Everything super delicious! Came in a timely manner. We did order the lobster bisque and the lobster won tons. Not pictured, but always a must! Cooked to perfection! They always know how to set the mood. Dining area very quaint! Live music, good food! Cannot go wrong at all! Kudos to Shaylah who has been there for almost 20 years, always the best server. And bartender John. Good laughs, and good times! read more

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It's been a few years since I've been back home and I wanted to take my partner to experience where I was raised and enjoy Kauai! We decided to celebrate our 5 year anniversary yesterday here at Hukilau Lanai. We are both extremely big foodies and had high expectations based on the reviews (and price). We specifically came here for the fish dishes that use local fish. I never had the chance to eat here before so this review is solely based on my experience yesterday. Poke nachos ($23): 7/10, solid nothing special Soup of the day, Fisherman's Jalapeño corn chowder ($5): 6.5/10, also decently solid but nothing special. The little kick of spice was nice. Hukilau mixed grill ($49): 7/10, the sauce was delicious and trying the various fish was fun. Fish were cooked well and not too dry. The one on the far right was my favorite. Nairabi ($48): 6/10, the crust was excellent but I did not like the pumpkin curry sauce. The marlin actually tasted better when I mixed it with the sauce of the mixed grill. Mashed potatoes were decent. Marlin was a tad bit dry but not sure if that's how it's supposed to be. Coconut cheesecake ($14.5): 9/10, I LOVE COCONUT! Delicious dessert, portion was a lil small tho Lava cake ($18): 3/10, very okayy I personally did not like it especially the outside chocolate cake part tasted off We were seated in a spot on the lanai to the side which was beautiful and peaceful. The service was great, we were constantly being checked up on which was nice. Our server was welcoming and kind. I liked that they give a vase of water so you can pour yourself since we drink a lot of water. Would we come again? No. Although service was great and the fish was decent it was still quite lackluster taste wise especially when compared to the price point. There was a lot of flavors going on with the dishes that felt distracting to me that didn't truly bring out the taste of the fish. Sauce is the most important part of fish dishes. I also don't know if it might've been the food but my partner had a stomach ache afterwards. We also gave our fish leftovers to my brother and it hurt his stomach too lol I was fine though so not sure from what. read more

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My wife and I celebrated our wedding anniversary at Hukilau Lanai, and it turned out to be a wonderful evening. Good drinks, delicious food, and a beautiful ocean view that made the occasion even more special. The food was solid across the board, and the wait staff was friendly, attentive, and welcoming without being overbearing. vThe restaurant is part of a small timeshare resort so can have a lot of traffic on the property. When we visited, it wasn't crowded, making for an even more enjoyable dining experience. One of the highlights was the live music coming from the bar, which created the perfect ambiance on the lanai without overwhelming the conversation. The noise level was just right--my wife and I could easily talk without having to raise our voices. Add in the gentle ocean breeze, and it made for a comfortable, memorable evening. If you're looking for a laid-back Maui restaurant with goodt views, good food, and a peaceful atmosphere, Hukilau Lanai is well worth a visit. Mahalo. read more

Wonderful drinks and fantastic fresh fish choices. Came with 3 lady friends on vacation here after rain on north shore changed our plans and dinner reservations. We felt so lucky to arrive here and were seated almost immediately. Our waiter, Joshua, despite his young age was very professional with the menu and made great recommendations. There was some live music in the corner which didn't interfere with conversation but added to the Hawaiian ambiance. Our dining area used to be bar seating which we loved with great views and presented feeling of intimacy as opposed the main room. It was our first night out together after arrival and we were giddy and had a fun time. Would return again my next trip to Kauai. read more

Hukilau Lanai - Cheers!! - Seafood Near Me - Kapaa, Hawaii

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We ate here twice. Service is very good and they can do a great filet! The atmosphere is pretty amazing too. Open air and comfortable. It stays pretty busy so I would recommend reservations. I saw a few people turned away that didn't have reservations. They try to push the dessert on you at the end and I would say it's not worth the hype. Skip the dessert and enjoy the steak! read more

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Everything about this restaurant gave us the Hawaiian dining experience we were seeking We arrived without a reservation and placed on a waitlist. Fortunately they seated us within 10 minutes in the dining area near the hotel bar located outside of the their main dining room. This was the perfect location because we were semi outside and in the area where they had a musician playing. Josh our waiter was amazing. Explained the menu and provided us with phenomenal service. The food was delicious. We ordered various fish dishes. Our plates all had a Hawaiian twist to them in their preparation. What a great way to get our Hawaii vacation started. read more

Hukilau Lanai - Seafood Near Me - Kapaa, Hawaii

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What an experience, and the price is absolutely justified. Amazing food, excellent service, and beautiful ambiance all in one. We came with a reservation since our hotel was nearby and walkable. I was celebrating my birthday, and the staff really helped make it special. We were seated in the indoor area with a lovely view of the ocean and pool, which set the tone for the night. Here's what I tried: Chowder - Included with the entrée. Not your traditional clam chowder, but very tasty and well-balanced. (4.5/5) Prime Rib - Incredible. I don't usually order prime rib, but this one blew me away. Perfectly cooked medium rare, incredibly tender, and the sauces were outstanding. (5/5) Hukilau Mixed Grill - A must-try if you want to sample multiple types of fish. Everything was cooked beautifully, and the sauce tied it all together perfectly. (5/5) Original Hawaiian Chocolate Factory Dessert - Ordered this for the birthday candle (note: it takes about 20 minutes, so order early). Gooey, rich chocolate inside and absolutely delicious. (5/5) Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed my visit. Yes, it's pricey, but the upscale dining experience is well worth it when visiting Kauai. read more

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My husband and I visited Kauai for the second time and dined at Hukilau Lanai on May 4, 2026. Overall, our dining experience was good with one exception: the receiving hostess at the front desk was NOT pleasant. Our server, Andrew, was excellent. He was nice, knew answers to questions we had, offered recommendations and was attentive. Our food was delicious! We had the Beach Boy Salad, Wally's Steak Crown Royal, and the Prime Rib au Jus. Both were very delicious!! I would have liked to give 5 stars, but deducted one because of the hostess up front. When we arrived she DID NOT say hello or anything equivalent. She did NOT smile. She was NOT welcoming. As we approached the desk, my husband said, "Hello, we have a dinner reservation for 5:30. She said, "Your name?". My husband gave her our last name. Then she said, "She'll take you". She barely acknowledged us, NEVER a smile. That is not customer service. Please retrain her on how to represent the restaurant, customer service, and just basic manners. read more

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This place is a 4.5 stars. Came here for dinner and the service was amazing. I had the wailua Bay Breeze cocktail and it was very refreshing. Definitely recommend. I ordered the Wally salad and ahi nachos poke and both were very good. My husband ordered the meatloaf and gazpacho and he loved it. Would definitely come back again. read more

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Our favorite meal on our Kauai trip! I made same day reservations for an early dinner at 5:30 for Saturday evening when I realized how close this restaurant was to our resort. We arrived promptly at 5:30 pm, but it took maybe 10 minutes for our table to be ready. No problem, as it the perfect time to take photos outside on the beautiful green grounds outside with the golden hour lighting. The seating is open with views of grounds. You can see the ocean in the distance as well. We started off with drinks. I stuck with the virgin lava flow ($8), which I personally found way too sweet. I didn't drink much of this. My friend had the loco lemonade ($15), which he really enjoyed. However, he didn't taste any tequila in it, so either the drink was really well made or they poured less tequila. For food, we started off with the complimentary focaccia, which was served with a vinaigrette on the side. This was delicious and tasted like pizza bread. We liked it so much we got a second order! My friend got the chicken and mushrooms entree ($35), which he really enjoyed. It's served with a generous portion of mashed potatoes and gravy as well. Any entree comes with your choice of soup or salad, so he got one of the salads. Such good value for the price! My main was mushroom meatloaf ($35), which I absolutely loved. I'm a huge fan of meatloaf in general and the one here was SO good. The gravy it came with delicious as well, and they nice enough to give me a second serving of gravy when I ran out halfway through. Portions for the meatloaf were on the larger side and I ended up taking some leftovers head. Luckily it heated up well in our room microwave and tasted just as good the next day. For my side, I paid an extra $4 to upgrade to the lobster bisque, which I HIGHLY recommend. It was the perfect amount of creamy and tasted perfect. We were too stuffed for dessert, as much as I wanted to order something, but our server was super sweet and gave us some complimentary dark chocolate peanut butter truffles as a birthday treat. The service was very slow initially while ordering and getting drinks, but picked up after some tables left. Would highly recommend eating at Hukilau Lanai at least once while you're visiting Kauai! read more

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The views here are definitely the highlight -- if you're lucky enough to get a seat facing the garden at sunset, it's a beautiful setting. Unfortunately, the food didn't live up to the scenery. The calamari tasted far from fresh and could've used a lot more seasoning. We tried two different soups, and both had that unmistakable "straight out of the can" flavor. The fish was fine -- seemed fresh enough -- but again, bland and forgettable. Honestly, the best thing we had all night was the side Caesar salad. Not sure what all the glowing reviews are about, but this one was a miss for us. Great views, disappointing food. read more

Hukilau Lanai - Seafood Near Me - Kapaa, Hawaii

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Came here for dinner last night and left with a side of fraud. The waiter claimed they don't take tap/Apple Pay. That being said, I had to give him my credit card number, CVV, expiration date while he manually inputted it. He oddly read it aloud while typing it in, which I thought was dumb, since what if someone walking by overheard? Within 12 hours of leaving, there's $8,000 of Walmart charges. I locked the card and reported fraud. read more

Hukilau Lanai - Seafood Near Me - Kapaa, Hawaii

Loved our dinner The service was good and the garden view was so nice. Would definitely go back

Outstanding service - shout out to KatDi - and wonderful food and atmosphere. Lobster & Goat Cheese Wontons were top shelf. Farmer's Market Vegetable Lasagna was delicious and the Awesome Local Mushroom Meat Loaf was truly awesome. Highly recommend this Kapaa dining spot. read more

Hukilau Lanai - Awesome Local Mushroom Meat Loaf - Seafood Near Me - Kapaa, Hawaii

Been here several times over the years-really miss their tasting menu/pre fixe dinner they had in the past. Good service and convenient location. This most recent time, my mother in law's pork was a little undercooked-which they fixed, but otherwise the mini salads included with entrees were a great touch. Our family enjoyed the prime rib, chicken and mushrooms, and seared ahi entrees. Recommend making reservations ahead of time. Otherwise solid elevated diner option. read more

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I wanted to love this place as we were recommended a few times by multiple people but I just didn't. Our food was average. The staff was super friendly and accommodating so five stars for them! The place itself had a nice touch to it but we were sat in the outside area that was covered with a tent type thing and the wind was blowing hard and cold so it was a bit unpleasant. We ordered the filet mignon and it was cooked more than we would have liked but it was still good. Everything was good just not great especially not for the price. I would have spent that elsewhere but I had high hopes. I might be back to try something else in the future to give them another try. read more

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We made reservations for our last night in Kauai and luckily it was on our resort we were staying at. Beautiful scenery and delicious food with very friendly staff! The lobster puffs were amazing and the filet mignon was perfectly rare the way I like it. read more

First visit and we enjoyed it! Tried four of the five fish dishes--each flavorful, with the mac nut-crusted opah as the clear winner (light, flaky, and delicious). The mixed grill offered a nice variety, too. Live band added great energy, though it made conversation tricky. Service started strong but slowed as the night went on. Bread was tasty but served cold, and the fish chowder, while generous with fish, wasn't a reorder for me. Overall, tasty seafood and a fun atmosphere--worth a visit if you're in the area. read more

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Food are amazing!! They offer different kinds of fishes every night and all of them are delicious! We especially like the bbq ribs appetizer- very tender and the pickle watermelon is so good!!! Their price are very reasonable considering everything is pretty expensive in Kauai! All entrees come with soup or salad, which is a nice touch! read more

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The absolute best restaurant on the island. The service is excellent, and the food....Delightful

Ambiance - beautiful, very spacious restaurant. When we arrived, the restaurant was full. Several patrons were also waiting to dine. Service - since we arrived two hours earlier than our reserved time, we had to wait awhile. As soon as a table opened, we were seated and immediately attended to. Our orders were served not long after. I ordered the mushroom meatloaf with mashed potatoes. My hubby ordered the pork tenderloin with mashed purple sweet potatoes. Our meals came with a choice of salad or soup of the day. Since the soup of the day did not sound appealing to us, hubby and I both opted for the lobster curry bisque for an up charge of $4 each. Wow, the bisque was creamy and rich without being cloying. The mushroom meatloaf was a generous serving and I loved its heartiness. My hubby's pork tenderloin was beautifully presented and tasted very flavorful. We left totally satiated and happy. Service was great! read more

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This was one of our fancier outings and while the wait was a bit long, the food was incredible. Upon arriving we were greeted with a sweet warm smile, nice music and a welcoming atmosphere. Our waitress was lovely and I would really recommend the candied ahi and sweet potato ravioli as a starter. The flavors were so unique and different. I was not a huge fan of their calamari but the other appetizers made up for it. The main course was just as amazing. I had the filet minion, husband had their fish special and our kids had the prime rib. I was not a fan of the prime rib but my filet minion was cooked perfectly and my husband's fish wish this sweet glaze was phenomenal. Plan for a pricey meal. read more

Food is always fabulous and wait staff is great. Lovely views too. One of my fav places is Kapaa and on Kauai.

Everything we had was SO good! We started with the ravioli, I got the pork. I can't remember what my husband got but everything was amazing. We were very impressed. Great views, great service. Dessert menu looked delicious but we were too full. read more

Hukilau Lanai - Table view - Seafood Near Me - Kapaa, Hawaii

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On a Friday night, they got us in within 15 min without a reservation. Our server was so awesome! Joshua thank you so much for being patient with 4 women! From the drinks, to the soup, to the wonderful fish entrees we had a wonderful dinner and service. It was a lovely night - Thank you! read more

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You'll definitely need reservations here -- or you can try your luck at the bar like we did. It is set in a resort which is very nice. My husband and I sat at the bar, but unfortunately the service was cold at best. We felt more like a nuisance than guests, which was disappointing. On the bright side, the food was excellent and they serve fresh gluten-free bread! Traveling with someone who has celiac makes finding good gluten-free options tough, so we were really excited to try this place. Bummed about the service, but at least we left well fed! read more

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Another five star review for Hukilau. Years later and still great service, great food with a view. We had reservations and seated promptly. Went with a large party and ordered drinks right away. We decided to just order dinner, that came with a salad and dessert. My fresh catch mahi-mahi was prepared to perfection. My husband tried his hardest to finish his prime rib but ended up leaving behind a few bites. Their Caesar salad for whatever reason is the best!!! Ended with the macadamia nut tart that comes served with a cinnamon ice cream. All so very good!! Our waitress dropped the check and we realized we didn't ask for it to be split. She graciously agreed and brought back right away. When on Kauai, Hukilau is always must! read more

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Always a lovely evening. We make it our tradition to dine here when we're on Island! :) We have really enjoyed the tasting menu & wonder if the restaurant will bring it back. read more

The food was delicious. Our server was very nice and attentive.. Last but not the least, the ambiance was great.

I found this accidentally looking for a restaurant near my hotel which didn't look appealing. This is in the lobby of a private vacation hotel. The restaurant is open to the public. Andrew was great and attentive. Beautiful surroundings and food. Highly recommend. read more

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We ate here our last night on the island. We had a virgin pina colada and it was so good! The food was really great too, I had the chicken and mushrooms and my husband had the fish trio (I can't recall the name but it's three different types of fish). Both dishes were so good. He had a ceasar salad and I had the mixed greens. Mixed greens was DELICIOUS. For dessert we had the Macadamia tart with cinnamon ice cream. The caramel had an interesting taste to it, it wasn't by favorite. The restaurant had live music which was really pleasant and we ate overlooking a nice garden. I thought the service was a little slow (yes I know we are in Hawaii) but we other than that it was a great experience and we would go back. read more

Hukilau Lanai - Mac tart - Seafood Near Me - Kapaa, Hawaii

This may have been my best meal while in Kauai. We had made last min reservations. We arrived & it took about 20 min after our reservation time to actually be seated. Our server Paul was fantastic! He made wonderful recommendations for us to enjoy my birthday meal. I ordered the filet & my friend ordered a fish dish. The starter broccoli cheddar soup was delicious. We wish we had saved some room for their delicious looking desserts. I recommend giving this place a try if you want great food & service. read more

Hukilau Lanai - A sweet little treat! - Seafood Near Me - Kapaa, Hawaii

This is THE place for a nice meal while visiting Kauai. My husband and I both had the filet. We have never had a better one. The candied ahi is amazing, as is the lobster bisque and Wally's salad. Wonderful service too. read more

Hukilau Lanai - View from our table. - Seafood Near Me - Kapaa, Hawaii

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One of my favorite East side restaurants that never disappoints. I love the appetizers especially the goat and lobster won ton, the poke nachos and the Wally Salad. There is always nice local entertainment in the evening also. Lovely fresh breezes from the beach. Great service. You can also eat off the menu in the lounge if you can get a reservation. read more

You want to know what you come to this island for???!!! You come for the candied ahi. Plain and simple....... Don't order one to share it's the best thing you will ever have ever!!!! We had lots of other dishes but that ahi is insane in the membrane. read more

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Hukilau Lanai is an exceptional dining experience. We try to go at least once a month for special date nights and ALWAYS start things off with the Lobster Curry Bisque. First time the "description" threw us off but left us curious to try it. It's outstanding! The appetizers are delicious and I recommend ALL of them but really when you're in a group, unless you're a big eater. I say that because the dinners are filling especially if you get the prime rib. It's so good that there is no stopping until it's all gone. You have to save a little room for the Hawaiian warm Chocolate Cake with ice cream. If you think, "no way too full" SHARE IT! It's a spiritual experience! LOL. The fish is some of the freshest you'll find on Kauai and always prepared perfectly. It's always a great idea to book reservations online at least a week or two in advance. They do take walk ins but go early! But just go!!! read more

We eat here every time we are in Kauai which is about 2 times a year! Love this restaurant and great drinks too!

I never thought I would be writing a review such as this about this restaurant but here we go. We have been coming to this restaurant for ten years now and have really have never had bad food or a bad experience until now. I always order the fish and this time I ordered the blackened Ahi. The Ahi arrived in a bowl not blackened but pale in unflavored broth with steamed cauliflower that had no seasoning. The mashed potatoes started to blend with the watery unflavored broth and it was a hot mess. I feel as though the fish has been disrespected. I could not eat this dish and ordered a substitution which I had hoped was better but I as not. I ordered the ono was tasted like leather. Ono should be treated gently and if anything cooked until just done but this was hard to eat. The "sauce" they have is not a sauce but like a tartar sauce and could not be poured over the fish another disappointment. I'm really sad about this because as I have mentioned we have been eating here for a long time! The sweet potato ravioli was good as before but the poki nachos also have changed with the chips bring tough and with very little topping and it didn't taste the same. At this point there is as no coming back from this. To say the least nobody seemed to really care how I felt about the dish and nothing was done. Very disappointing and unfortunate . I'm sad that we won't be return to Hukilau for a long time if ever! Do they care though? It seems as if this is a tourist trap restaurant now and it's so unfortunate that there are new owners and a chef who has no knowledge how to treat food with respect and pride. read more

Nice place for a good dinner. Prime Rib was very good, and the service was responsive and accommodating. read more

Hukilau Lanai - Open dining area in lobby. Live music playing in the background. - Seafood Near Me - Kapaa, Hawaii

Our first stop when we got to Kauai. We made a reservation about two months before our trip. Had high expectations for this place since their reviews were great and a highly recommended place on the island. We were not that impressed and most likely will not be back next time. After checking in at the host station, we waited for about 5 minutes before being seated. The restaurant is inside a hotel and had dining tables in their lobby and through an entrance to a more enclosed restaurant area. We were seated at a table in the lobby area - weird feeling. The tables were near hotel lobby couches for guest to sit at. Our server came by maybe 10 minutes after we were seated. Server wasn't terrible, but wasn't the friendly and upbeat service you would expect from a pricey place. Our food was okay. I was fine with my ahi tuna and crab cake dish. My daughter had the filet mignon and did not enjoy it. She ate half of her food. My partner had the three fish special and was not impressed with it. Our meals came with salad or soup. We all ordered salads - mixed green and ceasar. Since our food wasn't impressive, we decided to skip dessert. Only gave 3 stars since the seating is awkward and the food was okay for a pricey place. We will skip this place next time. read more

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