Ash M.

nice little dive bar. good atmosphere. they should carry vegan beer tho :)
(4)
liv l.

Read the reviews for this bar that are "currently not recommended" at the bottom of this page. My review mirrors what theirs say. At least I'm not the only one! Don't know why people still come here. The live music was great so that's why I gave an extra star, but the service was so terrible. I understand it's hard to work in the service industry, but without guests there are no jobs. So suck it up and at least make an effort to be polite. We ordered a beer and the waitress brought it 30-45 minutes later. When we were surprised she said "what can I say- we're backed up!?" and yanked it back. I watched multiple people leave because the "niece of the original owner" would tap people and wave her hand, or literally move them. Paying customers should not feel like they are an inconvenience. This is a very poor business practice.
(2)
Brandon K.

You know what I love? When restaurants clean the table before the next customer. Ours was super sticky. Apparently, cleaning tables is a novel concept at this restaurant. We barely saw our waitress. She looked like Anna Kendrick so maybe she was busy in the back making pitch perfect 3. However, she was nice and gave us some good recommendations. The pizza was good but nothing I'd rave about. Overall, it was average.
(3)
Lexie P.

Happy hour Mai Tais were great! I was disappointed they didn't serve food during happy hour.
(4)
Isa M.

Mai tais r phenomenal. Service terrible. Super slow. I was waiting 20mins before anyone came up to acknowledge us. If it werent for the mai tais i would never come back.
(2)
Lisa G.

Great food, Mai Tais and atmosphere. Best meal in Hanalei!
(5)
Jeff O.

We came in about 9pm on a Wednesday and had a lot of fun! The live music was really talented and fun and local. My wife got a lilikoi margarita and it was phenomenal. The mai tai was indeed awesome but I didn't quite feel like it merited world famous. Although before this trip I wasn't the most experienced mai tai drinker. I felt like Kalypso's mai tai with locally made rum was better honestly. Still a really eclectic and fun experience with the live music and the bartender coming behind the bar to do Hawaiian dance. My parents and their friends were so insistent about us going and when we got in we discovered why: almost the whole crowd was people in their middle years. Haha. Still fun.
(4)
Jennifer M.

Had a great dinner here. Great leek and bacon soup and a wonderful beet salad... My guests and I also loved the live music and thy friendly staff.. We will definitely return!!
(4)
David B.

This is a great place if you're looking for that Hawaiian Mai Tai experience, it is so far the best one I've had on the island in the 6 days I've been here. We also ordered one of their pizzas, pineapple ham and jalapeÃ±o, which was pretty awesome. The only downfall is that it's a bit pricy, but that's the price you pay for paradise!
(4)
Craig E.

Three of us stopped in for a drink and maybe a pizza on a rainy Wednesday afternoon. Nice older bar lady gave us menus right away, but had four tables sit down and we didn't see her again for 15min. Then we ordered a beer and Bloody Mary and waited another 15. She was the only staff working the bar, which was filled with many people waiting on service. Even though, several other (staff?) people walked in and out of the room, they didn't seem to care that customers were obviously languishing- the barkeep was on her own. When customers are seated waiting for service, it's like money in the bank. When a business doesn't care enough to properly staff to handle the capacity, it obviously doesn't care that it's pissing money away. That's fine with me- we left before she made our drinks and we opted not to book the luau we'd planned to attend (a total of 10 in our party). Impression: typical tourist town apathy; poor service; decent dive bar ambiance. Their auntie would probably be pissed.
(1)
Ziyan C.

A chill spot to hang out, listen to live music, and just enjoy the warm Hawaiian breeze. Better for the vibe than the drinks or food, but still worth a visit if you're in Hanalei. THE WAIT: The hostess was nice - it was a short wait for a table, but we were able to sit at the bar immediately at 7pm on a Monday. About halfway through our first drink, we saw a few tables open up along the wall and after checking with a server just sat ourselves. THE AMBIANCE: The live music was fun, the performer's wife did some ad hoc hula dancing, and it felt like a fun party with retired folk who have a lot of energy and are just looking to enjoy themselves. THE SERVICE: This part was quite slow. Our server took a long time to come to our table and everything took a while throughout the meal. They were nice and didn't mind that I had leftovers from another restaurant while my bf ordered a dinner entree. DRINKS: Mai Tai & Coconut/cayenne drink photo: yelp.com/biz_photos/tahiâ€¦ * Mai Tai - 4 stars Solid, good! But this was mostly good because of the premix. There wasn't a lot of cocktail artistry in the drink, but maybe that's just the SF foodie in me talking.. * Coconut cayenne drink - 3 stars Sounded promising, but this wasn't well balanced at all. It tasted way too strong, and you had to mix the cayenne significantly yourself to spread it out throughout the drink. * Another coconut/vodka drink on the menu - 3 stars pic: yelp.com/biz_photos/tahiâ€¦ Not very impressive - also too strong! MAINS: * Macadamia Nut Panko Crusted Ono - 3.5 stars pic: yelp.com/biz_photos/tahiâ€¦ My bf really loved this, but I thought it was mediocre. The flavors were there, but the veggies were soggy and it just wasn't a very high quality dish. DESSERTS: * Ice cream combo: Soursop (sorbet), chocolate, and coconut - 4 stars pic: yelp.com/biz_photos/tahiâ€¦ A nice combo of flavors! Tart, sweet/bitter, and tropical. The soursop was also quite rich for a sorbet, which I like (sorbets are usually to watered down for me). The coconut had a very authentic taste to it too.
(3)
Robin B.

I really wanted to love everything about this place. Music was good, hula was good, Mai Tais were good, atmosphere was good. my husband's Ono was good.....but...... My brother in law and I we're going to split a pizza. We ordered it at the same time as everything else. They delivered everyone at our large party's food EXCEPT the pizza. 25 minutes later (at least), the other 5 people in our party were finished with their food and their plates were even cleared.....Still no pizza. We finally asked again about it and were told that the pizza is made somewhere else and it wasn't connected with the rest of the restaurant (even though it is on the same menu and no one ever said anything about this) so items from both places rarely came out together. Ok. But everyone else's plates CLEARED even?? In the end, we just asked them to take it off the bill and forget about it. We never even saw it. Very sad (and hungry).
(2)
Emily M.

Fun little "dive-y" restaurant in town. They had live music which was a plus. The service was average and not as bad as previous reviews made it seem. It also wasn't very crowded when we went for dinner. We had the pizza with Kalua pig and pineapple. The pineapple seemed to be from a can.... What was saving it was the garlicky/fluffy crust! Decent price for the pizza to share - other items seemed kind of high in price. The Mai tai was actually one of the better we have had in Hawaii! Decent place to just hang back either for food and/or drinks. Nothing fancy.
(3)
Elizabeth T.

Not open for late night food, only drinks! They should at least have pupus!!!! I wasn't happy about the lack of late night food, but I truly enjoyed the live band and the beer. All the drinks looked great but I stuck to the Kona Hef. It was delicious. The vibe was very lively and fun, worry free! You're in paradise so its expected. The band was amazing! I wish I would've took down their name to write it on here. They played very well, great voice, and excellent selection of music for a Tuesday night. The bartender wasn't very attentive or good at coming to check on my friend and I. Nonetheless, I enjoyed it and met some great people there too. Nice way to spend a Tuesday and my last night of vacation in Kauai.
(3)
Marc L.

We went here last night and our server Joe and hostess Tiala were AWESOME! They both were very friendly and helpful making decisions on what to eat. We started off with the Ahi Carpacio suggested by Joe which was simply the best Pupu we have ever had. We then moved on to a pizza which was suggested to do half of a #3 and half #5. One of the best pizzas we've had. The Mai Tais were also very tasty. We highly recommend stopping in for dinner. As we were leaving the live entertainment kicked in but unfortunately we had to get up early for our flight and could stay and enjoy.
(4)
Sean D.

This is a great spot for people on vacation that enjoy dive bars. And the stink of a dive bar that never really gets cleaned. I get the feeling this place makes soo much money that they don't really care if you come back or not. I understand that tourists that blow into town looking to have a great time are annoying. But that is why all the places recommend Mai Tais that cost $12 bucks. That has the extra tourist you suck tax included. Also there are shot glasses for tourists and shot glasses for locals. I witnessed this and that is when it all became clear. Don't buy shots, go to the liquor store next door buy a bottle and pour your own. This liquor store is actually a gem amongst rocks. They have pretty much everything plus large bags of ice for 2 dollars... Back to the Nui. There is a little bar next door which can fit about 10 people that is clearly nicer but is always full. They keep this place clean. We had a few meals at the Nui and the pizza is what kept us coming back. The pizza comes from the pizza joint in the back. They have a window in the rear so you can order pizza directly.. This will save u money. You can have one overpriced we hate you tourist cocktail at the bar why you wait for your we love you tourist that is why we make such good pizza for you pizza to come out. They take about 25 mins which is about how long you have to wait to get a drink anyways. We still enjoyed the place and the band that plays there are really fun, so it all adds up to a typical dive bar 3 star. Mahalo soo much...
(3)
Michelle W.

Jay was great tonight. Made our party of 12 easy breezy. Helped with food choices and guided the kids to great food and drinks. Thanks again Jay.
(5)
Trish s.

Great bartending here... Food was good, even though it takes a while. Its worth it, plus its Kauai! This is a local dive bar, so respect that when you go in. Very unpretentious, so you should be too. Good bands at night. Nice people, but expect an occasional oddball to come in. It is always interesting at the Nui... Love it!
(5)
John E.

Great food, relaxed atmosphere and great music the night we were there. I had the Ahi and it was better than any I've had. My kids loved the pizza. The service was friendly and very attentive.
(5)
Max D.

Not to be missed if you want a slice of local life in Hanalei. Excellent pizza joint operates in the back.
(5)
Eric C.

High ratings on Yelp, so we came here for dinner. Almost went somewhere else because it seemed to have too lively an atmosphere for us. I guess I was hungry because the live band sounded too loud (I hardly ever complain about music volume). But once the food arrived after a long long wait, I was enjoying the band. Ordered the macademia nut crusted ono and the butterfish. Simply delicious! If only they had better waitstaff.... (long wait to get seated, get menus, and deliver food), but our food was extremely delicious!
(4)
Rob C.

Awesome Mac nut crusted Mahi with coco sauce and mash potato. The tuna carpaccio is killer! Nice mai tai to top it off. One of the best spots we ate at while in Kauai.
(4)
Ahonui B.

This place has seriously blown up since The Descendants! I hadn't been here in a while, but came here a few times with friends from the mainland a few weeks ago. And not much has changed, which is a great thing! It's still the same old little small town bar it always has been! I'd had the pizza a few times before. It's Tiki Man pizza, the one & the same, and it's always fantastic. My favorite remains the Spicy Hawaiian or something with ham, pineapple, and jalapeno. The fact that I'm willing to eat this, despite eschewing any other pizza dubbed "Hawaiian" because of the addition of pineapple speaks volumes. I'd never had anything else, but over the course of a week, sampled the ribs (very tasty, but there was a hint of nutmeg, or perhaps cinnamon? in the sauce which would have been great in a spicier rub, but in the mild version here, was a tad out of place.); the local prawns (fantastic); the rib-eye (heavenly) and heard a lot about the lamb (also divine). FYI, they also own & operate the Iti Wine Bar, next door. Had never been, or even heard of it, but it was also fantastic! Completely different vibe, but the same food. The price is about $25-$30. I opted for the $$$, or $30-60, figuring you guys would be pleased to discover this includes (for most of us) an entrÃ©e and a drink or two.
(4)
Joy S.

The Mai Tai's are super yummy. The Macademia Nut crusted Ono is to die for!!! Do yourself a favor and order it omg loved it!!! If you are looking for a rustic Hanalei Bay bar then this is your JAM!
(4)
Monique R.

You know - this place is now so disappointing - First time I visited Hanalei - this was the place to be without a doubt - awesome live music - fantastic food and great bar tender - all of that now is gone except the music - and I must say the 2nd time there the great bar tender was there but after going back for the third year in a row - now the service is shit - food is shit - and didn't have the great bar tender - what a BIG change when you lose a good chef. Top location - but unfortunately would only go back for the music and few drinks - better off eating across the road at Kalapyso's. So bummed out cause I used to love this little shack.
(2)
Carrie F.

We had a great dinner here while on Kauai! Hawaiian entertainment and an amazing kalua pork and pineapple pizza! So delicious. We got the barbque chicken pizza too but it couldn't compare to the kalua and pineapple. The favors were so good!
(5)
Jevon H.

The place is garbage. It's dirty, waitresses are unfriendly with an attitude, while service is super slow. My friends and I waited for 30 minutes and still couldn't get a drink. Other than the loud live music & occasional hula dance, there's nothing in this place worth paying for. Even as my friends & I decided to walk out, the staff simply ignored us. This is by far worst restaurant in Kauai!
(1)
Steve B.

"$50 for large pizza, garden salad, and 4 sodas. Pizza was good but not $50 good. Felt like I was ripped off. Ordered water for the table. I guess I will wait forever because it never came. Never again. Ruined otherwise great day."
(2)
Mark S.

Can not come to Kauai without making one....or more stops at Tahiti Nui. Love this place and the food is great. Have had several fish dishes, all very fresh....and my favorite is their pulled pork sandwich. Of course if you are there you must have their mai tais.....this makes the place. We have been going long enough that we have had the pure pleasure of meeting Aunt Louise..the original owner....she was total Royal. I guess that is another reason Tahiti Nui is so special to us.
(4)
Crystal K.

Arrived at 9 pm to find that they wouldn't serve us food because that was the bar. The waitress sent us next door to the restaurant...which was closed...so why did she send us there? We never knew. We stepped into the center section--the wine bar--and the bar tender didn't stop his conversation to help us. Another worker was sitting outside and we were talking out loud about our confusion but he didn't offer us help. We just left. Not that great of an experience in terms of service...we just wanted a straight answer.
(1)
Molly M.

Classic dive bar that welcomed 5 howlies with open arms and a lot of great local tips for beaches! We were there on St. Patricks day and had a ton of fun with pretty much everyone that was on the North side of Kauai, the guys are great bartenders, the woman not so much. Decent priced drinks and great pizza!
(4)
Jamie O.

Best Mai Tai but have them 4 stars for the food. The Ahi was good just a little to much soy which made it a bit salty. Also had a limited menu. But a must to stop by an have a drink
(4)
Christina Y.

If you're in Hanalei this place is a must! Be sure to look at the wall to find the picture of George Clooney when they shot the movie "The Descendents."
(4)
David T.

Don't go here expecting a fancy place, it's a very casual, bar-like atmosphere (which was great, from our point of view.) The seafood was excellent and the service pretty good too. The mai tai's were generous. The only thing I'd point out is that this isn't really a two-dollar sign place, it's more in the three-dollar sign category. Most of the entrees are $25-30.
(4)
Mr C.

Great little place for food and drink! Friendly staff and a great atmosphere to enjoy your lunch or dinner.
(4)
Nick P.

I went solo to catch a groove as I heard it was pretty cool. For a nightlife spot (I didn't eat anything) it was ok. I think I was there kind of late and things were closing up all over Hanalei and the crowd was having fun. This is a Kama'aina so don't be a tourist douche bag.
(3)
Laura H.

I've been here 4 times this week and each time was wonderful! Mai Tai's are the best on the island, and one of the cheapest. We decided to try the pizza today. 1/2 veggie with Kahlua pork, the other half meat and veggie (pepperoni, ham). My husband said it was the best pizza he's ever had (I agree!). We thought we would have to travel 3,000 miles in the easterly direction to find great pizza, but who knew it was here on Kauai! Definitely a destination place to go. We always came here in the afternoon, so I don't know much about the night life other than it was packed every time we went by around dinner. Don't miss this spot, definitely worth the drive no matter where you are on the island.
(4)
Etta H.

Yum yum Kalua Pork & Pineapple Pizza.... The atmosphere is great, food is awesome and the Mai Tais are.... *too* good. I went on a quieter evening to watch my uncle play guitar. I have heard the other live music there is awesome as well! The locals love this place - so if you're looking for something touristy, you might want to steer clear :) Love Tahiti Nui and will always return when I am on Kauai.
(4)
Elissa D.

This was a fun place to start our vacation. We just sat on the porch at night with a couple of drinks (skip the Mai Tai's and go with a beer or a basic cocktail) and enjoyed being on the North Shore in Hanalei. The live music was actually pretty good that night, and the wine bar right next door was pretty good. It was a great place to spend an evening relaxing.
(4)
John G.

Best. Mai. Tai. Ever. (Mai Tai only reveiew - did not have the food).
(5)
Jed B.

Driving around the island and happening on this place was amazing. Met new friends and hung out for some music. My granddaughter loved it. Combo pizza. It's just a fun place. Great people. Didn't want to leave. Oh, don't leave without a mai tai or two...or three...or.....
(4)
T S.

Husband, Hinano & a barstool. Happiness. The fact that I bought the last two pareos from the movie The Descendants was the icing on the Hula Pie!
(4)
Chimene S.

This place was one of our favorites during our stay this week in Kauai. As any of you know who have traveled to this island, good food can be hard to find, not to mention a place that has that Aloha vibe, good cocktails and food AND live music. So when we ate here on the first night of our vacation, we knew we'd be back. We ordered virtually identically both times - absolutely one of the BEST caesar salads ever (sorry, Mom) - super duper garlicky and BIG!! and then a medium pizza with assorted toppings. I'm sure the dinner menu is awesome too but I guess me and hubby are more salad and pizza people. So much so, in fact, we came here for dinner after our 10th anniversary renewal vow ceremony on the beach in Hanalei Bay. Just our style - super mellow island vibe and great food and music and lots of friendly, laid-back locals. Highly, highly recommended!!
(5)
Emily B.

We stopped here for lunch while exploring the North Shore. From other reviews, it sounds like this is the place to be in the evening, but at lunchtime it was DEAD. We were the only ones in the place for the first 15-20 minutes, before a few more people wandered in. I ordered the Kalua Pork sandwich and my husband got the Ahi Burger. I like my sandwich a lot. It was really salty (which I love). My husband thought hisburger was just okay. The waitress seemed somewhat disinterested, but not unpleasant. Overall, it was a very forgettable experience. I wouldn't come back here for lunch, but maybe I would give it another try for dinner when we visit Kauai again! FOOD: So-so LOCATION/AMBIANCE: Convenient location on main road in Hanalei. Stop at Wishing Well shave ice while your in the area. Ambiance was pretty dreary at lunch time. SERVICE: Meh PRICE: Average BOTTOM LINE: Don't come here for lunch, but maybe give it a try for dinner when the live music is going?
(3)
D L.

This place is coasting on the fame they received from being in the Descendants. The food is not good. The menu is limited--5 entree choices and a variety of pizzas. The prices are expensive for what you get. The restaurant is small and crowded. They pack as many people in as possible. The seating is shared tables. The service is slow. The best thing about this place was the music provided by KanakAttack.
(2)
Lesley K.

My husband and I found this hidden gem the last day of our trip. Hands down best Mai Tai ever, went in round 4pm so it was all locals. Bartender was awesome we saw Washington Huskies key chain and talked about Huskie pride WooHoo!! He was so nice our second round was on him. Definitely recommend this spot!!
(5)
Greg B.

The food here was way better than I ever expected. The babyback ribs were fantastic! The Marlin was Outstanding. The mashed potatoes were unbelievable! I almost never take home leftovers but I definitely took the mashed potatoes home. There wasn't any thing left on our plates to take. Service was great and don't forget the MaiTais; wonderful! So much better than anything else on the island.
(5)
Elmer A.

Went here for lunch during trip to Ke'e Beach. The food is outstanding. We went during lunch which had a limited menu. I had the seafood linguine. It had shrimp and ono pieces. The linguine was squid ink linguine so it was black. It may sound gross, but the linguine was so fresh. No way that came from a box. The shrimp was tasty and the ono was cooked to perfection. There portion was huge. My dining partner had the kalua pork sandwich. That was awesome also. Pork was slightly crispy and not dry. No need to sauce it. Hands down one of the best places to eat on the island. The diner menu looked better than the lunch. Service was good but we were the only people in the restaurant at 1:30 pm on a Monday afternoon.
(5)
scott o.

Great atmosphere, terrific music, friendly locals. Food was good, but not great.
(4)
Dawn F.

There was a short wait when we arrived so we sat at the bar to grab drinks. I had the Red Rocker. Delicious! The entertainment was Hawaiian ukelele music and hula dancing -- super fun! I will say our waitress was not very attentive -- and this was a small restaurant. She also didn't know much about the menu ingredients when I asked some questions about items that may have dairy. I ended up ordering the garden salad with shrimp. It was mediocre. A bit disappointed as this restaurant was recommended by my roommate's friend.
(3)
Jennifer L.

My then-boyfriend suggested this place and I was up for whatevers (I was just hungry!) so off we went. :) We arrived at Tahiti Nui for dinner and I was surprised by the loud music and "bar/lounge-y" feel of the place. Very casual and not what I was expecting, but it's cool. I think it's more a place to come and eat and listen to music versus have an actual conversation with your companions. We weren't sure if it was a seat yourself or what or if we order at the counter...we eventually figured out to grab our own table (thankfully someone just left) and found our own menus. Someone took forever to come around with waters, much less to check if we wanted to order. (The boy actually went up and asked if we order up there and they told us they'd come get our order so we waited for them.) I found out that my menu lacked several items that the boy's menu had! I was like "WTF" because clearly they had both new and outdated menus. Uncool. We shared the macadamia nut crusted ono (fish) and the butterfish with a creamy sauce. They were both very good but I didn't like the smell that emanated from them. It kind of gave off a very fishy smell that I had to ignore in order to keep my appetite. (Yes I know it's weird I disliked the smell but liked the food.) It was an incredibly long wait for the food after ordering...to the point where I was getting antsy and irritated (I usually am pretty understanding of food service/retail waits because I've done the retail stuff...I know shit goes on behind the scenes and I'm okay with being understanding of that but honestly, sometimes all I need is a reassurance of "Yes its coming, thank you for waiting." It's customer consideration.). It really didn't help at all that BOTH of us were starving... While the food is 3 stars, I rate it 2 for the customer service.
(2)
Belle C.

The best Mai Tai in Kauai is definitely made here. We ordered: Crusted Ono sashimi & pulled pork sandwich to complement our island meal. The staff is friendly but service was on island time so if you're in a hurry or too hungry, don't go here just yet. Get a snack somewhere then come back. To deduct stars for slow service would be unfair because, in a beautiful island of Kauai, why would you be in a hurry? Just chill out and enjoy your Mai Tai and the amazing mountain view... Soak it in... *island music background
(5)
Bob W.

Went to the Wed night Luau - had a great time! It's a bit expensive but it was also the best food we had the entire trip.
(4)
Ines C.

Awesome time! The best Mai Tai's on the island. We had them everywhere we went. Wanted to go to the night live music even but didn't make it. Otherwise the only thing is is that they stop serving lunch at some point... so we just had drinks and went to eat elsewhere.
(5)
Angelina L.

Definitely a locals spot..... We went here 2 nights of our stay in Kauai, mainly because it was open late. The first night was GREAT. There was a well known reggae band that was playing, had a good vibe with the crowd and we danced the night away. Drinks were good and no, they didn't know how to make a Washington Apple either. Service was good. My girlfriend got picked up on by one of the locals that had no teeth and was drunk as a skunk and we all laughed about it. Overall a good time. The second night was a little different.. Still an ok time, but not as fun and a completely different vibe. Complaints: First, the live entertainment was offish with the crowd Second, I was backed up against a table to take pictures and got yelled at not to sit on the table, even though no one was at that table or any of the nearby ones. Third, one of the girls flip flops came off when she was dancing and she was yelled at to put her shoes back on. The bartender was still ok, but overall the vibe was just not as fun. Think it all depends on the music and the night. Even still with the mixed experiences, I would suggest checking this place out just to get a taste of the local flavor and the history of this long term diner that the married couple, a United States Air Force Lt. Colonel and a native of Tubuai (Austral Islands, French Polynesia) which is just south of Tahiti, started a long time ago and which is now ran by their son.
(3)
Denni S.

Place was great! We received awesome service. Food was delish - I had the Ahi Sandwich for lunch. Everything everyone is saying about their Mai Tai's - it's true. What are you waiting for? Go get one!!
(4)
Paul C.

Back in the day this was a grass hut. The geckos were all over the place. Great place to hang with locals and have a drink and hear some music. Been back twice since they renovated - nice place - good menu - still pretty "local" - too bad though - the old place was a treasure.
(4)
Lenny G.

Mai Tais were good, food was surprisingly good for hole in wall. Bands were great, the first one was good and the second was better, great joint overall! Would def recommend.
(4)
Eliza G.

Just got back from this local bar. Amazing place. The service is so friendly, which unfortunately, is not the norm on this island. Service was great. The Mai Tais, while touted as the best, were okay...not the best....but the appetizers were fantastic! We had the panko encrusted ono with wasabi/soy sauce that was probably the best food I have had since I got here (except for the burgers at Duane Ono's). Not as pricey as most places in Hanalei, still up there but worth every penny. Locals are a hoot! Spent 20 minutes talking with some in the parking lot and had one of the nicest friendliest conversations since I got here. Will come back again and again and again.
(5)
Xeekster d.

Luau. Fun fun fun. Entertainment 5*. Food 4*. Drinks 4*. Joy ... 10.
(5)
Chris H.

Food service is definitely on island time but service was decent. We only ate here for lunch after surfing but was glad that we did. Decent beer and ordered the Ono Roll. My boyfriend said this was one his favorite eats while were on the island.
(4)
Deirdra S.

We had the Macadamia Nut Panko Crusted Ono with Coconut Cilantro Lime Sauce and the Seared Ahi with Creamy Wasabi Sauce. The seared Ahi left something to desire. It was not seared (I'm guessing the chef did not know how to sear or was afraid to get the pan hot enough. The sauce was disappointing because I ordered it thinking I would be able to taste the wasabi kick. No kick to be found :( You also get a choice of mash potatoes, french fries, or rice. Now if it was my restaurant I would only give you fish with rice or vegetables. Maybe it's because a lot of old folks go there? On the other hand the Ono was way above awesome. The coconut cilantro lime sauce was excellent especially with the rice and the macadamia nut panko crust of the fish. I'm not sure how the chef nailed this one but not the simple wasabi sauce and the art of searing for the above dish. The drinks were so-so. we had their 'famous' mai tai Service was good, drinks so-so, and one out of 2 dinners were awesome.
(4)
Kacy M.

I love this place! I recently visited Hanalei and fell in love with Tahiti Nui. This place was recommended to me when I was there. The first night we went I had the ribs which were amazing, the next day we tried the pizza - also amazing and the drinks are delicious as well. They also had live music the first night we went and it was so much fun!! Can't wait to visit again!!! Aloha!!
(5)
Mighty M.

My bf and I went to vacation in Kauai and we fell in love with Hanalei. Well, part of the reason is because of this little gem! The food is mad good and the view is pretty nice with the fog coming in over the mountains! Ahhh how I wish I was still there!
(5)
Stephen E.

Went here for pizza and Mai Tais and were not disappointed. My wife and I shared a medium spicy Hawaiin / "combo" split as well as a salad. Sharing both was more than enough food. Loved the spicy Hawaiian, but the combo was too oniony/garlicky for my taste, and I like both. The waitress was nice and relatively attentive, but stretched too thin as she was the only server. Still, a fun atmosphere and ambience.
(4)
Kevin N.

Tahiti Nui is the most chameleon-like bar/restaurant/hangout you'll find anywhere on the planet - let alone Kauai. At turns it is a homey place where everybody knows your name, a chaotic meat market, and a nice place for a family meal. Go figure! But in all cases, it achieves near perfection in its guise of the moment. When it's slow, the lovely Darcelle will give you her sage advice on drink and food selections; when it's rockin', it's best to know what you want and say it fast or resign yourself to standing at the bar waving cash at anyone you can flag down. Regardless you can count on a good pour, surprisingly competent kitchen work and a good time. Just don't expect tomorrow to feel anything like today or yesterday. Nightly entertainment ranges from cool local singer-songwriter to jammin' reggae to 70's and 80's cover bands to karaoke. No rhyme. No reason. But always a little edgy and totally fun! If teetotaling is your thing, stay away. If you like a cocktail or two and have a sense of adventure, you can't do better anywhere on the North Coast!
(5)
Alex G.

One of the best "dive bars" I've been to in decades. It's crowded, old, and authentic as hell. The live music - two Hawaiian dudes - was perfect for the vibe, and the whole place put you into a cool, Polynesian state of mind. Cuddling up, we had some great local draught beers - served by a friendly waitress with a great smile - and enjoyed the songs and people watching. But the awesomeness doesn't end there: the food is really good (and we are foodies). The squid ink pasta with fish, scallops and shrimp was perfectly cooked and tossed with a fresh, fragrant tomato sauce - delicious! The ono (local fish) was crusted in macadamia nuts and Japanese bread crumbs and served with a light version of a curry sauce - crisp on the outside and flaky inside; wow! We left when the first duo stopped playing, feeling like we'd had a quintessential island experience. Worth a stop for sure!
(5)
Gila Z.

Best mai tais in the island!! The bar gets a bit crowded but has a great friendly local feel. Love the dive bar vibe and the live music!
(5)
Brianna S.

Stupid or scamming? It's hard to say. We visited Tahiti Nui during our stay on Kauai with eight of our friends because this place is famous for their Mai Tais. While the Mai Tais were great I would have to strongly recommend any visitors steer clear of this place. When it came time to pay we received a bill for $230 and change which included 18% gratuity - fair enough. The restaurant only allows you to split the bill 2 ways. So we gathered up $175 cash and asked Julia, the bartender, to put the remaining balance on my debit card - this should have been about $55. Instead, I received a receipt for about $82 and the original bill missing - when we asked the waitress about the discrepancy she through her hands up and said "she handles the money" and pointed to Julia. When we confronted her about the issue she tried to tell us that the additional thirty some dollars was for gratuity. We asked for our original receipt and showed her that the original receipt had a subtotal with sales tax, and a grand total of $230 with gratuity. She then got extremely defensive and kept saying it was the computer system that did this and she could not correct the error. After multiple people from our group (a doctor, nurse, marketing executive, and mortgage broker - very bright people) tried to explain to her in the simplest terms possible why this was inaccurate she accused one of our group members of being drunk - totally out of line since he had only one drink. Finally after causing enough of a stink she reluctantly agreed to pay us back the difference in cash - still refusing to admit that we were correct about the error on the bill. I personally have a hard time believing that anyone is really that stupid. I have to think she thought after a couple drinks we would not be alert enough to realize we were being over charged. Some other members of our group felt she really was not bright enough to comprehend that $230 - $175 = $55. My advice if you decide to go - only pay in cash.
(1)
Karen S.

Stopped by for some drinks and stayed for dinner. One warning - if you go for just drinks near dinner time, i think you have to order food or shift tables in the dining area. Not a problem, since we got to try the pizza. The spicy hawaiian was great! The drinks were good (but they were out of the first three beers i ordered - but i was ordering lame mainland beers :)). There was entertainment. They were nice and asked the audience who was celebrating. They invited the couples celebrating anniversaries to come up and dance. Very friendly staff.
(4)
Marcie C.

Best thing we did! Keli'i Kaneali'i is a world famous Hawaiian musician and we got to be 3 feet from him the whole night! He has the most amazing voice and gives such an emotional performance. Keli'i is such a friendly person. He signed a book for us (the Obama Hawaii book where he plays on the accompanied CD). He has signed many CDs for me in the past. He also sat with us during his break and let us take photos with him. Can't wait to hear him again! The food here is surprisingly good! I had the creamy wasabi ahi with mashed potatoes. The passion fruit margarita was mighty tasty.
(5)
Aimee R.

Love this place! We went here twice during our Kauai vacation and had a great time there. Mai tais are the best here. Staff is very surly/slow/confused so be prepared, but it's worth the effort. As a vegan/vegetarian i found very little on the menu, so went with the garden salad and asked for a side of mashed potatoes. Very surprisingly, the mashed potatoes were some of the best i've had, and the salad was huge and generous and really good as well. Boyfriend had Ahi and really liked it as well. We were not expecting the food to be good here, so were pleasantly surprised. Entertainment and ambiance are perfect if you are looking for a super casual and laid back, fun vibe. Definitely add this bar to your itinerary for a mai tai some evening.
(5)
David T.

Food was good, but the service was lacking.
(4)
Amy L.

I love dives and this is certainly one. We went on a Thursday night and there was live music, the Mai Tais are AWESOME and loved the Hanalei pizza!!! MUST GO HERE.
(5)
Michelle S.

Had the best pizza! Had to wait a while but def worth the wait.
(5)
Adrian Z.

Went there early (4:30pm ish?) so we almost had the place to ourselves which was cool. Just finished our 4 miler on the Trail, so we were ready for Mai Tais. Very tasty! Drinking them on that lettle porch area was nice too. Great view of the mountains to the south. Didn't try the food, was there just for the Mai Tais. I miss this place, now that I'm back home :-(
(5)
Tina C.

This place totally rocks !!! Best Mai tais Rockin live music !!!
(5)
Chris R.

Waited 45 minutes for a slice of pizza and gave up....don't waste your time.
(1)
Scarlet H.

Came here for lunch. Food was ok. Pork sandwich was too salty. Seafood Linguini's tomato sauce was too overwhelming but there was a good amount of fish and shrimp in it.
(3)
Emily G.

Fun place to grab a beer after the beach. Live music.
(4)
Christine J.

We dropped in just for drinks and appetizers and really didn't understand the hype. The service was ok and the waitress friendly. However, my fruity drink was small and had very very little alcohol to be sure. My husband got a mai tai that was just ok. The waitress said they had great seafood but I found their menu to be very limited and very very expensive! We ended up heading to Dolphin to get a good fill of sushi. This place was just a bit disappointing.
(3)
Arizona T.

Not the friendliest people and overpriced drinks. Pizza took 60 mins!!!
(2)
Eric N.

We had the pork sandwich for lunch. They slow cook the pork and the bbq sauce it goes with was tangy and delicious.
(4)
Jessica M.

While the food tasted fine and live Hawaiian music entertaining, it took at least an hour to get our food and the order wasn't right. The server had suggested grilled fish with sauce on the side for our dairy and egg allergic son. We agreed. When delivered it had been battered and fried. With eggs, of course. I think our waitress may have been at least a little tipsy.
(2)
Tim C.

Wife and I were here in early September. Came for dinner and it was really good. The macadamia nut encrusted placko and the fish/chips were very large portions which we enjoyed. The drinks were well made but most of all we appreciated that it was very laid back. Will be coming back!
(4)
Chris D.

Came here a few nights in a row for drinks after dinner. Same crowd every night. Same two "Bar Rats." Tourist throughput must be high, as the waitresses seemed irritated by questions such as, "Where is the restroom?" Bartender was cool. Pizza was pretty good and drinks were cheap. Live band each night we went. The old local guys were cool. The small-man band was not. Basically, the only bar we could find on NS Kauai. Also, some scenes from The Descendants were filmed here.
(3)
Alejandro R.

the food was plain and the bill way to much, we would never go again to this place.
(1)
Danielle W.

Had the Mai Tai and it lived up to it's reputation! About 1/2 the price of every other Mai Tai on the island and twice as delcious. The carpaccio was amazing! The Ono was Ono, but the coconut cream and mashed potatoes were to die for!! Dive atmosphere, live music, what's not to love. FYI - kitchen closes at 9pm (which as we found out means no more food orders after 8:45).
(5)
Amanda A.

BEST food on the island! The amazing macadamia nut, panko-crusted ono with cilantro lime sauce was the best I have ever had. Yummo! You must try. The chef makes the most amazing food. YOU HAVE TO GO HERE!!! Pizza is da bomb!!
(5)
Joseph A.

Any haters here are stupid! This place is awesome! Best Mai tais ever! Forget everything else just get the margarita pizza! Go when there is live music... The later the better from what we can tell. We are here now as I write this listening to fantastic reggae and sitting across from one of the actors from Tim and Eric (Shrimmmmmm)..?!? This is great, don't miss out!
(5)
Craig M.

Great place for dinner and drinks. I wouldn't recommend if for big groups though because its a small place. The live music was great and my entree of fish was the best fish I have ever eaten. Their Mai Thais were also really good.
(5)
Sarah H.

I'd give 10 stars if possible. Thursday and Friday nights they have food, however all nights they have pizza available. I had their food on a Thursday night and it was AWESOME. I had ribs, and coconut shrimp, and king crab legs. SOOOO GOOOD I personally found their Mai Tai's to be rather average, but the local bands and friendly staff make this bar a must!
(5)
Megan H.

This place was so great we went 3 times during our 1.5 week visit to the North Shore!! The vibes are very chill---not touristy at all. There is live entertainment every night, and the food is good and reasonably priced. To top it all off they had the best Mai Thai we had on the island!! Very strong...not too sweet. Perfection! If you go, you simply must try it. The only reason I am giving them 4 stars is the service. The server we had the first two times was pretty impatient (borderline rude). The server we had the third time was super nice, but not very attentive. Don't let the less-than-perfect service sway you. This place is pretty rad. If you are in the neighborhood, definitely give it a try!
(4)
D N.

The prices were great I spent under $12 for 2 drinks including tip. We got the recommended Mai Tai and the local gold hawaiian beer. It was good and all that jazz but everyone was right about the service. Though the bar wasn't crowded and she spotted us immediately after we sat down and gave us some napkins for drinks, she didnt take our order right away. When we looked at the menu, we didnt even want to consider eating there. The dinner menu was at least $15-20 min. for an entree. We saw that and thought, 'For a bar? forget it.' We went across the street to Hanalei Gourment for food. Entrees start at $10 there.
(3)
Shawn C.

If we lived here we would have our own Parking space we would be here so often! The pizzas were great and the passion fruit margarita is very worth going back for...many times!!
(5)
Andrew S.

Some friend and I went there. It was so low life they wouldnt even drink a glass of water! My wife would not even go inside. Sketchy. But it was the only game in town at that time.
(1)
Monique C.

It is what is is..pretty divey. Looks like a lot of fights & rowdyness~ Went in for 1 drink and left before things got crazy. The bar was full of 2nd hand smoke from outside..yuck! Prob. wouldn't go back unless...well na prob wouldn't go back..
(2)
Lindsay C.

Sooo driving up to the place, you are convinced you will definitely get food poisoning from it. No worries, you wont! We ate here multiple times (mostly for the unbelievable MANGO CHEESECAKE) Food was great, live music, and the soft, tangy yummy mangos that covered that cheesecake. OMGoodness it was so good it sold out all the time, so we had our server hold it for us before dinner! Fantastic place to get a great Hawaiian meal, in an authentic atmosphere.
(5)
L H.

If you are looking for a late night hangout to drink and listen to come live music this place is okay. But go after you've eaten dinner. The food here was subpar and seemed as expensive as many of the other restaurants in town.
(2)
Patti a.

Fantastic food and alot of fun. Actually mine was fantastic, their daily special, monchong fish. Had never heard of it before, it was great. Husband had the ono, it was overcooked, but the show and the atmosphere was fun. Would definitely return.
(5)
Stephanie H.

A good solid Mai Tai on Kauai is very hard to find but my wait was over when I stepped Tahiti Nui. You immediatly feel the history that echos all around you. This bar was in the movie the Descendants and you see a lot of tourists here that that photos of everything even the photos on the wall. It cracks me up when you see a person taking a photo of a photo. Its a little bit crazy but then I had to take a picture of a woman in a mumu taking a picture of a photo on the wall best souvenier ever, makes me laugh everytime. So if you can stand the tourists this bar rocks and the bartender has pure magical hands with mixing drinks.They also have a beer that is very hard to find anywhere and it is called Hinano it is a Tahitian beer that is full of flavor and a must try. I had the hamburger and my husband has the pork sandwhich the food is really good. So take a seat and relax and order a Mai Tai and be taken away by true paradise and have one or two for me.
(5)
Melissa E.

Food was good, server was less than friendly. We live on Kauai and appreciate good service and good food. The server was not friendly and certainly did not have the aloha spirit. Not sure I want to go back there and bother him again...
(3)
Cynthia D.

This is a fun little spot to grab a drink and eat at.The atmosphere is funky Polynesian dive. Nice friendly waitress. Really good mai tai. It was fun to watch people walk in and take a snap shot of where George Clooney was and then they walked out. I haven't seen the movie, but apparently the Descendants was filmed here. Good pizza -Hawaiian and Huli Huli chicken.
(3)
W Q.

Live music was amazing. The ribs are to die for, it's delicioius and one of my top 3 places to eat ribs anywhere. The service?! What service. Fire the blonde waitress please. She is disgustingly rude. hawwwaii.com/Tahiti%20Nuâ€¦
(1)
Pebble L.

Too bad the pizza is good... The service is horrible, service with an attitude but perhaps that is their schtik - it is a dive after all. Was with a group of 13. All who had the pizzas were satisfied. Others had mahi, it was overcooked and dry. They were not willing to accommodate separate bar tabs while all other restos on the island had no problem doing so. In all fairness, we visited during the daytime, so perhaps they were up too early. I am sure the atmosphere is perfect for the late night drinkers.
(2)
Catherine M.

Fun little spot, with decent pizza and great live music. I was not a huge fan of the Tahitian poke, just a little bland for my tastes; and the shots are a complete rip-off ($8 for a shot of Fireball); but we had a super sweet waitress and the specialty cocktails were tasty. A word of caution on the live music- they stop playing at 10 pm on weeknights, but we did not have to pay a cover charge like some others noted. I think our waitress said they go until 12:30 or 1 pm on the weekends.
(5)
Kali D.

Yup we flew all the way to Kauai for pizza! Ok no we didn't but when my girlfriend who lives on the island suggested we all go for drinks and pizza at Tahiti Nui and we were down, at this point I think I was all Poke out. We were a group of five, and the place is pretty small and not very cozy for larger groups so we ended up grabbing a table on the back porch. We had a lot of room to spread out and sip on our cocktails. The only complaint I have was the sun. . LOL I know this is not in the control of the joint but a roll down shade was really needed because with the sun going down we were blinded by it's rays. Causing us to shift and play musical chairs! On to the pizza and drinks. This was THE BEST PIZZA I THINK I HAVE EVER HAD! Like everything on these islands, prices were high but it was soooo worth it! And yes we were sitting in the heat eating hot a$$ wonderful pizza. . I'm drooling now while typing! It was amazing! We had some other food items, everything was pretty good. Plenty of drinks were going around between Mai Thai's, shots, and whatever! We had a ball. Service was wonderful! I was so glad my girlfriend recommended Tahiti Nui! Nice change of pace from the normal Hawaiian eats! Remember this is a dive and the little local critters may visit you which you eat lol!
(4)
Scott B.

Wow! This has become a daily habit every time we are in Kauai. Christian is a rock star, and Daisy is top shelf. I highly recommend this local icon in Hanalei.
(5)
andrea s.

This is not seafood restaurant. I think there was 1 seafood main entree. It may be a great happy hour, mai tai, hang out bar but the food is regular bar food. Service was great. My only complaint was that we were expecting a seafood restaurant.
(2)
Myra K.

This place has the best entertainment. Live music and good food. We had the Huli Chicken Pizza, which we totally enjoyed. Their pizza's only come in medium or large, so enough to share. Every table we looked at had a different type of pizza, so I'm guessing their pizza is what they are best known for. The place is very small, but if you can fit it into your schedule, come for dinner and enjoy the music/entertainment. It is worth the trip. TWO THUMBS UP!!
(5)
Danielle M.

Came in with a large party and the host (bald male) was so aggressive and rude that we left. Wanted to dine here but was so disappointed with their lack of customer service, that we ventured down the road to another more appealing place.
(1)
Three D.

Best Mai Tai found on the island. Believe me, I tried many. The Ahi Steak was fantastic! Great service. Will not be disappointed. A must stop!
(5)
Caesar G.

As many have said , this is not a place known for its food. Come for the booze and happy hour $7 Mai Tais and music. Crowd is a mix of locals, tourists, village drunks, bar flies, and hippies with dreadlocks. But no sign of George Clooney.
(3)
Geneva H.

We called and reserved seats for the luau on Wed. We waited to be seated for over 30 min with all the other people. Then decided it wasn't worth it and left. Not the typical luau atmosphere. Dingy, long tables, and a stage in a small room. When we called to cancel because there was nobody able to talk to us at the restaurant they said our credit card would be charged regardless. Pretty poor customer service.
(1)
Mike R.

What a bummer. We went to Tahiti Nui 2 years ago and had a great time. There was live music and we had a damn good pizza. It was hot & gooey & garlic buttery. The service was decent considering how busy they were. That with the live music made it a fun experience. We were really looking forward to coming back. We ate here the other night. It took us a few minutes to get seated. Ok, fine by me. Once we were seated, it took 20 minutes for someone to come out to our table. The hostess asked if anyone had come out and was embarrassed that nobody had been out to the table. Ok, again not the end of the world. We ordered a Hawaiian and a cheese pizza. It's pretty hard to accurately describe what we were served. If you have ever taken a few slices home from a restaurant and then put them in an oven to reheat them, but then taken them out too soon. The pizza had weirdly reheated undercooked consistency. The bottom of the pizza was completely white and the cheese wasn't melted. The service being a little slow doesn't bother me. I've waited in line for 2 hours before getting seated at a restaurant and it was one of the best meals I've had in the last 5 years. But this pizza was completely weak and was really inexcusable.
(3)
Jackie O.

Hate to give only one star to a place like this but yes I must. My husband and I came in on a Monday afternoon and like many of the posts about the Tahiti Nui I also confirm extremely poor service with a don't care attitutude. I'm too disappointed to go into detail other than my fish dish wasn't fresh and the burger and fries my husband ordered was not even hot. I returned my fish dish to the bartender with complaint; she did take it off our ticket. They really should just stick to being a great dive bar and improve their service.
(1)
Rebecca F.

It's pretty cool to be inside Tahiti Nui and see the exact spots where they filmed Descendants. They also have a killer mai tai...their "secret" recipe. The pizza is good. I didn't think the other dishes were anything special.. a little overpriced for the quality, but I would return for the live music and drinks on my next visit to Hanalei.
(3)
Zeb B.

Best (and only) dive bar in Hanalei. Great live music vibe, cold beer and so-so food. Perfect For those looking for a spacious nightclub or amazing restaurant anywhere on the North Shore . . . you will be disappointed. The cost of rent / labor, available ingredients when compared to the typical Joe American budget and bland taste rules out anything like what's available on the mainland. Get over it and start lovin Olive Garden quality food (at best) and shitty Mai Tai's - it's what 80% of the folks that come here want. I laugh when I read below: "Came in with a large party and the host (bald male) was so aggressive and rude that we left." Thank you for leaving and thank you "bald male" for giving them the hint to do so. Go to Maui or Oahu with your large party - they're set up for that and you'll fit right in.
(5)
Victoria S.

Good food and great atmosphere .. Seemed more like an authentic local spot.. They usually have live music as well - we missed it as we came in for a later dinner... Everything is yummy in hawaii - all natural and organic.. Loved it!
(4)
Janet O.

This place is the same as Tiki Man Pizza? Tiki Man is just right behind Tahiti Nui. Connected and under one roof! Pizza was very oily. Staff was full of attitude. There are many places to spend your money on minus the oily pizza and attitude! Meh!
(2)
Corey K.

Meh. Average drinks, okay service, divey setting (we didn't try the food). You'd think from the very flashy website and glowing Yelp reviews that the place is legendary, but it's more like a legend in it's own mind. The Ultimate Kaua'i Guidebook review is spot on: "A legendary local establishment whose reputation is far grander than the present reality. Now it's basically a local watering hole with overpriced food, spotty service and a dark atmosphere."
(3)
curt m.

It had been 4 years since we last ate at the Nui. Value has definitely dropped significantly. Food quality mediocre and way over-priced for bar food menu. Touristy atmosphere fine with us and nightly live music a real plus. Go to have fun, not for the food. Agree with others that it's over-hyped
(2)
Lisa B.

Fun atmosphere, great service! Then to top it off the food was outstanding. The ribeye was so tender, the Ono was fresh and tasty, and the beat salad was delicious! Will be back and definitely recommend.
(5)
Katie S.

Service was extremely slow. The couple next to us ended up leaving before getting service. The food was ok, but not worth the price or wait. To top it off, the beer came warm. Wish we had left too.
(2)
Michael J.

My sister and I happened to be here on a night when the live music performer was the same guy singing the yodeling song in "The Descendants". That made for a nice experience, and their mai tai is delicious. It's best to get here earlier on a weekend night as it gets very, very crowded. For a seat at the bar, try to get there before 6 PM. If you want a table, not long after that. It's a cool place to stop, have a drink and enjoy some live in music in Hanalei. I didn't try the food here, and yes the drinks are expensive but it's a tourist bar in Kauai so I find it hard to believe that people would be that shocked over drink prices.
(4)
Aaron C.

Like stepping back in time. The food and drinks are decent but pricey!! Get the coconut margarita. The grilled ahi sandwich was good but nothing out of the ordinary. Service is extremely slow so don't come in a hurry.
(2)
Shary G.

I don't get it! Lunch = 8oz Angus Burger, you can pick from 4 different cheeses, add caramelized onions, mushrooms, bacon, and avocado. Cost $12 Dinner = 8oz Angus Burger with cheddar cheese. CAN NOT add anything!! Cost $15 Tasted ok, but the menu is just stupid!
(1)
Meg R.

We heard that Tahiti Nui gets crowded and noisy late at night, but we arrived to the bar around 8:30 on a weeknight and it was the perfect beach setting. It's a rustic beach bar that feels true to the Hawaiian ambiance. They had a local guy playing on a ukulele when we sat down at the bar and the bartender was very friendly. The entire atmosphere was very relaxed and casual. We ordered their famous Mai Tais and they were the perfect island drinks!
(4)
Ms. T.

Attended the Wednesday evening luau and I had such a great time. In comparison to some of the other luaus on the island this is a smaller venue BUT at The Nui you feel like your at a family gathering. The food served at the luau was terrific. I enjoyed everything on my plate so its very difficult for me to pick one dish out over the others. My suggestion is to try it all and go back for seconds there is plenty of food. Don't pass up this weird alien looking red spiky Rambutan fruits especially if you've never had one before. Also try the Logan fruits. All the entertainers from the hansome men who played the music, to the beautiful hula and tahitian dancers, to the fire dancers gave wonder performances. Being in such a small dining area I'm sure every seat in the house had an excellent view. Mahalo Uncle Christian for continuing your family's luau tradition and thank you to all your family and employees who work so hard to make your luau such a wonderful and welcoming event for visitors like myself.
(4)
Katy D.

We enjoyed the family atmosphere of the luau. Food was good, drinks great, entertainment outstanding. Seating was extremely cramped we only wish they would have not booked so many to give everyone some elbow room All in all we would go back.
(4)
Missy L.

BEWARE!!! THEY ARE THIEF'S! We had heard that the Tahiti Nui had amazing Mai Tai's, so we decided to go there after our engagement dinner to continue the celebration. We had a couple drinks and paid $40 in cash, and put the rest on our card (which was about $30). We also tipped $15 in cash (wish we could take back that tip now). When we got back from vacation I was going over all charges on my account and saw that I had two charges on my card. One for $30 (correct) and one for $40 (wrong, this was paid in cash). I assumed it was a simple mistake and called the bar. The person on the phone was not very friendly but took my info and I was told the manager would return my call later that day. I never heard anything. I called again, and again, and again. Finally I was told to call the reservation line. I called that and left a message. Still no return call. I finally emailed them. And YEAH! got a call back. The manager sounded like she actually cared and it would get taken care of, I emailed her the info she needed and I was told the refund would be done by Tuesday. Tuesday came and went so I emailed her letting her know still no refund. I have now emailed her MULTIPLE times. It has now been over a month, and still no refund. I ended up having to go into my bank and disputing the charge and filling a fraud form. Also, had to cancel that card and get a new one since the place seems sketchy and there is a possibility they could have also stolen the card number. Pain in the A$$ I am pretty sure the waitress pocketed the cash and charged our card, and this is common practice there. They did not seem to concerned about fixing it. Also, Tahiti Nui thank you sooo much for putting a black mark on my engagement celebration!
(1)
Andreas S.

Nice little place. Potentially a lot of fun. Good service, hot waitresses, tasty beverages. The pokey was really bland, have had better on the main land. Will be returning for a pizza in the evening sometime.
(3)
Gayle L.

Come here for a fun night out in Hanalei. Awesome vibe, great drinks, good service and solid food. Come on a night with love music (which is most nights!). They do a luau Wednesday's 5-8pm.
(4)
Sam P.

I'm not a service stickler, but this was a pretty bad experience -- and the extremely slow delivery of the food took away from the fact that it was actually pretty good. So, fine food, but not good enough to justify the wait and the less-than-friendly service.
(2)
Natalia P.

This place is overpriced and nothing special. My boyfriend and I stopped by Tahiti Nui to have dinner. It was extremely hot inside the restaurant regardless the fans. We ordered two items from the entree menu. My bf had prawns in sweet sauce and I ordered Ono fish in coconut sauce. Portions were smaller than we expected. My bf had literally one tiny little scoop of rice and maybe 8-10 prawns. No veggies on the side. The best part of my plate was a purple sweet mashed potato. The fish had literally no flavor, I could only taste the sauce. When the check came, we realized gratuity (18%!!!) is automatically included and we cannot change it. So we had to pay almost 10$ tip to the host who didn't really do anything special for the food that was only OK. The bill came to 65$ for 2 entrees and a lemonade. It was not worth it at all. Never coming back here.
(2)
Anita L.

= MAI TAI & LIVE MUSIC = TAHITI NUI is exactly how I imagine Hawaii should be like. Nice relaxing SOUTH PACIFIC theme, chilling at the patio with one hand on my Mai Tai and listening to live music. Who cares if you can't catch every word on the Hawaiian v
(4)
Donna Z.

They truly do have the best Mai Tai on the island! There's also some great history here, as this little bar was in the movie "The Descendants." Other than the Mai Tai, though, with their "secret family recipe" - I'd say stay away. We went here twice during our stay in nearby Princeville and were severely disappointed by a couple very rude staff members and the extreme slowness, as well as the inconsistency of the food. One day the beet salad had dressing and candied walnuts (and was amazing!), and the next, they acted like I was crazy to ask where they went. If you aren't hungry and don't mind braving some attitude (I thought of it as a challenge, and succeeded in making our server actually crack a smile!), then I'd recommend coming here and getting the Mai Tais - they really are delicious.
(3)
D C.

I know it's an institution but I don't see the appeal of this place. We came to hear some live music so we know we were going to put up with some lackluster food. First it is a "dive bar", but non-dive prices. The waitress was not friendly at all and seemed to hate her job. The worst part was the long wait for the food. I think we waited over 1.5 hours for a pizza and salad (pizza actually came out 20 minutes before the salad did). My partner added Kauai prawns to his salad, but I think they actually ran out (giving them the benefit of the doubt) and gave him regular frozen shrimp. I know this because they said they would come with heads on but then came butterflied (plus I saw people eating head on prawns earlier). I thought he should mention something but the waitress was nowhere to be found (and I think a little intimidating, ha). The pizza was ok. When the check arrived it had extra items so we had to wait to get that corrected. I think in the end I was then overcharged for my pizza, but I just wanted to get out of there after sitting there for almost 3 hours. One thing I should have expected but was surprised by was the age of the crowd. We were there from 8ish to 11. When we walked in we were younger than the majority of patrons by about 30-40 years (and we're in our mid-30s). I usually wouldn't feel out of place but I did, as if I made a wrong turn into a cruise ship. One extra star because I did enjoy the music. It was a cover band but it was some fun. One note I would make in response to an earlier review by someone else, we were helped by that same host and he was super, super friendly to us. He even stopped by later to ask how we were doing.
(2)
Donald M.

I gave Tahiti a 4 stars for ambiance and believe or not a 5 for the pizza. Had a nice Hawaiian band playing
(4)
Bob B.

Kind of a dive bar. Nothing special. Had the pizza. Actually really really good. Had several cocktails. The Mai Tais were excellent and the "over the rainbow-Tini" my wife had was really tasty. All in all a pretty good afternoon.
(4)
Diane C.

Unfortunately, I can't comment on the food because we never made it past the "host"! My teenage daughters and I went there for appetizers and beverages and the host at the door asked if we wanted a table for dinner or to sit at the bar. I asked if we could sit at a table to have appetizers and drinks, and he said he wanted to save the tables for dinner patrons so "his waitresses could make money". So I asked if we could sit at the bar and he said while pointing at my daughters, "Are they 21?" I said, "No", and he gave me a look like I was the stupid one. They're obviously underage; he could tell. He was just being a jerk. He then turned his back to us, waved his hand and said, "Fine, take a table then" but by that unwelcome point, we took our oodles of money and dined elsewhere. Alo-ha!
(1)
Carlton B.

How do you say "Hell no" in Tahitian! Knew it was dangerous when I pulled into the parking lot and saw a plastic table in the back..VIP section. Walked in..servers didn't greet me. Just stared liked the two cats in the back getting it on stared at me. I walked out. Dirty mike and the boys can have my seats.
(1)
Olivia K.

Two servers, zero brains. Horrible customer service. Only two servers were there to accommodate a full, bumpin bar of people. We were looking to have dinner there since they are one of the few restaurants open past 9. Neither server said anything to us while we stood there looking like idiots (is this open seating? Do we wait for them? Is the backside where people have dinner and this is just the bar? We don't know - we don't work here!!) After a few minutes of the servers making eye contact with us and smiling as they bustled past without saying a word, we chucked up the deuces and said screw this feral cat breeding ground!!!
(1)
David D.

When I think traditional beach bar this is the place. Other than blue moon on tap there are few things typical about this bar. The cocktails are awesome with their "world famous Mai tai" being the crack of cocktails while their "red rocker" should be patented. Hospitality alone was enough to keep me coming back.
(5)
Greg C.

Mandatory to visit Tahiti Nui and have a mai tai. This time we also shared a margarite pizza and it was pretty good. Service was ok. Not as friendly as one would expect but they dont pretend to be anything other than a tourist draw.
(3)
LuLu M.

Absolutely loved the super friendly bartender who served us! The coconut margaritas were to die for and so were the Mai tais. What I could do without is half of the staff sitting at bar with us when their shift ended and complained about their day and what they are doing later and all other information that we didn't really care about. I know Hanalei is very casual and this is probably normal but it felt strange with us being customers and hearing this. I will say that I loved that dive bar environment. It's perfect for a tiki bar!
(3)
Ron V.

We went there for a drink on our first night out. The service is poor at best and the staff is rude. I would not recommend this to anyone as there are better places in hanalei to spend your money. The mai tai were mhew and the staff kept moving us around for no apparent reasons. Just not happy with this "establishment ". Too bad as it looks cool from the outside.
(1)
Amber E.

Looked like a cool little dive bar from the outside. Had to try the mai tai which Yelpers were claiming was one of the best on the island. And it was very tasty - once I finally got it. Just wanted to stop in for a quick drink after hiking the Kalalau trail and before taking the kids snorkeling, but could not get anyone to wait on me. There were at least 4 employees walking around - after 5-10 minutes, I asked one "Could I order a mai tai?" "Sure, I'll send someone over." Nothing. Asked a different employee, "Could I please order a mai tai." Sure - I'll go get someone." Nothing. This happened another couple times, until finally someone took 30 seconds to make me a mai tai. Then, I couldn't get a bill, either. But fortunately, they told me I could leave exact change, which I did (plus tip). No explanation, although it seemed they may have been in the middle of a shift change. Overall, it was a frustrating, and not very enjoyable, experience. I'm rating it a 2 based on the experience I had this time, but I'd come by again and give it another try next time I'm on Kauai.
(2)
Dominica R.

Where the George Clooney scene in The Descendants was filmed. Stopped here for a drink and a slice of pizza on the way back from Hanalei to our hotel. Cool place with a laid back feel. Very casual. Wanted to check it out bc I loved that movie. Mai Tais are great :). Pizza not bad at all.
(3)
Christina C.

Great time here last night. You've gotta take this place at face value: it's a dark, divey Hawaiian bar. The service is adequate and the wine pours are very generous!! Pizza is pretty good. You'll meet very interesting folks at the Bar. Have fun!
(4)
Lori C.

Salads and Mai Tais were great - that was all we had. The pizzas looked ok from afar but they were super expensive so we decided not do bother. The service was lacking for sure as noted in many other reviews. We were there in the middle of the day and it was empty and they really don't care much about the customers.
(3)
Samantha S.

I don't even want to give this place a star. How ignorant the server Jay was.
(1)
Susan C.

1. I did not eat here, I only tried to make a reservation here. 2. If you're looking at this review, please move your eyes up a little to the Yelp description of the restaurant and the OPEN TABLE option for reservations, which usually implies that this restaurant takes reservations. 3. This restaurant doesn't take reservations. After struggling with the online OPEN TABLE system for some time on Yelp and on their website (it wouldn't let me make a reservation for any other day than Wednesday, which was luau night), I finally called the restaurant. Explained to the woman that I needed reservations for THURSDAY night but the online system wouldn't let me. She explained (rather brusquely) that they don't take reservations, which of course led me to enlighten her about their online OPEN TABLE reservation system to which she said VERY snippity, and I QUOTE TRUTHFULLY VERBATIM, OR ELSE I AM THE SMELLY DOG CRAP THAT IS STUCK ON THE BOTTOM OF YOUR SHOE THAT YOU CAN'T GET OFF AND EVEN AFTER THE CRAP IS GONE YOU STILL THINK YOU SMELL IT -- "Well, if it's OPEN TABLE, that means we DON'T take any reservations, because all the tables are OPEN". No sh*t. Side note: When vacationing in Kauai avoid prolonged exposure to the sun and too much Copper Tone - that's when the dementia sets in.
(2)
AJ W.

Had the Julia's iced tea, loco moco, and several of their pizzas. Now I'm not the most experienced with Loco Moco, but I can say that I thought it was the best on the island. Cooked to perfection and the gravy was delicious. The pizzas are bomb! Hawaiian or Kailua pork Hawaiian pizzas are highly recommended! And their pizza dough is amazing. The service is decent too. Servers can be a little grumpy though. Not gonna take away from the food though. I would return here on my next visit.
(5)
Amy M.

The waiters were truly terrible. Ours forgot about our drinks and then our food. We had to ask the busboy about both separately. Plus the food was not something to write home about. If you are thinking of coming here, definitely opt for the dolphin about a block down the street. Our bill was about $15 more at the dolphin but was worth every penny.
(2)
Kathleen G.

I was excited to check this place out on our recent trip to Kauai, as it had been recommended by family and friends. I loved the decor, and the mai tais were tasty, but that's basically where it ends. I feel like this place is understaffed. It was Friday night and jam packed, with only two servers, one bartender (for the full bar and all tables), one hostess, and the older woman that sort of cleans up the tables. I ordered a mai tai and my husband ordered a beer. I watched our drinks sit on the bar for almost half an hour. I watched our server walk by them several times. I watched our server deliver the other server's food... my husband and I have worked in the food industry, so I know whatsup with helping each other out.... but then the other server stood in front of our drinks, doing nothing, just sort of walking around. She was literally doing nothing. I wanted to go grab the drinks myself, but I didn't want to step on any toes. Finally, the hostess delivered them. The server was barely at our table, and I know she was busy, but she didn't make up for it in service, friendliness, or rapport. Ordered another drink, and that also took an incredibly long time. Ordered the kalua pork and pineapple pizza, and unfortunately, it was a disappointment. It was just ok. I wish I could have enjoyed this place more, but it just didn't have a good vibe, at least for that evening.
(2)
Mara M.

My husband and I dined here a few days ago while on vacation. We were staying right up the hill in Princeville. After hearing about 'the best Mai Thais on the island' we went out of our way to have dinner here. It was just okay. I thought the Mai Thais were too sweet. Probably personal preference. It's definitely divey, which I typically enjoy. But this was a little too over the top and the food was just ok.
(3)
Anja P.

Tahiti Nui is a local Hanalei institution. Yes, this was a fun place to hang out before it appeared in the movie "The Descendants" and little has changed since then. Tahiti Nui has been family owned and operated since 1963, providing a fun atmosphere, good food, wonderful staff and fantastic live music. The legendary Koko Kaneali'I is still performing every Thursday night and there are great musical performances throughout the week. Love it!
(5)
Cherlene W.

We went for some light food, drinks and the music. We were a table of 6, and the place is fairly small, but here's the thing, they were trying so hard to rush us out that one of our dining companions wiped her mouth and set the napkin on the table, and someone snatched the napkin. No one ever asked if we wanted not drinks (we did), and we might well have placed an additional order had the short older woman not been so obvious about trying to kick us out the door. Not worth the rudeness, it thoroughly detracted from the atmosphere.
(1)
Jim S.

Great and historic place a must. House special mai tai to die for. Pictures and tributes on wall compelling. Stories of local regulars and hollywood occasionals priceless. (And then, of course, there's the continuing family history.) Fern's big smile and excellent service nonpareil. Go early, go often.
(4)
Gail J.

You have to be aggressive to get a table if there are more than 2 of you. We waited an hour and finally went in and seated ourselves at a table for 2 as the wait staff kept seating couples before us. When we finally seated ourselves, we were waited upon right away, however, and the waitress later did shift people down to give us a second table. The food is mediocre but the music is good, and people go there to have a good time.
(3)
Gary S.

We stopped here on a guided tour of the island because the guide told us that since the restaurant was featured in George Clooneys "The Decendents" it was a must try for cinematic nostalgia. The restaurant itself is very quaint and the service was incredible! The French fries were phenomenal and the pork sandwich was decent (although not the best I've had on the island). The sodas were flat, a likely product of the soda machine but the Mai tais were incredible.
(4)
Roxy F.

This is just a review for the pizza and Mai tais: both excellent!! The crust was amazing!
(5)
A T.

Love their mai tais!
(4)
Kyle K.

Very disappointed... $30 pizza that had a sliver of Kalua pig on each slice, & hardly any meat or toppings on the entire pizza. Took over 40 minutes to get the pizza but they gave us our Cesar salad to go 5 mins after we ordered, 35 mins before the pizza came out. By the time we got home which was only a 1 minute drive, the salad was wilted and the croutons were rock hard. Definitely not worth the wait and especially not the money. You win some and you lose some, definitely lost tonight.... Would not recommend this place for pizza even to my worst enemy, a bummer the other pizza place in the same center as L&L Hawaiian BBQ closed...
(1)
Todd S.

When we were there, just about everyone had an AARP card, including the band and the bartender. That's great if it's your crowd - just wasn't ours. We ordered Mai Tai's that were good but not $10 good. When we go back, we will skip this place and head to Kalypsos, which we liked much better. Drinks were a much better value and we liked them better.
(2)
J W.

This place is a legendary kauai hangout. Dont come here for excellent service. The pizza is by far the best thing on the menu and its the best on the island. The bar has live music everynight, and its a good time if you have enough drinks. GET THE PIZZA
(5)
Robert F.

Bleh. Just another touristy greasy spoon. The mai tais we had at Kalypso were much better and I didn't even like that place (see for review). We went at like 7:30 and they were somehow out of like half the things on the dinner menu. Ordered pizza and it was edible but not much better. The only reason it doesn't get one star is because the band was cool and the waitress kicked her shoes off and did some hula for everyone. Very cool staff.
(2)
Tad N.

Stopped in this place to have lunch and a drink but service was so poor we left after 1 drink. Older lady was not friendly and extremely slow to serve us. A smile goes a long way with me and there was none to be seen here from older server or any patrons. Place was dirty too. Pass on this place.
(2)
Jenny T.

I stopped in the Tahiti Nui to sit out a rain squall and have a cocktail one afternoon. I had been here a couple times and there's always just one person working. I sat at the bar and waited, and waited, which was fine because I was in no rush. The bartender, who was quite elderly and grouchy asked what I wanted finally and I said a lilikoi martini, which was on the drink menu. She literally rolled her eyes, made the drink without really shaking it to make it cold and didn't make it according to the description. After a while I asked her for some ice water and she rudely slammed one down in front of me. I added the ice cubes to my drink. people around me were kind of snickering at her rudeness....No call to be as rude as she was...i won't go back :( I don't like mean people
(1)
Katie H.

So I kinda understand why there's a love hate relationship with this restaurant. There seems to be some breakdown between the front and back of the restaurant. I saw several orders that came out that didn't seem to belong to anyone and one couple never got their meal. However the staff seemed to be attentive to their tables and keeping people's drinks full. So maybe to guarantee your order sit at the bar? Loved the Mai Tais! Yummy. My dinner was amazing and the live entertainment was delightful. We got our drinks quickly despite being busy and the food we got was executed perfectly. Sat and had several more drinks after dinner and enjoyed the music.
(4)
Cristal I.

Don't waste your precious time or money. We went on a Saturday night with live reggae band. Bartenders are very selective on whom they care to give the time of day. We were literally lapped by people who had ordered and then came back for more and still the bartenders did not look at us. There was another guy standing at the bar before us waiting to order a drink, cash in hand, and same experience. After I finally got a Mai Tai--and definitely NOT the best on the island, mediocre at best--I saw more people have the same experience. And yet some other people kept getting service over and over again. My guess is that they are trying to shun tourists. Clearly they have not heard the phrase "don't bite the hand that feeds you" at this joint. Oh, and speaking of joint, the band was decent but the local patrons were a bunch of head bobbing hippies complete with requisite pot wafting smell.
(1)
Tiffany V.

This place is a gem. A little divey and small but that adds to its charm. Live music, an occasional waitress doing the hula and a whole lot of fun. We had the prawn special and the macadamia crusted fish. Both were delicious. Wine list was ok but you don't really come to a place like this for the wine list. Also our neighbors pizza looked and smelled amazing. Overall one of the best nights we've had on the island
(5)
Hil B.

Read lots of good reviews but we were really disappointed in the service. We went for burgers and fish sandwiches. We ordered our drinks after a bit of a wait...acceptable for Hawaiian time. There were probably 4 other tables, most having already received drinks and food. When we were asked for our order (20 minutes in at this point), we were informed there was no fish available because it wasn't prepared. Since that was all that looked appetizing to me on the menu, we decided to skip eating and just finish our beers. It took another 15 minutes to receive our bill after waiting 10 minutes for her to walk by our table 3 times telling us she'd bring it. And another 15 minutes to get our change. In that time the waitress sat two additional tables. The place isn't that big and it want that busy. One hour wasted to order and pay for two beers on tap. We ended up leaving and eating at a place nearby and we were happy we left this place behind.
(1)
RL R.

Dropped in on a Wednesday night to find live ukelele music and a chill crowd. The perfect ambiance for this charming little town. The mai tais were fantastic. The pizza was simple, elegant, and tasty. A couple of people served us and they were both polite and attentive. This is a small place so be patient if it's busy. We waited about 5 minutes. But you're in a beautiful place, away from home, enjoying the Hawaiian breeze and the people you're with. Let that big city anxiety go and soak up the Aloha as the best thing to take back home with you.
(4)
Adam B.

This is a complete shit hole. Super rude service and nasty food. We live on island and refuse to go here period. Spend your $ anywhere else
(1)
John C.

We came in for lunch on a rainy Tuesday. The staff was prompt and friendly. My wife and I split a large specialty pizza. The pizza was one of the best meals we've had four days into our trip. Pricing was good for the quality of the food. I only give his place five stars after reading some of the overly harsh reviews from pissants with poison pens. They only deserve four stars.
(5)
Brianna T.

Great place to get a drink after the beach. Service was great and the food was even more amazing. My husband and I had a beef and fish plate that were equally great. We also had our 9 month old with us which they were happy to play with.
(5)
Julie H.

So much fun!!! We took our 3 year old and had a blast. And I am gluten free and could eat almost everything. Smaller venue and a great experience. I would tell everyone to go.
(5)
Scott J.

Fantastic place. Our first visit was 8 days into our 10 day stay and we wish we found it day one. We went for dinner, got a table fast, wonderful Mai Thais and a really good pizza. We listened to Hawaiian/Texas yodeling music from the stage, then his uncles came on who were as local as you get. We returned the next day for lunch. Looooooco moco is the best I've had. Our waitress both times worked so hard and did a great job. Five stars.
(5)
Jeff M.

We've been coming to the Nui for the last 20 years. We always looked forward to hanging out at this cool little dive bar with great food and live music. That was then, this is now. We shall not return anymore. The place stinks like it is never cleaned. The menu the waitress handed us was covered in stains and mildew. We had one Mai Tai, and left. Go to the Kalypso down the street. Clean, Friendly, and great food. Also a good happy hour.
(1)
Brett M.

We were looking for a less pretentious place in Hanalei and BOOM we found it. Their pizza was delicious and the atmosphere was fun. Live music and a friendly crowd. If you're looking for a laid back spot that's just a little divey this is your place. Much recommended!
(4)
Melanie H.

We both had salads (cobb and green with shrimp) which were okay. Portions are pretty small at $12 or so a plate. They had live music playing during dinner, which was fun, but way too loud to be able to hold a conversation...and we were sitting outside. Service was friendly, but definitely on island time. Overall, okay place, but I wouldn't go back.
(3)
Linda F.

This restaurant was an over all bad experience: bad service, indifferent staff, unsanitary conditions...warm insipid iced tea. But the worst part is that the restaurant added a larger tip than we gave. I discovered this when I arrived home and started checking receipts.
(1)
Jennifer S.

Came here to celebrate my husband's birthday. We wanted something with a little personality, and we had a fantastic time! We came super-early because we were famished - we arrived just before dinner service began at 5pm. Not very crowded at all. We took a table on the patio out front, with a lovely view across to the mountains. Ordered two mai tais ($1 off for pau hana), and perused the menu. Mai tai was awesome - we've had a lot of bad ones - is that a splash of guava in there? Husband also had a 1800 coconut margarita. Very limey, with the counterpoint of coconut. I was driving, or else I'd have tried the lilikoi martini, too. Everything on the menu looked incredible, so it was a tough choice. I went with the Kauai prawns, super-flavorful with loads of chopped macadamias and choi sum (I think). Husband originally ordered lamb, but the chef said it wasn't quite finished defrosting; husband instructed our server to pick any one of three second choices - and wound up with ribs. Huge portions, and all delicious. Pleasant live music (ukulele player and his daughter who danced some hula here and there). Nobody seemed to be here just for the whole Clooney thing. Service was friendly and attentive - we experienced none of the problems of prior reviews. Of course, we went early on a Tuesday. Wish we were here on one of their luau nights - maybe some other time!
(5)
Kate C.

Had the margherita pizza and couple of beers for lunch and was very happy with everything. The pizza was delicious and fresh and the service was very friendly. The pictures and memorabilia on the walls were fantastic to look at.
(5)
Surfer N.

Great place to have a happy hour drink or two - sit outside on the deck or else you'll sweat to death inside. We had dinner here and while the Ono in coconut milk was delish, the pork medallions served in a similar style were not nearly as flavorful. In fact, the dish seemed completely different than how it was explained on the menu. We were there the same night as the Luau they put on next door and we have a sneaky suspicion they just took the pork dish they made for that and presented it as the pork medallions. The pork was slow roasted, similar to a Dominican "pernil"-style. Flavorful to a point, but fatty, and all chopped into chunks - definitely anything but medallions. Served with mediocre sliced limp zucchini. Service was average. All in all an average dinner - nothing to write home about.
(3)
Donna M.

If there was a zero, this would be our rating. We have been to this restaurant several times and we live here. Every time the food has been OK, but the service was the worst we have ever experienced. Tonight, waiting more than 45 minutes for our very standard order of Ribs and lasagne, the 3rd person we asked to check on our order said they didn't have our order. What happened to the first and second people we asked...including the Hostess?? It turns out our server never turned in our order!!! Why didn't the others "checking" even give us the common courtesy of coming back to our table to give us this info? Finally the 4th person, the manager, apologized. No one else cared enough to give us island Aloha! If you want friendly service do NOT come here.
(1)
Nory B.

Went there on a Monday night, didn't expect much to be happening and not much was. I get the relaxed island vibe and really am very chill as far as service expectations go on the island, but having to wait 20 min on a slow night for drinks and over 45 min for our entree fish plates is just not cool. The seared tuna had no seasoning--it was just a big hunk of fish. The ono was good, but nothing special. This place will always be busy because there are not a lot of choices in Hanalei, but if you have a kitchen in the place you're staying, buy some booze and fresh fish from the market and make your own...
(2)
Forrest S.

Being broke and faced with the option of either food or alcohol on St. Patrick's day, I did what any self respecting person of Irish descent would do, and went with option B. Tahiti Nui is a very casual, laid back bar where you can come and listen to some good live music, and mingle with both tourists and locals. On St. Patty's day this place was rockin' with a band and 40 or so people all sharing a 30 by 30 space. Until the emergency relief showed up, there was only one brave bartender, who somehow managed to keep the drinks flowing for all the intoxicated patrons celebrating everyones favorite ethnic drinking holiday. That woman seriously deserved a medal, as her and the relief help that showed up were in the zone! The drinks are strong, the music is great and the make a pretty killer mai tai, so if you ever happen to find yourself in the area, stop on by.
(4)
Kim H.

Food was EXCELLENT, fresh, great quality, and taste delicious! Mai Thai was the best I've had on the Island. Definitely was skeptical about the service and cleanliness initially, but I was surprised with how the whole in the wall spot turned out to be perfect
(4)
Kari S.

The food was ok but the service was horrible. Their was only one waitress who was also biasing tables the woman behind the bar was unable to help. The one waitress was busting her behind but their was just too many people and no help. The brachetta was good but the meat pizza was just ok.
(3)
H H.

For an authentic "tiki" experience, in a dive bar setting, check this place out! We came in for drinks and after 4 rounds, decided to stay for dinner. The Mai Tais are really good, made from their "secret" recipe. Maybe a little on the sugary side but if you like the Mai Tai I can't imagine that you'd be looking for anything else than what they serve here! The food comes in HUGE portions! I mean HUGE! Definitely plates that two people can share. Between 4 of us we shared 3 meals and a salad and were so stuffed we could hardly pull ourselves off the bar stools. I hear they have live music here nightly but we didn't stay for that. I also heard they have karaoke on Monday's. That sounds fun!
(5)
M M.

We had a fantastic time here eating pizza, poke, and listening to live music. The Mai Tais really sneak up.
(4)
Jane M.

Fun place for Mai Tia's and music, but not pizza. Don't do it. It was sadly burnt and expensive-$25 for a medium. People near us who order lamb chops loved them.
(3)
Rebecca J.

We had a relatively early dinner and sat outside. We got there at 5ish and by the time we were done, there was a wait for a table. Service was decent - not awesome by any means but consistent with the more laid back atmosphere. Portions were huge! We should have split a salad and an entree. We had way too much food. The salads and both entrees were delicious. The live music was great and really gave us a dose of Hawaiian experience. All-in-all, a wonderful experience and we'd go back for sure.
(5)
Thomas G.

My family and I really liked Tahiti Nui. We ate there three times while staying at the St. Regis. It has an authentic old school feel and the servers were very friendly and warm. The servers servers chatted up my three year old and were very kind and attentive with him. The food is excellent basic fare in a funky location. The burger was one of the best I have had in recent memory. My wife loved the the beet the heat salad. Everything tasted very fresh. The Mai tais are great. The pizza was also very good. We opted for the Hawaiian Style which was nice and tangy and had a good crust. I thought Tahiti Nui was reasonably priced and had a really nice ambience. It has a warm family feel and does not have a touristy vibe at all. I was looking forward to attending their Wednesday Night Luau but unfortunately it was cancelled when I was in town. I was disappointed because I think it would have been an authentic memorable experience. The next night they had a private party with some dancing, I peeked in and saw a few minutes of the show and it confirmed that the luau would have been good. Tip: Check out the luau!!'
(5)
Pam A.

SLOW...but great mai tai....unique pizza, pretty good food. Just expect to not go anywhere quick..its slow for Hawaii time. But a great place to hang and drink...if you cannot chill, don't go..
(3)
Lorrie C.

Best Mai Tai I've ever had. And best coconut margaritas my wife ever had. Try the Mac and Panko crusted Ono - delicious. Plus the place has live music at night. Definitely my favorite spot in Hanalei.
(5)
Steven V.

Had dinner for my wifes birthday. Food was delicious, rib meat fell right off the bone, the seared ahi was amazing. Delicious and the live music created a great ambiance. Service was very friendly, but at times delayed to how busy they were.
(4)
Billy C.

Pretty much the only dive bar this side of the island. Local flavor, great drinks, and interesting people. This is one of those places that doesn't necessarily cater to the uppity tourist type. If you show attitude, your service will be poor. Deliberately and deservedly. A clear message not to come back. There are plenty of hoity-toity places around Hanalei that will coddle to your every need. If you want an authentic Hawaiian experience, where things run on island time and you can relax over a couple of drinks and enjoy the music before the food shows up, where the waitress might be delayed for ten minutes because she was asked by the musicians to dance a hula, where a look right in the eye and a big island smile gives you the best service and strongest drinks, then come to the Nui. And tip big!
(4)
Juila R.

This could be the best bar on the North Shore location is awesome but service is very poor and drinks not that good. There is one bartender who doesn't do a thing to make you feel welcome, the place lacks energy and aloha. I wish they would get some new people to breathe some life into the place pay attention to the music and just be nice!
(2)
Nic G.

If your not a stuck up ass this place rocks da socks.such a good atmosphere and loads of true aloha spirit.the father and daughter team that own and run this place are super cool, a round on the house on vacation, that's never happens but it did here. All the negative reviews are from folks who shouldn't have been there in the first place. If your looking for a locals experience because your all inclusive resort is boring stay away, this place is not for you. But if your already a chill person who can hang out and not be a punk then by all means go to this place get a table before dinner starts,about 430pm, and hang out with some good folks.just don't be a loud jackass and leave the flower shirts in the suitcase.Aloha!
(5)
Danny W.

Went here with my family after a full day of hiking, so we were pretty hungry. The hostess seats us in the back, where there are two empty tables. The front of the restaurant looks pretty busy, and there is a live band playing. After waiting about 10 minutes, my dad goes up to ask if we're getting a waitress or not. The hostess, who appears to be intoxicated, assures him that someone will be there soon. Ten minutes later, the hostess walks by us heading towards the kitchen, and seems surprised when we tell her nobody has come yet. She takes our drink order, which, seeing the reputation of the mai tais here, we all get one. Ten minutes later, we have seen no drinks, no waitress, or hostess. My dad debates leaving. Finally the mai tais arrive with our waitress, and she takes our order. The mai tais are pretty good, so I guess they have that going for them. I order the squid ink linguine with seafood. After another considerable wait, our food gets to the table. Overall, everyone was pretty happy with their meals. The seafood in my dish was fantastic: scallops, shrimp, ono, clams. The tomato basil sauce was pretty good, but the noodles were pretty forgettable. I was expecting something similar to the squid ink pasta I'd had in Italy last summer - perhaps I was setting the bar too high. Overall, horrendous service, decent food, but considering the high price, poor value. I can not recommend this restaurant - I wouldn't want anyone else to have the same experience we did.
(1)
Erin L.

Good beers. Fun relaxing atmosphere. Food was good, had live music. Nice hawaiin style "dive" nar. Little pricey for the place but still good.
(4)
Jack L.

Ridiculously good Mai Tai --- easily the best I had on the island. Cocktails are best when you don't taste the alcohol, but you feel the kick moments later. Great pizza with dough made from scratch. Sashimi was very fresh too. Service was on Hawaiian time, with only one overworked waiter tending the guests. If the wait bothers you, order another Mai Tai and chill out. You are on the islands!
(5)
Toby S.

Drove to Hanalei on our first night on Kaua'i. Wanted to have a bite, a couple of drinks and listen to some live music. Well, at least the live music was good! Malani BIlyeu of the group Kalapana was playing. He's cool! The bar, restaurant? Not so much. The MaiTais were great and priced well. The bartender was a pain in the ass. Slow to recognize us ( or any new customer who sat down for that matter!). Slow to make the drinks. Had kind of an attitude, as if she was being put upon. The place was busy, but not insanely so. So, really? Ordered a pizza, Huli chicken. Came in a reasonable amount of time. When the dude brought it he asked "who ordered the large #3?". We asked "bar-b-qued chicken?". He then said "it's a #3, you have to look at the menu!" Again, really?! Also the damn thing was $23.00! Chicken, BBQ sauce, onion, cilantro! $23.00?! And it was OK, not great, OK! Over all, cool place, nice vibe, good music, shitty service, attitude for no reason and Eh food. We'd go back for music and MaiTai's only. They're lucky scenes from "The Descendents" were filmed there. And, for the record, I don't hate on a place unless it's well deserved.
(2)
Gary G.

Exactly what you would expect in rustic Kauai. Grass shack bar that appears to be a place the locals go. Live music was particularly good- local band, local musicians; there was this one old white guy in a turban with a braided beard. Each musician was setting up their own equipment. As they were all almost ready, he pulls out this compact electric guitar and amp. A guy that looks like that must shred, and he did. We found out later that evening that he used to be with The Animals. Made the evening worthwhile!
(3)
Elle B.

This place was a lot of fun. Be sure to go on Weds or Sat (5-8pm) to catch the live music as that made the experience extra worth it. The mai tai was excellent, especially after some really bad ones we had at a nearby luau the night before. We had the fish of the day appetizer which was pretty good if a little boring. The macadamia crusted mahi (they were out of ono) was really enjoyable. The ahi carpaccio was really yummy too, that was probably my favorite dish. The service, unfortunately, was not great, but they looked really understaffed. Our poor server seemed really stressed out. I thought she was going to have a nervous breakdown. Luckily, I care more about food and ambiance and for that I give this place a high five!
(4)
Kimberly M.

Best Mai Tai in Kauai! Julia was friendly...gave good recommendations for things and other restaurants even on the island ...basic good food... Enough said...
(4)
Mark K.

Service was friendly and prompt. I ordered the Mac Nut & Panko Crusted Ono. The flavors were very well balanced; it was delicious. The only problem was that the Ono was overcooked: it was dry and tough. The wife had the Kauai shrimp. It, too, was flavorful and was well balanced and the shrimp was not overdone.
(4)
TJ C.

Gotta luv da Nui. Good for drinks, good for fun, good for all kine trouble. Tiki Man pizza makes a stellar combo if ur hungry (& of course a little hammered). This is where the action goes down so don't be the last haole at the party.
(4)
Tia M.

Great Mai Tai. Really enjoyed the spicy Hawaiian pizza with jalapeÃ±os also. The seating left a bit to be desired though. Need better tables and need to turn on the fans. Hot!
(4)
Neil J.

Went twice during my trip. Staff is friendly and attentive without being annoying. It is a locals as well as tourist type place. Much more relaxed and "real" than say the bar at the St. Regis (where I stayed), as well as much more reasonably priced. Met nice folks there and had a decent meal. I had the prosciutto and mozerella and the catch of the day (ok I've forgotten what that was now!) in a lime reduction sauce with mashed potatoes (choice was fries, mashed or again I forget). Did I mention their drinks are good? LOL. Anyway the prosciutto and mozerella was good and the fish and mash were alright. But I think what is keeping me from 4 stars here is that combination. Some vegetables or just about ANYthing but mashed potatos (or fried or the other lame starch choices) would have taken me to 4 stars for them. They're close regardless. The live music was OK if you like hawaiian music with the local band doing some covers of other popular tunes. On this point I'd take the jazz ensembles at the St. Regis over the acts here but again it really was all good.....and I had MUCH more fun here than at the St. Regis. Just lose the mashed potato side dish guys....or give us more options.... I WILL stop in again when in Kauai next. That is the real test of a place isn't it?
(3)
Chrys R.

Fun spot to hang out. Daniel was our server. Really nice and laid back. True they have the best Maitai and delish plate lunch. We always go to this spot when in Hanalei.
(5)
Reggie C.

We went here because one of our group was a big fan of the movie and needed a late lunch. They were about to shut the kitchen down until dinner but accommodated us. The food was fine, but the portions were small. The Mai Tais were legitimately good. The staff was friendly but on island time. The place was exactly as advertised. If you want a laid back place with nothing fancy and will not complain about a $10 drink or $15 burger, you will have a good time.
(3)
El B.

Pitched to me as somewhat of a local dive bar/restaurant, it is situated in the main tourist area of Hanalei beach. Good cocktails for touristy prices, so don't look for any savings. Some nights they have live music, and the bar gets pretty lively. The staff was attentive and we left happy.
(3)
Steve W.

One of our favorite food spots in Hanalei. Great pizza and an awesome Cobb salad. Sit outside on the patio and enjoy the evening.
(4)
Lily L.

We ordered a pizza, the Hawaiian Delight with jalepenos. The pizza was good, my husband also ordered a fancy iced tea and it was good. I'm giving only 3 stars because it wasn't the best pizza ever, it was pricey at nearly $25 and while the staff was very nice, the service was extremely slow. We asked for a box for our two remaining slices and the waiter said he would box it right up. He never returned with the boxed up pizza and we didn't want to wait another 20 minutes. May have just been an off night but that was our experience.
(3)
Julie H.

The tuna sashimi was excellent and the boyfriend's pork ribs were reportedly delicious (they smelled it too!). So, why the 3-stars? Sloooow. Not island time slow even but ridiculously slow. I'm pretty certain they forgot our entree orders and had to reopen the kitchen to make them because it was a solid hour+ between our apps and when dinner arrived. That said, the service was friendly, two of the five dishes ordered were great (the other three were pretty good) and the wine from the wine bar was a nice perk!
(3)
Elyse W.

This review is for a private event we had here and we just could not have been happier... We had our rehearsal dinner for all of our wedding guests (70 people) in the Luau room. It was DELIGHTFUL. We had several servers that were kind and attentive, we had pizza and salads that were delicious and it was very reasonably priced, there was an open bar, the bartender was lovely and on top of that, we had a musician on a ukulele and a hula dancer...they also couldn't have been more personable, perfect and better entertainment! The performers had the perfect amount of audience participation and we thoroughly enjoyed them! We rented Tahiti Nui's projector and did a slide show, they did not charge us and arm and a leg and overall, we had a spectacular night. It could have been the wedding celebration! It was a bit warm in the room, there was no AC, but also Kauai was unusually hot the week we were there (of course!) But, you could very easily step outside where we had our own private patio and breeze. It was beautiful. Additionally, I had a difficult time getting a hold of someone initially. I wasn't able to book the venue until about 2 months before, which was a little nerve wrecking, but for most people who aren't control freaks, would be fine! :) Madi and Nanea are lovely, wonderful communicators who do a fabulous job running the place. I did a lot of research and toyed with local places for an event space that wasn't astronomical and didn't have terrible food.This place won 100x in every category. We had a fabulous time, was authentic and adorable and it didn't cost us an arm and a leg. Total win! Thank you, Tahiti Nui! x
(5)
Missy W.

My 2 stars are for service... really bad service. Food is actually really good. While the Mai Tai is delicious I have to say the service is terrible. Both times we visited we were completely ignored for 15 - 20 minutes. The first visit was a little busier so we thought we would try again, maybe a fluke? No... on the s second time we sat at the bar, directly infront of the bartender and it was 20 min before being acknowledged. There were only 8 or 9 people in the whole place. Instead she proceeded to clean glasses get the trash together, pretty much everything but take our order. Once she did acknowledge us, it took forever to get a refill, order food, etc.
(2)
Ric S.

A real Hawaiian experience. You go for the atmosphere and amazing music talent. Can't beat Hawaiian music in a real Hawaiian dive bar. Pizzas are reasonable and the Kalua pork topping adds some local flavor. Slow coming out though which for me was a plus as more time to enjoy the place. Mai Tais are made from real juice. A little weak but delicious. If you want to chill Hawaiian style this is the place.
(5)
Gary T.

Great food and great ambiance -- very cool, fun place to eat, drink, and hang out. I recommend the ahi, poached ono, macadamia encrusted ono and also the sweet potatoes -- good beer on tap and fun live music and lively engaged crowd. that is good fun-loving mix of locals and tourists.
(5)
DJ M.

First off, slow down, this ain't the mainland. If you're looking for fast food, this isn't the place for you. What makes this gem so awesome, is that it embodies everything that is Hanalei. Friendly service, cold drinks, and delicious food. But, guess what? You may be 3 beers in before your pizza arrives. Who cares? You're on Kauai. Enjoy the spectacular mountain views through the large open windows, while siping your Aloha Golden Lager ($4). There's a reason this place was featured in movies like Jurassic Park and The Descendants. Live Aloha through this historic bar and restaurant. Friendly staff, delicious food, full bar, and Hawaii Charm at its finest.
(5)
Sean W.

The people working here and the drinks they make are absolutely amazing!!! Best Mai Thai in all Kauai!!!
(5)
Erin W.

Dinner and drinks last night at the Nui was fantastic! The atmosphere of the restaurant and live music create a one of a kind, must see Hawaii experience. The band played a great mixture of popular tunes and Hawaiian music, they had the whole crowd singing quite a few times through the evening. Our pizza and salads were excellent, for fairly good prices. It was the cheapest dinner my party of five have had this whole week, and my favorite by far. The highlight of the night was Jay, one of the bussers. He was prompt, friendly and recommended the chocolate mousse for desert which was excellent. At the beginning of the evening I admired the Nui thirst he was wearing, one they no longer sold at the restaurant. He literally gave me the shirt off of his back (after finding a new one to put on). I was stoked, that is service you won't come across very often anywhere in the world. Thanks Jay!!
(5)
Jenni N.

A hidden gem! I though I would find typically bar but I was pleasantly mistaken. The food is top notch. I had the Ahi Tuna which was fabulous. The drinks are also wonderful. Our server, Liana was nothing but the best! Enjoyed the conversation and outside dining. Will be returning soon.
(4)
Ashley F.

Old school tiki bar w great drinks! Great pizza, amazing atmosphere with live music, friendly service, and a fantastic view of the mountains. What more could you want?
(4)
Chelsea W.

Best Bang for your Buck! My family and I do a lot of traveling most of the time there is anywhere from 4 of us, up to 7 or 8 of us. So needless to say we are always looking for a place that we can get authentic delicious food without paying an arm and a leg. Lets be honest whenever you go on vacation you are going to pay way too much and many times the food is just mediocre. This is NOT the case here. This is by far my favorite restaurant I've tried thus far and here's what's good: Ahi Carpaccio: Thinly sliced Ahi with basil cream sauce, capers, onions and crostini it was delicious! I got this as my main dish even though it was an appetizer and I felt satisfied afterwards 12oz Ribeye Steak with Gorgonzola Cream sauce: I'm not a huge gorgonzola fan so I can't say that I liked that part but the steak was amazing and so were the mashed potatoes Macadamia Prawns: Grilled prawns in a yummy tangy sauce with nuts and veggies super good Mai Tai: Had read all the reviews that raved about them so of course we had to try. They are absolutely worth it. (this was the most expensive part of our meal since we all ordered a second round but they are pretty delicious and still only $8 each which is way better than the prices anywhere else and also much tastier) Overall: Food was fantastic, Drinks fantastic and didn't break the bank! :)
(5)
Mike H.

In the midst of an unforgettably awesome vacation, this place was memorable for all the wrong reasons. We attended the pre-paid, fixed-menu "luau" on a Wednesday night, so this review may not apply as much to other nights of the week. Still, it was the worst experience we've had by far in many trips to Hawaii. There are no outdoor luaus offered on the north side of the island, so if you are staying in Princeville or Hanalei and do not wish to drive far, this is the only option. We knew it was held indoors, but love luaus and were excited to experience this one. We also knew in advance that seating was first-come first-served, so we arrived a half hour before check-in and were fortunate to be the second party in line. Or so we thought. The evening got off to nice start, but that would be short lived. We were offered beverages as we entered, and chose our seats in the front near to the entertainment. Shortly after settling in, the "host" approached us and said we would have to change seats. We asked why, but he rudely refused to give a reason. In order to remain in the front, we would have to sit in a stuffy corner with an obstructed view. About ten minutes later, another family who had not arrived early - nor waited nearly as long - were offered our seats. Clearly they were more important than us. So much for the aloha spirit. Having moved on from this appalling lack of courtesy, we attempted to enjoy the dinner. However, as each table was herded to the buffet one-by-one like cattle, the long line formed right next to our table, further obstructing the view and increasing the heat exponentially. Nobody at our table was comfortable. Indeed, it was outright miserable. We were the last to be served. The food was piled on flimsy paper plates, which was unexpected at a price point of $75 per person. On the bright side, the food tasted OK, but given our discomfort and the challenge of extricating ourselves from the table to go get seconds, we decided to leave early and still hungry. I guess every trip needs at least one debacle to laugh about for years. This was ours; don't let it be yours. There are many better ways to spend your time on this beautiful island.
(1)
Christina P.

Where do i even begin?! We stayed within walking distance to Tahiti Nui. I was here most every evening to meet up w/some of my new friends that i had made. Not only did i feel so welcome, the staff felt like family! Aloha Darcel. I really had a great time and some good conversation with you and the others. I wish i could name each one of the girls that made me feel so at home here. Great drinks, great music with Daryl & Coco, Ono Quartet (aka Da Bruddas) on fridays and simply a nice vibe to go and meet your old & new friends. I can't say enough about this place, the staff and the wonderful new friends i've made here. I'll definitely be back!
(5)
K C.

The best items on the menu used to be the 2 with shrimp because they were using delicious local head-on, shell-on Kauai shrimp. Now the shimp comes peeled and it doesnt even taste like Kauai shrimp. We buy this shrimp at the local grocery store and know how sweet it is. So I'm doubtful TN is using Kauai shrimp, although the waitress says it is. I would give 5 stars if they still served Kauai shrimp. Otherwise, menu is mediocre. Beer is good though, and happy hour prices make it even better. We also like the musicians who play on Fridays 4-6pm, coinciding with happy hour.
(3)
Laura I.

Tahiti Nui is a great place to stop by for happy hour or some live music. It's a dive so don't expect anything more than a laid back ambiance and some good libations. Also, a little piece of Kauai movie history since a scene from The Descendants, between Beau Bridges and George Clooney, was filmed there. They are known for their Mai Tais, and they live up to the hype. We originally planned on going to dinner at Bar Acuda but my husband wanted to stay and not feel rushed. We ordered the poisson cru, since that was our go to on our Honeymoon in Tahiti last year. It was far from the preparation we are used to but it wasn't bad. We also had a pizza which I thought was okay but nothing special. Like many advise stick to the drinks and skip the food.
(3)
Tom C.

This Bar is dirty sewer smell in parking lot after rain I think they have sewer troubles how they can stay open must be paying someone off this place don't belong open . I came to this bar years ago nice blond middle age lady took my order and double dipped my cc i had to drive back to other side of island to get my money . ok that was on time ,then I was with a group of friend who wanted to go to this bar so I did they where treated poorly because they where hippies who did not drink tons of beer they only had a few drinks .I had to buy another round just to keep these hind ends off the backs It gets even worse I go up buy a beer and wait for my change when i asked for my change back on a $5 beer order this same blond who was in that movie shot there said to me oh i though that was my tip . Really a $15 TIP FOR ONE BEER .WATCH YOUR MONEY THESE PEOPLE ARE BAD PEOPLE . THEY WILL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF YOU IF YOU LET THEM !!! CHECK YOU CC EVERYDAY WHEN TRAVELING THIS IS NOT THE ONLY PLACE THAT DOSE THIS ON KAUAI . COUNT YOUR DRINKS
(1)
Maxim L.

Great food! Everyone in our group really liked what they got. I really enjoyed the mushroom poke bowl...great flavor and well put together. The purple sweet mashed potatoes was also delicious. It's a pretty laid back place so the service was intermittent and it closes early, so don't expect to have a late night dinner here.
(4)
Patrick M.

I should have paid more attention to the negative Yelp reviews. I'll admit I was a sucker to try the "best Mai Tai" on Kauai. We came here for dinner the other night. It was my wife, my 2 year old son, and myself. We ordered the Poissen Cru, a spicy hawaiian pizza, and the famous Mai Tai. The menu raves how the pizza is popular for the kaloa pig or the bbq chicken. We were tired of chicken for the week, so initially wanted the pig. When we tried to order it, we were told that they were out of it, and were for days. The Hawaiian pizza was good, but not worth the $25 price tag (even for Hawaii). I would have expected a reasonable price would have been about $20. The Poissen Cru was OK, but wasn't anything to rave about. I would suggest skipping it. The Mai Tai was also OK. I don't think it was the "best" I have had. A bit sweet for my taste. Main reason for the 2 stars is just that Tahiti Nui is understaffed. We barely saw our waitress, and service was extremely slow. There are better options for dinner on the North Shore, so I suggest skipping the over hyped Tahiti Nui and go somewhere else.
(2)
Greg M.

Full disclosure: we only stopped in because Tahiti Nui was in The Descendants so that made us curious. It was a decent Hawaiian dive bar to stop in for a drink if you want to stay out late in Hanalei. It's a small place that's in need of a few updates (the linoleum on the bar is an interest choice) but they can probably get away with leaving things as is. The service was good considering that there was only one bartender working on a Friday night. However the beer selection was good and the mai tai's were decent. They also have live music (we left while the band was setting up) so stop in for a drink but don't expect to see George Clooney.
(3)
Julia J.

We've been coming to this place for over 10 years now. My husband loves the mai tais. I've noticed in the past couple years the food has improved TREMENDOUSLY!!! Last year we found out that Melissa who owned Red Hot Mommas (one of our fave places - so sad to see it gone) now works the kitchen at the Nui. Melissa - if you ever read this - we are BIG fans of yours! We love the ribs and the salad greens are extremely fresh. We went tonight and lucky for us - Michael Keale was singing. His voice is so silky smooth that I bought his CD so we could add it to our 'vacation vibe' playlist on our iPhones. :) His wife accompanies him with her beautiful hula. Jay (the tall skinny bald guy) who has been our waiter in the past, was hosting tonight and I noticed he did excellent job facilitating the groups of hungry folks arriving and getting them seated or setting the wait time expectation. Tahiti Nui fills up pretty quickly so realize that if you are planning on going. The service is always friendly. So if you want to feel the Kauai vibe - this is the place! Sorry to hear that Little Richie has passed away (he had a cameo in the movie The Descendents) glad I was able to tell him I saw him in the movie and I asked him to take a picture with me the last time I saw him. I teased him and said after I spotted him in the movie, I had a hard time focusing on George Clooney. What makes this place exceptional is the cool moments that have happened in the Nui. Not only has George Clooney filmed in the Nui, but Elizabeth Taylor would frequent there in the 60's and even Pat Bennatar come one night and sang there. We like Tahiti Nui so much that we eat there a couple times during our annual visit to Kauai. See you folks soon - we're bringing our friends next time! Hope you do the same.
(5)
Tim N.

Get here early on Thursday night. It gets packed (busiest night they said) but the atmosphere was fantastic! Friendly but awkward and slow service but who cares? Go with the right attitude; this is a dive bar so you are partly responsible for making your own fun here! We made friends with our neighboring patrons and had a blast. Great live music, good drinks, and awesome food. The Oh So Ono roll is so good we got it twice. Be sure to get a picture with the Descendants photo(s). We were super fortunate the night we came; the author of the book was seated beside us. How cool!
(5)
Justin A.

DUH FUK. I came here for local night last night and this place was a disaster. The Mai Tais were still good, yes, but the damn people from the St Regis were crowding this place up. It was local night so most people left by 9 pm, not realizing the real party doesn't start till 10. God, the people from the St Regis are so annoying. You know what I'm talking about. The prices are also up at least double for food. JEEZ.
(3)
Tony B.

It a hole in the wall, but has good drinks and great pizza. If you want to just cruise and chill with spectacular views....this is the spot. The only thing is if your are heading out of hanalei at night after drinking, it might not be the best thing to do,Kpd is at the top of the hill.
(3)
Melissa B.

Don't bother. While seated at the bar, our order was forgotten about. Then our order was given to someone else, and we got theirs. The bartender/server was not friendly or interested in providing any customer service. When other customers were interested in placing orders, the server made it known how busy she was. Cleanliness certainly came into question, picking up ice with hands and placing it into a drink glass. After leaving glasses with ice sitting for 15 minutes, because they were forgotten about, then proceeding to finish the drink with a glass of melted ice.....never again.
(1)
Troy P.

We stopped in one night for drinks on New Years Day, mostly because of the popularity the place has gained from the movie, "The Descendants". It was cool to see the chair where George Clooney sat and remember that part of the movie, but this place is a hut, so don't expect more than that. We all ordered Mai Tais to test the claim of best Mai Tai on the island (btw, every bar in Hawaii claims this) and they were quite good. A little stronger than some other places we sampled but good none the less. It was obvious our server handled tourists well as she took our picture on multiple cameras multiple times and talked with us about where we were from and how the island is busy during certain times of year. They do have a number of nightly events like Luaus and Live Music so call and check what's going on if you plan on stopping by. *From what I could tell the Owner appears to be a shorter asian women, she is not friendly but don't let this prevent you from stopping in and soaking up some island culture*
(3)
Karen D.

Delicious pizza! Hanalei pizza closed down so this is second best thing. Tiki man makes some pretty good pizza. Tahiti Nui is a great older restaurant to hang out and get pizza and beers.
(4)
Stephen S.

This place has the best Mai tai's in the area.
(5)
Steve F.

We always come to the 'Nui while staying in Hanalei. Best Mai Tai's on Kauai. They have great pizza- expensive but well worth it. People always complain about the service here- we must always luck out. Been here many many times- we can walk here from where we stay. Always good service. We walked in & the place was packed on a Wednesday night, probably about 7pm. Sat at bar, no empty tables. Personally, I'd rather sit at the bar here. Got drinks in less than 5 minutes & they were busy! Ordered pizza even though we weren't that hungry. Took about 20 minutes before done. Well worth the wait! Perfect timing- we were ready for more Mai Tai's when the pizza arrived. Left over 'Nui pizza the next morning is the best!!!!!!!
(5)
Amanda K.

We came here on a recent trip to Kauai because of the movie the Descendants (although I haven't seen the movie). The two stars are for the following - 1 star because the pulled pork sandwich was tasty and 2 stars because the lady who ended up being our waitress was very nice. However, we were first waited on by the bartender and she was rude and aggressive and it was a huge turnoff of the place. I then later went to the bar to get drinks and she again was defensive and rude and if she had stopped for a second and listened to what I was actually saying, it would have made things a lot easier. The bathrooms were absolutely disgusting and to top it all off - the next day on the front page of the paper is an article that they were getting slapped with an EPA complaint... awesome... I'm sure the movie has helped them get business but that doesn't give them a right to be incredibly rude and that bartender was horrible.
(2)
Charlie T.

Bartender and waitress with a bad attitude, slow service, won't make this mistake again.
(1)
Himali W.

Skip this one. I feel like this place is riding off the hype from "The Descendants". The vibe is trying to be cool and low key and "authentic", except their entrees cost like $25 a pop. I wouldn't mind, except the food was terrible. Maybe their pizza or whatever is better. But, yelp, let me tell you---this is definitely not a seafood restaurant. They have a couple of dishes that have seafood in them, but they were not good. I had the "Macadamia Nut Panko Crusted Fresh Ono with young a Coconut Cilantro Lime Sauce". I thought trying a local fish dish would be a good idea, but boy, was I wrong. The fish tasted overcooked, and the sauce it was sitting in was overly salty. Blech. The service also sucked, way slow, not enough bartenders and waiters. The Mai Tai was good. Maybe just come here for drinks.
(2)
Austin A.

My wife and I stopped in after a day of surfing just for a drink. We ordered their signature Tahiti mai tai and it was excellent. Not too sweet and not bland.
(5)
Cher H.

It's been over 10 years since I last visited this place...still recognized the location...great stuff never goes away!
(3)
Steve B.

Obviously your local dive bar... ....and WELL worth a visit. Bartender there 40 years and knows how to serve a drink. Known for its infamous Mai tai's, the food is good, but like everything on the islands...a little high priced. When on Kauai, I always make it a daily stop for drink and laid back atmosphere. Truly a favorite!
(5)
Sammy L.

If you have seen the Descendants with George Clooney you might be able to recognize this restaurant bar! My hubby and I were recommended to go here from one of the gals at the Westin Princeville, so we went and had dinner: Appetizer: Ahi Carpaccio was ok. 1. I had the prawn dish, which was ok --- I had to de-poop it myself which sucked. The sauce is mighty tasty though! Hawaiian Gold beer was a great refreshing touch. 2. Hubby had the Ono which was awesome, I wish I had ordered it as well. The entrees are around $18-$28, drinks are cheap if you wanna get drunk and the appetizers are fairly priced for what they serve. I would say all in all just check it out since its the oldest bar in Kauai. I should have tried a Mai Tai but I was Mai Tai'd out by that point! Bottoms up!
(4)
Marty K.

Hit this with the family of 7 for dinner on a Weds night around 6pm. Drinks were stiff, service was just fine & food pretty good!. Pizza was very good as were the ribs. Not a fan of "oven ribs" but the sauce & tenderness made up for lack of smoke. Don't have to "get dressed up to get messed up" kinda place...
(5)
Chris H.

My mother is visiting from Chicago so we took her to Hanalei for the afternoon and evening. We had to stop at Tahiti Nui as it is such a great place to relax , grab a bite and something refreshing to drink. We were there a bit early for dinner so we wandered the town after we finished so did not wind up eating there. She was so happy to see the pictures on the wall and the atmosphere of the place. Really enjoyed our Mai Tai's and ice cold beers!
(5)
Deb R.

We will never try this place again. We were following advice from a usually reliable guide book, which mentioned that the service wasn't always good, but that the food was worth it in spite of the attitude. We never even got to the food. We entered, a waitress who was clearing an outside table pushed thru the doorway, bumping into my husband. We sat down anyway, and waited, and waited a bit longer. The place was dark, the vibe was darker. We headed out. That same waitress then finally acknowledged our presence as we made our way across the street to Calypso. The food and service at calypso were great. Is there a lower rating than one star?
(1)
jasmine w.

A lot of fun hanging out with the old timers, listening to live music and watching the waitresses hula.
(5)
Elle C.

Since my last visit they have taken off the menu the squid ink linguine. This was a huge let down and I may just come in for the mai tais from now on. Those are still the best!
(4)
Jeri S.

Awesome for tourist entertainment; horrifying if you're interested in much else. This week we met up with vacationing friends from California, and thought this would be a great place to meet to share laughs, good times and good food. Although I'm a new resident of Princeville, I had no idea that serving pu pu's on my own lanai would've been a much better idea. First, the bartender had evidently forgotten to take her Prozac, and "Auntie" (the proprietor?) was meaner than a junk yard dog, plus our waitress was extremely slow and forgetful, and, as happens at a tourist location, we were all squeezed together like morning commuters on a San Francisco Muni. The only person who seemed concerned about all of the activity (or, non-activity as relates to the staff) was the Hostess. She was overworked, obviously overqualified, and quite aware that her coworkers were, well, tourist-bored and possibly oxygen deprived. Saving grace: Not only did we immensely enjoy the duo (featuring Koko) who played Hawaiian and pop music (they even played sing-alongs which the audience loved) but we simply closed our eyes with utter delight while savoring the ahi and ono. If you're a George Clooney fan, you must go and be a loud tourist, and pay a lot of money for drinks and food. Otherwise, head to Foodland and create your own private party.
(2)
Keisha P.

Whenever I head to Hanelei with my Ohana, we stay at their beach house right across hanalei bay which makes it ever so convenient to walk over a block to this little locat bar Tahiti nui =) Yes, it's not no fancy night club with flashy lights and a long line, but it's a fun local hang out which we love. The drinks are average price. The bartenders are on their game. It does cost $5 to get in (I believe only when they have live music), but its well worth it. The interior is cute..kinda like a little hawaii beach shack with tables to sit on and a dance floor. There is also out door seating , and next door to a wine bar.
(5)
Elena P.

DO come here for killer drinks, great food and great entertainment! But one caveat: the prices are more $$$-$$$$. VERY pricey. (Lots of people left after seeing the prices on the menu) But we loved EVERYTHING that we ordered. The best Mai Tai's!! A great suprise for my 30th birthday.
(4)
Keegan W.

Decided to come to the north shore for the day and swung through Hanalei before hitting the bay. Read awesome things about Tahiti Nui, so we decided days ahead that this was going to be our lunch spot. The only semi-decent thing we got here were two Mai Tai's. The food was mediocre, at best. Our waiter messed up a couple of our orders, and his service was terribly. He had this really soft, really strange voice, and so we had to ask him to repeat himself often. There were 6 of us, so gratuity was automatically added. I think he decided to stop trying when he saw that.
(2)
Lauren F.

My fiancee and brother came here on a Wednesday night for their luau and loved it! The food was great and everything was very traditional-not like the larger, Vegas-esque luaus on other parts of the island. The bar was a bit crowded after the luau so they didn't stay long-partly because of the crowd but also partly because they had eaten so much they couldn't even fit another drink in their stomachs! I'd say that equals success!
(4)
K. R.

Food was awesome and good mai tais. Nice staff members and decent service. Be aware that this place is right on main road and is kind of a dive. It's on the expensive side as well. Not sure I'd return here.
(3)
Mark V.

It's just a great place - the real deal tiki bar and restaurant. Yeah, yeah, it was where George Clooney meets up with Beau Bridges in "The Descendants" - and unfortunately that brings extra tourists. No matter. Go. Get a drink. Get a burger or some ribs, or some Ono. Chill bruddah.
(4)
FoodieChic L.

For great pizza and good music - stop by Tahiti Nui! My hubby and I came to Hanalei in the evening and were happy to find this dive bar still open and willing to make us pizza so close to the closing time (phewww!). The host was very friendly but the waitress was a bit flaky. I noticed that the host had to remind her about our pizza and she had a 'doh' Homer Simpson-like reaction. But we were enjoying the live music that it didn't phase us that much. Make sure to go before 7pm to get a good spot near the band because they stop playing at 9pm. Order some pizza and beer, and enjoy! I like to consider myself a pizza connoisseur and this was one of my favorites!
(4)
Phil C.

Great little local spot. Didn't get to try out the food. :( Went here for late night cocktails and listening to a great local musician. Atmosphere was chill, drinks were flowin' and the company was a few locals and tourists. If you want some night life in Kauai/Hanalei area, this is one of the chill places. Will have to try the food next time!!
(4)
Bonnie C.

Oldest bar in K'auai! 3 stars for food! The shrimp I ordered....was not cleaned. BIG no-no. But the crusted seared Ono appetizer was quite tasty- even for my friend who doesn't eat raw. 4 stars for atmosphere and the live music by kanakattack (sp?). I loved the local feel and vibe of this place. It's probably one of the liveliest spots in the area, so you won't find much else night life.
(3)
sherri m.

Tahiti Nui has been here forever. Every few years, I decide to give them one more try. It can't be that bad if it's lasted all these years. But like many of the Yelpers, this year, I couldn't even get greeted, seated or receive a menu. Extremely unfriendly staff and they were not even busy. Locals and known customers clearly are a priority. It's really not all feel good, friendly like the movie "The Descendants". I won't try it ever again.
(1)
Cindy H.

I cannot really comment on the food because my order never came. But I can say something about the service;there wasn't any!! I waited as others in my party were served their meals one at a time over a 15 min period. After 2 enquiries and 45 mins I was told that my order had never placed. It was our wedding anniversary dinner and I left without ever eating. I think that all the great reviews received in the past has clouded managements view of what is important, the customer. I received no apology for ruining our celebration dinner. My recommendation; only go there if all the other places in Hanalei are closed. J.Halley
(2)
Tim S.

Horrible service, food was so-so, drinks were the only saving point from a disastrous dinner. Couldn't remember an order to save their lives and had to cancel two entrees they never brought out. They did remember to try and charge us for them. Would not come back nor recommend. Oh and now we find out that not only did they charge us for our portion of the bad meal they also charged my card a day later for our ENTIRE parties bad meal. Now I have to deal with the credit card company to get this removed! What a crock!
(1)
Tobias K.

The environment is a neat little place. Live music and mostly cool people. We had a decent sized group and it was tough to have a conversation because the music was a bit loud. The Mai tais were really good and sweet. I had salad that was really fresh and delicious and the dressing was great too. I also had the panko and macadamia crusted Ono. That was also pretty solid. Someone in our group also had a pasta dish that they really enjoyed. Things did get a little dicey when one of the bus boys got into an argument with what seemed like another local. Other than that, though, it was good all around.
(4)
Jeanne A.

I couldn't agree more with many of the people who wrote in. The entertainment was very nice - very authentically Hawaii. The thing that is off - putting is that they absolutely try to rush you out. An older gray haired manager was clearing our table while we were still eating and took the high chair away before we were done eating. The pizza was mediocre - the Mai Tai's were really good. The ambiance is old and cool. The wait staff could use some training (hopefully from a different manager) about attention - offering water - asking if you would like a drink or just plain good service. The manager get a 1 star - The music get's a 5 and the rest - well... lacking would be the word for them.
(2)
Chris R.

Undoubtedly the worst food and service received on Kauai. Waited 45 min for food that was tasteless and overpriced for being so bad.
(1)
Sarah B.

Friendly, laid back service, excellent burgers and beer. We've been here twice in just a few days. Gotta stop by if you're in the area!
(5)
Andy W.

This review is only for the mai-tai because we went in specifically looking for a mai-tai. apparently every place that serves booze on Kauai claims to have the best mai-tai on the island. We decided it's time to take the challenge. The mai tai is as the score states. 3 out of 5. Nothing to write home about but way better than the one on the plane over here. The restaurant itself looked super cool and the bartender was friendly. I bet it has tons of potential but when we went in at 3 on a monday, it was dead.
(3)
Andrew G.

Great atmosphere for a laid back evening.
(4)
AAron M.

Best Mai Tai on earth. Amazing ambiance. Live island music. Great food. We found dinner options to be pretty limited on the North Shore so we ended up eating here a few times and really enjoyed the food every time. All in all, a very fond memory of our honeymoon. Can't wait to go back. Definitely check this place out!
(5)
Cynthia J.

When considering where to lunch in Hanalei while on vacation, fond memories of a number of years ago came into play...and the teenager's desire for pizza. Thus, we chose Tahiti Nui, a once iconic place known for its drinks, food, and Aloha spirit. Alas, none of those were present today. We sat down in the warm restaurant as their breezy, patio seating was quite limited. We sat...and sat...and sat...until, finally, a harried young lady came by, noticed we didn't have menus, and left again. A few minutes later, menus in hand, she came back for our drink order. After apologizing that they were out of stock on a number of the beers we had chosen to order (and mentioning that one was "really good" and we should "stop at the market and pick some up", she informed us they were also out of fish. It was 1pm and they are already out of fish? Whatever. We got our beers, discussed our options, and finally settled on pizza (offered by Tiki Man Pizza-a subsidy of Tahiti Nui, located in the back of the restaurant), as the lunch menu is limited...more so without any fish in stock. After another wait, a different gal came by to see if we had ordered as the first had gotten busy. When we ordered our pizza, we were informed that they were out of cheese! Out of cheese?! There is a market half a block away! How is a pizza joint out of cheese? At this point we asked for the bill, finally paid for our beers, and started to leave to find lunch elsewhere. There was a large party behind us with several small children, obviously tired and hungry from a day at the beach. As we exited the establishment, we could hear a frustrated adult declare, "No pizza? What do you mean you are out of cheese?" We salute the old Tahiti Nui and mourn its passing. As for this current version....NEVER AGAIN!
(1)
HighStandard S.

Don't listen to the haters! If you don't love this place, you don't have a soul. One of the last authentic tiki bars left on earth. I suspect the negative reviews are by fans who don't want to have to wait in line for limited seating! Seared ahi with wasabi cream sauce, clams, prawns, purple potatoes, carrots and broccoli was outstanding and so rich I couldn't finish it. A person who likes a good steak and thinks they do not like fish would enjoy this, it was that savory and satisfying, no fishy taste. Dessert was the St. Paddy's special, "Irish Car Bomb": moist ginger cake, mint-Bailey's Irish Cream ice cream, with a whiskey sauce and chopped strawberries. Yeah. Service was heart-felt friendly and attentive. Live music was charming. Wonderful vibe to this place!
(5)
Rachel W.

Great place. No food served betweeb 3 and 5pm. The mai tai is awesome. Got da hui pizza with kahlua pork and pineapple. It was fantastic. A local couple (awesome people) let me try coconut pork pupu (appetizer). It was tender! Tasted like coconut milk. I highly recommend. Great place to just chill for a bit especially after hiking.
(5)
Kimmy K.

This Hanalei kamaaina (Hawaiian for old-timer) looks like a bit of a dive from the outside, but it's all local on the inside. Once inside Tahiti Nui has a quaint South Pacific feel with carved tikis and woven matting. With live music nightly, you will want to get here early because Tahiti Nui can fill up quick. We shared a round of their Mai Tais which knocked us on our butts while sharing their sear-crusted ono. It was the perfect way to spend an evening after a full day of frolicking in the Hanalei Bay.
(4)
Sara W.

Didn't eat any food so this review is based solely on drinks. On Monday we stopped in for a world famous Mai tai. Everyone boasts about this. I don't get it. The bartender told us Mondays is booze only til dinner hour @5pm which is a-ok by us. It was around 3pm and just wanted a cocktail to cool us off. Ordered a Mai Tai and a margarita of some sort. Both were just ok. Everyone boasts that the Mai tai will knock you on your ass after...didn't have that experience. I guess it's packed with alcohol so that's cool, but does it taste good too!? It was just alright. I've had better in kauai this trip that's for sure. All in all a cool place to check out, but don't get duped into the claims of best Mai tai. It's good, it's not THAT good!
(3)
gwynnie p.

Tahiti Nui is a lot of fun and the food is good. Funky funky not chic - expect to see duct tape hold some seating together. Barely. They might need a new roll of tape. Your beer may arrive in a plastic glass. Deal. I had a delicious seared ahi appetizer and the husband enjoyed an ahi burger with fries. Luckily it was the husband's idea to stop in b/c if I had said I wanted to go just because Geo. Clooney & co. were here in "The Descendants" I probably would have gotten shot down b/c that's a dumb reason to go anywhere. On the other hand, the Hawaiian Islands would be languishing away if it wasn't for Hollywood giving them screen time. Maybe you guys should stop issuing film permits? Just an idea. You can thank me later.
(4)
Ty W.

Just had lunch here and the garden isle salad was great. The pepperoni pizza by the slice was very greasy but the crust was pretty good. Server was a little snotty but we had to stop here. Saw it in the movie : The Descendants.
(3)
Peter I.

Went last week and just loved the vibe!! The Mai Tai's are good, but not great...but who cares? It's the place, not the drinks. Go and sit at the bar and try the pizza and have a few drinks. paradise!!! The service is just what it should be and probably has been for 50 years. Great spot!!!
(5)
Mr S.

The Mai Tai is the best I have had on this island! Be careful and don't sit on the front deck without ordering food. The table boss will move you inside!
(3)
C. C.

A friend told us we had to stop and have a Mai Tai here while we were visiting. sitting on the front deck with friends led to a few more delicious Mai-tais in the afternoon after some surf.. not to shabby.. came back the next night for the band.. we all made new friends, bought rounds of drinks and my wife ended up on the stage singing Brown Eyed Girl with the local band.. Nothing but a pleasure.. Woke up with a little less money in our pockets but very well worth a great night at Tahiti Nuis..
(5)
Jesus G.

Amazing Pizza and burgers! Has Negra Modelo on tap!!!! Waiter was a little forgetful with orders but could have been worse. Party next to us waited for an hour for their pizza. Then when they asked, the waiter reported e forgot to submit the ticket :/ Worth the risk.
(5)
Allison J.

This has a local, divey feel that's irresistible. Live music on a Friday kept the place hoppin' until midnight. It's dark on the dance floor but the windows are open and the tropical breeze can come right through. OR, if it's a night when the rain's pouring down you feel like you're in a party cave with all your drunk friends. Beer was $5 a piece. Every beach town has a place like this where you can wander up to the bar in your flip flops and shorts, scream your order over the noise of the music and the crowds and then settle in to people watch. It reminds me of the Elbo Room in Ft. Lauderdale but with a South Pacific flair.
(4)
Lisa H.

Pretty seedy bar loaded with tourists and their children...(??) Makes sense now as I read that this was a movie location for the Descendants. Well, the tourist part makes sense, not the presence of their children. Can only speak for the bar, but the service was slow and drinks were more syrup than alcohol. However, the live music was not bad!
(3)
Sacita D.

Not a welcoming spot for out-of-town folks. If you ask for a mai tai, the bar maid will look at you like you're lame, she'll serve you last and make the drink in 10 secs, no love. Stay away.
(1)
Sophie L.

Love Love Love Love! This is our fav spot on the whole island. Everyone's so friendly and we love the live music. The short ribs, kobe burger, seafood pasta and Ahi Tuna Steak are all SO great! I am sure everything else on the menu is good. We also tried their ice cream. Even the dessert, ice cream, is great!
(5)
Serena S.

The 5 stars is for the ambience. Food is 3 stars and service is 4 stars. If you go here, you're going because you want to soak up its awesome tiki hut vibe straight out of the 70's. We did have lunch (in order of preference): - The panko-encrusted Ono. Upon recommendation from our server. The fish was fresh and it was nicely seared on the outside with a crispy layer of panko. There was a soy sauce and a wasabi aioli - I wish the wasabi taste had actually been stronger. Rice was sprinkled with seaweed flakes and sesame seeds and made a perfect accompaniment. - Their french fries are nicely crispy. - Hamburgers are char-broiled. Ours were a little over-done but they were a good size and come with all the right basics - lettuce, tomato, onion, fresh bun. - Not sure what all the hubbub is about the Mai-Tais. Neither my husband or I were blown away. - No kids' menu but there's plenty they can share.
(5)
John O.

Went to Tahiti Nui w/ a local for a drink. Super chill local vibe....Tiki decor, kinda cool, located off of the main highway. I'd definitely recommend coming here for a brew or a mai-tai, listen to some music, and adjust to"island time." Located in downtown Hanalei, this place is chillax. Food on the menu ain't cheap, but then again, what is in Hanalei? I didn't try the food, just came for a beer. Come here for a drink, see if anything is going on, if not, move on.
(4)
Sarah S.

I'm never one to pass up a movie location spot, so Tahiti Nui was on my list of things to see in Hawaii. The yelp reviews on majorly slow service kind of scared me so I chose to just come in for a drink. I love the tiki bar vibe and chill atmosphere. It was much smaller then I had anticipated, but there is additional seating outside. From what I saw there are tour companies that drop off people at Tahiti Nui so I could see it getting pretty busy/ backed up in terms of food. Picture of George Clooney in the Descendents is on the back wall.
(4)
Julia P.

I came to this place only out of curiosity after seeing it on The Descendents. It was small and cramped and the service was overall very slow (it was actually decent for us but I saw other people who got served s l o w l y - then again you are in Kauai). I can't say anything about the local entertainment or the Mai Tais. I got a burger (juicy and tasty) and downed my food before heading off to the beach!
(4)
Mike F.

After reading the reviews, my wife and I were skeptical, but decided to give them a try. We usually out-cook even the better restaurants on our own, but continually try to give a place that has a great review a chance. In short, Tahiti Nui was incredible! It sure didn't look like it had the potential to deliver amazing food, but WOW! were we wonderfully surprised. The macadamia nut crusted fish was the star of any similar dish we've had anywhere we've traveled in the world. The seafood plate that included a helping of the tastiest, most perfectly cooked prawn-sized shrimp that seemed too full for the price. And the Mai Tai's were outstanding...and I've bartended in some of the best places in So. Calif. that don't hold back on the creativity or amount of booze served by their bartenders. Incredible! We were there for a 6 PM dinner (before they ran out of popular items, I guess by reading other reviews) so I can't speak for other times of day. The live music was professionl and the service staff were wonderful...and, yes, we sat out on the deck without any pressure to order anything, with a line to get in the place. To sum it up, after 2 weeks trying everything on the island we could, we almost drove up from Poipu on our last night just to spend the evening at Tahiti Nui again, but regretfully tried Duke's instead, hearing it served the best food on the island. Nope, Tahiti Nui wins hand down ove the Grand Hyatt, the Beach Club, Dukes, or any in the books you read.
(5)
Breanne W.

Awww what a disappointment. My husband and I were really looking forward to coming here! We were so excited to check it out. We love dive bars and I worked as a bartender for a decade so I feel totally at home in a place like this. We came for lunch on a weekday. Dug the atmosphere right away. We sat at the bar. There were a few other people at the bar and the tables in the restaurant were mostly occupied. It seemed that the bartender was by herself because she was delivering food to the tables in the restaurant. She came by after a few minutes and apologized and told us she'd be right with us. No problem! We're patient people. All good. So we waited... Another couple came and sat at the bar, the bartender told them the same thing. They were cool about it. Meanwhile it had been maybe 10 minutes and the bartender's running around like she's never had customers before. Flustered and not being efficient at all. Still delivering food to the tables. We were cool, we keep smiling and patiently waiting. After about 15 minutes she came behind the bar and we were ready, excited for her to finally take our drink order! We were thirsty for the famous mai tais. So ready. But... nope. She left again, running back into the kitchen and ignoring us. 20 minutes there and she's back behind the bar. This is our time!!! We're going to get drinks and lunch! We were so ready. She went up to a customer who'd been eating when we got there. She bussed his empty plate. Got his bill. Oh wait-he wanted another beer. Cool. She poured him a beer right in front of us. We could taste the mai tais! She's gonna take our order now! It's gonna happen for us!!! NOPE. Gone back to the kitchen. ARE YOU KIDDING ME???? Completely incompetent and downright rude honestly. We were so patient and so not in a rush (we were on vacation!), but when we can't even get a drink, not to mention lunch, and getting a tab started for us takes a backseat to clearing a damn plate I'VE HAD ENOUGH. Out of principle, we left. The other nice couple was still waiting for service when we left. I wonder if they ever got a drink. We went across the street to Neide's Salsa & Samba and had a kickass waitress who was so attentive but chill, we ate amazing burritos, and drank killer margaritas!!
(1)
David L.

Ok so first off the pizza was awesome. The drinks came quickly. But the service was slow. It took us almost an hour to get our pizza. Also they were playing country music which drives me nuts.
(3)
Jo G.

We didn't eat here, but we definitely stopped in numerous times for Mai Tai's. Why not? They are the best around and you are sure to meet people and chat at the bar. Plus, Mai Tai's were marvelous. A definite hang-out spot.
(4)
Stephanie W.

We came here around 6pm on a Tuesday for dinner. The food was okay, nothing too special though. The Mai Tais were very good. The service was slow and not great. Overall a nice experience, but not something I would come back for.
(3)
Lorene R.

This small place has phenomenal food. We had the combo pizza and Caesar salad, and both were awesome. The couple next to us allowed us to sample their Crispy Ono Roll and that was heavenly also. On Monday evenings their featured artist is Mike Keale. This man is very talented and you should make plans to see him. It is wonderful to find this "hole in the wall", have great food, service and entertainment all in one spot. We will be back!
(4)
V K.

My cousin recommend Tahiti Nui for their Mai Tais and for the live music - both were great. The service is slow, but the place is super busy. Was there on a Tuesday night at 7p, and the only 2 seats available were at the end of the bar. The food was +/- ...the salads are huge and fresh - easily shareable by 2-3 people. The Kauai prawns were outstanding - expected them to be super sweet based on the description, but in fact had just the natural sweetness of prawns, and the sauce had a nice spicy asian take. The ono was a great big piece of fresh fish, but was dry. All entrees come with fries, mashed potatoes, or rice. Fries - fabulous. Rice overcooked and bland. Lastly - fair warning, if the only seats are at the end of the bar near the kitchen and Uncle Kenny is there, do your best to find another place to sit.
(3)
Joe H.

I guess this is the "Clooney" bar from that movie The Descendants. We stopped in for a drink and a snack after being on the beach most of the day. A well, worn old tiki joint. I bet it would be a good place to watch some music if you were on that side of the island after 5pm. I had two Modelos (on draft) and my wife drank the mai-tais. She enjoyed them (not as much as the ones at Hukilau Lanai). Too many touristy people sitting on the barstools posing for pictures "where George Clooney" sat. Who cares? Look outside at the weather and where you are...We did fall for the Hawaiian pizza here (how can you not eat this when you are in hawaii?) and had enough to take home. Pretty good pizza all told. Plus the waitress bought us a round and bumped the pizza up to a large because the kitchen made us wait or something. Point is, service is great and locals do drink and hang out here but not worth more than a stop by in my opinion.
(3)
Frank F.

Best damn tiki hut / dive bar / hawaiian food / pizza joint you will find anywhere. Tiny. Open air. The windows are shuters propped up on sticks, with a front porch too. Tiny place. 50 years in the same family. The pizzas were really superb. The panko-crusted seared ono roll was so freaking fresh it was practically an emotional moment. The drinks were strong and large. And the founder's grandson got done making our pizzas then came out to play live music for the packed house on a Monday night. I wish I could have stayed all night. If you're on Kauai's north coast, just do it.
(5)
Russ S.

The Mai Tai are the best on the Island. They have a fair selection of local and other ber. My favorite is the Crusted Ono for appetizer for starters. The Spicy Hawiian Pizza for dinner. They put plenty of jalapenos on it for a great spicy taste. The service was good and the staff is friendly. Not fancy just good food,it is a must if you are in Hanalei.
(4)
Meme M.

This place is awesome. The Mai Tai's are excellent, the live entertainment is super, and the ambience is just.... buzzing with relaxed energy and aloha. The food is pretty good. My favorite is either the pizza or the macadamia encrusted fish. My only complaint is that sometimes the chef overcooks the fish and it's not that good. :( But, honestly I am not here for the food. I'm here for the vibe, entertainment, and the drinks. This place is probably the best hang out on the north shore. NOTE: Be prepared to wait for a table if you come late or on the weekends.
(5)
John N.

Good local spot. Long waits, but their Hawaiian pizza is pretty tasty. Nice local vibe.
(4)
Tucker H.

We stopped in hoping to try the prawns that our friend recommended, but apparently they are only on the dinner menu, not the lunch menu, which was a bit of a bummer. The place was extremely quiet, but I chalk that up to the road construction blocking traffic from getting to Hanalei, and the fact that it was lunch on a random Wednesday. Given that it was empty, we didn't have any issues with the service, and the food came out plenty quickly. We ended up going for the seared ahi and the crusted ono, both of which were perfectly tasty. They were both well cooked (seared on the outside, raw on the inside), and the sauces were flavorful. The only reason I can't bump it to four stars is that the portion sizes were on the small side, and the entree was pretty much the same size as the appetizer. Given what our friend said about the prawns, we'd give it a shot for dinner, but might try somewhere else for lunch instead.
(3)
AndishÃ© F.

Great
(5)
Stephi S.

Oh yes... If you are ever in Hana lei This is a "Must Visit" place! Fantastic Food, Fun Service, Fabulous entertainment! Plus it has a great locals flair! :) The menu changes, but what we had was outstanding! I had the Butternut squash raviolis and my friend had the pizza, wow! Amazing taste!!! I ate it ALL!! My mouth is watering thinking of it!
(5)
K Z.

Restaurant had an hour wait so we chose to eat in wine bar. Same menu, no music. Food was ok, service was great. Know it's Kauai and food is expensive but we felt this menu was overpriced for food we got.
(3)
chelsa v.

One of our favorite spots on the island. So much history and Hawaiian heritage in one little tiki hut. We stopped by several times during our stay- the mai tai drinks kept getting better and better- one of the girls working the bar was so sweet and nice to talk with. We are also big fans of the movie- The Descendants - and thought it was cool that Tahiti Nui had a part in the movie. On our last evening on the island, we stopped in for one last mai tai and there was local musician playing to a full house. The vibe felt so relaxed and welcoming- it was an enjoyable memory to leave on!
(5)
David A.

Bathing suits welcome... Great Mai Tai's and spicy Hawaiian pizza. Fun place to eat, drink, and people watch. You will also see this restaurants in the movie "The Descendants" with George Clooney. It really is like in the movie... Fun and entertaining...
(4)
Alan X.

Food is ok, but the service is really bad. They took my American Express card and came back telling me the card is declined and threw it on the table and walk right away. I gave them another card, feeling a little awkward. I called my credit card customer service afterwards and they told me there are no declined record whatsoever and my card is perfectly fine to use. So basically they didn't even try my card. Why would they even take the card if they don't take American Express? And the altitude they gave me was rather insulting. I would never go back again.
(1)
Melissa W.

I dig!! My husband and i stopped in here both yesterday and the day before for a couple of cold beers on tap and a slice of pizza. Someone next to us got the pulled pork sandwich and it looked delicious. I think they have live music pretty much every night. Next week when we stay in Hanalei, i look forward to checking it out. Last, but not least, i found both the staff and the locals that hang here really nice, something i can't say for a lot of places in Kauai.
(5)
Gerard R.

This was a very cool dive. Honestly, probably not my scene. We went to grab a mai tai before having dinner across the street at Bar Acuda. It was a cool experience. Wife like The Descendants and had to go where Clooney's character went. I love this place because it felt authentic, and i would go back again. I saw the pizzas they were serving. Looked like good bar food but nothing special. I'd probably get pizza elsewhere, but this is a chill, fun place. Very crammed though. Very good mai tai!!!
(4)
Gary W.

This is a lively place that has a lot of character and local ambiance. We headed here just before sunset (i.e. 6:00pm) to not have any problems getting a table close to the stage where they have live music. We ordered a couple of pizzas and they are very filling and we had trouble finishing them down. The bar drinks here are pretty strong so as you've read in other reviews you may need a designated driver when visiting Tahiti Nui. As for lively, as we ate, talked and listened to local Hawaiian music a girl at the bar was dancing to the music bring me the feeling of a something out of the 60's Hippie scene. Another place that has a good combination of Hanalei locals and a few tourists to enjoy a some local flair.
(4)
L W.

Authentic Hawaiian atmosphere. Fantastic Ahi and of course, the Mai Tai's are out of this world!
(5)
Cori P.

Good Mai tais but watch your bill. Paying was a disaster. We had a group of 9 people. The bill was $230 which INCLUDED 18% gratuity. We paid $175 cash plus $55 on a credit card. simple math....$175+55 = $230. The bartender Julia charged us an additional $34 and change in tip because of "computer error" (for a total of $264). We tried explaining to her over and over that she was charging us to much. she finally refunded us the extra $34 but she said we were the problem. Won't be back. Lots of places for good Mai Tai's. Not going to "accidentally" be charged 36% gratuity. I left my phone number so the owner could call me. Very strange.
(1)
Julia B.

Fun, fun place. We stopped buy for drinks. Awesome pizza. While we were there, they played live music and the bartender danced to a Hawaiian song. Great atmosphere.
(4)
Ray D.

Unpretentious and friendly neighborhood bar in Hanalei with a great atmosphere. Drinks are $8 and the food was surprisingly good - I ordered the daily special which was grilled mahi mahi on rice and it was cooked perfectly. The caprese salad with fresh mozarella was also delicious. Live Hawaiian music most nights and on Weds. nights they have a luau menu.
(4)
jenay e.

This has been our favorite destination bar for years. I sadly have to write a less than favorable review. I was extremely embarrassed to have brought friends here and had a poor experience. Two days in a row we were ignored, for the most part. We sat at the bar for quite a long time without even a look. Had to ask for service and drinks. Then we couldn't get her attention enough to pay. It was not busy at the time. I have been in the service industry, I understand. This was ignoring. he following night, we were told the kitchen was closed at 8;30. They close for dinner at 9. Attached to the Nui is the sister wine bar, They serve late night food. This would have been a nice suggestion from the server. They were busy, I understand, but we were told "GOOD NIGHT". Ok, see ya! We had stayed in a house in Hanalei with the real intention of being near our favorite join, no drinking and driving. Totally disappointing attitudes. No ALOHA served here.
(2)
Oz R.

I have dined in Honolulu, Japan (including Tokyo), NYC, and TX and I bet this restaurant serves one of the best foods in the world!! The only downside is the bus girl lol she's too young and inexperienced, so be sure to grab onto ur drink or she will take it when u're still working on it!!!! There are 2 other very nice, very expensive restaurants, one required reservation and other was closed 6/11-14 (no one knows why), and this was our only option left but this was just meant to be; less expensive and I bet more delicious than other restaurants!!!!!!! A must goto place in Kauai!!!
(5)
Kelly A.

The staff here is very unwelcoming to tourists, the owner and an older woman named "grandma" are especially rude and mean. They were out of my first three choices of dinner, didn't tell me they were out of coke till the bill came. The food was not good and made us sick. Bad service, bad food... So many amazing food places in Kauai, AVOID THIS ON
(1)
Linda S.

Went to this charming little dive several times - love the atmosphere and our wait staff was always very nice. We had the pizza with pineapples and jalapeÃ±os and it was very good. I'm not a Mai Tai drinker but everyone else raved about them. I had a cocoanut margarita and it was very tasty! I like this little spot because it's has that easy laid-back island vibe - we would definitely stop by again.
(5)
ryan c.

Too crowded with tourists. A bit small when we were here on a Mon/Tues night. You have to arrive early to get a seat anywhere. If I was still in my 20s then maybe I'd come here on the weekend as it sounds like from other people the experience could be much different.
(3)
Monica W.

Service is a little slow here. One would think that after being shown in a couple of movies they would have better service...The Pizza is great though and the beer is tasty...when you get it.
(3)
Nik-n-Dusty G.

My husband and I were looking for a nice, casual place with some live music. After checking Yelp, we thought Tahiti Nui sounded like our kind of place. NOT! We literally waited 2 hours for a pizza - no exaggeration. We had two beers in the meantime - both draft - both flat. When we finally complained to the waitress, she assured us it was on it's way and would be worth it. We kindly told her we hadn't had a pizza yet that was worth a 2 hour wait. Once we finally got our pizza, it was burned. The sauce was good - it had potential. But worth the wait, NO WAY! Then some guy that worked there came over and turned out the light. So - we - along with two other tables - had to eat our burned pizza in the dark. We tried to get a waitress over for a box and the ticket - so that we could take it home and eat with some light. After about 20 minutes (enough time to eat the pizza in the dark), a new waitress came by and announced she HAD to close us out because there was a shift change. Well, thank God for that or we would still be there! What a horrible experience!!! Do yourself a favor - skip this restaurant. It will be the best $60 you ever save!
(1)
Chiara I.

So, I'll give it a solid 3.5 stars. I had high expectations for this authentic tiki hut pearl. And while the live entertainment by the locals on the ukelele were on point, the food and drinks were quite over priced. Perhaps it's the nature of this little town, or the island in general, to have such raw overpowering natural beauty but be slightly lacking in the food scene. I did try the mai tais. My tastebuds did thank me for the tasty treat, but my wallet didn't. This place is chill, no doubt. And a good place to relax and soak in the island sounds, but may want to grab some grub somewhere else before hand.
(3)
Jessica W.

Love this dive bar and LOVE the luaus return. As a two time veteran of the Smith Family Luau (which for the record, I greatly enjoyed for its cheese and touristy production), it was very nice to experience a more local style luau. The room was dark and dingy, and quite small. There were likely only about 50 people total there, and they really kept the mai tais coming. Seriously folks, I barely had time to finish one before the next was in hand, icy and tasty. The meal itself BLEW the Smith Family Luau out of the water. Seriously. It was delicious. The show was small...4 dancers who were all really really good. No erupting volcanos or pyrotechnics. Just some live music, and good old fashioned fun. I can't wait to return.
(5)
Dennis L.

My wife and I had a conversation with a local while visiting Kauai. She recommended Tahiti Nui for two reasons: amazing mai tais and it was a filming location for The Decendents. We ended up paying a visit, and I am so glad that we did. First off, the mai tais really are excellent. No doubt the best we had during our entire trip in Hawaii. However, what surprised me was the food! We ordered a salad to start and a pizza to split. The Baby Greens Salad w/Gorgonzola, Macadamia Nuts & Balsamic Vinaigrette was absolutely delightful. The portion size was great to split amongst 2-3 people as an appetizer and the flavors were spot on. The pizza that we ordered was the #5 Da Hui, which was topped with Kalua pork and pineapple. Now that is a REAL Hawaiian pizza! This was honestly one of the best pizzas that I have had in quite a long time. Overall, we had a excellent experience. I didn't leave feeling like a movie star, but I certainly left happily full.
(5)
Jimmy N.

You MUST try the mai tais if you come here. Yes, they are THAT good. Good, strong, and very tasty. The food is pretty solid, we came here for lunch-- I had a burger and my wife had an ahi sandwich. Nothing particularly special or fancy, but by no means shabby, either. I'm sure the 2 mai tais we had didn't hurt the flavor of the meal. :) The only not-so-great thing I have to say about The Nui is that it took about 30-45 minutes to get our food. Seriously, you've gotta make accomodations for island time when you come to Kauai...but this was a tad much. Nothing severe enough to stop me from making a return trip the next time we're in town though! Definitely want to check out dinner to see if it lives up to the hype, next time! Mai tais!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(4)
Mike L.

Went here last night with family. We waited about 30 minutes and they seated us at a big table right in front of the stage where a local musician was playing Hawaiian-styled pop music from the 80's. It was too loud and wasn't that great. Sitting outside may have been bette except for the rain. Service was very slow and one dish didn't arrive until everyone else was already done. Nice location right on the high way but very little parking. Tried the Mai tai and they were good, but nothing to swoon over as the other reviews suggest. Food was just ok for our group (pizza, ribs, Ono, chicken pasta, burger, bruschetta). For the money, probably better choices to go to or sit outside if the rain stops. If we were just out looking for a dive to have drinks, would have been a nice stop. Crowd was mostly young folks drinking (except for family groups like us).
(3)
Kevin W.

total dive bar in Hanalei and also our first stop after getting to the north shore of Kauai. We had drinks here two afternoons in a row and enjoyed the people watching and casual laid back atmosphere. Prices are pretty modest by Kauai standards. A local brew was $5 and a really tasty Mai Tai was $7.50. I recommend chilling outside so that you can see the beautiful mountains and waterfalls off in the distance. On our second trip there we had a spacey server that problably needs to rethink her career choice. Thankfully, the bartender came around to help her out, but she just seemed out of it. I am all for Island time and was certainly not in a rush, but this chick just dropped the ball.
(4)
Brenda W.

DO NOT EAT AT THIS RESTAURANT. My entire party got food poisoning and have been sick for 48 hours. Great way to ruin your vacation. We should have know better when we saw the dirty bathrooms before we ordered. STAY AWAY!!!!!! I will say that the hula dancing was nice.
(1)
Carey W.

I love it here. The vibe is amazing, Mai Tai is fabulous!! My family of four shared a pizza for $23.
(5)
Amanda M.

Great food, great drinks, lively atmosphere. We visited here several times during out stay in Kauai including for their Wednesday night Luau. The history of the restaurant is really interesting. We had a phenomenal server, I wish I caught his name. He filled us in with lots of interesting facts and it really added to the experience. Awesome Mai Tai's! The only thing that would make this place better is if there was drinks allowed on the patio. This is an ordinance which Tahiti Nui has no control over unfortunately.
(5)
Gil F.

I and the family have stayed on the north shore - near Hanalei 4 times over the past several years but not until June, 2013 did we find Tahiti Nui. THIS is a place we will come to regularly when we come back to the island. The music the night we were there was Kanak Attack and they were absolutely awesome. Awesome! The food was great and reasonably priced, and tourists are the minority here - it's a local scene. The service was a bit less than perfect, but that didn't detract in the least. I for one was glad to have more time to hang out here and enjoy some real music. Aloha!
(4)
Kai R.

Yes, this is the place where The Descendants filmed a few scenes, which I'm sure attracts a lot of tourists. The place is surprisingly small. We went here for lunch and as soon as the waiter gave us the menus I was worried this was a tourist trap and the food would be bad. Boy was I wrong! The menu is fairly limited - salads, 3-4 sandwiches, and pizza. My wife had the pork sandwich and my daughter and I shared their version of Hawaiian pizza (Kalua pork instead of ham). The BBQ sauce that comes with the pork sandwich was REALLY good (put in on the pizza too) and the pizza was very good as well. Can't comment on the mixed drinks (looked good). Service was slow, but who cares - you are on Kauai. They have music most nights starting at 6:30. Definitely check this place out if you are on the North Shore of Kauai.
(4)
Roxy R.

My husband and I visited Hanalei on a Friday morning. A friend told us about this place, so before heading out, we stopped in to have lunch. Maybe it was because we came in during a lull [around 1-2pm], or because we sat at the bar, but the service was insanely SLOW. Anytime we needed anything [to be acknowledged, then to be acknowledged again to order food...a refill, etc] we had to wave down a waitress, because the bartender, who was "helping" us, was at the other end of the bar or working in the books. My husband got pretty frustrated. Other than the service, the food and drinks were awesome. I'm not a big mai tai fan, but tried their "famous" one, and was definitely a little buzzed afterwards. We ordered a spicy Hawaii pizza [sans ham] and loved it. The food is yum, maybe just don't sit at the far end of the bar! This was the only place we went to where the service was lagging.
(3)
Jeff W.

Truly a great place to eat, relax & get some Hawaiian flavor! We had 3 different fish items (ahi steak, Ono Mac & panko encrusted, macadamia shrimp) & the steak... ALL AWESOME. Some of the best cuisine at great prices. Add in live music & BEST Mai tai's on the island (not possible to have just one). Saw they were ranked "best restaurant" & "best bar" on north shore many years running by the locals! DON'T MISS THIS PLACE!
(5)
Joel F.

Favorite bar in Hanalei, probably in all of Kauai. Perfect Mai Tias, excellent crusted ono appetizer, and a really relaxed atmosphere. We asked our waiter for the Mai Tai recipe but, alas, he didn't spill the beans. Drop me a line if you know their secret! This place has a lot of character and looks like it's been around a long time -- I'm hoping it stays that way. Kauai is my favorite island and it's places like these in Hanalei that remind me why I always look forward to coming back.
(5)
Nicole W.

George Clooney drank here! Ha but really this bar has a great Hawaiian vibe. I ate the grilled ahi sandwich which was delicious. The people were nice but the server seemed spacey. She forgot a drink order and messed up the tab at the end. I'd take the others suggestions and sit at the bar, the bartender (who was the bartender in the Decedents) seemed to be on top of it. The fries were very yummy. Wish I had time to make it for the live music but gotta run.
(4)
Chris B.

Went to this place yesterday and there was a 45 minutes we decided to go to kalipso what was not great but decent food... We decided to go today again and ohh boy I'm happy that I did not wait yesterday how in the earth u can mess up a pizza??? An Hawaiian pizza ????! Awful service they do not even know what they have on draft.... It made kalipso looks great!!!
(1)
Kim G.

I didn't get to go on Wednesday for the luau, but my friends did and said it was wonderful. They loved the food, said it was great. We made plans to gothere on Friday night after surfing and shopping all day. We were lucky to be entertained by Mike Keale during our visit at Tahiti Nui! He is a cousin to Brudda Iz and has such a beautiful voice! Google him... We started off with a round of drinks at the bar. We received great service. The bartender was nice to us, and even when she got super busy, still checked on everyone at the bar. We ordered the ono roll appetizer which was soooo ono! Then we ordered more drinks, mostly beer until we were finally ready for dinner. Burgers and sandwiches are only served for lunch. One of us ordered the prawns, one of us got the pasta with the short rib and pancetta bolognese , and one of us got the salad with the mac nuts and feta or goat cheese. All three were yummy! My pasta had a little kick to it which I liked because I love spicy food. We had a great night with ono food and great service.
(5)
Jason D.

They have these two Hawaiian beers here. Gold coast and sunset. I think that was the names. Not sure the brewery but Damn they were so good. I got there around 3:30 which I think is in between there lunch and dinner times. I had to wait a long time to get a beer. Maybe they technically weren't open. Either way it was a good experience. I didn't get any food here b/c the prices were really high.
(4)
J S.

Skip the tourist traps on Hanalei and eat here! Great food and good service. 1800 Coconut Margaritas are delicious. Hawaiian Pizza and Kurikaki Ahi are fantastic! The pizza was among the best we've had in the US or in EU.
(5)
Dan K.

LOVED this place! This is exactly what we were looking for - a laid back place with great food, great drinks and live music. The place has a true local feel to it even though it's a big tourist stop. We got there around 7:00 and only had to wait 20 minutes before our table was ready (we live in Chicago, so 20 minutes is nothing). We got Mai Tais, because how can you not get one at a place famous for them?! I don't know that I've ever had a Mai Tai, so I don't have a basis for comparison... but it was very good! This place just had a really good vibe to it, and if/when we're back on Kauai we will definitely be back!
(5)
Jamie W.

I'm not sure why I like this place. It's kind of your basic dive bar, especially before happy hour. There is an extensive menu, which I've never scene anyone order from. There is a nice pizza menu, which everyone orders from. The pizza is creative, very expensive and okay if you like really thin crust. But I still like the place. It's always lively and usually has cheesy live music. Every night is different though. One night could be good slack guitar with u'kulele. Another can be cruise ship music but everyone dancing. You never know. The drinks are good, but order two since the few servers are quite busy. Everything seems reasonably priced. Note - It is very loud here so don't go if you plan to have an intimate meal. Go to be entertained.
(4)
Chris R.

THE local bar in Hanalei. This place serves up a casual mix of live music, solid drinks, and good people. Stop by if that's your jam. Oh and the bartender was awesome. We tried to order food after the kitchen had closed, but she hooked us up with some free pizza anyway. Huge points for that. And for the ladies out there, this place was featured in The Descendents... so this is your opportunity to sit where Clooney sat (bar stools opposite of the stage). Enjoy.
(5)
Harper B.

Terrible service - similar to what a lot of other reviewers are saying - I regret I didn't check Yelp before going here... Was with my 4 year old daughter and was left waiting 15-20 minutes before the waiter even came over - really? Then we had to wait a good 40-50 minutes for pizza. We had another long wait just to pay the bill. The pizza was pretty good (although we were quite hungry by the time it came) but it certainly didn't justify waiting forever.
(2)
Lily S.

This place has THE WORST service ever. We were waiting for a table for about 20 minutes, and for about 10 minutes there was a table that needed clearing that we could see. The one and only waiter that we saw said they just had a party of 25 arrive, which is a poor excuse to serve us water an leave us waiting for another 15 minutes. Also, for the 20 minutes we were waiting for a table a couple that had been seated just after we arrived hadn't even had their drink orders taken. We can understand the laid back-ness of the islands but this was too far beyond that, there were multiple times the waiter looked at us and turned around we were essentially ignored. Can't even comment on the food as after an hour of waiting without any service, we left.
(1)
Preethika E.

Amazing place with great dive bar atmosphere, live music, excellent drinks (especially Mai tai's) and delicious and healthy foods. On our vacation to Kauai, all we ate were fish and boy was it cheap too. This place is one of my favorites. It is in the Northern part of Kauai, on the Kuhio Highway near Princeville. I had the Seared Ahi with Creamy Wasabi Sauce and my bf had Squid Ink Linguine wiht Mixed Seafood, Tomato Basil Sauce. Both were delicious but I think the pasta had too much sauce (more of a personal preference, anyways). I loved the flavor of the dish I ordered. This place was a bit more expensive, but I can't complain. I was spoiled by how cheap fish (good fish, at that) was all over Kauai.
(5)
Shawn S.

Looked like a local place where only adventurous tourists would venture in. Not too inviting, but since we stopped at the Ching Young adventure park and were looking for food, this place had the highest yelp rating nearby, We took our group of 10, got a table inside and ordered waters and a beer. We got the drinks quickly enough, then no one bothered to stop by again for nearly 20 minutes. I put some cash on the table for my beer (even with tip!) and we left. No one bothered to even bat an eye. Ah well.
(1)
Sheri C.

Fabulous ribs and macadamia nut Ono. The creamy papaya dressing was very good on my side salad. Don't buy the chicken for the salad, it was over cooked. But then again, who wants chicken while on vacation in Hawaii. Drinks were nothing special. I had the world famous Mai Tai, it was not "famous" worthy. My family had other drinks, but were not impressed.
(4)
KG B.

Service was terrible, painfully slow. Left money at the bar and went to the bar at Hanalei Gourmet across the street. Much better.
(2)
Daniel G.

Great Mai Tai's & decent hawaiian pizza. And prices were decent compared to the rest of Hanalei. Great for a more affordable, relaxing night.
(4)
S S.

We went twice during this trip and didn't have any of the service experiences mentioned, even though I was nervous after some of the reviews. We walked in one night after hearing live music and hearing about pizza from a friend, and got a table outside. Service was quick, mai tais pretty good, and pizza just fine. The next night we came in after plans to go to bar acuda fell through with some hungry family members and managed to get a table for 5 easily. Again..drinks quick, fish dishes great, and pizza just fine (although they forgot to put pineapple on half and the oven had shut down already so it could be rebaked and had to be sprinkled on top). No complaints from us..this place has solid food and the live music (early in the evening - seems to end by 8:30 at latest) is nice.
(4)
Dana B.

Stopped here for lunch. The food was okay. The setting was fun, but falling apart and faded. Didn't realize it was a movie location until after. The service was pretty bad. Not friendly. They didn't seem to want to be there or us for that matter. Would not go back or recommend.
(2)
Erin Y.

If I could give it a lower rating, I would. I actually warned the older couple that came in and sat next to us at the bar as we left with a "Good luck". After being completely ignored in an almost empty bar (it was early afternoon), we were just about to get up when the lady finally asked us what we wanted (not pleasantly), so we went ahead and ordered a Mai Tai, would have had more, but although she was right in front of us, she never asked, never looked up, never acknowledged us again until we finally waved her down to get the check. Which took forever. In all that time, she also continued to ignore a group of older guys that came in, initially looking happy, but happiness turned to confusion upon being COMPLETELY ignored too. Funny though, a few guys that I'm guessing she knew, apparently were from around there, came in well after us and the other guys, sat at the end of the bar and quickly received "hello's" and beers, with a chat. Just ridiculously rude. I guess they don't like tourists?? But I bet they make a killin' off us. Just wow.
(1)
Carol F.

I have never ever walked out of a restaurant and have never written a review on any websites or whatsoever until I came to this trashy restaurant. The experience I had motivated me to sign up for yelp account because this crappy restaurant's staffs don't seem to care about customers concerns. Stay away from this restaurant if you want good or even a decent customer service. Their staffs are unwelcoming, unfriendly, rude, and really need training on customer service. This restaurant doesn't even deserve a one star! We came on a Tuesday night, and the place was packed. The hostess estimated our wait time to be 20 mins and suggested to grab drinks at the bar. Despite the crowd, we were able to find 2 seats, and my friend and I waited...and waited... and waited to be served. Unfortunately, we never got served, since the bartenders only seem to focus on one side of the bar! Our names were called to the table. We waited again for the server to take our orders. The staffs seem to care more about chatting with other than attending to customers needs!!! I lost my patience, I finally walked up to the server and ask if anybody would take our order. They said they're really busy and they'll come to our table. Went back to our table, but no sever attended to us. The service was so horrible beyond words that my friend and I eventually walked out. As we did, the hostess saw us and never bothered to find out why. I went back to tell her the situation, and she didn't seem too concerned. Don't waste your time coming here. There's a restaurant nearby named Postcards and you'll be greeted with pleasant and attentive staffs. Food was excellent too!
(1)
Andy J.

Stopped here to have Mai Tai's. There were tasty and strong - one of the best we had on either Kauai or Oahu. Also tried the ahi tuna and ono. The wife and I are not the raw fish type but decided to step out of our comfort zone. Mmmm - very tasty!!! Friendly staff too.
(4)
LJ G.

I wanted to give 3 1/2 stars, but yelp doesn't seem to let me. Fun, islandy decor and vibe. The mai tai's were really good. My dinner, shrimp, was very good but my husband's Ono did not taste fresh. The live music was great. I think the best thing about this place is that we were all seated together as there aren't many tables, so you end up meeting lots of people and it's a night of fun! If you want an intimate evening with your sweetie, don't go here!
(4)
Young Hi R.

My husband and I came here around 5pm and it was nice and quiet. They had Hawaiian music playing, the atmosphere was comfortable and cozy. We ordered a mai tai and it was DELICIOUS! We had just had mai tais at Kalypso which we thought were pretty good, but they didn't even compare to Tahiti Nui's mai tais. Now that we know the difference, this will be our spot to get mai tais until we leave the island. You have to try one!
(5)
LisaLisa F.

After spending days eating Poke, fish and all types of island fare...it was with great excitement to get PIZZA! A must to order: 1. Da Kine - Kalua Pork and Pineapple. OMG. This was gobbled up very quickly. 2. the All Meat - island sausage, pepperoni, Kalua Pork and ham - I honestly do not know which I loved better. MUST order the baby greens salad w/ gorgonzola, macadamia nuts, tomatoes in balsamic vinegraitte. I could eat this salad everyday. It comes on a small platter and had me almost licking my plate. Reggae music was awesome to listen to as we sat on the front porch with a view of the amazing Kauai mountains and waterfalls. Sorry kiddos...it just doesn't get any better than this! CON: Service sucks. I sat with an empty drink glass for 15 minutes before a different server came over. I noticed they were so busy visiting with each other, the bartender and the locals sitting at the bar that I suppose I should be lucky they graced me with their presence every 15 minutes. crappy service...but the amazing views and outstanding pizza made up for the lack of waitress braincells. Additional Info: Apparently Katy Perry was here for the next three nights partying. I have since heard that if you want to celebrity watch, keep your eyes peeled. They love to come here for the Aloha and anonymity.
(4)
Brent F.

Atmosphere and pizza were both good, but dong expect a gourmet meal here. You should definitely check out their live music while here. I'd be cautious of the Mai Thai's everyone orders. Since we sat at the bar we got a first hand look at what goes in them. For a $8 drink they put in the cheapest rum around, no doubt hangover material.
(3)
Jackie K.

Overall great. Have a Mai Tai--they were the best I had during my trip. The pasta is homemade and is delicious--my husband had the ravioli in a rich sauce. I had an ahi sashimi with sesame seeds. It was very good, a little salty but the fish was fresh and delicious. We also had some salads which were also good. Service was great. It was the only place we ate dinner in in Hanalei but it was great.
(4)
Geoff C.

We decided to check this place out after watching the movie the descendants. This was our favorite bar that we visited on the island, great authentic feel, the performers were fun and the drinks strong. If you get a chance visit on an evening with live music.
(5)
Edwin M.

Tahiti Nui has been a hole in the wall favorite with locals as well as those tourists in the know. The bar scene in the recent Clooney film The Descendants was filmed here using many of the regulars as extras. Hollywood has unfortunately attracted people who miss the point of Tahiti Nui. The low key feel to the place where everybody knows your name (or at least your favorite drink). Don't complain if they're slammed and it takes a while for someone to take your order as the whole point of being here is to relax and get rid of stress. Try the ahi carpaccio and the pizza - both extremely delicious! Buy Richard a Corona if you have a chance.
(5)
Brooke C.

I really wanted to like this place. I even came here twice to give it a second chance but it fell short again. Night 1: my wife and I came by for Mai Tais and dinner. We had to sit at the bar because it was packed. Mai Tais were good but didn't pack much of a punch. We ordered the scallops and shrimp. Both were really good but were about $23-$25 per plate. Our experience disintegrated when we were trying to leave. The bartender who was serving us kind of ignored us throughout the night but we figured it's a busy place so we would give her the benefit of the doubt. She asked us if we needed anything else and we told her we were all set, assuming she'd bring us the check. We were wrong. 15 minutes later I had to ask her for the check & 30 minutes later we finally got it, after tallying up what we owed and standing up ready to just leave the money and go. When she saw us stand up she said our check was coming up and gave it to us a few minutes later. Mind you, it takes less than one minute for them to write up the check on a piece of paper! Apparently we didn't learn our lesson. Night 2: We came back again for Mai Tais and appetizers. At first service was great but then when the middle aged blonde started serving us again (woman from the night before) things went downhill! She barely spoke to us while interacting with the tables around us. I had to ask her if we could order food before she dropped off our drinks and left and she replied with a rude, "yeah, sure" as if I was inconveniencing her. At the end of the meal, after her ignoring us twice when it was clear we were ready to leave I asked for the check and got a cold "sure." During this time she was going to other tables talking to them and asking what else they'd like. We again had to wait another 20 minutes before I actually got the check! I don't know if they just don't like tourists, or don't like gays but either way I will never come back here again. Blondie ruined it for me! I agree with a previous post exactly: she is "disgustingly rude."
(1)
Cheri. A G.

This place had a bit of a reputation years ago so I never came here but those days are long gone. It's still a local hangout with a few tourist mixed in. They have entertainment in the evening. Last night in the early evening was Hawaiian music but later they were going to have IIRC a classic rock band in. I actually came in twice...once in the afternoon and Julia was the bartender. She was very nice and helpful. In the evening the place was beginning to get busy and the music was good. Oh...the Mai Tai's are a must do. One local was there both times...I don't think he ever left. There seems to be a couple people that make things and sells them out on the patio. OH yeah I forgot...watch the Superbowl because they are is going to be doing a piece about one of the players that use to play for Miami and they did some taping of the Tahiti Nui and their staff. Wait there is more...Apparently Senator Feinstein likes this place too yelp.com/biz_photos/jzLvâ€¦ :)
(4)
Aaron K.

it's nice, family owned, from the Descendants, an experience to see it in person. But I couldn't help but feel a bit like it's a lot like a small town dive bar. The food was ok, the ono fish was good, but the pizza was terrible (yes, we should have known better). We came on a day that was supposed to have live music, but didn't - that probably cost them the 3rd star..but even with it - I felt I could find better. People say there aren't many choices on Kauai, but I disagree...we ate well there, and this was probably our most sub-par meal.
(2)
Amanda R.

Unfortunately, or fortunately for us, they were so rude here we never got a chance to eat or drink. We walked through the door to a bustling place only to be confronted by the bartender? She said, I hope you don't want to eat, cuz we're not serving food and it's Luau night. Uhh, ok, as I scratch my head and look around me at all the people eating food. She told us in rapid succession the names of other places where we could get food. We turned and walked out to cross the street. She followed us out and said we had to move our car because "it's gonna get crazy in here and there's already a shortage of parking" for her "paying customers." Needless to say, TWO full hours later when we drove by on our way out of town there was still only one lonely vehicle parked at the restaurant. We had 9 days more to eat and drink all over Kauai and guess where we didn't try to go back to.
(1)
Cori C.

I'm sad to say that after tonight's visit, I have to agree with a lot of the reviews on here... We stood in the doorway for a few minutes before anyone even acknowledged us. Then when the host came over he said "do you know how this works now?" Then tried to squeeze us into a booth inside. It was dark, a bit smelly and not of interest. I asked to be put on the porch. He said that the one table was reserved for parties of three or "if we were planning on staying while." Also, two staff members asked us specifically if we were there for dinner and drinks. They were out of Ono and ahi by 5 pm. The drinks came after a table whose drink order was placed a good 7-10 minutes after us. Then my salad arrived later than the pizza and was consisted no more than a pile of non rippened tomatoes with some greens on the bottom. It was supposed to have mozzarella...still looking for that item. Not worth the price for what was served. Pizzas are a bit over priced but getting the bill was sure fast. Inside leaves a bit to be desired. Uneven walkways and an inside in need of a makeover.
(2)
Seema M.

A few things we loved about Tahiti Nui: - Open later than other places (still busy around 11pm!) - Not rip off tourist price - Good mai tais - Bar staff were quick - Local vibe - Live music The bar isn't the nicest looking but there are not many options in the evening in Kauai. We haven't eaten here but the food doesn't look great. I would stick with cocktails and beer!
(4)
Robert C.

First time to Kauai. Was told to visit this place for the food. Came for dinner earlier this week. Awesome food. Awesome ambiance. Great live music @ dinner time. Best dish at dinner: Pizza Margarita-- the carpaccio appetizer awesome. Beet salad super tasty. Everything fresh. We fly out this evening and staying in Poipu,... And all week we couldn't get over how tasty and memorable our dinner was at Tahiti Nui. So we decided to take the hour drive today and have lunch here once more... Aaaahhhh. Well worth the drive. Definitely a MUST when visiting Kauai. Aloha!
(5)
Lisa H.

Our first try to Tahiti Nui was a bust as it was so busy we just went to a different restaurant. Decided to try during lunch time and was way better. We ordered pizzas, the 'local', and a burger. All the food was good, but nothing that I can absolutely rave about. We had the mai tai's, which were good, but didn't feel they were worth the money. I would go back but I'd be more prepared for the slow service (which is OK if you don't have anywhere to be), try a couple of different dishes and skip the expensive drinks.
(4)
Kristin P.

I almost don't want to write a review because it seems like such an un-Tahiti Nui thing to do, but I have to, if only so other foodie tourists can enjoy the place like we did. Super local joint-- if you're here on a night with a good band, you're going to feel like you're in someone's living room. Everyone knows each other, everyone's talking about the baby shower they're going to next weekend, its really like a family. And for a lunch and a dinner, we felt part of it. The Mai-Tais here have got to be the best on the island, hands down. Really really good. The food is also some of the best we had. Lunch menu is much smaller than dinner but the Ono roll and the Ahi sandwich were both super good. I believe I said I wanted to "make love" to my plate of french fries (hey, we'd just been at a surf lesson, we were hungry!). Dinner menu is a lot more ambitious. We were lucky to be there on a night they served the Mong Chong (yellow snapper) with coconut curry. Damn that dish was good. Ribs were also delicious, although a little meatier/chewier than some ribs I've had. We spent a whole night there, eating and drinking at the bar, enjoying some live Hawaiian music. After hanging out at Tahiti Nui for a while, you begin to understand why people move to Kauai :)
(5)
Nicole S.

If you're going to have hawaiian pizza in Kauai, this is the place to have it. The chucks of ham and sweet pineappke combo is flawless.
(3)
Rahul D.

Best Mai Tai we had at Kauai!
(4)
Cricket M.

This place contributed to an overall AMAZING Kauai experience - the live music is sweet and the Mai Tais even sweeter :-)
(4)
Thomas B.

Best meal in Hawaii, hands down. Who would have known? Looks kind of dumpy! Holy cow perfect. Macadamia crusted fish had real macadamia nuts on it. The BBQ shrimp whole shrimp but pealed. I'd come back (to Hawaii) just for the meal but music was wonderful too.
(5)
Kristina W.

This place has it all! Amazing food (Great portions), live music, improv hula dancing, outdoor seating, and accommodating staff. Order the Jumbo Scallops with Orange Basil Reducation! You will not be disappointed. Comes with 6 jumbo scallops, huge bed of homemade creamy mashed potatoes. Scallops are seasoned perfectly with what looks like garlic, chives, and tomatoes. Evidently there is basil in this as well (According to the name of the dish), but the taste is so subtle, you can't even taste the basil or orange. Warning - the sauce is super creamy so if you're not into rich, creamy dishes, this one is not for you. Paired with a glass of Pinot Grigio = perfection! Also tried the garlic shrimp. This is not a dis, but this one tasted just like the garlic shrimp at Macky's shrimp truck. The garlic shrimp was perfectly cooked with just the right amount of garlic. The portions are generous with about 16 shrimps covered in garlic butter sauce. Can't go wrong!
(5)
Samantha N.

After reading all the reviews my family and I decided to over look the few bad reviews and give this place a try. We ordered the macadamia crusted Ono, chicken marsala, the special and a salad. None of them were good. I was expecting a lot from the Ono since a lot of people raved about it... But it was over-cooked and tasteless... Not what I was expecting from a $30 plate. The Mai thais were ok too it wasn't particularly tasty nor were they anything special. :( The only enjoyable part of eating here was the singer that night... I forgot his name but he was part of a group named hapa. Maybe the chef wasn't on top of his/her game that night.. But I doubt I'll come back on my next trip to kauai
(2)
Christine H.

It's definitely a dive bar, so you seat yourself if seats are available. There is no waiting list for seats, so you just have to make yourself known to the one waitress working the entire restaurant. Because of this, expect service to be slooooow. It took 45 minutes to get our mac-crusted ono, and the passion fruit iced tea was more sugar than tea. The pizzas that other tables ordered looked decent, but maybe not for $25 each. It definitely was not worth the $80 we paid for 2 lackluster entrees and 2 so-so drinks.
(2)
Heather P.

Great for a drink and a laugh! Good times!
(5)
Jennifer W.

My husband and I went here almost every night while in Hanalei. Every night is different, from Dj's, to live music, to karaoke. We enjoyed every night there. Always a nice crowd and its a good mix of tourists and locals, so there's always interesting people to meet.
(4)
Robert W.

Very disappointed in just how the place was being operated. We were given our menus and eventually ordered drinks. Once our drinks arrived, we went to order. They told us at this point pizza was not an option, or a large portion of the menu. One in our group ordered an item, they were out of that too. Once we agreed on our food selections, our order was placed. Approximately 30 minutes later, the same guy was told that they were out of what he ordered. He was now 0 for 3. We debated leaving at that point, but opted to stay due to a diabetic concern and needing food ASAP. When the food finally arrived, it was good, but everyone was frustrated by this point.
(3)
Maggie L.

Went here for lunch after a long morning of snorkeling at Tunnels Beach. We ordered their daily seafood specials which were delicious and they served Best Mai Tais we've had in Kauai! and i tried a lot of Mai tais on this trip :) a lot.
(4)
Asa R.

Seemed to be filled with an older Princeville crowd vice the "local place" that others mention. We came in during a local band (who seemed to be the bar regulars) and were told "order food or leave, tables are for food not just for drinks". We got a pizza to go, had a few drinks and left. Pizza was good the next day, but service left a lot to be desired. Waitress tried to push her world famous Mai Tais, which looked expensive and watered down and seemed disappointed when we ordered beers instead. Good for the over 60 crowd.
(2)
Chris S.

Man. So far excellent. Just had the Caesar. It was probably the best I've ever had. Split it for two. Tons of garlic n anchovie. Dressed just right. Pizza next.
(4)
Kathy T.

Love this place. We come every year at least once or twice during our stay. The baby back ribs are out of this world tender! My husband and I both enjoyed them. Then there is the local music Knack Attack on Tuesday & Thursday night. We love those guys! For a fun evening be sure to go there!!
(5)
Georgia S.

So far, unimpressed. Waited 40 minutes for a table and told the wait for pizza is an additional hour. Waiter left us mid-order and came back 10 minutes later. First thing he asked, was "are we staying?" Um...maybe not. We ordered lasagne..."sorry, I should've told you earlier, we aren't doing that". The food was good. Over seasoned, etc. actually best thing was buttered macaroni for my daughter. They were busy so I'll cut some slack, but when spending $100+ for family of 4, I expect a bit more. Should've gotten Puka Dogs....
(2)
John M.

Honestly, it is a bit divey. Service is not their forte. I would almost say 'anti-service' is their forte. lol But, ever since they got famous from being in a recent Hollywood movie the place is over-run with tourists (and tour buses) and you get the idea that they just 'don't NEED your business'. If you're really hungry or in a hurry, go somewhere else. But, if you want some local island flavor and like a good-ole dive bar with character this place is it. After we made it through 'the hazing period', we were treated very well and enjoyed our food. :-) I will say, they were very busy when we arrived and all the staff were working hard to keep up with the full house. Ahi sandwich was really good. The cook knows what he is doing. Also, bartender told me their Mai-Tais are "world famous" and I have to agree it was fantastic!!!! My four stars reflects the quality of food and mai-tais, otherwise the service and cleanliness would probably drop it to a 2 (but then again, I am not a stranger to dive bars, lol). I noticed they have live music in the evenings and heard they have a good Luau. So there are probably a lot of other things about Tahiti Nui that are worth checking out. Beware - tour bus operators stop here for lunch around 1 pm = busy time.
(4)
Ally G.

Loved this place! Dive bar casual atmosphere, great food, just a fun relaxed place. After a $20 cocktail at st. Regis we loved finding a fun, locals hang out w/ a delicious Mai tai for $7!
(5)
Mary P.

I can't speak of the food because the staff was so rude we didn't even stay.
(1)
Vy L.

The only option in Hanalei that stays open past 10PM. It's a classic tiki bar with live music. All the local characters hang out here.
(3)
Amy D.

Ono with cilantro sauce = amazing!
(5)
Lyn S.

We just went here for drinks. The Mai Tai's were good, and were 7.50.. but the passion fruit margarita was way to sweet. Service was good, Prices seemed a bit high... May be the average though. All in all a good place to have a mid day drink though!
(4)
Jenny C.

Awww yeah! Who says Kauai shuts down at 9? There's live music and the best mai tais in town, 7 nights a week til 1 a.m. We probably dropped by every other night we were in town. Friendly bartenders, a mix of locals and tourists, old and young, and talented musicians every night. They seem to book mellow acts from 5-8, then something more rocking from 9-1. I miss it already.
(5)
Mark C.

Went to Tahiti Nui two nights on our vacation and had a blast both times. It's a mostly local hang out were you're likely to see the person that served you dinner earlier in the night kicking back after work. It's no frills and no attitudes kinda place where the drinks are strong and they have live music most every night. Come as you are. They're known for their Mai Tai and if you like yours strong and sweet it's definitely for you. It's honestly the only place to be for any action in Hanalei/Princeville after 9:00ish. If any place screams the Kauai lifestyle, it's Tahiti Nui.
(5)
David B.

Fun local dive bar; good pizza; great mai-tais
(5)
Angela L.

I don't know if I was high off of the beautiful scenery of the North side or buzzed from the Mai Tai but I had a GREAT time here. We had spent our 1st full day exploring the North side. I thoroughly enjoyed the lushness the North side had to offer - the beautiful green mountains covered in passing ominous clouds at times, the toro fields below, the cliffs to my back & beach to my front at Tunnels Beach.....AHHHH.....GORGEOUS!! Okay, I'm back. Like the other reviewer said, it's a dive bar. It's fairy small with table & bar seating. There's also a few tables outside on the patio. It was a Wednesday night and they had entertainment. The place was PACKED so we just sat at the bar. The base of the bar stools were tiki statues. There was a local musician playing the guitar & singing traditional Hawaiian & contemporary songs. His friends & family were there supporting him and two women also performed traditional Hawaiian dancing as he sang. Based on the reviews, they are known for their Mai Tais. I don't really know how Mai Tais are suppose to taste like but they were good w/good blend of sweetness & alcohol. Price wise, it was on the expensive side but I can understand why. We decided on pizza & ordered the combo/special pizza. It was salty but tasty. I guess Hawaiians really like their food salty as overall all the food I had while in Kauai were on the salty side. Anyways, we ate our pizza, drank our Mai Tais, and enjoyed the entertainment. If I had to give a rating, 3 for the food as it was average. 5 for the alcohol, entertainment & atmosphere. It was the combination of the music, the scenery, the alcohol, the people at the restaurant that night that made me give it a 4. I loved Hanalei, it was such a beautiful and peaceful town.
(4)
Dan K.

Painful lunch. It took over an hour to get our food.
(1)
Sa A.

I would NOT recommend this place to anyone. It is busy a lot of the time. WHY? Awful terrible, horrible service. Drinks are so watered, for $7.50 (two-three? ounce margarita) mostly water and ice. Do not follow the crowd on this one........Not a fan.
(1)
Wess M.

Tahiti Nui has always been our favorite bar on the north shore - even before The Descendants. I only have one concern and especially so since the recent night club fire in Brazil and that is I would very much like to see no fire dancer in the Luau show. When my wife and I attended the luau in October 2012 and sat close to the stage it was a bit scary to feel the heat from the fire dancer. I think it would be a good idea to discontinue that, as the hula girls are just great and the fire dancer is not needed - besides that is not a Hawaiian thing really. If the fire dancer still wants to put on a show I suggest that it be outdoors.
(5)
Max W.

Ribs. Ribs ribs ribs. Ribs ribs ribs ribs. Ribs? Ribs! Ribs ribs ribs ribs ribs ribs. Ribs ribs ribs mai tai ribs. Ribs ribs ribs ribs ribs ribs ribs. Ribs. Ribs ribs ribs. Mai tai mai tai.
(5)
Allison H.

If you have come to visit Kauai in search of the worst service EVER stop at the Tahiti Nui. My boyfriend and I stopped in to have dinner and instead we were served a giant plate of bad attitude. Felt as though we didn't belong because we weren't local, ignored and treated as an inconvenience. Can't believe this place is still in business. Will never return and I suggest that others don't as well. Don't waste your time or $$.
(1)
sarah r.

My husband and I went to Tahiti Nui looking for some good food and live music. We got just that. This place has a great vibe and I highly recommend it.
(4)
Chris C.

The best Mai Tai in all of Hawaii. My wife and I stopped by the classic restaurant and we saw that nothing has changed from two years ago when we last stopped in. Great drinks where you can just sit back and relax and enjoy Kaui on the North side. Cheers!
(5)
Wolfram A.

We stopped here for lunch, thanks to Yelp. We had the Panko-breaded Ono roll, the garden salad with Macademia nuts, and the Ahi sandwich which were all first rate. For our San Francisco-spoiled palates that hasn't always been the case on the island. Our expert waitress Julie pointed out that the spot and some of the staff is featured in "The Descendants" with George Clooney. Don't miss this one.
(5)
Janet D.

I've calmed down now...sort of. I just went back to "my" island and hung out 4 more nights at TH. Re-bonded with Uncle Art...I think I've imprinted on his memory now. Can't wait to see him again. LOVE the music - especially Norman Ka'awa Solomon (right now playing the early spot on Wed and Sat nights)! Average drinks. Very good food. Laid back Hawaiian-style service...it has to be against some law to rush in Kauai. Don't do it...just be. And, if you go there...tell Uncle Art his San Diego girl who comes every 4 months misses him!
(5)
Crissy L.

Its true! BEST Mai Tai's on the island. Put this one on your "must stop" list. Don't let the darkness of the night fool you, this place stays open as long as they still have customers. And there is live music after 8 or 9. The pizza though, a little burnt but it was still good. :)
(5)
Mr M.

Pizza! Thin crust. Crispy.
(3)
kahau m.

tahiti nui! had a birthday party there with a few friends. standing room only! patron? yes. beers? yes. birthday shots? yes. always a great time! Not sure how Pat (the bartender) deals with 40 people asking him for a drink at the same time!?!?! but he does. just go!
(5)
Emily W.

We love Tahiti Nui. It is a great party spot, has great drinks, and great food. We remember it from the days of Auntie Louise. It is a dive, with great dive atmosphere. The Mai Tais are great and the food is usually pretty good, although we were a little disappointed with the Macadamia nut, coconut crusted Ono this last time: it was a little overdone. My husband enjoyed his ribs very much. We do recommend coming early as there is the single waitress, and you can't be in a hurry and enjoy your meal. The evening we were there a solo guitarist/ ukulele player/singer performed and was most enjoyable. He did Elvis, Iz, Don Ho, and others, and all very well
(4)
Don K.

Parking lot pimping.
(5)
Larry M.

True old school Dive Bar with open air seating and good food. Staff can be somewhat indifferent at times but food was great. The Pizza and the Butternut Squash Ravioli were hits in my family.
(4)
Destry T.

Well we are leaving Kauai today and just had to leave a review for Tahiti Nui. This place is a must stop when visiting Kauai. Their pizza's are the best and their Mai Tai's cannot be beat. Had the Da Hui #5 pizza three times while on the island and Mai Tai's of course. Wish I had a pizza place like this back home. The other cool thing about this place is the atmosphere. It is a dive bar with good food. Nothing fancy here just come in and kick back. The reason for 4 stars instead of 5 is the staff can sometimes come off as inattentive. It can take a bit of time for them to help you and sometimes it does seem like they would rather not help you. If they could fix that it would be a 5 star place easily. See you next time Tahiti Nui.
(4)
P T.

Awesome local bar. Fantastic sushi / sashimi platters, friendly staff. A little pricey for the atmosphere but if you're from LA or NYC it's not so bad. Also, on the menu chalk board it says "gunga la gunga", which is the best quote from Caddyshack. Win.
(5)
Elizabeth M.

Large servings, friendly staff, delicious dinner and fun atmosphere with live band. Ono was so ono!
(5)
Baby C.

This place is good. I've only had their pizza due to being a month shy of 21. Locals spot that welcomes tourists. The bar is very popular on any given night. Check It out
(5)
Dawn S.

Love this place! My boyfriend and I went one night and felt totally at home. So we came back the next night, and the next night and the next. A definite must when in Kauai. We got the full story from the bartender - its an original Tahiti bar - been in Kauai for 45 years started by a women who came directly from Tahiti. She passed away about three years back but her still pictures adorn the walls and her family still owns the place. Its a fairly small place, but has great drinks (watch out for the Mai Tais - they're VERY smooth and go down fast), yummy food (try the ono appetizer - ohmaygosh) and super fun music. We were treated to an original Hawaiian two piece band on a Thursday night with some local hula talent and then an up and coming guitarist on Saturday night named Matt Bolton. AMAZING guitar playing. Had a three piece band that just rocked. Get there early because the place does get packed - especially on good music nights. There's tables on the deck out front as well where you can still enjoy the music. We'll be back for sure!
(5)
Tiki T.

Five stars because this place suits a tiki guy like me. My favorite grindz in Hanalei. I ate here five of the seven nights of my stay. The butternut squash ravioli is to rave for. I have never seen it anyplace else and it is so good. The scallops and the garlic shrimp are large portions and priced very well for Kauai at $23 dollars each. You can get a huge salad for $10 that will serve four or a ceasar for $12 of the same large size. I am a mai tai purist and will tell you right off putting pineapple juice in a mai tai is a big no no. 90% of the places in Hawaii do it and I won't gig them for that because it taste pretty good. Get the Nui Sunset if you want a great beer on the hoppy side for $5 or a Nui Gold if you don't like the hops. The crowd changes througout the day and usually two live music acts, one 5-7pm and another from 9-11pm. Big double shakas to Da Nui.
(5)
Stell L.

Great atmosphere and live music. Supposedly the best mai tai in town. We ordered the scallop, and the koala pork with pineapple pizza. Both were delish! Must go, great. Price too!
(5)
Suzanne C.

Despite mixed reviews, I can say that my husband and I had a great dinner here! The Mai-Tais were very good. We both had the Macadamia nut and panko crusted Ono with a spicy cilantro sauce, and it was excellent! We ate outside, and our waitress was very attentive and nice. The music was good, also.
(4)
Steve B.

Love this place. A little gritty, but the food and "World Famous" mai tai was great. Had a Kalua Pork sandwich (excellent), LARGE and tasty baby greens salad, and the handcut french fries were fantastic.
(5)
Nancy S.

So it was a good experience. We did choose Tahiti Nui cuz we looked at the menu and my sister is a vegetarian and the 4 cheese tortellini sounded good to her. It's a small place and we had a party of 6 which was difficult to seat. We ended up sitting in the wine bar section of the place, we were split up between bar tables. Not the ideal situation, but it seemed like the manager just wanted to make sure we were served. It turned out to not be a big deal at all, we were still able to hang out with each other, and we were also able to chat with some of the regulars. The bar tender was so nice. The food was so good. I had the Ono in a cilantro lime sauce with macadamia nuts and mashed potatoes which was good. And my sisters tortellini was fabulous. She let me try some. The manager did check on us a few times which I thought was very nice of him. We were in a different section of the restaurant and he made time to see us. I would come back if I make my way to Kauai again!
(5)
Alana C.

Got to stop by the Nui if you make it to Hanalei. Try the Mai Tai, they don't mess around here, you'll probably only need one!! Sit back, relax, and enjoy... And to top it off you'll get a fun cast of local characters to entertain you! Wishing I was there now...
(4)
Andy M.

Macadamia crusted ono was excellent and pancetta pasta was very good. Mai tais were good too.
(5)
Randi R.

The Mai Tai's will have you dancing the hula in no time! The atmosphere is vintage Tahitian/ Hawaiian dÃ©cor with all kinds of hali's and locals to mingle with. The live rock music was great. Open late.
(4)
Use Yelp Not A Yelper S F.

Yay! What a fun, divey spot. And I don't usually like dives! Place was packed with locals, beaming newlywed tourists, and gekkos. Beware the seared ono... but the pizza looked awesome and the drinks were STRONG! Great casual, friendly vibe. Expect to get into conversations with people on either side of you at the bar!
(4)
Lynn S.

I have been going to the Tahiti Nui every vacation for the last 10 years. This family owned place is always welcoming and the "real deal". Tonight I went to their Luau- first time. I had hesitated because I was afraid it would be like the hotels- all phoney and all. Well, no way! This was a wonderful time, great food and a great show. But what really moved me was the complete enjoyment that the musicians and dancers had for their art. The musicians really had a good time. There was a young man who was drumming who was obviously related to some of the other musicians, not only was he great but it was a tradition being passed on. The hula dancers likewise were great but also were truly enjoying what they were doing. If you want to see a group of people carrying on a great tradition in the face of a bad economy and a lot of adversity, come see the wonderful artists at the Tahiti Nui Luau. If you happen to be around the Tahiti Nui and it isn't Luau night, you can still have a great time. There is a very cool bartender named Julia, who is a hula artist. She also makes a great drink by day. Julia and the Marston family personify the aloha spirit.
(5)
Eric L A.

Our favorite in Hanalei. Well the St Regis takes that honor, but who can afford that. Oh yeah Pierce Brosnon (James Bond) who sat nearby at our valentines dinner there. The Tahiti Nui is one of two stops we consider in old town. At least the food is always a three or better and everything just feels right. Great food, unless free, doesn't trump a poor show! Be sure to bring your aloha.
(4)
Darcie A.

HAHA. This place is fun for people watching. Small. Very crowded. Mediocre cover band. Maybe the only bar open late night?
(3)
Eileen J.

This place probably shows better at night. It is a little "seedy" and worn looking during the day. Recommended to us by a local, we stopped in for lunch. The service was great, and so was the ahi sandwich. Pizza menu looks good too. Bar is front and center here, but food will bring people back.
(4)
Rockie N.

Our friends who have been dating for YEARS met at the bar here, so we had to check it out. The menu's got a lot of stuff on it. The ribs are alright and the mashed potatoes are really yummy. As with many restaurants in Hawaii, the salad was great! If you can get a seat outside, this is a better spot just to have cocktails and people watch. I wish that I was there RIGHT NOW and tomorrow, and the day after, and the day after that...
(4)
Ada G.

Solid four stars! BEST Mai Tais ever - will totally knock you off your feet! Great lunch menu! The Ono and Ahi lunch specials are so yummy! I could eat that everyday! (oh snap! I DID eat it everyday....for three days in a row!) i also loved the perfectly garlicky caesar salad. highly highly recommend this place!!!!
(4)
Geoffrey E.

Best Mai Tai's anywhere in Hawaii. Their secret is Guava Juice. It's a dive to be sure.... but with charming qualities. We had lunch and drinks. The lunch menu is rather simple, but the food was good. The dinner menu looks fairly ambitious for such an unassuming place. Will have to come back for dinner.
(4)
Kong T.

So it's been over a year since my last review. I came here on a thursday night. They have live music and it was good!!! In regards to food, had the macadamia nut crusted ono and the grill ahi. Both were amazing with their coconut wasabi sauce. For drinks start with a mai tai, you can't go wrong.
(4)
Chris K.

Best Mai Tais we had in Kauai. The food was an afterthought for us.
(5)
Helen B.

Hanalei is not full of great dining, but I had my best and most fun meal here at Tahiti Nui. Tahiti Nui is a cute, somewhat dive-y-but-in-a-good-way bar and restaurant. It has been around for I believe, 30 years, and tho I don't know it's history.. but It looked to have one, with lots of old photos on the walls, one or two photos of the pretty lei-laden women appearing to be the same woman who served us.. 20-30 years prior. Lots of locals eating and drinking here.. and there was live, mellow, mostly Hawaiian music every time I went or passed by. I didn't really expect much of the food in a bar.. and was pretty wowed by my fiance's Macadamia Nut Panko Crusted Ono with Coconut Cilantro Lime Sauce, and my tender juicy Rib-Eye Steak with Cabernet Mushroom sauce. I think they used shiitakes.. Both about $20. Supposedly they make great Mai-Tai's ... I had an ok (strong) guava Margarita. We went another night and had their pizza.. eh. Not so great. (but I am a New Yorker.. used to really good pizza!) Stick with the other menu items. I am going to give this place 5 stars.. grading on a curve.. I recommend this place! Fun, local flavor, and yummy!
(5)
Matt P.

Definitely a good spot to end the night if you are visiting the north shore of Kauai. While we did not have any food here, we did top off dinner at other restaurants in Hanalei with a couple of Mai Tais from Tahiti Nui. I would agree with others that they serve up some of the better (and stronger) Mai Tais on the island. Tahiti Nui is definitely a local hangout, but as tourists we never felt out of place. A couple of the locals encouraged us to try the Mai Tais even though they were sipping on draft beers. So really a casual and friendly vibe. We also enjoyed the family of geckos that like to roam around the railing and walls. Fun to watch while listening to the jukebox or bad karaoke. Bottom line: make plans to either kick off your afternoon or finish up your evening here at least once while in Kauai.
(4)
Josh F.

True to form, the Mai Tais were the best of the 3 places I tried on the North Shore. Also loved the vibe of this place. Lots of fun, noisy, great music. Service was good for Hawaii. Entree was pretty good or it would get a 5. Pizza wasn't so great.
(4)
Laura S.

Um, we couldn't even make ourselves walk through the door. Super seedy looking. If I squinted (and was already drunk) maybe I could've seen a glimpse of the coolness that the place claims to once have had. However, in the harsh light of day it looks like the sort of place where you need to watch your drink.. and you certainly wouldn't want to eat anything. Maybe I'm wrong, but instincts are worth a lot.
(1)
LeAnn G.

So I was just in Hanalei, HI and I realize that we are on island time but PLEASE!!! This place is HORRIBLE for service. We walked in and sat at a table right away but that was the only quick thing about this place. We got there at 8:15pm, ordered drinks which took 10 minutes, ordered food and appetizers. It took 45 minutes to get the appetizer which was tomatoes and mozzarella...nothing hard to slap on a plate. Now mind you others who came in after us already had their full meals. After waiting an hour and being ready to just cancel the order, our food arrived. I will tell you the ONLY saving grace for this place is that the food was very good. We both had a pasta dish and they were prepared well.
(1)
Mark V.

Four stars? Are you kidding me?! Everything about our experience was disappointing. First, our party of 4 was seated at a small high top in a crowded corner. The service was painfully slow -- more than 2 hours for what amounted to a one-course meal. My vodka tonic tasted as bad as, oh, a glass of ocean water, and, when our meals finally came out, the salad was forgotten and the ribs were so tough it felt like I was performing surgery to remove the meat. Mediocre would be too kind a description. Don't bother: there are far better places nearby at which to eat.
(1)
Peter C.

Ordered a mushroom pizza from Tikiman Pizza, however we sat at thebar of Tahiti Nui. The music was pretty good, perhaps a bit loud but it was ok cuz he was pretty decent. The mai tais ate really good! And the bartender was expedient. A monday night at 8pm. Cool bar, definately worth checking out if your on vacation.
(4)
jen c.

Music was great. Food was good, but a bit over-priced for a dive bar. Mai tai's were tasty, and definitely the cheapest ones I found on the island. The one star is based on the service. Horrible. I get the impression that this place puts their locals first (fair enough), but crosses the line into being downright rude to other patrons. If you don't mind waiting a long time for service while others around you are being catered to, and being served by unfriendly, unresponsive waitstaff, you'll probably manage to have a good time. Otherwise I would move along to a Bar Acuda or the Hanalei Dolphin for a better experience for the $$.
(1)
tiffany n.

Really great atmosphere-very typical Polynesian style bar thing going on, which is what I wanted to see. Food was great and drinks were just as great. Music was really pleasant-had a nice time. Would definitely go back again!
(4)
Keith H.

Jumbo Scallops - 5 Stars! My wife and I wanted to go back and get this again but we never got around to it. Pizza - 2 Stars. $3 a slice for happy hour and it was kinda small for that price. Mai Tai - It was ok. I think people were over-rating this drink here.
(4)
Francis F.

I am definitely a FAN! After a long day of travel, on the recommendation of our son, we stopped here for an early meal and were delighted to find great live entertainment by a slack guitar trio. They have great cocktails, but we settled for glasses of cab with our fresh, HUGE salads. Then came the Hui Hawaiian pizza--topped with pineapple and barbecue pork...AMAZING! We could only eat half the pizza and brought the rest back to the resort frig for later this week. We'll be back to try some of their seafood dishes.
(4)
Karen R.

Very rude bartender. Not a fun, friendly place....Unlike most of the places in Hanalei....Skip it.....
(1)
Klaus G.

local joint,.. not as busy as others,.. but worth trying for a lunch.
(3)
Mark M.

Everyone in our party of five was completely blown away by the excellence of the food here. From looking at the worn-down funkiness of the place and the moderate prices we were a bit surprised by the good quality. My mac-crusted Ono was amazing! The Mai-tais were as good as they are reputed to be. But the real star of the evening was the vibe of the place. The locals, the musicians, the stories, the impromptu hula by one of the friendly waitresses had us glad we spent our last night on the island there. I am glad that this is the meal that I sprung for for my friends.
(5)
Olga O.

Ok service - but really tasty drinks! Watchout! they are strong!!
(4)
Kimber C.

Great place to cruise after a long day at work. Good drinks, good pizza and live music almost every night. Went out of my usual and had one of their mai tai's last night...definitely potent, but still so good. Couldn't do more than one of those if I wanted to walk a straight line out of there. Be prepared to be hangin the next day cause you never leave after just one drink.
(5)
Manny L.

Great bar with a fantastic pizza joint next door. Love the music and ambiance at this place. I miss the best Pineapple and tomato pizza I have ever had there. Also some of the cheapest drinks on the island!!!
(5)
Michelle G.

Awesome Pizzas and Mai Tais! Great music too!
(5)
Amy H.

Food was alright although portion size is generous. Service is lousy - there was only one waitress serving the restaurant on Labor Day weekend night, who did not speak English well and tossed food on the table like you' a dog. Had to return the Tuna roll appetizer that was overly salty. The green salad with gorgonzola was soaked in balsamic vinegar like soup. If you're starved, ordering a main dish is enough at this dive.
(3)
Mei B.

I love this place. It's super laid back and the food is yummy. The pizza is good but their ribs, fantastic. Great crowd from locals to visitors just chilling the nite away drinking mai-tais. With local musicians most nights, it's ambience you can't pay for. If you find yourself on the island of Kauai and specifically on the north shore Hanalei is well worth your time. I even bought their tank top.
(5)
David S.

This was one of my favorite restaurants/bars in Kauai, and I would've probably been back here if I was staying on the north side of the island. Drinks are fantastic, particularly the Mai Tais. Had seared ono as an app, and it was absolutely delicious (my wife doesn't even eat fish and she was a huge fan). Followed it up with a kalua pork and pineapple pizza which was fabulous. This is definitely a great place to hang out and grab a bite and a drink, with a fun ambiance and live music.
(5)
Mary A.

When we came a year ago the food was great, the hawaiian music beautiful and the drinks were all available, This year, the portions were small, everything was out of stock (including the special that was still on the board) and the bill huge. What changed?
(2)
sherrry b.

Love it... Just my kind of funkiness.Local casual and laid back, what could be better on vacation from city life..food is ok, not amazing, drinks were fine too but the atmosphere and people and music and wait staff make this place ...the wait staff and bartender sometimes double as hula dancers, great place!!!!
(5)
Tracy D.

Excellent local bar, live music most nights of the week (Thurs is karaoke, which can be considered music or not, depending on who's singing). Enjoy a drink, kick back and enjoy your night out. In 2 consecutive nights, we witnessed the following: 5 drunk girls karaoking horribly 4 policemen dragging the wrong guy out of the bar after a fight 3 chicks trying to pick up our cute single friend 2 dancers (belly dancer and a flapper) for a bday party and a DJ with a rooster in a palm tree. Who says the north shore doesn't see any action?
(5)
D E.

Cheese pizza was delicious! Live music gave the place a good vibe. Also met some locals seen in "The Descendants" movie.
(4)
Stacia S.

Very disappointed with the service and the food was just ok. Unfortunately they don't realize they are lucky to have the tourists that they get because their success does not come from the locals, but the $ from the main island.
(1)
Jimi M.

Mai Tais...Music...Pizza...For sure...Get you some
(5)
Lovely K.

Not to be missed. Don Ho may walk in at any moment and he's been dead for years. Or you may end up in any of the time periods depicted on Lost - or all of them! Great, drinks, great staff and the best kahlua pork and pineapple pizza on the planet. Great place to sip a mai tai and listen to local talent.
(5)
Cheesemonger Jeff D.

Funky bar restaurant in Hanalei - first bar on the North Shore, legend has it. First time I ever ate poi and enjoyed it, too. They used to have luaus, now it's more of a bar... Locals hang here, tourists too. Bad local music...... Sightings: Graham Nash and Todd Rundgren (not together)
(5)
amie a.

Pizza is not a single serving! Everything was great. Waitress was very friendly. Ambience is part roadside bar, part luau. Loved the macadamia nut crusted ono. More expensive than we expected, but the second best meal in Hanalei.
(4)
Jon H.

Oh Tahiti Nui, you temptress you. I know no nui is the only good Nui, but I am weak for you.
(5)
Mike A.

Great place to close out the night of partying
(3)
Maye C.

A fun spot with a good mix of locals and tourists. The live music brings the crowd to life and dinner is decent. Lots of fun and not to be missed!
(5)
Andrew L.

Maybe my new favorite bar on earth. Great hangout with the absolute best Mai Tais you will ever have in your life. The staff is super, super friendly and the environment is totally relaxing and authentic.
(5)
Brandon R.

Surprisingly awkward service and lackluster food. We arrived for lunch expecting tasty meat. The BBQ pork was low on flavor and the food took more than an hour to arrive after ordering. Great atmosphere and vibe -- just an underwhelming overall experience.
(2)
Phil K.

Not a fan. Salty pasta dishes, bad live music. We liked the pizza a lot but would not go back to the restaurant
(2)
seankor W.

It was ok. We ate here for lunch, service was friendly but not very responsive (asked twice for ranch for my fries and never got it, she mentioned it as she got our bill that she was sorry, guy in back got busy and forgot twice, didn't like the blaming someone in the back excuse). Also beer we wanted was there but tap needed to be changed, but no one was there to help her change it so couldn't get beer at first. No problem, but then we saw them swap it out, but she never told us it was ready now, we had to ask her for the beer again. Food was ok, not great, not bad, just ok. We didn't have a need to go back. Probably better for drinks at night then for lunch.
(2)
David B.

probably the most chaotic service fubar i've experienced in a decade. wow. with everyone blaming someone else for the service problems.
(1)
David S.

Train wreck continued. Just stopped by the restaurant to speak with the owner and the only person there was the server that waited on us first last night. Told her what happened and she acknowledged that there is a real problem with these individuals and their poor manner of service. She said " I don't know why this woman is serving because she can't even speak proper English and she has bad manners.". When asked if there was anything she could do to correct the situation, she said "well I provided you good service until I went on break.". That's it I asked? "There's nothing else I can do and the owner is off island.". Absolutely mind boggling. I think the real issue is they don't want kids there. Families make another choice.
(1)
Nicholas C.

Best bar on Kauai. Most fun, great staff, friendly locals, live music and great food. Local Hawaiian music from 3-6 on weekdays, karaoke on monday and thursday nights, with local rock and blues bands on weekend nights. Mai Tais are good and I drank four even though pineapple juice sets my heartburn a blaze. The Ribs are great, thick, juicy, smokey and smothered in a boysenberry sauce mmmm. I also tried the Prawn and cilantro crusted mahi mahi, which was excellent. Great place to watch football with the locals. You will make friends here quicker than you ever have before. For lunch try the grilled fish sandwich. It comes with a large fish steak, that I believe was Ono and left me feeling crisp and rejuvinated, instead of greasy and lethargic like a fried fish sandwich.
(5)
Anthony D.

Went for 'best Mai Tai on island', good but I wouldn't say the best (Brennecke's in Poipu took the title for me). Otherwise a solid Hanalei dive bar, friendly staff, would like to check out the scene at night next time.
(3)
Christina C.

My boyfriend and I had read both the positive and negative review given by other people but were willing to give it a try with an open mind. Unfortunately, it didn't take long for us to regret our decision. We decided to sit at the bar, and boy was it a mistake. The bartender was ok until I had a complaint about my food; I ordered "mahi mahi mediterranean", but once I had a couple of bites I ended up with a mouthful of fish bones. Once I told the bartender about the problem, he was quick to get defensive and did not even try to sympathize with me about how if I had known there were bones in my fish I wouldn't have ordered it. Instead he asked me if I wanted it wrapped up so I could take it home and de-bone it myself...WTF!!!!! The waitresses totally agreed with me about the bones in the fish, but unfortunately the bartender did not...and I was charged for the dish...which was $22...DO NOT GIVE THEM BUSINESS!!!!!
(1)
Melissa R.

After a 3 hour Na Pali coast tour full of snorkeling, cheesing it up with the guide, and riding the waves, the boyfriend and I swooped into here for a Keoki Sunset and french fries. We sat on the deck, watched the rain without shivering (unheard of here in the Bay!), and ate the most outstanding french fries. You know what made them so "outstanding, you knock me out"? Ohhhh, they sprinkled black pepper on them! Finally someone serves it how I like it!!
(5)
Sarah K.

We loved Tahiti Nui! We came by for late night drinks and were disappointed to not get an outside table, but actually ended up loving our spot at the bar inside. Great live music and fun atmosphere. We thought the mai tais were delicious! A really fun place.
(5)
Chris C.

What a great and friendly little spot this is. We found it on the way home from the beach for a little happy hour and then back in the evening for Hawaiian music and a little rock & roll... The staff, fellow tourists and local clientele all get along great here. The pulled pork is off the hook and Tikiman Pizza rivals New York's best. The Mai Tai will rock your world!
(5)
Pepper B.

My favorite place on the island....Great music, very good food, good service, great ambiance...you make your own good time...most patrons are more than willing to meet and talk, or just chill and listen to the great music. They just added shrimp pizza, which is excellent. Their pizza prices went up from 6 months ago, but it is much better pizza than we can get back home. Although there are not always children there, they seem to be welcome, so families can enjoy this place too.
(5)
Christopher S.

We got the two sashimi dishes, and those alone are the reason I'd come back. The MaiTai here is definitely not the best you can get on Kauai, so don't fall for it!
(4)
Tom F.

Food was extremely overpriced ($20 for 5 ravioli?!?!) and surprise charges were added to our bill without giving appropriate advance notice. In addition, wait staff and owner were rude when asked to correct a mistaken order. You would be better off looking elsewhere for eating or drinks -- there are many other places in Kauai which deserve your business and treat you like a valued customer. This was certainly not one of them.
(1)
George K.

Well have you ever seen "Kitchen Nightmares?" The next episode should be filmed there. The chef says he reigns from Tourino Italy, but if he was in the kitchen, he must have been sleepy, b/c the food was less than good. We ordered the carpaccio, which was actually tasty. Then came our entrees...my lady had the mahi mahi mediteranian. It sucked. She found bones in her fish, the portion was huge, and it definately wasn't mediteranian. So when it was brought to the attention of the bartender we got an attitude. I ordered the squid ink linguini with seafood and tomato basil,... whatever. First off the pasta itself minus everything else was great, but as a whole it was completely under seasoned. Tasted like nothing. The portion was also absolutely huge. If they do family style, our bartender should have told us. We both didn't finish our meals and left hungry, feeling cheated. If you are looking for a beer in a dive, have one n leave. If you are looking for food, go somewhere else to eat.
(1)
Smoothie M.

Mai tais were good, but pricey. Interesting locals hanging out on the deck. A good place to see people other than just tourists.
(4)
Anne H.

I would agree with the poster who said Tahiti Nui is "super laid back." We came when they opened and they barely acknowledged us. The food is OK, but this is a bar for the most part, not a restaurant. Certainly not family friendly.
(3)
Jeannie C.

My friend and I stopped at this bar for a drink before heading back to Poipu Beach. We enjoyed the live music. There was a good local vibe. Haoles had their ukeleles and were following along with the band. They had a hula group the night we were there. They were dancing to the music. The bar is old but it has that Hawaiian tiki bar theme. I absolutely loved it even if the people there were "mostly dead" (aka...old people). My friend and i had the mai tais...lots of them...they were delicious. I saw the previous Yelp comments..glad I didn't eat da food. I also met the owner of Norside Scooters at the bar...super nice guy, Paul. He gave us inside local 411 on where to go for the best sunset view. He gave us a stellar deal on his scooters. We rented that same day (yea, with lots of mai tais in us but he didn't know)...we were so thankful because we saw the most amazing sunset in this hidden location. I won't say where so you will need to go to Tahiti Nui and look for Paul (da dude who owns the scooter company...buy him a drink and he will give you the same deal). You can't miss him....he is Island eye-candy! Aloha!
(5)
Rodelyn C.

I see that there are are a ton of rave reviews on Tahiti Nui BUT I have to honestly say that I would not recommend this place however the food was good. For those of you reading this review and are wondering...then why are you giving them 2 stars if the food was good...well...SERVICE IS TERRIBLE!!! Yes, I am a visitor. Yes, I know Kauai is more laid back. Yes, we did come as a group of 8. BUT what I don't understand is why 6 people get their food in 30 minutes and the other 2 who is sharing a pizza, yes sharing, get their pizza in 1 HOUR!?!?!?! On a side note, I got really annoyed so I decided to visit a few other parties enjoying their pizza and I asked them how long it took to get their pizza. Both parties responded, 15-20 minutes. 15-20 minutes!?!?! WTF!!! I don't get it!! I understand that this place gets really busy but their shouldn't be any excuses. It's a Friday night, you know your restaurant/bar gets busy...well here's a solution...ADD MORE STAFF. Besides getting the pizza an hour after it was ordered, we briefly got acknowledged by the manager of the day (the bartender), our server did not greet/welcome us, I had to get the menus for us, I had to tell the manager that we were ready to order, and they got my 6 shot order wrong (and she shouldn't have because I watched the server write it down)!!! You wrote it down DARCEL (that was our server's name) it shouldn't be hard!!! Anyways the bottom line is, if you have all the time in the world, have no agenda for the rest of they day/evening, want good moderately priced food, and don't want to really deal with the people who work there...then Tahiti Nui is the place for you.
(2)
Charlie A.

Came here looking for a good pizza to go and i got it. If you walk in through the front it looks like a bar with no food service but your logic will tell you their is food on the premises. We walked in on a monday night around 9 and the place looked like it had just gotten done with a busy night maybe that's why no one ever acknowledged us as we stood at the door way. It was only after my often mentioned eagle eye spotted a sign behind a doorway about 25 feet back, it read "Pizza" with an arrow pointing to the back of the place. Walked up to find the afterthought of the business...a small counter in the back selling pizza's. Stood at the counter a minute or two until somebody noticed us and then provided good customer service complete with suggestions. The caesar salad tasted fishy but my wife liked it. If you get the caser to go ask them not to dress it, it will be soggy when you get to your final destination. Ordered a half pork half hawaiian it was good, nothing to write home about but when your looking for good pizza to go I can recommend this place.
(4)
John E.

Great food, relaxed atmosphere and great music the night we were there. I had the Ahi and it was better than any I've had. My kids loved the pizza. The service was friendly and very attentive.
(5)
Max D.

Not to be missed if you want a slice of local life in Hanalei. Excellent pizza joint operates in the back.
(5)
Kali D.

Yup we flew all the way to Kauai for pizza! Ok no we didn't but when my girlfriend who lives on the island suggested we all go for drinks and pizza at Tahiti Nui and we were down, at this point I think I was all Poke out. We were a group of five, and the place is pretty small and not very cozy for larger groups so we ended up grabbing a table on the back porch. We had a lot of room to spread out and sip on our cocktails. The only complaint I have was the sun. . LOL I know this is not in the control of the joint but a roll down shade was really needed because with the sun going down we were blinded by it's rays. Causing us to shift and play musical chairs! On to the pizza and drinks. This was THE BEST PIZZA I THINK I HAVE EVER HAD! Like everything on these islands, prices were high but it was soooo worth it! And yes we were sitting in the heat eating hot a$$ wonderful pizza. . I'm drooling now while typing! It was amazing! We had some other food items, everything was pretty good. Plenty of drinks were going around between Mai Thai's, shots, and whatever! We had a ball. Service was wonderful! I was so glad my girlfriend recommended Tahiti Nui! Nice change of pace from the normal Hawaiian eats! Remember this is a dive and the little local critters may visit you which you eat lol!
(4)
Catherine M.

Fun little spot, with decent pizza and great live music. I was not a huge fan of the Tahitian poke, just a little bland for my tastes; and the shots are a complete rip-off ($8 for a shot of Fireball); but we had a super sweet waitress and the specialty cocktails were tasty. A word of caution on the live music- they stop playing at 10 pm on weeknights, but we did not have to pay a cover charge like some others noted. I think our waitress said they go until 12:30 or 1 pm on the weekends.
(5)
Kathy T.

Love this place. We come every year at least once or twice during our stay. The baby back ribs are out of this world tender! My husband and I both enjoyed them. Then there is the local music Knack Attack on Tuesday & Thursday night. We love those guys! For a fun evening be sure to go there!!
(5)
Georgia S.

So far, unimpressed. Waited 40 minutes for a table and told the wait for pizza is an additional hour. Waiter left us mid-order and came back 10 minutes later. First thing he asked, was "are we staying?" Um...maybe not. We ordered lasagne..."sorry, I should've told you earlier, we aren't doing that". The food was good. Over seasoned, etc. actually best thing was buttered macaroni for my daughter. They were busy so I'll cut some slack, but when spending $100+ for family of 4, I expect a bit more. Should've gotten Puka Dogs....
(2)
Scott B.

Wow! This has become a daily habit every time we are in Kauai. Christian is a rock star, and Daisy is top shelf. I highly recommend this local icon in Hanalei.
(5)
andrea s.

This is not seafood restaurant. I think there was 1 seafood main entree. It may be a great happy hour, mai tai, hang out bar but the food is regular bar food. Service was great. My only complaint was that we were expecting a seafood restaurant.
(2)
Myra K.

This place has the best entertainment. Live music and good food. We had the Huli Chicken Pizza, which we totally enjoyed. Their pizza's only come in medium or large, so enough to share. Every table we looked at had a different type of pizza, so I'm guessing their pizza is what they are best known for. The place is very small, but if you can fit it into your schedule, come for dinner and enjoy the music/entertainment. It is worth the trip. TWO THUMBS UP!!
(5)
Danielle M.

Came in with a large party and the host (bald male) was so aggressive and rude that we left. Wanted to dine here but was so disappointed with their lack of customer service, that we ventured down the road to another more appealing place.
(1)
Three D.

Best Mai Tai found on the island. Believe me, I tried many. The Ahi Steak was fantastic! Great service. Will not be disappointed. A must stop!
(5)
Caesar G.

As many have said , this is not a place known for its food. Come for the booze and happy hour $7 Mai Tais and music. Crowd is a mix of locals, tourists, village drunks, bar flies, and hippies with dreadlocks. But no sign of George Clooney.
(3)
Geneva H.

We called and reserved seats for the luau on Wed. We waited to be seated for over 30 min with all the other people. Then decided it wasn't worth it and left. Not the typical luau atmosphere. Dingy, long tables, and a stage in a small room. When we called to cancel because there was nobody able to talk to us at the restaurant they said our credit card would be charged regardless. Pretty poor customer service.
(1)
Mike R.

What a bummer. We went to Tahiti Nui 2 years ago and had a great time. There was live music and we had a damn good pizza. It was hot & gooey & garlic buttery. The service was decent considering how busy they were. That with the live music made it a fun experience. We were really looking forward to coming back. We ate here the other night. It took us a few minutes to get seated. Ok, fine by me. Once we were seated, it took 20 minutes for someone to come out to our table. The hostess asked if anyone had come out and was embarrassed that nobody had been out to the table. Ok, again not the end of the world. We ordered a Hawaiian and a cheese pizza. It's pretty hard to accurately describe what we were served. If you have ever taken a few slices home from a restaurant and then put them in an oven to reheat them, but then taken them out too soon. The pizza had weirdly reheated undercooked consistency. The bottom of the pizza was completely white and the cheese wasn't melted. The service being a little slow doesn't bother me. I've waited in line for 2 hours before getting seated at a restaurant and it was one of the best meals I've had in the last 5 years. But this pizza was completely weak and was really inexcusable.
(3)
Jackie O.

Hate to give only one star to a place like this but yes I must. My husband and I came in on a Monday afternoon and like many of the posts about the Tahiti Nui I also confirm extremely poor service with a don't care attitutude. I'm too disappointed to go into detail other than my fish dish wasn't fresh and the burger and fries my husband ordered was not even hot. I returned my fish dish to the bartender with complaint; she did take it off our ticket. They really should just stick to being a great dive bar and improve their service.
(1)
Rebecca F.

It's pretty cool to be inside Tahiti Nui and see the exact spots where they filmed Descendants. They also have a killer mai tai...their "secret" recipe. The pizza is good. I didn't think the other dishes were anything special.. a little overpriced for the quality, but I would return for the live music and drinks on my next visit to Hanalei.
(3)
Zeb B.

Best (and only) dive bar in Hanalei. Great live music vibe, cold beer and so-so food. Perfect For those looking for a spacious nightclub or amazing restaurant anywhere on the North Shore . . . you will be disappointed. The cost of rent / labor, available ingredients when compared to the typical Joe American budget and bland taste rules out anything like what's available on the mainland. Get over it and start lovin Olive Garden quality food (at best) and shitty Mai Tai's - it's what 80% of the folks that come here want. I laugh when I read below: "Came in with a large party and the host (bald male) was so aggressive and rude that we left." Thank you for leaving and thank you "bald male" for giving them the hint to do so. Go to Maui or Oahu with your large party - they're set up for that and you'll fit right in.
(5)
Victoria S.

Good food and great atmosphere .. Seemed more like an authentic local spot.. They usually have live music as well - we missed it as we came in for a later dinner... Everything is yummy in hawaii - all natural and organic.. Loved it!
(4)
Janet O.

This place is the same as Tiki Man Pizza? Tiki Man is just right behind Tahiti Nui. Connected and under one roof! Pizza was very oily. Staff was full of attitude. There are many places to spend your money on minus the oily pizza and attitude! Meh!
(2)
Corey K.

Meh. Average drinks, okay service, divey setting (we didn't try the food). You'd think from the very flashy website and glowing Yelp reviews that the place is legendary, but it's more like a legend in it's own mind. The Ultimate Kaua'i Guidebook review is spot on: "A legendary local establishment whose reputation is far grander than the present reality. Now it's basically a local watering hole with overpriced food, spotty service and a dark atmosphere."
(3)
curt m.

It had been 4 years since we last ate at the Nui. Value has definitely dropped significantly. Food quality mediocre and way over-priced for bar food menu. Touristy atmosphere fine with us and nightly live music a real plus. Go to have fun, not for the food. Agree with others that it's over-hyped
(2)
Lisa B.

Fun atmosphere, great service! Then to top it off the food was outstanding. The ribeye was so tender, the Ono was fresh and tasty, and the beat salad was delicious! Will be back and definitely recommend.
(5)
Katie S.

Service was extremely slow. The couple next to us ended up leaving before getting service. The food was ok, but not worth the price or wait. To top it off, the beer came warm. Wish we had left too.
(2)
Michael J.

My sister and I happened to be here on a night when the live music performer was the same guy singing the yodeling song in "The Descendants". That made for a nice experience, and their mai tai is delicious. It's best to get here earlier on a weekend night as it gets very, very crowded. For a seat at the bar, try to get there before 6 PM. If you want a table, not long after that. It's a cool place to stop, have a drink and enjoy some live in music in Hanalei. I didn't try the food here, and yes the drinks are expensive but it's a tourist bar in Kauai so I find it hard to believe that people would be that shocked over drink prices.
(4)
Aaron C.

Like stepping back in time. The food and drinks are decent but pricey!! Get the coconut margarita. The grilled ahi sandwich was good but nothing out of the ordinary. Service is extremely slow so don't come in a hurry.
(2)
Shary G.

I don't get it! Lunch = 8oz Angus Burger, you can pick from 4 different cheeses, add caramelized onions, mushrooms, bacon, and avocado. Cost $12 Dinner = 8oz Angus Burger with cheddar cheese. CAN NOT add anything!! Cost $15 Tasted ok, but the menu is just stupid!
(1)
Meg R.

We heard that Tahiti Nui gets crowded and noisy late at night, but we arrived to the bar around 8:30 on a weeknight and it was the perfect beach setting. It's a rustic beach bar that feels true to the Hawaiian ambiance. They had a local guy playing on a ukulele when we sat down at the bar and the bartender was very friendly. The entire atmosphere was very relaxed and casual. We ordered their famous Mai Tais and they were the perfect island drinks!
(4)
Ms. T.

Attended the Wednesday evening luau and I had such a great time. In comparison to some of the other luaus on the island this is a smaller venue BUT at The Nui you feel like your at a family gathering. The food served at the luau was terrific. I enjoyed everything on my plate so its very difficult for me to pick one dish out over the others. My suggestion is to try it all and go back for seconds there is plenty of food. Don't pass up this weird alien looking red spiky Rambutan fruits especially if you've never had one before. Also try the Logan fruits. All the entertainers from the hansome men who played the music, to the beautiful hula and tahitian dancers, to the fire dancers gave wonder performances. Being in such a small dining area I'm sure every seat in the house had an excellent view. Mahalo Uncle Christian for continuing your family's luau tradition and thank you to all your family and employees who work so hard to make your luau such a wonderful and welcoming event for visitors like myself.
(4)
Katy D.

We enjoyed the family atmosphere of the luau. Food was good, drinks great, entertainment outstanding. Seating was extremely cramped we only wish they would have not booked so many to give everyone some elbow room All in all we would go back.
(4)
Missy L.

BEWARE!!! THEY ARE THIEF'S! We had heard that the Tahiti Nui had amazing Mai Tai's, so we decided to go there after our engagement dinner to continue the celebration. We had a couple drinks and paid $40 in cash, and put the rest on our card (which was about $30). We also tipped $15 in cash (wish we could take back that tip now). When we got back from vacation I was going over all charges on my account and saw that I had two charges on my card. One for $30 (correct) and one for $40 (wrong, this was paid in cash). I assumed it was a simple mistake and called the bar. The person on the phone was not very friendly but took my info and I was told the manager would return my call later that day. I never heard anything. I called again, and again, and again. Finally I was told to call the reservation line. I called that and left a message. Still no return call. I finally emailed them. And YEAH! got a call back. The manager sounded like she actually cared and it would get taken care of, I emailed her the info she needed and I was told the refund would be done by Tuesday. Tuesday came and went so I emailed her letting her know still no refund. I have now emailed her MULTIPLE times. It has now been over a month, and still no refund. I ended up having to go into my bank and disputing the charge and filling a fraud form. Also, had to cancel that card and get a new one since the place seems sketchy and there is a possibility they could have also stolen the card number. Pain in the A$$ I am pretty sure the waitress pocketed the cash and charged our card, and this is common practice there. They did not seem to concerned about fixing it. Also, Tahiti Nui thank you sooo much for putting a black mark on my engagement celebration!
(1)
Andreas S.

Nice little place. Potentially a lot of fun. Good service, hot waitresses, tasty beverages. The pokey was really bland, have had better on the main land. Will be returning for a pizza in the evening sometime.
(3)
Gayle L.

Come here for a fun night out in Hanalei. Awesome vibe, great drinks, good service and solid food. Come on a night with love music (which is most nights!). They do a luau Wednesday's 5-8pm.
(4)
Sam P.

I'm not a service stickler, but this was a pretty bad experience -- and the extremely slow delivery of the food took away from the fact that it was actually pretty good. So, fine food, but not good enough to justify the wait and the less-than-friendly service.
(2)
Natalia P.

This place is overpriced and nothing special. My boyfriend and I stopped by Tahiti Nui to have dinner. It was extremely hot inside the restaurant regardless the fans. We ordered two items from the entree menu. My bf had prawns in sweet sauce and I ordered Ono fish in coconut sauce. Portions were smaller than we expected. My bf had literally one tiny little scoop of rice and maybe 8-10 prawns. No veggies on the side. The best part of my plate was a purple sweet mashed potato. The fish had literally no flavor, I could only taste the sauce. When the check came, we realized gratuity (18%!!!) is automatically included and we cannot change it. So we had to pay almost 10$ tip to the host who didn't really do anything special for the food that was only OK. The bill came to 65$ for 2 entrees and a lemonade. It was not worth it at all. Never coming back here.
(2)
Anita L.

= MAI TAI & LIVE MUSIC = TAHITI NUI is exactly how I imagine Hawaii should be like. Nice relaxing SOUTH PACIFIC theme, chilling at the patio with one hand on my Mai Tai and listening to live music. Who cares if you can't catch every word on the Hawaiian v
(4)
Donna Z.

They truly do have the best Mai Tai on the island! There's also some great history here, as this little bar was in the movie "The Descendants." Other than the Mai Tai, though, with their "secret family recipe" - I'd say stay away. We went here twice during our stay in nearby Princeville and were severely disappointed by a couple very rude staff members and the extreme slowness, as well as the inconsistency of the food. One day the beet salad had dressing and candied walnuts (and was amazing!), and the next, they acted like I was crazy to ask where they went. If you aren't hungry and don't mind braving some attitude (I thought of it as a challenge, and succeeded in making our server actually crack a smile!), then I'd recommend coming here and getting the Mai Tais - they really are delicious.
(3)
D C.

I know it's an institution but I don't see the appeal of this place. We came to hear some live music so we know we were going to put up with some lackluster food. First it is a "dive bar", but non-dive prices. The waitress was not friendly at all and seemed to hate her job. The worst part was the long wait for the food. I think we waited over 1.5 hours for a pizza and salad (pizza actually came out 20 minutes before the salad did). My partner added Kauai prawns to his salad, but I think they actually ran out (giving them the benefit of the doubt) and gave him regular frozen shrimp. I know this because they said they would come with heads on but then came butterflied (plus I saw people eating head on prawns earlier). I thought he should mention something but the waitress was nowhere to be found (and I think a little intimidating, ha). The pizza was ok. When the check arrived it had extra items so we had to wait to get that corrected. I think in the end I was then overcharged for my pizza, but I just wanted to get out of there after sitting there for almost 3 hours. One thing I should have expected but was surprised by was the age of the crowd. We were there from 8ish to 11. When we walked in we were younger than the majority of patrons by about 30-40 years (and we're in our mid-30s). I usually wouldn't feel out of place but I did, as if I made a wrong turn into a cruise ship. One extra star because I did enjoy the music. It was a cover band but it was some fun. One note I would make in response to an earlier review by someone else, we were helped by that same host and he was super, super friendly to us. He even stopped by later to ask how we were doing.
(2)
Donald M.

I gave Tahiti a 4 stars for ambiance and believe or not a 5 for the pizza. Had a nice Hawaiian band playing
(4)
Bob B.

Kind of a dive bar. Nothing special. Had the pizza. Actually really really good. Had several cocktails. The Mai Tais were excellent and the "over the rainbow-Tini" my wife had was really tasty. All in all a pretty good afternoon.
(4)
Diane C.

Unfortunately, I can't comment on the food because we never made it past the "host"! My teenage daughters and I went there for appetizers and beverages and the host at the door asked if we wanted a table for dinner or to sit at the bar. I asked if we could sit at a table to have appetizers and drinks, and he said he wanted to save the tables for dinner patrons so "his waitresses could make money". So I asked if we could sit at the bar and he said while pointing at my daughters, "Are they 21?" I said, "No", and he gave me a look like I was the stupid one. They're obviously underage; he could tell. He was just being a jerk. He then turned his back to us, waved his hand and said, "Fine, take a table then" but by that unwelcome point, we took our oodles of money and dined elsewhere. Alo-ha!
(1)
Carlton B.

How do you say "Hell no" in Tahitian! Knew it was dangerous when I pulled into the parking lot and saw a plastic table in the back..VIP section. Walked in..servers didn't greet me. Just stared liked the two cats in the back getting it on stared at me. I walked out. Dirty mike and the boys can have my seats.
(1)
Olivia K.

Two servers, zero brains. Horrible customer service. Only two servers were there to accommodate a full, bumpin bar of people. We were looking to have dinner there since they are one of the few restaurants open past 9. Neither server said anything to us while we stood there looking like idiots (is this open seating? Do we wait for them? Is the backside where people have dinner and this is just the bar? We don't know - we don't work here!!) After a few minutes of the servers making eye contact with us and smiling as they bustled past without saying a word, we chucked up the deuces and said screw this feral cat breeding ground!!!
(1)
David D.

When I think traditional beach bar this is the place. Other than blue moon on tap there are few things typical about this bar. The cocktails are awesome with their "world famous Mai tai" being the crack of cocktails while their "red rocker" should be patented. Hospitality alone was enough to keep me coming back.
(5)
Greg C.

Mandatory to visit Tahiti Nui and have a mai tai. This time we also shared a margarite pizza and it was pretty good. Service was ok. Not as friendly as one would expect but they dont pretend to be anything other than a tourist draw.
(3)
LuLu M.

Absolutely loved the super friendly bartender who served us! The coconut margaritas were to die for and so were the Mai tais. What I could do without is half of the staff sitting at bar with us when their shift ended and complained about their day and what they are doing later and all other information that we didn't really care about. I know Hanalei is very casual and this is probably normal but it felt strange with us being customers and hearing this. I will say that I loved that dive bar environment. It's perfect for a tiki bar!
(3)
Ron V.

We went there for a drink on our first night out. The service is poor at best and the staff is rude. I would not recommend this to anyone as there are better places in hanalei to spend your money. The mai tai were mhew and the staff kept moving us around for no apparent reasons. Just not happy with this "establishment ". Too bad as it looks cool from the outside.
(1)
Amber E.

Looked like a cool little dive bar from the outside. Had to try the mai tai which Yelpers were claiming was one of the best on the island. And it was very tasty - once I finally got it. Just wanted to stop in for a quick drink after hiking the Kalalau trail and before taking the kids snorkeling, but could not get anyone to wait on me. There were at least 4 employees walking around - after 5-10 minutes, I asked one "Could I order a mai tai?" "Sure, I'll send someone over." Nothing. Asked a different employee, "Could I please order a mai tai." Sure - I'll go get someone." Nothing. This happened another couple times, until finally someone took 30 seconds to make me a mai tai. Then, I couldn't get a bill, either. But fortunately, they told me I could leave exact change, which I did (plus tip). No explanation, although it seemed they may have been in the middle of a shift change. Overall, it was a frustrating, and not very enjoyable, experience. I'm rating it a 2 based on the experience I had this time, but I'd come by again and give it another try next time I'm on Kauai.
(2)
Dominica R.

Where the George Clooney scene in The Descendants was filmed. Stopped here for a drink and a slice of pizza on the way back from Hanalei to our hotel. Cool place with a laid back feel. Very casual. Wanted to check it out bc I loved that movie. Mai Tais are great :). Pizza not bad at all.
(3)
Alan X.

Food is ok, but the service is really bad. They took my American Express card and came back telling me the card is declined and threw it on the table and walk right away. I gave them another card, feeling a little awkward. I called my credit card customer service afterwards and they told me there are no declined record whatsoever and my card is perfectly fine to use. So basically they didn't even try my card. Why would they even take the card if they don't take American Express? And the altitude they gave me was rather insulting. I would never go back again.
(1)
Melissa W.

I dig!! My husband and i stopped in here both yesterday and the day before for a couple of cold beers on tap and a slice of pizza. Someone next to us got the pulled pork sandwich and it looked delicious. I think they have live music pretty much every night. Next week when we stay in Hanalei, i look forward to checking it out. Last, but not least, i found both the staff and the locals that hang here really nice, something i can't say for a lot of places in Kauai.
(5)
Christina C.

Great time here last night. You've gotta take this place at face value: it's a dark, divey Hawaiian bar. The service is adequate and the wine pours are very generous!! Pizza is pretty good. You'll meet very interesting folks at the Bar. Have fun!
(4)
Gerard R.

This was a very cool dive. Honestly, probably not my scene. We went to grab a mai tai before having dinner across the street at Bar Acuda. It was a cool experience. Wife like The Descendants and had to go where Clooney's character went. I love this place because it felt authentic, and i would go back again. I saw the pizzas they were serving. Looked like good bar food but nothing special. I'd probably get pizza elsewhere, but this is a chill, fun place. Very crammed though. Very good mai tai!!!
(4)
Lori C.

Salads and Mai Tais were great - that was all we had. The pizzas looked ok from afar but they were super expensive so we decided not do bother. The service was lacking for sure as noted in many other reviews. We were there in the middle of the day and it was empty and they really don't care much about the customers.
(3)
Samantha S.

I don't even want to give this place a star. How ignorant the server Jay was.
(1)
Gary W.

This is a lively place that has a lot of character and local ambiance. We headed here just before sunset (i.e. 6:00pm) to not have any problems getting a table close to the stage where they have live music. We ordered a couple of pizzas and they are very filling and we had trouble finishing them down. The bar drinks here are pretty strong so as you've read in other reviews you may need a designated driver when visiting Tahiti Nui. As for lively, as we ate, talked and listened to local Hawaiian music a girl at the bar was dancing to the music bring me the feeling of a something out of the 60's Hippie scene. Another place that has a good combination of Hanalei locals and a few tourists to enjoy a some local flair.
(4)
Susan C.

1. I did not eat here, I only tried to make a reservation here. 2. If you're looking at this review, please move your eyes up a little to the Yelp description of the restaurant and the OPEN TABLE option for reservations, which usually implies that this restaurant takes reservations. 3. This restaurant doesn't take reservations. After struggling with the online OPEN TABLE system for some time on Yelp and on their website (it wouldn't let me make a reservation for any other day than Wednesday, which was luau night), I finally called the restaurant. Explained to the woman that I needed reservations for THURSDAY night but the online system wouldn't let me. She explained (rather brusquely) that they don't take reservations, which of course led me to enlighten her about their online OPEN TABLE reservation system to which she said VERY snippity, and I QUOTE TRUTHFULLY VERBATIM, OR ELSE I AM THE SMELLY DOG CRAP THAT IS STUCK ON THE BOTTOM OF YOUR SHOE THAT YOU CAN'T GET OFF AND EVEN AFTER THE CRAP IS GONE YOU STILL THINK YOU SMELL IT -- "Well, if it's OPEN TABLE, that means we DON'T take any reservations, because all the tables are OPEN". No sh*t. Side note: When vacationing in Kauai avoid prolonged exposure to the sun and too much Copper Tone - that's when the dementia sets in.
(2)
L W.

Authentic Hawaiian atmosphere. Fantastic Ahi and of course, the Mai Tai's are out of this world!
(5)
AJ W.

Had the Julia's iced tea, loco moco, and several of their pizzas. Now I'm not the most experienced with Loco Moco, but I can say that I thought it was the best on the island. Cooked to perfection and the gravy was delicious. The pizzas are bomb! Hawaiian or Kailua pork Hawaiian pizzas are highly recommended! And their pizza dough is amazing. The service is decent too. Servers can be a little grumpy though. Not gonna take away from the food though. I would return here on my next visit.
(5)
Amy M.

The waiters were truly terrible. Ours forgot about our drinks and then our food. We had to ask the busboy about both separately. Plus the food was not something to write home about. If you are thinking of coming here, definitely opt for the dolphin about a block down the street. Our bill was about $15 more at the dolphin but was worth every penny.
(2)
Cori P.

Good Mai tais but watch your bill. Paying was a disaster. We had a group of 9 people. The bill was $230 which INCLUDED 18% gratuity. We paid $175 cash plus $55 on a credit card. simple math....$175+55 = $230. The bartender Julia charged us an additional $34 and change in tip because of "computer error" (for a total of $264). We tried explaining to her over and over that she was charging us to much. she finally refunded us the extra $34 but she said we were the problem. Won't be back. Lots of places for good Mai Tai's. Not going to "accidentally" be charged 36% gratuity. I left my phone number so the owner could call me. Very strange.
(1)
Kathleen G.

I was excited to check this place out on our recent trip to Kauai, as it had been recommended by family and friends. I loved the decor, and the mai tais were tasty, but that's basically where it ends. I feel like this place is understaffed. It was Friday night and jam packed, with only two servers, one bartender (for the full bar and all tables), one hostess, and the older woman that sort of cleans up the tables. I ordered a mai tai and my husband ordered a beer. I watched our drinks sit on the bar for almost half an hour. I watched our server walk by them several times. I watched our server deliver the other server's food... my husband and I have worked in the food industry, so I know whatsup with helping each other out.... but then the other server stood in front of our drinks, doing nothing, just sort of walking around. She was literally doing nothing. I wanted to go grab the drinks myself, but I didn't want to step on any toes. Finally, the hostess delivered them. The server was barely at our table, and I know she was busy, but she didn't make up for it in service, friendliness, or rapport. Ordered another drink, and that also took an incredibly long time. Ordered the kalua pork and pineapple pizza, and unfortunately, it was a disappointment. It was just ok. I wish I could have enjoyed this place more, but it just didn't have a good vibe, at least for that evening.
(2)
Mara M.

My husband and I dined here a few days ago while on vacation. We were staying right up the hill in Princeville. After hearing about 'the best Mai Thais on the island' we went out of our way to have dinner here. It was just okay. I thought the Mai Thais were too sweet. Probably personal preference. It's definitely divey, which I typically enjoy. But this was a little too over the top and the food was just ok.
(3)
Robert F.

Bleh. Just another touristy greasy spoon. The mai tais we had at Kalypso were much better and I didn't even like that place (see for review). We went at like 7:30 and they were somehow out of like half the things on the dinner menu. Ordered pizza and it was edible but not much better. The only reason it doesn't get one star is because the band was cool and the waitress kicked her shoes off and did some hula for everyone. Very cool staff.
(2)
Tad N.

Stopped in this place to have lunch and a drink but service was so poor we left after 1 drink. Older lady was not friendly and extremely slow to serve us. A smile goes a long way with me and there was none to be seen here from older server or any patrons. Place was dirty too. Pass on this place.
(2)
Jenny T.

I stopped in the Tahiti Nui to sit out a rain squall and have a cocktail one afternoon. I had been here a couple times and there's always just one person working. I sat at the bar and waited, and waited, which was fine because I was in no rush. The bartender, who was quite elderly and grouchy asked what I wanted finally and I said a lilikoi martini, which was on the drink menu. She literally rolled her eyes, made the drink without really shaking it to make it cold and didn't make it according to the description. After a while I asked her for some ice water and she rudely slammed one down in front of me. I added the ice cubes to my drink. people around me were kind of snickering at her rudeness....No call to be as rude as she was...i won't go back :( I don't like mean people
(1)
Katie H.

So I kinda understand why there's a love hate relationship with this restaurant. There seems to be some breakdown between the front and back of the restaurant. I saw several orders that came out that didn't seem to belong to anyone and one couple never got their meal. However the staff seemed to be attentive to their tables and keeping people's drinks full. So maybe to guarantee your order sit at the bar? Loved the Mai Tais! Yummy. My dinner was amazing and the live entertainment was delightful. We got our drinks quickly despite being busy and the food we got was executed perfectly. Sat and had several more drinks after dinner and enjoyed the music.
(4)
Cristal I.

Don't waste your precious time or money. We went on a Saturday night with live reggae band. Bartenders are very selective on whom they care to give the time of day. We were literally lapped by people who had ordered and then came back for more and still the bartenders did not look at us. There was another guy standing at the bar before us waiting to order a drink, cash in hand, and same experience. After I finally got a Mai Tai--and definitely NOT the best on the island, mediocre at best--I saw more people have the same experience. And yet some other people kept getting service over and over again. My guess is that they are trying to shun tourists. Clearly they have not heard the phrase "don't bite the hand that feeds you" at this joint. Oh, and speaking of joint, the band was decent but the local patrons were a bunch of head bobbing hippies complete with requisite pot wafting smell.
(1)
Tiffany V.

This place is a gem. A little divey and small but that adds to its charm. Live music, an occasional waitress doing the hula and a whole lot of fun. We had the prawn special and the macadamia crusted fish. Both were delicious. Wine list was ok but you don't really come to a place like this for the wine list. Also our neighbors pizza looked and smelled amazing. Overall one of the best nights we've had on the island
(5)
Hil B.

Read lots of good reviews but we were really disappointed in the service. We went for burgers and fish sandwiches. We ordered our drinks after a bit of a wait...acceptable for Hawaiian time. There were probably 4 other tables, most having already received drinks and food. When we were asked for our order (20 minutes in at this point), we were informed there was no fish available because it wasn't prepared. Since that was all that looked appetizing to me on the menu, we decided to skip eating and just finish our beers. It took another 15 minutes to receive our bill after waiting 10 minutes for her to walk by our table 3 times telling us she'd bring it. And another 15 minutes to get our change. In that time the waitress sat two additional tables. The place isn't that big and it want that busy. One hour wasted to order and pay for two beers on tap. We ended up leaving and eating at a place nearby and we were happy we left this place behind.
(1)
RL R.

Dropped in on a Wednesday night to find live ukelele music and a chill crowd. The perfect ambiance for this charming little town. The mai tais were fantastic. The pizza was simple, elegant, and tasty. A couple of people served us and they were both polite and attentive. This is a small place so be patient if it's busy. We waited about 5 minutes. But you're in a beautiful place, away from home, enjoying the Hawaiian breeze and the people you're with. Let that big city anxiety go and soak up the Aloha as the best thing to take back home with you.
(4)
Adam B.

This is a complete shit hole. Super rude service and nasty food. We live on island and refuse to go here period. Spend your $ anywhere else
(1)
John C.

We came in for lunch on a rainy Tuesday. The staff was prompt and friendly. My wife and I split a large specialty pizza. The pizza was one of the best meals we've had four days into our trip. Pricing was good for the quality of the food. I only give his place five stars after reading some of the overly harsh reviews from pissants with poison pens. They only deserve four stars.
(5)
Brianna T.

Great place to get a drink after the beach. Service was great and the food was even more amazing. My husband and I had a beef and fish plate that were equally great. We also had our 9 month old with us which they were happy to play with.
(5)
Julie H.

So much fun!!! We took our 3 year old and had a blast. And I am gluten free and could eat almost everything. Smaller venue and a great experience. I would tell everyone to go.
(5)
Scott J.

Fantastic place. Our first visit was 8 days into our 10 day stay and we wish we found it day one. We went for dinner, got a table fast, wonderful Mai Thais and a really good pizza. We listened to Hawaiian/Texas yodeling music from the stage, then his uncles came on who were as local as you get. We returned the next day for lunch. Looooooco moco is the best I've had. Our waitress both times worked so hard and did a great job. Five stars.
(5)
Jeff M.

We've been coming to the Nui for the last 20 years. We always looked forward to hanging out at this cool little dive bar with great food and live music. That was then, this is now. We shall not return anymore. The place stinks like it is never cleaned. The menu the waitress handed us was covered in stains and mildew. We had one Mai Tai, and left. Go to the Kalypso down the street. Clean, Friendly, and great food. Also a good happy hour.
(1)
Brett M.

We were looking for a less pretentious place in Hanalei and BOOM we found it. Their pizza was delicious and the atmosphere was fun. Live music and a friendly crowd. If you're looking for a laid back spot that's just a little divey this is your place. Much recommended!
(4)
Melanie H.

We both had salads (cobb and green with shrimp) which were okay. Portions are pretty small at $12 or so a plate. They had live music playing during dinner, which was fun, but way too loud to be able to hold a conversation...and we were sitting outside. Service was friendly, but definitely on island time. Overall, okay place, but I wouldn't go back.
(3)
Linda F.

This restaurant was an over all bad experience: bad service, indifferent staff, unsanitary conditions...warm insipid iced tea. But the worst part is that the restaurant added a larger tip than we gave. I discovered this when I arrived home and started checking receipts.
(1)
Jennifer S.

Came here to celebrate my husband's birthday. We wanted something with a little personality, and we had a fantastic time! We came super-early because we were famished - we arrived just before dinner service began at 5pm. Not very crowded at all. We took a table on the patio out front, with a lovely view across to the mountains. Ordered two mai tais ($1 off for pau hana), and perused the menu. Mai tai was awesome - we've had a lot of bad ones - is that a splash of guava in there? Husband also had a 1800 coconut margarita. Very limey, with the counterpoint of coconut. I was driving, or else I'd have tried the lilikoi martini, too. Everything on the menu looked incredible, so it was a tough choice. I went with the Kauai prawns, super-flavorful with loads of chopped macadamias and choi sum (I think). Husband originally ordered lamb, but the chef said it wasn't quite finished defrosting; husband instructed our server to pick any one of three second choices - and wound up with ribs. Huge portions, and all delicious. Pleasant live music (ukulele player and his daughter who danced some hula here and there). Nobody seemed to be here just for the whole Clooney thing. Service was friendly and attentive - we experienced none of the problems of prior reviews. Of course, we went early on a Tuesday. Wish we were here on one of their luau nights - maybe some other time!
(5)
Kate C.

Had the margherita pizza and couple of beers for lunch and was very happy with everything. The pizza was delicious and fresh and the service was very friendly. The pictures and memorabilia on the walls were fantastic to look at.
(5)
Surfer N.

Great place to have a happy hour drink or two - sit outside on the deck or else you'll sweat to death inside. We had dinner here and while the Ono in coconut milk was delish, the pork medallions served in a similar style were not nearly as flavorful. In fact, the dish seemed completely different than how it was explained on the menu. We were there the same night as the Luau they put on next door and we have a sneaky suspicion they just took the pork dish they made for that and presented it as the pork medallions. The pork was slow roasted, similar to a Dominican "pernil"-style. Flavorful to a point, but fatty, and all chopped into chunks - definitely anything but medallions. Served with mediocre sliced limp zucchini. Service was average. All in all an average dinner - nothing to write home about.
(3)
Donna M.

If there was a zero, this would be our rating. We have been to this restaurant several times and we live here. Every time the food has been OK, but the service was the worst we have ever experienced. Tonight, waiting more than 45 minutes for our very standard order of Ribs and lasagne, the 3rd person we asked to check on our order said they didn't have our order. What happened to the first and second people we asked...including the Hostess?? It turns out our server never turned in our order!!! Why didn't the others "checking" even give us the common courtesy of coming back to our table to give us this info? Finally the 4th person, the manager, apologized. No one else cared enough to give us island Aloha! If you want friendly service do NOT come here.
(1)
Nory B.

Went there on a Monday night, didn't expect much to be happening and not much was. I get the relaxed island vibe and really am very chill as far as service expectations go on the island, but having to wait 20 min on a slow night for drinks and over 45 min for our entree fish plates is just not cool. The seared tuna had no seasoning--it was just a big hunk of fish. The ono was good, but nothing special. This place will always be busy because there are not a lot of choices in Hanalei, but if you have a kitchen in the place you're staying, buy some booze and fresh fish from the market and make your own...
(2)
Kim H.

Food was EXCELLENT, fresh, great quality, and taste delicious! Mai Thai was the best I've had on the Island. Definitely was skeptical about the service and cleanliness initially, but I was surprised with how the whole in the wall spot turned out to be perfect
(4)
Kari S.

The food was ok but the service was horrible. Their was only one waitress who was also biasing tables the woman behind the bar was unable to help. The one waitress was busting her behind but their was just too many people and no help. The brachetta was good but the meat pizza was just ok.
(3)
M M.

We had a fantastic time here eating pizza, poke, and listening to live music. The Mai Tais really sneak up.
(4)
Thomas G.

My family and I really liked Tahiti Nui. We ate there three times while staying at the St. Regis. It has an authentic old school feel and the servers were very friendly and warm. The servers servers chatted up my three year old and were very kind and attentive with him. The food is excellent basic fare in a funky location. The burger was one of the best I have had in recent memory. My wife loved the the beet the heat salad. Everything tasted very fresh. The Mai tais are great. The pizza was also very good. We opted for the Hawaiian Style which was nice and tangy and had a good crust. I thought Tahiti Nui was reasonably priced and had a really nice ambience. It has a warm family feel and does not have a touristy vibe at all. I was looking forward to attending their Wednesday Night Luau but unfortunately it was cancelled when I was in town. I was disappointed because I think it would have been an authentic memorable experience. The next night they had a private party with some dancing, I peeked in and saw a few minutes of the show and it confirmed that the luau would have been good. Tip: Check out the luau!!'
(5)
Lorrie C.

Best Mai Tai I've ever had. And best coconut margaritas my wife ever had. Try the Mac and Panko crusted Ono - delicious. Plus the place has live music at night. Definitely my favorite spot in Hanalei.
(5)
Steven V.

Had dinner for my wifes birthday. Food was delicious, rib meat fell right off the bone, the seared ahi was amazing. Delicious and the live music created a great ambiance. Service was very friendly, but at times delayed to how busy they were.
(4)
Juila R.

This could be the best bar on the North Shore location is awesome but service is very poor and drinks not that good. There is one bartender who doesn't do a thing to make you feel welcome, the place lacks energy and aloha. I wish they would get some new people to breathe some life into the place pay attention to the music and just be nice!
(2)
Erin L.

Good beers. Fun relaxing atmosphere. Food was good, had live music. Nice hawaiin style "dive" nar. Little pricey for the place but still good.
(4)
Jack L.

Ridiculously good Mai Tai --- easily the best I had on the island. Cocktails are best when you don't taste the alcohol, but you feel the kick moments later. Great pizza with dough made from scratch. Sashimi was very fresh too. Service was on Hawaiian time, with only one overworked waiter tending the guests. If the wait bothers you, order another Mai Tai and chill out. You are on the islands!
(5)
Gary G.

Exactly what you would expect in rustic Kauai. Grass shack bar that appears to be a place the locals go. Live music was particularly good- local band, local musicians; there was this one old white guy in a turban with a braided beard. Each musician was setting up their own equipment. As they were all almost ready, he pulls out this compact electric guitar and amp. A guy that looks like that must shred, and he did. We found out later that evening that he used to be with The Animals. Made the evening worthwhile!
(3)
Mark K.

Service was friendly and prompt. I ordered the Mac Nut & Panko Crusted Ono. The flavors were very well balanced; it was delicious. The only problem was that the Ono was overcooked: it was dry and tough. The wife had the Kauai shrimp. It, too, was flavorful and was well balanced and the shrimp was not overdone.
(4)
Tia M.

Great Mai Tai. Really enjoyed the spicy Hawaiian pizza with jalapeÃ±os also. The seating left a bit to be desired though. Need better tables and need to turn on the fans. Hot!
(4)
Chrys R.

Fun spot to hang out. Daniel was our server. Really nice and laid back. True they have the best Maitai and delish plate lunch. We always go to this spot when in Hanalei.
(5)
Reggie C.

We went here because one of our group was a big fan of the movie and needed a late lunch. They were about to shut the kitchen down until dinner but accommodated us. The food was fine, but the portions were small. The Mai Tais were legitimately good. The staff was friendly but on island time. The place was exactly as advertised. If you want a laid back place with nothing fancy and will not complain about a $10 drink or $15 burger, you will have a good time.
(3)
Steve W.

One of our favorite food spots in Hanalei. Great pizza and an awesome Cobb salad. Sit outside on the patio and enjoy the evening.
(4)
Julie H.

The tuna sashimi was excellent and the boyfriend's pork ribs were reportedly delicious (they smelled it too!). So, why the 3-stars? Sloooow. Not island time slow even but ridiculously slow. I'm pretty certain they forgot our entree orders and had to reopen the kitchen to make them because it was a solid hour+ between our apps and when dinner arrived. That said, the service was friendly, two of the five dishes ordered were great (the other three were pretty good) and the wine from the wine bar was a nice perk!
(3)
Missy W.

My 2 stars are for service... really bad service. Food is actually really good. While the Mai Tai is delicious I have to say the service is terrible. Both times we visited we were completely ignored for 15 - 20 minutes. The first visit was a little busier so we thought we would try again, maybe a fluke? No... on the s second time we sat at the bar, directly infront of the bartender and it was 20 min before being acknowledged. There were only 8 or 9 people in the whole place. Instead she proceeded to clean glasses get the trash together, pretty much everything but take our order. Once she did acknowledge us, it took forever to get a refill, order food, etc.
(2)
Gary T.

Great food and great ambiance -- very cool, fun place to eat, drink, and hang out. I recommend the ahi, poached ono, macadamia encrusted ono and also the sweet potatoes -- good beer on tap and fun live music and lively engaged crowd. that is good fun-loving mix of locals and tourists.
(5)
Erin W.

Dinner and drinks last night at the Nui was fantastic! The atmosphere of the restaurant and live music create a one of a kind, must see Hawaii experience. The band played a great mixture of popular tunes and Hawaiian music, they had the whole crowd singing quite a few times through the evening. Our pizza and salads were excellent, for fairly good prices. It was the cheapest dinner my party of five have had this whole week, and my favorite by far. The highlight of the night was Jay, one of the bussers. He was prompt, friendly and recommended the chocolate mousse for desert which was excellent. At the beginning of the evening I admired the Nui thirst he was wearing, one they no longer sold at the restaurant. He literally gave me the shirt off of his back (after finding a new one to put on). I was stoked, that is service you won't come across very often anywhere in the world. Thanks Jay!!
(5)
Ashley F.

Old school tiki bar w great drinks! Great pizza, amazing atmosphere with live music, friendly service, and a fantastic view of the mountains. What more could you want?
(4)
Chelsea W.

Best Bang for your Buck! My family and I do a lot of traveling most of the time there is anywhere from 4 of us, up to 7 or 8 of us. So needless to say we are always looking for a place that we can get authentic delicious food without paying an arm and a leg. Lets be honest whenever you go on vacation you are going to pay way too much and many times the food is just mediocre. This is NOT the case here. This is by far my favorite restaurant I've tried thus far and here's what's good: Ahi Carpaccio: Thinly sliced Ahi with basil cream sauce, capers, onions and crostini it was delicious! I got this as my main dish even though it was an appetizer and I felt satisfied afterwards 12oz Ribeye Steak with Gorgonzola Cream sauce: I'm not a huge gorgonzola fan so I can't say that I liked that part but the steak was amazing and so were the mashed potatoes Macadamia Prawns: Grilled prawns in a yummy tangy sauce with nuts and veggies super good Mai Tai: Had read all the reviews that raved about them so of course we had to try. They are absolutely worth it. (this was the most expensive part of our meal since we all ordered a second round but they are pretty delicious and still only $8 each which is way better than the prices anywhere else and also much tastier) Overall: Food was fantastic, Drinks fantastic and didn't break the bank! :)
(5)
Christina P.

Where do i even begin?! We stayed within walking distance to Tahiti Nui. I was here most every evening to meet up w/some of my new friends that i had made. Not only did i feel so welcome, the staff felt like family! Aloha Darcel. I really had a great time and some good conversation with you and the others. I wish i could name each one of the girls that made me feel so at home here. Great drinks, great music with Daryl & Coco, Ono Quartet (aka Da Bruddas) on fridays and simply a nice vibe to go and meet your old & new friends. I can't say enough about this place, the staff and the wonderful new friends i've made here. I'll definitely be back!
(5)
Tom C.

This Bar is dirty sewer smell in parking lot after rain I think they have sewer troubles how they can stay open must be paying someone off this place don't belong open . I came to this bar years ago nice blond middle age lady took my order and double dipped my cc i had to drive back to other side of island to get my money . ok that was on time ,then I was with a group of friend who wanted to go to this bar so I did they where treated poorly because they where hippies who did not drink tons of beer they only had a few drinks .I had to buy another round just to keep these hind ends off the backs It gets even worse I go up buy a beer and wait for my change when i asked for my change back on a $5 beer order this same blond who was in that movie shot there said to me oh i though that was my tip . Really a $15 TIP FOR ONE BEER .WATCH YOUR MONEY THESE PEOPLE ARE BAD PEOPLE . THEY WILL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF YOU IF YOU LET THEM !!! CHECK YOU CC EVERYDAY WHEN TRAVELING THIS IS NOT THE ONLY PLACE THAT DOSE THIS ON KAUAI . COUNT YOUR DRINKS
(1)
Maxim L.

Great food! Everyone in our group really liked what they got. I really enjoyed the mushroom poke bowl...great flavor and well put together. The purple sweet mashed potatoes was also delicious. It's a pretty laid back place so the service was intermittent and it closes early, so don't expect to have a late night dinner here.
(4)
Tim N.

Get here early on Thursday night. It gets packed (busiest night they said) but the atmosphere was fantastic! Friendly but awkward and slow service but who cares? Go with the right attitude; this is a dive bar so you are partly responsible for making your own fun here! We made friends with our neighboring patrons and had a blast. Great live music, good drinks, and awesome food. The Oh So Ono roll is so good we got it twice. Be sure to get a picture with the Descendants photo(s). We were super fortunate the night we came; the author of the book was seated beside us. How cool!
(5)
Justin A.

DUH FUK. I came here for local night last night and this place was a disaster. The Mai Tais were still good, yes, but the damn people from the St Regis were crowding this place up. It was local night so most people left by 9 pm, not realizing the real party doesn't start till 10. God, the people from the St Regis are so annoying. You know what I'm talking about. The prices are also up at least double for food. JEEZ.
(3)
Tony B.

It a hole in the wall, but has good drinks and great pizza. If you want to just cruise and chill with spectacular views....this is the spot. The only thing is if your are heading out of hanalei at night after drinking, it might not be the best thing to do,Kpd is at the top of the hill.
(3)
Melissa B.

Don't bother. While seated at the bar, our order was forgotten about. Then our order was given to someone else, and we got theirs. The bartender/server was not friendly or interested in providing any customer service. When other customers were interested in placing orders, the server made it known how busy she was. Cleanliness certainly came into question, picking up ice with hands and placing it into a drink glass. After leaving glasses with ice sitting for 15 minutes, because they were forgotten about, then proceeding to finish the drink with a glass of melted ice.....never again.
(1)
Anja P.

Tahiti Nui is a local Hanalei institution. Yes, this was a fun place to hang out before it appeared in the movie "The Descendants" and little has changed since then. Tahiti Nui has been family owned and operated since 1963, providing a fun atmosphere, good food, wonderful staff and fantastic live music. The legendary Koko Kaneali'I is still performing every Thursday night and there are great musical performances throughout the week. Love it!
(5)
Cherlene W.

We went for some light food, drinks and the music. We were a table of 6, and the place is fairly small, but here's the thing, they were trying so hard to rush us out that one of our dining companions wiped her mouth and set the napkin on the table, and someone snatched the napkin. No one ever asked if we wanted not drinks (we did), and we might well have placed an additional order had the short older woman not been so obvious about trying to kick us out the door. Not worth the rudeness, it thoroughly detracted from the atmosphere.
(1)
Jim S.

Great and historic place a must. House special mai tai to die for. Pictures and tributes on wall compelling. Stories of local regulars and hollywood occasionals priceless. (And then, of course, there's the continuing family history.) Fern's big smile and excellent service nonpareil. Go early, go often.
(4)
Gail J.

You have to be aggressive to get a table if there are more than 2 of you. We waited an hour and finally went in and seated ourselves at a table for 2 as the wait staff kept seating couples before us. When we finally seated ourselves, we were waited upon right away, however, and the waitress later did shift people down to give us a second table. The food is mediocre but the music is good, and people go there to have a good time.
(3)
Gary S.

We stopped here on a guided tour of the island because the guide told us that since the restaurant was featured in George Clooneys "The Decendents" it was a must try for cinematic nostalgia. The restaurant itself is very quaint and the service was incredible! The French fries were phenomenal and the pork sandwich was decent (although not the best I've had on the island). The sodas were flat, a likely product of the soda machine but the Mai tais were incredible.
(4)
Roxy F.

This is just a review for the pizza and Mai tais: both excellent!! The crust was amazing!
(5)
A T.

Love their mai tais!
(4)
Kyle K.

Very disappointed... $30 pizza that had a sliver of Kalua pig on each slice, & hardly any meat or toppings on the entire pizza. Took over 40 minutes to get the pizza but they gave us our Cesar salad to go 5 mins after we ordered, 35 mins before the pizza came out. By the time we got home which was only a 1 minute drive, the salad was wilted and the croutons were rock hard. Definitely not worth the wait and especially not the money. You win some and you lose some, definitely lost tonight.... Would not recommend this place for pizza even to my worst enemy, a bummer the other pizza place in the same center as L&L Hawaiian BBQ closed...
(1)
Todd S.

When we were there, just about everyone had an AARP card, including the band and the bartender. That's great if it's your crowd - just wasn't ours. We ordered Mai Tai's that were good but not $10 good. When we go back, we will skip this place and head to Kalypsos, which we liked much better. Drinks were a much better value and we liked them better.
(2)
J W.

This place is a legendary kauai hangout. Dont come here for excellent service. The pizza is by far the best thing on the menu and its the best on the island. The bar has live music everynight, and its a good time if you have enough drinks. GET THE PIZZA
(5)
Sammy L.

If you have seen the Descendants with George Clooney you might be able to recognize this restaurant bar! My hubby and I were recommended to go here from one of the gals at the Westin Princeville, so we went and had dinner: Appetizer: Ahi Carpaccio was ok. 1. I had the prawn dish, which was ok --- I had to de-poop it myself which sucked. The sauce is mighty tasty though! Hawaiian Gold beer was a great refreshing touch. 2. Hubby had the Ono which was awesome, I wish I had ordered it as well. The entrees are around $18-$28, drinks are cheap if you wanna get drunk and the appetizers are fairly priced for what they serve. I would say all in all just check it out since its the oldest bar in Kauai. I should have tried a Mai Tai but I was Mai Tai'd out by that point! Bottoms up!
(4)
Marty K.

Hit this with the family of 7 for dinner on a Weds night around 6pm. Drinks were stiff, service was just fine & food pretty good!. Pizza was very good as were the ribs. Not a fan of "oven ribs" but the sauce & tenderness made up for lack of smoke. Don't have to "get dressed up to get messed up" kinda place...
(5)
Chris H.

My mother is visiting from Chicago so we took her to Hanalei for the afternoon and evening. We had to stop at Tahiti Nui as it is such a great place to relax , grab a bite and something refreshing to drink. We were there a bit early for dinner so we wandered the town after we finished so did not wind up eating there. She was so happy to see the pictures on the wall and the atmosphere of the place. Really enjoyed our Mai Tai's and ice cold beers!
(5)
Deb R.

We will never try this place again. We were following advice from a usually reliable guide book, which mentioned that the service wasn't always good, but that the food was worth it in spite of the attitude. We never even got to the food. We entered, a waitress who was clearing an outside table pushed thru the doorway, bumping into my husband. We sat down anyway, and waited, and waited a bit longer. The place was dark, the vibe was darker. We headed out. That same waitress then finally acknowledged our presence as we made our way across the street to Calypso. The food and service at calypso were great. Is there a lower rating than one star?
(1)
jasmine w.

A lot of fun hanging out with the old timers, listening to live music and watching the waitresses hula.
(5)
Elle C.

Since my last visit they have taken off the menu the squid ink linguine. This was a huge let down and I may just come in for the mai tais from now on. Those are still the best!
(4)
Jeri S.

Awesome for tourist entertainment; horrifying if you're interested in much else. This week we met up with vacationing friends from California, and thought this would be a great place to meet to share laughs, good times and good food. Although I'm a new resident of Princeville, I had no idea that serving pu pu's on my own lanai would've been a much better idea. First, the bartender had evidently forgotten to take her Prozac, and "Auntie" (the proprietor?) was meaner than a junk yard dog, plus our waitress was extremely slow and forgetful, and, as happens at a tourist location, we were all squeezed together like morning commuters on a San Francisco Muni. The only person who seemed concerned about all of the activity (or, non-activity as relates to the staff) was the Hostess. She was overworked, obviously overqualified, and quite aware that her coworkers were, well, tourist-bored and possibly oxygen deprived. Saving grace: Not only did we immensely enjoy the duo (featuring Koko) who played Hawaiian and pop music (they even played sing-alongs which the audience loved) but we simply closed our eyes with utter delight while savoring the ahi and ono. If you're a George Clooney fan, you must go and be a loud tourist, and pay a lot of money for drinks and food. Otherwise, head to Foodland and create your own private party.
(2)
Keisha P.

Whenever I head to Hanelei with my Ohana, we stay at their beach house right across hanalei bay which makes it ever so convenient to walk over a block to this little locat bar Tahiti nui =) Yes, it's not no fancy night club with flashy lights and a long line, but it's a fun local hang out which we love. The drinks are average price. The bartenders are on their game. It does cost $5 to get in (I believe only when they have live music), but its well worth it. The interior is cute..kinda like a little hawaii beach shack with tables to sit on and a dance floor. There is also out door seating , and next door to a wine bar.
(5)
Elena P.

DO come here for killer drinks, great food and great entertainment! But one caveat: the prices are more $$$-$$$$. VERY pricey. (Lots of people left after seeing the prices on the menu) But we loved EVERYTHING that we ordered. The best Mai Tai's!! A great suprise for my 30th birthday.
(4)
Keegan W.

Decided to come to the north shore for the day and swung through Hanalei before hitting the bay. Read awesome things about Tahiti Nui, so we decided days ahead that this was going to be our lunch spot. The only semi-decent thing we got here were two Mai Tai's. The food was mediocre, at best. Our waiter messed up a couple of our orders, and his service was terribly. He had this really soft, really strange voice, and so we had to ask him to repeat himself often. There were 6 of us, so gratuity was automatically added. I think he decided to stop trying when he saw that.
(2)
Lauren F.

My fiancee and brother came here on a Wednesday night for their luau and loved it! The food was great and everything was very traditional-not like the larger, Vegas-esque luaus on other parts of the island. The bar was a bit crowded after the luau so they didn't stay long-partly because of the crowd but also partly because they had eaten so much they couldn't even fit another drink in their stomachs! I'd say that equals success!
(4)
K. R.

Food was awesome and good mai tais. Nice staff members and decent service. Be aware that this place is right on main road and is kind of a dive. It's on the expensive side as well. Not sure I'd return here.
(3)
Mark V.

It's just a great place - the real deal tiki bar and restaurant. Yeah, yeah, it was where George Clooney meets up with Beau Bridges in "The Descendants" - and unfortunately that brings extra tourists. No matter. Go. Get a drink. Get a burger or some ribs, or some Ono. Chill bruddah.
(4)
FoodieChic L.

For great pizza and good music - stop by Tahiti Nui! My hubby and I came to Hanalei in the evening and were happy to find this dive bar still open and willing to make us pizza so close to the closing time (phewww!). The host was very friendly but the waitress was a bit flaky. I noticed that the host had to remind her about our pizza and she had a 'doh' Homer Simpson-like reaction. But we were enjoying the live music that it didn't phase us that much. Make sure to go before 7pm to get a good spot near the band because they stop playing at 9pm. Order some pizza and beer, and enjoy! I like to consider myself a pizza connoisseur and this was one of my favorites!
(4)
Phil C.

Great little local spot. Didn't get to try out the food. :( Went here for late night cocktails and listening to a great local musician. Atmosphere was chill, drinks were flowin' and the company was a few locals and tourists. If you want some night life in Kauai/Hanalei area, this is one of the chill places. Will have to try the food next time!!
(4)
Bonnie C.

Oldest bar in K'auai! 3 stars for food! The shrimp I ordered....was not cleaned. BIG no-no. But the crusted seared Ono appetizer was quite tasty- even for my friend who doesn't eat raw. 4 stars for atmosphere and the live music by kanakattack (sp?). I loved the local feel and vibe of this place. It's probably one of the liveliest spots in the area, so you won't find much else night life.
(3)
sherri m.

Tahiti Nui has been here forever. Every few years, I decide to give them one more try. It can't be that bad if it's lasted all these years. But like many of the Yelpers, this year, I couldn't even get greeted, seated or receive a menu. Extremely unfriendly staff and they were not even busy. Locals and known customers clearly are a priority. It's really not all feel good, friendly like the movie "The Descendants". I won't try it ever again.
(1)
Cindy H.

I cannot really comment on the food because my order never came. But I can say something about the service;there wasn't any!! I waited as others in my party were served their meals one at a time over a 15 min period. After 2 enquiries and 45 mins I was told that my order had never placed. It was our wedding anniversary dinner and I left without ever eating. I think that all the great reviews received in the past has clouded managements view of what is important, the customer. I received no apology for ruining our celebration dinner. My recommendation; only go there if all the other places in Hanalei are closed. J.Halley
(2)
Tim S.

Horrible service, food was so-so, drinks were the only saving point from a disastrous dinner. Couldn't remember an order to save their lives and had to cancel two entrees they never brought out. They did remember to try and charge us for them. Would not come back nor recommend. Oh and now we find out that not only did they charge us for our portion of the bad meal they also charged my card a day later for our ENTIRE parties bad meal. Now I have to deal with the credit card company to get this removed! What a crock!
(1)
Tobias K.

The environment is a neat little place. Live music and mostly cool people. We had a decent sized group and it was tough to have a conversation because the music was a bit loud. The Mai tais were really good and sweet. I had salad that was really fresh and delicious and the dressing was great too. I also had the panko and macadamia crusted Ono. That was also pretty solid. Someone in our group also had a pasta dish that they really enjoyed. Things did get a little dicey when one of the bus boys got into an argument with what seemed like another local. Other than that, though, it was good all around.
(4)
Jeanne A.

I couldn't agree more with many of the people who wrote in. The entertainment was very nice - very authentically Hawaii. The thing that is off - putting is that they absolutely try to rush you out. An older gray haired manager was clearing our table while we were still eating and took the high chair away before we were done eating. The pizza was mediocre - the Mai Tai's were really good. The ambiance is old and cool. The wait staff could use some training (hopefully from a different manager) about attention - offering water - asking if you would like a drink or just plain good service. The manager get a 1 star - The music get's a 5 and the rest - well... lacking would be the word for them.
(2)
Chris R.

Undoubtedly the worst food and service received on Kauai. Waited 45 min for food that was tasteless and overpriced for being so bad.
(1)
Sarah B.

Friendly, laid back service, excellent burgers and beer. We've been here twice in just a few days. Gotta stop by if you're in the area!
(5)
Andy W.

This review is only for the mai-tai because we went in specifically looking for a mai-tai. apparently every place that serves booze on Kauai claims to have the best mai-tai on the island. We decided it's time to take the challenge. The mai tai is as the score states. 3 out of 5. Nothing to write home about but way better than the one on the plane over here. The restaurant itself looked super cool and the bartender was friendly. I bet it has tons of potential but when we went in at 3 on a monday, it was dead.
(3)
Andrew G.

Great atmosphere for a laid back evening.
(4)
AAron M.

Best Mai Tai on earth. Amazing ambiance. Live island music. Great food. We found dinner options to be pretty limited on the North Shore so we ended up eating here a few times and really enjoyed the food every time. All in all, a very fond memory of our honeymoon. Can't wait to go back. Definitely check this place out!
(5)
Cynthia J.

When considering where to lunch in Hanalei while on vacation, fond memories of a number of years ago came into play...and the teenager's desire for pizza. Thus, we chose Tahiti Nui, a once iconic place known for its drinks, food, and Aloha spirit. Alas, none of those were present today. We sat down in the warm restaurant as their breezy, patio seating was quite limited. We sat...and sat...and sat...until, finally, a harried young lady came by, noticed we didn't have menus, and left again. A few minutes later, menus in hand, she came back for our drink order. After apologizing that they were out of stock on a number of the beers we had chosen to order (and mentioning that one was "really good" and we should "stop at the market and pick some up", she informed us they were also out of fish. It was 1pm and they are already out of fish? Whatever. We got our beers, discussed our options, and finally settled on pizza (offered by Tiki Man Pizza-a subsidy of Tahiti Nui, located in the back of the restaurant), as the lunch menu is limited...more so without any fish in stock. After another wait, a different gal came by to see if we had ordered as the first had gotten busy. When we ordered our pizza, we were informed that they were out of cheese! Out of cheese?! There is a market half a block away! How is a pizza joint out of cheese? At this point we asked for the bill, finally paid for our beers, and started to leave to find lunch elsewhere. There was a large party behind us with several small children, obviously tired and hungry from a day at the beach. As we exited the establishment, we could hear a frustrated adult declare, "No pizza? What do you mean you are out of cheese?" We salute the old Tahiti Nui and mourn its passing. As for this current version....NEVER AGAIN!
(1)
HighStandard S.

Don't listen to the haters! If you don't love this place, you don't have a soul. One of the last authentic tiki bars left on earth. I suspect the negative reviews are by fans who don't want to have to wait in line for limited seating! Seared ahi with wasabi cream sauce, clams, prawns, purple potatoes, carrots and broccoli was outstanding and so rich I couldn't finish it. A person who likes a good steak and thinks they do not like fish would enjoy this, it was that savory and satisfying, no fishy taste. Dessert was the St. Paddy's special, "Irish Car Bomb": moist ginger cake, mint-Bailey's Irish Cream ice cream, with a whiskey sauce and chopped strawberries. Yeah. Service was heart-felt friendly and attentive. Live music was charming. Wonderful vibe to this place!
(5)
Rachel W.

Great place. No food served betweeb 3 and 5pm. The mai tai is awesome. Got da hui pizza with kahlua pork and pineapple. It was fantastic. A local couple (awesome people) let me try coconut pork pupu (appetizer). It was tender! Tasted like coconut milk. I highly recommend. Great place to just chill for a bit especially after hiking.
(5)
Kimmy K.

This Hanalei kamaaina (Hawaiian for old-timer) looks like a bit of a dive from the outside, but it's all local on the inside. Once inside Tahiti Nui has a quaint South Pacific feel with carved tikis and woven matting. With live music nightly, you will want to get here early because Tahiti Nui can fill up quick. We shared a round of their Mai Tais which knocked us on our butts while sharing their sear-crusted ono. It was the perfect way to spend an evening after a full day of frolicking in the Hanalei Bay.
(4)
Sara W.

Didn't eat any food so this review is based solely on drinks. On Monday we stopped in for a world famous Mai tai. Everyone boasts about this. I don't get it. The bartender told us Mondays is booze only til dinner hour @5pm which is a-ok by us. It was around 3pm and just wanted a cocktail to cool us off. Ordered a Mai Tai and a margarita of some sort. Both were just ok. Everyone boasts that the Mai tai will knock you on your ass after...didn't have that experience. I guess it's packed with alcohol so that's cool, but does it taste good too!? It was just alright. I've had better in kauai this trip that's for sure. All in all a cool place to check out, but don't get duped into the claims of best Mai tai. It's good, it's not THAT good!
(3)
gwynnie p.

Tahiti Nui is a lot of fun and the food is good. Funky funky not chic - expect to see duct tape hold some seating together. Barely. They might need a new roll of tape. Your beer may arrive in a plastic glass. Deal. I had a delicious seared ahi appetizer and the husband enjoyed an ahi burger with fries. Luckily it was the husband's idea to stop in b/c if I had said I wanted to go just because Geo. Clooney & co. were here in "The Descendants" I probably would have gotten shot down b/c that's a dumb reason to go anywhere. On the other hand, the Hawaiian Islands would be languishing away if it wasn't for Hollywood giving them screen time. Maybe you guys should stop issuing film permits? Just an idea. You can thank me later.
(4)
Ty W.

Just had lunch here and the garden isle salad was great. The pepperoni pizza by the slice was very greasy but the crust was pretty good. Server was a little snotty but we had to stop here. Saw it in the movie : The Descendants.
(3)
Peter I.

Went last week and just loved the vibe!! The Mai Tai's are good, but not great...but who cares? It's the place, not the drinks. Go and sit at the bar and try the pizza and have a few drinks. paradise!!! The service is just what it should be and probably has been for 50 years. Great spot!!!
(5)
Mr S.

The Mai Tai is the best I have had on this island! Be careful and don't sit on the front deck without ordering food. The table boss will move you inside!
(3)
C. C.

A friend told us we had to stop and have a Mai Tai here while we were visiting. sitting on the front deck with friends led to a few more delicious Mai-tais in the afternoon after some surf.. not to shabby.. came back the next night for the band.. we all made new friends, bought rounds of drinks and my wife ended up on the stage singing Brown Eyed Girl with the local band.. Nothing but a pleasure.. Woke up with a little less money in our pockets but very well worth a great night at Tahiti Nuis..
(5)
Jesus G.

Amazing Pizza and burgers! Has Negra Modelo on tap!!!! Waiter was a little forgetful with orders but could have been worse. Party next to us waited for an hour for their pizza. Then when they asked, the waiter reported e forgot to submit the ticket :/ Worth the risk.
(5)
Allison J.

This has a local, divey feel that's irresistible. Live music on a Friday kept the place hoppin' until midnight. It's dark on the dance floor but the windows are open and the tropical breeze can come right through. OR, if it's a night when the rain's pouring down you feel like you're in a party cave with all your drunk friends. Beer was $5 a piece. Every beach town has a place like this where you can wander up to the bar in your flip flops and shorts, scream your order over the noise of the music and the crowds and then settle in to people watch. It reminds me of the Elbo Room in Ft. Lauderdale but with a South Pacific flair.
(4)
Lisa H.

Pretty seedy bar loaded with tourists and their children...(??) Makes sense now as I read that this was a movie location for the Descendants. Well, the tourist part makes sense, not the presence of their children. Can only speak for the bar, but the service was slow and drinks were more syrup than alcohol. However, the live music was not bad!
(3)
Sacita D.

Not a welcoming spot for out-of-town folks. If you ask for a mai tai, the bar maid will look at you like you're lame, she'll serve you last and make the drink in 10 secs, no love. Stay away.
(1)
Sophie L.

Love Love Love Love! This is our fav spot on the whole island. Everyone's so friendly and we love the live music. The short ribs, kobe burger, seafood pasta and Ahi Tuna Steak are all SO great! I am sure everything else on the menu is good. We also tried their ice cream. Even the dessert, ice cream, is great!
(5)
Serena S.

The 5 stars is for the ambience. Food is 3 stars and service is 4 stars. If you go here, you're going because you want to soak up its awesome tiki hut vibe straight out of the 70's. We did have lunch (in order of preference): - The panko-encrusted Ono. Upon recommendation from our server. The fish was fresh and it was nicely seared on the outside with a crispy layer of panko. There was a soy sauce and a wasabi aioli - I wish the wasabi taste had actually been stronger. Rice was sprinkled with seaweed flakes and sesame seeds and made a perfect accompaniment. - Their french fries are nicely crispy. - Hamburgers are char-broiled. Ours were a little over-done but they were a good size and come with all the right basics - lettuce, tomato, onion, fresh bun. - Not sure what all the hubbub is about the Mai-Tais. Neither my husband or I were blown away. - No kids' menu but there's plenty they can share.
(5)
Frank F.

Best damn tiki hut / dive bar / hawaiian food / pizza joint you will find anywhere. Tiny. Open air. The windows are shuters propped up on sticks, with a front porch too. Tiny place. 50 years in the same family. The pizzas were really superb. The panko-crusted seared ono roll was so freaking fresh it was practically an emotional moment. The drinks were strong and large. And the founder's grandson got done making our pizzas then came out to play live music for the packed house on a Monday night. I wish I could have stayed all night. If you're on Kauai's north coast, just do it.
(5)
Troy P.

We stopped in one night for drinks on New Years Day, mostly because of the popularity the place has gained from the movie, "The Descendants". It was cool to see the chair where George Clooney sat and remember that part of the movie, but this place is a hut, so don't expect more than that. We all ordered Mai Tais to test the claim of best Mai Tai on the island (btw, every bar in Hawaii claims this) and they were quite good. A little stronger than some other places we sampled but good none the less. It was obvious our server handled tourists well as she took our picture on multiple cameras multiple times and talked with us about where we were from and how the island is busy during certain times of year. They do have a number of nightly events like Luaus and Live Music so call and check what's going on if you plan on stopping by. *From what I could tell the Owner appears to be a shorter asian women, she is not friendly but don't let this prevent you from stopping in and soaking up some island culture*
(3)
Karen D.

Delicious pizza! Hanalei pizza closed down so this is second best thing. Tiki man makes some pretty good pizza. Tahiti Nui is a great older restaurant to hang out and get pizza and beers.
(4)
Stephen S.

This place has the best Mai tai's in the area.
(5)
Steve F.

We always come to the 'Nui while staying in Hanalei. Best Mai Tai's on Kauai. They have great pizza- expensive but well worth it. People always complain about the service here- we must always luck out. Been here many many times- we can walk here from where we stay. Always good service. We walked in & the place was packed on a Wednesday night, probably about 7pm. Sat at bar, no empty tables. Personally, I'd rather sit at the bar here. Got drinks in less than 5 minutes & they were busy! Ordered pizza even though we weren't that hungry. Took about 20 minutes before done. Well worth the wait! Perfect timing- we were ready for more Mai Tai's when the pizza arrived. Left over 'Nui pizza the next morning is the best!!!!!!!
(5)
Amanda K.

We came here on a recent trip to Kauai because of the movie the Descendants (although I haven't seen the movie). The two stars are for the following - 1 star because the pulled pork sandwich was tasty and 2 stars because the lady who ended up being our waitress was very nice. However, we were first waited on by the bartender and she was rude and aggressive and it was a huge turnoff of the place. I then later went to the bar to get drinks and she again was defensive and rude and if she had stopped for a second and listened to what I was actually saying, it would have made things a lot easier. The bathrooms were absolutely disgusting and to top it all off - the next day on the front page of the paper is an article that they were getting slapped with an EPA complaint... awesome... I'm sure the movie has helped them get business but that doesn't give them a right to be incredibly rude and that bartender was horrible.
(2)
Charlie T.

Bartender and waitress with a bad attitude, slow service, won't make this mistake again.
(1)
Himali W.

Skip this one. I feel like this place is riding off the hype from "The Descendants". The vibe is trying to be cool and low key and "authentic", except their entrees cost like $25 a pop. I wouldn't mind, except the food was terrible. Maybe their pizza or whatever is better. But, yelp, let me tell you---this is definitely not a seafood restaurant. They have a couple of dishes that have seafood in them, but they were not good. I had the "Macadamia Nut Panko Crusted Fresh Ono with young a Coconut Cilantro Lime Sauce". I thought trying a local fish dish would be a good idea, but boy, was I wrong. The fish tasted overcooked, and the sauce it was sitting in was overly salty. Blech. The service also sucked, way slow, not enough bartenders and waiters. The Mai Tai was good. Maybe just come here for drinks.
(2)
Austin A.

My wife and I stopped in after a day of surfing just for a drink. We ordered their signature Tahiti mai tai and it was excellent. Not too sweet and not bland.
(5)
Cher H.

It's been over 10 years since I last visited this place...still recognized the location...great stuff never goes away!
(3)
Steve B.

Obviously your local dive bar... ....and WELL worth a visit. Bartender there 40 years and knows how to serve a drink. Known for its infamous Mai tai's, the food is good, but like everything on the islands...a little high priced. When on Kauai, I always make it a daily stop for drink and laid back atmosphere. Truly a favorite!
(5)
John O.

Went to Tahiti Nui w/ a local for a drink. Super chill local vibe....Tiki decor, kinda cool, located off of the main highway. I'd definitely recommend coming here for a brew or a mai-tai, listen to some music, and adjust to"island time." Located in downtown Hanalei, this place is chillax. Food on the menu ain't cheap, but then again, what is in Hanalei? I didn't try the food, just came for a beer. Come here for a drink, see if anything is going on, if not, move on.
(4)
Sarah S.

I'm never one to pass up a movie location spot, so Tahiti Nui was on my list of things to see in Hawaii. The yelp reviews on majorly slow service kind of scared me so I chose to just come in for a drink. I love the tiki bar vibe and chill atmosphere. It was much smaller then I had anticipated, but there is additional seating outside. From what I saw there are tour companies that drop off people at Tahiti Nui so I could see it getting pretty busy/ backed up in terms of food. Picture of George Clooney in the Descendents is on the back wall.
(4)
Julia P.

I came to this place only out of curiosity after seeing it on The Descendents. It was small and cramped and the service was overall very slow (it was actually decent for us but I saw other people who got served s l o w l y - then again you are in Kauai). I can't say anything about the local entertainment or the Mai Tais. I got a burger (juicy and tasty) and downed my food before heading off to the beach!
(4)
Breanne W.

Awww what a disappointment. My husband and I were really looking forward to coming here! We were so excited to check it out. We love dive bars and I worked as a bartender for a decade so I feel totally at home in a place like this. We came for lunch on a weekday. Dug the atmosphere right away. We sat at the bar. There were a few other people at the bar and the tables in the restaurant were mostly occupied. It seemed that the bartender was by herself because she was delivering food to the tables in the restaurant. She came by after a few minutes and apologized and told us she'd be right with us. No problem! We're patient people. All good. So we waited... Another couple came and sat at the bar, the bartender told them the same thing. They were cool about it. Meanwhile it had been maybe 10 minutes and the bartender's running around like she's never had customers before. Flustered and not being efficient at all. Still delivering food to the tables. We were cool, we keep smiling and patiently waiting. After about 15 minutes she came behind the bar and we were ready, excited for her to finally take our drink order! We were thirsty for the famous mai tais. So ready. But... nope. She left again, running back into the kitchen and ignoring us. 20 minutes there and she's back behind the bar. This is our time!!! We're going to get drinks and lunch! We were so ready. She went up to a customer who'd been eating when we got there. She bussed his empty plate. Got his bill. Oh wait-he wanted another beer. Cool. She poured him a beer right in front of us. We could taste the mai tais! She's gonna take our order now! It's gonna happen for us!!! NOPE. Gone back to the kitchen. ARE YOU KIDDING ME???? Completely incompetent and downright rude honestly. We were so patient and so not in a rush (we were on vacation!), but when we can't even get a drink, not to mention lunch, and getting a tab started for us takes a backseat to clearing a damn plate I'VE HAD ENOUGH. Out of principle, we left. The other nice couple was still waiting for service when we left. I wonder if they ever got a drink. We went across the street to Neide's Salsa & Samba and had a kickass waitress who was so attentive but chill, we ate amazing burritos, and drank killer margaritas!!
(1)
David L.

Ok so first off the pizza was awesome. The drinks came quickly. But the service was slow. It took us almost an hour to get our pizza. Also they were playing country music which drives me nuts.
(3)
Jo G.

We didn't eat here, but we definitely stopped in numerous times for Mai Tai's. Why not? They are the best around and you are sure to meet people and chat at the bar. Plus, Mai Tai's were marvelous. A definite hang-out spot.
(4)
Stephanie W.

We came here around 6pm on a Tuesday for dinner. The food was okay, nothing too special though. The Mai Tais were very good. The service was slow and not great. Overall a nice experience, but not something I would come back for.
(3)
Lorene R.

This small place has phenomenal food. We had the combo pizza and Caesar salad, and both were awesome. The couple next to us allowed us to sample their Crispy Ono Roll and that was heavenly also. On Monday evenings their featured artist is Mike Keale. This man is very talented and you should make plans to see him. It is wonderful to find this "hole in the wall", have great food, service and entertainment all in one spot. We will be back!
(4)
Mike F.

After reading the reviews, my wife and I were skeptical, but decided to give them a try. We usually out-cook even the better restaurants on our own, but continually try to give a place that has a great review a chance. In short, Tahiti Nui was incredible! It sure didn't look like it had the potential to deliver amazing food, but WOW! were we wonderfully surprised. The macadamia nut crusted fish was the star of any similar dish we've had anywhere we've traveled in the world. The seafood plate that included a helping of the tastiest, most perfectly cooked prawn-sized shrimp that seemed too full for the price. And the Mai Tai's were outstanding...and I've bartended in some of the best places in So. Calif. that don't hold back on the creativity or amount of booze served by their bartenders. Incredible! We were there for a 6 PM dinner (before they ran out of popular items, I guess by reading other reviews) so I can't speak for other times of day. The live music was professionl and the service staff were wonderful...and, yes, we sat out on the deck without any pressure to order anything, with a line to get in the place. To sum it up, after 2 weeks trying everything on the island we could, we almost drove up from Poipu on our last night just to spend the evening at Tahiti Nui again, but regretfully tried Duke's instead, hearing it served the best food on the island. Nope, Tahiti Nui wins hand down ove the Grand Hyatt, the Beach Club, Dukes, or any in the books you read.
(5)
V K.

My cousin recommend Tahiti Nui for their Mai Tais and for the live music - both were great. The service is slow, but the place is super busy. Was there on a Tuesday night at 7p, and the only 2 seats available were at the end of the bar. The food was +/- ...the salads are huge and fresh - easily shareable by 2-3 people. The Kauai prawns were outstanding - expected them to be super sweet based on the description, but in fact had just the natural sweetness of prawns, and the sauce had a nice spicy asian take. The ono was a great big piece of fresh fish, but was dry. All entrees come with fries, mashed potatoes, or rice. Fries - fabulous. Rice overcooked and bland. Lastly - fair warning, if the only seats are at the end of the bar near the kitchen and Uncle Kenny is there, do your best to find another place to sit.
(3)
Joe H.

I guess this is the "Clooney" bar from that movie The Descendants. We stopped in for a drink and a snack after being on the beach most of the day. A well, worn old tiki joint. I bet it would be a good place to watch some music if you were on that side of the island after 5pm. I had two Modelos (on draft) and my wife drank the mai-tais. She enjoyed them (not as much as the ones at Hukilau Lanai). Too many touristy people sitting on the barstools posing for pictures "where George Clooney" sat. Who cares? Look outside at the weather and where you are...We did fall for the Hawaiian pizza here (how can you not eat this when you are in hawaii?) and had enough to take home. Pretty good pizza all told. Plus the waitress bought us a round and bumped the pizza up to a large because the kitchen made us wait or something. Point is, service is great and locals do drink and hang out here but not worth more than a stop by in my opinion.
(3)
Russ S.

The Mai Tai are the best on the Island. They have a fair selection of local and other ber. My favorite is the Crusted Ono for appetizer for starters. The Spicy Hawiian Pizza for dinner. They put plenty of jalapenos on it for a great spicy taste. The service was good and the staff is friendly. Not fancy just good food,it is a must if you are in Hanalei.
(4)
Meme M.

This place is awesome. The Mai Tai's are excellent, the live entertainment is super, and the ambience is just.... buzzing with relaxed energy and aloha. The food is pretty good. My favorite is either the pizza or the macadamia encrusted fish. My only complaint is that sometimes the chef overcooks the fish and it's not that good. :( But, honestly I am not here for the food. I'm here for the vibe, entertainment, and the drinks. This place is probably the best hang out on the north shore. NOTE: Be prepared to wait for a table if you come late or on the weekends.
(5)
John N.

Good local spot. Long waits, but their Hawaiian pizza is pretty tasty. Nice local vibe.
(4)
Tucker H.

We stopped in hoping to try the prawns that our friend recommended, but apparently they are only on the dinner menu, not the lunch menu, which was a bit of a bummer. The place was extremely quiet, but I chalk that up to the road construction blocking traffic from getting to Hanalei, and the fact that it was lunch on a random Wednesday. Given that it was empty, we didn't have any issues with the service, and the food came out plenty quickly. We ended up going for the seared ahi and the crusted ono, both of which were perfectly tasty. They were both well cooked (seared on the outside, raw on the inside), and the sauces were flavorful. The only reason I can't bump it to four stars is that the portion sizes were on the small side, and the entree was pretty much the same size as the appetizer. Given what our friend said about the prawns, we'd give it a shot for dinner, but might try somewhere else for lunch instead.
(3)
AndishÃ© F.

Great
(5)
Stephi S.

Oh yes... If you are ever in Hana lei This is a "Must Visit" place! Fantastic Food, Fun Service, Fabulous entertainment! Plus it has a great locals flair! :) The menu changes, but what we had was outstanding! I had the Butternut squash raviolis and my friend had the pizza, wow! Amazing taste!!! I ate it ALL!! My mouth is watering thinking of it!
(5)
K Z.

Restaurant had an hour wait so we chose to eat in wine bar. Same menu, no music. Food was ok, service was great. Know it's Kauai and food is expensive but we felt this menu was overpriced for food we got.
(3)
chelsa v.

One of our favorite spots on the island. So much history and Hawaiian heritage in one little tiki hut. We stopped by several times during our stay- the mai tai drinks kept getting better and better- one of the girls working the bar was so sweet and nice to talk with. We are also big fans of the movie- The Descendants - and thought it was cool that Tahiti Nui had a part in the movie. On our last evening on the island, we stopped in for one last mai tai and there was local musician playing to a full house. The vibe felt so relaxed and welcoming- it was an enjoyable memory to leave on!
(5)
David A.

Bathing suits welcome... Great Mai Tai's and spicy Hawaiian pizza. Fun place to eat, drink, and people watch. You will also see this restaurants in the movie "The Descendants" with George Clooney. It really is like in the movie... Fun and entertaining...
(4)
jenay e.

This has been our favorite destination bar for years. I sadly have to write a less than favorable review. I was extremely embarrassed to have brought friends here and had a poor experience. Two days in a row we were ignored, for the most part. We sat at the bar for quite a long time without even a look. Had to ask for service and drinks. Then we couldn't get her attention enough to pay. It was not busy at the time. I have been in the service industry, I understand. This was ignoring. he following night, we were told the kitchen was closed at 8;30. They close for dinner at 9. Attached to the Nui is the sister wine bar, They serve late night food. This would have been a nice suggestion from the server. They were busy, I understand, but we were told "GOOD NIGHT". Ok, see ya! We had stayed in a house in Hanalei with the real intention of being near our favorite join, no drinking and driving. Totally disappointing attitudes. No ALOHA served here.
(2)
Oz R.

I have dined in Honolulu, Japan (including Tokyo), NYC, and TX and I bet this restaurant serves one of the best foods in the world!! The only downside is the bus girl lol she's too young and inexperienced, so be sure to grab onto ur drink or she will take it when u're still working on it!!!! There are 2 other very nice, very expensive restaurants, one required reservation and other was closed 6/11-14 (no one knows why), and this was our only option left but this was just meant to be; less expensive and I bet more delicious than other restaurants!!!!!!! A must goto place in Kauai!!!
(5)
Kelly A.

The staff here is very unwelcoming to tourists, the owner and an older woman named "grandma" are especially rude and mean. They were out of my first three choices of dinner, didn't tell me they were out of coke till the bill came. The food was not good and made us sick. Bad service, bad food... So many amazing food places in Kauai, AVOID THIS ON
(1)
Linda S.

Went to this charming little dive several times - love the atmosphere and our wait staff was always very nice. We had the pizza with pineapples and jalapeÃ±os and it was very good. I'm not a Mai Tai drinker but everyone else raved about them. I had a cocoanut margarita and it was very tasty! I like this little spot because it's has that easy laid-back island vibe - we would definitely stop by again.
(5)
ryan c.

Too crowded with tourists. A bit small when we were here on a Mon/Tues night. You have to arrive early to get a seat anywhere. If I was still in my 20s then maybe I'd come here on the weekend as it sounds like from other people the experience could be much different.
(3)
Monica W.

Service is a little slow here. One would think that after being shown in a couple of movies they would have better service...The Pizza is great though and the beer is tasty...when you get it.
(3)
Nik-n-Dusty G.

My husband and I were looking for a nice, casual place with some live music. After checking Yelp, we thought Tahiti Nui sounded like our kind of place. NOT! We literally waited 2 hours for a pizza - no exaggeration. We had two beers in the meantime - both draft - both flat. When we finally complained to the waitress, she assured us it was on it's way and would be worth it. We kindly told her we hadn't had a pizza yet that was worth a 2 hour wait. Once we finally got our pizza, it was burned. The sauce was good - it had potential. But worth the wait, NO WAY! Then some guy that worked there came over and turned out the light. So - we - along with two other tables - had to eat our burned pizza in the dark. We tried to get a waitress over for a box and the ticket - so that we could take it home and eat with some light. After about 20 minutes (enough time to eat the pizza in the dark), a new waitress came by and announced she HAD to close us out because there was a shift change. Well, thank God for that or we would still be there! What a horrible experience!!! Do yourself a favor - skip this restaurant. It will be the best $60 you ever save!
(1)
Chiara I.

So, I'll give it a solid 3.5 stars. I had high expectations for this authentic tiki hut pearl. And while the live entertainment by the locals on the ukelele were on point, the food and drinks were quite over priced. Perhaps it's the nature of this little town, or the island in general, to have such raw overpowering natural beauty but be slightly lacking in the food scene. I did try the mai tais. My tastebuds did thank me for the tasty treat, but my wallet didn't. This place is chill, no doubt. And a good place to relax and soak in the island sounds, but may want to grab some grub somewhere else before hand.
(3)
Jessica W.

Love this dive bar and LOVE the luaus return. As a two time veteran of the Smith Family Luau (which for the record, I greatly enjoyed for its cheese and touristy production), it was very nice to experience a more local style luau. The room was dark and dingy, and quite small. There were likely only about 50 people total there, and they really kept the mai tais coming. Seriously folks, I barely had time to finish one before the next was in hand, icy and tasty. The meal itself BLEW the Smith Family Luau out of the water. Seriously. It was delicious. The show was small...4 dancers who were all really really good. No erupting volcanos or pyrotechnics. Just some live music, and good old fashioned fun. I can't wait to return.
(5)
Dennis L.

My wife and I had a conversation with a local while visiting Kauai. She recommended Tahiti Nui for two reasons: amazing mai tais and it was a filming location for The Decendents. We ended up paying a visit, and I am so glad that we did. First off, the mai tais really are excellent. No doubt the best we had during our entire trip in Hawaii. However, what surprised me was the food! We ordered a salad to start and a pizza to split. The Baby Greens Salad w/Gorgonzola, Macadamia Nuts & Balsamic Vinaigrette was absolutely delightful. The portion size was great to split amongst 2-3 people as an appetizer and the flavors were spot on. The pizza that we ordered was the #5 Da Hui, which was topped with Kalua pork and pineapple. Now that is a REAL Hawaiian pizza! This was honestly one of the best pizzas that I have had in quite a long time. Overall, we had a excellent experience. I didn't leave feeling like a movie star, but I certainly left happily full.
(5)
Julia B.

Fun, fun place. We stopped buy for drinks. Awesome pizza. While we were there, they played live music and the bartender danced to a Hawaiian song. Great atmosphere.
(4)
Ray D.

Unpretentious and friendly neighborhood bar in Hanalei with a great atmosphere. Drinks are $8 and the food was surprisingly good - I ordered the daily special which was grilled mahi mahi on rice and it was cooked perfectly. The caprese salad with fresh mozarella was also delicious. Live Hawaiian music most nights and on Weds. nights they have a luau menu.
(4)
Jimmy N.

You MUST try the mai tais if you come here. Yes, they are THAT good. Good, strong, and very tasty. The food is pretty solid, we came here for lunch-- I had a burger and my wife had an ahi sandwich. Nothing particularly special or fancy, but by no means shabby, either. I'm sure the 2 mai tais we had didn't hurt the flavor of the meal. :) The only not-so-great thing I have to say about The Nui is that it took about 30-45 minutes to get our food. Seriously, you've gotta make accomodations for island time when you come to Kauai...but this was a tad much. Nothing severe enough to stop me from making a return trip the next time we're in town though! Definitely want to check out dinner to see if it lives up to the hype, next time! Mai tais!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(4)
Mike L.

Went here last night with family. We waited about 30 minutes and they seated us at a big table right in front of the stage where a local musician was playing Hawaiian-styled pop music from the 80's. It was too loud and wasn't that great. Sitting outside may have been bette except for the rain. Service was very slow and one dish didn't arrive until everyone else was already done. Nice location right on the high way but very little parking. Tried the Mai tai and they were good, but nothing to swoon over as the other reviews suggest. Food was just ok for our group (pizza, ribs, Ono, chicken pasta, burger, bruschetta). For the money, probably better choices to go to or sit outside if the rain stops. If we were just out looking for a dive to have drinks, would have been a nice stop. Crowd was mostly young folks drinking (except for family groups like us).
(3)
Kevin W.

total dive bar in Hanalei and also our first stop after getting to the north shore of Kauai. We had drinks here two afternoons in a row and enjoyed the people watching and casual laid back atmosphere. Prices are pretty modest by Kauai standards. A local brew was $5 and a really tasty Mai Tai was $7.50. I recommend chilling outside so that you can see the beautiful mountains and waterfalls off in the distance. On our second trip there we had a spacey server that problably needs to rethink her career choice. Thankfully, the bartender came around to help her out, but she just seemed out of it. I am all for Island time and was certainly not in a rush, but this chick just dropped the ball.
(4)
Brenda W.

DO NOT EAT AT THIS RESTAURANT. My entire party got food poisoning and have been sick for 48 hours. Great way to ruin your vacation. We should have know better when we saw the dirty bathrooms before we ordered. STAY AWAY!!!!!! I will say that the hula dancing was nice.
(1)
Carey W.

I love it here. The vibe is amazing, Mai Tai is fabulous!! My family of four shared a pizza for $23.
(5)
Amanda M.

Great food, great drinks, lively atmosphere. We visited here several times during out stay in Kauai including for their Wednesday night Luau. The history of the restaurant is really interesting. We had a phenomenal server, I wish I caught his name. He filled us in with lots of interesting facts and it really added to the experience. Awesome Mai Tai's! The only thing that would make this place better is if there was drinks allowed on the patio. This is an ordinance which Tahiti Nui has no control over unfortunately.
(5)
Gil F.

I and the family have stayed on the north shore - near Hanalei 4 times over the past several years but not until June, 2013 did we find Tahiti Nui. THIS is a place we will come to regularly when we come back to the island. The music the night we were there was Kanak Attack and they were absolutely awesome. Awesome! The food was great and reasonably priced, and tourists are the minority here - it's a local scene. The service was a bit less than perfect, but that didn't detract in the least. I for one was glad to have more time to hang out here and enjoy some real music. Aloha!
(4)
Kai R.

Yes, this is the place where The Descendants filmed a few scenes, which I'm sure attracts a lot of tourists. The place is surprisingly small. We went here for lunch and as soon as the waiter gave us the menus I was worried this was a tourist trap and the food would be bad. Boy was I wrong! The menu is fairly limited - salads, 3-4 sandwiches, and pizza. My wife had the pork sandwich and my daughter and I shared their version of Hawaiian pizza (Kalua pork instead of ham). The BBQ sauce that comes with the pork sandwich was REALLY good (put in on the pizza too) and the pizza was very good as well. Can't comment on the mixed drinks (looked good). Service was slow, but who cares - you are on Kauai. They have music most nights starting at 6:30. Definitely check this place out if you are on the North Shore of Kauai.
(4)
Roxy R.

My husband and I visited Hanalei on a Friday morning. A friend told us about this place, so before heading out, we stopped in to have lunch. Maybe it was because we came in during a lull [around 1-2pm], or because we sat at the bar, but the service was insanely SLOW. Anytime we needed anything [to be acknowledged, then to be acknowledged again to order food...a refill, etc] we had to wave down a waitress, because the bartender, who was "helping" us, was at the other end of the bar or working in the books. My husband got pretty frustrated. Other than the service, the food and drinks were awesome. I'm not a big mai tai fan, but tried their "famous" one, and was definitely a little buzzed afterwards. We ordered a spicy Hawaii pizza [sans ham] and loved it. The food is yum, maybe just don't sit at the far end of the bar! This was the only place we went to where the service was lagging.
(3)
Jeff W.

Truly a great place to eat, relax & get some Hawaiian flavor! We had 3 different fish items (ahi steak, Ono Mac & panko encrusted, macadamia shrimp) & the steak... ALL AWESOME. Some of the best cuisine at great prices. Add in live music & BEST Mai tai's on the island (not possible to have just one). Saw they were ranked "best restaurant" & "best bar" on north shore many years running by the locals! DON'T MISS THIS PLACE!
(5)
Joel F.

Favorite bar in Hanalei, probably in all of Kauai. Perfect Mai Tias, excellent crusted ono appetizer, and a really relaxed atmosphere. We asked our waiter for the Mai Tai recipe but, alas, he didn't spill the beans. Drop me a line if you know their secret! This place has a lot of character and looks like it's been around a long time -- I'm hoping it stays that way. Kauai is my favorite island and it's places like these in Hanalei that remind me why I always look forward to coming back.
(5)
Nicole W.

George Clooney drank here! Ha but really this bar has a great Hawaiian vibe. I ate the grilled ahi sandwich which was delicious. The people were nice but the server seemed spacey. She forgot a drink order and messed up the tab at the end. I'd take the others suggestions and sit at the bar, the bartender (who was the bartender in the Decedents) seemed to be on top of it. The fries were very yummy. Wish I had time to make it for the live music but gotta run.
(4)
Chris B.

Went to this place yesterday and there was a 45 minutes we decided to go to kalipso what was not great but decent food... We decided to go today again and ohh boy I'm happy that I did not wait yesterday how in the earth u can mess up a pizza??? An Hawaiian pizza ????! Awful service they do not even know what they have on draft.... It made kalipso looks great!!!
(1)
Kim G.

I didn't get to go on Wednesday for the luau, but my friends did and said it was wonderful. They loved the food, said it was great. We made plans to gothere on Friday night after surfing and shopping all day. We were lucky to be entertained by Mike Keale during our visit at Tahiti Nui! He is a cousin to Brudda Iz and has such a beautiful voice! Google him... We started off with a round of drinks at the bar. We received great service. The bartender was nice to us, and even when she got super busy, still checked on everyone at the bar. We ordered the ono roll appetizer which was soooo ono! Then we ordered more drinks, mostly beer until we were finally ready for dinner. Burgers and sandwiches are only served for lunch. One of us ordered the prawns, one of us got the pasta with the short rib and pancetta bolognese , and one of us got the salad with the mac nuts and feta or goat cheese. All three were yummy! My pasta had a little kick to it which I liked because I love spicy food. We had a great night with ono food and great service.
(5)
Jason D.

They have these two Hawaiian beers here. Gold coast and sunset. I think that was the names. Not sure the brewery but Damn they were so good. I got there around 3:30 which I think is in between there lunch and dinner times. I had to wait a long time to get a beer. Maybe they technically weren't open. Either way it was a good experience. I didn't get any food here b/c the prices were really high.
(4)
J S.

Skip the tourist traps on Hanalei and eat here! Great food and good service. 1800 Coconut Margaritas are delicious. Hawaiian Pizza and Kurikaki Ahi are fantastic! The pizza was among the best we've had in the US or in EU.
(5)
Dan K.

LOVED this place! This is exactly what we were looking for - a laid back place with great food, great drinks and live music. The place has a true local feel to it even though it's a big tourist stop. We got there around 7:00 and only had to wait 20 minutes before our table was ready (we live in Chicago, so 20 minutes is nothing). We got Mai Tais, because how can you not get one at a place famous for them?! I don't know that I've ever had a Mai Tai, so I don't have a basis for comparison... but it was very good! This place just had a really good vibe to it, and if/when we're back on Kauai we will definitely be back!
(5)
Jamie W.

I'm not sure why I like this place. It's kind of your basic dive bar, especially before happy hour. There is an extensive menu, which I've never scene anyone order from. There is a nice pizza menu, which everyone orders from. The pizza is creative, very expensive and okay if you like really thin crust. But I still like the place. It's always lively and usually has cheesy live music. Every night is different though. One night could be good slack guitar with u'kulele. Another can be cruise ship music but everyone dancing. You never know. The drinks are good, but order two since the few servers are quite busy. Everything seems reasonably priced. Note - It is very loud here so don't go if you plan to have an intimate meal. Go to be entertained.
(4)
Chris R.

THE local bar in Hanalei. This place serves up a casual mix of live music, solid drinks, and good people. Stop by if that's your jam. Oh and the bartender was awesome. We tried to order food after the kitchen had closed, but she hooked us up with some free pizza anyway. Huge points for that. And for the ladies out there, this place was featured in The Descendents... so this is your opportunity to sit where Clooney sat (bar stools opposite of the stage). Enjoy.
(5)
Harper B.

Terrible service - similar to what a lot of other reviewers are saying - I regret I didn't check Yelp before going here... Was with my 4 year old daughter and was left waiting 15-20 minutes before the waiter even came over - really? Then we had to wait a good 40-50 minutes for pizza. We had another long wait just to pay the bill. The pizza was pretty good (although we were quite hungry by the time it came) but it certainly didn't justify waiting forever.
(2)
Lily S.

This place has THE WORST service ever. We were waiting for a table for about 20 minutes, and for about 10 minutes there was a table that needed clearing that we could see. The one and only waiter that we saw said they just had a party of 25 arrive, which is a poor excuse to serve us water an leave us waiting for another 15 minutes. Also, for the 20 minutes we were waiting for a table a couple that had been seated just after we arrived hadn't even had their drink orders taken. We can understand the laid back-ness of the islands but this was too far beyond that, there were multiple times the waiter looked at us and turned around we were essentially ignored. Can't even comment on the food as after an hour of waiting without any service, we left.
(1)
Preethika E.

Amazing place with great dive bar atmosphere, live music, excellent drinks (especially Mai tai's) and delicious and healthy foods. On our vacation to Kauai, all we ate were fish and boy was it cheap too. This place is one of my favorites. It is in the Northern part of Kauai, on the Kuhio Highway near Princeville. I had the Seared Ahi with Creamy Wasabi Sauce and my bf had Squid Ink Linguine wiht Mixed Seafood, Tomato Basil Sauce. Both were delicious but I think the pasta had too much sauce (more of a personal preference, anyways). I loved the flavor of the dish I ordered. This place was a bit more expensive, but I can't complain. I was spoiled by how cheap fish (good fish, at that) was all over Kauai.
(5)
Shawn S.

Looked like a local place where only adventurous tourists would venture in. Not too inviting, but since we stopped at the Ching Young adventure park and were looking for food, this place had the highest yelp rating nearby, We took our group of 10, got a table inside and ordered waters and a beer. We got the drinks quickly enough, then no one bothered to stop by again for nearly 20 minutes. I put some cash on the table for my beer (even with tip!) and we left. No one bothered to even bat an eye. Ah well.
(1)
Sheri C.

Fabulous ribs and macadamia nut Ono. The creamy papaya dressing was very good on my side salad. Don't buy the chicken for the salad, it was over cooked. But then again, who wants chicken while on vacation in Hawaii. Drinks were nothing special. I had the world famous Mai Tai, it was not "famous" worthy. My family had other drinks, but were not impressed.
(4)
KG B.

Service was terrible, painfully slow. Left money at the bar and went to the bar at Hanalei Gourmet across the street. Much better.
(2)
Daniel G.

Great Mai Tai's & decent hawaiian pizza. And prices were decent compared to the rest of Hanalei. Great for a more affordable, relaxing night.
(4)
S S.

We went twice during this trip and didn't have any of the service experiences mentioned, even though I was nervous after some of the reviews. We walked in one night after hearing live music and hearing about pizza from a friend, and got a table outside. Service was quick, mai tais pretty good, and pizza just fine. The next night we came in after plans to go to bar acuda fell through with some hungry family members and managed to get a table for 5 easily. Again..drinks quick, fish dishes great, and pizza just fine (although they forgot to put pineapple on half and the oven had shut down already so it could be rebaked and had to be sprinkled on top). No complaints from us..this place has solid food and the live music (early in the evening - seems to end by 8:30 at latest) is nice.
(4)
Dana B.

Stopped here for lunch. The food was okay. The setting was fun, but falling apart and faded. Didn't realize it was a movie location until after. The service was pretty bad. Not friendly. They didn't seem to want to be there or us for that matter. Would not go back or recommend.
(2)
Erin Y.

If I could give it a lower rating, I would. I actually warned the older couple that came in and sat next to us at the bar as we left with a "Good luck". After being completely ignored in an almost empty bar (it was early afternoon), we were just about to get up when the lady finally asked us what we wanted (not pleasantly), so we went ahead and ordered a Mai Tai, would have had more, but although she was right in front of us, she never asked, never looked up, never acknowledged us again until we finally waved her down to get the check. Which took forever. In all that time, she also continued to ignore a group of older guys that came in, initially looking happy, but happiness turned to confusion upon being COMPLETELY ignored too. Funny though, a few guys that I'm guessing she knew, apparently were from around there, came in well after us and the other guys, sat at the end of the bar and quickly received "hello's" and beers, with a chat. Just ridiculously rude. I guess they don't like tourists?? But I bet they make a killin' off us. Just wow.
(1)
Carol F.

I have never ever walked out of a restaurant and have never written a review on any websites or whatsoever until I came to this trashy restaurant. The experience I had motivated me to sign up for yelp account because this crappy restaurant's staffs don't seem to care about customers concerns. Stay away from this restaurant if you want good or even a decent customer service. Their staffs are unwelcoming, unfriendly, rude, and really need training on customer service. This restaurant doesn't even deserve a one star! We came on a Tuesday night, and the place was packed. The hostess estimated our wait time to be 20 mins and suggested to grab drinks at the bar. Despite the crowd, we were able to find 2 seats, and my friend and I waited...and waited... and waited to be served. Unfortunately, we never got served, since the bartenders only seem to focus on one side of the bar! Our names were called to the table. We waited again for the server to take our orders. The staffs seem to care more about chatting with other than attending to customers needs!!! I lost my patience, I finally walked up to the server and ask if anybody would take our order. They said they're really busy and they'll come to our table. Went back to our table, but no sever attended to us. The service was so horrible beyond words that my friend and I eventually walked out. As we did, the hostess saw us and never bothered to find out why. I went back to tell her the situation, and she didn't seem too concerned. Don't waste your time coming here. There's a restaurant nearby named Postcards and you'll be greeted with pleasant and attentive staffs. Food was excellent too!
(1)
Andy J.

Stopped here to have Mai Tai's. There were tasty and strong - one of the best we had on either Kauai or Oahu. Also tried the ahi tuna and ono. The wife and I are not the raw fish type but decided to step out of our comfort zone. Mmmm - very tasty!!! Friendly staff too.
(4)
LJ G.

I wanted to give 3 1/2 stars, but yelp doesn't seem to let me. Fun, islandy decor and vibe. The mai tai's were really good. My dinner, shrimp, was very good but my husband's Ono did not taste fresh. The live music was great. I think the best thing about this place is that we were all seated together as there aren't many tables, so you end up meeting lots of people and it's a night of fun! If you want an intimate evening with your sweetie, don't go here!
(4)
Young Hi R.

My husband and I came here around 5pm and it was nice and quiet. They had Hawaiian music playing, the atmosphere was comfortable and cozy. We ordered a mai tai and it was DELICIOUS! We had just had mai tais at Kalypso which we thought were pretty good, but they didn't even compare to Tahiti Nui's mai tais. Now that we know the difference, this will be our spot to get mai tais until we leave the island. You have to try one!
(5)
LisaLisa F.

After spending days eating Poke, fish and all types of island fare...it was with great excitement to get PIZZA! A must to order: 1. Da Kine - Kalua Pork and Pineapple. OMG. This was gobbled up very quickly. 2. the All Meat - island sausage, pepperoni, Kalua Pork and ham - I honestly do not know which I loved better. MUST order the baby greens salad w/ gorgonzola, macadamia nuts, tomatoes in balsamic vinegraitte. I could eat this salad everyday. It comes on a small platter and had me almost licking my plate. Reggae music was awesome to listen to as we sat on the front porch with a view of the amazing Kauai mountains and waterfalls. Sorry kiddos...it just doesn't get any better than this! CON: Service sucks. I sat with an empty drink glass for 15 minutes before a different server came over. I noticed they were so busy visiting with each other, the bartender and the locals sitting at the bar that I suppose I should be lucky they graced me with their presence every 15 minutes. crappy service...but the amazing views and outstanding pizza made up for the lack of waitress braincells. Additional Info: Apparently Katy Perry was here for the next three nights partying. I have since heard that if you want to celebrity watch, keep your eyes peeled. They love to come here for the Aloha and anonymity.
(4)
Brent F.

Atmosphere and pizza were both good, but dong expect a gourmet meal here. You should definitely check out their live music while here. I'd be cautious of the Mai Thai's everyone orders. Since we sat at the bar we got a first hand look at what goes in them. For a $8 drink they put in the cheapest rum around, no doubt hangover material.
(3)
Jackie K.

Overall great. Have a Mai Tai--they were the best I had during my trip. The pasta is homemade and is delicious--my husband had the ravioli in a rich sauce. I had an ahi sashimi with sesame seeds. It was very good, a little salty but the fish was fresh and delicious. We also had some salads which were also good. Service was great. It was the only place we ate dinner in in Hanalei but it was great.
(4)
Geoff C.

We decided to check this place out after watching the movie the descendants. This was our favorite bar that we visited on the island, great authentic feel, the performers were fun and the drinks strong. If you get a chance visit on an evening with live music.
(5)
Brooke C.

I really wanted to like this place. I even came here twice to give it a second chance but it fell short again. Night 1: my wife and I came by for Mai Tais and dinner. We had to sit at the bar because it was packed. Mai Tais were good but didn't pack much of a punch. We ordered the scallops and shrimp. Both were really good but were about $23-$25 per plate. Our experience disintegrated when we were trying to leave. The bartender who was serving us kind of ignored us throughout the night but we figured it's a busy place so we would give her the benefit of the doubt. She asked us if we needed anything else and we told her we were all set, assuming she'd bring us the check. We were wrong. 15 minutes later I had to ask her for the check & 30 minutes later we finally got it, after tallying up what we owed and standing up ready to just leave the money and go. When she saw us stand up she said our check was coming up and gave it to us a few minutes later. Mind you, it takes less than one minute for them to write up the check on a piece of paper! Apparently we didn't learn our lesson. Night 2: We came back again for Mai Tais and appetizers. At first service was great but then when the middle aged blonde started serving us again (woman from the night before) things went downhill! She barely spoke to us while interacting with the tables around us. I had to ask her if we could order food before she dropped off our drinks and left and she replied with a rude, "yeah, sure" as if I was inconveniencing her. At the end of the meal, after her ignoring us twice when it was clear we were ready to leave I asked for the check and got a cold "sure." During this time she was going to other tables talking to them and asking what else they'd like. We again had to wait another 20 minutes before I actually got the check! I don't know if they just don't like tourists, or don't like gays but either way I will never come back here again. Blondie ruined it for me! I agree with a previous post exactly: she is "disgustingly rude."
(1)
Cheri. A G.

This place had a bit of a reputation years ago so I never came here but those days are long gone. It's still a local hangout with a few tourist mixed in. They have entertainment in the evening. Last night in the early evening was Hawaiian music but later they were going to have IIRC a classic rock band in. I actually came in twice...once in the afternoon and Julia was the bartender. She was very nice and helpful. In the evening the place was beginning to get busy and the music was good. Oh...the Mai Tai's are a must do. One local was there both times...I don't think he ever left. There seems to be a couple people that make things and sells them out on the patio. OH yeah I forgot...watch the Superbowl because they are is going to be doing a piece about one of the players that use to play for Miami and they did some taping of the Tahiti Nui and their staff. Wait there is more...Apparently Senator Feinstein likes this place too yelp.com/biz_photos/jzLvâ€¦ :)
(4)
Aaron K.

it's nice, family owned, from the Descendants, an experience to see it in person. But I couldn't help but feel a bit like it's a lot like a small town dive bar. The food was ok, the ono fish was good, but the pizza was terrible (yes, we should have known better). We came on a day that was supposed to have live music, but didn't - that probably cost them the 3rd star..but even with it - I felt I could find better. People say there aren't many choices on Kauai, but I disagree...we ate well there, and this was probably our most sub-par meal.
(2)
Edwin M.

Tahiti Nui has been a hole in the wall favorite with locals as well as those tourists in the know. The bar scene in the recent Clooney film The Descendants was filmed here using many of the regulars as extras. Hollywood has unfortunately attracted people who miss the point of Tahiti Nui. The low key feel to the place where everybody knows your name (or at least your favorite drink). Don't complain if they're slammed and it takes a while for someone to take your order as the whole point of being here is to relax and get rid of stress. Try the ahi carpaccio and the pizza - both extremely delicious! Buy Richard a Corona if you have a chance.
(5)
Amanda R.

Unfortunately, or fortunately for us, they were so rude here we never got a chance to eat or drink. We walked through the door to a bustling place only to be confronted by the bartender? She said, I hope you don't want to eat, cuz we're not serving food and it's Luau night. Uhh, ok, as I scratch my head and look around me at all the people eating food. She told us in rapid succession the names of other places where we could get food. We turned and walked out to cross the street. She followed us out and said we had to move our car because "it's gonna get crazy in here and there's already a shortage of parking" for her "paying customers." Needless to say, TWO full hours later when we drove by on our way out of town there was still only one lonely vehicle parked at the restaurant. We had 9 days more to eat and drink all over Kauai and guess where we didn't try to go back to.
(1)
Cori C.

I'm sad to say that after tonight's visit, I have to agree with a lot of the reviews on here... We stood in the doorway for a few minutes before anyone even acknowledged us. Then when the host came over he said "do you know how this works now?" Then tried to squeeze us into a booth inside. It was dark, a bit smelly and not of interest. I asked to be put on the porch. He said that the one table was reserved for parties of three or "if we were planning on staying while." Also, two staff members asked us specifically if we were there for dinner and drinks. They were out of Ono and ahi by 5 pm. The drinks came after a table whose drink order was placed a good 7-10 minutes after us. Then my salad arrived later than the pizza and was consisted no more than a pile of non rippened tomatoes with some greens on the bottom. It was supposed to have mozzarella...still looking for that item. Not worth the price for what was served. Pizzas are a bit over priced but getting the bill was sure fast. Inside leaves a bit to be desired. Uneven walkways and an inside in need of a makeover.
(2)
Seema M.

A few things we loved about Tahiti Nui: - Open later than other places (still busy around 11pm!) - Not rip off tourist price - Good mai tais - Bar staff were quick - Local vibe - Live music The bar isn't the nicest looking but there are not many options in the evening in Kauai. We haven't eaten here but the food doesn't look great. I would stick with cocktails and beer!
(4)
Kristin P.

I almost don't want to write a review because it seems like such an un-Tahiti Nui thing to do, but I have to, if only so other foodie tourists can enjoy the place like we did. Super local joint-- if you're here on a night with a good band, you're going to feel like you're in someone's living room. Everyone knows each other, everyone's talking about the baby shower they're going to next weekend, its really like a family. And for a lunch and a dinner, we felt part of it. The Mai-Tais here have got to be the best on the island, hands down. Really really good. The food is also some of the best we had. Lunch menu is much smaller than dinner but the Ono roll and the Ahi sandwich were both super good. I believe I said I wanted to "make love" to my plate of french fries (hey, we'd just been at a surf lesson, we were hungry!). Dinner menu is a lot more ambitious. We were lucky to be there on a night they served the Mong Chong (yellow snapper) with coconut curry. Damn that dish was good. Ribs were also delicious, although a little meatier/chewier than some ribs I've had. We spent a whole night there, eating and drinking at the bar, enjoying some live Hawaiian music. After hanging out at Tahiti Nui for a while, you begin to understand why people move to Kauai :)
(5)
Nicole S.

If you're going to have hawaiian pizza in Kauai, this is the place to have it. The chucks of ham and sweet pineappke combo is flawless.
(3)
Rahul D.

Best Mai Tai we had at Kauai!
(4)
Cricket M.

This place contributed to an overall AMAZING Kauai experience - the live music is sweet and the Mai Tais even sweeter :-)
(4)
Thomas B.

Best meal in Hawaii, hands down. Who would have known? Looks kind of dumpy! Holy cow perfect. Macadamia crusted fish had real macadamia nuts on it. The BBQ shrimp whole shrimp but pealed. I'd come back (to Hawaii) just for the meal but music was wonderful too.
(5)
Rebecca J.

We had a relatively early dinner and sat outside. We got there at 5ish and by the time we were done, there was a wait for a table. Service was decent - not awesome by any means but consistent with the more laid back atmosphere. Portions were huge! We should have split a salad and an entree. We had way too much food. The salads and both entrees were delicious. The live music was great and really gave us a dose of Hawaiian experience. All-in-all, a wonderful experience and we'd go back for sure.
(5)
Pam A.

SLOW...but great mai tai....unique pizza, pretty good food. Just expect to not go anywhere quick..its slow for Hawaii time. But a great place to hang and drink...if you cannot chill, don't go..
(3)
Billy C.

Pretty much the only dive bar this side of the island. Local flavor, great drinks, and interesting people. This is one of those places that doesn't necessarily cater to the uppity tourist type. If you show attitude, your service will be poor. Deliberately and deservedly. A clear message not to come back. There are plenty of hoity-toity places around Hanalei that will coddle to your every need. If you want an authentic Hawaiian experience, where things run on island time and you can relax over a couple of drinks and enjoy the music before the food shows up, where the waitress might be delayed for ten minutes because she was asked by the musicians to dance a hula, where a look right in the eye and a big island smile gives you the best service and strongest drinks, then come to the Nui. And tip big!
(4)
Nic G.

If your not a stuck up ass this place rocks da socks.such a good atmosphere and loads of true aloha spirit.the father and daughter team that own and run this place are super cool, a round on the house on vacation, that's never happens but it did here. All the negative reviews are from folks who shouldn't have been there in the first place. If your looking for a locals experience because your all inclusive resort is boring stay away, this place is not for you. But if your already a chill person who can hang out and not be a punk then by all means go to this place get a table before dinner starts,about 430pm, and hang out with some good folks.just don't be a loud jackass and leave the flower shirts in the suitcase.Aloha!
(5)
Danny W.

Went here with my family after a full day of hiking, so we were pretty hungry. The hostess seats us in the back, where there are two empty tables. The front of the restaurant looks pretty busy, and there is a live band playing. After waiting about 10 minutes, my dad goes up to ask if we're getting a waitress or not. The hostess, who appears to be intoxicated, assures him that someone will be there soon. Ten minutes later, the hostess walks by us heading towards the kitchen, and seems surprised when we tell her nobody has come yet. She takes our drink order, which, seeing the reputation of the mai tais here, we all get one. Ten minutes later, we have seen no drinks, no waitress, or hostess. My dad debates leaving. Finally the mai tais arrive with our waitress, and she takes our order. The mai tais are pretty good, so I guess they have that going for them. I order the squid ink linguine with seafood. After another considerable wait, our food gets to the table. Overall, everyone was pretty happy with their meals. The seafood in my dish was fantastic: scallops, shrimp, ono, clams. The tomato basil sauce was pretty good, but the noodles were pretty forgettable. I was expecting something similar to the squid ink pasta I'd had in Italy last summer - perhaps I was setting the bar too high. Overall, horrendous service, decent food, but considering the high price, poor value. I can not recommend this restaurant - I wouldn't want anyone else to have the same experience we did.
(1)
Toby S.

Drove to Hanalei on our first night on Kaua'i. Wanted to have a bite, a couple of drinks and listen to some live music. Well, at least the live music was good! Malani BIlyeu of the group Kalapana was playing. He's cool! The bar, restaurant? Not so much. The MaiTais were great and priced well. The bartender was a pain in the ass. Slow to recognize us ( or any new customer who sat down for that matter!). Slow to make the drinks. Had kind of an attitude, as if she was being put upon. The place was busy, but not insanely so. So, really? Ordered a pizza, Huli chicken. Came in a reasonable amount of time. When the dude brought it he asked "who ordered the large #3?". We asked "bar-b-qued chicken?". He then said "it's a #3, you have to look at the menu!" Again, really?! Also the damn thing was $23.00! Chicken, BBQ sauce, onion, cilantro! $23.00?! And it was OK, not great, OK! Over all, cool place, nice vibe, good music, shitty service, attitude for no reason and Eh food. We'd go back for music and MaiTai's only. They're lucky scenes from "The Descendents" were filmed there. And, for the record, I don't hate on a place unless it's well deserved.
(2)
Elle B.

This place was a lot of fun. Be sure to go on Weds or Sat (5-8pm) to catch the live music as that made the experience extra worth it. The mai tai was excellent, especially after some really bad ones we had at a nearby luau the night before. We had the fish of the day appetizer which was pretty good if a little boring. The macadamia crusted mahi (they were out of ono) was really enjoyable. The ahi carpaccio was really yummy too, that was probably my favorite dish. The service, unfortunately, was not great, but they looked really understaffed. Our poor server seemed really stressed out. I thought she was going to have a nervous breakdown. Luckily, I care more about food and ambiance and for that I give this place a high five!
(4)
Kimberly M.

Best Mai Tai in Kauai! Julia was friendly...gave good recommendations for things and other restaurants even on the island ...basic good food... Enough said...
(4)
TJ C.

Gotta luv da Nui. Good for drinks, good for fun, good for all kine trouble. Tiki Man pizza makes a stellar combo if ur hungry (& of course a little hammered). This is where the action goes down so don't be the last haole at the party.
(4)
Monique R.

You know - this place is now so disappointing - First time I visited Hanalei - this was the place to be without a doubt - awesome live music - fantastic food and great bar tender - all of that now is gone except the music - and I must say the 2nd time there the great bar tender was there but after going back for the third year in a row - now the service is shit - food is shit - and didn't have the great bar tender - what a BIG change when you lose a good chef. Top location - but unfortunately would only go back for the music and few drinks - better off eating across the road at Kalapyso's. So bummed out cause I used to love this little shack.
(2)
Carrie F.

We had a great dinner here while on Kauai! Hawaiian entertainment and an amazing kalua pork and pineapple pizza! So delicious. We got the barbque chicken pizza too but it couldn't compare to the kalua and pineapple. The favors were so good!
(5)
Neil J.

Went twice during my trip. Staff is friendly and attentive without being annoying. It is a locals as well as tourist type place. Much more relaxed and "real" than say the bar at the St. Regis (where I stayed), as well as much more reasonably priced. Met nice folks there and had a decent meal. I had the prosciutto and mozerella and the catch of the day (ok I've forgotten what that was now!) in a lime reduction sauce with mashed potatoes (choice was fries, mashed or again I forget). Did I mention their drinks are good? LOL. Anyway the prosciutto and mozerella was good and the fish and mash were alright. But I think what is keeping me from 4 stars here is that combination. Some vegetables or just about ANYthing but mashed potatos (or fried or the other lame starch choices) would have taken me to 4 stars for them. They're close regardless. The live music was OK if you like hawaiian music with the local band doing some covers of other popular tunes. On this point I'd take the jazz ensembles at the St. Regis over the acts here but again it really was all good.....and I had MUCH more fun here than at the St. Regis. Just lose the mashed potato side dish guys....or give us more options.... I WILL stop in again when in Kauai next. That is the real test of a place isn't it?
(3)
Eric C.

High ratings on Yelp, so we came here for dinner. Almost went somewhere else because it seemed to have too lively an atmosphere for us. I guess I was hungry because the live band sounded too loud (I hardly ever complain about music volume). But once the food arrived after a long long wait, I was enjoying the band. Ordered the macademia nut crusted ono and the butterfish. Simply delicious! If only they had better waitstaff.... (long wait to get seated, get menus, and deliver food), but our food was extremely delicious!
(4)
Rob C.

Awesome Mac nut crusted Mahi with coco sauce and mash potato. The tuna carpaccio is killer! Nice mai tai to top it off. One of the best spots we ate at while in Kauai.
(4)
Ahonui B.

This place has seriously blown up since The Descendants! I hadn't been here in a while, but came here a few times with friends from the mainland a few weeks ago. And not much has changed, which is a great thing! It's still the same old little small town bar it always has been! I'd had the pizza a few times before. It's Tiki Man pizza, the one & the same, and it's always fantastic. My favorite remains the Spicy Hawaiian or something with ham, pineapple, and jalapeno. The fact that I'm willing to eat this, despite eschewing any other pizza dubbed "Hawaiian" because of the addition of pineapple speaks volumes. I'd never had anything else, but over the course of a week, sampled the ribs (very tasty, but there was a hint of nutmeg, or perhaps cinnamon? in the sauce which would have been great in a spicier rub, but in the mild version here, was a tad out of place.); the local prawns (fantastic); the rib-eye (heavenly) and heard a lot about the lamb (also divine). FYI, they also own & operate the Iti Wine Bar, next door. Had never been, or even heard of it, but it was also fantastic! Completely different vibe, but the same food. The price is about $25-$30. I opted for the $$$, or $30-60, figuring you guys would be pleased to discover this includes (for most of us) an entrÃ©e and a drink or two.
(4)
Joy S.

The Mai Tai's are super yummy. The Macademia Nut crusted Ono is to die for!!! Do yourself a favor and order it omg loved it!!! If you are looking for a rustic Hanalei Bay bar then this is your JAM!
(4)
Jevon H.

The place is garbage. It's dirty, waitresses are unfriendly with an attitude, while service is super slow. My friends and I waited for 30 minutes and still couldn't get a drink. Other than the loud live music & occasional hula dance, there's nothing in this place worth paying for. Even as my friends & I decided to walk out, the staff simply ignored us. This is by far worst restaurant in Kauai!
(1)
Steve B.

"$50 for large pizza, garden salad, and 4 sodas. Pizza was good but not $50 good. Felt like I was ripped off. Ordered water for the table. I guess I will wait forever because it never came. Never again. Ruined otherwise great day."
(2)
Asa R.

Seemed to be filled with an older Princeville crowd vice the "local place" that others mention. We came in during a local band (who seemed to be the bar regulars) and were told "order food or leave, tables are for food not just for drinks". We got a pizza to go, had a few drinks and left. Pizza was good the next day, but service left a lot to be desired. Waitress tried to push her world famous Mai Tais, which looked expensive and watered down and seemed disappointed when we ordered beers instead. Good for the over 60 crowd.
(2)
Chris S.

Man. So far excellent. Just had the Caesar. It was probably the best I've ever had. Split it for two. Tons of garlic n anchovie. Dressed just right. Pizza next.
(4)
Mark S.

Can not come to Kauai without making one....or more stops at Tahiti Nui. Love this place and the food is great. Have had several fish dishes, all very fresh....and my favorite is their pulled pork sandwich. Of course if you are there you must have their mai tais.....this makes the place. We have been going long enough that we have had the pure pleasure of meeting Aunt Louise..the original owner....she was total Royal. I guess that is another reason Tahiti Nui is so special to us.
(4)
Crystal K.

Arrived at 9 pm to find that they wouldn't serve us food because that was the bar. The waitress sent us next door to the restaurant...which was closed...so why did she send us there? We never knew. We stepped into the center section--the wine bar--and the bar tender didn't stop his conversation to help us. Another worker was sitting outside and we were talking out loud about our confusion but he didn't offer us help. We just left. Not that great of an experience in terms of service...we just wanted a straight answer.
(1)
Molly M.

Classic dive bar that welcomed 5 howlies with open arms and a lot of great local tips for beaches! We were there on St. Patricks day and had a ton of fun with pretty much everyone that was on the North side of Kauai, the guys are great bartenders, the woman not so much. Decent priced drinks and great pizza!
(4)
Jamie O.

Best Mai Tai but have them 4 stars for the food. The Ahi was good just a little to much soy which made it a bit salty. Also had a limited menu. But a must to stop by an have a drink
(4)
Christina Y.

If you're in Hanalei this place is a must! Be sure to look at the wall to find the picture of George Clooney when they shot the movie "The Descendents."
(4)
David T.

Don't go here expecting a fancy place, it's a very casual, bar-like atmosphere (which was great, from our point of view.) The seafood was excellent and the service pretty good too. The mai tai's were generous. The only thing I'd point out is that this isn't really a two-dollar sign place, it's more in the three-dollar sign category. Most of the entrees are $25-30.
(4)
Mr C.

Great little place for food and drink! Friendly staff and a great atmosphere to enjoy your lunch or dinner.
(4)
Nick P.

I went solo to catch a groove as I heard it was pretty cool. For a nightlife spot (I didn't eat anything) it was ok. I think I was there kind of late and things were closing up all over Hanalei and the crowd was having fun. This is a Kama'aina so don't be a tourist douche bag.
(3)
Laura H.

I've been here 4 times this week and each time was wonderful! Mai Tai's are the best on the island, and one of the cheapest. We decided to try the pizza today. 1/2 veggie with Kahlua pork, the other half meat and veggie (pepperoni, ham). My husband said it was the best pizza he's ever had (I agree!). We thought we would have to travel 3,000 miles in the easterly direction to find great pizza, but who knew it was here on Kauai! Definitely a destination place to go. We always came here in the afternoon, so I don't know much about the night life other than it was packed every time we went by around dinner. Don't miss this spot, definitely worth the drive no matter where you are on the island.
(4)
Etta H.

Yum yum Kalua Pork & Pineapple Pizza.... The atmosphere is great, food is awesome and the Mai Tais are.... *too* good. I went on a quieter evening to watch my uncle play guitar. I have heard the other live music there is awesome as well! The locals love this place - so if you're looking for something touristy, you might want to steer clear :) Love Tahiti Nui and will always return when I am on Kauai.
(4)
Elissa D.

This was a fun place to start our vacation. We just sat on the porch at night with a couple of drinks (skip the Mai Tai's and go with a beer or a basic cocktail) and enjoyed being on the North Shore in Hanalei. The live music was actually pretty good that night, and the wine bar right next door was pretty good. It was a great place to spend an evening relaxing.
(4)
John G.

Best. Mai. Tai. Ever. (Mai Tai only reveiew - did not have the food).
(5)
Jed B.

Driving around the island and happening on this place was amazing. Met new friends and hung out for some music. My granddaughter loved it. Combo pizza. It's just a fun place. Great people. Didn't want to leave. Oh, don't leave without a mai tai or two...or three...or.....
(4)
T S.

Husband, Hinano & a barstool. Happiness. The fact that I bought the last two pareos from the movie The Descendants was the icing on the Hula Pie!
(4)
Chimene S.

This place was one of our favorites during our stay this week in Kauai. As any of you know who have traveled to this island, good food can be hard to find, not to mention a place that has that Aloha vibe, good cocktails and food AND live music. So when we ate here on the first night of our vacation, we knew we'd be back. We ordered virtually identically both times - absolutely one of the BEST caesar salads ever (sorry, Mom) - super duper garlicky and BIG!! and then a medium pizza with assorted toppings. I'm sure the dinner menu is awesome too but I guess me and hubby are more salad and pizza people. So much so, in fact, we came here for dinner after our 10th anniversary renewal vow ceremony on the beach in Hanalei Bay. Just our style - super mellow island vibe and great food and music and lots of friendly, laid-back locals. Highly, highly recommended!!
(5)
Emily B.

We stopped here for lunch while exploring the North Shore. From other reviews, it sounds like this is the place to be in the evening, but at lunchtime it was DEAD. We were the only ones in the place for the first 15-20 minutes, before a few more people wandered in. I ordered the Kalua Pork sandwich and my husband got the Ahi Burger. I like my sandwich a lot. It was really salty (which I love). My husband thought hisburger was just okay. The waitress seemed somewhat disinterested, but not unpleasant. Overall, it was a very forgettable experience. I wouldn't come back here for lunch, but maybe I would give it another try for dinner when we visit Kauai again! FOOD: So-so LOCATION/AMBIANCE: Convenient location on main road in Hanalei. Stop at Wishing Well shave ice while your in the area. Ambiance was pretty dreary at lunch time. SERVICE: Meh PRICE: Average BOTTOM LINE: Don't come here for lunch, but maybe give it a try for dinner when the live music is going?
(3)
D L.

This place is coasting on the fame they received from being in the Descendants. The food is not good. The menu is limited--5 entree choices and a variety of pizzas. The prices are expensive for what you get. The restaurant is small and crowded. They pack as many people in as possible. The seating is shared tables. The service is slow. The best thing about this place was the music provided by KanakAttack.
(2)
Lesley K.

My husband and I found this hidden gem the last day of our trip. Hands down best Mai Tai ever, went in round 4pm so it was all locals. Bartender was awesome we saw Washington Huskies key chain and talked about Huskie pride WooHoo!! He was so nice our second round was on him. Definitely recommend this spot!!
(5)
Greg B.

The food here was way better than I ever expected. The babyback ribs were fantastic! The Marlin was Outstanding. The mashed potatoes were unbelievable! I almost never take home leftovers but I definitely took the mashed potatoes home. There wasn't any thing left on our plates to take. Service was great and don't forget the MaiTais; wonderful! So much better than anything else on the island.
(5)
Elmer A.

Went here for lunch during trip to Ke'e Beach. The food is outstanding. We went during lunch which had a limited menu. I had the seafood linguine. It had shrimp and ono pieces. The linguine was squid ink linguine so it was black. It may sound gross, but the linguine was so fresh. No way that came from a box. The shrimp was tasty and the ono was cooked to perfection. There portion was huge. My dining partner had the kalua pork sandwich. That was awesome also. Pork was slightly crispy and not dry. No need to sauce it. Hands down one of the best places to eat on the island. The diner menu looked better than the lunch. Service was good but we were the only people in the restaurant at 1:30 pm on a Monday afternoon.
(5)
scott o.

Great atmosphere, terrific music, friendly locals. Food was good, but not great.
(4)
Dawn F.

There was a short wait when we arrived so we sat at the bar to grab drinks. I had the Red Rocker. Delicious! The entertainment was Hawaiian ukelele music and hula dancing -- super fun! I will say our waitress was not very attentive -- and this was a small restaurant. She also didn't know much about the menu ingredients when I asked some questions about items that may have dairy. I ended up ordering the garden salad with shrimp. It was mediocre. A bit disappointed as this restaurant was recommended by my roommate's friend.
(3)
Jennifer L.

My then-boyfriend suggested this place and I was up for whatevers (I was just hungry!) so off we went. :) We arrived at Tahiti Nui for dinner and I was surprised by the loud music and "bar/lounge-y" feel of the place. Very casual and not what I was expecting, but it's cool. I think it's more a place to come and eat and listen to music versus have an actual conversation with your companions. We weren't sure if it was a seat yourself or what or if we order at the counter...we eventually figured out to grab our own table (thankfully someone just left) and found our own menus. Someone took forever to come around with waters, much less to check if we wanted to order. (The boy actually went up and asked if we order up there and they told us they'd come get our order so we waited for them.) I found out that my menu lacked several items that the boy's menu had! I was like "WTF" because clearly they had both new and outdated menus. Uncool. We shared the macadamia nut crusted ono (fish) and the butterfish with a creamy sauce. They were both very good but I didn't like the smell that emanated from them. It kind of gave off a very fishy smell that I had to ignore in order to keep my appetite. (Yes I know it's weird I disliked the smell but liked the food.) It was an incredibly long wait for the food after ordering...to the point where I was getting antsy and irritated (I usually am pretty understanding of food service/retail waits because I've done the retail stuff...I know shit goes on behind the scenes and I'm okay with being understanding of that but honestly, sometimes all I need is a reassurance of "Yes its coming, thank you for waiting." It's customer consideration.). It really didn't help at all that BOTH of us were starving... While the food is 3 stars, I rate it 2 for the customer service.
(2)
Angelina L.

Definitely a locals spot..... We went here 2 nights of our stay in Kauai, mainly because it was open late. The first night was GREAT. There was a well known reggae band that was playing, had a good vibe with the crowd and we danced the night away. Drinks were good and no, they didn't know how to make a Washington Apple either. Service was good. My girlfriend got picked up on by one of the locals that had no teeth and was drunk as a skunk and we all laughed about it. Overall a good time. The second night was a little different.. Still an ok time, but not as fun and a completely different vibe. Complaints: First, the live entertainment was offish with the crowd Second, I was backed up against a table to take pictures and got yelled at not to sit on the table, even though no one was at that table or any of the nearby ones. Third, one of the girls flip flops came off when she was dancing and she was yelled at to put her shoes back on. The bartender was still ok, but overall the vibe was just not as fun. Think it all depends on the music and the night. Even still with the mixed experiences, I would suggest checking this place out just to get a taste of the local flavor and the history of this long term diner that the married couple, a United States Air Force Lt. Colonel and a native of Tubuai (Austral Islands, French Polynesia) which is just south of Tahiti, started a long time ago and which is now ran by their son.
(3)
Denni S.

Place was great! We received awesome service. Food was delish - I had the Ahi Sandwich for lunch. Everything everyone is saying about their Mai Tai's - it's true. What are you waiting for? Go get one!!
(4)
Paul C.

Back in the day this was a grass hut. The geckos were all over the place. Great place to hang with locals and have a drink and hear some music. Been back twice since they renovated - nice place - good menu - still pretty "local" - too bad though - the old place was a treasure.
(4)
Lenny G.

Mai Tais were good, food was surprisingly good for hole in wall. Bands were great, the first one was good and the second was better, great joint overall! Would def recommend.
(4)
Eliza G.

Just got back from this local bar. Amazing place. The service is so friendly, which unfortunately, is not the norm on this island. Service was great. The Mai Tais, while touted as the best, were okay...not the best....but the appetizers were fantastic! We had the panko encrusted ono with wasabi/soy sauce that was probably the best food I have had since I got here (except for the burgers at Duane Ono's). Not as pricey as most places in Hanalei, still up there but worth every penny. Locals are a hoot! Spent 20 minutes talking with some in the parking lot and had one of the nicest friendliest conversations since I got here. Will come back again and again and again.
(5)
Xeekster d.

Luau. Fun fun fun. Entertainment 5*. Food 4*. Drinks 4*. Joy ... 10.
(5)
Chris H.

Food service is definitely on island time but service was decent. We only ate here for lunch after surfing but was glad that we did. Decent beer and ordered the Ono Roll. My boyfriend said this was one his favorite eats while were on the island.
(4)
Kristina W.

This place has it all! Amazing food (Great portions), live music, improv hula dancing, outdoor seating, and accommodating staff. Order the Jumbo Scallops with Orange Basil Reducation! You will not be disappointed. Comes with 6 jumbo scallops, huge bed of homemade creamy mashed potatoes. Scallops are seasoned perfectly with what looks like garlic, chives, and tomatoes. Evidently there is basil in this as well (According to the name of the dish), but the taste is so subtle, you can't even taste the basil or orange. Warning - the sauce is super creamy so if you're not into rich, creamy dishes, this one is not for you. Paired with a glass of Pinot Grigio = perfection! Also tried the garlic shrimp. This is not a dis, but this one tasted just like the garlic shrimp at Macky's shrimp truck. The garlic shrimp was perfectly cooked with just the right amount of garlic. The portions are generous with about 16 shrimps covered in garlic butter sauce. Can't go wrong!
(5)
Samantha N.

After reading all the reviews my family and I decided to over look the few bad reviews and give this place a try. We ordered the macadamia crusted Ono, chicken marsala, the special and a salad. None of them were good. I was expecting a lot from the Ono since a lot of people raved about it... But it was over-cooked and tasteless... Not what I was expecting from a $30 plate. The Mai thais were ok too it wasn't particularly tasty nor were they anything special. :( The only enjoyable part of eating here was the singer that night... I forgot his name but he was part of a group named hapa. Maybe the chef wasn't on top of his/her game that night.. But I doubt I'll come back on my next trip to kauai
(2)
Christine H.

It's definitely a dive bar, so you seat yourself if seats are available. There is no waiting list for seats, so you just have to make yourself known to the one waitress working the entire restaurant. Because of this, expect service to be slooooow. It took 45 minutes to get our mac-crusted ono, and the passion fruit iced tea was more sugar than tea. The pizzas that other tables ordered looked decent, but maybe not for $25 each. It definitely was not worth the $80 we paid for 2 lackluster entrees and 2 so-so drinks.
(2)
Heather P.

Great for a drink and a laugh! Good times!
(5)
Jennifer W.

My husband and I went here almost every night while in Hanalei. Every night is different, from Dj's, to live music, to karaoke. We enjoyed every night there. Always a nice crowd and its a good mix of tourists and locals, so there's always interesting people to meet.
(4)
Robert W.

Very disappointed in just how the place was being operated. We were given our menus and eventually ordered drinks. Once our drinks arrived, we went to order. They told us at this point pizza was not an option, or a large portion of the menu. One in our group ordered an item, they were out of that too. Once we agreed on our food selections, our order was placed. Approximately 30 minutes later, the same guy was told that they were out of what he ordered. He was now 0 for 3. We debated leaving at that point, but opted to stay due to a diabetic concern and needing food ASAP. When the food finally arrived, it was good, but everyone was frustrated by this point.
(3)
Maggie L.

Went here for lunch after a long morning of snorkeling at Tunnels Beach. We ordered their daily seafood specials which were delicious and they served Best Mai Tais we've had in Kauai! and i tried a lot of Mai tais on this trip :) a lot.
(4)
Forrest S.

Being broke and faced with the option of either food or alcohol on St. Patrick's day, I did what any self respecting person of Irish descent would do, and went with option B. Tahiti Nui is a very casual, laid back bar where you can come and listen to some good live music, and mingle with both tourists and locals. On St. Patty's day this place was rockin' with a band and 40 or so people all sharing a 30 by 30 space. Until the emergency relief showed up, there was only one brave bartender, who somehow managed to keep the drinks flowing for all the intoxicated patrons celebrating everyones favorite ethnic drinking holiday. That woman seriously deserved a medal, as her and the relief help that showed up were in the zone! The drinks are strong, the music is great and the make a pretty killer mai tai, so if you ever happen to find yourself in the area, stop on by.
(4)
H H.

For an authentic "tiki" experience, in a dive bar setting, check this place out! We came in for drinks and after 4 rounds, decided to stay for dinner. The Mai Tais are really good, made from their "secret" recipe. Maybe a little on the sugary side but if you like the Mai Tai I can't imagine that you'd be looking for anything else than what they serve here! The food comes in HUGE portions! I mean HUGE! Definitely plates that two people can share. Between 4 of us we shared 3 meals and a salad and were so stuffed we could hardly pull ourselves off the bar stools. I hear they have live music here nightly but we didn't stay for that. I also heard they have karaoke on Monday's. That sounds fun!
(5)
Jane M.

Fun place for Mai Tia's and music, but not pizza. Don't do it. It was sadly burnt and expensive-$25 for a medium. People near us who order lamb chops loved them.
(3)
Bob W.

Went to the Wed night Luau - had a great time! It's a bit expensive but it was also the best food we had the entire trip.
(4)
Ines C.

Awesome time! The best Mai Tai's on the island. We had them everywhere we went. Wanted to go to the night live music even but didn't make it. Otherwise the only thing is is that they stop serving lunch at some point... so we just had drinks and went to eat elsewhere.
(5)
Marcie C.

Best thing we did! Keli'i Kaneali'i is a world famous Hawaiian musician and we got to be 3 feet from him the whole night! He has the most amazing voice and gives such an emotional performance. Keli'i is such a friendly person. He signed a book for us (the Obama Hawaii book where he plays on the accompanied CD). He has signed many CDs for me in the past. He also sat with us during his break and let us take photos with him. Can't wait to hear him again! The food here is surprisingly good! I had the creamy wasabi ahi with mashed potatoes. The passion fruit margarita was mighty tasty.
(5)
Aimee R.

Love this place! We went here twice during our Kauai vacation and had a great time there. Mai tais are the best here. Staff is very surly/slow/confused so be prepared, but it's worth the effort. As a vegan/vegetarian i found very little on the menu, so went with the garden salad and asked for a side of mashed potatoes. Very surprisingly, the mashed potatoes were some of the best i've had, and the salad was huge and generous and really good as well. Boyfriend had Ahi and really liked it as well. We were not expecting the food to be good here, so were pleasantly surprised. Entertainment and ambiance are perfect if you are looking for a super casual and laid back, fun vibe. Definitely add this bar to your itinerary for a mai tai some evening.
(5)
David T.

Food was good, but the service was lacking.
(4)
Amy L.

I love dives and this is certainly one. We went on a Thursday night and there was live music, the Mai Tais are AWESOME and loved the Hanalei pizza!!! MUST GO HERE.
(5)
Michelle S.

Had the best pizza! Had to wait a while but def worth the wait.
(5)
Adrian Z.

Went there early (4:30pm ish?) so we almost had the place to ourselves which was cool. Just finished our 4 miler on the Trail, so we were ready for Mai Tais. Very tasty! Drinking them on that lettle porch area was nice too. Great view of the mountains to the south. Didn't try the food, was there just for the Mai Tais. I miss this place, now that I'm back home :-(
(5)
Tina C.

This place totally rocks !!! Best Mai tais Rockin live music !!!
(5)
Chris R.

Waited 45 minutes for a slice of pizza and gave up....don't waste your time.
(1)
Scarlet H.

Came here for lunch. Food was ok. Pork sandwich was too salty. Seafood Linguini's tomato sauce was too overwhelming but there was a good amount of fish and shrimp in it.
(3)
Emily G.

Fun place to grab a beer after the beach. Live music.
(4)
Christine J.

We dropped in just for drinks and appetizers and really didn't understand the hype. The service was ok and the waitress friendly. However, my fruity drink was small and had very very little alcohol to be sure. My husband got a mai tai that was just ok. The waitress said they had great seafood but I found their menu to be very limited and very very expensive! We ended up heading to Dolphin to get a good fill of sushi. This place was just a bit disappointing.
(3)
Arizona T.

Not the friendliest people and overpriced drinks. Pizza took 60 mins!!!
(2)
Eric N.

We had the pork sandwich for lunch. They slow cook the pork and the bbq sauce it goes with was tangy and delicious.
(4)
Jessica M.

While the food tasted fine and live Hawaiian music entertaining, it took at least an hour to get our food and the order wasn't right. The server had suggested grilled fish with sauce on the side for our dairy and egg allergic son. We agreed. When delivered it had been battered and fried. With eggs, of course. I think our waitress may have been at least a little tipsy.
(2)
Tim C.

Wife and I were here in early September. Came for dinner and it was really good. The macadamia nut encrusted placko and the fish/chips were very large portions which we enjoyed. The drinks were well made but most of all we appreciated that it was very laid back. Will be coming back!
(4)
Chris D.

Came here a few nights in a row for drinks after dinner. Same crowd every night. Same two "Bar Rats." Tourist throughput must be high, as the waitresses seemed irritated by questions such as, "Where is the restroom?" Bartender was cool. Pizza was pretty good and drinks were cheap. Live band each night we went. The old local guys were cool. The small-man band was not. Basically, the only bar we could find on NS Kauai. Also, some scenes from The Descendants were filmed here.
(3)
Alejandro R.

the food was plain and the bill way to much, we would never go again to this place.
(1)
Danielle W.

Had the Mai Tai and it lived up to it's reputation! About 1/2 the price of every other Mai Tai on the island and twice as delcious. The carpaccio was amazing! The Ono was Ono, but the coconut cream and mashed potatoes were to die for!! Dive atmosphere, live music, what's not to love. FYI - kitchen closes at 9pm (which as we found out means no more food orders after 8:45).
(5)
Amanda A.

BEST food on the island! The amazing macadamia nut, panko-crusted ono with cilantro lime sauce was the best I have ever had. Yummo! You must try. The chef makes the most amazing food. YOU HAVE TO GO HERE!!! Pizza is da bomb!!
(5)
Joseph A.

Any haters here are stupid! This place is awesome! Best Mai tais ever! Forget everything else just get the margarita pizza! Go when there is live music... The later the better from what we can tell. We are here now as I write this listening to fantastic reggae and sitting across from one of the actors from Tim and Eric (Shrimmmmmm)..?!? This is great, don't miss out!
(5)
Craig M.

Great place for dinner and drinks. I wouldn't recommend if for big groups though because its a small place. The live music was great and my entree of fish was the best fish I have ever eaten. Their Mai Thais were also really good.
(5)
Sarah H.

I'd give 10 stars if possible. Thursday and Friday nights they have food, however all nights they have pizza available. I had their food on a Thursday night and it was AWESOME. I had ribs, and coconut shrimp, and king crab legs. SOOOO GOOOD I personally found their Mai Tai's to be rather average, but the local bands and friendly staff make this bar a must!
(5)
Megan H.

This place was so great we went 3 times during our 1.5 week visit to the North Shore!! The vibes are very chill---not touristy at all. There is live entertainment every night, and the food is good and reasonably priced. To top it all off they had the best Mai Thai we had on the island!! Very strong...not too sweet. Perfection! If you go, you simply must try it. The only reason I am giving them 4 stars is the service. The server we had the first two times was pretty impatient (borderline rude). The server we had the third time was super nice, but not very attentive. Don't let the less-than-perfect service sway you. This place is pretty rad. If you are in the neighborhood, definitely give it a try!
(4)
D N.

The prices were great I spent under $12 for 2 drinks including tip. We got the recommended Mai Tai and the local gold hawaiian beer. It was good and all that jazz but everyone was right about the service. Though the bar wasn't crowded and she spotted us immediately after we sat down and gave us some napkins for drinks, she didnt take our order right away. When we looked at the menu, we didnt even want to consider eating there. The dinner menu was at least $15-20 min. for an entree. We saw that and thought, 'For a bar? forget it.' We went across the street to Hanalei Gourment for food. Entrees start at $10 there.
(3)
Shawn C.

If we lived here we would have our own Parking space we would be here so often! The pizzas were great and the passion fruit margarita is very worth going back for...many times!!
(5)
Andrew S.

Some friend and I went there. It was so low life they wouldnt even drink a glass of water! My wife would not even go inside. Sketchy. But it was the only game in town at that time.
(1)
Monique C.

It is what is is..pretty divey. Looks like a lot of fights & rowdyness~ Went in for 1 drink and left before things got crazy. The bar was full of 2nd hand smoke from outside..yuck! Prob. wouldn't go back unless...well na prob wouldn't go back..
(2)
Lindsay C.

Sooo driving up to the place, you are convinced you will definitely get food poisoning from it. No worries, you wont! We ate here multiple times (mostly for the unbelievable MANGO CHEESECAKE) Food was great, live music, and the soft, tangy yummy mangos that covered that cheesecake. OMGoodness it was so good it sold out all the time, so we had our server hold it for us before dinner! Fantastic place to get a great Hawaiian meal, in an authentic atmosphere.
(5)
L H.

If you are looking for a late night hangout to drink and listen to come live music this place is okay. But go after you've eaten dinner. The food here was subpar and seemed as expensive as many of the other restaurants in town.
(2)
Patti a.

Fantastic food and alot of fun. Actually mine was fantastic, their daily special, monchong fish. Had never heard of it before, it was great. Husband had the ono, it was overcooked, but the show and the atmosphere was fun. Would definitely return.
(5)
Stephanie H.

A good solid Mai Tai on Kauai is very hard to find but my wait was over when I stepped Tahiti Nui. You immediatly feel the history that echos all around you. This bar was in the movie the Descendants and you see a lot of tourists here that that photos of everything even the photos on the wall. It cracks me up when you see a person taking a photo of a photo. Its a little bit crazy but then I had to take a picture of a woman in a mumu taking a picture of a photo on the wall best souvenier ever, makes me laugh everytime. So if you can stand the tourists this bar rocks and the bartender has pure magical hands with mixing drinks.They also have a beer that is very hard to find anywhere and it is called Hinano it is a Tahitian beer that is full of flavor and a must try. I had the hamburger and my husband has the pork sandwhich the food is really good. So take a seat and relax and order a Mai Tai and be taken away by true paradise and have one or two for me.
(5)
Melissa E.

Food was good, server was less than friendly. We live on Kauai and appreciate good service and good food. The server was not friendly and certainly did not have the aloha spirit. Not sure I want to go back there and bother him again...
(3)
Cynthia D.

This is a fun little spot to grab a drink and eat at.The atmosphere is funky Polynesian dive. Nice friendly waitress. Really good mai tai. It was fun to watch people walk in and take a snap shot of where George Clooney was and then they walked out. I haven't seen the movie, but apparently the Descendants was filmed here. Good pizza -Hawaiian and Huli Huli chicken.
(3)
W Q.

Live music was amazing. The ribs are to die for, it's delicioius and one of my top 3 places to eat ribs anywhere. The service?! What service. Fire the blonde waitress please. She is disgustingly rude. hawwwaii.com/Tahiti%20Nuâ€¦
(1)
Pebble L.

Too bad the pizza is good... The service is horrible, service with an attitude but perhaps that is their schtik - it is a dive after all. Was with a group of 13. All who had the pizzas were satisfied. Others had mahi, it was overcooked and dry. They were not willing to accommodate separate bar tabs while all other restos on the island had no problem doing so. In all fairness, we visited during the daytime, so perhaps they were up too early. I am sure the atmosphere is perfect for the late night drinkers.
(2)
Mighty M.

My bf and I went to vacation in Kauai and we fell in love with Hanalei. Well, part of the reason is because of this little gem! The food is mad good and the view is pretty nice with the fog coming in over the mountains! Ahhh how I wish I was still there!
(5)
Stephen E.

Went here for pizza and Mai Tais and were not disappointed. My wife and I shared a medium spicy Hawaiin / "combo" split as well as a salad. Sharing both was more than enough food. Loved the spicy Hawaiian, but the combo was too oniony/garlicky for my taste, and I like both. The waitress was nice and relatively attentive, but stretched too thin as she was the only server. Still, a fun atmosphere and ambience.
(4)
John M.

Honestly, it is a bit divey. Service is not their forte. I would almost say 'anti-service' is their forte. lol But, ever since they got famous from being in a recent Hollywood movie the place is over-run with tourists (and tour buses) and you get the idea that they just 'don't NEED your business'. If you're really hungry or in a hurry, go somewhere else. But, if you want some local island flavor and like a good-ole dive bar with character this place is it. After we made it through 'the hazing period', we were treated very well and enjoyed our food. :-) I will say, they were very busy when we arrived and all the staff were working hard to keep up with the full house. Ahi sandwich was really good. The cook knows what he is doing. Also, bartender told me their Mai-Tais are "world famous" and I have to agree it was fantastic!!!! My four stars reflects the quality of food and mai-tais, otherwise the service and cleanliness would probably drop it to a 2 (but then again, I am not a stranger to dive bars, lol). I noticed they have live music in the evenings and heard they have a good Luau. So there are probably a lot of other things about Tahiti Nui that are worth checking out. Beware - tour bus operators stop here for lunch around 1 pm = busy time.
(4)
Ally G.

Loved this place! Dive bar casual atmosphere, great food, just a fun relaxed place. After a $20 cocktail at st. Regis we loved finding a fun, locals hang out w/ a delicious Mai tai for $7!
(5)
Mary P.

I can't speak of the food because the staff was so rude we didn't even stay.
(1)
Vy L.

The only option in Hanalei that stays open past 10PM. It's a classic tiki bar with live music. All the local characters hang out here.
(3)
Amy D.

Ono with cilantro sauce = amazing!
(5)
Deirdra S.

We had the Macadamia Nut Panko Crusted Ono with Coconut Cilantro Lime Sauce and the Seared Ahi with Creamy Wasabi Sauce. The seared Ahi left something to desire. It was not seared (I'm guessing the chef did not know how to sear or was afraid to get the pan hot enough. The sauce was disappointing because I ordered it thinking I would be able to taste the wasabi kick. No kick to be found :( You also get a choice of mash potatoes, french fries, or rice. Now if it was my restaurant I would only give you fish with rice or vegetables. Maybe it's because a lot of old folks go there? On the other hand the Ono was way above awesome. The coconut cilantro lime sauce was excellent especially with the rice and the macadamia nut panko crust of the fish. I'm not sure how the chef nailed this one but not the simple wasabi sauce and the art of searing for the above dish. The drinks were so-so. we had their 'famous' mai tai Service was good, drinks so-so, and one out of 2 dinners were awesome.
(4)
Kacy M.

I love this place! I recently visited Hanalei and fell in love with Tahiti Nui. This place was recommended to me when I was there. The first night we went I had the ribs which were amazing, the next day we tried the pizza - also amazing and the drinks are delicious as well. They also had live music the first night we went and it was so much fun!! Can't wait to visit again!!! Aloha!!
(5)
Kevin N.

Tahiti Nui is the most chameleon-like bar/restaurant/hangout you'll find anywhere on the planet - let alone Kauai. At turns it is a homey place where everybody knows your name, a chaotic meat market, and a nice place for a family meal. Go figure! But in all cases, it achieves near perfection in its guise of the moment. When it's slow, the lovely Darcelle will give you her sage advice on drink and food selections; when it's rockin', it's best to know what you want and say it fast or resign yourself to standing at the bar waving cash at anyone you can flag down. Regardless you can count on a good pour, surprisingly competent kitchen work and a good time. Just don't expect tomorrow to feel anything like today or yesterday. Nightly entertainment ranges from cool local singer-songwriter to jammin' reggae to 70's and 80's cover bands to karaoke. No rhyme. No reason. But always a little edgy and totally fun! If teetotaling is your thing, stay away. If you like a cocktail or two and have a sense of adventure, you can't do better anywhere on the North Coast!
(5)
Belle C.

The best Mai Tai in Kauai is definitely made here. We ordered: Crusted Ono sashimi & pulled pork sandwich to complement our island meal. The staff is friendly but service was on island time so if you're in a hurry or too hungry, don't go here just yet. Get a snack somewhere then come back. To deduct stars for slow service would be unfair because, in a beautiful island of Kauai, why would you be in a hurry? Just chill out and enjoy your Mai Tai and the amazing mountain view... Soak it in... *island music background
(5)
Alex G.

One of the best "dive bars" I've been to in decades. It's crowded, old, and authentic as hell. The live music - two Hawaiian dudes - was perfect for the vibe, and the whole place put you into a cool, Polynesian state of mind. Cuddling up, we had some great local draught beers - served by a friendly waitress with a great smile - and enjoyed the songs and people watching. But the awesomeness doesn't end there: the food is really good (and we are foodies). The squid ink pasta with fish, scallops and shrimp was perfectly cooked and tossed with a fresh, fragrant tomato sauce - delicious! The ono (local fish) was crusted in macadamia nuts and Japanese bread crumbs and served with a light version of a curry sauce - crisp on the outside and flaky inside; wow! We left when the first duo stopped playing, feeling like we'd had a quintessential island experience. Worth a stop for sure!
(5)
Gila Z.

Best mai tais in the island!! The bar gets a bit crowded but has a great friendly local feel. Love the dive bar vibe and the live music!
(5)
Mark C.

Went to Tahiti Nui two nights on our vacation and had a blast both times. It's a mostly local hang out were you're likely to see the person that served you dinner earlier in the night kicking back after work. It's no frills and no attitudes kinda place where the drinks are strong and they have live music most every night. Come as you are. They're known for their Mai Tai and if you like yours strong and sweet it's definitely for you. It's honestly the only place to be for any action in Hanalei/Princeville after 9:00ish. If any place screams the Kauai lifestyle, it's Tahiti Nui.
(5)
David B.

Fun local dive bar; good pizza; great mai-tais
(5)
Brianna S.

Stupid or scamming? It's hard to say. We visited Tahiti Nui during our stay on Kauai with eight of our friends because this place is famous for their Mai Tais. While the Mai Tais were great I would have to strongly recommend any visitors steer clear of this place. When it came time to pay we received a bill for $230 and change which included 18% gratuity - fair enough. The restaurant only allows you to split the bill 2 ways. So we gathered up $175 cash and asked Julia, the bartender, to put the remaining balance on my debit card - this should have been about $55. Instead, I received a receipt for about $82 and the original bill missing - when we asked the waitress about the discrepancy she through her hands up and said "she handles the money" and pointed to Julia. When we confronted her about the issue she tried to tell us that the additional thirty some dollars was for gratuity. We asked for our original receipt and showed her that the original receipt had a subtotal with sales tax, and a grand total of $230 with gratuity. She then got extremely defensive and kept saying it was the computer system that did this and she could not correct the error. After multiple people from our group (a doctor, nurse, marketing executive, and mortgage broker - very bright people) tried to explain to her in the simplest terms possible why this was inaccurate she accused one of our group members of being drunk - totally out of line since he had only one drink. Finally after causing enough of a stink she reluctantly agreed to pay us back the difference in cash - still refusing to admit that we were correct about the error on the bill. I personally have a hard time believing that anyone is really that stupid. I have to think she thought after a couple drinks we would not be alert enough to realize we were being over charged. Some other members of our group felt she really was not bright enough to comprehend that $230 - $175 = $55. My advice if you decide to go - only pay in cash.
(1)
Karen S.

Stopped by for some drinks and stayed for dinner. One warning - if you go for just drinks near dinner time, i think you have to order food or shift tables in the dining area. Not a problem, since we got to try the pizza. The spicy hawaiian was great! The drinks were good (but they were out of the first three beers i ordered - but i was ordering lame mainland beers :)). There was entertainment. They were nice and asked the audience who was celebrating. They invited the couples celebrating anniversaries to come up and dance. Very friendly staff.
(4)
Lyn S.

We just went here for drinks. The Mai Tai's were good, and were 7.50.. but the passion fruit margarita was way to sweet. Service was good, Prices seemed a bit high... May be the average though. All in all a good place to have a mid day drink though!
(4)
Jenny C.

Awww yeah! Who says Kauai shuts down at 9? There's live music and the best mai tais in town, 7 nights a week til 1 a.m. We probably dropped by every other night we were in town. Friendly bartenders, a mix of locals and tourists, old and young, and talented musicians every night. They seem to book mellow acts from 5-8, then something more rocking from 9-1. I miss it already.
(5)
Angela L.

I don't know if I was high off of the beautiful scenery of the North side or buzzed from the Mai Tai but I had a GREAT time here. We had spent our 1st full day exploring the North side. I thoroughly enjoyed the lushness the North side had to offer - the beautiful green mountains covered in passing ominous clouds at times, the toro fields below, the cliffs to my back & beach to my front at Tunnels Beach.....AHHHH.....GORGEOUS!! Okay, I'm back. Like the other reviewer said, it's a dive bar. It's fairy small with table & bar seating. There's also a few tables outside on the patio. It was a Wednesday night and they had entertainment. The place was PACKED so we just sat at the bar. The base of the bar stools were tiki statues. There was a local musician playing the guitar & singing traditional Hawaiian & contemporary songs. His friends & family were there supporting him and two women also performed traditional Hawaiian dancing as he sang. Based on the reviews, they are known for their Mai Tais. I don't really know how Mai Tais are suppose to taste like but they were good w/good blend of sweetness & alcohol. Price wise, it was on the expensive side but I can understand why. We decided on pizza & ordered the combo/special pizza. It was salty but tasty. I guess Hawaiians really like their food salty as overall all the food I had while in Kauai were on the salty side. Anyways, we ate our pizza, drank our Mai Tais, and enjoyed the entertainment. If I had to give a rating, 3 for the food as it was average. 5 for the alcohol, entertainment & atmosphere. It was the combination of the music, the scenery, the alcohol, the people at the restaurant that night that made me give it a 4. I loved Hanalei, it was such a beautiful and peaceful town.
(4)
Dan K.

Painful lunch. It took over an hour to get our food.
(1)
Sa A.

I would NOT recommend this place to anyone. It is busy a lot of the time. WHY? Awful terrible, horrible service. Drinks are so watered, for $7.50 (two-three? ounce margarita) mostly water and ice. Do not follow the crowd on this one........Not a fan.
(1)
Wess M.

Tahiti Nui has always been our favorite bar on the north shore - even before The Descendants. I only have one concern and especially so since the recent night club fire in Brazil and that is I would very much like to see no fire dancer in the Luau show. When my wife and I attended the luau in October 2012 and sat close to the stage it was a bit scary to feel the heat from the fire dancer. I think it would be a good idea to discontinue that, as the hula girls are just great and the fire dancer is not needed - besides that is not a Hawaiian thing really. If the fire dancer still wants to put on a show I suggest that it be outdoors.
(5)
Max W.

Ribs. Ribs ribs ribs. Ribs ribs ribs ribs. Ribs? Ribs! Ribs ribs ribs ribs ribs ribs. Ribs ribs ribs mai tai ribs. Ribs ribs ribs ribs ribs ribs ribs. Ribs. Ribs ribs ribs. Mai tai mai tai.
(5)
Allison H.

If you have come to visit Kauai in search of the worst service EVER stop at the Tahiti Nui. My boyfriend and I stopped in to have dinner and instead we were served a giant plate of bad attitude. Felt as though we didn't belong because we weren't local, ignored and treated as an inconvenience. Can't believe this place is still in business. Will never return and I suggest that others don't as well. Don't waste your time or $$.
(1)
sarah r.

My husband and I went to Tahiti Nui looking for some good food and live music. We got just that. This place has a great vibe and I highly recommend it.
(4)
Chris C.

The best Mai Tai in all of Hawaii. My wife and I stopped by the classic restaurant and we saw that nothing has changed from two years ago when we last stopped in. Great drinks where you can just sit back and relax and enjoy Kaui on the North side. Cheers!
(5)
Wolfram A.

We stopped here for lunch, thanks to Yelp. We had the Panko-breaded Ono roll, the garden salad with Macademia nuts, and the Ahi sandwich which were all first rate. For our San Francisco-spoiled palates that hasn't always been the case on the island. Our expert waitress Julie pointed out that the spot and some of the staff is featured in "The Descendants" with George Clooney. Don't miss this one.
(5)
Janet D.

I've calmed down now...sort of. I just went back to "my" island and hung out 4 more nights at TH. Re-bonded with Uncle Art...I think I've imprinted on his memory now. Can't wait to see him again. LOVE the music - especially Norman Ka'awa Solomon (right now playing the early spot on Wed and Sat nights)! Average drinks. Very good food. Laid back Hawaiian-style service...it has to be against some law to rush in Kauai. Don't do it...just be. And, if you go there...tell Uncle Art his San Diego girl who comes every 4 months misses him!
(5)
Crissy L.

Its true! BEST Mai Tai's on the island. Put this one on your "must stop" list. Don't let the darkness of the night fool you, this place stays open as long as they still have customers. And there is live music after 8 or 9. The pizza though, a little burnt but it was still good. :)
(5)
Mr M.

Pizza! Thin crust. Crispy.
(3)
kahau m.

tahiti nui! had a birthday party there with a few friends. standing room only! patron? yes. beers? yes. birthday shots? yes. always a great time! Not sure how Pat (the bartender) deals with 40 people asking him for a drink at the same time!?!?! but he does. just go!
(5)
Emily W.

We love Tahiti Nui. It is a great party spot, has great drinks, and great food. We remember it from the days of Auntie Louise. It is a dive, with great dive atmosphere. The Mai Tais are great and the food is usually pretty good, although we were a little disappointed with the Macadamia nut, coconut crusted Ono this last time: it was a little overdone. My husband enjoyed his ribs very much. We do recommend coming early as there is the single waitress, and you can't be in a hurry and enjoy your meal. The evening we were there a solo guitarist/ ukulele player/singer performed and was most enjoyable. He did Elvis, Iz, Don Ho, and others, and all very well
(4)
Don K.

Parking lot pimping.
(5)
Larry M.

True old school Dive Bar with open air seating and good food. Staff can be somewhat indifferent at times but food was great. The Pizza and the Butternut Squash Ravioli were hits in my family.
(4)
Destry T.

Well we are leaving Kauai today and just had to leave a review for Tahiti Nui. This place is a must stop when visiting Kauai. Their pizza's are the best and their Mai Tai's cannot be beat. Had the Da Hui #5 pizza three times while on the island and Mai Tai's of course. Wish I had a pizza place like this back home. The other cool thing about this place is the atmosphere. It is a dive bar with good food. Nothing fancy here just come in and kick back. The reason for 4 stars instead of 5 is the staff can sometimes come off as inattentive. It can take a bit of time for them to help you and sometimes it does seem like they would rather not help you. If they could fix that it would be a 5 star place easily. See you next time Tahiti Nui.
(4)
P T.

Awesome local bar. Fantastic sushi / sashimi platters, friendly staff. A little pricey for the atmosphere but if you're from LA or NYC it's not so bad. Also, on the menu chalk board it says "gunga la gunga", which is the best quote from Caddyshack. Win.
(5)
Elizabeth M.

Large servings, friendly staff, delicious dinner and fun atmosphere with live band. Ono was so ono!
(5)
Baby C.

This place is good. I've only had their pizza due to being a month shy of 21. Locals spot that welcomes tourists. The bar is very popular on any given night. Check It out
(5)
Dawn S.

Love this place! My boyfriend and I went one night and felt totally at home. So we came back the next night, and the next night and the next. A definite must when in Kauai. We got the full story from the bartender - its an original Tahiti bar - been in Kauai for 45 years started by a women who came directly from Tahiti. She passed away about three years back but her still pictures adorn the walls and her family still owns the place. Its a fairly small place, but has great drinks (watch out for the Mai Tais - they're VERY smooth and go down fast), yummy food (try the ono appetizer - ohmaygosh) and super fun music. We were treated to an original Hawaiian two piece band on a Thursday night with some local hula talent and then an up and coming guitarist on Saturday night named Matt Bolton. AMAZING guitar playing. Had a three piece band that just rocked. Get there early because the place does get packed - especially on good music nights. There's tables on the deck out front as well where you can still enjoy the music. We'll be back for sure!
(5)
Tiki T.

Five stars because this place suits a tiki guy like me. My favorite grindz in Hanalei. I ate here five of the seven nights of my stay. The butternut squash ravioli is to rave for. I have never seen it anyplace else and it is so good. The scallops and the garlic shrimp are large portions and priced very well for Kauai at $23 dollars each. You can get a huge salad for $10 that will serve four or a ceasar for $12 of the same large size. I am a mai tai purist and will tell you right off putting pineapple juice in a mai tai is a big no no. 90% of the places in Hawaii do it and I won't gig them for that because it taste pretty good. Get the Nui Sunset if you want a great beer on the hoppy side for $5 or a Nui Gold if you don't like the hops. The crowd changes througout the day and usually two live music acts, one 5-7pm and another from 9-11pm. Big double shakas to Da Nui.
(5)
Stell L.

Great atmosphere and live music. Supposedly the best mai tai in town. We ordered the scallop, and the koala pork with pineapple pizza. Both were delish! Must go, great. Price too!
(5)
Suzanne C.

Despite mixed reviews, I can say that my husband and I had a great dinner here! The Mai-Tais were very good. We both had the Macadamia nut and panko crusted Ono with a spicy cilantro sauce, and it was excellent! We ate outside, and our waitress was very attentive and nice. The music was good, also.
(4)
Steve B.

Love this place. A little gritty, but the food and "World Famous" mai tai was great. Had a Kalua Pork sandwich (excellent), LARGE and tasty baby greens salad, and the handcut french fries were fantastic.
(5)
Nancy S.

So it was a good experience. We did choose Tahiti Nui cuz we looked at the menu and my sister is a vegetarian and the 4 cheese tortellini sounded good to her. It's a small place and we had a party of 6 which was difficult to seat. We ended up sitting in the wine bar section of the place, we were split up between bar tables. Not the ideal situation, but it seemed like the manager just wanted to make sure we were served. It turned out to not be a big deal at all, we were still able to hang out with each other, and we were also able to chat with some of the regulars. The bar tender was so nice. The food was so good. I had the Ono in a cilantro lime sauce with macadamia nuts and mashed potatoes which was good. And my sisters tortellini was fabulous. She let me try some. The manager did check on us a few times which I thought was very nice of him. We were in a different section of the restaurant and he made time to see us. I would come back if I make my way to Kauai again!
(5)
Alana C.

Got to stop by the Nui if you make it to Hanalei. Try the Mai Tai, they don't mess around here, you'll probably only need one!! Sit back, relax, and enjoy... And to top it off you'll get a fun cast of local characters to entertain you! Wishing I was there now...
(4)
Andy M.

Macadamia crusted ono was excellent and pancetta pasta was very good. Mai tais were good too.
(5)
Randi R.

The Mai Tai's will have you dancing the hula in no time! The atmosphere is vintage Tahitian/ Hawaiian dÃ©cor with all kinds of hali's and locals to mingle with. The live rock music was great. Open late.
(4)
Use Yelp Not A Yelper S F.

Yay! What a fun, divey spot. And I don't usually like dives! Place was packed with locals, beaming newlywed tourists, and gekkos. Beware the seared ono... but the pizza looked awesome and the drinks were STRONG! Great casual, friendly vibe. Expect to get into conversations with people on either side of you at the bar!
(4)
Ash M.

nice little dive bar. good atmosphere. they should carry vegan beer tho :)
(4)
Lynn S.

I have been going to the Tahiti Nui every vacation for the last 10 years. This family owned place is always welcoming and the "real deal". Tonight I went to their Luau- first time. I had hesitated because I was afraid it would be like the hotels- all phoney and all. Well, no way! This was a wonderful time, great food and a great show. But what really moved me was the complete enjoyment that the musicians and dancers had for their art. The musicians really had a good time. There was a young man who was drumming who was obviously related to some of the other musicians, not only was he great but it was a tradition being passed on. The hula dancers likewise were great but also were truly enjoying what they were doing. If you want to see a group of people carrying on a great tradition in the face of a bad economy and a lot of adversity, come see the wonderful artists at the Tahiti Nui Luau. If you happen to be around the Tahiti Nui and it isn't Luau night, you can still have a great time. There is a very cool bartender named Julia, who is a hula artist. She also makes a great drink by day. Julia and the Marston family personify the aloha spirit.
(5)
Eric L A.

Our favorite in Hanalei. Well the St Regis takes that honor, but who can afford that. Oh yeah Pierce Brosnon (James Bond) who sat nearby at our valentines dinner there. The Tahiti Nui is one of two stops we consider in old town. At least the food is always a three or better and everything just feels right. Great food, unless free, doesn't trump a poor show! Be sure to bring your aloha.
(4)
Darcie A.

HAHA. This place is fun for people watching. Small. Very crowded. Mediocre cover band. Maybe the only bar open late night?
(3)
Eileen J.

This place probably shows better at night. It is a little "seedy" and worn looking during the day. Recommended to us by a local, we stopped in for lunch. The service was great, and so was the ahi sandwich. Pizza menu looks good too. Bar is front and center here, but food will bring people back.
(4)
Rockie N.

Our friends who have been dating for YEARS met at the bar here, so we had to check it out. The menu's got a lot of stuff on it. The ribs are alright and the mashed potatoes are really yummy. As with many restaurants in Hawaii, the salad was great! If you can get a seat outside, this is a better spot just to have cocktails and people watch. I wish that I was there RIGHT NOW and tomorrow, and the day after, and the day after that...
(4)
Ada G.

Solid four stars! BEST Mai Tais ever - will totally knock you off your feet! Great lunch menu! The Ono and Ahi lunch specials are so yummy! I could eat that everyday! (oh snap! I DID eat it everyday....for three days in a row!) i also loved the perfectly garlicky caesar salad. highly highly recommend this place!!!!
(4)
Geoffrey E.

Best Mai Tai's anywhere in Hawaii. Their secret is Guava Juice. It's a dive to be sure.... but with charming qualities. We had lunch and drinks. The lunch menu is rather simple, but the food was good. The dinner menu looks fairly ambitious for such an unassuming place. Will have to come back for dinner.
(4)
Kong T.

So it's been over a year since my last review. I came here on a thursday night. They have live music and it was good!!! In regards to food, had the macadamia nut crusted ono and the grill ahi. Both were amazing with their coconut wasabi sauce. For drinks start with a mai tai, you can't go wrong.
(4)
Chris K.

Best Mai Tais we had in Kauai. The food was an afterthought for us.
(5)
Helen B.

Hanalei is not full of great dining, but I had my best and most fun meal here at Tahiti Nui. Tahiti Nui is a cute, somewhat dive-y-but-in-a-good-way bar and restaurant. It has been around for I believe, 30 years, and tho I don't know it's history.. but It looked to have one, with lots of old photos on the walls, one or two photos of the pretty lei-laden women appearing to be the same woman who served us.. 20-30 years prior. Lots of locals eating and drinking here.. and there was live, mellow, mostly Hawaiian music every time I went or passed by. I didn't really expect much of the food in a bar.. and was pretty wowed by my fiance's Macadamia Nut Panko Crusted Ono with Coconut Cilantro Lime Sauce, and my tender juicy Rib-Eye Steak with Cabernet Mushroom sauce. I think they used shiitakes.. Both about $20. Supposedly they make great Mai-Tai's ... I had an ok (strong) guava Margarita. We went another night and had their pizza.. eh. Not so great. (but I am a New Yorker.. used to really good pizza!) Stick with the other menu items. I am going to give this place 5 stars.. grading on a curve.. I recommend this place! Fun, local flavor, and yummy!
(5)
Matt P.

Definitely a good spot to end the night if you are visiting the north shore of Kauai. While we did not have any food here, we did top off dinner at other restaurants in Hanalei with a couple of Mai Tais from Tahiti Nui. I would agree with others that they serve up some of the better (and stronger) Mai Tais on the island. Tahiti Nui is definitely a local hangout, but as tourists we never felt out of place. A couple of the locals encouraged us to try the Mai Tais even though they were sipping on draft beers. So really a casual and friendly vibe. We also enjoyed the family of geckos that like to roam around the railing and walls. Fun to watch while listening to the jukebox or bad karaoke. Bottom line: make plans to either kick off your afternoon or finish up your evening here at least once while in Kauai.
(4)
Josh F.

True to form, the Mai Tais were the best of the 3 places I tried on the North Shore. Also loved the vibe of this place. Lots of fun, noisy, great music. Service was good for Hawaii. Entree was pretty good or it would get a 5. Pizza wasn't so great.
(4)
Laura S.

Um, we couldn't even make ourselves walk through the door. Super seedy looking. If I squinted (and was already drunk) maybe I could've seen a glimpse of the coolness that the place claims to once have had. However, in the harsh light of day it looks like the sort of place where you need to watch your drink.. and you certainly wouldn't want to eat anything. Maybe I'm wrong, but instincts are worth a lot.
(1)
LeAnn G.

So I was just in Hanalei, HI and I realize that we are on island time but PLEASE!!! This place is HORRIBLE for service. We walked in and sat at a table right away but that was the only quick thing about this place. We got there at 8:15pm, ordered drinks which took 10 minutes, ordered food and appetizers. It took 45 minutes to get the appetizer which was tomatoes and mozzarella...nothing hard to slap on a plate. Now mind you others who came in after us already had their full meals. After waiting an hour and being ready to just cancel the order, our food arrived. I will tell you the ONLY saving grace for this place is that the food was very good. We both had a pasta dish and they were prepared well.
(1)
Mark V.

Four stars? Are you kidding me?! Everything about our experience was disappointing. First, our party of 4 was seated at a small high top in a crowded corner. The service was painfully slow -- more than 2 hours for what amounted to a one-course meal. My vodka tonic tasted as bad as, oh, a glass of ocean water, and, when our meals finally came out, the salad was forgotten and the ribs were so tough it felt like I was performing surgery to remove the meat. Mediocre would be too kind a description. Don't bother: there are far better places nearby at which to eat.
(1)
Peter C.

Ordered a mushroom pizza from Tikiman Pizza, however we sat at thebar of Tahiti Nui. The music was pretty good, perhaps a bit loud but it was ok cuz he was pretty decent. The mai tais ate really good! And the bartender was expedient. A monday night at 8pm. Cool bar, definately worth checking out if your on vacation.
(4)
jen c.

Music was great. Food was good, but a bit over-priced for a dive bar. Mai tai's were tasty, and definitely the cheapest ones I found on the island. The one star is based on the service. Horrible. I get the impression that this place puts their locals first (fair enough), but crosses the line into being downright rude to other patrons. If you don't mind waiting a long time for service while others around you are being catered to, and being served by unfriendly, unresponsive waitstaff, you'll probably manage to have a good time. Otherwise I would move along to a Bar Acuda or the Hanalei Dolphin for a better experience for the $$.
(1)
tiffany n.

Really great atmosphere-very typical Polynesian style bar thing going on, which is what I wanted to see. Food was great and drinks were just as great. Music was really pleasant-had a nice time. Would definitely go back again!
(4)
Keith H.

Jumbo Scallops - 5 Stars! My wife and I wanted to go back and get this again but we never got around to it. Pizza - 2 Stars. $3 a slice for happy hour and it was kinda small for that price. Mai Tai - It was ok. I think people were over-rating this drink here.
(4)
Francis F.

I am definitely a FAN! After a long day of travel, on the recommendation of our son, we stopped here for an early meal and were delighted to find great live entertainment by a slack guitar trio. They have great cocktails, but we settled for glasses of cab with our fresh, HUGE salads. Then came the Hui Hawaiian pizza--topped with pineapple and barbecue pork...AMAZING! We could only eat half the pizza and brought the rest back to the resort frig for later this week. We'll be back to try some of their seafood dishes.
(4)
Karen R.

Very rude bartender. Not a fun, friendly place....Unlike most of the places in Hanalei....Skip it.....
(1)
Klaus G.

local joint,.. not as busy as others,.. but worth trying for a lunch.
(3)
Mark M.

Everyone in our party of five was completely blown away by the excellence of the food here. From looking at the worn-down funkiness of the place and the moderate prices we were a bit surprised by the good quality. My mac-crusted Ono was amazing! The Mai-tais were as good as they are reputed to be. But the real star of the evening was the vibe of the place. The locals, the musicians, the stories, the impromptu hula by one of the friendly waitresses had us glad we spent our last night on the island there. I am glad that this is the meal that I sprung for for my friends.
(5)
Olga O.

Ok service - but really tasty drinks! Watchout! they are strong!!
(4)
Kimber C.

Great place to cruise after a long day at work. Good drinks, good pizza and live music almost every night. Went out of my usual and had one of their mai tai's last night...definitely potent, but still so good. Couldn't do more than one of those if I wanted to walk a straight line out of there. Be prepared to be hangin the next day cause you never leave after just one drink.
(5)
Manny L.

Great bar with a fantastic pizza joint next door. Love the music and ambiance at this place. I miss the best Pineapple and tomato pizza I have ever had there. Also some of the cheapest drinks on the island!!!
(5)
Michelle G.

Awesome Pizzas and Mai Tais! Great music too!
(5)
Amy H.

Food was alright although portion size is generous. Service is lousy - there was only one waitress serving the restaurant on Labor Day weekend night, who did not speak English well and tossed food on the table like you' a dog. Had to return the Tuna roll appetizer that was overly salty. The green salad with gorgonzola was soaked in balsamic vinegar like soup. If you're starved, ordering a main dish is enough at this dive.
(3)
Mei B.

I love this place. It's super laid back and the food is yummy. The pizza is good but their ribs, fantastic. Great crowd from locals to visitors just chilling the nite away drinking mai-tais. With local musicians most nights, it's ambience you can't pay for. If you find yourself on the island of Kauai and specifically on the north shore Hanalei is well worth your time. I even bought their tank top.
(5)
David S.

This was one of my favorite restaurants/bars in Kauai, and I would've probably been back here if I was staying on the north side of the island. Drinks are fantastic, particularly the Mai Tais. Had seared ono as an app, and it was absolutely delicious (my wife doesn't even eat fish and she was a huge fan). Followed it up with a kalua pork and pineapple pizza which was fabulous. This is definitely a great place to hang out and grab a bite and a drink, with a fun ambiance and live music.
(5)
Mary A.

When we came a year ago the food was great, the hawaiian music beautiful and the drinks were all available, This year, the portions were small, everything was out of stock (including the special that was still on the board) and the bill huge. What changed?
(2)
sherrry b.

Love it... Just my kind of funkiness.Local casual and laid back, what could be better on vacation from city life..food is ok, not amazing, drinks were fine too but the atmosphere and people and music and wait staff make this place ...the wait staff and bartender sometimes double as hula dancers, great place!!!!
(5)
Tracy D.

Excellent local bar, live music most nights of the week (Thurs is karaoke, which can be considered music or not, depending on who's singing). Enjoy a drink, kick back and enjoy your night out. In 2 consecutive nights, we witnessed the following: 5 drunk girls karaoking horribly 4 policemen dragging the wrong guy out of the bar after a fight 3 chicks trying to pick up our cute single friend 2 dancers (belly dancer and a flapper) for a bday party and a DJ with a rooster in a palm tree. Who says the north shore doesn't see any action?
(5)
D E.

Cheese pizza was delicious! Live music gave the place a good vibe. Also met some locals seen in "The Descendants" movie.
(4)
Stacia S.

Very disappointed with the service and the food was just ok. Unfortunately they don't realize they are lucky to have the tourists that they get because their success does not come from the locals, but the $ from the main island.
(1)
Jimi M.

Mai Tais...Music...Pizza...For sure...Get you some
(5)
Lovely K.

Not to be missed. Don Ho may walk in at any moment and he's been dead for years. Or you may end up in any of the time periods depicted on Lost - or all of them! Great, drinks, great staff and the best kahlua pork and pineapple pizza on the planet. Great place to sip a mai tai and listen to local talent.
(5)
Cheesemonger Jeff D.

Funky bar restaurant in Hanalei - first bar on the North Shore, legend has it. First time I ever ate poi and enjoyed it, too. They used to have luaus, now it's more of a bar... Locals hang here, tourists too. Bad local music...... Sightings: Graham Nash and Todd Rundgren (not together)
(5)
amie a.

Pizza is not a single serving! Everything was great. Waitress was very friendly. Ambience is part roadside bar, part luau. Loved the macadamia nut crusted ono. More expensive than we expected, but the second best meal in Hanalei.
(4)
Jon H.

Oh Tahiti Nui, you temptress you. I know no nui is the only good Nui, but I am weak for you.
(5)
Mike A.

Great place to close out the night of partying
(3)
Maye C.

A fun spot with a good mix of locals and tourists. The live music brings the crowd to life and dinner is decent. Lots of fun and not to be missed!
(5)
Andrew L.

Maybe my new favorite bar on earth. Great hangout with the absolute best Mai Tais you will ever have in your life. The staff is super, super friendly and the environment is totally relaxing and authentic.
(5)
Brandon R.

Surprisingly awkward service and lackluster food. We arrived for lunch expecting tasty meat. The BBQ pork was low on flavor and the food took more than an hour to arrive after ordering. Great atmosphere and vibe -- just an underwhelming overall experience.
(2)
Phil K.

Not a fan. Salty pasta dishes, bad live music. We liked the pizza a lot but would not go back to the restaurant
(2)
seankor W.

It was ok. We ate here for lunch, service was friendly but not very responsive (asked twice for ranch for my fries and never got it, she mentioned it as she got our bill that she was sorry, guy in back got busy and forgot twice, didn't like the blaming someone in the back excuse). Also beer we wanted was there but tap needed to be changed, but no one was there to help her change it so couldn't get beer at first. No problem, but then we saw them swap it out, but she never told us it was ready now, we had to ask her for the beer again. Food was ok, not great, not bad, just ok. We didn't have a need to go back. Probably better for drinks at night then for lunch.
(2)
David B.

probably the most chaotic service fubar i've experienced in a decade. wow. with everyone blaming someone else for the service problems.
(1)
David S.

Train wreck continued. Just stopped by the restaurant to speak with the owner and the only person there was the server that waited on us first last night. Told her what happened and she acknowledged that there is a real problem with these individuals and their poor manner of service. She said " I don't know why this woman is serving because she can't even speak proper English and she has bad manners.". When asked if there was anything she could do to correct the situation, she said "well I provided you good service until I went on break.". That's it I asked? "There's nothing else I can do and the owner is off island.". Absolutely mind boggling. I think the real issue is they don't want kids there. Families make another choice.
(1)
Nicholas C.

Best bar on Kauai. Most fun, great staff, friendly locals, live music and great food. Local Hawaiian music from 3-6 on weekdays, karaoke on monday and thursday nights, with local rock and blues bands on weekend nights. Mai Tais are good and I drank four even though pineapple juice sets my heartburn a blaze. The Ribs are great, thick, juicy, smokey and smothered in a boysenberry sauce mmmm. I also tried the Prawn and cilantro crusted mahi mahi, which was excellent. Great place to watch football with the locals. You will make friends here quicker than you ever have before. For lunch try the grilled fish sandwich. It comes with a large fish steak, that I believe was Ono and left me feeling crisp and rejuvinated, instead of greasy and lethargic like a fried fish sandwich.
(5)
Anthony D.

Went for 'best Mai Tai on island', good but I wouldn't say the best (Brennecke's in Poipu took the title for me). Otherwise a solid Hanalei dive bar, friendly staff, would like to check out the scene at night next time.
(3)
Christina C.

My boyfriend and I had read both the positive and negative review given by other people but were willing to give it a try with an open mind. Unfortunately, it didn't take long for us to regret our decision. We decided to sit at the bar, and boy was it a mistake. The bartender was ok until I had a complaint about my food; I ordered "mahi mahi mediterranean", but once I had a couple of bites I ended up with a mouthful of fish bones. Once I told the bartender about the problem, he was quick to get defensive and did not even try to sympathize with me about how if I had known there were bones in my fish I wouldn't have ordered it. Instead he asked me if I wanted it wrapped up so I could take it home and de-bone it myself...WTF!!!!! The waitresses totally agreed with me about the bones in the fish, but unfortunately the bartender did not...and I was charged for the dish...which was $22...DO NOT GIVE THEM BUSINESS!!!!!
(1)
Melissa R.

After a 3 hour Na Pali coast tour full of snorkeling, cheesing it up with the guide, and riding the waves, the boyfriend and I swooped into here for a Keoki Sunset and french fries. We sat on the deck, watched the rain without shivering (unheard of here in the Bay!), and ate the most outstanding french fries. You know what made them so "outstanding, you knock me out"? Ohhhh, they sprinkled black pepper on them! Finally someone serves it how I like it!!
(5)
Sarah K.

We loved Tahiti Nui! We came by for late night drinks and were disappointed to not get an outside table, but actually ended up loving our spot at the bar inside. Great live music and fun atmosphere. We thought the mai tais were delicious! A really fun place.
(5)
Chris C.

What a great and friendly little spot this is. We found it on the way home from the beach for a little happy hour and then back in the evening for Hawaiian music and a little rock & roll... The staff, fellow tourists and local clientele all get along great here. The pulled pork is off the hook and Tikiman Pizza rivals New York's best. The Mai Tai will rock your world!
(5)
Pepper B.

My favorite place on the island....Great music, very good food, good service, great ambiance...you make your own good time...most patrons are more than willing to meet and talk, or just chill and listen to the great music. They just added shrimp pizza, which is excellent. Their pizza prices went up from 6 months ago, but it is much better pizza than we can get back home. Although there are not always children there, they seem to be welcome, so families can enjoy this place too.
(5)
Christopher S.

We got the two sashimi dishes, and those alone are the reason I'd come back. The MaiTai here is definitely not the best you can get on Kauai, so don't fall for it!
(4)
Tom F.

Food was extremely overpriced ($20 for 5 ravioli?!?!) and surprise charges were added to our bill without giving appropriate advance notice. In addition, wait staff and owner were rude when asked to correct a mistaken order. You would be better off looking elsewhere for eating or drinks -- there are many other places in Kauai which deserve your business and treat you like a valued customer. This was certainly not one of them.
(1)
George K.

Well have you ever seen "Kitchen Nightmares?" The next episode should be filmed there. The chef says he reigns from Tourino Italy, but if he was in the kitchen, he must have been sleepy, b/c the food was less than good. We ordered the carpaccio, which was actually tasty. Then came our entrees...my lady had the mahi mahi mediteranian. It sucked. She found bones in her fish, the portion was huge, and it definately wasn't mediteranian. So when it was brought to the attention of the bartender we got an attitude. I ordered the squid ink linguini with seafood and tomato basil,... whatever. First off the pasta itself minus everything else was great, but as a whole it was completely under seasoned. Tasted like nothing. The portion was also absolutely huge. If they do family style, our bartender should have told us. We both didn't finish our meals and left hungry, feeling cheated. If you are looking for a beer in a dive, have one n leave. If you are looking for food, go somewhere else to eat.
(1)
Smoothie M.

Mai tais were good, but pricey. Interesting locals hanging out on the deck. A good place to see people other than just tourists.
(4)
Anne H.

I would agree with the poster who said Tahiti Nui is "super laid back." We came when they opened and they barely acknowledged us. The food is OK, but this is a bar for the most part, not a restaurant. Certainly not family friendly.
(3)
Jeannie C.

My friend and I stopped at this bar for a drink before heading back to Poipu Beach. We enjoyed the live music. There was a good local vibe. Haoles had their ukeleles and were following along with the band. They had a hula group the night we were there. They were dancing to the music. The bar is old but it has that Hawaiian tiki bar theme. I absolutely loved it even if the people there were "mostly dead" (aka...old people). My friend and i had the mai tais...lots of them...they were delicious. I saw the previous Yelp comments..glad I didn't eat da food. I also met the owner of Norside Scooters at the bar...super nice guy, Paul. He gave us inside local 411 on where to go for the best sunset view. He gave us a stellar deal on his scooters. We rented that same day (yea, with lots of mai tais in us but he didn't know)...we were so thankful because we saw the most amazing sunset in this hidden location. I won't say where so you will need to go to Tahiti Nui and look for Paul (da dude who owns the scooter company...buy him a drink and he will give you the same deal). You can't miss him....he is Island eye-candy! Aloha!
(5)
Rodelyn C.

I see that there are are a ton of rave reviews on Tahiti Nui BUT I have to honestly say that I would not recommend this place however the food was good. For those of you reading this review and are wondering...then why are you giving them 2 stars if the food was good...well...SERVICE IS TERRIBLE!!! Yes, I am a visitor. Yes, I know Kauai is more laid back. Yes, we did come as a group of 8. BUT what I don't understand is why 6 people get their food in 30 minutes and the other 2 who is sharing a pizza, yes sharing, get their pizza in 1 HOUR!?!?!?! On a side note, I got really annoyed so I decided to visit a few other parties enjoying their pizza and I asked them how long it took to get their pizza. Both parties responded, 15-20 minutes. 15-20 minutes!?!?! WTF!!! I don't get it!! I understand that this place gets really busy but their shouldn't be any excuses. It's a Friday night, you know your restaurant/bar gets busy...well here's a solution...ADD MORE STAFF. Besides getting the pizza an hour after it was ordered, we briefly got acknowledged by the manager of the day (the bartender), our server did not greet/welcome us, I had to get the menus for us, I had to tell the manager that we were ready to order, and they got my 6 shot order wrong (and she shouldn't have because I watched the server write it down)!!! You wrote it down DARCEL (that was our server's name) it shouldn't be hard!!! Anyways the bottom line is, if you have all the time in the world, have no agenda for the rest of they day/evening, want good moderately priced food, and don't want to really deal with the people who work there...then Tahiti Nui is the place for you.
(2)
Charlie A.

Came here looking for a good pizza to go and i got it. If you walk in through the front it looks like a bar with no food service but your logic will tell you their is food on the premises. We walked in on a monday night around 9 and the place looked like it had just gotten done with a busy night maybe that's why no one ever acknowledged us as we stood at the door way. It was only after my often mentioned eagle eye spotted a sign behind a doorway about 25 feet back, it read "Pizza" with an arrow pointing to the back of the place. Walked up to find the afterthought of the business...a small counter in the back selling pizza's. Stood at the counter a minute or two until somebody noticed us and then provided good customer service complete with suggestions. The caesar salad tasted fishy but my wife liked it. If you get the caser to go ask them not to dress it, it will be soggy when you get to your final destination. Ordered a half pork half hawaiian it was good, nothing to write home about but when your looking for good pizza to go I can recommend this place.
(4)
Elyse W.

This review is for a private event we had here and we just could not have been happier... We had our rehearsal dinner for all of our wedding guests (70 people) in the Luau room. It was DELIGHTFUL. We had several servers that were kind and attentive, we had pizza and salads that were delicious and it was very reasonably priced, there was an open bar, the bartender was lovely and on top of that, we had a musician on a ukulele and a hula dancer...they also couldn't have been more personable, perfect and better entertainment! The performers had the perfect amount of audience participation and we thoroughly enjoyed them! We rented Tahiti Nui's projector and did a slide show, they did not charge us and arm and a leg and overall, we had a spectacular night. It could have been the wedding celebration! It was a bit warm in the room, there was no AC, but also Kauai was unusually hot the week we were there (of course!) But, you could very easily step outside where we had our own private patio and breeze. It was beautiful. Additionally, I had a difficult time getting a hold of someone initially. I wasn't able to book the venue until about 2 months before, which was a little nerve wrecking, but for most people who aren't control freaks, would be fine! :) Madi and Nanea are lovely, wonderful communicators who do a fabulous job running the place. I did a lot of research and toyed with local places for an event space that wasn't astronomical and didn't have terrible food.This place won 100x in every category. We had a fabulous time, was authentic and adorable and it didn't cost us an arm and a leg. Total win! Thank you, Tahiti Nui! x
(5)
Ric S.

A real Hawaiian experience. You go for the atmosphere and amazing music talent. Can't beat Hawaiian music in a real Hawaiian dive bar. Pizzas are reasonable and the Kalua pork topping adds some local flavor. Slow coming out though which for me was a plus as more time to enjoy the place. Mai Tais are made from real juice. A little weak but delicious. If you want to chill Hawaiian style this is the place.
(5)
DJ M.

First off, slow down, this ain't the mainland. If you're looking for fast food, this isn't the place for you. What makes this gem so awesome, is that it embodies everything that is Hanalei. Friendly service, cold drinks, and delicious food. But, guess what? You may be 3 beers in before your pizza arrives. Who cares? You're on Kauai. Enjoy the spectacular mountain views through the large open windows, while siping your Aloha Golden Lager ($4). There's a reason this place was featured in movies like Jurassic Park and The Descendants. Live Aloha through this historic bar and restaurant. Friendly staff, delicious food, full bar, and Hawaii Charm at its finest.
(5)
Sean W.

The people working here and the drinks they make are absolutely amazing!!! Best Mai Thai in all Kauai!!!
(5)
Mike H.

In the midst of an unforgettably awesome vacation, this place was memorable for all the wrong reasons. We attended the pre-paid, fixed-menu "luau" on a Wednesday night, so this review may not apply as much to other nights of the week. Still, it was the worst experience we've had by far in many trips to Hawaii. There are no outdoor luaus offered on the north side of the island, so if you are staying in Princeville or Hanalei and do not wish to drive far, this is the only option. We knew it was held indoors, but love luaus and were excited to experience this one. We also knew in advance that seating was first-come first-served, so we arrived a half hour before check-in and were fortunate to be the second party in line. Or so we thought. The evening got off to nice start, but that would be short lived. We were offered beverages as we entered, and chose our seats in the front near to the entertainment. Shortly after settling in, the "host" approached us and said we would have to change seats. We asked why, but he rudely refused to give a reason. In order to remain in the front, we would have to sit in a stuffy corner with an obstructed view. About ten minutes later, another family who had not arrived early - nor waited nearly as long - were offered our seats. Clearly they were more important than us. So much for the aloha spirit. Having moved on from this appalling lack of courtesy, we attempted to enjoy the dinner. However, as each table was herded to the buffet one-by-one like cattle, the long line formed right next to our table, further obstructing the view and increasing the heat exponentially. Nobody at our table was comfortable. Indeed, it was outright miserable. We were the last to be served. The food was piled on flimsy paper plates, which was unexpected at a price point of $75 per person. On the bright side, the food tasted OK, but given our discomfort and the challenge of extricating ourselves from the table to go get seconds, we decided to leave early and still hungry. I guess every trip needs at least one debacle to laugh about for years. This was ours; don't let it be yours. There are many better ways to spend your time on this beautiful island.
(1)
K C.

The best items on the menu used to be the 2 with shrimp because they were using delicious local head-on, shell-on Kauai shrimp. Now the shimp comes peeled and it doesnt even taste like Kauai shrimp. We buy this shrimp at the local grocery store and know how sweet it is. So I'm doubtful TN is using Kauai shrimp, although the waitress says it is. I would give 5 stars if they still served Kauai shrimp. Otherwise, menu is mediocre. Beer is good though, and happy hour prices make it even better. We also like the musicians who play on Fridays 4-6pm, coinciding with happy hour.
(3)
Laura I.

Tahiti Nui is a great place to stop by for happy hour or some live music. It's a dive so don't expect anything more than a laid back ambiance and some good libations. Also, a little piece of Kauai movie history since a scene from The Descendants, between Beau Bridges and George Clooney, was filmed there. They are known for their Mai Tais, and they live up to the hype. We originally planned on going to dinner at Bar Acuda but my husband wanted to stay and not feel rushed. We ordered the poisson cru, since that was our go to on our Honeymoon in Tahiti last year. It was far from the preparation we are used to but it wasn't bad. We also had a pizza which I thought was okay but nothing special. Like many advise stick to the drinks and skip the food.
(3)
Patrick M.

I should have paid more attention to the negative Yelp reviews. I'll admit I was a sucker to try the "best Mai Tai" on Kauai. We came here for dinner the other night. It was my wife, my 2 year old son, and myself. We ordered the Poissen Cru, a spicy hawaiian pizza, and the famous Mai Tai. The menu raves how the pizza is popular for the kaloa pig or the bbq chicken. We were tired of chicken for the week, so initially wanted the pig. When we tried to order it, we were told that they were out of it, and were for days. The Hawaiian pizza was good, but not worth the $25 price tag (even for Hawaii). I would have expected a reasonable price would have been about $20. The Poissen Cru was OK, but wasn't anything to rave about. I would suggest skipping it. The Mai Tai was also OK. I don't think it was the "best" I have had. A bit sweet for my taste. Main reason for the 2 stars is just that Tahiti Nui is understaffed. We barely saw our waitress, and service was extremely slow. There are better options for dinner on the North Shore, so I suggest skipping the over hyped Tahiti Nui and go somewhere else.
(2)
Greg M.

Full disclosure: we only stopped in because Tahiti Nui was in The Descendants so that made us curious. It was a decent Hawaiian dive bar to stop in for a drink if you want to stay out late in Hanalei. It's a small place that's in need of a few updates (the linoleum on the bar is an interest choice) but they can probably get away with leaving things as is. The service was good considering that there was only one bartender working on a Friday night. However the beer selection was good and the mai tai's were decent. They also have live music (we left while the band was setting up) so stop in for a drink but don't expect to see George Clooney.
(3)
Julia J.

We've been coming to this place for over 10 years now. My husband loves the mai tais. I've noticed in the past couple years the food has improved TREMENDOUSLY!!! Last year we found out that Melissa who owned Red Hot Mommas (one of our fave places - so sad to see it gone) now works the kitchen at the Nui. Melissa - if you ever read this - we are BIG fans of yours! We love the ribs and the salad greens are extremely fresh. We went tonight and lucky for us - Michael Keale was singing. His voice is so silky smooth that I bought his CD so we could add it to our 'vacation vibe' playlist on our iPhones. :) His wife accompanies him with her beautiful hula. Jay (the tall skinny bald guy) who has been our waiter in the past, was hosting tonight and I noticed he did excellent job facilitating the groups of hungry folks arriving and getting them seated or setting the wait time expectation. Tahiti Nui fills up pretty quickly so realize that if you are planning on going. The service is always friendly. So if you want to feel the Kauai vibe - this is the place! Sorry to hear that Little Richie has passed away (he had a cameo in the movie The Descendents) glad I was able to tell him I saw him in the movie and I asked him to take a picture with me the last time I saw him. I teased him and said after I spotted him in the movie, I had a hard time focusing on George Clooney. What makes this place exceptional is the cool moments that have happened in the Nui. Not only has George Clooney filmed in the Nui, but Elizabeth Taylor would frequent there in the 60's and even Pat Bennatar come one night and sang there. We like Tahiti Nui so much that we eat there a couple times during our annual visit to Kauai. See you folks soon - we're bringing our friends next time! Hope you do the same.
(5)
Jenni N.

A hidden gem! I though I would find typically bar but I was pleasantly mistaken. The food is top notch. I had the Ahi Tuna which was fabulous. The drinks are also wonderful. Our server, Liana was nothing but the best! Enjoyed the conversation and outside dining. Will be returning soon.
(4)
Robert C.

First time to Kauai. Was told to visit this place for the food. Came for dinner earlier this week. Awesome food. Awesome ambiance. Great live music @ dinner time. Best dish at dinner: Pizza Margarita-- the carpaccio appetizer awesome. Beet salad super tasty. Everything fresh. We fly out this evening and staying in Poipu,... And all week we couldn't get over how tasty and memorable our dinner was at Tahiti Nui. So we decided to take the hour drive today and have lunch here once more... Aaaahhhh. Well worth the drive. Definitely a MUST when visiting Kauai. Aloha!
(5)
Lisa H.

Our first try to Tahiti Nui was a bust as it was so busy we just went to a different restaurant. Decided to try during lunch time and was way better. We ordered pizzas, the 'local', and a burger. All the food was good, but nothing that I can absolutely rave about. We had the mai tai's, which were good, but didn't feel they were worth the money. I would go back but I'd be more prepared for the slow service (which is OK if you don't have anywhere to be), try a couple of different dishes and skip the expensive drinks.
(4)
liv l.

Read the reviews for this bar that are "currently not recommended" at the bottom of this page. My review mirrors what theirs say. At least I'm not the only one! Don't know why people still come here. The live music was great so that's why I gave an extra star, but the service was so terrible. I understand it's hard to work in the service industry, but without guests there are no jobs. So suck it up and at least make an effort to be polite. We ordered a beer and the waitress brought it 30-45 minutes later. When we were surprised she said "what can I say- we're backed up!?" and yanked it back. I watched multiple people leave because the "niece of the original owner" would tap people and wave her hand, or literally move them. Paying customers should not feel like they are an inconvenience. This is a very poor business practice.
(2)
Brandon K.

You know what I love? When restaurants clean the table before the next customer. Ours was super sticky. Apparently, cleaning tables is a novel concept at this restaurant. We barely saw our waitress. She looked like Anna Kendrick so maybe she was busy in the back making pitch perfect 3. However, she was nice and gave us some good recommendations. The pizza was good but nothing I'd rave about. Overall, it was average.
(3)
Lexie P.

Happy hour Mai Tais were great! I was disappointed they didn't serve food during happy hour.
(4)
Isa M.

Mai tais r phenomenal. Service terrible. Super slow. I was waiting 20mins before anyone came up to acknowledge us. If it werent for the mai tais i would never come back.
(2)
Lisa G.

Great food, Mai Tais and atmosphere. Best meal in Hanalei!
(5)
Jeff O.

We came in about 9pm on a Wednesday and had a lot of fun! The live music was really talented and fun and local. My wife got a lilikoi margarita and it was phenomenal. The mai tai was indeed awesome but I didn't quite feel like it merited world famous. Although before this trip I wasn't the most experienced mai tai drinker. I felt like Kalypso's mai tai with locally made rum was better honestly. Still a really eclectic and fun experience with the live music and the bartender coming behind the bar to do Hawaiian dance. My parents and their friends were so insistent about us going and when we got in we discovered why: almost the whole crowd was people in their middle years. Haha. Still fun.
(4)
Jennifer M.

Had a great dinner here. Great leek and bacon soup and a wonderful beet salad... My guests and I also loved the live music and thy friendly staff.. We will definitely return!!
(4)
David B.

This is a great place if you're looking for that Hawaiian Mai Tai experience, it is so far the best one I've had on the island in the 6 days I've been here. We also ordered one of their pizzas, pineapple ham and jalapeÃ±o, which was pretty awesome. The only downfall is that it's a bit pricy, but that's the price you pay for paradise!
(4)
El B.

Pitched to me as somewhat of a local dive bar/restaurant, it is situated in the main tourist area of Hanalei beach. Good cocktails for touristy prices, so don't look for any savings. Some nights they have live music, and the bar gets pretty lively. The staff was attentive and we left happy.
(3)
Lily L.

We ordered a pizza, the Hawaiian Delight with jalepenos. The pizza was good, my husband also ordered a fancy iced tea and it was good. I'm giving only 3 stars because it wasn't the best pizza ever, it was pricey at nearly $25 and while the staff was very nice, the service was extremely slow. We asked for a box for our two remaining slices and the waiter said he would box it right up. He never returned with the boxed up pizza and we didn't want to wait another 20 minutes. May have just been an off night but that was our experience.
(3)
Craig E.

Three of us stopped in for a drink and maybe a pizza on a rainy Wednesday afternoon. Nice older bar lady gave us menus right away, but had four tables sit down and we didn't see her again for 15min. Then we ordered a beer and Bloody Mary and waited another 15. She was the only staff working the bar, which was filled with many people waiting on service. Even though, several other (staff?) people walked in and out of the room, they didn't seem to care that customers were obviously languishing- the barkeep was on her own. When customers are seated waiting for service, it's like money in the bank. When a business doesn't care enough to properly staff to handle the capacity, it obviously doesn't care that it's pissing money away. That's fine with me- we left before she made our drinks and we opted not to book the luau we'd planned to attend (a total of 10 in our party). Impression: typical tourist town apathy; poor service; decent dive bar ambiance. Their auntie would probably be pissed.
(1)
Ziyan C.

A chill spot to hang out, listen to live music, and just enjoy the warm Hawaiian breeze. Better for the vibe than the drinks or food, but still worth a visit if you're in Hanalei. THE WAIT: The hostess was nice - it was a short wait for a table, but we were able to sit at the bar immediately at 7pm on a Monday. About halfway through our first drink, we saw a few tables open up along the wall and after checking with a server just sat ourselves. THE AMBIANCE: The live music was fun, the performer's wife did some ad hoc hula dancing, and it felt like a fun party with retired folk who have a lot of energy and are just looking to enjoy themselves. THE SERVICE: This part was quite slow. Our server took a long time to come to our table and everything took a while throughout the meal. They were nice and didn't mind that I had leftovers from another restaurant while my bf ordered a dinner entree. DRINKS: Mai Tai & Coconut/cayenne drink photo: yelp.com/biz_photos/tahiâ€¦ * Mai Tai - 4 stars Solid, good! But this was mostly good because of the premix. There wasn't a lot of cocktail artistry in the drink, but maybe that's just the SF foodie in me talking.. * Coconut cayenne drink - 3 stars Sounded promising, but this wasn't well balanced at all. It tasted way too strong, and you had to mix the cayenne significantly yourself to spread it out throughout the drink. * Another coconut/vodka drink on the menu - 3 stars pic: yelp.com/biz_photos/tahiâ€¦ Not very impressive - also too strong! MAINS: * Macadamia Nut Panko Crusted Ono - 3.5 stars pic: yelp.com/biz_photos/tahiâ€¦ My bf really loved this, but I thought it was mediocre. The flavors were there, but the veggies were soggy and it just wasn't a very high quality dish. DESSERTS: * Ice cream combo: Soursop (sorbet), chocolate, and coconut - 4 stars pic: yelp.com/biz_photos/tahiâ€¦ A nice combo of flavors! Tart, sweet/bitter, and tropical. The soursop was also quite rich for a sorbet, which I like (sorbets are usually to watered down for me). The coconut had a very authentic taste to it too.
(3)
Robin B.

I really wanted to love everything about this place. Music was good, hula was good, Mai Tais were good, atmosphere was good. my husband's Ono was good.....but...... My brother in law and I we're going to split a pizza. We ordered it at the same time as everything else. They delivered everyone at our large party's food EXCEPT the pizza. 25 minutes later (at least), the other 5 people in our party were finished with their food and their plates were even cleared.....Still no pizza. We finally asked again about it and were told that the pizza is made somewhere else and it wasn't connected with the rest of the restaurant (even though it is on the same menu and no one ever said anything about this) so items from both places rarely came out together. Ok. But everyone else's plates CLEARED even?? In the end, we just asked them to take it off the bill and forget about it. We never even saw it. Very sad (and hungry).
(2)
Emily M.

Fun little "dive-y" restaurant in town. They had live music which was a plus. The service was average and not as bad as previous reviews made it seem. It also wasn't very crowded when we went for dinner. We had the pizza with Kalua pig and pineapple. The pineapple seemed to be from a can.... What was saving it was the garlicky/fluffy crust! Decent price for the pizza to share - other items seemed kind of high in price. The Mai tai was actually one of the better we have had in Hawaii! Decent place to just hang back either for food and/or drinks. Nothing fancy.
(3)
Elizabeth T.

Not open for late night food, only drinks! They should at least have pupus!!!! I wasn't happy about the lack of late night food, but I truly enjoyed the live band and the beer. All the drinks looked great but I stuck to the Kona Hef. It was delicious. The vibe was very lively and fun, worry free! You're in paradise so its expected. The band was amazing! I wish I would've took down their name to write it on here. They played very well, great voice, and excellent selection of music for a Tuesday night. The bartender wasn't very attentive or good at coming to check on my friend and I. Nonetheless, I enjoyed it and met some great people there too. Nice way to spend a Tuesday and my last night of vacation in Kauai.
(3)
Marc L.

We went here last night and our server Joe and hostess Tiala were AWESOME! They both were very friendly and helpful making decisions on what to eat. We started off with the Ahi Carpacio suggested by Joe which was simply the best Pupu we have ever had. We then moved on to a pizza which was suggested to do half of a #3 and half #5. One of the best pizzas we've had. The Mai Tais were also very tasty. We highly recommend stopping in for dinner. As we were leaving the live entertainment kicked in but unfortunately we had to get up early for our flight and could stay and enjoy.
(4)
Sean D.

This is a great spot for people on vacation that enjoy dive bars. And the stink of a dive bar that never really gets cleaned. I get the feeling this place makes soo much money that they don't really care if you come back or not. I understand that tourists that blow into town looking to have a great time are annoying. But that is why all the places recommend Mai Tais that cost $12 bucks. That has the extra tourist you suck tax included. Also there are shot glasses for tourists and shot glasses for locals. I witnessed this and that is when it all became clear. Don't buy shots, go to the liquor store next door buy a bottle and pour your own. This liquor store is actually a gem amongst rocks. They have pretty much everything plus large bags of ice for 2 dollars... Back to the Nui. There is a little bar next door which can fit about 10 people that is clearly nicer but is always full. They keep this place clean. We had a few meals at the Nui and the pizza is what kept us coming back. The pizza comes from the pizza joint in the back. They have a window in the rear so you can order pizza directly.. This will save u money. You can have one overpriced we hate you tourist cocktail at the bar why you wait for your we love you tourist that is why we make such good pizza for you pizza to come out. They take about 25 mins which is about how long you have to wait to get a drink anyways. We still enjoyed the place and the band that plays there are really fun, so it all adds up to a typical dive bar 3 star. Mahalo soo much...
(3)
Michelle W.

Jay was great tonight. Made our party of 12 easy breezy. Helped with food choices and guided the kids to great food and drinks. Thanks again Jay.
(5)
Trish s.

Great bartending here... Food was good, even though it takes a while. Its worth it, plus its Kauai! This is a local dive bar, so respect that when you go in. Very unpretentious, so you should be too. Good bands at night. Nice people, but expect an occasional oddball to come in. It is always interesting at the Nui... Love it!
(5)

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Address : 5-5134 Kuhio Hwy
Hanalei, HI, 96714
Phone (888) 975-6679
Website https://www.thenui.com/
Click To Get Directions

Opening Hours

Mon :11:00 am - 10

Specialities

Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Divey
Noise Level : Loud
Music : Live
Good For Dancing : No
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : Yes
Best Nights : Wed, Thu, Fri
Coat Check : No
Smoking : Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No

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Tahiti Nui

5-5134 Kuhio Hwy, Hanalei, HI, 96714

Tahiti Nui Menu

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