Restaurants in Lihue

“Hard to believe you can get such great sushi from a food truck. I’m partial to sashimi and it is always fresh, perfectly cut, and beautifully presented.”

“We had the most wonderful dining experience at this restaurant. The food was outstanding and so was our server Matt. He made several suggestions and all were awesome He gave impeccable service and made our evening very special. Kudos to Matt”

“Our New Go-To on Kauai! We’ve found our gem. After frequenting Kauai for work, Sushi Blue Wave has become our absolute favorite dining destination on the island. The intimate ambiance sets the perfect tone for an exceptional meal, and the service is genuinely attentive without being intrusive. Our server, JP, made excellent recommendations and ensured every detail was just right. Now, onto the food … simply outstanding! The Truffle Edamame was an inspired start, elevated beyond the ordinary. We worked our way through several standout dishes: the Blue Wave Crunch Roll delivered on both texture and flavor, while the Dry-Aged Wasabi Truffle Salmon was a revelation. I agree with another reviewer: it was the best salmon dish I’ve ever eaten. The Lemon Bliss Roll provided a bright, refreshing contrast, and both the scallop sashimi and sea urchin were pristine examples of how fresh, quality ingredients need little embellishment. What impressed us most was the consistency across every dish. The fish was impeccably fresh, and the rice in each roll was perfectly seasoned and proportioned … never overwhelming the delicate flavors of the fish, but providing the ideal foundation. It’s clear the chef understands balance. We are planning to be back this evening and on our next trip to Kauai. And the one after that! Sushi Blue Wave has earned a permanent spot on our dining itinerary.”

“Best Luau on the island. Can’t wait to come back.”

“The food is amazing! The staff is wonderful!”

“great service..great food and drinks”

“one of the best meals of my life and I ate here twice!! traveled all over the world so that says alot”

“Beyond amazing food and service!”

“Awesome service!! And, the food was very delicious!!! Highly recommend!! Thank you☺️”

“New owner has turned this spot into the best drinks, menu and service on the Island. Ask Alyssa to mix you Bloody Mary! Awesome!”

“Great food awesome service! Best Poke bowl I've ever eaten.”

“Awesome atmosphere. Great Service and the best we have ever had on any of the cruises”

“There is no seating. The options are incredibly limited. They didn’t have much stock when I showed up. Having said that, it‘s a great resource. A wrap in the fridge can come in handy if you can’t get to a restaurant before they close.”

“Awesome guys and awesome service! The food is winnah”

“Incredibly fresh and hands down the best sushi on the island. Every piece was beautifully prepared, full of flavor, and you can truly taste the quality of the fish. The presentation was impressive, the service was great, and the whole experience felt top-tier from start to finish. Highly recommend — easy 10/10.”

“Salad bar and music ambience is amazing and breathtaking.”

“Ahi tacos are amazing and big!”

“Great experience and views”

“We are Marriott Owners and stayed on property to enjoy the Royal Sonesta amenities. Kukui's bar opened up after their beautiful remodel.while we were there. I shared my thoughts with Anthony, who was the manager on site. Christmas Day was crazy busy and the staff kicked butt and did a fantastic job. Boy, were they hustling and still kept their composure and professionalism! The menu has been refreshed and had many great healthy options. The prices are standard for this type of higher end property. The breakfast menu offered many options and all that we tasted were beautifully plated and very delicious! Yes, there were hiccups, which is expected, but the staff did the best they could. I'm not going to mention what needed to be improved on yet. As good as everything was, we know it will keep on improving as everyone settles in. Congratulations to Royal Sonesta and your entire team. Review in 12/26/24 Lucy & John Proud Marriott Owners”

“Banging Bloody Mary’s, super friendly and helpful staff and amazing house burger. Don’t let previous bad reviews put you off, this place is awesome. Plus there’s PowerPoints to charge and bag hooks plus cool decor. Also the bar girl caught a bird and freed it outside again”

“I’m giving this a five star review because of Kim, our server!!! I am seriously in awe of the amount of tables and orders she managed through the afternoon of March 7, 2026! So many flights were canceled or delayed due to Kona storms and she rocked it!!! 12…15…18 tables? She got us everything we needed and kept us all comfortable while directing so many! Kim, you are a rockstar!!!
PS the Pink Flamingo is a delightful drink”

“Whole Snapper deep fried was delicious as was the catch of the day. Good service. Dinner hours are 5-10, if you are really you will wait until precisely 5 to be seated.”

“Our bartender, Amanda, was top notch! We ate there a couple times and thought the food was great too.”

“We eat here every time we’re on the island and they never disappoint! Homemade pasta…yum!”

“We first went to Rainbeau Jo’s when they had their truck Van-a-white in 2014. Visiting Beau and Jo is a must when visiting Kauai. They’ve made a name for themselves . Good coffee good food and good peps. What more can you ask for”

“Our family very recently vacationed in Kauai to celebrate my parents 50th anniversary. I had reached out to Ko Bakery several weeks before our trip to have a cake made to surprise my parents. We chose the Haupia with Lime buttercream and also got a dozen cupcakes (yellow cake with chocolate buttercream) for the kiddos. The cake and cupcakes were AMAZING!!!! Their customer service is incredible (especially since we were communicating through email) and pick up was a breeze. I highly recommend Ko Bakery!!!”

“Amazing bagels (had the cheddar jalapeño) and delicious coffee. They have nice seating overseeing the ocean which made this our go-to breakfast stop while on the island. Açaí bowl was also great”

“Excellent food friendly service Wishing Kyle. his Ohana ,employees Merri Hurisumasu Be Safe hungry soing their MOW!!!!”

“Delicious, well portioned and priced! Cheapest beers and cocktails to go you'll find around! Wish they were opened later but hopefully that will come! Highly recommend!”

“Had the curry chicken wrap. My mom has the curry chicken salad sandwich. Absolutely delicious curry and in a wrap/sandwich was amazing! Such an adorable little house, you go around to the back and she cooks from a kitchen in the back. She is a solo woman cooking so please be kind and patient but absolutely delicious and light but filling food!”

“AMAZING! The best waffle I have ever had!”

“I’m still dreaming of the amazing loaded avocado toast with a boiled egg, goat cheese and chili flakes. I can’t keep going to the same place though. Coffee was absolutely delicious as well. I don’t usually love the fruity after notes of Hawaiian coffee but their coffee was strong and fantastic. Okay bye.”

“I recommend the fried chicken with the Garlic sauce!Not too salty and not super deep fried! Was super good! And they stay up later then most shops in Lihue! 🤙🏻 5 star for me 💙🌺”

“Shaka Burgers makes me smile! They’re so good! Best burgers on Kauai! And their shaka fries are incredible! All served with a smile out of their red food truck across from the Costco gas station.”

“Loved it!”

“Kawaii Kokoro Patisserie is absolutely amazing! Everything is delicious, but the cheesecakes—especially the Japanese cheesecake—are a standout. It’s so light and perfectly balanced, not too sweet. The profiteroles are incredible, and it’s impossible to pick a favorite flavor. Some of my other favorites include the lilikoi mousse cups, crème brûlée (both vanilla and Kona coffee—so good!), arare cookies, manju, and my newest obsession, the panna cotta! They also offer scones and a variety of cookies, all made with high-quality ingredients. We ordered ahead, and everything was beautifully packaged and ready when we arrived. The service was fantastic, and the owners and staff are genuinely kind and welcoming. If you’re looking for delicious, high-quality pastries and desserts, this place is a must-visit!”

“Absolutely the best granola bowls in the island, made out of fresh home made ingredients. The staff is so kind and takes care of all your needs! You will feel like home, can’t wait to go back!”

“Went here very early in the morning before setting out on a hiking day. There was no wait at this time. The ube Masada was excellent - had a great subtle sweet flavor and lots of cream (got kind of messy because of this but I didn’t mind). Coffee was just alright. The baked goods are what to get here.”

“Best taro malasadas!! Chai and lattes are SO good!!”

“The ginger snaps are amazing! Everything is amazing! We loved the cheesecakes as well.”

“Wired Monkey smoothie was great. Glad they are still in business.”

“Make sure to come visit this place if you love filipino food it is the best”

“The food was exceptionally delicious and the choices were varied. There were six different preparations of poke. I chose spicy ahi and green onion ahi. Stellar range of flavors. The staff were friendly and very willing to explain the differences in preparation. Highly recommended!”

“Skinny Mike's ice cream took my taste buds to a different dimension. Awesome place for amazing ice cream!”

“Decent pastries, coffee is alright. I would advise the owner to switch to a different brand of oat milk as the Kirkland one isn't great.

Would have liked to see smaller cup sizes because otherwise you are mostly just tasting the milk ...”

“The food was amazing, and very affordable. The wait time for us was not bad at all, but we ate and watched as the employee left the counter to take a personal call while a line built up. The other worker did not seem equipped to take orders and left customers with a 5-10 minute wait to place orders.”

“Amazing food. Priced affordable for a big group. HUGE portions.”

“Best Loco Moco, we stop here every time we visit the island.”

“Best food and huge portions”

“Great customer service! Inside is very nice and aesthetic. The Truffle croissant was great and appreciate the recommendation of Akukhini pier, we had a great time there!”

“friendly service nice atmosphere”

“Friendly,good customer service 101% stars ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️”

“Friendly service and great food”

“Sunrise Coffee is a great spot to start your day! I throughly enjoyed the matcha latte, açaí bowl, and donuts. I highly recommend checking them out.”

“great Ono kauai food highly recommend i love the poncho moco.yummy 😋 🤙 go check Liza guys out .you won't be disappointed”

“One of the only restaurants(if not THE only restaurant) that is a must eat during return visits to Hawaii. Really wish there were locations in our area.”

“Absolutely delicious!!! We just stopped by for a quick lunch and were blown away by the food!! The best smash burgers we’ve had in a long time paired with perfect fries. Definitely worth the stop!”

“We absolutely loved this course!”

“Im so grateful for Aloha Aina Juice Cafe! I enjoy an acai bowl daily from you guys and it's always amazing! Thank you for the delicious, nutritious foods and the positive vibes every day. 🙏🏼☀️🌺”

“OMG, this place is amazing!!! I got the Kalena plate with potatoes, kimchee, and sprouts, and everything was awesome. The meat jun was my favorite, but honestly, everything was top-tier. The side options were almost overwhelming because I wanted to try them all. On top of that, the service was so lovely and pleasant, and the place itself was incredibly clean. I’ll definitely be dreaming about this plate lunch for a while.”

“Lovely local place. Troy was very welcoming. They were celebrating the 7th year of opening and laid on a free buffet for everyone”

“12/2025
I happened upon this quaint, friendly and fast place by accident. Located next to Inkspot, people drive by for a really quick and onolicious pickup. They offer 3 simple bentos that offer a quick but wide variety of food. Drop by to get your quick fix to start your day. They open at 6am. D, one of the owners was really informative and helpful. And the food offerings is what attracts your eye at their prices. Not overly huge but very reasonable and economical portions in these trying times. A nice niche option just minutes from anywhere in town and the airport. Onolicious! 😉🤙✌️”

“My friend and I had just spent time with our families on the Kauai Plantation Railway and we decided to head over to the lounge for an adult beverage. We both had Mai Tais and they were really very good. Our bartender was great and took good care of us. The lounge was cool because it feels like you stepped back in time. Once our families caught up to us we moved to the outside patio which has a little more of a modern feel which opened up to an open grassy area where the kids ran around and played. The Mai Tais were so good that we came back two days later for round 2. If you want a great Mai Tai and a nice spot to chill and relax, this is your spot.”

“Must try local! What a wonderful homey place, incredibly flavorful noodles. We had the “Special Saimin” and the”Oxtail Saimin”the Special had a good mix of add ons and the Oxtail had an amazing broth. The bbq beef was jerky-ish but filled with flavor.

Cash only tho!”

“Excellent and authentic Thai Food”

“I tried the Filipino cuisine for the first time. They had the shop setup next to Walmart. Tried their chicken and pork skewers. They were juicy and meat was soft, fresh.

We turned to the place 2 more times while on the island. I also tried their pork belly combo which was yummy as hell. It a must try place of you are food enthusiast :)”

“Excellent local eatery specializing in plate lunches. Favorite entrees include pork adobo, various stews and curries, tempura and fried chicken. The Hawaiian plate with pork lau lau is also a standout. A friendly, family atmosphere with hard working employees.”

“Stopped into Costco last night upon landing in Kauai to stock up for the week. We were informed by the checker that the food court and bakery are closed for renovation. We were still able to stock up on treasures in other departments. I thought I would pass the information along so future travelers can plan accordingly.”

“My wife and I ordered vegetable fried rice and fried chicken. It was so much food we couldn't finish it all. It was so good that it still tasted good cold the next morning. The lady that took our order and seated us was very nice and accommodating. I would definitely recommend this place for a good meal.”

“I wanna start this review by giving Savanah a massive shout out. The best customer service and so professional our order got sent to Honolulu because of the new app update and without any question she went ahead and just made our order anyway because we would’ve lost the order and had to pay double. This is the kind of customer service that should make someone a manager someday. We understand it was our fault, but she understands. It was a small order and it would suck to have to repay for it again, so she without any question took care of it for us.”

“We got the Kulolo which was taro and coconut at 25% sweet. It was good! Boba was different than I’ve tasted at other places. There was a guy playing ukulele on the stage so it was a great time sipping on this boba tea!”

“Amazing food Great drinks”

“This place gives mom and pop vibes and has the best food! The bbq shortribs, and special fried rice are our go to dishes. But everything is always so flavorful and cooked to perfection. We’ve had their pork chops, chicken, and vegetables, and everything we’ve ordered has been amazing. The service is kind, and so chill, and the food comes out fast. We keep coming back because it’s that good. An absolute must try!”

“This is definitely a must go to when in kauai. I just love the simple quick and efficient service and the quality of food they serve.”

“It’s a little hole in the wall place with great food! We had a party of 6 and the food came out quickly. I had the Moco Loco with the Mac salad and it was fantastic!

Be sure to tip all local restaurants and businesses well!”

“no matter what Jamba Juice I go to, Islands or the Mainland I always customize My order.... this Team has accommodated Me, on every visit.... Thanx for taking care of this Haole` Jamba-Lihue Rocks !!! 🤙🤙🤙🤙🤙🤙🤙🤙”

“Great little bakery! We particularly enjoyed the fresh brewed coffee, breakfast burritos and the baked pork manapua. This is a perfect place to fuel up before a day of adventures on Kauai!”

“One of my favorite spots when I am in Kauai. My favorite is the tuna melt. Ugh no one makes a tuna melt like this place. Definitely recommend if you are on the island of Kauai.”

“@Riley

“Thank you for your feedback! We understand pricing can sometimes feel high compared to large retail stores. All our pineapples come directly from Dole — just like most pineapples sold around the island — but we focus on offering premium, ready-to-eat fruit at peak ripeness. Our price reflects careful selection, storage, and small business costs unique to local operations. That said, we truly value your input and are reviewing our pricing to stay fair and competitive. Mahalo for visiting and for taking the time to share your thoughts.””

“Aloha
I can’t believe they are still opened for business the reviews wow ..

My sister and me got some shave ice only thing the ice wasn’t packed like it should have been she said she’s running out of ice and it would take 15 minutes for new ice she said she can probably make one but she end up making 2 it was 15 minutes no new ice .. our shave ice melted so fast I know it gets humid out but I’ve had Plenty of shave ice it don’t melt that fast.

Customer Service was good 😊 she’s a young girl with a friendly mannerism.
Shave ice was delicious 😋”

“Best local place that's in the corner of industrial bldg. and the food is really good. I suggest all visitors and locals if you haven't gone there "GO" but bring cash to pay you won't be disappointed if seeking flavorful foods. Oh the sweets get some they are so delicious too :)”