No Ka Oi — Hawaiian for "the best" — is Lanai City's casual grill, the sort of place where islanders eat on a Tuesday night when they don't feel like cooking. The menu runs to burgers, plate lunches, and grilled proteins with rice; nothing elaborate, nothing pretentious, everything honest.
The food is straightforward and satisfying, the service is friendly, and the prices reflect the fact that the restaurant is serving local residents, not just resort guests passing through. It fills up at mealtimes and the atmosphere is cheerful.
For travellers who've had their fill of resort dining or want a break from Pele's more composed bistro menu, No Ka Oi is exactly the right alternative. Order the plate lunch and eat at a table by the window looking out toward Dole Park.