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It figures that the best laulau (pork or chicken wrapped in taro leaves and steamed) in West Hawaii can be found at a roadside hole-in-the-wall rather than at an expensive resort luau; in fact, this humble family-run eatery was featured on the Food Network's The Best Thing I Ever Ate. Plate lunches to go include tender chicken or pork laulau, steamed for up to 10 hours. The kalua (earth oven–baked) pig and cabbage is delicious, and the lomilomi salmon features vine-ripened tomatoes. Owners John and Janice Kaaloa grind their own poi sourced from taro in Hilo and Waipio.
83-5409 Mamalahoa Hwy., Honaunau, Hawaii, 96704, USA
Known For
- Tasty kalua pig and cabbage
- Friendly and welcoming proprietors
- Lomilomi salmon
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.
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Dig your toes into the sand and enjoy one of the most happening, entertaining, and memorable bar/restaurants on the Kohala Coast. There's something for everybody here, whether you want cocktails and pupus (appetizers) for sunset or a fine-dining experience; highlights include Black Angus truffled New York steak and the chef's signature gazpacho topped with macadamia nut pesto. The atmosphere is super-casual—you can dine in your beach togs, and there's always something going on: the blowing of the conch shell at dusk, the lighting of the tiki torches, tropical cocktails served in Hawaiiana ceramic ware, and live entertainment featuring stellar Hawaiian recording artists.
69-1081 Kuualii Pl., Waikoloa, Hawaii, 96738, USA
Known For
- Live entertainment
- Great Parmesan lava tots and coconut shrimp
- Signature Sandy Toes cocktail
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Locals flock to this downtown Kailua-Kona restaurant for good reason: the poke is the most onolicious (superdelicious) in town, and the many other seafood offerings are just as stellar. Poke does not get more authentic than this, and you can get it by the bowl or the pound. Sandwiches, burgers, desserts, and salads round out the gourmet menu. A kids' menu features affordable burgers, poke bowls, and sides. Happy hour runs from 3 to 5.
74-5599 Pawai Pl., Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, 96740, USA
Known For
- Daily specials using the freshest fish
- Locally sourced ingredients
- Authentic Kona experience
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Shave ice and ice cream in every imaginable flavor can be found at the ideal spot, close to the resort coast beaches. Prepare to wait in line for 15–20 minutes as you ponder your options, but don't fret: it's worth it.
61-3665 Akoni Pule Hwy., Kawaihae, Hawaii, 96743, USA
Known For
- Lilikoi shave ice
- Kona fudge ice cream
- Creative use of local flavors
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In the heart of Hawi, this popular restaurant provides a historical setting in which to enjoy a menu brimming with Hawaiian country flair. Most of the entrées feature fish and chicken prepared several ways, although if the kitchen gets busy, you might get a mediocre plate. Bamboo accents, bold local artwork (both for sale), and an old, unfinished wooden floor make the restaurant inviting.
55-3415 Akoni Pule Hwy., Hawi, Hawaii, 96719, USA
Known For
- Fresh catch with ginger, cilantro, and peanuts
- Passion fruit margaritas
- Weekend entertainment
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. No dinner Sun.
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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This beloved local-style restaurant has switched to drive-up only and serves huge portions of pork chops, diet-busting loco moco (meat, rice, and eggs smothered in gravy), and an assortment of fish specialties at very reasonable prices. At this writing, the drive-up window is open until 2 pm, but you can call to confirm.
75-5702 Kuakini Hwy., Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, 96740, USA
Known For
- Authentic local vibe
- Succulent Kalbi short ribs
- Large saimin portions
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed weekends
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Established in 1948, this casual spot is famous for its tasty loco moco, prepared in more than three dozen ways (with different meats, chicken, vegetables, and fish), and its low-priced breakfast and lunch specials. The word "restaurant," or even "café," is used loosely—you order at a window and eat on one of the outdoor benches provided—but you come here for the food, prices, and authentic, old-Hilo experience. You can stuff yourself for $5 if you order right.
969 Kilauea Ave., Hilo, Hawaii, 96720, USA
Known For
- Family-owned eatery
- The Super Loco Moco
- Generous portions
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed weekends
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The largest open-air tiki bar in Kona has the absolute best view of Kailua Bay in town. This is the perfect spot to relax with a pupu (appetizer) such as the coconut-crusted shrimp or "Hapa" poke bowl, or to dig into something more substantial like the kiawe wood–smoked prime rib. The Breezeway Lounge is excellent for watching giant surf or breaching whales, and Don's hosts first-rate Hawaiian performers on Thursdays. During happy hour from 4 to 6, the famous mai tais are only $8. Save room for dessert; the mud pie is deliciously sinful, or order one of the luscious dessert coffees.
75-5852 Alii Dr., Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, 96740, USA
Known For
- 10 types of mai tais
- Worthy desserts and dessert coffees
- Hawaiian performers weekly
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The only full-service restaurant at the Waikoloa Beach Marriott offers a farm-to-table, island-inspired menu. Photos of surf breaks from around the world adorn the walls of this casual, spacious open-air restaurant, which has plenty of patio seating with sunset views. The circular bar is a good spot to enjoy a cocktail while watching the tiki torches light up the gardens.
69-275 Waikoloa Beach Dr., Waikoloa, Hawaii, 96738, USA
Known For
- Weekly-special nights, including lobster night and prime rib and crab nights
- Good breakfast buffet
- Famous Kuu Alii mai tai
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Come hungry: there’s a reason the line is usually out the door at this popular hole-in-the-wall eatery in a shopping center downtown. Not only does the Hawaiian comfort food hit the spot, it’s affordable and served in sizable portions. The heavily “local” menu items include fresh-fish specials, poke bowls, and Kalua pork hash served with fried rice and eggs. There's another location in Waimea.
681 Manono St., Hilo, Hawaii, 96720, USA
Known For
- Breakfast available all day
- Kalua pork hash
- Vegetarian options
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner Mon. and Tues.
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A Kona icon since 1969, family-owned Huggo's is one of the few restaurants in town with prices and atmosphere comparable to the splurge restaurants at the Kohala Coast resorts. Dinner offerings sometimes fall short, considering the prices, but the pupus (appetizers) and small plates are usually a good bet. If you're on a budget or just want lunch, Huggo's on the Rocks, next door, is a popular outdoor bar in the sand, and the burgers are pretty darn good, too. It's also Kailua-Kona's hot spot for cocktails and live music nightly.
75-5828 Kahakai Rd., Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, 96740, USA
Known For
- Fine dining at the water's edge
- Next-door bar with toes-in-the sand dining
- Nightlife hot spot
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Unassuming from the outside, this small, local-style plate-lunch eatery serves top-quality, genuine Hawaiian specialties in Hilo. All the staples are here, from kalua pork (slow-cooked and pulled) to shoyu chicken (cooked in a sauce including fermented soy sauce), loco moco (meat, rice, and eggs smothered in gravy), and pork adobo. Order at the takeout window and grab a seat at one of the picnic tables outside.
194 Hualalai St., Hilo, Hawaii, 96720, USA
Known For
- Daily specials like oxtail soup
- Extremely affordable prices
- Favorite among locals since 1964
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This is a popular local hangout, and not just because the kava drink makes you mellow. The Hawaiian proprietors also serve traditional Hawaiian food, including fresh poke, bowls of healthy organic greens, opihi (limpets), and traditional Hawaiian laulau (pork or chicken wrapped in taro leaves and steamed). Organic kava root, used for relaxation, is harvested on the Hamakua Coast and transformed into a traditional, slightly bitter brew. Seating is at a premium, but don't be afraid to share a table and make friends.
75-5803 Alii Dr., Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, 96740, USA
Known For
- Kava served in coconut cups
- Pulled kalua pork
- Squid luau (the leaf from a taro plant)
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There's no atmosphere to speak of at this diner, and water is served in unbreakable plastic tumblers, but if you're searching for local fare—that undefinable fusion of ethnic cuisines—this is the place. Choose from "grindz" that include loco moco (meat, rice, and eggs smothered in gravy), oxtail soup, plate lunches, pork chops, steaks, saimin, stir-fry, and daily specials.
80 Pauahi St., Hilo, Hawaii, 96720, USA
Known For
- Authentic Hawaiian experience
- Good plate lunches
- Award-winning one-pound laulau
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Tues.
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In a vintage building dating from 1965, Magics offers an exhilarating oceanfront location overlooking the famous Disappearing Sands Beach, also known as Magic Sands. From fried ulu (breadfruit) wedges in umami truffle oil aioli to griddled crab cakes and shoyu-and-coconut-braised pork belly, the eclectic menu features intriguing choices with contemporary island flair. The same owners operate the Beach Shack right on-site, which has limited hours but serves drinks and local takeout favorites such as Spam musubi (Spam "sushi") and poke bowls. Come for sunset: the setting simply does not get better.
77-6452 Alii Dr., Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, 96740, USA
Known For
- Sunset beach views
- Spicy dragonfruit margarita
- Great happy hour 2--4 pm
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The historic Manago Hotel is like a time warp, complete with a vintage neon sign, TV room, and old photos. T-shirts brag (and it's not false advertising) that the restaurant has the best grilled pork chops in the world; the fresh fish and New York steak are excellent as well. Meals come with rice for the table and an assortment of changing side dishes, which usually include macaroni or tuna salad, long rice, and a sautéed veggie dish.
82-6155 Mamalahoa Hwy., Captain Cook, Hawaii, 96704, USA
Known For
- One of the only places in Kona serving opelu, a local fish
- Mains come with a variety of side dishes
- Local hospitality
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.
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Named for a popular nearby surf spot, the low-key, no-frills café offers local plate lunch options and classics such as loco moco (meat, rice, and eggs smothered in gravy), alongside new inventions like crab curry bisque. The fresh-fish plate is decent, and all meals are served with fries or rice and macaroni salad. The prices are a bit higher than you might expect, but the portions are huge. It's a good place to stop for a last-minute bite—breakfast, lunch, or dinner—before catching your flight back to the mainland.
73-4354 Mamalahoa Hwy. (Hwy. 11), Hawaii, 96740, USA
Known For
- Early-morning breakfast
- Fresh fish
- Popular with locals
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Puka means a small space in Hawaiian, and this little takeout eatery certainly fits the bill. This is where you can experience authentic local fare such as lunch plates, a chicken katsu plate, or ono (delicious) fish-and-chips. It's within walking distance of the Hilo Farmers Market.
270 Kamehameha Ave., Hilo, Hawaii, 96720, USA
Known For
- True local vibe
- Ample portions
- Bento boxes
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.
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It may sound strange, but the takeout seafood counter tucked in the back of this grocery store serves some of the finest poke in Hilo. For $10 a bowl, you get enough seafood on a steaming pile of rice to feed two people. This place offers premium poke at an affordable price, along with an array of seasonings and homemade sauces.
2100 Kanoelehua Ave., Hilo, Hawaii, 96720, USA
Known For
- Variety of fresh, Hawaiian-style poke offerings
- House-made sauces
- Good-value grab-and-go lunch spot
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Perched above a shopping center with a million-dollar panoramic view, this open-air "fast casual" restaurant offers customers the chance to enjoy cocktail service table side and then order entrées directly from the counter. The ahi wrap is the star of the show, and the macadamia nut–encrusted ono is a close second. Be sure to try the key lime pie with some Kona coffee. They also have a drive-up window where you can get takeout. The fast casual concept takes a little getting used to, but if you're in a hurry, it can be super convenient. Don't worry, though; you can sit at your table and leisurely enjoy the view and sunset. Happy hour runs daily from 2 to 6.
78-6831 Alii Dr., Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, 96740, USA
Known For
- Limited parking for such a popular place
- Fast-casual concept useful if you have limited time
- The best views in town
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.
