Best Local Eats

Written By Kiahuna 198

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For a walking-distance breakfast, try Little Fish Coffee (but prepared to wait) or Anuenue Cafe.

If a drive to brunch is your thing, head to Kalaheo Cafe for a cinnamon roll or Kountry Kitchen for pancakes.

Lunch: Koloa Fish Market for the best poke! Or our favorites: the sushi stand and smoothie station within Kukuiula Market.

Whether dinner is a casual stop at the food trucks, or more upscale at Eating House or JO2 restaurant, you’re sure to make wonderful memories. Make reservations!

No trip to Kauai is complete without shave ice.
Wailua Shave Ice is located in the Kauai Village Shopping Center and an absolute favorite!

Eat Like A Local List:

Breakfast

  • Little Fish Coffee (5 min walk)

  • Anuenue Cafe (5 min walk)

  • Kalaheo Cafe (15 min drive - also great for lunch)

  • Tip Top Motel (20 min drive - 100% Locals)

  • Kountry Kitchen (45 min drive - 100% Locals)

Coffee

  • Little Fish Coffee (5 min walk)

  • Dark Horse Coffee (5 min drive)

  • Eden Coffee (5 min drive - get the muffin too)

  • Kauai Bakery and Coffee (20 min - 100% Locals)

  • Imua Roasters (35 min drive - Best On The Island)

  • Java Kai in Kapaʻa (40 min drive - they’re opening another location in Koloa soon)

Lunch

  • Poke: Koloa Fish Market (5 min drive)

  • Sushi rolls: Kukuiula Fish Hut (5 min drive)

  • Japanese: Japanese Grandma’s (20 min drive - 100% Locals)

  • Saimin: Hamura (20 min drive - 100% Locals)

  • Mexican: Da Shack (5 min drive)

  • Sandwiches: Living Foods (5 min drive)

  • Food trucks: Koloa (5 min drive - Best Food Truck Scene on the Hawaiian Islands)

Happy Hour

  • Brennekes (10 min walk)

  • Rum Fire (5 min walk)

  • The Beach House (5 min drive)

Shave Ice and Ice Cream

  • Shave Ice: Waikomo (5 min drive), Wailua (35 min drive), JoJos (35 min drive)

  • Ice Cream: Lapperts Koloa (5 min drive)

Casual Dinner

  • Brennekes (10 min walk)

  • Kenji Burger (5 min drive)

  • Friendly Waves (5 min drive, new in Koloa as of February 2023)

  • Kiawe Roots BBQ (12 min drive)

  • Kauai Beer Company (20 min drive)

  • Rob’s Good Times Grill (20 min drive, trivia night = Thursdays at 8pm)

Upscale Dinner

  • Eating House (5 min drive)

  • Table At Poipu (5 min drive)

  • Tasting Room (5 min drive)

  • JO2 (40 min drive - Worth The Drive)

Markets

  • Big Save (5 min drive)

  • Living Foods (5 min drive)

  • Safeway (20 min drive - near the airport)

 
Kiahuna 198
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Best Kauai Adventures