Kiawe Roots - KOLOA

Absolutely the best dining experience we had during our 14-day trip to Kauai! Before we left, we made a reservation for dinner the following day. The Smoked Cheese Pasta was an amazing way to kick off the meal. The star of the dish was the smoked Gouda, but you could also savor hints of Parmesan. Our server recommended the Med for my wife, and I could see the excitement in her eyes with each bite! I opted for the Wasabi Pea Crusted Fish, and it completely blew my mind. With every bite, a new flavor would emerge, and just when I thought I had tasted it all, another surprise flavor would arise. This place is a must-visit, even if you have to drive an hour from the North Shore. As I mentioned earlier, we made a second reservation for the next day to enjoy more of their incredible dishes. Truly amazing! Don’t miss it!

What a fantastic meal! We all truly enjoyed our food, which was cooked to perfection. My friend suggested, “You can’t go wrong with the smoked meat,” so I opted for the smoked meat combination, and it was a generous portion—but I finished it all! My parents loved the smoked salmon, and my girlfriend had the best rib we've ever tasted. All the sauces were delicious, with the Guava-Pfeffer being my favorite. The side dishes were also impressive, especially the greens and the house-made potato chips. We also really enjoyed the Hibiscus olena tea. Our server was friendly and attentive, making the experience even better. The restaurant is quite small, so I recommend making a reservation if you're not doing takeout. Overall, it was an excellent experience, and we can't wait to return!

The Half Huli chicken plate offers a generous portion of food, and the chicken breast was incredibly juicy. The Brussels sprouts were delightful and perfectly cooked! The restaurant has a trendy vibe and caters to food enthusiasts, so reservations are essential; I witnessed several walk-ins being turned away. The service was good, but it became challenging to get the server's attention after a few large parties were seated (it seemed there was only one server on duty when I left).

Kiawe Roots is a local favorite, has to go to the restaurant right now on the highway in Lawai. They offer amazing modern turns to island dishes. Just to pick up meals, but a lot of a treat. Prices are fair, dishes are unique and quality is high. Drinks – The Trace of Sour was an absolute pleasure. When often everything is offered, more tourist “island style” drinks is its very refreshing to have something else. The single barrel Buffalo Trace bourbon definitely shined and named another place on the island where protein is used in a drink (do not let the fear, just try). I had several. The rest of our party tried the Black Hawk Kamikaze Smash. Both received good reviews. For all alcohol-free drinks, the Kauai Organics Hibiscus Olena Tea (a mouthful to say) was very delicious. Pupus – Every meal should start with a delicious appetizer. The Fried Brussels Sprouts are something we almost always order. Based on the online menu, it looks like it's only available on Friday, so if you go on a Friday you should get this! Our table also recommends the Kiawe chips. We originally ordered 2 but the order for 1 more after the first two disappeared quickly. The chips come with a white BBQ diving sauce that perfectly complements them. Entrée – You can't go wrong here. Our table had Wasabi Pea Crusted Fish, Kalbi bowl and smoked plates of Huli Chicken, Brisket, Prime Rib. The Kalbi (Bef Short Rib) bowl is the favorite of our group. This is often ordered. Kiawe knows how to smoke and the chicken, brisket and prime rib were all amazing. The Pepper Quava sauce was a preferred choice. For fish lovers they have the Wasabi Pea Crusted Fish dish. The spices were remarkable, but not exaggerated. Very nice dish. Quick To-Go Picks – My fast To-Go Picks would have to be the Crispy Pulled Pork Sandwich or the Kalbi Bowl. The sandwich meets the place and the calbi is a favorite for both dunes in our out. Parking – Unlike most places on the island, parking is very easy here. There are many spots in front of Kiawe as well as the Lawai Post.

Very friendly staff and some of the best food on Kauai. Wasabi pea crusted fish was one of the best things I've ever eaten. The smoked gouda pasta and burger was great as well. Great selection of entrees and cocktails!