Kauai is home to some amazing restaurants, cafes and food trucks. As well as traditional Hawaiian food unique to the islands, it’s also known for its wide range of cuisines. You’ll find dishes that are a fusion of Japanese, Thai, Filipino and Western influences. If you’re up for a culinary adventure, then make sure you try some local Kauai dishes and experience the true culture of the island.
12 best local Kauai dishes we recommend you try during your vacation.
Lomilomi salmon
This is a popular side dish of raw salmon which is massaged (lomilomi) with salt, onions and sometimes child and served with tomatoes.
Huli Huli chicken
This is barbecued chicken, Hawaii style, where the chicken is continuously turned during cooking. Huli means to turn.
Poke (pronounced po-kay)
This local favourite comprises cubed raw fish such as ahi (yellowfin tuna) and seasonings including onion, soy sauce, seaweed and garlic.
Loco moco
A local favourite, this is a white bowl of rice topped with a hamburger patty, egg and gravy and served for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Poi
This is a Kauai staple; Poi is a form of cooked and pounded taro that is mixed with water and fermented. The consistency can be either thick or runnier. There are other ways to eat poi to check out the food trucks.
Kalua pig
Served at celebrations, this tasty dish is slow-cooked in an imu (earthen oven).
Saimin
This is a noodle soup dish served with a hot dash, green onions, char-sit pork, fish cake, spam, and boiled egg.
Spam musubi
The state of Hawaii eats more spam than any other. Kauai’s spam musubi is an amazing combination of fried spam slices with teriyaki sauce wrapped in white rice and Japanese nori wrap.
Hawaiian plate with lau lau
Tasty pork and salted fish wrapped in a taro leaf and cooked in an emu (earthen oven). It is often served with rice, macaroni salad, noodles and poke.
Manapua
Based on the Chinese street food called char sir bro, these are steam buns filled with savoury and sweet char sui pork.
Malasadas
Similar to donuts, these are deep-fried dough balls rolled in sugar made to a family recipe.
Lilikoi pie
Perfect for those with a sweet tooth, this is the Kauai version of lemon meringue pie and is unique to the island.
Guests at Ali’i Kai Resort can contact the reception team to find out some of the best restaurants and cafes in Princeville and the surrounding area to enjoy these Kauai dishes.
Images:
- Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) / Ben Ono
- Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) / Blake Bronstad
- Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) / Daeja Fallas
- Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) / Mark Kushimi
- Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) / Tor Johnson
