Skip the restaurant lines. Local guide to the best food trucks Kauai including Tony's Catch (#1 in US!), Kickshaws burgers, Big Nicks & more. Real prices, honest reviews.
Shoots! Looking for the best food trucks Kauai has to offer? Forget those overpriced resort restaurants - the real ono grinds are rolling around the island in trucks, and I'm gonna tell you exactly where to find them. I've been eating my way through Kauai's food truck scene for years, and lemme tell you, these spots serve up some of the freshest, most authentic food you'll find anywhere on the island 🤙
The food truck scene here isn't just about convenience - it's where locals actually eat. We're talking fresh-caught fish, burgers that'll ruin you for mainland fast food, and Thai curry that rivals any sit-down restaurant. Plus, you're eating with ocean views or under the stars, often for half the price of a tourist trap meal. That's the real Kauai experience right there.
Yeah, you read that right. Tony's Catch in Kapaa just got named the #1 food truck in the entire United States by Yelp, and it's 100% deserved. I've been hitting this spot since before they were famous, and the quality has never dropped 🌊
What makes it special: Fresh-caught fish daily, creative poke bowls, and Tony himself is usually there making sure everything's perfect. The ahi poke is insane - they get fish straight from local fishermen, and you can taste the difference.
Location: Kapaa, near the Noka Coffee shop on Kuhio Highway
Best time to visit: Get there before noon if you want the full menu - they sell out of the catch of the day pretty regularly
Price range: $12-18 for most plates
My go-to order: Whatever the fresh catch special is. Seriously, just ask what came in that morning and order that.
Pro tip: Follow them on social media because they post their daily catch and sometimes close for fishing days (which honestly makes me trust them more).
If you're craving a burger on Kauai, Kickshaws is where it's at. These aren't your typical food truck burgers - we're talking gourmet patties with creative toppings that somehow work perfectly together. I take every visitor here who says they want a "good burger," and they always thank me later 🍔
The specialty: Creative burger combinations with local ingredients. The truffle mushroom burger is legendary.
Location: They rotate locations, but often set up in Lihue and Kapaa
What to order: Can't go wrong with their signature Kickshaws burger, but the weekly specials are where they really show off
Price range: $10-15 for burgers
The owner puts serious thought into these burgers - quality beef, fresh-baked buns, and toppings that make sense. This is the spot that made me realize food truck food can be just as good (or better) than fancy restaurants.
After a morning session at Hanalei Bay, there's only one place I'm headed: Big Nicks. This North Shore legend has been feeding hungry surfers and locals for years, and their portions are no joke. We're talking plate lunches that'll keep you full all day 🏄
The vibe: Classic local plate lunch spot with generous portions
Location: North Shore, easy to hit after Hanalei Beach
Best for: Big appetites, post-surf hunger, traditional Hawaiian plate lunches
Price range: $12-16 for massive plates
My order: Kalua pork plate with extra mac salad (rajah dat)
They don't mess around with portion sizes here. Come hungry, or plan to share. The kalua pork is smoky and tender, and the lau lau is legit. This is real local food, not the watered-down tourist version.
Okay, technically not a food truck in the traditional sense, but Pink's Creamery in Waimea deserves a spot on this list. After exploring Waimea Canyon or hitting Polihale Beach, this is your reward 🍦
The specialty: Tropical ice cream flavors you won't find anywhere else
Location: Waimea town, perfect stop on the way to/from the West Side
Must-try flavors: Lilikoi (passion fruit), guava, and their rotating specials
Price range: $5-8 for scoops
The owner makes small batches with real fruit, and you can taste the difference. The lilikoi is perfectly tart and sweet, and on a hot Waimea day, it hits different. I always grab a scoop after hiking Waimea Canyon.
If you're looking for something fresh and healthy on the North Shore, Hanalei Taro and Juice is your spot. They're all about traditional Hawaiian ingredients done right - taro, fresh juices, and poke bowls that actually respect the ingredients 🌺
The focus: Traditional Hawaiian foods, fresh juices, acai bowls
Location: Hanalei, perfect for breakfast or lunch
Best for: Health-conscious eaters, traditional Hawaiian food
Price range: $10-15 for bowls
Don't miss: Their taro smoothies are unique and surprisingly good
This place keeps it real with Hawaiian ingredients. The poi is fresh, the taro is grown locally, and they're doing important work keeping traditional foods alive. Plus, everything just tastes clean and fresh.
Kauai has a few spots where multiple trucks gather, and these are gold mines for trying different foods in one place:
Location: Poipu area, South Shore
When: Check their schedule - they do monthly events
Why go: Multiple trucks, live music, family-friendly vibe
This is more of an event than just grabbing food, but it's worth timing your trip for it if you can. You get to try multiple trucks, there's usually local music, and the atmosphere is super chill.
Location: Princeville, North Shore
When: Monthly events (check their calendar)
The scene: Food trucks, local vendors, community vibe
Great way to experience local culture while eating good food. The North Shore community really shows up for these, so you're eating with locals, not just tourists.
Cash is king: Many trucks are cash-only or prefer it. Hit an ATM before your food truck tour.
Follow them on social: Trucks move around and sometimes close unexpectedly. Instagram and Facebook are your friends here.
Be patient: Good food takes time, especially when it's made fresh. If there's a line, that's usually a good sign.
Eat where locals eat: If you see a bunch of locals at a truck, that's your sign. Tourist-heavy spots aren't always the best.
Ask questions: Food truck owners are usually super friendly and will tell you what's good that day.
Lunch rush (11:30am-1pm): Expect lines but you'll see what's popular with locals
Early dinner (4-5pm): Before the dinner rush, still good selection
Weekend mornings: Some trucks do breakfast and it's less crowded
After 7pm: Some spots might be running low on popular items
I usually try to hit trucks either right when they open or around 2-3pm when the lunch rush has died down. You get better service and more time to chat with the owners.
The best way to track down Kauai's food trucks:
The food truck scene changes - trucks move, new ones pop up, favorites retire. That's part of the adventure. Some of my best meals have come from randomly spotting a truck I'd never heard of.
Here's the thing about food trucks on Kauai - they're not just a cheap alternative to restaurants. Many of these trucks serve food that's just as good (or better) than sit-down spots, with fresher ingredients and more personality.
The island's small size means trucks can get super fresh fish and produce daily. The owners usually have deep roots here and real passion for what they're cooking. And you're eating in paradise - whether that's with ocean views, mountain backdrops, or under the stars.
Plus, the food truck culture here is real. These aren't corporate chains rolling out identical food. Each truck has its own story, its own style, and its own loyal following. That's what makes eating at food trucks on Kauai such a special experience.
Since people always ask what I actually eat week-to-week, here's my typical rotation:
I probably eat at food trucks 4-5 times a week. It's not just about saving money (though that's nice) - it's genuinely where some of the best food on the island is.
The best food trucks Kauai has to offer aren't just serving food - they're serving up authentic island experiences. From Tony's Catch's nationally-recognized fish to Kickshaws' creative burgers, from Big Nicks' massive plates to Pink's tropical ice cream, these trucks represent the real Kauai food scene 🤙
Skip the overpriced resort restaurants at least a few times during your trip. Grab a plate from a food truck, find a beach or park, and eat like a local. Your wallet will thank you, and your taste buds will too.
The food truck scene here keeps evolving, so there's always something new to try. But the spots I've mentioned? They're the ones I keep coming back to, the ones I tell my friends about, the ones that make Kauai's food scene so special.
Questions about where to find these trucks or what to order? Chat with me at https://alohakai.ai 🤙