We stopped by the restaurant, hoping to have a nice dinner at this "new" restaurant in Kapaa, only to get turned away because we didn't have reservations. But....to our surprise, we were called back and we had a table ready for us! They made an exception to their "no reservation" policy. There are only 2 seatings, 5:30pm and 7:30pm. All meals are planned out for that evening. So there's really no room for Reservations must be made by 2pm. The service was excellent! Our server was very attentive and very knowledgeable about all the dishes. We never felt rushed. The 9-course dinner was amazing!! It felt like I was in Japan! The relaxed ambiance of the restaurant adds to the dining experience. The ingredients are locally grown in the Islands. I would eat there again. It's a little on the pricey side for Japanese food, but the quality is very good! read more

See all

We had the pleasure of experiencing Aina Kauai's kaiseki last night after our fellow foodie friends from the mainland recommend it, and I'm so glad they did. Choosing to sit at the chef's table bar was something I do not regret as it was really fun to watch them prepare everything both behind the curtain and right in front of us. The staff and chef peppered in conversation about what they were doing, ingredients, and plating. It was wonderful!! Now... onto the food. Mercy - was it all so delectable! The first course of shave ice was such a fun and unique way to start the meal. The guava vinaigrette and Star fruit on the salad were stellar. Every course was sinful, but the standouts for me we're the sashimi (SO fresh and flavorful) and the sakana course - fresh caught fish charred and served with an ube miso sauce. INCREDIBLE. Everything was so unique and the ice cream was my favorite part of dessert - a perfect ending to a phenomenal dining experience. We loved our server (I think he may have been the owner?) and the conversation we were able to have with him before, throughout, and after the meal. It really did make for such a perfect evening. If ever you find yourself on Kauai, do yourself a favor and secure a reservation here. You'll regret nothing and you'll come away thrilled and very full! Bravo, Aina Kauai - we will be singing your praises to anyone who will listen back in California. read more

Aina Kauai Restaurant - New American Near Me - Kapaʻa, Hawaii

I definitely enjoyed my meal at Aina Kauai, but I certainly think there is some room for improvement, especially at this price point. The shave-ice starter was honestly fantastic, and I love it as a way to start the meal. The sashimi and skewer dish were also outstanding, as was the dashi simmered eggplant and the dessert. The rest of the courses left me a little underwhelmed, though. This is definitely a personal preference thing but I felt most of the savory dishes (aside from the skewers) were too lightly seasoned. I appreciate a light touch when appropriate (it worked in the sashimi dish), but many of other dishes just lacked flavor. The mahi-mahi dish was also very dry. Overall I don't think there are many fine dining experiences like this in Kauai, but I'm on the fence as to whether I'd go here again. read more

See all

Disappointing is all I have to say about the experience with this restaurant. If a company isn't able to appropriately manage their front of house to properly book a reservation, it's hard to have confidence in their food, service, and the rest of their so-called fine dining experience. At the recommendations of locals and other friends on the island who know our deep appreciation for fine food, we tried to make a reservation at this restaurant via their Open Table app on Yelp. Traveling the world, we are savvy tech users and know the possibilities that it doesn't always work. Needless to say, we couldn't confirm the reservation for that day and came into the restaurant in-person to inquire and book a reservation. We showed the hostess our attempts and she apologized repeatedly. She then explained that they only have two time slots available each day that they are open. We told her we were driving from Princeville and would like to book the 5pm slot since we were leaving the next day. Since we were there already, we wanted to confirm our reservation given that Open Table didn't work. She took our email, phone, and names and said she would send us a confirmation via email. Two days passed and we hadn't received a confirmation. We called and learned that the best way to reach them was through email. Coincidentally, our two friends wanted to join our reservation, if available. Luckily we followed up or we would have shown up twice with no ability to confirm a reservation. In contacting their restaurant, we learned that that the hostess never booked the reservation and that it's now full. She even mentioned that she had us go book the reservation for that day again via Open Table, which she never did. After taking down all our information, tells us the times available, why would a fine restaurant who value customer service refer a potential customer to go back to a platform to book their appointment...especially ome that didn't work to begin with. Simply put, they made a mistake and the hostess and restaurant, instead of assuming responsibility for what happened, they are making excuses. The efforts to dine here has been frustrating and disappointing. If this is the kind of experience I need to invest to enjoy a fine dining experience, then I will pass. read more

Stopped into Aina Kauai for bento lunch. So happy we stumbled upon this place. The food was delicious. Everything was fresh and the soba was perfectly seasoned and refreshing with our bento. Spent some time talking with the chef owner about the food and business. You won't regret going, the food is so good! We need more local restaurants like this! read more

Aina Kauai Restaurant - Soba and potato croquette bento - New American Near Me - Kapaʻa, Hawaii

See all

This was an incredible disappointment!! Ridiculously Expensive. This is how the evening went: A stark and lunch to go cafe vibe. Felt cold and unwelcoming with terrible music playing. Palate cleanser to start ;( !! Bad start. The shave ice had a butterfly pea flower foam (tasteless) the ice was ice and the shiso sorbet tasty but really should of been more ... also palette cleanser should be mid meal.(intermezzo, a palate cleanser) & Amuse-bouche (a single bite to entice your tastebuds, usually a gift from chef) is what should be served first in a fine dining (which this is not) atmosphere. So next, The local salad was very petite and the mango dressing a bit too tart. The Ahi Sashimi (4 thin thin slices) was fresh but the toppings were too sparse and each bite did not have the impact for lack of toppings. Again portion way too small. The sanshu mori the blanched greens were tasteless and the macadamia butter delicious but not enough mac butter for the bite. The eggplant was my favorite dish of the night ~ sad that eggplant in agebitdashi sauce wins the night. Wish there had been more. Braised heart of palm (tasted canned, not fresh) was not memorable at all. The opah was so dry it tasted like extra well done ahi dry dry dry (pretty bad and pre cooked so even made drier) the mango miso sauce was decent and needed as the opah was beyond overcooked. Opah should be seared medium rare not extra well done. Tiny tiny portion too which was fine as it was not good. The purple sweet potato chip on the opah was good but only 1 tiny tiny half bite. Next the Robata (grilled seasonal vegetables and meats ) the Steak was very well done and chewy (hate well done steak) the opah fish cake was burnt and i had to send it back. The chicken bites were dry and i gave them to my friend. The coleman mustard sauce was so hot like wasabi and did not go with the meats. The corn (cold) and shishito pepper(not cooked enough) skewer was Pretty much a fail on this and most courses.. Basically everything tasted pre cooked and a lot of dishes were not hot or warmed back to proper temp. The tempura shrimp was overcooked. The few veggies were not memorable . The kale tempura tiny leaf was good This course was just ok. The last course, Shokuji and it was a bowl of completely tasteless overcooked rice and we had to pour the dashi broth on it to give it any flavor and then it was a soup and hard to eat with chopsticks. Still flavorfless. They should of served spoons with most dishes as in order to get the minuscule amount of sauce to vegetable or meat or rice or fish was impossible to get on a chopstick (i am from Hawaii and eaten with chopsticks all of my life) these courses served with chopsticks only did not make sense. Nothing made sense here. the desert was a matcha cake which i gave away and the mango sorbet was ok but lacked much real fresh mango flavor.(i assume they used a store bought purée for this) The kanten was too rubbery gross and fell apart. The portions are incredibly small and most do not taste great. All in All $200 + per person and we only had water and 2 mocktails at the table and 1 beer. To me, this whole dinner was a rip off. If you are spending $200+ a person i would think table cloths and candles on table and proper service. This lacked all. The atmosphere inside is more like a lunch to go cafe and very little ambiance. Cement floors cold and not cozy and wood chairs most uncomfortable. Not a proper dining room. We Could barely hear the server when she was explaining our courses. Also when you get a little plate with three items it would be nice for server to explain in what order the chef recommends we should eat the tiny bites.... We were all clueless!!! Would i go back?? Never! I travel the world and i was so excited that perhaps we were going to have a delicious dining experience & restaurant on our little island that lacks good restaurants. This is the most despicable restaurant experience here yet! I was hungry when i left and angry that this dinner was more than disappointing and left little good to talk about. read more

Aina Kauai Restaurant - New American Near Me - Kapaʻa, Hawaii

See all

Aina has an excellent tasting menu with great recommendations for drink pairings. 9 courses and all were well presented and served promptly. Service is excellent and friendly. This was the best restaurant we visited on our trip to Kauai. read more

See all

This was an awesome experience! We sat at the bar and we're able to see the chef and team prep some of the food. If you're in Kaua'i and aren't picky when it come to food, would recommend! The 9 courses were so interesting and surprisingly filling. There is an additional drink pairing offered with the course for an additional fee. read more

Overall great meal, especially for Kauai standards. Having just come from Honolulu we were worried it wouldn't live up. Usually in Kaiseki, there is at least one course that disappoints but that wasn't the case here. All of the dishes were great and the menu was well constructed. The Gohan was actually one of the tastiest variations we've had even compared to much pricier Omakase and Kaiseki dinners. Excellent quality rice and perfectly cooked. Service was fine. Ambience was okay. The lighting was a bit weird with the bright white lights from the back of house overtaking the ambience in the dining room. The music playlist was also a bit off and didn't match the ambience. -.5 stars: we left pretty hungry (and we are not big eaters) -.5 stars: the cocktails were very overpriced for what they are and a bit underwhelming, especially considering they don't have an actual bar and bartender. read more

Foodies Dream!! The colors, flavors, plating, attention to detail with the finest yet approachable ingredients like sea grapes! So much fun and flavor, left stuffed and 10:10 satisfied. I'll be back again and again and again! Thank you Mitch and Team!! read more

See all

This dining experience was exceptional! I highly recommend this place for a special dinner, or something different on the island. It's a preset menu, so you don't have to make any hard decisions. We also loved the nigiori sake. Overall 10/10 food and 10/10 experience, and the staff is amazing! read more

Aina Kauai Restaurant - Sake - New American Near Me - Kapaʻa, Hawaii

See all

Disclaimer: I hate using the word "perfect" when discussing a restaurant because it is so subjective; however, no other word describes the experience. The food was prepared perfectly with fantastic drink pairings. Each of the 9 courses flowed seamlessly and built upon one another without overwhelming your palette. All staff were knowledgeable about the ingredients in the dishes and enjoyed talking about the ingredients. The portions were a perfect size and we left full and happy. The ambiance was fitting for the intimate dinner and the pacing between dishes was perfect. The price may be daunting upfront and there are additional charges for extra drinks; however, Aina Kauai is well worth the money. read more

See all

Our first time at Aina Kauai Restaurant on my birthday. Delicious food, very good service and vegetables and meat from local farmers read more

See all

Dinner was awesome and unforgettable. Hope to come back in the future. Thank you for a beautiful anniversary dinner! read more

See all

The best meal and culinary event on Kauai, and perhaps the best you may ever experience ! The owner, chef, and team masterly orchestrated an exploration of fresh native foods and ingredients with an Asian fusion. You will definitely leave completely full and entertained! The Japanese Old Fashioned was very good and unique. If you love food experiences then you will appreciate the passion of this owner operator and his culinary team. read more

See all

We have had the best week eating poke and fish tacos. But we wanted a special date night to end our vacation. We are SO thrilled that we could get a reservation at Aina! We were treated SO well from the moment we stepped into the restaurant. Staff was friendly and helpful, the food was lovely, everything was so fresh!! We tasted so many new vegetables, and the staff was able to tell us what everything was. The meal was ON POINT. Dishes were paced well, all the flavors are balanced. I had to ask for a spoon so I could eat the mango sauce that came with the fish. Cocktails were INSANELY good! I am not even a dessert person, and that blew me away with the different flavors and textures. This was an AMAZING meal, and I'm super grateful we found it. We only have a few photos, because we were more excited to eat than document the meal. My chef wife was THRILLED. Happy wife, happy life. Thank you to everyone who made us feel so warm and happy. We hope to see you again! read more

See all

We made last minute reservations for Aina Kauai. Our main hesitation was my husband typically shys away from Japanese as he's not a fan of shashimi. But with a little encouragement we pulled the trigger. We were BLOWN away! This tasting menu is incredible! It pairs local flavors and farm to table concepts with a Japanese flare. We enjoyed the every single course, some of the highlights were the shashimi, the salad, the bbq and the dessert. I'd say this meal is underpriced for what you get and I plan to come back again and again! read more

Aina Kauai was an incredible experience. From the friendly and competent staff, to the passion of the owner/chef, and the beautifully presented courses, we enjoyed it all. The menu is a prix fixe 9 course excursion through a fresh local ingredient based Kaiseki experience. We sat at the chef's table which gave us a closeup on the food preparation and got to chat with the staff throughout the meal. We will return and recommend to our friends. read more

See all

The menu structure is the same but the ingredients are purely seasonal. So you will never get the exact meal twice. If you are fortunate enough to have Kona-Kai as your server she will take you on a backroads trip throughout Kauai and the islands. She is the ultimate insider guide. Jabez and Mitch are masterminds. Go eat and enjoy and treat your hearts and minds to the flavors of the islands. read more

See all

Incredibly delicious tasting menu incorporating and focusing on local food from local farms with Japanese preparation and techniques. The recommended drink pairings and knowledgeable staff were helpful and hospitable. Would highly recommend for anyone looking for a unique culinary experience and delicious night out on Kauai! read more

See all

My wife and I have enjoyed several dinner with prefixed menus. This was our first Japanese kaiseki style meal. The food was wonderful, with fresh ingredients; some grown by the chef. The dinner nine courses with a variety of proteins and vegetables. Service was excellent and enthusiastic. We received a detailed explanation of each course and the ingredients used in each course. Do not miss this exceptional opportunity. read more

This was one of the best meals of our lives! Kauaian Kaiseki was truly a unique dining experience and the attention to detail was exquisite. Every flavor stood out and complemented each ingredient. A very thoughtful menu and a fantastic way to enjoy local ingredients. read more

Aina Kauai Restaurant - Ono w/mango purée - New American Near Me - Kapaʻa, Hawaii

See all

One of my favorite dining experiences. Ever. Came here for a special occasion and had a very hard time securing a reservation. Thankfully, whoever runs the Instagram account notified us of a last minute cancellation and we were able to snag a table for two. Aina is a very private experience. I think they only serve 8 people per night and prep in the morning for the dinner service. It was a nine course tasting menu that was thoughtfully and artfully put together. Each dish was incredible but the kanpachi was by far my favorite. They also have a great sake list and from that, I have found my favorite sake so far. Thank you to the Aina staff for such a great experience. read more

See all

Elevating the quality of dining on the Island. Service was impeccable and many of the dishes presented was sourced from the Chef's own garden. The Chef was very meticulous about accommodating the variety of food allergies at our table. read more

See all

An incredible eating experience! We had a 9-course meal that was phenomenal on every level. Our server, Cedar, who presented the food, also described what was on each plate. Each plate looked like a "still life" painting with beautifully arranged ingredients. We enjoyed all the flavors and textures of each dish. Chef Jabez is a fantastic talent! Even though the price seemed high at 1st, after eating the food, we felt it was well worth it. The 3 of us highly recommend this fabulous restaurant, and we plan to return whenever we are on the island. Shirley, Tony & Susan read more

We sat at the "bar" which was our view to prep and creation of each course adding to our excellent experience. We loved every course and all that went into creating it. The Japanese Shave Ice start set the standard as it tasted like magic melting on your tongue unlike any traditional shave ice you may know. The Ahi was among the best we've ever enjoyed. See photo below. The beauty and flavor complimented each other. The main course of 3 different protein based skewers was my husband's favorite. I could go on and on about the food. Yes a Michelin star is likely. Now to the staff and drinks....there is a bartender (Cedar) and the drinks looked incredible. We did saki and wine and were very happy with our choices. He was so friendly, delightful and informative. We also had the pleasure of chatting with the chefs. Again provided great insights into the menu and how they prepared each item. Good information for two foodies!! This is now our favorite dinner option in Kauai read more

See all

Great new restaurant on Kauai. Best dinner we've had here in a long time. Beautiful interior with exceptional service and an amazing 9 course tasting menu with a Japanese flair on fresh local seafood, meats, fruit & vegetables. We sat at the chef's counter & watched the owner, Mitch, meticulously arrange & garnish the items on each plate. Every course was beautifully presented & the food was delicious with some wonderful flavors - we loved the fresh Ono in tangerine miso sauce and the light, crispy tempura. Even though we were getting full after 8 courses, couldn't pass up the final dessert course - chocolate covered malasada, mangosteen "volcano" , and sorbet that tasted like we were eating fresh fruit with a scoop of tangerine & a scoop of coconut. Perfect. Fun evening tasting all the great flavors. Looking forward to going back. read more

Highly recommended. You don't leave hungry. Very satisfying 9 course tasting menu. Great overall experience. This is definitely a rising new restaurant. Having dined at many Michelin starred establishments across the US, Europe, Japan and Hong Kong, this is 75% of the way there in terms of food (of course, you also aren't paying $275+ per person for lots of truffles, caviar, high end seafood/wagyu etc, which is often not needed for a satisfying meal). The food stays true to whats local on the island and it definitely conveys this. Atmosphere/service is perfect for its location in Kauai. Some general feedback with regards to the menu that I had. - Sashimi course & vegetables 3 ways are definitely the standouts. Don't ever change those! - Salad course and rice course were also good. - First course was just ok, can consider other potential options. - Dessert was also fine - nothing too special - Fish course - with the flavors, you either love it or hate it - Tempura course - slightly too greasy, can honestly do away with some of the portion size and tweek the frying technique Robata course - this was my least favorite - too much going on of average quality/tasting meat - I would suggest maybe just doing 1 protein (2 max) and a vegetable. Have this protein be of a better quality cut/better meat quality. Drink pairings - excellent Overall though, still a great meal. I definitely see this restaurant going places. If you are on the island and are seeking a fine dining tasting menu, just make a reservation. read more

Such a special and attentive evening for my mom and I! We had the most amazing time with each other, the food, our server, and the owner! The space is peaceful and elegant and we were so full by the end of our nine courses! The sashimi melted in my mouth, the skewers and the sauces that accompanied them were unbelievable! Can't wait to come back. Thank you!! read more

We just finished a spectacular 9 course meal at Ain'a Kauai, which accommodated my gluten free and shellfish free needs. Cedar, our host and server, explained each dish to us, including the provenance of the ingredients (all local). My favorite surprises were the opening sherbet (love the versatility and magic of butterfly pea) and the lotus root and hearts of palm preparations that came around course 4. The Robata course was a robust delight, but each course brought its own unique and bold flavors that made this a beyond memorable experience. There are only 8 tables and a bar seating setup, and only two seatings a night, so make sure to make a reservation! read more

I was super excited to have a upscale type restaurant in our neighborhood. The service was great and I don't mind paying for a $$$$ meal. We had the set menu with several courses and not all of the dishes were of that -$$$$ quality and taste, it just looked pretty. And...when you serve a dish that is of that price level- it better be nothing less then excellent!! I know the saying goes you eat with your eyes. And yes, that may be true, their food was pretty...however if it doesn't taste good-it doesn't taste good. Will never go back there again. read more

If you love having a leisurely meal where each course is carefully crafted and explained to you this is the place for you. By the end of the meal I was more than full and having all the courses picked by the chef was great. read more

They were a little understaffed the night we were in, but that didn't stop Mitch & Jabez from delivering a top notch meal and dining experience. The aesthetic in the restaurant is clean and elegant, the drinks were well-paired, and the food was amazing. Looking forward to going back! read more

See all

I'll start with the good. The service was excellent. Each dish was well explained and presented. The flow of service was good. No complaints at the front of the house. However, they need to make a small change (but big impact) to make it 5 stars. The concept, flavor, and plating was there however for the price, the execution needs work. In Japanese cuisine (and many others) the temperature of the food is very important. The hot dish such as the grilled meat was just slightly above warm. You can tell most of the dishes were made and prepared hours prior to serving. For the price I would not go back unless they can fix this issue. Probably not easy cause each dish needs to be made to order but they do not have enough chefs to do so. read more

The food here is delicious! Each dish is well thought out and balanced, all 9 courses flow and were used with ingredients from the island. The service was attentive and informative. Each dish served was a culinary treat and it's clear that Mitch the head chef is passionate about what he serves. Would love to come back again! read more

Outstanding food, impeccable service, beautiful quiet, modern dining room. The best restaurant on Kauai.

Incredible food, incredible service. Intimate and peaceful ambiance: It says communal dining on the website but (luckily) we had our own table and space. The chef and host were gracious as well as highly skilled. You could tell they care a lot about their customers and craft. Creative, locally sourced dishes that begin delicately and increase in intensity throughout the meal. We'll be eating here every time we come to Kauai. read more

Took my wife for another one of our omakase/kaiseki dates. This was one of the most unique experiences I've ever had. I wouldn't say it was super traditional Japanese food, but the chef made everything beautiful and the flavors were top notch. The inclusion of so many home/locally grown ingredients was the cherry on top. Couldn't recommend it more! read more

Underwhelming considering the price. 40% of the courses were good, the rest were nothing to write home about. Very strage location and the service was also odd. I would rather spend this kind of money at a restaurant like Hualanis. read more

See all

This restaurant can't even manage booking reservations. That's a very basic requirement that I'm shocked they can't accomplish. Also does not take responsibility for poor front of house service. read more