Dining in Kauai - Restaurant Recommendations - Etiquette
 Dining in Kauai
There are two types of dining experiences in Kauai. The first dining experience tends to emulate those dining experiences that are closer to a mainland experience. You will discover that the quality of service in most cases will not match the fine dining experiences of top restaurants on the mainland but the gap is closing. Pacific Rim cuisine is wonderful in Kauai and has elevated Hawaii’s dining experience by utilizing local fruits, vegetables, herbs and cheeses combined with an Asian touch. On Kauai the Pacific Café on the East Shore and Roy’s and The Beach House on the South Shore offer fine examples of this type of dining. Be prepared for $30.00 entrees. Dinner for two can approach $150.00 depending on wine selection but this dining is the best you can get on Kauai. I prefer ordering a good bottle of wine and sample the various appetizers and salads.
Other good restaurants are Gaylords near Kukui Grove and the Hukilau Lanai in Kapaa and Post Cards in Hanalei.
Additional dining exists at the hotels on Kauai. These tend to be good but are just as pricey as the ones mentioned above. These restaurants are at all inclusive resorts and generally cater to hotel guests and do not in my opinion provide a great experience for the traveler who is seeking a more local cultural experience.
The second takes advantage of local cuisine and is without a doubt a great cultural experience. The problem is the discovery phase takes time and the Zagat survey provides no information. The restaurants discussed here are part of my experience over the last 15 years of travel to Kauai. All of these restaurants are kid friendly and are casual and reasonably priced since they cater to the locals.
Restaurant Recommendations
On the East Side (Kapaa)
- Hanamaulu Restaurant and Teahouse (In Hanamaulu town)
- Kintaro (Japanese) great fish, sushi and steaks
- Mema’s (Thai food)
- Olympic Café
- Hawaiian Blizzard (Best Shave Ice) Big Save Shopping Center in Kapaa
 Wailua Marina (great for lunch and vintage Hawaiian music.- The Bull Shed (On the Beach across from Safeway)
- Bubba’s Burgers in Kapaa and Hanalei
In Lihue
In Koloa
- Lappert’s Ice Cream (Old Koloa Town)
- Pattaya Asian Café (Poipu Shoppping Village)
- Koloa Fish Market
In Kalaheo
- Brick Oven Pizza
- Camp House Grill
In Hanapepe
- Hanapepe Café and Espresso Shop
Etiquette In Hawaii
Life is inherently slower and different in Hawaii. There is an incredible mosaic of cultures melded into one. The Aloha spirit is alive and well in Hawaii but to get there one needs to keep their cool when requesting help or services. Most travelers find the local airlines to lack good customer service especially when it comes to problem resolution. The key here is to keep your cool and be courteous. Demanding changes in service to meet your needs in any situation will most likely prove fruitless. A little kindness and a smile will solve your problem much quicker than confrontation.
Farmers Market
The Sunshine Markets are the farmers markets that cycle through the week at different locations on Kauai.
The largest one is on Wednesday at the Kapaa Baseball Field on Olohena Rd. These markets provide great fresh produce and beautiful tropical fruit and flowers. I shop these with regularity and buy staples from Safeway and Cost U Less in Kapaa. The Coconut Man is also there on Wednesday. It is a great experience to watch him sell and open coconuts for tourist and local alike. Bring your camera, you will get fantastic photos here.
Festivals in Kauai
There are many other great things to do on Kauai. The island has many festivals like the Farm Fair, Old Koloa Days, Tahiti Fete and others. I recommend going to Kauaifestivals.com and view the calendar. This site is great but please book mark this page or you may not find your way back.
From time to time I will update this information and hope that what I have shared here will make you Kauai vacation more enjoyable.
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