We love to do food tours in every city we go to around the world, and this was among the worst overall and especially worst for return on investment. We would not recommend this even at a lower price. We did the South Shore Food Tour which was disappointing. The main problem with the food tour is that it's not about "local food" - it's about "local ingredients." We expected Hawaiian food and we got, at best, tropical flavors that we could pretty much get at any tropical climate, and at worst, lamb meatballs made of local lamb - while they were good, they weren't really local Hawaiian secrets. They were lamb meatballs you could get in California, but made with Hawaiian lamb. We were also handed a list of stops at the beginning of the tour. We were told that the high cost of the tour is because they made reservations and/or paid in advance for the food, but 5 of the 9 places weren't open or the line was too long, and they paid on a credit card for what we did eat. Of those 5 places, 2 were replaced with arguably worse items (ex. hot dogs instead of sushi). The one highlight of the tour was learning about gelato at the Papalani Gelato, which was legitimately really good and informative. I estimate the cost of the tour for each of us was about $40-50 compared to the $120 we paid... just not worth it for the one thing that was a real food learning experience. It seems mostly like it was meant to sell her book (which seems more like it should be a free website than a book you pay for) based on them pushing it at the beginning, middle and end of the tour. Our tour guide was pretty nice, too, but we were really looking for something much better. read more

Took the Hanapepe tour with Shaun as our guide. He was very knowledgeable and fairly interesting. The stops were interesting, the Grandma's Kitchen was outstanding. We would do another tour again. decent value for the 3 hour tour with food. We only ate a snack for dinner. read more

This was my 2nd go with Tasting Kauai and it is still amazing. DO go hungry as you will be well fed throughout with the most amazing local foodie delights:) Marta and her hubby do an amazing job finding small local treasures. Highlights this trip? Makai Sushi, Kickshaws Food Truck (I will go back again and again), Monkeypod Jam. This food tour is worth more than what you pay. Highly recommend and will do it a 3rd time when I return to Kauai! read more

we ate so much food on this tour ! we did the southern food tour. that ended in the market place. we drove around the whole time following each other but it was all very close. we LOVED THIS! we learned so much about the food and so for the rest of the trip we had more places we wanted to stop and eat or get food to go. We stopped at the gelato place again and we went to the market a second time. and we sought out the haloe girl sweets. she was amazing !!!! keep this tour going because its so special to the island. read more

Tasting Kauai - one stop at the Haole girl bakery. the best baked goods i've had in a LONG TIME! - Food Tours Near Me - Lihue, Hawaii

We took two food tours on Kauai, North Shore and South Shore. Both tours were excellent with a wide variety of food vendors and food offerings ( from food trucks to high end hotels ). Michelle was an excellent and well versed guide through our gastronomic feast. The samplings were plentiful and so delicious! The chefs/hosts for each stop provided us with their history as well as in depth information about the food served. A great way to learn of the special food offerings that the average visitor may miss! read more

We have visited Kauai probably 10 times or more and this is our favourite thing to do. We fortuitously met Marta the last time we were here at Java Kari (great coffee, baked goods, and light meals), and signed up for a tour of Kauai's East Side. On this trip we did the North Side Tasting Tour and it was just as much fun. These tours focus on small restaurants that work to feature local and sustainable agriculture, and we always discover new places to return to when we next visit. The tour was very well led by Catherine, a woman with extensive knowledge about food both globally and locally and started with fabulous smoked kalua pork, Lomi Lomi salmon and poi at the Hanalei Taro and Juice Company food truck in Hanalei. Most of the tastings included a chance to hear from owners or key people from various food providers to learn about their approach to food, and included tastings from Harmony, the baker with the Hanalei Bread Company, and further tastings at the North Shore General Store, Uncle Mikey's Dried Fruit, and authentic Mai Tai's from Tiki Iniki. Always fun, informative (and filling - don't worry about dinner that night), we will certainly make sure we fit open of these tasting tours every time we visit. Next visit - the South Shore! read more

Have to say first, Marta and Dan were fabulous. They made us feel welcome and after a few minutes with them, they felt like old friends. The tour its self was a lot of fun and very informative. Through this tour we found many hidden gems for eating out. The food vendors/owners were very informative about their establishment and the foods they sold. I would recommend this tour to anyone interested finding the great and locally sourced food options available in Kauai. Again, Martra & Dan, great job. read more

I've been to Kauai twice now and this is by far the best activity experience I've had - well worth the expense. You spend just about an entire day learning about and tasting Kauai from a real local foodie couple - not a big corporate tourism group. It was amazing to be able to see, touch, and taste what the island has to offer, especially Guy's personal garden and the fruit farm - two places you'd never get to see on your own. It was a very personal Aloha-style experience without all of the touristy hat/tshirt sales, megaphones, etc. Super laid back, educational, and fun time with really knowledgeable local hosts. It was nice to have a group to travel with on all of the little stops so you could chat and get to know people. Everything was delicious - from local fruit and honey (many I didn't even see at the Farmer's Market!), a cooking demonstration and incredible lunch with a world-traveled chef, and the meadery. The hubby is a chef and I'm a foodie/gardener, and we were able to learn a ton about local plants and cuisine far beyond what we knew about before. Great overall experience that I'd highly recommend to see what Kauai is really made of. read more

My husband and I went on the Hanapepe food tour with Shane yesterday. Along with another couple the five of us had a special inside tour of the darling Hanapepe Town. We had a wide variety of fresh, handmade, and delicious food. It was a great day getting to learn about the town, people, and history of the artsy place. We'll definitely return on our next trip to eat more of the town. Our guide was informative, friendly, and engaging. I think the food tours are a fabulous way to explore the island. This is our third tour and we want to try them all. read more

Can't believe it's been a few months this tour was AMAZING you want to get a little behind the scenes and info on local eateries. Definitely take the tasting Kuaui tour you will be so glad you did we are still talking about the food and places we would never have found on our own if your on the fence about it This is a must do . We will definitely be back on our next trip to do a different tour thank you Tasting Kuaui Mahalo till we meet again.. read more

I went on the North Shore Food tour early December this year, and had a great time! My group did the tour early on in our vacation and it was a great way to plan where we wanted to eat for the rest of the trip. We ate food from a couple food trucks, as well as a couple of restaurants, finishing up with a visit to a tea farm. We had alcohol at 2 of the stops, and even though at the tea farm there wasn't any food (other than some star fruit the owner let us pick from one of his trees - awesome!). And the tea and location of the farm was soooo cool, getting to wander around in the gardens and learn about local plants. The only thing I would have asked for with this tour is a van for all of us to have been able to us, rather than drive separately to each location. Thanks Marta for a great tour! read more

We did the East Side Royal Coconut Coast Tasting Tour. It started out on a plantation. We had to do a little walk out to the taro plants. It was very hot that day but they provided umbrellas for shade and bottles of water. We proceeded to drive our own vehicle following each other to a handful of farm to table restaurants. They all had a different vibe with great food and stories behind their establishment. We found a lot of hidden gems along the way. Our tour guide was very knowledgable and in the food industry herself. We thought it was definitely worth it and a unique way to learn about the area. read more

Great afternoon cruising Poipu's out of the way local markets and food stands culminating at a fun farmer's market with a cool drink and pupus at Merrimans Fish House. Michelle is a great guide overflowing with Aloha! Not cheap but offers unique experiences we'd never found on our own. read more

My husband and I did all 3 of the tours. They were all worth every penny! I suggest taking all the tours, but if you are staying on island in some place you can cook, do the Farmers Market Tour the first week you are there. You will know what to cook and where to get the best ingredients after taking the Farmers Market Tour. All 3 tours have something different to offer and you learn the best places to eat without experimenting on your own. Marta, Dan, and Michelle have taken all the guess work out of eating on Kauai! read more

We were lucky enough to be on the inaugural tour for Tasting Kauai and it was a truly memorable experience. We both really enjoyed the tour of the farm with all of the tastings of the various tropical fruit. And Chef Guy Higa was so gracious to allow us to tour his private garden as well. The lunch that he cooked for us at the Marriott--well I'm still thinking about the noodles with the roast pork that he made! To die for! He also served a salad with greens from his persona; garden and he topped off the lunch with a lovely passion fruit creme brulee. We had a great time and highly recommend this tour. read more

This was the best thing we did on Kauai. Marta and her hubby were great hosts. The tour is the best for the cost. We just keep talking about it! Mark and Kristen read more

My wife, two daughters (8 and 5) and I did a tasting Kauai tour in October 2016 with Michelle and really enjoyed it. Our favorite part was the Kealia farm tour, learning about the biological and cultural aspects of taro was really cool! Neat restaurants awaited, we enjoyed each and every one, especially Wailua Shave Ice! One tip was that we were glad we didn't pay for plates for our kids, we just brought them snacks and paid for shave ice for them separate from the tour. We'll do this tour again when we make it back to Kauai! read more

An interesting way to spend an afternoon. You meet other tourists and get to know the Princeville and Hanalae Bay food culture a bit better. Nice general history of the places and presenters have their unique personalities that contribute to the experience. By the end, we were full! They are creating a better experience as time goes by - so if you are up for an adventure, like food, enjoy meeting new people and have some flexibility in your schedule - check it out. read more

the Hanapepe walking tour was unique and fun. interesting shops and restaurants. the Salty Wahine shop was the most interesting. Shane the guide was laid-back and fun. Next trip to Kauai, we will look for more Tasting Kauai tours. read more

My husband and I did the South Shore tour in April and had a great time. Marta and Daniel were knowledgeable, personable and helpful. We stopped at six establishments, had large samples at each and were stuffed when we were finished. All the owners were passionate about food and their business. Next time we are in Kauai, I plan to book one of the other food tours Sue read more

While I did a number of tours while I was in Kauai I found this one to be the one I remembered the most. It was a great way to learn about what's grown on the island, the lives of the people who live & work on the island and some of the foods of Hawaii! Also because it was quite casual I got to talk to other people on the tour while we shared food we were tasting. I found that enjoyable as I was traveling solo. I cancelled my dinner reservations after this tour because I was so full....we ate quite a bit as we went to so many places! I found the food purveyors passionate about what they did, about the local food sources & farming and enjoyed their passion for food. It also encouraged me to personally try things I'd never eaten. I honestly can't say I would have found some of these places just looking on Yelp or on the internet..they were tucked into other venues & places. Enjoyed the laidback vibe and the food very much. Recommend this tour! read more

Our guide Susan was wonderful. She is knowledgeable and passionate about the local cuisine. All of the food was marvelous. Found several new places to visit again. read more

One of the best tours I have ever had the pleasure of being on, A MUST for any foodie and anyone with an interest in the Farm to table movement. Our guide was very knowledgeable and shared a lot of information with us about food production and the challenges farmers face in Hawaii. Every part of the tour was a Highlight. and of course, the food was epic! read more

Great tour, great food! Neat local preserves. Best poke bowl in 25 years of visiting Hawaii and best hamburger ever anywhere. Delicious Acai bowl. Just three of the highlights along with great Chinese dumpligns and a fried green tomato and pepper jack cheese croissant. A delightful afternoon with Shane as our guide. Only downside was the food was so good i broke my very low carb diet so as to not miss anything :) . I have not named the places we ate as you really should enjoy the tour and the surprise that comes with it meeting all the folks who are keeping Kauia healthy and happy. read more

MICHELLE YOU ARE A CULINARY GODDESS. thank you for introducing us to so many incredible people along Kauai's south shore. We loved every moment of our tour with you. Thank you to Marta and Dan for creating such a stimulating experience! read more

I have owned property on Kaua'i for over 25 years, (before Iniki) ...and I must say this is such a fabulous addition to my experience here - Monique was so knowledgeable and gracious, answering all of our questions and patiently guiding us through our adventure. I plan to make reservations for all of the tours across the island. read more

Katherine was so sweet, helpful and knowledgeable as our tour guide! She really made sure all of us were having a great time. What amazing food we tasted! Cannot stop thinking about that acai bowl on the trip! read more

We went on the East Kauai Food Tour on March 15, 2018. Katherine was our guide and she was fabulous. Katherine took us to places we would never have found on our own. We wish we did the tour on our first day because we would have gone to Haoli Girl Island Sweets every day and we would have known about the live music at the Oasis on Wednesday nights. We also would have gone to the Farmer's Markets throughout the week. The croissants at Haoli Girl Island Sweets are incredible. The best burger we had was at Kenji...the Japanese Burrito was my favorite. We will definitely take all the tours the next time we visit. read more

My family had a great experience exploring the South Shore. We did this on our last day which was unfortunate because we found so many hidden gems. Michelle was a great guide. While it is a bit pricey, the experience was well worth it for Hawaii. read more

If you want to find the "hidden gems" for eating local in Kauai, schedule a tasting tour with these folks. We have been two years in a row and it's a highlight of our trips. What we learned last year guided our food choices this year. Simply the best way to learn about local spots; Michelle is a delightful guide and getting to know the owners and chefs makes the food all the more special! We would never have found some of these spots on our own. read more

Having lived on Kauai for 30 years, this was an eye-opener for new places to enjoy. I liked being able to drive in my own car and being treated to information from chefs and owners. I look forward to more tours with Tasting Kauai. read more

We did the north shore tour yesterday-I couldn't believe how much food we got to try! Kate was a great guide-very knowledgeable about the locations where we stopped and wanted to make sure we had all of our questions answered. Three of us went on the tour and none of us wanted to eat dinner later that night. This type of tour is a nice change of pace from a bus tour to "see the sights"-it's interactive and you learn things about Kauai that you probably wouldn't have known otherwise. People here are serious about eating good food and you don't have to pay an arm and a leg for it! There is a bit of walking at the first location that could be challenging especially on a really hot day, but between our guide and our hosts, shaded seating was made available at all of the stops. I don't usually like mai tais, but now I know why-I had never had a proper mai tai before only a mass produced one at a luau or on a boat/tour/cruise--the one we tasted at our last stop was great-I'd have another in a heartbeat! I would like to try the other two tours as well, so I guess I'll have to come back to Kauai again-oh darn! read more

This was a very good adventure of the South Side of Kauai. More than enough food, very filling and very tasty. Ending at the Farmers Market was a nice bonus. A list of the businesses visited and their website would have been nice. Who can remember the names! read more

This was pricey but worth it. We started out at a taro farm on the east side of the island. We learned about some Hawaiian history and how taro is grown and it's importance to the culture. We finished with an apple banana (that's the name of the fruit) sorbet like thing that was delish. From there we went to the Santa Maria barbecue place. I used to live in that area so I was pleased to be handed a proper Santa Maria tri-tip sandwich. For those not in the know, that's where tri-tip started in the 50's. Up until recently it was a throw away cut. Not exactly Hawaiian food but really good. Next stop JO2. That was a great stop and Chef did a nice talk about farm to table cooking in Hawaii and talked about challenges of farming on an island. He served a beautiful vegan corn soup and some fried green bean appetizer with a nice island sauce over them. Next stop Kenji burger. Very nice fusion offerings...now I'm getting full and we're not done yet. Last stop Oasis. Gorgeous setting and Chef came out and talked a little about what he served. Mexican style street corn with a powder that they made there that was very interesting. He also served a dessert that looked like it was going to be ice cream but was like a ganache or something similar. Very good as well. I felt I got a good cross section of what the east side of the island had to offer. read more

fabulous food, great tour guide, always interesting and unusual. places you would never find on your own and great education regarding the growing of food and self sustaining farmers on teh island. i have now done 5 tours and will do more! read more

Poor customer service by Martha. Full disclosure we did not go on the tour and we felt the communication could have been much better to confirm the status of the tour (due to extensive rain and flooding on the island). I understand we were not eligible for a full refund but perhaps seeing if they could fill up the space would have been a better option rather than saying nothing could be done. We booked the tour b/c we read all the reviews. The only reason I am writing this review is b/c we felt Martha's responses were unprofessional after we lost out on the entire booking fee. read more

What an amazing find! This tour appealed to my 7 year old son and my 70 year old mom! The tour is lead by local insiders from the island who shared delicious treats that are authentic to Kauai. Farm to table at its best. This ended up being both our lunch and dinner. We hope to check out another tour when we come back to explore more of this beautiful island. read more

We have been going to Kauai for many years and thought we really know the island (and change is very slow on this amazing island) but the food scene has changed so much and we're thrilled. We went on the South Shore food tour since we always stay in the North Shore. And it was fantastic! Katherine was great as a guide; patient, knowledgeable and just a really nice person. This tour truly took it's time and we went to SO MANY vendors. Being from SF and a foodie, it was so great to see how these vendors use only local Kauai products and to hear their stories. It was such a delight to discover new places - Monkeypod Jam (love the spicy tomato jam and of course, the lilikoi), Makai Sushi (best poke I have ever tasted - I can still taste the freshness of the fish), Kickshaws (try their grilled cheese!), Anake's Juice Bar (try their Aktion shot and of course, all their acai bowls) and Haole Girl Hawaiian Sweets (mac nut sticky buns and goat cheese/spinach/sundried tomato croissant) are standouts. Can't recommend enough Tasting Kauia Food Tours. Going on the North Shore tour next year where we're sure to find new gems. read more

Fabulous south side tour. Catherine was knowledgeable and friendly. Will do this again on the east side.

A Culinary Romp Through Paradise was alot of F U N! The timing was perfect for us as the tours do not happen that often (monthly), but if you can make the timing work it is a great time. We enjoyed three very diverse experiences, each being special in their own right led by Marta and her husband Dan. We got to learn a great deal about Hawaiian fruit grown on the Kilohana Plantation - Kai, who shared his enthusiastic knowledge was charming. On this special visit we got to try the VERY delicious White Pineapple. It might make your head explode so be careful...it is that delicious. We moved on to a cooking demo at the Marriott. The Exec Chef was not able to attend so his #2 stood in with his team and it was a great time - We ate a three course amazing lunch in a really unique and beautiful location. Third stop was at a The Feral Pig where Dave showed us the magic of three different classic Tiki Drinks. We met a bunch of entertaining people, ate and drank and laughed... it was a blast and not on every tourist agenda! We greatly enjoyed the experience and highly recommend you book it now! read more