cheap but ono?
February 28, 2008 9:23 PM Subscribe
My husband and I are going to Kauai for 7 nights in March. Yay! Now please help me not have to mortgage our house to pay for food.
I am looking for recommendations for restaurants that are not 'touristy' and super expensive. I remember eating takeout from Hamura's Saimin as a child and really enjoying it. Any other 'local', inexpensive, decent options? We're staying on the south shore, near Prince Kuhio Park, but any island-wide suggestions are appreciated. Mahalo.
I am looking for recommendations for restaurants that are not 'touristy' and super expensive. I remember eating takeout from Hamura's Saimin as a child and really enjoying it. Any other 'local', inexpensive, decent options? We're staying on the south shore, near Prince Kuhio Park, but any island-wide suggestions are appreciated. Mahalo.
I was there over New Year's, and we ate on the cheap too. If you can cook, do so. I second going to farmer's markets. Buy groceries in Koloa. Grill kalbi, eat some poke, etc. Sueoka's grocery store has a great hut on the side of the building with the cheapest food on the island: plate lunches, burgers, etc.
You can go to Puka Dogs at the shopping mall on the mauka side of Poipu Road. In the same shopping mall is Keoki's Paradise. It has a totally fabricated tropical exotic decor with outdoor pond in the restaurant, but get fish for dinner. Arguably best fish on the island and not too expensive. More expensive and also nearby is Roy's.
In Kapa'a, eat at the diner on the ground floor of the Tip Top Motel. Yummo.
You can get Kauai Kookie Kompany cookies for really cheap at the grocery store near their factory. I think it's in Hanapepe.
Those are just a few of our favorite places from the latest trip. We really love the Ultimate Kauai Guidebook.
posted by billtron at 9:48 PM on February 28, 2008
You can go to Puka Dogs at the shopping mall on the mauka side of Poipu Road. In the same shopping mall is Keoki's Paradise. It has a totally fabricated tropical exotic decor with outdoor pond in the restaurant, but get fish for dinner. Arguably best fish on the island and not too expensive. More expensive and also nearby is Roy's.
In Kapa'a, eat at the diner on the ground floor of the Tip Top Motel. Yummo.
You can get Kauai Kookie Kompany cookies for really cheap at the grocery store near their factory. I think it's in Hanapepe.
Those are just a few of our favorite places from the latest trip. We really love the Ultimate Kauai Guidebook.
posted by billtron at 9:48 PM on February 28, 2008
Oh, and eat at both Jo Jo's Shave Ice stores and then let me know which one you like more.
posted by billtron at 9:58 PM on February 28, 2008
posted by billtron at 9:58 PM on February 28, 2008
no, wait. Tip Top is in Lihue. Anyway, email me for more info if you want.
posted by billtron at 10:01 PM on February 28, 2008
posted by billtron at 10:01 PM on February 28, 2008
As billtron said, the Ultimate Kauai Guidebook is your friend. Last time I was there, I lived on fruit from the farmers markets, and poke from the Big Save in Waimea. It's as good as anywhere on the island.
posted by turducken at 10:04 PM on February 28, 2008
posted by turducken at 10:04 PM on February 28, 2008
When we stayed at Hanalei in 1998, we were at a B&B so breakfast came with the lodging. We made lunches to take with us and "ate out" only in the evenings. It was way cheaper that way.
Although this is not what you're specifically asking, I really loved snorkeling in The Queen's Bath.
And I really liked The Kapaia Stitchery. Yes, it's a quiting shop, but they also will make you very nice Hawaiian shirts from the fabric of your choice.
posted by plinth at 5:45 AM on February 29, 2008
Although this is not what you're specifically asking, I really loved snorkeling in The Queen's Bath.
And I really liked The Kapaia Stitchery. Yes, it's a quiting shop, but they also will make you very nice Hawaiian shirts from the fabric of your choice.
posted by plinth at 5:45 AM on February 29, 2008
I don't have specific suggestions, but we are going to Maui in April and have found the Maui Revealed book to be very helpful on activities. I know the personal advice here is preferable, just wanted to offer up an additional source if you didn't get a huge number of responses.
Also, in researching Hawaii I found that there is a food tour on Oahu that sounded really wonderful and gets uniformly rave reviews. I regret that we can't go because we're not visiting that island (and it sounds like neither are you), but I'm giving the link in case it inspires you to research food tours on Kaui (I'm not aware of any though), gives you ideas for types of "hole in the wall" places on Kaui to try, or helps others who come to this thread in the future.
Goodl luck!
posted by onlyconnect at 9:29 AM on February 29, 2008
Also, in researching Hawaii I found that there is a food tour on Oahu that sounded really wonderful and gets uniformly rave reviews. I regret that we can't go because we're not visiting that island (and it sounds like neither are you), but I'm giving the link in case it inspires you to research food tours on Kaui (I'm not aware of any though), gives you ideas for types of "hole in the wall" places on Kaui to try, or helps others who come to this thread in the future.
Goodl luck!
posted by onlyconnect at 9:29 AM on February 29, 2008
Tropical Taco has amazing fish burritos and tacos and it's cheap. Head up to Hanalei or Haena for some less touristy dining. If you go to Hanalei it's one main road, and there are a ton of good restaurants you'll drive right past. In fact, $12-15 a plate seems standard there, but the food is quite good and it definitely is a more relaxed atmosphere
Stay away from Lapperts ice cream, not worth it.
However, your vacation is short, why not splurge and enjoy yourselves? The Creme Brulee cocktail at the beach house is an amazing drink. I'd also Nth the ultimate kauai guidebook.
posted by Large Marge at 10:27 AM on February 29, 2008 [1 favorite]
Stay away from Lapperts ice cream, not worth it.
However, your vacation is short, why not splurge and enjoy yourselves? The Creme Brulee cocktail at the beach house is an amazing drink. I'd also Nth the ultimate kauai guidebook.
posted by Large Marge at 10:27 AM on February 29, 2008 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by ms.v. at 9:35 PM on February 28, 2008