The Tiki Room, in Nawiliwili’s Harbor Mall, offers a casual setting and an immense food menu with the best of classic American and local cuisine to keep customers satisfied without breaking the bank. The artfully painted exterior is hard to
The Tiki Room, in Nawiliwili’s Harbor Mall, offers a casual setting and an immense food menu with the best of classic American and local cuisine to keep customers satisfied without breaking the bank.
The artfully painted exterior is hard to miss as you drive by. It features colorful tiki and tropical motifs covering every inch and often becomes the focus of many visitor’s photos. The interior is painted to match by a local artist, making the setting bright and cheerful.
Owner Van Rao and Manager Tiffany Riopta work together to make the Tiki Room an enjoyable place to eat and drink for both visitors and locals alike. They keep the prices affordable and offer regular specials on food and drinks. The expansive menus for breakfast, lunch and dinner strive to offer something for all tastes.
“We are not totally tourist-based,” Rao said of the restaurant, which is located near several hotels and the cruise ship dock. “We want our local customers to come as well, ‘cause they are our base.”
Kama‘iana discounts are available everyday for lunch and dinner.
Their happy hour is arguably the best on the island and has attracted a regular crowd. Home of the 99-cent Bud Light, The Tiki Room’s happy hour is from 3 to 6 p.m. everyday and also offers $2.99 mai tais and margaritas, $1.99 house wine, $3 dollar domestic and $4 imported beers as well ashalf-off select pupus.
A host of specialty tropical drinks are offered as well for your drinking pleasure.Fruit-infused vodkas are featured in many of the Hawaiian-themed martinis, such as the delicious POG Martini, made with passion fruit, orange and guava-infused vodka along with tropical juices, shaken, chilled and strained into a martini glass.
“Our martinis are really good, but they sneak up on you,” said Riopta. So remember to take it easy.
Rao and Riopta said that breakfast is their busiest and most popular meal of the day and there can sometimes be a wait, although the service here is usually quite speedy.
Starting at 7:30 a.m., breakfast includes many favorites such as Belgian waffles, ham and eggs and of course, loco moco. Basic egg breakfasts, served all day, offer a choice of rice or hash browns and link sausage, Portuguese sausage, Göteborg sausage, bacon or Spam. Specialty breakfast items are served until noon on weekdays, 1 p.m. on Sundays and may include filet mignon and eggs, biscuits and gravy or banana mac nut pancakes.
For lunch, the club sandwich is always a hit with turkey, ham, bacon, lettuce and mayo on toasted bread, served with fries on the side. Salad or onion rings can be substituted for fries for a small extra charge. A variety of burgers, soups, salads and local plates are also on the menu. For vegetarians, there is the beautiful pineapple boat salad with grapes, apples, mandarin orange slices on a bed of mixed greens or a spinach tortilla veggie wrap with carrots, lettuce, tomato, cucumber and sprouts served with fries on the side.
Local favorites include chicken katsu, crispy-fried with special dipping sauce, Hibachi grilled chicken (like huli huli chicken), both served with rice and tossed salad on the side.
For dinner, try the Early Bird special. Available to all who come in between 4 – 7 p.m., this dinner includes soup or salad, fresh mahi mahi with special sauce, sauteed seasonal veggies, rice or mashed potatoes, a soft drink and a brownie for dessert.
“We are known for our big portions,” Rao said.
The Tiki Room is probably the only place where you can find a filet mignon dinner for under $20. Pastas, seafood, chicken and local favorite Kalua Pork are also featured on the dinner menu, all for under $20.
Our main focus is to offer “quality food at affordable prices,” said Rao.
The Tiki Room is open everyday from 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Breakfast is served until 12 p.m. Monday to Saturday and until 1 p.m. on Sunday. Lunch is served from 11 a.m. to close and Dinner is served from 4 p.m. to close. Located in the Harbor Mall in Nawiliwili at 3501 Rice Street. Call them at 246-1100 or check them out online at www.tikiroomkauai.com.
The Tiki Room is open everyday from 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Locatedin the Harbor Mall in Nawiliwili. Call them at 246-1100.
Cost: $ (8-20 per person)
Green: 1 leaf (Recycles)
