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Lanai's own version of Hawaii regional cuisine draws on the fresh bounty provided by local farmers and fishermen, combined with the skills of well-regarded chefs. The upscale menus at the Four Seasons Resort Lanai encompass European- and Asian-inspired cuisine as well as innovative preparations of international favorites and vegetarian delights. All Four Seasons Resort restaurants offer children's menus. Lanai City's eclectic ethnic fare runs from construction-worker-size local plate lunches to poke (raw fish), pizza, and pasta. Lanai "City" is really a small town; restaurants sometimes close their kitchens early, and only a few are open on Sunday.
At one of Lanai’s newest restaurants, casual fare is made with tons of love, and although dishes lean heavily toward the salty, sweet, and sour tastes represented by Filipino fare, specials highlight a dynamic range of Pacific flavors and cuisines. The menu includes plate lunches, salads, burgers, and an outstanding chicken sandwich. You can dine inside or on a large patio facing Dole Park or take food to go for a day of exploring.
This chic bistro-style eatery serves delicious dishes made with line-caught fish and other ultra-fresh ingredients, including some—like locally harvested axis deer—that you won’t find anywhere else. Options range from pasta and burgers to a raw bar and other seafood to heartier fare like duck confit or pork chops. Live music and large drink menus make it a nice choice for special occasions or a long meal with friends.
Chef Nobuyuki "Nobu" Matsuhisa offers his signature new-style Japanese cuisine in this open-air, relaxed luxury venue that features a lounge, outdoor tables, and a sushi bar overlooking Holopoe Bay. This is fine dining without the stress, as black-clad waiters present dish after dish of beautifully seasoned, raw and lightly cooked seafood that's from local waters or has been flown in directly from Alaska and Japan.
Townspeople parade by outdoor tables, and local paintings and photos line interior walls at this cheery restaurant, a Lanai City institution that offers simply prepared, consistently tasty food. Breakfast options include the Lanai omelet with Portuguese sausage, lunch selections range from burgers—with house-made patties and buns—to saimin noodles, and, for dinner, you can sample generous portions of shrimp tempura or roasted pork. Phone ahead for takeout.
A block from Dole Park, this Northern California–style café offers an umbrella-covered deck where you can sip cappuccinos and get in tune with the slow pace of life. Bagels with lox, deli sandwiches, and pastries are served, while blended espresso shakes and gourmet ice cream complete the coffeehouse vibe.
Locals and visitors in the know are hip to Lanai’s best-kept food secret, namely, the tasty bowls, smoothies, and juices from the Lanai Wai pop-up. Sometimes it serves from a food truck, sometimes it appears along a walking route near Sensei Resort, and sometimes you have to text to find out where to pick up your order (contactless options are available). Aςai-bowl lovers won’t want to miss the fresh, vibrant options made here.
A local favorite, this lunchroom-style café has picnic tables in the landscaped front yard where you can watch the town drive by, plus a few more tables in the no-frills interior. The menu includes local favorites like kimchi fried rice, as well as massive plate lunches and daily specials.
An airy terrace—sunny or shaded thanks to retractable awnings—with tropical decor and potted plants is an inviting place to enjoy Hulopoe Bay views at this breakfast and dinner (resort guests only) restaurant named for the island's 140 square miles. In the evening, dishes featuring prime cuts of beef and fresh local fish are all on the menu.
Small and colorful, Pele's is a deli and restaurant all in one. For lunch, it serves sandwiches and daily hot specials to satisfy hearty appetites, and at night, it's transformed into a busy bistro, with an intimate back-room bar where entertainers often drop in for impromptu jam sessions.
Views of the legendary Puu Pehe rock and occasional glimpses of frolicking dolphins only enhance the imaginative lunch fare at this open-air golf-club restaurant. Tuck into a Hulopoe Bay prawn BLT, crispy fish-and-chips with Meyer lemon tartar sauce, or any of the tempting salad options.
