Headed to Kauai anytime soon? If not, you should really consider it. I know I’m lucky to live only a 5-hour flight away! It’s a spectacular island with varying landscapes, beautiful beaches, unreal coastlines, and some good food. This was my second trip to the Garden Isle with my entire fam (mom, dad, sister, brother-in-law, and husband) and luckily we all like to eat. We generally cook at home but went out here and there for lunches and the occasional dinner. So my list is not extensive but gives you some great food and location highlights.

The transition out of vacation was hard but compiling a list of my favorite spots and foods has made it a teeny tiny bit better. Read on!

NORTH SHORE

Hanalei Bay

Go

The BEACH. Epic backdrop.

Eat

Pink’s Creamery – delightful ice cream and tasty grilled cheese sandwiches with kalua pork

Dolphin’s Fish Market – tasty fresh sushi rolls

Hanalei Coffee Roasters – good coffee, great smoothie’s (the shave ice place next door has INCREDIBLE macadamia nut milkshakes)

Hanalei Farmers Market – Saturdays from 9:30 am to noon.

Kileaua

Go

Anini Beach– calm water (though there is a current), solid snorkeling and good public facilities. 

Kileaua Lighthouse – gorgeous views!

Garden Island Chocolate – tours on Monday, Wednesday & Friday. Learn about a variety of tropical plants, how cocoa is cultivated and then taste about 20 different kinds of chocolate. Delightful rain or shine.

Eat

Kilauea Bakery + Pau Hana Pizza– solid pizza, pastries, coffee and good bread.

Kileaua Fish Market – delicious fresh fish in the form of burritos, tacos, salads and you can take pieces home to grill up (we did this one night and it was fantastic).

Kileaua Farmers Market – Kilauea Neighborhood Center – Keneke Rd off Kilauea Lighthouse Road, Thursdays from 4:30 pm – 6:00 pm

Palate Wine Bar & Market – Wonderful wine selection, salads, and flatbreads. Buzzing atmosphere with really warm service. 

EAST SHORE

Kapaa

Eat

Foodland Super Market – solid poke (lots of options) and a great place to get groceries. They even have a natural foods section.

Wailua Shave Ice – ok, I didn’t actually make it to this place but have heard amazing things about it so I’m going to recommend it anyway.

IN BETWEEN

Lihue 

Go

Plane ride – get a spectacular view of the island.

Eat

The Right Slice – second outpost with a completely automated shop (ie pie is in vending machines). Sounds a bit nuts but it works. The Lilikoi Cheesecake and Chocolate Coconut Macaroon were my favs!

Kikuchi’s – solid kalua pork bun with pickled veggies and the chicken karaage was perfectly cooked. 
 

SOUTH SHORE

Go

Beaches – sunny and lovely and some have solid snorkeling.

Poipu/Koloa

Eat

Da Crack– another spot I didn’t actually go to but my friends and family loved it.

Makai Sushi– great sushi spot in an unassuming shopping center grocery store.

Kalaheo

Eat

The Right Slice – The original location of this amazing pie spot.

Hanapepe

Go

Salt Pond Park– lovely beach with snorkeling and good public facilities, plus I saw the biggest sea turtle ever there!

Waimea

Go

Waimea Canyon – the Grand Canyon of Hawaii. Spectacular.

Eat

Porky’s Cart – Owner, Justin makes a damn good hot dog with kalua pork and fresh pineapple relish. He’s opening up a cart in Kapaa!

Ishihara’s Market – great selection of really fresh poke and other fun items (baby octopus was SOO good).