Kauai Eats... Recommendations??

Old Jul 22nd, 2015, 09:37 AM
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Kauai Eats... Recommendations??

Spending 2 weeks in Kauai this September for our anniversary! We will be splitting our time staying in the North and East, but will be traveling all over the island during our stay. This will be our first time in Kauai, so I searched "Kauai restaurants" in the search bar, but everything that pulled up was a few years old. Would love any recommendations for places to eat... casual to formal!
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Old Jul 22nd, 2015, 11:46 AM
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Bubba Burgers is a must. They are made in the style of the 1930s (no lettuce, mayo, tomato). Buy the burgers with the single patty (the double patty messes with the bread/meat ratio). The fries are great here too. Set aside your preconceptions of what a burger should be, and fanaticize about having a burger with your favorite relatives in the 1930s.

HTtY
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Old Jul 22nd, 2015, 12:19 PM
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Kauai Ono in Hanalei. It's a foodie-worthy multi-course tasting menu served under a big tent. BYOB. I've been twice and loved it both times. Food was delicious and interesting. Farm-to-table style. Enjoyed meeting the other guests at the community-style tables. I think they do it twice a week, but reserve early. It sells out.
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Old Jul 22nd, 2015, 12:20 PM
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Kauai Ono in Hanalei. It's a foodie-worthy multi-course tasting menu served under a big tent. BYOB. I've been twice and loved it both times. Food was delicious and interesting. Farm-to-table style. Enjoyed meeting the other guests at the community-style tables. I think they do it twice a week, but reserve early. It sells out.
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Old Jul 23rd, 2015, 06:11 AM
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I have a trip report you may want to browse through. We ate everywhere from high to low end including: Kauai Ono, Josselin's, lots of takeout from various local places, food trucks, Brick Oven Pizza, Red Salt, etc.

http://sulynnchen.com/travelblog/?page_id=1285

Enjoy!
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Old Jul 23rd, 2015, 01:34 PM
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Definitely Josselin's, for Italian we liked Casa d'amici in Poipo (no view), Duke's at the Marriott in Lihue is good, on the beach and puts you into the Hawaiian mood right away, for burgers I had a good one at Duane's in Anahola last trip.
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Old Jul 23rd, 2015, 03:44 PM
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While we were in Kauai last January we had a very thoughtfully prepared Mexican meal at Verde, a small storefront restaurant located in an unassuming strip mall. It seems to be owned and operated by some fun-loving folks who came to Kauai and didn't want to leave. The food was delicious, the service was friendly, and the crowd included several colorful locals.

HTtY
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Old Jul 23rd, 2015, 04:48 PM
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Thank you all for the suggestions! Happytrailstoyou and Beanie39-- will definitely check out your suggestions!
tifa2276 -- I read through some of your trip report and have enjoyed it! Love seeing all of the pictures
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Old Jul 23rd, 2015, 05:01 PM
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jamie99-- those menus all look good! Thank you so much for the recommendations!
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Old Jul 24th, 2015, 08:19 PM
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depends on your budget I think. Merrimans in the new shopping center at Poipu is now my favorite. Bubbas for sure for a great burger and there are some some funky restaurants in Hanalei. Postcards in Hanalei. Keokes at Poipu Beach is very tropical with its great hawaiian decor and pretty decent food. Dukes...I would have pupus and cocktails only. Very disappointed after waiting so long to eat there. Not sure if they still have their Taco night which is the only reason I would go back. Red Salt for a signature dinner at the Koa Kea. Hyatt Regnecy has some good restaurants and a great cocktail show too You can always pick up something at the market and grill at Poipu Beach Park and watch the sun go down if you do not have a grill available where you are staying.
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Old Jul 25th, 2015, 10:44 AM
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Some of my favorites:

Keoki's in Poipu shopping center. Sister restaurant to Duke's in Nahwiliwili (Lihue). Very good bar food. Often has local entertainment.

Duke's ...location noted above. Waterfront . Good food, usually busy. Downstairs more casual and less expensive than eating upstairs. Upstairs for a special night out. Make reservations.

Joe's On The Green..Poipu on golf course. Great for breakfast or lunch.

Beach House Restaurant in Poipu. Great location, good food. Best place to watch sunset on island. Mostly for a special night out as a bit expensive. Or, go for lunch. Less expensive and still wonderful views.

Verde.. Mexican Restaurant in Kapaa. In small strip mall but worth a visit. Small but always full. Food is good, better than most Mexican I've had. Loved this place.

Olympic Cafe in Kapaa. Upstairs location. You can sit there and overlook the Main Street. They have huge portions, great Mai Tais, and the best coconut shrimp on the island. If you don't see it on the menu, just ask. Usually they will do it for you. Not to be missed if you like shrimp.

Brick Oven a Pizza. 2 locations, one in Kapaa, one in Kalsheo. Very good pizza. Freshly made dough and they will brush the crust with garlic butter, yummy. If you want good pizza, try this place. They do offer a buffet night twice a week, and have all types of pizza available as well as a small salad bar, another pasta dish, chicken wings, garlic bread...etc. good value and nice if you want yo sample more than one pizza.

JJ's Broiler in Nahwiliwili...near Dukes. We like this for lunch as it sits right on the beach and the outside tables are great to enjoy a nice drink with lunch. Varied menu, good food, ample portions, good drinks.
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Old Jul 25th, 2015, 11:11 AM
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JJ's must have improved a LOT, last 2 times I went for lunch (nice view) the food was not that good and overpriced.
Forgot to mention Tidepools at the Grand Hyatt. Go for the torchlighting ceremony followed by the keiki (children) hula show (not on every night), then dinner at Tidepools about 7pm followed maybe by an after dinner drink at the Stevenson Library, some nights they have good jazz music.
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Old Jul 30th, 2015, 10:19 AM
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Agree:
Oly Cafe (The OC). Great breakfasts and Bloody Marys. Sit and watch the Sleeping Giants snooze or King Kong look off towards Oahu and watch the traffic in "Downtown Kapaa" drive by.

Joe's on the Green-Another good breakfast place. Cold beer too. Not that I have it for breakfast....

Brick Oven Pizza (The BOP)....both locations but since the one near Kapaa is a 10 min walk from our hotel, safer to have beer with the great pie. Love the whole wheat crust with extra garlic butter. I found the key to a better BOP pie is asking for it to be cooked "well done".
==========================
The Wake Up Cafe.

Kalypso

Tahiti Nui for pupus. (sit on the Clooney/Bridges bar stools).

Lighthouse Bistro.

Tip Top Cafe-finally found it and ate there last year. Good breakfast- loved the pancakes.

Java Kai-great, fresh squeezed juices, pastries and coffees.

J02-Jean Marie's Josselin's return to The Royal Coconut Coast. Ate there last year. Outstanding. They were talking about expanding.

Wahoo's.

Hukilau Lanai-one of the best on Kauai.

Trees Lounge-good gumbo and "Cajun Fries". One of the best Martinis on the island according to The Lovely Mrs Kal and her local Kauai Martini buddies.

Kilauea Fish Market-Next to Trees Lounge and Islander on the beach. Fresh fish....great fish wraps/burritos.

Beachwalk Restaurant and Grill (former overrated Scotty's BBQ).
Great views of the beach. Our buddy Bobby is the breakfast chef. Good Bloody Mary, too.


Oasis on the Beach. Great food, service and you can't beat the view. Happy Hour is pretty good.

Kintaro's-one of the best local restaurants on the island. Excellent sushi/sashimi teppanyaki....

The Bull Shed-Steaks and a great view. Decent wine list, too.

Kauai Pasta-yummmm Nice bar in the back at the Kapaa location.

Monico's-Good Mex.

Chicken in a Barrel

Hamura's.....once all the stinkin' tourists leave. LOL

The Beach Hut (Kalapaki Bay) Good burgers/nice people.

Sadly...the Feral Pig, located across the street, closed recently.


Kalaheo Coffee Co. Great coffee-good breakfast/lunches.

Grinds Cafe-Big fan of Grinds for years.
We have been grabbing a sandwich there and taking it to go for trips to Kekaha/Polihale Beaches or eating out on their patio.


Kauai Brewing Co. "Nui nachos"...yummmmmm

Kalapaki Joe's at the Waimea Plantation Cottages.

La Spezia...felt like we stepped into a small bistro in Sonoma/Napa Valley.

The Right Slice-Great pies! If you room as an oven, buy and bake or order it baked then pick it up. Still dream about the mango-lilikoi pie....

Man I'm hungry.....
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Old Jul 30th, 2015, 10:49 AM
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since when do the locals allow tourists to sit in their seats at the Nui? Clooney/Bridges seats my arse!
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Old Aug 2nd, 2015, 12:32 PM
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WOW! We have an awesome list to choose from now! Thank you all so much.
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Old Aug 3rd, 2015, 12:07 PM
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There are few newer ones I'd like to try, too.
Too bad you need to spend most your time hiking, swimming, biking all the good grub off!
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Old Aug 6th, 2015, 12:33 PM
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Oh oh...comment removed:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2c9-LDP0t0
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Old Aug 17th, 2015, 05:59 PM
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The new Roy's Eating House is great as well as most restaurants in The shops at kukuiula. Visit http://www.poipubeach.org/dining/restaurants/ for a list of restaurants if you go to Poipu
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Old Aug 18th, 2015, 07:06 PM
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2nd that on the BEACH HUT. Our first stop after arriving on Kauai every time! Fabulous burgers and fries.
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Old Aug 29th, 2015, 05:46 AM
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I live on Kauai and 2-weeks is the perfect amount of time to try a little this and that! We have some epic food
My recommendations and this is also based on the 100 family members who came to my wedding last summer.

#1 - Hukilau Lanai (Kapaa) - great for a nice semi-fancy evening, usually have to book a reservation ahead of time because it's very popular with the locals and tourists. (Tip, ask for chocolate decadence if you like dessert, they hold some special in the back for weddings and it's not on the menu, request cold).

#2 - Ono Char Burger (Anahola) - SUPER hole in the wall place when you pull up, but their local boy burger is the best teri-burger you will find on the island in my opinion.

#3 - Monico's (Kapaa) - Best Mexican food on the island hands down, especially if you like steak.

#4 - Sushi Bushido (Kapaa) - Has become more popular than Kintaro's among my friends over the past 2-years. (Personally I prefer genki sushi on the coveyer belt at the mall, it's cheaper!)

#5 - JJ's Broiler )Lihue) - They use to be a lot fancier of a restaurant, but over the years it's just eh. The original chef was known for his Slavonic steak which is still available and delicious. I would recommend only coming if someone in your group likes fish & chips, but it is worth stopping in for dessert. Their hula pie according to the majority beats out Duke's pie. Even my mother in law who does not eat ANYTHING downed this pie. We were shocked.

#6 - Sone's Deli or Deli & Bread (both at the mall) - just looking for lunch head here. Sandwiches at Deli and Bread are an island favorite. Sone's is a personal favorite if you're looking for a place the locals go to when they want to grab something for lunch. Sone's is more of a hodge podge of Chinese, Filipino & Hawaiian foods.

#7 - Hamura Saimin (Lihue) - If you don't go here during your trip you will have forsaken Kauai's gem. It's the best saimin joint possibly in the state.

#8 - Kauai Pasta (Kapaa or Lihue) - Best Italian restaurant we have, but pricey.

#9 - Ono Family Restaurant (Kapaa) - great breakfast place, the owner Kenny is one of the most popular guys on the island. But the real treasure is the shave ice place it turns into after breakfast. The shave ices here are MONSTERS and only like $3 with more flavors than you could ever dream of.

#10 - Kalapaki Grill (All sides) - Sports bar with an open air atmosphere. Service can be poor when it's busy, but wedding guests came back here on their own because they liked the food so much. I believe the owner just opened his 4th or 5th location just in the past year or so, which speaks to its success.

#11 - St. Regis Makana Terrace (North Shore)- Very pricy -- but the view cannot be beat anywhere. They're known for their brunch.

#12 - The Green Pig food truck - (Kapaa) - My husband from the south found ol' home cookin' salvation with this reasonably priced BBQ truck, located most days right across from Kealia Beach, so could make for a good picnic if you catch them at the right time.

#13 - Wahooo's (Kapaa) - Super delicious steak and seafood, a little pricy though.
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