9 Best Restaurants in Kauai, Hawaii

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.

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.

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.

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.

This busy restaurant has a dreamy ocean view, making it one of the best settings on Kauai for a special dinner or a cocktail and appetizer while the sun sinks into the blue Pacific and surfers slice the waves. The prices have gone up, but you can still find satisfaction in the pork pot sticker appetizer or fresh catch served in multiple flavorful ways. Save room for dessert, then stroll the oceanfront path in the moonlight. 

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 Hawaii Regional Cuisine served up at chef Peter Merriman's namesake restaurant is enhanced by a sophisticated setting, live music, and lovely views from a pretty second-floor dining veranda. Start at the bar, where fine wines are offered by the glass, and then continue to the dinner menu, which states the origins of the fish, shrimp, lamb, beef, chicken, and veggies: 90% is locally grown or caught. The chocolate purse is a favorite dessert.

Smart sophisticated decor, attentive and skilled service, and an exceptional menu that highlights Hawaiian seafood make Red Salt a great choice for leisurely fine dining. A daily breakfast is also served, featuring lobster Benedict and lemon-pineapple soufflé pancakes. The sushi lounge and pool bar offer more of the kitchen's great food at lower prices. The seared ahi with furikake (a Japanese seasoning) is accompanied by coconut-lemongrass black rice, while the Australian lamb chops are dredged in Parmesan and herbs. Dessert options include Hawaiian bread pudding drenched in rum caramel, a passion fruit crème brûlée, and five dessert martinis.