We finally landed in Lihue, arrived at the Royal Sonesta Resort and since we were too early for…read morecheck-in, proceeded here for late lunch. Great food -- my Ahi Poke Bowl so tasty I plan to come back for more and my creamy Pinacolada is the best I've had. My husband's BLT with Turkey Sandwich did not disappoint and he loved his Mai Tai. The resto's view is the resort's pool and its lush greenery landscape. Our food attendants were very courteous and hospitable.

We stayed at the resort, so we decided to have breakfast at Kukui Restaurant…read more The pancake was great and definitely the highlight of the meal. The loco moco was more disappointing: the beef patty was dry, a little overcooked and salty, and the rice had a rough texture. Service was ok but there was a long wait to be seated. This was the morning before Hurricane Lowell, though, and they appeared to be short staffed due to the weather, so we understood the circumstances. Overall, the breakfast was a mixed experience, but we appreciated the staff working under difficult conditions.

Ambiance was perfect. Mele was our waitress and we connected right off!!! The brochette starter…read morewas perfect! Fluffy bread with honey drizzled over the bread and the sweetness of red grapes mixed with macadamia nut brochette spread over the bread was amazing! The tender short ribs were drenched in sweet bbq sauce that made everything so easy to ravage it down in no time. My wife had the fish special that used the seasoning of munchong to make her meal superb!

This was my third World Cup appearance at Gaylord's, and at this point I'm basically the veteran…read morestriker they keep calling out of retirement because I refuse to stop scoring... on the cheese board. Unless FIFA introduces a salary cap for Brie consumption, I'll be back hopefully before the next tournament. One clutch tip before you try your own championship run: reserve a table. This place stays packed harder than a World Cup final because it sits in the middle of a gorgeous Lihue plantation where you can ride trains, sample rum, and wander around pretending you're the captain of your own national squad. If your afternoon turns into a highlight reel after a couple rum tastings, sub in your phone and lock down that reservation before you're left watching from the sidelines. The Macadamia Nut Crusted Brie and grape salad deserves its own Golden Boot. The warm, crispy bread delivers perfect assists while the sweet grapes and creamy cheese play tiki-taka so beautifully they'd make defenders dizzy. Then comes the creamy portabella mushroom pasta, which doesn't need chicken, shrimp, or any superstar signing--it carries the entire squad by itself and wins the game in extra time. The staff treats every guest like they just scored the winning penalty, and if you really want the championship experience, request the patio garden. Dining out there feels less like lunch and more like lifting the World Cup trophy in paradise... minus the confetti, plus way better food. Oh BTW there bar and cocktails are to die for!!

This island mainstay is a fixture on Kalapaki and has the distinction of being the OG Duke's that…read moreeventually became a popular chain across the islands and California. The downstairs is a casual beachside vibe while the upstairs is more for a nicer meal and often booked to celebrate a birthday or event. It's famous for its Hula Pie dessert - a giant wedge of vanilla ice cream drenched in fudge on an Oreo cookie crust. Definitely share-able. Top meals included poke and tacos. Salads at those prices were a little lackluster, although the $10 add-on salad bar upstairs is good value with an entree. Service was friendly on both levels, and servers are good at making recommendations.

We were happy to know that there was a Duke's at our hotel! We're big fans of this place--Duke's…read moreHuntington Beach in California is a constant go-to whenever we're in the area, and our experience at Duke's in Waikiki was also great. This location certainly did not disappoint--spectacular ambiance; wonderful, polite and efficient staff; and of course, the food was very delectable. My Coconut Ginger Braised Seafood's creamy coconut broth soaked into the small slices of lobster, fish and mushrooms , as well as into the shrimp, making it all so delectable and delicious. The coconut lychee rice was also good. My husband loved his Roasted Lobster Tails. And we both loved the acoustic live music.

If you're looking for a quick take-out lunch right after landing or before a flight out of LIH,…read moreKonohiki Seafoods is an absolute gem. It's a purely local, grab-and-go counter--there's no dine-in seating here, so we packed up our food and brought it straight back to our resort to eat. In terms of value and quality, this is easily the best spot in the Lihue area. We got two Poke bowls and a traditional Lau Lau for around $45 total, tax included. The Poke here is fresh, flavorful, and straightforward--they charge a fixed price per bowl rather than weighing it. My husband tried the Lau Lau as well, though honestly, the Poke bowl on its own was super generous and completely filling. An authentic local spot!

Our first stop once we landed! Long line, but it moves quickly…read more Large portions of poke and a great selection displayed. Have an idea what you want bc it's a bit intimidating since the line moves fast. There are also pre-made rolls and other food items displayed on the middle table inside. I got the spicy ahi poke bowl and it was served with rice. Generous portions. You can get ginger chicken by the piece, and it's delicious! Don't think I've tasted that before. Decided to try the crab inari and that was unique! Leaves a buttery, greasy finish with a sweet tone that I highly recommend trying. I did remove a star because our cashier dropped the inari on the floor (which was in a plastic container) and I thought she was going to replace it, but she said "oh its okay!" and brushed off the dust and placed it in our bag. Yes, the inari was protected in plastic, but it was kinda gross to wipe off the grime that was on the plastic container. Overall, friendly and quick service. Conveniently located near the airport!

The food was typical Hawaiian luau fare, and plenty of it (chicken, pork, salads, desserts)…read more Drink policy is a little strange. You may only walk with one drink in hand, so getting a round for the table takes 8 trips. The good bartender made them all at once so I just had to pick them up, one at a time. No line standing for drinks 2 through 8. I got my steps in. The really aren't any bad seats. We paid a little extra for "premium" seating. That got us "ringside". Well worth it. Only negative was the heat. Fans didn't come on until after the fire dancer. Maybe that was a safety thing for the performers, but the fans could have been on before the fire act (I think). Some of the older customers from cold states were having heat issues. Being from Florida, we were fine. Would we do this again, yeah I think so.

Mixed bag here. I thought the food was good, not great. Just good. The desserts were just ok…read more But I thought the show was excellent. This is my first lu'au even though I live in Hawaii. I was impressed. I thought the performers were awesome, especially the fire dancers. Just really awesome and the dancers were enthusiastic which made for a better performance. I thought the audio was a bit off. The volume was crazy loud to fill the huge tent but it was hard to hear the individual voices of the narrators. So maybe something to boost the midrange a bit in the balance of the sound system or whatever. I'm not a sound engineer. So if you're visiting Kauai and are looking for a lu'au, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Kalamaku. I think you'll have a good time.

We stayed at the Sheraton Coconut Beach Resort and ate here 2x, it was so good! Each time we got…read moresomething different to share- Açaí Bowl is large and so delicious, Egg white frittata is filled with mushrooms and spinach and has such great flavor, Avocado Toast did not disappoint and Sunrise breakfast is great basic but the Bacon is the best I've ever had! We can't forget the mimosas- get the passion fruit!!!

We did not partake in the buffet, due to food restrictions. However, we did thoroughly enjoy the…read moreKauai Paradise Pancakes! They are GF. The purple color seems strange, but the taste was amazing)! They are not super sweet (Ube Chocolate Syrup), and have a fluffy consistency. Alicia was the best server! Super friendly and said hello to us each time we had breakfast there.

Everything was wonderful from appetizers through desert. Definitely recommend for great food and…read moreservice!

Such a wonderful dinner experience! It's rare to find a gorgeous restaurant that actually caters to…read morea proper, later dinner schedule without feeling rushed (it must be said that is inside a resort). They kick things off with a complimentary bread basket for the table, which was such a warm, welcome touch. The Lobster & Goat Cheese Wontons are an absolute must-try for any cheese lover, and the blackened Mahi Mahi over basil red-skin mashed potatoes with romesco sauce was super satisfying and deeply flavorful. I finished with the Coconut Cheesecake, and the kitchen easily swapped the pineapple sauce for chocolate due to my allergy. I loved that dessert!! Service was super attentive and informed, and the pricing was extremely fair. The quality and atmosphere were 100% worth the price!

The moment my husband and I landed, we wanted to get the vacay going by looking up where to eat…read more Based on the time we landed we noticed alot of places closes by 8pm.The Fish Express was close to where we were at and they were closing at 4. We were there around noon and it is amazing to see that most of their fish were gone, I knew that was a sign that this spot was gonna be good! The fish express offers ready to go foods, hot food, and also fresh fish like a fish market! My husband and I always just get the poke and this time we tried ahi shoyu poke, ahi maui onion poke, ahi spicy poke with crab, and sliced tako. They don't have a seating place everyone either ate it outside the store or in their car. The poke... cuts like butter! When it cuts like you know you picked a good spot! There's something about getting the first bite at the start of your vacation that kick starts the day, time, and the vacation. Getting the right eats makes a person remember that special place and since it was our first time in Kauai, finding The Fish Express and eating one of the best pokes really set the mood to our vacation and I can't wait to go back!

Fresh, local take-out Poke in Lihue! The Fish Express offers a massive selection of seafood and…read moresides to customize your bowl. It's purely a take-out spot with no dine-in area, so we grabbed our bowls and brought them straight back to our resort to eat by the pool. The selection here is massive--you build your bowl with two protein choices and a a lot of sides. I went with the Ahi Tuna and the shrimp, and the quality of the fish was top-tier. However, keep in mind that they price everything by weight. Between the weight of the seafood and the side dish costs piling up, your bowl quickly ends up being quite expensive. It makes for a huge, super hearty, and delicious meal, but definitely expect a higher price tag at checkout. Super good for freshness and variety!

Oh my gosh what a gem that my aunty and uncle introduced to us! There's plenty of parking in the…read moreback of the restaurant and once you walk in the super nice staff greets you with a genuine smile and "happy to see you" attitude. Great atmosphere and excellent service! My aunty ordered all the food for the table, but I didn't get to picture everything cause we started eating as soon as it all hit the table. We got fried pork chops, sweet and sour pork, stuffed eggplant in black bean sauce, beef in Szechuan sauce, gau gee mein, honey walnut shrimp, and saimin for my daughter. The portions were humongous!!! The food tasted out of this world, and everything came out so super fast I didn't even get a chance to take pictures of it all. Let me tell you that all the awards posted on their wall that they won, are well earned and deserved! If you want good Chinese food and affordable prices...this is THE place. We ordered ala carte, but they do have individual lunch and dinner plates that were well priced and packed plates. This is our new go to place on Kauai when we come back!!!!

We went twice the week we were in Kauai. Some of the best…read moreChinese food I have had in a long time. Service is great food is super good, it's served piping hot and very quickly, and there's plenty of parking behind the restaurant. You should check it out.

We came to pick up some lunch.My girl friend had the Shoyu chicken and roast pork plate.She enjoyed…read moreit a lot.The roast pork was cook perfectly,Tender,Good taste,The gravy was just right.The Shoyu chicken was good as well.My self?I always always get there Deluxe box lunch.Its my favorite!.It has there Korean fried chicken,Shrimp tempura,Fish tempura,luncheon meat,hot dog,Noodles,picked cabbage rice and Mac salad.If You planned on getting the box lunch you must order it early.They sometimes run out.Also they have lots of more choices to choose from like ,Teri meat loaf,curry chicken,Sweet and sour spareribs,spaghetti,namasu,Fried noodles,oriental steamed fish,chicken stir fry with tofu n vegetables just to name a few.You can either eat in clean dining area or Eat out in the food court tables as well..So when you want some good food,affordable prices,And good service come here.

Teriyaki meat loaf very dry & to sweet, roast pork wasn't so good either wouldn't eat there againread more