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This place was alright. We got a katsu chicken kalbi and terriyaki beef with rice and Mac salad. Super friendly, it's a take out place so we took the food To go and sat at a beach. My beef was a little too salty for my liking, but the other plate with the katsu It was decently priced for the amount of food we got. Not sure if I'd recommend, maybe u just need to try it again.
Everyone local told us to go here. No seating - a walk up window. Great selection of food at good prices. Had the burger and the chicken sandwich, really nicely done.
Highly recommend the shrimp plate. They were very generous with the portions and it all the shrimps were juicy and flavorful. Miso salmon was not bad too. But it did take a while for it to be made, but worth it
First time here and the food was great We ordered takeout. Good thing we did because this place is really busy
Take out only restaurant, I recommend calling a pickup order in advance. Sign is broken outside but the GPS will take you over. The food was delicious with good portions, I especially liked the macaroni salad. Beef and chicken cooked to perfection. My wife got the chicken katsu but it was nothing special. Good local place to check out.
Food: Food was really good. Did not have any complaints about the food whatsoever. I had the Loco Moco and my dad had the shrimp We both shared the Ahi...all of which were delicious. Service: Service was standard. I wouldnt say anything out of the ordinary. Food took a while as it was fairly busy. Tip: I would suggest calling in your order so that its ready by the time you arrive to save on time. Ambiance: This is not a dine-in establishment so not much to say about ambiance in general. We will def be back should we decide to visit Kaua'i again in the future.
This Hawaiian BBQ place is absolutely insane! The garlic butter shrimp was next level, and we couldn't resist returning for the equally delicious katsu/kalbi plate. The creamy mac salad was a great addition, and we enjoyed pairing all the food with the refreshing guava juice. You can tell each plate is made to order fresh, and the portions are perfect. It's authentic Hawaiian food at its finest!
Smiley's Local Grinds was so good that we ended up eating here two nights in a row during our trip to Kauai. The first night, my husband ordered the prime rib special with mac salad and rice, which was basically his dream come true, and I got the loco moco, which I shared with my toddler. Everything was flavorful, comforting, and exactly what we were craving. We enjoyed it so much that we came back on our final night and ordered the galbi and lechon kawali. Once again, every dish was a hit. The proteins were flavorful and filling, and the mac salad deserves its own shoutout. It may be my favorite mac salad on the island. This is absolutely the kind of place we'll return to on our next visit. It's also conveniently located near the airport, making it a great first stop when you arrive or a last meal before heading home. A couple things to know before you go: parking was easy when we visited, but there isn't any seating. This is very much a pick-up-and-go spot. I'd recommend calling ahead and placing your order so you're not waiting around. Great food, generous portions, and the kind of local spot you hope to find when traveling. We'll definitely be back.
The BEST place to stop for lunch after landing in Lihue. This place is a walk-up window, so I usually take the food to the nearby Costco and eat in the food court before grocery shopping. The Smiley's Garlic Chili Chicken is incredible. So crispy, sweet, and garlicky, and they give an insane portion size for just $16! I look forward to this every time I come to Kauai.
This is a local plate lunch spot. It's been around for many years and is well liked by the locals. The prices are decent and the food is ok. We tried the teriyaki chicken (4/5), the teriyaki beef (3/5) and the kalua pork (2/5). The rice and mac salad (had potatoes) were both fine. If you need a quick bite to take to the beach, this place will work. If I ordered wrong, please let me know. Don't think we would go back.
Super fresh, tasty meal to go. Be sure to call ahead to skip the 30+ min wait. Note that there is no seating is available onsite, but just head to a local beach or park to enjoy! Pricing was affordable and service was great.
This is my first time at Smiley's as I missed it last time I was in Kauai. It's definitely a must! Very authentic local foods. My favorite is the Smileys chicken spicy. It's not very spicy but enjoyable. You order through the window and we received the orders quickly. There is no seating available but the restaurant is located in a plaza. Ambiance is more that you order and take out. I would def come back. Servings are huge!
From the moment we landed at Lihue, 5 people we met on our trip recommended Smiley's. We made a pit stop. Got there before a crazy crowd. Ordered the teriyaki burger deluxe with fries, and the garlic shrimp/chicken combo. Food and service were Kaboom . So close to the airport, should come here for first meal or back for plane food on return trip
20 days ago
Smiley's Local Grinds was absolutely delicious! I got the Kalbi + Chicken Katsu combo, and everything was amazing. The chicken katsu was perfectly crispy and super crunchy, and it was even better dipped in the sauce. The kalbi was incredibly tender and juicy with an amazing flavor that had me wanting more. The pasta was also delicious and honestly the perfect side to complete the combo. Definitely one of the best meals we've had while in Kauai! Highly recommend giving Smiley's a try! read more
Grab and go spot. Service is very fast here. After ordering, we waited just a few minutes. Large variety of food but the combo plates is probably the safe bet. We got the chicken and shrimp combo plate both with chili sauce. It was incredible. The chicken was crunchy and moist. The shrimp was smothered in garlic sauce. Grab this and eat in your car or at the park nearby. You just gotta be careful with the chickens read more
After we landed, we were pretty hungry and had some time to spare before our hotel check-in, so I found this gem through Yelp! I ordered the teriyaki chicken plate and my hubby got the garlic shrimp plate. Everything had really good flavor, the rice was perfect, and the macaroni salad had just the right amount of mayo. The teriyaki sauce was really yummy. I prefer my chicken without the skin so I removed it but it was cooked very well and it came off easily. My hubby enjoyed his plate too. The portions are a good size too - you could probably share one plate if you're not that hungry. I saved half of mine for later and ended up eating it cold cause we didn't have a microwave, but it was still so delicious! We even got some fun chex mix snax to eat while we waited. They were so good! This is definitely a place to check out! You will not be disappointed! We even came back another time when we wanted a bite to eat before heading to the beach! So good! read more
This place was alright. We got a katsu chicken kalbi and terriyaki beef with rice and Mac salad. Super friendly, it's a take out place so we took the food To go and sat at a beach. My beef was a little too salty for my liking, but the other plate with the katsu It was decently priced for the amount of food we got. Not sure if I'd recommend, maybe u just need to try it again. read more
2 days ago
Everyone local told us to go here. No seating - a walk up window. Great selection of food at good prices. Had the burger and the chicken sandwich, really nicely done. read more
2 days ago
Take out only restaurant, I recommend calling a pickup order in advance. Sign is broken outside but the GPS will take you over. The food was delicious with good portions, I especially liked the macaroni salad. Beef and chicken cooked to perfection. My wife got the chicken katsu but it was nothing special. Good local place to check out. read more
Food: Food was really good. Did not have any complaints about the food whatsoever. I had the Loco Moco and my dad had the shrimp We both shared the Ahi...all of which were delicious. Service: Service was standard. I wouldnt say anything out of the ordinary. Food took a while as it was fairly busy. Tip: I would suggest calling in your order so that its ready by the time you arrive to save on time. Ambiance: This is not a dine-in establishment so not much to say about ambiance in general. We will def be back should we decide to visit Kaua'i again in the future. read more
1 month ago
This Hawaiian BBQ place is absolutely insane! The garlic butter shrimp was next level, and we couldn't resist returning for the equally delicious katsu/kalbi plate. The creamy mac salad was a great addition, and we enjoyed pairing all the food with the refreshing guava juice. You can tell each plate is made to order fresh, and the portions are perfect. It's authentic Hawaiian food at its finest! read more
Smiley's Local Grinds was so good that we ended up eating here two nights in a row during our trip to Kauai. The first night, my husband ordered the prime rib special with mac salad and rice, which was basically his dream come true, and I got the loco moco, which I shared with my toddler. Everything was flavorful, comforting, and exactly what we were craving. We enjoyed it so much that we came back on our final night and ordered the galbi and lechon kawali. Once again, every dish was a hit. The proteins were flavorful and filling, and the mac salad deserves its own shoutout. It may be my favorite mac salad on the island. This is absolutely the kind of place we'll return to on our next visit. It's also conveniently located near the airport, making it a great first stop when you arrive or a last meal before heading home. A couple things to know before you go: parking was easy when we visited, but there isn't any seating. This is very much a pick-up-and-go spot. I'd recommend calling ahead and placing your order so you're not waiting around. Great food, generous portions, and the kind of local spot you hope to find when traveling. We'll definitely be back. read more
The BEST place to stop for lunch after landing in Lihue. This place is a walk-up window, so I usually take the food to the nearby Costco and eat in the food court before grocery shopping. The Smiley's Garlic Chili Chicken is incredible. So crispy, sweet, and garlicky, and they give an insane portion size for just $16! I look forward to this every time I come to Kauai. read more
This is a local plate lunch spot. It's been around for many years and is well liked by the locals. The prices are decent and the food is ok. We tried the teriyaki chicken (4/5), the teriyaki beef (3/5) and the kalua pork (2/5). The rice and mac salad (had potatoes) were both fine. If you need a quick bite to take to the beach, this place will work. If I ordered wrong, please let me know. Don't think we would go back. read more
Super fresh, tasty meal to go. Be sure to call ahead to skip the 30+ min wait. Note that there is no seating is available onsite, but just head to a local beach or park to enjoy! Pricing was affordable and service was great. read more
3 months ago
This is my first time at Smiley's as I missed it last time I was in Kauai. It's definitely a must! Very authentic local foods. My favorite is the Smileys chicken spicy. It's not very spicy but enjoyable. You order through the window and we received the orders quickly. There is no seating available but the restaurant is located in a plaza. Ambiance is more that you order and take out. I would def come back. Servings are huge! read more
From the moment we landed at Lihue, 5 people we met on our trip recommended Smiley's. We made a pit stop. Got there before a crazy crowd. Ordered the teriyaki burger deluxe with fries, and the garlic shrimp/chicken combo. Food and service were Kaboom . So close to the airport, should come here for first meal or back for plane food on return trip read more
3 months ago
We tried a couple items from them and I would say the thing to order is the kalbi. That stood out the most compared to the other stuff. It does take about 15minutes once you order even if there's no line so I recommend calling ahead of time. There's also no seating there. You order from a pickup window and also grab the food from there as well. read more
7 months ago
Solid local stop Smiley's is one of those small, no-frills spots...more grab-and-go with no real place to sit, but that's part of the charm. It feels very local and unpretentious. I got the kalbi + garlic shrimp combo and it was exactly what I expected...flavorful, well-cooked, and satisfying. As someone who eats a lot of kalbi, I'd say it was good and hit the spot, even if it didn't necessarily stand out as the best I've ever had. Tim got the loco moco and said it was fantastic...rich, comforting, and everything you want from a solid plate lunch. Overall, a great, reliable local spot when you want something quick, tasty, and authentic without all the tourist hype. Would definitely come back read more
Best plates on the island! The shrimp is on point. I could go there everyday and eat cuz its that good. I just call in my orders and pick up the food. Service is great and fast. Unfortuanly you cant eat there cuz theres no seating but the parking lot is big enouhg to chill and eat in the car if need be. read more
7 months ago
SO GOOD. You need to stop by this place whenever in Kauai. Me and my boyfriend shared the Combo Shrimp and Kalbi plate. The sides were perfect for me! The Kalbi was amazing. It reminds me of my Korean Grandmas marinade so it tasted like home to me. Shrimp was great too. Not too oily and has lots of flavor and perfectly cooked. 10/10. We wanted to stop by one more time before we left but realized they were closed on Sundays.. until next time read more
We came here again to taste smileys chicken, garlic shrimp and kalbi ribs. This place is a small hole in the wall in a strip mall that is locally owned. The restaurant has a walk up window where you order takeout out. It was very popular with locals. The service fast and helpful. We loved the smiley's chicken with garlic chili sauce. Everything was very tasty. Plates had generous portions. We loved this place! read more
Smiley's came highly recommended from locals. When we came in late after a delayed flight, we pulled in starving. My husband and I shared a mixed plate and both left feeling full. The price is high but considering the weight of the container and the amount of protein and the fact that it fed hungry adults, I have no complaints. My daughter had teriyaki chicken. And it was my favorite of all the meats we tried. Solid place for Hawaiian plates but only if you want takeaway. read more
1 month ago
Just landed in Kauai and needed a quick bite near the airport. Found this spot and realized it's takeout-only, which was totally fine, we ate in the car with our boxes. Smileys Chicken - Almost like sauced-up popcorn chicken. Crispy, flavorful, and really enjoyable. (4/5) Loco Moco - I always have to get a loco moco whenever I'm in Hawaii. This one was solid and classic, about on par with others I've had. (4/5) Crispy Shrimp - We ordered a few pieces. A bit pricey at $2.50 each, but tasty and well-cooked. (4/5) Overall, a great spot for quick bites. I've had better food elsewhere, but I really enjoyed this meal, especially since I was starving after landing. read more
4 months ago
June 2026 There were two places recommended by the many locals. 1. marks place 2. Smileys Local Grindz On our last day, we stopped at smileys to grab some food for the airport. When we arrived, this cute lady worked the register . There was a HUGE line at 1145. Took us about 10 mins to order. 15 mins after to get our food. We ordered your classic plate lunches of chicken katsu, smileys chicken and loco moco. I also got the banana crème pie. The food was outstanding. The service was even better. Credit cards accepted! To go only. Parking plentiful. read more
Came here right when we landed and boy oh boy, it did not disappoint. We got the mixed plate, which includes smiley's chicken (garlic chili), hamburger steak and kalua pork. We also got a side of lau lau. The chicken was so so good. It was still crunchy, even with the sauce, it was crunchy crunch. It wasn't spicy and it wasn't too sweet. The kalua pork was good, a little salty for me but the hubs said it wasn't. So it depends on the person. The hamburger steak was flavorful and cooked well, not over cooked at all. The best item we had was the pork lau lau. I mean talk about melt in your mouth. It was THAT good. Like we wanted to go back again the next day and just keep eating it. It wasn't salty and it wasn't too fatty. It was just so delicious. The prices are a bit more than what we expected but hey, it's like that everywhere. There's a lot of items on the menu that anyone can try something new everyday during a seven day vacation. Great variety. There's good parking at their location. They make ordering and picking up easy. The owners and cashiers were super nice and efficient. We loved this place and the food. Definitely will be going back again and again. read more
The only place open at night on the way back to the hotel... And it was a solid option for dinner! Had quite a wait as it was busy. Took around 30 minutes to get our food... Ordered a loco moco, a beef stew plate, teriyaki chicken, a cheeseburger, and fries. My son said the loco moco was good. Not as good as Marks, but good. 3/5 The beef stew was good with a good ratio of meat to vegetables. 4/5 The wife said the teriyaki chicken was ok. I tried it and it was decent. Not something I'd order again. 2/5 The cheeseburger and fries were good! Nice homemade patty and the fries were salted just right! Would definitely order it again. Honestly got this in case the beef stew was bad... 4/5 Great local plate lunch place that's open late. Worth a stop for a hefty plate lunch! read more
So glad we hit this place up before rush hour for lunch. They seem to have a good following and I can see why. The portion is perfectly generous. My husband and I each got a combo plate of Kalbi and Katsu chicken--each was very good on their own but I feel like the katsu is under-salted while the Kalbi was way too salty...so eating them side by side felt like a strange exercise of adapting to the different sodium flavors. Also grabbed the ube cheesecake (good) and the banana cream (extremely yummy!!!). read more
4 months ago
Long line, but worth the wait. Their system is well organized. Already couple of items on the day's special was already sold out. I had the pork chop with gravy and my husband had the salmon! Wonderful and plenty to eat! No dine in.. take out only (just in case you were planning on eating there) read more
1 year ago
Looking for a true local island food? This place is recommend to me by a staff at one of the hotels I was staying at nearby. :-) Is a true local favorite with the locals. So favorite they still go old school and still accept cash. They don't have an indoor seating. You order right from the window to take to go for a picnic or to your home. I recommend getting their famous chicken or Kalbi. I even heard the prime rib is delicious here. It's so close to the airport you can take some to go with you on your flight back home. read more
5 months ago
8.5/10 Got the combo plate with garlic shrimp and garlic chili chicken. Shrimp and chicken were delicious. Only small complaints is that the rice was a little mushy and the chicken was not spicy at all for garlic chili sauce. But that's just me being nit picky. Definitely one of the best meals I've had here in Kauai read more
7 months ago
2 months ago
The food was okay, not the best but not bad either. Unfortunately we didn't like their service, we waited about an hour just to get our food. read more
First meal when we landed in Kauai. Absolutely delisssh. It was order for to-go. Order at the window and wait til they call your order. Waited for just under 10 min. As soon as we got to our hotel, we got to trying this deliciousness. The chicken was v flavorful and the skin on was giving!!! If you like a good tasty, chicken then this is for you. We got two orders but honestly we could've shared just one combo plate because it was that generous. Amazing eats - would eat again!! read more
7 months ago
I haven't come here in a while.So I decided to come here for lunch.I called to place my pick up order.They stopped doing dine in's since Covid.20 minutes later it was done.Friendly staff and the food was good!.I wasn't surprised.I got the Smiley's chicken n hamburger steak combo plate.I enjoyed it.I will definitely be coming back soon.. read more
7 months ago
This was our first meal in Kauai and it certainly didn't disappoint! The order ahead option is a good idea if you're pushed for time, since the grab & go window takes a bit (but alas, worth the wait). I had the garlic shrimp (incredible) and chicken katsu plate that comes with the rice & Mac salad - insane. All so good! Highly recommend the garlic shrimp, they're fire. We also had the Kalbi short ribs which were amazing. Everything was so flavorful! I'd come back here again for sure the next time I'm in Kauai. read more
Very solid spot , portion sizes are a great amount, delicious taste and wallet friendly ! I ordered the KALUA + SMILEY'S CHICKEN combination plate which includes chicken long rice + lomi salmon. The kalua was super juicy, soft and exploding with delicious flavor ! The smileys chicken is basically fried chicken and also tasted great ! I wish i did opt in for the garlic chicken as it was a little bit more spicier and more flavorful. The long rice with lomi salmon was also delicious. Everything tasted very fresh and was very fulfilling ! I didnt care too much about the rice nor the mac salad as they are pretty standard. The chatsu plate was also pretty tasty. It tasted almost similar to the smileys chicken but more of a breaded crust outside as chatsu is suppose to taste like. Just an FYI there is no seating here so it is probably best to take it to a nice beautiful beach nearby to absorb the good vibes! The service was fast, exceptional and staff were very friendly. This is the go to spot if you needing some great takeout on the go. Very affordable, great service and huge fulfilling portion sizes. Needless to say this will be my go to spot whenever i am back on Kauai ! read more
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More info about Smiley's Local Grinds
4100 Rice St
Lihue, HI 96766
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(808) 245-4772
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https://www.smileyslocalgrinds.com
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Ask the Community - Smiley's Local Grinds
Do u serve bento box lunches ? If u do what is the cost?
Yes, they serve lunches. All their meals are in takeout boxes, and the prices are displayed on their window.
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