Hawaii is one of my favorite places to visit. I love it for so many reasons: the beaches, the hikes, the weather, and the FOOD. Though I’ve spent quite a bit of time on Oahu and Maui, this was my first time visiting the beautiful island of Kauai which has quickly become one of my favorite islands with some of the best food. These are 10 of my favorite must-try restaurants!
As you’ll gather by the addresses in this post, we stayed on Kauai’s beautiful eastern coast. Most of the restaurants are going to be near Kapa’a, HI. Kauai is a very drivable island, so wherever you end up staying, it shouldn’t be more than a 30-40 minute drive to find these great spots!
Read Next: check out our guide on what to eat on Oahu.
Java Kai Kauai
coffee shop, breakfast, lunch
Java Kai is a coffee shop on the island’s eastern side in Kapa’a, HI. Come here for coffee, smoothies, breakfast, lunch, and pastries. I got the iced thai latte and it was amazing. Their blended drinks are great, too.
Address: 4-1384 Kuhio Hwy, Kapaʻa, HI 96746
The Musubi Truck
musubi, bento, poke
The Musubi Truck offers some of the freshest poke on the island, along with their signature musubis. There are three locations around the island in Kapa’a, Koloa, and Kalapaki, with their original shop in Kapa’a, HI. Pictured is the Hapa poke bowl, which was incredible.
Address: 4548 Kukui St, Kapaʻa, HI 96746
Kalypso
casual, bar & grill, great happy hour
If you’re in the north shore of Kauai and looking for delicious local food, head over to Kalypso. This is one of those spots you can go to again and again. Highly recommend the poke calamari lettuce wraps and fish and chips. Great drinks, fresh seafood, and good vibes. They have great happy hour food and drinks from 3- 5:30 daily, plus 3- all night on Wednesdays. Check out the town of Hanalei while you’re there.
Address: 5-5156 Kuhio Hwy, Hanalei, HI 96714
The Bull Shed
steaks, seafood, ocean front
We came to The Bull Shed looking for steaks, and boy did they deliver. Their prime rib and New York strip were amazing. If you get a chance, try their scallops appetizer. The Bull Shed is located next to the ISO Hotel. Be sure to make a reservation as the place can fill up, especially on nights with live music! Come here at sunset for a beautiful ocean view of the coconut coast.
Address: 4-796 Kuhio Hwy, Kapaʻa, HI 96746
Kintaro Kauai
japanese cuisine, sushi, popular spot
Get a wide variety of authentic Japanese cuisine at Kintaro. Sit at the sushi bar for fresh sushi, noodles, and bento or in the dining room for hibachi. Make a reservation because this place gets busy!
Address: 4-370 Kuhio Hwy Kapa’a, HI 96746
Johnny’s Wingz n’ Tingz
Sometimes you want a nice sushi dinner, sometimes you want a beer and loaded tots.
Stopped here for a snack and was not disappointed. Great happy hour prices, wings, and, as you can see, loaded tots! Classic sports bar vibes with delicious food.
Address: 440 Aleka Loop #1, Kapaʻa, HI 96746
Mamahune’s
ocean front, cocktails, bar food
The hotel bar of my dreams. Mamahune’s became a daily spot for us as it was a 2-minute walk outside our hotel room at the Hilton Garden Inn Wailua Bay. It offers retro tiki vibes and ocean views. Come here for classic island drinks like mai tais and piña coladas and a bite to eat.
Address: 3-5920 Kuhio Hwy, Kapaʻa, HI 96746
Lilikoi Bar and Grill
casual, bar and grill
Lilikoi was one of the last stops on Kauai, but it offered just what we needed. Fish and chips and margaritas. Located in Lihue, Lilikoi serves Hawaiian, Mexican, and French cuisine. The restaurant is open, casual, and just has a good vibe. Check it out next time you’re in Lihue.
Address: 3501 Rice St. #2009, Lihue, HI 96766
Hukilau Lanai
fine dining, steaks, seafood
This has to be one of the best meals we had the whole trip. Hukilau Lanai is a fine dining restaurant with a tropical vibe. We ordered their market vegetable lasagna and the Ahi with lobster cream sauce and polenta. They were two of the best dishes we’ve had! Their fish offerings change daily, as well as how they’re served, so you are always getting the freshest catch with an innovative and new preparation. If you’re going out for a nice meal, go here!
Address: 520 Aleka Loop, Kapaʻa, HI 96746
The Right Slice Kauai
bakery, fresh pies daily
The Right Slice is a MUST when visiting Kauai. They serve fresh pies daily with so many yummy flavors that it was hard to choose. Highly recommend the mango lilikoi as well as the chocolate coconut macaroon.
Address: 2-2459 Kaumualiʻi Hwy Kalaheo, HI 96741
Not planning a vacation but this post has got you hungry? Check out our recipes for shrimp linguine, lemon herb chicken, or chicken marsala!
Thanks for reading! I hope this helps you plan your next trip to Kauai! Next, check out our guide on what to eat on Oahu.
