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Beachy yet upscale, the restaurant has an in-house beer sommelier who advises on the perfect pairing with your food choice, which can range from fresh catch, steak, burgers, and sandwiches to crab cakes and escargots; many dishes incorporate Hawaiian touches. This sports bar offers a 24-tap digital beer tower and 10 TV screens. An innovative frost rail on the cocktail bar keeps your drinks cool. Patio seating outside offers additional dining options. There's a second location in Kona.
250 Waikoloa Beach Dr., Waikoloa, Hawaii, 96738, USA
Known For
- Fish tacos
- Patio seating available
- Great tapas menu
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From its upstairs, open-air dining room decorated with kitschy surfer chic, this new restaurant invites customers to enjoy views of the pier and a bustling corner of Alii Drive. Fortunately, an excellent, extensive menu makes it well worth a stop; fresh fish plates including fish tacos are a sure bet. The clam chowder is some of Kona's best. Try the smashburger (a cooking technique that adds flavor while reducing grill time) or the marinated sirloin or New York strip. Death by Chocolate is the dessert to die for. They also serve breakfast from 7 until noon, and there's a happy hour as well as live music nightly. Great prices keep the locals coming in.
75-5663 Palani Rd., Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, 96704, USA
Known For
- Full bar menu of island-style cocktails
- Five types of eggs Benedict
- Clam chowder
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Unquestionably the fanciest spot in Honokaa, this cozy Italian bistro known for its pizza and other options feels like you've taken a step into Florence. Wood details, a full bar, travertine finishes, antique furnishings, pendant lighting, and a fantastic stone pizza oven combine to create a thoroughly welcoming atmosphere. On the menu, pizzas and calzones dominate, but there is a full selection of pastas, salads, and sandwiches. Prices are surprisingly affordable. Local entertainers play on weekends.
3580 Mamane St., Honokaa, Hawaii, 96727, USA
Known For
- Variety of house-made calzones
- Pasta primavera
- Paauilo penne
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On the docks at Kona's sleepy harbor, this open-air restaurant is an authentic place to grab a beer and a bite after a long day fishing, beach-going, or diving. The venue is nothing fancy, but it's one of the best spots in Kona for fresh-fish sandwiches, a variety of fried fish-and-chip combos, and even burgers. Frosty 18-ounce schooners of Kona Brewing Co. ale cannot be beat price-wise anywhere on the island, either. Come early, though: it closes at 6 and on Sunday at 5. Happy hour is from 3 to 6.
74-425 Kealakehe Pkwy., Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, 96740, USA
Known For
- Chilled schooners of Kona Brewing Co. lager
- Fresh fish right off the incoming boats
- Fun waterfront dining on the way to or from the airport
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Tiny and locally owned, this sushi shack in the heart of town has gained an incredible following and specializes in "reverse" (rice on the outside, nori on the inside) rolls, filled with three or four ingredients of your choice. It's super popular and gets crazy crowded, so expect a long wait—but it's worth it. (Wait times can exceed an hour, but they let you know how long before you order.) Hayashi's has been in take-out mode only since COVID-19 (call to confirm this), so you have to phone your order in. The restaurant also makes fantastic party platters that you can order in advance.
75-5725 Alii Dr., Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, 96740, USA
Known For
- Affordable, take-out sushi rolls
- Small, low-key location
- Local favorite
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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What this casual pub-turned-burger-joint lacks in space and parking is more than made up for in burger choices: more than 22 varieties of gourmet burgers, from a bacon ranch burger to a southern BBQ burger. Many of the ingredients come straight from the Big Island, and non-beef selections such as fish burgers are available as well, so it's definitely worth checking out.
776 Kilauea Ave., Hilo, Hawaii, 96720, USA
Known For
- Grass-fed local beef
- Live entertainment
- More than 21 beers on tap
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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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An ultrapopular destination with an outdoor patio, Kona Brewing offers an excellent, varied menu, including famous brews, pulled-pork quesadillas, gourmet pizzas, and a killer spinach salad with Gorgonzola cheese and macadamia nuts. The sampler tray, a good value, offers four of the 10 available microbrews. Try the notable Hefeweizen. If you're staying in town, purchase beer to go in a half-gallon jug ("growler") filled on-site from the brewery's own taps.
74-5612 Pawai Pl., Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, 96740, USA
Known For
- Longboard Lager and other famous brews made on-site
- Live music
- Selling growlers of to-go beer from taps
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With vintage memorabilia and a bluesy soundtrack as a background, this cool deli in a tiny strip mall has a lot more to offer than the average sandwich shop. Yes, there are gourmet sandwiches, salads, and wraps, but Poi Dog's wide-ranging menu extends to an impressive list of wines, craft beers, ales, and pilsners from all over the world. On the lighter side, they have a great mix of hard ciders as well. But there are also kombuchas, coffees, and other nonalcoholic beverages to choose from. Hailing from New Orleans, the proprietors love to bring a touch of the Big Easy to Kona, which you'll feel throughout the place.
75-1022 Henry St., Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, 96740, USA
Known For
- Salads featuring house-made Cajun croutons and house dressings
- House-made soups
- Ranch House Reuben
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner
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With the bar in the front and the dining patio in the back, Quinn's may seem like a bit of a dive at first glance, but this venerable restaurant serves the best darn cheeseburger and fries in town. The menu has many other tasty options, such as fish-and-chips and beef tenderloin tips. If time gets away from you on a drive to the north beaches, Quinn's, which stays open until 10, awaits your return with a cheap beer and a basket of fried calamari. Drinks are strong—no watered-down cocktails here. Breakfast is served from 7 to 10:45 during football season, and it's sure to be lively, especially if the Green Bay Packers are involved. Park across the street at the Courtyard King Kamehameha's Kona Beach Hotel and get free 90-minute parking with validation.
75-5655 Palani Rd., Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, 96740, USA
Known For
- Strong cocktails
- Comfort food like meatballs
- Old Kona vibe
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Wed.
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A local institution, this casual place is famous for its malasadas, the puffy, doughy, deep-fried Portuguese doughnuts without a hole, best eaten hot; there are also cream-filled versions, including vanilla, chocolate, and coconut. For more than a snack, go for the Hawaiian burger, with a fat, juicy slice of sweet pineapple on top, the overstuffed burrito, or some decent house-made pizza.
45-690 Pakalana St., Honokaa, Hawaii, 96727, USA
Known For
- The island's best malasadas
- Food cooked to order
- Long waits
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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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With indoor and outdoor seating, this easygoing Italian restaurant in a Keauhou shopping center serves gourmet pizzas and a tasty selection of pasta dishes, calzones, sandwiches, and salads. Everything is made from scratch, and they even have dairy-free cheese and gluten-free options. There's live music on Wednesday nights.
78-6831 Alii Dr., Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, 96740, USA
Known For
- Excellent wine selection
- Delivery available
- Option to take pizza and bake at home
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon. No lunch.
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A hands-down island favorite, this casual brewpub from owner and veteran brewmaster Tom Kerns churns out premium ales, lagers, and specialty beers from his on-site brewery in Waimea. With a focus on fresh ingredients, the brewpub's menu includes burgers, poke, fish tacos, burritos, and quesadillas fresh to order. They have plenty of seating both inside and out.
64-1066A Mamalahoa Hwy., Waimea (Hawaii County), Hawaii, 96743, USA
Known For
- Coconut-infused White Mountain porter
- Affordable sampler with six beer choices
- Amazing grass-fed burgers
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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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Hilo's best Chinese restaurant specializes in seafood but also offers many other Cantonese treats, including salt-and-pepper pork, Mongolian lamb, and vegetarian specialties like garlic eggplant and crispy green beans. The food is good, portions are large, and the price is right, but don't come here expecting any ambience—this is a funky, no-frills Chinese restaurant, with random pieces of artwork tacked up here and there.
1263 Kilauea Ave., Hilo, Hawaii, 96720, USA
Known For
- Authentic Cantonese Chinese food
- Salt-and-pepper prawns
- Good soups
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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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This place is usually packed for a reason: the more than 36 craft brews on tap, plus an upstairs and downstairs bar with plenty of outdoor seating. Take in the oceanfront view with amazing sunsets while chowing down on stone-baked pizza, fresh salads, fish-and-chips, fish tacos, burgers, stone-baked subs, and lots of appetizers. The steamed clams are a highlight, along with the soft and warm Bavarian pretzels. For dessert, the Maunakea Mud Pie is a winner. During the annual Kona Brewfest, they offer festival draft brews to try. Great live entertainment rocks the house nightly.
75-5815 Alii Dr., Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, 96740, USA
Known For
- Largest selection of craft beer on the island
- Great steamed clams
- Good nightlife (for Kona)
