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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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The staff at this little place take pride in learning customers' names and treating you like a "regular." All the coffee favorites are here, from espresso to latte to a good old-fashioned cup of Kona. Homemade pastries are available, and they open at 6 am for the early birds.
68-1330 Mauna Lani Dr., Waimea (Hawaii County), Hawaii, 96738, USA
Known For
- Variety of blended frappes
- Outdoor seating
- Free Wi-Fi and outlets
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There's been a bakery in this building since 1912, when the previous owner served cookies and treats to the kids of plantation workers. Dean and June Edmoundson took over the spot in 1990 and have been treating visitors and residents to delectable goodies, including guava bear claws, paniolo (cowboy) cookies, homemade preserves, ice cream, and shave ice. There are also basic snacks if you've worked up an appetite visiting Akaka Falls, such as hot dogs and manapua (pork wrapped in a steamed bun). If you're staying in the area, they will deliver.
28-1672 Old Mamalahoa Hwy., Honomu, Hawaii, 96728, USA
Known For
- Fresh-baked pastries and desserts every morning
- To-go food such as hot dogs and manapua (pork in a steamed bun)
- Proximity to Akaka Falls State Park
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. No dinner
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Simply unbeatable proximity to the ocean is part of the draw of this lively restaurant in the heart of town: you just can't get any closer to the water without getting wet—and sometimes you do! It's popular to come here for sunset for drinks and appetizers such as the truffle Parmesan fries or the kalua pork arancini. Otherwise, stick with a burger or sandwich, as the mains can get pricey. Beloved local musicians Lopaka Roots and LT Smooth play nightly.
75-5770 Alii Dr., Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, 96704, USA
Known For
- Innovative appetizers such as fried garlic avocado
- Large portions
- Specialty craft cocktails
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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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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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Billed as the southernmost bakery in the United States, it's a good spot to grab a snack or lunch. Hawaiian sweetbread is the specialty here. Local-style plate lunches and sandwiches on the bakeshop's sweetbread buns go well with Kau coffee, which has earned a reputation for excellence that rivals Kona coffee.
5642 Mamalahoa Hwy., Naalehu, Hawaii, 96772, USA
Known For
- Plate lunches
- All goods baked on-site
- Malasada (Portuguese doughnuts) glazed with lilikoi (passion fruit)
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner
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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.
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Known for home-baked pastries, gourmet loose-leaf teas, and high-end coffees, this sweet, cozy spot is a lovely destination not far from the beach. Sandwiches and salads are served from 10 am to 3 pm. Try the brie, apple, and fig jam combo on freshly baked baguette or one of the signature salads. They even serve made-to-order Italian sodas.
75-159 Lunapule Rd., Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, 96740, USA
Known For
- European-style specialties
- Italian sodas
- Flaky Portuguese tart
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner
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It doesn't look like much, either inside or out, but Teshima's has been a kamaaina (local) favorite since 1929 for a reason. Locals gather at this small landmark restaurant whenever they're in the mood for fresh sashimi, puffy shrimp tempura, or hekka (beef and vegetables cooked in an iron pot). Try teishoku (tray) No. 3, featuring sashimi, tempura, sukiyaki beef, rice, miso soup, and sunomono (cucumber salad). The restaurant has been family owned and operated by five generations of Teshimas.
79-7251 Mamalahoa Hwy., Honalo, Hawaii, 96704, USA
Known For
- Excellent tempura combos
- Long-standing family-owned establishment
- Authentic local flavor
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Visitors enjoy stopping here before or after a morning of snorkeling at Kealakekua Bay, and for good reason: the views of the Honaunau Coast from this roadside restaurant are nothing short of drop-dead stunning. This place is best for breakfast or a quick bite, as overpriced mains can miss; but if you're in the mood for a Hawaiian smoothie, iced honey-mocha latte, or scone, it's worth the stop. It can get crowded, and parking is tricky and limited, so you may need to park across the highway and dash over. They are open until sunset.
83-5799 Mamalahoa Hwy., Captain Cook, Hawaii, 96704, USA
Known For
- House-baked luau bread
- Its own brand of Kona coffee
- Popular spot with limited parking
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Tues. and Wed.
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In the heart of Historic Kailua Village, the open-air Hawaii location of the popular Monterey, California, restaurant offers an expansive menu for breakfast, lunch, and dinner in a vintage building with a bayfront view. Inventive fresh-fish specials as well as simple fish-and-chips are among the local favorites. The lunch menu is tantalizing, especially the seafood entrées. There's also a comprehensive wine list, plus a happy hour menu in the bar from 2 to 9:30.
75-5683 Alii Dr., Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, 96740, USA
Known For
- Award-winning clam chowder
- Good lunch menu
- Signature Volcano flaming cocktail
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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 keiki (children's) menu. 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.
1 Crater Rim Dr., Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii, 96718, USA
Known For
- Views of Halemaumau Crater
- Hilo coffee–rubbed rack of lamb
- Well-priced Taste of Hawaii lunch special
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Tucked away at the Kona Country Club at the far end of Alii Drive, this nondescript spot is the place to go for happy hour, appetizers, and ocean breezes. It has a large, open-deck lanai, a kamaaina (old-time) vibe, and decidedly non-fancy decor. While the mains are a bit overpriced, it's a great place to relax, order an appetizer, and maybe talk story with local residents, or perhaps hear about the day's best golf shots. It's open until 5 pm.
78-7000 Alii Dr., Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, 96704, USA
Known For
- Wonderful view
- Old Kona–style building
- Good bar menu but closes at 5 pm
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner
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Verna's is tried-and-true among locals, who come for the juicy house-made burgers and filling plate lunches, and the price is right with a burger combo that includes fries and a drink. If you're hungry for more, try the traditional Hawaiian plate with either laulau, beef stew, chicken long rice, or lomilomi salmon (salted salmon with onions, tomatoes, and green pepper). Whatever you choose, you won't leave hungry. Outdoor seating is available. Verna's is one of the few joints in Hilo that's open 24 hours a day.
1765 Kamehameha Ave., Hilo, Hawaii, 96720, USA
Known For
- Local grindz (food) 24/7 with outdoor seating
- Smoked meat plate lunch
- Superlow prices
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.
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Right next to the Waimea General Store, this is a good stop for a steaming latte and a warm pastry, a cup of hot soup, or a freshly made salad. The small lanai offers enjoyable views of Waimea's compact, rolling hills dappled with rain, fog, sunlight, and, often, rainbows.
65-1279 Kawaihae Rd., Waimea (Hawaii County), Hawaii, 96743, USA
Known For
- Specialty coffee drinks
- Convenient to Waimea shopping
- Limited seating
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner
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