Best Food on Kauai

Before heading out on any vacation one of the first things that we do is research good places to eat.  Since we have been to Kauai several times over the years, we thought we would share our list of the best food on Kauai. Although we haven’t been able to check out every place on the island, here is a list of places that we have tried and would recommend to our family and friends. So here they are, in no particular order.

Little Fish Coffee – Poipu

We discovered Little Fish on one of our first trips to Kauai.  We had stopped in their original location in Hanapepe to check it out and we were looking for something to drink.  Everything on the menu sounded good and looked good so we ordered some coffee and some food.  Turns out the coffee was really great and the food memorable.  Years later, I still remember that first Monkey Nuts smoothie I had.

Since then, they have opened location in Poipu, and, it’s busy! The lineup at the Poipu location can easily be 20 deep at times.  They are pretty efficient and the line does move fairly quickly.

If you do make it there, certainly give some of our favorite things  a try.  These are the Monkey Nuts smoothie, of course, their cinnamon schmear on a bagel, the breakfast bagel and the Pakala bowl.  Don’t forget to grab some coffee which is roasted on the Island and a great way to start the day!

The hours at their Poipu location are 7 am to 1 pm – be forewarned, there can be lineups at 7, it’s that popular. To avoid the lineup, they do have an order online and pick up at a specific time option. Click here to do so.

Kiawe Roots / Break+Fast – Koloa

*** Apr 2024 update: Kiawe Roots has discontinued their dine-in service. Luckily, you can have many of the same great food at their Break+Fast restaurant in Koloa. We haven’t yet had a chance to try it out, but I’ll assume based on the reviews that I have read that the food is great.

Some of their must have dinner dishes include half huli chicken their fried brussels sprouts and dad’s fried chicken.

Their philosophy is simple techniques, simple ingredients, unique flavors. And boy, do they deliver.

Street Burger – Kapa’a

*** Jan 2024 update: Street Burger has permanently closed.

After a recommendation from a blog reader, we finally did make it to Street Burger. And, it definitely did not disappoint. The food is high quality and made with local ingredients. All burgers are grilled over wood making it a unique and superior product. Everything is made in house, including their ketchup. Which is probably the best we’ve ever had. If you like beer, they have plenty of options on tap.

Also, the fries are exceptional. Fried to a perfect golden brown, crispy and perfectly salted. Go hungry, the portions are huge. We stopped by on our way back from hiking the Kalalau Trail and weren’t able to finish our plates.

If you get the chance, stop by Tuesday to Saturday between the hours of 11 am and 10 pm.

Kauai Juice – Kapa’a, Koloa & Kilauea

Hands down best kombucha that we have ever tasted!  Every visit on Kauai, one of our first stops is to purchase a growler of kombucha.  Some of our favorite flavors include the Lilikoi Lychee and Dragonfruit Pineapple.  Kauai Juice has expanded their menu over the years and now serve cold press juices, smoothie bowls, plenty of grab and go options and more. One of our new favorites is their lemonades. Not only are they picture worthy, they are also delicious.

And, don’t forget to try an elixir when you stop by. The Ginger Snap is the best. It’s made with ginger, lemon, honey and cinnamon.  It’s a great pick me up when you aren’t feeling 100%.

All their stores are open 8 am to 5:30 pm Monday to Saturday.

Anake’s Juice Bar – Poipu

On a hot day or after a hike, nothing hits the spot quite like Anake’s Acai Bowls. Refreshing, sweet, filling and simply the best we have had on any of the Hawaiian Islands. Our favorite is by far the Funky Monkey.  But, they also have tasty sounding smoothies and fresh juices, but we always just seem to stick to the same order.

This place is popular both with the locals and the visitors. It’s in the back of the Kukuiula Market; just follow the sound of the blenders!

Anake’s is open from 8 am to 2 pm every day.

Da Crack – Poipu

Go hungry!  The burritos there extremely large.  It’s another place that very popular so there can be a lineup at times. Don’t be afraid, it’s worth the wait. Da Crack is also a favorite of the locals.  In fact, it’s not until a local told us that we had to give it a try that we did. Order the ahi burrito and add cabbage to it.  It’s a dynamite combo you can’t get anywhere else. The chicken burrito is also very good.  They also have tacos, bowls and nachos. Everything is pick your own protein and fixings and made to order.

They are open 11 am to 8 pm daily.

El Pastor Taco – Kapa’a

This little gem is a food truck in Kapa’a Town and serves great tacos.  We first heard about El Pastor Taco on the Food Network and decided to check it out.  And, we’ve been back several times since.  The food is great, portions large and reasonably priced.  Get two tacos, a fish one and an el pastor one, you won’t be sorry.

They are open 11 am to 5 pm Wednesday to Sunday – closed on Monday & Tuesday.

Pizzetta – Koloa

*** Jan 2023 update: Pizzetta has permanently closed, but Koloa Pizza Kitchen has opened in the same location. If you happen to stop by, comment below with your thoughts.

Hanalei Bread Company – Hanalei

If you find yourself on Kauai’s North Shore, looking for coffee and a bite to eat, check out Hanalei Bread Company.

From espresso and cold-pressed coffee, made with Hawaii-grown and roasted beans, they will provide enough power to paddle up Hanalei River.

Looking for breakfast and a sweet treat?  They’ve got you covered.  Their breakfast sandwich is a winner, likewise the avocado toast is great and all their pastries are amazing.

During our last visit, we discovered their warm biscuit it comes with butter and jam and so delicious. Give it a try!

They are open from 7 am to 12:30 pm, 7 days per week.

Kauai Island Brewery & Grill – Port Allen, Koloa Village

After watching an epic sunset from Kekaha Beach, stop in at Kauai Island Brewery & Grill for a quick pint and a bite to eat.

Their list of beers on tap is impressive, making it almost impossible to pick just one so a flight was a better option. Turns out all the beers we tasted were good, but the Lilikoi Ale was our favorite.

A local had mentioned that the Kalua Pork sandwich there was really good, so that’s what we ordered. Turns out that was an understatement, it was the best pulled pork sandwich that we’ve ever had. And, the fries are really good too. They too focus on local fresh ingredients and make almost everything in-house.

If you are looking for high quality pub food on Kauai, this is a great option. They are open 11 am to 9 pm daily. If you find yourself in the area, do stop by.

Recently, they’ve opened a second location in Koloa Village. Same hours with a slightly different menu. Highly recommend!

Makai Sushi – Koloa

*** Jan 2023 update: Makai Sushi has permanently closed.

The Beach House – Koloa

We stopped by late afternoon, during Happy Hour thinking we would try some mai tais and a snack but we liked it so much that we ended up staying to watch the sunset.  The Beach House has one of the best sunset views on the island.

During happy hour, from 3:30 to 4:30 daily, the pupus (appetizers) are reasonably priced and their famous Monkeypod mai tais are also discounted.

Everything we had there was are great!  We tried the lobster deviled eggs, the garlic truffle oil fries, the pumpkin patch ravioli and the Szechuan stir-fry green beans.  We will definitely be adding this place to our list for next visit!

Kalaheo Cafe – Kalaheo

You will find Kalaheo Cafe in the lush mountains of upcountry Kalaheo. It’s a locals’ favorite and they have plenty of local awards on the wall. One fun fact that we noticed was that they estimate their clientele to be 75% local.

We stopped by for breakfast, but they do also offer lunch and dinner menus.

As you walk in, you are greeted by a case full of tasty treats. As you can probably guess, we had to try one of them. We opted for the knuckle. It’s a cross between a croissant and a cinnamon roll. Very tasty.

For our meals, we opted for omelettes. They were very tasty and a generous size. They were also served with hash browns and a small grilled corn muffin. A very nice touch!

They open at 7:00 am, perfect for early risers and close around 2 pm. For night where dinner is available, they re-open at 5 pm.

Porky’s – Koloa Village

If you do a quick search for the top places to eat on Kauai, Porky’s comes out on top.  They only have 4 menu options so how can that be? We had to find out for ourselves.  After a day in Waimea Canyon, we decided to stop in and give it a try.  We ordered the Number One which is a grilled pineapple infused pork sausage topped with handcrafted, slow roasted kalua pork, fresh cut pineapple, grilled onions, porky’s bbq sauce (sweet or sweet & spicy), all inside a toasted cheese french roll. And, it was THAT GOOD.  The pork was fantastic and the sweet spicy BBQ sauce pushed it over the top.  So, if you are in the area, do give it a try.

Their Waimea shop is now closed, but have re-opened in Koloa Village.

Fun fact, Porky’s started as a food truck that was so successful that they decided to open a permanent location first in Waimea and now in Koloa.

Tidepools – Poipu

Tidepools is a favorite of ours for a special occasion for a meal or just cocktails and dessert. If you are looking for dining room seating, you definitely need a reservation. If there is nothing available, just stop by for a seat in the lounge, they offer the same great food.

The service is exceptional and their menu focused on fresh fish and steak options with a unique island flair including macadamia nut crusted fish, grilled ahi or a succulent steak.

The lounge opens at 5 pm daily and the dining room at 5:30 pm. For those not staying at the Grand Hyatt, they do offer free valet parking for diners.

Holey Grail Donuts – Hanalei

We had been following Holey Grail Donuts on Instagram for a little while.  While planning our latest trip to Kauai, we knew we needed to check it out.  They are located in food truck in Hanalei and open Tuesday to Sunday morning from 7 am to 1 pm (weekdays) and 4 pm on weekends.  Their donuts are organic, vegan and made with taro and fried in coconut oil.

If you decide to go, be prepared for a bit of a wait.  All donuts are made to order and there can be a bit of a lineup. The menu tends to change every week.  The day we stopped by the options were as per the menu below.

We decided to get one of each kind.  After a few minutes of wait, got our box of donuts. Not only are the donuts beautiful to look at but they were delicious.

Nom – Kapa’a

*** Jan 2023 update: Nom has permanently closed which is very unfortunate because the food was so good.

Java Kai – Kapa’a, Kilauea and soon Koloa

There’s no shortage of great local coffee shops on Kauai. Java Kai not only serves up great coffee (roasted in house!), but they crank out fantastic breakfast, acai bowls and have a full display case of sweet treats (give the Aloha Bar a try). We recommend hitting up the Kapa’a before, during or after riding on the Kapa’a Bike Path. It is just feet away from the pathway, with ample seating inside an out and has something to satisfy any type of craving. Or, if you’re just looking for great coffee on the East Side. They also have a location in Kilauea and newly opened in Koloa.

Kilauea Bakery and Pizzeria – Kilauea

A new favorite on the North Shore, Kilauea Bakery and Pizzeria has a lot of delicious options. Whether you are looking for breakfast, lunch or dinner they have you covered. They serve everything from freshly baked treats, hearty soups and salads and delicious pizza made with local ingredients. They have a very cute spot with covered long tables and a very colorful used book for sale.

If you do stop by, make sure to give their malasadas a try!

Welina Terrace – Princeville

The Welina Terrace at the 1 Hanalei Bay Hotel, is the prefect location for cocktails and bites. It overlooks Hanalei Bay, and has the best views on the island. We had previously stayed at that property when it was the St. Regis Princeville and it was nice, but with the new ownership’s renovations, this is stunning hotel.

If you are planning on going, we highly recommend making a reservation in advance. We were there during the Christmas break and left it to the last minute so there were no tables available but we sat at the bar and it was good. We each had a couple cocktails and a shared a few appetizer plates and left very happy.

A tip for those not staying at the 1 Hanalei Bay Hotel, you can get parking validation that will cover the costs of your valet parking if you spend more than $100 at any of their restaurants.

Living Foods – Koloa

Living Foods is a market, cafe and restaurant all in the same location. The market and cafe are open from 7 am to 9 pm daily for all your local grocery product and take away needs. Their cafe does have delicious fresh baked pastries and a barista ready to make your coffee just the way you like it.

The restaurant is open from 8 am to 3 pm for Brunch and 3 pm to 9 pm for Dinner.

If you are looking for more information before going to Kauai, check out some of our other Kauai posts listed below.

• Kauai Travel Tips
• Best Happy Hour on Kauai
• 7 Day Budget Friendly Kauai Itinerary
• Favorite Kauai Beaches

Finally, Kauai is one of our favorite places to visit. With each visit we will update this post with any new information. However, you have any food recommendation for us, comment below so we can check it out during our next visit.

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