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My wife and I got last minute reservations to Canoe House on a Sunday evening at 8:00 p.m. Despite having missed the sunset, we still had a very lovely dinner. We saw from Yelp photos that Canoe House offered a tasting menu at some point in time, but during our visit, it was more of an impromptu tasting menu of sorts -- created by our server, rather than an official one with a set beverage pairing. In any case, we still had a wonderful experience ordering items a la carte. Before diving into the food, I wanted to call out the outstanding service at Canoe House. My wife and I were celebrating our anniversary and our server started and ended the meal with a round of congratulations. Throughout our meal, our server was super attentive and there was never a moment when our water cups were empty. Empty plates were promptly cleared, cutlery was refreshed when it was needed, and whenever a dish was brought over, he would carefully slide things around on the table so dishes were accessible and not overcrowding. Friendly, professional service of this level is honestly hard to find these days outside of Michelin dining establishments. My wife and I started our meal off with the large loaf of pull-apart milk bread ($18). The milk bread was incredibly fluffy and the outside was finished with some honey and sea salt. The sweet cream butter was rich and had the perfect spreadable consistency. As tempting as it is to want to finish the loaf, you'll definitely want to safe your stomach for the rest of the meal. The next items that we ordered were two chilled oysters ($7/piece), and a hamachi + uni citrus salad ($14). Since we were dining as a couple, our server informed us that we could actually order half-portions of some of the dishes. This was a perfect way to not fill-up before our mains arrived, so we did that for both the salad and the gyozas. The uni in the salad was melt in your mouth tender and had a delicious sweetness to it. I thought the hamachi in the salad was a bit unremarkable: it was certainly fresh and there were two generously sized pieces in the dish, but the fish definitely needed a bit more salt to it. Our next and last appetizer to arrive was the beef and foie gras gyoza ($7/piece). The chili garlic ponzu sauce the gyoza is resting leans towards the sour side, but that's my personal preference when it comes to dumpling sauces so I really enjoyed it. The filling inside the gyoza was on the leaner side compared to your typical pork and cabbage dumpling, but I didn't mind this too much since there was so much sauce in the bowl to accommodate the dumpling. The next four items we ordered all arrived together: the garlic fried rice ($32), the Kona kanpachi ($67), the Iberico char siu pork ($65), and the side of sugar snap peas ($22). Of these items, my favorite bites were the Iberico pork followed closely by the garlic fried rice and the sugar snap peas. If we could've ordered one fewer dish, it definitely would have been the Kona kanpachi. While the fish was flakey tender and the the skin was cooked to be perfectly crunchy, the portion size was far too large for two, and I thought the coconut ginger sauce felt a bit diluted and not as flavorful as advertised. I wish our server warned us that we had ordered way too much food, because we brought 85% of this dish home as leftovers. While I don't necessarily mind having leftovers, having leftovers on vacation -- with less than ideal heating methods available (i.e. hotel microwave), is not great. Overall, I couldn't help but feel this dish was somewhat a waste of money for the two of us. On the other hand, the Iberico char siu is a dish I'd order again and again if I were to come back. The pork was lean and grilled to perfection. The charred end pieces were some of my favorite bites of the night. I didn't miss the fatty bits that are typically present on a piece of char siu pork, and the mustard that accompanied the dish was not over the top spicy like some of the mustards you find at dim sum restaurants. The garlic fried rice was packed with so much garlic flavor. One criticism I had with the dish though is I wish the hot sizzling plate the dish was served on was even hotter. The rice that was in contact with the plate didn't crisp up in the same way that it would with a Korean bibimbap served in a hot stone bowl, or the socarrat at the bottom of a Spanish paella. Nonetheless, the dish was well-seasoned. If you want to save a bit on carbs and not fill up, you might want to skip this dish. Overall, the dining under the stars experience at Canoe House is hard to beat. The service is incredible, the included validated valet parking experience is seamless, the ambience of the hotel where the restaurant is located is breathtaking, and Chef Rhoda has really done an wonderful job with the vast majority of the items we tried. I would not hesitate to recommend Canoe House for celebrating a special occasion if you're visiting Hawaiʻi.
Holy cow... the flavors were so unique and I've never had something like this before. You'd think you tasted similar things since it's all the same sauce bases but they pair it so perfectly together to make a delicious dish. The red cabbage salad had a yuzu/soy dressing and came with dates. So. Good. I assumed it was overpriced for a salad with so little but honestly it shined. The pull apart bread was good and warm but nothing special. Filling! The garlic fried rice? Idk how they make it so good it sounds so basic but it was the perfect seasonings where you don't feel the icky garlic breath but each bite was so savory and yum! Mahi mahi dish - the roasted carrots were my absolute favorite. How do they carmelize them that well idk, The pork dish was also killer. I loved the yuzu mustard sauce and the pork was super tender and juicy. Again, not usually a pork fan but this one nailed it!! Friendly staff - they were very attentive and helped clean up a spill that we accidentally made within a matter of seconds :-) thanks!
Drove up from Kona (30 minutes) to enjoy an outstanding anniversary dinner! Arrived at opening time and decided to dine outside with an amazing ocean view of sunset. Waiter and other staff immediately engaged us and we spent the next couple hours eating and chatting (which is to say he made sure everything was moving along well having suggested some recommendations we ordered.) To begin, we shared a Waygu Tataki plate of warmly seared beef and delicious ponzu sauce. We then had broiled Kanpachi farmed off the Kona coast, and finished up with a simple dessert of the Canoehouse Sundae made with miso butterscotch, furikake tuile, toasted buckwheat. I'll admit I had to think whether to order this seemingly strange mixture but, perhaps no surprise, it was delicious. So a marvelous meal in a very special setting with my very special partner of 51 years.
Stayed at Mauna Lani, so we had to try Canoe House for a nice dinner with a few girlfriends. The food came out beautifully. We ordered the lamb chops, roasted potatoes, and a colada. The lamb was tender and flavorful, with just the right amount of fat, and the potatoes were perfectly crispy. The colada was pretty strong, which I liked, though my friends wished it was a bit sweeter and more balanced. The restaurant is stunning at night, and our waiter was so kind -- he even took the drinks off the bill when he saw my friends didn't enjoy them. Definitely worth visiting if you're staying in Mauna Lani. Food: 8.8/10 Service: 9/10 (forgot to take our card for a while after we said we had to leave) Ambience: 9/10
located at the mauna lani hotel, this restaurant is right along the beach in kamuela. resort casual vibes, but expensive prices and great food. my boyfriend was recommended this place during our weekend getaway to kona. some stand out dishes were the kanpachi sitting on a coconut thai sauce and the wagyu gyoza. For dessert, the canoe sundae is to die for an a must order! Service was great, very attentive and personable. Would definitely love to come back if I was ever in the area! follow my foodie ig page: smolgirlfatass
Intent without execution. The venue is stunning. There are tons of staff. Everyone is confused. For the price point, you'll be horrendously dissatisfied. We got the oysters to start, they come dressed with no oyster fork which make you think they're prepped and detached from the shell--nope:use your teeth. Then we got the warayaki, amazing. Next we got the gyoza, it came fully raw. The noodle was not chewable. We sent it back and asked for the check before we could commit to a full meal here. It's pricey, gorgeous, but awfully managed. We booked a tavern months ago for the solstice at sunset, they sat us inside and wished us a happy solstice. This place is meant for affluent visitors who don't know better. We tipped well but will never return. Our waiter knows it was bad and tried to run us down on then way out, he did he best but can't overcome the poor management. Not worth your visit.
We were looking forward to eat a special dinner at the Canoe House after seeing all the positive reviews. But it ended up being a huge disappointment. The ambiance is fantastic as well as the service - but the food we ordered just didn't live up to the hype What was good was the milk bread with black lava salted butter and the crispy garlic rice. The rest was mediocre at best Amberjack- the fish itself had good texture but it had a gamey flavor. I did like the ginger sauce Gray snapper- this was the special. Supposedly it is like an Ono but it was not. It was also over cooked Corn Riblets - at first I wasn't sure if I liked them, but in the end I did, They have a tajin like seasoning with a citrusy butter and an essence of truffle. Once you started eating them it was hard to stop Cabbage- I didn't have this but my Niece liked it We passed on desert All in all it is a beautiful location and very convenient if you are staying at the Auberge. If I went back, I would order other entrees
Beautiful location, validated valet parking. The host station was impeccable, the waiter was great initially but the service was very slow and the food was mediocre at best. The $27 mai tai was strong but did not taste like a mai tai. I am a Mai Tai connoisseur and I know they vary in their recipe, but this just tasted like rum. The fresh catch was mahi and it was just ok, the kona kanpachi was just ok and the garlic fried rice was so hard it was inedible. The waiter even had to bring out some chili bc he knew the food was really bland. The outdoor patio area was not busy with several empty tables but still the service was very slow. For a $200+ meal, Would not recommend.
Our experience at Canoe House couldn't have been any better. My husband surprised me with dinner while we were on big island for our anniversary. I'm a big menu looker, but because of the surprise, I went in blind. I wanted everything! With the help of our server, Ashley, we made a lot of choices and each one was perfection. We started with the bread. My husband is still talking about it. He called it a Minecraft block. It was big and so delicious. The butter! Oh the butter made the whole thing even better. Then we got the carrots, corn ribs and the fried rice to share. The carrots were good. On the sweet side, but so good. But the garlic fried rice! Best fried rice I have ever had! It comes out still cooking on this stone. They stir in an egg for you at the table and it mixes up these fried bits from the bottom. I took what was left and ate it the next morning for breakfast and it was just as good the second time! We both got steaks for dinner and they were cooked to perfection. Mine had a coffee rub, and his had a pink peppercorn sauce. We shared bites and couldn't decide which we liked more. The views can't be beat. Right by the beach, outside with the palm trees, without the mass tourist hustle and bustle. Something we can't seem to find over here on Oahu. Ashley made it such an amazing experience and offered so much insight about their menu. She was kind and helpful and we loved every suggestion she made. We will absolutely be back.
An amazing experience! Came here for a last meal on our vacation. Service was excellent and they even gave us a small dessert for my birthday! It was windy outside (and it's mostly outdoor seating) so they had shawls for the guests. Parking is free and validated. My favorites were the garlic fried rice and pork. Would highly recommend this place for anyone looking for an upscale meal near Kona.
Best restaurant on the Big Island! I've been here twice, and remember telling my parents I went. They used to come for some special occasions. The ambiance is great--it's relaxed with amazing water views and decor. Boyfriend's brother proposed just outside here and the dinner we had here that followed was wonderful. Our main server Sam was great, as well as the secondary one Ethan. Both were funny, knowledgeable, honest, kind, and helpful, giving tips on where to go around the Island, talking about their experience and recommendations and what it was like growing up here! The sommelier is also very helpful and accommodating. They refilled water very quickly as well. Food is very good. The Warayaki is Instagrammable because they torch some of it tableside. Bf got the lambchop and it was delicious. I loved my Wagyu bavette--best skirt steak I've ever had! I was full but I devoured it. For apps--the lobster tempura is lush, fois gras gyoza is unique and filling. Fried rice is fine. The Rib of corn with truffle sauce is a must-have--best corn we've ever had. Pull apart bread is also delicious, fresh, creamy, and soft. I love the Ube Colada (not quite the same as the one at the bar at the Mauna Lanai Bay Hotel bar) here. Will keep coming back!
Just WOW. We had our best meals here. We also had top notch service from Deone. We had the fresh tuna, flown in from Japan and a tuna tartare dish that was finished with coconut and crispy seaweed. The next night we had a honey fried chicken special and crispy snap peas. Do not pass up the garlic rice. Everything was soooo good. We are going back tonight. The downside is that Deone is off. I'm sure whoever we get will be fine.
2 years ago
Omg the food was so amazing!!! My wife and I did the 5 course meal experience. It was amazing, salmon, shrimp, waygu steak, fresh bread etc!!! The food is to die for. The service was top tier. He provided excellent service and staff was amazing. Each dish was explained as he brought it out. It was very timely. We had good space in between meals. Very nice decor and on the water. Very nice view. Try to go during sunset. read more
2 years ago
TLDR: great food, great service just a little pricy but a must try! Everything that we ordered was delicious! Radish salad - You may be thinking that paying for $24+ for a radish salad is wtf but if you like daikon/radish and wasabi, give it a try! Ahi kale salad - delicious! Garlic fried rice - delicious! Lobster - Maybe I just don't like lobster but everyone said it was delicious! A plus was that it was prepped for you so not need to crack/work to eat. Scallops - a must!!! The mushroom that came with it was super delicious! Fish of the day (for the table) - I think that was what it was called. It was a nicely sized fish that was good for sharing. Also, a plus that it was deboned! Ube drinks (forgot actual name) - one was a virgin mocktail and the other had alcohol. Get the one with alcohol lol it helped with the sweetness. Finally - Service was superb. For the price, you would hope service is good but you just never know lol It could just be that our server was an awesome person but we're really glad we got him! He is the definition of great customer service! Sorry I forgot his name or else I would've given him a shout out! Must be too much of that ube drink I'm really glad we came here and will definitely be coming back again next time we're in Hawaii! read more
11 months ago
I don't think I could come back soon enough! Our dinner here was a perfect ending to a fantastic family trip to the island. The service was wonderful, the cocktails were unique and delicious. I particularly enjoyed the Petal Flip. We enjoyed a few orders of the corn ribs, a favorite of my moms and I can understand why. We had gotten 2 orders and still wanted more! They were perfectly cooked and flavored. We also enjoyed the pull apart bread, which was so warm and soft. The whole meal was delicious. No better spot to be, with a beautiful view of the ocean and sunset, its the perfect place to relax and enjoy a warm evening by the water. read more
1 year ago
2 years ago
I made reservations 2 weeks in advance for a sunset dinner to celebrate my husband's birthday at CanoeHouse. This restaurant is located inside a hotel in a resort area and it was the view of the oceanfront that attracted me in the first place. It is valet parking only as it utilizes the hotel parking lot. Don't worry, you can get the parking validated when you dine in. After checking in with the staff in front, we were quickly led to our table. We had a good view of the ocean and the sunset even though we didn't get to sit at the tables in the front row. Keep in mind that the majority of the restaurant is open air but some parts of it is still indoors. They have a pretty extensive menu and even offer a chef's tasting menu for 6 courses for a reasonable price. We decided to order ala carte instead and decided on: kona kanpachi warayaki, shokupan bread, steamed clam nabe, seared scallops, king crab crusted mahi, assorted mushrooms and coconut mango pudding. The warayaki performance was unique and the kona kanpachi pieces tasted so good with the mustard miso. The shokupan bread was buttery, soft and you can taste the Hawaiian salt. Dipping the bread in the sauce of the clam nabe made it even more delicious. The aroma from the truffle oil of the steamed clam nabe filled our table and the portion size for this dish was very generous. My husband and I each had more than 10 clams. I tried my husband's king crab crusted mahi and it was cooked just right. The mahi was flakey and it was covered with the crusted king crab. The flavors went well with each other. My scallops were cooked perfectly, a layer of crust outside and tender inside. It mixed so well with the macadamia nuts and the soy caramel. Portion sizes for the entrees were reasonable. We finished off the night with the coconut mango pudding which was a refreshing way to end the birthday meal. Flavors blended in well with each other. Service was attentive for the most part. We didn't have to wait long between each dish and our utensils were replaced quickly between each plate turnover. The meal was definitely on the pricey side but given the food and the fact that we got to enjoy the sunset right in front of our eyes with the ocean in the backdrop, it was worth it. CanoeHouse is a great establishment to celebrate big and special occasions. If we ever visit the big island again, we will come back to try other menu items. read more
7 months ago
1 year ago
Great view of the sunset and their bread, salad, Kim her and Mahi Mahi so fresh. Next time, I want to try the lobster tempura too! read more
1 year ago
Wow! Best meal we have had in Hawaii after multiple trips and trying many restaurants. We were seated "inside" due to rain, however, our table was on the edge of the open air restaurant with an oceanfront view. The food and drinks were spectacular. We had the Lilikoi margarita, Kohala colada, and the Mai tai; all were exceptional. For appetizers we ordered the snap peas, bread, and corn ribs (BREAD IS A MUST ORDER). The Kauai shrimp and kanpachi were flavorful fan favorites amongst the entrees ordered, but you can't go wrong. Lastly, to end our meal we tried the flourless chocolate dessert and sundae, which were the perfect way to end our flavorful meal at Canoehouse. Dione was a wonderful server and was very knowledgeable and gluten-free options and the flavor profiles of each dish. She gave us tips on how to enjoy each dish and had a very kind demeanor. Must try restaurant! read more
2 years ago
Incredible vibe. Great place to watch the sunset right on the beach. The market fish was cooked to perfection, served with a spicy green side that kinda tasted like kimchi. The carrots were also great, in a sesame honey butter glaze. The pull apart bread was recommended to us, but I thought it was just okay, maybe my expectations were too high. read more
Visited here on the last night of our Hawaiian vacation and it was definitely a great way to end the trip. This might have been the best meal I had the whole trip. First let me preface this by saying this place is super pricey. Expect to spend $3-500 for 2 to 3 people. I personally thought the meal was worth it. The restaurant is in a beautiful location right by the water. At night you can't see the ocean but you can definitely hear it. They have fire and fire pits that light up the area. For food we started off with the beef and foie gras gyoza. Being a big fan of gyoza in general I loved these, however I didn't taste much of the foie in them. For entrees my gf had the scallops, my daughter had a kids hot dog and I got the whole lobster. We also shared a side of the roasted potatoes. The scallops were excellent. They were cooked perfectly and the nuts made the dish have the perfect texture. My lobster was also great. Probably one of the better lobster dishes I've ever had. My only complaint was there wasn't more of it. The roasted potatoes might have been one of my favorite things. The combination of potato, egg and pork belly was delicious. For dessert we finished the meal off with a round of Ube Espresso Martinis and the Portuguese donuts. We thoroughly enjoyed all of it. Service throughout the meal was what it should be for a fine dining restaurant. Very attentive without being imposing. The staff were all great with our 4 year old. If you find yourself on the big island looking for an amazing fine dine experience, this place should be at the top of your list read more
2 years ago
Frankly, while possibly fresh and healthy, I felt the food was flavorless. Cocktail was unique and delicious, and $25. The place is overpriced, but felt going there gave you the ability to see the lobby and grounds of the Mauna Lani resort. That in itself made the pricing tolerable. Upon seeing the dress code comments here, I will say that the beauty of the resort and grounds warrants more than a Hawaiian shirt casual.....coming casual to the CanoeHouse...the adjective déclassé comes to mind. The two parties close to me were smartly dressed and we made an effort to be as well. The place is not casual. I had to laugh when I heard here that there is a children's menu. There was a child two tables away making a ruckus. This is not the venue for children. Not appropriate. I could see it was disturbing the couple sitting next to them but they were so polite they were trying to be pleasant. read more
Had a very fun dinner here! Definitely pricey - but worth it. The food is excellent and service even better. We tried the 24oz steak, mushroom side, and gyoza appetizer, everything was cooked well. We were stuffed and could barely finish so I'm glad we didn't go overboard in ordering too much (because everything on the menu looks insanely good). Free valet for dinner guests. And you can't beat the view and dinner on the beach - which is why it's worth the money to try at least once read more
6 months ago
1 year ago
This place is one of my faves. Love the ocean view and the open air here. Service and food is always great every time I visit. read more
It was absolutely one of the best dinners we had on the Big Island - delicious food, perfect ambiance, and outstanding service. I'm thrilled to have dined here and can't wait to return. My husband and son chose the chef's superb tasting menu. The Kauai shrimp was absolutely one of my top favorite meals, especially as you can dunk the pull-apart bread. The grounds are beautiful, and the cocktails were a perfect complement to our dinner. read more
9 months ago
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4 years ago
I stayed at the hotel and had a reservation for two. This is one of the most popular restaurants on the island, so I highly recommend making a reservation. The restaurant was packed! Ambiance: amazing! Indoor/outdoor dining concept. Bright, airy, tropical, and it feels upscale yet relaxed. Perfect for a celebration, date night, or really any reason at all. Service: perfect. We were seated inside and asked if we could sit outside. The host was very accommodating, letting us know that no tables were available, but that we could wait and grab a drink at the bar. It only took about 10 minutes. Our server was so attentive, friendly, and just all around kind. I wish I had gotten his name. Food: sigh, my only qualm and the reason I didn't give 5 stars. The food is high quality and a lot of it was delicious, but unfortunately some of it was overly salted. I normally love salt, but some of it was soooo overly salted it was inedible and we had to send back. Thinking it was just an off night in the kitchen. We ordered too much for two people: -Corn Ribs: underrated! This took me by surprise, soooo flavorful. -Shokupan Pull Apart Bread: this has sooooo much potential, but it was sooooo salty. I definitely still ate some of it, but it was over salted. It reminds me of the Japanese honey toast. So dense, but light and buttery. -Kona Kompachi Sashimi: I think this is what we ordered... It could've been an off night in the kitchen, but it was sooooo salty, it was inedible. We told our waiter to give the kitchen a heads up. He was kind enough to not charge us. -Beef and Foie Gras Gyoza: really enjoyed this. Comes with four. -Alaskan King Crab Leg: it's spendy for one leg, but it was worth it. Sooooo good. -Radish Salad: enjoyed. Crunchy and refreshing. -Grilled Kona Kompachi: delicious. Highly recommend. It's a whole fish. The skin is crispy and the inside is light and buttery. -Side of Garlic Fried Rice: I'd skip this. It wasn't garlicky at all and we already had way too much food. read more
1 year ago
Chose this place with family to celebrate a birthday, it did not disappoint. Food was the star of the night. Everything we ordered was delicious. Service and the ambiance setting was good. On the pricey side but definitely worth it! Highly recommend! read more
1 year ago
The most romantic place with delicious food and great service. Reserve a table use OpenTable, they release their available time slots on the same day. Bring your love ones here, they will not be disappointed. Great for a romantic date. We ordered just about everything on the menu, a few dishes really stood out. The Warayaki Kona Kampachi: they came on top of a small grill, and the serve induce smoke under the grill, smoking the fish in front of you. It tasted freshly smoked, delicious with the miso dipping sauce. The Grilled Big island hearts of palm was delicious with a bit of a crunch, with avocados and fresh green salsa. The local beef and Fois Gras Gyoza was juice and tasty also, you can definitely taste the Fois Gras. The Shokupan pull apart bread was freshly baked and very buttery. The serve was very good, the servers are polite and fast. read more
Absolutely amazing. The restaurant is new and beautiful and it's right on the water. The food is so delicious. We dined there twice on our vacation. The waiter we had was fabulous, O think his name is Ian. The only suggestion I have for management is to maybe train the hostesses to be a little friendlier. They seem to all be a little bit sullen. They were the same both nights we were there. I don't know, maybe it was a coincidence. Anyways, we will definitely go back the next time we visit The Big Island. read more
3 years ago
Wonderful service. The food was super flavorful so definitely grab some sides. We loved everything that we ordered. Tip: book on opentable close to sunset. Also you can re cork and being home bottles of wine you don't finish. read more
3 years ago
We are lovers of good food and this was one of the best meals in years. We opted to go ala carte to try as many things as possible. Our favorites: Oysters Lobster tempura Head on shrimp Foie and scallop (best fish!) And the mill bread Also had the hearts of palm with dashi and the pork jowl which packed a lot of flavor. Amazing service and views! read more
4 years ago
Went to CanoeHouse for my 27th birthday dinner with my family- and it was a truly lovely experience. The food was delicious, the atmosphere inviting and warm. Also the beach is wonderful- we even spotted whales whilst having our breakfast there. The one teeny constructive criticism is that we found the essential oil/effervescent patchouli like scent being released to be distracting from the wonderful taste and aroma of our food. When you dine on the restaurant- no smell apart from the sea air and tasty food is necessary! Overall, CanoeHouse was still our family's FAVORITE meal this trip to the Big Island, We highly recommend the corn ribs and pull apart bread (didn't even get a picture of these dishes we devoured them too quickly!) and the radish and salmon skin salad! Divine textures abs flavors on all three! read more
Omg if I could give more stars than 5 this deserves a 10! The food, service and the view was amazing! We came at sunset and we're able to take some beautiful pics on the beach right in front of the restaurant. Food was all on point we gobbled everything up! We had the buttered baked lobster, it was nice they cut into chunks much easier to eat. We had the smoked pork Jowl, super tender pieces. Crispy radish salad with salmon skin for some veggies :) The garlic fried rice with a nice runny egg on top wasn't on the menu but secret menu, just ask for it! The Roasted Kauai shrimp was super plump shrimp and very tasty. We also ordered the Shokupan Pull apart Bread which came out piping hot under a little container! Once cut open you can smell a whiff of fresh buttered bread! grilled Kona kampachi was really tender and had a nice slight grill taste. Kids got tenders with fries, nothing spectacular but kids are not too picky and the corn tempura. Overall must go, get reservations wayyyyy in advanced. It is very pricy but worth every $$$ sign on the menu! Enjoy your sunset! read more
We almost didn't come here because I thought I had to order a 6 course tasting for our 9 year old. The info on the website isn't super clear so that made me have second thoughts.. they have a kids menu for those who are wondering. It's a standard resort type of kids menu with hot dog, chicken fingers, etc., But we went anyway and am soooo glad that we did! The meal was spectacular. I didn't know the Big Island of Hawaii had this level of food. It was a memorable meal and I think anyone who has the ability to make a reservation should really go. We had both the tasting menu and the ala carte dishes. Everything was great and the service was amazing. We enjoyed the ambiance, the food, and the people there are top notch. It's not easy to get a response or a reservation prior to the night, but it's wonderful when you do get there. read more
2 years ago
ambience was amazing!! our server and wait staff great!! however the lull between appetizers and dinner was wayyyy to long (45 min plus) i wasn't that hungry so I ordered JAPANESE curry.... got THAI curry instead .... totally different flavor !! mentioned it to the waiter but no reaction basically.....very diso other than that food and wine was great ..... read more
3 years ago
Came here on a Friday around 5:30. We were not staying at the hotel so we made a reservation via OpenTable. The 5:30/6 seating is very popular as the restaurant has a beautiful view of the sunset so try to reserve a few days early to get a table. This is a pricey restaurant. You need to know that going in. Thanks to Yelp, I was able navigate and get the worthwhile items on the menu. When we arrived, they initially led us to a table 3 rows in from the outside, but were accommodating when we asked to move to an outside table. The cocktails are pricey: ~$20+ for mai tai and Lilikoi Toki highball. Well mixed but not super artisanal like some of the artisanal bars in NY or SF. But, for the view and experience, I'd put it on par with some of the SF and NY bars charging this price. Onto the food! The chef's menu is $155 for six courses. It's nice that not everyone has to get it so my mom got this and we were able to try a variety of items: * hamachi sashimi with uni: respectable, but not spectacular * ahi slices over seaweed: very bland. I prefer all the delicious poke that's so popular around the island * tempura shrimp with a honey citrus sauce: one of the stand outs of the menu -- the sauce is very refreshing and a great balance of tangy and sweet * mahi mahi: this fish ended up being a bit dry, which was disappointing since I'd read great things about their mahi mahi * New York steak with Bernard's sauce: cooked well and tasty * Pana Cotta with sorbet: great balance of sweet, tart and panna cotta creamy without being too rich They also brought a pineapple upside down cake since we were celebrating my mom's birthday: lovely delicate cake with a lovely touch of caramelized pineapple Separately, we ordered: * corn ribs: a tasty blend of spices on the corn * shokupan: Japanese milk bread - we love Japanese milk bread and this one was tender and tasty; for reference, Craftsman and Wolf in SF charges $10 for their milk bread so $16 at this restaurant isn't as outrageous as it might sound for bread. But, you have to be into milk bread to find this worthwhile * Warayaki Kompachi: the presentation on this dish with very dramatic with a blow torch and all. Our waitress, Diane, recommended Kompachi over tuna and we're glad she did. It's got a delicate, slightly buttery texture and flavor that paired very well with the soy and miso sauces * Pork Jowl was another star of the night. The pork was crispy on the outside, quite tender and just very well flavored. The cabbage was also quite standout. * the garlic fried rice pairs very well with the pork * the Kompachi main is a grilled whole fish: well prepared. No complaints, but not that special for me. Lastly, we ordered the hotdog and fries off the kids menu for my daughter. It's $18 for hotdog and fries, but they were very well made fries -- nice medium, satisfying cut and generously portioned while the hotdog was also generously portioned and very satisfyingly meaty. There were a few other kids at the restaurant. And the restaurant being on the beach meant my daughter could run around a bit to burn off some energy which is always conducive to having a successful family dinner. Overall, we had a good time! We come to Big Island about 1 week a year. With a young one (4yr old), we cook and get Queens market takeout food for a lot of our meals. Canoehouse makes for a nice, special dinner to have a special meal as part of our trip. And, we would come back. We've also had great meals at Napua nearby -- which also has spectacular food and kid friendly set up. read more
8 months ago
CanoeHouse is a must visit on the Big Island! The food, service, and ambiance were all absolutely amazing. The restaurant is on the beach inside the Auberge hotel in Mauna Lani. We're staying in Waikoloa so it was a short 10 minute drive. For food we ordered: corn ribs, poke style sashimi with tuna and Kona kampachi (so 2 orders total), warayaki with tuna, tataki salad, local fresh catch (swordfish), garlic fried rice, and the goat cheese dessert. Every single dish we ate was delicious in its own right. My least favorite was the tataki, but my husband loved it so to each their own. You cannot skip the warayaki, poke style sashimi, and garlic fried rice. The rice is like crack honestly. It comes in a bibimbap style so the plate is very hot and it has 2 eggs cracked in the middle. As you mix the rice, the egg cooks and you get some crispy rice in the bottom. The dish is creamy, savory, umami, and salty. The warayaki has massive presentation points because they smoke the hay at the table. It also comes with a spicy mustard that I could drink. For drinks I ordered their version of a G&T and was not disappointed at all. The drink itself was beautiful and the ratios were appropriate. My husband got a pina colada and it was delicious. The wine list is impressive, but we opted for cocktails. The dessert was delicious! Goat cheese mousse might sound kind of funky, but you have to give it a try! It came with a yuzu gelee and candied macadamia nuts. Overall, we will definitely be back here. If not during this same trip for lunch, then definitely the next time we're on the Big Island. Make reservations because they book up early! read more
2 years ago
We stayed at the hotel, didn't have a reservation, and came at opening. Staff was super friendly and helpful even though we didn't have a reservation. Food was SOOOO GOOD! View was awesome. If sitting outside, consider wearing sunblock or covering your body if you burn easily because you may burn a bit. read more
2 years ago
Ok so this is by far the best meal I have had in the big island! Best fried rice ever in my entire long life! Great mocktails and cocktails. Has seared wagyu beef and then lobster tail ! My side was the fried rice ! Yummmmmmmm! The service was great and the ambience was killer as it's basically on the beach looking out on the horizon! Gorgeous!!!! You have to go here if you visit the big isiand. You won't be disappointed!!! read more
More info about CanoeHouse
68-1400 Mauna Lani Dr
Kamuela, HI 96743
Directions
(808) 885-6622
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https://auberge.com/mauna-lani/dine/canoe-house/
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Ask the Community - CanoeHouse
Is it good for large groups?
I think it could be with enough planning. The patio outside has a lot of wiggle room to move tables around. We saw a party of at least 10-12 there.
How far in advance can I book reservation online? Is the tasting menu worth the price? We have a…
I believe you can book as far out as open table allows. Is response to the tasting menu, let me first say that I'm a foodie that loves great food and value. So answering the question of worth going to be relative to your idea of value. You pay… Read more
What is the dress code?
There is no dress code. I recommend Hawaii casual i.e aloha shirts for men and sundresses for women.
Does this place have gulten free bread?
Call them. I'm pretty sure they don't. But their bread is awesome if you can break your gluten rules for one night. Only place I've ever had shokupan bread like this.
Do they only have a prefix visit or is ala cart available?
A la carte is totally available. I was just there a few weeks ago. I honestly prefer the ala carte menu compared to the tasting. Have fun! What an incredible meal you're gonna have.
Can non resort guests get a reservation?
Yes, check open table about 2 days before you want to go
Hello :) hope all is well ,Is there a reservation available for tonight for 2 people?
No, there is availability. Sorry.
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CanoeHouse - japanese - Updated July 2026
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