Mark’s Place
1610 Haleukana St,Ste A, Lihue, HI, 96766
Mark’s Place Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Lihue for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Lihue for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Lihue for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
1610 Haleukana St,Ste A
Lihue, HI, 96766 - Phone (877) 464-0812
- Website https://www.marksplacekauai.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :10:00 am - 8:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
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 : No
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : No
Caters : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Julia J.
Extremely busy during lunch - workers working at full capacity. Be patient, food is worth it!
(4)Vanessa Miracle B.
A definite local spot. No indoor seating. Great portions.
(4)Missus L.
HUGE portions. You can definitely share with your friend or cuz. I had the mark's special with teri beef and it was so delicious. They even had a butter mochi that was to die for. There is no indoor seating for this place. But we did enjoy sitting out on the benches outside while we talk story with the locals. It's a pretty hidden place too so look carefully when finding.
(4)Wes P.
We've used Mark's Place to cater our events a couple of times so far. Let me just say that the food is world class and so is the staff. Mark's team is incredibly efficient and very friendly. There is nothing that the host needs to do but watch them do their thing. If anyone needs catering, by all means call Wendy or Mark. You will be very happy with you choice!
(5)Beth B.
Oh my! I found this place recommended on a couple of Yelp Talk threads. Wow, I am so glad I "drug" my husband here. As everyone else has said, it's in an industrial area and you either need to take it home or eat on the picnic benches outside. We chose to take it back to the condo. I had the Korean Chicken with brown rice and tossed salad ($8.75). My husband had the Mixed plate (Chicken Katsu, Teriyaki Beef amd Beef Stew) with white rice and tossed salad ($8.95). Evidently, the macaroni salad is really good, but we are not fans in general. The food main dishes were SO GOOD! Plus CHEAP! Especially for Hawaii. All the meats were amazing and there was so much food that it gave us two full meals each. Do what the locals do, evidently. Eat here! They take credit cards, too!
(5)Randy F.
Very popular Mom and Pop store off the beaten path in Lihue. The staff are super friendly and the place offers all the plate lunch choices you would expect. I opted for the healthier brown rice and the tossed salad instead of the macaroni salad as well as their famous beef stew and katsu cutlet. The cutlet was perfectly deep fried but the beef stew, while tasty, had slightly tough beef. Overall, it was a solid meal but Pono Market is still my fave. Mark's Place accepts all credit cards including Amereican Express.
(3)Kimmy K.
Mark's Place is a great little no frills locals spot. It's basically a tiny lunch counter on the industrial side of Lihue. There isn't a bathroom or many tables. It's the kind of place you call in your order and pick it up to go. What Mark's Place lacks in ambiance, they fully make up for in food. The plate lunches here are among the most popular on Kauai. Mark's special is the way to go to get a taste of local favorites in beef stew, katsu chicken, and teriyaki beef served with rice and potato mac salad. I liked that teriyaki beef so much that we went back the next day so I could get another plate of just that.
(4)Michael L.
Great food, great people, great price. It is worth the wait in line.
(4)Keiko S.
Gotta give this place 5 stars. We ended up going here twice in one week and stopped by on our way to the airport so we had something decent to eat on the flight back home. Walking in, we were a little skeptical of the food here... It's a small bento shop with a standard menu, located several blocks from the main street in an industrial/residential area. Had we not checked Yelp, we would have never found this place. We had their teriyaki chicken, teriyaki beef, beef stew, a few musubi's and a cup of peach parfait. Everything tasted fresh (they cook to order) and well seasoned, and the portions were really generous given the reasonable prices. Don't forget to grab their original COOKIES. They're sinfully delicious, and we ended up eating a bag of chocolate cookies in 1.5 days. YUM. SUM: Totally deserves 5 stars.
(5)T S.
Don't miss this place if you don't mind eating out! Great place to taste local food! Each and every item is delicious! We came here twice. First night we had one special fish item n a chicken katsu/beef stew combination dish. Second night we had chicken cutlet/katsu/loco moco combination dishes. Just mind blowing! Every dish comes with side of salad, thick noodles n rice. They also sell bakery items, super delicious!
(5)Christine T.
On our last day, we decided to go local again. While I was pretty good on knocking off many items off my list of traditional Hawaiian fare, I still didn't get to the loco moco. The loco moco here, though, was so GOOD. We also had the Korean chicken, which quickly became his favorite. The best place to end our trip in Kauai. The restaurant is a little hard to find, and off in a remote warehouse area of town. Like many of the local places I've frequented, expect immensely delicious food in a styrofoam box.
(5)Mele V.
Local grinds! So so so so good! We found this place on our way to the airport and I'm pretty sad we found it while we were leaving the island. Had I known about this yummy local spot, I probably would've visited at least another two times. We'll definitely be visiting again when we come back to Kauai. My boyfriend ordered a loco moco and I had a combo plate with teri beef and korean chicken. Both plates came with white rice and mac salad and the portions are huge! The korean chicken here is EVERYTHING! It's the perfect combo of sweet and crispy - literally melts in your mouth. I would also recommend the tropical chocolate bars they have pre-wrapped to take (sold for $4 along the shelf). Mark's Place deserves all the hype it's getting!
(5)Heather K.
Okay, first thoughts when driving up was, I don't think so. Set in an industrial area, picnic table seating only. When you walk in, loads of specials, fresh desserts and cookies to buy make your mouth water. We ordered teriyaki chicken with white rice, hubby ordered chicken katsu, and son ordered a burger and fries. Both chicken dishes were fantastic. Fresh, hot, and well flavored. Came with white rice and we got a green salad and hubby got macaroni salad. Sons got a huge bag of fries, and said they were some of the best he's had. If you're hungry and in this area, you need to stop and get lunch. Yummy!
(5)Sophie J.
As a tourist visiting Kauai, I wanted to go where the locals go. In my opinion, that is usually where the good food awaits. And once again, my opinion was correct. You know its a good sign when the Kauai Fire Department is there ordering their lunch. They know their food and I know I'm in the right place. One of the better places to get a plate lunch. The korean chicken was ridiculously addictive. I kept eating it way after my stomach screamed for me to stop. Even the macaroni salad was delicious. If you're not from Kauai, do yourself a favor and track down this baby blue eatery hidden within an industrial park. Its good eats that you won't regret.
(5)Sandy D.
Just what we were looking for in Kauai. Ate here twice and wasn't disappointed. I like how they have a website that posts their specials of the day. Our first try was the pau hana special of the day which can feed a family of 4. It was kalua pig, chicken long rice, rice, macaroni salad, and haupia. It was enough to feed two adults, and two children for dinner and lunch the next day. The kalua pig was just right. The only thing that wasn't super good, but still good was the haupia, it was a just a little too creamy for our taste. The next time we ordered the Mark's Mixed Plate to share with my kids and husband had their Angus Bacon Cheeseburger with homemade chips. I loved the chicken katsu because there was more chicken than breading. The kids enjoyed the stew (our homemade is better, but still good). Teriyaki beef was a little chewier than expected, but portions were large enough for us to share. Did I mention I ate all of the homemade potato chips from my husband's burger? They weren't too salty and I loved the texture, it did get soggy fast, but that did not deter me. The burger? It was okay...(from the hubby) I couldn't resist and also picked up some of their baked goods. They had one bag of fudge brownies left (super yummy!). Cornflake chocolate chip cookies... I enjoyed them but might have been getting a bit stale. Chocolate chip kahlua cake (moist and delicious!). This is a must stop if you want to eat some good local food and L&L is not your usual go to place.
(5)DV N.
We would rather come to Mark's given the drive from the North shore than to the nearby "must eat" raman house. We had the moco loco and Mark's special dish during our visit. Gotta say that it was crazy good and very special! The plates were not only awesome, but the portion was enough to even quell my usual foodie fest. Isn't it the truth that any dish would be better with a fried runny egg on top? The loco moco here continues to build on that truth. We also loved the beef stew that came with the Mark's Special plate. It was tender and full of flavor. The location was the hardest part to pin down, but once here, the staff makes it a breeze for you to enjoy your visit.
(4)C K.
Another must stop in Kaua'i. We were looking for a great plate lunch place & Mark's hit the "mark"! They have the standard local fare - beef stew, katsu, loco moco, etc. but their specials are amazing! We went back there twice during our week's stay & ordered the fish special both times. The Korean chicken is boneless & delish! It was tough to choose what wanted to order. They even have a daily family takeout dinner special, if I lived there I'd get it for a quick evening meal. Service was friendly & helpful.
(5)Maple C.
"Woohoo! As good as it gets!" for real! I had the locomoco, and it was deeeelicious! The only time I paused from eating it was to occassionally say, "omg, this tastes so good", or "wow. you need to try this." Too bad for my fiance I totally forgot that I was going to share with him, and I ate it all... haha oops! He had the Mark's special which came with chow mein, salad, beef stew, chicken katsu, teriyaki beef, and of course rice. I was eyeing the beef stew as I was finishing off my loco moco, and I finally gave in and asked if I could have some. I can safely say it's the best beef stew I've ever had in my life. The musubi is really good. We ordered two along with the dinner we had, and thank goodness we decided to eat there because we ended up buying two more after we finished eating! Although I'm sure that we'd have no problem driving back to Mark's for more food and musubi.
(5)M D.
If you are visiting Kauai and want some authentic Hawaiin food instead of that crap they feed you at the resorts that you can get at any chain restaurant wherever you're from, go to this place. Whenever I come to Lihue this is the first place I go.
(4)Bill C.
Loved the Korean chicken plate! Great desserts too.
(4)Tawny A.
Mark's Mixed plate was killer- the beef stew reminded me of thai massamun curry a bit, the rice was fluffy, the catsu was perfection complete with a juiciness that is really rare in catsu chicken and the bbq beef was tender and sweet. the noodles were not for me, but everyone i ate with loved them. they were sour to me. their chocolate chip/corn flake cookies are so good i have already eaten four and its 9:30am!!! (i got them last night) i really love this place and know why my local friends eat here all the time. they have something really good goin' on.
(5)Annie C.
Best loco moco EVER!! Going back for seconds for sure :)
(5)Alexis S.
This was one of my favorite places to eat on Kauai. The food was excellent and it was reasonably priced. The restaurant is a bit hard to find but worth it.
(5)Chris H.
We were in search of good Hawaiian food. Couldn't find much during that time of the day (4pm) but were able to find Mark's Place and that they were open. Luck us! Great Hawaiian plate. We got a combo place with chicken katsu, beef stew, and teriyaki beef. Get the butter mochi if it's available. Awesome! Only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was due to seating (they only have a few picnic tables outside and it was raining when we were there).
(4)jennifer w.
The food was average, nothing special for local food, pretty greasy. Not sure we will ever be back.
(3)Chris H.
Best deal on the island and the teriyaki beef was amazing. Portions are beyond huge and the service was awesome. Go to Mark's!
(5)D H.
Exactly what i was craving and needed while in kauai! after a super disappointing meal at josselin, we had out last meal here on the way to the airport. had the korean chicken and the partner in crime had the loco moco. Both were very good and filling. And even though the items we ate are pretty "heavy" it didn't feel that bad for you- maybe because it was homemade! Picked up a couple spam musubis and a small bento box for the plane ride home. Yum!
(5)April G.
The food here is SUPERB! My boyfriend and I were in Kauai last week and wanted to find a great place to dine and thanks to all you yelpers we found Mark's Place! This place is located in an industrial area and the restaurant is your typical hole in the wall with only two benches to sit and eat, but the food is absolutely INCREDIBLE! I have never had food like this ever before! I ordered a plate with rice, macaroni salad, and breaded chicken strips covered in gravy! It was soo good! My boyfriend ordered the LOCO MOCO and my oh my did he love it! I recommend you all give Mark's Place a try and you will be pleasantly surprised! By the way, get your GPS or Neverlost out, this place is hard to find! I also want to include that everyone there was really nice! The food came fast even during the lunch rush! I created a blog post of my trip at Kauai, I hope you enjoy the photos of beautiful Kauai! aprilathena7.blogspot.co…
(5)Lee G.
We were looking for a great plate lunch place and this was it. Their Korean chicken was by far the best thing we had. We also had the teriyaki beef and chicken katsu. The beef was very tender and tast and the katsu was the best I've ever had. Only thing I was sad about was that they didn't have sriracha sauce (red rooster). I love that stuff all over my Hawaiian food.
(5)Ralph S.
Don't go looking for scenery or white table cloths. Beef Stew was an excellent surprise, chicken teri was a real treat too.
(4)Tim T.
This place was awesome. They sell home-made cookies and traditional dishes with a Hawaiian kick. You have to go here if you're in town (just do yourself the favor and go). I had the famous Mark's mixed plate with homemade stew, teryaki beef and noodles, fresh greens, and chicken catsu! I get a feeling the locals love this place (for good reason).
(5)Alex H.
got the combo plate, quite tasty. the beef stew was awesome. the regular beef was awesome as well. this is a place you would never know about if you didnt get referred but it is well worth the trip to get here. a place for locals where you wont see many tourists.
(5)Eazmg C.
We went here on a whim before heading back to the airport based on Yelpers reviews. We had the loco moco and korean chicken, the loco was outstanding the korean just alright. Warning the portions are generous, so it may not be a bad move to go with a mini. There were a couple locals there that we shared a bench with outfront who informed us that they believe Marks is the best local Hawaiian food on Kauai.
(4)Jerek B.
best katsu plate on island
(5)Steve R.
Great local food, reasonable prices, friendly crew...what more could you ask for? We love Mark's.
(4)Hal W.
Best Plate Lunches in Hawaii. Period. Take a break from resort food and give this a whirl. The girlfriend and I were driving back to the hotel from Waimea Canyon overlook last night, when we realized we were getting hungry... turning to our trusty travel companion, the Yelp app for the iPhone, my wonderful girlfriend found this place on our way back. "Surprise me." was the only instructions I told her as I navigated the treacherous traffic of Kauai. With this choice, she'll forever have my trust. We drove right to it using a GPS, so no real issues finding it, and as soon as we pulled in, even though it was dark, and in an industrial complex, the lights coming through the window were like a beacon of deliciousness beckoning into the dark. Walking in, we stared at the expansive menu on a giant eraser board above the counter, and I asked the cashier what was good tonight. "All of it" he said. Well, that was all it took. I ordered "Mark's Favorite" a trio of Katsu Chicken, Beef Teriyake and Hawaiian Beef Stew. Mix in a side salad, brown rice and a slice of 'better than sex' cake, and I was golden. Girlfriend got Korean Chicken and Loco Moco... not so much for her, but more for me... since we were sharing everything. She is so awesome. Anyway, Loco Moco is the Hawaiian equivalent of what we call a Barney Clark in the Navy. Hamburger patty with an egg on top smothered in gravy. In the Navy it's between two buns, in Hawaii, it's on a bed of white rice. Delicious, and will clog your arteries in about 4 minutes. Not recommended in large doses or for overweight white males with high blood pressure. All of it was tasty, but the best part was having the owner, Mark, come out from his office and meet us. We mentioned to the cashier we found them on Yelp, and she immediately went and grabbed him. Alabama had just finished laying the smackdown on Texas for the BCS Championship, which he was watching in his office, and gave me the update. Then proceeded to spend some good quality time with us talking story while his expert team of cooks handily whipped our meal into shape. We brought it all back to the hotel and proceeded to gorge ourselves. So much for all that gym time we spent this week. Highly recommend this place. You can't beat the prices either!! The Beef Stew, by the way, melted in my mouth. I've seriously never had beef that was that tender... like it had been marinated for a week or something before they made the stew. The Better than Sex cake was awesome too. No comment on if it really was. But if you like chocolate cake, you will love this stuff. Check this place out, you will be glad you did! Don't plan on dining in by the way, this is a take-out joint. Oh- and make sure you've got all your sauces before you leave- they are easy to forget!
(5)Peter K.
This place is really good. Or it's one of those places where everything else kind of sucks and this is ok by modern world standards. The location is strange. It looks like it's in the middle of a construction complex. I highly recommend the mix plate. The spam musubis are too thick with rice so I wouldn't recommend that.
(4)Soo B.
Great lunch spot at an affordable price. After all the expensive meals we had, we enjoyed the $11 meal. We shared a Korean chicken and loco moco plate and it was a perfect size for us. No way we could have finished a plate on our own. Afterwards, we got some shortbread cookies (hubby scarfed them down) and chocolate chip cookies (average and a bit over baked and crispy for our liking). The place is very good but not amazing enough for a return visit during our stay.
(4)Mimi L.
I was craving local food and the yelp reviews led me to Mark's place. This place is located in a very industrial area so if you think you're getting lost you're not. There was a lot of good local eats to choose from and I didn't know what to order so I ordered the mixed plate. The mix plate had chicken katsu, teriyaki beef, beef stew, rice, mac salad, and under all that there was noodle. This plate was no joke. When it came out there was so much food staring at me. I did what was most familiar to me and therefore stabbed the chicken katsu. The chicken katsu was crispy and tender. The meat from the stew was also tender and hearty. The Teriyaki beef was teriyaki beef and nothing special. Surprisingly this meal was not salty and actually pretty decent. The food was good and a perfect way to satisfy a stomach that was in need of local flavors.
(3)Dane H.
My folks live in Lihue, and I found out about this place last year, but didn't get a chance to try it myself at that time. I told my folks about it and they have been raving about it since. I was really looking forward to trying it. We've gotten take-out twice since I've been here (Nov. 2007) and it is the best local style food I've had anywhere in Hawaii. I've had or tried (by stealing bites from my folks' plates!) grilled Ahi, Mac Nut Mahi Mahi, Chinese style roast pork, loco moko and a couple of other dishes, and all have been outstanding! Prices are very reasonable, too--maybe a little more than other plate lunch places but worth it--the 3 of us have gotten dinner to go for around 28 bucks. Cheap! compared to eating out at a fancy restaurant, and better than what I've had at the local fancy restaurants. Plus the portions are very generous. We've always got a little leftover for breakfast! Tip: Their hours are officially 10 to 2, but if you order food by 1:30 and pay with a credit card, you can pick it up later (they'll keep it warm)--very convenient for an early dinner. Call them first to find out how late you can pick up, as it varies. Very friendly staff, so be sure and tip them well!
(5)Levantino D.
On our last lunch in Kauai, we stopped there after reviewing online menu, daily specials and reviews. Once i saw all the locals were going and grab a lunch, I guessed it must be good. I confirmed their food was a great value once we got our order. Consider the avg HI prices and experience their fresh Ahi Tuna lunch with their sauce. A HUGE slab of Ahi for $10.75 with all the sides (i don't care for mac salad myself but even that was fine). I did not have dinner that night and savored its taste all day. It's out of the way but worth looking for it and finding it. Convenient when you are in Lihue. Check out their daily specials.
(5)DANIEL R.
We went here on Yelp's recommendation and made it a half hour before they closed. I'm glad we made it because the service and food were great. They have a menu that's both authentic and original and our group of five had no comlpaints.
(5)Chris B.
We stopped off here for lunch one day and were very happy with our choice. It's one of our favorite lunches during our trip. We got two box lunches including the mixed plate. The chicken katsu was crispy and not oily. The beef stew dissolved in your mouth. The teriyaki beef was very flavorful. The tables outside provide a nice place to eat, but they were all taken so we took ours on the road. Definitely worth a stop.
(4)Frank P.
If we had the chance to go back I would go here every single day and try every item in their menu. We only had the chance to go here once during our stay and we were not disappointed. We had the Beef Terriyaki and Korean Chicken which were both awesome. Prices are low. Only downfall is they dont have indoor seating, and only four picnic tables available outside. They're closed on the weekends and open at 10:00am during weekdays. Highly recommend this place. Good food for your buck.
(5)Barry F.
Great plate lunch classics plus a nice smattering of additional specials. The portions are very large. Each one was like a 5 pound weight. Prices are very reasonable so this is great food at a great value. I got the teriyaki chicken - it was probably 6 ounces of well flavored, tender chicken resting on a bed of lo mein noodles. A scoop of rice and a scoop of macaroni salad with it. My wife got Mark's combo - Chicken Katsu, Teriyaki Beef, and Stew. Be prepared to sit outside or in your car - no indoor seating. We also shared a piece of the macadamia nut chiffon cake - it was pillowy and yummy.
(4)Dorcee S.
We'd been to Mark's Place in the Lawai (now closed) location. First time to Puhi location. It's in an industrial part of town, down Puhi Rd off the hwy to Haleukana St (make a right) - it's a blue building. There's a sign at Haleukana & Puhi Rd. Take out only with a few tables out front - holy cow is it HOT inside! I had a mini Chicken Katsu (best Katsu sauce on island) and Hubby had the day's special - Popcorn Chicken in Country Gravy - really, really good food, however I do miss the Lawai location. They had whole pies (Mark's does catering too) - Lilikoi Cheesecake to die for - the Puhi location has only slices (we missed the cheesecake a few days earlier) 5 stars
(5)Mary K.
Authentic local food. Great value and sooo much food. Delicious.
(5)Kim K.
If a plate lunch is what you're after, this is the place to go. You just can't get a pile of food this big, that tastes this good, for such a reasonable price anywhere else that I know of. They make all the local favorites and have daily specials that change. They also do catering, have some desserts, and have t-shirts for sale. Their store gets blasted with the afternoon sun and it can get quite hot inside (I guess everyone that works there is used to it because it's always been this way). Not to worry, this is a take out place and you can either sit outside on their umbrella tables or head down to the beach to eat. I would never compare this place to L&L's. This place is way better!!! They do take credit cards; not sure about AMEX though.
(5)Jenin V.
at here THREE times when we were in kauai for a week in early december. seriously. the BEST plate lunch we've ever had (on the island and back home in so cal)!!! we had the beef stew, chicken katsu, mixed beef plate, and musubi. the option of brown rice was nice, too, made you feel like you were eating healthy, haha. mac salad was crazy good - not too mayo-y - and the chicken katsu was perfectly breaded and crispy and moist and just GOOD. thanks, mark's place!
(5)Ruby D.
One of the best places on the island. Lots of food! Try the combo so you get a little of every thing. Well, a lot actually. Baked items are also great!
(4)Amy T.
This is a hidden gem in Kauai. It's off the beaten path (even more so than Hamura's) and definitely a 'local' joint. This place has HUGE portions and so inexpensive!! I think the highest price plate was $8. Fresh ingredients, generous portions, great variety. What more can you ask for?! I had the chicken katsu plate lunch and there was enough katsu in there for 3 meals. I don't remember what the others got, but we were all more than satisfied with our food. My husband and I still talk about that place and recommend it to everyone we know who is going to Kauai. There isn't really any seating - it's more of a pick up and go type of joint.
(5)Johnny P.
This place has the best plate lunch in Kauai...hands down. This is a small whole in the wall, as it is located in an industrial area, but dont let the looks fool you! I have tried all of their combinations and have not been dissapointed. Dont sleep on their dessert section, as the cookies are damn good! If you cant decide...get Mark's famous and you will not be disappointed my furry little friends..........The grill is closed on the weekends, as are most joints on the island.
(5)B. ..
my fave plate lunch place. what a great find. small hole in the wall. we got plate lunches to-go for a hike and kayak through "the secret falls". the food was STILL delish despite it not being eaten right away. we both got the Mark's "special" plate which includes beef teriyaki, chicken katsu, and beef stew with rice, and mac salad or tossed green salad as substitute. The beef stew was my fave, then the katsu and then beef. but they were all so good. my mouth is watering and my stomach is growling as i type. a MUST-GO-TO place in kauai.
(5)Ezra B.
Holy freaking delicious. A must first stop off the plane in Kauai. Best Loco Moco we had all trip. And nearly the second best meal we had all week. Will definitely be back!
(4)San X.
Gps yourself here & order the best Loco Moco you will ever eat, ever. The hamburger patties were cooked perfectly they had a char-grilled crust on edges that was delicious, they gravy was the best I've ever tasted on a loco moco, the eggs were cooked to perfection. The mac salad was great. We also ordered the mixed plate that was also good, but definitely do not miss out on the best loco moco of your life. I've tried a lot of them on all the islands & this one wins hands down.
(5)Mylene L.
its a good stuff $ good price too!
(5)Christina L.
So this place is a GREAT value. Decent prices and they give you HUGE portions. I had the teriyaki chicken bento. It was ono. My mom got their Teriyaki beef - which she claims was the best she's ever had. My sister loved the spam musubi. Go with an appetite. Also, be sure to go on a weekday, we tried to go one last time on saturday before leaving Kauai and they were closed :(
(4)Tiffany B.
its a busy place and hard to find but if you are ever in puhi doing some bussiness, go and visit. it's locally owned so it's even better. My favorite is the korean chicken plate and their salad selections. They have daily specias as well. All items are in the $10 range. Great portions!
(4)Michelle K.
At first I thought we'd gotten lost bc we were driving through some random industrial park, but eventually we found the place. Cheap food, good eats! Near the airport, so a good place to stop before leaving Kauai.
(5)r y.
The food here is very good, especially considering the price. The portions are very generous. We had teri beef, chicken katsu and loco moco. All were very good. It is out of the way and in an industrial area. There are some picnic tables outside but no seating inside. I ordered for dinner and took it back to my hotel. Highly recommended for local food.
(5)lonni f.
This place is awesome. We went for the first time last week, and they were super busy just after 11AM (note that they're now open until 8PM too). We got the 'Special' and the 'Loco Moco' and both were great. Huge portions, and very tasty.
(5)Nate M.
I'm giving this a five because it was the best place I ate at while being in Kauai for a week. We heard about it in a guidebook and our wedding coordinator also recommended them to cater. After trying their food we were sold. We came back and ate different dishes the next day. I recommend the Mark's Special for first timers because it gives you a little of everything: chicken katsu, teri beef, beef stew, mac salad, noodles. The GF also had an Ahi Salad special and it was REALLY good. A lot of local workers frequent this place, so don't be discouraged about its location. If I remember correctly they do close as 2p.
(5)Jenny L.
Got the teri beek and teri chicken combo, hubby got the mark's mixed. NOTHING special...really dry, chewy, boring.
(2)Wes Y.
I ordered the mixed plate again, but was slightly disappointed because the tonkatsu was not as juicy and crispy as I remembered. Everything else was the same though, and it was all still delicious.
(4)Crystal C.
We love the korean chicken. Musubi is also great as is the moco loco. You will not go hungry that is for sure! We make sure to go here every time we visit.
(4)Roxy A.
The BEST plate lunch I've ever had in my life!!!! I had the 2 item combination and chose chicken katsu and loco moco. It was super ONO!!!! Sooo good!!! The chicken was moist and white meat too..this place totally owns L&L cuz it wasn't overly crunchy..the breading on the katsu was perfect and served over a bed of noodles. The loco moco was the best I've had on the trip so far..and I've tried loco moco at several different places on the trip(L&L,kalapaki beach hut, shack shop..) They definitely make their own hamburger patties bc there's onion in the hamburger patty so its not some storebought burger. And most importantly the mac salad is really awesome!!! Its definitely home-cooked kinda stuff..REAL local food,great plate lunch for a great price too! My plate lunch was $7.75. Its a little more than what you'd pay at L&L but it is definitely worth it!! They also have "mini" size portions. Also be sure to take home a slice of lilikoi chiffon pie! Its a take-out only place open from 10-2 and if you have a hard time finding it its the big blue building.
(5)Traveler K.
We found this place on Yelp soon after landing at Lihue. We were so hungry and Mark's Place delivered with great food and lots of it. It's definitely a local joint in both character and food. Of all the loco moco we had on our trip, Mark's Place was by far the best.
(5)Lola Z.
hidden in an industrial area, but worth the search. respectable locomoco and mark's special was...really special. large portions, a plus and great food. and really fabulous butter mochi to boot!
(4)keri r.
Really good plate lunch place on Kauai! I think I've had better on other islands, but this is one of the best on Kauai. Their chicken katsu and teri beef are really good. My boyfriend also got loco moco and he loved it. We ended up eating in the car since they don't have indoor seating, but that was fine with us. The only negative is that they are closed on the weekends. Definitely worth going to and we'll be back soon!
(5)W L.
Great flavors and filling, best value on the island. Loco Moco did have a KFC'ish gravy, more like salisbury steak with an egg. But it works and it's good. Korean Chicken and teriyaki beef were very tasty.
(5)Jerry W.
Came here thanks to the local reviews and had a good plate lunch. I can't say its the best plate lunch I have ever had, but was still pretty tasty. The katsu was a little dry though, but the beef stew was good. Pretty busy so it took a while for our food to be ready. I wish they had seating, we ended up taking it to the mall nearby to eat. They have opened another location further west.
(4)Isaac O.
A real locals place (like Hamura's Saimin Stand). Think tasty Hawaiian plate lunches at great prices. As with Hamura's, the homemade, local fare aspect, mixing with the locals; adds a quality all it's own. It's located out of the way in an industrial park area so do not be thrown by that when searching. They do have limited hours... basically a lunch crowd type place.
(4)Ed Y.
Oh Em Gee is this place good! Run don't walk your butt to marks place for some awesome possum food. My very pregnant wife and I ordered two pick 3 combo plates and loved loved loved all of the selections: beef stew, Korean chicken, loco moco, teri beef, teri chicken, and chicken katsu Loco moco was so on point, the patty was fully seasoned and did not taste greasy, and was not densely packed so it broke apart easily with the egg and gravy...best I've had! Stop reading this review and go already
(5)Amy C.
How to Kick off your Hawaiian Vacation: 1) Arrive at airport. 2) Pick up rental car. 3) Ask Google where a good lunch plate place is. 4) End up at Mark's Place. 5) Grab a Spam musubi to tide you over. Enjoy the sesame seeds inside but wish the spam slice wasn't so thin! 6) Order a couple combo plates and go to your Chicken Katsu happy place. (But next time skip the underwhelming Korean chicken.) 7) Watch your Better Half devour his loco moco / beef stew / chicken katsu combo in record time. 8) Appreciate the healthier side options like brown rice and a well intentioned but overdressed iceberg lettuce salad. 9) Sabatoge yourself by getting a hefty square of butter mochi for later.
(4)Jessica G.
They're located in the middle of this industrial neighborhood. Keep in mind that it's designed to be a takeout restaurant since there's no seating inside and the 2-3 tables outside are usually filled up or right under the sun. I got a salad and I'm not a salad person so hear me out when I awkwardly judge it. It was fresh. Some type of green was spicy or peppery or maybe that was the dressing. Ahi was seared and fresh. If you don't like salads don't do what I did and try to order a salad at a place that you think will change your mind about salads. It won't. I did get to try katsu and teriyaki beef off of other people's plates. It was delicious and I'd wished I'd ordered hot food instead of that salad. You can choose to be healthy and get brown rice instead of white and green salad instead of mac salad. Prices are normal island prices.
(4)Erin V.
We stopped by Mark's Place twice on the trip since not only it was cheap (~$10 per entree), it was hella good! Comes with brown or white rice and either "greeeeeens or ma-ca-roni sa-lad"... I love the islander drawl. My husband loved the beef stew, whereas I couldn't get enough of the chicken katsu. Our hotel was about 20 miles away but didn't mind the drive there. On the other hand, the butter mochi was just okay, but in our opinions, did not live up to other reviewers' descriptions. There really wasn't anything wrong with it, perhaps it wasn't our kind of dessert. The texture is soft and chewy, and like others have mentioned repeatedly, it does taste very similar to the filipino dessert cassava cake.
(5)Steve B.
Whole in the wall. But excellent food. The portions are huge and the taste is amazing. I had the chicken teriyaki which was great. The chicken katsu was probably the best I've tasted. Not a whole lot of seating but definitely with the visit. I found this gem via yelp. Thank you Yelp!
(5)Wayne M.
One of best plate lunch spots on the Island. Tucked away in a Industrial park area of Lihue, this unassuming restaurant is definitely the go to local hang. Our plate lunch today consisted of Chicken Katsu and fresh Kajiki (,marlin) with Ogo poke. Of course our plates came with Mac salad and steamed rice. All freshly made and service with a smile, just the way it always should be. The joint is busy with locals and tourists alike. Outdoor seating is available for your dining pleasure, it's called picnic benches. Check out this place for a taste of Island grinds, you won't regret it. Remain Feral as always.
(4)Lakergirl T.
Coming off a cruise and everyone was still eating like they've never eaten before because it's just so good here. They were surprised to have us tourists find them - so thanks Yelp! And yes, must have the buttered mochi & Korean chicken! Everyone also loved the chicken cutlet, beef & chicken teriyaki. Large portions that everyone couldn't finish. Great job!
(5)Cecilia T.
By far one of the best places I've eaten at while in Kauai! I ordered the chicken with gravy plate and a side order of beef stew. Yummy!! And for dessert I got butter MOCHI and brownies. Double yummy!!! This will be one of the places I will always visit.
(5)Bob B.
The food was good, we got marks famous mixed plate. Teriyaki beef and stew were very good. The atmosphere was a little of a let down-- it could have been improved by having umbrellas and more customer parking. The staff were friendly and helpful.
(3)Jennifer H.
Authentic Hawaiian food. Hidden in the middle of an industrial park is this gem. Outdoor seating only on picnic tables. Chicken katsu, large portion. Seriously 3 of my kids shared this and didn't finish it. But they loved it. My husband had this too and it was nice and crispy good. Great sauce too. Loved the chow mein under the chicken. Teriyaki beef plate was perfectly tender and moist. Tasty dressing on the green salad too. The Korean chicken was great. Little balls of deep fried chicken. Last was the mahi mahi special. Delicious fish with a nice pineapple salsa! Awesome service too. Very helpful and kind. Tried mochi for the first time too. Always seen it but never tried it. It was surprisingly really good.
(5)Natalie G.
Yum!! Beef teriyaki was my favorite! we went here twice so got to try 4 dishes between the two of us. The prices are reasonable, and food delicious. Be sure to try some of their desserts. The gluten free cookies were amazing! Also you can BYOB to enjoy at their outside seating area.
(5)Sandy I.
You know this place must be good if the Health Department comes here for lunch *yelp wants longer reviews... Ain't nobody got time for that :) So here are a couple of sentences to please the people of yelp who think that people need to keep reading reviews instead of getting on with their lives
(4)Rita C.
The wait was long but then again what isn't on the island. The food was indeed plentiful. The stand outs form the sampler plate was the stew and beef.
(3)Jonathan B.
Wow! What a great meal for the budget conscious person. I had a Loco Moco and my wife had the Mark's Sampler. Both were very good and far more food than we needed. We will plan on returning to Mark's before we depart Kauai.
(5)Mommamia C.
Just a quick shout out for the Mark's Place team! They catered our summer party with an ono Paniolo BBQ for 150. It was enjoyed by all. Most recently Mark's provided us lunch at our summer retreat location and then pupu's in the evening. Expectations were once again exceeded! Thanks!! Mia Checkley Layton Construction Co., Inc.
(5)Z R.
Super good grinds over here. Order the chicken cutlet/Korean chicken plate, awesome food!! This is the spot to eat at in Lihue.
(4)Brian A.
I highly recommend this place to anyone who wants the best plate lunch on the island on Kauai! I got the choose your own three and got the Cutlet, Katsu, and Loco Moco. My wife got the Mark's Special Plate and it was also very delicious Beef Teriyaki, Katsu and Beef Stew. Both plates came with delicious Mac salad.
(5)Lisa K.
Excellent! We ordered chicken katsu, beef teriyaki, and beef stew. They are all good. Nicky picked before our flight back to mainland!
(5)Christine G.
We came here for our last meal in Kauai, right before heading to the airport. Food is cheap and oh sooooo good. My husband and I shared the Korean chicken and beef stew combo. The chicken was amazing. It was so sweet and crunchy...I wish I had ordered some for myself. The beef stew was delicious. The meat was so tender and the potatoes and carrots were also cooked to perfection. Our travel companions ordered the chicken katsu, which I was so lucky to try because it was great as well. We also shared the butter mochi, which as another reviewer put, tasted like Filipino cassava. FYI - they only offer outdoor seating (about 5 picnic style tables) and they do not have a restroom. Definitely a great and quick place to eat if you are coming from or going to Lihue Airport.
(5)Jack G.
Portions are HUGE! Value is great! Had the teriyaki chicken, chicken katsu and chicken cutlet, all were good, Mac salad is worthy.
(4)Bowen P.
Great place for comfort food. They have wide verity of local foods. I would recommend to get their daily fish specials, it comes with enough to fill a 200lb man and remain healthy. A lot of people would go there to get deep fried stuff... So if you love deep fries this place is for you. Make sure to call in before going there. Line can be long and there is no A/C while waiting in line
(4)Jessica O.
This was a great affordable and authentic meal option in Lihue! This is a no fuss dining joint, you order at the counter and eat your meal outside on the picnic benches or take it to go. The food is great! They have a variety of hawaiin plate options that come with meat of your choice, rice, salad and noodles all for about $10. We got the marks mixed plate (steak teriyaki, beef stew, breaded chicken) and an Ono special and everything was delicious! I think my favorite was the beef stew and the fish. Would definitely recommend this place if you need something close to the airport or if you are staying near by and want a dining option outside of the resorts.
(4)Jane D.
MENTION YOUR NAME BEFORE YOU ORDER!!! LOVED the teriyaki beef. Beef stew was okay- tender with a good flavor. Wasn't the biggest fan of the chicken katsu - just fried chicken. Very affordable for the island ($10-12) and efficient staff. The butter mochi was good, not too sweet. First stop arriving, last stop when leaving.
(4)K M.
Ordered the breaded chicken and korean chicken. Food wasnt bad , basic to my taste, and one lunch box was more than enough to feed two people. Good price.
(3)Char O.
Great food and desserts! Mix of Hawaiian & Filipino favors . Simple place with picnic tables outside to eat.
(4)Nancy B.
Great food! The guy who owns this place is a chef and a culinary instructor at Hawaii's university. It's located in an industrial park and only has outside eating. During the week, the place caters to the working folk in the park (lucky ducks), but on the weekends, these folks do catering, with waiters wearing suits and the whole shootin' match. Loco Moco, Mmmmmmm yum, yum! Hubby had the special, he liked his, too. I love the local spots here!
(4)OC B.
We are on a trip with our local Halau from Orange County, CA. I have to say, when I said I wanted local Hawaiian food - this hit the spot. You blink and you would miss the place. It is in an industrial complex, cardboard sign, but well worth the lack of signage. Unfortunately, they ran out of the musubi, but the beef stew place was legit, as was the katsu. I highly recommend this to anyone staying in the area. Even with it being takeout, the food was phenomenal.
(5)Jaja A.
This is a place I wouldn't had found unless I yelp'd... that being said the food was great. tasted "clean" if that makes any sense. Of course my chicken katsu is fried but it was really good not greasy. Burgers with grave were great too. Would come back again. I wonder what else I would like from them... guess I have to go back!
(4)Adam M.
I was craving a plate lunch while visiting Kauai. We stopped by Mark's and got the Mark's special beef stew with Teri-chicken! We were not in the mood for beef stew but it was ridiculous. Just like momma makes it!The beef pulled apart and all the veggies were perfectly soft. The Teri-chicken was amazing and we finished it all with a Aloha drink and butter mochi! The butter mochi is a must have if you stop here. Mark's was by far one of the best plate lunches I have ever had. Forget L&L go to Mark's!
(5)Taffany H.
Staying in Poipu part of the Kauai makes it a bit slim pickin when it comes to finding a place with good food that is local. Thank goodness for Mark's Place in Lihue. We tried the Loco Moco and it was very very good. Buttery good. You can taste the butter in the gravy, and in the patties. I'm not sure whether this has been influenced by the fact that I was eating the Butter Mochi as an appetizer, however. Nevertheless, the portions are Hawaiian (which is just a tad smaller than the Texan size,) so they're quite hearty. If you're like me, someone who eats a few bites and calls it a meal, then your lunch plate may become part of your dinner as a leftover. Or you may choose to bring a hearty clean-up crew partner who will finish the rest of your food for you while you sample their Teri Chicken&Korean chicken combo plate. I find the Teri chicken to be quite moist and good. The only thing missing here is some Kimchi. As for the Butter Mochi, it's good but I'm not wowed by it. The texture could be improved with some shredded coconut or something but that's just my thought.
(4)Bobby M.
What a find! Couldn't figure out where we were going at first, as we were clearly a little off the main track and seemingly in a warehouse district, but likely because locals want to keep this place a secret. M-F only, you can find amazing local grinds here. We grew up on the islands and have tried a lot of local foods on all the major islands and this place ranks right up there with the best. The ginger infused Korean chicken is da bomb. We also enjoyed the teri beef and chicken cutlet with yummy gravy. And they make it so easy to choose with a two or three item combo. And there will be plenty of leftovers! The mac salad is almost as good as my own island recipe and we loved that they offer brown rice as an option AND noodles under the main course. Gotta love the locals, covering all three carbs - mac salad, rice and noodles! Believe me, it's worth the calorie splurge. We will be back to make it through the list of daily specials, marinated opah over greens today was just one of the delicious choices. Have to also highly recommend impulse purchases from the variety of baked goods they offer, too hard to resist, so, just don't. The butter mochi is phenomenal, a TSA agent tried to steal my extras at security!! The carrot cake is perfection, not too dense, great flavor and texture. Who would have thought Mark is the go-to guy for plate lunch? He sure is, though!
(5)Miriam P.
We went twice on our vacation. I will say, the Korean chicken tasted much better the second time. The first time, it was dry, the second time it was much more tender and fresh. They redeemed themselves. It's in a random location, in an industrial park, totally discreet, without much flair, but the food is great. I appreciate the fact that Mark is a real chef and has gourmet specials each day on his menu. The food is fresh and it's one of the best plate lunches you'll have on the island.
(4)Lyn C.
Whenever I go to Hawaii, I always have to get some loco moco. Since local food is sparse on Kauai, I was happy to drop by Mark's. Their seating set up is a few tables outside, but we just picked it up and brought it back. I got a loco moco plate which came with rice and mac salad. I didn't hear properly but salad is an option, which I wish I got because I don't like mayo. There was a lot of food, I couldn't even finish it. One thing that I was sad about was that I forgot about the loco moco and let it sit for a while when we got back...and the yolk solidified. Boo, the gooey egg is the best part! All in all still a good fix for Hawaiian food. I also picked up a butter mochi which was (understandably) a greasy piece of heaven.
(4)Sarah V.
Good food, low prices, off the tourist path
(5)Mariah A.
WHY oh Why did we wait for our last day to try this place! The atmosphere was VERY casual but the food was delicious, a true local favorite. The quality was like you might expect to find in a nice restaurant only in take out containers and reasonably priced accordingly. We ordered off the specials menu and had a perfectly cooked piece of Mahi with a ginger butter sauce and some nice sides plus a really tasty salad. Don't save the best for last cause you just might want to go to Mark's place multiple times!a great place to grab a quick lunch! Just don't go in the rain if you plan to eat in...dining is at picnic tables outside!
(5)Maggie M.
This was seriously the best food we had on our trip to Kauai!! We had Mark's famous mixed plate. We will be coming back at least once more before we leave! They were very friendly as well!
(5)Angela C.
Mark's Place was our first meal stop upon arriving in Kauai. Located less than 10 minutes from the Lihue airport, the restaurant is situated on the corner of Hanalima Street and Haleukana Street. They offer only outdoor seating, providing 5 long umbrella-shaded picnic benches. Hubby ordered Mark's Famous Mixed Plate, it was Loco Moco for me. I wanted Spam Masubi too but they were sold out. All plates come with a side of chow mein noodles, brown or white rice, and mac or green salad. We both asked for brown rice and mac salad. Mark's Famous Mixed Plate - Chicken Katsu, Teriyaki Beef and Beef Stew. Hubby loved all of it, except the chow mein noodles. He felt the noodles were bland, and I'd have to agree with him. I tried a bite of hubby's katsu and it was good. The outside breading was nice and crunchy, and the chicken was very moist. Loco Moco - The patty was moist and well seasoned, gravy very flavorful, and eggs cooked to perfection with runny egg yolks. Decent portion size too. Unfortunately there was no Hawaiian hospitality here...the gal taking our order wasn't able to crack even a tiny smile and instead had a mean scowl on her face. What a buzz kill. But we both liked the food so this will definitely be one of our food stops if we ever go back to Kauai.
(4)Carissa J.
Located in an odd industrial area, with a small parking lot. Walked-in to what felt like a tiny, overcrowded sauna and got sweaty just looking at their menu. Came here after craving a spam musubi and was heartbroken to see that they had already sold out of all of their musubis before noon. Ordered the regular chicken katsu with brown rice. The portions are large, and I was pleasantly surprised to see how much food was stuffed into the takeout box. The chicken katsu was delicious, cooked perfectly, and so far, the best that I have found on Kauai. The brown rice, macaroni salad and noodles were fitting sides, but nothing special. Outdoor, picnic table seating only. This place is worth trying if you like chicken katsu! I will be back to try other plates from the menu and hopefully for a spam musubi :)
(4)Elsie F.
Out of dessert, no spam Misubi, chicken katsu had little flavor. Service was ok though.
(2)Rick P.
This place is great! Cheap and tasty. Exactly what I'm all about. We had the chicken teriyaki and chicken cutlet. The portions are huge and they come with a choice of salad/macaroni, and rice. There's a few benches to eat outside but it's mainly a takeout place. Apparently I ordered fries as well, although I don't remember this but my wife does, and I'm glad I apparently did as they were so tasty and fresh! Glad we came here and didn't break the bank at all. We had 3 meals out of this easy!
(5)Lee L.
First place we ate at after landing. Not too far from the airport and 1 plate lunch is enough for 2 people. They have a set menu every day and a special whiteboard menu that changes periodically. Plenty of outdoor seating, although the surrounding area is not so nice (industrial buildings) Typical plate lunch comes with meat (teri chicken, beef, stew, cutlet, etc) Mac salad or tossed salad, rice, and fried saimin. All around good place for plate lunches.
(4)Mona L.
Tasty enough and decent price for the solid portion of food. Really like the flavor of the teriyaki and Korean chicken. The mac salad is good but could be better. Long wait at peak hours, nice enough seating area on benches outside. Located in an industrial area- do not expect anything fancy. Good lunch to take as a picnic to the beach. I will be back.
(3)Andrew B.
First things first, the food was great and there was a ton of it. Loco moco is the way to go. Unfortunately I didn't read enough of the menu board before ordering, or I would've gotten katsu too. It took this place so long to make our food. I get it, island time and stuff, but my tourist ass couldn't wait 40 minutes for two hamburgers and eggs covered in gravy. Go! Go and get that loco moco. But make sure you call ahead or something...
(4)Chris L.
I don't really have much to say that hasn't already been said... Mark's was great. Basically everything I've come to expect from a typical Hawaiian plate lunch. Plus, the butter mochi was amazing. If any of my friends/co-workers ever find themselves heading to Kauai, I'm definitely going to direct them to a seemingly deserted industrial park to have the best plate lunch on the island!
(5)Gilbert C.
The mochi is a must get - even better than their meals. Must come back for some more.
(5)Joseph V.
Bomb!!!! Srs! got the loco moco and beef teriyaki combo with white rice. Very High quality meat (lean and not fatty with ligament) and cooked to perfection. The loco moco was bomb too! Best island food I've tasted in visiting this island on my three visits.
(5)Lori N.
That Loco Moco, best we had on the island, possibly the best I have ever had. The beef patty was perfectly seasoned & savory & the fried egg oozed all over & fluffy white rice to soak it up. I am having serious cravings for this right now! It's definitely indulgent & not appropriate for my bikini body, but for food this good, I make exceptions. We also tried the Katsu chicken, Korean fried chicken, & teriyaki beef, all of which were good. Huge portions for about $9, enough food for at least 2 meals. But hands down the loco moco was the best. They also have a little bakery section where they sell delicious looking cookies, brownies, & other baked goods that would make great gifts. Lots of parking & picnic tables, so you should be able to eat quickly & comfortably. They are closed on Sunday though, so better stock up on 2 portions of loco moco on Saturday!
(5)Erick S.
Quick stop for plate lunch. Def a local spot. Get Mark's Combo plate. Little teriyaki beef that is super tender, chicken Katsu, and beef stew. Plus the standard scoop of rice and Mac salad to round it out. Beef stew when it's 85 out? Ya betta believe. Falling apart juicy beef, potatoes, and carrots in a rich tomato based sauce that just screamed for the white rice to be stirred in. This place was super busy, with tons of people rolling in to pick up Togo orders that they were smart to ring in ahead. We also made sure to try the butter mochi for dessert, and it was a nice treat. Coconut milk, butter, egg, sugar, and rice flour, cooked into almost a pudding like consistency that they cut into blocks.
(4)Jennifer N.
Came here to try their famous Korean chicken. I have to disagree with those who raved so much about this chicken. The chicken was very sweet as if someone accidentally drop a cup of sugar into this batch. Chicken was hot and crispy but I really can't eat sweet chicken especially it's not even teriyaki chicken.
(1)Darlene B.
This is such an odd location. My friend was looking for some authentic Hawaiian food. We end up in the middle of businesses and the residential area. Finding it odd, barely seeing the sign, we park and then the cop was there interviewing someone outside and then went inside to talk to the employees. Can't be that bad? There can't be that much crime on Kauai? lol. The food was essentially food from L&L's but not much better. The "beef stew" reminds me of this Filipino dish I'm familiar with. We got 2 large combos to share between four people. They have some pastries and desserts that looked appealing and they were selling in the store. Definite hole-in-the wall. I'm not mad tried it, but I'm also not wow-ed.
(3)Peejay T.
Tried the Loco Moco and tasted Mark's Famous Mixed Plate... they were A-OK. The better half thought the Beef Stew was good. I guess this was one of the better local food places, but it's not something I am writing home about. Maybe I didn't buy into the yelp hype... You order inside and you either take out or you eat outside. I'm not complaining since Kauai is beautiful, but if you get caught in one of those random rain showers, it can be a pain. Eating in your car is not as fun.
(3)Peter J.
Went to Mike's Place based on the reviews... What a disappointment. Average food, probably about the same as any deli-sorta-food-stand kind of place. It's not terrible, but it does not live up to the reviews.
(2)Tim C.
I came here for lunch and tried Mark's Special Platter. It came with katsu chicken, teriyaki beef, beef stew, mac salad, and rice. I was happy with the amount of food that was included in the platter - it was more than enough for one person for a meal. The service was very efficient, and I got my order in and the food was ready in a quick and easy manner. Breaking each component of the platter down: The katsu chicken was probably my favorite. The outer breading was crispy while the inner chicken was tender. The tonkatsu sauce was tasty, too. If I were to go back to Mark's Place, I'd probably just order the katsu chicken by itself instead of the special platter. The teriyaki beef came atop some lo-mien-type noodles. The noodles were ok - pretty standard stuff which seemed like filler material for the beef. The beef had good flavor, even a little char (which I like), but was unfortunately a tad dry. The beef stew was my second favorite part of the platter. It tasted pretty much like Chinese beef stew (hong shao) - a soy-sauce-based sauce with tender, fall-apart meat and big chunks of carrots and potatoes. The flavors brought out the sentimental in me, which is part of the reason I enjoyed it. The mac salad was good - didn't stand out too much, but not bad. Overall, it was a good decision getting Mark's Special Platter. It had a little bit of everything, and I would recommend it for anyone who isn't sure what to get at Mark's Place. It's almost like a sampler. The katsu chicken was my favorite, though!
(4)Sammie B.
Mark's Famous Mixed Plate comes with white or brown rice, chicken katsu, beef teriyaki and beef stew with a side of mac salad or green salad. Everything was delicious! I knocked off a star because the workers aren't friendly at all. Who cares though as long as they have good food!
(4)Kali G.
We first learned about Mark's Place on our first trip to Kauai several years ago. We were only sad that we visited the place once before we left. Not this time. Was in Kauai last week and we managed to hit up Marks at least 3 times. I've tried the stew, Korean chicken, loco mock, beef teriyaki and a couple of different masubis. Beef teriyaki was a bit dry, but I chalked it up to the beef being the dregs because they were just about to close. The plate dishes were so great that we kept coming back. If you do give Mark's Place a try, I also recommend trying the butter mochi! So good and hits the spot after a great authentic Hawaiian plate meal. Parking is limited especially when the business next door is open. I suggest getting take out because there is very limited seating outside. That's what we opted for during every visit. Thank you Mark for this wonderful spot. Looking forward to another visit next time we are on the island.
(5)Len S.
My wife and I had lunch at Mark's Place on Tuesday 5 May. In honor of Cinco de Mayo I ordered the daily special pork carnitas with Matt's mojo sauce, served on Shannon's house made torta bread ($9.50). The sandwich included lettuce, green tomato slices with some type of breaded and fried vegetable. It was accompanied by taro chips. I ate it as an open faced sandwich as with all the meat and chips I knew that was more than enough for lunch. A tasty sandwich but a bit more mojo sauce would have made it even better. My wife ordered the Loco Moco ($8.25 mini). She enjoyed this island favorite as the hamburger patty included some grilled onions and the gravy was tasty. The service is quick as all items are to go - take away. There are a few picnic tables outside for dinning. Mark's Place is not easy to find, so use your GPS and let the computerized voice direct you. Parking next to the building is very limited, so park across the street in the designated dirt lot. Mark's Place is a good spot to sample island favorites and slightly out of the ordinary daily specials, e.g. Grilled shrimp and wild boar rib combo plate - $10.50
(4)Islandlife R.
I love the veggie plates and Ahi plates The rice is perfect, love the salad and the brownies are super duper Yummy. Lo've you Marks place. :-)
(5)Wen L.
This is a teeny restaurant with HUGE portions! My husband and I went after a long day of traveling, hiking, and sight seeing so we were hungry! We ordered the mixed plate and a korean meat plate. It was sooo much food. I think I liked the korean plate the most. It was salty and sweet, fried but not greasy. The mixed plate offered a lot of variety. The beef stew portion of it was my favorite. There is no indoor seating, just 3 picnic tables in front of the restaurant. Overall, delicous and would definitely tell anyone who visits Kauai to go!
(5)C M.
I orders Marks special, and another combo of the remaining meats. It was really good. Good portions.
(5)Vance P.
We tried this place when we were in Kauai and I am so glad we did!! The food was AMAZING!! we pretty much tried everything on their menu and all of it was super delicious!! My favorite was the beef teriyaki.. It was so well marinated and juicy and barbequed to perfection!! They serve good portions and worth every penny. For dessert we bought a couple of the butter Mochi and we loved it. This place is awesome!!
(5)Ziyan C.
Great local spot for quick and tasty, though rather heavy, foods. The girls at the counter were very sweet, and this is definitely a local hangout - kind of in the middle of nowhere, not touristy at all. It was a Monday afternoon, and there was no wait. We were able to order right away at the counter. The food did take quite a bit to come out. MUST-HAVES: Teriyaki beef, Loco moco. * Mark's Famous Mixed Plate (chicken katsu, teriyaki beef & stew. $8.95) - 4 stars pic: yelp.com/biz_photos/mark… A good mixed platter! The beef stew: very starchy, a great comfort food. The beef was a tiny bit on the dry side. 3.5 stars. Chicken katsu: love the crumbly and crunchy breading! But the chicken itself was dry and compact, and it could've used more flavor. The sauce was key on this one. 3.5 stars. Teriyaki beef: the best thing on the plate. Great flavor. 4 stars. Macaroni salad: nothing special. Noodles: very plain, also nothing special. The noodles were also really short. * Loco Moco ($8.50) - 4 stars pic: yelp.com/biz_photos/mark… cross-section: yelp.com/biz_photos/mark… This is amazing with brown rice! The grainy texture of brown rice goes really well. The soft beef patty, egg with runny yolk, and flavorful gravy created an amazing mix of fatty comfort foods. * Butter Mochi - 4 stars pic: yelp.com/biz_photos/mark… Soft and tasty! Really great. Menu: yelp.com/biz_photos/mark… Daily Specials: yelp.com/biz_photos/mark…
(4)Mike C.
First time on the island this spot is exactly what I wanted. This is great food. It's to go only but there is a lot on my plate. The only thing this place doesn't have is Poke, but they make up for it in homestyle Hawaiian. A must visit spot.
(5)Sean M.
Before I was a Loco Moco virgin. If you are trying a Loco Moco for the first time go for the best. Tried to get some misubi's but they were out if you want misubi's come in the morning. Outside seat is great if the weather is cooperating.
(5)JoAnn A.
In a hunt for some good, local food, Yelp brought me and my husband to this place and it did not disappoint! I will say, without Yelp, I would have NO idea this place was here! There isn't much to the place. It's located in kind of a warehouse-type location, and the place itself was a little small, but don't let that turn you away! The food! The husband and I shared the Loco Moco and the cutlet, which were delish! Price was very reasonable, quality was great and portions were pretty big. We didn't even finish what we had! As we certainly plan to come back to this lovely island, we definitely plan on coming back here!
(5)Erin M.
Was looking for this place to be amazing due to the high stars but I wouldn't say it's the best! Pros: Quick service Great prices Nice outside seating area Cheesecake!!! Teriyaki chicken meat Cons: Rude worker Parking Bun seemed really cheap and low quality lettuce and mayonnaise were kinda just thrown on With several improvements this place could be great!
(3)Chelsea O.
Best local spot I went to on my visit to Kauai. I wish my trip was longer so I could have gone a 2nd time.
(5)April F.
Local as they come, food was great. We had the loco moco (my egg was not runny and overcooked but my friends' was perfect!) We missed out on the misubis because they sold out by the time we got there (so if you must try, definitely get there before 10:45am!)
(5)Annie C.
Mark's Famous Plate is delicious and so much food! We got this on the way to the airport and everyone on our plane was jealous. Great for the price too! Loved the mochi cake also!
(4)B M.
Good solid Hawaiian food! Great meal and prices. Def a local spot but if you're craving some bomb teriyaki and Mac salad go there!
(4)Patrick P.
Words cannot begin to describe how amazing this little gem is! My husband and I are currently on our honeymoon, have been in Kauai for 4 days, and just finished our 2nd meal there! The food is authentic, fresh, and absolutely delicious! The Korean chicken and teriyaki beef are my favorites. His favorites are the Korean chicken and the Loco Moco. The portions are generous and its only $20 for both of us to eat!! Mark's Place is definitely worth the drive from Poipu and I have a feeling we will be back before we leave Kauai!!
(5)Kenny P.
My older sister found this place which is quite obviously a bit off the beaten path but had some really great homey island food which was indeed very fresh and delicious. We ate here twice while on the island and I really enjoyed the beef stew and the Katsu, which I don't remember if it was pork or chicken... the BROWN RICE option was very nice and really do enjoy simple comfort food dishes like this as long as they aren't too heavy on the body. The mac and cheese was pretty darn good, although I'm not a huge fan of it cause it's such a fattening dish. I did manage to take a photograph of the food before I ate luckily! Take a look at that goodness. All that food for roughly $10 or so. Reasonably priced and freshly made. The second time we ate here we took the food back to our hotel and ate family style. I'd recommended this if you're in a large group to everyone can try a little of everything. SKIP the thinly sliced soy sauce beef cause its not one of the less desirable dishes. I would also watch out for the overly sauced Teriyaki or Korean chicken. I usually like to less the sauce run off a bit before eating it, probably healthier that way too haha. The SALAD is really just an afterthought here, nothing special. I think they could put a better island twist on it to be honest, like bacon bits or a special Japanese dressing. I'd recommended this place highly to anyone who visits Kauai. All the Yelp reviews are very high across the board. Remember that is is mainly a to-go place so don't expect to sit down here and eat. I really wish they had more tables outside or even inside to eat. It was partially mist raining by the time we arrived and didn't want to commandeer a wet table outside.
(4)David B.
In real estate, they say the three keys to success are: Location, Location, Location. And, for many restaurants, the maxim is exactly the same. Were it not for the location of Mark's (as well as the reliably good, not great, food and the relatively reasonable prices), no one would ever have heard of it. In this case, Mark benefits greatly from being located in a light manufacturing zone where reliable groups of local blue collar workers swarm for lunch. Of course, now that Yelp has announced this tiny spot to world, especially the travelers world, the popularity among locals makes it virtually impossible to elbow your way in for a quick lunch. Unfortunately, too, the abundance of locals placing takeout orders makes the wait to eat onsite insufferable. 20 to 30 minutes is just too long to wait for a mediocre cheeseburger or loco moco in a styrofoam box. Readers may well wonder why I give Mark's 4 stars and it's easily explained. In the world of silly high end fine dining or grossly overpriced chicken Katsu and combo plates with mediocre service and garish surroundings, not to mention small portions and forgettable tastes, Mark's stands above the rest. It's tough to recommend someplace just because it beats the poor competition, but that is exactly what I'm doing.
(4)Eric K.
Everything was great. Worth driving to such and odd location. I got the sampler and the best part was the teriyaki beef. I'd have gone back if we didn't wait till the end of our two+ weeks on Kauai to come here. We got dimmer here so the wait from order to food was only like 10 minutes.
(5)Trent G.
My fave place to eat on Kaua'i! We didn't find a lot of local Hawaiian food places (they like their Mexican food) and this place was legit. Can't go wrong with the Loco Moco from Mark's. You have to veer off the beaten path a bit to get here, but it's definitely worth it.
(5)Paul K.
I hear a lot of they out of spam musubi... see the state dept of health says you need to sell this with in 6 hrs after you make it so by 1pm they are sold out....no time to do a 2nd put up the lines start..... and with all the food places this is the #1 lunch place on Kauai #2 is Koloa fish market and 3 Ishihara market try their mac salad.. Hard to find this types of eating place every things FRESH and they make a special Nishime on the menu its time to get a plate that is the best !!!!!Deserts are the BOMB.... so what else do you want Smiling Faces.....
(5)Jane M.
UH, YUM. On our way back from a helicopter tour we stopped by Mark's. It's a little off the main road in an industrial park. Don't let the appearance fool you though, this place is like a well oiled machine offering traditional Hawaiian plate lunches from korean chicken, teriyaki beef, loco moco, and more. I ordered the loco moco and it was huge. One of the better loco mocos I've had with well seasoned hamburger patty and delicious gravy. If you're into it try the butter mochi. Definitely worth a trip!
(5)Bora S.
5 stars for the loco moco. I've had loco moco on Kauai, Maui, and the Big Island, and Mark's is the best I've ever had.
(5)Patrick M.
Maybe I don't get it. We came to Mark's place because of the good reviews. However, for me, the food tasted like Panda Express. There wasn't anything special about it. The prices were good for Hawaii, and the portions were large. However, I would say that the portions sizes are equivalent to Panda, and the prices are higher. Also, there are not any public restrooms there, and plenty of signs to tell you that. As we were passing through from a drive on the island, this made for eating a meal while my bladder was about to burst! Hope it's not too much info, but maybe if I was able to empty my bladder, I would have enjoyed the food more??? We ordered Mark's special and the Korean Chicken. Both were really just mediocre. I don't think that I will be back to Mark's next time I'm in the area. It meets the definition of "A-OK."
(3)Tesa H.
Wow wow wow! My new husband and I were in Kauai last week to get married and used Marks Place (Contemporary Flavors Catering) as our caterers. They were fantastic in every single way! Dealing with Wendy and Cathy was a breeze, they answered emails in a timely manner and were eager and willing to answer every question we had. On our wedding day they were professional and had everything under control. The staff were friendly, efficient and did everything we asked and more! The food was absolutely outstanding! We has numerous guest tell me that it was by far the best food they had ever eaten at a wedding and we would have to agree! Thank you so much to everyone at Marks Place / Contemporary Flavors Catering, your food and service were outstanding and above any expectations we had!
(5)David C.
Our last meal in Kauai was one of our best. Marks place is legit! The current 4.5 star review doesn't lie. All four of us loved our meal. I don't think you can go wrong ordering as everything looks good! The terriyaki beef and Korean chicken were the best we had on the island. Also the fresh Mahi Mahi plate was awesome. Fresh fish over noodles, small green salad and rice on the side. We also had a very tasty salad with strong home made dressing. They are only open during the week from 10-8 pm so if you are visiting make sure you see Mark before you go home. The prices are also very good. I love when Yelp leads me to a true five star experience. A good local spot with great food and service. When in doubt trust in Yelp. It never lets me down!
(5)Jennifer L.
Mark's Place is one of my favorite places for plate lunches. I've been here for the special plate lunch and they're very generous with their portions. I shared this plate and felt so full afterwards. I also came back and shared a loco moco which comes w either white or brown rice, noodles, Mac salad or reg salad. Mark's place is a bit tricky to find but it's surely a hidden gem.
(5)Scott H.
I had the Seared Teriyaki Ahi Belly. It was delicious. The Ahi was thoroughly cooked but was still moist and flaky. It came with rice and choice of mac salad or green.
(5)Chia-Fen Y.
Hole in the wall tucked away in a weird warehousey/industrial area with limited parking. Came here for quick dinner. There is outdoor seating (picnic benches) in front, but friend and I opted to eat at the nearby beach and enjoy the sunset/view. The inside (where you order) is quite warm, despite the 3 or so little fans attached to the ceiling. While waiting for food, I noticed little baggies of various cookies for sale. I ordered the Loco Moco with brown rice and tossed salad. They got it wrong and gave me mac n cheese instead of the tossed salad, but it didn't bother me too much since the mac n cheese wasn't as nasty/heavy as all the other places I've been. Still, I wanted to save the calories. A loco moco is a hamburger patty with 2 fried eggs on top smothered with delicious gravy. Mac n cheese + gravy = ok I don't hate the mac n cheese so much anymore. The side of noodles were meh. If smothered with gravy, would eat. Otherwise, meh. Both cashier and lady who brought out my order were nice and smiley :)
(3)Lisa G.
Yelp really helped me find great places while in Kauai. Tried this place and was disappointed. The staff were friendly enough. Got the 3 meat (chef recommended) one. The beef was burnt and chewy and the rest was just ok. I just can't imagine why they would have chose to serve it (it was badly charred). This was the last meal on the island so I was embarrassed that I talked my party into going here, thought it would be an experience and it was, unfortunately a bad one. The mac salad was very, very good.
(2)Mark S.
Chicken katsu on point. This is a local place in an industrial area of town. Free parking across the street in an empty lot - but then, isn't parking in Kauai always free? Good local vibe and a lil' outdoor seating area with benches. My katsu styrofoam came with a good 2 stacks of meat atop a bed of noodles plus two scoops of rice. If I worked in this area I'd probably hit this place for lunch daily.
(4)Kevin S.
Small place, seemed nice and clean. My wife had Poke that recently won an award. The fish was good and fresh but the sauce was a little overpowering.
(3)Nicole N.
One of the best meals on the island! Great flavors, home style taste like grandma would make...Hawaiian grandma! Friendly service (which has not been often in Kauai). Highly recommend this place!! Don't let the industrial surroundings fool you...locals love this place!!
(5)Megan S.
everyone is RUDEEE and no public restrooms for people who have to go. AND ALSO there is nooo bathrooms near food is okay not to go
(1)Patrick H.
I eat for a hobby and at lot of "best-of"s all over the country and this place flat out rules on quantity, quality and value. We got korean chicken and wasabi crusted ahi plus fries. I'm a large man, I eat a lot and I left stuffed for about $20 for two. If a heavyset tourist woman with her mother, father, son posts a bad review on here, it's because she held up the line for over 20 minutes while she reviewed every menu item over the phone (iPhone in a pink case iirc). She was likely asked to be respectful of locals on their fixed lunch breaks. Go here and know your order before you hit the counter if they're slammed.
(5)Scott B.
OH MY GOD. I love plate lunch but not having a lot of options I go as much as I can in WA. So when I saw this place I had to hit it up. It's small, the ordering process is strict and the food comes in styrofoam and crappy plastic utensils (guys, spend a few more cents on the packaging, the food is too cheap!) but you will completely forget about this once you smell what is in your white box of goodness, Moist, tender, flavor, yum. picnic tables, in your car, wherever.. just go.
(5)Zaki R.
Perfect example of a hole in the wall offbeat gem! We tried their loco moco (fried eggs, meat patty over rice with gravy), chicken cutlet, chicken katsu and beef stew. One word - amazing-out-of-the-world-delicious!
(5)Hattori H.
Really good place to get plate lunches. No indoor seating but there are benches out front. The kitchen / prep area is in front inside (so gets a little warm when ordering) and could tell they do a lot of catering. Wife ordered the Korean Chicken and Teri(yaki) combo plate with white rice and mac salad. The teri chicken was well seasoned / marinated and was very good too. I ordered the Korean Chicken and Chicken Cutlet combo plate with rice and mac salad. The Korean chicken is cut up pieces of fried chicken while being a little on the sweet side. The chicken cutlet is katsu covered in gravy. Both of our plate lunch combos were very good. We were both full when done. Underneath both chicken portions of the combos they had chow mein / pancit which was just ok. The mac salad was very good though - they add peas in their salad, which I normally don't see in mac salad. Definitely check out Mark's for good plate lunches!
(5)Jim C.
I really enjoy this kind of place. As you pull in, it seems impossible that a restaurant would exist in the midst of the ugly industrial buildings. Even Mark's hardly looks like a restaurant. I wasn't sure I was entering a hardware store or a restaurant. The outdoor tables--the only tables there--are filthy and unappetizing. Inside is not much better. But, I could tell by the food coming out that this little order-at-the-counter place was good. In fact, the food was excellent. I had a hamburger that was terrifically tasty, as were the fries. The seafood, chicken and steak would be equally wonderful. Thanks to you yelpers for highlighting this ugly little gem with great food. Too bad that they don't have heaps of ice with fountain drinks to go with the yummy food.
(4)Joshua P.
Very yummy! We had the chicken katsu and it was very tasty. Crunchy breaking with very light-sweet dipping sauce. We also had the mix plate which had katsu, stew and chicken teriyaki...all of which was quickly devoured. We were fresh off the 6 hour plane ride and starving! I definitely recommend!!!
(5)Mr F.
Definitely will go back!!! Onolicious grinds!!! I had the Mark's famous mixed plate, so good and filling. A must try while in Lihue...
(5)Roland S.
What a lunch!!!! All I can say is this place is awesome. Definitely a local joint. I don't think we saw a single out of towner here while we ate lunch. We both had the marks famous mixed plate. Comes with rice, noodles, macaroni salad, chicken katsu, teriyaki beef, and beef stew. The chicken katsu and teriyaki beef were incredible. The flavor in the stew was awesome, but the meat in the stew had way too much fat. Several large pieces of fat...no thanks. But the meat that wasn't ridden with fat, was excellent. Super tender and very flavorful. The veggies in the stew were excellent. I absolutely love this place. For dessert....oh yeah, the best banana cream pie I have ever had. This place has it down. If it wasn't our last day in Kauai, I think we would eat all our remaining meals at Mark's Place. Thank you Mark!
(5)Gary M.
Marks place was great! The portions are big, the cost is cheap compared to every thing else on the island and the service was fast. I gad the mixed plate and was not let down. Everything was amazing especially the stew. Great place to grab a meal.
(5)Andrew R.
The fun part is that Mark's seems to be in the middle of nowhere with no sign to speak of. GPS will get you there, so it's kind of an adventure. Aside from one dish, everything is average. And that one dish, the beef stew, is only slightly better than average. Don't get me wrong. Nothing is bad. But nothing is amazing either. The portions are indeed large. And the small should be enough to satisfy. It comes without unnecessary macaroni salad too.
(3)Anoop S.
This was first place we ate during our trip to Kauai. And it was the first but not only time that I was introduced to how great Kauai does teriyaki. Fiancee got the loco moco, which was also delicious! Great food.
(4)Chel R.
I love "first" everything. So for our first night in Kauai, I wanted to go where the locals go...whether grabbing dinner to go after work or going where anyone would go midweek. This place is not advisable unless you have a gps. Seriously located in a poorly lit community. Come to think of it, after dusk, everything here is poorly lit:-) and this is why i am here to vacay. We ordered to go since we arrived almost at closing time. Mixed plate chicken katsu. Teri beef and beef stew. Had mixed green salad on a bed of dry egg noodles. Beef teri with mac salad. YUM. YUM. Now I know why Hawaiian boys are big as they are! Huge portion. Tons of meat. Yummy flavor Come hungry! #chelthelocalgurl
(4)Helen T.
We spent only 3 days in Kauai, but we came here twice! The restaurant is in an industrial area in Lihue and a little hard to find. You go into the restaurant, order, then they have picnic tables outside to eat at. First time- we ordered the teri steak and chili chicken - good quality meat and tasty batter for the chicken! Second time (and last meal of our trip!), we got the Korean chicken to go. Great local food- make sure you stop by! Wish we could have eaten our way through their menu.
(5)Shannon N.
Legit plate lunch, in the middle of an industrial part of town. The biggest problem was that it took for-ev-er to get our food. Oy. I was able to walk down to the awesome pie place down the street and get some pie to go, and still had another 10 minutes to kill before my food was ready. Food was alright.
(3)Laurie S.
Eat here regularly! I'm a big fan of their teri beef sandwhiches! Good flavors and always hits the spot!
(4)Carmen W.
I saw raving reviews and wanted to try this place out and I was not impressed at all!! Two stars for large portions . I got the Marks special and none of us (4 total) in our group particularly enjoyed it at all.
(2)Cathy S.
I need to re-read my own reviews before visiting places again! Had I done so, my husband and I would have shared a meal instead of each ordering one. Unlike most places which load you up with the carbs and skimp on the protein, Mark's loads you up with both. I have enough leftovers for another complete meal. The meals are made to order so be prepared to spend time loitering in the room containing all of their fabulous looking baked goods.
(5)D W.
Famous mix plate was delish! The portions are huge even the mini was. The butter "cake" was really yummy. A must try place.
(5)Erick T.
Solid take out place. Open only M-F in an industrial park area of Lihue. Go early (11 AM) for lunch. Can get crowded. The specials on the board looked interesting and creative. Next time.
(4)Raina S.
As we were driving around and trying to find Mark's Place, I thought for sure my Yelp map was taking me on a wild goose chase! After all, Yelp maps aren't always accurate. This time, however, it was correct. Mark's Place is in an odd location indeed. Tucked away in an industrial warehouse area, Mark's Place is short on views and ambiance, but the food more than makes up for it. This is a very casual lunch spot: just a few picnic tables outside and no indoor seating. They serve a good variety of plate lunch options, plus tasty treats like Spam musubi and butter mochi. The four of us tried teriyaki chicken, Korean fried chicken, and burgers. The Korean chicken has a nice spice that's not too overpowering. I didn't try the burger but the teriyaki, musubi, and butter mochi were all very good. You can choose white or brown rice for your plate lunch (which is great, because I love brown rice). You also have a choice of green or macaroni salad. Normally, I would go the healthy route, but for some reason, mac salad in Hawaii just tastes better than it does anyplace else! If you're looking for an affordable, tasty meal in the Lihue area, I highly recommend Mark's. Just be sure to arrive early because it gets very busy.
(4)Parul G.
5 stars just for their baked goods!! They are so addictive!! My husband and I must have gained 5 pounds eating their pineapple cake, rum cake, chocolate cake, cornflakes cookies, chocolate cookies....you get the idea. We loved their cakes so much we stopped by on our way to the airport to buy extras so we could take them home! Now the food here is also delicious! The portion size is huge and my husband and I shared a portion. We had the Chicken Katsu which was juicy and the gravy was full of flavor, yummy yum. Staff is friendly and professional and food is made fresh to order. There are a couple of picnic tables outside to sit, but other than that seating is limited. It is a little hard to find but so worth it! So if you're in Kauai try out the food and also the baked goods (they change them almost every day)!!!
(5)Sam S.
With the huge servings, my husband and I had the Marks Special and split it. That left enough room for a Slice of Pie at The Right Slice just down the street! Cheap night!! They were hustling and bustling in there! Food didnt take long and they were friendly. It wasnt that hard to find.
(5)Taco Y.
Ate lunch on the way to the airport. Mark' is located in a light industrial area. Limited parking on site but a grassed area across the street is available for additional parking. Picnic tables are available outside. We got Mark's special that consisted of beef stew, teriyaki beef, katsu, fried noodles, green salad and white rice. You have a choice of brown or white rice and green salad or macaroni salad. So much food that my wife and I ate one order. The food was plentiful and tasted good. The teri beef was a little too sweet for me. Maybe marinated a little too long. The beef stew was delicious tastes similar to my beef stew. The katsu was tasty. The noodles were OK. Also available were musubi with different filling: spam, teri beef and chicken that was all that I saw. There were three musubis left at 11:30. There was also cookies, banana bread, brownies and butter mochi. Bought teri beef and chicken musubi and butter mochi for snacks on flight back to the mainland. Would try other plate lunches when back on Kauai.
(4)Mark Y.
The prices can't be beat.. it's cheap.. about $8-9 a portion. but the quality is just ok.. the Chicken cutlet/katsu was pretty good.. but the teriyaki beef was very very tough and hard to chew. the beef stew was confusing.. lots of fatty meat which wasn't edible, but the sauce was pretty tasty.. all in all it's an average spot for lunch.. no bathrooms is a bit of a pain too btw.
(3)Boron F.
Fantastic lunch stop. Not too pricey. Encountered one very rude person at the counter and one who was really nice. So, I guess the service is hit or miss. The food is first rate. Absolutely nothing negative to say. The only surprise, and maybe this is just ignorance, was the potato in the mac salad. Again, not that it was bad, just surprising. We had a teriyaki chicken plate, Korean chicken plate and a pork salad. Substituted the dressing on the salad. It was not delicious but no problem substituting. Bottle and can drinks only are also a little frustrating but seem standard. The reason for 4 stars not 5 is that there is ZERO indoor seating. I know this is pretty typical but there are also only 5 picnic tables, only 3 of which have umbrellas. In such a sweltering environment if you're not going to offer indoor seating, at least consider some shade! But at the end of the day, we go restaurants to eat... and the good is outstanding.
(4)Kurt B.
Having seared ahi with lemon mac. Butter sauce...so ono.... i'm drooling already.....
(5)Brian M.
Definitely a cool place to visit, it seems to be where locals go and the food is great. You get your monies worth, my wife and I were stuffed afterwards!
(4)Steven G.
This place is truly the "road food and good food" place in Kauai, Hawaii. Why? The lowest prices around for good quality food and large portions. No decor at all and no frills. A counter, no bathrooms, no free water, no inside dining room but outside picnic tables to dine under the blue sky in Kauai. I also got to see about two tractor trailer trucks every fifteen minutes on the industrial road by the restaurant. Many blue collar employees in and around the restaurant, such as construction employees. They know where the good food is. This is also a place that I could ONLY find through yelp. No way would I have known about it any other way. But the food! Wow. We both had Mark's Famous Mixed Plate.8.95.A note on French fries. Have found the best fries on this island of any Hawaiian island. Check my reviews for other Kauai restaurants on French fries. These are no exception. Perhaps the best item I ate were the fries. Only problem, too much salt. (4.5 stars) Chicken katsu is about as good as it gets. (4 stars) Beef teriyaki, as it should taste.tender and tasty. (4 stars) Beef stew also very good, as good as can be. Quite tender and tasty.(4.5 stars) Two scoops of white rice. I happen to love rice. No bathroom, no water, no servers and no tables. Only picnic tables. After I eating here, I was totally satisfied. Good food, good portions and low price. It covers all bases. The cashier was also pleasant
(4)Steph R.
I've been coming to Mark's Place since I was little! My faaaaavorite thing on the menu is the teriyaki chicken sandwich. It's the BEST teriyaki sauce ever!!! I also love the sweet potato pie! The wait time for your food isn't all that long. It's a carry-out environment, although there is a seating area outside. Great food & great service. I 100% recommend Mark's Place.
(5)John M.
I was starving after a long afternoon of hiking, so we decided to stop by Mark's and have some plate food. I had the Korean chicken and I sampled the pork special. Both were solid and delivered unique flavors that aren't part of the standard teri-style taste you get with an average plate lunch. Though billed as "Korean," it wasn't really like any Korean-style chicken I've had, almost more of a General Tso's, which I'm fine with as well. Overall, it didn't wow us enough to make it into our top meals, but I would return and maybe try a couple other dishes. I would definitely recommend it for any plate lunch aficionados, but we really dove more into the fish on this trip.
(3)Chuck L.
Hit this place after picking up our roach infested jeep. I recommend this place to anyone who wants the good plate lunch on the island on Kauai! I got the choose your own three and got the Beef Teriyaki , Katsu chicken, and stew once and the Beef Teriyaki, , Korean chicken and Loco Moco. the other. My wife got the and Beef Teriyaki, Katsu both times. We both loved the salad and the noddles and everything we ordered. (korean chicken was the best) I can see where this could be a busy place, but we went in the afternoon after the lunch crowds. don't really like eating in the car, but the pinic tables were fine
(5)Brittany H.
You won't lose weight eating here, but you will also really like your food and probably have leftovers for a bargain price. It all tastes good. You can't go wrong with whatever you order.
(5)Rebecca S.
We went here 3 times on our trip to Kauai, because it was so tasty and affordable! Huge portions too. It's really hard to find something well-priced and delicious on the island, as everything is so expensive there (more so than the other islands, I thought). We usually got the combo with beef teriyaki and chicken katsu. Yum! And the desserts (especially the cookies) were excellent as well.
(5)Susan F.
Teriyaki beef was so ono! Healthy portions for price paid. A hidden gem for sure. Best sign was that my husband and I were the only two Haoles there.
(5)Mel T.
There is a limited number of restaurants in Kauai, so thank goodness for Mark's Place. On a recent three day trip to Kauai, I kid you not when I say that we visited Mark's place three (perhaps four?) times. I appreciated Mark's for its down-home cooking, special daily offerings, and reasonable prices. D fell in love with the beef stew which then prompted a beef stew search during the remainder of our Hawaiian vacation onto Maui and then Oahu, but nothing came even close to Mark's. The only thing I'm sad about (besides that we cannot visit Mark's on a regular weekly or at least monthly basis) is that I never got to try their musubi varieties as they'd always sell out seemingly by lunchtime!
(4)Benjamin G.
Wow... real local stuff here, you practically need to be a local just to find this place! We stumbled across Mark's Place via the internet... for some strange reason, a good salad is hard to come by on the island and that night Mark's Place was advertising a few salads as the specials for the day. Once we finally navigated the industrial section of Lihue, we found Mark's Place... not quite the vision of a restaurant we had in mind, but we went in anyways since we were hungry and I was sure Yelp wouldn't steer me wrong? Well, they were out of salads for the day and they had no seating except two picnic tables out front, but since we were starving... we stayed and ate. Here's where Mark's Place kicks some serious ass... I had the "Mark's Special" for $8.95, this box comes stuffed with beef stew (amazing), chicken katsu (just like mama in-law makes), beef teriyaki, rice, mac salad, and a heaping portion of saimin. When I dug into this treasure box of food on one of their picnic tables outside, I went into a food coma from the ridiculous flavors to the shear mammoth amount of food. This place cranks out some seriously good food, that is cheaper than anything resembling it on the mainland. Also, they sell baked goods they make on site, and let me tell you... the cookies were just as amazing as everything else I ate.
(4)Tom C.
No way a tourist will stumble across this place without a local. Telling you or Yelp. Great salad and lunch at mainland prices . Huge portions and all cooked fresh right on front of you.
(4)Jenn K.
Def my favorite place to eat on the island! A traditional Hawaiian meal . Their mac salad is probably the best I had on the island. I tried almost everything on their menu because I went with my family. There is kinda a long wait and there is no inside seating but it's all about the island lifestyle
(5)Andy C.
Bam tons of food. Not only do they give you rice, I found a surprise pile of chow mein under my chicken Katsu combo! I'd recommend their Loco Moco, chicken Katsu and Korean chicken. Not sure why the Korean chicken is called Korean chicken... Surely does not taste Korean. But still delicious. The Loco Moco amazingly flavorful.
(5)Miriam W.
Mark's famous mixed plate is best eaten at a picnic table with a rooster nearby and flip flops on. Portions are huge so one Mark's Special Plate ought to be more than enough for two. I relied on the Yelp app on my iPhone to get me here. Incidentally, Yelp also alerted me to nearby Hanalima Baking, but they were closed so no malasadas on this day. Perhaps you'll have better luck/timing? Bottom line: if you're a plate lunch fan, you'll be more than pleased with Mark's.
(4)Dinah R.
We came here based on other reviews. Sadly, it did not live up to our standards. Very long wait, for underwhelming food. We were really excited to get authentic plate lunch in Hawaii, but I feel like we actually have much better options on the mainland.
(2)Mo T.
This place is off the beaten path but I love that. I've heard from the locals that this place rocks. I own a Hawaiian style restaurant in the mainland and we serve mostly the same stuff. I do like that he offered a brown rice option, I love the fact that everything was homemade including the loco moco pattie, and I appreciate everything they did, however things did fall short. Beef stew was amazing, would definitely come back for it. Korean chicken was bits and pieces. I wasn't that thrilled about it. I like whole chicken thighs. Katsu- ok, but not fried fresh, it was repankoed then dropped in the fryer. Loco moco- best I've had in any of the islands. But the patties were very small. Mac salad- better than l and l, but very bland. Also I was surprised that they were out of spam musubis. That's definitely a no no because people love it, not to mention the margins are awesome.
(4)Lee H.
The locals aren't wrong about this place! Seriously good Loco Moco and please try their baked goods! There was a bit of a wait to get our food after ordering, but the prices are good and the food is excellent. I would really love to go back and try some other items on the menu. THIS IS NOT FINE DINING... you'll be getting your food in a styrofoam box and shoveling it down with a plastic fork. If that doesn't sound like a fun experience to you, I suggest you eat somewhere else.
(4)Larry C.
Meh...average. Garden Island mo' beta'. Stew and chicken Terri ok. Like L&L, some good, some not. You should try it for comparison.
(3)Heath H.
Amazing little home in the wall for lunch. The mixed plate and Korean plate are really good. The whole menu looked very good. The price is also great for how much you pay
(5)Jay R.
01.13.15 with 4 others I ordered the special - it came with rice, stew, beef, chicken kasu, noodles, and mac salad. everything in that box was delicious! My husband ordered the cheeseburger and fries and had a spam masubi and he said it was really good! A small take out place with some picnic tables outside, friendly service and good food!
(4)Michael S.
We ate here upon arriving to Kauai and saw that this place had 351 reviews. We were both hungry after the plane flight and were even desperate enough to consider eating hot dogs from the Costco that is there in the shopping mall next to Macy's off the freeway. We both bought two rice plates (styrofoam clam shell usually containing more than enough white rice, macaroni salad, and your choice of one or two meat selections, a piece of plastic to cover the food so it doesn't stick to the styrofoam top, a fork with a napkin wrapped around its handle). We payed about 10 dollars for each plate. The meats had been cooked earlier that day but were good. Under the meat was chow mein which was unique and acceptable in taste but looked overcooked. I would go back there if ever I found myself back on Kauai and looking for a local haunt rather than the Pizza Hut, McDonald's, Burger King, or Taco Bell that are up the road. We sat outside and ate with the firemen that lived up the street.
(3)Kim H.
Great food!! Teriyaki chicken Mac salad and noodles were pretty good. Just be prepared to take your food with you or eat outdoors, patio style
(4)Mai T.
The best spot for plate lunch! The location is a little difficult to find, it's in the middle of an industrial park. Two item combos with mac salad, rice and a small amount of noodles is $9.00, and three items is only fifty cents more! One plate is enough for two people, they do not skimp on the meat. Nice workers, musubi is delicious for snacks. Not a place for a sit down dinner, but it's perfect to pick up you take to the beach or a quick bite on the way to Lihue airport. Korean chicken is a must! Love it.
(5)A B.
Stopped by here while my windows were being tinted down the road. There was a lot of people here for lunch and the picnic tables were crowded. Only 2 of them had shade umbrellas, so actual comfortable space to sit was limited. I ordered a salad w chxn breast and veggies. The salad was all iceberg lettuce and some of it brown around the edges. The corn, edemame mix was out of a can and just kind of thrown on there. Nothing special for the dressing, a balsamic mix. The chx was pretty tasteless. I didn't think it was worth $10, but since there is nothing else near by walking distance, it was the only option. Most people looked like the were eating a beef pork hot plate w rice. Maybe those are better...?
(3)Daniel B.
Best Korean chicken on Kauai, I had it 3 times and it was exactly the same, the salt was spot on, something a lot of eateries on Kauai can't seem to figure out how to regulate salt. I really like the fried noodles that comes with it, prices are fair and food quantity is a lot,I get the mini plate as I don't care for the mac salad, for me too much mayonnaise, if they fix their mac salad for sure 5 stars, I also tried the chik katsu, and it was very good, the chicken was very meaty not much fat, the cats sauce was nothing special but was ok. All in all so far the I will be back. Kauai has some really mediocre places, but so far Mark's has pleased my taste buds.
(4)Matt P.
Very large portions! My wife and I stopped here before a round of golf and the food was great, just wish we would have split it. I had the Loco Moco and she had the Korean Chicken. Both were very good.
(4)Mona W.
Mark's Place is an awesome finds but it is probably not for everyone. It is not a place for honeymooners looking for a romantic and intimate dinner. It is also not a place for vacationers looking to indulge and be pampered. It is, however, a great place for enthusiast travelers and adventurous foodies looking for a local experience. This 'restaurant' is really just a tiny store in the middle of an industrial area with a couple outdoor communal picnic tables. Most people come here just to get take out. Menu offers only a handful of dishes with a few daily specials on the whiteboard. If there is one thing you must try, it is their loco moco. (Burger patties with rice topped with egg is what it is.) There are really no fancy ingredients in this simple dish so it is all about the execution. I love the crisp patties. I love their tasty brown sauce even more. Get Mark's special combo if you want to sample some of their popular items. The chicken katsu and beef stew were good but nothing too phenomenal. The store owners were extremely friendly (just like almost every local I met on Kauai). Food is made to order and it might not be ready as fast as you would like. Call ahead to place your order if you are in a hurry.
(5)Lora C.
I only found out about this place the night before I left. I picked up a combo of 3 items (teriyaki beef, Korean chicken, and teriyaki chicken) for take out about 30 minutes before their closing time. This plate combo was delicious! The Korean chicken had a crispy crunchy batter and a light soy/sweet glaze. The teriyaki chicken was moist and had a grilled teriyaki flavor. The teriyaki beef was thinly sliced and also had a grilled teriyaki flavor to it. One combo can fill up 2 people or 1 very hungry person. Service was great! I noticed there were some picnic tables outside but there is no seating inside. I wish I came earlier to try their other items (salads, Mochi, and sandwiches) because I am pretty sure they would be delicious too! FYI: they have an assortment of gourmet local made cookies and snacks available.
(5)Diana H.
A great hole in the wall with super generous portions. The Korean chicken and beef stew are a must have! Yum. The owners believe in quality and quantity. And they are sooo nice. It's no wonder some of the locals come everyday.
(5)Seth B.
What a fantastic little gem! The food is slow, building is small and busy, but SO worth the wait. Preferred this lunch-plate to almost ever restaurant we visited, including Alan Wong!
(5)Peachy P.
Don't let the location fool you. It's in an industrial area... really a hole-in-a-wall type of place. Orders are only for take out. Really no place to eat inside. Regardless, it is one of the best local food in Kauai! Definitely the best loco moco I've had. The mushroom sauce is delicious. They give large portions and the food is very affordable. Highly recommended.
(5)Lorie M.
Food was great, we had an order of the special wings and an order of Katsu chicken. Both were very good and lots of it. I highly recommend them for a plate lunch, if you aren't big eaters split one order!
(4)Tucker H.
Everybody that recommended this place in their reviews gets UCs from me (not really unfortunately, 250+ reviews would take way too long to UC, but I handed out a lot)! We would never have found this place without Yelp; buried back in an industrial park, this is literally the place that locals go for dinner to bring home to their families. The selection isn't huge, the only seating is outside on a couple picnic benches where the feral chickens may give you the stink-eye, but the food is top notch Hawaiian. The korean-style fried chicken with rice and mac salad was a huge portion of boneless deliciousness. Normally korean fried chicken is bone-in, but this was boneless chunks (yet still moist), making it easier to shovel into your face. The mac salad was a little mayo-heavy for my personal taste, but I've never been a big mayo fan, so take that with a grain of salt. The also had the best musubi we had on this trip: they were huge, obviously freshly rolled (the spam inside the spam musubi was still hot and crispy from the skillet/grill), and delicious. They also have a couple shelves of homemade baked goods, and you shouldn't skip them, the cinnamon-sugar mac nut shortbreads were killer snacks on the plane rides home! Overall one of our favorite meals on the trip, but go for some delicious local takeout, not a romantic candlelit meal.
(4)Marti L.
Local joint serving up some delicious Hawaiian food. It's not a restaurant. More like a deli in a large building. Its kitchen takes up more than half of the space. Everything's to-go, but there are a few tables outside for those who cant wait to eat their food. They're known for their traditional Hawaiian rice plates (chicken katsu, chicken cutlet, teriyaki chicken, teriyaki beef, beef stew, loco moco, hamburger steak...etc) which come in regular or mini size. They also have sandwiches, daily specials, and snacks (musubi, cookies). We were hungry and ordered a regular size mixed plate special and loco moco without realizing the portions. The boxes were packed with maybe 5 pounds of food, sauce overflowing. Mixed plate combo ( yelp.com/biz_photos/mark… ): Chicken katsu, teriyaki beef, beef stew, rice & macaroni salad. Mmm. The beef stew was tender and flavorful. Loco moco ( yelp.com/biz_photos/mark… ): Loco moco, stir-fry noodles & rice. Best. Loco. Moco. Ever. The hamburger patties were thick and fresh. The eggs were perfectly over medium. The gravy was delicious! More gravy please! So much food! So happy!
(4)Brandi C.
Yum, yum, yum. Ate here 3 times in my 1 week visit. Everything I had was fantastic. To go only, or very limited outdoor seating. Specials sell out. Call ahead to order dinner if you are getting the family meal. Check out the specials. It takes a while to cook, they are not fast, but its worth it.
(5)Jessica S.
Musubi is a must have
(4)S Y.
First stop after we landed and also the spot where I got my birthday "Noodles for long life" fix. I believe all rice plates come with choice of brown or white rice, mac salad and noodles similar to chow mein. I have no complaints; clean place, friendly service, no long waits, good selection of food, snacks and sweets, most importantly, the food was good and satisfying- but at the time I was just not wow'd. My problem was I kept comparing Kauai eats to Oahu eats. Now that I think about it, it was probably the best rice plate on the island! Loco Moco and hamburger steak, probably the best in Kauai! Good portions, more meat to sides ratio, happy to have skipped the mac salad and got more rice. Mark's Place is a good spot to start off the vacay, closer to the airport than any tourist area you could be staying at!
(4)Pam M.
Jackpot! Passing through here on our honeymoon. .....looked at Yelp for lunch nearby. ... hands down, best food we have had. Down to earth little place tucked away in an industrial area that we would have never found otherwise. . .5 picnic tables outside packed with customers ( outside seating only). Definitely a locals' favorite spot. My husband got Marks sampler platter, and I ordered today's special of Opah. ... best fish I have ever eaten!!! Fish was topped with a corn/asparagus/mushroom relish that was delish. An absolute must do if you are anywhere in the vicinity! We lucked out today.... The place was closing at 2 for a catering event. ... We got here about 10 minutes before they closed. We may make a special trip back before we leave the island to enjoy this food again!
(5)Nellie S.
Your food is addicting. Gotta get my weekly fix. MUAH! €;-) If you've never tried their sered Ahi, just means more for ME! Its the best on island.
(5)Camie T.
Located in a commercial district of Lihue, Mark's Place can be a bit hard to find. It is apparent that they do a large amount of catering business - either they started out as a catering-only business and morphed into takeaway food or they've always had the two but one thing is apparent and that is their focus is not on their takeaway food business. There is no seating inside which is probably for the better as it was about 120 degrees in the shop when we arrived and ordered our food. The seating situation outside isn't much better. There are a handful of picnic tables located in the blazing Kauai sun (again 120 degrees but with the chance of a light breeze). Portions are large and everyone in our party seemed to enjoy their meals. I ordered the chicken cutlet and having not had pan fried food in ages, it made my stomach upset but that's a personal issue. The cutlets were pounded thin and were too thin in some spots which caused the chicken to be overcooked and hard. The beef gravy was a nice touch but I don't know if that is because I liked it or if it is because it helped cover up the overcooked meat. My parents each ordered the teriyaki chicken mini plates (which does not include macaroni salad or lettuce salad) and they woofed it down. To be honest, their plates looked much tastier than mine but since I'm not a teriyaki fan, I couldn't join in on the teriyaki chicken fun. I can't recall what my husband ordered but I know that he didn't finish it all. In fact, no one finished their meals. There simply was too much food and we all felt guilty for having to toss it in the bin. One portion easily serves two people. The biggest downside is that they do not have bathrooms onsite.
(3)Claudia C.
Everyone's written about the good, and they're right, large portions and great price. BUT THE BAD IS THE CHICKEN! Not the chicken they serve in the styrofoam containers marinated in teriyaki sauce, no... BUT THE LIVE CHICKENS THAT ROAM KAUAI AND ESPECIALLY MARK'S. One bold and daring chicken flapped onto our lunch table outside Mark's and shoved its feathery bosom all over my plate of food (yes the chicken was trying to eat my chicken, cannibal...). Had to throw the whole thing away after only eating a few bites. * NOTE: If you're going on the Captain Andy's Sunset Catamaran Trip, they cater their dinner from Mark's Place (funny because we had lunch at Mark's and dinner on the sunset trip that day so I at least got to have 1 Mark's meal unmolested by wild chickens).
(3)Lucy L.
Ordered a combo and asked for a recommendation on items. I got Korean chicken and teriyaki beef. It was nom nom delicious. I was told the full order wasn't as large as I thought, but when I opened the box I got a generous portion of chicken, beef, salad, brown rice and noodles!!! Omg it was a lot of food! I would so come back!
(4)Natalie G.
Yes, it is in the middle of a random office park, but with these great prices, and tasty food. Definitely worth it! We came across this place in a travel book. There is definitely limited seating if the weather is rainy, so come here when its a bright and shiny day. Ample servings, and the Plate Lunch with the Korean Chicken was delish.
(4)Hannah C.
Summary: one of the best Hawaiian plate lunches we had all trip. Local, fresh and not too greasy. Did I mention flavorful and BIG portions? Did you just land at Lihue airport and have your stomach growl in response to your first big breath of tropical Kauai air? Then pick up your rental car and head over to Mark's Place for the best Hawaiian plate lunches in town. The number of reviews and ratings don't lie, bruddah. Yes, it's pretty much in the middle of nowhere in relation to the major shopping areas and cities in Kauai. But the entire island is pretty rural, so just scoot on down to Mark's. Our body clocks were still adjusting to local time, but after doing our best to spend as little money as possible at the airport and on the plane, our stomachs needed something... anything! For 5 adults, we split 4 plate lunches: 2 mixed plates (chicken katsu, teriyaki beef and beef stew), 1 loco moco and 1 daily special plate lunch of grilled mahi mahi. It was a lot of food. And it was tasty. Mark's famous mixed plate is a really great deal if you're looking for variety, so you can sample as many things as possible (as we always are). Forget the trash you've eaten at L&L and other "Hawaiian" chains... Everything there is greasy, bland and makes you feel like a giant blob afterward. Here, the quality food is well-worth the wait (things are made to order, AND it's Hawaii... service is laid-back [read: slow] everywhere. Take it easy, bruddah!) The beef stew had huge chunks of melt-in-your-mouth tender beef. It was one of the family favorites. Everything was well-cooked and well-flavored. And best of all, it wasn't drowning in grease. We were bummed that they ran out of some of the musubi we wanted to try, but we came in the afternoon, so what could we do? Minus one star for no water... I just got off a plane, and you want me to pay $1 for a beverage? :( Get friendly with the other folks in line, since there are only like 2 picnic tables outside. Just cozy on up, sit together at an open seat, and dig in! Mahalo!
(4)Bruges L.
The good: Katsu chicken. Crispy, delicious and not greasy! Great treat after a long flight. Other dishes looked good, but I only tried this one. Bakery items - chocolate chip cornflake cookies are yummy! Huge portions! I had lunch for two days. The bad: the specials board is placed off to the left - lower than the counter. The menu is above - hanging from the ceiling. Needless to say, I didn't see the specials board until after I ordered. The chow mein - tasteless. Didn't add anything to the plate lunch. Cashier didn't check my order before giving it to me. I ordered two Katsu lunches. Had I not checked the boxes before driving away, I would have been stuck with a plate lunch I didn't order.
(3)Jerry A.
A great spot to stop on the way back from Poipu to Kapaa. Great food and variety. We shared 2 mixed plates between 4 of us and had food left over.
(5)Anja P.
Easy five stars for this awesome local food joint! Down home Hawai'ian lunch plates, stacked full with deliciously prepared food; katsu, Korean chicken, teriyaki - no matter what you choose, it arrives well flavored and perfectly cooked and the portions are humongous! Very popular place off the beaten path in an industrial area of Lihu'e and everything is freshly made to order so be prepared to wait a few minutes during high traffic hours.
(5)Serenity G.
My husband & I & our boys loved the teriyaki beef hamburger and the plate lunches-Korean Chicken, Mark's Special & Teriyaki Beef. The food is delicious and the portions are generous! This was our first visit to Mark's Place--on Yelp we saw the photos & positive reviews. We are all so glad we checked them out. Of all the many years and places we've been to on the Hawaiian islands, including Kauai, Mark's Place has really tasty food, the biggest portions & best deal for our money!! Mark's Place also sells home made baked goods. "Ono"-licious Chocolate Chip Kahlua Cake, Pineapple Pound Cake, Chocolate Chip Macadamia Nut Cookies, Chocolate Chip Cornflake Cookies & Birthday Cake! We loved it all. And my husband loved "Wendy's Prune Mui!" Most importantly, the folks at Mark's Place are down-to-earth, genuine and nice. This is our first review as we do not do reviews but Mark's plate lunches, baked goods & good people have inspired us to share our wonderful experience on Yelp Mahalo! Life is good!
(5)Maria J.
We stumbled across this place on our way to the airport. Portions are large and plentiful and the price is right. We had teriyaki chicken and you get your choice of brown or white rice, macaroni or green salad. One plate can feed two hungry adults. They also have a variety of baked home fresh items. Definitely worth the drive!
(5)Jeremy Y.
Ok food. The people weren't that friendly when we asked for a cup for our 2-yr old. No public bathrooms
(3)Kay C.
Came here for lunch and ordered the teriyaki chicken sandwich & the combo plate with teriyaki chicken and beef stew w/macaroni salad and everything was really good. My only complaint is that it's really hot inside and the outdoor seating doesn't really have much shaded areas. Would I go back? Definitely.
(4)Anna Y.
I really wish this place was an actual restaurant. If it was, they would have all my money. Mark's Place offers outdoor picnic bench seating, with your local hawaiian food, BUT they also have awesome daily specials! They have some pretty fancy tasty stuff on certain days. Other days it's really stick-to-your-ribs kind of food. I LOVE their korean chicken, that's my all time fav. You can get white or brown rice, and mac or tossed salad. Now, I've only tried one of their desserts, and if you happen to see the chocolate cake with peanut butter cream and banana whip, GET IT. OMG.... I split a piece of this cake after I brought it home and almost drove back for another. It was THAT good. They also have Pau Hana specials - it's dinner for 4. The price changes based upon what they're serving that day. I've seen spaghetti/meatloaf, etc. It always comes with a side and dessert for around $40. It almost makes more sense to order 4 plates instead. Not sure though... Mark's has decent prices for a lot of food. Go there and get the korean chicken. YUM.
(4)Cherie F.
Marks is the best local food. We ordered mixed plate and a salad and shared it on the hotel terrace, We were stuffed from sharing a meal. Everyone at the hotel was jealous of our delicious local food. The total meal us back about $12 and was one of the best meals of the triip.
(5)Kevin L.
The best plate lunch on this island, I think. This is as local as you can get - located in a business/warehouse district about a mile from the highway. No tourists, just locals in their daily routine. We ended up trying the Korean Chicken, Loco Moco, and Chicken Katsu. I loved the Korean Chicken. They also have some dessert items (that we randomly decided to try), but they're nothing special You're in Kauai and a Yelper. Leave the main highway and try something local!
(4)Elle Elani Whatever C.
Yummy and affordable! Love their plate lunches!
(5)Matt G.
Was looking for a relatively simple dinner our first night on the island and in that sense it delivered. The staff was all business and seemed too busy to make us feel welcome. The food was pretty good for basically fast food. But there's no inside dining and outside is just four picnic tables overlooking warehouses and industrial businesses. So there's no ambiance at all and it's located in an odd spot. I realize food is super expensive everywhere on the island but when we're dropping $35 on two adult and one child's meal I'd like something a little more than decent fast food. Maybe it's a spot more for the locals. I'd rather hit up the L&L BBQ with an actual patio to sit at and tourist-watch.
(3)Jiaomin O.
pretty good place, a lot of food for the price you pay for. it is more like a fast food place
(5)Mike E.
Really good. I had the Teri Chicken and couldn't finish it. We'll be coming back the next time we're in Kauai.
(4)J Y.
OK, I saw all the great reviews so I thought this must be a winner. I think NOT. I tried the Korean chicken and the chicken katsu. The korean chicken was small pieces of dried up deep fried chicken that had I guess korean seasoning underneath the batter. It was dry and chewy and no sauce came with it. The portion was large but it definitely does not deserve a second try. The chicken katsu portion was small. The breading on the katsu was done well but the chicken, even though it was dark meat, was dry and flavorless. No sauce came with this either. Under the main dish was rice and what appeared to be chow mein noodles. The noodles were sour tasting like it was borderline spoiled. Maybe because it was around 6:30pm and getting close to closing time, I don't know. I knew better than to eat the noodles. I won't be coming back here again.
(1)Bernadett M.
Holy loco moco!! Seriously, the loco moco was great, good beef patty, yummy sauce and a perfectly cooked fried egg... Yummy.
(4)Joel M.
Very good food in an odd place. Great prices! Out of the way but worth finding. Even had chocolate covered strawberries for Valentine's Day! ...and they were very good! We hit them up 10 minutes from closing and the online menu is down (updating prices) so we just went with things others had recommended on yelp and it was delicious.
(5)M A.
Real deal local joint. Recommend Mark's mix plate. Teriyaki chicken also very, very good. I love how brown rice is an option. Very friendly and helpful staff.
(4)Brent W.
Mark's place is a great little local spot in Kauai. When I say spot, you can use the term literally. It's basically a tiny lunch counter in an industrial section of Lihue. It doesn't even have the bathroom, and if you ask they direct you to the Shell station half a mile down the road. That being said, they really focus on the food. I got the Mark's special, which is a combination of several different meats, meat stew, and rice. I also tried the Korean chicken, which was juicy and delicious. There was a little bit of a wait to get the food but it was worth it. Overall, this is a true local spot, with no frills. If you want to see what the Hawaiians are eating, then go there.
(5)U D.
While visiting Kauai, my wife and I wanted to eat some authentic Hawaiian food. We wanted to compare it to a local Hawaiian restaurant in our hometown. At the beginning, we were disappointed because the place was close for 5 days. We were in Kauai for 7 days. We were lucky that they had re-open one day before heading back to California. My wife had the Teriyaki Chicken and the Chicken Katsu, I had the Korean Chicken and the Teriyaki Beef. It was the BEST meal we had in Kauai!!! The portions were large and the prices were very affordable. The only downside was that the dinning table were outside, so if you want to see what you are eating, get there early.
(5)Sunny H.
Probably one of the best 'plate lunch' places in town. Their stew is very ono. So far, everything I've had here has been good to fantastic! worth the price. usually don't have to wait too long, and everyone has been very nice.
(5)Angelo B.
A little hard to find, seating is outside only and there is no bathroom. So why the 5 Stars? Cause the food is that damned good!!! Me and the fams were in Kauai staying in Princeville and we made the drive down to Mark's 3 times. All 3 times I had the Loco Moco. Portion size is a little above average, price is good but the quality of the food you get is nuts! The patty had a slightly crunchy outer crust, the inside was a good medium well and was plenty juicy. The gravy...oh the gravy...i wanted to sing my own rendition of Def Leopard "Pour some Gravy on me!!!!" Yes that good. If you know me, I apologize for the visual, I realize it's not pretty. No matter where you are staying on the island, this place is worth the trip. There's also a Shell gas station down the street that has a really clean bathroom.
(5)Steve C.
Good food, friendly employees. Took our food to go.
(4)Ryan B.
Overall: The food is good, service is fine and the quantity for the value is fantastic. The food: I got the combination plate with Korean chicken and beef teriyaki, with brown rice and Mac. I lived in Korea for years and have no idea what is 'Korean' about the Korean chicken. I thought it was really good though. The beef on the other hand wasn't as good and I probably wouldn't order that again. The beef was very dry. The Service: Fine service, nothing outstanding or going above and beyond. It was dead when I went in around 6pm and I wish the cashier would have been more helpful. The Quantity: For $9 the combo plate was a great value for the amount of food. Especially for my experience here in Kauai. I don't know if I would go out of my way again for Marks place or recommend everyone I know to go there, but it was good for a Hawaiian plate place.
(3)Thom P.
Ok we found Marks to be everything the reviews on Yelp said it would be. It takes a bit to actually get there and seems in a strange place for a place to eat. This is THE PLACE for local food! Everything was fantastic! We got the favorite mixed plate, chicken, beef, stew rice and salad. Delicious each and everything! And a very large portion. The parking lot was full which I always take as a good sign and there were plenty of tourists ad locals tree too. The prices are cheap too, but there is no place to sit inside so just use he picnic tables outside. The staff is not great but hey it's a catering business that sells box lunches to the public! Don't let it put you off - eat there!!
(5)Tossama C.
Mark's place is a well oiled machine. Loved marks mixed plate. The beef was so tender and flavorful. Definitely will be back for more on our future trips.
(5)Francesca K.
One of my aunties personally knows Chef Mark, but that's not why I'm giving him 5 stars. One night for dinner we had the family special (to go) with the mahi mahi in some kind of coconut or curry sauce and it was SO GOOD!! I usually don't care for mahi mahi because it can be dry or too meaty for me, but I remember eating 3 pieces of this, it was that good. The sauce had capers in it and was yummy over rice. I will come back and try their plate lunches on my next visit!!
(5)Lauren T.
Yummy! This was my first food stop after getting off the plane. I shared "Marks Famous Mixed Plate," which consisted of rice, chicken katsu, teriyaki beef, beef stew, chowmein and macaroni salad. Loved the chicken katsu, teriyaki beeef, and beef stew. The katsu came out of the fryer super hot, the teriyaki beef was very well marinated, and the beef stew was very tender and had huge chunks of carrots and potatoes. The biggest disappointment was the chowmein underneath the teriyaki beef. It was bland and seasoned with a little bit of soy sauce. The mac salad was pretty standard. It was also SUPER hot inside. Where was the AC? After I placed my order, I waited outside with the native chickens; It's a great place to eat after you grab your luggage from Lihue Airport.
(4)Jimmie C.
I am a tourist from LA. I always look for local eateries when visiting Hawaii. This place is the best. Enough said.
(5)Veronica N.
Portions are huge and cheap! We ordered the loco moco and Mark's Favorite. Both came with a side of chow mein and mac salad. Loved their chow mein and mac salad. I think the mac salad had some tiny pieces of potato in it. The loco moco was delicious, the gravy was super flavorful (but a bit salty). For Mark's Favorite, you get to sample the chicken katsu, beef stew, teriyaki beef. Make sure to pick up a piece of butter mochi for dessert. It's awesome!
(4)Meredith K.
We heart Mark's place! I tried their special combo plate with beef teriyaki, chx katsu, and beef stew. The katsu & stew was my fave. B ordered the Korean chx and beef stew. The Korean chx was legit - very good! I also love that they have homemade goodies for sale there, so we ended up buying a variety of cookies to share with our family. I highly recommend this place and will definitely be back on our next visit!
(5)Laura J.
Delicious mixed plate. Very good food and great value. Outdoor seating only. The strawberry guava lilikoi chiffon cake was sooooo good! The staff was friendly and service was quick. We went about 7pm and people were streaming in and out while we are our meal an tables were full.
(5)Yolanda A.
Best, best food on the island by far my husband wants to move here for it lol but seriously the food was amazing we wanted to go back but closed on our way back home. We had the chicken Katsu , teriyaki and Korean chicken - all combo plates with great rice and macaroni salad
(5)Chris J.
One of those cool little places that makes you feel like you're "in the know" when you find it. A secret gem. But I suppose it's not very secret since it have nearly 400 reviews and has a yelp rating of 4.5 stars. Haha. But still a good find off the beaten path. On your way to find it, if its dark, you might question if your map app is taking you to get robbed. It's in an industrial area, next to some car mechanics and a warehouse gym. I figure its where all the blue collar locals have lunch. Wish I had a place like this back home. When you step in, the first thing you'll notice is that its hot, like way hot. A good 15 degrees warmer than outside. Good thing its a to-go counter and all the seating is outside. The second thing you'll notice is the delicious aromas. Beef stew mixed with hot rice mixed with loco moco on the grill. Already drooling. Remember, this is a local spot, get to the counter, place your order, be decisive! Don't be the tourist who holds up the line for the eight contruction workers standing behind you, even if you are the tourist. Just pick something, its all good. Don't mistake the brevity of the customer/cashier interaction as rude. They are happy you are there, they just have a lot to do. I got the two item combo, beef stew/loco moco, and the wife got the katsu. White rice, mac salad, a little fried saimin, and a smile. All for $19 combined. I was stuffed and so was the wife. The stew was a star for me. I totally recommend this place. Get out and find it.
(5)Shonda D.
Mark's Place is very reasonably priced. I ordered the shrimp and pasta and my hubby had the open face roast beef sandwich. We felt that both dishes were a bit on the salty side, but that could be due to our sensitive palates. The portion sizes were huge. I couldn't finish my dish. The other yelper's gave accurate details. The place is small and the only seating area is a few tables out front, but no biggie. We bought a blackberry cobbler to go. Now, the blackberry cobbler.... I could have passed out from the deliciousness! It was so sweet, but it was the best dessert I had, on the island, all week. We are home now and my hubby is still talking about it!
(4)Sarah T.
Probably one of the better places we ate at on our short trip to Kauai. Coming from the mainland, I hope never to encounter a bad plate lunch. And Mark's Place didn't disappoint! Hearing that the portions were big, boyfriend and I shared a combination platter. We ordered Beef Stew and Chicken Teriyaki. The beef stew was especially impressive - very tasty and tender. Our two other friends also shared a combo platter and it was the perfect amount. It was a little difficult to find since it wasn't directly off a main road. We had to turn into another road to get to it. It also looks like it has a pretty dedicated customer following-always a good sign. Seating is outdoors! You get to eat with the roosters. Yippee.
(4)Will L.
I do not understand why the rating is so high. Fly is every where, dirty! Tasting is very very average! Do not drive a long way come to here, it is not deserved!!!
(1)Anahi C.
Best loco moco ever. There is no inside seating but plenty of space outside. I went to kauia and wanted to eat local food, and this place was absolutely great. The only down side is that the place is soo small they don't have restrooms. But the food,is good.
(5)Randall M.
Best place to get your takeout lunch or dinner. The servings are huge and delicious! With so much food, you better have a couch or bed nearby because you'll be ready to take a nap after you attempt to finish your huge meal. In Hawaii we call it the "Kanack Attack". The food is made to order so you know it's fresh. Their staff is awesome! They are very professional, friendly, informative, and always smiling. Mark's Place is where it at! Go there or home! They also have a awesome catering business called Contemporary Flavors Catering. I say they are the best in the state or probably the world! Google it! If you're looking for their services, you better plan well ahead of your event because they are really busy! Being so high in demand, that says a lot of their services and quality of food!
(5)Lily K.
The loco moco is the bomb! Quick services and they take credit cards!!
(5)Roy T.
A great take-out joint for local Hawaiian grinds. I ordered the Mark's Famous Mixed Plate and the wife ordered the Teri Beef sandwich and both were great. Definitely a favorite with the locals too. Good portions, good prices. Expect to wait if you go during lunch time. There's a few picnic tables out front if you want to eat there. Located in a industrial neighborhood, it's bit tough to find and parking is scarce but it's worth it.
(4)C N.
Holy teriyaki, Batman! Delicious local joint. I found this place here on Yelp, as I looked for cheap, one-dollar-sign lunch places with a high rating. Ding ding ding! We've got a winner. First time here, I got chicken teriyaki plate, my husband got the Mark's Mixed plate. Second time around, I got loco moco, and my husband got chicken katsu. Both times: amazing, fast service, good taste. You sit outside on picnic tables with the ubiquitous Kauai chickens stalking you for dropped scraps. Umbrellas shield you from rain. They have coolers with bottles and cans of drinks for sale with your meal. It's super basic. You get a scoop of macaroni salad, rice, salad greens, and the main dish. Sizable portions here! I also tried the butter mochi, and it is to DIE FOR. I will be picking some up on the way to the airport home. God, I wish this was in California!!
(5)Antonio D.
A run for the best food and best price for food on our stay on the island . The food was finger licking good and the portions were a healthy size. Kind of off the main road but worth looking for this Gem in the hiding . A culinary delight
(5)Tanaya N.
Yum!! Unfortunately went there on the last day. Their Fish and noodles were mindblowing.
(5)Brenda P.
Great little hole in the wall tucked away in an industrial park. The beef stew was delicious...the Korean chicken was good, but I thought it was a little bit too sweet and could have used some spicy heat. The place does not have a dining room, but they do have some picnic benches outside. I wish the there was some shade over the tables, but a little sun isn't going to deter me from going back to this place.
(4)Jennifer A.
How could 280 Yelpers be wrong? I'm just sorry that Mark's Place wasn't located closer to where I was staying in Princeville and that I didn't discover it until I was on my way to the airport to leave Kauai! Seriously guys, if you like plate lunch, Mark's Place is quite possibly one of the best in all of Hawaii. As others have mentioned the gravy on the loco moco is amazing - I just wish my egg was cooked with a slightly runnier yolk. The beef stew is super tender and the chicken katsu is deliciously crispy. If you want to try several things, get a combo or Mark's Special. After seeing pictures of the Korean chicken, I really wish I got to try that, it looks amazing! Avoid this place if you're low carb though. My loco moco came with rice, mac salad AND noodles. Yeah, major carb coma, but don't miss out on the chow mein-type noodles because they're really good! Probably more of a take out joint because there are a few picnic tables outside where you get a good view of industrial buildings, so yeah, not much for ambiance. Can't wait to come back though for the delicious food!
(5)Ellie H.
Simple deliciousness. This was by far the best place to eat in Kauai. I fell in love with the chicken katsu/loco moco combo platter. Best meal for around $10 and they give you plenty of food. It came with lo mein, rice, and macaroni salad. The only downside is that I couldn't curb my craving on weekends.
(5)Nicole L.
Would have been 5-stars but the girls at the register brought it down a star. They could not break a smile at all & had me stand in front of them for about a minute before looking up. Taking my order appeared to be a huge inconvenience. Bummed! Wish their attitude matched the food, cause it was awesome!!.
(4)Shayna L.
Not opened on weekends but they are open until 8 on weekdays. When we go in town in the evenings we keep this place in mind. The teri cheeseburgers are a staple and the french fries are so nice and crisp. They burgers are homemade and juicy. Gets pretty busy during lunch but the wait for food is not too long. Other popular selections are the Korean chicken and fried noodles.
(4)Celestine J.
I been to Mark's Place several times. The price is decent for as a college student. The plate is overwhelming in terms of size. A mix of korean-hawaiian cuisine. The food is delicious, but greasy!
(3)L S.
Bomb.com ! My hubby and I came here on a weekday around 5:30pm. It wasn't crowded at all. We both ordered the Korean chicken and chicken katsu. Why? Because I don't like sharing my food! :). Anyhow, it came with big portions of the meat and a side of white rice (brown rice optional) and macaroni salad. All I can say is yum! This is one of the best meals we've had on the island! We plan to come back before heading home!
(5)Christina C.
nothing beats a nice, freshly made, hot musubi. Final stop before the airpot to head home. entire menu looked delicious but too big/heavy for a flight. Opted for the korean chicken musubi. Yum.
(5)Nette C.
Generous portion and delicious. Best Teri beef however it did taste very much like bulgogi. *Started on my phone on 12/21/12 and finally posted it.
(5)Mary S.
This is what I think of when I think of Hawaiian plate lunches. I got the Korean Chicken and it was so delicious! Served on a bed of noodles with two sides. I was full before I could finish half of it. My husband got the Mark's special and I tried some of his bbq beef. DAMN! It was the most flavorful piece of meat I'd had in a while. Seriously smokey and sweet flavor. I highly recommend this spot for a tasty and quick lunch plate. There are only a few patio tables outside, so if it's a rainy day you may be eating in your car, but it still tastes good. Belly satisfied.
(4)Hen A.
delivery from hawaii...mark's equivalent to hawaiian bento box meals..good greasy spoon meals...dive shack...loco moco, cutlets, kbbq, etc...$ten and under meals...enduring hnl to sfo...taking to the face...spam musubi quite good...spam center...sesame seed saucing between two rice blocks...seaweed wrapped....
(4)Maria G.
This place is in a random spot but they have some great stuff. Generous portions and everything is delicious. Don't forget to get some cornflake cookies or butter mochi as well for dessert.
(5)Mike W.
Wow. Best plate lunch I have ever had. Go here, it's amazeballs.
(5)Lisa H.
We recently took a high school football team to Kauai to play against Kauai High School. We were traveling on a budget, so sought out good local food with reasonable prices. Mark's Place was perfect. We called in the morning and ordered 35 dinners to go at 6:30 pm. When we showed up they were just putting all of the dinners in a box for us. Food was hot and fresh and the boys LOVED it. They had everything from Teriyaki Beef and Teriyaki Chicken to Loco Moco. If looking for good local food, I don't think you could possibly go wrong with Mark's Place.
(5)Gerard L.
First food in Kauai. First stop next time. Super good local eats! None of that L L chain stuff. Awesome employees. Overall fantastic customer experience.
(5)WirelessPhreak S.
If your visiting Kauai and you want the real taste of the local food this place is a no brainier. Local shop awesome food and reasonable prices. When I say reasonable I mean down right cheap, two of us with drinks $21 dollars. I had the Korean Beef, chicken Katsu, and it came with Chowmein, rice, and a salad. My wife had the loco moco and I have to agree with an earlier reviewer the best gravy ever. So much good food you can't stop eating even after your full. If your on the island you have to try it.
(5)Jason A.
The best plate lunch stop on Kaua'i. The Ahi and Loco Moco are my favorites.
(4)John D.
You have to be kidding me! Found this place tucked away by complete accident and it ended up being the best mix-plate meal I've ever had (and the sample size is large). I got Mark's Famous Mix Plate as it has everything they are known for and I killed it in one sitting! There's a few picnic tables outside so to-go may be best if it's busy (or just sit in the grass). They had a huge baked good selection as well I tried the corn flake cookies and they were amazing, I killed the pack in 2 days. There are a bounty of feral cocks to keep you company while you dine.
(5)Wayne K.
We revisited Mark's Place and it is as good as before. It is definitely a strong contender for the top island food, bento, styrofoam, to go box lunch on Kauai. I like the variety, the taste, the value, everything about it. This time we took it back to the timeshare where I had some ice cold beer in the icebox. Sitting on the deck, having Mark's box lunch and a beer was Great.
(5)Shumai W.
Chicken Katsu - Dry and bland Chicken Teriyaki - The best! Most and the flavor is amazing! Beef Teriyaki - Just as tasty - not as juicy as the chicken Beef Stew - Fiance loved it. Mac Salad - Very good - not the best, but still delicious. Our boxes seemed to weigh 10lbs. For the cost and the amount of food you get - without a doubt - a great value. I would definitely suggest a visit - be prepared to drive somewhere and eat though - they only have outdoor seating and it was raining the day we visited. Busy parking lot - it's worth the trek.
(5)Jennilee W.
This is one of the better places to eat in Kauai. You get a lot of food for the amount you pay. The katsu chicken was really good with the sauce you get with it. The teriyaki beef is actually really tender. Probably the best teriyaki beef I have had. I also tried the loco moco. Ask for an extra side of gravy. The people here are also really friendly and the service was great. I wanted to come back for more but they were closed on weekends. Why would you close on weekends? Such a bummer. Minus one star for that.
(4)Caroline L.
Believe the ratings. Had Hawaiian plates at a couple others places on the island and this place is definitely best. Crispy tonkatsu, tender beef, fresh macaroni salad- yum!
(4)Wendy T.
Droved almost an hour and they said they were closed because there was a large catering event that they have to do? It was very unprofessional to close during business hours just because of catering event.
(1)Jason G.
Wow. Just got off the plane here in Kauai and was hungry! This was the closest place to us and the reviews were good. So what the heck. This place was awesome! Marks famous platter was excellent and cheap! There was plenty of food for 2 people with just one meal. Also the desserts were awesome. Word of warning-do not be thrown off by the looks of the place. It looks like it is a run down shack but the food and staff made it all worth it. I will go back for sure.
(5)Anthony G.
Good place to try the local favorites. Everything here is delicious and they give you huge portions! Also super cheap. Plenty of bang for your buck! There teriyaki was my favorite on the whole island and everyone and their momma sell teriyaki in Hawaii so that's saying something! ! The garlic prawns were extra delicious with the heads still on. I wont say this is a must while in Lihue but a must while in Kauai! !
(5)Kristin H.
Dropped by this place after the long drive up to Waimea Canyon so was famished. This place is in the middle of an industrial district so without Yelp, we definitely would never have came across it. The place is located in a warehouse where you can see people cooking and baking desserts and baked goods that they also sell. There is no seating indoors, but there are plenty of shaded picnic tables outside. Hubby had the Loco Moco which past reviewers had claimed to be comparable to the one at Rainbow's Diner in Waikiki Beach. We had JUST come from Waikiki Beach and LOVED Rainbow's Diner, and definitely were not disappointed with the one from Mark's Place. The egg is massive and when you touch it with your fork, the yolk comes spilling out. The gravy is also plentiful enough to eat with every bite of rice, which is not the case for some of the Loco Moco dishes we've had in Hawaii. I had the combo plate of Korean Chicken (spicy breaded chicken nuggets) + Beef Stew (beef + potatoes + carrots + onions in a tomato based stew) and it was all very satisfying. Kind of like Hawaiian soul food. Both dishes came with mac salad and a side of what seemed like stir-fried noodles. Great place with friendly no-frills service. Def would be a regular place to eat at if I was a local.
(5)Jonny the S.
Tried most things on the menu! Loved the loco moco the best! Teri chicken and beef were great as well! Noodles, rice, mac salad, salad, and stew were all pretty good. Reasonably priced. Great outdoor seating.
(4)Will A.
This is top notch plate lunch. It is tucked away near some industrial space, but it is so ono! While they don't have mochiko chicken, there Korean chicken is top shelf. They also have their own snack rack with cookies galore. I think they stack up with Kauai Kookie. They also have fresh pies and cakes. Their Pau Hana special looks great, too. It's a full meal for four and a decent price. They have daily specials, but I'm a creature of habit so I go korean mini plate. They all know me by name now!
(5)hello k.
My husband and I read about this place from one of the Kauai guidebooks. We were looking for some authentic Hawaii grub so we decided to try this place for lunch. Got there around 1145 and there were probably about 7 people ahead of us. We both ordered mix plates and some spam musubi. Everything was fresh and tasty! Husband even went back to buy a souvenir t-shirt. If we ever come back to Kauai, which I really want to do, we will be coming here again!
(5)Linda W.
this lihue, kauai shop is well-run, affordable, has an up-to-date website, daily specials, & delicious food. don't expect to eat there - it's yummy take-out! & also don't forget cookies - they taste homemade which they probably are.
(5)Chantel C.
Mark's place takes the Hawaiian lunch plate to another level!!!! I grew up on Rainbow Drive-Inn lunch plates, and was never really crazy about teri beef in general. I'd always order teri or BBQ chicken. But... Mark's place has made me crave meat - teri beef in particular - like no other! My boyfriend ordered Mark's mixed plate which came with rice, noodles, mac salad, teri beef, beef stew, and chicken katsu. The teri beef was simply amazing. They must marinate their beef for days or weeks or something! It was soooo 'ono! And the quality of the beef for a lunch plate was solid! I ordered the special special of the day, which was a HUUUUUGE piece of ahi (tuna). It was seared and deliciously pink in the middle. It is seriously the biggest piece of ahi I have ever gotten in a lunch plate. Quality! Mark's place is a gem. Go carbo load! Cheehoo!!!!
(5)Rob B.
Love love love. Cheap, and as local as it gets! Between us we tried the Korean chicken, teri beef, beef stew loco moco, chicken cutlet and chicken katsu. Both plated mixed plates came with rice, white or brown and a Mac salad. Must have been 5 pounds of food. The gravy is especially awesome and makes the loco moco rock. My guess is there is some Maggi's seasoning lurking in there.
(5)Mina L.
3.5. Rounding up. Closed sat/sun Amex/visa/cash available. Food was ok. Our 4 plate lunches were bagged in 1 large paper bag. The stew plate lunch was on top and spilt the entire contents. The plates are really weak... Don't try lifting the plates with one hand,the plates split and its contents spill out. Best to just rip up the bag and remove the stack of plate lunches. I was able to recover most of the other dishes. The stew was just a mess. I would hope that stews and other saucy dishes would be individually wrapped and bagged at the bottom of the bag. Stew - undecided. Teri beef - dry Katsu - good Okinawa Pork - ok
(4)Sonj H.
Super sweet service. Tasty sweets. The bottled water tasted like Heaven and I am not a bottled water fan. I had the spearfish special. It was very heavily tempura fried, so I really can't say much about it. The salad was iceberg lettuce. The noodles were good. My friends had the Mark's special and seemed to like it. I will attach a picture of theirs, I forgot to take one of mine. It hit the spot after long flight / costco visit for a quick, affordable bite to eat.
(3)Niels H.
Read about Mark's Place in a guidebook and decided to check it out. Since it's in a mostly commercial and industrial area, we would never have stumbled across it otherwise. Definitely worth seeking out. We got a late lunch and ate outside at the tables. The staff was very friendly and helpful. We even chatted a bit with the guy delivering the freshly caught fish. The food was delicious, perhaps the best food we had on our trip, and reasonably priced. My mouth is watering just remembering the teriyaki chicken. We will definitely go back on our next visit, probably more than once.
(5)Jeff C.
While figuring out places to eat in Kauai, I almost skipped over this place because I thought all plate lunches are pretty much the same. Well, I was wrong, this is a great one! Hidden away in the middle of an industrial area, we felt like we were a little off the beaten path, especially with all the buildings around us dark and closed around 7:30 on a Thursday night. I got my standard chicken katsu mini meal and my wife got the Korean chicken and chicken cutlet meal for us to share. Not wanting to get eaten by the bugs outside (there are only some picnic benches to eat at), we sat down in our car to eat our meal. I took my first bite of the katsu and I loved how the chicken was lightly fried without feeling too oily, and crispy outside yet soft inside. The only thing I wasn't crazy about was the katsu sauce... seemed a little like ketchup to me. We both loved the Korean chicken, which were small pieces of chicken, breaded and fried with a sweet sauce covering it, and the chicken cutlet, which was essentially the chicken katsu but smothered in gravy instead of the katsu sauce. Portions were generous too... we ate until we were past stuffed and still took some back to the hotel (which I consumed later that evening). We would have loved to make this out last stop leaving Kauai, but alas, they are not open on Sundays...
(5)Todd H.
As a howlie direct from California I had no clue where to go. Excellent food. Friendly staff. Thank you Yelp.
(5)ZN M.
Best Korean chicken in my life! Recommend this place for sure. A hole in the wall for sure, and everything is given to you to go. We had no wait, ate in our cars and it was heavenly. I couldn't stop eating the chicken even though I was full! Soooo good! I also got butter mochi which was definitely yummy! Two full bellies for only 20$ can't beat it! Eat at marks place! It's in the industrial part of town and is kind of hidden you won't find it in the main part of town. Worth looking for. Try the Korean chicken as you won't regret it!!!!
(5)Christina W.
Seriously one of the best mix plates I have ever had! We got the Mark's Mix Plate (big enough for two, really.) and loved it. My favorite part was the teri beef! Also, get the baked goods they sell; they are delicious! I got the butter mochi and the chocolate kahlua cake. The mochi was so flavorful and smooth, and the cake was super moist and decadent!
(5)Jody F.
We had a fun lunch at Mark's Place. Eating with the locals on the picnic tables was a treat. We all ordered Mark's Mixed Plate Special with Katsu chicken, teriyaki beef, and beef stew. The noodles under the Katsu were dry and the teriyaki beef could have use some sauce. The beef stew was tender and flavored just right. Unexpectedly the macaroni salad was the best I have had on the islands. The cost of the plate was $9 which was a good deal for the quantity of food we received. I wouldn't mind trying the Korean chicken next time.
(3)Geri S.
One week on Kaua'i and we ate at Mark's Place three times; I could easily eat here every day. Fish Specials, wraps, salads, great loco moco and Mark's Famous Mixed Plate. Sandwiches for the plane homeward bound flight to SFO. Best comfort foods. I love Mark's Place.
(4)Pearl V.
Wish we came here more often during our vacation. We didn't get a chance to make it out here until our last day on the island. Our flight out was at 3pm, so we came here for lunch before heading to the airport. Their plate lunches are very generous and we could definitely not finish it all. I think I barely ate about 1/4 of it [because we had a little poke snack break at Pono's prior] and the hubby finished a little more than half of it before calling it quits. He got the "Mark's Combo" plate which had chicken katsu, beef stew, and for his sides he went with brown rice and a green salad. For my combo, I chose the loco moco and a chicken cutlet [which was very similar to the katsu except the sauce], brown rice and mac salad. Kudos to Mark's Place for offering brown rice options btw. The hamburger patty and gravy was pretty good in my Loco Moco. Service was friendly and food came out in a timely fashion. We'd come back.
(4)Winston S.
I was told to try Mark's Place from a friend of mine on the mainland. He is Mark's nephew, so I figured he was just showing family support. I went with my sister, her bf, and my buddy. We ordered the mixed plate and katsu. It was incredible! We had lunch there and came back for dinner that same night! The next day, we came back for lunch again, on our last day in Kauai. Mark and Alan are the owners and they took the time to say hello and talk for a bit. I am looking forward to coming back as soon as I can. Teri beef and loco moco were also incredible and tender!
(5)Brooke H.
Got off the plane and was starving headed straight here and had the best food ever. I portions are amazing and the best food I have ever had! The teriyaki beef was melt in your mouth good. We got the marks plate and it was great to have the mixture of foods!! Will go back here everything we come back to Kauai!!!
(5)Gordon L.
Great Loco Moco!
(5)Mark A.
My first meal on Kauai, and a great way to start a visit. I obviously went for Mark's Special Plate ( yelp.com/biz_photos/JS9Y… ), which has chicken katsu, teriyaki beef, beef stew, rice and macaroni salad. It's a lot of food, and if you can finish it you are a better man than I am. Surprisingly, the beef stew tasted EXACTLY like my mom's beef stew recipe that was handed down from German peasants for the last couple of centuries. How that recipe made it to Hawaii I have no idea, and it would make for a thrilling episode of CSI: Beef Stew (If you want to greenlight that show, just let me know - I've got like a whole season's worth of plot lines in the can and ready to go). Minus one star for not offering a discount to people named Mark, but one bonus star for having my mom's beef stew.
(4)Jennifer O.
I went here to have the loco moco and I must say...I was a fan. They do not cheat you on gravy and the gravy is very flavorful. The egg was cooked perfectly. I would definitely come back here for more loco moco in the future. Note: This place is very tiny and tucked away in a little industrial area....worth finding it though.
(4)Nico W.
Only a few places leave a lasting impression when I go on vacation. On the Big Island, it's Da Poke Shack but here on Kauai, it's Mark Place. Their plate lunches are huge and enough to feed at least two people. We ordered Mark's Famous Mixed plate and it was great. I enjoyed the food so much that I had to try some of their other dishes on the menu especially the butter mochi and Spam musubi. Both excellent. Great place to pick up a couple of plate lunches to go and find a picnic spot someplace on the island or you can just eat on the spot. They have picnic benches right outside of the location so you can enjoy eating food with some locals.
(5)Pat M.
The plate lunches look so Ono. Tried the ahi..so rich!!
(4)Kim W.
Being from Oahu, I feel like we have pretty high standards when it comes to food and plate lunches ... Mark's Place definitely went above and beyond my expectations. This was by far the best plate lunch we've had on Kauai thus far and it really filled us up! Cheap, plentiful, quality, clean, no frills (they get you in and out pretty quickly), and convenient (centrally located in lihue)! We were starving, but the hubby and I decided to share a combo plate based on other yelp reviews (big portions) ... turned out it was the perfect size: aka we got the bang for our buck! Half korean chicken and half teriyaki chicken with mac salad. The teriyaki chicken was my favorite hands-down -- so moist and great flavor. They also put noodles under the meat, which was just so/so - not amazing, but a nice added bonus. Service was fast and the place was clean. There are a few tables to sit outside, if you aren't taking it to-go, and the table umbrellas were great to shield you from the hot sun. About 20+ people ordered/left while we were devouring our lunch -- crowds are always a good sign! :) P.S. I also love that you can get packaged homemade goodies here (chex mix, cookies, ranch pretzels, mochi, etc.!)
(4)Dennis L.
Thank you for redeeming my plate lunch experience in Hawaii! Mark's place can thank the locals and Yelp for its survival, because no tourist is going to find it without consulting one of those sources. The restaurant is in the middle of a business park, which I am sure does wonders for their lunch time rush! I decided to go with Mark's Famous Mixed Plate - Chicken Katsu, Teriyaki Beef, and Beef Stew with brown rice and macaroni salad. First off, thank you for having brown rice! Second, the macaroni salas was the best I had in Hawaii. Finally, the chicken and beef items were awesome. Great flavors, tender, and fresh. I love Mark's. If I lived on Kauai, I would be there all the time. If you are a visitor and you have a vehicle, pay them a visit. You will not regret it! P.S. - Outside seating on picnic tables only. Don't come here for a romantic date..just great food!
(5)Lynn S.
Great spot near the airport, on our way to Poipu. Teriyaki beef, Korean chicken, beef stew were all some of our faves. 4 adults ate for $48, sat in the beautiful open air on picnic tables. Perfect local, casual fare.
(5)Roxanne L.
Get in my belly! This delicious little hidden gem is definitely worth the drive. In a small industrial/business area, only those who Yelp and locals seems to know about it. The most traditional Hawaiian food I had while on the island, and definitely the cheapest. I had ordered the combo plate with Chicken Katsu, Loco Moco, rice, macaroni salad, and these little noodles. I consider myself a macaroni salad snob, I LOVED that their macaroni salad it tasted homemade and fresh. I 'm still having dreams of the food here.
(5)Kaileen Y.
This place is definitely a diamond in the rough. Despite it's surroundings, this place is great!! If it's your first time, please do not jump to conclusions just yet. Try it first. :) You might be pleasantly surprised. They serve some of the best plate lunches on the island, in my opinion. Many of their specials are unique and unlike your typical ideas for a plate lunch. The most unique thing about Mark's Place is probably that the owner is one of the main Chefs/Instructors for Kauai Community College's Culinary dept! If that doesn't say a lot about the integrity of the place, I don't know what does. This place is definitely hard to find if you've never been here before, but believe me once you do find it, you'll wanna come back! Well, hopefully...
(4)Serena S.
The butter mochi tastes like poundcake - a real treat and also different. You must try it! Agree with all other comments. Can't add much more than the loco moco is delicious and certainly artery-clogging. - 1 star for no bathroom! You eat a great meal and then...?
(4)Rainbow C.
Came here on a recent vacay thanks to yelpers, and it did not disappoint! As some people have said, not a fancy joint by any means (we're talking zero inside sitting, order at a counter, and either take it home or eat on one of the 3 benches outside). However, this place is not popular for their decor or location. Food: -Loco Moco: awesomeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee -Mark's Famous Mixed Plate: contains chicken katsu, beef teriyaki, and beef stew. Our favorite was the beef stew as it was super flavorful, hearty, and full of comfort-food goodness. Chicken katsu was average, crispy, tender, with a good dipping sauce. Beef teriyaki was a bit on the sweet side, though most Hawaiian food was too sweet for my liking Ambiance: What ambiance? You go inside, order at the counter, then take the food out to eat a home or on a bench. Simple. Bottom Line: Great place for a fast meal, not too expensive, with good quality plates to eat. You will leave full!
(5)Lisa H.
Mark's Place came in clutch after a rocky boat ride along the Napali coast. Even though we came in 15 minutes before closing we were greeted with a warm smile. Ordered a 2 item combo - loco moco and chicken katsu for $9.00. Delicious gravy, savory beef patty and thick and crispy katsu. Generous portions and piping hot. During our stay in Kaua'i, it was a challenge to find good local eats that didn't cater to tourists, so this was definitely a breath of fresh air. Go get some!
(5)Nina B.
Land, pick up car, drive to Mark's to stuff your face. I think that should be everyone's itinerary. It's so close to the airport how can you not make it your first stop? Though there were only 2 of us we tend to order with our eyes and not our stomach so ended up getting enough food to feed 4. *Pat on the back for getting through most of it* We a couple plate lunches an Panko Crusted Ahi sandwich and mochi. Portions are big so I nearly had to roll myself to the Jeep. Everything was so good and there were a lot of desserts that I also wanted to try. I'll have to come again and make it a stop to and from the airport. As a side note, we spoke to a few locals on the south side of the island who highly recommended Mark's. They were stoked when they found out we had already gone. Come to find out this place is catering one of the guys upcoming wedding. Lucky wedding guests :)
(5)George P.
This place was so good I traveled from Princeville to eat here twice on my trip. The Mark's Famous mixed plate was the best plate lunch I ever had. Now think about splitting it for two people because you get so much food, like 2 scoops of rice, Mac Salad, Chowmein, Teriyaki Beef, Katsu Chicken, and Beef Stew all for $8.95. What a deal, I was so full from this I wasnt even hungry for dinner. To top it off, Mark's place is only 1/2 mile from Koloa Rum, so we celebrated a great lunch with Free Rum tasting at Koloa Rum afterwards! The beef stew was so yummy. The Katsu Chicken sauce was best I ever had. The teriyaki Beef had tons of favor to it. Best lunch I ever had, I could eat it everyday! The Loco Moco was better than that rainbow Drive-in on Oahu. I loved the gravy of the loco moco! Can't go wrong with anything on the menu. Couldnt believe they actually had Tripe Stew as a daily special. Almost got that since I love Menudo...
(5)Audra M.
This place is doing everything RIGHT!! The only thing they need is indoor seating on rainy days. It was a stormy Tuesday when we visited this place and we were so happy with our decision. Thanks to YELP we had a delicious lunch and dinner(left overs) from Marks Place. I got the Chicken Katsu/Teryaki Chicken Combo which came with lots of chicken and a big spoonful of that delicious mac salad and rice, plus some noodles that were very tasty. My hubby got the Marks Special with stew and that was so delicious. It was like a home cooked meal. I wish we had a place like this closer to my home. The service is great, and the food is delicious. If you are in the area and want a quick lunch, go here!! Its close to COSTCO...so stop by.
(5)Siao W.
This is the best place to get all of your favorite basic Hawaiian lunch plate favorites for a ridiculously low price. You get to pick 2 or 3 of your favorite items (which are full sized servings) packed on rice, fried noodles, and mac salad for under 10 dollars. So much food for so little money. FOod is quality standard lunch dishes, including chicken katsu, teriyaki beef, beef stew, loco moco etc. Everything is well cooked so you can't go wrong with any combo. Don't expect michilin stars here, just quantity, quality, and value! Come hungry!
(4)Cindy S.
We came here for dinner on recommendation by several friends. I was expecting a really amazing meal, but the food was just okay to me. My husband had the Mark's Special and there really wasn't anything too special about it. The beef stew tastes like the beef stew I make at home and the chicken cutlet is your standard chicken cutlet. The special came with another meat that was so unmemorable that I can't even recall what it is right now. I had the Korean fried chicken plate and it was okay. The batter was too sweet for my taste, but it was a generous portion. The chicken was served over a bed of slightly greasy Chinese lo mein. I wanted to try the spam musubi, but they were sold out both times we went. Apparently the musubis are all set out in bentos on the shelf at the beginning of the day and once they're out, they're out. FYI, their location is in the middle of what looks like industrial/business buildings. It's super close to Costco, too!
(3)Elise W.
We loved Mark's place. We first heard about this place through the LA Times and decided to give it a whirl. Although off the beaten path and a bit difficult to find, it is well worth the trip. The teriyaki beef is tasty and practically melts in your mouth. The daily deals are also a great bargain. I ordered the cornmeal crusted ahi with a balsamic vinaigrette that was fresh and light. We visited 3 times in two days with our last visit to pick up food for our flight home.
(4)Liz C.
We ate here EVERY single day they were open while we were on our vacation. We had Marks' Special (Chicken Cutlet, Beef Stew and Teriyaki Beef), Loco Moco, and Korean Chicken on our first day. The food was delicious, they served it quickly and we got to enjoy it outside looking at the beautiful mountains near by. The service is quick, efficient and kind. The macaroni salad is delicious and on the last day we were there I had a cheese burger and it was quite literally one of the best burgers I've ever had, full of flavor, juicy and delicious. The deserts are also yummy. It's in the middle of an industrial park, so a little difficult to find if you're not looking, but keep looking it's SOOOO worth it!
(5)Aimee A.
This place serves good comfort food served hot and is filling since portions are good and you could have up to 5 different types of food in one plate! Service was fast - they had my food ready 5 minutes after i paid for it at the counter. There are three outdoor seating sheds which was good. I had the combination plate with beef stew (which was hot and beef/carrots/potatoes were tender but in my opinion could use just a little bit more salt) and chicken teriyaki (okay taste, marinated in soy sauce too long i think). The combo plate included rice, pancit (filipino noodles) and macaroni) - all 8 to 9 dollars. I am looking forward to trying out the pumpkin cake dessert, the katsu and korean chicken next time. They also sell cookies and macadamia nut cakes which looked tempting. This is my 3rd or 4th food review for Kauai's food place (and it is only my first week in Kauai), but this place could be one of the better places to eat around Kauai.
(4)Darine P.
I was looking for some good local food to consume on my last day in Kauai. I saw that Mark's Place had a ton of reviews and a pretty good rating and decided to give it a try. Needless to say, I wasn't disappointed! I had the beef stew, while my family enjoyed the chicken teriyaki, mixed plates, and spam musubi. The beef stew was amazing. I don't eat the stew often, but devoured the entire meal in minutes. You get a great amount of food for a decent price. The spam musubi was also really delicious. I wish I had tried the loco moco. I plan on it the next time I visit!
(5)Hunter C.
I'll list cons: No indoor dining, but I can overlook that; and sometimes bento meat on the beef can be cooked too much to jerky status Now the Good Wife and I wanted to eat a nice plate lunch before we left Kauai, and we chose Mark's place. Boy was everything here GREAT! I ordered the Marks Mix Plate, which had a little bit of everything. I have to admit, the Katsu was done right, and the beef stew was AWESOME! even the Spam Musubi was seasoned great and making me want to try the other two flavors they had. My wife had the small bento, and that was good too, which came with spam, and korean fried chicken pieces. good stuff. The cashiers and staff were pleasant and seemed like they had a good repertoire with the locals coming in. As a word to those coming for the first time, it's in an industrial place, as they are baking and doing other wholesale goods, so don't think you've come to the wrong place. Also, if not raining, they do have benches outside to eat, which is accommodating, but sometimes, can be work as the wife and I had to eat out of the car due to a sudden down pour. All in all, I'd recommend this place, and their baked goods are awesome too!
(4)Joanna S.
I honestly didn't enjoy it much. But, it seems to be a local favorite (according to our rental car lady who helped us). We ordered the loco moco and korean chicken. The korean chicken was kind of salty, and it was literally fried chicken with a little sauce over rice. I don't recommend it, we couldn't even finish it. The loco moco was pretty good, drenched in gravy, the patty and egg were good! I'm not sure how this place really stands out though. I've had loco mocos in California, that were probably better. I really enjoyed the beef stew though! The beef was a little tough, but the stew was a great side! It was probably the only vegetable on the plate, the cooked carrots. Everything else was heavy heavy heavy!
(3)Vince L.
On this last trip to Kauai, the dinner at Mark's Place was the best during the whole trip. It was really hard to find, and hence the tip I posted. You really have to have a lot of faith in your GPS device because it's like in the middle of an industrial business park. Their plate lunch was well flavored and portioned well. The beef was flavorful and not tough, the katsu was fried just right, and the chicken tender. The beef stew is also yummy. You order at the counter, pick it up after a few minutes, and then either take the food to go or eat it at one of the benches outside. No frills, just decent food. They seem to do a lot of take-out business. That, and the folks who find this place on Yelp. You can always spot them because the passenger is usually holding their phones against the window in order to get a good GPS signal.
(4)Joe F.
Huge, delicious portions! Its a little out of the way and definitely not fancy. There are 3 outdoor picnic tables to share with others. Its almost all locals, which is a much welcomed change of pace. I thought the combo was the best deal and gets you a lot of different food to try. We got 4 orders for our group (4 adults and a 4 year old). The 4th order we saved for the next day. Very good deal!
(5)Becca L.
Delicious loco moco and spam musubi. Worth the detour! If you're looking for a local food spot, this is exactly what you want. If you're not familiar with local Hawaiian food, you may be turned off by the appearance and location. Just order yourself and loco moco and enjoy!
(5)Kat N.
STOP NOW. [She DID use caps.] STOP! This is the place you've been yelping for. Trust me my fellow yelper, trust me. I know how it goes: you're in Kauai, you want the best Hawaiian food the Garden Isle has to offer, and you've yelped your way through fancy restaurants that cling to a hotel chain name, boast three to four dollar signs, and want to milk you for all your tourist money's worth. Mark's place is not like that. Mark's place is local and true to your culinary experience. Here's why: Firstly, let's talk about ownership. Mark Oyama is an assistant professor at the Culinary Institute of the Pacific, and founded an award-winning fine dining catering service here in Kauai. As a loyal local explained best, Mark's Place offers food of gourmet caliber in a carry-out fashion. This is the place where (as told by the friendly local) Mark hires his best culinary students to carry out great dishes, where the specials are actually special (not last night's meat to be rid of the next day), and your dishes are made upon ordering. Fellow Yelper, do not be frigid toward it's modest location or the heat that you can feel when you walk into Mark's Place (the kitchen is not five feet from where you stand). You should be proud, at least, for what this place wants to offer, and proud that you have discovered it. I ordered braised Korean short ribs and waited not ten minutes for my meal. Packed in a styrofoam box, with noodles and a macaroni salad. The entree was glorious--meat cooked perfectly medium, my plastic fork tore a sliced piece of rib at one pull. Kimchi placed atop ribs, a sauce that was flavorful and not too sweet over two heaps of white rice. All for $12. My husband ordered a seared fish that was cooked just right. Tender meat, a crisp, browned skin, and a white sauce that complimented the fish so well. $12. I've been to Roy's Grill and I can tell you that we would have paid about three times the amount for either dish! I've only begun to explain why Mark's place is THE Place! Now all you need to do is go there to confirm it.
(5)Kelvin Y.
Our First stop when we landed and definitely not disappointed!! Just like how locals would want it! Generously portioned and in the middle of an area you would not expect! I ordered the katsu, beef stew, BBQ beef. The BBQ was a bit strong for my taste, but the rice compensated, but the stew was good. The katsu was however what I and my party screamed for! We all loved it as it was perfectly fried and light. Even for people whos normally crazy for it, enjoyed it. OH HOW I WISH there was one stateside!!
(4)Brian C.
Call ahead, it gets busy. They do a booming takeout business and if you want a good Hawaiian lunch this is a great place where all the locals go. We had the combo to try a little of all their specialties.
(3)Aileen P.
I haven't written a review in a long time, but I felt the need to document and share my love for the loco moco available here. During our trips to Hawaii (Oahu, Maui, Big Island, and Kauai) over the past 4 years, my husband and I actively sought out positively reviewed loco mocos from as many different places as we could possibly cram in during each visit. In fact, we had a loco moco nearly every day of our recent 2 week trip. The great reviews about the loco moco here are spot on! The burger patties and gravy were perfectly seasoned. The patties also had a good char on them. We loved the loco moco so much that we went back to take an order with us for the flight home! We also tried the famous mix plate, Korean chicken, spam musubi and butter mochi. With the exception of the butter mochi (which was pretty good), we were not overly impressed. Even so, this place deserves five stars for serving the best loco moco we have ever had - bar none!
(5)Christine T.
May rival Rainbow Drive-In in Oahu for best loco moco ever. No-frills (you order at the counter and only seating is picnic benches outside.. and it's located in an industrial / warehouse area), but popular w/ locals and clean. Was a little sad I didn't come back a 2nd time while in Kauai. Outdoor ambience isn't much, but they have an adorable herb garden that adorns the front wall of the building. Fun to look at and smell while you wait for your order.
(4)M U.
Good food. It's a hidden gem behind buildings. Try the teriyaki chickens and beef. Desserts look delish but didn't try any bcz we were stuffed.
(4)Jeanne C.
We ordered the large combo here with chicken katsu and beef teriyaki. It was tasty, except this rooster kept coming over and he had a Christmas ornament stuck on his leg, it was hilarious. This place is seriously in the middle of no where but the food is good, and it's cheap. Glad we came here!
(4)Van L.
I learned about this place from our snorkeling instructor. Such a great find. It's a local joint serving up so great food. We kept telling everyone about this place. We shared Mark''s famous plate. It's HUGE and consists of beef, chicken and beef stew. You get a side of noodles, rice and macaroni salad. OMG there's only one word that can describe this place...AWESOME. Seating is pretty limited but you can always grab a box and head over to Poipu Beach to enjoy it.
(5)Chris M.
Great hidden gem. This is why you check Yelp. To find little hole in the walls that you wouldn't find otherwise. Great local food and atmosphere. Just be prepared for the lunch crowd and very limited seating.
(5)Philip O.
This place is gooooood. No seating so if you want to go somewhere for local food this is it. Costco gas is a few blocks away too. Another plus.
(4)Mary B.
DO NOT end your vacation on Kauai without a meal here....and be very, very hungry when you come! You'll find Mark's Place in an off the beaten path industrial park.....a little hole in the wall locals joint. Food was outstanding....'.licously flavorful Hawaiian dishes. Plenty on our plates, enough so that the two 20 year old hunks of young men in our party struggled to finish their dinner. Outside picnic area with, yes, resident roosters and rain. No problem....always pack a little rain hoody while in the Islands for that daily shower that leaves everything green, fresh, and sparkling. Queue-up to the counter and place your order. Wait time is dependent on # of orders before yours. Very pleasant counter people. We were there late on one night and watched clean-up/closing take place. This mighty little diner was scrubbed down cleaner than a surgical suite. Definitely is on our return trip itinerary.
(5)Lynda B.
Went here to get something quick on the way to the airport. Wish we had given ourselves a little more time to try the hot meals. Staff and customers very friendly and helpful to make a quick decision. Grabbed the ahi tuna salads for the flight and so glad we did. Ahi was fully cooked which was a bit of surprise with all of the Poke we had had on the island. Perfect to take on a long flight though and cooked perfectly. The flavors on the fish were amazing. Really delicious seasoning. The dressing was flavorful, not just your average vinaigrette, more of a island vinaigrette. Glad we asked for an extra dressing as the salads were huge. So glad we stopped since we had a medical emergency on flight and had to turn back to Honolulu to drop off a lady having an allergic reaction to pine nuts in her basil pesto before she ate before she left. Turned out to be 3 hours added to our flight so we were so thankful for our huge delicious salads. I hope she is ok.
(5)Eric C.
All I can say is thank you Yelp! Tried Mark's Place for the first time as we wanted a plate lunch for an early dinner and I'm glad we did. On our two visits here during our stay we had the teriyaki beef, Korean chicken, katsu chicken, beef stew, and a mahi mahi special. It was all fantastic and much better than the plate lunch places I've been to in California. All the baked goods looked great so we grabbed some cookies for later which were quite tasty too. Well sized portions that could be split by some and the prices can't be beat!
(5)Cameron C.
Another Yelp success story! Never would have found this place without it. Skip the katsu chicken, but everything else was solid -- especially the teriyaki beef and the stew. Really big portions too. It'll fill ya up! Not much of a dining area, sharing it with the birds and feral chickens, and no bathroom. Other than that, solid lunch option.
(4)Tiffani T.
I love this place!! If you're looking for a good local spot to get a plate lunch at you should definitely come here. I've been coming to Kauai about twice a year for 10yrs and this is one of the places I HAVE to eat at. They also sell homemade baked goods and snacks. I usually get the mixed plate to get a little taste of everything or the beef stew which never fails :) I definitely suggest this place if you haven't tried it before!!
(4)Susan D.
Tasty! Mixed plate - yummy. The stew had falling apart beef, crispy katsu.
(5)Russell B.
After Puka Dog, this place was my most anticipated place to try out on our recent trip to Kauai. Fortunately the rest of our group indulged my desire to venture into this semi industrial area of Lihue to get some amazing food. I went for the loco moco of course because it combined my love for fried eggs, meat, rice and gravy into one dish. The portion was dauntingly huge, but I was up for the task. The egg was cooked perfecty over easy with some nice crisp edges. The patty was thick, juicy, flavorful, and with a nice charred crispness. The rice and gravy were nothing spectacular on their own but my god this combination was just heavenly. I slowly made my way through the dish and even had some room for the little bit of mac salad and yakisoba. I even tried the wife's chicken katsu which was juicy and crispy. The fries were also amazing with a great crunchy crisp outside and warm smooth center. All around everyone was pleasantly surprised with how good it all was. Our wait of course was a little long being around lunchtime with the weekday work crowd, so I'd suggest phoning your order in if you are fortunate enough to know what your entire group wants. I think I'll have to make this my first stop over puka dog next time I am in Kauai.
(5)Lauren M.
This place has the best loco moco ever. Everything was awesome except for the homemade chex mix. I wish we would have discovered this place earlier in our trip, because we would have gone more than once!
(5)jenn w.
One of the best places that we ate at on the island. The food was inexpensive and they gave you huge portions so that you can eat half for lunch and half for dinner. We followed Yelp's recommendations and got the locomoco and the korean chicken. Both were absolutely amazing. Perhaps the best locomoco that I have ever had. The korean chicken reminded me a lot of orange chicken but slightly different. The people next to us were raving about their teriyaki chicken and chicken katsu. It seems like no matter what you get, it will be good.
(5)Susanna W.
Small warehouse storefront that is definitely off the main path. J and I shared a small Loco Moco (~$6) and a Mark's Special combo plate (~$9) that had Korean fried chicken instead of chicken katsu. Loco Moco was good, but the gravy tasted like KFC gravy to me. The whole thing went really well with rice. The combo plate was tasty, but a bit of food overload for me. The beef stew reminded me of the beef stew my mom makes, except not as good (it would do them wonders to add bay leaves into the stew). The Korean fried chicken was soggy, and a little too sweet. The teri beef was very tender, but a tad too salty. We gobbled everything down, although it got painful near the end. Overall a great local spot to grub.
(4)Carlos Z.
Damn good eating. Nothing fancy as its tucked in a warehouse area. I got Marks special plate. So much food I had to take the rest for a beach snack.
(4)Dani L.
Food: 5 stars. Ambience: 3 stars. Go up order and get called 25 min later for food. Got the Loco moco and marks special. Meat was delicious- the beef in the "stew" was incredibly tender. Ate outside on benches with some roosters. Definitely recommend this spot for anyone looking for good local grub on the island.
(4)Jcee K.
This was my best meal on Kauai. We had the loco moco and it was one of the best I have ever had! Tasty, flavorful, gravy was awesome and exactly what we needed after having some crappy meals on the island. Must go back the next time we visit!
(5)Lisa I.
We stopped off at Mark's Place after trying to find good local food in Lihue. To quote my dad, "the best kind of food in Kauai is served in a styrofoam box". After going to Koloa Fish Market and now Mark's Place, I can honestly say that his statement is most definitely true. The restaurant is tucked away in an industrial park, and to be honest, I would probably write the whole thing off if it weren't for Yelp. Anyway, we ordered two plates of the Korean Chicken and one order of that day's special - Char siu and soba noodle salad over baby greens, soy mirin vinaigrette. The salad came with kamaboko, cha shu, and brown soba noodles. We all shared it, but if I were to get it again, I'd probably ask for another side of dressing to go with it. The plates themselves were definitely large and very generous. After splitting it between four people, we had an entire plate of Korean Chicken left. The chicken was most definitely my highlight of the meal. These bite-sized pieces of chicken were fried and smothered with a sweet sauce over a bed of chow mein, with a side of mac salad (or potato salad), and white rice. Absolutely incredible. We also walked out with a ton of pastries from their bakery. Some cookies, and huge cube of butter mochi (YUM), and some other different types of desserts. The wait wasn't bad, and we ended up eating outside on the picnic benches. Definitely a great lunch spot if you're in the area!
(4)Brooke J.
My first lunch in Kauai was here and let me tell you it was stellar. I had Marks special and the beef in the stew melted in my mouth. The chicken was delicious. And the rice was your average rice. My brother got teriyaki pork and it was awesome. Plus they prices where reasonable. We definitely will be going back.
(5)Anna H.
Grilled fish special was average, Kali looked like a better choice. Loco mock was best I've had ever. Lots of grilled and fried food that aren't offered in many other places on the island. Mostly locals here.
(4)Annie C.
The food here is very good! I got the mixed plate. Little bit of everything. The only thing that bugs are the flys right outside the place at the benches. But, really just take it home. Order ahead as the line can get really long. Enjoy!
(4)Dylan M.
Perfect plate lunches but there is minimal seating so I would recommend it for a quick meal or for pickup. It looks like this is probably a pretty popular place for lunch because it's tucked in a secluded little area around a bunch of warehouses. The only seating is a couple of benches outside and the inside is only kitchen/cashier. The food is good but not amazing and I would definitely recommend for a quick meal.
(4)Chieko H.
Mark's special: You get to try 3 different things in 1 meal, so the next time you go back, you know exactly what you want. Beef Stew: by far my favorite at Mark's. I get this and the chicken katsu with mac salad and rice. Perfect. The cookies and baked goods are to-die-for. Get some. It's cheap and will savor your taste buds throughout the day.
(5)Claire J.
Thanks to Yelp and TripAdvisor, this was our first and last meal in Kauai. We arrived in Kauai around 2pm and after picking up rental and going to Wal-Mart, we decided to come here. We used our GPS to get there and it was easy. Now before I move on to the food, my main complaint in that place is it's hotter inside than the outside. Food: We went to this place 3 times so we were able to try a lot of their dishes. Loco moco - best ever! muy tasty! Teriyaki beef- tender, flavorful, tender Korean chicken - it was bland, it wasn't crispy anymore when we got to our condo so that didn't help Beef stew - good stew, just not my type of stew teriyaki chicken - flavorful, i prefer the beef though chicken katsu - good, but nothing special opah fish I think with ginger butter sauce (it was daily special) - fresh fish, sooo yummy, you can tell it's fresh, flavorful peach lilikoi cream cheese pie - YUM!!!! i'm still mad that I forgot it in our fridge as we were leaving for the airport. I'm still dreaming about it. We always got brown rice with our dish, yum. Mac salad and green salad was good. The noodle that comes with the meal is yummy too. Reading my review now, I think this place got a good review coz of the loco moco and oh yea, affordable price. When you come to Kauai, come here! It's near the airport.
(5)Rossi K.
Best meal on the island comes in a styrofoam box! Beef stew, chicken katsu, korean chicken, and mac salad..mmm. We came here 3x in a span of a week. Would have been 4x had they open on Sunday (open M-F only). 2 item combo is enough to share for two people. Prices are very reasonable. Wish we had a Mark's Place back home.
(5)James H.
It's a great hole in a wall local hangout. One would never think you can find such a place in the middle of warehouses/business park. You get a lot of delicious food for your money. It's a bit tricky to find if you're not a local, but that's the adventure part.
(5)Jimmy N.
This was our first taste of Aloha during our 2 week honeymoon in Hawaii. It's definitely a hidden gem in the industrial area of Lihue, you have to be really looking and know where to go to find it. I had the famous mixed plate. The chicken katsu was crispy and juicy. The teriyaki beef was sweet and tangy. The beef stew totally reminded my wife and I of downhome Filipino cooking, especially with how the carrots were done so tender and just right. My wife had the loco moco. The hamburger was juicy and flavorful. Probably top 3 of all time loco mocos we've had anywhere. We liked how you can get brown rice here. The breakout surprise here was the butter mochi (Filipinos will probably recognize this as bibingka) we had for dessert, along with the other tasty bakery items they had on the counter, like the chocolate-coconut bar we picked up. Super ono-licious! Yes, it's way hotter inside than it is outside... Eat outside at the tables, you're in paradise, why waste time being indoors? P.S. Thanks to the kind gentleman who returned my wallet to me after I dropped it at the tables, you saved me from a bad start to our honeymoon. That's true aloha right there.
(5)Jocy C.
Beef stew is a must! Plate Lunch picture - yelp.com/biz_photos/JS9Y… (Beef Stew is on the bottom right of the picture)
(4)Pam L.
Honestly, I don't see what all the fuss is about. I heard about this place from a total stranger on an elevator, when I mentioned that I was going to Kauai over the holidays. He immediately blurted out: "Try Mark's Place! It's a little hole in the wall, but has really, really good authentice Hawaiian food!" OK... My kids and I dropped in for lunch the end of November 2012, and were a bit disappointed. Everything was bland and fried. We had the Korean Chicken and some other chicken dish that tasted exactly the same as the Korean Chicken. The phrase "Not bad but not good" is the best way I can describe the food here. The next day, we stopped for breakfast at a food truck on the road to Poipu, and loved it. What else can I say?
(2)Angela C.
My husband and I came here from dinner after a long day of island exploration. It's located in an Industrial Park, so it seems that it caters to the local businesses. If you like L&L's, you can't go wrong with this place. They have a variety of mixed plates, and you can even create your own combo order. Each plate comes with a side of macaroni salad or mixed salad, a small scoop of noodles, and your choice of white or brown rice. The portions are huge so you definitely get your money's worth - come hungry! My husband ordered the Loco Moco. If you like loco moco, you'll definitely like it at Mark's. It is huge and I don't know how they did it, but the overeasy eggs were perfectly formed on top of the huge hamburger patty. This dish is HEAVY and after several bites, you can really feel it in the pit of your stomach. But what else can you expect when you have egg, ground beef, gravy, and rice in one platter? I ordered a 2 item combination of chicken katsu and beef stew. The chicken katsu was okay - it was really oily and the panko flakes were dark, which made me think they overfried it in old oil. I loved the beef stew here though - it was tender with chunks of potatoes and carrots. They give you the option of brown rice too, always a plus in my book!
(4)Judi M.
Literally had to hunt this place down after dark. It's in an industrial/residential area, very far from the tourist areas. I'd been looking for a genuine local eatery and I found it in Mark's Place. First off, the prices are great. The night before my entree at Duke's cost $30. Tonight, we had 3 plate lunches, grilled ahi tuna salad and drinks for 5 and it came out to $40. I got the Korean chicken, which was a bit salty, but still yummy. My dad got the corned beef hash moco loco, which was so good, I couldn't stop eating it. My sis got the ahi tuna salad, which was a really filling with three hearty slices of tuna. Afterwards, we went back in to see what kind of desserts they had. I tried the butter mocci, which I've never had before. I wish I'd gotten more since I only got one bite and my dad and sis devoured it. Suffice it to say, they loved it. We also got two little loafs with chocolate banana macadamia and pineapple rum. We were so full we ended up taking it home and eating it the next day. These loaves were even tastier the next day after cooling in the fridge overnight. I'm not usually a fan of pineapple rum cake, but theirs was so moist and tasty, I couldn't get myself to share any of it. Next time I'm in Kauai, I'm definitely going to find my way back to Mark's.
(4)Nicole L.
I'm loco for their loco moco! Great beef patty on top of rice with a perfectly runny egg all brought together with a dousing of gravy! So perfect!! It tasted so homey and comforting - I want some more! The plate meal came with 2 patties over rice, a side of lomi lomi (salmon fish salad, tastes like salsa) and asian noodles - totally more than enough for 2 people. BF ordered the famous mix plate, with the beef stew, katsu, and beef teriyaki - let's just say he was eating off my plate for half the time. Though "famous" the loco moco was far more satisfying. Our new obsession with chiffon cake brought us to order a slice of the guava chiffon cake which was okay, more gelatin like I'd wanted but the taste of guava was sweet and satisfying. Also ordered the traditional haupia slice to try, didn't know so many flavors could go together so well (chocolate cream cheese, peanut butter, coconut, caramel, cream). I learned later that haupia cake has a layer of coconut pudding... mm, clean and refreshing after a heavy meal. I'm assuming this place gets busy during lunch because it seems to be located amongst an "industrial" area of Lihue but we came at night, about 7pm a bit before closing and there was no wait. From one side of the building there aren't lights so you would think it's closed but drive around the block and you'll see the store front. We ordered at the counter and the staff was so friendly, I think they must be a family. Food took about 10 mins to prep but it meant it was hot and fresh when we got it. There are a couple tables outside so we enjoyed the 70' evening weather and ate there.
(5)Ryan W.
Practically no vegetarian options. So I asked them to make a cheese sandwich. Also, after a long drive, I really needed to use a restroom, but apparently they don't have one and the woman wouldn't tell me where a nearby one is. The inside was super hot and had no seating, and the tables outside didn't have much shade and had bugs everywhere. Very disappointing experience.
(1)Jaynie K.
Mark's Place was our first meal in Kauai, and I'm sure glad it was! Chicken katsu: Super crispy, not oily at all! Very juicy chicken under that delicious coating! BBQ beef: The boy says it was good. Beef stew: Very soft, tender meat, chunks of veggies, and a really tasty base. Coupled with the light mac salad, it was amazing!
(4)Craig H.
A little place off the beaten path, but the food was amazingly good. We had a little bit of everything: Teriyaki Chicken & Beef, Chicken Katsu, Kalua Pork Loco Moco. Everything was very flavorful and our family's favorite meal on the island. The also had some bake good: Cookies, Bars, and mini loafs. We had the chocolate chip Kahlua loaf, which was awesome. Prices were reasonable and the portions were large. A return trip is definitely in order.
(5)cynthia w.
This place is alright. Nothing too fancy. Everything is a-ok. The portions are really huge. Like 3-4 people could eat a large plate and save room for dessert. I liked the Korean chicken much better than the cutlet. There was this "tame" feral chicken who actually whined and made tiny peeps at us for food as it stood on a neighboring table. It would go back and forth between us and another couple. Then it fell asleep standing up between us. It was cute!
(3)Louise W.
This is the place in Kauai to enjoy a traditional Hawaiin lunch plate! It is not far from the airport in the industrial section of Lihue, worth visiting on the way in or out of Kauai. The place looks like a warehouse and you are sure you are lost--you're not. It is frequented by locals and a few adventurous tourists who have heard about it. Hawaiin lunch plates are a tradition dating back to the days when large numbers of plantation workers needed calorie-rich lunches delivered in the hot sun. They typically come with two scoops of rice, one scoop of macaroni salad (green salads wilt in the heat) and a healthy portion of meat. Note: this is not a low calorie meal! We tried the mixed plate and the loco moco. Of the two, we loved the loco moco! It is two hamburger patties served on a healthy portion of rice and smothered with a rich brown gravy, then topped with two over-easy eggs. It came with a side of macaroni salad and chow mein. Yummy! The mixed plate had sliced, fried, breaded chicken thighs, a thin cut of lean beef and a beef stew with a side of rice, chow mein, and green salad. It was not as tasty as the loco moco, but still good. We could easily have shared the loco moco and it would have been enough. We took home leftovers and ate lunch the next day. You order at a counter inside and then take your plate outside to eat on the umbrella-shaded benches. There is a small garden with a fountain and some wandering chickens to amuse you while you dine. It is fun to people watch and speculate about what kind of job each of the patrons might have. We were most intrigued by a man who showed up in a small, dirt covered, rusted pickup. He emerged covered in red dirt and wearing working clothes and boots. He ordered his food and took it to go, disappearing in a cloud of dust. Across from us sat a local family with their beautiful Hawaiin daughters, enjoying a leisurely lunch. If you want to experience a real local spot--this is it! Don't miss the loco moco. Total bill was $21 and fed us twice.
(4)Peter Y.
Went on a couple or three business trips to Kauai last year and before I left I went on Yelp to look for someplace to eat good, local plate lunches. I ate at Mark's almost everyday! Great price for large portions, and ono, delicious food. Never mind the ambiance LOL. Go back to the hotel to eat.. Bought a Mark's t-shirt on my last trip there too. And the desserts, especially the cookies, were great tasting too.
(5)Sarah L.
This review is a little late, but my husband and I were in Kauai in October and we stopped in at Mark's place because of the reviews. We weren't disappointed. Yes this is a little bit of a dive and you sit outside on picnic tables, but who cares if you get great food? If we ever make it back to Kauai, we wil definitley be stopping in again.
(5)Peter S.
Very hidden but amazing food and true Hawaiian experience. I heard about Mark's from a fellow pilot I was flying with. When on vacation with my parents decided to stop and give it a try. When we first drove by we thought maybe we were in the wrong place because it is not in an area with my other businesses. When inside it was very busy but did not take long to get service. The food was amazing and we loved having the feeling we stumbled upon a hidden locals favorite.
(5)Kat F.
This is a must-visit lunch spot that seems popular with all the locals on Kauai. As other reviewers have said, this should be on your itinerary immediately upon landing at Lihue airport as it's so close by. ITINERARY: - land - pick up rental car - drive directly to Mark's It's in an industrial area so don't knock its ambience - get your food to go or eat outside in the picnic table area. There's practically nothing in the way of vegetarian food on the menu, but meat lovers will rejoice at the variety. What's popular here is the "plate lunch" - get it. I had a blackened ahi tuna salad (one of the specials) that so delicious it knocked the wind out of me. I had never, nor have I since, enjoyed such a scrumptious serving of tuna prepared the way it was at Mark's Place. Absolutely stunning. The portion was monstrous ( yelp.com/biz_photos/JS9Y… ) but teeming with quality ingredients so I felt compelled to finish it all - cucumber, feta cheese, carrots and zebra tomatoes were all super fresh. I'm still thinking about this meal months later, so don't be foolish and overlook it. Just go already! 2/29: 29 Day Challenge
(4)Tamra P.
First dinner choice when back on Kaua'i? MARK'S PLACE! It's almost like a Pavlov's dog thing.....Kaua'i = dinner at Mark's Place. The hubby and I were salivating for it after a good hotel gym workout. We went a little healthier this time around: I got mahi, brown rice and tossed salad, he got teriyaki chicken with rice and tossed salad. Both came with a little bit of fried noodles too--not something I usually eat but I sure gobbled it up. Same great Mark's place food! Healthy options here are just as delectable as the full blown kanak attack plates. They were out of the better than sex cake but the cashier recommended the peanut butter and jelly cream cheese cake. The hubby has an almost strange love affair with peanut butter so of course we got it too. It didn't sound the least bit appealing but wow, it was good! Thick, rich, peanut butter cake (almost like a brownie consistency) topped off with fluffy, jelly drizzled cream cheese frosting. Hanabata days comfort food gone glam. Loved it.
(5)Jenny F.
Our favorite local food hands down. No ambiance besides the wild roosters and bees but who cares...We loved this place. It was the only UNDERpriced food we had our entire honeymoon. You could get a meal for cheaper than a loaf of bread. (On a slightly unrelated note, we got a foodland discount card to save money on buying drinks and other groceries--when going to places like this, just bring drinks with you since you'll be eating outside anyway)
(5)JM D.
Pretty good plate lunch if you're in the area. The restaurant is tucked away in a industrial area, but it's really easy to find. Overall the food was good. The portions are a good size, two people could eat a 2-3 meat combo plate, and the meat had a good flavor. I got the Mark's Sampler, which had a few different items on it. If you don't know what to get, it's a good one to choose. My wife had the Korean Chicken plate, which I liked better than the sampler. Ask for more sauce on the side to dip it in, you won't be disappointed. HEADS UP: this place does not have a bathroom. We had to go back to Costco after we got there and realized it, which was a big bummer.
(4)pete h.
This place is so good that we came here twice while we were on the island. The lunch boxes are huge and very cheap compared to the rest of the island. The downside is that they are only open during lunch and are extremely busy. There are three picnic tables outside where you can eat at if you want. It's also hidden away in a warehouse/industrial area so if you aren't looking for it, you may end up driving right by it without even noticing. There is no doubt about it, this is a place for locals and it's also a hole in the wall. But if you are looking for authentic Hawaiian food, which is basically a meal that is CARB intensive, this is the the place to good. Mac salad, curry brisket, and rice in a lunch box is what you'll get here.
(5)Charlene O.
Best plate lunch we encountered on our trip. Off the beaten path in industrial park, worth the effort of finding for sure!
(4)Jordan M.
Food was good and cheap but they did not have many hawaiian dishes. And the people working were there not very friendly.
(4)Amber C.
Mark's was the first place I went to before after my plane landed. I was craving some good loco moco. Gravy was excellent. Meat had flavor...and Mac salad was yummy. Way good.
(5)Jodi K.
Based on fellow Yelper reviews, I asked the husband if we could drop by for lunch. While this place is pretty cheap and portions are generous, I have to say I was expecting more. Perhaps my expectations were high based on the reviews here on Yelp. Or it could be what one orders makes a difference. I had their Korean chicken and BBQ chicken while the husband had the Korean chicken and chicken cutlet. In my opinion, the Korean chicken was yummy, I appreciated the fact they were bite size pieces as I hate to gnaw on huge chunks of chicken pieces, anyway the flavor was tasty and I wished they added more of that sauce! Their BBQ chicken was not anything special, just plain ol' chicken thrown on the hibachi. The chicken cutlet my husband had was actually yummy. I think it was the gravy that tasted good; it didn't look like anything, but it was your typical brown gravy you'd find on a loco moco or hamburger steak. It was just this brown gravy full of salty goodness! The chicken katsu itself is thick and juicy as others have mentioned. In addition, since I knew they would be closed on the weekend, I also grabbed a musubi to try, maybe I should have grabbed the Spam musubi, but I opted for their teriyaki meat musubi. Let's just say that it wasn't anything special. I guess I prefer my rice in my musubi to be salted, even if there is furikake and a slice of thin teriyaki meat. When I do visit Kauai next time, I will stop by Mark's Place but will definitely try something else.
(3)B C.
Our favorite place!!! Ate here twice and would have eaten here more if they were open on the weekend. Reasonable prices with large portions. We ordered the teriyaki beef and loco moco. Both were fantastic... hot, freshly made, and well packed if you need to take it to go. We took it home one time (only takes about 10 min to prepare but can call ahead) and ate at the outside picnic tables the next time. We also tried a loaf of the banana bread but it was good, not great. (I'm still dreaming of the banana bread we had in Maui!!!) Fast friendly service and definitely a local favorite!
(5)Connie W.
How much do we love Mark's? During our three-day stay on Kauai, we ate at Mark's every single night! To be honest, I didn't really give their standard menu a good glance because their daily specials always caught my eye first. Read for yourself on their Twitter or blog. My favorite was the "Olive Oil Grilled Fresh Ahi, over Wilted Fresh Arugula, a Hamakua Mushroom and Grape Tomato Relish and Baby Greens Drizzled with a Citrus White Balsamic Vinaigrette". It tasted like it came off a fine dining menu, without the fine price to match. Portions are sized well for the price, and ingredients are very fresh. The baked goods are also fantastic. Butter mochi, pineapple rum cake, chocolate chip cornflake cookies...... Mmmm! All delicious. The people here are all very friendly, and I would've brought them back with me to Oahu if I could.
(5)Jack N.
Food is easily 5 stars, but its a take out joint... ...which means, where do you eat? There's couple of benches outside. But who likes eating lunch outdoor in 80+ degree weather under the hot sun? If this place every invest in a indoor seating area, I will have to find a way to add a 6th star. Simple food, but very delicious, and very inexpensive. I got Mark's famous mixed plate, and I shared that with my wife. For $8.50, that was enough for the 2 of us, so yeah the portion is huge. The stew is probably the best out of the 3 type of meats, but they are all authentic and delicious. A couple of notes about this place. It is literally inside a industry park. There's like factories, and tractor trailers all around. Even though I knew my way when leaving, my GPS got confused probably by all the industrial equipment. Surely an odd place for food. The other thing is I noticed that in Hawaii, where ever you see 5-0 eating, its probably a good place to eat. There were 4 cops having lunch on one of the benches when we were there.
(5)AnnMarie T.
This place was an amazing find! It is a small corner restaurant, with no inside seating. They have a couple of picnic tables outside if you can snag a seat. The menu items all looked good. I opted for the mixed plate and it was delicious. It was a good variety plate that had all the favorites in it. This restaurant offers a good tasty variety of local foods. This place is a must eat at location.
(5)Catherine W.
I visited Kauai in January of 2009 and it's now October, yet I can't get the Loco Moco that I enjoyed from Mark's Place out of my mind. (Cue Willie Nelson's version of "Always on My Mind".) Maybe I didn't love you Quite as often as I could have Little things I should have said and done I just never took the time You were always on my mind "Maybe I didn't love you, quite as often as I could have ..." Sure I came back a second time during my trip to indulge in the rice, ground beef, rich gravy and fried egg, but I could've eaten this everyday, if my heart could take it. It sounds like a strange combination, but this is unreal. It's a life changing experience. "Little things I should have said and done, I just never took the time...." Yep, I scarfed it down pretty quickly. What seemed like a ridiculously large portion of food, spoonful after spoonful disappeared into my content belly. "You were always on my mind..." and so, the Loco Moco from Mark's Place remains one of my best memories of Kauai. PS. The Korean Chicken is also intoxicatingly good. Check out the pics I posted too!
(5)BJ C.
I ordered the Mark's Special: beef stew (good and simple and all the right stuff, nothing unnecessary), teriyaki beef (the quality of the beef was excellent, the flavoring was excellent, the portion was excellent...it was excellent), and katsu chicken (good, but if I went again I wouldn't order that...not that it wasn't good, I think I just don't like breaded chicken type stuff). The salad greens could be improved. They were just the standard mixed salad from a bag variety. When I go back, I'll order it without a salad and see if I can get something else in that spot in the styrofoam platter. :-) The portions were very nice and the quality of the ingredients was all good. Can't believe this place will last much longer in the same location...just too good of food. [The barber I stopped in to recommended this place to me...he was a chef for 20 years before cutting hair...he said he goes to Mark's Place 2 times a week...that's saying something.]
(5)Denise L.
Best local dining comes in huge portions at very reasonable prices. Go here if you have time! The famous Mark's Special was no disappointment: generous portions of katsu, teriyaki beef, beef stew, and macaroni salad. All high quality cooking. The ahi tuna salad was filled with a surprising amount of ahi, and was mixed with rice, sesame seeds, sprouts, and lettuce (of course). We were both stuffed, and wished we had come earlier than on our last day in Kauai! TIP: Be aware that Mark's is in an industrial location, and only a few outdoor tables are available. Didn't bother us at all though. The food was that good!
(4)Vicki L.
Take away only, but there are some picnic tables outside if you want to sit and eat there. Had the best moco loco here, really set the bar. The eggs were cooked beautifully and set over 2 beef patties that were really tasty. They really fill that takeaway box. Came back a second time and got the teriyaki chicken sandwich which was also very good. Highly recommended for someone who wants a smaller portion. Mom had the salad twice (whatever was on special) and she said it was really good. Rest of the family agrees about their dishes, can't really go wrong. Spam musubi the first day lacked seasoning, but the second time around they remembered to put the furikake.
(5)Joe B.
What a bargain! When vacationing on Kauai you are always looking for a good deal and Mark's Place fits the bill. The first part of your test to eat this wonderful plate lunch is to find it. It is tucked away in a light industrial area off of Puhi Street makai of Kuhio Highway. Head toward the sea and look to your right and you will find it the third time you drive by. The standards are here like beef and chicken teri but you really should look at the special board when you arrive. There are usually a couple and they can be very "modern" by plate lunch standards. They even have a late afternoon special that is a take home full dinner for 4 for around $32! Well worth the search and well worth the wait and with plate lunch items around $7, well worth the money.
(4)Tammy M.
Delicious. All locals eat plate lunch here. Little hard to find. Call before you go. Mark does a lot of catering on the island. Priced super fair!
(5)Jasen N.
mixed plate is the best! one of my must go to places on kaua'i to eat.
(4)Steph C.
very very good plate lunch. lots of locals and workers coming in and out. not much more to say, just look at the pictures! the wait was a little long cause i guess they serve phone orders first. a lot of people they know by name too. (plus, it's featured in that guidebook y'know) bonus: they serve brown rice!
(4)Kyle G.
Totally wouldn't imagine a yummy place in this setting. Seems like a place where factory workers walk for food. Really enjoyed it.
(4)Edward A.
Great local fare. Had the mixed plate and enjoyed eating outside at the picnic tables.
(4)Anna L.
Best local plate lunch we had on the island! Loved that the prices were low and the portions were huge! We shared the massive combo, and the loco moco and the Korean chicken were our favorites! This place doesn't look like much, has just two outdoor picnic tables, and is in a warehouse-y district, but the good food and good prices make this a must-visit!
(5)K W.
Thanks to Yelp and Trip Advisor, we found this whole in the wall nestled in a super industrial area, close to the airport, behind the road to Costco. This was easily the best Hawaiian BBQ I have ever had. The super bonus is that they feature brown rice and a mixed green salad in lieu of the macaroni salad. The bbq chicken is marinated and seasoned perfectly. The bbq chicken musubi is perfectly portable for the flight back home.
(5)Adele T.
Great local hawaiian food. HUGE plates. We got the 3 combo special with a loco moco and two different chicken preparations, katsu and one I cant remember for under $11. We also got the special salad which was a togarashi crusted ahi. At first I thought I had made the wrong choice as they were pre-made salads, however it was delicious! Dont be deterred when your gps takes you through residential and industrial areas this place is worth a stop!
(4)Michelle R.
Easy stop on the way to/from the airport if you're needing a plate lunch. You definitely need to look it up as it's not on a main road. Food can take awhile if you come right at the lunch hour. I noticed a lot of locals had phoned in their orders ahead of time. Husband had the teriyaki chicken which was not too special. I have never been a fan of loco moco...until now. The gravy was delicious, eggs were just runny enough, and the meat was not too salty a la what you get at L&L. The portions are gigantic and service is friendly. Works for me!
(4)Kay A.
Love, love, love this place! We tried a lot of local places for plate lunches and this one was the best. We got a combo with the teriyaki chicken, korean fried chicken, and chicken katsu. All of the meat was SO good. The mac salad had a bit of potato in it. It was creamy and good but I've had better in Cali. Still overall, this place is worth trying out for local food.
(4)Chantel H.
Thanks to yelpers we found this little diamond in the rough...during our stay my husband ate Loco Moco every morning for breakfast at 4 different places in the last 5 days. 2 places we ate at twice, Eggberts and Tip top. One day he ate it twice, first place he through it out. Very sad....we were in Lihue and he wanted Loco Moco @ Tip Top (his favorite place so far), but they are closed on Mondays....so we stumbled on this place. My husbands name is Mark so that was a plus... Here's what happened: Pro's - Location - easy to find with GPS, plenty of parking. Very clean. Small little place with tables outside, but if they started expanding they might have to raise their prices and hey! That was a plus to me. Service - Very nice, friendly, new the menu, showed us samples, service with a smile. Menu - Good selection, not overwhelming with some great specials. Food - yes, you guessed it, my husband had their Loco Moco. This plate unlike any others, came with the famous macaroni salad, which is another one of his favorites. He rated the hamburger and the gravy a 4. Don't you agree Loco Moco is about the gravy and burger. My daughter had Marks Special, her favorite on that plate was the chicken cutlet. The sauce was similar to an orange chicken sauce. The beef stew had a good tomatoe base flavor and was really hearty. My mom had the chicken cut,et plate, but this cutlet was served with gravy. The chicken was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. I had the special, which was hamburger stroganoff. Very tasty, large portions. Con's - I recommend they don't change a thing. Yes I would come back again
(4)Derek R.
This place was on our list of places to try on our recent vacay, and sadly we didn't make it there until our last day. If we had found it earlier, we definitely would have made multiple visits! We got Mark's Plate Lunch with beef stew, teri beef and chicken katsu and a Tempura Mahi Mahi special. Everything was so good! We liked the teri beef so much we had to try the chicken teri too-so we got a sandwich for the airplane-yum! We usually avoid the plate lunch places because the food typically isn't the best and is super heavy. This is one of those places where the calories are worth it! I think it is the best plate lunch place we have been to for sure (we have tried several on Oahu too). Yes, it is hard to find and in a weird location, but do try to find it and sit outside with the friendly rooster.
(5)Just B.
Oh-em-gee. (Ha ha). This is one place we ALWAYS eat at now when we go to Kauai. Absolutely awesome food and very reasonable prices. It's not a fancy place, but it's got excellent food and it's away from the busy shopping centers. In fact, I don't think I'd be able to find this place without my GPS or a local who could guide me here! I try to go here as often as possible while I'm on Kauai, which is usually on Friday and Monday since I come for the weekend. Mark's is closed on the weekends! :( There is a reason why (as of this review) that it's got 121 reviews with an average of 4.5 stars. That's a feat here on Yelp, and Mark's Place has earned it fair and square. Man.. Writing this review is making me crave their food. Time to check airfare prices on Hawaiian Air's website!
(5)alli t.
Mark's place serves good food out of Styrofoam. We visited his place twice for dinner. The location is easy to find even though it's in an industrial park. Once you turn down Puhi, turn right on Hanalima. You'll see an easel sign on the corner and then he has another one on the next corner where the place is. There are clean, green picnic benches out front. First visit hubby enjoyed the famous combo which has beef stew, teri beef, and chicken katsu. While he was eating he kept on saying how exceptional the teri beef was so I tried it. What makes the teri beef different than a lot of places is that they marinate it....like you're supposed to. I could taste the ginger. I had one of their daily specials - mahi mahi w/lobster butter sauce. The chocolate strawberry chiffon cake called to me, so I ate that too. It was light and not too sweet, filled with strawberries and a chocolate pudding-like substance in the middle. Second visit, hubby did the beef teri mini and I got the Korean chicken mini w/brown rice. Thumbs up. Resisted the daily dessert special - peanut nougat bar w/dark choc and mac - even though it looked really good. They have complete family dinners for four too. I would have tried it if I had more people to feed.
(4)Yasaman D.
Huge portion of delicious local food! Must-have if you're visiting Kauai! We tried the chicken katsu, chicken cutlet, beef stew and teriyaki chicken. The place was a little hard to find as the neighborhood is too dark, but it was definitely worth the effort.
(5)Glaser J.
I'm missing Kauai, hence the recent Hawaiian reviews. We were craving a good plate lunch while on the way to the north shore of Kauai, and we heard that we should try Mark's Place in Lihue. We were very happy we did. The place is located in an industrial looking part of town. If it weren't for the sign on the side of the street, we wouldn't have been able to locate it. My wife had the Beef Teriyaki plate while I had the Loco Moco. The beef teriyaki was tender and very flavorful, and it came with good portions of mac salad and rice. The mac salad didn't have too much mayonnaise so it was very refreshing to eat. As for the loco moco.... wow, this was one of the best loco mocos I've had. The patty was much more than just hand-formed ground beef, as I tasted various spices mixed into the meat. The gravy was delicious and the eggs were cooked to perfection. I also had the loco moco at Ishihara Market in Waimea, but this one was easily better. One more note about the beef teriyaki. I noticed that someone signed the beef teriyaki menu item, and upon further inspection it was none other than Jesse Sapolu. He was an offensive guard / center for the 49ers back in their heyday (Go Niners!). I guess he visited recently and decided to sign the menu item he ordered. He made a good choice!
(5)Tim D.
Thee BEST food we had on Kauai. This place is hard to find b/c it's located in an industrial center but boy is their food good. I want to say we had "Mark's special" with Chicken Katsu and 2 other entrees and they were all excellent. The portions are big and prices are very reasonable. This is a good take out place b/c the sitting is limited outside and the scenery is non-existent. If I was gay I would want to marry a man like Mark.
(5)Dennis P.
LOCO MOCO!!!!!!...seems like where all the locals go. A little spot that you may miss driving by so make sure you look closely. Everyone should eat their loco MOCO before leaving Kauai!
(5)Steph C.
Matt B. and I were in Kauai for a week, and in that time we visited exactly one place that had more local than tourist customers. That place was Mark's Place. Now I have nothing against restaurants that cater to tourists, especially in places like Kauai, but I thought this tidbit would be helpful to the snotty fools who book Hawaiian vacations then troll Yelp insisting on finding joints frequented entirely by locals. That said, there were T-shirts for sale in take-out containers, so Mark's Place may not be "authentic" enough for your San Franciscan sensibilities. We stopped for an early lunch on our way from Poipu to Hanalei. There was a sizable line at 10:30 in the morning, which I thought was impressive. The line went by fast enough, and service was wonderfully friendly. The inside was dominated by a well-staffed kitchen, and was otherwise pretty bare, with no seating. We got our food in giant styrofoam containers, which we took to the tables outside. We paid $18 for a three item combo and one beef teriyaki "mini," including a $2 tip. This was just an unreasonable amount of food. I got my combo with beef stew, Korean chicken, and loco moco, and it came with chow mein, brown rice, and macaroni salad besides. I don't know what black magic was used to fit all that food into a single take-out container, but it must have been very powerful. The food was good, but when I was done with my lunch, it looked like a full meal was left over. If I could I might come back here just to get a couple good meals' worth of food for under $10. The food was pretty tasty, homey and flavorful plate lunch fare without any frills. The beef stew was comforting and hearty, with tender hunks of beef and potatoes and carrots cooked with tomato. I liked the Korean chicken, though I found little Korean about it. It was fried chicken, but without any crisp, its texture more akin to that of orange chicken. It was very flavorul, though, and probably my favorite of my combo items. The loco moco tasted good thanks to the fried egg and gravy - I mean, come on - but the hamburger steak was kind of dry and flavorless. I got through some of it, though, because again, fried egg and gravy. The sides were decent. I enjoyed some chow mein and I was happy they offered brown rice, which was cooked right. The macaroni salad was a bit too heavy on the mayo. Matt got the beef teriyaki mini, which just meant it came with chow mein but no salad. We had teriyaki beef three times during our trip, and this one ranked in the middle. It was pretty good, tender and sweet, cut into thin long pieces like Korean galbi. The food at Mark's Place wasn't mind-blowing, but it was very tasty with excellent value. The people and venue were also friendly, and if it were my corner restaurant I would go often. I see why Mark's Place appeals to locals, but it has plenty to offer us pain-in-the-ass tourists, too.
(4)Elaine B.
Great comfort food - I had the Mark's Mixed Plate, the portions are huge and everything was very tasty! My husband had the korean chicken (some type of fried chicken with a tangy sauce) and it was very good too! I wish I could have tried their Pau Hana Package, sounds like a good deal. Maybe next time!
(5)Jason H.
If you are in Kauai I encourage you to make your way here. One of the best places to get a "plate" lunch. They have all sorts of combos and daily specials. I particularly liked the korean style chicken. Super tasty and perfect before a day of zip lining. They also have a bunch of homemade cookies and treats. Much better than the standard Kauai Cookies that you find at WalMart, ABC Stores, etc. This place is off the beaten path, but well worth it.
(4)Gerri H.
I would give Mark's a 4.5 if I could. This place is amazing! On vacation, I ordered Korean chicken, teriyaki beef, and beef stew w/ macaroni salad. When I first tasted the Korean chicken, I have to admit, it wasn't a taste I was totally accustomed to. But once I started, I couldn't stop! It was sooo good. The teriyaki beef was the best I've ever had, even on the island (I had a lot of teriyaki at Luaus and restaurants). It was not a saucy terikyaki. The flavor was cooked into the meat. The macaroni salad was also the best I tasted in Hawaii (and there was a lot of mac. salad to be had). There were little pieces of potatoes. The beef stew is the reason for 1/2 star deduction. It was pretty meh, mostly because I am not a fan of tomato-based beef stews. I probably will never return to Kauai. I am sad because, as a result, I will never eat Mark's again. Maybe they'll open a location on the mainland?
(5)Lindsay C.
Very, very hole-in-the-wall & easy to miss! Although its appearance is random, its food is great! Amazing local flavor, good-size portions and doesn't break the bank. It's easy to eat a lot there, because you typically get a plate that comes with rice, meats, beef stew, and salad. I would recommend seeking it out! You order inside, can take the food to-go OR sit yourself at one of the picnic tables outdoors.
(4)Vicky T.
Followed the reviews and made this my first stop RIGHT off the plane. We got the Korean Chicken, Loco Moco, musubis, and "better than sex" dessert. The Korean chicken was good, but I probably wouldn't get it again. It was sweet with a hint of spice. I think I would like it more if it was less sweet and more spicy. But it was addicting. The real star was the Loco Moco. This is probably THE best loco moco ever. Two beef patties and huge portion of rice, fried egg, topped with delicious gravy. I'm usually NOT a loco moco type of girl, but it was SOOOOOOOO good. When you cut into the egg, the perfectly cooked egg yolk seeped into the rice and gave it a nice rich taste. The beef patty was a salty goodness and the gravy was to die for. Both meals were served with mac salad. The musubis we ordered were good too. The Better than Sex pie was good but I wouldnt order it again (only because I'm not a big chocolate fan). The entire trip.. we planned our itinerary around when we can get Mark's. On our last day, we tried to go there for lunch before we hit the airport but it was closed... My fault since I didnt double check if they were open on Sundays. I was super sad because I wanted it one last time before I left paradise... Still craving the food here. Definitely will come back EVERYTIME I visit Kauai.
(5)Melissa K.
Our favorite meals were found here on our trip to Kauai! Still need to try the Loco Moco and will do it...but you cannot go wrong with the mixed plate! YUM! So much food, such a great price. Straight up fresh, homemade goodness.
(5)Joe T.
Kauai isn't exactly known for it's low priced food offerings (::ahem:: Brick Oven's $30 one topping pizza...) . It was a nice change of pace to eat at Mark's. Mark's Place can be described as the local truck stop restaurant. They're located in an industrial area and have a reputation for serving heaping amounts of delicious food to satisfy even the hungriest of Hawaiians while not making you feel guilty for spending money to eat out. I also love how you get to pick two sizes "mini" and "regular" which for normal people translate to "pigout" and "roll me home on my side if I manage to finish". I had a chance to feast on the korean chicken. All in all, the skin on the chicken was thin and crispy. When my teeth broke the skin, it rewarded my lips with the oozing of shoyu soy sauce all over. Underneath the delectable chicken were stir fried noodles which oddly enough was subtly sweet, but in a good way. If you want to eat like the locals do and keep the weight on, both in stomach volume and cash in your pocket, then hit up Mark's Place.
(5)Jessamine A.
My family and I ate here when we were there on vacation end of July 2011: The first place we ate when we arrived......the last place we ate before we got on the plane back to the mainland. Enough said! My hubby said next time we come vacationing we should stay closer south so we could eat all our meals here. =)
(5)Josh L.
Great local plate lunch spot. Hidden in an industrial part of Lihue. Tried the half chicken katsu and half chicken cutlet. Katsu was one of the best and had brown gravy on top. The cutlet was pretty amazing. Fried perfectly with hints of coconut strips. Great value and good variety for the menu. My wife tried the mixed plate and the beef teri was very tasty. Perfect lunch spot everyday if you are in Kauai
(5)Phuong T.
this was the first stop on our first real day in Kauai. :) Did not disappoint. Enjoyed the lunch style bento boxes. This is the only place that offered BROWN RICE.
(4)Michelle T.
Definitely the best deal we had in Kauai. We were starving one night and I had this place bookmarked for plate lunch, something we were both craving after a long day of hiking. It's in the middle of nowhere but the place was still busy when we got there. We both ordered the 3 item combo, TONS of food and CHEAP. For both 3 item combo's it came to $16 total. I got the Terriyaki beef, beef stew, and Korean chicken. This came with macaroni/potato salad, rice, and lo mein. How they fit this all in the container is beyond me. It was the never ending plate but, to my amazement I actually finished the entire thing, I did have to take breaks though! The terriyaki beef were huge pieces of the most tender and flavorful beef, no fat at all either so I didn't have to pick at it. The beef stew was great, all the veggies were tender as was the beef, again. It reminded me of my moms homemade beef stew. The korean chicken was good I remember because I didn't need any sauce for it, not crispy though, not sure if it's supposed to be. My bf had loco moco, chicken katsu and the terriyaki beef. This was both of ours favorite loco moco we had this trip, it was definitely the gravy that did it, very rich. The staff here were super friendly and you could tell a lot of locals come here b/c they knew a lot of people by name. Unfortunately we tried it our last night there, otherwise we probably would have ate here a few more times and could've saved a lot of $$. For a authentic Hawaiian plate lunch for cheap this is the place
(5)Amy X.
My review is probably very bias because I am not the biggest fan of meat, especially when there's a lot of it. But don't get me wrong, I love meat, just can't be eating it all the time. So didn't really know much about Mark's Place besides the fact that's it's a hole-in-the-wall. Came here for lunch and realized that everything was a lunch plate with your choice of meat. There was Chicken Katsu, Loco Moco, Beef Stew, and I went with the Korean Chicken. They give you pretty large portions. So I mostly had rice and that fried chicken. It came with a side of macaroni salad and I think salad? I forgot. It was too much fried chicken. I felt disgusted after eating half of it. And then there were so many chickens around us, waiting for us to feed them their own kind. Gross, and so we threw a tiny piece far away so they'd go away, and they darted for that little piece of chicken. Cannibalism...and then they came back for more. Anyways, food was good, but I think it was a little too overwhelming. So maybe if you're like me, you should go with the mini plate! And the service didn't seem too friendly either ... my opinion though!
(3)Cathy N.
Best for local food on the island and good sized portions! They open later now also! We usually get the combo or korean chicken when we come here. Still dreaming about the butter mochi! You feel the butter clogging your heart with every bit, but it is oh so good!! The pineapple cake loaf is also quite yummy.
(5)debbie l.
Great food, and worth the hunt to find this place. We had the loco-moco and the combo plate. All was wonderful I even enjoyed the macaroni salad and I'm not usually a huge fan. I especially like the teriyaki beef and the chicken katsu. The stew was good but way too much celery, that's all I really had and maybe two small pieces of meat. Husband loved the loco-moco. This is not an eat-in restaurant so be prepared to take it back to your hotel or to a park to eat, but so delicious! You won't be disappointed!
(5)Sue W.
Had lunch with my son who lives in Lihue the day before I had to leave. Oh my goodness! My lunch plate of Korean Chicken was HUGE! Definitely a place I can't wait to go back to on my next visit. Great local Hawaiian food. You get enough food to feed a couple of people in one order and if you get a combo, maybe the whole family! Excellent food. Excellent portions and reasonable prices.
(5)Ikaika B.
So I figure I grab a bite at this place knowing full well every menu item is an excellent choice. I order a mini chicken cutlet, but as my order was going another plate was coming out. Fresh ahi with a shoyu mustard beurre blanc sauce. OMG change order. The ahi was super fresh and cooked to perfection. People you gotta be here!
(5)Allison J.
For a simple plate lunch, this is as good as it gets. You'll get a giant plate of food for about $9. I had the loco moco (hamburger patty, fried egg over rice with gravy) and Korean chicken plate with mac salad and brown rice. The Korean chicken was deep fried and had a slight sweetness to it. It was probably enough for two meals for me. This place is a quick drive to/ from the airport so you can definitely pick up some food for the plane ride. As someone else mentioned, the ambiance is not what you come here for. A couple of wooden picnic benches outside and Styrofoam boxes won't impress a first date unless he or she is a foodie.
(5)Roxana D.
When we drove up to this place, I was a little concerned about how good it was going to be (but I should know by now not to judge a book by it's cover!). It's in a warehouse district, but don't let that fool you! We walked in, and the place was quite warm (which made me worry about whether or not the food might spoil). I ordered a daily special with ahi tuna, and my husband got the combination plate. One thing that I really liked is that they actually asked me how I wanted my ahi (instead of assuming that I wanted it rare). I ended up getting it medium-well. My ahi tuna was DELICIOUS. I was really pleased with the taste. I tried some of my husband's chicken (I believe it was chicken cutlet), and his was really good too. We saw a lot of locals come in while we were there, and I can see why. The food is good -- it tastes really fresh, it's well prepared, and the price is right. Wish we had discovered it sooner. There's no room to sit inside, but there are some benches outside. And of course, you're surrounded by chickens, as in every place in Kauai. (And there are signs telling you not to feed the chickens)
(4)Megan P.
My fav plate lunch place so far; just wish they had a lighter side option... mac and rice gets a little heavy after awhile.... Huge portions and very tasty; their meat is crispier and less greasy than other similar spots. Split one with a friend - they're enormous.
(4)Vicki W.
This place is located in a blue building in an industrial area. It is a strange location, but it got great business when we were there, so it must be strategically placed (or the rent is cheap). When you walk in, the customer area is extremely small. The kitchen takes up the majority of the space. The menu is pretty limited, but they did have specials posted. Off to either side there are already prepared foods (like bento boxes and musubi) and a refrigerated case for drinks. Incidentally, we ate twice here during our stay, and both times the food was solid and consistent. The first time we got the combo plate, which had beef, chicken, and beef stew with rice and mac salad, as well as a mini beef stew that was still a pretty good size (it only had the entree with rice, no salad). Everything was pretty flavorful, albeit the stew was probably a little oily. The second time we went, we got chicken katsu and the teriyaki beef, both of which were also very good. The prices were very reasonable, considering the other places we ate at during our trip. I believe everything averages about $8. My only qualms with this place were that the parking lot was small and there wasn't much seating (a few outdoor picnic tables). We didn't have a problem with parking, but I'm sure there can be issues during busier hours. Also, the mini meals (except the beef stew one) came with noodles on the bottom that were somewhat plain. If they seasoned it a little more I would have liked it better, but as it was I would probably just prefer more rice. Overall, this is a great place to go to straight off the plane because it's pretty close to the airport and Costco.
(4)Dolph N.
Great place for local fare. I had the mixed plate wife had chicken kids had chicken teriyaki. Everyone loved it! We then had the homemade chocolate cake and were launched into heaven.
(5)Ly Y.
This place rocks! I have had a lot of plate lunches and this is the real deal. I don't know what is in that Korean Chicken, but it is addictive like crack. This place is an in industry park area, but dining here is worth the trip!
(5)Sovannary S.
They got dericious fried chicken. Done deal.
(5)Jr R.
This was the first restaurant we stopped at after we landed in Kauai. I ordered the Loco Moco and it was really good. Not only are their hamburger patties and eggs were cooked perfectly, their gravy was the icing on the cake. Hands down one of the best Loco Moco's i've had in a while. This will definitely be my first stop the next time i'm in Kauai.
(5)Scott C.
I guess i would have to agree with all of the five star reviews. You really have to look for this place, but it is worth it. We liked enough to go back again and again during our holiday. My favorite dish is the loco moco. They grillthe ground beef patty to perfection and top it with two eggs and gravy. The eggs were a bit overcooked, but the flavor was there. On other visits, i had the beef stew as well as the katsu. Each of these dishes were as they should be. The katsu was crunchy on the outside, but juicy on the inside. The stew had big chunks of tender beef. Stay withthe main menu as these are the time tested dishes. I tried the kalua pig on the daily specials and found it quite under seasoned. If you are looking for the classic plate lunch experience, it would be hard to top marks.
(5)grace m.
Awesome little find in Kauai! We went here a few times on our vacation and they definitely have some great plate lunch options. You MUST get the chicken katsu even if you take it home it's still crispy and juicy - I only wish it came with katsu sauce instead of ketchup :( We also really enjoyed their hamburger steak, loco moco, spam musubi's (MUST) but pretty much everything on the menu is yummy! Really sweet people, they must have wondered why we came so much :)
(5)Raj H.
This was out first stop upon arrival. Korean chicken was awesome. The stew was fairly good, just wished the meat was tender and smaller. My friend had the loco moco and said it was very flavorful and by far the best he's had on any of the islands. I will definitely be back before my trip is over.
(4)Kayla H.
I really wanted to like Mark's place, but it just didn't do it for me. I'm a huge chicken cutlet person and I was excited to see it on their menu (as I am when I go to all the local plate lunch joints). Sadly, it fell short. Gravy was blah, chicken was bland and the overall satisfaction was close to none. If in the area, I'll just stick to Hanalima Bakery. Hopefully, I'll work up the nerves to try something else from Mark's and I'll cross my fingers for a better experience.
(2)Rick K.
Probably the best Hawaiian plate dishes you will find on Kauai. I usually go for what ever is on the specials for the day menu. On the everyday menu, the teri beef, korean chicken and beef stew are definite must tries. Also their salads on the daily specials menu are usually quite good with home-made dressing. Definitely give one of these a shot.
(4)Elle N.
Our last foodie stop in Kauai before our 9pm flight home. Had the salad special for the day which was tako poke salad layered over rice mixed with salad greens, sesame seeds, some yummy spices and a wasabi soy vinegarette. The best way I can describe it was that it kind of tasted like a deconstructed tako sushi roll. Each bite had that exact taste profile which was perfect for me because I love tako and I love sushi. Really great flavor and big portions so definitely more bang for the buck. So glad they are open until 8pm! Very fast and friendly service. While we were there, we also spotted Mark behind the counter who looks exactly like his caricature on the menu board! :-) Thanks Mark for the onolicious food!
(4)Terrence G.
This place is awesome not only because the food delicious and a good value... but because they put one thing in their food that not a lot of restaurants even upscale restaurants put in... LOVE. I could taste the love... I don't want to go overboard about this small mainly take out spot in an industrial/business area of the island, but I can't help it. The food here was awesome, just read the other reviews. My wife and I ate here twice during our stay on Kauai. The people taking our orders were nice and the establishment looked clean. I had the Korean Chicken twice, which blew my mind. My wife tried the mixed plate one time and the Chicken Katsu a second time. Both meals were great. You definitely get your money's worth when you get your food here.
(5)Lauren W.
Great cheap local lunch place. Recommended!!!!
(4)Robin A.
Tasty lunch eaten outside at a table while watching the roosters wander. Out of the way, but worth the drive, since it gave us nourishment for our long hike. Fresh and good.
(4)Ross W.
We made the mistake of going to the location in Lawai (near Poipu) only to find out it was closed. Mark's Place offers plate lunch at a great price. For under $7, you get a huge portion. I had terriyaki chicken. It doesn't taste like the terriyaki chicken in Los Angeles; it tastes much better. Hubby had Korean chicken. Those small pieces of fried chicken were simply delicious. I also picked up a double chocolate dessert which I finished in no time. Watch for their daily specials!
(4)Emily Y.
Second time to Kauai, second time to Mark's. Yummy. Hubby had a local dish, friends had the teriyaki specials I had the sliders and creamy chicken pasta. Cream cheese brownie.
(4)Jason A.
Its a little hard to find this place, but its well worth it. If you're in the mood for a plate lunch like you could get at a chain like Ohana(In California), this is the place to go. They are leaps and bounds above any chain store (of course). Get the Mark's Famous Mixed plate. Great deal and lots of delicious food. The Katsu was crispy and delicious. The beef stew was amazing and the teriyaki beef was quite possibly the best I've had.
(5)Deborah D.
The only day I planned on my first trip to Kauai was the first day - after that I slid into a state of laziness where the only decisions I made were which beach to visit and whether to eat the mango before the payapa or the other way around. But I digest...I mean digress. I planned my first meal on Kauai to be at Mark's place, thanks to Yelp, picked out what I would have for lunch before I even got on the plane, thanks to his daily specials posted on his website, printed out directions (it's either that or GPS - it's that obscure a location) and amazingly, had butt planted on picnic table bench and was eating the designated item right on schedule. And it was delicious - a grilled ono special - with not one, not two, but three starches - rice, mac salad and noodles. Next time I got the fish special on salad, hold the starch. Don't miss the Mark's Place - it's that good, and that much of a value...and no extra charge for the floor show of chickens eating from the pots of herbs.
(5)Adam P.
Awesome... I live across the street and so go there all the time. Great food, good prices, friendly people, and there's always a "light" option, including brown rice and/or salad for "local style" plates which is a plus you won't find many places on Kauai at all (if anywhere else). Great!
(5)Melissa P.
Mark's Place is sooo good! It is worth the search! Actually around lunch, just follow the stream of cars and you will find it--really! The famous combo is the bomb with hot, fresh and generous portions! I agree that this may be the best Hawaiian BBQ ever! The chicken katsu is crispy, juicy and tender; the Teriyaki beef is tender and flavorful! The beef stew is excellent! The loco moco is amazing with a distinct charcoal taste in the patty and delicious brown gravy-- the only thing I would suggest is that if you like your egg runny and you order it to go, you ask for them to really undercook the egg-- I had a medium boiled by the time I took it back to the hotel! I even ordered the little 'to-go' Bento box for my flight home and it was delicious with Korean chicken, rice and seaweed. The baked goods looked awesome, but I resisted temptation. Maybe next trip? Love this place and WILL be back next year ! ;-)
(5)Brian D.
Didn't make it here until relatively late in our trip, then went here two days in a row. Really enjoyed the teri beef, teri chicken and loco moco. Others in our party enjoyed the Korean chicken and the chicken katsu. I'm jones'n for it right now.
(5)Jim S.
Outrageously good food at an extremely affordable price. We went there because our guide book said Mark's offers the best local Hawaiian food on the island and they did not disappoint. The teriyaki beef and chicken katsu were particularly good. I've been thinking about that grub ever since we drove out of the parking lot.
(5)Sau y.
Ah, Mark's Place... we came here expecting a restaurant. Instead it was an industrial area (like a recycling plant was supposed to be there instead) and it was a little shop selling lunch boxes. Ok- I can dig that. I see a menu with a variety of names... Korean Chicken, Katsu, Chicken Cutlet... I'm looking for ANYTHING that is NOT "breaded & fried" as I was beginning to feel the oil seep through my very pores after day 2 on Kauai! So, I ask "how is the chicken cutlet made?" Answer: "breaded & fried." In disappointment I answer "oh... ok, how is the Korean Chicken made?" Answer: "breaded & fried" I already know the katsu is going to be breaded and fried.... so I ask about one other dish, and not surprisingly the answer is... you guessed it! BREADED & FRIED! So finally I inquire, "what is NOT breaded & fried on your menu?" She answers finally with, "chicken teriyaki... and uhm, beef teriyaki" LOVELY! So, I get the chicken teriyaki only to find it's on a bed of not so tasty stir fry noodles and comes with a huge lump of rice (brown or white) and salad (mac w/ mayo or ice berg lettuce)... the mac salad was tasteless & gross and the ice berg was browning as if it'd be sitting around/ exposed for a week. YUM! I will say that the chicken katsu and teriyaki were crispy and tasty, oh and pretty generous in terms of portion size). So 4 stars for the tasty amount of meat and low prices ($8/ lunch plate)... 2 stars for the nasty sides and the location/ cleaniness... Overall 3 stars. I would eat here again IF I was in the area/ wanted something cheap, but wouldn't go out of my way.
(3)David H.
korean chix was ok, but other food was great and large portions. regret not getting the teriyaki beef.
(5)h j.
A Thursday special on the board: head-on shrimp, butterflied, enrobed in a spinach-mushroom mixture that fit each shrimp perfectly without falling off whilst being drawn to mouth. Wonderful flavors and a nice change from the typical plate lunch offerings across the island.
(4)Grace H.
Really good hawaiian food. I think the chicken katsu was the best I've ever had! Crispy breading and perfectly cooked. Get the mixed plate, for 8 bucks, it's the perfect lunch between all the beach hopping!
(4)Sum F.
pretty good food, the teriyaki beef was delicious but we were not fans of the beef stew and the katsu chicken was okay.
(4)Pua V.
mark's place now opens from 10 am - 8 pm. mon.-fri. they offer daily specials and pau hana specials which can be picked up after 4 pm and feeds a family of 4. imagine for an average of $30 you can get dinner for your whole family! as for their lunches it's AWESOME!!! my suggestion try the combo plates you can choose up to three choices of any plate lunch they have. i like to call um sampler plates especially if you can't decide what you like eat. oh yeah andthe staff are super friendly and helpful!! one place you can find aloha alive and working.
(5)Steve H.
This place doesn't look like much from the outside and only has take-out but the plate lunch is fantastic and very reasonable. The ingredients are fresh and tasty and the portions could easily be split by two people. My son had the loco moco (heart attack in a box)- two scoops of rice, two hamburger patties, a fried egg, covered with gravy, and it was great. All for $6.50.
(5)Jennifer K.
Delicious. I love that they have the combo plate so you can get 2 or even 3 plate lunch entries. The portions are huge. I had the hamburger steak and korean chicken, both of which were tasty. There is limited outdoor seating...3 picnic tables. We were lucky to sit by some hilarious locals (from oahu though). Mark actually came out and hooked them up with a big plate of steak.
(5)LL C.
good plate lunches, "so so" musubis (for musubis go to pono market)
(4)Sarah M.
WHOA. Local soulfood coma. Husband and I went here on a high recommendation from Ultimate Kauai Guidebook. Not hard to find if you have it pinpointed on a map, but not easy either -- we went for dinner at 7:30, so it was dark. Definitely in the middle of nowhere.... no streetlights, no other restaurants around. But we got there and found our noses bombarded by the tantalizing aroma of fried goodness and brown gravy. Husband ordered the kalua pig/cabbage (special), and I the mixed plate with chicken katsu, teriyaki beef, and beef stew). Both came with white or brown rice and macaroni salad or tossed greens; both were around $8. We didn't feel like eating on the patio in the darkness! -- so the smell tortured us all the way back to Kapaa, where we opened the containers and found HUGE portions of food. We hadn't eaten since a late breakfast, so Husband was starving, and the portions filled him up (he ate all of his and a third of mine) -- quite a feat! It was ALL delicious, and the rice was perfect. Beef stew was unbelievable; the beef was incredibly tender and perfectly seasoned. Knocked one star off for ambiance (there is none) and a kind of commercial feel, but value and taste are excellent. Highly recommend; great price and great food -- and in KAUAI!
(4)Gigi C.
No ambiance (picnic tables outside but hey it's Kauai) but great food at a reasonable price. Had the chicken teriyaki - one meal can definitely feed two people. Nice family run business - we met the owner. Will be back!
(5)Ruben G.
this is the type of place that you wish you had back home, but there's not. at least in my neck of the woods. i'm echoing what others have said. - middle of an industrial park, far from a strip mall or other restaurants (kiddy corner from a tractor place) - popular with the locals - no indoor seating, just picnic tables with umbrellas (in case of rain) i had katsu and teriyaki chicken which was absolutely hearty and filling. tons of grub. the wife had a mini of teriyaki beef with rice, and she grubbed too. what added more character and rounded-out our experience, considering the locale and surroundings, was that we got there around 6 when the sun was going down. we had to sit on those picnic tables with only the corner streetlight as illumination. hehehe.. we'd never been there and thought there might be indoor seating, but we were wrong. nothing wrong with that. like i've said in the majority of my reviews, you dont need to be fancy to be 5 stars. the place has to make sense and hit on all points for what its trying to do. this place goes above and beyond. woo wooooooooo!
(5)Larry M.
I travel extensively and do my best to seek out hidden gems and dives. While Marks is no secret to Yelp users, it truly is one of the best holes in the wall I've been to. Cant go wrong with this family run plate lunch joint. The loco moco and the macaroni salad are perfect.
(5)Geoff B.
Let me make this real easy for all the Mainlanders who, like myself, don't know exACTly what to order at these plate lunch places: Get Mark's Famous Mixed Plate. Boom. Best plate lunch on the island. The loco moco is good, Korean chicken is good, teriyaki chicken salad wrap is good, but Mark's Famous Mixed Plate is the bomb. You get hearty portions of tasty beef stew, chicken katsu, super tender teriyaki beef, and the BEST mac salad I've ever had. Ugh, I want one now - and I'm 2600 miles away!!! Damn you, Pacific Ocean!!!
(5)Mark R.
Can't say much new from others reviewers. Food is Awesome. Found Marks Place on day 7 of a 9 day trip. Went there on day 8 also! The teriyaki is best I have ever had. And, the loco moco was perfect. I tried to find out of the way, small places for my daily loco moco. Marks place was amazing. The hamburger was more like a mini meatloaf; the gravy was obviously made from scratch using pan juices and home made beef stock. The eggs cooked perfectly. But, you must remember, the workers here are mostly culinary school students. With the right leadership, the can cook! Don't over look the desserts. We tried several. All yummy. If you are on Kauai, and enjoy a real cooked meal for under $10. Find this place. Order, Eat, Enjoy.
(5)s k.
We stopped by here from the airport en route to the Grand Hyatt. Nestled in what appears to be a business district is Mark's Place. They offer a variety of lunch plates as well as specials. We chose the Chicken Katsu, Loco Moco, Korean , and combo mixed plates (less one star for Korean chicken lacking crispy batter). While waiting for our room, we ate our lunch plates on the terrace overlooking the ocean...best way to start our vacation!
(4)Janelle W.
Best loco moco I have ever had on any of the islands. What makes good loco moco is the gravy and this gravy was the best! Not only the gravy was good, but the hamburger patty was seasoned and cooked to perfection. The chicken Katsu is also to die for! It is made from chicken thighs, which is how it should be made. The vreadung outside is crunchy and they give you sauce on the side. In a word "yummy." We also had the chocolate chip with cornflake cookies and they were good as well. My 3 year old son would say the food is good, but his favorite part would be eating on the picnic benches watching the construction trucks roll by... If you want great plate lunch with Mac salad go to Mark's place. It is cash only.
(5)Thia T.
WE GOT TO MEET MARK! I really liked this place because Kauai is such an expensive island to dine at, so when you come across a place where a plate of food is homey and enormous, it is awesome. I got the loco moco, I thought the eggs were cooked perfectly and it was seasoned okay, but it lacked salt and pepper. I needed that kick and I did not have the hot sauce. Coming from the city where Hawaiian Drive Ins are abundant, the food at Mark was on par but not significant in contrast. I enjoyed eating on the bench because it felt relaxed and like you were at your uncle's picnic but at 90 degree weather, I wish there was indoor dining. Another disappointment was there was no bathroom for customers. Mark was awesome!
(3)IP B.
Mark's Place has my favorite food on Kaua'i. I love the combination plate because I cannot pick only one main dish. I have tried the loco moco, chicken katsu, chicken cutlet, beef stew, mac salad and green salad. The chicken cutlet and beef stew are my favorites, but I have loved everything I've tried. For dessert, we tried the chocolate bread pudding, which was good. It's on the denser side as far as bread puddings go, which I like. We've also purchased a packet of the macadamia tea cookies, which are excellent. The quantity, quality and price of the food make Mark's Place 5 stars hands down.
(5)Anthony A.
First off I didn't go into the restaraunt, but will the next time I visit the island. I got to enjoy their fine food at a wedding they catered. And though 99% of catered food sucks ass their's was pretty damn good. The appetizers were tasty and so were all of the man course items, including the beef. I can't find my notebook that I keep track of all the items I ate while on vacation, but it was a slow cooked beef roast with a tasty sauce on it. The staff was extremely helpful and went above and beyond the expectations. One of the bartenders was good enough to pass on a bunch of local favorites for eating. No point in going to a McDonald's when I can get that crap at home, even though I never eat there. Good food and great drink's made by all the bartenders.
(5)Jim F.
Eat here! When you are driving to this place, you keep thinking to yourself that this cannot be right. You are in the middle of an industrial park. Then you see the tables with the umbrellas and, after you sit at one with your yummy food, all is right with the world. The best way to describe the food is high end plate lunch (who knew this category even existed). We had the fish special, chicken BBQ, and beef stew. All were excellent, especially the stew. We also got the dessert of the day. I cannot recall what it was, but we went back and bought a second piece it was so good.
(5)Ryan P.
My wife and I stopped by Mark's Place on our recent vacation to Kauai. We were looking for a great plate lunch spot and this hit the mark right on. Based on previous reviews that we read, we made the trek on over. It was a little odd to be driving into an industrial park, but that is where they are located. There is a large-ish sign that marks the building which Mark's Place is located, but it can be tricky to find if you aren't looking out for it. I ordered the Loco Moco and I found it to be fantastic. The egg was runny, the hamburger was tasty and well seasons and the gravy was just of the right consistency and flavor. I opted for White Rice and Mac Salad, but they also do offer brown rice and "chopped greens" (which is really a salad. It was nice to see these options and my wife elected to make use of these alternatives and enjoyed them. It does take a few minutes to get your food after it is ordered and it can get pretty steamy inside while you wait. They do have four picnic tables right outside with umbrellas over them if you chose to eat on site. Overall, we both really enjoyed our meal and if we're near the area when we're back next we'll probably be making another stop on by.
(5)Jessica L.
Really good plate lunches (and other to-go snacks) with rare almost healthy (!) options. Not always vegetarian-friendly, but you can probably find a salad or a few veggie sides (I ate fish the last time I was there... it was tasty, though). Grab your plate lunch and eat it by the ocean or at the Menehune Fishpond lookout. If I remember right, I think they were open on a holiday weekend, which was super cool and unexpected for Puhi. These guys also do fantastic catering, under the name Contemporary Flavors. The only reason I'm giving 4 instead of 5 stars is for the lack of veggie entrees (at Mark's Place only; the catering has plenty). Otherwise they are awesome.
(4)Leslie Ann M.
This place is in the industrial part of Lihue near the airport. Long wait but only cause the place is so popular, especially during lunch hour. The boyfriend got the loco moco and I got the korean chicken... SOOO ONO!!! HIGHLY recommend this place for hawaiian plate lunch kine food!
(4)Bill M.
We arrived in Lihue late the afternoon and did not want to go out immediately for dinner so we opted to get take out for Marks Place because of reviews. What a great decision! We got the special fish dish for the day with greens and the mixed plate of tomkatsu, beef teriyaki and beef stew. Everything was excellent, though the beef stew was less tasty than the other food. The beef teriyaki was really wonderful and the portions had us eating a couple of meals. It is hard to beat this!
(5)Scott W.
Mark's Place is a hidden gem! We would have never found it without our guidebook, Yelp and GPS. We both got the Mixed plate special which had the Beef Stew, Teryaki Beef, Chicken Cutlet, Noodles and Salad. It took a bit of time to get our order, but that gave us a chance to watch all the people coming and going. Seems like Mark serves mostly locals who are smart enough to call ahead for their orders. The Stew was fantastic. Next time I am just getting the Stew because it was so good. The mixed plate cost around $8 and is quite filling. There is limited outdoor seating on some picnic tables.
(5)Shun S.
We found this place through Yelp and ate at two different locations of mark's place during our one week vacation in Kauai last week. Lihue location is open until 2pm Mon-Fri, and the Lawai location is open much later until 8 pm, I believe. lihue loc: It's definitely a takeout place in the back of an industrial park area. There is no seating inside and some patio seating outside. It was too hot outside that day, so we took it back to the hotel and ate it on the beach. I had the beef stew plate with tossed salad and rice. The beef stew consists of potato, carrots and big chunks of beef.. It was a little bit too salty for me. It was okay, not my favorite. The portions are huge, so I got sick of the beef stew very quickly. For more variety, next time I would choose a two or three item combo. Luckily, my husband got a three item combo (korean chicken, teriyaki beef, and loco moco) with mac salad, rice, and yakisoba, so I got to taste some of his food. Korean chicken was very tasty; it's basically chicken karage (fried) with a sweet and spicy soy sauce. Teriyaki beef was a huge flap of meat. Good flavor but again too salty for me! Loco moco was really delicious! The homemade hamburger patty was very flavorful and the gravy not too heavy. Definitely try the loco moco here! Lawai loc: I didn't actually get to go to this location. My husband picked up lunch for himself here after going sport fishing one day. According to him, there are way more menu selection here and they serve dinner as well. His local fishing guide told him that this is the better tasting Mark's place. He picked a three item combo again (teriyaki chicken, chicken katsu, and korean chicken). Note: combo lunch comes standard with a choice of tossed salad or mac salad, rice and yakisoba. The korean chicken again was very good. Teriyaki chicken was average. The chicken katsu was very crispy outside and moist inside. Keep in mind, I tried the katsu 20 minutes after my husband picked up the food, and it was still crispy! The food here was too salty and greasy for me, but overall flavor was good. I would give it a 3 star, but my husband absolutely loved the place and would give it a 5 star. So I averaged out our rating and gave it a 4 star. Oh, I almost forgot! My favorite thing here was the butter mochi. Right by the cash register, they have a basket with pieces of these heavenly tasting mochi's wrapped in pastic paper. It kind of taste like corn bread with chewiness of mochi. So yummy! Try this!
(4)Jenn M.
If you're looking at the April 2012 photo of the menu, the prices have gone up about a dollar across the board. The food is still great. I really love the beef stew. Unfortunately, I only got one piece of meat the last time I went. I'll come by next time I'm in town but if I have another sad lunch box with just carrot and celery stew, I don't think I'll be coming back. This used to be 5 stars for me and with the last experience, has now averaged to a 3.
(3)MTBer I.
Probably one of two places on the island to get a good "plate lunch". The prices are reasonable, $6-10 for a mountain of food! The chicken katsu and cutlet are the best on the menu. Both are breaded with panko and fried without too much grease. Awesome with the gravy over rice. I didn't care for the "Korean" chicken. The batter was weak and it was neither spicy or sweet like the Korean chicken I get in Southern CA. Next time, I'll try the BBQ beef. While you're here, grab some of the packaged cookies for $3.50. They are great for simple gifts for friends back home!
(4)Ted H.
BLOT: This is a great place to grab a meal to go. They do have some tables outside, but its an industrial area, so no waterfalls for ambiance Pros = awesome food, friendly people, great value Cons = hard to find without GPS, not a real restaurant (catering business that sells over the counter, too far from Princeville (but worth the drive) ============================= Arrived around 9pm and they were still cooking up a storm, although it looked like they were closed for the night. But my loco-moco radar was pinging like no tomorrow, so we braced for impact - the door opened to the welcoming aromas of Mark's Place. Actually, Mark was busy writing out his menu and shopping lists for the next day, and the kitchen was at it hardcore. My wife tried the beef stew special, and I opted for the Korean Style chicken with brown rice. All in all, good portions, friendly service and excellent grub. If we hadn't been staying up in Princeville, we would have eaten here a few more times. Definitely agree with it's ONO rating :)
(5)Kristen V.
Combo plate was good. Definitely recommend the stew.
(4)Marcel M.
There was a ton of hype, but it definitely delivered. If you need a place to get huge portions for $6-$8, go here. I opted for the 3 choice combination to get a wide variety of things to taste. The Korean chicken was great and just slightly crunchy. The Beef Teriyaki was awesome. The Loco Moco had a very mish-mosh taste, but at least the egg was cooked great. Once I cut into it, it spilled all over. It definitely helped seeing locals stream through this place. A couple of nurses had like 12 takeout meals. We are definitely thinking about going more than once on this trip.
(5)Becca H.
After three attempts to Mark's place, my husband and I finally got to it during operating hours. It was definitely worth the wait. But if you want to go, know that it is only open from 10am-2pm Monday-Fridays and closed all weekend. We ordered the Mark's special plate which was amazing! The teri-beef was the best I've ever had (and I've had a lot). We live in an area with tons of japanese/hawaiian places to eat but this place was had the best teri-beef by far. It was tender and had the perfect combination of sweetness in the shoyu flavor. The beef stew was delicious as well. We shared a plate but I think I could have eaten the whole thing myself. The service was great and the locals that work there were extremely nice. It's tucked away in a little industrial park and may be hard to find but once you get there, it'll make your mouth water for days.
(4)Lane M.
It doesn't look like much on arrival, but Mark's has some of the best food we tasted on the island. I had the mixed plate, which I highly recommend if you can't make up your mind. It included generous portions of the chicken katsu, teriyaki beef, and beef stew. If I were to go again, I would order a plate of the teriyaki beef, which was the best of the three and probably my favorite meat on all of Kauai. Even the macaroni salad on the side was ono. The only thing holding me back from giving five stars was the atmosphere - purely outdoor seating at picnic tables, and not enough of them. Otherwise, you can't go wrong by stopping at Mark's. The prices were very reasonable for the quality we got there, and I wish we had discovered it early in our vacation.
(4)Peter Y.
Thank gawd for Yelp. Found this "hole in da wall" place and I must say... Thank You YELP! Fantastic place. If it wasn't for our gps, we'd be lost. It's in the middle of an industrial part of Lihue and if I just followed my instinct on the way here, I would've turned around and went the other way because there's no way in hell will there be a restaurant here. Nuff of that Here's the food portion. We had the Mark's Mixed Plate. Super yummy. Chicken katsu, BBQ beef and their signature stew. Of course a scoop of rice and mac salad to finalize that dish. Very very filling. My wife had the Korean chicken. Eh... Not too impressed with that order. Good thing we got the mini size (no salad). Oh, get the Butter Mochi. Omfg! So good. Shiet... Get 2! I'd flip the bitch right now to get more if it weren't for this traffic (construction) I'm writing this review on my iPhone after we left. You gotta love technology. It's a to-go type restaurant/stand with 3 large benches outside for your dining. If you're in Kauai, you must make this a place to try on your itinerary. Damn... Should've bought a t-shirt!
(5)Trinh T.
My husband found this spot thru Yelp. Yum! Really good plate lunches at decent prices. The beef stew is really good and so is the spam musubi. The chicken karaage wasn't too bad eiter. The large garden salad is really big and very fresh. As mentioned in other reviews, be aware that there is no indoor seating (bench and a picnic table outside).
(4)M E.
One of my first stops when we go back home. They have the best Korean chicken!! I didn't know they had a website until recently. Be sure to check it for their daily specials.
(4)John B.
If you're ever in Kauai, Mark's Place is a definite must eat. The Hawaiian plate lunches here are awesome. My wife had the Loco Moco, which was super good and I had the Teri Beef. Great spot, don't come to Lhue without going to Mark's Place
(5)Peter T.
Nice hole-in-the-wall place hidden in the booneys. Well recommended if you're hungry and into portion. First time trying loco moco...interesting...but good. You can't go wrong with tasty gravy with fried eggs over hamburger patties. The korean fried chicken and teriyaki beef were also tasty. Place was yummy enough to warrant a final visit right before our departing flight. Only reason why no 4-star was the slaw was at the verge of funkiness--know what i mean? But who's there for the slaw??? Nice job, Mark. Hope to meet you next time.
(3)D M.
Believe the hype. Believe what you read. This place is for local, industrial park workers on their 30 minute lunch break. Not open on weekends, so we literally stopped on our way to the airport on Monday to grap the Special and the Loco Moco. Generous portions. Between me, my husband and my three year old we still had left overs. EXCELLENT
(5)Cindy H.
Tasted like typical Chinese/Hawaiian food. The Korean fried chicken tasted like Chinese fried chicken. The beef stew was okay. The sticky mochi bar was okay too.
(3)Derek O.
Delicious and very reasonably priced. It reminds me of the typical stories on Food channel about a gourmet chef leaving the established resort scene to make amazing "homestyle" type food. I ate here 4 times in my 10 days on Kauai. Every time was worth it. The dishes I had: Loco moco: A classic. Super good. The hamburger patties were really like meatloaf--fork tender. By the end everything tastes like gravy, which is never a bad thing. Korean chicken: We got this a few times and the flavor varied a little each time. It's like bits of breaded fried chicken with a subtle sweet flavor in the breading which is amazingly good. Teri beef: My other favorite. Pretty standard fare I guess but very tender and flavorful. Chicken Katsu: It was good but it's basically just breaded and fried chicken. I can see being in the mood for it, but the other three dishes above were much better in my opinion. Teri chicken: Very good as well. This is a hidden gem (this type of place is why yelp is a great thing!) and definitely worth going back again and again.
(5)Julianne C.
Mark's Place is simply amazing. As soon as we landed in Lihue, we made a beeline to Mark's Place! It's so close to the airport and well, this place will serve you up some good food. The place looks like a cafe and kinda works like one. We got the chicken katsu (omg so tender and what's not to like about fried chicken) and Mark's combo (which was huge, actually they were both huge portions) and we were soooooo happy! They have patio seats right outside and it's really the best deal on the island!! And really, best way to start the vacation!
(5)Cat C.
BEST local food in Kauai and possibly in all Hawaii! Definitely lived up to all the hype on Yelp and Kauai Revealed. I had the combo mixed plate with Teri beef and Korean chicken. Teri beef was tender and full of flavor, better than Da Kitchen in Maui! I've had better Korean chicken (like at Zippys) but Mark's was still delish. Loved the brown rice option and the yakisoba noodles under the meats were a nice surprise. They ran out of Spam Musubi which my husband wanted to try. Another reason to hit this place up again before we leave! A must eat while in Kauai, the prices are AFFORDABLE (I paid $7.75 for a 2 item combo) and the portions are big so come hungry or have 2 lunches :)
(5)W Q.
doing a little shopping at costco today and stopped by mark's place; awesome food at an amazing price $8 combo platter comes with rice, beef teriyaki, chicken katsu, beef stew, noodles, and macaroni salad. This is by far my favorite place for flavor and the value just can't be beat anywhere else on the island. I would eat this everyday!!!
(5)Kt S.
Food was amazing and unique and portions were large. Was able to split between two adults.
(5)Kurt W.
Hole in the wall restaurant. The Loco Moco plate is probably the best I've ever had. I also had the Famous Mixed Plate which was ok too. The Loco Moco is definitely the dish too get. The thing I didnt like is that there are so many flies around the outdoor dinner making it hard to eat your meal without having to constantly shoo the flies away from landing on your food.
(4)Joann L.
The best deal we had during our stay in Hawaii. Food is delicious, they give big portions, and it is cheap. The food comes in a take out box that you can eat outside on their bench or take to go. The cons were that it was hot inside the shop and the place is hidden in an industrial neighborhood.
(5)Christian D.
I liked it, my wife didn't. I had the combo plate and enjoyed the food (a ton of it). The stew was my favorite and reminded me of my mom's. People who frequent this place have to love their starches. Potatoes, pasta/noodles and rice all in one dinner along with chicken, stew, and much more. It was a crazy heavy meal. I'd go back, just not with my wife. She can't handle that kind of food. I'd say it's more of a locals place, as my wife and I were the only tourists there. We got the feeling the woman at the counter didn't like us too, and we aren't pretentious in any way, but we didn't come for her, we came for the food, which was good ;)
(4)Patrick L.
The staff (owners?) were very warm and inviting when the eight of us walked in. We asked them lots of questions about the menu as expected from a good tourist and they smiled and helped us without complaint. That was why we decided to stay and overlook the lack of bathrooms, very limited outside seating, and the flys. We all agreed; the food was great but the place needs to relocate and get a bathroom. The fly problem could have been temporary.
(3)Stefanie M.
Excellent plate lunch in the heart of the industrial park. Seriously worth the trip! Possibly the BEST plate lunch we had while on Kauai and we had a LOT of plate lunch... Can't wait to go back!
(4)N B.
Came here on a Friday afternoon totally excited for a plate lunch and they were CLOSED for a catering job! FAIL!!
(1)Tiffany R.
We were planning to come on Saturday for lunch but realized they're closed on the weekends. So we changed our plan Friday night and drove out to eat here. Boy, were we glad we made it. The food is amazing here. Simple, flavorful, and good portions. We got the mix plate and a two item with the much talked about Korean chicken and chicken cutlet. I loved everything we got especially the Korean chicken. I could have done without the beef stew though from the mixed plate. My mom's beef stew is better. I also like the fact that they have brown rice. We're trying to eat healthy and love places that give you the option. They were even able to make spam musubi with brown rice!
(5)Lovanna L.
After reading so many good reviews about Mark's Place, I knew that I had totry this local fare. Heed the warnings, it isn't the easiest place to find. Both my husband and I got the mixed place which had the katsu chicken, teriyaki beef and beef stew for $7.75. What a deal! I substituted the korean chicken for the beef stew which turned out to be a good choice. My husband wasn't a huge fan of the beef stew. It's a good reasonable lunch for the price. There isn't really an area to sit down other than some benches outside. Check out the menu on this page. Click menu. eatkauai.com/2010/02/mar…
(3)Vivian L.
I thought it was only okay. The loco moco gravy was a bit bland to me (the meat was well-seasoned though), and then noodle side that came with it was sort of a throwaway on their part (dry, bland). I wish I had time to go back and try something else, but based on the loco moco alone, it is not even in the same league as Rainbow Drive-In (Oahu) or Cafe 100 (Big Island).
(3)Dave J.
If you go to Kauai, GO TO MARK'S PLACE. We were only on the island for five days but we were at Marks at least twice, if not three times. Thanks, Yelpers for pointing us in the right direction!
(5)L O.
The food is really good and cheap. I was worried that it wasn't going to be tasty but it far exceeded my expectations. Off the beaten path but so worth the drive. My group tried various plates and burgers and everyone loved their meals. I'm not a big beef stew fan but licked my plate clean. Nice to have the option of brown rice too.
(4)Lily E.
Friendliest people we have encountered on the island! Try EVERYTHING, and get brown rice :)
(5)bebe c.
My bf - mixed plate Me - kalua pig loco moco special. quick to-go place to eat. only thing i didn't like was that the food was too salty but i think that's just how hawaiian food is.
(5)Joyce Y.
3.5 stars If you want authentic Hawaiian plate, this is a good choice! It's a little hard to find and stuck in an industrial neighborhood. The "restaurant" is small so you can't really eat inside the restaurant, although I think there might be tables outside. You order and pay the cashier and wait for your food. They have a good mixture of Hawaiian food - mixed plate lunches and musubi and fish. We ended up buying one plate and sharing because the food is a lot! Portions are pretty nice and generous. I ordered a mixed plate with 3 items but the lady thought I wanted to order everything individually and ended up charging me for each item. It was just a little miscommunication but she fixed it. We got - beef stew, korean chicken, and loco moco: which is a hamburger patty with an egg on top and gravy on top. It comes with rice and macaroni salad. The plate was pretty good. The beef stew was ok. I thought it would taste better in flavor. The Korean chicken was nice and crispy and had a good sweet flavor. The loco moco was good! You can't go wrong with a hamburger meat with egg and gravy! Price was really cheap. We spent less than $9. Owners are pretty friendly and have nice Hawaiian Aloha spirit.
(3)Aron S.
I needed plate lunch before we left the island, and I found this gem on Yelp. It took a little finding, but between it and the Saimin at Hamura's I was culinarily complete for my trip. Everything was excellent, and the variety is great. I took my beef and chicken plate through the security checkpoint at Lihue, and the TSA was trying to make up reasons why for national security my food should be confiscated and immediately consumed by them. Would go back for almost every meal if given the choice.
(5)Emily Ruth L.
Good local flavor. Large portions. And no chickens running around our feet!
(3)Stacy M.
Great food, fast and cheap (relatively). Need veggie? Just ask. Most plates are $8 or $9 at Mark's and come served in a sectioned styrofoam container with sides of white or brown rice and macaroni salad. Everyone in our large group was very happy with their meal. Although there were no vegetarian dishes on the menu, the cook happily whipped up a veggie stirfry with tofu in a delicious sauce.for one in our party. And don't forget desert, which was also fantastic.
(5)Aaron L.
Best mixed plate on the island. Hard to find.
(5)Sharon H.
5 stars without a doubt! this place is soooo good! we went there last night to grab a quick dinner. my hubby got the 2 combo with teriyaki beef and chicken cutlet. I got the 2 combo with loco moco and korean chicken. we both got brown rice which was delicious. all the meats were sooooo flavourful and cooked perfectly. generous portions as well. if we had more time we would go back to try the bento box!
(5)Gary Y.
Off the beaten path, but good local food. Can't get it better than this. If you want Hawaiian food, here it is! Stop by at least once ... instead of McDonalds.
(4)ngoc N.
We ordered Chicken Katsu, Beef Teriyaki and Loco Moco. Damn, I was disappointed after reading all the positive reviews. The beef teriyaki was dry and sweet, kinda like the beef jerky I got from Costco. My buddy confirmed the same sentiments. Loco Moco wasn't that great, neither was the chicken katsu. My friend had the beef stew and she raved about it, talking like it tasted like vietnamese bo kho . I preferred the katsu chicken I had at kimchee #9 by the Longs at the mall. After eating at Mele's Kusina in Waimea, this place was a let down. I was hoping for the same kind of wonderful surprise, but it was just OK.
(3)M J.
Authentic Hawaiian food. Very local. Good pau hana (family meals).
(4)J S.
At first glance there are no tables inside but they have picnic tables out. You walk in and are instantly greeted by the sweetest girl who's name escapes me. The menu doesn't do the food justice. The Moco Loco is to die for. The other foods on the menu my other half tried and said it was delicious such as the chicken teriyake. I can't wait to get back to HI to see the counter girl and have my delish moko loko!!
(5)Patti L.
This was a great find. Biggest hint: go where the locals go. This stuff is ONO! Unfortunate for me, we found this place hours before we had to fly home. We ordered and ate lunch plates and was smart enough to order bento boxes for the plane. We were the envy of the entire cabin! But, not only is the food great, but the staff was among the most friendly we had encountered during our entire trip. (There are some restaurants where the staff had less than zero personality.) This restaurant won't disappoint at any level. BTW, I agree with some of the other reviews regarding the Korean chicken being addictive. I can't wait to go back!
(5)Charles M.
Is a great place for lunch, cheap, plentiful and more flavorful then your standard L&L. They use real ground beef for the Loco Mocos, instead the frozen hamburger patties that the other places use. A must stop if in Kauai. off the beaten path in an industrial area, and not so touristy. A lot of the people there were locals on their lunch breaks.
(4)dee s.
The food here is delish! Large portions, great prices. They've even got a bunch of freshly baked goods. Would definitely recommend! YUM!
(4)Dan T.
My wife and I got married at a beautiful ocean front house in Poipu and we hired Mark's (AKA Contemporary Catering) for the event. I worked with Wendy at corporate to put together the menu and she was great to work with. We ordered a buffet for eleven people which included Ahi Tuna Sashimi, Shrimp and Scallop Skewers and Crab stuffed spring rolls for the appetizers. For the entree we had Marinated Ahi Tuna Steaks, Macadamia nut crusted Mahi Mahi, Island Pork with a natural gravy and Baby Red potatoes and vegetables - other than the Ahi being a little on the dry side, the food was exceptional. Allen, the main server/preparer from Mark's was exceptionally pleasant and professional. They offered a turn key solution with tables, plates, glasses etc and created a beautiful environment. We could not have been more pleased with Contemporary Catering and strongly recommend them for anyone looking for a professional company and excellent food.
(5)Ange M.
The food here is fantabulous. I have been eating here for years and have never been disappointed. They have daily specials, which is what I always get because I like trying new dishes; however, there is nothing I wouldn't order off the regular menu. Yum, yum, yum. Talk about a huge temptation for breaking my new years resolution! There are umbrellas outside now so you can sit and have lunch. They are also open later so you can drop in for dinner too. They also cater under another name "Contemporary Flavors Catering." If you think their plate lunches are good, try going to a party they cater. The food is outrageous and everyone is always very impressed. You can't go wrong with them. Not to mention Chef Mark is the nicest man if you have the opportunity to meet him. Four thumbs up! Oh wait....I only have two. So...two thumbs, two big toes way up.
(5)Kelson H.
Right off the bat, I wanted to say this place is not somewhere a tourist like myself would go unless I got a tip from a guide book, which in this case I did. Thank Goodness I came here and found the best local food on Kauai. The place is not much to look at from the outside and I think they mostly do catering, so don't expect seats, its a take out place. When I went the hours were from 10am to 2pm, closed on the weekends. Man I'd love those work hours. The most expensive plate was under 8 bucks and well worth it. Ate the Mark's Special Plate: $7.75 Beef Teriyaki, Chicken Katsu, Beef Stew, came with two scoops of rice, a scoop of macaroni salad and a small portion of chow mien. ( Oh my goodness, it was so good. The Beef stew was so tasty and delicious. The chicken katsu was nice and crisp, and the beef teriyaki was oh so flavorful and cooked to perfection.) This rating is all about the food! Service: 4 Food:5 Decor:0 Would I go back? You bet your pastrami I would. Well worth the drive to find this gem of a place.
(5)Max P.
This was probably the best place I ate at in Kauai!! Everything on the menu looked delicious. The only thing that disappointed me was that I only ate there once on my trip. The portions are HUGH and it is very affordable (mix plate around 7 bucks or so) My plate had chicken katsu, Korean chicken and teriyaki beef on top of yakisoba noodles with sides of rice and mac salad. I ate and ate, and I still wasn't able to finish it. Once you walk inside this place, it smells like heaven. They make their own dessert, but I wasn't able to try any since I was stuffed with the mix plate. If I ever come back to this island, I will for sure stop by again!
(5)Ann S.
How have we been to Kauai 9x and not have known about this place? Okay, well we knew about it but didn't make it a priority before. Mistake. We ventured into the industrial area where you swear you must be lost. Don't look for a big flashy sign, it ain't there. You walk in and it's usually really hot and a little loud from the fans going on hot days to keep everyone cool. There are a few picnic tables out front but this is basically a take out place. The first time we went we got a combo platter of chicken katsu, teriyaki chicken and teriyaki beef with a scoop of rice and tossed greens. All of that for $8!!!! If you know Kauai, you know this is a steal and many locals and tourists alike appreciate being big on flavor and light on the wallet. The katsu is just plain breaded chicken, nothing fantastic but decent with the dipping sauce. The chicken and teri beef were heavenly and full of sweet and salty flavor. The next day, we were back and had to try the loco moco. The hamburger pattie was full of flavor, maybe a little onion and garlic and some other spices. Smothered in gravy and perfectly cooked eggs; this is the loco moco you've been looking for...especially for $7.25 So if you're looking for good local food at great prices, go to Mark's Place. (FYI- the parking is tight and they stress when you come in not to park on the street which is not allowed because of it being in the industrial district. Best to call ahead if you know what you want and do a quick pick up)
(4)Sarah E.
This is the best spot for great food in Kauai! Definately the best value on the island. The food was tasty!! There was so many yummy choices we kept on going back for dinner. Splurge a little and get the dessert! Since you will probably be full from dinner, save it for the morning with coffee. Yum! Mark's Place is definately a must if you are lucky enough to visit Kauai!
(5)Jonny H.
This was the first stop on our trip. We read the reviews and made this one of our "Must Haves." We had the Korean Chicken and the Mark's Special (or combo, forgot what it was called). The Korean Chicken was really good and the special was good, but nothing special (that's why I think it was a combo plate). We'll give it three stars.
(3)Sophie W.
So off the beaten path that i thought my nav had sent us to the wrong area. The food was so good. Huge portions. Two orders fed the 4 of us. The best macaroni salad ever.
(5)