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Nico's Kailua

3.6 (605 reviews)
ModerateSeafood
Closed 11:00 am - 9:00 pm
Updated 3 months ago

Nico's Kailua Seafood Restaurant Photos

Business Info

NICO'S KAILUA ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Moderate noise
Happy hour specials
Outdoor seating

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Recommended Reviews - Nico's Kailua

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Kona Brewing Big Wave
Alvin K.

I placed a phone order for a couple of items to take out for lunch. I was craving the tempura fish bites after my visit a couple of weeks ago and I added a side order of pesto chicken. It's an item that I hadn't tried yet, but I love pesto, so gave it a try. Service was fast and friendly, and my order was ready when I got there. The fish bites were awesome, as usual, but the chicken was not. I don't know if the chef was trying for a "French fry" vibe, but it wasn't good; oily and dry at the same time. The chicken was cut into little strips, that dried out when cooked and tossed in pesto sauce. It would've been better if the chicken was cooked as a whole piece, then cut into smaller bites, topped with pesto. Needless to say, I won't be ordering it again. I'll still go for their HH, though.

Michelle C.

We stopped by Niko's for a quick pitstop before the beach & it felt like a pretty laid back place. We got there in between lunch and dinner time so we just went with the apps. Couldn't go wrong with the garlic salt and pepper shrimp and fries. They were really crispy. Had a great time here and also met some really friendly staff :)

A restaurant that serves only To Go food!
Cathy D.

We are 8 ladies who came in after a golf round. We were told that our orders would be on one check, and the check would not be split into individual orders. They explained that this was "Nico's way". If you are a large party of friends, be prepared for ONE check and bring cash to reimburse the friends who steps up and pays with credit card. I ordered mini Loco Moco and, since I was at a sit down restaurant, thought it would come on a plate, and with real silverware. Not true! See my photo! A small to go container with plastic ware! I am so disappointed. I will never recommend this place nor return.

Poke nachos with won ton chips
Michelle L.

Came here for a relaxing dinner. They have some fun tropical drinks. The li hung mui margarita was yummy. Had to try the poke nachos since another couple had it and it looked delicious. They had a special Opa which was also very tasty. Keiki menu has a few things (pasta with parm, grilled cheese, cheeseburger). Service was good and the view of the water was also nice. We enjoyed some live local music as well.

Crunchy Garlic Bubu Arare Crusted Monchong | Wasabi Kabayaki | Sauteed Vegetables | Choice of Starch|
Rob B.

The dinner is back! Great dinner here tonight after some stumbles but happy to say, come for ono grindz!

Leah H.

So I did love the merch!!! Good selection and great designs! Food was average diner seafood. I think this would be a Great stop for happy hour or family simple dinner. Service was great, . Fast, friendly and our food was served in such a timely manner. I asked for the sweet Thai chili sauce of the calamari and it made such a difference. My husband enjoyed his crab cake sandwich so much he ate it before I could even get a pic.

ROSEMARY ROASTED PRIME RIB (GF)** (SUNDAY ONLY)
Jenna S.

Great location and service, but the dinner was overpriced for the quality. We enjoyed the ahi dip with fresh wonton chips over our entrees. On that note, this may be a better spot for happy hour appetizers and drinks rather than dinner. Short ribs and mash - the meat was very tender and the portion is huge. The gravy was very rich and after a couple bites I was done (maybe a tad over seasoned?). Mash was basic, the veggies were ok. It was served like warm. Prime rib - cooked medium well, we realized they didn't ask how we wanted it done when we ordered. The flavor was very herby and it was a bit tough. The au jus flavor was very horseradish forward which we weren't a fan of. Shrimp pasta - the sauce was very creamy and the portion was large, although felt it was still overpriced. We also tried the onion soup and it was very tangy and over seasoned. Don't recommend. Overall we enjoyed the chips and dip because they fry the wonton chips fresh! The dip itself was just ok and could easily be replaced with canned tuna and you probably could not tell the difference.

Furikake Pan Seared Ahi
Anissa L.

Giving this experience 3 stars due to the service unfortunately. Forewarning- if you're going in on a Sunday, they do not start serving their main dishes until 5pm. The first hour after they open at 4pm is ONLY APPS. Wish this was notated somewhere on the front door/website or something. I'm not sure if this is ONLY on Sundays, or if this is a regular practice for all dinner hours. We went in to pick up an early dinner at 4pm on a Sunday. Sadly we weren't greeted upon arriving but made eye contact with a number of employees. There was only 1 other party in the restaurant at this time. After waiting, someone called us over to the counter to take our order. We asked what the catch of the day was and was told "that isn't released until 5pm". While we were bummed, we asked for a menu and found new options to choose from. We told them we were ready and began to give our orders, then the same lady who told us the catch of the day isn't released until 5pm informed us that ALL of the food is not available until 5pm. Not exactly sure why they open for an hour for only appetizers but apparently that's the protocol. Nonetheless we left and decided to come back later. A little frustrating but we were very adamant on getting Nico's that night. We saw online that they offer delivery so we were excited to use that option to save us another trip down there. Sadly though even by 5:30pm, the delivery service was still marked as "service unavailable". We then decided to call and place our order. Before I go on, I understand that everyone is training and I do give grace to all food service/hospitality workers because I get it- people can really suck. However the lady that took our order, really shouldn't be taking orders on the phone if this was her first shift. She literally said "this is my first shift" on the phone when asking for us to wait to take the rest of our order. We finished ordering and instead of giving us a timeframe or a total cost- she said "okay your order should be done... um, soon! Okay bye" and then hung up. Thankfully though as always, their food was AMAZING. The Catch of The Day opah was sooo delicious. I wish they could have it as a regular dish because I'd definitely order it every time! The furikake ahi also never disappoints. The calamari was okay- a lot more batter than I'd prefer, but still very tasty.

Menu as of 2/20/25
Wesley W.

Nico's Kailua is a great place to dine. It's a little different from the pier 38 location, but still services great food. There's live entertainment, and a nice bar that serves good adult drinks. The service was excellent. Our server was attentive and helpful. We ordered a variety of entrees. The braised short ribs were bone off. The meat was very tender and savory. The portions were very generous. 5/5 Highly recommended. The Grilled Hamachi Kama was another winna! Tender hamachi collar bone grilled to perfection. The grilled peppercorn sword fish tasted fresh. It's Nico's! Overall, Nico's Kailua has improved significantly in service and food since the last time I visited. Pre-pandemic. I would recommend giving Nico's Kailua a try.

Grilled Hamachi Kama
Robyn S.

Me and my family dined her this past Sunday to celebrate a few special events. I was actually surprised to find out they had a Nico's in Kailua! I go to the one in town frequently so I had pretty high expectations! First off, I would like to say that the restaurant itself is in a very nice location and the views from the window are pleasant, especially when the sun sets. Our server was also very attentive and was very knowledgeable about the menu and the restaurant offerings. Our table ordered our own selective dishes and a poke nachos to start. I'd like to say that the poke nachos were good... but I think to justify the price tag, a little more poke would have been desired. There were definitely more chips than poke but I do appreciate the scoops of avocado nestled on top! I ordered the catch of the day which was the bubu arare crusted monchong and my husband ordered the hamachi kama. Some of our other family members had the peppered swordfish, prime rib, furikake ahi, and the crab cake burgers. I looked forward to my dish but had kind of wondered where the dynamite sauce was which was mentioned previously. Flavor-wise, it was a little salty but I think it lacked the depth I had been craving and the texture of the fish was a little dry. My husband also had mentioned that he had no idea that the hamachi kama was covered in a teriyaki-like sauce and said he would have preferred to eat it without it. The menu also does not state having it so I believe it's worth mentioning in case you'd like to omit it for yourself in the future. Despite that, the rest of my party enjoyed their food and we still had plenty of leftovers to take home later. All considerations aside, I think definitely this place is still worth visiting. But for the next time, I'll stick to my original order of furikake ahi which has never failed me. A little bit of refinement in menu and updating the menu to accurately reflect the food would help a lot! I'd like to give the restaurant some benefit of the doubt and maybe whatever we ordered just missed the mark for our personal preferences.

Christina C.

Had a great time at Nico's. The ambience was great nothing better than local playing ukulele and singer while we enjoyed some great food. The waitress was amazing she was very attentive. Was able to answer questions regarding food my daughter is allergic too.

Crispy Garlic Chicken
Justin H.

Cane in for a chill lunch day. This garlic chicken is Ono good. Service was very good as well !!! Be sure to sit in back , there's a very nice peaceful view to enjoy the food here.

Front of Nico's.
Kimber R.

We came in to Nico's with a group of 8 for lunch. We were told immediately that they wouldn't be able to split the check for us, which was fine, but worth noting. The food was hit or miss. They brought real plates for the appetizers, but all of the actual food came out in take out containers. This was the biggest problem with my salad. The small take out container was so full of lettuce that I couldn't stir it without it all falling out, and all of my dressing was smushed and stuck to the top of the cardboard, so it wasn't easy to get off without getting scraps of paper in it. I got the fish and chips and it was meh. Not bad, but nothing I would order again. The fish was soggy, and under seasoned. The winner for the food was the angry ahi dip! It was delicious! They bring the dip out with wonton chips, which they charge you extra for, but no where is the price for these listed(I think they ended up being about $5 for the chips, but once again, no where was it listed and she didn't mention it when we ordered. Service was okay. She came by enough, but once again, nothing that stood out. I'll come back just for the angry ahi.

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6 months ago

Dinner was very good. The beef was tender. The ahi was charred nicely. We want to try Nico's near Aloha Tower next time.

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Nico's Kailua Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Nico's Kailua

Do they have an allergen menu?

Do you have happy hour?

Aloha Kerra! Yes, we do have happy hour Tuesday Through Sunday from 4pm till 6pm. Mahalo!

Are you open for Thanksgiving dinner?

Aloha, we are closed all day Thanksgiving day, Christmas day, and New Years day.

Can we bring our dog to the outside area? thanks

I've never seen any animals inside at the Kailua location when I've been there, so not sure. But they don't have outside seating at this one.

How late does the poke counter stay open?

Unfortunately I got there late twice when I wanted some of their Ahi Belly Bites and was told the kitchen closes about 8:30 the restaurant closes at 9

Are you open today for dinner?

7 days a week.

Are you open for lunch on Sunday?

They open at 11AM on Sunday and will close at 3PM

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Faria

4.7(118 reviews)
1.7 mi
$$$

I come here weekly. The menu is special, just come on in and see for yourself. The staff is more…read morethan just special, they're a family and will make you feel apart of it too! Bar is open seating but best bet is to make a reservation. You can't make a wrong decision while ordering so don't worry about that. The e restaurant itself is cute, small and comfortable.

Cute date night place in Kailua! Very romantic vibes and I love how it isn't too loud like some…read moreplaces. The big downside for me was that we were seated right where the AC was blasting so it made the experience not as enjoyable. Thankfully I brought my jacket but even then, I was freezing. I was looking around to see if we could move somewhere else but they don't have much two seater options; the best one was the table against the wall so it avoids the AC... another small downside was our server's attitude. She kinda seemed like she didn't want to be there. She wasn't the worst but a more friendlier, welcoming attitude would of been nice We ordered a decent amount of food: Bolinhos de Bacalhau (Cod + Potato Croquettes), Salt and Vinegar Onion Rings, Caldeirada De Pescadora (Fisherman's Stew), Alcatra (Pot Roast), and Pasteis De Nata (Portuguese Custard Tarts) The two appetizers were one of our favorites! I don't know how they get it so light and crispy and paired with the herb mayo sauce (from the croquettes) gave it a nice tanginess. The entree portions were huge! We could of easily shared because we came out super full. I was pretty shocked by the amount of seafood the Fisherman's Stew came with and for $30, it was so worth it! I definitely recommend adding a bread basket to soak up the extra soup (they only give one) or I wish they had rice to pair alongside with it. You can also tell how popular a dish is when you look around and see almost everyone eating it! I wouldn't mind coming back again but they do get booked up so always best to make a reservation ahead of time

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Faria - More rosaries!

More rosaries!

Faria - Pasteis de nata

Pasteis de nata

Faria - Storefront... with 3 parking spaces right in the front

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Banyans Craft Kitchen and Lounge - Ox tail pot pie.  Definitely can't call this a pie. But was good.  Consider the bones are big but the meat is delicious and tender

Banyans Craft Kitchen and Lounge

4.0(133 reviews)
1.7 mi

Banyan Crafts Kitchen and Lounge was a beautiful restaurant with life-like banyan trees in the…read moremiddle of the two dinning areas. Beautiful decor of imitation plants that even the bathrooms were beautiful especially the women's bathroom by the kitchen. Even the Men's bathrooms were decorated. It's something you should see! You wouldn't even think there's a place like this in Kailua. There were a few steps to the door of the restaurant but as we exit the waitress let my mom through the back which had no stairs but a ramp leading to the side parking along the restaurant right side, since she was using a walker. I first came with my friend for dinner and I came with my mom for brunch after her dentist appointment, because I wanted to show her what became of the beloved Four Star Chop Suey decades ago. Brunch menu was not the usual breakfast items that we were used to, but I ordered what I thought she would like best. We had Breakfast Hash with potatoes, sausage, cheese, eggs, bell peppers but the sauce was a little spicy for mom. There were ingredients in the sauce which maybe was too much for mom. Citrus mint fruit salad, and Southern Chicken Biscuit and Gravy. The gravy was different.fitness good but, I preferred the dinner selection when I came with a friend who traveled all the way from Kapolei for some shared dishes and appetizers. She really liked it and it was flavorful and unique. We had the following dishes: Local Braised Oxtail Patatas Bravas Seared Poke nachos Seasonal Hummus Deconstructed Baklava Cheesecake Hiusemade breads Citrus mint fruit salad I would order everything again! The Oxtail was flavorful and delicious, The homemade breads were so warm and fresh. The breads were served with the seasonal hummus, and I love the citrus mint dressing on the fruits! So refreshing! Night time was busy and we didn't have reservations, so we were lucky we didn't have those high top table and chairs . Best to have reservations for dinner. Weekends have night entertainment in the bigger dining area. We came earlier, but as the night went on, it got busier and our waitress was also assisting other customers in the other room, so we were missed . Service could have been better. Not too many of my townie friends had made it to this side but it's a nice place to dine at to experience their food and beautiful ambiance! There were a few side parking stalls along the right wall of the restaurant, otherwise you would need to find street parking. There's a nearby 24 hour municipal parking lot and it's still a quarter of 20 minutes. This restaurant is not in the main Kailua town area. If you haven't been to Kailua, Kailua is a nice town to try all these different restaurants. You be surprised and pleased. They are closed on Monday & Tuesday. Brunch is on weekends from 9 am to 1 pm. Otherwise they open from Wednesday thru Sunday from 4pm to closing at 9pm and on Friday & Saturday nights they are opened til 11pm.

We decided to try this place out for valentines dinner. This was our first time and I was excited…read moreas I heard good things. The setting: I really like the vibe they went with for valentines and the decor, I like the lowlight setting as well. The banyan tree decor in the middle of the restaurant was a nice touch. Service: our host and our waiter were awesome, very pleasant and helpful. The food: it was a fixed menu due to Valentine's Day, I guess I did not see that when I booked the reservations or it was listen on the open table app. I wish I had known because I wanted to try other dishes. Anyways.. we got to each choose an appetizer so we got the coconut shrimp which omgggg really good, that sauce was a perfect touch, the shrimp was nicely crispy. We also got the beef tataki which was another fav I must say. The main entrees was ok, I only say this because we got the lamb and fish. The lamb came with 4 pieces but 2 were cooked good and the other 2 seemed like it could have been cooked a little longer. The fish to me was also over done and a little touch and hard. I will go back because I do wanna try other things on their menu. Overall we still made it a great night and will come back again.

Photos
Banyans Craft Kitchen and Lounge - Smaller room by kitchen and bar with high top tables.

Smaller room by kitchen and bar with high top tables.

Banyans Craft Kitchen and Lounge - Beet & Orange Salad

Beet & Orange Salad

Banyans Craft Kitchen and Lounge - Larger room

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Larger room

Gaslamp  - Wagyu tamahawk

Gaslamp

4.1(507 reviews)
1.8 mi
$$$$

I've eaten at places with $200 plates of steak and Michelin star locations when I was in the…read moremainland, and have often been disappointed. Being in the food industry for many years I believe good food doesn't have to cost that much, and I'd leave most fancy places hungry cause they give you small portions (I'm 6'6. A big dude who loves to eat). While this place is on the pricier end for my taste, I do think it's completely worth it. We ended up here for our anniversary and I think this spot is great for special occasions. It's an intimate atmosphere with live jazz music, the bartender Clark was very knowledgeable about drink recipes, the food was delicious, and the service was amazing. This place was an experience. Not just getting served expensive food. We probably spent $400 that night for 2 people, but thats what you would spend at a nice steak house anyways. Definitely recommend checking this place out if you haven't already.

My experience here started rough but it really did get better through the night, and the food was…read morethe saving grace. The bad: we received our "pass phrase" to get in for our reservation, but when we arrived at the telephone door they just asked for our name...defeating the point of a speakeasy experience. Then the waitress had us stand in a very crammed and busy walkway in the pub for 10/15 minutes only to tell us they had no tables available and that we have to sit at the bar (the barstools had no backs and were uncomfortable). It was very loud and small in the actual restaurant, and as they bussed all the other tables dirty plates they were staging them right in front of us at the bar? Not really what I want to look at all night if I'm paying over 130+ per person. Fortunately someone was a no show and they moved us to a table. I recommend stating you want a table when making reservations. The food: our food came out really fast and most of it was top tier and delicious in every way possible! Although, I did not care for the crab and artichoke dip. The crab was shredded and could easily be replicated with canned crab. If it were lump crab/chunky and bigger pieces of artichoke it would be way better in my opinion. The charred octopus was good but one tentacle was very rubbery while the other was soft and cooked well, I wouldn't get this again. The Yacht: hands down the best seafood tower I have ever tried. The seafood was bursting with flavor and most surprisingly it was grilled. The meat was still warm but placed on top of a bed of ice. The variety of lobsters, crab, shrimp, and the oysters were phenomenal. The mignonette and melted butter were perfect. Dutch Veal Chop: possibly the best piece of meat I've eaten in a very long time! The veal charred to perfection and the meat was so tender. The flavors were on point. Desserts: we tried the creme brûlée and butter cake. Again, I think this is my favorite crème brûlée! The flavor, texture and toppings were perfect. The butter cake was warm and melt in your mouth. Gaslamp is very expensive. If you come here knowing it's tucked in the back of a very crammed dive bar, and the actual restaurant it self is tavern-like and you probably can't see half the food you're eating you'll be fine lol. Oh yes, there was also a fire dancer on top of the bar in the middle of our meal, which was pretty cool!

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Gaslamp  - Upstairs

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Gaslamp  - Tomahawk.

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Haleiwa Joe's At Haiku Gardens - Prime Rib ($52.95) - Medium Rare!

Haleiwa Joe's At Haiku Gardens

4.1(3.2k reviews)
4.4 mi
$$$

My old review is still accurate w/a few caveats: Hands down…read morebest Prime Rib on island, best atmosphere, best 'hidden' restaurant, kinda hard to find;) My old review still stands although it's even pricier now:( INFLATION. but you get great food, so for something special--grads, b-days, anniversaries...WORTH IT. Aloha

The service was standout, I feel bad that I do not remember her name as she went above and beyond…read morein her service. We went for dinner after Kualoa Ranch, on our way back to Honolulu. They do have a large parking lot. They don't do reservations. But this is less of a problem here then other places. We were not lucky with the weather, if it was good, the ground are beautiful gardens. They do have one of the best waiting areas I've ever seen, as well as a bar area, to wait in, so you are not hovering over others as they eat. You can also order drinks and apps in the area. Their mango margarita was standout, "it tastes just like a mango!" The restaurant appears to be arranged so that most tables have some of a view of their open patio. Even with the rain, it was lovely, and they lit touches as it grew dark. The menu is the right size, I think a more focused menu lends to better food. We had difficulty deciding as everything sounded great. We started with their poke, very good, and nicely presented. I had the grilled fish, which was great, and my friends had two very different steaks. One got the prime rib, and it was on theme for our dinosaur tour at the ranch. It arrived as big as her head, all three of us could have enjoyed it. Great experience and I hope to return without the side of rain.

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Haleiwa Joe's At Haiku Gardens - Interior

Interior

Haleiwa Joe's At Haiku Gardens - Paradise pie

Paradise pie

Haleiwa Joe's At Haiku Gardens - House Sald

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House Sald

Nico's Kailua - seafood - Updated May 2026

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