The Hanalei Dolphin Restaurant

  4.0 – 2,165 reviews   • Seafood restaurant

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Laid-back eatery frequented by locals serves fresh fish, unique rolls & nigiri with riverside seats.

✔️Brunch ✔️Lunch ✔️Dinner ✔️Dine in ✔️Take out The Hanalei Dolphin Restaurant 96714

Hours

Sunday11:30 AM–9 PM
Monday11:30 AM–9 PM
Tuesday11:30 AM–9 PM
Wednesday11:30 AM–9 PM
Thursday11:30 AM–9 PM
Friday11:30 AM–9 PM
Saturday11:30 AM–9 PM

Address and Contact Information

Address: 5-5016 Kuhio Hwy C, Hanalei, HI 96714

Phone: (808) 826-6113

Website: http://www.hanaleidolphin.com/

Menu Photos

hanaleidolphin.com

Photo Gallery

Related Web Results

Hanalei Dolphin Restaurant

The First AND Last Stop in Hanalei! … Since the early 1970’s The Dolphin Restaurant has been a favorite of visitor and local alike, known for the freshest cuts …

Dolphin (@hanaleidolphin) • Instagram photos and videos

… : “Hanalei Dolphin Restaurant Fishmarket and Sushi Lounge 5-5016 Kuhio Highway, Hanalei, Kauai Hawaii 808-826-6113”

Kauai Dining at Hanalei Dolphin Restaurant – Kauai Vacation Rentals

Billed as, “the first and last stop in Hanalei,” this popular Kauai dining choice for steak and seafood has been welcoming visitors for over 30 years.

Reviews

Nariman Smagulov
We had family lunch at Dolphin today and it was very busy. We had to wait for almost an hour for our hamburgers for the kids and they were not happy. The manager was very responsive though and offered us a 20% discount to compensate the wait. The food was fresh and tasty, hamburgers had a huge patty and the kids liked them. Poke bowls are great as well, just wish they were a bit bigger. We sat outside and it was very nice to seat by the river. The place was pretty crowded, so that explains the wait, but overall I would recommend it as a decent place to eat at Hanalei.
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alex
We started with the stuffed mushroom which were delicious. Sushi was fresh and flavorful. The fresh fish was good as well, but the sides choices are seriously lacking. They could make that a 10/10 meal with better side options. White rice or steak fries are bland and boring options paired with a great piece of fish.

Service was attentive and the atmosphere was warm and fun!
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jodi shely
The food was just ok. They used the same utensils for cooking the fish, chicken and steak. The $78 NY Strip was definitely not worth it. I’m from the Midwest and that was the fattiest NY with no task flavor. The stuffed mushrooms were good. Sushi was just “alright”.
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Rachel Bleier
The Hanalei Dolphin no longer lives up to its decades old name and reputation. What was once a dining experience serving fresh fish entrees with soup, salad, and a side, with fresh baked bread at the table, is now just another restaurant that has lost its identity. Part sushi bar, part everything else (chicken, fish, beef) and OUTRAGEOUSLY overpriced, meals come with basically nothing. When we asked for bread, we were charged $5 for what looked like the end pieces of a loaf of Wonder. The $32 chicken was overcooked and dry and came with a vegetable skewer consisting of precisely two pieces of zucchini, one piece each of squash, onion, pepper, and one cherry tomato. For 32 bucks I’d rather have picked off one of the many Kauai chickens and made a meal at home. Sadly, the Dolphin is not nearly what it used to be.
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Jorge Montegro
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!
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hannah barzee
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.
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Begum Emirsoy
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.
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Kevin Giguere
Ordered the Ahi Steak and was phenomenal. My son had a sushi roll and he said it was the best he ever had. The Ono fish fry my father loved too. Calamari was cut like I’ve never had before. Overall a higher end meal but we got in and out in great timing for a Friday evening.
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Samantha Larson
My husband and I ordered the fresh Shatome and Monchong. Absolutely outstanding. Both pieces of fish were worth the price. Moist, flavorful and well seasoned. We also enjoyed an ahi sushi roll as an appetizer. Some of the best sushi we’ve ever had.

Service was fantastic and attentive. The waitress was able to give us some suggestions on how to have the fish seasoned and prepared. She really knew her stuff and enhanced our experience.
The atmosphere is lowkey and elegant. We had nice table that was wide open under the tin roof.
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Edward Dramtrotter
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.
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