We ate here twice for breakfast. This is inside the hotel grounds. They open early. It's a nice view of the pool. Breakfast menu is pretty good but pricey. It is sit down versus the grab n go upstairs. We ordered avocado toast and a traditional eggs, bacon, toast, potatoes plate. Avocado toast looked amazing and tasted good. They seat you rather quickly and are pretty attentive. You can take your coffee in a to-go cup. It's pretty much unlimited coffee at the table. It's a nice place for sit down. read more

Kukui’s on Kalapaki Beach - Avocado Toast - Buffets Near Me - Lihue, Hawaii

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Reservation was easy to book through Open Table. Parking was easy to find and it was a short walk into the Sonesta Kauai Resort. It was our first time there, and the resort was beautiful! We accidentally found our way towards the restaurant as we explored the scenery and displays! When the front desk opened, the staff members started seating people right away that seem to not have reservations. When I checked in, we were hurriedly seated at a table without needing to look at our reservation time. The view was amazing and our server was nice. We ordered calamari for our appetizer and that tasted yummy! My husband ordered a huli huli chicken dish, but when it came out it was cooked like barbecue chicken, lol! I ordered pasta, and it was okay. After we were done with our meal, we took a short walk to check out the beach. Very relaxing read more

We came to eat and watch World Cup. Thankfully they had multiple screens set up. problem is the farther you are away from the bar means there is a delay in broadcasting. No sound except for at the bar maybe ? We got the fish tacos and Wagyu burger and sweet potatoes fries. We both loved the Wagyu burger. It was medium rare and fabulous. our waitress was wonderful and refilled our water and check on us frequently. Friendly staff happy they were showing WC! read more

As expected. Way over priced hotel food. Wasn't that good either. You know what you are getting into when you come here read more

Kukui’s on Kalapaki Beach - Pricing as of June 2026 - Buffets Near Me - Lihue, Hawaii

Ok, this was a good highlight to a worn out Marriott! Bartenders with aloha Kauai spirit- Kuulee and Benji! I could hangout all day with these guys! Great service and full of ideas on where to go and what to do! They double up as concierge's! Great drinks, clean and well organized bar! Great aloha. read more

7/10 Got the 2 eggs any style breakfast. Solid breakfast no complaints. $26 for some eggs, bacon, and potatoes is brazy, but it's Hawaii. #shaka read more

Kukui’s on Kalapaki Beach - Buffets Near Me - Lihue, Hawaii

Chilling on the lawn for a beach day. Our server was Jackie P. She provided great customer service. We got our drinks fast and she was pleasant to chat with. Love meeting and chatting with local hospitality people. I work in the same industry. She came back around in a timely manner and we ordered one more round of drinks. Thanks Jackie for making our day! :) read more

Kukui’s on Kalapaki Beach - Lava flow - Buffets Near Me - Lihue, Hawaii

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The wings were amazing! Crispy seasoned skin on the outside and tender and juicy in the middle. I ordered the sauce on the side. Expensive, but worth the price. read more

Kukui’s on Kalapaki Beach - Chicken Wings w/ Sauce on the Side - Buffets Near Me - Lihue, Hawaii

Sat poolside for dinner- this is the main dining option on property at the Royal Sonesta. For the convenience without even having to step off the resort, it's a solid choice. The location is poolside but where we sat there were not really any great views. There were not too many diners however the service was still fairly slow. We got a couple dishes- I thought the pork belly bun was a nice Hawaiian take and probably my favorite dish of the evening. The mahi mahi was a bit under seasoned. I was hoping for a more old fashioned tasting mocktail but it definitely has a very herbal note to it which was not particularly pleasant to me. Oh well! read more

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Service is usually slow when it comes to dinner (breakfast service is very efficient). We had the sample platter, the shrimp were delicious and well cooked, the chicken skewers were all dark meat and the steak skewers were way too fatty to enjoy. We also shared the Mac and cheese (delicious), the asparagus, cauliflower (very good) and ceasar salad which was as expected. If it wasn't attached to the hotel I probably wouldn't be back. read more

The food was really good- there was a special menu for the SuperBowl that highlighted the teams. The service on the other hand was abysmal- our waitress was scatterbrained and rude at the same which was a terrible combination. She had no idea what was on the menu and accused us of making up menu items. She disappeared constantly. I wouldn't recommend KuKui's when there are so many excellent restaurants nearby. read more

Kukui’s on Kalapaki Beach - Philly cheesesteak, lobster roll, Grilled Pork Pot Stickers, clam chowder bread bowl - Buffets Near Me - Lihue, Hawaii

The Huli huli chicken could have used more sauce. It was just ok. I wouldn't order it again. The roast pork belly appetizer was really good. The Maui onion soup was also really good. We sat at the bar and enjoyed the ocean view. read more

Sat at the bar for dinner and had a nice time. Kukuis is poolside and at night it looks really pretty with fire pits and mood lighting. I got the lemon drop to drink and my boyfriend got the domestic fire rock beer. I ordered the pesto shrimp linguine which was really tasty and a good size. The wings were also really tasty. Our bartender was really friendly as well. Overall a nice time at Kukuis on Kalapaki Beach. During the day this also acts as a poolside bar and I see them brining orders to people at the pool which is cool. read more

Originally we did not come here because the reviews were not that great, then one day we were starving and they had availability. It was also hot and I didn't feel like walking 10 minutes to the next restaurant. Meanlesss to say the food and service was amazing!!! We ate all 3 meals for the rest of our time here trying almost everything on the menu and it did not disappoint. Our servers were amazing. The food is pricy anywhere you go on Kaua'i so I can't complain about portion sizing and price however the portion sizes were great! Don't come to Kauai expecting anything to be cheap, down to an apple. It's a cute restaurant inside the property of the Marriott Vacation Beach Club right next to the pool so the landscape was of course beautiful. I would 100% recommend. I also have an extremely picky 13yr old eater and he loved not only his food but mine and my husband's food which was a shocker. read more

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Kukuis is a fun and family friendly beach/poolside restaurant at the Royal Sonesta on Kalapaki Beach in Lihue. I was hanging out with my family and a few cousins. I thought the service was great. I ordered the Ahi Tuna poke and a Huli Huli flatbread. I thought the flatbread was really good. It is a sweet Hawaiian style barbecue sauce based pizza and has no tomato based sauce. Everything was really fresh, including the poke, although I preferred the flatbread over the poke. The poke was good, but very simple, but it was healthy and good on the way I feel like a ponzu sauce would have elevated the dish a bit more. The drinks I ordered were a dark rum Mojito and a Guava mule as well as a margarita and a piña colada. The drinks were really good and expertly made. My favorite was the dark rum Mojito. Overall, I feel like Kukuis is a really great restaurant serving yummy island style dishes and is a great place to hang out with family or friends. read more

Kukui’s on Kalapaki Beach - Dark rum lilikoi Mojito (left) Guava Mule (right) - Buffets Near Me - Lihue, Hawaii

Came and sat at the bar. The bartender was friendly. Salad was great and burger was just ok. Of course the main draw is the ambiance- right on the beach, and situated next to the pool. Food and drink are expensive and no happy hour, but that's typical for the price of paradise. read more

Kukui’s on Kalapaki Beach - Salad - Buffets Near Me - Lihue, Hawaii

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Visited Kauai and actually went to Kului's several times. The food was very good, great drinks & friendly staff! Nice views as well read more

Kukui’s on Kalapaki Beach - Kukui's drinks! - Buffets Near Me - Lihue, Hawaii

We ate at Kukui's on the Kalamaku Beach at a Our first night at the Marriot Vacation Club. Our waiter was kind and was very polite and attentive to our guest with an allergy (she checked every dish with the chefs that it did not contain nuts). The food was also priced well. They have a price fixed meal 3 apps, prime rib, and dessert for $65 which was great! We probably wouldn't have gone if we weren't staying at the hotel but it's a well priced restaurant. read more

The renovation of Kukui's has gone beyond a new look. They've improved on the restaurant vibe and service. The waitresses all teamed up to help each table. They all made sure to care for our needs. The little things like following up to make sure everything was going well to making sure our thirst was taken care of. We ordered several plates of appetizers and a salad to share. The pork belly plate offered tasty, crunchy bites. The fried calamari basket was perfectly prepared. The sampler was a nice variety of hearty flavors. And the Avocado Crab Louis salad hit the spot. We would highly recommend filling your cravings at this resort spot. read more

On the bottom floor of the Royal Sonesta. Close to the pool & beach. Very nice! Had breakfast two times. Was very good. Ordered the griddle (two eggs, choice of meat, potatoes & pancakes). Shared with my husband & it was plenty of food. Staff were very friendly. read more

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My beach lawn server Jackie P was awesome. Provided fast and friendly service. When she passed by always checked on us to make sure we didn't need any thing. read more

Gayleen, our server, made us so comfortable, they could have served cardboard and I would have given Kukuk's three stars. It is a rare talent to engage diners without being overbearing. She took great interest in us as well as shared about her life and family. The waterfall in the background provided just the right vibe for a Hawaiian breakfast. The food - equally special. All of us had something different and it was fun to share the roasted potatoes, Polynesian sausage and Jim's fried rice. The best meal for the group was the steak and eggs, cooked just like Dad makes at home! The staff, Gina and Gayleen make this eating experience amazing. read more

Kukui’s on Kalapaki Beach - Breakfast Special - Steak and Eggs - Buffets Near Me - Lihue, Hawaii

Our server, Monica was extremely rude and unfriendly. First of all, she did not seat us until 5-10 minutes with absolutely no line in front of us. Then, did not greet us pleasantly, looked miserable and gave us attitude when we asked questions regarding the menu. We decided to leave for many reasons after all and when we did she quickly grabbed all the crayons my 5 year old was playing with. Not a good representation for the Royal Sonesta. read more

Had the pork nachos. Just average. The service was good and the atmosphere was nice and fun.

We stayed at the Royal Sonesta for a few days and while there, without fail, got at least 2 piña coladas every day. Honestly, and I'm not being hyperbolic, the piña coladas at Kukui's were the best I've ever had! The food too was on point for everything that we got... which we ended up eating there a lot either by the pool, at the restaurant, or via takeout in our hotel room. Our favorites were the dumplings, the flatbreads, and drinks, but honestly as I'm writing this I'm realizing that I liked all the food we got.. the wings were good, the salmon and shrimp entrees we got were well made, the teriyaki chicken sandwich was delicious, I enjoyed the taro burger, my bf enjoyed the tuna sandwich, really everything was good. The prices are steep(ish) but given that this is essentially a hotel restaurant and on an island, I don't think it's unreasonable. The taste, convenience, service, and the piña coladas (!!) more than made it worth it! read more

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Possibly the worst burger I've ever had... I was very interested in the luau smash burger with diced pineapple, spam and dbl smash Pattie's... Complete trash... tasteless, bland, terrible. read more

Food is better than other bars, however the bar tenders are absolutely terrible! Bring a megaphone or the clowns will absolutely ignore you.

Just steps from the beach with an amazing view this small place is perfect for happy hour and a sandwhich or salad. I ordered a quinoa watermelon salad with mahi mahi and the sauce made this dish so delicious. Friends ordered Pina coladas -$15. read more

Kukui’s on Kalapaki Beach - Mahi Mahi - Buffets Near Me - Lihue, Hawaii

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When you are staying at a hotel without a car, sometimes there are not many dining options. Given that the Royal Sonesta is a high end resort, I knew the prices were going to be high - but $25 for a hamburger (not even cheese or a pickle!) But it was tasty and the fries were good too. Mai tai was not as good as when I was here 4 years ago and the prices did not go down during happy hour. $14.50, the price of paradise. It was also hard to get served, one night we had to go up to the bar and ask for a menu and place our order with the bartender. Another night, we sat down and were told we could not seat ourselves (even though the whole place was empty) and had to go to the front to ask the hostess to seat us. Besides the hamburger, had a very nice pupu of curry with potato wedges (they were delicious) and naan bread. Just wished the prices were not so steep. read more

Kukui’s on Kalapaki Beach - Buffets Near Me - Lihue, Hawaii

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Friendly staff and in a great location on Kalapaki beach. Good drinks and great, reasonably priced food (we had breakfast, lunch, and appetizers here over the course of our trip). Although not listed on the menu, they have gluten free options (including bread for toast or sandwiches) if you ask. Live music in the evenings and beautiful at sunset! read more

Kukui’s on Kalapaki Beach - Kale, Quinoa & Roasted Vegetable Salad with chicken - Buffets Near Me - Lihue, Hawaii

We ate here for a quick lunch by the pool and were able to find a seat right away! I got the chicken sandwich and my husband got the burger and both were pretty good for a resort restaurant! However, the atmosphere and ambience is hard to beat and I loved the choice of couches and lounge seating! read more

Had lunch poolside one day and breakfast a couple days later. Wings were good and would recommend. Poke bowl was ok, a little too light on serving of poke. Breakfast Loco Moco was tasty and would recommend. Omelette with fried rice was also pretty good. Prices are a few bucks higher like others mentioned as expected being beach and poolside. Friendly service all around both visits and food better than expected. If hungry and not looking to venture out of resort would definitely give them a visit. read more

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LOVE the ambience after construction, amazing froze added to the menu. So glad that the poke bowl is back! Now just hoping that they bring back the incredible acai bowl and beach club sandwich that they had a few years ago. As someone who's been here the last fifteen years, the potstickers have never missed the spot. read more

Kukui’s on Kalapaki Beach - Froze - Buffets Near Me - Lihue, Hawaii

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My wife and I were staying at the Royal Sonesta, so decided to check out the in-house dining options at Kukui's had to offer. We walked down at about 8am on a Saturday and we're immediately seated close to the pool. Menu is via QR code only so keep that in mind if you don't have your phone. I ordered the Kalapaki breakfast wrap, my wife ordered the Hanalei Taro Benedict. Both were very good! Our waitress was very friendly. We talked story with her for a little bit and she graciously gave us a Kamaʻaina discount since we're from Oahu. My only complaint is our table had no protection from the morning sun. When the sun wasn't hiding behind the clouds, it would beam down, blinding us and making it uncomfortably hot. Many of the tables have umbrellas to stop this, unfortunately ours did not have one. All in all, a nice place to grab a bite if you're staying in the hotel. But where you sit, and time of day, may affect your dining comfort experience. read more

Kukui’s on Kalapaki Beach - Kalapaki breakfast wrap - Buffets Near Me - Lihue, Hawaii

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Bartenders are fantastic, the drinks were great, food was great the view is great. If you are in this neck of the woods you should stop in. You will not be disappointed. read more

Service was AMAZING. The staff was so great, but the food wasn't . I got the omelet with the pulled pork in it and the pork was tasteless and bland. I really expected more flavor in this dish. It did however come with some fried rice that was more flavorful. Not the best, but definitely better than the omelet. I probably won't go out of my way to visit again. read more

Kukui’s on Kalapaki Beach - Buffets Near Me - Lihue, Hawaii

The food and service is outstanding. We ordered room service which is supported by Kukui's and the Wyhu burger was awesome! This led us to try the restaurant. We had a Cobb Salad and the special, prime rib nachos. Both were terrific! The server was very friendly and attentive! read more

We came here for a snack and happy hour. Good açaí bowl and dumpling. Not spectacular but convenient since we are on the resort. read more

Kukui’s on Kalapaki Beach - Acai Bowl - Buffets Near Me - Lihue, Hawaii

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After heating up in the sun on the beach, time for a win win at Kukui's. Healthy and delicious Quinoa, Kale, Avocado Salad with Watermelon, cucumber, radish, almonds, calamansi vinaigrette, tomato and edamame. If you're really hungry, add a protein. I think I liked it . . GONE. read more

Kukui’s on Kalapaki Beach - Happy Healthy and Hearty salad! - Buffets Near Me - Lihue, Hawaii

As many other reviewers said, the food is so so. We went purely for the convenience as it was next to the pool and within the hotel premise. Killer views though. Kinda nice to have a meal with a ocean view. Service is kind of hit and miss. Seems like they are short staffed. They are nice enough when they are there but hard to waive down as they were swamped during our visit in the breakfast hours. I suggest venture elsewhere for good food at a reasonable price. read more