Hawaiian Restaurants in Hilo, HI

“We celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary and the dining experience was outstanding! The food was flavorful, delicious and looked like a piece of art. The live music added to the fine dining experience. To top off the evening the desserts were rich and yummy-but the "Wow" factor was the coffee we ordered served in a french press coffee maker! We will be back and bring our friends and family!“

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

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

“This is a place you can sit back and visit. It's got a homey feel. We had the Kalbi ribs and the Macnut panko Mahi. They were good portions and wonderful tasting food. The portions we large. Took home a piece of their Chantilly cake. Will definitely be back.“

“The man who worked here when we came in in mid November was the epitome of aloha. So kind and welcoming. We had never been before and took his time to explain the menu and make suggestions. For parents travelling with three kids you feel like a burden on a small restaurant like this but again, he was so welcoming to all of us. The Miso garlic katsu was our favorite! So so good. The lamb was also super yummy. Chicken katsu was good, just not as good as the other two.“

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

“Onolicious kine grinds. I know Donna make only da BEST“

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

“Moved To Mountain View North Kulani Road ''Paradise Gardens'' Cold Country in 1999 Ate At Leungs Often , Ordering ''Take Out'' Best Chop Suey In Hilo By Far !!!!!“

“First time. Seafood platter was good. Bbq beef was tasty and tender. I enjoyed the breaded mahi and shrimp (like my moms). My wife’s korean chicken was generous and she enjoyed the mac salad. Very fair prices especially in a mall setting. Mahalo!“

“Only breakfast place we could find at Hilo airport. Did not disappoint. I like the idea that they have warm breakfast prepared and kept on to go box. We ate there but seemed like something you could grab if you are in hurry. We had fried rice which was good actually.“

“The staff smiles is enough for me! Throw in the great food and you have a winner here!“

“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“

“The bentos and staff are excellent
update: May 2025
OMG. lick ur plate action. I ate a one choice (blk belt chicken (my daughter's name for it), aka Nori Chicken with fried rice from the line. the food was yummy (ONO) the amount of food I wasnt able to finish (picture is left over - sorry should have taken b4 i ate).. this place is awesome for a quick bite..“

“We decided to go here as one of the only Saimin places near Hilo. We were not disappointed. We were greeted with a kind woman who spent time taking our order and explaining things to us. After ordering, we spent some time talking with her, to which she discovered we had driven 2 hours to visit her restaurant. She happily provided us with sushi and dessert in addition to our meals, and some delicious elderberry tea. The food was delicious!! We recommend the garlic Saimin and Mochi cake!

Things to note:
- You cannot eat in, only carryout.
- Note the hours before going.
- Paying for the local cuisine, not the design of the place...“

“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.“

“Poke cake Best ever Ever“

“This place is AMAZING WITH AN AMAZING ATMOSPHERE!! A MUST!❤️❤️“

“Food is absolutely delicious and fresh. We can't say how convenient it was to make a phone order and have it ready to go when you pick it up. Everyone there has a welcome mentality and work so hard to make sure they got your order correctly.
Aloha, you guys rock!!!!“

“Good Local Food. Hot, Reasonably priced. Good Aloha Spirit! My Go ,To For An affordable meal! Great Floats. Loco Moco.“

“Zippy’s in Hilo is an absolute gem for breakfast lovers! The menu offers a fantastic Hawaiian flare, with local favorites and creative twists that make every meal special. Their baked goods are fresh, delicious, and always leave me wanting more. The staff is friendly and welcoming, and the atmosphere is relaxed and inviting. If you’re looking for a memorable breakfast spot with mouthwatering pastries and a true taste of Hawaii, Zippy’s is definitely worth a visit!“

“Great vibe, great variety!“

“I must be perfectly honest with everyone. I've been inside Hilo Lunch Shop but i have not eaten their food. However, if you like local food, you'll love this place. I've, never heard a negative thing about this place except they might run out of certain favorites if you don't get there early enough.

My fiance was picking up food for her work and I went with her. There was a long line which moved quickly. I observed those waiting in line as well as the staff. EVERYBODY in the establishment were upbeat and there was just a positive vibe flowing throughout. I could tell the customers were eagerly anticipating and being excited about getting there favorite dishes. Totally cool vibe in there. Im going back to get what I missed out on. Check it out“

“Two locals were here during out visit letting us know this was the place to be for shaved ice. The keiki was very good sized. Don't miss the specials on the board in the back, they are special for a reason. We ordered 8 different combos. All were so good, the coconut add on for $1 is totally worth it, though opt out if you want a less rich and more refreshing version. The lady at the counter was the kindest lady with a pleasant genuine smile that never flinched while the 8 of us lined up calling out our 24 flavors and toppings. She made the whole experience that much nicer and all for under $40.“

“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.“

“Nothing fancy but if you hungry, wanna plate lunch and gotta family to feed on a budget this is the place. Great value and great food. Chicken katzu, curry or cutlet are my faves. Kids love the noodles, the fried rice is pretty good too. We usually grab and go. Lincoln park is just down the street and nicer to eat at.“

“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.“

“Drinks and everything we got were soo delicious!! Husband got the chinese fish which is the snapper as of right now and I got the pan seared duck. Also got the soup of the day which is the potato soup and got a sushi roll. Will definitely be back here if we ever come back to The Big Island!“

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

“Finally stopped in at this great little drive-in. First off Miko (sp) at the counter is super friendly and made some great recommendations including the lasagna and she was not wrong! Garlic toasts, big piece of lasagna and fresh salad. Also got two breakfast burgers with ham, 2 for $8 on Monday, and everyday they have an $8 special! They also have an afternoon fry and burger special for $3.99.“

“Went for our team captain meeting for darts traveling league. Bar wasn't busy, dart boards banging, and waitress was awsome.

Parking: If parking lot full, can park across the street.

Wheelchair accessibility: Wheelchair access available“

“This was my first time eating here and was so impressed! Very nice menu, reasonable prices , clean . Food presentation was beautiful and everything we tried was delicious! I ordered the beef stew pho and the meat was so tender and broth very savory . We also ordered the Vietnamese pancake which was really fun and different . The dipping sauce we just couldn’t get enough of . Can’t wait to come back and try other dishes. This is definitely a hidden gem in Hilo.“

“I AbSoLuTeLy LOVE Kum Yo's Okazuya! I can say how delectable each and every dish they serve is, because I have eaten them all!When you enter you can select items from their buffet line to create your own local style plate lunch.The mandoo are scrumptious, especially when dipping them into Kum Yo's homemade dipping sauce.Each day of the week she has set entrees in which you have multiple choices of freshly prepared veggies, cold tofu to limu.Fresh, hot onoliscious entrees and massive portions, yet very reasonably priced.Take out or dine in.Kum Yo's is my favorite Okazuya in Hilo!Love you folks and tell David I miss seeing him!Sorry there is no food left to photograph! I ate it before taking pics! My bad!“

“pineapple twist....and reasonably priced“

“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.“

“Friendly customer service.“

“#AmazingHotel #GrandNaniloaHotelHilo 🥰“

“Food is bomb every time
Service is amazing (especially Brook & Story) always so polite and welcoming
A perfect place to go for some amazing food or a smoothie after a long day of my yim yams out at the beach
Mahalo!“

“Shortbread cookies are so delicious. So many flavors. My favorite is the Mauna Kea Shortbread cookie. They also have super affordable local plates, breakfast all day, and they sell homemade breads. The inside eating area has been closed since covid but you can still order take out.“

“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.“

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

“Reading other reviews, I guess I'm either easy or others are picky. We got a TON of food for the price compared to most places these days. It was tasty and enough for 2 meals. It's in a strip mall, so it's not an amazing atmosphere, but whatever. I got bbq chicken, brown rice, and salad.“