Big Island Dining Guide

Jim Bendt | Pique Travel

Tried and true restaurant recommendations. The list is broken out into the four major regions of the island, with a mix of top picks, casual restaurants, cheap eats, bakeries, and snack shops in each area. Use our Top Picks to guide your most important meals - dinners with the family, or ways to get a taste of local culture. Then, fill in gaps - or pick up snacks - with our other recommendations based on where you find yourself for the day. Especially at our top picks, we recommend making reservations as soon as you know your dates and party size!

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North Side

Top Picks

Merriman's Big Island

@JimPique

This is an excellent spot for a nice dinner out, and highly regarded by the local Hawaii restaurant awards, the Hale 'Aina. Accordingly, it's very popular, so reservations are strongly encouraged (link below). We consider this a option if you're looking for a steakhouse feel, or a farm to table menu. Winner of the Hale 'Aina Awards in several categories, including: Best Hawai‘i Island Restaurant - GOLD Best Cocktail Program - BRONZE Best Wine Program - GOLD Best Tasting Menu - BRONZE Most Romantic - SILVER

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Red Water Cafe

@JimPique

Higher-end New American style restaurant. Great for dinner.

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The Fish And The Hog

@JimPique

Seafood and barbeque are the top options here. Housed in a historic building.

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Pau Pizza

@JimPique

Great for lunch - sandwiches, salads, and pizza.

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Hawaiian Style Cafe - Waimea

@JimPique

A casual, local chain. One of our favorites for breakfast, and for the Hawaiian specialty, Loco Moco (white rice, topped with a hamburger, a fried egg, and brown gravy).

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Cafe il Mondo

@JimPique

Italian food, including pizzas.

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Gramma's Kitchen

@JimPique

Portuguese style cuisine with generous portions.

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Bamboo Restaurant & Gallery

@JimPique

Tiki-themed restaurant with local wares to browser after a meal.

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Tex Drive-In

@JimPique

A favorite bakery. Known for their malasadas, a Hawaiian fried dough specialty.

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Other Casual Spots & Cheap Eats

James Angelo's Underground Pizza

@JimPique

Great pizza.

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L&L Hawaiian Barbecue

@JimPique

A classic Hawaiian spot - a great lunch option, especially their plate lunch!

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Village Burger Kamuela

@JimPique

Great stop for a - you guessed it - burger!

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Northwest Side

Top picks

Meridia

@JimPique

This restaurant's Mediterranean-inspired cuisine is created with ingredients sourced from the Kohala Coast and infused with our island's rich bounty.

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Manta Restaurant

@JimPique

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Kuleana Rum Shack

@JimPique

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Sansei

@JimPique

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Tommy Bahama Restaurant, Bar & Store

@JimPique

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West Side

Top Picks

Roy's Waikoloa Bar & Grill

@JimPique

Steakhouse feel. Great nice dinner out option. Hale 'Aina Award winner for Best Dessert - SILVER

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Jackie Rey's Ohana Grill Kona

@JimPique

A top pick for a seafood restaurant.

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ULU Ocean Grill

@JimPique

A top pick for seafood, and one of the best resort restaurants. It's located at the Four Seasons Hualalai, with meals served steps away from the ocean surf.

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Brown's Beach House Restaurant

@JimPique

Located at the Fairmont Orchid. The vistas alone are worth a leisurely evening at Brown’s Beach House, their AAA Four Diamond signature restaurant. Perched above Pauoa Bay, their celebrated fine dining venue takes in one of the island’s most spectacular sunset panoramas. This is one of our top picks for resort restaurants.

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Residents' Beach House

@JimPique

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Napua at Mauna Lani Beach Club

@JimPique

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CanoeHouse

@JimPique

A storied and special restaurant helmed by Executive Chef and General Manager duo, Matt and Yuka Raso, CanoeHouse boasts an assortment of farm-fresh and dynamic dishes showcasing ingredients sourced mere minutes from Mauna Lani. Winner of Hale 'Aina Award: "Best Hawai‘i Island Restaurant - BRONZE"

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Huggo's

@JimPique

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Sushi Shiono

@JimPique

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Izakaya Shiono

@JimPique

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Foster's Kitchen

@JimPique

The focus here is on fresh, local food and 'from-scratch' cooking. They have happy hour daily from 3-5pm.

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Sushi Sam

@JimPique

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Papa Kona Restaurant & Bar

@JimPique

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La Bourgogne French Restaurant

@JimPique

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Keei Cafe

@JimPique

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Pueo's Osteria

@JimPique

Adding some details

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Beach Tree Bar

@JimPique

Located at the Four Seasons Hualalai. Beach Tree restaurant has the feel of a Hawaiian beach house, where you can dine on the sand or in the open-air dining room as you savour Californian cuisine with an Italian twist.

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Kamana Kitchen

@JimPique

Hale 'Aina award winner for Best Indian - BRONZE

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Hau Tree

@JimPique

Hale 'Aina award for Best Hotel Brunch - BRONZE

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Bars & Lounges

Kona Inn Restaurant

@JimPique

A great place for a drink.

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Don the Beachcomber

@JimPique

Located at the Royal Kona Resort.

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Kona Brewing Co.

@JimPique

In addition to great beers, this spot has good pizzas as well.

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Breakfast, Bakeries & Snacks

The Coffee Shack

@JimPique

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Island Lava Java

@JimPique

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Original Big Island Shave Ice Co

@JimPique

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Scandinavian Shave Ice

@JimPique

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Ululani‘s Hawaiian Shave Ice

@JimPique

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Other Casual Spots & Cheap Eats

Ultimate Burger

@JimPique

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Umekes Fish Market Bar & Grill

@JimPique

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L&L Hawai‘ian Barbecue

@JimPique

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Big Island Grill

@JimPique

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Pine Tree Cafe

@JimPique

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TK Noodle House Kona

@JimPique

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Bianelli's Gourmet Pizza

@JimPique

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Big Island Pizza Napoletana

@JimPique

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Da Poke Shack

@JimPique

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East Side

Top Picks

Moon and Turtle

@JimPique

James Beard Awards nominee for Best Chef (Mark Pomaski) & Hale 'Aina award winner for "Best Hawai‘i Island Restaurant - FINALIST"

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The Seaside Restaurant and Aqua Farm

@JimPique

An upscale option. Great option for seafood.

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Hilo Bay Cafe

@JimPique

A great farm-to-table restaurant option.

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Liko Lehua Cafe

@JimPique

Welcoming, New American style restaurant. One of our favorites.

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Pineapples Island Fresh Cusine

@JimPique

Lively restaurant with cocktails and New American food.

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Kuhio Grille

@JimPique

Hale 'Aina award winner for Best Hawai‘i Island Restaurant - SILVER

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Hawaiian Style Cafe Hilo

@JimPique

A casual, local chain. One of our favorites for breakfast, and for the Hawaiian specialty, Loco Moco (white rice, topped with a hamburger, a fried egg, and brown gravy).

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Hau Tree

@JimPique

Hale 'Aina award for Best Hotel Brunch - BRONZE

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Kamana Kitchen

@JimPique

Hale 'Aina award winner for Best Indian - BRONZE

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Other Casual Spots & Cheap Eats

Cafe 100

@JimPique

Cheap Eats. Known for their Loco Moco and for their Plate Lunch, both quintissential Hawaiian experiences.

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Poke Market

@JimPique

Stop here for poke.

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Cafe Pesto Hilo Bay

@JimPique

A great option for pizza.

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Suisan Fish Market

@JimPique

Great option for Poke, and a fun place to walk around.

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Nori's Saimin and Snacks

@JimPique

Known for their Saimin, a local Hawaiian noodle soup.

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Tetsumen

@JimPique

Great option for Ramen and other noodles.

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Cronies Bar & Grill

@JimPique

A casual option. Try their burger.

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Hilo Burger Joint

@JimPique

A casual option. Perhaps obviously, their burger is the thing to get.

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Breakfast, Bakeries & Snacks

Ken's House of Pancakes

@JimPique

A great choice for breakfast. Try their Loco Moco. Surprisingly, given the name, they also have great noodle options.

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Short N Sweet Bakery & Cafe

@JimPique

One of our favorite bakeries in the East part of the island.

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Two Ladies Kitchen

@JimPique

One of our favorite bakeries in the East part of the island.

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Wilson's By the Bay

@JimPique

Our favorite shave ice stand in the East part of the island.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jim Bendt | Pique Travel

Founder of Pique Travel **About Pique** - Top 1% of travel agencies worldwide | Virtuoso member - Featured in the NY Times, Barrons, and Associated Press - Highly accredited by Virtuoso, ASTA, ARC and CLIA - Top industry talent recognized for their craft - 5 Star Google client reviews - Over $30 billion in purchasing power We offer worry free, expert travel advice. While many travel websites rely on computer algorithms and artificial intelligence, our expertise comes from our first-hand knowledge. There is nothing "artificial" about our intelligence. We listen. Get to know you. And then design an amazing trip that's all your own. Once you experience working with our designers, you will wonder why you wasted all that time traveling another way.

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