Such a spectacular setting in a large open area. Along with incredible service and great tasting food. Our server was more than accommodating to dietary restrictions of Gluten and Dairy. The pork belly GF ramen was delicious. A small tray with 3 condiments of a flavor profile to amp up your dish to your personal liking. The poor was tender and flavorful and wasn't waterlogged. It's not a large menu but a menu that does everything largely well. read more

Ama - Pork Belly GF ramen. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Hanalei, Hawaii

We hopped over from O'ahu for a quick weekend getaway and managed to snag a last-minute reservation here on the day of! I almost canceled after seeing a few mixed reviews online, but I'm really glad we decided to go anyway. First off - you really come here for the atmosphere and the view. It is absolutely incredible! Sitting outdoors taking in the Kauaʻi landscape is top-tier. The menu itself is pretty limited. Here's what we tried: Papaya Salad: Really refreshing and tasty, though a bit steep on the price tag for what it is. Pork Belly Ramen: good but definitely not authentic-level ramen and at $30 (even with the added spicy miso sauce) it was just okay. I probably wouldn't order it again. Sesame/Ground Pork Soup (Hubs' order): He got a dish with ground pork and udon noodles in a sesame base broth, and that one was actually really delicious! Service was stellar! Our waiter, Keoni, was super attentive, friendly, and awesome overall. While the ramen prices are on the high side for what you get, the view, service, and ambiance made it a wonderful evening out on our trip! read more

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Beautiful view, which is what you're paying for, but the food and drinks are not the highlight. The food here is catered for Americans who don't know Asian food. *Small menu with ramen options leaning upward towards $30 a bowl. Ramen broth not great. *Papaya salad was more of a coleslaw. *Bao bun super Americanized for tourists palate. *Sour lemonade *Over-sweetened Brazilian lime-made Service was fast and attentive to turn and burn tables for other to enjoy the view. read more

The rating is for service and the views. After many visits to the island, we finally stopped in with a reservation. Unfortunately we did not enjoy it at all. The tuna was very fishy and the noodles were severely undercooked. But again, our service was great and the views were killer. read more

Ama - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Hanalei, Hawaii

Food: The ramen was delicious...especially the bone broth. There was something different about it that just tasted awesome. We had several dishes to include the papaya salad, various ramens and cock tails. Service: Customer service was great. The serving staff were very courteous and attentive during our dinner. Ambiance: The restaurant is partly indoor but mainly outdoors. It was beautiful but I will say, there were A LOT of bugs during our dinner on the grass. It was definitely beautiful but we could have done without the bugs. It was at night at 8pm so that probably didnt help with bugs being attracted to lights. Overall, it was a great dining experience. Definitely expensive ramen ($30 per bowl) but definitely delicious. We would more than likely come back to eat here again... read more

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Came for drinks after dinner. Garden is amazing! I just had an OG Mai Tai, which was awesome. I'm not paying $30 for ramen so I'm glad we did drinks lol. read more

Ama - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Hanalei, Hawaii

The view was beautiful and the service was great. The ramen was just ok, but the dessert was amazing. It's best that you make reservations to make sure you get a seat. We ordered the Ahi ramen and the Cha siu ramen, and the dessert. It's the only dessert on the menu. I like how the menu is simple. The portion was small. read more

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This place was so nice and delicious!! I would highly recommend anyone going to Princeville to at least visit this place and enjoy their great staff and food. My boyfriend and I ordered their Pork Bahn Mi as our appetizer which was exquisite. Then he ordered the chicken satay dish while I order the chicken ramen and they were both very flavorful and delicious!! We shared the hibiscus tea which was very refreshing and light, also heads up it doesn't come sweetened which I liked personally. Wait time was perfect as we were there 10 minutes before they opened and we got a spot right on the bar which gives you the full spectacular views. However, if you arrive later be ready to wait. read more

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Venue was great, very inviting yet intimate. Had low expectations for the ramen for some reason and as much as I wanted to prove myself wrong, I could not pretend this broth had any flavor. Maybe it was an off night but won't be going back read more

Ama in Hanalei was such a beautiful dinner place to settle down at if you're nearby North Shore! I made a reservation a few weeks prior so that I could request a seat by the bench facing directly at the mountains. The setting alone makes it worth visiting--stunning views of the lush mountains paired with that perfect indoor/outdoor layout that really captures Kauai's vibe. It feels open, breezy, and effortlessly connected to nature. The atmosphere is relaxed yet elevated, making it a great spot whether you're dressing up a bit or just coming in after a day of exploring. Food: - AMA Ahi Ramen: Ramen broth was clear yet flavorful. Egg noodles were thick and chewy. Ahi tuna was good, nothing insanely amazing. They give you sauces to go with the food. - Chicken Satay: delicious! Peanutty and tender. - Beignet donuts: A MUST* i considered not getting this because we were soooo full but went ahead and did it anyways, and this was the best decision ever! It comes with quite a few (i think like 5), perfectly complimented with vanilla soft serve & caramel coconut sauce. SOOO good. Great spot for a slightly more fancy dinner vibe :) read more

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I really wanted to love this place, but unfortunately I didn't have the best experience. My biggest gripe is the online menu is very outdated compared to the actual menu, and a good amount of the dishes I was excited to try were not on the menu when I went. The prices are also higher than what's shown online. $30 for a basic ramen is absolutely insane, and you must realize you are paying for the view/ambiance and not the food here. The ramen was very average, with absolutely nothing unique or special to it. It was not bad, but this place is not in the same league as a normal top ramen spot, and I still can't get over the fact that this was the most expensive ramen I've ever purchased. We also got the donuts & soft serve dessert. It was alright, but not nearly as good as I was hoping. The soft serve is very similar to McDonald's/Burger King, and the beignets heavily relied on the sauce for any flavor. I absolutely love ramen, I love a beautiful restaurant, and I REALLY love donuts and soft serve. This place lived up to the views/vibe, but the food absolutely fell flat and the prices are outrageous, even for Hawaii. I implore the owner to expand the menu and bring back some of the dishes listed online, and to definitely update the online menu to reflect the actual prices and offerings. read more

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The place isn't very big so recommend making a reservation. We ordered the green papaya salad and it was yummy. The waitress told us the bao buns were also good but we didn't have the room to eat them. We ordered the ahi donburi and pork belly ramen. Both were good! The ahi was fresh! The Brazilian limeade I ordered was refreshing. Would order it again. The view was amazing!! It's a cute place that even a chicken entered the bar to order a drink. LoL. He was taken out nicely and didn't return the entire time we were there. read more

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We went to Ama without a reservation. Waited around 30 minutes and were able to have a drink while waiting. Hostess was fabulous and rude. When we walked up without a reservation she looked at us condescendingly and said "oh..?" Even though the website says walk ins welcomed, and there were other parties waiting for a table without a reservation. The food was bomb. Bao buns were delicious and the chicken satay was yum. The udon was the star of the show with spicy miso added. I didn't take a photo of the beignets because I was so excited to eat them and forgot. Pricey but honestly, twas yummy. read more

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This rating is more for the mai tais and the beautiful ambiance and less about the food. The drinks were delicious and strong! The food looked better than it tasted, was missing extra flavor. We had to request various hot sauces and hot mustard to our ramenZ read more

Ama - Fresh yummy Ahi, soup could use more flavor. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Hanalei, Hawaii

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We decided to try AMA for dinner just to mix things up, and we were pleasantly surprised by how good everything was. We ordered the Chasu Braised Pork Ramen, and the kids had kids ramen and teriyaki chicken--everyone cleaned their plates. The flavors were comforting, well-balanced, and exactly what you want from a good ramen spot. We didn't have reservations, but the hostess was able to fit us in at a beautiful table on the back lawn, which ended up being one of the highlights of the night. The mountain backdrop was absolutely stunning. As the sun set, the lights built into the tables came on and the whole area began to glow--it felt peaceful, cozy, and honestly pretty magical. They don't serve mixed drinks like piña coladas, but our waitress recommended the Coco Mizu, and it was light, refreshing, and a great alternative. And don't skip dessert. The donuts with ice cream and coconut caramel were absolutely mouth-watering--warm, sweet, and the perfect ending to the meal. Between the food, the atmosphere, and the service, this was a fantastic experience. We would definitely eat here again the next time we're in Hanalei. read more

Ama - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Hanalei, Hawaii

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Went here for dinner after my boyfriend (now fiancé) proposed at Hanalei Bay. Vibes are immaculate at Ama. It is outdoors though so if you're prone to bug bites bring some bug spray. But I loved the place it was very cute and romantic. Great for date night. It is a little expensive for what you get in my opinion, the only downfall. Great to try! My fiancé got the ahi ramen and I got the udon (which was both our faves) we also got the bao buns to start and they were decent! Also got the beignets for dessert and I loved those, definitely would try those. The mai tai was good but a little steep in price, I would want to try the Brazilian limeade if I went again. Overall I would try if you wanted a nicer dinner one night :) read more

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Ama is a really cool ramen restaurant on the north shore of Kauai. It is located in Hanalei town in the main shopping area. The restaurant converted a covered outdoor patio area into its main dining room and also has seating in the grassy garden area. The restaurant view looks out to lush greenery with the Hanalei mountain range as the final background. It's a beautiful place to get a simple dinner but I'd recommend going early while there's still light so you can enjoy the view. The menu is limited to a couple of appetizers, a few ramen selections, a couple of rice bowls, and one dessert but the food was enjoyable overall. Service was great and very friendly. Would recommend to anyone looking for a simple meal with a nice view if you're in the area. Atmosphere: 5/5 Service: 5/5 Food: 3/5 Value: 3/5 Total: 3.8/5 Price: $$ Rating Criteria: 1/5: Terrible, would not recommend 2/5: Not good but not the worst. Might be worth it depending on price and other factors. 3/5: Solid option. Average in this category for the area. 4/5: Above average and excels in this area. 5/5: Excellent, needs no improvement Pricing Criteria: $: $0 - $50 per person $$: $50 - $100 per person $$$: $100 - $200 per person $$$$: $200 - $500 per person $$$$$: $500+ per person *Please keep in mind that the reviews posted here are based on personal experience which may differ from person to person based upon a multitude of factors (individual/specific workers, time of day, personal preferences, etc). Pricing may also differ and is reflected here based on what we paid for our meal. We usually enjoy multiple courses with our meals including appetizers, salads, entrees, desserts, and sometimes drinks or tasting menus when available. You are always encouraged to do your own research if concerned about potential pricing.* read more

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The venue is beautiful and the staff provided great service. However, as returning guests after a few years, we felt the ramen quality has declined. We might be spoiled by the amazing ramen restaurants in California, but this version didn't quite meet our expectations. The ramen texture felt as if they were cooked in water that had not boiled well. read more

The ramen is the best I've ever had! The ambiance is beautiful and the service outstanding!

We've been wanting to try this place for years, and finally we did. Such a disappointment...a very limited menu made even more limited by their running out of items. Beyond that, the food we had just wasn't even that good - the main courses were average at best. The bright spot of the meal was the papaya salad. Honestly, it's hard to understand how a restaurant with such limited options runs out of its primary ingredients. The choices - ramen or donburi - are so basic that the food comes out quickly (almost like a fast food joint) and we were out of there after a little over 30 minutes. Despite the complete mediocrity of the food, they'll continue to print money given the limited culinary options in the area. read more

Beautiful spot hidden toward the back of the building overlooking the garden and mountains. We arrived early and enjoyed a delicious cocktail (note: heavy pour!) at the garden table first. Our server was kind and helpful with the menu. We ordered the papaya salad (perfect and refreshing) and two ramens; pork and ahi. Coming from SF we are no strangers to ramen so the bar was high. They were delicious! Don't hesitate to try this spot for a treat or special night out on the li'l town. Note: all seating is outside. read more

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Ambience is great but food is bland. Not authentic asian the papaya salad was disappointing mostly carrots no flavor. The ahi was overcooked and bland. Sadly while the food cans out looking beautiful it was so sadly underwhelming. read more

Love everything about this lovely restaurant! From the outdoor seating with gorgeous Mountain View's, the friendly and great service from staff, and oh yeah the food! We were seated immediately for our reserved table. Greeted by server very quickly. Hubby had the pork belly ramen which was delicious. I had the veggie Donburri bowl. That was great as well. Everything was so fresh tasting and seasoned perfectly. Make sure you make reservations well in advance! Will return next year! read more

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When we couldn't get into another restaurant we checked here and got right in. Ramen noddle bowl was filling and hot the spot as it was a little chilly in the evening. Our server was very nice. Hostess seemed a little dismissive at first when we arrived and didn't have a reservation but we did get a table pretty quickly. read more

Ama - I was in the area the following day and wanted to capture the sunrise with the mountains. This a seating area/ bonfire in the evening. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Hanalei, Hawaii

The menu selection is short and sweet. The food quality is excellent. The employees are friendly and helpful. The open air dining patio is charming. This meal and experience is every thing you want for a dinner during your Kauai vacation. Advanced reservations are highly recommended during the busy tourist season. Oh wait, it's always tourist season in Hawaii. Come. Enjoy. Aloha! read more

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Beautiful location open air restaurant. Consistently very delicious. Bao buns the greatest. I love the green curry bowl and my husband and our friend had the chicken. The donuts for dessert light and delicious. Fun craft cocktails. Good service knowledgeable server. Always a treat to go there! read more

Amazing restaurant! We ordered the bao buns, chashu ramen, ahi ramen, and the ahi bowl, and everything was absolutely fantastic. The flavors were on point and the quality really stood out. The fabulous view elevated the whole experience. We would definitely come back! read more

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Great food, such a pretty place to eat, the outdoor seating is very refreshing, love how tropical this place feels and the arbor and the hanging lights that come on at night. Came here for an early dinner before checking into our hotel. Great service by James. The hostess was kind enough to find a table for us as we didn't have a reservation and this place got packed. We enjoyed the ahi ramen, ahi bowl and bao bun - we loved the pog drink! read more

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Ama seems to cater to people who have never had real ramen. My partner ordered the Ahi Ramen and while it was beautiful and the fish was cooked nicely, the broth had no real flavor. I felt the same about my Green Curry Veggie Ramen. I had to ask for their trio of hot sauces and then dump a bunch in for any real flavor. The Papaya salad was fine but nothing like Thai/Loatian Som Tum, more like a mostly carrot and vinegar slaw. The view was stunning and our waitress was wonderful but for the price, I would not go again. read more

Ama - Green Curry Ramen - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Hanalei, Hawaii

Food was so Ono perfect portions Atmosphere ~ romantico All staff super friendly ! Price is very reasonable for the food quality and portions read more

Ama - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Hanalei, Hawaii

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Everything was great including the amazing view!!! Cocktails to take out to the patio are magical.

We've been coming to this island for years and somehow never made it to Ama, but I'm so glad we finally did. The scenery alone is worth it. Such a beautiful setting with a great outdoor area and a huge fire pit that makes it feel cozy and relaxed at the same time. The drinks were really yummy. We tried the Mai Tai, which was smooth and more citrusy than sweet, and the Ube Cream Soda, which was fun, purple, and super refreshing. For dinner, three of us ordered the Chicken Ramen and one got the Ahi Donburi. Definitely ask for the hot sauces because they really make the dish. The broth was especially delicious and comforting. Overall, we're really happy we tried Ama and can't believe it took us this long. It's a great spot with good food, solid drinks, and an awesome atmosphere. Would absolutely come back. read more

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Cloudy views and cloudy ramen. We had a beautiful dinner at Ama. I loved the traditional Hawaiian style ramen and all the apps. I'll be back on our next trip out! read more

Ama - Patio - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Hanalei, Hawaii

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It has been two years since I've been to this location unfortunately the food quality the menu has completely changed. The view is still amazing and the drinks are still good. Save yourself some money come for the drinks. Enjoy the view and then leave. Not sure what happened, but there has been a complete revamp change everything tastes subpar. read more

This place has really gone downhill. This is our 5th visit on kauai and this has always been a favorite of ours but the food and service have severely declined while the price keeps going up. We came for my daughter's birthday and the waitress didnt even say happy birthday or acknowledge her during the whole meal. And when I asked if they did anything for birthdays she said if you order a dessert I guess I can throw a candle on it. Unfortunately our last visit here. read more

Have been coming to AMA since they opened. Through COVID, hill closures, staffing challenges and shortened menu. Love the ambience, view, and service. We have always made reservations, so very frustrating that the last two visits, with reservations, we have had to wait about 30 minutes to be seated. Hostess not too friendly and offered no apology or reason for delay. Have heard there may be new ownership but, they used to have it dialed in. Really hoping they get it figured out. read more

Amazing view and food. The staff made it even better. Our waitress Hina and waiter Keoni will be the reason we come back. They were so accommodating, we decided to stay for an extra round of drinks. They moved us to an even better seating area, took time to tell us their stories, share recommendations, and just made us feel so welcome. These two went above and beyond. My fiancé and I both worked in the service industry for some time, this was genuinely great service. Great staff should be recognized, I hope the owner / managers see this. read more

Incredible food, creative drinks, great service and beautiful atmosphere! We had a party of 7 and everyone loved it including 2 vegetarians. Best restaurant we visited in Kauai. read more

4/5 for food. The spicy miso sauce is the star you can add to any dish. 5/5 for drinks. We got the ube soda and AMA POG and really enjoyed both. The ube was our favorite. 3/5 for service. Our waiter was good enough, but the hostess comes across as rude and disinterested. Our reservation was at 5:15, so they were not busy yet. We were right on time. We walked up to the hostess stand, and she looked away. We volunteered our name and reservation time. She looked away and didn't acknowledge us. She then got out an iPad to look up reservations. She didn't say anything. Her face was stern the entire time. Then without even looking up at us, said come with me to seat us. I've never had such an unfriendly hostess. 6/5 for the views. This is the reason to go to AMA. read more

Ama - Ube soda - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Hanalei, Hawaii

Good food with excellent gluten-free options. Great service. Outdoor Hawaii ambiance with great umbrellas that protect from the rain.