Tiki Tacos — Restaurant in Kauai

All in all, it was a nice experience with nice staff and good food, but not something completely suitable for a family excursion with time sensitive arrangements. Good if you need something to yourself, are open to new experiences and are hungry

Nice pros Staff was nice The tacos are all hand cooked, even the wrap A shipment of fresh foods literally rolled past us while we were inside No fast food waste (like styrofoam boxes and plastic forks), all red plastic baskets and forks are returned Has variety of fish tacos and other seafood taco options Many chickens were around wanting a snack, so that was fun to see

Neutral observations The kind of taco wasn't what we were personally expecting after getting used to Mexican tacos, but it is a new experience so don't let this differ you Some chairs and tables were a bit older (not an important point)

Some cons Bit small on the inside Not completely flavorful, a bit bland for our tastes Limited seating Has outdoor seating Ran out of beef, but was very cordial about it and alerted people as to what happened and let them change their order without extra charge Does not have guacamole, asked and said no. Tacos were a bit pricy, one big one per person instead of say a plate (but that can be seen on the menu, so it's expected) Fish tacos were not like Mexican fish tacos, they had their Hawaiian take on them (as seen in the motto Wait time was longer, but understandable as there were few people in the kitchen and everything...

Summary: Sweet and kind service with lackluster vegan options.

Service: the front counter service was so kind and amazing. She talked us through the two vegan options and made us comfortable. Maybe this got our hopes up too much.

Ambience: there really isn't any. This place could easily be a food truck for what it is. Regular beachy hole-in-the-wall.

Food: for vegans, it is great to have more than one option. We had two: the grilled veggie and marinated tofu tacos. The grilled veggie was really bland. Even the "spicy" version was all heat and no real flavor. The tofu while colored differently making it "marinated" once again really no flavor. I urge all restaurants to press their tofu before marinating. This makes all the difference. If you press the tofu then marinated then you'll get much better absorption. I totally understand the "tofu is gross" opinions of the masses because of this. Also, the hot sauces that you could get on the side were really bitter. Not really any heat or flavor but almost tasted like old lemons or something odd. I'll give it to them, they do OVER stuff their tacos and if they wanted to go authentic, they would give a second taco shell to catch the drippings for taco no. 2. That would make the $8 price tag per taco feel better for sure.

I want to thank the staff for being awesome, but definitely urge the chefs to just watch some recipe guides on vegan food. Just because we don't eat meat and cheese doesn't mean we don't like...

Gnarly waves are awesome, but hold up, because Tiki Tacos on Kauai is where you'll find some seriously tasty food! If you're exploring the island, this spot in Kapaʻa is a must-visit for a flavor explosion.

They've totally nailed this Hawaiian-Mexican fusion thing, serving up tacos that are packed with fresh, local goodness. You gotta try their Kalua Pork tacos – they're like a taste of the luau, wrapped in a tortilla. Or, if you're feeling a bit more adventurous, the Fish tacos with the fresh catch of the day are top-notch. And for those who like a little heat, the Tiki Fire Pork will get your tastebuds going!

But the real magic, besides their epic salsas, are those handmade corn tortillas – thick and fresh, they hold all that deliciousness together. Seriously, these tacos are so big, you might only need one to get your fill and still have room for some shaved ice.

The vibe here is super chill, just what you want after a day in the sun. You can hang loose inside or grab a spot outside and soak up the island air. Plus, the crew is always stoked to see you and super friendly. And don't worry, even the veggie lovers have options like the Spicy Tiki Fire Vegetable Taco or the Roasted Vegetable Taco.

So, next time you're on Kauai, cruise on over to Tiki Tacos. You'll be stoked you did, and probably dreaming about those tacos until...