Food was mediocre. Service was super slow. We got seated relatively quickly with a reservation. For the price we paid for the meal. I feel like there's way better restaurants to check out in Waikiki. The only plus was the live music. It was a bit loud for dinner, it was hard to converse while the music was playing. read more

Kani Ka Pila Grille - Braised rib - Hawaiian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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My honest review would be 1 star for service, 4 for the taste of food. Food was delicious, but just know that it's super expensive for a pool side restaurant. For the price, I definitely expected better service. We had to wait over 30 minutes to order and 30 minutes to get our check. We were hardly checked in on the entire 3 hrs we were there, and waters were only refilled once. We wanted to order more but service was so lacking that we didn't. Food: honestly pretty tasty with unique flavors. The crispy shrimp appetizer was super yummy. The Maui onion soup was so so... not good for the price. There wasn't enough cheese. My macadamia nut crusted fish was delicious though and super filling Ambiance: its pool side, nothing fancy, but they do have nice live Hawaiian music which was enjoyable. Overall I think 3 stars is fair. read more

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A hidden gem for great Hawaiian music 7 days a week! Make a reservation. The portion sizes are huge - one sourdough garlic cheese bread appetizer is enough for 2-3, ditto for the entrees and desserts. Music is great, and the dudes who play on most Wednesdays bring along a hula dancer or two! read more

Kani Ka Pila Grille - Garlic bread - Hawaiian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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One of the best meals I had while in Oahu. We walked there from our hotel so not quite sure about the parking situation. Dining is outdoors with very relaxed vibes. They had a band playing on stage during dinnertime - really nice hawaiian music. We tried the garlic shrimp, huli Huli chicken and furikake seared ahi. All the dishes were delicious. Don't regret trying this place at all. Staff was very nice. read more

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Review for drinks only, didn't order food: Our bartenders provided great friendly service. The drinks were unique and flavourful. The traditional Hawaiian live music was perfect for the resort ambiance! read more

Kani Ka Pila Grille - Cocktails: Mauka to Makai and Water's Edge - Hawaiian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

We came here for drinks and app. They had live music which is why we stopped. We ordered the ahi tuna nachos, which were good but could use more of the toppings. The ratio to wonton chips was not ideal. My mule drink was good. Overall decent but nothing to rave about. Our waiter Jordan was really good tho, very attentive. read more

Kani Ka Pila Grille - Hawaiian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Great little spot. Casual vibe with live music and great service. I would recommend the Mac Nut Crusted Cauliflower...so good!!! Honestly one of the best things I ate all week on Oahu. We also had the Garlic Five Cheese Sourdough which was amazing! The marinara that came with it was SO good. Others in my group had the Garlic Shrimp appetizer, Hoku Bowl (poke), and the Maui Onion Burger. Everything was delicious! read more

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Great music and very tasty food selections. It is an open, hotel restaurant so atmosphere is very casual, but could be long wait especially for the evening when there is a live music. Do make a reservation ahead of time if you want to a good seat and don't want to wait for over 1 hour which we did! Grilled shrimp was delicious! Pool of yummy garlic butter at the bottom of the plate which is peaked up with garlic mashed potatoes. But I thought the double chocolate brownie was the winner. Very chocolaty and decadent. read more

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The best restaurant experience I have ever had. My waiter, Jon, and Sous-Chef Jordan were extremely kind, courteous, generous, and the service was phenomenal. I had the Ahi Tuna, which was absolutely spectacular. For dessert, you MUST try the crème brûlée with pineapple. They also have live music at 6 PM - what an atmosphere. read more

Kani Ka Pila Grille - Pineapple Crème Brûlée - Hawaiian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Da best place for a meal and Hawaiian music. Valet parking for 12 bucks and 4 hours which is a sweet deal for Waikiki. Come at 6 for the live music. If you're lucky you'll get an impromptu hula show read more

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Sitting at the pool bar to enjoy their Mai Tai which was pretty tasty. The bartender service was friendly. Didn't get to try their food selections. But definitely be back when I'm back to the island read more

Kani Ka Pila Grille - Hawaiian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

BEST HAWAIIAN MUSIC Hawaiian OG singers every night at Cyril's place. The music and fun is like nowhere else. We went basically every night and top of the list was Ho'okena. They famous!! Really a good time. Walking by I saw the double cheeseburger, looked so good I rushed in there for lunch next day. 2 patty lettuce cheese special sauce. Pickles I think, onion. Boy was it great. Quite large but I ate the whole thing! Well worth the price which was reasonable in comparison to the restaurants around the way. Had angels envy neat and never knew how good it was. Rock candy. Excellent bourbon at a good price. See you around guys, I would eat & drink there anytime and so should you. read more

Kani Ka Pila Grille - Double cheese they're great! - Hawaiian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Wonderful atmosphere, amazing fish tacos and don't pass up dessert! Best to make a reservation. Staff is courteous and the live music is the Hawaiian experience. read more

Kani Ka Pila Grille - Pineapple crème brûlée - Hawaiian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Excellent atmosphere, drinks, & service. The drinks were yummy. We had the Blue Coconut & Water's Edge. The calamari & pork belly bao were both delicious and super filling. read more

Kani Ka Pila Grille - Drinks - Hawaiian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Came here to meet someone for dinner. Inside the Outrigger Reef hotel in Waikiki. Live entertainment that was amazing! Not sure if the entertainment changes nightly or what their performance times are but I got there after 8 PM and they played for over an hour. Perfect outdoor seating to enjoy a cocktail and some great music. Validated parking $12. read more

Kani Ka Pila Grille - Live entertainment - Hawaiian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Kani Ka Pila Grille surprised me--in a good way! It's not a traditional restaurant setting, more of a poolside spot with casual daytime vibes and families around, so if you're hoping for something romantic or quiet, plan accordingly. I was a little unsure how to order at first, but the bartender was super helpful and quickly connected us with a server. Service overall was friendly and smooth. Now for the star: the food! The Maui Fish Sandwich was beautifully seasoned, flaky, and fresh. The Soft Shell Crab Sandwich gave major po' boy energy--crispy and loaded with flavor. And I had to come back for the Pineapple Crème Brûlée. 10/10 recommend. It's served in a carved-out pineapple with brûlée on top, and underneath you can scoop out the pineapple. Add strawberries and whipped cream, and it's basically dessert in paradise. Would absolutely return! read more

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I probably won't go back to this restaurant. First of all it was hard to find-no name to show where the restaurant is located. My husband and I got there early. I asked if we could get a Starbucks since it would be about 15-20m before opening but they said no outside food -fine so I asked if we could get some coffee knowing we were gonna eat there but noooo they tell us they don't open until 11a. Not a good way to treat prospective customers. read more

This is one of our favorite hotel bars in Waikiki. Very friendly staff and great service. We sit at the bar whenever we can, because the bartenders take very good care of us, especially Rory, Billy and Mikey. It's an open air space by the pool. Live local music adds to the experience. You have to try the pineapple crème brûlée; it is a must have. Aloha! read more

Kani Ka Pila Grille - Pineapple Crème Brûlée - Hawaiian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

We stopped in for Papa's Birthday, all fourteen of us, and had a great evening. We all had a great time. The kids loved running around the pool area and lobby. The adults loved relaxing talking story with some great music in the background by Sean Na'auao. The food - everyone thought was great and delicious: -Poke Won Ton Chip Nachos -Regular Nachos -Kids Pasta and Meatballs -Calamari Fritto Misto -Poke Bowl (make your own) -Caesars Salad -Loco Moco The regular and poke nachos packed tons of flavor. The calamari with a wonderful crunch and crisp. The hostess and servers were all great as well, and our food came quick. We'll definitely be back here for some love music and great food. read more

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Delicious food. Jun was our server and he's greatly attentive. It's outside dining next to the pool. Great music to listen to while we eat. read more

Kani Ka Pila Grille - Buffalo chicken sandwich - Hawaiian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Sit down for a leisurely meal at Kani Ka Pila Grille poolside restaurant and bar. Open for lunch, and dinner, this poolside oasis is the place for great service, food and music. One of my favorites is the Buffalo Crispy Chicken Sandwich- Marvelous combination of hand breaded, juicy chicken breast fried crisp and tossed in a tangy buffalo glaze stacked with local tomatoes, onions, lettuce. Served with a side of fries! In my opinion, you cannot go wrong with anything on the menu. read more

Kani Ka Pila Grille - Hawaiian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

We were celebrating a birthday and chose to bring our birthday girl here for dinner. Tip: This restaurant is very busy as it's located in the lobby of the Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach Resort. Hence, I'd highly recommend making reservations before heading to the restaurant. Also, the restaurant is located outdoors so be prepared for the variations in Hawaii weather. There is also live music nightly to enjoy while you dine. We were quickly seated and greeted by our friendly waitress. After some contemplating, I decided to order the following: Garlic sourdough cheese bread -served with marinara sauce. Perfect dish for sharing ! Kani Ka Pila nachos -Freshly fried corn tortilla chips smothered with chipotle cheese sauce, local tomatoes, sweet onions, lime crema, guacamole, pickled jalapenos, black beans. Another great dish for sharing! Maui onion and cheese soup-sweet Maui and Ewa onions, caramelized with fresh thyme in a rich beef broth, crusty baguette, and brûléed gruyere cheese. Berry Berry Cheesecake - NY style cheesecake with fresh berry medley. 1955 Old Fashioned -made with Angels envy Kentucky straight bourbon We all enjoyed the appetizers and I enjoyed the Maui onion and cheese soup. Loved the flavors and cheesiness of the soup. I'd highly recommend ordering any of these dishes. Great company, tasty food and enjoyable entertainment- I'm a fan! read more

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Excellent service from start to finish. Love the live music at night until 9pm. The sesame seared ahi is fabulous with veggies and rice. Nice vibe at night right by the pool and bar. read more

Kani Ka Pila Grille - Sesame seared ahi - Hawaiian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

I'm from Hawaii but live in the mainland now. I make it a point to go here every single time home. And TBH it isn't really for the food. But there are lots of places for just food. Waikiki sure seems like it is basically the baby Nashville for Hawaiian music. Kani Ka Pila is the Ryman. You get some of the best up and coming or established Hawaiian entertainment there. I've never been disappointed. You can have a cocktail, a so-so meal, and sit back and listen to Island sounds. You'll often see regulars get up and Hula and it simply makes me long to move back. I suggest, if in Waikiki for a couple of nights, looking at who is playing when you are there and search them on Apple Music or wherever. Find someone that suits your jam and make a reservation. Boom. read more

The food was sooo Ono! The service was exceptional from our seating to departure it was like a First Class flight. read more

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The food was awful. Fish tacos bland and overcooked. Chips soggy. Red dipping sauce disgusting. Putrid. Abhorrent. They raised prices and lowered the quality since I was last there. Never again. Never read more

Food is okay, service needs help, ambiance is nice could be better. It's comfortable and the entertainment is always great. read more

Restaurant located right our hotel which made it super convenient. With our package we received complimentary breakfast. They have a special menu for the comp breakfast with really good options but for sure way more options on the regular menu. I also had dinner there one night that we were too tired to leave the premises. I honestly had no complaints; customer service was always good the environment was chill and relaxing. At night they have live music playing. You have the option to sit at the bar our tables. service was always quick. Breakfast: Island fruit Parfait: 10/10 always fresh and light for an active full day Avocado toast: 10/10 bomb, make sure you had the egg on top. most days me and my husband ordered the avocado toast and fruit bowl to share. The best of both worlds Big Briddah Burrito: 9/10 tasty and very filling Hawaiian style eggs benedict: 9 1/2 / 10 soo yummy but very heavy. Make sure you are just relaxing after that meal POG Juice- is a must a perfect fruity blend of pineapple, orange and Guava juice Dinner: I really only got appetizers to try due to kitchen was closing soon. Killer Bread- 7/10 large portion with lots of cheese, very greasy and left a greasy after taste. But yummy in the moment. KKPG Nachos: I added chicken to them and I would say they were a normal nacho platter. Another big portion appetizer could easily feed about 3 people. loved this place. read more

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We loved it! We will be going back again for sure! Service, Ambiance & Food was on point! So ono! read more

Kani Ka Pila Grille - Hawaiian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Pleasantly surprised by great food & drinks. Made reservations a day ahead for dinner. Our table was the furthest away next to the pool chairs. I was like what the heck but the food made up for it. Yummy guava margaritas & the Cool breeze drink was good too. 5 star perfection... the onion rings, the burger, the pineapple creme brûlée & the chicken tender kids meal. The best chicken tenders, moist, big & yummy batter. Huge portion. The Asian chopped salad was good too with very fresh lettuce. Service was great although a bit on the slow side as our server was running around covering a bunch of tables but he worked so hard & we weren't in a hurry. Fabulous live Hawaiian music. read more

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4 nights in Waikiki and we enjoyed dinner here twice. Cannot beat the atmosphere and the live music. Super friendly service (shout out to the best hostess Lee Ann (LeeAnn? Lianne?) who remembered us and was so kind. Recommend making a reservation. Short rib dish easily one of the best dishes I've ever had. My toddler son really loved both of his dinners from the keiki menu (burger/fries, pasta/ meatballs) and I enjoyed eating his leftovers too. My toddler would like everyone to know the ketchup is amazing. Also recommend the loco moco. Did I mention the nightly music is epic? Also love that they offer a 15% discount via QR code on the menu. Can't wait to come back for dinner here next time we're on the island. read more

Nice little spot in the outrigger. Whether you are staying here or just looking for a spot to grab a drink or bite to eat. This is a nice chill spot. Not a big bar but a large seating area with live music. Close to Hilton Hawaiian village for Friday nite fireworks. The pineapple crème brûlée is awesome!! Mikey took care of us at the bar. I really enjoyed my Mai tai. And wife had a Prosecco. Sports on télé and close to pool. But we went in evening time so not many kids in pool. Could be really loud during day with a different pool bar vibe. Aloha read more

Kani Ka Pila Grille - At the bar - Hawaiian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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This place is nice for the esthetic. There was a live band that was good and the restaurant/hotel is close to the beach. My food was good and the server was super friendly. Would I go here again, maybe, like if I was in a pitch but it would not be a top spot I would visit again. read more

Kani Ka Pila Grille - Chicken with broccolini and mashed potatoes. - Hawaiian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Came here for a lunch since it was close to our hotel. The "restaurant" was basically empty, but it technically wasn't really a restaurant, just a poolside bar/lunch area. After being a bit taken aback by the setting, I was eager to try how the food would taste. I was surprised - in a good way. For starters, we got a light salad and the cheesy garlic bread. The salad was good, but it was a standard salad. The bread was delicious, however it was very cheesy and filling. I'm not the biggest fan of cheese, so maybe that's why the plate wasn't wiped clean. The star was the soft shell crab sandwich. It was light, flavorful, crispy, and worked really well in a burger bun. It also came with fries but they were just alright. We also tried the battered fish sandwich which was this HUGE fried fish on a burger bun with toppings. The fish was less flavorful but the sauce was good. We also got fish tacos that were pretty tasty and the lamb chop, which was not as good. Don't recommend that. Overall, the dishes were decent and very filling! read more

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Wow! We came with a group of 13 for a birthday party and had the greatest time. The atmosphere outside was wonderful, the love band was soo good and the food was delicious. The garlic bread is a must try! The steak was delicious! But absolutely you can not leave here without the pineapple crème brûlée! I can't stop dreaming about it! Our server was phenomenal with the amount of people we had In Our party. read more

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Made reservations this time online and it was super easy. They even notified me that there was going to be different live musicians the night we were coming than the regular Hookena on Saturday night. I ordered the furikake seared Hawaiian ahi because it was so good the last time I came here and it tasted exactly the same. Some people wanted fish and chips and we noticed it wasn't on the menu. Our server mentioned that it was on the pool menu which they serve until 6pm so luckily they were still able to order them. Make sure to get the pineapple crème brûlée for dessert! By the time we left around 7pm, the place was packed and people were waiting for tables. The vibe is very relaxed and there is a good mix of locals and tourist eating. read more

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Treat yourself to a great evening here! You will love the vibe, local music, and accommodating staff. I had the huli-huli chicken and cheesecake for dessert. Top notch! Decided to sit at the bar and that was the best move ever. Billy made one of the BEST Bloody Mary's I ever had. Ever! Fixed it in front of me in perfect quantities of every ingredient (no I won't tell you his trade secrets, you'll just have to trust me...it is a process). So good I had another. And another. I will continue to patronize this place every time I visit this amazing island. read more

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So having just arrived in Hawaii we thought we'd try the hotel restaurant. It was very good. An assortment of typical bar food and traditional island dishes. Prices were reasonable, with drinks and dessert and coffee and tip we spent about $60/person. The coconut shrimp appetizer was tasty and the shrimp were large - not super noteworthy but got us in the Hawaii mood though the Piña Coladas and Mai Tais helped too. Crusted Ahi was well cooked but the teriyaki sauce was way too salty. I scraped it off the fish and garlic infused mashed potatoes. Huli huli chicken was a tad over cooked (breast was dry) and needed more sauce to finish it. The sauce though was delicious! Fresh catch fish tacos tasted a bit fishy and definitely were not fresh catch. Apart from that they were tasty. Pineapple Creme brûlée was excellent. Overall, food presentation and plating was imaginative and appropriate. Food was cooked quickly and came at a good pace. Service by Kory was exemplary - attentive but not annoying and made good recommendations. read more

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Our family of five ate quite a few times at Kani Ka Pila Grille on our wonderful stay at the Outrigger Reef Hotel. Excellent food and service as well as nightly live Hawaiian music. Highly recommend. read more

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This dining experience was such a mixed bag it's hard to give an overall rating. I made reservations here over a week before an event celebrating the 16th anniversary of the restaurant and was looking forward to a special night. Unfortunately it was very disappointing. First. we were seated behind a concrete barrier so could not see the musicians performing. Second, our server Nicole was very rushed and unfriendly. Thirdly, the nachos we ordered had a gross cheese sauce vs real cheese. However the huli huli chicken I ordered had a really delicious bbq sauce which I enjoyed and the mashed potatoes were the bomb. But the broccolini was burnt. I would have liked to order dessert but really just wanted to get out of there. Overall felt treated poorly and unappreciated. I won't be returning and don't recommend. read more

Kani Ka Pila Grille - Nachos with bad cheese sauce - Hawaiian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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