Kauai is known as the garden isle for its beautiful lush vegetation and jagged green mountains. As you explore this incredible island, be sure to make time for some of the best restaurants in Kauai.
Kauai undoubtedly has some of the best local food in Hawaii. From food trucks, fresh poke bowls, loco moco, shaved ice and more, there is definitely a restaurant to suit everyone’s hunger.
In this guide we break down the best restaurants in Kauai into regions; East, North, South, and West. While the East is definitely the most populated and built up area, there are still some island favorites snuck into each part of the island.
Map of the Best Restaurants in Kauai
Best Restaurants in Kauai on the East side:
Musubi Truck
Location: Kapaa
Hour: Mon-Friday 7am-6pm, (Closed Saturday & Sunday)
One of the best places to eat on the island of Kauai is Musubi Truck.
It is one of the best food trucks that serves fresh poke bowls and the famous spam musubi. This was our first stop on the island and honestly, we often found ourselves comparing other restaurants to this one.
Must-get items on their menu are the spam musubi (surprisingly delicious for it being spam), spicy ahi poke bowl, and the truffle tater tots. The tater tots were a “special” on the menu, but hopefully they will add them to the main menu soon, because they were delicious!
We personally think Musubi Truck is hands-down one the best restaurants in Kauai and also budget-friendly!
Street Burger
Location: Kapaa
Hours: Tuesday – Saturday: 3:00pm-8:00pm, (Closed Sunday & Monday)
If you love good beer and burgers, Street Burger is a must visit restaurant in Kauai. They literally have everything from a L-T-O burger to loads of creative specialty burgers.
Not to mention, they have a great craft beer selection. So while browsing the long list of different burgers, we were sipping on one of our favorite beers we found on the island (Kauai Island Brewing – Pillow Talk Hazy IPA).
They also have nightly specials, which can totally sway you off the traditional menu, because everything our server listed sounded super delicious. But you really can’t go wrong with any of the signature burgers.
Bubba Burgers
Location: Kapaa & Koloa
Hours: Kapaa – Mon-Sun 10:30am-8pm, Koloa – Tues-Sat 10:30am-8pm (closed Sunday & Monday)
Bubba Burgers is another great place if you are looking for burgers. But they offer more of an old-fashioned burger. All patties are made with 100% grass-fed Kauai beef.
There are 2 Bubba’s Burgers locations, one on the east side in Kapaa and another on the south shore in Koloa.
Besides their burgers, their onion rings are another very popular item on their menu.
Hamura Saimin
Location: Lihue
Hours: Mon-Thurs 10am-10:30pm, Fri-Sat 10am-12am, Sun 10am-9:30pm
A local favorite is Hamura Saimin. Very affordable restaurant, but they only accept CASH. Once you walk in, you will be welcomed to sit at the open horseshoe style bar seating.
Ordering here is rather easy, because they really only serve one item, Saimin.
Saimin is a Hawaiian noodle soup and they offer it in small, medium, large, and extra large.
Jake and I ordered a Saimin bowl and Wonton Soup w/noodles, but decided it was basically the same meal after we tried both.
To be honest, Jake and I weren’t completely blown away, but maybe our expectations were just too high since this is a hot local spot.
Java Kai
Location: Kapaa
Hours: Mon-Sun 6am-6pm
An awesome coffee shop in Kapaa to get tasty coffee and a bite to eat for breakfast and lunch is Java Kai.
They serve both 100% Kona Coffee and 100% Kauai Coffee. Plus a killer Mac Nut Latte.
Their breakfast menu offers unique breakfast sandwiches, avocado toasts, and bagels. With the addition of some lighter fare such as fruit bowls, pancakes, waffles, pastries, etc.
Or if you are stopping in later in the afternoon, they have a variety of tasty sandwiches. All served with salad, purple potato salad or chips.
Duke’s Kauai
Location: Lihue
Hours: Mon-Sat 11am-9m, Sun 9:30am-8:30pm
Duke’s is a small local chain named after the famous Hawaiian, Duke Kahanamoku. He grew up in Waikiki, and became remarkably good at swimming and surfing. Bringing home the first gold medal for the U.S. and surfing the longest wave (about 1 ⅛ miles).
The menu at dukes is fun and inclusive of Duke’s highlights. Breaking the menu down into categories: swimmers (meaning fish items), Duke’s Favorites, From the Land (steaks, chicken, beef), and take it surfing (lobster or shrimp) which is an extra cost to entrees.
Duke’s can be a bit pricey. So it’s not one of the best local places to eat in Kauai if you are on a tight budget or looking for a more affordable restaurant. But rather a popular restaurant to experience the Hawaiian Islands History.
Pancho’s Pizza
Location: Kapaa
Hours: Tues-Sat 2pm-9pm (Closed Sunday & Monday)
If you are looking for a tasty pizza on the east side, Pancho’s is your perfect spot.
Our only complaint is that they only sell a 16” & 18” pizza. So for 2 people, that is a pretty big pizza (embarrassingly we almost finished it). We are all for saving leftovers, but on vacation, having a fridge in your room isn’t always guaranteed.
So we just wish Pancho’s Pizza offered maybe a smaller 12” or 14” size that is more suitable for 2 people.
But the pizza itself was delicious! We ordered the Kauai’an Spicy BBQ and Mmmm, it was yummy.
There is indoor and outdoor seating, plus it is BYOB. There’s an ABC General Store just a few blocks away. So we walked to grab a couple beers to enjoy while we waited.
Other Local Places to Eat in Kauai on the East Side:
Hukilau Lanai is a fine dining Kauai restaurant. Local favorites on the menu consist of lobster bisque and prime rib. They have 4.7 star rating out of 1,022 reviews, need I say more? But do expect to pay around $50/person including food & drink.
Best Restaurants in Kauai On the North Shore:
Holey Grail Donuts
Location: Hanalei
Hours: Tues-Fri 7am-1pm, Sat-Sun 7am-4pm, (Closed Mondays)
On the north shore you will find Holey Grail donuts. Which serves a warm scrumptious taro donut.
We found the price point compared to the size to be a bit expensive. But to try the famous locally grown taro was a fun treat.
So it’s more of a try one and maybe get something else more substantial at a different food truck nearby.
They also serve specialty coffees here!
Aloha Juice Co
Location: Hanalei
Hours: Mon-Sun 10am-4pm
A great spot to get a delicious Acai bowl in Hanalei is Aloha Juice Co. They have a wide selection of different fruit bowls to choose from, or you can simply create your own. They also offer smoothies, wellness juice shots, homemade granola, and more.
Don’t forget to ask for the special mermaid honey! It comes with edible glitter!
Bar Acuda
Location: Hanalei
Hours: Tues-Saturday 5:30pm-9:30pm, (Closed Sunday-Monday)
For some local Tapa’s with a welcoming ambiance visit Bar Acuda on the North Shore.
If you have a lighter appetite you can still keep the bill on the more affordable side. But if you are very hungry, you might end up paying a hefty price for the small amount of food each plate offers.
Fan favorites are the North Shore Honeycomb, Grilled Lamb Riblettes, and the Pan Roasted Broccoli.
Bar Acuda offers a great wine list, specialty cocktails, and some beers on draft.
We’d definitely suggest making a reservation because the wait time can be over an hour during peak dinner time.
Kalypso Island Bar & Grill
Location: Hanalei
Hours: Mon, Wed-Fri 2:30 – 9 PM, Sat-Sun 10 AM – 9 PM (Closed Tuesdays)
Kalypso is located on the North Shore and offers brunch (Saturday & Sunday Only), lunch and dinner.
To be honest we were a little more excited about this place than what it turned out to be. People mentioned the great views here, but it’s mainly along the roadside patio. Which honestly doesn’t have many tables, so you might have a long wait time for those specific tables.
Kalypso does have a good happy hour from 3 – 5:30pm. All Kona Brewing Co beers are $4 and Coors light is $3. You can get specialty cocktails (Mai-tais, margaritas, daiquiris, pina colada, or a lava flow) for $9. Or house wine for $6. And specific pupus (apps) from $9-$13.
We visited here after getting done with the Kalalau Trail and had high hopes for some tasty food, but nothing really blew us away. Even the specialty cocktails were mediocre. The food was either too greasy or dry (with the exception of their coconut shrimp being pretty tasty).
But we enjoyed the atmosphere here, and our server was extremely nice and attentive!
So if you are in the area, I would stick to the bar food. The fancy entrees don’t really deliver on the price. Or if you looking for some cheap drinks and maybe a couple pupus, then Kalypso could be your answer.
They also do have some decent TV’s, so Kalypso can be a good place to maybe catch a sports game and grab a few cheap local beers!
Pat’s Taqueria
Location: Hanalei
Hours: Mon-Sat 1pm-3pm (Closed Sunday)
Pat’s Taqueria is a Mexican food truck near the Hanalei Pier in the Black Pot Beach parking lot. They are specifically known for their Carne Asada, Kalua Pork, and fish tacos.
All the tacos have pretty good flavor, but we did find them to be a bit wet with the oils leaking out the other end of the tortilla.
Personally, we felt the price was a little high for what you get. But you’re on vacation and you don’t even have to leave the beach to get some tasty taco’s!
Tahiti Nui
Location: Hanalei
Hours: Mon-Tues 11am-9pm, Wed-Thurs 3pm-9pm, Friday 11am-12am, Sun 9am-9pm (Closed Saturday)
Tahiti Nui is one of the best places if you are looking for a local vibe. They have live music nightly 6:30pm-8:30pm and offer Luau’s every Tuesday and Wednesday.
The best local food to get here is the Zesty Coconut Crusted Catch of the day or the Macadamia Crusted Chicken. They also have the best Mai Tai, so be sure to grab one of those while you’re there!
Other North Shore of Kauai Restaurant Ideas:
Another local favorite on Kauai’s North Shore that we didn’t make it to was Tiki Iniki.
Tiki Iniki is known for having some tasty fresh fish entrees, sticky sweet short ribs, and the Famous Flaming Zombie cocktail (which serves 2-5 people).
It does seem to offer a fun atmosphere but doesn’t quite top some of these other best restaurants in Kauai.
Best Restaurants in Kauai on the South Shore:
Da Crack Mexican Grinds
Location: Koloa
Hours: Mon-Sun 11am-8pm
Da crack is one of the best places to find affordable Mexican Cuisine. The portions here are also huge which is a bonus if you are very hungry.
Da Crack offers walk-up counter service and makes the food fresh in a reasonable time. Many locals seem to stop here for a quick lunch break.
They offer burritos, bowls, and tacos. And sides of chips & salsa or chips & guac. There is always a fresh fish catch of the day, which you can add to any burrito, bowl, or taco combo.
Jake and I split a chicken burrito and it was fire! Highly recommend it as one of the best local places to eat in Kauai.
Koloa Fish Market
Location: Koloa
Hours: Mon-Sat 10am-3pm
Koloa Fish Market has some of the best local food on the South Shore. Each lunch plate comes with your choice of fresh fish, rice, and 2 sides. It’s currently only offered for take out, so many people bring it down to Poipu Beach.
Even though there is often a long line, they turn out the food relatively quickly.
Red Salt at Ko’a Kea
Location: Koloa
Hours: Mon-Sun 7–11AM, 5–8:30PM
If you are looking for more of a fine dining experience to celebrate a special occasion, Red Salt is a great spot. Expect to pay around $50 per person, not including drinks.
They serve both breakfast & dinner and have a good variety of local inspired cuisine. Unique dishes include the Ahi Bruschetta, Lobster Risotto, and vegetarian Cauliflower Steak.
This definitely isn’t exactly one of Kauai’s best restaurants to eat like a local for cheap, but can be a great place to celebrate a special event. Such as an anniversary, birthday, holiday, etc.
Puka Dog
Location: Poipu
Hours: Mon-Sun 10am-7:30pm
Now, a hot dog is not usually on my list of must-eats when visiting any place (except maybe Chicago). But Puka Dog does serve a good Hawaiian dog.
And it definitely makes the list of most affordable places to eat in Kauai costing less than $10 per person.
First, start by choosing between a polish sausage or veggie dog which goes into a freshly baked Hawaiian sweet bun. Then choose between mild, spicy, hot, or lava for their garlic lemon secret sauce. Add in Aunty Lilikoi’s Hawaiian Mustard, if that is your thing. And top with Hawaiian fruit relish, which comes in mango, pineapple, papaya, coconut, banana, or star fruit.
You also can’t go wrong with their fresh squeezed lemonade.
The beach is located across the street, so you can always grab your hot dog and enjoy it at Poipu Beach.
Japanese Grandma’s Cafe
Location: Hanapepe
Hours: Wed-Mon 11AM–3PM, 5–9PM (Closed Tuesday)
If you are looking for some good quality fresh seafood, Japanese Grandma Cafe is a great local favorite. The prices are on the higher end of affordable, but you are getting organic and fresh local ingredients.
Also consider just splitting a few rolls if you are traveling with a friend or partner to help keep the price down. But they do also have delicious Bento Rice Bowls that will definitely make your belly happy!
They do say to check out their Instagram page for the most up-to-date hours.
Little Fish Coffee
Location: Koloa
Hours: Mon-Sun 7:30am-1pm
If you are looking for a delicious specialty coffee, healthy eats, or a delicious sandwich, Little Fish Coffee is the perfect spot. They offer yummy acai fruit bowls, but Jake and I opted for some sandwiches.
It’s best to order online as there is almost always a long line. After ordering, head straight to the Pick Up Window and give them your name. We sadly waited around 10 minutes for them to call out our name, but really the food was already done and waiting there…
Lappert’s Hawaii
Location: Koloa, Hanapepe, & Princeville
Hours: Koloa Mon-Sun 8am-9pm, Princeville Tues-Thurs 10am-6pm, Fri-Mon 10am-8pm, Hanapepe (temporarily closed)
Lappert’s is one of the best local places to eat in Kauai if you are looking for a tasty treat. There are locations in Koloa, Princeville, and Hanapepe.
They serve creamy ice cream in local flavors. From flavors like Kona coffee to tropical fruits such as pineapple or lilikoi.
The Koloa location opens at 8am, so if you are looking for a fresh brewed coffee and a light pastry, Lappert’s is the perfect place.
Kauai Island Brewing Co
Location: Eleele
Hours: Mon-Sat 11am-9pm, Sun 8am-9pm
If you like hazy IPAs then Kauai Island Brewing Co is basically your only spot on the island of Kauai. Plus it’s the world’s Westernmost Brewery, so I mean you gotta at least go for one.
They really do have a good selection of different craft beers and pretty delicious bar food. Jake and I got a pupu of BBQ Pork Sliders to share while we watched an NFL game on the road.
There is one more brewery on the island, called Kauai Beer Company located in Lihue. We didn’t love their beers compared to Kauai Island Brewery, but maybe they will have more of your favorite style beers.
Other Unique Restaurants in Kauai on the South Shore:
If you are looking for a couple of fine dining restaurants, Merriman’s Fish House and The Beach House Restaurant are great options. But do expect to spend quite a pretty penny on the final bill at each place.
Merriman’s Fish House is a good place if you are looking for locally sourced fresh produce incorporated into fine dining entrees. They also offer live music and an extensive wine list to their guests.
The Beach House Restaurant offers fine dining Pacific Rim cuisine and has one of the best views. They serve some of the freshest local ingredients, sourcing their fish directly from island fishermen and many other local ingredients coming from neighboring ranches.
Kauai’s Best Restaurants on the West Side:
Gina’s Anykine Grind’s Cafe
Location: Waimea
Hours: Tues-Thurs 8am-2pm, Fri-Sat 8am-1pm (Closed Sunday & Monday)
Gina’s Anykine Grind’s Cafe has the best breakfast on this list of the best restaurants in Kauai.
They serve local loco moco with many different meat options. While loco moco is typically served with a beef hamburger, Gina’s Anykine Grind’s Cafe had the choice of beef, pork, chicken or chorizo. The pork was delicious!
We also grabbed a fresh banana bread and pumpkin loaf that were both super moist and super yummy.
L & L Hawaiian BBQ
Location: Waimea
Hours: Mon-Sun 7am-8pm
L & L Hawaiian BBQ is a casual restaurant in Kauai. And one of the best places to get chicken katsu which is essentially coconut fried chicken. It’s one of the most affordable restaurants in Kauai, and a good spot in Waimea.
Jojo’s Shave Ice
Location: Waimea, Hanalei, & Kapaa
Hours: Waimea 11am-6pm, Hanalei 11am-8pm, Kapaa 11am-7:30pm
Jojo’s is a popular spot to get shaved ice around the island of Kauai, with there being 3 locations.
Jake and I visited the Waimea location and were pleasantly surprised. I’ve always gotten tropical fruit flavors but this time we got chocolate and hazelnut. And there was a surprise scoop of ice cream at the bottom!
What makes Jojo’s so special is they make their own syrups from scratch using pure cane sugar (no corn syrup).
Most importantly, they donate ALL their profits to less privileged youth. These kids get to go to a camp for free called Makanalani.
We’d highly recommend heading here for a famous local shaved ice!
Porky’s Kauai
Location: Waimea
Hours: Tues-Fri 11-4pm, Sat 11am-3pm (Closed Sunday & Monday)
Porky’s is locally known for its tasty BBQ in Waimea. Sadly, Porky’s was closed when we were in the area, but I can’t imagine us not liking it. We are definitely keeping it on the bucket list for next time.
Plus it has a 4.8 star rating out of 741 reviews on Google, so I think that can attest to their customers also thinking they serve delicious food.
Porky’s menu basically tops either a pork pineapple sausage, beef frank hot dog, grilled cheese or white rice with their Hawaiian Style Pulled Pork. My mouth is simply watering just writing this!
So when visiting the west side of Kauai, you definitely need to add Porky’s to your list of best restaurants in Kauai to visit.
Final Thoughts For The Best Restaurants in Kauai
There is no doubt that these local favorites are some of the best places to eat in Kauai. Because we tried many of them first hand and would visit most of them again on our next visit!
While this list of best restaurants in Kauai should definitely get you well through your vacation, we can’t wait to come back next time and explore some other local places to eat in Kauai.
In conclusion, Musubi Truck ended up being our favorite place to eat on the island of Kauai. There were no long lines and really a great spot to get delicious food for a good price.
Local cuisine you must try when in Kauai are a fresh ahi poke bowl, acai bowls, loco moco, chicken katsu plate lunches, spam musubi, and coconut shrimp. And of course indulge in a specialty Mai Tai if you are of age and enjoy an alcoholic beverage.
We included a few fine dining options around the island. But we were trying to stick to a tight budget on our visit, saving a bunch of money with affordable restaurants and camping around the island.
But obviously, if you have a higher budget or are celebrating a special occasion, definitely make time for some of the fancier options. Most fine dining restaurants on Kauai offer fresh local ingredients in locally inspired dishes that sound divine!
We hope you find some great places to eat like a local for cheap on this list of best restaurants in Kauai! ?
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