Lihuʻe
Lihuʻe has two small farmers markets each week: Kukui Grove Center Farmers Market in the Kmart parking lot at the Kukui Grove Center and the Kauaʻi…
Must-see restaurants in Kauaʻi
Kapaʻa & the Eastside
A roadside shack that sells fresh tropical fruit and tasty smoothies, healthful multigrain-bread sandwiches, fish tacos, garden salads and addictive…
Poʻipu & the South Shore
Among the best of several food trucks in central Koloa, Chalupa’s – owned by a chef from Veracruz – serves takeout plates of fish tacos and shrimp (garlic…
Kapaʻa
This small, back-street, all-natural grocer is ideal for health-conscious types who seek a wide assortment of organic, gluten-free, bulk and raw foods…
Waimea Canyon & the Westside
In a small storefront, this humble lunch counter makes huge plate lunches like loco moco and chicken katsu (deep-fried fillets), plus BBQ chicken and ribs…
Kapaʻa
Start with ahi poke nachos, followed by wild-boar and lamb sausages and Belgian fries, or move on to a flank steak with chimichurri sauce or a vegetarian…
Waimea Canyon & the Westside
The menu at this cute coffee shop lures customers with espresso drinks, fruit smoothies, granola bowls, homemade soups, garden salads and bagel and panini…
Poʻipu & the South Shore
Homemade cotton candy, Kaua‘i coffee, pastries, and nothing but the best Maui-made Roselani Tropics ice cream, served with a smile. If you can’t pick a…
Poʻipu & the South Shore
More than the pasta bowls it’s the baked pizzas, with toppings such as kalua pork, Hawaiian BBQ chicken or spinach with goat’s cheese, that draw diners to…
Hanalei
This basic mom-and-pop storefront, tucked in the back of the Ching Young mall, is perfect for filling up on macnut pancakes before you hike the Na Pali…
Lihuʻe
Hours are limited – often linked to when cruise ships are arriving at the nearby harbor – but Kikuchi's is always worth checking out for delicious ahi…
Poʻipu
More popular with tourists than with locals, these specialty hot dogs come with a toasty Hawaiian sweet bread bun, a choice of Polish sausage or veggie…
Wailua
A popular cafe for good coffees and breakfasts that pair feta or vegan sausage with eggs. It also does a tofu scramble and a range of sandwiches. But the…
Lihuʻe
Overlooking Kalapaki Beach, this is one of the most upscale options in town. The food is less than imaginative, focusing on Italian fare and local catches…
Lihuʻe
Hidden in a strip mall, this no-frills Vietnamese noodle shop serves steaming bowls of decent pho (noodle soup). Choose from meat or vegetable toppings,…
Kapaʻa & the Eastside
Everything made by this Oaxaca-born chef tastes fresh and authentic, from stuffed burritos and fish-taco plates to freshly made chips, salsa and sauces…
Kapaʻa & the Eastside
A Kauaʻi offshoot of their locations on Maui, Coconut's is a dependable and good-value option amid Waipouli's strip-mall ambience. Standouts are the…
Poʻipu & the South Shore
Vendors sell mostly flowers and produce, including island fruit – drink the milk from a whole coconut. Bring small bills and change, and show up on time,…
Jo-Jo's Anuenue Shave Ice & Treats
Waimea Canyon & the Westside
This shack delivers icy flavor: all syrups are homemade without additives and won't knock you out with sweetness. The superstar item is the halo halo …
Hanalei
A saffron-scented Kundalini-themed food truck serving Indian delights such as coconut vegetable and shrimp curries, chana palak (a chickpea curry), dahl,…
Wailua
This friendly restaurant makes broke da mout (delicious) ahi wraps, fresh poke, grilled fish plates, salads with local greens, and more. Get takeout for a…
Kapaʻa
Great for self-caterers, this local supermarket chain has a deli that chops fresh poke. It also stocks more locally grown produce and Hawaii-made food…
Waimea Canyon & the Westside
This place lives up to its moniker. Stop in for tropically flavored shakes, sundaes, floats or old-fashioned scoops of Maui-made Roselani ice cream in…
Kapaʻa
A Mexican seafood truck can be a beautiful thing. It does Ensenada-style fish and shrimp tacos, ceviche tostadas and bulging burritos. There are picnic…
Waimea Canyon & the Westside
One of the county-wide Sunshine Markets. Small-scale farmers truck in the goods themselves, and locals keen to score the best produce line up before the…
Princeville
The comforting smell of waffle cones beckons, as do scoops of sweet island flavors such as Kauaʻi pie (Kona coffee ice cream with coconut flakes and…
Princeville
The North Shore’s largest and best-value supermarket has an abundance of fruits and vegetables, freshly prepared sushi and some damn good poke, wine and…
Kapaʻa
This hickory barbecue truck keeps it traditional, with pulled-pork sandwiches and plates, and beef and pork ribs on offer.
Waimea Canyon & the Westside
This log-cabin restaurant overlooks a large meadow that’s stalked by marauding wild roosters. The one dining option in the park – and there’s nothing else…
Poʻipu
Part sports bar, part restaurant, this local institution across from Po‘ipu Beach Park claims to have served up a million mai tais, along with endless…
Waimea Canyon & the Westside
Yes, it’s touristy, but this Western-style saloon dishes up plantation lunches in authentic kaukau (food) tins full of shrimp and vegetable tempura,…
Waimea Canyon & the Westside
Tortillas at this island fusion taquería are stuffed with wasabi-coated or Cajun-dusted seared ahi, fresh cabbage and rice, and they’ll do the same trick…
Princeville
A little deli window in one corner of the Princeville Center, with a few dedicated tables out on the deck. It does an ‘Italian Job’ sub with salami,…
Hanalei
A breezy, open-sided sports bar that’s a popular all-day hangout. The Hawaiian-themed pub grub includes fish tacos, poke pupus (snacks), huli-huli chicken…
Kapaʻa & the Eastside
If you’re a fan of In-N-Out and Dairy Queen, you’ll go nuts over this drive-in. Try the ‘old fashioned’ (cheddar, onions and sprouts) or the ‘local girl’ …
Kapaʻa
A classic diner with big breakfasts, meaty burgers and larger plate lunches built around teriyaki chicken and Portuguese-style pork mains. Grab a cute…
Poʻipu & the South Shore
This little yellow take-out window adjoining Sueoka’s grocery store, is the smart place to order that picnic lunch, be it teriyaki burgers, fish‘n‘chips…
Lihuʻe
Swing by this grocery store, which sells to-go salads, sandwiches, plate lunches and sushi. It has a smoothie bar and a poke (cubed raw fish mixed with…
Princeville
Despite Nanea’s attractive resort location facing the Westin’s pool, its fusion-style cuisine is not quite special enough to merit going far out of your…
Poʻipu & the South Shore
At this straightforward, small-town produce market – one of the countywide Sunshine Markets – no shopping is allowed before the whistle blows. It had…
