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    Smiley's Local Grinds

    4.4 (871 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 8:00 pm

    Smiley's Local Grinds Photos

    SMILEY'S LOCAL GRINDS ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for kids

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    Eating Smiley's at our hotel - - living the dream
    Kevin B.

    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

    Ube and banana
    Ha B.

    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!!!).

    Brandon Y.

    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

    My favorite number at a solid spot
    Jennifer S.

    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

    Caitlyn H.

    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

    Mixed plate and chicken teriyaki
    Megan F.

    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.

    Take window out service
    Jerry H.

    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!

    Garlic shrimp, chicken (forgot what kind it was), rice and mac salad.
    Salvador C.

    Cool little walk up spot. Super cute, very friendly worker greeted us and took our order. We had just got off the long flight from Sacramento, so everything on the menu sounded good. I asked her to pick what i should get. So she ordered me some chicken, garlic shrimp, rice, and mac salad. And i threw in a banana cream pie because it sounded good. We ate it in the back of the Jeep because we didn't want it to get cold. MAN O MAN!!!!! It was SOOOO DELICIOUS. I'm going back on our last day here before we fly back. Also, I needed recommendations on a place to get coffee and a cool place to buy shirts for souvenirs and she helped with too.

    Pork hash.Friday special king Kamehameha day Holiday$5.00
    Rodney Mabini R.

    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..

    Mac salad
    Ria D.

    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.

    Sean Y.

    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!

    Smileys Chicken
    Travis P.

    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.

    Garlic shrimp + chicken katsu
    Natalee C.

    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.

    Famous chicken with Mac salad

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    16 days ago

    Loco moco and chili pepper chicken is killahs staff is amazing and the portions are also amazing

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    Page 1 of 22

    Smiley's Local Grinds Reviews in Other Languages

    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.

    Do they take phone orders?

    Yes, but call early; they get very busy

    Is dine in option available?

    No. Take out only.

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    The Fish Express - Spicy Ahi & Spicy Salmon poke

    The Fish Express

    4.4(1.2k reviews)
    1.0 mi
    $$

    When stopping by Lihue, we were looking for a place where you can get some delicious poke quickly,…read moreand The Fish Express popped up as an interesting option to stop by. We went on a Saturday around lunchtime and it wasn't too busy. There is a small parking lot near the restaurant on the left hand side. It was filled when we first got there, but we were luckily able to get a spot. I could see this lot filling up quickly during other meal rush hours, so do take note if you plan on driving. The ordering is done like your typical poke place, you tell the service worker what you would like and there's a small toppings bar at the end before the cashier. There was a small line when we went, and even with the line, it still only took about 5-10 minutes to get our food. There isn't interior seating in the restaurant though, you will have to get your food take out, or just eat in the parking lot. I got the 3 scoops of poke option for $15.25, and I think that this is a pretty solid deal for the variety of fish that you can try out! I think based on my personal experience on Kaua'i, it will be difficult to get food, especially poke at a reasonable price. But for this price, it's probably the best place on the island to get poke without paying $20+ for the same variety. The fish tasted fresh, and I am a fan of the selection of toppings they had. If you are in the Lihue area and looking to try some poke at a reasonable price, I would recommend The Fish Express! There seems to be a decent amount of other interesting looking options on the menu, and if I'm ever in the area again, I would totally give them a try!

    I was recommended this place by a local tour guide and I think it was pretty good, portion size was…read moreok wish they served more in their scoop and they had a variety of toppings. The staff were very nice and gave their best recommendations which the flavors were spot on.

    Photos
    The Fish Express
    The Fish Express - One of the best poke spots!

    One of the best poke spots!

    The Fish Express - Tuna Sashimi and Unagi bento

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    Tuna Sashimi and Unagi bento

    Hualani's - Fresh beets

    Hualani's

    4.4(438 reviews)
    1.4 mi
    $$$$

    We decided to give Hualani's another try for our 10-year vow renewal dinner, and we're so glad we…read moredid--it absolutely did not disappoint. From the moment we arrived, the hostess was warm, welcoming, and attentive, which set the tone for the evening. The entire staff was fantastic, and we especially want to thank our server, Danielle, who was truly amazing and made our experience even more special. We came in with a large party of 15, and everything was handled seamlessly. The food was delicious across the board. The kids loved the chicken tenders and fries, and for myself, I ordered the lobster tempura to start along with the chili crunch poke--both were incredible, especially the poke, which was super fresh and full of flavor. My husband and I also split a steak, and it was cooked perfectly. Everyone in our group left happy the views outside are absolutely amazing as well. Perfect place for our dinner

    My teenagers and I very much enjoyed our dinner here last night. It didn't hurt that the sunset was…read moreperfection, and the weather was top notch. The wine list included lots of options that I don't often see by the glass, such as Chenin Blanc and Albarino. The Aperature Chenin Blanc was so tasty alongside appetizers and seabass. For starters, we had the short rib potsticker (5 to an order with a peanutty curry sauce on top), and focaccia, which came with balsamic and olive oil, plus roasted garlic cloves. The chewy texture was great, it almost seemed air fried. Entrees: 2 kid's shells with cheese (mac'n cheese) generous portions, and no grief over 15 to ordering off children's menu. Also, the filet and seabass entrees. One came with mashed potatoes, one with rice, but we swapped. Could have with both choy, or sub in green beans. The filet was cooked perfectly to our liking at medium, and very tender. I'm not sure on the size, but it was plenty. The seabass came with 2 large pieces of fish. About half got eaten, it was so delicious, but the buttery texture made it very filling, so hey! Lunch today. Possibly the best aspect of the dinner, topping the food and divine weather, was our server, Ali'i He went above and beyond, chatting to the kids and myself, plus on point recommendations, and speedy water fills and checking in. He brought me wine tastes, solit a virgin daiquiri for my girls, and generally brought a spirit of Aloha. There was a nice duo singing on the patio, too, which really sealed the deal on the relaxing atmosphere. Bathrooms are also very luxurious.

    Photos
    Hualani's - Oceanfront Dining on Kaua'i

    Oceanfront Dining on Kaua'i

    Hualani's - Whole fried Kampachi - appetizer for entree

    Whole fried Kampachi - appetizer for entree

    Hualani's - Sunset view from our dining table outdoors.

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    Sunset view from our dining table outdoors.

    Kaua’i Diner - Banana lumpia with vanilla ice cream

    Kaua’i Diner

    4.3(246 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$
    Locally owned & operated
    Family-owned & operated

    Perfect place to start this rainy Kauai weekend! It was 3 minutes away from where we were, the Sixt…read moreRental Cars. They have a great selection of Breakfast and Lunch/Dinner options. The prices are very reasonable! We probably saved $3-10 off each plate coming from Maui. My dad got the LauLau Plate and said the meat was soft and moist and my mom NEVER annihilates her food and she literally ate every bite of her Steamed Fish which was Catfish today. It had this yummy soy or sesame sauce with some green onions and ginger on top. My Oxtail Soup with Rice was perfect for the cold rainy day. Delicious pieces of fall off the bone oxtail and I literally dumped all the cilantro and ginger in the hot broth. Mom and I had a bit of a fuzzy throat so we got the Calamansi Juice with Honey which was delicious! As you sip, you taste pieces of Calamansi and see swirls of seeds and calamansi skin. If you like pulp, you'd enjoy this refreshing drink. We ended the meal with 4 pieces of hot egg tarts! I'm surprised they had them because when I go to Oahu, there's some spots where you special order them on the weekends. Overall, a delicious local spot here in Lihue!

    Lots of locals dining in! Must be good…read more.. Only one waitress working the entire restaurant, but doing a commendable job! And she was smiling... After getting our ice water, cutlery and menus, we quickly settled on the French toast breakfast, which included fluffy French toast, bacon, and 2 eggs cooked to order. Ono! Added apple juice to the meal. Happy, full, and satisfied! Woo hoo!

    Photos
    Kaua’i Diner - Interior

    Interior

    Kaua’i Diner - Egg Tarts

    Egg Tarts

    Kaua’i Diner - Inside looking towards the door.

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    Inside looking towards the door.

    Richie's Huli BBQ - $18 Huli chicken plate

    Richie's Huli BBQ

    5.0(56 reviews)
    7.4 mi

    Richie's Huli BBQ is unreal. Holy shit--this is hands down the best chicken we've ever had. It was…read moreperfectly cooked, insanely moist, and packed with flavor. Every bite was delicious. On top of that, the prices are super reasonable for the quality and portion sizes. You get amazing food without feeling ripped off, which is rare these days. If you're anywhere near this place, do yourself a favor and stop in. We'll definitely be back!

    Since we had eaten so much fish during our trip we were looking for some good bbq chicken. (You are…read morekind of reminded every day since there are so many chickens around LOL). So in looking through Yelp we saw Richie's. Since it is a food truck we were not sure exactly where it was. After reviewing the most recent reviews we saw it was right down the street where we were staying. It was in the area by Haole Girl Island Sweets. Everyone mentioned getting there early as the close once they sellout. They usually have the Huli Huli Chicken on Friday and Saturday but check to see. Quite a few people were already seated at the picnic table when we arrived around 11:30am. We were greeted right away and ordered the half chicken with macaroni salad and a roll. We stood by the grill area looking at all the good food being prepared. Smelled like heaven. When we got our food we were amazed at how much was there. Large portions. They serve it with a pineapple white sauce that is so tasty. The macaroni salad was good as well. Also some white rice on the side. Best chicken we have had in a while. Thanks to Richie! Check you out next time in town. We saw a red food truck so turned into the parking lot. You could smell the bbq cooking.

    Photos
    Richie's Huli BBQ
    Richie's Huli BBQ - Huli huli chicken was FIRE! Huge serving which fed our family of four!

    Huli huli chicken was FIRE! Huge serving which fed our family of four!

    Richie's Huli BBQ - Wagyu burger : passion bakery (local) bun,  with house sauce

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    Wagyu burger : passion bakery (local) bun, with house sauce

    Smiley's Local Grinds - hawaiian - Updated May 2026

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