Kauai North Shore - Hanalei & Princeville

Island of Kauai

Where to Eat

The North Shore offers quite a number of dining opportunities. If you’re looking for a quick bite or a fivestar meal, you can be sure to find it on the north shore.

Bali Hai at the Hanalei Bay Resort, Princeville, 808-826- 6522, is an excellent choice for a romantic dinner. If you can, get there just before sunset and get a table outside to watch the sunset. It’s unforgettable. The menu is mostly Pacific Rim cuisine. The food and the service are well worth the money. $35-$50+.

Banana Joe’s, 5-2719 Kuhio Highway, Kilauea, between mile markers 23 and 24 heading north, on the mountain side of the street, 808-828-1092. Open 9 am-6 pm daily. This little yellow stand has fresh fruit, smoothies and other drinks, packaged fruit baskets, baked goods with fruit and locally produced honey. Be sure to pick up some Anahola Granola and banana bread. Simply awesome! You can’t miss it driving along the road.

Bar Acuda Hanelei Center, Hanalei, 808-826-7081, is a relatively new, yet hip and sophisticated, tapas establishment. The lunch menu is limited to pizzas, panini sandwiches and salads, all of which are good. The paninis are fabulous. The dinner menu consists of a variety of tapas-size pupus, entrées, and desserts. The portions are small considering the price. They also have live music during the weekend. $15-$35.

Bubba Burgers, Hanalei Center, Hanalei, 808-826-7839 Open daily from 10:30 am to 8 pm. Plenty of folks might tell you that this is supposed to be “The Place” to get a burger, but I was pretty disappointed. They’re decent burgers, but not out of this world. All things considered, it’s a quick easy and inexpensive option when you’re going to or coming from the beach. Under $15.

Café Hanalei, in the Princeville Hotel, 808-826- 2760. Breakfast is served starting at 6:30 am; lunch at 11 am to 2:30 pm; dinner at 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm. Be sure to make your reservations early and request an outside table. Café Hanalei is well-known for its beautiful setting and spectacular view. You’ll be treated to a fine meal in an exquisite atmosphere that will create an unforgettable dining experience. Everything on the menu may seem a bit pricey, but it’s well worth it. The breakfast menu has traditional fare as well as a couple of Japanese items. They also have a breakfast buffet where you can get eggs benedict or made-toorder waffles and pancakes. The lunch menu features salads and sandwiches. The dinner menu is mostly fusion cuisine, with items such as Beef Tenderloin Tataki or Kaua`i Greens with Lilikoi Vinaigrette for starters and Macadamia Nut Crusted Swordfish for an entrée.

On Friday night, Café Hanalei offers a seafood buffet. There are five or so different food stations raging from salad to pupus to entrées, so you certainly have a lot of options. If you’re not a seafood eater, you can get prime rib or chicken and beef teriyaki kabobs. And of course, don’t forget the dessert. There’s a rather large dessert station, so be sure to bring
your sweet tooth. My personal favorite was the flourless chocolate cake.
Don’t forget about the fabulous Sunday Brunch. The brunch offers traditional breakfast items as well as pancakes, omelets and crêpes. In addition, there are loads of peel-andeat shrimp and Dungeness crab legs. Don’t forget to try the sushi and poke. Breakfast under $15-$35, lunch $35-$50, dinner $50+, Friday seafood buffet $50+, Sunday brunch $50+.

CJs Steak & Seafood, Princeville Shopping Center, 808- 826-6211. Lunch served weekdays from 11:30 am-2:30 pm; dinner from 6 pm-9:30 pm. The food is good, but a bit overpriced. The menu is pretty much steak and seafood, including prime rib, lobster and crab. Entrées include the salad bar. Lunch $15-$35, dinner $50+.

Papaya’s Natural Foods, 5-5161 Kuhio Hwy, 808-826- 0089, www.papayasnaturalfoods.com, 9 am-8 pm every day, café closes at 7 pm. For vegetarians, Papaya’s is a health food store and a vegetarian café. The store offers organic produce, beer, wine, bulk foods and health and beauty products. The café serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. You can get smoothies there as well. The food is good and priced right. There’s also a Papaya’s in Kapa`a. $15-$35.

Hanalei Dolphin Restaurant & Fish Market, 5- 5016 Kuhio Hwy, Hanalei,
808- 826-6113, www. hanaleidolphin.com. Drinks and pupus are served
all day from 11 am- 10 pm. Open for lunch from 11 am- 3:30 pm; dinner is served from 5:30 pm-10 pm. This north shore institution is the place to go for seafood. It’s the first building on the right as you enter Hanalei town, situated on the Hanalei River. The menu consists of a wide variety of items. For lunch, you can get a fresh fish sandwich or salad. The dinner menu is a nice mix of steak, seafood and salads. The melt-in-your mouth filet mignon is excellent and the Haole Chicken has a nice mix of flavors. Or you can opt for a light entrée. Lunch $15-$35, dinner $35-$50.

Hanalei Gourmet, 5-5161 Kuhio Hwy, Hanalei Center, 808-826-2524, www.hanaleigourmet.com. Open daily 8 am-10 pm. The restaurant is actually housed in an old school house, which was built in 1926. The style is very local and laid-back. The food is very good and the prices are reasonable. The lunch menu consists of hot and cold sandwiches and excellent burgers. For dinner, you have your pick from pastas to burgers, to salads. I recommend the Mac Nut Fried Chicken, which is fantastic. The service is attentive and friendly. The prices are reasonable. The beer is cold with a nice selection of microbrews. They have live music in the evenings. Lunch $15-$35, dinner $35-$50.

Hanalei Wake-Up Café, Aku Road, Hanalei, 808-826- 5551, open from 6.30-11:30 am. This is a fun little place right across from the Hanalei Center. It’s kind of hidden on the side street, and it does have a hole-in-the-wall feel to it. Once you step inside, you’ll be transported to a surfer’s paradise. Surfboards and photos adorn the walls, and surf videos are playing on the television. The walls are covered with photos – surfing, sport fishing, diving. They’re only open for breakfast (it’s safe to assume that the owners and staff spend the rest of the day in the water). The food is decent and reasonably priced. Cash only. Under $15-$35.

Java Kai, 5-5183 Kuhio Hwy in the Hanalei Center, Hanalei, 808-826-6717, www.javakai.com. Open daily from 6:30 am- 6 pm. This is a charming café, quick and easy in the morning if you’re anxious to get to the beach, or you can sit on the lana`i and enjoy your coffee while reading the newspaper. It’s also a fun place to people-watch as well. There’s a wide selection of coffee drinks, and baked goods. Their specialty is the Aloha Bar, which is a delectable treat made with toasted coconut, macadamia nuts and chocolate chips on a shortbread cookie crust. It’s very, very tasty and fulfills that sweet tooth craving. They also serve waffles and breakfast items. Under $15.

Kilauea Bakery & Pau Hana Pizza, in the Kong Lung Center, Kilauea Rd. The Bakery is open from 6:30 am-9 pm daily. Pizza is served from 11 am to 9 pm daily. 808-828-2020. Here’s another place where you can start off your day. They serve fresh bagels and spreads, unbelievable sweetbread (buy some for later!) and rolls and muffins in the morning. Pick up a bagel with smoked salmon cream cheese. As the day progresses, they serve creative pizzas such as the “Billie Holliday,” made with smoked ono, spinach, onions, mozzarella and a gorgonzolarosemary sauce.Cash only. Breakfast under $15, pizza under $15-$35.

La Cascata, at the Princeville Hotel, Princeville, 808- 826-2761. Open for dinner 6- 10 pm. Reservations are recommended, especially if you want a perfect view of the sunset. Classic Mediterranean décor backed by stunning scenery makes La Cascata one of the more romantic places to have dinner. The menu is mostly Italian, but also has some standard cuisine as well, such as beef tenderloin and rack of lamb. The food is excellent and artfully presented with great care. The service is top-notch. $50+.

Lappert’s Ice Cream, Princeville Shopping Center, Princeville, 808-826-7393. Here’s another location for Lappert’s ice cream. It’s locally made, but that really doesn’t justify the price. I never did understand what the fuss is about. It’s mediocre, not great. Menu items include a variety of Hawai`i-themed ice creams, coffee, cookies and brownies. Other locations are in Coconut Marketplace in Kapa`a and in Hanapepe. Open 10 am-9 pm in all locations.

Lighthouse Bistro, Kong Lung Center, Kilauea, 808- 828-0480, www.lighthousebistro.com. Open for lunch 11pm-2 pm daily except Sundays. Dinner nightly 5:30-9 pm. The atmosphere here is open, very plantation-style and casual. The lunch menu offers mostly burgers and sandwiches, which are OK and reasonably priced. There’s a wide variety of foods to choose from. The coconut-crusted pork is very tasty, but like most items on the dinner menu, somewhat overpriced. On the upside, they do have an all-you-can-eat pasta bar for $13.95, which is a good value. This is the fine dining establishment in Kilauea. If you’re really looking for fine din- ing, it’s probably worth the drive to Princeville. Lunch $15- $35, dinner $35-$50.

Mango Mama’s Café, 4460 Hookui Road, Kilauea, 808- 828-1020. Open Monday-Saturday 7 am-6 pm. You can’t miss the hot pink exterior of Mango Mama’s Café. The interior is just as funky with zebra print furniture andcolorful walls. The healthful menu offers organic coffee, about 20 or so fresh fruit smoothies, excellent sandwiches and veggie burgers. The service is fast and friendly.

Neide’s Salsa & Samba, 5-5161 Kuhio Highway, Hanalei, 808-826-1851. Lunch from 11:30 am-2:30 pm, dinner 5:30- 9 pm. This smallestablishment boasts a wonderful Mexican and Brazilian menu. The ingredients are fresh, the food is fantastic. The chips and salsa are fresh and homemade, and the fish tacos are excellent. The portions are more than generous; the service was fast and attentive. $15-$35.

Paradise Bar & Grill, Princeville Shopping Center, Princeville, 808-826-1775. This goes with the surfer’s motif. You can dine outside on the lana`i area, inside or grab a quick bite to eat in the bar area, which has a surfboard for a table. Fish, steak and seafood for lunch and dinner. The food is decent and priced right for lunch, but the same menu gets a price hike for dinner, which makes it less worthwhile. Lunch under $15, dinner $15-$35.

Pizza Hanalei, Ching Young Center, Hanalei, 808-826- 9494. Pretty much your typical pizza place. There are nice people working there who give friendly service. You can order by the slice, or get a whole pie to take home. The pizza’s pretty good, although the sauce is perhaps a little too sweet. They have a very affordable lunch special – slice of pizza, salad and soda for $6. Cash only. Under $15-$35.

Polynesia Café, Ching Young Village, Hanalei, 808-826- 1999, www.polynesiacafe.com. Their claim to fame is serving gourmet food on paper plates. I know that a lot of people rave about the place, but I could never figure out why. Except for the French fries, the food seems just OK. Yes, the prices are reasonable. The staff seems rather indifferent. They offer a full bakery and ice cream. BYOB. Since it’s right next to the Big Save, you can pick up a bottle of wine there. $15-$35.

Postcards Café, Kuhio Highway, Hanalei, 808- 826-1191, www.postcardscafe.com. Dinner is served from 6 to 9 pm every night. Reservations are highly recommended. The café is located in an old, quaint plantation house as you enter Hanalei. The food is excellent. Plain and simple. They serve gourmet vegetarian seafood and everything on the menu is worth ordering. You can start out with Samurai Salmon, (like salmon spring rolls), and, for an entrée, Thai coconut curry. The sweet and spicy flavors blend just right. Be sure to top dinner off with coconut sorbet. Dinner $15-$50.

Sabella’s, at Princeville, 5300 Ka Haku Rd in the Pali Ke Kua Condominium Complex, 808-826-6225. Dinner is Tuesday through Sunday from 5 to 9 pm. Open for cocktails until 10. The Italian menu is good. The food is not incredible, but not bad. It turned out to be a pleasant dining experience, but not memorable. Thursday and Sunday evenings bring live music, either classical or Hawaiian. $35-$50.

Sushi Blues, Ching Young Village, upstairs, Hanalei, 808- 826-9701, www.sushiandblues.com. Sushi Blues is another hip and very happening place in Hanalei. The interior is industrial-chic, lined with copper tables and a copper bar. The pipes and brick are exposed. They have reasonably priced seafood and, of course, sushi. You’ll feel like you’ve hit the jackpot with the tasty Las Vegas Roll – Ahi, yellowtail, avocado, tempura fried. Even if you aren’t into sushi, there are still other options that make it worth coming here, such as pasta and stir fry. Live music starts every night at about 8:30. There is a $5 cover charge after 8pm. $15-$50.

Spinners Coffee Shop, Princeville Shopping Center – Have a nice cup of Peet’s Coffee. They have a covered outdoor café, serving breakfast and lunch. The menu is very simple with mainly soups, sandwiches and pastries. They also have free Internet access. Open Monday-Friday 7 am-4 pm; Saturday and Sunday 7 am-2 pm.

Tahiti Nui Restaurant , 808-826-6277. This is the place to go if you want to get a real feel for the local people and their music. The food is OK, but the mai tais are better. Come here in the evening for a drink or two. The service and the patrons are friendly, so you should have no trouble chatting up the locals. $15-$35

The Beach Restaurant & Pool Bar, 808-826-2762. Located poolside, at Princeville Hotel. Open daily 11 am- 5:30 pm. The bar is open from 10:30 am to sunset. A great place for lunch if you’re already in Princeville or, better yet, already in the swimming pool. It’s elegant outdoor dining, right by the pool. You’ll get spectacular views of Hanalei Bay. The menu is pretty simple, with salads and sandwiches, or you could opt for a nice fat Kobe steak burger if you’re really hungry. The food is good, but that alone really isn’t worth the trip to Princeville. There’s a bar you can swim up to right in the pool. If you like to drink, it is a pretty neat experience. $35-$50.

Zelo’s Beach House, 5- 5156 Kuhio Hwy, 808- 826-9700, www.zelosbeachhouse.com. Definitely the coolest place on the North Shore, Zelo’s is a great hang-out spot. The food’s pretty good for the most part, and while lunch is reasonably priced, dinner is not. You’re better off coming here for pupus and drinks. They have an extensive beer and wine list and very interesting martinis. I recommend having an order of nachos and wash it down with a beer or two. They go very well together. Try to get there early to get a table on the deck. Lunch under $15-$35, dinner $35-$50.

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