The Hanalei Dolphin Restaurant

I had an amazing experience at The Hanalei Dolphin. The food was absolutely delicious, and the atmosphere was even better warm, welcoming, and full of character. I came here on my birthday and the staff were so friendly and attentive, making the whole visit feel special. I happened to visit on the last day of one of their longtime staff members, and you could really feel how much the team cared about her. That kind of connection and genuine appreciation shows what a wonderful place this is. Highly recommend!

Honestly if you can get over the crazy prices, the food is amazing. We paid $80 for two 10 piece rolls and one side of fries. The rolls were delicious and the fish was so fresh. But I believe you can find fresh fish on the islands for a lot cheaper. Great food but small portions for a heavy price. Service was fast and great.

I was unsure after seeing the comments and ratings. I am so happy I went to this restaurant. Everyone is super friendly and it has a beautiful environment by the river. Great food, a little on the pricier side. I would skip the sushis and focus on the mains which are amazing.

The Hanalei Dolphin, located right off the Kuhio Highway as you enter the charming town of Hanalei, has been a north shore favorite since the early 1970s, beloved for its riverside seating, sushi lounge, and reputation for fresh seafood. While its nostalgic setting might suggest a restaurant stuck in time, we were pleasantly surprised by the clean, fresh atmosphere and attentive service. We began with *The Origami* cocktail, an elegant mix of Nikka Pure Malt Taketsuru Whisky, Lillet Blanc, St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur, and Averna Amaro—well-balanced and perfectly executed. For an indulgent start, we shared a basket of their double-coated, crispy fries (yes, fries and seafood can be friends). Our entrées included the chef’s choice sashimi-grade fish over local greens with sesame, ponzu, pickled ginger, and wasabi, alongside a poke bowl layered over sushi rice with unagi sauce and wasabi aioli—both dishes were as fresh as the Hanalei breeze. If you’re on Kauai’s north shore and craving top-quality seafood in a relaxed riverside setting, The Dolphin is a must-visit.

Great seafood. This tuna burger and onion rings were perfect. We sat outside in the garden along the Hanalei River. Lots of beautiful birds hanging out with us. Perfect for a leisurely lunch.

We drove up from the south shore. What a great drive for some really excellent food. It’s only a 4 because it took longer than expected for drinks and food. Plus our server missed a salad order. The fish and chips really good. Super flaky fish. Fresh catch was grilled to perfection. California roll was so fresh along with the tuna roll. Overall it’s worth the trip. Seating fills up fast so you know it’s good!

This restaurant is quite overpriced for what it offers. We tried the fish and chips, which were very basic and lacked any special flavor. The only redeeming quality is the outdoor seating and the view, suggesting you're primarily paying for the ambiance.

We came to The Dolphin in Hanalei on our honeymoon after my wife recommended it from a past trip, and it absolutely lived up to the hype. On our first night we had the pleasure of being served by Ānuʻu (forgive me if I’m spelling that wrong) and Storm, and it was nothing short of incredible. The drinks were spot on, and the sushi was some of the best I’ve ever had anywhere. We let them choose a few rolls and dishes for us and every single thing they brought out was perfect. They were attentive, welcoming, and genuinely fun to talk to, all while hustling nonstop to keep the whole restaurant taken care of. After that first night we tried several of the other “top” recommended restaurants around the island, including the 1 Hotel and Welina Terrace on the north side and a handful of spots on the south side as well. We walked away underwhelmed every time, both by the food and the service. That made it clear there was no comparison. By our third night we knew there was only one place worth going back to, and that was The Dolphin. Once again Ānuʻu and Storm made it special. At that point we had tried nearly every roll on the menu and not one of them disappointed. The crudo was phenomenal, the nigiri melted in your mouth, and everything was packed with flavor. On our last night in Kaua‘i we decided the only way to end the trip was to come back to The Dolphin one more time. It turned out to be even more memorable than the first two visits. The place was packed with locals celebrating Megan, who I believe was the manager, on her final night after 18 years. The atmosphere was full of love and energy, and once again Ānuʻu and Storm recognized us right away and treated us like family. By then we had probably tried three quarters of the menu, and not a single bite fell short. I’ve eaten at some of the most well-known sushi spots across the country, including Uchi and Nobu, and The Dolphin holds its own without question. The servers hustle harder than anywhere I’ve ever seen, the sushi chefs never stop moving, and the quality is consistently top tier. Any complaints about “slow service” are simply from people who don’t understand the amount of care and effort it takes to serve this level of food in such a busy and high-demand place. The Dolphin is five stars in every sense. It was by far the best restaurant we ate at on the entire island, north or south, and it became the staple of our trip. Ānuʻu and Storm in particular made our honeymoon unforgettable. This is the kind of restaurant you remember long after you’ve left. If you’re in Hanalei, don’t waste your time or money anywhere else. The Dolphin is where you want to be.

Good food and good service. The issue is the miserable man at the hostess stand. Not a smile or pleasant attitude to be greeting people.

I was a little hesitant with all the mixed reviews but I'm so glad we had dinner here before we left! We chose to dine outdoors, it was early evening and the sun was still out. The service was great; we had someone with celiac and our server provided detailed options! We ordered the crispy calamari and stuffed mushrooms for apps; both delicious and freshly prepared. I didn't expected a calamari steak vs the usual rings but it was so yummy and tender! The boys all ordered fish and chips, I ordered the rainbow poki bowl and our god daughter ordered a gf sushi roll. The seafood was so fresh and all the food was delicious! I wish we had more room for dessert but we were so stuffed from all the delicious food!

Wanted to love this place. But I wouldn't go back. The sushi was way over priced ($36/roll) and was nothing special. The ahi tuna was dry and lacked flavor. And takes forever to get your food......

Food is okay but extremely overpriced Service was a bit slow but okay Chairs are hard and uncomfortable Took a long time to get meals after order. Casual, open air environment

Arrived during happy hour, when the restaurant was closed. The staff had a lot of attitude when we asked to put our name on the waitlist for dinner, hence taking a star off, but the space the patio is in is beautiful so we elected to order poke that came from the market and we sat outside the restaurant. This was some of the BEST poke I've ever had! Definitely glad we made the stop! Water jugs were empty which was frustrating. We just brought water in from our car.

I ordered the mon Chong fish, something I've never had before, and was blown away! I ordered it charbroiled with drawn butter and it was some of the best fish I've ever tasted. We got there 20 minutes before the dining room opened and enjoyed a drink on the patio until it opened. Luckily there were only 2 of us or we would've been waiting for a while. I highly recommend making reservations if you have a larger party because it fills up fast. The service was very friendly and attentive.

This was the first place we ate upon arriving in Kauai and ended up being a good choice. It's a cute spot right by waioli stream with outdoor and indoor seating. We ended up sitting inside right next to the bar which kept producing delicious looking tropical drinks. Our service was excellent and as a lot of these reviews mention, Brandt was our server and loved his energy and insider tips. It was difficult deciding what to get from all of the tasty sounding dishes on the menu, and with Brandt's help decided on the teriyaki ahi and swordfish. Don't be fooled, the teriyaki on the ahi is very light and it's great flavor, as well as with the special seasoning they gave. Cocktails here are also fabulous and was a great way to be welcomed to the island. Note that prices are a little on the higher side, the cocktails are around $20 and the teriyaki ahi was $46. These are fresh caught fish so the pricing seems about right and you can taste the difference.

Island time service with extremely fresh food. Listen we didn't even take photos of the food. It was so good. No crazy sauces just delicious butter. I can't say much more! We loved it! The fresh catches were just perfectly cooked and seasoned.

One my favorite restaurants we went to on our visit. The fish was so fresh and cooked well. The restaurant is right next to the river.

Wow this place was amazing. 5 days on Kauai and this was by far our favorite meal. Our server Amber was the best and every recommendation was on point. She even got us the best seat in the house sitting outside facing the river it was beautiful. The Chili Hamachi was amazing, the nigiri was super fresh, and the omakase roll they had as a special was the best roll I've ever had! Solid cocktails too the spicy margarita was on point. I hope we can come back someday! Worth noting the fish market and restaurant are separate with different hours

We went here based on the recommendation by some local folks. Really looking for Sushi but ended up trying different things. The service was good, dependent on who you get. The place was okay, nothing great in my opinion. Drinks were also okay, pricing was quite high. Two cocktails cost me $45. They charge tax plus credit card fee's. The tempura was nice and hot, the rainbow bowl was okay. Swordfish was okay, nothing to rave about. Again, for the ambience and service the price felt quite high.

I would like to start off with saying that not all negative experiences deserve negative reviews. There were some good points to this restaurant, so I will share my experience as a whole. When I arrived at this restaurant with my family, I went up to the hostess stand and grabbed a menu to review as we waited. When the hostess arrived, she grabbed the menu from my hand and asked if we wanted to be seated for lunch. I said yes, I was only trying to see what they had. She snapped back with, well do you want to have lunch or review the menu, because I'm not sure what you're doing. My initial reaction would be to leave, but we drove out specifically to come to this place, so we stayed. Unsure why she was angry about, but the rest of the lunch I could hear her bad mouthing the other servers, other patrons and a little family that had stopped to look at the water. It was a bad look for restaurant having this person as the one who greets and seats people. That interaction aside, the location is nice and relaxing. Our server was nice and the food came out pretty quickly. I had the fin burger, which was a big nice piece of fish. Everyone enjoyed the food and drinks, my kid loved playing around in the grassy area around our table. Overall I gave this place a good rating, despite our experience that day and I'm hoping that lady has better days.

Dolphin was always a favorite of ours for fresh fish and great service. Normally we have dinner here but this last time we had lunch with friends that joined us there. The service was not great, and they were not busy. Food was marginal and missed the mark. None of us finished our food and didn't take it home. I hope things improve and they make our next experience better. The lunch menu was limited and we order 6 different dishes, none were up to par.

Good Slow down and don't pass The Dolphin! Best dish was a baked Parmesan cheese, with delicious mushrooms and breadcrumbs. Magical restaurant on the river. It's arguably one of the best looking river garden views of any American restaurants. Bad Confused front of house started an imaginary cue and staff opened payday checks in front of a hangry crowd. Looked like they had a staff huddle that was unsuccessful. I ordered some sushi rolls they tasted like old super market bento rolls from the fridge.

WELL WORTH THE STOP. Fish sandwich is so dank! Service was top notch and how can you not love lunch by a river with the beautiful Napali coast mountains on the other side. Definitely worth a pit stop. I think it's worth going for lunch than any other time because the sandwiches are MONEY

Everybody was super cool! Kids got to see some fat tunas like they've never seen before! Fish was on point. Love the fresh sea asparagus they use in the rainbow and avocado. Fish getting cut right before your eyes and when you walk into most seafood joints on the mainland they smell like shit. This spot when you walk in you wouldn't even know. Crazy! Everybody was super cool service was on point! Thank you for the good times and good vibes! If any of you guys are in the Bay Area there's a plate of grub waiting for you at my place!

We came to this restaurant once and the. Fish market later in our trip. I can say both experiences were 10/10. The fresh fish was just amazing. The price of this sushi roll was jaw dropping at $30+ but all the island pricing is pretty high. That being said I would go again and order the same items I was never a poke person until this trip to Kauai and now I know I do love it, just from the right places.

The reviews crack me up - because it tells me a lot of entitled people come to eat here. The fish was absolutely excellent and the mai tai's were the best I've had on the north shore (and perhaps the entire island). Definitely get some rolls and the salmon belly nigiri. And lastly, I want to address the absolutely atrocious comments talking about the hostess - first of all, her name is Morgan. Second of all, she's a saint. Perhaps instead of saying she's an unkind person you should see the energy you reflect out. By the end of the night she and I were friends and we left with hugs. Do not listen to the lame reviews - come eat at the Dolphin!

Been coming to this restaurant for over 15 years. Every year this restaurant has dropped in quality with food and service. This years visit is the last I will ever visit again. The service was terrible, the management was just as bad. And to top it all off they tried to rip us off with our change back after complaining about the terrible service. They shorted our change back by $61.50 and tried making up every excuse as if we don't know math. What a disgrace of an establishment

Ui at the bar was so lovely & gave us so much info on the town! We had dinner & everything was really great!! Fresh! Great views from Bar and lanai! Tx Ui!

The restaurant was really busy but the staff was fun and engaging. We sat at the sushi bar and watched them make sushi which was really interesting . We both ordered from the fresh fish menu. My hubby ordered the teriyaki Ahi with potato wedges and I ordered the Cajun swordfish with steamed veggies. They were amazing - we ate every last bite. Would love to come back again for the sushi and the chocolate brownie dessert. Great restaurant!

Great poke! I love it; they have like 3 combinations the day I went but all combinations looked amazing, good color, texture and smell, I got the rainbow one and it was extremely good, very fresh and delicious. The bowl also comes with a drink which is a great deal, also the place is really small (the market on the back) so it is always full.

Very much 90s japanese restaurant with no competition in this space. The location is fantastic but the wait and food really is very unimpressionable. Don't waste your time to get there early (we got there at 5:45 and waited a *tiny bit*), there are SO many other restaurants to visit with actual good food that comes out piping hot and for the price you really can do better. The fish market is also a pass for us. There are PLENTY of other poke places around in the same town + a short drive away that are fresh, chunky, and delicious in bigger, fresher portions.

Would not recommend. The atmosphere is definitely not inviting. You buy the fish and have to go elsewhere to get it cooked... The two female cashiers were friendly but to that bald dude in the back, we heard what you said to your corowker. Mi gente latina, no coman aquí.

I've lived in Hawaii and I enjoy the people and the aloha spirit that comes with Hawaii. You won't find that here at this establishment. From the beginning the hostess was rude and because we had a large party (9 of us), the tip was already included, (I get that, my daughter is a waitress), but there was absolutely no effort on the waitress part to be accommodating had to ask for more water, and other things needed for the meal. She seemed mad that we were even there. The cook that brought out our food was actually the nicest! The food is spendy (I get it, it's Hawai'i) but you don't get much for what you pay for. And it's just okay. I would 100 percent leave a good review if it was warranted, but unfortunately I can't.

We came here two nights in a row! Our first night our waiter was Amber and she was so sweet. We took her recommendations and they exceeded our expectations. Our second night out waiter Brant said "I dont work in sales I work in happiness" and he was right! Everything he recommended us was delicious! We ordered: Teriyaki ahi, Kamakan sushi and Chili hamachi. The staff has been amazing, the food delicious and the atmosphere was great! Highly recommend!

We've dined in the restaurant and also purchased from the fresh seafood side. The restaurant was soooo busy and the kitchen definitely had trouble keeping up with it all. The sushi was very good but was served at least 30 minutes before the hot entrees were ready. Awkward watching your dining companions enjoy their food. When served, my mahi was over cooked. My husband's fish was okay. Not sure they were worth the wait. The servers were pleasant and the side dining room is very cramped without a view. However, the seafood market is wonderful. Fresh fish to order and the prepared ahi was really delicious. I'd recommend cooking yourself and save $$.

We went in for a cocktail and it was approaching the dinner Hour and wasn't anyone there. They didn't let us sit inside. After a nice tip he finally let us sit at a table. After 10 minutes they told us we had to leave. From the host, to the bar tender, to the waitress, not one of the were friendly.

Got seated immediately on a busy/understaffed night. The crew was harried, but making it happen. The good: The fish is delicious!! The sushi rolls are huge. Less impressed: the sides. Hm. Focus on the fish... A little aggressive on the table clearing. Overall an expensive casual meal, but the fish...

Absolutely delicious. The mushroom appetizer is to die for. My wife had the rainbow poke and I had the catch of the day and it was fantastic

Food quality was above average but not consistent with the price. You can easily spend over $350 for 4 people without alcoholic drinks and leave hungry. We ended up buying fish in the sister fish market for "high" prices and cooked it ourselves. We made two awesome home cooked meals of blue marlin and swordfish for 4 for about 20% of the cost of one sushi meal at the Dolphin.

Went to the fish market to get items to go. Talk about attitude! So rude and indifferent to us. I have been coming here for almost 20 years and the attitude of the employees seems to have gotten worse. If you don't like your job, find something else. I asked "do you have any soy sauce?" And the boy (he looked about 10) says "yah". I asked "can I have some?" He hands me a container that I thought was just soy sauce. It had wasabi mixed in which I am sensitive to. I love their food but so disappointed with the hiring decisions they have made. I'm sure it's difficult to find outstanding people on the island, but these kids should take pride in their work while they seem to be stuck here and hopefully get a better life eventually. Really sad experience. I was there after lunch in the mid afternoon.

Review for the fish market only. Small and focused. Fresh fish on display. On the walls are sauces, spices, chocolate bars, etc. I got 2 quarts of the seafood chowder for take home. Best on the island. Higher prices than Foodland in Princeville. Justify able.

Best food on Kauai. Great service, drinks, everything was delicious. Server recommendations were outstanding. Get ready to spend ALOT of money, but you already know that because you're on Kauai. Another fab place was the Brazilian food truck. Had the Ono stew there. Same thing expense wise was 32 bucks for a food truck. Try all the sushi at the Dolphin and the daily catch. Yum.

Take out only...while pricey, our fish that we took home with their seasoning was excellent. The server made the recommendation and I can't remember which fish it was!

I can't say enough about how good this place is. The rainbow bowl is AMAZING. we came back again before leaving the island. The chowder is great too, hubby loved it! They give you oyster crackers but there is no room, the chowder is so full! Yum! Also they have a to go spot in the back. We grabbed some for the next day.

The food is below average here. Additionally the older brunette hostess could not be more rude, she yelled at me twice to get out of her way when she had plenty room to walk around me. I'm surprised she's not fired at this point. I watched her be incredibly rude to multiple people. I waited an 40 min for a plain avocado roll on top of that. The worst part was the hostess by far. Terrible woman. She also watched my kids shoe break and yelled at her for not having one shoe on - outside.

Skip this restaurant! Terrible treatment of customers by the manager, Morgan! We were seated at 2:50 pm for lunch service. We were there until 4:20 when Morgan said we needed to leave. There was no one in the restaurant at that time. My 90 year old mother was finishing her 2nd drink and couldn't believe how she was being treated in such a negative way! Morgan lacks customer service experience and truly has no skills working with the public! Morgan should be replaced immediately due to her negative customer service with elderly patrons. I tried to discuss this with her and she said we needed to be gone by 3 pm. I recommend Kalypso Restaurant or Tahiti Nui as better alternatives to this poor establishment!

A disappointment. We tried 2 different appetizers. Both lacked any kind of seasonings. Very bland tasting. We ordered 4 entrees. 2 were fish, ordered Cajun style. We did not taste any seasonings. Slightly overcooked. Vegetables were definitely over cooked and mushy. Scallops were rated very good and chicken just ok. We waited a long time between appetizers and entrees. Overall not satisfied for the cost. I don't like giving bad reviews for restaurants but the majority of our meal was subpar at a high cost.

Note: This review is for the to-go fish market I had the best poke from here in Kauai and it might even be my favorite in comparison to places in Oahu as well! I got the rainbow poke that has different types of fish with some white rice and a drink! Loved it, it was super tasty and fresh. Since we came during the day we sat by the water at the outdoor tables and it was so calm. They also sell out pretty early so would recommend coming earlier in the day. Would definitely come back for the poke here!

Good quality fish with a lot of variety. They have fair prices and the staff were friendly.

We got lucky and were immediately seated at 5 pm. Service was very good. I ordered a salad to start and it was a $24 bowl of lettuce. I have no problem with the price but it was disappointing since other restaurants in town have delicious salads. The California roll was good but my husband's mon chong was overcooked and dry, the potatoes bland and the side of vegetables very disappointing. I would not return.

I was so excited to find this location because we used to eat at the one in Poipu before it closed. Unfortunately, it was a huge disappointment. The sushi was ok, but was much better at the other location The real reason for my low review is the ahi sandwich. I asked for Cajun and when asked how I wanted it to be prepared, I asked for seared. My sandwich came out cooked all the way through, not seared and had no flavoring of any seasoning let alone Cajun. My husband ordered the same and his was cooked through as well. He also mentioned that there was no seasoning. Definitely not with the 28$ when wasn't even prepared how asked. I am so bummed too because was looking forward to eating here after having ate at the other one many times.

We were a party of 6. They don't have seating for 6 inside so we sat outside at the tables under an umbrella. It rained a couple of times, getting us wet, but it added to our Hawaiian experience. Two of us had Fish n Chips and it was delicious. 3 had various Poke Bowls and all enjoyed them very much. 1 had a chicken burger and he said it was very good. Onion rings were great. We order cocktails and loved them too. The service was great. Bill was extremely friendly and knowledgeable. Gave us some suggestions for places to visit.

We were in the store around the block and saw this on Yelp and had to try it. I got poke from the fish market, and loved it. There were so many options I had a tough time picking what I wanted, and finally decided on Poke bowl with spicy ahi and avocado poke. I loved them both, fresh and delicious.

Food tasted fine, but I noticed a Caterpillar/centepede on my plate. They took it off the bill but I still ate the fish...only to get food poisoning in the middle of the night. I've had digestive upset for 5 days now. Based on other reviews I've read, this doesn't seem like a high quality place.

Shannon D was our waitress, and let me tell you, she is phenomenal! (She made up for the very average hostess) She knew her fish, explained it to a tee for us! The calamari, ahi and shrimp were cooked to perfection! The restaurant is bustling on a Sunday evening. While Shannon was taking the order at a table of 12, next to us, she noticed I was low on beer, paused taking their order, and got me another!! The music was just right the right volume. Really couldn't have asked for a better experience while in Hanalei. Shannon made the night when I told her it was my wife's birthday, by bringing her some ice cream with a candle for a birthday wish! Epic experience! Do yourself a favor and go out of your way to go to the Dolphin! People like Shannon make the difference for small businesses on Kaua'i! Great food too! Thanks!

Everything about this place is awesome. This has ambiance, delicious food and drinks. Great spot for pictures. Ask someone to take your picture! Appetizers should not be missed either!

What a bummer. Drove 45 min to have lunch here- was greeted by an older white man that seemed very annoyed to be doing his job and didn't appreciate our request to sit in the shade as we were placed in the outdoor overflow seating. Our server, a tall young white man was not exactly rude, just busy and bored, but not even making eye contact when dropping off our food, and sometimes talking over our heads cemented the unwelcoming feeling of the experience. The food took 45 minutes to get to our table. The waiter also told us my dish would be $28 dollars when in fact he charged us $36, which made lunch for 2, no alcohol, over $100. Had eating here not entailed the extensive wait, the hosts' rudeness, and the waiter's indifference I wouldn't have felt bad about the cost. The kitchen staff is clearly skilled-the food was good. As it stands I feel so sad that this place has changed so much and what could have been one of the best memories turned into one of the worst.