Kauai’s Top 5 Food & Drink Spots: A Delicious Guide

Kauai, that lush “Garden Isle,” is truly a feast for the eyes, you know, but let’s get serious – it’s a party for your taste buds, too! Very, very much like trying to select the top five blooms in a garden that is full of unbelievably great stuff, choosing just a handful of food and drink spots feels nearly like a crime against deliciousness, as I was saying. That said, you know, if I was pressed to give you a rundown of some seriously amazing places to grab a bite or sip something refreshing, these are the spots I’d tell anyone they really ought to put on their Kauai bucket list. You might want to read our full review: Kauai Restaurants Full Review and Details

1. Postcards Cafe: Historic Charm with a Modern Twist

Tucked away in Hanalei, Postcards Cafe is almost like stepping back in time, you see, with just a splash of modern flair, and stuff. So it’s housed in a beautifully restored historic building, the food at Postcards is honestly as memorable as the ambiance. Pretty much focused on locally sourced ingredients, the menu tends to be full of healthy, creative options, that, in a way, taste unbelievably awesome. Seriously, try the macadamia nut-crusted fish or anything with their taro hummus – you know, seriously, those flavors might just linger in your dreams. They say reservations are good idea because it’s so popular!

A lot of people would consider that the old-Hawaiian decor lends almost an unmatched, warm vibe. As I was saying, Postcards is quite special because the atmosphere blends so well with the flavors. Very good place for a very memorable meal!

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2. Pono Market: A Taste of Local Kauai

If you’re wanting something very down-to-earth, a very authentic experience, Pono Market in Kapaa might be where it’s at. Now, it may not win any awards for decor, you see, but I’m telling you, the food more or less speaks for itself, right? They have, more or less, plate lunches there, that showcase just classic Hawaiian fare: like your kalua pig, like your laulau (pork wrapped in taro leaves), poke bowls bursting with really, really, fresh fish. Basically, the prices seem fair, the portions look very big, and you can almost feel the spirit of aloha in every bite, right?

Many, many would agree that if you like feeling part of local life when you travel, in some respects, eating at Pono Market does feel that way, and stuff. More or less, you will definitely leave that place with a really full stomach and a really happy heart, you know?

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3. The Beach House Restaurant: Sunset Views & Fine Dining

So picture this: You get really, really, amazing food, with views of a spectacular sunset, too. Now, it sounds like paradise, that, you see? The Beach House Restaurant in Poipu more or less gives you just that. Now, it’s definitely a bit fancier, yet the menu leans towards upscale Hawaiian cuisine, really, featuring fresh seafood, grilled meats, and a killer cocktail list. Clearly, try to make a reservation very close to sunset because you can view that from their outdoor seating is the main reason people show up.

Basically, people, like your honeymooners or couples celebrating like your anniversaries will enjoy their special moments here. It’s one of the places they visit.

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4. Kauai Coffee Company: Caffeine with a View

Okay, so not technically a restaurant, more or less, but The Kauai Coffee Company is arguably an experience no coffee lover really ought to miss, as I was saying. Really, really the biggest coffee plantation in the United States, and stuff, where you could even take a self-guided tour. Usually, you will stroll across the seemingly endless rows of coffee trees, just enjoy samples of a great range of flavors (coconut caramel is really my fave), and maybe even pick up some beans to take that taste of Kauai back with you. Alright, that cafe offers pretty light snacks to match that coffee!

I think some people enjoy visiting early in their Kauai adventure for the energy it generates! That huge plantation has plenty to view!

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5. Hanalei Taro & Juice Co.: Authentic Hawaiian Flavors

For something kind of different, Hanalei Taro & Juice Co. just about always does the trick, by the way. Almost literally set among the taro fields of Hanalei, their food truck (often, a pretty unassuming place) packs a flavorful punch, just about always using ingredients sourced directly from the surrounding land. Still, their poi mochi is a winner (a fusion of Hawaiian poi with Japanese mochi), you know, the plate lunches tend to be delicious, and that juice they got is totally the real deal.

Really, if you value the experience of “farm-to-table”, at the end of the day this one would win top prize, you know? Basically, this food stall is, kind of, a place, in which a person appreciates fresh flavor as well as the culture of this great place.

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