Kōkeʻe Lodge

Reviews

Reviews are sorted by relevance, with the most helpful and insightful feedback listed first for easy reference.

  Jeffrey Schott
a day ago
Have had Lunch at The Lodge 20 times. Food quality has hit the skids. The Operator has changed through the years. Once very personable and on point with his operation. He now seems hardened and profit motivated. The operator is now compromising the reputation of Hawaii State Parks. Time to rotate operations to a responsible restaurateur. Kalaheo Cafe comes to mind. Wouldn't that be great!

  Kathy Steadman
6 days ago
We stopped at the restaurant to grab a quick lunch in the middle of our day with many more planned stops afterwards. There were 3 people in front of us ordering at the counter. You order at a cashier who gives you a number to put at your table. We had no problem finding two tables together for our party of 8 (2 families). We were given no indication of anything awry.Some people in our party went to feed the chickens, some people browsed the gift shop. Eventually, we noticed that many around us were waiting for their food, too. After ONE HOUR AND 20 MINUTES, we went to the counter to see what was going on and to request a refund. The cashier assured us that our food was coming out next.When we did get our food, it was just further disappointment. The tomato soup that was supposed to come with the grilled cheese was actually a sausage gumbo thing, the garlic noodles were sparse and mushy amongst mostly limp vegetables. My iced coffee had been sitting up there for 1.5 hours because I wasn t told to go get it and assumed it came out like everything else did. Everyone described their food as meh.If only we had been told that their kitchen was so far behind, we could have made the choice of whether we stay or not.We ended up having to skip two of our planned stops because of waiting so long.It was deeply disappointing. We ll never make the mistake of ordering food there again.Food & drinks: Looked and tasted like something that was frozen and then heated up in a microwave. Taste, texture, and looks were all lacking.

  A Dillingham
a month ago
Such a cozy atmosphere! Large windows to look at the beautiful view or you can warm up by the fire. There's a comfy couch and bookshelf with games and books. Chocolate chip scones and iced coffee were fantastic, it was such a great stop on the way to/from Waimea Canyon.

  Summer G
a month ago
Must stop here! My family and I dropped in for some food on our journey through Waimea Canyon State park, the location is very convenient as it is right off the main path. The staff were all very friendly, ready to make conversation and provide excellent service. The food was also delicious, I had the grilled cheese with chili and cheese, and a sweetened hot matcha latte. Both were made perfect to a tee. Highly recommend.

  Jessica Marsh
a month ago
We weren't expecting really good food in a state park but we were pleasantly surprised. We got the poke bowl and the fried fish. Both were absolutely delicious and we would get both again. Highly recommend!

  Anit H
3 months ago
After hiking all day, this restaurant saved us! We were tired and so very hungry and definitely not looking forward to the drive into town to find food. There was a live band (amazing) and patrons dancing. I was immediately transported to another place in time. The food was hot and delicious and the Cocowizer was cold. I couldn't ask for anything more.

  Sarah Schwensen
2 months ago
Food was just okay. Main complaint was that the cashier was rude regarding the tip amount we gave them. We accidentally tipped a small amount on the tablet due to the decimal place. She blatantly asked us if we had cash to break for a tip, then intentionally gave us larger bills as change, despite us telling her the amount we intended to leave. She then made a sly comment about the amount we were tipping even though the servers do not wait on you at this restaurant. You order at the front and they may bring your food out, but one of us had to go up to the counter to get our order anyway. The store is super cute, the lounge and aesthetic is comfortable and cozy the staff being rude when we were very sweet to them and were seeking to correct our mistyped tip was not warranted.

  J Ski
3 months ago
Drive up for the absolutely incredible views and stay for the even more incredible farm-to-table menu.The drive from the beach is around 40 minutes, but plan for double that if you are the type to enjoy light hiking through photo-worthy landscapes. Triple that if you fancy a longer hike. And then finish at the top at the Lodge for a meal of unexpected skill and flavor!The day we went the staff was short two members and running ragged, but they remained efficient, considerate (of each other!) and friendly.Theirs was possibly the best cornbread we've ever had and the strata and pulled pork were flavorful and complex.Bathrooms are clean gendered stalls. The mini shop offers everything from souvenirs to limited toiletries.It does get chilly up there, so take a light jacket and wear shoes with proper traction. Carry water with you, too.Food & drinks: Absolutely worth traveling to just for the food!

  Steven Martillo
4 months ago
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  Sway A.
2 months ago
Dropped by the shop and museum after a drive to the end of the road. Quaint little shop with a restaurant attached which we didn't go to. Was fun feeding the chickens and birds. Museum was entertaining to browse through.

  Julian Snow
a month ago
This place is fantastic!My wife and I immediately fell in love with this place! They take care of you the same if you re haole or Kama aina and I really appreciate that sort of thing!The Kalua pig didn t need any sauce but the house made lilikoi sauce was great tooThe sweet potato salad was great as well, made with Uala I think. Could ve been ube but I m no expert on potatoes.I also had a local coffee with honey, cream and cayenne pepper that was not very sweet (like I prefer it) and I could drink it every day!I honestly thought this place was a tourist trap but it s more like a hidden gem. I guess most people who visit the Waimea Canyon don t go up that far.It s honestly their loss.

  Black Leprechaun
5 months ago
My parents and I always come here when they visit me. It s a must do for them before enjoying all the scenic views. They love the Portuguese Bean Soup and corn bread. The last time we were here was in 2018 but we visited again, today, Oct. 19, 2023. They enjoyed their usual and I really liked the burger with cheese and bacon. Ono! The gift shop offers a kama'aina discount too. The restaurant fills up fast depending on time of day. You can take to go and eat at the picnic tables near by and enjoy the cool mountain air. Hiking trails galore near by.Nearby activities: Hiking trails, drive up scenic overlooksSafety: Heed all warnings while hiking. These trails are beautiful and can be extremely dangerous in certain areas.Noteworthy details: Temperature is about 10-20 degrees cooler up here than down at the beach. Bring a jacket if you get cold.

  Ryo Yamada
a month ago
Hello guys GET THE BURGER, GET THE FREAKIN BURGER HERE IT'S SO ****ING DELICIOUS.The ingredients are all local sourced, grassfed beef and in-kitchen handmade bread and everything, one of the best burgers in my whole life, ma'am told me that's the secret behind the magic. So sad this place is on top of the mountain

  Ciera Mayes
5 months ago
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  Thomas Daley
4 weeks ago
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  Bernard Markowicz
4 months ago
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  Supreet Singh
5 months ago
This was the best restaurant of our Hawaii trip. The loco moco, cornbread, grilled cheese (with vegan chili), and the Portuguese bean soup were all excellent. All states homemade. Great prices for Hawaii. Well worth the stop after your Waimea canyon hike.

  Ryan Bertelli
6 months ago
Food only review - Very high priced, even compared to other places on the island. The food was okay, but not worth the price; over $70 for two people for a burger (no fries just a couple small slices of watermelon) and a slice of frittata with a small side salad. We ordered 2 blended ice cream coffees that were basically like milky water. That was an additional $20. The service and staff were very friendly and there's a beautiful view to sit when eating, but overall I would eat prior to coming up to the Waimea canyon area.

  Maya Stuart
5 months ago
Delicious food and a lovely view. We were surprised to see Redwood trees on our way up. Double check the hours of operation, but definitely worth the visit if you are in the area.

  Carrie Hickel
a month ago
Best burgers we have ever had. So good we came back two days later. Did not stay there, just ate lunch.Food & drinks: Best burgers we have ever had. So good we came back two days later. Did not stay there, just ate lunch.

  Brian Dessauer
7 months ago
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  Trinni Schreier
5 months ago
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  Jason Dawson
5 days ago
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  Matt Smith
8 months ago
This is a review of the restaurant only. If you visit Kaua i, take a half day to travel up the canyon road. Go to the lookout and take in one of the most beautiful spots on the planet. As you re leaving, stop at the lodge for lunch. The setting is fantastic. You ll think you re in the Sierra Mountains. It s rustic, homey, and friendly. The food is great. We had the chili and cornbread and the grilled cheese. In the winter they have a fire going (yeah, you re on a tropical island!). It s a perfect respite from beach activities.

  _Suz 89
8 months ago
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  Jorge J. Garcia
2 months ago
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  Barbara Pickitts
8 months ago
Delicious food, all homemade and fresh ;staff is really friendly and nice. There is nice live music and the gift shop is adorable with a good selection of gifts. Would recommend to anyone who wants to go up to the lookouts or hike. Beautiful spot

  Steven Brewer
5 months ago
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  Bill Reichman
8 months ago
We had lunch at the lodge restaurant. It is a nice place to stop for lunch while going up the Waimea canyon road. (Also the only place to stop...) The food ranged from ok to great. I personally liked the soup and chili.Kid friendly. Surcharge for using credit cards.

  Narod Samoht
6 months ago
My wife and I were a little bit hungry and it was still quite a while until we planned to get some more street Tacos for supper down in Waimea. This place, like everywhere else in Kauai, seemed to be very pricey. However, the Hostess sensed our reluctance to buy 2 full meals and when we asked if we could split a meal between us she told us "Sure, absolutely!!!" So we decided to get the Kalua Loco Moco with pulled Kalua pork instead of the traditional hamburger. WOW, did we ever make a great choice!!! That meal was the Bomb, and since the cook divided it between 2 plates for us, I could have actually gotten mine sunny side up (instead of scrambled) after all. It may have been a bit on the expensive side, but if I HAD tried to eat one all by myself I doubt if I could've even finished it without spoiling my upcoming taco supper.