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    Lava's on Poipu Beach

    3.7 (775 reviews)
    Open 7:00 am - 9:00 pm

    Lava's on Poipu Beach Photos

    Business Info

    LAVA'S ON POIPU BEACH ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Touristy
    Classy

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    Recommended Reviews - Lava's on Poipu Beach

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    Caili C.

    We came by for breakfast as we were staying at the Sheraton and had a breakfast voucher. The classic breakfast comes with yogurt, an egg frittata and pineapple. Pretty simple but good and filling enough to get us through to lunch. Service is a bit slow but I can see this primarily attracting people from the Sheraton or nearby condos.

    Erik K.

    We decided to eat here after seeing it during a surf session nearby, and what a nice surprise it is! The staff were really nice, and we were seated quickly in a spot that worked really well for our Autistic little one. Awesome cocktails, delicious appetizers, and main entrees on final boss-level My skirt steak was mouth watering, and my older boy raved about the baby back ribs. We're definitely coming back. This spot is a winner!

    I was pleasantly surprised at how much I loved this place! We got the hamburger and the ribs and both were amazing! Also got the lilikoi lemonade which was also so yummy. The food was beautiful and delicious, the pics don't do it justice!! The service was also quick and pleasant. Right by the beach, was a beautiful area.

    Mahi entree
    Angela W.

    UGHHHH, if anyone had the pork belly dinner entree that I wrote about in my previous review from December 2023, they would know that it really was to die for. I literally have been waiting for the chance to come back and order it again. But all good things must come to an end it seems. We came back with high hopes, to be disappointed after speaking with her server that there have been some changes. The chef that we loved from our last visit left the restaurant, and how unfortunate. Gone as well was the lovely violin music. Our entire meal may have been plated nicely, but the taste was a whole different story. I opted for the pork belly tostada pupu and I could barely stomach it. The pork belly was cooked beyond edibleness - way too hard and absolutely no flavor. Everything we ordered was was just blah in terms of flavor. The huli chicken was probably the only dish that was decent, but the brussel sprouts were overcooked and mushy. Lilikoi ceviche came with chips and guac but everything was bland and lacked flavor. They were also out of pasta that night to add to the pain. You'd think you can't go wrong with a keiki chicken tenders and fries, but even the fries had no flavor. Super bummed with the entire meal. Service was friendly though and we had a nice chat with our server, but I'd probably pass next time we are in the area.

    Katie E.

    Inside Sheraton right in front of the beach. Great view of the ocean and nice staff. Great happy hour from 2-3pm. We stayed at the Sheraton, so we were hitting up happy hour the time we stayed and they have great fish tacos.

    Our bill
    Ascencia S.

    Returned for lunch the next day. Since I raved about the fish sandwich to my hubby, we both ordered it. The fish was thick but was somewhat dry. We asked for more sauce, thinking this would make a difference. What I later realized is that it had a very scant amount of the lilikoi slaw which would have added a tang and unctiousness to the fish. Anyway, I was somewhat embarrassed to ask for it since we already asked for the sauce. Don't get me wrong. The fish was very fresh. We appreciated that there was a singer that gave a very relaxed island vibe. He was very good! Service was good but not as personal as the previous day.

    View from our restaurant table
    Bob V.

    Great view, good service menu seems to be kind of typical.. we came for lunch because we got a discount coupon from our condo. Mahi fish sandwich and fries were very good and juicy chicken burrito juicy but average. Would come again because of the discount or if I was staying at the Sheraton. Free valet parking for the restaurant a plus!

    Sunset seen
    Bertrand L.

    Staying at the Sheraton this was the convenient beast and quick dinner place available to us. With elite status they have some easy bfast choices which are pretty good, like oatmeal, frittatas and fruit and yogurt, continental etc included - you can also get an upgraded one for $14. Portions are large and it's fresh with respect to the fruit. We only had salads for dinner but both the island and wedge salads were tasty and well prepared. Service in general was very good, and it was nice to be able to see the sunset from the table. We were happy with our experience.

    Drink menu
    ronadette c.

    Came here last night about 40 min before closing to get a drink and we got seated right away! Annie was our server. She was very friendly and delightful! This restaurant's I right by the beach, it was dark so you can't see th beach but you can definitely hear the waves while enjoying your drink and meal. We ordered the ceviche and the seared catch . Th ceviche had a little hint of spice but not overpowering . It was just right .I love ceviche and this was a hit for sure! . The seared catch i ordered the mayo mahi and it came out perfect! The macadamia chinichuri was perfect! The fish was perfectly cooked it was juicy. The mixed veggies were just right had the right crisp not overcooked. I recommend the place for sure!

    Menu
    Hannah N.

    It's pretty much impossible to beat the location for this place. You're literally right on the beach. It is incredible. We are staying at the Sheraton and decided to hangout by the pool and beach and order some drinks and food. The woman serving us was extremely friendly and prompt. We tried our first mai tai and it was delicious. We started with the lilikoi ceviche. I could literally sit by the beach eating that all day long! Then my husband got the ahi poke bowl. He really enjoyed it. I got the fish sandwich with fries and it was amazing. I got a Diet Pepsi and it wasn't very good. Overall, it is an amazing way to spend a day on vacation sitting by the beach and enjoying food being served directly to your lounge chair.

    Cool placemats.
    Darren O.

    For a resort breakfast place, it was really good. Their coffee was a great dark roast. Excellent for sitting by the beach. They pass pog to if you want it. The burrito was really good. My problem is that it wasn't as good as Dukes on Maui. Not their fault, but that's what I compare everything too. Their signature pancakes were a show stopper. I'm normally opposed to chocolate chips in pancakes, but the chocolate, banana, mac nut and everything else really worked. My wife thinks they may be her favorite all time. Definitely top 5 for sure. I tried them and can't disagree. The service was a little slow, but we're on vacation. Good job overall!

    Breakfast sandwich
    Lynnsie L.

    Great service, beautiful environment overlooking the beach and the pool at the Sheridan. The food was great and I had leftovers when I was full. I ordered the breakfast sandwich on a croissant. Will likely be coming back here this trip :)

    Sunset on Poipu
    Rami D.

    I just LOVE this place! I love the spaceship like appearance Lava's has at night and I love the views and the round architecture in the day. The food is always enjoyable and the staff is fantastic !

    menu

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    7 months ago

    Sat at the bar and enjoyed Lava's Mai Tai's and great conversation. Nice atmosphere for any meal.

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    4 months ago

    Great view. Missed happy hour. Enjoyed the guacamole. I think our server was a bit upset that we were only there for drinks.

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    2 months ago

    Poolside bar vibes not the best but it's way too expensive n very sticky from the pool next to it

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    Page 1 of 20

    Ask the Community - Lava's on Poipu Beach

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    Very beautifully decorated restaurant with very kind staff members…read more Calamari, ahi sashimi, and buffalo chicken sandwich was delicious. Awesome customer service here as well.

    Keoki's Paradise describes itself as a place where guests can "relax in a lush tropical paradise"…read morewhile enjoying delicious island-style cooking, exotic drinks, and live music. Unfortunately, our experience was anything but relaxing or paradise-like. We were a party of six and were seated outside, despite there being available tables inside. There were also a lot of bugs around the outdoor dining area, which made the experience even less enjoyable. Shortly after we ordered, it started raining--hard. Someone eventually closed the roof and lowered a canvas wall for us, but in the middle of our dinner, it started pouring again. We had to jump out of our seats to keep from getting soaked. Our dishes were already wet from the rain, and it was only then that we realized the roof and canvas wall had been opened back up after the first round of rain. What made the situation even more frustrating was the **lack of attentive service**. We were left to deal with the rain and wet table on our own and had to scramble to protect ourselves and our food from getting soaked. Given the circumstances, we expected the staff to be more proactive in checking on us and helping make the situation more manageable. Instead, we felt largely left on our own. Between the bugs, the rain, the uncomfortable seating, and the lack of service, it was nearly impossible to enjoy our meal. For a restaurant that promotes itself as a place to "relax in a lush tropical paradise," this was far from the experience we expected. As for the food, the meal itself was mediocre. **Seafood Risotto** - This came with lobster, shrimp, fish, and shiitake mushrooms. Unfortunately, every bite was extremely salty. **Fish Duo** - I don't recall what type of fish was served, but the two people who ordered it seemed to enjoy it. **Keiki Grilled Cheese** - The cheese wasn't melted enough. **Calamari** - A small portion, but fortunately, the strips were tender. **Pineapple Carrot Muffins & Sweet Taro Rolls** - These were good on their own and not overly sweet. We weren't fans of the cinnamon butter, though, as it had a strange taste. **Original Hula Pie** - Nothing to rave about. It was supposed to be made with macadamia nut ice cream, but it tasted more like plain vanilla ice cream. Overall, the combination of the uncomfortable outdoor dining conditions, bugs, rain, lack of attentive service, and mediocre food made this a disappointing experience. For the price point, we didn't feel the meal was worth it. **Do yourself a favor, skip Keoki's and head to Beach House instead.**

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    Table at Poipu

    Table at Poipu

    4.2
    (190 reviews)
    0.7 mi
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    We had one of our favorite dinners in South Kauai here during our mini moon in early March. The…read moreKauai Prawns & Cheesey Polenta Cake deserves 5 stars on its own. It was the highlight of the meal and one of the best things we ate that entire week. Visited here on our last night in Kauai and the vibes, ambiance, and service were just right for a nice romantic dinner. Our server Angie was fantastic. I loved my frozen mocktail - the virgin ube lava flow had satisfying ube flavor. The House Salad was a great start to the meal with a nice mix of greens and goat cheese with sweet flavors from the candied pecans, craisins, and pineapple vinaigrette. But the Kauai Prawns & Cheesey Polenta Cake, with sundried tomato, white wine, herbs, and cream, was the star of the show. I'm still thinking about it months later. For entrees we got the Blackened Fresh Catch and the MacNut Baked Fish, which were both enjoyable. The restaurant is located upstairs on the 2nd floor. Parking wasn't too bad, but it can get busy. There's a 3% surcharge for using credit card.

    Nice atmosphere and setting. Service was good and most of the food was good as well. We got…read morescallops and prawns for starters. Both were yummy and enough for two people. For entrees we got the rib eye and crusted fish. Fish was good. However the steak was horrendous, particularly for the price they charge of $65. It had zero crust and was paper thin. It look like it was cooked wet because of how grey the exterior of the meat was. I was shocked that they sent out the dish that way. It was horribly cooked and complete rip off. I wouldn't complain if they had charged 20-25$ for that type of cooking, but $65 for that is unacceptable. Don't order the steak. Pretty disappointed by the standards, I want to like the place but the fact they sent out that steak and charge the price they did is enough for me to not want to eat here again.

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    Elegant bar area
    Kauai coffee braised beef
    Kauai coffee braised beef
    Table at Poipu

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    Kalapaki Joes

    Kalapaki Joes

    3.2
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    I want to check out the western most sports bar in the USA. We arrived about 5:30pm and were…read moregreeted and seated immediately. As with most restaurants in Kauai it open air environment and a view of ocean. A great place to watch games and a lively atmosphere. Happy hour is available daily from 3-6pm. Our waitress was very accommodating as she notified us that we could order our two drink minimum to qualify for the happy hour food specials before 6pm and she would serve later. Flashback price on chicken wing of $0.25 each, max 10 per person. We ordered 20 buffalo wings and fish tacos. They have a great selection of the local Kauai Brewing Company beers, another reason we want to try this place. We started we the pale ale and the Cook IPA. Cold, tasty and refreshing. We also tried the chicken IPA and Fonz IPA. All were great! Our favorite was the Cook IPA. The chicken wings had a nice heat level and were perfect accompanied by beer. The fish grilled tacos were fantastic. This will definitely be our go to place to watch a game and just a quick bite. Looking forward to returning. Highly recommended!

    This is a great, fun, affordable option while staying in Poipu!!! We've already been here twice…read more The key is to go during their happy hour time from 3-6pm daily. The first time we spent just over $100 for a family of 5, and last night we got out of there for $88. That is a feat in this part of town! The happy hour is unbeatable. $7 drinks and 25 cent wings. Note that you have to have minimum two drinks per person, but they don't have to be alcoholic--we got a cocktail as our first and soda water as the second. The cocktails are quite large, so you can still get the $7 price if you order a soda or sparkling water as your second drink. The waitress was super helpful and let us know that last night! We went for taco Tuesday yesterday and the tacos were $1 each! They were good--not insane but great for the price and hit the spot. The service is great and the food and drinks come out quickly despite being busy. The drinks are standard fare, nothing crazy delicious, but for the price it's great. The food is all yummy. We especially love their chicken wings! Home-fried and lots of meat. All of the dipping sauces are excellent too. We haven't had a bad dish here! Truly wonderful prices, good food, and great for the whole family.

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    Sports Bar
    Sports Bar
    Banana Mac French Toast
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    Ilima Terrace

    Ilima Terrace

    3.8
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    We had a lovely experience dining at Ilima Terrace while staying at the Grand Hyatt for three…read morenights. While hotel buffets are usually pretty basic, Ilima Terrace goes above and beyond! The first thing I'll mention is the variety. There were approximately 10 hot food items on their main hot food table with options ranging from kalua pork hash, to frittata, to mango mahi. Plus they switched out all options each day to make sure the buffet wasn't repetitive. The quality of these items was generally great. But they had much more beyond the main hot food table. The fresh juice shots were always a highlight for us. Also the pancakes/french toast bar, which always had a good local twist like taro or ube mixed in. And make sure to dig into the fresh fruit spread. They have good sweet baked goods as well, but I think the bread/bagel cabinet is the only miss at this buffet. The bread options just weren't good quality. I still give 5 stars, because even without freshly baked breads, we still had a plethora excellent options. If you are staying at Grand Hyatt Kauai, this buffet is a great option. Especially if you want to fill up on brunch and not go out to eat again until dinner.

    The breakfast buffet at the Grand Hyatt blew my husband and I away during our stay. Luckily for us…read more(credit card perks), it was free before 11 am. Regardless, the fresh, healthy and tasty variety and gorgeous views were so satisfying and invigorating. They change up their options every day so you don't get bored either. I really appreciated their fresh juice options too! I realized that's hard to beat when you've got the more soda-like, sugary juice options around the islands. Like the rest of the resort, service here is superb and warm. It really feels special and I hope to visit again one day.

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    Drink

    Lava's on Poipu Beach - newamerican - Updated August 2026

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