Kauai's Best Breakfasts
Acai bowls brimming with fresh fruit, pineapple brioche French toast and cold–pressed juices are just the beginning
"I think breakfast is definitely one of the big things. You know, the thing about Kauai is it definitely shuts down at night. People get up early here."
That's Sean Garcia, owner of Java Kai, a coffee shop and breakfast hot spot in the town of Kapaa on Kauai. The line at Java Kai, which can sometimes wrap around the whole store and spill out onto the street, says it all: This is one of the best places to start your day.
Kauai is one of those magical places where getting out of bed is easy, and not just because of its beaches, mountains and possibility of adventure. It's also because the island is home to some of the freshest, most addictive and enticing breakfasts you'll ever try. Here, six of our favorites.
Akamai Juice Company
If you're looking for a liquid breakfast on the north side of the island, look no further than Akamai Juice Company, where you can choose from a menu of vegetable–heavy green juices (like the popular Naked Dragon) and fruity ones (like the LiliSnap, with passion fruit, pineapple juice, ginger, lemon, turmeric and raw honey). Whatever you pick, you'll feel energized and ready to start your day.
Java Kai
Going to Java Kai means making serious decisions: Will you get an acai bowl topped with pineapple, banana and house–made granola with coconut and macadamia nuts? Or an egg sandwich, like the Feta Mo Betta, made with pesto, sprouts and feta cheese? There's also the dragon bowl, which comes with blended dragon fruit and pineapple, as well as avocado toast and the kalua pork burrito, a favorite among regulars. Java Kai roasts all its coffee in–house and sources beans from all over Hawaii—the only U.S. state that grows coffee commercially. And, yes, you can also find cold brew on tap.
Kauai Juice Company
The bright café serves cold–pressed juice like Shine On, with cucumber, coconut water, Moringa, clover sprouts and lemon; and Orange Crush, with pineapple, carrot and turmeric; as well as house–made nut milk blends unlike any you've ever tasted. About 80 percent of the produce used in the juices comes directly from Kauai, so you're getting a major dose of the island with every bottle.
Kountry Style Kitchen Restaurant
A family–friendly local favorite, Kountry Style Kitchen serves up massive banana pancakes, eggs Benedict and loco moco, a Hawaii specialty consisting of a hamburger patty and fried egg atop rice, all smothered in gravy. Now that's a breakfast of champions.
Waipouli Deli & Restaurant
Another Kauai mainstay, this diner is tucked away in the corner of a strip mall. Locals know their servers by name, and return time and again for the oxtail soup or any of the awesome egg dishes, including a killer corned beef hash. Waipouli also makes its own Hawaii chili pepper water—a staple condiment in the state—that the owner of Java Kai proudly calls some of the island's best.
Living Foods Gourmet Market & Cafe
Pineapple brioche French toast? Breakfast pizza? Yes, please! You can find them both at this south side market and café. Sit down and dig in, or grab some fresh fruit and granola to go.