The original backyard BBQ · Kapaʻa, Kauaʻi

Paniolo
Santa Maria BBQ

Fire-grilled tri-tip, generous plates, and island hospitality from our family to yours.

Dinner at Paniolo Tue–Sat · Dinner 5–9
Happy Hour Thu & Fri, 3–5 PM
Find us 4-1345 Kuhio Hwy, Kapaʻa
Call us (808) 431-1668

Our story

California fire.
Kauaʻi roots.

The Diaz family grew up cooking and eating Santa Maria-style barbecue for more than three generations. In the mid-1990s, our family began making a home on Kauaʻi and respectfully brought that Central Coast tradition with us.

We started small at farmers markets and local festivals with two grills and a promise: hearty portions at a fair price. Catering led to a custom mobile pit, and eight years of reinvesting in the dream eventually opened the doors to Paniolo.

Today, the fire is still at the center of it all, surrounded by a casual open-air atmosphere, local music, and the kind of welcome that turns dinner into a memory.

Bring Paniolo to your gathering
Tri-tip cooking over the Paniolo barbecue pit
The Diaz family at a Paniolo catering event

Family owned
and fired up

Good food sounds better

Dinner under the lights.

Our open-air saloon is a neighborhood gathering place for live music, easy evenings, and plates worth lingering over.

See what’s happening

Live music & community nights

Upcoming at Paniolo

Latest updates

Live music

Jess Montgomery

6:30–9 PM

Live music

The Eastside Blues Band

6:30–9:30 PM

Live music

Kauaʻi Jazz Collective

6:30–9 PM

Community night

Karaoke with Polly

6:30–10 PM

Schedule is synced from the Paniolo events calendar. Please check Instagram for day-of updates.

Paniolo Santa Maria BBQ catering setup

From our pit to your party

Bring Paniolo to Your Next Gathering

Our custom mobile pit was built for bringing ranch-style cooking to celebrations across Kauaʻi. Tell us about your event, guest count, and date, and we’ll help you start planning.

Call about catering

Come see us

Your table is in Kapaʻa.

Get directions

Address

4-1345 Kuhio Hwy
Kapaʻa, HI 96746

Hours

Tue, Wed & Sat
5–9 PM
Thu & Fri
3–9 PM
Happy hour
Thu & Fri, 3–5 PM
Sun & Mon
Closed