Our guests leave notes to one another in our guest book recommending Kapaa restaurants.  Here's a summary with the restaurants ranked in order of number of comments, starting with those within short walking distance from Lae Nani.

Kapaa Restaurants Within Walking Distance from Lae Nani

1. Mónico’s Taqueria: 
   Turn left when walking out of Lae Nani, go down the sidewalk to Kinipopo Shopping Village and into the courtyard.  You can’t miss it.  Indoor as well as courtyard seating.    Award winning (Best New Resturant 2004, Best Mexican Restaurant 2005, Los Angeles Times’ Best Mexican Restaurant in Hawaii 2008 in “Good Dinners for Under $20.”  Full bar.  Sometimes a wait for those arriving after 6 PM.  Fresh fish every day.  Truly  “mom and pop” establishment with Mónico running the kitchen and Kathleen supervising table service.  A favorite with locals.  Lots of folks do take-out.  No reservations.
   
   
2. Restaurant Kintaro: 
   Also turn left leaving Lae Nani, then turn right on Lanikai Street and walk toward highway.  Japanese cuisine with full menu plus sushi bar and tappan-yaki as well.  A local favorite as well.  A place to see and be seen.  A little pricey, but you can have sake or beer, a modest sushi selection and a bill for around $50. Opens at 5:30 and there is a line then, so be in it.  No reservations except large groups (6 or more).
   
   
3. Eggbert’s Café: 
   Turn right when leaving Lae Nani and walk to the Coconut Marketplace just down the street.  Eggbert’s is at the far corner on the mauka (mountain) side.  Very affordable for traditional breakfast plus some fancy coffee drinks.  Good place to enjoy fresh island papaya from Moloa’a.  Very reasonably priced for Kaua’i. 
   
   
4. Tutu’s Soup Hale: 
   Also in Kinipopo Shopping Village.  Turn left leaving Lae Nani and you’ll find Tutu’s right on the parking lot.  Great homemade soups plus salads made from local organic greens.  Fondue on Friday and Saturday nights is popular even with other local restauranteurs.  Bring your own wine and glasses for that.  No corkage fee.  (Open it yourself but they let you use their corkscrew.) Mostly vegetarian with some vegan.  Suggestion: The tomato soup is really spicy, so order it mixed with the baked potato soup. 
   
   
5. Hukilau Lanai:  Located in a nice time share resort just up the beach to the northeast.  Easiest way to get there is to walk past the Lae Nani pool toward the ocean, look for the pathway through the rocks to the left, go through a little loose sand to the paved sidewalk.  Follow the paved sidewalk about ¼ mile and it is the last little resort on the mountain side.  Walk in past the pool and the Hukilau is just off the lobby.   Pretty good wine selection with a wine menu with bottles for under $20.  That and one of the good hors d’eouvres may do it for you.  Dinner menu is good and varied.  Service is only fair.  A nice ocean view restaurant with reasonable prices.   Reservations recommended. 
   
   
6. Korean Bar-B-Que: 
   Good, basic Korean-style cooking with a pretty good menu selection.  Try bar-b-que chicken if you’re not familiar with Korean cuisine.  Very affordable.  Lots of locals do carry-out on their way home. 
   
   
7. Mema’s Thai Cuisine: 
   Just across the street from Kinipopo Shopping Village, but go down to the stoplight to cross.  Traffic is too fast otherwise.  Great Thai cuisine with full menu.  Bring your own beer or wine.  They will serve it for you.  With four or more you can get several dishes to share.  Moderately priced.  Reservations probably a good idea but not absolutely necessary. 

 

 

 

Nearby Kapaa Shopping & Dining:

Be sure to check out the Kinipopo Shopping Village for an eclectic variety of boutiques, eateries and businesses within walking distance to Lae Nani condos.