A small window in front of The Tahiti Nui restaurant, this juice bar offers delicious creations and is a great stop in Hanalei. Those in need of caffeine should opt for the drink made from coffee, cinnamon and macadamia milk. Open Monday through Saturday from 7:30am to 1:00pm.

With a hidden location in the corner of Kukuiula Market, this juice bar offers a quintessentially laid-back Hawaiian experience. Young, local staff vigorously prepare smoothies, juice and acaí bowls in order to keep up with the high number of visitors. The oatmeal and chia pudding mason jars go quickly, so be sure to arrive early in the morning if you want something more substantial than a smoothie.

A decade out, the Who’s Who of Kauai’s north shore still comes to this north-shore small plates hot spot. Bar Acuda is the brainchild of Jim Moffat, an award-winning San Francisco chef who opened the restaurant after he moved to the island and couldn’t find a decent place to eat. The menu is tapas based, with such dishes as slow-braised short ribs and grilled pancetta-wrapped sea scallops. There are also a number of salads and lighter-fare items. His wine list—with vintages from around the world, many served by the glass—is one of the most comprehensive on Kauai. Foodies shouldn’t miss this experience.

Despite its hole-in-the-wall location in a strip mall, this Mexican joint draws visitors due to its mouthwatering burritos, tacos and nachos. There is no seating, so bring your food to the nearby beach to enjoy.

This food truck serves self-coined farm-to-beach–style fare like salads and wraps made using the island’s freshest ingredients. Visitors can enjoy the simple, local dishes at the picnic tables nearby. Closed Tuesday and Wednesday.

A north shore institution on the banks of the Hanalei River since 1977—the longest continually operated restaurant on the north shore—the Dolphin is an excellent place to while away the afternoon under a big umbrella on the deck. The crab legs, fish burgers, calamari, and catch of the day are basic but delicious. Before leaving, don’t miss the adjacent fish market at the back; it sells the freshest fish in the world, sashimi and delicious clam chowder to go. A newer location is now in Poipu.

Adored by locals, this shop is a favorite for its impressive selection of juices and smoothies. Kauai Juice Co. prides itself on its low carbon footprint: the shop's ingredients are harvested organically, juiced immediately, bottled the same day and meant to be consumed within three days. There is no solid food on the menu here, so grab a few juices and a poké bowl from the Fish Market to enjoy at the tables next door. When finished, return your juice bottles—the shop pays ¢50 for every bottle that is returned for reuse.

Chef Justin Smith, who trained at Michelin three starred restaurants in Europe, operates a mobile farm-to-table operation out of a state-of-the-art food truck. A sweeping white tent is set up on a grassy field in Hanalei, with most of the seating spoken for well before the communal tables are laid down. Bring your own beverage and enjoy inventive, fresh cooking that truly embraces the local, seasonal foods of Hawaii. Check the website in advance of your visit to see which nights the white tent will be awaiting guests. Kauai ONO 560 also provides private dining services.

A Hawaiian specialty, Ahi poké is made with raw ahi tuna marinated with soy sauce, green onions, sesame oil and sesame seeds, and this small, unassuming deli is serves some of the best on the island. The fish market also offers other lunch and vegetarian options. Closed Sundays.

Named for the lovely crimson condiment that comes from the Hawaiian islands, Red Salt is one of the better restaurants on the south shore. The elegant dining room serves up local specialties like ahi poke (fish cured like ceviche, but with an Eastern touch) and more globally influenced dishes like lobster ravioli. As at many hotel restaurants, the menu offers something for everyone.

Some of the best food on the south shore also comes with the most spectacular sunsets. The combination keeps the Beach House, a Kauai mainstay, busy from about 6 p.m. until closing. The oceanfront room has sliding glass doors that are kept open around the clock. Dine on miso marinated ono, sea scallops, grilled steaks and, for dessert, molten chocolate tart. Come at sunset and join the crowds who line up on the lawn and the seawall that skirts the restaurant to watch the colors of the sky.

The most charming of the island’s restaurants, Tidepools is spread under a series of thatched-roof hales floating over a tiki-lit lagoon. Fresh fish, vegetables and rice are what’s for dinner, not "gourmet" but generally very good. Service is casual but attentive, and special requests are accommodated whenever possible. Mostly it’s the romantic setting that keeps this longtime Kauai restaurant crowded most every evening. Be sure to book in advance for prime times.