suziecraft1245

Visiting Big Island for 7 days with my two daughters, ages 16 and 14. Looking for more low-key spots. Restaurants and shopping that locals might frequent or recommend. Would also love to visit a couple of spots with amazing views.



Here is what I have collected so far.

* = places I really want to visit.





KONA

*Super J's

Hawaiian Style Cafe for breakfast or lunch

The poke shack

Umeke

Pau Hana Poke

Pine trees cafe

Magic's beach grill



Dessert/ Pastry in Kona



Pea berry & galette

Kalama's - shaved ice



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VOLCANO NAT’L PARK

On way- panaluu bakery on the way from Kona. Order malasadas

Ohelo Cafe while there

Or Volcano House ( not as good)



East of Volcano Nat’l Park

Honua's frozen hot chocolate



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HILO



*Mochi!! Two Ladies Kitchen (strawberry mochi)

*Tex Drive In for Malasadas

*Kawamoto store- okazuya

Cafe 100

Ken's Pancake House

Hilo Bay Cafe (great views)

Ocean sushi

Suisan for poke

Moon & Turtle (for pasta)

Hawaiian Vanilla Company



Shopping in Hilo

Big Island Candies



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Misc Restaurants I have yet to research… if you recommend any of these, please let me know!



MISC RESTAURANTS…



BrokeDaMouth Grindz

808 Grindz Cafe

Randy’s Huli Chicken and Ribs

Ohana Q

The Coffee Shack

Honaunau Poke Shop



Japanese:

Sushi Cocoro

Miyo's Japanese

Teshima- Japanese breakfast

Kawamoto



Pizza/ Italian- Bianelli's

Malasada (fried dough)

Breakfast: Kamuela

Burgers: HSC

kureiff

We like Annie's Island Burgers in Kealakekua. We usually stop after snorkeling at Two Step and visiting The Place of Refuge.

There is a great ice cream store in Kawaihae.

Merrimans in Waimea is excellent.

Lava Lava Beach Club is a fun stop on the A-Bay.

MoBro

In Kona, our family liked the Kona Inn restaurant.
https://konainnrestaurant.com

If you get there at the right time, you can sit outside on the patio over the water.
Good fresh fish sandwiches, hamburgers, etc. Reasonably priced (for Hawaii!).

https://konainnrestaurant.com/wp-con...te-6-17-22.pdf

TheTravelingLocals

In Kona, I really like Lava Java for breakfast. Great food, sit outside and watch the ocean. I also like The Fish Hopper for seafood. The Fish Hopper is a bit more touristy now compared to years ago, but it's a nice spot. For a great Loco Moco, I like Big Kahuna Beach grill.
Over in Hilo, as you mentioned, Ken's Pancake is great for all meals!

mlgb

In Hilo, Poke N Sides at the Hilo Farmer's Market, there is also a burger place next to it. Outdoor seating.
NB a lot of restaurants in downtown Hilo that I might have tried were closed on Sunday. I was told one of the Thai ones was pretty good but it was closed.

I heard Ken's was maybe not as good at it used to be, but didn't go, mainly because I don't like "local' type cooking and they shortened their hours. I had a refrigerator and later a kitchen and had tons of (free) fresh fruit (papaya, tangerines and rambutans) and included coffee and banana bread, supplemented by grocery from KTA (the big one in Hilo). If you pass by any fruit/veg stands in Hilo, they do have nice tomatoes.

Just Cruisin Coffee is a drive through takeout with good sandwiches and coffee in Hilo, Call in your order, opens at 5:30AM. It was my birding guide's go-to (30+ year Big Island resident). I can't remember if it was cash only since I didn't pay, best to ask.
Printable Menu - Just Cruisin Coffee

Christina

I haven't been there but my niece liked Rebel Kitchen in Kealakelua.
she was only there for lunch though

https://rebelkitchen.com/

PNWMumzie

Any recommendations post-visit?