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    Kokee Lodge

    4.0 (236 reviews)
    Closed 9:30 am - 4:30 pm

    Kokee Lodge Photos

    Business Info

    KOKEE LODGE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Live music
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Kokee Lodge

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    Portuguese bean soup
    Kimberly H.

    We like it here. It was our 2nd time. Service has been very nice. Its the only place to eat when u come up to Waimea Canyon but its beautiful and has a cozy library type of feel. I read Plato to my daughter here the first time and Shel Silverstein Falling Up and a Keiki Hawaii book the second time. You can tell they care about the food and service. We heart you Koke'e Lodge.

    Gus M.

    This place was awesome! We're surrounded by beautiful forest, meadows, and wild chickens throughout!! The service was prompt and excellent! I had a cheeseburger, we had some loaded, mashed potatoes, and the grilled cheese sandwich with the soup. I highly recommend this place, though you may not have many options out here. They have Wi-Fi so I am reporting directly from there.

    Poke bowl and kahlua pork both are a must
    Kim T.

    We almost didn't stop here! On a tour through Waimea Canyon getting our hike on and we had planned to get food on the way back to our hotel. The plan was to do one more hike so we decided to stop for food fuel and so glad we did! Love the general store when you walk in, ended up getting some cool bamboo stickers there. Got in line to order and got to listen to some beautiful music being sung live! Staff was incredibly friendly! Food: Poke bowl : the best one I had my entire trip to Kauai! The veggies and pickled items that came with it were a perfect pair! Kahlua pork, that extra crisp gave such great flavor and texture! Best I also had on the island! I noticed there were some cabins nearby so I would consider a stay that way if you want a quiet remote experience!

    Blackened fish
    Amber G.

    Very nice little spot for this location. They have free wifi, which is awesome because there is no cell service. Live music was also fantastic Food was very good, we got the blackened fish and the garlic aioli was so good we asked for extra. The view is beautiful. Gift shop. A museum. Clean bathrooms

    Pork chop
    Will W.

    Kokee Lodge is a cozy cabin type structure in Waimea Canyon State Park serving up home style Hawaiian and Polynesian cuisine. I ordered the Kalua Pork with rice and purple potato (taro). My sister ordered the pork chop, which I tried a bit and it was very good tender and juicy. My parents split the chili. I thought that was pretty good as well. But it was just chilly and nothing special. The one thing I will say is the food was extremely salty and could have been significantly less. I think the service was pretty good, friendly but nothing much more than that. The best thing I ate was the lilikoi chiffon. It was light and fruity and not overly sweet. Personality was not recommend going to Kokee Lodge but it's the only readily available place to get food in the park.

    Smashed potatoes aioli on the side
    Catherine P.

    We got here early before 10 am on a Wednesday. There were people roaming around the area because nothing else was open. Once Kokee Lodge opened, everyone was in line waiting to order food. We were first in line to order at the register. Their menu is a bit of everything from curry, to chili, and kahlua pig. We ordered the chili, smashed potatoes, strata, and grilled cheese (that came with a cup of tomato bisque). For drinks I wanted to try their matcha latte. The food came out nothing 10-15 minutes. I really liked the strata because of the veggies and flavor. The salad was light and not filling. The grilled cheese was good because of the sourdough bread - nice and tangy. The tomato bisque I enjoyed but some didn't like it. It was probably because of the amount of cream in soup. I also enjoyed the smashed potatoes with aioli. The kids enjoyed the chili with rice which is a Hawaii thing. But there is an option for corn bread. The interior of the restaurant is huge and very inviting, almost like a home. There is a gift shop located inside as well which helped pass the time waiting for our food. Parking can get a little crowded but we got there early enough for a spot. Overall we were happy to make the long drive from Lihue and be able to stop at a place in Waimea to get a fresh/hot meal. I would like to note that I had no reception while at the lodge and had to send a text to my husband who was hiking in the area via satellite notifying him where we were. My iPhone 17 pro was able to do it with Verizon but not sure if other carriers/phone versions have this option. If you are meeting another group, make sure to have a scheduled plan.

    Vivian L.

    Highly rec stopping here for food while you're visiting. I had the loco moco 10/10!!! If I go back I will be reordering. Had coconut pie for dessert. Dried shaved coconut with chocolate drizzle. It was good but will try the passion fruit cream pie next time. There's a small gift shop inside lodge as well. Restrooms available and well kept.

    Waimea Canyon
    Tony B.

    Great spot at the end of the road at the top of Waimea Canyon. For lunch, cocktails, and other provisions after a half day or so of scenic lookouts and small hikes. Very comfortable, great staff, good food and drinks. Perfect for what it is ... a nice reward at the end of the road. (And you MUST get the cornbread.)

    Grilled cheese, tomato soup, chili, and cornbread
    Kaselynn F.

    When you picture Kauai you don't typically imagine a cozy cabin in the woods, so I stop every time I make my way down the mountain. After a cold and windy hike there's nothing better than a bowl of chili by the fire. The live music is always amazing and there isn't a single item on the menu I've had that didn't hit the spot! The cornbread is a MUST and just know that if you have one cookie, you're going to want several more! They have free WiFi, wonderful staff, and amazing coffee.

    Monday, 8/4/25
    Sam R.

    Monday, 8/4/2025 - checked out Kokee Lodge. Address is 3600 Kokee Rd, Waimea, HI 96796. We were driving around and exploring Kauai. Saw this and stopped by here. There was a little museum across from the lodge. We didn't go into the museum. But we did grab some drinks to cool off in Kokee Lodge. There a little market in there, someone singing, and a lithe restaurant.

    Burger
    Rebekah T.

    The Kokee Sate Park is beautiful, we have made a point to go on each trip that I have taken to Kauai. It's a really pleasant place to be and I love the grassy area. Each time we also make a point to eat at the Kokee Lodge. It's always been a good place to stop, but this last time both the food and service were not great. The first thing we noticed was the menu was reduced, so there were not as many options as before. That was ok, we managed to order a burger and a pulled pork plate. The food was pretty bland. The service was just lacking, I'm not sure what happened that day, but I was met with frustration and rudeness from the littlest things. I asked for a paper cup for my child, even offering to pay for it and not one but two people gave me a hard time for asking. I get back to my table and the food is served, the server asks if we need anything else and I asked for a spoon. She gave me an awful look for asking her to go grab something that was not accessible for me to grab myself. We left just feeling like it's just not the same as the previous visits. We spent over $60 on lunch, only to feel unwelcomed and let down. Oh well, we decided next time we will still visit the park, but pack our own lunch to enjoy.

    You coming down from Waimea
    Lori P.

    We've been to this restaurant on each of our Kauai trips and it's been consistently excellent after our hikes and a must see when visiting Waimea. We hiked the canyon trail this trip a little over 3 1/2 miles of decent elevation gain and loss, and we were hungry to say the least. This lodge reminds me of my hometown in Reno Nevada and is something that you might see at Lake Tahoe. It is woodsy and quaint with large Hawaiian Christmas trees around a beautiful grassy green area at the top of Kokee road / Waimea canyon. I had the line caught panko mahi-mahi fresh special bowl with a glass of crisp and light Pinot Grigio and my husband had their classic burger with an IPA on tap. We sat at the bar and got to talk to the owner and learn about the longtime family owned restaurant that had been resurrected and brought back to life. There was wonderful live music playing on this day which was a treat during the lunch hour. The grounds are beautiful as well. There were a lot of folks that were just enjoying the large grassy area, picnicking. They were busy this day and we were able to sit at the bar without a reservation. Waimea is cooler bring a light rain jacket! We hope to be back again soon!

    Ange M.

    Had a quick weekend getaway to Kauai over the weekend for the Waimea Town Christmas Parade and wanted to go up to Koke'e to get some fresh mountain air. We drove up to the Kalalau lookout to get some views and then went back down to the Koke'e Lodge for breakfast. When you get to the restaurant you order at the counter and then you seat yourself. I decided to order Pancakes, Portuguese Sausage and Eggs and a Midnight Magic coffee (4 Shots Espresso) Everything was so delicious. The restaurant is so warm and inviting, the vibe is really relaxing that you forget that you're in a restaurant. Everyone that works here is so friendly too. This restaurant is a must if you are visiting Koke'e!

    Kalua Plate

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    Page 1 of 6

    Ask the Community - Kokee Lodge

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    Ama

    Ama

    4.1(1k reviews)
    11.4 mi
    $$

    We had reservations, were seated immediately. The setting is stunningly beautiful (even though low…read morelying misty clouds covered a lot of the mountain) - we were seated under the open air porch. We shared the large green papaya salad - fresh crunchy and delicious - and the chicken satay bowl (roasted Jidori chicken thighs, bok choy, soft egg*, scallions, sweet peppers, chili crisp broccoli and a peanut, coconut, satay sauce) - both were fabulous. We also had the sake flight - unique and fun to try. Highly recommend!

    We love coming here, we make a reservation every time we are in town. They used to have beautiful…read morecocktails (I still have photos on my phone!) but they've changed their menu and now they are all on the rocks. My server suggested that the bartender could easily make my requested drink as it is a full service bar, but when I went up to the bartender he seemed so pissed that I would even ask for something off menu! I get that he didn't want to make a drink with egg whites (why?? they are so good, and a good sour is a classic cocktail). But it was his tone and attitude that just seemed so off.. I've never met a bartender who didn't like engaging with a customer (maybe sub in condensed coconut milk if you don't want to use egg whites?). All in all, that completely changed the tone of my night. I felt embarrassed for even asking, and that never should have been the case.

    Photos
    Ama
    Ama - Brussels sprouts

    Brussels sprouts

    Ama - Mocktails- Brazilian limeade & AMA P.O.G

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    Mocktails- Brazilian limeade & AMA P.O.G

    Happy Talk Bar & Restaurant - Pineapple chicken and coconut rice

    Happy Talk Bar & Restaurant

    3.7(682 reviews)
    12.1 mi
    $$

    Such a cool place with amazing music and atmosphere! Huge shoutout to the musician who was covering…read moremodern hits in a Hawaiian style - honestly, that alone is worth coming here for. The bar bites were also really good. We ordered the coconut shrimp and chicken wings, and the wings were so tasty we ended up getting a second order. Service was great and respectful. My friends got beer and really enjoyed it. I ordered a cocktail and didn't have the best luck with it - lots of ice and a bit too bitter for my taste. I wouldn't recommend the Hanalei Sour. One thing to note: the restroom isn't inside the bar, it's on the hotel property, so you'll need to take a short walk. Overall, I'd recommend this place mainly for the vibe and live music - such a fun experince!

    If only the food tasted as good as the setting of this restaurant looks, it'd be a five star dining…read moreexperience. Unfortunately, we don't eat the restaurant setting, so this is a 2 star experience instead. Came in with a group of 4, and between all of us we ordered: 1.) Coconut Shrimp 2.) Homemade Mac-Nut Hummus 3.) Fried Calamari N' Shrimp 4.) Happy Talk Loco-Moco 5.) Happy Talk Smash Burger 6.) Volcano Poke I only got to try #'s 1-4, and from those, only the hummus was any good. Unfortunately, the loco-moco was bland. There was no seasoning, and there was no flavor. My party seemed to really enjoy the burger and that was probably the best food from what we ordered. Overall, I wasn't happy with the meal and would give this a 2/5

    Photos
    Happy Talk Bar & Restaurant - Dinner seating is adjacent to the upper level bar.

    Dinner seating is adjacent to the upper level bar.

    Happy Talk Bar & Restaurant - Lava Cake with ice cream

    Lava Cake with ice cream

    Happy Talk Bar & Restaurant - Bali Hai Tai!  Yuuuum....

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    Bali Hai Tai! Yuuuum....

    Kokee Lodge - cocktailbars - Updated May 2026

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