Stopped by on a warm day for some lunch! Extremely fast service -- started off with the Pork Nachos, which were extremely flavorful. The mojitos were also amazing for the heat. The kalbi short rib and the menchi-katsu burger were absolutely divine! Nice spot, good ambiance, and awesome service. A must when visiting this side of town. read more

Kuleana Rum Shack - Short Rib -- Lunch Plate - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Waikoloa, Hawaii

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Rum aficionados don't get your hopes up. The Rum Shack offers four of their own rums and a fairly decent, but not stellar, selection of rums from other countries around the world. There are a few Hawaiian rums that we like, but the Kuleana rums fall short. They are heavy on alcohol and light on flavor. My husband tried their darkest rum, which is a very light yellow in the glass, very alcohol forward and lacking depth of flavor. I had an unmemorable cocktail. It seemed as though the bartenders were not all that well versed in their own rums or mixology in general. As for the food, we ordered the pork and watercress gyoza and the crab rangoon. Both were lacking flavor and substance...not made better by the lackluster, flavorless dipping sauces. To be honest...I've had better from the grocery store freezer section. The restaurant itself is pleasant enough with a nice bar and the ability to accommodate larger parties. We ended up hopping across the street to have some great cocktails and appetizers and Roys. read more

Lunch time at noon on a Tuesday. Four of us ordered two dishes of Pork Nachos and two plates of Fish and Chips. Coolers w/rum and ice cold water for beverages. The food was good. Portions were elfish and overpriced even for Hawai'i, might be the standard for Waikoloa. A nice airy spacious dining area, service was top-notch with attentive servers. Very clean bathrooms and overall a nice, pleasant stop at the Queens Market Center. read more

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If I could give negative stars this would be the time. We can win for happy hour on 5/11/26 at 310 which is advertised from 3-5 pm. We were sat at the bar and within 1 minute of sitting, some guy came from the back, grabbed the bartender and advised that happy hour was changed to 4-5pm only and the menu has been changed. This all happened within a few mins. Within those few mins the bartender came back and pulled the menu from the couple next to us and also took our menu. We asked what was happening and were told it just switched to 4-5 only and this was happening on the fly. We were not advised that they would honor h the e original advertised time and we needed up leaving. This is unacceptable from a restaurant and bar in which customers are coming in and being seated for something in which they changed at the time of. Who ever is in charge of this restaurant should take a closer look at what just happened. They won't last very long doing business like this. I do not recommend going to this bar anytime soon. Do better read more

Kuleana Rum Shack - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Waikoloa, Hawaii

Saw this cute spot at the Queens Market Center and decided to stop in with some friends. Grabbed a seat outside and enjoyed some Hawaiian air. Our server was great especially with answering all of our questions and indecisiveness. Rum flight. Good for the price and really fun to taste test with friends. We had a blast with the flavors. Loco Moco. This was my first time trying this famous Hawaiian dish and I have to say that I was underwhelmed. The short rib was fantastic, but the gravy was very little and not all that flavorful. The dish in itself was missing a lot of flavor and was overall pretty bland. For an over $30 dish, I definitely expected more. Snagged a fish taco from my friend and it was so good. The nachos are noteworthy as well. The sweetness of them were what made the dish stand out from normal nachos. Coconut rum cake was to die for. The best thing I tried all night. read more

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The service was friendly, although a little slow to take our order. Thankfully the food came quick! I really enjoyed my miso butterfish salmon, although the price point was steap. The broth was incredible and the fish bloomed perfectly. My husband had the nacho appetizer and it was nearly a meal in and of itself. I also ordered the miso Caesar salad which was fresh and had cheese crisps, but the dressing was a little heavy handed for my taste. The cocktails were solid, not overly sweet and some innovation. Overall, recommend for a casual yet higher end dining than most of the marketplace fare. read more

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We chose to eat here based on the fact that there weren't many choices in the immediate area and they had good reviews. There were 6 of us and we were there for lunch. Service was good. I had the Kuleana pork nachos. I thought they would be better than what they were. They were disappointing, I had some chunks of fat mixed in with my pork. We also had the Pipi Kaula lumpia. That was not good at all. The others in our party, thought their food was just ok. The restaurant itself was nice. read more

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Love the breezy vibes of this place!! They have so many rums to try. We got the Mai Tai which had an infusion of two types of rum and a Waikaloa Sour. Both were really good. The food was pretty delicious as well. In the previous reviews I saw they offer a Vegan Coconut Curry and as a vegetarian I was looking forward to it but surprisingly they had taken it off the menu! So instead I had Pasta alla Rhum. When it arrived the presentation was a bit deceptive with the wide plate and small well in the middle, but the portion was pretty good for a dinner. And taste was delicious!! read more

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Easter Sunday dinner. Very cool atmosphere, and the drinks were fabulous! Initial service was quite slow - took 8-10 minutes to be acknowledged at the table. It seems there were three servers for an entire restaurant and it was mostly full. Servers doubled as hosts. Service was friendly, overall - but they seemed a bit stressed. Service was a bit lagged throughout, but overall attentive given the short staffed situation (we understand this is an issue). Food menu is quite limited. We wished we had paid more attention before making reservations as we struggled to find something for a late dinner that wasn't too heavy. The iceberg salad was fresh but quite minimal for the price. I thought it would have been heavier on the toppings. Overall, food was well prepared. read more

Kuleana Rum Shack - pork nachos - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Waikoloa, Hawaii

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If you are looking for the best happy hour in the Waikoloa/Puako area you can stop searching because this is it!! It's 3-5pm EVERY DAY!! Their kalua pork nachos ($10) are outstanding, and they have some delicious craft cocktails (Hilo Fling is my fav). In addition to a rock solid happy hour, they have a keiki menu and a coloring page to keep the kiddos busy. Pros Happy hour Ola beer Easy parking Cons None! read more

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I would recommend skipping this place. The prices are quite high, portions small, and the food wasn't very good. Short rib loco moco - didn't taste as good as a regular loco moco and was pretty small. 2/5 Katsu sandwich - probably the worst tasting item we had in a long long time. It was even hard to finish. 1/5 read more

This is a hidden gem I feel like. It's in a shopping complex near the theatre by they have a great happy hour! Open air seating, a large bar and plenty of tables. We came for HH, and I REALLY wanted to make it back to get their massive ramen bowl that I kept seeing. We stuck with HH options that time while we could. The food was excellent!! The staff was great. Some things are pricer than others. They make their own rum so their drink specials were great! Can't wait to stop back here again. read more

This was one of our last meals on the big island. We came for lunch. It's located in a nice upscale mall. We came at about 1130am and it wasn't busy, which was perfect. No wait to be seated and service was quick. We got the pork nachos & lumpia for appetizers. We also each got the beet salad with a side of Ono/ Wahoo. Everything we had was fantastic. I tried their espresso martini and that was fabulous as well. My husband did the rum flight. Food was really good, no complaints. We did not buy any rum to take home because we didn't have the space but there were some really great options. read more

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We arrived right on time for a 6:30pm reservation-- 4 adults and a 7 year old. A salad arrived within 5 minutes of ordering. Drinks took 15 minutes. Food? Delivered at room temperature at 7:50. By this time, the 7 year old had zero interest in food. All but two fries and the entire hamburger sat uneaten. My penne alla rhum with meatballs tasted fine, but it was colder at the bottom than at the top, and indication of an extended time under a heat lamp. Another order, the burger, was described as "hit down the fairway" but not a great shot. The chicken skewer and veggie skewer were okay. Finally, the seared ahi was also okay, but certainly not the best. We happened to be sitting right in front of the kitchen, so we had a good view of all the orders blinking red. To add insult to injury, one of the chefs was eating the whole time he was working. I get it. This restaurant caters to the captive tourist trade. They don't depend on repeat business so they make no effort to satisfy their clients. If that's okay with you, then knock yourself out and make a reservation. But if you believe that a restaurant, even a touristy one, should make their best effort, then do yourself a favor, skip the Kuleana Rum Shack, and spend your dollars at one of the many independent and family-run restaurants on the Big Island. This is only the second 1-star review I've written; my first was for a restaurant that thankfully closed shortly after my review. read more

Really underwhelmed by our experience here. It was quiet on a Friday night, but our server was manning the whole restaurant by herself and falling short. The older lady at the front was also rude and shouldn't be the face at the restaurant's entrance. We were underwhelmed by all of the food, pork nachos lukewarm and sweet, the moco loco lukewarm and bland, and the burger was strange and small. While the restaurant itself has a nice look, everything else fell short. read more

Kuleana Rum Shack - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Waikoloa, Hawaii

*Kuleana Rum tasting review* We purchased our tasting "tour" tickets online and showed up to the restaurant. I thought the tasting is at the restaurant but actually there is a special room for tasting right next to the restaurant. Room is nicely quiet and open. Cameron was our host and he was just amazing! Very knowledgeable local person who is passionate about this island and rum, and whole process of rum making. If you're on big island, I'd recommend to take part in this tasting event, and learn about the sugar cane and its history, and enjoy the big taste the Big Island! read more

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Decent food if you're hungry. Better places to eat if you really enjoy food. Fish tacos lacked flavor, the ribs weren't that great. This chicken was delicious! Service was great and our server was awesome! read more

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Great little place for Sunday brunch! We enjoyed our meal on the patio and were served by Colin - he was so friendly and did a great job making our visit so enjoyable. The food was egg-septional!! Great omelettes and the fried potatoes were delicious. read more

Kuleana Rum Shack - Breakfast omelette with fried potatoes - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Waikoloa, Hawaii

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Disappointed with the lack of gluten free items that were on the online menu but not available in person. When we sat down, there was a gift card on the floor. I picked it up and gave it to Tyana, our server. She just said "ok." I inquired when it was time to order that several of the items that are marked gluten free on the online menu we're not marked gluten free on the in person menu. However, I wanted to know if any modifications could be made like a burger in a lettuce wrap. Before I could get out my question, Tyana cut me off and rudely said, no, just what is marked on the menu. When I asked again, she said the pork nachos could be made gf by just getting the pork with no chips/wontons. Since she was so annoyed and not taken being gluten free seriously, I absolutely did not trust anything she said after she had been so rude. I was in island, happy mode, and left hungry and baffled. My mom is not gluten free and she got the Kuleana rum cake. She said it was good 4/5, but that the rum could have been soaked all the way through instead of just at the top. I had the Waikoloa Sour which was really good. 5/5 Unfortunately it didn't take the bitter taste away from being mistreated. The beet salad was good, but pricey for so little. Taste was 4/5. I did my research ahead of time and chose this place because there were so many gf options on the menu. I didn't know that my server would react so meanly to a simple question. I chose this place because several options like the loco moco and pork nachos were marked gluten free on the online menu but in person were not marked gluten free. My hope is that Kuleana Rum Shack will make a few simple modifications to their menu or offer gf alternatives. And if not, please do not lure in people who are gf by claiming to have so many options online. Service 1/5. They do offer lots of rum choices and rum to take home. I am not sure if I would go back. read more

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The food was some of the worst I've had on the island; even a hair in my son's meal. I had fish tacos with store bought salsa and guac and over cooked fish. I'm not one to leave any reviews, but this was terrible. read more

Found this place after the original place we wanted to go to was closed. So glad the other place was closed because this is a gem of a place. Server was super friendly. Drinks were delicious. Made with their own rum. Got the Kuleana pork nachos. The "chips" are wonton chips and that added a really great texture and flavor to the dish. I was and will be dreaming about those for a long time. The malasadas were nice. The sauces were nice too. Not sure I would get them again though. We did go back on our last night on the big island and I was so happy I was dancing in my seat. Got the same drink and main meal and skipped the malasadas this time and I was beyond happy. read more

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Go for the tour, stay for the rum! This was an insightful experience into the makings of some very fine rum, from farm to glass. We booked a 3 hour tour (sans Gilligan) that took us to their plantation up north by the old airport, where we were greeted by Keith and shown around part of their sugar cane farm where they test different types of plant (didn't know there was more than one!). Keith showed us the use of one of the smaller cane presses as we watched him juice fresh cane stalks that we then tasted. Not as sweet as you would expect, very earthy, semi-sweet green juice. All the cane is fresh pressed by hand and transported...quickly, to the distillery (can't take too long or the wrong kind of yeast starts forming...yeah, you learn a lot!). Next stop down to Kohala to tour where the magic is done...the distillery. Small operation that prides itself on quality, not mass quantity. Vertical stills cook the product down to the correct alcohol content where white rum is put in steel kegs and the brown is put in bourbon barrels. Quite the operation. Last but not least, travel down to Queens Market to the Kuleana Rum Shack for tasting. And tasting we did...a lot! From their entry level HuiHui white rum to their very sip able Hōkūlei dark rum, they have quickly established themselves as an award-winning and fan favorite for rum enthusiasts. Keith is a great host and super knowledgeable. Stayed after and tried their rum-based Manhattan...smooooth! Our bartender turned out to be the master distiller, Conner...nice. Chatted with one of the founders, Chris, at the bar...super chill and happy to check in our tour. A great way to spend a few hours away from sun and surf with a truly happy ending. read more

We visited Kuleana Rum Shack on our first evening in Waikoloa and were looking forward to the experience, especially given the recognition their rum has received. Service unfortunately got off to a slow start. We waited about 25 minutes before being acknowledged, and the staff seemed a bit distracted. It was roughly an hour before closing, which may have contributed to the pace, but it set a challenging first impression. The rum itself was decent, though it didn't stand out compared to other premium options available today. The food was mixed -- the blistered tomatoes were barely warm and not quite prepared as described, the pork was somewhat overcooked, and the fish tacos leaned watery and lacked depth of flavor. In an area where pricing reflects the destination, we hoped for a stronger overall experience. There are several dining options nearby, that may offer a more consistent visit. read more

We ate here after church and the food was fantastic and the service was excellent. We sat on the patio area for the breeze and the food was so good we influenced another table to order the avocado toast. read more

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Great food. Good service. Nice decor. Amazing atmosphere. Fun place to go. Nice drinks too

Laid back atmosphere, good food. It was part of our private tour - Flavors of Hawaii. The place is in King's Spot in Waikola Village. The servers were friendly, service was quick, and the food sampler plates we had were all good, specially their take on nachos which was fried wonton strips with shredded Kailua pork read more

Kuleana Rum Shack - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Waikoloa, Hawaii

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The absolute best cocktails we've had on the island. You have to try to Rum Cake. It's mind blowing!!!! We also ordered the short ribs loco moco. Delicious!!!!!!) melt on your mouth Angus chick roast. No fat!!! With a Demi glaze. Perfect sticky rice. To die for!!!!!! We will definitely be back read more

We just landed and were looking for a spot to grab a bite to eat. The ambiance here has an island vine that is more upscale than your island beach shack but not to the level of fine dining. It's fun to look at all of their different types of rum and you can do a tasting flights of 4 for $12. (We didn't do this but might on another visit.) We arrived for happy hour, which ends at 5:00, and there was ample seating. Happy hour has 4 diverse cocktails, all including rum, but the one we chose was well-balanced and didn't taste like rum. We had the Hilo Fling. There is a bit off beer and wine as well and 4 appetizers on the happy hour menu. All have meat, it seems, so if you're vegetarian, you'll have to order off the main menu. The hubs and I split the kalua pork nachos, which were Hawaiian style on fried wontons. They were very tasty and incredibly rich, such that we weren't hungry for any other food. To me, the pork was of higher fat content. But take this with a grain of salt--I don't like fatty or greasy meats. The hubs loved it! The cocktails were delicious and well-balanced. We want to come back for the miso butterfish saimen, which we saw at another table. read more

Kuleana Rum Shack - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Waikoloa, Hawaii

We went specifically for the gluten free offerings. When ordering it was advised that though the food was prepared with GF ingredients it was cooked in a shared fryer therefore no longer being GF. Disappointing- because it felt like a bait and switch with the offerings not actually being advisable for someone who has an allergy to gluten. Made the whole experience kind of a bummer. Their blase attitude didn't help either. Would not recommend if you have allergies. read more

Within 24 hours of arrival on island, if you bring your ticket, they have a limited time offer to get a delicious $1 mai tai. Their rums are unique, complex, and delicious. The location is nice as an open-air causal dining spot. But the most delicious thing we ordered was their rum-soaked cake. Good god that cake is delicious, warm, and incorporates one of their award-winning rums. Wow. read more

Kuleana Rum Shack - Rum Flight - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Waikoloa, Hawaii

We went for the happy hour and got a rum flight and mojito during happy hour. Then we ordered the Pipi Kaula lumpia for an appetizer which was amazing! For our entrees we got the Short Rib Moco Loco and the Miso Butterfish Saimin which came in the cutest ramen bowl. The food was so amazing! We definitely want to go back to the Queens Marketplace to eat there again. The ambiance was relaxed and has outdoor seating for people watching at the market. The service was excellent! I would highly recommend this place for awesome food and drinks! read more

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Food was great! Ate the seared ahi and hamachi Kama along with 2 old fashion drinks. Service was even better as all employees including the manager were very friendly, polite and gracious! Would comeback again as my wife and I enjoyed our time there for dinner. Rum cake was delicious!!! read more

Kuleana Rum Shack - Rum cake - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Waikoloa, Hawaii

Not a whole lot of places to eat within walking distance from our place. This place is usually crowded so we tried it. I thought the poke nachos were great! Wonton skins were fresh tasting. Kalua pork nachos were great too! Service was great. I would come back again. read more

Had an great experience at the rum shack! Service was amazing. Food and drinks were so good. We had the Mochiko chicken, Short Rib Loco Moco, Miso Caesar salad, and the Malasadas. We ended up ordering a second order of the chicken because they were so good. We also had a few of the cocktails and a rum tasting. Chefs kiss, no notes! read more

FANTASTIC! Went twice within 2 weeks with 2 large and different groups each time. The first time was with 28 people and they handled us beautifully considering we were like herding cats. The 2nd time was with only 8 people and much simpler since we all stayed in our seat. Hahaha! We love Paula and highly recommend her if you get a chance to sit in her section. The food is very good! Highly recommend the Mochiko Chicken, the Saimin Noodle Fish, and the Vegan Coconut Curry.... Oh and the Beet Salad too! Those beets were so sweet! read more

The food was very good! Did the rum tasting experience with Eric. We had the most excellent time going through the journey or their rum! This is a must do if coming to the Big Island of Hawaii! Experience of a life time! Great time! Do the full experience!!! read more

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Good food had salad and nachos Excellent service, very attentive a d knew her rums Rum was amazing with and without juice or soda read more

Kuleana Rum Shack - Beet salad Flights of rum tasting Nachos - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Waikoloa, Hawaii

This is a unique spot for the island! At first we thought it was just a bar so we skipped it. But then we came back and checked out the menu, and they have some really good dishes. For example, the best ahi we've had on the island. Really good hamburgers too. And they make a tasty Curry if you like spice. There is no doubt we will be back. read more

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A great restaurant in the Queens Village. Nice ambiance I think it's owned by the Kuleana Rum factory. Reasonable prices nice tapas style menu. Fantastic cocktails. The Daiquiri was the best. Mi tai was very good as well. They offer rum tasting flights which you can get 10% off if you decide to buy a bottle. The crispy chicken was delicious the fish tacos were very tasty. The Ahi tuna one of the best. Overall it's a very nice casual restaurant that offers great cocktails and good food without outrageous prices. If you ever visit Kona in the western part of the Big Island, it's a must visit. read more

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The food is excellent! My friend and I had the short rib loco moco cooked to perfection very soft and tender. The gravy, eggs, mushrooms and onions are so tasty and delicious. For pupus we had the pipikaula lumpia and Kalua pig nachos everything fire. Service from our host a young lady who got us in just in time as they were closing in 30 min. Our waiter kind young man took our whole order and brought our food out all 1 time. Good music great view is the ambiance. We loved it I'll be back! Collin and Makayla! read more

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