Hanalei Dolphin Restaurant & Fish Market
Located adjacent to Hanalei's fish market on Kauai's scenic north shore, it's no wonder that the Hanalei Dolphin Restaurant focuses on seafood entrees and appetizers--or "pupus," as Hawaiians call them. You won't find any dolphin, thankfully, but will find a wide selection of ocean and freshwater fish, shellfish like lobster and crab, and other types of seafood like Hawaiian ika (squid). For lunch, try a fish burger made from the day's fresh catch. Dinner entrees include fish and chips, made from fresh fish caught in Kauai's coastal waters, and squid steaks. If you want more turf and less surf, try their chicken or steak dishes. After dinner, explore the nearby Dolphin Center for Hawaiian souvenirs and gifts.
Hanalei Dolphin Restaurant & Fish Market
5-5016 Kuhio Hwy
Hanalei, HI 96714
(808) 826-6113
www.hanaleidolphin.com
Tidepools
Tidepools is one of a dozen restaurants, lounges and bars at the Grand Hyatt Kauai, one of the Poipu resort district's biggest hotels and found just steps from the Poipu Bay Golf Course. The restaurant has received top awards from various local and national media, including "Honolulu Magazine" and consumer surveys by Zagat. Business casual attire is encouraged for this restaurant, and reservations are strongly recommended as it is popular among both hotel guests and local residents. The menu changes slightly every few months to highlight local produce. Appetizers include crab cakes topped with basil and ginger relish, or Hawaiian poke, made with chunks of raw fish, octopus and shrimp. Entrees include seafood options like fish crusted in coconut and wasabi, or jumbo shrimp seasoned with a ginger butter. Enjoy sunsets and shore breaks on the beach fronting the restaurant through its floor-to-ceiling windows.
Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa
Tidepools Restaurant
1571 Poipu Road
Koloa, HI 96756
(808) 240-6456
www.kauai.hyatt.com
Wahoo's Seafood Grill & Bar
Wahoo's is known for two things: its expansive seafood menu, and the resident donkey that peers at diners from the adjacent coconut grove. Located in historic Kapaa town just minutes north of the Wailua Golf Course, the Zagat-rated Wahoo's specializes in fresh local seafood combined with herbs, produce and other ingredients sourced from nearby Kauai farms. Lunch items include oysters laced with a brandy cocktail sauce and ahi fish sandwiches served with a Hawaiian relish made with papaya and pineapple. Dinner entrees include items like pasta served with soft shell crab and smothered in a saffron cream sauce, and the restaurant's namesake wahoo fish, broiled in garlic butter.
Wahoo's Seafood Grill & Bar
4-733 Kuhio Hwy
Kapaa, HI 96746-1573
(808) 822-7833
www.wahooogrill.com
About The Author
Joshua Duvauchelle is an editor and journalist who has been writing since 2000. His work has appeared in various national and international magazines, including "Honolulu Magazine." Duvauchelle graduated with honors from Trinity Western University, holding a Bachelor of Arts in professional communications, and he earned a certificate in applied leadership and public affairs from the Laurentian Leadership Centre.
