20 Best Restaurants in The East Side, Kauai

Relying heavily on super-fresh island fish and local meats and produce, this restaurant offers creatively prepared food that is a great choice for value and consistent quality in a relaxed refined setting. The nightly fish specials—served grilled, steamed, or sautéed with succulent sauces—shine here. Other sound choices are the savory meat loaf, prime rib, or the chicken and mushrooms; the ahi poke nachos and sweet-potato ravioli are not to be missed. The coconut cheesecake and warm chocolate cake are dessert highlights. The spacious dining room looks out to the ocean, and it's lovely to eat at the outdoor tables when the weather is nice.

Tucked away in a nondescript strip mall, this chic yet casual eatery has an imaginative menu shaped by French, Japanese, and Island influences that changes daily to showcase the best of fresh local ingredients. Fresh fish features prominently---try the seared ono resting on a bed of shrimp risotto or tempura lobster tail in a rich broth dense with ramen noodles. The appetizer menu is extensive enough to create a small plates meal for the table, choosing from delights like lamb dumplings, poached scallop ravioli, crispy quail, and Korean-style short ribs. Save room for dessert, especially the deconstructed banana cream pie and tangy yuzu-lemon cheesecake.

If you want to eat at a lively restaurant that's a favorite with locals, visit Kintaro, but be prepared to wait—or better yet, make reservations—because the dining room and sushi bar are always busy. Try the softshell crab roll or the unbeatable Bali Hai Bomb, a roll of crab and smoked salmon, baked and topped with wasabi mayonnaise. For a traditional Japanese meal, ask for the tempura combination, complete with fish, shrimp, and vegetables; or order the house-made udon noodles in a satisfying broth. Teppanyaki dinners are meat, seafood, and vegetables flash-cooked on tabletop grills in an entertaining display. Tatami-mat seating is available for groups behind shoji screens. Cocktails and a nice selection of warm and chilled sake round out the menu.

The A-frame structure makes this popular restaurant look distinctly rustic from the outside, but inside, light colors and a full wall of glass highlight an ocean view that is one of the best on Kauai. The food is simple and the menu rarely changes, but they know how to do surf and turf well, including prime rib and Australian rack of lamb. You can try one of several combination platters or order fresh island fish and thick steaks individually. Longtime visitors and locals love this place, which hasn't changed much since it opened in 1973. Arrive early for the best seats.

The views of Kalapaki Bay and the Haupu Mountain Range are impressive at this mostly authentic northern Italian restaurant, which offers a range of pasta, meat, chicken, and fresh fish selections, as well as vegetarian entrées, a kids' menu, and pizza. Linger over coffee and ice cream–filled profiteroles or traditional tiramisu; if you visit on a Tuesday night, there will be live music. Competent service and a soothing dignified ambience complete the dining experience.

Surfing legend Duke Kahanamoku (1890–1968) is immortalized at this casual bi-level restaurant and bar on Kalapaki Beach, where surfboards, photos, and other memorabilia marking Duke's long tenure as a waterman adorn the walls. Downstairs, you'll find simple, less-expensive fare, from sashimi and nachos to coconut shrimp to hamburgers, served 11 am to 9 pm; upstairs, at dinner, fresh fish prepared in a variety of styles is the best choice, though the pricey-but-hearty prime rib is a favorite among locals. For dessert, try the pono pie made with locally-grown ulu, or breadfruit. At the Barefoot Bar, a happy-hour drink and appetizer is a less-expensive way to enjoy the moonrises and ocean views—though it can get pretty crowded and noisy.

Folks just love this cash-only, old plantation-style diner, though the very simple food doesn't quite live up to the buzz. Locals and tourists still stream in and out all day long: the famous saimin noodle soup is the big draw, and each day the Hiraoka family dishes up about 1,000 bowls of the steaming broth and house-made noodles topped with a variety of garnishes. The landmark eatery is also famous for its lilikoi (passion fruit) chiffon pie. Parking is often a challenge.  This is one of the few Lihue restaurants open late—10 pm on weeknights and midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.

Hualani's is bright, airy, and expansive with an unobstructed view of the ocean, delivering diners a casual yet upscale experience built on the farm-to-table concept. The food is simply and deftly prepared in an Asian-fusion style: the pan-seared opah (moonfish) is delicate, while the seared ahi is crusted in sesame seeds. Those seeking local flavors will want to try the lychee-smoked sticky ribs, arare-crusted opah, kalbi lamb chops, or Moloaa honeycomb with Kilauea goat cheese. Lunch is the best value, with fish tacos, salads, fresh fish, burgers, and smaller portions of some dinner choices, all served alongside that amazing view. The fish and beef are locally sourced, while many of the vegetables are harvested from an on-site farm. Daily happy hour offers a nice selection of appetizers. Valet parking only.

The humble hamburger gets an Asian twist at Kenji's, a small casual eatery with four outposts throughout the island that uses primarily grass-fed Kauai beef. Choose the teriyaki, veggie, truffle, or hapa burger, each topped with goodies like caramelized onions, Japanese mushrooms, and tomato jam; local favorites include loco moco (a popular local rice, beef, gravy, and eggs concoction), poke, and chicken katsu (fried cutlet) bowls. Don't miss the sushi burritos, which are actually hearty nori wraps stuffed with softshell crab, lobster, ahi, and other seafood selections. The thin crispy french fries get a lift when sprinkled with furikake, a Japanese seaweed seasoning. There is indoor and outdoor seating.

The meals at Kukui's feature Hawaiian, Asian, and contemporary American influences, and the open-air setting with a view of the ocean makes it a pleasant place to dine. It's spacious, making it well suited to families and those who want a relaxed setting. The short dinner menu includes rack of lamb, kalbi rib-eye steak, salads, flatbreads, burgers, fresh fish, pasta, and a few vegetarian options. Prime rib is served on Friday and Saturday nights.

Known for its Asian-influenced surf and turf menu, there's something for everyone here: salads, poultry, steaks and ribs, vegetarian fare, curries, and, of course, a wide selection of seafood, all with an Island flair. The decor may remind you of a Pacific Rim–theme rustic tavern, with its stained-wood interior and numerous paintings and carvings. The patio is enclosed with lush plants, but traffic noise detracts a bit from outdoor dining. 

Located right on the main drag of Kapaa, this café has an exterior that's a bit grimy and noisy, but it's worth a stop to order takeout and walk to the beach instead. The poke salad bowl and ahi nori wrap made of seared tuna, rice, and cucumber with wasabi cream sauce are the best picks here. Other choices include hearty fresh salads, sandwiches, tropical tacos, stir-fry noodles, and satay made from either tofu or chicken.

Monico’s Taqueria is a favorite among locals and visitors, due to its hearty portions and delicious authentic cuisine, including nachos, tortas, flautas, and fajitas. The bright airy dining room is cheerful, and the outdoor patio offers a view of coconut palms waving in the breeze.

Kauai's largest natural-foods market, now in much larger digs fronting the highway in the same shopping center, offers a cold grab-and-go menu of deli and green salads, wraps, soups for reheating, smoothies, and sometimes fresh sashimi.

Located in what was once Kauai's most expensive plantation estate, Gaylords pays tribute to the elegant dining rooms of 1930s high society: candlelit tables sit on a cobblestone courtyard that surrounds a fountain and overlooks a wide lawn. The menu is eclectic, offering Portuguese fish stew, shrimp pasta, scallops, steak, sake short ribs, chicken, and a few vegan and vegetarian options. Be sure to start with the fresh ahi poke stack. The banana cream pie with a coconut crust is a tasty twist on an old favorite. Lunch offers some hearty salads, soups, hot and cold sandwiches, and burgers. 

A restored plantation cottage surrounded by tropical foliage is the casual setting for this island café, whose name and plant-based menu reflect the owner's love for his late dog. Choose from tofu scrambles, salads, chickpea-curry wraps, tempeh sandwiches, banana pancakes, hummus wraps, and Beyond Beef burgers. A selection of pupu (appetizers) is available after 11 am. Outdoor seating in the vine-covered garden is pleasant during nice weather, and acoustic music is offered most evenings.

This Asian restaurant, known as SEA Kauai, is a welcome and affordable addition to the Lihue dining scene, offering super fresh sushi as well as Thai cuisine. Try the popular sushi boats or the sweet-spicy pineapple curry. The setting is simple and clean, with indoor and open-air seating, and the service is friendly and efficient.

Not surprisingly, tacos take center stage here (though there are tamales and salad bowls). The tacos are made from quality ingredients, many of which are organic and locally sourced, and you can mix and match; the fish tacos, as well as those filled with kalua pig, surf and turf, or fire-roasted vegetables, are popular choices. The corn tortillas are house-made, and so are the tamales and slow-cooked meats. Tacos are very large and are served à la carte. This joint is mostly for takeout, with a tiny dining room and a few outside tables facing the parking lot.

Combining classic Mexican food with chile-based sauces and creations from the chef's home state of New Mexico, Verde's menu includes tostadas, enchiladas, and tacos filled with fresh fish, slow-cooked chicken, or local grass-fed beef. The garlic-shrimp tacos and stacked enchilada with a choice of chicken, pork adovada (New Mexican red chile stew), or Kauai beef filling, smothered in red or green chile sauce, are favorites. The food runs hot and spicy. Beer on tap and the house margarita are the only alcoholic offerings. Save room for the fried sopaipillas served with Kauai honey. The modern decor is sparse but comfortable and casual, with natural lighting and seating at tables or the bar. Located in Hokulei Village in Lihue, Verde offers delivery services and online ordering for the Lihue area.