The Hanalei Dolphin Restaurant

I agree with the other reviews-the fish is great here. Plus the portions are a bit more generous than some of the other places we ate. We arrived dirty & hungry after an all day hiking adventure. They were very gracious, served us quickly and even took a few moments to chat about the hike. Also of note, the Mai Tai's are big and yummy!

This was hands down the best dining experience we’ve had on our trip to Hawaii.

We were in a bit of a hurry to catch our flight but stopped anyway and it was 100% the correct decision. Amber provided top notch, friendly and efficient service. She had great suggestions and got us out the door with plenty of time to get to the airport. The Sunset sushi roll was TO DIE FOR. Best sushi my partner and I have had. And the atmosphere and setting is open air and breathtaking. Really incomparable honestly. We were so glad for this to be our last experience in Hawaii before heading back to New York. Thank you!!

To die for. 100% amazing. Don’t stop, instead, run and get the best sushi and grilled market catch of the day. Great service. Great food. I’m leaving incredibly happy. And full. I might need to make the trip back just for this amazing dinner spot!

We’ve been here twice and both times we had a wonderful meal. I highly recommend the stuffed mushrooms appetizer! You can’t make reservations, and you can begin queueing as early as 4:30pm for their 5:00pm opening.

Service was wonderful and the food was pretty good too (although on the expensive end) but definitely worth a try!

- ahi tuna
- rockfish
- beer battered fish
- new york cut
- salmon sashimi
- fried shrimp appetizer

The best sushi I have ever had! Get the stolen roll and the next best thing roll for sure! So fresh and delicious we got 8 rolls in total for 5 of us and the tempura plate and we were stuffed! Oh and there's a stunningly beautiful and friendly cat that visited with us!

This place is a must. Friendly service and fantastic food. Rolls and Shrimp...delicious!! Only stopped eating because my stomach was at the max. Love this Market.

The food was fresh and tasty. The rainbow poke and seafood chowder were excellent. Service was friend and relatively quick. They were able to accommodate and put a candle on the dessert for my kids bday. Will definitely go back again. We put our name on the list at 4:30 for the 5 o'clock seating. Was worried it'll be too early for dinner. But we didn't get our entrees until 6, so it turned out perfect.

We brought a group of 9 on a weekend night and they accommodated us very well. Our server was really attentive and made good suggestions for adults and kids. We tried several rolls, entrees and drinks. Really fun place. When the kids were done eating, they had fun playing in the garden area right outside our table’s open window.

Exquisite sushi in a beautiful setting. We sat at the sushi bar, which was a treat as our orders came in direct to the chefs. We ordered the chef’s special nigiri, our highlight, as well as staple rolls featuring many different creations. Thankful to get a seat as the restaurant books up quickly!! So get there before they open to secure your place. You won’t be disappointed. However, you’ll also be a little poorer upon exit.

We had a wonderful dinner here! Fish was fresh, service was friendly, and they went above and beyond for our picker eater toddler. Would recommend a reservation, or going earlier in the evening to save on the wait. We will be back!

Delicious sushi with a beautiful little garden and creek next to it! We did not have to wait long for our table or sushi. It’s quite expensive though… $20 for a cocktail and each specialty roll was over $30, so be prepared to spend a lot!

Restaurant is great but if you walk around back they have a lunch kitchen with quite possibly the BEST to-go poke bowls I’ve ever had. It’s a nice little gem to find on the island! They also have a great outdoor patio!

Our family and a friend who is a local met and enjoyed the best sushi and sashimi I've ever had. The fish served had been swimming only a couple of hours before! Absolutely divine food and service! Make reservations ahead of time if you can. Quite a line out front at 4.30pm. Sooo good!

This was one of the better meals that we had while staying in the Princeville area. We choose to sit outside and enjoy the weathers. The outdoor seating in very private and unique. Our server, Kezie was so incredibly good. She was very knowledgeable about the menu, area, and was also extremely friendly. By the end of our dinner we felt like close friends. Her recommendations we also spot on! Don’t sleep on the Omakase. We trusted the chefs and they made the best sushi roll that we have had in our life. The ono and hamachi Sashimi were also to die for. We finished the meal with the Hawaiian butter Mochi. My wife decided she could eat it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner for the rest of her life. Their Lilikoi is outstanding. The food was so good we took a few bites before we remembered to the photos!

Get here early, because the good tables go quickly. The servers and bartenders are cordial and in general, everyone was happy to see us and really seemed to appreciate the diners which helps everyone’s vacations. The food was excellent: we had the calamari and artichoke appetizers, then a few sushi rolls, followed by an ice cream cake/pie dessert. Great time had by all.

My husband and I dined at The Dolphin yesterday evening and had a delightful experience! It was our last night on Kauai and we wanted it to be extra special. We were warmly greeted by the restaurant manager/ hostess Morgan, who was helpful and kind. She assisted us to the sushi lounge as we requested. Our server Mariel was lovely and took excellent care of us. Serena made beautiful sushi rolls which were made with fresh ingredients. We had the macadamia nut brownie with vanilla bean ice cream for dessert and were blown away! Thank you for making our last night on the island so special!

We had an amazing dinner at Dolphin. Our server Brant, a real master of his craft, gave us excellent recommendations and made sure we had the best time. Every dish we had was a 10/10. Overall an outstanding restaurant that can easily compete with high end seafood places in major coastal US cities.

We had the Landslide Sushi Roll and extra blackened Swordfish which was EXCELLENT! Highly recommend this establishment!! Drinks are reasonable and Mandy makes them perfectly!! *Went again last night (2 nights later) and have to say we met a couple who visits the island now for 28 years straight and said this is their favorite restaurant!! Cero, bartender and waiter is very personable as well the very talented sushi chef, Le-FI (spelling, sorry).

Local recommendation and did not disappoint, fresh fish and amazing cocktails. If you're dining alone, sit at the sushi bar - and ask for the chefs special. We saw it go out a few times and it's like getting a custom roll just for you! If you're with friends they have a huge outdoor seating area and most of the food is shareable.

Tons of menu options, but make sure to ask about the local catch and the specials around it.

Open until 9pm as well!