Food · Kauaʻi · United States
What to eat in Kauaʻi
The dishes, drinks and food experiences that define Kauaʻi, and where locals actually eat them.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Pictured: Saimin · Photo: Honolulu Noodz, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Start with Poke, Saimin and Plate lunch. Kapaʻa and Hanalei have clusters of food trucks selling fish tacos, plate lunches, poke, smoothies and shave ice. Restaurants close early, often by 9pm, especially on the North Shore and West Side.
Key facts
- Signature dish
- Poke
- Vegetarian-friendly picks
- 5
- Tipping
- Tipping follows US norms: about 18–20% in restaurants, a few dollars per drink at bars…
- Food experiences
- 3
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10 foods to try
Dish
1.Poke
Raw ʻahi tuna or octopus (tako) cubed and dressed with shoyu, sesame oil, sweet onion and limu seaweed, sold by the pound and served in rice bowls.
Where: Fish markets, supermarket poke counters and casual shops in Kapaʻa, Līhuʻe and Kōloa.
Dish
2.Saimin
Hawaiʻi's plantation-era noodle soup: thin wheat noodles in a light dashi broth topped with green onion, kamaboko fish cake, char siu pork or Spam.
Where: Long-running saimin counters in Līhuʻe and local diners across the island.
Dish
3.Plate lunch
Two scoops of rice and one of macaroni salad with a main such as kalua pork, teriyaki chicken, chicken katsu or garlic shrimp.
Where: Drive-ins, lunch counters and food trucks in Kapaʻa, Līhuʻe and Hanalei.
Dish · Vegetarian
4.Poi and taro (Kalo)
Kauaʻi grows much of Hawaiʻi's wetland taro, especially in Hanalei Valley; it is pounded into poi or used in taro rolls, chips and smoothies.
Where: Hawaiian food restaurants, lūʻau and North Shore stands selling taro products.
Dish
5.Kalua pork
Pork shoulder slow-cooked in an imu (underground oven) with banana leaves until smoky and tender, often served with cabbage.
Where: Lūʻau at Poʻipū and Wailua, and as a plate-lunch option.
Dessert · Vegetarian
6.Shave ice
Snow-fine ice soaked in tropical syrups such as lilikoʻi, mango and guava, sometimes topped with haupia cream or over ice cream.
Where: Shave-ice stands in Waimea, Kapaʻa, Kōloa and Hanalei.
Dessert · Vegetarian
7.Lilikoʻi chiffon pie
Light, tangy passion-fruit chiffon pie, a classic of old-style Kauaʻi diners and bakeries.
Where: Long-established diners in Līhuʻe and bakeries around the island.
Street food
8.Huli huli chicken
Chicken marinated in a sweet soy and ginger sauce and grilled over kiawe wood, sold from roadside cookouts and fundraisers.
Where: Weekend roadside grills, farmers markets and food trucks.
Drink · Vegetarian
9.Kauaʻi coffee
Coffee grown on former sugar land on the South Shore near Kalāheo, on one of the largest coffee estates in the United States.
Where: The estate visitor centre near Kalāheo and cafés across the island.
Snack · Vegetarian
10.Tropical fruit
Apple bananas, papaya, lilikoʻi, rambutan and mangoes in season, often sold at farm stands for much less than in shops.
Where: Sunshine farmers markets around the island and honour-system farm stands on the North Shore.
Travelling around United States? What to eat in United States covers the dishes to try in each of our 44 destinations there.
Food experiences
Food-truck lunch
Kapaʻa and Hanalei have clusters of food trucks selling fish tacos, plate lunches, poke, smoothies and shave ice.
Lūʻau
Lūʻau in Poʻipū and Wailua serve kalua pork from the imu with Hawaiian dishes and Polynesian dance shows.
Farmers markets
Weekly markets in towns around the island sell local fruit, vegetables, flowers and baked goods; arrive early for the best choice.
Quick bites and street food
- Huli huli chicken — Weekend roadside grills, farmers markets and food trucks.
- Tropical fruit — Sunshine farmers markets around the island and honour-system farm stands on the North Shore.
Vegetarian options
Of the 10 foods in this guide, 5 are usually vegetarian: Poi and taro, Shave ice, Lilikoʻi chiffon pie, Kauaʻi coffee and Tropical fruit. Check preparation with staff, as stocks and fats vary.
Eating out: tips and etiquette
- Restaurants close early, often by 9pm, especially on the North Shore and West Side.
- Reserve dinner at popular Poʻipū and Hanalei restaurants in peak seasons.
- Supermarket and fish-market poke is often the best-value fresh meal on the island.
- Groceries cost more than on the mainland; bring snacks for long drives to Kōkeʻe.
- Carry cash for farm stands and some food trucks.
Tipping
Tipping follows US norms: about 18–20% in restaurants, a few dollars per drink at bars, and tips for boat crews, tour guides and hotel staff.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Aloha | Hello, goodbye, love |
| Mahalo | Thank you |
| Mālama ʻāina | Care for the land |
| Pau hana | After work; happy hour |
| Makai / mauka | Towards the sea / towards the mountain |
Questions travellers ask
+What food is Kauaʻi famous for?
Poke, Saimin, Plate lunch and Poi and taro. Raw ʻahi tuna or octopus (tako) cubed and dressed with shoyu, sesame oil, sweet onion and limu seaweed, sold by the pound and served in rice bowls.
+Is Kauaʻi good for vegetarians?
Several local staples are meat-free, including Poi and taro, Shave ice and Lilikoʻi chiffon pie.
+Do you tip in restaurants in Kauaʻi?
Tipping follows US norms: about 18–20% in restaurants, a few dollars per drink at bars, and tips for boat crews, tour guides and hotel staff.