Kai Eats+Drinks
Kai Eats and Drinks is our go-to spot. We’re a little bit biased, as it’s a very short (3-minute) walk from the condo (make sure you take the shortcut through the Kona Islander Inn).
But aside from the proximity to the Pau Hana and Pono Condos, why do we love Kai so much?
For starters, the views of the ocean are unparalleled. During the winter months, I’ve been lucky enough to gawk at the whales putting on a show.
Second, they offer the most extensive beer selection (including my favorite beer in the universe, Kona Brewing’s Koko Brown) and superb happy hour pupus in downtown Kona. There are 48 (!) beers on tap, the mugs are icy, and the tap lines are super clean. We tend to roll up to the bar around 4:30pm (30 minutes before happy hour ends) to enjoy $2 off draft brews, and the bartenders are always sharp and friendly.
The mini nachos happy hour pupu
The dinner menu is reliable if not ground-breaking: they’re known for their burgers, tacos, and pizza (talk about staples!). They also notably offer lots of accommodations for dietary restrictions, which isn’t always a thing in Kona. The vegan salad The Green Room is exceptional (that sweet tahini dressing! OMG), and you can always add a protein on top (I added some steak to the salad pictured below).
The Green Room Salad at Kai Eats and Drinks, Kailua-Kona
A bit of background: the location used to be home to the Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. until 2018, when its lease expired. Luana Hospitality Group scooped it up and launched Kai Eats and Drinks—the same group that owns Huggo’s, On the Rocks, and Lava Lava Beach Club.
While they shut down the espresso bar (which was a bummer), they still offer brunch on weekends and the opportunity to enjoy a leisurely meal with gorgeous views of the sparkling Pacific.
The Ocean View at Kai Eats and Drinks
Yogurt Breakfast at Kai Eats and Drinks
Avocado toast
As the sun is starting to set, I recommend grabbing a table and ordering dinner. What’s for dinner?
The pizza is delicious and prepared in their wood-fired brick oven by their chef who was supposedly trained in Naples.
Ocean sunsets and pizzas: two of my favorite things
Pepperoni pizza at Kai Eats+Drinks, prepared in the onsite woodfired brick oven
The burger is reliable. Branding is a big thing at Kai, if you haven’t noticed, and the bun is no exception. (Pun intended.)
Kai’s delicious burger, complete with “branding”
Don’t miss the Kai sweet potato waffle fries
And of course, no oceanfront spot in Hawaii can avoid offering fish tacos. I think Island Lava Java has a slight edge on them (and Umeke’s has a BIG edge), but they’re still a superb meal.
The fish tacos at Kai Eats and Drinks, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
