17 Best Restaurants in The East Side, Kauai

Large helpings of simple but satisfying, hearty fare are the focus at this no-frills spot in the slightly run-down Rice Shopping Center. Breakfast standards like stuffed French toast, shrimp or standard eggs Benedict, blueberry pancakes, waffles, and eggs dominate the menu and are served until closing. You'll also find many Island favorites, including saimin noodles, tripe stew, oxtail soup, and hefty plate lunches featuring kalbi (Korean barbecue beef), roast pork, and chili and rice. A small selection of sandwiches and burgers rounds out the offerings.

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.

If you like a super hearty breakfast, try this family-friendly restaurant, a Kapaa mainstay since 1975. With its familiar food, cozy atmosphere, and friendly service, it's a great spot for omelets, banana pancakes, waffles, and eggs Benedict in two sizes. Lunch selections include sandwiches, burgers, and loco moco. It's very busy at breakfast, so expect a wait. 

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.

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.

Simple food and hearty portions are the draw at this casual family-owned restaurant offering ranch-style cuisine. Choose from steak or fish sandwiches, taco or chicken salads, burgers, grilled fish, and plates piled high with chicken, steak, or ribs, along with house-made chili and salad. Though they specialize in BBQ meats, vegetarians will find some options. The rustic decor is cozy and casual, with plastic chairs and ranch memorabilia. Nightly live music adds to the fun.

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.