4 Best Restaurants in The South Shore, Kauai

Hawaii's culinary superstar, Roy Yamaguchi, runs his signature Hawaiian-fusion-cuisine restaurant on Kauai's South Shore in a shopping village that suits the name and creative fare. Though billed as "plantation cuisine," the hot-pot rice bowl, spicy ramen, and burger that's half wild boar are about the only items that might have their roots in the days when sugar was king; otherwise, the menu is classic Asian fusion. Pot stickers, meat appetizers, and an array of noodle dishes and salads make it easy to cobble together a hearty tapas-type meal. Roy's signature molten chocolate soufflé (gluten free) is also offered. The food is served in cast-iron skillets and other casual ware that suit the plantation-style decor. Reservations are recommended, and there is a separate take-out menu.

Homestyle Italian cuisine including house-made pasta is served in a small lively dining room and bar area at this main-street restaurant. Choose from the cellar list or bring your own bottle, perhaps from the wine shop next door. Elegant lighting and friendly but professional service make La Spezia a good choice for a special date or a small celebration. Zucchini noodles can be used for a gluten-free option in some dishes.

Popular for a predinner gathering or a full evening out, this trendy wine bar on Koloa's main street has great flights and small bites, and has added a few larger entrées that change seasonally. A venture run by the daughters of the owner of the wineshop next door, it offers knowledgeable non-snooty service and an extensive list of wines, beers, and spirits. Nibble and sip in the cozy farmhouse-style bistro or out on the sheltered veranda. This is a good spot for a small private event, too.

Of the Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort's restaurants, this is definitely the most tropical, with grass-thatch huts that seem to float on a koi-filled pond beneath starry skies while torches flicker in the lushly landscaped grounds nearby. The equally distinctive food has an Island flavor that comes from the chef's advocacy of Hawaii Regional Cuisine and extensive use of Island-grown products, including fresh herbs from the resort's organic garden. You won't go wrong ordering the macadamia nut–crusted mahi mahi, local beef, or the Hawaiian catch, with its medley of local lobster, fish, shrimp, and scallops. Start with the Thai coconut soup or beet-and-candied-lemon salad to wake up your taste buds. The malasadas (Portuguese doughnuts) with mango-passion coulis and chocolate sauce are a memorable dessert.