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    CanoeHouse

    4.1 (828 reviews)
    Ultra High-EndJapanese, Seafood, Hawaiian
    Closed 5:00 pm - 9:00 PM

    CanoeHouse Photos

    CANOEHOUSE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Classy
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - CanoeHouse

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    Reviews With Photos

    Austin W.

    My wife and I got last minute reservations to Canoe House on a Sunday evening at 8:00 p.m. Despite having missed the sunset, we still had a very lovely dinner. We saw from Yelp photos that Canoe House offered a tasting menu at some point in time, but during our visit, it was more of an impromptu tasting menu of sorts -- created by our server, rather than an official one with a set beverage pairing. In any case, we still had a wonderful experience ordering items a la carte. Before diving into the food, I wanted to call out the outstanding service at Canoe House. My wife and I were celebrating our anniversary and our server started and ended the meal with a round of congratulations. Throughout our meal, our server was super attentive and there was never a moment when our water cups were empty. Empty plates were promptly cleared, cutlery was refreshed when it was needed, and whenever a dish was brought over, he would carefully slide things around on the table so dishes were accessible and not overcrowding. Friendly, professional service of this level is honestly hard to find these days outside of Michelin dining establishments. My wife and I started our meal off with the large loaf of pull-apart milk bread ($18). The milk bread was incredibly fluffy and the outside was finished with some honey and sea salt. The sweet cream butter was rich and had the perfect spreadable consistency. As tempting as it is to want to finish the loaf, you'll definitely want to safe your stomach for the rest of the meal. The next items that we ordered were two chilled oysters ($7/piece), and a hamachi + uni citrus salad ($14). Since we were dining as a couple, our server informed us that we could actually order half-portions of some of the dishes. This was a perfect way to not fill-up before our mains arrived, so we did that for both the salad and the gyozas. The uni in the salad was melt in your mouth tender and had a delicious sweetness to it. I thought the hamachi in the salad was a bit unremarkable: it was certainly fresh and there were two generously sized pieces in the dish, but the fish definitely needed a bit more salt to it. Our next and last appetizer to arrive was the beef and foie gras gyoza ($7/piece). The chili garlic ponzu sauce the gyoza is resting leans towards the sour side, but that's my personal preference when it comes to dumpling sauces so I really enjoyed it. The filling inside the gyoza was on the leaner side compared to your typical pork and cabbage dumpling, but I didn't mind this too much since there was so much sauce in the bowl to accommodate the dumpling. The next four items we ordered all arrived together: the garlic fried rice ($32), the Kona kanpachi ($67), the Iberico char siu pork ($65), and the side of sugar snap peas ($22). Of these items, my favorite bites were the Iberico pork followed closely by the garlic fried rice and the sugar snap peas. If we could've ordered one fewer dish, it definitely would have been the Kona kanpachi. While the fish was flakey tender and the the skin was cooked to be perfectly crunchy, the portion size was far too large for two, and I thought the coconut ginger sauce felt a bit diluted and not as flavorful as advertised. I wish our server warned us that we had ordered way too much food, because we brought 85% of this dish home as leftovers. While I don't necessarily mind having leftovers, having leftovers on vacation -- with less than ideal heating methods available (i.e. hotel microwave), is not great. Overall, I couldn't help but feel this dish was somewhat a waste of money for the two of us. On the other hand, the Iberico char siu is a dish I'd order again and again if I were to come back. The pork was lean and grilled to perfection. The charred end pieces were some of my favorite bites of the night. I didn't miss the fatty bits that are typically present on a piece of char siu pork, and the mustard that accompanied the dish was not over the top spicy like some of the mustards you find at dim sum restaurants. The garlic fried rice was packed with so much garlic flavor. One criticism I had with the dish though is I wish the hot sizzling plate the dish was served on was even hotter. The rice that was in contact with the plate didn't crisp up in the same way that it would with a Korean bibimbap served in a hot stone bowl, or the socarrat at the bottom of a Spanish paella. Nonetheless, the dish was well-seasoned. If you want to save a bit on carbs and not fill up, you might want to skip this dish. Overall, the dining under the stars experience at Canoe House is hard to beat. The service is incredible, the included validated valet parking experience is seamless, the ambience of the hotel where the restaurant is located is breathtaking, and Chef Rhoda has really done an wonderful job with the vast majority of the items we tried. I would not hesitate to recommend Canoe House for celebrating a special occasion if you're visiting Hawaiʻi.

    Garlic fried rice
    Joanne L.

    Holy cow... the flavors were so unique and I've never had something like this before. You'd think you tasted similar things since it's all the same sauce bases but they pair it so perfectly together to make a delicious dish. The red cabbage salad had a yuzu/soy dressing and came with dates. So. Good. I assumed it was overpriced for a salad with so little but honestly it shined. The pull apart bread was good and warm but nothing special. Filling! The garlic fried rice? Idk how they make it so good it sounds so basic but it was the perfect seasonings where you don't feel the icky garlic breath but each bite was so savory and yum! Mahi mahi dish - the roasted carrots were my absolute favorite. How do they carmelize them that well idk, The pork dish was also killer. I loved the yuzu mustard sauce and the pork was super tender and juicy. Again, not usually a pork fan but this one nailed it!! Friendly staff - they were very attentive and helped clean up a spill that we accidentally made within a matter of seconds :-) thanks!

    Cabbage tofu so good
    Susanna M.

    Loved it, very windy when we went but still yummy! The pour over Carmel waffle sundae is amazing! I loved my tofu cabbage and hubby loved the mahi mahi catch of the day. So good. Drinks and service were fabulous ! Highly recommend and beautiful scenery with ocean views!

    Special marlin
    Mike S.

    Drove up from Kona (30 minutes) to enjoy an outstanding anniversary dinner! Arrived at opening time and decided to dine outside with an amazing ocean view of sunset. Waiter and other staff immediately engaged us and we spent the next couple hours eating and chatting (which is to say he made sure everything was moving along well having suggested some recommendations we ordered.) To begin, we shared a Waygu Tataki plate of warmly seared beef and delicious ponzu sauce. We then had broiled Kanpachi farmed off the Kona coast, and finished up with a simple dessert of the Canoehouse Sundae made with miso butterscotch, furikake tuile, toasted buckwheat. I'll admit I had to think whether to order this seemingly strange mixture but, perhaps no surprise, it was delicious. So a marvelous meal in a very special setting with my very special partner of 51 years.

    Jessica Y.

    Stayed at Mauna Lani, so we had to try Canoe House for a nice dinner with a few girlfriends. The food came out beautifully. We ordered the lamb chops, roasted potatoes, and a colada. The lamb was tender and flavorful, with just the right amount of fat, and the potatoes were perfectly crispy. The colada was pretty strong, which I liked, though my friends wished it was a bit sweeter and more balanced. The restaurant is stunning at night, and our waiter was so kind -- he even took the drinks off the bill when he saw my friends didn't enjoy them. Definitely worth visiting if you're staying in Mauna Lani. Food: 8.8/10 Service: 9/10 (forgot to take our card for a while after we said we had to leave) Ambience: 9/10

    Oysters, no oyster fork and not detached from the shell.
    Curt J.

    Intent without execution. The venue is stunning. There are tons of staff. Everyone is confused. For the price point, you'll be horrendously dissatisfied. We got the oysters to start, they come dressed with no oyster fork which make you think they're prepped and detached from the shell--nope:use your teeth. Then we got the warayaki, amazing. Next we got the gyoza, it came fully raw. The noodle was not chewable. We sent it back and asked for the check before we could commit to a full meal here. It's pricey, gorgeous, but awfully managed. We booked a tavern months ago for the solstice at sunset, they sat us inside and wished us a happy solstice. This place is meant for affluent visitors who don't know better. We tipped well but will never return. Our waiter knows it was bad and tried to run us down on then way out, he did he best but can't overcome the poor management. Not worth your visit.

    oysters
    Kira C.

    located at the mauna lani hotel, this restaurant is right along the beach in kamuela. resort casual vibes, but expensive prices and great food. my boyfriend was recommended this place during our weekend getaway to kona. some stand out dishes were the kanpachi sitting on a coconut thai sauce and the wagyu gyoza. For dessert, the canoe sundae is to die for an a must order! Service was great, very attentive and personable. Would definitely love to come back if I was ever in the area! follow my foodie ig page: smolgirlfatass

    Gregg B.

    We were looking forward to eat a special dinner at the Canoe House after seeing all the positive reviews. But it ended up being a huge disappointment. The ambiance is fantastic as well as the service - but the food we ordered just didn't live up to the hype What was good was the milk bread with black lava salted butter and the crispy garlic rice. The rest was mediocre at best Amberjack- the fish itself had good texture but it had a gamey flavor. I did like the ginger sauce Gray snapper- this was the special. Supposedly it is like an Ono but it was not. It was also over cooked Corn Riblets - at first I wasn't sure if I liked them, but in the end I did, They have a tajin like seasoning with a citrusy butter and an essence of truffle. Once you started eating them it was hard to stop Cabbage- I didn't have this but my Niece liked it We passed on desert All in all it is a beautiful location and very convenient if you are staying at the Auberge. If I went back, I would order other entrees

    Lobby area
    Maria L.

    Beautiful location, validated valet parking. The host station was impeccable, the waiter was great initially but the service was very slow and the food was mediocre at best. The $27 mai tai was strong but did not taste like a mai tai. I am a Mai Tai connoisseur and I know they vary in their recipe, but this just tasted like rum. The fresh catch was mahi and it was just ok, the kona kanpachi was just ok and the garlic fried rice was so hard it was inedible. The waiter even had to bring out some chili bc he knew the food was really bland. The outdoor patio area was not busy with several empty tables but still the service was very slow. For a $200+ meal, Would not recommend.

    Coffee rubbed Wagyu. So good!
    Kimber R.

    Our experience at Canoe House couldn't have been any better. My husband surprised me with dinner while we were on big island for our anniversary. I'm a big menu looker, but because of the surprise, I went in blind. I wanted everything! With the help of our server, Ashley, we made a lot of choices and each one was perfection. We started with the bread. My husband is still talking about it. He called it a Minecraft block. It was big and so delicious. The butter! Oh the butter made the whole thing even better. Then we got the carrots, corn ribs and the fried rice to share. The carrots were good. On the sweet side, but so good. But the garlic fried rice! Best fried rice I have ever had! It comes out still cooking on this stone. They stir in an egg for you at the table and it mixes up these fried bits from the bottom. I took what was left and ate it the next morning for breakfast and it was just as good the second time! We both got steaks for dinner and they were cooked to perfection. Mine had a coffee rub, and his had a pink peppercorn sauce. We shared bites and couldn't decide which we liked more. The views can't be beat. Right by the beach, outside with the palm trees, without the mass tourist hustle and bustle. Something we can't seem to find over here on Oahu. Ashley made it such an amazing experience and offered so much insight about their menu. She was kind and helpful and we loved every suggestion she made. We will absolutely be back.

    Cabbage salad

    An amazing experience! Came here for a last meal on our vacation. Service was excellent and they even gave us a small dessert for my birthday! It was windy outside (and it's mostly outdoor seating) so they had shawls for the guests. Parking is free and validated. My favorites were the garlic fried rice and pork. Would highly recommend this place for anyone looking for an upscale meal near Kona.

    Lobster appetizer
    Lizzie S.

    Best restaurant on the Big Island! I've been here twice, and remember telling my parents I went. They used to come for some special occasions. The ambiance is great--it's relaxed with amazing water views and decor. Boyfriend's brother proposed just outside here and the dinner we had here that followed was wonderful. Our main server Sam was great, as well as the secondary one Ethan. Both were funny, knowledgeable, honest, kind, and helpful, giving tips on where to go around the Island, talking about their experience and recommendations and what it was like growing up here! The sommelier is also very helpful and accommodating. They refilled water very quickly as well. Food is very good. The Warayaki is Instagrammable because they torch some of it tableside. Bf got the lambchop and it was delicious. I loved my Wagyu bavette--best skirt steak I've ever had! I was full but I devoured it. For apps--the lobster tempura is lush, fois gras gyoza is unique and filling. Fried rice is fine. The Rib of corn with truffle sauce is a must-have--best corn we've ever had. Pull apart bread is also delicious, fresh, creamy, and soft. I love the Ube Colada (not quite the same as the one at the bar at the Mauna Lanai Bay Hotel bar) here. Will keep coming back!

    Sheryl M.

    Just WOW. We had our best meals here. We also had top notch service from Deone. We had the fresh tuna, flown in from Japan and a tuna tartare dish that was finished with coconut and crispy seaweed. The next night we had a honey fried chicken special and crispy snap peas. Do not pass up the garlic rice. Everything was soooo good. We are going back tonight. The downside is that Deone is off. I'm sure whoever we get will be fine.

    View from our table.

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    The ambiance was incredible! The service was good, and the food was good. Glad we made reservations ahead of time.

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    Page 1 of 21

    CanoeHouse Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - CanoeHouse

    Is it good for large groups?

    I think it could be with enough planning. The patio outside has a lot of wiggle room to move tables around. We saw a party of at least 10-12 there.

    How far in advance can I book reservation online? Is the tasting menu worth the price? We have a…

    I believe you can book as far out as open table allows. Is response to the tasting menu, let me first say that I'm a foodie that loves great food and value. So answering the question of worth going to be relative to your idea of value. You pay… Read more

    What is the dress code?

    There is no dress code. I recommend Hawaii casual i.e aloha shirts for men and sundresses for women.

    Does this place have gulten free bread?

    Call them. I'm pretty sure they don't. But their bread is awesome if you can break your gluten rules for one night. Only place I've ever had shokupan bread like this.

    Do they only have a prefix visit or is ala cart available?

    A la carte is totally available. I was just there a few weeks ago. I honestly prefer the ala carte menu compared to the tasting. Have fun! What an incredible meal you're gonna have.

    Can non resort guests get a reservation?

    Yes, check open table about 2 days before you want to go

    Do they have a kids menu?

    Yes they do

    Is there a happy hour at the bar?

    They do not offer any happy hour prices

    How much average dinner for 2?

    $400

    Hello :) hope all is well ,Is there a reservation available for tonight for 2 people?

    No, there is availability. Sorry.

    View All 11 Questions

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    Love the lamps!
    Love the lamps!
    Seafood fried rice
    Seafood fried rice
    I couldn't decide between the calamari and the seared poke for the island salad  and Donnie suggested getting both! Wow amazingly tasty!!

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    Photos
    A delicious mixed greens salad with beets, artichoke hearts, and more!
    A delicious mixed greens salad with beets, artichoke hearts, and more!
    Ceviche and a flat bread with Truffles
    Ceviche and a flat bread with Truffles
    Squid ink pasta with prawns and lobster

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    Squid ink pasta with prawns and lobster

    CanoeHouse - japanese - Updated July 2026

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