Best Kauai Meals Under $20 Bucks? You Decide.

I read with great interest last week’s LA Times article on twenty meal deals on Kauai for under $20.  Having lived here a long time, I know that I can’t find twenty places to eat for under $20, so how exactly could they?

To start out, I’ll cover three on which I can concur, and five on which I definitely cannot, with more comments coming later.

Concur:

1.  Duane’s Ono Charburger.  This shack between Kapaa and Kilauea is legendary.  For take-out when driving, this is an excellent suggestion.  Lines aren’t as long as they once were (thanks to the economy).

2.  Hamura’s Saimin.  Perhaps Kauai’s most famous and legendary eatery, this is the place to go for traditional saimin, without atmosphere, but with plenty of local culture.  Expect to wait for a seat.

3.  Lihue BBQ Inn.  Our hands down favorite which we recently wrote about.

Disagree:

1.  Blossoming Lotus.  To begin with, you would be fairly hard-pressed to eat here for under twenty dollars.  Second, I haven’t been impressed with the service, and even the food is relatively inconsistent.  The idea and central location is great, but for me, the execution leaves a lot to be desired.

2.  Monica’s Taqueria.  You can definitely eat well for under $20, and the food is reasonably good, while perhaps not great.  The service, however, is some of the worst we’ve experienced in recent times.  This thought is echoed by others we know as well.  Part of the problem may be that they seem to do a great deal of take-out business, and have inadequate staffing.  If you decide to go there, I suggest you get there right when they open.

3.  Hukilau Lanai.  Here’s another choice that didn’t make sense.  The last time that three of us ate there, the dinner bill (no alcohol) was well over $100.  So I think it really doesn’t deserve to be in an under $20 category. The LA Times suggests the pupu’s (appetizers).  While these are fine (some of which can be ordered in either appetizer or entree size), they definitely won’t fill you up.  The food is okay, sorry to say not great, and the service has ranged from excellent to horrible.  We haven’t been in much of a hurry to return.

4.  Sueoka Snack Shop.  I’ll admit that I’ve never eaten the food there.  It just doesn’t appeal.  But here’s what I can tell you.  It’s mostly frequented at lunch by construction workers.  Take that as you will.  The food looks filling, and I don’t think it will kill you, as they seem to sell quite a lot of it.  I’m just not sure that this is what most visitors would think of as a good dining choice while on Kauai.

5.  Brick Oven Pizza.  This is another Kauai eatery that I’ve frankly never been a fan of.  The pizza is very expensive, and the quality is just okay.  I’d place it mostly in the category of very heavy cheese.  It does draw good crowds, so that speaks in its favor, and others obviously don’t agree with my feelings.

We’ve just been out trying some new restaurants.  Watch for additional (and favorable) reviews coming shortly.

Photo Information:  I took this photo on my hike up Sleeping Giant Mountain in Kapaa.  It’s a great way to work off that budget meal.