Don’t be fooled by Holoholo Grill being nestled inside the Koloa Landing Resort at Poipu. The seriously delicious food, excellent service, and friendly Hawaiian flair are much more than one typically expects from any casual dining resort experience.
Located by the main pool in the hotel and surrounded by palm trees and stunning blue skies, Holoholo Grill is a cheerful gastropub serving up comfort food. Opened in collaboration with James Beard Award-winning chef Sam Choy, it should come as no surprise that the food isn’t your run-of-the-mill hotel fare but a menu full of familiar dishes that are carefully crafted to make tastebuds sing.
After all, Chef Choy’s goal was to highlight Hawaiian flavors and showcase the breadth of local meat and produce available on the island. And for a casual dining affair, the attention to detail is remarkable. The bread used for the sandwiches, the pesto shrimp and Caprese flatbreads, burgers, and grilled cheese are all baked in-house with locally sourced ingredients.
Heading down to this laidback spot after lounging by the pool is guaranteed to be a good time, thanks in part to its views on the outdoor deck overlooking a cascading waterfall. Inside, the spacious restaurant has tall wooden ceilings and plenty of tables. Always buzzing with guests, whether it’s couples taking advantage of the generous happy hour or families tucking into a delicious meal, the vibe inside is electric at times and relaxing at others, but the star of the show is always the food.
Finger foods reign supreme on the poolside menu, from crunchy chicken karaage and juicy smoked pork ribs to nachos with the lot. Meanwhile, the sandwiches and burgers are hot and juicy, making it difficult to choose between the wagyu patty, crispy chicken sandwich, or the kalua pork sandwich slathered in guava BBQ sauce.
It goes without saying that the highlight of the menu is the Hawaiian poke bowl, which comes with a generous serving of ahi tuna, sesame oil, furikake, wasabi aioli, and much more. In fact, the fish is so incredibly fresh, bright, and succulent that you’ll be planning when to eat it again before you’re even done.
One thing you can be sure of getting at any gastropub is good drinks, and Holoholo doesn’t disappoint on that front. Grab a koloa sunsetini complete with rum and Luxardo, a purple piki, or the restaurant's own spin on a spicy mai tai to get the party started. And there is also a whole slew of frozen cocktails, beers, and seltzers on deck to keep everyone hydrated.
Just because this restaurant has plenty of room doesn’t mean it isn’t buzzing, thanks to its popularity with guests. But you don’t have to book a room to enjoy Holoholo. And if you want an even more exciting experience, live music is served alongside scrumptious eats in the afternoons and evenings.
Between the fresh produce, friendly service, and poolside accouterments, Holoholo is an unassuming delight that you’ll find yourself returning to again and again.
