Where I Eat on Kauai

Kauai Food Guide: Best Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Shave Ice, and Bucket List Spots

Marcie, a certified Hawaii destination expert, shares her organized-by-meal Kauai food guide based on what she orders, opening with her arrival tradition of Mark’s Place near Lihue Airport for takeout plate lunch (especially beef stew). For breakfast she recommends Java Kai, Sunrise Coffee, Holey Grail Donuts, Little Fish, and Passion Bakery malasadas. Lunch picks include Tahiti Nui in Hanalei, Kenji Burger (plus furikake fries), Kickshaw’s, Hamura Saimin, and musubi trucks. Dinner suggestions cover Lava Lava Beach Club, Hukilau Lanai, Merriman’s in Poipu (notably the mai tai), Postcards in Hanalei, Japanese Grandma’s Cafe in Hanapepe, and Kokee Lodge Portuguese bean soup, plus The Plantation House and Mamahune’s. She also lists favorite shave ice (Wishing Well, Waikomo) and a bucket list: Mama Bear’s Kitchen, Eating House 1849, Haunani’s, Bar Acuda (timed reservations), and Pono Market poke.

00:00 Arrival Plate Lunch Ritual
00:49 How This Food Guide Works
01:19 Breakfast Coffee Stops
01:57 More Morning Treats
02:53 Lunch Favorites Islandwide
04:33 Dinner With a View
06:29 North Shore and West Side Dinners
07:59 Best Shave Ice Stops
08:22 My Kauai Food Bucket List
10:50 Final Tips and Wrap Up

About Your Host: Marcie Cheung is a Certified Hawaii Destination Expert who has visited Hawaii 40+ times and spent 20+ years as a professional hula dancer. Through Hawaii Travel with Kids, she helps families plan authentic, affordable Hawaii vacations that respect local culture while creating unforgettable memories.

Learn more at hawaiitravelwithkids.com

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Transcript

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every time I fly into Kauai to visit my mom. The first text I get off the plane is some version of the same message. You want me to grab Mark's Place and my answer is always, always, yes. Mark's Place is a takeout spot tucked in an industrial park in Puhi, right near the Lihue Airport. It does not look like much from the outside. There are no ocean views, no tiki torches, but Chef Mark Oyama. Has been serving some of the best plate lunch on the island since 1998 and the locals know it. I always get the beef stew with the rice and the mac salad, and here's my move. I eat it all together. Spoonfuls of that thick, savory stew with the creamy mac salad and the rice all at once. It is comfort food in the most perfect, only in Hawaii way. That meal is how I know I have arrived. Hey there, and welcome back to Hawaii. Travel Made Easy. I'm Marcie, your certified Hawaii destination expert, and today we're talking food on Kauai, where I actually eat what I order in some of the moments that stick with me from these places. I've organized this by meal types, so you can use it as a reference when you're planning, and at the end I'm sharing my personal bucket list spots I keep meaning to get to and keep running out of time for, because that is useful information too. All of my Kauai resources guidebooks and favorite links are at the Hawaii Resources tab on Hawaii Travel with kids.com. Okay, breakfast first. Java Kai is my coffee stop on Kauai. They've been around since the nineties. They roast their own beads almost daily, and they have locations in Kapaa, Kilauea, and Koloa now. I go primarily for the coffee, but their breakfast menu is really solid. Bagel sandwiches, acai bowls, avocado toast, and house-made pastries. The lineup, the line can get long in the morning. So order ahead online if you can. One thing I will say is that Java Kai always gets me with their signature drinks, which tend to be combinations I would never think to order on my own raspberry mochas, things like that. I always end up trying whatever they've got going, and I've never been, sorry. Sunrise Coffee is a woman owned coffee truck off of Kuhio Highway in Hanamaulu, near the airport. Their espresso blend is custom made just for them and the acai bowls. And the acai bowls are really good. Fear warning. The first time I drove there, I missed a turn, and then I missed it again. It sneaks up on you coming from the south, so plug the address in before you leave rather than trying to spot it from the highway. Holey Grail donuts make tarot donuts that are light and fluffy in a way that feels almost impossible, not dense at all, which is not what you'd expect. Little fish in Poipu is great for coffee and an acai bowl if you're staying on the South Shore. I will tell you, I once waited 45 minutes in line there because I knew it was gonna be worth it and it was. And Passion Bakery, my mom actually lives across the street from it, so when we visit, we just pop over whenever they have malasadas. I like the simple sugar and cinnamon ones. She goes for the ones filled with fruit and cream. We are both right. Everything there is good, but the malasadas are the reason to go. Let's move on to lunch. Mark's Place already got the cold open, but two logistics notes take out only Monday through Friday, and they close in the afternoon Plan around it, it's worth it. Tahiti Nui in Hanalei is where we stop almost every time. We head up to the North Shore for the day. It's been open since 1963, which tells you something about how the locals feel about it. They source from local farmers and fishermen. There's live music every night, and the fresh fish is reliably excellent. I've never had a bad meal there. Happy hour runs three to five if you want lighter, if you want a lighter stop, and if you're considering the Wednesday luau, I've done it and the food is so much better than your typical luau spread. It's also more intimate, which makes the whole thing feel like an actual evening out rather than a tourist production. Kenji burger is the answer when you've got a group with different appetites. They have four locations now. Kapaa, Lihue, Koloa, and Kilauea Japanese influenced burgers made with a hundred percent Kauai grass fed beef plus sushi burritos, which are exactly what they sound like. A burrito sized sushi roll stuffed with things like spicy tuna or shrimp tempura. Last time I went, it was just me and my oldest. I offered him a bite of my sushi burrito and he looked at me like a deer in headlights. He stuck with his burger. Both were good, so no real loss there. Get the furikake fries no matter what you order. That's not up for debate. And a few quick lunch mentions, Kickshaw's is a food truck I've been loyal to for years, and I always get a burger and tots. Hamura Saimin in Lihue is a local institution. It's a casual noodle shop. It's very beloved. And whenever you spot a Musubi truck, stop. My kids are obsessed and the traditional spa musabi is exactly what it should be. Their locations are@themusubishop.com. Okay. And moving on to dinner Lava Lava Beach Club in Kapaa is one of those places that wins people over even when they show up grumpy. It's at the Kauai Shores Hotel on the coconut coast, and it's the only restaurant on Kauai where you can actually eat with your toes in the sand. There's live music from afternoon into the evening, and they're super fun lawn games. Last time I went with my kids, I had to drag them away from a game of Giant Connect four to actually sit down and eat. They were not pleased. And then the ribs arrived and after the first bite they both just kind of stopped and looked at each other like, okay, this was worth it. The ribs are that good. It's first come, first serve. So get there early or text your number in and take a walk on the beach while you wait. Hukilau Lanai is for when you want something. For when you want something a little more special, a date night or a birthday, a nice dinner out. But it works for families too because they have a cakey menu. My mom actually took me here on one of my solo trips to Kauai a few years ago, which tells you something about the atmosphere. It's warm and welcoming enough that it just feels like a nice dinner rather than a production. It is at the Kauai Coast Resort in Kapaa, Hawaii. Regional cuisine, strongly locally sourced pochos as an appetizer or a standout. Beautiful torch lit grounds with the ocean just beyond the property. Make a reservation though. They fill up Merriman's and Poipu at the shops at Kukuiula is my favorite. Nice dinner on Kauai and I'll be honest with you about why my husband and I keep going back. The mai tai, my husband and I have started planning date nights around that drink specifically is made with rum and mac nut orgeat, and topped with a kauai Honey lilikoi foam. The foam is the thing, and it's unlike anything I've had anywhere else. Chef Peter Merriman was a pioneer of farm to table, Hawaii regional cuisine, and the food really is wonderful. The macadamia nut crusted mahi mahi especially. But if you go and don't order that ma Thai, I will be disappointed in you. Sunset views from the open air dining room. Go for happy hour. If you want the full experience without committing to dinner, make a reservation well ahead of time. Postcards in Hanalei is dinner only Tuesday through Saturday, and if you're on the North Shore for the evening, it's worth building your plans around it. It sits in a 1860s plantation cottage just past the one lane bridge from Princeville, which is a beautiful setting. Before you've even looked at the menu, the chef blends local organic ingredients with global technique, and there are really good options for vegetarians and gluten-free diners. Cocktails are fabulous though I will say my friend ordered a spicy margarita our last visit, and it was the spiciest drink any of us had ever encountered. She finished it, which I respect. Reservations are recommended. Japanese grandma's cafe is in historic Hanapepe town on the west side, inside and behind a clothing boutique called Blu Umi. It's a sushi and izakaya restaurant with local organic ingredients, a backyard garden and an outdoor seating strung with lights. The Hanapepe roll, which is eel and shrimp, tempura topped with avocado is what I usually point people toward. If you're doing a Waimea Canyon Day, Hanapepe is right on that route, and this makes a great dinner stop on the way back. Episode 98 is the full West side breakdown. If you wanna build out that whole day. While we're on the West Side Coquee Lodge, after a day at Waimea Canyon, I always stop for the Portuguese bean soup. Simple, warm, exactly what you want after hiking around at elevation. Two more quick dinner mentions The Plantation House at Kilohana. Plantation is a solid stop if you're spending time at the estate, and Mamahune's is a Kitchy outdoor tiki bar that my kids love, fun, and low key. It's a good option when you want something festive without it being a whole thing. Let's move on to shave ice. Wishing well on the North Shore is my favorite shave ice on Kauai natural syrups, fresh fruit toppings, full sure. Full surfer chic energy. And on the South shore Waikomo Shave Ice is my spot. Kauai Juice Co is worth a stop. I mainly go for the kombucha and Holey grail donuts, taro donuts. Somehow light is air. Do not skip them. All right. Here is something worth sharing my bucket list. Every time I'm on Kauai, I fully intend to get to these places and every time I end up back at somewhere I've already know, somewhere I already know. I love, I'm telling you about them anyway because what I've heard from people I trust about all of these have been consistent enough that they deserve a spot on your radar. Mama Bear's Kitchen is a food truck in yea that I've been meaning to try for way too long. The item I keep hearing about is their monte Bear cristo, their version of a Monte Christo sandwich, and the people who've had it are not calm about it. It's a breakfast and lunch truck Monday through Friday if you're already heading it out on a West Side Day or a Waimea Canyon. This is a natural first stop. Episode 98 covers that whole area. Eating House 1849 is literally right next door to Merriman's at the shops at Kukuiula and Poipu. I have walked past it on my way to Merriman's multiple times. I know. It's Chef Roy yamaguchi's concept inspired by Hawaii's plantation era. The menu pulls from all the cultural influences that shape the islands, Filipino, Japanese, Portuguese, Hawaiian. The misoyaki Butterfish is what keeps coming up in conversations. It's open nightly for dinner. Reservations are strongly recommended. Haunani's is at the Timbers Kauai Resort near the Lihue airport. Oceanfront, sunset views, farm to table with produce from their own onsite farm. What I specifically wanna try is the lychee smoked St. Louis ribs with cilantro mashed potatoes. Although I'll ask if they can remove the cilantro. Everyone who has ordered them says it's the best thing they ate that trip. One thing to know when you arrive, it's valet parking only, so don't be surprised by that. Barracuda is a tapas and wine restaurant in Hanalei that my friend visited last year and declared the best meal of her entire trip. It's small dinner only Tuesday through Saturday. And here's the single most important piece of information I can give you. Reservations open exactly 30 days in advance at 3:00 PM Hawaii time, and they're gone almost immediately set a reminder. The menu rotates based on local availability, but the lamb riplets and the North Shore honeycomb. Local honey with Humboldt Fog, goat cheese and fresh apple come up over and over again is a thing people go back for. And Pono market is a counter service deli in Kapaa that has been around for over 70 years. You walk in, you point at what looks good, you leave with some of the most talked about poke on the island. People go back multiple days in a row during the same trip, open Monday through Friday, 6:00 AM to 2:00 PM and earlier is better because a poke selection thins out as the day goes on. If you're planning any kind of beach day. Any kind of beach picnic day on the east side. Plan your lunch around this. Okay, I could keep going. Kauai's food scene is one of my favorite things about that island, and so much of the best stuff is the places you find by asking a local or being willing to drive somewhere that doesn't look like much from the outside Mark's Place is the reason I know that all of my Hawaii recommendations, guidebooks resources, everything I actually use and trust is on my Hawaii Resources tab on Hawaii Travel with kids.com, and if you want help putting together an itinerary that actually fits your trip, your budget, and your people, that's what my consultations are for. You can book those on Hawaii Travel with kids.com, under Hawaii Travel Consultant. Until next time, aloha.