This is the spot! The portions are diner style for sure. My wife and one daughter could have shared the chicken katsu plate. The food was authentic, local and fulfilling. I had the pineapple chicken which came with two scoops rice and scoop of macaroni salad. I couldn't finish the last half scoop of rice but crushed the rest. The pineapple chicken wasn't overly sweet and chicken was tender. I'd eat here once a week if we had a spot like this in San Diego. My family had chicken katsu plate, chicken teriyaki plate and a grilled cheese. This is a totally family and kid friendly spot. Staff feels family run and very high quality service. When we visit Kauai again - this spot will be on the list. read more

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We had such a great experience at Kauai Diner that we ended up eating here multiple times during our trip for both breakfast and lunch. Every meal was outstanding. The food was consistently fresh, flavorful, and clearly made with care. The service was just as impressive. Everyone was friendly, welcoming, and attentive, making us feel right at home each time we visited. If you're looking for great quality food, generous portions, and excellent service, Kauai Diner is a must-visit. We'll definitely be back the next time we're on Kauai. Highly recommended! read more

This is a real local kine find a short distance from the airport and Costco which makes it convenient if you are like me getting ready to hop a red-eye flight back to the mainland. You can fill your rental car at Costco and then fill your belly with one last local style plate here before heading to the airport. It really has a local diner feel and I would equate it to a family run and owned type of place. The menu is surprisingly large and varied. They have breakfast items, ramen, oxtail soup, burgers and sandwiches, and even some dim sum items on offer. They have a small amount of parking in their private lot, the prices are reasonable for Kaua'i, the service is friendly and quick, and I even caught the local cops eating here which is always a good indicator of where you can get a decent meal just about anywhere in the world. There was mostly a local crowd in the place when I went which also speaks highly for it as a good choice for good food at decent pricing. The 1 or 2 tables of obvious tourists in the place seemed to be seasoned vets of visiting the Islands and were clearly in the know about this place. Otherwise, you aren't likely to find a lot of non-locals here which also speaks highly of the place if you are looking for a locally authentic meal Nothing fancy to report here. But it is a satisfying place to get your full belly on to put you in the mood for the overnight nap on the plane back to reality. read more

Kaua’i Diner - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Lihue, Hawaii

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Actually ended up eating at this location and the one near Koloa town. It has a pretty big menu so great for the family. I enjoyed the Hawaiian combo with Pork lau lau and Kalua pig. My gf did the bbq mix combo which she enjoyed. Decent place with something for everyone read more

Kaua’i Diner - Coconut shrimp with fries - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Lihue, Hawaii

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Locals restaurant close to the airport. Parking is available on site. Food was good. The Loco Moco was very tasty. My guest did not like the fried shrimp. Service was quick and friendly. read more

Kaua’i Diner - Loco Moco - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Lihue, Hawaii

My wife and I had just arrived on the island looking for a good place to eat. We decided to eat here and we're not disappointed. When we got there the parking lot was pretty full, as well as the dining room. You know a place is good when it is frequented by the locals. We got a booth, and had some good food. The staff was very friendly and good service. read more

Of you like good food do not get breakfast here! I ordered eggs Benedict and for the first time ever was served only 1 egg and English muffin! The Holland's was terrible, the egg overcooked. ham was good. Accompanying potatoes were awful. Husband had regular breakfast of scrambled eggs and bacon with same awful potatoes , and horrible coffee! His eggs were also overcooked, despite asking for them soft. Generous portion of bacon. Staff is very nice. Unfortunately a couple of hours later i had horrible explosive diarrhea-on the plane! read more

Lots of locals dining in! Must be good... Only one waitress working the entire restaurant, but doing a commendable job! And she was smiling... After getting our ice water, cutlery and menus, we quickly settled on the French toast breakfast, which included fluffy French toast, bacon, and 2 eggs cooked to order. Ono! Added apple juice to the meal. Happy, full, and satisfied! Woo hoo! read more

Perfect place to start this rainy Kauai weekend! It was 3 minutes away from where we were, the Sixt Rental Cars. They have a great selection of Breakfast and Lunch/Dinner options. The prices are very reasonable! We probably saved $3-10 off each plate coming from Maui. My dad got the LauLau Plate and said the meat was soft and moist and my mom NEVER annihilates her food and she literally ate every bite of her Steamed Fish which was Catfish today. It had this yummy soy or sesame sauce with some green onions and ginger on top. My Oxtail Soup with Rice was perfect for the cold rainy day. Delicious pieces of fall off the bone oxtail and I literally dumped all the cilantro and ginger in the hot broth. Mom and I had a bit of a fuzzy throat so we got the Calamansi Juice with Honey which was delicious! As you sip, you taste pieces of Calamansi and see swirls of seeds and calamansi skin. If you like pulp, you'd enjoy this refreshing drink. We ended the meal with 4 pieces of hot egg tarts! I'm surprised they had them because when I go to Oahu, there's some spots where you special order them on the weekends. Overall, a delicious local spot here in Lihue! read more

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While researching places to eat on Kauai, there is just too much. But after watching a few videos on different social media platforms, it was pretty much the same. I grew up in Hawaii and just wanted to experience the classics. Kauai Diner fulfilled this wish. Initially, I planned for Kauai Diner as our first stop for lunch when we landed as it is less than 10-minutes from the airport. However, my sisters weren't hungry for lunch at the time. On our last day, we decided to stay near the airport area and that's when we were able to have brunch here. From the outside, it doesn't look like much and in fact looks small. However, upon entering, this is a really big restaurant with several large booths. This is definitely a family oriented restaurant. The booth we were sat at could comfortably seat 8-people. The menu is a mix of Chinese, Filipino and Hawaii-style mixed plates. So much to choose from. Sister 1 got her usual lau lau and quietly finished her meal first. Sister 2 got steamed ginger fish that she enjoyed. And she was warned it would take 20-mins which she was fine with. Last sister and I shared a burger that was good but not as good as Kenji's, ramen that warmed our belly's, chives pancake that was just ok. And what helped us find Kauai Diner was the ube pancake. Not sure why and had experienced at other places, ube pancake was ok but the ube syrup was really good and 4-sister approved. The staff here are helpful and really nice. Prices fair and restaurant had a lot of natural lighting, plenty of large windows. If I lived here, this would be one of my favs. 5-stars for this experience. read more

Kaua’i Diner - Ube pancake, wonton ramen, scallion pancake, cheese burger and lau lau - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Lihue, Hawaii

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I visited Kaua'i Diner in Līhuʻe, Kauaʻi, Hawaii [4201 Rice St] on Wednesday, 01/21/26, around 1 PM. I decided to place a takeout order. For lunch, I got the Hawaiian Beef Stew, which came with two scoops of rice and one scoop of macaroni salad. The stew was incredibly flavorful. It was delicious especially when poured over the rice. The macaroni salad was tasty as well. My only minor complaint was that the potatoes and carrots were a bit undercooked and slightly hard, which made the stew a little less enjoyable. However, the overall flavor and the tender beef chunks were definitely the saving grace. The restaurant was fast and efficient in preparing my order; it was ready within 15 minutes after calling it in. The staff members were friendly, and the interior had a cozy, welcoming feel, just like a diner should. Overall, Kauaʻi Diner is a solid place to visit for good-tasting food while in Līhuʻe. read more

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We needed something open at 5:30am to grab breakfast after working all night - tired and hungry. Kaua'i Diner delivered exactly what we needed. I ordered a spam and egg sandwich on white bread with an orange juice. Simple yet perfect. The bread was toasted just right, with the perfect amount of egg and spam, plus some mayo. I added ketchup and it hit the spot. The restaurant was easy to find with plenty of parking in their lot (granted, it was 5:30 in the morning, so not exactly rush hour). There was plenty of seating available in booths, giving it that classic diner feel - comfortable and no-frills. Service was quick, which we really appreciated given how hungry we were. If you need a solid, early morning breakfast spot that's open when most places aren't, Kaua'i Diner is a great choice. Nothing fancy, just good food served fast. read more

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We saw this place driving by and after checking their website, we came for dinner. Kauai Diner has what visitors look for: good food, nice atmosphere, late hours, and plenty of parking. Serving breakfast starting at 6 and closing dinner at 9:30, 7 days is remarkable for a place that's not a bar or in a resort. Their menu covers Hawaiian classics and Japanese favorites. We had the curry katsu and the katsu salad. The chicken katsu is light, crunchy, and not oily. The Japanese style curry is a classic. The salad of romaine, carrots, cucumbers, and tomato is fresh and tasty with the sesame dressing. There are plenty of booths inside that can seat parties from 2 to 8. Service is friendly, quick, and efficient. We liked the photos of old Kauai on the walls. They serve Hawaiian classics like lau lau, kahlua pork, and loco moco. This is a gem for anyone wanting a good meal of local favorites in a friendly atmosphere. read more

Kaua’i Diner - Curry katsu on the far side and katsu salad on the near side. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Lihue, Hawaii

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DEC2025 Swung through for breakfast, easy to get seating. There was plenty of parking in the parking lot. Solid place tho, service was great. Made us feel like we were hanging out with someone's asian grandma. It was laid back, and we were checked in on frequently even when it got busy later. My partner got the filipino scrambled and I got the veggie omelette with a stack of ube pancakes to share. Compatriots ordered the filipino scrambled also along with a loco moco. The food is solid and comes out pretty quickly. The veggie omelette was cooked well with eveggies easy to eat and bite through. The sausage for the filipino breakfast had a good savory touch and a nice texture change for the meat inside. The loco moco was prepared well, burger nice and tender and the gravy a good mixer. The ube pancakes were nice since it wasn't too sweet. We left the syrup on the side to dip into but it was pretty thick in retrospect. Overall, easy spot for everything. read more

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We love coming here!.This place has nice dining area.Cool,comfortable, and spacious.Service is good!.Friendly and attentive but the food is really good!!.Well I like it a lot.From the Locomoco,pineapple chicken,The Filipino scrambled egg with Longganisa,The local sampler breakfast,There omelet's,Kalbi ribs and my delicious Oxtail soup.Just to name a few.They have an extensive menu selection.So if your really hungry and want some good local food.Stop by!.You"ll leave with a happy tummy.. read more

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If you're looking for local kine breakfast, this is where you wanna go. I'm not the biggest pancake person, but their Ube Pancakes are something else - the ube sauce on top can look intimidating but it wasn't too sweet at all. I'm looking forward to coming g back, shootz! read more

Kaua’i Diner - Ube Pancakes - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Lihue, Hawaii

A great way to end our vacation and I'm so glad we chose this place. The menu is vast and has something for everyone: Hawaiian, American, Filipino, Chinese, and Japanese. We got the loco moco and macadamia nut pancakes, along with a spam musubi. Great flavor, and the tita serving us was hustling!!! They seem to be very popular and always busy. They also have lots of condiments, including spiced vinegar (sukang maanghang), which I rarely see outside of specifically Filipino joints. It complemented the extra rice from my musubi very well Just wish that the pancakes came smothered in sauce! But there's syrup at each table anyway. read more

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This diner has a breakfast, lunch, and dinner menu. We went for breakfast and had the Loco Moco, Banana pancakes, and Ube pancakes accompanied with eggs, ham, and bacon. The Loco Moco plate was great. The gravy and beef patties were flavorful and the rice and mac salad were great as well. I get mine with sunny side up eggs and they were cooked perfectly. They give plenty of gravy on the dish so nothing is dry. Both versions of pancakes were large and the banana pancakes were the better of the two; they were very fluffy and had plenty of banana in the batter. The Ube were good as well. They also gave a lot of bacon with the meal, like 6-7 pieces. It's definitely a local stop in Lihue, and those are the places I prefer to visit. We would definitely return. read more

If anyone is looking for a late night dinner place after arriving to Kauai, I recommend checking this place out :) It's a quick drive from the airport and easy to find. Highlights: 1. Parking: Private lot in front of the restaurant. 2. Menu: Tons of options! Ranging from typical Hawaiian dishes, Chinese, Japanese and some American. Good option for families and groups! 3. Interior: Very large inside, so plenty of seating for all 4. Food: Tried the mapo tofu and the curry katsu. Both were yummy hearty dishes but the curry katsu definitely was the winner. Just keep in mind the portions are pretty big, so could share a dish if you're not too hungry! Also, did same the musabi. While it was tasty in flavor, musabi fell apart too quickly, making this dish be more of a fork/spoon meal. 5. Service: Quick and attentive staff. Definitely would want to revisit this place again since their brunch menu looks so enticing! read more

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Poor service, food was mediocre do not recommend. Could tell they prefer to serve locals only.

Cute little diner no real frills to look at but food is good. It's close to the airport and if you're wanting food, it's a good selection. read more

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The restaurant is pretty open; plenty of seating. The service was fine as we ordered takeout. The food was delicious and has good portions. Very flavorful and good. The rice was a bit dry but it was still edible. Definitely a good place. However, since we ordered takeout we were charged an extra 45 cents per order because it was takeout; if it wasn't for that 5 stars. read more

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So good!!! Great service, immaculately clean!! Will be back. Great food quality. Cooked to perfection.

A great local joint with delicious food and quick service. We stopped in here on a weeknight to grab a quick bite while running errands. Seated right away and the menu had plenty of choices. I went with the chicken katsu curry and it did not disappoint. The katsu was crispy and the curry sauce warm and hearty. Dishes are simple and just what you need for a simple dinner. Would comeback here in a heart beat, the breakfast options looked great as well. read more

Kaua’i Diner - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Lihue, Hawaii

Update: 6/22/25 Kauai Diner is one of many places we have breakfast at when visiting Kauai. We learned that earlier this year (2025), Kauai diner has new owners. We thank Chris and Amanda for all their hard work and service to all the residence in Kauai all these years. It appears that everything is status quo. The current staff was still working there. The service was prompt, and our server was friendly and helpful. The breakfast food served was still very good. We recommend giving Kauai Diner a visit for breakfast or lunch when you're in Lihue. read more

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Want to eat where the locals eat? This is the spot! Hawaiian and Chinese food available. This is an older diner, nothing fancy but the food is delicious. We always try to stay away from the touristy restaurants and get local food. Pricing fair, lunch plates large. Just plan to be served on Island time.. read more

Kaua’i Diner - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Lihue, Hawaii

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We stopped by at just after 6:00am on a Friday morning and several parties were already there. By the time we left, business was really picking up. I ordered the Sampler Special and my boyfriend went with the Local Sampler Special; both of us had the French toast. We shared, so I got to try all the meats. I didn't care for the Spam, but that's nothing new. The bacon was mediocre, and the rest of the meats were good. The eggs were perfectly cooked. The French toast was very good. The woman who served us was quick, efficient, and no nonsense. There was as a young, entitled woman insisting on ordered something that the diner doesn't serve, and the woman wasn't having it. I appreciated it when saw said, "No." The place was dated, clean, and offered well worn, yet comfortable, booths. ------ We stopped by for breakfast a second time and I'm here to tell you that the ube pancakes are remarkable. Please try them. read more

The food here is great and the portions are generous. I had the dumpling ramen and it was so good. The cook here really knows how to fry correctly because my family ordered fried items and they were crispy but not greasy. There were many locals eating here. The staff were very friendly and courteous. If we had gone earlier in our stay, I would have gone back a few times. read more

Service was great our server's easy to talk to. Ordered the garlic shrimp, and loco moco. Food was okay not very remarkable. The place looked dated but it's okay specially the pictures on the wall are a blast from the past. They had the picture of the hanalei bay pier which I appreciated since I saw it for the first time yesterday. read more

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Dee and Dan are excellent servers. Very sweet. Dee is very friendly & offered advice on where to visit around here as must sees. We ordered snacks of coconut shrimp & banana lumpia's. So very good! Sweet lemon iced tea was really impressive! I don't like tea but this is the first one I tried that I liked. read more

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Genuine authentic local delicious Everything was amazing Very accommodating and attentive Classic look and comfortable read more

This is our second visit to Kauai Diner and our last time it's when our kids were still little but they are now graduated from college :-) This is one of the places that we missed the most on the island of Kauai. They have remodeled since 10 years ago but the inside looks still very familiar to us. Our waitress was very surprised when I showed her photos of our last visits from 10 years ago and we had a fun conversation because she works here forever. We ordered some of the local staples such as loco loco and Silog special, they were very yummy and hit the spot. Definitely a comfort food spot and we love it very much. read more

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Disappointed Experience at Kauai Diner Kauai Diner was the closest option open on a Monday, so we decided to give it a try for breakfast--unfortunately, it didn't live up to our expectations. I ordered the longanisa with fried rice and eggs, hoping for something flavorful. But the longanisa was so dry and overcooked that it barely resembled what it's supposed to taste like. Major letdown. We also ordered the macadamia nut pancakes, but what we got were regular pancakes with bananas on top. I questioned the order, and the server came back with a small handful of macadamia nuts and said, "Now you have macnut pancakes--this is how we make it." What? That's not it. To make things worse, they kept forgetting parts of our order. After a while, I just stopped eating. Sadly, I won't be coming back. read more

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Stumbled upon this gem while looking for a place to eat ox tail soup. Easy access with plenty of parking spaces. Restaurant open and spacious. Seated right away and food served quickly from a friendly wait staff. Everything was delicious and perfectly seasoned!! The clear broth with fragrant aromatics enhanced the wonderful depth of flavor in the soup. There was plenty of Ramen noodles to cradle the soup that were cooked to perfection; however, the ox tail could have been cooked a little longer as I prefer the meat to fall of bones. Comfort food at it's best with reasonable pricing!! Definitely recommend and worth revisiting when we are back in Kauai!! read more

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Kauai is a grand island to visit! Kauai Diner is just another typical diner without its Kauai as its namesake. We went there on the recommendation of our hotel. The food was good - not great though. We grabbed our drinks and found a place to sit. The food came out quick - steaming hot which I love. The noodles were ramen - type and they were a little salty. The protein meats - a combo of pork, beef and tiny shrimps along with fresh veggies were mixed in. Service was fast and furious. As for the ambiance, it's a typical diner vibe. Lots of tables and booths! read more

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Came here to eat after my flight from Oahu, before walking over to the Mokihana Festival, which was conveniently close by. They were very busy, with only two servers and told me to sit anywhere open. There were only two tables free and both were large family size tables. I felt bad taking a whole table since I was alone and there were some families behind me. In any case, I sat down. Even though it was a bit hectic, with the servers running around at times, they took my order quickly and the food came out quick too. The two ladies were hustling, and I appreciated that they were still attentive. It was basic breakfast, hard to go wrong. I'd definitely come here again if in the area. read more

Kaua’i Diner - French Toast breakfast with Bacon and Eggs, and a side of Rice. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Lihue, Hawaii

Super good food here! Their menu has any kine stuff, local, dim sum, ramen. The oxtail soup was super good and the Perrin was huge!!! read more

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Even tho they were closing, we got there late. They still allowed us to order to go. Great Service and food! We be back!

Super fast service, nice casual homey feel, and good food - definitely a place that everyone leaves happy and full-bellied. Filipino items on the menu were a nice change from the usual diner food menu items. The Filipino scrambled eggs with portuguese sausage was something I would happily get again. Silog special was also a hit. Pancake breakfast and french toast breakfasts were good as well. Loco moco was good but just could've used a bit more gravy to coat all the rice. Reliable place for good food near Lihue! read more

I ordered the seafood platter and substituted fries for rice and Mac salad. 2 jumbo shrimp. 1 oyster and catfish with fries. Breading on seafood crunchy and seafood dry and not very good. Oyster was good but one oyster not enough to make up for dry catfish and breading quality very average. Not sure why mahi mahi not used as featured fish when caught everywhere on island and better breading recipe used. Service very good and super clean restaurant. I pick most of my repeat restaurants on quality local seafood and Kauai Diner will not be picked. Local pork recipes look very good. read more