Nestled within the Koala Landing Resort at Poipu, Holoholu Grill is an airy, laid-back restaurant offering delicious and filling Americana fare. If you’re looking for a juicy wagyu cheddar cheeseburger or a refreshing and filling Hawaiian Poke Bowl and are on the south side of Kauai, then a trip to the Holoholo Grill ought to be on your list.
Holoholo Grill is the highlight restaurant at the expansive Koala Landing Resort at Poipu. The restaurant is headed by Chef Sam Choy and one of the primary goals behind the restaurant was to really focus on the natural flavors of Hawaii and to accentuate those flavors with fresh and healthy ingredients. For example, all of the bread used for sandwiches and other items are baked in-house and with local ingredients like sugar grown on nearby Hawaiian plantations.
With its long list of burgers and other finger food dishes, it probably doesn’t come as a surprise that Holoholo Grill fashions itself as a gastropub. A gastropub is a place that is known for good drinks but one that also emphasizes delicious food. Naturally, this restaurant’s location within one of Kauai’s most popular resorts makes it an ideal place to relax and enjoy a drink in paradise.
The Holoholo Grill boasts a laid-back atmosphere that perfectly resonates with the tropical atmosphere of the Koala Landing Resort at Poipu. The most popular place to sit here is on the outdoor deck overlooking the resort’s main pool and its cascading waterfall. Even inside, most tables boast views of the pool and surrounding gardens thanks to the largely open-air style of the building. Tall wooden ceilings further accentuate this friendly and spacious environment. In addition to the scattering of tables inside and out, guests can also opt to sit barside — also both inside and out.
A few of the favorite food times at Holoholo Grill include:
Coconut Shrimp
You can order Holoholo Grill’s coconut shrimp either as its own appetizer or as part of a combination appetizer, with the shrimp service alongside ahi poke and chicken bites. Either way is a fantastic manner. These decadent shrimp are served just that right touch of crispy and crunch and with a spicy lilikoi dipping sauce.
Ahi Poke Bowl
Poke bowls have become incredibly popular in just the last couple of years and today, most major American cities now have a poke bowl restaurant or (more likely) several. Think of this type of dish as sushi with its insides all spilled out. The Holoholo Grill’s Ahi Poke Bowl features fresh ahi tuna served mixed up with crispy onions, fried ginger, sweet soy sauce, wasabi aioli, and freshly chopped avocado atop a bed of filling furikake rice.
Vegetable Stir Fry
Veggie lovers unite! This stir fry is full of flavor with bell peppers, bok choy, carrots, celery, mushroom, and onion. Topped off with a soy garlic glaze and white rice. If you want to add tofu you can for a small fee, but if you want some other source of protein you can also add chicken and/or shrimp.
While this restaurant is incredibly popular among the guests of Koala Landing Resort at Poipu, you don’t have to book a room to enjoy the menu. Just make sure to park in the correct spot if driving from another location on the island. Note that on many afternoons and evenings, food gets accompanied by live music.
Insider Tip:
As with all of the best gastropubs, Holoholo has an excellent happy hour. Head down to this restaurant between 3 pm and 5 pm to enjoy their “Aloha Hour”. This happy hour menu boasts snacks and drink specials and you can get those specials both when you sit in the restaurant and when you order via their poolside or cabana service.