Hawaii Travel Podcast by Hawaii’s Best: Hawaii Travel Tips, Things to Do in Hawaii & Vacation Planning

My 10 Favorite Local Restaurants on Kauai

• Bryan Murphy - Certified Hawaii Travel Expert & Creator of Hawaii’s Best Travel • Episode 245

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0:00 | 13:53

Locals line up outside this Kauai restaurant before the doors even open.

🍱 Free Guide: 29 Locally Owned Spots to Eat on Kauai Guide

If you're planning a Kauai trip, skipping the food research can land you at a tourist trap instead of a real local favorite.

👉 Hit play now to find out which tiny walk-up spot locals line up for before it opens.

If you've ever wondered how to spot a real local restaurant on Kauai, this episode is for you.

I'll walk you through my personal top 10 so you know exactly where to eat before you land.

In this episode of Hawaii's Best, we count down my 10 favorite locally owned restaurants on Kauai so you can eat like a local from day one.

👉In this episode, you will:

  • Discover how to tell a true local spot from a chain that just looks local.
  • Learn exactly what to order at each spot, from puka dogs to poke bowls to kalua pig.
  • How to get the full list of 29 local spots with ratings and tips included.

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Scroll up ⬆️ and hit play now to find your new favorite meal on Kauai.

🤙 Resources mentioned:

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🎧 Related episodes:

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💻 Related blog posts:

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🤓 Chapters:

  • 0:24 Why Eating Local Matters
  • 2:55 Number 10
  • 3:58 Number 9
  • 4:32 Number 8
  • 5:28 Number 7
  • 7:38 Number 6
  • 8:31 Number 5
  • 9:04 Number 4
  • 10:07 Number 3
  • 10:37 Number 2
  • 11:28 Number 1
  • 12:29 Wrap Up
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🌴 Plan Your Hawaii Trip With Bryan

About Your Host: Bryan Murphy is the founder of Hawaii’s Best Travel & a Hawaii Destination Expert through the Hawaii Tourism Authority, since 2020. An HVCB member since 2019, he helps first-time & repeat visitors plan respectful Hawaii vacations w/ clear, practical advice & cultural insight.

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Hawaii travel podcast helps you plan a trip to Hawaii with clarity. Discover practical travel tips, island itineraries, & local insight to help you explore Oahu, Maui, Kauai, the Big Island.

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245_My 10 Favorite Local Restaurants on Kauai


[00:00:00] Local Eats Teaser

[00:00:00] Bryan Murphy: One of the best ways to support local that's a win-win is by eating at local spots. And in this episode, you'll discover the top 10 locally owned spots to eat on Hauai. And number one, it's a tiny spot that locals line up for before it even opens. So stay tuned. Let's go.

[00:00:24] Why Eating Local Matters

[00:00:24] Bryan Murphy: Aloha and welcome to Hawaii's Best. I'm Brian Murphy, Hawaii destination expert and your personal guide to planning an unforgettable trip to Hawaii. You know, most people planning a trip to Hawaii, they'll, they'll spend hours researching, you know, the best beaches, activities, but a lot of people completely overlook one of the most important parts about vacation is eating, where, where to eat.

[00:00:46] Bryan Murphy: So rather than just, you know, having this epic experience out on the beach and then, oh, where do you guys wanna eat tonight? This episode is to help you discover where to eat, why it's important to eat local when you can, and so that you can have some of the best meals. I truly believe that some of the best memories when visiting Hawaii are centered around a great meal.

[00:01:11] Bryan Murphy: So we're gonna talk a lot about that. We're gonna talk about the difference between, you know, spotting tourist traps and places that locals actually go. All these spots, they are locally owned restaurants and they serve great food. That's why they're on the list.

[00:01:26] How This Top 10 Works

[00:01:26] Bryan Murphy: I wanted to pack in tons of spots because Kauai actually has a lot of great local spots.

[00:01:32] Bryan Murphy: I would say it's easier to find local spots on Kauai than it is probably in Oahu, depending on the part of Oahu, but you know, in Waikiki area or even West Side is pretty developed. It sometimes is hard to spot real true local spots. And Kauai is, it's a little bit easier, but there still are some of those corporate spots and, and chains that kind of veneer as local.

[00:01:59] Bryan Murphy: So I'm gonna be cutting through some of that and I really could do more. I only did 10 on this list, but I also wanted to just give you a whole, the whole list of 29. I narrowed it down to 29 spots and a lot of these places are actually, they're, some of these are recommendations that you gave me and they match up some of my favorite spots too.

[00:02:18] Bryan Murphy: So I have a list of 29 local spots to eat on Kauai, and you'll find that in the first link of the show notes below of this episode. So just go ahead and click that link and it'll guide you to how to get 29 local spots on Kauai. But today we're gonna do the top 10 and we're gonna start with number 10.

[00:02:40] Bryan Murphy: You know, this was hard because any of these could be someone's number one, honestly. And, you know, so this number 10, it's, it's pretty subjective to some of it to my own personal taste, but also to some of the reviews and some of what you're telling me as well.

[00:02:55] Number 10 Puka Dog

[00:02:55] Bryan Murphy: So number 10, pookadog. You'll find this in Poipu.

[00:02:59] Bryan Murphy: This is an iconic Hawaiian style hotdog i - with tropical relishes. So b- basically how this works is you pick the dog, you pick a fruit-based relish and your sauce level. So they toast the bun from the inside. So it's this warm, slightly crunchy and holds everything together just perfectly. And one of the must-try things to order is the Polish sausage with mango relish and lily coi mustard.

[00:03:27] Bryan Murphy: And just, you know, lily coi is passion fruit. It's tart, it's tropical, and totally different from anything you'll find on the continental US. And best part about puka dogs is that you can just take it across the street and eat at the beach. It's really an iconic beach type of style food. I'm kinda boring.

[00:03:46] Bryan Murphy: When I get a puka dog, I'll usually get it. I, I've tried the little coi and it's great. I still prefer mustard and ketchup so that's how I'll do my puka dog, but it is really good. All right.

[00:03:58] Number 9 The Crack

[00:03:58] Bryan Murphy: Number nine is the crack. You'll find the crack in koloa and in poipu. This is literally a hole in the wall. There's no dining room.

[00:04:08] Bryan Murphy: It's just a walk-up window with really a steady line of locals and visitors. They serve up like made-to-order burritos, tacos and bowls. And really the best part is the fish taco bowl with pineaple salsa. Here, you're only looking at takeout only, which makes it a great kinda lunch spot. So find a shady spot nearby or head down to the beach as well.

[00:04:32] Number 8 Kilauea Fish Market

[00:04:32] Bryan Murphy: Number eight, Kilauea Fish Market. It's up on the North Shore. This place is kinda like a half deli, half seafood counter. Their portion size are fairly generous. It's fresh grilled fish. That's really what they're known for here. The garlic shrimp and grilled catch plate are also great options as well.

[00:04:53] Bryan Murphy: This is another spot that's kind of a grab and go. So you'll just want to get your order, take it to go. This is a good spot if you're headed up to the North Shore. A lot of people stay in Poipu area. Um, there are some spots in Honalaid to stay that's kinda close nearby. But, uh, this is a good spot if you're maybe doing the Kilauea Lighthouse or anything like that, or you're wanting to go to the beach.

[00:05:16] Bryan Murphy: This is a good grab and go spot for that. Uh, seafood really goes fast here because it's fresh. Make sure that you come earlier for lunch if you're gonna choose to do that.

[00:05:28] Number 7 Bar Acuda Hanalei

[00:05:28] Bryan Murphy: Number seven is barracuda. Not barracuda, but barakuda. Get it? Huh, dad joke. That's probably why I like this place. We're still up in North Shore here.

[00:05:38] Bryan Murphy: This is Honalei. Now, if you're wanting a place to, you know, sit down, dinner that feels still casual, this is definitely a spot for you. Barakuda is served small plates that are made with local ingredients. It's a little bit more expensive than the rest on this list, but it's definitely well worth it. And the menu is always changing and everything's meant to be shared.

[00:05:59] Bryan Murphy: Some of the menus at these types of plates, they do change based on availability. So just bear in mind if I'm recommending certain dishes maybe and you go, maybe they don't have that certain dish at that time. So just beware, that's how you know it's fresh. A great tip is you ask your server what's freshest that night.

[00:06:19] Bryan Murphy: So kinda in light of that, the menu will change. So just ask what's fresh. Definitely would recommend making a reservation. And if you can, sit out on the lanai, the covered porch area, because it's perfect for catching a great evening breeze.

[00:06:35]

[00:07:29] Bryan Murphy: All right, moving right along, man. We're already at number six.

[00:07:32] Bryan Murphy: Again, if you want the full list, just go to the first link in the show notes below. All right.

[00:07:38] Number 6 Hanalei Dolphin

[00:07:38] Bryan Murphy: Number six is Hanalei Dolphin in Honalei. It's right along the river. This spot, it's half restaurant, half fresh fish market. The sushi's solid, but the grilled fish is really what they're known for. Go for, you know, get the catch of the day or grab poke to go from the market side.

[00:07:59] Bryan Murphy: By the way, if you're wondering what poke is, I've said it a few times in other episodes, is cubed raw fish, usually ahi tuna. And it's seasoned with salt, seaweed, and other local ingredients. It's nothing like you'll find on the mainland continental US. And it's this spot here, Hanalei Dolphin. It's great for a sunset dinner if you can grab a table.

[00:08:22] Bryan Murphy: But pro tip is check the chalkboard for specials. And if it's busy, the market side is usually quicker.

[00:08:31] Number 5 Marks Place

[00:08:31] Bryan Murphy: And number five, Mark's place in Lehue. This is a spot with some big portions of local kind of like comfort food. It's popular with locals, especially during the weekday lunch rush. Uh, the mixed plate here gives you a little bit of everything from teriyaki beef, chicken katsu, which is breaded fried chicken cutlet and max salad, which is incredible.

[00:08:55] Bryan Murphy: It's super filling, very affordable. One tip is to get it to go, find a picnic spot outside, and you're good to go.

[00:09:04] Number 4 Avalon Gastropub

[00:09:04] Bryan Murphy: Number four, Avalon Gastro Pub also in Lihue. And here's things get a little interesting. It's not your typical spot. It's if you will, like, elevated pub food, but with more of a local twist, which is fun.

[00:09:20] Bryan Murphy: So you think like short rib loca mocha with fubrichake, fries. And just so you know, loco mocha is a kind of a Hawaiian comfort food. It's rice topped with a hamburger patty, fried egg and usually brown gravy. And fubrikake, it's a Japanese seasoning mix with sesame seeds, seaweed and dried fish. Might sound kinda odd, but it tastes amazing, especially on fries.

[00:09:47] Bryan Murphy: They've also got vegetarian options and a solid drink menu as well. This is a great spot at night, but it's usually casual enough for lunch as well. Best tip you probably get where I'm going here is to go early because it does get packed pretty fast. And you also wanna check the specials board before ordering.

[00:10:07] Number 3 Koloa Fish Market

[00:10:07] Bryan Murphy: And number three, Kahloa Fish Market in Kahloatown. It's a tiny spot near the road. This place has some of the best poke bowls on the island. Everything is made fresh daily. The aji limu poke with rice and max salad is definitely highly recommend that. The ahi is yellowfish tuna and limu is a type of seaweed that adds this kind of a perfect salty ocean flavor, if you will.

[00:10:33] Bryan Murphy: Portions are generous and the price is fair. It's a great grab and go spot.

[00:10:37] Number 2 Hamura Saimin

[00:10:37] Bryan Murphy: Number two, hamura salmon in jue. This is truly a local favorite. It's kind of like a no-frill spot, just classic salmon, barbecue sticks and a slice of lily coi pie. Now, simon is, it's a Hawaii's version of ramen. So think thin noodles with clear broth, usually top with charsu pork, green onions, and kamapoko, which is that pink and white fish cake on top.

[00:11:07] Bryan Murphy: The noodles are chewy. The broth is rich and it feels, I don't know, like a warm hug. It's just so good. Now, last I checked at this spot, it was cash only and I'm not sure if that has changed, but that's just something to, uh, keep in mind, especially when you do s - go out in some of these local spots to have some cash on hand just in case.

[00:11:28] Number 1 Pono Market

[00:11:28] Bryan Murphy: And number one, actually, I was going back and forth between this spot and Kahloa Fish Market. I went with number one as Pono Market and Kapa'a. This is kind of like an old school family run, one of the most respected places for Hawaiian food on Kauai. Locals go here for plate lunch, poke and lau. And must-try is the kahua pig with rice and poi, or grab a combo with lomi salmon and halpia.

[00:11:58] Bryan Murphy: Basically what that is, kalua pig is pork that's been slow-cooked in an underground oven called an imu. Poi is made from tower root. It's purple and has a unique texture. If you've been to a luau, you probably have experienced poi and kahua pig. Lomi salmon is salted salmon that's mixed with onions and tomatoes.

[00:12:18] Bryan Murphy: And hapia, it's a coconut pudding like a firm coconut jello, I guess if you will. Just great food made with authentic Hawaiian care. All right.

[00:12:29] Wrap Up And Support

[00:12:29] Bryan Murphy: So those are my top 10 locally owned spots to eat on the island of Kauai. And hopefully this has helped narrow down things for you. You really can't go wrong with any of these places.

[00:12:40] Bryan Murphy: And honestly, you can't go wrong with any of the 29 spots that I put on a full list for you. Just again, go to the, the first link in the show notes below and you'll be able to grab that. It's completed with links, ratings, and local tips as well. Also, if you found this episode helpful and if you're enjoying this type of content about, you know, where to eat and how to support local in Hawaii, would just appreciate a quick review on Apple or Spotify.

[00:13:09] Bryan Murphy: And that just really makes my day and helps other people who love Hawaii just as much as you find this podcast. All right. And until next time, as always, live with Aloha.

[00:13:23] Bryan Murphy: Mahalo for listening to Hawaii's Best. If you found today's episode helpful, make sure to hit follow on your podcast app so you don't miss future episodes. You can find all links and resources mentioned today in the show notes below. Hawaii's Best is produced by Shore Break Media Group, edited by Easy Podcast Solutions and with music by our friends stick figure.


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