First time at Duke's Kauai, and wow such a beautiful intimate setting. It overlooks Kalapaki beach, and it's beautiful at sunset! There's two levels, you choose- if you want like Rib Eye, more of a dinner, top level- if you are looking for just the bar and appetizers- bottom level. This is where the entrance to the beach is easily accessible and you can see the beautiful beach scenery from any spot. The food was amazingly good, came out quick as did our drinks! The waiter was top notch, great recommendations, we did not need a reservation, but if it gets busy I would assume it would be ideal. 10/10 recommend if you want to have a nice dinner or brunch, it would be a nice place for a special occasion also! They had a great singer when we were there last night, we will be back! read more

See all

Always a staple for eating in Hawaii. They are consistent and this location was no different. I love coming here even without a reservation they were able to seat us right away. They had free valet parking , just leave a tip. Friendly and helpful staff. Great views. We were seated at the area closest to the beach so fantastic view and lovely outside breeze. Our server was really nice and fast service. I got the prime rib and it was a perfect size and cooked to what I asked. I loved it. Great food and location. Always a great place to come for lunch or dinner. I totally recommend this place for good food and service. read more

See all

We came here as we're staying at the nearby resort (we thought our food credit could be used here, but that was not an option when we received the bill). There's 2 sections to the restaurant: upstairs is more prime rib and lobster and downstairs is more tacos and burgers (we opted for the latter). We shared the calamari- the shape was unexpected, but it had a great flavor and texture. I ordered the Mac nut fish, which was swordfish at the time, and the sauce it came with was so good. My husband ordered the kalbi ribs and chicken, which he enjoyed. read more

Duke's Kauai - Steakhouses Near Me - Lihue, Hawaii

See all

We were staying on property at Royal Sonesta and were so lucky for this to be close by. The staff at Duke's made for a memorable birthday dinner. Everything was delicious, fresh and the staff was attentive/kind. The salad bar is a DEAL if you are getting an entree (ex: appetizers are usually upwards for $15 and the salad bar is UNLIMITED $10/person with an entree - so DEAL). Everything on the bar was fresh - some premixed salads, make-your-own green salads and a few premade mac salads too. Entree-wise, I had the GF seafood coconut curry - YUM. My hubs had the combo chicken + ribs + mac salad. And they surprised us with Huli Pie - what a treat ! read more

See all

The location is spectacular. The interior decor is very nice. Menu pricing is affordable and appropriate. Parking is available in the adjacent lot. This was my first time here, I have dined multiple times at their La Jolla and Waikiki locations and always enjoyed it. That was not the case this evening. We started with the salad bar. The plates in the plate chiller were hot to the touch. The green salad bowl was nearly empty and much of what was left was dry or brown. Almost every container on the salad bar needed attention and nothing from the salad bar was chilled. Dinner was the combination ribs and chicken plates. Both were good but not served hot. The white rice was gummy and the Mac salad was warm. The teriyaki steak was tough. We let the server know and the steak was taken off the bill. Service was fine. Overall it was a very disappointing dinner for our first night on the island. read more

See all

I think this place used to be better in years past. Our server was very nice, though kind of soft spoken so it was a little hard to hear haha. The poke tacos are bland and don't taste like much, but the ahi quality is good. Just not flavorful. The calamari was mediocre as well, kind of an odd texture with mushy breading :( The burger was good but nothing special, not really worth the steep price of $20+. Tbh I think there are nicer restaurants on the island, but there's a pretty view of the water if you sit on the patio. read more

See all

We ate here at the downstairs bar 5 years ago during Covid. Now we are back with a reservation in the upstairs celebrating our anniversary. We did the picture in front of the huge surfboard to start. We were seated with a view of the bay. Waitstaff was very nice. Keep in mind the front desk is on the opposite side of the restaurant as the bay. We started with ahi sashimi which has become standard at all the restaurants we eat at in Hawaii. LOL. My wife ordered the ahi tuna tacos. I ordered the coconut ginger braised seafood. It has multiple types of fresh fish of the day with lobster. The sauce is just perfect. Filling and flavorful. In the end they gave the hula pie for free for our anniversary. So kind! The twisted version was a mango sorbet. We missed the twisted version with the cookie dough. We ordered the original. Damn it was good. How can you go wrong with hot fudge and ice cream! read more

Duke's Kauai - Ahi sashimi - Steakhouses Near Me - Lihue, Hawaii

Friday night live music. Ate at the bar. Mai tai and pina coladas. Kalua pork nachos! Fast and fresh, ono flavor. Generous with the meat and toppings! Plenty for all the nachos. . Great friendly attentive service. Fun vacation ambiance. Breezes on the patio. read more

Duke's Kauai - Pina colada , Mai tai, kalua pork nachos. - Steakhouses Near Me - Lihue, Hawaii

We would like to give a special shout-out to our waiter, Jeremiah, for providing outstanding service. He was wonderful from start to finish and thoughtfully made sure our entrées didn't arrive too soon, giving us plenty of time to enjoy the salad bar without feeling rushed. That level of attentiveness made our dining experience even more enjoyable. We were celebrating our 10-year anniversary, and Jeremiah surprised us with a complimentary dessert, which was such a thoughtful and appreciated gesture. The food was also exceptional. Chef Semor (if I have the name correct) cooked our steaks to perfection. Combined with the wonderful ambiance, everything came together to create a truly memorable evening. Thank you for helping us celebrate such a special occasion! read more

See all

Duke's is such a staple when visiting any Hawaiian island! The Lava Flow, Mai Tai, Nachos and Macadamia Nut Fish are delicious. There is better quality food, but Duke's hits the spot after a long day at the beach. read more

Duke's Kauai - Macadamia Nut Fish - Steakhouses Near Me - Lihue, Hawaii

My wife and I visited this restaurant to celebrate our wedding anniversary while staying at the Royal Sonesta. Unfortunately, the experience fell well short of our expectations, particularly when it came to the service provided by our server, Blaze. From the outset, Blaze came across as cold and unwelcoming. We were seated in a dimly lit area and politely asked if we could move to a table with better lighting. Rather than making an effort to accommodate us, Blaze responded with an offhand comment along the lines of, "Well, I can't control the light." It was an unnecessarily dismissive response that immediately set the wrong tone for what was supposed to be a special evening. The service continued to disappoint throughout the meal. When I asked whether dessert was complimentary for our anniversary, Blaze interrupted me to say, in effect, that they were asking whether we needed boxes first. The interaction felt abrupt and unprofessional, as though a simple question from a customer was an inconvenience. Even when I paid the bill, there was no genuine expression of appreciation or warm farewell. Blaze mumbled something while looking at me, leaving us with the same uncomfortable impression we had experienced throughout the meal. As for the food, it was just okay--not particularly memorable. Considering the restaurant's proximity to the Royal Sonesta, where guests reasonably expect a high level of hospitality, we anticipated a much better overall experience. Celebrating a wedding anniversary should feel special, and unfortunately, the service we received from Blaze took away from that occasion. Good food is only part of the dining experience; courtesy, attentiveness, and genuine hospitality matter just as much. Based on our visit, this restaurant has significant room for improvement in those areas. We left disappointed and would have expected far more from a restaurant associated with a five-star hotel. read more

Dukes has cut back on its fresh fish offerings. It used to offer at least three types of fish for the evening. They also used to offer several ways of presentation, including grilled. Now you get either get the Duke style baked or macadamia crusted. The fish of the night was first said to be swordfish, then changed to Opa. Whatever it was, it was dry and crumbly. Even though I asked it be cooked, medium rare. When it comes to the fish at Dukes, I think they only have one speed - over cooked. Did not enjoy my meal at all. We love Dukes at this location however, the food seems to have gone downhill. read more

I really like Duke's series of restaurants, and have thought all the ones in California have been excellent, clear five stars in terms of service, food, and especially value. It was strange then that the first one we visited on the Islands was my least favorite. There are six Duke's now, 3 on the mainland (Huntington Beach, Malibu, La Jolla) and 3 on the Islands (Waikiki, Maui, and this original one in Kauai). They specialize in Hawaiian cuisine, feeding into its history of mixing Polynesian and Asian food cultures, which I adore. This location is in the Royal Sonesta/Marriott Vacation Club complex that we were staying in, and is the original Duke's location, founded in 1989 to honor the legendary Hawaiian swimmer and surfer. We stayed at this hotel more than 20 years ago, so very possible that we had eaten here before, but have no memory of it. The main level is open only for dinner and has the entrance at the hotel level, thus is how we entered. Downstairs is the Barefoot Bar, a more casual atmosphere overlooking the beach walk of Kalapaki Beach, attracting mostly folks from other places. We knew that we would get a discounted dessert because we were staying at the resort, providing another reason to come. The hostess took our phone number, and texted us within 10 minutes that our table was ready. It was crowded inside, but there were enough servers to provide good service throughout, with our water glasses being kept full. We had a clear view of the beach, and watched a beach volleyball game/training session happening. We kept commenting how good the players were. The entrees came to our table in a reasonable time: Kalbi Ribs & Chicken ($27) - We've gotten this dish before, though usually baby back ribs are paired with the chicken. In our case, two meaty slabs of LA-style short ribs were provided and I really liked the marinade. The teriyaki chicken thighs were quite good too. It came with an OK kimchi, but very mediocre macaroni salad, and gummy (i.e. bad) white rice. Sauteed Fish Bar ($31) - This was the fish of the day, prepared with a macadamia crust. It was Opah this day, and it tasted fine. The problem was the portion: it was disappointingly small and thin. It came with the same bland mac salad and bad steamed rice. Hula Pie (reduced from $15 to $5 for staying at Marriott Vacation Club) - We get this every time, including non-Duke places (e.g. Hula Grill in Maui). It was a big a piece as expected, more than enough to share for two, coming with two sporks. There were plenty of rich chocolate sauce, a good chocolate crumb crust, and chopped macadamia nuts. But the whipped cream tasted more like Cool Whip, and surprisingly, the vanilla ice cream was of lower (non-premium) quality...very solid but not very creamy...would have not eaten it by itself, but the additional toppings made it a good dessert, just not as great as I've had before. Payment is handled at the table, with receipt coming digitally. By the time we started to leave around 18:30, the lower level was clearing out a bit. Assuming that the upstairs would become busier for more formal dinners. read more

See all

I have been to Dukes many times. And every time I start walking / driving to the restaurant I question whether I am being too much of a tourist by going to the restaurant. And each time, I don't regret my decision by the end of the meal. This time I visited to Kauai location of Dukes for the first time and enjoyed a last meal before I headed home to the brutal cold in Minnesota. I started with the legendary Duke's Mai Tai which consists of Two Types of Rum, Fresh Hawaiian Juices, and of course a little bit of Aloha. For my main, I went with the Furikake Ahi Steak. It was a beautifully Seared Sashimi Grade Ahi Tuna (I got it Rare of course), Chili Oil, Truffle Unagi, Peanut Oil, Shiitake Mushrooms, Black Bean Bok Choy, Coconut Lychee Rice, and Cucumber Namasu. We had to get dessert of course. Initially we were thinking of going with their original Hula Pie, but were sold on the Twisted version by the waiter. It was a Peanut Butter take on their original. So instead of the Macadamia Nut Ice Cream there was Peanut Butter Ice Cream, but you still got the hot fudge and whipped cream. ____ read more

See all

On our first day visiting Kauai, we stopped by Duke's Kauai for dinner. No reservations needed, but needed to wait about 15 or 20 minutes to be seated. It's a nice area, a little bit touristy, but it's located right by the water, so the view is beautiful. Good menu selection with nice choice of fresh fish. We got the fish and chips (swordfish) that comes with fries, fish tacos (ahi) with tortilla chips, children's crispy chicken tenders, and Duke's burger. It's nice that they have an option to substitute the bun to a gluten-free bun for the burger! Burger and crispy chicken tenders both come with french fries. Fish was well cooked, not overcooked and was moist, but was under seasoned. It's like they lost the salt shaker. Fries were good, I wished my fish tacos came with a french fries rather than the tortilla chips which were uneventful and stale. Our waitress was very attentive and friendly, checked on us several times, and of course the view of the beach was spectacular. Food 3.5 stars, service 5 stars. read more

See all

I feel like Duke's is a classic around the islands, and usually gets hyped up, only to be let down. But I will say our experience yesterday was better than expected. Menu is on the smaller side, which I think helps with quality. Our two year old gobbled down a cheeseburger which she never does, so that was great. My drink was tasty, though I don't think there was much, if any alcohol in there. Both my husband and I were satisfied with our meals. I got the fish tacos and added guac on top, and subbed fries for the chips. I was full with the one taco. My husband got the fish and chips which was made with Mahi Mahi. Not too much breading which is nice. The tartar sauce was great! Hula pie was just a big chunk of ice cream, which we were glad we split one piece between 3 adults and a 2 year old. Service I will say was great. Sat down quickly, staff was attentive, and they were able to split checks without any issues. read more

Duke's Kauai - Steakhouses Near Me - Lihue, Hawaii

See all

After spending the day at the beach, we got a little hungry. It was a no-brainer, we went to Duke's. The wait wasn't too long and it gave us time to check out the merchandise. I found a nice soft T-shirt that I was happy to take back home. We were fortunate to sit up front with the beautiful view of the beach and ocean. Both my wife and I ordered the fish and chips and were delighted with the freshness and flavorful meal. There was a really nice batter on the fish and they were paired nicely with delicious french fries. We had a few refills of Diet Coke to keep hydrated before going back to the beach. Great service, great food, great views, and great times at Dukes! read more

See all

Service was fine. Unfortunately the rest was bad. The Hularita was far too sweet. The Mai tai was ALSO too sweet. I realize these are sweet drinks, but it shouldn't feel like sucking syrup. The Mai tai did look great. The crab wontons had a confusing, off flavor with a sauce that was also overly sweet. Not a good combo. I tried to message direct because a public review from a one time visit didn't seem warranted, but they have to other way to email them. read more

Duke's Kauai - Mai tai - Steakhouses Near Me - Lihue, Hawaii

Food and service were okay, but we expected a bit more for the price. However, the location is great since it's right off the beach and near our resort. We liked the crab Rangoon appetizer. The hula pie is also good (very big slice with ice cream, fudge, chocolate crust and macadamia nuts). read more

Duke's Kauai - Crab Rangoon, coconut shrimp and Caesar salad - Steakhouses Near Me - Lihue, Hawaii

Such a great lunch spot with a super cool dining room design. I was sat next to the little waterfall/pond so I got to see all of the fish swimming in it while enjoying my food. I got the Buffalo chicken wings & Kalbi Ribs & Teriyaki Chicken plate with a special Piña colada. Service was amazing and super friendly! read more

Duke's Kauai - Steakhouses Near Me - Lihue, Hawaii

See all

It's a fun vibe and open all day so easy to pop into for a super early dinner when other places are closed. The drinks are definitely heavier pours (stronger then I prefer) but that's just my taste. The hula pie was delicious- and a huge portion! We also had the fries and rocket salad with swordfish and the salad was also large and well dressed. The servers are pleasant and efficient but the hostesses definitely seem to not love their job and huddle while maybe ignoring us waiting at the front. read more

Food 9/10 I had the fish and chips and it was amazing! Service 9/10 Our server was amazing! Ambiance 8/10 We were seated in their downstairs dining area but had an amazing view of the water. read more

Duke's Kauai - Steakhouses Near Me - Lihue, Hawaii

Great location on The beach near Lihue Harbor and the Marriott Beach Hotel, with a good place to swim or surf in Nawili'wili Bay in Kauai. I love the open air restaurant and location right on the beach. Dukes is a chain restaurant that has solid drinks and a similar menu at all of their locations. The food is good, but nothing to write home about. This is a great place to grab a burger and beer. read more

We started with the crap wontons. My wife and I are sharing fish and chips plus an amazing Hawaii drink that comes with a coconut you take home with you. This is a Military friendly restaurant. This is right on beach and a very nice place. read more

To sum it up: overpriced, mediocre food with a million-dollar view. You're definitely paying for the view -- not the meal. Our bill came out to around $190, and here's what we ordered: the teriyaki steak with an add-on of 3 shrimp, the coconut shrimp dinner (not listed on the menu -- you have to ask for it), sticky rib appetizer, two Mai Tais, two glasses of wine, and one salad bar. The shrimp was probably the highlight -- fresh and flavorful. The steak was bland, and while the ribs had good flavor, they were full of tiny bones that made them hard to eat. The salad bar was fine, but definitely not worth $27 as an entrée (especially since it's only a $9 add-on). The cocktails were weak and pretty watered down. The one redeeming factor was the service -- friendly, attentive, and efficient. The staff made sure our water glasses stayed full and checked in often. All in all, I won't be back. I probably would've been happier with a cheeseburger and a draft beer while enjoying that incredible view. read more

See all

Our first stop when we landed on the island!!! We sat out where you walked out to the beach and it was such a perfect first Hawaiian night! Great views and the service was amazing! We loved the food and drinks we got. The star of the show was for sure the macadamia crusted fish. We were told if you came here you had to try the hula pie- it was huge and so rich !! But tasted really yummy! read more

See all

Hubby and I dined here twice during our 5-day vacation in August. Beachfront for lunch on our first day, and in their main dining section for dinner two days later. Both times were memorable, with relaxing atmosphere, delicious food and great service. We highly recommend Duke's Kaua'i any time of day! read more

Stopped by here for dinner before our red eye flight back to the mainland. We had reservations for 530 on a Wednesday. The place was half empty but it still took maybe 5-10 minutes to get seated. We asked to have an ocean front view but was told none were available even though there were some better seats open on an upper level. We did not ask for the seats and were too tired to complain. We got the ribs/chicken and salad bar. The food was OK. I'm not a fan of ketchup based huli huli and it prob would've been better with kalbi instead of pork bbq ribs. I guess this is American style. Overall, location is great but might try somewhere else next time. read more

See all

This is a great, open restaurant with such a cool, relaxing breeze. I brought my family here for dinner and we were in awe with the ocean breeze. We had to order cocktails with dinner and boy they were strong (definitely not complaining). The service was great, the food was delicious, and the atmosphere was beautiful. I can't wait to bring my family here! read more

See all

Decent food but not amazing. We did lunch downstairs one day and it was just ok. However the lemonade was fantastic! We also did the brunch which runs $50 a person but includes Prime Rib. For the price you pay, you can get plenty of food. If I recommend anything it would only be the brunch! read more

See all

So good! From the absolutely amazing salad bar, to the entrees (including a beyond burger as an option) to the famous hula pie. You can get the hula pie without nuts too! Our server, who we have had several times was very friendly and helpful! The views of the Kalapaki Beach and the entry into the Nawiliwili harbor are fantastic. Soak it in! We are always looking forward to our next meal at Duke's. read more

Very mediocre, at best. You're better off going anywhere else. You'll spend over $300 for a meal that was not worth it. We knew it would be not the best, but it was worse than expected. read more

We visited Duke's Kauai while on vacation and it was a wonderful dining experience. Our party of five made a reservation in advance and valet parked nearby, which made arriving stress-free. After a short wait at check-in, the host seated us at a great table with a view of the ocean--a perfect backdrop for dinner. I ordered the coconut braised seafood along with the salad bar, and both were excellent. The entrée was flavorful and rich, while the salad bar had plenty of fresh options and even included desserts. Our server, Kelsey, was kind, attentive, and made sure we had everything we needed throughout the meal. Between the service, food, and atmosphere, it was a memorable night and a highlight of our trip. read more

See all

Friendly and welcoming service with an incredible view! Food is good and aligned with being in the complex of the Marriott beach club hotel. Recommend make an rsvp vs just walked in. read more

See all

We stopped by on our last night in Kauai at the recommendation of our Airbnb host, really hoping for a memorable final dinner. Unfortunately, it ended up being a big letdown. From the start, our server felt pretty indifferent and not welcoming at all. We ordered a Mai Tai, which tasted surprisingly weak, and like medicine. We also ordered the coconut shrimp to kick things off. The shrimp came out room temperature with a very basic sweet and sour sauce that tasted like something straight from a grocery store bottle. For mains, things didn't improve. The swordfish was plain, the Brussels sprouts were boiled and barely seasoned, and the rice was both bland and undercooked. The ribs were dry, and the chicken had that rubbery texture that's hard to overlook. The only real highlight was the view, which was beautiful. Beyond that, it was hard to understand the recommendation. Between the lackluster service and disappointing food, this is one we would skip next time. For about $150, it just didn't feel worth it. read more

See all

It was a beautiful dukes ! Loved it . Hope I will be able to come back someday . Had a great dinner with a wonderful view

Dukes Kauai is a restaurant that we have dinner at the day we arrive. The food is very good, and the service is excellent. What makes the experience at Duke's enjoyable was our server Shari. She was very friendly, and helpful. The salad bar is nice option to go with your meal. Ribs and chicken - 5/5 The ribs were very fall off the bone tender and tasty. The chicken was also tender, and very flavorful too. Marinated with the guava mango BBQ sauce gives you a wonderful BBQ flavor. Hula pie - 5/5 Enough to share for at least two individuals. Excellent chocolate cookie crust and Mac nut ice cream. A must for dessert to end your dining experience at Duke's We always enjoy our experience at Dukes. The views of Kalapaki beach and ocean can be seen anywhere you are seated. I highly recommend visiting Duke's for a nice casual dining experience. read more

See all

Loved this place! Only a 15 minute walk from the cruise ship. It's such a gorgeous place on the ocean and the inside is amazing. Our server was Sean Michael and he was so kind and attentive. He also knew the menu well and was able to answer all of my questions. If you want to dine in with good menu, make a reservation upstairs. We had the ribs and calamari appetizer and the macadamia nut crusted sword fish, we chose the coconut lychee rice though. It was delicious! For desert we ordered the Hula pie, it was delicious, but full of calories. read more

Very good service. Beautiful views. Fish and chips and pork sandwich are both worth ordering again. Fish is a bit meatier and quite yummy. The pork is super moist and tender. Sides are good. The Kalapaki mai tai was just okay. Wouldn't get it again. read more

Duke's Kauai - Kalapaki Mai Tai - Steakhouses Near Me - Lihue, Hawaii

Update 2 years later - took the entire family here for dinner. Still excellent food and service! The entire family found things that were delicious on the menu and we (6 of us) shared 3 slices of hula pie and still struggled to finish them (huge!). You can't ask for better ambiance, right on the water, torches along the path, open window walls, fans on the ceiling. Wonderful! Our server was amazing and kept up with all of our needs. Definitely need to put Duke's on your list! read more