69 Best Restaurants in Big Island, Hawaii

This is a popular local hangout, and not just because the kava drink makes you mellow. The Hawaiian proprietors, who have a certified organic farm in Hamakua, also serve traditional Hawaiian food, including fresh poke, bowls of healthy organic greens, opihi (limpets), and traditional Hawaiian laulau (pork or chicken wrapped in taro leaves and steamed). Organic kava root, used for relaxation, is harvested on the Hamakua Coast and transformed into a traditional, slightly bitter brew. Seating is at a premium, but don't be afraid to share a table and make friends. 

Authentic organic everything is on the menu here. This bakery and café serves a variety of coffee, baked goods, sandwiches, kombucha, teas, and salads, and it's all 100% organic. There's gluten-free and vegetarian selections as well. The chill hippie vibe here extends to lots of cozy seating, crafts for sale, and, no doubt, interesting conversations with locals. 

Part of a huge working cattle ranch—McCandless Ranch, founded in 1915—this homey country store offers bargain-priced shave ice delectably made with a traditional machine. You can order it with a variety of syrups and even add ice cream at the bottom of your cup. Portions are so large you will be challenged to finish it all before it melts. Fortunately, there's outdoor seating and abundant napkins. They carry lots of locally made crafts and souvenirs. 

This little spot offers epic cheeseburger plates (using grass-fed beef) and even has a 1950s-style malt shop. They also serve a local favorite, the pineapple whip, perfect for a cool break on a hot day. Their self-serve ordering kiosk helps get your meal out to you faster, or order online. Check the website for operating hours, as they vary.

If you're looking for something sweet—or savory—this busy café in downtown Hawi serves breakfast (bagels, espresso machine–steamed eggs), and lunch (hot dogs, burgers, chili, salads) until 6. Sit outside and watch the world go by as you enjoy locally made ice cream that is ono (delicious), as well as other sweet treat specialties.

All of this family-owned coffee company's businesses—growing, roasting, brewing, and serving their authentic Kona coffee—operate within a 10-mile radius of the farm. At their homey little café, they offer a staggering array of coffee drinks, along with upscale deli items such as lox and a veggie focaccia sandwich; breakfast goodies include acai bowls. The café offers mostly takeout with limited dine-in availability. They do offer tours of their coffee farm: reserve online. 

It's quite simply the best New York–style pizza in Kona. At this small, no-frills shop, the proprietors take great care to obtain the highest-quality ingredients for their pizzas, including large gourmet olives, banana peppers, and even meats sourced directly from Fontanini in New York. They shipped their special pizza ovens and mixers directly from New York, too, adding to the pizza's quality and authenticity. Try the Kona Supreme, smothered with mozzarella, sausage, red peppers, bacon, onions, and other fresh toppings. The homemade drizzles range from olive oil to BBQ sauce to ranch to sriracha. Online ordering makes it easy to call in your order and pick it up hot and ready to go.

A hidden gem, the open-air eatery is on the second floor of an oceanfront shopping center. Patrons can watch the scene below on bustling Alii Drive while enjoying freshly prepared Thai specialties, including plenty of vegetarian options and delicious Thai iced tea. Be prepared to bring some of your meal home, as the portions are large. Locals flock here for the lunch specials.

There's no atmosphere to speak of at this diner, and water is served in unbreakable plastic tumblers, but if you're searching for local fare—that undefinable fusion of ethnic cuisines—this is the place. Choose from "grindz" that include loco moco (meat, rice, and eggs smothered in gravy), oxtail soup, plate lunches, pork chops, steaks, saimin, stir-fry, and daily specials.

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 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.  For dessert, you won't regret the Maunakea Mud Pie. During the annual Kona Brewfest, they offer a variety of festival draft brews to try. Great live entertainment and open mic rock the house nightly and parking is validated.

Hidden in the corner of Keauhou Shopping Center adjacent to the movie theater, Los Habaneros serves up fast, decent Mexican food for good prices. Favorites are usually combos, which can be anything from enchilada plates to chiles rellenos. The burritos are a solid pick, stuffed with meat, beans, cheese, and all the fixings. Wash it all down with imported beer from Mexico.

Long an island favorite for tasty, albeit greasy, Mexican grub, this landmark has made a comeback in funky Pahoa in a different space after a fire destroyed the original restaurant in 2017. Tacos are great (go for crispy), especially when stuffed with grilled, seasoned local fish. Chips are warm and salty, the salsa's got some kick, and the beans are thick with lard and topped with melted cheese.

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. 

Hawaii is not usually known for good Mexican food, but this tiny, cash-only café on the ground floor of a vintage building is definitely one of the exceptions. Quality ingredients and a decent menu are on tap at this friendly establishment decorated with charming touches of Mexico. Service can be hit or miss. 

Just like an authentic Japanese izakaya (bar/restaurant), this hip little place serves yakatori (skewered chicken) grilled on a binchotan (grill) that the restaurant owners imported from Japan. Ramen is served with a variety of broths—regular shoyu, spicy, and vegetarian. Their nouko base enhances every serving with creamy undertones. They get busy so reservations are essential; make them online. 

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. 

Across the street from the Kona Inn Shopping Village, in Kailua Village, this upstairs cantina is a nice perch for enjoying nachos and margaritas (try the hibiscus margarita) on a lazy afternoon, or for watching the passersby on Alii Drive. Try the molcajete—a type of bowl—loaded with marinated chicken, steak, and shrimp and a sauce crafted of chiles and topped with jack cheese. Or just order the chips, salsa, and ceviche, which might hit the spot at the end of a long day of sightseeing. At 5 pm, the banyan tree nearby fills with hundreds of chirping mynah birds, a veritable happy hour in bird land.

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 poke stack or the avocado fries. Otherwise, stick with a burger or sandwich, as the mains can get pricey. Order online for pickup and delivery. Beloved local musicians Lopaka Roots or LT Smooth play nightly. 

Its name is Hawaiian for "done," perhaps an allusion to how eagerly the pizzas are gobbled up at this eatery with cool artwork and a relaxed vibe. On offer is a wide selection of appetizers, salads, sandwiches, pastas, and pizzas loaded with lots of local ingredients. All sauces and salad dressings are made in-house. When it comes to the pizzas, anything goes; order one of Pau's 16-inch signature pies or create your own. You can order online and pick up. Lunch is a deal if you order the triple slice: a quarter pizza cut into three slices plus a side salad at a special price.

This 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 prices are very affordable, and the portions are huge. The fresh-fish plate is decent, and all meals are served with fries or rice and macaroni salad. It's a good place to stop for a last-minute bite—breakfast, lunch, or dinner—before catching your flight back to the mainland.

If you expect that a restaurant named Pineapple's would serve tropical beverages in hollowed-out pineapples, you'd be exactly correct. Always packed, this open-air bistro looks like a tourist trap, but there is a fine-dining component to the menu, which includes fresh catch, kalbi ribs (grilled, Korean-style), teriyaki flank steak, burgers, wraps, and sandwiches. Check out the daily specials like salmon salad or the Caprese burger.

Puka means a small space in Hawaiian, and this little takeout eatery certainly fits the bill. This is where you can experience authentic local fare such as lunch plates, a chicken katsu plate, or onolicious (delicious) fish-and-chips. It's within walking distance of the Hilo Farmers Market.

Billed as the southernmost bakery in the United States, this is 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.

It's not the best Mexican food you've ever had, but if you're jonesing for some carne asada or chicken flautas, Reuben's has you covered. You can make a meal out of the warm chips and salsa alone. This is a lively place to spend an afternoon or evening. 

Locals know the seafood counter at Sack N Save Kona is the place to get delicious, affordable poke. Sample and then choose from a variety of freshly made poke salad selections. You can order 1/3-pound with a warm rice bowl for only $7.99. It's the best poke deal in town.

It may sound strange, but the takeout seafood counter tucked in the back of this grocery store serves some of the finest poke in Hilo. For $13 a bowl, you get enough seafood on a steaming pile of rice to feed two people. This place offers premium poke at an affordable price, along with an array of seasonings and homemade sauces.

A tiny hidden gem in the heart of downtown, this authentic little place offers excellent sushi at affordable prices. The Japanese-born chefs serve such offerings as six-piece rolls for under $6. If you want to share, the sushi combo for two includes 30 pieces. The Red Hot Lava roll is a sure bet, and they also specialize in udon noodle and poke bowls.

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. Try the brie, apple, and fig jam combo on freshly baked baguette or one of the signature salads. A to-go picnic box for two is priced at only $27. They even serve made-to-order Italian sodas.

Its modest exterior and interior belie the fantastic South Kona experience Teshima's brings; it 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, and if you come in more than a couple times, they will start calling you by name.