Seafood Bar
61-3642 Kawaihae Rd, Kamuela, HI, 96743
Seafood Bar Menu
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Address :
61-3642 Kawaihae Rd
Kamuela, HI, 96743 - Phone (808) 880-9393
- Website https://www.seafoodbargrill.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 1:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Brunch, Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Dan E.
5 stars. Wife and I are family style between the two of us doing a little surf and turf. We had the special which was Opah fish with a red pepper tomatillo cream sauce with mashed potatoes and asparagus and WE COULD NOT EAT ENOUGH of it. The other entree we ordered was also delicious - a "pupu steak" which was a thin cut of beef with a nice sauce and onions rings on top. We finished off with a lava cake and locally made ice cream while sipping down a Mai tai prior to eating. All of this ran us $76 before tip. The interior is a quant Hawaiian bar feel and feels like a locals seafood place though there were a few tourists as well. If you are staying at one of the nearby resorts - do yourself a favor and leave the resort and get to this restaurant for dinner and drinks. We may very well be returning for lunch tomorrow! Props to John, our bartender and server who was just so welcoming, friendly and talkative! Thanks for a great time!
(5)Alain S.
I enjoyed my new dish today. Normally the Asian short ribs or steamed fish with cilantro, ginger and covered in peanut oil are the go to meals. For appetizers the calamari and coconut shrimp are solid appetizers and even better during happy hour! Today I tried the black bean seafood combo and was impressed. Will add this to our ongoing dinner order!! Once again leaving here a satisfied and full customer.
(4)Gersey C.
What a surprise gem. Far from any resort, Seafood bar is hidden across the street from a large container shipping yard. To start, we ordered a poke appetizer and two mai tai. The drinks were strong and had quality rum floating above the sweet juice below. The poke had excellent texture, was served at the right cool (not cold) temp, and was immaculate (no fishiness). I ordered the seafood fried rice. It had a buffet's worth of delicious seafood in it. I wish the tiny little fresh shrimp were a little larger (I understand there'd be fewer, but I think most peeps would be good with that). The spearfish chunks were plentiful, clean and very chicken-like. They were as hard as swordfish (which is a costly fish) so I was surprised it was in my fried rice. It was filling and reasonably high quality. The ti leaf steamed monchong fish was the highlight. Steamed white, clean, and with very little seasoning. The ti leaf flavor gave a long finish on the palette. The Haole will not know, but this local fish was cooked exactly like authentic Chinese restaurants would. The chef used a little ginger, a little green onion, and then poured hot oil (maybe peanut oil) over the fish after steaming. This was a 5 star dish but just a little less oil drenching would have made it perfect. For dessert, we ordered the chocolate lava cake and it was as excellent. As a bonus, the waitress brought out a slice of birthday cake from the bar owner's friend's B-day happening at the far end of the bar. This meal set us back just over one Benjamin. We didn't expect that, but we also didn't expect such a refined meal in a bar. The family feel of this joint adds a half star to its rating. 4.5 for the food + 0.5 for the friendly waitstaff and owner who chatted us up about our shared pasts in the east coast of the mainland. Mahalo!
(5)A T.
The service was really attentive and friendly - a solid 4 stars. Being a "seafood" restaurant, we were really disappointed with the selection of seafood choices. For fish, they only had Spear Fish or Sword Fish. We ended up ordering the Cajun Spear Fish, the seafood medley with black beans, and I ended up ordering a smoked prime rib because there wasn't any other seafood dish on the menu that caught my attention. The dishes were slightly better than average. My medium rare smoked prime rib was more on the well side but had a wonderful smoked flavor. It came garnished with a piece of broccoli and a side of mashed potatoes. Eh. Abi and Katheryn had the seafood dishes. They were good but again, nothing exceptional. We missed the happy hour where you can get appies (pupus) for $8. I would recommend this place for a decent meal - go after 9 though for the happy hour. Don't go here if you want to be wowed by the food nor the ambiance.
(4)John V.
My wife and I had fresh made pineapple Mac nut slaw, very refreshing. For our main course we had catch of the day on linguine very good. I must also mention how fast the service was. I would recommend this location to anyone who comes to the big island or lives here five star.
(5)James B.
We stumbled on this place while on a rode trip. We had the special of the day fish taco's with rice and beans. Excellent and very large portions.
(5)Virginia T.
Seafood Bar is one of the few restaurants that are open past 9pm in Kawaihae. What's more is that they have a Happy Hour late into the evening at their very tiki-looking tiki bar! I had the Lobster and Crab pot pie for dinner and was a bit disappointed. Even though the description did say that this was more of a soup with a puff pastry biscuit on top, the filling itself didn't have enough liquid and the puff pastry was very hard. I think the filling would have made a very good soup on its own with more liquid. My boyfriend had the flank steak, which had a nice smokey grill smell, but was very chewy. Yes, we're the bad people who ordered steak at a seafood restaurant. :\ The one dish we really liked was the coconut shrimp appetizer. The coconut gave it a great crunch and it went very well with the sweet and sour dipping sauce. Also, the mai tai was pretty good too! I have to admit, we only ate here for dinner because we were staying in Hapuna Beach and this was the closest food open. Probably will skip the next time we're in town.
(3)Reena R.
Every time we make a trip to Hawaii - I always have one food experience that makes the trip for me! This time... it was definitely the Happy Hour at Seafood Bar! I absolutely LOVED this place & literally everything about it. From the classic 1950's - 60's Tiki Bar Decor to the super friendly service... from the supernacular $5 Mai Tais to the perfect last morsel of Kona Coffee Mud Pie... this place is terrific! We tried the calamari (absolute perfection), coconut shrimp (superbly flavorful), seafood quesadilla (a plethora of goodness). The Kona Mud Pie brought me to tears of joy (probably spawned by the two Mai Tais consumed just before it came out). The server embodied pure aloha & I totally adored her. The patrons were a mix of locals & tourists... all having a lovely time! Moral of the story? Hit this place up for Happy Hour! I know I will, next time I'm on the Big Island of Hawaii!
(5)Joe P.
Seafood Bar is located in Kamuela, west of the 19 as you head North, vs heading east to Waimea. They specialize in local seafood. On the day we went they had opah (moonfish) and mukau (monchong - similar to a snapper). To drink, I had a seasonal Kona IPA ($6.50). My cousins had smoothies ($6/each?!). The beer was very good, but the smoothies were overpriced. They should not cost as much as a beer. I had the sesame crusted mukau salad w/ waipi'o ferns ($29). My cousins had the grilled opah ($24), and pizza ($21 - sausage, onions & portuguese sausage). The latter two items are not pictured because my cousins were getting tired of me taking pics of their food. The mukau was very good. It was cooked very well, and the local greens and other salad items were fresh and crunchy. My only issue was the price: $29?!?!?!: 3 Stars. My cousin really liked her opah. It was cooked way better compared to high-end Napua at The Mani Lani Beach Club - It wasn't overdone: 4 Stars. On the other hand, the pizza was way overpriced at $21. In addition, I had a piece and the crust was underdone for my liking: 2 Stars. The ambiance is typical tiki bar. However, they do have nice Hawaiian memorabilia like a Don Ho album at our table, and Hawaiian skirts in glass cases in other parts of the restaurant: 4 Stars. The service was really good. The owner greeted us and took our drink orders. The waitress was really nice, and the food came out quickly: 4 Stars. The fish is cooked better than high-end Napua. However, the prices of the food w/o a view would prevent me from coming frequently if I lived in the area.
(3)Steve K.
We stopped in on our way up north to have lunch. It was Memorial Day and a lot of restaurants were closed, and we were happy to find them open. My wife had a very nice salad with their coconut shrimp on top, and I had the reuben and onion rings. The salad was huge, and delicious; the lettuce was very fresh, the tomatoes were tasty, and the miso dressing superb. The reuben was not as impressive as the salad, but still good. At any rate our waitress was friendly and attentive, the view outside was not exactly oceanfront but still interesting with a bit of the ocean in the background. It grew more busy as we were there, and people looked like they were enjoying their meals and cold beverages. Glad they were open, and glad we stopped in. Mahalo!
(4)Kristin K.
Only thing open on Memorial Day after the trek to Pololu Valley. Wanted and tried to eat in Waimea (for the 3rd time in our trip) but due to the holiday everything we wanted was closed. The pupus were truly forgettable during happy hour and though our server was hustling, she couldn't make up for the cheeseball owner and the deep fried shumai (never had these fried), essentially TJs shumai dropped in a fryer basket. The seafood quesadilla had bechamel sauce inside and the best was the 4 coconut shrimp that came on a happy hour portion. So far we have had two bad meals on the BI and this was one of them. Pupus during happy hour are $8. Kona Coffee Mud Pie is an abomination of very poor quality chocolate ice cream, minimal 'oreo' crust, hershey's chocolate sauce and redi whip.
(1)Magun S.
Cute little restaurant on the second floor overlooking the harbor across the street. The fish is fresh and delicious! I had the seared poke and my husband had the black bean seafood combo, both were delicious! The waitress suggested we add the parmesan bread with the seafood combo to sop up the sauce, it was to die for! The Mai Tai I ordered was fantastic. We will definitely be returning before we leave. I would suggest coming during happy hour, selected drinks are $4-$5 and selected appetizers are served at a reduced price as well.
(5)John R.
Maybe ok during happy hour but during normal hours its a less than great deal. Small portions leave you wanting to stop at mcdonalds after to finish filling up. Onion rings were the highlight. Flank steak, cocunut shrimp and seafood quasadia were ok at best. Make sure to get some extra sides or have food at home.
(3)Dan A.
Craving a drink and some dang good fish? This is the place. Indoor ac and tiki bar, out door second floor patio with a breeze. Drinks and food have good pricing, and they offer two happy hours, one 3-6, one 930 and later. Had the fresh fish plate, ono, white rice and subbed a green salad for sautéed vegs...tasty, fresh and fast. Spouse ordered the coconut shrimp sandwich with onion rings sub for fries. Shrimp delicious, side sauce was a bit sweet, I think coconut. Onion rings,are best ever! Lunch total with a cocktail each was $58 with tax and tip. Enjoy! Bottom line, good eats, fast and great for lunch!
(4)Matt K.
From all the reviews, I was expecting to be wowed. Never happened. Food was good. That's about it. Locals? Where? I guess they were all hanging at the bar, cuz the dining area was nothing but tourists. I agree with another reviewer: parking was difficult, and seemed pointless to have an outside dining area that overlooked the road and I don't know what...It was evening, and for all I know, it could have been a refinery. I just know that I'd have rather sat inside. Service was efficient, not very friendly. I think our waitress was harried from an extremely busy night. Cheaper than the hotel restaurants, and better portions, but still... for the price and all the rave reviews, I expected better. If I was walking by, I might stop in again. But not an experience that I would drive for.
(3)Erica Q.
Had several people recommend this place; glad I took their advice. Place had a casual atmosphere and delicious food. We had the fish of the day (Marlin) Cajun style. Very yummy. Only small complaint; so many flees outside. Oh well, indoors next time. ;)
(5)Funn O.
If you're looking for an average or even edible seafood meal don't come here. This review has nothing to do with the service which was mediocre. The 'seafood' is frozen food that has been sloppily prepared. Calamari is like chicken strips with large breaded soggy pieces of calamari. Chicken wings are poorly sauced on a make shift bed of cabbage. Oyster shooters are canned oysters in a shot glass with horseradish and cocktail sauce with a slice of lemon. Food is overpriced and quality is terrible. I couldn't even eat the food that was served. Needless to say I will never come here again.
(1)Dru L.
Just walked out after dealing with the bitchiest hostess/bartender ever. Asked to sit outside ...there were 6 of us and I couldn't take the A/C due to the results of chemo. Offered to sit at 2 tables...the place was empty... She told us we could squeeze into one or sit inside. Needless to say we left. We headed for the Blue Dragon where we had an excellent meal.
(1)Cathey T.
We enjoyed a delicious late lunch on Saturday at Seafood Bar. They were very busy but food & drinks came out fast and tasty. My favorite is the seafood quesadilla but today hubby and I shared coconut shrimp (po' boy style) sandwich, served with a pina colade li hing mui sauce that would be great to buy by the bottle. Perfectly cooked calamari too, and ice cold beer. Great little getaway across from the ocean in Kawaihae.
(5)Laura G.
A-M-A-Z-I-N-G Red Thai Curry Seafood. I could just swim in that sauce. YUM! The view is not much but the food is amazing. Can't get any fresher than this.
(5)Kristin G.
We came here on our last night in town and it was fabulous! My husband got the prime rib, which was a special, and I got the black bean seafood combo. Both dishes were great. My only complaint would be that the seafood combo has a lot of liquid and doesn't come with any rice or bread. I had to order a side of rice and I was a little bummed about that because it was $4 extra. I'd definitely come back here if we're ever on the big island again!
(5)Ben P.
Service was continuous with a smile every time! A small group of military came through on a Monday and both were taken care of very well. It feels nice to come to an island where people appreciate your service and everyone is respected as humans. This restaurant near K-Dock or Matson port is a must eat!! Nice setting and great waitress we had!! Thank you
(5)Vanessa C.
We ended up at Seafood Bar on our last night on the Big Island. We had actually intended to go to Lava Lava Beach Club as it was close to our resort and closer to the airport, but our reservation was cancelled due to the restaurant sustaining storm damage the night before. This worked out in our favor as we ended up We went to Seafood Bar and Grill with a tight timeline as we needed to get in, eat, and get to the airport ASAP. They were very accomodating to our tight time schedule and the food was DELICIOUS. My husband and I both had the swordfish special and one of our daughters had the mahi mahi special - both were excellent. The other kids has the burger, fresh fish sandwich and grilled chicken BLT and everyone was plased with their meal. We made it to the airport in plenty of time for our red eye flight with full, happy bellies. This dining experience was a great way to end our trip.
(5)Francisco C.
The prices are reasonable and the seafood pizza was delicious. The restaurant below the bar is closed today so we almost miss the bar thinking it was closed. They have a happy hour for drinks and appetizers. With two appetizers and the pizza it was enough food for two people.
(4)Miss G.
Great food! Good prices. Happy hour is 3 hours long, twice a day. Gotta try the Mai Tai's & anything with fresh fish! Service is friendly & fast. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone wanting to get away from the resorts!!!
(5)Perri M.
They do not take reservations, but we only had to wait a short time for a table. Parking was difficult. Full bar, friendly & attentive staff. We had seafood red curry, Cajun fresh catch & seafood fried rice. All good, but not great. Macadamia nut pie was very good, as well as chocolate lava cake.
(3)Analyst C.
We reached the end of the point and we were trying to the Plantation Bar and Grill which was closed and only open from 5pm -9pm; So we decided to get a snack here--Seafood Bar has a great bar with television; staff was friendly and welcoming; we ordered a seafood quesidilla- too much cheese and not enough seafood. Too bad this place does not have a view
(3)Julia C.
The reviews seemed promising. After locating our destination, we should have been wary as the interior was seriously designed as tourist trap. After a long time spent at the beach our stomachs were telling us otherwise. Our dining experience started out right. Friendly attentive service along with a pair of amazing oyster shooters. Should've took the hint as the place was obviously called the seafood bar. Who comes to a seafood bar and orders otherwise? Oops, we do. A cheeseburger for the Mrs. and a wet burrito for the Mr. Both bland and unyielding on all tasteless accounts. Seriously upset that we'd end up spending as much as we did on these two dishes. Maybe we should have just ordered seafood to begin with, but taking in the fact that it was a menu option then it should be good enough to serve too.
(2)Jenna B.
We basically had every type of seafood on the menu - coconut shrimp, oyster shooters, calamari, ahi sashimi, island salad with poke and black bean seafood combo. I can honestly say I would order all of it again. Coconut shrimp - you get four deep fried pieces of shrimp with a really sweet dipping sauce, it was a great appetizer. Oyster shooters and ahi sashimi - typical oyster shooters and ahi sashimi, both were fresh. Calamari - be warned this is a steak not the rings and it is served with a wasabi mayo dipping sauce. Again, very fresh and tender. Island salad with poke - my dad said it was the best salad he ever had. It is served with romaine and leafy greens, soba noodles, creamy asian dressing and of course deliciously seasoned seared poke. I also had this for dinner and I would definitely order it again, they give you huge portion of poke and I couldn't even finish it. Definitely a winner! Black bean seafood combo - I tried some of my moms and it was delicious. She also ordered the Parmesan bread to dip in the bean sauce. If you order this you must order bread with it. Overall, not the greatest view or ambiance. Service was decent but the food was AMAZING! Definitely worth the trip.
(5)Jim R.
We ate here twice and both times it was great. The macadam slaw and the seafood rice were my favorite.
(5)Jordan W.
This place is delicious - fresh fish and great flavors. You cannot pass up the pupu calamari - it is fantastic.
(5)A G.
As many others have said, the views are not great and we had to fight off the flies outside, but we enjoyed terrific service and good food. The coconut shrimp pupu included 4 deep-fried, coconut-crusted butterflied shrimp that were cooked right and served with a sweet coconut-flavored sauce that was a little too sweet for our tastes. The fried calamari pupu was a calamari steak that was breaded and deep-fried. It was amazingly tender and served with a great wasabi aioli. Loved the oyster shooter which has the right mix of cocktail sauce, horseradish, lemon and briny Queen Charlotte oyster. We shared the seafood fried rice, ginger steamed clams and smoked prime rib Tuesday special. The fried rice contained a reasonably generous portion of various seafood, including tiny shrimp, perfectly cooked scallop and two kinds of fish and served with lemon. The ginger clams were served in a creamy broth with two pieces of Parmesan toast that was perfect for dipping. We even got a side order of the toast because it was really good. Could have slurped up that broth! The highlight was the smoked prime rib which was exactly medium rare and the right level of mild smoke. It was served with creamy mash potatoes and broccoli. Everything came out quickly and at the right temperature. Our server was fantastic and we would certainly come back for another casual, relaxed and tasty meal!
(4)Sheree M.
This is a great restaurant near the resort area of the big island. They have a cheap happy hour and reverse happy hour with tasty drinks and wonderful appetizers. The food is very good. They have daily specials too. Again reasonably priced. Who knew you could get such a deal in Hawaii? My husband and I were here on a couple occasions while staying in the area. The staff was great. Tim was our bartender (perhaps manager too?) he was awesome and makes amazing cocktails.
(5)Christina H.
Good happy hour cheap drinks. Good pupus. Bar atmosphere. Not beachfront but you can see the water if you look around the storage tanks at the port. Excellent friendly service. A nice break from resort hotels.
(3)Natalie F.
Ignore the tired decor. The view is just OK, but if you want some great food, stop on by. I travel to Big Island regularly and hands down Seafood Bar is my favorite place to eat on the island. You can spend a lot more money for a so-so meal at many of the "fine" resort restaurants along the coast. You can't beat the fresh fish and seafood. I've tried most of the items on the menu but find myself going back to the fresh catch special.. it never disappoints. Dave also makes a mean cocktail!
(5)Monica C.
We came here after a beach day to find Good food (especially poke), strong drinks (great Mai tai), and nice service! Close to resorts but a comforting relief from hotel food.
(4)Has B.
Thank you seafood bar for serving me the best meal I've had so far in Hawaii -- Mahi Mahi Hawaiian style with fresh ginger shiitake mushroom and cilantro. Fresh and delicious. Great cocktails too. Was good to get away from the Hilton Waikoloa Village for the night and enjoy the local fare. Noticed we weren't the only hotel guests hanging out here. Thanks again for great food -- place was packed too.
(5)Rick B.
View overlooks storage tanks. Onion rings were very bready wings ok. Bartender was friendly.
(2)Anne P.
We went here twice to make sure. In the end, both visits were mediocre. The seating inside and out is uncomfortable. While I don't mind facing the industrial harbour, the view isn't spectacular. The service was fast, but not too friendly. Although they were busy, the waitress didn't lighten up until the crowds became more manageable. The food was nothing to die for despite all the ads you will see about this place and other tourists touting how fantastic it is. I think it could be really awesome, but they need to lessen their menu size and focus on making some really good local Hawaiian pub food instead of covering all of Asia in one fell swoop. Chances of returning are zero. Pricing is moderate.
(2)Aimee G.
The food was great! My whole family and I had been touring Big Island for an entire week and we had not found a place that was this good for this price. The service was great also! The staff was very nice and welcoming, I would most definitely come back here.
(5)Ilya S.
Excellent fresh seafood. Reasonable prices. Relaxed atmosphere and great service. Interesting menu choices - escargot, lobster and crab pot pie! Both excellent.
(5)Anh-Dao H.
We had the daily fish special and it was delicious! The waitress was personable and funny. Great experience. Would definitely come back.
(4)Dwight T.
Tuesday night is prime rib night. WOW Best I've had in a long time. Keawe smoked and just right. Worth the price and worth the wait. Good service. Great desert choices.
(5)Lisa M.
Stopped by to try to get in, the bartender was about at rude as they come, barking orders at staff and customers. Many people waiting left (and we did, too). Who needs angry people?
(1)Marty A.
Wonderful Seafood Bar, Tiki style! Possibly the best grilled fish sandwich I have ever eaten. And the Ginger clams also were awesome. Add an oyster shooter and several cold beers and it's a great evening! Catch the sunset and whale watching beforehand at one of the state parks nearby on the fabulous Kohala Coast. What's not to like?!?
(5)Lilly L.
Cute little place near a beach where the locals hang. I was disappointed in the food, though, as others were completely raving about it. I had the Poke Burger, which was a bit bland and (I know, it's fish), "fishy." Boyfriend had the Thai Steak Salad which was also just ok, though the steak was cooked nicely. My favorite aspect of this place was receiving our glasses of chardonnay in chilled glasses - nice touch. If I were to come back to the Big Island, I'd definitely give this place another try, especially during Happy Hour where they have well priced pupus...I just think we ordered the wrong things.
(3)Loee M.
The food is amazing and fresh, great place for a drink and meal off the beaten path.
(5)Sayoko I.
Great Food! Calamari...seafood fried rice....pizza ect....i go atleast once a month or every 2 weeks
(5)JK C.
Fresh seafood and good portion. Fried calamari was great! I would go back to check their Happy Hour next time.
(5)Jackie C.
I'm actually going back to edit my original review because my husband got sick and threw up after eating here. It was because of the oyster he ate, which unlike oysters he has eaten in the past, he said tasted surprisingly fishy. The food was just ok and not at all fresh tasting. We will not be coming back and not recommending it to anyone!
(1)Linden N.
The food and service was okay but definitely not worth the money. Each meal costs $13-15 and most of the seafood is served in the afternoon, not at noon for lunch.
(2)Leisha B.
Be sure to stop at this place if you are on the Big Island! Hole in the wall bar upstairs that will not disappoint! Upon recommendation from the server, I tried something way out of the norm...Black Bean Seafood Medley with Parmesan cheese bread for dipping. Words can not describe how good the sauce was...white whine, butter garlic, cream, chucks of fresh white fish, scallops, shrimp, onions and mushrooms! And you will use that bread to sop up every drop! My husband had the seafood quesadillas and the calamari (which was the best I've ever eaten) and a few really good local beers. The scenery isn't much at all, but do yourself a favor and make the drive out here. Happy hour starts at 3p, with $8 small plates and $4 beers! And the Macadamia Nut pie with locally made vanilla bean ice cream was the grand finale...worth the calorie splurge for sure!
(5)Dan E.
5 stars. Wife and I are family style between the two of us doing a little surf and turf. We had the special which was Opah fish with a red pepper tomatillo cream sauce with mashed potatoes and asparagus and WE COULD NOT EAT ENOUGH of it. The other entree we ordered was also delicious - a "pupu steak" which was a thin cut of beef with a nice sauce and onions rings on top. We finished off with a lava cake and locally made ice cream while sipping down a Mai tai prior to eating. All of this ran us $76 before tip. The interior is a quant Hawaiian bar feel and feels like a locals seafood place though there were a few tourists as well. If you are staying at one of the nearby resorts - do yourself a favor and leave the resort and get to this restaurant for dinner and drinks. We may very well be returning for lunch tomorrow! Props to John, our bartender and server who was just so welcoming, friendly and talkative! Thanks for a great time!
(5)Gersey C.
What a surprise gem. Far from any resort, Seafood bar is hidden across the street from a large container shipping yard. To start, we ordered a poke appetizer and two mai tai. The drinks were strong and had quality rum floating above the sweet juice below. The poke had excellent texture, was served at the right cool (not cold) temp, and was immaculate (no fishiness). I ordered the seafood fried rice. It had a buffet's worth of delicious seafood in it. I wish the tiny little fresh shrimp were a little larger (I understand there'd be fewer, but I think most peeps would be good with that). The spearfish chunks were plentiful, clean and very chicken-like. They were as hard as swordfish (which is a costly fish) so I was surprised it was in my fried rice. It was filling and reasonably high quality. The ti leaf steamed monchong fish was the highlight. Steamed white, clean, and with very little seasoning. The ti leaf flavor gave a long finish on the palette. The Haole will not know, but this local fish was cooked exactly like authentic Chinese restaurants would. The chef used a little ginger, a little green onion, and then poured hot oil (maybe peanut oil) over the fish after steaming. This was a 5 star dish but just a little less oil drenching would have made it perfect. For dessert, we ordered the chocolate lava cake and it was as excellent. As a bonus, the waitress brought out a slice of birthday cake from the bar owner's friend's B-day happening at the far end of the bar. This meal set us back just over one Benjamin. We didn't expect that, but we also didn't expect such a refined meal in a bar. The family feel of this joint adds a half star to its rating. 4.5 for the food + 0.5 for the friendly waitstaff and owner who chatted us up about our shared pasts in the east coast of the mainland. Mahalo!
(5)A T.
The service was really attentive and friendly - a solid 4 stars. Being a "seafood" restaurant, we were really disappointed with the selection of seafood choices. For fish, they only had Spear Fish or Sword Fish. We ended up ordering the Cajun Spear Fish, the seafood medley with black beans, and I ended up ordering a smoked prime rib because there wasn't any other seafood dish on the menu that caught my attention. The dishes were slightly better than average. My medium rare smoked prime rib was more on the well side but had a wonderful smoked flavor. It came garnished with a piece of broccoli and a side of mashed potatoes. Eh. Abi and Katheryn had the seafood dishes. They were good but again, nothing exceptional. We missed the happy hour where you can get appies (pupus) for $8. I would recommend this place for a decent meal - go after 9 though for the happy hour. Don't go here if you want to be wowed by the food nor the ambiance.
(4)John V.
My wife and I had fresh made pineapple Mac nut slaw, very refreshing. For our main course we had catch of the day on linguine very good. I must also mention how fast the service was. I would recommend this location to anyone who comes to the big island or lives here five star.
(5)James B.
We stumbled on this place while on a rode trip. We had the special of the day fish taco's with rice and beans. Excellent and very large portions.
(5)Virginia T.
Seafood Bar is one of the few restaurants that are open past 9pm in Kawaihae. What's more is that they have a Happy Hour late into the evening at their very tiki-looking tiki bar! I had the Lobster and Crab pot pie for dinner and was a bit disappointed. Even though the description did say that this was more of a soup with a puff pastry biscuit on top, the filling itself didn't have enough liquid and the puff pastry was very hard. I think the filling would have made a very good soup on its own with more liquid. My boyfriend had the flank steak, which had a nice smokey grill smell, but was very chewy. Yes, we're the bad people who ordered steak at a seafood restaurant. :\ The one dish we really liked was the coconut shrimp appetizer. The coconut gave it a great crunch and it went very well with the sweet and sour dipping sauce. Also, the mai tai was pretty good too! I have to admit, we only ate here for dinner because we were staying in Hapuna Beach and this was the closest food open. Probably will skip the next time we're in town.
(3)Reena R.
Every time we make a trip to Hawaii - I always have one food experience that makes the trip for me! This time... it was definitely the Happy Hour at Seafood Bar! I absolutely LOVED this place & literally everything about it. From the classic 1950's - 60's Tiki Bar Decor to the super friendly service... from the supernacular $5 Mai Tais to the perfect last morsel of Kona Coffee Mud Pie... this place is terrific! We tried the calamari (absolute perfection), coconut shrimp (superbly flavorful), seafood quesadilla (a plethora of goodness). The Kona Mud Pie brought me to tears of joy (probably spawned by the two Mai Tais consumed just before it came out). The server embodied pure aloha & I totally adored her. The patrons were a mix of locals & tourists... all having a lovely time! Moral of the story? Hit this place up for Happy Hour! I know I will, next time I'm on the Big Island of Hawaii!
(5)Joe P.
Seafood Bar is located in Kamuela, west of the 19 as you head North, vs heading east to Waimea. They specialize in local seafood. On the day we went they had opah (moonfish) and mukau (monchong - similar to a snapper). To drink, I had a seasonal Kona IPA ($6.50). My cousins had smoothies ($6/each?!). The beer was very good, but the smoothies were overpriced. They should not cost as much as a beer. I had the sesame crusted mukau salad w/ waipi'o ferns ($29). My cousins had the grilled opah ($24), and pizza ($21 - sausage, onions & portuguese sausage). The latter two items are not pictured because my cousins were getting tired of me taking pics of their food. The mukau was very good. It was cooked very well, and the local greens and other salad items were fresh and crunchy. My only issue was the price: $29?!?!?!: 3 Stars. My cousin really liked her opah. It was cooked way better compared to high-end Napua at The Mani Lani Beach Club - It wasn't overdone: 4 Stars. On the other hand, the pizza was way overpriced at $21. In addition, I had a piece and the crust was underdone for my liking: 2 Stars. The ambiance is typical tiki bar. However, they do have nice Hawaiian memorabilia like a Don Ho album at our table, and Hawaiian skirts in glass cases in other parts of the restaurant: 4 Stars. The service was really good. The owner greeted us and took our drink orders. The waitress was really nice, and the food came out quickly: 4 Stars. The fish is cooked better than high-end Napua. However, the prices of the food w/o a view would prevent me from coming frequently if I lived in the area.
(3)Steve K.
We stopped in on our way up north to have lunch. It was Memorial Day and a lot of restaurants were closed, and we were happy to find them open. My wife had a very nice salad with their coconut shrimp on top, and I had the reuben and onion rings. The salad was huge, and delicious; the lettuce was very fresh, the tomatoes were tasty, and the miso dressing superb. The reuben was not as impressive as the salad, but still good. At any rate our waitress was friendly and attentive, the view outside was not exactly oceanfront but still interesting with a bit of the ocean in the background. It grew more busy as we were there, and people looked like they were enjoying their meals and cold beverages. Glad they were open, and glad we stopped in. Mahalo!
(4)Kristin K.
Only thing open on Memorial Day after the trek to Pololu Valley. Wanted and tried to eat in Waimea (for the 3rd time in our trip) but due to the holiday everything we wanted was closed. The pupus were truly forgettable during happy hour and though our server was hustling, she couldn't make up for the cheeseball owner and the deep fried shumai (never had these fried), essentially TJs shumai dropped in a fryer basket. The seafood quesadilla had bechamel sauce inside and the best was the 4 coconut shrimp that came on a happy hour portion. So far we have had two bad meals on the BI and this was one of them. Pupus during happy hour are $8. Kona Coffee Mud Pie is an abomination of very poor quality chocolate ice cream, minimal 'oreo' crust, hershey's chocolate sauce and redi whip.
(1)Magun S.
Cute little restaurant on the second floor overlooking the harbor across the street. The fish is fresh and delicious! I had the seared poke and my husband had the black bean seafood combo, both were delicious! The waitress suggested we add the parmesan bread with the seafood combo to sop up the sauce, it was to die for! The Mai Tai I ordered was fantastic. We will definitely be returning before we leave. I would suggest coming during happy hour, selected drinks are $4-$5 and selected appetizers are served at a reduced price as well.
(5)John R.
Maybe ok during happy hour but during normal hours its a less than great deal. Small portions leave you wanting to stop at mcdonalds after to finish filling up. Onion rings were the highlight. Flank steak, cocunut shrimp and seafood quasadia were ok at best. Make sure to get some extra sides or have food at home.
(3)Dan A.
Craving a drink and some dang good fish? This is the place. Indoor ac and tiki bar, out door second floor patio with a breeze. Drinks and food have good pricing, and they offer two happy hours, one 3-6, one 930 and later. Had the fresh fish plate, ono, white rice and subbed a green salad for sautéed vegs...tasty, fresh and fast. Spouse ordered the coconut shrimp sandwich with onion rings sub for fries. Shrimp delicious, side sauce was a bit sweet, I think coconut. Onion rings,are best ever! Lunch total with a cocktail each was $58 with tax and tip. Enjoy! Bottom line, good eats, fast and great for lunch!
(4)Alain S.
I enjoyed my new dish today. Normally the Asian short ribs or steamed fish with cilantro, ginger and covered in peanut oil are the go to meals. For appetizers the calamari and coconut shrimp are solid appetizers and even better during happy hour! Today I tried the black bean seafood combo and was impressed. Will add this to our ongoing dinner order!! Once again leaving here a satisfied and full customer.
(4)Matt K.
From all the reviews, I was expecting to be wowed. Never happened. Food was good. That's about it. Locals? Where? I guess they were all hanging at the bar, cuz the dining area was nothing but tourists. I agree with another reviewer: parking was difficult, and seemed pointless to have an outside dining area that overlooked the road and I don't know what...It was evening, and for all I know, it could have been a refinery. I just know that I'd have rather sat inside. Service was efficient, not very friendly. I think our waitress was harried from an extremely busy night. Cheaper than the hotel restaurants, and better portions, but still... for the price and all the rave reviews, I expected better. If I was walking by, I might stop in again. But not an experience that I would drive for.
(3)Erica Q.
Had several people recommend this place; glad I took their advice. Place had a casual atmosphere and delicious food. We had the fish of the day (Marlin) Cajun style. Very yummy. Only small complaint; so many flees outside. Oh well, indoors next time. ;)
(5)Funn O.
If you're looking for an average or even edible seafood meal don't come here. This review has nothing to do with the service which was mediocre. The 'seafood' is frozen food that has been sloppily prepared. Calamari is like chicken strips with large breaded soggy pieces of calamari. Chicken wings are poorly sauced on a make shift bed of cabbage. Oyster shooters are canned oysters in a shot glass with horseradish and cocktail sauce with a slice of lemon. Food is overpriced and quality is terrible. I couldn't even eat the food that was served. Needless to say I will never come here again.
(1)Dru L.
Just walked out after dealing with the bitchiest hostess/bartender ever. Asked to sit outside ...there were 6 of us and I couldn't take the A/C due to the results of chemo. Offered to sit at 2 tables...the place was empty... She told us we could squeeze into one or sit inside. Needless to say we left. We headed for the Blue Dragon where we had an excellent meal.
(1)Cathey T.
We enjoyed a delicious late lunch on Saturday at Seafood Bar. They were very busy but food & drinks came out fast and tasty. My favorite is the seafood quesadilla but today hubby and I shared coconut shrimp (po' boy style) sandwich, served with a pina colade li hing mui sauce that would be great to buy by the bottle. Perfectly cooked calamari too, and ice cold beer. Great little getaway across from the ocean in Kawaihae.
(5)Laura G.
A-M-A-Z-I-N-G Red Thai Curry Seafood. I could just swim in that sauce. YUM! The view is not much but the food is amazing. Can't get any fresher than this.
(5)Kristin G.
We came here on our last night in town and it was fabulous! My husband got the prime rib, which was a special, and I got the black bean seafood combo. Both dishes were great. My only complaint would be that the seafood combo has a lot of liquid and doesn't come with any rice or bread. I had to order a side of rice and I was a little bummed about that because it was $4 extra. I'd definitely come back here if we're ever on the big island again!
(5)Ben P.
Service was continuous with a smile every time! A small group of military came through on a Monday and both were taken care of very well. It feels nice to come to an island where people appreciate your service and everyone is respected as humans. This restaurant near K-Dock or Matson port is a must eat!! Nice setting and great waitress we had!! Thank you
(5)Vanessa C.
We ended up at Seafood Bar on our last night on the Big Island. We had actually intended to go to Lava Lava Beach Club as it was close to our resort and closer to the airport, but our reservation was cancelled due to the restaurant sustaining storm damage the night before. This worked out in our favor as we ended up We went to Seafood Bar and Grill with a tight timeline as we needed to get in, eat, and get to the airport ASAP. They were very accomodating to our tight time schedule and the food was DELICIOUS. My husband and I both had the swordfish special and one of our daughters had the mahi mahi special - both were excellent. The other kids has the burger, fresh fish sandwich and grilled chicken BLT and everyone was plased with their meal. We made it to the airport in plenty of time for our red eye flight with full, happy bellies. This dining experience was a great way to end our trip.
(5)Francisco C.
The prices are reasonable and the seafood pizza was delicious. The restaurant below the bar is closed today so we almost miss the bar thinking it was closed. They have a happy hour for drinks and appetizers. With two appetizers and the pizza it was enough food for two people.
(4)Miss G.
Great food! Good prices. Happy hour is 3 hours long, twice a day. Gotta try the Mai Tai's & anything with fresh fish! Service is friendly & fast. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone wanting to get away from the resorts!!!
(5)Perri M.
They do not take reservations, but we only had to wait a short time for a table. Parking was difficult. Full bar, friendly & attentive staff. We had seafood red curry, Cajun fresh catch & seafood fried rice. All good, but not great. Macadamia nut pie was very good, as well as chocolate lava cake.
(3)Paco R.
Good food, albeit a bit expensive (well! It is the big Island of Hawaii after all). Nice beer and okay ambiance. The location is not great, but its not too far from the resort area of Kamuela, so it is worth then trip when you are tired to be rip off at the hotels.
(4)Smilin D.
Super fish, calamari steaks, ribs, salads, ambience, service! And oh yeah, drinks...draft beer, cocktails and good-n-strong iced tea. Steamed fish like the Kawaihae Harbor Grill used to serve (healthy and delicious!) is available here after 2:30pm. They should show movies on the tanks across the street!
(5)Carrie M.
The steamed fresh catch was OUTSTANDING. My husband and I both agreed it is one of the best fish preparations we have ever had. The service was great and the food was fresh. The house vinaigrette was awesome. This is getting 4 instead of 5 stars because the coconut shrimp was not amazing. It was good but I have had much better. The food was a little over priced but much better than the surrounding resorts. Check out the happy hour! Great drink deals!
(4)Layla A.
Not a great view but the staff works hard and the place was packed, rightly so. I had a Thai dish with seafood that curled my toes it was so good. Highly recommend .
(4)Candace R.
OK, we've only been here for Happy Hour (3-5pm) but it's the BEST....Best Mai Tais on the Island, Best Calamari Steak appetizer! Have honestly never tried anything else and we've been here lots! Fun place!
(4)Chrissy M.
My husband and I came here during the week in the afternoon. The food was AMAZING. I had the seafood quesadillas which were awesome and my husband had the fresh fish and he said that was great too. Although the food was great the prices are a bit high. The real stinger though was the service. It was HORRIBLE. I'm serious, it was extremely bad! When we walked in we weren't sure whether to seat ourselves or wait to be seated so we seated ourselves. Once the server came over with menus we didn't see her again for more than 10 minutes then after that we didn't see her again, ever. Another server brought our food and then we didn't see her again until we flagged her down at the bar for a refill on our water and to ask for our check. We felt like we were more of a burden to those working there.
(2)k k.
Kawaihae's go to restaurant for a good meal with a casual tiki atmosphere and good drinks. The lilkoi margies are great. Pretty much any seafood dish is a no-brainer here. They do great pupu's and sandwiches too if you are just looking for an easy meal. Popular with locals for sporting events on the big screen TVs. The staff is very friendly and service is good even though it's busy a lot. If you are just on the coast for a weeks vacation I'd eat here at least once since the prices are better than the resorts.
(4)John S.
The Seafood Bar has changed since the last time I was there and for the better. The food and service were great. Atmosphere was cosy and inviting. Bathrooms were spotless. Always heard that was a good indication. I'd recommend it to anyone who likes seafood and Newcastle on tap. Wahoo!
(4)Tiffany L.
Went for dinner. I had a well made Mai Tai, Ahi Poke, pretty delicious Ahi special, and lava cake with ice cream. I loved sitting at the bar with the TVs on different sports channels. Good atmosphere and friendly service. Would have given it a 5 if the portions were a little bigger.
(4)Ashlee W.
Good food at a reasonable price. The bartenders are always friendly. My favorite are the Oyster Rockefeller!! Nice place to chillax after work and hangout with friends.
(4)Erika B.
Had a great experience here recently on my honeymoon. We were starting to get sick of the really polished, expensive restaurants, and were in the mood for something a little more laid back - our wallets needed it too, I think. My fiance is great at striking up conversations with people, and several locals (bartender at the hotel, hiking trip leader, shuttle driver) recommended this spot. I'm so glad we took their advice and drove up from the Mauna Lani (15ish min drive)! Realize that it is totally a casual restaurant, a good mix of locals and travelers, very much a tropical bar kind of feel, in the most authentic way. Our server was great and attentive, a lot of the items on the menu looked good so we asked for her recommendations and she did not disappoint. Coconut shrimp as an app were awesome, albeit the portion a little small. For a main, she suggested we go family style and share the seafood fried rice and the black bean mixed seafood plate - it was SO GOOD! I know it sounds kind of like something you would get at a Chinese restaurant but it wasn't at all, very island/Asian fusion. The fried rice came with big scallops, lots of fish and shrimp and was delicious. The black bean dish was actually this delicious sauce with white wine, some island flavors, just a hint of black bean with again, lots of fish, shrimp, scallops. Portions were generous. A good spot if you're in the mood for something really good but low key - don't worry about the view : )
(5)Keeptalkin T.
Yum-eeeeeeee. Food was extremely tasty and fresh. I had the catch of the day - Ono and loved the thai influenced preparation. We sat outside for the sunset (if you order before 6:30, you get a sunset and $5 off). The only fault I can state about this place is location, location, location. Who ever thought to open up across from an oil storing station! It made for interesting views of the sunset. Highly recommend the food, just don't look across the street.
(4)Eddy H.
Ginger clams, black bean seafood, thai beef salad were very good. But the best order was the oyster rockefeller. Liked it so much, we ordered a second helping. The mojito was also good. Service was good too.
(4)Stevie S.
Great affordable, quality, and friendly dinner spot. While vacationing at MKBH, we hit this spot a couple times every visit. Also great place to catch a game during Bowl Season.
(5)Brian W.
It gets tiresome around here paying the exorbitant resort prices for every meal. The Seafood Bar has solid good food at reasonable prices. Just the right amount of choices on the menu. All food is very fresh, with a range of possibilities from fresh fish to short ribs. Save a little room for dessert as they are good too. We had a macadamia nut tart with toasted coconut ice cream. The service was warm and friendly. Tiffany gives sincere, excellent service with a smile. The Tiki style atmosphere is comfortable with seating in and outside. Nice sit down bar for those inclined.
(4)David H.
Went there tonight with a party of 6. Service gets 4.5 stars food gets 1 star The coconut shrimp appetizer was awesome! Everything else (poke burger, furiyake, black bean seafood combo) was just mediocre. The waiter was incredibly sweet and thoughtful and absolutely adorable! She helped make the experience much more palatable. I gave a second star because they "comped" us for two items that we just didn't eat as they were not good.
(2)Chef Vlad H.
Eat where the locals do... This place was mentioned to us by many of the staff at Hyatt as their favorite location. We stopped there on 12/09/2012 for an early dinner as we were coming back from a day long trip to Hawaii National Volcano Park. The restaurant is conveniently located a couple of minutes off Rt 19. Really simple country type, friendly welcoming restaurant. Happy hour with beers at $4, how you beat that? On a top of it quality of the food is something that you would really appreciate. We had Seared Poke and Black Bean Seafood combo, both were great dishes. The former lightly seared, almost raw tuna with semi-spicy sauce with red chopped onions; while it is listed as an appetizer still big enough for a light dinner dish. The latter -- more elaborate seafood/fish dish with a buttery sauce enhanced by local fusion ideas and was nothing but perfect. Order a rice bowl or some bread to make sure there is no sauce left. This place is just 10 ml north from Hyatt and definitely, if you look for "tasty food more then white cloth and the view restaurant", worth to go to. Prices unbeatable -- that dinner for two with 2 beers was just $40 before tip!!!
(5)Sam M.
We stop by couple times a week in winter months when dodging below zero in Alaska. Good fresh fish, fairly priced. Dave & waitresses are friendly. Service is very prompt. NFL breakfast during fb season. Sunsets just north of the tank farm. Green flash last week. Fav place on Kohala coast.
(5)Chestie J.
Crummy view, but they make a yummy mai tai! Our waitress was a real sweetheart. Although, the night manager man was a little pissy. We got a bit of 'tude from him when we asked to sit outside and just have a cocktail. I guess he was upset we were going to use up a potential "dinner" table with a measly drink order... understandable if they were busy, but when you are in a tourist area, in a hospitality-driven business AND you have 5 open tables outside and plenty more open indoors, not sure why you'd have an attitude. That said, it's worth it for a happy hour cocktail, especially if you're able to get a seat with just enough of a view between the huge propane (??) tanks to catch at sliver of the beautiful sunset.
(3)Dawn T S.
Expensive. Food is okay. Service was quick. Touristy.
(2)patti f.
We came here for dinner. The seared poke appetizer was delish! My husband and I both had seafood dishes that were very good. Service was prompt and friendly. The restaurant has a narrow balcony with tables but across the street is an oil storing station, so it's not a great view. On the other hand, the interior of the restaurant has a nice relaxed ambience. Highly recommend !
(4)Janet P.
I was so glad we found this place after trying to fit 17 people into another place down the road where we were rejected. Actually we were just told that we would have to wait 45 minutes and we all were too hungry to do that. The service was great, the food was excellent. The shrimp dishes were fabulous. I would definitely come here again if I am passing through Kawaihae area on the Kohala coast.
(5)Julia SD A.
Awesome food, great prices, welcoming atmosphere. I had the fresh fish special and was pleasantly surprised at the presentation and quality. This somewhat "out of the way" eatery is worth the drive. No view, but the balcony had a nice ocean breeze.
(5)Don Z.
I will be back to this place. Excellent Ahi on rice with vegetables. Very good service.
(5)Allan A.
Good food at a reasonable price. We had some local fish but what was really good about the dishes was the corn relish that was on top of the fish. That relish was delicious!
(4)Sarah S.
Nice happy hour. Here's a tip - if you like raw fish, don't get the seared poke. Ask for it raw and you'll get fresher, yummier ahi. Great service, OK value.
(4)Anya E.
The Seafood Bar was a spontaneous stop on our drive from Kona to Hilo along the coast. It was a warm and sunny afternoon, and we decided that a nice seafood snack was in order. We chose to sit in the patio section which was a bit too warm with the sun beaming on us, but it was all good. My husband had a very delicious and well seasoned ahi tuna burger. I had a taste of it, and by far, it was the best and freshest ahi burger i had ever eaten. I had the shrimp quesadilla which was average and wished that i had the burger instead. This place has a great atmosphere, but it is a bit pricey.
(3)Analyst C.
We reached the end of the point and we were trying to the Plantation Bar and Grill which was closed and only open from 5pm -9pm; So we decided to get a snack here--Seafood Bar has a great bar with television; staff was friendly and welcoming; we ordered a seafood quesidilla- too much cheese and not enough seafood. Too bad this place does not have a view
(3)Julia C.
The reviews seemed promising. After locating our destination, we should have been wary as the interior was seriously designed as tourist trap. After a long time spent at the beach our stomachs were telling us otherwise. Our dining experience started out right. Friendly attentive service along with a pair of amazing oyster shooters. Should've took the hint as the place was obviously called the seafood bar. Who comes to a seafood bar and orders otherwise? Oops, we do. A cheeseburger for the Mrs. and a wet burrito for the Mr. Both bland and unyielding on all tasteless accounts. Seriously upset that we'd end up spending as much as we did on these two dishes. Maybe we should have just ordered seafood to begin with, but taking in the fact that it was a menu option then it should be good enough to serve too.
(2)Christina H.
Good happy hour cheap drinks. Good pupus. Bar atmosphere. Not beachfront but you can see the water if you look around the storage tanks at the port. Excellent friendly service. A nice break from resort hotels.
(3)Jenna B.
We basically had every type of seafood on the menu - coconut shrimp, oyster shooters, calamari, ahi sashimi, island salad with poke and black bean seafood combo. I can honestly say I would order all of it again. Coconut shrimp - you get four deep fried pieces of shrimp with a really sweet dipping sauce, it was a great appetizer. Oyster shooters and ahi sashimi - typical oyster shooters and ahi sashimi, both were fresh. Calamari - be warned this is a steak not the rings and it is served with a wasabi mayo dipping sauce. Again, very fresh and tender. Island salad with poke - my dad said it was the best salad he ever had. It is served with romaine and leafy greens, soba noodles, creamy asian dressing and of course deliciously seasoned seared poke. I also had this for dinner and I would definitely order it again, they give you huge portion of poke and I couldn't even finish it. Definitely a winner! Black bean seafood combo - I tried some of my moms and it was delicious. She also ordered the Parmesan bread to dip in the bean sauce. If you order this you must order bread with it. Overall, not the greatest view or ambiance. Service was decent but the food was AMAZING! Definitely worth the trip.
(5)Jim R.
We ate here twice and both times it was great. The macadam slaw and the seafood rice were my favorite.
(5)Jordan W.
This place is delicious - fresh fish and great flavors. You cannot pass up the pupu calamari - it is fantastic.
(5)A G.
As many others have said, the views are not great and we had to fight off the flies outside, but we enjoyed terrific service and good food. The coconut shrimp pupu included 4 deep-fried, coconut-crusted butterflied shrimp that were cooked right and served with a sweet coconut-flavored sauce that was a little too sweet for our tastes. The fried calamari pupu was a calamari steak that was breaded and deep-fried. It was amazingly tender and served with a great wasabi aioli. Loved the oyster shooter which has the right mix of cocktail sauce, horseradish, lemon and briny Queen Charlotte oyster. We shared the seafood fried rice, ginger steamed clams and smoked prime rib Tuesday special. The fried rice contained a reasonably generous portion of various seafood, including tiny shrimp, perfectly cooked scallop and two kinds of fish and served with lemon. The ginger clams were served in a creamy broth with two pieces of Parmesan toast that was perfect for dipping. We even got a side order of the toast because it was really good. Could have slurped up that broth! The highlight was the smoked prime rib which was exactly medium rare and the right level of mild smoke. It was served with creamy mash potatoes and broccoli. Everything came out quickly and at the right temperature. Our server was fantastic and we would certainly come back for another casual, relaxed and tasty meal!
(4)Sheree M.
This is a great restaurant near the resort area of the big island. They have a cheap happy hour and reverse happy hour with tasty drinks and wonderful appetizers. The food is very good. They have daily specials too. Again reasonably priced. Who knew you could get such a deal in Hawaii? My husband and I were here on a couple occasions while staying in the area. The staff was great. Tim was our bartender (perhaps manager too?) he was awesome and makes amazing cocktails.
(5)Natalie F.
Ignore the tired decor. The view is just OK, but if you want some great food, stop on by. I travel to Big Island regularly and hands down Seafood Bar is my favorite place to eat on the island. You can spend a lot more money for a so-so meal at many of the "fine" resort restaurants along the coast. You can't beat the fresh fish and seafood. I've tried most of the items on the menu but find myself going back to the fresh catch special.. it never disappoints. Dave also makes a mean cocktail!
(5)Monica C.
We came here after a beach day to find Good food (especially poke), strong drinks (great Mai tai), and nice service! Close to resorts but a comforting relief from hotel food.
(4)Has B.
Thank you seafood bar for serving me the best meal I've had so far in Hawaii -- Mahi Mahi Hawaiian style with fresh ginger shiitake mushroom and cilantro. Fresh and delicious. Great cocktails too. Was good to get away from the Hilton Waikoloa Village for the night and enjoy the local fare. Noticed we weren't the only hotel guests hanging out here. Thanks again for great food -- place was packed too.
(5)Rick B.
View overlooks storage tanks. Onion rings were very bready wings ok. Bartender was friendly.
(2)Anne P.
We went here twice to make sure. In the end, both visits were mediocre. The seating inside and out is uncomfortable. While I don't mind facing the industrial harbour, the view isn't spectacular. The service was fast, but not too friendly. Although they were busy, the waitress didn't lighten up until the crowds became more manageable. The food was nothing to die for despite all the ads you will see about this place and other tourists touting how fantastic it is. I think it could be really awesome, but they need to lessen their menu size and focus on making some really good local Hawaiian pub food instead of covering all of Asia in one fell swoop. Chances of returning are zero. Pricing is moderate.
(2)Aimee G.
The food was great! My whole family and I had been touring Big Island for an entire week and we had not found a place that was this good for this price. The service was great also! The staff was very nice and welcoming, I would most definitely come back here.
(5)Ilya S.
Excellent fresh seafood. Reasonable prices. Relaxed atmosphere and great service. Interesting menu choices - escargot, lobster and crab pot pie! Both excellent.
(5)Anh-Dao H.
We had the daily fish special and it was delicious! The waitress was personable and funny. Great experience. Would definitely come back.
(4)Dwight T.
Tuesday night is prime rib night. WOW Best I've had in a long time. Keawe smoked and just right. Worth the price and worth the wait. Good service. Great desert choices.
(5)Lisa M.
Stopped by to try to get in, the bartender was about at rude as they come, barking orders at staff and customers. Many people waiting left (and we did, too). Who needs angry people?
(1)Marty A.
Wonderful Seafood Bar, Tiki style! Possibly the best grilled fish sandwich I have ever eaten. And the Ginger clams also were awesome. Add an oyster shooter and several cold beers and it's a great evening! Catch the sunset and whale watching beforehand at one of the state parks nearby on the fabulous Kohala Coast. What's not to like?!?
(5)Lilly L.
Cute little place near a beach where the locals hang. I was disappointed in the food, though, as others were completely raving about it. I had the Poke Burger, which was a bit bland and (I know, it's fish), "fishy." Boyfriend had the Thai Steak Salad which was also just ok, though the steak was cooked nicely. My favorite aspect of this place was receiving our glasses of chardonnay in chilled glasses - nice touch. If I were to come back to the Big Island, I'd definitely give this place another try, especially during Happy Hour where they have well priced pupus...I just think we ordered the wrong things.
(3)Loee M.
The food is amazing and fresh, great place for a drink and meal off the beaten path.
(5)Sayoko I.
Great Food! Calamari...seafood fried rice....pizza ect....i go atleast once a month or every 2 weeks
(5)JK C.
Fresh seafood and good portion. Fried calamari was great! I would go back to check their Happy Hour next time.
(5)Jackie C.
I'm actually going back to edit my original review because my husband got sick and threw up after eating here. It was because of the oyster he ate, which unlike oysters he has eaten in the past, he said tasted surprisingly fishy. The food was just ok and not at all fresh tasting. We will not be coming back and not recommending it to anyone!
(1)Linden N.
The food and service was okay but definitely not worth the money. Each meal costs $13-15 and most of the seafood is served in the afternoon, not at noon for lunch.
(2)Leisha B.
Be sure to stop at this place if you are on the Big Island! Hole in the wall bar upstairs that will not disappoint! Upon recommendation from the server, I tried something way out of the norm...Black Bean Seafood Medley with Parmesan cheese bread for dipping. Words can not describe how good the sauce was...white whine, butter garlic, cream, chucks of fresh white fish, scallops, shrimp, onions and mushrooms! And you will use that bread to sop up every drop! My husband had the seafood quesadillas and the calamari (which was the best I've ever eaten) and a few really good local beers. The scenery isn't much at all, but do yourself a favor and make the drive out here. Happy hour starts at 3p, with $8 small plates and $4 beers! And the Macadamia Nut pie with locally made vanilla bean ice cream was the grand finale...worth the calorie splurge for sure!
(5)Bob G.
Most consistently excellent fresh fish we've ever found. Not an elaborate place but always friendly and there's somebody in the kitchen who does wonderful things including some unique and tasty sauces. Three tries the past week and always leave very pleased.
(5)Chris G.
Fresh Fish very good, but small portions. Don't stop here if you are hungry. The food was Over priced for the food you get. Would not recommend. Two adults and two children for dinner was $99.
(1)Julian H.
Note: this place also has a slew of reviews as "the harbor grill and seafood bar" but since that listing has a wrong address, this seems like the better place to post a review. Good: steamed daily catch was excellent, as was the grilled beef salad. Everything very fresh and well prepared. Molten chocolate cake also very tasty. Service prompt and friendly. Less good: the atmosphere runs a little to the divey side, and the view of the giant water tanks is not super special. Indoors seems to be more bar than restaurant, so if you are hoping for a romantic setting, you may do better at the plantation grill next door. Also, we found the coconut shrimp to be a tad too sweet, and the dipping sauce bore a strange resemblance to piña colada mix, but I guess lots of others really like them, so maybe that one is a question of taste.
(4)Maleka C.
Loved the black bean seafood combo. Super filling and the Parmesan bread is so addictive.
(5)Elizabeth S.
A bit tricky to find, but definitely worth the search! Has a Trader Vic's ambiance plus very friendly waitstaff. Time your arrival to overlap Happy Hour. Mai Tais are fantastic and my Bloody Mary was also memorable. The sophisticated preparation of fresh seafood distinguishes this spot among other nearby eateries. My clams in ginger infused broth were fantastic. My husband's short ribs were fork-tender and our friends both had ahi and raved about the freshness of the fish. Save room for dessert too! We split 2 for 4 of us and devoured every nite of the lava cake & mud pie.
(5)Mona D.
We were in Hawaii for a week and came here for lunch after ziplining... this was our BEST meal on the Big Island! I had the daily special which was grilled Spearfish with an incredible fresh corn salsa on top and hot rice, husband had poke and rice it just about knocked his socks right off!! We were staying all the way in Kona, but seriously debated about coming back here two more times before we had to leave! lol We got to sit outside and watched the comings and goings of the Port area, service was perfect and friendly, I will be dreaming of this meal until we can get back again!
(5)Natalie H.
Loved this place. Excellent and friendly service, fresh sashimi for starters was outstanding and the chicken blt was fresh and very tasty indeed. It may not be the best view in the world from the outdoor deck but the drinks are great and the food is fresh and tasty. We were treated very well busy the owner and all in all I'd say it deserves 5 stars. Would come again.
(5)Ai S.
One thing's for sure: Hawaiians like their salt. Maybe living around the ocean gives them a higher salt content than we inlanders. Although I'm by the ocean, just not in it. Anyhow, I found a lot of things in Hawaii really salty, and The Seafood Bar was no exception. The seared poke dish was almost inedible. The soy edamame was tasty, until you got to the bottom, where the edamame was drenched in soy sauce. The coconut shrimp was a bit chewy. The Polynesian Punch tasted like Gatorade with lots of rum. Gave me a stomach ache. I had the poke burger, and as we had just had the oversalted seared poke, I asked them to go light on the salt. Burger came out nice and tasty, although I couldn't finish it since my stomach was aching from the punch. Overall, I found a lot of better restaurants in the region. I'd go back for the happy hour though, just would stay away from that punch.
(3)Joyce K.
Just marvelous! The 3 of us had very different dishes and all were great. Mine was the black bean fish dish. Good Happy Hour specials too with our son getting a seafood quesadilla and me a Mai Tai. Google Maps can't find this and they can't get it fixed so call for directions. Weird industrial area which actually makes it seem like more of a find.
(5)Matt H.
Great calamari really good atmosphere. Bartender and server were excellent I would recommend to anyone and I will go back.
(5)Kenneth R.
Good vibes and decent food in an area that's a bit removed from the resorts. I ordered some spicy edamame for the table and thought that the portion was generous for the price ($6). Not only that: the edamame were good! Unfortunately, our server whisked away the small plates and the bowl for empty pods that she served with the beans. "Your dinners are ready"! I thought that these guys could have done a better job with pacing: if you serve appetizers, wait more than 90 seconds before serving the main dishes. My main dish was a seafood assortment with black beans. I got a bowl of rice to eat with this dish, and I'm glad that I did. Somewhat curiously, I was given no large dinner plate -- just a small bowl of rice and a somewhat larger bowl with the seafood. I ended up spooning the seafood over the rice, and this worked OK. The seafood dish was fine, but it was cream-based, which is something I hadn't realized when I ordered it. I'm not at the point where I want to complain about the seafood, but I'll certainly order something different if I come again.
(3)Jimmy H.
We decided to hit up The Seafood Bar after a recommendation by a Bay Area couple we met during the Kohala Ditch Adventure. It was a beautiful night so we decided to eat outside in the patio (is there ever NOT a beautiful night in Hawaii...probably not). Our waitress was friendly if not stoned. The girlfriend ordered the ginger steamed clams. Thankfully, she was half-passed out from the pre-dinner drinks so I was able to eat most of the clams which were delicious. Actually, the best part of the dish was the cheese bread which was the perfect think to dip in the white wine broth. Spectacular. Since it was a Tuesday night, I ordered their prime-rib special. It was super marbled, which I liked, and cooked perfectly medium rare. This is great place for dinner and the prices are pretty reasonable too.
(4)Erroll G.
Two star is purely for the parm cheese bread. Everything else about this place was less the impressive. I had the seafood bar fried rice. The menu described it as fried rice with shrimp, fish and scallops. At first look, I had to hunt for my shrimp. After a few seconds, I realized they put bay shrimp in the dish. Given that the restaurant was walking distance from the fishing pier where the fishmongers unload their daily catch, I was expecting fresh seafood, given the name and proximity of the restaurant. The scallops in the dish were definitely frozen scallops. The girlfriend had their Tuesday night prime rib special. She ordered it medium rare, it came out well done. No flavor. No au jus. Side dishes were cold. I'd recommend staying away from this place if you are going to dine
(2)Jeffrey D.
My food came out cold, so I sent it back. They remade it, and it wasn't a whole lot better. I was glad someone else was paying for my dinner, because this was an overpriced tourist trap.
(1)Esther L.
What we ordered: Ahi tuna with spicy pineapple glaze with rice and salad (the special for the day). Loved the glaze and dressing. Asked for seared and it was overcooked. Pineapple coleslaw - ok. Server was friendly. Already split up our checks into couples before we asked. Very manufactured Hawaii atmosphere, but friendly staff.
(3)Art B.
Went here to watch a Washington husky game while on vacation. Bartender was willing to turn over 1 of the 3 tvs to me since I appeared to be the only one interested. Drinks were alright in terms of strength, better than most resorts but not the same as your local bar back home. Service was great, very nice and personable staff, willing to work with my family when they joined and even did a grilled cheese that wasn't on the menu for my 3 yr old. Food was good, we did mostly apps when the family arrived but I had a chicken club prior that was awesome. For me the only thing missing was a better view and little strength in the drinks, but overall a great experience.
(4)Jim A.
Good service. Splurged on the high end fresh fish entrees. Found them to be a little dry, a little over cooked. Server said last night's chef was better so unfortunately they suffer from inconsistency. Don't get me wrong, this was good food and I'd come back. But not four star.
(3)Christopher G.
Food was just ok, owner was behind bar and not the friendliest, but he's not native.. Asked for food recommendation and said everything. Wouldn't go back
(2)Glo R.
Best lilikoi margaritas on the island, hand's down! Also, the food is great, like the selection and seafood is fresh. Atmosphere is intimate and feels like you're having a nice, relaxing dinner at a local-run, not-corporate-owned restaurant. Unfortunately, the bill always tends to be a bit steep. But live it up, it's definitely worth it!
(5)Carol P.
The Seafood Bar is a local favorite. We've eaten there for years -- since it opened -- and very rarely have any complaint. If we do, management pays prompt and thoughtful attention. The food is always good, and the atmosphere is comfortably island style. It is co-located with the Harbor Grill, but they are completely separate restaurants and menus, albeit under the same management. We love the Harbor Grill for breakfast, but prefer the Seafood Bar hands down for lunch and dinner, or just drinks. Friendly service and generous portions of tasty food are served in a tropical tiki bar setting. There are happy hour specials plus lunch and dinner served every day. Tuesday is steak night, with delicious filet mignon, garlic mashed potatoes, mushrooms in a black bean beurre blanc sauce and a house salad. Recently, they've started serving breakfasts (with optional bloody marys) on Sunday mornings with pro football on 3 large screen satellite TVs. Seafood Bar is the only restaurant in the area that is open late; food is served until 11:45 pm. Please note that the restaurant is located across from the Kawaihae Harbor at 61-3642 Akoni Pule Highway in Kawaihae. Because their listing shows a P.O. Box in Kamuela, Seafood Bar doesn't appear in the correct location on Yelp or on GPS systems. They are across the street from the storage tanks at the Kawaihae Harbor.
(5)Chris S.
Great food! Really enjoyed the Steamed Fresh Catch. Big fan of the Sushi-style sticky rice served with entrees. If you are looking for a relaxed atmosphere with good food, this is the spot.
(5)Carrie S.
Gluten free friendly! Food is great and reasonably priced and service is fast and friendly! Get the fish of the day. And anything that comes with the succotash! Their Mai Tais are awesome!
(5)Jan A.
Happy hour is a great deal on awesome food! Had the "black bean seafood combo", not what I was expecting, but turned out to be the best seafood bisque I've had in a long time!!! We also had the crab crusted fresh catch (monchong), fish was like butter, so soft and tender, on a bed of spinach and mashed potatoes with sun dried tomato sauce, 5 star!!!!
(5)A. H.
Poke is almost cooked! and too salty. There is plenty of parking. A small gift shop is located downstairs. A restroom is available. Pineapple macnut coleslaw was unique, and good. We also had the seafood fried rice which was too fishy.
(2)Tom C.
Great find, relaxing atmosphere. Fresh fish. One of the best fish sandwiches I've had for awhile. Enjoyed their seafood pizza as well.
(5)Scott S.
The foodwas good but the prices were a bit on the high side. I had the lite plate seared poke. It tasted good but it was not really a full meal for $12. Most of their entrees are in the $20 to 40 range. Parking was plentiful.
(3)Scott J.
We traveled from the mainland and were very excited about having lots of fresh seafood. This rest. advertises great seafood. We ordered the grilled fish sandwich. The dish contained a very small piece of very fishy tasteless fish. When I questioned the waiter, he said it was Spearfish. I checked on the Honolulu Wholesale Fish Market website. It listed it as a very low flavor fish but apparently the cheapest fish they sell to restaurants. The price for the dish was 15 dollars.come on really. The owner questioned us about our dinners. We told him the fish was not very good. He offered us a free desert... Really !!! They also overcharged us for the kids pizza. 20 dollars?? Really??? I felt like we were being taken advantage of...Naive...tourists. The restaurant has a great view of the fuel storage tanks.... Please skip this place.
(1)shelby f.
Yes, the view from the lanai dining is rotten (huge tanks, construction, ship loading), but I love this place! I dream about the poke burger, which is always fresh and fantastic, and I always have the calamari appetiser to start. Both are served with a delicious aioli (wasabi aioli with the poke, I think). Service is casual and friendly, and in my experience, always prompt. The wine list is short but decent.
(5)Bob G.
Most consistently excellent fresh fish we've ever found. Not an elaborate place but always friendly and there's somebody in the kitchen who does wonderful things including some unique and tasty sauces. Three tries the past week and always leave very pleased.
(5)Chris G.
Fresh Fish very good, but small portions. Don't stop here if you are hungry. The food was Over priced for the food you get. Would not recommend. Two adults and two children for dinner was $99.
(1)Julian H.
Note: this place also has a slew of reviews as "the harbor grill and seafood bar" but since that listing has a wrong address, this seems like the better place to post a review. Good: steamed daily catch was excellent, as was the grilled beef salad. Everything very fresh and well prepared. Molten chocolate cake also very tasty. Service prompt and friendly. Less good: the atmosphere runs a little to the divey side, and the view of the giant water tanks is not super special. Indoors seems to be more bar than restaurant, so if you are hoping for a romantic setting, you may do better at the plantation grill next door. Also, we found the coconut shrimp to be a tad too sweet, and the dipping sauce bore a strange resemblance to piña colada mix, but I guess lots of others really like them, so maybe that one is a question of taste.
(4)Maleka C.
Loved the black bean seafood combo. Super filling and the Parmesan bread is so addictive.
(5)Elizabeth S.
A bit tricky to find, but definitely worth the search! Has a Trader Vic's ambiance plus very friendly waitstaff. Time your arrival to overlap Happy Hour. Mai Tais are fantastic and my Bloody Mary was also memorable. The sophisticated preparation of fresh seafood distinguishes this spot among other nearby eateries. My clams in ginger infused broth were fantastic. My husband's short ribs were fork-tender and our friends both had ahi and raved about the freshness of the fish. Save room for dessert too! We split 2 for 4 of us and devoured every nite of the lava cake & mud pie.
(5)Mona D.
We were in Hawaii for a week and came here for lunch after ziplining... this was our BEST meal on the Big Island! I had the daily special which was grilled Spearfish with an incredible fresh corn salsa on top and hot rice, husband had poke and rice it just about knocked his socks right off!! We were staying all the way in Kona, but seriously debated about coming back here two more times before we had to leave! lol We got to sit outside and watched the comings and goings of the Port area, service was perfect and friendly, I will be dreaming of this meal until we can get back again!
(5)Natalie H.
Loved this place. Excellent and friendly service, fresh sashimi for starters was outstanding and the chicken blt was fresh and very tasty indeed. It may not be the best view in the world from the outdoor deck but the drinks are great and the food is fresh and tasty. We were treated very well busy the owner and all in all I'd say it deserves 5 stars. Would come again.
(5)Ai S.
One thing's for sure: Hawaiians like their salt. Maybe living around the ocean gives them a higher salt content than we inlanders. Although I'm by the ocean, just not in it. Anyhow, I found a lot of things in Hawaii really salty, and The Seafood Bar was no exception. The seared poke dish was almost inedible. The soy edamame was tasty, until you got to the bottom, where the edamame was drenched in soy sauce. The coconut shrimp was a bit chewy. The Polynesian Punch tasted like Gatorade with lots of rum. Gave me a stomach ache. I had the poke burger, and as we had just had the oversalted seared poke, I asked them to go light on the salt. Burger came out nice and tasty, although I couldn't finish it since my stomach was aching from the punch. Overall, I found a lot of better restaurants in the region. I'd go back for the happy hour though, just would stay away from that punch.
(3)Joyce K.
Just marvelous! The 3 of us had very different dishes and all were great. Mine was the black bean fish dish. Good Happy Hour specials too with our son getting a seafood quesadilla and me a Mai Tai. Google Maps can't find this and they can't get it fixed so call for directions. Weird industrial area which actually makes it seem like more of a find.
(5)Matt H.
Great calamari really good atmosphere. Bartender and server were excellent I would recommend to anyone and I will go back.
(5)Kenneth R.
Good vibes and decent food in an area that's a bit removed from the resorts. I ordered some spicy edamame for the table and thought that the portion was generous for the price ($6). Not only that: the edamame were good! Unfortunately, our server whisked away the small plates and the bowl for empty pods that she served with the beans. "Your dinners are ready"! I thought that these guys could have done a better job with pacing: if you serve appetizers, wait more than 90 seconds before serving the main dishes. My main dish was a seafood assortment with black beans. I got a bowl of rice to eat with this dish, and I'm glad that I did. Somewhat curiously, I was given no large dinner plate -- just a small bowl of rice and a somewhat larger bowl with the seafood. I ended up spooning the seafood over the rice, and this worked OK. The seafood dish was fine, but it was cream-based, which is something I hadn't realized when I ordered it. I'm not at the point where I want to complain about the seafood, but I'll certainly order something different if I come again.
(3)Jimmy H.
We decided to hit up The Seafood Bar after a recommendation by a Bay Area couple we met during the Kohala Ditch Adventure. It was a beautiful night so we decided to eat outside in the patio (is there ever NOT a beautiful night in Hawaii...probably not). Our waitress was friendly if not stoned. The girlfriend ordered the ginger steamed clams. Thankfully, she was half-passed out from the pre-dinner drinks so I was able to eat most of the clams which were delicious. Actually, the best part of the dish was the cheese bread which was the perfect think to dip in the white wine broth. Spectacular. Since it was a Tuesday night, I ordered their prime-rib special. It was super marbled, which I liked, and cooked perfectly medium rare. This is great place for dinner and the prices are pretty reasonable too.
(4)Erroll G.
Two star is purely for the parm cheese bread. Everything else about this place was less the impressive. I had the seafood bar fried rice. The menu described it as fried rice with shrimp, fish and scallops. At first look, I had to hunt for my shrimp. After a few seconds, I realized they put bay shrimp in the dish. Given that the restaurant was walking distance from the fishing pier where the fishmongers unload their daily catch, I was expecting fresh seafood, given the name and proximity of the restaurant. The scallops in the dish were definitely frozen scallops. The girlfriend had their Tuesday night prime rib special. She ordered it medium rare, it came out well done. No flavor. No au jus. Side dishes were cold. I'd recommend staying away from this place if you are going to dine
(2)Jeffrey D.
My food came out cold, so I sent it back. They remade it, and it wasn't a whole lot better. I was glad someone else was paying for my dinner, because this was an overpriced tourist trap.
(1)Esther L.
What we ordered: Ahi tuna with spicy pineapple glaze with rice and salad (the special for the day). Loved the glaze and dressing. Asked for seared and it was overcooked. Pineapple coleslaw - ok. Server was friendly. Already split up our checks into couples before we asked. Very manufactured Hawaii atmosphere, but friendly staff.
(3)Art B.
Went here to watch a Washington husky game while on vacation. Bartender was willing to turn over 1 of the 3 tvs to me since I appeared to be the only one interested. Drinks were alright in terms of strength, better than most resorts but not the same as your local bar back home. Service was great, very nice and personable staff, willing to work with my family when they joined and even did a grilled cheese that wasn't on the menu for my 3 yr old. Food was good, we did mostly apps when the family arrived but I had a chicken club prior that was awesome. For me the only thing missing was a better view and little strength in the drinks, but overall a great experience.
(4)Jim A.
Good service. Splurged on the high end fresh fish entrees. Found them to be a little dry, a little over cooked. Server said last night's chef was better so unfortunately they suffer from inconsistency. Don't get me wrong, this was good food and I'd come back. But not four star.
(3)Christopher G.
Food was just ok, owner was behind bar and not the friendliest, but he's not native.. Asked for food recommendation and said everything. Wouldn't go back
(2)Glo R.
Best lilikoi margaritas on the island, hand's down! Also, the food is great, like the selection and seafood is fresh. Atmosphere is intimate and feels like you're having a nice, relaxing dinner at a local-run, not-corporate-owned restaurant. Unfortunately, the bill always tends to be a bit steep. But live it up, it's definitely worth it!
(5)Carol P.
The Seafood Bar is a local favorite. We've eaten there for years -- since it opened -- and very rarely have any complaint. If we do, management pays prompt and thoughtful attention. The food is always good, and the atmosphere is comfortably island style. It is co-located with the Harbor Grill, but they are completely separate restaurants and menus, albeit under the same management. We love the Harbor Grill for breakfast, but prefer the Seafood Bar hands down for lunch and dinner, or just drinks. Friendly service and generous portions of tasty food are served in a tropical tiki bar setting. There are happy hour specials plus lunch and dinner served every day. Tuesday is steak night, with delicious filet mignon, garlic mashed potatoes, mushrooms in a black bean beurre blanc sauce and a house salad. Recently, they've started serving breakfasts (with optional bloody marys) on Sunday mornings with pro football on 3 large screen satellite TVs. Seafood Bar is the only restaurant in the area that is open late; food is served until 11:45 pm. Please note that the restaurant is located across from the Kawaihae Harbor at 61-3642 Akoni Pule Highway in Kawaihae. Because their listing shows a P.O. Box in Kamuela, Seafood Bar doesn't appear in the correct location on Yelp or on GPS systems. They are across the street from the storage tanks at the Kawaihae Harbor.
(5)Chris S.
Great food! Really enjoyed the Steamed Fresh Catch. Big fan of the Sushi-style sticky rice served with entrees. If you are looking for a relaxed atmosphere with good food, this is the spot.
(5)Carrie S.
Gluten free friendly! Food is great and reasonably priced and service is fast and friendly! Get the fish of the day. And anything that comes with the succotash! Their Mai Tais are awesome!
(5)Jan A.
Happy hour is a great deal on awesome food! Had the "black bean seafood combo", not what I was expecting, but turned out to be the best seafood bisque I've had in a long time!!! We also had the crab crusted fresh catch (monchong), fish was like butter, so soft and tender, on a bed of spinach and mashed potatoes with sun dried tomato sauce, 5 star!!!!
(5)A. H.
Poke is almost cooked! and too salty. There is plenty of parking. A small gift shop is located downstairs. A restroom is available. Pineapple macnut coleslaw was unique, and good. We also had the seafood fried rice which was too fishy.
(2)Tom C.
Great find, relaxing atmosphere. Fresh fish. One of the best fish sandwiches I've had for awhile. Enjoyed their seafood pizza as well.
(5)Scott S.
The foodwas good but the prices were a bit on the high side. I had the lite plate seared poke. It tasted good but it was not really a full meal for $12. Most of their entrees are in the $20 to 40 range. Parking was plentiful.
(3)Scott J.
We traveled from the mainland and were very excited about having lots of fresh seafood. This rest. advertises great seafood. We ordered the grilled fish sandwich. The dish contained a very small piece of very fishy tasteless fish. When I questioned the waiter, he said it was Spearfish. I checked on the Honolulu Wholesale Fish Market website. It listed it as a very low flavor fish but apparently the cheapest fish they sell to restaurants. The price for the dish was 15 dollars.come on really. The owner questioned us about our dinners. We told him the fish was not very good. He offered us a free desert... Really !!! They also overcharged us for the kids pizza. 20 dollars?? Really??? I felt like we were being taken advantage of...Naive...tourists. The restaurant has a great view of the fuel storage tanks.... Please skip this place.
(1)shelby f.
Yes, the view from the lanai dining is rotten (huge tanks, construction, ship loading), but I love this place! I dream about the poke burger, which is always fresh and fantastic, and I always have the calamari appetiser to start. Both are served with a delicious aioli (wasabi aioli with the poke, I think). Service is casual and friendly, and in my experience, always prompt. The wine list is short but decent.
(5)Paco R.
Good food, albeit a bit expensive (well! It is the big Island of Hawaii after all). Nice beer and okay ambiance. The location is not great, but its not too far from the resort area of Kamuela, so it is worth then trip when you are tired to be rip off at the hotels.
(4)Smilin D.
Super fish, calamari steaks, ribs, salads, ambience, service! And oh yeah, drinks...draft beer, cocktails and good-n-strong iced tea. Steamed fish like the Kawaihae Harbor Grill used to serve (healthy and delicious!) is available here after 2:30pm. They should show movies on the tanks across the street!
(5)Carrie M.
The steamed fresh catch was OUTSTANDING. My husband and I both agreed it is one of the best fish preparations we have ever had. The service was great and the food was fresh. The house vinaigrette was awesome. This is getting 4 instead of 5 stars because the coconut shrimp was not amazing. It was good but I have had much better. The food was a little over priced but much better than the surrounding resorts. Check out the happy hour! Great drink deals!
(4)Layla A.
Not a great view but the staff works hard and the place was packed, rightly so. I had a Thai dish with seafood that curled my toes it was so good. Highly recommend .
(4)Candace R.
OK, we've only been here for Happy Hour (3-5pm) but it's the BEST....Best Mai Tais on the Island, Best Calamari Steak appetizer! Have honestly never tried anything else and we've been here lots! Fun place!
(4)Chrissy M.
My husband and I came here during the week in the afternoon. The food was AMAZING. I had the seafood quesadillas which were awesome and my husband had the fresh fish and he said that was great too. Although the food was great the prices are a bit high. The real stinger though was the service. It was HORRIBLE. I'm serious, it was extremely bad! When we walked in we weren't sure whether to seat ourselves or wait to be seated so we seated ourselves. Once the server came over with menus we didn't see her again for more than 10 minutes then after that we didn't see her again, ever. Another server brought our food and then we didn't see her again until we flagged her down at the bar for a refill on our water and to ask for our check. We felt like we were more of a burden to those working there.
(2)k k.
Kawaihae's go to restaurant for a good meal with a casual tiki atmosphere and good drinks. The lilkoi margies are great. Pretty much any seafood dish is a no-brainer here. They do great pupu's and sandwiches too if you are just looking for an easy meal. Popular with locals for sporting events on the big screen TVs. The staff is very friendly and service is good even though it's busy a lot. If you are just on the coast for a weeks vacation I'd eat here at least once since the prices are better than the resorts.
(4)Erika B.
Had a great experience here recently on my honeymoon. We were starting to get sick of the really polished, expensive restaurants, and were in the mood for something a little more laid back - our wallets needed it too, I think. My fiance is great at striking up conversations with people, and several locals (bartender at the hotel, hiking trip leader, shuttle driver) recommended this spot. I'm so glad we took their advice and drove up from the Mauna Lani (15ish min drive)! Realize that it is totally a casual restaurant, a good mix of locals and travelers, very much a tropical bar kind of feel, in the most authentic way. Our server was great and attentive, a lot of the items on the menu looked good so we asked for her recommendations and she did not disappoint. Coconut shrimp as an app were awesome, albeit the portion a little small. For a main, she suggested we go family style and share the seafood fried rice and the black bean mixed seafood plate - it was SO GOOD! I know it sounds kind of like something you would get at a Chinese restaurant but it wasn't at all, very island/Asian fusion. The fried rice came with big scallops, lots of fish and shrimp and was delicious. The black bean dish was actually this delicious sauce with white wine, some island flavors, just a hint of black bean with again, lots of fish, shrimp, scallops. Portions were generous. A good spot if you're in the mood for something really good but low key - don't worry about the view : )
(5)Keeptalkin T.
Yum-eeeeeeee. Food was extremely tasty and fresh. I had the catch of the day - Ono and loved the thai influenced preparation. We sat outside for the sunset (if you order before 6:30, you get a sunset and $5 off). The only fault I can state about this place is location, location, location. Who ever thought to open up across from an oil storing station! It made for interesting views of the sunset. Highly recommend the food, just don't look across the street.
(4)Eddy H.
Ginger clams, black bean seafood, thai beef salad were very good. But the best order was the oyster rockefeller. Liked it so much, we ordered a second helping. The mojito was also good. Service was good too.
(4)Stevie S.
Great affordable, quality, and friendly dinner spot. While vacationing at MKBH, we hit this spot a couple times every visit. Also great place to catch a game during Bowl Season.
(5)Brian W.
It gets tiresome around here paying the exorbitant resort prices for every meal. The Seafood Bar has solid good food at reasonable prices. Just the right amount of choices on the menu. All food is very fresh, with a range of possibilities from fresh fish to short ribs. Save a little room for dessert as they are good too. We had a macadamia nut tart with toasted coconut ice cream. The service was warm and friendly. Tiffany gives sincere, excellent service with a smile. The Tiki style atmosphere is comfortable with seating in and outside. Nice sit down bar for those inclined.
(4)David H.
Went there tonight with a party of 6. Service gets 4.5 stars food gets 1 star The coconut shrimp appetizer was awesome! Everything else (poke burger, furiyake, black bean seafood combo) was just mediocre. The waiter was incredibly sweet and thoughtful and absolutely adorable! She helped make the experience much more palatable. I gave a second star because they "comped" us for two items that we just didn't eat as they were not good.
(2)John S.
The Seafood Bar has changed since the last time I was there and for the better. The food and service were great. Atmosphere was cosy and inviting. Bathrooms were spotless. Always heard that was a good indication. I'd recommend it to anyone who likes seafood and Newcastle on tap. Wahoo!
(4)Chef Vlad H.
Eat where the locals do... This place was mentioned to us by many of the staff at Hyatt as their favorite location. We stopped there on 12/09/2012 for an early dinner as we were coming back from a day long trip to Hawaii National Volcano Park. The restaurant is conveniently located a couple of minutes off Rt 19. Really simple country type, friendly welcoming restaurant. Happy hour with beers at $4, how you beat that? On a top of it quality of the food is something that you would really appreciate. We had Seared Poke and Black Bean Seafood combo, both were great dishes. The former lightly seared, almost raw tuna with semi-spicy sauce with red chopped onions; while it is listed as an appetizer still big enough for a light dinner dish. The latter -- more elaborate seafood/fish dish with a buttery sauce enhanced by local fusion ideas and was nothing but perfect. Order a rice bowl or some bread to make sure there is no sauce left. This place is just 10 ml north from Hyatt and definitely, if you look for "tasty food more then white cloth and the view restaurant", worth to go to. Prices unbeatable -- that dinner for two with 2 beers was just $40 before tip!!!
(5)Sam M.
We stop by couple times a week in winter months when dodging below zero in Alaska. Good fresh fish, fairly priced. Dave & waitresses are friendly. Service is very prompt. NFL breakfast during fb season. Sunsets just north of the tank farm. Green flash last week. Fav place on Kohala coast.
(5)Chestie J.
Crummy view, but they make a yummy mai tai! Our waitress was a real sweetheart. Although, the night manager man was a little pissy. We got a bit of 'tude from him when we asked to sit outside and just have a cocktail. I guess he was upset we were going to use up a potential "dinner" table with a measly drink order... understandable if they were busy, but when you are in a tourist area, in a hospitality-driven business AND you have 5 open tables outside and plenty more open indoors, not sure why you'd have an attitude. That said, it's worth it for a happy hour cocktail, especially if you're able to get a seat with just enough of a view between the huge propane (??) tanks to catch at sliver of the beautiful sunset.
(3)Dawn T S.
Expensive. Food is okay. Service was quick. Touristy.
(2)patti f.
We came here for dinner. The seared poke appetizer was delish! My husband and I both had seafood dishes that were very good. Service was prompt and friendly. The restaurant has a narrow balcony with tables but across the street is an oil storing station, so it's not a great view. On the other hand, the interior of the restaurant has a nice relaxed ambience. Highly recommend !
(4)Janet P.
I was so glad we found this place after trying to fit 17 people into another place down the road where we were rejected. Actually we were just told that we would have to wait 45 minutes and we all were too hungry to do that. The service was great, the food was excellent. The shrimp dishes were fabulous. I would definitely come here again if I am passing through Kawaihae area on the Kohala coast.
(5)Tiffany L.
Went for dinner. I had a well made Mai Tai, Ahi Poke, pretty delicious Ahi special, and lava cake with ice cream. I loved sitting at the bar with the TVs on different sports channels. Good atmosphere and friendly service. Would have given it a 5 if the portions were a little bigger.
(4)Ashlee W.
Good food at a reasonable price. The bartenders are always friendly. My favorite are the Oyster Rockefeller!! Nice place to chillax after work and hangout with friends.
(4)Julia SD A.
Awesome food, great prices, welcoming atmosphere. I had the fresh fish special and was pleasantly surprised at the presentation and quality. This somewhat "out of the way" eatery is worth the drive. No view, but the balcony had a nice ocean breeze.
(5)Don Z.
I will be back to this place. Excellent Ahi on rice with vegetables. Very good service.
(5)Allan A.
Good food at a reasonable price. We had some local fish but what was really good about the dishes was the corn relish that was on top of the fish. That relish was delicious!
(4)Sarah S.
Nice happy hour. Here's a tip - if you like raw fish, don't get the seared poke. Ask for it raw and you'll get fresher, yummier ahi. Great service, OK value.
(4)Anya E.
The Seafood Bar was a spontaneous stop on our drive from Kona to Hilo along the coast. It was a warm and sunny afternoon, and we decided that a nice seafood snack was in order. We chose to sit in the patio section which was a bit too warm with the sun beaming on us, but it was all good. My husband had a very delicious and well seasoned ahi tuna burger. I had a taste of it, and by far, it was the best and freshest ahi burger i had ever eaten. I had the shrimp quesadilla which was average and wished that i had the burger instead. This place has a great atmosphere, but it is a bit pricey.
(3)