Hands down the best place on the island to try truly unique dishes! We ended up here completely by accident, and the place was super busy. Even so, they managed to seat and serve us within about 20 minutes, which was impressive. Ambience inside is really cozy. We ordered the ahi katsu, split pea soup with smoked tomato, an ice cream sandwich, and sushi. Everything was absolutely delicious, especially the ahi katsu - easily the standout. There was that much fish we even needed more rice! The sushi had this unreal sauce with roe on top that made it next level. Highly recommend this spot, just make sure to come before 3 pm! read more

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LoveD the Reggie Rings but each time I get it, it's more salty than the last time. Please work on this. Service and ambiance is great+++++ read more

Over 200 reviews and a 4.9 rating -- that's the kind of place that sets expectations high. So yeah, it was only a matter of time before I came in for lunch and finally tried their poke. First impression? Busy. Like, really busy. There was a line just to get inside and then another wait to actually get a table. At first it feels a bit chaotic, and you quickly realize the space is small and probably not designed for this kind of tourist traffic. But here's the twist -- they take your order while you're in line. So by the time a table opens up, your food is already on the way. Total wait for us was about 20 minutes, which honestly felt fair given how packed the place was. Now the food. This was, without exaggeration, the best poke I've had so far. Perfectly fresh fish, balanced seasoning, nothing overdone. Just clean, honest flavors done right. We also ordered a shrimp tempura roll and tomato soup -- everything hit. No weak spots. The kind of food that makes you slow down and immediately think about coming back for more. Pricing deserves a mention too. About $105 for four people, which in today's world -- especially in Hawaii -- feels more than reasonable for this quality. Atmosphere is casual, local, no-frills, but warm. You can tell this place is about the food first, not the show. The only real downside is that they close early (around 3 PM), which is a shame -- this would be an easy dinner favorite too. Bottom line: totally worth the wait. One of those spots where great food makes you forget the line, the crowd, and the limited seating. I'd come back without hesitation. Highly recommended. read more

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My favorite place for lunch. Get the Kauai rolls! Like a grid California roll with bbq and roe. The perfect stop after a Napali coast ride or Waimea canyon hike! Fast & friendly service, a few tables outside and tables inside along with a counter. Well worth the stop!!! Be sure to get cookies and th ginger tea too. read more

An absolute hit, Every. Single. Time. I have literal dreams about Ku'ulei's. You truly can't go wrong with anything on the menu! I love the ahi salad, the tacos & the Reggie rings! My husband is all about the fish & chips with the best fries!! Don't skip on getting desserts! We are not dessert people ever, but always tack on at least one treat here because it is soooo worth it. It gets very busy during peak hours so just show aloha! It's a really cute retro restaurant with limited seating, so we usually get ours to go eat at the beach near by. We stop any time we are on that side of the island & they are open... I physically can't drive by with out my fix. read more

This quiet little local spot captured our attention because one of our group has celiac and we wanted to get the gluten free lilikoi cheesecake. She was not disappointed. The staff was attentive and very friendly. They had a lot of to go orders which seemed like a sign that locals like it too. The Reggie rings were mouthwateringly good. I also had the ahi melt. One group member had the katsu ahi, another the ono fish and chips, Hawaiian plate and our celiac member had the garlic shrimp which was gluten free. I also had the green tea with some house made lemonade. read more

Ku’ulei’s Gourmet - A mural nearby - Soup Near Me - Hanapepe, Hawaii

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The poke bowl was absolutely fabulous! So fresh. The people are so friendly and welcoming. The price is so reasonable. And the cookies are amazing too!! I had an Ono sandwich which was great. I definitely will be back. read more

Stopped by after a hike and loved the cozy, casual vibe--just a few tables, friendly chatter, and fans to keep things cool. With only a couple of staff members, it can take a bit to get seated if it's busy and you're dining in, but the warm service makes up for it. The Hungarian mushroom soup was creamy, savory, and comforting. You get a choice of rice or focaccia--went with the bread, and it paired perfectly. My friend got the creamy pesto pasta, which came in a generous portion--enough for two meals. The poke bowl was a little on the salty side but fresh and hit the spot post-hike. The ahi katsu was delicious--crispy, sweet, and salty, served with a light, crunchy salad and delicious mac salad. We also shared a double chocolate macadamia nut ice cream sandwich, which they kindly helped cut in half for us. The calamansi limeade was a refreshing finish--tart, cool, and not too sweet. Friendly, helpful service--someone even offered to refill our water bottle. Would definitely return! read more

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Totally worth the wait! Yes, it was a bit hot inside, but the food made up for it 100%. Everything came out fresh and hot. I had the ahi katsu and WOW -- perfectly cooked with a crispy crust and amazing flavor. This place is a little gem tucked away in Hanapepe. It looked like a group of sisters were running it, and they were doing an awesome job. They had a great flow going in the kitchen and you could tell they really care about what they're serving. I wish I had room for dessert -- it's made in-house and looked sooo good. Next time for sure! We're already talking about coming back. Highly recommend if you're in the area or taking a drive. read more

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I don't care what you're doing or where you are on the island, you come eat here. Cute place, no AC but no matter, this is the spot. Family owned place that has great service and great food. People keep rolling in and great food rolls out. We got the Reggie rings and ahi katsu and they were so delicious. I've never had either of these but they did it so right. Crab, ahi poke, onion rings? Yeah, that's the one. If you don't eat here, you missed out.... read more

Ku’ulei’s Gourmet - Reggie Rings - Soup Near Me - Hanapepe, Hawaii

There is a reason they have a 4.8 rating. They have great customer service, good prices, and a nice vibe to the place. Excellent fish and chips and salads. H says the best Eggplant Parmesan he has ever had and he has had a lot. Banana pie was excellent too! read more

Super good creamy pesto pasta with shrimp. Made it in just before they closed at 3pm. Caesar salad hit the spot. Cool location next to a bunch of shoppes. read more

Ku’ulei’s Gourmet - Soup Near Me - Hanapepe, Hawaii

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Food was ono (Delicious)! I had the pastelle plate with the homemade lemonade and cookies to go. Everything was perfect. Service with Aloha cant say enough good things about this place! I will be going back there next time I'm on Kauai. read more

Always wonderful, creative and delicious foods made and served with lots of Aloha! I loved the Ahi Katsu and ice cream sandwich! read more

Ku’ulei’s Gourmet - Ahi Katsu - Soup Near Me - Hanapepe, Hawaii

Cajun Seared Ahi was amazing! Service - on point with lots of Aloha! Nice little place in Hanapepe!

Food: Very delicious! The Poke tasted so good and the Ahi Katsu is crispy! The Ahi Katsu comes with a small scoop of poke and salad; aside from it's a bit too salty with the sauce, the meal is beyond and above! Service: probably the most welcoming and sweet staff we've met here on the island. Ambiance: very Hawaiian and homey. They only have fans so it's a bit warm indoor, but it's already a lot better than outside. read more

Ku’ulei’s Gourmet - Soup Near Me - Hanapepe, Hawaii

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The service was a bit slow because there was only one server for the entire dining area, but she did her best and seated us and took our orders asap. All the menu items were printed on paper and hung on display boards. We ordered a poke bowl and the fish and chips, both were delicious. The poke bowl came with the wasabi sauce and it really packed a kick. My fish and chips came with Ono and the texture was firm but enjoyable. Next time I'd like to order the Menehube meal as it offered various small items. BTW, their chocolate and macadamia nut cookie was so good! Overall, it's a cute little place with a very friendly server. We enjoyed our meal here and would recommend it. read more

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So happy we stumbled upon Ku'ulei's Gourmet when looking for lunch in Hanapepe! We were able to get a seat at the bar area, which was really cool. The two servers were really friendly and attentive to all of the customers. My husband and I shared both the Reggie Rings (after seeing so many positive yelp reviews!) and the Da Tita Roll. The Reggie Rings are so unique and totally live up to the hype! They were soooooo good!! The Da Tita Roll was really good too, but I wasn't a fan of the citrus miso sauce with the fish. My husband LOVED it though! I still enjoyed the pieces that had less of the sauce on them :) The food was all REALLY FRESH and prepared with love. The presentation was on point, even though the food was served in to-go containers. We also got the Calamansi limeade, per recommendation of the server. It was so delicious, we even got one to go when we were done with our lunch. We were in a little before noon on a Friday, and it was a steady flow of customers both dining in and getting to-go orders. Should we find ourselves in Hanapepe again, we wouldn't dare miss this place!! read more

Food was so tasty and great. Service was warm and sweet and full of local love. Cute place and love their menu in that you can have a cup of soup, small salad entrees, etc. Their ahi poke bowl was the best we had on the island. Would say this was our hands down best local food experience. Prices are more than reasonable (bonus). read more

Incredible food and service!! Came here a year ago from the mainland and got a poke bowl with SO MUCH tuna. This year I got the Reggie roll it was unbelievable the portion was huge! Love this place. read more

Ku’ulei’s Gourmet - Ahi Tuna Melt - Soup Near Me - Hanapepe, Hawaii

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Delicious food! Friendly staff. Had the garlic shrimp, poke bowl, and fish & chips! Food was fresh and so tasty! Finished lunch with an ice cream sandwich which was heaven. read more

True aloha spirit here. My family and I stumbled upon this place after it was recommended by one of the shop owners on the block. The food was incredible, reasonably priced for quality ingredients, and truly the best food on the island! I will be dreaming about the Reggie rings until our next trip back here and will be recommending this spot to all of our family and friends! Mahalo for the hospitality and delicious food! The mother and daughters were so kind and the restaurant itself was so charming ! 10/10, go now! read more

Ku’ulei’s Gourmet - Reggie's rings!! Never had anything like this before! - Soup Near Me - Hanapepe, Hawaii

Tucked into an older building, the draw of this Cafe was homemade pastries, but after reading the menu, we chose to have a light bite before dessert. First up, a hearty Portugese bean soup. Soups come in three sizes: cup $5, bowl $10, or quart $20 A variety of salads are also in $6 and $12 sizes. Poke bowl. Dessert - passion fruit cheesecake. Excellent food! Worth the stop! read more

Ku’ulei’s Gourmet - Portugese bean soup - Soup Near Me - Hanapepe, Hawaii

We enjoyed Reggie's rings and Hungarian mushroom soup. Reggie's rings are battered onion rings with Ahi poke topping. Serving size was healthy and rings (really 'pucks' of multiple quarter ring pieces) were not over battered. Ahi was proportional and tasty, as were the other poke ingredients. Mushroom soup was tasty, with lots of mushrooms. read more

The food was absolutely amazing. So good that I didn't even think to take a photo to share. We enjoyed the Poke bowl, Pastele plate, and soft shell crab roll. Every bite into each dish would fill your pallet with an explosion of flavors. This is an absolute MUST visit if you're anywhere on the Island. Service matched the food with kindness. read more

Casual spot for lunch. Service is very friendly but a bit slow (the place seems lightly staffed). The chicken sandwich was a bit salty and too greasy (the bread was lightly fried), but the sushi was decent. Iced tea was also very refreshing. read more

We loved this place. You walk in and order off the menu on the wall . Many were doing take out. It's an inside location you can sit and eat in. Food is served in disposable containers and glass drinking cups. Food is great!! read more

Ku'ulei's was incredible we had the bombas and the Ahi the flavors of the sauces and the vibe is so aloha we will definitely be back to enjoy Ku'uleis beautiful smile and her moms too!!! It's a definite must try plus the the cute town of Hanapepe won't disappoint. read more

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I live kauai all my life and been to almost everywhere there is to eat and This is the most awesome restaurant on island. The best warm friendly service with aloha. Very delicious and healthy food. With very reasonable prices we love it and will make our way back soon. read more

Ku’ulei’s Gourmet - Ahi melts. Da best! - Soup Near Me - Hanapepe, Hawaii

Located in historic town of Hanapepe, this place is a great option for yummy food and super nice staff! The vibe inside is an old town diner/cafe, with a really lovely menu. I went with the "local plate", but they had multiple options of salads, other plates, soups, and really yummy sounding homemade lemonades! My plate had really delicious pork and fresh ahi, and poi! They included free snickerdoodle cookie which was a nice surprise. Parking is easy out-front street parking, all along the quaint Main Street. I would absolutely come back here! Also the staff were super friendly, inviting, and happy to accommodate my dietary preferences (let me swap my rice for green salad). Thank you! read more

Ku’ulei’s Gourmet - Local plate: - ahi poke - shredded pork - mixed greens (swapped rice) - macaroni salad - poi - came with a free cookie! - Soup Near Me - Hanapepe, Hawaii

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The food (we had soup and salads) was decent, the soup was a bit salty. The staff was friendly and we were seated on time and our food got to us quickly. One thing odd was that all good is served in takeout containers. read more

Great casual spot. We all had a fish taco and a shrimp taco with chips and salsa. We really like the food. This was an excellent lunch spot. read more

Ku’ulei’s Gourmet - The menu boards. - Soup Near Me - Hanapepe, Hawaii

Lucky to find this place open for a late lunch. We arrived in Hanapepe right at 2:30 and everywhere we wanted to try was closed (Bobbie's closes at 2 and Japanese Grandmas Cafe closed at 2:30) so we popped in Ku'ulei out of desperation. They have a broad menu including Mac and cheese for kiddos, soups, salads, fish and chips, pastas and sandwiches and tons of yummy baked goods. Great ambiance mixing clean feeling in a historic building. They have a fun bar or tables to sit at. The Calamansi drink was refreshing and a bit like lemon and lime and not sweet at all...flavor was subtle. Ahi katsu was tender and the breading had perfect crunch. Onagi sauce was a bit overpowering. It came with a small salad and rice. Small salad was very generous size and husband thought he likely could have just had the chicken Caesar but he did enjoy the pesto shrimp and it came with really well seasoned focaccia. read more

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So Delicious! Everything! Husband had the best meal of his life here. I'm trying not to be offended, lol.

Very friendly and clean but the food is OMG. Please please try the Bombas. first come first serve. It runs out fast so please go early to try it. Highly recommend it. I would totally go back and eat it when I go to Kauai again. read more

Ku’ulei’s Gourmet - Soup Near Me - Hanapepe, Hawaii

What a great find. Many spots are not open Tuesday's so we were lucky that they were open. Menu is a great variety and servers were friendly and knowledgeable. Each item on the menu sounded better than the next. I got the lunch special and it was freshly made soup, fresh vegetable salad, delicious bread and half a California roll. The hubs got the garlic shrimp and couldn't be happier. Don't forget the incredible unsweetened iced tea with great flavor. Very reasonably priced for the options, portions and area. We will add this to our must stop list for sure. read more

Food: 5/5 Service: 10/5 We've become lovers of this family and their business. It's a sweet small eatery that serves local food and the mother-daughters team have the hospitality of angels. Fair warning that even with their team in the back of the house, staff is small so please allow them patience and grace (they're working hard and doing their best to cook+serve food & still be very attentive to guests) + parking and seatings can be limited during lunch rush. They close at 3pm and towards the end of their day they do run out of menu items (because they're that good & have so many loyal returning customers), so if you're set on something, get their before 12:30. If you're local, take into account tourist season and you'll find days/times where it's quiet and you can enjoy your meal in the homey atmosphere. So far we've had their Reggie Rolls, Reggie Rings, Ahi Salad, Hungarian soup, (HUGE) snickerdoodle cookies - all wonderful great filling portions for everything too! The only time you will leave disappointed is because you came too late and the thing you "wanted" was already sold out, but I encourage you to give their other items a try because they're all made to perfection and with much love. We love supporting local and hope Ku'ulei's is here for many more years to come! read more

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I had quite a memorable experience here... We ordered the Hungarian mushroom soup ($5 for a cup), small Greek salad ($6), spinach and eggplant lasagna ($15), ginger cookie ($3), and a calamansi limeade ($3). The mushroom soup was pretty good. We added some tabasco sauce and felt like the extra kick made it even better. The veggies in the Greek salad were fresh, but the dressing was a tad too oily for my liking and not enough tang. The lasagna came with a small side of house salad and I enjoyed the dressing for it. It also included a few pieces of focaccia bread. It's quite a large serving, so I could only finish half of my meal. I actually ended up getting 2 orders of this because the first time, a chicken jumped onto our table and stole a few bites of my food. I didn't want to eat it anymore since I wasn't sure what the chicken had touched, but was super disappointed as I hadn't even tried a bite of my lasagna yet. When I mentioned this to the worker, they graciously replaced my entree. The ginger cookie was phenomenal. I've been trying to stay away from sugar, but made an exception because it's hard enough to find ginger cookies! This one was just the right amount of chewiness and the ginger flavor was on point. Plus, it's a decent size for the price. I'm actually still working on it as I write this review. Calamansi limeade wasn't too sweet and was actually a little tart. I had inquired whether it was going to be super sugary, but the worker stated it wasn't. I took her word and was pleasantly surprised. Overall, the food was decent and we would come back. Seating is a bit limited as there's only 2 small tables outside. Just be wary of any chickens lingering outside the restaurant. If one comes close by and stares at you/your food, just get up and shoo it away. Otherwise, you'll risk your meal getting tainted. read more

Got their katsu, was super delicious. All of my friends got tasty plates as well, fish and chips, sushi rolls, etc. would definitely go there again! read more

Best restaurant experience on the island, and that's saying a lot considering all the great restaurants we've been to. It's in an old classic diner, so you have the cute coffee bar seating and a handful of tables closer to the door. Fantastic service from the family running the place. Very personable. They answered all questions from all patrons graciously. The food was amazing. The ahi katsu was crunchy and meaty. No fishiness to note. The poke side and the poke entree were both on the salty side but still very fresh and very delicious. The Portuguese bean soup was filling and delicious on its own, great for a stew lover. The lemongrass tea has a big ginger kick, so be aware of that. My wife wasn't a big fan, but it helped my stomach settle. 10/10 we would come back. read more

Ku’ulei’s Gourmet - Soup Near Me - Hanapepe, Hawaii

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