Hamura Saimin
Lihue
- saimin
- noodles
- lilikoi chiffon pie
LOCAL 4.9/ALL 4.4
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Vol. 1 · No. 1Honolulu, Hawaiʻi · Mauka of KalakauaEst. 2026
E komo mai —
ranked by locals — not Yelp tourists
Four islands · Mom & pop only · Photos required
Neighborhood Guide · Kauaʻi
Where to Eat in Līhuʻe
Kauaʻi's county seat — home of Hamura Saimin and the island's everyday plate lunch.
42 joints · zero chains
Līhuʻe is Kauaʻi's county seat and commercial center — the airport town, the harbor, and the place where the island's everyday business gets done. The food is built for residents and working families: saimin, plate lunch, and fresh local fish.
Hamura Saimin has been Līhuʻe's anchor for generations — a horseshoe-counter noodle shop that's become a Kauaʻi institution. The list below is ranked by what Kauaʻi locals rate across town, not by the resort restaurants nearby.
Da Picks — Līhuʻe
Mark's Place
Lihue
- plate lunch
- loco moco
- chicken
- pork
- kalbi
LOCAL 4.6/ALL 4.6
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Tip Top Cafe
Lihue
- loco moco
- plate lunch
- oxtail
- saimin
- macadamia pancake
LOCAL 4.4/ALL 4.4
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Sushi Katsu Japanese Restaurant
Lihue
- sushi
LOCAL 4.9/ALL 4.9
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Crispy'S
Lihue
- plate lunch
LOCAL 4.6/ALL 4.9
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Rocco'S Pizza
Lihue
- pizza
LOCAL 4.6/ALL 4.6
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Fish Express, The
Lihue
- fish
- seafood
LOCAL 4.6/ALL 4.6
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Kauai Pasta Lihue
Lihue
- plate lunch
LOCAL 4.6/ALL 4.6
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Smiley'S Local Grinds
Lihue
- plate lunch
LOCAL 4.6/ALL 4.6
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Kauai Bakery Llc
Lihue
- pastry
LOCAL 4.5/ALL 4.6
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Richie'S
Lihue
- plate lunch
LOCAL 4.5/ALL 5.0
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Rob'S Good Times Grill
Lihue
- plate lunch
LOCAL 4.5/ALL 4.5
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Nawiliwili Tavern
Lihue
- plate lunch
LOCAL 4.5/ALL 4.7
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Kj'S Ii
Lihue
- plate lunch
LOCAL 4.5/ALL 4.6
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Keoki'S
Lihue
- plate lunch
LOCAL 4.5/ALL 4.6
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Kalapaki Beach Hut
Lihue
- plate lunch
LOCAL 4.5/ALL 4.5
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Kalena Fish Market, Inc.
Lihue
- fish
- seafood
LOCAL 4.4/ALL 4.7
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Tiano'S Island Cuisine/Tiano'S Restaurant & Bakery
Lihue
- pastry
LOCAL 4.3/ALL 4.4
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Plantation Coffee Co. Llc
Lihue
- coffee
LOCAL 4.3/ALL 4.5
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Restaurant Kiibo
Lihue
- plate lunch
LOCAL 4.3/ALL 4.4
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Dani'S Restaurant
Lihue
- plate lunch
LOCAL 4.3/ALL 4.3
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Pho Kauai Restaurant
Lihue
- vietnamese
- pho
LOCAL 4.3/ALL 4.3
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Sone'S Deli & Catering, Ltd.
Lihue
- plate lunch
LOCAL 4.2/ALL 4.4
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Garden Island Barbecue
Lihue
- plate lunch
- beef
LOCAL 4.2/ALL 4.2
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Daylight Donuts
Lihue
- plate lunch
LOCAL 4.2/ALL 4.3
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Hanalima Baking
Lihue
- plate lunch
LOCAL 4.2/ALL 4.3
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Deli & Bread Connection
Lihue
- plate lunch
LOCAL 4.2/ALL 4.2
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Lihue Barbecue Inn
Lihue
- plate lunch
- beef
LOCAL 4.2/ALL 4.4
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Rick & Jayda'S Bakery, Foods, Etc.
Lihue
- pastry
LOCAL 4.1/ALL 5.0
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Po'S Kitchen
Lihue
- plate lunch
LOCAL 4.1/ALL 4.2
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Mariachi'S Fine Mexican Cuisine
Lihue
- plate lunch
LOCAL 4.1/ALL 4.1
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No. 1 Chinese & B.B.Q. Restaurant
Lihue
- chinese
LOCAL 4.1/ALL 4.1
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Kcl Barbecue & Chinese Restaurant
Lihue
- plate lunch
- beef
LOCAL 4.1/ALL 4.1
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Gingbua
Lihue
- plate lunch
LOCAL 4.0/ALL 4.5
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Kako'S Saimin
Lihue
- saimin
- noodles
LOCAL 4.0/ALL 4.2
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Ho'S Chinese Kitchen
Lihue
- chinese
LOCAL 4.0/ALL 3.9
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La Bamba Restaurant
Lihue
- plate lunch
LOCAL 4.0/ALL 3.4
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Kalapaki Joe'S
Lihue
- plate lunch
LOCAL 3.9/ALL 3.9
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Jj'S Broiler
Lihue
- plate lunch
LOCAL 3.9/ALL 3.9
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Café Portofino
Lihue
- plate lunch
LOCAL 3.6/ALL 3.6
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Jailhouse Pub & Grill
Lihue
- plate lunch
LOCAL 0.0/ALL 0.0
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Sweet Pia'S
Lihue
- plate lunch
LOCAL 0.0/ALL 0.0
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What to Order in Līhuʻe
Best Plate Lunch in Līhuʻe
all HI →- 1Mark's Place4.6
- 2Tip Top Cafe4.4
- 3Crispy'S4.6
- 4Kauai Pasta Lihue4.6
Best Saimin in Līhuʻe
all HI →- 1Hamura Saimin4.9
- 2Tip Top Cafe4.4
- 3Kako'S Saimin4.0
From the editorial desk
6 min · saimin
Best Saimin on Oʻahu — The Soup That Belongs to Hawaiʻi
Saimin predates ramen in Hawaiʻi. It's lighter, weirder, and more local than any bowl you'll find on the mainland. Here's where to eat the real version.
5 min · poke
Best Poke on Kauaʻi
Skip the resort buffets. These are the poke stops locals actually go to on the Garden Isle.
7 min · kauai
Kauaʻi Local Food Guide — What Locals Actually Eat
Hamura Saimin, shrimp plates in Waimea, Koloa fish market, and nine other spots worth knowing before you eat a mediocre resort meal.
5 min · kauai
Hamura Saimin — Kauaʻi's Most Iconic Bowl
A noodle shop on Kress Street in Lihue that opened in 1952 and has never needed to change a thing. What to order, why it's different, and how to eat it correctly.