Wow! Thanks for all the suggestions everyone! Okay, maybe not Taco Bell and Burger King... LOL.... we can get that at home! I suppose I could replace the pickles on the burgers with a slice of pineapple. We could dip the fries in mango sauce. Maybe I'll give McD's a call! I'll split the millions with ya, Auntie! We fell in love with Da Kitchen on Maui last year. Also a fish and chips place also near Kihei. We found them by asking gas station attendants where THEY eat. It made for some interesting adventures. Needless to say, with all of your suggestions, I'm sure we'll fair much better!
I'm very interested in the private banter between some of you. 3 days, 29, 323 days until...?
I'll check out the bonine as well. Even taking 1/2 of the less drowsy dramamine eventually takes me to ZZZZ land.
Ok, Kal. Yes you can add "few cheap island eats" to your Kauai list, but come on, I agree Maui is more entertaining, but Kauai is soooo beautiful and relaxing. The slower pace forces one to just take a breath and enjoy the peace and serenity of that island. After a soak in the jacuzzi, those warm, rainy nights make for romantic evenings while listening to the rain hit those broad leafed plants outside the window. We'll relax in Kauai then play in Maui. Thanks again and please keep the suggestions coming!

HvnScentU2,
2 more days till...paradise . This time on that island where there is nothing to do except ! Ha!

You can also do search to view past posts on places to eat, as there are ,many.
-Bill

HvnScent, the "private banter" is shorthand for how many days until we ara able to get back to paradise.

C
"Private Banter reporting for duty, SIR!"

I still can't figger' out the amazement with Kauai.

auntieM,
Did they move the Olympic to Jimmy's Z's/Big Wave Brew's old place?
If so, cool!

I also forgot about The Shack being "not too" expensive...
BUT....expect to wait because the service was a bit slow the times we've been there. Good grub once it came, tho.

178!!!!

You've gotten a lot of great advice. A few I would add: Hanalei Mix Plate in Hanalei serves good food, large portions, and has standards like kalua pork and also somewhat unusual selections--in '03 one meal I enjoyed there was ahi-coconut pesto, served with rice and mixed vegetables (corn, carrots, zucchini, and onion). It is in Ching Young center, and is a very small place with picnic tables under a roof. About $6 a person as I recall.

We really like Camp House Grill. 2 locations, in Kalaheo, and Kapa'a in the shopping center where Safeway is. It's easy to have a good meal for $8/person or less.

Also in that shopping center is a Vietnamese restaurant, Ba Le, where we had a good meal for $7.50/person.

We've had some very good breakfasts at Ono Family Rest. in Kapa'a.

Following recommendations in the Ultimate Kaua'i guidebook, we checked out several "hidden" places. At the Aloha Diner in Kapa'a we got kalua pork, lau lau, lomi salmon, poi, and rice to go. We ate on the beach at sunset, and with a cold 6-pack this made a wonderful meal! We spent about $30 total for 2, but realized we over-ordered as we had a lot left over.

In Koloa we ordered lunch at the outside walk-up window at Sueoka market. The portions were not huge, but the food was good. For $8.60 total we got fried chicken drumettes and fried Mahi, both with macaroni salad and potato salad. Definitely the best value meal of the trip! We took that meal to Maha'ulepu and ate at a picnic table near the beach--another memorable meal.

We had a good, inexpensive meal at Waipouli Rest. but the atmosphere was so utilitarian that it wasn't really pleasant to eat there.

As Kal and others mentioned, the small places at Coconut Mktplace are good.. We ate twice at the Fish Hut and enjoyed both--fried fish, shrimp, oysters, with fries.

We ate at Hula Girl, also in Coconut Mktplace, twice and it was VERY good--but that was as pricey as we got--I think we spent 12-15 person for lunch, and 20-25 for dinner.

I've received SO many great suggestions here, we're just going to have to book at least another week! I wish... Sigh! Thanks for even more favorite cheap eat spots. Have fun, Bill. What's with Kal's anti- Kauai campaign? Which islands DO you like and why?
I've got my "blue bibles" in front of me. Do you guys have some favorite must see sites as well?
Thanks again! Pam

Pam,
In paradise the food tastes so much better, don't you think?
I love Hana on Maui. Not for a drive by, but for a few days to a weeks stay. Mornings hiking, afternoons at Hamoa Beach. My favorite place on Kauai is Makua Beach, better known as Tunnels. In the summer the snorkeling is great. The view of Mount Makana rising above the beach is dreamy. It's a good place to plant ones butt in the sand all day and watch the clouds float by.
-Bill

Here's some places we enjoyed. Maui Tacos (good salsas), Da Kitchen (huge portions) and Shaka Pizza (pizza was good but cheesesteaks are better).

H'ScentU2,
I'm a student of human behavior.
I'm deep into research on the phenomena of why people keep going back to Kauai even tho there's:
Nothing to do.
No Nightlife.
It rains all the time.
No shopping.
Waimea Canyon always cloudy.
Too much traffic.
The Ugly Coconut Coast.
Too expensive.

This will be the 15th year of my extensive research. As I mentioned before, I will accept donations of FF miles, Starwood points and Entertaiment books until I can complete my research.
I think it may take about an additional 20 or so more trips.


Until my research is completed, I would suggest going to Maui, Oahu or BI where all the action is...especially during our Dec 29, '04 thru Jan 18th '05 fact finding mission.

Kauai cheap breakfasts: Kalaheo Coffee Co and Dani's - great stuff.

Maui cheap breakfast: Kiheh Caffe as mentioned earlier.

one night splurge on Kauai: Beach House
one night splurge on Maui: David Paul's Lahaina Grill

You crack me up Kal! Don't forget to add "Too few cheap eats" to your Kauai list. Keep the suggestion coming, everyone... Thanks!

We were in Maui in May and were on a budget. On your way to Hana stop at Charley's for breakfast in Paia - wonderful eggs benedict and macadamia nut pancakes. Also in Paia - we loved Paia Fishmarket - best tasting fish we had whole time we were gone. We did not like Hamburger in Paradise. Also loved the view and breakfast at The Gazebo in Napili - not real cheap but reasonable. We did eat in condo a lot

Pam

Thanks Pam!

Great example of cheap.

jersey, ipo, Dick's is no more. I never spoke poorly of Dick's and even recommended them in this very forum in the past. But they had one too many violations (technically 6 too many, but who's counting) for serving alcohol to intoxicated people. And then there was that little incident where that man ran over his girfriend (twice!) in the parking lot after drinking at Dick's. That one earned them multiple counts. According to the LC Watch column in last week's MauiTime Deputy prosecuting attorney Angela Hedge called Dick's "a risk to our community." Alas, 'tis no more.

But, jersey, serioulsy, I think you've got way too much additive in your upcountry water. You need to go surfing, relax a bit. Have a maitai, maybe take up yoga or meditation.

Aloooooha

i'm trying to think of the name of this place on Kauai on the road between Poipu Beach and Koloa. maybe it's not there anymore? it was an open air hot dog stand type set up with surfboards for tables...i have photos of us there and need the Kauai experts to refresh my memory....thanks!!

I believe you are talking about Colonel Mustard's Last Stand, which has been closed for about 4 years. It was closer to Kalaheo than Koloa and was a great hot dog place. I used to go there at least 3-4 times every winter when I was on Kauai. I, as well as many visitors, was sad to see it close.

topping for puppy love

I've got my "blue bibles" in front of me

----------------------

Be very careful when using this on Maui.

Maui - Kihei Cafe was awesome for breakfast. Also Leilanis had amazing ono fish sandwiches for under $10.00. And there is this Irish owned place across from the Fairmont (I think it's called Mulligans?)... they had really reasonable dinner prices and a good sunset view.

Kauai - hmm... all our inexpensive dinners were cooked at the condo