From flying saucers and saimin to kūlolo, Kauaʻi is known for a few signature dishes. But beyond its iconic foods, the Garden Isle is also home to unforgettable eateries that are off the beaten path. You just need to know where to look. 1. Japanese Grandma’s Café Tucked in the colorful town of Hanapēpē, Japanese Grandma’s Café serves a blend of authentic and […]
Kaua‘i’s rainy North Shore is particularly verdant as I make my way to Common Ground in Kīlauea from my home on the south side. The 83-acre property, once home to the Kīlauea Sugar and Guava Kai plantations, has been repurposed as a community gathering place and a starting point for future agricultural projects. The sun-soaked
Two scoops white rice, a scoop mac salad and a generous portion of a protein like teriyaki beef, chicken katsu or grilled fish—and you have the quintessential plate lunch in Hawaiʻi. The plate lunch—or mixed plate—is a symbol of the Islands’ plantation era when workers from different backgrounds shared home-cooked meals, resulting in a blend
With a revolving menu of both wine offerings and delicious food pairings, The Tasting Room on Kauaʻi never gets stale. Wine and spirit lovers familiar with Kauaʻi’s south side have most likely met Dan and Ellen O’Connell, owners of The Wine Shop—a fixture in Kōloa Town for nearly 20 years. As a natural extension, “Dan-o”
Tiana Sudaria grew up going to Kaua‘i Bakery. Her favorite was always the bakery’s oversize cinnamon rolls. And every family birthday featured its guava chiffon cake. When she and her husband, Dante, heard it might be shutting down, they weren’t having it. An institution like Kaua‘i Bakery can’t close, they said. So they bought it.
The Garden Isle is a visitor-favorite thanks to its lush landscapes, uncrowded beaches and easygoing vibe—all elements of an idyllic vacation. To top it all off, the island is also known for a few signature dishes, too. From kūlolo to flying saucers, bookmark these iconic foods from Kauaʻi that you need to try. 1. Satisfying
Set in a picturesque cove along the Kauaʻi coastline, Timbers Kauaʻi Ocean Club & Residences is the centerpiece of an expansive 450-acre property. With exceptional amenities such as two- to four-bedroom residences, the island’s only Jack Nicklaus signature 18-hole golf course and oceanfront fine dining at Hualani’s—featuring fresh produce from an on-site 16.5-acre organic farm—the
There’s nothing more refreshing than a bowl—or cone!—of shave ice, especially on a hot day in the Islands. From its humble beginnings, over a century ago, when vendors peddled cups of powdered ice sweetened with fruit syrups out of pushcarts along the Honolulu Harbor, shave ice has been a favorite among locals and visitors alike.
“It’s like a pad Thai fell into your mai tai.” That’s how Johnny, tiggerish bartender at Kai Maikaʻi, described the Sugarcane Blaze cocktail, an unexpected and fiery combination of smoky mezcal, Kō Hana Kea rum, Ancho Reyes chile liqueur, peanuts and Szechuan pepper orgeat and mango syrup. And he’s not wrong. The cocktail, with a
The gateway to Hanalei Town and a foodie’s paradise, Postcards Café lives up to its motto as a place “where time stops and memories begin.” The small plantation-style diamond in the rough is just past the one-lane bridge from Princeville. Hanalei, the last town on the North Shore of Kaua‘i, is rich in history, peppered
Kaua‘i’s cultural diversity combined with limited brick-and-mortar rental space has birthed a culinary revolution in the form of food trucks. The Garden Isle boasts some of the best local fare in the Islands, top-tier sushi, Euro-fusion, and even dessert trucks! Whether it be rising overhead costs or the Covid-induced lull in tourism, Kaua‘i’s chefs have
Walking into Warehouse 3540 may transport you to old Hawaiʻi as the 1950s-built former glass factory-turned-marketplace vibrates with history. Nestled on Kauaʻi’s south shore, “The Warehouse” as it is lovingly referred to by locals, is home to a number of boutiques, shops, and food trucks. A long, rustic wooden table at the center of the
