par with any high end steak house. Lobster Bisque was tremendous. The side items were also top notch, as were the desserts. Even my martini was superior. Cannot recommend this restaurant highly enough. Reservations are a must, as this is a very popular restaurant with locals as well.
(5)
Chase A.
My wife and I ate here on our honeymoon trip. We did not need a reservation to be seated right away. The Yelp reviews looked good and they did not lead us astray. We highly recommend this restaurant for its delicious meal offerings and beautiful Kauai view. The Good: Easy parking and seems to be shared with a hotel, friendly hosts, beautiful nighttime outdoor seating. Very friendly and attentive server. Our food arrived quickly and without issue. The Bad: Nothing to report. Yay! Our order: Starters all delicious: lobster bisque, sweet potato ravioli and tomato pineapple gazpacho. High praise for that gazpacho! Main was also delicious and recommended: Prime rib au Jus. Great au jus with perfect nappe. Dessert was good but not noteworthy: coconut lilikoi tart.
(5)
Josh B.
This place has almost 5 stars for a reason. It's amazing. I've been here quite a few times, most recently on my honeymoon. My wife said it was the best dinner she ever had. The calamari is amazing. The mixed grill is delicious and the meatloaf is holy moly good. Would highly recommend requesting to sit on the patio, it's beautiful, quiet and romantic. Your lady will love it. It's dimly lit and not to loud. Will definitely be returning many times.
Basically if you are looking for a great tasting, locally sourced, delicious meal with excellent wait staff and service, this is it. Great food and great experience. Wait staff awesome. Menu unique. Poke nachos, lobster bisque, local beef meatloaf, local fish grill platter. Awesome. I was really looking for a local kind of experience and meal that was higher end. Pretty much was here. Only complaint is I ordered the Orange wine. It was different, but pricey at 70 for the bottle, and it tasted like a five dollar bottle. Would not recommend, but it was different
(5)
Andrea G.
Everyone & everything pointed to dining here -- the Andrew Doughty Kauai tour book (that gave it a top "ONO" rating), the locals and online reviews. You get great food and great atmosphere here, the service was exemplary, and the servers were informative. We had a choice to eat on the covered terrace or inside, which was really outside also, as all windows and doors were wide open (see photo). The ambiance is lovely, wherever you sit, as it overlooks the tiki-torch-lit grounds and greenery of the hotel in which the restaurant is located. Live mellow music wafts into the restaurant from the nearby bar area. Gary, my husband, had a fish dish while I, being an avid "taster" type of "eater" opted for the "Tasting Menu" and a coconut water beverage. It's a 5 or so course meal and the various flavors pop, from fish to vegetables to lamb. A focaccia bread was served, also. I took a photo of my course list, but for ease: gazpacho, vegetable tart with savory "jam," grilled mahi mahi fish set on sesame rice and drizzled with miso sauce, lamb ragout in small dutch oven container (cute) with homemade pasta noodles, and creme brulee. All delicious! Not on complaint or issue on anything from beginning to end. SMART DINING TIPS: Make reservations, for sure. This place is popular with both locals and tourists. If you want the "Tasting Menu," it's offered only 5-5:45 pm -- so reserve for the earliest dining time. And I do recommend it, so you get a full flavor experience! It was plenty of food, even with Gary tasting some of it! Free parking in front of the hotel (yay!).
(5)
Suor K.
Hukilau Lanai was located near our hotel, so we decided to give this place a try. We attempted to make a reservation over the phone but they didn't have a table at our requested time. Instead, we walked over and took a seat at the bar. The server brought over some complimentary bread, which tasted great. It was some tomato-herb-cheese crusted bread served with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. We definitely enjoyed it. We ordered the lobster and goat cheese wontons for an appetizer. They were not as amazing as one of the other Yelp reviews mentioned. They tasted more like what you'd expect from crab rangoons at other restaurants. Lots of cheese on the inside, with small pieces of protein. I didn't think it was worth it. We also ordered the mahi mahi and the Hakilau mixed grill, which included a shrimp skewer, two types of fish, and orzo pasta. The shrimp and pasta were tasty. I don't recall which fish I tried, but I only liked one of the two. The mahi mahi was really good -- fresh and flaky. We didn't have room for dessert.
(4)
Sennette B.
This is definitely one of the best restaurants on the Island. We asked our server what he recommended. He said honestly it's all really good. I was like surrreeee! But it really was! Everything we ordered was really good. They also have a large selection on the menu. I ordered the tasting menu that comes with 5 small entrees, and they were all very tasty! This is a must go to!
(5)
Janna V.
Celebrated our 1st yr wedding anniversary here and it was amazing! The location was a bit confusing but other than that, it had a great ambience. We requested to be seated in the lanai which had nice views of the coconut trees and a hint of the ocean. The view wasn't remarkable but it was pleasant. Our server was nice and kept greeting us Happy Anniversary throughout the whole night lol. We didn't order appetizers because the salad that comes with the entree served as our appetizers. I ordered the arugula salad while my husband had the caesars salad. Our server asked so casually if I wanted cheese with that (normally whenever I eat arugula salad it comes with the cheese already, so I said yes), and forgot to mention that the goat cheese was $3.50. Uhh okay. Anyway, the entrees had a nice presentation and the portions were good. I had the Hukilau mixed grill which is basically a sampling of Island grilled seafood and sugar cane skewered shrimp, served with a creamy sauce and orzo pasta. My husband had the prime rib. Both had great flavors but the mixed grill sampling stood out the most. For dessert, we had the lava cake with vanilla ice cream. It was a bit pricey but what can you do. You gotta have dessert! :) They added a cute little sign made out of milk chocolate that said Happy Anniversary. I wish it was complimentary or discounted at least. Overall, I was satisfied with the food and service.
(4)
Ashley W.
We stopped in here for a late night snack and some drinks. Their martinis were great and the servers brought us bread but acted like he didn't mean to when we told him we were just there to order appetizers. The food was pretty good and there was a live band playing. The resort it was at was beautiful. It seemed a little snobby and upscale but we enjoyed it nonetheless.
(4)
Zach L.
By far the best restaurant my wife and I ate at during our honeymoon on Kauai. We weren't sure if we were in the right place to start as there was a wedding in the room next to the restaurant when we got there, and we weren't dressed for that type of occasion. The restaurant was busy, even late at night, we got there around 830 and needed to wait 45 minutes before we got a table. However, the wait was well worth it. Our appetizers were the perfect start to the night. We both got the dinner specials which were amazing, and shared a desert after which was a great cap to the night. Both of our cocktails were made incredibly well. The only downer was the table next to us had a screaming child who was running around the table, but we didn't care because the food was so good. If you are on Kauai make a reservation for dinner at Hukilau Lanai, you won't regret it!
(5)
Pat M.
Haven't been here in years, don't know why!!! The best restaurant on Kauai !! We ordered the calamari with their special sauce, Poke Ahi Nachos and the ribs. The ribs were my favorite. I haven't tasted any ribs better than Hukilau Lanai. It has an Asian sweet flavor with a light crisp on the outside and tender almost fall off the bone meat. I had thoughts of ordering take out ribs, but had already ordered prime rib ( I had better) but was still good! Our server Mark ( daddy of twin boys)) was great!! He was so accommodating and gracious. We definitely will back!!!
(5)
Leah S.
While staying at the Kauai Beach Hotel for the first leg of our honeymoon, we stopped in for a reservation at the Hukilau Lanai. We were super pleased to get a table on the same night as we wanted without much preplanning, and one with a gorgeous sunset view of the ocean and palm trees. The evening was a bit chilly, but the seating area was warm and the tables were comfortable. Our waiter was attentive, professional, and friendly, quick with menus, specials, and recommendations. We started with some off the house focaccia with balsamic and evoo, which was warm, chewy and flavorful. Wonderful man selected some drinks for us, and we began the meal with the soup of the day, which was a Marketplace Seafood Bisque, and I opted for the Caesar salad which has been the best I've had to date. Soup was savory, with generous servings of fish, and seasoned just enough to let the flavor of the fish's freshness through the base. Caesar dressing can be quick to blend zealously viscous, and can be powerfully too salty or acidic, but this was perfectly balanced between garlic, parmesan, and lemon. Our entrees were challenging to decide upon, given pretty much everything on the menu looked delicious. I decided on the Mixed Grill, which had butterfish, Cajun mahi, prawns skewered on a sugarcane, all over an amazing pilaf, and my husband chose the Ono filet over white rice, topped with a sesame cucumber sunumono. All the fish was exceptionally fresh, simply seasoned, and not overcooked. As usual, I fought my husband for his dinner, to which he acquiesced, to my delight. This was only topped by my delight over dessert, the amazing 20 Minute Chocolate Lava Cake. It did need the full 20 minutes, so we ordered in advance, but it was well worth the wait. This was accompanied by literally the best vanilla bean ice cream I have ever tasted, made locally, and PACKED with flavor. Ambiance of the actual restaurant is indeed a little on the cheesy side, but the resort makes up for it with its selective clientele base, and decidedly relaxed atmosphere. For dining guests not staying at the hotel, there is ample parking, beautiful grounds for after dinner strolls, and a full bar for wine, cocktails, and after dinner aperitifs. Live music, vendors, and events come through the lounge depending on day and time, but it seems like its target audience is a little older than our age group.
(4)
Tawni H.
Gorgeous restaurant and very high quality dishes. Was suggested to me by a local, glasses I listened!
(4)
mermaid m.
Service by Andrew excellent. If you have great service like this, makes for a lovely dining experience! Waiting for our reservation about 15 minutes. Food was very good, ahi poke nachos were not as good as they used to be, not much ahi and tortilla chips were off. Lobster and goat cheese wontons, amazing. Tahitian vanilla Ribs fall off the bone delightful. Kailani farm salad with preserved lemon dressing and maytag blue cheese was tasty. Crusted opah with mash potato perfectly cooked and moist. Crown steak rare was tender and cooked just the way we like it. Lava cake topped it all off.
(4)
Mauro Q.
We went to celebrate our 25th Anniversary Dinner with our adult children . The menu was okay but the service was HORRIBLE. The waitress didn't even acknowledge our celebration while the other couple next to our table were mentioned several times on their special event. We didn't even get a complementary dessert. Being Italian and a Chef this was not acceptable!!
(1)
Jon P.
Wow! This place is great! Every bite was amazing. I ordered the Fillet Minion with the soup of the day and a "Manhattan Honey" cocktail (two of them!!). My wife had the macadamia nut crusted chicken and a Caesar salad. Bread - prior to our soup/salad showing up, we were served bread with an olive oil & balsamic vinegar dip. The bread had a touch of cheese and tomato on the top, so it was almost like eating a light, high end pizza. The flavors and textures were great. Soup - the soup of the day was a chowder with pork/bacon bits incorporated. Oh... My... It just melted in my mouth. I highly recommend it. The flavors were complimentary and it was perfectly salted. Salad (wife's) - the Caesar salad was made from scratch with their own dressing. The salad was crisp, fresh and flavorful. The dressing was tasty and not overly fishy/salty like some Caesar dressings. It was a great salad! Fillet Minion - I ordered my steak medium, and it was definitely a nice medium. The exterior had a pleasant, light char and the steak was so tender it barely required a knife to cut. Each bite was juicy and delicious. The red wine sauce (almost like a gravy) really added to the dish. The potatoes were a sweet potato which were good on their own, but I would have liked something a little more savory to be paired with the steak. It was still delicious! Macadamia nut crusted chicken (wife's) - the chicken was tender and cooked well. The macadamia nut crust was delicate (almost like a panko crust) and added a subtle, delicious flavor to each bite. The nuts were not overdone, and was an excellent compliment to the chicken. Manhattan Honey (cocktail) - yes.. Just order it! I ordered two! I like my drinks on the boozy side and this was definitely a great balance between the alcohol and the honey. Some cocktails are just too sweet, but this one was balanced very well. Dinner here was a real treat!
(5)
L C.
After reading all the reviews on Yelp and Trip Advisor, we decided to check out this restaurant. It was underwhelming and disappointing. I ordered the curried Lobster bisque and it tasted like Thai coconut milk curry sauce. It was awful! The candied ahi was okay but a little salty. The mixed grilled plate was average. Very disappointed after reading all the rave reviews about this place. honestly, we had better food at the food trucks like Kikuchi and Green pig. Sorry, I have to be truthful in my review.
(3)
Craig D.
(3.5) ~ good, but not great...the servers were friendly, but, they had to be b/c the kitchen was soooooo slow;)lol Note: $$$$ OUR MENU: DRINKS: * Loco Lemonade = (4) very good * French Press Kauai Coffee = (4) very good * water(tap) = (3.25) pretty good FOOD: * Foccacia Bread = (4) very good * Pork Tenderloin = (3.75) Good * BBQ Ribs = (3.5) good * Filet Mignon = (3.5) good * Dark Chocolate Bar(Hawaii) = (3.5) good * Gazpacho = (3.25) pretty good * Poke = (3) ok...had better * Chocolate Mousse = (3) ok...had better
(3)
Gloria G.
Great service, great food, great location (I'm a Shell Vacation owner and stay here). They accommodated us this time last minute in the lobby with 7 and the food was incredible. The fresh fish and Keiki meals were perfect!
(5)
Ray W.
To cap our Kaua'i vacation, I made reservations with OpenTable to the Hukilau Lanai, which is the in-resort restaurant of the Kaua'i Coast Resort at the Beachboy, after reading good reviews on Yelp and Tripadvisor. We were staying at the resort and after our experience, I regret that we didn't visit earlier during the stay. To think, an excellent restaurant located a mere 3 minute walk from our unit and we ate there only on the last night! We started with calamari. Unlike the fritto misto that is usually served as a 'standard appetizer,' it was panko and furikake breaded and was so amazingly tender. Served with an aioli to die for, the appetizer was consumed within minutes and we were left wanting for more. We wouldn't give up the aioli, wanting to savor it for the rest of the meal. Soup of the day or salad come with an entree. We ordered a soup (much like a bisque), arugula salad, and a Caesar salad. All were fantastic; the arugula was nice and tart. For entrees, prime rib, pumpkin-seed breaded opah (moonfish), and ono (wahoo) were ordered. Our child, who has become somewhat of a prime rib connoisseur in a short 12 years, loved it. My opah was super awesome umami, served on a bed of brown rice, tomatoes and beets; my wife's ono was tasty too - but I tend to prefer lighter, flakier fish. We wrapped up with a lava cake and to be honest, it's probably the best lava cake I've ever had. It outclasses any lava cake we've had on the mainland for sure. I checked 'not sure' on the question of whether the restaurant is known for its dessert, but it definitely ought to be known for dessert! I admit that perhaps it is a bias or stereotype of mine that resort-attached restaurants try hard but find it hard to deliver, but the Hukilau Lanai certainly humbled me by delivering big time. That they serve locally grown fare wins extra respect from me. Well done, we're definitely coming back.
Went here to celebrate my son's birthday. Food was great BUT I couldn't believe these guys charge me for his dessert! Come on guys....no complimentary dessert for the birthday boy? Geez!.....Don't go here if you are celebrating a special occasion. Very disappointed!!!
(1)
Destiny G.
Highly recommend this romantic luaua feel restaurant. Delicious food, great ambience and overl delightful. The Hawaiian mixed grill was perfection! The bread was soft warm and delightful and the ahi nacho appetizer was awesome!
(5)
Lee L.
Not too impressed, especially since we had dinner the night before at Tidepools at the Grand Hyatt in Princeville. Service was meh. The server wasn't very engaging and the host staff (3 people) were young and seemed all over the place. Maybe instead of having 3 people stand up front, perhaps have 2 of them serve and bus tables. Food overall was good. Little cheaper than Tidepools. You get complimentary bread and a soup or salad with your entree. Goat Cheese and Lobster wontons- Cheese overpowered the lobster and the guava plum sauce had a strong tamarind? taste to it that was a bit too much. Ahi Nachos- Not bad, needed more sauce. Wally's salad- Good Rib Eye- Slightly chewy at med rare and the mushroom sauce was a little bitter. Fish Special: Swordfish with Mashed potatoes a tomato chutney- The sauce really made the dish. I just wish there was more chutney. "Original Hawaiian Chocolate Factory"- Perfect! There is no romantic view here. If you're lucky to get an unobstructed view, you can see some of the hotel landscaping and their pool area . . .or if someone leaves their curtains open, you might enjoy a "free show" from one of the rooms of the hotel.
(3)
Leah F.
This is my second time to Kauai and I decided to try this restaurant as a birthday dinner for my mom. We were not disappointed. Everything from the starter soup and bread was so flavorful and tasty! The bread was light and melted in our mouths. My compliments to the chef. The ambience was superb. We had a table overlooking palm trees lit by tiki lights -- perfect for a great evening. The fish was to die for...drizzled with garlic butter sauce and the filet was extra tender. Normally I have to add salt to my meals but this was definitely seasoned perfectly and one of the best meals I've ever had on Kauai island. We will be back!!!!
(5)
Reese C.
Situated in some vacation club/hotel place, this was a surprising find, thanks to Yelp! The restaurant was packed so we opted to sit in the lounge for dinner. Much more relaxed and lively. While dining we were rewarded with fantastic live music. We split the Lobster and goat cheese wonton and now I can never have a wonton any other way. Holy smokes. We also split the baby back ribs. The Hawaiian twist in these ribs was the vanilla bean/hoisin sauce that covered them. The fall of the bine meat was tender perfection. We also each enjoyed a salad with local greens, which were great but honestly a salad is a salad, especially when compared to the other options.
(5)
Jacqueline W.
10 out of 5 for this restaurant! Fabulous food, great service & very nice location. Everything we ordered was delicious...starting with the lobster bisque, arugula salad, Caesar salad & soup of the day. For our entrees we had mixed seafood grill that include sugar cane shrimp, Pacific escolar (Walu) & striped marlin served over orzo...absolutely fabulous!! Mum had macadamia nut crusted chicken in a light curry sauce & Dad had pork tenderloin in a Marsala sauce...both clean their plates. My daughter order filet mignon with mashed tarot...delicious. We order two Original Hawaiian Chocolate Factory warm cakes with vanilla bean ice cream & a Hukilau Coffee...divine We will definitely be coming back!
(5)
Alex L.
Came here on recommendation of some other travelers we met. Was horribly underwhelmed. Service was excellent but unfortunately the food wasn't quite there. We tried the tasting menu and a number of the other pupus. The Ono was well seasoned. Ribs were dry. Candied ahi was a little strange but with the coconut milk worked well. The lamb ragu could have been amazing but it ended up tasting like it came from a can. There are a lot of great spots to eat on the island, go to one of those places.
(2)
Gisselle L.
My husband and I came to this restaurant three times while vacationing in Kauai. It was next door to our resort/walking distance. I don't recommend the tasting menu- stick with their main menu. I recommend their ribs and fishes. Their desserts were ok to good I recommend trying their daily special. Service can be hit or miss depending on the waiter/waitress. Overall, I would recommend this place. Bring a sweater as it does get windy/cold (they are by the water)- Mai Tai pretty good here
(4)
Popples E.
The food was delicious and service was excellent! I ate the filet mignon, sweet potato ravioli and mocha chocolate cake....mmmmm....heaven! Cannot wait to come back! Heads up tho: My co-worker and I ate in the bar area because they didn't have a table available. I definitely recommend making a reservation!
(5)
Jim C.
The setting is magnificent with the fire lamps, beautiful vegetation and sea only a three wood away. While you wait for your table there is live music and it's the kind of place where you feel comfortable in a jacket and tie or in shorts and a tee shirt. Our waitress was probably the best we have ever had. My goodness she was knowledgeable about all the drinks and dishes without being obnoxious or lording it over on us. The food was the best we have had on the island. Our group had the yellowtail tuna, Ono and prime rib. They were all perfection--cooked so perfectly with subtle and outstanding flavors. We finished it off with the molten lava cake and ice cream and, again, the quality and flavors were the best. Come her without any doubts. It's delicious. For 4 people with 3 cocktails and a bottle of wine our meal came to $200.
(5)
Lindbergh B.
If its your 1st time here, definitely go during happy hour and do the "wine & food pairing"!!! The pairing is on point with the wine going so smoothly with the food. We came here during our Kauai vacation and it was the most memorable experience we had. Will be back!
(5)
Elizabeth T.
Large portions. Good service. Nice setting. Definitely try the SwissChard and Mushroom tart, that was fantastic. The sweet potato ravioli is ok, the potato is a little too heavy and overwhelming for a delicate ravioli. Mixed Green salad was surprisingly great, possibly the best simple salad that I've ever had: lush + great tangy creamy dressing. Lasagna is huge! and it came with a massive salad. It was good but nothing special.
(4)
Elizabeth C.
We did the 5 course tasting menu with pairings and we left very satisfied. Each offering was very good and the service was excellent. Next time we will order from the regular menu but it was a really nice way to get to know the restaurant in a special way!
(4)
Anoop S.
Very good food. Had the special, which was a combo of shrimp and two fish, one a meatier kind and the other a more buttery kind (totally blanking on which fish they were). The preparation and flavors were really excellent. Biggest knock against Hukilau (and all the other sit down restaurants in Kauai) is that you can get better tasting food for less at food trucks / market stands.
(4)
Michelle R.
I almost hate to review the Hukilau Lanai because it will make it even harder to get reservations! We live on island and if people ask for a restaurant suggestions, we always recommend the Hukilau Lanai. Every item is delicious! My personal favorites: Ahi Poke Nachos Sweet Potato Ravioli Goat Cheese Wontons Filet Mignon I worked at the restaurant over ten years ago and at the time wouldn't eat fish because I'd had some bad fish in restaurants. The Hukilau Lanai converted me back to fish. It is always fresh and expertly prepared.
(5)
Sarah S.
- Good Food - Great Service - Nice Atmosphere - A little pricey, but you can hardly get a taco for less than $7 on Kauai, so you have to take that into consideration. - Not all menu items are local/organic, like the corn in the chowder, and I would prefer
(5)
Paul S.
Really disappointing. Fish was over cooked and the service wasn't anything special.
(1)
Debby S.
Wondeful dinner tonight. Didn't have reservation but they got us a table outside anyway. Hostess staff were so friendly. Once seated, we were greeted right away and explained the menu. She took our drink order and was back quickly with our wine choice. Once we ordered the courses came out on time but not fast so we could enjoy the food and the view. We ordered the lobster and goat cheese wontons to start - so yummy. Then had salads before our entrees. Hubby had the ono and I had the crown royal medallions. Both so good and prepared perfect. Finished with the warm chocolate cake. Worth the wait. I have noticed that other reviews had issues with service but for us it was great. Fast, attentive and helpful. Will be back and highly recommend.
(5)
Avi D.
I had the Ahi fish, which was nothing short of perfection, the sauces tasted great, and the fish was cooked perfectly. The overall dining experience was 10/10. I would definitely recommend this as the best restaurant on Kauai.
(5)
Mark L.
Excellent restaurant! All the 5 star reviews are correct... Had the BBQ pork ribs, (falling off the bone and in a tasty hoisin sauce), house green salad with blue cheese, and macadamia nut fresh Opah. All were terrific as well as very good service. Great experience.
(5)
Lynda H.
Ahi poki nachos are fantastic and the calamari was tender and the lemon garlic dipping sauce is to die for.
(5)
Matthee P.
Wife and I had a great anniversary dinner here. The setting is beautiful, and the food was delicious. We had a wide variety of dishes and there were all super tasty. Nice selection of inexpensive wines as well. The decor is a tad dated, but not a big deal. Check it out for sure. Make sure to get a reservation.
(4)
Michael P.
You absolutely need to try the Crab-cake Benedict for breakfast! Great view, great service!
(5)
Andrew R.
If you're trying to watch your wallet here, get the poke nachos. It's a complete meal and completely delicious. Slightly different than other poke you might find, it's paired with some crispy chips that provide an excellent contrast. If you despise your wallet, you can't go wrong with most of the fish specials. That said, one of the 3 I tasted wasn't very good at all. If it sounds good and is a fish you normally know to be good, stick with that. It's a great setting, wonderful atmosphere, and the service is good.
(4)
Rita M.
We had a wonderful evening at Hukilau Lanai, excellent, friendly and prompt service. Our glasses never went below the 1/3 mark for a refill. My husband ordered the Panko Fried Calamari Strips, which I try often at other places and never like. I must say that this restaurant's Calamari Appetizer reigns supreme for this non-Calamari liking person. They were perfectly seasoned, not overly fishy tasty, extremely tender, served with a light and flavorful lemon Aioli Sauce. I could actually eat the whole piece that I had. My husband commented on how good they were. The Focaccia Bread, brought semi warm to the table, was moist and seemed to have spots of cheese in the middle, it was served with Balsamic and Olive Oil and was quite delicious! I ate more of this than I had planned on. The fish dishes we ordered were creatively and artfully plated, and had layers of flavor with different textures of Creamy Orzo on my husband's 2 Island Fish Plate that had a Sugar Cane Skewer of giant shrimp on top and I had Wahoo Fish over Quinoa Pilaf and a delightful olive and pepper relish. Our salads were also the best I have had on our trip to Kauai. I had an Arugula Salad covered with Sprouted Garbanzo Beans, Cherry Tomatoes and Candied Macadamia Nuts. The flavors and textures played wonderfully together. It was a surprise to me that something seemingly so simple could be so good. The so-called 'garnish' was more like extra toppings, as they did not scrimp on toppings, like some restaurants do. Everything at this restaurant is so fresh, and definitely not the boring average seafood entrees. Our waiter, Mark, was very friendly and attentive. This is our new favorite Kauai fancy dinner restaurant and for the price, we like it better than most others in the fine dining realm. The desserts of Macadamia Nut Tart and the Old Hawaiian Chocolate Factory Molten Cake served with Lappert's Ice Cream were a perfect finish to a perfect evening and the coffee was perfect, as well. I'm glad we didn't miss trying this place. We enjoyed walking down to the beach afterwards. Lovely!
(5)
Malanta K.
Fabulous meal. We were seated outside and enjoyed the wonderful pacific breeze during dinner. We enjoyed every course of the meal. The lobster bisque and Caesar salad were delicious. We ordered the pork, chicken and beef dishes for our entrees. They were all so tasty but my favorite was the pork. For dessert we ordered the mango tart and French press coffee and were not disappointed. I would highly recommend this restaurant.
(5)
V Y.
I highly recommend making a reservation because the restaurant is so popular and packed even at 5pm when they open. Between 5-5:45pm, they have 2 tasting menus (there's a regular one and a vegetarian one) that are each 5 courses. We got one of each so we could try both and my husband got the wine pairings with his. My daughter got the keiki menu meatloaf and mashed potatoes which starts with pineapple and ends with an ice cream dessert. Everything was delicious! It was a very satisfying meal and service was excellent. The view from the dining area is nice and creates a great ambience for the meal.
(5)
Geoffrey C.
Exquisite! The food and expedited service was outstanding. Not even into dessert and we are pleasantly plump and happier than a fish in the sea. Filet mignon (so tender, cooked to perfection with lovely additions) and the curry chicken were our entrees and they were outstanding both in terms of taste and value ($34 and $24, respectively). The entrees also came with a wonderful Caesar and Outstanding mixed green with deep fried goat cheese. We typically like to venture around but WE WILL be back tomorrow without question. Keep in mind we are on only a two night getaway from Maui. Must go know for our molten lava cake!!!
(5)
Noe P.
Called to make reservations and spoke with Mya who was not helpful as she said she would not be able to accommodate our party since we had 7 adults and 2 children. I asked if we walked in and waited if we could be seated and was told we would be turned away. Requested to speak with supervisor Steven who was basically repeated what Mya said earlier. If yelp offered a negative star service i would give it. I would highly recommend not eating here. Customer service is obviously not top priority nor is repeat and local business.
(1)
Catherine P.
We went here on the strength of previous reviews and we were not disappointed. This was by far our best meal on Kauai. Hubby started with Adam's poke nachos- a clever Hawaiian take on the classic Mexican dish: crispy wonton-like chips contrasted wonderfully with the sushi grade ahi tuna with avocado chunks and wasabi cream. I ordered 3 apps for dinner: arugula salad, tomato & pineapple gazpacho with a dollop of citrus sorbet, and baby clams in a yummy broth albeit a tad salty (all our meals had way more salt than I am used to). Hubby's main was a mixed grill of local fish and skewered shrimp, over creamy orzo in a Thai chile coconut sauce. Most of the food is locally sourced. Dessert was chocolate mousse with salted toffee bits. I still think about it. Service was excellent, nice wine selection. When you first walk in, it's a bit weird, like a budget hotel, but sit on the lanai looking over the torch-lit garden. Tip: reserve early, this place is popular.
(5)
David H.
I can't say enough about this place. This is the second time in the past year we have gotten the five course tasting meal, and every item from the gazpacho to the amazing veggie pastry shell to the fish & Ni'ihau lamb was as good as I've had in a long time. The pricing on the wine parings has gone up appreciably since last summer, but if you're a couple it's just as easy to save the $36 on wine pairs & get a couple of glasses, or even a decent bottle in the mid-twenties. Go early if you can to avoid the wait (& yes, they are on Open Table), but GO!
Absolutely excellent from soup to nuts. Lovely dining room with a far off ocean view, excellent service, DELICIOUS food, amazing cocktails and GLUTEN FREE BREAD! Hukilau Lanai is by far the best restaurant on Kauai. We had a mixed grill plate of fresh fish and shrimp accompanied by a tropical cream sauce and another member of our party had prime rib au jus. The fish was truly fresh and the prime rib was a generous portion and so delicious. Their cocktail selection is superb. So fun to have a drink in this dining room and take a walk around the grounds of the resort with tiki torches lit. The gluten free bread was such a nice touch. It's made fresh to order and absolutely delicious.
(5)
Dr. B.
We stayed at the resort where the restaurant is located. I have to say, the food is excellent and clearly 5 stars. I was pleased with the service and cost (for Hawaii). Be aware that this is pricey and not a shack. If you want to decrease your cost, try to find a time share presentation which will give you a voucher for here.
(5)
Richel R.
Second best meal I had during my visit to Hawaii. We came here for my mom's birthday dinner. The lobster curry bisque was made just right, not too salty and the curry was complimentary and not overpowering. The salad came with a nice, light, dressing. For my entree I ordered one of the dinner specials, the swordfish with pesto and risotto. I honestly don't think you could go wrong with any of the fish entrees here. I sampled the ahi, macadamian chicken, mixed grill, opa, and the vegetable lasagne. For the food and service, I definitely rate 5-stars. After dinner, our server was kind enough to take a picture of our family by the garden adjacent to the dining area. Mahalo!
(5)
Martina V.
First time here food was excellent Had the pork loin with hawaii mushrooms sauce portion was just right worth the price lovely ambiance. Great service
(4)
Gerald G.
Very cool ambiance. We ordered the macadamia crusted chicken and the mixed grill plate (2 fresh fish combo). Both were very good (the fresh walu on the fish plate was the bomb diggity). Our server Jessica was very attentive and always checked up on us, which was awesome. Since it was our anniversary, we were greeted by servers and waitresses all night long. Then we got a 2-truffle gift box as a gift. This is a great spot. Good food, great waitress. Thanks!!
(4)
Mike P.
This one will be short. All of the positive reviews are spot on, ignore the negative ones. Tasting menu for us. Food was great and the wine generous. $50.00 is cheap for this meal. Service was attentive but unobtrusive. We were lucky to meet Manny, on of the cooks the next day. After talking a bit he said, "you're the anniversary couple!" How fun is that? Man knows his job
(5)
Wesley L.
Wife and I had an adult night out while vacationing in Kauai. Both of our meals were outstanding. I had beef and she had two kinds of fish. Server Mark was great with his recommendations. Even waited the 20 mins for the brownie dessert. May go back again on this stay.
(5)
barbara k.
We went for our traditional 1st night dinner, and somehow my memory of the meat not being up to par had faded, so I ordered the filet mignon with Crown Royal sauce. The sauce was interesting and tasty, but the meat, slightly overcooked, was pretty tasteless. Husband had pork tenderloin, which was cooked properly, and was moist, but he didn't care for the mushroom sauce at all. I also had the arugula salad, which was quite good, had preserved lemons in the dressing. From now on, I WILL stick to fish here, but ask to sub the basil mashed potatoes, which were definitely the best part of our dinner!
(3)
Nicole N.
I wish there were more stars! This place is amazing. Seriously. You have got to go there! We ordered all apps...lobster wontons, spare ribs, sweet potato ravioli, calamari, Wally's salad. Everything was delicious, perfectly balanced flavors, wonderful textures, simply scrumptious. Staff is crazy nice, very attentive, and so sweet to my niece. We sat in the bar area and the service was wonderful. Go eat there soon! Seriously.
(5)
John D.
The cuisine and setting here were quite nice however the waiter here definitely had a "I'm too cool to be polite" attitude about him. I'd probably dine here again, but am not rushing to do so.
(3)
Judy F.
By far, the best dinner experience the whole week! Go appetizers! The calamaria was perfect. The Sweet potatoe raviolli was really out of this world. The Lobster and Goat Cheese wontons were heavenly However it was presented with just 3, there were 4 of us so they kindly removed it and returned it with a serving for each of us! They melted in your mouth! The mixed grill was very nice with 2 different fishes that were nicely done. The shrimp were acceptable but not unique. A side of purple sweet potatoes was deicious. We were very pleased. Mark, our server was attentive and perfect. You will not be disappointed! Parking is easy, the outdoor area was nice to stroll through!
(5)
A O.
I rarely write reviews but I just had to share my wonderful experience here. My wife and I are on our honeymoon and we found this place on yelp! and it just happened to be at the hotel were we are staying. The staff was very friendly especially our waitress Jessica who was very attentive also. The food was so delicious for such a reasonable price. Before I looked at the menu I assumed it was going to be pricey but I was so wrong! We had the lobster won ton and ahi tacos for pupus. Our main entrees were the ahi and Hukilau grilled seafood mix and we just had to have the Hawaiian chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream. All of the dishes were so good! Worth every penny! Jessica made our dinner so enjoyable. It's no wonder they're opened for only 4-5 hours because they put a lot of work into quality. I would definitely eat here again and recommend to anyone who will be going to Kauai! Also the bar is very good. Their mixed drinks are perfect!
(5)
Prin D.
I was very happy and satisfied with my meal, service and value. ($125 for 2) I ordered the "freaking hot chocolate" martini, the sweet potato ravioli pupu, the local greens salad with blue cheese, mahi mahi, a coffee and the Hawaiian chocolate warm (lava) cake. A feast! Lol I wanted to be rolled out! My husband had the macadamia martini (can't recall name), a salad, the prime rib and a soda. We were both happy. The food itself was beyond any criticism. Pairing of seasonings was A+ and the freshness of the food could only be explained by a clear loyalty to using local ingredients. I was very impressed. Portions were fine, especially with everything I ordered. Great date night! Sat outside. Only critique... Both martinis were not out of this world though. I think the names and descriptions sounded better than the taste and I'm a big martini drinker. Mine had limited Creme de cacao and my husband's tasted too strong without a real hint of the nut. They were nice to sip but I've had amazing martini mixes in my life, being from nyc. Eat here! ;)
(5)
Mindy F.
1-12-15 Went back because our experience was so good the previous visit. On the east side of the island this is the only place to come for dinner. This time our service by Janet was impeccable. Might be one of the best dining experiences I've had....ever. The food is so perfectly prepared it's quite amazing. Served cooked to perfection and hot. Everything was delicious. The chef is quite impressive whoever he/she/they may be. What a place! 1-7-15 The waiter arrived as we were seated, asking what we wanted to drink. Not even a few seconds to get situated and look at the menu. He was nice enough but completely lacked any personality or flare. He was stiff and looked scared.... The food was incredible. Everyone loved their entrees. I was thinking I should get seafood but was over the moon about the filet mignon I got. The most perfect piece of meat I've ever eaten. The atmosphere is very nice, cocktails good but the food was a pleasant surprise. Great place! Highly recommend!
(5)
Mark D.
Great evening great atmosphere. Very fresh ingredients. Hot and dirty martini was just that. Yowsers! My ebi dish with homemade pasta was fantastic too. Price point was more reasonable than other restaurants we visited. Very surprised. Mahalo Krissy for a beautiful evening. We will be back!
(5)
Matt Y.
11/30/13. Dinner Hukilau Lanai is located inside the Kauai Coast Resort in Kapa'a. It truly lives up to the praises of Yelpers and Dinner Choice on Open Table. The restaurant was booked full that evening. We were seated promptly at 5:30pm on the upper section in the dining room. That was actually a bliss for two reasons. First, our server Sandra was absolutely professional. She greeted us with such aloha spirit bad explained the menu in full details. Second, a storm was passing over Kauai that night so even in the tented patio you would be sprayed. Cocktails were wonderful. The Pear Passion was made with Grey Goose pear vodka and passion fruit juice. Tasty start for our vacation. All dinner entrees at Hukilau Lanai came with a choice of Wally's salad, caesar's, or soup. Wally's Salad: chopped romaine with bacon bits, cherry tomato, crouton, in a special house dressing made with papaya seed and ranch. It's also available in full portion. Caesar's: also chopped romaine with a rich Caesar dressing. The salads are accompanied by focaccia bread with crusted asiago, which is addictively tasty. *Mushroom Meatliaf ($19): a very generous portion served in brown butte sauce. Meatloaf was made with crushed mushroom and braised beef. Flavor is strong but bit overpowering. *Hukilau Mixed Grill ($29): with two kinds of fish and a skewer of four shrimps. You get a pan-seared fish and a marinated blackened fish. Rice is a Thai-inspired coconut curry risotto. The whole meal was very delightful and delicious. We were most impressed by Sandra's knowledge and professional disposition. We actually made another reservation on OpenTable to cone back on our last night in Kauai. I highly recommend Hukilau Lanai for its outstanding quality of food and great value. I also appreciate the many gluten free choices on their menu. The dinner tag cane to $78 for two.
(5)
Natalie Y.
Found this place on the back to the airport from Princeville and wish we had found it sooner! From the St. Regis to the new Roy's... This had to have been one of our best meals of the trip! I highly recommend this place to everyone. Amazing food, great service, and a great view!
(5)
Jacquelyn F.
Don't get the vegetable lasagna, yuck! The crab wantons have a weird texture and Mac Nut Chicken is just okay. Very disappointed considering all the good reviews.
(1)
Kathleen M.
The food is good. But if you are there to celebrate an Anniversary or a birthday don't count on them remembering to do anything...even if you told them a few times. Very disappointing.
(2)
Brittney D.
Mediocre food. Decent service. Food was somewhat bland. Hair found in children's menu dish. Fish was ok.
(2)
Zzajj J.
always on point with their food and wonderful staff. I try to hit the place at least once when i come to the island, and it is totally worth the price and wait, but seriously make a reservation because this place is always poppin'
(5)
Nancy C.
Hukilau Lanai was our "fancy dinner place" during our trip to Kauai. It was, indeed, a very nice restaurant. I split three appetizers (sweet potato ravioli, poke nachos, and lobster wontons) with two friends, all of which were very good. My main course of the seafood sampler plate was also delicious. I really enjoyed the butterfish. However, the cajun mahi mahi, though good, did not blow my mind. And my shrimp was undercooked, so we requested to have it cooked a little longer just to get the gray color out, after which it was delicious. But for what we were paying, I expected everything to be spot on. The outdoor seating space is really nice. However, beware the critters that attack you if you sit close to the grassy areas, because that was certainly an issue with our table.
(3)
Tony R.
Ya know...this is one of the only places we dare take family and friends...NEVER a bad meal, or bad service in 4 years. One of the most consistent, if not THE most consistent place to eat on Kauai. Not one of the least expensive, but you definitely get what you pay for at the Hukilau Lanai. Make a reservation a head of time if you are coming to visit the Garden Isle to make sure you have the time you wish. Absolutely a winner!
Everything about the place was fantastic - Food selections and mix of flavors, service and locale. It was especially nice to find a place so cognizant of gluten allergies. One of best meals we've had on multiple trips to Kauai.
(5)
Ellin C.
You can't really beat the value of a $28 dollar five course tasting menu. Everything in it was delicious, starting from the gazpacho with a koloa rum pineapple basil sorbet on top which was a refreshing start. The candied ahi was unique and had a kick to it, which was served with some sprouts over a bed of rice. Sausage and warabi were good. We got the mahi mahi for the catch of the day and it was very tender, and the quinoa was flavorful. We ended our meal sharing the artisan cheese duo which had a truffle-flavored italian cheese along with the vanilla bean creme brulee. Overall, a good tasting menu. Service was okay. Wish I could have been there during good weather because our visit was slightly dampened by pouring rain so we didn't get a great view seated at the tables.
(4)
Sarah S.
Hukilau Lanai was a restaurant my husband and I bookmarked to try at the very beginning of our week-long trip in Kaua'i. After one failed attempt to eat there - we called early afternoon and were told there were absolutely zero reservations available that evening - we called two days ahead and booked for 7:15 on a Thursday evening. The parking lot is definitely not big enough for this place. We went across the road to the motel where the woman at the front desk was kind enough to give us a temporary parking pass to park there. Upon arrival, I was glad to have made a reservation because the lobby was PACKED. We ordered drinks at the bar while we waited and found a spot on a comfortable sofa. When our name was called, we were led to the second tier of the dining room which overlooked the garden. There was soft lighting everywhere which made for a very romantic atmosphere. Our server, Andrew, greeted us and offered his recommendations on the menu. We received our complimentary foccacia bread (delicious!) with balsamic dipping sauce. We ordered goat cheese and lobster wontons which Andrew assured me the goat cheese was not too pungent. He was right, it was almost the consistency of cream cheese and just as mild-tasting. They were pretty phenomenal. The entrees included a soup or salad, so I selected the Wally's Salad (simple and yummy) and my husband upgraded (an extra $2 or so) to the lobster bisque which was fantastic. For entrees, my husband ordered the Ahi and I chose the Hukilau Mixed Grill. Andrew explained the fish in the mixed grill (one short-billed fish, and one long-billed, if I remember correctly, and a skewer of succulent shrimp) and they definitely didn't disappoint. The orzo on my plate was bland and under seasoned, but the fish was so good I didn't care. My husband was disappointed with the Ahi from the beginning, and could hardly eat it because it was so tough and overcooked. I happily finished my meal and urged my husband to say something about his Ahi, but before we even had to, our server Andrew sensed he wasn't too impressed and asked for his honest opinion. We told him that the Ahi wasn't very good at all, and he sincerely apologized and set off to make it right. Hukilau Lanai really takes pride in their food and especially their seafood, which became obvious when the owner came to our table and made things right. I sincerely appreciate the lengths both the owners and our server Andrew went to to ensure we had a pleasant dining experience. I can't wait to come back and enjoy another special meal!
One of our favorite restaurants on Kauai. We had our rehearsal dinner here in 2009 when we got married, and just returned in May of 2015. Still fantastic! The fish is cooked perfectly, and the flavors are just enough. Romantic setting. The only think that bugs me about the location is that we had a timeshare sales meeting in the restaurant during the day once. Didn't like the confusion of the atmosphere. Two feelings, same place. One where they tried to sell us "memories", and we said no... and the other a romantic night away...
(4)
Kevin K.
This was a really excellent restaurant. Food: Really tasty 5 course tasting menu with good portions. The lobster/goat cheese wontons were really great starters and their fish was sooo well cooked. Service: Outstanding, on top of it without being intrusive, friendly. Ambiance: Very nice overlooking the grounds/pool area/ocean at the resort. Value:$32 for a 5 course tasting menu (before 545 PM). WOW Amazing. The other entrees are $25-30 and come with soup or salad and were delicious as well. We only had one other "nice" meal in Kauai and that was at Tidepools in the Grand Hyatt. There was no competition. Hukilau Lanai was WAAAAY better.
(5)
Len S.
My wife & I had dinner at Hukilau Lanai on Thursday 7 May. This is our special treat dining experience when we visit Kauai twice a year. My wife ordered the fish special - Opa served with mashed potatoes and a starter salad. She finished with the chocolate lava cake - what else could compete? We had to wait an extra 10 minutes for this dessert. The lava cakes are made to order and the first attempt broke apart, so the chef would not serve the dessert without proper presentation. I am stuck on ordering the tasting menu with the wine pairing ($50). On this visit there was the apparently standard gazpacho taste bud wakeup call, then a tasty roasted vegetable tart, the fish coarse was Mahi Mahi served on rice, and the meat coarse was a lamb ragout. I finished with the cheese selection. I could find no fault with any of these courses nor the wine pairing - that is why I am stuck on the tasting menu. Be advised, the tasting menu is only offered from 5 unit 5:45PM, so make an early dinner reservation if you are interested in this culinary tour de force. Our total bill, including two Mai Tai's, was $114 - OK not cheap, but what is on Kauaii and what is more memorable then a delicious dinner, with a scenic view of a tropical garden and the ocean - at no extra cost.
(5)
Joanna F.
Best appetizers I've ever had in my life! Candied ahi and fall off the bone ribs was all I needed to be full. The server was very sweet, they had live music with good musicians and well balanced drinks. I will be coming back here as often as I can on my trip here.
Loved the poke nachos. Every bite of every course was packed with flavor. They were also very accommodating with kids. They gave us an outside table next to the courtyard which was very helpful for restless kiddos.
(5)
Jim T.
What a beautiful place to have a great dinner with that special someone. Service and food where 5 star and the view was just perfect
(5)
Natalie C.
Meh. Everything tasted good, but this is not my style of eats. I refer to this type of dining as "old people food" (no offense, senior citizens). Heavy, heavy, heavy. Lots of cream-based sauces and soups, and obnoxiously large portions. One of their claims to fame is waterfront view with a beautiful garden. But you're so stuffed after your meal that you have no interest in waddling through the garden, all you want to do is lay down and fall into a food coma. The service is another issue for me. We may have had the worst server on all of Kaua'i. A few members of our party showed up a bit late, and he was deliberating whether or not they could still order the tasting menu. Meanwhile, our seating hostess had said it would be no problem at all, since our reservation was clearly before the cutoff time. Another member of our party eats gluten-free, and was unsatisfied that the in-house menu does not note which items can be prepared gluten-free (online, there is an entire menu dedicated to this). Again, the waiter seemed incredibly put-out by her questioning which items would follow her dietary restrictions. For future gluten-free diners, they do serve a gluten-free bread that is the best I've tried, so make sure to ask for it.
(3)
Chrissy B.
Great Food! Even better atmosphere and Aloha Service. What more could you ask for!
(5)
Christine C.
We didn't have a reservation so we were lucky to find 4 seats at the lounge. The service was really mediocre. The food for an average of $30 per dish, it was also mediocre. However the dessert was delicious - we ordered macadamia nut tart with cinnamon ice cream!! The atmosphere was really nice. There was live Hawaiian music with light hula dancing - it's like a Hawaiian jazz. Overall, it was ok.
(3)
Frank S.
This place is just awesome. The staff, the service everything was perfect. We always stop here on the way to the airport at the end of our holidays and it never fails to lighten our hearts when our holiday is ending. On our last visit, I forgot my cell phone at the restaurant and boarded a plane home hours later. I thought that I had left the phone on the plane and could not find it anywhere. About a week later my wife was contacted on Facebook by Ron Miller the owner. He had found the phone at the table, checked the bill for our name mailed it back to me. Best service ever!
(5)
Alison M.
I love a good tasting menu, and this location came up in my search. I made reservations a few days in advance. We sat on a covered patio with a great view. I had the tasting menu, my husband did not. They wine parings were done well and the pours were heavy. Not the most memorable meal I had on my trip, but a solid evening out that we both enjoyed.
(4)
Jonathan C.
The ahi nachos were so good! The fish so tender and the accompanying tastes so well balanced my eating companion thought them tomatoes for a while. The macadamia nut pie with cinammon ice cream was to die for. Would recommend this place to anyone visiting!
(5)
Kaytlin G.
I've been to some pretty amazing restaurants and this place truly had some of the best food I've had in a while. Every single thing we got was amazing. Lobster and goat cheese won tons, calamari, bone marrow, ahi nachos...all incredible! My husband and I got the seafood samplers for dinner and the fish and shrimp were cooked perfectly, and our moms had prime rib and they said the same thing. We got 4 desserts, all wonderful. Our waiter was nice, attentive, and he catered to the fact that we had a one year old with us. Ps- there's a great lawn area for kiddos to run if they get a little rambunctious during dinner. Best meal of the trip.
(5)
Greg R.
Just finished a great Mother's Day meal. The wife had the mixed grill with an Arugula salad. She loved it. I had surf and turf with chowder. I was in heaven with the filet and the fish I had. The service was excellent.
(5)
Sean M.
Best meal we had on Kauai. The tropical fish sampler was divine. We were so amazed by the taste of one and later learned that it was Walu/Escolar; perfect to have a small amount in a shared sampler as it isn't recommended you eat much (google). Kale salad excellent too. Very generous deal where you can split a main dish and get two salads for a small price -- not on menu so ask. Get table outside overlooking patio.
This was by far the best dinner on Kauai my husband and I experienced during our honeymoon. We started with the poke nachos, which ended up being our favorite dish -- soooo ono! Great wine list as well, decent cocktail list... I had the mixed grill that included Walu and a cajun fish I can't remember... excellent choice. Husband ordered the opah pasta dish which was also great. Both entrees were around $30, the appetizer $14 -- very reasonable for Kauai prices (especially since we stayed in Princeville) and delicious food. The view of the ocean, torches and live music made for a very romantic setting for our first night on Kauai, would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone visiting the island!
(5)
Andrew I.
What a beautiful place!! Came here at night for a very nice dinner, and it definitely surpasses our expectations. I did not have a reservation, so we waited about 25 minutes. In the meantime, we walked around the pool area toward the ocean, and it was such a cute walk. Fire lights the way around, and there are some lounge chairs as we get toward the ocean. There are some people selling jewelry and trinkets as well, at reasonable price. There's a bar area in case you're waiting. Of course it's a bit pricey in here, but with the open patio, perfect weather, and clear skies, everything was just perfect. The music is lively, but not too exciting or distracting. The focus is, of course, on each other and we did just that. Our waiter is an older gentleman, and he was extremely respectful, courteous, and complements us on everything! It wasn't done in an overkill kind of way, though. There are couples and families of all ages, all dressed formally or just casually beautiful. I got the swordfish, and it was cooked perfectly! It was neither dry, too raw, or had the fishy aftertaste. Our waiter gave us a perfect pairing of wine for our dishes, and we stayed until the place almost closes practically, then walked back to our hotel. Could not have been any more perfect of a dinner than that. I second all yelpers that recommend this place, your night will be beautiful.
(5)
Amanda G.
This is one of my favorite places in Kauai. Great place to just have drinks and appetizers. If you are planning on eating here, I advise that you make reservations as they are very busy. Their drinks are yummy, but the food is amazing. I recommend the ahi nachos, lobster bisque, Wally's salad, Wally's steak dish. The place is a little pricey but very worth it. I recommend trying this restaurant if you have not been here!! Also MUST try the Chocolate Lava Cake.
(5)
Lawrence H.
I really had high hopes for this place based on the prior reviews. Warning that I'll focus more on service as the food was ok (see paragraph 4 below). The mediocrity began with the hostess. We arrived at 8:17 for an 8:30 reservation. We were told that our table was being "prepared." No worries, we thought, as we had arrived early for our reservation. We grabbed a Mai Tai at the bar (which was no better than the Mai Tai we received on our Hawaiian airlines flight). At 8:30, the hostess came to the bar and told us the area that was supposedly being prepared for us was in an area that was unsuitable due to weather condition and that they were just waiting on people to leave to seat us. While we drank our mediocre Mai Tai at the bar, we noticed that at 8:40 a couple who arrived after us was being seated. I brought this fact up to the hostess and she said "I'm not sure why they are being seated before you." Which I though was very odd. Also, she offered no "sorry" or no "their reservation was prior to yours." She was able to seat us a short while after, but again, no sorry, just "have a nice night." Generic. Contrived. Our waiter was ok. He knew the menu and the wine list. We ordered the ono and prime rib with the Manhattan chowder and Caesar salad. The chowder was good but did not taste any different than a crockpot pot ragout. The Caesar salad dressing had an extra kick which I appreciated. The ono was good and the sauce was delicious. The prime rib was good but nothing special. It was more well as opposed to the medium rare that I ordered. The waiter arrived with our bottle of wine prior to our food coming out but never once came back to re-pour the wine. Bottom line - service borderline at best, food ok, drinks so-so. For the same amount of money, I would suggest Oasis just down the road.
(2)
Ben D.
Ate in the bar on Thanksgiving pressed for time to catch our dreaded flight home. Perfection. Awesome Hawaiian style turkey dinner with lilikoi cranberry sauce, wild mushroom stuffing, Okinawan Purple Sweet Potatoes, mashed potatoes and very flavorful chicken. Enjoyed an incredible lilikoi martini (with a splash of pomegranate liquer to make it interesting). Kids had giant lavaflows. $120 for five with drinks and desserts on Thanksgiving night and we made our flight with plenty of time to spare. Note, this is in a kind of cheesy timeshare and the restaurant is several notches higher in class than the hotel itself. I have been to Duke's several times prior to catching flights and (fortunately) couldn't get in due to Thanksgiving. I would absolutely go out of my way to eat at Hukilau again.
(5)
Lori B.
One of my favorite restaurants! Always great fresh food. Sitting out on the lanai is the best! All staff are friendly and accommodating. Enjoy!
(4)
Leslie R.
I would give this place 6 stars if possible. Great, open air atmosphere & live music. Reservations a must. Feel free to arrive early to have a drink in the bar. We ordered some of the lobster & cheese pupus - deeeeelish. One member of the group ordered the tasting menu w no wine. A great value at $28, especially if you like fish. I know this sounds strange, but I ordered the local beef meatloaf. It came in two large slices; the beef literally melted in my mouth. Yum! A truly amazing place that all should visit when on Kauai.
(5)
Moira M.
Wonderful!!! This was by far our favorite dinner in Hawaii. We went on our last night in Kauai based on a recommendation (from the waiter at Scotty's BBQ, another awesome place.) There was live music, which my friend and I really enjoyed and the place was nice inside, nothing super special, but nice. We started with the lobster wonton, which were tasty. I had the lobster curry soup, which was good as well, I did expect a little more of a kick to the soup, but it was still good. I got the mahi mahi with linguine for my entree and it was out of this world delicious. I loved it. My friend got the mixed plate and loved it as well. We were stuffed and still got dessert. So good as well!!!
(5)
Kathy Q.
Great place, great atmosphere, nice staff! Food was delicious and prices very fair. Would highly recommend.
(4)
Linda S.
The atmosphere is lovely. Our waiter was terrific. The meatloaf is excellent and the Mahi Mahi is fabulous.. The only complant I have was the filet minion was too rare, like cold in the middle grill marks on one side, not on the other and I ordered med-rare. I tried to eat it, but it was just too rare.. They took my whole plate back and RE-COOKED the meat.. It was an 8oz steak before it was cooked.. Thought it would have been in better taste to have cooked a whole new steak. I surely would eat here again.. :)
(4)
Logan J.
Saved the best for last!! It is our last night here! So far we haven't had anything terrible but nothing that really wowed us either. We decided to have a nice dinner to celebrate our last night and my birthday. I called to see if we needed a reservation. They said they highly recommend them and the earliest they had available was 8:45. However, they do have a first come first serve bar area and you can eat from the full menu!! We got there a little before 6pm (Friday) and there was plenty of seats to choose from. We had the Ahi Nachos which were amazing! For dinner we both had the Filet Mignon and it was absolutely DELICIOUS!! Our server was friendly and knowledgable. I would highly recommend Hukilau Lanai!!!
(5)
Bob V.
Surprising to find such a impressively good restaurant connect to a mid-priced hotel. A rare discovery indeed. I have eaten here a two different occasions, six months apart. Varied menu with lots of freshly prepared fish. I must say I has drawn to the classic meatloaf with mushroom gravy! Very yummie and a rather large portion, as I love veggies I ordered a side of fresh vegetables with my meal which were cooked to perfection. I was too full for dessert. Highly recommend stopping here for diner, with reservations, beware it can get rather crowded during prime times. Bon appetite!
(4)
Sharon C.
My husband and I went to Kauia to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary and we had our celebratory dinner at Hukilau upon the recommendation of our tour guide. We went on our last night in Kauai - saved the best for last. This place is quite famous in Kauia and I can tell you a hundred reasons why. They were packed for the night and when I made a reservation, I requested for a table at the lanai and they said that it may not be possible because they're full that night and everyone requested for a table at the lanai. When we checked in, they remembered that it was a very special evening for us and they greeted us. Not only that, they gave us a table at the lanai. Our server was very nice and he was always checking on us. We had the potato ravioli and lobster and goat cheese wonton to start. That was very filling so we decided to split the main course (and they did not even charge us extra for that!). We also brought our own champagne bottle and they only charged $10 for corkage. We had the Mixed Grill - yay, finally got a chance to try the signature Hawaiian Ono Fish (really meaty yet tender and yummy)! We went to several restaurants when we were in Kauia but we had the best experience at Hukilau. 5 star service and the price was not bad at all. All the main courses came with soup or salad. For a minimal fee, I had the salad and my husband had the lobster bisque with our split meal. We really wanted to try some of their desserts but seriously, my belly was going to explode so we skipped that but our waiter brought a little gold package and inside it were 2 pieces of truffles. I was so full that I was not even able to take a small bite. My husband said it was heavenly so he finished all of it:)) It was pretty dark when we went so we didn't really see the view but we came back the next day just to check out the view and it was indeed very romantic. They must have the most amazing sunsets! When you come, make a reservation around sunset time. The place is very romantic, very quiet, and scenic and the service excellent. This restaurant is one of the reasons why we will come back to Kauia. We love this place so much.
(5)
T C.
3.5 stars generally; I'd give the ahi nachos a solid 4 stars alone. Those nachos are pretty great - the chips are thick and crunchy and have a toasty after taste; the chips remind me of pork rinds (they're not, mind you). The dish is served with an abundant amount of ahi (yay!) and a drizzle of some dark, sweet sauce over it (~$14). The sweet potato ravioli was absurdly and unnaturally sweet, but filling despite the two ravioli serving (~$11). The lobster curry bisque was good (~$7 for a cup) - decadent, rich, curry-ee, coconutty, and lemongrassy. The bbq ribs were completely forgettable (~$11). The mixed grill was a-ok and nothing uber special to write home about (~$30). Other important info: inside Coconut Marketplace, ahi nachos are a not-to-miss dish, service is hit or miss depending on who is waiting on you, seems like they use the same sauce in every single dish (coconutty and lemongrassy taste), likely the best food I had on the island (note: they don't have stiff competition; good island food is pretty scarce), and reservations don't guarantee they'll seat you promptly.
(3)
sheri d.
Absolutely the best meal and service in the entire island. The tasting menu with wine was a perfect sampler of the entire creative menu, starting with an island gazpacho and finishing with inventive breads and cheeses. Definitely our favorite and go to restaurant on Kauai.
(5)
chris r.
Busy Labor Day weekend but with reservations, we were seated. The menu reads like a culinary" labor of love". My husband started off with a glass of white. I asked the wait person for a recommendation for a special drink and she said the Ginny Hendricks, which is not too sweet and goes well with the ending of a nice day. She was right. For dinner, my husband chose the Opa and I, the Ono. The presentation was lovely enough to take a picture yet the taste was even better. The fish was tender, flavorful on either a bed of delicately mashed potatoes or pistachio rice. We finished off with a coconut macadamia nut crusted lilikoi pie that instead of sharing, we seem to find ourselves bargaining over the last piece. A lot of 'ohhing" and "ahhing.." going on around us. 'Fresh ' is the word here.
(5)
Juan C.
Definitely in my list of top 5! I celebrated our anniversary here, and it was amazing from finish to start. From the crisp calamari, to the red snapper fish over mashed potatoes, prime rib, corn jalapeño chowder, lobster bisque curry coconut soup, and the most delicious chocolate lava cake.... Oh my goodness!!!! Best ive ever had! Great job chefs! I will def be back. Excellent service, quick time to cook the food, unpretentious decor, and excellent view= love love love
(5)
Jakki N.
This was one of my favorite places for dinner when I first moved to Kauai and, nine years later, it still is. The food and service are consistently above average. They have the best selection of local fresh fish on the east side. I recommend the ahi poke nachos and the Wally's salad for starters. I also love the Farmers Market Lasagna because it is never exactly the same and always delicious. I've been friends with a few Hukilau employees and can say that they all enjoy and appreciate their work environment and it shows in the sincerity of customer service you get. The staff is very knowledgeable about the menu and wine list. They handle modifications and accommodate special dietary needs well. You may have a short wait even if you make a reservation (I recommend making a reservation even on a week night) but the lobby has nice sofas to sit on and there is always good live acoustic entertainment. The setting is comfortable and open-air with tiki torches, candles and still plenty of light for you to read the menu. Its a good place to go if you are celebrating a special occasion or just want to treat yourself. Its not cheap, but the pricing and portions are more than fair - not jacked up resort pricing. I've been to a few banquet-style functions at The Hukilau over the years and found the food and service to be excellent at those events also. The Hukilau Lanai is an east side landmark that has really earned their good reputation. Try it. You will not be disappointed.
(5)
Michele W.
Nice view, great food. Good selection of food and drink items.
(4)
Amy K.
This restaurant, in Kapaa, Kauai, has the look and service of a 5 star but the prices of a 3-4 star restaurant. It was withing walking distance from the village resorts that we stayed in so it was about a 2 minute walk since its within the same complex. This place is great for romantic dinners or special group celebrations. The tikis and candles had a nice touch to it. Everything we ordered was very good and at the right temperatures. We ordered appetizers and I remember having our entrees come a little earlier than we expected, but not by much time. Try the Squash Blossom, Lobster Bisque (really good and spicy) for appetizers. The entrees were a little more pricer then everything else on the menu, around 28-35 dollars per plate. Appetizers were around 6-10 dollars. For dessert, we ordered the Creme Brulee and Chocolate Warm Cake. Nothing to complain about except a stuffed stomach. They have a wine list too! So check that out if you want to get a bottle to wine and dine your lovebug :) There is an ocean view, but since we were there after sunset, we could only hear it, not see it ;( Live Hawaiian music plays on certain days and times. It was a very relaxed atmosphere. If you've ever been to Roys, the service and etiquette is comparable to them. For two, our bill came to $122 before tip. This was for 2 apps, 2 entrees, 2 desserts, 1 drink and bottle of wine.
(5)
Anna K.
Warm cake is perfect! all of the deserts are good actually. However, they have really bad coffee and tea, service is really slow
(4)
Y I L I W.
all food items are handcrafted, and house~made using ~ as local of ingredients as possible ! !! + : pretty darn delish food: . .. great service, with attention to details . .. beautiful setting, kinda reminescent of French Polynesia . .. understood why they get high ratings . .. Chef works to accomodate allergies even on Tasting Menu . .. loved my passion fruit and poha berry sorbet, paired with an orange Muscat . .. several delish items exuded comfort~ÿ food feel while presenting "upscale~ÿ" . .. =) * heavenlÿ * d: -- : no espresso machine but they have Kaua'i coffee . .. hope to be back again VeRÿ sOoN
(4)
Chris N.
Best restaurant I have eaten at kauai by far! Service and the food is amazing along with a gentle ocean breeze that brushes in your face! Wally's salad and the Creme Brulee were amazing! I had the macadamia nut chicken which was 5 stars and my honeymoon wife had a great vegetarian lasagna! Thinking of going again!
I expected more... and make sure you make a reservation if you plan to have dinner after 6 PM here. We came here twice, the first time we expected to walk in and wait for seats, but the wait turns out to be over an hour. For 2 ppl? Wow! Anyway, we ended up sitting in the bar and got spotty service for the following: Cheesy topped bread (free) - Really delicious! We can snack on them all day. Lobster Curry Bisque - The curry flavor overwhelmed the lobster taste Gazpacho (soup of the day) - I like it, done well BBQ Ribs - Delicious! I liked it but my wife loves it! Opah (Hawaiian Moon Fish) - Not tender enough. As my wife described it, "the fish around here swims too much" so its meat is overworked and chewy. Prime Rib - While the fish was a hard swimmer, the cow this prime rib came from was a lazy cow, chunks of fat lined this prime rib. The chunks of fat doesn't go well w/ the medium rare cooking temperature. I definitely had better. Dragonfruit Ginger Sorbet - Delicious, but the ginger was a bit strong. Makes me wonder how it would taste w/o the ginger. On our 2nd visit several days later, I was still recovering from food poisoning earlier in the day (not from here) but this time, we came here early for their Happy hour tasting menu. Sweet Potato Ravioli - Unique white color pasta, but taste was not memorable Swiss Chard & Mushroom tart - Pie crust and mushrooms are good, but vinaigrette overwhelmed the delicate flavors of the ingredients in the tart Sausage & Warabi - sausage is too spicy, veggies too oily Fresh catch - I think we got the Moon fish again... Vanilla Creme Brulee - I didn't dare to try this as I was still sick. My wife finished it. The service this time is a lot better. But while I was waiting for dinner, a mosquito came by and got his from my arm. Remember to wear mosquito repellent everywhere! My wife ordered the ribs again and this time I couldn't even have one as I just had zero appetite. There's definitely better restaurants for dinner in Kauai, but in Kapa'a, not really.
(3)
Megan P.
Beautiful view, tasty food, delicious libations. Got seated quickly and server was friendly and prompt. I got the mac nut crusted chicken and the hubs got the fish duo special and both were excellent (clean plate club good)- sweet potato ravioli pupu was a bit lackluster (sauce was drool-worthy but needed a hint of salt and acid, maybe lemon?). Love that they use local produce and meats as much as possible and give back to the community. Great spot for a nice meal. We'll be making it a regular date night stop for sure!
(5)
Courtney C.
The good: The view (we sat on the lanai. No problems with bugs.) The service! Service was efficient and friendly. Joe remembered my relatives from earlier in the week, as well as their orders. Dessert: chocolate mousse or coconut tart. Sweet potato ravioli app Butterfish(!!!) The cocktails They have an excellent, reasonably-priced, and locally sourced set menu. They have gluten-free options pretty readily available. The Eh: Poke nachos were good, but no wow factor. Maybe if you're not accustomed to poke already? The ribeye special was kind of oddly textured and not the most flavorful. Several of them on our table were less than half-eaten. Bummer. The verdict: If you've got the need for a romantic location with excellent service, go ahead.
(4)
Christina C.
You must get the wine and food tasting for $40. Their homemade foccacia bread is really, really good. This was by far one of the best meals of my Hawaii trip. For $40, you get a nice sampling of their menu with accompanying wines. Foccaia bread ( static.px.yelp.com/bphot… ) Round 1: Sweet Potato Ravioli paired with St Gabriel Riesling ( static.px.yelp.com/bphot… ) Very light and tasty. Round 2: Warabi and Sausage paired with Protocolo Rose. ( static.px.yelp.com/bphot… ) I didn't like this pairing. The sausage was good, but the warabi was really sour and the wine was really bold. The flavors were quite unbalanced Round 3: Ono fish basted with tapenade on orzo pasta and lemon basil pesto paired with Lurton Torrontes. ( static.px.yelp.com/bphot… ) Light, tasty, citrusy. Wine was well matched. My 2nd favorite paring Round 4: Pork tenderloin with mushrooms paired with Protocolo Tempranillo ( static.px.yelp.com/bphot… ) This was my favorite pairing. The pork was tender, the mushrooms were cooked just right, the sauce was delicious. The wine was mild, yet fruiting. Round 5: Blue cheese, fig compote. something wine. ( static.px.yelp.com/bphot… ) Not really a fan of blue cheese, but the fig helped balance the flavor Round 6: Trio of sorbets. ( static.px.yelp.com/bphot… ) Lava flow (coconut and rasberry or strawberry) was good, strawberry mango was quite tasty, and the banana curry was quite interesting So, plan ahead to come here. The food and wine pairing is only available 5-6pm. It really is a great way to sample many things. Some diners at surrounding tables were quite jealous plate after plate. Service is pretty good. Opt to sit outside for some fresh air. This is located behind the Coconut Marketplace. Its actually next to the lobby of the Kauai Coast Resort. Can't miss it- right infront of the swimming pools and jacuzzi.
(5)
John D.
Tasting menu of 5 courses for $28 would be a great deal on the mainland. On Kauai it is exceptional. Food was yummy and Ryan did a great job with the service. IMHO this meal topped much more expensive meals we had on Kauai and Maui.
(5)
M j.
It's really 4 1/2 stars! We've been here a few times & I must say it's really great! The 1/2 point taken out since the server was a little out of it tonight & my usual filet wasn't as exciting as all the other times & the mashed potatoes were very salty! But in all honesty it's one of the best restaurants in Kauai & we've been to pretty much most of them (we've been coming here yearly for the past 10 years)! Their food is very consistent so I really don't know what happened tonight, however, it's a great place & make sure to ask to sit in the lanai area:-)
(4)
Rica S.
I had my wedding dinner here. We rented out the semi private room for 24 people. Absolutely amazing. Though it was a hectic day, I really enjoyed my time here. My guests were raving about how every dish was perfect and delicious. The decor I had brought in were all arranged so nicely. One who side of the semi private room are all windows so you really get the island feel. I owe it all to the great staff especially Manda, the banquet coordinator. It was absolutely perfect. My sister even came back the next day because she was craving the ahi poke nachos and the sweet potato ravioli. I really wanna go back already... maybe for our anniversary next year.
(5)
Julie K.
We stopped a Hukilau Lanai for our last dinner in Kauai before flying home tonight on the strength of the reviews here and elsewhere. The restaurant was lovely and the service was friendly and personable. The food was somewhat of a mixed bag, primarily because every dish was surrounded by a type of cream sauce with differing flavorings that over-powered the delicate flavors of the main item in the dish. My daughter described the lobster wontons as crab rangoon on steroids, and she was correct. They were very crisp with a very rich filling that required no accompaniment. Neither of us cared for the overly sweet guava dipping sauce and ended up not using it. We also ordered the purple sweet potato ravioli appetizer which was also served in a sweet cream-based sauce. Salting the ravioli helped balance the over-sweetness, but not quite enough. The strong sweet pineapple cream sauce that accompanied my husband's fish was so off-putting that he could only eat a couple of bites. My daughter's mixed grill was cooked well and the seafood and fish were good, but the cream-based coconut curry sauce was too rich. I ordered the beef tenderloin medallions coated in peppercorns in a Crown Royal demi glace with mashed potatoes done medium, but it arrived medium well. Still, it was tender with a sauce which had a good flavor and the portion was large, so I easily shared it with my husband. The highlight of the meal was the creme brulee with a silky custard and slightly charred sugar crust. My main advice to the chef would be to keep cooking the fish exactly as you are doing, but work on lighter, not cream based sauces that compliment the delicate fish, rather than cover it up.
Food was really excellent, I got the mixed plate and my wife the macadamia encrusted chicken breast (perfectly cooked, super crunchy coating and juicy and tender chicken breast - how do they do that?!). The fish on the mixed plate was cooked perfectly and the sauces were some of the best I have had since being in New Orleans. The Lobster won tons were just OK, I definitely would not order again. Service at the bar and the hostesses were excellent, but I had to knock off one star because of our waiter - very unprofessional for such a nice place. Would go there again in a heart beat, I just don't want the same waiter.
(4)
Steph M.
Pretty good stuff! Kauai doesn't have a ton of food, but this place was really decent. The Nachos are AMAZING.
(3)
Susanna W.
For our first dinner on Kauai, J and I decided to be early birds and try Hukilau Lanai's sampler menu (available 5-6pm daily). Annoying that we had to wait (in an empty restaurant) before being seated, despite having made reservations. AMBIANCE: Loungey in the front, super super casual, with an open air lanai facing the hotel pool/ocean. Very relaxed atmosphere... not sure if it gets more lively later on in the evening. SERVICE: Friendly but I found it to be meh. Maybe its because we were there right when they opened? The waitstaff seemed confused and a bit chicken-with-its-head-cut-off-ish, while the hostess was slightly scatterbrained. FOOD: A-OK. We tried the 5 course tasting menu ($28 w/o wine pairing) and a separate fish entree (I think $26-28?). I forget which fish entree we ordered, but it came with risotto and was SO oddly sweet and barbecue-y all at once. Not the best pairing IMO. My favorite dish of the night was the vanilla bean creme brulee dessert-- perfect portion size, nice and creamy with a crunchy sugar top. OVERALL: Nice to try, but I won't be hurrying back anytime soon and it wouldn't be the first restaurant I'd recommend to friends.
(3)
Hiep N.
Service was atrocious, the food was over cooked, and overall the restaurant was a disappointment. The waiters were careless, and it was clearly obvious that they were dog tired of tourists. They have forgotten that they're in the hospitality business. Instead of bantering with young, attractive girls my waiter should have checked on my table and checked on where my entree was. I would have responded with sitting on a tray for the past 15 minutes while numerous food runners ignored it. On top of waiting 45 minutes for my entree to come out the, opah I ordered was not fresh and it was dry and unpleasant. The mahi we ordered was also dry and overcooked. Not the best experience at all.
(1)
Kristen Y.
Loved this place! Service was efficient and waitstaff was extremely friendly and helpful. The food was delicious. Everything from the fresh focaccia bread to our salads (Wally and Caesar) was just amazing. The papaya seed dressing : yum! Our entrees included the Prime Rib and the Pork Tenderloin. Both were flawless. The prime rib was seasoned well with the perfect amount of char. Inside, the meat was so juicy! The pork loin was ridiculous especially how incredibly moist it was! My husband and I were floored by the way it melted in our mouths, and could not figure out how they got the meat this way! Superb dining experience! Totally worth the bit of extra money. A must when visiting the island! Good idea to make a reservation. Place always seemed bumping!
(5)
Ambreesh K.
Because my wife is vegetarian, and kids are not fish fans (fish are friends not food!), I was unsure of the place. We ended up having a lovely meal, in an excellent setting - sitting outside by the pool which was next to the ocean. Reservations are recommended, the place was full while we were eating, which was around 8pm. Wife and I split 3 appetizers - Swiss chard and mushroom tart, sweet potato ravioli and a cold gazpacho, all excellent. I also ordered an ahi special, coated with coffee and some other spices - over sticky rice. Fantastic. My older one ordered the pork tenderloin which she did a fine job demolishing - how much can a teenager eat! And yes, the souffle was fantastic as expected. Had a great time.
(4)
Gloria C.
We came here because it was rated a Fodor's choice restaurant as well as being the top restaurant on every online review we pulled up for Kauai eastside restaurants. However, to be honest, I don't think it was 5-star quality. We ordered the Ahi Poke Nachos to start, and they were delicious! Really recommend trying this if you like ahi poke and if you like nachos. The chips are deep fried and definitely have more of a kick than regular nachos. We loved them! For entrees, you can order a side salad or upgrade to the Lobster Curry Bisque for an extra $2. I had Wally's salad, which was decent, but nothing special. Recommendation: Order the bisque, it was much better. In reading previous recommendations, I wanted to try the Walu. But they didn't have it on the menu as an individual item anymore, so I ordered the Hukilau Mixed Grill, which had a filet of Walu and a filet of another fish that actually tasted like chicken (a little bit weird that a fish would taste and have the consistency of chicken). I very much liked the Walu better and should have substituted both filets for Walu, they call it the Hawaiian butterfish, and it tastes like a black cod or sea bass. I didn't care much for the risotto that came in with it. It tasted like a mix between asian sauces and cheese, which was also kind of odd for me. My boyfriend ordered the Opah fish, which comes with rice and had a coconut curry-type base. I personally thought my meal was a lot more delicious. For drinks, I ordered the Citrus Buzz, which was stronger than it tastes. Then again, my tolerance for alcohol is not very high. It contains lemonchello. But since it tasted light, I pretty much drank it really quick. My boyfriend ordered the Honey Lemonade, which I liked because it tasted like it was made from real lemons. But he thought it was way too sour and wanted to water it down. Don't order it if you don't like sour. Portions were good sized - we didn't have room for dessert.
(3)
Gail Q.
Our decision to eat dinner here was heavily influenced by the presence of poke nachos, which combines two things that are already awesome: poke, and nachos, and somehow manages to make a thing which is, in fact, even more awesome. It was Christmas Eve so they had a special menu. I don't remember exactly what I ate but I do remember the post-eating part, in which I was so full I almost couldn't breathe, but I was like, "No, I can eat more, I can do this," because the food was telling me I should keep eating it. Also, our server was really sweet, and he took our picture and spent a lot of time recommending drinks and explaining the ingredients in the special dishes, and then we ran into him at the supermarket a few days later (SMALL. ISLAND.) and he came over (with his adorable baby) to say hi and ask how our vacation was going! OMG love! Yay for great service and POKE NACHOS.
(4)
Sabrina C.
Food is superb! Chantry and Angela in the hostess station are super efficient! Nicole our waitress knows her stuff. As a former food server and now a local concierge it is vital that I send my guest to great restaurants. We eat out often and Hukilau Lanai is always a great choice. Living on Kauai we are a bit limited. But if you want food food, great service and a nice night. Make your reservations early and enjoy! I like the tasting menu. Give it a shot. If you dont drink it's one of the best deals on the island.
(5)
Todd C.
Very favorable experience. Excellent service, wonderful setting outside on the terrace, divine food, convenient parking and the price is right! We were staying over in Poipu but found the drive over to be effortless and well worth the trip!
(5)
Aleah W.
My husband and I came here for our last dinner before we left that island and I am disappointed that we didn't come earlier in our stay so that we could have eaten here multiple times. The location is beautiful. Unfortunately, we had late reservations and the sun had already set so we did not get the full experience. I will make it a point to be here for sunset the next time we come. I had both the Ginger Martini and the Lilikoi Blossom Martini. Both were delicious, not too sugary or sweet. My husband and I shared the poke nachos for an appetizer and they were AMAZING! We both love poke but this took it to another level. The wonton chips added the perfect level of crunch and the sauces were so full of flavor. I think even those who are not big fans of raw fish would enjoy this dish. For our main entrees, I had the opah and my husband had the ahi. Both were insanely good. The sauces were incredible. So flavorful but not too much (they definitely did not over power the flavor of the fish). From beginning to end, this was one of the best meals I have ever had. Even the complimentary bread was delicious. Every single bite was exquisite! We will definitely be returning on our next trip to Kauai. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!
(5)
Nick D.
Excellent food. Can't say enough about that. Had the mixed grill and the Lobster Won Ton. Very reasonable.
(5)
Jay C.
Excellent, excellent meal. Make reservations ahead of time, as they fill up fast. The bread? Incredible. Appetizers (sweet potato ravioli? Wow...) delicious...entree options were all very good - and not as expensive at comparable restaurants on the island! The dessert options looked great, but we were pleasantly stuffed! The serving staff were very attentive and friendly. The view? Awesome, especially at sunset. Highly recommended!!!
After a week of sub par food our tour guide from Rainbow Kayak told us to go here, yelp reviews looked good so we gave it a try. Out waitress Sandra was EXCELLENT and very attentive to all of our needs. Every ounce of food from the complimentary bread, aptz, entree and dessert was OUTSTANDING and they absolutely knock it out of the park. Spoke with what we thought was manager turned out to be co owner and told him how pleased we were. He said the other co owner works the kitchen and doesn't let anything come out the isn't 100% perfect. I truly showed.
(4)
Mary N.
Best meal we had on the island. Get the poke nachos. Everything we had was really good. I would suggest making reservations because we had to sit in the bar. Great service, sunset, and food.
(5)
Barb V.
Our waitress, was just superb, the timing of each course couldn't of been better. I had the MacNut chicken, my two other friends had the filet and the catch of the day. All were awesome. It was truly a wonderful experience.
(5)
Brian W.
Lots of reviews so I don't need to say much. Ahi poke nachos were great! Loved them. We were both in the mood for steaks and got the filet mignon, medium rare. They came *perfectly* cooked. Red throughout and a nice cool dark center. Fantastic! They also have a really good wine selection in the $20-$30 range, which is all I would ever pay for a bottle of wine. Unfortunately our waiter initially forgot to serve it but he quickly brought it out once we reminded him. I say this is worth 4.5 stars. I'd go to five if the prices were just a little more reasonable. But considering the location I suppose it's not too bad. To give you an idea, we had two appetizers, salad, bisque, two main courses, three cocktails, and a bottle of wine for $167 including 20% tip.
(4)
Alex B.
This place is classic Hawaii. You aren't going to walk in and get all the basic Hawaiian "touristy" menu items: They serve real food that is REAL good. Everything on the menu is local if it can be. I had the mushroom meatloaf and it was delicious! For a "Pretty Food" restaurant (See Photos), the menu prices aren't that bad. All in all, if you are up by coconut beach, take a trip up to Hukilau Lanai...And get a Reservation!
(4)
Tom L.
Honeymoon trip romantic dinner out. Reservations for 7:30 pm, arrived on time and asked to wait. Seated near bar with live music and server came to assist us with drinks during our short wait. Seated comfortably facing courtyard and promptly served. Food was excellent, ambiance was lovely for our romantic evening.
(5)
Mertani G.
Hands down one of the best dining experiences we've had! My husband and I went here to celebrate our wedding anniversary while on vacation in kauai. I chose this place based on yelp reviews and the menu. For the first time, I had reserved thru open table and had indicated that we were celebrating our anniversary and wanted to sit in an area with an ocean view. I've been to places before where I have requested or mentioned something and upon arriving, it seems as if nobody has remembered. This visit was different. Upon our arrival, both hostesses wished us a happy anniversary before seating us in an area with an ocean view. Our server's name was debbie and she greeted us as well. She mentioned all the specials and was very thorough about knowing the menu. I ordered the mahi mahi and my husband ordered the filet mingon. He also had salad while I ordered the kahlua pork chowder. The food was excellent! One of the best meals we have ever had. For dessert, we shared the lilikoi tart. When our dessert arrived, it came with a huge piece of dark chocolate with "happy anniversary" written in it. They even gave us a tiny gift box with two truffles in it as a gift. This restaurant definitely gave us an unforgettable experience for our vacation. Whenever we decide to come back to kauai, this will be a definite stop :)
(5)
Shauna S.
Zomgz, what a happy surprise. This place is so good. For the starter we had the poke nachos. The blend of ahi poke on wonton chips was amazing. I loved the wasabi cream (along with the other ingredients, obviously) but it's the main sauce that stood out. Very different from what I've normally seen but very good. I got a house salad along with my meal and I loved the dressing. I know it's not something one would pay much attention to, but the papaya seed dressing is delicious. Especially since it's topped with bacon. I had the Macadamia Nut Chicken -- normally I'm not even a fan of chicken but this was so well prepared that I couldn't help but love this dish. The vegetables and curry sauce blended so well with one another which really pulled together this dish. It's a nice blend of flavours and everything was perfectly prepared.
(5)
Malcolm M.
I wasn't disappointed, but I really hoped for more... Nachos-Good Calamari-Average Fish of the day-Average Meatloaf-Good Lots of affordable sub $30 wine choices-Very Good It was good enough for Kauai, but not worth visiting if the restaurant was on the Mainland. True Story.
(3)
Cassie P.
We usually look for "frugal" choices, but decided to splurge one night on our trip. This was a great place to do that! The poke nachos were awesome. I had the mac nut chicken, which I know is a "boring" choice, but I was sharing with my one year old, so I tried to keep it simple. Oh, yes, our one year old and seven year old were there too, and they were great with children for an upscale restaurant! And yes, my dinner was wonderful, especially with the glass of wine chosen by our server, Tim, who was also absolutely stellar! We finished with the mac nut pie which I had to stop myself from licking the darn plate. Great live ukelele music, calm and beautiful view, great food, great service - definitely enjoyed the Hukilau Lanai!
(5)
Renee G.
Pricey but delicious. The Mai Tai with local made rum is $2 more than regular which I don't understand. But it was good. The bloody Mary is the best I ever had. They infuse the vodka with chili pepper and chipotle. The were serving a sushimi stack appetizer with cabbage salad so we shared that. Next came the wally salad for my hubby and a tomato pineapple gazpacho for myself. The dressing on the salad made it special. The gazpacho had a little spiciness that was perfect. The hubby got the hukilau mixed grill which was 2 different fresh local fish in a Thai coconut sauce and a skewer of shrimp. I got the Mac nut crusted chicken breast which came with local veggies in an amazing curry sauce. They have a dessert menu that looked incredible. But we were full at that point. Service could not have been better. Not rushed. Beautiful patio dining. Tiki torches. If you go, call first and get a reservation. It seems a popular place.
(5)
Katie B.
SO good! I tried to reserve a spot online, but it said there were no reservations available. I called and left a message and got a call back with a spot available for the same night! I did the $40 five coarse dinner with wine tasting. So fun and SO yummy!!!! The glazed Ahi was my favorite by far! But everything was good, service was great. A fun night out for sure!!
(5)
April B.
Thank you for a wonderful dining experience! We made reservations for 8:30 and were seated right on time. The music in the bar was very nice and the general ambiance was just what we were looking for. Our server was attentive and knowledgeable about both the wine list and the menu. We ordered a bottle of Allegrini and decided on the fresh catch and a new menu item, swordfish. Everything was prepared very well, fresh and piping hot. Though I enjoyed my dinner, the swordfish was the most amazing dish of the night. If you are looking for a quality dining experience and a special evening, I would highly recommend Hukilau Lanai.
(5)
Daniel T.
Do make a reservation, it does get packed. We got there right when our reservation was and they seated us within 2-3 minutes. They led us outside but after the reviews about mosquitoes, we asked for an inside table and they accommodated for us. Wife and I shared their mixed grill and got three types of fishes. They're smaller sizes but when added up together, you get more fish for the same price and get to try different types of fish. Our came with mahi mahi, ono, and opah. They were all good except the mahi was a little dry but still really good. The calamari was good, not too greasy but fresh. We then shared a macadamia nut tart to go which was really good. Hot tart with ice cream and lots of flavor. Very friendly service as well.
(4)
Felicia H.
Excellent menu!!! Drinks from the bar are great!!! We had the BBQ ribs as an appetizer and an Mahi Mahi as an entree. Excellent meal. We even went back for appetizers another night. Live music is relaxing and romantic. Enjoy!!! Make reservation, unless your just visiting the bar area. It books up for a reason!!! Our concierge handled this for us. Also, visit the Pool Bar if you get there before 5 pm. Great and reasonable specials for lunch and good drinks. Say hi to Sylvie!!!
(5)
suz o.
Wow! What a find. Amazing meals (yes we went back) at prices you do not find anywhere else on the island. Farm to table at its best. Tasting menu cannot be beat. Brian was an excellent waiter, very friendly. Our second night there was equally as delicious although waitress not as good, in fact order got messed up but the other staff was enthusiastically covering for her which was actually nice to experience. Be careful, their homemade cheesy focaccia bread is addictive. Also great wine menu with good bottles under $20, featuring organic family wineries as well.
(4)
Annaleis W.
We had our reception dinner after our wedding here. We had a party of 16 with some special food needs also. They created special dishes for us, at no additional cost. The food was amazing, the semi private room has a wonderful view, and the staff was great. I looked at a lot of places. They not only have amazing food, but were very reasonably priced. As far as planning, their office manager was very helpful and created several custom options and menus. We even had personalized menus with our names on them. It was just a wonderful and delicious evening. We are so glad we selected Hukilau Lanai
(5)
Phil A.
This was a wonderful restaurant to end our trip to Kauai. Service was exceptional and food was good.
(4)
Kimberly E.
Great value for good food! The ambience of the restaurant was nice. You could see the ocean from a distance as they play soothing music. Our sever was very informative when we asked about how dishes were prepared and about the drink specials. The mixed grill was great due in large part to the butter fish which was sublime. My husband got the tasting menu and said everything was tasty but raved about the candied chipotle ahi. The dinner ended with the warm chocolate cake which surprisingly taste similar to the Flemmings molten lava cake. So we obviously loved it.
(3)
Shannon B.
Delicious!! A MUST visit when on Kauai. Everything from the live music to the appetizers to the entrees and even dessert was fantastic. We will definitely be back.
(5)
Bruce A.
Stopped in for the first time last night for drinks and pupus. The drinks were good and so was the calamari. Very pleasant Hawaiian music was playing while we sat in the lobby lounge. We didn't have dinner, so not sure about their mains, but I would definitely recommend this place based on my brief encounter. We will be back and will send guests here as well.
(4)
Pink P.
We came here to celebrate my parents' 70th birthday. You will need to make reservation between 5:00 - 5:45 if you want the tasting menu. Reservation is always recommended as this place do get packed. We sat in the outdoor patio area and it had a beautiful view of the garden of Kauai Coast Resort Hotel with tiki lights all around. The service was excellent and the tasting menu was wonderful. Don't get concerned with the portion of the tasting menu as you will be full by the 5th course. We had also ordered the Ahi Poke nachos and calamari for appetizer and they were excellent. We will definitely be back on our next visit to Kauai.
(4)
A S.
Great all around. Ended the trip here and had no regrets. A super finale to a wonderful trip. The service was tops. The meal was lovely. Candied ahi, perfectly prepared calamari, the swordfish, the striped marlin, the honey manhattan, all so good. I might recommend the seating in the back next to the open yard with trees and the night sky.
(5)
Jo C.
We made reservations through open table and were seated promptly. Other people who didn't have reservations were quoted an hour wait on a Sunday night. I go here for their delicious Prime Rib! I'm surprised some of the other recent reviewers didn't mention it, it's one of the best. The calamari and the poke wonton chips was also very good. We had great service and I love the setting and the feel of the restaurant very relaxing and great food! Will be going again next trip to Kauai
(5)
Denny M.
We had a wonderful meal with friends. Everything was prepared and presented beautifully. 3 of us had various fish entres, and my wife had filet mignon. The filet was do tender that it just melted in her mouth. Service was great as well. Highly recommend this restaurant.
(5)
Spencer L.
Amazing food, great service, definitely went out of their way to make my wife and I feel special for our anniversary. Definitely go for the fish, top notch!
(5)
Justin N.
Good food and nice relaxed atmosphere. Everything tasted great but I wasn't a fan of the lemon drink they had. Other than that, everything was great. Would highly recommend.
(4)
Mark P.
Loved the food, service and setting. Perfect for a romantic night out!
(5)
Jasten M.
Dined here while at the Kauai Coast Resort(otherwise, it would be difficult to find and/or park here w/o gps... It's near the coconut market, where parking is convenient). Apps were the lobster goat cheese wonton(not too much), calamari(not too tough) and lobster bisque(just right, w/ a coconut twist!). I tried the mahi mahi and my friend had the lasagna. For 20-30ish $'s, the presentation and ingredients blew us away. The mahi mahi was impeccably moist/light/n flaky and fell into those horizontal layers that make u wanna cry b/t bites. The lasagna had pesto sauce(a first) and just made sense. Veggies galore and not too much cheese. Portions were just right to keep a beach body a beach body. Dessert: a perfect, modern creme brulee with a thin, light surface. Menu: brought together by HI/local flavors and fresh, local ingredients. Very diverse(seafood, meatloaf, Italian). Cool wine tasting hour I always missed. Looking around, seafood dishes had the most heart and soul behind them. Tasteful, live music @ nighttime. Try to get a patio seat, with the lush resort(take a walk during your wait) and the ocean at your beck and call. Very romantic spot. This place(and Roy's HI Fusion and some Mexican place on kuhio hwy beside the boring Kountry Kitchen here-but not here on yelp) are the only cool Kauai spots I suggest with any enthusiasm. (I've learned to stock up @ the markets here, which assuages any guilt over flying to Hi... amazing ready-to-eat foods for cheap $'s galore).
(5)
Tony L.
We feasted. And were feasted on. Hukilau Lanai was the perfect culinary destination to catch up with a few friends over cocktails and well-prepared meal. The dimly lit dining area opened to the sound of waves swishing on shore. The appetizers were pretty, delicately shaped and bursting with color. My wife had the meatloaf. Pretty good stuff. Now what did I have... I know I had it with the mashed potatoes on our servers suggestion... and I had a feeling it was pretty good. But otherwise, it was pretty forgettable. That's something, isn't it? You like a place, but you forget what you ate. Hey, it happens. As was our leg buffet to those savage mosquitos. Those bites I won't forget, swollen and sweaty like warts off an old witch's nose. So in short, good food. Great ambiance. Tasty, though ultimately forgettable food. And lots and lots of mosquitos.
(4)
Sa A.
Food is excellent. We are repeat customers. I would recommend this place for the food, choice of menu items, live music, service, and surroundings.
(5)
Eloise v.
Excellent service and food. Very gluten free friendly with some of the best gf bread I've had in a while. The dishes were creative twists on trendy dishes with reasonable prices. The snapper and hebe (sp) were cooked perfectly but the mahi mahi was overcooked/dry. Gazpacho with pineapple basil sorbet was bright tasting and fun for the palate.
(5)
Jason J.
The Hukilau Lanai is located in the Kauai Coast Resort at the Beachboy, right next to the Coconut Marketplace, which is conveniently...well....exactly where we stayed when The Ladyfriend and I went to Hawaii in early December '10. The ambiance is nice, with some light live music, and it's well decorated. It also have a fantastic open patio that looks out to the well kept grounds at the KCR, which is where we sat. The menu isn't terribly large but does maintain a diversity of choices. Like lots of things on Kauai, the food is overpriced, though I'm sure there are worse than this. I thought the service was good, but the food itself lacked something. It wasn't bad, it just didn't put me over the top into a 4th star. Not a bad place at all, especially if you're staying here, but one huge drawback is that it closes at 9. So no latenight drinks anywhere at KCR. But if you're looking for dinner, definitely do Hukilau Lanai. It won't blow you away, but it won't really disappoint either.
(3)
Kris C.
We were so looking forward to dining at the Hukilau, and experiencing what other Yelp reviewers raved about. I must say that the drinks were wonderful, and the ambiance was delightful...just what we were hoping for on Kauai. The food left a lot to be desired. The appetizers (lobster wonton and the nightly special of steamed clams) were tasty and beautifully presented. The salads were average, and the entrees were well below average. The prime rib was cold, and had to be sent back to be reheated. The vegetarian lasagne was so rich that two bites was enough. The macadamia nut encrusted chicken was dry and overlooked. Our waiter was obviously new to the Hukilau and we were more than willing to give him a break, however it quickly became apparent to all four of us that he was trying to BS his way through when he confidently answered our questions then had to come back and correct himself a number of times. We waited until our last night on this island piece of paradise to treat ourselves to dinner. I wish we had gone somewhere else!
(2)
Bobby And Estee F.
Quiet and relaxing atmosphere, outstanding menu, and absolutely excellent service. Everything we ordered was delicious. The live Hawaiian music was perfect, not too loud, and definitely added to the whole evening. Our table was on the lanai had a beautiful view of the grounds and the ocean in the distance. Reservation was at 6:45 pm so next time we'll make it between 5:00 and 6:00 so we can try the Tasting Menu.
(5)
Donald M.
Great food. The rib appetizer is very good. We almost didn't make it past their hostest with the mostess, who each time I came near her asked if we'd be joining them for dinner that night. Yep, nothing has changed since you asked me 20 seconds ago. We sat near the entrance to the dining area, and we're not sure why, but the people watching was phenomenal. From hipsters to combovers to wedding parties to tank toppin fatties, this place had it all...which was as good as the xylophone player in the lounge.
(4)
Erica L.
The Hukilau Lanai was a quick walk down from the Marriott we were staying at, so we made reservations and went there on our last night in Kauai. Soooo good! We had: -Cocktails: Loco Lemonade (very good) and Wailua Bay Breeze (good, but weak) -Lobster and goat cheese wonton with a plum sauce (good, but nothing extraordinary) -Husband had a caesar salad, I got the Wally's salad, both were fresh and satisfying -Husband got the Opah and I got the Ono, both were mouthwateringly delicious. It was one of those meals where you literally just there and go "mmmmm" "ohhhh" "yummmm" "oh my godddd" the entire time. -And THEN we got the "Original Hawaiian Chocolate Factory" Warm Cake, which takes 20 minutes to prepare and comes with homemade vanilla bean ice cream and whipped cream, DELICIOUS! And not so overwhelmingly sweet and rich that you feel sick afterwards The only thing that prevented me from giving the Hukilau 5-stars is our waiter was a little...blah. The service was fast and efficient but our guy just seemed like he wanted to be anywhere but there, it was a little off-putting.
(4)
KSU S.
The tasting menu was fantastic, and the service was attentive and polite. Neither my husband nor I like fish, but we both really enjoyed the fish preparation on the tasting menu. All of the the sauces were wonderful. The view from the Lanai overlooks the well-maintained garden with an ocean backdrop -- very nice way to enjoy dinner.
(4)
Brenda B.
We loved the service, the food was delicious, and the view was stuning. We recommend this restaurant for a lovely dinner and we made reservations to return.
(5)
Chuck B.
As a walk-in we had a short wait, they had a broad gluten-free menu (including gluten-free bread), and very fresh fish. Service was superb and the view spectacular as we watched the sun set over the ocean while eating dinner. Our appetizer was ok, one of our dinners was exceptional and the other very good. For the price we felt the appetizer could have been better but that might have been personal taste. I recommend going at dusk and listen to your server for suggestions.
(4)
Jimmy B.
If it wasn't for the long wait for food, I would've easily given Hukilau 5 Stars. Set in a hotel lobby, next to a dated tourist mall, I've passed by for years never even thinking about fine dining. BIG mistake. Thankfully a friend recommended Hukilau. The ambiance is nice, looking out over the gardens and tropical setting of the hotel. But the food...just fabulous! We had the fresh fish dish and prime rib. The Parmesan focaccia bread was amazing. Wine selection was good and reasonably priced.
(4)
Emilee J.
We ate here twice during our stay and the food was excellent! They did all they could to fit us in because we didn't have a reservation (didn't wait more then 5 minutes). The staff is friendly and attentive and the setting is great! one of the best restaurants in Kapaa
(4)
Christopher C.
Our wedding reception was held in the private banquet room at the Hukilau Lanai, and it was fantastic. First, the food. It's epic. As the other reviewers have said, you must try the ahi poke nachos. My other favorites were the lobster & goat cheese wontons, and the opah (moonfish). The Hukilau Lanai also made our wedding cake. In my experience, taste is often secondary to appearance when it comes to wedding cakes. Not here. Our cake was beautiful *and* delicious. The lemon cake was made with real lemon juice (as opposed to extract) and the sweetness of the raspberry filling was a perfect complement to the lemon. Next, the staff. I was blown away by the level of service - not only was the staff very attentive, they all seemed genuinely happy to be of assistance. I guess that's what happens when you live in paradise. In the lounge outside of the main dining room, local artists entertain bar patrons and people waiting for a table. If you are lucky enough to hear Ben Ahn play ukelele, tell him I said "Hi!". The restaurant is very clean, and the floor plan is designed to give the majority of diners a view of the ocean. It seems to be a local favorite, though, so make sure you have reservations. We will be returning to the Hukilau Lanai for years to come.
(5)
Rose E.
My husband, our 7 month old daughter, and I came here twice during our one week vacation. We loved everything about this restaurant. It was walking distance from where we stayed and the food down to service was excellent. We loved the ahi nachos and the lobster and goat cheese wontons! I ordered the prime rib the first time and the pork tenderloin the second time - both were delicious. My husband ordered a fish dish the first time and the macadamia nut chicken the second. He didn't have any complaints either. We have talked about returning to Kauai again and I'm sure we'll by eating here again
(5)
Daniel N.
Had dinner here with my wife last Wednesday. Overall: This place had amazing food and above average service. Only draw backs were: price (expected) and the fact that we were not seated until nearly 15 minutes after our reservation, and it took a while to get any food (appetizer, bread, or salad) and my wife and I were both starving after a day of kayaking. We quickly forgot the slowness of bringing food by the exceptional quality of the food. The ambiance was great, we had 730 reservations. I ordered the mixed grill, and my wife had the wahoo fish. Both were exceptional, the fish moist and perfectly grilled, my shrimp was sensational. The salads were top notch. The pre-meal bread ciabatta was a little cold, but still very tasty. This is a great place for a quiet romantic meal, mello live Hawaiian music, sensational seafood... If you are planning a high end romantic meal, this place is not to be missed.
(5)
Colleen H.
Our favorite restaurant on the island - without a doubt! We started here / and / we ended here... The restaurant environment is laid back and comfortable. We loved our wait staff and the food was incredible! The Sweet Potato Ravioli is incredible, the tuna appetizer, the 'butter fish'.. Definitely a must ~
(5)
Jennifer S.
Since I read that this is where the locals go for a special night out, I picked the Hukilau to celebrate our 14 year anniversary. They use fresh ingredients from local farmers in Kauai and the neighbor islands. I do have to say that their advertisement of "ocean-view dining" is a little deceiving. It's more like a lanai where you "view" the ocean from afar. We order their famous ahi poke nachos, which is delicious. And since they have impeccably fresh fish, I order the Opah (Hawaiian moon fish). It's similar in texture to a sword fish and not fishy at all. The Opah was served on a big bed of fettuccine in parmesan sauce. It came with their Wally salad, which had romaine, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, bacon, red onion, croutons, mandarin oranges, papaya seed dressing. And my daughter gets the Ahi - black & white sesame crusted with a citrus sauce. My husband gets the Prime Rib au Jus season in Hawaiian salt & secret spices. It came with mashed potatoes, and there were greens infused into the mashed potatoes. All the servings are large and we each take leftovers back to our condo. For dessert, we decide to share the Hawaiian Vanilla Bean Creme Brulee, which is decadent. Since we were celebrating our anniversary, they gave us a chocolate Happy Anniversary card, as well as two chocolate truffles! They have a full gluten-free menu & vegetarian options as well. We didn't know that if you ask for gluten-free starter bread, they'll bring it out for you instead of the regular bread. When we found out, my husband asked if we could try some - and it took almost 15 minutes because they had to bake it! It came in the dish it was baked in and it was good- kind of like a focaccia bread, pretty dense and a bit on the dry side. The service was good, however the waitress never introduced herself, so we never knew her name and she didn't wear a name tag. We noticed another waiter approaching a new table, and he also didn't introduce himself. I wish she would have introduced herself because I believe that personal touch can make a huge difference.
(4)
Siao W.
This is the best attempt at Hawaiian "fine dining" that I've ever had. This includes merrimans and even Kauai Grill. Definitely getting their early enough for the tasting menu. All of the dishes were delicious, slightly inventive, and incorporated local ingredients. -Gazpocho was refreshing. The basil sorbet was a good balance to the sweet pineapple flavors. Great starter. -Candied Ahi surpassed my expectations. One of my favorite things ever is fresh Ahi, so I do not feel that making it candied is necessary. However, the dish was delicious. There was a perfect amount of seasoning and grilled just enough to keep it juicy. Not to sweet at all. -Sausage and warabi is a solid dish. Never had warabi before. Its like a mix of bamboo and asparagus. Very good. -Ono with quinao and kale salad was great. Another perfectly balanced seafood dish. -Creme brulee was amazing as well. One of my favorite meals on any of the islands. My only complaint is that all of the wines included in the pairings were too sweet for my taste.
(4)
Emanuelle O.
Food was pretty good considering every dinner on the island seems to cost in a similar price range, except for fast food dinners. I was pleasantly surprised by the grilled ono entree since grilled fish typically leaves much to be desired. Husband's drink was not too good, tasted like cough syrup concoction. He had pork tenderloin which was alright- tasty but fish was better.
For those looking for a dinner with family or a Rehearsal Dinner or maybe just a nice place for dinner after a wedding, the Huki Lau Lanai is the spot. The food is steller but what really caught my attention was a gal I watched during our daughters rehearsal dinner. Attention to detail, bent over backwards to make sure the flow of our little party was smooth. As a professional catering to guests myself in the wedding industry and having gone to a million restaurants in my lifetime, I especially thought their service was 5 star. The food is probably the best on the Island. I just felt a need to let everybody know just how good the Huki Lau Lanai is.
(5)
Andy W.
6 years ago when my friends came home from their honeymoon, they raved about ahi poke nachos from Hukilau. Coincidentally, we ended up booking the same location for our honeymoon and they gave us a giftcard so we could experience the same excellent meal they did. From top to bottom, everything was fantastic. The staff was excellent. We met at least 5 different people while we sat at our table who brought us food, refilled water, delivered our gift card, not to mention our actual waitress. They were all very friendly and knowledgeable about their menu. The food was outstanding. The ahi poke nachos lived up to their reputation, fresh ahi and crispy wonton chips with avocado were just delicious and so unique. My wife had the special fish which had a name I can't recall but had an excellent texture and flavor and came with delicious mashed potatoes. I had the mixed grill which also changes throughout the week. I had two different types of white fish that were prepared in slightly different ways (one marinated and one rubbed). It also came with a shrimp skewer which was delicious. The creamy orzo was an excellent addition. We had a couple bucks left on the card so we ordered the chocolate mousse with salted toffee chips. We were stuffed and knew we couldn't touch it that night so we ended up taking it to go. It was so great the next day. We're really considering going back for a second time to get those nachos. If you're okay with spending a bit more than normal on a great dinner and a beautiful patio view, please go to Hukilau Lanai.
(5)
Lee D.
I had checked out this restaurant ahead of our trip and really was excited. We chose to sit at the bar because it's active and fun to watch. The bartender was great and friendly. With discussion we found that all the vegetarian food had cheese and we were thinking we had to go elsewhere. The bartender spoke to a lady who turned out to better he owner. NEVER in my 33 years vegetarian has someone been so accommodating. Not because she needed my business, the place was packed, but she really cared. She talked to her Chef/husband and came up with numerous options and the lady knew what rennet is. She then brought out the local cheese they use to show me the ingredients. Score! I had their arugula salad and sweet potato ravioli which was just perfect! My husband had the surf and turf special and loved it...like butter he said. I have many years restaurant experience and was also very impressed with the staff's interaction. They were all so helpful and kind to one another. RUN don't walk here when you are in Kauai.
(5)
Travis H.
Stayed at the resort here and only managed to get in once, so plan accordingly. I had the Fresh Fish and it was awesome! Side note: took the Fam, & my son really didn't like what he ordered (Ahi) the waiter comped it and he got the Fresh Fish as well and loved it!
(5)
Heather G.
Dated, unclean and not worth it. We were greeted by three cockroaches crawling out from underneath the outdoor servicing station. I totally understand that bugs are a part of Hawaii, but when your paying these prices the expectations are higher. The service was the worst we had on the island. The bartender was incredibly unfriendly. The food was just meh... I would avoid this place.
(1)
Timothy F.
I don't get it. Despite the many positive reviews our experience here was mediocre at best. As is the case with many restaurants the menu promises but the kitchen can't deliver. The wines for $20 or so looked good but the two that I chose were "unavailable" so, we ordered off the regular list while our waiter(who knew nothing about wine) continued to try to upsell us to more expensive wines. I felt like I was on a used car lot. As I said, the menu was interesting, but the actual food presentation was disappointing. Everything felt "rushed"-it was very busy and sloppy. Noisy. The actual restaurant looked old and tired. I can't believe that "foodies" liked this place.
(2)
J D.
One of the best restaurants on the island. Consistently good presentation of food, quality, and very good service. Prices are reasonable, and atmosphere is from casual to dressy. Live music in evenings. Sweet potato raviolis are regularly featured and highly recommended. Fresh fish varies. Deserts are too good.
(5)
Laura G.
Everything was very tasty and service was excellent. Food was pricey but that I'd to be expected. Ahi poke nachos were perfect, sweet potato ravioli was delish but very small, ribs were well cooked but pretty salty for my taste, Wally's side salad was well sized and flavorful, and the Shutome was excellent! Definitely recommend making reservations!
(4)
Fiona H.
Amazing food. We spent 5 days in Kauai and were not thrilled with some of the Yelp review choices, however this place had an excellent menu and very flavorful dishes. We ate in the bar area both nights and one of the nights the waitress was a little dismissive and clearly was overwhelmed by the number of seatings she had. The bartender was very friendly and i am glad we chose this place!
(4)
Cindy D.
This was our "splash out" dinner for this trip but with budget in mind. We went specifically for the five course food & wine pairing special between 5-5:45pm for $40. We actually did not have reservations and took a chance because we happened to be in the area. We lucked out and got the last table available. Everything was good to excellent and the wine pairings were spot on. Island Gazpacho with Koloa Rum Pineapple Basil Sorbet - Great start to dinner (~St. Gabriel Riesling Auslese, Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Germany~) Candied Ahi -- Delicious! coconut chipotle sauce (~Gazela Vinho Verde, Portugal~) Sausage & Warabi -- Fantastic! char-grilled housemade longanisa, local warabi & tomato salad (~Torres Las Mulas Rose, Central Valley, Chile ~) Fresh Catch --We had Butterfish, sumptuous summer quinoa & kale salad (~Poggio Anima Sangiovese, Toscana, Italy~) Artisan Cheese Duo -- We were so full by this point that we took the cheese home to snack on next day. (Humboldt Fog and a Manchego) Two cheeses, baguette, accompaniments (~Tonight's Cheese Wine Pairing~) Awesome value for dining on Kauai.
(4)
T S.
Excellent dinner. Creative flavors, the sweet potato ravioli were great and the lobster curry bisque was so good that I wanted to lick the bowl. Dining on the lanai was so peaceful and romantic, this was a top-notch dining experience.
(5)
M M.
Had a wonderful dinner here on the last night of our stay in Kauai. Started with the poke nachos which were soooo good, my BF and I loved it. I had the Ono which was wonderful and had a delicious sauce, I just wish it had more sauce. Nice service and atmosphere, very relaxing and enjoyable meal.
(5)
Lindsey J.
Amazing food and wonderful ambiance. Great for a date night!
(5)
William B.
5 stars for the food and the setting. Service leaves a bit to be desired although the staff seems to really try- they're just a little slow. Every table has an ocean view! Live music really makes it a great evening. Order the tasting menu if you dine before 6:00. My wife's was fantastic even before you factor in the price - only $28!
(4)
Luis G.
Ok food but I was expecting better. The lobster bisque was great the mixed grill was just ok, it had to pieces of fish one of Walu which was good and another piece of a type of sword-fish which was not good at all. Al of that was topped with grilled shrimp which again were OK but not nearly great as stated in some other reviews. The food at the Cocount Beach Courtyard hotel is better overall, the cheff at the Courtyard had a great selection of very tasty food.
(3)
Charlene K.
Beautiful fine dining and live music in the evenings. Outdoor seating with a view of the garden. Full bar. Fresh seafood dishes. *hint. The Prime rib is the talk of the locals. I really enjoyed my food and the dishes were very well prepared.
(4)
Kevin S.
You can't go wrong here. Gluten free menu is superb. Had the ribs (best ever) and Wally's salad (so good) plus minty Mo drink and the opah was outstanding.
(5)
Nancy B.
Wonderful food, service, live music and ambiance while in Kaapa area of Kauai We had two nights here at the resort and simply wanted a nice evening without driving all around the island looking for a place. Just steps away from our lanai we found this great restaurant and decided to give it a try since Yelp had such great reviews. I am now going on Yelp for all our travel needs as they have been right on. The first night we ate at the bar and John made us great drinks and told us the chef has a passion for his food. We ordered Ahi and Calamari and both were excellent. We came back the second night and sat in the restaurant overlooking the courtyard which had the torch lights on. It was very romantic and we also had a wonderful meal. Again we tried what the Yelpers said, the Ahi Poke Nachos and I had the mixed grill. The sauce was so great I just emailed the chef for the recipe. I was very impressed as the server who knew I was gluten free, brought me a wonderful gluten free version of the menu and a special baked muffin. I wish we had this kind of service and menu here in Southern CA!! Be sure to make a reservation as they are booked. It was a fun time and we are glad we trusted Yelp!
(5)
Cherry J.
Best food we ate on Kauai, hands down! Service and food were both perfect. The butterfish appetizer really started the evening off right. It was so good! My drink, the non-alcoholic Mint & Ginger, was refreshing and delicious. Even the salad was amazing--love the papaya seed dressing and wish we could order it on the mainland! The resort location was a little weird at first, but we ended up enjoying it because we were able to take a nice stroll after dinner and enjoy a few minutes sitting in one of the hammocks. :)
(5)
Kauai B.
Great place for dinner with friends. Casual Island atmosphere, mixed menu with fish fusion style cuisine and American eats.
(5)
Corinna O.
We loved it here! Sat in the bar as we did not have reservations. I had the filet with a red wine sauce and potato of the day. It was served with a first course of tomato pineapple gazpacho and fresh out of the oven gluten free bread!!!! My SO had the veggie lasagna and was in love with it. My filet was cooked perfectly and the sauce was amazing. Service was great and you could tell there was a good team environment. The price - very humble! A bottle of wine for $26 and an entree that includes a first course for $15-$33. We were impressed and hope to make it back!
(5)
alli t.
We ate our first dinner on Kauai here. I choose to eat here on Saturday night b/c of the live music. I made reservations through Opentable and noted food allergies in the notes section. When we arrived, the restaurant was very busy. The musicians were playing and gave the restaurant a relaxed feel. The restaurant was full of people, the lobby area was full of bar spill over, and the bar didn't have room for another body. After we were seated with our menus the waiter came around eventually and introduced himself. He put out his hand for a handshake. Caught off guard, I shook his clammy hand. I should have faked a cold and denied him a hand. I am not a big hand shaker b/c that's how germs spread and it's not appropriate at a restaurant. I was already cranky b/c it was beyond my bed time, and that just put me over the edge. I should have washed my hand immediately. The positive part of this dining experience is that our waiter explained that the folks in the kitchen would make sure the plate for Mr. Food Allergy wouldn't be touched by prepares handling those allergens. Sounds good. Pre dinner, focaccia served in a small bamboo steamer landed on our table w/some chili dipping sauce. Serving focaccia in a bamboo steamer was too fusion for me. I couldn't taste the chili in the dipping saucy stuff. When we finished the just ok focaccia, the steamer and the dipping oil disappeared. Ok, no refills, but we didn't need the carbs anyway. Dinner came w/soup or salad. The soup of the day was seafood miso. We went w/their house salad, aka Wally's salad. It was delicious. The greens were tossed w/tasty cherry tomatoes, crutons, canned mandarins and papaya seed dressing. Food Allergy enjoyed his filet that was served w/mashed potatoes mixed w/carmelized onions. I was on the fence w/my opah aka moonfish. The handshake was still on my mind although that shouldn't have affected my tastebuds. The opah was crusted w/cashews and served w/pineapple timbale. The fish was sitting atop of sticky jasmine rice. There was a lake of spicy sauce on the plate took away from the flavor of the fish. I don't know what they could have served w/the dish besides rice. I was disappointed it was plain white rice b/c I can cook that at home. When we got the bill the waiter told us how great the kitchen was w/food allergies. Also, he's never worked at a restaurant that was so flexible. They're willing to change the preparation of items on the menu if diners ask.....as in mix and match preparations and proteins one the menu. I wish I knew that it was a mix and match menu. I would have studied it more. When we left, the music was still going strong. Thumbs up for the music, Wally's salad and the allergy alert kitchen. I expected more from the food for the price. I think this is a tourist hangout. Attire ranged from "I just got off the airplane" to "nice resort casual."
(2)
Bob H.
Reasonable pricing for a Hawaii beach seafood restaurant. Food was OK, not exceptional. Overall, "reasonable" is the right description.
(4)
Renata V.
Great restaurant. Our waiter Ryan was very nice and he served us very well. The food was delicious. The tastes of the ingredients were a perfect combination, nothing was too dominant. The wine (Chardonnay) was really nice. Also the cocktails were good. Not too strong. And you have a great view over the garden of Kauai Coast Resort. This was the best restaurant we've been on Kauai!
(5)
mia n.
Such an overrated place. After dining at Joseline's bar and grill with 4 star reviews, I had high expectations for this place which has 4.5... Was so disappointed. First of we were greeted by this really snobby hostess. Well by greeting as in ignoring me for minutes. I told her my reservation was at 7pm she then gave me a dirty look because we dared coming in 18 minutes earlier. I ordered the wontons, lobster bisque and mixed grill. The hubby ordered vegetarian lasagna and salad. The lobster bisque did not taste like lobster at all, it was a gross mix of curry and coconut milk that I both enjoy separately but the soup was aweful. The crab wontons were a bad version of those you can get at Cheesecake Factory. I also ordered a fresh coconut juice for $4 and it was watered out and tasteless. Then came the main dish and that was the only thing decent. Though the shrimp was undercooked a bit. The two stars go to 1 our waitress who was very nice, the second star is for my half decent main dish.
(2)
Anita S.
Made reservations for 6:00 pm had to wait about 10 minutes for seating. Our dinner view of the grounds and ocean were partially blocked by a support beam, but still a pretty view. However, the fish tank behind our table seem to attract every kid in the restaurant, though. We are not child friendly adults and the kids leaning their filthy hands on our table and chairs, and their squeally voices was not part of the experience I expected to have. Where are your parent? Ah yes, enjoying their quiet dinner. However, at about 8 PM all the keiki went to bed and we enjoyed an adults only meal. Our waiter was attentive, but there was some miscommunication with our meal. While there was no problem substituting vegetables for mash potatoes and asking for salad with no dressing, but it came dressed twice to the table. I was starving, since I don't fill myself on bread and my last meal was about 10 hours before this I was starving and it was a tease every time they served it to me. A bit frustrating but they finally got it right, and our meal was the best meal we had on the island. We ordered ahi poke nachos as an appetizer. I just ate the poke part which was very fresh and seasoned flavorfully that enhanced the fresh fish. Definitely a nice twist on poke and nachos. Our entrees either come with the soup of the day or a Wally's salad. My husband ordered the grilled ono with crab corn chowder soup...I had a bite of the soup and it was very made with bits of longanisa sausage, crab and corn. It showed quality, in spite of it being the soup of the day. The Ono came with rice in a lemongrass coconut milk sauce. Really eye catching plating as well as perfectly grilled ono and the perfect amount of the tasty sauce. I had the locally raised pork chop with longanisa sausage over request mixed vegetables which was a treat in itself (bok choy, zucchini, mushrooms). I had reservations about ordering pork since most times it is overcooked, but this time was the best ever. While dinner seems pricey, I thought it was bargain given the classic Hawaiian setting, the locally raised ingredients, ample portion, and included a salad or soup. Dining here was a very memorable part of our stay in Kauai.
(4)
Diana L.
Adams Poke Nachos were disappointing. :( Tasted like something from Cheesecake Factory and the Wally Salad tasted like a salad from Wendy's fast food joint. Resort itself is nice and comfortable but I'd pass on the restaurant (good service but overpriced bad food) and go get yourself some real delicious island food - lunch plates and ahi poke. If you want fine dining hit up Napa or San Francisco in Cali.
(2)
Dub M.
When we checked into the Beachboy Resort they told us not to bother searching for another dinner spot because the best restaurant on the island was on the premises. I shrugged it off as cheap advertising. However, after 8 nights of trying every other nice restaurant, this truly was the best food on our trip. If you're looking to party or pick up mermaids, this is not your spot- sorry spring break dude. However, if you are looking to eat decently, sit down and relax. We got a seat next to the 300+ gallon salt-water tank, which I just love. A musician by the name of Ben Ahn was playing Ukulele that night, which I also love. I was across from my beautiful new bride, who I love the most. What a great night! Our appetizers were lobster and goat cheese wantons and lobster bisque. For entree I ordered the steak and was not disappointed. The meat was corn-fed, but hey, I'm from the Mid-West. My wife ordered the fresh catch, which was a trio of fish. It was really the best meal we had on our trip. Everything was fresh and cooked just how we ordered. Everything was timely, beautiful, and unique. I have no complaints, only my credit card suffered. Seriously though, an excellent experience and right where we were staying.
(5)
Su-Lynn T.
We went here for dinner on our first real night in Kauai. I had made reservations (recommended) for our party of 6 the day of. I could only get 8pm reservations. Considering we're from the mainland, and us from the East coast, it was definitely hard to adjust to the time, but I am glad we did as we enjoyed our dinner here. Service at the Hukilau was great. We had to wait a few minutes for our table to be ready but we sat in the lounge area in the hotel right outside the restaurant. Our server was also extremely friendly and very informative about the day's specials. Menu consists mainly of seafood-laden island favorites. The requisite mac-crusted fishes, ahi tuna poke, as well as a few pasta, steak and seafood items. In terms of creativity, they were a few levels above your typical mid-priced island restaurant. The ahi tuna poke was actually quite good, served with crisp-fried wonton wrappers which gave the dish a nice savory crunch. All entrees are served with choice of soup or salad. The soup that night was a seafood stock type soup. It was not bad. You had a choice of caeser salad or house salad, which is served with my favorite, papaya seed dressing! Fish dishes were all fresh and well-prepared. The prime rib was also good, and well-cooked. I had the hebi, which is a fish I hadn't tried before, and after hearing our server's recommendation for the dish, I went for it, and it was tasty! It's a firm white fish, kind of like mahi mahi. I think everyone really enjoyed their dish, except for maybe 1 person, but I didn't get to try their dish. Most items are served with either rice or potatoes. I usually get rice. We were so full that we ordered 1 dessert for the 6 of us to share, lillikoi chiffon pie. It was yummy! Light and fluffy but with the richness of key lime pie. I liked it better than the same pie at Hanmura Saimin. I would come back to Hukilau Lanai if I'm in the Kapaa area.
(4)
Albie F.
Thank god for Blackberries, and thank god for the Yelp ap on Blackberry devices because as we were making our way back to Kapaa, we needed to find a quick place to get some food and didn't quite want to settle for fast food while spending 4 precious days on Kauai. After a little bit of mobile Yelping, I found quite a bit of rave reviews regarding the sweet potato ravioli here at Hukilau Lanai. We were so impressed by the reviews that we took two orders to go. Each $9.25 order of the sweet potato ravioli consisted of 4 or 5 homemade raviolis covered in a rich but mouth watering lemongrass sauce. The mix of the local made feta cheese and Okinawan sweet potato made a nice hearty filling that did not disappoint the taste buds. Unfortunately I didn't get to see the inside of the restaurant or try anything else off the menu, but the ravioli itself deserves a 5 star rating.
(5)
Christina A.
I chose this restaurant to celebrate my birthday, and I couldn't be more pleased with my choice. We easily made a reservation using Open Table and the staff accommodated all of our special requests. We had a table on the lanai and had a great tropical view facing the ocean. There were five adults and one child, so we ordered a few appetizers so we could try a bit of each. We had the calamari, lobster and goat cheese wontons, and the ahi poke nachos. The wontons and nachos were to die for, but I passed on the calamari. The texture was too much like soggy bread for me. They also brought out a homemade focaccia bread with a balsamic vinegar and olive oil dipping sauce that was pretty tasty. While we were enjoying our appetizers, we were also sampling some cocktails. I highly recommend the lilikoi blossom martini. It was sweet but not over powering, and had a beautiful orchid garnish. Everything was brought out quickly and the staff was very friendly. My daughter kept wanting to get up and walk around and even though I'm sure we were in the servers way, he was extremely nice and I never felt the "Ughh why did I get stuck with the toddler" vibe from him. We all ordered something different but the winners of the night were the Opah and the Prime Rib. The prices were very reasonable for the quality of service, quality of food, and portion size. I was very impressed with the quality of the kids menu as well. For $9 my daughter got a pineapple appetizer, fresh sauteed farmers market vegetables, a homemade meatloaf and a keiki bowl of vanilla ice cream. To top it off, I was brought a complimentary molten lava cake and house special dessert. Both were divine but had to be shared five ways since we were all so full. Dining in Kapaa does not get much better than The Hukilau Lanai. I highly recommend it!
(5)
Crystal S.
Great dinner with a view! Good honeymooner dinner. We started with Lava Flows. Get the Fried Calamari (seriously the best I've ever had). I got the soup of the day described as a light Thai soup mmmm delicious. My husband had a salad he enjoyed. The bread and oil/vinegar is so good. We both ordered the Fillet Mignon and it was the best, juiciest fillet ever. Great portion. We ordered the chocolate souffle (remember it needs 20 minutes to cook). It was worth it. We walked out so deliciously full. Money well spent. Five star quality!!!! Compliments to the chef!
(5)
Lisa D.
We made reservations here (recommended as they are busy). We started with the sashimi appetizer which was delicious and fairly large for sashimi! Excellent. My husband got the filet mignon for his main course and it was heavenly. I got the mixed grill which came with two types of perfectly grilled fish and a skewer of shrimp with mango dressing over orzo. We finished the meal with vanilla bean creme brulee which was the perfect end to a wonderful meal. I will recommend this place and hope to eat here again!
(5)
Todd H.
Great ginger martini and pupus. Sit in the lobby near the musician overlooking the pool for a easy, unpretentious way to relax at the end of the day. Main courses are rather pedestrian and underwhelming. Thumbs up for the poke and BBQ rib pupus.
(4)
Jacqueline C.
Hukilau Lanai was pretty good. It is not quite the Hawaiian food I had been hoping for; it was more European-inspired than we would have liked, with either use of local fish or some other island influence (i.e., through the addition of macadamia nuts, tropical fruit/produce, coconut milk, etc., to otherwise non-Hawaiian dishes). The seating was indoor/outside, with tiki torches providing an island tiki ambiance. The service was friendly and helpful. The noise level was lively. We came here as a group of 6. Since there wasn't any lomi lomi or lau lau, I went for the filet mignon. My bad for not picking something more Hawaiian, but it was cooked perfectly and was very tasty. Noteworthy was the Lobster Bisque with red curry and a drizzle of coconut milk -- that was good! If I hadn't been so full, I definitely would have gone for the creme brulee! All in all, a fun night!
(4)
Chris H.
Best meal we had during our trip. My friend's wedding reception was held here. Mai Tais and Baybreezes were excellent. We had goat cheese wontons and braised ribs for appetizers-Excellent. I ordered the Sesame Crusted Opah and it was AMAZING! Great views and nice waitstaff.
(5)
Vanessa B.
Make reservations. amazing options for the special menu made for Christmas dinner. Live band was a plus!
(4)
F E.
Excellent dinner, pricey but worth it (dinning on the entire island is pricey fyi) and service at Hukilau Lanai is excellent!
(4)
Ben O.
TL; DR: Excellent! You must eat one meal here if you are staying in Kapa'a. Best meal we had on Kauai. Great service, beautiful atmosphere in a lanai setting (as you might expect). I ordered the Ono, my girlfriend had the chicken dish. Both were just amazing. I'm used to SF Bay Area prices, and I thought it was extremely well priced for the quality of food and the experience. Make a reservation and go here at least one night while you are on Kauai, especially if you are staying on the East Side of the island.
(5)
Cynthia D.
This place is a winner. The food is outstanding. All the tables face out to the lawn and ocean. Thee was a gentle waif of evening flowers in the air. The wine list appears to be reasonable. We tried the poke nachos, the candied poke and the wontons with lobster and goat cheese. I don't remember really finding any lobster in the wontons so they were not my favorite dish. The ahi poke was great, so fresh and the candied was good in a very different spectrum very unusual heavily spiced dish. The Wally salad was a fun, fruit and lettuce with sweet vinaigrette, not everyone will like it but I did. The Opah and Opakapaka were wonderful, light flaky delicious. Pretty presentation of all the dishes.The Opakapaka was served with a subtle tomato buerre blanc sauce. The only down side was twice the waiters dropped their tray of dishes somewhere near us. That just shouldn't happen. Then the waiter when serving us entrees , placed the Opah in front of me, then removed it and placed another Opah in front of me. Exact same presentation. My Opakapaka was given to the companion next to me. The wait staff didn't seem to really know what the differences in the fish being served. There is live music and just flows nicely into the room and the overall ambiance is nice, gentle and somewhat romantic.
(4)
Wes Y.
We started off with the Lobster wontons which were tasty and creamy. Then I had the lobster bique which was good. For the entree I had the Hukilau Pasta which had chicken, sausage, and shrimp, in a creamy tomato sauce. For dessert, I had the chocolate cheescake. Everything was good, but the cheesecake was disappointing. I think they basically froze it and let it defrost if someone ordered it. Overall, it was ok. I really don't think it's worth it, considering how much it costs. However, the filet mignon and prime rib looked good...now I wish I ordered that instead...
(3)
Lance T.
Great service and seafood for dinner. However, the open air restaurant allows mosquitos so beware of any exposed skin.
(4)
Allison L.
Good dinner and really good food. Resort and restaurant are older and tired looking. Could be much better with major facelift.
(4)
Tom C.
Loved this place! The prices were fair and the food was delicious! We started with the Calamari as an appetizer, which was fantastic. Definitely fresh! The Wally salad was out of this world. I had the local mushroom meatloaf, and my wife had the opah. We both loves our entrees. For dessert, TRY THE MAC NUT TART with Cinnamon Ice cream (made fresh)! We will be returning here on our future trips! Didn't get five stars because the server was a bit annoying in continually asking if I wanted 20 minute chocolate pie, and gave us the check while I was still enjoying my meal. MAKE A RESERVATION! We went here on a Wednesday and were told it would be an hour and a half wait, we made reservations and went the following night and walked right in.
(4)
Sarah S.
Locals and our resort alike (and even the guide books) all raved about this place so we decided to try their special tasting menu. Yes, their purple sweet potato ravioli was good. Yes, the ambience with blooming plumeria was beautiful. Yes, our server explained the wonders of local produce and herbs grown in a garden within sight of the restaurant. All of that can't make up for a poorly paired meal. I'm no wine afficionado but I might have done a better job pairing wines with the foods (I think I got a Cab with seafood or something like that). I would say only one of the five dishes was appropriately paired. I'd skip this and opt for something that feels more local. I definitely felt like one tourist among many others.
(3)
Holly H.
Came here for my anniversary on the 17th (my first time) and we loved every minute of it! Especially our waitress Jessica!! She is wonderful. We both were admiring how everyone worked together. We didnt have to wait long for anything. Food was excellent. We tried just about every appetizer. Thei sweet potato ravioli was my favorite! For the main course I had the filet and he had the prime rib. Best on island so far. We will be back next week. Mahalo!
This is one of my FAVORITE restaurants on Kauai! The food is excellent and the service superb! I have eaten here at least 15 times in the past three years and eachtime enjoy myself tremendously. The filet mignon, ceaser salad and all of their fish dishes are fabulous! The OHC Chocolate Mousse is the most fantastic and delicious dessert I have ever tasted in my life!
(5)
Laurie D.
Loved the Aloha spirit. We sat in the lounge and had great, attentive service. The lobster wontons were ridiculous. Absolutely yummy. Just perfect and the hoison sauce with vanilla was a great companion. The ribs, however, were stand out--you MUST try.
(4)
Diane E.
My daughter and I splurged one night and had a very nice dinner here and pulled out all the stops by ordering a bottle of wine to go with our meal...as well as a dessert to share. It was a lovely dinner and since we were staying at the Kauai Coast Report at the Beachboy...we only had to walk a few steps to get back to our room.
A gem of high class food and wine; I've been to many restaurants that offer tasting menus with wine pairings. This offers just the right portion size and variety / balance of tastes. The waitress was very accommodating, and at one point helped protect us from our eyes being bigger than our stomachs, even if it meant less profit to them. She helped us order just the right amount, and the food as spot on. The ribs appetizer was outstanding - loved the pickled watermelon as a counter balance to the sweet and savory sauce; so tender too. Poke nachos were delightful. Opah and Mahi Mahi were perfectly moist. Nice casual attire, sandals and shorts are appropriate! Great place to visit if you're passing by the airport or Kapaa. Make reservations online, and they will confirm quickly. NOTE: Tasting menu was only available from 5-5:45pm; not sure if that's usual for them, but plan accordingly!
(5)
Evan M.
Great seafood. A little far from where we stayed but it was worth the drive.
(4)
Cathy S.
Hukilau Lanai has a lovely outlook over a well manicured garden and the ocean in the distance. Since it faces east, you aren't going to have gorgeous sunsets but it is lovely nonetheless. We arrived a little early for our reservation so we sat at the bar for a cocktail but they were able to seat us at our table about 5 minutes ahead of schedule. The first thing the server asked us was if we were celebrating anything special. Our response "dinner?" was treated as a surprise so I take it that this is a special occasion type of restaurant. Allegedly this restaurant is the nicest on the island. A pleasant surprise was the affordability of their wine menu. It is not often that one sees a lot of options in the $20 range. We started with the Lobster and Goat Cheese Wonton appetizer. It looks like there was lobster in the wonton but all I tasted was the chèvre. The macadamia nut ingredient added no value other than a crunch. They were edible but nothing special. We both ordered the Wally Salad which was a run of the mill green salad but the lettuce was fresh and ripped into proper little pieces, the little tomatoes were ripe and firm and the salad was not overdressed so it was very good. We also both ordered the Hukilai Mixed Grill which consisted of grilled Walu and Hebi and grilled shrimp on a bed of orzo with a Thai curry sauce. My husband and my plates looked quite different because the sauce on my plate had broken. If this truly is a fine dining establishment if it serves an entree that has a broken sauce on it? The star of the plate was the Walu which was moist and delicious. The grilled shrimp was also very nice but my Hebi was a little on the dry side and my orzo was overcooked. The sauce, broken or not, was far too abundant and added a richness that I still feel in my stomach 12 hours later, and not in a good way. Our server Ryan was very professional and attentive as were all of the other people who served us. I hesitate to send food back particularly when the person I am dining with doesn't have any problems, as you just end up watching each other eat, so I made the decision to just suck it up. I have no doubt that the restaurant would have made it right, but it would have been kind of nice to get it right the first time. Is it the best restaurant in Kauai? I hope not or that doesn't bode well for the island. It is however, as the Yelp 3-star rating says, A-OK.
(3)
Sam S.
First place we ate at in Kauai. Very good food. Great service, a little spendy. The salads were amazing as were the lobster wontons. Open air dining or dining outside. Friendly bartender.
(4)
Darlene L.
Very good pricey food accompanied by sloooww service which detracts from the experience. Fish entrees, particularly the tender and sweet opakapaka, are very good. This place has a following of older diners and groups. Our waiter abandoned us for 20 minutes tending to one of the groups never bringing the dessert we ordered. It had to be taken off the bill after we summoned the person who seated us.So we departed feeling disappointed.What this place needs is polished service, a renovation, and jazzier music to liven up the vibe.
(3)
Derek W.
Walking through the breezy courtyard into the Kauai Coast Resort evokes an array of positive sensations, though not necessary the feeling you are about to have a world-class meal. Sure, you are overcome with pure relaxation and the expectation of a fun and carefree night, and you know you'll get it here. But as we ducked past the hostess stand and made our way toward the dining room, nothing prepared us for the exceptional cuisine that awaited just past the small bar that mixes a helluva good Mai Tai. It was after dark when we sat down, but the ambiance was pleasant island casual in the open-air dining room, and our view in daylight would have been quite nice. We arrived just after a massive party, and a server from a different part of the restaurant graciously took our order and brought our drinks. By the time our intended server joined us, we were past the point of pleasantries and didn't get much love, so on balance I'd say the service overall was the only less-than-spectacular element here. But oh...the food. Everything we tried was incredibly well done and especially delicious. First to arrive were the ahi poke nachos, a no-brainer order that sounded and tasted like heaven, a pile of unusually good fried wonton chips with dreamy poke adorned with creamy avocado, salty tobiko (roe), and wasabi cream. The nachos re-introduced us to the concept of generous portions, a phenomenon seen seldom if ever elsewhere on the island. With the nachos, we enjoyed a sweet and savory gazpacho comprised of tomato and pineapple along with a whimsical scoop of pineapple basil sorbet made with local Koloa rum. We found a consistent commitment to local ingredients here, and the rum was one of many opportunities to sample the glories of Kauai. Our next course continued on with the fresh fish theme, starting with an ahi sashimi "stack" mixed with crunchy Asian slaw and sweet chili sauce. While in the same general family as the poke, the sashimi stack was striking and unique, and can you REALLY have too much ahi? Then we cut into a masterfully wood- grilled slab of out-of-the-water-this-morning ono (also known, more broadly, as wahoo). The fish sat atop a pleasant heap of short-grain cilantro rice, and the whole thing was encircled with generous streaks of curry sauce in different stripes. One alleged to be a Kabocha squash curry sauce, and all were decadent and delicious. We didn't really "save room for" so much as we were "pulled towards" dessert, a magnificent chocolate lava cake with a couple large scoops of vanilla bean ice cream. I get drawn in by cakes that have, as Hukilau Lanai describes it, an "oozing chocolate center. Once I started I couldn't really resist finishing, an act of gluttony well-justified by the quality of the meal.
(5)
Wallace G.
I try not to eat a lot of red meat, but the steaks at Hukilau are just too good! Can't help myself. It's always busy because it's popular with the natives -- that's always a good sign. It's become a regular stop for us whenever we visit Kauai. They stick to their knitting, but they are consistent and very good at what they do. You won't see a lot of creative, cutting edge items on the menu, but if you're looking for prime rib with mashed potatoes, you'll be very happy.
(4)
Holli H.
My husband and I wanted a nice romantic dinner while on our honeymoon and at the recommendation of his mom who is a local we tried Hukilau Lanai. It is in the lobby of a hotel resort so I was a little unsure at first but I'm so glad we went. We ordered the ribs from the appetizer menu and they were perfectly flavored with the right amount of sweet and just a hint of spicy and it fell off the bone. For our main course, my husband had the filet minon and I had the Hawaiian sampler which consisted of a portion of blackened Mahi-Mahi and a portion of grilled Hebe, also referred to as spearfish. Let me just say that my hubby is not a fish eater and he said my Hebe was better than his filet and he said his filet was excellent. I had the Parducci Sustainable white blend with my meal and it was amazing. I would definititly recommend it with the fish. The service was great, the atmosphere was nice, the view gorgeous...it was the perfect romantic dinner!
(4)
Cheryl M.
Excellent, even after multiple years. My mother and I were there two days before Christmas and the food was wonderful even with the changes in the menu. The fish was fantastic, and my mother had steak which she said was wonderful also. Hukilau Lanai is one of my favorite restaurants of all time. Great service and cocktails.
(5)
Aileen C.
I didn't expect that one of the top rated restaurants on Kauai would be in a restaurant lobby. It kind of killed the ambiance and made the restaurant appear really touristy. We started with the Ahi Poke Nachos which were really good and the Lobster Bisque which was REALLY good, so when our entrees came we were super excited, only to find the food fell flat. The opah seemed fried and greasy and overall everything just tasted like it needed some kind of flavor. Maybe our tastebuds were wasted on the apps... either way, the entree should have the leading role, not play best supporting actress.
(2)
Heather D.
This place was great! Like most restuarants on the island, it's safe to plan on spending about $30 per person for dinner here. We tried the sweet potato ravioli, but it wasn't as yummy as I'd hoped! The salads were tasty, but watch out for the bacon if you're a vegetarian! The bread and balsamic oil dip were so delicious we ordered a second batch. I tried the orchid martini, which contained vanilla; it was so strong that I had to summon courage to get it all down. It was pretty and worth every penny, but not exactly a smooth concoction. We didn't have a reservation, so we had to eat in the lounge section, but we found two comfy chairs and a table right on the water, so it was perfect!! I had a fish dish served with penne, that was spicy with a corn kernels in the sauce. So amazingly delicious!! I hope to try and replicate this at home!! I'd love to come back! Note: this restaurant is right across from the Coconut Marketplace, a fun place to get souvenirs for yourself, friends and even your dog!
(4)
Sharon W.
My husband and I wanted to celebrate our 5th anniversary and the Hukilau Lanai's 5-course tasting menu seemed to be a perfect fit for the evening. The portions were perfect for enjoying all five courses and feeling full, but not overstuffed. Our favorite course was the candied ahi. The ahi was of the highest quality and just melted in your mouth. The seasonings were complex, flavorful, and kept forcing me to make yummy sounds, despite my desire for constraint. The gazpacho with rum pineapple basil sorbet was a close second. It was an unusual match of ingredients, but sometimes experimenting pays off. That is the case with this wonderful concoction. Their wine pairings were well matched to the various courses and provided a wide array of flavors and experiences. While we were enjoying our dinner, they had some live music. We were both pleased that it enhanced the dining experience and the volume was kept low enough that we could still easily enjoy our own conversation. The staff was busy, but considerate. Overall, it was a great experience and was the finest dining I've enjoyed on any of the islands.
(5)
Norm G.
Our first night on Kauai, we treated ourselves and ate at this restaurant, which was located in a hotel right next to ours (Islander on the Beach). It already earned a star right off the bat for being kid friendly: they gave the kids pictures to color and crayons as soon as we were seated. I ordered the Tenderloin Medallions crusted with peppercorns and glazed with Crown Royal. It was just the right amount of meat, and was cooked to perfection. The "special potato" it came with was simply mashed potatoes. I also ordered a "Wally's salad," which had a very nice dressing. The foccacia bread, I was told by my family, was also superlative. I am avoiding yeast products temporarily, so I could only watch my family members eat my favorite bread with a very special "hangdog-martyr-poor me" expression. The children had a great time running around the grounds right next to the restaurant after we ate (see the picture of the grounds I uploaded), giving my wife and I the rare treat of actually responding to each other in complete, uninterrupted sentences. To top it off, our waitress was a sweet woman who was friendly and, we also learned, has children of her own. If you don't mind spending the bucks, I would definitely recommend this place. And, yes, we made reservations, and were seated immediately. Perhaps it helped that we got there early also (5:30 in the evening).
(5)
Robert C.
This is the best dinner I've had since being on the island. It's best to make reservations as we did for a party of two. I started with the lobster bisque which was creamy and tasty. A great way to start off a meal ! The main entree I had was the mixed seafood grill. The two fishes for the night were butterfish and spearfish. This was accompanied with a skewer of shrimp and risotto. All this was surrounded by a nice creamy sauce. I thought the sauce reminded me similarly of the bisque. For dessert I had the creme brulee. A nice touch. I believe living in the bay area in California has made me spoiled at times. It's been tough truly good food here. You won't be disappointed at this restaurant. This place is located inside a resort.The restaurant opens up and faces toward a nice view of the interior grounds. Tiki torches light the walkways.
(4)
Arrrrgh R.
We had been eating Saimin & BBQ for most of the week we were there and were looking for a change of pace. This place was recomended by the Marriott concierge. For this type of food (seafood - fusion) - this was the best one on Kauai. I had the bisque as a started and the Mixed Grill as an entree. The fish as butter fish and ono that night. The butterfish was delicious! as was everything else. I was very pleasantly surprised with the food. The prices were very reasonable. The place is fancier than others on the island but certainly not stuffy - the service is casual.
(4)
Brent T.
We decided to try this place based on yelp reviews and some other sites. The restaurant is inside of the Kauai Coast Resort (some fancy pants resort) and has a lounge area outside (basically the resort lobby). There was about a 45 minute wait since we didn't have a reservation. They did give us a buzzer so that we could walk around and check out the shops at the Coconut Marketplace across the street. When we did get seated, the only table available was a huge one (there was only two of us). Mango Margarita (drink): This drink was average at best. Maybe I was spoiled from the delicious margarita I had the other night, but it just didn't do it for me. 5 out of 10. Coral Crush (drink): This was an average mixed drink. I can't remember exactly what was in it, but the alcohol taste was strong and didn't balance well with the flavors. 4 out of 10. Ahi Poke Nachos (appetizer): This was an interesting dish and different from what you usually see on appetizer menus. It consisted of chunks of ahi tuna (sashimi), avocado, onions, masago (tiny roe) and a slightly spicy sauce on top of crispy fried won ton strips. It was a decent dish, but I felt like it took away from the freshness of the tuna. The onions and sauce overpowered the fish and didn't balance well overall. 6 out of 10. Mixed Grill (entree): This entree included four grilled shrimp, two cuts of grilled fish (ahi tuna and some unidentified white fish) on top of some orzo (rice shaped pasta) and a creamy/spicy sauce. This dish overall was a disappointment. The fish was overcooked and dry. It felt like there was a bit too much sauce and was kind of strange that it was below everything (so the fish and orzo were sitting on top of it). The best part of the dish was the shrimp; it was fresh and perfectly grilled. If it was just the shrimp, I'd rate it a 8 out of 10, but the whole dish gets a 6 out of 10. Service: Average service. The staff seemed a bit rushed and didn't check in too often. 7 out of 10. Overall, this restaurant was a disappointment. The food was sub-par and the wait just wasn't worth it. For a seafood restaurant in Hawaii, we expected better, more fresh fish. SUMMARY (TL;DR version): - If you decide to come here, a reservation is the way to go - Ahi poke nachos are interesting, but nothing to rave about - The shrimp was delicious, everything else was bland and uninteresting
(2)
Philip M.
The Ahi nachos, lobster bisque and mac nut chicken are da bomb!!! Slightly on the pricy side, but well worth it for the quality of meal. Not the biggest of portions, but great presentation and flavors. We ate twice here for dinner on this trip cause it was that good.
(5)
j k.
I looove this place! The last time we we're in Kauai we dined here 3 times and this time we had dinner here twice! The first night we had the lobster bisque, lobster wontons, poke nachos, wally salad, mixed grill and a fish entree....cant remember which one. The second night we tried the sweet potato ravioli, ribs, lobster bisque and wally salad, mahi mahi and filet. The lobster wontons and lobster bisque were the best I've had that I can remember. the poke nachos were really good. The ribs were tender and sweet. The entrees were delicious as well. I wanted to come back and do the tasting menu, but we ran out of time. The wine selection is pretty good and they have a great list of wines for under $20 a bottle. Can't wait to go back the next time I'm in Kauai!
(5)
jean H.
The tasting menu knocked our socks off. There sausage was to die for and everything was 5 star, top notch quality. The view was amazing, the music was great and the service was the best.
(5)
Denise L.
We ate at Hukilau on our first night in Kauai. It's was absolutely the best meal during our entire trip! The food was fantastic! We didn't have any reservations, but since we were starving, we decided to dine in the lounge. This area was perfectly fine. We had a nice high table with high bar chairs right by the window. We had a nice view of the resort, ocean area. The lounge was small, but nice with a duet playing Hawaiian music. It was so relaxing and peaceful. We started off with some bread and dipping oil. Since we were pretty hungry, we ordered the mushroom quesedia as an appetizer. The portions were good for sharing and it was tasty. Every entree came with either soup or salad. If I had known this, I probably wouldn't have ordered an appetizer. It was a basic salad with greens, bacon, tomato and red onions. It had too much dressing, but overall it was good. For my entree, I had the ono over udon noodles in a light broth. I loved the fish! It had the right texture and it tasted so good with the udon noodles. They were chewy and soft. Overall, the flavors were so tasty and light. I don't remember what my bf had, but I just remember eating a huge prawn from his dish. We were so full that we didn't even order dessert. I highly would recommend coming here for dinner on your visit to Kauai. Food is so fresh, light and delicious.
(4)
Anna H.
After reading all the amazing reviews here on Yelp, my husband and I decided to spend our last night's Dinner at Hukilau Lanai. We didn't make a reservation, but thinking it was a Thursday night, why would we need to anyways, right? NO! Big mistake, we should have made reservations way advance. We waited 1 hour and 30 minutes to get our tables, partly because we suspect the hostess forgot about us. It seems that the restaurant values the dinning experience more than the pre dinner wait experience. Once we finally got it, we realized that there were only a handful of couples' tables. Our server was wonderful. We order a mai tai and pina colada, friend lobster wonton; for entre - the pork loin, and the seafood mixed grill; for dessert - chocolate mousse cake with ice cream. It was a very delicious meal, and the nightly view of the courtyard was wonderful. Again, for that perfect dinning experience, reserve well in advance. ;)
(4)
Dee V.
*Review for a wedding reception* We had our wedding reception in the private banquet room recently. Manda (private party coordinator) was awesome! She always got back to me really quickly leading up to the event and was also very attentive the day of the reception. Food: All our guests loved the food! We had appetizers (lobster/goat cheese wontons, garlic shrimp, sweet potato/feta ravioli, ahi poke nachos); lobster curry bisque; prime rib, filet mignon, and the fish special of the day (mahi mahi). I usually don't like feta or goat cheese items but these appetizers tasted great. I had the prime rib and it was huuuge and delicious (guests had same reaction). Same for the filet mignon. The one thing people didn't seem to like was the fish option. I had a bite and didn't care much for the taste either. It was cooked well and nothing was wrong with it really, just maybe lacked flavor. Cocktails: drinks on our menu included mai tais and loco lemonade which were both very popular. Dessert: We had the strawberry chiffon wedding cake which was beautifully decorated and also tasted great. Overall, this was an excellent location for a wedding reception. I would still give it a 5 if I was basing it off of just a review of the food alone.
(5)
Clint D.
Where do I start. For 30 years we been staying in Kapaa at The Islander on the Beach. Its right across from the Coconut Market Place - which has several places to eat. BUT right next door is the BEST restaurant on the island - hidden away in the Kauai Coast Resort. Great food - not cheap, well worth the cost, it is always a 'special night out' for us. The first thing I do after checking into the IBO is to call next door to the Hukilau Lanai for Resos (a must). We usually stay 2 weeks and end up eating there at lest twice. Its run by the folks at Gaylords, but much better. Great fresh seafood, super salads, desserts (Lava Cake to die for!), Tenderloin Medallions with Crown Royal sauce, beer/ale, drinks, and a good wine list. (I haven't tried the Fixe menu, but it sounds like a good idea) Great service, and I hesitate to say this, great place for families, they really go out of there way to make the children happy. Beautiful setting, looking out from the Lanai (porch) is a view of the courtyard of the hotel, and in the distance the ocean.
(5)
The H.
We came here on the last night of our honeymoon for a decent meal. The food and drinks were great! Lobster and Goat Cheese Wonton PuPus were delish. We tried the crown royal steak medallions because it sounded interesting, but I think next time we would choose the Filet (we were all seafooded out!). The veggie lasagna was delicious and the tomato bisque was the wife's favorite part. The only downside was our not so attentive server. This could be classified as two and a half dollar signs because we had a pupu, a bottle of wine, entrees, dessert, and dessert drinks for a reasonable "fancy dinner" price.
(4)
Michael V.
Good high end service, great food (Lava cake is the best we have ever had). Get the Prix Fixe menu, and if you like wine get the tasting menu. The wines were all quite good, and the pairings were spot on! Also a little tip, the waiter told us that if you don't like the prix fixe choices or want to get it again before they change it, call and ask for a different prix fixe- if you give them 48 hours notice he said the chef can usually whip something up for you.
(5)
Jared M.
best meal on the island. my wife and i celebrated our honeymoon in kauai and are avid Yelp fans, and hands down this was our favorite find. great service, amazingly fresh food, lovely view of the beach. i requested an ocean view on opentable the day of our meal and they were happy to oblige. as far as menu goes we had the poke nachos, lobster wonton, lobster curry bisque, and the ono [shared]. all are recommended. inc wine our total bill was around $100.
(5)
Asha S.
This place was excellent (literally the best place we ate at in Kauai and we went to some really nice restaurants)!! The fish was so fresh and really well cooked and the service was great as well. We asked our waitress for recommendations and everything that came out was super delicious...we were so wowed we tried to come back the next night for dinner but the restaurant is closed on Monday nights. It's kinda hard to find because it's located in the hotel behind the Coconut Market Place but it's definitely worth the search!
(5)
Andy M.
The view was good...the restaurant and staff were nice, but the food wasn't worth the price. My favorite part about dinner was the ahi tuna nachos...they were delicious. The drinks were watered down and overpriced for what you got. I ordered the breaded chicken...and it was delicious, but served over a bed of tree shrubs...was only able to eat the chicken. The rest of the entrees in our party weren't that great either. There are a lot of better restaurants on the island...This was an ok restaurant, but not one id recommend or ever go back to
(3)
Elissa S.
I'm giving this place a five star rating based solely on what an amazing deal the tasting menu is. The food was great - not the best meal I've ever had, but really, really good, and at $40 for 5 courses with wine pairings, a really incredible deal. It's a lot of food, and although the pairings weren't great (I forgive them for this - wine pairing is not easy), the food was excellent. I would have paid twice as much for this meal and still loved it. The service was great, and you're right on the water - east side of the island, so no sunset views, but still terrific. The $40 tasting menu is available from 5-5:45 (even if you sit down right at 5:45). We had reservations, but when we arrived at 5:40 the place was empty (although it quickly filled up).
(5)
Nene S.
Some of the best fish we've had on the island. The ginger martini was really good. It's difficult to find a good martini on Kauai! My husband and son enjoyed their meals too. Great place overall make a reservation though. They get booked up early.
(4)
Renee A.
For an appetizer we ate lobster wontons which were delicious.and the sweet potato ravioli which was good but the picture made it look better than it was. We had 3 of the 4 fish entrees and everyone loved their choices. I had the filet cooked med-rare which was delicious. The $20 bottle of wine was great. It was a little chilly out so they have sweaters and blankets they will let you borrow if your cold. For dessert we had macadamia nut tart w cinnamon ice-cream which was good. The experience was one that I would definitely recommend. The food was delicious and it was reasonably priced.
(4)
Sophie W.
We had the calamari which we could have eaten 3 plates of. My hubby had the tasting menu and everything was really good. Jason, our waiter, was very accomodating for my daughter's food allergies and kept us informed as to what was in each item. The tomato/eggplant soup and veggie lasagne were fantastic! We will definitely go back when we visit again.
(5)
Tiffany B.
cool casual place to eat out on a week day. never had a bad experience. Only innocent mikstakes, awesome ginger infused kamakazi martinis! One thing on their menu that sticks out is their sweet potato ravioli.
(3)
Lovanna L.
My husband and I decided to try the tasting menu at the Hukilau Lanai. It seemed quite a deal for $40 which comes with a tasting of wine per course. hukilaukauai.com/menu-ta… The tasting started with the sweet potato ravioli and a riesling. I had read a lot about the sweet potato ravioli and was excited to try it. For the tasting though, you only get one ravioli. It's good so savor it. The item is the argula salad which is...a salad. The fresh catch is their fresh island fish which we had a mahi mahi I think. It was really good but again, the portion is small since it was a tasting. Then the meatloaf that followed was quite good. I had the creme brulee dessert and my husband had the cheese dishes. I'm not a huge wine drinker but my husband enjoyed most of the wines except for a couple. The tasting menu was alright. I think I would've enjoyed my visit much better if we had just ordered full entrees and the sweet potato ravioli as an appetizer.
(3)
Triple Threat T.
went for dinner with my handsome boyfriend while on vacation. we arrived 20 mins before they closed, but they were happy to serve us. food was AWESOME, atmosphere was very pleasant. we sat in front of the huge fish tank near the dining room's entrance. go ahead and splurge for the $30-something bottle of honey mead (made on Kauai) because it is like drinking liquid gold mana from heaven; my boyfriend doesn't even drink, but he sure drank THIS! :)p try any of their seafood entrees, it's all wonderful and you wont be disappointed. also: the warm chocolate cake for desert is a MUST! it's made with chocolate from the island's cocoa factory and will make you wet yer pants it's THAT TASTY! :D
(5)
Eric G.
This is a small hotel restaurant with good food, so be prepared for a wait. But in the meantime, you can sit in the hotel lobby and they'll serve you drinks. The seafood sampler platter was excellent. It's a sample of fresh fish items. Although it wasn't exactly cheap (hotel prices) Hukilau Lanai was the best value we found on the island. Be warned: some of the drinks here are stiff. Be careful
(5)
Kelly M.
One word of advice, get reservations to go to this restaurant unless you like waiting around for about an hour for a seat. The good news is that even if you don't have reservations, you can still get in. Additionally, if you don't mind the wait, you can get drinks and whatnot and hang out in the comfortable chairs (but small tables) of the hotel lobby. If you're by yourself, you can just eat at the bar and completely skip the wait. Now that the advice dispensing is done, once we did get in for our food, it was outstanding. Our waiter was quick and made excellent suggestions on the food without being pushy. The sides of the restaurant are open, allowing cool night breezes through, looking out on a courtyard lit by torches. The food itself is really good, especially the small chocolate cake that comes out fresh from the oven. I don't think you could go wrong with any of the food here. Prices wise, even though this was probably the best meal we had on our vacation it wasn't the most expensive meal we ate on the island.
(5)
Kelson H.
A hotel restaurant. Waited about 30mins for a table, very busy restaurant. Not a cheap restaurant, but the food was tasty. Appetizers - BBQ Ribs (very tasty, the meat fell off the bone) - Ahi Nachos (This was okay, a mixture of fresh ahi cut into little bite sized chunks and a fried wonton chip as the chip) - Portuguese Sausage with fiddle head ferns (Okay, the fiddlehead fern was interesting tastes like a pickle in a smaller form) Dinner Mixed Grill: Ono, striped marlin and shrimp on a sugar cane with creamy orzo and thai chili sauce. (Very tasty a good one to order and one recommended for newbies to the restaurant) If you want fresh fish, this is a good choice. Dessert Lava Cake with vanilla ice cream: Basically a mini chocolate cake with melted chocolate in the middle. Good Macadamia Nut Tart with vanilla ice cream: Nice caramel flavor enjoyable although the actual nut was second while the caramel took a dominant form on this dish. The server tried to be as good as he could, but for some reason it seemed as if everything in the restaurant was rushed. Things were just flying everywhere. Service:2 Food:3 Decor:3 Would I go back? They had good fish, although the service well, lets hope they get more help. I'd go back, just not my first choice.
(3)
Aaron L.
This place was perfect - excellent food, excellent service, atmosphere, everything. Great wine prices. Food is pricey but the execution is spot-on and well-worth it for a nice night out in Kauai. Do it. The wife says it's the best meal she's "ever" had.
(5)
Jim S.
Everything about this meal was tremendous. My wife and I went here for a night out without our baby, and we were not disappointed. We were seated promptly and the service was attentive throughout the evening. They begin by giving you a delicious bread; when we told the waiter that my wife is allergic to gluten, they even brought her out some gluten-free bread. We had the sweet potato raviolis, which were divine, as was my wife's Wally Salad and my lobster bisque. At this point, we were feeling great. Then came the main course; we each got the mixed grill. Two words: ON POINT. The dish was a work of art, all elements and flavors combined to make the dish truly incredible. The portion size was perfect and the fish was absolutely succulent. We finished with the creme brule, my wife's favorite, and it was also great. All of this, combined with a $20 bottle of wine, made this meal very memorable. We will definitely be back next time we visit Kauai!
(5)
Andrea M.
We love, love, love the food here. But after one incredible meal (and pretty pricey), we started realizing that we love the appetizers even more. Lobster won tons, yummy! Any green salad they prepare, also very good. Now we eat in the bar (very good pours) and order the sampler platter with a dessert to share. Three years ago we ordered a mango yogurt cheesecake that we are STILL talking about. I have to say that we enjoy the musicians that play in the bar in the evening, but we really enjoy the whole Hawaiian breezeway where the bar is located. It just doesn't get any more relaxing (with alcohol and top notch food). I love Hukilau.
(4)
M F.
Wonderful, Wonderful! If your looking for the best place to have a high quality meal around Kapaa' this is it. One of the best prime rib I've tasted. My wife had the filet and could literally cut it with a fork. The best meal we had in our week on Kauai. The service was equally as pleasant as the food. Also, 20 wines for $20 was a pleasant surprise. Don't bypass this place on your visit to Kauai!
(5)
Shanna V.
Well, while everyone else had a good experience, ours wasn't fantastic unfortunately. Our server ignored us a lot and chatted with a table of his friends for the majority of the time that we were there. My father and brother were starting to get angry about it. The food was pretty good, but by the time it got to us, we had filled ourselves up on bread because it took more than an hour for the food to get out to us. BUT the food was VERY good. If I could I would give the food a four score.
(2)
Jacqueline S.
The food was really good and the service was great. We started with the calamari which was very tender. The breading had a nice spice to it and the dipping sauce was pretty good. I had the chevre salad and the mixed grill which had a nice peanut sauce, my husband had the soup of the day (yellow pepper and artichoke creamed) and the filet mignon, my older son had the lobster bisque and the prime rib and our four year old son had mahi mahi grilled with some butter. They were more than willing to special prepare for our youngest and he ate every bite of his fish. My older son seemed to enjoy the lobster bisque as he was making all kinds of "this is good" sounds while he ate it. I'd say my husband's order was the winner. He had to share his soup with all of us and by the end of the meal we were all taking bread and helping him finish the sauce. We'd eat here again.
(4)
Adam G.
We come to Kauai often, but only recently discovered this gem. Don't be fooled by the 70s decor or the depressing Coconut Grove shopping center. On our most recent trip to Kauai, this was by far the best meal we had. The mixed grill was one of the best entrees I have ever eaten. A very relaxed and friendly atmosphere.
(5)
Angie K.
For some reason I only remember how great their Mango Crisp was. Maybe the wine got to me but dinner was yummy too.
(4)
Tracy Z.
Hukilau Lanai is a pretty solid bet for dinner, though it is on the pricier side. I guess this is to be expected since it is a hotel restaurant. The restaurant has a nice ambiance with a terrace/veranda-overlooking-the-garden vibe going on. Somewhat plantation-esque. We had the ahi poke nacho appetizer to start. Mmmm, yummy. The wonton chips used to replace nacho chips was a nice touch. The fisherman's chowder that came with my entree was also delicious. It was seafood-y without being too "wild" tasting and had copious amounts of veggies + fish. I had opah (moonfish), which was prepared with an Asian-influence. The fish itself was lightly breaded and perfect. The accompanying veggies were done with a typical teriyaki/soy sauce-ish flavoring. Dad had the ahi tuna. Good quality and came with some yummy, creamy orzo. Mom had the mahi mahi, served atop polenta. All in all, the fish we ate were fresh and delicious (with a nice texture too!). We tried the macadamia nut tart fort dessert. This was sort of a let down since it was basically an overdone pecan pie. You couldn't really taste the macadamia since the whole thing was so drenched in caramel flavoring. Luckily it came with cinnamon ice cream, which was interesting to try and very good.
(4)
Samantha S.
Had dinner here last night and I can't wait to go back again. Yes, it is in in a resort and you pause for a moment, but the food was fantastic. We had 7:30 reservations and were seated a few mins after arrival. It was a little loud which was hard for my mom who wears a hearing aid, but the place emptied by 9 pm and the problem was solved! Everyone in our party loved their meals and cleared their plates (Opah, Mixed Grill, Wally's Beef dish cut like butter, prime rib, and pork). We each had a dessert as well. The prices are reasonable and although the service started out slow, it was competent and other staff members jumped in to make sure we had what we needed. Adding this place to my must have dinner at when I visit Kauai.
(4)
Leiann B.
My husband & I came here, based on Yelp reviews - was close to our condo in Kapaa & served local specialties - with a view on their lanai. I ordered the mixed seafood grill (shrimp & 2 fresh local fish) topped with Thai coconut sauce over orzo -- wow, fantastic. Service was good, altho our drinks ordered first took awhile to arrive, probably due to busy bar orders. Still, we'd love to come back on a future visit to Kauai! Highly recommended as a great "date night" restaurant. :)
(5)
Frank Y.
Great food and great presentation. We ordered two fish dishes, both are really great! The food are beautifully presented and the fish are so tender and moist that they brew us away! We should have reserved seat (we ended up waiting for 30 min, but it's worthwhile!)
(5)
Scott M.
Ahhhh...That was an excellent dinner. I am all smiles right now. Get the Poke Ahi Nachos...delicious, refreshing and a great starter. The peppercorn crusted tenderloin medallions were melt-in-your-mouth tender and perfectly cooked with an excellent Crown Royal demi-glace. Mmmm. I am still thinking about that. If you get a chance to try Waloo, do so. It's local and perfectly described as a butter fish and it came with the mixed grill dish.
(5)
megan b.
this place definitely seemed to attract an older crowd, my husband and i definitely felt like we were sitting at the"kids table" at thanksgiving dinner. the service was alright, our waitress seemed a little frazzled and forgot to bring me my drink. she also seemed to rush us a little bit through some parts of our meal - asking about dessert before we even had our entrees served to us. the food seemed to be hit or miss. the chicken stack appetizer was really sub standard. it tasted like the chicken came out of a can or a pouch. for entrees, i had the ono with some type of dijon sauce which was excellent. my husband had the opa, which was also quite delicious. we were on the full side and one of the last lingering tables, so we opted against dessert. the entrees were delicious, the appetizers and service left a little to be desired.
(3)
B L.
We stopped by this place based on the Yelp reviews. The food was so-so. We ate the sweet potato ravioli, the poke nachos, the lobster and cheese won tons, and two salad plates (argula beet/corn and some other chevre cheese salad). Secret: If you really want to dine here, come between 5 pm - 6 pm and try the tasting menu. You'll get to eat for $28 per person without wine and $40 per person with wine pairing. Here's what they include with the tasting menu: 1) sweet potato ravioli, 2) beet salad, 3) market fresh fish, 4) pork tenderloin, 5) artisan cheese plate, 6) trio of housemade sorbet. This is a bargain. Too bad we didn't know about this.
(4)
Laurel E.
We did the tasting menu and that could have been our problem. We liked the sweet potato ravioli, but the rest seemed like it had been cooked earlier in the day and then just shoved in the oven. Not super tasty. Also, we sat outside and it seemed to be infested with fruit flies. I was constantly shooing them away. I asked for more bread and never got it and had to ask a few times for more water. Not the best experience at all.
(2)
John C.
This restaurant is at the hotel we stayed at and it was our one "splurge" dinner while on Kauai. We ate at the bar and tried a variety of appetizers, all of them excellent. The service and atmosphere were great.
(4)
Joe O.
Atmosphere isn't great, but the food was good. The sweet potato ravioli app is a must have.
(4)
Paul Z.
Great food, good wine list and well done service. I really enjoy restaurants which utilize local organic ingrediants, that is what they do here. The ambiance was a bit kitchy, but overall the best dining option in Kapa'a and points north!
(4)
R M.
Great restaurant in a surpising timeshare resort. The ravioli was amazing as was the curry lobster bisque. I had the halibut prepared in the "catch of the day" style... Yum! The only downside was that the resort seemed kinda sketch and it was a bit pricy for what you got (food and service wise). But, I would definitely recommend if you are looking for a great dinner.
(4)
Gamebebe C.
This is our second time here and it is still great. Alan is very nice and polite and the portion is good size. The atmosphere is very nice.
(4)
Judgey Von Judge O.
tucked away, we found it through other yelpers. so good, we ended up canceling a reso for Roy's down in Poipu for a repeat performance here at Hukilau; only this time: tasting menu (for only $40 with wine pairings!). ps: ginger martini = good times.
(5)
A C.
I absolutely LOVE the aki poke nacho appetizer! hands down the best thing i had on our honeymoon trip. the sausage appetizer was pretty good too. the ambience was very romantic and the service was excellent. price was very reasonable considering the quality and location. definitely will go back the next time we go back to kauai!
(4)
Halley S.
This restaurant is located in the resort that we were staying at so it was definitely convenient and a added plus was that it was the best meal we had on Kauai. With that said we came here twice for dinner during our trip. Everything was phenomenal! From beginning to end... drinks, apps, dinner and dessert along with the service were perfect. This place should not be missed!
(5)
Jerry W.
This was probably the best full service meal we had in Kauai. Service was a little spotty, but the food was great. Finally fresh seafood that was well prepared. The bisque was great. The dessert sorbets were exceptional. Good drink menu too. There is also a nice view. It was a great meal to cap off our trip to Kauai.
(4)
Paul S.
The food was great as well as the service. We tried to stop by a second time for dinner, but they were already booked up at 5:45.
(4)
Anthony D.
Just spend 12 days on Kauai and this place was our favorite. Killer appetizers, especially the Ahi Poke. Ceviche was also great. Awesome drinks, favorite was the Pomegranite margarita. Heard the meals were really good too but after all the drinks and appetizers we were "all pow". This place is da' kine!
(5)
Shirley D.
My husband and I went to this restaurant for our first wedding anniversary and have had a great and excellent dining experience. I wanted to celebrate somewhere close to our resort and I Google's n asked local for recommendations. Good thing I listened n did my research. Nicole was our waitress n she was great, attentive n accommodating to make our nite special. We tried the sweet potato ravioli is ooohhhh sssooooooo good. My husband was so thrilled n impressed with it that he only gave me a small piece to try - which means he loved it. He devoured the 4 ravioli n cream around it. I ordered the lobster wonton n it was delicious. They accommodated to my husband who is vegetarian n his lasagna was excellent. My mixed grilled seafood was mouthwatering. The shrimp was skewered in a sugar cane n it interesting n most importantly deliciously devoured. For dessert we had key lime for dessert n let me tell u I'm not a big fan of key lime pie, but once I tried it here I had a change of mind. It was nice n tart n worth having another one. My husband n I were both happy at how well the night went. When we come back to this island we will surely be back to this restaurant.
(5)
Lori D.
This is our favorite restaurant in Kauai, we always eat there at least 2 or 3 times during our weeklong stays. We love it so much that when we got married in 2007 we decided to get married at the resort and have our reception in the restaurant's private room. Everything is always delicious! Our favorite is the Ahi Poke Nachos...yummy! The location is perfect, prices excellent for what you get, especially in Hawaii and the service is always great. This will be our favorite for years to come!
(5)
april k.
This place was just fantastic. Lovely setting, attentive staff. We have two, and four year old children so they seated us near the fish tank. The Keiki menu was not insulting - it's real food. Make reservations or you will have a wait. Come early if you want to sit outside, which I would recommend. Appetizers were great, I recommend the lobster bisque. Also the lobster and goat cheese won ton was yummy, though the wrapper was a little tough. Had the sampler for dinner that had sugarcane skewered shrimp, butter fish and a couple of others, all wonderful. And all the fish were OK by 'seafood watch'.
(5)
sunil t.
excellent seafood. bit pricey. strongly recommend reservations. any of the seafood dishes are incredible.
(4)
Neil E.
We ate at Hukilau Lanai again tonight. Again four stars. As usual we got the ahi nachos. They were still tasty, although a tad lacking in ahi tonight. I got the mixed fish plate instead of the tasting menu. The mixed plate tonight was cajun ono and shoyu spearfish. Both were delicious, although the cajun spices on the ono detracted a bit from how tasty ono is on its own. As usual the orzo "risotto" was too cheesy for my tastes. But that's ok, you go for the fantastic fish, not the orzo :)
(4)
David D.
My wife and I tried the tasting menu with wine pairings. We did not care for three of the five wines, and two of the five food items were too salty for both of us, and we usually don't have a problem with salt (the fish course and the meatloaf were both too salty). The fish was Ono. We would have preferred Hawaiian Butterfish, but it was no longer on the menu. The sweet potato ravioli was very good. In retrospect, we should have dined off of the appetizer menu. Not worth the $$$. It is sad, because we dined here on a prior vist 5 years ago and the Butterfish then was fabulous.
(2)
Jeremy F.
During my wife and I's one week visit this is the only restaurant we revisited. In fact we came back 3x. The third time is when we got engaged. Ambiance, staff, food -- FRESH FISH-- were all great. Top that off with a couple of Lava Flows and a wine pairing and life doesn't get much better.
(5)
S W.
Wow, what's not to like. Incredible food, awesome romantic setting, live quiet music. My meal started with lobster currie bisque that was superb while my wife had the Wally salad, outstanding. For my entree I chose the mixed seafood grill, which included sugar cane skewered shrimp, swordfish, and butter fish (Wahoo I think?). The butter fish just melts in your mouth and was served with a currie flavored orzo. My wife had swordfish on top of pasta with a cream sauce that was to die for. It is a little pricey but even with wine, our meal was under $100. Well worth it though and one of the best restaurants on the Island. They also support the local vendors so the food is super fresh. Our waiter (sorry I forget his name) just recently moved to Kauai but was very knowledgeable and spent time talking with us and made sure we had a great experience. It's suggested you make reservations a day in advance though so plan ahead and know they are closed on Mondays. We even went back a second night just for a drink and the Creme Brulee' as we were staying at the resort where it's located. Don't miss this one in Kapaa at the Kuai Coast Resort At The Beachboy, right by the Coconut Market Place. Enjoy.
(5)
Joel D.
Three of us had the tasting menu (only available from 5:00 - 6:00). Almost all of it was spectacular. We didn't like the second course, but it was fun to try some new things. Each course was small, but it was plenty of food. Two of us had the tasting menu with the wine pairings. Most of the wine was just OK and the pairings didn't add much. The other person in our party had the Ono. It was also very good. The food presentation was beautiful. The service was friendly. The view was very pretty. The food is worthy of a very formal place, but the atmosphere is casual.
(5)
Philly P.
Hands down the best meal and best service we had in a week of eating out in Kauai. Great fish entrees and a nice selection of 20 wines for $20 a bottle. Great atmosphere and view and good service. Highly recommend it.
(5)
william f.
we both had the happy hour tasting menu. i would have loved to enjoy the view but it was hurricaning that night...category 5 style. the menu was sweet potato ravioli, arugula salad, some random fish that tasted great, meatloaf and creme brulee. since we didn't have it paired with the wine, it was $28. very good value. hostess was very nice.
(5)
Martha C.
We ate twice here during our week's stay on Kauai. My recommendation is to make an early reservation between 5 and 6 so you can try the tasting menu. After being tantalized by the well thought out and executed dishes, you will find yourself trying to decide when you will make a return visit to try out more dishes. Fresh local produce and seafood prepared to showcase the stellar ingredients served by an outstanding waitstaff.
(5)
Dante C.
I'm sure glad we decided to go here. The wait staff was friendly and knew the ingredients well, the tasting menu was spot on and the wine choices were pretty good. I loved the view, however I love the view everywhere here. Next stop Maui, for hopefully 5 stars.
(4)
Michael B.
Just returned from Kauai and had loaded myself up with Yelp reviews. Was really anticipating a wonderful meal at the Hukilau Lanai...and I wasn't let down! Was tremendous! Food, service, restaurant, and attention to detail. Was there to celebrate a 30+ anniversary and let the server know. They made the whole evening special. Only reason I didn't give it all 5 stars is that the location is pleasant, but not over the top which is what I expect from my 5 star experiences. Found out this is owned by the same folks that have Gaylord's over on the plantation. I can't compare one-for-one to them since we went to Gaylord's for lunch and it was just so-so. The meal was terrific, from start to finish (real Hawaiian "fresh" fish...see my note on the Beach House regarding "fresh"). Wine list for under $20, a bottle, was a good bargain, given that there were a lot to choose from. The server was on top of things, and the cool ocean breezes ordered up in just right amounts to make the open air experience divine. Can't wait to go back to try it all over again! Don't miss out on this place...and don't "miss" the turn past the north end of the Coconut Market Place since it's tucked in the back.
(4)
Daniel H.
We tried the tasting menu. It was pretty bad. After receiving the first course, I thought we were off to a good start. The sweet potato ravioli was pretty good. The wine was decent. Then, came the salad, which felt like it came from the bag. Very simple green salad. The wine was okay. Then, the meatloaf! The description says this is not your grandma's meatloaf. Damn straight. It's worse, way worse. It tasted like paste and mine had a bone chip in it. The fish course was okay, nothing crazy. The wine, however, was not drinkable. Then, the worst thing was the dessert wine. Which was absolutely putrid, tasted like gasoline. All in all, it's an interesting scene and you should support the local economy, but I'd rather spend my money at Pono Market, or Mark's Place. Bottom line, good bargain for the amount of food in this setting, but I'd skip the wine and I wouldn't expect delicious, just okay.
(2)
Erik S.
This was just a poor dining experience. My wife's salad with the papaya dressing was the high point of the meal. The BBQ rib appetizer tasted like a bad internet recipe for a root beer based sauce. Second, for a supposed seafood place, the ceviche was less than pleasant. The worst part of the meal was my ahi tuna. It may have been rare when it left the grill (perhaps giving them too much credit), but it was nearly cooked through and dry by the time the plate made it to the table. The polenta under the fish was very salty and somehow the grilled shrimp was even more dry than the ahi. Let's just say the service was nearly equal caliber to the food.
(1)
Young K.
the ahi poke nachos were awesome. i've never tried anything like it. the lobster & goat cheese wontons were aiite. wife ordered the mixed grill and found it too sweet. i forget the fish i got, but i thought it was okay. the location is nice and although it was too dark to see, i think there would normally be a nice view of the ocean. definitely don't miss out on the ahi poke nachos.
(4)
Darrel O.
My wife and I went to Kauai for our 10th anniversary and stayed at the Beach Boy, which is one of our time-share properties. While we were checking in with the concierge, he recommended the Hukilau which is on the property. He recommended reservations and went ahead and made them for us. I had moderate expectations because the recommendation came from in-house personnel, but I was very pleasantly surprised. We sat out at the edge with a nice ocean view and had a wonderful dinner. I like to try calamari where ever it's offered, and theirs was quite good. I saw a review saying it was like soggy bread, but I couldn't disagree more. Ours was nice and tender and quite good. I ordered the filet mignon for my main course and my wife got the seafood sampler. Both were cooked perfectly and were excellent. After the main course, we ordered the creme brulee and the molten lava chocolate cake, and both were excellent. The whole dinner from start to finish was great, as was the ambiance and the service. For the two of us, the bill came to something like $120 and included a bottle of wine. The only other place we dined while in Kauai was at the Beach House down in Koloa, and that place ran us about $200. I'll grant that the ambiance was nicer there, but the food was not nearly as good. Given a choice, I'll take the Hukilau over the Beach House any day of the week.
(5)
Crystal H.
Had dinner at Hukilau Lanai in Kappa inside the Coconut Coast Resort. Service was average and food was good. We made reservations for 8pm on a Wednesday. The restaurant was packed. The resort lobby and eating area is very nice with many tropical plants/tiki torches and a view to the ocean from some seats if it were still daylight out. My husband had a mai tai (very good, 8 out of 10). Tried the sweet potato ravioli. Really good. Sauce was sweet but tangy (9/10). Casear salads were average (6/10). Matt had the sampler plate with 4 shrimp, a Cajun spiced darker fish, Hawaiian butterfish and a creamy orzo (9/10) (I think the sauce was the same sauce as was on the sweet potato ravioli). I had the vegetable lasagna, which was surprising good (8/10) and had a yummy cream pesto on top that I wish I had more of. Food was also served with a good focacia bread, only wish it was warm (7/10). Also ordered their version of a lava cake, which was not as heavy as a typical lava cake, served with vanilla bean ice cream. Very good (8/10). Spent about $85, which isn't bad for a drink, appetizer, food and desert. Service wasn't great (4/10) (slow and un-attentive). But considering this is Kauai, service + food = 4 stars
(4)
Andie Q.
the food is great and the view from the lanai complimented our memorable experience. my husband and I had dinner here while on our honeymoon, it was perfect for a romantic dinner. The lobster bisque was amazing - so creamy and buttery. And our fish entrees were fresh and moist, it melted in our mouths. I highly recommend this restaurant for dinner. The service, view, and food is all excellent. You might get lucky and witness a celebrity citing - we were tickled to spot Jeff Bridges across from us! LOL!
(4)
Marcella M.
One of the better restaurants on Kauai. I had the lobster bisque for starters which warmed me up on a chilly winter's evening. Our main entrees were filet mignon and prime rib which were both melt in your mouth goodness. Portion sizes are appropriate. The service is top notch, too.
(4)
Sau y.
In all its beautiful garden isle glory, the food seriously sucks on the island of Kauai. However, Hukilau Lanai was a safe haven from all the "breaded and fried" meals I had to endure. I've spent weeks on both Oahu and Maui... and I already felt the food was second rate at best, but Kauai was an all new low. This restaurant was a bit pricier than most meals on the island (meals on the island range $8-15... an entree here went from $20- 25, which was well worth it in my eyes. We had good bread, salads and meals... and dessert to boot! It reminds me of the decent edible food I get back home (hallelujah!), on Kauai-- it was a GOD SEND. For 2 people, it ran roughly $80-- appetizer to share, soup/ salad with our entrees + 1 dessert to share. Service was great and the view was lovely. If I ever visited Kauai again, I would know where to go for a solid meal!! :)
(4)
d l.
we went here on thanksgiving day for dinner at the last minute and got squeezed in due to a cancelation . we shared the nachos and i had prime ribe and my significant other had grilled fish but not sure what type it was . the nachos i didnt care for they were fried wonton chips with ahi . the rib was great and the wifys fish was good . pricey but that hawaii for you
(4)
Jennifer D.
Their pupus are really good. We had their pre-fixed menu with wine and it was excellent. We also ordered the lava chocholate cake and it was super duper. This stuff came out hot, and did flow like lava when cut. It's one of the best lava cake I've had.
(4)
Andrea F.
The atmosphere is iconic Hawaii - a breezy lanai, view of the ocean, tiki torches - lovely and romantic, but not too formal. The food is fresh and satisfying. Service was good but not exceptional. I'd recommend the sweet potato ravioli and ahi poke nachos to start. The mixed grill (shrimp plus two types of fresh fish) was tasty and perfect for those of us who have a hard time making decisions.
(5)
Eric L.
We had a great time here... the prix fixe early dining menu was very tasty, and they did a great job by not stuffing you on the early courses. If you add on top of that the wine pairing was only $20, you have one of the best meals on Kauai. I would definitely make an effort to dine here during sunset.
(5)
James G.
We dined at this establishment based on the reviews we saw on Yelp. Reservations were a bit tough to get, however we ended up with a nice 6:30pm spot. The overall experience was great. The view was very nice (garden view), but definitely not beach view. We ordered the calamari appetizer, which was sub-par. My wife had the Wally salad and loved it. For the main entree, defintely get any "O" fish (Opah or Ono) -- those were excellent. Recommend trying the Mojito -- a bit different from LA mojitos, but decent overall.
(4)
Tanya N.
Our first night in Kaua'i, we decided to stick close to the hotel and ambled over to Hukilau, which had been recommended to us by several people. We were seated promptly and enjoyed the view of the garden and beach. They have a great selection of "wines under $20," and I was pleased with my Argentinian Cab. We had the nacho poke appetizer, which was strongly recommended by our waitress while I drooled over the thought of a lobster and cream cheese wonton. Our appetizer was good, but when is poke ever bad? The wonton crisp "chips" were a little too oily, and there could have been more of the wasabi cream sauce. I continued to drool over the lobster appetizer that we forewent. I ordered the prime rib and D had the chicken and shrimp skewers, and we both opted for the lobster bisque with our meals. The lobster bisque was definitely the highlight of our meal - made with coconut milk, with hints of lemongrass and curry, mine was inhaled in all of two seconds. My prime rib was good, and D really liked how tender his chicken was. All in all, I would say Hukilau is a safe bet for dinner, with interesting and good menu and wine choices (even if the food items don't fully live up to their promise), but not the best meal that you'll most likely have on the island. Broke da mouf?* A little, but nothing that can't be fixed. *D and I have discovered the phrase 'broke da mouf' and thinks it's the best and funniest thing ever, so all Kauai reviews this trip will have a 'broke da mouf' rating."
(3)
Phillip S.
We've travelled to Kauai ten times over the past eight years, and my one complaint has always been the restaurants. Maui is a culinary goddess compared to the other islands, with Oahu being a close second. Kauai, unfortunately, has always been the bastard step-child when it has come to eating (however, the other 'features' of the island still make it my favorite). Roy's has always been the leader on this island for fine dining, and nothing has ever come close to them with quality or preparation. Until now. Hukilau Lanai is a wonderful place to eat. So much that we went there three times this past week. THREE TIMES. The first time there I had the Ahi Poke Nachos for an appetizer. This sounded strange, and wouldn't have been something I would order, but the concierge at the Marriott told me that I had to try it. So I did, and it was an awesome decision. Won ton chips, covered with tomatoes, avocado, ahi sushi, tobiko, and a cream wasabi sauce. This was near orgasmic. An absolutely incredible appetizer. My friend got the Lobster and Cream Cheese Wontons, and it was pure delight. It was an absolutely wonderfully decadent appetizer. We got these same appetizers on the next two trips, as they were that good. For main course I got the Crown Royal beef tenderloin, and it was awesome. The meat, chicken and fish they get here is all natively farmed/grown. This is one of the few restaurants that doesn't bring everything in from other islands, and the quality is just incredible. My friend got the Filet, and it was perfectly prepared. My son even got the Jr. Paniolo Prime Rib, and hoovered it down. It was well seasoned and perfectly prepared. My daughter got the hot dog, and loved it. On my second trip I got the Shiitake Meatloaf, and thought it was good. It lacked something in flavor, but I couldn't put my finger on it. Overall, it was good, but not a knock your socks off taste. I recommend this place wholeheartedly.
Hukilau Lanai was easily the best restaurant we found on Kauai. The food was more original, better prepared, and more attractively presented than at other similarly rated establishments. After ordering them for a third time, our party agreed that the calamari appetizer was the best we'd ever had. Our entrees were nearly as satisfying. The Hukilau Mixed Grill consists of two moderately sized, island-caught fish fillets and about six sugar cane skewered prawns. For $26.00, we were more than pleased; our fish were perfectly cooked and seasoned, while the prawns were a bonus beyond what I would expect for the price. Our cocktails were original and generally decent, though certainly not outstanding. For example, the chili-infused vodka and cinnamon cocktail sounded great on paper, but didn't stand up to a few sips. Hukilau Lanai wouldn't receive a five star rating if compared to the best places in most large cities, but easily competes with anything else on Kauai.
(5)
Haley K.
The patio seating is delightful. It provides a pleasant view of the hotel's property and ocean. The food was tasty and the drinks were strong. We had candied ahi appetizer which came over white rice. My boyfriend had the the ahi entree which was cooked perfectly.
(5)
Jeremy P.
Excellent seafood, wonderful setting and great ocean views. Can't go wrong! And try Adam's Ahi Poke - totally amazing! They will cook your fish to order which is nice (I like my Ahi very rare). We went back for a second dinner during our trip and it was excellent as well. Only negative is the soup we had was too small and unspectacular for the price (lobster bisque, $7 for a cup), but go here for fish entrees and you will not be disappointed.
(4)
R S.
This was our last night in Kauai and I was hoping for another excellent meal. I am shocked by the fantastic reviews for this restaurant. This was possibly one of the worst meals I have ever eaten. Everything tasted like it came out of a frozen food bag from Costco. The fried goat cheese in my salad had a strange chemical taste-not freshly fried chevre as advertised. The lobster and goat cheese wontons were obviously heated up frozen food and the sauce was no doubt straight out of a plastic packet - chemically and the taste and texture of the sauce had nothing to do with the appetizer itself. Awful! I ordered the Ono fish. It also tasted like it had been sitting in a plastic bag of soy sauce marinade for far too long, the "grill lines" on the fish were artificial at best, and the mashed potatoes under the fish also seemed quite processed. After a few bites, I had had quite enough and could not finish my meal. This meal cost as much as some of the really fantastic restaurants where we dined during our stay on Lanai. If you appreciate good, fresh food, stay away from Hukilau Lanai. If you like frozen meals from Costco or Wal-Mart, then this is the place for you.
(1)
M J.
Nice place with nice atmosphere if you get a good table. Try the Sweet Potato Ravioli. That is the dish that keeps us coming back! After dinner you can stroll through the hotel ground and the beach.
(4)
Jow H.
Mediocre in the guise of something better sums up the experience here. Some allowance for it being kauai as restaurants do not excel here. Food is overly fat and not particularly interesting. I tried 3 appetizers, lobster bisque, the veggie Lasagna and the Caesar salad. Simply nothing special. Service was efficient but somehow also left me cold. Not recommended.
(3)
Lauren G.
Stopped for appetizers after reading reviews and it did not disappoint. The lobster wonton and Kauai clams were awesome. I would definitely recommend to others and come here again.
(5)
Carolyn K.
Food Was Fantastic, Service "So So" We had great expectations about this restaurant because several individuals had mentioned how wonderful the food is. And, it was! From the sweet potato ravioli to the short ribs, everything was cooked to perfection. The restaurant offered one Cabernet by the glass from Obsidian Ridge in Sonoma Valley, and it was exceptional. Too bad the quality of the the service didn't match the food! We had reservations at 8:30 on a rainy night when flood warnings had been broadcast throughout the island. We arrived at 8:00 thinking that perhaps we could get in a bit early. No such luck! Although they had open tables. we weren't seated until 8:35. I asked the waitress for some bread to tide us over until we could order, and she said, "Bread is on the way!" It was ten-fifteen minutes before bread arrived. We had a wonderful meal, which was all brought to our table by someone other than our server. When it came time for dessert, we ordered the hot molten cake (which takes twenty minutes to prepare). Our server breezily said, "Oh, we ran out of it because we have been so busy tonight. I kind of lost track." Ouch! An early warning that we should "save a portion" of their most popular desert might have been nice. Or an apology with a recommendation for a replacement. The restaurant is a bit pricey, and the food is wonderful. In spite of the spotty service, I would go again.
(3)
Sara H.
Absolutely amazing!!!!! Started with drinks in the bar waiting for our table. Awesome drinks, solid bartender (didn't catch her name). Got to our table and our waitress Debbie was on point. Super friendly, very knowledgeable on the menu, great recommendations. We got the calamari and it was spectacular. I got the Caesar salad before my dinner and my husband got the arugula salad and both were fabulous! Finally our meals came and it was the prime rib and filet. Out of this world! Melt in your mouth meats! HIGHLY recommended! Favorite place we ate out of our whole trip to kauai! Will definitely be returning! Ignore any negative reviews, this place is OUTSTANDING! Also, it is not super expensive which helps. Yes, it's a little pricey, but you get your money's worth!
(5)
Nick F.
by far the best on the isand. Cool, warm staff to greet you, perfectly executed meals with fish so fresh! Nothing fishy about it! make a rez. grab a drink, and thank me later...this place does it right
(5)
Missy L.
This place was delicious!! Yes it's a bit pricey but one of the best restaurants on the island. I only have two complaints. The service could have been a little better but honestly I think we just caught her at an odd time, it seemed like as the dinner went on she got friendlier. Also, I had put in the reservation request that we were celebrating our recent engagement. My boyfriend had proposed a couple days prior and we wanted to celebrate. It would have been nice if they would have done something......not asking for a free drink or dessert (which would have been nice) but at least said something.
Great food. Mixed grill was amazing as was the ahi. Appetizers were also way above par...ribs and calamari. Jason was a great waiter..very knowledgeable on the food offerings and prep. Highly recommended. Reservations a definite must.
(5)
Becka C.
Mahina was one of the best servers I've ever had. Her exceptional service added to the outstanding overall experience at this restaurant. We had the passionate-tini and the citrus buzz - both were great! Then we shared the lobster and goat cheese wontons - a must! Even their bread was delicious! We decided to add $6 to one of their entrees so we can share and each get our own soup/salad. Which was perfect the perfect portion for me and my friend. We both liked our salads (arugula and mixed green). We shared the filet mignon which came with sun dried tomato mash potatoes - sooo yummy! And on top of all of that - we shared their signature chocolate lava cake. I'm so happy Mahina recommended it because it was soooo good. The entire experience exceeded my expectations and would recommend it to all locals and visitors of Kauai!!! It's a must!!
We came here for my mom's 60th birthday for a special dinner. We arrived early and waited in the lobby until the exact time of our reservation. We were seated and greeted by our server. They wished my mom a happy birthday, which was nice of them. We all ordered drinks, and their Mai Tai's are really delicious, and so are their other cocktail drinks. Between the four of us, we ordered the Mahi Mahi, Filet Mignon, and the prime rib. The mahi mahi was freaking amazing. It came with a curry sauce on top of rice and it was perfect. The filet and prime rib were both perfectly cooked and came with some mashed potatoes, which were OK. I wanted to give this place 5 stars, but the service wasn't five stars. We saw our server a grand total of 3 times the entire visit (seating, order taking, bill delivery). We ordered drinks that never got delivered, and we really didn't feel like we were being taken care of which was a bummer. It took a while to get our soups and salads, and it just felt slow. The food is freaking amazing though so I think that this is still an amazing place to go. Maybe she was having a rough day, or whatever but considering al of the positive reviews on the service, I'm assuming this was an isolated incident. I wouldn't hesitate to visit again. Great seafood, great drinks, and delicious desserts. They also have a gluten free menu, which is very extensive.
(4)
David F.
If I could give it 10 stars I would. Party of six with appetizers and entrees so tried a lot of the menu and it was one of the best meals I have had in a long time. Really Amazing. The poke nachos were so outstanding.
(5)
Don H.
We went twice during our week on the island, and that should say a lot about how much we enjoyed it, since there are so many other available options. They may be a resort restaurant, but they also had some of the best cooked fish we had on the island. The mixed grill is Totally the way to go - you get 3 different types of seafood, and they're all delicious. I also love that the chef changes up the menu regularly, and is experimental (and talented) with his flavor combinations. The cocktails are also quite tasty, and not fake sugary abominations. The wine list was definitely marked-up to resort level, but there are some good, mostly reasonably-priced white options that go well with the fish. (I recommend the Grenache Blanc). Appetizers were also wonderful, and again - more great and inventive flavor combinations. The sweet potato dumplings were a huge winner (we ordered them both times).
(4)
Doug G.
Can't say enough. Service was great and the food was delicious and beautifully presented. We will return! The tasting menu was a delight and a great value. Sandra was our server and she was very knowledgeable, professional and personable.
(5)
Heather J.
The islands of Hawaii have long been my go to getaway. By far, Hukilau Lanai, offered the best food I have had on any of the islands! So how did I hear about this place. Lady sitting next to us at our resorts pool talking about where she was spending her birthday. Imagine that, it's my birthday too. Enter my friend who tagged along on this excursion to Kauai and she is all over the food quest (being a chef herself). She peppers the lady with questions...30 minutes later we have a reservation (recommended). We checked the place out on yelp and found that many of you were BIG fans, especially of the ahi poke nachos. Psst...not a real big fan of ahi poke...however...when in Rome...er Kauai! SO GOOD! Once again yelp has not failed me! So let's talk about the morning after...all we could talk about was the great food...it was our last night...what should we do...let's go to Hukilau Lanai again. And we did!
(5)
Gina B.
Yum. Great service. The employees are so friendly here...they make you feel welcome and want you to have a great experience. Everybody was kind here! The Wally's salad was really good...those croutons..yum! The table bread was great, the added fried goat cheese on the salad was tasty! My husband ordered the Sizzlin Bloody Mary and it was hot!!! All of the food and drinks were great. I had the veggie lasagne..chalk filled with butternut squash! We would come back here and again....make a reservation...they are busy!!!
(4)
Erik H.
Meatloaf was absolutely awesome! Gf had the prime rib and she loved it. We came at 8pm and they didnt have any seats in the restaurant available. We sat in the lounge area tgat had a full menu and the service was great and fast.
(5)
Andy S.
Best restaurant in Kaua'i that I've been to. Have been back three times over the course of two years and Hukilau never disappoints. Love their mixed grill and their filet mignon. And their 20 wines for $20-something list is a nice touch. Atmosphere is great as well, often with live music. Great service. Highly recommended.
(5)
Mark G.
Just had a wonderful meal. The fish was very fresh and the blending of flavors unique and savory. The soups, we had two different ones, were very tasty and just filling enough. The service was very good and the wait time was reasonable. The dessert was phenomenal; an almost familiar red velvet cake
(5)
Ann W.
During our 16 day visit to Kauai, we actually ate at Hukilau Lanai four times. On two of the visits we had appetizers and dinner (amazing 'Surf and Turf' and Mixed Grill) and on the other two we just opted for the appetizers and Lobster Bisque. Our favorites are The Candied Ahi - it has the most amazing rub and the Ahi just melts in your mouth, and the Ahi Nachos. I couldn't tell you which one we enjoyed more than the other. The Lobster bisque is not to be missed and you actually have your choice of any soup or salad on the menu with your dinner selection. We were always so stuffed we could not try the deserts. My compliments to the chef on his fine sauces. The entire wait staff was terrific and very attentive. We will be back next year!
(5)
Pixie G.
Came here for the 5 course tasting menu which was $28 without wine ($40 with wine). Such a deal and the food was so delicious. I wish I had known about it sooner so we could have eaten it every night for dinner. We did it without the wine, since we're not big wine drinkers. We made reservations at 5 PM and were seated very promptly, had a nice table on the outside veranda with a view of the ocean. Started off with focaccia with rosemary oil/vinegar, which was tasty. Our server offered seconds, which we gladly took. First course was a tomato gazpacho with pineapple sorbet. This was SO good. The pineapple sorbet really added another depth to the gazpacho that I never would have thought of. Second course was candied ahi. There were 6 good size pieces of ahi tuna, encrusted with some kind of wonderful sweet and slightly spicy sauce. I wanted to lick the bottom of my dish, this was so good. Third course was sausage, and it was really smokey and savory and delicious. Fourth course was the fresh catch of the day (mahi mahi) served with quinoa and a lemon vinaigrette. Honestly, maybe it's just because I'm not a lemon vinaigrette fan, but I wasn't as impressed with this dish. It was tasty enough, the fish was admittedly prepared very very well, very moist and flaky, but lemon vinaigrette has never excited me. Hubby really liked this one though. Last dish was a vanilla creme brulee. The crust was perfectly crispy/crunchy and delightfully custardy.
(5)
K B.
So I work in all the islands and eat at lots of local dives. This is the best I have yet to experience on Kauai! I had the Wally's salad and Wally's steak, only because it seemed highly rated by my fellow yelpers. As usual, they were on it. The location is a little cliche... but most restaurants I'm Hawaii are. If you want a 4 star dinner in Kauai, eat here. If you want to meet some really cool people, sit at the bar.
(4)
Melisa O.
This restaurant came highly recommended by the owners of the condo we stayed in and it lived up to our expectations! We made a reservation several days in advance, glad we did as the restaurant was full when we arrived. The only challenge we encountered the entire evening was with the bartender during our wait to be seated. He was busy but it took him a long time to acknowledge me and once he did he made it clear it would be a while before he got to me. Not great service. Dinner was fabulous, probably our best experience dinning out during our vacation. The service was impeccable, we were very well taken care of from beginning to end. Our waiter timed our food perfectly, allowing us to dine and not feel rushed. The food, from the Ahi tuna nachos for an appetizer to the fish and shrimp and surf and turf entrees were perfect! We enjoyed the dessert special that night, chocolate perfection! I would certainly recommend this restaurant to all that want to enjoy a fabulous meal in a beautiful setting, with great service and incredible food!
(4)
Ted S.
Excellent food, moderate price. The filet was tremendous, prepared near perfectly. The salads and bread very good as well. Diverse wine list as well. Would definitely return.
Happy to report that Hukilau Lani is still a home run! Great ambiance sitting on the terrace near the garden. Very professional, knowledgeable, friendly staff. Love the interesting wine list with many options for wines under $20. BRAVO for the BYOB option with a fair $10 corkage fee. And last but certainly not least....the food. The rib appetizer was delicious. The blueberry beef soup was perfect. Who knew I would enjoy that combo so much? The Chef knew! The fish entrees were perfect. And dessert was THE BOMB! Chocolate, macadamia nut stuffed strudel. It came with Lapperts vanilla bean ice cream. It's a steal for $7!
(4)
Ribec F.
Yum everything was great, we had salads, soup, the filet, and an amazing dessert (cocunut tart). there is a great view from the dining room and local musician playing, I will def hit up this spot again.
(4)
Laura S.
I went here for my birthday dinner. I couldn't have asked for a better experience. The mai tai was amazing. Super fresh and strong. They had a gluten free menu which was great. They had homemade gluten free bread that was super tasty. I had the macadamia nut crusted chicken. It was so good. The server was really attentive and friendly. I also enjoyed the beautiful patio and live music. It was an excellent experience all around.
(5)
Candyce A.
Hands down best meal we had in Kauai. Everything was amazing. We especially loved the pork tenderloin with polenta. I wish we could have eaten more meals here!
(5)
Steve M.
Went here on our last night in Kauai for a nice family dinner. The lobster bisque was incredible. The candied ahi was also amazing. The entrees fell short of our expectations. My wife had the opah with risotto which was just ok. My daughter had the pork tenderloin with mushroom Marsala sauce. This was very good. I had the prime rib which was tough and really fatty. It tasted like it had sat out for a while before it arrived at the table. For dessert, we had the chocolate mousse which was very good! Service was mediocre and impersonal. All in all, not the best night for the Hukilau.
(3)
Kurt D.
Service was top notch. Ahi tuna was perfect. Salad was good. Prime rib tasted wierd but it was cooked perfectly. the au jus was salty though. Chocolate cheesecake was decadent. Lemon Chiffon pie was tangy mmm delicious. Coffee was rich and bold. Overall, We really enjoyed our experience at the Hukilau Lanai!!
(4)
Claudia C.
Dinner for party of 8, super friendly service, nice outdoor seating (bring some bug spray though). Food: all good, nothing bad to say! Perfect for anyone who likes seafood, but doesn't want anything too exotic and price is very reasonable. - Start: * Complimentary house focaccia with rosemary oil/vinegar for dip (yum) - Appetizers: * Tuna Poke Nachos - hefty portion, savory with soy sauce and sesame oil * Lobster Wontons - great if you're a crab wonton fan normally (but don't expect too much lobster flavor/meat) * Sweet Potato Ravioli - exactly what you'd expect, comes with cream sauce (a little bland to me, but great if you're vegetarian/carbaholic) - Entree: * Came with soup or salad - Fish Chowder: very creamy, fish pieces were a little sparse, but overall great considering it came with the entree * Mixed Plate - 2 kinds of fish (~3 - 4 oz each) a 1 shrimp skewer (4 med - large shrimp) with creamy coconut orzo, our fish were mahi mahi and a Hawaiian fish (forgot the name) but was described as "more buttery" - Mahi Mahi: just like mahi mahi anywhere, chicken of the sea... always good - Hawaiian fish: very flaky and buttery, more delicate than the mahi, BUT not as good as Japanese black cod (sablefish), just a heads up for anyone whose standard of "buttery fish" equates with sablefish - Dessert: all 8 of us shared 1 dessert because we were stuffed... * Macademian Nut Tart: very sweet with lots of nuts, crust was flaky and not grainy/too dry, came with a scoop of ice cream and whipped cream (forgot if ice cream was coconut or vanilla, but went perfectly with the tart)
(4)
Keri M.
Delicious food! Service was a little slow but we enjoyed just hanging out at our table in their open air seating with a view of the beautiful grounds and tiki torches. Their fish was fresh, homemade pasta was very yummy and definitely recommend the Yam ravioli appetizer.
(4)
Rian F.
Another great meal at the Hukilau. Wife ordered the ono and I had the surf and turf with the ribeye and waloo. Drinks were good too, and the focaccia bread was very appetizing too. We'll be back again next year!
(4)
David M.
We went here on the last night of our visit to Kauai on the recommendation of some locals we met at the beach. I was skeptical given my experience with resort restaurants but I wanted a nice celebratory dinner for my partner and this fit the bill. First selling point for me was the availability of a gluten-free menu on their website. While I don't keep gluten-free, my partner does and I'm constantly (and overly) cautious about whether restaurants will give him options other than yet another salad. What sold the restaurant for us was a very simple thing that made a world of difference for my partner. After hearing his dietary restriction the waitress brought out gluten-free bread to go with my focaccia bread. Very simple thing but as long as my partner has been gluten-free, this was the first time this has been offered to him. He told me one thing he's missed over the year is being able to enjoy some bread with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. The meal followed the same tone with excellent fish selections. I highly recommend this restaurant to other travelers.
(5)
Bella P.
My dining experience at the Hukilau Lanai, was one of the worst experiences ever. So here's a breakdown of my entire experience: HOSTESS-she was rolling her eyes as I was checking in for our reservation. I guess she didn't like that we were early for our dinner? Could have been handled a bit more tactfully. LOUNGE/BAR AREA-We were told to find a seat in the "lounge" (really hotel lobby), but it was jammed packed. We had no choice but to stand by the bar. The hosted walked over and directed us to a dirty table, and said to have a seat there and someone would be by to clean it. So, we sit down and a server stops by to say she'll be right with us. Then 5 more minutes, then another 5 minutes. Meanwhile a haole couple sit down in a table across from us, gets their table cleared immediately, and is presented with menus. Meanwhile it's been 15 minutes since our waitress initially stopped by. So, we decided to clear the table ourselves, but dumping everything onto the ledge behind us. At this point, the same waitress has return to said couple, taken their order, while we are sitting at the same dirty & unserviced table. It was only after our own clearing of our own table, did a busser finally appear to "clear the table". Another 5 minutes passes before our waitress finally arrives to take our drink order. Granted she was nice, but what wasn't nice, was the OBVIOUS difference in treatment of guest based on the level of your "natural tan" if you catch my drift. It was apparent the paler your tan, the quicker you would be served. It took another 5 minutes after this before we finally got a glass of wine. DINING ROOM-We were finally seated at 7:45pm even though there were plenty of open tables. The hostess that sat us, poured water for us and also managed to pour some on my foot without even acknowledging it or apologizing. At this point, we should have up and left, but I guess I'm a glutton for punishment. Then comes our "I guess I'm stuck serving your waitress". No offer to explain the menu or specials, it was simply a "do you want to order any pupus?" Left us be for a long while, came back and "do you know what you want to order?" Didn't even ask if we can questions. I guess my "natural tan" at this point dictated to her. Food runner was no better, no eye contact, looking around as he half hearted asked "do you need anything else". This continued on until we got our check, and even then it was basically handed to us without a single word of thanks. We never even got our glasses of water refilled! FOOD-not even memorable. It was ok, but nothing to write home about. I think you could find better options to make your own surf and turf at Foodland up the way. Even if the service was better, it still wouldn't make this a place worth visiting. You're better off saving your money and splurging at Michael Mina. To sum up this long rant-I wouldn't never return. In all my years of traveling the Islands, I've never encountered a place where service was based solely on outward appearance.
(1)
Lorie M.
We've been here almost two weeks and have been hitting the small little places to eat. We knew we wanted to try to get in at least once, so last night it was. Truly the most memorable of meals, I had the the hukilau mixed grill, fish was excellent cooked perfectly, prawns sweet and tender and the orzo pasta and sauce great. Wife had the pork tenderloin with polenta in Marsala and found it to be quite good. Added a couple of blue hawaii's and koloa rum Mai tai's to top it all off. Hoping to get there for appetizers before we leave. A little pricier but well worth it. We've paid far more at home for a meal not as good as this.
(5)
Tawney M.
After having lanai recommend to us by a guide on our ziplining adventure a few days earlier we made a reservation for four. Right away we were seated at a lovely table overlooking the garden and beach which is further away but still in view. Our server, tim was extremely helpful and was very good at his job. The food was amazing, we ordered a variety of things in addition to drinks. For the appetizers we ordered the calamari; lobster and goat cheese won tons, and a bbq rib. They all had great presentations and tasted great. All of our meals were great (prime rib, pork medalions, meatloaf and macadamian nut chicken) though we did send back the meat loaf in exchange for something else. It had this liquid smoke taste to it that we didn't care for. But that was just personal taste preferences and not of the quality of the dish. Our server was very nice about it and brought out new dishes as quickly as he could. For dessert we ended with the chocolate mousse and creme brulle. Overall it was a perfect experience and will definitely be back, hopefully before our trip is over.
(5)
Geoffrey B.
The food is excellent. The fish was the best I had on the island. The service is friendly and accommodating. The ambiance is not quite as nice as some of the other top-tier Kauai restaurants, due largely to the fact that attached hotel feels a little Disney-ish, and checking into the restaurant involves a conspicuous trip through the lobby. But the overall experience was great, and I look forward to returning on our next trip to Kauai.
(4)
J. M.
I've dined at the Hukilau several times and it's never the same as far as the food being 5 stars. Sometimes it's 3 stars. Sometimes 5. Same with the service! I don't want to down grade what they are trying to do, because the are very nice people and it's fairly popular. BUT I mean BUT, they NEED TO BE CONSISTANT!!!!
(3)
Kim O.
There is a great 5 course tasting menu served from 5-5:45. We got the wine pairing with the tasting menu and it was definitely worth it! Our first course was a lovely gazpacho served with a kalua rum-pineapple sorbet paired with a reisling. Hints of sweet and spicy! Second course was candied ahi served over rice with a citrus cream sauce! It was amazing, especially paired with the white wine blend from Portugal. Third was homemade sausage with an interesting pickled fern salad. Fourth was a beautifully grilled mahi mahi with 3 sauces served over quinoa with a lemon Parmesan kale topping. Paired with a dry red wine, this dish tasted like lamb. And last was a duo cheese plate. Lovely rich blue cheese with local honey and an amazing manchego with macadamia nuts! This was paired with a tasty madera! Great meal! Great service! Great view!
(5)
Adina B.
The restaurant was amazing! They served us even if they were fully booked, and the food was amazing. Highly recommend.
(5)
Ari H.
Great food, pretty good atmosphere, would definitely come again
(4)
Angela B.
Normally, I don't think I would've been inclined to try a place like this. It's in a hokey resort, and it has the word Lanai in the name. BUT, our guide book swore by the food & also complimented the drinks, so we decided to give a shot. Typically reservations are a good idea so we made them for a few days ahead. Meanwhile we needed somewhere to eat *tonight,* so we figured we'd walk the third of a mile & check out how busy their lounge was (where seating is first-come-first-serve, but the full menu is available). Happily, there was a small table available right by the huge open lanai, so we snatched it up. I ordered the Coconut Coast Cooler (again on the recommendation of our guide book) and LOVED it. (This is saying a lot, as I typically do not drink fruity girly drinks & am incredibly picky about cocktails in general.) It was strongly coconut flavored, but the sweetness was subtle & mostly from fruit, & the whole thing was well-balanced overall. (I got the same thing when we went back a few nights later.) We were not impressed by the Mai Tai (clearly from a mix & not a very good one), but enjoyed the well-made after-dinner drink we shared. Again, we headed the advice of the guide book & started with the sweet potato dumplings which did not disappoint. (These were so good we ordered them on our second trip as well.) I was skeptical about the poke nachos at first but they turned out to be delicious as well. Another guide book recommendation was the mixed grill, and WOW. The only place we had better fish was at Red Salt. Perfectly cooked, & seasonings / sauces that served to perfectly balance the fish without overwhelming the flavor. This was another thing we ordered on both trips. Sitting in the dining room wasn't bad, but to be honest I preferred the more casual, right-by-the veranda atmosphere in the lounge, so if we were to go back, this is what I'd advocate for (maybe with a reservation as a backup. It's not like they can't fill them). Service was also excellent both times. My only criticisms are: 1) The salad. Bonus, it comes with the meal, which is nice, and it's a good portion for one person. But it just pales in comparison when you compare it to how amazing the starters & entrees were. 2) The dessert menu. Just wasn't inspired by much. Bottom line, although a healthy fear of resort restaurants is absolutely warranted, Hukilau Lanai is a lovely option with excellent food & priced more reasonably than you might expect, all things considered. It was especially nice to be able to walk there from our condo in Wailua.
(4)
Nancy t.
We went back. Hubby had the "spaghetti and meatballs" island style. Omg. It was heavenly. We also tried the ahi nachos and the ribs as an appetizer. All delicious. I may have to come back to Kapaa just to eat here. Love it
(5)
Lizzi M.
The food was delicious!! Desserts were scrumptious! Great atmosphere!! Our server was very personable, friendly, and attentive! We will be back!!
(5)
Allison B.
Excellent food. Excellent service. Great drink options. Definitely a must when you want a nice dining experience for a nice evening. We've been there 4 times in two trips... that says a lot!
(5)
Shirl W.
We highly recommend the Hukilau Lanai to everyone. We live on Kauai and have eaten here twice in the last 3 weeks and will eat here the first week in September for our anniversary. We had the tasting menu. I had a tiny problem with one course being too salty and others at the table thought that the sausage was too strong. I had the same dish and it tasted wonderful the prior visit. The manager came to talk to us after I mentioned this to our waiter and more than made up for the rare problem. Our "birthday woman" received a couple of nice surprises with dessert and we got to try a new flavor of ice cream that is being developed. Thank you for the excellent service and food. We look forward to more delicious times with you. As for the view, we had a garden-side table and could see the pretty grounds as well as the ocean.
(5)
Barrah C.
Reserved via OpenTable for 7pm on 6/21, called them at 6:50p and told them we'd be 5 mins late... arrived at 7:03p and was told it would be a 15m wait... also on the request, had requested garden view... was seated on 2nd tier while garden tables appeared to be open... :( It rained so this might have been ok... Service was pretty good... Debbie was helpful and informative during the order process... however, we didn't see her more than two other times... had to request bread and water refills from another staff member. Salads were pretty good (Wally's) however the Lobster bisque had coconut milk and some curry which both negatively impacted it compare to the pinnacle benchmark being from Bob's Steak and Chop house (Plano). Ordered Mixed Grill, which had Cajun Swordfish (5 Star), Wahoo (4.5 Star), and Grilled Shrimp (3 Star); wife ordered Surf and Turf special as did one of my daughters... it appeared cooked to order and they both cleaned their plates... youngest ordered Macadamia crusted chicken which she raved about... Desserts were the Chocolate cake & ice cream (order at beginning since it takes 20 mins to make) and the macadamia tart with Lapperts cinnamon ice cream... yum! ProTips: 1) use bugspray before you go on your legs/ankles; 2) Diet Cokes are $1.75 per glass, no free refills here 3) Lappert ice cream will be on any dessert with ice cream and if you read my reviews, you know what a fan i am...
(4)
Catalina H.
Wonderful meal at a wonderful price. We only learned about the place the day before we were leaving and it was a great way to end our Kaua'i experience. The service was outstanding and everything was delicious. My husband had the tasting menu with the wine pairings and it was amazing to think that it all cost $40! This was not a 40 dollar meal. We ate at Red Salt the night before and it was more than twice the price for food that was better in taste and quality. I had the Sweet potato ravioli as an appetizer (every bite a slice of heaven), the lobster bisque as the soup for my entree (creamy, hearty deliciousness), the surf and turf as the main course (OMG that fish was like butter in my mouth and the lemon caper creamy sauce was an explosion of flavors in my mouth) and I closed the deal with the Macademia Nut tart which was crunchy and sweet but perfectly paired with the cinnamon ice cream to cut the sweetness. In a word: YUM! Our server was Ryan who was warm, upbeat and showed real interest in us without being overbearing. He even gave my hubbie a little gift for his birthday (chocolate truffles anyone?). The cherry on top was that I left a very precious scarf at the table and only realized that it was missing at the airport on my way to Honolulu and they agreed to mail it to me to LA. That is outstabnding service!
(5)
Joyce L.
Hukilau Lanai is a fine dining restaurant located inside Kauai Coast Resort. We only ate one fine dining meal while in Kauai and it was worth the splurge! I had the mushroom meat loaf which was very tasty. It came with a side of soup or salad. I chose the fish chowder and it was fantastic. The entree price was only $19! Considering a fish burritto at a food truck in Kauai cost $12, I think this pricing is a deal actually. My husband ordered the Mix Grill which he absolutely loved as well. Portion size is generous here (I got two big pieces of meat loaf) so plan accordingly if you want to enjoy dessert. We didn't order any appetizer and we are glad because with the entree size, we would likely have no room for desserts if we had ordered appetizers. But we did order two desserts because I didn't like the passion fruit tart that my husband ordered. I enjoyed the macademia tart very much though and it was the perfect ending to a perfect meal. Service was great and I thought our server did a good job considering how busy the restaurant was and it seems to me he had a lot of tables to tend to. If you only have one splurge meal in Kauai, make it Hukilau Lanai! :)
(5)
Jarod H.
Five stars. Loved the ambiance here. The prime rib is to die for. A good cut of meat and tender n juicy. Filled me up good. Enjoyed the service and atmosphere. A nice local flavor to a tourist area. Enjoy!
(5)
P L.
I expected a lot more given the reviews this restaurant got and was a bit disappointed. The food was okay, but nothing exceptional or incredibly fresh tasting. I got the house lemonade which basically tasted like 20 packets of sugar in a cup. The fish was decent but nothing impressive. Our server was pretty much non-existent - we ended up asking other servers for basic things like more water because she only appeared at the beginning of our meal and at the end when we paid the check.
(3)
K D.
We went here on Mother's Day. The pupu and bar items were great! Mains disappointed us. We'd go back, but only for happy hour.
(3)
Lizey B.
This was our favorite meal of our 10-day honeymoon trip on Kauai. My husband and I can be food snobs and our expectations were low based on other restaurants we had already ate at in Kauai. The service was outstanding--our waiter was great and we arrived early for our reservation and were seated early. We shared the clam appetizer, which was delicious. The lobster bisque and caesar salad were also great. My husband had the surf and turf and I had the mixed grill--both were great and portions were large. I would highly recommend this restaurant. It was one of the pricier meals we ate, but it was worth it.
(5)
Chun P.
I don't want to write the same stuff everyone else already has...so 3 Things: 1) The Butterfish...FUCing AMAZING!!!!!!!! 2) All entrees include soup or salad!!!! (I'm such a cheapass...) 3) If you've already had the ahi poke at Koloa Fish Market or Pono Market, skip the $13 Ahi Poke Nachos. I think some of the male waitstaff are potheads...but they were all friendly and efficient, eat here! :D
(5)
Susie K.
Really enjoyed my experience here. Originally we planned to come for the happy hour tasting - but everything on the regular menu looked too good to pass up. We started with the lobster and goat cheese wonton --yummy! Each entree gets a choice of soup or salad (old school awesome!) -- I had mixed greens very fresh. My husband upgraded to the Lobster Bisque - which was totally worth it and he ate it up before I could get more than one spoonful! I had the seafood platter - they change up the offerings based on what the local farmers have. Was really tasty and fresh. My husband had Ono with a honey glaze and cranberry dressing. He was worried it would be too sweet - but it was perfection. We saved room for dessert and tried the macadamia nut tart -- super yum!! I also like that they take reservations. Very popular place so I recommend you make reservations ahead of time.
(5)
Aloha L.
Excellent choice for dining in Kapaa. We constantly recommend them!
(5)
Sandy C.
Overall service was quick. I had expectations that the seafood will be great. I ordered the Ahi (rare = quick sear on both sides). I was quite surprised when my cut was stringy. I had to eat around that stuff. I didn't press the issue when the waitperson came by later. I did share that the cut was not ideal. He seemed surprised but did not offer anything. Mostly because I ate my meal already. The dessert, the chocolate cake with warm fudge in the middle topped with vanilla ice cream. That erased most of my entree's experience. It was REALLY good. But not good enough for me to have wanted to go back for dinner.
(2)
Heather H.
Based on the reviews we chose the Hukilau Lanai's early price fix wine pairing dinner for our anniversary (must be seated before 5:45). It was perfect. Beautiful location, fairly good service, great drinks, good food, nice wine pairing, and with tip and tax it was $100 for 2!!! Make your reservation early, though, they were turning people away.
(5)
Milena P.
Great place! Our best meal during our honeymoon in Kauai was served at this spot. Ask to be seated in the Lanai :) My husband was sick and they were nice enough to accomodate our request for him: a plain grilles chicken and white jasmine rice. Hubby thought it was the best plain grilled chicken he has ever had lol! I had the grilled onu with jasmine rice and asparagus. Sooooooo fresh and tasty! My best meal during the entire trip. It came with the soup of the day.. Delish! Ps. Great jewlery sold by a very nice lady. Hubby got me a pretty coral necklace !
(5)
Michael M.
Attended here for Kauai Community College International Education program graduation. It was my first time being here, throughout my whole life on Kaua'i. The food was really delicious!!! The staff was very accommodating, and cleaned the plates off the table quick. The dessert was by far really good, very nice presentation and delicious.
(4)
Daniel H.
I think Hukilau has gone downhill in the last two years. I live nearby. I used to come here for happy hours and pupus fairly often and it was pretty good. But in the last couple years Hukilau has gotten very popular with the tourists and you need to make reservations a couple of weeks advance, which we did, to take out a friend who was visiting Kauai. Unfortunately, this is my second below average experience here in last two months. I probably won't go back until I hear they change management. Tonight, the poke tortilla appetizer looked like a giant mountain of schlop. IIt could have been dinner for two. 'll admit it t was HUGE, so if that's your thing, the maybe you like it. I ordered two appetizers and a salad and it was enough below average food for an elephant and NJ Mayor Christie and Mayor Carvalho. Our dogs and chickens will be eating leftovers for a week. The calamari was not bad though. It was understaffed. The waiter forgot our bread, and when I asked for it the runner pedantically explained that the bread comes after the appetizers - instead of just saying "oh sorry". It was like 20 minutes between glasses of wine. Overall, tonight's dinner seemed more like a Costco spinoff for unsuspecting tourists. Our waiter was nice and he was hustling - it wasn't his fault. Its just the food was just not high-end and it looks like its turned to a profit-off-of-tourists machine. Please Hukilau, you used to be good. That is how you got a good reputation. Spend a little money on more sous chefs, servers and bartenders - and save costs by adjusting your portions to serve the less than morbidly obese. We skipped desert as we boxed takeout for the pets. As of 2-2014, on the East side of the island, I'd nix Hukilau, and go with Oasis, or old faithful Kintaro, or Bushido, or even the East Side has gotten up to maybe a "B ". I think Joscelyns on S. Shore is best on Kauai these days.
(2)
Holly C.
We ate at the Hukilau Lanai 3 times on our trip to Kauai. The first time we ate there was during our wedding reception. Many of our guests commented that the food was the best they've had at a reception. The buffet food was served hot, even though our party arrived late. We cannot thank Manda, the event manager, enough for her helpfulness in putting together this event with us. She was always very quick to return emails and calls, and her quote for the evening's bill was right on! The next two dining experiences were just for dinners. We made reservations, because it gets very busy at the Hukilau, and for good reason. This was by far the best meals we had while on the island. The fish was so tender and fresh! We will certainly be back on our next trip to Kauai!
(5)
Leah L.
Without yelp, I'd never have found this restaurant. It's hidden away in a condo type resort, and doesn't look like much from the outside. The seating is very nice though, all on a lanai (hence the name, I suppose!), and facing the grounds with the ocean in the background. We had two great appetizers- the ribs and and candied ahi. Both exceeded my expectations. My husband and I both had the Hawaiian catch, which included two local fishes and a skewer of shrimp. They were also nicely presented and good. The macadamia tart was awesome. I'd eat here again.
(4)
Betty N.
**YES, ONE OF THE BEST SEAFOOD DINNERS I'VE HAD** Had 7:15PM reservations on a Sunday night. Arrived early and waited in the lobby area for a few minutes. Sat outside with tiki torches. Romantic, yes. Good service, yes. Fantastic seafood, double yes. ORDERED: **ISLAND LAVA FLOW ($7.50) Not too sweet and had enough rum kick. **LOBSTER CURRY BISQUE (Price N/A) Lobster, red curry, sherry, AND coconut milk. Say no more. Loved dipping the soup with the provided delicious bread. **HUKILAU MIXED GRILL ($27) A sampling of Island grilled seafood and sugar cane skewered shrimp. OMG, this dish was INSANELY RIDICULOUSLY good. The fresh fish and those shrimps could feed a village. Great portions and the Thai coconut sauce was the highlight of my meal. "Original Hawaiian Chocolate Factory" WARM CAKE ($10) 20 MINUTES TO PREPARE . . . oozing chocolate center and vanilla bean ice cream was the perfect ending. Very good cake. Dinner for two with cocktails was around $100. GREAT SPLURGE DINNER. Definitely the best dinner we had on the island. WILL RETURN. HIGHLY RECOMMEND.
(5)
skorp g.
Among the best dining experiences we had on Kauai. We made early reservations, as we wanted to try the tasting menu, which is only offered from 5:00 to 5:45. Fifty bucks for five courses with wine- what a deal! We ended up ordering one tasting menu, plus several courses off the regular menu. We are every bite! Delicious food... The cocktails weren't our favorite, but it hardly put a damper on our evening. We look forward to eating here again!
Our favorite restaurant on Kauai! We go here every time we are on the island. The food is fresh. I love the salad with beets and corn.
(5)
Eric A.
This is, in my opinion, the best restaurant on the island. Great fish plates, great appetizers, imaginative plates! Drinks are strong and delish!!! You can roll off the beach on your tanks and flip flops and enjoy an appropriately priced meal.
(5)
Sayler F.
My husband and I came here for our anniversary. The athmosphere was great and wonderful. The whole experience was fabulous. From making reservation to the end of our meal. Too bad that we were too full to order any dessert. Debbie, our server was wonderful. The food tasted excellent, cooked perfectly and was the right portions for us. At the end of our dinner, we got complimentary chocolate truffles. I would definitely come back again when I am back in Kauai.
(5)
Annie S.
POKE NACHOS. Get them. You definitely don't want to miss out on them. It's a fun twist on the hawaiian classic poke, served up with thick cut fried tortilla chips. That was definitely the highlight of our meal there. Everything was delicious, from the kabocha soup to our main dishes, mostly featuring different types of fish. However, I would skip out on the sweet potato dumplings, they're taro dumplings with a lot of coconut milk in/on them. The flavor and texture just didn't work for me. Remember to make reservations early on, as they book up really fast, otherwise, your other option is to sit in their lounge/bar area, which isn't a bad set up, as you can order from the full menu, but you might have a hard time eating off the coffee table in front of you.
(4)
Amanda F.
Had a beautiful dinner here with my hubs. Grass-fed steak and local caught fish make me happy!! Delicious food and gorgeous presentation. They had a musician playing in the front room-the music was great and wasn't overpowering to our conversation.
(5)
Kawika K.
What can I say, I've never been disappointed here! I've eaten just about every dish on the menu, and I've never been disappointed. The first date I had with my soon to be wife was here, and we've been coming back regularly for the past 2 years. The menu is not overly cluttered or overly pretentious, and it has a nice selection of items from each category. They also have a nice wine list selection. Aside from the menu, their staff has always been tops in my book. Fast, courteous, and helpful... Never an issue.
(4)
Bethany I.
This is one of the best restaurants on Kauai... We got the lobster & cheese wontons to start.... Excellent! The bread that was served was delicious.... My husband & I both ordered the mixed fish grill. It was the best fish we had on the island! The fish melted in our mouths! The grilled shrimp was also delicious... The dessert menu looked great, but we were too full to order dessert. This place was hopping on a Saturday night... Call & make reservations! Closed Mondays.
(5)
Miranda O.
10 STARS! One of the best restaurants I've ever been to! Service was impeccable and the food was unbelievable! I ordered an assortment of pupus for my meal. The goat cheese and lobster wontons and the bbq ribs! Flavors were so unique and so delicious! The Wally salad was amazing too. They also offer a gluten free menu! Live band with soft music, cool ocean breezes, what more could you want?! Love this restaurant!
(5)
Greg F.
This is one of the best restaurants on the island bar none! The ambience is impeccable and the food is first class awesome. Located on the east side of the island, in a Shell Vacation Property, this fine dining restaurant will no disappoint you. The food choices are many, appetizers are a must here, and portions, seasoning and plating are incredible. This is one dining experience you don't want to miss, service is very attentive and by all means get the lava cake desert! Seating inside as well. I have eaten here with my wife since 2006 and have enjoyed it everytime.
(5)
Erik B.
Curious how this place got 4.5 stars. Yelp seems to be a bit misleading in the Hawaiian Islands. I'll admit that maybe I got the wrong thing, so take this review with a grain of salt. We got the 5 course tasting menu with wine pairing. I wanted to like several of the items that came out, as part of that menu, but everything was so salty. The fish course (Ono) was really good. The problem I have is the dessert. The two dessert options were Creme Brulee and a Cheese Plate. I ordered the Creme, wife got the cheese plate. Hers wasn't bad, I just don't care for a cheese plate when I order dessert. The creme brulee...not so much. It was vanilla pudding. Not creme brulee...vanilla pudding. And quite frankly, I would bet $ that it was instant pudding. The consistency was not that of a creme brulee and it almost tasted artificial...hence the negativity. The cost was affordable, so that's a star. The waitress was really nice and helpful (another star). Again, maybe I ordered the wrong thing. Curious if I would feel different had I ordered off the menu, as opposed to trying the 5-course tasting special. For the price, you could do worse...shit ain't cheap on Kauai, but I was expecting more.
(2)
Surfdawg M.
We visit Kauai 2-3 times/yr & this has become our favorite restaurant. An eclectic menu of mainly local ingredients, but with dishes prepared with a world view. Lobster raviolis, prime rib, fresh fish, island greens, local lamb sausage apps. Way too many items to list that unusual & tastefully prepared. Many items have an Asian flair, but the chef's style is so varied it's hard to label. Great wine list with very reasonable prices too -- French, American, Spanish. The cocktail list is amazing. Thank god I don't live here as I would spend all my disposal income here every night.
(5)
Don G.
My favorite restaurant on our Island. CONSISTENTLY great food, great service, wonderful local ambience and REASONABLY PRICED! It doesn't get any better than the Lobster Bisque or the Sweet Potato Ravioli or the Crab Wontons and I won't list their entire menu but since they have been open I have never had a bad meal here.
(5)
Kailyn G.
Came for dinner - no reservation so we didn't get to sit on the lanai, but the restaurant was just fine for us. FOOD: We got the poke nachos (mmmm good) for an appetizer and for entrees we got the Ono and the Mixed Grill. So delicious - though I thought the Ono was better. It was in a nice creamy sauce that paired great with everything on the plate. And the fish was cooked perfectly. ENVIRONMENT: Beautiful view off the lanai. Even though we were in the restaurant, you can get a pretty nice view. Spacious with lots of natural light. I love that it's such a nice place without being overly dressy. Felt a little bit country club-ish. SERVICE: Good. I got the feeling our waitress was kinda new - she didn't offer a lot of information that I would think was standard (like what fish was in the mixed grill). But she was friendly and our entire dinner went very smoothly.
We Hukilau Lanai while in Kauai. It was a bit of a hike from the Hyatt but it was worth it. I thought it was a great meal and a great garden view. We had a lanai table and the garden is impeccable. The food was fresh and well done. We started with the poke nachos which were one of our favorite dishes of the trip. The flavor was wonderful. My wife had the mixed grill with the Walu and butterfish. The walu melts in your mouth. I had the ono and loved it-I think ono is my favorite fish when done well. The service was good and our meal was terrific. We skipped dessert and opted for ice cream close to the Hyatt. I would definitely go back and I felt the prices were reasonable.
(4)
Jon S.
If you want to try this place (and believe me, you do), try making a reservation a couple days in advance. We made the mistake of trying to get one on the day of and weren't successful. Instead, we tried our luck and got there around 5:30, and were told we could get a table in around 90 minutes or find a spot in the bar/lounge. The bar lounge isn't really conducive to eating dinner, since there are mainly couches and low tables. We went for a walk and came back, and ended up waiting the estimated hour and a half. I was surprised this restaurant was located in a hotel lobby. The restaurant itself looked a little dated (as did the hotel), but all of the tables were located parallel to a wall of (open) windows and there was a patio outside as well. There was a nice view of a courtyard as well as the ocean. The food was delicious. Definitely try the Poke Nachos. There was a generous serving of ahi poke, topping wonton chips covered in nori seasoning along with teriyaki and wasabi sauces. All entrees are served with a side salad (I'd recommend Wally's salad, that papaya seed dressing was so good). I ordered a medley of grilled seafood that came with two types of fish and four shrimp served with a pineapple-y sauce and orzo. I loved every bite. The service was great too. Our waiter was very attentive, and was constantly refilling our water, and checking on us to make sure we were okay. Overall, it was a little pricey, but totally worth it. If I'm ever in Kauai again, I'll definitely be back. Worth the drive no matter where you're staying on the island.
(4)
Fernando B.
The environment of the restaurant is good and it is inside a good resort (Kauai Coast Resort). When we went there, we ordered an appetizer with lobster that tasted nice. But when we order the two main entrees, we didn't like: 1) the presentation of the plate wasn't nice; 2) the combination of the ingredients wasn't good; 3) the food is so heavy;4) the service was regular. Besides the romantic environment, they need to make better combinations of the ingredients of the plates.
(3)
Michael M.
Went to the Hukilau Lanai on a Friday night to celebrate my birthday. As suggested in other posts, make a reservation, they get fairly busy and you can wind up waiting a while for a table. Dinner overall was good. Service was good and we didn't wait too long for our order or to get our food. I ordered the Hukilau Mixed Grill (fish and shrimp) and my wife ordered a fish dish. My fish was cooked perfectly and was very good. My wife's fish however was undercooked and we had to send it back. The server apologized and a fresh plate was brought out in a short amount of time. Our server and a Manager checked back to be sure the dish was okay. Again, good service and, once cooked properly, the food was very tasty. I would give 5 stars if we didn't have to send my wife's plate back, not a complaint as they handled the issue quickly. Oh yes, and my daughter liked the chicken fingers and the "Original Hawaiian Chocolate Factory" Warm Cake. Lastly, keep in mind this restaurant is not on the beach, you can see the beach from the patio seating, but you are looking through the pool area of the Kauai Coast Resort.
(4)
Kimmy K.
The Hukilau Lanai offers a Food & Wine Tasting Menu featuring local products available daily from 5-5:45pm. You may get food only for $28 or food and wine for $40. On the mainland this meal would be an exceptional value. On Kauai, it was a steal. The Hukilau Lanai Tasting Menu is one of the best ways to taste a variety of entrees while at Hukilau Lanai. Each plate is beautifully presented with quite generous portions. The evening we went the menu for the night featured Island Gazpacho, Candied Ahi, Sausage and Warabi, Fresh Catch of Mahi Mahi, and Big Island Vanilla Crème Bruelle. Instead of only being able to order one big entree, we got a full taste of Hawaii through the Tasting Menu. We both completely enjoyed everything we had on Hukilau Lanai's Tasting Menu. This is a meal you won't want to miss while on Kauai. We know we will be back to visit Hukilau Lanai, again next time we are on the island.
(4)
Lauren G.
So glad that Yelp led me to this gem while we were on Kauai.... it was one of our favorite dinner spots of the trip. Its rare you can find fine dining for a decent price on any of the islands.. but Hukilau Lanai not only offers a well-priced menu, but a really reasonable wine list as well. All of our entrees came with soup or salad.. I had the lobster bisque which was good despite there not being any actual pieces of lobster in it, and my husband had the caesar salad, which was better than your average for sure. We both ended up getting the surf n turf, which was a 9 oz NY strip, a piece of grilled walu in a demi glace with mashed potatoes... everything was fabulousss. The walu was to die for! The only thing that could have been better was how long it was taking to get our drinks/wine. Granted, it was a busy night and I know the bar was swamped.. our waiter was incredibly apologetic, but it was still a little on the frustrating side. If you can make it for an early dinner you can also take advantage of the prix fixe menu which is an incredible deal with the wine pairing. Either way, come enjoy the gorgeous view, a delicious meal and a couple drinks... it will be one of your best experiences on Kauai!
(4)
Fred P.
This is probably our favorite restaurant on Kauai. It is a great combination of quality and value. The food is interesting and well-prepared and the service is always excellent. The views from the lanai are very nice. This is a great place to stop for your final meal before heading to the airport for an evening flight. If you are seated before 5:45 you can enjoy the tasting menu which is a really creative assortment of five courses. Shout out to a great server Debbie. We've never had a bad dish at the Hukilau Lanai!
(5)
Brent V.
One of my favorite restaurants on Kauai.....
(4)
Sebastian Z.
Don't be fooled by the random location and strange / dingy appearance of the building. This place is the best dinner you can have on the entire island, along with amazing service, and a fantastic wine list. This was by far the best meal I had anywhere in Hawaii...make a point to go here if you're in Kauai.
(5)
Sarah C.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME! My bf took me here for my birthday. We made reservations for 6.30pm. We were given a seat outside overlooking a garden where there was a wedding going on. I felt that all the service people were actually happy to be there. Since it was my birthday we went all out. Island Lava Flow - With strawberry. It was good and tasty. Sausage & Warabi... (housemade spicy longanisa, marinated local fern shoots, tomato, ginger, onion, bell peppers) - It wasn't too spicy but very good. You get four really big pieces. The veggies on the bottom was so delectable! We wished we had more! Lobster Curry Bisque... (lobster, red curry, sherry, coconut milk) - We both got this for an additional $2 with our entrees. I love lobster bisque. It was good and they give you a lot! Hukilau Mixed Grill... (A sampling of Island grilled seafood and sugar cane skewered shrimp. Ask your server for the daily offerings and preparation) - I love shrimp so I know when I am having good shrimp! It came with 4 shrimps on a wooden chopstick. It was a bit difficult to get the shrimp off but maybe I was over- eager. It was cooked perfectly! It came with two decently sized fish. I liked one more than the other. One was tougher than the other. Comes with a small serving of orzo. I though the orzo was a pleasant surprise. It was a good balance to the heavy protein surrounding it. I wasn't able to finish my food and was too full to get dessert. O did I mention that their complementary bread is the best bread I had during our week long vacation. We went to three nice restaurants that served complementary bread and this place's bread is by far the best. Comes with an olive oil/balsamic for dipping. We didn't even have to ask for more. They just switched our empty basket with more bread. Definitely wouldn't mind coming back!
(5)
T S.
I would give it a 10 star! How can food be this heavenly! We started off with bread which was delicious! Then we ordered ahi poke with nachos. Then we got the salad and lobster bisque. The dressing of the salad was extra-ordinary! The chef and our server were kind enough to offer us some dressing to go since we loved it! Unfortunately we couldn't bring that to mainland. The lobster bisque was also very good. I would go there anytime just to have the bisque. For the entree, we got one mixed grill and Hebi. Two pieces of fish in the mixed grill along with shrimp. I can just say oh my god for all the fishes and the sauces with them. It was the best preparation, made to perfect! We were considering between this and the Merriman's. I am so happy we chose this one!
(5)
Anthony L.
We normally cook for ourselves when in Hawaii; and for good reason. But, we've also had our fair share of dining experiences, and nothing I can remember quite compares to the Hukilau Lanai. The ambience was second to none (we sat out on the lanai for a sunset dinner with our three small kids); all of the food was very good, the service was great, and the price was very reasonable. We'll definitely come back next time we're here.
(5)
McKane D.
This place was amazing. We took a party of 11 and everyone loved it. The food was phenomenal. Service was prompt and attentive but waiter acted like he didn't care or want to be there.
(5)
Justin S.
I would give this about a 3.5 star review (based on the tasting menu). It was a fun experience doing the tasting menu and trying all the food they had to offer. The portions I saw for the main menu looked really big and this menu gives you just enough food to feel satisfied yet not bloated beyond belief. For the value I say the tasting menu is pretty good $28 for food and $40 with wine (if you like to try different wines this is fun). The food I and my wife felt was a bit on the salty side and there could have been a better variety of flavors for this price point. The gazpacho was tasty with the sorbet. If you are a fan of gazpacho you will enjoy it. One of my favorites. The candied ahi and sausage while tasty after a while felt a bit overwhelmingly salty so those sensitive to salty flavoring might not enjoy it. The mahi with the vinaigrette was okay not too salty but not the most outstanding mahi I have had. the cheese plate was pretty good, but only get this if you are a fan of cheese. The honeycombs are also tasty and compliment the stronger cheese on the plate very well. Overall it was a fun experience and the tasting menu was a pretty good value and not bad taste wise but this was not my favorite meal in Hawaii, I might have been expecting something a little more.
(3)
Chris M.
We first ate here for our wedding dinner. It was a small group and we had a dining room to ourselves. It was a nice way to end an amazing day, and the service was great. The food was only average, but I was willing to overlook it because everything else about the moment was so nice. When my wife and I returned to Hukilau a few years later, our experience wasn't very memorable. Bottom line: their fish is just not that great. I don't know if it's the quality of the seafood, the flavors, the preparation, or a combination, but it just isn't quite there for me. I currently live in the middle of the United States, and I'd expect a dish at Hukilau to be better than any seafood I can get in Chicago. It's just not. The ambience is very nice, though, especially if you manage to sit outside. Lot's of people seem to like it, so it's worth a shot. For fine dining on Kauai, I prefer Tidepools at the Hyatt in Kola. The food isn't significantly better, but it has an even nicer atmosphere and the Hyatt grounds are a really fantastic place to walk around at night after dinner.
(4)
Julia W.
Started with the crab and goat cheese wontons, which were tasty. Entrees typically come with salad and soup. We got Wally's salad. It was decent but not amazing. The lobster bisque was definitely worth the extra money. If you are a fan of Thai flavorings it's a good soup for you. Coconut milk dribbled on top for extra creamy goodness. The filet mignon was cooked well and the reduction was delicious. Definitely make reservations. Even the people who had reservations had to wait (45 min!!!) We didn't make reservations and just sat in one of the comfy lounge chairs, which turned out better than sitting at a table anyway. Service was not great. Initially we sat at the bar and the bartender didn't even bat an eye at us until we said something. I could've pulled the menu or a drink from over the counter without him noticing. Kind of felt like because we were younger and didn't "look" like we were going to spend a lot of money that resulted in us being ignored by the staff most of the night. Could just have been the night though ... Everybody has bad days sometimes.
(3)
Patrick M.
Amazing food and atmosphere was relaxing... Was recommended to us after our wedding and was perfect
(4)
Lan B.
Fresh seafood, fine local ingredients and great service combined to make this one of our best meals on Kauai this trip. The complimentary starter of focaccia bread with a dipping sauce of balsamic vinegar, olive oil and chili water was a tasty teaser. Our calamari appetizer was well seasoned and delicately fried and chard and mushroom tart was savory and delicious. Our entrees came with soup or salad and we upgraded to the lobster bisque and fried goat cheese salad. The bisque was smooth and well balanced with just a pleasant hint of curry. The ball of fried goat cheese was a delight to cut into and paired well with the fresh arugula. I had the seafood mixed grill over orzo, starring walu, shrimp and another fish I can't recall. The walu was decadently moist and buttery. My husband had seared Ahi over cous cous in a light tomato sauce; very good. After all the dishes, we could only muster up room for one dessert, the coconut tart, my only disappointment with the meal. I could not detect any coconut because passion fruit prevailed, even in the sauce decorating the plate. Overall, we enjoyed a solid meal and highly recommend this restaurant.
(4)
Duane H.
John of the bar made me the single best mai tai of the trip. We had a couple of appetizers at the bar as well that were truly stunning. One was a fresh Ahi poke nacho concoction that was amazing. The other was a handmade sausage and fiddlehead Fern salad that took us by surprise it was that good. This place was worth going out of our way to find.
(5)
Jill D.
Had it out with the ex-boyfriend here after a night of epic drinking so it was one of the more uncomfortable meals I've ever had LOL. However, even slightly hungover, I was able to appreciate how delicious everything was and how good the service was (it was St. Patrick's Day) for a night most people spend getting hammered. We were also left alone enough for our awkward conversation to unfold appropriately and I appreciated that since it was fairly obvious we were having a serious chit chat and didn't need extra solicitous service. My salad was huge and delicious and the fish I had for my main course was super tasty as well. I'd definitely come back here again...obviously sans ex-boyfriend LOL. The food was excellent and maybe took some of the sting out of me calling my ex out on his BS and lies. Maybe.
(4)
Taylor S.
I would just like to say how wonderful and fabulous and marvelous and great the service and the food is at the Hukilau pool bar specially the service from Sylvie . I eat there at least three times a week and her service is impeccable. And if anybody has a Aloha on this island its that girl
(5)
Kevin N.
While we have been to Kauai many times, this was the first time at this restaurant. We called a day in advance to make reservations, but could only get 5:30p for a party of 7. The restaurant is nice and has a good amount of outdoor patio seating with a nice view. Service was excellent and we received our drinks, appetizers, and entrees in a timely manner. The food was well prepared. This included the ahi appetizers, and the mahi mahi, ono and meatloaf entrees. Dessert was also great with a good selection. Overall a great experience.
Fantastic food! We ordered a prime rib with the mashed potatoes and the the opah with jasmine rice and both were exceptional. The prime rib was cooked to perfection and the fish was extremely fresh. We both ordered the Wally's salad with out meal and had a fantastic dressing that was somewhat similar to ranch with an island twist. The lava cake was fresh and tasty as well. Overall an amazing experience!
(5)
Jay R.
01.14.15 with 5 others well deserved 5 stars. The service and food was excellent. We arrived early and ordered drinks from the bar and waited in the lounge area. As we got seated from start to finish the wait staff was so attentive and nice. The table ordered apps of calamari and mushroom tart - no complaints here My husband and i shared the Ahi and the Mahi Mahi dishes - both yummy. Great portions of salad and great tastes in each dish. A must visit for any tourist who wants great fresh seafood and even better service.
(5)
Denise E.
Delicous dinner experience! We showed up at about 7:30p with no reservation and were informed the wait was about an hour and a half. So we made dinner reservations for the next evening. Since we were there and hungry, we decided to have a drink and appetizer in the bar which was more like an open air lounge, with cozy chairs and loveseats, plus a few tables. The only seats open were two cozy looking chairs flanking a small table, literally right next to the entertainer. I hesitated to take the seats because I'm not a big fan of ukulele music, especially right next to a big speaker, but the spot was so inviting in every other way that we went for it. THEY HAVE A SPECIAL GLUTEN FREE MENU! Huge for me, as I have Celiac Disease and cannot tollerate even minute amounts of wheat, rye, or barley. I ordered 2 gluten free appetizers: ahi poke and BBQ ribs. My husbad, being the evil man he is, ordered lobster/goat cheese wontons off the regular menu. The ahi poke was the best "sushi" I've had since my Celiac diagnosis. It was melt in the mouth tender, creamy, flavorful, fresh tuna! Seasoned with wasabi cream sauce, avacado chunks, with bits of flaky salt that spread across my palette surprising me here and there. All served on a bed of rice. I greedily offered my husband only one bite. But I felt justified as I watched him savoring each crunchy creamy delicious bite of his lobster wontons that I could not sample. We shared the BBQ pork ribs, which were so tender that the meat kept pulling off the bone when we would try to lift one onto our plates. Needless to say, we polished off every bite. I had a non-aloholic drink of fresh orange guava and passion fruit juice which was fantastic. I was surprised that my husband's coctail was even better. He had the citrus buzzz... Refreshing with honey flavor that lingered after each sip. We ended up switching to a real table in the bar and having a full dinner which was as flawless as our first courses! We are looking forward to returning for dinner tonight in the actual dining room. Oh! By the way, Ben the ukulele singer was fantastic. The best I've heard. He played the instrument like it was a twelve string guitar!
(5)
Sammy Z.
Food is excellent, a great variety. The drink menu is pretty awesome. The ambience is one of the most beautiful. The live music, what a plus. Highly recommend.
(5)
Shannon S.
Back again and we loved it again! Food was great, we had the ono & ahi. Hubby said the ahi was cooked perfectly. Waiter was attentive without being invasive. Reservations a good idea!
(5)
Chuck B.
After traveling to Kauai for 17 years, this is a gem that I have been missing all this time. Great food, service, and live music. We started with the Adam's Poke Nachos and the Sweet Potato Ravioli on recommendations from locals. After having poke all over the island, they had a refreshing twist. Likewise with the ravioli. I had the Hukilau Mixed Grill with two different fish and shrimp. My wife had Wally's Steak Crown Royal. Both outstanding.
(5)
Jennifer R.
For this side of the island, this restaurant is the best - nice view, great food excellent service and VERY reasonable prices
(5)
Ann W.
One of the first places that our concierge recommended to us was Hukilau Lanai, which she said was a popular local favorite. I can definitely see why this would be a cool spot to go to for dinner and drinks. The service is great. We had interactions with at least 5 different employees and they were all consistently friendly and helpful. I would say that the menu consists of American style food with an Asian twist. We ordered an ahi tuna appetizer, which was seared with soy and brown sugar and served with rice. It was ok at first and then it began to grow on me. There is no distinct sweet or savory flavor, and some of the pieces were more tasty than others. For entree, we both ordered the mixed plate. Hubby also had lobster curry bisque, which tasted like curry sauce, and I had Wally's salad, loaded with veggies and served with a delicious papaya seed dressing...yum! On the mixed plate, there was grilled shrimp skewered on sugar cane, soy marinated walu, and Cajun styled moonfish, served with risotto. The walu was easily our favorite. Soft, flakey, and rich, I can see why walu is also called Hawaiian butterfish. The moonfish did not have the same soft texture, so I didn't really enjoy it as much. The shrimp were cooked perfectly, though I wasn't sure what the sugar cane added to it. I didn't eat the risotto since risotto isn't my favorite. For dessert, we shared star fruit sorbet, served with macadamia biscotti. The sorbet was delicious and tasted exactly like a bite of juicy, sweet, and tangy star fruit. It was the perfect end to the meal. I also have to give props to their drink menu. I thought it had something for everyone--even great selections for non drinkers such as honey lemonade and mint & ginger. I opted for the Citrus Buzzzz, which is a delicious and refreshing blend of Limoncello, honey, and guava. It is probably one of my all time favorite cocktails. Overall, it was a pleasant dining experience. I would suggest making reservations and trying to sit out on the lanai, and definitely treat yourself to drinks and dessert!
(3)
W. T.
We came We ate We conquered!! The tasting menu was the BOMB. I was so freakin stuffed after!, We did the wine paring which was ok... Next time I'll use the $12 for a big glass of something I want instead! We had the standard tasting menu but my husband substituted the sausage for the mushroom tomato tart since fish is the only meat he eats. We also shared a sweet potato ravioli appetizer cause it sounded so good. And guess what.... It...so...freaking...was!!! The sausage course was -meh- The patio is absolutely delightful, which made the pouring down rained and lightning all the more cozy It took us close to 3 hours to get through the meal, so I understand why they only offer it for the first 45 minute sittings. We've decided that next time we will order the ravioli again plus the ahi appetizers. Hubby had the chocolate lava cake. Oozy chocolateay goodness!!
I love this place! Our first time here was back in August of this year and we didn't have reservations. Which was fine since we were able to snatch a table at the bar area. We know better and make reservations when we plan to dine here. The food is amazingly great! I enjoyed this place so much more than the other places that we tried on the island. We had their Ahi poke nachos and their fisherman's soup which we both enjoyed. As for the entree their prime rib is very good and cooked to our liking. As far as their service goes, hmm... we had 4 people come to our table checking on us. Our main server introduced herself then was no where to be flagged. So, we would order from the other servers as opposed to our main server who would skip our table constantly. Everyone did a great job, but the main server. Once it was time for our check the main server would come by and be extra friendly and thanked us for joining them for dinner. Which we didn't have interaction from her until the end of dinner. We loved this place so much that we had our wedding dinner reception here. We had a party of 10 and didn't reserve a private dining area, we dined in the main area. Everyone did a fabulous job and served us as if we had a private room reserved.
(5)
Kristin H.
THE best meal I've had on many trips to Kauai! And their kids menu my 8 and 10 year old loved as it had mocktails for them to choose. Short rib, sweet potato ravioli and lobster-goat cheese wonton pupus were fantastic. Fried goat cheese salad and lobster bisque were yummy (the kids were served fresh pineapple for their before dinner course, a nice touch). Ono with jasmine rice, turmeric, coconut and pineapple salsa and mixed grill of mahi mahi, striped marlin and shrimp over orzo was scrumptious. Artisian cheese plate and warm chocolate cake completed the meal. Cocktail and wine list were great. Our waiter was superb and the view from our patio table leant itself to a great family picture our waiter graciously took.
My step daughter had her wedding and reception here! The staff was warm friendly and went above and beyond all I our expectations! He dinner was fabulous - my Mahi Mahi was cooked superbly and all the appetizers were beyond delicious!!
(5)
Ali K.
First night in town we headed here. It was amazing food, great service, and kept the kids happy! We will definitely go back!!
(5)
Jae K.
I seriously drove 1 hour to from the Grand Hyatt to Dine at this restaurant. Service- Worst. I made reservation for 8:45pm. I got there at 8:46pmish and been told that they are running late and I was to wait another 10 min. I asked if I could go to the cocktail lounge to wait and I was told that was fine. I was sitting down and the lady skipped over me. I got up to ask if I had to go order it at the counter and they said I could sit and order. I waited and the lady came and I asked if there was a menu. She pointed at the menu that was on the table, and left again. I was again with this menu for another 5 mins and before she came, my table was ready and I was sitted Food- Absolutely not the best in the island. I had the Calamari and the Sausage. I can tell they use the fresh ingredients but absolutely not par with the any of the nice restaurants. I had the Island meatloaf as the main dish. The food is ok, but nothing special at all. I would give the food 3/5 stars maximum. Again I can tell the ingredients are fresh but there is nothing wow or special about them. If I was in mainland, this would probably compare to golden corral, or home town buffet status. Vibe- This place looks run down and very outdated. Looks like motel 6 renovated to look like motel 6 ultimate. I came down from Grand Hyatt to dine here and it was seriously a disappointment. I can't believe this place seriously had a 4 star rating. Ive been a yelper for years and this is probably the biggest disappointment yet. Finally, I would really skip this restaurant and trust me. I never leave a 1 star rating review but this is not worth the drive espeically if you are staying at the grand hyatt. Try Tidepool, Redsalt, Tapas, Merrimans. You would thank me if you didnt come here, if you are a real foodie. Worst decision I have made in this whole trip was to dine here on my last day. Not worth it!!
Mixed grill and filet mignon! First night ~ heard reservations were needed. Since staying so close decided to chance it and they had one table available (our wait was under 5 min) Salad and bread served was fantastic! The mixed grill with 2 types of fish and shrimp was AMAZING. However my husband (the steak guy) feels his filet could possibly be the best he has ever experienced. Try it for yourself. I shall repeat: Mixed grill and filet mignon. Wonderful for our first meal....now lets see what else this island has to tempt us with!
(5)
Wanda P.
Wow! This is the most allergy-friendly restaurant I've ever eaten in. I called to ask whether we could bring in our own food for my daughter who has Celiac as well as MANY severe food allergies. They said "certainly, but if you let us know what her allergies are, we will talk with the chef and identify what she can eat from our menu." They took down her long list of allergies and called us back to let us know what she could eat. When we arrived, all the servers knew her list of allergies and we're completely and sweetly accommodating. Bonus: the food was fabulous--for all of us! We had appetizers as well as entres, and everything was divine! The only downside is that they book up quickly. I strongly recommend making reservations a few days in advance. We got lucky one night but not later.
(5)
Bellabee L.
Have been here before and enjoyed the Early Bird special. So made reservations early just to be sure to get this again. We were not seated until 6:00pm, even though we arrived early, and our reservations were at 5:45pm. Our waiter would not honor the Early Bird menu howerver. Bad service!! So we ordered from regular menu, which is a bit pricey. The filet mignon and steak were very tender and delicious. The Ono was a bit dry. Wine was excellent! Mai Tai's had NO Rum and we had to order an additional shot of Rum to add to our drinks. Again, the bar/waiter should not have charged us for that. Overall, meal was good, but definitely the Early Bird is the way to go.
(3)
Montgomery N.
What an incredible experience! And, I mean experience... We dined here on Mother's Day, tonight. The food was absolutely delicious. Being Gluten-Free, it's almost always difficult to have a nice, hassle-free dining experience. The Gluten-Free menu and choices were exceptional. Our service professional, Kristine, of Kawaii Cupcakes, was awesome! We really appreciate the dedicated professionalism of the staff. Kristine was super attentive, courteous and friendly, even on a Holiday with a full restaurant. The owners Krissi and Ron are clearly training and managing a fabulous staff. The wine list, cocktails, and beverage menu are exciting to find in Kauai, especially with the logistical constraints. Great Job all around!
(5)
Rochelle P.
We had an extraordinary dinner at Hukilau Lanai. It was the best meal on Kauai, comparable to LA and NY standards. It was one of the best meals of my life, and for the price - $40 - you couldn't beat it on the island. I ordered the 5 course tasting menu which came with a flight of wine with each course. But the bread and Ahi Poke Nachos we started with were divine, and definitely something I could eat every single day of my life. I remembered how exquisite Hawaii's Ahi Poke was but this just proved what I was missing out on.
(5)
Theresa M.
Amazing food! Professional staff well trained in delivering impeccable customer service. THE best place to eat a fine meal on all of Kauai! I would not miss the chance to dine here!
(5)
Salina Z.
We had our rehearsal dinner here the night before our wedding and everything exceeded our expectations! We booked the semi-private room and everything was super organized and responsive, extremely professional. The view was lovely when we arrived and we were quite impressed with the setting. Overall, the food was seriously amazing, not one dish was a miss. The pupus were plentiful: lobster goat cheese wontons (perfectly crispy, pork ribs (fall off the bone tender), and the ahi nachos (flavorful). I was lucky enough to taste each entree which included a choice between pork tenderloin (not at all dry, loved the crispy polenta), filet mignon (with mashed potatoes), and the fish of the day which was mahi mahi with this delicious rice in a coconut sauce. Everything came out hot and fresh, which is not easy with almost 30 people! Desserts were decadent, I highly recommend the creme brulee though everyone seemed to be happy with the mousse and cheesecake as well. The service was top notch, so incredibly warm and friendly. Everyone was always all smiles and wanted to be helpful. One of the waitresses heard my husband mention he was allergic to milk so she had the kitchen put his sauce on the side! They also saved menus for us (they had been printed with our name and date!) and were extremely communicative. A really love experience and we can't wait to go back when we return to the island! Also want to mention we found the prices to be quite reasonable for a rehearsal dinner compared to pretty much every other restaurant on the island that was comparable in atmosphere (trust us, we did our research). Awesome, awesome.
(5)
Taylor L.
This is the best restaurant in Kauai, hands down. We started with the Ahi Poke Nachos. They were amazing. No, first we stared with a sazerac and another cocktail. The cocktail menu here is 1) advanced and 2) tasty. I got the Ahi Tuna dinner with fisherman's catch soup. Both were 5-star. My wife got the meatloaf. It was suitable for 5 people. The portions are big, the food is amazing, and the view is very intimate. Not overly priced, but not cheap either. Go here; you won't be disappointed.
(5)
Maki N.
I asked a local Kauai person where to go for dinner. He told me to go here. Thank god! It was delicious. Staff were so nice. the steak was tender, yummy. It is grass fed from the local farm. get the steak! Three of us went there without a reservation, but the wait was not that long. You can have a drink while you wait for your table. Out of all the food in Kauai, this place was the best place by far... totally recommended.
(5)
Lindsay H.
Our favorite place so far on Kauai! Saw other reviews on yelp and decided to go there. Great live music in the bar area while we waited for a table. Was a little thrown that it is in a hotel but once we got into the restaurant itself, it was so cute and open air and had a great ambiance. Poke nachos were delicious! Ono was great, as was the lilikoi coconut tarte. Definitely go there on your stay on Kauai!
(4)
Alisha A.
This was our big date night while on vacation. The food, ambiance, service and location were excellent. We enjoyed it so much that we sent our friends there for their date night and plan to squeeze in one more meal before we head back to San Francisco. The clams were amazing, loved the mixed grill and local goat cheese salad. Looking forward to trying the ahi nachos and ribs tonight!
(5)
Brenda P.
We travel to Kauai often, and have been wanting to try Hakilau Lanai. It was our last night on the island and actually the only day we could get a reservation. We were excited to try a restaurant with such high star ratings, unfortunately I won't be giving this place any kudos. Our dinner reservations were at 5:45. We were seated on time, received our appetizers on time and then everything went down hill from there. My husband's soup came out 45 minutes later, we stoped and asked a server (not our server) how much longer our food would be, she returned and told us our server would check and get back to us. An hour and 15 minutes later, our food was still not served. My husband told our server to cancel our order...a minute later our food arrives. My husband was so disgusted that he got up to tell our server to just give us the check and take the food back, the manager just happened to be there, apologized and told our server to take care of us. We never got to try the entrees, but boy were they quick at giving us the bill. I would have expected more from a restaurant like this...we were charged for my full entree, yet I never got to try it. I will never step foot into this restaurant again, nor will I every recommend it.
(1)
Aaron K.
We came here twice during our trip to Kauai -- the first time we stopped in on a whim for drinks and appetizers and we were impressed enough to come back a second time for dinner. The food was probably the best we had during our week on the island. The dishes were creative and interesting, and tasted great. (We had the the candied ahi during our first stop, and the poke nachos, the sweet potato ravioli and the fish entree during our second stop). The service was attentive and the outdoor atmosphere was great for a romantic evening. We had a nice stroll down to the beach after dinner. Highly recommended.
(5)
Little D.
Located in Kauai Coast Resort Hotel. We dine here at least once when we come to Kauai. One of the best restaurants in Hawaii. Good food, good service, nice environment. Tip1: Make a reservation. This place could get packed. Tip2: If you don't care for music, go early. Tip3: Poke Nachos is pretty good. (but I like the Sashimi Napoleon from Haliimaile in Maui the best). Tip4: They divide food for two with additional $5. Nice presentation as well. YELP 365 - 216/365
(5)
Gopi V.
Not good as the reviews seem to imply. The calamari was pretty good and so was the Wally salad, but the entrees were a huge disappointment. The mixed grill had bland shrimp and the fish were ok. The accompanying dressing was a medley of various sauces which failed to work together. The other entree of opah fish was very dry and the sauce was bland and did not work as well. The rice was super dry. We were so disappointed we walked away from the dessert course.
(2)
Cyndi C.
Fourteen nights in paradise. Two islands. Three coasts. Nine nights of fine-dining (read "expensive" dining) and Hukilau was by FAR the worst fish preparations we tried at any of them. My sweetie had the "special" sesame crusted swordfish and it was thin and dry with no flavor and an overpowering sauce that couldn't hide how mediocre the fish was. I had the mixed grill that included 2 fish - a delicious walu that later gave me gastric distress and one that was terribly dry from overcooking and 3 shrimps on a sugarcane skewer that had no flavor at all. The Wally Salad was delicious. The lobster bisque was unremarkable. The prepared food was awful. The waiter was excellent. The hostess was a nightmare. She needs to be fired. We - like most Hukilau guests - were from out of town and were on a vacation schedule and had no idea how far our snorkeling beach was from the restaurant or how hungry we might be that night, so we made a later reservation. We showed up 2 hours prior to the reservation as they were opening and the place was empty. When she heard that we were early she very bossily told us we'd have to sit in second tier. I had no idea what that was and I said so and she gave me such a scathing look for my ignorance! When she asked if I wanted to go look at the seating I assure her that second tier would be fine. It was. But the "first tier" remained empty during our entire visit. The first tier has a slightly better view, but whatever. It was her attitude that we had so desperately put her out personally by showing up early that she had to punish us by seating us behind empty tables with a view. My boyfriend said something to her on the way out and she got super snotty AGAIN about how first tier is held for reservations. Weird. AVOID this place and go eat in Koloa!
(1)
Vicktor V.
Food was great, and so was the service. The fish pairings for the mixed grill was excellent. Anything with Okinawa sweet potatoes are my new favorite thing. The size of the salad or soup that comes with your meal is generous. Seriously....come hungry. We were too full for desert and regret that fact because everything looked great. Also the cocktail list is fantastic. Some great old school selections on there. Wife and I liked it better than Gaylords.
(5)
Mark S.
Love love love hukilau lanai! it's one of my top picks! and when I want a nice meal! or have friends in town! we usually always go here! Never had a bad meal, and every entree I've had or my friends have had has always been good. The menu doesn't change much, but that's good with me, when I like something I like to keep going back.
(5)
David H.
Food was delicious, and a lot of it sourced locally. Staff were efficient. Our waiter, Ryan, really knew his business, and service was exactly right. The fish stew was wonderful, the ahi nachos were everything they were cracked up to be, and the meal and experience were well worth the expense. *If you have a reservation during Kapa'a's "rush hour," pad your driving time. There really can be gridlock on their stretch of the Kuhio Highway.
(5)
Chelsea R.
This place was good, but I think a little over-hyped. I don't think Kauai is known for "fancy" restaurants, so for one to even come close gets people excited. We tried the Lobster and Goat Cheese Wontons, which were good, the Lobster Bisque which tasted like it had coconut milk in it (neither of us cared for that flavor and we cook with coconut milk often, so we like it...just not with Lobster Bisque), the Tortilla soup was okay and the Hukilau Mixed Grill and Opah for dinner were decent. All in all it was a decent meal but nothing to rant and rave about. A word to the wise, I guess the place is "dressy" so we got several weird stares by the hostess and wait staff for being in shorts and t-shirts. We have dined at some nice places and are of the opinion that if I'm paying what the table next to me is paying (which obviously I am) and there is no written dress code, don't look down on me for dressing comfortable...not every wants to wear slacks and dresses to go eat dinner.
(3)
Lisa K.
YUMS! Have eaten here twice so far, both times off the gluten free menu, ordering the exact same meal because it was so tasty: a Wally salad with poppyseed dressing, the smoked pork back ribs with a Hawaiian vanilla bean hoisin BBQ sauce topped with pickled watermelon and micro-greens, and a warm gluten-free bread roll. Filling and delicious. We'll be back! :D
(4)
Sylvia R.
Dropped my phone in the restaurant today. Went back and was told nobody had found it. We looked around the grounds a bit and then remotely activated the "find my iPhone feature". When the sound played, our waitress suddenly remembered that she had my phone in her apron. Honesty is not the policy here :(
(1)
Hay S.
Amazing good and service!! We are staying in princeville but totally worth the ride! The server was so sweet and asked us hoe everything was during each course. The steak was amazing! So were the lobster wontons. And the lava cake is a must! Highly recommended on your visit to Kauai.
(5)
Patricia B.
Disappointing after what we saw in the reviews. We went on Christmas night and despit a reservation had to wait 30-40 minutes. Ordered the wontons for an appetizer. Good flavor but they were over-fried. My daughter ordered the prime rib and it was small and flavorless. They messed up my order but I decided to keep what they delivered because I didn't want to wait for the correct entre since the kitchen seemed slow in getting meals out. I keep the mixed seafood platter and it was good. There were apologies for the error but not effort to do more. Our waiter was just okay. All in all, a disappointing holiday meal. Much better places on the island.
(2)
Gianna N.
Great food. GREAT portions. Great, friendly service. The hotel it's in is a bit dated. We thought it was a retirement home at first, but the food helps you forget. We went pretty late at night so the scenery was a bit lost on us, but it's also hard to compare to restaurants with water views. This was our best meal in Kauai.
(4)
Christine D.
My friend and I briefly glanced at the online menu and saw that they had butterfish. We immediately thought to ourselves we have to go here! Sadly, when we got to the Hukilau it was so busy we had to make reservations for the following night because we didn't want to wait over an hour for dinner. The night we had our reservation they did not have butterfish on the menu!! I didn't take into account that the menu we looked at online was a "catch of the day" list. On a positive note, my friend and I tried the opah and ono and my oh my it tasted so fresh and flavorful! The main dish also came with some bread and a choice of caesar or "wally" salad. The Wally salad was basically a garden salad with bacon and papaya seed dressing which is really delicious if your tastebuds like the whole tropical sweet sensation. We told ourselves that we had to eat as much macadamia nut food items as we could while we were on the island so for dessert we decided to try the macadamia nut tart which came with a scoop of cinnamon ice cream. It was different and quite a treat!! What made it even better was the live Hawaiian music, lighted tiki torches, beach view and just being in Hawaii period.
(4)
Michael P.
Very good tasting menu particularly when you consider the price. Freshly made gluten free bread was a bonus for the wife. Candied Ahi was great. Wine pairings were fine but a bit uninspired. The restaurant isn't much to look at it, but it has a great view. Good service.
(5)
Lindsey C.
Omg this was soooo good! Local ingredients, menu changes often- creative dishes, amazing flavor- you cannot go wrong here. The ambience is very pretty and the waiter was wonderful- very knowledgeable and very friendly. You need to come here for some tasty seafood in Kapaa
(5)
j m.
This place was recommended to us by several locals, which always bodes well given the resort location. Not too sure about the view; much of the dining room is set back a bit from the windows. We arrived early for our reservations and had pre-dinner cocktails on the cushy couch in the nifty lounge area and elected to do dinner at a high-top table with a view of the pool and beach. After our trip we found ourselves craving poke everywhere and the poke nachos took this to another level (even if you think you are "not a raw fish person", as one of our nearby diners insisted loudly, you must try poke and especially this dish). At our (super friendly and thoughtful) server's recommendation we split that appetizer, a Wally's salad and the mixed seafood grill - two types of the most fantastic (cooked) fish I've ever experienced. The chocolate lava cake was a minor letdown, more or less a standard dessert, but somehow it did get eaten!
(5)
Diane B.
By far our best overall dining experience on. Kauai. This was our second visit to Kauai and we were looking for a really good meal with a Hawaiian feel. The Hukilau Lanai fit the bill. The outdoor dining, lighting provided by tiki torches, was wonderful. The Chef's Special Clam appetizer was a great beginning. I chose the mixed grill and was not disappointed. My husband thoroughly enjoyed the meatloaf. We treated ourselves to the Macadamia Nut Tart with cinnamon ice cream. Possibly the best dessert we have ever enjoyed! Can't wait to return to Kauai and the Hukilau Lanai.
(5)
Leslie C.
I am in love with this restaurant! During our 4 night island hop trip to Kauai from Maui (where we live), we came to Hukilau Lanai twice! First, you absolutely must make reservations. I did on Open Table and saw several people turned away without reservations at the hostess stand, or told to check back in 1.5 hours. You can sit in the bar, but the tables in the dining room are way nicer and more romantic. Both times, we made 5:30PM reservations and showed up around 5:15PM. There are two major benefits to this- 1) You are the first seating and get the premium two top tables on the lanai with the loveliest view, which is why we showed up a little early. 2) If you like, you can do the $40 5 course prix fixe menu with includes wine pairing, which is only from 5-6PM seatings. So, we actually decided to pass on the prix fixe and order off the regular menu. Nothing on the prix fixe menu sounded good to me that night and we ate cheaply for all our other meals, so weren't that concerned about getting the screaming good deal. Appetizers: we tried the lobster and goat cheese won tons. Delicious. Also, the lemongrass sweet potato ravioli- colorful dish with yummy cream sauce. Salads: your entrees come with caesar or Wally's salad. We tried both. The caesar was yummy and the Wally's salad sounds like a weird combo of ingredients but totally works and the dressing is tangy and refreshing. I will warn that the salads are heavily dressed- fine by us, but if you don't like that, ask for your dressing on the side. Entrees- OMG- the MIXED GRILL! I liked it so much I ordered it again the 2nd night. Two types of fish with shrimp in a coconut cream sauce with orzo pilaf. Good sized portion- seafood cooked perfectly. The first night, my fiance got the ahi entree. We were disappointed with that so wouldn't recommend it, but the 2nd night he got the swordfish pasta, which was so amazing. Nice cream sauce, crisp veggies and perfectly cooked fish. Dessert- they talk about the molten chocolate cake, but both nights we got the Mac Nut tart. I was lured in by the cinnamon ice cream and it is soooo good. Like a pecan pie but with mac nut and the caramel and cinnamon ice cream are the perfect compliment. Don't think, just get it! Drinks: lots of option, my fiance really liked the mai tai and we have had a lot of mai tais- this was one of the best! I can't wait to come back to Kauai so I can come back and eat here!
(5)
Andrea B.
My husband and I were very surprised with our experience. The gaudy resort decor didn't prepare us for the meal we enjoyed. We were also apprehensive about the $$$ rating after we got our bill. This review is for the early tasting menu they offer. Some background: We were hungry at 5pm (23-year-olds going on 73). We Yelped all the local spots near Kapa'a, and we found Hukilau Lanai. It was our last night in Kauai, so we decided to go for it. The early bird tasting menu is a real steal of a deal. For $40, I got 5 courses AND wine pairings (unheard of in SF), while my husband got an appetizer and entree (included salad or soup). Yes, they let us do that, which alone was pretty great. We had the lobster and goat cheese wontons as an appetizer. Good start - not too oily, rich flavor, 4 large pieces. My first tasting course was a gazpacho with a basil ice cream. This was an interesting way to start my meal, and I enjoyed the coolness of the ice cream, though I found it a tad on the sweet side. My husband really enjoyed his Caesar salad - he likes it heavily dressed and hearty, and it was a good size. The next tasting course was a slightly blackened spiced tuna over rice with a yummy sauce. I loved this. Really good. The next course was a homemade chorizo on top of local veggies. Got to be honest, I didn't love it at first, but it did grow on me. This was probably my least favorite course. My husband's entree was the mixed grill - which included two generous slabs of their fresh fish, prepared really well, on top of orzo pasta, as well as a skewer of shrimp. Fresh and delicious. The entree of the tasting menu was a mahi mahi "fresh catch" on top of quinoa and fresh veggies. Delicious. Vanilla creme brulee for dessert. It was definitely a lighter creme brulee, but it was tasty and not too sweet. The wine pairings were all very good - two white whines, then a rose, then a red. They were gracious enough to allow me to repeat the red wine instead of getting the dessert wine that came with the creme brulee, since I really dislike sweet wines. Service was stellar. Our server was knowledgeable, kind, and prompt. He was from Santa Cruz, but I don't remember his name :( Totally recommend.
(5)
Ann S.
I always get the mixed grill when I come here. Two kinds of fish and shrimp over thai coconut rice. I did REALLY miss the butterfish this time. Their bread is really good and they'll bring as much as you want. Their chocolate lava cake is heavenly. Whatever chocolate they use is deeper and richer than the other famous lava cake on the island. I remember when you could just show up there and get right in. Not anymore. You'd better be making reservations a minimum of a week in advance unless you want to sit in the lounge with your plate on your lap. (We passed and made a reservation for later in the trip) So if you're going, make reservations ahead of time so you can get the time slot of your choice and not 8:45.
(4)
Belle N.
11/12/11 Great service and environment...It was dark and lit with tiki lights, slightly breezy and we started off with the calamari as an appetizer and lilikoi blossom martini and a manahattan honey cocktail. The BF had the Opah which was delish and I had the the filet mignon which they made exactly as ordered medium-rare...the only issue we had was the timing of the food that came out to us! Our main dish came out later than expected that we had to cancel our order of their chocolate flowing cake that takes an extra 20minutes to prepare. It was a great evening to celebrate our meetaversary and we had a great time! The servers were nice and very accomodating...very dark and romantic..be sure to ask to be seated outside and make reservations!
(4)
Leslie H.
Fantastic food and value for the $40 tasting menu w/ wine pairings. The sauces and accompaniments were perfectly prepared and presented. All of us loved the sweet potato ravioli and the sausage with the local fern, wasarbi or something like that. The creme brulee is out of this world. One of the best creme brulee desserts I've ever had (and I've had a few). It had a rich, vanilley taste that really couldn't be improved upon. Nice, resorty ambiance and even better cuisine, I hope we make a trip back to the Hukilau sometime.
(5)
Steven N.
Loved the sauces! Server was attentive and helpful.
(4)
Chris G.
I thought this place had pretty decent value for the entrees. You get a nice fish dinner plus a salad for about $30, which seems pretty good for a nice restaurant in Kauai. The setting was also quite nice if you get to sit outside. The service wasn't fantastic. We had to wait about 15 mins after our reservation time, then the service was kind of slow. But overall it was a solid restaurant.
(4)
Jackie L.
Wow, everyone needs to eat here when visiting Kauai. It's the best sit down restaurant with great food, great views and decent prices on the entire island (Ok fine, I didn't visit the entire island but definitely this place is at the top for the Princeville/Kappa location)! It's right next door to the Coconut Coast Marriott Hotel. Made reservations for this a week in advance to ensure we got an ocean view around sunset but too bad it was raining that day so they had let down their clear rain curtains. The ocean was still visible but didn't get the full experience of sun and wind blowing into my face, and food. Hubz and I were blown away by the food here. Truly amazing seafood dishes. We practically licked our plates clean because most places we had visited didn't keep up with the hype, except for Hukilau Lanai! I had the mixed grill seafood dish and hubz had another fish dish. The waitress also informed us about the special Mango Crisp dessert that was going to sell out soon so we decided on dessert BEFORE we even ordered our entrees! It was so popular that the waitress actually had to leave us for a second to lock in that dessert order for us and then come back to talk our actual entree orders. HAHA what a great waitress!
(5)
Noel W.
Unbelievable!!! The food and drinks here are so good, my wife and I made this a nightly excursion. You have to try the sweet potato ravioli and any of the fish plates.. You will not be disappointed. Service was great as well. This place is not heavily advertised, but you must reserve a day in advance or you will be waiting in line for a table for 2-3 hours. They have a relaxing atmosphere with live music almost every night. It is THE place to be.
(5)
Mona N.
I was pleasantly surprised when we ate here for dinner. At first I thought this was a tourist trap, but then as our dishes came out, they were all delicious! The sweet potato ravioli was very unique. The Wally salad with the papaya dressing was nothing I had before. The fish entree was done very well. The lemonade was a bit sour, but that was the only downfall. Definitely recommend this place!
(4)
Melissa N.
Food was pretty good but the service is what makes this place stand out. I have several allergies and our waitress made certain that the chef could do a fish dish with things I could eat. She was so kind and patient with me. I can't say how far that goes in the restaurant business. It was as if we were her only table (even though all the tables in the place were full). Prices are reasonable for what you get, but the food wasn't the best I've ever had. Worth trying if you want a lot of seafood choices though.
(4)
Cody K.
The steak I had was definitely not worth the $33. Staff was nice and the bread and salad were really good.
(2)
Francine N.
Ahi tacos are amazing love the service and location I love bringing my husband there for a romantic night out
(5)
Sue T.
We made reservations here for Valentines Day based on the great reviews we read. Very accurate! The lobby and restaurant is open air and breezy, and there are tiki torches on the perimeter and outside seating on the lanai. Perfect setting. We hung out in the 'bar' lobby area on a couple of couches, with a live musician in the background. (Avoid getting the "Citrus Fizz" drink. Sounds Hawaiian-y but yuck! Should've opted for a Mai Tai.) Although the service was slow (of course, it was a holiday) the food was really excellent! From the warm bread to the salads to the soups to the main dishes, every single item was flavorful! WOW! Highly recommend. Didn't break the wallet either.
First time I came here was years ago when my brother threw me a graduation dinner and I've been coming here since. I recommended to all my friends who lives on Kauai this place because not only is the atmosphere pretty, but the food is just so fricken good! I've been here like hundreds of time already and tried almost everything but my favorite has got to be the Prime Rib. If you know me, you'll know I love meat especially Prime rib. The quality in the prime rib is so rich and high quality so you get for what you pay for which in my opinion isn't even very much at all. When I went back home this past Christmas I organized a dinner with my girlfriends on Kauai and chose Hukilau Lanai. The bread with olive oil and balsamic vinaigrette they give as appetizers are so good that I could eat them all night. I constantly ask the waiter to keep refilling our bread because it's that good! Another dish that comes with you're meal is the "Wally's salad" and it so let me tell you that it's sooooo yummy! It has fresh sweet orange slices with lettuce, tomatoes, some sort of crispy thing and bacon. And most importantly let's not forget desert, the warm chocolate cake with vanilla bean is a MUST try no matter how full you are. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT! the waiter usually gives you a heads up before hand that this dish takes 20min to prepare which right there tells you how good it is, if you have to give that much time to be made.
(5)
R W.
Big fan, especially of the tasting menu. The service was attentive and friendly. The food was bordering on great. Flavors worked, especially with the wine pairings. I agree that the focaccia was tasty. The atmosphere is relaxed and romantic with the right dining companion. We also tried the calamari appetizer and it was spot on. Highly recommended. We will be going back.
(5)
Adkinl A.
The food is top notch. The bar area is fantastic, we met so many great people sitting in the various couches and chairs. Unfortunately there were so many people on those sofas/chairs as the dining room was full and seatings were taking place every hour or so. Still, the ambiance of the bar area and the food definitely means this place gets 4 stars.
(4)
Jennifer K.
We came here for our wedding dinner. Everything was amazing!! From the service to the food & atmosphere. It was super busy & we still felt taken care of. On our way out we were also surprised by some truffles to take home.
(5)
Kevin B.
This place doesn't need more 5 star ratings but it was awesome. I got the lobster bisque and meatloaf. Both had a ton of flavor. Also, the cocktails were great. I got the manhattan honey. I felt like a lot of places on Hawaii had inflated reviews but this place lived up to the hype. Pretty reasonable prices too.
(5)
Jerry M.
The best food we had on the island during the week we were there. I had the chicken dish. One of the most tender dishes of chicken I have ever had. Sauce was just excellent....really excellent. My wife had the pork dish. It was good but she kept eating some of my chicken dish. Service and waiter was also excellent.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Romantic Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Suor K.
Hukilau Lanai was located near our hotel, so we decided to give this place a try. We attempted to make a reservation over the phone but they didn't have a table at our requested time. Instead, we walked over and took a seat at the bar. The server brought over some complimentary bread, which tasted great. It was some tomato-herb-cheese crusted bread served with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. We definitely enjoyed it. We ordered the lobster and goat cheese wontons for an appetizer. They were not as amazing as one of the other Yelp reviews mentioned. They tasted more like what you'd expect from crab rangoons at other restaurants. Lots of cheese on the inside, with small pieces of protein. I didn't think it was worth it. We also ordered the mahi mahi and the Hakilau mixed grill, which included a shrimp skewer, two types of fish, and orzo pasta. The shrimp and pasta were tasty. I don't recall which fish I tried, but I only liked one of the two. The mahi mahi was really good -- fresh and flaky. We didn't have room for dessert.
(4)Sennette B.
This is definitely one of the best restaurants on the Island. We asked our server what he recommended. He said honestly it's all really good. I was like surrreeee! But it really was! Everything we ordered was really good. They also have a large selection on the menu. I ordered the tasting menu that comes with 5 small entrees, and they were all very tasty! This is a must go to!
(5)Janna V.
Celebrated our 1st yr wedding anniversary here and it was amazing! The location was a bit confusing but other than that, it had a great ambience. We requested to be seated in the lanai which had nice views of the coconut trees and a hint of the ocean. The view wasn't remarkable but it was pleasant. Our server was nice and kept greeting us Happy Anniversary throughout the whole night lol. We didn't order appetizers because the salad that comes with the entree served as our appetizers. I ordered the arugula salad while my husband had the caesars salad. Our server asked so casually if I wanted cheese with that (normally whenever I eat arugula salad it comes with the cheese already, so I said yes), and forgot to mention that the goat cheese was $3.50. Uhh okay. Anyway, the entrees had a nice presentation and the portions were good. I had the Hukilau mixed grill which is basically a sampling of Island grilled seafood and sugar cane skewered shrimp, served with a creamy sauce and orzo pasta. My husband had the prime rib. Both had great flavors but the mixed grill sampling stood out the most. For dessert, we had the lava cake with vanilla ice cream. It was a bit pricey but what can you do. You gotta have dessert! :) They added a cute little sign made out of milk chocolate that said Happy Anniversary. I wish it was complimentary or discounted at least. Overall, I was satisfied with the food and service.
(4)Ashley W.
We stopped in here for a late night snack and some drinks. Their martinis were great and the servers brought us bread but acted like he didn't mean to when we told him we were just there to order appetizers. The food was pretty good and there was a live band playing. The resort it was at was beautiful. It seemed a little snobby and upscale but we enjoyed it nonetheless.
(4)Zach L.
By far the best restaurant my wife and I ate at during our honeymoon on Kauai. We weren't sure if we were in the right place to start as there was a wedding in the room next to the restaurant when we got there, and we weren't dressed for that type of occasion. The restaurant was busy, even late at night, we got there around 830 and needed to wait 45 minutes before we got a table. However, the wait was well worth it. Our appetizers were the perfect start to the night. We both got the dinner specials which were amazing, and shared a desert after which was a great cap to the night. Both of our cocktails were made incredibly well. The only downer was the table next to us had a screaming child who was running around the table, but we didn't care because the food was so good. If you are on Kauai make a reservation for dinner at Hukilau Lanai, you won't regret it!
(5)Pat M.
Haven't been here in years, don't know why!!! The best restaurant on Kauai !! We ordered the calamari with their special sauce, Poke Ahi Nachos and the ribs. The ribs were my favorite. I haven't tasted any ribs better than Hukilau Lanai. It has an Asian sweet flavor with a light crisp on the outside and tender almost fall off the bone meat. I had thoughts of ordering take out ribs, but had already ordered prime rib ( I had better) but was still good! Our server Mark ( daddy of twin boys)) was great!! He was so accommodating and gracious. We definitely will back!!!
(5)Jon P.
Wow! This place is great! Every bite was amazing. I ordered the Fillet Minion with the soup of the day and a "Manhattan Honey" cocktail (two of them!!). My wife had the macadamia nut crusted chicken and a Caesar salad. Bread - prior to our soup/salad showing up, we were served bread with an olive oil & balsamic vinegar dip. The bread had a touch of cheese and tomato on the top, so it was almost like eating a light, high end pizza. The flavors and textures were great. Soup - the soup of the day was a chowder with pork/bacon bits incorporated. Oh... My... It just melted in my mouth. I highly recommend it. The flavors were complimentary and it was perfectly salted. Salad (wife's) - the Caesar salad was made from scratch with their own dressing. The salad was crisp, fresh and flavorful. The dressing was tasty and not overly fishy/salty like some Caesar dressings. It was a great salad! Fillet Minion - I ordered my steak medium, and it was definitely a nice medium. The exterior had a pleasant, light char and the steak was so tender it barely required a knife to cut. Each bite was juicy and delicious. The red wine sauce (almost like a gravy) really added to the dish. The potatoes were a sweet potato which were good on their own, but I would have liked something a little more savory to be paired with the steak. It was still delicious! Macadamia nut crusted chicken (wife's) - the chicken was tender and cooked well. The macadamia nut crust was delicate (almost like a panko crust) and added a subtle, delicious flavor to each bite. The nuts were not overdone, and was an excellent compliment to the chicken. Manhattan Honey (cocktail) - yes.. Just order it! I ordered two! I like my drinks on the boozy side and this was definitely a great balance between the alcohol and the honey. Some cocktails are just too sweet, but this one was balanced very well. Dinner here was a real treat!
(5)Leah S.
While staying at the Kauai Beach Hotel for the first leg of our honeymoon, we stopped in for a reservation at the Hukilau Lanai. We were super pleased to get a table on the same night as we wanted without much preplanning, and one with a gorgeous sunset view of the ocean and palm trees. The evening was a bit chilly, but the seating area was warm and the tables were comfortable. Our waiter was attentive, professional, and friendly, quick with menus, specials, and recommendations. We started with some off the house focaccia with balsamic and evoo, which was warm, chewy and flavorful. Wonderful man selected some drinks for us, and we began the meal with the soup of the day, which was a Marketplace Seafood Bisque, and I opted for the Caesar salad which has been the best I've had to date. Soup was savory, with generous servings of fish, and seasoned just enough to let the flavor of the fish's freshness through the base. Caesar dressing can be quick to blend zealously viscous, and can be powerfully too salty or acidic, but this was perfectly balanced between garlic, parmesan, and lemon. Our entrees were challenging to decide upon, given pretty much everything on the menu looked delicious. I decided on the Mixed Grill, which had butterfish, Cajun mahi, prawns skewered on a sugarcane, all over an amazing pilaf, and my husband chose the Ono filet over white rice, topped with a sesame cucumber sunumono. All the fish was exceptionally fresh, simply seasoned, and not overcooked. As usual, I fought my husband for his dinner, to which he acquiesced, to my delight. This was only topped by my delight over dessert, the amazing 20 Minute Chocolate Lava Cake. It did need the full 20 minutes, so we ordered in advance, but it was well worth the wait. This was accompanied by literally the best vanilla bean ice cream I have ever tasted, made locally, and PACKED with flavor. Ambiance of the actual restaurant is indeed a little on the cheesy side, but the resort makes up for it with its selective clientele base, and decidedly relaxed atmosphere. For dining guests not staying at the hotel, there is ample parking, beautiful grounds for after dinner strolls, and a full bar for wine, cocktails, and after dinner aperitifs. Live music, vendors, and events come through the lounge depending on day and time, but it seems like its target audience is a little older than our age group.
(4)Tawni H.
Gorgeous restaurant and very high quality dishes. Was suggested to me by a local, glasses I listened!
(4)L C.
After reading all the reviews on Yelp and Trip Advisor, we decided to check out this restaurant. It was underwhelming and disappointing. I ordered the curried Lobster bisque and it tasted like Thai coconut milk curry sauce. It was awful! The candied ahi was okay but a little salty. The mixed grilled plate was average. Very disappointed after reading all the rave reviews about this place. honestly, we had better food at the food trucks like Kikuchi and Green pig. Sorry, I have to be truthful in my review.
(3)Ray W.
To cap our Kaua'i vacation, I made reservations with OpenTable to the Hukilau Lanai, which is the in-resort restaurant of the Kaua'i Coast Resort at the Beachboy, after reading good reviews on Yelp and Tripadvisor. We were staying at the resort and after our experience, I regret that we didn't visit earlier during the stay. To think, an excellent restaurant located a mere 3 minute walk from our unit and we ate there only on the last night! We started with calamari. Unlike the fritto misto that is usually served as a 'standard appetizer,' it was panko and furikake breaded and was so amazingly tender. Served with an aioli to die for, the appetizer was consumed within minutes and we were left wanting for more. We wouldn't give up the aioli, wanting to savor it for the rest of the meal. Soup of the day or salad come with an entree. We ordered a soup (much like a bisque), arugula salad, and a Caesar salad. All were fantastic; the arugula was nice and tart. For entrees, prime rib, pumpkin-seed breaded opah (moonfish), and ono (wahoo) were ordered. Our child, who has become somewhat of a prime rib connoisseur in a short 12 years, loved it. My opah was super awesome umami, served on a bed of brown rice, tomatoes and beets; my wife's ono was tasty too - but I tend to prefer lighter, flakier fish. We wrapped up with a lava cake and to be honest, it's probably the best lava cake I've ever had. It outclasses any lava cake we've had on the mainland for sure. I checked 'not sure' on the question of whether the restaurant is known for its dessert, but it definitely ought to be known for dessert! I admit that perhaps it is a bias or stereotype of mine that resort-attached restaurants try hard but find it hard to deliver, but the Hukilau Lanai certainly humbled me by delivering big time. That they serve locally grown fare wins extra respect from me. Well done, we're definitely coming back.
(5)Dana W.
This place is ONOLICIOUS. We usually start out with our first meal at Scottie's BBQ but found that it was no longer there. So after much searching we found the Hukilau Lanai. This place is awesome. Staff was very attentive and knowledgeable about the menu and specials. We started out with The Fried Calamari which was to die for, they were moist and tender and fried just right. I had the sautéed pork tenderloin medallions served on top of sautéed polenta. Pork was cooked just right and the I had never had polenta so I was taking a chance, but it was well worth it. My wife and daughter had the Filet Mignon medallion in the ulupalakua red wine sauce. They loved it. My daughter said this was like a Gordon Ramsay show as the food was being served was of such great quality and presentation. For desert I had the Hawaiian Vanilla Bean Creme Brulee, my daughter the Coconut Lilikoi Tart, and my wife had the Chocolate Lava cake, which turned out to be over cooked so they took it off the bill. We highly recommend the Hukilau lanai and would not hesitate to go back.
(5)Gus Q.
Went here to celebrate my son's birthday. Food was great BUT I couldn't believe these guys charge me for his dessert! Come on guys....no complimentary dessert for the birthday boy? Geez!.....Don't go here if you are celebrating a special occasion. Very disappointed!!!
(1)Destiny G.
Highly recommend this romantic luaua feel restaurant. Delicious food, great ambience and overl delightful. The Hawaiian mixed grill was perfection! The bread was soft warm and delightful and the ahi nacho appetizer was awesome!
(5)Mido U.
Basically if you are looking for a great tasting, locally sourced, delicious meal with excellent wait staff and service, this is it. Great food and great experience. Wait staff awesome. Menu unique. Poke nachos, lobster bisque, local beef meatloaf, local fish grill platter. Awesome. I was really looking for a local kind of experience and meal that was higher end. Pretty much was here. Only complaint is I ordered the Orange wine. It was different, but pricey at 70 for the bottle, and it tasted like a five dollar bottle. Would not recommend, but it was different
(5)Craig D.
(3.5) ~ good, but not great...the servers were friendly, but, they had to be b/c the kitchen was soooooo slow;)lol Note: $$$$ OUR MENU: DRINKS: * Loco Lemonade = (4) very good * French Press Kauai Coffee = (4) very good * water(tap) = (3.25) pretty good FOOD: * Foccacia Bread = (4) very good * Pork Tenderloin = (3.75) Good * BBQ Ribs = (3.5) good * Filet Mignon = (3.5) good * Dark Chocolate Bar(Hawaii) = (3.5) good * Gazpacho = (3.25) pretty good * Poke = (3) ok...had better * Chocolate Mousse = (3) ok...had better
(3)Gloria G.
Great service, great food, great location (I'm a Shell Vacation owner and stay here). They accommodated us this time last minute in the lobby with 7 and the food was incredible. The fresh fish and Keiki meals were perfect!
(5)mermaid m.
Service by Andrew excellent. If you have great service like this, makes for a lovely dining experience! Waiting for our reservation about 15 minutes. Food was very good, ahi poke nachos were not as good as they used to be, not much ahi and tortilla chips were off. Lobster and goat cheese wontons, amazing. Tahitian vanilla Ribs fall off the bone delightful. Kailani farm salad with preserved lemon dressing and maytag blue cheese was tasty. Crusted opah with mash potato perfectly cooked and moist. Crown steak rare was tender and cooked just the way we like it. Lava cake topped it all off.
(4)Mauro Q.
We went to celebrate our 25th Anniversary Dinner with our adult children . The menu was okay but the service was HORRIBLE. The waitress didn't even acknowledge our celebration while the other couple next to our table were mentioned several times on their special event. We didn't even get a complementary dessert. Being Italian and a Chef this was not acceptable!!
(1)Alex L.
Came here on recommendation of some other travelers we met. Was horribly underwhelmed. Service was excellent but unfortunately the food wasn't quite there. We tried the tasting menu and a number of the other pupus. The Ono was well seasoned. Ribs were dry. Candied ahi was a little strange but with the coconut milk worked well. The lamb ragu could have been amazing but it ended up tasting like it came from a can. There are a lot of great spots to eat on the island, go to one of those places.
(2)Lee L.
Not too impressed, especially since we had dinner the night before at Tidepools at the Grand Hyatt in Princeville. Service was meh. The server wasn't very engaging and the host staff (3 people) were young and seemed all over the place. Maybe instead of having 3 people stand up front, perhaps have 2 of them serve and bus tables. Food overall was good. Little cheaper than Tidepools. You get complimentary bread and a soup or salad with your entree. Goat Cheese and Lobster wontons- Cheese overpowered the lobster and the guava plum sauce had a strong tamarind? taste to it that was a bit too much. Ahi Nachos- Not bad, needed more sauce. Wally's salad- Good Rib Eye- Slightly chewy at med rare and the mushroom sauce was a little bitter. Fish Special: Swordfish with Mashed potatoes a tomato chutney- The sauce really made the dish. I just wish there was more chutney. "Original Hawaiian Chocolate Factory"- Perfect! There is no romantic view here. If you're lucky to get an unobstructed view, you can see some of the hotel landscaping and their pool area . . .or if someone leaves their curtains open, you might enjoy a "free show" from one of the rooms of the hotel.
(3)Leah F.
This is my second time to Kauai and I decided to try this restaurant as a birthday dinner for my mom. We were not disappointed. Everything from the starter soup and bread was so flavorful and tasty! The bread was light and melted in our mouths. My compliments to the chef. The ambience was superb. We had a table overlooking palm trees lit by tiki lights -- perfect for a great evening. The fish was to die for...drizzled with garlic butter sauce and the filet was extra tender. Normally I have to add salt to my meals but this was definitely seasoned perfectly and one of the best meals I've ever had on Kauai island. We will be back!!!!
(5)Reese C.
Situated in some vacation club/hotel place, this was a surprising find, thanks to Yelp! The restaurant was packed so we opted to sit in the lounge for dinner. Much more relaxed and lively. While dining we were rewarded with fantastic live music. We split the Lobster and goat cheese wonton and now I can never have a wonton any other way. Holy smokes. We also split the baby back ribs. The Hawaiian twist in these ribs was the vanilla bean/hoisin sauce that covered them. The fall of the bine meat was tender perfection. We also each enjoyed a salad with local greens, which were great but honestly a salad is a salad, especially when compared to the other options.
(5)Jacqueline W.
10 out of 5 for this restaurant! Fabulous food, great service & very nice location. Everything we ordered was delicious...starting with the lobster bisque, arugula salad, Caesar salad & soup of the day. For our entrees we had mixed seafood grill that include sugar cane shrimp, Pacific escolar (Walu) & striped marlin served over orzo...absolutely fabulous!! Mum had macadamia nut crusted chicken in a light curry sauce & Dad had pork tenderloin in a Marsala sauce...both clean their plates. My daughter order filet mignon with mashed tarot...delicious. We order two Original Hawaiian Chocolate Factory warm cakes with vanilla bean ice cream & a Hukilau Coffee...divine We will definitely be coming back!
(5)Gisselle L.
My husband and I came to this restaurant three times while vacationing in Kauai. It was next door to our resort/walking distance. I don't recommend the tasting menu- stick with their main menu. I recommend their ribs and fishes. Their desserts were ok to good I recommend trying their daily special. Service can be hit or miss depending on the waiter/waitress. Overall, I would recommend this place. Bring a sweater as it does get windy/cold (they are by the water)- Mai Tai pretty good here
(4)Melissa A.
My husband and I dined here twice on our trip and it was fantastic! J was our server both nights and described the dishes superbly. We enjoyed the sunset view and live music. The food was of the highest quality and many dishes featured local ingredients. The chocolate tart was rich and delicious! The fish was flaky and so yummy! You will not regret coming here to celebrate a special occasion.
(5)Harold P.
The tasting menu that is offered between 5-5:45pm is such a good value - 5 well portioned courses for $28 without the wine pairing, $40 with wine. I was hoping they would offer both tasting menus as posted on their web site but they only offered the non gluten free menu when I went. All the dishes were well prepared and delicious. Some of the sauces lacked the delicate refinement you would find at Roy's but Hukilau Lanai is also over half the price. I will definitely be back. Thank you to the reviewer who warned about mosquitoes! I knew to cover up based on that tip alone and I watched plenty of tables around me scratch their way through dinner.
(4)Julie A.
Saw an ad in a local paper for this place with a picture of their ahi nachos! WOW! had to have them and they did not disappoint. Beware! This place is closed on Monday! Also had the lobster goat cheese wontons very good but skip the plum sauce. Too overpowering. The lobster bisque was also fabulous. Worth the $2 upgrade. We both had the fish ono and opha. Both good but ono was better - moist and the shrimp sauce had great flavor. I would go back just for the nachos!
(4)Kaytlin G.
I've been to some pretty amazing restaurants and this place truly had some of the best food I've had in a while. Every single thing we got was amazing. Lobster and goat cheese won tons, calamari, bone marrow, ahi nachos...all incredible! My husband and I got the seafood samplers for dinner and the fish and shrimp were cooked perfectly, and our moms had prime rib and they said the same thing. We got 4 desserts, all wonderful. Our waiter was nice, attentive, and he catered to the fact that we had a one year old with us. Ps- there's a great lawn area for kiddos to run if they get a little rambunctious during dinner. Best meal of the trip.
(5)Greg R.
Just finished a great Mother's Day meal. The wife had the mixed grill with an Arugula salad. She loved it. I had surf and turf with chowder. I was in heaven with the filet and the fish I had. The service was excellent.
(5)Paul H.
We had the tasting menu with the wine, and it was delicious and more than enough food. As a warning, they only do this for the first hour, but it was totally worth it. All the items were good, and the wines that they paired with each course were well-chosen. My wife didn't care for the port-style muscat with the dessert course, but not that big of a deal. Presentation was excellent, and many courses were served on warmed dishes, which is a nice touch for those of us who don't like lukewarm food! Our waiter was attentive, but not overbearing. We sat outside, and the view of the ocean and the beautiful resort were a definite plus. We would go there again if we're on Kauai.
(4)Carolyn K.
Food Was Fantastic, Service "So So" We had great expectations about this restaurant because several individuals had mentioned how wonderful the food is. And, it was! From the sweet potato ravioli to the short ribs, everything was cooked to perfection. The restaurant offered one Cabernet by the glass from Obsidian Ridge in Sonoma Valley, and it was exceptional. Too bad the quality of the the service didn't match the food! We had reservations at 8:30 on a rainy night when flood warnings had been broadcast throughout the island. We arrived at 8:00 thinking that perhaps we could get in a bit early. No such luck! Although they had open tables. we weren't seated until 8:35. I asked the waitress for some bread to tide us over until we could order, and she said, "Bread is on the way!" It was ten-fifteen minutes before bread arrived. We had a wonderful meal, which was all brought to our table by someone other than our server. When it came time for dessert, we ordered the hot molten cake (which takes twenty minutes to prepare). Our server breezily said, "Oh, we ran out of it because we have been so busy tonight. I kind of lost track." Ouch! An early warning that we should "save a portion" of their most popular desert might have been nice. Or an apology with a recommendation for a replacement. The restaurant is a bit pricey, and the food is wonderful. In spite of the spotty service, I would go again.
(3)Sara H.
Absolutely amazing!!!!! Started with drinks in the bar waiting for our table. Awesome drinks, solid bartender (didn't catch her name). Got to our table and our waitress Debbie was on point. Super friendly, very knowledgeable on the menu, great recommendations. We got the calamari and it was spectacular. I got the Caesar salad before my dinner and my husband got the arugula salad and both were fabulous! Finally our meals came and it was the prime rib and filet. Out of this world! Melt in your mouth meats! HIGHLY recommended! Favorite place we ate out of our whole trip to kauai! Will definitely be returning! Ignore any negative reviews, this place is OUTSTANDING! Also, it is not super expensive which helps. Yes, it's a little pricey, but you get your money's worth!
(5)Nick F.
by far the best on the isand. Cool, warm staff to greet you, perfectly executed meals with fish so fresh! Nothing fishy about it! make a rez. grab a drink, and thank me later...this place does it right
(5)Missy L.
This place was delicious!! Yes it's a bit pricey but one of the best restaurants on the island. I only have two complaints. The service could have been a little better but honestly I think we just caught her at an odd time, it seemed like as the dinner went on she got friendlier. Also, I had put in the reservation request that we were celebrating our recent engagement. My boyfriend had proposed a couple days prior and we wanted to celebrate. It would have been nice if they would have done something......not asking for a free drink or dessert (which would have been nice) but at least said something.
(4)Polly C.
Make sure you make reservations for this place because they can get really busy! We walked in without reservations and were told that the next available spot wasn't until 8:45. Luckily, we were fortunate enough to find two empty seats at the bar and were able to order off the same menu as the main dining area. We started with the lobster goat cheese wontons. They were delicious and not too greasy.The green onions that were in it added a great touch to the flavor. I ordered the fresh catch which included ono with rice and ginger carrot purée. The fish was light and delicious and I also enjoyed the purée. My husband ordered the Hukilau mixed grill plate which came with Ono and another fresh catch fish (sorry, I can't remember what it was) and it was served with a shrimp skewer and risotto. I had a side of the Wally salad, which I believe is their house salad. My husband had a roasted bell pepper soup. It was creamy and very tasty. The service and food here was fabulous! This is definitely a place I would recommend to everyone who is visiting Kauai!
(4)Mike L.
Great food. Mixed grill was amazing as was the ahi. Appetizers were also way above par...ribs and calamari. Jason was a great waiter..very knowledgeable on the food offerings and prep. Highly recommended. Reservations a definite must.
(5)Becka C.
Mahina was one of the best servers I've ever had. Her exceptional service added to the outstanding overall experience at this restaurant. We had the passionate-tini and the citrus buzz - both were great! Then we shared the lobster and goat cheese wontons - a must! Even their bread was delicious! We decided to add $6 to one of their entrees so we can share and each get our own soup/salad. Which was perfect the perfect portion for me and my friend. We both liked our salads (arugula and mixed green). We shared the filet mignon which came with sun dried tomato mash potatoes - sooo yummy! And on top of all of that - we shared their signature chocolate lava cake. I'm so happy Mahina recommended it because it was soooo good. The entire experience exceeded my expectations and would recommend it to all locals and visitors of Kauai!!! It's a must!!
(5)Dawn D.
Yes, they have a keiki menu and our kids enjoyed their meal. Yes, it's a very nice restaurant with fabulous food - not Chuck E Cheese, so prepare your children accordingly. We were lucky and able to score a reservation with just a couple hours notice. When we showed up, we watched the hostess turn down three other parties (offered them the bar/lounge area) without reservations. Our server (I think her name was Shayla) was very friendly and attentive. At one point she forgot a mid-meal drink order, but quickly corrected the mistake and brought the drink right away. The food was great - the caramelized ahi wasn't too sweet, the fish was thick and meaty and the créme brûlée was light and smooth. We will make a point to return here the next time we're on Kauai - hopefully to try the tasting menu.
(5)Sarah E.
We came here for my mom's 60th birthday for a special dinner. We arrived early and waited in the lobby until the exact time of our reservation. We were seated and greeted by our server. They wished my mom a happy birthday, which was nice of them. We all ordered drinks, and their Mai Tai's are really delicious, and so are their other cocktail drinks. Between the four of us, we ordered the Mahi Mahi, Filet Mignon, and the prime rib. The mahi mahi was freaking amazing. It came with a curry sauce on top of rice and it was perfect. The filet and prime rib were both perfectly cooked and came with some mashed potatoes, which were OK. I wanted to give this place 5 stars, but the service wasn't five stars. We saw our server a grand total of 3 times the entire visit (seating, order taking, bill delivery). We ordered drinks that never got delivered, and we really didn't feel like we were being taken care of which was a bummer. It took a while to get our soups and salads, and it just felt slow. The food is freaking amazing though so I think that this is still an amazing place to go. Maybe she was having a rough day, or whatever but considering al of the positive reviews on the service, I'm assuming this was an isolated incident. I wouldn't hesitate to visit again. Great seafood, great drinks, and delicious desserts. They also have a gluten free menu, which is very extensive.
(4)Barrah C.
Reserved via OpenTable for 7pm on 6/21, called them at 6:50p and told them we'd be 5 mins late... arrived at 7:03p and was told it would be a 15m wait... also on the request, had requested garden view... was seated on 2nd tier while garden tables appeared to be open... :( It rained so this might have been ok... Service was pretty good... Debbie was helpful and informative during the order process... however, we didn't see her more than two other times... had to request bread and water refills from another staff member. Salads were pretty good (Wally's) however the Lobster bisque had coconut milk and some curry which both negatively impacted it compare to the pinnacle benchmark being from Bob's Steak and Chop house (Plano). Ordered Mixed Grill, which had Cajun Swordfish (5 Star), Wahoo (4.5 Star), and Grilled Shrimp (3 Star); wife ordered Surf and Turf special as did one of my daughters... it appeared cooked to order and they both cleaned their plates... youngest ordered Macadamia crusted chicken which she raved about... Desserts were the Chocolate cake & ice cream (order at beginning since it takes 20 mins to make) and the macadamia tart with Lapperts cinnamon ice cream... yum! ProTips: 1) use bugspray before you go on your legs/ankles; 2) Diet Cokes are $1.75 per glass, no free refills here 3) Lappert ice cream will be on any dessert with ice cream and if you read my reviews, you know what a fan i am...
(4)Catalina H.
Wonderful meal at a wonderful price. We only learned about the place the day before we were leaving and it was a great way to end our Kaua'i experience. The service was outstanding and everything was delicious. My husband had the tasting menu with the wine pairings and it was amazing to think that it all cost $40! This was not a 40 dollar meal. We ate at Red Salt the night before and it was more than twice the price for food that was better in taste and quality. I had the Sweet potato ravioli as an appetizer (every bite a slice of heaven), the lobster bisque as the soup for my entree (creamy, hearty deliciousness), the surf and turf as the main course (OMG that fish was like butter in my mouth and the lemon caper creamy sauce was an explosion of flavors in my mouth) and I closed the deal with the Macademia Nut tart which was crunchy and sweet but perfectly paired with the cinnamon ice cream to cut the sweetness. In a word: YUM! Our server was Ryan who was warm, upbeat and showed real interest in us without being overbearing. He even gave my hubbie a little gift for his birthday (chocolate truffles anyone?). The cherry on top was that I left a very precious scarf at the table and only realized that it was missing at the airport on my way to Honolulu and they agreed to mail it to me to LA. That is outstabnding service!
(5)McKane D.
This place was amazing. We took a party of 11 and everyone loved it. The food was phenomenal. Service was prompt and attentive but waiter acted like he didn't care or want to be there.
(5)Fred P.
This is probably our favorite restaurant on Kauai. It is a great combination of quality and value. The food is interesting and well-prepared and the service is always excellent. The views from the lanai are very nice. This is a great place to stop for your final meal before heading to the airport for an evening flight. If you are seated before 5:45 you can enjoy the tasting menu which is a really creative assortment of five courses. Shout out to a great server Debbie. We've never had a bad dish at the Hukilau Lanai!
(5)Justin S.
I would give this about a 3.5 star review (based on the tasting menu). It was a fun experience doing the tasting menu and trying all the food they had to offer. The portions I saw for the main menu looked really big and this menu gives you just enough food to feel satisfied yet not bloated beyond belief. For the value I say the tasting menu is pretty good $28 for food and $40 with wine (if you like to try different wines this is fun). The food I and my wife felt was a bit on the salty side and there could have been a better variety of flavors for this price point. The gazpacho was tasty with the sorbet. If you are a fan of gazpacho you will enjoy it. One of my favorites. The candied ahi and sausage while tasty after a while felt a bit overwhelmingly salty so those sensitive to salty flavoring might not enjoy it. The mahi with the vinaigrette was okay not too salty but not the most outstanding mahi I have had. the cheese plate was pretty good, but only get this if you are a fan of cheese. The honeycombs are also tasty and compliment the stronger cheese on the plate very well. Overall it was a fun experience and the tasting menu was a pretty good value and not bad taste wise but this was not my favorite meal in Hawaii, I might have been expecting something a little more.
(3)Chris M.
We first ate here for our wedding dinner. It was a small group and we had a dining room to ourselves. It was a nice way to end an amazing day, and the service was great. The food was only average, but I was willing to overlook it because everything else about the moment was so nice. When my wife and I returned to Hukilau a few years later, our experience wasn't very memorable. Bottom line: their fish is just not that great. I don't know if it's the quality of the seafood, the flavors, the preparation, or a combination, but it just isn't quite there for me. I currently live in the middle of the United States, and I'd expect a dish at Hukilau to be better than any seafood I can get in Chicago. It's just not. The ambience is very nice, though, especially if you manage to sit outside. Lot's of people seem to like it, so it's worth a shot. For fine dining on Kauai, I prefer Tidepools at the Hyatt in Kola. The food isn't significantly better, but it has an even nicer atmosphere and the Hyatt grounds are a really fantastic place to walk around at night after dinner.
(4)Adina B.
The restaurant was amazing! They served us even if they were fully booked, and the food was amazing. Highly recommend.
(5)Ari H.
Great food, pretty good atmosphere, would definitely come again
(4)Sayler F.
My husband and I came here for our anniversary. The athmosphere was great and wonderful. The whole experience was fabulous. From making reservation to the end of our meal. Too bad that we were too full to order any dessert. Debbie, our server was wonderful. The food tasted excellent, cooked perfectly and was the right portions for us. At the end of our dinner, we got complimentary chocolate truffles. I would definitely come back again when I am back in Kauai.
(5)Joyce L.
Hukilau Lanai is a fine dining restaurant located inside Kauai Coast Resort. We only ate one fine dining meal while in Kauai and it was worth the splurge! I had the mushroom meat loaf which was very tasty. It came with a side of soup or salad. I chose the fish chowder and it was fantastic. The entree price was only $19! Considering a fish burritto at a food truck in Kauai cost $12, I think this pricing is a deal actually. My husband ordered the Mix Grill which he absolutely loved as well. Portion size is generous here (I got two big pieces of meat loaf) so plan accordingly if you want to enjoy dessert. We didn't order any appetizer and we are glad because with the entree size, we would likely have no room for desserts if we had ordered appetizers. But we did order two desserts because I didn't like the passion fruit tart that my husband ordered. I enjoyed the macademia tart very much though and it was the perfect ending to a perfect meal. Service was great and I thought our server did a good job considering how busy the restaurant was and it seems to me he had a lot of tables to tend to. If you only have one splurge meal in Kauai, make it Hukilau Lanai! :)
(5)Jarod H.
Five stars. Loved the ambiance here. The prime rib is to die for. A good cut of meat and tender n juicy. Filled me up good. Enjoyed the service and atmosphere. A nice local flavor to a tourist area. Enjoy!
(5)P L.
I expected a lot more given the reviews this restaurant got and was a bit disappointed. The food was okay, but nothing exceptional or incredibly fresh tasting. I got the house lemonade which basically tasted like 20 packets of sugar in a cup. The fish was decent but nothing impressive. Our server was pretty much non-existent - we ended up asking other servers for basic things like more water because she only appeared at the beginning of our meal and at the end when we paid the check.
(3)K D.
We went here on Mother's Day. The pupu and bar items were great! Mains disappointed us. We'd go back, but only for happy hour.
(3)Lizey B.
This was our favorite meal of our 10-day honeymoon trip on Kauai. My husband and I can be food snobs and our expectations were low based on other restaurants we had already ate at in Kauai. The service was outstanding--our waiter was great and we arrived early for our reservation and were seated early. We shared the clam appetizer, which was delicious. The lobster bisque and caesar salad were also great. My husband had the surf and turf and I had the mixed grill--both were great and portions were large. I would highly recommend this restaurant. It was one of the pricier meals we ate, but it was worth it.
(5)Jesse D.
Delicious pupus and nice live music. We went for a pupus only dinner in the lounge and were really impressed by the food. The general ambiance was nice and the server was pretty good. Our drinks took a while but would definitely go back for more. A little pricy though.
(4)Susie K.
Really enjoyed my experience here. Originally we planned to come for the happy hour tasting - but everything on the regular menu looked too good to pass up. We started with the lobster and goat cheese wonton --yummy! Each entree gets a choice of soup or salad (old school awesome!) -- I had mixed greens very fresh. My husband upgraded to the Lobster Bisque - which was totally worth it and he ate it up before I could get more than one spoonful! I had the seafood platter - they change up the offerings based on what the local farmers have. Was really tasty and fresh. My husband had Ono with a honey glaze and cranberry dressing. He was worried it would be too sweet - but it was perfection. We saved room for dessert and tried the macadamia nut tart -- super yum!! I also like that they take reservations. Very popular place so I recommend you make reservations ahead of time.
(5)Aloha L.
Excellent choice for dining in Kapaa. We constantly recommend them!
(5)Sandy C.
Overall service was quick. I had expectations that the seafood will be great. I ordered the Ahi (rare = quick sear on both sides). I was quite surprised when my cut was stringy. I had to eat around that stuff. I didn't press the issue when the waitperson came by later. I did share that the cut was not ideal. He seemed surprised but did not offer anything. Mostly because I ate my meal already. The dessert, the chocolate cake with warm fudge in the middle topped with vanilla ice cream. That erased most of my entree's experience. It was REALLY good. But not good enough for me to have wanted to go back for dinner.
(2)Heather H.
Based on the reviews we chose the Hukilau Lanai's early price fix wine pairing dinner for our anniversary (must be seated before 5:45). It was perfect. Beautiful location, fairly good service, great drinks, good food, nice wine pairing, and with tip and tax it was $100 for 2!!! Make your reservation early, though, they were turning people away.
(5)A S.
Great all around. Ended the trip here and had no regrets. A super finale to a wonderful trip. The service was tops. The meal was lovely. Candied ahi, perfectly prepared calamari, the swordfish, the striped marlin, the honey manhattan, all so good. I might recommend the seating in the back next to the open yard with trees and the night sky.
(5)Jo C.
We made reservations through open table and were seated promptly. Other people who didn't have reservations were quoted an hour wait on a Sunday night. I go here for their delicious Prime Rib! I'm surprised some of the other recent reviewers didn't mention it, it's one of the best. The calamari and the poke wonton chips was also very good. We had great service and I love the setting and the feel of the restaurant very relaxing and great food! Will be going again next trip to Kauai
(5)Denny M.
We had a wonderful meal with friends. Everything was prepared and presented beautifully. 3 of us had various fish entres, and my wife had filet mignon. The filet was do tender that it just melted in her mouth. Service was great as well. Highly recommend this restaurant.
(5)Daniel H.
I think Hukilau has gone downhill in the last two years. I live nearby. I used to come here for happy hours and pupus fairly often and it was pretty good. But in the last couple years Hukilau has gotten very popular with the tourists and you need to make reservations a couple of weeks advance, which we did, to take out a friend who was visiting Kauai. Unfortunately, this is my second below average experience here in last two months. I probably won't go back until I hear they change management. Tonight, the poke tortilla appetizer looked like a giant mountain of schlop. IIt could have been dinner for two. 'll admit it t was HUGE, so if that's your thing, the maybe you like it. I ordered two appetizers and a salad and it was enough below average food for an elephant and NJ Mayor Christie and Mayor Carvalho. Our dogs and chickens will be eating leftovers for a week. The calamari was not bad though. It was understaffed. The waiter forgot our bread, and when I asked for it the runner pedantically explained that the bread comes after the appetizers - instead of just saying "oh sorry". It was like 20 minutes between glasses of wine. Overall, tonight's dinner seemed more like a Costco spinoff for unsuspecting tourists. Our waiter was nice and he was hustling - it wasn't his fault. Its just the food was just not high-end and it looks like its turned to a profit-off-of-tourists machine. Please Hukilau, you used to be good. That is how you got a good reputation. Spend a little money on more sous chefs, servers and bartenders - and save costs by adjusting your portions to serve the less than morbidly obese. We skipped desert as we boxed takeout for the pets. As of 2-2014, on the East side of the island, I'd nix Hukilau, and go with Oasis, or old faithful Kintaro, or Bushido, or even the East Side has gotten up to maybe a "B ". I think Joscelyns on S. Shore is best on Kauai these days.
(2)Holly C.
We ate at the Hukilau Lanai 3 times on our trip to Kauai. The first time we ate there was during our wedding reception. Many of our guests commented that the food was the best they've had at a reception. The buffet food was served hot, even though our party arrived late. We cannot thank Manda, the event manager, enough for her helpfulness in putting together this event with us. She was always very quick to return emails and calls, and her quote for the evening's bill was right on! The next two dining experiences were just for dinners. We made reservations, because it gets very busy at the Hukilau, and for good reason. This was by far the best meals we had while on the island. The fish was so tender and fresh! We will certainly be back on our next trip to Kauai!
(5)Leah L.
Without yelp, I'd never have found this restaurant. It's hidden away in a condo type resort, and doesn't look like much from the outside. The seating is very nice though, all on a lanai (hence the name, I suppose!), and facing the grounds with the ocean in the background. We had two great appetizers- the ribs and and candied ahi. Both exceeded my expectations. My husband and I both had the Hawaiian catch, which included two local fishes and a skewer of shrimp. They were also nicely presented and good. The macadamia tart was awesome. I'd eat here again.
(4)Betty N.
**YES, ONE OF THE BEST SEAFOOD DINNERS I'VE HAD** Had 7:15PM reservations on a Sunday night. Arrived early and waited in the lobby area for a few minutes. Sat outside with tiki torches. Romantic, yes. Good service, yes. Fantastic seafood, double yes. ORDERED: **ISLAND LAVA FLOW ($7.50) Not too sweet and had enough rum kick. **LOBSTER CURRY BISQUE (Price N/A) Lobster, red curry, sherry, AND coconut milk. Say no more. Loved dipping the soup with the provided delicious bread. **HUKILAU MIXED GRILL ($27) A sampling of Island grilled seafood and sugar cane skewered shrimp. OMG, this dish was INSANELY RIDICULOUSLY good. The fresh fish and those shrimps could feed a village. Great portions and the Thai coconut sauce was the highlight of my meal. "Original Hawaiian Chocolate Factory" WARM CAKE ($10) 20 MINUTES TO PREPARE . . . oozing chocolate center and vanilla bean ice cream was the perfect ending. Very good cake. Dinner for two with cocktails was around $100. GREAT SPLURGE DINNER. Definitely the best dinner we had on the island. WILL RETURN. HIGHLY RECOMMEND.
(5)skorp g.
Among the best dining experiences we had on Kauai. We made early reservations, as we wanted to try the tasting menu, which is only offered from 5:00 to 5:45. Fifty bucks for five courses with wine- what a deal! We ended up ordering one tasting menu, plus several courses off the regular menu. We are every bite! Delicious food... The cocktails weren't our favorite, but it hardly put a damper on our evening. We look forward to eating here again!
(5)Mike B.
Celebrated our 42 Anniversary tonight. It's been two years since we were on Kauai, so we just had to comes back. We were NOT disappointed! We had the 5 course Tasting menu paired with wine. Started with a delicious Gaspacho with a pineapple rum sorbet, it was yummy! Next course was a candied Ahi tuna. Then we had a wonderful sausage and greens dish, the main course was Mahi Mahi, and finally followed by a cheese plate for me and creme brûlée for my wife. Everything was Top Notch and the wine pairings were Spot On! A memorable dinner and a VERY WORTHY VALUE! Reservations are suggested, and the Tasting Menu is only available from 5 to 5:45PM...but SOOO worth the early dinner seating!
(5)Kris Kayla P.
Our favorite restaurant on Kauai! We go here every time we are on the island. The food is fresh. I love the salad with beets and corn.
(5)Eric A.
This is, in my opinion, the best restaurant on the island. Great fish plates, great appetizers, imaginative plates! Drinks are strong and delish!!! You can roll off the beach on your tanks and flip flops and enjoy an appropriately priced meal.
(5)Spencer L.
Amazing food, great service, definitely went out of their way to make my wife and I feel special for our anniversary. Definitely go for the fish, top notch!
(5)Justin N.
Good food and nice relaxed atmosphere. Everything tasted great but I wasn't a fan of the lemon drink they had. Other than that, everything was great. Would highly recommend.
(4)Mark P.
Loved the food, service and setting. Perfect for a romantic night out!
(5)Annie S.
POKE NACHOS. Get them. You definitely don't want to miss out on them. It's a fun twist on the hawaiian classic poke, served up with thick cut fried tortilla chips. That was definitely the highlight of our meal there. Everything was delicious, from the kabocha soup to our main dishes, mostly featuring different types of fish. However, I would skip out on the sweet potato dumplings, they're taro dumplings with a lot of coconut milk in/on them. The flavor and texture just didn't work for me. Remember to make reservations early on, as they book up really fast, otherwise, your other option is to sit in their lounge/bar area, which isn't a bad set up, as you can order from the full menu, but you might have a hard time eating off the coffee table in front of you.
(4)Amanda F.
Had a beautiful dinner here with my hubs. Grass-fed steak and local caught fish make me happy!! Delicious food and gorgeous presentation. They had a musician playing in the front room-the music was great and wasn't overpowering to our conversation.
(5)Kawika K.
What can I say, I've never been disappointed here! I've eaten just about every dish on the menu, and I've never been disappointed. The first date I had with my soon to be wife was here, and we've been coming back regularly for the past 2 years. The menu is not overly cluttered or overly pretentious, and it has a nice selection of items from each category. They also have a nice wine list selection. Aside from the menu, their staff has always been tops in my book. Fast, courteous, and helpful... Never an issue.
(4)Bethany I.
This is one of the best restaurants on Kauai... We got the lobster & cheese wontons to start.... Excellent! The bread that was served was delicious.... My husband & I both ordered the mixed fish grill. It was the best fish we had on the island! The fish melted in our mouths! The grilled shrimp was also delicious... The dessert menu looked great, but we were too full to order dessert. This place was hopping on a Saturday night... Call & make reservations! Closed Mondays.
(5)Miranda O.
10 STARS! One of the best restaurants I've ever been to! Service was impeccable and the food was unbelievable! I ordered an assortment of pupus for my meal. The goat cheese and lobster wontons and the bbq ribs! Flavors were so unique and so delicious! The Wally salad was amazing too. They also offer a gluten free menu! Live band with soft music, cool ocean breezes, what more could you want?! Love this restaurant!
(5)Greg F.
This is one of the best restaurants on the island bar none! The ambience is impeccable and the food is first class awesome. Located on the east side of the island, in a Shell Vacation Property, this fine dining restaurant will no disappoint you. The food choices are many, appetizers are a must here, and portions, seasoning and plating are incredible. This is one dining experience you don't want to miss, service is very attentive and by all means get the lava cake desert! Seating inside as well. I have eaten here with my wife since 2006 and have enjoyed it everytime.
(5)Erik B.
Curious how this place got 4.5 stars. Yelp seems to be a bit misleading in the Hawaiian Islands. I'll admit that maybe I got the wrong thing, so take this review with a grain of salt. We got the 5 course tasting menu with wine pairing. I wanted to like several of the items that came out, as part of that menu, but everything was so salty. The fish course (Ono) was really good. The problem I have is the dessert. The two dessert options were Creme Brulee and a Cheese Plate. I ordered the Creme, wife got the cheese plate. Hers wasn't bad, I just don't care for a cheese plate when I order dessert. The creme brulee...not so much. It was vanilla pudding. Not creme brulee...vanilla pudding. And quite frankly, I would bet $ that it was instant pudding. The consistency was not that of a creme brulee and it almost tasted artificial...hence the negativity. The cost was affordable, so that's a star. The waitress was really nice and helpful (another star). Again, maybe I ordered the wrong thing. Curious if I would feel different had I ordered off the menu, as opposed to trying the 5-course tasting special. For the price, you could do worse...shit ain't cheap on Kauai, but I was expecting more.
(2)Surfdawg M.
We visit Kauai 2-3 times/yr & this has become our favorite restaurant. An eclectic menu of mainly local ingredients, but with dishes prepared with a world view. Lobster raviolis, prime rib, fresh fish, island greens, local lamb sausage apps. Way too many items to list that unusual & tastefully prepared. Many items have an Asian flair, but the chef's style is so varied it's hard to label. Great wine list with very reasonable prices too -- French, American, Spanish. The cocktail list is amazing. Thank god I don't live here as I would spend all my disposal income here every night.
(5)Don G.
My favorite restaurant on our Island. CONSISTENTLY great food, great service, wonderful local ambience and REASONABLY PRICED! It doesn't get any better than the Lobster Bisque or the Sweet Potato Ravioli or the Crab Wontons and I won't list their entire menu but since they have been open I have never had a bad meal here.
(5)Kailyn G.
Came for dinner - no reservation so we didn't get to sit on the lanai, but the restaurant was just fine for us. FOOD: We got the poke nachos (mmmm good) for an appetizer and for entrees we got the Ono and the Mixed Grill. So delicious - though I thought the Ono was better. It was in a nice creamy sauce that paired great with everything on the plate. And the fish was cooked perfectly. ENVIRONMENT: Beautiful view off the lanai. Even though we were in the restaurant, you can get a pretty nice view. Spacious with lots of natural light. I love that it's such a nice place without being overly dressy. Felt a little bit country club-ish. SERVICE: Good. I got the feeling our waitress was kinda new - she didn't offer a lot of information that I would think was standard (like what fish was in the mixed grill). But she was friendly and our entire dinner went very smoothly.
(4)Anthony K.
Hukilau lanai was just down the street from the condos we were staying at and we picked it for our anniversary/honeymoon dinner. Definitely recommend making reservations because the place looks like it's going to always be on the busier side given how few tables there were. All tables face out towards the ocean/pool area with tiki torches lit to light the way. The ocean is a distance away so no we are not talking ocean front ... just ocean facing. Food: For appetizers - calamari and lobster and goat cheese wontons. The calamari was lightly bread with panko bread crumbs, and cooked perfectly so they were tender with no hint of chewiness it was served with a garlic aioli. The lobster and goat cheese wontons just took crab meat cheese fries wontons to the next level served with a ginger plum sweet sauce. Yum yum. Salad / soup accompany all the entrées. I had the arugula and my wife the Caesar. Good simple salads. My wife had the lobster bisque as her entree which she described as creamy and tasty, but was expecting at least one piece of lobster in it so that it didn't seem like they just used a seafood/lobster stock. As an entree I had the special which was a braised lamb with pasta. This was the only dish I was not completely happy with. The lamb was fall apart tender but the flavors were not very complex and I felt like I was eating lamb in a spaghetti O's sauce with carrots. Desert was the OHC chocolate mousse which helped bring back the smile to my face. Brownie crust with a mousse soo delicate I could not tell the texture of the mousse apart from the soft house made whipped cream. Salted caramel chunks surrounding the cake made for a nice hard salty bite from the sweet. Service was exceptional and the courses was served at a good pace given how busy they were. Never felt like I was waiting for the next dish and the server made it a point to hold back the next dish if it seemed like we were taking longer to clean off a plate. Romantic and great for a dinner with live music playing in the background. Prices are also reasonable for a more "upscale" locale.
(4)Matt S.
We Hukilau Lanai while in Kauai. It was a bit of a hike from the Hyatt but it was worth it. I thought it was a great meal and a great garden view. We had a lanai table and the garden is impeccable. The food was fresh and well done. We started with the poke nachos which were one of our favorite dishes of the trip. The flavor was wonderful. My wife had the mixed grill with the Walu and butterfish. The walu melts in your mouth. I had the ono and loved it-I think ono is my favorite fish when done well. The service was good and our meal was terrific. We skipped dessert and opted for ice cream close to the Hyatt. I would definitely go back and I felt the prices were reasonable.
(4)Dayton R.
My girlfriend and I went here for a nice evening dinner. We were fortunate to call the day of our reservation and get a table during their last seating time at 9pm, this place gets packed so get reservations early! We requested a seat outside, they have a very romantic outdoor area and fortunately something opened up. The wait staff was extremely pleasant and accomodated our sharing of various dishes and we never felt rushed even though we were the last to leave the restaurant. Get the Seafood Grill dish which features their fresh fish of the day with prawns and their special sauce. My girlfriend liked the Sweet Potato Ravioli, but bear in mind you only get three :).
(4)Jon S.
If you want to try this place (and believe me, you do), try making a reservation a couple days in advance. We made the mistake of trying to get one on the day of and weren't successful. Instead, we tried our luck and got there around 5:30, and were told we could get a table in around 90 minutes or find a spot in the bar/lounge. The bar lounge isn't really conducive to eating dinner, since there are mainly couches and low tables. We went for a walk and came back, and ended up waiting the estimated hour and a half. I was surprised this restaurant was located in a hotel lobby. The restaurant itself looked a little dated (as did the hotel), but all of the tables were located parallel to a wall of (open) windows and there was a patio outside as well. There was a nice view of a courtyard as well as the ocean. The food was delicious. Definitely try the Poke Nachos. There was a generous serving of ahi poke, topping wonton chips covered in nori seasoning along with teriyaki and wasabi sauces. All entrees are served with a side salad (I'd recommend Wally's salad, that papaya seed dressing was so good). I ordered a medley of grilled seafood that came with two types of fish and four shrimp served with a pineapple-y sauce and orzo. I loved every bite. The service was great too. Our waiter was very attentive, and was constantly refilling our water, and checking on us to make sure we were okay. Overall, it was a little pricey, but totally worth it. If I'm ever in Kauai again, I'll definitely be back. Worth the drive no matter where you're staying on the island.
(4)Fernando B.
The environment of the restaurant is good and it is inside a good resort (Kauai Coast Resort). When we went there, we ordered an appetizer with lobster that tasted nice. But when we order the two main entrees, we didn't like: 1) the presentation of the plate wasn't nice; 2) the combination of the ingredients wasn't good; 3) the food is so heavy;4) the service was regular. Besides the romantic environment, they need to make better combinations of the ingredients of the plates.
(3)Michael M.
Went to the Hukilau Lanai on a Friday night to celebrate my birthday. As suggested in other posts, make a reservation, they get fairly busy and you can wind up waiting a while for a table. Dinner overall was good. Service was good and we didn't wait too long for our order or to get our food. I ordered the Hukilau Mixed Grill (fish and shrimp) and my wife ordered a fish dish. My fish was cooked perfectly and was very good. My wife's fish however was undercooked and we had to send it back. The server apologized and a fresh plate was brought out in a short amount of time. Our server and a Manager checked back to be sure the dish was okay. Again, good service and, once cooked properly, the food was very tasty. I would give 5 stars if we didn't have to send my wife's plate back, not a complaint as they handled the issue quickly. Oh yes, and my daughter liked the chicken fingers and the "Original Hawaiian Chocolate Factory" Warm Cake. Lastly, keep in mind this restaurant is not on the beach, you can see the beach from the patio seating, but you are looking through the pool area of the Kauai Coast Resort.
(4)Kimmy K.
The Hukilau Lanai offers a Food & Wine Tasting Menu featuring local products available daily from 5-5:45pm. You may get food only for $28 or food and wine for $40. On the mainland this meal would be an exceptional value. On Kauai, it was a steal. The Hukilau Lanai Tasting Menu is one of the best ways to taste a variety of entrees while at Hukilau Lanai. Each plate is beautifully presented with quite generous portions. The evening we went the menu for the night featured Island Gazpacho, Candied Ahi, Sausage and Warabi, Fresh Catch of Mahi Mahi, and Big Island Vanilla Crème Bruelle. Instead of only being able to order one big entree, we got a full taste of Hawaii through the Tasting Menu. We both completely enjoyed everything we had on Hukilau Lanai's Tasting Menu. This is a meal you won't want to miss while on Kauai. We know we will be back to visit Hukilau Lanai, again next time we are on the island.
(4)Lauren G.
So glad that Yelp led me to this gem while we were on Kauai.... it was one of our favorite dinner spots of the trip. Its rare you can find fine dining for a decent price on any of the islands.. but Hukilau Lanai not only offers a well-priced menu, but a really reasonable wine list as well. All of our entrees came with soup or salad.. I had the lobster bisque which was good despite there not being any actual pieces of lobster in it, and my husband had the caesar salad, which was better than your average for sure. We both ended up getting the surf n turf, which was a 9 oz NY strip, a piece of grilled walu in a demi glace with mashed potatoes... everything was fabulousss. The walu was to die for! The only thing that could have been better was how long it was taking to get our drinks/wine. Granted, it was a busy night and I know the bar was swamped.. our waiter was incredibly apologetic, but it was still a little on the frustrating side. If you can make it for an early dinner you can also take advantage of the prix fixe menu which is an incredible deal with the wine pairing. Either way, come enjoy the gorgeous view, a delicious meal and a couple drinks... it will be one of your best experiences on Kauai!
(4)Shannon B.
Delicious!! A MUST visit when on Kauai. Everything from the live music to the appetizers to the entrees and even dessert was fantastic. We will definitely be back.
(5)Bruce A.
Stopped in for the first time last night for drinks and pupus. The drinks were good and so was the calamari. Very pleasant Hawaiian music was playing while we sat in the lobby lounge. We didn't have dinner, so not sure about their mains, but I would definitely recommend this place based on my brief encounter. We will be back and will send guests here as well.
(4)Pink P.
We came here to celebrate my parents' 70th birthday. You will need to make reservation between 5:00 - 5:45 if you want the tasting menu. Reservation is always recommended as this place do get packed. We sat in the outdoor patio area and it had a beautiful view of the garden of Kauai Coast Resort Hotel with tiki lights all around. The service was excellent and the tasting menu was wonderful. Don't get concerned with the portion of the tasting menu as you will be full by the 5th course. We had also ordered the Ahi Poke nachos and calamari for appetizer and they were excellent. We will definitely be back on our next visit to Kauai.
(4)Sarah C.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME! My bf took me here for my birthday. We made reservations for 6.30pm. We were given a seat outside overlooking a garden where there was a wedding going on. I felt that all the service people were actually happy to be there. Since it was my birthday we went all out. Island Lava Flow - With strawberry. It was good and tasty. Sausage & Warabi... (housemade spicy longanisa, marinated local fern shoots, tomato, ginger, onion, bell peppers) - It wasn't too spicy but very good. You get four really big pieces. The veggies on the bottom was so delectable! We wished we had more! Lobster Curry Bisque... (lobster, red curry, sherry, coconut milk) - We both got this for an additional $2 with our entrees. I love lobster bisque. It was good and they give you a lot! Hukilau Mixed Grill... (A sampling of Island grilled seafood and sugar cane skewered shrimp. Ask your server for the daily offerings and preparation) - I love shrimp so I know when I am having good shrimp! It came with 4 shrimps on a wooden chopstick. It was a bit difficult to get the shrimp off but maybe I was over- eager. It was cooked perfectly! It came with two decently sized fish. I liked one more than the other. One was tougher than the other. Comes with a small serving of orzo. I though the orzo was a pleasant surprise. It was a good balance to the heavy protein surrounding it. I wasn't able to finish my food and was too full to get dessert. O did I mention that their complementary bread is the best bread I had during our week long vacation. We went to three nice restaurants that served complementary bread and this place's bread is by far the best. Comes with an olive oil/balsamic for dipping. We didn't even have to ask for more. They just switched our empty basket with more bread. Definitely wouldn't mind coming back!
(5)Nancy F.
Three of us enjoyed superb dishes: Ono, seafood mixed grill, and beef tenderloin. Unusual that ALL three top-rated our choices. Lemonade sweetened with local honey to drink tasted tart, but oh so refreshing. From delicious balsamic/oil-dipped bread to creme brûlée and chocolate mousse desserts, served by an attentive but unobtrusive waitress, we found nothing to fault. My favorite Kauai eating experience!
(5)April B.
Thank you for a wonderful dining experience! We made reservations for 8:30 and were seated right on time. The music in the bar was very nice and the general ambiance was just what we were looking for. Our server was attentive and knowledgeable about both the wine list and the menu. We ordered a bottle of Allegrini and decided on the fresh catch and a new menu item, swordfish. Everything was prepared very well, fresh and piping hot. Though I enjoyed my dinner, the swordfish was the most amazing dish of the night. If you are looking for a quality dining experience and a special evening, I would highly recommend Hukilau Lanai.
(5)Daniel T.
Do make a reservation, it does get packed. We got there right when our reservation was and they seated us within 2-3 minutes. They led us outside but after the reviews about mosquitoes, we asked for an inside table and they accommodated for us. Wife and I shared their mixed grill and got three types of fishes. They're smaller sizes but when added up together, you get more fish for the same price and get to try different types of fish. Our came with mahi mahi, ono, and opah. They were all good except the mahi was a little dry but still really good. The calamari was good, not too greasy but fresh. We then shared a macadamia nut tart to go which was really good. Hot tart with ice cream and lots of flavor. Very friendly service as well.
(4)Felicia H.
Excellent menu!!! Drinks from the bar are great!!! We had the BBQ ribs as an appetizer and an Mahi Mahi as an entree. Excellent meal. We even went back for appetizers another night. Live music is relaxing and romantic. Enjoy!!! Make reservation, unless your just visiting the bar area. It books up for a reason!!! Our concierge handled this for us. Also, visit the Pool Bar if you get there before 5 pm. Great and reasonable specials for lunch and good drinks. Say hi to Sylvie!!!
(5)suz o.
Wow! What a find. Amazing meals (yes we went back) at prices you do not find anywhere else on the island. Farm to table at its best. Tasting menu cannot be beat. Brian was an excellent waiter, very friendly. Our second night there was equally as delicious although waitress not as good, in fact order got messed up but the other staff was enthusiastically covering for her which was actually nice to experience. Be careful, their homemade cheesy focaccia bread is addictive. Also great wine menu with good bottles under $20, featuring organic family wineries as well.
(4)Annaleis W.
We had our reception dinner after our wedding here. We had a party of 16 with some special food needs also. They created special dishes for us, at no additional cost. The food was amazing, the semi private room has a wonderful view, and the staff was great. I looked at a lot of places. They not only have amazing food, but were very reasonably priced. As far as planning, their office manager was very helpful and created several custom options and menus. We even had personalized menus with our names on them. It was just a wonderful and delicious evening. We are so glad we selected Hukilau Lanai
(5)Phil A.
This was a wonderful restaurant to end our trip to Kauai. Service was exceptional and food was good.
(4)Kimberly E.
Great value for good food! The ambience of the restaurant was nice. You could see the ocean from a distance as they play soothing music. Our sever was very informative when we asked about how dishes were prepared and about the drink specials. The mixed grill was great due in large part to the butter fish which was sublime. My husband got the tasting menu and said everything was tasty but raved about the candied chipotle ahi. The dinner ended with the warm chocolate cake which surprisingly taste similar to the Flemmings molten lava cake. So we obviously loved it.
(3)Jasten M.
Dined here while at the Kauai Coast Resort(otherwise, it would be difficult to find and/or park here w/o gps... It's near the coconut market, where parking is convenient). Apps were the lobster goat cheese wonton(not too much), calamari(not too tough) and lobster bisque(just right, w/ a coconut twist!). I tried the mahi mahi and my friend had the lasagna. For 20-30ish $'s, the presentation and ingredients blew us away. The mahi mahi was impeccably moist/light/n flaky and fell into those horizontal layers that make u wanna cry b/t bites. The lasagna had pesto sauce(a first) and just made sense. Veggies galore and not too much cheese. Portions were just right to keep a beach body a beach body. Dessert: a perfect, modern creme brulee with a thin, light surface. Menu: brought together by HI/local flavors and fresh, local ingredients. Very diverse(seafood, meatloaf, Italian). Cool wine tasting hour I always missed. Looking around, seafood dishes had the most heart and soul behind them. Tasteful, live music @ nighttime. Try to get a patio seat, with the lush resort(take a walk during your wait) and the ocean at your beck and call. Very romantic spot. This place(and Roy's HI Fusion and some Mexican place on kuhio hwy beside the boring Kountry Kitchen here-but not here on yelp) are the only cool Kauai spots I suggest with any enthusiasm. (I've learned to stock up @ the markets here, which assuages any guilt over flying to Hi... amazing ready-to-eat foods for cheap $'s galore).
(5)Tony L.
We feasted. And were feasted on. Hukilau Lanai was the perfect culinary destination to catch up with a few friends over cocktails and well-prepared meal. The dimly lit dining area opened to the sound of waves swishing on shore. The appetizers were pretty, delicately shaped and bursting with color. My wife had the meatloaf. Pretty good stuff. Now what did I have... I know I had it with the mashed potatoes on our servers suggestion... and I had a feeling it was pretty good. But otherwise, it was pretty forgettable. That's something, isn't it? You like a place, but you forget what you ate. Hey, it happens. As was our leg buffet to those savage mosquitos. Those bites I won't forget, swollen and sweaty like warts off an old witch's nose. So in short, good food. Great ambiance. Tasty, though ultimately forgettable food. And lots and lots of mosquitos.
(4)Sa A.
Food is excellent. We are repeat customers. I would recommend this place for the food, choice of menu items, live music, service, and surroundings.
(5)Eloise v.
Excellent service and food. Very gluten free friendly with some of the best gf bread I've had in a while. The dishes were creative twists on trendy dishes with reasonable prices. The snapper and hebe (sp) were cooked perfectly but the mahi mahi was overcooked/dry. Gazpacho with pineapple basil sorbet was bright tasting and fun for the palate.
(5)Jason J.
The Hukilau Lanai is located in the Kauai Coast Resort at the Beachboy, right next to the Coconut Marketplace, which is conveniently...well....exactly where we stayed when The Ladyfriend and I went to Hawaii in early December '10. The ambiance is nice, with some light live music, and it's well decorated. It also have a fantastic open patio that looks out to the well kept grounds at the KCR, which is where we sat. The menu isn't terribly large but does maintain a diversity of choices. Like lots of things on Kauai, the food is overpriced, though I'm sure there are worse than this. I thought the service was good, but the food itself lacked something. It wasn't bad, it just didn't put me over the top into a 4th star. Not a bad place at all, especially if you're staying here, but one huge drawback is that it closes at 9. So no latenight drinks anywhere at KCR. But if you're looking for dinner, definitely do Hukilau Lanai. It won't blow you away, but it won't really disappoint either.
(3)Kris C.
We were so looking forward to dining at the Hukilau, and experiencing what other Yelp reviewers raved about. I must say that the drinks were wonderful, and the ambiance was delightful...just what we were hoping for on Kauai. The food left a lot to be desired. The appetizers (lobster wonton and the nightly special of steamed clams) were tasty and beautifully presented. The salads were average, and the entrees were well below average. The prime rib was cold, and had to be sent back to be reheated. The vegetarian lasagne was so rich that two bites was enough. The macadamia nut encrusted chicken was dry and overlooked. Our waiter was obviously new to the Hukilau and we were more than willing to give him a break, however it quickly became apparent to all four of us that he was trying to BS his way through when he confidently answered our questions then had to come back and correct himself a number of times. We waited until our last night on this island piece of paradise to treat ourselves to dinner. I wish we had gone somewhere else!
(2)Bobby And Estee F.
Quiet and relaxing atmosphere, outstanding menu, and absolutely excellent service. Everything we ordered was delicious. The live Hawaiian music was perfect, not too loud, and definitely added to the whole evening. Our table was on the lanai had a beautiful view of the grounds and the ocean in the distance. Reservation was at 6:45 pm so next time we'll make it between 5:00 and 6:00 so we can try the Tasting Menu.
(5)Donald M.
Great food. The rib appetizer is very good. We almost didn't make it past their hostest with the mostess, who each time I came near her asked if we'd be joining them for dinner that night. Yep, nothing has changed since you asked me 20 seconds ago. We sat near the entrance to the dining area, and we're not sure why, but the people watching was phenomenal. From hipsters to combovers to wedding parties to tank toppin fatties, this place had it all...which was as good as the xylophone player in the lounge.
(4)Erica L.
The Hukilau Lanai was a quick walk down from the Marriott we were staying at, so we made reservations and went there on our last night in Kauai. Soooo good! We had: -Cocktails: Loco Lemonade (very good) and Wailua Bay Breeze (good, but weak) -Lobster and goat cheese wonton with a plum sauce (good, but nothing extraordinary) -Husband had a caesar salad, I got the Wally's salad, both were fresh and satisfying -Husband got the Opah and I got the Ono, both were mouthwateringly delicious. It was one of those meals where you literally just there and go "mmmmm" "ohhhh" "yummmm" "oh my godddd" the entire time. -And THEN we got the "Original Hawaiian Chocolate Factory" Warm Cake, which takes 20 minutes to prepare and comes with homemade vanilla bean ice cream and whipped cream, DELICIOUS! And not so overwhelmingly sweet and rich that you feel sick afterwards The only thing that prevented me from giving the Hukilau 5-stars is our waiter was a little...blah. The service was fast and efficient but our guy just seemed like he wanted to be anywhere but there, it was a little off-putting.
(4)KSU S.
The tasting menu was fantastic, and the service was attentive and polite. Neither my husband nor I like fish, but we both really enjoyed the fish preparation on the tasting menu. All of the the sauces were wonderful. The view from the Lanai overlooks the well-maintained garden with an ocean backdrop -- very nice way to enjoy dinner.
(4)Brenda B.
We loved the service, the food was delicious, and the view was stuning. We recommend this restaurant for a lovely dinner and we made reservations to return.
(5)Chuck B.
As a walk-in we had a short wait, they had a broad gluten-free menu (including gluten-free bread), and very fresh fish. Service was superb and the view spectacular as we watched the sun set over the ocean while eating dinner. Our appetizer was ok, one of our dinners was exceptional and the other very good. For the price we felt the appetizer could have been better but that might have been personal taste. I recommend going at dusk and listen to your server for suggestions.
(4)Jimmy B.
If it wasn't for the long wait for food, I would've easily given Hukilau 5 Stars. Set in a hotel lobby, next to a dated tourist mall, I've passed by for years never even thinking about fine dining. BIG mistake. Thankfully a friend recommended Hukilau. The ambiance is nice, looking out over the gardens and tropical setting of the hotel. But the food...just fabulous! We had the fresh fish dish and prime rib. The Parmesan focaccia bread was amazing. Wine selection was good and reasonably priced.
(4)Colleen H.
Our favorite restaurant on the island - without a doubt! We started here / and / we ended here... The restaurant environment is laid back and comfortable. We loved our wait staff and the food was incredible! The Sweet Potato Ravioli is incredible, the tuna appetizer, the 'butter fish'.. Definitely a must ~
(5)Christopher C.
Our wedding reception was held in the private banquet room at the Hukilau Lanai, and it was fantastic. First, the food. It's epic. As the other reviewers have said, you must try the ahi poke nachos. My other favorites were the lobster & goat cheese wontons, and the opah (moonfish). The Hukilau Lanai also made our wedding cake. In my experience, taste is often secondary to appearance when it comes to wedding cakes. Not here. Our cake was beautiful *and* delicious. The lemon cake was made with real lemon juice (as opposed to extract) and the sweetness of the raspberry filling was a perfect complement to the lemon. Next, the staff. I was blown away by the level of service - not only was the staff very attentive, they all seemed genuinely happy to be of assistance. I guess that's what happens when you live in paradise. In the lounge outside of the main dining room, local artists entertain bar patrons and people waiting for a table. If you are lucky enough to hear Ben Ahn play ukelele, tell him I said "Hi!". The restaurant is very clean, and the floor plan is designed to give the majority of diners a view of the ocean. It seems to be a local favorite, though, so make sure you have reservations. We will be returning to the Hukilau Lanai for years to come.
(5)Rose E.
My husband, our 7 month old daughter, and I came here twice during our one week vacation. We loved everything about this restaurant. It was walking distance from where we stayed and the food down to service was excellent. We loved the ahi nachos and the lobster and goat cheese wontons! I ordered the prime rib the first time and the pork tenderloin the second time - both were delicious. My husband ordered a fish dish the first time and the macadamia nut chicken the second. He didn't have any complaints either. We have talked about returning to Kauai again and I'm sure we'll by eating here again
(5)Daniel N.
Had dinner here with my wife last Wednesday. Overall: This place had amazing food and above average service. Only draw backs were: price (expected) and the fact that we were not seated until nearly 15 minutes after our reservation, and it took a while to get any food (appetizer, bread, or salad) and my wife and I were both starving after a day of kayaking. We quickly forgot the slowness of bringing food by the exceptional quality of the food. The ambiance was great, we had 730 reservations. I ordered the mixed grill, and my wife had the wahoo fish. Both were exceptional, the fish moist and perfectly grilled, my shrimp was sensational. The salads were top notch. The pre-meal bread ciabatta was a little cold, but still very tasty. This is a great place for a quiet romantic meal, mello live Hawaiian music, sensational seafood... If you are planning a high end romantic meal, this place is not to be missed.
(5)Jennifer S.
Since I read that this is where the locals go for a special night out, I picked the Hukilau to celebrate our 14 year anniversary. They use fresh ingredients from local farmers in Kauai and the neighbor islands. I do have to say that their advertisement of "ocean-view dining" is a little deceiving. It's more like a lanai where you "view" the ocean from afar. We order their famous ahi poke nachos, which is delicious. And since they have impeccably fresh fish, I order the Opah (Hawaiian moon fish). It's similar in texture to a sword fish and not fishy at all. The Opah was served on a big bed of fettuccine in parmesan sauce. It came with their Wally salad, which had romaine, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, bacon, red onion, croutons, mandarin oranges, papaya seed dressing. And my daughter gets the Ahi - black & white sesame crusted with a citrus sauce. My husband gets the Prime Rib au Jus season in Hawaiian salt & secret spices. It came with mashed potatoes, and there were greens infused into the mashed potatoes. All the servings are large and we each take leftovers back to our condo. For dessert, we decide to share the Hawaiian Vanilla Bean Creme Brulee, which is decadent. Since we were celebrating our anniversary, they gave us a chocolate Happy Anniversary card, as well as two chocolate truffles! They have a full gluten-free menu & vegetarian options as well. We didn't know that if you ask for gluten-free starter bread, they'll bring it out for you instead of the regular bread. When we found out, my husband asked if we could try some - and it took almost 15 minutes because they had to bake it! It came in the dish it was baked in and it was good- kind of like a focaccia bread, pretty dense and a bit on the dry side. The service was good, however the waitress never introduced herself, so we never knew her name and she didn't wear a name tag. We noticed another waiter approaching a new table, and he also didn't introduce himself. I wish she would have introduced herself because I believe that personal touch can make a huge difference.
(4)Siao W.
This is the best attempt at Hawaiian "fine dining" that I've ever had. This includes merrimans and even Kauai Grill. Definitely getting their early enough for the tasting menu. All of the dishes were delicious, slightly inventive, and incorporated local ingredients. -Gazpocho was refreshing. The basil sorbet was a good balance to the sweet pineapple flavors. Great starter. -Candied Ahi surpassed my expectations. One of my favorite things ever is fresh Ahi, so I do not feel that making it candied is necessary. However, the dish was delicious. There was a perfect amount of seasoning and grilled just enough to keep it juicy. Not to sweet at all. -Sausage and warabi is a solid dish. Never had warabi before. Its like a mix of bamboo and asparagus. Very good. -Ono with quinao and kale salad was great. Another perfectly balanced seafood dish. -Creme brulee was amazing as well. One of my favorite meals on any of the islands. My only complaint is that all of the wines included in the pairings were too sweet for my taste.
(4)Emanuelle O.
Food was pretty good considering every dinner on the island seems to cost in a similar price range, except for fast food dinners. I was pleasantly surprised by the grilled ono entree since grilled fish typically leaves much to be desired. Husband's drink was not too good, tasted like cough syrup concoction. He had pork tenderloin which was alright- tasty but fish was better.
(4)Vivian J.
DELICIOUS!!! They start you off with this cheesy bread with oil and balsamic vinegar. The bread had this crust of cheeses on top. It was really good. We ordered the Poki Nachos for our appetizer. It comes with Ahi tuna, Crispy wontons as chips, wasabi, tomatoes and salsa. It was SO AMAZING and fresh tasting!!! Also huge portions for an appetizer. For dinner we both had the Mixed Grill. It came with two kinds of fish; butter fish and swordfish in cajun, grilled shrimp skewered on sugar cane, all served over orzo. OMG the portions were huge and it tasted so GOOD!!! The best fish we had in Kauai! It comes with Wally Salad, Caesar salad or soup. We both go the Wally salad that came with poppyseed dressing, tomatoes, cucumber, bacon, croutons and was very tasty! The service was really quick and friendly with our questions. We were too full for dessert and everything on the menu looked like your standard desserts. The restaurant is pretty busy so either make a reservation or be ready to wait 20 minutes. Décor is a little old fashioned since the hotel is older but you still have a great view of the ocean from there. Prices are not cheap but the food is really good so you need try at least once.
(5)Sflady S.
Amazing food and service.
(5)Kent C.
For those looking for a dinner with family or a Rehearsal Dinner or maybe just a nice place for dinner after a wedding, the Huki Lau Lanai is the spot. The food is steller but what really caught my attention was a gal I watched during our daughters rehearsal dinner. Attention to detail, bent over backwards to make sure the flow of our little party was smooth. As a professional catering to guests myself in the wedding industry and having gone to a million restaurants in my lifetime, I especially thought their service was 5 star. The food is probably the best on the Island. I just felt a need to let everybody know just how good the Huki Lau Lanai is.
(5)Laura G.
Everything was very tasty and service was excellent. Food was pricey but that I'd to be expected. Ahi poke nachos were perfect, sweet potato ravioli was delish but very small, ribs were well cooked but pretty salty for my taste, Wally's side salad was well sized and flavorful, and the Shutome was excellent! Definitely recommend making reservations!
(4)Fiona H.
Amazing food. We spent 5 days in Kauai and were not thrilled with some of the Yelp review choices, however this place had an excellent menu and very flavorful dishes. We ate in the bar area both nights and one of the nights the waitress was a little dismissive and clearly was overwhelmed by the number of seatings she had. The bartender was very friendly and i am glad we chose this place!
(4)Cindy D.
This was our "splash out" dinner for this trip but with budget in mind. We went specifically for the five course food & wine pairing special between 5-5:45pm for $40. We actually did not have reservations and took a chance because we happened to be in the area. We lucked out and got the last table available. Everything was good to excellent and the wine pairings were spot on. Island Gazpacho with Koloa Rum Pineapple Basil Sorbet - Great start to dinner (~St. Gabriel Riesling Auslese, Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Germany~) Candied Ahi -- Delicious! coconut chipotle sauce (~Gazela Vinho Verde, Portugal~) Sausage & Warabi -- Fantastic! char-grilled housemade longanisa, local warabi & tomato salad (~Torres Las Mulas Rose, Central Valley, Chile ~) Fresh Catch --We had Butterfish, sumptuous summer quinoa & kale salad (~Poggio Anima Sangiovese, Toscana, Italy~) Artisan Cheese Duo -- We were so full by this point that we took the cheese home to snack on next day. (Humboldt Fog and a Manchego) Two cheeses, baguette, accompaniments (~Tonight's Cheese Wine Pairing~) Awesome value for dining on Kauai.
(4)T S.
Excellent dinner. Creative flavors, the sweet potato ravioli were great and the lobster curry bisque was so good that I wanted to lick the bowl. Dining on the lanai was so peaceful and romantic, this was a top-notch dining experience.
(5)M M.
Had a wonderful dinner here on the last night of our stay in Kauai. Started with the poke nachos which were soooo good, my BF and I loved it. I had the Ono which was wonderful and had a delicious sauce, I just wish it had more sauce. Nice service and atmosphere, very relaxing and enjoyable meal.
(5)Lindsey J.
Amazing food and wonderful ambiance. Great for a date night!
(5)William B.
5 stars for the food and the setting. Service leaves a bit to be desired although the staff seems to really try- they're just a little slow. Every table has an ocean view! Live music really makes it a great evening. Order the tasting menu if you dine before 6:00. My wife's was fantastic even before you factor in the price - only $28!
(4)Luis G.
Ok food but I was expecting better. The lobster bisque was great the mixed grill was just ok, it had to pieces of fish one of Walu which was good and another piece of a type of sword-fish which was not good at all. Al of that was topped with grilled shrimp which again were OK but not nearly great as stated in some other reviews. The food at the Cocount Beach Courtyard hotel is better overall, the cheff at the Courtyard had a great selection of very tasty food.
(3)Charlene K.
Beautiful fine dining and live music in the evenings. Outdoor seating with a view of the garden. Full bar. Fresh seafood dishes. *hint. The Prime rib is the talk of the locals. I really enjoyed my food and the dishes were very well prepared.
(4)Kevin S.
You can't go wrong here. Gluten free menu is superb. Had the ribs (best ever) and Wally's salad (so good) plus minty Mo drink and the opah was outstanding.
(5)Nancy B.
Wonderful food, service, live music and ambiance while in Kaapa area of Kauai We had two nights here at the resort and simply wanted a nice evening without driving all around the island looking for a place. Just steps away from our lanai we found this great restaurant and decided to give it a try since Yelp had such great reviews. I am now going on Yelp for all our travel needs as they have been right on. The first night we ate at the bar and John made us great drinks and told us the chef has a passion for his food. We ordered Ahi and Calamari and both were excellent. We came back the second night and sat in the restaurant overlooking the courtyard which had the torch lights on. It was very romantic and we also had a wonderful meal. Again we tried what the Yelpers said, the Ahi Poke Nachos and I had the mixed grill. The sauce was so great I just emailed the chef for the recipe. I was very impressed as the server who knew I was gluten free, brought me a wonderful gluten free version of the menu and a special baked muffin. I wish we had this kind of service and menu here in Southern CA!! Be sure to make a reservation as they are booked. It was a fun time and we are glad we trusted Yelp!
(5)Cherry J.
Best food we ate on Kauai, hands down! Service and food were both perfect. The butterfish appetizer really started the evening off right. It was so good! My drink, the non-alcoholic Mint & Ginger, was refreshing and delicious. Even the salad was amazing--love the papaya seed dressing and wish we could order it on the mainland! The resort location was a little weird at first, but we ended up enjoying it because we were able to take a nice stroll after dinner and enjoy a few minutes sitting in one of the hammocks. :)
(5)mia n.
Such an overrated place. After dining at Joseline's bar and grill with 4 star reviews, I had high expectations for this place which has 4.5... Was so disappointed. First of we were greeted by this really snobby hostess. Well by greeting as in ignoring me for minutes. I told her my reservation was at 7pm she then gave me a dirty look because we dared coming in 18 minutes earlier. I ordered the wontons, lobster bisque and mixed grill. The hubby ordered vegetarian lasagna and salad. The lobster bisque did not taste like lobster at all, it was a gross mix of curry and coconut milk that I both enjoy separately but the soup was aweful. The crab wontons were a bad version of those you can get at Cheesecake Factory. I also ordered a fresh coconut juice for $4 and it was watered out and tasteless. Then came the main dish and that was the only thing decent. Though the shrimp was undercooked a bit. The two stars go to 1 our waitress who was very nice, the second star is for my half decent main dish.
(2)Lisa D.
We made reservations here (recommended as they are busy). We started with the sashimi appetizer which was delicious and fairly large for sashimi! Excellent. My husband got the filet mignon for his main course and it was heavenly. I got the mixed grill which came with two types of perfectly grilled fish and a skewer of shrimp with mango dressing over orzo. We finished the meal with vanilla bean creme brulee which was the perfect end to a wonderful meal. I will recommend this place and hope to eat here again!
(5)alli t.
We ate our first dinner on Kauai here. I choose to eat here on Saturday night b/c of the live music. I made reservations through Opentable and noted food allergies in the notes section. When we arrived, the restaurant was very busy. The musicians were playing and gave the restaurant a relaxed feel. The restaurant was full of people, the lobby area was full of bar spill over, and the bar didn't have room for another body. After we were seated with our menus the waiter came around eventually and introduced himself. He put out his hand for a handshake. Caught off guard, I shook his clammy hand. I should have faked a cold and denied him a hand. I am not a big hand shaker b/c that's how germs spread and it's not appropriate at a restaurant. I was already cranky b/c it was beyond my bed time, and that just put me over the edge. I should have washed my hand immediately. The positive part of this dining experience is that our waiter explained that the folks in the kitchen would make sure the plate for Mr. Food Allergy wouldn't be touched by prepares handling those allergens. Sounds good. Pre dinner, focaccia served in a small bamboo steamer landed on our table w/some chili dipping sauce. Serving focaccia in a bamboo steamer was too fusion for me. I couldn't taste the chili in the dipping saucy stuff. When we finished the just ok focaccia, the steamer and the dipping oil disappeared. Ok, no refills, but we didn't need the carbs anyway. Dinner came w/soup or salad. The soup of the day was seafood miso. We went w/their house salad, aka Wally's salad. It was delicious. The greens were tossed w/tasty cherry tomatoes, crutons, canned mandarins and papaya seed dressing. Food Allergy enjoyed his filet that was served w/mashed potatoes mixed w/carmelized onions. I was on the fence w/my opah aka moonfish. The handshake was still on my mind although that shouldn't have affected my tastebuds. The opah was crusted w/cashews and served w/pineapple timbale. The fish was sitting atop of sticky jasmine rice. There was a lake of spicy sauce on the plate took away from the flavor of the fish. I don't know what they could have served w/the dish besides rice. I was disappointed it was plain white rice b/c I can cook that at home. When we got the bill the waiter told us how great the kitchen was w/food allergies. Also, he's never worked at a restaurant that was so flexible. They're willing to change the preparation of items on the menu if diners ask.....as in mix and match preparations and proteins one the menu. I wish I knew that it was a mix and match menu. I would have studied it more. When we left, the music was still going strong. Thumbs up for the music, Wally's salad and the allergy alert kitchen. I expected more from the food for the price. I think this is a tourist hangout. Attire ranged from "I just got off the airplane" to "nice resort casual."
(2)Bob H.
Reasonable pricing for a Hawaii beach seafood restaurant. Food was OK, not exceptional. Overall, "reasonable" is the right description.
(4)Renata V.
Great restaurant. Our waiter Ryan was very nice and he served us very well. The food was delicious. The tastes of the ingredients were a perfect combination, nothing was too dominant. The wine (Chardonnay) was really nice. Also the cocktails were good. Not too strong. And you have a great view over the garden of Kauai Coast Resort. This was the best restaurant we've been on Kauai!
(5)Anita S.
Made reservations for 6:00 pm had to wait about 10 minutes for seating. Our dinner view of the grounds and ocean were partially blocked by a support beam, but still a pretty view. However, the fish tank behind our table seem to attract every kid in the restaurant, though. We are not child friendly adults and the kids leaning their filthy hands on our table and chairs, and their squeally voices was not part of the experience I expected to have. Where are your parent? Ah yes, enjoying their quiet dinner. However, at about 8 PM all the keiki went to bed and we enjoyed an adults only meal. Our waiter was attentive, but there was some miscommunication with our meal. While there was no problem substituting vegetables for mash potatoes and asking for salad with no dressing, but it came dressed twice to the table. I was starving, since I don't fill myself on bread and my last meal was about 10 hours before this I was starving and it was a tease every time they served it to me. A bit frustrating but they finally got it right, and our meal was the best meal we had on the island. We ordered ahi poke nachos as an appetizer. I just ate the poke part which was very fresh and seasoned flavorfully that enhanced the fresh fish. Definitely a nice twist on poke and nachos. Our entrees either come with the soup of the day or a Wally's salad. My husband ordered the grilled ono with crab corn chowder soup...I had a bite of the soup and it was very made with bits of longanisa sausage, crab and corn. It showed quality, in spite of it being the soup of the day. The Ono came with rice in a lemongrass coconut milk sauce. Really eye catching plating as well as perfectly grilled ono and the perfect amount of the tasty sauce. I had the locally raised pork chop with longanisa sausage over request mixed vegetables which was a treat in itself (bok choy, zucchini, mushrooms). I had reservations about ordering pork since most times it is overcooked, but this time was the best ever. While dinner seems pricey, I thought it was bargain given the classic Hawaiian setting, the locally raised ingredients, ample portion, and included a salad or soup. Dining here was a very memorable part of our stay in Kauai.
(4)Diana L.
Adams Poke Nachos were disappointing. :( Tasted like something from Cheesecake Factory and the Wally Salad tasted like a salad from Wendy's fast food joint. Resort itself is nice and comfortable but I'd pass on the restaurant (good service but overpriced bad food) and go get yourself some real delicious island food - lunch plates and ahi poke. If you want fine dining hit up Napa or San Francisco in Cali.
(2)Kauai B.
Great place for dinner with friends. Casual Island atmosphere, mixed menu with fish fusion style cuisine and American eats.
(5)Corinna O.
We loved it here! Sat in the bar as we did not have reservations. I had the filet with a red wine sauce and potato of the day. It was served with a first course of tomato pineapple gazpacho and fresh out of the oven gluten free bread!!!! My SO had the veggie lasagna and was in love with it. My filet was cooked perfectly and the sauce was amazing. Service was great and you could tell there was a good team environment. The price - very humble! A bottle of wine for $26 and an entree that includes a first course for $15-$33. We were impressed and hope to make it back!
(5)Dub M.
When we checked into the Beachboy Resort they told us not to bother searching for another dinner spot because the best restaurant on the island was on the premises. I shrugged it off as cheap advertising. However, after 8 nights of trying every other nice restaurant, this truly was the best food on our trip. If you're looking to party or pick up mermaids, this is not your spot- sorry spring break dude. However, if you are looking to eat decently, sit down and relax. We got a seat next to the 300+ gallon salt-water tank, which I just love. A musician by the name of Ben Ahn was playing Ukulele that night, which I also love. I was across from my beautiful new bride, who I love the most. What a great night! Our appetizers were lobster and goat cheese wantons and lobster bisque. For entree I ordered the steak and was not disappointed. The meat was corn-fed, but hey, I'm from the Mid-West. My wife ordered the fresh catch, which was a trio of fish. It was really the best meal we had on our trip. Everything was fresh and cooked just how we ordered. Everything was timely, beautiful, and unique. I have no complaints, only my credit card suffered. Seriously though, an excellent experience and right where we were staying.
(5)Su-Lynn T.
We went here for dinner on our first real night in Kauai. I had made reservations (recommended) for our party of 6 the day of. I could only get 8pm reservations. Considering we're from the mainland, and us from the East coast, it was definitely hard to adjust to the time, but I am glad we did as we enjoyed our dinner here. Service at the Hukilau was great. We had to wait a few minutes for our table to be ready but we sat in the lounge area in the hotel right outside the restaurant. Our server was also extremely friendly and very informative about the day's specials. Menu consists mainly of seafood-laden island favorites. The requisite mac-crusted fishes, ahi tuna poke, as well as a few pasta, steak and seafood items. In terms of creativity, they were a few levels above your typical mid-priced island restaurant. The ahi tuna poke was actually quite good, served with crisp-fried wonton wrappers which gave the dish a nice savory crunch. All entrees are served with choice of soup or salad. The soup that night was a seafood stock type soup. It was not bad. You had a choice of caeser salad or house salad, which is served with my favorite, papaya seed dressing! Fish dishes were all fresh and well-prepared. The prime rib was also good, and well-cooked. I had the hebi, which is a fish I hadn't tried before, and after hearing our server's recommendation for the dish, I went for it, and it was tasty! It's a firm white fish, kind of like mahi mahi. I think everyone really enjoyed their dish, except for maybe 1 person, but I didn't get to try their dish. Most items are served with either rice or potatoes. I usually get rice. We were so full that we ordered 1 dessert for the 6 of us to share, lillikoi chiffon pie. It was yummy! Light and fluffy but with the richness of key lime pie. I liked it better than the same pie at Hanmura Saimin. I would come back to Hukilau Lanai if I'm in the Kapaa area.
(4)Albie F.
Thank god for Blackberries, and thank god for the Yelp ap on Blackberry devices because as we were making our way back to Kapaa, we needed to find a quick place to get some food and didn't quite want to settle for fast food while spending 4 precious days on Kauai. After a little bit of mobile Yelping, I found quite a bit of rave reviews regarding the sweet potato ravioli here at Hukilau Lanai. We were so impressed by the reviews that we took two orders to go. Each $9.25 order of the sweet potato ravioli consisted of 4 or 5 homemade raviolis covered in a rich but mouth watering lemongrass sauce. The mix of the local made feta cheese and Okinawan sweet potato made a nice hearty filling that did not disappoint the taste buds. Unfortunately I didn't get to see the inside of the restaurant or try anything else off the menu, but the ravioli itself deserves a 5 star rating.
(5)Christina A.
I chose this restaurant to celebrate my birthday, and I couldn't be more pleased with my choice. We easily made a reservation using Open Table and the staff accommodated all of our special requests. We had a table on the lanai and had a great tropical view facing the ocean. There were five adults and one child, so we ordered a few appetizers so we could try a bit of each. We had the calamari, lobster and goat cheese wontons, and the ahi poke nachos. The wontons and nachos were to die for, but I passed on the calamari. The texture was too much like soggy bread for me. They also brought out a homemade focaccia bread with a balsamic vinegar and olive oil dipping sauce that was pretty tasty. While we were enjoying our appetizers, we were also sampling some cocktails. I highly recommend the lilikoi blossom martini. It was sweet but not over powering, and had a beautiful orchid garnish. Everything was brought out quickly and the staff was very friendly. My daughter kept wanting to get up and walk around and even though I'm sure we were in the servers way, he was extremely nice and I never felt the "Ughh why did I get stuck with the toddler" vibe from him. We all ordered something different but the winners of the night were the Opah and the Prime Rib. The prices were very reasonable for the quality of service, quality of food, and portion size. I was very impressed with the quality of the kids menu as well. For $9 my daughter got a pineapple appetizer, fresh sauteed farmers market vegetables, a homemade meatloaf and a keiki bowl of vanilla ice cream. To top it off, I was brought a complimentary molten lava cake and house special dessert. Both were divine but had to be shared five ways since we were all so full. Dining in Kapaa does not get much better than The Hukilau Lanai. I highly recommend it!
(5)Crystal S.
Great dinner with a view! Good honeymooner dinner. We started with Lava Flows. Get the Fried Calamari (seriously the best I've ever had). I got the soup of the day described as a light Thai soup mmmm delicious. My husband had a salad he enjoyed. The bread and oil/vinegar is so good. We both ordered the Fillet Mignon and it was the best, juiciest fillet ever. Great portion. We ordered the chocolate souffle (remember it needs 20 minutes to cook). It was worth it. We walked out so deliciously full. Money well spent. Five star quality!!!! Compliments to the chef!
(5)Jacqueline C.
Hukilau Lanai was pretty good. It is not quite the Hawaiian food I had been hoping for; it was more European-inspired than we would have liked, with either use of local fish or some other island influence (i.e., through the addition of macadamia nuts, tropical fruit/produce, coconut milk, etc., to otherwise non-Hawaiian dishes). The seating was indoor/outside, with tiki torches providing an island tiki ambiance. The service was friendly and helpful. The noise level was lively. We came here as a group of 6. Since there wasn't any lomi lomi or lau lau, I went for the filet mignon. My bad for not picking something more Hawaiian, but it was cooked perfectly and was very tasty. Noteworthy was the Lobster Bisque with red curry and a drizzle of coconut milk -- that was good! If I hadn't been so full, I definitely would have gone for the creme brulee! All in all, a fun night!
(4)Chris H.
Best meal we had during our trip. My friend's wedding reception was held here. Mai Tais and Baybreezes were excellent. We had goat cheese wontons and braised ribs for appetizers-Excellent. I ordered the Sesame Crusted Opah and it was AMAZING! Great views and nice waitstaff.
(5)Vanessa B.
Make reservations. amazing options for the special menu made for Christmas dinner. Live band was a plus!
(4)F E.
Excellent dinner, pricey but worth it (dinning on the entire island is pricey fyi) and service at Hukilau Lanai is excellent!
(4)Ben O.
TL; DR: Excellent! You must eat one meal here if you are staying in Kapa'a. Best meal we had on Kauai. Great service, beautiful atmosphere in a lanai setting (as you might expect). I ordered the Ono, my girlfriend had the chicken dish. Both were just amazing. I'm used to SF Bay Area prices, and I thought it was extremely well priced for the quality of food and the experience. Make a reservation and go here at least one night while you are on Kauai, especially if you are staying on the East Side of the island.
(5)Mike T.
We had a wonderful evening celebrating our wedding anniversary. We enjoyed sitting outside. We ordered the lava cake for dessert and it was the best part. Check out the picture!
(4)Gayle V.
We have passed this place so many times before but on this trip looked into what "yelpsters" had to say. Ate dinner here twice and it was very good. The ahi poke nachos are FANTASTIC! The lobster bisque soup was best!! They have it every day but you have to pay $2 more and you have to ask for it . My husband and I had fish both times and loved our dinners. The reason I gave only 4 stars was due to the service. The server at the first dinner was great but the second dinner server was terrible. He lacked personality and was over whelmed with how many tables he was servicing. Anyways, great place for dinner! Make reservations as they can get very, very busy!
(4)lauren p.
When we were planning our honeymoon, we had decided to have one 'nice' dinner on each of the three islands we would visit. After a lot of research, we selected Hukilau Lanai for the Kauai portion. Extra bonus for it being so close to the lovely Fern Grotto Inn where we were staying. We started with the Ahi Poke Nachos, which were very tasty. The wasabi crema was a bit much, as neither of us is a wasabi fan, but if you like it you will be all over this stuff. Spi-cy. For the second course I had the Wally's salad, which was a fresh and bright as others have said. The hubs upgraded to the lobster bisque, which did not disappoint. Then I went on to the mahi mahi, and he had the mixed grill. We spent a lot of time trying to figure out which kinds of fish he had, and we wrong on all accounts, but what wound up being the ono was delish- very smooth and buttery. My mahi mahi was delicious as well. We could barely squeeze in a dessert but managed to split a macadamia tart. Worth the effort. The prices are high, but seriously, EVERYTHING IN HAWAII IS EXPENSIVE. And the portions are HUGE, so you shouldn't feel like you getting ripped off. Service was very friendly, and the resort setting was lovely!
(4)Todd J.
The food was okay, not great. My prime rib was way too fatty, my wife liked hers, but she likes fatty. On the plus side, they comped mine since they saw I left half of it uneaten. It was a reasonable location, the service could have been better, and the hostess definitely need to remove the pencils from their butts.
(3)laura m.
Nice atmosphere, cool entertainment, good drinks, and a friendly staff.
(4)Krystal S.
This place was sooooo good and our bill was about the same that we paid at junk Tomcats. we had the poke nachos, calamari, and lobster and goat cheese wontons to start off. I ordered the ono, my boyfriend had the mixed grill, my brother had the crown royal medallions, and his girlfriend had the prime rib. One of the gripes my brother always has is when he orders his steak medium rare, it always comes out overcooked at other restaurants. Not here! all of our food was delicious and we all wished we weren't so full so we could keep eating. Our waiter was pretty funny too. Next time we're in kauai, we're going back!
(5)Kevin C.
We went to have dinner on a Thursday night, and since we hadn't made reservations, we had to wait in the bar for an hour. The mango margarita the wife had was so-so, bu the beer was good. Fortunately, there was an amazing musician playing the ukulele and singing all kind of songs with his own hawaiian twist. We had a great time just sitting there at the bar and decided to just order pupus with our drinks. We had the poke nachos, the calamari and the lobster and goat cheese wontons. The flavors worked well together and made for a light tasty dinner. We were pleasantly surprised by the high quality of the food and we know we will stop there again when we come back to Kauai.
(5)Jason K.
We don't eat out much when we are in Kauai because we have a condo with a kitchenette. But we were told that Hakilau was the best place to eat on the island. It didn't disappoint. Both my wife and had the prime rib and it was awesome. The restaurant is also child friendly, my daughter is 4 and she has a good time and she liked her food. If we come back to the island we will eat here again.
(5)Mark Y.
My wife and I yelped Hukilau Lanai before we went on our vacation to Kauai last Friday. We haven't been to Kauai in 7 years and we usually go to Duke's in Nawiliwili and/or the Bull Shed in Kapaa. I was surprised to find on Yelp and also from friends on Kauai that the Bull Shed went downhill - too bad. So anyway we read these rave reviews about Hukilau Lanai and as luck would have it I found that it was right next door to our hotel (Islander on the Beach) as I literally walked by the place. So on Friday we made reservations and went. Normally I at least put on slacks, nice shoes and an aloha shirt (I'm local) but chanced it and wore shorts, a polo shirt and sneakers. Not to worry, most of the diners were similarly dressed - the atmosphere is pretty casual. Our waiter was very attentive, read their specials - I think it was an ahi stack, and proceeded to take our drink orders. They give you a full carafe of water but fill your glass if they notice it less than 1/2 full. All tables get a serving of focaccia served with olive oil/balsamic vinegar for dipping. We started off with the goat cheese-lobster-macadamia nut wontons (4 per serving) as an appetizer, and as others have said it IS truly wonderful. They're served with a guava, chili sauce that is just right - not too sweet nor hot. I had the ceasar salad - a just-right portion of romain with croutons and shaved parmesean. I would say that it would have been nice if they offered fresh ground black pepper but that's a minor detail. For the entrees my wife ordered the Chinese kalua chicken salad stack - she wanted to eat light. I had the fillet mignon. Both were delicious. My steak was done to perfection and it was perfectly seasoned. Tenderness? Like buttah! It was served over a sauce, probably some kind of tarragon-slightly tomatoey butter/cream. There was also small portion of salsa, mashed potato and a potato crisp as garnish. The acidic salsa worked well with the richness of the beef. I let my wife try a piece and she shared a piece of her stack. It was also nice - smokey shredded chicken with greens in a slightly sweet dressing. The restaurant offers a warm chocolate cake (their version of chocolate decadence) that must be ordered 15-20 minutes before serving. I ordered that and my wife ordered the lilikoi chiffon pie (a ubiquitous Kauai treat). Both were good, not great mind you, but good. The chocolate ganache in the center of the cake was milk chocolate; I actually make a pretty good one if I say so myself, hehe, and I use a good premium dark/high cocoa content bar when I make mine. Still, it was alright. My wife's lilikoi chiffon was also alright, not as good as Hamura's, but still nice. The restaurant has a full wine list - I'm not a big wine drinker and settled for bottled Heineken. They also offer locally brewed lager and ale on tap. The total for the 2 of us with 2 beers and a 20% tip came out just under $100. I think the price point is just right. This place is just under a Roy's restaurant in terms of what they both have to offer but I'd say Hukilau Lanai is a better deal. P.S., our friend took us out to this same restaurant on Sunday night before we left and it was just as good. Wish we had a place like this on Oahu. ;-)
(4)Pico C.
I previously wrote a bad review, and the owner contacted me and I felt terrible. He was lovely, apologetic, and obviously really cares about what he's doing. Still can't say we had a good meal or experience, but his concern and effort in reaching out really touched me and made me feel like dog shit. All I can say is, if something sucks just tell the owner. I'm betting he will try to set it right. And tell him I said sorry
(3)Erich D.
The star rating reflects more the food rather than the overall experiences I had here. Broken down below. Food: 3 stars Shared appetizer was the kalua chicken, I ordered the ahi, medium rare, as my entree, and we all shared a chocolate lava cake for dessert. The kalua chicken was quite good, very flavorful and really couldn't tell the difference in taste in comparison with kalua pig. The ahi entree featured a pretty large quality piece of ahi but the dish was swimming in a pool of so many thick, creamy sauces that it took away from the centerpiece of the dish. When restaurants do this I always feel like they are hiding something in terms of the quality of the food (this is completely unsubstantiated of course). The chocolate lava cake wasn't exactly my favorite, it was very mild in flavor and I've been spoiled with the excellence of another restaurant's chocolate lava cake also specializing in pan-Asian cuisine (Roy's). If I were to come back for the food it would have to be for the early bird special $40 tasting menu which includes wine pairings! That's a savage deal! Service: 4 stars Our waiter was attentive and very professional. Apart from one of the other waitstaff's evident indifference about his job, service was congenial. Ambiance: 4 stars You're in paradise, the Garden Isle, how can you complain. When dining al fresco at this restaurant you are delighted with a view of a perfectly manicured resort courtyard with palm trees and tiki torches with the ocean in the distance and looking out into infiniti. Live entertainment: 5 stars I'm admittedly slightly biased here. My uncle, Dennis Chun, performs here weekly and plays excellent renditions of classic Hawaiian tunes as well as contemporary ones, putting you in a perfectly relaxed island state of mind. In all honesty though, even if I didn't know him I would still think that he was a very talented and entertaining local musician. It's a little difficult to hear the live entertainment if you are seated in the restaurant or even on their patio area, it's much easier to listen and enjoy in the bar/lounge area.
(3)april w.
Was looking for a place to have a nice dinner to celebrate my birthday.. Since the island practically shuts down at the stroke of 6, it was now 7:30 and I was desperate to find a nice decent restaurant. Yelp reviewers led me to this location and I was not disappointed. Ordered the lobster bisque, Mahi with the mushrooms and mashed potatoes, and the prime rib - all were DELISH! I also received a happy birthday chocolate lava cake..yum
(4)A Z.
Great fresh food. Nice outdoor seating in the evening. You must order the Poke' Nachos!
(5)Michele W.
Had dinner with friends on a Sunday (5 of us). Had to wait a few minutes for our seats but it was worth the wait. Sat in the back right near the open window by ourselves for a good amount of time. Next up....drinks. Had the special. Believe it was called Gardener's Party made with kefir limes from the garden. It was delicious and refreshing! Then on to the Calamari! So tender and tasty! Worth a try. Next, the Ahi stack (think it was a special). That was to die for!!! Hope it is on the menu for my next visit. (which will hopefully be next year!) I had the Ono with a miso sauce for my entre. Last but certainly not least was the dessert special. Chocolate brownie infused with habenero chili peppers and a Dulce de Leche sorbet! YUMMMMM!!! So if you are in search excellent food in a relaxed non pretentious setting try Hukilau Lanai on Kauai!
(5)Jana M.
My third or fourth dinner at Hukilau and it didn't disappoint. To start we had the ahi poke nachos and those were awesome as usual: fried wonton pi for the chips all topped with tasty poke, even their focaccia bread that they give is delicious. For drinks I had a citrus breeze and my mom had the mango margarita, both were a little too sweet. Dinner comes with soup or salad, I got the caesar, mom got the wally's salad, and my husband got the soup of the day, a fishermans pesto. The soup was amazing, like nothing I've ever had before-creamy and smooth with a slight basil flavor. For dinner I had the opah, it was a big portion served on orzo and my husband had the prime rib, which he said was tastier and softer than the one from Dukes or Keokis. Everything was tasty and service was attentive, we will be back, soon I hope.
(5)Maile F.
A few years ago, my future in-laws hosted my husband and my rehearsal dinner here on a private patio room. The staff worked with my in-laws to put together a menu for both meat and fish eaters, with great choices. They also set up a host bar in our room. There was a bit of mix up on who was actually paying for drinks (hosted vs. no host bar) and my aunt ended up picking up that part of the check, even though it was clear in the contract with my father-in-law that everyone would be paying for their own drinks. The reason for my 4 star rating comes from the scramble we had to do to pay for this tab at the end of the night with the manager handing me the bar tab (with my aunt saving the day). I am all for paying for your own drinks, we all, after all drank that much, but it was uncomfortable. In the end it was all sorted out, but wasn't the nice "day before my wedding" feel I'd hoped for. Other than that, food was amazing, service was pretty good, and the private patio was amazing.
(4)Robert P.
My first impression on arriving was one of concern. The outside of the building looked sort of tourist trappy. We were greeted and seated by a very nice hostess and our server was fabulous. He helped select from the menu items we did not understand or weren't familiar with and was very personable. Tone food was excellent and every item very nicely presented. We are planning to return as often as we can. The prices were very reasonable and the inside view was very nice. Be sure to make reservations. Enjoy!
(5)Paul A.
On the recommendation of a local we came here for dinner. Made a reservation via open table as suggested because this place gets booked up for the early seating. We ordered the tasting menu which in only available from 5 to 5:45 . It's the best deal on Kauai... $40 for a five course meal including a wine flight. Overall, the food was pretty good and the wines were paired well. Our favorite course was a candied ahi which doesn't sound so great but it surprised us with its sultry smoky chili coating. We were seated on the lanai and had a nice view of the ocean and garden which made for an enjoyable relaxed dinner.
(4)Eric W.
What can I say that hasn't already been said... In a sea of mediocre food on the island of Kauai - this place stands out as a unbelievably fantastic oasis of delicious food and drinks. If you're here on vacation, splurge once or twice at this place, you won't be sorry you did. Mahalo Hukilau Lanai!!
(5)Courtney D.
This place is INCREDIBLE! My husband and I were recently married in Kauai. We had our post ceremony dinner in the banquet room at The Hukilau Lanai. The service and food were absolutely incredible. We could not have asked for a more perfect evening. The Banquet Coordinator, Manda, was an absolute joy to work with and extremely personable. We ran into her the following evening at a local restaurant and she shared her appetizer with us! An incredibly genuine person. Special mention also goes to the amazing bartender, Sylvie. She felt like a member of our party, and such service! We ended up eating at the restaurant 2 more times during our week. Everything was excellent. Our last night there, my husband ordered the tasting menu - excellent choice if you can't decide! I am convinced everything on the menu is to die for. A must if you are visiting Kauai.
(5)gerard f.
Hands down! The best place on the island for dinner. We always take guests here for the old fashion Hawaiian feel. Get here before 6:30 and try their tasting menu. An unbelievable bargain. Make reservations. It s always busy.....for a good reason. But the tables are spaced well apart and you never feel crowded. Service is impeccable.
(5)Benjamin S.
Wow. And.. wow. I actually heard about this place on TripAdvisor when reading reviews for the hotel we were staying, which was right next door. People were saying it was "a must," so I made a reservation online for our first night on the island. Boy, was that a great idea. We showed up a few minutes early, so they asked if we'd like to sit out front in the lounge, which has really comfy couches and tables. A cocktail waitress approached us right away and we ordered some mai tai's (of course). It wasn't more than another 5 minutes and we were seated out on the lanai, which was gorgeous. May as well cut to the only thing that really matters, here. As an appetizer we ordered the calamari, and I've never had better. It was some of the largest I've seen and was breaded perfectly with just the right amount of fresh lemon drizzled over it. For entrees I had the Mahi Mahi and she had the Mixed Grill. Both were delicious, but the sweet curry flavor (and portion size) of her's was my favorite. The fish in each was cooked perfectly, to the tune that you find yourself savoring each bite slowly. Also, both dishes came with a choice of soup or salad, and we both went with the soup which was a chowder on this evening. Also incredible. We loved it so much we at here our last evening of the trip as well and had the exact same great experience. Lives up to all the hype!
(5)Anna L.
We came here on our last night on Kauai and had a great time! Loved the fusion food here and really enjoyed the quality of the food and the romantic ambiance. The mixed grill was my favorite! Great variety of super-tender fish, sugarcane-speared shrimp, and the risotto was just amazing!! Other standouts were the lobster bisque and the lobster and goat cheese wontons! Unfortunately, the arugula salad and caramel mac nut tart and ice-cream dessert was just ok. The food can be rich and filling, and the food can take awhile, so try not to order too much--we were too full at the end of our meal! Also don't forget to make reservations!!
(4)Mike B.
As a well traveled gourmand and probable future diabetic... this place is awesome. The fillet Mignon was cooked to perfection; so soft, so moist, so juicy that it is probably one of the few occasions OK to see a grown man cry. The macadamia crusted Oppa was a playful little dish, topped with a tropical salsa, made of lord knows what, but was just awesome. The juxtaposition of the crunch of the mac-nut crust and the soft flaky fish will be seared in my memory right above the memory of the loss of my virginity in the back of a 1989 Honda Civic. The Oppa came with a banana rum sauce; a lightly sweet sauce with just a hint of banana and only after could you taste the rum, which was quite pleasant with the creaminess of the sauce overall. Perfect match for the fish and salsa. The chocolate lava cake was death by chocolate. Not overly sweet, a fluffy cake with rich warm gooey filled chocolate center. I would die a happy man just drowning in it. The Verdict: There are some food experiences in your life that you can't get out of your head, and essentially chase the dragon until you find it again. I will definitely go back again. Chance of getting laid by your SO after coming here: Good to quite good
(5)Emily B.
This was our first (and best) meal in Kauai! The restaurant was located in the Kauai Coast Resort and I recommend reservations because the wait was about 45 minutes without. When we arrived, there was a lounge near the hostess' station and lounge singers performing Hawaiian music. Once we were seated, the atmosphere was nice and fairly quiet. We had a view of the resort grounds and pool, looking out towards the ocean. We ordered the lobster and goat cheese wonton, prime rib, and surf and turf (which came with steak and some kind of Hawaiian butterfish). My husband got a beer and I got the Coconut Coast Cooler (by server's recommendation). Everything was delicious!!! The fish and the prime rib were AMAZING. The entrees also came with the soup of the day, which was quite good. Our server was super friendly and gave great recommendations based on the preferences we gave her. The bill came to about $100 without tip, and we passed on dessert. FOOD: Fantastic! Definitely order the prime rib or fish. LOCATION/AMBIANCE: Convenient location, peaceful/beautiful, nice view SERVICE: Perfect PRICE: Pricey, but worth every penny BOTTOM LINE: You MUST eat here while visiting Kauai!
(5)Joyce K.
This was the best restaurant of 6 that we dined in during our stay in Kauai. The service was impeccable (even if the order got mixed up--a sincere apology is appreciated), and the food was stunning. We stayed on North Shore and ate here before our airport departure late at night, and it was such a great choice. Terrific fish; reasonable wine list, and sufficient diversity for those who are not fish lovers.
(4)Tammy M.
Aaaahhhhawesome! A must try. Romantic yet pleasant for children who can sit and have conversations. Beautiful to walk toward the beach and hammock swing :)
(5)Helen T.
We had dinner here on the recommendation of a local, who said it was the best restaurant on the island. I think she may be right. We had a fabulous meal, and excellent service. I had the sweet potato ravioli, and lobster and goat cheese wontons. Both were delicious. My husband ordered the pork chop, which was a special for the night; it was tender and flavorful. We had a lovely table on the lanai, overlooking the lawn, which made for a romantic setting. We were staying in Hanalei, so it was a bit of a drive for us to get there (35-40 mins.), but well worth the trip!
(4)Chris C.
We ate here finally towards the tail end of our trip since it is the restaurant of our hotel. It is overpriced however if you get the pairing meal for dinner, which is $28 you will have two appetizers, two entrees and two deserts which will leave you happy. My had the paring and I had the filet. Her pairing was: a sweet potato ravioli, some sort of sausage, the Mahi Mahi, the pork loin, and for desert cheese and the sorbet. The sorbet was crazy in which one of the three flavors was a mango and jalapeno flavor. Overall, the plating of every dish was excellent. The ambiance isn't that bad either with a nice view. However, the service was horrible, but the manager stepped in and was helping each waiter and waitress which was nice to see. I would recommend Hukilau Lanai to eat while on Kauai. Cheers!
(4)Anna M.
I usually shy away from restaurants inside of hotels, but this place is so delicious! Had the ahi poki nachos, ohno, and mixed seafood plate. The service was also great. They have a gluten free menu and a happy hour at the pool until 5PM.
(5)ryan r.
hukilau lanai was a major reason we decided to come back to kauai for my birthday. food on kauai is pretty meh but this restaurant is by far the exception. everything was excellent. the sweet potato ravioli is a must; the lemongrass sauce is phenomenal! the lobster bisque is excellent and the wally's salad is very good (you may want to ask for the dressing on the side if you prefer less). prime rib is delicious and you can't really go wrong with the mixed grill plate. always fresh fish but this time our marlin was a bit dry and the shrimp under seasoned; the mahi was great. we ate so much we unfortunately didn't leave room for desert.
(5)Josh T.
It was good, but sort of an awkward place. The drinks were great, but the food was so-so. I think we need to see this place one more time and give it another shot. We had the Opah and Ono, but we wanted the Mahi Mahi, but they ran out. They also ran out of the appetizer we wanted. How did we strike out twice with two choices? Like I said, maybe an off night - as I could see they can do better. We also has this loud group behind us, which may have affected our mood.
(3)Kevin H.
Food and atmosphere are fantastic. Make your reservation on a night and time when there is a live musician. If they have the Kona coffee, brown sugar glazed ahi appetizer, order it! Also, highly suggest the mixed grill plate, but ask to double up the Walu.
(4)Matthew C.
One thing i've learned with my stay in Kauai...order the fish! Came here with the fam. Decided to share everything so we could all try a little bit of everything. ! Appetizers...stick with the poke nachos, cannot go wrong! The calamari was also excellent! very tender, not chewy at all! We tried the lobster and goat cheese wontons, which were good, but I'm not a big fan of the deep fried wonton shell, probably should keep it the traditional wonton style and that'll boost it up. Now I'm a big beef person, so I ordered their prime rib, which was good, cooked to order, but nothing spectacular, but still a good cut of meat. BUT their grilled ono (wahoo fish) was seriously one of the best pieces of fish i've had to date. Came with a curry sauce with rice...soooo good! Wrapped up dinner with their warm chocolate cake. I'm not a big chocolate person, especiallyh when it comes to cake because it can tend to be too sweet or rich, but I have to say their warm chocolate cake was delicious. Not too sweet, it was warm and contrasted nicely with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Note, this takes 20 minutes to prepare, so order this ahead of time if its what you want. All in all, a great dining experience! great environment and ambience, friendly staff...but I'm all about the food, and the food was great!
(4)Jennifer O.
The BF and I went here for our last meal in Kauai. It was sooo good! I made a reservation through open table, which was a good idea because the place was full. We had a seat outside overlooking the resort, which was nice atmosphere. They also position you so you don't have one person getting the view and the other looking into the restaurant, we were both looking out, so that was a nice touch. We started with lava flow drinks which tasted fresh and sweet...very good drinks. I had the chicken, which was crusted with macnut and was very tasty! The chicken was crunchy, the veggies it was served with were perfectly cooked, and the sauce was rich and delicious. Additionally, the meals come with soup or salad. I had the kahlua pork and potato soup. It was wonderful! The pork was tender, the soup was thick and hearty and full of flavor. The bread that came with it was crusted with cheese and flavorful herbs. The BF had the caesar salad which had an incredibly rich and garlicky dressing. I could have drank it (but I didn't....)The BF got the ono fish (We both do not generally like fish, but were hoping to find a fish we liked in hawaii). The fish was amazing! We both liked it (which was shocking). They grill it and serve it with mashed potatoes, a creamy yet light sauce and caramelized onions on top. Unfortunately we were too stuffed to have dessert, but if I am in Kauai again I will definitely eat here again. Thanks Hukilau Lanai for turning me on to a delicious fish!
(5)Emily B.
Food was excellent. The lobster and goat cheese wantons were great, as were the poke nachos. A good cheap wine selection. We didn't have a res but sat on the sofa in the lounge which was nice actually. Great kids menu.
(5)Ryan J.
The one spot on the island that deserves a standing ovation. Excellent setting that is enhanced by some of the freshest and most creative culinary options on the island. Highlights: Sweet Potato ravioli with curry sauce, macadamia nut encrusted chicken, and seared ahi.
(4)Charlie A.
Should I let the cat out of the bag... or should I not? Oh... What the hell! WOW! JUST WOW!! I've been coming to Kauai for over 25 years and this is, by far, the best restaurant that I've ever eaten at on the Garden Isle. I read about the Hukilau Lanai on Yelp, and so I booked a table with a request for lanai seating via OpenTable for my tenth anniversary.When my wife and I arrived for our 8pm reservation we were seated at a spacious table on the lania right next to the garden area. It was quite impressive with the tiki torches and beautiful landscaping. Our hostess was really helpful in her recommendation of adult beverages and the the various cocktails we tried were all excellant. Our server, Andrew, was one of the best waiters I've ever encountered in all of my years of fine dining. It was almost surreal receiving such service from a waiter dressed in slacks and an aloha shirt, but trust me, Andrew is exceptional. You're in for a treat if seated at one of his tables. We were looking at appetizers to start, but Andrew recomended something not usually found on the menu... candied coconut ahi. Brown sugar, coconut and ever-so-slightly seared cubed ahi make up this app and HOLY COW was it delectable! My wife then ordered the Hukilau Mixed Grill and upgraded her salad to the Mixed Greens and Maytag Blue , while I ordered the Grilled Ahi and upgraded my soup to a cup of the Lobster Bisque. The bisque was just amazing, as was the perfectly prepared ahi. My wifes salad was equally good, but I felt a bit overpowering when tried next to the significantly subtler lobster bisque. She thought that her entree was very well-prepared and we were both quite happy with our meals. Something that needs to be mentioned here is that the pacing of our meal was never, ever rushed and Andrew and the other staff members were all very attentive during our dinner. For dessert we shared a (not on the menu) recommendation by Andrew, a powdered sugar key-lime eclair along with some chocolate truffles for our anniversary! BRAVO!! Altogether this was a most amazing dinner, especially on Kauai. As mentioned before, I've been coming to Kauai for over 25 years and I've tried them all... twice if I liked them. When it comes to food quality Hukilau Lanai surpasses them all, even the St. Regis in Princeville. Now here's the best part... our bill for this amazing dinner including 3 cocktails and 2 glasses of wine was... wait for it... $125.00!! Do yourself a favor before the place gets over-run. GO! ASK FOR ANDREW! BE AMAZED! TIP WELL!
(5)Michele N.
The whole package was excellent: appetizers, bread, fish entrees, wine, bar drinks, dessert. We went once for a full dinner and once for drinks and appetizers during our trip in Kauai - great service and experience on both occasions. Try the coconut coast cooler!
(5)Josh L.
This was my favorite place we ate at on our honeymoon. The ahi poke nachos were fantastic, and the mixed grill was perfectly cooked. Good drinks too, and they're not all fruity rum drinks. The macadamia tart was delicious, too. I read somewhere that the portions were on the smallish side, but I think that's a good thing. Most places on the islands, in my experience, stuff you so you walk out feeling a bit ill (at least if you're like me and refuse to not finish a delicious meal). Great place, and I'll recommend it to anyone traveling to Kauai for sure.
(5)Christine C.
My husband is quite the refined and adventurous eater. Me- not so much. And yet we both loved the tasting menu at the Hukilau. If I had to describe the tasting menu I'd say that it is gourmet food that is inspired with undeniable class for "foodies"...but is still very approachable and enjoyable for the rest of us. We opted for the menu that included wine selections for each course. The price is reasonable as well ($40.00) considering you're getting a 5 course gourmet meal with half glasses of wine that compliment each course. (You can do the tasting menu sans wine for $28.00.) Everything was superb. As a picky eater, let me break it down: I loved the sweet potato ravioli (I don't like sweet potato), I ate every last bite of the Ono (I don't eat seafood- at all) and the accompanying arugula salad with beets (BEETS?!), meatloaf ("not your grandma's meatloaf") and crème brulee (heaven with a hard candy shell) were to die for. It was all fantastic! My husband opted for the cheese platter for dessert which he loved. I didn't care for it personally (cheeses were bitter and pungent). But we both left extremely happy with our meals and the experience as a whole. The service was also perfection. Very prompt, attentive and courteous. Let's not forget the specialty cocktails. Their martinis are made with liquors that are infused with indulgent flavors right there on site. We ordered a lemon drop (made with limoncello and lemon infused vodka), a vanilla bean and macadamia nut infused vodka drink (tasted like a cookie) and a "Hot and Dirty" martini that was a smoky pepper vodka concoction. All were made stiff and delicious- and were very reasonably priced compared to specialty drinks at similar establishments that aren't nearly as creative.
(5)Jeff W.
produce from the farmers market such as the romaine lettuce that was so sweet it nearly did not need the garlicky caesar dressing. and dishes that wonderfully takes advantage of the fresh fish available here. i had the mixed grill which featured shrimp on a sugar cane skewer, waloo (butterfish) and opah (which was overcooked). but a meer mention of the fact I did not like the opah and out came another piece of butterfish comped by our server. very nice touch. it was accompanied by a nice thai chile coconut milk based orzo pasta. all the dishes had sweet and savory components that really complimented each other. the curry lobster soup was to die for. the candied sear fresh ahi tuna was amazing. i may have to come back here before the week is over! JYW likes it a lot!
(4)Scott C.
I really wanted to not like this place because it is a bit cheesy. That said, they really delivered on the food and when you are overlooking the water, it is hard to be a hater. To start, i had the firecracker fish soup. This was probably the worst dish though it was pretty good. It tasted like tortilla soup, but could not taste the fish at all. Also had thw wallie salad. This was one of the better salads i have had on the islands even though it is basically their house salad. It had a good mix of vegis and dressed really nicely. For entrees i had the mixed grill which was two tastings of fresh fish of the day and a skewer of prawns. They did a great job of balancing the fish tastings. One fish was firm and meaty cooked cajun style. The other was a oilier fish which was a nice textural contrast to the firmer fish. On top of all of this, the service was very friendly and attentive without being intrusive. This place has been arounf for a while and for good reason.
(4)Nali M.
so i got my husband to take me, and we had a really good time. he ordered the lobster curry bisque and we shared the wonton. i ended up eating a lot of his bisque. it was SOOOOOO delicious!! i think we regretted the items we ordered: he got the farmer's market lasagna and i got the filet. these are things we could have made at home. my recommendation if you dine here: get what they do best; seafood! i'll definitely be heading back again and again!
(4)Ethel A.
My husband & I decided to eat @ a nice restaurant on our last night @ Kauai and saw the reviews about this place so we decided to try it. The place was nice and clean. We were seated out @ the patio, but soon realize a few flies were around as well. They had a 5 course menu deal from Sun-Tues 5pm-7pm (I think) @ $28 bucks, I thought 5 course $28 that's a good deal. I find out the portions are small, thus the $28...so really not worth it and get a regular entree. My husband had their prime rib and I thought that was pretty good. Overall the place was nice and the prices match the portions.
(3)R S.
This was a great find (thanks to the Yelp iPhone app). About 6pm on Sunday, while daughter was playing at the wonderful Lydgate Beach Park, we searched on yelp, found this place then made a reservation for 8:15. We showed up a bit early, grabbed a couple of drinks at the bar and they seated us a few minutes later, on-time. Waiter was very helpful, even taking a late change of order (decided to get the Ahi after all... and I'm glad I did!). Order took some time to arrive, but it was delicious. Ambience was good - not too upscale but not loud or boisterous. Perfect for tourist families. All in all, our favorite restaurant of our trip. Island cuisine with a hawaiian flavor. Good seafood. A bit pricey, but worth it.
(5)Keikilani S.
We have been dining at Hukilau Lanai since it opened! Now, that it is under different ownership we still continue to go there because the menu is practically the same, the food is consistent, the staff is efficient and courteous and the price is right! Our favorites include: sweet potato ravioli, swiss chard and hamakua mushroom tart, Wally's Steak Crown Royal, Pork Tenderloin and all of the fish choices. Great "20 under $20" wine list and fab desserts! The kids menu is also wonderful! The Hawaiian entertainment by Dennis Chun makes the entire experience memorable!
(5)Julie V.
Romantic ambiance, great service, and delicious food.
(5)Jimmy B.
Came here because it was walking distance to our courtyard marriott hotel and so glad we did! Menu looked awesome, and everything we had was great! Ahi tacos, opah fish, and pork medallions were all winners. Service was great and ambiance was nice. Really can't wait to go back here!
(5)Mel G.
After reading all of the reviews, Joe and I decided to check this place out. I ordered the filet mignon, and it was delicious. Our server was also friendly and attentive, and the casual -- yet nice -- environment of this restaurant made for a very lovely evening. Would definitely recommend!
(4)Linda C.
Hukilau Lanai is wonderful. It definiely blows the over-hyped and overpriced Beach House out of the water. I was certainly was skeptical. I never, ever, ever would have eaten at a restaurant in a hotel-lobby restaurant at timeshare if it hadn't been for the yelp reviews. I love the atmosphere. It's beautiful and tranquil with a lot of island style-- without being over the top. (No tikis or grass-covered bar). The restaurant overlooks a beautiful garden and the Wailua beachfront. The food is very good and reasonably priced. The homemade foccacia was okay (3 stars) but the olive oil/balsamic/chile oil was FANASTIC! Wow. (5 stars) Great selection of wines for $20 a bottle or less. That's not easy to do in Hawaii. All of these wines were available by the glass. We had an excellent Italian wine from Montepulciano (Chianti) (5 stars) My husband gives five stars to the Navy bean soup, I give five stars to Wally's salad. Super fresh, tasty organic greens. Best tomatoes I've had on Kauai (which means they were okay). Four stars for lobster wontons with plum sauce. Our entrees were very good. I had Opah and my husband had the meatloaf. The Opah was at least four stars or more. The mashed potatoes were excellent. Five stars. Coffee is three stars--meaning A-OK. Lilikoi pie was good, but not as good as the pie at Hamura's Saimin. (Hamura's pie is 5 stars and Hukilau Lanai's pie is 3 stars. Sorry.) Price is excellent by mainland standards and exceptional by Hawaiian standards. Two glasses of wine, one order of pupus (appetizer), two entrees with soup or salad, one dessert and coffee for totalled $84.00. Imagine! Made reservations for a lanai (patio) table on opentable.com . We got the best table right in the middle of the lanai! Awesome. Glad I did that because the place was packed on Sunday night. Word is getting out. By the way, they have music in the bar every night. (See schedule on website) The kane (man) who performs on Sunday evening is five stars EXCELLENT and the volume is just perfect. I've endured so many meals accompanied by too-loud, marginally-talented entertainers that I really appreciated him. We stayed in the bar after dinner to appreciate the music. The bar is a very relaxing setting (couches and chairs) and has a nice energy. More appealing than Stevenson's Library. We may or may not eat in the restaurant again. We tend to avoid fancy food and places that cater to haoulis (white folk) in Kauai because that's not what they're good at. We eat local style. But we absolutely, definitely WILL be back to have pupus and drinks in the bar. May even spring for the awesome-sounding five course wine/food pairing tasting menue someday.
(4)Kevin A.
Great dinner at Hukilau tonight prior to the tsunami warning. The mixed grill is a terrific choice. I have not had a bad meal at this seafood delight.
(5)alex t.
Very good food
(5)Ling W.
Had reservation (unable to make online but called to set), had to wait 15 mins for table. Sat at bar and had drinks. There are some interesting offerings. Were seated and ordered quickly. We were in and out in 1 hour total. My husband loved the ravioli appetizer. My meal was gluten free and as other reviews have mentioned, they offer a gluten free menu and bread. We both had filet mignon. My only complaint was they the sauce (gravy?) was very salty. Cream brûlée was ok, a bit mushy. Overall, we felt our drinks, app, meals, and dessert were above average but not wow (!). Service was efficient, not particularly friendly but not mean, just...efficient. Atmosphere and ambience could use some updating (paint, pictures, carpet, sound system). I'm unsure if we will return. If I could give 3.5 stars, I would.
(4)Terrence G.
My wife and I ate here during our stay on Kauai. This place is located at the Kauai Coast Resort which also was the resort we were staying at during our stay. We heard good things about this restaurant and our overall opinion is that is was just so-so. The food was good, but pricey. We shared the lobster won tons which was good but pricey for a fried food app. I had the prime rib, which was decent. My wife had the meatloaf which was also good. Both of our entrees included salad and the wolley wolley salad was probably the best part that stood out the during our meal. Our server was nice and on point. Overall this place was just ok; there are better options on the island. Definitely call ahead we had to wait over an hour on Wednesday night.
(3)Paula B.
this is such a fun place! we're going back for 2nd time tonight, with reservation. we didn't hv one our first visit, but sitting in the bar is prime people watching spot. poke nachos yummy, ck! love freakin hot chocolate martini!
(4)M. J.
The signage is a little Survivor and the location would make you think you were in for some sub-par restaurant lobby food, but Hukilau Lanai is actually a dinner you'll remember. The ono was grilled to perfection and served on top of white rice with pineapple and green curry. My husband's lightly fried opah with soba noodles was so good he almost didn't share. The wine list was nothing spectacular but the food was compelling enough that we didn't mind. And don't miss the goat cheese cheesecake! Sounds weird but it was perfect. Dinner for two with appetizers, entrees, one drink each, and dessert will run you $100 including tip.
(5)Mike W.
My favorite place on the island. Went here twice last time we were on Kauai and went twice again this trip. Love it! Every single thing, each time we ate was perfect. From the salads to apps to drinks to entrees and that chocolate lava cake were all to die for. Not cheap but not the rip off Beach House is. A must visit if you're on the island and want to impress.
(5)Julie R.
We had dinner here on our first evening on the island and it was a very good experience. We had drinks at the bar listening to live music. Music was good but drinks too sweet. Then we moved to our table. Very nice setting, with view to the pool and ocean behind. Service was nice and our waiter had good advices. Menu was really interesting and featured local food. Food was good and entree are served with soup or salad. Entree price are in the $20 to $30 range. They have a nice selection of wine around $20 the bottle. For dessert, we had the macadamia tart, which was good. They do not serve expresso but only regular coffee. We came back again a few days later and had the lobster bisque with coconut cream and tai curry (really nice) and the fish mixed grilled (amazing!) our waiter was great and had very good advices on wine pairing. I will recommend this place and will likely come again.
(4)MJ J.
Great location, great food, we celebrated my son's 8th birthday here. excellent service, good prime rib, good wine.
(4)Josh H.
This was one of the best places we ate on our trip this past summer. We came back a couple more times throughout the course of our trip and each dish was delicious!
(5)Wendy W.
Pricey - yes. Worth it? Yes! This was our splurge dinner and it was worth every penny. I had Wally's Steak - which is a filet mignon quality beef with a wonderful light bourbon sauce. Perfection. My spouse had the catch of the day and it was wonderful. We followed it with the chiffon pie and wished we'd have ordered one to go. Outstanding service, outstanding food. We used the Yelp/Open Table for our reservations and it worked great. Reservations highly suggested.
(5)Walter J.
Ok so I really wanted to like this place but.....I didn't. Hukilau was recommended to my by a man that owned a condo a few properties down the street. The service was very courteous and fast, but was rather 2 dimensional. The food was good but almost institutional in quality,,kind of like what you might get at a wedding or on a cruise ( a bad cruise). We had reservations for 3 at 8:30 for three. I felt like they wanted to really rush us thru the meal. in and out with drinks appetizers, salads and main course, out in under an hour. Although the food was not worth lingering over every bite, i am also not into speed eating. Polite but there is no way we should have been done that quick.the restaurant in in a time share resort and maybe the kind of person that would go for a time share ( or Vegas buffet) might buy into that this is high end fine dining, but its not
(2)Craig H.
This was our third stay at the Kauai Coast Resort, and we ate twice this time around at Hukilau Lanai. It is still terrific. The food is so expertly prepared and served with as many LOCAL ingredients as possible. The accompanying sauces for each dish and dessert make sense and compliment the tastes well. The friendliness of all staff at Hukilau Lanai is genuine and sincere. This restaurant has to be one of the stars of Kapaa and Kauai. My best advice is to make a reservation - you won't be disappointed with any meal here, and it will be a memorable experience.
(5)Jaye J.
Ok, decided to go here our last night in Kauai. From the other Yelp reviews, we weren't expecting much from the waiters, but thought the location and food should be good. It was really great! We made a reservation on Open Table for 5 p.m. We got there early around 4:30ish and sat at the bar that is just outside of the restaurant, in the hotel lobby. The bartender was really nice. I had a wonderful pomegranate marguerita. My friend had a mai tai and my husband, who is our designated driver had a club soda. We were there long enough to order two. Delish! Promptly at 5 p.m., the dining room opened. I ordered the tasting with the wine. Really delicious. We started with squash blossom appetizers that were special that night. They were stuffed with a horseradish cheddar. Totally yummmmm. My husband, who NEVER eats fish, ordered the opakapaka, which was the special fish dish that night. It's a Hawaiian red snapper. He LOVED it! My friend, who was also traveling with us, ordered the pork and she LOVED that. The waitress was wonderful and the servers who brought my tasting dishes separately were ok, not nearly as personable as the waitress. All in all, we agreed that on our next visit to Kauai, we would made sure we had at least one dinner at Hukilau Lanai! Aloha and Mahalo!
(4)Mike G.
Amazing!!! The best place for (an all around) dinner we found over 2 weeks on the island. We tried different places every night but wound up spending our last 2 nights here (as well as our 3rd). Make reservations a day or two in advance to get a time you want because this place is packed open to close.
(5)Mark T.
My favorite place that I ate at in Kauai. Good quality food for a good price. Wine list was affordable and decent enough quality. Tried going a second time on my trip, but couldn't get a reservation (book on OpenTable). Highly recommend.
(5)Ailin K.
The tasting menu was delicious and well proportioned. We got to try the best of the restaurant, and everything was as delicious as it could be. Service was great, very efficient. The wine pairing was well done. The fish dish came with Merlot pairing, which was out of ordinary, can't say that I get the concept or found it paired well, but it was an interesting idea. We left feeling satisfied and look forward returning to the place again.
(4)Lisa L.
My original plan was to go partake in their 5 course $40 tasting menu (yes, with wine pairings!), but since I went on Christmas Eve with my parents, we had to order from the special holiday menu. The kahlua turkey was tender, but very smokey and a tad to salty for my taste. The prime rib came out perfectly cooked and was a very generous portion. Side dishes (garlic mash, stuffing, sweet potato mash) were decent, but nothing to write home about. There's also a bread basket with warm foccacia bread. My favorite part of the meal was actually the Wally's salad (romaine, tomatoes, pecans, mandarin tomatoes, and croutons with a ranch and papaya vinaigrette) which was the perfect combination of salty, sweet and crunchy. The service was great, super polite and friendly, and the ocean view while dining was a lovely bonus! They also have a 20 wines for $20 menu which is pretty fun. I'd definitely go back, but more for a festive happy hour or scenic lunch than a sit down dinner.
(3)Mike H.
Hukilau provided the best food we had on the island. It was one of two places,I thought, provided food good enough to compete anywhere in the world. I had their tasting menu coupled with wine. It was interesting and surprising. The wine varietal choices were bold in that they were not the usual suspects; Muscat anyone? The pairings worked quite well even when we were less than thrilled with the course. My least favorite was the "Not Your Mother's Meatloaf", even though its preparation was perfect it had too much cumin for my taste. Service was good, more diner than dining. We were there before the music started and the restaurant filled up. Hukilau is one of the few places worth seeking out for the food on Kauai and worth seeking out is by definition 4 stars. Mike
(4)Paula F.
Wonderful Wonderful Wonderful!!! Our group started with drinks and the bar and didn't even order anything specific, just that the bartender fix us something pretty with an umbrella it is. Perfect! We sat outside and the temp & breeze were just perfect. Wally's salad is a very good start. We each tried something different and each had a great experience; Mac Crusted Chicken Breast, Veggie Lasagna, Pork Loin and the Mixed grill of Wahoo and sugar cane speared Shrimp. Yum!
(5)Cécile L.
The food is very good. We went there twice in July 2010. The first time we didn't bother to book a table, and because we didn't want to wait one hour we had dinner in the lobby. That was the mistake. We ended up waiting one hour anyway to have our food. The waitress forgot to order our appetizers but brought bread (which is very good and can serve as an appetizer ;) ) several times as an apology. Then we shared the mixed grill with my husband. It was delicious. Even our baby loved it. So we decided to give it another try. This time we booked a table and had dinner in the dining room. The waitress did everything she could to make our dinner nice, even if our baby didn't cooperate a lot. The service was very fast (maybe too fast this time) and we got to taste the Sweet Potato Ravioli which is a must have! And we ordered the mixed grill again and it was delicious again. I wanted to try their desserts but our baby was screaming... So two not so good experiences but a great staff and some very good food!
(4)G L.
If I judged a restaurant only by the food, I'd say this restaurant would be rated "good". However, the service, ambiance, and total experience make this restaurant special. I definitely recommend it, and we plan on eating here again on our next trip to Kauai. I ordered from the "Gluten Free tasting menu" and some items were great, others just ok, but it was enjoyable to try various selections Next time, I'll select the one menu item that really catches my eye, but either way you go, you'll enjoy yourself.
(4)Blake H.
Great food, great preparation and presentation. Live music, was a great dinner experience.
(5)Eilene R.
This place was so awesome we went 3 times on our vacation and it was completely out of the way. I've been meaning to write this review for some time. Try the Koloa rum. My husband got their blueberry soup even though it sounded strange and loved it. We got something different every time and it was always amazing.
(5)c L.
This was one of the best meals we ate in Kauai...most of the meals we ate on this island were just okay until we came here. My husband ordered the prime rib which was fantastic. I ordered the mixed grill which was good but was sitting in too much curry sauce...if it was plain, it would have been so much better. I had the lobster bisque which is curry based and tasted just like drinking curry sauce so if you dont like curry, dont order it, it is not your typical lobster bisque. The caesar salad and creme brulee were excellent. Our waiter was a brunette gentlemen in his 30's, he was an awesome waiter. Very attentive service..would definitely recommend this spot..it blows the Beach House away as far as the food goes.
(5)No B.
The Hukiulau Lanai: Careless wait staffers who are dog tired of tourists, along with creative sounding but very mediocre food at high prices, all the while pretending to be a fine restaurant. What's not to dislike? The prices do not bother us. It is what you receive for the money that will keep us from returning. Ever. The beautiful garden lanai setting is overcome by a very mediocre "basic low-to-mid-level hotel" kitchen and the self important, sometimes rudely interrupting wait staff. Fails big time.
(1)Ben T.
Favorite Dinner in Kauai. Very delicious and reasonably priced.
(5)Tracy Z.
Hukilau Lanai is a pretty solid bet for dinner, though it is on the pricier side. I guess this is to be expected since it is a hotel restaurant. The restaurant has a nice ambiance with a terrace/veranda-overlooking-the-garden vibe going on. Somewhat plantation-esque. We had the ahi poke nacho appetizer to start. Mmmm, yummy. The wonton chips used to replace nacho chips was a nice touch. The fisherman's chowder that came with my entree was also delicious. It was seafood-y without being too "wild" tasting and had copious amounts of veggies + fish. I had opah (moonfish), which was prepared with an Asian-influence. The fish itself was lightly breaded and perfect. The accompanying veggies were done with a typical teriyaki/soy sauce-ish flavoring. Dad had the ahi tuna. Good quality and came with some yummy, creamy orzo. Mom had the mahi mahi, served atop polenta. All in all, the fish we ate were fresh and delicious (with a nice texture too!). We tried the macadamia nut tart fort dessert. This was sort of a let down since it was basically an overdone pecan pie. You couldn't really taste the macadamia since the whole thing was so drenched in caramel flavoring. Luckily it came with cinnamon ice cream, which was interesting to try and very good.
(4)Samantha S.
Had dinner here last night and I can't wait to go back again. Yes, it is in in a resort and you pause for a moment, but the food was fantastic. We had 7:30 reservations and were seated a few mins after arrival. It was a little loud which was hard for my mom who wears a hearing aid, but the place emptied by 9 pm and the problem was solved! Everyone in our party loved their meals and cleared their plates (Opah, Mixed Grill, Wally's Beef dish cut like butter, prime rib, and pork). We each had a dessert as well. The prices are reasonable and although the service started out slow, it was competent and other staff members jumped in to make sure we had what we needed. Adding this place to my must have dinner at when I visit Kauai.
(4)Leiann B.
My husband & I came here, based on Yelp reviews - was close to our condo in Kapaa & served local specialties - with a view on their lanai. I ordered the mixed seafood grill (shrimp & 2 fresh local fish) topped with Thai coconut sauce over orzo -- wow, fantastic. Service was good, altho our drinks ordered first took awhile to arrive, probably due to busy bar orders. Still, we'd love to come back on a future visit to Kauai! Highly recommended as a great "date night" restaurant. :)
(5)Frank Y.
Great food and great presentation. We ordered two fish dishes, both are really great! The food are beautifully presented and the fish are so tender and moist that they brew us away! We should have reserved seat (we ended up waiting for 30 min, but it's worthwhile!)
(5)Scott M.
Ahhhh...That was an excellent dinner. I am all smiles right now. Get the Poke Ahi Nachos...delicious, refreshing and a great starter. The peppercorn crusted tenderloin medallions were melt-in-your-mouth tender and perfectly cooked with an excellent Crown Royal demi-glace. Mmmm. I am still thinking about that. If you get a chance to try Waloo, do so. It's local and perfectly described as a butter fish and it came with the mixed grill dish.
(5)Adam G.
We come to Kauai often, but only recently discovered this gem. Don't be fooled by the 70s decor or the depressing Coconut Grove shopping center. On our most recent trip to Kauai, this was by far the best meal we had. The mixed grill was one of the best entrees I have ever eaten. A very relaxed and friendly atmosphere.
(5)Angie K.
For some reason I only remember how great their Mango Crisp was. Maybe the wine got to me but dinner was yummy too.
(4)megan b.
this place definitely seemed to attract an older crowd, my husband and i definitely felt like we were sitting at the"kids table" at thanksgiving dinner. the service was alright, our waitress seemed a little frazzled and forgot to bring me my drink. she also seemed to rush us a little bit through some parts of our meal - asking about dessert before we even had our entrees served to us. the food seemed to be hit or miss. the chicken stack appetizer was really sub standard. it tasted like the chicken came out of a can or a pouch. for entrees, i had the ono with some type of dijon sauce which was excellent. my husband had the opa, which was also quite delicious. we were on the full side and one of the last lingering tables, so we opted against dessert. the entrees were delicious, the appetizers and service left a little to be desired.
(3)B L.
We stopped by this place based on the Yelp reviews. The food was so-so. We ate the sweet potato ravioli, the poke nachos, the lobster and cheese won tons, and two salad plates (argula beet/corn and some other chevre cheese salad). Secret: If you really want to dine here, come between 5 pm - 6 pm and try the tasting menu. You'll get to eat for $28 per person without wine and $40 per person with wine pairing. Here's what they include with the tasting menu: 1) sweet potato ravioli, 2) beet salad, 3) market fresh fish, 4) pork tenderloin, 5) artisan cheese plate, 6) trio of housemade sorbet. This is a bargain. Too bad we didn't know about this.
(4)Laurel E.
We did the tasting menu and that could have been our problem. We liked the sweet potato ravioli, but the rest seemed like it had been cooked earlier in the day and then just shoved in the oven. Not super tasty. Also, we sat outside and it seemed to be infested with fruit flies. I was constantly shooing them away. I asked for more bread and never got it and had to ask a few times for more water. Not the best experience at all.
(2)John C.
This restaurant is at the hotel we stayed at and it was our one "splurge" dinner while on Kauai. We ate at the bar and tried a variety of appetizers, all of them excellent. The service and atmosphere were great.
(4)Joe O.
Atmosphere isn't great, but the food was good. The sweet potato ravioli app is a must have.
(4)Paul Z.
Great food, good wine list and well done service. I really enjoy restaurants which utilize local organic ingrediants, that is what they do here. The ambiance was a bit kitchy, but overall the best dining option in Kapa'a and points north!
(4)R M.
Great restaurant in a surpising timeshare resort. The ravioli was amazing as was the curry lobster bisque. I had the halibut prepared in the "catch of the day" style... Yum! The only downside was that the resort seemed kinda sketch and it was a bit pricy for what you got (food and service wise). But, I would definitely recommend if you are looking for a great dinner.
(4)Gamebebe C.
This is our second time here and it is still great. Alan is very nice and polite and the portion is good size. The atmosphere is very nice.
(4)Tanya N.
Our first night in Kaua'i, we decided to stick close to the hotel and ambled over to Hukilau, which had been recommended to us by several people. We were seated promptly and enjoyed the view of the garden and beach. They have a great selection of "wines under $20," and I was pleased with my Argentinian Cab. We had the nacho poke appetizer, which was strongly recommended by our waitress while I drooled over the thought of a lobster and cream cheese wonton. Our appetizer was good, but when is poke ever bad? The wonton crisp "chips" were a little too oily, and there could have been more of the wasabi cream sauce. I continued to drool over the lobster appetizer that we forewent. I ordered the prime rib and D had the chicken and shrimp skewers, and we both opted for the lobster bisque with our meals. The lobster bisque was definitely the highlight of our meal - made with coconut milk, with hints of lemongrass and curry, mine was inhaled in all of two seconds. My prime rib was good, and D really liked how tender his chicken was. All in all, I would say Hukilau is a safe bet for dinner, with interesting and good menu and wine choices (even if the food items don't fully live up to their promise), but not the best meal that you'll most likely have on the island. Broke da mouf?* A little, but nothing that can't be fixed. *D and I have discovered the phrase 'broke da mouf' and thinks it's the best and funniest thing ever, so all Kauai reviews this trip will have a 'broke da mouf' rating."
(3)Phillip S.
We've travelled to Kauai ten times over the past eight years, and my one complaint has always been the restaurants. Maui is a culinary goddess compared to the other islands, with Oahu being a close second. Kauai, unfortunately, has always been the bastard step-child when it has come to eating (however, the other 'features' of the island still make it my favorite). Roy's has always been the leader on this island for fine dining, and nothing has ever come close to them with quality or preparation. Until now. Hukilau Lanai is a wonderful place to eat. So much that we went there three times this past week. THREE TIMES. The first time there I had the Ahi Poke Nachos for an appetizer. This sounded strange, and wouldn't have been something I would order, but the concierge at the Marriott told me that I had to try it. So I did, and it was an awesome decision. Won ton chips, covered with tomatoes, avocado, ahi sushi, tobiko, and a cream wasabi sauce. This was near orgasmic. An absolutely incredible appetizer. My friend got the Lobster and Cream Cheese Wontons, and it was pure delight. It was an absolutely wonderfully decadent appetizer. We got these same appetizers on the next two trips, as they were that good. For main course I got the Crown Royal beef tenderloin, and it was awesome. The meat, chicken and fish they get here is all natively farmed/grown. This is one of the few restaurants that doesn't bring everything in from other islands, and the quality is just incredible. My friend got the Filet, and it was perfectly prepared. My son even got the Jr. Paniolo Prime Rib, and hoovered it down. It was well seasoned and perfectly prepared. My daughter got the hot dog, and loved it. On my second trip I got the Shiitake Meatloaf, and thought it was good. It lacked something in flavor, but I couldn't put my finger on it. Overall, it was good, but not a knock your socks off taste. I recommend this place wholeheartedly.
(4)Jessica D.
Best meal on the island, hands down. Sure it's the in-house restaurant for the Kauai Coast Resort, but damn can they cook up a great meal! We ended up eating here twice because we couldn't get it out of our minds. My appetizer was one of the single best dishes I have ever tasted - Okinawan sweet potato ravioli with feta. It was sublime, orgasmic, mind-bending. There was a fork war for the last piece (I won), that almost ended in blood. The bread that they serve is delicious, and their cocktails are tasty too. I suggest the Loco Lemonade, its refreshing and will still "do the trick." Both their Caesar and Wally salads are really tasty, though I prefer the Wally. My entrée was the ravioli one night, and the sugar can skewered shrimp and chicken duet another. The chicken is dusted with a kona coffee barbeque-like spice and rests on a bed of creamy orzo that is to die for, and the shrimp pick up a great flavor for the cane. The Crown Royale medallions were so incredibly tender and juicy that I stole them from my honey's plate on a number of occasions. And his Shitake Meatloaf the second time around was just as good. And for dessert...the chocolate lava cake. Need I say more? Their interpretation is moist, but not gooey, and the 'lava' inside was almost like drinking chocolate it was so rich. I had the lilikoi (passion fruit) chiffon pie as well and it was great; a nice and tart filling that was cut by the richness of the coconut-macadamia crust. The service was great and the scenery can't be beat. All in all, unforgettable! And my stomach is growling for those ravioli...
(5)Trevor D.
Hukilau Lanai was easily the best restaurant we found on Kauai. The food was more original, better prepared, and more attractively presented than at other similarly rated establishments. After ordering them for a third time, our party agreed that the calamari appetizer was the best we'd ever had. Our entrees were nearly as satisfying. The Hukilau Mixed Grill consists of two moderately sized, island-caught fish fillets and about six sugar cane skewered prawns. For $26.00, we were more than pleased; our fish were perfectly cooked and seasoned, while the prawns were a bonus beyond what I would expect for the price. Our cocktails were original and generally decent, though certainly not outstanding. For example, the chili-infused vodka and cinnamon cocktail sounded great on paper, but didn't stand up to a few sips. Hukilau Lanai wouldn't receive a five star rating if compared to the best places in most large cities, but easily competes with anything else on Kauai.
(5)Haley K.
The patio seating is delightful. It provides a pleasant view of the hotel's property and ocean. The food was tasty and the drinks were strong. We had candied ahi appetizer which came over white rice. My boyfriend had the the ahi entree which was cooked perfectly.
(5)Jeremy P.
Excellent seafood, wonderful setting and great ocean views. Can't go wrong! And try Adam's Ahi Poke - totally amazing! They will cook your fish to order which is nice (I like my Ahi very rare). We went back for a second dinner during our trip and it was excellent as well. Only negative is the soup we had was too small and unspectacular for the price (lobster bisque, $7 for a cup), but go here for fish entrees and you will not be disappointed.
(4)Young K.
the ahi poke nachos were awesome. i've never tried anything like it. the lobster & goat cheese wontons were aiite. wife ordered the mixed grill and found it too sweet. i forget the fish i got, but i thought it was okay. the location is nice and although it was too dark to see, i think there would normally be a nice view of the ocean. definitely don't miss out on the ahi poke nachos.
(4)James G.
We dined at this establishment based on the reviews we saw on Yelp. Reservations were a bit tough to get, however we ended up with a nice 6:30pm spot. The overall experience was great. The view was very nice (garden view), but definitely not beach view. We ordered the calamari appetizer, which was sub-par. My wife had the Wally salad and loved it. For the main entree, defintely get any "O" fish (Opah or Ono) -- those were excellent. Recommend trying the Mojito -- a bit different from LA mojitos, but decent overall.
(4)Anthony D.
Just spend 12 days on Kauai and this place was our favorite. Killer appetizers, especially the Ahi Poke. Ceviche was also great. Awesome drinks, favorite was the Pomegranite margarita. Heard the meals were really good too but after all the drinks and appetizers we were "all pow". This place is da' kine!
(5)R S.
This was our last night in Kauai and I was hoping for another excellent meal. I am shocked by the fantastic reviews for this restaurant. This was possibly one of the worst meals I have ever eaten. Everything tasted like it came out of a frozen food bag from Costco. The fried goat cheese in my salad had a strange chemical taste-not freshly fried chevre as advertised. The lobster and goat cheese wontons were obviously heated up frozen food and the sauce was no doubt straight out of a plastic packet - chemically and the taste and texture of the sauce had nothing to do with the appetizer itself. Awful! I ordered the Ono fish. It also tasted like it had been sitting in a plastic bag of soy sauce marinade for far too long, the "grill lines" on the fish were artificial at best, and the mashed potatoes under the fish also seemed quite processed. After a few bites, I had had quite enough and could not finish my meal. This meal cost as much as some of the really fantastic restaurants where we dined during our stay on Lanai. If you appreciate good, fresh food, stay away from Hukilau Lanai. If you like frozen meals from Costco or Wal-Mart, then this is the place for you.
(1)M J.
Nice place with nice atmosphere if you get a good table. Try the Sweet Potato Ravioli. That is the dish that keeps us coming back! After dinner you can stroll through the hotel ground and the beach.
(4)Judgey Von Judge O.
tucked away, we found it through other yelpers. so good, we ended up canceling a reso for Roy's down in Poipu for a repeat performance here at Hukilau; only this time: tasting menu (for only $40 with wine pairings!). ps: ginger martini = good times.
(5)A C.
I absolutely LOVE the aki poke nacho appetizer! hands down the best thing i had on our honeymoon trip. the sausage appetizer was pretty good too. the ambience was very romantic and the service was excellent. price was very reasonable considering the quality and location. definitely will go back the next time we go back to kauai!
(4)Halley S.
This restaurant is located in the resort that we were staying at so it was definitely convenient and a added plus was that it was the best meal we had on Kauai. With that said we came here twice for dinner during our trip. Everything was phenomenal! From beginning to end... drinks, apps, dinner and dessert along with the service were perfect. This place should not be missed!
(5)Jerry W.
This was probably the best full service meal we had in Kauai. Service was a little spotty, but the food was great. Finally fresh seafood that was well prepared. The bisque was great. The dessert sorbets were exceptional. Good drink menu too. There is also a nice view. It was a great meal to cap off our trip to Kauai.
(4)Paul S.
The food was great as well as the service. We tried to stop by a second time for dinner, but they were already booked up at 5:45.
(4)Shirley D.
My husband and I went to this restaurant for our first wedding anniversary and have had a great and excellent dining experience. I wanted to celebrate somewhere close to our resort and I Google's n asked local for recommendations. Good thing I listened n did my research. Nicole was our waitress n she was great, attentive n accommodating to make our nite special. We tried the sweet potato ravioli is ooohhhh sssooooooo good. My husband was so thrilled n impressed with it that he only gave me a small piece to try - which means he loved it. He devoured the 4 ravioli n cream around it. I ordered the lobster wonton n it was delicious. They accommodated to my husband who is vegetarian n his lasagna was excellent. My mixed grilled seafood was mouthwatering. The shrimp was skewered in a sugar cane n it interesting n most importantly deliciously devoured. For dessert we had key lime for dessert n let me tell u I'm not a big fan of key lime pie, but once I tried it here I had a change of mind. It was nice n tart n worth having another one. My husband n I were both happy at how well the night went. When we come back to this island we will surely be back to this restaurant.
(5)Lori D.
This is our favorite restaurant in Kauai, we always eat there at least 2 or 3 times during our weeklong stays. We love it so much that when we got married in 2007 we decided to get married at the resort and have our reception in the restaurant's private room. Everything is always delicious! Our favorite is the Ahi Poke Nachos...yummy! The location is perfect, prices excellent for what you get, especially in Hawaii and the service is always great. This will be our favorite for years to come!
(5)april k.
This place was just fantastic. Lovely setting, attentive staff. We have two, and four year old children so they seated us near the fish tank. The Keiki menu was not insulting - it's real food. Make reservations or you will have a wait. Come early if you want to sit outside, which I would recommend. Appetizers were great, I recommend the lobster bisque. Also the lobster and goat cheese won ton was yummy, though the wrapper was a little tough. Had the sampler for dinner that had sugarcane skewered shrimp, butter fish and a couple of others, all wonderful. And all the fish were OK by 'seafood watch'.
(5)sunil t.
excellent seafood. bit pricey. strongly recommend reservations. any of the seafood dishes are incredible.
(4)Neil E.
We ate at Hukilau Lanai again tonight. Again four stars. As usual we got the ahi nachos. They were still tasty, although a tad lacking in ahi tonight. I got the mixed fish plate instead of the tasting menu. The mixed plate tonight was cajun ono and shoyu spearfish. Both were delicious, although the cajun spices on the ono detracted a bit from how tasty ono is on its own. As usual the orzo "risotto" was too cheesy for my tastes. But that's ok, you go for the fantastic fish, not the orzo :)
(4)David D.
My wife and I tried the tasting menu with wine pairings. We did not care for three of the five wines, and two of the five food items were too salty for both of us, and we usually don't have a problem with salt (the fish course and the meatloaf were both too salty). The fish was Ono. We would have preferred Hawaiian Butterfish, but it was no longer on the menu. The sweet potato ravioli was very good. In retrospect, we should have dined off of the appetizer menu. Not worth the $$$. It is sad, because we dined here on a prior vist 5 years ago and the Butterfish then was fabulous.
(2)S W.
Wow, what's not to like. Incredible food, awesome romantic setting, live quiet music. My meal started with lobster currie bisque that was superb while my wife had the Wally salad, outstanding. For my entree I chose the mixed seafood grill, which included sugar cane skewered shrimp, swordfish, and butter fish (Wahoo I think?). The butter fish just melts in your mouth and was served with a currie flavored orzo. My wife had swordfish on top of pasta with a cream sauce that was to die for. It is a little pricey but even with wine, our meal was under $100. Well worth it though and one of the best restaurants on the Island. They also support the local vendors so the food is super fresh. Our waiter (sorry I forget his name) just recently moved to Kauai but was very knowledgeable and spent time talking with us and made sure we had a great experience. It's suggested you make reservations a day in advance though so plan ahead and know they are closed on Mondays. We even went back a second night just for a drink and the Creme Brulee' as we were staying at the resort where it's located. Don't miss this one in Kapaa at the Kuai Coast Resort At The Beachboy, right by the Coconut Market Place. Enjoy.
(5)Joel D.
Three of us had the tasting menu (only available from 5:00 - 6:00). Almost all of it was spectacular. We didn't like the second course, but it was fun to try some new things. Each course was small, but it was plenty of food. Two of us had the tasting menu with the wine pairings. Most of the wine was just OK and the pairings didn't add much. The other person in our party had the Ono. It was also very good. The food presentation was beautiful. The service was friendly. The view was very pretty. The food is worthy of a very formal place, but the atmosphere is casual.
(5)Philly P.
Hands down the best meal and best service we had in a week of eating out in Kauai. Great fish entrees and a nice selection of 20 wines for $20 a bottle. Great atmosphere and view and good service. Highly recommend it.
(5)william f.
we both had the happy hour tasting menu. i would have loved to enjoy the view but it was hurricaning that night...category 5 style. the menu was sweet potato ravioli, arugula salad, some random fish that tasted great, meatloaf and creme brulee. since we didn't have it paired with the wine, it was $28. very good value. hostess was very nice.
(5)Martha C.
We ate twice here during our week's stay on Kauai. My recommendation is to make an early reservation between 5 and 6 so you can try the tasting menu. After being tantalized by the well thought out and executed dishes, you will find yourself trying to decide when you will make a return visit to try out more dishes. Fresh local produce and seafood prepared to showcase the stellar ingredients served by an outstanding waitstaff.
(5)Dante C.
I'm sure glad we decided to go here. The wait staff was friendly and knew the ingredients well, the tasting menu was spot on and the wine choices were pretty good. I loved the view, however I love the view everywhere here. Next stop Maui, for hopefully 5 stars.
(4)Jeremy F.
During my wife and I's one week visit this is the only restaurant we revisited. In fact we came back 3x. The third time is when we got engaged. Ambiance, staff, food -- FRESH FISH-- were all great. Top that off with a couple of Lava Flows and a wine pairing and life doesn't get much better.
(5)Michael B.
Just returned from Kauai and had loaded myself up with Yelp reviews. Was really anticipating a wonderful meal at the Hukilau Lanai...and I wasn't let down! Was tremendous! Food, service, restaurant, and attention to detail. Was there to celebrate a 30+ anniversary and let the server know. They made the whole evening special. Only reason I didn't give it all 5 stars is that the location is pleasant, but not over the top which is what I expect from my 5 star experiences. Found out this is owned by the same folks that have Gaylord's over on the plantation. I can't compare one-for-one to them since we went to Gaylord's for lunch and it was just so-so. The meal was terrific, from start to finish (real Hawaiian "fresh" fish...see my note on the Beach House regarding "fresh"). Wine list for under $20, a bottle, was a good bargain, given that there were a lot to choose from. The server was on top of things, and the cool ocean breezes ordered up in just right amounts to make the open air experience divine. Can't wait to go back to try it all over again! Don't miss out on this place...and don't "miss" the turn past the north end of the Coconut Market Place since it's tucked in the back.
(4)Daniel H.
We tried the tasting menu. It was pretty bad. After receiving the first course, I thought we were off to a good start. The sweet potato ravioli was pretty good. The wine was decent. Then, came the salad, which felt like it came from the bag. Very simple green salad. The wine was okay. Then, the meatloaf! The description says this is not your grandma's meatloaf. Damn straight. It's worse, way worse. It tasted like paste and mine had a bone chip in it. The fish course was okay, nothing crazy. The wine, however, was not drinkable. Then, the worst thing was the dessert wine. Which was absolutely putrid, tasted like gasoline. All in all, it's an interesting scene and you should support the local economy, but I'd rather spend my money at Pono Market, or Mark's Place. Bottom line, good bargain for the amount of food in this setting, but I'd skip the wine and I wouldn't expect delicious, just okay.
(2)Erik S.
This was just a poor dining experience. My wife's salad with the papaya dressing was the high point of the meal. The BBQ rib appetizer tasted like a bad internet recipe for a root beer based sauce. Second, for a supposed seafood place, the ceviche was less than pleasant. The worst part of the meal was my ahi tuna. It may have been rare when it left the grill (perhaps giving them too much credit), but it was nearly cooked through and dry by the time the plate made it to the table. The polenta under the fish was very salty and somehow the grilled shrimp was even more dry than the ahi. Let's just say the service was nearly equal caliber to the food.
(1)Darrel O.
My wife and I went to Kauai for our 10th anniversary and stayed at the Beach Boy, which is one of our time-share properties. While we were checking in with the concierge, he recommended the Hukilau which is on the property. He recommended reservations and went ahead and made them for us. I had moderate expectations because the recommendation came from in-house personnel, but I was very pleasantly surprised. We sat out at the edge with a nice ocean view and had a wonderful dinner. I like to try calamari where ever it's offered, and theirs was quite good. I saw a review saying it was like soggy bread, but I couldn't disagree more. Ours was nice and tender and quite good. I ordered the filet mignon for my main course and my wife got the seafood sampler. Both were cooked perfectly and were excellent. After the main course, we ordered the creme brulee and the molten lava chocolate cake, and both were excellent. The whole dinner from start to finish was great, as was the ambiance and the service. For the two of us, the bill came to something like $120 and included a bottle of wine. The only other place we dined while in Kauai was at the Beach House down in Koloa, and that place ran us about $200. I'll grant that the ambiance was nicer there, but the food was not nearly as good. Given a choice, I'll take the Hukilau over the Beach House any day of the week.
(5)Crystal H.
Had dinner at Hukilau Lanai in Kappa inside the Coconut Coast Resort. Service was average and food was good. We made reservations for 8pm on a Wednesday. The restaurant was packed. The resort lobby and eating area is very nice with many tropical plants/tiki torches and a view to the ocean from some seats if it were still daylight out. My husband had a mai tai (very good, 8 out of 10). Tried the sweet potato ravioli. Really good. Sauce was sweet but tangy (9/10). Casear salads were average (6/10). Matt had the sampler plate with 4 shrimp, a Cajun spiced darker fish, Hawaiian butterfish and a creamy orzo (9/10) (I think the sauce was the same sauce as was on the sweet potato ravioli). I had the vegetable lasagna, which was surprising good (8/10) and had a yummy cream pesto on top that I wish I had more of. Food was also served with a good focacia bread, only wish it was warm (7/10). Also ordered their version of a lava cake, which was not as heavy as a typical lava cake, served with vanilla bean ice cream. Very good (8/10). Spent about $85, which isn't bad for a drink, appetizer, food and desert. Service wasn't great (4/10) (slow and un-attentive). But considering this is Kauai, service + food = 4 stars
(4)Andie Q.
the food is great and the view from the lanai complimented our memorable experience. my husband and I had dinner here while on our honeymoon, it was perfect for a romantic dinner. The lobster bisque was amazing - so creamy and buttery. And our fish entrees were fresh and moist, it melted in our mouths. I highly recommend this restaurant for dinner. The service, view, and food is all excellent. You might get lucky and witness a celebrity citing - we were tickled to spot Jeff Bridges across from us! LOL!
(4)Marcella M.
One of the better restaurants on Kauai. I had the lobster bisque for starters which warmed me up on a chilly winter's evening. Our main entrees were filet mignon and prime rib which were both melt in your mouth goodness. Portion sizes are appropriate. The service is top notch, too.
(4)Sau y.
In all its beautiful garden isle glory, the food seriously sucks on the island of Kauai. However, Hukilau Lanai was a safe haven from all the "breaded and fried" meals I had to endure. I've spent weeks on both Oahu and Maui... and I already felt the food was second rate at best, but Kauai was an all new low. This restaurant was a bit pricier than most meals on the island (meals on the island range $8-15... an entree here went from $20- 25, which was well worth it in my eyes. We had good bread, salads and meals... and dessert to boot! It reminds me of the decent edible food I get back home (hallelujah!), on Kauai-- it was a GOD SEND. For 2 people, it ran roughly $80-- appetizer to share, soup/ salad with our entrees + 1 dessert to share. Service was great and the view was lovely. If I ever visited Kauai again, I would know where to go for a solid meal!! :)
(4)d l.
we went here on thanksgiving day for dinner at the last minute and got squeezed in due to a cancelation . we shared the nachos and i had prime ribe and my significant other had grilled fish but not sure what type it was . the nachos i didnt care for they were fried wonton chips with ahi . the rib was great and the wifys fish was good . pricey but that hawaii for you
(4)Jennifer D.
Their pupus are really good. We had their pre-fixed menu with wine and it was excellent. We also ordered the lava chocholate cake and it was super duper. This stuff came out hot, and did flow like lava when cut. It's one of the best lava cake I've had.
(4)Andrea F.
The atmosphere is iconic Hawaii - a breezy lanai, view of the ocean, tiki torches - lovely and romantic, but not too formal. The food is fresh and satisfying. Service was good but not exceptional. I'd recommend the sweet potato ravioli and ahi poke nachos to start. The mixed grill (shrimp plus two types of fresh fish) was tasty and perfect for those of us who have a hard time making decisions.
(5)Eric L.
We had a great time here... the prix fixe early dining menu was very tasty, and they did a great job by not stuffing you on the early courses. If you add on top of that the wine pairing was only $20, you have one of the best meals on Kauai. I would definitely make an effort to dine here during sunset.
(5)Ryan T.
Best meal we had on the Island. My only regret is that we made this our last meal...if we had gone here in the beginning of our stay we would have gone here multiple times. Food and Service was awesome. This did not disappoint.
(5)Cynthia H.
My husband and I had our first "fancy" meal on Kauai at Hukilau during our honeymoon, and it turned out to be a solid choice for a romantic and scenic dinner. We were seated at one of the tables on the lawn level, which looks out at a lovely landscaped area and the ocean beyond. Service was friendly and suitably attentive throughout, and all our server's recommendations were spot-on. We felt warmly welcomed and quickly relaxed. There is a tasting menu available from 5:00-5:45pm that is an excellent deal (five courses for $32, or $50 with wine pairings), but we opted for entrees off the regular menu. We started with the chilled tomato gazpacho with pineapple sorbet, which was delicious, along with warm focaccia. Next, the charcuterie plate of local pork pate, smoked sausage, and mortadella, served with toasted bread and pickles. Each charcuterie item had a distinct flavor and was not overly salty, and the portion size was spot-on for two people to share. Our entrees were the Hukilau Mixed Grill (snapper, butterfish, and skewered shrimp on a bed of creamy rice and vegetables) and the macadamia nut chicken (with yellow curry and vegetables). Everything was excellently prepared and generously portioned, and in retrospect we definitely didn't need the appetizer(s). The flavors were generally familiar and even comforting, but the preparations were refined. Based on the amount of food, we really could have done without the gazpacho or the charcuterie! To accompany, we shared a bottle of crisp Grenache off the "20 wines for 20-something" list (another pleasant surprise). Our dessert was the restaurant's signature warm chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream, and a small box with two dark chocolate truffles was set down alongside. By dessert, the sun had nearly set and the tiki torches were cheerfully lit. A wonderful evening!
(5)Anthony M.
We ate here and did the tasting menu which is available between 5:00 and 5:45. The tasting menu is a 5 course meal paired with different wines. The food was wonderful, however my advice is no matter how much you want that fruity umbrella drink or want to eat more than a half piece of their wonderful bread don't. The tasting menu is quite filling and if you fill up on other items you won't get to completely enjoy.
(4)Karen D.
Great entrees, great pupus, and great wine selection with reasonable prices. Every night they've got live music. Thursday is Dennis Chun and Friday is Pancho Graham. Sometimes there's a wait but it's well worth it.
(5)David C.
We visit Hawaii at least twice a year and have probably dined at 90% of the quality restaurants on Kauai, Oahu, and Maui. This restaurant is tough to beat for sheer quality of food and preparation. The Ahi is tremendous, the tenderloin was shockingly good, on a par with any high end steak house. Lobster Bisque was tremendous. The side items were also top notch, as were the desserts. Even my martini was superior. Cannot recommend this restaurant highly enough. Reservations are a must, as this is a very popular restaurant with locals as well.
(5)Ying L.
This is our first time dinning at this restaurant while visiting the island. While checking on Yelp, I found this restaurant and was able to get a reservation at 5:30pm on a Wednesday night. We arrived early and got seated right way with a beach view table. We opted out the tasting menu and ordered from the main menu. Food: mixed grill, 2 island grilled fish and grilled shrimps on a sugarcane skewer. It came on a bed of orzo pasta. The presentation of the entree was excellent. This meal was the best meal I had since I arrived on the island. The taste is just right and the fish was not overlooked. 5/5 stars Pasta of the day. It was made from hand-made fresh pasta with sausage and veggies. It was done perfectly. Very good! 5/5 stars My son had the kid's meal: meat loaf with french fries. He is a picky eater but he finished the entire entree so it must be good. The meal also came with a small size of ice cream. It is a great deal for $10. Dessert: we got the chocolate lava cake. Make sure you ordered ahead. It takes 20 mins to bake. It was very good. The cake was moist and not too sweet. It also came with a size of vanilla ice-cream. $10 is a little pricey but it was worth it. Service was excellent. Our waitress was super nice and attentive. She was knowledgeable about the menu. She explained what the was on the entrees when she brought out the food. 5/5 stars I forgot my credit card and she was nice enough to come after us to return it. Parking: plenty of free parking around the hotel. Tip: there is a nice beach right in front of the restaurant. I would recommend to check out the beach after dinner.
(5)Gale M.
What a disappointment. We arrived on time for our reservation, only to be asked to wait. Ok, no problem, but then we noticed that the party that arrived just before us--without a reservation--was seated before we were. When we finally did get a table, it was next to the busboy's station which was filled with dirty dishes. We each were bitten by mosquitoes before we got our menus. When we requested to be seated indoors, we were told sure--if we were willing to wait an hour. We were prepared to spend a lot of money for a good dinner and pleasant hospitality. We were not willing to spend it to eat next to a pile of dirty dishes and among hungry mosquitoes, so we left and spent our money at a restaurant that was happy to serve us.
(1)melissa m.
Absolutely phenomenal! We arrived an hr before our reservation and relaxed in their lounge area enjoying a delicious lava flow and Mai Tai and listening to the guy performing Hawaiian music. Already off to a great night! Then we ordered the special appetizer, garlic butter clams.... aMAZING. I could have just had that for dinner and would have been perfectly satisfied. Their complimentary focaccia bread worked well for dipping into the clam sauce!! Next we had the Wally salad, which I have to admit o never finish my salads, but this was just incredible. I could have stopped there and been happy... Then we had our entrees. I had the crown royal beef and my boyfriend had the mixed seafood plate. We were already stuffed w/ the clams/bread/salad but we could not get enough. The beef was cooked perfectly to a medium rare, and the fish melted in your mouth. And then, obviously you must get dessert. We had the vanilla bean creme brûlée with coffee. Perfect end to the night!!! Everything was so on point and I am definitely recommending all my friends to come here!!! P.s. Our server was awesome! Very friendly and attentive and you could really tell he loved his job! Thanks John!
(5)Chase A.
My wife and I ate here on our honeymoon trip. We did not need a reservation to be seated right away. The Yelp reviews looked good and they did not lead us astray. We highly recommend this restaurant for its delicious meal offerings and beautiful Kauai view. The Good: Easy parking and seems to be shared with a hotel, friendly hosts, beautiful nighttime outdoor seating. Very friendly and attentive server. Our food arrived quickly and without issue. The Bad: Nothing to report. Yay! Our order: Starters all delicious: lobster bisque, sweet potato ravioli and tomato pineapple gazpacho. High praise for that gazpacho! Main was also delicious and recommended: Prime rib au Jus. Great au jus with perfect nappe. Dessert was good but not noteworthy: coconut lilikoi tart.
(5)Josh B.
This place has almost 5 stars for a reason. It's amazing. I've been here quite a few times, most recently on my honeymoon. My wife said it was the best dinner she ever had. The calamari is amazing. The mixed grill is delicious and the meatloaf is holy moly good. Would highly recommend requesting to sit on the patio, it's beautiful, quiet and romantic. Your lady will love it. It's dimly lit and not to loud. Will definitely be returning many times.
(5)A C.
This was the best meal I've had since being gluten free. They have a separate gluten-free menu with several amazing choices including 4 appetizer options. That never happens! They even had gluten-free bread that they served when they brought out focaccia for my husband. I had the ahi poke, Wally's salad, Wally's steak medallions, and creme brûlée. My husband had the calamari (he said it was a bit salty), the eggplant soup, and the pork tenderloin. We both could not stop raving about the food. I would recommend this to anyone coming to Kauai.
(5)Andrea G.
Everyone & everything pointed to dining here -- the Andrew Doughty Kauai tour book (that gave it a top "ONO" rating), the locals and online reviews. You get great food and great atmosphere here, the service was exemplary, and the servers were informative. We had a choice to eat on the covered terrace or inside, which was really outside also, as all windows and doors were wide open (see photo). The ambiance is lovely, wherever you sit, as it overlooks the tiki-torch-lit grounds and greenery of the hotel in which the restaurant is located. Live mellow music wafts into the restaurant from the nearby bar area. Gary, my husband, had a fish dish while I, being an avid "taster" type of "eater" opted for the "Tasting Menu" and a coconut water beverage. It's a 5 or so course meal and the various flavors pop, from fish to vegetables to lamb. A focaccia bread was served, also. I took a photo of my course list, but for ease: gazpacho, vegetable tart with savory "jam," grilled mahi mahi fish set on sesame rice and drizzled with miso sauce, lamb ragout in small dutch oven container (cute) with homemade pasta noodles, and creme brulee. All delicious! Not on complaint or issue on anything from beginning to end. SMART DINING TIPS: Make reservations, for sure. This place is popular with both locals and tourists. If you want the "Tasting Menu," it's offered only 5-5:45 pm -- so reserve for the earliest dining time. And I do recommend it, so you get a full flavor experience! It was plenty of food, even with Gary tasting some of it! Free parking in front of the hotel (yay!).
(5)Popples E.
The food was delicious and service was excellent! I ate the filet mignon, sweet potato ravioli and mocha chocolate cake....mmmmm....heaven! Cannot wait to come back! Heads up tho: My co-worker and I ate in the bar area because they didn't have a table available. I definitely recommend making a reservation!
(5)Jim C.
The setting is magnificent with the fire lamps, beautiful vegetation and sea only a three wood away. While you wait for your table there is live music and it's the kind of place where you feel comfortable in a jacket and tie or in shorts and a tee shirt. Our waitress was probably the best we have ever had. My goodness she was knowledgeable about all the drinks and dishes without being obnoxious or lording it over on us. The food was the best we have had on the island. Our group had the yellowtail tuna, Ono and prime rib. They were all perfection--cooked so perfectly with subtle and outstanding flavors. We finished it off with the molten lava cake and ice cream and, again, the quality and flavors were the best. Come her without any doubts. It's delicious. For 4 people with 3 cocktails and a bottle of wine our meal came to $200.
(5)Lindbergh B.
If its your 1st time here, definitely go during happy hour and do the "wine & food pairing"!!! The pairing is on point with the wine going so smoothly with the food. We came here during our Kauai vacation and it was the most memorable experience we had. Will be back!
(5)Kevin K.
This was a really excellent restaurant. Food: Really tasty 5 course tasting menu with good portions. The lobster/goat cheese wontons were really great starters and their fish was sooo well cooked. Service: Outstanding, on top of it without being intrusive, friendly. Ambiance: Very nice overlooking the grounds/pool area/ocean at the resort. Value:$32 for a 5 course tasting menu (before 545 PM). WOW Amazing. The other entrees are $25-30 and come with soup or salad and were delicious as well. We only had one other "nice" meal in Kauai and that was at Tidepools in the Grand Hyatt. There was no competition. Hukilau Lanai was WAAAAY better.
(5)Sarah S.
- Good Food - Great Service - Nice Atmosphere - A little pricey, but you can hardly get a taco for less than $7 on Kauai, so you have to take that into consideration. - Not all menu items are local/organic, like the corn in the chowder, and I would prefer
(5)Paul S.
Really disappointing. Fish was over cooked and the service wasn't anything special.
(1)Len S.
My wife & I had dinner at Hukilau Lanai on Thursday 7 May. This is our special treat dining experience when we visit Kauai twice a year. My wife ordered the fish special - Opa served with mashed potatoes and a starter salad. She finished with the chocolate lava cake - what else could compete? We had to wait an extra 10 minutes for this dessert. The lava cakes are made to order and the first attempt broke apart, so the chef would not serve the dessert without proper presentation. I am stuck on ordering the tasting menu with the wine pairing ($50). On this visit there was the apparently standard gazpacho taste bud wakeup call, then a tasty roasted vegetable tart, the fish coarse was Mahi Mahi served on rice, and the meat coarse was a lamb ragout. I finished with the cheese selection. I could find no fault with any of these courses nor the wine pairing - that is why I am stuck on the tasting menu. Be advised, the tasting menu is only offered from 5 unit 5:45PM, so make an early dinner reservation if you are interested in this culinary tour de force. Our total bill, including two Mai Tai's, was $114 - OK not cheap, but what is on Kauaii and what is more memorable then a delicious dinner, with a scenic view of a tropical garden and the ocean - at no extra cost.
(5)Joanna F.
Best appetizers I've ever had in my life! Candied ahi and fall off the bone ribs was all I needed to be full. The server was very sweet, they had live music with good musicians and well balanced drinks. I will be coming back here as often as I can on my trip here.
(5)Elizabeth T.
Large portions. Good service. Nice setting. Definitely try the SwissChard and Mushroom tart, that was fantastic. The sweet potato ravioli is ok, the potato is a little too heavy and overwhelming for a delicate ravioli. Mixed Green salad was surprisingly great, possibly the best simple salad that I've ever had: lush + great tangy creamy dressing. Lasagna is huge! and it came with a massive salad. It was good but nothing special.
(4)Elizabeth C.
We did the 5 course tasting menu with pairings and we left very satisfied. Each offering was very good and the service was excellent. Next time we will order from the regular menu but it was a really nice way to get to know the restaurant in a special way!
(4)Anoop S.
Very good food. Had the special, which was a combo of shrimp and two fish, one a meatier kind and the other a more buttery kind (totally blanking on which fish they were). The preparation and flavors were really excellent. Biggest knock against Hukilau (and all the other sit down restaurants in Kauai) is that you can get better tasting food for less at food trucks / market stands.
(4)Michelle R.
I almost hate to review the Hukilau Lanai because it will make it even harder to get reservations! We live on island and if people ask for a restaurant suggestions, we always recommend the Hukilau Lanai. Every item is delicious! My personal favorites: Ahi Poke Nachos Sweet Potato Ravioli Goat Cheese Wontons Filet Mignon I worked at the restaurant over ten years ago and at the time wouldn't eat fish because I'd had some bad fish in restaurants. The Hukilau Lanai converted me back to fish. It is always fresh and expertly prepared.
(5)Debby S.
Wondeful dinner tonight. Didn't have reservation but they got us a table outside anyway. Hostess staff were so friendly. Once seated, we were greeted right away and explained the menu. She took our drink order and was back quickly with our wine choice. Once we ordered the courses came out on time but not fast so we could enjoy the food and the view. We ordered the lobster and goat cheese wontons to start - so yummy. Then had salads before our entrees. Hubby had the ono and I had the crown royal medallions. Both so good and prepared perfect. Finished with the warm chocolate cake. Worth the wait. I have noticed that other reviews had issues with service but for us it was great. Fast, attentive and helpful. Will be back and highly recommend.
(5)Avi D.
I had the Ahi fish, which was nothing short of perfection, the sauces tasted great, and the fish was cooked perfectly. The overall dining experience was 10/10. I would definitely recommend this as the best restaurant on Kauai.
(5)Mark L.
Excellent restaurant! All the 5 star reviews are correct... Had the BBQ pork ribs, (falling off the bone and in a tasty hoisin sauce), house green salad with blue cheese, and macadamia nut fresh Opah. All were terrific as well as very good service. Great experience.
(5)Lynda H.
Ahi poki nachos are fantastic and the calamari was tender and the lemon garlic dipping sauce is to die for.
(5)Matthee P.
Wife and I had a great anniversary dinner here. The setting is beautiful, and the food was delicious. We had a wide variety of dishes and there were all super tasty. Nice selection of inexpensive wines as well. The decor is a tad dated, but not a big deal. Check it out for sure. Make sure to get a reservation.
(4)Michael P.
You absolutely need to try the Crab-cake Benedict for breakfast! Great view, great service!
(5)Andrew R.
If you're trying to watch your wallet here, get the poke nachos. It's a complete meal and completely delicious. Slightly different than other poke you might find, it's paired with some crispy chips that provide an excellent contrast. If you despise your wallet, you can't go wrong with most of the fish specials. That said, one of the 3 I tasted wasn't very good at all. If it sounds good and is a fish you normally know to be good, stick with that. It's a great setting, wonderful atmosphere, and the service is good.
(4)Geoffrey C.
Exquisite! The food and expedited service was outstanding. Not even into dessert and we are pleasantly plump and happier than a fish in the sea. Filet mignon (so tender, cooked to perfection with lovely additions) and the curry chicken were our entrees and they were outstanding both in terms of taste and value ($34 and $24, respectively). The entrees also came with a wonderful Caesar and Outstanding mixed green with deep fried goat cheese. We typically like to venture around but WE WILL be back tomorrow without question. Keep in mind we are on only a two night getaway from Maui. Must go know for our molten lava cake!!!
(5)Rita M.
We had a wonderful evening at Hukilau Lanai, excellent, friendly and prompt service. Our glasses never went below the 1/3 mark for a refill. My husband ordered the Panko Fried Calamari Strips, which I try often at other places and never like. I must say that this restaurant's Calamari Appetizer reigns supreme for this non-Calamari liking person. They were perfectly seasoned, not overly fishy tasty, extremely tender, served with a light and flavorful lemon Aioli Sauce. I could actually eat the whole piece that I had. My husband commented on how good they were. The Focaccia Bread, brought semi warm to the table, was moist and seemed to have spots of cheese in the middle, it was served with Balsamic and Olive Oil and was quite delicious! I ate more of this than I had planned on. The fish dishes we ordered were creatively and artfully plated, and had layers of flavor with different textures of Creamy Orzo on my husband's 2 Island Fish Plate that had a Sugar Cane Skewer of giant shrimp on top and I had Wahoo Fish over Quinoa Pilaf and a delightful olive and pepper relish. Our salads were also the best I have had on our trip to Kauai. I had an Arugula Salad covered with Sprouted Garbanzo Beans, Cherry Tomatoes and Candied Macadamia Nuts. The flavors and textures played wonderfully together. It was a surprise to me that something seemingly so simple could be so good. The so-called 'garnish' was more like extra toppings, as they did not scrimp on toppings, like some restaurants do. Everything at this restaurant is so fresh, and definitely not the boring average seafood entrees. Our waiter, Mark, was very friendly and attentive. This is our new favorite Kauai fancy dinner restaurant and for the price, we like it better than most others in the fine dining realm. The desserts of Macadamia Nut Tart and the Old Hawaiian Chocolate Factory Molten Cake served with Lappert's Ice Cream were a perfect finish to a perfect evening and the coffee was perfect, as well. I'm glad we didn't miss trying this place. We enjoyed walking down to the beach afterwards. Lovely!
(5)Malanta K.
Fabulous meal. We were seated outside and enjoyed the wonderful pacific breeze during dinner. We enjoyed every course of the meal. The lobster bisque and Caesar salad were delicious. We ordered the pork, chicken and beef dishes for our entrees. They were all so tasty but my favorite was the pork. For dessert we ordered the mango tart and French press coffee and were not disappointed. I would highly recommend this restaurant.
(5)V Y.
I highly recommend making a reservation because the restaurant is so popular and packed even at 5pm when they open. Between 5-5:45pm, they have 2 tasting menus (there's a regular one and a vegetarian one) that are each 5 courses. We got one of each so we could try both and my husband got the wine pairings with his. My daughter got the keiki menu meatloaf and mashed potatoes which starts with pineapple and ends with an ice cream dessert. Everything was delicious! It was a very satisfying meal and service was excellent. The view from the dining area is nice and creates a great ambience for the meal.
(5)Noe P.
Called to make reservations and spoke with Mya who was not helpful as she said she would not be able to accommodate our party since we had 7 adults and 2 children. I asked if we walked in and waited if we could be seated and was told we would be turned away. Requested to speak with supervisor Steven who was basically repeated what Mya said earlier. If yelp offered a negative star service i would give it. I would highly recommend not eating here. Customer service is obviously not top priority nor is repeat and local business.
(1)Catherine P.
We went here on the strength of previous reviews and we were not disappointed. This was by far our best meal on Kauai. Hubby started with Adam's poke nachos- a clever Hawaiian take on the classic Mexican dish: crispy wonton-like chips contrasted wonderfully with the sushi grade ahi tuna with avocado chunks and wasabi cream. I ordered 3 apps for dinner: arugula salad, tomato & pineapple gazpacho with a dollop of citrus sorbet, and baby clams in a yummy broth albeit a tad salty (all our meals had way more salt than I am used to). Hubby's main was a mixed grill of local fish and skewered shrimp, over creamy orzo in a Thai chile coconut sauce. Most of the food is locally sourced. Dessert was chocolate mousse with salted toffee bits. I still think about it. Service was excellent, nice wine selection. When you first walk in, it's a bit weird, like a budget hotel, but sit on the lanai looking over the torch-lit garden. Tip: reserve early, this place is popular.
(5)David H.
I can't say enough about this place. This is the second time in the past year we have gotten the five course tasting meal, and every item from the gazpacho to the amazing veggie pastry shell to the fish & Ni'ihau lamb was as good as I've had in a long time. The pricing on the wine parings has gone up appreciably since last summer, but if you're a couple it's just as easy to save the $36 on wine pairs & get a couple of glasses, or even a decent bottle in the mid-twenties. Go early if you can to avoid the wait (& yes, they are on Open Table), but GO!
(5)Connie H.
Was craving a steak after a trek down Waimea canyon. The filet mignon was a perfect medium rare (asked for the wine sauce on the side) tender good sized steak. The purple sweet potato mashed was good complement. My friend had the 5 course tasting menu which she enjoyed all of especially the fresh fish with rice and miso sauce. We shared the creme brûlée and warm molten chocolate cake. Would have liked a little more molten in my cake but it was moist. Service was good. Very enjoyable solid meal.
(5)Lalu B.
Absolutely excellent from soup to nuts. Lovely dining room with a far off ocean view, excellent service, DELICIOUS food, amazing cocktails and GLUTEN FREE BREAD! Hukilau Lanai is by far the best restaurant on Kauai. We had a mixed grill plate of fresh fish and shrimp accompanied by a tropical cream sauce and another member of our party had prime rib au jus. The fish was truly fresh and the prime rib was a generous portion and so delicious. Their cocktail selection is superb. So fun to have a drink in this dining room and take a walk around the grounds of the resort with tiki torches lit. The gluten free bread was such a nice touch. It's made fresh to order and absolutely delicious.
(5)Dr. B.
We stayed at the resort where the restaurant is located. I have to say, the food is excellent and clearly 5 stars. I was pleased with the service and cost (for Hawaii). Be aware that this is pricey and not a shack. If you want to decrease your cost, try to find a time share presentation which will give you a voucher for here.
(5)Richel R.
Second best meal I had during my visit to Hawaii. We came here for my mom's birthday dinner. The lobster curry bisque was made just right, not too salty and the curry was complimentary and not overpowering. The salad came with a nice, light, dressing. For my entree I ordered one of the dinner specials, the swordfish with pesto and risotto. I honestly don't think you could go wrong with any of the fish entrees here. I sampled the ahi, macadamian chicken, mixed grill, opa, and the vegetable lasagne. For the food and service, I definitely rate 5-stars. After dinner, our server was kind enough to take a picture of our family by the garden adjacent to the dining area. Mahalo!
(5)Martina V.
First time here food was excellent Had the pork loin with hawaii mushrooms sauce portion was just right worth the price lovely ambiance. Great service
(4)Gerald G.
Very cool ambiance. We ordered the macadamia crusted chicken and the mixed grill plate (2 fresh fish combo). Both were very good (the fresh walu on the fish plate was the bomb diggity). Our server Jessica was very attentive and always checked up on us, which was awesome. Since it was our anniversary, we were greeted by servers and waitresses all night long. Then we got a 2-truffle gift box as a gift. This is a great spot. Good food, great waitress. Thanks!!
(4)Mike P.
This one will be short. All of the positive reviews are spot on, ignore the negative ones. Tasting menu for us. Food was great and the wine generous. $50.00 is cheap for this meal. Service was attentive but unobtrusive. We were lucky to meet Manny, on of the cooks the next day. After talking a bit he said, "you're the anniversary couple!" How fun is that? Man knows his job
(5)Wesley L.
Wife and I had an adult night out while vacationing in Kauai. Both of our meals were outstanding. I had beef and she had two kinds of fish. Server Mark was great with his recommendations. Even waited the 20 mins for the brownie dessert. May go back again on this stay.
(5)barbara k.
We went for our traditional 1st night dinner, and somehow my memory of the meat not being up to par had faded, so I ordered the filet mignon with Crown Royal sauce. The sauce was interesting and tasty, but the meat, slightly overcooked, was pretty tasteless. Husband had pork tenderloin, which was cooked properly, and was moist, but he didn't care for the mushroom sauce at all. I also had the arugula salad, which was quite good, had preserved lemons in the dressing. From now on, I WILL stick to fish here, but ask to sub the basil mashed potatoes, which were definitely the best part of our dinner!
(3)Nicole N.
I wish there were more stars! This place is amazing. Seriously. You have got to go there! We ordered all apps...lobster wontons, spare ribs, sweet potato ravioli, calamari, Wally's salad. Everything was delicious, perfectly balanced flavors, wonderful textures, simply scrumptious. Staff is crazy nice, very attentive, and so sweet to my niece. We sat in the bar area and the service was wonderful. Go eat there soon! Seriously.
(5)John D.
The cuisine and setting here were quite nice however the waiter here definitely had a "I'm too cool to be polite" attitude about him. I'd probably dine here again, but am not rushing to do so.
(3)A O.
I rarely write reviews but I just had to share my wonderful experience here. My wife and I are on our honeymoon and we found this place on yelp! and it just happened to be at the hotel were we are staying. The staff was very friendly especially our waitress Jessica who was very attentive also. The food was so delicious for such a reasonable price. Before I looked at the menu I assumed it was going to be pricey but I was so wrong! We had the lobster won ton and ahi tacos for pupus. Our main entrees were the ahi and Hukilau grilled seafood mix and we just had to have the Hawaiian chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream. All of the dishes were so good! Worth every penny! Jessica made our dinner so enjoyable. It's no wonder they're opened for only 4-5 hours because they put a lot of work into quality. I would definitely eat here again and recommend to anyone who will be going to Kauai! Also the bar is very good. Their mixed drinks are perfect!
(5)Prin D.
I was very happy and satisfied with my meal, service and value. ($125 for 2) I ordered the "freaking hot chocolate" martini, the sweet potato ravioli pupu, the local greens salad with blue cheese, mahi mahi, a coffee and the Hawaiian chocolate warm (lava) cake. A feast! Lol I wanted to be rolled out! My husband had the macadamia martini (can't recall name), a salad, the prime rib and a soda. We were both happy. The food itself was beyond any criticism. Pairing of seasonings was A+ and the freshness of the food could only be explained by a clear loyalty to using local ingredients. I was very impressed. Portions were fine, especially with everything I ordered. Great date night! Sat outside. Only critique... Both martinis were not out of this world though. I think the names and descriptions sounded better than the taste and I'm a big martini drinker. Mine had limited Creme de cacao and my husband's tasted too strong without a real hint of the nut. They were nice to sip but I've had amazing martini mixes in my life, being from nyc. Eat here! ;)
(5)Zzajj J.
always on point with their food and wonderful staff. I try to hit the place at least once when i come to the island, and it is totally worth the price and wait, but seriously make a reservation because this place is always poppin'
(5)Mindy F.
1-12-15 Went back because our experience was so good the previous visit. On the east side of the island this is the only place to come for dinner. This time our service by Janet was impeccable. Might be one of the best dining experiences I've had....ever. The food is so perfectly prepared it's quite amazing. Served cooked to perfection and hot. Everything was delicious. The chef is quite impressive whoever he/she/they may be. What a place! 1-7-15 The waiter arrived as we were seated, asking what we wanted to drink. Not even a few seconds to get situated and look at the menu. He was nice enough but completely lacked any personality or flare. He was stiff and looked scared.... The food was incredible. Everyone loved their entrees. I was thinking I should get seafood but was over the moon about the filet mignon I got. The most perfect piece of meat I've ever eaten. The atmosphere is very nice, cocktails good but the food was a pleasant surprise. Great place! Highly recommend!
(5)Mark D.
Great evening great atmosphere. Very fresh ingredients. Hot and dirty martini was just that. Yowsers! My ebi dish with homemade pasta was fantastic too. Price point was more reasonable than other restaurants we visited. Very surprised. Mahalo Krissy for a beautiful evening. We will be back!
(5)Judy F.
By far, the best dinner experience the whole week! Go appetizers! The calamaria was perfect. The Sweet potatoe raviolli was really out of this world. The Lobster and Goat Cheese wontons were heavenly However it was presented with just 3, there were 4 of us so they kindly removed it and returned it with a serving for each of us! They melted in your mouth! The mixed grill was very nice with 2 different fishes that were nicely done. The shrimp were acceptable but not unique. A side of purple sweet potatoes was deicious. We were very pleased. Mark, our server was attentive and perfect. You will not be disappointed! Parking is easy, the outdoor area was nice to stroll through!
(5)Sean M.
Best meal we had on Kauai. The tropical fish sampler was divine. We were so amazed by the taste of one and later learned that it was Walu/Escolar; perfect to have a small amount in a shared sampler as it isn't recommended you eat much (google). Kale salad excellent too. Very generous deal where you can split a main dish and get two salads for a small price -- not on menu so ask. Get table outside overlooking patio.
(5)Jow H.
Mediocre in the guise of something better sums up the experience here. Some allowance for it being kauai as restaurants do not excel here. Food is overly fat and not particularly interesting. I tried 3 appetizers, lobster bisque, the veggie Lasagna and the Caesar salad. Simply nothing special. Service was efficient but somehow also left me cold. Not recommended.
(3)Lauren G.
Stopped for appetizers after reading reviews and it did not disappoint. The lobster wonton and Kauai clams were awesome. I would definitely recommend to others and come here again.
(5)Matt Y.
11/30/13. Dinner Hukilau Lanai is located inside the Kauai Coast Resort in Kapa'a. It truly lives up to the praises of Yelpers and Dinner Choice on Open Table. The restaurant was booked full that evening. We were seated promptly at 5:30pm on the upper section in the dining room. That was actually a bliss for two reasons. First, our server Sandra was absolutely professional. She greeted us with such aloha spirit bad explained the menu in full details. Second, a storm was passing over Kauai that night so even in the tented patio you would be sprayed. Cocktails were wonderful. The Pear Passion was made with Grey Goose pear vodka and passion fruit juice. Tasty start for our vacation. All dinner entrees at Hukilau Lanai came with a choice of Wally's salad, caesar's, or soup. Wally's Salad: chopped romaine with bacon bits, cherry tomato, crouton, in a special house dressing made with papaya seed and ranch. It's also available in full portion. Caesar's: also chopped romaine with a rich Caesar dressing. The salads are accompanied by focaccia bread with crusted asiago, which is addictively tasty. *Mushroom Meatliaf ($19): a very generous portion served in brown butte sauce. Meatloaf was made with crushed mushroom and braised beef. Flavor is strong but bit overpowering. *Hukilau Mixed Grill ($29): with two kinds of fish and a skewer of four shrimps. You get a pan-seared fish and a marinated blackened fish. Rice is a Thai-inspired coconut curry risotto. The whole meal was very delightful and delicious. We were most impressed by Sandra's knowledge and professional disposition. We actually made another reservation on OpenTable to cone back on our last night in Kauai. I highly recommend Hukilau Lanai for its outstanding quality of food and great value. I also appreciate the many gluten free choices on their menu. The dinner tag cane to $78 for two.
(5)Natalie Y.
Found this place on the back to the airport from Princeville and wish we had found it sooner! From the St. Regis to the new Roy's... This had to have been one of our best meals of the trip! I highly recommend this place to everyone. Amazing food, great service, and a great view!
(5)Jacquelyn F.
Don't get the vegetable lasagna, yuck! The crab wantons have a weird texture and Mac Nut Chicken is just okay. Very disappointed considering all the good reviews.
(1)Kathleen M.
The food is good. But if you are there to celebrate an Anniversary or a birthday don't count on them remembering to do anything...even if you told them a few times. Very disappointing.
(2)Brittney D.
Mediocre food. Decent service. Food was somewhat bland. Hair found in children's menu dish. Fish was ok.
(2)Mark G.
Just had a wonderful meal. The fish was very fresh and the blending of flavors unique and savory. The soups, we had two different ones, were very tasty and just filling enough. The service was very good and the wait time was reasonable. The dessert was phenomenal; an almost familiar red velvet cake
(5)Nancy C.
Hukilau Lanai was our "fancy dinner place" during our trip to Kauai. It was, indeed, a very nice restaurant. I split three appetizers (sweet potato ravioli, poke nachos, and lobster wontons) with two friends, all of which were very good. My main course of the seafood sampler plate was also delicious. I really enjoyed the butterfish. However, the cajun mahi mahi, though good, did not blow my mind. And my shrimp was undercooked, so we requested to have it cooked a little longer just to get the gray color out, after which it was delicious. But for what we were paying, I expected everything to be spot on. The outdoor seating space is really nice. However, beware the critters that attack you if you sit close to the grassy areas, because that was certainly an issue with our table.
(3)Tony R.
Ya know...this is one of the only places we dare take family and friends...NEVER a bad meal, or bad service in 4 years. One of the most consistent, if not THE most consistent place to eat on Kauai. Not one of the least expensive, but you definitely get what you pay for at the Hukilau Lanai. Make a reservation a head of time if you are coming to visit the Garden Isle to make sure you have the time you wish. Absolutely a winner!
(5)Taryn B.
I had read the reviews, I knew that one night on Kauai my husband and I would be having a very early dinner and partaking in the tasting menu here. We got the supposed last 5 o'clock reservation, but we were the first to arrive and the party before us wasn't around when they called their name, so we literally got the best seat on the Linai looking out to the ocean! Score! Would you believe we were the only people in the whole place having the tasting menu??? It's $28 for 5 courses, adding wine takes it to $40. This. Is. A. Steal. Trust me. If you come here at 5 pm and you don't have the tasting menu, something is wrong with you!!! Being that I don't eat meat, the waitress gladly changed up the sausage course for a fresh catch of the day. She debated with herself for a minute before settling on (I think) Hebi. Whatever it was, it was the most tender, delicious fish I've ever had. My husband tried it and was mad that he ate meat and didn't get this dish too! My other favorites were: The Koloa Rum Pineapple Basil Sorbet that was served atop the gazpacho. The gazpacho itself was neither good nor bad, just eh. The candied Ahi. I don't even know how to describe this except to say that I've never had anything like it before and it is amazing. The creme brûlée was a 9 out of 10 according to my husband, the creme brûlée snob. So that's good! I very much enjoyed the cheese plate with fresh local honey too. My only complaint was that the main fish course (the fresh catch) which I think was Mahi Mahi that day, was very dry and overcooked. Mixed with dry quinoa and kale...it was hard to finish. Especially after everything else had been soooooo amazing!!! Oh, I had read on here that someone was able to get the red wine twice because they said they don't like dessert wines, well, this didn't work for me. Maybe you can only make one request per night, and mine was replacing sausage with fish. But it was fine, I actually really enjoyed the pairing with dessert. All the wines were spot on!
(5)Dan W.
Everything about the place was fantastic - Food selections and mix of flavors, service and locale. It was especially nice to find a place so cognizant of gluten allergies. One of best meals we've had on multiple trips to Kauai.
(5)Ellin C.
You can't really beat the value of a $28 dollar five course tasting menu. Everything in it was delicious, starting from the gazpacho with a koloa rum pineapple basil sorbet on top which was a refreshing start. The candied ahi was unique and had a kick to it, which was served with some sprouts over a bed of rice. Sausage and warabi were good. We got the mahi mahi for the catch of the day and it was very tender, and the quinoa was flavorful. We ended our meal sharing the artisan cheese duo which had a truffle-flavored italian cheese along with the vanilla bean creme brulee. Overall, a good tasting menu. Service was okay. Wish I could have been there during good weather because our visit was slightly dampened by pouring rain so we didn't get a great view seated at the tables.
(4)Sarah S.
Hukilau Lanai was a restaurant my husband and I bookmarked to try at the very beginning of our week-long trip in Kaua'i. After one failed attempt to eat there - we called early afternoon and were told there were absolutely zero reservations available that evening - we called two days ahead and booked for 7:15 on a Thursday evening. The parking lot is definitely not big enough for this place. We went across the road to the motel where the woman at the front desk was kind enough to give us a temporary parking pass to park there. Upon arrival, I was glad to have made a reservation because the lobby was PACKED. We ordered drinks at the bar while we waited and found a spot on a comfortable sofa. When our name was called, we were led to the second tier of the dining room which overlooked the garden. There was soft lighting everywhere which made for a very romantic atmosphere. Our server, Andrew, greeted us and offered his recommendations on the menu. We received our complimentary foccacia bread (delicious!) with balsamic dipping sauce. We ordered goat cheese and lobster wontons which Andrew assured me the goat cheese was not too pungent. He was right, it was almost the consistency of cream cheese and just as mild-tasting. They were pretty phenomenal. The entrees included a soup or salad, so I selected the Wally's Salad (simple and yummy) and my husband upgraded (an extra $2 or so) to the lobster bisque which was fantastic. For entrees, my husband ordered the Ahi and I chose the Hukilau Mixed Grill. Andrew explained the fish in the mixed grill (one short-billed fish, and one long-billed, if I remember correctly, and a skewer of succulent shrimp) and they definitely didn't disappoint. The orzo on my plate was bland and under seasoned, but the fish was so good I didn't care. My husband was disappointed with the Ahi from the beginning, and could hardly eat it because it was so tough and overcooked. I happily finished my meal and urged my husband to say something about his Ahi, but before we even had to, our server Andrew sensed he wasn't too impressed and asked for his honest opinion. We told him that the Ahi wasn't very good at all, and he sincerely apologized and set off to make it right. Hukilau Lanai really takes pride in their food and especially their seafood, which became obvious when the owner came to our table and made things right. I sincerely appreciate the lengths both the owners and our server Andrew went to to ensure we had a pleasant dining experience. I can't wait to come back and enjoy another special meal!
(4)Julie K.
A fabulous dinner! This restaurant is in a time share resort but don't let that dissuade you from eating here. I would say hands down this was the best meal we ate in our week in Kauai and we also dined at Tide Pools, Keiko's Paradise, Duke's and the Eating House 1849. The service here is fantastic. All the servers work as a team and there is always someone attending to what you may need. And they are all very nice. The food comes out at a perfect pace. We had the ahi sashimi bowl followed by the lobster goat cheese wontons for starters and the Wally and mixed greens for salads. Our entrees were the mixed grill and Opah (the portions are huge!). We finished our dinner with the vanilla creme brûlée. We had a couple cocktails and the wine that our server suggested for our meals. Everything we ate was outstanding!! Try this restaurant. You will enjoy it.
(5)Brooke B.
One of our favorite restaurants on Kauai. We had our rehearsal dinner here in 2009 when we got married, and just returned in May of 2015. Still fantastic! The fish is cooked perfectly, and the flavors are just enough. Romantic setting. The only think that bugs me about the location is that we had a timeshare sales meeting in the restaurant during the day once. Didn't like the confusion of the atmosphere. Two feelings, same place. One where they tried to sell us "memories", and we said no... and the other a romantic night away...
(4)Laurie D.
Loved the Aloha spirit. We sat in the lounge and had great, attentive service. The lobster wontons were ridiculous. Absolutely yummy. Just perfect and the hoison sauce with vanilla was a great companion. The ribs, however, were stand out--you MUST try.
(4)Tammy G.
Our meal was delicious...the appetizers left me feeling a little worried because it wasn't too exciting. We had the lobster won tons and the sweet potato ravioli. But when the entrees arrived...it turned the entire meal around. Everyone that ordered meat was pleased with their meal. and the fish was delicious too. the prime rib was so soft that you could cut it with a fork and the flavor was perfect. the crown royal tenderloins were melt in your mouth.
(4)Susan C.
The food is ok, nothing spectacular. I had the ahi and the hubby had the ono. It's not quality food. The service is pretty good, but not worth coming back for.
(3)Diane E.
My daughter and I splurged one night and had a very nice dinner here and pulled out all the stops by ordering a bottle of wine to go with our meal...as well as a dessert to share. It was a lovely dinner and since we were staying at the Kauai Coast Report at the Beachboy...we only had to walk a few steps to get back to our room.
(5)Pineapple C.
tasting menu was fabulous, but your reservation has to be from 5-5:45pm for it to be an option. It included Island Gazpacho, vegetable tart, fresh catch (mahi was a little on the salty side), lamb, and creme brûlée (or artisan cheeses). perfect tasting portions, attentive and friendly service, and a great pace. Keiki menu included pineapple, an entree, and ice cream. the kids enjoyed their pasta but the portions were a bit small. usually my 4yo and 19month old can share, but we had to order 2 for them to be satisfied. also tried the poke nachos (great if u like avocado sesame poke), the sweet potato ravioli (comes with 3), and candied ahi (coffee spiced with chipotle sauce that we could eat all day). the Bday girl got a small box of truffles. Surf and turf was on short supply and sounded delicious. will definitely be back again. highly recommend making an early reservation! made our reservation on open table. they called the day of confirming our reservation and paid attention to our notes / comments. There was a high chair in place, kids cups and menus, and were prepared for our bday!
(5)Alisha R.
Wow! Just... WOW! Everything was so delicious and the service was great too! We were recommended here by our hotels concierge on our honeymoon. The concierge made reservations for us (reservations recommended). Before ordering we looked at the previous reviews and went with what others had recommended for appetizers. We had the ahi poke nachos and sweet potato ravioli.The ahi tuna was served with wonton chips. I loved the hint of sesame oil. The sweet potato ravioli was amazing too! We also had white bean soup, lobster curry bisque (so creamy- might be my favorite thing we ate), Ono, filet, and creme brûlée for dessert. Our stomachs were so full (that we had to take back what we couldn't eat) and our taste buds were happy!!
(5)Chris K.
A gem of high class food and wine; I've been to many restaurants that offer tasting menus with wine pairings. This offers just the right portion size and variety / balance of tastes. The waitress was very accommodating, and at one point helped protect us from our eyes being bigger than our stomachs, even if it meant less profit to them. She helped us order just the right amount, and the food as spot on. The ribs appetizer was outstanding - loved the pickled watermelon as a counter balance to the sweet and savory sauce; so tender too. Poke nachos were delightful. Opah and Mahi Mahi were perfectly moist. Nice casual attire, sandals and shorts are appropriate! Great place to visit if you're passing by the airport or Kapaa. Make reservations online, and they will confirm quickly. NOTE: Tasting menu was only available from 5-5:45pm; not sure if that's usual for them, but plan accordingly!
(5)Michael M.
Attended here for Kauai Community College International Education program graduation. It was my first time being here, throughout my whole life on Kaua'i. The food was really delicious!!! The staff was very accommodating, and cleaned the plates off the table quick. The dessert was by far really good, very nice presentation and delicious.
(4)Cathy S.
Hukilau Lanai has a lovely outlook over a well manicured garden and the ocean in the distance. Since it faces east, you aren't going to have gorgeous sunsets but it is lovely nonetheless. We arrived a little early for our reservation so we sat at the bar for a cocktail but they were able to seat us at our table about 5 minutes ahead of schedule. The first thing the server asked us was if we were celebrating anything special. Our response "dinner?" was treated as a surprise so I take it that this is a special occasion type of restaurant. Allegedly this restaurant is the nicest on the island. A pleasant surprise was the affordability of their wine menu. It is not often that one sees a lot of options in the $20 range. We started with the Lobster and Goat Cheese Wonton appetizer. It looks like there was lobster in the wonton but all I tasted was the chèvre. The macadamia nut ingredient added no value other than a crunch. They were edible but nothing special. We both ordered the Wally Salad which was a run of the mill green salad but the lettuce was fresh and ripped into proper little pieces, the little tomatoes were ripe and firm and the salad was not overdressed so it was very good. We also both ordered the Hukilai Mixed Grill which consisted of grilled Walu and Hebi and grilled shrimp on a bed of orzo with a Thai curry sauce. My husband and my plates looked quite different because the sauce on my plate had broken. If this truly is a fine dining establishment if it serves an entree that has a broken sauce on it? The star of the plate was the Walu which was moist and delicious. The grilled shrimp was also very nice but my Hebi was a little on the dry side and my orzo was overcooked. The sauce, broken or not, was far too abundant and added a richness that I still feel in my stomach 12 hours later, and not in a good way. Our server Ryan was very professional and attentive as were all of the other people who served us. I hesitate to send food back particularly when the person I am dining with doesn't have any problems, as you just end up watching each other eat, so I made the decision to just suck it up. I have no doubt that the restaurant would have made it right, but it would have been kind of nice to get it right the first time. Is it the best restaurant in Kauai? I hope not or that doesn't bode well for the island. It is however, as the Yelp 3-star rating says, A-OK.
(3)Sam S.
First place we ate at in Kauai. Very good food. Great service, a little spendy. The salads were amazing as were the lobster wontons. Open air dining or dining outside. Friendly bartender.
(4)Milena P.
Great place! Our best meal during our honeymoon in Kauai was served at this spot. Ask to be seated in the Lanai :) My husband was sick and they were nice enough to accomodate our request for him: a plain grilles chicken and white jasmine rice. Hubby thought it was the best plain grilled chicken he has ever had lol! I had the grilled onu with jasmine rice and asparagus. Sooooooo fresh and tasty! My best meal during the entire trip. It came with the soup of the day.. Delish! Ps. Great jewlery sold by a very nice lady. Hubby got me a pretty coral necklace !
(5)Derek W.
Walking through the breezy courtyard into the Kauai Coast Resort evokes an array of positive sensations, though not necessary the feeling you are about to have a world-class meal. Sure, you are overcome with pure relaxation and the expectation of a fun and carefree night, and you know you'll get it here. But as we ducked past the hostess stand and made our way toward the dining room, nothing prepared us for the exceptional cuisine that awaited just past the small bar that mixes a helluva good Mai Tai. It was after dark when we sat down, but the ambiance was pleasant island casual in the open-air dining room, and our view in daylight would have been quite nice. We arrived just after a massive party, and a server from a different part of the restaurant graciously took our order and brought our drinks. By the time our intended server joined us, we were past the point of pleasantries and didn't get much love, so on balance I'd say the service overall was the only less-than-spectacular element here. But oh...the food. Everything we tried was incredibly well done and especially delicious. First to arrive were the ahi poke nachos, a no-brainer order that sounded and tasted like heaven, a pile of unusually good fried wonton chips with dreamy poke adorned with creamy avocado, salty tobiko (roe), and wasabi cream. The nachos re-introduced us to the concept of generous portions, a phenomenon seen seldom if ever elsewhere on the island. With the nachos, we enjoyed a sweet and savory gazpacho comprised of tomato and pineapple along with a whimsical scoop of pineapple basil sorbet made with local Koloa rum. We found a consistent commitment to local ingredients here, and the rum was one of many opportunities to sample the glories of Kauai. Our next course continued on with the fresh fish theme, starting with an ahi sashimi "stack" mixed with crunchy Asian slaw and sweet chili sauce. While in the same general family as the poke, the sashimi stack was striking and unique, and can you REALLY have too much ahi? Then we cut into a masterfully wood- grilled slab of out-of-the-water-this-morning ono (also known, more broadly, as wahoo). The fish sat atop a pleasant heap of short-grain cilantro rice, and the whole thing was encircled with generous streaks of curry sauce in different stripes. One alleged to be a Kabocha squash curry sauce, and all were decadent and delicious. We didn't really "save room for" so much as we were "pulled towards" dessert, a magnificent chocolate lava cake with a couple large scoops of vanilla bean ice cream. I get drawn in by cakes that have, as Hukilau Lanai describes it, an "oozing chocolate center. Once I started I couldn't really resist finishing, an act of gluttony well-justified by the quality of the meal.
(5)Nick T.
Spent 7 days in Kauai and had dinner here twice. Certainly worth the drive all the way from Princeville. Without a doubt, this is the BEST restaurant on the island. Food was superb. The wait staff was extra attentive. Not a bad meal on the menu. Salad included with entrée which is most uncommon these days. Average price.... since it is Hawaii. Beautiful surroundings and just an overall great place to enjoy.
(5)Geneva H.
Loved the poke nachos. Every bite of every course was packed with flavor. They were also very accommodating with kids. They gave us an outside table next to the courtyard which was very helpful for restless kiddos.
(5)Jim T.
What a beautiful place to have a great dinner with that special someone. Service and food where 5 star and the view was just perfect
(5)Natalie C.
Meh. Everything tasted good, but this is not my style of eats. I refer to this type of dining as "old people food" (no offense, senior citizens). Heavy, heavy, heavy. Lots of cream-based sauces and soups, and obnoxiously large portions. One of their claims to fame is waterfront view with a beautiful garden. But you're so stuffed after your meal that you have no interest in waddling through the garden, all you want to do is lay down and fall into a food coma. The service is another issue for me. We may have had the worst server on all of Kaua'i. A few members of our party showed up a bit late, and he was deliberating whether or not they could still order the tasting menu. Meanwhile, our seating hostess had said it would be no problem at all, since our reservation was clearly before the cutoff time. Another member of our party eats gluten-free, and was unsatisfied that the in-house menu does not note which items can be prepared gluten-free (online, there is an entire menu dedicated to this). Again, the waiter seemed incredibly put-out by her questioning which items would follow her dietary restrictions. For future gluten-free diners, they do serve a gluten-free bread that is the best I've tried, so make sure to ask for it.
(3)Kelly M.
One word of advice, get reservations to go to this restaurant unless you like waiting around for about an hour for a seat. The good news is that even if you don't have reservations, you can still get in. Additionally, if you don't mind the wait, you can get drinks and whatnot and hang out in the comfortable chairs (but small tables) of the hotel lobby. If you're by yourself, you can just eat at the bar and completely skip the wait. Now that the advice dispensing is done, once we did get in for our food, it was outstanding. Our waiter was quick and made excellent suggestions on the food without being pushy. The sides of the restaurant are open, allowing cool night breezes through, looking out on a courtyard lit by torches. The food itself is really good, especially the small chocolate cake that comes out fresh from the oven. I don't think you could go wrong with any of the food here. Prices wise, even though this was probably the best meal we had on our vacation it wasn't the most expensive meal we ate on the island.
(5)Chrissy B.
Great Food! Even better atmosphere and Aloha Service. What more could you ask for!
(5)Kelson H.
A hotel restaurant. Waited about 30mins for a table, very busy restaurant. Not a cheap restaurant, but the food was tasty. Appetizers - BBQ Ribs (very tasty, the meat fell off the bone) - Ahi Nachos (This was okay, a mixture of fresh ahi cut into little bite sized chunks and a fried wonton chip as the chip) - Portuguese Sausage with fiddle head ferns (Okay, the fiddlehead fern was interesting tastes like a pickle in a smaller form) Dinner Mixed Grill: Ono, striped marlin and shrimp on a sugar cane with creamy orzo and thai chili sauce. (Very tasty a good one to order and one recommended for newbies to the restaurant) If you want fresh fish, this is a good choice. Dessert Lava Cake with vanilla ice cream: Basically a mini chocolate cake with melted chocolate in the middle. Good Macadamia Nut Tart with vanilla ice cream: Nice caramel flavor enjoyable although the actual nut was second while the caramel took a dominant form on this dish. The server tried to be as good as he could, but for some reason it seemed as if everything in the restaurant was rushed. Things were just flying everywhere. Service:2 Food:3 Decor:3 Would I go back? They had good fish, although the service well, lets hope they get more help. I'd go back, just not my first choice.
(3)Christine C.
We didn't have a reservation so we were lucky to find 4 seats at the lounge. The service was really mediocre. The food for an average of $30 per dish, it was also mediocre. However the dessert was delicious - we ordered macadamia nut tart with cinnamon ice cream!! The atmosphere was really nice. There was live Hawaiian music with light hula dancing - it's like a Hawaiian jazz. Overall, it was ok.
(3)Aaron L.
This place was perfect - excellent food, excellent service, atmosphere, everything. Great wine prices. Food is pricey but the execution is spot-on and well-worth it for a nice night out in Kauai. Do it. The wife says it's the best meal she's "ever" had.
(5)Frank S.
This place is just awesome. The staff, the service everything was perfect. We always stop here on the way to the airport at the end of our holidays and it never fails to lighten our hearts when our holiday is ending. On our last visit, I forgot my cell phone at the restaurant and boarded a plane home hours later. I thought that I had left the phone on the plane and could not find it anywhere. About a week later my wife was contacted on Facebook by Ron Miller the owner. He had found the phone at the table, checked the bill for our name mailed it back to me. Best service ever!
(5)Jim S.
Everything about this meal was tremendous. My wife and I went here for a night out without our baby, and we were not disappointed. We were seated promptly and the service was attentive throughout the evening. They begin by giving you a delicious bread; when we told the waiter that my wife is allergic to gluten, they even brought her out some gluten-free bread. We had the sweet potato raviolis, which were divine, as was my wife's Wally Salad and my lobster bisque. At this point, we were feeling great. Then came the main course; we each got the mixed grill. Two words: ON POINT. The dish was a work of art, all elements and flavors combined to make the dish truly incredible. The portion size was perfect and the fish was absolutely succulent. We finished with the creme brule, my wife's favorite, and it was also great. All of this, combined with a $20 bottle of wine, made this meal very memorable. We will definitely be back next time we visit Kauai!
(5)Alison M.
I love a good tasting menu, and this location came up in my search. I made reservations a few days in advance. We sat on a covered patio with a great view. I had the tasting menu, my husband did not. They wine parings were done well and the pours were heavy. Not the most memorable meal I had on my trip, but a solid evening out that we both enjoyed.
(4)Jonathan C.
The ahi nachos were so good! The fish so tender and the accompanying tastes so well balanced my eating companion thought them tomatoes for a while. The macadamia nut pie with cinammon ice cream was to die for. Would recommend this place to anyone visiting!
(5)T S.
I would give it a 10 star! How can food be this heavenly! We started off with bread which was delicious! Then we ordered ahi poke with nachos. Then we got the salad and lobster bisque. The dressing of the salad was extra-ordinary! The chef and our server were kind enough to offer us some dressing to go since we loved it! Unfortunately we couldn't bring that to mainland. The lobster bisque was also very good. I would go there anytime just to have the bisque. For the entree, we got one mixed grill and Hebi. Two pieces of fish in the mixed grill along with shrimp. I can just say oh my god for all the fishes and the sauces with them. It was the best preparation, made to perfect! We were considering between this and the Merriman's. I am so happy we chose this one!
(5)Anthony L.
We normally cook for ourselves when in Hawaii; and for good reason. But, we've also had our fair share of dining experiences, and nothing I can remember quite compares to the Hukilau Lanai. The ambience was second to none (we sat out on the lanai for a sunset dinner with our three small kids); all of the food was very good, the service was great, and the price was very reasonable. We'll definitely come back next time we're here.
(5)Julia W.
Started with the crab and goat cheese wontons, which were tasty. Entrees typically come with salad and soup. We got Wally's salad. It was decent but not amazing. The lobster bisque was definitely worth the extra money. If you are a fan of Thai flavorings it's a good soup for you. Coconut milk dribbled on top for extra creamy goodness. The filet mignon was cooked well and the reduction was delicious. Definitely make reservations. Even the people who had reservations had to wait (45 min!!!) We didn't make reservations and just sat in one of the comfy lounge chairs, which turned out better than sitting at a table anyway. Service was not great. Initially we sat at the bar and the bartender didn't even bat an eye at us until we said something. I could've pulled the menu or a drink from over the counter without him noticing. Kind of felt like because we were younger and didn't "look" like we were going to spend a lot of money that resulted in us being ignored by the staff most of the night. Could just have been the night though ... Everybody has bad days sometimes.
(3)Patrick M.
Amazing food and atmosphere was relaxing... Was recommended to us after our wedding and was perfect
(4)Steve M.
Went here on our last night in Kauai for a nice family dinner. The lobster bisque was incredible. The candied ahi was also amazing. The entrees fell short of our expectations. My wife had the opah with risotto which was just ok. My daughter had the pork tenderloin with mushroom Marsala sauce. This was very good. I had the prime rib which was tough and really fatty. It tasted like it had sat out for a while before it arrived at the table. For dessert, we had the chocolate mousse which was very good! Service was mediocre and impersonal. All in all, not the best night for the Hukilau.
(3)Kurt D.
Service was top notch. Ahi tuna was perfect. Salad was good. Prime rib tasted wierd but it was cooked perfectly. the au jus was salty though. Chocolate cheesecake was decadent. Lemon Chiffon pie was tangy mmm delicious. Coffee was rich and bold. Overall, We really enjoyed our experience at the Hukilau Lanai!!
(4)Lan B.
Fresh seafood, fine local ingredients and great service combined to make this one of our best meals on Kauai this trip. The complimentary starter of focaccia bread with a dipping sauce of balsamic vinegar, olive oil and chili water was a tasty teaser. Our calamari appetizer was well seasoned and delicately fried and chard and mushroom tart was savory and delicious. Our entrees came with soup or salad and we upgraded to the lobster bisque and fried goat cheese salad. The bisque was smooth and well balanced with just a pleasant hint of curry. The ball of fried goat cheese was a delight to cut into and paired well with the fresh arugula. I had the seafood mixed grill over orzo, starring walu, shrimp and another fish I can't recall. The walu was decadently moist and buttery. My husband had seared Ahi over cous cous in a light tomato sauce; very good. After all the dishes, we could only muster up room for one dessert, the coconut tart, my only disappointment with the meal. I could not detect any coconut because passion fruit prevailed, even in the sauce decorating the plate. Overall, we enjoyed a solid meal and highly recommend this restaurant.
(4)Duane H.
John of the bar made me the single best mai tai of the trip. We had a couple of appetizers at the bar as well that were truly stunning. One was a fresh Ahi poke nacho concoction that was amazing. The other was a handmade sausage and fiddlehead Fern salad that took us by surprise it was that good. This place was worth going out of our way to find.
(5)Jill D.
Had it out with the ex-boyfriend here after a night of epic drinking so it was one of the more uncomfortable meals I've ever had LOL. However, even slightly hungover, I was able to appreciate how delicious everything was and how good the service was (it was St. Patrick's Day) for a night most people spend getting hammered. We were also left alone enough for our awkward conversation to unfold appropriately and I appreciated that since it was fairly obvious we were having a serious chit chat and didn't need extra solicitous service. My salad was huge and delicious and the fish I had for my main course was super tasty as well. I'd definitely come back here again...obviously sans ex-boyfriend LOL. The food was excellent and maybe took some of the sting out of me calling my ex out on his BS and lies. Maybe.
(4)Taylor S.
I would just like to say how wonderful and fabulous and marvelous and great the service and the food is at the Hukilau pool bar specially the service from Sylvie . I eat there at least three times a week and her service is impeccable. And if anybody has a Aloha on this island its that girl
(5)Kevin N.
While we have been to Kauai many times, this was the first time at this restaurant. We called a day in advance to make reservations, but could only get 5:30p for a party of 7. The restaurant is nice and has a good amount of outdoor patio seating with a nice view. Service was excellent and we received our drinks, appetizers, and entrees in a timely manner. The food was well prepared. This included the ahi appetizers, and the mahi mahi, ono and meatloaf entrees. Dessert was also great with a good selection. Overall a great experience.
(4)Ann W.
During our 16 day visit to Kauai, we actually ate at Hukilau Lanai four times. On two of the visits we had appetizers and dinner (amazing 'Surf and Turf' and Mixed Grill) and on the other two we just opted for the appetizers and Lobster Bisque. Our favorites are The Candied Ahi - it has the most amazing rub and the Ahi just melts in your mouth, and the Ahi Nachos. I couldn't tell you which one we enjoyed more than the other. The Lobster bisque is not to be missed and you actually have your choice of any soup or salad on the menu with your dinner selection. We were always so stuffed we could not try the deserts. My compliments to the chef on his fine sauces. The entire wait staff was terrific and very attentive. We will be back next year!
(5)Gus G.
Not sure where to start, we were very disappointed. Maybe it was an off night but I just can't believe the number of positive reviews or the rec in my trusty guidebook. First, I'll say we ate in the bar area, which offered the full menu. The waitress and hostess were very nice and helpful, even suggesting another restaurant if we didn't want to wait 1.5 hours for a regular table or eat at the bar. Ultimately we decided to eat at the bar. We started with the lobster goat cheese wontons. Although they tasted great, it was just a puréed mixture, so nothing special. Soup or salads were free with the entrees. We both had salad and they were both simple green salads but tasted great and fresh. Our entrees were the big disappointment. I had the opah, with a coconut curry sauce and rice. The rice was terrible by my standards. The sauce was great and nicely drizzled around the fish rather than dumped on. My fish was a bit on the dry side, but ok I guess. Perhaps I should have specified medium rare or something, but I wasn't asked. My dinner partner ordered the mahi mahi and it was the biggest disappointment. It was incredibly bland with little flavor. It was cooked better than the opah however. The pasta it came with was good but again the sauce was eh and lacking. He is a guy who usually orders mild, so for him to say it's bland was something. There was a slight tomato flavor to the pasta sauce but that was it. Service was fine and nice, the live music was good and not too loud (despite sitting directly next to the singer). Setting was fine, not my cup of tea, glad it was night because I think it would have looked like a courtyard in the middle of condos or a hilton express. A high end restaurant or hotel wouldn't get away with the holiday inn decor on the mainland, in my opinion, right down to the time share desk at the lobby entrance (or whatever) with a copy machine up on the counter in plain sight. Overall I'm shocked this place "fills up two days before or more" as the hostess told us (who was super nice). Seemed like a typical resort place that no local would touch...with good reason. Still, we had much better food at similar price points in touristy locations on Kauai. Maybe it was an off night or being in the bar area was a drawback (though it's five feet from the dining room, the food is still cooked in the same kitchen, and the bar offers the same menu). I wouldn't recommend the hassle of reservations or the expenditure to a friend, better to find another $30-$40 joint or just do a more hole in the wall for $15.
(3)Joe B.
Fantastic food! We ordered a prime rib with the mashed potatoes and the the opah with jasmine rice and both were exceptional. The prime rib was cooked to perfection and the fish was extremely fresh. We both ordered the Wally's salad with out meal and had a fantastic dressing that was somewhat similar to ranch with an island twist. The lava cake was fresh and tasty as well. Overall an amazing experience!
(5)Jay R.
01.14.15 with 5 others well deserved 5 stars. The service and food was excellent. We arrived early and ordered drinks from the bar and waited in the lounge area. As we got seated from start to finish the wait staff was so attentive and nice. The table ordered apps of calamari and mushroom tart - no complaints here My husband and i shared the Ahi and the Mahi Mahi dishes - both yummy. Great portions of salad and great tastes in each dish. A must visit for any tourist who wants great fresh seafood and even better service.
(5)Denise E.
Delicous dinner experience! We showed up at about 7:30p with no reservation and were informed the wait was about an hour and a half. So we made dinner reservations for the next evening. Since we were there and hungry, we decided to have a drink and appetizer in the bar which was more like an open air lounge, with cozy chairs and loveseats, plus a few tables. The only seats open were two cozy looking chairs flanking a small table, literally right next to the entertainer. I hesitated to take the seats because I'm not a big fan of ukulele music, especially right next to a big speaker, but the spot was so inviting in every other way that we went for it. THEY HAVE A SPECIAL GLUTEN FREE MENU! Huge for me, as I have Celiac Disease and cannot tollerate even minute amounts of wheat, rye, or barley. I ordered 2 gluten free appetizers: ahi poke and BBQ ribs. My husbad, being the evil man he is, ordered lobster/goat cheese wontons off the regular menu. The ahi poke was the best "sushi" I've had since my Celiac diagnosis. It was melt in the mouth tender, creamy, flavorful, fresh tuna! Seasoned with wasabi cream sauce, avacado chunks, with bits of flaky salt that spread across my palette surprising me here and there. All served on a bed of rice. I greedily offered my husband only one bite. But I felt justified as I watched him savoring each crunchy creamy delicious bite of his lobster wontons that I could not sample. We shared the BBQ pork ribs, which were so tender that the meat kept pulling off the bone when we would try to lift one onto our plates. Needless to say, we polished off every bite. I had a non-aloholic drink of fresh orange guava and passion fruit juice which was fantastic. I was surprised that my husband's coctail was even better. He had the citrus buzzz... Refreshing with honey flavor that lingered after each sip. We ended up switching to a real table in the bar and having a full dinner which was as flawless as our first courses! We are looking forward to returning for dinner tonight in the actual dining room. Oh! By the way, Ben the ukulele singer was fantastic. The best I've heard. He played the instrument like it was a twelve string guitar!
(5)Sammy Z.
Food is excellent, a great variety. The drink menu is pretty awesome. The ambience is one of the most beautiful. The live music, what a plus. Highly recommend.
(5)Shannon S.
Back again and we loved it again! Food was great, we had the ono & ahi. Hubby said the ahi was cooked perfectly. Waiter was attentive without being invasive. Reservations a good idea!
(5)Chuck B.
After traveling to Kauai for 17 years, this is a gem that I have been missing all this time. Great food, service, and live music. We started with the Adam's Poke Nachos and the Sweet Potato Ravioli on recommendations from locals. After having poke all over the island, they had a refreshing twist. Likewise with the ravioli. I had the Hukilau Mixed Grill with two different fish and shrimp. My wife had Wally's Steak Crown Royal. Both outstanding.
(5)Jennifer R.
For this side of the island, this restaurant is the best - nice view, great food excellent service and VERY reasonable prices
(5)Ann W.
One of the first places that our concierge recommended to us was Hukilau Lanai, which she said was a popular local favorite. I can definitely see why this would be a cool spot to go to for dinner and drinks. The service is great. We had interactions with at least 5 different employees and they were all consistently friendly and helpful. I would say that the menu consists of American style food with an Asian twist. We ordered an ahi tuna appetizer, which was seared with soy and brown sugar and served with rice. It was ok at first and then it began to grow on me. There is no distinct sweet or savory flavor, and some of the pieces were more tasty than others. For entree, we both ordered the mixed plate. Hubby also had lobster curry bisque, which tasted like curry sauce, and I had Wally's salad, loaded with veggies and served with a delicious papaya seed dressing...yum! On the mixed plate, there was grilled shrimp skewered on sugar cane, soy marinated walu, and Cajun styled moonfish, served with risotto. The walu was easily our favorite. Soft, flakey, and rich, I can see why walu is also called Hawaiian butterfish. The moonfish did not have the same soft texture, so I didn't really enjoy it as much. The shrimp were cooked perfectly, though I wasn't sure what the sugar cane added to it. I didn't eat the risotto since risotto isn't my favorite. For dessert, we shared star fruit sorbet, served with macadamia biscotti. The sorbet was delicious and tasted exactly like a bite of juicy, sweet, and tangy star fruit. It was the perfect end to the meal. I also have to give props to their drink menu. I thought it had something for everyone--even great selections for non drinkers such as honey lemonade and mint & ginger. I opted for the Citrus Buzzzz, which is a delicious and refreshing blend of Limoncello, honey, and guava. It is probably one of my all time favorite cocktails. Overall, it was a pleasant dining experience. I would suggest making reservations and trying to sit out on the lanai, and definitely treat yourself to drinks and dessert!
(3)W. T.
We came We ate We conquered!! The tasting menu was the BOMB. I was so freakin stuffed after!, We did the wine paring which was ok... Next time I'll use the $12 for a big glass of something I want instead! We had the standard tasting menu but my husband substituted the sausage for the mushroom tomato tart since fish is the only meat he eats. We also shared a sweet potato ravioli appetizer cause it sounded so good. And guess what.... It...so...freaking...was!!! The sausage course was -meh- The patio is absolutely delightful, which made the pouring down rained and lightning all the more cozy It took us close to 3 hours to get through the meal, so I understand why they only offer it for the first 45 minute sittings. We've decided that next time we will order the ravioli again plus the ahi appetizers. Hubby had the chocolate lava cake. Oozy chocolateay goodness!!
(5)Chloe B.
Better than the Beach House. We ate at the Beach House last night (apparently one of the best restaurants on the island) -- although the Beach House feels more exclusive when you first walk in, Hukilau Lanai has better food, better presentation, better service, and a much better drink selection. The fish--OH MY GOD. INCREDIBLE. Combination of flavors is intense and creative. Let's not forget the sweet potato ravioli: worth getting as a full entrée!! If you come to Kauai and you like food, you MUST come to Hukilau Lanai. If you really want to go to the Beach House, use the Beach House for a first round drink spot to watch the sunset...but then come to Hukilau.
(5)Chun P.
I don't want to write the same stuff everyone else already has...so 3 Things: 1) The Butterfish...FUCing AMAZING!!!!!!!! 2) All entrees include soup or salad!!!! (I'm such a cheapass...) 3) If you've already had the ahi poke at Koloa Fish Market or Pono Market, skip the $13 Ahi Poke Nachos. I think some of the male waitstaff are potheads...but they were all friendly and efficient, eat here! :D
(5)J.D. P.
Glad we stumbled into this place on a whim after I was forced to bust some hula moves during a show at a Coconut Marketplace. Great service, kids loved their food (nuff said) and wifey and I dug our fresh fish. Actually, I went surf and turf with some local beef alongside the fresh Walu. Yum. Caesar salad rocked. Mai tai was mediocre and we passed on desert even though they looked really good. Place was better than I expected when walking up to the older resort it is part of so don't be scared off. Gluten free menu was a nice option for us too.
(4)Cherie G.
Good but not great food. The exception was the sweet potato bisque, which was nicely flavored with ginger and delicious. The opah was good, but the mashed potatoes a bit heavy. Our server was very personable. Good place to eat. Ocean is within view.
(4)K K.
Really happy that we went there for their happy-hour tasting menu. Great service and fresh, locally-sourced menu. The tasting menu that day was already gluten-free, but they brought out freshly baked gf bread, which was awesome. I added them to my list for gluten-free on Kauai: raeraegoesreal.wordpress…
(4)Rami C.
We wish we were there for the happy hour tasting menu, but we didn't know till later. Dinner was delicious. Classy atmosphere, we were seated overlooking the grounds with tiki torches lighting the way. I had the gazpacho soup and hubby had the lobster bisque, which we both enjoyed. Hubby got the candied ahi, which he found creative and tasty. For entrees, we had the veggie lasagna, which was decadent and huge, and the nightly fish special. All were very good. For dessert, the Coconut Lilikoi Tart was creative and very unique. We enjoyed our dinner at Hukilau Lanai, would come back.
(4)Sandy N.
I love this place! Our first time here was back in August of this year and we didn't have reservations. Which was fine since we were able to snatch a table at the bar area. We know better and make reservations when we plan to dine here. The food is amazingly great! I enjoyed this place so much more than the other places that we tried on the island. We had their Ahi poke nachos and their fisherman's soup which we both enjoyed. As for the entree their prime rib is very good and cooked to our liking. As far as their service goes, hmm... we had 4 people come to our table checking on us. Our main server introduced herself then was no where to be flagged. So, we would order from the other servers as opposed to our main server who would skip our table constantly. Everyone did a great job, but the main server. Once it was time for our check the main server would come by and be extra friendly and thanked us for joining them for dinner. Which we didn't have interaction from her until the end of dinner. We loved this place so much that we had our wedding dinner reception here. We had a party of 10 and didn't reserve a private dining area, we dined in the main area. Everyone did a fabulous job and served us as if we had a private room reserved.
(5)Kristin H.
THE best meal I've had on many trips to Kauai! And their kids menu my 8 and 10 year old loved as it had mocktails for them to choose. Short rib, sweet potato ravioli and lobster-goat cheese wonton pupus were fantastic. Fried goat cheese salad and lobster bisque were yummy (the kids were served fresh pineapple for their before dinner course, a nice touch). Ono with jasmine rice, turmeric, coconut and pineapple salsa and mixed grill of mahi mahi, striped marlin and shrimp over orzo was scrumptious. Artisian cheese plate and warm chocolate cake completed the meal. Cocktail and wine list were great. Our waiter was superb and the view from our patio table leant itself to a great family picture our waiter graciously took.
(5)Bellabee L.
Have been here before and enjoyed the Early Bird special. So made reservations early just to be sure to get this again. We were not seated until 6:00pm, even though we arrived early, and our reservations were at 5:45pm. Our waiter would not honor the Early Bird menu howerver. Bad service!! So we ordered from regular menu, which is a bit pricey. The filet mignon and steak were very tender and delicious. The Ono was a bit dry. Wine was excellent! Mai Tai's had NO Rum and we had to order an additional shot of Rum to add to our drinks. Again, the bar/waiter should not have charged us for that. Overall, meal was good, but definitely the Early Bird is the way to go.
(3)Meghan M.
Amazing! Expensive but not so much in relation to island prices and not at all in relation to the quality of food. Candied Ahi was incredible! If you're not very hungry this can be a meal. Cesaer salad was fresh and well prepared, spend the extra and get the curried lobster bisque. I'm not usually a bisque fan but this was creamy lushness. Peppercorn steak medallions were prepared to a perfect medium rare and high end cuts of meat. Mashed potatoes nothing special but nice serving size while still having a beautiful presentation. Mixed Grill plate with shrimp, seafood and orzo - beautifully cooked fish, fresh and full of flavor. The sauce was delightful. Vanilla bean creme brûlée was good but standard. Chocolate mousse was rich and the toffee was excellent. Our server was attentive without being overbearing and was the same for the surrounding tables. Even at night the atmosphere is beautiful with open air seating and torches lighting the grounds. They also have a nice wine menu that is reasonably priced. Spent some $ but completely worth every penny.
(5)Thom P.
My step daughter had her wedding and reception here! The staff was warm friendly and went above and beyond all I our expectations! He dinner was fabulous - my Mahi Mahi was cooked superbly and all the appetizers were beyond delicious!!
(5)Ali K.
First night in town we headed here. It was amazing food, great service, and kept the kids happy! We will definitely go back!!
(5)Jae K.
I seriously drove 1 hour to from the Grand Hyatt to Dine at this restaurant. Service- Worst. I made reservation for 8:45pm. I got there at 8:46pmish and been told that they are running late and I was to wait another 10 min. I asked if I could go to the cocktail lounge to wait and I was told that was fine. I was sitting down and the lady skipped over me. I got up to ask if I had to go order it at the counter and they said I could sit and order. I waited and the lady came and I asked if there was a menu. She pointed at the menu that was on the table, and left again. I was again with this menu for another 5 mins and before she came, my table was ready and I was sitted Food- Absolutely not the best in the island. I had the Calamari and the Sausage. I can tell they use the fresh ingredients but absolutely not par with the any of the nice restaurants. I had the Island meatloaf as the main dish. The food is ok, but nothing special at all. I would give the food 3/5 stars maximum. Again I can tell the ingredients are fresh but there is nothing wow or special about them. If I was in mainland, this would probably compare to golden corral, or home town buffet status. Vibe- This place looks run down and very outdated. Looks like motel 6 renovated to look like motel 6 ultimate. I came down from Grand Hyatt to dine here and it was seriously a disappointment. I can't believe this place seriously had a 4 star rating. Ive been a yelper for years and this is probably the biggest disappointment yet. Finally, I would really skip this restaurant and trust me. I never leave a 1 star rating review but this is not worth the drive espeically if you are staying at the grand hyatt. Try Tidepool, Redsalt, Tapas, Merrimans. You would thank me if you didnt come here, if you are a real foodie. Worst decision I have made in this whole trip was to dine here on my last day. Not worth it!!
(3)Kelly C.
Wow...while we did not have a reservation, we did let the hostess know we only wanted to enjoy a quick Creme Brûlée. She asked us to wait in the lounge and advised us that a server would shortly take our order. 15 minutes into our wait, another group came in and also was seated in the lounge area. Shortly after arriving, they were brought water and menus. We are now nearly 25 minutes into our visit, and yet not even a glance from a server. I then checked with the hostess, and she told me to wait in the lounge (again). At 30 minutes we walked...but not before I thanked the young hostess for their attentive service...for which she said "you're welcome!"... Not just slow service, but slow wit to boot. Needless to say we enjoyed a satisfying ice cream (and GREAT service) at Lappert's.
(1)Jill P.
Mixed grill and filet mignon! First night ~ heard reservations were needed. Since staying so close decided to chance it and they had one table available (our wait was under 5 min) Salad and bread served was fantastic! The mixed grill with 2 types of fish and shrimp was AMAZING. However my husband (the steak guy) feels his filet could possibly be the best he has ever experienced. Try it for yourself. I shall repeat: Mixed grill and filet mignon. Wonderful for our first meal....now lets see what else this island has to tempt us with!
(5)Kevin B.
This place doesn't need more 5 star ratings but it was awesome. I got the lobster bisque and meatloaf. Both had a ton of flavor. Also, the cocktails were great. I got the manhattan honey. I felt like a lot of places on Hawaii had inflated reviews but this place lived up to the hype. Pretty reasonable prices too.
(5)Jerry M.
The best food we had on the island during the week we were there. I had the chicken dish. One of the most tender dishes of chicken I have ever had. Sauce was just excellent....really excellent. My wife had the pork dish. It was good but she kept eating some of my chicken dish. Service and waiter was also excellent.
(5)Bray S.
We tried all of their appetizers (pupus) and we thought they were really tasty. The lobster bisque was delicious and unique with the fragrant lemongrass in it. My fiancé really liked the mixed grill entree that comes with fish and shrimp. The highlight of the mixed grill dish is the sauce! The atmosphere was relaxing and the Hawaiian musician was terrific!
(5)Wanda P.
Wow! This is the most allergy-friendly restaurant I've ever eaten in. I called to ask whether we could bring in our own food for my daughter who has Celiac as well as MANY severe food allergies. They said "certainly, but if you let us know what her allergies are, we will talk with the chef and identify what she can eat from our menu." They took down her long list of allergies and called us back to let us know what she could eat. When we arrived, all the servers knew her list of allergies and we're completely and sweetly accommodating. Bonus: the food was fabulous--for all of us! We had appetizers as well as entres, and everything was divine! The only downside is that they book up quickly. I strongly recommend making reservations a few days in advance. We got lucky one night but not later.
(5)Montgomery N.
What an incredible experience! And, I mean experience... We dined here on Mother's Day, tonight. The food was absolutely delicious. Being Gluten-Free, it's almost always difficult to have a nice, hassle-free dining experience. The Gluten-Free menu and choices were exceptional. Our service professional, Kristine, of Kawaii Cupcakes, was awesome! We really appreciate the dedicated professionalism of the staff. Kristine was super attentive, courteous and friendly, even on a Holiday with a full restaurant. The owners Krissi and Ron are clearly training and managing a fabulous staff. The wine list, cocktails, and beverage menu are exciting to find in Kauai, especially with the logistical constraints. Great Job all around!
(5)Rochelle P.
We had an extraordinary dinner at Hukilau Lanai. It was the best meal on Kauai, comparable to LA and NY standards. It was one of the best meals of my life, and for the price - $40 - you couldn't beat it on the island. I ordered the 5 course tasting menu which came with a flight of wine with each course. But the bread and Ahi Poke Nachos we started with were divine, and definitely something I could eat every single day of my life. I remembered how exquisite Hawaii's Ahi Poke was but this just proved what I was missing out on.
(5)Theresa M.
Amazing food! Professional staff well trained in delivering impeccable customer service. THE best place to eat a fine meal on all of Kauai! I would not miss the chance to dine here!
(5)Salina Z.
We had our rehearsal dinner here the night before our wedding and everything exceeded our expectations! We booked the semi-private room and everything was super organized and responsive, extremely professional. The view was lovely when we arrived and we were quite impressed with the setting. Overall, the food was seriously amazing, not one dish was a miss. The pupus were plentiful: lobster goat cheese wontons (perfectly crispy, pork ribs (fall off the bone tender), and the ahi nachos (flavorful). I was lucky enough to taste each entree which included a choice between pork tenderloin (not at all dry, loved the crispy polenta), filet mignon (with mashed potatoes), and the fish of the day which was mahi mahi with this delicious rice in a coconut sauce. Everything came out hot and fresh, which is not easy with almost 30 people! Desserts were decadent, I highly recommend the creme brulee though everyone seemed to be happy with the mousse and cheesecake as well. The service was top notch, so incredibly warm and friendly. Everyone was always all smiles and wanted to be helpful. One of the waitresses heard my husband mention he was allergic to milk so she had the kitchen put his sauce on the side! They also saved menus for us (they had been printed with our name and date!) and were extremely communicative. A really love experience and we can't wait to go back when we return to the island! Also want to mention we found the prices to be quite reasonable for a rehearsal dinner compared to pretty much every other restaurant on the island that was comparable in atmosphere (trust us, we did our research). Awesome, awesome.
(5)Taylor L.
This is the best restaurant in Kauai, hands down. We started with the Ahi Poke Nachos. They were amazing. No, first we stared with a sazerac and another cocktail. The cocktail menu here is 1) advanced and 2) tasty. I got the Ahi Tuna dinner with fisherman's catch soup. Both were 5-star. My wife got the meatloaf. It was suitable for 5 people. The portions are big, the food is amazing, and the view is very intimate. Not overly priced, but not cheap either. Go here; you won't be disappointed.
(5)Maki N.
I asked a local Kauai person where to go for dinner. He told me to go here. Thank god! It was delicious. Staff were so nice. the steak was tender, yummy. It is grass fed from the local farm. get the steak! Three of us went there without a reservation, but the wait was not that long. You can have a drink while you wait for your table. Out of all the food in Kauai, this place was the best place by far... totally recommended.
(5)Lindsay H.
Our favorite place so far on Kauai! Saw other reviews on yelp and decided to go there. Great live music in the bar area while we waited for a table. Was a little thrown that it is in a hotel but once we got into the restaurant itself, it was so cute and open air and had a great ambiance. Poke nachos were delicious! Ono was great, as was the lilikoi coconut tarte. Definitely go there on your stay on Kauai!
(4)jenn w.
One of the best meals that we had on Kauai. The 5 course tasting menu served between 5-6pm was exceptional. For only $40, you get wine pairings with each course. Definitely a great value for such quality. Everything was super fresh and delicious. Recommendations: -Make reservations for 5-6 since the tasting menu is only served at these times -Try to sit inside since the weather is unpredictable and you might get rained on -Try the coconut coast cooler as a cocktail
(5)Rian F.
Another great meal at the Hukilau. Wife ordered the ono and I had the surf and turf with the ribeye and waloo. Drinks were good too, and the focaccia bread was very appetizing too. We'll be back again next year!
(4)David M.
We went here on the last night of our visit to Kauai on the recommendation of some locals we met at the beach. I was skeptical given my experience with resort restaurants but I wanted a nice celebratory dinner for my partner and this fit the bill. First selling point for me was the availability of a gluten-free menu on their website. While I don't keep gluten-free, my partner does and I'm constantly (and overly) cautious about whether restaurants will give him options other than yet another salad. What sold the restaurant for us was a very simple thing that made a world of difference for my partner. After hearing his dietary restriction the waitress brought out gluten-free bread to go with my focaccia bread. Very simple thing but as long as my partner has been gluten-free, this was the first time this has been offered to him. He told me one thing he's missed over the year is being able to enjoy some bread with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. The meal followed the same tone with excellent fish selections. I highly recommend this restaurant to other travelers.
(5)Alisha A.
This was our big date night while on vacation. The food, ambiance, service and location were excellent. We enjoyed it so much that we sent our friends there for their date night and plan to squeeze in one more meal before we head back to San Francisco. The clams were amazing, loved the mixed grill and local goat cheese salad. Looking forward to trying the ahi nachos and ribs tonight!
(5)Brenda P.
We travel to Kauai often, and have been wanting to try Hakilau Lanai. It was our last night on the island and actually the only day we could get a reservation. We were excited to try a restaurant with such high star ratings, unfortunately I won't be giving this place any kudos. Our dinner reservations were at 5:45. We were seated on time, received our appetizers on time and then everything went down hill from there. My husband's soup came out 45 minutes later, we stoped and asked a server (not our server) how much longer our food would be, she returned and told us our server would check and get back to us. An hour and 15 minutes later, our food was still not served. My husband told our server to cancel our order...a minute later our food arrives. My husband was so disgusted that he got up to tell our server to just give us the check and take the food back, the manager just happened to be there, apologized and told our server to take care of us. We never got to try the entrees, but boy were they quick at giving us the bill. I would have expected more from a restaurant like this...we were charged for my full entree, yet I never got to try it. I will never step foot into this restaurant again, nor will I every recommend it.
(1)Aaron K.
We came here twice during our trip to Kauai -- the first time we stopped in on a whim for drinks and appetizers and we were impressed enough to come back a second time for dinner. The food was probably the best we had during our week on the island. The dishes were creative and interesting, and tasted great. (We had the the candied ahi during our first stop, and the poke nachos, the sweet potato ravioli and the fish entree during our second stop). The service was attentive and the outdoor atmosphere was great for a romantic evening. We had a nice stroll down to the beach after dinner. Highly recommended.
(5)Little D.
Located in Kauai Coast Resort Hotel. We dine here at least once when we come to Kauai. One of the best restaurants in Hawaii. Good food, good service, nice environment. Tip1: Make a reservation. This place could get packed. Tip2: If you don't care for music, go early. Tip3: Poke Nachos is pretty good. (but I like the Sashimi Napoleon from Haliimaile in Maui the best). Tip4: They divide food for two with additional $5. Nice presentation as well. YELP 365 - 216/365
(5)Mona N.
I was pleasantly surprised when we ate here for dinner. At first I thought this was a tourist trap, but then as our dishes came out, they were all delicious! The sweet potato ravioli was very unique. The Wally salad with the papaya dressing was nothing I had before. The fish entree was done very well. The lemonade was a bit sour, but that was the only downfall. Definitely recommend this place!
(4)Cyndi C.
Fourteen nights in paradise. Two islands. Three coasts. Nine nights of fine-dining (read "expensive" dining) and Hukilau was by FAR the worst fish preparations we tried at any of them. My sweetie had the "special" sesame crusted swordfish and it was thin and dry with no flavor and an overpowering sauce that couldn't hide how mediocre the fish was. I had the mixed grill that included 2 fish - a delicious walu that later gave me gastric distress and one that was terribly dry from overcooking and 3 shrimps on a sugarcane skewer that had no flavor at all. The Wally Salad was delicious. The lobster bisque was unremarkable. The prepared food was awful. The waiter was excellent. The hostess was a nightmare. She needs to be fired. We - like most Hukilau guests - were from out of town and were on a vacation schedule and had no idea how far our snorkeling beach was from the restaurant or how hungry we might be that night, so we made a later reservation. We showed up 2 hours prior to the reservation as they were opening and the place was empty. When she heard that we were early she very bossily told us we'd have to sit in second tier. I had no idea what that was and I said so and she gave me such a scathing look for my ignorance! When she asked if I wanted to go look at the seating I assure her that second tier would be fine. It was. But the "first tier" remained empty during our entire visit. The first tier has a slightly better view, but whatever. It was her attitude that we had so desperately put her out personally by showing up early that she had to punish us by seating us behind empty tables with a view. My boyfriend said something to her on the way out and she got super snotty AGAIN about how first tier is held for reservations. Weird. AVOID this place and go eat in Koloa!
(1)Vicktor V.
Food was great, and so was the service. The fish pairings for the mixed grill was excellent. Anything with Okinawa sweet potatoes are my new favorite thing. The size of the salad or soup that comes with your meal is generous. Seriously....come hungry. We were too full for desert and regret that fact because everything looked great. Also the cocktail list is fantastic. Some great old school selections on there. Wife and I liked it better than Gaylords.
(5)Mark S.
Love love love hukilau lanai! it's one of my top picks! and when I want a nice meal! or have friends in town! we usually always go here! Never had a bad meal, and every entree I've had or my friends have had has always been good. The menu doesn't change much, but that's good with me, when I like something I like to keep going back.
(5)Melissa N.
Food was pretty good but the service is what makes this place stand out. I have several allergies and our waitress made certain that the chef could do a fish dish with things I could eat. She was so kind and patient with me. I can't say how far that goes in the restaurant business. It was as if we were her only table (even though all the tables in the place were full). Prices are reasonable for what you get, but the food wasn't the best I've ever had. Worth trying if you want a lot of seafood choices though.
(4)Cody K.
The steak I had was definitely not worth the $33. Staff was nice and the bread and salad were really good.
(2)Chelsea R.
This place was good, but I think a little over-hyped. I don't think Kauai is known for "fancy" restaurants, so for one to even come close gets people excited. We tried the Lobster and Goat Cheese Wontons, which were good, the Lobster Bisque which tasted like it had coconut milk in it (neither of us cared for that flavor and we cook with coconut milk often, so we like it...just not with Lobster Bisque), the Tortilla soup was okay and the Hukilau Mixed Grill and Opah for dinner were decent. All in all it was a decent meal but nothing to rant and rave about. A word to the wise, I guess the place is "dressy" so we got several weird stares by the hostess and wait staff for being in shorts and t-shirts. We have dined at some nice places and are of the opinion that if I'm paying what the table next to me is paying (which obviously I am) and there is no written dress code, don't look down on me for dressing comfortable...not every wants to wear slacks and dresses to go eat dinner.
(3)Lisa K.
YUMS! Have eaten here twice so far, both times off the gluten free menu, ordering the exact same meal because it was so tasty: a Wally salad with poppyseed dressing, the smoked pork back ribs with a Hawaiian vanilla bean hoisin BBQ sauce topped with pickled watermelon and micro-greens, and a warm gluten-free bread roll. Filling and delicious. We'll be back! :D
(4)Sylvia R.
Dropped my phone in the restaurant today. Went back and was told nobody had found it. We looked around the grounds a bit and then remotely activated the "find my iPhone feature". When the sound played, our waitress suddenly remembered that she had my phone in her apron. Honesty is not the policy here :(
(1)Hay S.
Amazing good and service!! We are staying in princeville but totally worth the ride! The server was so sweet and asked us hoe everything was during each course. The steak was amazing! So were the lobster wontons. And the lava cake is a must! Highly recommended on your visit to Kauai.
(5)Patricia B.
Disappointing after what we saw in the reviews. We went on Christmas night and despit a reservation had to wait 30-40 minutes. Ordered the wontons for an appetizer. Good flavor but they were over-fried. My daughter ordered the prime rib and it was small and flavorless. They messed up my order but I decided to keep what they delivered because I didn't want to wait for the correct entre since the kitchen seemed slow in getting meals out. I keep the mixed seafood platter and it was good. There were apologies for the error but not effort to do more. Our waiter was just okay. All in all, a disappointing holiday meal. Much better places on the island.
(2)Noel W.
Unbelievable!!! The food and drinks here are so good, my wife and I made this a nightly excursion. You have to try the sweet potato ravioli and any of the fish plates.. You will not be disappointed. Service was great as well. This place is not heavily advertised, but you must reserve a day in advance or you will be waiting in line for a table for 2-3 hours. They have a relaxing atmosphere with live music almost every night. It is THE place to be.
(5)Christine D.
My friend and I briefly glanced at the online menu and saw that they had butterfish. We immediately thought to ourselves we have to go here! Sadly, when we got to the Hukilau it was so busy we had to make reservations for the following night because we didn't want to wait over an hour for dinner. The night we had our reservation they did not have butterfish on the menu!! I didn't take into account that the menu we looked at online was a "catch of the day" list. On a positive note, my friend and I tried the opah and ono and my oh my it tasted so fresh and flavorful! The main dish also came with some bread and a choice of caesar or "wally" salad. The Wally salad was basically a garden salad with bacon and papaya seed dressing which is really delicious if your tastebuds like the whole tropical sweet sensation. We told ourselves that we had to eat as much macadamia nut food items as we could while we were on the island so for dessert we decided to try the macadamia nut tart which came with a scoop of cinnamon ice cream. It was different and quite a treat!! What made it even better was the live Hawaiian music, lighted tiki torches, beach view and just being in Hawaii period.
(4)Michael P.
Very good tasting menu particularly when you consider the price. Freshly made gluten free bread was a bonus for the wife. Candied Ahi was great. Wine pairings were fine but a bit uninspired. The restaurant isn't much to look at it, but it has a great view. Good service.
(5)Lindsey C.
Omg this was soooo good! Local ingredients, menu changes often- creative dishes, amazing flavor- you cannot go wrong here. The ambience is very pretty and the waiter was wonderful- very knowledgeable and very friendly. You need to come here for some tasty seafood in Kapaa
(5)j m.
This place was recommended to us by several locals, which always bodes well given the resort location. Not too sure about the view; much of the dining room is set back a bit from the windows. We arrived early for our reservations and had pre-dinner cocktails on the cushy couch in the nifty lounge area and elected to do dinner at a high-top table with a view of the pool and beach. After our trip we found ourselves craving poke everywhere and the poke nachos took this to another level (even if you think you are "not a raw fish person", as one of our nearby diners insisted loudly, you must try poke and especially this dish). At our (super friendly and thoughtful) server's recommendation we split that appetizer, a Wally's salad and the mixed seafood grill - two types of the most fantastic (cooked) fish I've ever experienced. The chocolate lava cake was a minor letdown, more or less a standard dessert, but somehow it did get eaten!
(5)David H.
Food was delicious, and a lot of it sourced locally. Staff were efficient. Our waiter, Ryan, really knew his business, and service was exactly right. The fish stew was wonderful, the ahi nachos were everything they were cracked up to be, and the meal and experience were well worth the expense. *If you have a reservation during Kapa'a's "rush hour," pad your driving time. There really can be gridlock on their stretch of the Kuhio Highway.
(5)Leslie C.
I am in love with this restaurant! During our 4 night island hop trip to Kauai from Maui (where we live), we came to Hukilau Lanai twice! First, you absolutely must make reservations. I did on Open Table and saw several people turned away without reservations at the hostess stand, or told to check back in 1.5 hours. You can sit in the bar, but the tables in the dining room are way nicer and more romantic. Both times, we made 5:30PM reservations and showed up around 5:15PM. There are two major benefits to this- 1) You are the first seating and get the premium two top tables on the lanai with the loveliest view, which is why we showed up a little early. 2) If you like, you can do the $40 5 course prix fixe menu with includes wine pairing, which is only from 5-6PM seatings. So, we actually decided to pass on the prix fixe and order off the regular menu. Nothing on the prix fixe menu sounded good to me that night and we ate cheaply for all our other meals, so weren't that concerned about getting the screaming good deal. Appetizers: we tried the lobster and goat cheese won tons. Delicious. Also, the lemongrass sweet potato ravioli- colorful dish with yummy cream sauce. Salads: your entrees come with caesar or Wally's salad. We tried both. The caesar was yummy and the Wally's salad sounds like a weird combo of ingredients but totally works and the dressing is tangy and refreshing. I will warn that the salads are heavily dressed- fine by us, but if you don't like that, ask for your dressing on the side. Entrees- OMG- the MIXED GRILL! I liked it so much I ordered it again the 2nd night. Two types of fish with shrimp in a coconut cream sauce with orzo pilaf. Good sized portion- seafood cooked perfectly. The first night, my fiance got the ahi entree. We were disappointed with that so wouldn't recommend it, but the 2nd night he got the swordfish pasta, which was so amazing. Nice cream sauce, crisp veggies and perfectly cooked fish. Dessert- they talk about the molten chocolate cake, but both nights we got the Mac Nut tart. I was lured in by the cinnamon ice cream and it is soooo good. Like a pecan pie but with mac nut and the caramel and cinnamon ice cream are the perfect compliment. Don't think, just get it! Drinks: lots of option, my fiance really liked the mai tai and we have had a lot of mai tais- this was one of the best! I can't wait to come back to Kauai so I can come back and eat here!
(5)Gopi V.
Not good as the reviews seem to imply. The calamari was pretty good and so was the Wally salad, but the entrees were a huge disappointment. The mixed grill had bland shrimp and the fish were ok. The accompanying dressing was a medley of various sauces which failed to work together. The other entree of opah fish was very dry and the sauce was bland and did not work as well. The rice was super dry. We were so disappointed we walked away from the dessert course.
(2)Gianna N.
Great food. GREAT portions. Great, friendly service. The hotel it's in is a bit dated. We thought it was a retirement home at first, but the food helps you forget. We went pretty late at night so the scenery was a bit lost on us, but it's also hard to compare to restaurants with water views. This was our best meal in Kauai.
(4)Andrea B.
My husband and I were very surprised with our experience. The gaudy resort decor didn't prepare us for the meal we enjoyed. We were also apprehensive about the $$$ rating after we got our bill. This review is for the early tasting menu they offer. Some background: We were hungry at 5pm (23-year-olds going on 73). We Yelped all the local spots near Kapa'a, and we found Hukilau Lanai. It was our last night in Kauai, so we decided to go for it. The early bird tasting menu is a real steal of a deal. For $40, I got 5 courses AND wine pairings (unheard of in SF), while my husband got an appetizer and entree (included salad or soup). Yes, they let us do that, which alone was pretty great. We had the lobster and goat cheese wontons as an appetizer. Good start - not too oily, rich flavor, 4 large pieces. My first tasting course was a gazpacho with a basil ice cream. This was an interesting way to start my meal, and I enjoyed the coolness of the ice cream, though I found it a tad on the sweet side. My husband really enjoyed his Caesar salad - he likes it heavily dressed and hearty, and it was a good size. The next tasting course was a slightly blackened spiced tuna over rice with a yummy sauce. I loved this. Really good. The next course was a homemade chorizo on top of local veggies. Got to be honest, I didn't love it at first, but it did grow on me. This was probably my least favorite course. My husband's entree was the mixed grill - which included two generous slabs of their fresh fish, prepared really well, on top of orzo pasta, as well as a skewer of shrimp. Fresh and delicious. The entree of the tasting menu was a mahi mahi "fresh catch" on top of quinoa and fresh veggies. Delicious. Vanilla creme brulee for dessert. It was definitely a lighter creme brulee, but it was tasty and not too sweet. The wine pairings were all very good - two white whines, then a rose, then a red. They were gracious enough to allow me to repeat the red wine instead of getting the dessert wine that came with the creme brulee, since I really dislike sweet wines. Service was stellar. Our server was knowledgeable, kind, and prompt. He was from Santa Cruz, but I don't remember his name :( Totally recommend.
(5)Ann S.
I always get the mixed grill when I come here. Two kinds of fish and shrimp over thai coconut rice. I did REALLY miss the butterfish this time. Their bread is really good and they'll bring as much as you want. Their chocolate lava cake is heavenly. Whatever chocolate they use is deeper and richer than the other famous lava cake on the island. I remember when you could just show up there and get right in. Not anymore. You'd better be making reservations a minimum of a week in advance unless you want to sit in the lounge with your plate on your lap. (We passed and made a reservation for later in the trip) So if you're going, make reservations ahead of time so you can get the time slot of your choice and not 8:45.
(4)Diane B.
By far our best overall dining experience on. Kauai. This was our second visit to Kauai and we were looking for a really good meal with a Hawaiian feel. The Hukilau Lanai fit the bill. The outdoor dining, lighting provided by tiki torches, was wonderful. The Chef's Special Clam appetizer was a great beginning. I chose the mixed grill and was not disappointed. My husband thoroughly enjoyed the meatloaf. We treated ourselves to the Macadamia Nut Tart with cinnamon ice cream. Possibly the best dessert we have ever enjoyed! Can't wait to return to Kauai and the Hukilau Lanai.
(5)Belle N.
11/12/11 Great service and environment...It was dark and lit with tiki lights, slightly breezy and we started off with the calamari as an appetizer and lilikoi blossom martini and a manahattan honey cocktail. The BF had the Opah which was delish and I had the the filet mignon which they made exactly as ordered medium-rare...the only issue we had was the timing of the food that came out to us! Our main dish came out later than expected that we had to cancel our order of their chocolate flowing cake that takes an extra 20minutes to prepare. It was a great evening to celebrate our meetaversary and we had a great time! The servers were nice and very accomodating...very dark and romantic..be sure to ask to be seated outside and make reservations!
(4)Leslie H.
Fantastic food and value for the $40 tasting menu w/ wine pairings. The sauces and accompaniments were perfectly prepared and presented. All of us loved the sweet potato ravioli and the sausage with the local fern, wasarbi or something like that. The creme brulee is out of this world. One of the best creme brulee desserts I've ever had (and I've had a few). It had a rich, vanilley taste that really couldn't be improved upon. Nice, resorty ambiance and even better cuisine, I hope we make a trip back to the Hukilau sometime.
(5)Steven N.
Loved the sauces! Server was attentive and helpful.
(4)Chris G.
I thought this place had pretty decent value for the entrees. You get a nice fish dinner plus a salad for about $30, which seems pretty good for a nice restaurant in Kauai. The setting was also quite nice if you get to sit outside. The service wasn't fantastic. We had to wait about 15 mins after our reservation time, then the service was kind of slow. But overall it was a solid restaurant.
(4)Jackie L.
Wow, everyone needs to eat here when visiting Kauai. It's the best sit down restaurant with great food, great views and decent prices on the entire island (Ok fine, I didn't visit the entire island but definitely this place is at the top for the Princeville/Kappa location)! It's right next door to the Coconut Coast Marriott Hotel. Made reservations for this a week in advance to ensure we got an ocean view around sunset but too bad it was raining that day so they had let down their clear rain curtains. The ocean was still visible but didn't get the full experience of sun and wind blowing into my face, and food. Hubz and I were blown away by the food here. Truly amazing seafood dishes. We practically licked our plates clean because most places we had visited didn't keep up with the hype, except for Hukilau Lanai! I had the mixed grill seafood dish and hubz had another fish dish. The waitress also informed us about the special Mango Crisp dessert that was going to sell out soon so we decided on dessert BEFORE we even ordered our entrees! It was so popular that the waitress actually had to leave us for a second to lock in that dessert order for us and then come back to talk our actual entree orders. HAHA what a great waitress!
(5)Francine N.
Ahi tacos are amazing love the service and location I love bringing my husband there for a romantic night out
(5)Sue T.
We made reservations here for Valentines Day based on the great reviews we read. Very accurate! The lobby and restaurant is open air and breezy, and there are tiki torches on the perimeter and outside seating on the lanai. Perfect setting. We hung out in the 'bar' lobby area on a couple of couches, with a live musician in the background. (Avoid getting the "Citrus Fizz" drink. Sounds Hawaiian-y but yuck! Should've opted for a Mai Tai.) Although the service was slow (of course, it was a holiday) the food was really excellent! From the warm bread to the salads to the soups to the main dishes, every single item was flavorful! WOW! Highly recommend. Didn't break the wallet either.
(5)Raych D.
First time I came here was years ago when my brother threw me a graduation dinner and I've been coming here since. I recommended to all my friends who lives on Kauai this place because not only is the atmosphere pretty, but the food is just so fricken good! I've been here like hundreds of time already and tried almost everything but my favorite has got to be the Prime Rib. If you know me, you'll know I love meat especially Prime rib. The quality in the prime rib is so rich and high quality so you get for what you pay for which in my opinion isn't even very much at all. When I went back home this past Christmas I organized a dinner with my girlfriends on Kauai and chose Hukilau Lanai. The bread with olive oil and balsamic vinaigrette they give as appetizers are so good that I could eat them all night. I constantly ask the waiter to keep refilling our bread because it's that good! Another dish that comes with you're meal is the "Wally's salad" and it so let me tell you that it's sooooo yummy! It has fresh sweet orange slices with lettuce, tomatoes, some sort of crispy thing and bacon. And most importantly let's not forget desert, the warm chocolate cake with vanilla bean is a MUST try no matter how full you are. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT! the waiter usually gives you a heads up before hand that this dish takes 20min to prepare which right there tells you how good it is, if you have to give that much time to be made.
(5)R W.
Big fan, especially of the tasting menu. The service was attentive and friendly. The food was bordering on great. Flavors worked, especially with the wine pairings. I agree that the focaccia was tasty. The atmosphere is relaxed and romantic with the right dining companion. We also tried the calamari appetizer and it was spot on. Highly recommended. We will be going back.
(5)Adkinl A.
The food is top notch. The bar area is fantastic, we met so many great people sitting in the various couches and chairs. Unfortunately there were so many people on those sofas/chairs as the dining room was full and seatings were taking place every hour or so. Still, the ambiance of the bar area and the food definitely means this place gets 4 stars.
(4)Jennifer K.
We came here for our wedding dinner. Everything was amazing!! From the service to the food & atmosphere. It was super busy & we still felt taken care of. On our way out we were also surprised by some truffles to take home.
(5)Barb V.
Our waitress, was just superb, the timing of each course couldn't of been better. I had the MacNut chicken, my two other friends had the filet and the catch of the day. All were awesome. It was truly a wonderful experience.
(5)Brian W.
Lots of reviews so I don't need to say much. Ahi poke nachos were great! Loved them. We were both in the mood for steaks and got the filet mignon, medium rare. They came *perfectly* cooked. Red throughout and a nice cool dark center. Fantastic! They also have a really good wine selection in the $20-$30 range, which is all I would ever pay for a bottle of wine. Unfortunately our waiter initially forgot to serve it but he quickly brought it out once we reminded him. I say this is worth 4.5 stars. I'd go to five if the prices were just a little more reasonable. But considering the location I suppose it's not too bad. To give you an idea, we had two appetizers, salad, bisque, two main courses, three cocktails, and a bottle of wine for $167 including 20% tip.
(4)Alex B.
This place is classic Hawaii. You aren't going to walk in and get all the basic Hawaiian "touristy" menu items: They serve real food that is REAL good. Everything on the menu is local if it can be. I had the mushroom meatloaf and it was delicious! For a "Pretty Food" restaurant (See Photos), the menu prices aren't that bad. All in all, if you are up by coconut beach, take a trip up to Hukilau Lanai...And get a Reservation!
(4)Tom L.
Honeymoon trip romantic dinner out. Reservations for 7:30 pm, arrived on time and asked to wait. Seated near bar with live music and server came to assist us with drinks during our short wait. Seated comfortably facing courtyard and promptly served. Food was excellent, ambiance was lovely for our romantic evening.
(5)Mertani G.
Hands down one of the best dining experiences we've had! My husband and I went here to celebrate our wedding anniversary while on vacation in kauai. I chose this place based on yelp reviews and the menu. For the first time, I had reserved thru open table and had indicated that we were celebrating our anniversary and wanted to sit in an area with an ocean view. I've been to places before where I have requested or mentioned something and upon arriving, it seems as if nobody has remembered. This visit was different. Upon our arrival, both hostesses wished us a happy anniversary before seating us in an area with an ocean view. Our server's name was debbie and she greeted us as well. She mentioned all the specials and was very thorough about knowing the menu. I ordered the mahi mahi and my husband ordered the filet mingon. He also had salad while I ordered the kahlua pork chowder. The food was excellent! One of the best meals we have ever had. For dessert, we shared the lilikoi tart. When our dessert arrived, it came with a huge piece of dark chocolate with "happy anniversary" written in it. They even gave us a tiny gift box with two truffles in it as a gift. This restaurant definitely gave us an unforgettable experience for our vacation. Whenever we decide to come back to kauai, this will be a definite stop :)
(5)Shauna S.
Zomgz, what a happy surprise. This place is so good. For the starter we had the poke nachos. The blend of ahi poke on wonton chips was amazing. I loved the wasabi cream (along with the other ingredients, obviously) but it's the main sauce that stood out. Very different from what I've normally seen but very good. I got a house salad along with my meal and I loved the dressing. I know it's not something one would pay much attention to, but the papaya seed dressing is delicious. Especially since it's topped with bacon. I had the Macadamia Nut Chicken -- normally I'm not even a fan of chicken but this was so well prepared that I couldn't help but love this dish. The vegetables and curry sauce blended so well with one another which really pulled together this dish. It's a nice blend of flavours and everything was perfectly prepared.
(5)Malcolm M.
I wasn't disappointed, but I really hoped for more... Nachos-Good Calamari-Average Fish of the day-Average Meatloaf-Good Lots of affordable sub $30 wine choices-Very Good It was good enough for Kauai, but not worth visiting if the restaurant was on the Mainland. True Story.
(3)Cassie P.
We usually look for "frugal" choices, but decided to splurge one night on our trip. This was a great place to do that! The poke nachos were awesome. I had the mac nut chicken, which I know is a "boring" choice, but I was sharing with my one year old, so I tried to keep it simple. Oh, yes, our one year old and seven year old were there too, and they were great with children for an upscale restaurant! And yes, my dinner was wonderful, especially with the glass of wine chosen by our server, Tim, who was also absolutely stellar! We finished with the mac nut pie which I had to stop myself from licking the darn plate. Great live ukelele music, calm and beautiful view, great food, great service - definitely enjoyed the Hukilau Lanai!
(5)Renee G.
Pricey but delicious. The Mai Tai with local made rum is $2 more than regular which I don't understand. But it was good. The bloody Mary is the best I ever had. They infuse the vodka with chili pepper and chipotle. The were serving a sushimi stack appetizer with cabbage salad so we shared that. Next came the wally salad for my hubby and a tomato pineapple gazpacho for myself. The dressing on the salad made it special. The gazpacho had a little spiciness that was perfect. The hubby got the hukilau mixed grill which was 2 different fresh local fish in a Thai coconut sauce and a skewer of shrimp. I got the Mac nut crusted chicken breast which came with local veggies in an amazing curry sauce. They have a dessert menu that looked incredible. But we were full at that point. Service could not have been better. Not rushed. Beautiful patio dining. Tiki torches. If you go, call first and get a reservation. It seems a popular place.
(5)Katie B.
SO good! I tried to reserve a spot online, but it said there were no reservations available. I called and left a message and got a call back with a spot available for the same night! I did the $40 five coarse dinner with wine tasting. So fun and SO yummy!!!! The glazed Ahi was my favorite by far! But everything was good, service was great. A fun night out for sure!!
(5)Shannel J.
Amazing food! I ordered off the gluten free menu. I had the mahi mahi special, it was like a sliver of heaven in my mouth. I also had the tuna appetizer and a cold soup with sorbet. They were both very good. I also had their freshly made gluten free bread and it was amazing!!! It was light and fluffy like bread, not like the dense gluten free bread I have had in the past. I would have given a 5 star but we ordered 2 cream brûlées and both tasted burnt on the top. They gave us some truffles to go. They asked if we wanted another one but at that point we were done. It was a 2 hour meal. Our server was amazing and was very knowledgable on the menu of what I could have and what I couldn't and why. They were able to make a few of the regular menu items gluten free as well. Overall, I would definitely go again and recommend it to friends.
(4)Kara G.
This was by far the best dinner on Kauai my husband and I experienced during our honeymoon. We started with the poke nachos, which ended up being our favorite dish -- soooo ono! Great wine list as well, decent cocktail list... I had the mixed grill that included Walu and a cajun fish I can't remember... excellent choice. Husband ordered the opah pasta dish which was also great. Both entrees were around $30, the appetizer $14 -- very reasonable for Kauai prices (especially since we stayed in Princeville) and delicious food. The view of the ocean, torches and live music made for a very romantic setting for our first night on Kauai, would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone visiting the island!
(5)Andrew I.
What a beautiful place!! Came here at night for a very nice dinner, and it definitely surpasses our expectations. I did not have a reservation, so we waited about 25 minutes. In the meantime, we walked around the pool area toward the ocean, and it was such a cute walk. Fire lights the way around, and there are some lounge chairs as we get toward the ocean. There are some people selling jewelry and trinkets as well, at reasonable price. There's a bar area in case you're waiting. Of course it's a bit pricey in here, but with the open patio, perfect weather, and clear skies, everything was just perfect. The music is lively, but not too exciting or distracting. The focus is, of course, on each other and we did just that. Our waiter is an older gentleman, and he was extremely respectful, courteous, and complements us on everything! It wasn't done in an overkill kind of way, though. There are couples and families of all ages, all dressed formally or just casually beautiful. I got the swordfish, and it was cooked perfectly! It was neither dry, too raw, or had the fishy aftertaste. Our waiter gave us a perfect pairing of wine for our dishes, and we stayed until the place almost closes practically, then walked back to our hotel. Could not have been any more perfect of a dinner than that. I second all yelpers that recommend this place, your night will be beautiful.
(5)Amanda G.
This is one of my favorite places in Kauai. Great place to just have drinks and appetizers. If you are planning on eating here, I advise that you make reservations as they are very busy. Their drinks are yummy, but the food is amazing. I recommend the ahi nachos, lobster bisque, Wally's salad, Wally's steak dish. The place is a little pricey but very worth it. I recommend trying this restaurant if you have not been here!! Also MUST try the Chocolate Lava Cake.
(5)Lawrence H.
I really had high hopes for this place based on the prior reviews. Warning that I'll focus more on service as the food was ok (see paragraph 4 below). The mediocrity began with the hostess. We arrived at 8:17 for an 8:30 reservation. We were told that our table was being "prepared." No worries, we thought, as we had arrived early for our reservation. We grabbed a Mai Tai at the bar (which was no better than the Mai Tai we received on our Hawaiian airlines flight). At 8:30, the hostess came to the bar and told us the area that was supposedly being prepared for us was in an area that was unsuitable due to weather condition and that they were just waiting on people to leave to seat us. While we drank our mediocre Mai Tai at the bar, we noticed that at 8:40 a couple who arrived after us was being seated. I brought this fact up to the hostess and she said "I'm not sure why they are being seated before you." Which I though was very odd. Also, she offered no "sorry" or no "their reservation was prior to yours." She was able to seat us a short while after, but again, no sorry, just "have a nice night." Generic. Contrived. Our waiter was ok. He knew the menu and the wine list. We ordered the ono and prime rib with the Manhattan chowder and Caesar salad. The chowder was good but did not taste any different than a crockpot pot ragout. The Caesar salad dressing had an extra kick which I appreciated. The ono was good and the sauce was delicious. The prime rib was good but nothing special. It was more well as opposed to the medium rare that I ordered. The waiter arrived with our bottle of wine prior to our food coming out but never once came back to re-pour the wine. Bottom line - service borderline at best, food ok, drinks so-so. For the same amount of money, I would suggest Oasis just down the road.
(2)Ben D.
Ate in the bar on Thanksgiving pressed for time to catch our dreaded flight home. Perfection. Awesome Hawaiian style turkey dinner with lilikoi cranberry sauce, wild mushroom stuffing, Okinawan Purple Sweet Potatoes, mashed potatoes and very flavorful chicken. Enjoyed an incredible lilikoi martini (with a splash of pomegranate liquer to make it interesting). Kids had giant lavaflows. $120 for five with drinks and desserts on Thanksgiving night and we made our flight with plenty of time to spare. Note, this is in a kind of cheesy timeshare and the restaurant is several notches higher in class than the hotel itself. I have been to Duke's several times prior to catching flights and (fortunately) couldn't get in due to Thanksgiving. I would absolutely go out of my way to eat at Hukilau again.
(5)Lori B.
One of my favorite restaurants! Always great fresh food. Sitting out on the lanai is the best! All staff are friendly and accommodating. Enjoy!
(4)Leslie R.
I would give this place 6 stars if possible. Great, open air atmosphere & live music. Reservations a must. Feel free to arrive early to have a drink in the bar. We ordered some of the lobster & cheese pupus - deeeeelish. One member of the group ordered the tasting menu w no wine. A great value at $28, especially if you like fish. I know this sounds strange, but I ordered the local beef meatloaf. It came in two large slices; the beef literally melted in my mouth. Yum! A truly amazing place that all should visit when on Kauai.
(5)Moira M.
Wonderful!!! This was by far our favorite dinner in Hawaii. We went on our last night in Kauai based on a recommendation (from the waiter at Scotty's BBQ, another awesome place.) There was live music, which my friend and I really enjoyed and the place was nice inside, nothing super special, but nice. We started with the lobster wonton, which were tasty. I had the lobster curry soup, which was good as well, I did expect a little more of a kick to the soup, but it was still good. I got the mahi mahi with linguine for my entree and it was out of this world delicious. I loved it. My friend got the mixed plate and loved it as well. We were stuffed and still got dessert. So good as well!!!
(5)Kathy Q.
Great place, great atmosphere, nice staff! Food was delicious and prices very fair. Would highly recommend.
(4)Linda S.
The atmosphere is lovely. Our waiter was terrific. The meatloaf is excellent and the Mahi Mahi is fabulous.. The only complant I have was the filet minion was too rare, like cold in the middle grill marks on one side, not on the other and I ordered med-rare. I tried to eat it, but it was just too rare.. They took my whole plate back and RE-COOKED the meat.. It was an 8oz steak before it was cooked.. Thought it would have been in better taste to have cooked a whole new steak. I surely would eat here again.. :)
(4)Logan J.
Saved the best for last!! It is our last night here! So far we haven't had anything terrible but nothing that really wowed us either. We decided to have a nice dinner to celebrate our last night and my birthday. I called to see if we needed a reservation. They said they highly recommend them and the earliest they had available was 8:45. However, they do have a first come first serve bar area and you can eat from the full menu!! We got there a little before 6pm (Friday) and there was plenty of seats to choose from. We had the Ahi Nachos which were amazing! For dinner we both had the Filet Mignon and it was absolutely DELICIOUS!! Our server was friendly and knowledgable. I would highly recommend Hukilau Lanai!!!
(5)Bob V.
Surprising to find such a impressively good restaurant connect to a mid-priced hotel. A rare discovery indeed. I have eaten here a two different occasions, six months apart. Varied menu with lots of freshly prepared fish. I must say I has drawn to the classic meatloaf with mushroom gravy! Very yummie and a rather large portion, as I love veggies I ordered a side of fresh vegetables with my meal which were cooked to perfection. I was too full for dessert. Highly recommend stopping here for diner, with reservations, beware it can get rather crowded during prime times. Bon appetite!
(4)Sharon C.
My husband and I went to Kauia to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary and we had our celebratory dinner at Hukilau upon the recommendation of our tour guide. We went on our last night in Kauai - saved the best for last. This place is quite famous in Kauia and I can tell you a hundred reasons why. They were packed for the night and when I made a reservation, I requested for a table at the lanai and they said that it may not be possible because they're full that night and everyone requested for a table at the lanai. When we checked in, they remembered that it was a very special evening for us and they greeted us. Not only that, they gave us a table at the lanai. Our server was very nice and he was always checking on us. We had the potato ravioli and lobster and goat cheese wonton to start. That was very filling so we decided to split the main course (and they did not even charge us extra for that!). We also brought our own champagne bottle and they only charged $10 for corkage. We had the Mixed Grill - yay, finally got a chance to try the signature Hawaiian Ono Fish (really meaty yet tender and yummy)! We went to several restaurants when we were in Kauia but we had the best experience at Hukilau. 5 star service and the price was not bad at all. All the main courses came with soup or salad. For a minimal fee, I had the salad and my husband had the lobster bisque with our split meal. We really wanted to try some of their desserts but seriously, my belly was going to explode so we skipped that but our waiter brought a little gold package and inside it were 2 pieces of truffles. I was so full that I was not even able to take a small bite. My husband said it was heavenly so he finished all of it:)) It was pretty dark when we went so we didn't really see the view but we came back the next day just to check out the view and it was indeed very romantic. They must have the most amazing sunsets! When you come, make a reservation around sunset time. The place is very romantic, very quiet, and scenic and the service excellent. This restaurant is one of the reasons why we will come back to Kauia. We love this place so much.
(5)T C.
3.5 stars generally; I'd give the ahi nachos a solid 4 stars alone. Those nachos are pretty great - the chips are thick and crunchy and have a toasty after taste; the chips remind me of pork rinds (they're not, mind you). The dish is served with an abundant amount of ahi (yay!) and a drizzle of some dark, sweet sauce over it (~$14). The sweet potato ravioli was absurdly and unnaturally sweet, but filling despite the two ravioli serving (~$11). The lobster curry bisque was good (~$7 for a cup) - decadent, rich, curry-ee, coconutty, and lemongrassy. The bbq ribs were completely forgettable (~$11). The mixed grill was a-ok and nothing uber special to write home about (~$30). Other important info: inside Coconut Marketplace, ahi nachos are a not-to-miss dish, service is hit or miss depending on who is waiting on you, seems like they use the same sauce in every single dish (coconutty and lemongrassy taste), likely the best food I had on the island (note: they don't have stiff competition; good island food is pretty scarce), and reservations don't guarantee they'll seat you promptly.
(3)sheri d.
Absolutely the best meal and service in the entire island. The tasting menu with wine was a perfect sampler of the entire creative menu, starting with an island gazpacho and finishing with inventive breads and cheeses. Definitely our favorite and go to restaurant on Kauai.
(5)chris r.
Busy Labor Day weekend but with reservations, we were seated. The menu reads like a culinary" labor of love". My husband started off with a glass of white. I asked the wait person for a recommendation for a special drink and she said the Ginny Hendricks, which is not too sweet and goes well with the ending of a nice day. She was right. For dinner, my husband chose the Opa and I, the Ono. The presentation was lovely enough to take a picture yet the taste was even better. The fish was tender, flavorful on either a bed of delicately mashed potatoes or pistachio rice. We finished off with a coconut macadamia nut crusted lilikoi pie that instead of sharing, we seem to find ourselves bargaining over the last piece. A lot of 'ohhing" and "ahhing.." going on around us. 'Fresh ' is the word here.
(5)Juan C.
Definitely in my list of top 5! I celebrated our anniversary here, and it was amazing from finish to start. From the crisp calamari, to the red snapper fish over mashed potatoes, prime rib, corn jalapeño chowder, lobster bisque curry coconut soup, and the most delicious chocolate lava cake.... Oh my goodness!!!! Best ive ever had! Great job chefs! I will def be back. Excellent service, quick time to cook the food, unpretentious decor, and excellent view= love love love
(5)Jakki N.
This was one of my favorite places for dinner when I first moved to Kauai and, nine years later, it still is. The food and service are consistently above average. They have the best selection of local fresh fish on the east side. I recommend the ahi poke nachos and the Wally's salad for starters. I also love the Farmers Market Lasagna because it is never exactly the same and always delicious. I've been friends with a few Hukilau employees and can say that they all enjoy and appreciate their work environment and it shows in the sincerity of customer service you get. The staff is very knowledgeable about the menu and wine list. They handle modifications and accommodate special dietary needs well. You may have a short wait even if you make a reservation (I recommend making a reservation even on a week night) but the lobby has nice sofas to sit on and there is always good live acoustic entertainment. The setting is comfortable and open-air with tiki torches, candles and still plenty of light for you to read the menu. Its a good place to go if you are celebrating a special occasion or just want to treat yourself. Its not cheap, but the pricing and portions are more than fair - not jacked up resort pricing. I've been to a few banquet-style functions at The Hukilau over the years and found the food and service to be excellent at those events also. The Hukilau Lanai is an east side landmark that has really earned their good reputation. Try it. You will not be disappointed.
(5)Michele W.
Nice view, great food. Good selection of food and drink items.
(4)Amy K.
This restaurant, in Kapaa, Kauai, has the look and service of a 5 star but the prices of a 3-4 star restaurant. It was withing walking distance from the village resorts that we stayed in so it was about a 2 minute walk since its within the same complex. This place is great for romantic dinners or special group celebrations. The tikis and candles had a nice touch to it. Everything we ordered was very good and at the right temperatures. We ordered appetizers and I remember having our entrees come a little earlier than we expected, but not by much time. Try the Squash Blossom, Lobster Bisque (really good and spicy) for appetizers. The entrees were a little more pricer then everything else on the menu, around 28-35 dollars per plate. Appetizers were around 6-10 dollars. For dessert, we ordered the Creme Brulee and Chocolate Warm Cake. Nothing to complain about except a stuffed stomach. They have a wine list too! So check that out if you want to get a bottle to wine and dine your lovebug :) There is an ocean view, but since we were there after sunset, we could only hear it, not see it ;( Live Hawaiian music plays on certain days and times. It was a very relaxed atmosphere. If you've ever been to Roys, the service and etiquette is comparable to them. For two, our bill came to $122 before tip. This was for 2 apps, 2 entrees, 2 desserts, 1 drink and bottle of wine.
(5)Anna K.
Warm cake is perfect! all of the deserts are good actually. However, they have really bad coffee and tea, service is really slow
(4)Y I L I W.
all food items are handcrafted, and house~made using ~ as local of ingredients as possible ! !! + : pretty darn delish food: . .. great service, with attention to details . .. beautiful setting, kinda reminescent of French Polynesia . .. understood why they get high ratings . .. Chef works to accomodate allergies even on Tasting Menu . .. loved my passion fruit and poha berry sorbet, paired with an orange Muscat . .. several delish items exuded comfort~ÿ food feel while presenting "upscale~ÿ" . .. =) * heavenlÿ * d: -- : no espresso machine but they have Kaua'i coffee . .. hope to be back again VeRÿ sOoN
(4)Chris N.
Best restaurant I have eaten at kauai by far! Service and the food is amazing along with a gentle ocean breeze that brushes in your face! Wally's salad and the Creme Brulee were amazing! I had the macadamia nut chicken which was 5 stars and my honeymoon wife had a great vegetarian lasagna! Thinking of going again!
(5)Mike D.
My wife and I went last night for dinner. The staff was extremely friendly and attentive. We started with the ravioli starter which was excellent, she had the Ahi and I had the fillet and both were cooked perfectly and tasted awesome. The dinners came with salad, she had the Caesar and I had the Wally's and both were very good size and tasted excellent. Dessert we had the creme brûlée which was delicious. We definitely would recommend this place to anyone who wants a good meal and a nice night out.
(5)Jack N.
I expected more... and make sure you make a reservation if you plan to have dinner after 6 PM here. We came here twice, the first time we expected to walk in and wait for seats, but the wait turns out to be over an hour. For 2 ppl? Wow! Anyway, we ended up sitting in the bar and got spotty service for the following: Cheesy topped bread (free) - Really delicious! We can snack on them all day. Lobster Curry Bisque - The curry flavor overwhelmed the lobster taste Gazpacho (soup of the day) - I like it, done well BBQ Ribs - Delicious! I liked it but my wife loves it! Opah (Hawaiian Moon Fish) - Not tender enough. As my wife described it, "the fish around here swims too much" so its meat is overworked and chewy. Prime Rib - While the fish was a hard swimmer, the cow this prime rib came from was a lazy cow, chunks of fat lined this prime rib. The chunks of fat doesn't go well w/ the medium rare cooking temperature. I definitely had better. Dragonfruit Ginger Sorbet - Delicious, but the ginger was a bit strong. Makes me wonder how it would taste w/o the ginger. On our 2nd visit several days later, I was still recovering from food poisoning earlier in the day (not from here) but this time, we came here early for their Happy hour tasting menu. Sweet Potato Ravioli - Unique white color pasta, but taste was not memorable Swiss Chard & Mushroom tart - Pie crust and mushrooms are good, but vinaigrette overwhelmed the delicate flavors of the ingredients in the tart Sausage & Warabi - sausage is too spicy, veggies too oily Fresh catch - I think we got the Moon fish again... Vanilla Creme Brulee - I didn't dare to try this as I was still sick. My wife finished it. The service this time is a lot better. But while I was waiting for dinner, a mosquito came by and got his from my arm. Remember to wear mosquito repellent everywhere! My wife ordered the ribs again and this time I couldn't even have one as I just had zero appetite. There's definitely better restaurants for dinner in Kauai, but in Kapa'a, not really.
(3)Megan P.
Beautiful view, tasty food, delicious libations. Got seated quickly and server was friendly and prompt. I got the mac nut crusted chicken and the hubs got the fish duo special and both were excellent (clean plate club good)- sweet potato ravioli pupu was a bit lackluster (sauce was drool-worthy but needed a hint of salt and acid, maybe lemon?). Love that they use local produce and meats as much as possible and give back to the community. Great spot for a nice meal. We'll be making it a regular date night stop for sure!
(5)Courtney C.
The good: The view (we sat on the lanai. No problems with bugs.) The service! Service was efficient and friendly. Joe remembered my relatives from earlier in the week, as well as their orders. Dessert: chocolate mousse or coconut tart. Sweet potato ravioli app Butterfish(!!!) The cocktails They have an excellent, reasonably-priced, and locally sourced set menu. They have gluten-free options pretty readily available. The Eh: Poke nachos were good, but no wow factor. Maybe if you're not accustomed to poke already? The ribeye special was kind of oddly textured and not the most flavorful. Several of them on our table were less than half-eaten. Bummer. The verdict: If you've got the need for a romantic location with excellent service, go ahead.
(4)Christina C.
You must get the wine and food tasting for $40. Their homemade foccacia bread is really, really good. This was by far one of the best meals of my Hawaii trip. For $40, you get a nice sampling of their menu with accompanying wines. Foccaia bread ( static.px.yelp.com/bphot… ) Round 1: Sweet Potato Ravioli paired with St Gabriel Riesling ( static.px.yelp.com/bphot… ) Very light and tasty. Round 2: Warabi and Sausage paired with Protocolo Rose. ( static.px.yelp.com/bphot… ) I didn't like this pairing. The sausage was good, but the warabi was really sour and the wine was really bold. The flavors were quite unbalanced Round 3: Ono fish basted with tapenade on orzo pasta and lemon basil pesto paired with Lurton Torrontes. ( static.px.yelp.com/bphot… ) Light, tasty, citrusy. Wine was well matched. My 2nd favorite paring Round 4: Pork tenderloin with mushrooms paired with Protocolo Tempranillo ( static.px.yelp.com/bphot… ) This was my favorite pairing. The pork was tender, the mushrooms were cooked just right, the sauce was delicious. The wine was mild, yet fruiting. Round 5: Blue cheese, fig compote. something wine. ( static.px.yelp.com/bphot… ) Not really a fan of blue cheese, but the fig helped balance the flavor Round 6: Trio of sorbets. ( static.px.yelp.com/bphot… ) Lava flow (coconut and rasberry or strawberry) was good, strawberry mango was quite tasty, and the banana curry was quite interesting So, plan ahead to come here. The food and wine pairing is only available 5-6pm. It really is a great way to sample many things. Some diners at surrounding tables were quite jealous plate after plate. Service is pretty good. Opt to sit outside for some fresh air. This is located behind the Coconut Marketplace. Its actually next to the lobby of the Kauai Coast Resort. Can't miss it- right infront of the swimming pools and jacuzzi.
(5)John D.
Tasting menu of 5 courses for $28 would be a great deal on the mainland. On Kauai it is exceptional. Food was yummy and Ryan did a great job with the service. IMHO this meal topped much more expensive meals we had on Kauai and Maui.
(5)M j.
It's really 4 1/2 stars! We've been here a few times & I must say it's really great! The 1/2 point taken out since the server was a little out of it tonight & my usual filet wasn't as exciting as all the other times & the mashed potatoes were very salty! But in all honesty it's one of the best restaurants in Kauai & we've been to pretty much most of them (we've been coming here yearly for the past 10 years)! Their food is very consistent so I really don't know what happened tonight, however, it's a great place & make sure to ask to sit in the lanai area:-)
(4)Rica S.
I had my wedding dinner here. We rented out the semi private room for 24 people. Absolutely amazing. Though it was a hectic day, I really enjoyed my time here. My guests were raving about how every dish was perfect and delicious. The decor I had brought in were all arranged so nicely. One who side of the semi private room are all windows so you really get the island feel. I owe it all to the great staff especially Manda, the banquet coordinator. It was absolutely perfect. My sister even came back the next day because she was craving the ahi poke nachos and the sweet potato ravioli. I really wanna go back already... maybe for our anniversary next year.
(5)Julie K.
We stopped a Hukilau Lanai for our last dinner in Kauai before flying home tonight on the strength of the reviews here and elsewhere. The restaurant was lovely and the service was friendly and personable. The food was somewhat of a mixed bag, primarily because every dish was surrounded by a type of cream sauce with differing flavorings that over-powered the delicate flavors of the main item in the dish. My daughter described the lobster wontons as crab rangoon on steroids, and she was correct. They were very crisp with a very rich filling that required no accompaniment. Neither of us cared for the overly sweet guava dipping sauce and ended up not using it. We also ordered the purple sweet potato ravioli appetizer which was also served in a sweet cream-based sauce. Salting the ravioli helped balance the over-sweetness, but not quite enough. The strong sweet pineapple cream sauce that accompanied my husband's fish was so off-putting that he could only eat a couple of bites. My daughter's mixed grill was cooked well and the seafood and fish were good, but the cream-based coconut curry sauce was too rich. I ordered the beef tenderloin medallions coated in peppercorns in a Crown Royal demi glace with mashed potatoes done medium, but it arrived medium well. Still, it was tender with a sauce which had a good flavor and the portion was large, so I easily shared it with my husband. The highlight of the meal was the creme brulee with a silky custard and slightly charred sugar crust. My main advice to the chef would be to keep cooking the fish exactly as you are doing, but work on lighter, not cream based sauces that compliment the delicate fish, rather than cover it up.
(3)Klaus P.
We came in the first night just for drinks and pupu platters and were pleasantly surprised by the quality of the cocktails and the food served with it. The place itself was very well run, pleasant waiters, and had a very relaxed, laid back atmosphere. Just what you expect on Hawaii. So the following night we made reservations for their 5 course tasting menu, which paired with a flight of wine, is an astonishing deal at $40 (only available 5-5:45pm). The selection and quality of food and wine was excellent. Initially I was a bit worried about the "candied Ahi" - but that turned out to be my favorite course. The ahi was rubbed in spices and only moderately sweet: absolutely delicious. The catch of the day was Ono, and it was very tasty. Another favorite was the cheese and dessert course (very yummy creme brûlée). The wines served with each course were well selected and always interesting. A very inspired choice was to serve a Sangiovese with the fish course. I had a wonderful meal and a good time at the Hukilau Lounge. Thank you!
(4)Harry Y.
Food was really excellent, I got the mixed plate and my wife the macadamia encrusted chicken breast (perfectly cooked, super crunchy coating and juicy and tender chicken breast - how do they do that?!). The fish on the mixed plate was cooked perfectly and the sauces were some of the best I have had since being in New Orleans. The Lobster won tons were just OK, I definitely would not order again. Service at the bar and the hostesses were excellent, but I had to knock off one star because of our waiter - very unprofessional for such a nice place. Would go there again in a heart beat, I just don't want the same waiter.
(4)Steph M.
Pretty good stuff! Kauai doesn't have a ton of food, but this place was really decent. The Nachos are AMAZING.
(3)Susanna W.
For our first dinner on Kauai, J and I decided to be early birds and try Hukilau Lanai's sampler menu (available 5-6pm daily). Annoying that we had to wait (in an empty restaurant) before being seated, despite having made reservations. AMBIANCE: Loungey in the front, super super casual, with an open air lanai facing the hotel pool/ocean. Very relaxed atmosphere... not sure if it gets more lively later on in the evening. SERVICE: Friendly but I found it to be meh. Maybe its because we were there right when they opened? The waitstaff seemed confused and a bit chicken-with-its-head-cut-off-ish, while the hostess was slightly scatterbrained. FOOD: A-OK. We tried the 5 course tasting menu ($28 w/o wine pairing) and a separate fish entree (I think $26-28?). I forget which fish entree we ordered, but it came with risotto and was SO oddly sweet and barbecue-y all at once. Not the best pairing IMO. My favorite dish of the night was the vanilla bean creme brulee dessert-- perfect portion size, nice and creamy with a crunchy sugar top. OVERALL: Nice to try, but I won't be hurrying back anytime soon and it wouldn't be the first restaurant I'd recommend to friends.
(3)Hiep N.
Service was atrocious, the food was over cooked, and overall the restaurant was a disappointment. The waiters were careless, and it was clearly obvious that they were dog tired of tourists. They have forgotten that they're in the hospitality business. Instead of bantering with young, attractive girls my waiter should have checked on my table and checked on where my entree was. I would have responded with sitting on a tray for the past 15 minutes while numerous food runners ignored it. On top of waiting 45 minutes for my entree to come out the, opah I ordered was not fresh and it was dry and unpleasant. The mahi we ordered was also dry and overcooked. Not the best experience at all.
(1)Kristen Y.
Loved this place! Service was efficient and waitstaff was extremely friendly and helpful. The food was delicious. Everything from the fresh focaccia bread to our salads (Wally and Caesar) was just amazing. The papaya seed dressing : yum! Our entrees included the Prime Rib and the Pork Tenderloin. Both were flawless. The prime rib was seasoned well with the perfect amount of char. Inside, the meat was so juicy! The pork loin was ridiculous especially how incredibly moist it was! My husband and I were floored by the way it melted in our mouths, and could not figure out how they got the meat this way! Superb dining experience! Totally worth the bit of extra money. A must when visiting the island! Good idea to make a reservation. Place always seemed bumping!
(5)Ambreesh K.
Because my wife is vegetarian, and kids are not fish fans (fish are friends not food!), I was unsure of the place. We ended up having a lovely meal, in an excellent setting - sitting outside by the pool which was next to the ocean. Reservations are recommended, the place was full while we were eating, which was around 8pm. Wife and I split 3 appetizers - Swiss chard and mushroom tart, sweet potato ravioli and a cold gazpacho, all excellent. I also ordered an ahi special, coated with coffee and some other spices - over sticky rice. Fantastic. My older one ordered the pork tenderloin which she did a fine job demolishing - how much can a teenager eat! And yes, the souffle was fantastic as expected. Had a great time.
(4)Gloria C.
We came here because it was rated a Fodor's choice restaurant as well as being the top restaurant on every online review we pulled up for Kauai eastside restaurants. However, to be honest, I don't think it was 5-star quality. We ordered the Ahi Poke Nachos to start, and they were delicious! Really recommend trying this if you like ahi poke and if you like nachos. The chips are deep fried and definitely have more of a kick than regular nachos. We loved them! For entrees, you can order a side salad or upgrade to the Lobster Curry Bisque for an extra $2. I had Wally's salad, which was decent, but nothing special. Recommendation: Order the bisque, it was much better. In reading previous recommendations, I wanted to try the Walu. But they didn't have it on the menu as an individual item anymore, so I ordered the Hukilau Mixed Grill, which had a filet of Walu and a filet of another fish that actually tasted like chicken (a little bit weird that a fish would taste and have the consistency of chicken). I very much liked the Walu better and should have substituted both filets for Walu, they call it the Hawaiian butterfish, and it tastes like a black cod or sea bass. I didn't care much for the risotto that came in with it. It tasted like a mix between asian sauces and cheese, which was also kind of odd for me. My boyfriend ordered the Opah fish, which comes with rice and had a coconut curry-type base. I personally thought my meal was a lot more delicious. For drinks, I ordered the Citrus Buzz, which was stronger than it tastes. Then again, my tolerance for alcohol is not very high. It contains lemonchello. But since it tasted light, I pretty much drank it really quick. My boyfriend ordered the Honey Lemonade, which I liked because it tasted like it was made from real lemons. But he thought it was way too sour and wanted to water it down. Don't order it if you don't like sour. Portions were good sized - we didn't have room for dessert.
(3)Gail Q.
Our decision to eat dinner here was heavily influenced by the presence of poke nachos, which combines two things that are already awesome: poke, and nachos, and somehow manages to make a thing which is, in fact, even more awesome. It was Christmas Eve so they had a special menu. I don't remember exactly what I ate but I do remember the post-eating part, in which I was so full I almost couldn't breathe, but I was like, "No, I can eat more, I can do this," because the food was telling me I should keep eating it. Also, our server was really sweet, and he took our picture and spent a lot of time recommending drinks and explaining the ingredients in the special dishes, and then we ran into him at the supermarket a few days later (SMALL. ISLAND.) and he came over (with his adorable baby) to say hi and ask how our vacation was going! OMG love! Yay for great service and POKE NACHOS.
(4)Sabrina C.
Food is superb! Chantry and Angela in the hostess station are super efficient! Nicole our waitress knows her stuff. As a former food server and now a local concierge it is vital that I send my guest to great restaurants. We eat out often and Hukilau Lanai is always a great choice. Living on Kauai we are a bit limited. But if you want food food, great service and a nice night. Make your reservations early and enjoy! I like the tasting menu. Give it a shot. If you dont drink it's one of the best deals on the island.
(5)Todd C.
Very favorable experience. Excellent service, wonderful setting outside on the terrace, divine food, convenient parking and the price is right! We were staying over in Poipu but found the drive over to be effortless and well worth the trip!
(5)Aleah W.
My husband and I came here for our last dinner before we left that island and I am disappointed that we didn't come earlier in our stay so that we could have eaten here multiple times. The location is beautiful. Unfortunately, we had late reservations and the sun had already set so we did not get the full experience. I will make it a point to be here for sunset the next time we come. I had both the Ginger Martini and the Lilikoi Blossom Martini. Both were delicious, not too sugary or sweet. My husband and I shared the poke nachos for an appetizer and they were AMAZING! We both love poke but this took it to another level. The wonton chips added the perfect level of crunch and the sauces were so full of flavor. I think even those who are not big fans of raw fish would enjoy this dish. For our main entrees, I had the opah and my husband had the ahi. Both were insanely good. The sauces were incredible. So flavorful but not too much (they definitely did not over power the flavor of the fish). From beginning to end, this was one of the best meals I have ever had. Even the complimentary bread was delicious. Every single bite was exquisite! We will definitely be returning on our next trip to Kauai. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!
(5)Nick D.
Excellent food. Can't say enough about that. Had the mixed grill and the Lobster Won Ton. Very reasonable.
(5)Jay C.
Excellent, excellent meal. Make reservations ahead of time, as they fill up fast. The bread? Incredible. Appetizers (sweet potato ravioli? Wow...) delicious...entree options were all very good - and not as expensive at comparable restaurants on the island! The dessert options looked great, but we were pleasantly stuffed! The serving staff were very attentive and friendly. The view? Awesome, especially at sunset. Highly recommended!!!
(5)Heather G.
Dated, unclean and not worth it. We were greeted by three cockroaches crawling out from underneath the outdoor servicing station. I totally understand that bugs are a part of Hawaii, but when your paying these prices the expectations are higher. The service was the worst we had on the island. The bartender was incredibly unfriendly. The food was just meh... I would avoid this place.
(1)Tnkbp Q.
We made a same day reservation and luckily there was a spot left for Sunday night when we called. The online reservation was booked so, I tried calling. They had live Hawaiian music playing while we were eating. All their tables face the garden and ocean. When the evening sets in, they light up the torches which gave a classy and relaxing ambiance. You can dress casual or semi. We decided to dress up since it was our last night. We got the 5 course food and 5 wine pairing special. All the food was perfectly seasoned and cooked. The free cheese bread with vinegar and oil dip, and the Island Gazpacho (cold soup) was good. I give those 5 stars. The sausage I give 4 stars. Finally, their fish dishes (ahi and mahimahi) tasted fresh and in great quality. My favorite was the ahi because it was fatty and it was melting in my mouth each bite. It was like eating sashimi but instead of raw it was cooked ahi. I'm not usually a fan of American restaurant when it comes to fish dishes but they got their ahi right. I'll give the ahi 5 stars and the mahi 4 stars. There were two desserts to choose from but I got to try both. I give the creme brûlée 4 stars. I'm biased when it comes to the dessert because I love blue cheese and just for having that in my dessert. That cheese plate gets a 5 star. The blue cheese they served was not as strong as the once I had from Carnival cruise but it was still delightful. The pairing of each wine brought out the flavor of each course. This just shows that they put in the time and effort to match the wine with each course. They give you around 4oz each wine. The pairing started with a little sweet and dry German Riesling, then the two more white wines (Gazela Vinho Verde, Portugal & Torres Las Mulas Rose, Chile) gets drier until you reach the main course (fresh caught fish) paired with the red wine, Poggio Anima Sangiovese, Toscana, Italy. Then, finally the dessert with sweet wine. That dessert wine was super sweet. I couldn't finish it. The overall experience was scrumptious. This was one outstanding food adventure and we highly recommend it and we're planning to do more food & wine tasting because of this positive experience.
(5)E.M. P.
After a week of sub par food our tour guide from Rainbow Kayak told us to go here, yelp reviews looked good so we gave it a try. Out waitress Sandra was EXCELLENT and very attentive to all of our needs. Every ounce of food from the complimentary bread, aptz, entree and dessert was OUTSTANDING and they absolutely knock it out of the park. Spoke with what we thought was manager turned out to be co owner and told him how pleased we were. He said the other co owner works the kitchen and doesn't let anything come out the isn't 100% perfect. I truly showed.
(4)Mary N.
Best meal we had on the island. Get the poke nachos. Everything we had was really good. I would suggest making reservations because we had to sit in the bar. Great service, sunset, and food.
(5)Andy W.
6 years ago when my friends came home from their honeymoon, they raved about ahi poke nachos from Hukilau. Coincidentally, we ended up booking the same location for our honeymoon and they gave us a giftcard so we could experience the same excellent meal they did. From top to bottom, everything was fantastic. The staff was excellent. We met at least 5 different people while we sat at our table who brought us food, refilled water, delivered our gift card, not to mention our actual waitress. They were all very friendly and knowledgeable about their menu. The food was outstanding. The ahi poke nachos lived up to their reputation, fresh ahi and crispy wonton chips with avocado were just delicious and so unique. My wife had the special fish which had a name I can't recall but had an excellent texture and flavor and came with delicious mashed potatoes. I had the mixed grill which also changes throughout the week. I had two different types of white fish that were prepared in slightly different ways (one marinated and one rubbed). It also came with a shrimp skewer which was delicious. The creamy orzo was an excellent addition. We had a couple bucks left on the card so we ordered the chocolate mousse with salted toffee chips. We were stuffed and knew we couldn't touch it that night so we ended up taking it to go. It was so great the next day. We're really considering going back for a second time to get those nachos. If you're okay with spending a bit more than normal on a great dinner and a beautiful patio view, please go to Hukilau Lanai.
(5)Emilee J.
We ate here twice during our stay and the food was excellent! They did all they could to fit us in because we didn't have a reservation (didn't wait more then 5 minutes). The staff is friendly and attentive and the setting is great! one of the best restaurants in Kapaa
(4)Lee D.
I had checked out this restaurant ahead of our trip and really was excited. We chose to sit at the bar because it's active and fun to watch. The bartender was great and friendly. With discussion we found that all the vegetarian food had cheese and we were thinking we had to go elsewhere. The bartender spoke to a lady who turned out to better he owner. NEVER in my 33 years vegetarian has someone been so accommodating. Not because she needed my business, the place was packed, but she really cared. She talked to her Chef/husband and came up with numerous options and the lady knew what rennet is. She then brought out the local cheese they use to show me the ingredients. Score! I had their arugula salad and sweet potato ravioli which was just perfect! My husband had the surf and turf special and loved it...like butter he said. I have many years restaurant experience and was also very impressed with the staff's interaction. They were all so helpful and kind to one another. RUN don't walk here when you are in Kauai.
(5)Travis H.
Stayed at the resort here and only managed to get in once, so plan accordingly. I had the Fresh Fish and it was awesome! Side note: took the Fam, & my son really didn't like what he ordered (Ahi) the waiter comped it and he got the Fresh Fish as well and loved it!
(5)Timothy F.
I don't get it. Despite the many positive reviews our experience here was mediocre at best. As is the case with many restaurants the menu promises but the kitchen can't deliver. The wines for $20 or so looked good but the two that I chose were "unavailable" so, we ordered off the regular list while our waiter(who knew nothing about wine) continued to try to upsell us to more expensive wines. I felt like I was on a used car lot. As I said, the menu was interesting, but the actual food presentation was disappointing. Everything felt "rushed"-it was very busy and sloppy. Noisy. The actual restaurant looked old and tired. I can't believe that "foodies" liked this place.
(2)J D.
One of the best restaurants on the island. Consistently good presentation of food, quality, and very good service. Prices are reasonable, and atmosphere is from casual to dressy. Live music in evenings. Sweet potato raviolis are regularly featured and highly recommended. Fresh fish varies. Deserts are too good.
(5)Shannon F.
As someone who lives on the island and has eaten here many times, I can say the food here is always consistently amazing. Special props on the meat, it's the tenderest, most delicious meat ever - the mac nut chicken and filet mignon is to die for. And I always have to try and not fill up on that bread. Shout out to Adam in the kitchen! This is one of Cameron and I's favorite places to eat for special occasions or a romantic date night. Love the live music, it always seems to set the mood. And the service is usually excellent. We love the Hukilau!
(5)Lena H.
Love the chocolate lava cake, macadamia nut encrusted fish, salads always fresh, dressings yummy, breads great. Staff always friendly. Eat outside to see a great ocean view. Best place to eat on the island.
(4)LL C.
28 dollar for 5 course tasting menu, yes please! ahi nachos were delicious, as were the sweet potato ravioli...the warabe (fern) that was paired with the sauage was delciious also.... nice view of water/beach...friendly wait staff
(5)john h.
I came here twice. The first time I had the tasting menu and the Ahi Poke nachos. The nachos were awesome and the tasting menu was fun. The second time we had the BBQ Ribs appetizer which was excellent. I also had the Opah dinner, which was fine, but it was probably my least favorite piece of fish that I had on my entire trip.
(4)Harry D.
Make a reservation, or you may end up waiting for a while. It's our go to place for a great quality dinner. Service is always top notch, food never disappoints me, and it's pretty casual. It is on the more expensive side, but you'll get plenty of food.
(4)Jeanette H.
Based on the wonderful yelp reviews, we did the tasting/wine pairing at this oceanfront restaurant. We were not disappointed! The food was beautiful and delicious. We tasted some wines that we would not usually try, in a beautiful location, served by efficient and pleasant waiters. And all for $40 per person! Terrific value. They even had a vegetarian tasting menu :)
(5)Stephanie G.
Lemme just say that my table had the only non-white people in the whole place (besides staff). It was like a game of bridge was in danger of breaking out at any second. The restaurant actually overlooks a hotel pool so you can look forward to seeing all that goes along with that. The beach is visible from some tables (not ours). We went for the five course, five wine pairing for $40/. This means we had to eat at 6PM, but whatever. It was all pretty good. More importantly it was reasonably priced and they brought us pretty big glasses of wine. If I can remember what I ate...It was a Okinawan sweet-potato ravioli with some kind of shaved Maui onion on top, a remarkably unremarkable, over-dressed green salad, a piece of white fish that my husband who will eat anything referred to as "spongy," meat loaf and a side of corn that was actually excellent despite it's unfortunate name, and a glorious cheese plate that had the honeycomb on it....ask for extra slices of bread for the cheese though, they give you 3 waif-sized slices which is not enough for the amount of cheese you are given. I also ate someone's creme brulee which was creamy and perfect. P.S.: They don't have espresso here...the waitress offered to make me a french press, but after a giant meal and five glasses of wine I need espresso. The service was very good though. It was attentive but not overbearing.
(3)Adam H.
The best thing about this place was the island vibe. My gf and I went one night during our vacation because we heard it was the best meal on the island... While I can't agree with that, our food was very good. We both had fish and I can't complain at all about our meal or experience. Being able to sit on the open patio on an awesome night looking out toward to beach was definitely a highlight.
(4)Brian E.
My wife and I had our Wedding reception at Hukilau---What a wonderful experience. Manda, Brian and their entire staff exceeded our expectations in everyway. The food was delicious---Ahi Poke Nachos, Sweet Potato Ravioli, these massive shrimp and scallops! The lilikoi pie, and wedding cake were perfect. We couldn't have asked for a better experience from Hukilau. I'm a tough customer to please, and they delivered. Thank you!
(5)Daphne J.
We repeat visited this great spot when we were in Kapa'a. They do a great job of using local ingredients and doing some really creative things! I loved the sweet potato ravioli! I think the early-bird tasting menu that pairs courses with wine is an excellent deal. It was $50! The wines were not my favorite, but they did pair well with the food courses--which were ONOlicious! The patio seating gives you a lovely view of the palm trees and the ocean. The lounge area near the bar is a comfy place to sit and chat. I was really skeptical about a place called "Hukilau Lanai"--how stereotypical cheesy Hawai'i can you get, right? It's not in the name, it's in the ingredients--and the food doesn't lie.
(4)Kai T.
I ate here on 06/17/11. Somehow I forgot to yelp it. I recommend the steak medallions. That was really good.
(4)Abbey P.
Based on my food, I would give it a 3.5 star. Overall, I would give it a 4 star. THis is hard for me except that my fish was just a bit overcooked. Flavor was otherwise good. The Mai tai was good- actually, very good. Ahi Poke nachos- yum..i would recommend just for that. I had the local grilled fish with saffron sauce. The sauce was really good. But like I said, the fish was just overcooked. My bf got the mixed seafood plate- two types of fish with shrimp. It wasn't the cajun fish but the other was perfectly cooked. I wished i just had that. The shrimp was also just okay. I forget the dessert we had- something with ice cream and that was very good. sorry... :)
(4)Todd B.
Went on the advice of Yelpers. Will come back based on our own personal experience. Lobster curry bisque was so rich and cozy on a cool February night. I had the prime rib, and it was some of the best steak I have ever had anywhere! Wife had the mixed grill which included some Walu (Hawaiian butter fish). It was just a perfect harmony of many subtle flavors, none of which overwhelmed the others. Mom got the vegetable lasagna. She was glad she ordered it, but will try something new next time. Portion was plenty for lunch tomorrow. Service was very friendly, although the bar was a little bit slow. We will likely come early for the prix fixe later this week. I don't award too many 5 star reviews, but this place deserves one.
(5)Lena D.
I love that this restaurant is adjacent to the condo we always stay in on our yearly visits to Kauai. I have eaten at the Hukilau more than six times, trying almost every dish on the menu. Here's the deal. This place WINS FOR PUPUS: The Ahi Poke Nachos are from Heaven. Sashimi grade ahi poke on top of fresh and crisp wonton chips (nice chipy-dippy size, to boot) with a silky wasabi cream sauce. YUMMMAMI! Another winner are the ribs. They only give you three! Well, OK it is an app, but man, the hoisin sweet glaze and watermelon salad that it comes with is DEELISH. Must also give a shout out to the Lobster and Goat Cheese Wontons, which were crispy on the outside, creamy and lobstery on the inside (nicely balanced, not too cheesy to boot). The Hamakua Mushroom Tart and Calamari were also winners. I tried to bribe the waiter into giving me more of that flaky, buttery crust all by itself, but alas I was shut down. And for calamari, well crispy, warm and cooked to perfection... what more do you want in friend calamari? The only Pupu lacking was the Kalua Chicken with the ancho guava sauce. The chicken was overcooked, the sauce was weak, and the watercress that it was served on top of had too many stems and not enough yummy leaves. SALADS All times, my salads were over dressed. The Arugula Salad with fresh corn & Kauai Kunana Dairy Chevre Salad would have been nummers, IF they weren't swimming in their dressings. SOUPS The curry bisques are great, I had a lobster version one time, then a pumpkin version most recently. Both excelled in flavor, well balanced and silky -- more than made up for the over seasoned, too thick corn and bacon chowder I sampled three nights before. ENTREES: Definitely go for the fish here. This is where they shine. The mix grill plate is ONO. They do it differently --on a weekly basis, i think-- because the three different trips I have been here, the mix grill has been the same fish & preparation for the duration of the week. The Opah is also a winner, being pank & herb crusted and served over orzo in a lemon-caper-cream sauce, although the portion is HUGE. My hubby has ordered the pork tenderloin, the steak crown royale and lasagne. All had excellent flavor, and would get an ONO but definitely not a YUMAMI rating from me because of various textural/ accompaniment reasons on different occasions. Besides eating steak outside in 85 degree weather is just not my cup o' tea, yeah? DESSERT The creme brulee, sorbet trio and mac nut tart are right up there with the ahi poke nachos, with the sorbets having a narrow lead. The creme brulee gets props for not going all lilikoi on us like most CB's in Hawaii. Instead, they take advantage of the BEST vanilla bean in the world right here in Hawaii and use it advantageously. The mac nut tart is rich, toasty and the crust is sooo buttery good. I recommend sharing both of these as the portion is generous and they are very. rich. The sorbet trio is probably the best. The flavors always change, but are always amazing. They serve them on ceramic soup spoons; one little scoop per flavor, and are the perfect, refreshing end to an amazing meal! THE REST Service is chill, waiters are nice, real, not overly attentive but there when you need. Get a table in the lower part of the restaurant, up against the tiki torch parameter if possible. The view is beautiful at sunset and afterward the tikis and garden setting make for a romantic tropical ambiance. The upper level is okay, just isn't the same experience. The wine list is well thought out and well priced. Most bottles are $20 or less and they have a fresh modern approach to their selections. I especially enjoyed that most were available by the glass, so I could mix and match with each course. The cocktails are strong, sweet and cold, what more do you need? Another cool thing is that the chef maintains a small herb garden in front of the outdoor section of the restaurant. Hubby and I got sucked into a time share presentation one morning and we were lucky enough to see one of the kitchen assistants walking out and selecting herbs for the soup of the day. That was the BEST part of the whole sales presentation, as you can probably imagine ;op
(4)Jeremy D.
Atmosphere: Like hotel restaurant/bar Service: Good, our only complaint being that our server disappeared after they closed and didn't offer dessert and we had to ask for our check. Food: Good to great, everything tasted fresh and creative. 1st course: poke nachos, very good 2nd course: I had the Wally salad, very good. Wife had the lobster bisque, very good 3rd course: Mahi, very good Sweet potato ravioli: good, maybe a little sweet, but it's sweet potato... Lava flows were delicious and the lager on tap was a solid beer. . Overall: not cheap, but if you have the means, I would highly recommend it. Good date night.
(4)Allison G.
I have been to Kauai 9 times and this was my favorite meal on the island, so far. The servers were fantastic, friendly, and I honestly felt that they cared for us. Most of all, the food was delicious. We went for my grandmother's 75th birthday and they made it very special for us. The Coconut Coast Cooler is a great drink as well as the Mai Tai. The calamari appetizer was excellent and the Ahi was the best that I had ever eaten at a restaurant (and I live in San Diego where I eat lots of seafood). Overall, it was a great experience and I can't wait to go back again next year.
(5)Robert B.
You owe it to yourself to enjoy this place at least once while on vacation in Kauai. Make a reservation for dinner to sit outside on the patio. Make the reservation early in your vacation, because I can almost guarantee that you will want to come back more than once. The calamari appetizer was delicious. I don't think you could go wrong with any of the fresh fish main courses. I had the ahi with a beet and eggplant ragout and gnocchi. It might sound weird, but it was great. My wife had the ono with a light coconut curry and jasmine rice. It was simple, not overpowering, and amazingly delicious. They have a "20 under $20" wine list, which is a really nice touch. The selection isn't amazing, but I really appreciate not being raked over the coals for wine at a nice restaurant. They have more expensive bottles available as well. We were too full to make it to dessert. Our server was attentive and the outdoor seating area was very nice. I can't think of one thing I'd change about our experience.
(5)Brian K.
This was the first place I ate when I got to Hawaii and it turned out to be the best place on a three week trip that covered three islands. Food was excellent service was great and the atmosphere was perfect.
(5)Paul T.
I have to say, this is a must visit - especially if you have kids. The location is great, looking out onto a garden next to the beach. They have a really good kids menu (if your kids are under 4 you might want to consider splitting a dish, as the kids options are a bit pricey). The food was really good, I got the Hukilau Grill which was really tasty - a couple of grilled fish of the day, and a shrimp skewer. Also, the overall cost of the meal was surprisingly good considering Kauai's general prices!
(4)Jack N.
Food was ok. Service not even so good. A bit of an attitude and not too attentive. Quite pricey for what is offered. Drinks were ok. Better than Burger King... ;0)
(2)Kevin G.
We had our wedding reception here on 10/5/11. Manda, the banquet manager, was fantastic from the beginning to the end. We had a lot of questions and she always responded promptly. We had a small wedding of 26 people and I think this was the perfect amount of guests. The wedding went fantastic. The food was of course delicious, we had plenty of choices for drinks and the cocktail hour before the reception was a nice touch. If your considering having a wedding at the Hukilau Lanai, I highly recommend getting in touch with Manda and booking the event!
(5)James H.
The meal started with Focaccia Bread with Basalmic vinegar and olive oil, different, but very good. Small clams are farmed on the West side of Kauai. They were served in delicious sauce as an appetizer. They left my wife and I wanting to sop up the juices with bread. My wife had the Gazpacho soup, excellent , I had the Tomato and Basil with seafood soup which was also very good. For dinner I had a Mahi-Mahi special that was prepared simply, but delicious. My wife had the mixed grill that included fish and shrimp. She very much enjoyed.
(5)Shana O.
This is my favorite restaurant on Kauai. Best dinner we had when we were there in March 2008, and on our latest trip last week, we were staying at the resort in which it's located. Having 2 young kids, we were not eager to attempt many dinners out with them, and we ended up ordering take out from Hukilau on 3 of our 7 nights there. The Mixed Grill I had on our first night had the most delicious fish I've ever tasted -- I believe it was the Walu. The creamy orzo that came with it was also amazing (available to order as a side w/ anything). The skewered shrimp were also above average but not phenomenal. The seafood creamy soup (not sure of the name) was delicious, though I had to eat it the next day b/c I was so full from my mains. The calamari was the best I've ever had -- plump, moist, lightly breaded -- a far cry from the dry, brittle stuff you can end up with. And the chile coconut sauce is perfect. The lobster curry bisque was very good, though I think I'm more of a traditionalist when it comes to lobster, so it wasn't my favorite. The sweet potato ravioli and ahi poke were delicious though not as amazing as that calamari! The food here is amazing, even for take out, and the in-restaurant dining experience is also exceptional.
(5)Cindy H.
The mixed grill (seafood + shrimp) was melt in your mouth delicious. The cilantro-lime seafood chowder was amazing. We ate there a second time for our last night on the island.
(5)Melanie N.
Definitely get reservations! This place fills up quickly. The food is amazing, the service great. The Hukilau griller features all island fresh caught fish. The filet mignon was the most tender I've ever had. Great time, can't wait to go back!
(5)Darlene C.
AMAZING!! First thing I have to say. We stayed at the Kauai Coast Resort at the Beachboy for our honeymoon, and this is the restaurant in that resort. We actually only ate here once, but after that we wished we had eaten dinner here every night (if we could afford it). It's about as pricey as any really good restaurant, and the food really does deliver. They start you off with bread with oil and balsamic vinegar. The bread had this crust of cheeses on top. It was really good. The top actually kind of tasted like pizza. Hubby had the Mixed Grill. He got two kinds of fish, grilled shrimp skewered on sugar cane, served over something like orzo or cous cous. I don't remember. He looked like he was in heaven eating this thing! I got the shrimp fettuccini, and I was in love. It was really really good. For dessert he had the creme brulee. He said the ratio was not what he preferred. Because the dish is deep, he got more cream and, in his opinion, not enough of the sugar shell. But he said it was still really good. I had the chocolate warm cake, which you have to order early to allow about 20 minutes to make (it says in the menu). I asked them to serve the vanilla bean ice cream that comes with it on the side as I can't have it (but the hubby can). Really really delicious. All the staff we encountered were really nice and attentive. I really do wish we had eaten there sooner to at least have another dinner there. A good excuse to visit Kauai again.
(4)Spencer G.
Ambience was good. Service excellent. Food outstanding. Best dining on Kuaui
(5)Cynthia H.
I have never had a disappointing dinner at the HukiLau Lanai. Everything I've had there has been absolutely delicious - from the specialty cocktails to the fabulous entrees. I've eaten there a few times with my sister, and since neither one of us can eat soup or salad plus a whole entree, we always split something. The kitchen is kind enough to offer an extra soup or salad for a modest $5, and then serves each of us a beautiful plated entree which they divide in half so that we don't have the cumbersome job of trying to do that ourselves. The atmosphere is relaxed with a nice view of the gardens. The staff is efficient and eager to please. This restaurant will always be at the top of my list when in Kapaa. I highly recommend it!
(5)Sunny S.
Hukilau Lanai is AWESOME! The only downfalls are that they are NOT open on MONDAYS and the PARKING is limited. The restaurant is in the KAUAI COAST RESORT, so a lot of stalls are taken by guests and employees. However, it is only a short walk from the Coconut Market Place (which has a LOT of parking available). So you can always park there and walk. My FAVORITE dish there is the POKE NACHOS. If you LOVE "poke" (raw fish) and wonton chips then this is the dish for you. The fish is more "seared" rather than "raw" though. The LOBSTER AND GOAT CHEESE WONTON is amazing too! And so are the BBQ RIBS...mmmmmm! As far as the "entrees/main dishes" go, I recommend EVERYTHING on the menu. My favorite however is the PORK TENDERLOIN. It is MAGNIFICENT! And you must DEFINETLY try some of the FRESH FISH. They are all bought by LOCAL FISHERMAN so you know that its FRESH and not a bunch of "frozen junk" like some restaurants have. There are a handful of dessert choices, but my favorite is the CHOCOLATE CAKE. This takes 20 minutes to prepare so if you are a chocolate lover or think youre gonna try this be sure to let your server know ahead of time (however, they will also ask you in advance) I cant remember the name of the cake but its pretty much a "chocolate molten lava cake" (chocolate cake with more chocolate oozing out) with some ice cream on the side. It is the BEST! I also had the Hawaiian Vanilla Bean Creme Brulee and its wonderful. But my favorite is the chocolate cake. If you have "keiki" (children) this place is VERY KID FRIENDLY. I have a 1 year old daughter there and she loves the food and the staff there. The "keiki menu" is very simple and includes choices of pasta, chicken fingers, hot dogs, fish or PB&J. They also include some "drinks" like Lava Flow or "Hukilau POG" (my daughters favorite). All the kid meals start with some fresh pineapple and end with DESSERT (scoop vanilla ice cream) Oh and of course, the prices are reasonable too. All entrees are under $30 so its pretty easy on your wallet. However, they do have an 18% gratuity of parties over 8 (which is normal for most restaurants) I give this place 5 STARS! Id give it MORE if it was possible but 5 is the limit. Great food, staff AND atmosphere. If you are ever in the island or in the area, be sure to save a night to have dinner at HUKILAU LANAI. I promise you will NOT regret it. I go there every chance I get.
(5)Adam C.
This place is amazing. It was a Saturday night at 8:30pm and I called in to asked what time they closed. A very nice receptionist said they stop seating at 9pm and bid me to come in. She said that they would be happy to serve me. When we got there every thing was perfect. They had a band playing and we were seated very promptly. Our server was fantastic and the food and local made and bottled mead, yes mead, was delicious. Dessert was a cake made with chocolate from the oldest chocolate factory on Kauai. 5 stars easy.
(5)Michelle P.
Great little open air restaurant. Close, but not on the beach. They had a some nice quiet live Hawaiian music in the lobby while we waited for our table and had a drink from the bar. We tried three apps. Lobster goat cheese wontons-Yum. HIMM. Heaven in my mouth. Fried goat cheese arugula salad. Yes. My wife digs the goat. Also tried the rib appetizer which was good in small doses...the sweet BBQ sauce was a little much as I grubbed on the 4th one. The liqueur coffee was a great way to finish off the dinner. Expect to pay for any of their entrees...$20-30 a piece. If/When I go again, I'd get the wontons and one of their delicious looking entrees.
(5)Toni F.
Hukilau was very good for Kauai - not the best but very good. Staff is friendly and efficient, ambience is very nice if you can get a table closest to the courtyard, and we very much enjoyed our experience. We would definitely try it again.
(4)D L.
Expensive, but worth it. The BEST Gluten-Free vegetarian pasta I've had EVER. Their gf menu (yes, they actually have a separate menu for us) has hardly any vegetarian options, but they are more than willing to make something for you... So I had the "gluten free fisherman's pasta" without the fish ;-) It was delicious oyster mushrooms and other elegant vegetables in a drool-worthy gluten free white sauce. Not heavy or greasy, just delicious. A friend took me there on my birthday and they brought my creme brulee with a chocolate square that said "Happy Birthday" on it in icing as well as a complementary mini-box (with a bow!) of a couple of their homemade gluten free truffles --- delicious and I felt so special :-) Also, to assuage the hunger pangs of the forever-forgotten "glutards" (as a friend calls us) - they actually bake you a fresh gluten free mini-bread so you don't have to gaze longingly at the delicious bread basket with balsamic and oil everyone else is enjoying while wringing your hands under the table!
(5)Lance T.
Great service and seafood for dinner. However, the open air restaurant allows mosquitos so beware of any exposed skin.
(4)Allison L.
Good dinner and really good food. Resort and restaurant are older and tired looking. Could be much better with major facelift.
(4)Tom C.
Loved this place! The prices were fair and the food was delicious! We started with the Calamari as an appetizer, which was fantastic. Definitely fresh! The Wally salad was out of this world. I had the local mushroom meatloaf, and my wife had the opah. We both loves our entrees. For dessert, TRY THE MAC NUT TART with Cinnamon Ice cream (made fresh)! We will be returning here on our future trips! Didn't get five stars because the server was a bit annoying in continually asking if I wanted 20 minute chocolate pie, and gave us the check while I was still enjoying my meal. MAKE A RESERVATION! We went here on a Wednesday and were told it would be an hour and a half wait, we made reservations and went the following night and walked right in.
(4)Sarah S.
Locals and our resort alike (and even the guide books) all raved about this place so we decided to try their special tasting menu. Yes, their purple sweet potato ravioli was good. Yes, the ambience with blooming plumeria was beautiful. Yes, our server explained the wonders of local produce and herbs grown in a garden within sight of the restaurant. All of that can't make up for a poorly paired meal. I'm no wine afficionado but I might have done a better job pairing wines with the foods (I think I got a Cab with seafood or something like that). I would say only one of the five dishes was appropriately paired. I'd skip this and opt for something that feels more local. I definitely felt like one tourist among many others.
(3)Holly H.
Came here for my anniversary on the 17th (my first time) and we loved every minute of it! Especially our waitress Jessica!! She is wonderful. We both were admiring how everyone worked together. We didnt have to wait long for anything. Food was excellent. We tried just about every appetizer. Thei sweet potato ravioli was my favorite! For the main course I had the filet and he had the prime rib. Best on island so far. We will be back next week. Mahalo!
(5)Sean M.
What a great surprise. When you see a $40 tasting menu(w/wine) you really don't know what to expect. With Hukilau Lanai, we got an awesome dinner that was creative, delicious and filling! Our waiter was awesome and made the experience that much better. The first course, a gazpacho with lime sorbet was light and refreshing, with deep flavors and a spicy finish. A "candied" ahi followed and surpassed the first course by miles (definitely the best dish) with its blackened coffee rub, perfectly seared to the outside protecting its rare middle. The coconut curry sauce on this was a fantastic compliment. Their house made longanisa sausage came next, served with a salty warabi that was a bit overpowering as a complete bite, but eaten separately was a nice compliment. The island Mahi was great, particularly with its quinoa/kale salad, finished with side sauces of a balsamic/lemon vinaigrette and chile and basil oils. Dessert was even better as my wife and I got one each of the creme brûlée(forgettable) and cheese plate(outstanding) that had the best Manchego cheese I have ever had! $40 with wine. $40 WITH WINE. Winner!
(5)Cindy K.
This is one of my FAVORITE restaurants on Kauai! The food is excellent and the service superb! I have eaten here at least 15 times in the past three years and eachtime enjoy myself tremendously. The filet mignon, ceaser salad and all of their fish dishes are fabulous! The OHC Chocolate Mousse is the most fantastic and delicious dessert I have ever tasted in my life!
(5)Tim B.
First I must start by saying get a reservation. We did not know this and it was an hour wait, late in the evening on a Tuesday. The service was the best on the island by far!!! The drinks were delicious and fairly strong. I had the Opah, Amazing!!! My GF had the mix seafood, also delicious. The Ahi Nacho appetizer was awesome!!! all round great restaurant
(5)Robyn U.
Fish was not cooked well and was dry. Service was good.
(2)Sangeetha S.
Eh, it wasn't that great. We thought this place would be just as stellar as our kayak tour guide's other suggestion (Mermaid's Cafe), but we were left wanting. We got the mixed plate, which was unfortunately so forgettable that I can't even remember what two types of fish were included. The mixed plate also came with some ridiculously creamy and heavy orzo, which I found unpalatable. Per the recommendations of some of the other reviews here, we ordered the sweet potato ravioli as an appetizer. My boyfriend relished it, but I thought it was unpleasantly sweet (yes, I know it's *sweet* potato, what else would I expect?) and had an odd texture to it I didn't care for. We DID have this amazing mixed fish soup there that was incredible, but overall not enough to save the entire meal. The restaurant has both indoor and outdoor seating. I'm insanely sensitive to temperature, so I found the inside of the restaurant to be freezing (AC turned way the hell up). Sitting outside was pleasant. Service was so-so; our waiter was pretty distracted because his family, including is adorable granddaughter, were seated in the table right next to us, but I can't really blame him (I mean, with a granddaughter that cute?!). Overall, a very OK experience.
(3)K M.
I was lucky enough to be invited here twice in one week for 2 different events which means my dinner was FREE!! So, I can't comment on the prices, I didn't even see them. I can comment on the food. The first event was a Christmas Party and we ordered off of a custom menu. I had sweet potato ravioli was very pleasantly surprising, and the ahi poke nachos were so unbelievable! I also had the NY steak which was cooked perfectly and had a wonderful sauce with it and the lobster curry. (I'm allergic to lobster, but I had to try it and it was literally to DIE for!) The second event was a buffet for an awards ceremony and everything was delicious, amazing, and interesting. They don't serve ordinary foods, they take it up a notch to extraordinary! I didn't know what I was eating most of the time without reading the signs, but everything was delicious and some of it was unusual. What is even better is that they use fresh local ingredients.
(5)Polina D.
Good food. Great service. Get the tasting menu - it is the way to go.
(5)Alison H.
We had a lovely dinner at Hukilau Lanai. The atmosphere is very romantic by the water with tiki torch-lit garden that the dining area is open to. Also, when we came in there were no tables, and they let us start ordering from the big comfy couches next to a big fishtank. We almost stayed there the whole meal just relaxing on the couch watching the fishes. The sweet potato ravioli is really something else. whoa! this is not orange-yam sweet potato, forgive me if I am clueless but I assumed... this is Okinawan sweet potato which is bright purple and certainly very sweet. I like sweet and this was actually just about too sweet for me. Also the flavors are Asian, not Italian... shouldn't it be called a gyoza or potsticker or something? but whatever. The double-fish special dinner was very good. As everyone says the focaccia is quite good and I don't even usually like focaccia. I had a goat cheese salad and made a little bruschetta with the focaccia - mm. The salad was good but small. I also couldn't resist ordering the ahi poke nachos. It just sounded so interesting. Well, we shouldn't have gotten this. The 'nachos' are these oddly very sweet fried wonton strip things that were awful. so we ate most of the poke off the top and that was decent but not especially good. Plus this is a mountainous app and it ended up being too much food. By the way, our service was quite good. A bug fell into my drink twice (understandable given that we were in an open-air setting in the evening) and the waiter ran to replace it and kept our water topped off.
(4)Cindy G.
This restaurant is one of my "regulars" with good reason. They have their act together. A nice view, you can see the ocean before dark, but pretty grounds and tikis - you know you're in paradise. The food is fantastic and consistently so. If you like to sample a lot of the menu but without stuffing yourself completely, try the Chef's tasting with or without the wine pairing - but it's only available the first hour. Reservations are strongly recommended - everyone else knows they're good, too. I love the food. Nice mix so everyone can find something they will love.
(5)Tracy S.
Had a great steak here on Mother's Day. Delicious!
(5)Baxter C.
Get the warm cake. Order it with your dinner so it's ready right after you're done.
(5)Kellev B.
This was elegant dining (at least by our standards) with really good food. As a bonus, when we mentioned that our family does not eat pork or shellfish, the server was able to immediately tell us which dishes to avoid, and, even better, which ones could easily be adjusted to fit our needs. Truly excellent service.
(5)jon r.
The food is superb. This would get 5 stars, but the view of the ocean is a bit obscured and the hotel that the eatery resides in is outdated
(4)Colin M.
Restaurant was nice, food was pretty good - not many non-seafood options. View is of the nicely landscaped, and very green courtyard, which leads to the ocean. Restaurant is a part of a hotel, so you enter through it's lobby to get there.
(4)Colin B.
Hukilau Lanai was easily the best place we found to eat while on Kauai. When I travel I want to eat local food, something I can't get 4,000 miles away in Texas. I don't want Mexican, I don't want a burger... we do those better in Texas. I promise. I want fish I can't pronounce and produce from down the road, the stuff that we pay double for and only get at specialty grocery stores. This was Hukilau Lanai. We ate here twice while we were there. You must have the sweet potato ravioli, an awesome purple Okinawan sweet potato. Get the mixed fish grill and make sure it has butterfish on there. Best fish we had on the island. Make this your first dinner and go back and try other stuff. Great place. Great service, too.
(5)Dawny M.
As other reviews stated the food was very good and service was attentive. I had the Ahi with mushroom topping, my husband had the Seafood mixed grill. High marks for both. I had their house special salad, which was better than most house salads. My husband had the Cesar, which was your everyday Cesar, nothing special in our opinion unlike one of the other reviewers stated. Tried the lobster wontons, as others raved about them, but found they were more cheesy than lobster, so can't recommend them. Enjoyed the hot lava cake for dessert. Overall a very good meal and experience here on Kauaii. Remember as several reviewers stated, get a reservation, or your wait may be crazy.
(4)Stephanie H.
Eureka! Best food on the island of Kauai hands down. If you don't believe me see my other reviews! So good you want to pinch yourself for a fear of dreaming the food is so amazing! This restaurant is farm to table the freshness and quality surpasses my expectations. I wish I would have found this treasure sooner. My husband and I ate here on a Sunday and we wanted to eat here every night after. The restaurant is closed on Monday so we booked another reservation on Tuesday. It was well priced and the flavors exploded in our mouths. My husband ordered the Mahi Mahi pasta twice both nights with the Caesar salad. I had the lasagna one night with goat cheese salad and the meatloaf the next time with the pineapple gazpacho soup. Both nights we had the sweet potato ravoli knock your socks to the moon goodness. Just don't be afraid the sweet potatos in Hawaii are purple. I miss the fresh flavors. Food is so good I wanted to kiss the cook... I am sure my husband wont mind.
(5)Johan S.
Their Adams tuna poke nachos is one of the reasons to visit Kauai in the first place!
(5)Johnny S.
Probably one of, if not the best place I've eaten at on Kauai. Started out with ribs as an appetizer and they were excellent. No fat on them and they fell right off the bone. The homemade sauce only made them better. Had the filet mignon for dinner, which I ordered well done. It came out cooked perfectly and didn't even need to be butterflied. The sauce made it even better. For dessert we had the lava cake, which was also amazing. The whole dinner was great from start to finish and the service was impeccable. I would definitely recommend this place.
(5)Brandon R.
Best dinner we've had on the island yet! We had the poki nachos, opah (monk fish), and mixed grill (which changes based on the fresh catch) and it was all awesome. Half the price of the Beach House and equal in quality of food and service.
(5)Ro S.
Sept 24, 2011 - W O W... Service with a smile.. Literally. Every server wears a smile. We had 6pm reservations (made that day) for 12. Seated so comfortably. Drinks came quickly.. Salad next. Wonderful salads. Focaccia bread came - delicious. Ordered the mushroom tart.. Shared it 4 ways.. should have ate it myself - it is so wonderful. I had the prime rib - grilled. Delicious. Had the molten lava.. was so full.. Everyone on the table just raved about the food and the service. We kept comparing the lousy service we had at Keoki's Paradise in Poipu/Koloa and said we should have had our dinner party here. Prices are lower - food was excellent - the service was the best. They brought my grandson's dinner out later than the rest of ours.. apologized to him... and brought him a complimentary chocolate sundae. The owner came to our table to check on us..she was very gracious. Note: I asked our server how long she worked for the Hukilau.. 5 years plus (i think).. She loved working there and said the owners were so good to their employees. It totally shows! We will be back and I have shared with our Alaska Airline customers flying to Kauai how wonderful this place is!
(5)Mark W.
Surprised when we pulled up and it was in a resort hotel. But after that, all of the surprises were good ones. Don't let the nachos name fool you, the poke nachos were the best/lightest appetizer we had on our trip. Thank goodness our server pretty much insisted that we try them! All of the dishes were fantastic, best of the 10 day trip. Blows away better known restaurants such as Roy's or Duke's. Oh and back to being in a resort, turned out to be a wonderful atomesphere and a bonus of shopping village right next store. It will be a must go to on all future trips!
(5)Amy I.
Relaxed atmosphere. The appetizer was ok (I don't even remember what it was), but the meatloaf was actually really good. The service was good and we had a ocean view.
(4)Tony S.
We found ourselves drawn to Hukilau Lanai twice after our initial visit. Twice we ate at the bar where we enjoyed the Wally Salad and calamari. The other time we arrived early for the pairing special, which serves before 5:45 pm. The four or five courses and wine selections were excellent.
(5)Scott K.
We went here on the recommendation of a woman we met in Kapaa, near where we are staying. She said it was one of the best gluten-free places on the island (we have one family member with celiac disease). It was really good. The had many gluten-free choices and they prepare the food in a gluten-free environment. There was a nice selection of gluten-free choices, especially baked goods. We had a wonderful meal, and great service, and yes, the place is really beautiful.
(4)Cyndi W.
Melt in your mouth fish and beef. Great ocean view. Amazing salads... Great wine list! They have a 5 course tapas meal paired with wines for $40 per person.
(5)Edward S.
Good food and good service in a nice setting. Not really close enough to be "by the beach" but it didn't matter. Had a good meal and would definitely recommend this place. Probably the best food we've had in 3 weeks on the island and we've eaten at some nice expensive places.
(4)Joyce Y.
4.5 stars This is definitely one of the best meals we had in Hawaii and definitely the best in Kauai! I thought this was better than Mama's Fish House (and cheaper) in Maui! We both got the mixed grill plate that comes with the delicious Wally salad. Wally salad was amazing! I know it's just salad but it was good. The bread that came before our entree was nice and warm, too. The mixed grill came with two kinds of fish. I can't recall what kind of fish it was but it was sooo tasty and yummy! The fish was nice and tender and moist and had great flavor. One was a cajun flavor while the other had a teriyaki flavor. It also came with shrimp skewered on a sugar cane on top of a bed of orzo. Yummy!! Definitely make a reservation if you can. It gets really crowded. We didn't make reservations and the wait was going to be really long. But we decided to eat in the lounge area instead of the restaurant and were seated quickly! Prices are definitely expensive. About the same price as if you go to Roy's. But it's worth it! Parking is actually a little bit difficult to find! Most of the spaces are already taken by the hotel guests so it's kinda hard to find a space! Overall, one of the best places we ate in Hawaii.
(4)A C.
For a resort based restaurant, Hukilau Lanai certainly went beyond our expectations. Especially trying some of the other more expensive ones on the island. However tempting the meat choices were, we went with the local catches. The Mixed Seafood Grill and Opah were both excellent, but the Mahi was the best. Of course if you love chocolate, don't miss the "Original Hawaiian Chocolate Factory" Warm Cake. Hukilau Lanai is a must, when visiting Kauai.
(5)Sonya S.
We enjoyed my birthday dinner here on a Saturday. With reservations, we were given a prime seat overlooking a pleasant outdoor square. Parking was rough... had to park nearby on the road, as both lots were packed. My first drink, a lilikoi martini, was strong for my taste, and came in a plain glass, no garnish, because the waiter made the decision it was better to get the drink to me sooner rather than wait for new martini glasses... I appreciated that, though did not understand why waiters waiting on tables would not get preference over the walk-up bar crowd (heavy this night due to nearby wedding). Ahi taco appetizer and swordfish dinner were superb. They brought wrapped chocolates and placed a little chocolate happy birthday sign on my pie... Nice touch! Despite a downpour, we stayed dry... they can pull down plastic shades as needed to keep the rain out. All in all, an upscale experience w/small, forgivable glitches--easily overcome with thoughtful service.
(4)Agnes C.
We had reservations here (if you don't make reservations, expect to wait an hour). The butterfish 'catch of the day' was wonderful. He had lobster bisque which I tried and was wonderful. I had sweet potato ravioli and would go back to have it again.
(5)Benoit R.
Good location conveniently located at walking distance from other hotels. The food is good. Some servers are really knowledgeable, some are just so so. The food selection was nice, the flavors were unusual and balanced, and the wine list was good and affordable. Definitely a good place to have a nice dinner with your better half.
(4)LuckieMaounds P.
Yeah. It didn't work out for me. We had a 6:15 reservation. So we show up at 6:14 and are seated by our hostess with the menus. We don't know who our server is for a good 10 minutes, as no one comes by, not even to bring water. Around 6:30 our server comes by, tells us he'll be right back, and then doesn't return until about 6:40. I was really ready to walk at that point but I was so excited about the great food reviews so I stuck it out. When he does return he pours water then whips out his pad and tells us what the soup of the day is... and then silence. Of course we are ready to order so we order it all at the same time without a word from him: drinks, app, salads, dinner. 10 minutes goes by and the ahi nacho appetizer comes. It's really good and different! not exceptional. But tasty and I am hungry and it disappears off the plate pretty quick. THEN our drinks come. I am served a lemondrop, which I did order, with a really horrible, sour-tasting flavor-to-booze ratio and no sugar. I want to send it back but no one ever comes, not even to remove our empty app plate. The server drops off bread very quickly and disappears - I am calling after him "excuse me...?" but he doesn't hear me and he is gone. A busser brings the salads. The bread was very good - foccacia with oil/vinegar dip. The caesar salad was better than the house salad which came with a sweet dressing that I wasn't digging. Server comes back again later to drop off more bread. At that point I had given up on/ forgotten about my nasty drink. Dinner is served by another busser. He got the mixed grill and I got... I think it was the ono. The menu didn't say it was breaded but when it came out it was. Lightly breaded, but breaded and void of flavor. It came sitting on a bed of orzo or couscous or something and sitting in a crushed tomato sauce. Plain and forgettable. That mixed grill, tho, was outstanding. The shrimp was fat and flavorful and the fish came with a curry that was out-of-this-world delicious. I would order this again in a heartbeat... if I ever come back. Because dude, the service was really weird. After we finished, we sat. And sat. And sat with dirty plates. And then we saw our server. He was headed toward us, walked right past and went to the table next to us. At this time he greeted his new customers, told them about the specials (what specials? we were never told about any specials) and wine pairings!! (wine?? we wouldnt even have known there was a wine list at all!!) We've both worked in the restaurant and service industry. We are not rude restaurant patrons, and even a bad experience gets a tip (and I hate it but I still do it because it is really wrong not to). We had to flag down another busser to ask for our check. A minute later, our server came walking by. I flagged him down as well, we told him we want our check and he silently went to get it. No dessert sell, no coffee. Not even a "thank you for coming" on a $100 dinner. I seriously did not, and still do not get this guy.
(2)Morgan C.
Tasting menu was great. Nice open air seating area
(4)Benjamin L.
Delicious pasta with fish and desserts. Very nice ambiance. Yes, you'll need a reservation for the main dining room, but not for the bar/lounge area, which is just as nice. A high point of our stay at the hotel.
(4)Mike M.
I went here for my last night in Kauai. For starters we had the Poke Nachos! The GF ordered the seared ahi and ordered the Waly's steak crown royal. This was the most expensive meal dinner we had on the island and well worth it. Service was good!
(4)Bob W.
After eating some poor to average meals at high prices, we were starving for a restaurant that provided excellent food at a reasonable price, with good service and nice ambiance. The Hukilau Lania had it all! It was a little difficult to find since it's off the main highway on the Aleka Loop, which is not an obvious road and looks more like an entrance to a few stores. Look for the Kauai Coast Resort, and the Hukilau Lania is inside that resort. As soon as you see the front of the building and parking lot, you know you're at a quality place. Our server was named Brian, and he was excellent. He was easy to talk with and made us feel right at home, not to mention quick with service. The food was the best we had during our entire vacation, and the overall price was less than we had paid at other restaurants for food that couldn't compare. Everything we ordered came hot and perfectly prepared. The chef in this restaurant is definitely one of the best in the area. If we ever come back to Kauai, we'll definitely be back at the Hukilau Lanai. We can recommend it without reservation.
(5)Dorcee S.
Wonderful last night on island dinner. Sept 14th, our last dinner on Kauai had to be spent at Hukilau Lanai (it's my favorite splurge restaurant). Called the day before for reservations at 5:30 pm. We're having dinner with good friends Karen & Conrad. We were seated on the lower terrace with a peak of ocean. I already know I want to try the tasting menu and that's exactly what I & Conrad had. Skip (my hubby) & Karen went with the Wally's Royal Crown Medallions (3 fillets). Skip is picky about well-done beef - his was perfect!!! Karen's too. 5 stars I also opted to have the Lobster Bisque - 5 stars +++++++ I could make a meal of this! Tasting Menu: Sweet Potato Ravioli - 4.5 stars Mushroom Tart - 4 stars Longaniza Sausage & Warabi (Fiddlehead Fern) - 0 stars from me, no like - Conrad nearly licked his plate and mine too - for him 5 stars Mahi Mahi with Shrimp Fennel Sauce - 4.5 stars Crème Brulee - 5 stars Shared Banana Foster Cheesecake - 5 stars Our server Brian, was great, we had a table on the lower terrace (where I wanted). After dinner we walked around Kauai Coast Resort. Wonderful evening spent with wonderful friends. A really great close to two weeks on Kauai! $180.00 for food, wine, beer.
(5)Richard A.
Very good food with an older crowd (my son - 19 months - was the only toddler and most of the diners were clearly over 50). We enjoyed the fish (opakapaka, ono) and meat loaf. They have a nice fish tank and live entertainers that kept my son happy during the occasional breaks during our meal. The candied ahi was a little spicy for my taste. I'd like to return and try the tasting menu.
(4)Randall K.
This restaurant was fantastic. The atmosphere was wonderful, the staff very attentive, and the food was amazing. I had the filet mignon while my girlfriend had the seafood platter. While the steak was hands down one of the best I've had in recent memory, the seafood was amazing, and I ended up stealing delicious morsels off her plate. We'd definitely return, and we're encouraging our friends that visit Kauai to make it a point to dine here at least once.
(5)Cynthia D.
This place is a winner. The food is outstanding. All the tables face out to the lawn and ocean. Thee was a gentle waif of evening flowers in the air. The wine list appears to be reasonable. We tried the poke nachos, the candied poke and the wontons with lobster and goat cheese. I don't remember really finding any lobster in the wontons so they were not my favorite dish. The ahi poke was great, so fresh and the candied was good in a very different spectrum very unusual heavily spiced dish. The Wally salad was a fun, fruit and lettuce with sweet vinaigrette, not everyone will like it but I did. The Opah and Opakapaka were wonderful, light flaky delicious. Pretty presentation of all the dishes.The Opakapaka was served with a subtle tomato buerre blanc sauce. The only down side was twice the waiters dropped their tray of dishes somewhere near us. That just shouldn't happen. Then the waiter when serving us entrees , placed the Opah in front of me, then removed it and placed another Opah in front of me. Exact same presentation. My Opakapaka was given to the companion next to me. The wait staff didn't seem to really know what the differences in the fish being served. There is live music and just flows nicely into the room and the overall ambiance is nice, gentle and somewhat romantic.
(4)Wes Y.
We started off with the Lobster wontons which were tasty and creamy. Then I had the lobster bique which was good. For the entree I had the Hukilau Pasta which had chicken, sausage, and shrimp, in a creamy tomato sauce. For dessert, I had the chocolate cheescake. Everything was good, but the cheesecake was disappointing. I think they basically froze it and let it defrost if someone ordered it. Overall, it was ok. I really don't think it's worth it, considering how much it costs. However, the filet mignon and prime rib looked good...now I wish I ordered that instead...
(3)Wallace G.
I try not to eat a lot of red meat, but the steaks at Hukilau are just too good! Can't help myself. It's always busy because it's popular with the natives -- that's always a good sign. It's become a regular stop for us whenever we visit Kauai. They stick to their knitting, but they are consistent and very good at what they do. You won't see a lot of creative, cutting edge items on the menu, but if you're looking for prime rib with mashed potatoes, you'll be very happy.
(4)Darlene L.
Very good pricey food accompanied by sloooww service which detracts from the experience. Fish entrees, particularly the tender and sweet opakapaka, are very good. This place has a following of older diners and groups. Our waiter abandoned us for 20 minutes tending to one of the groups never bringing the dessert we ordered. It had to be taken off the bill after we summoned the person who seated us.So we departed feeling disappointed.What this place needs is polished service, a renovation, and jazzier music to liven up the vibe.
(3)Evan M.
Great seafood. A little far from where we stayed but it was worth the drive.
(4)Holli H.
My husband and I wanted a nice romantic dinner while on our honeymoon and at the recommendation of his mom who is a local we tried Hukilau Lanai. It is in the lobby of a hotel resort so I was a little unsure at first but I'm so glad we went. We ordered the ribs from the appetizer menu and they were perfectly flavored with the right amount of sweet and just a hint of spicy and it fell off the bone. For our main course, my husband had the filet minon and I had the Hawaiian sampler which consisted of a portion of blackened Mahi-Mahi and a portion of grilled Hebe, also referred to as spearfish. Let me just say that my hubby is not a fish eater and he said my Hebe was better than his filet and he said his filet was excellent. I had the Parducci Sustainable white blend with my meal and it was amazing. I would definititly recommend it with the fish. The service was great, the atmosphere was nice, the view gorgeous...it was the perfect romantic dinner!
(4)Cheryl M.
Excellent, even after multiple years. My mother and I were there two days before Christmas and the food was wonderful even with the changes in the menu. The fish was fantastic, and my mother had steak which she said was wonderful also. Hukilau Lanai is one of my favorite restaurants of all time. Great service and cocktails.
(5)Aileen C.
I didn't expect that one of the top rated restaurants on Kauai would be in a restaurant lobby. It kind of killed the ambiance and made the restaurant appear really touristy. We started with the Ahi Poke Nachos which were really good and the Lobster Bisque which was REALLY good, so when our entrees came we were super excited, only to find the food fell flat. The opah seemed fried and greasy and overall everything just tasted like it needed some kind of flavor. Maybe our tastebuds were wasted on the apps... either way, the entree should have the leading role, not play best supporting actress.
(2)Heather D.
This place was great! Like most restuarants on the island, it's safe to plan on spending about $30 per person for dinner here. We tried the sweet potato ravioli, but it wasn't as yummy as I'd hoped! The salads were tasty, but watch out for the bacon if you're a vegetarian! The bread and balsamic oil dip were so delicious we ordered a second batch. I tried the orchid martini, which contained vanilla; it was so strong that I had to summon courage to get it all down. It was pretty and worth every penny, but not exactly a smooth concoction. We didn't have a reservation, so we had to eat in the lounge section, but we found two comfy chairs and a table right on the water, so it was perfect!! I had a fish dish served with penne, that was spicy with a corn kernels in the sauce. So amazingly delicious!! I hope to try and replicate this at home!! I'd love to come back! Note: this restaurant is right across from the Coconut Marketplace, a fun place to get souvenirs for yourself, friends and even your dog!
(4)Sharon W.
My husband and I wanted to celebrate our 5th anniversary and the Hukilau Lanai's 5-course tasting menu seemed to be a perfect fit for the evening. The portions were perfect for enjoying all five courses and feeling full, but not overstuffed. Our favorite course was the candied ahi. The ahi was of the highest quality and just melted in your mouth. The seasonings were complex, flavorful, and kept forcing me to make yummy sounds, despite my desire for constraint. The gazpacho with rum pineapple basil sorbet was a close second. It was an unusual match of ingredients, but sometimes experimenting pays off. That is the case with this wonderful concoction. Their wine pairings were well matched to the various courses and provided a wide array of flavors and experiences. While we were enjoying our dinner, they had some live music. We were both pleased that it enhanced the dining experience and the volume was kept low enough that we could still easily enjoy our own conversation. The staff was busy, but considerate. Overall, it was a great experience and was the finest dining I've enjoyed on any of the islands.
(5)Norm G.
Our first night on Kauai, we treated ourselves and ate at this restaurant, which was located in a hotel right next to ours (Islander on the Beach). It already earned a star right off the bat for being kid friendly: they gave the kids pictures to color and crayons as soon as we were seated. I ordered the Tenderloin Medallions crusted with peppercorns and glazed with Crown Royal. It was just the right amount of meat, and was cooked to perfection. The "special potato" it came with was simply mashed potatoes. I also ordered a "Wally's salad," which had a very nice dressing. The foccacia bread, I was told by my family, was also superlative. I am avoiding yeast products temporarily, so I could only watch my family members eat my favorite bread with a very special "hangdog-martyr-poor me" expression. The children had a great time running around the grounds right next to the restaurant after we ate (see the picture of the grounds I uploaded), giving my wife and I the rare treat of actually responding to each other in complete, uninterrupted sentences. To top it off, our waitress was a sweet woman who was friendly and, we also learned, has children of her own. If you don't mind spending the bucks, I would definitely recommend this place. And, yes, we made reservations, and were seated immediately. Perhaps it helped that we got there early also (5:30 in the evening).
(5)Robert C.
This is the best dinner I've had since being on the island. It's best to make reservations as we did for a party of two. I started with the lobster bisque which was creamy and tasty. A great way to start off a meal ! The main entree I had was the mixed seafood grill. The two fishes for the night were butterfish and spearfish. This was accompanied with a skewer of shrimp and risotto. All this was surrounded by a nice creamy sauce. I thought the sauce reminded me similarly of the bisque. For dessert I had the creme brulee. A nice touch. I believe living in the bay area in California has made me spoiled at times. It's been tough truly good food here. You won't be disappointed at this restaurant. This place is located inside a resort.The restaurant opens up and faces toward a nice view of the interior grounds. Tiki torches light the walkways.
(4)Arrrrgh R.
We had been eating Saimin & BBQ for most of the week we were there and were looking for a change of pace. This place was recomended by the Marriott concierge. For this type of food (seafood - fusion) - this was the best one on Kauai. I had the bisque as a started and the Mixed Grill as an entree. The fish as butter fish and ono that night. The butterfish was delicious! as was everything else. I was very pleasantly surprised with the food. The prices were very reasonable. The place is fancier than others on the island but certainly not stuffy - the service is casual.
(4)Brent T.
We decided to try this place based on yelp reviews and some other sites. The restaurant is inside of the Kauai Coast Resort (some fancy pants resort) and has a lounge area outside (basically the resort lobby). There was about a 45 minute wait since we didn't have a reservation. They did give us a buzzer so that we could walk around and check out the shops at the Coconut Marketplace across the street. When we did get seated, the only table available was a huge one (there was only two of us). Mango Margarita (drink): This drink was average at best. Maybe I was spoiled from the delicious margarita I had the other night, but it just didn't do it for me. 5 out of 10. Coral Crush (drink): This was an average mixed drink. I can't remember exactly what was in it, but the alcohol taste was strong and didn't balance well with the flavors. 4 out of 10. Ahi Poke Nachos (appetizer): This was an interesting dish and different from what you usually see on appetizer menus. It consisted of chunks of ahi tuna (sashimi), avocado, onions, masago (tiny roe) and a slightly spicy sauce on top of crispy fried won ton strips. It was a decent dish, but I felt like it took away from the freshness of the tuna. The onions and sauce overpowered the fish and didn't balance well overall. 6 out of 10. Mixed Grill (entree): This entree included four grilled shrimp, two cuts of grilled fish (ahi tuna and some unidentified white fish) on top of some orzo (rice shaped pasta) and a creamy/spicy sauce. This dish overall was a disappointment. The fish was overcooked and dry. It felt like there was a bit too much sauce and was kind of strange that it was below everything (so the fish and orzo were sitting on top of it). The best part of the dish was the shrimp; it was fresh and perfectly grilled. If it was just the shrimp, I'd rate it a 8 out of 10, but the whole dish gets a 6 out of 10. Service: Average service. The staff seemed a bit rushed and didn't check in too often. 7 out of 10. Overall, this restaurant was a disappointment. The food was sub-par and the wait just wasn't worth it. For a seafood restaurant in Hawaii, we expected better, more fresh fish. SUMMARY (TL;DR version): - If you decide to come here, a reservation is the way to go - Ahi poke nachos are interesting, but nothing to rave about - The shrimp was delicious, everything else was bland and uninteresting
(2)Philip M.
The Ahi nachos, lobster bisque and mac nut chicken are da bomb!!! Slightly on the pricy side, but well worth it for the quality of meal. Not the biggest of portions, but great presentation and flavors. We ate twice here for dinner on this trip cause it was that good.
(5)j k.
I looove this place! The last time we we're in Kauai we dined here 3 times and this time we had dinner here twice! The first night we had the lobster bisque, lobster wontons, poke nachos, wally salad, mixed grill and a fish entree....cant remember which one. The second night we tried the sweet potato ravioli, ribs, lobster bisque and wally salad, mahi mahi and filet. The lobster wontons and lobster bisque were the best I've had that I can remember. the poke nachos were really good. The ribs were tender and sweet. The entrees were delicious as well. I wanted to come back and do the tasting menu, but we ran out of time. The wine selection is pretty good and they have a great list of wines for under $20 a bottle. Can't wait to go back the next time I'm in Kauai!
(5)jean H.
The tasting menu knocked our socks off. There sausage was to die for and everything was 5 star, top notch quality. The view was amazing, the music was great and the service was the best.
(5)Denise L.
We ate at Hukilau on our first night in Kauai. It's was absolutely the best meal during our entire trip! The food was fantastic! We didn't have any reservations, but since we were starving, we decided to dine in the lounge. This area was perfectly fine. We had a nice high table with high bar chairs right by the window. We had a nice view of the resort, ocean area. The lounge was small, but nice with a duet playing Hawaiian music. It was so relaxing and peaceful. We started off with some bread and dipping oil. Since we were pretty hungry, we ordered the mushroom quesedia as an appetizer. The portions were good for sharing and it was tasty. Every entree came with either soup or salad. If I had known this, I probably wouldn't have ordered an appetizer. It was a basic salad with greens, bacon, tomato and red onions. It had too much dressing, but overall it was good. For my entree, I had the ono over udon noodles in a light broth. I loved the fish! It had the right texture and it tasted so good with the udon noodles. They were chewy and soft. Overall, the flavors were so tasty and light. I don't remember what my bf had, but I just remember eating a huge prawn from his dish. We were so full that we didn't even order dessert. I highly would recommend coming here for dinner on your visit to Kauai. Food is so fresh, light and delicious.
(4)Anna H.
After reading all the amazing reviews here on Yelp, my husband and I decided to spend our last night's Dinner at Hukilau Lanai. We didn't make a reservation, but thinking it was a Thursday night, why would we need to anyways, right? NO! Big mistake, we should have made reservations way advance. We waited 1 hour and 30 minutes to get our tables, partly because we suspect the hostess forgot about us. It seems that the restaurant values the dinning experience more than the pre dinner wait experience. Once we finally got it, we realized that there were only a handful of couples' tables. Our server was wonderful. We order a mai tai and pina colada, friend lobster wonton; for entre - the pork loin, and the seafood mixed grill; for dessert - chocolate mousse cake with ice cream. It was a very delicious meal, and the nightly view of the courtyard was wonderful. Again, for that perfect dinning experience, reserve well in advance. ;)
(4)Dee V.
*Review for a wedding reception* We had our wedding reception in the private banquet room recently. Manda (private party coordinator) was awesome! She always got back to me really quickly leading up to the event and was also very attentive the day of the reception. Food: All our guests loved the food! We had appetizers (lobster/goat cheese wontons, garlic shrimp, sweet potato/feta ravioli, ahi poke nachos); lobster curry bisque; prime rib, filet mignon, and the fish special of the day (mahi mahi). I usually don't like feta or goat cheese items but these appetizers tasted great. I had the prime rib and it was huuuge and delicious (guests had same reaction). Same for the filet mignon. The one thing people didn't seem to like was the fish option. I had a bite and didn't care much for the taste either. It was cooked well and nothing was wrong with it really, just maybe lacked flavor. Cocktails: drinks on our menu included mai tais and loco lemonade which were both very popular. Dessert: We had the strawberry chiffon wedding cake which was beautifully decorated and also tasted great. Overall, this was an excellent location for a wedding reception. I would still give it a 5 if I was basing it off of just a review of the food alone.
(5)Clint D.
Where do I start. For 30 years we been staying in Kapaa at The Islander on the Beach. Its right across from the Coconut Market Place - which has several places to eat. BUT right next door is the BEST restaurant on the island - hidden away in the Kauai Coast Resort. Great food - not cheap, well worth the cost, it is always a 'special night out' for us. The first thing I do after checking into the IBO is to call next door to the Hukilau Lanai for Resos (a must). We usually stay 2 weeks and end up eating there at lest twice. Its run by the folks at Gaylords, but much better. Great fresh seafood, super salads, desserts (Lava Cake to die for!), Tenderloin Medallions with Crown Royal sauce, beer/ale, drinks, and a good wine list. (I haven't tried the Fixe menu, but it sounds like a good idea) Great service, and I hesitate to say this, great place for families, they really go out of there way to make the children happy. Beautiful setting, looking out from the Lanai (porch) is a view of the courtyard of the hotel, and in the distance the ocean.
(5)The H.
We came here on the last night of our honeymoon for a decent meal. The food and drinks were great! Lobster and Goat Cheese Wonton PuPus were delish. We tried the crown royal steak medallions because it sounded interesting, but I think next time we would choose the Filet (we were all seafooded out!). The veggie lasagna was delicious and the tomato bisque was the wife's favorite part. The only downside was our not so attentive server. This could be classified as two and a half dollar signs because we had a pupu, a bottle of wine, entrees, dessert, and dessert drinks for a reasonable "fancy dinner" price.
(4)Michael V.
Good high end service, great food (Lava cake is the best we have ever had). Get the Prix Fixe menu, and if you like wine get the tasting menu. The wines were all quite good, and the pairings were spot on! Also a little tip, the waiter told us that if you don't like the prix fixe choices or want to get it again before they change it, call and ask for a different prix fixe- if you give them 48 hours notice he said the chef can usually whip something up for you.
(5)Jared M.
best meal on the island. my wife and i celebrated our honeymoon in kauai and are avid Yelp fans, and hands down this was our favorite find. great service, amazingly fresh food, lovely view of the beach. i requested an ocean view on opentable the day of our meal and they were happy to oblige. as far as menu goes we had the poke nachos, lobster wonton, lobster curry bisque, and the ono [shared]. all are recommended. inc wine our total bill was around $100.
(5)Asha S.
This place was excellent (literally the best place we ate at in Kauai and we went to some really nice restaurants)!! The fish was so fresh and really well cooked and the service was great as well. We asked our waitress for recommendations and everything that came out was super delicious...we were so wowed we tried to come back the next night for dinner but the restaurant is closed on Monday nights. It's kinda hard to find because it's located in the hotel behind the Coconut Market Place but it's definitely worth the search!
(5)Andy M.
The view was good...the restaurant and staff were nice, but the food wasn't worth the price. My favorite part about dinner was the ahi tuna nachos...they were delicious. The drinks were watered down and overpriced for what you got. I ordered the breaded chicken...and it was delicious, but served over a bed of tree shrubs...was only able to eat the chicken. The rest of the entrees in our party weren't that great either. There are a lot of better restaurants on the island...This was an ok restaurant, but not one id recommend or ever go back to
(3)Elissa S.
I'm giving this place a five star rating based solely on what an amazing deal the tasting menu is. The food was great - not the best meal I've ever had, but really, really good, and at $40 for 5 courses with wine pairings, a really incredible deal. It's a lot of food, and although the pairings weren't great (I forgive them for this - wine pairing is not easy), the food was excellent. I would have paid twice as much for this meal and still loved it. The service was great, and you're right on the water - east side of the island, so no sunset views, but still terrific. The $40 tasting menu is available from 5-5:45 (even if you sit down right at 5:45). We had reservations, but when we arrived at 5:40 the place was empty (although it quickly filled up).
(5)Nene S.
Some of the best fish we've had on the island. The ginger martini was really good. It's difficult to find a good martini on Kauai! My husband and son enjoyed their meals too. Great place overall make a reservation though. They get booked up early.
(4)Renee A.
For an appetizer we ate lobster wontons which were delicious.and the sweet potato ravioli which was good but the picture made it look better than it was. We had 3 of the 4 fish entrees and everyone loved their choices. I had the filet cooked med-rare which was delicious. The $20 bottle of wine was great. It was a little chilly out so they have sweaters and blankets they will let you borrow if your cold. For dessert we had macadamia nut tart w cinnamon ice-cream which was good. The experience was one that I would definitely recommend. The food was delicious and it was reasonably priced.
(4)Sophie W.
We had the calamari which we could have eaten 3 plates of. My hubby had the tasting menu and everything was really good. Jason, our waiter, was very accomodating for my daughter's food allergies and kept us informed as to what was in each item. The tomato/eggplant soup and veggie lasagne were fantastic! We will definitely go back when we visit again.
(5)Tiffany B.
cool casual place to eat out on a week day. never had a bad experience. Only innocent mikstakes, awesome ginger infused kamakazi martinis! One thing on their menu that sticks out is their sweet potato ravioli.
(3)Lovanna L.
My husband and I decided to try the tasting menu at the Hukilau Lanai. It seemed quite a deal for $40 which comes with a tasting of wine per course. hukilaukauai.com/menu-ta… The tasting started with the sweet potato ravioli and a riesling. I had read a lot about the sweet potato ravioli and was excited to try it. For the tasting though, you only get one ravioli. It's good so savor it. The item is the argula salad which is...a salad. The fresh catch is their fresh island fish which we had a mahi mahi I think. It was really good but again, the portion is small since it was a tasting. Then the meatloaf that followed was quite good. I had the creme brulee dessert and my husband had the cheese dishes. I'm not a huge wine drinker but my husband enjoyed most of the wines except for a couple. The tasting menu was alright. I think I would've enjoyed my visit much better if we had just ordered full entrees and the sweet potato ravioli as an appetizer.
(3)Triple Threat T.
went for dinner with my handsome boyfriend while on vacation. we arrived 20 mins before they closed, but they were happy to serve us. food was AWESOME, atmosphere was very pleasant. we sat in front of the huge fish tank near the dining room's entrance. go ahead and splurge for the $30-something bottle of honey mead (made on Kauai) because it is like drinking liquid gold mana from heaven; my boyfriend doesn't even drink, but he sure drank THIS! :)p try any of their seafood entrees, it's all wonderful and you wont be disappointed. also: the warm chocolate cake for desert is a MUST! it's made with chocolate from the island's cocoa factory and will make you wet yer pants it's THAT TASTY! :D
(5)Eric G.
This is a small hotel restaurant with good food, so be prepared for a wait. But in the meantime, you can sit in the hotel lobby and they'll serve you drinks. The seafood sampler platter was excellent. It's a sample of fresh fish items. Although it wasn't exactly cheap (hotel prices) Hukilau Lanai was the best value we found on the island. Be warned: some of the drinks here are stiff. Be careful
(5)Andrea M.
We love, love, love the food here. But after one incredible meal (and pretty pricey), we started realizing that we love the appetizers even more. Lobster won tons, yummy! Any green salad they prepare, also very good. Now we eat in the bar (very good pours) and order the sampler platter with a dessert to share. Three years ago we ordered a mango yogurt cheesecake that we are STILL talking about. I have to say that we enjoy the musicians that play in the bar in the evening, but we really enjoy the whole Hawaiian breezeway where the bar is located. It just doesn't get any more relaxing (with alcohol and top notch food). I love Hukilau.
(4)M F.
Wonderful, Wonderful! If your looking for the best place to have a high quality meal around Kapaa' this is it. One of the best prime rib I've tasted. My wife had the filet and could literally cut it with a fork. The best meal we had in our week on Kauai. The service was equally as pleasant as the food. Also, 20 wines for $20 was a pleasant surprise. Don't bypass this place on your visit to Kauai!
(5)Shanna V.
Well, while everyone else had a good experience, ours wasn't fantastic unfortunately. Our server ignored us a lot and chatted with a table of his friends for the majority of the time that we were there. My father and brother were starting to get angry about it. The food was pretty good, but by the time it got to us, we had filled ourselves up on bread because it took more than an hour for the food to get out to us. BUT the food was VERY good. If I could I would give the food a four score.
(2)Jacqueline S.
The food was really good and the service was great. We started with the calamari which was very tender. The breading had a nice spice to it and the dipping sauce was pretty good. I had the chevre salad and the mixed grill which had a nice peanut sauce, my husband had the soup of the day (yellow pepper and artichoke creamed) and the filet mignon, my older son had the lobster bisque and the prime rib and our four year old son had mahi mahi grilled with some butter. They were more than willing to special prepare for our youngest and he ate every bite of his fish. My older son seemed to enjoy the lobster bisque as he was making all kinds of "this is good" sounds while he ate it. I'd say my husband's order was the winner. He had to share his soup with all of us and by the end of the meal we were all taking bread and helping him finish the sauce. We'd eat here again.
(4)David F.
If I could give it 10 stars I would. Party of six with appetizers and entrees so tried a lot of the menu and it was one of the best meals I have had in a long time. Really Amazing. The poke nachos were so outstanding.
(5)Don H.
We went twice during our week on the island, and that should say a lot about how much we enjoyed it, since there are so many other available options. They may be a resort restaurant, but they also had some of the best cooked fish we had on the island. The mixed grill is Totally the way to go - you get 3 different types of seafood, and they're all delicious. I also love that the chef changes up the menu regularly, and is experimental (and talented) with his flavor combinations. The cocktails are also quite tasty, and not fake sugary abominations. The wine list was definitely marked-up to resort level, but there are some good, mostly reasonably-priced white options that go well with the fish. (I recommend the Grenache Blanc). Appetizers were also wonderful, and again - more great and inventive flavor combinations. The sweet potato dumplings were a huge winner (we ordered them both times).
(4)Doug G.
Can't say enough. Service was great and the food was delicious and beautifully presented. We will return! The tasting menu was a delight and a great value. Sandra was our server and she was very knowledgeable, professional and personable.
(5)Heather J.
The islands of Hawaii have long been my go to getaway. By far, Hukilau Lanai, offered the best food I have had on any of the islands! So how did I hear about this place. Lady sitting next to us at our resorts pool talking about where she was spending her birthday. Imagine that, it's my birthday too. Enter my friend who tagged along on this excursion to Kauai and she is all over the food quest (being a chef herself). She peppers the lady with questions...30 minutes later we have a reservation (recommended). We checked the place out on yelp and found that many of you were BIG fans, especially of the ahi poke nachos. Psst...not a real big fan of ahi poke...however...when in Rome...er Kauai! SO GOOD! Once again yelp has not failed me! So let's talk about the morning after...all we could talk about was the great food...it was our last night...what should we do...let's go to Hukilau Lanai again. And we did!
(5)Gina B.
Yum. Great service. The employees are so friendly here...they make you feel welcome and want you to have a great experience. Everybody was kind here! The Wally's salad was really good...those croutons..yum! The table bread was great, the added fried goat cheese on the salad was tasty! My husband ordered the Sizzlin Bloody Mary and it was hot!!! All of the food and drinks were great. I had the veggie lasagne..chalk filled with butternut squash! We would come back here and again....make a reservation...they are busy!!!
(4)Erik H.
Meatloaf was absolutely awesome! Gf had the prime rib and she loved it. We came at 8pm and they didnt have any seats in the restaurant available. We sat in the lounge area tgat had a full menu and the service was great and fast.
(5)Andy S.
Best restaurant in Kaua'i that I've been to. Have been back three times over the course of two years and Hukilau never disappoints. Love their mixed grill and their filet mignon. And their 20 wines for $20-something list is a nice touch. Atmosphere is great as well, often with live music. Great service. Highly recommended.
(5)Lorie M.
We've been here almost two weeks and have been hitting the small little places to eat. We knew we wanted to try to get in at least once, so last night it was. Truly the most memorable of meals, I had the the hukilau mixed grill, fish was excellent cooked perfectly, prawns sweet and tender and the orzo pasta and sauce great. Wife had the pork tenderloin with polenta in Marsala and found it to be quite good. Added a couple of blue hawaii's and koloa rum Mai tai's to top it all off. Hoping to get there for appetizers before we leave. A little pricier but well worth it. We've paid far more at home for a meal not as good as this.
(5)Pixie G.
Came here for the 5 course tasting menu which was $28 without wine ($40 with wine). Such a deal and the food was so delicious. I wish I had known about it sooner so we could have eaten it every night for dinner. We did it without the wine, since we're not big wine drinkers. We made reservations at 5 PM and were seated very promptly, had a nice table on the outside veranda with a view of the ocean. Started off with focaccia with rosemary oil/vinegar, which was tasty. Our server offered seconds, which we gladly took. First course was a tomato gazpacho with pineapple sorbet. This was SO good. The pineapple sorbet really added another depth to the gazpacho that I never would have thought of. Second course was candied ahi. There were 6 good size pieces of ahi tuna, encrusted with some kind of wonderful sweet and slightly spicy sauce. I wanted to lick the bottom of my dish, this was so good. Third course was sausage, and it was really smokey and savory and delicious. Fourth course was the fresh catch of the day (mahi mahi) served with quinoa and a lemon vinaigrette. Honestly, maybe it's just because I'm not a lemon vinaigrette fan, but I wasn't as impressed with this dish. It was tasty enough, the fish was admittedly prepared very very well, very moist and flaky, but lemon vinaigrette has never excited me. Hubby really liked this one though. Last dish was a vanilla creme brulee. The crust was perfectly crispy/crunchy and delightfully custardy.
(5)K B.
So I work in all the islands and eat at lots of local dives. This is the best I have yet to experience on Kauai! I had the Wally's salad and Wally's steak, only because it seemed highly rated by my fellow yelpers. As usual, they were on it. The location is a little cliche... but most restaurants I'm Hawaii are. If you want a 4 star dinner in Kauai, eat here. If you want to meet some really cool people, sit at the bar.
(4)Melisa O.
This restaurant came highly recommended by the owners of the condo we stayed in and it lived up to our expectations! We made a reservation several days in advance, glad we did as the restaurant was full when we arrived. The only challenge we encountered the entire evening was with the bartender during our wait to be seated. He was busy but it took him a long time to acknowledge me and once he did he made it clear it would be a while before he got to me. Not great service. Dinner was fabulous, probably our best experience dinning out during our vacation. The service was impeccable, we were very well taken care of from beginning to end. Our waiter timed our food perfectly, allowing us to dine and not feel rushed. The food, from the Ahi tuna nachos for an appetizer to the fish and shrimp and surf and turf entrees were perfect! We enjoyed the dessert special that night, chocolate perfection! I would certainly recommend this restaurant to all that want to enjoy a fabulous meal in a beautiful setting, with great service and incredible food!
(4)Ted S.
Excellent food, moderate price. The filet was tremendous, prepared near perfectly. The salads and bread very good as well. Diverse wine list as well. Would definitely return.
(5)Rick W.
By far and away the best meal we had during our 2 weeks in Hawaii.It started with an order of Calamari.The wife had a fresh salad with a very good house dressing.I had a bowl of cold tomato soup with puréed pineapple in the center.Might not sound good but a very refreshing soup.Then we had the Hukilau Mixed Grill.It had 4 nice sized grilled shrimp a piece of Marlin which has a firmness of a steak.Never had but it was delicious.It also had another piece of white flakey fish that had a Cajun spice on it.Not hot just good.It had creamy orzo pasta under it with a Thai Coconut Sauce over it.Had to finish it off with this warm Chocolate Cake with warm Chocolate filling and Vanilla ice cream.So if your in the Kappa area while in Kauai you have to go here.
(5)P K.
Happy to report that Hukilau Lani is still a home run! Great ambiance sitting on the terrace near the garden. Very professional, knowledgeable, friendly staff. Love the interesting wine list with many options for wines under $20. BRAVO for the BYOB option with a fair $10 corkage fee. And last but certainly not least....the food. The rib appetizer was delicious. The blueberry beef soup was perfect. Who knew I would enjoy that combo so much? The Chef knew! The fish entrees were perfect. And dessert was THE BOMB! Chocolate, macadamia nut stuffed strudel. It came with Lapperts vanilla bean ice cream. It's a steal for $7!
(4)Ribec F.
Yum everything was great, we had salads, soup, the filet, and an amazing dessert (cocunut tart). there is a great view from the dining room and local musician playing, I will def hit up this spot again.
(4)Laura S.
I went here for my birthday dinner. I couldn't have asked for a better experience. The mai tai was amazing. Super fresh and strong. They had a gluten free menu which was great. They had homemade gluten free bread that was super tasty. I had the macadamia nut crusted chicken. It was so good. The server was really attentive and friendly. I also enjoyed the beautiful patio and live music. It was an excellent experience all around.
(5)Candyce A.
Hands down best meal we had in Kauai. Everything was amazing. We especially loved the pork tenderloin with polenta. I wish we could have eaten more meals here!
(5)J. M.
I've dined at the Hukilau several times and it's never the same as far as the food being 5 stars. Sometimes it's 3 stars. Sometimes 5. Same with the service! I don't want to down grade what they are trying to do, because the are very nice people and it's fairly popular. BUT I mean BUT, they NEED TO BE CONSISTANT!!!!
(3)Brent V.
One of my favorite restaurants on Kauai.....
(4)Sebastian Z.
Don't be fooled by the random location and strange / dingy appearance of the building. This place is the best dinner you can have on the entire island, along with amazing service, and a fantastic wine list. This was by far the best meal I had anywhere in Hawaii...make a point to go here if you're in Kauai.
(5)Claudia C.
Dinner for party of 8, super friendly service, nice outdoor seating (bring some bug spray though). Food: all good, nothing bad to say! Perfect for anyone who likes seafood, but doesn't want anything too exotic and price is very reasonable. - Start: * Complimentary house focaccia with rosemary oil/vinegar for dip (yum) - Appetizers: * Tuna Poke Nachos - hefty portion, savory with soy sauce and sesame oil * Lobster Wontons - great if you're a crab wonton fan normally (but don't expect too much lobster flavor/meat) * Sweet Potato Ravioli - exactly what you'd expect, comes with cream sauce (a little bland to me, but great if you're vegetarian/carbaholic) - Entree: * Came with soup or salad - Fish Chowder: very creamy, fish pieces were a little sparse, but overall great considering it came with the entree * Mixed Plate - 2 kinds of fish (~3 - 4 oz each) a 1 shrimp skewer (4 med - large shrimp) with creamy coconut orzo, our fish were mahi mahi and a Hawaiian fish (forgot the name) but was described as "more buttery" - Mahi Mahi: just like mahi mahi anywhere, chicken of the sea... always good - Hawaiian fish: very flaky and buttery, more delicate than the mahi, BUT not as good as Japanese black cod (sablefish), just a heads up for anyone whose standard of "buttery fish" equates with sablefish - Dessert: all 8 of us shared 1 dessert because we were stuffed... * Macademian Nut Tart: very sweet with lots of nuts, crust was flaky and not grainy/too dry, came with a scoop of ice cream and whipped cream (forgot if ice cream was coconut or vanilla, but went perfectly with the tart)
(4)Keri M.
Delicious food! Service was a little slow but we enjoyed just hanging out at our table in their open air seating with a view of the beautiful grounds and tiki torches. Their fish was fresh, homemade pasta was very yummy and definitely recommend the Yam ravioli appetizer.
(4)Nancy A.
The best steak I've ever had in my entire life!!!!!! I am not kidding! I am a big steak fan and have eaten more cows than I'd like to admit, but the filet here was like no other. It melted in my mouth, I almost wet my pants it was so good! It seriously broke da mouth. I tried the fish as well and it was also delicious. The crowd here is a little older, so if your under 50 don't let that or the three dollar signs scare you away. The food is totally worth it. If you're planning on just one pricey meal during your stay in Kauai let it be here.
(5)Billie D.
We keep going back....always consistent. Make your reservations early as they book up fast.
(4)Jeff S.
Hukilau Lanai is a good option for a more upscale, gluten-free meal. They have a gluten-free menu and were good about accommodating our dietary issues. The gluten-free dinner rolls they brought out were amazing. I should have asked where they got those from. We all wound up having the Hukilau Mixed Grill consisting of grilled shrimp over two samplings of fish. The fish was a touch on the dry side, but the shrimp was outstanding. Our server was great with my two little kids and even asked them what color umbrellas they wanted with their drinks.
(4)To The M.
Had an amazing New Years dinner facing the ocean.... Open air tropical atmosphere... Great dinner, great service. Amazing Ono... Highly recommended
(5)Bella P.
My dining experience at the Hukilau Lanai, was one of the worst experiences ever. So here's a breakdown of my entire experience: HOSTESS-she was rolling her eyes as I was checking in for our reservation. I guess she didn't like that we were early for our dinner? Could have been handled a bit more tactfully. LOUNGE/BAR AREA-We were told to find a seat in the "lounge" (really hotel lobby), but it was jammed packed. We had no choice but to stand by the bar. The hosted walked over and directed us to a dirty table, and said to have a seat there and someone would be by to clean it. So, we sit down and a server stops by to say she'll be right with us. Then 5 more minutes, then another 5 minutes. Meanwhile a haole couple sit down in a table across from us, gets their table cleared immediately, and is presented with menus. Meanwhile it's been 15 minutes since our waitress initially stopped by. So, we decided to clear the table ourselves, but dumping everything onto the ledge behind us. At this point, the same waitress has return to said couple, taken their order, while we are sitting at the same dirty & unserviced table. It was only after our own clearing of our own table, did a busser finally appear to "clear the table". Another 5 minutes passes before our waitress finally arrives to take our drink order. Granted she was nice, but what wasn't nice, was the OBVIOUS difference in treatment of guest based on the level of your "natural tan" if you catch my drift. It was apparent the paler your tan, the quicker you would be served. It took another 5 minutes after this before we finally got a glass of wine. DINING ROOM-We were finally seated at 7:45pm even though there were plenty of open tables. The hostess that sat us, poured water for us and also managed to pour some on my foot without even acknowledging it or apologizing. At this point, we should have up and left, but I guess I'm a glutton for punishment. Then comes our "I guess I'm stuck serving your waitress". No offer to explain the menu or specials, it was simply a "do you want to order any pupus?" Left us be for a long while, came back and "do you know what you want to order?" Didn't even ask if we can questions. I guess my "natural tan" at this point dictated to her. Food runner was no better, no eye contact, looking around as he half hearted asked "do you need anything else". This continued on until we got our check, and even then it was basically handed to us without a single word of thanks. We never even got our glasses of water refilled! FOOD-not even memorable. It was ok, but nothing to write home about. I think you could find better options to make your own surf and turf at Foodland up the way. Even if the service was better, it still wouldn't make this a place worth visiting. You're better off saving your money and splurging at Michael Mina. To sum up this long rant-I wouldn't never return. In all my years of traveling the Islands, I've never encountered a place where service was based solely on outward appearance.
(1)Todd H.
Great ginger martini and pupus. Sit in the lobby near the musician overlooking the pool for a easy, unpretentious way to relax at the end of the day. Main courses are rather pedestrian and underwhelming. Thumbs up for the poke and BBQ rib pupus.
(4)Tawney M.
After having lanai recommend to us by a guide on our ziplining adventure a few days earlier we made a reservation for four. Right away we were seated at a lovely table overlooking the garden and beach which is further away but still in view. Our server, tim was extremely helpful and was very good at his job. The food was amazing, we ordered a variety of things in addition to drinks. For the appetizers we ordered the calamari; lobster and goat cheese won tons, and a bbq rib. They all had great presentations and tasted great. All of our meals were great (prime rib, pork medalions, meatloaf and macadamian nut chicken) though we did send back the meat loaf in exchange for something else. It had this liquid smoke taste to it that we didn't care for. But that was just personal taste preferences and not of the quality of the dish. Our server was very nice about it and brought out new dishes as quickly as he could. For dessert we ended with the chocolate mousse and creme brulle. Overall it was a perfect experience and will definitely be back, hopefully before our trip is over.
(5)Geoffrey B.
The food is excellent. The fish was the best I had on the island. The service is friendly and accommodating. The ambiance is not quite as nice as some of the other top-tier Kauai restaurants, due largely to the fact that attached hotel feels a little Disney-ish, and checking into the restaurant involves a conspicuous trip through the lobby. But the overall experience was great, and I look forward to returning on our next trip to Kauai.
(4)Kim O.
There is a great 5 course tasting menu served from 5-5:45. We got the wine pairing with the tasting menu and it was definitely worth it! Our first course was a lovely gazpacho served with a kalua rum-pineapple sorbet paired with a reisling. Hints of sweet and spicy! Second course was candied ahi served over rice with a citrus cream sauce! It was amazing, especially paired with the white wine blend from Portugal. Third was homemade sausage with an interesting pickled fern salad. Fourth was a beautifully grilled mahi mahi with 3 sauces served over quinoa with a lemon Parmesan kale topping. Paired with a dry red wine, this dish tasted like lamb. And last was a duo cheese plate. Lovely rich blue cheese with local honey and an amazing manchego with macadamia nuts! This was paired with a tasty madera! Great meal! Great service! Great view!
(5)Shirl W.
We highly recommend the Hukilau Lanai to everyone. We live on Kauai and have eaten here twice in the last 3 weeks and will eat here the first week in September for our anniversary. We had the tasting menu. I had a tiny problem with one course being too salty and others at the table thought that the sausage was too strong. I had the same dish and it tasted wonderful the prior visit. The manager came to talk to us after I mentioned this to our waiter and more than made up for the rare problem. Our "birthday woman" received a couple of nice surprises with dessert and we got to try a new flavor of ice cream that is being developed. Thank you for the excellent service and food. We look forward to more delicious times with you. As for the view, we had a garden-side table and could see the pretty grounds as well as the ocean.
(5)Angela B.
Normally, I don't think I would've been inclined to try a place like this. It's in a hokey resort, and it has the word Lanai in the name. BUT, our guide book swore by the food & also complimented the drinks, so we decided to give a shot. Typically reservations are a good idea so we made them for a few days ahead. Meanwhile we needed somewhere to eat *tonight,* so we figured we'd walk the third of a mile & check out how busy their lounge was (where seating is first-come-first-serve, but the full menu is available). Happily, there was a small table available right by the huge open lanai, so we snatched it up. I ordered the Coconut Coast Cooler (again on the recommendation of our guide book) and LOVED it. (This is saying a lot, as I typically do not drink fruity girly drinks & am incredibly picky about cocktails in general.) It was strongly coconut flavored, but the sweetness was subtle & mostly from fruit, & the whole thing was well-balanced overall. (I got the same thing when we went back a few nights later.) We were not impressed by the Mai Tai (clearly from a mix & not a very good one), but enjoyed the well-made after-dinner drink we shared. Again, we headed the advice of the guide book & started with the sweet potato dumplings which did not disappoint. (These were so good we ordered them on our second trip as well.) I was skeptical about the poke nachos at first but they turned out to be delicious as well. Another guide book recommendation was the mixed grill, and WOW. The only place we had better fish was at Red Salt. Perfectly cooked, & seasonings / sauces that served to perfectly balance the fish without overwhelming the flavor. This was another thing we ordered on both trips. Sitting in the dining room wasn't bad, but to be honest I preferred the more casual, right-by-the veranda atmosphere in the lounge, so if we were to go back, this is what I'd advocate for (maybe with a reservation as a backup. It's not like they can't fill them). Service was also excellent both times. My only criticisms are: 1) The salad. Bonus, it comes with the meal, which is nice, and it's a good portion for one person. But it just pales in comparison when you compare it to how amazing the starters & entrees were. 2) The dessert menu. Just wasn't inspired by much. Bottom line, although a healthy fear of resort restaurants is absolutely warranted, Hukilau Lanai is a lovely option with excellent food & priced more reasonably than you might expect, all things considered. It was especially nice to be able to walk there from our condo in Wailua.
(4)Nancy t.
We went back. Hubby had the "spaghetti and meatballs" island style. Omg. It was heavenly. We also tried the ahi nachos and the ribs as an appetizer. All delicious. I may have to come back to Kapaa just to eat here. Love it
(5)Lizzi M.
The food was delicious!! Desserts were scrumptious! Great atmosphere!! Our server was very personable, friendly, and attentive! We will be back!!
(5)Allison B.
Excellent food. Excellent service. Great drink options. Definitely a must when you want a nice dining experience for a nice evening. We've been there 4 times in two trips... that says a lot!
(5)Rami C.
We wish we were there for the happy hour tasting menu, but we didn't know till later. Dinner was delicious. Classy atmosphere, we were seated overlooking the grounds with tiki torches lighting the way. I had the gazpacho soup and hubby had the lobster bisque, which we both enjoyed. Hubby got the candied ahi, which he found creative and tasty. For entrees, we had the veggie lasagna, which was decadent and huge, and the nightly fish special. All were very good. For dessert, the Coconut Lilikoi Tart was creative and very unique. We enjoyed our dinner at Hukilau Lanai, would come back.
(4)J.D. P.
Glad we stumbled into this place on a whim after I was forced to bust some hula moves during a show at a Coconut Marketplace. Great service, kids loved their food (nuff said) and wifey and I dug our fresh fish. Actually, I went surf and turf with some local beef alongside the fresh Walu. Yum. Caesar salad rocked. Mai tai was mediocre and we passed on desert even though they looked really good. Place was better than I expected when walking up to the older resort it is part of so don't be scared off. Gluten free menu was a nice option for us too.
(4)Cherie G.
Good but not great food. The exception was the sweet potato bisque, which was nicely flavored with ginger and delicious. The opah was good, but the mashed potatoes a bit heavy. Our server was very personable. Good place to eat. Ocean is within view.
(4)K K.
Really happy that we went there for their happy-hour tasting menu. Great service and fresh, locally-sourced menu. The tasting menu that day was already gluten-free, but they brought out freshly baked gf bread, which was awesome. I added them to my list for gluten-free on Kauai: raeraegoesreal.wordpress…
(4)jenn w.
One of the best meals that we had on Kauai. The 5 course tasting menu served between 5-6pm was exceptional. For only $40, you get wine pairings with each course. Definitely a great value for such quality. Everything was super fresh and delicious. Recommendations: -Make reservations for 5-6 since the tasting menu is only served at these times -Try to sit inside since the weather is unpredictable and you might get rained on -Try the coconut coast cooler as a cocktail
(5)Mike T.
We had a wonderful evening celebrating our wedding anniversary. We enjoyed sitting outside. We ordered the lava cake for dessert and it was the best part. Check out the picture!
(4)Gayle V.
We have passed this place so many times before but on this trip looked into what "yelpsters" had to say. Ate dinner here twice and it was very good. The ahi poke nachos are FANTASTIC! The lobster bisque soup was best!! They have it every day but you have to pay $2 more and you have to ask for it . My husband and I had fish both times and loved our dinners. The reason I gave only 4 stars was due to the service. The server at the first dinner was great but the second dinner server was terrible. He lacked personality and was over whelmed with how many tables he was servicing. Anyways, great place for dinner! Make reservations as they can get very, very busy!
(4)lauren p.
When we were planning our honeymoon, we had decided to have one 'nice' dinner on each of the three islands we would visit. After a lot of research, we selected Hukilau Lanai for the Kauai portion. Extra bonus for it being so close to the lovely Fern Grotto Inn where we were staying. We started with the Ahi Poke Nachos, which were very tasty. The wasabi crema was a bit much, as neither of us is a wasabi fan, but if you like it you will be all over this stuff. Spi-cy. For the second course I had the Wally's salad, which was a fresh and bright as others have said. The hubs upgraded to the lobster bisque, which did not disappoint. Then I went on to the mahi mahi, and he had the mixed grill. We spent a lot of time trying to figure out which kinds of fish he had, and we wrong on all accounts, but what wound up being the ono was delish- very smooth and buttery. My mahi mahi was delicious as well. We could barely squeeze in a dessert but managed to split a macadamia tart. Worth the effort. The prices are high, but seriously, EVERYTHING IN HAWAII IS EXPENSIVE. And the portions are HUGE, so you shouldn't feel like you getting ripped off. Service was very friendly, and the resort setting was lovely!
(4)Todd J.
The food was okay, not great. My prime rib was way too fatty, my wife liked hers, but she likes fatty. On the plus side, they comped mine since they saw I left half of it uneaten. It was a reasonable location, the service could have been better, and the hostess definitely need to remove the pencils from their butts.
(3)laura m.
Nice atmosphere, cool entertainment, good drinks, and a friendly staff.
(4)Jason K.
We don't eat out much when we are in Kauai because we have a condo with a kitchenette. But we were told that Hakilau was the best place to eat on the island. It didn't disappoint. Both my wife and had the prime rib and it was awesome. The restaurant is also child friendly, my daughter is 4 and she has a good time and she liked her food. If we come back to the island we will eat here again.
(5)Melissa A.
My husband and I dined here twice on our trip and it was fantastic! J was our server both nights and described the dishes superbly. We enjoyed the sunset view and live music. The food was of the highest quality and many dishes featured local ingredients. The chocolate tart was rich and delicious! The fish was flaky and so yummy! You will not regret coming here to celebrate a special occasion.
(5)Mark Y.
My wife and I yelped Hukilau Lanai before we went on our vacation to Kauai last Friday. We haven't been to Kauai in 7 years and we usually go to Duke's in Nawiliwili and/or the Bull Shed in Kapaa. I was surprised to find on Yelp and also from friends on Kauai that the Bull Shed went downhill - too bad. So anyway we read these rave reviews about Hukilau Lanai and as luck would have it I found that it was right next door to our hotel (Islander on the Beach) as I literally walked by the place. So on Friday we made reservations and went. Normally I at least put on slacks, nice shoes and an aloha shirt (I'm local) but chanced it and wore shorts, a polo shirt and sneakers. Not to worry, most of the diners were similarly dressed - the atmosphere is pretty casual. Our waiter was very attentive, read their specials - I think it was an ahi stack, and proceeded to take our drink orders. They give you a full carafe of water but fill your glass if they notice it less than 1/2 full. All tables get a serving of focaccia served with olive oil/balsamic vinegar for dipping. We started off with the goat cheese-lobster-macadamia nut wontons (4 per serving) as an appetizer, and as others have said it IS truly wonderful. They're served with a guava, chili sauce that is just right - not too sweet nor hot. I had the ceasar salad - a just-right portion of romain with croutons and shaved parmesean. I would say that it would have been nice if they offered fresh ground black pepper but that's a minor detail. For the entrees my wife ordered the Chinese kalua chicken salad stack - she wanted to eat light. I had the fillet mignon. Both were delicious. My steak was done to perfection and it was perfectly seasoned. Tenderness? Like buttah! It was served over a sauce, probably some kind of tarragon-slightly tomatoey butter/cream. There was also small portion of salsa, mashed potato and a potato crisp as garnish. The acidic salsa worked well with the richness of the beef. I let my wife try a piece and she shared a piece of her stack. It was also nice - smokey shredded chicken with greens in a slightly sweet dressing. The restaurant offers a warm chocolate cake (their version of chocolate decadence) that must be ordered 15-20 minutes before serving. I ordered that and my wife ordered the lilikoi chiffon pie (a ubiquitous Kauai treat). Both were good, not great mind you, but good. The chocolate ganache in the center of the cake was milk chocolate; I actually make a pretty good one if I say so myself, hehe, and I use a good premium dark/high cocoa content bar when I make mine. Still, it was alright. My wife's lilikoi chiffon was also alright, not as good as Hamura's, but still nice. The restaurant has a full wine list - I'm not a big wine drinker and settled for bottled Heineken. They also offer locally brewed lager and ale on tap. The total for the 2 of us with 2 beers and a 20% tip came out just under $100. I think the price point is just right. This place is just under a Roy's restaurant in terms of what they both have to offer but I'd say Hukilau Lanai is a better deal. P.S., our friend took us out to this same restaurant on Sunday night before we left and it was just as good. Wish we had a place like this on Oahu. ;-)
(4)Pico C.
I previously wrote a bad review, and the owner contacted me and I felt terrible. He was lovely, apologetic, and obviously really cares about what he's doing. Still can't say we had a good meal or experience, but his concern and effort in reaching out really touched me and made me feel like dog shit. All I can say is, if something sucks just tell the owner. I'm betting he will try to set it right. And tell him I said sorry
(3)Erich D.
The star rating reflects more the food rather than the overall experiences I had here. Broken down below. Food: 3 stars Shared appetizer was the kalua chicken, I ordered the ahi, medium rare, as my entree, and we all shared a chocolate lava cake for dessert. The kalua chicken was quite good, very flavorful and really couldn't tell the difference in taste in comparison with kalua pig. The ahi entree featured a pretty large quality piece of ahi but the dish was swimming in a pool of so many thick, creamy sauces that it took away from the centerpiece of the dish. When restaurants do this I always feel like they are hiding something in terms of the quality of the food (this is completely unsubstantiated of course). The chocolate lava cake wasn't exactly my favorite, it was very mild in flavor and I've been spoiled with the excellence of another restaurant's chocolate lava cake also specializing in pan-Asian cuisine (Roy's). If I were to come back for the food it would have to be for the early bird special $40 tasting menu which includes wine pairings! That's a savage deal! Service: 4 stars Our waiter was attentive and very professional. Apart from one of the other waitstaff's evident indifference about his job, service was congenial. Ambiance: 4 stars You're in paradise, the Garden Isle, how can you complain. When dining al fresco at this restaurant you are delighted with a view of a perfectly manicured resort courtyard with palm trees and tiki torches with the ocean in the distance and looking out into infiniti. Live entertainment: 5 stars I'm admittedly slightly biased here. My uncle, Dennis Chun, performs here weekly and plays excellent renditions of classic Hawaiian tunes as well as contemporary ones, putting you in a perfectly relaxed island state of mind. In all honesty though, even if I didn't know him I would still think that he was a very talented and entertaining local musician. It's a little difficult to hear the live entertainment if you are seated in the restaurant or even on their patio area, it's much easier to listen and enjoy in the bar/lounge area.
(3)Krystal S.
This place was sooooo good and our bill was about the same that we paid at junk Tomcats. we had the poke nachos, calamari, and lobster and goat cheese wontons to start off. I ordered the ono, my boyfriend had the mixed grill, my brother had the crown royal medallions, and his girlfriend had the prime rib. One of the gripes my brother always has is when he orders his steak medium rare, it always comes out overcooked at other restaurants. Not here! all of our food was delicious and we all wished we weren't so full so we could keep eating. Our waiter was pretty funny too. Next time we're in kauai, we're going back!
(5)Kevin C.
We went to have dinner on a Thursday night, and since we hadn't made reservations, we had to wait in the bar for an hour. The mango margarita the wife had was so-so, bu the beer was good. Fortunately, there was an amazing musician playing the ukulele and singing all kind of songs with his own hawaiian twist. We had a great time just sitting there at the bar and decided to just order pupus with our drinks. We had the poke nachos, the calamari and the lobster and goat cheese wontons. The flavors worked well together and made for a light tasty dinner. We were pleasantly surprised by the high quality of the food and we know we will stop there again when we come back to Kauai.
(5)Harold P.
The tasting menu that is offered between 5-5:45pm is such a good value - 5 well portioned courses for $28 without the wine pairing, $40 with wine. I was hoping they would offer both tasting menus as posted on their web site but they only offered the non gluten free menu when I went. All the dishes were well prepared and delicious. Some of the sauces lacked the delicate refinement you would find at Roy's but Hukilau Lanai is also over half the price. I will definitely be back. Thank you to the reviewer who warned about mosquitoes! I knew to cover up based on that tip alone and I watched plenty of tables around me scratch their way through dinner.
(4)Julie A.
Saw an ad in a local paper for this place with a picture of their ahi nachos! WOW! had to have them and they did not disappoint. Beware! This place is closed on Monday! Also had the lobster goat cheese wontons very good but skip the plum sauce. Too overpowering. The lobster bisque was also fabulous. Worth the $2 upgrade. We both had the fish ono and opha. Both good but ono was better - moist and the shrimp sauce had great flavor. I would go back just for the nachos!
(4)Jana M.
My third or fourth dinner at Hukilau and it didn't disappoint. To start we had the ahi poke nachos and those were awesome as usual: fried wonton pi for the chips all topped with tasty poke, even their focaccia bread that they give is delicious. For drinks I had a citrus breeze and my mom had the mango margarita, both were a little too sweet. Dinner comes with soup or salad, I got the caesar, mom got the wally's salad, and my husband got the soup of the day, a fishermans pesto. The soup was amazing, like nothing I've ever had before-creamy and smooth with a slight basil flavor. For dinner I had the opah, it was a big portion served on orzo and my husband had the prime rib, which he said was tastier and softer than the one from Dukes or Keokis. Everything was tasty and service was attentive, we will be back, soon I hope.
(5)Maile F.
A few years ago, my future in-laws hosted my husband and my rehearsal dinner here on a private patio room. The staff worked with my in-laws to put together a menu for both meat and fish eaters, with great choices. They also set up a host bar in our room. There was a bit of mix up on who was actually paying for drinks (hosted vs. no host bar) and my aunt ended up picking up that part of the check, even though it was clear in the contract with my father-in-law that everyone would be paying for their own drinks. The reason for my 4 star rating comes from the scramble we had to do to pay for this tab at the end of the night with the manager handing me the bar tab (with my aunt saving the day). I am all for paying for your own drinks, we all, after all drank that much, but it was uncomfortable. In the end it was all sorted out, but wasn't the nice "day before my wedding" feel I'd hoped for. Other than that, food was amazing, service was pretty good, and the private patio was amazing.
(4)Robert P.
My first impression on arriving was one of concern. The outside of the building looked sort of tourist trappy. We were greeted and seated by a very nice hostess and our server was fabulous. He helped select from the menu items we did not understand or weren't familiar with and was very personable. Tone food was excellent and every item very nicely presented. We are planning to return as often as we can. The prices were very reasonable and the inside view was very nice. Be sure to make reservations. Enjoy!
(5)Paul A.
On the recommendation of a local we came here for dinner. Made a reservation via open table as suggested because this place gets booked up for the early seating. We ordered the tasting menu which in only available from 5 to 5:45 . It's the best deal on Kauai... $40 for a five course meal including a wine flight. Overall, the food was pretty good and the wines were paired well. Our favorite course was a candied ahi which doesn't sound so great but it surprised us with its sultry smoky chili coating. We were seated on the lanai and had a nice view of the ocean and garden which made for an enjoyable relaxed dinner.
(4)Eric W.
What can I say that hasn't already been said... In a sea of mediocre food on the island of Kauai - this place stands out as a unbelievably fantastic oasis of delicious food and drinks. If you're here on vacation, splurge once or twice at this place, you won't be sorry you did. Mahalo Hukilau Lanai!!
(5)Dayton R.
My girlfriend and I went here for a nice evening dinner. We were fortunate to call the day of our reservation and get a table during their last seating time at 9pm, this place gets packed so get reservations early! We requested a seat outside, they have a very romantic outdoor area and fortunately something opened up. The wait staff was extremely pleasant and accomodated our sharing of various dishes and we never felt rushed even though we were the last to leave the restaurant. Get the Seafood Grill dish which features their fresh fish of the day with prawns and their special sauce. My girlfriend liked the Sweet Potato Ravioli, but bear in mind you only get three :).
(4)Courtney D.
This place is INCREDIBLE! My husband and I were recently married in Kauai. We had our post ceremony dinner in the banquet room at The Hukilau Lanai. The service and food were absolutely incredible. We could not have asked for a more perfect evening. The Banquet Coordinator, Manda, was an absolute joy to work with and extremely personable. We ran into her the following evening at a local restaurant and she shared her appetizer with us! An incredibly genuine person. Special mention also goes to the amazing bartender, Sylvie. She felt like a member of our party, and such service! We ended up eating at the restaurant 2 more times during our week. Everything was excellent. Our last night there, my husband ordered the tasting menu - excellent choice if you can't decide! I am convinced everything on the menu is to die for. A must if you are visiting Kauai.
(5)gerard f.
Hands down! The best place on the island for dinner. We always take guests here for the old fashion Hawaiian feel. Get here before 6:30 and try their tasting menu. An unbelievable bargain. Make reservations. It s always busy.....for a good reason. But the tables are spaced well apart and you never feel crowded. Service is impeccable.
(5)Benjamin S.
Wow. And.. wow. I actually heard about this place on TripAdvisor when reading reviews for the hotel we were staying, which was right next door. People were saying it was "a must," so I made a reservation online for our first night on the island. Boy, was that a great idea. We showed up a few minutes early, so they asked if we'd like to sit out front in the lounge, which has really comfy couches and tables. A cocktail waitress approached us right away and we ordered some mai tai's (of course). It wasn't more than another 5 minutes and we were seated out on the lanai, which was gorgeous. May as well cut to the only thing that really matters, here. As an appetizer we ordered the calamari, and I've never had better. It was some of the largest I've seen and was breaded perfectly with just the right amount of fresh lemon drizzled over it. For entrees I had the Mahi Mahi and she had the Mixed Grill. Both were delicious, but the sweet curry flavor (and portion size) of her's was my favorite. The fish in each was cooked perfectly, to the tune that you find yourself savoring each bite slowly. Also, both dishes came with a choice of soup or salad, and we both went with the soup which was a chowder on this evening. Also incredible. We loved it so much we at here our last evening of the trip as well and had the exact same great experience. Lives up to all the hype!
(5)Anna L.
We came here on our last night on Kauai and had a great time! Loved the fusion food here and really enjoyed the quality of the food and the romantic ambiance. The mixed grill was my favorite! Great variety of super-tender fish, sugarcane-speared shrimp, and the risotto was just amazing!! Other standouts were the lobster bisque and the lobster and goat cheese wontons! Unfortunately, the arugula salad and caramel mac nut tart and ice-cream dessert was just ok. The food can be rich and filling, and the food can take awhile, so try not to order too much--we were too full at the end of our meal! Also don't forget to make reservations!!
(4)Paul H.
We had the tasting menu with the wine, and it was delicious and more than enough food. As a warning, they only do this for the first hour, but it was totally worth it. All the items were good, and the wines that they paired with each course were well-chosen. My wife didn't care for the port-style muscat with the dessert course, but not that big of a deal. Presentation was excellent, and many courses were served on warmed dishes, which is a nice touch for those of us who don't like lukewarm food! Our waiter was attentive, but not overbearing. We sat outside, and the view of the ocean and the beautiful resort were a definite plus. We would go there again if we're on Kauai.
(4)Jesse D.
Delicious pupus and nice live music. We went for a pupus only dinner in the lounge and were really impressed by the food. The general ambiance was nice and the server was pretty good. Our drinks took a while but would definitely go back for more. A little pricy though.
(4)Mike B.
As a well traveled gourmand and probable future diabetic... this place is awesome. The fillet Mignon was cooked to perfection; so soft, so moist, so juicy that it is probably one of the few occasions OK to see a grown man cry. The macadamia crusted Oppa was a playful little dish, topped with a tropical salsa, made of lord knows what, but was just awesome. The juxtaposition of the crunch of the mac-nut crust and the soft flaky fish will be seared in my memory right above the memory of the loss of my virginity in the back of a 1989 Honda Civic. The Oppa came with a banana rum sauce; a lightly sweet sauce with just a hint of banana and only after could you taste the rum, which was quite pleasant with the creaminess of the sauce overall. Perfect match for the fish and salsa. The chocolate lava cake was death by chocolate. Not overly sweet, a fluffy cake with rich warm gooey filled chocolate center. I would die a happy man just drowning in it. The Verdict: There are some food experiences in your life that you can't get out of your head, and essentially chase the dragon until you find it again. I will definitely go back again. Chance of getting laid by your SO after coming here: Good to quite good
(5)Emily B.
This was our first (and best) meal in Kauai! The restaurant was located in the Kauai Coast Resort and I recommend reservations because the wait was about 45 minutes without. When we arrived, there was a lounge near the hostess' station and lounge singers performing Hawaiian music. Once we were seated, the atmosphere was nice and fairly quiet. We had a view of the resort grounds and pool, looking out towards the ocean. We ordered the lobster and goat cheese wonton, prime rib, and surf and turf (which came with steak and some kind of Hawaiian butterfish). My husband got a beer and I got the Coconut Coast Cooler (by server's recommendation). Everything was delicious!!! The fish and the prime rib were AMAZING. The entrees also came with the soup of the day, which was quite good. Our server was super friendly and gave great recommendations based on the preferences we gave her. The bill came to about $100 without tip, and we passed on dessert. FOOD: Fantastic! Definitely order the prime rib or fish. LOCATION/AMBIANCE: Convenient location, peaceful/beautiful, nice view SERVICE: Perfect PRICE: Pricey, but worth every penny BOTTOM LINE: You MUST eat here while visiting Kauai!
(5)Joyce K.
This was the best restaurant of 6 that we dined in during our stay in Kauai. The service was impeccable (even if the order got mixed up--a sincere apology is appreciated), and the food was stunning. We stayed on North Shore and ate here before our airport departure late at night, and it was such a great choice. Terrific fish; reasonable wine list, and sufficient diversity for those who are not fish lovers.
(4)Tammy M.
Aaaahhhhawesome! A must try. Romantic yet pleasant for children who can sit and have conversations. Beautiful to walk toward the beach and hammock swing :)
(5)Nancy A.
The best steak I've ever had in my entire life!!!!!! I am not kidding! I am a big steak fan and have eaten more cows than I'd like to admit, but the filet here was like no other. It melted in my mouth, I almost wet my pants it was so good! It seriously broke da mouth. I tried the fish as well and it was also delicious. The crowd here is a little older, so if your under 50 don't let that or the three dollar signs scare you away. The food is totally worth it. If you're planning on just one pricey meal during your stay in Kauai let it be here.
(5)Billie D.
We keep going back....always consistent. Make your reservations early as they book up fast.
(4)Jeff S.
Hukilau Lanai is a good option for a more upscale, gluten-free meal. They have a gluten-free menu and were good about accommodating our dietary issues. The gluten-free dinner rolls they brought out were amazing. I should have asked where they got those from. We all wound up having the Hukilau Mixed Grill consisting of grilled shrimp over two samplings of fish. The fish was a touch on the dry side, but the shrimp was outstanding. Our server was great with my two little kids and even asked them what color umbrellas they wanted with their drinks.
(4)To The M.
Had an amazing New Years dinner facing the ocean.... Open air tropical atmosphere... Great dinner, great service. Amazing Ono... Highly recommended
(5)Helen T.
We had dinner here on the recommendation of a local, who said it was the best restaurant on the island. I think she may be right. We had a fabulous meal, and excellent service. I had the sweet potato ravioli, and lobster and goat cheese wontons. Both were delicious. My husband ordered the pork chop, which was a special for the night; it was tender and flavorful. We had a lovely table on the lanai, overlooking the lawn, which made for a romantic setting. We were staying in Hanalei, so it was a bit of a drive for us to get there (35-40 mins.), but well worth the trip!
(4)Chris C.
We ate here finally towards the tail end of our trip since it is the restaurant of our hotel. It is overpriced however if you get the pairing meal for dinner, which is $28 you will have two appetizers, two entrees and two deserts which will leave you happy. My had the paring and I had the filet. Her pairing was: a sweet potato ravioli, some sort of sausage, the Mahi Mahi, the pork loin, and for desert cheese and the sorbet. The sorbet was crazy in which one of the three flavors was a mango and jalapeno flavor. Overall, the plating of every dish was excellent. The ambiance isn't that bad either with a nice view. However, the service was horrible, but the manager stepped in and was helping each waiter and waitress which was nice to see. I would recommend Hukilau Lanai to eat while on Kauai. Cheers!
(4)Anna M.
I usually shy away from restaurants inside of hotels, but this place is so delicious! Had the ahi poki nachos, ohno, and mixed seafood plate. The service was also great. They have a gluten free menu and a happy hour at the pool until 5PM.
(5)ryan r.
hukilau lanai was a major reason we decided to come back to kauai for my birthday. food on kauai is pretty meh but this restaurant is by far the exception. everything was excellent. the sweet potato ravioli is a must; the lemongrass sauce is phenomenal! the lobster bisque is excellent and the wally's salad is very good (you may want to ask for the dressing on the side if you prefer less). prime rib is delicious and you can't really go wrong with the mixed grill plate. always fresh fish but this time our marlin was a bit dry and the shrimp under seasoned; the mahi was great. we ate so much we unfortunately didn't leave room for desert.
(5)Matthew C.
One thing i've learned with my stay in Kauai...order the fish! Came here with the fam. Decided to share everything so we could all try a little bit of everything. ! Appetizers...stick with the poke nachos, cannot go wrong! The calamari was also excellent! very tender, not chewy at all! We tried the lobster and goat cheese wontons, which were good, but I'm not a big fan of the deep fried wonton shell, probably should keep it the traditional wonton style and that'll boost it up. Now I'm a big beef person, so I ordered their prime rib, which was good, cooked to order, but nothing spectacular, but still a good cut of meat. BUT their grilled ono (wahoo fish) was seriously one of the best pieces of fish i've had to date. Came with a curry sauce with rice...soooo good! Wrapped up dinner with their warm chocolate cake. I'm not a big chocolate person, especiallyh when it comes to cake because it can tend to be too sweet or rich, but I have to say their warm chocolate cake was delicious. Not too sweet, it was warm and contrasted nicely with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Note, this takes 20 minutes to prepare, so order this ahead of time if its what you want. All in all, a great dining experience! great environment and ambience, friendly staff...but I'm all about the food, and the food was great!
(4)Jennifer O.
The BF and I went here for our last meal in Kauai. It was sooo good! I made a reservation through open table, which was a good idea because the place was full. We had a seat outside overlooking the resort, which was nice atmosphere. They also position you so you don't have one person getting the view and the other looking into the restaurant, we were both looking out, so that was a nice touch. We started with lava flow drinks which tasted fresh and sweet...very good drinks. I had the chicken, which was crusted with macnut and was very tasty! The chicken was crunchy, the veggies it was served with were perfectly cooked, and the sauce was rich and delicious. Additionally, the meals come with soup or salad. I had the kahlua pork and potato soup. It was wonderful! The pork was tender, the soup was thick and hearty and full of flavor. The bread that came with it was crusted with cheese and flavorful herbs. The BF had the caesar salad which had an incredibly rich and garlicky dressing. I could have drank it (but I didn't....)The BF got the ono fish (We both do not generally like fish, but were hoping to find a fish we liked in hawaii). The fish was amazing! We both liked it (which was shocking). They grill it and serve it with mashed potatoes, a creamy yet light sauce and caramelized onions on top. Unfortunately we were too stuffed to have dessert, but if I am in Kauai again I will definitely eat here again. Thanks Hukilau Lanai for turning me on to a delicious fish!
(5)Emily B.
Food was excellent. The lobster and goat cheese wantons were great, as were the poke nachos. A good cheap wine selection. We didn't have a res but sat on the sofa in the lounge which was nice actually. Great kids menu.
(5)Ryan J.
The one spot on the island that deserves a standing ovation. Excellent setting that is enhanced by some of the freshest and most creative culinary options on the island. Highlights: Sweet Potato ravioli with curry sauce, macadamia nut encrusted chicken, and seared ahi.
(4)Josh T.
It was good, but sort of an awkward place. The drinks were great, but the food was so-so. I think we need to see this place one more time and give it another shot. We had the Opah and Ono, but we wanted the Mahi Mahi, but they ran out. They also ran out of the appetizer we wanted. How did we strike out twice with two choices? Like I said, maybe an off night - as I could see they can do better. We also has this loud group behind us, which may have affected our mood.
(3)Kevin H.
Food and atmosphere are fantastic. Make your reservation on a night and time when there is a live musician. If they have the Kona coffee, brown sugar glazed ahi appetizer, order it! Also, highly suggest the mixed grill plate, but ask to double up the Walu.
(4)Christine C.
My husband is quite the refined and adventurous eater. Me- not so much. And yet we both loved the tasting menu at the Hukilau. If I had to describe the tasting menu I'd say that it is gourmet food that is inspired with undeniable class for "foodies"...but is still very approachable and enjoyable for the rest of us. We opted for the menu that included wine selections for each course. The price is reasonable as well ($40.00) considering you're getting a 5 course gourmet meal with half glasses of wine that compliment each course. (You can do the tasting menu sans wine for $28.00.) Everything was superb. As a picky eater, let me break it down: I loved the sweet potato ravioli (I don't like sweet potato), I ate every last bite of the Ono (I don't eat seafood- at all) and the accompanying arugula salad with beets (BEETS?!), meatloaf ("not your grandma's meatloaf") and crème brulee (heaven with a hard candy shell) were to die for. It was all fantastic! My husband opted for the cheese platter for dessert which he loved. I didn't care for it personally (cheeses were bitter and pungent). But we both left extremely happy with our meals and the experience as a whole. The service was also perfection. Very prompt, attentive and courteous. Let's not forget the specialty cocktails. Their martinis are made with liquors that are infused with indulgent flavors right there on site. We ordered a lemon drop (made with limoncello and lemon infused vodka), a vanilla bean and macadamia nut infused vodka drink (tasted like a cookie) and a "Hot and Dirty" martini that was a smoky pepper vodka concoction. All were made stiff and delicious- and were very reasonably priced compared to specialty drinks at similar establishments that aren't nearly as creative.
(5)Charlie A.
Should I let the cat out of the bag... or should I not? Oh... What the hell! WOW! JUST WOW!! I've been coming to Kauai for over 25 years and this is, by far, the best restaurant that I've ever eaten at on the Garden Isle. I read about the Hukilau Lanai on Yelp, and so I booked a table with a request for lanai seating via OpenTable for my tenth anniversary.When my wife and I arrived for our 8pm reservation we were seated at a spacious table on the lania right next to the garden area. It was quite impressive with the tiki torches and beautiful landscaping. Our hostess was really helpful in her recommendation of adult beverages and the the various cocktails we tried were all excellant. Our server, Andrew, was one of the best waiters I've ever encountered in all of my years of fine dining. It was almost surreal receiving such service from a waiter dressed in slacks and an aloha shirt, but trust me, Andrew is exceptional. You're in for a treat if seated at one of his tables. We were looking at appetizers to start, but Andrew recomended something not usually found on the menu... candied coconut ahi. Brown sugar, coconut and ever-so-slightly seared cubed ahi make up this app and HOLY COW was it delectable! My wife then ordered the Hukilau Mixed Grill and upgraded her salad to the Mixed Greens and Maytag Blue , while I ordered the Grilled Ahi and upgraded my soup to a cup of the Lobster Bisque. The bisque was just amazing, as was the perfectly prepared ahi. My wifes salad was equally good, but I felt a bit overpowering when tried next to the significantly subtler lobster bisque. She thought that her entree was very well-prepared and we were both quite happy with our meals. Something that needs to be mentioned here is that the pacing of our meal was never, ever rushed and Andrew and the other staff members were all very attentive during our dinner. For dessert we shared a (not on the menu) recommendation by Andrew, a powdered sugar key-lime eclair along with some chocolate truffles for our anniversary! BRAVO!! Altogether this was a most amazing dinner, especially on Kauai. As mentioned before, I've been coming to Kauai for over 25 years and I've tried them all... twice if I liked them. When it comes to food quality Hukilau Lanai surpasses them all, even the St. Regis in Princeville. Now here's the best part... our bill for this amazing dinner including 3 cocktails and 2 glasses of wine was... wait for it... $125.00!! Do yourself a favor before the place gets over-run. GO! ASK FOR ANDREW! BE AMAZED! TIP WELL!
(5)Michele N.
The whole package was excellent: appetizers, bread, fish entrees, wine, bar drinks, dessert. We went once for a full dinner and once for drinks and appetizers during our trip in Kauai - great service and experience on both occasions. Try the coconut coast cooler!
(5)Blake H.
Great food, great preparation and presentation. Live music, was a great dinner experience.
(5)Eilene R.
This place was so awesome we went 3 times on our vacation and it was completely out of the way. I've been meaning to write this review for some time. Try the Koloa rum. My husband got their blueberry soup even though it sounded strange and loved it. We got something different every time and it was always amazing.
(5)Julie V.
Romantic ambiance, great service, and delicious food.
(5)Jeff W.
produce from the farmers market such as the romaine lettuce that was so sweet it nearly did not need the garlicky caesar dressing. and dishes that wonderfully takes advantage of the fresh fish available here. i had the mixed grill which featured shrimp on a sugar cane skewer, waloo (butterfish) and opah (which was overcooked). but a meer mention of the fact I did not like the opah and out came another piece of butterfish comped by our server. very nice touch. it was accompanied by a nice thai chile coconut milk based orzo pasta. all the dishes had sweet and savory components that really complimented each other. the curry lobster soup was to die for. the candied sear fresh ahi tuna was amazing. i may have to come back here before the week is over! JYW likes it a lot!
(4)Scott C.
I really wanted to not like this place because it is a bit cheesy. That said, they really delivered on the food and when you are overlooking the water, it is hard to be a hater. To start, i had the firecracker fish soup. This was probably the worst dish though it was pretty good. It tasted like tortilla soup, but could not taste the fish at all. Also had thw wallie salad. This was one of the better salads i have had on the islands even though it is basically their house salad. It had a good mix of vegis and dressed really nicely. For entrees i had the mixed grill which was two tastings of fresh fish of the day and a skewer of prawns. They did a great job of balancing the fish tastings. One fish was firm and meaty cooked cajun style. The other was a oilier fish which was a nice textural contrast to the firmer fish. On top of all of this, the service was very friendly and attentive without being intrusive. This place has been arounf for a while and for good reason.
(4)Josh L.
This was my favorite place we ate at on our honeymoon. The ahi poke nachos were fantastic, and the mixed grill was perfectly cooked. Good drinks too, and they're not all fruity rum drinks. The macadamia tart was delicious, too. I read somewhere that the portions were on the smallish side, but I think that's a good thing. Most places on the islands, in my experience, stuff you so you walk out feeling a bit ill (at least if you're like me and refuse to not finish a delicious meal). Great place, and I'll recommend it to anyone traveling to Kauai for sure.
(5)Nali M.
so i got my husband to take me, and we had a really good time. he ordered the lobster curry bisque and we shared the wonton. i ended up eating a lot of his bisque. it was SOOOOOO delicious!! i think we regretted the items we ordered: he got the farmer's market lasagna and i got the filet. these are things we could have made at home. my recommendation if you dine here: get what they do best; seafood! i'll definitely be heading back again and again!
(4)Ethel A.
My husband & I decided to eat @ a nice restaurant on our last night @ Kauai and saw the reviews about this place so we decided to try it. The place was nice and clean. We were seated out @ the patio, but soon realize a few flies were around as well. They had a 5 course menu deal from Sun-Tues 5pm-7pm (I think) @ $28 bucks, I thought 5 course $28 that's a good deal. I find out the portions are small, thus the $28...so really not worth it and get a regular entree. My husband had their prime rib and I thought that was pretty good. Overall the place was nice and the prices match the portions.
(3)R S.
This was a great find (thanks to the Yelp iPhone app). About 6pm on Sunday, while daughter was playing at the wonderful Lydgate Beach Park, we searched on yelp, found this place then made a reservation for 8:15. We showed up a bit early, grabbed a couple of drinks at the bar and they seated us a few minutes later, on-time. Waiter was very helpful, even taking a late change of order (decided to get the Ahi after all... and I'm glad I did!). Order took some time to arrive, but it was delicious. Ambience was good - not too upscale but not loud or boisterous. Perfect for tourist families. All in all, our favorite restaurant of our trip. Island cuisine with a hawaiian flavor. Good seafood. A bit pricey, but worth it.
(5)Keikilani S.
We have been dining at Hukilau Lanai since it opened! Now, that it is under different ownership we still continue to go there because the menu is practically the same, the food is consistent, the staff is efficient and courteous and the price is right! Our favorites include: sweet potato ravioli, swiss chard and hamakua mushroom tart, Wally's Steak Crown Royal, Pork Tenderloin and all of the fish choices. Great "20 under $20" wine list and fab desserts! The kids menu is also wonderful! The Hawaiian entertainment by Dennis Chun makes the entire experience memorable!
(5)Ling W.
Had reservation (unable to make online but called to set), had to wait 15 mins for table. Sat at bar and had drinks. There are some interesting offerings. Were seated and ordered quickly. We were in and out in 1 hour total. My husband loved the ravioli appetizer. My meal was gluten free and as other reviews have mentioned, they offer a gluten free menu and bread. We both had filet mignon. My only complaint was they the sauce (gravy?) was very salty. Cream brûlée was ok, a bit mushy. Overall, we felt our drinks, app, meals, and dessert were above average but not wow (!). Service was efficient, not particularly friendly but not mean, just...efficient. Atmosphere and ambience could use some updating (paint, pictures, carpet, sound system). I'm unsure if we will return. If I could give 3.5 stars, I would.
(4)april w.
Was looking for a place to have a nice dinner to celebrate my birthday.. Since the island practically shuts down at the stroke of 6, it was now 7:30 and I was desperate to find a nice decent restaurant. Yelp reviewers led me to this location and I was not disappointed. Ordered the lobster bisque, Mahi with the mushrooms and mashed potatoes, and the prime rib - all were DELISH! I also received a happy birthday chocolate lava cake..yum
(4)A Z.
Great fresh food. Nice outdoor seating in the evening. You must order the Poke' Nachos!
(5)Linda C.
Hukilau Lanai is wonderful. It definiely blows the over-hyped and overpriced Beach House out of the water. I was certainly was skeptical. I never, ever, ever would have eaten at a restaurant in a hotel-lobby restaurant at timeshare if it hadn't been for the yelp reviews. I love the atmosphere. It's beautiful and tranquil with a lot of island style-- without being over the top. (No tikis or grass-covered bar). The restaurant overlooks a beautiful garden and the Wailua beachfront. The food is very good and reasonably priced. The homemade foccacia was okay (3 stars) but the olive oil/balsamic/chile oil was FANASTIC! Wow. (5 stars) Great selection of wines for $20 a bottle or less. That's not easy to do in Hawaii. All of these wines were available by the glass. We had an excellent Italian wine from Montepulciano (Chianti) (5 stars) My husband gives five stars to the Navy bean soup, I give five stars to Wally's salad. Super fresh, tasty organic greens. Best tomatoes I've had on Kauai (which means they were okay). Four stars for lobster wontons with plum sauce. Our entrees were very good. I had Opah and my husband had the meatloaf. The Opah was at least four stars or more. The mashed potatoes were excellent. Five stars. Coffee is three stars--meaning A-OK. Lilikoi pie was good, but not as good as the pie at Hamura's Saimin. (Hamura's pie is 5 stars and Hukilau Lanai's pie is 3 stars. Sorry.) Price is excellent by mainland standards and exceptional by Hawaiian standards. Two glasses of wine, one order of pupus (appetizer), two entrees with soup or salad, one dessert and coffee for totalled $84.00. Imagine! Made reservations for a lanai (patio) table on opentable.com . We got the best table right in the middle of the lanai! Awesome. Glad I did that because the place was packed on Sunday night. Word is getting out. By the way, they have music in the bar every night. (See schedule on website) The kane (man) who performs on Sunday evening is five stars EXCELLENT and the volume is just perfect. I've endured so many meals accompanied by too-loud, marginally-talented entertainers that I really appreciated him. We stayed in the bar after dinner to appreciate the music. The bar is a very relaxing setting (couches and chairs) and has a nice energy. More appealing than Stevenson's Library. We may or may not eat in the restaurant again. We tend to avoid fancy food and places that cater to haoulis (white folk) in Kauai because that's not what they're good at. We eat local style. But we absolutely, definitely WILL be back to have pupus and drinks in the bar. May even spring for the awesome-sounding five course wine/food pairing tasting menue someday.
(4)Kevin A.
Great dinner at Hukilau tonight prior to the tsunami warning. The mixed grill is a terrific choice. I have not had a bad meal at this seafood delight.
(5)alex t.
Very good food
(5)G L.
If I judged a restaurant only by the food, I'd say this restaurant would be rated "good". However, the service, ambiance, and total experience make this restaurant special. I definitely recommend it, and we plan on eating here again on our next trip to Kauai. I ordered from the "Gluten Free tasting menu" and some items were great, others just ok, but it was enjoyable to try various selections Next time, I'll select the one menu item that really catches my eye, but either way you go, you'll enjoy yourself.
(4)Michele W.
Had dinner with friends on a Sunday (5 of us). Had to wait a few minutes for our seats but it was worth the wait. Sat in the back right near the open window by ourselves for a good amount of time. Next up....drinks. Had the special. Believe it was called Gardener's Party made with kefir limes from the garden. It was delicious and refreshing! Then on to the Calamari! So tender and tasty! Worth a try. Next, the Ahi stack (think it was a special). That was to die for!!! Hope it is on the menu for my next visit. (which will hopefully be next year!) I had the Ono with a miso sauce for my entre. Last but certainly not least was the dessert special. Chocolate brownie infused with habenero chili peppers and a Dulce de Leche sorbet! YUMMMMM!!! So if you are in search excellent food in a relaxed non pretentious setting try Hukilau Lanai on Kauai!
(5)Jaye J.
Ok, decided to go here our last night in Kauai. From the other Yelp reviews, we weren't expecting much from the waiters, but thought the location and food should be good. It was really great! We made a reservation on Open Table for 5 p.m. We got there early around 4:30ish and sat at the bar that is just outside of the restaurant, in the hotel lobby. The bartender was really nice. I had a wonderful pomegranate marguerita. My friend had a mai tai and my husband, who is our designated driver had a club soda. We were there long enough to order two. Delish! Promptly at 5 p.m., the dining room opened. I ordered the tasting with the wine. Really delicious. We started with squash blossom appetizers that were special that night. They were stuffed with a horseradish cheddar. Totally yummmmm. My husband, who NEVER eats fish, ordered the opakapaka, which was the special fish dish that night. It's a Hawaiian red snapper. He LOVED it! My friend, who was also traveling with us, ordered the pork and she LOVED that. The waitress was wonderful and the servers who brought my tasting dishes separately were ok, not nearly as personable as the waitress. All in all, we agreed that on our next visit to Kauai, we would made sure we had at least one dinner at Hukilau Lanai! Aloha and Mahalo!
(4)Mike G.
Amazing!!! The best place for (an all around) dinner we found over 2 weeks on the island. We tried different places every night but wound up spending our last 2 nights here (as well as our 3rd). Make reservations a day or two in advance to get a time you want because this place is packed open to close.
(5)Mark T.
My favorite place that I ate at in Kauai. Good quality food for a good price. Wine list was affordable and decent enough quality. Tried going a second time on my trip, but couldn't get a reservation (book on OpenTable). Highly recommend.
(5)Ailin K.
The tasting menu was delicious and well proportioned. We got to try the best of the restaurant, and everything was as delicious as it could be. Service was great, very efficient. The wine pairing was well done. The fish dish came with Merlot pairing, which was out of ordinary, can't say that I get the concept or found it paired well, but it was an interesting idea. We left feeling satisfied and look forward returning to the place again.
(4)Lisa L.
My original plan was to go partake in their 5 course $40 tasting menu (yes, with wine pairings!), but since I went on Christmas Eve with my parents, we had to order from the special holiday menu. The kahlua turkey was tender, but very smokey and a tad to salty for my taste. The prime rib came out perfectly cooked and was a very generous portion. Side dishes (garlic mash, stuffing, sweet potato mash) were decent, but nothing to write home about. There's also a bread basket with warm foccacia bread. My favorite part of the meal was actually the Wally's salad (romaine, tomatoes, pecans, mandarin tomatoes, and croutons with a ranch and papaya vinaigrette) which was the perfect combination of salty, sweet and crunchy. The service was great, super polite and friendly, and the ocean view while dining was a lovely bonus! They also have a 20 wines for $20 menu which is pretty fun. I'd definitely go back, but more for a festive happy hour or scenic lunch than a sit down dinner.
(3)Mike H.
Hukilau provided the best food we had on the island. It was one of two places,I thought, provided food good enough to compete anywhere in the world. I had their tasting menu coupled with wine. It was interesting and surprising. The wine varietal choices were bold in that they were not the usual suspects; Muscat anyone? The pairings worked quite well even when we were less than thrilled with the course. My least favorite was the "Not Your Mother's Meatloaf", even though its preparation was perfect it had too much cumin for my taste. Service was good, more diner than dining. We were there before the music started and the restaurant filled up. Hukilau is one of the few places worth seeking out for the food on Kauai and worth seeking out is by definition 4 stars. Mike
(4)Paula F.
Wonderful Wonderful Wonderful!!! Our group started with drinks and the bar and didn't even order anything specific, just that the bartender fix us something pretty with an umbrella it is. Perfect! We sat outside and the temp & breeze were just perfect. Wally's salad is a very good start. We each tried something different and each had a great experience; Mac Crusted Chicken Breast, Veggie Lasagna, Pork Loin and the Mixed grill of Wahoo and sugar cane speared Shrimp. Yum!
(5)Cécile L.
The food is very good. We went there twice in July 2010. The first time we didn't bother to book a table, and because we didn't want to wait one hour we had dinner in the lobby. That was the mistake. We ended up waiting one hour anyway to have our food. The waitress forgot to order our appetizers but brought bread (which is very good and can serve as an appetizer ;) ) several times as an apology. Then we shared the mixed grill with my husband. It was delicious. Even our baby loved it. So we decided to give it another try. This time we booked a table and had dinner in the dining room. The waitress did everything she could to make our dinner nice, even if our baby didn't cooperate a lot. The service was very fast (maybe too fast this time) and we got to taste the Sweet Potato Ravioli which is a must have! And we ordered the mixed grill again and it was delicious again. I wanted to try their desserts but our baby was screaming... So two not so good experiences but a great staff and some very good food!
(4)Jimmy B.
Came here because it was walking distance to our courtyard marriott hotel and so glad we did! Menu looked awesome, and everything we had was great! Ahi tacos, opah fish, and pork medallions were all winners. Service was great and ambiance was nice. Really can't wait to go back here!
(5)Mel G.
After reading all of the reviews, Joe and I decided to check this place out. I ordered the filet mignon, and it was delicious. Our server was also friendly and attentive, and the casual -- yet nice -- environment of this restaurant made for a very lovely evening. Would definitely recommend!
(4)c L.
This was one of the best meals we ate in Kauai...most of the meals we ate on this island were just okay until we came here. My husband ordered the prime rib which was fantastic. I ordered the mixed grill which was good but was sitting in too much curry sauce...if it was plain, it would have been so much better. I had the lobster bisque which is curry based and tasted just like drinking curry sauce so if you dont like curry, dont order it, it is not your typical lobster bisque. The caesar salad and creme brulee were excellent. Our waiter was a brunette gentlemen in his 30's, he was an awesome waiter. Very attentive service..would definitely recommend this spot..it blows the Beach House away as far as the food goes.
(5)No B.
The Hukiulau Lanai: Careless wait staffers who are dog tired of tourists, along with creative sounding but very mediocre food at high prices, all the while pretending to be a fine restaurant. What's not to dislike? The prices do not bother us. It is what you receive for the money that will keep us from returning. Ever. The beautiful garden lanai setting is overcome by a very mediocre "basic low-to-mid-level hotel" kitchen and the self important, sometimes rudely interrupting wait staff. Fails big time.
(1)Ben T.
Favorite Dinner in Kauai. Very delicious and reasonably priced.
(5)Shannon F.
As someone who lives on the island and has eaten here many times, I can say the food here is always consistently amazing. Special props on the meat, it's the tenderest, most delicious meat ever - the mac nut chicken and filet mignon is to die for. And I always have to try and not fill up on that bread. Shout out to Adam in the kitchen! This is one of Cameron and I's favorite places to eat for special occasions or a romantic date night. Love the live music, it always seems to set the mood. And the service is usually excellent. We love the Hukilau!
(5)Lena H.
Love the chocolate lava cake, macadamia nut encrusted fish, salads always fresh, dressings yummy, breads great. Staff always friendly. Eat outside to see a great ocean view. Best place to eat on the island.
(4)LL C.
28 dollar for 5 course tasting menu, yes please! ahi nachos were delicious, as were the sweet potato ravioli...the warabe (fern) that was paired with the sauage was delciious also.... nice view of water/beach...friendly wait staff
(5)Stephanie G.
Lemme just say that my table had the only non-white people in the whole place (besides staff). It was like a game of bridge was in danger of breaking out at any second. The restaurant actually overlooks a hotel pool so you can look forward to seeing all that goes along with that. The beach is visible from some tables (not ours). We went for the five course, five wine pairing for $40/. This means we had to eat at 6PM, but whatever. It was all pretty good. More importantly it was reasonably priced and they brought us pretty big glasses of wine. If I can remember what I ate...It was a Okinawan sweet-potato ravioli with some kind of shaved Maui onion on top, a remarkably unremarkable, over-dressed green salad, a piece of white fish that my husband who will eat anything referred to as "spongy," meat loaf and a side of corn that was actually excellent despite it's unfortunate name, and a glorious cheese plate that had the honeycomb on it....ask for extra slices of bread for the cheese though, they give you 3 waif-sized slices which is not enough for the amount of cheese you are given. I also ate someone's creme brulee which was creamy and perfect. P.S.: They don't have espresso here...the waitress offered to make me a french press, but after a giant meal and five glasses of wine I need espresso. The service was very good though. It was attentive but not overbearing.
(3)Adam H.
The best thing about this place was the island vibe. My gf and I went one night during our vacation because we heard it was the best meal on the island... While I can't agree with that, our food was very good. We both had fish and I can't complain at all about our meal or experience. Being able to sit on the open patio on an awesome night looking out toward to beach was definitely a highlight.
(4)Brian E.
My wife and I had our Wedding reception at Hukilau---What a wonderful experience. Manda, Brian and their entire staff exceeded our expectations in everyway. The food was delicious---Ahi Poke Nachos, Sweet Potato Ravioli, these massive shrimp and scallops! The lilikoi pie, and wedding cake were perfect. We couldn't have asked for a better experience from Hukilau. I'm a tough customer to please, and they delivered. Thank you!
(5)Daphne J.
We repeat visited this great spot when we were in Kapa'a. They do a great job of using local ingredients and doing some really creative things! I loved the sweet potato ravioli! I think the early-bird tasting menu that pairs courses with wine is an excellent deal. It was $50! The wines were not my favorite, but they did pair well with the food courses--which were ONOlicious! The patio seating gives you a lovely view of the palm trees and the ocean. The lounge area near the bar is a comfy place to sit and chat. I was really skeptical about a place called "Hukilau Lanai"--how stereotypical cheesy Hawai'i can you get, right? It's not in the name, it's in the ingredients--and the food doesn't lie.
(4)Kai T.
I ate here on 06/17/11. Somehow I forgot to yelp it. I recommend the steak medallions. That was really good.
(4)john h.
I came here twice. The first time I had the tasting menu and the Ahi Poke nachos. The nachos were awesome and the tasting menu was fun. The second time we had the BBQ Ribs appetizer which was excellent. I also had the Opah dinner, which was fine, but it was probably my least favorite piece of fish that I had on my entire trip.
(4)Harry D.
Make a reservation, or you may end up waiting for a while. It's our go to place for a great quality dinner. Service is always top notch, food never disappoints me, and it's pretty casual. It is on the more expensive side, but you'll get plenty of food.
(4)Jeanette H.
Based on the wonderful yelp reviews, we did the tasting/wine pairing at this oceanfront restaurant. We were not disappointed! The food was beautiful and delicious. We tasted some wines that we would not usually try, in a beautiful location, served by efficient and pleasant waiters. And all for $40 per person! Terrific value. They even had a vegetarian tasting menu :)
(5)Abbey P.
Based on my food, I would give it a 3.5 star. Overall, I would give it a 4 star. THis is hard for me except that my fish was just a bit overcooked. Flavor was otherwise good. The Mai tai was good- actually, very good. Ahi Poke nachos- yum..i would recommend just for that. I had the local grilled fish with saffron sauce. The sauce was really good. But like I said, the fish was just overcooked. My bf got the mixed seafood plate- two types of fish with shrimp. It wasn't the cajun fish but the other was perfectly cooked. I wished i just had that. The shrimp was also just okay. I forget the dessert we had- something with ice cream and that was very good. sorry... :)
(4)Todd B.
Went on the advice of Yelpers. Will come back based on our own personal experience. Lobster curry bisque was so rich and cozy on a cool February night. I had the prime rib, and it was some of the best steak I have ever had anywhere! Wife had the mixed grill which included some Walu (Hawaiian butter fish). It was just a perfect harmony of many subtle flavors, none of which overwhelmed the others. Mom got the vegetable lasagna. She was glad she ordered it, but will try something new next time. Portion was plenty for lunch tomorrow. Service was very friendly, although the bar was a little bit slow. We will likely come early for the prix fixe later this week. I don't award too many 5 star reviews, but this place deserves one.
(5)Lena D.
I love that this restaurant is adjacent to the condo we always stay in on our yearly visits to Kauai. I have eaten at the Hukilau more than six times, trying almost every dish on the menu. Here's the deal. This place WINS FOR PUPUS: The Ahi Poke Nachos are from Heaven. Sashimi grade ahi poke on top of fresh and crisp wonton chips (nice chipy-dippy size, to boot) with a silky wasabi cream sauce. YUMMMAMI! Another winner are the ribs. They only give you three! Well, OK it is an app, but man, the hoisin sweet glaze and watermelon salad that it comes with is DEELISH. Must also give a shout out to the Lobster and Goat Cheese Wontons, which were crispy on the outside, creamy and lobstery on the inside (nicely balanced, not too cheesy to boot). The Hamakua Mushroom Tart and Calamari were also winners. I tried to bribe the waiter into giving me more of that flaky, buttery crust all by itself, but alas I was shut down. And for calamari, well crispy, warm and cooked to perfection... what more do you want in friend calamari? The only Pupu lacking was the Kalua Chicken with the ancho guava sauce. The chicken was overcooked, the sauce was weak, and the watercress that it was served on top of had too many stems and not enough yummy leaves. SALADS All times, my salads were over dressed. The Arugula Salad with fresh corn & Kauai Kunana Dairy Chevre Salad would have been nummers, IF they weren't swimming in their dressings. SOUPS The curry bisques are great, I had a lobster version one time, then a pumpkin version most recently. Both excelled in flavor, well balanced and silky -- more than made up for the over seasoned, too thick corn and bacon chowder I sampled three nights before. ENTREES: Definitely go for the fish here. This is where they shine. The mix grill plate is ONO. They do it differently --on a weekly basis, i think-- because the three different trips I have been here, the mix grill has been the same fish & preparation for the duration of the week. The Opah is also a winner, being pank & herb crusted and served over orzo in a lemon-caper-cream sauce, although the portion is HUGE. My hubby has ordered the pork tenderloin, the steak crown royale and lasagne. All had excellent flavor, and would get an ONO but definitely not a YUMAMI rating from me because of various textural/ accompaniment reasons on different occasions. Besides eating steak outside in 85 degree weather is just not my cup o' tea, yeah? DESSERT The creme brulee, sorbet trio and mac nut tart are right up there with the ahi poke nachos, with the sorbets having a narrow lead. The creme brulee gets props for not going all lilikoi on us like most CB's in Hawaii. Instead, they take advantage of the BEST vanilla bean in the world right here in Hawaii and use it advantageously. The mac nut tart is rich, toasty and the crust is sooo buttery good. I recommend sharing both of these as the portion is generous and they are very. rich. The sorbet trio is probably the best. The flavors always change, but are always amazing. They serve them on ceramic soup spoons; one little scoop per flavor, and are the perfect, refreshing end to an amazing meal! THE REST Service is chill, waiters are nice, real, not overly attentive but there when you need. Get a table in the lower part of the restaurant, up against the tiki torch parameter if possible. The view is beautiful at sunset and afterward the tikis and garden setting make for a romantic tropical ambiance. The upper level is okay, just isn't the same experience. The wine list is well thought out and well priced. Most bottles are $20 or less and they have a fresh modern approach to their selections. I especially enjoyed that most were available by the glass, so I could mix and match with each course. The cocktails are strong, sweet and cold, what more do you need? Another cool thing is that the chef maintains a small herb garden in front of the outdoor section of the restaurant. Hubby and I got sucked into a time share presentation one morning and we were lucky enough to see one of the kitchen assistants walking out and selecting herbs for the soup of the day. That was the BEST part of the whole sales presentation, as you can probably imagine ;op
(4)Jeremy D.
Atmosphere: Like hotel restaurant/bar Service: Good, our only complaint being that our server disappeared after they closed and didn't offer dessert and we had to ask for our check. Food: Good to great, everything tasted fresh and creative. 1st course: poke nachos, very good 2nd course: I had the Wally salad, very good. Wife had the lobster bisque, very good 3rd course: Mahi, very good Sweet potato ravioli: good, maybe a little sweet, but it's sweet potato... Lava flows were delicious and the lager on tap was a solid beer. . Overall: not cheap, but if you have the means, I would highly recommend it. Good date night.
(4)Allison G.
I have been to Kauai 9 times and this was my favorite meal on the island, so far. The servers were fantastic, friendly, and I honestly felt that they cared for us. Most of all, the food was delicious. We went for my grandmother's 75th birthday and they made it very special for us. The Coconut Coast Cooler is a great drink as well as the Mai Tai. The calamari appetizer was excellent and the Ahi was the best that I had ever eaten at a restaurant (and I live in San Diego where I eat lots of seafood). Overall, it was a great experience and I can't wait to go back again next year.
(5)Robert B.
You owe it to yourself to enjoy this place at least once while on vacation in Kauai. Make a reservation for dinner to sit outside on the patio. Make the reservation early in your vacation, because I can almost guarantee that you will want to come back more than once. The calamari appetizer was delicious. I don't think you could go wrong with any of the fresh fish main courses. I had the ahi with a beet and eggplant ragout and gnocchi. It might sound weird, but it was great. My wife had the ono with a light coconut curry and jasmine rice. It was simple, not overpowering, and amazingly delicious. They have a "20 under $20" wine list, which is a really nice touch. The selection isn't amazing, but I really appreciate not being raked over the coals for wine at a nice restaurant. They have more expensive bottles available as well. We were too full to make it to dessert. Our server was attentive and the outdoor seating area was very nice. I can't think of one thing I'd change about our experience.
(5)Brian K.
This was the first place I ate when I got to Hawaii and it turned out to be the best place on a three week trip that covered three islands. Food was excellent service was great and the atmosphere was perfect.
(5)Paul T.
I have to say, this is a must visit - especially if you have kids. The location is great, looking out onto a garden next to the beach. They have a really good kids menu (if your kids are under 4 you might want to consider splitting a dish, as the kids options are a bit pricey). The food was really good, I got the Hukilau Grill which was really tasty - a couple of grilled fish of the day, and a shrimp skewer. Also, the overall cost of the meal was surprisingly good considering Kauai's general prices!
(4)Jack N.
Food was ok. Service not even so good. A bit of an attitude and not too attentive. Quite pricey for what is offered. Drinks were ok. Better than Burger King... ;0)
(2)Kevin G.
We had our wedding reception here on 10/5/11. Manda, the banquet manager, was fantastic from the beginning to the end. We had a lot of questions and she always responded promptly. We had a small wedding of 26 people and I think this was the perfect amount of guests. The wedding went fantastic. The food was of course delicious, we had plenty of choices for drinks and the cocktail hour before the reception was a nice touch. If your considering having a wedding at the Hukilau Lanai, I highly recommend getting in touch with Manda and booking the event!
(5)Shana O.
This is my favorite restaurant on Kauai. Best dinner we had when we were there in March 2008, and on our latest trip last week, we were staying at the resort in which it's located. Having 2 young kids, we were not eager to attempt many dinners out with them, and we ended up ordering take out from Hukilau on 3 of our 7 nights there. The Mixed Grill I had on our first night had the most delicious fish I've ever tasted -- I believe it was the Walu. The creamy orzo that came with it was also amazing (available to order as a side w/ anything). The skewered shrimp were also above average but not phenomenal. The seafood creamy soup (not sure of the name) was delicious, though I had to eat it the next day b/c I was so full from my mains. The calamari was the best I've ever had -- plump, moist, lightly breaded -- a far cry from the dry, brittle stuff you can end up with. And the chile coconut sauce is perfect. The lobster curry bisque was very good, though I think I'm more of a traditionalist when it comes to lobster, so it wasn't my favorite. The sweet potato ravioli and ahi poke were delicious though not as amazing as that calamari! The food here is amazing, even for take out, and the in-restaurant dining experience is also exceptional.
(5)Cindy H.
The mixed grill (seafood + shrimp) was melt in your mouth delicious. The cilantro-lime seafood chowder was amazing. We ate there a second time for our last night on the island.
(5)Melanie N.
Definitely get reservations! This place fills up quickly. The food is amazing, the service great. The Hukilau griller features all island fresh caught fish. The filet mignon was the most tender I've ever had. Great time, can't wait to go back!
(5)Darlene C.
AMAZING!! First thing I have to say. We stayed at the Kauai Coast Resort at the Beachboy for our honeymoon, and this is the restaurant in that resort. We actually only ate here once, but after that we wished we had eaten dinner here every night (if we could afford it). It's about as pricey as any really good restaurant, and the food really does deliver. They start you off with bread with oil and balsamic vinegar. The bread had this crust of cheeses on top. It was really good. The top actually kind of tasted like pizza. Hubby had the Mixed Grill. He got two kinds of fish, grilled shrimp skewered on sugar cane, served over something like orzo or cous cous. I don't remember. He looked like he was in heaven eating this thing! I got the shrimp fettuccini, and I was in love. It was really really good. For dessert he had the creme brulee. He said the ratio was not what he preferred. Because the dish is deep, he got more cream and, in his opinion, not enough of the sugar shell. But he said it was still really good. I had the chocolate warm cake, which you have to order early to allow about 20 minutes to make (it says in the menu). I asked them to serve the vanilla bean ice cream that comes with it on the side as I can't have it (but the hubby can). Really really delicious. All the staff we encountered were really nice and attentive. I really do wish we had eaten there sooner to at least have another dinner there. A good excuse to visit Kauai again.
(4)Spencer G.
Ambience was good. Service excellent. Food outstanding. Best dining on Kuaui
(5)Cynthia H.
I have never had a disappointing dinner at the HukiLau Lanai. Everything I've had there has been absolutely delicious - from the specialty cocktails to the fabulous entrees. I've eaten there a few times with my sister, and since neither one of us can eat soup or salad plus a whole entree, we always split something. The kitchen is kind enough to offer an extra soup or salad for a modest $5, and then serves each of us a beautiful plated entree which they divide in half so that we don't have the cumbersome job of trying to do that ourselves. The atmosphere is relaxed with a nice view of the gardens. The staff is efficient and eager to please. This restaurant will always be at the top of my list when in Kapaa. I highly recommend it!
(5)Sunny S.
Hukilau Lanai is AWESOME! The only downfalls are that they are NOT open on MONDAYS and the PARKING is limited. The restaurant is in the KAUAI COAST RESORT, so a lot of stalls are taken by guests and employees. However, it is only a short walk from the Coconut Market Place (which has a LOT of parking available). So you can always park there and walk. My FAVORITE dish there is the POKE NACHOS. If you LOVE "poke" (raw fish) and wonton chips then this is the dish for you. The fish is more "seared" rather than "raw" though. The LOBSTER AND GOAT CHEESE WONTON is amazing too! And so are the BBQ RIBS...mmmmmm! As far as the "entrees/main dishes" go, I recommend EVERYTHING on the menu. My favorite however is the PORK TENDERLOIN. It is MAGNIFICENT! And you must DEFINETLY try some of the FRESH FISH. They are all bought by LOCAL FISHERMAN so you know that its FRESH and not a bunch of "frozen junk" like some restaurants have. There are a handful of dessert choices, but my favorite is the CHOCOLATE CAKE. This takes 20 minutes to prepare so if you are a chocolate lover or think youre gonna try this be sure to let your server know ahead of time (however, they will also ask you in advance) I cant remember the name of the cake but its pretty much a "chocolate molten lava cake" (chocolate cake with more chocolate oozing out) with some ice cream on the side. It is the BEST! I also had the Hawaiian Vanilla Bean Creme Brulee and its wonderful. But my favorite is the chocolate cake. If you have "keiki" (children) this place is VERY KID FRIENDLY. I have a 1 year old daughter there and she loves the food and the staff there. The "keiki menu" is very simple and includes choices of pasta, chicken fingers, hot dogs, fish or PB&J. They also include some "drinks" like Lava Flow or "Hukilau POG" (my daughters favorite). All the kid meals start with some fresh pineapple and end with DESSERT (scoop vanilla ice cream) Oh and of course, the prices are reasonable too. All entrees are under $30 so its pretty easy on your wallet. However, they do have an 18% gratuity of parties over 8 (which is normal for most restaurants) I give this place 5 STARS! Id give it MORE if it was possible but 5 is the limit. Great food, staff AND atmosphere. If you are ever in the island or in the area, be sure to save a night to have dinner at HUKILAU LANAI. I promise you will NOT regret it. I go there every chance I get.
(5)James H.
The meal started with Focaccia Bread with Basalmic vinegar and olive oil, different, but very good. Small clams are farmed on the West side of Kauai. They were served in delicious sauce as an appetizer. They left my wife and I wanting to sop up the juices with bread. My wife had the Gazpacho soup, excellent , I had the Tomato and Basil with seafood soup which was also very good. For dinner I had a Mahi-Mahi special that was prepared simply, but delicious. My wife had the mixed grill that included fish and shrimp. She very much enjoyed.
(5)Adam C.
This place is amazing. It was a Saturday night at 8:30pm and I called in to asked what time they closed. A very nice receptionist said they stop seating at 9pm and bid me to come in. She said that they would be happy to serve me. When we got there every thing was perfect. They had a band playing and we were seated very promptly. Our server was fantastic and the food and local made and bottled mead, yes mead, was delicious. Dessert was a cake made with chocolate from the oldest chocolate factory on Kauai. 5 stars easy.
(5)Michelle P.
Great little open air restaurant. Close, but not on the beach. They had a some nice quiet live Hawaiian music in the lobby while we waited for our table and had a drink from the bar. We tried three apps. Lobster goat cheese wontons-Yum. HIMM. Heaven in my mouth. Fried goat cheese arugula salad. Yes. My wife digs the goat. Also tried the rib appetizer which was good in small doses...the sweet BBQ sauce was a little much as I grubbed on the 4th one. The liqueur coffee was a great way to finish off the dinner. Expect to pay for any of their entrees...$20-30 a piece. If/When I go again, I'd get the wontons and one of their delicious looking entrees.
(5)Toni F.
Hukilau was very good for Kauai - not the best but very good. Staff is friendly and efficient, ambience is very nice if you can get a table closest to the courtyard, and we very much enjoyed our experience. We would definitely try it again.
(4)D L.
Expensive, but worth it. The BEST Gluten-Free vegetarian pasta I've had EVER. Their gf menu (yes, they actually have a separate menu for us) has hardly any vegetarian options, but they are more than willing to make something for you... So I had the "gluten free fisherman's pasta" without the fish ;-) It was delicious oyster mushrooms and other elegant vegetables in a drool-worthy gluten free white sauce. Not heavy or greasy, just delicious. A friend took me there on my birthday and they brought my creme brulee with a chocolate square that said "Happy Birthday" on it in icing as well as a complementary mini-box (with a bow!) of a couple of their homemade gluten free truffles --- delicious and I felt so special :-) Also, to assuage the hunger pangs of the forever-forgotten "glutards" (as a friend calls us) - they actually bake you a fresh gluten free mini-bread so you don't have to gaze longingly at the delicious bread basket with balsamic and oil everyone else is enjoying while wringing your hands under the table!
(5)Terrence G.
My wife and I ate here during our stay on Kauai. This place is located at the Kauai Coast Resort which also was the resort we were staying at during our stay. We heard good things about this restaurant and our overall opinion is that is was just so-so. The food was good, but pricey. We shared the lobster won tons which was good but pricey for a fried food app. I had the prime rib, which was decent. My wife had the meatloaf which was also good. Both of our entrees included salad and the wolley wolley salad was probably the best part that stood out the during our meal. Our server was nice and on point. Overall this place was just ok; there are better options on the island. Definitely call ahead we had to wait over an hour on Wednesday night.
(3)Paula B.
this is such a fun place! we're going back for 2nd time tonight, with reservation. we didn't hv one our first visit, but sitting in the bar is prime people watching spot. poke nachos yummy, ck! love freakin hot chocolate martini!
(4)M. J.
The signage is a little Survivor and the location would make you think you were in for some sub-par restaurant lobby food, but Hukilau Lanai is actually a dinner you'll remember. The ono was grilled to perfection and served on top of white rice with pineapple and green curry. My husband's lightly fried opah with soba noodles was so good he almost didn't share. The wine list was nothing spectacular but the food was compelling enough that we didn't mind. And don't miss the goat cheese cheesecake! Sounds weird but it was perfect. Dinner for two with appetizers, entrees, one drink each, and dessert will run you $100 including tip.
(5)Mike W.
My favorite place on the island. Went here twice last time we were on Kauai and went twice again this trip. Love it! Every single thing, each time we ate was perfect. From the salads to apps to drinks to entrees and that chocolate lava cake were all to die for. Not cheap but not the rip off Beach House is. A must visit if you're on the island and want to impress.
(5)Julie R.
We had dinner here on our first evening on the island and it was a very good experience. We had drinks at the bar listening to live music. Music was good but drinks too sweet. Then we moved to our table. Very nice setting, with view to the pool and ocean behind. Service was nice and our waiter had good advices. Menu was really interesting and featured local food. Food was good and entree are served with soup or salad. Entree price are in the $20 to $30 range. They have a nice selection of wine around $20 the bottle. For dessert, we had the macadamia tart, which was good. They do not serve expresso but only regular coffee. We came back again a few days later and had the lobster bisque with coconut cream and tai curry (really nice) and the fish mixed grilled (amazing!) our waiter was great and had very good advices on wine pairing. I will recommend this place and will likely come again.
(4)MJ J.
Great location, great food, we celebrated my son's 8th birthday here. excellent service, good prime rib, good wine.
(4)Josh H.
This was one of the best places we ate on our trip this past summer. We came back a couple more times throughout the course of our trip and each dish was delicious!
(5)Wendy W.
Pricey - yes. Worth it? Yes! This was our splurge dinner and it was worth every penny. I had Wally's Steak - which is a filet mignon quality beef with a wonderful light bourbon sauce. Perfection. My spouse had the catch of the day and it was wonderful. We followed it with the chiffon pie and wished we'd have ordered one to go. Outstanding service, outstanding food. We used the Yelp/Open Table for our reservations and it worked great. Reservations highly suggested.
(5)Walter J.
Ok so I really wanted to like this place but.....I didn't. Hukilau was recommended to my by a man that owned a condo a few properties down the street. The service was very courteous and fast, but was rather 2 dimensional. The food was good but almost institutional in quality,,kind of like what you might get at a wedding or on a cruise ( a bad cruise). We had reservations for 3 at 8:30 for three. I felt like they wanted to really rush us thru the meal. in and out with drinks appetizers, salads and main course, out in under an hour. Although the food was not worth lingering over every bite, i am also not into speed eating. Polite but there is no way we should have been done that quick.the restaurant in in a time share resort and maybe the kind of person that would go for a time share ( or Vegas buffet) might buy into that this is high end fine dining, but its not
(2)Craig H.
This was our third stay at the Kauai Coast Resort, and we ate twice this time around at Hukilau Lanai. It is still terrific. The food is so expertly prepared and served with as many LOCAL ingredients as possible. The accompanying sauces for each dish and dessert make sense and compliment the tastes well. The friendliness of all staff at Hukilau Lanai is genuine and sincere. This restaurant has to be one of the stars of Kapaa and Kauai. My best advice is to make a reservation - you won't be disappointed with any meal here, and it will be a memorable experience.
(5)Tim B.
First I must start by saying get a reservation. We did not know this and it was an hour wait, late in the evening on a Tuesday. The service was the best on the island by far!!! The drinks were delicious and fairly strong. I had the Opah, Amazing!!! My GF had the mix seafood, also delicious. The Ahi Nacho appetizer was awesome!!! all round great restaurant
(5)Robyn U.
Fish was not cooked well and was dry. Service was good.
(2)Tammy G.
Our meal was delicious...the appetizers left me feeling a little worried because it wasn't too exciting. We had the lobster won tons and the sweet potato ravioli. But when the entrees arrived...it turned the entire meal around. Everyone that ordered meat was pleased with their meal. and the fish was delicious too. the prime rib was so soft that you could cut it with a fork and the flavor was perfect. the crown royal tenderloins were melt in your mouth.
(4)Susan C.
The food is ok, nothing spectacular. I had the ahi and the hubby had the ono. It's not quality food. The service is pretty good, but not worth coming back for.
(3)Sangeetha S.
Eh, it wasn't that great. We thought this place would be just as stellar as our kayak tour guide's other suggestion (Mermaid's Cafe), but we were left wanting. We got the mixed plate, which was unfortunately so forgettable that I can't even remember what two types of fish were included. The mixed plate also came with some ridiculously creamy and heavy orzo, which I found unpalatable. Per the recommendations of some of the other reviews here, we ordered the sweet potato ravioli as an appetizer. My boyfriend relished it, but I thought it was unpleasantly sweet (yes, I know it's *sweet* potato, what else would I expect?) and had an odd texture to it I didn't care for. We DID have this amazing mixed fish soup there that was incredible, but overall not enough to save the entire meal. The restaurant has both indoor and outdoor seating. I'm insanely sensitive to temperature, so I found the inside of the restaurant to be freezing (AC turned way the hell up). Sitting outside was pleasant. Service was so-so; our waiter was pretty distracted because his family, including is adorable granddaughter, were seated in the table right next to us, but I can't really blame him (I mean, with a granddaughter that cute?!). Overall, a very OK experience.
(3)K M.
I was lucky enough to be invited here twice in one week for 2 different events which means my dinner was FREE!! So, I can't comment on the prices, I didn't even see them. I can comment on the food. The first event was a Christmas Party and we ordered off of a custom menu. I had sweet potato ravioli was very pleasantly surprising, and the ahi poke nachos were so unbelievable! I also had the NY steak which was cooked perfectly and had a wonderful sauce with it and the lobster curry. (I'm allergic to lobster, but I had to try it and it was literally to DIE for!) The second event was a buffet for an awards ceremony and everything was delicious, amazing, and interesting. They don't serve ordinary foods, they take it up a notch to extraordinary! I didn't know what I was eating most of the time without reading the signs, but everything was delicious and some of it was unusual. What is even better is that they use fresh local ingredients.
(5)Polina D.
Good food. Great service. Get the tasting menu - it is the way to go.
(5)Brandon R.
Best dinner we've had on the island yet! We had the poki nachos, opah (monk fish), and mixed grill (which changes based on the fresh catch) and it was all awesome. Half the price of the Beach House and equal in quality of food and service.
(5)Mike M.
I went here for my last night in Kauai. For starters we had the Poke Nachos! The GF ordered the seared ahi and ordered the Waly's steak crown royal. This was the most expensive meal dinner we had on the island and well worth it. Service was good!
(4)Alison H.
We had a lovely dinner at Hukilau Lanai. The atmosphere is very romantic by the water with tiki torch-lit garden that the dining area is open to. Also, when we came in there were no tables, and they let us start ordering from the big comfy couches next to a big fishtank. We almost stayed there the whole meal just relaxing on the couch watching the fishes. The sweet potato ravioli is really something else. whoa! this is not orange-yam sweet potato, forgive me if I am clueless but I assumed... this is Okinawan sweet potato which is bright purple and certainly very sweet. I like sweet and this was actually just about too sweet for me. Also the flavors are Asian, not Italian... shouldn't it be called a gyoza or potsticker or something? but whatever. The double-fish special dinner was very good. As everyone says the focaccia is quite good and I don't even usually like focaccia. I had a goat cheese salad and made a little bruschetta with the focaccia - mm. The salad was good but small. I also couldn't resist ordering the ahi poke nachos. It just sounded so interesting. Well, we shouldn't have gotten this. The 'nachos' are these oddly very sweet fried wonton strip things that were awful. so we ate most of the poke off the top and that was decent but not especially good. Plus this is a mountainous app and it ended up being too much food. By the way, our service was quite good. A bug fell into my drink twice (understandable given that we were in an open-air setting in the evening) and the waiter ran to replace it and kept our water topped off.
(4)Cindy G.
This restaurant is one of my "regulars" with good reason. They have their act together. A nice view, you can see the ocean before dark, but pretty grounds and tikis - you know you're in paradise. The food is fantastic and consistently so. If you like to sample a lot of the menu but without stuffing yourself completely, try the Chef's tasting with or without the wine pairing - but it's only available the first hour. Reservations are strongly recommended - everyone else knows they're good, too. I love the food. Nice mix so everyone can find something they will love.
(5)Tracy S.
Had a great steak here on Mother's Day. Delicious!
(5)Baxter C.
Get the warm cake. Order it with your dinner so it's ready right after you're done.
(5)Kellev B.
This was elegant dining (at least by our standards) with really good food. As a bonus, when we mentioned that our family does not eat pork or shellfish, the server was able to immediately tell us which dishes to avoid, and, even better, which ones could easily be adjusted to fit our needs. Truly excellent service.
(5)Johnny S.
Probably one of, if not the best place I've eaten at on Kauai. Started out with ribs as an appetizer and they were excellent. No fat on them and they fell right off the bone. The homemade sauce only made them better. Had the filet mignon for dinner, which I ordered well done. It came out cooked perfectly and didn't even need to be butterflied. The sauce made it even better. For dessert we had the lava cake, which was also amazing. The whole dinner was great from start to finish and the service was impeccable. I would definitely recommend this place.
(5)Colin B.
Hukilau Lanai was easily the best place we found to eat while on Kauai. When I travel I want to eat local food, something I can't get 4,000 miles away in Texas. I don't want Mexican, I don't want a burger... we do those better in Texas. I promise. I want fish I can't pronounce and produce from down the road, the stuff that we pay double for and only get at specialty grocery stores. This was Hukilau Lanai. We ate here twice while we were there. You must have the sweet potato ravioli, an awesome purple Okinawan sweet potato. Get the mixed fish grill and make sure it has butterfish on there. Best fish we had on the island. Make this your first dinner and go back and try other stuff. Great place. Great service, too.
(5)Dawny M.
As other reviews stated the food was very good and service was attentive. I had the Ahi with mushroom topping, my husband had the Seafood mixed grill. High marks for both. I had their house special salad, which was better than most house salads. My husband had the Cesar, which was your everyday Cesar, nothing special in our opinion unlike one of the other reviewers stated. Tried the lobster wontons, as others raved about them, but found they were more cheesy than lobster, so can't recommend them. Enjoyed the hot lava cake for dessert. Overall a very good meal and experience here on Kauaii. Remember as several reviewers stated, get a reservation, or your wait may be crazy.
(4)Stephanie H.
Eureka! Best food on the island of Kauai hands down. If you don't believe me see my other reviews! So good you want to pinch yourself for a fear of dreaming the food is so amazing! This restaurant is farm to table the freshness and quality surpasses my expectations. I wish I would have found this treasure sooner. My husband and I ate here on a Sunday and we wanted to eat here every night after. The restaurant is closed on Monday so we booked another reservation on Tuesday. It was well priced and the flavors exploded in our mouths. My husband ordered the Mahi Mahi pasta twice both nights with the Caesar salad. I had the lasagna one night with goat cheese salad and the meatloaf the next time with the pineapple gazpacho soup. Both nights we had the sweet potato ravoli knock your socks to the moon goodness. Just don't be afraid the sweet potatos in Hawaii are purple. I miss the fresh flavors. Food is so good I wanted to kiss the cook... I am sure my husband wont mind.
(5)Johan S.
Their Adams tuna poke nachos is one of the reasons to visit Kauai in the first place!
(5)jon r.
The food is superb. This would get 5 stars, but the view of the ocean is a bit obscured and the hotel that the eatery resides in is outdated
(4)Colin M.
Restaurant was nice, food was pretty good - not many non-seafood options. View is of the nicely landscaped, and very green courtyard, which leads to the ocean. Restaurant is a part of a hotel, so you enter through it's lobby to get there.
(4)Ro S.
Sept 24, 2011 - W O W... Service with a smile.. Literally. Every server wears a smile. We had 6pm reservations (made that day) for 12. Seated so comfortably. Drinks came quickly.. Salad next. Wonderful salads. Focaccia bread came - delicious. Ordered the mushroom tart.. Shared it 4 ways.. should have ate it myself - it is so wonderful. I had the prime rib - grilled. Delicious. Had the molten lava.. was so full.. Everyone on the table just raved about the food and the service. We kept comparing the lousy service we had at Keoki's Paradise in Poipu/Koloa and said we should have had our dinner party here. Prices are lower - food was excellent - the service was the best. They brought my grandson's dinner out later than the rest of ours.. apologized to him... and brought him a complimentary chocolate sundae. The owner came to our table to check on us..she was very gracious. Note: I asked our server how long she worked for the Hukilau.. 5 years plus (i think).. She loved working there and said the owners were so good to their employees. It totally shows! We will be back and I have shared with our Alaska Airline customers flying to Kauai how wonderful this place is!
(5)Mark W.
Surprised when we pulled up and it was in a resort hotel. But after that, all of the surprises were good ones. Don't let the nachos name fool you, the poke nachos were the best/lightest appetizer we had on our trip. Thank goodness our server pretty much insisted that we try them! All of the dishes were fantastic, best of the 10 day trip. Blows away better known restaurants such as Roy's or Duke's. Oh and back to being in a resort, turned out to be a wonderful atomesphere and a bonus of shopping village right next store. It will be a must go to on all future trips!
(5)Amy I.
Relaxed atmosphere. The appetizer was ok (I don't even remember what it was), but the meatloaf was actually really good. The service was good and we had a ocean view.
(4)Tony S.
We found ourselves drawn to Hukilau Lanai twice after our initial visit. Twice we ate at the bar where we enjoyed the Wally Salad and calamari. The other time we arrived early for the pairing special, which serves before 5:45 pm. The four or five courses and wine selections were excellent.
(5)Scott K.
We went here on the recommendation of a woman we met in Kapaa, near where we are staying. She said it was one of the best gluten-free places on the island (we have one family member with celiac disease). It was really good. The had many gluten-free choices and they prepare the food in a gluten-free environment. There was a nice selection of gluten-free choices, especially baked goods. We had a wonderful meal, and great service, and yes, the place is really beautiful.
(4)Cyndi W.
Melt in your mouth fish and beef. Great ocean view. Amazing salads... Great wine list! They have a 5 course tapas meal paired with wines for $40 per person.
(5)Edward S.
Good food and good service in a nice setting. Not really close enough to be "by the beach" but it didn't matter. Had a good meal and would definitely recommend this place. Probably the best food we've had in 3 weeks on the island and we've eaten at some nice expensive places.
(4)Joyce Y.
4.5 stars This is definitely one of the best meals we had in Hawaii and definitely the best in Kauai! I thought this was better than Mama's Fish House (and cheaper) in Maui! We both got the mixed grill plate that comes with the delicious Wally salad. Wally salad was amazing! I know it's just salad but it was good. The bread that came before our entree was nice and warm, too. The mixed grill came with two kinds of fish. I can't recall what kind of fish it was but it was sooo tasty and yummy! The fish was nice and tender and moist and had great flavor. One was a cajun flavor while the other had a teriyaki flavor. It also came with shrimp skewered on a sugar cane on top of a bed of orzo. Yummy!! Definitely make a reservation if you can. It gets really crowded. We didn't make reservations and the wait was going to be really long. But we decided to eat in the lounge area instead of the restaurant and were seated quickly! Prices are definitely expensive. About the same price as if you go to Roy's. But it's worth it! Parking is actually a little bit difficult to find! Most of the spaces are already taken by the hotel guests so it's kinda hard to find a space! Overall, one of the best places we ate in Hawaii.
(4)A C.
For a resort based restaurant, Hukilau Lanai certainly went beyond our expectations. Especially trying some of the other more expensive ones on the island. However tempting the meat choices were, we went with the local catches. The Mixed Seafood Grill and Opah were both excellent, but the Mahi was the best. Of course if you love chocolate, don't miss the "Original Hawaiian Chocolate Factory" Warm Cake. Hukilau Lanai is a must, when visiting Kauai.
(5)Sonya S.
We enjoyed my birthday dinner here on a Saturday. With reservations, we were given a prime seat overlooking a pleasant outdoor square. Parking was rough... had to park nearby on the road, as both lots were packed. My first drink, a lilikoi martini, was strong for my taste, and came in a plain glass, no garnish, because the waiter made the decision it was better to get the drink to me sooner rather than wait for new martini glasses... I appreciated that, though did not understand why waiters waiting on tables would not get preference over the walk-up bar crowd (heavy this night due to nearby wedding). Ahi taco appetizer and swordfish dinner were superb. They brought wrapped chocolates and placed a little chocolate happy birthday sign on my pie... Nice touch! Despite a downpour, we stayed dry... they can pull down plastic shades as needed to keep the rain out. All in all, an upscale experience w/small, forgivable glitches--easily overcome with thoughtful service.
(4)Agnes C.
We had reservations here (if you don't make reservations, expect to wait an hour). The butterfish 'catch of the day' was wonderful. He had lobster bisque which I tried and was wonderful. I had sweet potato ravioli and would go back to have it again.
(5)Benoit R.
Good location conveniently located at walking distance from other hotels. The food is good. Some servers are really knowledgeable, some are just so so. The food selection was nice, the flavors were unusual and balanced, and the wine list was good and affordable. Definitely a good place to have a nice dinner with your better half.
(4)LuckieMaounds P.
Yeah. It didn't work out for me. We had a 6:15 reservation. So we show up at 6:14 and are seated by our hostess with the menus. We don't know who our server is for a good 10 minutes, as no one comes by, not even to bring water. Around 6:30 our server comes by, tells us he'll be right back, and then doesn't return until about 6:40. I was really ready to walk at that point but I was so excited about the great food reviews so I stuck it out. When he does return he pours water then whips out his pad and tells us what the soup of the day is... and then silence. Of course we are ready to order so we order it all at the same time without a word from him: drinks, app, salads, dinner. 10 minutes goes by and the ahi nacho appetizer comes. It's really good and different! not exceptional. But tasty and I am hungry and it disappears off the plate pretty quick. THEN our drinks come. I am served a lemondrop, which I did order, with a really horrible, sour-tasting flavor-to-booze ratio and no sugar. I want to send it back but no one ever comes, not even to remove our empty app plate. The server drops off bread very quickly and disappears - I am calling after him "excuse me...?" but he doesn't hear me and he is gone. A busser brings the salads. The bread was very good - foccacia with oil/vinegar dip. The caesar salad was better than the house salad which came with a sweet dressing that I wasn't digging. Server comes back again later to drop off more bread. At that point I had given up on/ forgotten about my nasty drink. Dinner is served by another busser. He got the mixed grill and I got... I think it was the ono. The menu didn't say it was breaded but when it came out it was. Lightly breaded, but breaded and void of flavor. It came sitting on a bed of orzo or couscous or something and sitting in a crushed tomato sauce. Plain and forgettable. That mixed grill, tho, was outstanding. The shrimp was fat and flavorful and the fish came with a curry that was out-of-this-world delicious. I would order this again in a heartbeat... if I ever come back. Because dude, the service was really weird. After we finished, we sat. And sat. And sat with dirty plates. And then we saw our server. He was headed toward us, walked right past and went to the table next to us. At this time he greeted his new customers, told them about the specials (what specials? we were never told about any specials) and wine pairings!! (wine?? we wouldnt even have known there was a wine list at all!!) We've both worked in the restaurant and service industry. We are not rude restaurant patrons, and even a bad experience gets a tip (and I hate it but I still do it because it is really wrong not to). We had to flag down another busser to ask for our check. A minute later, our server came walking by. I flagged him down as well, we told him we want our check and he silently went to get it. No dessert sell, no coffee. Not even a "thank you for coming" on a $100 dinner. I seriously did not, and still do not get this guy.
(2)Morgan C.
Tasting menu was great. Nice open air seating area
(4)Benjamin L.
Delicious pasta with fish and desserts. Very nice ambiance. Yes, you'll need a reservation for the main dining room, but not for the bar/lounge area, which is just as nice. A high point of our stay at the hotel.
(4)Bob W.
After eating some poor to average meals at high prices, we were starving for a restaurant that provided excellent food at a reasonable price, with good service and nice ambiance. The Hukilau Lania had it all! It was a little difficult to find since it's off the main highway on the Aleka Loop, which is not an obvious road and looks more like an entrance to a few stores. Look for the Kauai Coast Resort, and the Hukilau Lania is inside that resort. As soon as you see the front of the building and parking lot, you know you're at a quality place. Our server was named Brian, and he was excellent. He was easy to talk with and made us feel right at home, not to mention quick with service. The food was the best we had during our entire vacation, and the overall price was less than we had paid at other restaurants for food that couldn't compare. Everything we ordered came hot and perfectly prepared. The chef in this restaurant is definitely one of the best in the area. If we ever come back to Kauai, we'll definitely be back at the Hukilau Lanai. We can recommend it without reservation.
(5)Dorcee S.
Wonderful last night on island dinner. Sept 14th, our last dinner on Kauai had to be spent at Hukilau Lanai (it's my favorite splurge restaurant). Called the day before for reservations at 5:30 pm. We're having dinner with good friends Karen & Conrad. We were seated on the lower terrace with a peak of ocean. I already know I want to try the tasting menu and that's exactly what I & Conrad had. Skip (my hubby) & Karen went with the Wally's Royal Crown Medallions (3 fillets). Skip is picky about well-done beef - his was perfect!!! Karen's too. 5 stars I also opted to have the Lobster Bisque - 5 stars +++++++ I could make a meal of this! Tasting Menu: Sweet Potato Ravioli - 4.5 stars Mushroom Tart - 4 stars Longaniza Sausage & Warabi (Fiddlehead Fern) - 0 stars from me, no like - Conrad nearly licked his plate and mine too - for him 5 stars Mahi Mahi with Shrimp Fennel Sauce - 4.5 stars Crème Brulee - 5 stars Shared Banana Foster Cheesecake - 5 stars Our server Brian, was great, we had a table on the lower terrace (where I wanted). After dinner we walked around Kauai Coast Resort. Wonderful evening spent with wonderful friends. A really great close to two weeks on Kauai! $180.00 for food, wine, beer.
(5)Richard A.
Very good food with an older crowd (my son - 19 months - was the only toddler and most of the diners were clearly over 50). We enjoyed the fish (opakapaka, ono) and meat loaf. They have a nice fish tank and live entertainers that kept my son happy during the occasional breaks during our meal. The candied ahi was a little spicy for my taste. I'd like to return and try the tasting menu.
(4)Randall K.
This restaurant was fantastic. The atmosphere was wonderful, the staff very attentive, and the food was amazing. I had the filet mignon while my girlfriend had the seafood platter. While the steak was hands down one of the best I've had in recent memory, the seafood was amazing, and I ended up stealing delicious morsels off her plate. We'd definitely return, and we're encouraging our friends that visit Kauai to make it a point to dine here at least once.
(5)Ryan T.
Best meal we had on the Island. My only regret is that we made this our last meal...if we had gone here in the beginning of our stay we would have gone here multiple times. Food and Service was awesome. This did not disappoint.
(5)Cynthia H.
My husband and I had our first "fancy" meal on Kauai at Hukilau during our honeymoon, and it turned out to be a solid choice for a romantic and scenic dinner. We were seated at one of the tables on the lawn level, which looks out at a lovely landscaped area and the ocean beyond. Service was friendly and suitably attentive throughout, and all our server's recommendations were spot-on. We felt warmly welcomed and quickly relaxed. There is a tasting menu available from 5:00-5:45pm that is an excellent deal (five courses for $32, or $50 with wine pairings), but we opted for entrees off the regular menu. We started with the chilled tomato gazpacho with pineapple sorbet, which was delicious, along with warm focaccia. Next, the charcuterie plate of local pork pate, smoked sausage, and mortadella, served with toasted bread and pickles. Each charcuterie item had a distinct flavor and was not overly salty, and the portion size was spot-on for two people to share. Our entrees were the Hukilau Mixed Grill (snapper, butterfish, and skewered shrimp on a bed of creamy rice and vegetables) and the macadamia nut chicken (with yellow curry and vegetables). Everything was excellently prepared and generously portioned, and in retrospect we definitely didn't need the appetizer(s). The flavors were generally familiar and even comforting, but the preparations were refined. Based on the amount of food, we really could have done without the gazpacho or the charcuterie! To accompany, we shared a bottle of crisp Grenache off the "20 wines for 20-something" list (another pleasant surprise). Our dessert was the restaurant's signature warm chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream, and a small box with two dark chocolate truffles was set down alongside. By dessert, the sun had nearly set and the tiki torches were cheerfully lit. A wonderful evening!
(5)Anthony M.
We ate here and did the tasting menu which is available between 5:00 and 5:45. The tasting menu is a 5 course meal paired with different wines. The food was wonderful, however my advice is no matter how much you want that fruity umbrella drink or want to eat more than a half piece of their wonderful bread don't. The tasting menu is quite filling and if you fill up on other items you won't get to completely enjoy.
(4)Ying L.
This is our first time dinning at this restaurant while visiting the island. While checking on Yelp, I found this restaurant and was able to get a reservation at 5:30pm on a Wednesday night. We arrived early and got seated right way with a beach view table. We opted out the tasting menu and ordered from the main menu. Food: mixed grill, 2 island grilled fish and grilled shrimps on a sugarcane skewer. It came on a bed of orzo pasta. The presentation of the entree was excellent. This meal was the best meal I had since I arrived on the island. The taste is just right and the fish was not overlooked. 5/5 stars Pasta of the day. It was made from hand-made fresh pasta with sausage and veggies. It was done perfectly. Very good! 5/5 stars My son had the kid's meal: meat loaf with french fries. He is a picky eater but he finished the entire entree so it must be good. The meal also came with a small size of ice cream. It is a great deal for $10. Dessert: we got the chocolate lava cake. Make sure you ordered ahead. It takes 20 mins to bake. It was very good. The cake was moist and not too sweet. It also came with a size of vanilla ice-cream. $10 is a little pricey but it was worth it. Service was excellent. Our waitress was super nice and attentive. She was knowledgeable about the menu. She explained what the was on the entrees when she brought out the food. 5/5 stars I forgot my credit card and she was nice enough to come after us to return it. Parking: plenty of free parking around the hotel. Tip: there is a nice beach right in front of the restaurant. I would recommend to check out the beach after dinner.
(5)Gale M.
What a disappointment. We arrived on time for our reservation, only to be asked to wait. Ok, no problem, but then we noticed that the party that arrived just before us--without a reservation--was seated before we were. When we finally did get a table, it was next to the busboy's station which was filled with dirty dishes. We each were bitten by mosquitoes before we got our menus. When we requested to be seated indoors, we were told sure--if we were willing to wait an hour. We were prepared to spend a lot of money for a good dinner and pleasant hospitality. We were not willing to spend it to eat next to a pile of dirty dishes and among hungry mosquitoes, so we left and spent our money at a restaurant that was happy to serve us.
(1)melissa m.
Absolutely phenomenal! We arrived an hr before our reservation and relaxed in their lounge area enjoying a delicious lava flow and Mai Tai and listening to the guy performing Hawaiian music. Already off to a great night! Then we ordered the special appetizer, garlic butter clams.... aMAZING. I could have just had that for dinner and would have been perfectly satisfied. Their complimentary focaccia bread worked well for dipping into the clam sauce!! Next we had the Wally salad, which I have to admit o never finish my salads, but this was just incredible. I could have stopped there and been happy... Then we had our entrees. I had the crown royal beef and my boyfriend had the mixed seafood plate. We were already stuffed w/ the clams/bread/salad but we could not get enough. The beef was cooked perfectly to a medium rare, and the fish melted in your mouth. And then, obviously you must get dessert. We had the vanilla bean creme brûlée with coffee. Perfect end to the night!!! Everything was so on point and I am definitely recommending all my friends to come here!!! P.s. Our server was awesome! Very friendly and attentive and you could really tell he loved his job! Thanks John!
(5)Karen D.
Great entrees, great pupus, and great wine selection with reasonable prices. Every night they've got live music. Thursday is Dennis Chun and Friday is Pancho Graham. Sometimes there's a wait but it's well worth it.
(5)David C.
We visit Hawaii at least twice a year and have probably dined at 90% of the quality restaurants on Kauai, Oahu, and Maui. This restaurant is tough to beat for sheer quality of food and preparation. The Ahi is tremendous, the tenderloin was shockingly good, on a par with any high end steak house. Lobster Bisque was tremendous. The side items were also top notch, as were the desserts. Even my martini was superior. Cannot recommend this restaurant highly enough. Reservations are a must, as this is a very popular restaurant with locals as well.
(5)Chase A.
My wife and I ate here on our honeymoon trip. We did not need a reservation to be seated right away. The Yelp reviews looked good and they did not lead us astray. We highly recommend this restaurant for its delicious meal offerings and beautiful Kauai view. The Good: Easy parking and seems to be shared with a hotel, friendly hosts, beautiful nighttime outdoor seating. Very friendly and attentive server. Our food arrived quickly and without issue. The Bad: Nothing to report. Yay! Our order: Starters all delicious: lobster bisque, sweet potato ravioli and tomato pineapple gazpacho. High praise for that gazpacho! Main was also delicious and recommended: Prime rib au Jus. Great au jus with perfect nappe. Dessert was good but not noteworthy: coconut lilikoi tart.
(5)Josh B.
This place has almost 5 stars for a reason. It's amazing. I've been here quite a few times, most recently on my honeymoon. My wife said it was the best dinner she ever had. The calamari is amazing. The mixed grill is delicious and the meatloaf is holy moly good. Would highly recommend requesting to sit on the patio, it's beautiful, quiet and romantic. Your lady will love it. It's dimly lit and not to loud. Will definitely be returning many times.
(5)A C.
This was the best meal I've had since being gluten free. They have a separate gluten-free menu with several amazing choices including 4 appetizer options. That never happens! They even had gluten-free bread that they served when they brought out focaccia for my husband. I had the ahi poke, Wally's salad, Wally's steak medallions, and creme brûlée. My husband had the calamari (he said it was a bit salty), the eggplant soup, and the pork tenderloin. We both could not stop raving about the food. I would recommend this to anyone coming to Kauai.
(5)Mido U.
Basically if you are looking for a great tasting, locally sourced, delicious meal with excellent wait staff and service, this is it. Great food and great experience. Wait staff awesome. Menu unique. Poke nachos, lobster bisque, local beef meatloaf, local fish grill platter. Awesome. I was really looking for a local kind of experience and meal that was higher end. Pretty much was here. Only complaint is I ordered the Orange wine. It was different, but pricey at 70 for the bottle, and it tasted like a five dollar bottle. Would not recommend, but it was different
(5)Andrea G.
Everyone & everything pointed to dining here -- the Andrew Doughty Kauai tour book (that gave it a top "ONO" rating), the locals and online reviews. You get great food and great atmosphere here, the service was exemplary, and the servers were informative. We had a choice to eat on the covered terrace or inside, which was really outside also, as all windows and doors were wide open (see photo). The ambiance is lovely, wherever you sit, as it overlooks the tiki-torch-lit grounds and greenery of the hotel in which the restaurant is located. Live mellow music wafts into the restaurant from the nearby bar area. Gary, my husband, had a fish dish while I, being an avid "taster" type of "eater" opted for the "Tasting Menu" and a coconut water beverage. It's a 5 or so course meal and the various flavors pop, from fish to vegetables to lamb. A focaccia bread was served, also. I took a photo of my course list, but for ease: gazpacho, vegetable tart with savory "jam," grilled mahi mahi fish set on sesame rice and drizzled with miso sauce, lamb ragout in small dutch oven container (cute) with homemade pasta noodles, and creme brulee. All delicious! Not on complaint or issue on anything from beginning to end. SMART DINING TIPS: Make reservations, for sure. This place is popular with both locals and tourists. If you want the "Tasting Menu," it's offered only 5-5:45 pm -- so reserve for the earliest dining time. And I do recommend it, so you get a full flavor experience! It was plenty of food, even with Gary tasting some of it! Free parking in front of the hotel (yay!).
(5)Suor K.
Hukilau Lanai was located near our hotel, so we decided to give this place a try. We attempted to make a reservation over the phone but they didn't have a table at our requested time. Instead, we walked over and took a seat at the bar. The server brought over some complimentary bread, which tasted great. It was some tomato-herb-cheese crusted bread served with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. We definitely enjoyed it. We ordered the lobster and goat cheese wontons for an appetizer. They were not as amazing as one of the other Yelp reviews mentioned. They tasted more like what you'd expect from crab rangoons at other restaurants. Lots of cheese on the inside, with small pieces of protein. I didn't think it was worth it. We also ordered the mahi mahi and the Hakilau mixed grill, which included a shrimp skewer, two types of fish, and orzo pasta. The shrimp and pasta were tasty. I don't recall which fish I tried, but I only liked one of the two. The mahi mahi was really good -- fresh and flaky. We didn't have room for dessert.
(4)Sennette B.
This is definitely one of the best restaurants on the Island. We asked our server what he recommended. He said honestly it's all really good. I was like surrreeee! But it really was! Everything we ordered was really good. They also have a large selection on the menu. I ordered the tasting menu that comes with 5 small entrees, and they were all very tasty! This is a must go to!
(5)Janna V.
Celebrated our 1st yr wedding anniversary here and it was amazing! The location was a bit confusing but other than that, it had a great ambience. We requested to be seated in the lanai which had nice views of the coconut trees and a hint of the ocean. The view wasn't remarkable but it was pleasant. Our server was nice and kept greeting us Happy Anniversary throughout the whole night lol. We didn't order appetizers because the salad that comes with the entree served as our appetizers. I ordered the arugula salad while my husband had the caesars salad. Our server asked so casually if I wanted cheese with that (normally whenever I eat arugula salad it comes with the cheese already, so I said yes), and forgot to mention that the goat cheese was $3.50. Uhh okay. Anyway, the entrees had a nice presentation and the portions were good. I had the Hukilau mixed grill which is basically a sampling of Island grilled seafood and sugar cane skewered shrimp, served with a creamy sauce and orzo pasta. My husband had the prime rib. Both had great flavors but the mixed grill sampling stood out the most. For dessert, we had the lava cake with vanilla ice cream. It was a bit pricey but what can you do. You gotta have dessert! :) They added a cute little sign made out of milk chocolate that said Happy Anniversary. I wish it was complimentary or discounted at least. Overall, I was satisfied with the food and service.
(4)Ashley W.
We stopped in here for a late night snack and some drinks. Their martinis were great and the servers brought us bread but acted like he didn't mean to when we told him we were just there to order appetizers. The food was pretty good and there was a live band playing. The resort it was at was beautiful. It seemed a little snobby and upscale but we enjoyed it nonetheless.
(4)Zach L.
By far the best restaurant my wife and I ate at during our honeymoon on Kauai. We weren't sure if we were in the right place to start as there was a wedding in the room next to the restaurant when we got there, and we weren't dressed for that type of occasion. The restaurant was busy, even late at night, we got there around 830 and needed to wait 45 minutes before we got a table. However, the wait was well worth it. Our appetizers were the perfect start to the night. We both got the dinner specials which were amazing, and shared a desert after which was a great cap to the night. Both of our cocktails were made incredibly well. The only downer was the table next to us had a screaming child who was running around the table, but we didn't care because the food was so good. If you are on Kauai make a reservation for dinner at Hukilau Lanai, you won't regret it!
(5)Pat M.
Haven't been here in years, don't know why!!! The best restaurant on Kauai !! We ordered the calamari with their special sauce, Poke Ahi Nachos and the ribs. The ribs were my favorite. I haven't tasted any ribs better than Hukilau Lanai. It has an Asian sweet flavor with a light crisp on the outside and tender almost fall off the bone meat. I had thoughts of ordering take out ribs, but had already ordered prime rib ( I had better) but was still good! Our server Mark ( daddy of twin boys)) was great!! He was so accommodating and gracious. We definitely will back!!!
(5)Leah S.
While staying at the Kauai Beach Hotel for the first leg of our honeymoon, we stopped in for a reservation at the Hukilau Lanai. We were super pleased to get a table on the same night as we wanted without much preplanning, and one with a gorgeous sunset view of the ocean and palm trees. The evening was a bit chilly, but the seating area was warm and the tables were comfortable. Our waiter was attentive, professional, and friendly, quick with menus, specials, and recommendations. We started with some off the house focaccia with balsamic and evoo, which was warm, chewy and flavorful. Wonderful man selected some drinks for us, and we began the meal with the soup of the day, which was a Marketplace Seafood Bisque, and I opted for the Caesar salad which has been the best I've had to date. Soup was savory, with generous servings of fish, and seasoned just enough to let the flavor of the fish's freshness through the base. Caesar dressing can be quick to blend zealously viscous, and can be powerfully too salty or acidic, but this was perfectly balanced between garlic, parmesan, and lemon. Our entrees were challenging to decide upon, given pretty much everything on the menu looked delicious. I decided on the Mixed Grill, which had butterfish, Cajun mahi, prawns skewered on a sugarcane, all over an amazing pilaf, and my husband chose the Ono filet over white rice, topped with a sesame cucumber sunumono. All the fish was exceptionally fresh, simply seasoned, and not overcooked. As usual, I fought my husband for his dinner, to which he acquiesced, to my delight. This was only topped by my delight over dessert, the amazing 20 Minute Chocolate Lava Cake. It did need the full 20 minutes, so we ordered in advance, but it was well worth the wait. This was accompanied by literally the best vanilla bean ice cream I have ever tasted, made locally, and PACKED with flavor. Ambiance of the actual restaurant is indeed a little on the cheesy side, but the resort makes up for it with its selective clientele base, and decidedly relaxed atmosphere. For dining guests not staying at the hotel, there is ample parking, beautiful grounds for after dinner strolls, and a full bar for wine, cocktails, and after dinner aperitifs. Live music, vendors, and events come through the lounge depending on day and time, but it seems like its target audience is a little older than our age group.
(4)Tawni H.
Gorgeous restaurant and very high quality dishes. Was suggested to me by a local, glasses I listened!
(4)mermaid m.
Service by Andrew excellent. If you have great service like this, makes for a lovely dining experience! Waiting for our reservation about 15 minutes. Food was very good, ahi poke nachos were not as good as they used to be, not much ahi and tortilla chips were off. Lobster and goat cheese wontons, amazing. Tahitian vanilla Ribs fall off the bone delightful. Kailani farm salad with preserved lemon dressing and maytag blue cheese was tasty. Crusted opah with mash potato perfectly cooked and moist. Crown steak rare was tender and cooked just the way we like it. Lava cake topped it all off.
(4)Mauro Q.
We went to celebrate our 25th Anniversary Dinner with our adult children . The menu was okay but the service was HORRIBLE. The waitress didn't even acknowledge our celebration while the other couple next to our table were mentioned several times on their special event. We didn't even get a complementary dessert. Being Italian and a Chef this was not acceptable!!
(1)Jon P.
Wow! This place is great! Every bite was amazing. I ordered the Fillet Minion with the soup of the day and a "Manhattan Honey" cocktail (two of them!!). My wife had the macadamia nut crusted chicken and a Caesar salad. Bread - prior to our soup/salad showing up, we were served bread with an olive oil & balsamic vinegar dip. The bread had a touch of cheese and tomato on the top, so it was almost like eating a light, high end pizza. The flavors and textures were great. Soup - the soup of the day was a chowder with pork/bacon bits incorporated. Oh... My... It just melted in my mouth. I highly recommend it. The flavors were complimentary and it was perfectly salted. Salad (wife's) - the Caesar salad was made from scratch with their own dressing. The salad was crisp, fresh and flavorful. The dressing was tasty and not overly fishy/salty like some Caesar dressings. It was a great salad! Fillet Minion - I ordered my steak medium, and it was definitely a nice medium. The exterior had a pleasant, light char and the steak was so tender it barely required a knife to cut. Each bite was juicy and delicious. The red wine sauce (almost like a gravy) really added to the dish. The potatoes were a sweet potato which were good on their own, but I would have liked something a little more savory to be paired with the steak. It was still delicious! Macadamia nut crusted chicken (wife's) - the chicken was tender and cooked well. The macadamia nut crust was delicate (almost like a panko crust) and added a subtle, delicious flavor to each bite. The nuts were not overdone, and was an excellent compliment to the chicken. Manhattan Honey (cocktail) - yes.. Just order it! I ordered two! I like my drinks on the boozy side and this was definitely a great balance between the alcohol and the honey. Some cocktails are just too sweet, but this one was balanced very well. Dinner here was a real treat!
(5)L C.
After reading all the reviews on Yelp and Trip Advisor, we decided to check out this restaurant. It was underwhelming and disappointing. I ordered the curried Lobster bisque and it tasted like Thai coconut milk curry sauce. It was awful! The candied ahi was okay but a little salty. The mixed grilled plate was average. Very disappointed after reading all the rave reviews about this place. honestly, we had better food at the food trucks like Kikuchi and Green pig. Sorry, I have to be truthful in my review.
(3)Craig D.
(3.5) ~ good, but not great...the servers were friendly, but, they had to be b/c the kitchen was soooooo slow;)lol Note: $$$$ OUR MENU: DRINKS: * Loco Lemonade = (4) very good * French Press Kauai Coffee = (4) very good * water(tap) = (3.25) pretty good FOOD: * Foccacia Bread = (4) very good * Pork Tenderloin = (3.75) Good * BBQ Ribs = (3.5) good * Filet Mignon = (3.5) good * Dark Chocolate Bar(Hawaii) = (3.5) good * Gazpacho = (3.25) pretty good * Poke = (3) ok...had better * Chocolate Mousse = (3) ok...had better
(3)Gloria G.
Great service, great food, great location (I'm a Shell Vacation owner and stay here). They accommodated us this time last minute in the lobby with 7 and the food was incredible. The fresh fish and Keiki meals were perfect!
(5)Ray W.
To cap our Kaua'i vacation, I made reservations with OpenTable to the Hukilau Lanai, which is the in-resort restaurant of the Kaua'i Coast Resort at the Beachboy, after reading good reviews on Yelp and Tripadvisor. We were staying at the resort and after our experience, I regret that we didn't visit earlier during the stay. To think, an excellent restaurant located a mere 3 minute walk from our unit and we ate there only on the last night! We started with calamari. Unlike the fritto misto that is usually served as a 'standard appetizer,' it was panko and furikake breaded and was so amazingly tender. Served with an aioli to die for, the appetizer was consumed within minutes and we were left wanting for more. We wouldn't give up the aioli, wanting to savor it for the rest of the meal. Soup of the day or salad come with an entree. We ordered a soup (much like a bisque), arugula salad, and a Caesar salad. All were fantastic; the arugula was nice and tart. For entrees, prime rib, pumpkin-seed breaded opah (moonfish), and ono (wahoo) were ordered. Our child, who has become somewhat of a prime rib connoisseur in a short 12 years, loved it. My opah was super awesome umami, served on a bed of brown rice, tomatoes and beets; my wife's ono was tasty too - but I tend to prefer lighter, flakier fish. We wrapped up with a lava cake and to be honest, it's probably the best lava cake I've ever had. It outclasses any lava cake we've had on the mainland for sure. I checked 'not sure' on the question of whether the restaurant is known for its dessert, but it definitely ought to be known for dessert! I admit that perhaps it is a bias or stereotype of mine that resort-attached restaurants try hard but find it hard to deliver, but the Hukilau Lanai certainly humbled me by delivering big time. That they serve locally grown fare wins extra respect from me. Well done, we're definitely coming back.
(5)Dana W.
This place is ONOLICIOUS. We usually start out with our first meal at Scottie's BBQ but found that it was no longer there. So after much searching we found the Hukilau Lanai. This place is awesome. Staff was very attentive and knowledgeable about the menu and specials. We started out with The Fried Calamari which was to die for, they were moist and tender and fried just right. I had the sautéed pork tenderloin medallions served on top of sautéed polenta. Pork was cooked just right and the I had never had polenta so I was taking a chance, but it was well worth it. My wife and daughter had the Filet Mignon medallion in the ulupalakua red wine sauce. They loved it. My daughter said this was like a Gordon Ramsay show as the food was being served was of such great quality and presentation. For desert I had the Hawaiian Vanilla Bean Creme Brulee, my daughter the Coconut Lilikoi Tart, and my wife had the Chocolate Lava cake, which turned out to be over cooked so they took it off the bill. We highly recommend the Hukilau lanai and would not hesitate to go back.
(5)Gus Q.
Went here to celebrate my son's birthday. Food was great BUT I couldn't believe these guys charge me for his dessert! Come on guys....no complimentary dessert for the birthday boy? Geez!.....Don't go here if you are celebrating a special occasion. Very disappointed!!!
(1)Destiny G.
Highly recommend this romantic luaua feel restaurant. Delicious food, great ambience and overl delightful. The Hawaiian mixed grill was perfection! The bread was soft warm and delightful and the ahi nacho appetizer was awesome!
(5)Lee L.
Not too impressed, especially since we had dinner the night before at Tidepools at the Grand Hyatt in Princeville. Service was meh. The server wasn't very engaging and the host staff (3 people) were young and seemed all over the place. Maybe instead of having 3 people stand up front, perhaps have 2 of them serve and bus tables. Food overall was good. Little cheaper than Tidepools. You get complimentary bread and a soup or salad with your entree. Goat Cheese and Lobster wontons- Cheese overpowered the lobster and the guava plum sauce had a strong tamarind? taste to it that was a bit too much. Ahi Nachos- Not bad, needed more sauce. Wally's salad- Good Rib Eye- Slightly chewy at med rare and the mushroom sauce was a little bitter. Fish Special: Swordfish with Mashed potatoes a tomato chutney- The sauce really made the dish. I just wish there was more chutney. "Original Hawaiian Chocolate Factory"- Perfect! There is no romantic view here. If you're lucky to get an unobstructed view, you can see some of the hotel landscaping and their pool area . . .or if someone leaves their curtains open, you might enjoy a "free show" from one of the rooms of the hotel.
(3)Leah F.
This is my second time to Kauai and I decided to try this restaurant as a birthday dinner for my mom. We were not disappointed. Everything from the starter soup and bread was so flavorful and tasty! The bread was light and melted in our mouths. My compliments to the chef. The ambience was superb. We had a table overlooking palm trees lit by tiki lights -- perfect for a great evening. The fish was to die for...drizzled with garlic butter sauce and the filet was extra tender. Normally I have to add salt to my meals but this was definitely seasoned perfectly and one of the best meals I've ever had on Kauai island. We will be back!!!!
(5)Reese C.
Situated in some vacation club/hotel place, this was a surprising find, thanks to Yelp! The restaurant was packed so we opted to sit in the lounge for dinner. Much more relaxed and lively. While dining we were rewarded with fantastic live music. We split the Lobster and goat cheese wonton and now I can never have a wonton any other way. Holy smokes. We also split the baby back ribs. The Hawaiian twist in these ribs was the vanilla bean/hoisin sauce that covered them. The fall of the bine meat was tender perfection. We also each enjoyed a salad with local greens, which were great but honestly a salad is a salad, especially when compared to the other options.
(5)Jacqueline W.
10 out of 5 for this restaurant! Fabulous food, great service & very nice location. Everything we ordered was delicious...starting with the lobster bisque, arugula salad, Caesar salad & soup of the day. For our entrees we had mixed seafood grill that include sugar cane shrimp, Pacific escolar (Walu) & striped marlin served over orzo...absolutely fabulous!! Mum had macadamia nut crusted chicken in a light curry sauce & Dad had pork tenderloin in a Marsala sauce...both clean their plates. My daughter order filet mignon with mashed tarot...delicious. We order two Original Hawaiian Chocolate Factory warm cakes with vanilla bean ice cream & a Hukilau Coffee...divine We will definitely be coming back!
(5)Alex L.
Came here on recommendation of some other travelers we met. Was horribly underwhelmed. Service was excellent but unfortunately the food wasn't quite there. We tried the tasting menu and a number of the other pupus. The Ono was well seasoned. Ribs were dry. Candied ahi was a little strange but with the coconut milk worked well. The lamb ragu could have been amazing but it ended up tasting like it came from a can. There are a lot of great spots to eat on the island, go to one of those places.
(2)Gisselle L.
My husband and I came to this restaurant three times while vacationing in Kauai. It was next door to our resort/walking distance. I don't recommend the tasting menu- stick with their main menu. I recommend their ribs and fishes. Their desserts were ok to good I recommend trying their daily special. Service can be hit or miss depending on the waiter/waitress. Overall, I would recommend this place. Bring a sweater as it does get windy/cold (they are by the water)- Mai Tai pretty good here
(4)Popples E.
The food was delicious and service was excellent! I ate the filet mignon, sweet potato ravioli and mocha chocolate cake....mmmmm....heaven! Cannot wait to come back! Heads up tho: My co-worker and I ate in the bar area because they didn't have a table available. I definitely recommend making a reservation!
(5)Jim C.
The setting is magnificent with the fire lamps, beautiful vegetation and sea only a three wood away. While you wait for your table there is live music and it's the kind of place where you feel comfortable in a jacket and tie or in shorts and a tee shirt. Our waitress was probably the best we have ever had. My goodness she was knowledgeable about all the drinks and dishes without being obnoxious or lording it over on us. The food was the best we have had on the island. Our group had the yellowtail tuna, Ono and prime rib. They were all perfection--cooked so perfectly with subtle and outstanding flavors. We finished it off with the molten lava cake and ice cream and, again, the quality and flavors were the best. Come her without any doubts. It's delicious. For 4 people with 3 cocktails and a bottle of wine our meal came to $200.
(5)Lindbergh B.
If its your 1st time here, definitely go during happy hour and do the "wine & food pairing"!!! The pairing is on point with the wine going so smoothly with the food. We came here during our Kauai vacation and it was the most memorable experience we had. Will be back!
(5)Elizabeth T.
Large portions. Good service. Nice setting. Definitely try the SwissChard and Mushroom tart, that was fantastic. The sweet potato ravioli is ok, the potato is a little too heavy and overwhelming for a delicate ravioli. Mixed Green salad was surprisingly great, possibly the best simple salad that I've ever had: lush + great tangy creamy dressing. Lasagna is huge! and it came with a massive salad. It was good but nothing special.
(4)Elizabeth C.
We did the 5 course tasting menu with pairings and we left very satisfied. Each offering was very good and the service was excellent. Next time we will order from the regular menu but it was a really nice way to get to know the restaurant in a special way!
(4)Anoop S.
Very good food. Had the special, which was a combo of shrimp and two fish, one a meatier kind and the other a more buttery kind (totally blanking on which fish they were). The preparation and flavors were really excellent. Biggest knock against Hukilau (and all the other sit down restaurants in Kauai) is that you can get better tasting food for less at food trucks / market stands.
(4)Michelle R.
I almost hate to review the Hukilau Lanai because it will make it even harder to get reservations! We live on island and if people ask for a restaurant suggestions, we always recommend the Hukilau Lanai. Every item is delicious! My personal favorites: Ahi Poke Nachos Sweet Potato Ravioli Goat Cheese Wontons Filet Mignon I worked at the restaurant over ten years ago and at the time wouldn't eat fish because I'd had some bad fish in restaurants. The Hukilau Lanai converted me back to fish. It is always fresh and expertly prepared.
(5)Sarah S.
- Good Food - Great Service - Nice Atmosphere - A little pricey, but you can hardly get a taco for less than $7 on Kauai, so you have to take that into consideration. - Not all menu items are local/organic, like the corn in the chowder, and I would prefer
(5)Paul S.
Really disappointing. Fish was over cooked and the service wasn't anything special.
(1)Debby S.
Wondeful dinner tonight. Didn't have reservation but they got us a table outside anyway. Hostess staff were so friendly. Once seated, we were greeted right away and explained the menu. She took our drink order and was back quickly with our wine choice. Once we ordered the courses came out on time but not fast so we could enjoy the food and the view. We ordered the lobster and goat cheese wontons to start - so yummy. Then had salads before our entrees. Hubby had the ono and I had the crown royal medallions. Both so good and prepared perfect. Finished with the warm chocolate cake. Worth the wait. I have noticed that other reviews had issues with service but for us it was great. Fast, attentive and helpful. Will be back and highly recommend.
(5)Avi D.
I had the Ahi fish, which was nothing short of perfection, the sauces tasted great, and the fish was cooked perfectly. The overall dining experience was 10/10. I would definitely recommend this as the best restaurant on Kauai.
(5)Mark L.
Excellent restaurant! All the 5 star reviews are correct... Had the BBQ pork ribs, (falling off the bone and in a tasty hoisin sauce), house green salad with blue cheese, and macadamia nut fresh Opah. All were terrific as well as very good service. Great experience.
(5)Lynda H.
Ahi poki nachos are fantastic and the calamari was tender and the lemon garlic dipping sauce is to die for.
(5)Matthee P.
Wife and I had a great anniversary dinner here. The setting is beautiful, and the food was delicious. We had a wide variety of dishes and there were all super tasty. Nice selection of inexpensive wines as well. The decor is a tad dated, but not a big deal. Check it out for sure. Make sure to get a reservation.
(4)Michael P.
You absolutely need to try the Crab-cake Benedict for breakfast! Great view, great service!
(5)Andrew R.
If you're trying to watch your wallet here, get the poke nachos. It's a complete meal and completely delicious. Slightly different than other poke you might find, it's paired with some crispy chips that provide an excellent contrast. If you despise your wallet, you can't go wrong with most of the fish specials. That said, one of the 3 I tasted wasn't very good at all. If it sounds good and is a fish you normally know to be good, stick with that. It's a great setting, wonderful atmosphere, and the service is good.
(4)Rita M.
We had a wonderful evening at Hukilau Lanai, excellent, friendly and prompt service. Our glasses never went below the 1/3 mark for a refill. My husband ordered the Panko Fried Calamari Strips, which I try often at other places and never like. I must say that this restaurant's Calamari Appetizer reigns supreme for this non-Calamari liking person. They were perfectly seasoned, not overly fishy tasty, extremely tender, served with a light and flavorful lemon Aioli Sauce. I could actually eat the whole piece that I had. My husband commented on how good they were. The Focaccia Bread, brought semi warm to the table, was moist and seemed to have spots of cheese in the middle, it was served with Balsamic and Olive Oil and was quite delicious! I ate more of this than I had planned on. The fish dishes we ordered were creatively and artfully plated, and had layers of flavor with different textures of Creamy Orzo on my husband's 2 Island Fish Plate that had a Sugar Cane Skewer of giant shrimp on top and I had Wahoo Fish over Quinoa Pilaf and a delightful olive and pepper relish. Our salads were also the best I have had on our trip to Kauai. I had an Arugula Salad covered with Sprouted Garbanzo Beans, Cherry Tomatoes and Candied Macadamia Nuts. The flavors and textures played wonderfully together. It was a surprise to me that something seemingly so simple could be so good. The so-called 'garnish' was more like extra toppings, as they did not scrimp on toppings, like some restaurants do. Everything at this restaurant is so fresh, and definitely not the boring average seafood entrees. Our waiter, Mark, was very friendly and attentive. This is our new favorite Kauai fancy dinner restaurant and for the price, we like it better than most others in the fine dining realm. The desserts of Macadamia Nut Tart and the Old Hawaiian Chocolate Factory Molten Cake served with Lappert's Ice Cream were a perfect finish to a perfect evening and the coffee was perfect, as well. I'm glad we didn't miss trying this place. We enjoyed walking down to the beach afterwards. Lovely!
(5)Malanta K.
Fabulous meal. We were seated outside and enjoyed the wonderful pacific breeze during dinner. We enjoyed every course of the meal. The lobster bisque and Caesar salad were delicious. We ordered the pork, chicken and beef dishes for our entrees. They were all so tasty but my favorite was the pork. For dessert we ordered the mango tart and French press coffee and were not disappointed. I would highly recommend this restaurant.
(5)V Y.
I highly recommend making a reservation because the restaurant is so popular and packed even at 5pm when they open. Between 5-5:45pm, they have 2 tasting menus (there's a regular one and a vegetarian one) that are each 5 courses. We got one of each so we could try both and my husband got the wine pairings with his. My daughter got the keiki menu meatloaf and mashed potatoes which starts with pineapple and ends with an ice cream dessert. Everything was delicious! It was a very satisfying meal and service was excellent. The view from the dining area is nice and creates a great ambience for the meal.
(5)Geoffrey C.
Exquisite! The food and expedited service was outstanding. Not even into dessert and we are pleasantly plump and happier than a fish in the sea. Filet mignon (so tender, cooked to perfection with lovely additions) and the curry chicken were our entrees and they were outstanding both in terms of taste and value ($34 and $24, respectively). The entrees also came with a wonderful Caesar and Outstanding mixed green with deep fried goat cheese. We typically like to venture around but WE WILL be back tomorrow without question. Keep in mind we are on only a two night getaway from Maui. Must go know for our molten lava cake!!!
(5)Noe P.
Called to make reservations and spoke with Mya who was not helpful as she said she would not be able to accommodate our party since we had 7 adults and 2 children. I asked if we walked in and waited if we could be seated and was told we would be turned away. Requested to speak with supervisor Steven who was basically repeated what Mya said earlier. If yelp offered a negative star service i would give it. I would highly recommend not eating here. Customer service is obviously not top priority nor is repeat and local business.
(1)Catherine P.
We went here on the strength of previous reviews and we were not disappointed. This was by far our best meal on Kauai. Hubby started with Adam's poke nachos- a clever Hawaiian take on the classic Mexican dish: crispy wonton-like chips contrasted wonderfully with the sushi grade ahi tuna with avocado chunks and wasabi cream. I ordered 3 apps for dinner: arugula salad, tomato & pineapple gazpacho with a dollop of citrus sorbet, and baby clams in a yummy broth albeit a tad salty (all our meals had way more salt than I am used to). Hubby's main was a mixed grill of local fish and skewered shrimp, over creamy orzo in a Thai chile coconut sauce. Most of the food is locally sourced. Dessert was chocolate mousse with salted toffee bits. I still think about it. Service was excellent, nice wine selection. When you first walk in, it's a bit weird, like a budget hotel, but sit on the lanai looking over the torch-lit garden. Tip: reserve early, this place is popular.
(5)David H.
I can't say enough about this place. This is the second time in the past year we have gotten the five course tasting meal, and every item from the gazpacho to the amazing veggie pastry shell to the fish & Ni'ihau lamb was as good as I've had in a long time. The pricing on the wine parings has gone up appreciably since last summer, but if you're a couple it's just as easy to save the $36 on wine pairs & get a couple of glasses, or even a decent bottle in the mid-twenties. Go early if you can to avoid the wait (& yes, they are on Open Table), but GO!
(5)Connie H.
Was craving a steak after a trek down Waimea canyon. The filet mignon was a perfect medium rare (asked for the wine sauce on the side) tender good sized steak. The purple sweet potato mashed was good complement. My friend had the 5 course tasting menu which she enjoyed all of especially the fresh fish with rice and miso sauce. We shared the creme brûlée and warm molten chocolate cake. Would have liked a little more molten in my cake but it was moist. Service was good. Very enjoyable solid meal.
(5)Lalu B.
Absolutely excellent from soup to nuts. Lovely dining room with a far off ocean view, excellent service, DELICIOUS food, amazing cocktails and GLUTEN FREE BREAD! Hukilau Lanai is by far the best restaurant on Kauai. We had a mixed grill plate of fresh fish and shrimp accompanied by a tropical cream sauce and another member of our party had prime rib au jus. The fish was truly fresh and the prime rib was a generous portion and so delicious. Their cocktail selection is superb. So fun to have a drink in this dining room and take a walk around the grounds of the resort with tiki torches lit. The gluten free bread was such a nice touch. It's made fresh to order and absolutely delicious.
(5)Dr. B.
We stayed at the resort where the restaurant is located. I have to say, the food is excellent and clearly 5 stars. I was pleased with the service and cost (for Hawaii). Be aware that this is pricey and not a shack. If you want to decrease your cost, try to find a time share presentation which will give you a voucher for here.
(5)Richel R.
Second best meal I had during my visit to Hawaii. We came here for my mom's birthday dinner. The lobster curry bisque was made just right, not too salty and the curry was complimentary and not overpowering. The salad came with a nice, light, dressing. For my entree I ordered one of the dinner specials, the swordfish with pesto and risotto. I honestly don't think you could go wrong with any of the fish entrees here. I sampled the ahi, macadamian chicken, mixed grill, opa, and the vegetable lasagne. For the food and service, I definitely rate 5-stars. After dinner, our server was kind enough to take a picture of our family by the garden adjacent to the dining area. Mahalo!
(5)Martina V.
First time here food was excellent Had the pork loin with hawaii mushrooms sauce portion was just right worth the price lovely ambiance. Great service
(4)Gerald G.
Very cool ambiance. We ordered the macadamia crusted chicken and the mixed grill plate (2 fresh fish combo). Both were very good (the fresh walu on the fish plate was the bomb diggity). Our server Jessica was very attentive and always checked up on us, which was awesome. Since it was our anniversary, we were greeted by servers and waitresses all night long. Then we got a 2-truffle gift box as a gift. This is a great spot. Good food, great waitress. Thanks!!
(4)Mike P.
This one will be short. All of the positive reviews are spot on, ignore the negative ones. Tasting menu for us. Food was great and the wine generous. $50.00 is cheap for this meal. Service was attentive but unobtrusive. We were lucky to meet Manny, on of the cooks the next day. After talking a bit he said, "you're the anniversary couple!" How fun is that? Man knows his job
(5)Wesley L.
Wife and I had an adult night out while vacationing in Kauai. Both of our meals were outstanding. I had beef and she had two kinds of fish. Server Mark was great with his recommendations. Even waited the 20 mins for the brownie dessert. May go back again on this stay.
(5)barbara k.
We went for our traditional 1st night dinner, and somehow my memory of the meat not being up to par had faded, so I ordered the filet mignon with Crown Royal sauce. The sauce was interesting and tasty, but the meat, slightly overcooked, was pretty tasteless. Husband had pork tenderloin, which was cooked properly, and was moist, but he didn't care for the mushroom sauce at all. I also had the arugula salad, which was quite good, had preserved lemons in the dressing. From now on, I WILL stick to fish here, but ask to sub the basil mashed potatoes, which were definitely the best part of our dinner!
(3)Nicole N.
I wish there were more stars! This place is amazing. Seriously. You have got to go there! We ordered all apps...lobster wontons, spare ribs, sweet potato ravioli, calamari, Wally's salad. Everything was delicious, perfectly balanced flavors, wonderful textures, simply scrumptious. Staff is crazy nice, very attentive, and so sweet to my niece. We sat in the bar area and the service was wonderful. Go eat there soon! Seriously.
(5)John D.
The cuisine and setting here were quite nice however the waiter here definitely had a "I'm too cool to be polite" attitude about him. I'd probably dine here again, but am not rushing to do so.
(3)Judy F.
By far, the best dinner experience the whole week! Go appetizers! The calamaria was perfect. The Sweet potatoe raviolli was really out of this world. The Lobster and Goat Cheese wontons were heavenly However it was presented with just 3, there were 4 of us so they kindly removed it and returned it with a serving for each of us! They melted in your mouth! The mixed grill was very nice with 2 different fishes that were nicely done. The shrimp were acceptable but not unique. A side of purple sweet potatoes was deicious. We were very pleased. Mark, our server was attentive and perfect. You will not be disappointed! Parking is easy, the outdoor area was nice to stroll through!
(5)A O.
I rarely write reviews but I just had to share my wonderful experience here. My wife and I are on our honeymoon and we found this place on yelp! and it just happened to be at the hotel were we are staying. The staff was very friendly especially our waitress Jessica who was very attentive also. The food was so delicious for such a reasonable price. Before I looked at the menu I assumed it was going to be pricey but I was so wrong! We had the lobster won ton and ahi tacos for pupus. Our main entrees were the ahi and Hukilau grilled seafood mix and we just had to have the Hawaiian chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream. All of the dishes were so good! Worth every penny! Jessica made our dinner so enjoyable. It's no wonder they're opened for only 4-5 hours because they put a lot of work into quality. I would definitely eat here again and recommend to anyone who will be going to Kauai! Also the bar is very good. Their mixed drinks are perfect!
(5)Prin D.
I was very happy and satisfied with my meal, service and value. ($125 for 2) I ordered the "freaking hot chocolate" martini, the sweet potato ravioli pupu, the local greens salad with blue cheese, mahi mahi, a coffee and the Hawaiian chocolate warm (lava) cake. A feast! Lol I wanted to be rolled out! My husband had the macadamia martini (can't recall name), a salad, the prime rib and a soda. We were both happy. The food itself was beyond any criticism. Pairing of seasonings was A+ and the freshness of the food could only be explained by a clear loyalty to using local ingredients. I was very impressed. Portions were fine, especially with everything I ordered. Great date night! Sat outside. Only critique... Both martinis were not out of this world though. I think the names and descriptions sounded better than the taste and I'm a big martini drinker. Mine had limited Creme de cacao and my husband's tasted too strong without a real hint of the nut. They were nice to sip but I've had amazing martini mixes in my life, being from nyc. Eat here! ;)
(5)Mindy F.
1-12-15 Went back because our experience was so good the previous visit. On the east side of the island this is the only place to come for dinner. This time our service by Janet was impeccable. Might be one of the best dining experiences I've had....ever. The food is so perfectly prepared it's quite amazing. Served cooked to perfection and hot. Everything was delicious. The chef is quite impressive whoever he/she/they may be. What a place! 1-7-15 The waiter arrived as we were seated, asking what we wanted to drink. Not even a few seconds to get situated and look at the menu. He was nice enough but completely lacked any personality or flare. He was stiff and looked scared.... The food was incredible. Everyone loved their entrees. I was thinking I should get seafood but was over the moon about the filet mignon I got. The most perfect piece of meat I've ever eaten. The atmosphere is very nice, cocktails good but the food was a pleasant surprise. Great place! Highly recommend!
(5)Mark D.
Great evening great atmosphere. Very fresh ingredients. Hot and dirty martini was just that. Yowsers! My ebi dish with homemade pasta was fantastic too. Price point was more reasonable than other restaurants we visited. Very surprised. Mahalo Krissy for a beautiful evening. We will be back!
(5)Matt Y.
11/30/13. Dinner Hukilau Lanai is located inside the Kauai Coast Resort in Kapa'a. It truly lives up to the praises of Yelpers and Dinner Choice on Open Table. The restaurant was booked full that evening. We were seated promptly at 5:30pm on the upper section in the dining room. That was actually a bliss for two reasons. First, our server Sandra was absolutely professional. She greeted us with such aloha spirit bad explained the menu in full details. Second, a storm was passing over Kauai that night so even in the tented patio you would be sprayed. Cocktails were wonderful. The Pear Passion was made with Grey Goose pear vodka and passion fruit juice. Tasty start for our vacation. All dinner entrees at Hukilau Lanai came with a choice of Wally's salad, caesar's, or soup. Wally's Salad: chopped romaine with bacon bits, cherry tomato, crouton, in a special house dressing made with papaya seed and ranch. It's also available in full portion. Caesar's: also chopped romaine with a rich Caesar dressing. The salads are accompanied by focaccia bread with crusted asiago, which is addictively tasty. *Mushroom Meatliaf ($19): a very generous portion served in brown butte sauce. Meatloaf was made with crushed mushroom and braised beef. Flavor is strong but bit overpowering. *Hukilau Mixed Grill ($29): with two kinds of fish and a skewer of four shrimps. You get a pan-seared fish and a marinated blackened fish. Rice is a Thai-inspired coconut curry risotto. The whole meal was very delightful and delicious. We were most impressed by Sandra's knowledge and professional disposition. We actually made another reservation on OpenTable to cone back on our last night in Kauai. I highly recommend Hukilau Lanai for its outstanding quality of food and great value. I also appreciate the many gluten free choices on their menu. The dinner tag cane to $78 for two.
(5)Natalie Y.
Found this place on the back to the airport from Princeville and wish we had found it sooner! From the St. Regis to the new Roy's... This had to have been one of our best meals of the trip! I highly recommend this place to everyone. Amazing food, great service, and a great view!
(5)Jacquelyn F.
Don't get the vegetable lasagna, yuck! The crab wantons have a weird texture and Mac Nut Chicken is just okay. Very disappointed considering all the good reviews.
(1)Kathleen M.
The food is good. But if you are there to celebrate an Anniversary or a birthday don't count on them remembering to do anything...even if you told them a few times. Very disappointing.
(2)Brittney D.
Mediocre food. Decent service. Food was somewhat bland. Hair found in children's menu dish. Fish was ok.
(2)Zzajj J.
always on point with their food and wonderful staff. I try to hit the place at least once when i come to the island, and it is totally worth the price and wait, but seriously make a reservation because this place is always poppin'
(5)Nancy C.
Hukilau Lanai was our "fancy dinner place" during our trip to Kauai. It was, indeed, a very nice restaurant. I split three appetizers (sweet potato ravioli, poke nachos, and lobster wontons) with two friends, all of which were very good. My main course of the seafood sampler plate was also delicious. I really enjoyed the butterfish. However, the cajun mahi mahi, though good, did not blow my mind. And my shrimp was undercooked, so we requested to have it cooked a little longer just to get the gray color out, after which it was delicious. But for what we were paying, I expected everything to be spot on. The outdoor seating space is really nice. However, beware the critters that attack you if you sit close to the grassy areas, because that was certainly an issue with our table.
(3)Tony R.
Ya know...this is one of the only places we dare take family and friends...NEVER a bad meal, or bad service in 4 years. One of the most consistent, if not THE most consistent place to eat on Kauai. Not one of the least expensive, but you definitely get what you pay for at the Hukilau Lanai. Make a reservation a head of time if you are coming to visit the Garden Isle to make sure you have the time you wish. Absolutely a winner!
(5)Taryn B.
I had read the reviews, I knew that one night on Kauai my husband and I would be having a very early dinner and partaking in the tasting menu here. We got the supposed last 5 o'clock reservation, but we were the first to arrive and the party before us wasn't around when they called their name, so we literally got the best seat on the Linai looking out to the ocean! Score! Would you believe we were the only people in the whole place having the tasting menu??? It's $28 for 5 courses, adding wine takes it to $40. This. Is. A. Steal. Trust me. If you come here at 5 pm and you don't have the tasting menu, something is wrong with you!!! Being that I don't eat meat, the waitress gladly changed up the sausage course for a fresh catch of the day. She debated with herself for a minute before settling on (I think) Hebi. Whatever it was, it was the most tender, delicious fish I've ever had. My husband tried it and was mad that he ate meat and didn't get this dish too! My other favorites were: The Koloa Rum Pineapple Basil Sorbet that was served atop the gazpacho. The gazpacho itself was neither good nor bad, just eh. The candied Ahi. I don't even know how to describe this except to say that I've never had anything like it before and it is amazing. The creme brûlée was a 9 out of 10 according to my husband, the creme brûlée snob. So that's good! I very much enjoyed the cheese plate with fresh local honey too. My only complaint was that the main fish course (the fresh catch) which I think was Mahi Mahi that day, was very dry and overcooked. Mixed with dry quinoa and kale...it was hard to finish. Especially after everything else had been soooooo amazing!!! Oh, I had read on here that someone was able to get the red wine twice because they said they don't like dessert wines, well, this didn't work for me. Maybe you can only make one request per night, and mine was replacing sausage with fish. But it was fine, I actually really enjoyed the pairing with dessert. All the wines were spot on!
(5)Dan W.
Everything about the place was fantastic - Food selections and mix of flavors, service and locale. It was especially nice to find a place so cognizant of gluten allergies. One of best meals we've had on multiple trips to Kauai.
(5)Ellin C.
You can't really beat the value of a $28 dollar five course tasting menu. Everything in it was delicious, starting from the gazpacho with a koloa rum pineapple basil sorbet on top which was a refreshing start. The candied ahi was unique and had a kick to it, which was served with some sprouts over a bed of rice. Sausage and warabi were good. We got the mahi mahi for the catch of the day and it was very tender, and the quinoa was flavorful. We ended our meal sharing the artisan cheese duo which had a truffle-flavored italian cheese along with the vanilla bean creme brulee. Overall, a good tasting menu. Service was okay. Wish I could have been there during good weather because our visit was slightly dampened by pouring rain so we didn't get a great view seated at the tables.
(4)Sarah S.
Hukilau Lanai was a restaurant my husband and I bookmarked to try at the very beginning of our week-long trip in Kaua'i. After one failed attempt to eat there - we called early afternoon and were told there were absolutely zero reservations available that evening - we called two days ahead and booked for 7:15 on a Thursday evening. The parking lot is definitely not big enough for this place. We went across the road to the motel where the woman at the front desk was kind enough to give us a temporary parking pass to park there. Upon arrival, I was glad to have made a reservation because the lobby was PACKED. We ordered drinks at the bar while we waited and found a spot on a comfortable sofa. When our name was called, we were led to the second tier of the dining room which overlooked the garden. There was soft lighting everywhere which made for a very romantic atmosphere. Our server, Andrew, greeted us and offered his recommendations on the menu. We received our complimentary foccacia bread (delicious!) with balsamic dipping sauce. We ordered goat cheese and lobster wontons which Andrew assured me the goat cheese was not too pungent. He was right, it was almost the consistency of cream cheese and just as mild-tasting. They were pretty phenomenal. The entrees included a soup or salad, so I selected the Wally's Salad (simple and yummy) and my husband upgraded (an extra $2 or so) to the lobster bisque which was fantastic. For entrees, my husband ordered the Ahi and I chose the Hukilau Mixed Grill. Andrew explained the fish in the mixed grill (one short-billed fish, and one long-billed, if I remember correctly, and a skewer of succulent shrimp) and they definitely didn't disappoint. The orzo on my plate was bland and under seasoned, but the fish was so good I didn't care. My husband was disappointed with the Ahi from the beginning, and could hardly eat it because it was so tough and overcooked. I happily finished my meal and urged my husband to say something about his Ahi, but before we even had to, our server Andrew sensed he wasn't too impressed and asked for his honest opinion. We told him that the Ahi wasn't very good at all, and he sincerely apologized and set off to make it right. Hukilau Lanai really takes pride in their food and especially their seafood, which became obvious when the owner came to our table and made things right. I sincerely appreciate the lengths both the owners and our server Andrew went to to ensure we had a pleasant dining experience. I can't wait to come back and enjoy another special meal!
(4)Julie K.
A fabulous dinner! This restaurant is in a time share resort but don't let that dissuade you from eating here. I would say hands down this was the best meal we ate in our week in Kauai and we also dined at Tide Pools, Keiko's Paradise, Duke's and the Eating House 1849. The service here is fantastic. All the servers work as a team and there is always someone attending to what you may need. And they are all very nice. The food comes out at a perfect pace. We had the ahi sashimi bowl followed by the lobster goat cheese wontons for starters and the Wally and mixed greens for salads. Our entrees were the mixed grill and Opah (the portions are huge!). We finished our dinner with the vanilla creme brûlée. We had a couple cocktails and the wine that our server suggested for our meals. Everything we ate was outstanding!! Try this restaurant. You will enjoy it.
(5)Brooke B.
One of our favorite restaurants on Kauai. We had our rehearsal dinner here in 2009 when we got married, and just returned in May of 2015. Still fantastic! The fish is cooked perfectly, and the flavors are just enough. Romantic setting. The only think that bugs me about the location is that we had a timeshare sales meeting in the restaurant during the day once. Didn't like the confusion of the atmosphere. Two feelings, same place. One where they tried to sell us "memories", and we said no... and the other a romantic night away...
(4)Kevin K.
This was a really excellent restaurant. Food: Really tasty 5 course tasting menu with good portions. The lobster/goat cheese wontons were really great starters and their fish was sooo well cooked. Service: Outstanding, on top of it without being intrusive, friendly. Ambiance: Very nice overlooking the grounds/pool area/ocean at the resort. Value:$32 for a 5 course tasting menu (before 545 PM). WOW Amazing. The other entrees are $25-30 and come with soup or salad and were delicious as well. We only had one other "nice" meal in Kauai and that was at Tidepools in the Grand Hyatt. There was no competition. Hukilau Lanai was WAAAAY better.
(5)Len S.
My wife & I had dinner at Hukilau Lanai on Thursday 7 May. This is our special treat dining experience when we visit Kauai twice a year. My wife ordered the fish special - Opa served with mashed potatoes and a starter salad. She finished with the chocolate lava cake - what else could compete? We had to wait an extra 10 minutes for this dessert. The lava cakes are made to order and the first attempt broke apart, so the chef would not serve the dessert without proper presentation. I am stuck on ordering the tasting menu with the wine pairing ($50). On this visit there was the apparently standard gazpacho taste bud wakeup call, then a tasty roasted vegetable tart, the fish coarse was Mahi Mahi served on rice, and the meat coarse was a lamb ragout. I finished with the cheese selection. I could find no fault with any of these courses nor the wine pairing - that is why I am stuck on the tasting menu. Be advised, the tasting menu is only offered from 5 unit 5:45PM, so make an early dinner reservation if you are interested in this culinary tour de force. Our total bill, including two Mai Tai's, was $114 - OK not cheap, but what is on Kauaii and what is more memorable then a delicious dinner, with a scenic view of a tropical garden and the ocean - at no extra cost.
(5)Joanna F.
Best appetizers I've ever had in my life! Candied ahi and fall off the bone ribs was all I needed to be full. The server was very sweet, they had live music with good musicians and well balanced drinks. I will be coming back here as often as I can on my trip here.
(5)Nick T.
Spent 7 days in Kauai and had dinner here twice. Certainly worth the drive all the way from Princeville. Without a doubt, this is the BEST restaurant on the island. Food was superb. The wait staff was extra attentive. Not a bad meal on the menu. Salad included with entrée which is most uncommon these days. Average price.... since it is Hawaii. Beautiful surroundings and just an overall great place to enjoy.
(5)Geneva H.
Loved the poke nachos. Every bite of every course was packed with flavor. They were also very accommodating with kids. They gave us an outside table next to the courtyard which was very helpful for restless kiddos.
(5)Jim T.
What a beautiful place to have a great dinner with that special someone. Service and food where 5 star and the view was just perfect
(5)Natalie C.
Meh. Everything tasted good, but this is not my style of eats. I refer to this type of dining as "old people food" (no offense, senior citizens). Heavy, heavy, heavy. Lots of cream-based sauces and soups, and obnoxiously large portions. One of their claims to fame is waterfront view with a beautiful garden. But you're so stuffed after your meal that you have no interest in waddling through the garden, all you want to do is lay down and fall into a food coma. The service is another issue for me. We may have had the worst server on all of Kaua'i. A few members of our party showed up a bit late, and he was deliberating whether or not they could still order the tasting menu. Meanwhile, our seating hostess had said it would be no problem at all, since our reservation was clearly before the cutoff time. Another member of our party eats gluten-free, and was unsatisfied that the in-house menu does not note which items can be prepared gluten-free (online, there is an entire menu dedicated to this). Again, the waiter seemed incredibly put-out by her questioning which items would follow her dietary restrictions. For future gluten-free diners, they do serve a gluten-free bread that is the best I've tried, so make sure to ask for it.
(3)Chrissy B.
Great Food! Even better atmosphere and Aloha Service. What more could you ask for!
(5)Christine C.
We didn't have a reservation so we were lucky to find 4 seats at the lounge. The service was really mediocre. The food for an average of $30 per dish, it was also mediocre. However the dessert was delicious - we ordered macadamia nut tart with cinnamon ice cream!! The atmosphere was really nice. There was live Hawaiian music with light hula dancing - it's like a Hawaiian jazz. Overall, it was ok.
(3)Frank S.
This place is just awesome. The staff, the service everything was perfect. We always stop here on the way to the airport at the end of our holidays and it never fails to lighten our hearts when our holiday is ending. On our last visit, I forgot my cell phone at the restaurant and boarded a plane home hours later. I thought that I had left the phone on the plane and could not find it anywhere. About a week later my wife was contacted on Facebook by Ron Miller the owner. He had found the phone at the table, checked the bill for our name mailed it back to me. Best service ever!
(5)Alison M.
I love a good tasting menu, and this location came up in my search. I made reservations a few days in advance. We sat on a covered patio with a great view. I had the tasting menu, my husband did not. They wine parings were done well and the pours were heavy. Not the most memorable meal I had on my trip, but a solid evening out that we both enjoyed.
(4)Jonathan C.
The ahi nachos were so good! The fish so tender and the accompanying tastes so well balanced my eating companion thought them tomatoes for a while. The macadamia nut pie with cinammon ice cream was to die for. Would recommend this place to anyone visiting!
(5)Kaytlin G.
I've been to some pretty amazing restaurants and this place truly had some of the best food I've had in a while. Every single thing we got was amazing. Lobster and goat cheese won tons, calamari, bone marrow, ahi nachos...all incredible! My husband and I got the seafood samplers for dinner and the fish and shrimp were cooked perfectly, and our moms had prime rib and they said the same thing. We got 4 desserts, all wonderful. Our waiter was nice, attentive, and he catered to the fact that we had a one year old with us. Ps- there's a great lawn area for kiddos to run if they get a little rambunctious during dinner. Best meal of the trip.
(5)Greg R.
Just finished a great Mother's Day meal. The wife had the mixed grill with an Arugula salad. She loved it. I had surf and turf with chowder. I was in heaven with the filet and the fish I had. The service was excellent.
(5)Sean M.
Best meal we had on Kauai. The tropical fish sampler was divine. We were so amazed by the taste of one and later learned that it was Walu/Escolar; perfect to have a small amount in a shared sampler as it isn't recommended you eat much (google). Kale salad excellent too. Very generous deal where you can split a main dish and get two salads for a small price -- not on menu so ask. Get table outside overlooking patio.
(5)Shannel J.
Amazing food! I ordered off the gluten free menu. I had the mahi mahi special, it was like a sliver of heaven in my mouth. I also had the tuna appetizer and a cold soup with sorbet. They were both very good. I also had their freshly made gluten free bread and it was amazing!!! It was light and fluffy like bread, not like the dense gluten free bread I have had in the past. I would have given a 5 star but we ordered 2 cream brûlées and both tasted burnt on the top. They gave us some truffles to go. They asked if we wanted another one but at that point we were done. It was a 2 hour meal. Our server was amazing and was very knowledgable on the menu of what I could have and what I couldn't and why. They were able to make a few of the regular menu items gluten free as well. Overall, I would definitely go again and recommend it to friends.
(4)Kara G.
This was by far the best dinner on Kauai my husband and I experienced during our honeymoon. We started with the poke nachos, which ended up being our favorite dish -- soooo ono! Great wine list as well, decent cocktail list... I had the mixed grill that included Walu and a cajun fish I can't remember... excellent choice. Husband ordered the opah pasta dish which was also great. Both entrees were around $30, the appetizer $14 -- very reasonable for Kauai prices (especially since we stayed in Princeville) and delicious food. The view of the ocean, torches and live music made for a very romantic setting for our first night on Kauai, would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone visiting the island!
(5)Andrew I.
What a beautiful place!! Came here at night for a very nice dinner, and it definitely surpasses our expectations. I did not have a reservation, so we waited about 25 minutes. In the meantime, we walked around the pool area toward the ocean, and it was such a cute walk. Fire lights the way around, and there are some lounge chairs as we get toward the ocean. There are some people selling jewelry and trinkets as well, at reasonable price. There's a bar area in case you're waiting. Of course it's a bit pricey in here, but with the open patio, perfect weather, and clear skies, everything was just perfect. The music is lively, but not too exciting or distracting. The focus is, of course, on each other and we did just that. Our waiter is an older gentleman, and he was extremely respectful, courteous, and complements us on everything! It wasn't done in an overkill kind of way, though. There are couples and families of all ages, all dressed formally or just casually beautiful. I got the swordfish, and it was cooked perfectly! It was neither dry, too raw, or had the fishy aftertaste. Our waiter gave us a perfect pairing of wine for our dishes, and we stayed until the place almost closes practically, then walked back to our hotel. Could not have been any more perfect of a dinner than that. I second all yelpers that recommend this place, your night will be beautiful.
(5)Amanda G.
This is one of my favorite places in Kauai. Great place to just have drinks and appetizers. If you are planning on eating here, I advise that you make reservations as they are very busy. Their drinks are yummy, but the food is amazing. I recommend the ahi nachos, lobster bisque, Wally's salad, Wally's steak dish. The place is a little pricey but very worth it. I recommend trying this restaurant if you have not been here!! Also MUST try the Chocolate Lava Cake.
(5)Lawrence H.
I really had high hopes for this place based on the prior reviews. Warning that I'll focus more on service as the food was ok (see paragraph 4 below). The mediocrity began with the hostess. We arrived at 8:17 for an 8:30 reservation. We were told that our table was being "prepared." No worries, we thought, as we had arrived early for our reservation. We grabbed a Mai Tai at the bar (which was no better than the Mai Tai we received on our Hawaiian airlines flight). At 8:30, the hostess came to the bar and told us the area that was supposedly being prepared for us was in an area that was unsuitable due to weather condition and that they were just waiting on people to leave to seat us. While we drank our mediocre Mai Tai at the bar, we noticed that at 8:40 a couple who arrived after us was being seated. I brought this fact up to the hostess and she said "I'm not sure why they are being seated before you." Which I though was very odd. Also, she offered no "sorry" or no "their reservation was prior to yours." She was able to seat us a short while after, but again, no sorry, just "have a nice night." Generic. Contrived. Our waiter was ok. He knew the menu and the wine list. We ordered the ono and prime rib with the Manhattan chowder and Caesar salad. The chowder was good but did not taste any different than a crockpot pot ragout. The Caesar salad dressing had an extra kick which I appreciated. The ono was good and the sauce was delicious. The prime rib was good but nothing special. It was more well as opposed to the medium rare that I ordered. The waiter arrived with our bottle of wine prior to our food coming out but never once came back to re-pour the wine. Bottom line - service borderline at best, food ok, drinks so-so. For the same amount of money, I would suggest Oasis just down the road.
(2)Ben D.
Ate in the bar on Thanksgiving pressed for time to catch our dreaded flight home. Perfection. Awesome Hawaiian style turkey dinner with lilikoi cranberry sauce, wild mushroom stuffing, Okinawan Purple Sweet Potatoes, mashed potatoes and very flavorful chicken. Enjoyed an incredible lilikoi martini (with a splash of pomegranate liquer to make it interesting). Kids had giant lavaflows. $120 for five with drinks and desserts on Thanksgiving night and we made our flight with plenty of time to spare. Note, this is in a kind of cheesy timeshare and the restaurant is several notches higher in class than the hotel itself. I have been to Duke's several times prior to catching flights and (fortunately) couldn't get in due to Thanksgiving. I would absolutely go out of my way to eat at Hukilau again.
(5)Lori B.
One of my favorite restaurants! Always great fresh food. Sitting out on the lanai is the best! All staff are friendly and accommodating. Enjoy!
(4)Leslie R.
I would give this place 6 stars if possible. Great, open air atmosphere & live music. Reservations a must. Feel free to arrive early to have a drink in the bar. We ordered some of the lobster & cheese pupus - deeeeelish. One member of the group ordered the tasting menu w no wine. A great value at $28, especially if you like fish. I know this sounds strange, but I ordered the local beef meatloaf. It came in two large slices; the beef literally melted in my mouth. Yum! A truly amazing place that all should visit when on Kauai.
(5)Moira M.
Wonderful!!! This was by far our favorite dinner in Hawaii. We went on our last night in Kauai based on a recommendation (from the waiter at Scotty's BBQ, another awesome place.) There was live music, which my friend and I really enjoyed and the place was nice inside, nothing super special, but nice. We started with the lobster wonton, which were tasty. I had the lobster curry soup, which was good as well, I did expect a little more of a kick to the soup, but it was still good. I got the mahi mahi with linguine for my entree and it was out of this world delicious. I loved it. My friend got the mixed plate and loved it as well. We were stuffed and still got dessert. So good as well!!!
(5)Kathy Q.
Great place, great atmosphere, nice staff! Food was delicious and prices very fair. Would highly recommend.
(4)Linda S.
The atmosphere is lovely. Our waiter was terrific. The meatloaf is excellent and the Mahi Mahi is fabulous.. The only complant I have was the filet minion was too rare, like cold in the middle grill marks on one side, not on the other and I ordered med-rare. I tried to eat it, but it was just too rare.. They took my whole plate back and RE-COOKED the meat.. It was an 8oz steak before it was cooked.. Thought it would have been in better taste to have cooked a whole new steak. I surely would eat here again.. :)
(4)Logan J.
Saved the best for last!! It is our last night here! So far we haven't had anything terrible but nothing that really wowed us either. We decided to have a nice dinner to celebrate our last night and my birthday. I called to see if we needed a reservation. They said they highly recommend them and the earliest they had available was 8:45. However, they do have a first come first serve bar area and you can eat from the full menu!! We got there a little before 6pm (Friday) and there was plenty of seats to choose from. We had the Ahi Nachos which were amazing! For dinner we both had the Filet Mignon and it was absolutely DELICIOUS!! Our server was friendly and knowledgable. I would highly recommend Hukilau Lanai!!!
(5)Bob V.
Surprising to find such a impressively good restaurant connect to a mid-priced hotel. A rare discovery indeed. I have eaten here a two different occasions, six months apart. Varied menu with lots of freshly prepared fish. I must say I has drawn to the classic meatloaf with mushroom gravy! Very yummie and a rather large portion, as I love veggies I ordered a side of fresh vegetables with my meal which were cooked to perfection. I was too full for dessert. Highly recommend stopping here for diner, with reservations, beware it can get rather crowded during prime times. Bon appetite!
(4)Sharon C.
My husband and I went to Kauia to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary and we had our celebratory dinner at Hukilau upon the recommendation of our tour guide. We went on our last night in Kauai - saved the best for last. This place is quite famous in Kauia and I can tell you a hundred reasons why. They were packed for the night and when I made a reservation, I requested for a table at the lanai and they said that it may not be possible because they're full that night and everyone requested for a table at the lanai. When we checked in, they remembered that it was a very special evening for us and they greeted us. Not only that, they gave us a table at the lanai. Our server was very nice and he was always checking on us. We had the potato ravioli and lobster and goat cheese wonton to start. That was very filling so we decided to split the main course (and they did not even charge us extra for that!). We also brought our own champagne bottle and they only charged $10 for corkage. We had the Mixed Grill - yay, finally got a chance to try the signature Hawaiian Ono Fish (really meaty yet tender and yummy)! We went to several restaurants when we were in Kauia but we had the best experience at Hukilau. 5 star service and the price was not bad at all. All the main courses came with soup or salad. For a minimal fee, I had the salad and my husband had the lobster bisque with our split meal. We really wanted to try some of their desserts but seriously, my belly was going to explode so we skipped that but our waiter brought a little gold package and inside it were 2 pieces of truffles. I was so full that I was not even able to take a small bite. My husband said it was heavenly so he finished all of it:)) It was pretty dark when we went so we didn't really see the view but we came back the next day just to check out the view and it was indeed very romantic. They must have the most amazing sunsets! When you come, make a reservation around sunset time. The place is very romantic, very quiet, and scenic and the service excellent. This restaurant is one of the reasons why we will come back to Kauia. We love this place so much.
(5)T C.
3.5 stars generally; I'd give the ahi nachos a solid 4 stars alone. Those nachos are pretty great - the chips are thick and crunchy and have a toasty after taste; the chips remind me of pork rinds (they're not, mind you). The dish is served with an abundant amount of ahi (yay!) and a drizzle of some dark, sweet sauce over it (~$14). The sweet potato ravioli was absurdly and unnaturally sweet, but filling despite the two ravioli serving (~$11). The lobster curry bisque was good (~$7 for a cup) - decadent, rich, curry-ee, coconutty, and lemongrassy. The bbq ribs were completely forgettable (~$11). The mixed grill was a-ok and nothing uber special to write home about (~$30). Other important info: inside Coconut Marketplace, ahi nachos are a not-to-miss dish, service is hit or miss depending on who is waiting on you, seems like they use the same sauce in every single dish (coconutty and lemongrassy taste), likely the best food I had on the island (note: they don't have stiff competition; good island food is pretty scarce), and reservations don't guarantee they'll seat you promptly.
(3)sheri d.
Absolutely the best meal and service in the entire island. The tasting menu with wine was a perfect sampler of the entire creative menu, starting with an island gazpacho and finishing with inventive breads and cheeses. Definitely our favorite and go to restaurant on Kauai.
(5)chris r.
Busy Labor Day weekend but with reservations, we were seated. The menu reads like a culinary" labor of love". My husband started off with a glass of white. I asked the wait person for a recommendation for a special drink and she said the Ginny Hendricks, which is not too sweet and goes well with the ending of a nice day. She was right. For dinner, my husband chose the Opa and I, the Ono. The presentation was lovely enough to take a picture yet the taste was even better. The fish was tender, flavorful on either a bed of delicately mashed potatoes or pistachio rice. We finished off with a coconut macadamia nut crusted lilikoi pie that instead of sharing, we seem to find ourselves bargaining over the last piece. A lot of 'ohhing" and "ahhing.." going on around us. 'Fresh ' is the word here.
(5)Juan C.
Definitely in my list of top 5! I celebrated our anniversary here, and it was amazing from finish to start. From the crisp calamari, to the red snapper fish over mashed potatoes, prime rib, corn jalapeño chowder, lobster bisque curry coconut soup, and the most delicious chocolate lava cake.... Oh my goodness!!!! Best ive ever had! Great job chefs! I will def be back. Excellent service, quick time to cook the food, unpretentious decor, and excellent view= love love love
(5)Jakki N.
This was one of my favorite places for dinner when I first moved to Kauai and, nine years later, it still is. The food and service are consistently above average. They have the best selection of local fresh fish on the east side. I recommend the ahi poke nachos and the Wally's salad for starters. I also love the Farmers Market Lasagna because it is never exactly the same and always delicious. I've been friends with a few Hukilau employees and can say that they all enjoy and appreciate their work environment and it shows in the sincerity of customer service you get. The staff is very knowledgeable about the menu and wine list. They handle modifications and accommodate special dietary needs well. You may have a short wait even if you make a reservation (I recommend making a reservation even on a week night) but the lobby has nice sofas to sit on and there is always good live acoustic entertainment. The setting is comfortable and open-air with tiki torches, candles and still plenty of light for you to read the menu. Its a good place to go if you are celebrating a special occasion or just want to treat yourself. Its not cheap, but the pricing and portions are more than fair - not jacked up resort pricing. I've been to a few banquet-style functions at The Hukilau over the years and found the food and service to be excellent at those events also. The Hukilau Lanai is an east side landmark that has really earned their good reputation. Try it. You will not be disappointed.
(5)Michele W.
Nice view, great food. Good selection of food and drink items.
(4)Amy K.
This restaurant, in Kapaa, Kauai, has the look and service of a 5 star but the prices of a 3-4 star restaurant. It was withing walking distance from the village resorts that we stayed in so it was about a 2 minute walk since its within the same complex. This place is great for romantic dinners or special group celebrations. The tikis and candles had a nice touch to it. Everything we ordered was very good and at the right temperatures. We ordered appetizers and I remember having our entrees come a little earlier than we expected, but not by much time. Try the Squash Blossom, Lobster Bisque (really good and spicy) for appetizers. The entrees were a little more pricer then everything else on the menu, around 28-35 dollars per plate. Appetizers were around 6-10 dollars. For dessert, we ordered the Creme Brulee and Chocolate Warm Cake. Nothing to complain about except a stuffed stomach. They have a wine list too! So check that out if you want to get a bottle to wine and dine your lovebug :) There is an ocean view, but since we were there after sunset, we could only hear it, not see it ;( Live Hawaiian music plays on certain days and times. It was a very relaxed atmosphere. If you've ever been to Roys, the service and etiquette is comparable to them. For two, our bill came to $122 before tip. This was for 2 apps, 2 entrees, 2 desserts, 1 drink and bottle of wine.
(5)Anna K.
Warm cake is perfect! all of the deserts are good actually. However, they have really bad coffee and tea, service is really slow
(4)Y I L I W.
all food items are handcrafted, and house~made using ~ as local of ingredients as possible ! !! + : pretty darn delish food: . .. great service, with attention to details . .. beautiful setting, kinda reminescent of French Polynesia . .. understood why they get high ratings . .. Chef works to accomodate allergies even on Tasting Menu . .. loved my passion fruit and poha berry sorbet, paired with an orange Muscat . .. several delish items exuded comfort~ÿ food feel while presenting "upscale~ÿ" . .. =) * heavenlÿ * d: -- : no espresso machine but they have Kaua'i coffee . .. hope to be back again VeRÿ sOoN
(4)Chris N.
Best restaurant I have eaten at kauai by far! Service and the food is amazing along with a gentle ocean breeze that brushes in your face! Wally's salad and the Creme Brulee were amazing! I had the macadamia nut chicken which was 5 stars and my honeymoon wife had a great vegetarian lasagna! Thinking of going again!
(5)Mike D.
My wife and I went last night for dinner. The staff was extremely friendly and attentive. We started with the ravioli starter which was excellent, she had the Ahi and I had the fillet and both were cooked perfectly and tasted awesome. The dinners came with salad, she had the Caesar and I had the Wally's and both were very good size and tasted excellent. Dessert we had the creme brûlée which was delicious. We definitely would recommend this place to anyone who wants a good meal and a nice night out.
(5)Jack N.
I expected more... and make sure you make a reservation if you plan to have dinner after 6 PM here. We came here twice, the first time we expected to walk in and wait for seats, but the wait turns out to be over an hour. For 2 ppl? Wow! Anyway, we ended up sitting in the bar and got spotty service for the following: Cheesy topped bread (free) - Really delicious! We can snack on them all day. Lobster Curry Bisque - The curry flavor overwhelmed the lobster taste Gazpacho (soup of the day) - I like it, done well BBQ Ribs - Delicious! I liked it but my wife loves it! Opah (Hawaiian Moon Fish) - Not tender enough. As my wife described it, "the fish around here swims too much" so its meat is overworked and chewy. Prime Rib - While the fish was a hard swimmer, the cow this prime rib came from was a lazy cow, chunks of fat lined this prime rib. The chunks of fat doesn't go well w/ the medium rare cooking temperature. I definitely had better. Dragonfruit Ginger Sorbet - Delicious, but the ginger was a bit strong. Makes me wonder how it would taste w/o the ginger. On our 2nd visit several days later, I was still recovering from food poisoning earlier in the day (not from here) but this time, we came here early for their Happy hour tasting menu. Sweet Potato Ravioli - Unique white color pasta, but taste was not memorable Swiss Chard & Mushroom tart - Pie crust and mushrooms are good, but vinaigrette overwhelmed the delicate flavors of the ingredients in the tart Sausage & Warabi - sausage is too spicy, veggies too oily Fresh catch - I think we got the Moon fish again... Vanilla Creme Brulee - I didn't dare to try this as I was still sick. My wife finished it. The service this time is a lot better. But while I was waiting for dinner, a mosquito came by and got his from my arm. Remember to wear mosquito repellent everywhere! My wife ordered the ribs again and this time I couldn't even have one as I just had zero appetite. There's definitely better restaurants for dinner in Kauai, but in Kapa'a, not really.
(3)Megan P.
Beautiful view, tasty food, delicious libations. Got seated quickly and server was friendly and prompt. I got the mac nut crusted chicken and the hubs got the fish duo special and both were excellent (clean plate club good)- sweet potato ravioli pupu was a bit lackluster (sauce was drool-worthy but needed a hint of salt and acid, maybe lemon?). Love that they use local produce and meats as much as possible and give back to the community. Great spot for a nice meal. We'll be making it a regular date night stop for sure!
(5)Courtney C.
The good: The view (we sat on the lanai. No problems with bugs.) The service! Service was efficient and friendly. Joe remembered my relatives from earlier in the week, as well as their orders. Dessert: chocolate mousse or coconut tart. Sweet potato ravioli app Butterfish(!!!) The cocktails They have an excellent, reasonably-priced, and locally sourced set menu. They have gluten-free options pretty readily available. The Eh: Poke nachos were good, but no wow factor. Maybe if you're not accustomed to poke already? The ribeye special was kind of oddly textured and not the most flavorful. Several of them on our table were less than half-eaten. Bummer. The verdict: If you've got the need for a romantic location with excellent service, go ahead.
(4)Christina C.
You must get the wine and food tasting for $40. Their homemade foccacia bread is really, really good. This was by far one of the best meals of my Hawaii trip. For $40, you get a nice sampling of their menu with accompanying wines. Foccaia bread ( static.px.yelp.com/bphot… ) Round 1: Sweet Potato Ravioli paired with St Gabriel Riesling ( static.px.yelp.com/bphot… ) Very light and tasty. Round 2: Warabi and Sausage paired with Protocolo Rose. ( static.px.yelp.com/bphot… ) I didn't like this pairing. The sausage was good, but the warabi was really sour and the wine was really bold. The flavors were quite unbalanced Round 3: Ono fish basted with tapenade on orzo pasta and lemon basil pesto paired with Lurton Torrontes. ( static.px.yelp.com/bphot… ) Light, tasty, citrusy. Wine was well matched. My 2nd favorite paring Round 4: Pork tenderloin with mushrooms paired with Protocolo Tempranillo ( static.px.yelp.com/bphot… ) This was my favorite pairing. The pork was tender, the mushrooms were cooked just right, the sauce was delicious. The wine was mild, yet fruiting. Round 5: Blue cheese, fig compote. something wine. ( static.px.yelp.com/bphot… ) Not really a fan of blue cheese, but the fig helped balance the flavor Round 6: Trio of sorbets. ( static.px.yelp.com/bphot… ) Lava flow (coconut and rasberry or strawberry) was good, strawberry mango was quite tasty, and the banana curry was quite interesting So, plan ahead to come here. The food and wine pairing is only available 5-6pm. It really is a great way to sample many things. Some diners at surrounding tables were quite jealous plate after plate. Service is pretty good. Opt to sit outside for some fresh air. This is located behind the Coconut Marketplace. Its actually next to the lobby of the Kauai Coast Resort. Can't miss it- right infront of the swimming pools and jacuzzi.
(5)John D.
Tasting menu of 5 courses for $28 would be a great deal on the mainland. On Kauai it is exceptional. Food was yummy and Ryan did a great job with the service. IMHO this meal topped much more expensive meals we had on Kauai and Maui.
(5)M j.
It's really 4 1/2 stars! We've been here a few times & I must say it's really great! The 1/2 point taken out since the server was a little out of it tonight & my usual filet wasn't as exciting as all the other times & the mashed potatoes were very salty! But in all honesty it's one of the best restaurants in Kauai & we've been to pretty much most of them (we've been coming here yearly for the past 10 years)! Their food is very consistent so I really don't know what happened tonight, however, it's a great place & make sure to ask to sit in the lanai area:-)
(4)Rica S.
I had my wedding dinner here. We rented out the semi private room for 24 people. Absolutely amazing. Though it was a hectic day, I really enjoyed my time here. My guests were raving about how every dish was perfect and delicious. The decor I had brought in were all arranged so nicely. One who side of the semi private room are all windows so you really get the island feel. I owe it all to the great staff especially Manda, the banquet coordinator. It was absolutely perfect. My sister even came back the next day because she was craving the ahi poke nachos and the sweet potato ravioli. I really wanna go back already... maybe for our anniversary next year.
(5)Julie K.
We stopped a Hukilau Lanai for our last dinner in Kauai before flying home tonight on the strength of the reviews here and elsewhere. The restaurant was lovely and the service was friendly and personable. The food was somewhat of a mixed bag, primarily because every dish was surrounded by a type of cream sauce with differing flavorings that over-powered the delicate flavors of the main item in the dish. My daughter described the lobster wontons as crab rangoon on steroids, and she was correct. They were very crisp with a very rich filling that required no accompaniment. Neither of us cared for the overly sweet guava dipping sauce and ended up not using it. We also ordered the purple sweet potato ravioli appetizer which was also served in a sweet cream-based sauce. Salting the ravioli helped balance the over-sweetness, but not quite enough. The strong sweet pineapple cream sauce that accompanied my husband's fish was so off-putting that he could only eat a couple of bites. My daughter's mixed grill was cooked well and the seafood and fish were good, but the cream-based coconut curry sauce was too rich. I ordered the beef tenderloin medallions coated in peppercorns in a Crown Royal demi glace with mashed potatoes done medium, but it arrived medium well. Still, it was tender with a sauce which had a good flavor and the portion was large, so I easily shared it with my husband. The highlight of the meal was the creme brulee with a silky custard and slightly charred sugar crust. My main advice to the chef would be to keep cooking the fish exactly as you are doing, but work on lighter, not cream based sauces that compliment the delicate fish, rather than cover it up.
(3)Klaus P.
We came in the first night just for drinks and pupu platters and were pleasantly surprised by the quality of the cocktails and the food served with it. The place itself was very well run, pleasant waiters, and had a very relaxed, laid back atmosphere. Just what you expect on Hawaii. So the following night we made reservations for their 5 course tasting menu, which paired with a flight of wine, is an astonishing deal at $40 (only available 5-5:45pm). The selection and quality of food and wine was excellent. Initially I was a bit worried about the "candied Ahi" - but that turned out to be my favorite course. The ahi was rubbed in spices and only moderately sweet: absolutely delicious. The catch of the day was Ono, and it was very tasty. Another favorite was the cheese and dessert course (very yummy creme brûlée). The wines served with each course were well selected and always interesting. A very inspired choice was to serve a Sangiovese with the fish course. I had a wonderful meal and a good time at the Hukilau Lounge. Thank you!
(4)Harry Y.
Food was really excellent, I got the mixed plate and my wife the macadamia encrusted chicken breast (perfectly cooked, super crunchy coating and juicy and tender chicken breast - how do they do that?!). The fish on the mixed plate was cooked perfectly and the sauces were some of the best I have had since being in New Orleans. The Lobster won tons were just OK, I definitely would not order again. Service at the bar and the hostesses were excellent, but I had to knock off one star because of our waiter - very unprofessional for such a nice place. Would go there again in a heart beat, I just don't want the same waiter.
(4)Steph M.
Pretty good stuff! Kauai doesn't have a ton of food, but this place was really decent. The Nachos are AMAZING.
(3)Susanna W.
For our first dinner on Kauai, J and I decided to be early birds and try Hukilau Lanai's sampler menu (available 5-6pm daily). Annoying that we had to wait (in an empty restaurant) before being seated, despite having made reservations. AMBIANCE: Loungey in the front, super super casual, with an open air lanai facing the hotel pool/ocean. Very relaxed atmosphere... not sure if it gets more lively later on in the evening. SERVICE: Friendly but I found it to be meh. Maybe its because we were there right when they opened? The waitstaff seemed confused and a bit chicken-with-its-head-cut-off-ish, while the hostess was slightly scatterbrained. FOOD: A-OK. We tried the 5 course tasting menu ($28 w/o wine pairing) and a separate fish entree (I think $26-28?). I forget which fish entree we ordered, but it came with risotto and was SO oddly sweet and barbecue-y all at once. Not the best pairing IMO. My favorite dish of the night was the vanilla bean creme brulee dessert-- perfect portion size, nice and creamy with a crunchy sugar top. OVERALL: Nice to try, but I won't be hurrying back anytime soon and it wouldn't be the first restaurant I'd recommend to friends.
(3)Hiep N.
Service was atrocious, the food was over cooked, and overall the restaurant was a disappointment. The waiters were careless, and it was clearly obvious that they were dog tired of tourists. They have forgotten that they're in the hospitality business. Instead of bantering with young, attractive girls my waiter should have checked on my table and checked on where my entree was. I would have responded with sitting on a tray for the past 15 minutes while numerous food runners ignored it. On top of waiting 45 minutes for my entree to come out the, opah I ordered was not fresh and it was dry and unpleasant. The mahi we ordered was also dry and overcooked. Not the best experience at all.
(1)Kristen Y.
Loved this place! Service was efficient and waitstaff was extremely friendly and helpful. The food was delicious. Everything from the fresh focaccia bread to our salads (Wally and Caesar) was just amazing. The papaya seed dressing : yum! Our entrees included the Prime Rib and the Pork Tenderloin. Both were flawless. The prime rib was seasoned well with the perfect amount of char. Inside, the meat was so juicy! The pork loin was ridiculous especially how incredibly moist it was! My husband and I were floored by the way it melted in our mouths, and could not figure out how they got the meat this way! Superb dining experience! Totally worth the bit of extra money. A must when visiting the island! Good idea to make a reservation. Place always seemed bumping!
(5)Ambreesh K.
Because my wife is vegetarian, and kids are not fish fans (fish are friends not food!), I was unsure of the place. We ended up having a lovely meal, in an excellent setting - sitting outside by the pool which was next to the ocean. Reservations are recommended, the place was full while we were eating, which was around 8pm. Wife and I split 3 appetizers - Swiss chard and mushroom tart, sweet potato ravioli and a cold gazpacho, all excellent. I also ordered an ahi special, coated with coffee and some other spices - over sticky rice. Fantastic. My older one ordered the pork tenderloin which she did a fine job demolishing - how much can a teenager eat! And yes, the souffle was fantastic as expected. Had a great time.
(4)Gloria C.
We came here because it was rated a Fodor's choice restaurant as well as being the top restaurant on every online review we pulled up for Kauai eastside restaurants. However, to be honest, I don't think it was 5-star quality. We ordered the Ahi Poke Nachos to start, and they were delicious! Really recommend trying this if you like ahi poke and if you like nachos. The chips are deep fried and definitely have more of a kick than regular nachos. We loved them! For entrees, you can order a side salad or upgrade to the Lobster Curry Bisque for an extra $2. I had Wally's salad, which was decent, but nothing special. Recommendation: Order the bisque, it was much better. In reading previous recommendations, I wanted to try the Walu. But they didn't have it on the menu as an individual item anymore, so I ordered the Hukilau Mixed Grill, which had a filet of Walu and a filet of another fish that actually tasted like chicken (a little bit weird that a fish would taste and have the consistency of chicken). I very much liked the Walu better and should have substituted both filets for Walu, they call it the Hawaiian butterfish, and it tastes like a black cod or sea bass. I didn't care much for the risotto that came in with it. It tasted like a mix between asian sauces and cheese, which was also kind of odd for me. My boyfriend ordered the Opah fish, which comes with rice and had a coconut curry-type base. I personally thought my meal was a lot more delicious. For drinks, I ordered the Citrus Buzz, which was stronger than it tastes. Then again, my tolerance for alcohol is not very high. It contains lemonchello. But since it tasted light, I pretty much drank it really quick. My boyfriend ordered the Honey Lemonade, which I liked because it tasted like it was made from real lemons. But he thought it was way too sour and wanted to water it down. Don't order it if you don't like sour. Portions were good sized - we didn't have room for dessert.
(3)Gail Q.
Our decision to eat dinner here was heavily influenced by the presence of poke nachos, which combines two things that are already awesome: poke, and nachos, and somehow manages to make a thing which is, in fact, even more awesome. It was Christmas Eve so they had a special menu. I don't remember exactly what I ate but I do remember the post-eating part, in which I was so full I almost couldn't breathe, but I was like, "No, I can eat more, I can do this," because the food was telling me I should keep eating it. Also, our server was really sweet, and he took our picture and spent a lot of time recommending drinks and explaining the ingredients in the special dishes, and then we ran into him at the supermarket a few days later (SMALL. ISLAND.) and he came over (with his adorable baby) to say hi and ask how our vacation was going! OMG love! Yay for great service and POKE NACHOS.
(4)Sabrina C.
Food is superb! Chantry and Angela in the hostess station are super efficient! Nicole our waitress knows her stuff. As a former food server and now a local concierge it is vital that I send my guest to great restaurants. We eat out often and Hukilau Lanai is always a great choice. Living on Kauai we are a bit limited. But if you want food food, great service and a nice night. Make your reservations early and enjoy! I like the tasting menu. Give it a shot. If you dont drink it's one of the best deals on the island.
(5)Todd C.
Very favorable experience. Excellent service, wonderful setting outside on the terrace, divine food, convenient parking and the price is right! We were staying over in Poipu but found the drive over to be effortless and well worth the trip!
(5)Aleah W.
My husband and I came here for our last dinner before we left that island and I am disappointed that we didn't come earlier in our stay so that we could have eaten here multiple times. The location is beautiful. Unfortunately, we had late reservations and the sun had already set so we did not get the full experience. I will make it a point to be here for sunset the next time we come. I had both the Ginger Martini and the Lilikoi Blossom Martini. Both were delicious, not too sugary or sweet. My husband and I shared the poke nachos for an appetizer and they were AMAZING! We both love poke but this took it to another level. The wonton chips added the perfect level of crunch and the sauces were so full of flavor. I think even those who are not big fans of raw fish would enjoy this dish. For our main entrees, I had the opah and my husband had the ahi. Both were insanely good. The sauces were incredible. So flavorful but not too much (they definitely did not over power the flavor of the fish). From beginning to end, this was one of the best meals I have ever had. Even the complimentary bread was delicious. Every single bite was exquisite! We will definitely be returning on our next trip to Kauai. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!
(5)Nick D.
Excellent food. Can't say enough about that. Had the mixed grill and the Lobster Won Ton. Very reasonable.
(5)Jay C.
Excellent, excellent meal. Make reservations ahead of time, as they fill up fast. The bread? Incredible. Appetizers (sweet potato ravioli? Wow...) delicious...entree options were all very good - and not as expensive at comparable restaurants on the island! The dessert options looked great, but we were pleasantly stuffed! The serving staff were very attentive and friendly. The view? Awesome, especially at sunset. Highly recommended!!!
(5)Nancy F.
Three of us enjoyed superb dishes: Ono, seafood mixed grill, and beef tenderloin. Unusual that ALL three top-rated our choices. Lemonade sweetened with local honey to drink tasted tart, but oh so refreshing. From delicious balsamic/oil-dipped bread to creme brûlée and chocolate mousse desserts, served by an attentive but unobtrusive waitress, we found nothing to fault. My favorite Kauai eating experience!
(5)Tnkbp Q.
We made a same day reservation and luckily there was a spot left for Sunday night when we called. The online reservation was booked so, I tried calling. They had live Hawaiian music playing while we were eating. All their tables face the garden and ocean. When the evening sets in, they light up the torches which gave a classy and relaxing ambiance. You can dress casual or semi. We decided to dress up since it was our last night. We got the 5 course food and 5 wine pairing special. All the food was perfectly seasoned and cooked. The free cheese bread with vinegar and oil dip, and the Island Gazpacho (cold soup) was good. I give those 5 stars. The sausage I give 4 stars. Finally, their fish dishes (ahi and mahimahi) tasted fresh and in great quality. My favorite was the ahi because it was fatty and it was melting in my mouth each bite. It was like eating sashimi but instead of raw it was cooked ahi. I'm not usually a fan of American restaurant when it comes to fish dishes but they got their ahi right. I'll give the ahi 5 stars and the mahi 4 stars. There were two desserts to choose from but I got to try both. I give the creme brûlée 4 stars. I'm biased when it comes to the dessert because I love blue cheese and just for having that in my dessert. That cheese plate gets a 5 star. The blue cheese they served was not as strong as the once I had from Carnival cruise but it was still delightful. The pairing of each wine brought out the flavor of each course. This just shows that they put in the time and effort to match the wine with each course. They give you around 4oz each wine. The pairing started with a little sweet and dry German Riesling, then the two more white wines (Gazela Vinho Verde, Portugal & Torres Las Mulas Rose, Chile) gets drier until you reach the main course (fresh caught fish) paired with the red wine, Poggio Anima Sangiovese, Toscana, Italy. Then, finally the dessert with sweet wine. That dessert wine was super sweet. I couldn't finish it. The overall experience was scrumptious. This was one outstanding food adventure and we highly recommend it and we're planning to do more food & wine tasting because of this positive experience.
(5)E.M. P.
After a week of sub par food our tour guide from Rainbow Kayak told us to go here, yelp reviews looked good so we gave it a try. Out waitress Sandra was EXCELLENT and very attentive to all of our needs. Every ounce of food from the complimentary bread, aptz, entree and dessert was OUTSTANDING and they absolutely knock it out of the park. Spoke with what we thought was manager turned out to be co owner and told him how pleased we were. He said the other co owner works the kitchen and doesn't let anything come out the isn't 100% perfect. I truly showed.
(4)Mary N.
Best meal we had on the island. Get the poke nachos. Everything we had was really good. I would suggest making reservations because we had to sit in the bar. Great service, sunset, and food.
(5)Barb V.
Our waitress, was just superb, the timing of each course couldn't of been better. I had the MacNut chicken, my two other friends had the filet and the catch of the day. All were awesome. It was truly a wonderful experience.
(5)Brian W.
Lots of reviews so I don't need to say much. Ahi poke nachos were great! Loved them. We were both in the mood for steaks and got the filet mignon, medium rare. They came *perfectly* cooked. Red throughout and a nice cool dark center. Fantastic! They also have a really good wine selection in the $20-$30 range, which is all I would ever pay for a bottle of wine. Unfortunately our waiter initially forgot to serve it but he quickly brought it out once we reminded him. I say this is worth 4.5 stars. I'd go to five if the prices were just a little more reasonable. But considering the location I suppose it's not too bad. To give you an idea, we had two appetizers, salad, bisque, two main courses, three cocktails, and a bottle of wine for $167 including 20% tip.
(4)Alex B.
This place is classic Hawaii. You aren't going to walk in and get all the basic Hawaiian "touristy" menu items: They serve real food that is REAL good. Everything on the menu is local if it can be. I had the mushroom meatloaf and it was delicious! For a "Pretty Food" restaurant (See Photos), the menu prices aren't that bad. All in all, if you are up by coconut beach, take a trip up to Hukilau Lanai...And get a Reservation!
(4)Tom L.
Honeymoon trip romantic dinner out. Reservations for 7:30 pm, arrived on time and asked to wait. Seated near bar with live music and server came to assist us with drinks during our short wait. Seated comfortably facing courtyard and promptly served. Food was excellent, ambiance was lovely for our romantic evening.
(5)Mertani G.
Hands down one of the best dining experiences we've had! My husband and I went here to celebrate our wedding anniversary while on vacation in kauai. I chose this place based on yelp reviews and the menu. For the first time, I had reserved thru open table and had indicated that we were celebrating our anniversary and wanted to sit in an area with an ocean view. I've been to places before where I have requested or mentioned something and upon arriving, it seems as if nobody has remembered. This visit was different. Upon our arrival, both hostesses wished us a happy anniversary before seating us in an area with an ocean view. Our server's name was debbie and she greeted us as well. She mentioned all the specials and was very thorough about knowing the menu. I ordered the mahi mahi and my husband ordered the filet mingon. He also had salad while I ordered the kahlua pork chowder. The food was excellent! One of the best meals we have ever had. For dessert, we shared the lilikoi tart. When our dessert arrived, it came with a huge piece of dark chocolate with "happy anniversary" written in it. They even gave us a tiny gift box with two truffles in it as a gift. This restaurant definitely gave us an unforgettable experience for our vacation. Whenever we decide to come back to kauai, this will be a definite stop :)
(5)Shauna S.
Zomgz, what a happy surprise. This place is so good. For the starter we had the poke nachos. The blend of ahi poke on wonton chips was amazing. I loved the wasabi cream (along with the other ingredients, obviously) but it's the main sauce that stood out. Very different from what I've normally seen but very good. I got a house salad along with my meal and I loved the dressing. I know it's not something one would pay much attention to, but the papaya seed dressing is delicious. Especially since it's topped with bacon. I had the Macadamia Nut Chicken -- normally I'm not even a fan of chicken but this was so well prepared that I couldn't help but love this dish. The vegetables and curry sauce blended so well with one another which really pulled together this dish. It's a nice blend of flavours and everything was perfectly prepared.
(5)Malcolm M.
I wasn't disappointed, but I really hoped for more... Nachos-Good Calamari-Average Fish of the day-Average Meatloaf-Good Lots of affordable sub $30 wine choices-Very Good It was good enough for Kauai, but not worth visiting if the restaurant was on the Mainland. True Story.
(3)Cassie P.
We usually look for "frugal" choices, but decided to splurge one night on our trip. This was a great place to do that! The poke nachos were awesome. I had the mac nut chicken, which I know is a "boring" choice, but I was sharing with my one year old, so I tried to keep it simple. Oh, yes, our one year old and seven year old were there too, and they were great with children for an upscale restaurant! And yes, my dinner was wonderful, especially with the glass of wine chosen by our server, Tim, who was also absolutely stellar! We finished with the mac nut pie which I had to stop myself from licking the darn plate. Great live ukelele music, calm and beautiful view, great food, great service - definitely enjoyed the Hukilau Lanai!
(5)Renee G.
Pricey but delicious. The Mai Tai with local made rum is $2 more than regular which I don't understand. But it was good. The bloody Mary is the best I ever had. They infuse the vodka with chili pepper and chipotle. The were serving a sushimi stack appetizer with cabbage salad so we shared that. Next came the wally salad for my hubby and a tomato pineapple gazpacho for myself. The dressing on the salad made it special. The gazpacho had a little spiciness that was perfect. The hubby got the hukilau mixed grill which was 2 different fresh local fish in a Thai coconut sauce and a skewer of shrimp. I got the Mac nut crusted chicken breast which came with local veggies in an amazing curry sauce. They have a dessert menu that looked incredible. But we were full at that point. Service could not have been better. Not rushed. Beautiful patio dining. Tiki torches. If you go, call first and get a reservation. It seems a popular place.
(5)Katie B.
SO good! I tried to reserve a spot online, but it said there were no reservations available. I called and left a message and got a call back with a spot available for the same night! I did the $40 five coarse dinner with wine tasting. So fun and SO yummy!!!! The glazed Ahi was my favorite by far! But everything was good, service was great. A fun night out for sure!!
(5)April B.
Thank you for a wonderful dining experience! We made reservations for 8:30 and were seated right on time. The music in the bar was very nice and the general ambiance was just what we were looking for. Our server was attentive and knowledgeable about both the wine list and the menu. We ordered a bottle of Allegrini and decided on the fresh catch and a new menu item, swordfish. Everything was prepared very well, fresh and piping hot. Though I enjoyed my dinner, the swordfish was the most amazing dish of the night. If you are looking for a quality dining experience and a special evening, I would highly recommend Hukilau Lanai.
(5)Daniel T.
Do make a reservation, it does get packed. We got there right when our reservation was and they seated us within 2-3 minutes. They led us outside but after the reviews about mosquitoes, we asked for an inside table and they accommodated for us. Wife and I shared their mixed grill and got three types of fishes. They're smaller sizes but when added up together, you get more fish for the same price and get to try different types of fish. Our came with mahi mahi, ono, and opah. They were all good except the mahi was a little dry but still really good. The calamari was good, not too greasy but fresh. We then shared a macadamia nut tart to go which was really good. Hot tart with ice cream and lots of flavor. Very friendly service as well.
(4)Felicia H.
Excellent menu!!! Drinks from the bar are great!!! We had the BBQ ribs as an appetizer and an Mahi Mahi as an entree. Excellent meal. We even went back for appetizers another night. Live music is relaxing and romantic. Enjoy!!! Make reservation, unless your just visiting the bar area. It books up for a reason!!! Our concierge handled this for us. Also, visit the Pool Bar if you get there before 5 pm. Great and reasonable specials for lunch and good drinks. Say hi to Sylvie!!!
(5)suz o.
Wow! What a find. Amazing meals (yes we went back) at prices you do not find anywhere else on the island. Farm to table at its best. Tasting menu cannot be beat. Brian was an excellent waiter, very friendly. Our second night there was equally as delicious although waitress not as good, in fact order got messed up but the other staff was enthusiastically covering for her which was actually nice to experience. Be careful, their homemade cheesy focaccia bread is addictive. Also great wine menu with good bottles under $20, featuring organic family wineries as well.
(4)Annaleis W.
We had our reception dinner after our wedding here. We had a party of 16 with some special food needs also. They created special dishes for us, at no additional cost. The food was amazing, the semi private room has a wonderful view, and the staff was great. I looked at a lot of places. They not only have amazing food, but were very reasonably priced. As far as planning, their office manager was very helpful and created several custom options and menus. We even had personalized menus with our names on them. It was just a wonderful and delicious evening. We are so glad we selected Hukilau Lanai
(5)Phil A.
This was a wonderful restaurant to end our trip to Kauai. Service was exceptional and food was good.
(4)Kimberly E.
Great value for good food! The ambience of the restaurant was nice. You could see the ocean from a distance as they play soothing music. Our sever was very informative when we asked about how dishes were prepared and about the drink specials. The mixed grill was great due in large part to the butter fish which was sublime. My husband got the tasting menu and said everything was tasty but raved about the candied chipotle ahi. The dinner ended with the warm chocolate cake which surprisingly taste similar to the Flemmings molten lava cake. So we obviously loved it.
(3)Shannon B.
Delicious!! A MUST visit when on Kauai. Everything from the live music to the appetizers to the entrees and even dessert was fantastic. We will definitely be back.
(5)Bruce A.
Stopped in for the first time last night for drinks and pupus. The drinks were good and so was the calamari. Very pleasant Hawaiian music was playing while we sat in the lobby lounge. We didn't have dinner, so not sure about their mains, but I would definitely recommend this place based on my brief encounter. We will be back and will send guests here as well.
(4)Pink P.
We came here to celebrate my parents' 70th birthday. You will need to make reservation between 5:00 - 5:45 if you want the tasting menu. Reservation is always recommended as this place do get packed. We sat in the outdoor patio area and it had a beautiful view of the garden of Kauai Coast Resort Hotel with tiki lights all around. The service was excellent and the tasting menu was wonderful. Don't get concerned with the portion of the tasting menu as you will be full by the 5th course. We had also ordered the Ahi Poke nachos and calamari for appetizer and they were excellent. We will definitely be back on our next visit to Kauai.
(4)A S.
Great all around. Ended the trip here and had no regrets. A super finale to a wonderful trip. The service was tops. The meal was lovely. Candied ahi, perfectly prepared calamari, the swordfish, the striped marlin, the honey manhattan, all so good. I might recommend the seating in the back next to the open yard with trees and the night sky.
(5)Jo C.
We made reservations through open table and were seated promptly. Other people who didn't have reservations were quoted an hour wait on a Sunday night. I go here for their delicious Prime Rib! I'm surprised some of the other recent reviewers didn't mention it, it's one of the best. The calamari and the poke wonton chips was also very good. We had great service and I love the setting and the feel of the restaurant very relaxing and great food! Will be going again next trip to Kauai
(5)Denny M.
We had a wonderful meal with friends. Everything was prepared and presented beautifully. 3 of us had various fish entres, and my wife had filet mignon. The filet was do tender that it just melted in her mouth. Service was great as well. Highly recommend this restaurant.
(5)Spencer L.
Amazing food, great service, definitely went out of their way to make my wife and I feel special for our anniversary. Definitely go for the fish, top notch!
(5)Justin N.
Good food and nice relaxed atmosphere. Everything tasted great but I wasn't a fan of the lemon drink they had. Other than that, everything was great. Would highly recommend.
(4)Mark P.
Loved the food, service and setting. Perfect for a romantic night out!
(5)Jasten M.
Dined here while at the Kauai Coast Resort(otherwise, it would be difficult to find and/or park here w/o gps... It's near the coconut market, where parking is convenient). Apps were the lobster goat cheese wonton(not too much), calamari(not too tough) and lobster bisque(just right, w/ a coconut twist!). I tried the mahi mahi and my friend had the lasagna. For 20-30ish $'s, the presentation and ingredients blew us away. The mahi mahi was impeccably moist/light/n flaky and fell into those horizontal layers that make u wanna cry b/t bites. The lasagna had pesto sauce(a first) and just made sense. Veggies galore and not too much cheese. Portions were just right to keep a beach body a beach body. Dessert: a perfect, modern creme brulee with a thin, light surface. Menu: brought together by HI/local flavors and fresh, local ingredients. Very diverse(seafood, meatloaf, Italian). Cool wine tasting hour I always missed. Looking around, seafood dishes had the most heart and soul behind them. Tasteful, live music @ nighttime. Try to get a patio seat, with the lush resort(take a walk during your wait) and the ocean at your beck and call. Very romantic spot. This place(and Roy's HI Fusion and some Mexican place on kuhio hwy beside the boring Kountry Kitchen here-but not here on yelp) are the only cool Kauai spots I suggest with any enthusiasm. (I've learned to stock up @ the markets here, which assuages any guilt over flying to Hi... amazing ready-to-eat foods for cheap $'s galore).
(5)Tony L.
We feasted. And were feasted on. Hukilau Lanai was the perfect culinary destination to catch up with a few friends over cocktails and well-prepared meal. The dimly lit dining area opened to the sound of waves swishing on shore. The appetizers were pretty, delicately shaped and bursting with color. My wife had the meatloaf. Pretty good stuff. Now what did I have... I know I had it with the mashed potatoes on our servers suggestion... and I had a feeling it was pretty good. But otherwise, it was pretty forgettable. That's something, isn't it? You like a place, but you forget what you ate. Hey, it happens. As was our leg buffet to those savage mosquitos. Those bites I won't forget, swollen and sweaty like warts off an old witch's nose. So in short, good food. Great ambiance. Tasty, though ultimately forgettable food. And lots and lots of mosquitos.
(4)Sa A.
Food is excellent. We are repeat customers. I would recommend this place for the food, choice of menu items, live music, service, and surroundings.
(5)Eloise v.
Excellent service and food. Very gluten free friendly with some of the best gf bread I've had in a while. The dishes were creative twists on trendy dishes with reasonable prices. The snapper and hebe (sp) were cooked perfectly but the mahi mahi was overcooked/dry. Gazpacho with pineapple basil sorbet was bright tasting and fun for the palate.
(5)Jason J.
The Hukilau Lanai is located in the Kauai Coast Resort at the Beachboy, right next to the Coconut Marketplace, which is conveniently...well....exactly where we stayed when The Ladyfriend and I went to Hawaii in early December '10. The ambiance is nice, with some light live music, and it's well decorated. It also have a fantastic open patio that looks out to the well kept grounds at the KCR, which is where we sat. The menu isn't terribly large but does maintain a diversity of choices. Like lots of things on Kauai, the food is overpriced, though I'm sure there are worse than this. I thought the service was good, but the food itself lacked something. It wasn't bad, it just didn't put me over the top into a 4th star. Not a bad place at all, especially if you're staying here, but one huge drawback is that it closes at 9. So no latenight drinks anywhere at KCR. But if you're looking for dinner, definitely do Hukilau Lanai. It won't blow you away, but it won't really disappoint either.
(3)Kris C.
We were so looking forward to dining at the Hukilau, and experiencing what other Yelp reviewers raved about. I must say that the drinks were wonderful, and the ambiance was delightful...just what we were hoping for on Kauai. The food left a lot to be desired. The appetizers (lobster wonton and the nightly special of steamed clams) were tasty and beautifully presented. The salads were average, and the entrees were well below average. The prime rib was cold, and had to be sent back to be reheated. The vegetarian lasagne was so rich that two bites was enough. The macadamia nut encrusted chicken was dry and overlooked. Our waiter was obviously new to the Hukilau and we were more than willing to give him a break, however it quickly became apparent to all four of us that he was trying to BS his way through when he confidently answered our questions then had to come back and correct himself a number of times. We waited until our last night on this island piece of paradise to treat ourselves to dinner. I wish we had gone somewhere else!
(2)Bobby And Estee F.
Quiet and relaxing atmosphere, outstanding menu, and absolutely excellent service. Everything we ordered was delicious. The live Hawaiian music was perfect, not too loud, and definitely added to the whole evening. Our table was on the lanai had a beautiful view of the grounds and the ocean in the distance. Reservation was at 6:45 pm so next time we'll make it between 5:00 and 6:00 so we can try the Tasting Menu.
(5)Donald M.
Great food. The rib appetizer is very good. We almost didn't make it past their hostest with the mostess, who each time I came near her asked if we'd be joining them for dinner that night. Yep, nothing has changed since you asked me 20 seconds ago. We sat near the entrance to the dining area, and we're not sure why, but the people watching was phenomenal. From hipsters to combovers to wedding parties to tank toppin fatties, this place had it all...which was as good as the xylophone player in the lounge.
(4)Erica L.
The Hukilau Lanai was a quick walk down from the Marriott we were staying at, so we made reservations and went there on our last night in Kauai. Soooo good! We had: -Cocktails: Loco Lemonade (very good) and Wailua Bay Breeze (good, but weak) -Lobster and goat cheese wonton with a plum sauce (good, but nothing extraordinary) -Husband had a caesar salad, I got the Wally's salad, both were fresh and satisfying -Husband got the Opah and I got the Ono, both were mouthwateringly delicious. It was one of those meals where you literally just there and go "mmmmm" "ohhhh" "yummmm" "oh my godddd" the entire time. -And THEN we got the "Original Hawaiian Chocolate Factory" Warm Cake, which takes 20 minutes to prepare and comes with homemade vanilla bean ice cream and whipped cream, DELICIOUS! And not so overwhelmingly sweet and rich that you feel sick afterwards The only thing that prevented me from giving the Hukilau 5-stars is our waiter was a little...blah. The service was fast and efficient but our guy just seemed like he wanted to be anywhere but there, it was a little off-putting.
(4)KSU S.
The tasting menu was fantastic, and the service was attentive and polite. Neither my husband nor I like fish, but we both really enjoyed the fish preparation on the tasting menu. All of the the sauces were wonderful. The view from the Lanai overlooks the well-maintained garden with an ocean backdrop -- very nice way to enjoy dinner.
(4)Brenda B.
We loved the service, the food was delicious, and the view was stuning. We recommend this restaurant for a lovely dinner and we made reservations to return.
(5)Chuck B.
As a walk-in we had a short wait, they had a broad gluten-free menu (including gluten-free bread), and very fresh fish. Service was superb and the view spectacular as we watched the sun set over the ocean while eating dinner. Our appetizer was ok, one of our dinners was exceptional and the other very good. For the price we felt the appetizer could have been better but that might have been personal taste. I recommend going at dusk and listen to your server for suggestions.
(4)Jimmy B.
If it wasn't for the long wait for food, I would've easily given Hukilau 5 Stars. Set in a hotel lobby, next to a dated tourist mall, I've passed by for years never even thinking about fine dining. BIG mistake. Thankfully a friend recommended Hukilau. The ambiance is nice, looking out over the gardens and tropical setting of the hotel. But the food...just fabulous! We had the fresh fish dish and prime rib. The Parmesan focaccia bread was amazing. Wine selection was good and reasonably priced.
(4)Emilee J.
We ate here twice during our stay and the food was excellent! They did all they could to fit us in because we didn't have a reservation (didn't wait more then 5 minutes). The staff is friendly and attentive and the setting is great! one of the best restaurants in Kapaa
(4)Christopher C.
Our wedding reception was held in the private banquet room at the Hukilau Lanai, and it was fantastic. First, the food. It's epic. As the other reviewers have said, you must try the ahi poke nachos. My other favorites were the lobster & goat cheese wontons, and the opah (moonfish). The Hukilau Lanai also made our wedding cake. In my experience, taste is often secondary to appearance when it comes to wedding cakes. Not here. Our cake was beautiful *and* delicious. The lemon cake was made with real lemon juice (as opposed to extract) and the sweetness of the raspberry filling was a perfect complement to the lemon. Next, the staff. I was blown away by the level of service - not only was the staff very attentive, they all seemed genuinely happy to be of assistance. I guess that's what happens when you live in paradise. In the lounge outside of the main dining room, local artists entertain bar patrons and people waiting for a table. If you are lucky enough to hear Ben Ahn play ukelele, tell him I said "Hi!". The restaurant is very clean, and the floor plan is designed to give the majority of diners a view of the ocean. It seems to be a local favorite, though, so make sure you have reservations. We will be returning to the Hukilau Lanai for years to come.
(5)Rose E.
My husband, our 7 month old daughter, and I came here twice during our one week vacation. We loved everything about this restaurant. It was walking distance from where we stayed and the food down to service was excellent. We loved the ahi nachos and the lobster and goat cheese wontons! I ordered the prime rib the first time and the pork tenderloin the second time - both were delicious. My husband ordered a fish dish the first time and the macadamia nut chicken the second. He didn't have any complaints either. We have talked about returning to Kauai again and I'm sure we'll by eating here again
(5)Daniel N.
Had dinner here with my wife last Wednesday. Overall: This place had amazing food and above average service. Only draw backs were: price (expected) and the fact that we were not seated until nearly 15 minutes after our reservation, and it took a while to get any food (appetizer, bread, or salad) and my wife and I were both starving after a day of kayaking. We quickly forgot the slowness of bringing food by the exceptional quality of the food. The ambiance was great, we had 730 reservations. I ordered the mixed grill, and my wife had the wahoo fish. Both were exceptional, the fish moist and perfectly grilled, my shrimp was sensational. The salads were top notch. The pre-meal bread ciabatta was a little cold, but still very tasty. This is a great place for a quiet romantic meal, mello live Hawaiian music, sensational seafood... If you are planning a high end romantic meal, this place is not to be missed.
(5)Colleen H.
Our favorite restaurant on the island - without a doubt! We started here / and / we ended here... The restaurant environment is laid back and comfortable. We loved our wait staff and the food was incredible! The Sweet Potato Ravioli is incredible, the tuna appetizer, the 'butter fish'.. Definitely a must ~
(5)Jennifer S.
Since I read that this is where the locals go for a special night out, I picked the Hukilau to celebrate our 14 year anniversary. They use fresh ingredients from local farmers in Kauai and the neighbor islands. I do have to say that their advertisement of "ocean-view dining" is a little deceiving. It's more like a lanai where you "view" the ocean from afar. We order their famous ahi poke nachos, which is delicious. And since they have impeccably fresh fish, I order the Opah (Hawaiian moon fish). It's similar in texture to a sword fish and not fishy at all. The Opah was served on a big bed of fettuccine in parmesan sauce. It came with their Wally salad, which had romaine, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, bacon, red onion, croutons, mandarin oranges, papaya seed dressing. And my daughter gets the Ahi - black & white sesame crusted with a citrus sauce. My husband gets the Prime Rib au Jus season in Hawaiian salt & secret spices. It came with mashed potatoes, and there were greens infused into the mashed potatoes. All the servings are large and we each take leftovers back to our condo. For dessert, we decide to share the Hawaiian Vanilla Bean Creme Brulee, which is decadent. Since we were celebrating our anniversary, they gave us a chocolate Happy Anniversary card, as well as two chocolate truffles! They have a full gluten-free menu & vegetarian options as well. We didn't know that if you ask for gluten-free starter bread, they'll bring it out for you instead of the regular bread. When we found out, my husband asked if we could try some - and it took almost 15 minutes because they had to bake it! It came in the dish it was baked in and it was good- kind of like a focaccia bread, pretty dense and a bit on the dry side. The service was good, however the waitress never introduced herself, so we never knew her name and she didn't wear a name tag. We noticed another waiter approaching a new table, and he also didn't introduce himself. I wish she would have introduced herself because I believe that personal touch can make a huge difference.
(4)Siao W.
This is the best attempt at Hawaiian "fine dining" that I've ever had. This includes merrimans and even Kauai Grill. Definitely getting their early enough for the tasting menu. All of the dishes were delicious, slightly inventive, and incorporated local ingredients. -Gazpocho was refreshing. The basil sorbet was a good balance to the sweet pineapple flavors. Great starter. -Candied Ahi surpassed my expectations. One of my favorite things ever is fresh Ahi, so I do not feel that making it candied is necessary. However, the dish was delicious. There was a perfect amount of seasoning and grilled just enough to keep it juicy. Not to sweet at all. -Sausage and warabi is a solid dish. Never had warabi before. Its like a mix of bamboo and asparagus. Very good. -Ono with quinao and kale salad was great. Another perfectly balanced seafood dish. -Creme brulee was amazing as well. One of my favorite meals on any of the islands. My only complaint is that all of the wines included in the pairings were too sweet for my taste.
(4)Emanuelle O.
Food was pretty good considering every dinner on the island seems to cost in a similar price range, except for fast food dinners. I was pleasantly surprised by the grilled ono entree since grilled fish typically leaves much to be desired. Husband's drink was not too good, tasted like cough syrup concoction. He had pork tenderloin which was alright- tasty but fish was better.
(4)Vivian J.
DELICIOUS!!! They start you off with this cheesy bread with oil and balsamic vinegar. The bread had this crust of cheeses on top. It was really good. We ordered the Poki Nachos for our appetizer. It comes with Ahi tuna, Crispy wontons as chips, wasabi, tomatoes and salsa. It was SO AMAZING and fresh tasting!!! Also huge portions for an appetizer. For dinner we both had the Mixed Grill. It came with two kinds of fish; butter fish and swordfish in cajun, grilled shrimp skewered on sugar cane, all served over orzo. OMG the portions were huge and it tasted so GOOD!!! The best fish we had in Kauai! It comes with Wally Salad, Caesar salad or soup. We both go the Wally salad that came with poppyseed dressing, tomatoes, cucumber, bacon, croutons and was very tasty! The service was really quick and friendly with our questions. We were too full for dessert and everything on the menu looked like your standard desserts. The restaurant is pretty busy so either make a reservation or be ready to wait 20 minutes. Décor is a little old fashioned since the hotel is older but you still have a great view of the ocean from there. Prices are not cheap but the food is really good so you need try at least once.
(5)Sflady S.
Amazing food and service.
(5)Kent C.
For those looking for a dinner with family or a Rehearsal Dinner or maybe just a nice place for dinner after a wedding, the Huki Lau Lanai is the spot. The food is steller but what really caught my attention was a gal I watched during our daughters rehearsal dinner. Attention to detail, bent over backwards to make sure the flow of our little party was smooth. As a professional catering to guests myself in the wedding industry and having gone to a million restaurants in my lifetime, I especially thought their service was 5 star. The food is probably the best on the Island. I just felt a need to let everybody know just how good the Huki Lau Lanai is.
(5)Andy W.
6 years ago when my friends came home from their honeymoon, they raved about ahi poke nachos from Hukilau. Coincidentally, we ended up booking the same location for our honeymoon and they gave us a giftcard so we could experience the same excellent meal they did. From top to bottom, everything was fantastic. The staff was excellent. We met at least 5 different people while we sat at our table who brought us food, refilled water, delivered our gift card, not to mention our actual waitress. They were all very friendly and knowledgeable about their menu. The food was outstanding. The ahi poke nachos lived up to their reputation, fresh ahi and crispy wonton chips with avocado were just delicious and so unique. My wife had the special fish which had a name I can't recall but had an excellent texture and flavor and came with delicious mashed potatoes. I had the mixed grill which also changes throughout the week. I had two different types of white fish that were prepared in slightly different ways (one marinated and one rubbed). It also came with a shrimp skewer which was delicious. The creamy orzo was an excellent addition. We had a couple bucks left on the card so we ordered the chocolate mousse with salted toffee chips. We were stuffed and knew we couldn't touch it that night so we ended up taking it to go. It was so great the next day. We're really considering going back for a second time to get those nachos. If you're okay with spending a bit more than normal on a great dinner and a beautiful patio view, please go to Hukilau Lanai.
(5)Lee D.
I had checked out this restaurant ahead of our trip and really was excited. We chose to sit at the bar because it's active and fun to watch. The bartender was great and friendly. With discussion we found that all the vegetarian food had cheese and we were thinking we had to go elsewhere. The bartender spoke to a lady who turned out to better he owner. NEVER in my 33 years vegetarian has someone been so accommodating. Not because she needed my business, the place was packed, but she really cared. She talked to her Chef/husband and came up with numerous options and the lady knew what rennet is. She then brought out the local cheese they use to show me the ingredients. Score! I had their arugula salad and sweet potato ravioli which was just perfect! My husband had the surf and turf special and loved it...like butter he said. I have many years restaurant experience and was also very impressed with the staff's interaction. They were all so helpful and kind to one another. RUN don't walk here when you are in Kauai.
(5)Travis H.
Stayed at the resort here and only managed to get in once, so plan accordingly. I had the Fresh Fish and it was awesome! Side note: took the Fam, & my son really didn't like what he ordered (Ahi) the waiter comped it and he got the Fresh Fish as well and loved it!
(5)Heather G.
Dated, unclean and not worth it. We were greeted by three cockroaches crawling out from underneath the outdoor servicing station. I totally understand that bugs are a part of Hawaii, but when your paying these prices the expectations are higher. The service was the worst we had on the island. The bartender was incredibly unfriendly. The food was just meh... I would avoid this place.
(1)Timothy F.
I don't get it. Despite the many positive reviews our experience here was mediocre at best. As is the case with many restaurants the menu promises but the kitchen can't deliver. The wines for $20 or so looked good but the two that I chose were "unavailable" so, we ordered off the regular list while our waiter(who knew nothing about wine) continued to try to upsell us to more expensive wines. I felt like I was on a used car lot. As I said, the menu was interesting, but the actual food presentation was disappointing. Everything felt "rushed"-it was very busy and sloppy. Noisy. The actual restaurant looked old and tired. I can't believe that "foodies" liked this place.
(2)J D.
One of the best restaurants on the island. Consistently good presentation of food, quality, and very good service. Prices are reasonable, and atmosphere is from casual to dressy. Live music in evenings. Sweet potato raviolis are regularly featured and highly recommended. Fresh fish varies. Deserts are too good.
(5)Laura G.
Everything was very tasty and service was excellent. Food was pricey but that I'd to be expected. Ahi poke nachos were perfect, sweet potato ravioli was delish but very small, ribs were well cooked but pretty salty for my taste, Wally's side salad was well sized and flavorful, and the Shutome was excellent! Definitely recommend making reservations!
(4)Fiona H.
Amazing food. We spent 5 days in Kauai and were not thrilled with some of the Yelp review choices, however this place had an excellent menu and very flavorful dishes. We ate in the bar area both nights and one of the nights the waitress was a little dismissive and clearly was overwhelmed by the number of seatings she had. The bartender was very friendly and i am glad we chose this place!
(4)Cindy D.
This was our "splash out" dinner for this trip but with budget in mind. We went specifically for the five course food & wine pairing special between 5-5:45pm for $40. We actually did not have reservations and took a chance because we happened to be in the area. We lucked out and got the last table available. Everything was good to excellent and the wine pairings were spot on. Island Gazpacho with Koloa Rum Pineapple Basil Sorbet - Great start to dinner (~St. Gabriel Riesling Auslese, Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Germany~) Candied Ahi -- Delicious! coconut chipotle sauce (~Gazela Vinho Verde, Portugal~) Sausage & Warabi -- Fantastic! char-grilled housemade longanisa, local warabi & tomato salad (~Torres Las Mulas Rose, Central Valley, Chile ~) Fresh Catch --We had Butterfish, sumptuous summer quinoa & kale salad (~Poggio Anima Sangiovese, Toscana, Italy~) Artisan Cheese Duo -- We were so full by this point that we took the cheese home to snack on next day. (Humboldt Fog and a Manchego) Two cheeses, baguette, accompaniments (~Tonight's Cheese Wine Pairing~) Awesome value for dining on Kauai.
(4)T S.
Excellent dinner. Creative flavors, the sweet potato ravioli were great and the lobster curry bisque was so good that I wanted to lick the bowl. Dining on the lanai was so peaceful and romantic, this was a top-notch dining experience.
(5)M M.
Had a wonderful dinner here on the last night of our stay in Kauai. Started with the poke nachos which were soooo good, my BF and I loved it. I had the Ono which was wonderful and had a delicious sauce, I just wish it had more sauce. Nice service and atmosphere, very relaxing and enjoyable meal.
(5)Lindsey J.
Amazing food and wonderful ambiance. Great for a date night!
(5)William B.
5 stars for the food and the setting. Service leaves a bit to be desired although the staff seems to really try- they're just a little slow. Every table has an ocean view! Live music really makes it a great evening. Order the tasting menu if you dine before 6:00. My wife's was fantastic even before you factor in the price - only $28!
(4)Luis G.
Ok food but I was expecting better. The lobster bisque was great the mixed grill was just ok, it had to pieces of fish one of Walu which was good and another piece of a type of sword-fish which was not good at all. Al of that was topped with grilled shrimp which again were OK but not nearly great as stated in some other reviews. The food at the Cocount Beach Courtyard hotel is better overall, the cheff at the Courtyard had a great selection of very tasty food.
(3)Charlene K.
Beautiful fine dining and live music in the evenings. Outdoor seating with a view of the garden. Full bar. Fresh seafood dishes. *hint. The Prime rib is the talk of the locals. I really enjoyed my food and the dishes were very well prepared.
(4)Kevin S.
You can't go wrong here. Gluten free menu is superb. Had the ribs (best ever) and Wally's salad (so good) plus minty Mo drink and the opah was outstanding.
(5)Nancy B.
Wonderful food, service, live music and ambiance while in Kaapa area of Kauai We had two nights here at the resort and simply wanted a nice evening without driving all around the island looking for a place. Just steps away from our lanai we found this great restaurant and decided to give it a try since Yelp had such great reviews. I am now going on Yelp for all our travel needs as they have been right on. The first night we ate at the bar and John made us great drinks and told us the chef has a passion for his food. We ordered Ahi and Calamari and both were excellent. We came back the second night and sat in the restaurant overlooking the courtyard which had the torch lights on. It was very romantic and we also had a wonderful meal. Again we tried what the Yelpers said, the Ahi Poke Nachos and I had the mixed grill. The sauce was so great I just emailed the chef for the recipe. I was very impressed as the server who knew I was gluten free, brought me a wonderful gluten free version of the menu and a special baked muffin. I wish we had this kind of service and menu here in Southern CA!! Be sure to make a reservation as they are booked. It was a fun time and we are glad we trusted Yelp!
(5)Cherry J.
Best food we ate on Kauai, hands down! Service and food were both perfect. The butterfish appetizer really started the evening off right. It was so good! My drink, the non-alcoholic Mint & Ginger, was refreshing and delicious. Even the salad was amazing--love the papaya seed dressing and wish we could order it on the mainland! The resort location was a little weird at first, but we ended up enjoying it because we were able to take a nice stroll after dinner and enjoy a few minutes sitting in one of the hammocks. :)
(5)Kauai B.
Great place for dinner with friends. Casual Island atmosphere, mixed menu with fish fusion style cuisine and American eats.
(5)Corinna O.
We loved it here! Sat in the bar as we did not have reservations. I had the filet with a red wine sauce and potato of the day. It was served with a first course of tomato pineapple gazpacho and fresh out of the oven gluten free bread!!!! My SO had the veggie lasagna and was in love with it. My filet was cooked perfectly and the sauce was amazing. Service was great and you could tell there was a good team environment. The price - very humble! A bottle of wine for $26 and an entree that includes a first course for $15-$33. We were impressed and hope to make it back!
(5)alli t.
We ate our first dinner on Kauai here. I choose to eat here on Saturday night b/c of the live music. I made reservations through Opentable and noted food allergies in the notes section. When we arrived, the restaurant was very busy. The musicians were playing and gave the restaurant a relaxed feel. The restaurant was full of people, the lobby area was full of bar spill over, and the bar didn't have room for another body. After we were seated with our menus the waiter came around eventually and introduced himself. He put out his hand for a handshake. Caught off guard, I shook his clammy hand. I should have faked a cold and denied him a hand. I am not a big hand shaker b/c that's how germs spread and it's not appropriate at a restaurant. I was already cranky b/c it was beyond my bed time, and that just put me over the edge. I should have washed my hand immediately. The positive part of this dining experience is that our waiter explained that the folks in the kitchen would make sure the plate for Mr. Food Allergy wouldn't be touched by prepares handling those allergens. Sounds good. Pre dinner, focaccia served in a small bamboo steamer landed on our table w/some chili dipping sauce. Serving focaccia in a bamboo steamer was too fusion for me. I couldn't taste the chili in the dipping saucy stuff. When we finished the just ok focaccia, the steamer and the dipping oil disappeared. Ok, no refills, but we didn't need the carbs anyway. Dinner came w/soup or salad. The soup of the day was seafood miso. We went w/their house salad, aka Wally's salad. It was delicious. The greens were tossed w/tasty cherry tomatoes, crutons, canned mandarins and papaya seed dressing. Food Allergy enjoyed his filet that was served w/mashed potatoes mixed w/carmelized onions. I was on the fence w/my opah aka moonfish. The handshake was still on my mind although that shouldn't have affected my tastebuds. The opah was crusted w/cashews and served w/pineapple timbale. The fish was sitting atop of sticky jasmine rice. There was a lake of spicy sauce on the plate took away from the flavor of the fish. I don't know what they could have served w/the dish besides rice. I was disappointed it was plain white rice b/c I can cook that at home. When we got the bill the waiter told us how great the kitchen was w/food allergies. Also, he's never worked at a restaurant that was so flexible. They're willing to change the preparation of items on the menu if diners ask.....as in mix and match preparations and proteins one the menu. I wish I knew that it was a mix and match menu. I would have studied it more. When we left, the music was still going strong. Thumbs up for the music, Wally's salad and the allergy alert kitchen. I expected more from the food for the price. I think this is a tourist hangout. Attire ranged from "I just got off the airplane" to "nice resort casual."
(2)Bob H.
Reasonable pricing for a Hawaii beach seafood restaurant. Food was OK, not exceptional. Overall, "reasonable" is the right description.
(4)Renata V.
Great restaurant. Our waiter Ryan was very nice and he served us very well. The food was delicious. The tastes of the ingredients were a perfect combination, nothing was too dominant. The wine (Chardonnay) was really nice. Also the cocktails were good. Not too strong. And you have a great view over the garden of Kauai Coast Resort. This was the best restaurant we've been on Kauai!
(5)mia n.
Such an overrated place. After dining at Joseline's bar and grill with 4 star reviews, I had high expectations for this place which has 4.5... Was so disappointed. First of we were greeted by this really snobby hostess. Well by greeting as in ignoring me for minutes. I told her my reservation was at 7pm she then gave me a dirty look because we dared coming in 18 minutes earlier. I ordered the wontons, lobster bisque and mixed grill. The hubby ordered vegetarian lasagna and salad. The lobster bisque did not taste like lobster at all, it was a gross mix of curry and coconut milk that I both enjoy separately but the soup was aweful. The crab wontons were a bad version of those you can get at Cheesecake Factory. I also ordered a fresh coconut juice for $4 and it was watered out and tasteless. Then came the main dish and that was the only thing decent. Though the shrimp was undercooked a bit. The two stars go to 1 our waitress who was very nice, the second star is for my half decent main dish.
(2)Anita S.
Made reservations for 6:00 pm had to wait about 10 minutes for seating. Our dinner view of the grounds and ocean were partially blocked by a support beam, but still a pretty view. However, the fish tank behind our table seem to attract every kid in the restaurant, though. We are not child friendly adults and the kids leaning their filthy hands on our table and chairs, and their squeally voices was not part of the experience I expected to have. Where are your parent? Ah yes, enjoying their quiet dinner. However, at about 8 PM all the keiki went to bed and we enjoyed an adults only meal. Our waiter was attentive, but there was some miscommunication with our meal. While there was no problem substituting vegetables for mash potatoes and asking for salad with no dressing, but it came dressed twice to the table. I was starving, since I don't fill myself on bread and my last meal was about 10 hours before this I was starving and it was a tease every time they served it to me. A bit frustrating but they finally got it right, and our meal was the best meal we had on the island. We ordered ahi poke nachos as an appetizer. I just ate the poke part which was very fresh and seasoned flavorfully that enhanced the fresh fish. Definitely a nice twist on poke and nachos. Our entrees either come with the soup of the day or a Wally's salad. My husband ordered the grilled ono with crab corn chowder soup...I had a bite of the soup and it was very made with bits of longanisa sausage, crab and corn. It showed quality, in spite of it being the soup of the day. The Ono came with rice in a lemongrass coconut milk sauce. Really eye catching plating as well as perfectly grilled ono and the perfect amount of the tasty sauce. I had the locally raised pork chop with longanisa sausage over request mixed vegetables which was a treat in itself (bok choy, zucchini, mushrooms). I had reservations about ordering pork since most times it is overcooked, but this time was the best ever. While dinner seems pricey, I thought it was bargain given the classic Hawaiian setting, the locally raised ingredients, ample portion, and included a salad or soup. Dining here was a very memorable part of our stay in Kauai.
(4)Diana L.
Adams Poke Nachos were disappointing. :( Tasted like something from Cheesecake Factory and the Wally Salad tasted like a salad from Wendy's fast food joint. Resort itself is nice and comfortable but I'd pass on the restaurant (good service but overpriced bad food) and go get yourself some real delicious island food - lunch plates and ahi poke. If you want fine dining hit up Napa or San Francisco in Cali.
(2)Dub M.
When we checked into the Beachboy Resort they told us not to bother searching for another dinner spot because the best restaurant on the island was on the premises. I shrugged it off as cheap advertising. However, after 8 nights of trying every other nice restaurant, this truly was the best food on our trip. If you're looking to party or pick up mermaids, this is not your spot- sorry spring break dude. However, if you are looking to eat decently, sit down and relax. We got a seat next to the 300+ gallon salt-water tank, which I just love. A musician by the name of Ben Ahn was playing Ukulele that night, which I also love. I was across from my beautiful new bride, who I love the most. What a great night! Our appetizers were lobster and goat cheese wantons and lobster bisque. For entree I ordered the steak and was not disappointed. The meat was corn-fed, but hey, I'm from the Mid-West. My wife ordered the fresh catch, which was a trio of fish. It was really the best meal we had on our trip. Everything was fresh and cooked just how we ordered. Everything was timely, beautiful, and unique. I have no complaints, only my credit card suffered. Seriously though, an excellent experience and right where we were staying.
(5)Su-Lynn T.
We went here for dinner on our first real night in Kauai. I had made reservations (recommended) for our party of 6 the day of. I could only get 8pm reservations. Considering we're from the mainland, and us from the East coast, it was definitely hard to adjust to the time, but I am glad we did as we enjoyed our dinner here. Service at the Hukilau was great. We had to wait a few minutes for our table to be ready but we sat in the lounge area in the hotel right outside the restaurant. Our server was also extremely friendly and very informative about the day's specials. Menu consists mainly of seafood-laden island favorites. The requisite mac-crusted fishes, ahi tuna poke, as well as a few pasta, steak and seafood items. In terms of creativity, they were a few levels above your typical mid-priced island restaurant. The ahi tuna poke was actually quite good, served with crisp-fried wonton wrappers which gave the dish a nice savory crunch. All entrees are served with choice of soup or salad. The soup that night was a seafood stock type soup. It was not bad. You had a choice of caeser salad or house salad, which is served with my favorite, papaya seed dressing! Fish dishes were all fresh and well-prepared. The prime rib was also good, and well-cooked. I had the hebi, which is a fish I hadn't tried before, and after hearing our server's recommendation for the dish, I went for it, and it was tasty! It's a firm white fish, kind of like mahi mahi. I think everyone really enjoyed their dish, except for maybe 1 person, but I didn't get to try their dish. Most items are served with either rice or potatoes. I usually get rice. We were so full that we ordered 1 dessert for the 6 of us to share, lillikoi chiffon pie. It was yummy! Light and fluffy but with the richness of key lime pie. I liked it better than the same pie at Hanmura Saimin. I would come back to Hukilau Lanai if I'm in the Kapaa area.
(4)Albie F.
Thank god for Blackberries, and thank god for the Yelp ap on Blackberry devices because as we were making our way back to Kapaa, we needed to find a quick place to get some food and didn't quite want to settle for fast food while spending 4 precious days on Kauai. After a little bit of mobile Yelping, I found quite a bit of rave reviews regarding the sweet potato ravioli here at Hukilau Lanai. We were so impressed by the reviews that we took two orders to go. Each $9.25 order of the sweet potato ravioli consisted of 4 or 5 homemade raviolis covered in a rich but mouth watering lemongrass sauce. The mix of the local made feta cheese and Okinawan sweet potato made a nice hearty filling that did not disappoint the taste buds. Unfortunately I didn't get to see the inside of the restaurant or try anything else off the menu, but the ravioli itself deserves a 5 star rating.
(5)Christina A.
I chose this restaurant to celebrate my birthday, and I couldn't be more pleased with my choice. We easily made a reservation using Open Table and the staff accommodated all of our special requests. We had a table on the lanai and had a great tropical view facing the ocean. There were five adults and one child, so we ordered a few appetizers so we could try a bit of each. We had the calamari, lobster and goat cheese wontons, and the ahi poke nachos. The wontons and nachos were to die for, but I passed on the calamari. The texture was too much like soggy bread for me. They also brought out a homemade focaccia bread with a balsamic vinegar and olive oil dipping sauce that was pretty tasty. While we were enjoying our appetizers, we were also sampling some cocktails. I highly recommend the lilikoi blossom martini. It was sweet but not over powering, and had a beautiful orchid garnish. Everything was brought out quickly and the staff was very friendly. My daughter kept wanting to get up and walk around and even though I'm sure we were in the servers way, he was extremely nice and I never felt the "Ughh why did I get stuck with the toddler" vibe from him. We all ordered something different but the winners of the night were the Opah and the Prime Rib. The prices were very reasonable for the quality of service, quality of food, and portion size. I was very impressed with the quality of the kids menu as well. For $9 my daughter got a pineapple appetizer, fresh sauteed farmers market vegetables, a homemade meatloaf and a keiki bowl of vanilla ice cream. To top it off, I was brought a complimentary molten lava cake and house special dessert. Both were divine but had to be shared five ways since we were all so full. Dining in Kapaa does not get much better than The Hukilau Lanai. I highly recommend it!
(5)Crystal S.
Great dinner with a view! Good honeymooner dinner. We started with Lava Flows. Get the Fried Calamari (seriously the best I've ever had). I got the soup of the day described as a light Thai soup mmmm delicious. My husband had a salad he enjoyed. The bread and oil/vinegar is so good. We both ordered the Fillet Mignon and it was the best, juiciest fillet ever. Great portion. We ordered the chocolate souffle (remember it needs 20 minutes to cook). It was worth it. We walked out so deliciously full. Money well spent. Five star quality!!!! Compliments to the chef!
(5)Lisa D.
We made reservations here (recommended as they are busy). We started with the sashimi appetizer which was delicious and fairly large for sashimi! Excellent. My husband got the filet mignon for his main course and it was heavenly. I got the mixed grill which came with two types of perfectly grilled fish and a skewer of shrimp with mango dressing over orzo. We finished the meal with vanilla bean creme brulee which was the perfect end to a wonderful meal. I will recommend this place and hope to eat here again!
(5)Todd H.
Great ginger martini and pupus. Sit in the lobby near the musician overlooking the pool for a easy, unpretentious way to relax at the end of the day. Main courses are rather pedestrian and underwhelming. Thumbs up for the poke and BBQ rib pupus.
(4)Jacqueline C.
Hukilau Lanai was pretty good. It is not quite the Hawaiian food I had been hoping for; it was more European-inspired than we would have liked, with either use of local fish or some other island influence (i.e., through the addition of macadamia nuts, tropical fruit/produce, coconut milk, etc., to otherwise non-Hawaiian dishes). The seating was indoor/outside, with tiki torches providing an island tiki ambiance. The service was friendly and helpful. The noise level was lively. We came here as a group of 6. Since there wasn't any lomi lomi or lau lau, I went for the filet mignon. My bad for not picking something more Hawaiian, but it was cooked perfectly and was very tasty. Noteworthy was the Lobster Bisque with red curry and a drizzle of coconut milk -- that was good! If I hadn't been so full, I definitely would have gone for the creme brulee! All in all, a fun night!
(4)Chris H.
Best meal we had during our trip. My friend's wedding reception was held here. Mai Tais and Baybreezes were excellent. We had goat cheese wontons and braised ribs for appetizers-Excellent. I ordered the Sesame Crusted Opah and it was AMAZING! Great views and nice waitstaff.
(5)Vanessa B.
Make reservations. amazing options for the special menu made for Christmas dinner. Live band was a plus!
(4)F E.
Excellent dinner, pricey but worth it (dinning on the entire island is pricey fyi) and service at Hukilau Lanai is excellent!
(4)Ben O.
TL; DR: Excellent! You must eat one meal here if you are staying in Kapa'a. Best meal we had on Kauai. Great service, beautiful atmosphere in a lanai setting (as you might expect). I ordered the Ono, my girlfriend had the chicken dish. Both were just amazing. I'm used to SF Bay Area prices, and I thought it was extremely well priced for the quality of food and the experience. Make a reservation and go here at least one night while you are on Kauai, especially if you are staying on the East Side of the island.
(5)Cynthia D.
This place is a winner. The food is outstanding. All the tables face out to the lawn and ocean. Thee was a gentle waif of evening flowers in the air. The wine list appears to be reasonable. We tried the poke nachos, the candied poke and the wontons with lobster and goat cheese. I don't remember really finding any lobster in the wontons so they were not my favorite dish. The ahi poke was great, so fresh and the candied was good in a very different spectrum very unusual heavily spiced dish. The Wally salad was a fun, fruit and lettuce with sweet vinaigrette, not everyone will like it but I did. The Opah and Opakapaka were wonderful, light flaky delicious. Pretty presentation of all the dishes.The Opakapaka was served with a subtle tomato buerre blanc sauce. The only down side was twice the waiters dropped their tray of dishes somewhere near us. That just shouldn't happen. Then the waiter when serving us entrees , placed the Opah in front of me, then removed it and placed another Opah in front of me. Exact same presentation. My Opakapaka was given to the companion next to me. The wait staff didn't seem to really know what the differences in the fish being served. There is live music and just flows nicely into the room and the overall ambiance is nice, gentle and somewhat romantic.
(4)Wes Y.
We started off with the Lobster wontons which were tasty and creamy. Then I had the lobster bique which was good. For the entree I had the Hukilau Pasta which had chicken, sausage, and shrimp, in a creamy tomato sauce. For dessert, I had the chocolate cheescake. Everything was good, but the cheesecake was disappointing. I think they basically froze it and let it defrost if someone ordered it. Overall, it was ok. I really don't think it's worth it, considering how much it costs. However, the filet mignon and prime rib looked good...now I wish I ordered that instead...
(3)Lance T.
Great service and seafood for dinner. However, the open air restaurant allows mosquitos so beware of any exposed skin.
(4)Allison L.
Good dinner and really good food. Resort and restaurant are older and tired looking. Could be much better with major facelift.
(4)Tom C.
Loved this place! The prices were fair and the food was delicious! We started with the Calamari as an appetizer, which was fantastic. Definitely fresh! The Wally salad was out of this world. I had the local mushroom meatloaf, and my wife had the opah. We both loves our entrees. For dessert, TRY THE MAC NUT TART with Cinnamon Ice cream (made fresh)! We will be returning here on our future trips! Didn't get five stars because the server was a bit annoying in continually asking if I wanted 20 minute chocolate pie, and gave us the check while I was still enjoying my meal. MAKE A RESERVATION! We went here on a Wednesday and were told it would be an hour and a half wait, we made reservations and went the following night and walked right in.
(4)Sarah S.
Locals and our resort alike (and even the guide books) all raved about this place so we decided to try their special tasting menu. Yes, their purple sweet potato ravioli was good. Yes, the ambience with blooming plumeria was beautiful. Yes, our server explained the wonders of local produce and herbs grown in a garden within sight of the restaurant. All of that can't make up for a poorly paired meal. I'm no wine afficionado but I might have done a better job pairing wines with the foods (I think I got a Cab with seafood or something like that). I would say only one of the five dishes was appropriately paired. I'd skip this and opt for something that feels more local. I definitely felt like one tourist among many others.
(3)Holly H.
Came here for my anniversary on the 17th (my first time) and we loved every minute of it! Especially our waitress Jessica!! She is wonderful. We both were admiring how everyone worked together. We didnt have to wait long for anything. Food was excellent. We tried just about every appetizer. Thei sweet potato ravioli was my favorite! For the main course I had the filet and he had the prime rib. Best on island so far. We will be back next week. Mahalo!
(5)Sean M.
What a great surprise. When you see a $40 tasting menu(w/wine) you really don't know what to expect. With Hukilau Lanai, we got an awesome dinner that was creative, delicious and filling! Our waiter was awesome and made the experience that much better. The first course, a gazpacho with lime sorbet was light and refreshing, with deep flavors and a spicy finish. A "candied" ahi followed and surpassed the first course by miles (definitely the best dish) with its blackened coffee rub, perfectly seared to the outside protecting its rare middle. The coconut curry sauce on this was a fantastic compliment. Their house made longanisa sausage came next, served with a salty warabi that was a bit overpowering as a complete bite, but eaten separately was a nice compliment. The island Mahi was great, particularly with its quinoa/kale salad, finished with side sauces of a balsamic/lemon vinaigrette and chile and basil oils. Dessert was even better as my wife and I got one each of the creme brûlée(forgettable) and cheese plate(outstanding) that had the best Manchego cheese I have ever had! $40 with wine. $40 WITH WINE. Winner!
(5)Cindy K.
This is one of my FAVORITE restaurants on Kauai! The food is excellent and the service superb! I have eaten here at least 15 times in the past three years and eachtime enjoy myself tremendously. The filet mignon, ceaser salad and all of their fish dishes are fabulous! The OHC Chocolate Mousse is the most fantastic and delicious dessert I have ever tasted in my life!
(5)Laurie D.
Loved the Aloha spirit. We sat in the lounge and had great, attentive service. The lobster wontons were ridiculous. Absolutely yummy. Just perfect and the hoison sauce with vanilla was a great companion. The ribs, however, were stand out--you MUST try.
(4)Diane E.
My daughter and I splurged one night and had a very nice dinner here and pulled out all the stops by ordering a bottle of wine to go with our meal...as well as a dessert to share. It was a lovely dinner and since we were staying at the Kauai Coast Report at the Beachboy...we only had to walk a few steps to get back to our room.
(5)Pineapple C.
tasting menu was fabulous, but your reservation has to be from 5-5:45pm for it to be an option. It included Island Gazpacho, vegetable tart, fresh catch (mahi was a little on the salty side), lamb, and creme brûlée (or artisan cheeses). perfect tasting portions, attentive and friendly service, and a great pace. Keiki menu included pineapple, an entree, and ice cream. the kids enjoyed their pasta but the portions were a bit small. usually my 4yo and 19month old can share, but we had to order 2 for them to be satisfied. also tried the poke nachos (great if u like avocado sesame poke), the sweet potato ravioli (comes with 3), and candied ahi (coffee spiced with chipotle sauce that we could eat all day). the Bday girl got a small box of truffles. Surf and turf was on short supply and sounded delicious. will definitely be back again. highly recommend making an early reservation! made our reservation on open table. they called the day of confirming our reservation and paid attention to our notes / comments. There was a high chair in place, kids cups and menus, and were prepared for our bday!
(5)Alisha R.
Wow! Just... WOW! Everything was so delicious and the service was great too! We were recommended here by our hotels concierge on our honeymoon. The concierge made reservations for us (reservations recommended). Before ordering we looked at the previous reviews and went with what others had recommended for appetizers. We had the ahi poke nachos and sweet potato ravioli.The ahi tuna was served with wonton chips. I loved the hint of sesame oil. The sweet potato ravioli was amazing too! We also had white bean soup, lobster curry bisque (so creamy- might be my favorite thing we ate), Ono, filet, and creme brûlée for dessert. Our stomachs were so full (that we had to take back what we couldn't eat) and our taste buds were happy!!
(5)Chris K.
A gem of high class food and wine; I've been to many restaurants that offer tasting menus with wine pairings. This offers just the right portion size and variety / balance of tastes. The waitress was very accommodating, and at one point helped protect us from our eyes being bigger than our stomachs, even if it meant less profit to them. She helped us order just the right amount, and the food as spot on. The ribs appetizer was outstanding - loved the pickled watermelon as a counter balance to the sweet and savory sauce; so tender too. Poke nachos were delightful. Opah and Mahi Mahi were perfectly moist. Nice casual attire, sandals and shorts are appropriate! Great place to visit if you're passing by the airport or Kapaa. Make reservations online, and they will confirm quickly. NOTE: Tasting menu was only available from 5-5:45pm; not sure if that's usual for them, but plan accordingly!
(5)Evan M.
Great seafood. A little far from where we stayed but it was worth the drive.
(4)Cathy S.
Hukilau Lanai has a lovely outlook over a well manicured garden and the ocean in the distance. Since it faces east, you aren't going to have gorgeous sunsets but it is lovely nonetheless. We arrived a little early for our reservation so we sat at the bar for a cocktail but they were able to seat us at our table about 5 minutes ahead of schedule. The first thing the server asked us was if we were celebrating anything special. Our response "dinner?" was treated as a surprise so I take it that this is a special occasion type of restaurant. Allegedly this restaurant is the nicest on the island. A pleasant surprise was the affordability of their wine menu. It is not often that one sees a lot of options in the $20 range. We started with the Lobster and Goat Cheese Wonton appetizer. It looks like there was lobster in the wonton but all I tasted was the chèvre. The macadamia nut ingredient added no value other than a crunch. They were edible but nothing special. We both ordered the Wally Salad which was a run of the mill green salad but the lettuce was fresh and ripped into proper little pieces, the little tomatoes were ripe and firm and the salad was not overdressed so it was very good. We also both ordered the Hukilai Mixed Grill which consisted of grilled Walu and Hebi and grilled shrimp on a bed of orzo with a Thai curry sauce. My husband and my plates looked quite different because the sauce on my plate had broken. If this truly is a fine dining establishment if it serves an entree that has a broken sauce on it? The star of the plate was the Walu which was moist and delicious. The grilled shrimp was also very nice but my Hebi was a little on the dry side and my orzo was overcooked. The sauce, broken or not, was far too abundant and added a richness that I still feel in my stomach 12 hours later, and not in a good way. Our server Ryan was very professional and attentive as were all of the other people who served us. I hesitate to send food back particularly when the person I am dining with doesn't have any problems, as you just end up watching each other eat, so I made the decision to just suck it up. I have no doubt that the restaurant would have made it right, but it would have been kind of nice to get it right the first time. Is it the best restaurant in Kauai? I hope not or that doesn't bode well for the island. It is however, as the Yelp 3-star rating says, A-OK.
(3)Sam S.
First place we ate at in Kauai. Very good food. Great service, a little spendy. The salads were amazing as were the lobster wontons. Open air dining or dining outside. Friendly bartender.
(4)Darlene L.
Very good pricey food accompanied by sloooww service which detracts from the experience. Fish entrees, particularly the tender and sweet opakapaka, are very good. This place has a following of older diners and groups. Our waiter abandoned us for 20 minutes tending to one of the groups never bringing the dessert we ordered. It had to be taken off the bill after we summoned the person who seated us.So we departed feeling disappointed.What this place needs is polished service, a renovation, and jazzier music to liven up the vibe.
(3)Derek W.
Walking through the breezy courtyard into the Kauai Coast Resort evokes an array of positive sensations, though not necessary the feeling you are about to have a world-class meal. Sure, you are overcome with pure relaxation and the expectation of a fun and carefree night, and you know you'll get it here. But as we ducked past the hostess stand and made our way toward the dining room, nothing prepared us for the exceptional cuisine that awaited just past the small bar that mixes a helluva good Mai Tai. It was after dark when we sat down, but the ambiance was pleasant island casual in the open-air dining room, and our view in daylight would have been quite nice. We arrived just after a massive party, and a server from a different part of the restaurant graciously took our order and brought our drinks. By the time our intended server joined us, we were past the point of pleasantries and didn't get much love, so on balance I'd say the service overall was the only less-than-spectacular element here. But oh...the food. Everything we tried was incredibly well done and especially delicious. First to arrive were the ahi poke nachos, a no-brainer order that sounded and tasted like heaven, a pile of unusually good fried wonton chips with dreamy poke adorned with creamy avocado, salty tobiko (roe), and wasabi cream. The nachos re-introduced us to the concept of generous portions, a phenomenon seen seldom if ever elsewhere on the island. With the nachos, we enjoyed a sweet and savory gazpacho comprised of tomato and pineapple along with a whimsical scoop of pineapple basil sorbet made with local Koloa rum. We found a consistent commitment to local ingredients here, and the rum was one of many opportunities to sample the glories of Kauai. Our next course continued on with the fresh fish theme, starting with an ahi sashimi "stack" mixed with crunchy Asian slaw and sweet chili sauce. While in the same general family as the poke, the sashimi stack was striking and unique, and can you REALLY have too much ahi? Then we cut into a masterfully wood- grilled slab of out-of-the-water-this-morning ono (also known, more broadly, as wahoo). The fish sat atop a pleasant heap of short-grain cilantro rice, and the whole thing was encircled with generous streaks of curry sauce in different stripes. One alleged to be a Kabocha squash curry sauce, and all were decadent and delicious. We didn't really "save room for" so much as we were "pulled towards" dessert, a magnificent chocolate lava cake with a couple large scoops of vanilla bean ice cream. I get drawn in by cakes that have, as Hukilau Lanai describes it, an "oozing chocolate center. Once I started I couldn't really resist finishing, an act of gluttony well-justified by the quality of the meal.
(5)Wallace G.
I try not to eat a lot of red meat, but the steaks at Hukilau are just too good! Can't help myself. It's always busy because it's popular with the natives -- that's always a good sign. It's become a regular stop for us whenever we visit Kauai. They stick to their knitting, but they are consistent and very good at what they do. You won't see a lot of creative, cutting edge items on the menu, but if you're looking for prime rib with mashed potatoes, you'll be very happy.
(4)Holli H.
My husband and I wanted a nice romantic dinner while on our honeymoon and at the recommendation of his mom who is a local we tried Hukilau Lanai. It is in the lobby of a hotel resort so I was a little unsure at first but I'm so glad we went. We ordered the ribs from the appetizer menu and they were perfectly flavored with the right amount of sweet and just a hint of spicy and it fell off the bone. For our main course, my husband had the filet minon and I had the Hawaiian sampler which consisted of a portion of blackened Mahi-Mahi and a portion of grilled Hebe, also referred to as spearfish. Let me just say that my hubby is not a fish eater and he said my Hebe was better than his filet and he said his filet was excellent. I had the Parducci Sustainable white blend with my meal and it was amazing. I would definititly recommend it with the fish. The service was great, the atmosphere was nice, the view gorgeous...it was the perfect romantic dinner!
(4)Cheryl M.
Excellent, even after multiple years. My mother and I were there two days before Christmas and the food was wonderful even with the changes in the menu. The fish was fantastic, and my mother had steak which she said was wonderful also. Hukilau Lanai is one of my favorite restaurants of all time. Great service and cocktails.
(5)Aileen C.
I didn't expect that one of the top rated restaurants on Kauai would be in a restaurant lobby. It kind of killed the ambiance and made the restaurant appear really touristy. We started with the Ahi Poke Nachos which were really good and the Lobster Bisque which was REALLY good, so when our entrees came we were super excited, only to find the food fell flat. The opah seemed fried and greasy and overall everything just tasted like it needed some kind of flavor. Maybe our tastebuds were wasted on the apps... either way, the entree should have the leading role, not play best supporting actress.
(2)Heather D.
This place was great! Like most restuarants on the island, it's safe to plan on spending about $30 per person for dinner here. We tried the sweet potato ravioli, but it wasn't as yummy as I'd hoped! The salads were tasty, but watch out for the bacon if you're a vegetarian! The bread and balsamic oil dip were so delicious we ordered a second batch. I tried the orchid martini, which contained vanilla; it was so strong that I had to summon courage to get it all down. It was pretty and worth every penny, but not exactly a smooth concoction. We didn't have a reservation, so we had to eat in the lounge section, but we found two comfy chairs and a table right on the water, so it was perfect!! I had a fish dish served with penne, that was spicy with a corn kernels in the sauce. So amazingly delicious!! I hope to try and replicate this at home!! I'd love to come back! Note: this restaurant is right across from the Coconut Marketplace, a fun place to get souvenirs for yourself, friends and even your dog!
(4)Sharon W.
My husband and I wanted to celebrate our 5th anniversary and the Hukilau Lanai's 5-course tasting menu seemed to be a perfect fit for the evening. The portions were perfect for enjoying all five courses and feeling full, but not overstuffed. Our favorite course was the candied ahi. The ahi was of the highest quality and just melted in your mouth. The seasonings were complex, flavorful, and kept forcing me to make yummy sounds, despite my desire for constraint. The gazpacho with rum pineapple basil sorbet was a close second. It was an unusual match of ingredients, but sometimes experimenting pays off. That is the case with this wonderful concoction. Their wine pairings were well matched to the various courses and provided a wide array of flavors and experiences. While we were enjoying our dinner, they had some live music. We were both pleased that it enhanced the dining experience and the volume was kept low enough that we could still easily enjoy our own conversation. The staff was busy, but considerate. Overall, it was a great experience and was the finest dining I've enjoyed on any of the islands.
(5)Norm G.
Our first night on Kauai, we treated ourselves and ate at this restaurant, which was located in a hotel right next to ours (Islander on the Beach). It already earned a star right off the bat for being kid friendly: they gave the kids pictures to color and crayons as soon as we were seated. I ordered the Tenderloin Medallions crusted with peppercorns and glazed with Crown Royal. It was just the right amount of meat, and was cooked to perfection. The "special potato" it came with was simply mashed potatoes. I also ordered a "Wally's salad," which had a very nice dressing. The foccacia bread, I was told by my family, was also superlative. I am avoiding yeast products temporarily, so I could only watch my family members eat my favorite bread with a very special "hangdog-martyr-poor me" expression. The children had a great time running around the grounds right next to the restaurant after we ate (see the picture of the grounds I uploaded), giving my wife and I the rare treat of actually responding to each other in complete, uninterrupted sentences. To top it off, our waitress was a sweet woman who was friendly and, we also learned, has children of her own. If you don't mind spending the bucks, I would definitely recommend this place. And, yes, we made reservations, and were seated immediately. Perhaps it helped that we got there early also (5:30 in the evening).
(5)Robert C.
This is the best dinner I've had since being on the island. It's best to make reservations as we did for a party of two. I started with the lobster bisque which was creamy and tasty. A great way to start off a meal ! The main entree I had was the mixed seafood grill. The two fishes for the night were butterfish and spearfish. This was accompanied with a skewer of shrimp and risotto. All this was surrounded by a nice creamy sauce. I thought the sauce reminded me similarly of the bisque. For dessert I had the creme brulee. A nice touch. I believe living in the bay area in California has made me spoiled at times. It's been tough truly good food here. You won't be disappointed at this restaurant. This place is located inside a resort.The restaurant opens up and faces toward a nice view of the interior grounds. Tiki torches light the walkways.
(4)Arrrrgh R.
We had been eating Saimin & BBQ for most of the week we were there and were looking for a change of pace. This place was recomended by the Marriott concierge. For this type of food (seafood - fusion) - this was the best one on Kauai. I had the bisque as a started and the Mixed Grill as an entree. The fish as butter fish and ono that night. The butterfish was delicious! as was everything else. I was very pleasantly surprised with the food. The prices were very reasonable. The place is fancier than others on the island but certainly not stuffy - the service is casual.
(4)Brent T.
We decided to try this place based on yelp reviews and some other sites. The restaurant is inside of the Kauai Coast Resort (some fancy pants resort) and has a lounge area outside (basically the resort lobby). There was about a 45 minute wait since we didn't have a reservation. They did give us a buzzer so that we could walk around and check out the shops at the Coconut Marketplace across the street. When we did get seated, the only table available was a huge one (there was only two of us). Mango Margarita (drink): This drink was average at best. Maybe I was spoiled from the delicious margarita I had the other night, but it just didn't do it for me. 5 out of 10. Coral Crush (drink): This was an average mixed drink. I can't remember exactly what was in it, but the alcohol taste was strong and didn't balance well with the flavors. 4 out of 10. Ahi Poke Nachos (appetizer): This was an interesting dish and different from what you usually see on appetizer menus. It consisted of chunks of ahi tuna (sashimi), avocado, onions, masago (tiny roe) and a slightly spicy sauce on top of crispy fried won ton strips. It was a decent dish, but I felt like it took away from the freshness of the tuna. The onions and sauce overpowered the fish and didn't balance well overall. 6 out of 10. Mixed Grill (entree): This entree included four grilled shrimp, two cuts of grilled fish (ahi tuna and some unidentified white fish) on top of some orzo (rice shaped pasta) and a creamy/spicy sauce. This dish overall was a disappointment. The fish was overcooked and dry. It felt like there was a bit too much sauce and was kind of strange that it was below everything (so the fish and orzo were sitting on top of it). The best part of the dish was the shrimp; it was fresh and perfectly grilled. If it was just the shrimp, I'd rate it a 8 out of 10, but the whole dish gets a 6 out of 10. Service: Average service. The staff seemed a bit rushed and didn't check in too often. 7 out of 10. Overall, this restaurant was a disappointment. The food was sub-par and the wait just wasn't worth it. For a seafood restaurant in Hawaii, we expected better, more fresh fish. SUMMARY (TL;DR version): - If you decide to come here, a reservation is the way to go - Ahi poke nachos are interesting, but nothing to rave about - The shrimp was delicious, everything else was bland and uninteresting
(2)Philip M.
The Ahi nachos, lobster bisque and mac nut chicken are da bomb!!! Slightly on the pricy side, but well worth it for the quality of meal. Not the biggest of portions, but great presentation and flavors. We ate twice here for dinner on this trip cause it was that good.
(5)j k.
I looove this place! The last time we we're in Kauai we dined here 3 times and this time we had dinner here twice! The first night we had the lobster bisque, lobster wontons, poke nachos, wally salad, mixed grill and a fish entree....cant remember which one. The second night we tried the sweet potato ravioli, ribs, lobster bisque and wally salad, mahi mahi and filet. The lobster wontons and lobster bisque were the best I've had that I can remember. the poke nachos were really good. The ribs were tender and sweet. The entrees were delicious as well. I wanted to come back and do the tasting menu, but we ran out of time. The wine selection is pretty good and they have a great list of wines for under $20 a bottle. Can't wait to go back the next time I'm in Kauai!
(5)jean H.
The tasting menu knocked our socks off. There sausage was to die for and everything was 5 star, top notch quality. The view was amazing, the music was great and the service was the best.
(5)Denise L.
We ate at Hukilau on our first night in Kauai. It's was absolutely the best meal during our entire trip! The food was fantastic! We didn't have any reservations, but since we were starving, we decided to dine in the lounge. This area was perfectly fine. We had a nice high table with high bar chairs right by the window. We had a nice view of the resort, ocean area. The lounge was small, but nice with a duet playing Hawaiian music. It was so relaxing and peaceful. We started off with some bread and dipping oil. Since we were pretty hungry, we ordered the mushroom quesedia as an appetizer. The portions were good for sharing and it was tasty. Every entree came with either soup or salad. If I had known this, I probably wouldn't have ordered an appetizer. It was a basic salad with greens, bacon, tomato and red onions. It had too much dressing, but overall it was good. For my entree, I had the ono over udon noodles in a light broth. I loved the fish! It had the right texture and it tasted so good with the udon noodles. They were chewy and soft. Overall, the flavors were so tasty and light. I don't remember what my bf had, but I just remember eating a huge prawn from his dish. We were so full that we didn't even order dessert. I highly would recommend coming here for dinner on your visit to Kauai. Food is so fresh, light and delicious.
(4)Anna H.
After reading all the amazing reviews here on Yelp, my husband and I decided to spend our last night's Dinner at Hukilau Lanai. We didn't make a reservation, but thinking it was a Thursday night, why would we need to anyways, right? NO! Big mistake, we should have made reservations way advance. We waited 1 hour and 30 minutes to get our tables, partly because we suspect the hostess forgot about us. It seems that the restaurant values the dinning experience more than the pre dinner wait experience. Once we finally got it, we realized that there were only a handful of couples' tables. Our server was wonderful. We order a mai tai and pina colada, friend lobster wonton; for entre - the pork loin, and the seafood mixed grill; for dessert - chocolate mousse cake with ice cream. It was a very delicious meal, and the nightly view of the courtyard was wonderful. Again, for that perfect dinning experience, reserve well in advance. ;)
(4)Dee V.
*Review for a wedding reception* We had our wedding reception in the private banquet room recently. Manda (private party coordinator) was awesome! She always got back to me really quickly leading up to the event and was also very attentive the day of the reception. Food: All our guests loved the food! We had appetizers (lobster/goat cheese wontons, garlic shrimp, sweet potato/feta ravioli, ahi poke nachos); lobster curry bisque; prime rib, filet mignon, and the fish special of the day (mahi mahi). I usually don't like feta or goat cheese items but these appetizers tasted great. I had the prime rib and it was huuuge and delicious (guests had same reaction). Same for the filet mignon. The one thing people didn't seem to like was the fish option. I had a bite and didn't care much for the taste either. It was cooked well and nothing was wrong with it really, just maybe lacked flavor. Cocktails: drinks on our menu included mai tais and loco lemonade which were both very popular. Dessert: We had the strawberry chiffon wedding cake which was beautifully decorated and also tasted great. Overall, this was an excellent location for a wedding reception. I would still give it a 5 if I was basing it off of just a review of the food alone.
(5)Clint D.
Where do I start. For 30 years we been staying in Kapaa at The Islander on the Beach. Its right across from the Coconut Market Place - which has several places to eat. BUT right next door is the BEST restaurant on the island - hidden away in the Kauai Coast Resort. Great food - not cheap, well worth the cost, it is always a 'special night out' for us. The first thing I do after checking into the IBO is to call next door to the Hukilau Lanai for Resos (a must). We usually stay 2 weeks and end up eating there at lest twice. Its run by the folks at Gaylords, but much better. Great fresh seafood, super salads, desserts (Lava Cake to die for!), Tenderloin Medallions with Crown Royal sauce, beer/ale, drinks, and a good wine list. (I haven't tried the Fixe menu, but it sounds like a good idea) Great service, and I hesitate to say this, great place for families, they really go out of there way to make the children happy. Beautiful setting, looking out from the Lanai (porch) is a view of the courtyard of the hotel, and in the distance the ocean.
(5)The H.
We came here on the last night of our honeymoon for a decent meal. The food and drinks were great! Lobster and Goat Cheese Wonton PuPus were delish. We tried the crown royal steak medallions because it sounded interesting, but I think next time we would choose the Filet (we were all seafooded out!). The veggie lasagna was delicious and the tomato bisque was the wife's favorite part. The only downside was our not so attentive server. This could be classified as two and a half dollar signs because we had a pupu, a bottle of wine, entrees, dessert, and dessert drinks for a reasonable "fancy dinner" price.
(4)Michael V.
Good high end service, great food (Lava cake is the best we have ever had). Get the Prix Fixe menu, and if you like wine get the tasting menu. The wines were all quite good, and the pairings were spot on! Also a little tip, the waiter told us that if you don't like the prix fixe choices or want to get it again before they change it, call and ask for a different prix fixe- if you give them 48 hours notice he said the chef can usually whip something up for you.
(5)Jared M.
best meal on the island. my wife and i celebrated our honeymoon in kauai and are avid Yelp fans, and hands down this was our favorite find. great service, amazingly fresh food, lovely view of the beach. i requested an ocean view on opentable the day of our meal and they were happy to oblige. as far as menu goes we had the poke nachos, lobster wonton, lobster curry bisque, and the ono [shared]. all are recommended. inc wine our total bill was around $100.
(5)Asha S.
This place was excellent (literally the best place we ate at in Kauai and we went to some really nice restaurants)!! The fish was so fresh and really well cooked and the service was great as well. We asked our waitress for recommendations and everything that came out was super delicious...we were so wowed we tried to come back the next night for dinner but the restaurant is closed on Monday nights. It's kinda hard to find because it's located in the hotel behind the Coconut Market Place but it's definitely worth the search!
(5)Andy M.
The view was good...the restaurant and staff were nice, but the food wasn't worth the price. My favorite part about dinner was the ahi tuna nachos...they were delicious. The drinks were watered down and overpriced for what you got. I ordered the breaded chicken...and it was delicious, but served over a bed of tree shrubs...was only able to eat the chicken. The rest of the entrees in our party weren't that great either. There are a lot of better restaurants on the island...This was an ok restaurant, but not one id recommend or ever go back to
(3)Elissa S.
I'm giving this place a five star rating based solely on what an amazing deal the tasting menu is. The food was great - not the best meal I've ever had, but really, really good, and at $40 for 5 courses with wine pairings, a really incredible deal. It's a lot of food, and although the pairings weren't great (I forgive them for this - wine pairing is not easy), the food was excellent. I would have paid twice as much for this meal and still loved it. The service was great, and you're right on the water - east side of the island, so no sunset views, but still terrific. The $40 tasting menu is available from 5-5:45 (even if you sit down right at 5:45). We had reservations, but when we arrived at 5:40 the place was empty (although it quickly filled up).
(5)Nene S.
Some of the best fish we've had on the island. The ginger martini was really good. It's difficult to find a good martini on Kauai! My husband and son enjoyed their meals too. Great place overall make a reservation though. They get booked up early.
(4)Renee A.
For an appetizer we ate lobster wontons which were delicious.and the sweet potato ravioli which was good but the picture made it look better than it was. We had 3 of the 4 fish entrees and everyone loved their choices. I had the filet cooked med-rare which was delicious. The $20 bottle of wine was great. It was a little chilly out so they have sweaters and blankets they will let you borrow if your cold. For dessert we had macadamia nut tart w cinnamon ice-cream which was good. The experience was one that I would definitely recommend. The food was delicious and it was reasonably priced.
(4)Sophie W.
We had the calamari which we could have eaten 3 plates of. My hubby had the tasting menu and everything was really good. Jason, our waiter, was very accomodating for my daughter's food allergies and kept us informed as to what was in each item. The tomato/eggplant soup and veggie lasagne were fantastic! We will definitely go back when we visit again.
(5)Tiffany B.
cool casual place to eat out on a week day. never had a bad experience. Only innocent mikstakes, awesome ginger infused kamakazi martinis! One thing on their menu that sticks out is their sweet potato ravioli.
(3)Lovanna L.
My husband and I decided to try the tasting menu at the Hukilau Lanai. It seemed quite a deal for $40 which comes with a tasting of wine per course. hukilaukauai.com/menu-ta… The tasting started with the sweet potato ravioli and a riesling. I had read a lot about the sweet potato ravioli and was excited to try it. For the tasting though, you only get one ravioli. It's good so savor it. The item is the argula salad which is...a salad. The fresh catch is their fresh island fish which we had a mahi mahi I think. It was really good but again, the portion is small since it was a tasting. Then the meatloaf that followed was quite good. I had the creme brulee dessert and my husband had the cheese dishes. I'm not a huge wine drinker but my husband enjoyed most of the wines except for a couple. The tasting menu was alright. I think I would've enjoyed my visit much better if we had just ordered full entrees and the sweet potato ravioli as an appetizer.
(3)Triple Threat T.
went for dinner with my handsome boyfriend while on vacation. we arrived 20 mins before they closed, but they were happy to serve us. food was AWESOME, atmosphere was very pleasant. we sat in front of the huge fish tank near the dining room's entrance. go ahead and splurge for the $30-something bottle of honey mead (made on Kauai) because it is like drinking liquid gold mana from heaven; my boyfriend doesn't even drink, but he sure drank THIS! :)p try any of their seafood entrees, it's all wonderful and you wont be disappointed. also: the warm chocolate cake for desert is a MUST! it's made with chocolate from the island's cocoa factory and will make you wet yer pants it's THAT TASTY! :D
(5)Eric G.
This is a small hotel restaurant with good food, so be prepared for a wait. But in the meantime, you can sit in the hotel lobby and they'll serve you drinks. The seafood sampler platter was excellent. It's a sample of fresh fish items. Although it wasn't exactly cheap (hotel prices) Hukilau Lanai was the best value we found on the island. Be warned: some of the drinks here are stiff. Be careful
(5)Kelly M.
One word of advice, get reservations to go to this restaurant unless you like waiting around for about an hour for a seat. The good news is that even if you don't have reservations, you can still get in. Additionally, if you don't mind the wait, you can get drinks and whatnot and hang out in the comfortable chairs (but small tables) of the hotel lobby. If you're by yourself, you can just eat at the bar and completely skip the wait. Now that the advice dispensing is done, once we did get in for our food, it was outstanding. Our waiter was quick and made excellent suggestions on the food without being pushy. The sides of the restaurant are open, allowing cool night breezes through, looking out on a courtyard lit by torches. The food itself is really good, especially the small chocolate cake that comes out fresh from the oven. I don't think you could go wrong with any of the food here. Prices wise, even though this was probably the best meal we had on our vacation it wasn't the most expensive meal we ate on the island.
(5)Kelson H.
A hotel restaurant. Waited about 30mins for a table, very busy restaurant. Not a cheap restaurant, but the food was tasty. Appetizers - BBQ Ribs (very tasty, the meat fell off the bone) - Ahi Nachos (This was okay, a mixture of fresh ahi cut into little bite sized chunks and a fried wonton chip as the chip) - Portuguese Sausage with fiddle head ferns (Okay, the fiddlehead fern was interesting tastes like a pickle in a smaller form) Dinner Mixed Grill: Ono, striped marlin and shrimp on a sugar cane with creamy orzo and thai chili sauce. (Very tasty a good one to order and one recommended for newbies to the restaurant) If you want fresh fish, this is a good choice. Dessert Lava Cake with vanilla ice cream: Basically a mini chocolate cake with melted chocolate in the middle. Good Macadamia Nut Tart with vanilla ice cream: Nice caramel flavor enjoyable although the actual nut was second while the caramel took a dominant form on this dish. The server tried to be as good as he could, but for some reason it seemed as if everything in the restaurant was rushed. Things were just flying everywhere. Service:2 Food:3 Decor:3 Would I go back? They had good fish, although the service well, lets hope they get more help. I'd go back, just not my first choice.
(3)Aaron L.
This place was perfect - excellent food, excellent service, atmosphere, everything. Great wine prices. Food is pricey but the execution is spot-on and well-worth it for a nice night out in Kauai. Do it. The wife says it's the best meal she's "ever" had.
(5)Jim S.
Everything about this meal was tremendous. My wife and I went here for a night out without our baby, and we were not disappointed. We were seated promptly and the service was attentive throughout the evening. They begin by giving you a delicious bread; when we told the waiter that my wife is allergic to gluten, they even brought her out some gluten-free bread. We had the sweet potato raviolis, which were divine, as was my wife's Wally Salad and my lobster bisque. At this point, we were feeling great. Then came the main course; we each got the mixed grill. Two words: ON POINT. The dish was a work of art, all elements and flavors combined to make the dish truly incredible. The portion size was perfect and the fish was absolutely succulent. We finished with the creme brule, my wife's favorite, and it was also great. All of this, combined with a $20 bottle of wine, made this meal very memorable. We will definitely be back next time we visit Kauai!
(5)Andrea M.
We love, love, love the food here. But after one incredible meal (and pretty pricey), we started realizing that we love the appetizers even more. Lobster won tons, yummy! Any green salad they prepare, also very good. Now we eat in the bar (very good pours) and order the sampler platter with a dessert to share. Three years ago we ordered a mango yogurt cheesecake that we are STILL talking about. I have to say that we enjoy the musicians that play in the bar in the evening, but we really enjoy the whole Hawaiian breezeway where the bar is located. It just doesn't get any more relaxing (with alcohol and top notch food). I love Hukilau.
(4)M F.
Wonderful, Wonderful! If your looking for the best place to have a high quality meal around Kapaa' this is it. One of the best prime rib I've tasted. My wife had the filet and could literally cut it with a fork. The best meal we had in our week on Kauai. The service was equally as pleasant as the food. Also, 20 wines for $20 was a pleasant surprise. Don't bypass this place on your visit to Kauai!
(5)Shanna V.
Well, while everyone else had a good experience, ours wasn't fantastic unfortunately. Our server ignored us a lot and chatted with a table of his friends for the majority of the time that we were there. My father and brother were starting to get angry about it. The food was pretty good, but by the time it got to us, we had filled ourselves up on bread because it took more than an hour for the food to get out to us. BUT the food was VERY good. If I could I would give the food a four score.
(2)Jacqueline S.
The food was really good and the service was great. We started with the calamari which was very tender. The breading had a nice spice to it and the dipping sauce was pretty good. I had the chevre salad and the mixed grill which had a nice peanut sauce, my husband had the soup of the day (yellow pepper and artichoke creamed) and the filet mignon, my older son had the lobster bisque and the prime rib and our four year old son had mahi mahi grilled with some butter. They were more than willing to special prepare for our youngest and he ate every bite of his fish. My older son seemed to enjoy the lobster bisque as he was making all kinds of "this is good" sounds while he ate it. I'd say my husband's order was the winner. He had to share his soup with all of us and by the end of the meal we were all taking bread and helping him finish the sauce. We'd eat here again.
(4)Adam G.
We come to Kauai often, but only recently discovered this gem. Don't be fooled by the 70s decor or the depressing Coconut Grove shopping center. On our most recent trip to Kauai, this was by far the best meal we had. The mixed grill was one of the best entrees I have ever eaten. A very relaxed and friendly atmosphere.
(5)Angie K.
For some reason I only remember how great their Mango Crisp was. Maybe the wine got to me but dinner was yummy too.
(4)Tracy Z.
Hukilau Lanai is a pretty solid bet for dinner, though it is on the pricier side. I guess this is to be expected since it is a hotel restaurant. The restaurant has a nice ambiance with a terrace/veranda-overlooking-the-garden vibe going on. Somewhat plantation-esque. We had the ahi poke nacho appetizer to start. Mmmm, yummy. The wonton chips used to replace nacho chips was a nice touch. The fisherman's chowder that came with my entree was also delicious. It was seafood-y without being too "wild" tasting and had copious amounts of veggies + fish. I had opah (moonfish), which was prepared with an Asian-influence. The fish itself was lightly breaded and perfect. The accompanying veggies were done with a typical teriyaki/soy sauce-ish flavoring. Dad had the ahi tuna. Good quality and came with some yummy, creamy orzo. Mom had the mahi mahi, served atop polenta. All in all, the fish we ate were fresh and delicious (with a nice texture too!). We tried the macadamia nut tart fort dessert. This was sort of a let down since it was basically an overdone pecan pie. You couldn't really taste the macadamia since the whole thing was so drenched in caramel flavoring. Luckily it came with cinnamon ice cream, which was interesting to try and very good.
(4)Samantha S.
Had dinner here last night and I can't wait to go back again. Yes, it is in in a resort and you pause for a moment, but the food was fantastic. We had 7:30 reservations and were seated a few mins after arrival. It was a little loud which was hard for my mom who wears a hearing aid, but the place emptied by 9 pm and the problem was solved! Everyone in our party loved their meals and cleared their plates (Opah, Mixed Grill, Wally's Beef dish cut like butter, prime rib, and pork). We each had a dessert as well. The prices are reasonable and although the service started out slow, it was competent and other staff members jumped in to make sure we had what we needed. Adding this place to my must have dinner at when I visit Kauai.
(4)Leiann B.
My husband & I came here, based on Yelp reviews - was close to our condo in Kapaa & served local specialties - with a view on their lanai. I ordered the mixed seafood grill (shrimp & 2 fresh local fish) topped with Thai coconut sauce over orzo -- wow, fantastic. Service was good, altho our drinks ordered first took awhile to arrive, probably due to busy bar orders. Still, we'd love to come back on a future visit to Kauai! Highly recommended as a great "date night" restaurant. :)
(5)Frank Y.
Great food and great presentation. We ordered two fish dishes, both are really great! The food are beautifully presented and the fish are so tender and moist that they brew us away! We should have reserved seat (we ended up waiting for 30 min, but it's worthwhile!)
(5)Scott M.
Ahhhh...That was an excellent dinner. I am all smiles right now. Get the Poke Ahi Nachos...delicious, refreshing and a great starter. The peppercorn crusted tenderloin medallions were melt-in-your-mouth tender and perfectly cooked with an excellent Crown Royal demi-glace. Mmmm. I am still thinking about that. If you get a chance to try Waloo, do so. It's local and perfectly described as a butter fish and it came with the mixed grill dish.
(5)megan b.
this place definitely seemed to attract an older crowd, my husband and i definitely felt like we were sitting at the"kids table" at thanksgiving dinner. the service was alright, our waitress seemed a little frazzled and forgot to bring me my drink. she also seemed to rush us a little bit through some parts of our meal - asking about dessert before we even had our entrees served to us. the food seemed to be hit or miss. the chicken stack appetizer was really sub standard. it tasted like the chicken came out of a can or a pouch. for entrees, i had the ono with some type of dijon sauce which was excellent. my husband had the opa, which was also quite delicious. we were on the full side and one of the last lingering tables, so we opted against dessert. the entrees were delicious, the appetizers and service left a little to be desired.
(3)B L.
We stopped by this place based on the Yelp reviews. The food was so-so. We ate the sweet potato ravioli, the poke nachos, the lobster and cheese won tons, and two salad plates (argula beet/corn and some other chevre cheese salad). Secret: If you really want to dine here, come between 5 pm - 6 pm and try the tasting menu. You'll get to eat for $28 per person without wine and $40 per person with wine pairing. Here's what they include with the tasting menu: 1) sweet potato ravioli, 2) beet salad, 3) market fresh fish, 4) pork tenderloin, 5) artisan cheese plate, 6) trio of housemade sorbet. This is a bargain. Too bad we didn't know about this.
(4)Laurel E.
We did the tasting menu and that could have been our problem. We liked the sweet potato ravioli, but the rest seemed like it had been cooked earlier in the day and then just shoved in the oven. Not super tasty. Also, we sat outside and it seemed to be infested with fruit flies. I was constantly shooing them away. I asked for more bread and never got it and had to ask a few times for more water. Not the best experience at all.
(2)John C.
This restaurant is at the hotel we stayed at and it was our one "splurge" dinner while on Kauai. We ate at the bar and tried a variety of appetizers, all of them excellent. The service and atmosphere were great.
(4)Joe O.
Atmosphere isn't great, but the food was good. The sweet potato ravioli app is a must have.
(4)Paul Z.
Great food, good wine list and well done service. I really enjoy restaurants which utilize local organic ingrediants, that is what they do here. The ambiance was a bit kitchy, but overall the best dining option in Kapa'a and points north!
(4)R M.
Great restaurant in a surpising timeshare resort. The ravioli was amazing as was the curry lobster bisque. I had the halibut prepared in the "catch of the day" style... Yum! The only downside was that the resort seemed kinda sketch and it was a bit pricy for what you got (food and service wise). But, I would definitely recommend if you are looking for a great dinner.
(4)Gamebebe C.
This is our second time here and it is still great. Alan is very nice and polite and the portion is good size. The atmosphere is very nice.
(4)Judgey Von Judge O.
tucked away, we found it through other yelpers. so good, we ended up canceling a reso for Roy's down in Poipu for a repeat performance here at Hukilau; only this time: tasting menu (for only $40 with wine pairings!). ps: ginger martini = good times.
(5)A C.
I absolutely LOVE the aki poke nacho appetizer! hands down the best thing i had on our honeymoon trip. the sausage appetizer was pretty good too. the ambience was very romantic and the service was excellent. price was very reasonable considering the quality and location. definitely will go back the next time we go back to kauai!
(4)Halley S.
This restaurant is located in the resort that we were staying at so it was definitely convenient and a added plus was that it was the best meal we had on Kauai. With that said we came here twice for dinner during our trip. Everything was phenomenal! From beginning to end... drinks, apps, dinner and dessert along with the service were perfect. This place should not be missed!
(5)Jerry W.
This was probably the best full service meal we had in Kauai. Service was a little spotty, but the food was great. Finally fresh seafood that was well prepared. The bisque was great. The dessert sorbets were exceptional. Good drink menu too. There is also a nice view. It was a great meal to cap off our trip to Kauai.
(4)Paul S.
The food was great as well as the service. We tried to stop by a second time for dinner, but they were already booked up at 5:45.
(4)Anthony D.
Just spend 12 days on Kauai and this place was our favorite. Killer appetizers, especially the Ahi Poke. Ceviche was also great. Awesome drinks, favorite was the Pomegranite margarita. Heard the meals were really good too but after all the drinks and appetizers we were "all pow". This place is da' kine!
(5)Shirley D.
My husband and I went to this restaurant for our first wedding anniversary and have had a great and excellent dining experience. I wanted to celebrate somewhere close to our resort and I Google's n asked local for recommendations. Good thing I listened n did my research. Nicole was our waitress n she was great, attentive n accommodating to make our nite special. We tried the sweet potato ravioli is ooohhhh sssooooooo good. My husband was so thrilled n impressed with it that he only gave me a small piece to try - which means he loved it. He devoured the 4 ravioli n cream around it. I ordered the lobster wonton n it was delicious. They accommodated to my husband who is vegetarian n his lasagna was excellent. My mixed grilled seafood was mouthwatering. The shrimp was skewered in a sugar cane n it interesting n most importantly deliciously devoured. For dessert we had key lime for dessert n let me tell u I'm not a big fan of key lime pie, but once I tried it here I had a change of mind. It was nice n tart n worth having another one. My husband n I were both happy at how well the night went. When we come back to this island we will surely be back to this restaurant.
(5)Lori D.
This is our favorite restaurant in Kauai, we always eat there at least 2 or 3 times during our weeklong stays. We love it so much that when we got married in 2007 we decided to get married at the resort and have our reception in the restaurant's private room. Everything is always delicious! Our favorite is the Ahi Poke Nachos...yummy! The location is perfect, prices excellent for what you get, especially in Hawaii and the service is always great. This will be our favorite for years to come!
(5)april k.
This place was just fantastic. Lovely setting, attentive staff. We have two, and four year old children so they seated us near the fish tank. The Keiki menu was not insulting - it's real food. Make reservations or you will have a wait. Come early if you want to sit outside, which I would recommend. Appetizers were great, I recommend the lobster bisque. Also the lobster and goat cheese won ton was yummy, though the wrapper was a little tough. Had the sampler for dinner that had sugarcane skewered shrimp, butter fish and a couple of others, all wonderful. And all the fish were OK by 'seafood watch'.
(5)sunil t.
excellent seafood. bit pricey. strongly recommend reservations. any of the seafood dishes are incredible.
(4)Neil E.
We ate at Hukilau Lanai again tonight. Again four stars. As usual we got the ahi nachos. They were still tasty, although a tad lacking in ahi tonight. I got the mixed fish plate instead of the tasting menu. The mixed plate tonight was cajun ono and shoyu spearfish. Both were delicious, although the cajun spices on the ono detracted a bit from how tasty ono is on its own. As usual the orzo "risotto" was too cheesy for my tastes. But that's ok, you go for the fantastic fish, not the orzo :)
(4)David D.
My wife and I tried the tasting menu with wine pairings. We did not care for three of the five wines, and two of the five food items were too salty for both of us, and we usually don't have a problem with salt (the fish course and the meatloaf were both too salty). The fish was Ono. We would have preferred Hawaiian Butterfish, but it was no longer on the menu. The sweet potato ravioli was very good. In retrospect, we should have dined off of the appetizer menu. Not worth the $$$. It is sad, because we dined here on a prior vist 5 years ago and the Butterfish then was fabulous.
(2)Jeremy F.
During my wife and I's one week visit this is the only restaurant we revisited. In fact we came back 3x. The third time is when we got engaged. Ambiance, staff, food -- FRESH FISH-- were all great. Top that off with a couple of Lava Flows and a wine pairing and life doesn't get much better.
(5)S W.
Wow, what's not to like. Incredible food, awesome romantic setting, live quiet music. My meal started with lobster currie bisque that was superb while my wife had the Wally salad, outstanding. For my entree I chose the mixed seafood grill, which included sugar cane skewered shrimp, swordfish, and butter fish (Wahoo I think?). The butter fish just melts in your mouth and was served with a currie flavored orzo. My wife had swordfish on top of pasta with a cream sauce that was to die for. It is a little pricey but even with wine, our meal was under $100. Well worth it though and one of the best restaurants on the Island. They also support the local vendors so the food is super fresh. Our waiter (sorry I forget his name) just recently moved to Kauai but was very knowledgeable and spent time talking with us and made sure we had a great experience. It's suggested you make reservations a day in advance though so plan ahead and know they are closed on Mondays. We even went back a second night just for a drink and the Creme Brulee' as we were staying at the resort where it's located. Don't miss this one in Kapaa at the Kuai Coast Resort At The Beachboy, right by the Coconut Market Place. Enjoy.
(5)Joel D.
Three of us had the tasting menu (only available from 5:00 - 6:00). Almost all of it was spectacular. We didn't like the second course, but it was fun to try some new things. Each course was small, but it was plenty of food. Two of us had the tasting menu with the wine pairings. Most of the wine was just OK and the pairings didn't add much. The other person in our party had the Ono. It was also very good. The food presentation was beautiful. The service was friendly. The view was very pretty. The food is worthy of a very formal place, but the atmosphere is casual.
(5)Philly P.
Hands down the best meal and best service we had in a week of eating out in Kauai. Great fish entrees and a nice selection of 20 wines for $20 a bottle. Great atmosphere and view and good service. Highly recommend it.
(5)william f.
we both had the happy hour tasting menu. i would have loved to enjoy the view but it was hurricaning that night...category 5 style. the menu was sweet potato ravioli, arugula salad, some random fish that tasted great, meatloaf and creme brulee. since we didn't have it paired with the wine, it was $28. very good value. hostess was very nice.
(5)Martha C.
We ate twice here during our week's stay on Kauai. My recommendation is to make an early reservation between 5 and 6 so you can try the tasting menu. After being tantalized by the well thought out and executed dishes, you will find yourself trying to decide when you will make a return visit to try out more dishes. Fresh local produce and seafood prepared to showcase the stellar ingredients served by an outstanding waitstaff.
(5)Dante C.
I'm sure glad we decided to go here. The wait staff was friendly and knew the ingredients well, the tasting menu was spot on and the wine choices were pretty good. I loved the view, however I love the view everywhere here. Next stop Maui, for hopefully 5 stars.
(4)Michael B.
Just returned from Kauai and had loaded myself up with Yelp reviews. Was really anticipating a wonderful meal at the Hukilau Lanai...and I wasn't let down! Was tremendous! Food, service, restaurant, and attention to detail. Was there to celebrate a 30+ anniversary and let the server know. They made the whole evening special. Only reason I didn't give it all 5 stars is that the location is pleasant, but not over the top which is what I expect from my 5 star experiences. Found out this is owned by the same folks that have Gaylord's over on the plantation. I can't compare one-for-one to them since we went to Gaylord's for lunch and it was just so-so. The meal was terrific, from start to finish (real Hawaiian "fresh" fish...see my note on the Beach House regarding "fresh"). Wine list for under $20, a bottle, was a good bargain, given that there were a lot to choose from. The server was on top of things, and the cool ocean breezes ordered up in just right amounts to make the open air experience divine. Can't wait to go back to try it all over again! Don't miss out on this place...and don't "miss" the turn past the north end of the Coconut Market Place since it's tucked in the back.
(4)Daniel H.
We tried the tasting menu. It was pretty bad. After receiving the first course, I thought we were off to a good start. The sweet potato ravioli was pretty good. The wine was decent. Then, came the salad, which felt like it came from the bag. Very simple green salad. The wine was okay. Then, the meatloaf! The description says this is not your grandma's meatloaf. Damn straight. It's worse, way worse. It tasted like paste and mine had a bone chip in it. The fish course was okay, nothing crazy. The wine, however, was not drinkable. Then, the worst thing was the dessert wine. Which was absolutely putrid, tasted like gasoline. All in all, it's an interesting scene and you should support the local economy, but I'd rather spend my money at Pono Market, or Mark's Place. Bottom line, good bargain for the amount of food in this setting, but I'd skip the wine and I wouldn't expect delicious, just okay.
(2)Erik S.
This was just a poor dining experience. My wife's salad with the papaya dressing was the high point of the meal. The BBQ rib appetizer tasted like a bad internet recipe for a root beer based sauce. Second, for a supposed seafood place, the ceviche was less than pleasant. The worst part of the meal was my ahi tuna. It may have been rare when it left the grill (perhaps giving them too much credit), but it was nearly cooked through and dry by the time the plate made it to the table. The polenta under the fish was very salty and somehow the grilled shrimp was even more dry than the ahi. Let's just say the service was nearly equal caliber to the food.
(1)Young K.
the ahi poke nachos were awesome. i've never tried anything like it. the lobster & goat cheese wontons were aiite. wife ordered the mixed grill and found it too sweet. i forget the fish i got, but i thought it was okay. the location is nice and although it was too dark to see, i think there would normally be a nice view of the ocean. definitely don't miss out on the ahi poke nachos.
(4)Darrel O.
My wife and I went to Kauai for our 10th anniversary and stayed at the Beach Boy, which is one of our time-share properties. While we were checking in with the concierge, he recommended the Hukilau which is on the property. He recommended reservations and went ahead and made them for us. I had moderate expectations because the recommendation came from in-house personnel, but I was very pleasantly surprised. We sat out at the edge with a nice ocean view and had a wonderful dinner. I like to try calamari where ever it's offered, and theirs was quite good. I saw a review saying it was like soggy bread, but I couldn't disagree more. Ours was nice and tender and quite good. I ordered the filet mignon for my main course and my wife got the seafood sampler. Both were cooked perfectly and were excellent. After the main course, we ordered the creme brulee and the molten lava chocolate cake, and both were excellent. The whole dinner from start to finish was great, as was the ambiance and the service. For the two of us, the bill came to something like $120 and included a bottle of wine. The only other place we dined while in Kauai was at the Beach House down in Koloa, and that place ran us about $200. I'll grant that the ambiance was nicer there, but the food was not nearly as good. Given a choice, I'll take the Hukilau over the Beach House any day of the week.
(5)Crystal H.
Had dinner at Hukilau Lanai in Kappa inside the Coconut Coast Resort. Service was average and food was good. We made reservations for 8pm on a Wednesday. The restaurant was packed. The resort lobby and eating area is very nice with many tropical plants/tiki torches and a view to the ocean from some seats if it were still daylight out. My husband had a mai tai (very good, 8 out of 10). Tried the sweet potato ravioli. Really good. Sauce was sweet but tangy (9/10). Casear salads were average (6/10). Matt had the sampler plate with 4 shrimp, a Cajun spiced darker fish, Hawaiian butterfish and a creamy orzo (9/10) (I think the sauce was the same sauce as was on the sweet potato ravioli). I had the vegetable lasagna, which was surprising good (8/10) and had a yummy cream pesto on top that I wish I had more of. Food was also served with a good focacia bread, only wish it was warm (7/10). Also ordered their version of a lava cake, which was not as heavy as a typical lava cake, served with vanilla bean ice cream. Very good (8/10). Spent about $85, which isn't bad for a drink, appetizer, food and desert. Service wasn't great (4/10) (slow and un-attentive). But considering this is Kauai, service + food = 4 stars
(4)Andie Q.
the food is great and the view from the lanai complimented our memorable experience. my husband and I had dinner here while on our honeymoon, it was perfect for a romantic dinner. The lobster bisque was amazing - so creamy and buttery. And our fish entrees were fresh and moist, it melted in our mouths. I highly recommend this restaurant for dinner. The service, view, and food is all excellent. You might get lucky and witness a celebrity citing - we were tickled to spot Jeff Bridges across from us! LOL!
(4)Marcella M.
One of the better restaurants on Kauai. I had the lobster bisque for starters which warmed me up on a chilly winter's evening. Our main entrees were filet mignon and prime rib which were both melt in your mouth goodness. Portion sizes are appropriate. The service is top notch, too.
(4)Sau y.
In all its beautiful garden isle glory, the food seriously sucks on the island of Kauai. However, Hukilau Lanai was a safe haven from all the "breaded and fried" meals I had to endure. I've spent weeks on both Oahu and Maui... and I already felt the food was second rate at best, but Kauai was an all new low. This restaurant was a bit pricier than most meals on the island (meals on the island range $8-15... an entree here went from $20- 25, which was well worth it in my eyes. We had good bread, salads and meals... and dessert to boot! It reminds me of the decent edible food I get back home (hallelujah!), on Kauai-- it was a GOD SEND. For 2 people, it ran roughly $80-- appetizer to share, soup/ salad with our entrees + 1 dessert to share. Service was great and the view was lovely. If I ever visited Kauai again, I would know where to go for a solid meal!! :)
(4)d l.
we went here on thanksgiving day for dinner at the last minute and got squeezed in due to a cancelation . we shared the nachos and i had prime ribe and my significant other had grilled fish but not sure what type it was . the nachos i didnt care for they were fried wonton chips with ahi . the rib was great and the wifys fish was good . pricey but that hawaii for you
(4)Jennifer D.
Their pupus are really good. We had their pre-fixed menu with wine and it was excellent. We also ordered the lava chocholate cake and it was super duper. This stuff came out hot, and did flow like lava when cut. It's one of the best lava cake I've had.
(4)Andrea F.
The atmosphere is iconic Hawaii - a breezy lanai, view of the ocean, tiki torches - lovely and romantic, but not too formal. The food is fresh and satisfying. Service was good but not exceptional. I'd recommend the sweet potato ravioli and ahi poke nachos to start. The mixed grill (shrimp plus two types of fresh fish) was tasty and perfect for those of us who have a hard time making decisions.
(5)Eric L.
We had a great time here... the prix fixe early dining menu was very tasty, and they did a great job by not stuffing you on the early courses. If you add on top of that the wine pairing was only $20, you have one of the best meals on Kauai. I would definitely make an effort to dine here during sunset.
(5)James G.
We dined at this establishment based on the reviews we saw on Yelp. Reservations were a bit tough to get, however we ended up with a nice 6:30pm spot. The overall experience was great. The view was very nice (garden view), but definitely not beach view. We ordered the calamari appetizer, which was sub-par. My wife had the Wally salad and loved it. For the main entree, defintely get any "O" fish (Opah or Ono) -- those were excellent. Recommend trying the Mojito -- a bit different from LA mojitos, but decent overall.
(4)Tanya N.
Our first night in Kaua'i, we decided to stick close to the hotel and ambled over to Hukilau, which had been recommended to us by several people. We were seated promptly and enjoyed the view of the garden and beach. They have a great selection of "wines under $20," and I was pleased with my Argentinian Cab. We had the nacho poke appetizer, which was strongly recommended by our waitress while I drooled over the thought of a lobster and cream cheese wonton. Our appetizer was good, but when is poke ever bad? The wonton crisp "chips" were a little too oily, and there could have been more of the wasabi cream sauce. I continued to drool over the lobster appetizer that we forewent. I ordered the prime rib and D had the chicken and shrimp skewers, and we both opted for the lobster bisque with our meals. The lobster bisque was definitely the highlight of our meal - made with coconut milk, with hints of lemongrass and curry, mine was inhaled in all of two seconds. My prime rib was good, and D really liked how tender his chicken was. All in all, I would say Hukilau is a safe bet for dinner, with interesting and good menu and wine choices (even if the food items don't fully live up to their promise), but not the best meal that you'll most likely have on the island. Broke da mouf?* A little, but nothing that can't be fixed. *D and I have discovered the phrase 'broke da mouf' and thinks it's the best and funniest thing ever, so all Kauai reviews this trip will have a 'broke da mouf' rating."
(3)Phillip S.
We've travelled to Kauai ten times over the past eight years, and my one complaint has always been the restaurants. Maui is a culinary goddess compared to the other islands, with Oahu being a close second. Kauai, unfortunately, has always been the bastard step-child when it has come to eating (however, the other 'features' of the island still make it my favorite). Roy's has always been the leader on this island for fine dining, and nothing has ever come close to them with quality or preparation. Until now. Hukilau Lanai is a wonderful place to eat. So much that we went there three times this past week. THREE TIMES. The first time there I had the Ahi Poke Nachos for an appetizer. This sounded strange, and wouldn't have been something I would order, but the concierge at the Marriott told me that I had to try it. So I did, and it was an awesome decision. Won ton chips, covered with tomatoes, avocado, ahi sushi, tobiko, and a cream wasabi sauce. This was near orgasmic. An absolutely incredible appetizer. My friend got the Lobster and Cream Cheese Wontons, and it was pure delight. It was an absolutely wonderfully decadent appetizer. We got these same appetizers on the next two trips, as they were that good. For main course I got the Crown Royal beef tenderloin, and it was awesome. The meat, chicken and fish they get here is all natively farmed/grown. This is one of the few restaurants that doesn't bring everything in from other islands, and the quality is just incredible. My friend got the Filet, and it was perfectly prepared. My son even got the Jr. Paniolo Prime Rib, and hoovered it down. It was well seasoned and perfectly prepared. My daughter got the hot dog, and loved it. On my second trip I got the Shiitake Meatloaf, and thought it was good. It lacked something in flavor, but I couldn't put my finger on it. Overall, it was good, but not a knock your socks off taste. I recommend this place wholeheartedly.
(4)Jessica D.
Best meal on the island, hands down. Sure it's the in-house restaurant for the Kauai Coast Resort, but damn can they cook up a great meal! We ended up eating here twice because we couldn't get it out of our minds. My appetizer was one of the single best dishes I have ever tasted - Okinawan sweet potato ravioli with feta. It was sublime, orgasmic, mind-bending. There was a fork war for the last piece (I won), that almost ended in blood. The bread that they serve is delicious, and their cocktails are tasty too. I suggest the Loco Lemonade, its refreshing and will still "do the trick." Both their Caesar and Wally salads are really tasty, though I prefer the Wally. My entrée was the ravioli one night, and the sugar can skewered shrimp and chicken duet another. The chicken is dusted with a kona coffee barbeque-like spice and rests on a bed of creamy orzo that is to die for, and the shrimp pick up a great flavor for the cane. The Crown Royale medallions were so incredibly tender and juicy that I stole them from my honey's plate on a number of occasions. And his Shitake Meatloaf the second time around was just as good. And for dessert...the chocolate lava cake. Need I say more? Their interpretation is moist, but not gooey, and the 'lava' inside was almost like drinking chocolate it was so rich. I had the lilikoi (passion fruit) chiffon pie as well and it was great; a nice and tart filling that was cut by the richness of the coconut-macadamia crust. The service was great and the scenery can't be beat. All in all, unforgettable! And my stomach is growling for those ravioli...
(5)Trevor D.
Hukilau Lanai was easily the best restaurant we found on Kauai. The food was more original, better prepared, and more attractively presented than at other similarly rated establishments. After ordering them for a third time, our party agreed that the calamari appetizer was the best we'd ever had. Our entrees were nearly as satisfying. The Hukilau Mixed Grill consists of two moderately sized, island-caught fish fillets and about six sugar cane skewered prawns. For $26.00, we were more than pleased; our fish were perfectly cooked and seasoned, while the prawns were a bonus beyond what I would expect for the price. Our cocktails were original and generally decent, though certainly not outstanding. For example, the chili-infused vodka and cinnamon cocktail sounded great on paper, but didn't stand up to a few sips. Hukilau Lanai wouldn't receive a five star rating if compared to the best places in most large cities, but easily competes with anything else on Kauai.
(5)Haley K.
The patio seating is delightful. It provides a pleasant view of the hotel's property and ocean. The food was tasty and the drinks were strong. We had candied ahi appetizer which came over white rice. My boyfriend had the the ahi entree which was cooked perfectly.
(5)Jeremy P.
Excellent seafood, wonderful setting and great ocean views. Can't go wrong! And try Adam's Ahi Poke - totally amazing! They will cook your fish to order which is nice (I like my Ahi very rare). We went back for a second dinner during our trip and it was excellent as well. Only negative is the soup we had was too small and unspectacular for the price (lobster bisque, $7 for a cup), but go here for fish entrees and you will not be disappointed.
(4)R S.
This was our last night in Kauai and I was hoping for another excellent meal. I am shocked by the fantastic reviews for this restaurant. This was possibly one of the worst meals I have ever eaten. Everything tasted like it came out of a frozen food bag from Costco. The fried goat cheese in my salad had a strange chemical taste-not freshly fried chevre as advertised. The lobster and goat cheese wontons were obviously heated up frozen food and the sauce was no doubt straight out of a plastic packet - chemically and the taste and texture of the sauce had nothing to do with the appetizer itself. Awful! I ordered the Ono fish. It also tasted like it had been sitting in a plastic bag of soy sauce marinade for far too long, the "grill lines" on the fish were artificial at best, and the mashed potatoes under the fish also seemed quite processed. After a few bites, I had had quite enough and could not finish my meal. This meal cost as much as some of the really fantastic restaurants where we dined during our stay on Lanai. If you appreciate good, fresh food, stay away from Hukilau Lanai. If you like frozen meals from Costco or Wal-Mart, then this is the place for you.
(1)M J.
Nice place with nice atmosphere if you get a good table. Try the Sweet Potato Ravioli. That is the dish that keeps us coming back! After dinner you can stroll through the hotel ground and the beach.
(4)Jow H.
Mediocre in the guise of something better sums up the experience here. Some allowance for it being kauai as restaurants do not excel here. Food is overly fat and not particularly interesting. I tried 3 appetizers, lobster bisque, the veggie Lasagna and the Caesar salad. Simply nothing special. Service was efficient but somehow also left me cold. Not recommended.
(3)Lauren G.
Stopped for appetizers after reading reviews and it did not disappoint. The lobster wonton and Kauai clams were awesome. I would definitely recommend to others and come here again.
(5)Carolyn K.
Food Was Fantastic, Service "So So" We had great expectations about this restaurant because several individuals had mentioned how wonderful the food is. And, it was! From the sweet potato ravioli to the short ribs, everything was cooked to perfection. The restaurant offered one Cabernet by the glass from Obsidian Ridge in Sonoma Valley, and it was exceptional. Too bad the quality of the the service didn't match the food! We had reservations at 8:30 on a rainy night when flood warnings had been broadcast throughout the island. We arrived at 8:00 thinking that perhaps we could get in a bit early. No such luck! Although they had open tables. we weren't seated until 8:35. I asked the waitress for some bread to tide us over until we could order, and she said, "Bread is on the way!" It was ten-fifteen minutes before bread arrived. We had a wonderful meal, which was all brought to our table by someone other than our server. When it came time for dessert, we ordered the hot molten cake (which takes twenty minutes to prepare). Our server breezily said, "Oh, we ran out of it because we have been so busy tonight. I kind of lost track." Ouch! An early warning that we should "save a portion" of their most popular desert might have been nice. Or an apology with a recommendation for a replacement. The restaurant is a bit pricey, and the food is wonderful. In spite of the spotty service, I would go again.
(3)Sara H.
Absolutely amazing!!!!! Started with drinks in the bar waiting for our table. Awesome drinks, solid bartender (didn't catch her name). Got to our table and our waitress Debbie was on point. Super friendly, very knowledgeable on the menu, great recommendations. We got the calamari and it was spectacular. I got the Caesar salad before my dinner and my husband got the arugula salad and both were fabulous! Finally our meals came and it was the prime rib and filet. Out of this world! Melt in your mouth meats! HIGHLY recommended! Favorite place we ate out of our whole trip to kauai! Will definitely be returning! Ignore any negative reviews, this place is OUTSTANDING! Also, it is not super expensive which helps. Yes, it's a little pricey, but you get your money's worth!
(5)Nick F.
by far the best on the isand. Cool, warm staff to greet you, perfectly executed meals with fish so fresh! Nothing fishy about it! make a rez. grab a drink, and thank me later...this place does it right
(5)Missy L.
This place was delicious!! Yes it's a bit pricey but one of the best restaurants on the island. I only have two complaints. The service could have been a little better but honestly I think we just caught her at an odd time, it seemed like as the dinner went on she got friendlier. Also, I had put in the reservation request that we were celebrating our recent engagement. My boyfriend had proposed a couple days prior and we wanted to celebrate. It would have been nice if they would have done something......not asking for a free drink or dessert (which would have been nice) but at least said something.
(4)Polly C.
Make sure you make reservations for this place because they can get really busy! We walked in without reservations and were told that the next available spot wasn't until 8:45. Luckily, we were fortunate enough to find two empty seats at the bar and were able to order off the same menu as the main dining area. We started with the lobster goat cheese wontons. They were delicious and not too greasy.The green onions that were in it added a great touch to the flavor. I ordered the fresh catch which included ono with rice and ginger carrot purée. The fish was light and delicious and I also enjoyed the purée. My husband ordered the Hukilau mixed grill plate which came with Ono and another fresh catch fish (sorry, I can't remember what it was) and it was served with a shrimp skewer and risotto. I had a side of the Wally salad, which I believe is their house salad. My husband had a roasted bell pepper soup. It was creamy and very tasty. The service and food here was fabulous! This is definitely a place I would recommend to everyone who is visiting Kauai!
(4)Mike L.
Great food. Mixed grill was amazing as was the ahi. Appetizers were also way above par...ribs and calamari. Jason was a great waiter..very knowledgeable on the food offerings and prep. Highly recommended. Reservations a definite must.
(5)Becka C.
Mahina was one of the best servers I've ever had. Her exceptional service added to the outstanding overall experience at this restaurant. We had the passionate-tini and the citrus buzz - both were great! Then we shared the lobster and goat cheese wontons - a must! Even their bread was delicious! We decided to add $6 to one of their entrees so we can share and each get our own soup/salad. Which was perfect the perfect portion for me and my friend. We both liked our salads (arugula and mixed green). We shared the filet mignon which came with sun dried tomato mash potatoes - sooo yummy! And on top of all of that - we shared their signature chocolate lava cake. I'm so happy Mahina recommended it because it was soooo good. The entire experience exceeded my expectations and would recommend it to all locals and visitors of Kauai!!! It's a must!!
(5)Dawn D.
Yes, they have a keiki menu and our kids enjoyed their meal. Yes, it's a very nice restaurant with fabulous food - not Chuck E Cheese, so prepare your children accordingly. We were lucky and able to score a reservation with just a couple hours notice. When we showed up, we watched the hostess turn down three other parties (offered them the bar/lounge area) without reservations. Our server (I think her name was Shayla) was very friendly and attentive. At one point she forgot a mid-meal drink order, but quickly corrected the mistake and brought the drink right away. The food was great - the caramelized ahi wasn't too sweet, the fish was thick and meaty and the créme brûlée was light and smooth. We will make a point to return here the next time we're on Kauai - hopefully to try the tasting menu.
(5)Sarah E.
We came here for my mom's 60th birthday for a special dinner. We arrived early and waited in the lobby until the exact time of our reservation. We were seated and greeted by our server. They wished my mom a happy birthday, which was nice of them. We all ordered drinks, and their Mai Tai's are really delicious, and so are their other cocktail drinks. Between the four of us, we ordered the Mahi Mahi, Filet Mignon, and the prime rib. The mahi mahi was freaking amazing. It came with a curry sauce on top of rice and it was perfect. The filet and prime rib were both perfectly cooked and came with some mashed potatoes, which were OK. I wanted to give this place 5 stars, but the service wasn't five stars. We saw our server a grand total of 3 times the entire visit (seating, order taking, bill delivery). We ordered drinks that never got delivered, and we really didn't feel like we were being taken care of which was a bummer. It took a while to get our soups and salads, and it just felt slow. The food is freaking amazing though so I think that this is still an amazing place to go. Maybe she was having a rough day, or whatever but considering al of the positive reviews on the service, I'm assuming this was an isolated incident. I wouldn't hesitate to visit again. Great seafood, great drinks, and delicious desserts. They also have a gluten free menu, which is very extensive.
(4)David F.
If I could give it 10 stars I would. Party of six with appetizers and entrees so tried a lot of the menu and it was one of the best meals I have had in a long time. Really Amazing. The poke nachos were so outstanding.
(5)Don H.
We went twice during our week on the island, and that should say a lot about how much we enjoyed it, since there are so many other available options. They may be a resort restaurant, but they also had some of the best cooked fish we had on the island. The mixed grill is Totally the way to go - you get 3 different types of seafood, and they're all delicious. I also love that the chef changes up the menu regularly, and is experimental (and talented) with his flavor combinations. The cocktails are also quite tasty, and not fake sugary abominations. The wine list was definitely marked-up to resort level, but there are some good, mostly reasonably-priced white options that go well with the fish. (I recommend the Grenache Blanc). Appetizers were also wonderful, and again - more great and inventive flavor combinations. The sweet potato dumplings were a huge winner (we ordered them both times).
(4)Doug G.
Can't say enough. Service was great and the food was delicious and beautifully presented. We will return! The tasting menu was a delight and a great value. Sandra was our server and she was very knowledgeable, professional and personable.
(5)Heather J.
The islands of Hawaii have long been my go to getaway. By far, Hukilau Lanai, offered the best food I have had on any of the islands! So how did I hear about this place. Lady sitting next to us at our resorts pool talking about where she was spending her birthday. Imagine that, it's my birthday too. Enter my friend who tagged along on this excursion to Kauai and she is all over the food quest (being a chef herself). She peppers the lady with questions...30 minutes later we have a reservation (recommended). We checked the place out on yelp and found that many of you were BIG fans, especially of the ahi poke nachos. Psst...not a real big fan of ahi poke...however...when in Rome...er Kauai! SO GOOD! Once again yelp has not failed me! So let's talk about the morning after...all we could talk about was the great food...it was our last night...what should we do...let's go to Hukilau Lanai again. And we did!
(5)Gina B.
Yum. Great service. The employees are so friendly here...they make you feel welcome and want you to have a great experience. Everybody was kind here! The Wally's salad was really good...those croutons..yum! The table bread was great, the added fried goat cheese on the salad was tasty! My husband ordered the Sizzlin Bloody Mary and it was hot!!! All of the food and drinks were great. I had the veggie lasagne..chalk filled with butternut squash! We would come back here and again....make a reservation...they are busy!!!
(4)Erik H.
Meatloaf was absolutely awesome! Gf had the prime rib and she loved it. We came at 8pm and they didnt have any seats in the restaurant available. We sat in the lounge area tgat had a full menu and the service was great and fast.
(5)Andy S.
Best restaurant in Kaua'i that I've been to. Have been back three times over the course of two years and Hukilau never disappoints. Love their mixed grill and their filet mignon. And their 20 wines for $20-something list is a nice touch. Atmosphere is great as well, often with live music. Great service. Highly recommended.
(5)Mark G.
Just had a wonderful meal. The fish was very fresh and the blending of flavors unique and savory. The soups, we had two different ones, were very tasty and just filling enough. The service was very good and the wait time was reasonable. The dessert was phenomenal; an almost familiar red velvet cake
(5)Ann W.
During our 16 day visit to Kauai, we actually ate at Hukilau Lanai four times. On two of the visits we had appetizers and dinner (amazing 'Surf and Turf' and Mixed Grill) and on the other two we just opted for the appetizers and Lobster Bisque. Our favorites are The Candied Ahi - it has the most amazing rub and the Ahi just melts in your mouth, and the Ahi Nachos. I couldn't tell you which one we enjoyed more than the other. The Lobster bisque is not to be missed and you actually have your choice of any soup or salad on the menu with your dinner selection. We were always so stuffed we could not try the deserts. My compliments to the chef on his fine sauces. The entire wait staff was terrific and very attentive. We will be back next year!
(5)Pixie G.
Came here for the 5 course tasting menu which was $28 without wine ($40 with wine). Such a deal and the food was so delicious. I wish I had known about it sooner so we could have eaten it every night for dinner. We did it without the wine, since we're not big wine drinkers. We made reservations at 5 PM and were seated very promptly, had a nice table on the outside veranda with a view of the ocean. Started off with focaccia with rosemary oil/vinegar, which was tasty. Our server offered seconds, which we gladly took. First course was a tomato gazpacho with pineapple sorbet. This was SO good. The pineapple sorbet really added another depth to the gazpacho that I never would have thought of. Second course was candied ahi. There were 6 good size pieces of ahi tuna, encrusted with some kind of wonderful sweet and slightly spicy sauce. I wanted to lick the bottom of my dish, this was so good. Third course was sausage, and it was really smokey and savory and delicious. Fourth course was the fresh catch of the day (mahi mahi) served with quinoa and a lemon vinaigrette. Honestly, maybe it's just because I'm not a lemon vinaigrette fan, but I wasn't as impressed with this dish. It was tasty enough, the fish was admittedly prepared very very well, very moist and flaky, but lemon vinaigrette has never excited me. Hubby really liked this one though. Last dish was a vanilla creme brulee. The crust was perfectly crispy/crunchy and delightfully custardy.
(5)K B.
So I work in all the islands and eat at lots of local dives. This is the best I have yet to experience on Kauai! I had the Wally's salad and Wally's steak, only because it seemed highly rated by my fellow yelpers. As usual, they were on it. The location is a little cliche... but most restaurants I'm Hawaii are. If you want a 4 star dinner in Kauai, eat here. If you want to meet some really cool people, sit at the bar.
(4)Melisa O.
This restaurant came highly recommended by the owners of the condo we stayed in and it lived up to our expectations! We made a reservation several days in advance, glad we did as the restaurant was full when we arrived. The only challenge we encountered the entire evening was with the bartender during our wait to be seated. He was busy but it took him a long time to acknowledge me and once he did he made it clear it would be a while before he got to me. Not great service. Dinner was fabulous, probably our best experience dinning out during our vacation. The service was impeccable, we were very well taken care of from beginning to end. Our waiter timed our food perfectly, allowing us to dine and not feel rushed. The food, from the Ahi tuna nachos for an appetizer to the fish and shrimp and surf and turf entrees were perfect! We enjoyed the dessert special that night, chocolate perfection! I would certainly recommend this restaurant to all that want to enjoy a fabulous meal in a beautiful setting, with great service and incredible food!
(4)Ted S.
Excellent food, moderate price. The filet was tremendous, prepared near perfectly. The salads and bread very good as well. Diverse wine list as well. Would definitely return.
(5)Rick W.
By far and away the best meal we had during our 2 weeks in Hawaii.It started with an order of Calamari.The wife had a fresh salad with a very good house dressing.I had a bowl of cold tomato soup with puréed pineapple in the center.Might not sound good but a very refreshing soup.Then we had the Hukilau Mixed Grill.It had 4 nice sized grilled shrimp a piece of Marlin which has a firmness of a steak.Never had but it was delicious.It also had another piece of white flakey fish that had a Cajun spice on it.Not hot just good.It had creamy orzo pasta under it with a Thai Coconut Sauce over it.Had to finish it off with this warm Chocolate Cake with warm Chocolate filling and Vanilla ice cream.So if your in the Kappa area while in Kauai you have to go here.
(5)P K.
Happy to report that Hukilau Lani is still a home run! Great ambiance sitting on the terrace near the garden. Very professional, knowledgeable, friendly staff. Love the interesting wine list with many options for wines under $20. BRAVO for the BYOB option with a fair $10 corkage fee. And last but certainly not least....the food. The rib appetizer was delicious. The blueberry beef soup was perfect. Who knew I would enjoy that combo so much? The Chef knew! The fish entrees were perfect. And dessert was THE BOMB! Chocolate, macadamia nut stuffed strudel. It came with Lapperts vanilla bean ice cream. It's a steal for $7!
(4)Ribec F.
Yum everything was great, we had salads, soup, the filet, and an amazing dessert (cocunut tart). there is a great view from the dining room and local musician playing, I will def hit up this spot again.
(4)Laura S.
I went here for my birthday dinner. I couldn't have asked for a better experience. The mai tai was amazing. Super fresh and strong. They had a gluten free menu which was great. They had homemade gluten free bread that was super tasty. I had the macadamia nut crusted chicken. It was so good. The server was really attentive and friendly. I also enjoyed the beautiful patio and live music. It was an excellent experience all around.
(5)Candyce A.
Hands down best meal we had in Kauai. Everything was amazing. We especially loved the pork tenderloin with polenta. I wish we could have eaten more meals here!
(5)Steve M.
Went here on our last night in Kauai for a nice family dinner. The lobster bisque was incredible. The candied ahi was also amazing. The entrees fell short of our expectations. My wife had the opah with risotto which was just ok. My daughter had the pork tenderloin with mushroom Marsala sauce. This was very good. I had the prime rib which was tough and really fatty. It tasted like it had sat out for a while before it arrived at the table. For dessert, we had the chocolate mousse which was very good! Service was mediocre and impersonal. All in all, not the best night for the Hukilau.
(3)Kurt D.
Service was top notch. Ahi tuna was perfect. Salad was good. Prime rib tasted wierd but it was cooked perfectly. the au jus was salty though. Chocolate cheesecake was decadent. Lemon Chiffon pie was tangy mmm delicious. Coffee was rich and bold. Overall, We really enjoyed our experience at the Hukilau Lanai!!
(4)Claudia C.
Dinner for party of 8, super friendly service, nice outdoor seating (bring some bug spray though). Food: all good, nothing bad to say! Perfect for anyone who likes seafood, but doesn't want anything too exotic and price is very reasonable. - Start: * Complimentary house focaccia with rosemary oil/vinegar for dip (yum) - Appetizers: * Tuna Poke Nachos - hefty portion, savory with soy sauce and sesame oil * Lobster Wontons - great if you're a crab wonton fan normally (but don't expect too much lobster flavor/meat) * Sweet Potato Ravioli - exactly what you'd expect, comes with cream sauce (a little bland to me, but great if you're vegetarian/carbaholic) - Entree: * Came with soup or salad - Fish Chowder: very creamy, fish pieces were a little sparse, but overall great considering it came with the entree * Mixed Plate - 2 kinds of fish (~3 - 4 oz each) a 1 shrimp skewer (4 med - large shrimp) with creamy coconut orzo, our fish were mahi mahi and a Hawaiian fish (forgot the name) but was described as "more buttery" - Mahi Mahi: just like mahi mahi anywhere, chicken of the sea... always good - Hawaiian fish: very flaky and buttery, more delicate than the mahi, BUT not as good as Japanese black cod (sablefish), just a heads up for anyone whose standard of "buttery fish" equates with sablefish - Dessert: all 8 of us shared 1 dessert because we were stuffed... * Macademian Nut Tart: very sweet with lots of nuts, crust was flaky and not grainy/too dry, came with a scoop of ice cream and whipped cream (forgot if ice cream was coconut or vanilla, but went perfectly with the tart)
(4)Keri M.
Delicious food! Service was a little slow but we enjoyed just hanging out at our table in their open air seating with a view of the beautiful grounds and tiki torches. Their fish was fresh, homemade pasta was very yummy and definitely recommend the Yam ravioli appetizer.
(4)Rian F.
Another great meal at the Hukilau. Wife ordered the ono and I had the surf and turf with the ribeye and waloo. Drinks were good too, and the focaccia bread was very appetizing too. We'll be back again next year!
(4)David M.
We went here on the last night of our visit to Kauai on the recommendation of some locals we met at the beach. I was skeptical given my experience with resort restaurants but I wanted a nice celebratory dinner for my partner and this fit the bill. First selling point for me was the availability of a gluten-free menu on their website. While I don't keep gluten-free, my partner does and I'm constantly (and overly) cautious about whether restaurants will give him options other than yet another salad. What sold the restaurant for us was a very simple thing that made a world of difference for my partner. After hearing his dietary restriction the waitress brought out gluten-free bread to go with my focaccia bread. Very simple thing but as long as my partner has been gluten-free, this was the first time this has been offered to him. He told me one thing he's missed over the year is being able to enjoy some bread with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. The meal followed the same tone with excellent fish selections. I highly recommend this restaurant to other travelers.
(5)Bella P.
My dining experience at the Hukilau Lanai, was one of the worst experiences ever. So here's a breakdown of my entire experience: HOSTESS-she was rolling her eyes as I was checking in for our reservation. I guess she didn't like that we were early for our dinner? Could have been handled a bit more tactfully. LOUNGE/BAR AREA-We were told to find a seat in the "lounge" (really hotel lobby), but it was jammed packed. We had no choice but to stand by the bar. The hosted walked over and directed us to a dirty table, and said to have a seat there and someone would be by to clean it. So, we sit down and a server stops by to say she'll be right with us. Then 5 more minutes, then another 5 minutes. Meanwhile a haole couple sit down in a table across from us, gets their table cleared immediately, and is presented with menus. Meanwhile it's been 15 minutes since our waitress initially stopped by. So, we decided to clear the table ourselves, but dumping everything onto the ledge behind us. At this point, the same waitress has return to said couple, taken their order, while we are sitting at the same dirty & unserviced table. It was only after our own clearing of our own table, did a busser finally appear to "clear the table". Another 5 minutes passes before our waitress finally arrives to take our drink order. Granted she was nice, but what wasn't nice, was the OBVIOUS difference in treatment of guest based on the level of your "natural tan" if you catch my drift. It was apparent the paler your tan, the quicker you would be served. It took another 5 minutes after this before we finally got a glass of wine. DINING ROOM-We were finally seated at 7:45pm even though there were plenty of open tables. The hostess that sat us, poured water for us and also managed to pour some on my foot without even acknowledging it or apologizing. At this point, we should have up and left, but I guess I'm a glutton for punishment. Then comes our "I guess I'm stuck serving your waitress". No offer to explain the menu or specials, it was simply a "do you want to order any pupus?" Left us be for a long while, came back and "do you know what you want to order?" Didn't even ask if we can questions. I guess my "natural tan" at this point dictated to her. Food runner was no better, no eye contact, looking around as he half hearted asked "do you need anything else". This continued on until we got our check, and even then it was basically handed to us without a single word of thanks. We never even got our glasses of water refilled! FOOD-not even memorable. It was ok, but nothing to write home about. I think you could find better options to make your own surf and turf at Foodland up the way. Even if the service was better, it still wouldn't make this a place worth visiting. You're better off saving your money and splurging at Michael Mina. To sum up this long rant-I wouldn't never return. In all my years of traveling the Islands, I've never encountered a place where service was based solely on outward appearance.
(1)Lorie M.
We've been here almost two weeks and have been hitting the small little places to eat. We knew we wanted to try to get in at least once, so last night it was. Truly the most memorable of meals, I had the the hukilau mixed grill, fish was excellent cooked perfectly, prawns sweet and tender and the orzo pasta and sauce great. Wife had the pork tenderloin with polenta in Marsala and found it to be quite good. Added a couple of blue hawaii's and koloa rum Mai tai's to top it all off. Hoping to get there for appetizers before we leave. A little pricier but well worth it. We've paid far more at home for a meal not as good as this.
(5)Tawney M.
After having lanai recommend to us by a guide on our ziplining adventure a few days earlier we made a reservation for four. Right away we were seated at a lovely table overlooking the garden and beach which is further away but still in view. Our server, tim was extremely helpful and was very good at his job. The food was amazing, we ordered a variety of things in addition to drinks. For the appetizers we ordered the calamari; lobster and goat cheese won tons, and a bbq rib. They all had great presentations and tasted great. All of our meals were great (prime rib, pork medalions, meatloaf and macadamian nut chicken) though we did send back the meat loaf in exchange for something else. It had this liquid smoke taste to it that we didn't care for. But that was just personal taste preferences and not of the quality of the dish. Our server was very nice about it and brought out new dishes as quickly as he could. For dessert we ended with the chocolate mousse and creme brulle. Overall it was a perfect experience and will definitely be back, hopefully before our trip is over.
(5)Geoffrey B.
The food is excellent. The fish was the best I had on the island. The service is friendly and accommodating. The ambiance is not quite as nice as some of the other top-tier Kauai restaurants, due largely to the fact that attached hotel feels a little Disney-ish, and checking into the restaurant involves a conspicuous trip through the lobby. But the overall experience was great, and I look forward to returning on our next trip to Kauai.
(4)J. M.
I've dined at the Hukilau several times and it's never the same as far as the food being 5 stars. Sometimes it's 3 stars. Sometimes 5. Same with the service! I don't want to down grade what they are trying to do, because the are very nice people and it's fairly popular. BUT I mean BUT, they NEED TO BE CONSISTANT!!!!
(3)Kim O.
There is a great 5 course tasting menu served from 5-5:45. We got the wine pairing with the tasting menu and it was definitely worth it! Our first course was a lovely gazpacho served with a kalua rum-pineapple sorbet paired with a reisling. Hints of sweet and spicy! Second course was candied ahi served over rice with a citrus cream sauce! It was amazing, especially paired with the white wine blend from Portugal. Third was homemade sausage with an interesting pickled fern salad. Fourth was a beautifully grilled mahi mahi with 3 sauces served over quinoa with a lemon Parmesan kale topping. Paired with a dry red wine, this dish tasted like lamb. And last was a duo cheese plate. Lovely rich blue cheese with local honey and an amazing manchego with macadamia nuts! This was paired with a tasty madera! Great meal! Great service! Great view!
(5)Adina B.
The restaurant was amazing! They served us even if they were fully booked, and the food was amazing. Highly recommend.
(5)Ari H.
Great food, pretty good atmosphere, would definitely come again
(4)Angela B.
Normally, I don't think I would've been inclined to try a place like this. It's in a hokey resort, and it has the word Lanai in the name. BUT, our guide book swore by the food & also complimented the drinks, so we decided to give a shot. Typically reservations are a good idea so we made them for a few days ahead. Meanwhile we needed somewhere to eat *tonight,* so we figured we'd walk the third of a mile & check out how busy their lounge was (where seating is first-come-first-serve, but the full menu is available). Happily, there was a small table available right by the huge open lanai, so we snatched it up. I ordered the Coconut Coast Cooler (again on the recommendation of our guide book) and LOVED it. (This is saying a lot, as I typically do not drink fruity girly drinks & am incredibly picky about cocktails in general.) It was strongly coconut flavored, but the sweetness was subtle & mostly from fruit, & the whole thing was well-balanced overall. (I got the same thing when we went back a few nights later.) We were not impressed by the Mai Tai (clearly from a mix & not a very good one), but enjoyed the well-made after-dinner drink we shared. Again, we headed the advice of the guide book & started with the sweet potato dumplings which did not disappoint. (These were so good we ordered them on our second trip as well.) I was skeptical about the poke nachos at first but they turned out to be delicious as well. Another guide book recommendation was the mixed grill, and WOW. The only place we had better fish was at Red Salt. Perfectly cooked, & seasonings / sauces that served to perfectly balance the fish without overwhelming the flavor. This was another thing we ordered on both trips. Sitting in the dining room wasn't bad, but to be honest I preferred the more casual, right-by-the veranda atmosphere in the lounge, so if we were to go back, this is what I'd advocate for (maybe with a reservation as a backup. It's not like they can't fill them). Service was also excellent both times. My only criticisms are: 1) The salad. Bonus, it comes with the meal, which is nice, and it's a good portion for one person. But it just pales in comparison when you compare it to how amazing the starters & entrees were. 2) The dessert menu. Just wasn't inspired by much. Bottom line, although a healthy fear of resort restaurants is absolutely warranted, Hukilau Lanai is a lovely option with excellent food & priced more reasonably than you might expect, all things considered. It was especially nice to be able to walk there from our condo in Wailua.
(4)Nancy t.
We went back. Hubby had the "spaghetti and meatballs" island style. Omg. It was heavenly. We also tried the ahi nachos and the ribs as an appetizer. All delicious. I may have to come back to Kapaa just to eat here. Love it
(5)Lizzi M.
The food was delicious!! Desserts were scrumptious! Great atmosphere!! Our server was very personable, friendly, and attentive! We will be back!!
(5)Allison B.
Excellent food. Excellent service. Great drink options. Definitely a must when you want a nice dining experience for a nice evening. We've been there 4 times in two trips... that says a lot!
(5)Shirl W.
We highly recommend the Hukilau Lanai to everyone. We live on Kauai and have eaten here twice in the last 3 weeks and will eat here the first week in September for our anniversary. We had the tasting menu. I had a tiny problem with one course being too salty and others at the table thought that the sausage was too strong. I had the same dish and it tasted wonderful the prior visit. The manager came to talk to us after I mentioned this to our waiter and more than made up for the rare problem. Our "birthday woman" received a couple of nice surprises with dessert and we got to try a new flavor of ice cream that is being developed. Thank you for the excellent service and food. We look forward to more delicious times with you. As for the view, we had a garden-side table and could see the pretty grounds as well as the ocean.
(5)Barrah C.
Reserved via OpenTable for 7pm on 6/21, called them at 6:50p and told them we'd be 5 mins late... arrived at 7:03p and was told it would be a 15m wait... also on the request, had requested garden view... was seated on 2nd tier while garden tables appeared to be open... :( It rained so this might have been ok... Service was pretty good... Debbie was helpful and informative during the order process... however, we didn't see her more than two other times... had to request bread and water refills from another staff member. Salads were pretty good (Wally's) however the Lobster bisque had coconut milk and some curry which both negatively impacted it compare to the pinnacle benchmark being from Bob's Steak and Chop house (Plano). Ordered Mixed Grill, which had Cajun Swordfish (5 Star), Wahoo (4.5 Star), and Grilled Shrimp (3 Star); wife ordered Surf and Turf special as did one of my daughters... it appeared cooked to order and they both cleaned their plates... youngest ordered Macadamia crusted chicken which she raved about... Desserts were the Chocolate cake & ice cream (order at beginning since it takes 20 mins to make) and the macadamia tart with Lapperts cinnamon ice cream... yum! ProTips: 1) use bugspray before you go on your legs/ankles; 2) Diet Cokes are $1.75 per glass, no free refills here 3) Lappert ice cream will be on any dessert with ice cream and if you read my reviews, you know what a fan i am...
(4)Catalina H.
Wonderful meal at a wonderful price. We only learned about the place the day before we were leaving and it was a great way to end our Kaua'i experience. The service was outstanding and everything was delicious. My husband had the tasting menu with the wine pairings and it was amazing to think that it all cost $40! This was not a 40 dollar meal. We ate at Red Salt the night before and it was more than twice the price for food that was better in taste and quality. I had the Sweet potato ravioli as an appetizer (every bite a slice of heaven), the lobster bisque as the soup for my entree (creamy, hearty deliciousness), the surf and turf as the main course (OMG that fish was like butter in my mouth and the lemon caper creamy sauce was an explosion of flavors in my mouth) and I closed the deal with the Macademia Nut tart which was crunchy and sweet but perfectly paired with the cinnamon ice cream to cut the sweetness. In a word: YUM! Our server was Ryan who was warm, upbeat and showed real interest in us without being overbearing. He even gave my hubbie a little gift for his birthday (chocolate truffles anyone?). The cherry on top was that I left a very precious scarf at the table and only realized that it was missing at the airport on my way to Honolulu and they agreed to mail it to me to LA. That is outstabnding service!
(5)Joyce L.
Hukilau Lanai is a fine dining restaurant located inside Kauai Coast Resort. We only ate one fine dining meal while in Kauai and it was worth the splurge! I had the mushroom meat loaf which was very tasty. It came with a side of soup or salad. I chose the fish chowder and it was fantastic. The entree price was only $19! Considering a fish burritto at a food truck in Kauai cost $12, I think this pricing is a deal actually. My husband ordered the Mix Grill which he absolutely loved as well. Portion size is generous here (I got two big pieces of meat loaf) so plan accordingly if you want to enjoy dessert. We didn't order any appetizer and we are glad because with the entree size, we would likely have no room for desserts if we had ordered appetizers. But we did order two desserts because I didn't like the passion fruit tart that my husband ordered. I enjoyed the macademia tart very much though and it was the perfect ending to a perfect meal. Service was great and I thought our server did a good job considering how busy the restaurant was and it seems to me he had a lot of tables to tend to. If you only have one splurge meal in Kauai, make it Hukilau Lanai! :)
(5)Jarod H.
Five stars. Loved the ambiance here. The prime rib is to die for. A good cut of meat and tender n juicy. Filled me up good. Enjoyed the service and atmosphere. A nice local flavor to a tourist area. Enjoy!
(5)P L.
I expected a lot more given the reviews this restaurant got and was a bit disappointed. The food was okay, but nothing exceptional or incredibly fresh tasting. I got the house lemonade which basically tasted like 20 packets of sugar in a cup. The fish was decent but nothing impressive. Our server was pretty much non-existent - we ended up asking other servers for basic things like more water because she only appeared at the beginning of our meal and at the end when we paid the check.
(3)K D.
We went here on Mother's Day. The pupu and bar items were great! Mains disappointed us. We'd go back, but only for happy hour.
(3)Lizey B.
This was our favorite meal of our 10-day honeymoon trip on Kauai. My husband and I can be food snobs and our expectations were low based on other restaurants we had already ate at in Kauai. The service was outstanding--our waiter was great and we arrived early for our reservation and were seated early. We shared the clam appetizer, which was delicious. The lobster bisque and caesar salad were also great. My husband had the surf and turf and I had the mixed grill--both were great and portions were large. I would highly recommend this restaurant. It was one of the pricier meals we ate, but it was worth it.
(5)Chun P.
I don't want to write the same stuff everyone else already has...so 3 Things: 1) The Butterfish...FUCing AMAZING!!!!!!!! 2) All entrees include soup or salad!!!! (I'm such a cheapass...) 3) If you've already had the ahi poke at Koloa Fish Market or Pono Market, skip the $13 Ahi Poke Nachos. I think some of the male waitstaff are potheads...but they were all friendly and efficient, eat here! :D
(5)Susie K.
Really enjoyed my experience here. Originally we planned to come for the happy hour tasting - but everything on the regular menu looked too good to pass up. We started with the lobster and goat cheese wonton --yummy! Each entree gets a choice of soup or salad (old school awesome!) -- I had mixed greens very fresh. My husband upgraded to the Lobster Bisque - which was totally worth it and he ate it up before I could get more than one spoonful! I had the seafood platter - they change up the offerings based on what the local farmers have. Was really tasty and fresh. My husband had Ono with a honey glaze and cranberry dressing. He was worried it would be too sweet - but it was perfection. We saved room for dessert and tried the macadamia nut tart -- super yum!! I also like that they take reservations. Very popular place so I recommend you make reservations ahead of time.
(5)Aloha L.
Excellent choice for dining in Kapaa. We constantly recommend them!
(5)Sandy C.
Overall service was quick. I had expectations that the seafood will be great. I ordered the Ahi (rare = quick sear on both sides). I was quite surprised when my cut was stringy. I had to eat around that stuff. I didn't press the issue when the waitperson came by later. I did share that the cut was not ideal. He seemed surprised but did not offer anything. Mostly because I ate my meal already. The dessert, the chocolate cake with warm fudge in the middle topped with vanilla ice cream. That erased most of my entree's experience. It was REALLY good. But not good enough for me to have wanted to go back for dinner.
(2)Heather H.
Based on the reviews we chose the Hukilau Lanai's early price fix wine pairing dinner for our anniversary (must be seated before 5:45). It was perfect. Beautiful location, fairly good service, great drinks, good food, nice wine pairing, and with tip and tax it was $100 for 2!!! Make your reservation early, though, they were turning people away.
(5)Milena P.
Great place! Our best meal during our honeymoon in Kauai was served at this spot. Ask to be seated in the Lanai :) My husband was sick and they were nice enough to accomodate our request for him: a plain grilles chicken and white jasmine rice. Hubby thought it was the best plain grilled chicken he has ever had lol! I had the grilled onu with jasmine rice and asparagus. Sooooooo fresh and tasty! My best meal during the entire trip. It came with the soup of the day.. Delish! Ps. Great jewlery sold by a very nice lady. Hubby got me a pretty coral necklace !
(5)Michael M.
Attended here for Kauai Community College International Education program graduation. It was my first time being here, throughout my whole life on Kaua'i. The food was really delicious!!! The staff was very accommodating, and cleaned the plates off the table quick. The dessert was by far really good, very nice presentation and delicious.
(4)Daniel H.
I think Hukilau has gone downhill in the last two years. I live nearby. I used to come here for happy hours and pupus fairly often and it was pretty good. But in the last couple years Hukilau has gotten very popular with the tourists and you need to make reservations a couple of weeks advance, which we did, to take out a friend who was visiting Kauai. Unfortunately, this is my second below average experience here in last two months. I probably won't go back until I hear they change management. Tonight, the poke tortilla appetizer looked like a giant mountain of schlop. IIt could have been dinner for two. 'll admit it t was HUGE, so if that's your thing, the maybe you like it. I ordered two appetizers and a salad and it was enough below average food for an elephant and NJ Mayor Christie and Mayor Carvalho. Our dogs and chickens will be eating leftovers for a week. The calamari was not bad though. It was understaffed. The waiter forgot our bread, and when I asked for it the runner pedantically explained that the bread comes after the appetizers - instead of just saying "oh sorry". It was like 20 minutes between glasses of wine. Overall, tonight's dinner seemed more like a Costco spinoff for unsuspecting tourists. Our waiter was nice and he was hustling - it wasn't his fault. Its just the food was just not high-end and it looks like its turned to a profit-off-of-tourists machine. Please Hukilau, you used to be good. That is how you got a good reputation. Spend a little money on more sous chefs, servers and bartenders - and save costs by adjusting your portions to serve the less than morbidly obese. We skipped desert as we boxed takeout for the pets. As of 2-2014, on the East side of the island, I'd nix Hukilau, and go with Oasis, or old faithful Kintaro, or Bushido, or even the East Side has gotten up to maybe a "B ". I think Joscelyns on S. Shore is best on Kauai these days.
(2)Holly C.
We ate at the Hukilau Lanai 3 times on our trip to Kauai. The first time we ate there was during our wedding reception. Many of our guests commented that the food was the best they've had at a reception. The buffet food was served hot, even though our party arrived late. We cannot thank Manda, the event manager, enough for her helpfulness in putting together this event with us. She was always very quick to return emails and calls, and her quote for the evening's bill was right on! The next two dining experiences were just for dinners. We made reservations, because it gets very busy at the Hukilau, and for good reason. This was by far the best meals we had while on the island. The fish was so tender and fresh! We will certainly be back on our next trip to Kauai!
(5)Leah L.
Without yelp, I'd never have found this restaurant. It's hidden away in a condo type resort, and doesn't look like much from the outside. The seating is very nice though, all on a lanai (hence the name, I suppose!), and facing the grounds with the ocean in the background. We had two great appetizers- the ribs and and candied ahi. Both exceeded my expectations. My husband and I both had the Hawaiian catch, which included two local fishes and a skewer of shrimp. They were also nicely presented and good. The macadamia tart was awesome. I'd eat here again.
(4)Betty N.
**YES, ONE OF THE BEST SEAFOOD DINNERS I'VE HAD** Had 7:15PM reservations on a Sunday night. Arrived early and waited in the lobby area for a few minutes. Sat outside with tiki torches. Romantic, yes. Good service, yes. Fantastic seafood, double yes. ORDERED: **ISLAND LAVA FLOW ($7.50) Not too sweet and had enough rum kick. **LOBSTER CURRY BISQUE (Price N/A) Lobster, red curry, sherry, AND coconut milk. Say no more. Loved dipping the soup with the provided delicious bread. **HUKILAU MIXED GRILL ($27) A sampling of Island grilled seafood and sugar cane skewered shrimp. OMG, this dish was INSANELY RIDICULOUSLY good. The fresh fish and those shrimps could feed a village. Great portions and the Thai coconut sauce was the highlight of my meal. "Original Hawaiian Chocolate Factory" WARM CAKE ($10) 20 MINUTES TO PREPARE . . . oozing chocolate center and vanilla bean ice cream was the perfect ending. Very good cake. Dinner for two with cocktails was around $100. GREAT SPLURGE DINNER. Definitely the best dinner we had on the island. WILL RETURN. HIGHLY RECOMMEND.
(5)skorp g.
Among the best dining experiences we had on Kauai. We made early reservations, as we wanted to try the tasting menu, which is only offered from 5:00 to 5:45. Fifty bucks for five courses with wine- what a deal! We ended up ordering one tasting menu, plus several courses off the regular menu. We are every bite! Delicious food... The cocktails weren't our favorite, but it hardly put a damper on our evening. We look forward to eating here again!
(5)Mike B.
Celebrated our 42 Anniversary tonight. It's been two years since we were on Kauai, so we just had to comes back. We were NOT disappointed! We had the 5 course Tasting menu paired with wine. Started with a delicious Gaspacho with a pineapple rum sorbet, it was yummy! Next course was a candied Ahi tuna. Then we had a wonderful sausage and greens dish, the main course was Mahi Mahi, and finally followed by a cheese plate for me and creme brûlée for my wife. Everything was Top Notch and the wine pairings were Spot On! A memorable dinner and a VERY WORTHY VALUE! Reservations are suggested, and the Tasting Menu is only available from 5 to 5:45PM...but SOOO worth the early dinner seating!
(5)Kris Kayla P.
Our favorite restaurant on Kauai! We go here every time we are on the island. The food is fresh. I love the salad with beets and corn.
(5)Eric A.
This is, in my opinion, the best restaurant on the island. Great fish plates, great appetizers, imaginative plates! Drinks are strong and delish!!! You can roll off the beach on your tanks and flip flops and enjoy an appropriately priced meal.
(5)Sayler F.
My husband and I came here for our anniversary. The athmosphere was great and wonderful. The whole experience was fabulous. From making reservation to the end of our meal. Too bad that we were too full to order any dessert. Debbie, our server was wonderful. The food tasted excellent, cooked perfectly and was the right portions for us. At the end of our dinner, we got complimentary chocolate truffles. I would definitely come back again when I am back in Kauai.
(5)Annie S.
POKE NACHOS. Get them. You definitely don't want to miss out on them. It's a fun twist on the hawaiian classic poke, served up with thick cut fried tortilla chips. That was definitely the highlight of our meal there. Everything was delicious, from the kabocha soup to our main dishes, mostly featuring different types of fish. However, I would skip out on the sweet potato dumplings, they're taro dumplings with a lot of coconut milk in/on them. The flavor and texture just didn't work for me. Remember to make reservations early on, as they book up really fast, otherwise, your other option is to sit in their lounge/bar area, which isn't a bad set up, as you can order from the full menu, but you might have a hard time eating off the coffee table in front of you.
(4)Amanda F.
Had a beautiful dinner here with my hubs. Grass-fed steak and local caught fish make me happy!! Delicious food and gorgeous presentation. They had a musician playing in the front room-the music was great and wasn't overpowering to our conversation.
(5)Kawika K.
What can I say, I've never been disappointed here! I've eaten just about every dish on the menu, and I've never been disappointed. The first date I had with my soon to be wife was here, and we've been coming back regularly for the past 2 years. The menu is not overly cluttered or overly pretentious, and it has a nice selection of items from each category. They also have a nice wine list selection. Aside from the menu, their staff has always been tops in my book. Fast, courteous, and helpful... Never an issue.
(4)Bethany I.
This is one of the best restaurants on Kauai... We got the lobster & cheese wontons to start.... Excellent! The bread that was served was delicious.... My husband & I both ordered the mixed fish grill. It was the best fish we had on the island! The fish melted in our mouths! The grilled shrimp was also delicious... The dessert menu looked great, but we were too full to order dessert. This place was hopping on a Saturday night... Call & make reservations! Closed Mondays.
(5)Miranda O.
10 STARS! One of the best restaurants I've ever been to! Service was impeccable and the food was unbelievable! I ordered an assortment of pupus for my meal. The goat cheese and lobster wontons and the bbq ribs! Flavors were so unique and so delicious! The Wally salad was amazing too. They also offer a gluten free menu! Live band with soft music, cool ocean breezes, what more could you want?! Love this restaurant!
(5)Greg F.
This is one of the best restaurants on the island bar none! The ambience is impeccable and the food is first class awesome. Located on the east side of the island, in a Shell Vacation Property, this fine dining restaurant will no disappoint you. The food choices are many, appetizers are a must here, and portions, seasoning and plating are incredible. This is one dining experience you don't want to miss, service is very attentive and by all means get the lava cake desert! Seating inside as well. I have eaten here with my wife since 2006 and have enjoyed it everytime.
(5)Erik B.
Curious how this place got 4.5 stars. Yelp seems to be a bit misleading in the Hawaiian Islands. I'll admit that maybe I got the wrong thing, so take this review with a grain of salt. We got the 5 course tasting menu with wine pairing. I wanted to like several of the items that came out, as part of that menu, but everything was so salty. The fish course (Ono) was really good. The problem I have is the dessert. The two dessert options were Creme Brulee and a Cheese Plate. I ordered the Creme, wife got the cheese plate. Hers wasn't bad, I just don't care for a cheese plate when I order dessert. The creme brulee...not so much. It was vanilla pudding. Not creme brulee...vanilla pudding. And quite frankly, I would bet $ that it was instant pudding. The consistency was not that of a creme brulee and it almost tasted artificial...hence the negativity. The cost was affordable, so that's a star. The waitress was really nice and helpful (another star). Again, maybe I ordered the wrong thing. Curious if I would feel different had I ordered off the menu, as opposed to trying the 5-course tasting special. For the price, you could do worse...shit ain't cheap on Kauai, but I was expecting more.
(2)Surfdawg M.
We visit Kauai 2-3 times/yr & this has become our favorite restaurant. An eclectic menu of mainly local ingredients, but with dishes prepared with a world view. Lobster raviolis, prime rib, fresh fish, island greens, local lamb sausage apps. Way too many items to list that unusual & tastefully prepared. Many items have an Asian flair, but the chef's style is so varied it's hard to label. Great wine list with very reasonable prices too -- French, American, Spanish. The cocktail list is amazing. Thank god I don't live here as I would spend all my disposal income here every night.
(5)Don G.
My favorite restaurant on our Island. CONSISTENTLY great food, great service, wonderful local ambience and REASONABLY PRICED! It doesn't get any better than the Lobster Bisque or the Sweet Potato Ravioli or the Crab Wontons and I won't list their entire menu but since they have been open I have never had a bad meal here.
(5)Kailyn G.
Came for dinner - no reservation so we didn't get to sit on the lanai, but the restaurant was just fine for us. FOOD: We got the poke nachos (mmmm good) for an appetizer and for entrees we got the Ono and the Mixed Grill. So delicious - though I thought the Ono was better. It was in a nice creamy sauce that paired great with everything on the plate. And the fish was cooked perfectly. ENVIRONMENT: Beautiful view off the lanai. Even though we were in the restaurant, you can get a pretty nice view. Spacious with lots of natural light. I love that it's such a nice place without being overly dressy. Felt a little bit country club-ish. SERVICE: Good. I got the feeling our waitress was kinda new - she didn't offer a lot of information that I would think was standard (like what fish was in the mixed grill). But she was friendly and our entire dinner went very smoothly.
(4)Anthony K.
Hukilau lanai was just down the street from the condos we were staying at and we picked it for our anniversary/honeymoon dinner. Definitely recommend making reservations because the place looks like it's going to always be on the busier side given how few tables there were. All tables face out towards the ocean/pool area with tiki torches lit to light the way. The ocean is a distance away so no we are not talking ocean front ... just ocean facing. Food: For appetizers - calamari and lobster and goat cheese wontons. The calamari was lightly bread with panko bread crumbs, and cooked perfectly so they were tender with no hint of chewiness it was served with a garlic aioli. The lobster and goat cheese wontons just took crab meat cheese fries wontons to the next level served with a ginger plum sweet sauce. Yum yum. Salad / soup accompany all the entrées. I had the arugula and my wife the Caesar. Good simple salads. My wife had the lobster bisque as her entree which she described as creamy and tasty, but was expecting at least one piece of lobster in it so that it didn't seem like they just used a seafood/lobster stock. As an entree I had the special which was a braised lamb with pasta. This was the only dish I was not completely happy with. The lamb was fall apart tender but the flavors were not very complex and I felt like I was eating lamb in a spaghetti O's sauce with carrots. Desert was the OHC chocolate mousse which helped bring back the smile to my face. Brownie crust with a mousse soo delicate I could not tell the texture of the mousse apart from the soft house made whipped cream. Salted caramel chunks surrounding the cake made for a nice hard salty bite from the sweet. Service was exceptional and the courses was served at a good pace given how busy they were. Never felt like I was waiting for the next dish and the server made it a point to hold back the next dish if it seemed like we were taking longer to clean off a plate. Romantic and great for a dinner with live music playing in the background. Prices are also reasonable for a more "upscale" locale.
(4)Matt S.
We Hukilau Lanai while in Kauai. It was a bit of a hike from the Hyatt but it was worth it. I thought it was a great meal and a great garden view. We had a lanai table and the garden is impeccable. The food was fresh and well done. We started with the poke nachos which were one of our favorite dishes of the trip. The flavor was wonderful. My wife had the mixed grill with the Walu and butterfish. The walu melts in your mouth. I had the ono and loved it-I think ono is my favorite fish when done well. The service was good and our meal was terrific. We skipped dessert and opted for ice cream close to the Hyatt. I would definitely go back and I felt the prices were reasonable.
(4)Jon S.
If you want to try this place (and believe me, you do), try making a reservation a couple days in advance. We made the mistake of trying to get one on the day of and weren't successful. Instead, we tried our luck and got there around 5:30, and were told we could get a table in around 90 minutes or find a spot in the bar/lounge. The bar lounge isn't really conducive to eating dinner, since there are mainly couches and low tables. We went for a walk and came back, and ended up waiting the estimated hour and a half. I was surprised this restaurant was located in a hotel lobby. The restaurant itself looked a little dated (as did the hotel), but all of the tables were located parallel to a wall of (open) windows and there was a patio outside as well. There was a nice view of a courtyard as well as the ocean. The food was delicious. Definitely try the Poke Nachos. There was a generous serving of ahi poke, topping wonton chips covered in nori seasoning along with teriyaki and wasabi sauces. All entrees are served with a side salad (I'd recommend Wally's salad, that papaya seed dressing was so good). I ordered a medley of grilled seafood that came with two types of fish and four shrimp served with a pineapple-y sauce and orzo. I loved every bite. The service was great too. Our waiter was very attentive, and was constantly refilling our water, and checking on us to make sure we were okay. Overall, it was a little pricey, but totally worth it. If I'm ever in Kauai again, I'll definitely be back. Worth the drive no matter where you're staying on the island.
(4)Fernando B.
The environment of the restaurant is good and it is inside a good resort (Kauai Coast Resort). When we went there, we ordered an appetizer with lobster that tasted nice. But when we order the two main entrees, we didn't like: 1) the presentation of the plate wasn't nice; 2) the combination of the ingredients wasn't good; 3) the food is so heavy;4) the service was regular. Besides the romantic environment, they need to make better combinations of the ingredients of the plates.
(3)Michael M.
Went to the Hukilau Lanai on a Friday night to celebrate my birthday. As suggested in other posts, make a reservation, they get fairly busy and you can wind up waiting a while for a table. Dinner overall was good. Service was good and we didn't wait too long for our order or to get our food. I ordered the Hukilau Mixed Grill (fish and shrimp) and my wife ordered a fish dish. My fish was cooked perfectly and was very good. My wife's fish however was undercooked and we had to send it back. The server apologized and a fresh plate was brought out in a short amount of time. Our server and a Manager checked back to be sure the dish was okay. Again, good service and, once cooked properly, the food was very tasty. I would give 5 stars if we didn't have to send my wife's plate back, not a complaint as they handled the issue quickly. Oh yes, and my daughter liked the chicken fingers and the "Original Hawaiian Chocolate Factory" Warm Cake. Lastly, keep in mind this restaurant is not on the beach, you can see the beach from the patio seating, but you are looking through the pool area of the Kauai Coast Resort.
(4)Kimmy K.
The Hukilau Lanai offers a Food & Wine Tasting Menu featuring local products available daily from 5-5:45pm. You may get food only for $28 or food and wine for $40. On the mainland this meal would be an exceptional value. On Kauai, it was a steal. The Hukilau Lanai Tasting Menu is one of the best ways to taste a variety of entrees while at Hukilau Lanai. Each plate is beautifully presented with quite generous portions. The evening we went the menu for the night featured Island Gazpacho, Candied Ahi, Sausage and Warabi, Fresh Catch of Mahi Mahi, and Big Island Vanilla Crème Bruelle. Instead of only being able to order one big entree, we got a full taste of Hawaii through the Tasting Menu. We both completely enjoyed everything we had on Hukilau Lanai's Tasting Menu. This is a meal you won't want to miss while on Kauai. We know we will be back to visit Hukilau Lanai, again next time we are on the island.
(4)Lauren G.
So glad that Yelp led me to this gem while we were on Kauai.... it was one of our favorite dinner spots of the trip. Its rare you can find fine dining for a decent price on any of the islands.. but Hukilau Lanai not only offers a well-priced menu, but a really reasonable wine list as well. All of our entrees came with soup or salad.. I had the lobster bisque which was good despite there not being any actual pieces of lobster in it, and my husband had the caesar salad, which was better than your average for sure. We both ended up getting the surf n turf, which was a 9 oz NY strip, a piece of grilled walu in a demi glace with mashed potatoes... everything was fabulousss. The walu was to die for! The only thing that could have been better was how long it was taking to get our drinks/wine. Granted, it was a busy night and I know the bar was swamped.. our waiter was incredibly apologetic, but it was still a little on the frustrating side. If you can make it for an early dinner you can also take advantage of the prix fixe menu which is an incredible deal with the wine pairing. Either way, come enjoy the gorgeous view, a delicious meal and a couple drinks... it will be one of your best experiences on Kauai!
(4)Fred P.
This is probably our favorite restaurant on Kauai. It is a great combination of quality and value. The food is interesting and well-prepared and the service is always excellent. The views from the lanai are very nice. This is a great place to stop for your final meal before heading to the airport for an evening flight. If you are seated before 5:45 you can enjoy the tasting menu which is a really creative assortment of five courses. Shout out to a great server Debbie. We've never had a bad dish at the Hukilau Lanai!
(5)Brent V.
One of my favorite restaurants on Kauai.....
(4)Sebastian Z.
Don't be fooled by the random location and strange / dingy appearance of the building. This place is the best dinner you can have on the entire island, along with amazing service, and a fantastic wine list. This was by far the best meal I had anywhere in Hawaii...make a point to go here if you're in Kauai.
(5)Sarah C.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME! My bf took me here for my birthday. We made reservations for 6.30pm. We were given a seat outside overlooking a garden where there was a wedding going on. I felt that all the service people were actually happy to be there. Since it was my birthday we went all out. Island Lava Flow - With strawberry. It was good and tasty. Sausage & Warabi... (housemade spicy longanisa, marinated local fern shoots, tomato, ginger, onion, bell peppers) - It wasn't too spicy but very good. You get four really big pieces. The veggies on the bottom was so delectable! We wished we had more! Lobster Curry Bisque... (lobster, red curry, sherry, coconut milk) - We both got this for an additional $2 with our entrees. I love lobster bisque. It was good and they give you a lot! Hukilau Mixed Grill... (A sampling of Island grilled seafood and sugar cane skewered shrimp. Ask your server for the daily offerings and preparation) - I love shrimp so I know when I am having good shrimp! It came with 4 shrimps on a wooden chopstick. It was a bit difficult to get the shrimp off but maybe I was over- eager. It was cooked perfectly! It came with two decently sized fish. I liked one more than the other. One was tougher than the other. Comes with a small serving of orzo. I though the orzo was a pleasant surprise. It was a good balance to the heavy protein surrounding it. I wasn't able to finish my food and was too full to get dessert. O did I mention that their complementary bread is the best bread I had during our week long vacation. We went to three nice restaurants that served complementary bread and this place's bread is by far the best. Comes with an olive oil/balsamic for dipping. We didn't even have to ask for more. They just switched our empty basket with more bread. Definitely wouldn't mind coming back!
(5)T S.
I would give it a 10 star! How can food be this heavenly! We started off with bread which was delicious! Then we ordered ahi poke with nachos. Then we got the salad and lobster bisque. The dressing of the salad was extra-ordinary! The chef and our server were kind enough to offer us some dressing to go since we loved it! Unfortunately we couldn't bring that to mainland. The lobster bisque was also very good. I would go there anytime just to have the bisque. For the entree, we got one mixed grill and Hebi. Two pieces of fish in the mixed grill along with shrimp. I can just say oh my god for all the fishes and the sauces with them. It was the best preparation, made to perfect! We were considering between this and the Merriman's. I am so happy we chose this one!
(5)Anthony L.
We normally cook for ourselves when in Hawaii; and for good reason. But, we've also had our fair share of dining experiences, and nothing I can remember quite compares to the Hukilau Lanai. The ambience was second to none (we sat out on the lanai for a sunset dinner with our three small kids); all of the food was very good, the service was great, and the price was very reasonable. We'll definitely come back next time we're here.
(5)McKane D.
This place was amazing. We took a party of 11 and everyone loved it. The food was phenomenal. Service was prompt and attentive but waiter acted like he didn't care or want to be there.
(5)Justin S.
I would give this about a 3.5 star review (based on the tasting menu). It was a fun experience doing the tasting menu and trying all the food they had to offer. The portions I saw for the main menu looked really big and this menu gives you just enough food to feel satisfied yet not bloated beyond belief. For the value I say the tasting menu is pretty good $28 for food and $40 with wine (if you like to try different wines this is fun). The food I and my wife felt was a bit on the salty side and there could have been a better variety of flavors for this price point. The gazpacho was tasty with the sorbet. If you are a fan of gazpacho you will enjoy it. One of my favorites. The candied ahi and sausage while tasty after a while felt a bit overwhelmingly salty so those sensitive to salty flavoring might not enjoy it. The mahi with the vinaigrette was okay not too salty but not the most outstanding mahi I have had. the cheese plate was pretty good, but only get this if you are a fan of cheese. The honeycombs are also tasty and compliment the stronger cheese on the plate very well. Overall it was a fun experience and the tasting menu was a pretty good value and not bad taste wise but this was not my favorite meal in Hawaii, I might have been expecting something a little more.
(3)Chris M.
We first ate here for our wedding dinner. It was a small group and we had a dining room to ourselves. It was a nice way to end an amazing day, and the service was great. The food was only average, but I was willing to overlook it because everything else about the moment was so nice. When my wife and I returned to Hukilau a few years later, our experience wasn't very memorable. Bottom line: their fish is just not that great. I don't know if it's the quality of the seafood, the flavors, the preparation, or a combination, but it just isn't quite there for me. I currently live in the middle of the United States, and I'd expect a dish at Hukilau to be better than any seafood I can get in Chicago. It's just not. The ambience is very nice, though, especially if you manage to sit outside. Lot's of people seem to like it, so it's worth a shot. For fine dining on Kauai, I prefer Tidepools at the Hyatt in Kola. The food isn't significantly better, but it has an even nicer atmosphere and the Hyatt grounds are a really fantastic place to walk around at night after dinner.
(4)Julia W.
Started with the crab and goat cheese wontons, which were tasty. Entrees typically come with salad and soup. We got Wally's salad. It was decent but not amazing. The lobster bisque was definitely worth the extra money. If you are a fan of Thai flavorings it's a good soup for you. Coconut milk dribbled on top for extra creamy goodness. The filet mignon was cooked well and the reduction was delicious. Definitely make reservations. Even the people who had reservations had to wait (45 min!!!) We didn't make reservations and just sat in one of the comfy lounge chairs, which turned out better than sitting at a table anyway. Service was not great. Initially we sat at the bar and the bartender didn't even bat an eye at us until we said something. I could've pulled the menu or a drink from over the counter without him noticing. Kind of felt like because we were younger and didn't "look" like we were going to spend a lot of money that resulted in us being ignored by the staff most of the night. Could just have been the night though ... Everybody has bad days sometimes.
(3)Patrick M.
Amazing food and atmosphere was relaxing... Was recommended to us after our wedding and was perfect
(4)Lan B.
Fresh seafood, fine local ingredients and great service combined to make this one of our best meals on Kauai this trip. The complimentary starter of focaccia bread with a dipping sauce of balsamic vinegar, olive oil and chili water was a tasty teaser. Our calamari appetizer was well seasoned and delicately fried and chard and mushroom tart was savory and delicious. Our entrees came with soup or salad and we upgraded to the lobster bisque and fried goat cheese salad. The bisque was smooth and well balanced with just a pleasant hint of curry. The ball of fried goat cheese was a delight to cut into and paired well with the fresh arugula. I had the seafood mixed grill over orzo, starring walu, shrimp and another fish I can't recall. The walu was decadently moist and buttery. My husband had seared Ahi over cous cous in a light tomato sauce; very good. After all the dishes, we could only muster up room for one dessert, the coconut tart, my only disappointment with the meal. I could not detect any coconut because passion fruit prevailed, even in the sauce decorating the plate. Overall, we enjoyed a solid meal and highly recommend this restaurant.
(4)Duane H.
John of the bar made me the single best mai tai of the trip. We had a couple of appetizers at the bar as well that were truly stunning. One was a fresh Ahi poke nacho concoction that was amazing. The other was a handmade sausage and fiddlehead Fern salad that took us by surprise it was that good. This place was worth going out of our way to find.
(5)Jill D.
Had it out with the ex-boyfriend here after a night of epic drinking so it was one of the more uncomfortable meals I've ever had LOL. However, even slightly hungover, I was able to appreciate how delicious everything was and how good the service was (it was St. Patrick's Day) for a night most people spend getting hammered. We were also left alone enough for our awkward conversation to unfold appropriately and I appreciated that since it was fairly obvious we were having a serious chit chat and didn't need extra solicitous service. My salad was huge and delicious and the fish I had for my main course was super tasty as well. I'd definitely come back here again...obviously sans ex-boyfriend LOL. The food was excellent and maybe took some of the sting out of me calling my ex out on his BS and lies. Maybe.
(4)Taylor S.
I would just like to say how wonderful and fabulous and marvelous and great the service and the food is at the Hukilau pool bar specially the service from Sylvie . I eat there at least three times a week and her service is impeccable. And if anybody has a Aloha on this island its that girl
(5)Kevin N.
While we have been to Kauai many times, this was the first time at this restaurant. We called a day in advance to make reservations, but could only get 5:30p for a party of 7. The restaurant is nice and has a good amount of outdoor patio seating with a nice view. Service was excellent and we received our drinks, appetizers, and entrees in a timely manner. The food was well prepared. This included the ahi appetizers, and the mahi mahi, ono and meatloaf entrees. Dessert was also great with a good selection. Overall a great experience.
(4)Gus G.
Not sure where to start, we were very disappointed. Maybe it was an off night but I just can't believe the number of positive reviews or the rec in my trusty guidebook. First, I'll say we ate in the bar area, which offered the full menu. The waitress and hostess were very nice and helpful, even suggesting another restaurant if we didn't want to wait 1.5 hours for a regular table or eat at the bar. Ultimately we decided to eat at the bar. We started with the lobster goat cheese wontons. Although they tasted great, it was just a puréed mixture, so nothing special. Soup or salads were free with the entrees. We both had salad and they were both simple green salads but tasted great and fresh. Our entrees were the big disappointment. I had the opah, with a coconut curry sauce and rice. The rice was terrible by my standards. The sauce was great and nicely drizzled around the fish rather than dumped on. My fish was a bit on the dry side, but ok I guess. Perhaps I should have specified medium rare or something, but I wasn't asked. My dinner partner ordered the mahi mahi and it was the biggest disappointment. It was incredibly bland with little flavor. It was cooked better than the opah however. The pasta it came with was good but again the sauce was eh and lacking. He is a guy who usually orders mild, so for him to say it's bland was something. There was a slight tomato flavor to the pasta sauce but that was it. Service was fine and nice, the live music was good and not too loud (despite sitting directly next to the singer). Setting was fine, not my cup of tea, glad it was night because I think it would have looked like a courtyard in the middle of condos or a hilton express. A high end restaurant or hotel wouldn't get away with the holiday inn decor on the mainland, in my opinion, right down to the time share desk at the lobby entrance (or whatever) with a copy machine up on the counter in plain sight. Overall I'm shocked this place "fills up two days before or more" as the hostess told us (who was super nice). Seemed like a typical resort place that no local would touch...with good reason. Still, we had much better food at similar price points in touristy locations on Kauai. Maybe it was an off night or being in the bar area was a drawback (though it's five feet from the dining room, the food is still cooked in the same kitchen, and the bar offers the same menu). I wouldn't recommend the hassle of reservations or the expenditure to a friend, better to find another $30-$40 joint or just do a more hole in the wall for $15.
(3)Joe B.
Fantastic food! We ordered a prime rib with the mashed potatoes and the the opah with jasmine rice and both were exceptional. The prime rib was cooked to perfection and the fish was extremely fresh. We both ordered the Wally's salad with out meal and had a fantastic dressing that was somewhat similar to ranch with an island twist. The lava cake was fresh and tasty as well. Overall an amazing experience!
(5)Jay R.
01.14.15 with 5 others well deserved 5 stars. The service and food was excellent. We arrived early and ordered drinks from the bar and waited in the lounge area. As we got seated from start to finish the wait staff was so attentive and nice. The table ordered apps of calamari and mushroom tart - no complaints here My husband and i shared the Ahi and the Mahi Mahi dishes - both yummy. Great portions of salad and great tastes in each dish. A must visit for any tourist who wants great fresh seafood and even better service.
(5)Denise E.
Delicous dinner experience! We showed up at about 7:30p with no reservation and were informed the wait was about an hour and a half. So we made dinner reservations for the next evening. Since we were there and hungry, we decided to have a drink and appetizer in the bar which was more like an open air lounge, with cozy chairs and loveseats, plus a few tables. The only seats open were two cozy looking chairs flanking a small table, literally right next to the entertainer. I hesitated to take the seats because I'm not a big fan of ukulele music, especially right next to a big speaker, but the spot was so inviting in every other way that we went for it. THEY HAVE A SPECIAL GLUTEN FREE MENU! Huge for me, as I have Celiac Disease and cannot tollerate even minute amounts of wheat, rye, or barley. I ordered 2 gluten free appetizers: ahi poke and BBQ ribs. My husbad, being the evil man he is, ordered lobster/goat cheese wontons off the regular menu. The ahi poke was the best "sushi" I've had since my Celiac diagnosis. It was melt in the mouth tender, creamy, flavorful, fresh tuna! Seasoned with wasabi cream sauce, avacado chunks, with bits of flaky salt that spread across my palette surprising me here and there. All served on a bed of rice. I greedily offered my husband only one bite. But I felt justified as I watched him savoring each crunchy creamy delicious bite of his lobster wontons that I could not sample. We shared the BBQ pork ribs, which were so tender that the meat kept pulling off the bone when we would try to lift one onto our plates. Needless to say, we polished off every bite. I had a non-aloholic drink of fresh orange guava and passion fruit juice which was fantastic. I was surprised that my husband's coctail was even better. He had the citrus buzzz... Refreshing with honey flavor that lingered after each sip. We ended up switching to a real table in the bar and having a full dinner which was as flawless as our first courses! We are looking forward to returning for dinner tonight in the actual dining room. Oh! By the way, Ben the ukulele singer was fantastic. The best I've heard. He played the instrument like it was a twelve string guitar!
(5)Sammy Z.
Food is excellent, a great variety. The drink menu is pretty awesome. The ambience is one of the most beautiful. The live music, what a plus. Highly recommend.
(5)Shannon S.
Back again and we loved it again! Food was great, we had the ono & ahi. Hubby said the ahi was cooked perfectly. Waiter was attentive without being invasive. Reservations a good idea!
(5)Chuck B.
After traveling to Kauai for 17 years, this is a gem that I have been missing all this time. Great food, service, and live music. We started with the Adam's Poke Nachos and the Sweet Potato Ravioli on recommendations from locals. After having poke all over the island, they had a refreshing twist. Likewise with the ravioli. I had the Hukilau Mixed Grill with two different fish and shrimp. My wife had Wally's Steak Crown Royal. Both outstanding.
(5)Jennifer R.
For this side of the island, this restaurant is the best - nice view, great food excellent service and VERY reasonable prices
(5)Ann W.
One of the first places that our concierge recommended to us was Hukilau Lanai, which she said was a popular local favorite. I can definitely see why this would be a cool spot to go to for dinner and drinks. The service is great. We had interactions with at least 5 different employees and they were all consistently friendly and helpful. I would say that the menu consists of American style food with an Asian twist. We ordered an ahi tuna appetizer, which was seared with soy and brown sugar and served with rice. It was ok at first and then it began to grow on me. There is no distinct sweet or savory flavor, and some of the pieces were more tasty than others. For entree, we both ordered the mixed plate. Hubby also had lobster curry bisque, which tasted like curry sauce, and I had Wally's salad, loaded with veggies and served with a delicious papaya seed dressing...yum! On the mixed plate, there was grilled shrimp skewered on sugar cane, soy marinated walu, and Cajun styled moonfish, served with risotto. The walu was easily our favorite. Soft, flakey, and rich, I can see why walu is also called Hawaiian butterfish. The moonfish did not have the same soft texture, so I didn't really enjoy it as much. The shrimp were cooked perfectly, though I wasn't sure what the sugar cane added to it. I didn't eat the risotto since risotto isn't my favorite. For dessert, we shared star fruit sorbet, served with macadamia biscotti. The sorbet was delicious and tasted exactly like a bite of juicy, sweet, and tangy star fruit. It was the perfect end to the meal. I also have to give props to their drink menu. I thought it had something for everyone--even great selections for non drinkers such as honey lemonade and mint & ginger. I opted for the Citrus Buzzzz, which is a delicious and refreshing blend of Limoncello, honey, and guava. It is probably one of my all time favorite cocktails. Overall, it was a pleasant dining experience. I would suggest making reservations and trying to sit out on the lanai, and definitely treat yourself to drinks and dessert!
(3)W. T.
We came We ate We conquered!! The tasting menu was the BOMB. I was so freakin stuffed after!, We did the wine paring which was ok... Next time I'll use the $12 for a big glass of something I want instead! We had the standard tasting menu but my husband substituted the sausage for the mushroom tomato tart since fish is the only meat he eats. We also shared a sweet potato ravioli appetizer cause it sounded so good. And guess what.... It...so...freaking...was!!! The sausage course was -meh- The patio is absolutely delightful, which made the pouring down rained and lightning all the more cozy It took us close to 3 hours to get through the meal, so I understand why they only offer it for the first 45 minute sittings. We've decided that next time we will order the ravioli again plus the ahi appetizers. Hubby had the chocolate lava cake. Oozy chocolateay goodness!!
(5)Chloe B.
Better than the Beach House. We ate at the Beach House last night (apparently one of the best restaurants on the island) -- although the Beach House feels more exclusive when you first walk in, Hukilau Lanai has better food, better presentation, better service, and a much better drink selection. The fish--OH MY GOD. INCREDIBLE. Combination of flavors is intense and creative. Let's not forget the sweet potato ravioli: worth getting as a full entrée!! If you come to Kauai and you like food, you MUST come to Hukilau Lanai. If you really want to go to the Beach House, use the Beach House for a first round drink spot to watch the sunset...but then come to Hukilau.
(5)Sandy N.
I love this place! Our first time here was back in August of this year and we didn't have reservations. Which was fine since we were able to snatch a table at the bar area. We know better and make reservations when we plan to dine here. The food is amazingly great! I enjoyed this place so much more than the other places that we tried on the island. We had their Ahi poke nachos and their fisherman's soup which we both enjoyed. As for the entree their prime rib is very good and cooked to our liking. As far as their service goes, hmm... we had 4 people come to our table checking on us. Our main server introduced herself then was no where to be flagged. So, we would order from the other servers as opposed to our main server who would skip our table constantly. Everyone did a great job, but the main server. Once it was time for our check the main server would come by and be extra friendly and thanked us for joining them for dinner. Which we didn't have interaction from her until the end of dinner. We loved this place so much that we had our wedding dinner reception here. We had a party of 10 and didn't reserve a private dining area, we dined in the main area. Everyone did a fabulous job and served us as if we had a private room reserved.
(5)Kristin H.
THE best meal I've had on many trips to Kauai! And their kids menu my 8 and 10 year old loved as it had mocktails for them to choose. Short rib, sweet potato ravioli and lobster-goat cheese wonton pupus were fantastic. Fried goat cheese salad and lobster bisque were yummy (the kids were served fresh pineapple for their before dinner course, a nice touch). Ono with jasmine rice, turmeric, coconut and pineapple salsa and mixed grill of mahi mahi, striped marlin and shrimp over orzo was scrumptious. Artisian cheese plate and warm chocolate cake completed the meal. Cocktail and wine list were great. Our waiter was superb and the view from our patio table leant itself to a great family picture our waiter graciously took.
(5)Meghan M.
Amazing! Expensive but not so much in relation to island prices and not at all in relation to the quality of food. Candied Ahi was incredible! If you're not very hungry this can be a meal. Cesaer salad was fresh and well prepared, spend the extra and get the curried lobster bisque. I'm not usually a bisque fan but this was creamy lushness. Peppercorn steak medallions were prepared to a perfect medium rare and high end cuts of meat. Mashed potatoes nothing special but nice serving size while still having a beautiful presentation. Mixed Grill plate with shrimp, seafood and orzo - beautifully cooked fish, fresh and full of flavor. The sauce was delightful. Vanilla bean creme brûlée was good but standard. Chocolate mousse was rich and the toffee was excellent. Our server was attentive without being overbearing and was the same for the surrounding tables. Even at night the atmosphere is beautiful with open air seating and torches lighting the grounds. They also have a nice wine menu that is reasonably priced. Spent some $ but completely worth every penny.
(5)Thom P.
My step daughter had her wedding and reception here! The staff was warm friendly and went above and beyond all I our expectations! He dinner was fabulous - my Mahi Mahi was cooked superbly and all the appetizers were beyond delicious!!
(5)Ali K.
First night in town we headed here. It was amazing food, great service, and kept the kids happy! We will definitely go back!!
(5)Jae K.
I seriously drove 1 hour to from the Grand Hyatt to Dine at this restaurant. Service- Worst. I made reservation for 8:45pm. I got there at 8:46pmish and been told that they are running late and I was to wait another 10 min. I asked if I could go to the cocktail lounge to wait and I was told that was fine. I was sitting down and the lady skipped over me. I got up to ask if I had to go order it at the counter and they said I could sit and order. I waited and the lady came and I asked if there was a menu. She pointed at the menu that was on the table, and left again. I was again with this menu for another 5 mins and before she came, my table was ready and I was sitted Food- Absolutely not the best in the island. I had the Calamari and the Sausage. I can tell they use the fresh ingredients but absolutely not par with the any of the nice restaurants. I had the Island meatloaf as the main dish. The food is ok, but nothing special at all. I would give the food 3/5 stars maximum. Again I can tell the ingredients are fresh but there is nothing wow or special about them. If I was in mainland, this would probably compare to golden corral, or home town buffet status. Vibe- This place looks run down and very outdated. Looks like motel 6 renovated to look like motel 6 ultimate. I came down from Grand Hyatt to dine here and it was seriously a disappointment. I can't believe this place seriously had a 4 star rating. Ive been a yelper for years and this is probably the biggest disappointment yet. Finally, I would really skip this restaurant and trust me. I never leave a 1 star rating review but this is not worth the drive espeically if you are staying at the grand hyatt. Try Tidepool, Redsalt, Tapas, Merrimans. You would thank me if you didnt come here, if you are a real foodie. Worst decision I have made in this whole trip was to dine here on my last day. Not worth it!!
(3)Kelly C.
Wow...while we did not have a reservation, we did let the hostess know we only wanted to enjoy a quick Creme Brûlée. She asked us to wait in the lounge and advised us that a server would shortly take our order. 15 minutes into our wait, another group came in and also was seated in the lounge area. Shortly after arriving, they were brought water and menus. We are now nearly 25 minutes into our visit, and yet not even a glance from a server. I then checked with the hostess, and she told me to wait in the lounge (again). At 30 minutes we walked...but not before I thanked the young hostess for their attentive service...for which she said "you're welcome!"... Not just slow service, but slow wit to boot. Needless to say we enjoyed a satisfying ice cream (and GREAT service) at Lappert's.
(1)Jill P.
Mixed grill and filet mignon! First night ~ heard reservations were needed. Since staying so close decided to chance it and they had one table available (our wait was under 5 min) Salad and bread served was fantastic! The mixed grill with 2 types of fish and shrimp was AMAZING. However my husband (the steak guy) feels his filet could possibly be the best he has ever experienced. Try it for yourself. I shall repeat: Mixed grill and filet mignon. Wonderful for our first meal....now lets see what else this island has to tempt us with!
(5)Wanda P.
Wow! This is the most allergy-friendly restaurant I've ever eaten in. I called to ask whether we could bring in our own food for my daughter who has Celiac as well as MANY severe food allergies. They said "certainly, but if you let us know what her allergies are, we will talk with the chef and identify what she can eat from our menu." They took down her long list of allergies and called us back to let us know what she could eat. When we arrived, all the servers knew her list of allergies and we're completely and sweetly accommodating. Bonus: the food was fabulous--for all of us! We had appetizers as well as entres, and everything was divine! The only downside is that they book up quickly. I strongly recommend making reservations a few days in advance. We got lucky one night but not later.
(5)Bellabee L.
Have been here before and enjoyed the Early Bird special. So made reservations early just to be sure to get this again. We were not seated until 6:00pm, even though we arrived early, and our reservations were at 5:45pm. Our waiter would not honor the Early Bird menu howerver. Bad service!! So we ordered from regular menu, which is a bit pricey. The filet mignon and steak were very tender and delicious. The Ono was a bit dry. Wine was excellent! Mai Tai's had NO Rum and we had to order an additional shot of Rum to add to our drinks. Again, the bar/waiter should not have charged us for that. Overall, meal was good, but definitely the Early Bird is the way to go.
(3)Montgomery N.
What an incredible experience! And, I mean experience... We dined here on Mother's Day, tonight. The food was absolutely delicious. Being Gluten-Free, it's almost always difficult to have a nice, hassle-free dining experience. The Gluten-Free menu and choices were exceptional. Our service professional, Kristine, of Kawaii Cupcakes, was awesome! We really appreciate the dedicated professionalism of the staff. Kristine was super attentive, courteous and friendly, even on a Holiday with a full restaurant. The owners Krissi and Ron are clearly training and managing a fabulous staff. The wine list, cocktails, and beverage menu are exciting to find in Kauai, especially with the logistical constraints. Great Job all around!
(5)Rochelle P.
We had an extraordinary dinner at Hukilau Lanai. It was the best meal on Kauai, comparable to LA and NY standards. It was one of the best meals of my life, and for the price - $40 - you couldn't beat it on the island. I ordered the 5 course tasting menu which came with a flight of wine with each course. But the bread and Ahi Poke Nachos we started with were divine, and definitely something I could eat every single day of my life. I remembered how exquisite Hawaii's Ahi Poke was but this just proved what I was missing out on.
(5)Theresa M.
Amazing food! Professional staff well trained in delivering impeccable customer service. THE best place to eat a fine meal on all of Kauai! I would not miss the chance to dine here!
(5)Salina Z.
We had our rehearsal dinner here the night before our wedding and everything exceeded our expectations! We booked the semi-private room and everything was super organized and responsive, extremely professional. The view was lovely when we arrived and we were quite impressed with the setting. Overall, the food was seriously amazing, not one dish was a miss. The pupus were plentiful: lobster goat cheese wontons (perfectly crispy, pork ribs (fall off the bone tender), and the ahi nachos (flavorful). I was lucky enough to taste each entree which included a choice between pork tenderloin (not at all dry, loved the crispy polenta), filet mignon (with mashed potatoes), and the fish of the day which was mahi mahi with this delicious rice in a coconut sauce. Everything came out hot and fresh, which is not easy with almost 30 people! Desserts were decadent, I highly recommend the creme brulee though everyone seemed to be happy with the mousse and cheesecake as well. The service was top notch, so incredibly warm and friendly. Everyone was always all smiles and wanted to be helpful. One of the waitresses heard my husband mention he was allergic to milk so she had the kitchen put his sauce on the side! They also saved menus for us (they had been printed with our name and date!) and were extremely communicative. A really love experience and we can't wait to go back when we return to the island! Also want to mention we found the prices to be quite reasonable for a rehearsal dinner compared to pretty much every other restaurant on the island that was comparable in atmosphere (trust us, we did our research). Awesome, awesome.
(5)Taylor L.
This is the best restaurant in Kauai, hands down. We started with the Ahi Poke Nachos. They were amazing. No, first we stared with a sazerac and another cocktail. The cocktail menu here is 1) advanced and 2) tasty. I got the Ahi Tuna dinner with fisherman's catch soup. Both were 5-star. My wife got the meatloaf. It was suitable for 5 people. The portions are big, the food is amazing, and the view is very intimate. Not overly priced, but not cheap either. Go here; you won't be disappointed.
(5)Maki N.
I asked a local Kauai person where to go for dinner. He told me to go here. Thank god! It was delicious. Staff were so nice. the steak was tender, yummy. It is grass fed from the local farm. get the steak! Three of us went there without a reservation, but the wait was not that long. You can have a drink while you wait for your table. Out of all the food in Kauai, this place was the best place by far... totally recommended.
(5)Lindsay H.
Our favorite place so far on Kauai! Saw other reviews on yelp and decided to go there. Great live music in the bar area while we waited for a table. Was a little thrown that it is in a hotel but once we got into the restaurant itself, it was so cute and open air and had a great ambiance. Poke nachos were delicious! Ono was great, as was the lilikoi coconut tarte. Definitely go there on your stay on Kauai!
(4)Alisha A.
This was our big date night while on vacation. The food, ambiance, service and location were excellent. We enjoyed it so much that we sent our friends there for their date night and plan to squeeze in one more meal before we head back to San Francisco. The clams were amazing, loved the mixed grill and local goat cheese salad. Looking forward to trying the ahi nachos and ribs tonight!
(5)Brenda P.
We travel to Kauai often, and have been wanting to try Hakilau Lanai. It was our last night on the island and actually the only day we could get a reservation. We were excited to try a restaurant with such high star ratings, unfortunately I won't be giving this place any kudos. Our dinner reservations were at 5:45. We were seated on time, received our appetizers on time and then everything went down hill from there. My husband's soup came out 45 minutes later, we stoped and asked a server (not our server) how much longer our food would be, she returned and told us our server would check and get back to us. An hour and 15 minutes later, our food was still not served. My husband told our server to cancel our order...a minute later our food arrives. My husband was so disgusted that he got up to tell our server to just give us the check and take the food back, the manager just happened to be there, apologized and told our server to take care of us. We never got to try the entrees, but boy were they quick at giving us the bill. I would have expected more from a restaurant like this...we were charged for my full entree, yet I never got to try it. I will never step foot into this restaurant again, nor will I every recommend it.
(1)Aaron K.
We came here twice during our trip to Kauai -- the first time we stopped in on a whim for drinks and appetizers and we were impressed enough to come back a second time for dinner. The food was probably the best we had during our week on the island. The dishes were creative and interesting, and tasted great. (We had the the candied ahi during our first stop, and the poke nachos, the sweet potato ravioli and the fish entree during our second stop). The service was attentive and the outdoor atmosphere was great for a romantic evening. We had a nice stroll down to the beach after dinner. Highly recommended.
(5)Little D.
Located in Kauai Coast Resort Hotel. We dine here at least once when we come to Kauai. One of the best restaurants in Hawaii. Good food, good service, nice environment. Tip1: Make a reservation. This place could get packed. Tip2: If you don't care for music, go early. Tip3: Poke Nachos is pretty good. (but I like the Sashimi Napoleon from Haliimaile in Maui the best). Tip4: They divide food for two with additional $5. Nice presentation as well. YELP 365 - 216/365
(5)Gopi V.
Not good as the reviews seem to imply. The calamari was pretty good and so was the Wally salad, but the entrees were a huge disappointment. The mixed grill had bland shrimp and the fish were ok. The accompanying dressing was a medley of various sauces which failed to work together. The other entree of opah fish was very dry and the sauce was bland and did not work as well. The rice was super dry. We were so disappointed we walked away from the dessert course.
(2)Cyndi C.
Fourteen nights in paradise. Two islands. Three coasts. Nine nights of fine-dining (read "expensive" dining) and Hukilau was by FAR the worst fish preparations we tried at any of them. My sweetie had the "special" sesame crusted swordfish and it was thin and dry with no flavor and an overpowering sauce that couldn't hide how mediocre the fish was. I had the mixed grill that included 2 fish - a delicious walu that later gave me gastric distress and one that was terribly dry from overcooking and 3 shrimps on a sugarcane skewer that had no flavor at all. The Wally Salad was delicious. The lobster bisque was unremarkable. The prepared food was awful. The waiter was excellent. The hostess was a nightmare. She needs to be fired. We - like most Hukilau guests - were from out of town and were on a vacation schedule and had no idea how far our snorkeling beach was from the restaurant or how hungry we might be that night, so we made a later reservation. We showed up 2 hours prior to the reservation as they were opening and the place was empty. When she heard that we were early she very bossily told us we'd have to sit in second tier. I had no idea what that was and I said so and she gave me such a scathing look for my ignorance! When she asked if I wanted to go look at the seating I assure her that second tier would be fine. It was. But the "first tier" remained empty during our entire visit. The first tier has a slightly better view, but whatever. It was her attitude that we had so desperately put her out personally by showing up early that she had to punish us by seating us behind empty tables with a view. My boyfriend said something to her on the way out and she got super snotty AGAIN about how first tier is held for reservations. Weird. AVOID this place and go eat in Koloa!
(1)Vicktor V.
Food was great, and so was the service. The fish pairings for the mixed grill was excellent. Anything with Okinawa sweet potatoes are my new favorite thing. The size of the salad or soup that comes with your meal is generous. Seriously....come hungry. We were too full for desert and regret that fact because everything looked great. Also the cocktail list is fantastic. Some great old school selections on there. Wife and I liked it better than Gaylords.
(5)Mark S.
Love love love hukilau lanai! it's one of my top picks! and when I want a nice meal! or have friends in town! we usually always go here! Never had a bad meal, and every entree I've had or my friends have had has always been good. The menu doesn't change much, but that's good with me, when I like something I like to keep going back.
(5)David H.
Food was delicious, and a lot of it sourced locally. Staff were efficient. Our waiter, Ryan, really knew his business, and service was exactly right. The fish stew was wonderful, the ahi nachos were everything they were cracked up to be, and the meal and experience were well worth the expense. *If you have a reservation during Kapa'a's "rush hour," pad your driving time. There really can be gridlock on their stretch of the Kuhio Highway.
(5)Chelsea R.
This place was good, but I think a little over-hyped. I don't think Kauai is known for "fancy" restaurants, so for one to even come close gets people excited. We tried the Lobster and Goat Cheese Wontons, which were good, the Lobster Bisque which tasted like it had coconut milk in it (neither of us cared for that flavor and we cook with coconut milk often, so we like it...just not with Lobster Bisque), the Tortilla soup was okay and the Hukilau Mixed Grill and Opah for dinner were decent. All in all it was a decent meal but nothing to rant and rave about. A word to the wise, I guess the place is "dressy" so we got several weird stares by the hostess and wait staff for being in shorts and t-shirts. We have dined at some nice places and are of the opinion that if I'm paying what the table next to me is paying (which obviously I am) and there is no written dress code, don't look down on me for dressing comfortable...not every wants to wear slacks and dresses to go eat dinner.
(3)Lisa K.
YUMS! Have eaten here twice so far, both times off the gluten free menu, ordering the exact same meal because it was so tasty: a Wally salad with poppyseed dressing, the smoked pork back ribs with a Hawaiian vanilla bean hoisin BBQ sauce topped with pickled watermelon and micro-greens, and a warm gluten-free bread roll. Filling and delicious. We'll be back! :D
(4)Sylvia R.
Dropped my phone in the restaurant today. Went back and was told nobody had found it. We looked around the grounds a bit and then remotely activated the "find my iPhone feature". When the sound played, our waitress suddenly remembered that she had my phone in her apron. Honesty is not the policy here :(
(1)Hay S.
Amazing good and service!! We are staying in princeville but totally worth the ride! The server was so sweet and asked us hoe everything was during each course. The steak was amazing! So were the lobster wontons. And the lava cake is a must! Highly recommended on your visit to Kauai.
(5)Patricia B.
Disappointing after what we saw in the reviews. We went on Christmas night and despit a reservation had to wait 30-40 minutes. Ordered the wontons for an appetizer. Good flavor but they were over-fried. My daughter ordered the prime rib and it was small and flavorless. They messed up my order but I decided to keep what they delivered because I didn't want to wait for the correct entre since the kitchen seemed slow in getting meals out. I keep the mixed seafood platter and it was good. There were apologies for the error but not effort to do more. Our waiter was just okay. All in all, a disappointing holiday meal. Much better places on the island.
(2)Gianna N.
Great food. GREAT portions. Great, friendly service. The hotel it's in is a bit dated. We thought it was a retirement home at first, but the food helps you forget. We went pretty late at night so the scenery was a bit lost on us, but it's also hard to compare to restaurants with water views. This was our best meal in Kauai.
(4)Christine D.
My friend and I briefly glanced at the online menu and saw that they had butterfish. We immediately thought to ourselves we have to go here! Sadly, when we got to the Hukilau it was so busy we had to make reservations for the following night because we didn't want to wait over an hour for dinner. The night we had our reservation they did not have butterfish on the menu!! I didn't take into account that the menu we looked at online was a "catch of the day" list. On a positive note, my friend and I tried the opah and ono and my oh my it tasted so fresh and flavorful! The main dish also came with some bread and a choice of caesar or "wally" salad. The Wally salad was basically a garden salad with bacon and papaya seed dressing which is really delicious if your tastebuds like the whole tropical sweet sensation. We told ourselves that we had to eat as much macadamia nut food items as we could while we were on the island so for dessert we decided to try the macadamia nut tart which came with a scoop of cinnamon ice cream. It was different and quite a treat!! What made it even better was the live Hawaiian music, lighted tiki torches, beach view and just being in Hawaii period.
(4)Michael P.
Very good tasting menu particularly when you consider the price. Freshly made gluten free bread was a bonus for the wife. Candied Ahi was great. Wine pairings were fine but a bit uninspired. The restaurant isn't much to look at it, but it has a great view. Good service.
(5)Lindsey C.
Omg this was soooo good! Local ingredients, menu changes often- creative dishes, amazing flavor- you cannot go wrong here. The ambience is very pretty and the waiter was wonderful- very knowledgeable and very friendly. You need to come here for some tasty seafood in Kapaa
(5)j m.
This place was recommended to us by several locals, which always bodes well given the resort location. Not too sure about the view; much of the dining room is set back a bit from the windows. We arrived early for our reservations and had pre-dinner cocktails on the cushy couch in the nifty lounge area and elected to do dinner at a high-top table with a view of the pool and beach. After our trip we found ourselves craving poke everywhere and the poke nachos took this to another level (even if you think you are "not a raw fish person", as one of our nearby diners insisted loudly, you must try poke and especially this dish). At our (super friendly and thoughtful) server's recommendation we split that appetizer, a Wally's salad and the mixed seafood grill - two types of the most fantastic (cooked) fish I've ever experienced. The chocolate lava cake was a minor letdown, more or less a standard dessert, but somehow it did get eaten!
(5)Diane B.
By far our best overall dining experience on. Kauai. This was our second visit to Kauai and we were looking for a really good meal with a Hawaiian feel. The Hukilau Lanai fit the bill. The outdoor dining, lighting provided by tiki torches, was wonderful. The Chef's Special Clam appetizer was a great beginning. I chose the mixed grill and was not disappointed. My husband thoroughly enjoyed the meatloaf. We treated ourselves to the Macadamia Nut Tart with cinnamon ice cream. Possibly the best dessert we have ever enjoyed! Can't wait to return to Kauai and the Hukilau Lanai.
(5)Leslie C.
I am in love with this restaurant! During our 4 night island hop trip to Kauai from Maui (where we live), we came to Hukilau Lanai twice! First, you absolutely must make reservations. I did on Open Table and saw several people turned away without reservations at the hostess stand, or told to check back in 1.5 hours. You can sit in the bar, but the tables in the dining room are way nicer and more romantic. Both times, we made 5:30PM reservations and showed up around 5:15PM. There are two major benefits to this- 1) You are the first seating and get the premium two top tables on the lanai with the loveliest view, which is why we showed up a little early. 2) If you like, you can do the $40 5 course prix fixe menu with includes wine pairing, which is only from 5-6PM seatings. So, we actually decided to pass on the prix fixe and order off the regular menu. Nothing on the prix fixe menu sounded good to me that night and we ate cheaply for all our other meals, so weren't that concerned about getting the screaming good deal. Appetizers: we tried the lobster and goat cheese won tons. Delicious. Also, the lemongrass sweet potato ravioli- colorful dish with yummy cream sauce. Salads: your entrees come with caesar or Wally's salad. We tried both. The caesar was yummy and the Wally's salad sounds like a weird combo of ingredients but totally works and the dressing is tangy and refreshing. I will warn that the salads are heavily dressed- fine by us, but if you don't like that, ask for your dressing on the side. Entrees- OMG- the MIXED GRILL! I liked it so much I ordered it again the 2nd night. Two types of fish with shrimp in a coconut cream sauce with orzo pilaf. Good sized portion- seafood cooked perfectly. The first night, my fiance got the ahi entree. We were disappointed with that so wouldn't recommend it, but the 2nd night he got the swordfish pasta, which was so amazing. Nice cream sauce, crisp veggies and perfectly cooked fish. Dessert- they talk about the molten chocolate cake, but both nights we got the Mac Nut tart. I was lured in by the cinnamon ice cream and it is soooo good. Like a pecan pie but with mac nut and the caramel and cinnamon ice cream are the perfect compliment. Don't think, just get it! Drinks: lots of option, my fiance really liked the mai tai and we have had a lot of mai tais- this was one of the best! I can't wait to come back to Kauai so I can come back and eat here!
(5)Andrea B.
My husband and I were very surprised with our experience. The gaudy resort decor didn't prepare us for the meal we enjoyed. We were also apprehensive about the $$$ rating after we got our bill. This review is for the early tasting menu they offer. Some background: We were hungry at 5pm (23-year-olds going on 73). We Yelped all the local spots near Kapa'a, and we found Hukilau Lanai. It was our last night in Kauai, so we decided to go for it. The early bird tasting menu is a real steal of a deal. For $40, I got 5 courses AND wine pairings (unheard of in SF), while my husband got an appetizer and entree (included salad or soup). Yes, they let us do that, which alone was pretty great. We had the lobster and goat cheese wontons as an appetizer. Good start - not too oily, rich flavor, 4 large pieces. My first tasting course was a gazpacho with a basil ice cream. This was an interesting way to start my meal, and I enjoyed the coolness of the ice cream, though I found it a tad on the sweet side. My husband really enjoyed his Caesar salad - he likes it heavily dressed and hearty, and it was a good size. The next tasting course was a slightly blackened spiced tuna over rice with a yummy sauce. I loved this. Really good. The next course was a homemade chorizo on top of local veggies. Got to be honest, I didn't love it at first, but it did grow on me. This was probably my least favorite course. My husband's entree was the mixed grill - which included two generous slabs of their fresh fish, prepared really well, on top of orzo pasta, as well as a skewer of shrimp. Fresh and delicious. The entree of the tasting menu was a mahi mahi "fresh catch" on top of quinoa and fresh veggies. Delicious. Vanilla creme brulee for dessert. It was definitely a lighter creme brulee, but it was tasty and not too sweet. The wine pairings were all very good - two white whines, then a rose, then a red. They were gracious enough to allow me to repeat the red wine instead of getting the dessert wine that came with the creme brulee, since I really dislike sweet wines. Service was stellar. Our server was knowledgeable, kind, and prompt. He was from Santa Cruz, but I don't remember his name :( Totally recommend.
(5)Ann S.
I always get the mixed grill when I come here. Two kinds of fish and shrimp over thai coconut rice. I did REALLY miss the butterfish this time. Their bread is really good and they'll bring as much as you want. Their chocolate lava cake is heavenly. Whatever chocolate they use is deeper and richer than the other famous lava cake on the island. I remember when you could just show up there and get right in. Not anymore. You'd better be making reservations a minimum of a week in advance unless you want to sit in the lounge with your plate on your lap. (We passed and made a reservation for later in the trip) So if you're going, make reservations ahead of time so you can get the time slot of your choice and not 8:45.
(4)Belle N.
11/12/11 Great service and environment...It was dark and lit with tiki lights, slightly breezy and we started off with the calamari as an appetizer and lilikoi blossom martini and a manahattan honey cocktail. The BF had the Opah which was delish and I had the the filet mignon which they made exactly as ordered medium-rare...the only issue we had was the timing of the food that came out to us! Our main dish came out later than expected that we had to cancel our order of their chocolate flowing cake that takes an extra 20minutes to prepare. It was a great evening to celebrate our meetaversary and we had a great time! The servers were nice and very accomodating...very dark and romantic..be sure to ask to be seated outside and make reservations!
(4)Leslie H.
Fantastic food and value for the $40 tasting menu w/ wine pairings. The sauces and accompaniments were perfectly prepared and presented. All of us loved the sweet potato ravioli and the sausage with the local fern, wasarbi or something like that. The creme brulee is out of this world. One of the best creme brulee desserts I've ever had (and I've had a few). It had a rich, vanilley taste that really couldn't be improved upon. Nice, resorty ambiance and even better cuisine, I hope we make a trip back to the Hukilau sometime.
(5)Steven N.
Loved the sauces! Server was attentive and helpful.
(4)Chris G.
I thought this place had pretty decent value for the entrees. You get a nice fish dinner plus a salad for about $30, which seems pretty good for a nice restaurant in Kauai. The setting was also quite nice if you get to sit outside. The service wasn't fantastic. We had to wait about 15 mins after our reservation time, then the service was kind of slow. But overall it was a solid restaurant.
(4)Jackie L.
Wow, everyone needs to eat here when visiting Kauai. It's the best sit down restaurant with great food, great views and decent prices on the entire island (Ok fine, I didn't visit the entire island but definitely this place is at the top for the Princeville/Kappa location)! It's right next door to the Coconut Coast Marriott Hotel. Made reservations for this a week in advance to ensure we got an ocean view around sunset but too bad it was raining that day so they had let down their clear rain curtains. The ocean was still visible but didn't get the full experience of sun and wind blowing into my face, and food. Hubz and I were blown away by the food here. Truly amazing seafood dishes. We practically licked our plates clean because most places we had visited didn't keep up with the hype, except for Hukilau Lanai! I had the mixed grill seafood dish and hubz had another fish dish. The waitress also informed us about the special Mango Crisp dessert that was going to sell out soon so we decided on dessert BEFORE we even ordered our entrees! It was so popular that the waitress actually had to leave us for a second to lock in that dessert order for us and then come back to talk our actual entree orders. HAHA what a great waitress!
(5)Noel W.
Unbelievable!!! The food and drinks here are so good, my wife and I made this a nightly excursion. You have to try the sweet potato ravioli and any of the fish plates.. You will not be disappointed. Service was great as well. This place is not heavily advertised, but you must reserve a day in advance or you will be waiting in line for a table for 2-3 hours. They have a relaxing atmosphere with live music almost every night. It is THE place to be.
(5)Mona N.
I was pleasantly surprised when we ate here for dinner. At first I thought this was a tourist trap, but then as our dishes came out, they were all delicious! The sweet potato ravioli was very unique. The Wally salad with the papaya dressing was nothing I had before. The fish entree was done very well. The lemonade was a bit sour, but that was the only downfall. Definitely recommend this place!
(4)Melissa N.
Food was pretty good but the service is what makes this place stand out. I have several allergies and our waitress made certain that the chef could do a fish dish with things I could eat. She was so kind and patient with me. I can't say how far that goes in the restaurant business. It was as if we were her only table (even though all the tables in the place were full). Prices are reasonable for what you get, but the food wasn't the best I've ever had. Worth trying if you want a lot of seafood choices though.
(4)Cody K.
The steak I had was definitely not worth the $33. Staff was nice and the bread and salad were really good.
(2)Francine N.
Ahi tacos are amazing love the service and location I love bringing my husband there for a romantic night out
(5)Sue T.
We made reservations here for Valentines Day based on the great reviews we read. Very accurate! The lobby and restaurant is open air and breezy, and there are tiki torches on the perimeter and outside seating on the lanai. Perfect setting. We hung out in the 'bar' lobby area on a couple of couches, with a live musician in the background. (Avoid getting the "Citrus Fizz" drink. Sounds Hawaiian-y but yuck! Should've opted for a Mai Tai.) Although the service was slow (of course, it was a holiday) the food was really excellent! From the warm bread to the salads to the soups to the main dishes, every single item was flavorful! WOW! Highly recommend. Didn't break the wallet either.
(5)Bray S.
We tried all of their appetizers (pupus) and we thought they were really tasty. The lobster bisque was delicious and unique with the fragrant lemongrass in it. My fiancé really liked the mixed grill entree that comes with fish and shrimp. The highlight of the mixed grill dish is the sauce! The atmosphere was relaxing and the Hawaiian musician was terrific!
(5)Raych D.
First time I came here was years ago when my brother threw me a graduation dinner and I've been coming here since. I recommended to all my friends who lives on Kauai this place because not only is the atmosphere pretty, but the food is just so fricken good! I've been here like hundreds of time already and tried almost everything but my favorite has got to be the Prime Rib. If you know me, you'll know I love meat especially Prime rib. The quality in the prime rib is so rich and high quality so you get for what you pay for which in my opinion isn't even very much at all. When I went back home this past Christmas I organized a dinner with my girlfriends on Kauai and chose Hukilau Lanai. The bread with olive oil and balsamic vinaigrette they give as appetizers are so good that I could eat them all night. I constantly ask the waiter to keep refilling our bread because it's that good! Another dish that comes with you're meal is the "Wally's salad" and it so let me tell you that it's sooooo yummy! It has fresh sweet orange slices with lettuce, tomatoes, some sort of crispy thing and bacon. And most importantly let's not forget desert, the warm chocolate cake with vanilla bean is a MUST try no matter how full you are. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT! the waiter usually gives you a heads up before hand that this dish takes 20min to prepare which right there tells you how good it is, if you have to give that much time to be made.
(5)R W.
Big fan, especially of the tasting menu. The service was attentive and friendly. The food was bordering on great. Flavors worked, especially with the wine pairings. I agree that the focaccia was tasty. The atmosphere is relaxed and romantic with the right dining companion. We also tried the calamari appetizer and it was spot on. Highly recommended. We will be going back.
(5)Adkinl A.
The food is top notch. The bar area is fantastic, we met so many great people sitting in the various couches and chairs. Unfortunately there were so many people on those sofas/chairs as the dining room was full and seatings were taking place every hour or so. Still, the ambiance of the bar area and the food definitely means this place gets 4 stars.
(4)Jennifer K.
We came here for our wedding dinner. Everything was amazing!! From the service to the food & atmosphere. It was super busy & we still felt taken care of. On our way out we were also surprised by some truffles to take home.
(5)Kevin B.
This place doesn't need more 5 star ratings but it was awesome. I got the lobster bisque and meatloaf. Both had a ton of flavor. Also, the cocktails were great. I got the manhattan honey. I felt like a lot of places on Hawaii had inflated reviews but this place lived up to the hype. Pretty reasonable prices too.
(5)Jerry M.
The best food we had on the island during the week we were there. I had the chicken dish. One of the most tender dishes of chicken I have ever had. Sauce was just excellent....really excellent. My wife had the pork dish. It was good but she kept eating some of my chicken dish. Service and waiter was also excellent.
(5)