Best reasonably priced grilled local fish NOT overcooked?

Question

I'm on-island now, been here for a week and leaving Tuesday. Been disappointed with local grilled fish that in spite of ordering medium-rare and expressly cautioning against overcooking, my wife and I have had more fails than successes here.

I know everyone has their own ideas of what “overcooking” means…but can anyone local recommend someplace to get local fresh grilled or chargrilled fish for lunch where it will be moist, tender, not dry and cooked somewere between medium-rare and medium…but NOT medium? We're about ready to give up!

Thanks fir all who reply

Answer

Aloha! Grilled local fish in Kauai can be tricky, especially if you prefer it cooked just right—medium-rare to medium, moist and tender. Many restaurants tend to overcook to ensure safety or consistency, so finding the sweet spot takes some local insight. Here are some recommendations for reasonably priced places where locals say the fish is typically cooked well and remains flavorful:

Top Recommendations for Grilled Local Fish

Da Crack Kauai (Kapaa & Lihue) — Casual spot known for fresh fish tacos, grilled fish plates, and poke bowls. They often serve freshly caught fish that is moist and not overdone. Ask for “lightly grilled” if you want medium-rare.
Ono Family Restaurant (Kapaa) — Popular with locals for lunch; serves grilled Mahi-Mahi, Ono (Wahoo), and Ahi. They’re accustomed to custom requests, so you can specify cooking preference.
Porky’s Kauai Fish Market (Kapa’a area) — Small fish market with grilled plates to order. They often have freshly caught local fish like Opah and Ahi. Emphasize that you want it “medium-rare” to “medium.”
Big Save Fish Market / Foodland in Lihue — Not a restaurant, but they sell freshly caught local fish that you can take to a nearby beach picnic area or grill at your rental. Doing your own grill ensures exact doneness.

Additional Tips for Getting Perfectly Cooked Fish

Always ask which fish is the catch of the day—this ensures freshness and better control of cooking.
Use descriptive instructions: say “medium-rare, slightly pink in the center, not dry.” Some chefs may understand this better than just saying “medium.”
Consider smaller, local fish shacks rather than larger tourist-oriented restaurants—locals often have better grilling technique and are more flexible.
For ultimate control, buy from a fish market and grill yourself at a beach pavilion or your rental property. Kauai has many gas grills available in parks and some resorts, and local fish is often sold cleaned and ready to cook.

In summary, if you want a high chance of perfectly cooked, moist, local fish, focus on smaller local spots like Da Crack, Ono Family Restaurant, and Porky’s Fish Market. Bringing the fish home or to a rental grill can also be a safe bet if precise cooking is critical. Request “medium-rare” explicitly, and most local chefs will accommodate your preference.

Best reasonably priced grilled local fish NOT overcooked?

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