Kaua’i, HI. ~ The best Local places to eat on Kaua’i

There are many great places to eat on the Island. However, if you want to avoid the touristy places and enjoy some great Ono Grinds, we’ve done some extensive research (to the dismay of our waistlines.) Here, will share our favorite places to eat on Kaua’i.

Our top 5 places to eat on Kaua’i

• Shrimp Station: With two locations on the Island, this place is the Bubba Gump of Kaua’i.
• Koloa Fish Market: Authentic Hawaiian food with an abundance of fresh local seafood.
• Kaui’i Food truck: This truck posts their GPS on social media and is worth the effort to find them.
• Kalaheo Steak & Ribs: Serving the best steaks on Kaua’i for over 30 years. This a must visit restaurant on the Island.
• Ishihara Market: Located in an Oriental grocery store, the deli counter in the back has some of the best Poke on the Island.

Shrimp Station

A locally owned and operated business sure to give you the true Aloha spirit. There are two locations on Kaua’i. One on the way to Waimea and one on the way to the North Shore. The coconut shrimp here is some of the best we’ve ever tried. This scratch cooking restaurant features spicy Thai shrimp, sautéed shrimp as well as garlic shrimp, shrimp burgers and shrimp tacos. There’s a small area for dining in or you can pick up some take out and head to the closest beach. Either way, this meal won’t disappoint.

Koloa Fish Market

In the heart of Koloa, is the Koloa fish market.  This restaurant has been a mainstay for locals for years. This is a great place to pick up some food to take to the beach or eat on a bench in the park across the street. The menu has a lot of creative and authentic Hawaiian dishes as well as some amazing Poke and a great plate lunch. The food is always fresh and inexpensive making it a place you’ll want to come back to.

Kaua’i Food Truck

The Kaua’i food truck is one of the best plate lunches we’ve had on the island. In addition to the traditional Kalua pork plate lunch, they have some awesome fresh fish and a dynamite shrimp plate lunch. Typically found in Koloa, the burger with gravy (loco moco) and the Hawaiian Mac salad will make you do a happy dance.

Kalaheo Steak & Ribs

We’ve had our fare share of great steaks but this place ranks in the top. The atmosphere embraces the history of the Hawaiian cowboys “Paniolos” that dates back to the late 1800’s. Taking advantage of the abundance of cattle farms in the island, the aged beef is top notch. The interior harkens back to the old cattle ranching days. While we were sitting at a window seat on our most recent visit, a couple of guys on horses literally rode by on the sidewalk. After a day of exploring this side of the Island, this is the perfect place for an amazing dinner

Ishihara Market

This is hands down our best place to eat on Kaua’i. This hidden gem is an Oriental grocery store with an amazing deli counter in the back. It is the best poke we have had on the island. Choices range from spicy ahi poke to fresh shrimp poke and many more options. The garlic edamame is something we have tried to recreate at home to no avail. Do yourself a favor and pick up an assortment of deli containers and head up the road to MacArthur park for a picnic. This is a meal you won’t soon forget.

For more tips on the best of Kaua’i, check out our blogs on the best 5 beaches and the best 5 sites to see.