Canoe House

We chose CanoeHouse for our first night in Hawaii, and the ambiance was exactly what we were looking for. We started at the bar while waiting for our table, and the service was excellent. The bartender was so friendly and gave my husband a great recommendation; I had the Purple Petal, which was incredibly well-balanced and one of the most memorable cocktails I’ve had. ​For dinner, the raw appetizers were the absolute highlight—the scallops and the poke-style sashimi were incredibly fresh. Both of our fish entrees were also delicious. We finished the night with the Waimea blueberry and citrus dessert, which was light, refreshing, and the perfect end to a wonderful meal. Our serve Ian was perfectly attentive; always there when we needed him but not overbearing. Highly recommend for a special evening!

We came here to celebrate my boyfriend’s birthday. It’s a very intimate setting and very romantic. The staff here are very nice and attentive. I would highly recommend the oysters and starters. For the mains, we had the mahimahi and prawns. The mahi-mahi were a little dry. I’m finally for desert, we had the first one on the menu, which was the chocolate cream. That was definitely worth a try. The start of the show I would say is the cocktail. 4 stars due to the mains and price (250+ for two) . Overall, would recommend this restaurant

My girlfriend has lived on island for 20 years and has always wanted to try the Canoe House so we took her for her birthday. And it did not disappoint! Let’s be clear, we’re all here for the view….. and it lives up to the hype. Its spectacular 🙌 But the real surprise was the food with lots of vegan options We had 3 vegans and basically ordered every vegan item on the menu. Every dish was delicious (with the exception of the seasonal cabbage entree-which the waiter had removed from our bill-thank you). As vegans we loved so many options. Great job! They also brought some vegan desserts to round out the birthday celebrations. We appreciated the delicious food along with the attentive service from the hostess, waiter, food runners and manager. Mahalo

Without any doubt this was our best restaurant experience on the Big Island. The staff were friendly and efficient. The atmosphere is beautiful with tables set to overlook a lawn and lounge areas within steps of the ocean. Our waiter, Michael, was knowledgeable and took great care to ensure our evening was enjoyable. The food and drink were excellent, American fare with a Japanese twist. The swordfish and amberjack were seasoned and cooked to perfection. My only regret is that we did not discover this place until the end of our trip to Hawaii. Highly recommended.

One of my fav restaurants in Hawaii and it delivered every time! The Hawaiian / Asian fusion food was amazing and the view was hard to beat. Come here early for the best seating for the sunset.

Stopped by for my birthday dinner with the Hubs and loved the setting and atmosphere. Refined, lively, with a touch of relaxed Hawaiian vibe it was the perfect place to be seated outside on the terrace with dimmed lights. Although I did find it slightly too dark but it was still romantic and a lovely table. Service was professional and Engaging. Felt very celebrated but also gave us space to have a nice dinner. As far as food goes, the daikon salad is a must fresh and crisp just perfect to open up the palate. Star of the evening was the grilled lobster. Rich in flavor covered in spiced coconut sauce, delicious. We found the steak a bit underwhelming nothing special. All in all, great spot to celebrate something nice or just come for a evening out.

An incredible experience! The Canoe House has long been on my list of "Must Try" restaurants on the Big Island of Hawaii; my wife and I finally made it happen in November, 2025. The location (mere steps from the beach, with beautiful sunset views), the ambience and atmosphere were superb with gentle waves, a relaxing breeze, and the warmth of the staff really shining through. Our service was exemplary; our waiter had been working at the Canoe House for ages, and had an excellent working knowledge of the menus. He welcomed us like old friends, took excellent care of us, and made great suggestions to enhance our dining experience. The food was in a word - perfect. From appetizers (Shokupan Pull-apart bread and some delightful grilled corn ribs) to the entrees (accompanying photo is the Kampachi -stunningly good!) and dessert, each course was a flavor explosion and delivered with artful plating / presentation. The sunset as we dined was perfect, and we left with a plan to return again soon.

The best meal we had on the island so far. The food is mid but the atmosphere and view are fantastic. The garlic fried rice came highly recommended, but it was a bit too salty for us this time. The grilled lamp chops and oysters are pretty good.

Amazing views of Mauna Loa, delicious food and gracious service. Always my favorite dining experience on the Kohala Coast.

Stayed at Mauna Lani, so we had to try Canoe House for a nice dinner with a few girlfriends. The food came out beautifully. We ordered the lamb chops, roasted potatoes, and a colada. The lamb was tender and flavorful, with just the right amount of fat, and the potatoes were perfectly crispy. The colada was pretty strong, which I liked, though my friends wished it was a bit sweeter and more balanced. The restaurant is stunning at night, and our waiter was so kind -- he even took the drinks off the bill when he saw my friends didn't enjoy them. Definitely worth visiting if you're staying in Mauna Lani. Food: 8.8/10 Service: 9/10 (forgot to take our card for a while after we said we had to leave) Ambience: 9/10

We were looking forward to eat a special dinner at the Canoe House after seeing all the positive reviews. But it ended up being a huge disappointment. The ambiance is fantastic as well as the service - but the food we ordered just didn't live up to the hype What was good was the milk bread with black lava salted butter and the crispy garlic rice. The rest was mediocre at best Amberjack- the fish itself had good texture but it had a gamey flavor. I did like the ginger sauce Gray snapper- this was the special. Supposedly it is like an Ono but it was not. It was also over cooked Corn Riblets - at first I wasn't sure if I liked them, but in the end I did, They have a tajin like seasoning with a citrusy butter and an essence of truffle. Once you started eating them it was hard to stop Cabbage- I didn't have this but my Niece liked it We passed on desert All in all it is a beautiful location and very convenient if you are staying at the Auberge. If I went back, I would order other entrees

I was completely blown away by this restaurant. The staff were incredible, attentive, and kind. This was the BEST location I have ever eaten at, and I was so impressed with the design of the interior and exterior. The food was incredibly fresh, well made, and insanely creative. If we ever find ourselves back on the Big Island, we are going to be back.

Our experience at Canoe House couldn't have been any better. My husband surprised me with dinner while we were on big island for our anniversary. I'm a big menu looker, but because of the surprise, I went in blind. I wanted everything! With the help of our server, Ashley, we made a lot of choices and each one was perfection. We started with the bread. My husband is still talking about it. He called it a Minecraft block. It was big and so delicious. The butter! Oh the butter made the whole thing even better. Then we got the carrots, corn ribs and the fried rice to share. The carrots were good. On the sweet side, but so good. But the garlic fried rice! Best fried rice I have ever had! It comes out still cooking on this stone. They stir in an egg for you at the table and it mixes up these fried bits from the bottom. I took what was left and ate it the next morning for breakfast and it was just as good the second time! We both got steaks for dinner and they were cooked to perfection. Mine had a coffee rub, and his had a pink peppercorn sauce. We shared bites and couldn't decide which we liked more. The views can't be beat. Right by the beach, outside with the palm trees, without the mass tourist hustle and bustle. Something we can't seem to find over here on Oahu. Ashley made it such an amazing experience and offered so much insight about their menu. She was kind and helpful and we loved every suggestion she made. We will absolutely be back.

Just WOW. We had our best meals here. We also had top notch service from Deone. We had the fresh tuna, flown in from Japan and a tuna tartare dish that was finished with coconut and crispy seaweed. The next night we had a honey fried chicken special and crispy snap peas. Do not pass up the garlic rice. Everything was soooo good. We are going back tonight. The downside is that Deone is off. I'm sure whoever we get will be fine.

Hands down our favorite restaurant for dinner in Hawaii. The lobster tempura is a must and the garlic fried rice! Portions are really big and would recommend sharing two other plates. Service was incredible, Dom was extremely knowledgeable and attentive. Also do not leave without the trying the Japanese pretzel ice cream dessert with furikake and miso butter!

We had a wonderful dinner here on our last night staying at Mauna Lani. It was the perfect way to end a perfect trip. Fish and vegetables were the stars of the night, as was the service. Worth the splurge!

Best restaurant on the Big Island! I've been here twice, and remember telling my parents I went. They used to come for some special occasions. The ambiance is great--it's relaxed with amazing water views and decor. Boyfriend's brother proposed just outside here and the dinner we had here that followed was wonderful. Our main server Sam was great, as well as the secondary one Ethan. Both were funny, knowledgeable, honest, kind, and helpful, giving tips on where to go around the Island, talking about their experience and recommendations and what it was like growing up here! The sommelier is also very helpful and accommodating. They refilled water very quickly as well. Food is very good. The Warayaki is Instagrammable because they torch some of it tableside. Bf got the lambchop and it was delicious. I loved my Wagyu bavette--best skirt steak I've ever had! I was full but I devoured it. For apps--the lobster tempura is lush, fois gras gyoza is unique and filling. Fried rice is fine. The Rib of corn with truffle sauce is a must-have--best corn we've ever had. Pull apart bread is also delicious, fresh, creamy, and soft. I love the Ube Colada (not quite the same as the one at the bar at the Mauna Lanai Bay Hotel bar) here. Will keep coming back!

Got the Kona coffee wagyu steak and it was delicious. I'll be honest I just ate at Steak 48 in Del Mar so it's not a fair comparison to being on island but this was good. The setting is beautiful and the service was amazing. It's fine dining and it's pricey. You're on vacation and as I always say I can clip coupons at home to splurge on vacation so I don't even look at the prices and get what I want to enjoy.

Enjoyable dinner to top off our last night off on the big island. Staff was accommodating and we enjoyed the dinner. Beautiful views for a romantic date night

We went to the Canoe house for a birthday dinner. I've been on island for 4 days and this is the best meal we've had. I ordered the yellowtail fish and it was paired with curry base sauce which was perfect for this type of fish. My husband ordered the lobster which was good but not filling. If you want something light then definitely grab it. The best dish was the GARLIC RICE!!!! This rice was so good we ordered one to go. We ordered desert which was good but not memorable. Try to come earlier in the day so you can enjoy the view. We came at 7 and missed it.

Service was amazing -you may want to get a reservation. We had a 7:45pm reservation and the restaurant had to turn away some people behind us because of how booked they were. Ambiance is definitely amazing. The ocean view, the lighting and just every seat in that restaurant had a great view of the water Food -I swear we would want to order everything on menu but here's a few favorites -Kamapachi sashimi, lobster tempura and rib eye steak

Went here for one of the best meals I've had on the Big Island. Very beautiful by the beach and water setting. Top notch service. Very delicious food. My favorite thing I ordered here was the buttery grilled lobster. Perfectly grilled and warm with each bite. Very decadent and rich flavor. The other must order is the pull apart bread. So warm and soft and the butter that comes with it makes it even better! You do not need to come only for special occasions but simply the celebration of being alive and being able to enjoy a amazing meal on the Big Island!

Great ambiance. Wildly overpiced menu. No wine for under $120/bottle. The food is overpriced as well. Service is good and the food is good. Just be prepared to overspend.

Atmosphere: par none. Come a half hour before sunset and experience the classiest and most romantic digs on a coastline overstuffed with imperious beachside resort restaurants. But the food at CanoeHouse is mid at best, a solid B. After multiple trips to Big Island, we've canvassed the usual suspects: Brown's Beach House, Meridia, Napua, and the Mauna Lani resort's slightly more modest cousins, Ha Bar and Halani's. Pricewise, you'll be tempted to take out a reverse mortgage on your home, and that's before alcohol. Note that if you want side dishes, those are a la carte. VIBE Elegant yet smooth, not trying too hard yet still delivering serious sophistication. Think of a slightly retro 60's surf shack but if a billionaire took it and expanded and outfitted it with sleek dark mahogany and abstract Polynesian ceramics. The dining room opens up via accordion doors to an expansive patio overlooking the shore, tiki torches, and fire pits. There are no bad views here. SERVICE Casual yet refined. Our server had very clear dude mannerisms, but was somehow perfectly suited to his environment - he struck me as like the most interesting and well-read guy in a violent surf gang. He was helpful adjusting dishes to accommodate my girlfriend's gluten allergy and comped us a roasted mushroom dish when I balked at the crispy maitakes (more on those later). My drink did take a long while to arrive, and I had to ask for it after 20 thirsty minutes. FOOD Ugh. We know enough about eating on Big Island to know to gird your loins for the sticker shock at resorts and that there's an almost inverse ratio when it comes to price to satisfaction on any beachside restaurant. We were hoping CanoeHouse would be the (very pricey) exception to the rule, but alas, it continues to prove the point that if you want good food on island you go to the farmer's market or the local shack or food truck at the side of the road. We ordered: OYSTERS From the Pacific Northwest, they were creamy and briny. Pretty good and very expensive. But for a sudden urge, do you really need to come to Hawai'i to eat oysters from the PNW? HOKKAIDO SCALLOP SASHIMI This dish is a messy cacophony of everything everywhere all at once. Just too much going on here overpowering the sashimi, which did have the most silky texture. Would it be to much to ask to be able to taste them, too? CRISPY MAITAKE MUSHROOMS You'll see a lot of mushrooms on resort menus on Big Island. Most of them are pretty solid because that centuries old formula of fungus + butter + thyme + salt is nothing but failsafe. So what happened here to make these so utterly flavorless? Yes they were crispy, but completely devoid of seasoning. For $18, I'd skip this. SEARED SCALLOPS Okay, here's where I got a little peeved. The trio of scallops are seared perfectly, but first you have to dig and dig to uncover them under a thick blanket of.... more flavorless crispy maitake mushrooms!!! Now, this is the last thing I want after ordering a bland larger appetizer version. I wish our waiter had warned us about this, which I mentioned and he felt guilty enough to comp us a side of roasted, which was better if somewhat heavyhanded. CATCH OF THE DAY (Mahi Mahi) Sigh. I hate to compare dishes to those in other restaurants, but my gf ordered this because we'd experienced a transcendent mahi mahi dish at the One Hanalei Bay on Kaua'i which tasted, well, not like mahi - it was delicate and flaky in a way that we've been chasing ever since. Most mahi I have on the mainland is like this one at CanoeHouse was - bland, a little too dense and tough, and in need of strong flavor components to compensate and stand up to it. We were disappointed by both the quality and the portion, although we ultimately had a hard time finishing it. DESSERT - UBE CHEESECAKE Delicious! AND YET: it's notable that the single best thing we had at this restaurant was not made in its kitchen; we were told this came from Sweet Indulgence up in Waikoloa Village. Maybe next time we'll just eat dinner up there, too. I'd come back here again for the sunset ambience, but totally rethink my strategy - instead of going whole hog and being disappointed, I'd just order a couple simple things like the garlic fried rice and another app (not the mushrooms!), a drink, and just soak up that view for an hour. Then, I'd drive up to Waikoloa Village and have a real dinner and even the same dessert.

Ian, our server was amazing. 5 stars on level of service and feeling accommodated. He was there exactly when we needed him and offering suggestions on great food options. My wagyu was define, my wife's full lobster was delicious and made me want to eat lobster for the first time!! The fried garlic rice, I could eat it everyday. Overall a fantastic romantic experience with a full view of the ocean/soothing live music in the t made it a night to remember

I read a bunch of reviews before coming here and think that really helped the meal. Focused on getting more appetizers etc and just one main. The lobster tempura was a standout and I liked what they did with the kona kanpachi. The pull apart bread was good but don't think it was quite at that next level. Cocktails were fine.

It is rare to find a fine dining place that not only provides a dining experience but serves delicious food as well. CanoeHouse is one of those rare gems that gives you both! Came here for my sister's engagement dinner and thoroughly enjoyed it, from start to finish. Our waiter was very friendly (not the uppidty types) and took his time to explain the menu including the fish of the day and recommendations for our table. Excellent views of the ocean (literally steps away) and everything on the menu was excellent. My favorites dishes were the the broiled Kona kanpachi and diver scallops. Highly recommend the ahi kale salad, it comes with 6 pieces but our waiter brought 7 so every one at our table could try a piece, so thoughtful! The garlic fried rice was simple yet tied everything together. Drinks! I don't drink alcohol but they offer some mocktails. For dessert, we had the ube cheesecake which was perfectly made! Thank you CanoeHouse for a wonderful evening we'll never forget.

Dinner August 2024. One person (me) gluten free. Giving four stars factoring in the priciness. Roundtable reviews below -- Garlic Fried Rice - Overall favorite; described as "awesome" and "A++". Server brings it to the table then mixes in the sous vide egg (see video). Not GF due to soy Kekela Farms Mixed Greens - Great shareable app. Simple dark leaf greens with parm and light dressing Crispy Maitake Mushrooms - Recommended to us by a friend; group's take was "interesting". Not GF Wagyu Tataki - They prepared it GF for my main entree. Nice paper thin beef slices, though the sauce was overpoweringly salty Colorado Lamb Chops - Good, but similarly over-flavored. Pepper flavor was a "kick to the stomach" Seared Scallops - Very good. The side was more of the Crispy Maitake, so in hindsight we could've skipped the appetizer version Broiled Kona Kanpachi - AKA amberjack. Well prepared fish, but felt that the piece of fish itself was not the best quality to start out with (Dessert) Valrhona Chocolate Banana - GF as-is. It's mainly mousse with a tiny chocolate cake hidden inside. Wished that ratio was more even. Mousse was so rich we could each only handle one bite!

Absolutely incredible! We came to CanoeHouse for our anniversary dinner while on the island at another resort. Cocktails were delicious and the food was outstanding - we started with oysters and pull-apart bread, then for meals had the lobster, fresh catch and fried rice. Our service was top-notch and attentive. The open-concept waterfront restaurant is beautiful. Highly recommend!

Ambiance is 5*, service is also 5*. But, food is NOT 5*. This was our 3rd visit to the Canoe House - always around Christmas when we visit the Big Island. The restaurant is along the beach at the Auberge. A stunning location. The Auberge is an expensive 5* resort and so, it is to be expected that restaurant prices will also be high. We ordered one meat course, one fish, one vegetarian (tofu) and one chicken. The meat was a bit tough, and the fish was not all the fresh. Preparations were very good. We will probably go back - it is a place to celebrate. Service is always top notch. But, it is expensive and the value is not wonderful.

Valet parking at the entrance ( 3 hrs of stay is adjusted for and the ticket that the valet gives you is stamped at the restaurant checkin). From there you go down the stairs and make a right , walk a few steps and you would get to the beautiful Canoe House. The setting is absolutely delightful as you walk through the Auberge Mauna Lani corridors to the restaurant that's set with the Ocean in the backdrop. Big big shoutout to Ashley who was our host for the evening and boy she made sure we had all our questions answered , gave great suggestions and as well told us about all they had to offer. She was kind enough to make the walk twice to the kitchen to ensure if the Wagyu was Halal ( turned out they didn't have Halal Wagyu though it's from The Miyazaki Prefecture if that's what you like). Much appreciate the effort Ashley. Do ask for Ashley to be your host :) , while you are being seated, at the checkin. We ordered the Grilled Whole Keahole Lobster, Alaskan King crab leg , Radish salad with crispy salmon skin, a couple Oysters and Poke style Sashimi with Tuna as our choice of fish. The Salad was delicious and was a generous amount of serving that lasted us till the end. The Alaskan King crab leg was delicious and we were this close in ordering another one for the table. An absolute delight produced by Chef and co. The whole lobster comes with finger lime ( considered the caviar of limes) and you really get to enjoy the combination. As you squish the lime it spits out small boba like balls that constitute the slice and adds some amazing flavor to the lobster. No fighting with the shells as Ashley would say, since the kitchen does all the hard work for you by pulling out the meat, casting their magic spell on it and then carefully placing it back in the shell ( applies for the king crab leg as well). Guaranteed delicious!! The Sashimi and the oysters were done to perfection as well and we took no time getting through those on our way to the crab leg and lobster. We ended our dinner with a coffee along with Panacotta with Honey ( spread in a honeycomb fashion ) and some shortbread. Also got ourselves an Ube cheesecake. Delicious and the combination just worked wonders. Definitely recommend those. All in all a phenomenal experience that we hope and wish to repeat on every trip that we make to the Big Island. Amazing hospitality, phenomenal food, great views, amazing setting with the Ocean in the backdrop enough reasons for you to stop by for a great dinner/date night.

The vibes are so high!!! Most of this restaurant is outdoors and it's on the ocean. It's beautifully decorated too. There's torches in the grass and the sunsets are incredible. The staff here is really friendly and service is great. The food is pretty good, nothing too crazy but it's good. I have no complaints.

We really loved this restaurant. You absolutely can not beat the location and vibe as the outside tables are right on the beach and the inside tables all face out to the ocean. The service was impeccable and she was so friendly and warm. We ordered the pull apart bread and sugar snap peas for appetizers. For entrees, we did the kanpachi, pork chop, and scallops. Everything was amazing! The added bonus - our server took a family photo of us on the beach during sunset!! Highly recommend.

The CanoeHouse is in a separate building from the hotel and is right on the water with a beautiful view of the sunset if you come for dinner. They validated our parking, as valet parking is all that's available if you drive here and then hostess sat us immediately outside, there is also indoor and bar seating if you don't want to be outside. I don't suggest sitting inside as it feels like there's not even any ac and only ceiling fans keeping the place cool because it is all open and if that's what you want might as well do that outside with a view. We ordered cocktails and sparkling water which came fast and needed for the hot but breezy day at 6 pm. We weren't that hungry so skipped appetizers and went into ordering our entree. We ordered the Colorado lamb chops $78 that has a rosemary vinaigrette on it and accompanied by roasted Kekelo farm veggies. We also ordered the Koji roasted chicken $52 that had two sad pieces of carrots on some greens on the plate so we ordered more Kekela Farm roasted veggies for $18 on the side. The chicken tasted fantastic with that balsamic teriyaki, and the lamb chops were nice sized and tasty too. I love the farm to table concept here and you can taste it in the freshness of the ingredients. Everything was great except being seated outside means having flies. The servers were so attentive that when they saw us swatting our food they brought over a little fan to keep the flies away. We were surrounded by people that were on dates or celebrating a special occasion so there was a lot of positive Aloha in the air and happiness making the sunset even more enjoyable when it hit 7 o'clock. This is definitely a place to come to for a romantic sunset dinner date if you're a tourist or a local.

Clarified Milk punch review Velvet sour: elijah craig bourbon, amaro nonino, demerara, lemon, clarified, claret float This was a nice Milk punch. The whisky sour base was clarified and the harsher notes and bitters were smoothened. Had a nice nuttiness at the end. The claret float was mellow and did well with the base

This place was awesome! My husband and I decided to have our first anniversary dinner here while we were vacationing on the Big Island and we were not disappointed. First of all, the location right next to the ocean made for an incredible atmosphere. The weather was perfect for outdoor dining alongside the sound of the waves and the light of the tiki torches. The service was also incredible. Our server was so knowledgeable about everything on the menu and was able to make great recommendations. And the food was delicious. The meat was so tender and cooked to perfection, we did not want the meal to end. All in all it was such a great experience. And the casual dress code made for such a relaxed dining experience as well. We could not have asked for a better first anniversary dinner!

Where to start? Everything was fantastic. Jhumar and Dione were a fantastic team, making sure we were taken care of at all times. We were sat in the sun during the hottest part of the day and they were nice enough to move us over into the shade. Understand going in that this place is a bit pricey but it is well worth every penny. Jhumar was excellent in walking us through the menu and pointing out what went with what. Incredibly friendly and fun. Dione made sure we always had whatever we needed and was also quite friendly. We ordered the bread as well and the garlic fried rice, but forgot to take pictures. Everything was great. It was our son's first foray into balsamic chicken and it's safe to say it won't be his last. He loved it. I had the tofu and mushroom hot pot and it was great. Mushrooms prepared just right and the tofu had a nice crunch but soft in the middle. My wife had the shrimp and it was delicious. Jhumar recommended having the bread delivered with the main meal and he was right; it was used to soak up the sauce with the shrimp and the clams, while my daughter ordered. For dessert we went with the honeycomb panna cotta, which was light and flavorful, and the banana chocolate mousse, which was as decadent (and delicious) as it sounds. I'm pretty stingy with my stars but this is a well deserved five!

This was my 60th bday celebration dinner here. I'll start with Chris, our waiter was engaging and fun. His support guy was there constantly filling water glasses etc... The food: I'm sorry to report that the quality and preparation was ok. Nothing to support the prices. The pull apart bread is amazing, but for a larger crowd. Pass on the garlic rice. Brown rice sautéed with garlic and chile powder. Meh...The steak pricing is HILARIOUS!! Maybe they're gold crusted. Keep in mind, it's not a matter of ability to pay these prices. Its value VS quality. And this restaurant is possibly skating on its past wins. For a finale I was brought a little piece of bread pudding for my bday dessert. Thanks!!!

10/10 Location 10/10 Food 10/10 Service Booked reservation for dinner at sunset. Amazing atmosphere ambiance. Started with the tasty pull apart bread and magical lobster tempura. Mains were perfectly broiled kanpachi and onolicious wagyu bavette. Ube cheesecake for desert was yummy.

We LOVED the CanoeHouse. Came for our honeymoon and went two nights in a row. Sam is a fantastic server. We got different menu items each night and they were all 10/10. The cocktails were also fabulous. Had one with Yuzu Gin and need to come back for another! The toast specials both nights were fantastic. The wagyu was amazing as was the shrimp. We loved the fried rice, lobster tempura, sashimi, tuna assortment, fresh catch of the day, and all the desserts. Definitely more on the pricier side but this is my favorite restaurant in all of Hawaii. The bar is lovely and the service is fabulous. It's been a long time since I've felt such hospitality at a restaurant! Great sunset views as well.

What a lovely place. My wife and I had dinner at The CanoeHouse in early December and make a point of eating here every year. The atmosphere and service here is second to none. We always book an early seating, they open at 5pm, so we can take in the breath taking sunset in concert with the soothing ocean waves. They have some interesting craft cocktails but of course can make you anything that you are in the mood for. The wine list is extensive. This evening we went with: Cocktails: Grey Goose martini's Starter: Half a dozen chilled oysters. They were prepared with sweet onion tosazu, hawaiian chili pepper water, ogo. I am a huge oyster fan and these were some of the best I have ever had. Salad: Split the Radish Salad with Crispy Salmon Skin and Garlic Fried Rice. Wine: Billecart Salmon Brut Rose Champagne. Entree: Poke Style Sashimi and The Fresh Catch. Everything was spot on. The CanoeHouse is an elevated dining experience and a must while you are visiting the Big Island. If you are having cocktails and are drinking a bottle of wine along with starters, salads and entrees you can expect dinner for two to be around $350-$600. Not an "every night dinner" for most people but a nice treat while you are on vacation. Bar Seating: They also have a charming bar area towards the back of the restaurant. This is open seating and you can order anything from the menu here as well. We came back for a quick bite later during our trip and ordered the Koji Fried Chicken which was awesome!

Oh. My. Gooooodness. Our favorite dining experience of our entire Hawaiian honeymoon!! No more beautiful setting... book your reservation before dark so you can catch the sunset and actually take in the spectacular beachfront view. Our server was so great. Drinks were amazing.. an ube piña colada and a mai tai. Food was fantastic!!! Highly recommend the tempura lobster, garlic fried rice, and ube cheesecake. YOU CANNOT MISS THIS PLACE WHEN IN KONA!!! Also the entire resort is just gorgeous... worth the visit in itself. Valet parking is free when validated by your server.

Service was perfect. The food was great. Garlic fried rice is not to be missed. I loved my lobster better with the chili sauce. The tenderloin was perfectly cooked. It was a windy night, so all tables were sort of inside. I wanted to get the tasting menu but they discontinued it yesterday! They have a mini tasting menu as an appetizer offering. There were a lot of families there. The waiter said that the tasting menu was discontinued to put more focus on the main menu. With the clientele of families, this seems to make sense. Be prepared that this place is very expensive. I think the cheapest glass of wine was $23. The lobster was Not the most expensive menu item. However, the service, quality of food and view do live up to the price.

Ambiance is amazing. We had 8pm reservations and were sat promptly at 8 and ordered by 8:15. Took an hour to get bread that we paid some crazy price like $15 for. We sit here now at 9:30 and still have not received our entries. My husband got the tasting menu with the wine peering. When his first course came out (an hour after ordering) he never got his wine. When the second course came out he had to ask. First 2 courses came back to back and now we wait for his third (it is four courses). BTW - this meal will cost us over $500 and for that amount we should have amazing service. Truly disappointed as this was raved as the best place on the island!

Everyone on the island told us this place is considered the #1 on the island, and looking at the prices that doesn't shock me at all. The food is excellent, setting and ambiance are amazing - truly, the best; but damn, for the service to be just 3/5 and then paying sky-high prices, I am not sure it's that worthwhile. For the sake of my experience, I am giving 5-stars despite the service being slow because the food caliber and setting were so excellent. Food was exceptional in flavor. If only the quantity matched the commanding prices. I read in another review where someone commented the quarter chicken was $54 meaning a full chicken was $216 and yeah, that's really quite insane. Maybe it's just because in Hawaii everything is more expensive, now add that this restaurant is within a 5-star luxury resort. I think the takeaway is come with your expectations managed knowing this will be an exceptional meal in terms of quality. Tuna Warayaki was good Alaskan King Crab Leg was good, but $78 for a single leg, whew... you better LOVE crab. Garlic Fried Rice was great, again, $32 for a bowl of rice with garlic, sous vide egg, scallions and oil.

We had a wonderful 5-course omakase tasting menu that included oysters and sashimi to start, lobster tempura, local fish, a Wagyu-style beef course, and of course dessert. We also shared a wine pairing that went perfectly with each dish. The omakase is hands down the best deal that is not on the menu. It's not always offered but if it is, it's worth every penny! Our server Sam was exceptionally gracious and knowledgeable on both the food and wine. The hostess Ariana squeezed us in last minute and we are so glad she helped us. All of the other staff were very friendly and helpful as well. Most importantly we appreciate everyone at CanoeHouse for saving our evening, after we had an unfortunate experience at another "nice" restaurant nearby that didn't honor our reservation. The hospitality at CanoeHouse embodies the Auberge name, where we felt welcomed as friends. We highly recommend it to anyone looking for a beachside fine dining experience on the big island.

Year after year, this is our favorite place to eat. The food quality remains the same, the service only improves and the view never gets old. CanoeHouse is right on the water. In the winter, you can watch whales play while you watch the sun go down, sipping your Mai Tai. It's just perfection. The Kohala Coast Old Fashioned js so good with the macadamia nut syrup to give it a little bit of sweetness. But it does come with a hefty price tag: $32. But that is my only complaint. The food is delicious. Try to Warayaki- you get delicious food and a show. Make a reservation in advance. If you can't get one, try your luck at the bar.

Service was over the top. View was beautiful, oh YES the view at sunset was just picture perfect. The food was positively delishous. We did the seared ahi, the bread and we had the whole fish. GARLIC FRIED RICE. The rice is a must. we will return

Exceptional. Our waiter was incredibly knowledgeable, attentive, and informative. The food was absolutely amazing. I highly recommend the wagyu ribeye (negi shio tozasu was such a nice balance), also the pull-apart bread with that lovely seaweed miso butter. The warayaki is great opener. The crispy potatoes made with anchovies and seaweed were a huge upside surprise, very creative and delicious. The wine list matches the caliber of the experience, with ample choices to complement the food. If that weren't enough, you're sitting in an amphitheater of the Hawaiian ocean, the sun melting in the horizon, with a gentle breeze. If you want a culinary experience on the Big Island, this is it.

This is a beautiful restaurant at the Mauna Lani Resort. We made a reservation with the concierge and asked for a table to enjoy the sunset. We had a reservation for 5 pm and were seated at a quiet table overlooking the ocean. We couldn't have asked for more! Our server Sam patiently explained a tasting menu and various menu items. We opted to order from the menu and started with a couple of cocktails. The lobster tempura was my favorite appetizer. Husband ordered a couple of raw oysters and seared hamachi. We shared a refreshing radish salad with salmon skins sprinkled on top. One entree was the pork jowl which was a little salty. The whole lobster entree was nicely prepared and cut up into pieces and placed back into the shell. We ended the evening with flourless chocolate cake and Kona coffee ice cream. Canoe House is a must if you're visiting the island.

Great service and an excellent view. The food was really tasty and all the fish and oysters FRESH. Had the whole family there for dinner and everything was perfect.

The ambience was five star. The food was overpriced, and what made it unbearable were the cockroaches on the ground. It's understandable that you are in a tropical environment, but at a hotel where they charge you, an arm and a leg for a small piece of steak the Management should do a better job controlling the cockroaches. Hotel management should take this serious and have a meeting with their exterminator.

Incredible place to watch the sunset. Food was good but you're really paying for the views. Shokupan pull-apart bread (with extra alaea salt!) and Hokkaido scallop sashimi were our favorites. We were hesitant to order the fried rice but it was highly recommended and did not disappoint. Make reservations and time it to properly enjoy the sunset.

I stayed at Mauna Lani for a week and we ended up eating at Canoehouse multiple times. I think the food is ok. They don't have a lot of vegetarian options and I also felt like they were overpriced. The staff were really nice and welcoming. The drink were decent, but definitely overpriced. I literally eat the same thing every time I was there due to the lack of options. I will say the radish salad is to die for.

one of the best food in the island accordingly to the local. it's inside of the hotel , the price is definitely a hotel price. i dont know if that many people would afford it, it's more like a michelin star price. I ordered the crab leg appetizer, it's only one leg for $78. I will give a pass if i knew it was such a small portion even it taste just mediocre. and we had garlic fried rice. Come on, it's $32 for egg scallion fried rice? I dont know if this is a money well spend. if you want to impress or to splurge for just one night, you can give it a try. the food taste good

What an amazing experience at canoe house. We started off with a martini at the bar while we wait for our table. Than continued on to our dinner experience starting with some fresh oysters that was raised in Kona at the OTEC sight. Overall the ambience was perfect and not to mention Mark the GM recommended an amazing bottle of champagne for us to enjoy. We can't forget about Dean our waiter, very knowledgeable and know's how to make your dinner night special. I would recommend to sit where Dean is serving. Overall great place for a romantic dinner for that special someone.

I love the CanoeHouse at the Mauna Lani resort. The food is delicious, my personally favorites are the teriyaki beef, fresh fish, and veggie items. The service is quick and helpful. The ambiance of this restaurant is beautiful. Since it is on the Mauna Lani resort you have an amazing view of the ocean with indoor and outdoor seating, they also offer have a bar inside. I would definitely recommend coming here!!