Kauai / food
Northern Kauai
HANALEI BAY
BAR ACUDA
5-5161 Kuhio Hwy, Hanalei, HI 96714
This is one of the best restaurants on the entire island. Tapas-style food, it's worth getting several items and sharing. They good cocktails, a decent beer and wine selection, and a nice ambiance. You will need reservations, so don't forget to call or stop in to make reservations in advance (probably at least 1-2 days in advance). It's worth the pain of getting the reservation. They are not cheap, though, so come ready to spend a little money on yourself.
WEBSITE: http://www.restaurantbaracuda.com/
HANALEI BREAD CO.
5-5161 Kuhio Hwy, Hanalei, HI 96714
Right next to Bar Acuda in Hanalei, this little bread shop has tasty read, good cafe food, and coffee. They are a venture of the Bar Acuda folks, and provide the bread used at Acuda.
WEBSITE: http://www.restaurantbaracuda.com/hanalei-bread-shop/
POSTCARDS CAFE
5 Kuhio Hwy, Hanalei, HI 96714
A nice dinner spot with good, fresh local seafood (fish in particular), and good vegetarian options. It's not cheap, but it's also not particularly expensive. Wine and beer, but no cocktails. Reservations are recommended, but if you don't mind waiting a bit you can often get a table same-night.
WEBSITE: http://postcardscafe.com/
PRINCEVILLE
THE ST. REGIS PRINCEVILLE
5520 Ka Haku Rd, Princeville, HI 96722
This place is great primarily for its views (especially the Makana Terrace). I would suggest going there for their all-you-can eat Brunch (a bit pricey), cocktail hour, or tea (a reasonable price, if you like tea). The grounds are interesting and funky and worth checking out, but the views from the multiple decks are what it's all about.
WEBSITE: https://www.stregisprinceville.com/
KILAUEA
the bistro
2484 Keneke St, Kilauea, HI 96754
The Bistro is a nice place for reasonably priced local fare. They have a pretty good beer, wine, and mixed drink selection, and it seems like a place that a lot of locals go to. They have live music periodically as well. There's even a friendly cat that roams through the restaurant sometimes!
WEBSITE: http://www.thebistrohawaii.com/
healthy hut market and cafe
Hookui Rd, Kilauea, HI 96754
The healthy hut is a good little market to pick up organic and relatively healthy food that can sometimes be hard to find on the island. Not sure about the cafe or the juice bar, not having eaten at either, but it is a place akin to the co-op you'd find in many California towns.
WEBSITE: http://www.healthyhutkauai.com/
EASTERN KAUAI
KAPA'A
The Local Kauai
4-1380 Kuhio Hwy, Kapaa, HI 96746
Fresh, local, seasonal fare, with good cocktails, beer, and wine. The head chef and co-owner of The Local is a friend and former schoolmate of Josh's, The food is fantastic, changing based on seasonal availability, and is easily one of the best meals on the island (and we're not just saying that because of our connection to the restaurant).
WEBSITE: http://www.thelocalkauai.com/
SAM'S OCEAN VIEW
4-1546 Kuhio Hwy, Kapaa, HI 96746
Good food; VERY good cocktails. Their Mai Tai is as fantastic as it is strong. The view is also fantastic, giving it its eponymous name.
WEBSITE: http://www.samsoceanview.com/
Wailua Shave ICe
4-1306 Kuhio Hwy, Kapaa, HI 96746
Very good local shave ice, using seasonal products to make homemade syrups, served over fresh shave ice. An indirect -- yet also direct -- competitor of Fresh Shave, it's a great place to stop off for a refreshing shave ice whenever you're going through Kapa'a.
WEBSITE: http://www.wailuashaveice.com/
JO2
4-971 Kuhio Hwy, Kapaa, HI 96746
Another great place for a fantastic local meal, focused heavily on local seafood. Nice, bright flavors, and a good beer, wine, and cocktail list.
WEBSITE: http://www.jotwo.com/
Pono Market
4-1300 Kuhio Hwy, Kapaa, HI 96746
Basically, a small deli that serves local, authentic food, such as pork lau lau, poke bowls, and fried chicken. What the ambiance and food lacks in refinement, it makes up for in flavor. Definitely worth stopping in for a bite. Only open earlier in the day for lunch.
WEBSITE: None
LIHUE
Kauai Beer Co.
4265 Rice St, Lihue, HI 96766
A fun spot with good beer made on-site, reasonably priced and tasty food, and plenty of locals. It's always worth stopping in for a pint or two if you're a beer fan.
WEBSITE: http://www.kauaibeer.com/
Southern kauai
KOLOA
Makai Sushi
2827 Poipu Rd, Koloa, HI 96756
Great, tasty sushi and poke bowls using fresh, local fish served at a small counter inside an historic market. The Gorilla Ahi Tuna Bowl is excellent.
WEBSITE: http://makaisushi.com/
KALAHEO
The Fresh Shave
3540 Koloa Rd, Kalaheo, HI 96741
This is some of the best, freshest shave ice you can get, with homemade syrups. They slightly pre-date Wailua Shave Ice (which they consider to be a bit of a copycat), and their craftsmanship shines through. They recently opened up a store in Long Beach, and we stop by whenever we are in the area. A must check-it-out place!
WEBSITE: https://www.thefreshshave.com/
Kalaheo Cafe
2-2560 Kaumualii Hwy, Kalaheo, HI 96741
A nice place for a bite for breakfast or lunch when you're in this part of the island. You order at the counter, and they bring the food out to you. Good local coffee and food, with some creative specials (such as a bread pudding french toast with blueberry compote). Great place to fuel up before a hike in Waimea!
WEBSITE: https://kalaheo.com/
HANAPEPE
Midnight Bear Breads
3830 Hanapepe Rd, Hanapepe, HI 96716
Fantastic breads and pastries, and some of the best pizza you'll find anywhere, when they have it. Open during dinner hours on FRIDAYS as part of the Hanapepe Street Walk. We love to get a loaf of bread from here and make eggs and toast in the mornings!
WEBSITE: http://www.midnightbearbreads.com/
Kauai Island Brewery & Grill
4350 Waialo Rd, Eleele, HI 96705
The OTHER brewery on the island, they have decent pub food and pretty good beer (though we are partial to Kauai Beer Co.). They play sports on their TVs, and it's one of the few places on the island with pinball (they have an upstairs area with approximately 5-7 machines). Not necessarily worth going out of your way for it, but if you're on this side of the island, it's worth popping in for a beer and a (pin)ball. They do crowlers for takeaway beer, which is nice if you want to get beer now for consumption later.
WEBSITE: http://www.kauaiislandbrewing.com/