Yep, this was exactly what we were looking for to celebrate a very special ten year anniversary. I'd say it was the equivalent of a Lower 48 steakhouse substituting fresh fish for the ol' bloody red meat thing, and I was totally swooned... by my wife. Swooned by you, Laura. Not the food. Promise. No really, everything was terrific. My Old Fashioned nicely mixed, her Mai Tai appropriately fruity enough to mask some of the booze, but that fish... Laura had locally caught Ono, I had the snapper, mine came on mashed potatoes, hers was a curried pilaf, I think. Definitely remember the curry. Personally, it really was tantamount to a solid fish steak, with hearty flavors surrounding each bite, and it gave me that steakhouse tummy hum, know where I'm coming from? Like, complete comfort. And as a short note, I'll only mention that service was competent, no nonsense and somehow... almost A.I.? Like they were human-bots? My wife's observation, but I fully agreed. read more

DELICIOUS!!! They start you off with this cheesy bread with oil and balsamic vinegar. The bread had this crust of cheeses on top. It was really good. We ordered the Poki Nachos for our appetizer. It comes with Ahi tuna, Crispy wontons as chips, wasabi, tomatoes and salsa. It was SO AMAZING and fresh tasting!!! Also huge portions for an appetizer. For dinner we both had the Mixed Grill. It came with two kinds of fish; butter fish and swordfish in cajun, grilled shrimp skewered on sugar cane, all served over orzo. OMG the portions were huge and it tasted so GOOD!!! The best fish we had in Kauai! It comes with Wally Salad, Caesar salad or soup. We both go the Wally salad that came with poppyseed dressing, tomatoes, cucumber, bacon, croutons and was very tasty! The service was really quick and friendly with our questions. We were too full for dessert and everything on the menu looked like your standard desserts. The restaurant is pretty busy so either make a reservation or be ready to wait 20 minutes. Décor is a little old fashioned since the hotel is older but you still have a great view of the ocean from there. Prices are not cheap but the food is really good so you need try at least once. read more

We went here on our first night in Kauai. They didn't have any reservations available but we were able to get a table fairly quickly. The food and service were both excellent! The presentation of the dinner was beautiful and also delicious! My husband and I both had the mixed green salad with the candied macadamia nuts and basil vinaigrette... so delicious! His entree was the chicken and mushrooms and I had the Crown Royal beef tenderloins. Both were so good! We tried to go back another night but they were absolutely full. They put us on a waiting list for the next night and actually called us with an opening. Unfortunately the time they had available did not work for us but we appreciated their effort. Would absolutely recommend this restaurant, and will be going back on our next visit to Kauai. read more

See all

I would like to give this restaurant 3.5 stars but I am not able to. I had the lobster bisque which was average, the only thing that salvaged it was when I dipped the focaccia bread in the bisque it was good. Then I had mixed grill which is a sampler of three different fish. The Mahi was cooked well but generic and flavorless, the walu/escolar was very flavorful and just melted in my mouth and Nairagi was also cooked well and flavorful. I just preferred the walu, it was the best tasting one to me which I'm sure is just preference of which fish you like. The rice that came with the dish was flavorful but it was a little to creamy with all the sauce in it. I do have to say this which was the upside of this restaurant. The waiter was extremely nice and kind and patient, he took the time to explain all of the items I was interested in the menu and answered all my questions and didn't seem annoyed. The atmosphere was sweet with a nice breeze off the lanai. There were some battery lit candles, live music playing and tiki torches outside. It was pretty relaxing and romantic. For dessert we had the chocolate lava cake with Lapperts vanilla bean ice cream. It was delicious! We ate every bite! read more

Hukilau Lanai - The mixed grill - Seafood Near Me - Kapaa, Hawaii

See all

Do yourself a favor and eat here as many times as you can!!! Ahi poke nachos on wonton chips are to die for! Drinks are well priced - ranging from $8.50 to $9.50 for specialty drinks. I really enjoyed the Mint Ginger Jam (Jameson, ginger ale, & mint lime syrup). Entrees come with a soup or salad, but don't choose just one! We opted for the Lobster Bisque and Mixed Greens (which includes beets, add the maytag blue cheese for an extra treat!!). We split the Hebi Mixed Plate (totally worth it!) and it amazed us! Better than the Beach House (and more affordable !!) and even rivaled Mama's Fish House (on Maui, our favorite spot to eat). Came with a orzo pasta and the most amazing coconut cream sauce! Both fish were so delicate and melted in your mouth. Very flavorful! We came on a Saturday evening and enjoyed some amazing acoustic music (great renditions of popular country, bluegrass &rock!) Finished the meal off with Macadamia Nut Tart (pastry crust with a caramel center, Mac but, & Lappert's cinnon ice cream) paired with a Salted Toffee Coffee (Mac but liqueur, spiced rum, coffee, whipped cream, &salted rim)!! Go nuts & enjoy!! Forgot to mention that Janice was wonderful and we thoroughly enjoyed our meal with her! Overall service, food, drinks, and atmosphere was impeccable!! read more

Hukilau Lanai - Seafood Near Me - Kapaa, Hawaii

See all

As usual - food was amazing and the service was top notch. Am a huge fan of the candied ahi and it did not disappoint. Wish I could enjoy their food more often but am just visiting the island, they know how to do everything right, from drinks to appetizers to great deserts. Great place to enjoy a night out. read more

If you're looking for the absolute perfect date night/celebration experience, this place is a must! My hubby and I came here one night during our stay in Kauai for our honeymoon and after reading articles about their tasting menu we decided we had to try it, and not did it not disappoint! Every dish was prepared perfectly and paired just as perfectly with the wines. To top it off, we had the best waiter who made the experience oh so wonderful. Delicious dinner and vino Ambience with music and tiki torches Service that made us feel relaxed and special Thank you for being a highlight of our honeymoon! read more

See all

Perfect ambience, meal size perfect, wonderful service! Great dining experience! Mahalo!

My wife and I had a lovely evening here at the Hukilau Lanai. The ambiance was upscale and low key all at once which is very inviting when you want to go for a nice dinner. They even had some great complimentary gluten free focaccia bread for my wife. My bison bolognese was very tasty and the coconut cheesecake I had for dessert was incredible. The service was also fantastic. Would absolutely recommend. read more

Hukilau Lanai - Seafood Near Me - Kapaa, Hawaii

Best place to get a quality steak in Kauai. High class and laid back. Owner is also the chef and clearly puts his passion into what comes out of this kitchen. read more

Deliciously prepared fish and cocktails. The pork belly appetizer was phenomenal. Highly recommend for a nice meal on Kauai. The grounds are beautiful and they have live music each night. Really great place! We will be back. read more

Came here with my wife because I wanted to try the best rated places on Kauai. I enjoyed the meal, drinks, and service here immensely. My wife wasn't as pleased with all the aspects of her meal, but drinks and service were great. We started with the swiss chard and mushroom tart. The pastry was flaky and the filling was good. I then got a caesar salad, which was above average, but nothing to write a rave review about. My entree course was the prime rib. The prime rib was great, cooked just right (medium rare, red with a warm center). Au jus and horse radish were great compliments and the portion was just right. While we like to game plan our meals, but sometimes when you get to a restaurant you get tempted by a nightly special or something else that isn't on the menu. My wife had been planning to get the mixed fish grill or the ono all day, but when we showed up there was a chef's tasting menu special for the night. My wife went for it mainly because the fresh fish course was ono. Truth is she doesn't usually like tasting menus and her experience with this one was inconsistent. She really enjoyed the ono course, but she didn't enjoy the pasta. The banh mi was okay, but she enjoyed the gazpacho more. The cheese plate she choose at the end had some wonderful local honey. Unfortunately, she was disappointed she didn't get one of the dishes she had been thinking about all day. Overall this is a really great restaurant, up there with the best on the island. read more

I love a good tasting menu, and this location came up in my search. I made reservations a few days in advance. We sat on a covered patio with a great view. I had the tasting menu, my husband did not. They wine parings were done well and the pours were heavy. Not the most memorable meal I had on my trip, but a solid evening out that we both enjoyed. read more

Hukilau Lanai - Tonight's tasting menu - Seafood Near Me - Kapaa, Hawaii

See all

Hard to complain. Woderful menu, if you go early ask for the tasting menu. Samantha was really great and super helpful. I recommend seating outside on the lanai as the inside is more banquette style decor. My only complaint was the bread. Not that I need bread but the beurre blanc sauce that came with the clams deserved a better vehicle to mop up the remainder. If you arrive on the early side, ask for the tasting menu with wine. Clearly a reason to show before 6:30 read more

See all

I really like the atmosphere and view here. Myself, Wife and two kids sat outside with a nice view of the property. We started with some excellent Mai Tais. We then ordered the poke nachos which were excellent. I ordered the mixed grill which was good, but a little over cooked for my taste. My Wife ordered the ahi steak as she always does at a seafood restaurant and it was amazing. It was probably the thickest ahi steak I've ever seen and seared to perfection. I wished I had ordered that. The service was excellent. Highly recommended. read more

Best restaurant on Kauai! The service and cuisine are outstanding. You can taste the love in the food and craft cocktails. You will not be disappointed, ever. read more

The food was okay! I'd say it was average, maybe slightly above average. The lava cake dessert is amazing! The service was good too. read more

Hukilau Lanai - Fish - Seafood Near Me - Kapaa, Hawaii

Great service. The weather was super knowledgeable, and the food was excellent quality. The entire dining experience was really enjoyable and the menu is very diverse. read more

We spent our 27th anniversary dinner here and it was a fantastic choice. The Hukilau fish trio and fisherman's chowder were exceptional. The prime rib was very good as was the boar charcuterie plate. read more

Superior service, pacing of courses, quality and quantity of food, presentation, setting, and overall experience. Lovely open air lounge, restaurant and covered patio (you want to sit on patio) in tropical garden setting and coconut grove. For dinner: Tiki Torches illuminated. Server kindly offered taste of beverage I was unsure of before ordering. All used utensils promptly replaced, water carafe poured, not to long, not too rushed, all courses: water, drinks, starters, salads, entree, dessert paced just as it should be. Tables distanced (even though outside) to comply with current50% capacity restrictions. Felt perfect. My Meal: dry pineapple lime honey mead..made locally was fantastic. Mixed greens locally sourced salad (get the cheese) freshest calamari ever somehow made an "Octoberfest" theme work with Hawaiian locally caught fresh fish (spetzle noodles and Ono) light Coconut cheesecake (not super rich but refreshing) yum!!! Also: contactless menu and payment available (QR codes) Note: even though in lobby checkin area of hotel, was quiet and private once seated. read more

Really excellent food - a rarity in a market that caters mostly to the transient tourist trade. As a local, I only go out to dinner if there is real value to justify the high prices. Hukilau Lanai hits that mark. Worth it. read more

Great setting, great service, great food. The atmosphere is very romantic. We were seated outdoors under the lanai. Even though we were outside, there was not a single bug. The lighting was on the darker side with an artificial candle on each table tonset the mood. There were also lawn torches lit adding to the romantic setting. The service was perfect. Amazingly, we called for reservations for 2 at 730 pm on a Saturday and they gave us a table for 8pm. Our waiter was friendly and checked up on us the right amount of times without becoming intrusive. The food was incredible. We had the ahi poke nachos to start, followed by filet mignon and the mixed grill. Please get the ahi poke nachos. It was soo good. Possibly one of the best things I've ever tasted. The filet mignon was done exactly as I had asked, medium. The mixed grill had three fish the all tasted amazing. If you are in the Kapaa area, you cannot go wrong with this restaurant. read more

Hukilau Lanai - Table setting - Seafood Near Me - Kapaa, Hawaii

I guess it's okay. I was expecting more since the restaurant ranks first place in Kauai. read more

Hukilau Lanai - Ahi - Seafood Near Me - Kapaa, Hawaii

One word. Incredible! We did a tapas meal as they were able to make our entrees into appetizers. If you try anything, you must have to try the calamari, they are to die for. There really wasn't anything that wasn't superb. The service was great, the staff was friendly and the price wasn't bad considering the location. I highly recommend this place if you're in Lihue. Check out my pics of the menu. read more

See all

A M A Z I N G ! ! We had the mixed grill which was suggested on many other reviews. We also had the special of the day which was melt in your mouth delicious! Wine was reasonably priced and went well with our fish dishes. Everything was fresh and yummy local herbs in the salads. Our waitress was perfect. Delivered with a smile and checked in on us just enough. Please remember to tip generously to your waiter/waitress as they work hard at minimum wage. I highly recommend this place! Make reservations we tried to get in 4 years ago and they were totally booked for the week we were there. We made our reservation this time a month before. Enjoy! read more

See all

Hands down the best meal I had while I was visiting Kauai. Luckily enough one of the reviews talked about the tasting menu with wine pairing. You have to get there early. I think it's offered between 5 PM and it ends it 5:45 PM or maybe it was 6 PM. I don't remember that part. Every single thing they brought out was more delicious than the next. When I first pulled up I thought I was in the wrong place because I did not notice anybody mentioning the restaurant is located in a Sheraton hotel! That was a shocker. It's not like Sheraton is known for being some sort of luxury property. Then when you walk into the restaurant the first part looks like a typical hotel restaurant. Very blasé. Luckily enough, there was room on the patio. And that is definitely where you want to be seated. That's where you'll find some lovely ambience. I highly recommend. read more

The food and service was sensational! We ordered two entree and two main dishes and they were all super fresh and superbly cooked . Price was also very reasonable. I would highly recommend the prime rib, it was one of the best steaks my wife and I have ever eaten. read more

Hukilau Lanai - Seafood Near Me - Kapaa, Hawaii

One of the best spots on Kauai for fish. Keep in mind that it is on the more expensive side and a place that people go for key life events, so plan accordingly. read more

We were blown away by this restaurant. We have two severe food allergies in our party, and they were incredibly accommodating and informative. They went above and beyond to confirm that each dish was prepared in an allergy friendly way, and served us with such kindness. We were serenaded with live music while looking out at a beautiful view. In addition, the food is reasonably priced. I would recommend anyone go to this restaurant! read more

My wife and I yelped Hukilau Lanai before we went on our vacation to Kauai last Friday. We haven't been to Kauai in 7 years and we usually go to Duke's in Nawiliwili and/or the Bull Shed in Kapaa. I was surprised to find on Yelp and also from friends on Kauai that the Bull Shed went downhill - too bad. So anyway we read these rave reviews about Hukilau Lanai and as luck would have it I found that it was right next door to our hotel (Islander on the Beach) as I literally walked by the place. So on Friday we made reservations and went. Normally I at least put on slacks, nice shoes and an aloha shirt (I'm local) but chanced it and wore shorts, a polo shirt and sneakers. Not to worry, most of the diners were similarly dressed - the atmosphere is pretty casual. Our waiter was very attentive, read their specials - I think it was an ahi stack, and proceeded to take our drink orders. They give you a full carafe of water but fill your glass if they notice it less than 1/2 full. All tables get a serving of focaccia served with olive oil/balsamic vinegar for dipping. We started off with the goat cheese-lobster-macadamia nut wontons (4 per serving) as an appetizer, and as others have said it IS truly wonderful. They're served with a guava, chili sauce that is just right - not too sweet nor hot. I had the ceasar salad - a just-right portion of romain with croutons and shaved parmesean. I would say that it would have been nice if they offered fresh ground black pepper but that's a minor detail. For the entrees my wife ordered the Chinese kalua chicken salad stack - she wanted to eat light. I had the fillet mignon. Both were delicious. My steak was done to perfection and it was perfectly seasoned. Tenderness? Like buttah! It was served over a sauce, probably some kind of tarragon-slightly tomatoey butter/cream. There was also small portion of salsa, mashed potato and a potato crisp as garnish. The acidic salsa worked well with the richness of the beef. I let my wife try a piece and she shared a piece of her stack. It was also nice - smokey shredded chicken with greens in a slightly sweet dressing. The restaurant offers a warm chocolate cake (their version of chocolate decadence) that must be ordered 15-20 minutes before serving. I ordered that and my wife ordered the lilikoi chiffon pie (a ubiquitous Kauai treat). Both were good, not great mind you, but good. The chocolate ganache in the center of the cake was milk chocolate; I actually make a pretty good one if I say so myself, hehe, and I use a good premium dark/high cocoa content bar when I make mine. Still, it was alright. My wife's lilikoi chiffon was also alright, not as good as Hamura's, but still nice. The restaurant has a full wine list - I'm not a big wine drinker and settled for bottled Heineken. They also offer locally brewed lager and ale on tap. The total for the 2 of us with 2 beers and a 20% tip came out just under $100. I think the price point is just right. This place is just under a Roy's restaurant in terms of what they both have to offer but I'd say Hukilau Lanai is a better deal. P.S., our friend took us out to this same restaurant on Sunday night before we left and it was just as good. Wish we had a place like this on Oahu. ;-) read more

Hukilau Lanai - Kalua chicken salad stack - Seafood Near Me - Kapaa, Hawaii

See all

Our favorite restaurant on the island - without a doubt! We started here / and / we ended here... The restaurant environment is laid back and comfortable. We loved our wait staff and the food was incredible! The Sweet Potato Ravioli is incredible, the tuna appetizer, the 'butter fish'.. Definitely a must ~ read more

My wife and I ate here on our honeymoon trip. We did not need a reservation to be seated right away. The Yelp reviews looked good and they did not lead us astray. We highly recommend this restaurant for its delicious meal offerings and beautiful Kauai view. The Good: Easy parking and seems to be shared with a hotel, friendly hosts, beautiful nighttime outdoor seating. Very friendly and attentive server. Our food arrived quickly and without issue. The Bad: Nothing to report. Yay! Our order: Starters all delicious: lobster bisque, sweet potato ravioli and tomato pineapple gazpacho. High praise for that gazpacho! Main was also delicious and recommended: Prime rib au Jus. Great au jus with perfect nappe. Dessert was good but not noteworthy: coconut lilikoi tart. read more

Hukilau Lanai - Full moon at Hukilau Lanai. - Seafood Near Me - Kapaa, Hawaii

Great location, great service and pretty damn good food. Our server was patient and helpful. The bread they start with is cheesy and tasty served with oil and vinegar. The lemonade is fresh but probably not for everyone. The lemonade is made with fresh lemons and local honey which makes it very tart and honey sweet. I started with chipotle chowder which had chunks of fish and a nice kick to it. I had the vegetable lasagna and it was super delicious. The prime rib was good but not perfect. We all enjoyed our meals and the price was overall not that bad. read more

See all

We wanted a romantic last night dinner and that's exactly what we got. The food was amazing! We started off with the lobster & cheese wontons and the peanut sauce with it was perfect. For our main course I got the filet mignon and my husband had the prime rib - both were amazing! Originally from the Midwest so we know what good beef tastes like. Both had so much flavor packed into every bite I was sad to finish the meal! For dessert we split the coconut cheesecake with a mac nut crust and it was a perfect ending to a delicious dinner. Light, rich and yummy. Would highly recommend this place if you're looking for a nice dinner out with your significant other! read more

Hukilau Lanai - Seafood Near Me - Kapaa, Hawaii

Not horrible or remarkable. The most flavorful thing served was the focaccia Not horrible just kinda forgetful was expecting something really wonderful after everyone said such great things. Maybe I got my expectations too high. read more

Best meal we had on the island. As we walked through the hotel lobby and by a bar with a guitarist loudly singing some country tunes, I started to lower my expectations a bit. The restaurant is open faced and it was pouring rain. Not quite what you'd expect from a fine dining establishment. This combined with the website layout looking a bit dated had me thinking we had made a bad choice. Nevertheless, as soon as the first appetizer arrived, I knew we were in for something special. What proceeded was nothing short of the best meal I've had in years. 2 of us ordered the following: 2 cocktails - huge amazing servings. Lovely Sazerac. Sweet potato ravioli Candied Ahi Tuna (Split) 1 serving of Hukilau mixed grill - fish trio - I very much recommend splitting the entree as you only pay a few dollars more and get a bunch more food. We added another side of the lobster bisque soup that it came with to make it even. Macademia nut tart with Cinnamon Ice Cream If you go and copy the above order and don't like it, you aren't human. - The two apps were Stunning. Sophisticated but still decadent. - The fish trio changed the way I view seafood. It was fresh, lovingly prepared, complex, delicate, perfectly rich, and simply refreshing. - The dessert was divine. However, if I go again, I might get the warm chocolate cake....cuz...life is short. The only other restaurant that rivals it on the island I would say is JO2, but they are a completely different beast. Book well in advance. Make sure you have lots of room in your stomach. All in all we spent around $130.00. It was worth. Every. Penny. Go here. read more

Excellent food and service. Fish was fresh and flavorful. Don't judge this restaurant by the outside. It was fabulous and well worth it. read more

Hukilau Lanai - Candied ahi tuna - Seafood Near Me - Kapaa, Hawaii

See all

LOVE Hukilau! Always delicious. Cute little spot. Definitely on the pricier side, but you get what you pay for. Favorites: Lobster Bisque and Purple Sweet Potato Ravioli. Sales are awesome. Fish dishes are always on point. Highly Recommend, especially for romantic nights out or celebrations. read more

Would give this place 3 stars, mainly for the beautiful atmosphere and the incredible staff. However, the food was quite underwhelming. We tried a variety of dishes including the sweet potato dumplings, calamari, the fish trio, the prime rib and a few of us got the fixed sampler meal that consisted of five small courses. None of these options were amazing, but everything was edible. However when you take price into account, there are many tastier options on the island! We all found the food to be a bit bland and dry. With coming to enjoy the view and maybe a cocktail/happy hour but wouldn't recommend the food. read more

One of the best restaurants I have ever been to. I would go there again to just have the salad! Awesome staff as well.