Sunset Kai Lanai

Hawaiian restaurant · Kahaluu-Keauhou

Sunset Kai Lanai

Hawaiian restaurant · Kahaluu-Keauhou
78-6831 Ali‘i Dr #1000, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740

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Sunset Kai Lanai by null
Sunset Kai Lanai by null
Sunset Kai Lanai by null
Sunset Kai Lanai by null
Sunset Kai Lanai by null
Sunset Kai Lanai by null
Sunset Kai Lanai by null
Sunset Kai Lanai by null
Sunset Kai Lanai by null
Sunset Kai Lanai by null
Sunset Kai Lanai by null
Sunset Kai Lanai by null
Sunset Kai Lanai by null
Sunset Kai Lanai by null
Sunset Kai Lanai by null
Sunset Kai Lanai by null
Sunset Kai Lanai by null
Sunset Kai Lanai by null
Sunset Kai Lanai by null
Sunset Kai Lanai by null
Sunset Kai Lanai by null
Sunset Kai Lanai by null
Sunset Kai Lanai by null
Sunset Kai Lanai by null
Sunset Kai Lanai by null
Sunset Kai Lanai by null
Sunset Kai Lanai by null
Sunset Kai Lanai by null
Sunset Kai Lanai by null
Sunset Kai Lanai by null
Sunset Kai Lanai by null
Sunset Kai Lanai by null
Sunset Kai Lanai by null
Sunset Kai Lanai by null
Sunset Kai Lanai by null
Sunset Kai Lanai by null
Sunset Kai Lanai by null
Sunset Kai Lanai by null
Sunset Kai Lanai by null
Sunset Kai Lanai by null
Sunset Kai Lanai by null
Sunset Kai Lanai by null

Highlights

Perched high in Hawaii, this lively eatery serves up enormous portions of vibrant cuisine alongside stunning 230-degree ocean views and cozy fire pits.  

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78-6831 Ali‘i Dr #1000, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740 Get directions

sunsetkailanai.com
@sunset_kai_lanai

$20–30 · Menu

Reserve

Information

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78-6831 Ali‘i Dr #1000, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740 Get directions

+1 808 333 3434
sunsetkailanai.com
@sunset_kai_lanai

$20–30 · Menu

Reserve

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Last updated

Jul 14, 2025

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Rae H George

Google
It was our first time there, we went primarily for the music which was great. We didn't know about the happy hour which ended at 5:00, and had some of the menu items we were looking forward to getting, such as fish tacos. The fish and chips dish was very good, and plentiful. The bread order was also very good. I would skip the crab cakes next time. The chowder was good but very salty.

Lydia Chang

Google
10/10 for EVERYTHING. Food: we were very hungry and also craving to enjoy our dinner with sunset, and this happened to be the perfect spot! The Hawaiian chicken is sooo tender and juicy, the beef patty in the burger is juicy and you get it every single bite. The nachos are made from wonton skin and tasted better than regular nachos and matched the Asian flavor so much better! Their key lime pie was a complimentary dessert, and I’m glad that we chose that over the peanut butter cake because this is the BEST crust I’ve ever had. Macnut is added and the caramel gives you that nice stickiness and crunchiness at the same time! Service: I couldn’t catch her name but she was so sweet. She’s in dark red hair. She saw that we waited and offered the complimentary dessert, and she also noticed bugs flew into our water and offer us a new one before we even noticed! Ambiance: fantastic place to enjoy the gorgeous famous Kona sunset and delicious Hawaiian food. Recommend for both family and couples!

Cell

Google
Walking in was able to get seated right away. Douglas was awesome. Listen to everyone. Douglas was able to suggest a drink to everyone going off want we want, and it was perfect. 1st time here, and he made it perfect. We ordered food and were coming out to perfection

Joseph Alcon

Google
Our waiter Aaron was great. Drink server a bit dismissive and hostess apologetic about our special table that we had reserved 5 hours in advance had been taken by someone else. We still enjoyed the live music and food. Food and beverages were good. Would visit again, but would emphasize to any untrained staff to ensure that there's a visible sign for reserved tables.

Meleloloahi Tuita

Google
5 stars For Sunset Kai Lanai, thank you Justin who made the reservation possible the day before and to our amazing host Leimomi Kahumoku! We were a very large group -- 37 of us who just finished a family reunion the day before. We wanted a final dinner before departing Kona -- and our host handled everything with such grace, warmth, and professionalism. From the moment we arrived, she made us feel so welcome and taken care of. Coordinating a group this size is no easy task, but our host went above and beyond to make sure everyone was comfortable, our orders were taken with care, and the food came out timely and delicious. The service was smooth, friendly, and personalized -- we never felt rushed or overlooked. It truly made our evening special. You could tell she genuinely cared about making it a great experience for all of us. Our whole party was raving afterward about how amazing the dinner was -- not just the food, but the hospitality. If you're ever in Kona and want an unforgettable dining experience, this is the place, the view was beautiful -- and the host is a gem! Thank you again for helping make our trip so memorable. We'll be talking about this dinner for a long time!

Jennica Macoy

Google
We passed this place many times on our visits to Hawaii but for some reason never stopped until this last trip. We won't make that mistake again, we will definitely be adding this place to our must go to resturants while in Kona! First, we didn't have a reservation ( I always recommend reservations) but the hostess was able to seat us quickly which is important when you have 4 year old twins. The views from this place are spectacular, stunning and breathtaking. Watching the sun go down over the water from the top of a hill is absolutely one of the most beautiful things hawaii has to offer. The service was fast and they had macaroni and cheese for my twins so that was a win! The food was delicious and the cocktails were tasty. One of my twins ended up breaking a dish ( on accident of course) and the waiter and bus boy felt so bad for him they brought out a free dessert to cheer him up. They both said they had kids and didn't want my little one to feel bad. This little gesture definitely brought a tear to my eye. Definitely kid friendly and spectacular service. We will definitely be back and highly recommend this place!

Candie S Brown

Google
Key lime pie. If anything, you need to go here just for this. It is fantastic!! But in all seriousness, we went in on a Friday night and didn't have reservations so we sat at the bar. Colin was our bartender and he was great. We ordered the fish and chips and the flat iron steak. Everything was delicious and I'm so glad we got the pie!! It's a very generous portion so be sure to save room!

Jason Hader

Google
I've only been once since it changed ownership, so I don't have comprehensive knowledge. I had some kalua pork tacos from the happy hour menu. It was too much food for me in the end. These tacos were perhaps too juicy. There was a pool of liquid at the bottom of the plate. I would have preferred less taco juice. The server suggested also ordering from the dinner menu, but when I asked if three tacos would be enough, he admitted that it would be. We've often sat at the rail at Sam Choy's, but we weren't seated there on this occasion.

Brooke V.

Yelp
The view from the restaurant was stunning, the vibe inside was clean, inviting relaxing. It was busy on a Friday night, we made reservations for a large group and were seated immediately. Our server recommended the rib eye which at first I wasn't too sure because I'm picky with my meat but boy was I happy to be wrong! The rib eye - I ordered it medium well. It was crunchy on the outside, tender and flavorful on the inside. Best rib eye I've eaten out in a long time. 10/10 recommend. I'm a rice girl so next time I would have substituted the potatoes for white rice. The potatoes in my opinion had good flavor but the rib eye was so good I felt I simply needed an unflavored carb to go with, but that could just be me. Ribs - 10/10 just like they described juicey, fell right off the bone, Our group ordered the salmon, seafood trio, the ahi, fish and chips, calamari and wedges appetizers. Desserts - we ordered all three. The mini malasadas (cinnamon donuts) were scrumptious and served hot. The peanut butter pie was my favorite. Everything was satisfactory, no complaints from our group! Was a pleasant experience.

Candie S.

Yelp
Key lime pie. If anything, you need to go here just for this. It is fantastic!! But in all seriousness, we went in on a Friday night and didn't have reservations so we sat at the bar. Colin was our bartender and he was great. We ordered the fish and chips and the flat iron steak. Everything was delicious and I'm so glad we got the pie!! It's a very generous portion so be sure to save room!

Susan S.

Yelp
Great spot in Kona to enjoy beautiful ocean views while you eat, while also avoiding the crowds and parking hassle of the main strip! Sunset Kai lanai is perched at the top of Keauhou shopping center--spectacular views with shopping center parking! The restaurant is very spacious, so we easily got a table right before sunset on a Saturday. And, every table has a view. Great menu. There's no real kids menu, which was fine--my daughters shared an adult entree of ribs, which was huge and delicious, fall-off-the bone tender. My pork was a little dry, but the sides were flavorful. My husband loved his steak. The edamame starter was huge. We appreciated the crayons and paper for kids. We would have had dessert but were too full!

Dana W.

Yelp
Holy cow what a view and superb happy hour. Happily enjoyed my $6.00 glass of happy hour wine while watching the ocean. Happy hour is from 3:00-5:00.

Marissa F.

Yelp
Located in the Keauhou shopping center they have great service and most importantly, cold beer. We stopped in here for lunch. The teriyaki steak salad was delicious but could've used a few more veggies. The server was pleasant and the gorgeous view and whale watching from the lanai was really great.

Millena P.

Yelp
DAY 1 of Vacation - We forsure wanted to eat out for dinner on our first night. We also stumbled upon this restaurant while walking around the shopping center located below. Parking: Free parking lot. They have a very small lot, so finding a spot can be difficult. We gave up after driving in circles for almost 15 min then decided to park down in the shopping center and just walk up. Ambiance/Environment: Such a great experience! We had no idea they had a view of the sunset. We dined at the perfect time around 17:30-18:00. It is an outdoor restaurant, and they seated us near the view. Service: Shout out to our server Douglas! He took great care of us. Quick, efficient, and knowledgeable about the menu. What I ordered: Portions were pretty big. We shared our dishes with one another. 1) Sunset Seafood Pasta - This was so fulfilling. The sauce was absolutely delicious and flavorful. There was also a generous amount of shrimp and scallops. I didn't see much blue crab though. 2) Poke Nachos - We ordered this as an appetizer. Perfect way to start off. Idk what it is, but poke just hits different on the islands. Very mouthwatering. 3) Cocktails - I completely forgot which drinks we ordered, but we enjoyed them all! Very strong and sweet!

Rose F.

Yelp
Last year they ownership changed from Sam Choy Kai Lanai to "Sunset" Kai Lanai. It's a perfect name AND place to see spectacular sunsets. You have to drive up from the main highway to reach this hilltop destination. It only takes a few minutes. We had a seafood trio and an Ahi Tuna dinner. The patio is lined with tiki torches that are clearly visible and led you right to the entrance. Great service, ambiance and delicious food. Dine in or take out, but why if you can get a table with a fantastic view. Bookmark this place and don't forget to tell'em that Rosemary sent ya!!

Nicki N.

Yelp
This is my new favorite place on the island to watch a sunset... they had live music and the ambiance was perfect! The service was hit or miss... sometimes they were great and other times we waited a while to see someone... it took a while before we ordered and a long time to get the bill other than that things ran smooth... the food was mostly delicious! Didn't care for the crab cakes... poke nachos were amazing! I also really enjoyed the pasta... although I only noticed scallops and no crab or shrimp... it is expensive, but I would definitely go back

Ella B.

Yelp
Nice restaurant with good ambiance, nice view and live music some nights. We only had drinks and appetizers but everything was good. Service was super slow for food since it was crowded.

Nancy C.

Yelp
I had seen the restaurant up the hill from a shopping mall. It had tiki lights and had an awesome view for sunsets -- so I knew we had to check it out. It did not disappoint us. Made a reservation and we got right in. From our great and friendly waitress (Grace) to our food and just the overall atmosphere we had a perfect dinner even though the clouds prevented us from seeing the sunset. The entrees we tried were the pork chops, Hawaiian chicken, seafood pasta and flat iron steak. We had no leftovers for doggie bags. The key lime pie stole the show as it was very creamy and a very large slice -- yummy! Definitely recommended!

Connie C.

Yelp
We came to Sunset Kai Lai for a couple beers and thought it was a fun place (our server was friendly and I wish I remembered his name!). We've come back twice since then. We had happy hour drinks, ono fish tacos, kalua pig tacos and teriyaki beef tacos and potato wedges, which were amazing! Tonight we came back for an early dinner/happy hour. We had Hurricanes, Mahi Mahi and shared the key lime pie. Everything was delicious and hot, and our server, Mahoe (hope I spelled that correctly), was excellent (he was our server the last two times and he remembered our drink order). We will definitely be back when we return to Big Island next January.

Amy K.

Yelp
Vanessa and 'Chelle did a fine job in taking care of us. The calamari we got was good, but the one our neighbors got was burned and tough. The drinks were weak. The shrimp taco was pretty good and there ono one was ok. The Khalua pork one was horrible. It looked like cat food and tasted strongly of pineapple. I think maybe they ran out of pork so they chopped it up tiny and added a lot of fruit, I don't know. The worst thing of all was the crab cakes. They came out looking undercooked. I took a tiny bite and I tasted a strong fishiness. I did not see any lumps of crab as described on the menu. I took a second, slightly larger bite and then I knew.. This crab had gone bad. I should not have swallowed it, but I was in such a rush to get call Vanessa that I did to clear my mouth. I told her what was wrong and she said they don't even usually look like that. She took them back and took it off our bill. We will not be back. The view was nice. The beer was fine but it could have been colder.

Jim L.

Yelp
Okay, i will preface by saying we showed up 30 min before closing asking to feed 4 adults and 5 hangry kids. So, yes, they took forever to serve us freshly cooked amazing food. I mean, super delicious, best in the island, you pay a lot, view is worth it, memorable meals. The wait staff was nice, and the parking was a little tight, but so many table that look out over the hillside to watch the sunset fall out on the ocean.

Paul T.

Yelp
Holy cow!!! What a great place to eat. The pupus are fire, the fish and chips are fluffy and cooked perfectly. Nothing was over cooked. The Poke Sampler is well loaded with great fish, and the kimchi - WOW! Tried the sunset mai tai, and the kapena tequilas, nothing disappointed. Our server - Nainoa - was above outstanding. This guy was so well composed, professional, timely, and a great communicator. Oh yeah, the sunsets........... Cannot wait to come back

Emma M.

Yelp
TL;DR: Service was friendly and efficient. Appetizers were good. Drinks are on the sweet side. Get there ~45 minutes before sunset for the best tables. We were originally booked for a luau at Outrigger, but there was a significant rain delay and we were really hungry, so we cancelled that and decided to find somewhere close by. We found Sunset Kai Lanai on Yelp, and we were happy with the decision to go there. The name of the restaurant is very apropos. Although it was cloudy, we did have an excellent lanai view of the sunset. We got there on a Monday almost an hour before sunset and got a great table. By the time it was close to actual sunset we were on dessert already. Once the sun was low in the horizon, lots of people got up to go to the edge of the lanai for photos, so if you're still mid-meal and you don't want to leave your food you may miss the actual dip into the ocean. By the time we left maybe 20 minutes after sunset, the place was pretty packed. The food was solid. Nothing special, but tasty and well prepared. If you're in the area and want to skip the overpriced hotel or resort restaurants, this is a good option (still expensive, but so is all food in Hawaii). When my husband and I go out, we sometimes get a few appetizers to share instead of separate entrees; this time we got the poke nachos and the blue crab dip. The wonton chips were perfectly delicate and crunchy; the poke was fresh but not the best around; the seasoning on everything was good, and the portions were plenty enough to share. We also got the key lime pie, and it was very good. Pie is generally not my favorite dessert, but the one here is very good and I'd get it again. The drinks were decent, but we both thought they were too sweet. He got the Kai Lanai Mai Tai and I got the Nutty Tai. Service was friendly and efficient. We never had to wait long for anything, but they didn't seem like they were hovering or rushing us at any point. Overall, if you don't want to make the 20 minute drive to areas of the island with more food options,this isn't a bad place to get a bite to eat and see the sunset. However, if you're willing to drive to Kailua-Kona, there are better options.

Ms. D.

Yelp
Fantastic full size happy hour drinks. The $tacos are amazing and comes with a side. The view of the ocean is panoramic!

Russell B.

Yelp
It took a really long time for food to arrive and it was cold. My wife's hamburger (requested without a bun) was severely over cooked.

Ingelisa K.

Yelp
Food was good, views and ambiance excellent, and service from Alika top notch. Off-menu social bread pudding was phenomenal. All in all an enjoyable lazy late lunch.

Brad O.

Yelp
Went here for dinner at sunset. The food was fantastic and the view was amazing! Service was excellent with lots of attention to detail. Would definitely recommend!

Marcie P.

Yelp
Yummy drinks and bites. We are locals and enjoy hanging here with friends for happy hour and sunsets. It's been nice seeing the improvements in the last year and a half. Inviting decor and lovely attention to detail. Fun, friendly staff too!

C H.

Yelp
Great food Stellar view Very nice wait staff. A do not miss in Kona We love being there to watch the sunset.

Kaniela F.

Yelp
Service was great, food and vibations were also on point! How can you beat the ocean view?? We were surprised to find it wasn't crowded and we could get a great table to watch sunset. Highly recommend! We'll be back for happy hour!

Andy J.

Yelp
Everything about this place is good except the view which is fabulous. We sat on the patio on the rail, oddly I think the view would have been more enjoyable from the second row of tables. Front row has a great view of the ocean and also a great view of the roofs of the shopping center below. The food and drinks were good, not special, but good. The service was very good. There was an enjoyable jazz duo playing on a Thursday night.

Suzanne N.

Yelp
Service was exceptional. It was busy and we weren't in a hurry. We sat at one of the fireplace tables outside. Got a great view of the sunset, but the table is so low we couldn't get our knees under and so large we couldn't carry on a conversation with the person across the table. Food was amazing. We had the bison burger - cooked to perfection and the wedge fries are so good - the seafood trio - also cooked perfectly and very yummy - and the lamb chops - waaaay too much food ... four loin chops cooked and seasoned beautifully, a huge mount of mash and baby green beans which still had a bit of crunch! We were celebrating a birthday so chose the key lime pie. Again, huge portion - the three of us couldn't finish it. Will definitely return!!

Dorn C.

Yelp
Great views Good fish and chips A vast improvement since under new management ! Some nice new floors add a better ambiance.

T O.

Yelp
Wasn't this place operating under a different name a couple of years ago? Anyway, I was so hoping this would be great so I could make it a regular stop. The service was very friendly and I felt comfortable spending time here. Without a doubt the view is tremendously beautiful. The prices are reasonable too in my opinion. However, the food and cocktail were both disappointing. The clam chowder wasn't bad but it wasn't special either and was bland. Also not as creamy as other clam chowders I've had, and I kept wondering what about it seemed lower quality. The calamari had good flavor and was not greasy, the sauce for it was good, but the dish was excessively salty. Both dishes seemed to come out in less than five minutes which leads me to believe they were microwaved? I sure hope not but I suspect they were. For my cocktail rather than ordering the sweet versions of mai tais on the menu I asked for a traditional mai tai. Explained I did not want the sweet passion fruit juice, just a traditional mai tai that is lime forward and with orgeat and of course three different rums and Cointreau/triplesec. Should be a tart drink. It LOOKED like a traditional Mai tai with its simple light yellow color with dark rum floater but darn it, it was more sweet than tart. Did they add juice or simple syrup when I asked for it to not be sweet? The drink didn't even have mint garnish. Strike two, next time I'll know to not order cocktails here. Unfortunately I think my visits here will be infrequent and for the view and just beer.

Zoey M.

Yelp
Stunning ocean view at sunset! Came here with friends and ordered from the wonderful selection of apps to share and also burgers. The apps were great, always a fan of calamari. The burgers were quite dry and not memorable, wouldn't get again. Our charismatic waiter enticed us into getting the "back scratcher" cocktail which was delicious and so fun! Love the environment here so much, I'd go back again with family and friends at sunset!

Review N.

Yelp
We found this restaurant while driving around. Man oh man are we glad we did! You see it as soon as you take the turn into the shopping center, all the way at the top. Parking was not a problem at all, there's so many. As soon as we parked we noticed they had one of those things to look out thru. Let me tell you the restaurant is in a beautiful spot. We were greeted right away, the workers were super friendly and welcoming. There was no wait time after checking in. Oh and we didn't have a reservation. Our seating was awesome, we were seated right at the edge of the restaurant which had a direct view of the ocean! It was BEAUTIFUL!!! Our waiter was super friendly, she was extremely tentative to us, and also was super patient being that we had a toddler and child! Our food. I got the ribeye. It was full of taste, and the meat was soft it was falling apart when I was cutting into it. My steak was cooked perfect! My baby had Mac n. Cheese and fries. We also had the mahi mahi it was all so yummy.

Wayne G.

Yelp
Four words: Sunset Key Lime Pie Okay, it deserves more than that. This restaurant sits behind the Keauhou shopping center, on the bluff. The views along the shoreline are unparalleled, and sunsets are, as you could image, the best. The service is pleasant, the cocktails are varied and good. The Key Lime Pie, is the best I've ever had, and I've traveled a lot of places. Seriously, seriously good. Better than good - amazing. The rest of the menu is something you could close your eyes and think you are at many other Kona restaurants. Fresh fish of the day, macadamia crusted caesar salad, poke nachos. It's what the people want! Nothing exciting, but the quality is solid. We were in Kona two weeks, and went here two times. We visited many other places. The views, the cocktails and the service make it worth the trip. The pie, makes it exceptional. The rest isn't unique, but solidly good.

Amira Y.

Yelp
So glad I called on a Wednesday afternoon at 1:00 pm. The online reservations said the next available table was at 3. The nice person on the phone said, "Come on in". Just a few tables were taken and we got to take in the terrific view. The restaurant is open on two sides so you have a lovely breeze. We'd recommend sitting back a little. If you're right at the outdoor tables, you see the street down below and rooftops. Our server Sean was terrific. Helped us pick a good meal (Ono tacos and Ahi wrap). He also made super suggestions like going to Kua Bay. We didn't have any afternoon plans and Sean said if we drive South, the elevation will go up to 2000 feet and it's a beautiful drive. That suggestion led to one expected treasure after the next. No on to the food. The Ono tacos were fine - just two of them. Would benefit with a third and a little pineapple salsa on the side. Nice cold beer on tap. Ahi in spinach wrap with fried rice hit the spot. The macaroni salad that accompanied both our meals is horrifying. Food solidly good, service 5*, ambiance 4.5. Clean restrooms. Easy to get to from Highway 19, about 14 miles south of Kona airport.

Colleen F.

Yelp
We had a group of four for dinner last night, arrived for dinner before the sunset and had a nice table. The atmosphere was nice and friendly. The menu really didn't intrigue my interest by saying that it nothing really seemed to say order me, so I ordered the calamari to share & actually we ended up with 2 orders it was just ok to me nothing. The others in our party ordered the fish and wedges (2 orders) some poke and a dinner salad that had huge chunks of onion it? Not sure why onions would be on a dinner salad?? The fish and wedges just seemed to be pretty heavy on the grease. We know that it was deep fried but I have had deep fried fish where it was flaky and not so heavy on the grease, this felt heavy in your tummy when you were done. The poke was market price for 3 cups and the price wasn't too bad at $19.99 for poke. I would say it was average. Now as far as the drinks the beer and wine was priced decent but if you want a special Mai Tai your looking at $15 which I think should have been maybe $12. The service was fine I believe our server agreed that the fish could match Oceans in Kona :). I would come here again with a group but I don't think I would have a meal and if you're interested in a burger they are $21.

J C.

Yelp
The food and the service along with the location was the great experience. From the first time we arrive to our great meal watching a beautiful sunset and when we left, everyone were very friendly with great service, a great place to eat and enjoy Hawaii Kona sunset

Nathan P.

Yelp
Intuition usually serves me well when I visit a restaurant. I really should have listened to it more closely on this mother's day. I arrived early and was seated to a table of my liking. Service to our table was friendly, prompt, and attentive. I initially picked this location for mothers day when I liked what i read when I researched the menu online. When I was presented with the menu I noticed that much had changed and this must be a change in observance of mothers day. That's all well but I quickly began to notice how ambitious this menu seemed. In a nutshell it was prime cuts of meat, fish, and a seafood pasta, with all but the pasta that came with a selection of 5 generic sides. (No sides that were paired with said entrees). This made the price of each entree less appealing. We ended up ordering a crab dip as an app, not too bad. 80% cream cheese if I'm being honest. I big red flag was how quickly the main entrees came out. I ordered lamb chops with creamy garlic mashed potatoes and balsamic glazed carrots. My mother ordered a grilled glazed salmon fillet with sautéed veggies and potato wedges. Upon first appearance, my stomach sank when I saw my mothers plate. A piece of salmon that looked like it was plucked from a vacuum sealed bag that had been thawing for days. And the potato wedges that looked like a storebought frozen variety. Reminded me of a meal you'd make from a costco 25 pack of frozen fillets. You could taste the propane from the grill and the char over any resemblance of salmon. The glaze was just a wash of sugar and umami, which did nothing for the frozen fish flavor. I get that we are in hawaii, and salmon is not something we pluck out of the ocean here, but I could see a better cut being produced for the price put on it. The potato wedges were dry and obviously frozen, which the kitchen manager confirmed later. When I first looked at my plate, I was not too skeptical other than the carrots wich looked like something you'd feed your kid to entice them into eating vegetables, "Krinkle cut baby carrots"? (No balsamic glaze for them in sight) Mashed potatoes tasted of butter and cream, overly seasoned. I was on the verge of being under the impression they were instant mashed potatoes by the flavor profile. Maybe a dash of pepper and thyme. No garlic flavor whatsoever. My lamb chops came out, and i started to try and trim them off the bone. Got away with one of them only because it was 75% fat. Ignored that one moved over to the next, hoping for better results. Nope.. this next one was raw. Couldn't even separate it from the bone. At this point, I threw in the towel and waited for a server to come by.. I expressed my disappointment and was able to talk to the kitchen manager before getting a refund on the main entrees. (That's all I asked for) I really hope they think twice about going out of their comfort zone to spruce up a menu for a special day if this is the outcome. Probably won't be going back. Shame.. i really wanted to like it before I was presented with that failure.

Vienna L.

Yelp
I made a late reservation that afternoon, and was worried that we wouldn't get a nice table to watch the sunset. When we arrived, our host, Samatha, was so nice and she gave us a nice view just in time for the sun to set. We were seated quickly, and immediately started taking pictures of the sunset. Haha. I recommend if you want a dinner with a beautiful view to plan ahead and make sure you get there before the sun starts to set. We had an amazing waitress, and unfortunately I did not get her name, but she was very friendly and always checking in on us. We got a couple of drinks. Piña colada, and the tropical mule. And those did not disappoint. Neither did dinner. Everything was seasoned and cooked to perfection!! We got the blue crab dip, and calamari for appetizers. The blue crab dip is a must have dish!! Dinner we got: the seafood pasta, seared ahi, the seafood trio and the salmon. All were so good and everyone was so satisfied, that it was a clean plate club for us!! Everyone agreed that this was one of the best restaurants in Kona, and we'll definitely be back again!!

Hannah G.

Yelp
This place was top tier!! If you're fortunate enough to watch the sunset @ the sunset you will not be disappointed! Pretty much every table has a view of the ocean which is a big plus. We walked in and were seated right away which was amazing. Our food also came very quickly and they were super on top of the water service. I tried the ribs which were so tender and they fell right off the bone. The sauce was delicious. I would definitely get these again and again and again. I also had the seafood trio which I really enjoyed. It consisted of a crab cake, mahi mahi, & pineapple shrimp skewers. All 3 were very good. I enjoyed dipping them in the sauces. My appetizer was the edamame. I liked the teriyaki sauce but not the wasabi sauce so I would recommend ordering it without the wasabi sauce. The cinnamon sugar donut holes were soooo tasty!!! The perfect way to complete the meal. My friends had the key lime pie and enjoyed it as well.

Lilibeth M.

Yelp
It was busy and took a long time for our food to be served . Our waitress though was very courteous and engaged in meaningful conversations with us . The food tasted very good .

Cristal F.

Yelp
Service was 5 out of 5. The waitress was professional and so sweet. She was very welcoming. Clam chowder was not my favorite as it definitely had more of a fishy taste taste to it. The restaurant was spacey and clean. The view was stunning.

Jenny H.

Yelp
We had a wonderful dinner on our final night here. We had a 7pm reservation, so we got to enjoy the sunset. We were a party of 8, and everyone enjoyed tropical drinks, and we all had great meals. The Kai Lanai Sunset drink was fabulous. Several of us got the seafood pasta, and it was packed with scallops and shrimp. Our waiter Paul was very nice and attentive. We were all happy to end our vacation on such a nice meal.

Michelle W.

Yelp
We had a wonderful sunset meal at Sunset Kai Lanai. Get pupus to share. The blue crab dip is the star of the show!

Jesse N.

Yelp
Delicious food! Magnificent view! Family chose to eat here 6 times in 2 weeks. Friendly smiling servers and food was ready in the perfect amount of time.

Ali J.

Yelp
The poke nachos were good. The view is amazing. We haven't been here for a while and it has improved a lot!

Craig J.

Yelp
Great dinner at sunset tonight. Douglas was our server and he was top shelf beginning to end. Polite, courteous and attentive at the right times. He's a pro and a great guy. The food was delicious. We had fish and wedges and Hawaiian pork chops. Portions were generous! The hot tea and J Chardonnay hit the spot. Great hospitality from the beginning. Sammy was the hostess who found us a great table Justin is the kitchen manager and we asked him to come out so we could acknowledge his staff, the food and atmosphere. He came out and was very humble, appreciative and knowledgeable. He recognized his staff first. The view is mind blowing!! It's the only restaurant that we have visited in Kona with a fully unobstructed view of the valley and ocean from inside the restrautant. Don't miss this place, the food and the awesome staff. Cnj2 Craig & Libby Johns Carlsbad, Ca (San diego county) Literally

Leslie H.

Yelp
The great: beautiful sunset observed from an open air restaurant. The good: the food was good and the service was prompt. Ample parking, easy to find and access. The okay: the prices were high for what you get. The nearby KTA grocery store had better poke. The extra dollars are for the view and environment. Nothing bad at this place. We will go back.

K P.

Yelp
Let looking for somewhere outside of the downtown waterfront where parking is not an issue. This is a perfect spot for a sunset dinner. They have a beautiful views, attentive staff and great food.

Dave G.

Yelp
My wife and I stopped in here for a quick dinner, and it was disappointing. I had a Paniolo burger but my wife didn't eat. I asked for a medium burger which was well done with burnt bacon. The fries were great. The service was great. The burger was definitely meh. I would have expected something better for a $17 burger. I also have a little intestinal upset today but that could be from Poke I had eaten earlier yesterday (and seemed really fresh so not sure how that would be problematic). The view is awesome here, and my food experience was limited, but I certainly would hesitate before coming here again.

Shelly Y.

Yelp
Nice to return to our favourite sunset watching restaurant. As usual the servers were great, food great. I had the poke bowl, oh so wonderful. The coleslaw and kimchi amazing. Made fresh there. Right brain had the ahi, got really quiet. Definitely a sign of pleasure! All was good but the sunsets are it's prize. Enjoy! Won't regret

Annette B.

Yelp
LOVED my late lunch here! I'm still dreaming of the incredible happy hour and my shrimp entree. Their key lime pie is also absolutely incredible. Highly recommend!!

Chelsea M.

Yelp
I struggled to write this. As someone who has tried EVERY restaurant that has tried to make it in this spot, I have never changed my opinion that Wendy's should come back. Food - we had the ahi poke flight. One singular note across all three offerings: salt. Drinks - poorly mixed, unbalanced and simply not worth the money, calories, or time. Service - our server was AMAZING but she was NOT set up for success. Constantly running everywhere because there's no bus stations or any simple storage for commonly requested items in the dining room area and no drink runners. Ambiance - it's such a fantastic space. Truly. Open air, great views, low traffic noise.

Martha T.

Yelp
Seafood pasta was really good, but if you do not like coconut then I would not order it as it has a very distinct coconut flavor. Calamari was really good with a light breading, key lime was really good and tart. Great service, great view, good food.