Kona Grill
The Wine List Phoned It In
Midtown · Kansas City · American Grill / Pan-Asian · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed March 27, 2026
Wingman Metrics
First Impression
The wine list at Kona Grill Kansas City is exactly what you'd expect from a national chain that views wine as an afterthought to cocktails. It's safe, predictable, and assembled with the energy of someone filling out a form. The room is lively and the food menu actually has some range — the wine program does not return the favor.
Selection Deep Dive
Somewhere between 40 and 70 selections sit on this list, but don't let the numbers fool you — this is a greatest-hits collection of approachable California, New Zealand, and Italian standards aimed squarely at the path of least resistance. There's no real narrative here: no interesting producers, no regional curiosity, nothing that would make a wine-curious diner lean in. The Archer Roose canned-wine-adjacent options are a mild surprise given how chain-friendly everything else looks, but they don't exactly elevate the program. Gaps are everywhere — if you want anything with texture or a sense of place, you're eating sushi with a Chardonnay you could've grabbed at the airport.
By the Glass
Three options by the glass during happy hour — Chardonnay, Moscato or Pinot Noir, and Riesling — and that's about the full story. At $6 a pour during the 3-6-9 promotion, the price is the point, not the wine. There's no indication the BTG list rotates or that anyone is thinking critically about what's in those bottles.
Archer Roose Rosé NV — $12
Retails around $10, so the markup is nearly nothing. In a list that's otherwise playing it safe, this is at least honest pricing on a casual, easy-drinking pour.
Archer Roose Bubbly NV
A 9% markup on something sparkling is almost unheard of at a chain restaurant. Most diners will skip past it for something familiar, but at $12 for bubbles with almost no upcharge, it's the smartest pour on the menu.
Moscato
Happy hour Moscato at a Pan-Asian grill is just background sweetness looking for a reason to exist. It's not doing anything the food needs, and there's nothing interesting happening in the glass.
Riesling + Macadamia Nut Chicken
The sweetness and acidity in the Riesling actually make sense against the richness of the macadamia crust and whatever sauce is in play. It's the one pairing on this list that feels intentional rather than accidental.
❌ The Bottom Line
Kona Grill's wine program exists to check a box, not to make your meal better. Come for the sushi and the cocktails — if you do order wine, keep it to happy hour and lean on the Archer Roose pours where the pricing at least shows some restraint.
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