Welcome to Friendly Waves
At Friendly Waves, we embrace the spirit of Aloha with vibrant flavors and welcoming hospitality. Nestled in the heart of Koloa, Hawaii, our restaurant and bar offers a refreshing escape, complete with an open-air atmosphere and stunning views. Our menu highlights a delightful selection of pupus, handcrafted burgers, and innovative bowls, catering to both traditional and gluten-free diets. Guests rave about our flavorful dishes, from the crispy fried pickles to the fresh catch bowls. With daily happy hours and a commitment to friendly service, Friendly Waves is the perfect spot for family and friends to enjoy delicious food in a relaxed setting.
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5460 Koloa Rd STE B-201, Koloa, HI 96756, United States Hotline: +1 808-646-8592
Welcome to Friendly Waves, a delightful culinary gem nestled in the heart of Koloa, Hawaii. Located at 5460 Koloa Rd STE B-201, this inviting restaurant-bar fusion promises a memorable dining experience where tropical breezes meet a vibrant menu. Friendly Waves aims to be more than just a casual eatery; it aspires to be a communal hub where flavors and friendships blend seamlessly.
Set in an open-air oasis, Friendly Waves boasts an enchanting atmosphere with stunning views and a welcoming staff. Customers rave about the friendly service and the expansive menu, which is crafted to cater to everyone, including those with dietary restrictions. The establishment is particularly conscientious about gluten-free options, ensuring that every guest can savor the beautifully curated dishes.
- Pupus: A diverse set of appetizers, notably the Pupus Fried Pickles and Local Vegetable "HASH", create a delightful starting point for your meal.
- Handhelds: The OG Burger steals the spotlight, featuring a house-made thousand island sauce that has elevated it to a local favorite. For fish lovers, the Catch Sando showcases the freshest local catch, delivering an unforgettable bite.
- Bowls: The Pork Ramen and Local Catch Bowl are exquisite. Diners can expect vibrant flavors from marinated beef or spicy ahi poke, served over aromatic furikake hot rice.
Customer reviews highlight the standout dishes at Friendly Waves. Visitors consistently mention the fried pickles and spicy poke nachos which are a testament to the chef's flair for creativity and flavor. Many have remarked on the generous serving sizes, and while prices reflect the Hawaiian locale, the quality justifies the cost.
Moreover, the positive customer experiences create a culture of appreciation for gluten-free and allergy-conscious dining. Signature items like the Big Al's BLT and the delectable fried items are crowd-pleasers that invite even the non-restricted eaters to indulge. The general consensus is clear: a visit to Friendly Waves is not just about enjoying a meal; it's about the warmth of the atmosphere, the camaraderie shared over shared plates, and leaving with a renewed sense of satisfaction.
As Perry Harrell noted, finding this oasis may take a few steps, but once you do, the experience of dining at Friendly Waves will leave you eager to return. Whether from a food lover's perspective or as a casual diner, this spot is sure to become a favorite in Koloa!
Stumbled upon Friendly Waves while strolling through Koloa and am super glad I did. I honestly wasn't sure what 'Friendly Waves' was even after seeing the sign and walked past it twice before saying to myself 'wish there was a place to grab a beer around here' searched Google Maps and found out it was a full restaurant and bar upstairs! Maybe Friendly Waves Bar & Grill on the sign might catch more people... Anyway, up the stairs I found an open air oasis with a nice breeze, loads of TVs (six on each side of the bar alone), friendly service and solid food. There are happy hours daily (on both food & drink) and lots of options for the entire family. The main menu subsets are burgers, wings and nachos and each having a particular special on happy hour. The nacho special of the day was poke nachos and you could get them over either corn tortilla chips or root chips. While the prices aren't cheap, you are in Hawaii and the serving size was quite large. I opted for a half pound of wings, naked (no breading), with spicy orange sauce. The wings were cooked perfectly but the sauce was very thin / lacking and no spice to be found. Overall though, the wings themselves were great, I'll just opt for a different flavor next time. All in all I enjoyed this spot and look forward to returning as Koloa continues to expand with lots more retail and dining options nearby.
Great spot for a bite to eat. They were very proactive/conscious of allergies (my wife can't do gluten) which I always appreciate. However, they don't have GF buns. Great atmosphere with amazing food. Reasonably priced for what you get. Had a few burgers on the island and this one was by far the best. Pic is after I had a few fries. I had the OG burger which is a house made thousand island sauce. Very tasty.
All food items except the bread is gluten free - and they have a great substitute for bread. I got da Philly . Way too much for a light lunch - but it was so good I ate the whole thing. Our server was very friendly and helpful. Especially when we asked about gluten free options. Stop by and get some nachos if you’re looking for a snack at a fun place. Or go hungry and leave stuffed.
You gotta order the ranch dressing! It’s amazing! All the food here was wonderful! We had a Philly cheesesteak, veggie nachos, fish sandwich, salad, and wings. Veggies were super fresh and delicious. Very kind and helpful staff! Delicious fresh squeezed orange juice. Best sweet potato fries we’ve ever had. And we’re from Portland (best food in the world if you ask us)!
One of our favorite spots on the island - food is great! They use breadfruit in their fried fish recipes, and it’s delicious! Also, wonderful gluten and gluten-free pancakes on Saturday and Sunday mornings!
My wife and I came here on a whim and we were super impressed! The staff was super friendly and super accommodating for my wife's gluten intolerance (she has celiac). We got fried pickles which were so tasty and well portioned. We also got the spicy poke bowl and the fresh fish bowl. Our server made sure both the dishes were gluten free for us! Can't recommend this place enough!
Ordered the bowl with the fresh catch and it was so delicious and fresh! They are also dog friendly on the patio (we took a shelter dog on a field trip). Highly recommend this place and the staff was so nice and accommodating.
GF people listen up!!! My wife has Celiacs and this place was the highlight of our eating in Kauai. Fried Pickles…GF, Fried Chicken…GF, Fried onions…you guessed it, GF. Separate fryers, knowledgeable staff, Fabulous food, just amazing. I am not Gluten Free so was looking more toward the beer and liquor selections. Once again, amazing. This place is a diamond in the rough and we will definitely eat here again. P.S.- Make reservations for Saturday morning for the GF waffles.