Food was very good. Waitress was not very friendly. Atmosphere lovely, good vibes, amazing view.

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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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

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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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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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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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

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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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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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

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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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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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

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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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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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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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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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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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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Accidentally stumbled into AMA while shopping around Hanalei and decided we'd try for a table. We were told it could be a 45 minute wait (which we didn't mind because they brought us a drink menu and you wait in front of a killer view) but we were seated much faster. We had the Bao Buns, Chicken Satay, and Veggie Green Curry noodles- everything was fabulous. The weather was clear and the sun was setting which made for a romantic and perfectly Hawaiian ambience. The OG Mai Tai might have been my favorite Mai Tai so far. Would recommend! read more

Ama - OG Mai Tai - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Hanalei, Hawaii

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

I read the reviews and thought we should try AMA. When I read the menu, I was surprised that it was just soups. I'm not going to go on and on. Thirty dollars for ramen is a bit much. I would of though the broth would be outstanding, like a bone broth. It tasted like water with no flavor. Do not waste your time or money. read more

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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We ate here several times 2 years ago. It was the bomb. I remember everything we ate and drank. We ordered the same this time around and it was lackluster at best. The green curry ramen came with a little ramekin of curry to add to the regular broth ramen.... Not green curry at all. The black garlic was pure sesame oil. Black garlic should never be a a clear oily amber liquid.... The chicken ramen was good, not great. They no longer had their awesome ceviche so we got the bao buns. Again, these were good, not great. The mai tai was good and made the classic way without pineapple juice, which I appreciated. read more

Setting is drop dead gorgeous. As a group of six, we were seated at an outdoor picnic type table. NOT ideal for anyone with a sunburn! Recommend requesting courtyard seating with a view instead. Cocktails were spot on. My Bao buns were delicious. Noodles were average. I was expecting more for a $300+ tab. read more

The place is gorgeous and the service was lovely. The food, on the other hand, ranged from okay at best to actually bad. The ahi donburi tasted off. I didn't even eat all the fish. The ramen was okay, hardly any broth. Green papaya salad tasted like it had been sitting for hours -- no brightness or tang or crunch like it should have. If they charged normal prices, that'd be one thing, but when the prices are extraordinary, then the food should at least be good. It was not. Save your money and take a walk on the lovely Hanalei beach and grab some food from almost anywhere else and you'll be way better off. read more

The food, service and drinks were fabulous! The Ramen and the donuts are a must! We will be back. Thank you for an unforgettable dinner! read more

Ama - Backyard seating area - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Hanalei, Hawaii

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Booked this restaraunt for a date one night. Highly disappointed. Mainly came for the bao and they did not have them anymore. Everything was over priced. We ended up sharing a dish. It was just okay. Didn't taste authentic and sauces were really not that good. I was expecting something way better quality for the price. I regret not getting a fancy drink but we spent enough on one without alcohol. Views were beautiful, but that's what you're basiacally paying for. read more

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The restaurant and ambiance were stunning with the mountains as a backdrop. Bao buns were super fresh and had excellent balance of flavor. Husband said it's the best ramen he has ever had, chashu was so flavorful and tender. Hostess was lovely and service was quick. Would absolutely come back read more

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first off i love this place, i eat here probably 1-2 times a month their food is amazing. the last couple times i have come here tho since that aunty they have working as a hostess it makes me not want to come anymore, she is SO RUDE so unwelcoming and it's like she's on a power trip for no reason... we once went as walk ins i asked to be put on the waitlist and she just said ok, i said do you want my name? my phone number? she said no i have a description of you... mkay. so 30 min later i go check in with one of the other girls and she never put us on. personally i don't think she should have a job ive sat there and watched how she talks to people and is honestly disgusting read more

The view is absolutely stunning. Easy parking and also ability to make reservations. The prices are high but expected. Kind staff and good donburi or ramen choices. Didn't order a drink due to the long drive back to Lihue. Main bummer was the ahi only had 3 slices and due to the price would have hoped for more. Otherwise was very fresh and came with great sauces. read more

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This place was so delicious. The ramen, the beignets, the cocktails all high quality. Also they have a cute fire pit while you wait and the Mountain views do not disappoint! read more

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The ramen itself was mediocre. The Chashu ramen was served with shredded lettuce and red bell pepper which was really odd to me. Highlight of the bowl was the chashu itself. I prefer tonkotsu ramen with a thicker base and this wasn't that. Good ambience , service was ok, but I'll pass on the ramen next time. Also ube cream soda was sour and flavorless, would not recommend. read more

Ama - Chashu ramen and Ube cream soda - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Hanalei, Hawaii

Food was great - the ramen broth was superb. Service was great, perhaps a bit too swift. Incomparable atmosphere. Loved it.

The view is outstanding and the food is great. I didn't take a picture of the dessert, but that's because I ate it so fast that there was nothing left (the beignets with ice cream). Super delicious with otherworldly viewing. Loved it! read more

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Food was excellent! We arrived right when it opened and there were people waiting to get seats, not a problem though we got seated right away- such a beautiful setting, would definitely come back. read more

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This is an amazing ramen spot and one of my favorite restaurants in Kauai! With the mountains as the backdrop you are guaranteed to have an incredible dining experience. They also have an outdoor patio where you can order drinks while you wait for your table. The food is really delicious, I particularly loved the papaya salad. They also have a bunch of house hot sauces that you should ask for to spice up your dishes. The cocktails are also super tasty! Their outdoor seating is incredible one of the best and their gardens are beautiful. Definitely worth trying if you are in the area! read more

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holy shoots cuz... ordered the chicken ramen added black garlic and kimchi (it was my server's fave) and now has become my favourite ramen ever. MAHALO Ama for taking care of my sis and I while visiting Hanalei! The ambiance is ahmazing, food is so ono and the host is really pretty. cheeee we like try again ! read more

Ama - chicken ramen with the most perfect egg - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Hanalei, Hawaii