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The Fish Express

4.4 (1.2k reviews)
ModerateHawaiian, Seafood, Poke
Open 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Updated 2 months ago

The Fish Express Photos

THE FISH EXPRESS ATMOSPHERE

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

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Recommended Reviews - The Fish Express

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Reviews With Photos

Peppered ahi jerky
Kelsea L.

Friendly and helpful staff! Got the smoked tako and peppered ahi jerky. They even cut the jerky up in small pieces too. Sweet potato haupia bars were ok, hoping it would be a little bit sweeter. Overall great place to grab poke or other goodies.

Madeleine B.

Second time here for poke. they have a good selection, lots of fresh ahi tuna with different marinades, various self serve topping, popular but they are efficient at moving people through. Would recommend.

Bryan C.

This place is one of the best poke joints on the Kauai island. The only downside is the parking situation is very tricky. Their fish are very fresh but you need to be there earlier or a lot of good stuff will be running out early. Big portions of fish so 2 scoops are plenty for us.

Blackened Ahi With pineapple salsa. Amazing dish

Blackened fish was amazing sweet, sour ,spicy well balanced. If your planing to go fish express you gotta try the Blackened fish it's a special but if you ask the chef he would gladly make it for you Aloha

Chinese plate: fried chicken, fried shrimp, and spare ribs
Ray N.

This place is legit and consistent every time. The fish is all fresh, and not frozen. I like all of their poke, but especially the ahi with ogo and the tako. But I usually get the lau lau plate. They didn't have it yesterday, so I got the Chinese plate instead and it was legit. The oriental fried chicken was sweet with subtle ginger and sesame flavors, and crispy. The fried shrimp was tasty and crunchy. The sweet and sour spare ribs were soft and flavorful. It was the first meal I had back in Kauai and it delivered.

Kyoo C.

No frills place serving fresh ahi poke, not from frozen. Fish quality was excellent, very smooth and fresh ahi in the poke. Definitely go for the 3 scoops since it's not a ton of fish, and of course sushi rice. KISS keep it simple stupid, it's all about the fresh fish quality here so go for the poke bowl. If flavor preference is usually spicy mayo ahi like me, go for the "Ahi Spicy Poke w/Crab". Didn't really taste any crabs, but it is the spicy mayo sauce one that I always love. The "Ahi Spicy Poke" was a little spicier without the mayo. Location was convenient to the east side, and wife loved it and requested to eat this a 2nd time the next day as well:)

POKE
Lilian B.

Best poke in town! We came here right after we landed! They charge you by weight so you can put everything you want the only thing is that they don't have seating area but thats fine because it was so fresh and so good!

Spicy Poke - Awesome!!!
Brian M.

When I arrived, they were all out of spicy poke (which is my favorite). The owner could tell I was disappointed when she looked at me, and then she said we will make some more for you. It was so thoughtful. After they made me a fresh batch and handed it to me, a smile came across my face. When I got to my car, I could not wait and had a bite (ok, lots of bites) with the chopsticks that they provided. The poke was awesome. Good people and good poke.

Chicken Katsu plate, no katsu sauce only ketchup- blah!!!
Rhondi S.

Chicken katsu had no katsu sauce, they only gave me ketchup!!! Yuck, I'm no haole, gimme katsu sauce! Should have gotten the poke bowl instead but they were all out of hamachi. I should have tried their smoked fish and smoked salmon instead. Big servings, green salad and spaghetti Mac salad included. Nice and friendly counter service ladies. Take out only, no tables for sitting. Went again 2 days later, got the hamachi poke bowl + extra $4 for a small, but worth it. it was fresh, not hot/spicy with crunchy salty sea asparagus (nice touch)was good; Kim Chee was wayyyy too salty- blah! To go orders only, no seating inside nor out, so ambiance is a 1 star. Poke bowls you can add various add on's (Kim Chee, Takauan, pickled vegetables, edamame and more) they weigh your bowl for the extra sides. Poke bowls are 4-5 stars, chicken katsu a 1 star. Come here for the fresh and smoked fish!

Katherine K.

Hands down the best poke I've had in all of Hawaii! The service was great, the fish was fresh, and I love the DIY toppings bar they have. I got a small poke bowl with brown rice, Ahi Maui Onion Poke and Ahi Spicy Poke (both incredibly delicious separate and together), topped with edamame, kimchee cucumber, Ocean Salad, and their furikake shaker mix. My only complaint would be that I wish there wasn't salt in the furikake shaker mix because the dish didn't need salt. The portion size was really nice for the price, too. They don't overpack it with rice.

Tuna Sashimi and Unagi bento
Boj o.

Fresh seafood! We came early and there's not much fresh seafood except for the tuna sashimi, which luckily was my favorite. I also got some unagi bento, which was warm and fresh off the grill. Both were delicious! The freshness was next level! The tuna sashimi melted in my mouth. The unagi was smoky, sweet and savory. It was so good! Warm friendly service and there is plenty of parking outside. This place was easy to spot.

Good size serving and very filling!
Ganz I.

Fast and very friendly service, I came in just a little over an hour before closing and it looked like they didn't have much selection left. The spicy ahi was so fresh, very well flavored and textured, octopus was tender and not rubbery, and the smoked salmon was what was expected. Sat in the car with the AC on, very satisfied for great value!

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2 years ago

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1 year ago

Little store front take out. Very busy. Good poke. Fun to be with the locals. Thanks goggle for the tip.

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5 months ago

Poke bowl heaven!!! We got it right off the flight, and it was the perfect welcome card to Hawaii

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2 years ago

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Thanks so much!!

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The Fish Express Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - The Fish Express

Which fish are local/wild caught?

Are there any vegetarian or vegan entree options (like tofu instead of fish for the poke' bowls)? Thanks in advance

Hi, We do have a limited selection of vegetarian or vegan options. The most popular is doing a Poké bowl and doing toppings only. almost all of our toppings for the Poké bowls… Read more

Is the lobster in the spicy lobster poke cooked or raw?

It is cooked.

Is there anywhere to eat on site or adjacent?

We are a to go restaurant. We do have a tile wall across of handicap parking. There are a few park within a 3 mile radius.

Does the passion orange grilled fish contain any gluten dairy or eggs?

Yes, it does.

What are some close beaches where we could enjoy our Poke?

Kalapaki Beach

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Hualani's - Fresh beets

Hualani's

4.4(440 reviews)
2.3 mi
$$$$

Hualani's was the place to be during sunset. The gorgeous front view of the ocean and lighthouse…read morewere to die for. We came when there was a performance and the food was delicious. Our waiter Tron was very informative of the dishes and drinks. We enjoyed our time here. We ordered the coconut shrimps, and potstickers. They both were plentiful of flavor. My friends ordered the sea bass and the fish & chips, Ono seafood dish, and the dynamite dish. Everything was huge in portion and delicious.

Stunning View, Uneven Execution…read more Hualani's is one of those places that makes a fantastic first impression. The setting is absolutely gorgeous - ocean views, tropical breezes, and an atmosphere that somehow manages to feel both elegant and welcoming at the same time. The service was excellent throughout the meal, attentive without hovering and genuinely friendly. Unfortunately, the food was a tale of two kitchens. My entrée - a kampachi and ahi tuna combination served with mashed potatoes, bok choy, and green beans - was outstanding. Perfectly cooked fish, beautifully plated, and packed with flavor. The honeycomb goat cheese salad was equally impressive and easily one of the highlights of the meal. Then came the rest of the table. My wife's vegetable curry was, frankly, difficult to finish. The flavors felt muddled and flat, especially compared to the care shown in the seafood dishes. The kids' mac and cheese fared even worse. It looked and tasted suspiciously like boxed macaroni with processed cheese sauce - the kind of thing you'd expect from a rushed concession stand, not a restaurant carrying Michelin recognition. That inconsistency is what keeps this from being a four- or five-star experience. When some dishes are exceptional and others feel like afterthoughts, it leaves you wondering which restaurant is going to show up at your table. I'd happily return for the fish, the salad, the service, and the view. I just wouldn't order the curry - and I'd definitely feed the kids beforehand.

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 - Night views from the patio andlive music

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Night views from the patio andlive music

The Plantation House by Gaylords - Ahi Poke Stack $18 "ahi poke, kiawe smoked sea salt, won ton chips, mesclum greens, avocado mousse, pickled ginger juice, tobiko caviar"

The Plantation House by Gaylords

4.1(1.3k reviews)
1.8 mi
$$

Honestly, I would recommend making reservations for the Plantation House multiple times during your…read moretrip! The food, service, and ambiance were wonderful! We went for dinner and there were 4 adults and we had our 3 year old and 1 year old with us. They were very accommodating and family-friendly, which is always nice to see. The food was absolutely delicious and I would easily go back again and again, because it was a great experience. I would recommend the fresh catch Oscar and for dessert, we enjoyed the sorbet trio

Its a lovely open-air restaurant in an old house with shops and a gallery tucked here and there…read more It's in a large property with plenty of free parking and they offer various activities. Great place for weddings, too. We had a late lunch here. The menu is standard American fair and local dishes. I had cream of mushroom soup and a burger. The soup was pretty good, until I found undissolved clumps of flour at the bottom. My personal preference was if for it to have not been pureed as much, but that didn't affect taste. They kindly took the soup off the bill even though I didn't ask for that, given I had eaten most of it. The burger was also good, cooked to order. I chose fried for my side and they came out hot and tasty. It was a large portion, too, so much that I still had some left even after sharing. Everyone else enjoyed their meals and we had a little time to wander about through some of the shops and buy gifts. Some shops are upstairs, and there is no elevator. Im guessing there must be a ramp somewhere to get you to the restaurant at least, although I didn't readily see it. If you need the ramp you may want you call ahead to ascertain its location. Nice place for special occasions and for tourists that won't totally break the bank.

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The Plantation House by Gaylords
The Plantation House by Gaylords - Surf and Turf $65 "kalbi venison medallions,lilikoi papaya marmalade, chopped shrimp, shimeji orzo risotto, hokkaido scallops"

Surf and Turf $65 "kalbi venison medallions,lilikoi papaya marmalade, chopped shrimp, shimeji orzo risotto, hokkaido scallops"

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The Fish Express - hawaiian - Updated May 2026

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