Best Poke On Kauai
The Top Five Must Try Poke Bowls on Kauai
Updated: March 27, 2019
Looking to find the best poke bowl on Kauai? Trying to make a list of the top poke spots in Kauai? Check out our guide to some of Hawaii's best poke! These bowls of poke are a must try while on Kauai! Keep reading for a list of the top five places to eat poke in Kauai.
It’s no secret poke is one of our favorite meals! After all, we spent weeks on Kauai’s neighbor searching for the best poke to eat in Maui. Because of this love of poke, we were excited to check out what bowls Kauai had to offer. In Kauai, the focus and aloha are dedicated to preparing fresh, quality seafood. During our stay on the island we tried many delicious bowls we are excited to share with you! Read on to discover where to try some great poke on the Hawaiian island of Kauai!
What Is Poke?
A growing food trend, poke (pronounced poh-key) is nothing new to island cuisine! Stemming from the Hawaiian word meaning “to cut or slice”, poke is a mixture of cubed fresh fish tossed with a variety of simple, aromatic ingredients. A pinch of sea salt, crunchy onions (preferably Maui onions!), and dash of shoyu are common denominators among poke bowls everywhere. Typically paired with rice, you may also find poke delightful on its own or paired with fresh greens. Poke-mania is hitting cities around the world and trendy bowls stacked high with colorful toppings are popping up on Instagrams around the globe. It’s possible to find both creative foodie poke throughout Hawaii as well as more traditional, simple bowls.
Kilauea Fish Market
A well loved market nestled on Kauai’s northern side just shy of the Kilauea Lighthouse, the Kilauea Fish Market offers up simple fare sure to please the belly. The protein here is commonly ahi tuna; at Kilauea fish market the crazy ingredients are ixnayed and the focus is on preparing excellent cuts of fish. Options may be limited but the quality is unbeatable. Our poke bowl here offered up some of the softest, most tender ahi we tried during our time in Hawaii. Traveling with non-seafood lovers? The menu offers numerous mouth watering options at great prices! Renowned fish tacos, vegetarian friendly wraps and loaded plate lunches are up for grabs in addition to the delicious poke. Consider visiting early as they can run out of items throughout the day. Bonus perk! Kilauea Fish Market is located next to one of our favorite spots to grab a refreshing drink on the island; Kauai Juice Co! Their dragon fruit kombucha is the best kombucha we’ve yet to try and staff are always such a joy! Overall, Kilauea Fish Market feels like an oasis from some of the overrun touristy spots on the island. Consider visiting this spot to soak in the feeling and flavor of Kauai!
Fish Express
Looking for a great spot to grab authentic Hawaiian cuisine on the go? Fish Express is a Hawaiian institute ringing true to its name: quality seafood served fast. While island time is generally all about embracing the slow and steady, sometimes we need some fast and ono (delicious) food to help us achieve such relaxation. Fish Express is a great spot to go if you have non-poke fans in the group as there are numerous choices here including some loaded plate lunches and yummy grilled seafood options. Fish Express had some of the biggest variety for seafood poke on the island. Aside from the classic ahi poke; salmon, lobster, tako, hamachi and much more can be found here! Arrive early to experience the largest selection. Poke here won’t break the bank! Scoops are generous and toppings are weighed in addition to the fish. This makes Fish Express a particularly budget-friendly spot if you prefer more classic style poke.
Hanalei Poke
Hanalei Poke food truck is situated perfectly in downtown Hanalei, a popular hangout spot in Northern Kauai famous for its dramatic green cliffs which serve as a backdrop to the town. We featured this spot on our list due to the incredibly creative menu; you would be hard pressed to find the unique toppings and flavor combinations here anywhere else in the world! Our favorite bowl here was the Kealia bowl which features the fresh fish of the day topped with spicy sesame sauce, cilantro, basil, mint, mango, watermelon, avocado, iamona (a traditional Hawaiian ingredient derived from a roasted kukui nut), macadamia nuts and crushed red pepper. This bowl comes at you from many different directions. Sweet, nutty, herbaceous, ah it just works! The fish here is always fresh and varies daily. Due to the high quality ingredients, prices here can be higher compared to other bowls on the island, however the unique flavor combinations make Hanalei Poke a top recommendation on your Kauai poke bucket list!
Koloa Fish Market
Koloa Fish Market is home to some of the most reasonably priced poke on the island. A local favorite, this small counter in Southern Kauai is located along the very walkable Koloa Road. Grab a to-go order of their famous smoked marlin poke and check out one of Kauai’s cutest towns. Staff are known for their friendly service at Koloa Fish Market. Prepare for helpful suggestions of the daily fish selection and samples of options! One thing we enjoyed about Koloa Fish Market was that even though they have creative and crazy flavors, the fish was always at the forefront of their poke combinations. Large pieces of seafood were not overshadowed and buried beneath crazy sauces and toppings. Prices are reasonable and poke here is sold by the pound.
Makai Sushi
Looking to grab a bowl and then strut your stuff to the nearest beach for some serious chilaxin? Of course you are! You came to Hawaii after all! Makai Sushi, an unassuming counter set up in a local grocery store, is one of the best places in Kauai to eat poke beach side. Located near bustling Poipu Beach Park and close to Lawa’i Beach (a popular spot to view the sunset), Makai specializes in the “Gorilla Bowl”. The Gorilla Bowl is a mixture of ahi, ono (wahoo), and salmon sure to appease any seafood lovers appetite. Hand rolls are also available here. Makai Sushi is located in the Kukuiula Market and features neighboring food trucks making this a great stop if you are looking to appease a few different palates!
Bonus Round:
Foodland Grocery Stores
As you make the poke rounds in Kauai, you may notice your budget feeling the pains of your poke addiction. Looking for the best deal on poke in all of Hawaii? Give a warm aloha to Foodland! Plentiful throughout the Hawaiian Islands, Foodland grocery stores offer up consistently fresh poke combinations at a sweet price. Expect to pay around $7 USD for a bowl of rice with a scoop of poke on top. Considering most bowls of poke in Kauai will average around $14 USD, Foodland is a great choice for those who traveling on a budget.
Kilauea Fish Market
Makai Sushi
Fish Express
Hanalei Poke
Koloa Fish Market
Foodland
Foodland
In conclusion, Kauai is an amazing destination for those looking to eat amazing seafood. It’s hard to go wrong with so many delicious eateries on the island serving up some incredible food! If you are new to trying poke, the consistency and quality of poke in Kauai make it a great place to try poke for the first time. Already a poke maniac? Prepare to enter poke nirvana! We highly recommend grabbing a bowl, finding a nearby beach and do as the locals do, hang loose!
Aloha, friends! We hope you enjoyed our article on where to eat poke in Kauai, Hawaii. All of these opinions are our own. The only incentive we received was full bellies and hearts full of aloha! May this information stoke your Hawaiian poke dreams!
Feel free to contact us with any thoughts, questions, comments or concerns.
Please Spread the word
