Frommer's Kauai - Jeanette Foster [111]
3830 Hanapepe Rd., Hanapepe. 80 8/335-5011. Reservations recommended for dinner. Main courses $7–$15 lunch, $24–$30 dinner. DISC, MC, V. Mon–Thurs 7am–3pm. Dinner Fri 5–9pm.
Waimea Brewing Company ECLECTIC This popular brewery in the Waimea Plantation Cottages is a welcome addition to the dry west side, serving pub fare with a multiethnic twist. “Small plates” for grazing are composed of ale-steamed shrimp, taro-leaf-and-goat-cheese dip with warm pita bread, or seafood chowder. “Big plates” come with steak with wasabi mashed potatoes, kalbi short ribs, or kalua pork. In between are soups, salads, and sandwiches, including fresh catch. The beer is brewed on the premises. It’s a pleasant stop, one of the top two places in Waimea for dinner.
In Waimea Plantation Cottages, 9400 Kaumualii Hwy., Waimea. 80 8/338-9733. Main courses $10–$30. AE, DISC, MC, V. Daily 11:30am–8:30pm.
Wrangler’s Steakhouse STEAK Good service and pleasant veranda seating are among the pluses of this family-run operation. Western touches abound: a wagon in the loft, log-framed booths with gas lanterns, and lauhala paniolo hats in the made-in-Hawaii gift shop. A combination of cowboy, plantation, and island traditions, Wrangler’s serves lots of steak—big, hand-selected cuts—and adds some island touches, from vegetable tempura to grilled steak to ahi with penne pasta. Families like Wrangler’s because its multicourse dinners won’t break the bank.
9852 Kaumualii Hwy., Waimea. 80 8/338-1218. Lunch $9.50–$19; dinner main courses $17–$45. AE, DISC, MC, V. Mon–Fri 11am–8:30pm; Sat 5–9pm.
INEXPENSIVE
Grinds Café AMERICAN Grinds, which sits right along the highway, is a great place to get a takeout lunch on the way to or from the beach. They serve tasty sandwiches and pizza for lunch and have a range of reasonably priced dinners ranging from mahimahi ($12) to barbecue chicken ($11). I suggest takeout—the last time I stopped in not only was the place packed, but when the table was available, it was “cleaned” with a dirty cloth that belonged in the garbage. We opted to take our meal in takeout containers.
4469 Waialo Rd., Eleele. 80 8/335-6027. Burgers and sandwiches $7.50–$9.50; main courses $7–$13. AE, DISC, MC, V. Daily 6am–9pm.
Shrimp Station SHRIMP Looking for a picnic lunch to take up to Waimea Canyon? This roadside eatery is nothing more than a kitchen with a few picnic tables outside, but the shrimp cooking up inside will make up for the lack of ambience. The shrimp is prepared a variety of ways, from shrimp taco to a shrimp burger, but the star attraction is their shrimp plates (choice of garlic, Cajun, Thai, or sweet chile garlic shrimp). If you order takeout, make sure you have plenty of napkins to clean up with after munching these tasty but messy dishes. (They offer a sink with soap for those who eat in.)
9652 Kaumualii Hwy., Waimea. 80 8/338-1242. Shrimp platters $11–$12. MC, V. Daily 11am–5pm.
Toi’s Thai Kitchen THAI/AMERICAN A west Kauai staple, Toi’s has gained a following for its affordable, authentic Thai food and a casual atmosphere. Tucked into a corner of a small shopping complex (look for the McDonald’s on the highway), Toi’s serves savory dishes made with fresh herbs and local ingredients, many of them from the owner’s garden. Popular items include the house specialty, Toi’s Temptation (homegrown herbs, coconut milk, lemon grass, and your choice of seafood, meat, or tofu); vegetable curries; shrimp satay; and ginger-sauce nua (your choice of seafood, meat, or tofu in a fresh ginger stir-fry). Most of the rice, noodle, soup, curry, and main-course selections allow you to choose from pork, chicken, seafood, beef, or vegetarian options. Buttered garlic nua, peanut-rich satays, and stir-fried Basil Delight are among Toi’s many tasty preparations. Lunch dishes come with green-papaya salad and a choice of jasmine, sticky, or