The Hottest Places to Dine in Kauai
The Top 10 Restaurants Everyone’s Talking About on OpenTable
June 2019
You don’t have to take it from us, these spots were picked by diners like you. Every body likes to eat at the restaurants all a buzz so check these places out.
Top 10 Diners’ Choice Awards Winners in Kauai
Tidepools – Grand Hyatt Kauai – Exceptional Rating (2843) 92% Recommend – Seafood
The most romantic setting on Kauai. For the ultimate in ambiance, delectable food and stellar service, Tidepools is the place. This quintessential Hawaiian setting has a backdrop of waterfalls with thatched roof bungalows that seemingly float above tropical lagoons. Savor contemporary Hawaiian style cuisine in this distinctive open-air setting. Diners rave about the exceptional service and fresh fish and steak options with a unique island flair including macadamia nut crusted mahimahi, grilled opah or a succulent steak. Salads feature greens grown at our hydroponic farm on site and the desserts are luscious. Don’t miss this delightful experience. Read More, See Menu & Make Reservations on Open Table
Keoke’s Paradise – Exceptional Rating (2679) 94% Recommend – Seafood
Keoki’s Paradise invites you to relax in a lush tropical paradise with delicious island style cooking, exotic drinks & live music. Cascading waterfalls, meandering streams and lush foliage make this open-air restaurant one of the Island’s most striking. Seafood is the main attraction at Keoki’s and guests are treated to a variety of fresh fish selections and preparations. In addition, the contemporary menu offers prime rib, prime steaks and lobster. Keoki’s tropical ambiance, moderate prices and family friendly service have made it one of the most popular restaurants on Kauai. The lively Bamboo Bar features more casual fare serving both lunch and dinner and is seated on a walk-in basis only. Read More, See Menu & Make Reservations on Open Table.
Sam’s Ocean View – Exceptional Rating (777) 95% Recommend – Hawaii Regional Cuisine
Welcome to Sams Ocean View Bar and Restaurant located on the water on the East side of Kauai just at the edge of Kapaa town. One of the best views on Kauai, SOV restaurant and Bar is open for Sunday Brunch 9 am to 3 pm and 6 days for happy hour and dinner, and closed Tuesdays. The SOV menu is inventive and globally inspired featuring some Italian, Spanish, Hawaiian, Latin American and North American Favorites. The décor is eclectic and warmly inviting with a beach theme, and the Bar is top class using only the freshest ingredients and best mixers. The Mai Tai is superb! Sam’s Ocean View is fun, friendly and cozy, and of course beautiful! Come for the view and stay for the food and service. Moonlit evenings and beautiful brunch views, Sam’s Ocean View has it all! Read More, See Menu & Make Reservations on Open Table
Beach House Restaurant – Kauai – Exceptional Rating (3701) 89% Recommend – Hawaii Regional Cuisine
The Beach House Restaurant’s stunning ocean-front location with spectacular sunsets night after night makes it an iconic destination on Kauai’s south shore that has won the prestigious Hale ‘Aina Award for “Best Restaurant – Kauai” for 16 years running!
Our philosophy at the Beach House is simple – take some good old-fashioned Hawaiian hospitality, blend it with a Pacific Rim food experience and add an outstanding view to deliver an experience that delights all the senses. Our talented kitchen team makes the most of local ingredients by sourcing our fish directly from Island fisherman and our beef and coffee from neighboring ranches. We incorporate local fruits and vegetables whenever possible, and delight in being able to find new and innovative ways to use the resources that surround us on the Garden Isle. Our breads, buns, and desserts are all made from scratch in house and we proudly feature the works of renowned local artists throughout the restaurant. Read More, See Menu & Make Reservations on Open Table.
Red Salt at Ko’a Kea Resort – Exceptional Rating (777) 91% Recommend – Contemporary American
Red Salt’s diverse menu by acclaimed Executive Chef and Kauai native Noelani Planas celebrates fresh Hawaiian seafood and produce in a casual, yet sophisticated seaside atmosphere. Modern dinner cuisine including vanilla bean-seared mahi, ahi tartare, and the decadently layered Red Salt burger are served in a contemporary setting. The Red Salt Lounge is host to a sushi bar featuring the day’s freshest catch in innovative, isle-inspired rolls. Lounge and sushi bar seating are not available for reservation and is first come, first served. During morning hours, Red Salt offers tropical takes on traditional breakfast dishes, such as lobster benedict and lemon-pineapple soufflé pancakes, recently featured by Food Network. Read More, See Menu & Make Reservations on Open Table.
Merriman’s Fish House – Poipu, Kauai – Exceptional (2414) 91% Recommend – Hawaii Regional Cuisine
Chef-Owner Peter Merriman has brought his unique style of Hawaiian Regional Cuisine served in a casual yet elegant setting of Old Hawaii Plantation. A pioneer in the “Farm to Table” concept, Peter serves only the freshest products, at least 90% of which are locally grown or caught, using only sustainable methods. His international menu items are prepared in a manner that highlights the natural flavors of these fresh, local foods. Located in Poipu, we feature both mauka (mountain) and makai (ocean) views as well as sunset veiws over the Kukui’ula resort. The aloha-friendly staff, with a food and beverage knowledge second to none, will ensure that you have an extraordinary dining experience. Read More, See Menu & Make Reservations on Open Table.
Ruth’s Chris Steak House – Exceptional (348) 87% Recommend – Steakhouse
Now Open on Kauai…..Welcome to Ruth’s Chris Steak House! When you visit Ruth’s Chris, you soon understand that this is no ordinary restaurant. From the USDA prime steaks, broiled to perfection in a trademark 1800 degree oven and served on a plate heated to 500 degrees, to the expertly executed seafood, island fresh fish, New Orleans inspired appetizers, unforgettable dessert and an award winning wine list, you will find that this is the steak house to which others aspire. Ruth’s Chris on Kauai was a casualty of Covid-19 Pandemic and has since closed.
Duke’s Kauai – Exceptional (2299) 94% Recommend – Seafood
Set on the sand of stunning Kalapaki Beach, Duke’s Kauai provides visitors and locals alike with an authentic Kauai experience complete with panoramic ocean views, island inspired cuisine including fresh fish, premium steaks and refreshing tropical cocktails. Here at the original Duke’s restaurant honoring the great Duke Kahanamoku, guests are surrounded by artwork highlighting Duke’s life as Hawaii’s most famous citizen and father of modern surfing as well as the genuine Aloha that is Duke’s legacy. Our Barefoot Bar offers a more casual menu serving both lunch and dinner. The Barefoot Bar does not accept reservations and is seated on a walk-in basis only. Read More, See Menu & Make Reservations on Open Table.
Hualani’s – Exceptional (136) 90% Recommend – Hawaii Regional Cuisine
Approachable, thoughtful and creative, Hualanai’s Restaurant at Timbers Kaua’i delivers a fully integrated dining experience that is served in an elegant yet relaxed atmosphere. The food and beverage program at Timbers Kaua’i is driven and influenced by the relationship between farmer and their harvest, rancher and their cattle and fisherman and their catch. We believe in supporting our local purveyors whose passion for responsible and sustainable farming practices mirrors our passion to deliver the best to our guests. Our menus are designed to reflect the spirit of Kaua’i and its bounty of ingredients from the pastures, the farms and the ocean. We have established relationships with six local farms and ranchers as well as our own farm onsite to locally source as many ingredients as possible. Read More, See Menu & Make Reservations on Open Table.
Eating House 1849 – Kauai – Awesome (1881) 92% Recommend – Hawaii Regional Cuisine
Acclaimed chef and James Beard Award winner Roy Yamaguchi opens The Eating House 1849 at The Shops at Kukui”ula. Named after one of the first restaurants constructed in HawaI’I, by a Portuguese businessman named Peter Fernandez, Eating house plays homage to the popular casual eateries of the mid 19th century that incorporated a medley of flavors from the Island’s growing and diverse communities. Read More, See Menu & Make Reservations on Open Table.
