How is it that I have never reviewed my favorite Sushi Bar on and off island? Yikes! I'm fortunate to live on island and make every opportunity to get my sushi fix here. This place has the freshest and most well prepared sushi, sashimi and "omakase" (chefs choice original roll). Omakase is ALWAYS out of this world no matter which chef came up with that nights special. The fish is always super fresh so they don't need to drown it in sauces. The flavors pop pop pop with every chew. Amazing! Some of my favorites are the scallop sashimi (incredibly fresh every time), chili hamachi, uni (sea urchin-not for everyone) and always omakase roll or two. Also, if artichoke is in season I like the steamed one, a cup of chowder always hits the spot, pretty killer tempura, really great fish and chips and I know I'm missing a bunch of stuff but now I'm salivating and need to wrap this review up so I can drive over. I don't eat in the restaurant part so much but that's because I'm a total hound for the sushi. When I have it's always great. Don't skip dessert! read more

We ate it so many nice restaurants and this was one of my favorite meals of our recent trip! We started with the baked artichoke, then split three rolls (Fire cracker, Next best thing, Sunset) and had this incredible banana ice cream cake for dessert!!!! The rolls were incredible!!!! And the presentation was pretty:) our server was super sweet too! The views outside are so beautiful too to relax and enjoy drinks! This is gonna be a staple spot on all of our future Kauai trips! read more

The Dolphin - Banana Ice Cream Cake - Seafood Markets Near Me - Hanalei, Hawaii

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Very expensive for what you get. Pretty common in Hanalei and Princeville. Food was good. But price was tourists pricing. I am a tourist. But wouldn't go back because of the price. Server was great. Food was good. But did not blow my mind. Cool setting along the river with little outdoor tables and more covered seating inside with an open air concept. You know, Hawaii. Low stars because of price in relation to food yumminess read more

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We were on the north side of the island and craving sushi. We stopped by about 3pm on a Tuesday. Love the huge sushi rolls here, aka sushi burritos! We ordered one ahi, one spicy ahi and two crab rolls. Yes, they use real crab meat. The soy wasabi sauce is complimentary with the rolls, although ginger is $1.50. And we got two and happy we did. Half a ginger per sushi roll is advisable. All the rolls were fresh tasting and flavorful, even more so enjoyed on the beach an ocean view! Highly recommended! read more

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A family-owned spot in downtown Hanalei for 30+ years. Arrive early to put your name on the list - they gave us a buzzer and we walked around to the neighboring businesses while we waited. We were seated on the covered patio, overlooking their lawn and the Hanalei River. The food was straightforward and good, but what we liked the most was our server. I sadly don't recall her name but she was a young girl who grew up in Hanalei and clearly has passion for food and for service. She knew the menu and spoke confidently about it, and shared little anecdotes along the way - she was attentive, informative, joyful, and yet not intrusive. A shining service star. The mixed tempura starter was tasty. The salad was a plate of fresh veggies - fresh but basic in presentation and flavor. I personally might skip this next time. We really enjoyed the daily special of soba noodles with yuzu sauce. Bright and citrusy. And the sushi rolls we enjoyed were clean in flavor with a focus on the fresh fish: -Next Best Thing -Hamachi -Avocado roll Another friend said that she orders the sushi rolls to go. And she also told me about their neighboring fish market, if you want to get fish to make at home (we did not have time to check that out). To cap our our meal, we shared a piece of the Homemade Dolphine Ice Cream Pie and it was decadently delicious! read more

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Great food and super friendly staff. We stopped in with friends right before lunch closed and they were kind enough to accommodate us. Our server (wish I caught his name!) was awesome and gave us great recommendations. I had an IPA and the fish tacos, which were HUGE and packed with fish - none of that heavy breading. So fresh and delicious. Definitely coming back before we leave Kauai. Highly recommend read more

The Dolphin - Meaty Fish Tacos - Seafood Markets Near Me - Hanalei, Hawaii

This place has the best seafood I have ever eaten in my life! Seriously! It's so good! We arrived when there was 30 minutes left of happy hour so we ordered calamari! Wow! That was DELICIOUS! I didn't get a pic because it was gone so fast! Then for dinner I ordered the fish and chips (fish was Ono), one of my daughter's ordered the monchong fish, and my other daughter ordered the sunset sushi roll. All three of us were very satisfied with our choices! Have I said delicious yet? And we sat outside near the Hanalei Heritage River...so beautiful! If I find myself back in Kauai I will be back again and I will recommend to all. And our waiter Nick was awesome...so personable and attentive! read more

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They don't do reservations and you put your name down on the list when you get there. We arrived at around 530pm for dinner. It was pouring rain, and they quoted the wait was around 45 minutes but we ended up waiting over an hour. The restaurant as already completely full at this time as well. I saw others who arrived after 6 and were quoted a wait time of over an hour. I don't think it was worth the long wait, but the food was really good. I had the grilled fish of the day and it was super fresh. We also ordered some sashimi which was fresh and delicious. All the staff looked stressed and busy running around, but everyone was nice and friendly. The restaurant had indoors and outdoor seats and it was pretty big. Parking behind the restaurant was a huge pain, especially during busy dinner time. You will need to park a bit further down the highway and just walk. read more

Great sushi in hanalei. We were curious about the quality of their fish and whether it was locally sourced, and the waiter took us to their fish walk in and showed up giant fresh ahi and salmon that were waiting to be carved up. The kitchen was pristine and well organized (we were excited about getting the private kitchen tour and can legit vouch for the fish and kitchen cleanliness here). The prices are as to be expected for the sushi restaurant but given the quality of the fish and the experience it was well worth it. I mean we've spent similar amounts on sushi in Texas and it is not the same experience as in Hanalei where the fish was literally caught that morning or whatever the required time aging they do for tuna and other sushi grade fish hah. read more

Been spending a lot of time on Kauai this past year and one of our favorite places to stop by and grab some sushi rolls is the Dolphin, not the main restaurant but the fish market on the backside of the restaurant. They have a nice assortment of fresh seafood, pok'e, rolls, and cuts by the pound. We usually get a couple rolls and share them, really like their spicy ahi and spicy salmon rolls. Fish is always super fresh and they are filling for sure. They also have some artisan products for sale like sauces, jellies, pasta, and nuts...a lot more as well. Definitely recommend here but come early, rolls often sell out quick. read more

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Love the Dolphin and come here whenever I'm on the island. An absolute must. Friendly service, fun vibes, great food. The Flyin' Hawaiian with SEARED hamachi (ask for it seared it makes a difference) is THE BEST SUSHI ROLL I'VE EVER HAD. I ordered 3 last time. Truly incredible. All the nigiri I've had there is wonderful and I love the seafood chowder, miso soup, and the edamame with sesame oil. The Unagi hand roll is delicious. No notes. read more

The Dolphin - Seafood Markets Near Me - Hanalei, Hawaii

Came for the seafood chowder and ahi rolls they sell in the back of this restaurant. The seafood chowder is just like clam chowder and theirs is excellent. Not sure what the clam like meat is but they don't call it clam chowder for a reason but it taste and feels like clam. The roll is well made and we liked it . Definitely coming back for more goodies the next time. read more

Cute place with a pretty outdoor seating, came here for dinner when we were on the island and had the monchong grilled fish - it was a pretty big size and was delicious. Service was just okay. read more

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We came here after walking the town of Hanalei. The food was basic for what we paid. I ordered a cheeseburger($1.50 extra for cheese) and our server looked at me and said with fries. I assumed they came with the burger. My bad since I didn't read the menu but I wouldn't have paid 5 dollars more for fries I barely ate and had she said they were extra I wouldn't have gotten them. Red flag number one. We came to the restaurant as two couples with three kids. We ordered three entrees, a soup and drinks for the adults. The kids ages 2, 10 months and 6 months ordered nothing and ate small bites off our plates. When we got our bill they added a large party 20% tip. They had entered our party size as 6 in the computer to add the large party tip. If you're going to enter our "large party" size as 6 to auto gratuity our bill for 20% at least enter the party size correctly to not make it look so scammy. The waitress came to our table a total of 4 times. Drinks, food order, food drop and check drop off. We didn't get any refills and didn't ask for anything extra. My husband worked in the restaurant business as a server so he never tips small but to auto gratuity our bill because we have three small kids who you didn't interact with is a little wild to me. If you're in the area there are better restaurants I would recommend over this one. The restaurant was clean for the most part and the view was great. The only reason I gave two stars. read more

We ate here twice - first got some excellent poke bowls from the market then a couple of days later at the sushi bar restaurant. The market was fun - they had huge slabs of fish and various other awesome delectables. It was a hard choice! My daughter (a sushi ninja) agreed the poke bowls were some of the best we've had (and we had a LOT in Hawaii!). The full restaurant was awesome - we got to sit at the sushi bar and had an amazing time! We had their omakase roll that was poetry in a sushi roll and many other delicious offerings. My daughter ordered uni sashimi and they spent 15 minutes crafting her offering - it was absolutely beautiful! And they added a little more uni than usual - she was in heaven! Definitely give both a try, worth every penny! read more

Five and I spent eight days in the North Shore of Kauai. Ate at several different restaurants and had driven past the dolphin several times. After spending a little too much time at the beach and not enough time making reservation for dinner, we happened upon the dolphin. Walked up and immediately was set at a table with my wife. We ordered a couple drinks, the next best thing roll, a firecracker roll, and the baked artichoke hearts. all were delicious and the service was wonderful. Great atmosphere and terrific service. Highly recommend. read more

Food is okay but extremely overpriced Service was a bit slow but okay Chairs are hard and uncomfortable Took a long time to get meals after order. Casual, open air environment read more

The Dolphin - Bar area - Seafood Markets Near Me - Hanalei, Hawaii

I was a little hesitant with all the mixed reviews but I'm so glad we had dinner here before we left! We chose to dine outdoors, it was early evening and the sun was still out. The service was great; we had someone with celiac and our server provided detailed options! We ordered the crispy calamari and stuffed mushrooms for apps; both delicious and freshly prepared. I didn't expected a calamari steak vs the usual rings but it was so yummy and tender! The boys all ordered fish and chips, I ordered the rainbow poki bowl and our god daughter ordered a gf sushi roll. The seafood was so fresh and all the food was delicious! I wish we had more room for dessert but we were so stuffed from all the delicious food! read more

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We ate here years ago and had such a marvelous time. I'd say if you are in the area and want a good meal, then you should definitely check it out for the freshest ocean offerings. We gathered as a family of 9 and had an amazing dining experience with great service and an authentic local vibe. Don't be in a hurt, have a drink and chill into the ambiance of the island. read more

Arrived during happy hour, when the restaurant was closed. The staff had a lot of attitude when we asked to put our name on the waitlist for dinner, hence taking a star off, but the space the patio is in is beautiful so we elected to order poke that came from the market and we sat outside the restaurant. This was some of the BEST poke I've ever had! Definitely glad we made the stop! Water jugs were empty which was frustrating. We just brought water in from our car. read more

The Dolphin - Seafood Markets Near Me - Hanalei, Hawaii

I really wanted to like this place. Great ocean location with open air. We had looked at the menu to make sure Amber and I could both get something we wanted. The service is where things stutter. First the server seemed put off that we wanted to make our drink orders when she delivered water to the table. Those drinks took much longer than they should. The seafood chowder was really great. Amber's salad had some strange flavors. Things really broke down when I tried to order sashimi. When I am at what looks like a pro-sushi place, I like to leave it up to the chef "Omakase de onegaishimasu." This generated an enormous amount of debate between the chef, our waitress and I. What about this, or this, or this. Here is this Omakase roll selection - "no." Finally it was settled, but instead of feeling like i was getting a chef's gift, it was just a chore and I should have just ordered from the menu selection. The sushi was good and plated nicely. I will say the slices were well below average in width. Really disappointing was Amber's teriyaki chicken. It had a very odd texture to it. It almost seemed like chicken loaf instead of chicken breast. She did not even eat a third of it. So, while the atmosphere was nice, and service and food misses just can't overcome a mediocre experience. read more

I had the lobster and scallops, firecracker sushi and shrimp tempura it was all so delicious. Waitress was excellent celebrated my birthday by giving me a bowl of icecream. with my fudge brownie. I forgot her name but being a former waitress i am super impressed that she handled her busy section flawlessly! read more

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We got to The Dolphin around 4:30 pm on a Friday to put our name on the list and ended up snagging one of the outside tables while we waited, which was perfect because they were happy to serve us drinks. We started with a passion fruit margarita and Moscow mules, both super refreshing and a great way to kick things off. For food, we shared the calamari and I have to say, I've never had calamari cut in such big, chunky strips before. It was different in a good way and really tasty. For my main, I ordered the fish and chips. The fish itself was good and cooked well, but I'd probably skip the fries next time since they were nothing special. We also had the opah, which was a really nice, flaky piece of white fish, along with vegetable skewers that paired well. The seafood chowder was delicious and comforting, and the hamachi was fresh and flavorful. Our waitress, Phoenix, was super friendly and made the experience even better. She's been there for 15 years and it really shows she knew the menu inside and out and took great care of us. Dessert was the ice cream pie and honestly... it was to die for. Overall, great drinks, solid food, and a fun vibe while waiting for a table. Definitely a spot I'd come back to. read more

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Went here for my birthday and everything was amazing! He food, service, ambiance, scenery..... it was lovely and the food was amazing!!! read more

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Excellent food!! We had ceviche and the ahi roll. Very good and our waiter, Forest, was friendly and cool. Great ambience also. Definitely recommend. read more

This was the first place we ate upon arriving in Kauai and ended up being a good choice. It's a cute spot right by waioli stream with outdoor and indoor seating. We ended up sitting inside right next to the bar which kept producing delicious looking tropical drinks. Our service was excellent and as a lot of these reviews mention, Brandt was our server and loved his energy and insider tips. It was difficult deciding what to get from all of the tasty sounding dishes on the menu, and with Brandt's help decided on the teriyaki ahi and swordfish. Don't be fooled, the teriyaki on the ahi is very light and it's great flavor, as well as with the special seasoning they gave. Cocktails here are also fabulous and was a great way to be welcomed to the island. Note that prices are a little on the higher side, the cocktails are around $20 and the teriyaki ahi was $46. These are fresh caught fish so the pricing seems about right and you can taste the difference. read more

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Went to the dolphin fish market and ordered the rainbow poke bowl and seafood chowder. Both were literally amazing. Poke bowl is $25 so a bit pricey but was very fresh fish and the sauces were amazing read more

The Dolphin - Seafood Markets Near Me - Hanalei, Hawaii

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A highlight of our trip for sure. The absolute best Ahi sashimi we have had in our life! It just melted in our mouths. The mug of seafood chowder was delicious too and paired perfectly with the sashimi. Be sure to stop in the fish market around the back. Great staff too! An absolute must if you are visiting the island of Kauai. read more

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Fresh and delicious! The friendly staff were excited to have you there and share the fresh fish and other offerings from their menu. The location and ambiance was island perfect and my poke bowl was not just delicious but somehow just the right size! Salads and sushi rolls held up to my poke bowl, thanks team for sharing a bite. I did not share any of my bowl ... it was mine! A definite must visit and a staple on any visit to the island in my future. read more

Man oh man has this place fallen. If you have see my reviews I'm pretty spot on, quality customer service portions and taste are a thing of the past and this once prominent north shore establishment has succumb to the fate of so many establishments. Unfortunately the quality and customer service has suffered, nothing special about any meals...at one time the chilled fish on squaw was excellent but not anymore. To save the embarrassment I won't go further on Yelp. I would say keep searching on the north shore and pass this overpriced establishment that has lost its way in taste quality and service. read more

Stopped in for some sashimi to make poke bowls. He was super knowledgeable and made some great recommendations.

The Hanalei Dolphin is great but GO AROUND BACK - you'll find the Hanalei Dolphin Fish Market and the best sushi rolls & Poke on Kauai - not even close. You can thank me later. Open from 10am-6pm. Go early (get there NLT 3pm or your fav sushi & poke will be sold out). The Poke should last for a couple of days - after that, sear any that's left - it's fantastic seared. Looking to score cheap eats - they have a few day old rolls for $8 - The sushi on the day old rolls is just as good but the rice tends to not be as moist. One roll is all you need for dinner - they're enormous. Looking for more than sushi rolls - the Poke & Poke Bowls are delicious!! read more

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I used to love coming here - on my last trip on island, I came here probably 5 times. This time, I stopped by for a couple rolls and was a bit disappointed. The rolls I chose were large and fresh but were lacking in flavor. The hot sauce the waitress provided and the ginger is what gave it the most flavor. It sadly was nothing to write home about and underwhelming. Our waitress wasn't very personable and we were shocked at how it wasn't busy at all. I guess their quality went downhill? read more

The Dolphin - The dolphin - Seafood Markets Near Me - Hanalei, Hawaii

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Two days ago We showed up at 2:30 for lunch. The tables were available, we were there. She was not to be found until 235. She then says lunch is closed so they can prepare for dinner. Very rude. So we tried to go back today Unfortunately, this place is living off its reputation. Fish and chips for $34 plus a dollar for credit card charge plus tax plus a four dollar tip equals $40. We can get the same thing at Long John Silvers or Captain D's for six dollars! Food was OK nothing exceptional. I don't normally write reviews, but this is not a place to go to. read more

We stopped here right when they opened, it has a beautiful garden behind the restaurant. I had the fish sandwich and my husband had the calamari sandwich and both were very good. We both ordered Onion rings and should have only ordered one as we couldn't eat it all. Staff was friendly. read more

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Wow. Laid back vibe and super fresh sushi right along the river. Great beer selection and just go with the servers suggestions and you will not regret wandering in. read more

The Dolphin - Right next to the river... chill vibe. - Seafood Markets Near Me - Hanalei, Hawaii

The restaurant is very nice; indoor, patio, and garden seating. Our waitress was very nice and attentive. Ordered a calamari sandwich which was pretty good size; able to half it and share an order of frings (fries and onion ring combo). The prosecco with passion fruit was nice and was the seasonal beer on tap. Great place to eat and relax. read more

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I would like to start off with saying that not all negative experiences deserve negative reviews. There were some good points to this restaurant, so I will share my experience as a whole. When I arrived at this restaurant with my family, I went up to the hostess stand and grabbed a menu to review as we waited. When the hostess arrived, she grabbed the menu from my hand and asked if we wanted to be seated for lunch. I said yes, I was only trying to see what they had. She snapped back with, well do you want to have lunch or review the menu, because I'm not sure what you're doing. My initial reaction would be to leave, but we drove out specifically to come to this place, so we stayed. Unsure why she was angry about, but the rest of the lunch I could hear her bad mouthing the other servers, other patrons and a little family that had stopped to look at the water. It was a bad look for restaurant having this person as the one who greets and seats people. That interaction aside, the location is nice and relaxing. Our server was nice and the food came out pretty quickly. I had the fin burger, which was a big nice piece of fish. Everyone enjoyed the food and drinks, my kid loved playing around in the grassy area around our table. Overall I gave this place a good rating, despite our experience that day and I'm hoping that lady has better days. read more

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Loved this place so much we came back again a day later during our trip! Both nights were busy but we were seated quickly- one night by the sushi bar inside and another outside by the river, which was beautiful at sunset but keep in mind it did get pretty dark to see once the sun went down so I'd recommend the outdoor seats for daytime. The sushi & sashimi was extremely fresh and flavorful. Some of the best salmon belly I've ever had! We tried a variety of sashimis and rolls and couldn't have been more impressed. A must-visit when in the area! read more

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We were greeted by the host...if you count "hey what's up" as a greet for a somewhat pricey restaurant. Casually got walked through the patio and were brought cups of water... cups with lipstick stains on them! We were going to give it a second chance, ended up waiting 20 minutes without being greeted by the server. Not sure if he was overwhelmed by the one other table he had, but we decided to help him out and leave before we ordered anything. read more