The Hale Nalu serves as the poolside surf shop eatery of choice for guests at the Grand Hyatt Resort & Spa. At this sweet little South Shore Kauai restaurant, you can get tasty appetizers, entrees, and more, plus a full range of delicious drinks. Better yet, it’s easy to get your fill without even leaving the comfort of your lounge chair. You just have to let the pool staff know what you’d like to order, and they’ll whisk it right out to you when it’s all ready.
You’re also welcome to come right up to the ordering window yourself, of course, if you’d like to check out the surf shop aesthetic. The ultra-adorable surfboard sign, bright beachy colors, and chalkboard menus for specials all set the stage for a fresh dining experience. Their service is second to none as well, as the staff always go above and beyond to help you feel welcome. Once you get your order, you can take it back to your lounge chair, go to their cozy tables, or even whisk it away to your hotel room.
All throughout the day, they serve low-key fare, like Chinese Chicken Salad, Kauai Fish Tacos, and Grilled Chicken Sandwiches. If you’re just feeling a bit snacky, their appetizers promise to come through in a big way. They have the classic Ahi Poke Bowl, Kalua Pork Nachos, and so much more, all ready to satisfy your cravings for big island flavors.
Their drink menu is equally impressive. If you love tropical cocktails, you’re definitely in luck. They infuse top-shelf spirits with bright tropical fruit flavors to ensure every sip leaves you wanting more. For a kick of sweetness with your tropical drink, the Lava Flow is the way to go. This drink features a house light rum infused with pineapple juice, strawberry, and coconut crème. But the real kicker? The ice cream mix goes right in before it’s all blended up to perfection. Yum!
Their beer menu features domestics and premium brews plus a variety of craft brews from the Hawaiian Islands and beyond. Their wine menu, on the other hand, only has a few choice selections, but they’re all plenty good enough to swirl in your glass and sip with sophistication.
Their most popular items include:
Shrimpwreck Salad
A gluten-free light bite delight, the Shrimpwreck Salad promises to fill you up without bogging you down. They make this salad by blackening fresh shrimp before putting them on a bed of local greens. Then, they add sweet Maui onion, avocado, cherry tomatoes, carrots, and toasted mac nuts. At the end, a drizzle of papaya seed dressing goes over the top to bring it all together.
Kauai Fish Tacos
When you want pure decadence in every bite, the Kauai Fish Tacos will definitely satisfy your cravings. They make this entrée using seasoned local catch cooked until perfectly flakey. Then, they put the fish in tortillas along with Asian cabbage, cojita cheese, salsa Quemada, and chipotle cream. Lime comes alongside, so you can add a burst of flavor before digging in.
Grilled Chicken Sandwich
Although it might sound perfectly ordinary, the Grilled Chicken Sandwich is anything but. To create this iconic sandwich, they grill up a chicken breast until juicy and tender and then put cheddar cheese over top. Once the chicken lands on the bun, they add kimchi pineapple plus fried onion rings to finish it off right.
After you get your fill of all their appetizers and entrees, hopefully, you still have room for dessert because it’s ice cream and shave ice time. Their ice cream treats rotate out on the regular, so you’ll just have to ask what they have on tap when you arrive. As for the shave ice, they’ll cut the ice on demand, and then top it with whatever syrup you’d like. When they have ice cream by the scoop available, ask for a scoop underneath your shave ice for a flavor combo to remember.
Insider Tips:
-Look for V for vegetarian fare and GF for gluten-free items while browsing the menu.
-Want to have a delicious surf shop dinner in your hotel room? Make sure to order by 5 pm.