Hawaiian Restaurants in Kailua Kona, HI

“Excellent food, friendly staff, excellent experience!“

“Ono food guys! Go check out my brother Nephi!“

“Food is great, need dining area though.“

“Great night celebrating my Dads visit to Kona. Da Bomb fries and Kona fish tacos were delicious. Service was friendly and attentive, Widdy Loo - entertained- the beautiful Kona sunset was spectacular! Thanks for a wonderful evening!“

“Plenty of flavors also a cheat sheet inside to help those who don’t know“

“Absolutely love this place wonderful Aloha vibes! Live music is also great. 😊“

“We went the afternoon/evening of the tsunami warning a few weeks ago while on vacation. A lot of places were closing and we had to evacuate our hotel so I phoned around and found this place would be open. We figured we'd hunker down at a place that would be able to provide food and entertainment for our 6 year old while we waited it out. The staff was very helpful throughout our time there. The food we ordered were rather large portions and quite tasty. Never underestimate food that might be in a bowling alley, that's for sure. My daughter played some arcade games throughout our time there, and we also spent some time bowling. After the diner closed but the status of the evacuation hadn't changed, they kept the bar area open for the patrons who were also waiting it out. We enjoyed some drinks before leaving the establishment shortly before the alerts downgraded and we could return to our hotel. A good place to visit even if you're not killing time waiting out an anti-climactic tsunami.“

“Great place to meet friends for the amazing schooners!“

“L&L Hawaiian Barbecue is my go-to for a taste of the islands. I also highly recommend the Chicken Katsu; it's always crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with a delicious katsu sauce on the side. The mac salad is a must-have, and it really completes the classic plate lunch experience. The food is consistently good and a great option for a hearty, satisfying meal.“

“Great restaurant. Food, service and atmosphere... a trifecta!“

“Kanaka Kava is one of my favorite spots on the island! They have the best kava by far! 'Awa is grown and harvested fresh by local their Hawaiian Kanaka Maoli farm, they are a truly local native family business. They have the best Hawaiian food I've found for purchase on Hawai'i. It's so good I have to go every time I'm in Kona! Connect to the native culture and eat of the best Island food. They have vegan options too. Aloha e Kanaka Kava!“

“Awesome, fresh food with healthy options! And so close to work!! 😁“

“The L&L's on the big island Kona side have always served some of the best meals you can buy at affordable prices. The quickness and most importantly deliciousness of the food is always outstanding. If your a local or visiting you must try one of these amazing establishments. Mahalo!“

“Our food was delicious and made to order. Kalua Loco moco was the first for me but so glad I tried it. Husband had the fresh ahi tuna sandwich, cooked great. 👍🏻“

“This is a cool modern vibe coffee shop. I really enjoyed the selections of coffee with local flavor options. The bread was amazing, made in house I believe and it was quite tasty. The food options are limited, but good quality. The coffee was absolutely delicious. The atmosphere was nice and it had free wifi for anyone looking to relax and work. I would recommend a stop here.“

“This is my favorite place for Hawaiian food hands down. Fresh is in the name and that’s what you get. The best laulau, pretty much everything I have tried on the menu is da bomb. But don’t get me started on the chicken long rice! Nowhere else comes close! I dream about it. If you know what’s up then you know Hawaii Fresh Specialties is the spot for plate lunch in Kailua Kona.“

“I have always loved the smell of coffee, but unfortunately could not get past the acidic taste. Kona coffee café introduced me to Peaberry Kona coffee. This is the first time that I have ever been able to drink coffee let alone really enjoy it. The friendly staff explained how the volcanic soil and the timing of picking the bean changed the acidity in the coffee. Since being home, I’ve already placed an order and I am enjoying my coffee every morning. Thank you so much for introducing me to this amazing drink!“

“This was the best meal I had on the island. I had a bento box with the Kalua Pork and spicy jungle sauce. Great flavor and the serving size was large. Dragonfruit lemonade was also a good treat! Highly recommend.“

“We love poke and this place did not let us down. Very easy to understand the ordering and they had streamlined, fast service. Definitely would go back!

Only suggested upgrade is more seating. We sat down the road at another vendor’s food/shaved ice truck near the ocean.“

“Friendly staff, great food and atmosphere. Usually really good drinks. A great place to celebrate 🎉“

“I went to the Hilo location with my mother last night and was treated in a very racist and disgusting manner by the FOH staff. There were many empty tables yet the host avoided talking to us for a half hour. Then when I asked one of the waiters if we can sit at one of the open tables he said, "He cant let us do that" Then when I finally was able to talk to the host. He said it would be a 40 min wait for food. Ok I get it, the kitchen is swamped. So I say can we just sit right there pointing at the table he just cleaned. He says "no". Keep in mind there were at least four more empty tables. So we decided to leave. On the way out the thought comes into my mind, that he is going to seat the people who walked in behind us. So I tell my mother to wait a second and I go back in to look and there goes the host immediately seating these people bringing them water and menus. So I head back in and ask him "Whats going on here? Can I talk to a manager?" He tells me there are no managers. Then the waiter at the bar who said he couldnt do anything to let us sit down, says "I am the manager" So they lied to my face. Then I go to the bartender she barely bothers to tall to me and says "we are all managers" and that then tries to defend this discriminatory behavior by saying they are not being prejudiced against us. Yet the people behind us are chilling and going over their menus. and here we are not able to even talk to a manager never the less receive service at this racist establishment. We were systemically blocked from sitting. Then some manager esque fellow comes out trying to do damage control after all of this ongoing nonsense. To little to late. Im not going to eat spit burger with some bigot lougies in it. Mind you both my 76 year old mother have hosted various business meet ups there over the yeara bringing them business supporting Ola Brew and they treat us like this. Do not support businesses like this in Hilo. black people of Hilo be aware. This place will treat you second class. Over priced too, for the worst kind of service. dont do it, dont eat there.“

“Big Island Abalone is a unique aquaculture farm located in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, specializing in premium abalone. They offer a variety of experiences, including a food truck serving freshly prepared abalone dishes and a DIY barbecue area called Kona Barbeque.
We visited the food truck without a reservation and enjoyed a set that included both oysters and abalone. The staff was incredibly friendly and made our experience enjoyable. Both the abalone and oysters were fresh and delicious.
Wanderlog
For those interested in the Kona Barbeque experience, it's important to note that reservations are required. This self-grilling BBQ area allows guests to cook their own meals using locally sourced ingredients, including abalone, lobster, shrimp, oysters, beef, and vegetables. The venue provides all necessary equipment, such as grills, utensils, and tableware. Reservations can be made online, and it's recommended to book at least 48 hours in advance.
Overall, Big Island Abalone offers a memorable culinary experience that combines fresh seafood with interactive dining. Whether you're stopping by the food truck or planning a BBQ, it's a must-visit spot for seafood lovers.😍“

“The best Pina Colada's and an awesome view! We go Everytime we make it to Kona.“

“Food is great and real Filipino, especially the ube puto and ensemada that hubby and son enjoyed ❤️❤️❤️“

“We absolutely loved our experience at 808 Grindz Café! The food came out fast, fresh, and at a great price — a rare find on the island. My wife ordered eggs with spam and potatoes and everything was cooked perfectly with that comforting, local touch. I went for the shrimp, eggs, steak, and hash browns, and it was honestly one of the best breakfasts I’ve had anywhere — generous portions, perfectly seasoned, and so satisfying. The staff were friendly and welcoming, and the atmosphere had a laid-back, local vibe that made us feel right at home. This was hands down the best meal we’ve had so far on the island, and we can’t wait to come back again!“

“We got in right before the rush and got sat right away. We ordered the fish and chips, Laulau plate, hottie poke, and kids quesadilla w/ fries. The fish and chips was great, fresh. The laulau was good, very moist, not too salty. Service was quick and kind. Poke was fresh.“

“Despite our visit, we were unable to sample any cuisine due to a language barrier with the counter attendant. While we appreciate the establishment’s ambiance and customer base, we were unable to communicate our dietary preferences for halal meat due to the attendant’s limited English proficiency. This prevented us from avoiding potential cross-contamination concerns.“

“We had a Birthday party there. Excellent food. Staff was super friendly and so helpful.“

“The bartender Darcy was awesome“

“Not a lot of choices on this island after 7pm. KFC ran out of chicken and closed after we waited k. Line for 15 mins so decided to come here. We were STARVING! So I was so happy they had very good pricing ! If you’re hungry and on a budget then this will do!“

“Great ambience, ocean views and Lianne was a great wait person.“

“Friendly service. Good food and quiet. Nice roomy outdoor seating“