3 days in Kauai, looking for local restaurants not famous just good and fresh
 

We have three post cruise days in Kauai and are staying at the Hyatt using points.

I watched a travel show on Hawaii the other night and saw this wonderful local dish made if raw ahi tuna, seaweed, sesame oil and seasoning. This is the type of food we are interested in.

No tourist traps (we live in FL so have plenty of them here) just locally owned, fresh and reasonable. Fish is a favorite and Italian works also.

My last trip to the Big Island and Maui was in 1991 and I cannot recall a truly memorable meal though we had some good food at very high prices.

Any ideas are much appreciated!

We are a group of 4 adults, no kids and don't like chains or fast food.

FYI, this doesn't seem to be posted under the Hawaii forum.

I like Puka Dog in Poipu center. Great hot dogs with all sorts of incredible sauces - mango, pineapple, hot curry. Salivate just thinking of them.

You are describing poke, the raw marinated seafood.

My faorite place to eat is Hamura Simain in Lihue. World Famous!!

We liked Hamura's Saimin too - it looks like a dive, and you may be the only tourist in there - good noodles, satay, and lillikoi pie - not sure if I spelled ANY of that right! I know you don't like fast food, but Bubba's Burgers was pretty good - pineapple and teriyaki, etc.

We also liked Duke's - good fish dishes and a huge, fresh salad bar.

Bubba's Burgers is a cool place to hang out.

Hamura Simain is a strange place - we were told not to miss it so because it is hidden away off a back street we spent a long time wandering around.

Once we got there we couldn't understand why it was so highly recommended. The screen door was practically hanging off the hinge. There were flies buzzing around.
But once inside we met people who had traveled from all over the U.S and Australia just to have their saimin "fix"

The food is so awesome!

Our favorite for poke is The Hanalei Dolphin restaurant and fish market, on the north shore. They have several different kinds. The ceviche there is wonderful, too.

My favorites are:
Kilauea Bakery & Pau Hana Pizza (on the way to the lighthouse in the Kong Lung Center). I love their calzone and salad special (made fresh).

kauai's Windward market in a strip mall in Kapa here is a link http://www.windwardfoods.com/ it is hawaiian take out and very fresh and the owners were great!

Your hotel has some great eats too! Enjoy; that is my favorite Island!!!

Places to eat near the Hyatt:
Casa di Amici (Italian) in Poipu
Beach House (sunset dinner)
Brick Oven Pizza

For great poke, go to the fish market in Koloa and get plate lunches to go.

Have fun!

A second for Casa d Amici in Poipu, really good Italian and nice wine list as well.

Here's a hearty third for Casa di Amici!

For the best fresh sushi, take a drive up to Hanalei Dolphin fish market behind the restaurant, pick the spicy ahi roll and some poke, head out to the Pier in Hanalei and have yourself and a delicious picnic with the world's most gorgeous view as a backdrop.

The Tip Top Cafe in Lihue has very good breakfasts.

There used to be a good fish market in Koloa that made very good poke. Is it still around?

Lihue BBQ Inn is good.

We were just at the Hyatt a few weeks ago and tried the Plantation Gardens Restaurant near there. Very good, we'll be back.

with the market saturated with ahi, you’re describing almost any menu from restaurants mentioned above. we (we, i mean kane) like to catch wahoo (ono), it’s great seared with chives and homemade wasabi cream.

Thanks, all!
We could easily eat ahi twice a day.

Keep them coming:)

I was underwhelmed by Hamura's saimin. Don't get me wrong, it was tasty and I enjoyed it ... but to me, it was glorified wonton soup (with noodles). Not anything I'd go out of my way for ... but obviously others feel differently.

To me, the best meal in Kauai is the banana and macadamia nut pancakes at Kountry Kitchen in Kapa'a. Absolutely INCREDIBLE (and HUGE portions).

Also enjoyed Kauai Pasta in Kapa'a. My fave little hole in the wall for oriental food was Waipouli Restaurant in Waipouli Town Center. (Found it in the Ultimate Kauai Guidebook -- and agreed with most of their recommendations.) The beef with broccoli was in an entirely different league from any place else I've had that dish.

Enjoy!

you know SongDoc it may be that things have changed since I was last at Hamura Siamin - and it is possible the chef is gone or something. I'm sorry it wasn't that good - but glad you posted to keep us updated.

My good friend's ex-fiance also didn't see what all the hullaballoo was about. We took him there and to say he was underwhelmed would be putting it mildly. Notice I wrote "ex" finace...

To me it looks like the same ladies are still at Hamura's slaving away over the stove and pots and waiting tables. The same ladies that were there when the place was awarded a James Beard award last year. I did hear a rumour that a different person is making the Lilikol chiffon pie though. Still good though.

You can try these sites/links:

http://www.kauaimenu.com/

http://www.driveguidemagazines.com/taste/

http://www.alternative-hawaii.com/rest/kauai.htm

a family friend that has worked at hamuras since it opened has been sick and has not returned (she should relax anyway), it seems since then they’ve skimped on everything but the broth. but that’s just my feeling b/c we miss her. i don’t go there unless kuhio hwy is closed due to car accident, fire, etc.

i know part of their charm is broken screen doors, but come on now...

and yes the lilikoi pie is almost as good as aunty ags (i'm a chocolate lilikoi junkie)

Where do you get Aunty Ag's pie?

aunty ags bakery 3611 hanapepe rd (old town). call 24hr in advance to reserve, otherwise gone in an hr from opening

kala mai, aunty ag is known for her chocolate haupia pies. BIG DIFFERENCE!

boy, i need a vacation…

Chocolate haupia!?! Do they ship? :@):-d:@)

And..........this little piggy went wee wee wee.........all the way home!!!!!

I wish I had known about Aunty Ag in April, you can't bet your sweet tush, I would have been on the door step!!

eh i(2), they don't ship. so you're just gonna havta come again and us three little piggies can have one each! anyone else?

Kauai_aka..I would love your wahoo recipe. My parent catch tons of wahoo and I am always looking for new ways to prepare it. The wasabi cream sounds great.

hi susan

there are different variations of the same recipe for ono but this is one i did last week: (btw, i don’t use measuring cups so i’m giving best guess, k)

alae hawaiian salt (any sea salt will do)
1T lime juice
1/4c olive oil
2T sesame oil
1/4c mince garlic
1/4c ogo (pickled seaweed, brand i have is maui ogo)
vegit seasoning
1/4c chopped chives

coat bottom of pan with olive oil, add sesame oil. rub salt and lime juice over fish. mix garlic, ogo and seasoning. dip fish in mix and place in hot oil for 5 seconds each side. sprinkle chives, serve.

for wasabi cream i tend to experiment, sometimes to the detriment to my family but here's the basic: mix 1t wasabi in a tube (can’t think of brand), 1c mayo and seasoned with furikake (any type of furikake will do, i tend to stick with aji nori). at times if i want the fish flavor i skip the cream

wasabi cream is great to put on mussels when grilling too

Your turn ;)

Thank you Kauai_aka. I'm looking forward to using your recipe the next time I get some fresh caught wahoo. We have a great Asian market nearby so I can pick up the ingredients I don't have on hand. I do have the salt..I brought 2 packages home with me last time on Kauai along with Coleman's and papaya seed dressing mix.

Thanks again. I'm sure others on this forum will enjoy it, too.

kfusto,
Casa di Amici is in Poipu. It has lovely views and an outdoor dining terrace. I highly recommend it if you like a tropical decor. The menu is Italian, but it is also has some other influences from France and the Far East. They have the pastas, raviolis, and risottos (which are perfectly cooked) but they also have the duck breast, grilled prawns, and fresh fish with succulent sauces. I don't know which nights you will be there, but a pianist plays live music on Friday and Saturday nights.