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✔️Breakfast ✔️Brunch ✔️Lunch ✔️Dinner ✔️Dine in ✔️Take out
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Snug, modest eatery featuring Hawaiian-style meats such as lau lau, plus Japanese teriyaki.
Hours
| Sunday | Closed |
| Monday | 11 AM–8 PM |
| Tuesday | 11 AM–8 PM |
| Wednesday | 11 AM–8 PM |
| Thursday | 11 AM–8 PM |
| Friday | 11 AM–8 PM |
| Saturday | 11 AM–8 PM |
Address and Contact Information
Address: 4100 Rice St, Lihue, HI 96766
Phone: (808) 245-4772
Website: http://www.smileyslocalgrinds.com/
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Smiley’s Local Grinds
Smileys Local Grinds ・ Lihue, Kauai Hawaiian Restaurant ・ Local food.
Smiley’s Local Grinds | Lihue HI – Facebook
. 94% recommend (51 Reviews) ; . Closed now ; . 4100 Rice St, Lihue, HI, United States, 96766 …
Smileys Local Grinds (@smileyslocalgrinds) · Lihue, HI – Instagram
3.8K+ followers · 214 posts · MONDAY-SATURDAY 11am-8pm closed Sunday’s 808-245-4772.
Reviews
Allison S
Be prepared to wait a little bit for your order but it is absolutely worth it. My partner got the crispy pork belly but it was too fatty for him. The shoyu chicken was a Tuesday special and had great flavor, the portion is massive and able to share between two people. We were excited about the kalbi ribs after reading reviews but that was a bit tough and chewy and we did not enjoy those. The ube cheesecake stole the show. Conveniently located 5 minutes from the airport and was absolutely delicious, we look forward to trying different menu options before we leave Kauai!
… moreDaniel Goldman
Smiley’s is a great place for takeout food. Note that the counter for order and pickup is outdoors, there is no indoor portion. Lines can get long, and there is no seating available, but the food is worth the wait! We grabbed some Kalua Moco and Smiley’s Chicken with garlic chili. Meal portions were very generous, and we couldn’t finish it all! Meals come with rice and macaroni salad included. We got ube cheesecake for dessert, and that was worth it as well!
… moreBenjamin Serrano
This was the best food I had on the island (visiting for 5 days). The kalbi ribs had amazing flavor and were almost all meat and no fat. The garlic shrimp was also amazing also, especially since it it hard to find unlike Oahu. The only negative is, that it is take out only and there are no tables at all. You should definitely try it. Trust!
… moreJulia Irene
Large portion no-nonsense classic Hawaiian plates. Lots of parking, takeout only window. Overall service was great, super smooth and quick. The food itself was solid, I got the combo plate with kalua pork and smiley’s chicken for $24, which came with a side of Lomi, Mac salad, and rice. The chicken was great, not super crispy but good flavor. The kalua pork was tasty but a bit on the dry side.
… moreAlaina Schwartz
Really yummy and large portions! The chicken cutlet is awesome. The area isn’t super great – it’s takeout only. I’d recommend outdoor seating if that could be possible in the future!
… moreGreg Close
Just a walk up window. Very popular with locals. Protein with huge rice and a tiny scoop of mac salad 15$. 20 min wait at meal times so call in your order. Shrimp is breaded lightly. Chicken is not sauced. Ribs is by far best protein. Salmon is very strong, be advised.
… moreMichelle M
Looking for a true local island food?
This place is recommend to me by a staff at one of the hotels I was staying at nearby. 🙂 Is a true local favorite with the locals. So favorite they still go old school and still accept cash.
They don’t have an indoor seating. You order right from the window to take to go for a picnic or to your home.
I recommend getting their famous chicken or Kalbi. I even heard the prime rib is delicious here.
It’s so close to the airport you can take some to go with you on your flight back home
… moreThis place is recommend to me by a staff at one of the hotels I was staying at nearby. 🙂 Is a true local favorite with the locals. So favorite they still go old school and still accept cash.
They don’t have an indoor seating. You order right from the window to take to go for a picnic or to your home.
I recommend getting their famous chicken or Kalbi. I even heard the prime rib is delicious here.
It’s so close to the airport you can take some to go with you on your flight back home
Pia
We tried fried oyster, side of garlic butter shrimps, and deep fried ahi bones. Every dish is so fresh and tasty. Highly recommend their daily menu items also.
… moreSamuel Bielz
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
After spending 7 nights on Kauai and trying a lot of amazing food, the best meal I had was actually my last one before heading to the airport. I stopped at Smiley’s Local Grinds and ordered the Pork Laulau, and it was incredible. The pork was tender and juicy, wrapped in flavorful taro and ti leaves that gave it a rich, earthy taste. The portions were generous and the prices very reasonable, especially for the quality. I’m honestly worried I won’t be able to find anything this good back home. A definite must-try before leaving the island!
… moreAfter spending 7 nights on Kauai and trying a lot of amazing food, the best meal I had was actually my last one before heading to the airport. I stopped at Smiley’s Local Grinds and ordered the Pork Laulau, and it was incredible. The pork was tender and juicy, wrapped in flavorful taro and ti leaves that gave it a rich, earthy taste. The portions were generous and the prices very reasonable, especially for the quality. I’m honestly worried I won’t be able to find anything this good back home. A definite must-try before leaving the island!
Peter Riad
Let’s start with the rice. The rice tastes like that stuff came straight from the fields of nam and not only that. It was cooked perfectly, instantly melts in your mouth, not too soft, or too hard. Just the perfect consistency.
Secondly, the Mac salad. Oh boy oh boy, the Mac salad alone could’ve stolen the show. Perfect macaroni to sauce ratio, seasoned well, but not overly done to where all you can taste is the seasoning. Just the right amount. Oh and if you’re wondering how to make a perfect el dente macaroni, ask these guys, cause they got it down. Alright let’s get down to business, first let me tell you something about the chicken katsu, I’m personally not a believer or a fan of fried foods, the reason? The grease, now here’s the magical part, this chicken katsu… they managed to make it so juicy from the inside and so crunchy from the outside… without any of the grease. How they did it, I’m still wondering that myself. Now that I’ve told you something about the chicken, let me tell you something about me. I’m not a fan of pork, never really was, but when I tell you that this pork was cooked with all the love and joy these kind people had to offer, I mean it in the most sincere way, I tasted every tender bit of juicy pork with every bite. The flavor of the meat was exploding, seasoned ever so lightly, just enough to really bring out the flavor of the meat. Oh so ono. Now the last but by no means the least, the grand daddy, star of the show. The kalbi ribs… words cannot describe the transformation I experienced and the emotions that came upon me with every bite of those succulent, juicy, tender ribs. The ever so slight teriyaki glaze on top of those meaty salty little pieces of joy were unreal. A true 10/10 experience, and believe me. I know a 10/10 when I try it, I’ve been to a lot of places and tried a lot of things. This place, may it be blessed until thy kingdom come and will be done. I will be back. For now, mahalo
… moreSecondly, the Mac salad. Oh boy oh boy, the Mac salad alone could’ve stolen the show. Perfect macaroni to sauce ratio, seasoned well, but not overly done to where all you can taste is the seasoning. Just the right amount. Oh and if you’re wondering how to make a perfect el dente macaroni, ask these guys, cause they got it down. Alright let’s get down to business, first let me tell you something about the chicken katsu, I’m personally not a believer or a fan of fried foods, the reason? The grease, now here’s the magical part, this chicken katsu… they managed to make it so juicy from the inside and so crunchy from the outside… without any of the grease. How they did it, I’m still wondering that myself. Now that I’ve told you something about the chicken, let me tell you something about me. I’m not a fan of pork, never really was, but when I tell you that this pork was cooked with all the love and joy these kind people had to offer, I mean it in the most sincere way, I tasted every tender bit of juicy pork with every bite. The flavor of the meat was exploding, seasoned ever so lightly, just enough to really bring out the flavor of the meat. Oh so ono. Now the last but by no means the least, the grand daddy, star of the show. The kalbi ribs… words cannot describe the transformation I experienced and the emotions that came upon me with every bite of those succulent, juicy, tender ribs. The ever so slight teriyaki glaze on top of those meaty salty little pieces of joy were unreal. A true 10/10 experience, and believe me. I know a 10/10 when I try it, I’ve been to a lot of places and tried a lot of things. This place, may it be blessed until thy kingdom come and will be done. I will be back. For now, mahalo