When you want to dine in style while enjoying oceanfront views, you cannot go wrong with a trip over to Opakapaka Grill and Bar. Set in the Hanalei Colony Resort, this North Shore Kauai eatery always goes big on flavor by using the freshest island ingredients and time-honored recipes. The chill vibe, live music, and friendly service help take your dining experience to the next level, although the dishes are plenty good enough to enjoy as takeout.
For the full experience, you definitely need to dine in, however, which means making a reservation. Although they happily take walk-ins, the tables fill up quickly, resulting in quite a wait during the dinner rush. Once you get a seat in their gorgeous dining room, you can soak in the views through their wide-open oceanfront windows. You’ll want to break your attention away from the picturesque scenery to dig into the menu though as it’s full of fan favorites.
Absolutely everything they make features the top island flavors sourced locally on the daily. They partner with ranchers, fishermen, and farmers from all over Kauai, so they always have the best of the best to use in their dishes. Thanks to their farm-to-table approach, every dish is as good as the next. So, you can simply select whatever speaks to you most, and rest assured that your meal will leave you more than impressed.
Don’t forget to check out their extensive drinks menu to get a tropical kick with every sip. They have beer, wine, and flavorful cocktails of all kinds, including their ever-popular Hemmingwave. This drink comes with a double shot of Maui’s Ocean vodka plus Velvet Falernum and Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur. Then, fresh lime and grapefruit bring it all together at the end.
Their fan favorites include:
Fresh Catch Benedict
To start your morning off right, you need the Fresh Catch Benedict in your life. As an imaginative twist on a classic, this breakfast entrée features a toasted English muffin topped with a poached egg, fresh catch fish, and bacon. A ginger cream hollandaise sauce goes over the top to finish it off right.
OGB Half Pound Burger
The OBG Half Pound Burger promises to leave you feeling wholly satisfied bite after bite. To create this tasty entrée, they grill up ground choice beef to perfection before topping it with cheddar cheese and bacon. The whole lot lands on a Da Kine Bakery Roll and then slides on the plate with a side of fries.
Island Fresh Fish and Chips
As you look out across the ocean, nothing can complete the experience better than the Island Fresh Fish and Chips. To kick off this entrée, they dip fresh catch fish in batter and then fry it golden brown along with your order of French fries. Both the fish and fries go on the plate next where they get a side of cabbage salad and plenty of their housemade tartar sauce.
If you want to end your meal with a bang, save room in your belly for their decadent desserts. Depending on the season, you can find Lilikoi Crème Brulee, Banana Foster Cheesecake, and so much more. Out of all the desserts, the Apple Crisp is a definite fan favorite. This tasty delight arrives at the table piping hot in an ultra-cute cast iron pot, oozing with caramel flavor and topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Although it’s big enough for two, you might not want to share after getting a taste of its amazing flavors.
Insider Tips:
-Watch their Facebook page for holiday specials to get seasonal fare at a great price.
-If you’d like discounts on apps and drinks, come in from 2 pm to 5 pm daily for happy hour.
-Although they normally take reservations, most special meals for the holidays are first come, first served, so plan to arrive early to get a spot.