Visit Kauai - Mariachi Mexican Cuisine

After our hike in Kilauea, we drove back towards Lihue in search of lunch. When we spotted Mariachi's Mexican Cuisine restaurant we decided to check it out. The menu is extensive with your choice of tacos, enchiladas, burritos, and so much more. They also have a nice collection of margaritas.

I ordered the mariachi's chimichanga with shredded beef that was served with rice and refried pinto beans. The complimentary basket of chips and salsa was delicious and held us over until our meals arrived. We all really enjoyed the food and the nice relaxing ambience of the casual eatery. Service was great too. Perfect for large groups.

Mariachi Chimichanga

Tacos

Mariachi's Mexican Cuisine

4-1387 Kuhio Hwy, Kapaʻa, HI 96746

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Visit Kauai - Bella Dia Spa

If you are ever in need of a massage in Lihue, Kauai, check out Bella Dia. Located on the second floor of the Lihue Harbor Mall, Bella Dia offers spa services as well as yoga and fitness classes. I found Bella Dia from their great reviews on Yelp. Our group of three wanted to get massages on a Sunday before flying back to Oahu. They called in extra therapists to accommodate us so we could have massages at the same start time which we really appreciated.

I had a Swedish massage with Chelsea and she was amazing. She listened to my concerns and checked with me on the pressure. The massage was wonderful and just what I needed. My friends had deep tissue massages with Michael and Missy and they also raved about their experiences. Highly recommend!

Bella Dia

3501 Rice St Suite 2016

Lihue, HI 96766

(808) 378-2278

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Visit Kauaʻi - Kauaʻi Diner

Boba Drinks

I was really bummed to hear that Dani's Restaurant on Kauaʻi would be closing last year, but another local-style restaurant opened up in its place - Kauaʻi Diner.

The menu is pretty extensive, with local faves, as well as a variety of snacks / sides, ramen, and boba drinks.

Won Ton Ramen

I had the Won Ton Ramen.  I liked the broth and the noodles were cooked perfectly.  Although I thought the won ton filling was a little too grainy in texture, I appreciated that they gave a lot of won tons.  

Loco Moco

Vegetable Rolls

Crispy Garlic Pork Chops

The Crispy Garlic Pork Chops is one of the popular menu items.

House Special Fried Rice

Cheeseburger

French Fries

Portion sizes were very generous and service was great.  Next time I go I'll probably try the Chicken Katsu with Curry, which we were told was another popular menu item. 

Kauaʻi Diner

4201 Rice St

Lihue, HI 96766
(808) 245-4991

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Visit Kaua'i: Midnight Bear Breads

Just before 8am, there were a handful of people waiting to get in to Midnight Bear Breads, so I already had an inkling of just how good the pastries were. 

The team was running behind, and apologized for the wait, but shortly after 8am, the doors opened, and one of regulars led the way in.

We wanted to order sandwiches to eat for later, but after taking our order, another employee nearby said "no sandwiches today."  

Luckily, they had Ham & Cheese Croissants, a Caprese Danish, and an Everything Bagel Danish, which satisfied the yearn for savories.

And of course we got some sweets - Chocolate Croissant, Lavender Lemon Morning Bun, Macadamia Nut Cinnamon Roll, Ginger Cinnamon Morning Bun, and Banana Chocolate Chip Danish.

I saw people in line ahead of me order the Lavender & Lemon Bun, so of course I got that.  It was so amazing!  Soft, pillowy, with a slight lavender and lemon flavor.  

 

Everything we ordered was just fantastic.  The croissants, danishes, buns - nothing disappointed.  I would happily order them all again, and wait in line for them.

I hope next time I get to try the sandwiches!

Midnight Bear Breads
3830 Hanapepe Rd

Hanapepe, HI 96716

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Visit Kauaʻi: Da Pizza Place

Located inside Chicken in a Barrel in Waimea is Da Pizza Place.  

Meat Lovers

The Meat Lovers consisted of pepperoni, Italian sausage, and bacon.  It sure was loaded, and the family loved it.  

Loaded Fries

The Loaded Fries were indeed loaded - topped with cheese, pico de gallo, cilantro sauce, and chicken (you could also opt for pork, or beef for extra).   I thought the chicken was under-seasoned, but all the other toppings made up for the bland, dry chicken.

Da Pizza Place was a convenient option for easy eats while in Waimea!

 
Da Pizza Place

9400 Kaumualii Hwy

Waimea, HI 96796

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Visit Kauaʻi: Big Save Waimea Breakfast Bentos

Big Save Waimea was a go-to for snacks, drinks, and other necessities, and it turned out to be a savior on a Sunday morning for breakfast, when there were not many other options in the area.

They had grab-and-go breakfast bentos - eggs, rice, and SPAM, Portuguese Sausage, or bacon.  

They were on the pricey side, but we didn't mind the price tag, since it saved us from cooking or driving 20 minutes away for food.  

Big Save Waimea

9861 Waimea Rd

Waimea, HI 96796

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Visit Kauaʻi: Unko's Kitchen

We ordered breakfast from Unko's Kitchen one morning while on Kauaʻi.  

Kalua Hash

I had the Kalua Hash - eggs (I chose scrambled) atop a huge bed of hash browns, with onions and tomatoes.  I thought the hash browns were a bit underseasoned, but it sure was a lot of food!

Waffle Special

The Waffle Special included a huge scoop of ice cream and berries to top your waffle.  It was like dessert for breakfast!

Kalua Moco

Hunter's Special

The Hunter's Special came with rice, Portuguese sausage, SPAM, eggs, and smoked meat.

Portions are generous and Unko's was a great option for breakfast!

Unko's Kitchen
1-3749 Kaumualii Hwy
Hanapepe, HI 96716

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Visit Kauaʻi: The Musubi Truck

Prior to heading to the Lihue airport, we decided we wanted a quick lunch, so we ordered from The Musubi Truck. They specialize in musubis, but offer bentos as well.

Deep Fried OG

Their signature Deep Fried OG is a SPAM Musubi that panko-crusted and deep-friend, drizzled with kabayaki and aioli, and sprinkled with furikake.  Delish!

OG SPAM Musubi

Traditionalists can get an "OG" Musubi too - baked SPAM, furikake, and rice.

Lifeguard Bento

I thought the Lifeguard Bento options were interesting - tots, poke, and deep fried musubi.  I never had tots with poke or musubi before, but it worked!  I loved the tots (I chose Truffle tots) - they were nice and crispy! 

Bento

A smaller Bento comes with rice, SPAM, kalbi, and miso chicken.

Miso Chicken Musubi

I got the Miso Chicken Musubi.  It was really tasty, and with kabayaki and aioli on the side.  It was a decent size and I could only eat half of it (one of my kids happily ate the other half).

Although the menu items are on the pricey side, the food was quality, delicious, and satisfying.  I was very happy we found The Musubi Truck before we left Kauaʻi!

Order online to avoid or minimize wait times.

Picnic tables and umbrellas are on site so you can eat; a misting system was in use at the time we went which is great for warm weather.

The Musubi Truck
4548 Kukui St

Kapaʻa, HI 96746

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Visit Kaua‘i: Waimea Light Parade



We had no plans to watch the Waimea Light Parade, but after realizing we could walk to it from our lodging without having the hassles of looking for a parking spot, we made an impromptu decision to watch it.

And we made it just in time, as the parade just started when we got to Waimea Valley Canyon Drive.

The parade was full of trucks, cars, boats, mules, and people - all decked out in lights, with lots and lots of people passing out and throwing candies.

What I found endearing about the parade is earlier that morning, I saw so many chairs of people who already staked their viewing spots.  That's how popular the parade is!

We stood for the entire parade behind people who were seated at the main road. The parade was about 40 minutes long and a lot of fun to watch!

It was heartwarming to see the community come together - business, organizaitons, community leaders - and celebrate the season to the delight of many.

 

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Visit Kaua`i: Kaua`i Festival of Lights

While on Kaua`i last year, we checked out the Kaua`i Festival of Lights.  

The Historic County Building Park's trees are decked out with lights, resulting in the merriest scene for all that visit or drive by (check out this IG reel on Hawaii Mom Blog).

It was such a festive sight!

I saw lots of families sitting on picnic blankets and just enjoy the night.

Atop the steps of the county building are lovely trees decorated in ornaments made from recycled materials, including SPAM cans!

We visited midweek, but on certain days of the week there are more activities (like a visit from Santa Claus!).

A visit to the Kaua`i Festival of Lights is fun for all ages!

Kaua`i Festival of Lights
4396 Rice St

Lihue, HI 96766

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Visit Kaua`i: Big Save Market Breakfast

It was early in Koloa, and not too many places were open for breakfast, but my husband found that Big Save Market (a Times Supermarket Store) was open and had breakfast options.

The options are so inexpensive, and for the amount of food they give, I was quite impressed.  

Regular Breakfast

For just $5.99, I got a huge plate of scrambled eggs, loads of bacon, and rice.

Sumo Breakfast

For $7.99, the Sumo Breakfast included 2 eggs, 2 scoops of rice, ham, hot dog, link sausage, Portuguese sausage, and SPAM.  What a deal for so much food!

Loco Moco

The Loco Moco was just $6.99, and you could sub with fried rice for just $.70 more.

Big Save Market was a great find for hearty breakfasts at very reasonable prices!

Big Save Market

5516 Koloa Rd, Koloa, HI 96756
 

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Visit Kaua`i: Hamura Saimin

It's no secret that the no-frills Hamura Saimin is a must-stop for anyone wanting local comfort food on Kaua`i.  

It's been decades since I went to eat at Hamura, and not much has changed.  You eat at a shared counter with other guests, the menu is small, but focused, and the food is still good.

Oxtail Saimin

The Oxtail Saimin is served Mondays and Fridays only.  My friend said the oxtail was really delicious, but the noodles were overcooked.

Won Ton Mein

I had the Won Ton Mein, which had a decent amount of Won Ton, although I thought the filling was a bit underseasoned.  I enjoyed all the garnishes, which included green onions, ham, fish cake, and roast pork.  The broth was really good.  

BBQ Chicken Stick

The BBQ Chicken was tasty, although some parts a bit too chewy and dried out.

Lilikoi Chiffon Pie

If you have a room for dessert, you must try the signature Lilikoi Chiffon Pie.   It was light, fluffy, and refreshing, which was welcoming on such a hot and humid Kaua`i day.

I thought the food was overall good - comforting and satisfying.  Prices are reasonable and comparable to other places serving similar food.

Hamura Saimin

2956 Kress St

Lihue, HI 96766

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Visit Kaua`i: Kaua`i Poke Co.

Last year I went to Kaua`i Poke Co., and I was eager to go back during a recent work trip.

I went for breakfast, and thankfully Loco Mocos are available all day, because there was one that immediately caught my eye - Fried Chicken Moco!

Fried Chicken Moco

It was enormous- a bed of rice, topped with pieces of fried chicken, eggs, and loads of gravy!  I actually ate about 2/3 of the meal - it was so huge, and I was so full, but it was so good!  I just couldn't stop eating it.  It was comfort food at its finest.  I actually would've even been fine with the just the eggs, rice, and gravy, but the chicken really made the dish super filling (the chicken was seasoned nicely).

Smoked Kalua Pig Moco

Traditional Loco Moco

All the loco mocos are just enormous and easily shareable.  The Smoked Kalua Pig Moco was full of kalua pork, and the beef patty on the Traditional Loco Moco was really good.

Japanese Mochi Pancakes

If sweet is more your thing for breakfast, and if you love mochi, you must get the Japanese Mochi Pancakes.  It's topped with azuki butter, kinako, and accompanied by seasonal fruit and whipped cream.  The unique texture of the pancakes was delighful, and the pancakes had just the right amount of sweetness.  They were so yummy!

Kaua`i Poke Company of course offers poke bowls, as well as local-style plate lunch faves during lunch hours.

Highly recommend Kaua`i Poke Co. for a hearty, delicious meal!

Kaua`i Poke Co.
2250 Ainako St

Koloa, HI 96756

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