Going to start with... BEST WINGS ON THE ISLAND! Now that I've got your attention; my wife and I are visiting Kaua'i for our tenth anniversary; we're foodies, chicken wing connoisseurs & past restauranteurs. We were on a driving tour to the North Coast and had stopped to view the lighthouse (we're from New England so the lighthouse, not so spectacular; but a neat history) when we luckily happened upon a dedicated marketing professional (waitress) from Taps and Hops! She was there, killing time until the post office opened and, very awesomely, plugging her place of employment by handing out cards and encouraging us to visit. After a quite engaging conversation about our mornings and inviting her to purchase tires from our business in Massachusetts next time she needs to () she let us know more about Taps and Hops; including that it was in Kapa'a; right where we were staying!
On to the food... OMG... the wings... if they weren't brined (which I believe they were) I don't know how this awesome chef/owner got the taste and the tenderness of a perfect wing. Not too big, not too small. The CRUNCH!?! My guess, rice flour, corn starch and baking soda. MAN, he's got something there! We got the garlic parm with a side of buffalo. The fresh garlic-forward taste coupled with the shredded parm was overwhelmingly amazing! Unfortunately, the buffalo (I think) was straight up Franks... BUT, fortunately, you take that Franks, pair it with your favorite Hawai'ian-made hot sauce from the offerings bucket and a bit of their blue cheese dressing and you've got a dipping sauce to die for! My wife and I have made wings, eaten wings and sold this very item. These are, hands-down, the best I can remember having!
Enough about the wings. We also got the Mandu. Can't say enough good things about them. The local island-sourced beef, the tender wrap with just enough crunch atop... it was a Korean melt in your mouth journey with an island kick.
As if good enough wasn't good enough, we sided these two menu items with the Loco Moco fries; perfect decision on our part! The fries, though not fresh (who actually really likes a hand cut oil-sogged fry?) were perfect sized, crispy crunchety wands of expertly seasoned potato goodness topped with crumbles of local ground beef before being drenched in what had to have been a house-made brown gravy and topped with a sunny-style egg. Yum.
I drank beer; awesome, awesome beer that I wish I could get back in MA; Hop Island from Honolulu Beerworks. My wife says that if you're to get a cocktail it should be the first one on the list because she can't remember the name. It's a margarita made with the local Hawai'ian "spice". I tried it. We'll be buying that special powder to add to our bar! (Found it. It's the Linghing Mui Margarita).
Yes, the place looks kinda Applebee's chain-like from the road. Yes, all we had was apps. Yes, the owner is a little shy, but he'll talk if you make him. Josh, the waiter, is very attentive and full of information. Restrooms were clean, tables were tables and the chairs need a bit more padding if you don't want a flat rear-end after loading on the pounds here. If you like wings... LOVE wings... go here... NOW! read more