I had low expectations based on the fact that the nearby restaurants had 45 min waits and this one had plenty of open tables... We waited a very long time for our food (longer than the usual "Hawaiian time"). Apparently our food waited for us too as the mashed potatoes were ice cold upon arrival. My daughters couldn't even drink 2 sips of their $6 lemonades and my husbands medium-rare steak did not have a speck of pink in it (completely well done) On a positive, they had a decent beer selection. read more

I read the mixed reviews for this place and lowered my expectations. This place didn't just fail to meet my lowered expectations, they barely managed to deliver edible food. Order was takeout with 30 minute time frame. I arrived after about 25 minutes and the food was sitting in containers under a warming light. Things went downhill from there. Our order was 4 entrees: Cheddar burger - ordered medium well and was charred black in the bottom. The bun was burnt, yet somehow soggy and squished. BBQ chicken sandwich - pretty sure it was about 1/4 of a chicken breast, again burned on the bottom and overcooked. Bacon was super fatty and chewy. Asked for no onions. There were onions. Bun burnt, squished and soggy. Mac and cheese and garlic bread - the kid said, why would I want to eat tasteless Mac and burnt garlic bread. He's got a point. BBQ ribs and chicken - tiny piece of chicken, burnt and dry. Ribs were ok. Mashed potatoes looked like they had been sitting under a warmer for hours and were dry and unappealing. Side of fruit couldn't have been fresh. At the least, never order takeout from this place. At best, be ready for a disappointing experience. For the price this place was the biggest rip off on the island, so far. read more

Foster's Kitchen Waikoloa - Garlic bread - American Near Me - Waikoloa, Hawaii

See all

We were seated quickly then sat for about five minutes without anyone coming to offer a menu or water or drinks. We ordered our drinks and entrees at the same time, the drinks were out in about ten minutes and the entrees were brought out right after (2) Stuffed Chicken (1) Steak House Pasta (1) Sirloin Steak I was on alert when we received our food so quickly (maybe 10-12 minutes)... they say it is "From Scratch" and "Fresh Farm to Table" and that simply cannot be true. The Stuffed Chicken had the most bizarre chewy texture, it had to have been microwaved, the mushrooms must be canned, and the gravy had to have been made with a dehydrated packet with water. The Steak House Pasta went down the best. The Sirloin Steak was ordered medium rare (maybe a mistake given the cut) it tasted slightly old and unseasoned-super chewy. DO NOT RECOMMEND. I don't know how they have 3.5 stars on Yelp and 4 on Google. read more

We read the reviews and decided to test it out. It was quite the experience. Our food was mid. It wasn't the best thing ever but it wasn't the worst thing ever. The atmosphere was casual and calm. Our waiter though. That was the worst and most interesting part. Whenever he came over, he seemed a bit off. My party and I chose to ignore this. But the poor man could not hear a lick. We kept having to repeat ourselves when the room wasn't loud at all. We were also seated by a banister. The waiter decided instead of walking around to the table he would pass our food (condiments, drinks, appetizers, main course, etc) down to us from the stairs/elevated walkway. It was really shocking because now none of us have seen the is kind of behaviour exhibited in a restaurant before. read more

We visited Hawaii for entire 2 weeks in April and though it's been months, this review was I draft and I cannot go without posting before the year ends. We enjoyed this amazing restaurant TWICE while visiting. We came to Hawaii with 10 of our friends for our wedding and this place came to serve! It was the first weekend that Hawaii had conditionally reopened to the mainland states for tourism, so it was busy. We tried multiples of options that were full capacity, but this restaurant opened up a closed area for us as it was the last option other than fast food. We landed an incredible server, unfortunately cannot remember her name. But she was so great, we requested her for the next day with all 10 friends added to the party (first was just with us two). Second night partaking at this restaurant was on the patio, and it was a brisk night. But all in all, it was a great experience both times and the food was fresh and well-priced. Drinks were nicely done, thought timely wait each round but worth it. I 100% recommend this scratch kitchen--great food, awesome service, and a great Aloha atmosphere! Mahalo, until next time! read more

Food: sub par, either the cooks overcooked it or the waiter let it sit. It took them 15 min for our drinks, 50min for our food and it was the right order but the quality was not at all up to a resort standard. Maybe just above Denny's level. Service: we've had better service at a biker bar on a Friday night with a full moon on payday. The waiter took our order than came back 15min later and verified our order w his handheld point of sale. Not a good sign. My family and I have been visiting the big island for over 15yrs. It's not the first rodeo and I know what to expect. They left us hanging. I'm sure they are trying but it's not up to par for the Big Island. This is my First NEGATIVE REVIEW of any kind. read more

Unfortunately this place was awful. From service, ambiance and food Saw a cockroach (huge), we killed and manager did not even bother to apologize Food was salty My kids didn't like food Drinks were horrible Skip this place read more

A menu with a good variety of dishes so there's something for everyone! Here's what I got: - Dragonfruit salad: a summer special! Comes with grilled chicken breast, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, red onions, feta cheese, balsamic vinaigrette and dragonfruit dressing. It was also supposed to come with fresh dragonfruit but maybe they ran out/forgot? It was a decent salad; I liked the dragonfruit dressing but the balsamic overpowered everything. 2.5/5 - Lychee martini ($10.5 w/ happy hour): Happy hour is 3-5 and 9-close and it's $2 off alcohol. Yummy & well balanced drink; 5/5 - Lilikoi cheesecake & lava cake ($8 & $12): The cheesecake was light and fluffy and the lava cake had lots of chocolate lava! Delicious 5/5 The interior was cute! Open and white wood detailing Service was good. read more

See all

We came here because Lava Lava had a 2 hour wait. They had a half hour wait but had the option to eat at the bar. We ended up waiting for about 10 minutes for a couple of seats at the bar. Our bartender was very nice but seemed a little overwhelmed by the pace of orders. We both ordered traditional margaritas which were made well - not quite as well as I do it :). For dinner we ordered the Country Fried Chicken and a Caesar to share. It was plenty for us. Neither one of us is a big eater. We ate everything. The chicken was tasty. The Caesar was average at best. This was my first time here. I liked it. I will be back on my next visit to Waikaloa. read more

We decided to try this place for a late lunch. We were greeted by a man who was cordial, but not overly friendly. He did seat us near the window without us having to ask. That was a plus! Our waitress was very friendly though and accommodating. Ambience: Decent. Nothing too fancy or memorable except for the view of the man made lake. Food: Mediocre. Mashed potatoes were dry (please pass the water!). The chicken sandwich was about 2 oz of meat (and we were starving!). The grilled fish was just the right amount if you're feeding a 5 year old. The loin steak was good and about the size you'd get for that price. The ribs were dry and overdone. They do have competitive pricing, but the portions are small and they need a new chef. Ugh. read more

Good food. Friendly staff. My son has Celiac Disease and they have a dedicated fryer for their fries and fish & chips. My son ordered a salad twice, once it came with a fried cheese ball, and once it came with a slice of bread. We asked both salads to be remade, and they were, no problem. Will go here again, when we come back read more

I have to say, I was impressed with the large selection of food offerings that their menu offered. It almost made it hard to decide on what to eat at times. I actually dinned their multiple times during my visit and did try various options on their menu which were all very good. This is another place in the area that is very busy due to limited dinning options, so reservations are highly recommended. I was eating solo, so I was able to eat at the bar comfortably and received pretty good service there. however, the food delivery was inconstant and sometimes seemed slow or to fast at times between courses. The place is great for families or groups. There are various seating options both inside and out. Despite the busyness, it wasn't to noisy. Like I said before, I ate at the bar and happy with my dinning experiences each time. My only slight dissatisfaction was it seemed like the hosts at the front door seem very disorganized and didn't seem to know what was going on at times. read more

See all

This place was super friendly with kids. We came here super hungry. The down side was they didn't have bread to offer as soon as we sat down. I asked for the kids and they said place your order and it will come out quick. The food came out in 15 mins. Kids got little fussy. However, the food was fresh and delicious. Kids did finish their food. Adults food was also delicious and cooked well. We had a super Friendly waiter who smiled the whole time and asked frequently if we needed anything read more

Foster's Kitchen Waikoloa - Delicious pasta for vegetarians and delicious mango margaritas - American Near Me - Waikoloa, Hawaii

Foster's is a bit of an anomaly for me in Hawaii, it serves comfort food from the mainland and doesn't have nearly the amount of Hawaiian inspired fare I thought it would. The Waikoloa location is situated in the King's Shops and the decor is modern and clean. We grabbed a table outside on the patio and got to ordering. The menu is pretty standard comfort food - ribs, steak, fish and chips. Food here was just so-so. The steak wasn't well done - overcooked and seasoning was off. Ribs were dry. Hush puppies were good and seared ahi were decent. Service was uneven but not for a lack of effort - the restaurant was super busy. Our server was very nice but he needed some help. Overall, the meal could've been better but sometimes that's just how things go. read more

See all

We enjoyed this place! I'm in town for a conference with a few of my colleagues and was looking for a eatery that was able to accommodate a large party. This is when Yelp comes in a helps you located the right restaurant. ATMOSPHERE Located right now the street from our hotel and situated in Waikoloa Village. Lots of parking and easy access. We walked and and was very impressed with the style and the open kitchen. Very open space and lots of room. SERVICE We checked in and was seated right away. I love that they were able to take reservations ahead of time. From checking in to and being escorted to our table we were greeted warmly by our friendly waitress. She did a great job accommodating our large party. The wait time for the food was good timing. FOOD They have such a great variety in their menu which made it hard to select and item. The great part with a large group is you can always share. I settled with the blackened shrimp cheese grits! Absolutely tasty and was not disappointed. One of my friends order the ribs and had a taste! It was amazing as well. Overall, love it here and would be back! read more

Foster's Kitchen Waikoloa - Foster's Gumbo - American Near Me - Waikoloa, Hawaii

See all

Love Emily at the bar. She made incredible cocktails and was great to talk to. Will be back for her great drinks and food another time. read more

Foster's Kitchen Waikoloa - Custom drink - American Near Me - Waikoloa, Hawaii

This place was suggested by a valet person and he was wrong about the location but he did not miss about the flavors this place would offer. Amazing and flavorful dishes offered here. Serving are a good size and like always we eat family style and share what we let. I was able to try each dish in the photos and none disappointed but our favorite was the country fried chicken and greens. read more

See all

Great place with really friendly staff. Prices are reasonable and on par with general island prices. This is a great place for vegetarian options and for young kids. We definitely will be stopping back if we get time and need a meal. read more

Terrific service and delicious food! Our group of 22 had an incredible evening due to the outstanding service we received. Highly recommend! read more

Fresh calamari, Cajun fries are awesome as are the fish tacos. Right in Kings Mall a little gem here on Kona Island. Try the fried green tomatoes. read more

See all

First time coming here, food was really great! I got a small chicken Caesar salad with grilled chicken and the calamari appetizer. The appetizer was amazing 10/10 but my salad I would give closer to a 6/10, there was not much dressing on it and the chicken it came with was pretty dry. Generally I'd recommend this place and come back again, I'd probably try something new though! read more

Well there is an unfortunate part to this review...no pics! Food was just too good. This isn't our first time coming here as we came last year as well when on vacation. It doesn't get too busy so getting a reservation or just walking up without a reservation isn't a big deal at all. So you wanna know why it gets a 5 star review? The main reason is the quality of food and seafood. I am NOT a fan of Seafood but yet I will come here and order the fish tacos (delicious) or the seared Szechwan ahi stir try which I tried for the first time tonight and it was amazing. Our server was awesome and our food came out fast. Will def come back again for sure this has become a regular spot on our yearly Hawaii trip. Also our bill was extremely reasonable. If you disagree with me for any reason I will fight you! Jk we are all entitled to our own opinions Well apparently I reviewed this place last year but nothings changed! Still a great spot! Mahalo read more

We had an early dinner here (no reservation, and we were seated right away). From the minute we asked in until we left, the service was incredible! Rose was our server and immediately informed us of the happy hour specials ($2 off all drinks - including my iced tea! - and $2 off all apps). The lemonade is house-made and so tart and tasty! We started with the hush puppies- haven't had them since we were in Florida... really good, but the butter spread seemed separated. The other sauce was like a buffalo tartar sauce- a little strange, but still tasty. My daughter had the buffalo chicken sandwich and she inhaled it- looks incredible! And I had the veggie sandwich (I'm vegetarian and this is a very meat- centric southern cooking type restaurant, but this sandwich was DELICIOUS!). Highly recommend both! I had the Cajun fries and they were nicely spiced.... Preferred the regular fries. Not only that, we were seated at a table right by the windows overlooking the beautiful lake (outside seating is also available with lake view). We were stuffed! Highly recommend for excellent overall dining experience! Ps would be great for kiddos, too- they have a great keiki menu! read more

See all

Everything was very good! Get there early as they do run out of food by end of night! Mash potatoes gone one night but salad was good and then Tomato Bisque soup gone another night. Indoor and outdoor dinning very nice. Servers were very nice I know they were short on kitchen staff but told ahead of time about that. Ordered dessert and took over 30 min and server took off the bill because of how long it took! read more

See all

My family and I were impressed with some of the food items but then underwhelmed by others. Reaching them through the phone to book a reservation for 8-10 people was kind of difficult, but they were very accommodating after getting a hold of them. read more

Fantastic food! Fantastic service! Fantastic experience! Greeted with a warm welcome as if they were expecting us. Food was fresh and hot and fast. Added an order of Cajun fries (amazing) after our main courses already arrived and it was out within minutes. Gumbo was the best we ever had. Loved the fresh unbreaded calamari. Shrimp on grits was delicious (ordered with less heat for our timid diner) and still delicious! Would dine here again! To note there is another location in Kona, as well as the Big Kahuna Beach Grill and all are good. read more

First off, please be kind to your server and the rest of the staff. We went tonight and our poor server had 4 large outdoor tables, no additional help and one party of 8 that was horrible. He seemed frazzled and I don't blame him. The party was rude, impatient, loud and like I mentioned above, he didn't receive any help until after the wife of the party started going in and out of the restaurant to get items. We tried to cheer him up and compliment him, but I'm not sure it helped. Pretty sure they either skipped out on their meal or didn't tip him. I really wanted to like this place. The menu had some great looking items and we were super excited. Service wasn't great but again, there was one party completely taking up the time of the server and it wasn't until way later that he received help. Irritating to watch because tons of staff inside that seemed to be sitting around and chatting with each other. We went to A-Bay last night and they had one staff member bring out drinks/water, a different one that brought food and then the server. This poor gentleman did drinks, took our orders, had to get silverware, carried out the food... too much to ask one person to do. The part that really was disappointing was the quality of the food. We got 3 steak salads and they were all well done. No red at all even though the menu says cooked to medium rare. My daughters got the kids cheeseburgers and the meat was undercooked, zero seasoning, bread tasted stale and the fries were soggy with no seasoning. So again.... Unfortunately I think the server is going to take some heat for tonight, and he really shouldn't. Difficult tables, no help and poor food quality is a hard battle to fight and keep the customer happy. It's a shame because there were some good reviews and the menu was promising. read more

Service and cocktails are good, but the food is really lacking, especially considering the price. There are better options nearby.

We have visited Fosters a couple times and had excellent food. However, we visited today for my husband's birthday and we were disappointed. However, let me say up-front, our waitress, Lisa S., was EXCELLENT. We arrived at 4:00 for an early dinner. They were out of ribs. The stuffed chicken was OK but nothing to rave about. The garlic mashed potatoes were cold when served to us, and the broccoli was a bit dried out. The ladies bathroom had toilet paper all over the floor. We had a window seat by the water but the windows were covered with handprints so it was hard to see out. All-in-all, not a good visit and we can't recommend Fosters. read more

Fosters kitchen in Waikoloa was a great place to eat! Our waiter was so nice and the food was amazing. I loved my steak, they cooked it just the way I like. They were open late so that's something to look for when on vacation. We finished all our activities for the day is was about 8 and this one of the two places open. It was so nice inside looked really modern. read more

See all

Our waitress, Emily, was very nice! She checked on us often & made sure we had what we needed. I only had the fosters banana pudding which was ok. My wife & her friend had the entrees and they really enjoyed them! We sat on the patio at night which was very nice especially since we came from 100+ degree weather in Dallas, TX! read more

See all

Food was bad. Service was terrible. Seems like they are understaffed. Ordered fish tacos. Never had a fish taco before that had no salsa, no jalapeños, nothing spicy. Worse it was cold by the time I got it. Earlier tried to get bruschetta appetizer but they were out. Ordered the chicken wings instead which were OK but the gorgonzola dressing was tasteless. read more

One of our best meals on the island. My son and I decided to have a boys lunch while the girls played. Better than average service and very, very good food. read more

See all

Terrible food and don't bother using their online "waitlist". We had been on the waitlist for a patio table, and just as we were waiting patiently in line to talk to the hostess to get seated there was a couple "walk ins" in front of us. She gave away our table so there was no point in even reserving a spot. We then got seated inside since there was nothing left on the patio. It took 10 minutes for a server to even come and get our drinks orders but we weren't even given a drink menu so that took even longer after given one. Once we got our food the fries were so greasy, and my husbands Cajun fries were completely covered in seasoning it looked like the lid came off and got dumped on all the fries. We both got the bacon club sandwich, the bread was big, but the chicken only filled half of it. Might as well just use smaller pieces of bread as you waste so much. read more

Foster's Kitchen Waikoloa - American Near Me - Waikoloa, Hawaii

Their calamari is so good. Could have eaten several plates. I definitely recommended the Paniolo Salad, dressing on the side. It's delicious read more

This seems to be a very nice place. We all stopped for lunch. Service was slow and the food was moderately warm when it arrived at the table. The calamari looked good. Average visit this time around. read more

Foster's is our go-to for pau hana... the ambience is especially perfect after a hard day at work. read more

Foster's Kitchen Waikoloa - Their bruschetta never fails - American Near Me - Waikoloa, Hawaii

See all

A+++. Outstanding food. High quality ingredients, very well executed. The ambiance is amazing, too. We sat outside, on a beautiful Kona evening. Fish and Chips is world class. Ono was the fish of the day today. Also, the Penne pasta was outstanding. Simply lovely. You will not be disappointed. read more

Hometown Midwest fried chicken dinner Great food Perfect young servers Just like home read more

Edited to add: dropping to one star as I just found out they charged me twice for my meal and I'm having to dispute w my bank! Ehhhh Our server was rushing us out the door when our meals were only half eaten. Probably my biggest pet peeve ever. Literally asked, "are we wrapping things up here?" Um, I'm dropping $60 on a tasteless meal. Let's give it a minute. Mushrooms-B+ and best part of the meal. Could have been cooked longer. Perhaps had they cooked the 20 minutes our server said they took they would have been done. He empathized this, yet they were on the table quickly. Asked for my burger to be a little pink, however that is here. Server said medium well. Came out with no pink, and very dry. Told server ams he said sorry about that, but no offer to make it right. $5 for a side of mashed potatoes the size of one scoop. Cold. Hmmm. Two stars or one? This was our vacation splurge. Don't waste your time, if it's yours. read more

See all