Here at RealFoodTraveler.com, we always advocate that people go on a food tour early in their visit to a new destination. They are a great way to get a sampling of the local cuisine, meeting restaurant owners and chefs, learning about local ingredients, dishes and cooking methods. Plus, if you really like one of them, you can go back for a full meal during your trip and know you’re in for something tasty. Here, Real Food Traveler’s Eco-Friendly Food, Travel and Adventure Editor, Jimmy McDonough, tells readers about a delicious and delightful food tour to experience in Kaua’i, in the town of Hanapepe.

Save this article about the Hanapepe Food Tour to help you plan to go on one in Kaua’i. Photos by Jimmy McDonough. Graphic by RealFoodTraveler.com.

Hungry for more? Editor’s Pick Things to do in Kaua’i.

To really learn about the culture of a place, we must learn about an eat the food, and listen to the stories of the people who make that food. For the typical traveler, a wonderful way to do this is to find a food tour that is locally run and connected to the local community. In the charming western Kauai town of Hanapepe, the Hanapepe Food Tour from Tasting Kaua’i is perfect.

The village of Hanapepe (“Kauai’s Biggest Little Town”) has a compact historic commercial area, full of charming eccentricities like the swinging bridge, funky galleries, and Talk Story the self-proclaimed westernmost bookstore in the US. (Kauai Island Brewing Co in nearby Port Allen claims to be the westernmost brewery in the world.) And scattered amongst these are noteworthy eateries in historic storefronts full of stories.

A scene from the town of Hanapepe in Kaua’i where you can take a food tour on foot.

A Glimpse of Tasting Kaua’i’s Hanapepe Food Tour

Japanese Grandma’s Café

A spacious outdoor garden seating area in the back is an ideal spot to relax and enjoy the fresh flavors of the kitchen. Japanese favorites like rolls, noodles, and vegetables, tonkatsu, were perfectly prepared. With an emphasis on organic and fresh local ingredients, including seafood, this is an easy-going spot to sample Hawaii’s Japanese culinary influences.

Udon noodles and sushi from Japanese Grandma’s Cafe.

Midnight Bear Breads

Finding a bakery of this quality in such a small, isolated town was a delightful surprise. Artisanal breads of all sorts (we could not resist the crusty turmeric ginger loaf), pastries, sandwiches (the griddled cheese pesto was mouthwatering), a full espresso bar, and a flavorful housemade chai tea, are available.

A grilled cheese sandwich extraordinaire with basil from the Midnight Bear Breads.

Hungry for more? Three ways to eat like a local in Kaua’i.

Ku’uleis Gourmet

Next door to the bakery, sharing the same historic building, this restaurant run by two sisters with a passion for cooking and for continuing on with their mother’s culinary legacy. The unique lemonades and teas (Honey Lemongrass Green, flavorful and refreshing), and soups (the Carrot Coconut Lime soup was sublime!) were a highlight. Charming atmosphere, reasonable prices, and a wide variety of plates make this a place with something for everyone. Oh, and the glowing friendly faces of the sisters bring sunshine to everyone’s day.

Ku’uleis Gourmet soup samples during the Hanapepe Food Tour.

Longie’s Shave Ice

For dessert, we enjoyed Hawaii’s favorite cold dessert- shave ice. (Some say calling it shaved ice will out you as a mainlander for sure!) A vast menu of options is available- do yourself a favor and select one of their special combos. Trust them. With an array of toppers and bottoms, shave ice was a surprisingly delicious and satisfying treat. This is far more than a mere snow cone. Oh, and the portions are enormous – the Keiki size (small) is plenty big enough for one! The back patio is a nice shady place to enjoy your treat.

An example of creamy shave ice from Longie’s Shave Ice enjoyed on the Hanapepe Food Tour.

Time your visit right for Hanapepe Art Night events to experience the main street fill with artists, live music, visiting food trucks, vendors, and more fun. We visited Hanapepe on a day trip from nearby Grand Hyatt Kaua’i Resort near the beaches of Poipu and the historic sugar cane town of Koloa; learn more about that in this article. To learn more about Tasting Kaua’i’s tours on the island, visit their website, here.

-Story and photos by Jimmy McDonough, Eco-Friendly Food, Travel and Adventure Editor, RealFoodTraveler.com

Please note: As is common in our industry, we were hosted for this tour to facilitate our being able to write about it. However that does not influence what we write. Our opinions remain our own for the benefit of our readers.