When we first started visiting Hawaii, the Big Island in 2004, we had a hard time finding great restaurants. Since then, the number of restaurants and the overall quality has improved dramatically. We’ve definitely found some winners.
We’ll start with our personal picks and then move on to the wisdom of the crowds with TripAdvisor, and finish up with recommends from guidebooks.
The following restaurants are ones that we particularly like after multiple trips to the Big Island. We tend to focus on restaurants with great views and Hawaii regional cuisine. We don’t take our recommendations lightly. In fact, we create this list as if we’re giving it to our family and friends. For us dining is a big part of our Hawaii vacations and we want to make every experience count!
Best restaurants with ocean views:
Excellent Hawaiian fusion cuisine without ocean views:
Best Malasadas: Tex Drive-In off Highway 19 in Honoka’a (near the mile 43 marker) Check it out if you are going to Waipio Valley and/or following our popular Big Island scenic drive from Kona to Hilo.
Some of Hawaii’s More Unique Restaurants:
Best budget-friendly restaurants:
Best Hawaii-style pub: Kona Pub and Brewery in Kailua-Kona. We particularly like their kalua pulled pork nachos.
Restaurants that we’ve heard good things about, but haven’t personally tried yet:
OpenTable is helpful for reviews and being able to book a reservation.
Thousands of TripAdvisor members rate Hawaii restaurants. I tend to spend quite a bit of time on TripAdvisor researching restaurants, activities and hotels well before my travel.
I’ll organize the Big Island TripAdvisor restaurant listings by geography. Some of the geography they use is a bit odd, but we’ll make it work for us. We’ll start on the Kohala Coast/Waimea area and work our way around the island counter clockwise. So as not to create information overload, I’ll try to only list the areas that you’ll likely be nearby.
Kohala Coast (Including Hawi, Waimea/Kamuela, Waikoloa)
Kona Coast
Hilo Side
When I first published this article, Yelp wasn’t on our radar. Now we use Yelp at home and when we travel. The app is pretty helpful when you are on the go. Their search feature helps you find exactly what you want in terms of location, meal time, pricing, indoor or outdoor dining and much more. Yelp is really our go-to for finding restaurants.
Hawaii The Big Island Revealed is usually a reliable guidebook for restaurant recommendations.
See our Big Island Luau page for pricing, schedules, locations and reviews.
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Notes:
Do you have a favorite restaurant on Hawaii, the Big Island? Please comment to share your favorite.
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We didn't like the Big Island Steak House in Waikoloa. The service was good, but the quality of the food was equivalent to fried pub food.
Skip the shave ice in Hawi at the Shave Ice/Fudge Shop Upstairs at the Mill. Their shave ice wasn't even snow cone quality.
Sheila,
As a long time resident of the Big Island, the very best kept secret is a great Korean food Restaurant in the KTA shopping center in Waimea. Yong's Kalbi has the best meat jun on the planet. The food is local and well made. You get great food at plate lunch prices that will shock you. This has to be the best deal you can get for great food. They will also pack your meal for take out so that you can eat it at the beach or at the park....check it out but don't tell anybody my secret..jerry
Hi Jerry - I was hoping you'd comment! You're Korean food restaurant sounds like a real gem! I'll definitely give that a try next time! Thanks for adding that suggestion, er secret. :)
Living on the Hilo side of the Big Island, I have eaten at most of the restaurants listed at Trip Advisor. I don't know why Viking's Landing is on the list, they closed years ago and I just called the number listed and it isn't them.
As for Kuhio Grille, I ate the Hawaiian lau lau plate there and got really, really sick. I also got the run around for days trying to contact the manager so I gave up and vowed never to eat there again.
HVG - Yeah, I guess TripAdvisor should do a better job maintaining their site, but I'm sure they depend a great deal on their members providing the reviews. Plus there are dealing with probably hundreds of thousands of restaurants around the world. Thanks for letting us know about Kuhio Grille and that we should avoid it. Would you care to share with us what restaurants you do recommend on the Hilo side? We'd love to hear your insight.
UPDATE: I found a link on TripAdvisor where you can send them a message to suggest a correction. I sent a message that they should remove Viking's Landing.
In case anyone else is interested, this is the url for sending TripAdvisor feedback : http://www.tripadvisor.com/Feedback
From their pull down menu, you can select "Suggest a Correction"
Thanks for all the great info!
Scott - you are welcome! Please come back and let us know which restaurants you liked after your trip.
For Hilo, I'd add Pescatore. Seriously, the fresh seafood was amazing! O'Keefe's Bakery has fabulous sandwiches, bread, and pastries. Kope Kope has exceptional coffee (the Ka'u is our favorite - way better than Kona - they get it from the Hilo Coffee Mill), but good food too. And the poke truck is soooo good!
Hi JulieAnn - thank you for sharing your favorites. Fresh seafood, pastries, coffee and poke - sound like winners to me!
HVG - FYI - Viking's Landing is no longer listed as a Hilo restaurant on TripAdvisor. That feedback form worked.
A really nice bistro is Hilo Bay Cafe. They have good burgers for lunch, I have never been there for dinner.
Also Ken's pancake house has good Big Island antibiotic free burgers, and breakfast any time of the day--they are open 24 hours.
For a quick lunch, Maui Taco at the Prince Kuhio Mall. They have a fresh all you can eat salsa bar.
If you like local plate lunches, the best kept secret to where the locals go is Sputniks.
HVG - Thanks a bunch for adding those tasty recommendations!
Hi,
I am thinking of going to the Big island and want to know what part is the least rainy part. Where would you recommend staying on a budget, and close to the ocean that is usable?
Thanks
Hi Roz -
The Kohala Coast (about 20 to 30 mins North of Kona on the West side of the island) receives the very least amount of rain. That being said, Kona isn't a particularly rainy area, it just gets a bit more. You can read more about the driest spots of Hawaii here https://www.govisithawaii.com/2008/08/28/where-to-stay-in-hawaii-to-avoid-rain/
As far as budget places to stay, hotels in Kona tend to be cheaper than the Kohala Coast.
As far as beaches, make sure you consult the Hawaii Beach Safety website http://oceansafety.soest.hawaii.edu/?i=hawaii and read their recommendations. Note that conditions can change based on the season and really from day to day.
I might suggest you consider a resort in Waikoloa. That beach resort is along the Kohala Coast and the beach at Anaehoomalu Bay (often called A-Bay) tends to be a bit protected, but again, make sure you check the beach safety website. There's a Marriott and a Hilton at Waikoloa. Plus, there's quite a few condos that you can rent that tend to be very budget friendly.
There are tons of great deals available now....it's definitely THE time to go to Hawaii on a budget!
After having a "just okay" meal at the Island Fish & Chips in Waikoloa Beach Resort, I'm removing it from my recommended list.
A new "Huggo's" devision called Lava Lava in the Wikaloa area. Check out their web site. Great lunch on the beach at A-Bay (February 2013)
You are really oriented towards the big resorts, which I guess is what you like. We live here and never bother going to any of them, as they are just too much like any hotel anywhere. We did have friends visit once who wanted to treat us to Roy's and it was the worst and most overpriced meal I've ever had in a supposedly "good" restaurant (over $400 for the 4 of us with wine), so I recommend against them to my rental guests. Your experience must obviously have been different.
If any of your readers really want great poke, they need to go to Umeke's in Kona at Hualalai & Kuakini. They are the hands-down winner, even beating out our old-timer Da Poke Shack. Big hunks of fresh tuna, delicious sides, and super friendly. We eat there a lot. They also opened up a sit-down restaurant in the Old Industrial Area, but we found it less inviting, noisy, and not as good (more bar-like, which is not our thing).
We like Cafe Pesto in Kawaihae, particularly at lunch (pizza, crab cakes, calzone, liliko'i juice) and their desserts - their coconut tart is so better than the Hilo location's (warm anglaise sauce vs. cold & congealed) and their deep, dark chocolate ganache will make any real chocolate lover happy.
Hi. Can any one advise me of anywhere we can book for Christmas Day that isn't just a hotel buffet. We are travelling from the UK and Staying at the Royal Kona and I am looking for something a bit more special nearby would be great for our family of 4 treat.
You'll probably need to head north of the Kona airport to the luxury resorts for something more special that's not a buffet. Check the restaurants that we've listed with ocean views and try to book a table just before sunset for a special experience.
In Kona, the only fine(ish) dining restaurant that we know of is Huggos, but the last time we were there, we were not impressed with the food or the service.
Thanks, Sheila. We have booked a table at Huggos as nearby and Christmas Day set menu looks good. Will let you know what we think. Most reviews seem to be positive and should see the sun set too...
I hope you have a nice experience. Please do let us know how it goes.