Restaurants in Waimea

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

“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”

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

“I’ve been all over the US, east, west, north, and south and this is by far the best pulled pork and brisket I’ve ever had. I wish I could have it delivered!”

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

“i had the ribs... delicious”

“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.”

“really good chicken! Mahalo.”

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

“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!”

“personal service, drive thru, best coffee”

“We had the roasted kabocha squash and falafel sandwich. Both had flavors beyond what I expected. The front page of the menu shows where they locally sourced from. Definitely will come back here again!”

“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.”

“Always wanted to try this place and it didn't disappoint. Beautiful dining experience seeing the sunset and enjoying the unique cuisine. We had the seafood tower and tried the tasting menu. Drinks were also great. The service was wonderful and one of the best parts of our experience. Thank you CanoeHouse!”

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

“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. 🤤”

“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.”

“We picked the perfect restaurant to celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary. Service was top notch from beginning to end, food was delicious, and ambience was fantastic to include live music and the sunset. We are grateful for the amazing experience!”

“Food is ok, it's a fast food Chinese place in a strip mall. They have decent choices and prices are reasonable. Portion size is big and filled me up, flavor left a lot to be desired but ok for a quick stop and food. Mall bathrooms were clean.

Vegetarian options: Stir fry veggies available also some tofu dish.

Parking: Plenty of strip mall style parking”

“Beautiful setting on the beach. Lively atmosphere. The service was uneven, there were long stretches with no contact where more drinks could have been ordered or plates cleared. The food was ... okay. Somewhat uninspired menu, and they were out of several items we asked about on the menu. Portions were on the small side. Wine came in plastic glasses (understandable due to the beach setting) but they had a strange smell to them. Overall it was okay. Sunset was a highlight.”

“We celebrated our 29th Anniversary last night and the food and service was excellent. The hostess gave us a special Happy Anniversary card signed by the staff....an unexpected and memorable surprise. Everyone, especially our waiter was attentive and very accommodating. We'll definitely be coming back. Sandra & Robert”

“The outdoor-like environment allowed us to enjoy our meal in an open environment although we were situated on the inner side of the restaurant. The service was very good. The staff was efficient, courteous, and attentive. My wife had ribs and the meat fell of the bone. I enjoyed the pan fried ono. Each dish was filling and very flavorful. We also had a chocolate dipped ice cream dessert that was large enough for both of us to enjoy. It was the topping on top of an already great dinner. Overall, our experience was excellent!”

“Great service, but kitchen was meh. I ordered a NY steak and kitchen brought out a ribeye. Didn't bother to tell me they don't have NY. I had to point out that food delivered was not what I ordered. Other than that, service and ambiance were great.”

“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!,”

“HUGE portions. You can share meals for a small uncharge, or order extra food of same value (was $3.95 at time of posting). Def recommend. Even split, we couldn't finish. Everything was great.”

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

“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”

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

“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!”

“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!”

“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.”

“excellent place to enjoy a getaway”

“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.”

“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”

“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!!!”

“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!”

“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.”

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

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

“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.”

“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”

“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!!”

“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.”

“Good friends and good hospitality”

“Wow oh ? wow!!!! ? My husband is HUGE donut fan and we are very well aware of malasadas back in my hula days...but we've not experienced it filled with "your choice" jelly filling! And so warm and yummy ? with guava and lilikoi ....blows any jelly donut out of the park! It's right off the highway and it is a MUST stop!
Our daughter-in-law is the biggest jelly donut fan I've met so I'm excited to have her experience Manuela when we come back ....or find them in South Carolina. They have many locations outside of Hawaii...not sure if that's good or bad. My waistline says 'no' ...ha!”

“Chef Soto’s every dish tonight was fabulous! From the salads to the entrees to the dessert, we loved every bite. Oftentimes eating out at resorts can be expensive and mediocre at best. But that was not the case at Meridia and we were absolutely pleasantly surprised. Thank you Meridia, for a wonderful night out.”

“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”

“Being a celiac surrounded by mouth-watering, cheesy pizza is impossibly sad. My family looks forward to Pau Pizza night, but I am not left out in any way. Pau’s superfood salad, with quinoa, edamame, bright-tangy vinaigrette, and crunchy greens hits the spot. Their sister restaurant, Taco Rosa, has more spicy flavors than anyone could ever dream up for a simple taqueria. Healthy, hit-you-oh-so-good heat, vegan and gluten free grubtious goodness!”

“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. 😕)”

“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!”

“Best Shave Ice. Anywhere.”

“Being a celiac surrounded by mouth-watering, cheesy pizza is impossibly sad. My family looks forward to Pau Pizza night, but I am not left out in any way. Pau’s superfood salad, with quinoa, edamame, bright-tangy vinaigrette, and crunchy greens hits the spot. Their sister restaurant, Taco Rosa, has more spicy flavors than anyone could ever dream up for a simple taqueria. Healthy, hit-you-oh-so-good heat, vegan and gluten free grubtious goodness!”

“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!!!”

“Really nice to have this market as an option for food if you are staying at the Mauna Lani resort! Coffee is way cheaper than ordering it from any of the restaurants (e.g., $7 for a cold brew compared to $15). They sell snacks, alcohol (very over-priced), smoothies, ice cream, grab-and-go food, and made-to-order sandwiches and pizza. They also have gifts and souvenirs you can bring back from your trip. They sell Tropical Dreams ice cream and it was INCREDIBLE! $8 for two scoops, but definitely easier than driving to Waimea and back for ice cream.”

“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 :)”

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

“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.”

“They serve breakfast as well as the everyday faire of food. I had the French toast for my early breakfast one day and the chili spaghetti on a separate night visit. The Chili needs a little more flavor because it is fairly bland with no heat at all. Just some salt would help.

Parking: Shared lot with other businesses .”

“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 😁😁😁😁”

“They greet you with a Happy Smile as soon as you enter...that’s how you draw your internal customers to come back👍”

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

“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.”

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

“Wow oh ? wow!!!! ? My husband is HUGE donut fan and we are very well aware of malasadas back in my hula days...but we've not experienced it filled with "your choice" jelly filling! And so warm and yummy ? with guava and lilikoi ....blows any jelly donut out of the park! It's right off the highway and it is a MUST stop!
Our daughter-in-law is the biggest jelly donut fan I've met so I'm excited to have her experience Manuela when we come back ....or find them in South Carolina. They have many locations outside of Hawaii...not sure if that's good or bad. My waistline says 'no' ...ha!”

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

“Great flavors and other ingredients”

“After 5 hours in the ocean, nothing is better than stopping by for some grinds. We try different things on the menu and each item has been very tasty and plenty portion.”

“HUGE portions. You can share meals for a small uncharge, or order extra food of same value (was $3.95 at time of posting). Def recommend. Even split, we couldn't finish. Everything was great.”

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

“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”

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

“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 😁😁😁😁”

“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!,”

“TLDR good for nice dinner in a pinch but there are other better options on this side of the island.

Takoyaki were OK, lacked flavor a bit and not as much octopus in them.

Volcano Roll delicious. Bincho Roll also very good, and would order again but not the best Waygu I had in the area (CanoeHouse Waygu Tataki was 2x better).

Sashimi Set high quality fish.

Grilled Kanpachi SO good, I went back and ordered it again. The fish itself is so soft and moist. The mushrooms add incredible flavor and texture. A little pricey (~$60) for the portion but not unheard of for the area/hotel.

Atmosphere was just weird....super empty. No one inside either time we went around 7/8pm. Outside was quiet and we ended up being one of the only people out there.”

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

“excellent place to enjoy a getaway”