Restaurants in Hilo

“I wish I had known about them when they opened. Everything is flavorful and reasonably priced. The meat looks like meat and the fish looks like fish, if that’s what you need.”

“Wow! Loved this! Beautiful atmosphere, excellent service and really delicious food!”

“Poke cake Best ever Ever”

“Our first morning on our trip here and we were treated amazing. The service was great, very informative. I tried a pink macchiato and it was a 10/10. It also was a super cute and pleasant environment.”

“One minor feedback, shrimp tempura curled up in to a ball inside the batter instead of the usual length of the tempura today, batter is still amazingly crispy. Besides that still the best and tastiest okazuya I’ve ever had. The flavor of the food has been consistent for the 60 years I’ve been eating here. The workers and the customers maintain that unique Hilo friendliness and charm.”

“One of best meals we have ever had! Very creative cuisine, service was perfect, cocktail's amazing!”

“Matcha made in heaven! So enjoying the newly expanded beverage menu. Love love love.”

“Cute location! Love their dishes! Desserts are also ono! Would eat here as often as I can…”

“SO ONO!!! Everything I've tried so far has been Fantastic 😋”

“ordered a pizza to go for lunch. arrived blazing hot! mahalos.”

“we always go to this restaurant when we have paddling events and they have so much good food. Great prices awesome customer service. This is my Goto place every time we travel there.!!!”

“It's in an industrial area & building. The fried chicken is so good. Lightly battered & perfectly cooked. Everything on my plate was gluten-free. I felt very safe eating here.

Dietary restrictions: Gluten-free fried chicken & knowledgable staff.”

“Mahalo nui au i nā wāhine o ka Papa'a Palaoa Bakery ma Hilo, Hawai'i. They assisted me in providing a whole lilikoi pie to bring home to San Francisco. They fully wrapped the box in plastic to keep the pie protected, so I could then place it in an insulated bag and surround the box with frozen ice packs. The pie (as well as a cinnamon roll) made it back home just as "hou" (fresh) as when I purchased it, me ka pilikia ole (with no problems), and the pie tastes 'ono loa. I am very grateful for their assistance, and especially their kindness. I highly recommend this bakery to everyone who wants fresh baked goods, but most of all, I am very grateful to the Aloha given by their employees. Mahalo nui loa!!”

“The food was super ono!! I had the chicken cutlet loco moco, and it was A-mazing! My wife had the prime rib loco moco, and that was just as delicious! Our daughter had the lechon plate, and that was tasty and crunchy! Our son had the steak and eggs, and the medium rare filet was very tasty and tender! Everything was awesome. My only low ranking was due to the take out order taking a lot longer than the 20 minutes they told my wife. But, in their defense, it was lunch hour on a Sunday and they were extremely busy. The place is nice. But, the other small concern I had was how warm it was in their diner. Those items were the only thing keeping me from giving them 5 stars overall.”

“F****** INCREDIBLE BRUH! BEST EVER! THE CHILI IS THE BEST IN THE WORLD, PROMISE!!!”

“Winter Roll is my favorite dish to order. Nobody in Hilo makes this. The nice gentleman always deliver my take out order to my car. Everyone here gives excellent service, everytime I go there!

Vegetarian options: Green Papaya salad with tofu
Vegan pho
Tofu lemongrass sandwich
Vermicelli w/ lemongrass tofu

Parking: There's more parking in the back of building, besides street parking.”

“Courteous service, clean and inviting decor. Extensive menu.”

“Love all their smoothies !!”

“Really solid, great sushi. We got the sushi deluxe and sashimi deluxe. Presentation was very cute. The waiter dropped one piece of sushi and replaced it with a whole new sushi roll.”

“Had lunch here 2/3 days that we were in Hilo, everything was amazing. The Misoyaki Butterfish Salad was fresh and extremely flavorful without being heavy, and the fish melts like butter in your mouth. We also had a cold water scallop special, an eggplant /marinara/pesto/ricotta appetizer (forgot what it's called, oops!) and crab cakes. Everything was great, honestly one of the best places I've eaten at on the entire island. I like to sit at the bar, as I'm a former long time bartender. Sascha is one of the best around, cocktails were, again, among the best that I found on the island, including Kona. Service was top notch, no matter how busy he got, and he took extra time to modify one of the house cocktails so that an elderly gal with sensitive teeth sitting nearby could enjoy it. I would honestly make the drive from Waikoloa just for this, but Hilo has plenty of outdoor activities to offer as well.”

“It's a "hole in the wall" / nothing fancy place for sure, but been coming here for 9yrs...always the same tasty and flavorful quality food. "Pong", the owner, always remembers what I like and gets it's served fast and hot”

“Nice little hole in the wall place. Family owned. Food is amazing. We stopped by and a local was raving about this place as we walked by. So we just had to stop in. Use cash and leave a tip to support this family! ?

We ordered the garlic chicken.
It comes with white rice and a macaroni salad.
It was so good the garlic chicken was perfectly cooked lightly breaded but not soggy and amazingly flavorful. I also had the crab rangoons and omg they were the best rangoons of my life. Most places skimp on the crab not this place the seafood flavor was abundant and you could see the chunks. So good and perfectly fried. If you are stopping by from the cruise port this is the best place to go on the way to the beach!”

“The food is always excellent - the ceviche is amazing! Reservations are a must - staff is friendly and knowledgeable.”

“Ponds has been my favorite place to eat for the last 20 years. Hands down best waiters, food and ambience. If you are a local or a tourist, it doesn't matter,this is a must go to place if you're in Hilo.”

“10/12/2024

Hawaii's BBQ Deli
111 E Puainako St Unit 570
Hilo, HI 96720

It's a stall in the Puainako Shopping Center. Aside from that I had a good bowl of vegetable saimin there. There is a menu board above the order counter where I placed my order with the attendant. She later brought it to me at my table. The setup is a cozy fast food style table and chair arrangement.

There was a large quantity of al dente vegetables with authentic tasting noodles in a lightly salted broth, not like the instant noodle sodium bombs.

Very satisfying and a repeat.”

“On June 16, 2021, my mom, husband, and I decided to treat ourselves to dinner at Izakaya Miyo after a long, stressful year. It's a prix fixe menu ($99 per person at the time). I highly recommend this restaurant to celebrate a special occasion or just to treat yourself. Chef Louis Pauole is very warm and friendly and explains each dish to you. This is not just a meal, but it is a memorable experience for the senses. Every dish is both beautiful and delicious! Standing ovation!”

“The BEST sliders I have EVER had in my LIFE 👍🏼”

“Beautiful atmosphere, friendly service with great food… highly recommend this place”

“Delicious coffee. I really appreciate that I could get coffee ice cubes for only an added $1.
Service was friendly and quick.
It's a great place to stop at.
There were food options, but I didn't see them listed anywhere, so I'm not sure about what they were or prices.”

“Worst Mexican food in town, Taco Bell may be better…. Sad to say”

“Amazing food and fast, friendly service! 5/5”

“pamello beer was outstanding.”

“The best Vietnamese restaurant on the Big Island. Honestly wished it was on the Kona side so that we can go here more often. The Vietnamese uncle that runs the place is also super nice.”

“Expertos Profesionales en Varietales exóticas”

“Best Kalua Nachos ~ Friendly customer service ~ Tasty food”

“I came back from a Japan Vacation and was missing the amazing food there. My friend put me onto this place and WOW. Great people, local grinds but most important the quality and taste is like you get it in Japan!!!”

“Okonomiyaki and sashimi omakase and miso salmon are my favs! Miso ramen is yummy.”

“We decided to try their spring rolls after watching a food video on YouTube. It was the best decision made. The spring rolls were the best we've ever had, crispy on the outside with very tasty ingredients on the inside. I think it was the taro that made the difference. They were so good that we re-ordered. We also tried the Bahn mi sandwiches and they were also delicious. The owner came out to greet us and we ended up having a very nice conversation. She was really friendly and cute. If you're on the Big Island, it's definitely worth it to try out this place. You won't regret it.”

“They make the most delicious macarons, in a wide variety of flavors! The cupcakes are delicious, too, especially if you like yummy frosting. They have other tempting desserts as well! The staff is always friendly and helpful. 😋”

“Me and my husband had a great dinner here! Reasonable price and delicious korean food! The staffs are polite and humble :)”

“I kept hearing about this place. I’m from near Philly so I’m always on the lookout for a good cheesesteak. I had one. It was good. I’d probably get it again if I have a craving but it wasn’t anything special that I’d rave about. Pretty basic, honestly. Meat, cheese, bun, & a few pepperoncinis. The garlic aioli was the only standout ingredient. Price is decent. The sub wasn’t huge either, but adequate for a lunch. The staff was kind & efficient. It’s a food truck so I’m not expecting a great atmosphere but there’s a nice open grassy area behind it to chill in. I’m eager to try the gyro & the pastrami sandwich next time. I was happy to find a good cheesesteak but not blown away by it. I’ll still be back. You should try it.

Parking: There are a few other food trucks in this lot

Wheelchair accessibility: It’s a smallish gravel lot. People with mobility issues would do fine here.”

“I’m a lover of hamburger steak and have tried the hamburger steak at every restaurant and drive-in in Hilo. The Liko Lehua hamburger steak is absolutely the best tasting. The secret to a good hamburger steak is the gravy and their gravy is rich, tasty and homemade. No instant or canned gravy here. It also helps that their hamburger patties are hand made. Kudos to the chef and staff at Liko Lehua.”

“Staff was friendly, attentive, and accommodating. Drinks were good and we appreciated having non-alcoholic options for delicious beer and cocktails. We had prawns, mushroom tacos, vegan flatbread, sour dough bread and broccoli. All were very good. The vegan flatbread was the unexpected shining star of the meal. To finish we had the ice cream sampler and all of them were wonderful.”

“Stumbled upon this place walking around Hilo this morning. We are very happy we did. Super cute place clean, friendly and the fast. We even got chocolate covered espresso beans from the staff. Highly recommend!”

“I got sandwich and a couple scones from here. It was super good. I had never tried a sandwich in a popover but it adds a unique twist to this place. Staff was super friendly and helpful.”

“I had the Bibimbap which had some wonderful authentic ingredients. I also enjoyed the Bingsu too. Definitely, ,not a "fast food" type Korean cuisine. It's also a very cozy, small cafe with a friendly staff. Will definitely return again.”

“INCREDIBLE green papaya salad! Everything else was excellent, too, but, man, that salad. So well balanced. I wish I could have more. It's primarily a take-away place, but there are two tables that you can use to eat there. All made to order by Ratana, who is the nicest woman. Really delectable food; definitely give it a try.”

“Good food.. perfect noodle soup..”

“ピーナッツバター入りのアサイボウルが美味しい”

“Great people! And amazing poke n sides!! Mouthwatering 🤤”

“Customer Service was amazing. Food was delicious. First time there and I absolutely loved it!”

“We go there for our ICE CREAM CRAVES❣️😜We have ice cream dates every Friday or as much Needed like tonite👍🏼Also after school with the gkids for the chicken snack pack”

“Came in for the first time even though I've worked across the street for years. I have no idea why I didn't come sooner! Ordered the Fish Pupu with Mahi and tartar sauce. Wish I got the full basket because this is delicious.

Fresh fish, moist and flakey meat with a crispy crust. Tartar sauce has a pickle flavor that normally I would avoid if they had told me upfront, but I really like it with the fish.

Decent selection of local beers on draught, too.

I'll be back!!

Vegetarian options: Grilled Cheese, Soup, Fried Vegetables”

“It will be wonderful with some local draft beers. This is the only restaurant opens for travelers until very late. Dictatorship of Astronomy has a limited power here.”

“First timer here and the service was great!! The front worker she’s very nice! The food came out quick.
I had the Loco plate, fries and a drink. I was told they have the best fries and they absolutely do! Also if you plan on going, they only accept cash, which thankfully I did have on me. ☺️”

“By far the best Thai spot on Big Island! The curries tastes like a centuries old family recipe that never need change!
I bring every visitor here from mainland.”

“Spent a week in Hilo since 2019. I was familiar with Hilo town and all the tourist spots and decided to hangout with the locals and found the Hale Inu sports bar is more special than the other local bars it’s more like the Cheers sitcom where “everyone knows your name” I walked in as a stranger and left feeling belonging. The Barmaids Margie, Pua and JoJo will make you feel like a local before you finish your first beverage. As the days went by I noticed different parts of the day had different personalities. The drink specials, pupus, dart boards , pool table, patio deck and park lake view makes this place a must stop on your visit list. Evenings the karaoke comes alive especially on free nights and the local pool sharks gather for open pool tournaments and everyone is welcome even the ladies here have high skill level in the 8 ball pool game. I’ll be back next year hopefully my pool game will improve and I’ll be looking for Max, Derrick, Babe, Darren, Joyce, Ross, Matt, Dennis, Howie,Gwen, Janice, Johnny, Gabe,Hansel, Donovan, Laurie and JoJo. I had great conversations with everyone I met and respect you all and hope to see you next year or maybe sooner. Mahalo be blessed. Dex”

“Great! Bar service excellent!”

“I would give 10 stars if able. Ube cream, fruity pebbles, toasted coconut (thick and crunchy!!) And coconut condensed cram for drizzle. Best ice cream i have ever had!”

“5 stars! I recently visited this Vietnamese restaurant and had an exceptional experience. The food was delicious and truly authentic, making it a delightful dining experience.”

“Rumor around town was that there were 2 Ladies creating a buzz. They've been around for a while putting smiles on people's faces. Locals and tourists alike kept talking about these Two Ladies in the Kitchen. A song came to mind, "Hey, good lookin',... sweet baby... what you got cookin'?" & OMG these Sweat Treats are Delicious!!! I have to confess, my only experience with Mochi Mochi, a Japanese rice cake, is the Trader Joe's version. Now, don't get me wrong... TJ's has a good Mochi IceCream delight. However, once you taste the Authentic Mochi (もち, 餅) delights and the creative variations from Two Ladies Kitchen, you'll understand why all these people are raving about them. "For her, I would gladly ferry across the Sumida on the coldest winter day to buy her those sakura-mochi sweets from old Edo that she loved so much." Kafū Nagai, Three Japanese Short Stories”

“Food is always tasty and plentiful. The service is friendly and efficient. They’re a family favorite of ours.”

“Went to the hidden gem in Hilo...lil vintage ice cream parlor, which is right at the entrance of Alii Ice!! They sell the yummiest fresh fruit and favorite flavored paletas... ice cream pies...ice cream...and other frozen treats! So many flavors...need to visit often to try different ones each time. My favorites...lilikoi cream, Mango cream, sweet potatoes (ube) cream, haupia cream, peanut butter & chocolate cream, chocolate mocha and SO MUCH MORE! These are homemade local-style frozen treats... so be sure to go and try it!!”

“They have the best ice cream. Period. We have tried so many top ice cream shops in many big cities, this place is hands down one of the best. We feel so blessed to have this ice cream shop in Hilo that we can come here every week for our little treat.”

“Always amazing, mistaken went to Jalisco out of desperation, sad to Taco Bell is above Jalisco…. Thanks for being amazing panchos!!!!!!!!”

“5 stars. Amazing food, great service, and unforgettable taste that keeps you coming back. Mahalo Tabaraka!”

“Excellent Poke selection and wonderful flavors.”

“The food was AMAZING! I was so surprised with how fresh and healthy it tasted. I wish I could eat there everyday. I will definitely visit again if I come back to Hilo.”

“Great place to eat. I recommend the tempeh sandwich - generous portion and comes with a side of choice too. Good selection of drinks, local beers and kombucha. Staff are friendly.”

“Adorable place, friendly employees, cute hibiscus decorations, good vibe, reasonable prices. Only downside was the food wasn't that great :( Salad was supposed to come with grilled chicken strips and it was just cold shredded chicken. Dole whip was good!”

“They were extra accommodating to my weird dietary restrictions. The food was great! The presentations with plates and bowels they had the food in was very nice too. Will definitely come back.”

“Big fan of Hā Cafe in Hilo because of their serious attention to ensuring food is vegan, and for me, egg-free, as I also have a severe egg allergy. From all of their desserts being entirely vegan and gluten-free (20-30 different bakery items each day), to their smoothies and juices being 90% vegan, with the exception of honey in some premade juice or dairy that can be substituted in smoothies, and a separate vegan menu for sandwiches and toasts, they are doing very well! They know each and every item in their foods and menu and are hyper aware of cross contamination. Plus everything is delicious and served with aloha. Can’t go wrong here.”

“Best green papaya salad on the Big Island”

“Pamela was our waitress. She was such a pleasant person and gave absolutely perfect service! She is an asset to IHOP. Thank you, Pam!!”

“Friday afternoon , chocolate shake and cheese burger - great meal - lost perscription eye glasses at your picnic table at 3;30 PM . if found call at 808-885-7508 . thanks in advance Mike H.”

“Love everything ❤ Beef patties handmade every a.m. Loco moko & SWISS ? burger 'ono, biggest laulau w/ choke lu'au”

“F****** INCREDIBLE BRUH! BEST EVER! THE CHILI IS THE BEST IN THE WORLD, PROMISE!!!”

“They helped me feel comfortable on my first visit. Clean, pleasant store and friendly staff.”

“OMG.... addictive, what more can I say!”

“ABSOLUTELY LOVE their Deep Dish Supreme or Deep Dish customized... and their chicken Wings are Amazing and their Stuffed crazy bread & Sauce. . And Italian Cheezy bread!!! YUMMM!!! And good customer service :) and BEST priced!!! Cant beat it!!!”

“Best brisket outside of Texas. Everything delicious…. and you get plenty.”

“The food was super ono!! I had the chicken cutlet loco moco, and it was A-mazing! My wife had the prime rib loco moco, and that was just as delicious! Our daughter had the lechon plate, and that was tasty and crunchy! Our son had the steak and eggs, and the medium rare filet was very tasty and tender! Everything was awesome. My only low ranking was due to the take out order taking a lot longer than the 20 minutes they told my wife. But, in their defense, it was lunch hour on a Sunday and they were extremely busy. The place is nice. But, the other small concern I had was how warm it was in their diner. Those items were the only thing keeping me from giving them 5 stars overall.”

“This place is amazing! The buns are fresh and handmade, the burgers are made from extremely good meat, and the on tap beer selection is vast. If it's a nice day, don't miss out on the outside seating. The place has a lot of character but everything is well cleaned and maintained.”

“Great place to eat. I recommend the tempeh sandwich - generous portion and comes with a side of choice too. Good selection of drinks, local beers and kombucha. Staff are friendly.”

“Rumor around town was that there were 2 Ladies creating a buzz. They've been around for a while putting smiles on people's faces. Locals and tourists alike kept talking about these Two Ladies in the Kitchen. A song came to mind, "Hey, good lookin',... sweet baby... what you got cookin'?" & OMG these Sweat Treats are Delicious!!! I have to confess, my only experience with Mochi Mochi, a Japanese rice cake, is the Trader Joe's version. Now, don't get me wrong... TJ's has a good Mochi IceCream delight. However, once you taste the Authentic Mochi (もち, 餅) delights and the creative variations from Two Ladies Kitchen, you'll understand why all these people are raving about them. "For her, I would gladly ferry across the Sumida on the coldest winter day to buy her those sakura-mochi sweets from old Edo that she loved so much." Kafū Nagai, Three Japanese Short Stories”

“SO ONO!!! Everything I've tried so far has been Fantastic 😋”

“Worst Mexican food in town, Taco Bell may be better…. Sad to say”

“The best part about the Hilo Town Tavern is the Exhibit Gallery, which is attached to the dining area. For 8 1/2 years the Exhibit Gallery has supported many of the artists in Hilo and has been a major cultural icon. The Exhibit Gallery supports the First Friday Art Walk and other major Hilo events. I highly recommend visiting this gallery.”

“Came in for the first time even though I've worked across the street for years. I have no idea why I didn't come sooner! Ordered the Fish Pupu with Mahi and tartar sauce. Wish I got the full basket because this is delicious.

Fresh fish, moist and flakey meat with a crispy crust. Tartar sauce has a pickle flavor that normally I would avoid if they had told me upfront, but I really like it with the fish.

Decent selection of local beers on draught, too.

I'll be back!!

Vegetarian options: Grilled Cheese, Soup, Fried Vegetables”

“ordered a pizza to go for lunch. arrived blazing hot! mahalos.”

“I wish I had known about them when they opened. Everything is flavorful and reasonably priced. The meat looks like meat and the fish looks like fish, if that’s what you need.”

“They were extra accommodating to my weird dietary restrictions. The food was great! The presentations with plates and bowels they had the food in was very nice too. Will definitely come back.”

“Courteous service, clean and inviting decor. Extensive menu.”

“Love it Cafe 100 having my usual Loco Moco sloppy & Sunnyside eggs and even if didn’t have Mac salad this morning, I will always return especially for the Chicken Hekka and daily specials #hukaonorono”

“Poke cake Best ever Ever”

“Our first morning on our trip here and we were treated amazing. The service was great, very informative. I tried a pink macchiato and it was a 10/10. It also was a super cute and pleasant environment.”