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    Red Salt at Ko'a Kea

    4.2 (1.5k reviews)
    Ultra High-EndSeafood, Steakhouses, Hawaiian
    Closed 7:00 am - 11:00 AM, 5:00 pm - 8:30 PM

    Red Salt at Ko'a Kea Photos

    RED SALT AT KO'A KEA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Upscale
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups
    Outdoor seating

    Recommended Reviews - Red Salt at Ko'a Kea

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    Reviews With Photos

    Seared Ahi Steak
    Oleksii O.

    Very disappointing experience overall. We made a reservation two months in advance because it was my wife's birthday, and we specifically requested a table with a view. Instead, we were seated near the entrance with a view of the wall. On top of that, the table was unstable and kept wobbling from side to side. We ordered sparkling water with lime. The lime was so dry and hard that we could barely squeeze out a few drops of juice. As for the food, we ordered the Herbed Focaccia. It was not fresh at all - it tasted like it had been sitting for at least three days, so we didn't eat it. The homemade ricotta was decent. We also ordered the Madagascar Vanilla Bean Seared Mahi Mahi, which came with black rice. The rice was cold. The Seared Ahi Steak was also disappointing. I understand that ahi is supposed to be raw inside, but it should still be properly seared on the outside. Instead, the inside was cold, as if it had just come straight from the refrigerator. In the end, we paid around $250 for a dinner that was extremely disappointing. The food and service were both very poor. I do not recommend this restaurant.

    3 egg omelet
    Steve H.

    Great place to have an elevated dining experience. We had breakfast every morning at Red Salt and most times Becca was our server. She is extremely pleasant and attentive. We did dine once for dinner and the food was delicious!

    Jazzmine M.

    This review is in reference to NYE I think the staff and manager handled being extremely busy incredibly well. We had a reservation but about 15 to 30 minutes in decided to sit at the bar and about an hour later the hostess came up to us and asked if we'd like to be seated at our table--we were happy to give our table away to help alleviate the long wait for others and continued enjoying our meals. My boyfriend's meal was definitely better than mine--I got what I would describe as a surf and turf pho, but it was still delicious. Overall given the circumstances, it was still a great meal and we had an amazing time at red salt and would definitely come back!

    Phone on silent
    Michelle D.

    My husband and for our anniversary dinner and the food and service were great. Our server, Ashely, was incredibly kind and attentive to details. The food was delicious, and we were lucky enough to be able to watch the sunset from our table. I took off one star because the front is often left unmanned, and if you want to call for a reservation or to go order, you will be on your own. We called to try to move our reservation time, and you just never get an answer even after leaving messages. We loved the food so much that we tried to order to go the next night and you simply cannot reach anyone by phone. We drove to the restaurant to order, and I can see the phone behind the hostess desk, and when I call there is no ringer on. They have the ringer off, probably because they are busy and do not want to take to go orders. That's all fine and understandable, but if you call the front desk, 10 feet away, they directed us to come in person to order. I showed up and was told they might not accommodate our to go order because they are busy... Luckily the bartender was able to take our order, but it just seems like they need to work on their communication. It's easy to answer the phone and say they can't take to go orders right now.

    Crab-Crusted Lobster Tail (and fries in the background)
    Paul O.

    We have come here two times now (2024 and 2026) and, while the food is decent here, my memory of it in 2024 exceeded our recent experience. We ordered a (non-alcoholic) pineapple fizz, grilled pear salad, the house made ricotta (with Kauai Nectar Farms Honeycomb, Bee Pollen, Local Red Salt, Truffle Oil, Micro Herbs, & Grilled Naan), the crab crusted lobster tail, the crispy game hen, and the soufflé cheesecake. The pear salad was terrific; all of the ingredients tasted fresh and it was well balanced. The ricotta was just "okay" but mainly because I'm not a huge truffle oil fan and also because they asked us if we wanted more pita and we said "yes" but they neglected to tell us it was an extra charge. The lobster tail was average. So many places in Poipu have "lobster with dynamite sauce" and we had had better on our trip. The crispy game hen was actually not that crispy after they drenched it in some kind of sauce. Finally, the "soufflé cheesecake" was really just cheesecake (no "soufflé" discernible). I went back and forth between giving 3 or 4 stars. If Yelp allowed 1/2 stars, I would easily give 3.5.

    Peppercorn crusted tuna
    Cec D.

    This was a standout meal for us and well worth the price. Beautiful setting. Excellent service and excellent cuisine. Menu features fresh fish and seasonal pairings. We came hungry and went big, two appetizers, sushi roll, two entrees, desert and drinks. Everything was delicious. The house made ricotta with honey comb and black truffle will live rent free in my head. The peppercorn crusted seared ahi tuna was the best I have ever had. The crunchy peppercorns were so flavorful and perfectly contrast with the buttery rare tuna. My husband enjoyed his lobster risotto and bone marrow side. I'm surprised they had any food left when we were done. The Hawaiian bread pudding was perfection, dense and flavorful with a delicious sugary crust. Definitely a top meal of our trip.

    Housemade Ricotta
    Stephanie H.

    We tried this restaurant for breakfast and dinner since it was close to where we were staying. Dinner was pretty good, but between salad and dinner courses there was a long lag and we were ready to go by the time the entrée came. We wondered if our server forgot to fire the entrees... The ribs on the appetizer menu are extremely spicy! The ricotta appetizer was amazing! The Caesar salad was blah. The lobster gnocchi was underwhelming as the lobster was dry. Hubby had the short ribs and they were really fatty. He loved the salmon sashimi. Breakfast was good, it was New Years Day but no special menu or any bartender for that matter. We both enjoyed the loco moco but wished for an Espresso Martini to start the new year. Oh well Servers were kind both times.

    Jennifer R.

    We are here three separate times on recent visit to Kauai. First visit we were served by Candace. She was fantastic. We were sitting by a very loud 12top and requested to be moved as they were screaming and partying extremely loud. All good, we just wanted to hear each other and enjoy our meal. We enjoyed the special fish of the night and it was so delicious!!! We also enjoyed the yellow tale appetizer. Also delicious. Next am we tried for breakfast. Not amazing. I ordered the breakfast tacos. No real flavor and a bit of a gut bomb. Hubs had oatmeal. He said it was ok. Dinner again. Requested Candace as our server. Had beef ribs, yellow tail app, coconut soup and steak. Good meal. First night was better. But, still good. I think we were bummed the special fish dish was not available. I old visit again for dinner...

    Espresso martini & Macallan 18 Yr
    Kelly S.

    We loved Red Salt! Tucked within the Koʻa Kea Resort, it's the perfect place for a fancy meal. Prices are a bit higher than other places but you get what you pay for here and it's absolutely worth it. The food is phenomenal, drinks are made to perfection and service is amazing! We started with Red Salt martinis, made to perfection, and a fun bonus that you get your shaker at the table. We also shared the Seared Hokkaido Scallops, which melt in your mouth and pair perfectly with the corn and sausage mix. For dinner, I opted for the Cauliflower Steak and loved it. My husband ordered the surf and turf which was huge yet he still managed to finish every bite. The ambiance is lovely and while there isn't a direct ocean view, it was nice to check out the hotel and pool area that does have a view.

    Rachael C.

    Our server was great. The service from the hostess and even the bus boy was excellent. They all thanked us for dining with them. We felt very appreciated. The food was average. The prices were very high. I didn't think this meal was worth it because the prices are high without an amazing view. I'm happy we ate here, but probably wouldn't be back. The cheesecake wasn't that good and the Boursin mashed potatoes weren't that good. The chicken was just OK. The lobster and gnocchi pasta was pretty good and the bread pudding dessert was good.

    Red Salt Breakfast Potatoes
    Adrianna G.

    Becca was an absolutely fantastic server. She was quick, attentive, and made the experience such a pleasure. She was on top of all of our needs and extremely helpful. The food is excellent, the fruit is so fresh I wish I could have it at home. I love that all of the seats have direct views of the water, it's such a beautiful place to eat. Both times I've had breakfast at Red Salt, the food has been phenomenal. And they fry the bacon to perfection. I would highly recommend and will definitely be back.

    Seared Hokkaido Scallops - Look at that crisp!!!
    Makoto C.

    I am writing this review and went to go pull up the photos I took for this place and I just looked at them, and wow, they look like they are out of a magazine. Look at that presentation! This place pays very close attention to their detail, not only with the presentation, but with the ingredients, atmosphere, service, the whole nine yards. They even put edible flowers into the food, that are some of the biggest "edible flowers" I have ever seen. I didn't eat my flower, but now I sorta wish I did, looking back at the photos. The gnocchi is probably the meal that stood out the most. Something about the texture gave it a almost mochi like consistency. Each morsel was dense, but soft, and sorta doughy and spongy. You have to try it! It's always a gamble when I order a steak "medium rare" and this place had it come out perfectly. It was soft and pink inside with a good crust on the outside. I liked eating the steak off of this piece of stone which made me feel like a caveman with just this huge piece of amazing steak. The server was really accommodating and friendly and did not feel over bearing in anyway. I appreciate how the restaurant had its lightning and made the room and area feel classy. The valet is free (just need to tip them) and the guys were super chill running the valet.

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    2 months ago

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    Food is very basic and expensive for what is offered. Underwhelming for sure. The atmosphere is not cute. Service was ok.

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    Page 1 of 38

    Ask the Community - Red Salt at Ko'a Kea

    Aloha. My partner and I decided to get married today while on vacation here. We are planning to make Kauai our home. Do you perchance have a table open for tonight? Mahalo.

    Nancy: you are asking a Yelpster who does not work at the Koa Kea? You need to call the restaurant directly. Best wishes and congrats on your special day.

    Does Red Salt have a Dress Code for dinner?

    Casual dress code. Foot wear a must.

    View All 3 Questions

    Holoholo Grill - Poipu Skillet Frittata

    Holoholo Grill

    4.1(930 reviews)
    0.6 mi
    $$
    Outdoor seating
    Live music

    We had a terrific happy hour on a Wednesday. The servers were all super friendly and made great…read moresuggestions. We sat on the patio by the pool and luckily the umbrella was large enough to block the sun! The food all tasted great. The crab dip with 6 or 8 pieces of toasted focaccia was high quality with real crab not surimi. We ordered the flatbread with chicken instead of pork and it was also very good with a nice crispy crust and moist chicken chunks. The wedge salad was a large piece with crisp bacon, candied pecans, grape tomato halves and a tasty dressing. It only needed some red onion to make it perfect. The calamari were crispy but the portion size was too small and the pieces of calamari were too small so the ratio of crust to fish was too high.

    It was our first night in Kauai after a very long day of traveling. We were looking forward to a…read morerelaxing evening. I started with a wonderful glass of brut rose. We were told that the pupi portions were large and could easily be shared. This was true and we split the calamari and my husband found it to be too salty. We both had the fresh catch. He had ahi tuna and I had mancha which I was told was like halibut. It was thinner than halibut and reminded me of mahi-mahi. It was suggested to have it pan seared to make sure it was not overcooked. Well, it was a bit fry from being overcooked. I had a double portion of green vegetables which turned out to be 4 pieces of asparagus. My husband's ahi was served a bit more than seared and rare. His sides were 2 pieces of asparagus and a piece of carrot. In essence we each had a small piece of fish and a small portion of vegetables. This was a mediocre meal in a beautiful setting. They need to step up their game.

    Photos
    Holoholo Grill - Seasonal French Toast

    Seasonal French Toast

    Holoholo Grill - Steel Cut Oatmeal

    Steel Cut Oatmeal

    Holoholo Grill - Croissant Eggs Benedict

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    Croissant Eggs Benedict

    Eating House 1849 Koloa - Roy's Original Szechuan Baby Back Ribs.

    Eating House 1849 Koloa

    4.2(1.7k reviews)
    1.0 mi
    $$$

    It was great to know that there was an elevator to bring us up to the level of the restaurant…read more After a terrible experience at another restaurant, it gave me the idea to call and see if they had an elevator near by. The front desk staff guided me to the elevator. This trip was for my birthday. In every reservation when asked about a special occasion, I put birthday. This was the first restaurant to acknowledge my special day. The check-in staff wished me well as did the server. We had been to several restaurants prior to Eating House that didn't say a word. Kudos to the staff for its kindness. The restaurant is open air and very comfortable. It has a rustic feel. We were seated by the window on a cool, rainy night but were perfectly dry the whole evening. On top of that, our server was very helpful in guiding us to order the right amount of food. He brought us a serving of edamame which is always on the house. The shrimp & pork potstickers were very good. I had the ramen which was tasty, filling and a great choice. Our server was terrific to put the spicy oil on the side which made it easier for me to eat. My husband had the butterfish which is the best I have ever tasted. It is a signature dish and always a pleaser. The only real downside is the limited menu. We were told that because of a staff shortage, it wasn't the typical menu. This was disappointing. But they did have the best of the Roy's dishes. So far, it has been the best experience that we have had in Poipu.

    My family and I went here for dinner and the waiter was great! He was very thorough explaining all…read moreof the dishes. Unfortunately, the pastry chef was not there that night but there is a great ice cream shop near by! This restaurant is great for hosting large parties as there were several including our own. I ordered the spicy ramen. I have a lower tolerance for spicy food but thought this was pretty mild. It's a 4/10 on the spice scale. It was so good and the serving size was very large, I would definitely order again!!

    Photos
    Eating House 1849 Koloa - Caramel Leche Baked Pineapple | Stuffed with Hawaiian Sugar & Spiced Macadamia Nuts.

    Caramel Leche Baked Pineapple | Stuffed with Hawaiian Sugar & Spiced Macadamia Nuts.

    Eating House 1849 Koloa - Chili Pepper Chicken Wings | Green Onion, Cilantro, Ginger, Serrano Chilies.

    Chili Pepper Chicken Wings | Green Onion, Cilantro, Ginger, Serrano Chilies.

    Eating House 1849 Koloa - Kamuela Tomato & Fresh Mozzarella Salad | Warm Balsamic Pancetta Vinaigrette, Kailani Farms Arugula, Pine Nuts.

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    Kamuela Tomato & Fresh Mozzarella Salad | Warm Balsamic Pancetta Vinaigrette, Kailani Farms Arugula, Pine Nuts.

    Red Salt at Ko'a Kea - seafood - Updated May 2026

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