Restaurants in Waimea

“Absolutely, the food was delicious and service and restaurant were amazing !”

“Delicious smoothies and friendly staff….Purple Haze and Enter Sandman were our favorites!”

“Fast, tasty, friendly, very good value for money

Parking: The restaurant itself only has 2 parking spaces, but there are plenty of free parking spaces along the street directly in front on both sides of the street”

“delicious calamari and curry mussels appetizers, rib eye entries a must and for dessert brownies with ice cream and fried banana”

“Just want to thank all the great people at Waimea Coffee for buying some of my block prints!🤙🏽🌴 big help! too good you guys🤙🏽❤️”

“Great place to grab a drink and relax. Erica is probably the best bartender in the history of everything.”

“We loved The Fish and The Hog!! The BBQ Sampler was amazing. Our waitress Hiwa was great and everyone was so nice! We were excited to meet the waiter Ben who was also from West Virginia. We would definitely eat here again!”

“Love the coconut curry with shrimp. Also a fan of the Korean ribeye & Teri chicken.”

“personal service, drive thru, best coffee”

“We drove from Kona to visit this little tea shop and it was well worth it! I had the scenic point with watermelon boba and my husband had the watermelon fruit tea with lychee jelly. I can honestly say I’ve tried several other places on the island and Tea O’clock is tops! The scenic point is a jasmine tea, you could tell it was fresh. The flavor was absolutely beautiful! The watermelon fruit tea was just as you’d expect it should be. Nothing was watered down, only flavorful teas here!! I highly suggest this place!”

“One of the best pies I ever had!!!”

“really good chicken! Mahalo.”

“Chill place for coffee, food and to hang. Definitely got more of a modern vibe than the rest of town, but it still rocks a laid-back attitude and atmosphere. I got the blueberry latte (best if only lightly mixed once you get it) and the prosciutto sandwich—both of which were really good. The staff is really friendly, and the lower half of the shop is clothing and merch. They got plenty of seating—with inside and outback.”

“2,300 reviews and 4.6 stars totally well earned. Tareen (apologies if spelled incorrectly) is one of the best waitresses I've ever had. Funny, knowledgeable, friendly, and great recommendations. This place rules!”

“Totally awesome authentic burger place. My only regret was not ordering another burger. My sister had the Surf Burger and I had the Hi-Heat. On the drive back to our hotel, we just randomly kept saying what a great burger those were. Honestly surprised we didn’t turn around and go back for more.”

“Again, everything was impeccable! From the arrival to the end, from the reception to the service, the ambiance, the quality of food and drinks , everything was spotless. Kudos to our waiter, Dean, servicing 12 people with a few people having nuts allergy, he was very friendly, knowledgeable and on top of food at the table. Thank you again, Dean, for making our dinner experience very unforgettable.”

“Jade Palace – Waimea’s Hidden Gem for Big Groups & Big Flavor

We’ve found our go-to spot in Waimea: Jade Palace, where the food hits the spot, the service is fast and friendly, and feeding a hungry group doesn’t break the bank.

We walked in with a party of six—no reservation, no wait. They sat us right away (huge bonus points), and parking was a breeze. Gotta love a place that’s both convenient and delicious.

Our usual? The Family Dinner for 4—and yes, it fed all six of us with ease. We ordered:

Orange Chicken – perfectly crispy with a tangy-sweet glaze.

Salt & Pepper Fish – light, flavorful, and not greasy. A sleeper hit.

Beef with Broccoli – classic, tender, and comforting.

Mongolian Beef – bold flavors with just the right kick.

The service is warm and attentive without being overbearing, and the kitchen turns out food impressively fast. It’s hard to find a spot that hits all the marks—great prices, generous portions, tasty dishes, and reliable service—but Jade Palace does it effortlessly.

Pro tip: Come hungry, come with friends, and don't sleep on the family dinner—it’s the best deal in town.”

“i had the ribs... delicious”

“I brought Chef Allen Hess my freshly caught fish. He expertly prepared it into culinary art! The atmosphere and service is top notch, as well as the flavors and presentation. Do yourself a favor and order a few oyster shooters as well. 🤤”

“Island Breeze have been Rated the Best Luau on the Big Island of Hawaii!”

“Got a Passion Fruit Slushie and Açaí bowl! The lady working generously upgraded our drink to a large but the açaí bowl was frozen. I was expecting it to be fresh.”

“Neil and Janice made my 40th birthday one I will never forget!! They made me feel so special to the point of tears!! Will always come back to the Orchid just to see them!! Thank you both soooo much !!!”

“I loved the food. We ate at the bar and enjoyed the conversation of bartender Brandon. He was entertaining and attentive. We had the lobster tacos, poke bowl and shrimp cerviche. All were delicious. The margarita was a scrumptious desert. The lantern ceremony was also beautiful.”

“I ordered the wor wonton min and it was loaded with veggies and won tons- no complaints! I also got a 2 choice plate with roast pork and beef broccoli and the rice noodle- could’ve had more beef broccoli on the plate but there was generous amounts of roast pork and noodles. Both ladies working behind the counter were patient, kind and courteous.”

“We had dinner at Naupaka several times during our stay at the Hapuna resort. Naupaka is a casual, poolside restaurant where women can just wear a coverup over a bathing suit and men wear a tee shirt over bathing suit trunks and totally relax and enjoy the most amazing sunsets on the big island of Hawaii. We enjoyed our meals at Naupaka including the fabulous coconut shrimp, burgers, salads with shrimp, and chicken sandwiches. Even more impressive than the food and sunsets was our server, Indi, who was most accommodating, professional and friendly. We hope to see her again on our next visit! We would also like to send a special shout out to our bartender, Roy, who made us the best frozen strawberry margaritas we've ever had!!!We totally enjoyed this restaurant and would highly recommend it.”

“On the beach at the Mauna Kea resort. The restaurant will validate your parking and you can go hang out on the beach afterwards or order take out while you’re on the beach. We got the poke, cesar salad with mahi, and a burger. All of it solid - but pricey, but you know that at a resort. Service is great and you can’t beat the view. Try the frederico which is a Mai tai with whiskey in it.

Overall not bad for above average beach food - just pricey. Would recommend for convenience if you’re going to hang out at the Mauna Kea beach.”

“The Copper Bar overlooks picturesque Kauna'oa Bay and features live music and hula. We had the dip trio with outstanding bread followed by several appetizers which were all tasty. After sunset as a bonus we strolled down to the Manta viewing area and saw 5 mantas barrel rolling as they enjoyed their plankton treats. Pleasant experience.”

“Went on September 23rd there, the ambience was nice, ordered burrata, oysters and beef tenderloin. Everything was delicious, despite slow season there was nice live music and our server was attentive and always checking on us if all good. Orders came on time. Enjoyed the night out and especially was happy to see manta rays!! Didn’t want to go to water at night to see them and this place literally made it happen the best way. Also stars at night in the sky are amazing!”

“World-traveling foodie here. Been to Italy and Peru and live in LA where excellent Italian and Peruvian cuisine is prevalent. So hear me when I say that Claudia and Gino’s Italian-Peruvian cuisine at Cipriano’s vies in my experience for the best I’ve had. Incredibly fresh local ingredients, superb bread and pasta made on-site with Italian flour, innovative recipes made with love. Very casual little yellow bungalow where we eat on a shady porch fringed with tropical foliage and from the kitchen comes your moan-worthy meal…”

“Had the best burger of my life today served up by fantastic, friendly people! My husband and I shared the OG with bacon and as soon as we took our first bite we were wishing we. had our own! We sat in the shade waiting for our order which was delivered and then it was explained how to eat it, Absolutely the best! We are here for 19 more days but may just have to make the drive back to Waimea again for another burger ~ we will order 2 this time!,”

“Cash only, but they have an ATM onsite.

Local restaurant with a relaxed vibe serving up huge plates of Hawaiian goodness including banana mac nut pancakes, loco mocos taken to the next level (hamburger patties, cutlets, sausage and other proteins)
and egg and meat plates that include two starches such as hash browns AND a pancake or waffle.

Friendly and attentive staff keep cups filled and smiles flowing. As there is usually a line, simply add your name to the waitlist at the front door and you will get a text when your table is ready, but its definitely worth the wait.”

“excellent place to enjoy a getaway”

“Great flavors and other ingredients”

“What a fun place to eat. Phenomenal food and fun folks. Sunday night with Matt, Daryl, Danby and Bok-Choy Nagasaki Boy. See you in February”

“After a long morning at Waimea State Park, I picked Da Booze Shop because the name made me laugh. Well the jokes on me because the food, service, and atmosphere were stellar! I have always loved eating in Mom and Pop places because they always have the best food. I got the Mahi Katsu and had enough leftover for a snack. If you are traveling with kids this is a great place to eat. You can eat across the street at the park and let the kids play and expend some energy.”

“Best smoothie bowl I had while in Kauai, but also in Hawaii overall. I got the Gandhi bowl, which was phenomenal. I appreciated that the smoothie is made with oatmilk because it was more creamy, as opposed to the watery smoothie bases I had elsewhere. The toppings were generous and very well curated. They do not skimp! I had macadamia nuts in every bite, along with goji berries, papaya, banana, and granola. This place is well worth a stop before or after the Waimea Canyon. I hope I get to visit again someday!”

“The Lava burger was one of the best I have ever had. If you are in Waimea don’t pass it by.”

“Absolutely amazing. This is a must when de ending from waimea canyon state park. Unbelievably delicious and filling.”

“Amazing food and big portions for a decent price. We took the pork belly and Korean chicken with noodles. The owner was also very nice. We are coming back tomorrow!”

“Great find, and good service, had the organic tofu stir fry, they allowed me to order it mild 🌶️, even had some interesting local greens. Only thing I would change is less salty, but that might just be my own taste. One thing to be aware of is they don’t have a public restroom. Updated from previous review on 2025-08-30”

“Soo good! Do yourself a favor, and stop for coconut water and snacks.”

“Totally awesome authentic burger place. My only regret was not ordering another burger. My sister had the Surf Burger and I had the Hi-Heat. On the drive back to our hotel, we just randomly kept saying what a great burger those were. Honestly surprised we didn’t turn around and go back for more.”

“3 MOUNTAIN BBQ, Broke Da Mouth Huli Huli Chicken and RIBS the best on Big Island, the place I always get my fix. Beautiful people, super friendly and awesome service”

“We wholeheartedly believe that Patisserie Nanako is the best bakery on the Big Island. Our love story with their cakes & pastries began last year when we were on the island for wedding planning, and my sister - who is a HUGE fan of the bakery - insisted we give them a try. From the very first bite, we were totally blown away. We tried a variety of their cakes, and they were all equally delicious - moist, perfectly balanced, and not too sweet. When our wedding reception arrived in April 2025, Patisserie Nanako created not just one, but four cakes for us: coconut, tiramisu, lilikoi, and strawberry. Every single one was a hit! Our guests couldn't stop raving about how delicious the cakes were, and many of them kept asking where we got them. We saved our main cake to enjoy on our one-year anniversary, and we are already looking forward to eating it! A special thank you to Jimmy for being so kind, flexible, and easy to work with throughout the planning process. If you're on the Big Island and looking for pastries / cakes for your wedding, or simply to enjoy as a treat, come here!!!”

“Tasty pizza, decent price (for Hawaii 😉), DO NOT Underestimate how big 18 inches is!! 😄 Plenty to feed 3-4 hungry adults! **CASH ONLY** tax included in prices (I can’t add a photo for some reason. Maybe I can in comments. 😕)”

“Being able to get quality local products and enjoy the community.”

“We highly recommend Sandwich Isle Bread Company! The wedding cake they created for us was beyond anything we imagined, an absolute work of art. Our guests were in awe, with many unsure if it was even real until we cut into it! The flavors were just as incredible as the design, moist, flavorful, and perfectly balanced. Zeke, the cake designer/baker, is clearly gifted, and the care she puts into her craft shines through in every bite. Suzette made the entire process seamless with excellent communication, and Brock delivered the cake flawlessly and right on time. This bakery is something special! We thank them deeply for being a part of our wedding day. Exceptional cake, fair pricing, and service that’s second to none. We’ll be recommending Sandwich Isle Bread Company to everyone we know!”

“Beautiful place with gorgeous views. There was a cat wondering around the restaurant and I thought that was so sweet. The appetizer portions were a bit small for the price but everything tasted great. Go around sunset.”

“Pleasant little place in Waimea to stop for a smoothie. Sat in front to enjoy our smoothies and watch traffic go by. Support the local businesses wherever you travel!”

“Service was great and Chef Tavares did an amazing job.Thank you, my Mom,niece and myself had a great time”

“After one bite my fiancé and I hired them to grill for our rehearsal dinner. Every guest was blown away by their lamb and beef burgers! They have endless creativity when crafting a dining experience and menus. We are so grateful!! Would eat there every day if I could! Couldn’t meet a nicer more genuine duo! A must eat when on the Big Island!”

“Great stop for quick service affordable food and everything we tried was fantastic! We are big musubi fans so we tried several of these options, like orange chicken, Korean beef, and of course the regular spam. All of them were great! Make sure you get there early as they will sell out of their fast moving options.”

“Cute little shop that sold different cut fruit and smoothies. Bought sliced mango and a guava+pineapple+passion fruit smoothie, highly recommend both! Deliciously ripe and great after a hike in the canyon”

“Freaking amazing food!!!! Need a brick and mortar place because this place bangs it out!!!! Guava chicken and Terri Pork... I’d fly here just for it!!!”

“The Market at Mauna Lani is such a great spot! They serve very good coffee, smooth, flavorful, and the perfect way to start the day on the Big Island. It’s quickly become one of my favorite stops whenever I’m at the resort.

I also want to give a special mention to Kaylyn for her amazing customer service. She went above and beyond to make us feel welcome, always with a warm smile and genuine kindness. Her attentiveness and positive energy made the visit extra memorable.

Thank you, Kaylyn, for making our experience so wonderful, we’ll definitely be coming back!”

“Just finished eating the Turkey pesto pannini, waffle bacon sandwich. Was really delicious, best place in waimea for sandwich and breakfast. Will be back anytime we are in the area!!”

“Best Shave Ice. Anywhere.”

“I ate here regularly for several years. The food is wonderfully classic plate lunch fare. I'm particularly fond of the Korean chicken with double spicy tuna poke.”

“Amazing food! Offered gluten free bread so I had my first clubhouse sandwich in years (with real turkey too)! Gravy was gluten free and the fries were homemade. Definitely a must try if you’re in the area.”

“If you ever on Da West Side of Kaua’i and wanna stop for lunch an craving shrimp stop by the Shrimp Shack an eat some ono kaua’i raised shrimp. My favorite is sweet chili ,Thai,garlic,as well as shrimp tacos while my wife loves the coconut shrimp!! Reasonable prices great hole in the wall joint as well as go next store to get a fresh cold coconut to drink 🤙🏼 When all is said an done go up to Waimea canyon for a hike or go hike first and build up an appetite 😁😁😁😁”

“Awesome crispy and warm Malasadas. Fair price but disappointing you need to pay $1.75 extra for a filling. Turns out the filling was really just some syrup.

Regardless go here! As they are the best we’ve had in the area.”

“What a quaint and cute subway location! The staff were so kind and friendly; seemed to have fun together and enjoy working there. This place is very clean and everything was crispy fresh! Best subway sandwich I've had in a long time. Highly recommend this location!”

“Good place for dinner after a day exploring Waimea Canyon. We ordered a veggie pizza for take out. The pizza was fresh and delicious. We enjoyed it.
However, we asked to 'substitute' a few toppings but were charged for 'substitutes' as 'extra toppings'. One pizza cost us $45+ tips. So, we paid for the toppings we never had on our pizza too. in this regard, make sure you check before paying.”

“for a hotel, not too bad pricey food, but not above and beyond typical hotels . both of the kids said the food was OK nothing to write home about. Their teenagers, so that’s not an outstanding review as they eat about anything :)”

“Best cocktails at the Westin. Variety of coffee options. Grab and go options are easy and convenient meeting a variety of needs. Very good pizza as well! Live music each evening.”

“Got a gratitude blended coffee drink which is salted caramel flavored and fabulous. The owner is super sweet and helpful. I will definitely go again and recommend it to my friends”

“First off, my husband & I purchase at least once or twice a week. Haven't been upset until this last order. This week I ordered two bowls of beef stew and one plate of beef stew. To say I was disappointed in what we received is being nice. I ordered BEEF STEW, I did NOT order RICE with a few pieces of beef (they were really CHUNKS) which is EXACTLY what we received. The bowls themselves were loaded to at least 3/4 of the bowl with rice and that's NOT an exaggeration..IF I wanted RICE I would've ordered such. In each bowl there were three, yes three chunks of beef stew that really should've been cooked a bit longer; it was tough, used a knife to make them bite size. Oh yea, one small potato and one slice of carrots...wow! L&L can do one hell of a lot better. The service on the most part is pretty good although it can be taxing to understand them being they are foreign with heavy accents...somehow we make it work. Atmosphere...the walls sure can use a paint job especially where we sit; to ask your clientele to wipe their tables is preposterous. Since when is it the patron's place to wipe the dang tables, I'm surely not doing it, that's what you have employees for.”

“The food is really good, reasonable prices, and very fast service. We ordered two pho with everything and asked for noodles separately for our son. They brought our food within minutes. It was a perfect stop in between activities.”

“One of the best pies I ever had!!!”

“I have ordered here many times and this restaurant stands out from the others. Everything is fresh and made to order. The pad Thai, which I requested very light on the spices and cilantro, was excellent. The only complaint I have is that sometimes the wait time is long, so if you can call ahead, you may save yourself some wait time.”

“The best burger and fries I have had on the island. Customer service was amazing. Friendly staff. 5/5”

“Amazing location and the food is soooo good. Best place to eat on westside!”

“It was an impromptu stop and surprisingly good. We tried 3 different items and all excellent”

“The Lava burger was one of the best I have ever had. If you are in Waimea don’t pass it by.”

“Nice and clean place, by the golf course and the beach. The food was amazing as was the service. Our waiter was Kuhoa and he was super nice and attentive. I had the noodles with veggies and my boyfriend had a hot dog. Both dishes were delicious ?!! We definitely will be coming back here.”

“I have ordered here many times and this restaurant stands out from the others. Everything is fresh and made to order. The pad Thai, which I requested very light on the spices and cilantro, was excellent. The only complaint I have is that sometimes the wait time is long, so if you can call ahead, you may save yourself some wait time.”

“Really good pizza, convenient location in The Shops.”

“World-traveling foodie here. Been to Italy and Peru and live in LA where excellent Italian and Peruvian cuisine is prevalent. So hear me when I say that Claudia and Gino’s Italian-Peruvian cuisine at Cipriano’s vies in my experience for the best I’ve had. Incredibly fresh local ingredients, superb bread and pasta made on-site with Italian flour, innovative recipes made with love. Very casual little yellow bungalow where we eat on a shady porch fringed with tropical foliage and from the kitchen comes your moan-worthy meal…”

“Had the best burger of my life today served up by fantastic, friendly people! My husband and I shared the OG with bacon and as soon as we took our first bite we were wishing we. had our own! We sat in the shade waiting for our order which was delivered and then it was explained how to eat it, Absolutely the best! We are here for 19 more days but may just have to make the drive back to Waimea again for another burger ~ we will order 2 this time!,”

“Love, love, love! Must do in Waikiki.”

“Cash only, but they have an ATM onsite.

Local restaurant with a relaxed vibe serving up huge plates of Hawaiian goodness including banana mac nut pancakes, loco mocos taken to the next level (hamburger patties, cutlets, sausage and other proteins)
and egg and meat plates that include two starches such as hash browns AND a pancake or waffle.

Friendly and attentive staff keep cups filled and smiles flowing. As there is usually a line, simply add your name to the waitlist at the front door and you will get a text when your table is ready, but its definitely worth the wait.”

“Love the coconut curry with shrimp. Also a fan of the Korean ribeye & Teri chicken.”

“Awesome crispy and warm Malasadas. Fair price but disappointing you need to pay $1.75 extra for a filling. Turns out the filling was really just some syrup.

Regardless go here! As they are the best we’ve had in the area.”

“Great flavors and other ingredients”

“Delicious smoothies and friendly staff….Purple Haze and Enter Sandman were our favorites!”

“Just want to thank all the great people at Waimea Coffee for buying some of my block prints!🤙🏽🌴 big help! too good you guys🤙🏽❤️”

“It was an impromptu stop and surprisingly good. We tried 3 different items and all excellent”

“Fast, tasty, friendly, very good value for money

Parking: The restaurant itself only has 2 parking spaces, but there are plenty of free parking spaces along the street directly in front on both sides of the street”

“Amazing location and the food is soooo good. Best place to eat on westside!”

“Absolutely amazing. This is a must when de ending from waimea canyon state park. Unbelievably delicious and filling.”

“excellent place to enjoy a getaway”

“Had the best burger of my life today served up by fantastic, friendly people! My husband and I shared the OG with bacon and as soon as we took our first bite we were wishing we. had our own! We sat in the shade waiting for our order which was delivered and then it was explained how to eat it, Absolutely the best! We are here for 19 more days but may just have to make the drive back to Waimea again for another burger ~ we will order 2 this time!,”

“Totally awesome authentic burger place. My only regret was not ordering another burger. My sister had the Surf Burger and I had the Hi-Heat. On the drive back to our hotel, we just randomly kept saying what a great burger those were. Honestly surprised we didn’t turn around and go back for more.”

“If you ever on Da West Side of Kaua’i and wanna stop for lunch an craving shrimp stop by the Shrimp Shack an eat some ono kaua’i raised shrimp. My favorite is sweet chili ,Thai,garlic,as well as shrimp tacos while my wife loves the coconut shrimp!! Reasonable prices great hole in the wall joint as well as go next store to get a fresh cold coconut to drink 🤙🏼 When all is said an done go up to Waimea canyon for a hike or go hike first and build up an appetite 😁😁😁😁”