Immediately, we’re beginning a brand new sequence of island-specific guides of the very best meals experiences. We’re designing them as a kind of “cheat sheet” of native culinary delights to attempt in your Hawaii holidays. Not solely will you get to get pleasure from new meals experiences, you’ll additionally get to know the tradition and assist native eating places, farmers and fisherman, too.
One final thing earlier than we get this meals celebration began. There will probably be some very island-specific suggestions, however there will probably be some gadgets Hawaiian meals staples that you just’ll discover on the opposite Hawaiian Islands, too.
Okay, now let’s get a style for Kauai!
Native-style, Hawaii meals to attempt on a Kauai trip
Breakfast meals
Loco Moco – The loco moco is historically fabricated from a mattress of rice, hamburger patty, fried egg and a brown gravy. It’s a hearty breakfast. You may see a loco moco on the breakfast menu at your lodge, if you wish to enterprise out, we advocate the local-style restaurant Kountry Kitchen in Kapaa.
Pancakes – I really like pancakes anyplace, however Hawaii distinguishes their type of pancakes with the tropical flavors and toppings. Coconut, guava, banana and pineapple are some tropical flavors we’ve seen. Our private favorites are macadamia nut pancakes with coconut syrup. Almost certainly your lodge’s restaurant has an awesome tropical pancake choice. If not, as soon as once more, Kountry Kitchen in Kapa’a serves massive, local-style pancakes.
Portuguese sausage – A breakfast meat that you just’ll typically see on Hawaii menus is Portuguese sausage. This smoked and cured pork sausage if typically somewhat spicy. I jogs my memory of chorizo or a thick slice of pepperoni. (Right here’s a brief history of Portuguese sausage in Hawaii.)
Bakery Gadgets
Malasadas are one other Portuguese affect in Hawaii. They’re lots like stuffed doughnuts with a sugared coating. The fillings are sometimes fruit flavored.
Lunch/Snack
Puka Dog is a singular tackle the new canine with tropical relish and condiment choices. They’re scrumptious! A Puka Dog is a meals merchandise that may solely be present in Kauai.
Kulua pork sandwiches are on many lunch menus throughout the Hawaiian Islands. It’s shredded pork that’s historically cooked in an imu with a delicate smoky taste. You’ll additionally doubtless see Kulua pork as an entree merchandise on a Kauai luau menu.
SPAM Musubi is a very fashionable lunch/snack merchandise for native residents. It’s a slice of SPAM served sushi-style. Imagine it or not, Hawaii’s 7-Eleven stores are well known for their SPAM Musubi.
Poke is massively common in Hawaii. It’s cubed ahi tuna (uncooked) blended with onion, soy sauce and sesame oil. There are different inventive variations of poke. Search for it as an appetizer or lunch menu merchandise. You’ll doubtless see it offered in grocery shops and we’ve truly discovered the grocery retailer variations to be of excellent high quality.
Recent tropical fruits – Strive island-grown papaya, pineapple, guava, ardour fruit, bananas (significantly apple bananas.) You’ll doubtless see roadside fruit stands. Moreover, try Kauai’s farmers markets. One in all Kauai’s prime markets is the Kauai Community Market held on Saturdays.
Dinner
Recent native fish – The scrumptious contemporary seafood in Hawaii is second to none. Some fish that you just’ll typically see on Hawaii dinner menus are:
- Ahi (tuna)
- Mahi Mahi
- Ono (wahoo)
- Opakapaka (pink snapper)
- Onaga (long-tail pink snapper)
- Monchong
- Opah (moonfish)
- Butterfish (black cod) is just not a neighborhood fish, however you’ll doubtless see it on menus in Hawaii. The Hawaii-style preparation of butterfish is with miso.
A aspect dish that we love is Okinawa candy potatoes. They’ve a beautiful purple coloration and are very tasty.
A luau is a stunning presentation of a dinner and a Polynesian dance present. Most luau corporations provide a buffet of native favourite gadgets. Here’s a list of Kauai’s top luau options.
Desserts
Lappert’s Ice Cream acquired its begin in Kauai. Since then, it has expanded.
Hula Pie from Duke’s Kauai is a big, very sharable slice of ice cream pie with scorching fudge sauce.
Shave Ice is one other cool deal with to attempt. Shave ice is sort of a snow cone, however with very mushy, finely shaved ice. We don’t have a go-to place for Shave Ice in Kauai, however we’ve heard good issues about Ono Ono Shave Ice in Kapaa and Wishing Nicely Shave Ice in Hanalei. If the shave ice place you go to presents an ice cream base and/or sweetened-condensed milk topping, we advocate these choices.
Different gadgets price mentioning
Saimin could be very common in Hawaii. It’s a broth soup with noodles and varied toppings. It’s typically in comparison with Japanese ramen. There’s a saimin place in Kauai that’s well-known. It’s Hamura Saimin in Lihue. Personally, scorching soup is just not one thing I need when visiting Kauai’s tropical atmosphere, so I can’t converse from expertise about saimin.
Poi is a staple meals within the Hawaiian tradition. It’s steamed taro root that’s pounded down right into a pudding consistency. It may be eaten alone as a aspect dish or added to a meal like a condiment. place to attempt poi it’s at a luau.
Kauai Coffee is a pleasant spot to find out about rising espresso in Kauai and sampling the regionally grown espresso.
—
So, these are some tasty meals to attempt in your Kauai trip. Do you could have a favourite Kauai meals that you just’d advocate to fellow vacationers? Tell us within the feedback.
—
In case you are headed to Kauai, make sure and take a look at our Kauai vacation restaurant guide to help you find the best restaurants. In our Kauai restaurant information we emphasize eating places that serve Hawaii-style meals and Hawaii regional cuisine.
