The Ultimate Kauai Food Truck Guide 2023 (find the best cheap eats)

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There is just something about Kauai that makes eating at a food truck the right thing to do. The waterfalls in the distance, the tropical jungle, the warm, humid embrace make dining at a Kauai food truck the ideal way to enjoy the island.

The Kauai food truck scene is the place to find the best food (local grindz) on the island. Here you will find the food truck parks worth visiting, the best trucks, and what to expect when dining at Kauai’s food trucks. 

Going to a food truck is an easy and safe way to get take-out on Kauai in 2023. Plus, a wonderful meal!

Why Are Kauai Food Trucks So Good?

Experimental chefs, the freshest ingredients, and the best coffee are just some of the foodie delights you can find in Kauai’s food truck scene. From Hawaiian-grown taro donuts at Holey Grail to the freshest ahi at Kauai Poke Company Food Truck, you won’t be disappointed. 

The chef behind Kickshaws in Koloa Town serves up a killer burger. But, Seth Peterson also offers green-tea smoked yogurt and Gorgonzola foam on the menu. His menu has also seen Australian-sourced camel burgers and pressure-cooked frog legs.

You can still find loco moco and shave ice at food trucks on Kauai, but you will also find some wonderful surprises.

When our family visits Kauai, 75% of our meals are at food trucks. The main reasons we end up dining at Kauai food trucks are the following:

1. Quality ingredients and delicious food
2. We like to support local companies
3. Price – you can’t beat the price of a food truck versus brick-and-mortar restaurants
4. Variation – you can find any type of food you crave (Noodles, Burgers, Mexican, Poke, etc)
5. Food trucks are easy to find. Our rule in Hawaii is when you see a food truck, stop to eat.

Food trucks are the quintessential island vibe. Pull up, put in your order, and relax at a picnic table or take it to where you need to go. Most likely that place to go is the beach.

Food trucks are also made to order. The quality of the food comes from each meal being made on the spot, not prepared in a box. Therefore, you should expect to wait 10 to 20 minutes for your meal to be made fresh. The big range depends on what is being prepared and the line of people in front of you. 

Kauai food trucks aren’t necessarily fast food. Below are some more words of caution on food truck dining on the Garden Isle.

A Word of Caution on Kauai Food Trucks

We love Kauai’s food truck scene but here are a few things you should know. This is nothing to scare you but be prepared. 

First, the days open and hours can change without warning. I don’t list opening hours and days below as food trucks can be unpredictable. The food trucks can run out of food due to popularity, didn’t get a shipment of fresh fish, or the surf is up. 

Due to the lack of reliable hours, we recommend heading to food truck parks. When food trucks congregate in a parking lot or a shady grass area, you will find a few that are open for business.

Due to long lines and long wait times for food, we recommend calling in your order. If you have a hungry family, call one of the food trucks listed below to put your order in for pickup.

In 2021 and 2022, we found some food trucks were closed Sunday, Monday, and/or Tuesday. That is a general rule of thumb. You can call ahead or follow them on Instagram to find their updated hours.

Food trucks are mobile so you may not find your new favorite truck at the same location later in the week. A moving truck is rare but it does happen. As mentioned above, find your favorite truck on Instagram or Facebook to find their location. 

Some wildly successful trucks grow out of their trucks and into a restaurant or cafe. This happened to Trucking Delicious, Porky’s, and Hanalei Poke in recent years. I hope they remember their roots as food trucks.

On Kauai, the vast majority of trucks stay in the same location. They have their favorite food truck park or they are more stationary than mobile. For example, Wishing Well Shave Ice in Hanalei hasn’t moved since 1983 and has lost the ability to move.

Kauai Food Truck Prices

While food trucks are well-priced for eating in Hawaii, don’t associate cheap eats with bad food. On Kauai, you will find organic food trucks to a meat lover’s paradise. You will find a classic Hawaiian plate lunch with two scoops of rice, mac salad, and smoked meat to gourmet Thai food. With this marvelous selection, you will find a range of prices. But you will rarely find a bad meal.

Yes, I get excited about Kauai food trucks.

You can expect food trucks this year to cost $15 to $20 a plate.

The portion sizes are generous so you won’t leave hungry. 

An individual taco can cost $5 to a generous helping of pad thai for $18. Every food truck is different but you should expect to feel satisfied with your meal for $20 or less. 

Do Kauai Food Trucks Take Credit Cards?

Yes, the vast majority of Kauai’s food trucks take credit cards. They have those Stripe registers that spin around for you to sign and add gratuity.

Some Kauai food trucks are cash only. I’d estimate about 10% are cash only. If you plan to visit a food truck park and are craving Indian food, like Cafe Turmeric in Hanalei, then have cash on hand. The trucks will have a large sign on their window letting you know they are cash only.

Related articles:

• 35 Best Things to Do on Kauai (we will surprise you!)
• How Many Days Should You Spend on Kauai? Crafting the Ideal Plan
• Your Perfect 7-Day Kauai Honeymoon Itinerary

11 Best Kauai Food Trucks

Here are our top 11 Kauai food trucks. We love eating at food trucks because of the selection and that is what you will find on this list. A little bit of everything, all the best in our experience.

Kauai is abundant in local, fresh-grown food and clever food truck chefs. Explore Kauai’s cuisine as they mix and match (fusion) dishes for everything that is uniquely local. Or, you just crave some fish tacos. Dive in and enjoy these food trucks. 

Click the town name for Google directions. 

1. Scorpacciata Neapolitan Pizza Kauai (Kapaa, East Coast) – tucked between buildings in downtown Kapaa is one of the best pizza places on the island. Enjoy a lovely outdoor ambiance with fresh ingredients and a chewy crust. Fancy pizzas at good prices, $12 – $17.
2. Holey Grail Donuts (Hanalei, North Shore) – taro donuts and coffee. They are expensive donuts but anytime we’re on Oahu or Kauai, we go out of our way to stop at this food truck. They are that good and the coffee is excellent also.
3. Kauai Poke Co. Food Truck (Lawai, West Side) – Look for the orange trailer with the line serving up award-winning poke bowls. They also have tempura shrimp plates, kalua pork bowls, calamari, furikake fries, and more. Lots of flavors and excellent service. Kauai Coconuts (Vietnamese) food truck is located here too.
4. Eden Coffee (Koloa, South Shore) – a little trailer with a big heart. This coffee shop is a favorite for its pastries, coffee cake, and of course, their full-bodied coffee. The latte art is on point. The service is friendly and fast. If staying in Poipu, make the drive up to Koloa. Opens at 6:30 AM.
5. Filo’s Kauai (Kapaa, East Coast) – Mexican food, fresh, good size portions, friendly staff, family-run, and open to 8 pm most nights!
6. Kickshaws (Koloa, South Shore) – Chef Seth Peterson offers classic burgers, locally caught fish sandwiches, duck leg confit sandwiches, cheesesteaks, and fried rice. He experiments so if you find foam and camel burgers on the menu, indulge!
7. Fresh Bite Kauai (Hanalei, North Shore) – Vegetarian, gluten-free, vegan, and most of the offerings are organic in sandwiches, wraps, salads, and bowls. They also have chicken and steak. Check their hours but usually open Friday to Monday, 11 to 3. 
8. Small Town Coffee (Kapaa, East Coast) – this cozy coffee house of a little red bus with a deck opens at 6:00 am. Grab a coffee, latte, iced coffees, teas, and pastries before that big hike. Open since 2004.
9. 808 Grill (north Kapaa, East Coast) – Pacific-Rim cuisine with Pacific flavors and French and Asian cooking techniques. What does that mean? Enjoy fried calamari, chicken wings, poke of the day, and salads with a taste that will remind you that you are on an ancient volcanic island in the middle of the Pacific.
10. D Green’s BBQ (Koloa, South Shore) – Classic BBQ with brisket, links, baked beans, and a slice of bread. Darren knows how to BBQ. Ribs that fall off the bone, pulled pork, tangy and spicy BBQ sauce, and homemade hot sauce makes this joint a fan favorite on Kauai.
11. The Musubi Truck (Kapaa, East Coast) is the place to go for all flavors and kinds of musubi. A trip to Hawaii isn’t complete without trying this island staple. A block of rice with meat wrapped in seaweed (similar to Japanese onigiri) with some seasoning or sauce is musubi. Spam Musubi is the most popular but at The Musubi Truck, you will have a lot of options! They also have poke and fruit slushies. Located in downtown Kapaa, super convenient.

One of our favorite Kauai food trucks moved into a storefront in late 2021 but is still worth mentioning. Hanalei Poke (Hanalei, North Shore) is a little poke restaurant with a big line in the Ching Young Village Shopping Center in the heart of Hanalei. 

Prices change per the market (can get pricey) as all the fish is Hawaiian and locally caught. If you are saving yourself for Kauai poke, then this is the place for you. Their poke bowls are the best. 

This article is all about food trucks on Kauai. But, Kauai is also known for its roadside fruit stands. While we always recommend stopping at a food truck, don’t forget to check out the locally grown fruit at good prices along the roads.

Best Kauai Food Trucks by Town

The best thing about visiting Kauai’s many cute and historical towns is the sightseeing and shopping. The second best thing is visiting their food truck park(s) for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

Since trucks can be mobile or have unpredictable hours, we recommend checking out the food truck parks to find the best local grindz. At a food truck park, your family or travel group will all be able to find something they like. 

Some towns, like Kapa’a, have two food truck parks. Let us be your guide. 

Kauai has six major food truck parks across the island. Here you will find out about parking, directions to the parks, facilities (bathrooms, shade, picnic tables, etc), and the best time to visit.

I’ll share the food truck parks below but read on for trucks that are not in a food truck park but are worth visiting.

Kapa’a Food Truck Parks

Kapaa has the most food trucks per capita on Kauai. Is that an official stat? Absolutely not but there are a lot of food trucks littered around the town. Here are the two main food truck parks but don’t miss the standalone trucks mentioned in the next section. 

All Saints Food Truck Park in Kapa’a, Kauai

Location: 4-1065 Kuhio Hwy, Kapa’a, HI 96746 (click for directions) 

Parking: Plenty of parking off the main drag through town, Kuhio Highway in front of the gym. Park on the gravel and grass in front of the food trucks.

Best Time to Visit: Lunch

Facilities: Clean picnic tables under a big shade tree and bathrooms in the gym/community center

The All Saints Episcopal Church has a gym and community center in South Kapa’a. The large, red, wood-siding gym is a beauty and sits surrounded by grass and a gravel parking lot. The ideal place for a few food trucks to migrate for lunch and sometimes dinner for hungry locals and travelers. 

You will find one, two, three, or four food trucks here on any given day. We noticed during our visits that the trucks come and go but the trucks that do come here are delicious. At this Kapaa, Kauai food truck park you will find the following food trucks:

• Filo’s Kauai – Mexican food, fresh, good size portions, friendly staff, family-run, and open to 8 pm most nights!
• Nana’s Snack Shack – our family loved Nana’s for the fresh salads, wraps, and sandwiches (the grilled cheese is oh-so-good). Or enjoy an acai bowl, smoothie, or chocolate-dipped frozen banana.
•  3 Girls Local Grill – Filipino food from a local family. Enjoy pork adobo, pinakbet, burgers, teriyaki chicken and beef, fried lumpia, and more plate lunches. This truck moves a lot so it may not be there. 

In our opinion, this is the best food truck park in Kapa’a for the quality of the food and variation. The only downside is the trucks come and go so much. Filo’s Kauai is the most reliable, a bonus is it stays open late. 8:00 pm is late for Kauai.

Kapa’a Beach Park Food Truck Park

Location: 4-1620 Kuhio Hwy, Kapa’a, HI 96746 (click for directions) 

Parking: Parking is limited near the food trucks but free and available.

Best Time to Visit: Lunch and Dinner

Facilities: Port-o-potties and umbrella-shaded picnic tables

Beachside bites sum up this food truck park well. Located off Kuhio Highway as you are about to leave Kapa’a Town toward Princeville and Hanalei, there are always food trucks at this park. The colorful trucks and trailers will catch your eye on the ocean (makai) side of the highway.  

Grab some plate lunches and walk to Kapa’a Beach Park a few feet away or park yourself at a picnic table under an umbrella.

 At this Kapaa, Kauai food truck park you will find the following food trucks:

• BB’s Kauai – this small trailer packs a lot of punch with signature sandwiches on homemade sourdough bread, gourmet burgers, and avocado toast. Open for lunch, a perfect time to try their homemade white pineapple ice cream.
• Happy Snacks – Thai food served in big portions as a plate lunch. They also have garlic shrimp, curries, and noodles. Open till 8:00 pm.
• Pita’s Kauai – For less than $15, you will find Gyro wraps, falafel wraps, hummus, greek salads, other Lebanese delights. Open for lunch, closes at 5:00 pm
• Al Pastor Tacos – Mexican food with fish tacos (of course), quesadillas, burritos, and more but the tacos are the most popular. Open for lunch, closes at 5:00 pm
• Da Melting Pot – You will find burgers, seafood like soft shell crab and seared ahi, shrimp plates. “We don’t serve fast food but we serve good food as fast as we can.” Garlic shrimp plate has six large shrimp, rice, and a side salad for $15. The shrimp was great, though a bit messy. 

There are a lot of food trucks in this area of Kapa’a. About 200 yards north of Kapa’a Beach Park Food Truck Park you will find even more trucks. 

• Across the street is 808 Grill serving up Pacific-Rim cuisine from a blue truck. A good place to go for poke, fresh fish, or a healthy kale salad.
• The Musubi Truck pops over here sometimes.
• El Rey Del Mar Mexican food truck – open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner
• Anatta’s Thai Street Food – open for lunch and dinner

Itinerary Tip: What we like to do when on Kauai’s East Coast (The Royal Coconut Coast) is to go kayaking down the Wailua River with a hike to the 120-feet Uluwehi Falls, aka Secrets Falls. Then we stop at a food truck for an early dinner.

Hanalei Food Truck Park

Location: 5-5100 Kuhio Hwy, Kapa’a, HI 96714 (click for directions) 

Parking: Plenty in the parking lot behind Hanalei Liquor Store, where you will find the food trucks. If full, find a parking lot down the road at the main shopping center at the old school.

Best Time to Visit: Lunch and Dinner

Facilities: Port-o-potties and umbrella-shaded picnic tables

This one is a gem in Hanalei Town. While Hanalei has a lot of fine dining, quick lunch places, and low-key hangouts, this food truck park should be on your itinerary. Located in central Hanalei, you will find a broad selection of options.

 At this Hanalei, Kauai food truck park you will find the following food trucks:

• Holey Grail Donuts – taro donuts and coffee. They are expensive donuts but anytime we’re on Oahu or Kauai, we go out of our way to stop at this food truck. They are that good and the coffee is excellent also.
• Cafe Turmeric – Flavorful and authentic Indian food, serving seafood, meat, and curries. Cash only! A good place for vegetarian dishes. Most plates are $16.
• Fresh Bite Kauai – Vegetarian, gluten-free, vegan, and most of the offerings are organic in sandwiches, wraps, salads, and bowls. They also have chicken and steak. Check their hours but usually open Friday to Monday, 11 to 3.  
• Thai Elephant – say hello to the lovely Thai ladies running this truck. Enjoy authentic Thai curries, pad thai, Thai tea, and coconut chicken soup. 
• Da Fazenda – Brazilian food with a touch of local cuisine. Enjoy the shrimp plates, chicken skewers, corn salad, and down it with a mango lemonade. The line can get long but everyone says it is worth it.

You will be hungry after taking Holo Holo Charters Napali Coast Rafting and Snorkel Tour that leaves from Hanalei Bay (the only one that does). A food truck at the Hanalei Food Truck Park is an excellent way to complete your Hanalei day of adventure.

Grab food in Hanalei Town and then head over to Hanalei Beach, one of our favorite beaches on Kauai.

Note, Trucking Delicious was located in the Hanalei food truck park. Due to their wild success, they are now Wake Up Delicious (Home of Trucking Delicious). They have relocated to a brick-and-mortar cafe (click here for directions). They are a bustling coffee bar serving kalua burritos, poke, garlic shrimp, and other island favorites. The menu changes, so enjoy the selection!

Koloa Food Truck Parks

Historic Koloa Town is located in South Kauai. The town is one of our favorites to visit for the shops, history of the sugar plantations, and architecture (much was rebuilt after Hurricane Iniki in 1992). Koloa is also home to two food truck parks. They are within walking distance from each other as Koloa is a small town.

Koloa is a perfect stop on the way to the famous Poipu Beach on the South Shore. Poipu Beach is one of our 7 Best Beaches for Kids on Kauai. Our two favorite Koloa town tours are nearby also – Kipu Ranch Adventures ATV rides and Koloa Zipline. So many reasons to visit Koloa Town! 

We love to grab lunch here before the beach or stop on our way back to get an early dinner and explore the town.

Old Sugar Mill Food Truck Park

Location: 5371 Koloa Rd, Koloa, HI 96756 (click for directions) The food trucks are in the grassy park in the center of town. Look for the remnants of the old sugar mill’s smokestack.

Parking: Pull into the gravel parking lot for plenty of free parking behind the food trucks, the driveway is off Maluhia Road.

Best Time to Visit: Lunch and Dinner

Facilities: Port-o-potties and picnic tables under the banyan trees

This food truck park is in the heart of Koloa Town, across from Sueoka’s Market.

At this Koloa, Kauai food truck park you will find the following food trucks:

• Kickshaws – Chef Seth Peterson offers classic burgers, locally caught fish for sandwiches, duck leg confit sandwiches, cheesesteaks, and fried rice. He experiments so if you find foam and camel burgers on the menu, indulge!
• Taco Libre – tacos, veggie tacos, Mexi-moco which is worth a try, burritos, quesadillas, and more. Fresh ingredients, cooked perfectly, and friendly staff to go with it. Open for lunch.
• Naruto Noodles – Ramen served up hot with 18+ hour organic bone broths. Choose Gyoza, shrimp tempura, tonkatsu, spicy Thai ramen, and so many more options. The wait can get long (which happened to me) so best to call ahead. Open for lunch and dinner.
• Dim ‘N’ Den Sum – Awarded the best food truck on Kauai in the 2018 Kauai Food Truck Battle. A fusion of Japanese and Hawaiian plate lunch. Enjoy musubi, seafood platters, chicken katsu, and fried sushi. The soft shell crab and coconut shrimp are popular options.
• D Green’s BBQ – Classic BBQ with brisket, links, baked beans, and a slice of bread. Darren knows how to BBQ. Ribs that fall off the bone, pulled pork, tangy and spicy BBQ sauce, and homemade hot sauce makes this joint a fan favorite on Kauai. 

Koloa Zipline Food Truck Park

Location: 3477 Weliweli Road, Koloa, HI 96756 (click for directions)

Parking: Pull into the gravel parking lot or park safely on the road in front of Koloa Zipline.

Best Time to Visit: Lunch and Dinner

Facilities: Picnic tables with shade canopies

Just down the street and towards the ocean, you will find the second food truck park in Old Koloa Town. Technically, it was the first food truck park but who’s counting?

 At this Kapaa, Kauai food truck park you will find the following food trucks:

• Chalupa’s – Mexican food serving up fish tacos and big plates with rice and beans for $15. Authentic, no-frills Mexican food in the heart of Kauai.
• Eden Coffee – a little trailer with a big heart. This coffee shop is a favorite for its pastries, coffee cake, and of course, their full-bodied coffee. The latte art is on point. The service is friendly and fast. If staying in Poipu, make the drive up to Koloa. Opens at 6:30 AM.
• Craving Thai Kauai – Large selection of $14 Thai curries, noodles, and rolls. Served in generous portions and with locally sourced ingredients. Open 7 days a week, lunch and dinner.
• Big Monster Sushi Food Truck – Large menu of sushi rolls, poke bowls, and veggie sushi rolls. Fresh fish and full of flavor. Portions can feel small for the price but the sushi is excellent. 

Itinerary Tip: You get a three-for-one with this food truck park due to the location! Get your morning coffee at Eden Coffee then walk 25 feet to Koloa Zipline, in the same parking lot. Go on Kauai’s longest zipline course featuring 3 of the longest lines on the island including the 1/2 mile Waita Zipline and then grab lunch at a truck afterward!

Once you have your fill of Koloa’s food trucks, don’t forget shave ice! Koloa is home to The Fresh Shave, our #1 of the Top 5 Spots for Shave Ice on Kauai.

Lihue’s Harbor Mall Food Truck Park

Location: 3501 Rice St, Lihue, HI 96766 (click for directions)

Parking: Park at the Harbor Mall or near the trucks.

Best Time to Visit: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner

Facilities: Paved area with picnic tables and umbrellas

A few other food trucks are here but these three are the fan favorites.

At this Lihue, Kauai food truck park you will find the following food trucks:

• Aloha Liege Waffles and Espresso – serves up Belgian waffles for breakfast and lunch. If you’re looking for something sweet with your coffee, their waffles with heaps of toppings won’t disappoint.
• Smitty’s Smash Burgers – excellent bun, delicious toppings, and flavorful burgers make Smitty’s white and red truck a favorite on Kauai. 
• Kauai Boba and Barbeque – BBQ meets Hawaiian plate lunch. Watch out for big portions of kalua pork, loco moco, BBQ short ribs, burgers, and so much more from this truck. They also serve boba drinks of course!

Lihue is also home to Kalapaki Beach. The beach is on our list of the best beaches on Kauai in the winter and for swimming.

Kauai’s Best Food Trucks: The Lone Wolves

While some of the best food trucks on Kauai are found in the food truck parks, here are a few of our favorite trucks that are off by themselves. These may be worth seeking out during your stay on the island.

Best Kauai Food Trucks in Hanalei

Pat’s Taqueria

Pat’s Taqueria (located at Black Pot Beach or Big Save Market in Hanalei) is a landmark around Hanalei. The busy Mexican food truck offers fish tacos, burritos, and all the classics. A perfect location when they park near Hanalei Pier at Black Pot Beach. 

Wishing Well Shave Ice

Wishing Well Shave Ice (click for directions) is a famous and long-running shave ice stand at the entrance to Hanalei Town. Park, grab a shave ice, and relax at the big wooden tables under the shade tree.

Hanalei Taro & Juice Co

Hanalei Taro & Juice Co (click for directions) serves up farm-fresh taro from the local farms. They have plate lunches like lau lau and kalua pork along with deli sandwiches. But you gotta try their taro dishes! The truck is located near Wishing Well Shave Ice at the entrance to Hanalei.

Best Kauai Food Trucks in Kapaa

Small Town Coffee

Small Town Coffee (click for directions) is possibly our favorite stop for coffee and is conveniently located in Kapaa. There’s a large parking lot so it’s an easy stop and this might be the best coffee on the island. But coffee is not the only thing on the menu. Stop in for pastries, smoothies, and their London Fog latte. Look for the little red bus with a deck out front, right off the highway. Opens at 6:00 am since 2004.

Scorpacciata Neapolitan Pizza Kauai

Scorpacciata Neapolitan Pizza Kauai (click for directions) – Tucked between buildings in downtown Kapaa is one of the best pizza places on the island. Enjoy a lovely outdoor ambiance with fresh ingredients and a chewy crust. Fancy pizzas at good prices, $12 – $17.

808 Grill

808 Grill (click for directions) is Pacific-Rim cuisine with Pacific flavors and French and Asian cooking techniques. What does that mean? Enjoy fried calamari, chicken wings, poke of the day, and salads with a taste that will remind you that you are on an ancient volcanic island in the middle of the Pacific.

The Musubi Truck

The Musubi Truck (click for directions) is the place to go for all flavors and kinds of musubi. A trip to Hawaii isn’t complete without trying this island staple. A block of rice with meat wrapped in seaweed (similar to Japanese onigiri) with some seasoning or sauce is musubi. Spam Musubi is the most popular but at The Musubi Truck, you will have a lot of options! They also have poke and fruit slushies. Located in downtown Kapaa, super convenient.

Pineapple Express

Pineapple Express (location varies so check their website) is a fan favorite, a family-operated food truck serving up Hawaiian and Kauai fusion food. If you’re looking for a plate lunch, wraps, or bowls then check out this truck.

Pineapple Express was the 2022 winner of the Battle of the Food Trucks.

Related articles:

• Princeville vs Poipu: Finding the Best Place to Stay on Kauai
• Don’t Miss the 5 Best Snorkeling Spots on Kauai

Best Food Trucks in South Kauai (Koloa and Poipu)

Kauai Poke Co. Food Truck

Kauai Poke Co. Food Truck (Lawai) – Look for the orange trailer with the line serving up award-winning poke bowls. They also have tempura shrimp plates, kalua pork bowls, calamari, furikake fries, and more. Lots of flavors and excellent service.

Kauai Coconuts (Lawai, located with Kauai Poke Co.) – A Vietnamese food truck serving up fresh coconuts, Bahn Mi, plate lunches, and mochi donuts.

Waikomo Shave Ice

Waikomo Shave Ice (click for directions) is in a trailer near the famous Da Crack Mexican take-out window. Some say this is the best shave ice on Kauai. Their flavors, fluffy ice, and bits of fruit make for a refreshing experience. A short drive from Poipu Beach. 

Best Kauai Food Trucks on the West Side

Japanese Grandma’s Cafe

Japanese Grandma’s Food Truck (click for directions to their restaurant) won the People’s Choice Award at the 2022 Battle of the Kauai Food Trucks. The truck is an offshoot of their popular cafe in Hanapepe Town. For fresh and quality sushi, this is your truck.

They serve up sushi, sashimi, and poke from their truck during Hanapepe’s Friday Art Night and sometimes at Allerton Botanical Garden’s Aloha Market. Look at their Instagram to determine where they are headed as they may have their food truck open more often after their win.

Porky’s Kauai

Porky’s Kauai (click for directions) has won numerous awards as the best place to eat on Kauai. They have a simple menu of #1 pineapple sausage, #2 beef hot dog, #3 grilled cheese, and #4 rice bowl. But, simplicity is done right as locals and visitors love Porky’s. Priced at $11 each, don’t go cheap or healthy, get the bacon extra for $1. 

Note, Porky’s used to be a food truck in Kapaa but they set up shop in a building in Waimea. They are a classic and kudos for them for upgrading to a restaurant. They still make this Kauai Food Truck Guide!

Hokus Food Truck

Hokus Food Truck (click for directions) serves up Korean plate lunches. They are full of flavor and are a generous portion. There are a lot of good lunch shacks in Waimea and this is one of them. 

Best Kauai Food Trucks in Lihue

Manna on Wheels

Manna on Wheels (click for directions) serves up authentic Filipino food plate lunches. Enjoy large portions, a classic menu including vegan and vegetarian options, and a friendly truck.

Anatta’s Thai Street Food

Anatta’s Thai Street Food (click for directions) also has a location in Kapaa Town. This food truck serves up classic and authentic Thai dishes. Open for lunch and dinner. Located in the heart of Lihui.

Aloha Liege Waffle & Espresso

A perfect spot on the way to Lihue Airport for your morning flight off the island or if heading to Kalapaki Beach (one of our favorite Kauai beaches for swimming). Aloha Liege Waffle offers excellent Belgian-inspired waffles served all day, a friendly staff, and espresso to start your morning off right. Only 2-miles from the airport (click for directions). Look for the black trailer with umbrellas.

Ultimate Kauai Food Truck Guide Close Out

Don’t let this massive list of food trucks make you indecisive. I didn’t even include all the trucks on Kauai. Your itinerary will take you through these lovely Kauai towns so I recommend checking out their food truck parks for lunch or dinner.

My three biggest tips for dining at Kauai’s food trucks are the following:

1. Be adventurous. Try a local dish or something you can’t get at home. These chefs and cooks on Kauai make amazing food. Try something new.
2. Call ahead or check social media to confirm their opening hours and days. Many trucks have funky schedules so call ahead. If you call, it doesn’t hurt to put in your order.
3. Our Kauai itinerary will take you past the best food trucks on Kauai. Our planned excursion days fit many of these food trucks into your schedule so you can hop from beach to truck to hiking trail to fine dining without further planning. 

Follow my advice above and you will not regret spending your money and Kauai meals at these amazing Kauai food trucks. Mahalo!