The food and service was impeccable. We had a combination of Vietnamese and Traditional local dishes. The portions were generous, the food was fresh, and even through and extras. I highly recommend you try this place, whether it’s eat-in or take-out. Recommend the smoked beef with bok choy as well as the shrimp stirfry. Unbelievable. Definitely recommend.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Tara DeWitt
Bahn mi sandwiches were delicious perfection. Service was friendly, helpful, and fast :) Highly recommend this little hidden gem :)
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jason B
Well the google reviewers nailed it....really the best pho our family has ever tried.The kids raved, the adults raved, such a good rich broth, sooo good.I also tried the smoked meat bahn milk and that was really, really tasty. Overall the bahn mi is the 2nd best I have had. The slaw made every bite so satisfying. Pohua is a ways from Hilo but certainly worth a stop if you are driving by. One thing, they are ULTRA laid back and do things on their own schedule. Our 5 orders of pho took over 30 minutes to prepare so chill out and just check your order on the way out.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Chicken or Beef Pho
Sione Lavemai
Food was so good. Just went there for the first time and the service was as ALOHA as can get. The PHO is one of the best I tasted in hawaii. They also serve local food as well.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Beef Pho
barbara gleason
Best restaurant on the Big Island!! Awesome, fresh, and delicious varieties of Pho and other great entrees and appetizers at very affordable prices. Owners will treat you like ohana. Much Aloha.Vegetarian options: Many vegetarian options.Parking: Lots of parking out front.Kid-friendliness: Kids are welcome.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Kealoha K
The BEST pho i have ever eaten!! We have alot of pho options on Oahu, but nothing can compare aunty Ala's here at A&J's kitchen. There's about 12 different pho options, the shrimp pho was exceptional, next time I wanna try the beef stew pho?.In my opinion, this is the best place to eat on the Big Island. Pork adobo was melt in you're mouth perfection & the Thai pesto chicken bun mi was Phenomenal. Kids pounded the garlic fries. No matter where you are on the Big Island, you gotta check this place out. On a rainy day like today, I can only wish to be eating some of aunty Ala's magical creations. She's a culinary genius
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Beef Stew Pho
Mike Toews
Great family restaurant! It's a real local restaurant, not some big conglomerate.
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Garlic Shrimp
Deborah Toews
The food was so delicious and plenty of it, but the service and friendliness of the owners made it unforgettable. Hope you stop if you find yourselves passing through, you won't regret it. Thank you A & J Kitchen!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Garlic Shrimp
Jada R.
grew up in eating pho in tacoma Wa seriously the best pho i've had on the islands the broth was great will be going back again for sure
Isaac J.
Service is family like, very kind people. The moment i walked in the door you could smell the great food being made. Ordered two bowls of chicken Pho and its the best ive had on the island. Great ingredients all super fresh & crisp veggies, broth was incredibly delicious, the noodles were perfectly cooked, i was completely stuffed by the end of the meal and i still wanted more. Highly recommended to anyone. !Thank you guys so much for the great food:)
Hands down the best food in Pahoa Hawaii and maybe in Hawaii in general. Try the Lava Fries, The Pork Adobo and the oxtail pho. You won't be disappointed. The tree they have new customers sign leaves for is growing quickly. Everyone in town talks highly of the food. It is so nice the owners come out and just chat it up with customers when can. The vibe is very homelike. Uncle John even let me bring one beer.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Beef Stew Pho
Kalani Begaye
This is an amazing spot to come and escape the rain and get some good hot soup and coffee. Love the atmosphere. John and Ala are very friendly and hospitable. I'd definitely recommend this place to anyone!Parking: Small parking lot so it can be hard to find parking but this restaurant is worth it!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Beef Stew Pho
Dennis Glover
We just happened in for lunch and it was a wonderful surprise! A and J were both incredibly welcoming and the food was some of the best we’ve had in Hawaii! I had the all meat fried rice and my wife had the shrimp fried rice, both dishes and the mac salad were all very good. So glad we stopped in.
J E
Unreal man. Spent over 10 years away from home. Had the lau lau plate. I got choked up, it tasted so much like my Aunty Kanani's. Taste like home.Everything so ono. Pastele stew was grinds, adobo was perfectly cooked, pho was deep layered with flavor.And got to show my mainland friends some real Kanak kau kau.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Shar H.
We enjoy the service of these two wonderful people at AJ's kitchenHis service is fabulous and funny and her cooking is great. The broth is excellent and that's what I got for always wonderful she gives a little more rice noodle than I'm used to but that's great because I don't do much meat. The spring rolls fabulous we definitely would return
The food and service was impeccable. We had a combination of Vietnamese and Traditional local dishes. The portions were generous, the food was fresh, and even through and extras. I highly recommend you try this place, whether it’s eat-in or take-out. Recommend the smoked beef with bok choy as well as the shrimp stirfry. Unbelievable. Definitely recommend.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Bahn mi sandwiches were delicious perfection. Service was friendly, helpful, and fast :) Highly recommend this little hidden gem :)
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Well the google reviewers nailed it....really the best pho our family has ever tried.The kids raved, the adults raved, such a good rich broth, sooo good.I also tried the smoked meat bahn milk and that was really, really tasty. Overall the bahn mi is the 2nd best I have had. The slaw made every bite so satisfying. Pohua is a ways from Hilo but certainly worth a stop if you are driving by. One thing, they are ULTRA laid back and do things on their own schedule. Our 5 orders of pho took over 30 minutes to prepare so chill out and just check your order on the way out.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Chicken or Beef Pho
Food was so good. Just went there for the first time and the service was as ALOHA as can get. The PHO is one of the best I tasted in hawaii. They also serve local food as well.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Beef Pho
Best restaurant on the Big Island!! Awesome, fresh, and delicious varieties of Pho and other great entrees and appetizers at very affordable prices. Owners will treat you like ohana. Much Aloha.Vegetarian options: Many vegetarian options.Parking: Lots of parking out front.Kid-friendliness: Kids are welcome.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The BEST pho i have ever eaten!! We have alot of pho options on Oahu, but nothing can compare aunty Ala's here at A&J's kitchen. There's about 12 different pho options, the shrimp pho was exceptional, next time I wanna try the beef stew pho?.In my opinion, this is the best place to eat on the Big Island. Pork adobo was melt in you're mouth perfection & the Thai pesto chicken bun mi was Phenomenal. Kids pounded the garlic fries. No matter where you are on the Big Island, you gotta check this place out. On a rainy day like today, I can only wish to be eating some of aunty Ala's magical creations. She's a culinary genius
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Beef Stew Pho
Great family restaurant! It's a real local restaurant, not some big conglomerate.
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Garlic Shrimp
The food was so delicious and plenty of it, but the service and friendliness of the owners made it unforgettable. Hope you stop if you find yourselves passing through, you won't regret it. Thank you A & J Kitchen!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Garlic Shrimp
grew up in eating pho in tacoma Wa seriously the best pho i've had on the islands the broth was great will be going back again for sure
Service is family like, very kind people. The moment i walked in the door you could smell the great food being made. Ordered two bowls of chicken Pho and its the best ive had on the island. Great ingredients all super fresh & crisp veggies, broth was incredibly delicious, the noodles were perfectly cooked, i was completely stuffed by the end of the meal and i still wanted more. Highly recommended to anyone. !Thank you guys so much for the great food:)
Restaurantji Recommends
Hands down the best food in Pahoa Hawaii and maybe in Hawaii in general. Try the Lava Fries, The Pork Adobo and the oxtail pho. You won't be disappointed. The tree they have new customers sign leaves for is growing quickly. Everyone in town talks highly of the food. It is so nice the owners come out and just chat it up with customers when can. The vibe is very homelike. Uncle John even let me bring one beer.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Beef Stew Pho
This is an amazing spot to come and escape the rain and get some good hot soup and coffee. Love the atmosphere. John and Ala are very friendly and hospitable. I'd definitely recommend this place to anyone!Parking: Small parking lot so it can be hard to find parking but this restaurant is worth it!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Beef Stew Pho
We just happened in for lunch and it was a wonderful surprise! A and J were both incredibly welcoming and the food was some of the best we’ve had in Hawaii! I had the all meat fried rice and my wife had the shrimp fried rice, both dishes and the mac salad were all very good. So glad we stopped in.
Unreal man. Spent over 10 years away from home. Had the lau lau plate. I got choked up, it tasted so much like my Aunty Kanani's. Taste like home.Everything so ono. Pastele stew was grinds, adobo was perfectly cooked, pho was deep layered with flavor.And got to show my mainland friends some real Kanak kau kau.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We enjoy the service of these two wonderful people at AJ's kitchenHis service is fabulous and funny and her cooking is great. The broth is excellent and that's what I got for always wonderful she gives a little more rice noodle than I'm used to but that's great because I don't do much meat. The spring rolls fabulous we definitely would return