Kōkeʻe Lodge

Really excellent food and service here. We ordered the nachos and ahi bites from the specials menu and the cornbread from the standard menu, and all were phenomenal. The line to order was long but moved quicker than you might expect, and service was quick and very friendly. 10/10 refueling stop after a challenging morning hike.

Cozy restaurant with decent food and a variety of vegetarian options. This was such a lovely stop. The lady at the store checkout was nice, so was the gentleman who took our order. Lovely, live music and warm vibes. One bad experience ruined our afternoon though and I’d probably never go back again. The young lady who was serving us was exceptionally rude and rolled her eyes and shook her head when we asked a simple question about our food. Why 4 stars? Because I’d like to believe that this person was having a bad day and it really shouldn’t take away from the effort everyone was putting in to make the restaurant work. As long as our afternoon was concerned, it was pretty much sour from there and we left quickly after finishing our meal.

You wouldn’t expect to find food this good at the top of a mountain — but this place proves you wrong fast. From loco moco and BLT sandwiches to veggie curry and pancakes, everything is clean, balanced, and seriously tasty. The drinks are just as great — coffee, iced tea, beer, all of it. Definitely try the food here. And finish with a local Hawaiian ice bar — the perfect ending!

We visited the restaurant only. They were a bit discombobulated, came out to ask if we were waiting for food and what we had ordered, so it took some time to get our food. The fish sandwich was spectacular, but the ceviche was nothing special and not a lot of food for $18. Coconut pie was DELICIOUS. It's the only game in town for food up here and is a cozy place, worth stopping if you are hungry and don't want to wait to come down out of the park. Most expensive firewood in the country in their store!

This lunch stop was a wonderful surprise. It’s in a big open area with a huge field, chickens galore, a small nature walk, a museum/gift shop, and the restaurant. We enjoyed all of it. Best part was the food though! Highly recommend.

Our favorite place to eat on the island! The farm-to-table food is always fresh and full of flavor. The peaceful atmosphere is enhanced by live music on occasion and fun games to play while you wait. A truly relaxing and delicious experience every time.

We had lunch here after hiking the Nu’alolo Trail and it was fantastic! Friendly service, cute / kitschy vibes, delicious food. The smashed potatoes were BOMB — get them! The local farm salad plus a burger patty was also scrumptious. Clean bathrooms. Highly recommend for lunch, coffee, or to dry off from a rain shower!

GREAT! This place is super convenient and roomy and the food was AMAZING! The BLT and grilled cheese were exceptionally delicious. Also, the pork sandwich was incredible. The inside was cute and homey and the servers were kind and efficient. If you’re going to the canyon, this is a great place to eat!

Highly rec stopping here for food while you're visiting. I had the loco moco 10/10!!! If I go back I will be reordering. Had coconut pie for dessert. Dried shaved coconut with chocolate drizzle. It was good but will try the passion fruit cream pie next time. There's a small gift shop inside lodge as well. Restrooms available and well kept.

Since this was the only place in waimea canyon we stopped over here for a quick lunch before heading back home We got a grilled cheese for my son and me and my husband shared a veg curry. The menu options are super limited esp for vegetarians. We eat chicken and seafood but almost everything else had pork and beef The grilled cheese was very good on a soudough bread. It was a bit too small though. The curry was delicious and felt great to have warm confort food after walking and hiking around in the park Overall highly recommend this place if you are in waimea canyon

This isn't your Xanterra / Aramark national park offering! SERIOUSLY BETTER! This is a family-run lodge in the Waimea Canyon / Kokee state parks. The food is solid. The Portuguese bean soup is something of a legend and worth a try. The barbeque pork plate was also a winner. And they have beer to wash it all down if you wish. The ambience is wonderful - cozy cottage setting with games and lots of wood everywhere. It's order at the counter and then brought to you, but is done so quickly and with a smile. A definite find! No need to pack a lunch to the park!!!

The chili and cornbread from this spot might be my favorite meal on island! This is the only restaurant up in Kokee and it's a great spot to stop in if you're spending the day up there. It has a true lodge vibe and feels very homey, especially with the friendly staff. They have a little store in the front for souvenirs and knickknacks. They also have games you can play while you're waiting for your food. 10/10 recommend!

The Kokee Sate Park is beautiful, we have made a point to go on each trip that I have taken to Kauai. It's a really pleasant place to be and I love the grassy area. Each time we also make a point to eat at the Kokee Lodge. It's always been a good place to stop, but this last time both the food and service were not great. The first thing we noticed was the menu was reduced, so there were not as many options as before. That was ok, we managed to order a burger and a pulled pork plate. The food was pretty bland. The service was just lacking, I'm not sure what happened that day, but I was met with frustration and rudeness from the littlest things. I asked for a paper cup for my child, even offering to pay for it and not one but two people gave me a hard time for asking. I get back to my table and the food is served, the server asks if we need anything else and I asked for a spoon. She gave me an awful look for asking her to go grab something that was not accessible for me to grab myself. We left just feeling like it's just not the same as the previous visits. We spent over $60 on lunch, only to feel unwelcomed and let down. Oh well, we decided next time we will still visit the park, but pack our own lunch to enjoy.

We've been to this restaurant on each of our Kauai trips and it's been consistently excellent after our hikes and a must see when visiting Waimea. We hiked the canyon trail this trip a little over 3 1/2 miles of decent elevation gain and loss, and we were hungry to say the least. This lodge reminds me of my hometown in Reno Nevada and is something that you might see at Lake Tahoe. It is woodsy and quaint with large Hawaiian Christmas trees around a beautiful grassy green area at the top of Kokee road / Waimea canyon. I had the line caught panko mahi-mahi fresh special bowl with a glass of crisp and light Pinot Grigio and my husband had their classic burger with an IPA on tap. We sat at the bar and got to talk to the owner and learn about the longtime family owned restaurant that had been resurrected and brought back to life. There was wonderful live music playing on this day which was a treat during the lunch hour. The grounds are beautiful as well. There were a lot of folks that were just enjoying the large grassy area, picnicking. They were busy this day and we were able to sit at the bar without a reservation. Waimea is cooler bring a light rain jacket! We hope to be back again soon!

Had a quick weekend getaway to Kauai over the weekend for the Waimea Town Christmas Parade and wanted to go up to Koke'e to get some fresh mountain air. We drove up to the Kalalau lookout to get some views and then went back down to the Koke'e Lodge for breakfast. When you get to the restaurant you order at the counter and then you seat yourself. I decided to order Pancakes, Portuguese Sausage and Eggs and a Midnight Magic coffee (4 Shots Espresso) Everything was so delicious. The restaurant is so warm and inviting, the vibe is really relaxing that you forget that you're in a restaurant. Everyone that works here is so friendly too. This restaurant is a must if you are visiting Koke'e!

Nestled in the heart of Koke'e State Park, this restaurant was a great place to get a bite and still see Hawaiian landscape. Since its one of a few places for a sit down meal, it can get busy - plan accordingly. As you can see from their menu board, they have very few offerings. But what we had was quite fresh and good. As you can see from my salad pic, it was extremely fresh. The side salad dressing was tasty. The Kalua Plate, see my pic, had surprisingly good pulled pork. It had a fair amount of smoke flavor even though it was light on bark and smoke ring. The sides of potato salad and cole slaw were also good.

What a great find! Such a cute and quant ambiance. Enjoyed a break from the exploration of Waimea Canyon. Was able to enjoy the delicious food and the live music made for such a true Hawaiian experience. Highly recommend the moco loco as well as any of their lemonades. The staff was so kind and welcoming. It's an order at the counter situation and they bring your food to your table. Any drinks ordered are picked up at their drink counter. There was a crowd but still felt there was plenty of space to accommodate everyone. Also, you can buy chicken feed to feed the chickens that roam the area. The kids loved feeding them after lunch and will remember the experience for a lifetime. Must Try!!!

Prettiest place for a meal! The food choices were varied, and served up quickly. I had the Local Veg Curry with white rice, which was delicious and plenty filling. Loved the hibiscus tea. Music provided by Nicholas Castillo and his guitar--very nice selection of mellow tunes.

My personal favorite restaurant we visited on our trip to the island. Farm to table dishes, friendly staff, and warming atmosphere. Made the drive up to the lodge a few times during our visit just to get their chocolate chip macadamia nut cookies.

Beautiful lawn. Great gift shop. Grabbed a coffee and the best coconut cheesecake I have ever had! Can't wait to try it again. Didn't get a picture because we ate it so fast! Very nice staff

Jimmy, Celeste, and the entire team at Kokeʻe Lodge are absolutely amazing! Whether you're fueling up before a hike or unwinding afterward, this is the definitely the place for you. The food is thoughtfully prepared using fresh, local ingredients, and you can really taste the difference in every bite. The cozy, rustic ambiance paired with live music creates an unforgettable vibe...relaxed, authentic, and full of aloha. If you are hiking, picnicking in the meadow or just passing through, don't miss this hidden gem in the heart of Kokeʻe!

This was a fun stop at the top of Wiamea Canyon. There's a cute gift shop and some yummy food! The coffee cake definitely tastes home made

The "lodge" was better than I had expected. After camping for a few days it was nice to have a proper drink & hot food. There was even bagged ice that was cheaper than the closest grocery store, but the firewood was not. There is also WiFi but it only works at the bar room.

Very quaint environment with delicious food and good service. It was a great stop along the drive along the Waimea Canyon.

Hands down my favorite restaurant during our trip, but granted I'm from Appalachia so this felt like home. Amazing matcha, loco moco was worth 5 more visits alone, and I could write a novel about how much I loved the fireplace/leather furniture. Barista was hilarious. Didn't want to leave. Idk if you'll get what you'd expect as "island" vibes here (maybe crunchy state park vibes) but that's what makes it so unexpected and special. Don't skip the gift shop.

The food and service here was great. You walk in and order then seat yourself. I had the kalua plate which was excellent. It came with a salad with a nice dill dressing and Taro salad. I tried the Loco moco and the gravy was amazing. We also had the breakfast special with the Portuguese sausage that was soo good. I also had a cup of the chili which was not too spicy and had a hint of sweetness. My fave and the star of the show was the pancakes with candied macadamia. For some reason pancakes in Hawaii are just on another level!!

A good place to stop on your drive for a place to eat and even live music. We were hungry and got the kalua plate which was pretty good. I've gotten coffee from here in the past and would recommend that as well. Food isn't anything special but a good place to stop if you're hungry!

Well we were told the cornbread was amazing and it was really really good. We decide to hike the canyon trail to the falls so we were up there. I wouldn't take the windy road just for the cornbread but the restaurant has lots of choices and a beautiful location and by the way great cornbread.

Excellent food! This is my 5 th time on top of this mountain. The first time in 1991,I just couldn't believe it. A rainforest at 4200 feet with all the unpronounceable tree names and toss in a few unlikely majestic conifers. Back then,it was raining so hard I didn't stay long. On subsequent returns I went in the lodge but never ate there, until today. I had read a few Yelp reviews talking about the great food. One limitation is the hours. 10-2. But,I planned for it and so glad . Great food,friendly people,rustic environment. It's a winner and I urge you to plan on being hungry on your visit. You'll be glade you are here. Eclectic menu includes entrees such as Portuguese Soup,Kauai grass fed beef burger and chili, grilled cheese, smoothie,lemonade,full bar and desert. Go!

Three stars because it was pretty pricey for what it was and the food was a bit above average. But, after a long day of hiking, the lodge is a great place to have some warm food and/or a drink and play some games--it's a super cozy haven in the middle of kōke'e park with great family-feeling service, but it is on the more expensive end. Our two beers, chili, cornbread, and kalua plate totaled to be around $70. The chili was served somewhat cold, but was still really good. Kalua plate was also decent, just a bit dry. The cornbread was the star of the show for sure! Also a great place to connect to wifi and get service if you're camping

The timing was good for us to pop into Kokee Lodge for lunch during our visit to Waimea Canyon. Cute place with a limited menu. We were pleased with our choices of the kalua pork plate, served with rice, sweet potato salad and coleslaw (which had a spicy kick!) and the island burger. The mai tai was disappointing however. You order at the counter and receive a number to have your food delivered to you. The staff buses your table here. There was a live musician which added a nice touch. We were there about 40 mins in total and visited the small museum next door afterward.

Most everywhere in Kauai is expensive-and Kokee Lodge isn't any different. However, when the guy behind the counter was super cheerful and friendly, it took a bit of the sting of the costliness away. The food was pretty good and the flavored lemonade was tasty, although I'm not sure I'd pay $5 for a cup of it again.

The Kokee Lodge is our traditional bite-n-sip pit stop after hiking. We adore this quaint, farm-to-table restaurant that offers a great selection of food, beverages (of all sorts!!! non-alcoholic as well as the more sinister ones), baked and cold treats, not to mention a great service with a smile! We usually order the Farm Salad (lilikoi dressing...yummy!), the ridiculously addicting smashed potatoes (that Thai chili aioli!!!!!!!!!), and sometimes we get the Strata, or, like today, we ordered the grilled cheese sandwich with spicy tomato bisque!! (crazy good!). We washed it down with a spicy margarita and a bloody Maria (house-made mix) = perfection. I highly recommend this special spot.

Fun little place to find up in the mountains. And wow the Portuguese stew was delicious and they make a mighty good bloody Mary. The woman that worked at the bar was also a delight to chat with... Took her a little time I think to trust us, I'm sure there's a lot of tourists that come through but everybody was very nice and friendly. It was a great stop and glad we had the experience.

For some place as far as this it was such an incredible experience to see and witness everything up at Kokee. The park was amazing, the food was great, the service was amazing and the atmosphere was very family style oriented. It checked off all my boxes in a great place to be. There was also live music that I enjoyed and up here was slightly colder then usual so if heading up to Kokee especially the lodges be sure to bring something warm for yourself. I had the time of my life learning and reading about this history here it was definitely an experience to have when in Kauai.

Surprisingly great place to stop if you're exploring Waimea Canyon SP. It was busy, but we still got a table and our food didn't take long to come out. We got the loco moco and Kalua plate and both were really good. The little gift shop area is cute too.

Farm-to-table meals with a ton of great drink options (espresso, teas, smoothies). The chili is made from grass-fed beef and tastes excellent.

Nice surprise at almost the end of the road. My husband and I enjoyed the Portuguese bean soup and lilikoi merengue pie, both equally delicious. Great pleasant and fast service, makes everyone feel like a local and the ambiance is rustic and today we had the pleasure to have live Hawaiian music. Definitely a must STOP if you're driving through the island of Kauai.

Whilst just now eating my yummy lunch of rye toast with eggs and avocado, I was happily transported into a memory of my most recent trip to Kokee Lodge, so much so, that I had to immediately Yelp them to read all of the happy reviews! I can't believe I missed a review of this truly memorable event of visiting Kokee Lodge and the delicious lunch we had! The food broke da mouth! It was SO ONO! The Portuguese Bean Soup and the garlic noodles were OUTSTANDING! It was the perfectly fried egg on top of the noodles that transported me just now... Best garlic noodles of my life. Best everything. Yup cornbread is truly as good as its many reviews. The perk is that you are on the mountain, surrounded by trees, blue sky or clouds, native and exotic trees, Nene birds, and yes, chickens. Such a magical spot, with the excellent food being the ultimate cherry on top! Add this to my list of best foods in the best of places, to have on Kauai!

About the halfway point in the State Park, on the road up to the top. I recommend making a stop. Not only for the museum building next door. Many tables to sit and hangout. Clean restrooms inside as well. This lodge offers a shopping/souvenir side and various food options. A mix of beverage options; coffee, smoothies, lemondes, a grab n go selection and a full bar. Food is a bit on the pricier side. My grandfather really enjoyed the cheeseburger. I recommend Portuguese bean soup and cornbread. If I had to only get one the CORNBREAD! YUM! The perfect texture with a buttery top. The flavors in the soup and cornbread go together so well. I'd highly suggest getting both. It was another highlight of the day, alongside the beautiful views of the canyon!

This place is brilliant! Breakfast and lunch. Coffee and full bar. I had the pork and a beer and it's the best pork I've had in all of Hawaii! Small-ish hours, check ahead. Very friendly. Highly recommend. Cute lodge-y feel. Worth a stop for sure.

Ordered a Paniolo Latte with extra shot & macadamia nut milk ... the double shot espresso was unique and tasty... they had great music and awesome patio seating... highly recommend this cafe...

Do not underestimate this little restaurant in the middle of nowhere because they serve great food! Most people who eat here are probably coming to tour Waimea Canyon because it's a bit of a drive to come here just to eat. Honestly, we didn't have much expectations just because this was the only restaurant around, however, we were curious, so we still stopped by. order at the counter. There was a short line around 1:30pm, we had a late lunch. We got the Loco moco, the burger, and the cornbread. The cornbread was a little pricey for what it was and it was OK so I would skip that. However, the local moco and the burger were amazing! The egg was runny, the gravy was peppery and savory, and the burger patty was so juicy and thick! For the burger, they used, ciabatta bread, same juicy burger patty plus all the fixings, and it was scrumptious! This could be one of the best meals we had on Kauai actually, I know, right. Also, don't forget to check out the little gift shop and spend some time with the chickens because they're hilarious. Enjoy Kauai!

Omg we LOVED Kokee Lodge!!! After trekking through Waimea Canyon, we stopped here for some refreshments. THE PEOPLE WERE SO HAPPY AND NICE! One of them overheard it was my birthday and told my sister to tell me happy birthday, ha! We had a drink, bought some snacks and merch, and used the facilities before heading out of the park. Excellent stop, you must!

If you're expecting an amazing culinary experience, don't come here. If you're expecting a cozy cabin feel with super latte, teas and smoothies options with a warm fire, live music and farm to table home cooked meal-vibes, then stop here on your way up to the view! You order at the counter after perusing their limited menu detailed beautifully on a chalkboard. Their coffee shop menu is quite extensive, and they have a bunch of milk alternatives. The food comes quickly, and they only have like 2 vegetarian options that aren't a cookie so veggies beware. The veggie curry was very good and rustic feeling and was an option to add as a cup of soup with the grilled cheese. Worth the stop on the way up or down for some sustenance. You can buy chicken feed for $1 ro entertain the kids and to feed those rowdy chickens on the way out as well!

10/18/22 For years we've passed by this Koke'e Lodge & I've often wondered & wanted to try because it looks inviting. It's what I had pictured it, rustic & cozy as we entered, country music is playing. Hubby wanted an oat milk latte & I saw Koke'e pancakes on the menu, it peaked my interest. I wanted to try it so if it's any good then we'll know if we'll come by again the next time we're visiting. Hubby's oat milk latte came out piping hot & he says, "loved it, it's beautiful" That surprised me coz I thought it was just okay. I had asked for the pancakes to go but when it came out (see photo), we couldn't resist. We figured it's best to eat while fresh & hot. I'm torn whether to give it a 3.5 or a 4 star coz the texture of the pancake is not what I'm used to. It might've been made with corn bread (grainy) flour but it was good & satisfying. It paired so well with the candied macadamia nuts, whipped cream & blueberry preserves. Great balance of flavors. Okay, deal, the pancakes deserve a 4 star. The staff are very friendly (I wasn't expecting that either). I really love the vibe here because it's rustic & it feels warm. It makes a difference when the staff have a positive attitude towards customers, it makes me want to come back & try other stuff on the menu. It's definitely off the beaten path & the only place for a sit down meal in Koke'e/Waimea. The lush surrounding is very inviting. There cabins for rent nearby. This place does not feel like Kaua'i because it's 64 degrees, amidst pine trees (while it's 87 degrees when you come down the canyon). Definitely worth another look/try--we'll sit & dine next time.

ALOHA, we came from OAHU and my friend brought me to this restaurant because they were supposed to be so good. I ordered the beef burger. I asked for no pickle because of allergies with pickles and for it to be well done when I received it it was red in the middle and had the pickle on the plate I let them know and they heated up the same burger, put it on the same plate with the pickle juice. when I tried to explain it to the manager that I had an allergy and if I ate the pickles or the pickle juice, they would have to call 911 if I had an allergic reaction he said well you did not tell me you would have an allergic reaction I said, no pickles please do not put the pickle on the plate and he said he heard me and he continued to argue and I told him to just please stop arguing with me. I don't want to argue with him and he started up again and again. I asked him to please stop arguing with me and I just wanted to get a refund the waitresses on the other hand were very sweet very kind and very attentive after talking with them. I found out it was the owner I was addressing talking to not the manager that made it even more said then I looked on yelp and found out they were a 3.9 now I understand why sorry for complaining, but I was very upset with his behavior and how he took the whole situation instead of just taking care of the problemThank you for listening, but if you're gonna go up there to eat, please eat before you go. It also is pricey

Nestled alongside a meadow as you head up Waimea Canyon, you'll find Koke'e Lodge. The food is fantastic, topped off with their "to-die-for" Lilikoi pie. They close early, so make sure to get up their for lunch and enjoy the hiking and beautiful sites as you drive along the rim of Waimea Canyon. Once a month, they host a farm-to-table dinner - look for their monthly offering on their facebook account! It's a little bit of a drive from the north end of Kauai, but is well worth the trip.

The lodge quickly became our favorite place to kick back and dine after long hikes nearby. Cozy, friendly, and lots of food and drink options, friendly staff.

Just tried this place out while visiting the state parks. Got the grilled cheese sandwich with tomato bisque, and for something so basic it was so good! Also got a kōke'e colada smoothie and it was so creamy and delicious, not overly sweet either. Definitely a nice place to grab a quick bite and drink on your way to checking out the views.

Very noisy and only sold chicken stuff which is offensive to the native endangered birds in kokee. There was literally a shirt that said kokee and gave picture of a chicken this is absurd and ridiculous

We didn't use the restaurant but Did The gift shop and restrooms. 2 Nice bikes parked out side. I found a nice little stuffed Turtle that will be a gift for a little girl in Vermont. Lots of tables inside.

Cute little mountain stop for a meal and chilling. Awesome rustic vibe and nice folks. The Kokee pancakes were awesome! Stop have fun and food.

This is a fabulous location with wonderful food that deserves to be in the park. If you are up there visiting the canyon I highly recommend planning on being there for a meal. We had the Portuguese bean soup with cornbread and a poke bowl. Both were delicious and fresh. My wife particularly enjoyed the Portuguese being soup. The cornbread was some of the best I have ever had. If I had any critique of it, it was that the bowl of soup was quite small, and the cornbread was an extremely generous portion. I think they could realistically downsize the cornbread and nearly double the soup bowl. I don't eat a lot of seafood, but the poke bowl was really good and I enjoyed it . Service was pretty fast and good no complaints there! We had a nice view of the park while we ate. I would recommend it as more of a breakfast or lunch place than a dinner place .

They were out of the traditional Loco Moco so we had the Kalua pork loco moco which turned out to be one of our favorite dishes on the whole vacation. Lovely space, good coffee, and kind staff.

Great location, Very cozy and relaxing. if you are driving to Waimea Canyon make sure to check out.

Nice, homey restaurant, with a good selection of meat, fish, veggie, smoothie options, and live music. I was very impressed with how good the sesame crusted fish tasted. Also kid friendly. Everyone was very friendly. Good location while visiting Koke'e State Park. Plenty of parking.