This place has a great atmosphere that perfectly complements the food. The dishes were flavorful and satisfying—exactly what you want while enjoying a few drinks with good company. Whether you’re out for a casual night or a relaxed date, this spot hits the mark with its combination of delicious food, inviting ambiance, and a laid-back vibe. Definitely worth a visit!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
fritz duda
Noisy. Poor atmosphere. Food is very average and overpriced.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 3
Christopher Adams
Solid choice for dinner and drinks while in Kailua. The food was well prepared, good tasting, reasonably priced for the location and delivered with excellent service. My only criticism is that the menu could be a bit more inventive and unique. Many of the choices are seen at countless places throughout the country. This element reduced the “wow’ factor significantly.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Fish and Chips
J 2000
Came in here after getting told there was an hour and a half wait at “buzz’s steakhouse” which was off putting to say the least. (They weren’t that busy, maybe they have a preferred clientele). But the food, drinks and staff were awesome. Good fun cocktails great appetizers and the dinner came out great. My wife ordered the truffle gnocchi and I wish I did too, even though my order came out good too. I wish we came back to try more things out. Their pork belly appetizer shouldn’t be missed.
Kid-friendliness: They were super accommodating for our young children unlike buzz’s steak house. They have it down here. They came out with straws and easy to handle waters for the kiddos and promptly came out with things for the kids to munch on so we all were able to enjoy our drinks.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Winter Gnocchi
anj
Wonderful spot for a nice dinner in Kailua! Food is always so fresh and tasty. Highly recommend the brussels sprouts appetizer and the misoyaki butterfish. Very few vegetarian options but many dishes can be made without meat. Nice airy outdoor seating area. For dessert, the halo halo is sooooo good!!
Amy was an awesome server, food was excellent and the staff went above and beyond to make sure we celebrated my brother’s surprise birthday party without a hitch. Can’t wait to go back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Luke Withy-Berry
Excellent food and service. The waiter was very knowledgeable about allergies and they were able to accommodate gluten sensitivity / Celiac requirements.
Dietary restrictions: Very flexible for dietary restrictions
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Julia (SireneJules)
warning: BE CAREFUL ORDERING HAPPY HOUR DRINKS. I’m usually not sensitive, but I got a terrible allergic reaction to the lychee martinis during happy hour. The waiter let me know they use vodka called “Burnetts”. It’s a plastic bottle, I looked up it costs $6 (waiter brought to our table to show). The drink costs $12 for happy hour. After the second one my skin started turning bright red. This is a high-end restaurant (or so we thought) since we dined in both Waikiki and Turtle Bay locations. I wouldn’t even dream that at a place like that they use the cheapest possible vodka. The manager was called - he simply said “we buy Burnetts in bulk, it’s used everywhere for well drinks”. We were charged for both martinis at the end even thought my body was bright red/burning. If you dine there, be sure to ask what they are pouring you. $6 plastic bottle vodka for a $12 happy hour drink. Embarrassing and disappointing. I’ve been to hole-in-the-wall bars, even they don’t serve $6 bottled vodka. I hope the manager or the owner (Roy Yamaguchi) look into this mess. Sushi was really good, but we didn’t appreciate how the manager handled this situation so we won’t ever be back. I’m sad because I really loved coming here each time we drive up to Lanikai beach. Do better, management, you acted cheap and just disappointing. How gross it is to serve $6 bottle vodka, when places get cheap like that, it ruins the experience. Do not go there, if they charge $12 for one martini and use $6 vodka, they are just cheap.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 2
INNA KALASHNIKOVA
Food is so delicious. We got fried mushroom basket and fish ( different ones). Staff is friendly and nice. Highly recommend.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Spicy Edamame, Fry Basket
CELIAMARIE
Fabulous place in the heart of Kailua!! Went tonight for “happy hour”, had ribs and a vegetable plate of cauliflower and Brussels sprouts.... Beautiful presentation, DELICIOUS food prepared with Roy's signature excellence...and live entertainment ( beautiful voice and Hawaiian selections....and an impromptu exquisite hula performance!!) ❤️
I have so enjoyed Goen. The casual yet upscale vibe is pleasant for our kailua town. The food is delicious. The drinks are tasty. Deserts are scrumptious! Plenty of parking. I am VERY excited about happy hour and music, so thanks to the new manager who got it going ?? The staff... greeters/hosts, waitresses/waiters, bartenders, and behind the scene ppl are all very friendly with great attitudes!
Kimberly
I really enjoyed our cauliflower and brussel sprout appetizer, and the sushi roll we got was yummy too (smoked salmon?). My husband said his pork ribs were good, but not outstanding. My daughter loved her misoyaki butterfish, and I thought the arabiatta pasta with burrata was tasty. We had the bosque (?) cheesecake which was also devoured despite all of us insisting that we were full. It's nice to eat outside on the patio, but it is a little strange that there's just a line of trees separating us from the parking lot...Also, our service was fine, but not super friendly if that makes sense. Our waiter seemed like he was a little bored--he just lacked enthusiasm and charisma.
Terri Arnold
We’ve eaten at Goen’s quite a few times and it always meets expectations. The branzino is excellent and works for gf people. (Limited gf dishes). Love the crispy cauliflower and Brussels sprouts. Service was good considering they seemed a little understaffed but the orders were all spot on. That said, for those of us who are regulars, the menu is getting a little tired. Maybe rotate a few more items in? But a solid place to dine.
We came here for dinner one evening after checking out the farmers market in the parking lot. We had some great recommendations from our server Dani and enjoyed every bite of our meal. She helped us have such a memorable experience and was genuinely friendly towards us. She went out of her way to give us a memorable experience as we celebrated our honeymoon. Thank you Dani!
This place has a great atmosphere that perfectly complements the food. The dishes were flavorful and satisfying—exactly what you want while enjoying a few drinks with good company. Whether you’re out for a casual night or a relaxed date, this spot hits the mark with its combination of delicious food, inviting ambiance, and a laid-back vibe. Definitely worth a visit!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Noisy. Poor atmosphere. Food is very average and overpriced.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 3
Solid choice for dinner and drinks while in Kailua. The food was well prepared, good tasting, reasonably priced for the location and delivered with excellent service. My only criticism is that the menu could be a bit more inventive and unique. Many of the choices are seen at countless places throughout the country. This element reduced the “wow’ factor significantly.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Fish and Chips
Came in here after getting told there was an hour and a half wait at “buzz’s steakhouse” which was off putting to say the least. (They weren’t that busy, maybe they have a preferred clientele). But the food, drinks and staff were awesome. Good fun cocktails great appetizers and the dinner came out great. My wife ordered the truffle gnocchi and I wish I did too, even though my order came out good too. I wish we came back to try more things out. Their pork belly appetizer shouldn’t be missed.
Kid-friendliness: They were super accommodating for our young children unlike buzz’s steak house. They have it down here. They came out with straws and easy to handle waters for the kiddos and promptly came out with things for the kids to munch on so we all were able to enjoy our drinks.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Winter Gnocchi
Wonderful spot for a nice dinner in Kailua! Food is always so fresh and tasty. Highly recommend the brussels sprouts appetizer and the misoyaki butterfish. Very few vegetarian options but many dishes can be made without meat. Nice airy outdoor seating area. For dessert, the halo halo is sooooo good!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Sake Flight, Halo Halo, Winter Gnocchi, Shishito Snacks
Amy was an awesome server, food was excellent and the staff went above and beyond to make sure we celebrated my brother’s surprise birthday party without a hitch. Can’t wait to go back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Excellent food and service. The waiter was very knowledgeable about allergies and they were able to accommodate gluten sensitivity / Celiac requirements.
Dietary restrictions: Very flexible for dietary restrictions
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
warning: BE CAREFUL ORDERING HAPPY HOUR DRINKS. I’m usually not sensitive, but I got a terrible allergic reaction to the lychee martinis during happy hour. The waiter let me know they use vodka called “Burnetts”. It’s a plastic bottle, I looked up it costs $6 (waiter brought to our table to show). The drink costs $12 for happy hour. After the second one my skin started turning bright red. This is a high-end restaurant (or so we thought) since we dined in both Waikiki and Turtle Bay locations. I wouldn’t even dream that at a place like that they use the cheapest possible vodka. The manager was called - he simply said “we buy Burnetts in bulk, it’s used everywhere for well drinks”. We were charged for both martinis at the end even thought my body was bright red/burning. If you dine there, be sure to ask what they are pouring you. $6 plastic bottle vodka for a $12 happy hour drink. Embarrassing and disappointing. I’ve been to hole-in-the-wall bars, even they don’t serve $6 bottled vodka. I hope the manager or the owner (Roy Yamaguchi) look into this mess. Sushi was really good, but we didn’t appreciate how the manager handled this situation so we won’t ever be back. I’m sad because I really loved coming here each time we drive up to Lanikai beach. Do better, management, you acted cheap and just disappointing. How gross it is to serve $6 bottle vodka, when places get cheap like that, it ruins the experience. Do not go there, if they charge $12 for one martini and use $6 vodka, they are just cheap.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 2
Food is so delicious. We got fried mushroom basket and fish ( different ones). Staff is friendly and nice. Highly recommend.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Spicy Edamame, Fry Basket
Fabulous place in the heart of Kailua!! Went tonight for “happy hour”, had ribs and a vegetable plate of cauliflower and Brussels sprouts.... Beautiful presentation, DELICIOUS food prepared with Roy's signature excellence...and live entertainment ( beautiful voice and Hawaiian selections....and an impromptu exquisite hula performance!!) ❤️
Restaurantji Recommends
I have so enjoyed Goen. The casual yet upscale vibe is pleasant for our kailua town. The food is delicious. The drinks are tasty. Deserts are scrumptious! Plenty of parking. I am VERY excited about happy hour and music, so thanks to the new manager who got it going ?? The staff... greeters/hosts, waitresses/waiters, bartenders, and behind the scene ppl are all very friendly with great attitudes!
I really enjoyed our cauliflower and brussel sprout appetizer, and the sushi roll we got was yummy too (smoked salmon?). My husband said his pork ribs were good, but not outstanding. My daughter loved her misoyaki butterfish, and I thought the arabiatta pasta with burrata was tasty. We had the bosque (?) cheesecake which was also devoured despite all of us insisting that we were full. It's nice to eat outside on the patio, but it is a little strange that there's just a line of trees separating us from the parking lot...Also, our service was fine, but not super friendly if that makes sense. Our waiter seemed like he was a little bored--he just lacked enthusiasm and charisma.
We’ve eaten at Goen’s quite a few times and it always meets expectations. The branzino is excellent and works for gf people. (Limited gf dishes). Love the crispy cauliflower and Brussels sprouts. Service was good considering they seemed a little understaffed but the orders were all spot on. That said, for those of us who are regulars, the menu is getting a little tired. Maybe rotate a few more items in? But a solid place to dine.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Halo Halo, Crispy Skin Smoked Salmon
We followed the recommendations from the frendly staff. Really good food, great atmosphere. Highly recommend
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Spicy Edamame, Hamakua Ali'i Mushroom Fettuccine
We came here for dinner one evening after checking out the farmers market in the parking lot. We had some great recommendations from our server Dani and enjoyed every bite of our meal. She helped us have such a memorable experience and was genuinely friendly towards us. She went out of her way to give us a memorable experience as we celebrated our honeymoon. Thank you Dani!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Halo Halo
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