11 Best Restaurants in The North Shore, Kauai

Hip and pricey, this tapas bar is a top place in Hanalei in terms of flavor and creativity, with food that's often organic and consistently remarkable. The dining room is super-casual but chic, with a welcoming bar and a nice porch for outdoor dining. Owner-chefs Hanna and Kenny Uddifa's brief menu changes regularly, but favorites include honeycomb with goat cheese and apple or Hawaiian fish (type depends on the local catch) with leek couscous, sunchokes, white wine beurre blanc, and sunflower sprouts. The adjacent sister restaurant, Ama, serves ramen and other Asian-style dishes in an upscale outdoor setting.

Fresh fish caught in local waters by local fishers take star billing at this upscale tropical-theme restaurant and sushi lounge on the banks of the Hanalei River. There are also many land-based dishes on the menu, including Hawaiian and haole (white-person) chicken, beef tenderloin, and steaks. The Dolphin doesn’t take reservations—if there’s a wait, order a cocktail or glass of wine and hang out in the lush riverside garden. The on-site market sells fish and seafood, as well as sushi rolls, steaks, and organic greens, and is a good option for lunch.

A sleek upscale restaurant with sweeping views over Hanalei Bay, Welina serves multicultural dishes with a modern Japanese flair, made with sustainably sourced ingredients derived mostly from Kauai, other Hawaiian islands, and the resort’s organic rooftop garden. The menu focuses on small shareable plates (sushi and sashimi); savor your meal indoors or out on the terrace, where you can also enjoy fantastic sunsets and craft cocktails.

The signature restaurant at 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay serves fresh local-focused fare in an open airy space overlooking the sea. Local farms, purveyors, and the resort’s organic rooftop garden supply most of the ingredients here; the seasonal dinner menu has several options that showcase local greens, plus house-made pastas, grilled local fish, and sides like shoestring za’atar fries.

Hanalei's restored old schoolhouse holds an airy restaurant offering dolphin-safe tuna, low-sodium meats, fresh-baked breads, and house-made desserts, as well as a casual atmosphere where both families and the sports-watching crowd can feel equally comfortable. Lunch and dinner menus feature sandwiches, burgers, hearty salads, a variety of pupus (appetizers), and nightly specials of fresh local fish. They also will prepare a picnic and give it to you in an insulated backpack. A full bar and frequent live entertainment keep things hopping even after the kitchen closes. Monday and Thursday evenings fill up for fish taco night, which begins at 6:30.

Order freshly prepared Hawaiian and American meals—breakfast, lunch, and dinner—snacks, beer, and wine at the counter at this casual contemporary restaurant, coffee bar, and beer and wine bar in an upscale grocery store. The extensive and eclectic menus include something for everyone, from loco moco (white rice topped with a hamburger patty, brown gravy, and fried egg), plate lunches, and fresh-catch fish-and-chips to pizzas, burgers, salads, and sandwiches. The café closes at 4 pm, so pick up to-go dinners beforehand.

The signature restaurant of the Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas has casual open-air seating that perfectly complements an island-style menu sure to please a wide range of diners. Grilled rib eye is served with bacon-and-sour cream mashed potatoes, while the chicken—smoked kalua style—is accompanied by Molokai sweet potatoes. Lunch options include a plate lunch. The food is well executed and service is friendly. 

Named after a seasonal local fish, Opakapaka is the only oceanside restaurant on Kauai's North Shore and is a great place to stop for a meal or a quick bite on the way to or from Haena State Park and Kee Beach. The longtime community gathering hub serves local fish and seafood, burgers, steaks (try the rib eye), and pasta; add shrimp to your salads and fried rice sides.

This plantation-cottage restaurant built in 1864 has a menu full of local seafood but also offers Wagyu beef, roasted rack of lamb, and other land-based options, with eclectic flavor profiles reflecting the chef's global travel experiences. Top menu picks include crispy leek salad with buckwheat noodles, catch of the day, and chèvre cheesecake with coconut crust and lilikoi (passion fruit) gel.

Pick up some of Kauai’s tastiest made-to-order rolls, sushi burritos, and poke bowls with ahi, smoked salmon, and (sometimes) ono at this modest trailer. Dine in the adjacent courtyard (snag a table with an umbrella) or picnic at the beach. This is a popular place, so be prepared to wait in line.

Perched on the second story of a building in Ching Young Village, The Terrace offers sweeping mountain views along with stellar sushi and fresh-fish dishes in a lively environment that attracts the local post-work crowd. There's a sushi menu (try anything with the special beet-cured kampachi), plus a main menu with small plates, appetizers, and daily special entrées.