4 Best Restaurants in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and Vicinity, Big Island

At this historic lodge in the heart of Volcano Village, the fare ranges from gourmet grass-fed Big Island beef burgers and locally sourced lamb burgers to Cajun shrimp and sausage pasta, catch of the day, and farm-fresh salads. The restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner seven days a week. The koa-wood tables and intimate lighting are in keeping with the ambience. Kilauea Lodge itself was built in 1937 as a YMCA camp, and the restaurant still retains the Fireplace of Friendship embedded with coins and plaques from around the world.

This is an affordable place to grab a sandwich or a coffee and check your email (Wi-Fi is free with purchase of a meal) before heading to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. The homey, sit-down diner caters to families, serving up heaping plates of comfort food like pancakes and French toast for breakfast; on the lunch menu, burger options include bacon and cheese, turkey, and paniolo (cowboy) burgers made with Hawaii grass-fed beef. A full bar serves draft beer and cocktails. The acid-stained concrete floors resemble molten lava.

This fine-dining restaurant overlooks the rim of Kilauea Caldera and the expansive Halemaumau Crater. Featuring two bars (one of which is adjacent to a lounge) and live entertainment nightly, the restaurant highlights island-inspired cuisine and locally sourced ingredients. Families will appreciate the gourmet pizza on the lunch menu, or the daily breakfast buffet featuring omelets and waffles. To-go meals are also an option. Before dinner, you can sit in front of the fireplace in the lobby or peruse the gift store in search of volcano-themed souvenirs. The hot buttered rum recipe was created by a bartender at Volcano House in the 1950s. It's the perfect cocktail on a cool Volcano evening.

The food is authentic and the prices are reasonable at this little Volcano Village find with Thai art and silk wall hangings in the pleasant dining room. A steaming-hot plate of curry is the perfect antidote to a chilly day at the volcano, and the chicken satay is excellent—the peanut dipping sauce a good blend of sweet and spicy. And speaking of spicy, "medium" is more than spicy enough, even for hard-core chili addicts. The service is warm and friendly.