Enable JavaScript to run this app.
Skip to main content
OpenTable logo
  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. Hawaii
  4. Kauai
  5. Kapaa
Aina Kauai Restaurant, Kapaa, HI

Aina Kauai Restaurant

5.0
5
411 Reviews
$50 and over
Japanese Speciality

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Booked 3 times today
Experiences are available.

About this restaurant

  • Innovative
  • Good for special occasions
  • Charming
Located in the heart of Kapa‘a town, ‘Āina Kaua‘i offers creative and delicious Japanese cuisine that highlights the flavors and bounty of Kaua’i. The menu features produce harvested at peak freshness from local farms, highlighting each element through refined Japanese cooking techniques. The open kitchen allows guests to observe the preparation of courses, while the choice “Chef’s Counter” features four exclusive seats where guests can interact with the chef throughout their meal. Guests can select libations from a drink menu which includes premium sake, Japanese beer, and wine. Hale ‘Aina Award Winner "Best Kaua‘i Restaurant" 2023 and 2024.

Reservations required. Dietary restrictions must be confirmed by email (eat@ainakauai.com) before making a reservation. No refunds, changes, or cancellations.

Restaurants you may also like

View all

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $50 and over
  • Cuisines
    Japanese Speciality, Creative Japanese, Farm-to-table
  • Hours of Operation
    Dinner Thu, Sat 18:00–19:00
  • Phone number
    (808) 698-6449
  • Website
    http://www.ainakauai.com/
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Catering
    Please contact us at eat@ainakauai.com for catering.
  • Private party facilities
    Please contact us at eat@ainakauai.com to reserve for a private event.
  • Location
    4-985 Kuhio Hwy, Kapaa, HI 96746-1551
  • Area
    Kapaa
  • Parking details
    Private Lot
  • Additional
    Beer, Chef's Table, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Gender Neutral Restroom, Non-Smoking, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Experiences

  • Robatayaki Dinner Set

    US$95.00 per person

    Prepaid

    Multiple dates available
    An intimate dining experience featuring the art of cooking with binchō-tan charcoal. Namasu green papaya, macadamia ohitashi greens, Japanese & purple rice, sashimi grade Hawaiian ahi tataki with house made island ponzu and wasabi mayo, Snake River wagyu beef with aka miso, sake dipped Ali'i mushroom, Jidori chicken with Kauai ginger tare, market vegetables with garlic chive oil, miso soup. No refunds, changes, or cancellations regardless of reason. Dietary restrictions must be declared and approved by email (eat@ainakauai.com) *** before **** making a reservation. We cannot accommodate restrictions given at time of service. No refunds for restrictions declared after making a reservation. We cannot accommodate the gluten free dietary restriction. Specific menu items subject to change.
    Robatayaki Dinner Set photo

  • Sakana Dinner Set

    US$95.00 per person

    Prepaid

    Multiple dates available
    An intimate dining experience featuring locally caught fish marinated in sake kasu, cooked sous vide, with mango saikyo miso sauce made with peak of season Moloa'a mangoes. Additional plates include ahi tartare, namasu green papaya, macadamia ohitashi greens, agebitashi eggplant, Japanese & purple rice, and osuimono soup. No refunds, changes, or cancellations regardless of reason. Dietary restrictions must be declared and approved by email (eat@ainakauai.com) *** before **** making a reservation. We cannot accommodate restrictions given at time of service. No refunds for restrictions declared after making a reservation. We cannot accommodate the gluten free dietary restriction. Specific menu items subject to change.
    Sakana Dinner Set photo

Menu

View menu on restaurant's website

What 411 people are saying

Aina Kauai Restaurant reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

5.0
5 based on recent ratings
  • 5Food
  • 5Service
  • 4.8Ambience
  • 5Value

Noise • Energetic

Loved For

  • Hawaii

    Best Overall

  • Hawaii

    Best Food

  • Hawaii

    Best Service

  • Hawaii

    Best Value

  • Hawaii

    Innovative

  • Hawaii

    Healthy

  • Hawaii

    Good for special occasions

  • Kauai

    Best Overall

  • Kauai

    Best Food

  • Kauai

    Best Service

  • Kauai

    Best Ambience

  • Kauai

    Best Value

  • Kauai

    Innovative

  • Kauai

    Healthy

  • Kauai

    Great for fine wines

  • Kauai

    Good for special occasions

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Aina Kauai Restaurant offers an unforgettable dining experience on the island, celebrated for its exquisite nine-course tasting menu. Guests praise the "best dining experience in Kauai" with "impeccable presentation" and "fantastic" local ingredients. The attentive staff and intimate atmosphere make it a "must-visit" for foodies seeking a unique culinary adventure.
411 Reviews

  1. OpenTable Diner

    Seattle1 review

    5.0

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The food was amazing and Chef Mitch was wonderful. He made us feel right at home and we appreciated his fantastic sake pairing!

    Is this helpful?

  2. Hallie VIP

    Hawaii66 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Each dish was absolute perfection. The attention to detail in taste, presentation and service excellent. Each dish was better than the last, right down to the amazing Pandan ice cream made from the herb the owner grows himself. Each dish was explained in detail. I planned on taking pictures of each course however, after the first one I was so excited to taste that I completely forgot! Perfect spot for a quiet, delicious and relaxed dining experience.

    Is this helpful?

  3. OpenTable Diner VIP

    Los Angeles1 review

    5.0

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Incredible and unique experience. Amazing chef with unparalleled talent. Took pride in every plate. The attention to detail was outstanding. Flavor profiles were perfect and representative of the blended cuisine that exists in Hawaii. Reasonable portions for high end which was perfect. Wishing everything and more to this fantastic establishment.

    Is this helpful?

  4. Neal

    Los Angeles13 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Having dined at all the best restaurants across all the Hawaiian islands, I can most definitely confirm that Aina is by far the most accomplished restaurant in all of Hawaii and is in my top five restaurants of all time. Chef Mitch was able to accommodate our party despite having no available reservations on Open Table when I initially tried to book his fabulous restaurant and we were extremely fortunate. It was a prix fixe menu with an add on for various sakes and every course built perfectly upon one another. I wasn't a big sake fan before dining at Aina but the ones he poured were very delicious and I am now very much a sake fan. This restaurant deserves at least 2 Michelin stars and I very much hope to see that rating in the future! This restaurant is a must visit for anyone visiting Kauai.

    Is this helpful?

  5. Michael VIP

    Chicago5 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Absolutely excellent! Unique experience. Great food and drink. Not low priced, but very high value for the dollar.

    Is this helpful?

  6. Raja S VIP

    Chicago1 review

    5.0

    Dined on 16 February 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great fine dining experience. Loved every bit of it!

    1 person found this helpful

  7. Katie

    Las Vegas1 review

    5.0

    Dined on 16 February 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Chef Mitch dedicates his time and energy to ensuring you are receiving the best service and the highest quality of food. This man is a one man show, and his service and cooking was incredible. Everything is so meticulously crafted and the delivery of food is so thought out. He also has his own farm in Kaua’i so it is truly farm to table. He respects the food of Kaua’i and it is shown throughout the entire course. Thank you Chef Mitch for providing such a wonderful experience during our stay, we will be back for the fish course in the future!

    1 person found this helpful

  8. Catherine VIP

    Seattle7 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 14 February 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The dinner was exceptional. Each course was beautifuly presented and delicious. I ate every bite! Mitchell is a gracious host and a talented chef. We are lucky to have him on the island. You’ll love having dinner here!!

    1 person found this helpful

  9. Edward

    Alabama1 review

    5.0

    Dined on 14 February 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Such a wonderful experience. The service and food was indescribably wonderful. Our second visit and we are looking forward to our third.

    1 person found this helpful

  10. Bill

    San Francisco41 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 25 January 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Aina Kauai continues to be by far the best restaurant on the Island. The Chef/Owner does everything himself and brings exquisite detail to everything he does, from sourcing the freshest ingredients to crafting a curated menu that dazzles - all at a price well below most comparable restaurants. It is truly worthy of Michelin consideration.

    1 person found this helpful

FAQs

Aina Kauai Restaurant is rated 5 stars by 411 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Booked 3 times today
Experiences are available.
Google Map for Aina Kauai Restaurant

4-985 Kuhio Hwy, Kapaa, HI 96746-1551

Additional information

  • Area
    Kapaa
  • Hours of Operation
    Dinner Thu, Sat 18:00–19:00
  • Price
    $50 and over
  • Cuisines
    Japanese Speciality, Creative Japanese, Farm-to-table
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Parking details
    Private Lot
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
  • Additional
    Beer, Chef's Table, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Gender Neutral Restroom, Non-Smoking, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Website
    http://www.ainakauai.com/
  • Phone number
    (808) 698-6449
  • Catering
    Please contact us at eat@ainakauai.com for catering.
  • Private party facilities
    Please contact us at eat@ainakauai.com to reserve for a private event.
Discover
OpenTable
  • About Us
  • Blog
  • Careers
  • Press
More
Our sites
Businesses
  • Delight more diners
  • Restaurant Blog
Join us on
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Impressum
  • Cookies and Interest-Based Ads
  • Cookie Preferences
Copyright © 2024 OpenTable International Ltd. Alphabeta Building, 14-18 Finsbury Square, London EC2A 1AH - All rights reserved.
OpenTable is part of Booking Holdings, the world leader in online travel and related services.
Booking Logo
Priceline Logo
KAYAK Logo
Agoda Logo
OpenTable Logo