I've been to Kauai tons of times but why only this recent visit I stopped here, something is wrong…read morewith me?! hehe. I happen to search lunch stops on Instagram and came across Lawai'a, I actually made 2 stops, the day before and the day of flight. Cute little store, very popular and busy parking lot. Lawai'a Fish Co. reminds me of Tanioka's back on Oahu. This business got so much seafood goodies along with snacks, desserts, Wow! One stop shop for everything! I also saw a post for cheap eats and had to see it for myself, hehe, the table in front has pre-packaged bento and I spot one that was $6. hard to believe nowdays. I didn't get the plate lunch which looks good too or the poke variety, we had lunch plans so first visit was spicy poke for the other half to try, the tofu poke, and $6. bento of fried ahi limu for me. I am not a fan of poke and don't eat anything raw, so jealous of my hubby and kids to love it so much! I was happy that hey have a fried ahi bento available for only $6. We/I really enjoyed bento, hubby mentioned the spicy ahi was great and that tofu poke salad, WOW. I loved the taste, comes with tofu, sea asparagus, and onion, so GOOD! I stopped by the next day to grab 2 containers of the tofu poke and the ginger fried poke $6. bento. This place is a GEM for sure, very busy, I cannot wait to be back!!

Loved loved the poke here! We stopped by on the way to our airport at the end of our vacation on…read moreKauai and luckily we did as it was my favorite poke spot we tried. First, loved how local it feels and they sell a variety of poke, bento, cooked plates and even desserts! They also sell whole fish so you know the poke is fresh. I grabbed a pick 2 fish bowl with yuzu hamachi and chili garlic ahi. Loved the hamachi with was dressed with sea asparagus for a nice savoriness. You don't see hamachi poke often but it's one of my favorite types of sushi. Chili ahi was good as well and definitely had a kick. We also wanted to try tako (octopus) and got the kimchi tako which was nice and tender. Surprisingly the kimchi was pretty spicy too. Overall great spot for poke and I'll definitely need to come back if I'm in Kauai in the future. I'm still thinking about the hamachi poke a couple weeks ago.

Smiley's Local Grinds was so good that we ended up eating here two nights in a row during our trip…read moreto Kauai. The first night, my husband ordered the prime rib special with mac salad and rice, which was basically his dream come true, and I got the loco moco, which I shared with my toddler. Everything was flavorful, comforting, and exactly what we were craving. We enjoyed it so much that we came back on our final night and ordered the galbi and lechon kawali. Once again, every dish was a hit. The proteins were flavorful and filling, and the mac salad deserves its own shoutout. It may be my favorite mac salad on the island. This is absolutely the kind of place we'll return to on our next visit. It's also conveniently located near the airport, making it a great first stop when you arrive or a last meal before heading home. A couple things to know before you go: parking was easy when we visited, but there isn't any seating. This is very much a pick-up-and-go spot. I'd recommend calling ahead and placing your order so you're not waiting around. Great food, generous portions, and the kind of local spot you hope to find when traveling. We'll definitely be back.

Food: Food was really good. Did not have any complaints about the food whatsoever. I had the Loco…read moreMoco and my dad had the shrimp We both shared the Ahi...all of which were delicious. Service: Service was standard. I wouldnt say anything out of the ordinary. Food took a while as it was fairly busy. Tip: I would suggest calling in your order so that its ready by the time you arrive to save on time. Ambiance: This is not a dine-in establishment so not much to say about ambiance in general. We will def be back should we decide to visit Kaua'i again in the future.

Fantastic poke! I got a bowl with spicy ahi and Maui onion ahi, and both tasted so fresh and…read morebalanced with all the seasonings. I liked that you can choose your rice and how much of each topping you want to add since it's all pay by the pound. The parking lot is a bit small, so you might find yourself waiting a little while for a spot.

Came in with high expectations but was let down heavily. Big…read moreline why? Because the service is terrible. The fish doesnt taste fresh. Overly salty. One of the ones we chose tasted like the ocean. To add to this, we found multiple fish scales in our food, never have i had that in my poke. Our worst kauai meal.

I hesitate to write this review. On the one hand, I think it's one of the best kept secrets in the…read moreislands and I'd like to keep it that way so that I can continue to get a table. On the other, I want them to get the business they deserve, so I won't gatekeep: you must eat here if you are looking for a truly special meal when visiting Kauai. For many years, Merriman's held the top spot for Mai Tais on the islands for me, but Hualani's just stole the crown, in this reviewer's humble opinion. Perfectly balanced with an out of this world macadamia nut dusted rim. And it's a truly special restaurant too. It's the first place we go when we land, tucked in The Timbers close the airport, you can go from airport to relaxing poolside with a spectacular view in 5 minutes. Service is absolutely top notch - every server, every bartender, every person we spoke to on property was a seasoned pro and a delight to interact with. The food is spectacular. We've had a few items over the years that we just can't get out of our head, the crispy rice poke and the short rib potstickers especially. It's not an inexpensive meal, but if you think of it as renting yourself an hour or two of unpretentious luxury, it's a screaming deal.

Hualani's was the place to be during sunset. The gorgeous front view of the ocean and lighthouse…read morewere to die for. We came when there was a performance and the food was delicious. Our waiter Tron was very informative of the dishes and drinks. We enjoyed our time here. We ordered the coconut shrimps, and potstickers. They both were plentiful of flavor. My friends ordered the sea bass and the fish & chips, Ono seafood dish, and the dynamite dish. Everything was huge in portion and delicious.

Absolutely amazing sushi! One of the best sushi restaurants we've ever tried. Fresh fish and…read moredelicious food. Highly recommend!

Amazing!! Our first stop off the plane after a very long day of travel, and it was exactly what we…read morewanted and needed. Service was fast and so friendly. We got the california rolls, salmon & avocado rolls, godzilla rolls, and crazy ginger rolls. The best sushi ever. The outdoor eating area was quiet and clean. 10/10, no notes. We could gladly eat here every day!

Honestly, I would recommend making reservations for the Plantation House multiple times during your…read moretrip! The food, service, and ambiance were wonderful! We went for dinner and there were 4 adults and we had our 3 year old and 1 year old with us. They were very accommodating and family-friendly, which is always nice to see. The food was absolutely delicious and I would easily go back again and again, because it was a great experience. I would recommend the fresh catch Oscar and for dessert, we enjoyed the sorbet trio

Its a lovely open-air restaurant in an old house with shops and a gallery tucked here and there…read more It's in a large property with plenty of free parking and they offer various activities. Great place for weddings, too. We had a late lunch here. The menu is standard American fair and local dishes. I had cream of mushroom soup and a burger. The soup was pretty good, until I found undissolved clumps of flour at the bottom. My personal preference was if for it to have not been pureed as much, but that didn't affect taste. They kindly took the soup off the bill even though I didn't ask for that, given I had eaten most of it. The burger was also good, cooked to order. I chose fried for my side and they came out hot and tasty. It was a large portion, too, so much that I still had some left even after sharing. Everyone else enjoyed their meals and we had a little time to wander about through some of the shops and buy gifts. Some shops are upstairs, and there is no elevator. Im guessing there must be a ramp somewhere to get you to the restaurant at least, although I didn't readily see it. If you need the ramp you may want you call ahead to ascertain its location. Nice place for special occasions and for tourists that won't totally break the bank.

Hula pie was delicious and restaurant was really beautiful! Will definitely go back when in Hawaii.read more

We came to Duke's and had a wonderful experience from start to finish. We were seated immediately…read moreupon arrival, and the service was warm and welcoming throughout our meal. The food was absolutely amazing. I ordered the macadamia nut-crusted fish, and it was exquisite, perfectly cooked, flavorful, and one of the best dishes I've had. For dessert, we shared the famous Hula Pie, and it was absolutely mouthwatering. Rich, creamy, and delicious, it was the perfect ending to an incredible meal. If you're visiting Kauai, Duke's is definitely worth a stop. Great food, excellent service, and a memorable dining experience!

Great service. Fresh food lots of variety on the menu. I love the side dishes. Friendly staffread more

Be patient when you place your take away order because they may be short staffed. It seems like…read moremany businesses on Kauai are short of workers. They provide great service here. I usually get the Kalena special plate lunch as it gives me a taste of a variety of menu items. Though their kalbi is tasty the serving that I had was mostly bone/fat. In addition to the entree you get to select 4 sides to compliment your meal. The sides are a mixture of korean and Asian sides that are often eaten locally. Once yiu have your take away you can eat on table bench in the park across the way or take it to the beach. I usually go here yearly when visiting Kauai.