Aina Kauai Restaurant

5.0

406 Reviews

$50 and over

Japanese Speciality

Make a booking

2 people

16 Mar 2025

19:00

Experiences are available.

About this restaurant

Healthy
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.

Additional information

Location
4-985 Kuhio Hwy, Kapaa, HI 96746-1551
Phone number
(808) 698-6449
Price
$50 and over
Cuisines
Japanese Speciality, Creative Japanese, Farm-to-table
Hours of Operation
Dinner Thu, Sat 18:00–19:00
Dress code
Smart Casual
Parking details
Private Lot
Payment Options
AMEX, Mastercard, Visa

Experiences

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.
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.

What 406 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.

406 Reviews

K
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
R
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
C
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
E
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
B
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
C
Carol
Philadelphia5 reviews
5.0
Dined on 23 January 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Wow!! What an amazing culinary experience!! From the first course to dessert you will receive an over the top dining event! The chef is a master and the food is delicious and presented with such elegance. This is by far the best meal we had in Kauai. The fish was prepared with such care and ambition. The beautiful presentation of each course enhances the delicious food. You will be lucky to get a reservation at this incredible restaurant.
1 person found this helpful
s
sherston
Salt Lake City1 review
5.0
Dined on 16 January 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Totally unique and delicious experience. The Chef’s personal attention to every detail and our interactions with him at the table made it especially amazing.
1 person found this helpful
R
Robert
Alabama1 review
5.0
Dined on 11 January 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Really great job…if you like Japanese style food this is the place! My wife is not super into Japanese food, but even she liked it! I work for a Japanese company, and eat in Japan often. This was spot on, from my experiences in Japan. Well done. I love the chef’s passion for what he does.
1 person found this helpful
R
Richard
Austin16 reviews
5.0
Dined on 2 January 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Chef Mitch created a spectacular meal and beverage pairing! The restaurant is lovely and it was a very limited seating so you got to interact with the chef for every course. I wish we could have gotten in for the kebab event during our visit. Book early! Thank you Chef!
1 person found this helpful
OT
OpenTable Diner VIP
New York City2 reviews
5.0
Dined on 21 December 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
A must when on Kauai. Thoughtful, fantastic, and delicious!
1 person found this helpful

FAQs

Aina Kauai Restaurant is rated 5 stars by 406 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a booking

2 people

16 Mar 2025

19:00

Experiences are available.

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

Additional information

Phone number
(808) 698-6449
Price
$50 and over
Cuisines
Japanese Speciality, Creative Japanese, Farm-to-table
Hours of Operation
Dinner Thu, Sat 18:00–19:00
Dress code
Smart Casual
Parking details
Private Lot
Payment Options
AMEX, Mastercard, Visa

Aina Kauai Restaurant

Make a booking

About this restaurant

Additional information

Experiences

Sakana Dinner Set

Robatayaki Dinner Set

Menu

What 406 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

Review summary

FAQs

How is Aina Kauai Restaurant restaurant rated?

Is Aina Kauai Restaurant currently accepting bookings?

Make a booking

Additional information