After the owners read our previous review about our experience at their restaurant, they went above and beyond to make things right. We truly appreciate everything they did and would highly recommend Tahiti Nui to anyone visiting the north shore of Kauai. read more

Tahiti Nui is a can't-miss spot on the north shore of Kauai. It's a Hanalei institution, and they have the receipts. They were even featured in The Descendants starring George Clooney. Don't think twice, just order the Mai Tai and coconut shrimp to start. Both are perfection. I had the zesty coconut crusted catch as my entree. It was really good, but next time I'm definitely trying one of their famous pizzas! If you time it just right, they have live music in the evenings. read more

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No wait for 2 people on a weeknight at around 7 PM. Tahiti nui mai tai was great, and the coconut shrimp was perfect. Tsunami fries were also decent. Came for a drink and a snack and this did the trick - no need to eat full dinner here imo. 4.5 stars. read more

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This is my family's go to spot every time we visit Kauai. The vibe here is perfect for a summer vacation and local dive experience. Live entertainment, friendly staff, excellent drinks, outdoor and open air seating, and phenomenal food (pizza is incredible). Can't recommend this establishment enough. Evening wait times go pretty smooth and quick, well worth it for anyone visiting. Thank you Tahiti Nui! read more

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Very good food! Very good service! Good prices! Good atmosphere! Good happy hour! Very casual and the kids enjoyed the restaurant as well! read more

Tahiti Nui - Ono fish - Seafood Near Me - Hanalei, Hawaii

Absolutely love the Nui. The Mai tais are the best anywhere. So damn good. Hard to pace myself on them! Sit at the bar if you can and watch some locals play music. We saw Da Aunties and LOVED them. The burger was bomb. This is a must stop after a day at the beach in Hanalei. read more

Tahiti Nui - Music from the bar - Seafood Near Me - Hanalei, Hawaii

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We opted to sit at the bar, and our server, Kelli, made the evening unforgettable. The moment she learned it was our 36th anniversary, she surprised us both with leis--such a warm, thoughtful start to our night! The food did not disappoint: the steak bowl and pulled pork sandwich were packed with flavor and seasoned to perfection. We paired our meals with a glass of Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon and a Bikini Tini, both of which were delicious. Kelli checked on us continuously and truly elevated our experience. If you go, sit on the dining side of the bar and ask for her! To top it all off, we got to enjoy live music and hula dancers. An amazing celebration from start to finish. read more

Tahiti Nui - Steak bowl - Seafood Near Me - Hanalei, Hawaii

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Tahiti Nui has solved some of the issues they had in the past and deserves the update to 5 stars. I always get the pizza, and it's incredible, but I wanted to try the burger. So ono and so big! So many toppings and they are all super solid. Hit the spot after a hot day at the beach. The servers were super nice and helpful with our baby. They had no issues with us leaving our stroller in the way so baby could be in the shade and they worked around it. Aloha! read more

Tahiti Nui - burger - Seafood Near Me - Hanalei, Hawaii

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Do not miss the coconut shrimp while you're at Tahiti Nui. Also, their Mai Tai is truly delightful--nothing artificial tasting in the fruit juices & the rum was perfectly balanced. Our server Kelly (who was such a sweetheart) suggested the ahi carpaccio & it was a hit. The basil sauce and capers made it a unique flavor experience. The bartender was also busting her butt bussing tables and took the time to talk and laugh with us. The staff truly made our night. read more

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First dinner in Kauai and my husband still puts it down as his favorite meal for the entire trip. We had the kale Caesar salad with grilled tender shrimp and the stir fry. It was a busy Sunday night and we were quoted 45 minutes for wait time but were able to grab open seats at the bar for quick and kind service. read more

Tahiti Nui - Kale Caesar - Seafood Near Me - Hanalei, Hawaii

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Cocktail Lounge with great ambiance and amazing signature cocktails ! Stellar bartenders. Great tiki bar. Must stop in for a drink or food when in Hanalei. read more

Tahiti Nui - Outside Sign - Seafood Near Me - Hanalei, Hawaii

We were there a day after they reopened from the hurricane. They had a 5-course condensed menu that was really good . Live music was great as was the service. The restaurant has what I think is a true Hawaiian feel to it . Huge points for the security that patrolled the restaurant! Loved that read more

Great spot with an awesome atmosphere and really good cocktails! We stumbled in here completely by accident and somehow ended up in what felt like the busiest place in Hanalei, great live musicians, people dancing, and legitimately tasty cocktails and beer. Service was just amazing! The only downside is the price. We ordered a couple of cocktails, one beer, and a small pizza, and the bill was close to $200, which felt a bit steep. The pizza itself wasn't anything special, but to be fair, this is a bar, not really a restaurant, so I can't complain too much. Overall though, super fun vibe and a great place for drinks and live music. Would definetely come back for the atmosphere alone. read more

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We first visited here 10 years ago and had a good experience, so we decided to stop in again on our most recent trip. We found it to be much busier than before (reservations at a joint like this?), and that it had expanded to the outside. During our prior visit we sat at the front porch table for two next to the front door (recognizable from a scene in the George Clooney movie "The Descendants"), but this time were were placed in a corner table just inside, which we found to be a little stuffy when a breeze wasn't blowing. As to the food, pizzas are a big part of their menu but their pizza oven wasn't working so those were off the table, both literally and figuratively. The other options were a mix of pub grub and seafood-focused items. We were both in a burger mood so we each ordered the Nui Burger with fries. It's a very busy burger with all of the toppings, some of which I declined. One of the toppings that I kept was an onion ring, which was pathetically small and badly overcooked. The burger patty itself was meh, but I'm kind of a snob about that because my homemade burgers are better than most restaurants. On the side I got their Tsunami Fries -- regular fries with a spicy aioli and furikake -- which were very enjoyable. The service was not what we would have liked. Although our server was friendly, it took too long for our food to arrive. Worse, when I ordered a second beer it never came before we finished our meal, so I canceled the request. This place is situated right on the main road in a high foot traffic area, so that needs to improve. Final verdict -- a fun and iconic place to visit at least once, but not what it used to be. read more

Get a reservation, or the wait can be very long. We sat outside which was perfect, we could hear the live music (lovely island cover songs), and the breeze was amazing. We shared the Nui burger (plenty for 2 of us) and the Kahlua pulled pork. The fries were fantastic and the sriracha and basil aioli were both delicious!! We were full but opted for the Lilikoi cheesecake to go. Our server was friendly and accommodating! read more

Tahiti Nui - Nui burger and fries - Seafood Near Me - Hanalei, Hawaii

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Came here last night for dinner around 7pm.check in was easy, we waited do maybe 15 min. Once we got seated it wasn't long After that we got to put in our orders. Our male server was very polite and we didn't feel rushed considering it was pretty busy. Ordered the coconut shrimp, mai tai and the zesty coconut crusted catch . First the coconut shrimp hit the spot and the sauce that it came with was delicious mix of flavors . I can't pinpoint what kind of aioli it is but it was good nonetheless. The Mai tai was pretty strong . Was just perfect to end the night! The sweet potato mash was a good twist from a regular mashed potato. The fish was a little dry but the flavor was still there and the sauce made up for it. They had a live band which was a nice addition to the ambiance. I was singing along while waiting for our food! Overall I could recommend this place and will be bask for sure read more

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Great food. I sat at the bar. Came here because of Triple D and I was not disappointed. I ate here after hiking 8+ miles to Hanakāpīʻai Falls. What a treat this was after a beautiful day enjoying the Nepali Coast by foot. This area is stunning and full of energy read more

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We thoroughly enjoyed our time at Tahiti Nui. As others have said, all of the staff were very welcoming, but if you get Sara as your server then you will be warmly treated. She knows the menu and suggests great pairings. We would welcome having her serve us again. We chose Zesty Coconut Crusted catch which the fish of the day was Nui Swordfish which is not to be confused with the Marlin. It was served with mashed purple sweet potato and a side of fresh green beans. Delicious! My husband got the Macadamia Crusted Chicken and Sara suggested the garlic mashed potatoes instead of rice which was spot on for my husband. I also had the Mai Tai. Our meal was quick - hot & delicious. So glad we chose here for our dinner. read more

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We ordered a Hawaiian pizza, which was actually pretty fun since it was my first "Hawaiian pizza" while being in Hawaii. We added jalapeños and sausage to it, which gave it a nice extra kick and made it more flavorful. The pizza itself was decent, good crust, good toppings, and it hit the spot, but overall it felt fairly standard rather than anything standout or unique. Still, it was a pleasant experience and a fun stop in Hanalei! read more

Tahiti Nui - Hawaiian Pizza (Added sausage and jalapeño) - Seafood Near Me - Hanalei, Hawaii

Fabulous food, drinks, and service Tiki man pizza is a must. A huge assortment of toppings and a very hearty and delicious pizza. Would come back here for the pizza alone. Gluten free is marked on the menu and the waiter was very helpful. They are famous for their mai tai which is good, but didn't quite make it as our favorite mai tai! Not sure what the hype is read more

Tahiti Nui - Tiki man pizza gluten free - Seafood Near Me - Hanalei, Hawaii

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Booked a reservation here for 7pm. Would recommend booking a reservation for inside so you can hear the live music. This restaurant was a fun tiki vibe with ~very~ strong mai tais. The coconut shrimp is excellent (I love coconut shrimp and this was my favorite I had in Hawaii). The appetizer portion is pretty large and could suffice for a small dinner for one. I also had the macnut crusted Ono which was also very good. The vibes and good music took Tahiti Nui over the top and made it a memorable part of our trip. read more

Tahiti Nui - Macnut Macadamia Nut Panko Crusted Fresh Ono - Seafood Near Me - Hanalei, Hawaii

When you hail from the pizza capital of the world, the measuring stick for pizza is different. However Tahiti Nui is putting in the love with these pies, a one way ticket to flavortown. Not to mention the best, most fresh coconut shrimp I've ever had the pleasure of meeting. Service and vibes were top notch as well, the live music was a great tone setter. If you need to mix it up, highly advise giving the fine folks at tahiti nui a chance! read more

Tahiti Nui - Pizzas - Seafood Near Me - Hanalei, Hawaii

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Food was really not that good, and the Aunty Bev show bar entertainment is kind of sweet and very local-oriented. I would have enjoyed one of the slack key guitar artists better, but I didn't know their schedule at the time. Best to research. I would say stick to a burger or pizza for dinner. Anything more is going to be a letdown. I don't think their Mai Tais are all that. Certainly not the best on the island. I really enjoyed the aloha spirit of the place, and the waitresses were all very sweet. It was fun to see where they filmed the George Clooney Beau Bridges bar scene in the "The Descendants." If you're a big fan of the film as I am, it's worth a visit. Next year I think we'll just try to sit in the bar for drinks and snacks and listen to a guitar player. This is a true Hanalei locals place, not just for tourists, so I think that makes it worth a visit. read more

I can't be sure if it's the atmosphere of the place or if their Mai Tai is legitimately the best, but it's our absolute favorite mai tai! All of their cocktails are yummy, but I just don't get to try the others as much...it's so hard not to get another mai tai there! We haven't been disappointed with their food either. Just to list some of our favorites, highly recommend the Coconut Shrimp, Lilikoi Poi Cheesecake, Zesty Coconut Crusted Catch, Oh So Ono, and the BBQ Spare Ribs! We like to go for the nightly music but in the recent years we've needed reservations to be in the main room for that. But the bar is first come first serve, so if you're a party of 1 or 2, you could get lucky and find a bar seat! The bar is one of my favorite seats at the Nui. Tahiti Nui has really blown up over the years, but I'm happy they've managed to keep up their homey vibes still. Got a mixed clientele of locals and tourists. We've always had fun interactions with the staff and the locals there! If you're in town for NYE, definitely check out their fireworks!! read more

Tahiti Nui is such a fun casual spot to come to. They have great drinks and great food options. We loved the coconut shrimp and the fish dishes here. Great vibes inside. The wait staff are super friendly and bring out your order ASAP. We didn't have a reservation so we waited a bit, I think it was only 15-20 minutes worth of a wait though. Would definitely come back! We came here after our friends from our small town were raving about their dinner here, and we are glad we came as well! read more

I am a little biased because one of my favorite movies was filmed here and I was so happy to see it in person. The movie in question is so The Descendants. The Mai Tai's were really good. We came here after a day at the beach and we had a big breakfast so we didn't order food. Our kids can always eat so they shared the burger. The burger was really good. If we had tried more food I would have a more educated opinion on the food. The service was excellent. read more

Tahiti Nui - Mai tai - Seafood Near Me - Hanalei, Hawaii

After coming back here 8 years later, I do enjoy this restaurant!! It's so cute and has a variety of food choices. The pizza oven was broken when we came, but there's still lots of variety of foods. The coconut shrimp was so good and crispy - you can really taste the coconut flavor. The kalua pork sandwich was my favorite - it was sweet yet savory and tasted refreshing because of the veggies inside. I also tried the burger - it's definitely hefty but still delicious - I love the added crunch with the onion ring. read more

Tahiti Nui - Kalua Pork Sandwich - Seafood Near Me - Hanalei, Hawaii

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A must try spot if you're visiting Kauai. A very popular bar, it's pretty much always lively and full so prepare to wait or sit at the bar. Must have cocktails (the famous mai tai) and mocktails. ORDER THE COCONUT SHRIMP. If you come here and don't order the coconut shrimp, my heart breaks for you. I get it with extra lilikoi sauce on the side. I dream of this shrimp. The Huli Huli Chicken Pizza (Basically a BBQ chicken pizza, is my other favorite. I really stick to these items. I got the pulled pork sandwich once and it was just okay. But a very fun spot! They also have music and dancing :) read more

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FANTASTIC! The Nui Burger is one of the top three best burgers I've had anywhere--maybe THE best! All ingredients were top quality and fresh. Large size on toasted brioche. 1/2 lb Premium Beef Patty, Bacon, Cheddar, Gorgonzola, Sautéed Mushrooms, Kalbi Sauce, Fried Onion Ring, Lettuce, Tomato, Onion. Served with French Fries. Add Fried Egg +4 Sub GF Bun +4 Service was prompt and friendly. The inside ambiance is Polynesian. MaiTais are super! If I get back to Hanalei, Tahiti Nui and the Nui Burger will be on my radar. read more

This place is THE ORIGINAL MAI TAI place. Don't get it twisted. There is no better Mai Tai in the world, which is proven literally statistically since this place always wins. We couldn't believe what a difference in having a Mai Tai here was like--unbelievable! I recommend going during happy hour since they are reduced in price (otherwise it is pretty expensive). We also tried so many of the tasty plates, but the ahi carpaccio was epic. This has to be a must if you are in Kauai. It is worth flying out from the mainland, grabbing a mai tai, and flying back--it is THAT good. read more

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Really disappointing experience. We ordered the vegan burger, vegan pizza, and tofu bowl for pickup and brought the food to the beach. My boyfriend took a bite of the "vegan" burger and immediately realized it appeared to be a real meat burger, not a veggie burger. We are very strict vegans and care deeply about animals, so accidentally being served meat is a huge deal to us. We would never knowingly eat an animal, and having that happen because our order was mixed up was genuinely upsetting. What made it worse was the response when I called. I explained what happened, and instead of really trying to make it right, I was told there wasn't much they could do and they weren't even sure they could reimburse us. We were already at the beach, and bringing the burger all the way back just so they could look at it didn't feel reasonable -- especially when, as they said, they couldn't exactly taste it to confirm what it was anyway. The rest of the food was disappointing too. The tofu bowl wasn't very good, and the rice did not taste fresh. The only thing that was somewhat okay was the pizza, but after this experience I honestly don't think I would order from here again. For a restaurant that offers vegan options, there needs to be much more care taken to make sure someone who orders vegan food is not served meat. We're planning to move to Kauai soon and were hoping this could be a place we'd come back to regularly, so this was especially disappointing. Mistakes happen, but serving meat to a strict vegan is not a minor mistake, and the lack of urgency or effort to make it right was unacceptable. read more

No frills casual dress bar and grill (The Descendants filmed some indoor scenes here) within walking distance of Hanalei Bay. The pizza is very good and just the right size for one, or to share with a salad (the kale Caesar was good!). They're "famous" for their Mai Tai, and it's fairly sweet but with a generous pour. read more

Tahiti Nui - Mai tai - Seafood Near Me - Hanalei, Hawaii

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Always a fun spot in Hanalei. Got there just as they opened and they filled the restaurant immediately. We thought this might take awhile but instead we had some of the quickest nicest service! Bailey our server was great and hope she has a great birthday! read more

Tahiti Nui - Ahi Carpaccio - Seafood Near Me - Hanalei, Hawaii

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Tahiti Nui is always a win for us. They have our favorite Mai Tais on the island hands down. Strong, perfectly balanced, and exactly what you want when you're in Kauai. We ordered the coconut shrimp and it was delicious, crispy, and flavorful, plus you get seven pieces, which felt generous and perfect for sharing (or not). The vibe is fun and laid-back, making it an easy spot to relax and enjoy great drinks and solid food. Definitely a place we'd go back to again just for the Mai Tais alone. read more

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We got here around 2:45 and stood in line waiting. The people in front of us and behind us left which worked out well for us! We got a table and ordered drinks. They had happy hour 3-5 with the mai tai, house marg, wine and beer on the menu for a slight discount. My friends margarita tasted like they forgot the tequila entirely but she didn't say anything. My mai tai was fine. The other group member got a longboard draft and a pele (passion) margarita. The margarita wasn't bad. One person got the kao kao pizza it was good and took leftovers I got Hawaiian add pepperoni and I ate the whole thing. The crust was good, a little thin so had to scrunch the end to avoid losing the toppings but taste was good! One got the gluten free cauliflower crust and went with the Margherita pizza and enjoyed it The last got the market special catch which was in the marlin family. The fish was good but the sauce didn't go at all and tasted bitter. The ube mash was underwhelming. We shared the oh so ono appetizer and it was the best ono we've had on the trip. We also shared two gluten free lilikoi cheesecake slices and they were plate licking good! We sat outside and it was the typical outdoor Hawaiian environment with the chickens and a pretty view of the mountains and trees and the shelter protected us from the brief rain. Inside was more bar like. Bathrooms weren't terrible but also not great. Typical I guess. The area is beautiful and one of the prettier parts of Kauai. We went to the Anini beach first and it was not too far from there to grab some linner. read more

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My first time in Kauai and went to Tahiti Nui twice. The service was great! The ahi carpaccio was amazing! Also had a flatbread & dessert. It was all good! Second visit we sat at the bar and our bartender was so nice & friendly & our waiter the first night was too! Enjoyed the live music! read more

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I love a catchy tiki bar, and this was no exception. The bartender and servers were really nice and service was pretty good for a busy day. The food was pretty awesome and I would definitely go back to try some other menu items. Had to try the famous mai tais, and they did not disappoint! Heavy on the rum and happiness in a glass. We ordered the Ahi carpaccio and the blue cheese pizza with bacon and onions (K. O. Keo). Both were absolutely delicious and definitely hit the spot. What I really loved about this place was the atmosphere. They had artwork by an Australian artist named Tania Wursig. They did not have any for sale in the restaurant, but I would have purchased her artwork if they had. It's absolutely perfect for a tiki bar, very Tahitian, very retro femme fatale. The bathrooms were clean, parking was relatively easy, and it is right on the main road on the way to Hanalei. You can't miss it, go check them out and have an amazing lunch. read more

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There's no reason not to come here while you're in town. Food and drinks are great, people are nice. We came for drinks one night to celebrate my birthday and then came back for dinner. read more

The food was phenomenal! My girlfriend and I ordered the specials - the marlin with a nice macadia nut topping and a really flavorful sauce, and the ahi tuna steak in the wasabi (surprisingly very good!). The vegetables were cooked to perfection and the service from the waitress and the server was an A+ considering how packed the place was yesterday night. The ambiance was fantastic with live music and fantastic tiki artwork covering the walls. I really, really enjoyed the California nostalgia songs that they were playing from my childhood on a Friday night. Oh! And the Mai Thai was freaking perfect and super strong! We will be back if we are back on the island again most definitely. read more

Tahiti Nui - Ahi tuna steak on top and marlin on bottom! - Seafood Near Me - Hanalei, Hawaii

This place was recommended to me by an Airbnb host. We walked in without a reservation so we had to wait for a table for ~30 min. They had live music and this place was very lively. Their drinks are STRONG. I had their maitai. I loved their coconut shrimp. If you love shrimp you must try this dish. Everything else was ok, I had their pizza with kalua pork which was just okay to me, and I had the oh so ono! Which was underwhelming. I think they could've seasoned it better and maybe a different dipping sauce. Did not love that one. The service was pretty slow and not the best. Our ice cream came out half melted. But 4 stars bc the coconut shrimp and the ambiance was really good. read more

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