From Food Trucks to Fine Dining: Best Places to Eat on Kauai

I call myself a foodie. I get so excited to try new places to eat on vacation. I spend too many hours researching what an area offers, reading reviews, and verifying that they offer a kids’ menu or something for my children, who eat about five things. I also really love it when I don’t have to make the meal or clean up after myself. I say that because we stay somewhere with a kitchen for at least half of our vacations, so my kids don’t get hangry.  

I’ve been to Kauai four times and tried many places to eat.  I have a few favorites that I must visit on each trip.  Most of my time in Kauai is spent on the North Shore, so most of my restaurant recommendations will be concentrated in that area. 

I won’t just tell you where I recommend eating; I will also share a few places you could skip and would not miss out on anything.   

Please forgive my horrible food photography. 

Where To Eat On The North Shore of Kauai

The north shore of Kauai is beautiful.  I am truly at peace when I am on the North Shore.  Because of my blissful state, I probably enjoy everything a little bit more.  This is not to say that the recommendations are not fabulous, but I want to disclose my opinion’s potential bias.  

Where To Eat In Hanalei

Hanalei Poke

Hanalei poke is absolutely amazing. My favorite is Security, and my husband‘s favorite is the Local Boy. Every visit to Hanalei, I must have Hanalei Poke at least twice. Please don’t waste your time getting the salad; you want the rice, and trust me, the spicier, the better. My kids don’t eat Poke, so my husband or I walk from the beach on Hanalei Bay and pick up Hanalei Poke for lunch. (The kids eat PBJs; their loss.)

Some reviews will say there is not a lot of food for the price, but I think there is enough for lunch. It’s healthy, fresh, and delicious.   

Tahiti Nui

We went to Tahiti Nui based on a recommendation from the blog Defined Dish. I tried all three items she recommended: the famous Mai Tai, the coconut shrimp, and the Ahi Carpaccio. Alex was entirely correct about the Ahi Carpaccio. It is absolutely the most delicious carpaccio I have ever had! It’s fresh Ahi with olive oil, capers, and parmesan. Yummy to my tummy!  

The Mai Tai was the one and only Mai Tai I think I’ve ever had. It was not bad, but not something I would return specifically for. The coconut shrimp was also fine, but not memorable.

Tahiti Nui seemed to have a strange schedule. It was closed on some weekdays, and it gets busy quickly when it’s open.  Call ahead to ensure it’s open and try to get there early to avoid a long wait for a table.

Chicken In A Barrel

The first time we had Chicken In A Barrel, I was in BBQ heaven. I live in Texas, where some of the best BBQ in the world is made, and Chicken In A Barrel completely blew me away.  I liked it so much I went to the website and considered buying the grill barrel they were selling just so I could make the chicken at home. Now they only sell the rub and sauce.

We’ve gone back to Chicken In A Barrel on each of the three visits since we first ate there, and each time it disappoints me just a little more. I might have been super hangry (pregnant) the first time we ate there, so my memories are skewed.  Don’t get me wrong, it’s still good chicken, but the other items are kinda meh. We will continue to have Chicken In A Barrel once each trip for tradition’s sake.

Aloha Juice Bar

I never heard of Acai before my first trip to Kauai.  I am pretty sure I pronounced it wrong but have since learned the correct pronunciation.  An Acai bowl is beautiful and super tasty. I tell myself it’s healthy but honestly, I am not sure.  I pretty much only have Acai bowls on vacation so technically the health factor doesn’t matter.  I am a firm believer that calories do not count on vacation. 

If you don’t want the Acai bowl, you can get juice or a smoothie. The juice stand is adorable, a quintessential Hawaiian vacation spot, and another traditional stop for me.

Wishing Well Shave Ice

This might be the most Instagrammed spot in Hanalei. On the mainland, I call it a snow cone, but in Hawaii, it’s shave ice. Shave ice is also usually double or triple the size in Hawaii compared to on the mainland.

Wishing Well Shave Ice is yummy and cute, and there is usually a long line. A coffee shop and a few stores are in the same area to entertain you while you wait, or if you don’t want shave ice or ice cream. 

Wishing Well Coffee & Tea

Until writing this article, I did not realize that the coffee shop in the same area as Wishing Well Shave Ice was named Wishing Well Coffee & Tea.

Prepare yourself, there is no Starbucks on the North Shore of Kauai.

Are you in shock? Don’t worry, Wishing Well Coffee & Tea is to the rescue.

This adorable coffee shop offers all kinds of fancy coffee drinks, acai Bowls, and Smoothies. I usually drink plain, boring black coffee, but I tried a fancy Matcha Latte at Wishing Well Coffee & Tea in Kauai. 

Hanalei Market

Imagine a Whole Foods but the size of a convenience store. I think that is the best way to describe Hanalei Gourmet. They offer pre-made food (just like Whole Foods), so you could pack a picnic lunch or grab a premade sandwich before a hike. I think I had a salad, but it was way back in 2013, so please forgive me for not remembering the details.

Hanalei Pizza Shop

My kids might have starved if not for Hanalei Pizza Shop. I compare these slices to Sbarro (a popular chain in mall food courts). It gets the job done, and my kids were happy.

L&L Hawaiian BBQ

I did not realize this was a chain until I had to look up the name for this article. 

Prepare yourself. There is no McDonald’s on the North Shore of Kauai. 

Are you in shock? Don’t worry, L&L Hawaiian BBQ is to the rescue.

My oldest son partially survives on the burger and fries from L&L. The wild chickens enjoy the leftovers. For giggles, I tried the SPAM Musubi, which was…interesting. One and done.

Hanalei Bread Company

A long time ago, I was gluten-free.  Hanalei Bread Company offered a gluten-free savory crepe, which I think was a ham and cheese crepe. I was such a happy pregnant lady when I had that crepe. Although I now eat all the gluten, I would still order the crepe, but sadly, it’s no longer on the menu. 

JoJo’s Shave Ice

While my oldest is eating a burger from L&L Hawaiian BBQ, my youngest usually eats JoJo’s Shave Ice (yes, for lunch or dinner, I’m on vacation, so I don’t care). Even the DaKine (small) is huge.  My favorite part is the macadamia nut ice cream, and I claim all of it as parenting tax.

Holy Grail Donuts

Do you know what Taro is? Lesson time!

Taro is a root vegetable, kinda like a sweet potato but dark purple. 

At Holy Grail Donuts, they use Taro to make the donuts.  Yes way!

You won’t find a Dunkin or Krispy Kreme on the North Shore, so Holy Grail is the only option to satisfy your donut craving. 

We tried a box in 2023, and they looked pretty and tasted healthier than a regular donut. They are certainly worth a try. However, I have never been a big fan of donuts, and my kids are too conditioned to the extremely unhealthy Dunkin or Krispy Kreme donuts.    

Kalypso Island Bar & Grill

Kalypso is kinda like a Chili’s Grill & Bar. I have no complaints about the food, but not really anything to rave about.  It has a casual atmosphere and cold beer. We always end up at Kalypso at least once on our vacations to Kauai, and I have no complaints.

The Macho Nachos with Kalua Pork are yummy and gigantic. My husband and I shared, and hardly made a dent. The Kalua Pork Quesadilla, again huge and delicious. My husband had the Poke Bowl, but prefers Hanalei Poke more. We ordered my kids the Kalypso Burger but they are odd and prefer McDonald’s.

The most interesting or fun thing about Kalypso is that the doors and windows are always open. If you know about Kauai, you know about the wild chickens. You look over from your table at any moment, and a chicken is walking by.  I’ve had backyard chickens, so I had no issue with this situation. I think it’s fun and unique, but I can imagine that some people would be appalled.  

Pat’s Taqueria

The location was fantastic. This food truck is parked near the Pier in the Hanalei Bay parking lot. Other than that, I don’t have much to say. The tacos were not bad, but they were not memorable. However, my husband enjoyed these tacos and returned twice on our next visit to Kauai. I am a Texan with high taco standards; I will try Pat’s Taqueria again on our next trip.

Where To Eat In Princeville

Hideaway Pizza

Decent pizza, but a complete pain to find parking.  I suggest ordering your pizza to go and having one person hang out in the car while the other picks up the pizza.  Another alternative is to rent a condo in the Pali Ke Kua Condominum Complex then you can walk to pizza.  We rented here in the summer of 2023 and loved the location.  You can also easily walk to Hideaway Beach.  Walking to the beach is easy, and walking up the steep path is not as easy.

WikiPizza

We ordered this pizza when we were too tired to get dressed for dinner out.  Would I order it again, yes. Would I plan my vacation around it, no.

Foodland – Poke

Foodland is the grocery store in Princeville.  My husband and I love Poke, so I research poke places every time we go to Kauai. Many people said the Foodland Poke was awesome and that you needed to go early in the day because they always sell out.

Sure enough, on our first day in Princeville we went to get groceries at Foodland, and they were out of poke. I made a plan to go early the next day and get Poke that we could take to the beach for lunch.  I was able to procure the Foodland Poke.  It was 1/3 the price of Hanalei Poke, which made (cheap) me even more excited to try the Foodland Poke.

That was the first and last time we had Foodland Poke.  Whomp! Whomp!

I have since decided that I don’t want it to be cheap when I eat raw fish.  

Foodland – Sushi Rolls

I don’t know what I was thinking, but I decided to try the Foodland sushi rolls.  I knew they would not be like a fresh sushi roll, but I expected the quality of the mainland grocery store sushi. 

I was wrong. I bought three rolls, and between my husband and me, we only ate half. They were flavorless. Whomp, whomp, again.

Go to Foodland for groceries, not poke or sushi rolls. Lesson learned.

Where To Eat In Other Areas On The North Shore

Sushi Girl

We went to Sushi Girl WAY back in 2016. I was pregnant, so I had tofu or something other than raw fish. My husband had the sushi burrito, and he LOVED it. We tried to go back in 2024, but the location was gone. Silly me, I failed to look it up. They moved further east on the North Shore, so maybe next time I will use Google, and I can try the sushi burrito, too!

Hanalei Colony Resort

We stayed at Hanalei Colony Resort in 2016. We ate at the restaurant a few times, but I only remember thinking it was expensive. 

I love Hanalei Colony Resort, so I would feel bad for giving them a meh rating, but I see they have completely changed the restaurant.  Basically, this section of the article is OBE. Sorry.  

Where To Eat On The East Side of Kauai

Kountry Kitchen

A long time ago (2013), before my first trip to Kauai, I bought a guidebook—a real paper book!

Now I just use the internet instead of killing trees.  (Yes, I am a tree hugger.)

In the guidebook, I read that we must go to Kountry Kitchen and we obeyed.

Kountry Kitchen is in Kapaa, and although it was a long wait for a table and not the quickest service, the meal was delicious and totally worth it.  The omelets are massive.  Think a teenage boy who plays football and would be full from this omelet type of massive.

Go hungry and be patient, remember you are on island time.

Food Truck Park

Kapaa has a food truck park that we’ve stopped at twice. I don’t have specific truck recommendations because I don’t remember, but I have this picture.

The location is great; outdoor eating in Kauai is the way to go. If you want an easy meal option with a good variety of food for your group, a food truck park is a great option.

Where To Eat In Lihue

The Fish Express

The picture of this place looks okay on the internet. In person, my husband was not pleased. 

Well, surprise, surprise. The Fish Express is now his favorite Poke on Kauai.  I read so many reviews of all the poke options on the island. I am not kidding when I say I do TONS of research. 

Another sign of good poke was that locals were buying this poke. 

We picked up lunch after we left our vacation rental in Princeville before we checked in at the Grand Hyatt. We took the poke for ourselves and McDonald’s for the kids and went to a park in Lihue for a picnic lunch. 

My favorite Poke is still Hanalei, but my belly was happy with The Fish Express. 

Dukes

So many people love Dukes, and I do not understand why.  It’s like Applebee’s. It’s not gross, but I would rather have almost anything else.  It checks the box.  They try to be very surfer, Hawaiian, and authentic, but I don’t like it. Save your money and get a better, more affordable meal anywhere on the island.

Kauai Diner

We wanted a yummy, greasy diner breakfast, and we got a delicious one at Kauai Diner.  This was the first time I’ve seen rice on a breakfast menu.  I got scrambled eggs with rice and added soy sauce.  Its freaking delicious.  All my life, I was missing out.  I now make this at home. 

Where To Eat On The South Shore Of Kauai

Bubba’s Burger

Bubba’s Burgers is in a cute shopping area near the Grand Hyatt Kauai. The burger was good, and all four of us had no complaints about the food. The one complaint I have is how long and slow the line was. It’s hot in June in Kauai, and the line was almost entirely in the sun. If you want a burger, go at off-peak times and enjoy.

Beach House Restaurant 

Before kids, we went to the Beach House Restaurant for a nice dinner on vacation.  The best part of dinner was the sunset view.  Not to say the food was bad! I have no bad memories of the food. It’s just that the only memorable part of dinner was the view.  I would be happy to try the restaurant again.

Grand Hyatt Resort & Spa Kauai

The Grand Hyatt has multiple restaurants, so this section will cover the ones we tried during our two stays there.

Hale Nalu

At Hale Nalu, you can either order at the counter or from the servers around the pool restaurant. We had lunch there and enjoyed all of them. 

My favorite is the Chinese Chicken Salad; I’ve had it two days in a row. I have no complaints about the Kalua pork nachos or the Kalua pork quesadilla. 

My sons were happy with the cheeseburger, chicken tenders, and hot dog on the keiki (kids) menu (thank goodness). I was thrilled with the price of the kids’ meals ($12). 

Room Service

My kids liked the cheese pizza and burger from the room service menu.  We got them room service, and then my husband and I went to have sushi at Stevensons Library. 

Stevensons Library

I never would have guessed that a place called Stevensons Library served sushi, but it does—and it’s good sushi, too. 

I enjoyed the Kazan (Volcano) roll, and my husband had the Spicy Tuna (minus green onion).  The rolls are not cheap.  After Foodland Poke, I swore I would not worry about paying high prices for raw fish.  I ordered and enjoyed one roll of expensive raw fish from Stevensons Library and would do it again.

Final Thoughts About Where to Eat On Kauai

After writing about all of the fantastic food on Kauai, I am not only hungry but also ready for a trip back to this beautiful island.

I only covered 30 of the places to eat on Kauai. There are so many more that I haven’t been to, but I hope to continue returning to Kauai to try even more restaurants.

I have often said how much I love this beautiful island; the food is just an additional perk. No matter where you are, you are in one of the most beautiful places on the planet. Relax and enjoy yourself.