I love Full disclosure: I went on this trip for my day job. The tourism board of Kauai paid for the trip, but all opinions are my own because seriously Kauai is amazing!
The food in Kauai absolutely blew me away. I was expecting a lot of fish, which I definitely ate, but there were so many other options as well, which was a relief to my husband who isn’t a big fish eater. Picking where to eat in Kauai is hard because there are so many delicious restaurants! We stayed in Waimea, Koloa and Lihue, and I’m sharing my favorite spots in all three towns. If you are planning a trip to Kauai, be sure to check out my posts on where to stay in Kauai and what to do in Kauai!
Where to Eat in Kauai: Waimea
Ginas Anykine Grinds Cafe: Waimea, Breakfast/Lunch
Waimea is a super small town, barely that honestly, with a very small selection of restaurants. Ginas was such a great find! This tiny restaurant serves us some freaking good food. I ordered the breakfast platter which came with two eggs, bacon and rice. I love how rice is served with almost every meal truly showing the Asian influence on the island.
Ishihara Market: Waimea, Supermarket
Someone on Instagram told me about this place, and I could not be more thankful. It is a true hidden gem. We stopped in here to grab a picnic lunch to enjoy while exploring Waimea Canyon. In the back of this supermarket, grab a ticket and wait in a short line to create your a la cart poke bowl. I ordered the spicy ahi tuna, kimchi cucumbers and a side of white rice. Everything was so good, and I was hooked on kimchi cucumbers for the rest of the trip!
Where to Eat in Kauai: Koloa
Beach House Restaurant: Koloa, Seafood/Steakhouse
If you are in Koloa, stroll over to Lāwa’i Beach to look for green sea turtles from May to September then watch the surfers from the Beach House Restaurant. The restaurant features fresh caught local fish, Hawaiian craft cocktails and stunning sunset views. I started with the Monkeypod Mai Tai. The drink mixed together two different rums, lime juice, homemade macadamia nut orgeat and a honey-lilikoi foam. This was by far my favorite Mai Tai I had while on the island! My husband quenched his thirst with the No Ka Oi featuring vodka, thai basil, lime juice and honey-lilikoi puree for a super refreshing drink.
For our main chores, I ordered the macadamia nut sautéed fresh Hawaiian catch, which was Ono the night we dined. This perfectly flaky fish was paired with cilantro sesame rice, bok choy and a citrus beurre blanc. This ties for my favorite fish dish while on Kauai! For any non-fish fans, my husband ordered the filet mignon served with a blue cheese and bacon butter, mashed potatoes and grilled asparagus, which he raved about!
Eating House 1849: Koloa, Asian/Hawaiian
If you are looking for souvenirs and shopping, walk over to the Shops at Kukui‘ula to find a variety of shops and restaurants. Eating House 1849 by chef Roy Yamaguchi highlights local Hawaiian flavors and produce mixed with an Asian flare for a unique and delicious meal. When you sit down, enjoy edamame whisked over to your table seasoned with a little chili oil. I started with the First Break cocktail, which was super light and refreshing combining coconut shochu, lavender syrup, strawberry puree and coconut water. For my main course, I ordered the Honey Mustard Grilled Short Ribs. As somewhat of a short rib connessouir, the flavor combo blew me away! Horseradish potatoes, kale and a demi-glaze perfectly complemented the meat!
Anakē’s Juice Bar: Koloa, Smoothies/Smoothie Bowls
After a surf lesson or trip to the beach, venture to the back of Kukuiula grocery store and order a refreshing Acai bowl from Anakē’s Juice Bar. I ordered the medium Da Dragon bowl which mixed dragon fruit, bananas, mango and coconut water as the base then topped with homemade granola, local raw honey, goji berries, mango, kiwi and dragon fruit. The bowl was huge, and my husband and I definitely could have split one. He ordered the Funky Monkey and said was awesome!
Where to Eat in Kauai: Lihue
Hualani’s Restaurant: Lihue, Farm-to-Table/Seafood
Hualani’s Restaurant, the on-site restaurant at Hōkūala Kaua’i, is taking farm-to-table dining to the next level by utilizing produce grown on the property’s own farm. The farm focuses on canoe plants, which are the plants that the Polynesians brought to the islands. If you are looking for a night in, the restaurant can come to you in a one-of-a-kind dining experience! Sit at your kitchen island and watch the chefs masterfully prepare a six-course meal with wine pairings or take your dinner to the balcony and soak in the fresh night air.
Our meal started with fried kale chips sprinkled with togarashi, next up was tostones (smashed plantains) with a tomato chutney and fresh octopus. Next was an amazing macadamia nut crusted snapped with mango-pineapple salsa, which was my favorite cooked fish of the trip. For the main course, we enjoyed a NY strip perfectly seasoned with Hawaiian pink salt and paired with a carrot ginger purée and yuca fries with bok choy and pickled onions. The meal finished with a coconut panna cotta like dessert with dulce de leche drizzle. I loved that the chefs made everything gluten-free for me!
If you aren’t staying at the resort, don’t worry, Hualani’s Restaurant is open to the public too. One night, we also dinned at the actual restaurant that overlooks the ocean. Our meal started with a medley of beets with goat cheese mousse and pesto along with the Farm salad with shaved veggies and an herb vinaigrette. One of my favorite dishes was the summer squash “spaghetti” with roasted vegetables and sun-dried tomatoes. The night finished with a special made gluten-free chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream with was divine!
Fish Express: Lihue, Poke Bowls
This unassuming poke place was so worth the stop after we visited the Wailua Falls. It is a make your own poke bowl where you pick your base, protein then toppings. There are so many protein options from spicy lobster salad to tako limo and kimchi shrimp to spicy fresh salmon. I started with a white rice base then ordered a scoop of spicy ahi tuna with crab and spicy fresh salmon topped with kimchi cucumbers, pickled ginger and a drizzle of eel sauce.
When you are picking where to eat in Kauai, just remember some of the best places might be unconventional.
