Overview
Sunset Terrace is a casual resort-adjacent restaurant in Kailua-Kona on the Big Island, at 78-6842 Ali‘i Dr. The Google record lists it as operational with daily lunch-to-dinner hours, and the place appears to be open to non-guests as well as resort visitors. The core appeal for travelers is straightforward: a poolside/ocean-view setting, sunset timing, and a menu that leans toward familiar, easygoing crowd-pleasers rather than destination fine dining. (tripadvisor.com)
Identity-wise, there is no major conflict in the available evidence. The address and phone match across Google-backed and review-site sources, and the Tripadvisor record points to the Kona Coast Resort setting. The main caution is that third-party listings vary in how they describe hours and concept, so the exact service model should be treated as somewhat drift-prone. (tripadvisor.com)
Cuisine & Specialties
The food reads as American-resort bar and grill with some Hawaiian-leaning and island-friendly items. Review patterns suggest burgers, sandwiches, fish-and-chips-style plates, coconut shrimp, pulled pork, salads, and a few dessert and cocktail staples. The strongest theme is not culinary novelty; it is a relaxed menu that works for sunset drinks, a light dinner, or a straightforward family meal after a day on the coast. (restaurantji.com)
- Overall menu style: casual American bar-and-grill food with Hawaiian touches; seafood, burgers, sandwiches, salads, and cocktails show up repeatedly in third-party descriptions and reviews. (tripadvisor.com)
- Notable dishes and drinks supported by reviews/listings: coconut shrimp; fish and chips; pulled pork sandwich; blue cheese burger; Ono fish sandwich / grilled ono; Mai Tai; strawberry frose; “lava” pineapple-coconut drink; lava cake. (wanderlog.com)
- Price range / spend expectation: traveler reports and the Tripadvisor-style “$$ - $$$” cue suggest moderate pricing, not budget-fast-food cheap, but generally below splurge dining. Expect resort-area pricing rather than local dive-bar pricing. (tripadvisor.com)
- Dietary usefulness / limits: there are some indications of gluten-free and dairy-free flexibility, but the support is mixed and not deeply documented. Several reviews also imply a fairly standard fry-and-grill kitchen, so this is not the strongest choice for highly restrictive diets. (sunset-terrace.goto-where.com)
Notable Features & Ambiance
This is a setting-driven restaurant. The repeated draw is the terrace/poolside/ocean outlook, with sunset views and live or background music often mentioned by guests. It sounds more like a scenic resort hangout than a polished dining room, with casual outdoor seating and a relaxed vacation feel. (wanderlog.com)
- Service model and seating style: table service, with open-air/outdoor seating highlighted in reviews; it appears to be a terrace/poolside setup rather than a formal indoor restaurant. (tripadvisor.com)
- Atmosphere and decor: casual, scenic, and resort-oriented; multiple reviews mention sunset views, ocean views, pool views, and live music. (wanderlog.com)
- Amenities or practical features: close to the Kona Coast Resort pool area; public access is repeatedly noted by reviewers; parking is not richly documented, but the resort location suggests it is easiest for nearby guests and condo visitors. (wanderlog.com)
- Best fit: sunset drinks, a casual dinner after sightseeing, a low-stress resort meal, or a place where the view matters as much as the food. (wanderlog.com)
- Weaker fit: travelers seeking a culinary destination, a quiet refined meal, or a guaranteed standout food experience; several reviews say the food can be merely okay even when the view is strong. (tripadvisor.com)
History & Background
Very little solid ownership or founder history surfaced in the available research. What does emerge is a resort-context story: Sunset Terrace appears tied to Kona Coast Resort and has long functioned as the on-property or near-property casual dining option for guests and nearby visitors. Some reviews hint at prior changes in management or “former glory days,” but that is anecdotal and not well enough documented here to treat as established history. (tripadvisor.com)
Review Sentiment Snapshot
What People Love
Guests repeatedly praise the sunset view, outdoor setting, and easygoing vacation atmosphere. The other consistent positives are friendly or attentive service, live music, and a menu that delivers dependable comfort-food favorites like pulled pork sandwiches, coconut shrimp, burgers, and fish-and-chips-style dishes. A few reviewers also call out generous portions and cocktails as part of the appeal. (tripadvisor.com)
Common Gripes
The main complaint pattern is food quality inconsistency. Some diners describe the food as merely okay, bland, or overpriced relative to expectations, and there are specific mentions of fried items arriving too dark or tasting like fryer oil problems. Service complaints exist but are less dominant than the food critiques; the strongest negative signal is that the place can feel better for the view than for the kitchen. This downside appears moderately supported and recurring, not isolated. (tripadvisor.com)
Practical Visitor Tips
- The Google listing shows daily hours from 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM; Tripadvisor-style listings and other third-party pages are less reliable on hours, so the official Google-backed hours should be treated as the best current baseline. (tripadvisor.com)
- Plan around sunset if the view is your priority; multiple reviewers specifically say that timing is the point. (tripadvisor.com)
- Expect a casual, outdoor, resort-style setup rather than a formal dining room. If you want indoor seating or a quiet dinner, this may not be the best match. (tripadvisor.com)
- It appears to be open to the public, but the resort location can make first-time finding it slightly awkward; several reviewers describe it as tucked into or behind the resort/pool area. (tripadvisor.com)
- Best for a low-stakes meal with a view: cocktails, burgers, sandwiches, fish, shrimp, and an unhurried sunset stop. Less ideal if your main goal is culinary novelty or maximum food consistency. (wanderlog.com)
Verification Notes
- Official baseline identity used here: Sunset Terrace, 78-6842 Ali‘i Dr, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740, phone (808) 324-1721. Google marks it operational. (tripadvisor.com)
- The place appears to be associated with Kona Coast Resort in third-party coverage and reviews. (tripadvisor.com)
- No official website was available in the supplied identity payload, and I did not find a clearly authoritative official site to treat as canonical. (tripadvisor.com)
- No major verification issues found. (tripadvisor.com)
Sources
- Google Places record for Sunset Terrace —
https://maps.google.com/?cid=9522577278301066826— retrieved 2026-04-01 — used for baseline identity, address, phone, status, and hours. - Tripadvisor listing for Sunset Terrace —
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g60872-d24109128-Reviews-Sunset_Terrace-Kailua_Kona_Island_of_Hawaii_Hawaii.html— retrieved 2026-04-02 — used for resort linkage, setting, and recurring review themes. - Restaurantji page for Sunset Terrace —
https://www.restaurantji.com/hi/kailua-kona/sunset-terrace-/— retrieved 2026-04-02 — used for corroborating hours, address, menu style, and commonly mentioned dishes. - Wanderlog page for Sunset Terrace —
https://wanderlog.com/place/details/2463902/sunset-terrace— retrieved 2026-04-02 — used for traveler-facing summary of menu items, public access, and live-music atmosphere. - “Sunset Terrace” menu page on goto-where —
https://sunset-terrace.goto-where.com/menu— retrieved 2026-04-02 — used for menu examples like coconut shrimp, Mai Tai, lava cake, and kid-friendly items.
