Kauai Restaurants

Dining in Kauai is a unique experience. There are roadside stands that cook up plates of broiled shrimp, fresh ground burgers and ice cold coconuts; fine dining establishments that seat diners at tables alongside waterfalls and island dives. These types of seating keep the locals and tourists coming back again and again. Fresh, island-grown ingredients are favored on Kauai, and bananas, pineapples, coconuts and mangos are often the main ingredient in sauces, salsas and marinades. Fresh fish, like ahi, akule and ono, are broiled, macadamia nut crusted, sautéed or marinated, and baked for dinner right from the sea to the table. Featured food at a luau combines Hawaiian and Polynesian cultures, and often features kalua pig (pork cooked in an underground oven), poi (a Hawaiian staple made from taro) and laulau (pork and fish steamed in taro leaves). Island-style comfort food is a staple at many restaurants. Try the plate lunch with two scoops of white rice, one scoop of macaroni salad and a main entrée, or the loco moco, which is a hamburger patty served with gravy and topped with eggs. For dessert, hit a shaved ice stand, like a local, and try the finer shaved ice packed in a cup and then doused with your flavor of choice. For an even colder, sweeter treat, ask for a shaved ice with ice cream on the bottom. Picking an establishment to dine in can be tricky because there is always a fusion of good food and awesome views vying for every diner’s attention.

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