Today, we’re highlighting one of our favorite Kauai restaurants: Keoki’s Paradise. But it’s not just a restaurant. This Koloa icon definitely serves up incredible food, but it’s also a full dining experience that highlights the charm, history, and beauty of Kauai’s south shore.
Considering your own trip to Keoki’s Paradise? Read along as we share our favorite food and best tips for your Kauai dining adventure. And continue on as we go beyond the restaurant to share some other great things to do in Koloa and Poipu.
What Is Keoki’s Paradise?
Keoki’s Paradise is a delicious, island-style restaurant in Koloa, Kauai. It serves lunch, dinner, and cocktails in a lush, tropical setting that feels distinctly Hawaiian. Menu highlights include fish and meat items, vegetarian options, and yummy appetizers like coconut shrimp and fresh poke.
If you’re a frequent Hawaii traveler (and foodie), the menu will look familiar. Keoki’s Paradise is under the same family of restaurants as Duke’s, Hula Grill, Leilani’s on the Beach, and Kimo’s. Some items are unique to Keoki’s Paradise, but you’ll also find beloved favorites like the Original Hula Pie and basket of carrot muffins.
There is also a full cocktail menu, wine list, and beer selection. Plus, they serve up a weekend brunch that’s worthy of an early start (though you can enjoy it until 2 PM, so feel free to sleep in!).
Pricing
As far as pricing goes, Keoki’s Paradise is a mid-range Kauai restaurant. Most dinner entrees range from $35 to $45, with steak and lobster choices running higher. Lunch items are $20-$30. And if you’re there for drinks (we certainly recommend them!), cocktails will be around $17, with pupus running around the $20 range.
What We Recommend
Keoki’s Paradise makes it easy on you by keeping the menu relatively small. There are still plenty of options: seafood, steak, chicken, and vegetarian entrees. But you won’t spend your entire cocktail time perusing the menu.
Still, you may want some recommendations to make dining even easier. That’s where we’ve got you covered. Lucky for you, all of us at Hawaii Aloha Travel love to eat. And as locally-based Hawaii travel agents, we’re [more than] willing to sample Kauai’s best restaurants for you.
So, here is what we recommend you order at Keoki’s Paradise:
- A signature Mai Tai. They keep it simple with classic flavors, and we say you should go on and have it with the Koloa rum. You are in Koloa, after all.
- The coconut shrimp is my favorite appetizer at Keoki’s Paradise. But if you’re a Poke fan, consider getting that as your pre-dinner bite.
- For dinner, I always go for the macadamia-nut-crusted fish. The fish selection varies by season. And if you’re not a seafood eater, their prime rib is delicious too.
- For dessert, don’t skip out on the Hula Pie. It’s a Hawaii favorite that will have you returning to Keoki’s Paradise (or its sister restaurants) again and again.
A Full Dining Experience
Your experience at Keoki’s goes beyond the food. This isn’t a meal you’ll want to rush through. And in my experience, the servers don’t try to hurry you through.
From the moment you step in, you’ll feel like you’re in a special place. The open-air restaurant has a lush garden setting with tiki torches, waterfalls, and lots of palms. You’ll settle in under its hale-style interior and feel like you’re deep in the jungles of Hawaii.
There’s almost always live music at dinnertime, and sometimes there’s hula too.
There’s no ocean view at Keoki’s Paradise, so you don’t need to worry about timing your meal with the sunset. Visiting for lunch could feel like a welcome reprieve from the sun and heat, and an earlier dinner might help you dodge some crowds.
However, I still like visiting during that prime hour when the lighting shifts from day to night. There’s something unbeatable about sipping on a cocktail as the torches light up and the music flows through the final glow of sunset.
Beyond Keoki’s Paradise: Koloa & Poipu
Though Keoki’s Paradise is located within Koloa, it’s not in the quaint, walkable Koloa Town. Still, if you’re heading out for a nice dinner, a visit to the old town is definitely worth the extra 5-minute drive.
And, if you’re enjoying a classic Kauai road trip, a meal at Keoki’s Paradise could be the perfect way to fuel up or wind down.
However, there’s still a bit of shopping right by Keoki’s, which is perfect if you like strolling around after a filling meal. The restaurant is within Poipu Shopping Village, which has a Honolua Surf Co, Na Hoku Jewelry, and Whalers General Store, along with a few other souvenir shops.
It’s also near Poipu Beach, so if you’re coming to the South Shore for a beach day, bring along a change of clothes so you can have dinner or cocktails afterward.
That’s also great news for anyone staying in the great hotels in Poipu or Koloa. Keoki’s Paradise is a convenient place to go to for brunch, lunch, or dinner while getting you out of your resort bubble.
Other Activities Nearby
So, you’re eating at Keoki’s Paradise and want to enjoy other great activities nearby. Here are some of our favorite recommendations:
- Shop in Poipu Shopping Village (onsite)
- Stroll around historic Koloa town (5-minute drive)
- Visit Poipu Beach (2-minute drive)
- Watch the blowhole at Spouting Horn (8-minute drive)
- Visit McBryde & Allerton Garden (8-minute drive)
- Drive through the famous tree tunnel between Lihue and Poipu (10-minute drive)
FAQ About Keoki’s Paradise
Is Keoki’s Paradise Kid-Friendly?
Yes, there’s a great kid’s menu and a family-friendly atmosphere.
What should I wear?
There’s no dress code at Keoki’s Paradise. From what I’ve seen, lunch is pretty casual. Just no swimsuits (though full clothes over swimsuits seem like fair game). At dinner, most patrons don nicer resort wear, though there are still a handful of shorts-and-t-shirts styles.
Is there free parking?
Yes, there is a free parking lot and some street parking too.
Should I make a reservation at Keoki’s Paradise?
We definitely recommend reservations. However, if you’re in the area, feel free to go in and see what the wait is like. During non-peak times, you may be able to be seated right away.
Your Kauai Vacation
Will dinner at Keoki’s Paradise be part of your next trip to Kauai? If you need help planning a vacation to Kauai or any of the Hawaiian islands, let us help! At Hawaii Aloha Travel, we can create a vacation plan that includes the best hotels, excursions, and restaurants.
