The food here was good it just needs more flavor. More spice, more heat. There's a lot of things on the menu that are listed as having some variety of spice but most of the food was on the bland side. It wasn't bad by any means, just mellow when it could've been excellent. Personally I ordered the carne asada nachos. It's a good portion size for nachos - enough for one but not for sharing. They have lots of queso which I liked. It also had a jalepeno lime aioli which could've made the whole dish & sounded so good but was soooooo mild. I wanted more punch! & with the steak saying it's chili marinated, I wanted more heat there too. Again they were good but imo had the potential to be spectacular if they ratcheted the heat up a few notches. The consensus around the table was basically the same thing. Husband got the wings & devoured them but said they were very strong in vinegar so if that's not your jam, don't do the chili peppah water. Nice upstairs open air patio area to sit in but doesn't overlook anything other than the street and other shops. So if you're after a view, this isn't it. Giving four instead of three because of service. We had a little mixup and the manager made sure we were taken care of, even though it ended up being not the restaurants fault at all. read more

Friendly Waves - Nachos - Burgers Near Me - Koloa, Hawaii

Friendly Waves is in Koloa. It's located upstairs. We were seated in the open air patio. We asked our server for recommendations to help us order since they had a lot to choose from! We ordered fries, boneless buffalo wings, bone-in chili peppah watah wings and a loco moco. Service was fast and our server checked on us often. Everything was very good. The boneless wings were huge! The chili peppah watah wings were so tasty but could've used a little more heat. Loco moco didn't disappoint. Would come back again! read more

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This place is a celiac's dream! We stumbled on this place looking for somewhere to watch live sports and returned 3 times in a week. About 95% of the menu is or can be gluten free, and the staff and kitchen are super knowledgeable and conscious of allergies. Everything we had was delicious including multiple burger options, the fried chicken sandwich (bao pancakes as buns to make the gluten free swap), wings, and fried pickles. Portions are generous and reasonably priced for the island too. To top it off, the restaurant has a really fun indoor outdoor balcony vibe. I already can't wait to go back, this is hands down the best place on Kaua'i for those who can't eat gluten (and my gluten-eating husband loved this spot too)! read more

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Tried to have lunch here today and they are closed. Some friendly locals told us they went out of business.

The service here is top notch and I love being able to eat the food knowing it is GF ( the few items that are not are marked on the menu). The burgers are delicious and I highly recommend trying them all. And the sweet potato fries... yummmy!!! read more

I came here because I saw in the reviews that they are vegan friendly but that's not quite the case. You can get a nacho plate with coconut cheese but it just tastes really bad. They also offer a vegan burger but the vegan bread was so disgusting I couldn't eat it. They need to work on making the vegan option not only just exist, but also taste good. Loved our server though! And loved to see that they offered various non alcoholic beer options. read more

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Went for breakfast and ordered the strawberry guava pancakes. The consistency of the pancake was more like a regular cake. It was dry and fell apart. Not good. The sauce was tasty, as was the fruit. Service was fine. read more

Friendly Waves - Strawberry Guava pancakes - Burgers Near Me - Koloa, Hawaii

Yes good. Not good the bar being closed Hm.. weird xx. Anyways the food was medioquore which was ok. Thank you. Server was rude and snotty but all is well. Bye xx. read more

Friendly Waves - The place. - Burgers Near Me - Koloa, Hawaii

I've been to this location a few times - the vibes are good and nachos are very tasty. They didn't have alcohol available unfortunately on this visit, and it took a while for someone to take our order (even though it wasn't too busy). Will definitely be back! read more

Friendly Waves - Chicken nachos - Burgers Near Me - Koloa, Hawaii

We arrived and were seated right away. Lisa was great. She recommended the table in the corner because of the breeze. It was perfect. Our server, Brittany had a large table so Lisa came and checked on us and took our drink order. Brittany dropped off our water and silverware. And by dropping off I mean she set it in the edge of the table. Zero eye contact or engagement. She came back and got our order. My girlfriend asked what the fresh fish was for the day and Brittany and to go back to the kitchen to ask. She dropped off our food with no eye contact or engagement again. There was no follow up as to how our food was. Anyway, all I can say is thank goodness for Lisa and the kitchen-the food was very good! With all of the dining options in the area you'd think that the server would be a little more on top of her game. Maybe some training with Lisa to see what hospitality looks like. read more

fish tacos were filling and good :) sweet potato fries were good too, but nothing special. we went in the morning because it opened earlier than most places do on the south side. they let us order chicken wings around the time we went (10amish), even though it wasn't on the breakfast menu. all the servers there were really nice and attentive read more

Friendly Waves - fish tacos + sweet potato fries - Burgers Near Me - Koloa, Hawaii

We went on our search for a good breakfast place here in Kauai. Yes there are some quaint restaurants with the hometown feel, but we wanted something a little more. We found friendly waves in koloa. We were seated immediately with a beautiful view as we enjoyed our meal. The staff was friendly and the service was quick. The food was 5 stars. I would encourage anyone to come and enjoy this amazing restaurant. read more

Friendly Waves - Breakfast - Burgers Near Me - Koloa, Hawaii

This place was perfect for us. We had a group of seven and wanted to watch the Celtics game. Plenty of space here with all the windows opened up that provided a beautiful breeze. The main bar area was surrounded by TVs, the staff were very friendly and helpful, and the food was absolutely delicious. We ordered wings, nachos, veggie hash, and beef bowl. We shared most items and everything was tasty. I was impressed that they offered a coconut miso "cheese" alternative for the nachos which was fantastic. You also had your choice of fresh fried nacho chips or root chips. The variety of food and drink offerings is fabulous. We'd go back for sure. read more

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In the recently built commercial courtyard, we found this restaurant for lunch on the second floor. From the name, it wasn't immediately obvious to us that it was a restaurant. It sounded more like a clothing store. We entered and were seated immediately by one of the large windows. It was nice and breezy with a great view. We ordered the fried chicken sandwich (green onion dip, lettuce, tomato, buffalo wing sauce on the side) and the OG burger (9th island sauce, shredded lettuce, charred onions, tomato, pickle, american cheese). Both came with crispy fries that were delicious. The fried chicken was well made--good seasoning with a nice crust. I'm glad I had sauce on the side as I didn't want it to be soggy. The burger was fresh and delicious as well. This new restaurant is off to a good start. And the best part? The staff! They were so friendly and accommodating. That will go a long way to their success. read more

Friendly Waves - Fried Chicken sandwich - Burgers Near Me - Koloa, Hawaii

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Their whole menu is gluten free which is so rare to find on the island! I have a gluten allergy and this place was incredible. They also have gf bread for their sandwiches/burgers, but almost everything else (aside from their oyster sauce) is gluten free. Even if you don't have a gluten allergy, highly recommend stopping here! read more

Friendly staff, food was great and the atmosphere was nice for Sunday Football. The garlic brown gravy was so good! We got a few extra sides to add to our spam, eggs and rice. We will definitely be back during this trip we are on. read more

Enjoyed watching our college basketball game at Friendly Waves. The staff were welcoming and Kara ensured we were setup with the TVs. Our bartender, Jonathan, was attentive yet gave us time to sit and enjoy our beverages, nice & spicy Bloody Mary & a local beer, before ordering food. Happy we split the Maluhia steak breakfast burrito. It was loaded with meat, potatoes and pico with crisp pickled onions on the side. And we decided to try a side of goteborg sausage , a blend of beef and pork, very tasty. Great sports bar environment with an open airy bar and dining area. read more

Friendly Waves - Spicy Bloody Mary and a HBW Kewalo's Cream Ale - Burgers Near Me - Koloa, Hawaii

The food is delish, cold beers on tap. Service is friendly. Ambiance is great when the wind is blowing through the restaurant. read more

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A lot of the other places were closed, so my friend and I came here for our late lunch. It was pretty sunny and it was beaming on my back. But we sat and talked while he had the burger (I forgot which one) and I'm big on a loco moco ambassador! Lmao. So that's what we had. My loco in my opinion was overpowered by a buttery taste. But it was delish. I wish they smothered it more with gravy. And I wish I ordered it more sunny and runny the egg. By the time it came to me, was over hard. But that's okay. The people are nice. The space is nice. read more

Friendly Waves - I believe was the OG burger (recommended by our waitress). - Burgers Near Me - Koloa, Hawaii

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This place was GREAT! A great addition to the Koloa area. Comfortable and chill vibe. The server was so great and helpful. We had the happy hour special which let us choose a taco of our choice and make any burger/Sammy into a slider. It was the perfect portion for a quick lunch with a friend and offered a variety to try. They have big televisions for watching sports and open air, but covered (for those unexpected Kauai sprinklers). This area also has a ton of other shops to visit so it's a great spot to eat and browse. Highly recommend and will return. read more

Friendly Waves is THE place to go if you're Celiac/gluten free or just want something delicious with a chill vibe. Almost the entire menu is gluten free and they always have lots of sports playing. Friendly Waves is on the second floor of The Village Marketplace and open air, giving the feel of being in the forest. Bonus points - Friendly Waves has kama'aina discounts. read more

Friendly Waves - Kalbi burger with gluten free bao bun and sweet potato fries - Burgers Near Me - Koloa, Hawaii

Great spot for a bite to eat. They were very conscious of allergies, my wife can't do gluten. However, they don't have GF buns. Great atmosphere with amazing food. Reasonably priced for what you get. Had a few burgers on the island and this one was by far the best. Pic is after I had a few fries. I had the OG burger which is a house made thousand island sauce. Very tasty. Our server was very friendly and nice. Kind smile. read more

The food was above average, and the portions large (especially pulled pork tacos). Nice location in the shopping area, and very good spot if you want to watch sports. 'Very sports bar feel', so it can be a bit loud if you're looking for talking with people around the table. They were a bit understaffed and one person in our group had to wait excessively for their food, but that didn't appear to be the fault of the friendly server. read more

This is a super great second-floor bar restaurant atmosphere to stop in and have a drink and some food. They are very conscientious to allergies - options for gluten free modification to almost everything on the menu! They used a bao bun in place of wheat bun for the chicken sandwich. Fries were great and full bar selection. Wait staff were very accommodating of food restrictions and provided great recommendations. Will definitely return! read more

Friendly Waves - Fried chicken sandwich with bao bun and sweet potato fries - Burgers Near Me - Koloa, Hawaii

Our family of seven went for dinner at this establishment yesterday and honestly I don't understand how they are still in business. The server, Brittny P, has the attitude of a slug. Took forever to get beverages then the food finally came but she only brought one out at a time. Which took her seven trips. Did she come back and check on us? No. No offer of refills on our drinks, ( at $5.00 for an ice tea) no hint of any concern with our meals. Disgraceful service. Now for the food, don't bother. And to top it off they charged us a large party fee of 22% We had two separate checks. This place is a total ripoff. read more

This was our second time. We had been there on a previous trip. This time the food, the cocktails all really bad. The food tasted frozen and then heated. On top of that the kid that was waiting on us was super sick wiping he's runny nose every 3 minutes. Disgusting. read more

Good vibe. Upstairs with a cool view. Good cocktails, lots of TVs for the games. Really cool sports bar. We didn't order food but what we saw looked good read more

Friendly Waves - Waves Bloody Mary - Burgers Near Me - Koloa, Hawaii

Needed a family friendly faster place to eat. This was great, something for everyone. We had a few that weren't feeling well so the Ramen and Salad worked for them. The wings were pricey but gargantuan. Nachos were ok. The philly cheesesteak was great. read more

I wanted to enjoy this place a lot however it was just really mediocre. The server showed little to no interest. I got the poke nachos and I could barely taste the sauce at all; then I got the fries and while the salt is good they're weirdly hallow and overly crispy in a bad way. However they weren't too bad. The first coke I got was pretty weak and watered down, but then second one was good. read more

Came in for dinner passing through Koloa and so glad that we did! Service was wonderful - just friendly and welcoming as soon as we stepped in. Our table for 5 was quickly readied and we were met by our waiter right away for drink orders and more info about the menu and chef since this was our first time here. Definitely recommend the pork adobo rice bowl! The steak nachos were a hit as an appetizer too. My son had ordered the dry rub bbq wings and wasn't really a fan of the seasoning but other than that... every thing else we ordered was delicious. The restaurant is on the second floor and is a casual, family friendly - sports bar vibe type. Really pleasant staff. Will visit again! read more

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Brand new feel to this spot in kaloa. Great location on the second floor with wide open windows looking down on the main intersection. Great for people watching. Huge TVs with multiple games.on. Great wine and beer selection for a bar like place. Food was ok. Wings were plump and juicy but only warm, almost cool. A little pink at the bone of one. Buffalo sauce was very pale and didn't have much flavor. Fried chix was thin on chix and thick in breading. Cost me .50 extra for the extra sauces I requested, tho they didn't tell me that in advance. Service was really great, tried awful hard and everyone was super friendly. Score to your inclinations. My calc ended up with a 3. read more

Hair in my food and still charged for it. Not impressed. Other friends I was with said food was just okay.

Food was horrible, had steak and it was so rare it was cold. Didn't eat one bite actually spit it out! Shared husband's wings and first one was still bloody, didn't eat it! Tried a second one it was cooked but by then was done! The guys were ni e but our waitress was a beach, could smile or ask how food was because I'm sure she knew! Atmosphere was pleasant! Will never go back! Cost 70 and didn't eat ! read more

Food and service top notch! We had a burger, sweet potato fries and pulled pork nachos. So delicious!!! Unusual flavors... party in my mouth. The coconut miso cheese sauce was so good! We also loved their homemade ranch and green onion dressings. A bit pricey but huge portions and top quality food and service. read more

The food here was amazing! We got wings, the burger on special, the pork belly appetizer, the chicken salad, and the chicken burger. The energy in the place was great, and we loved that we could watch a game and get a good meal without having to be in such a touristy or formal setting. I am very picky about wings, and the wings here were cooked to perfection. Just the right amount of crispness on the outside and perfectly cooked on the inside. I don't know where they get their ranch from, but it was to die for! My pork belly appetizer was the perfect balance of salty from the pork and a hint of sweet in the sauce. The pork belly tasted like it was roasted by a premier bbq grill master. When my burger arrived I didn't know what to expect, but it was cooked just right without the sauce taking away from its meaty flavor. I nibbled both my burger and the yummy chicken salad back and forth. Of course by now I was getting so full from everything, including the delicious sweet potato fries that I could only finish half of my burger and took the other half home. My gawd was that an amazing late night snack later!! The chicken burger was for my partner, and as picky as they are, they said that was the best chicken burger they've ever had. We will always come here from now on! read more

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Had lunch there today. I ordered the Fresh Fried Wings. I got mine naked(which means they were not breaded). My was covered in Pop's BBQ sauce. They ended up giving me 5 wings. On a positive note, I enjoy the flavor the sauce. However, I thought the wings were overcooked and dry. I suggest, if you order them, to get a side of the sauce and dip them in it. Maybe that will help eliminate the dryness. read more

Friendly Waves - Wings with Pops BBQ sauce. - Burgers Near Me - Koloa, Hawaii

My wife and I have been going to Kauai for years and always end up at the same spots. This time, we were yelping around and noticed this was a new spot we have never tried. The vibe is amazing! We noticed the downstairs is for adult time and the upstairs is for families. We chose the upstairs because we wanted the nice "trade winds" and a cool view. Staff was super helpful and we had an amazing beer/food selection. Our favorite reggae songs were blasting and the ambience was fire ! Even though this was our first time, the wife and I decided we're making this our lunch spot for the next couple days. There is nothing like this at Kauai, much Aloha ! read more

Our first time here. Great food, friendly staff and awesome location! We will be back. Highly recommend. read more

This is the place! You want a great burger come here. You want an amazing cocktail come here! Want to watch a sporting event this summer s the place. They make almost everything in house and it is over the top excellent. Ross, our server helped navigate the menu and his suggestions were spot on! Highly recommend Friendly Wave in Old Kōloa town. They are fantastic! True Aloha lives here. read more

This place was a hidden gem in Koloa town! The vibe was casual, fun and very friendly. All the servers and bar tenders were amazing!!! The food was great too! We will definitely come back to visit!! read more