I got some wonderful recommendations to my request re restaurants on Maui (Wailea). We will also be on the Big Island, staying in the Waikoloa Beach area. As I said in the other thread "As an example of the type of restaurant we like best, we love Star Noodle (but probably won't drive to Lahaina just for dinner), and Josselin's in Poipu. We also loved Lahaina Grill but probably won't want anything that fancy (no white tablecloth places, don't want to dress for dinner) on this trip. We're happy to sit at the bar and schmooze with the bartender and other diners. A really terrific burger is always high on the list, but we like all kinds of food."
We have 5 nights on Hawaii.
Thanks in advance!

I'm going to follow your thread since I'll be on the Big Island in February. It has been about 10 years since I've been to the BI and I can't wait. Hope you get some good suggestions!

I loved Monstera Sushi at the Mauna Lani shops.

http://www.monsterasushi.com/

We also had great burgers in Waimea at Village Burger. And we had great burgers in Captain Cook at Annie's Island Fresh Burgers (great stop after snorkeling at Two Step and visiting the Place of Refuge).

We usually stay within the Mauna Lani Resort property, and usually don't venture too far, but I would say you should try Lava Lava Beach Club, if only for the setting. Another placing we're planning to try when we're there next spring is the recently opened Mai Grille in the clubhouse at the King's Course. The exec. chef is well known and highly thought of on the island.

I agree with kureiff's suggestion of Monstera at the Mauni Lani Shops, but perhaps my fave restaurant in the area is Napua, above the beach at Makaiwa Bay. Locally owned and operated; pretty good burgers too.

If you're willing to drive a few miles, I'm sure you'd enjoy Pueo's in Waikoloa Village. Or for something really casual, check out the food truck at Da Fish House in Kawaihae.

All great suggestions - thanks! (off to check them out)

OMG: I had the fish fry (ono, panko breading) at the fish truck a few weeks ago; to die for! (DH had Mahi tacos; nobody wanted to share.)

I like Napua, too. I've only had lunch there; it's such a great location!

This past year we spent 10 glorious nights at a home in Kohola Ranch. I have no immediate recommendations for your resort area, but close,

I cannot stop craving the Proscuitto/arugala/marcipan pizza at 4 Seasons. Well worth the price of admission and you can often find a beachside table in the bar area after touring the grounds a perfect lunch. We did this twice.

We also love Hawi and I still crave the local strawberry goat cheese salad with papaya pom dressing at Sushi Rocks - even more then their eclectic sushi.

Also loved the Hawi farmers market and the pie lady who sold us one of the finest blueberry pies of our lives.

Agree with the burger joint in Waimea, although it is in a strip mall. Kind of a shake shack burger and fries and refreshing herbal iced tea.

We also loved Hawaiian Style in Waimea for huge breakfasts and great service and people watching.

We never made it to the food truck at Da Fish House although we stopped by the market a few times and got some great mahimahi to cook at 'home'

There's no shortage of fresh/great seafood on the BI, but finding a decent steak is much more problematic. The best we've found have been at Merriman's in Waimea. They use local stock from Parker Ranch and locally sourced veggies. Virtually everyone else on the island (including pricy resorts) serves previously frozen steak, no different than what is sold in average supermarkets.

The previous post mentioned our favorite go-to place for breakfast and lunch (Hawaiian Style Cafe) in Waimea, along with Yong's Kalbi for dinner if you don't mind a hole-in-the-wall atmosphere.

Re: beef: I beg to differ: the Holuakoa cafe (www.holuakoacafe.com) in Holualoa is very very good and serves local fruit, veg,meat/fish, in house baked goods/desserts, and terrific coffee. Holualoa is also a nice place to walk around for views, galleries, etc.
Many of the options given here are not in the Waikoloa area, of course, but are worth a drive if you have the time and inclination (and a car).

Ask the cafe where they source their meats, and if the answer is something other than Costco I'll give them a try.

This is awesome - thanks! (p.s. we actually PREFER hole-in-the-wall places, hopefully with good food. Think Johnny's Po Boy in New Orleans, or Hamura Saimin in Lihue).

So what's in Waimea besides good food?

We'll have 5 full days on the island, probably will stay on the west side, as we've been to the volcano area previously, and although it was many years ago, it was active, and no one stopped you then from actually walking on the live lava fields. There's no way the current situation could possibly top that experience, which occurred way back in 1978. If there's anything you think is a "must do" on the west side, please let me know (we're very active travelers EXCEPT in Hawaii, where we're usually pretty happy to just sit on the beach and read)

WWW.Hawaii magazine.com has an article in the latest issue, "Top 5 things to do in Waimea": focus seems to be shopping. If that's not your thing, you could head east on the main drag to the edge of town, turn right on Mud Lane, and drive along the lovely Old Mamalahoa road (lava tube caves to visit right off the road, intense greens, rolling hilly landscape, vistas, photo ops abound). You can go all the way to the Hamakua coast road (30 minutes with no stops) and south, or just pick up the (current) Mamalahoa hwy and head back to Waimea.

> So what's in Waimea besides good food?

In Waimea? Not much. But a lot of attractions aren't far from it. Sylvia3 already mentioned the Hamakua Coast, that alone could take a full day if you choose: the botanical gardens in Onomea, Akaka Falls etc, also Waipio Valley and Hawi etc. There's also Highway 250 from Waimea to Hawi, which offers some fantastic views at elevation and there's usually nobody on it.

One more rec: the overlook and black sand beach at Pololu, at the very end of Hwy 270. The water there isn't often swimmable, but the beach and surrounding mountains are spectacular.

"So what's in Waimea besides good food?"

There are a couple decent farmers markets (by Hawaii standards anyway).

The DOH recommends the baby back ribs at Plantation Grill. I'm a bigger fan of their filets and osso buco, and think the restaurant might be another exception to the Costco quality standard on the island.

What gives with the Costco meat trashing? I buy a big box store standing rib roast trimmed cut and tied. Always excellent. I did grill some great local beef at our rental

There are lots of places on the BI that serve local beef (and local fresh fish, veggies, fruit, etc.).