Food
(updated Aug, 2006)
These are the restaurants and food shops we frequent. The restaurants are divided into four categories, "Fine Dining", "Ethnic", "Burgers/Sandwiches/Pizza", and "Alternative", and are listed alphabetically. Most are on the south or west side, and so closer to home. Directions (see map) are from the intersection of Koloa Rd, and either Poipu Rd, or Hwy 520 in Koloa, or from the airport. |
**** Fine Dining ****
Beach House. Excellent food, view, and service. Spendy, but worth it. From Koloa Chevron, take Poipu Rd south about 2 mi, then take the rite fork towards Spouting Horn. Beach House is about a mile on the left. 742-1424.
Casa Di Amici. Too good for words. See under "Ethnic."
Gaylord's. Classy gourmet dining on a relaxed lanai setting. Worth the price. From Koloa, take Tree Tunnel Rd (520) to HWY 50. Turn rite towards Lihu'e. Gaylord's is in the Kilohana Mansion on the left about half a mile after the first lite. 245-9593.
Hanapepe Cafe'. Gourmet vegetarian and seafood. See under "Alternative."
Kalaheo Steak House. Cozy warm restaurant with good steaks, great prime rib. Share a "Steakhouse Combo", and save $$. From Koloa Chevron, take Koloa Rd (530) west to lite. Turn left. At next lite, turn left again. Kalaheo Steak House is just up the road on the left. 332-9780. |
Plantation Gardens. Fine dining in an elegant plantation home setting. Adjacent garden for before or after dinner strolling. Cuisine relies on locally grown and produced food. From Koloa Chevron, take Poipu Rd south about 2 miles. Turn rite into a driveway just opposite from the entrance to the Poipu Shopping Village. Follow signs a few hundred feet to Plantation Gardens. 742-2216.
Pomodoro. Fine Italian ristorante. See under "Ethnic."
Casa Di Amici. If you especially enjoy fine tastes when dining, this restaurant will be one of your favorites. From Koloa Chevron, take Poipu Rd south about 2 mi to Hoowili Rd. Turn rite. Follow to end. Turn left. Go 0.3 mi to Nalo Rd, turn left, and find Casa Di Amici in 0.1 mi on left. 742-1555.
Hamura's Saimin. Old time local establishment. Very unfancy, but a Kaua'i tradition. In Lihu'e. From Koloa, take 520 to Hwy 50. Turn rite toward Lihu'e. Turn rite at Hwy 58 (4th lite), and follow a couple miles thrue harbor and back into Lihu'e where the road is now "Rice St." Turn left onto Kress St, one block after the 2nd lite. Hamura's is on the left just past Halenani St. 245-3271.
Hole in the Wall. Aka "The Crack." No one calls them by their real name (Taqueria Nortenos), but their burritos are good, big, and cheap, and they serve brown rice. Take out only. From Koloa Chevron, take Poipu Rd south to Poi'pu. Look for a hole-in-the-wall in the Kukui'ula Plaza just b4 the turnoff to Spouting Horn on the rite. 742-7222.
Ma's Family. Local, old style Kaua'i breakfast and lunch restaurant. See directions to Hamura's Saimin, but turn left onto Halenani St. Ma's is just after turn on the rite. 245-3142.
Naniwa. Japanese restaurant and sushi bar. From Koloa Chevron, take Poipu Rd south. About half a mile after the rurnoff to Spouting Horn, turn rite onto Kapili Rd, then left onto Hoonani Rd. Go another quarter mile to the Sheraton oon the rite., Naniwa is in the Galleria restaurant complex at the Sheraton near the ocean. 742-1661.
Pomodoro. A top-notch Italian restaurant. Fine food and excellent service. From Koloa Chevron, take Koloa Rd (530) west to the highway (first lite). Turn left. Go another mile and turn left into the Rainbow Plaza (just after Brick Oven Pizza). Pomodoro is at the plaza, upstairs. 332-5945.
Taqueria Nortenos. See "Hole in the Wall."
Toi's That Kitchen. Great tasting affordable thai food. Her peanut sauce is especially good! in the Ele'ele Shopping Center. From Koloa Chevron, take Koloa Rd (530) to lite. Turn left. About 5 mi after next lite, look for McD's on left. Turn left just b4 McD's, and quickly again rite into Ele'ele Shopping Center. Toi's is in back corner. 335-3111.
**** Burgers/Sandwiches/Pizza ****
Brennecke's. A good-time upstairs on-the-beach bar and grill in Poipu. From Koloa Chevron, take Poipu Rd south about 2 mi to Honowili Rd on rite. Go to the end. Brennecke's is on the left. 742-7588.
Brick Oven Pizza. All of us pizza snobs agree that Brick Oven has great pizza. A very friendly place. Also good sandwiches and beer. From Koloa, take Koloa Rd (530) west about 4 mi to the first lite. Turn left. Brick Oven Pizza is about 1.5 mi on the rite (b4 the next lite). 332-8561.
Camp House Grill. Drippy burgers, spicey fries, and killer pies. (Take home a whole pie and pig out). Good breakfasts for early risers. From Koloa, take Koloa Rd (530) west about 4 mi to the rite. Turn left. Camp House is just past the second lite on the rite. 332-9755.
| Grinds. Nothing fancy. Just lotsa great tasting affordable food. Breakfast all day long. Serious sandwiches and salad greens from local growers. From Koloa, take Koloa Rd (530) west to lite. Turn left. About 5 mi after next lite look for McD's on left. Turn left just b4 McD's, then quickly rite into Ele'ele Shopping Center. Grinds is at far end (past Post Office). 335-6027. |
Joe's on the Green. Relaxed setting on patio with terrific view of golf course and mountains. Very tasty sandwiches, etc. Dinner 2 nites/wk. From Koloa Chevron, follow Poipu Rd south about 2 mi. Turn left at entrance to Poipu Shopping Village. Continue strait another half mi. Take first left to end. 742-9696.
Pizzetta. Koloa's fun bar and restaurant. In the heart of Koloa. Facing the Koloa Rd/520 intersection, walk rite a few feet until the great smells from their pizza ovens guides you into Pizzetta's. 742-8881.
Tomkats. Burgers, beer, fries and their cousins in a neat hideaway/tropical garden. A fun place. In Koloa on Koloa Rd just opposite the Tree Tunnel Rd (520) intersection. Walk down the hallway to Tomkats. 742-8887.
**** Alternative Dining ****
Cafe' Coco. Very tasty hippy-healthy out-doorsy fun place. Great pastries and possibly the best coffee on the island. On the east side. From Lihu'e Airport, turn rite at first lite (onto Hwy 51 north). Go 5 mi or so to the split bridge crossing the Wailua River. Look for Cafe' Coco on left just past the first lite after the bridge. 822-7990.
Hanapepe Cafe'. A real plus to your vacation. Gourmet vegetarian and seafood on a back street in Hanapepe. Lunch, Tues-Sat, dinner Fri-Sat. BYO nice bottle of wine. From Koloa, take Koloa Rd (530) west to lite. Turn left. Go 6 - 7 mi, and note Ele'ele Shopping Center on left. Continue another quarter mi, and take rite fork into old Hanapepe Town. Go another half mile, and look for Hanapepe Cafe on left. 335-5011.
**** Food Shops ****
Frank's Incredible Cheesecakes. Oh yeah! Oh yeah! Oh yeah! Um um um um um! And to make it worse, he's got over a hundred flavors, lot's of 'em tropical. We dare you to share! Made only to order. For more info and to order, 635-0316.
Kilauea Farmer's Market. Wanna picnic on the north shore? This funky old-time store has goodies ranging from sandwiches to brownies, and cream soda to champagne. In Kilauea. From Lihu'e Airport, turn rite at first lite, onto Hwy 51 north, which becomes Hwy 56 north. Turn rite at Kilauea Shell Station about half a mile past MM 23. Turn left onto Kilauea Rd. Go another half mile and turn rite on Kenecke St. Market is on left. 828-1512.
Koloa Fish Market. Great source for local fresh fish, pupu (appetizer) platters, and plate lunches. Their seared ani is ono (delicious). On Koloa Rd in Koloa on the east side of town across from the post office. 742-6199.
Roadside Fruit Stands. Good places to find locally grown papayas, bananas, pineapple, avacadoes, lychee, and more. Payment is on honor system. here's three of them on the south side.
| One and Two: From Koloa, take Koloa Rd (530) west about 3 - 4 mi into Lawai. Just b4 the Lawai General Store turn left onto twisty Lauoho Rd. One stand is half a mile down the road on the rite, the other, another quarter mile on the left. Three: Just after the second stand, turn left onto Waha Rd. Find stand another quarter mile on the rite. |
Sunshine Markets. These are Kaua'i farmers' markets at regualr times and places. The Koloa Sunshine market is on Monday at noon at Anne Knudsen Park. From take Hwy 520 towards Lihu'e. Park is half mile out of Koloa Town on the rite. For other Sunshine Markets pick up a schedule at Pohaku T's (3430 Poipu Rd, Koloa) or call 241-6390.
Wine. You can find $10 - $100 bottles at Long's Drugs in the Kukui Grove Shopping Center. From Koloa, take Tree Tunnel Rd, (520) to the highway, turn rite towards Lihu'e. Turn rite at 4th lite (Hwy 58), and take first rite into Kukui Grove. Long's is strait ahead. 245-7771.