Best Kauai Restaurants and Places to Eat

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A little fine dining, a little roadside food truck, Kauai has an incredible food scene! Don’t go before you comb through this list of the best Kauai restaurants and places to eat.

things to do in kauai

Oh, Kauai. It’s like a dream! The Garden Isle definitely lives up to its name — everywhere you look is lush, dense, tropical vegetation that’s so perfect you swear it can’t be real.

If you love laid-back adventures and natural beauty, this is definitely your island.

We’re digging extra deep into our Kauai travel guides because there’s so much to do, see, eat, and experience. If you’re traveling with adults only, check out our list of Things to Do in Kauai.

But right now you’re in the right place for the best Kauai restaurants and places to eat!

And the good news is that almost all of this is kid friendly. But be sure to also see our post about traveling to Kauai with kids, including what to pack!

Bao and cocktail from Ama in Kauai

Where to Eat in Kauai, Hawaii

I knew we were going to see beautiful beaches and tons of nature, but I didn’t realize that we were in for some amazing food, too!

For such a laid back island, there are some incredible restaurants, ranging from hole-in-the-wall to super fancy (and everything in between).

A quick note: we had our kids with us at every meal, so I’m considering all of these places kid-friendly.

We were never looked at sideways for having kiddos with us, but we do take a lot of time for training when it comes to eating out so they were (mostly) behaved pretty well. See the links below for our top spots.

Kauai Coffee, Sweets, and Juice Shops

Kaua‘i Juice Co. Various locations. I’m adding this here because they bottled my favorite kombucha I’ve ever tasted — Lilikoi Lychee. SO. GOOD.

You can find kombucha on tap at their shop, along with lots of other grab-and-go snacks that are super healthy and super delicious.

Wishing Well Shave Ice. North side, Hanalei. A local favorite and a quirky, fun spot for shave ice. I recommend Da Bomb (root beer and cherry shave ice over vanilla soft serve OHMYGOSH).

Kauai sunrise

Java Kai. There are two locations (Kapa’a and Kilauea) and both are amazing! Get the acai bowl for sure. best I’ve ever had. Both locations are also highly Instagrammable.

Island Craves. Some of the most legit boba tea I’ve ever had.

Lappert’s Ice Cream. Various locations. Delicious, rich, creamy ice cream stop for the kiddos. Or let’s be real, the grownups.

Couple at a Kauai restaurant

Best Kauai Restaurants on the North and East Sides

Ama. North side, Hanalei. Gorgeous outdoor setting with killer good ramen and fun cocktails. We had three toddlers and a baby with us and nobody batted an eye.

That being said, this place is definitely upscale so if you have a rowdy kid you might not want to spend the money to have to wrangle them all night.

Tahiti Nui. North side, Hanalei. A local legend and easy standby. Go for the pizza, stay for the luau if you’re into that sort of thing.

They also have live music in the bar (where we were welcomed to sit with the kids) — a couple of sweet older locals playing Hawaiian music.

Hand holding smoothie from Hanalei Bread Company in Kauai

Kalypso. North side, Hanalei. Fun atmosphere for lunch or dinner. They have crayons for the kids and a menu with a little bit of everything. I loved the poke bowl, and the cocktails were pretty tasty too.

Hanalei Bread Company. North side, Hanalei. One of my favorite meals! This spot is awesome for breakfast.

Get a few things to share around — we loved the avocado toast, breakfast sandwich, and frittata. Also, the Ginger Julius smoothie was insanely good. Eat out on the patio or at the picnic tables.

Hanalei Gourmet. North side, Hanalei. Very kid-friendly with a fun atmosphere, and great fish & chips.

Chicken in a Barrel. Various locations. This is a local semi-fast food joint with the most delicious chicken ever. I just had some shredded chicken on a green salad and it was to die for. Also, the fries are perfection.

Sushigirl. North side, Kilauea. An awesome little sushi spot located by some fun shops. The sushi burrito is a fun twist on a poke bowl or a roll.

Best Kauai Restaurants in Lihue, South, and West Sides

Anuenue. Delicious breakfast from a tiny hidden cafe. Try the Tube Ride frech toast or the Avo Sandoe.

Hamura Saimin. A mom and pop, hole-in-the-wall, cash-only saimin spot (kind of similar to a ramen dish). I loved the wonton saimin.

Cocktail at Princeville Resort in Kauai

Scorpacciata. An easy pizza truck with solid pizza and a great outdoor vibe.

Have a Picnic. I surprised Ryan with an anniversary picnic and the team at Kauai Luxury Picnics made it all happen!

They set up a beautiful picnic on the beach of your choice and you get to just show up and enjoy.

Poke bowl from food truck on Kauai

Kauai Poke Co. South side, Lawai. Food truck heaven! I had poke four times during our trip and this was my favorite bowl, hands down. I recommend the Plantation Bowl.

Kickshaws. South side, Lawai. This was Ryan’s favorite meal all week! This is another food truck, with down & dirty hot sandwiches, burgers, and more. Ryan won’t stop talking about the cheesesteak.

Sushi from a Kauai restaurant

More Hawaii Travel Tips

Hope these suggestions help you plan your trip to Kauai!

We have so much great information on the Hawaii travel in our archives, so be sure to pin these posts while you’re getting ready to jet off to the islands. And as always, be a good traveler: leave places better than you found them, respect local culture, and be a good human. xoxo

Woman shopping on Kauai
Kauai Restaurant and Shopping Guide
Kauai Restaurant and Shopping Guide

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3 Comments

  1. Pingback: Kaua‘i Restaurant and Shopping Guide (with Kid Friendly Ideas!) – Art Corner
  2. Wow, you can feel the beautiful atmosphere just by looking at these pictures! And I learned a new dish—poke bowl. ?