We tried several different brands shaved ice this recent trip and JoJo's in Kauai along with…read moreMatsumoto's on Oahu are the absolute best. At Jo Jo's we had the Big Kauna (40 oz) North Shore #16 and it was super fantastic. First of all, it defied science by surviving 85 degree heat while my kid and I plowed through this ice mountain with only the barest hint of meltage.

tasty ice for the most part with some nice cream on top! shaved ice itself was well shaved and…read moreflavors were decent, perhaps it's just me but it was a bit pricey at $7 given its water and homemade syrup/cream! maybe i just didn't order the right stuff

Loved the paradise bowl! This is a rotating food truck open on certain days. You can try different…read moreflavors or like us take the bowl where you can customize the bowl, coconut, granola, drizzle etc. Quick service and I Highly recommend it!

Hands down best dessert we had on the island. We had one dole pineapple soft serve, one lilikoi…read moresoft serve and one swirl of both flavors. We had ice cream in cones at two other businesses on this trip but the cones from this ice cream truck were a million times better. Loved the crunch they had. Looking at the schedule to find the next location of the truck to make sure we get it one more time before the vacation ends

Hanapēpē is Hawaii's biggest little town and was once the capital of Kaua'i, once bustling with a…read morebusy harbor, train station and military base. Today, it's a sleepy town with art galleries, restaurants, gift shops and auto parts stores. Nestled in the corner of a former hotel and brothel is Longies. Offering refreshing and delicious (and legal) delights, it's somewhat of an oasis in a hot and dry region. On this visit, I had the Longies special, which is a bed of vanilla ice cream with shave ice flavored with Blue Hawaii, haupia (Hawaiian coconut pudding) and ube. There's also a vanilla cold cream cap on top of the shave ice. The place is family run with parents and their kids serving you with nothing but genuine West Side aloha. Ignore the reviews on other sites that say it's "lightly flavored water." This place is great.

We randomly found this small shop in Hanapepe after getting coffee couple shops down. The lady that…read morehelped us was so very welcoming and super nice. Customer service was amongst the best I had while I visited the island. The shave ice itself was so delicious I had to go back and get another. I tried various shops throughout the island and this one was my favorite.

Excellent food, and open later than some of the others in Waimea…read more Get the mahi mahi katsu; it's delicious and big enough to split, though they offer a mini plate. Food is made to order so if you're short on time, they take call ahead orders. No indoor seating, though some is available nearby.

Really friendly staff at this tiny kitchen…read more The food is fine for elevated fast food. The chicken katsu honestly had no flavor and was mostly breading. There is also no seating. Picnic tables in grassy area across the street but lots of flying insects. Bathrooms are a block away in a park. There are definitely better places to grab a bite.

Wow. What a gem of a place we spontaneously stumbled into. We must have arrived at a great (and…read morelucky) time because there was only one person ahead of us, and we got our food relatively fast. We ordered the beer battered shrimp, garlic shrimp, and cajun shrimp, and all three exceeded expectations. For the price, I was genuinely shocked by the quantity given. I came in expecting to order more, but it was very plentiful and well-priced. My only feedback is that I wished the cajun shrimp had a bit more of a kick. The extra heat was there, but I found myself wanting just a little more. Medium spice would have probably been my sweet spot. No notes on the garlic shrimp though, as it delivered exactly as described. That garlic and olive oil combination? Yum. The beer battered shrimp, however, was surprisingly good. I didn't expect to like it as much as I did. It was simple, yet perfect. Think Long John Silver's fried shrimp, but better, done right, and insanely good. Here's a fun fact: we actually only ordered two plates the first time, loved it so much that we went back and ordered another. Yes, it was that good. As I'm typing this review back at home, I'm already salivating thinking about going back for another bite. Overall, this place was phenomenal and we'd return in a heartbeat. I'm aware it tends to get busy, and we definitely got lucky with our timing. Note: the food is great, but I personally wouldn't wait in a long line for it. That said, if there are only one or two people ahead of you, absolutely swing by. And beyond the food, the staff, from the cashier to everyone in the back, were a total delight and made the whole experience feel warm and homey.

I had to stop and try a small local stop that mainly serves up shrimp plates. It was good,…read moreflavorful and satisfying. I can make way better shrimp! But it's popular so I had to try it. It's good for a quick eat.

Came here to get Acai Bowl bc it was very much needed after a hike in Waimea Valley. It hit the…read morespot for our group. They were very quick with getting our orders and serving out acai bowls. Fun and relaxing music. 1 small table with chairs inside and outside, a bench and sofa couch for us tired hikers. Thank you Jireh for your beach suggestions and providing awesome service! Much appreciated!

By far, the best açaí bowls in Kauai. Friendly service. Local flavor. Always look forward to…read morestopping by on the way to the beach.

Local place, just go and see if the door is open (even if sign says closed). Love their taro…read morechips, sliced nice and thin and very tasty. Good omiyage, support local hole-in-the wall business! Ono taro chips, easy to eat the whole bag in one sitting!

It's easy to miss this Taro chips factory but I would advise you not to! As recommended this place…read morehad the best Taro chips in town. No frills, just two flavors, regular taro and sweet potato chips. They let you sample. The host was very nice and it's located in a worn out house that you wouldn't know had this shop! It's not oily, it is not broken into pieces, it's crispy. It's pretty expensive though - $8 but what is not expensive in Hawai'i ?!

Pleaaaaaaaase come here for the Mango Sticky Rice!!!!…read more The Banana Coconut smoothie was thick and delicious! When I come back to Kauai, I will be visiting again! Find your way to Coconut Corner!

I stopped by Coconut Corner and got the coconut, pineapple, and papaya sticky rice. All the fruits…read morewere fresh, but the papaya stood out the most. It was sweet, soft, and full of flavor. I was a little disappointed they didn't have the mango sticky rice that day, but everything I did get tasted really good. The service was great and the staff had welcoming attitudes that made the visit even better. Simple spot, good portions, and definitely worth stopping by if you're in the area.

This is the perfect restaurant if you are looking for VEGAN, VEGETARIAN, GLUTEN-FREE options in the…read morearea. Our 5 year old is vegan & gluten-free and we were worried about what we would find for lunch... the rice and beans plate was perfect. Plain white rice (no broth), vegan refried beans, mild salsa, corn tortilla (upon request). He loved it. Hubby and I shared the vegetarian enchiladas with ranchero sauce (made vegan), and the tofu/cabbage taco with flavorful cilantro sauce (which came with chips and house made salsa). Mmmm delish! Portion sizes were big. Prices were very reasonable. $40 for all 3 of us. A BIG shout out Michelle for who was super helpful, super efficient, and super knowledgeable (requesting the kitchen to clean the area due to our GF request), making our experience seamless!

A nice stop coming back from the canyon…read more Their tacos are made to order and very fresh. Homemade flour tortillas with corn option as well. My husband enjoyed his kahlua pork taco and I had the shrimp taco. Very very spicy! I should have ordered the papaya instead of Cajun flavor. I also asked for no rice on the taco and they forgot. Would like to see more topping options besides just cabbage and rice.

Shrimp tacos were divine . If we were staying closer, we would have gone again. I don't know how…read morethis compares to other locations, but the tacos here were insanely good!

If you're visiting Kauai and craving authentic Hispanic food, Pacho's Tacos is a must-stop. We…read morefound it randomly while exploring, and it ended up being one of the best meals we had on the island. The fish plate was incredible -- perfectly cooked with a great blend of fresh, bold flavors that really stood out. The burrito was solid as well, packed generously and full of flavor. Honestly, it felt like I was back in San Diego with the quality and taste. If you're visiting from outside the state and missing good Mexican food, you'll definitely appreciate this spot.