Hilo offers a lush, tropical setting on Hawaii's Big Island, known for its beautiful gardens and waterfalls; local cuisine includes poke bowls and loco moco.
Cafés • Western • American • Top Choice Hawaii Regional Cuisine
"The first place I was shown to was not good, so I asked to change to a seat on the lanai, but was told no. When I asked them why, they simply answered Reservation without checking to see if there were any seats available. The seats were extremely close to each other, making the air stagnant and uncomfortable. (See attached image) Looking back on it now, there was no point in saying anything to the guy who seemed to be a part-time worker who was just guiding me to the seat I was assigned, and I should have complained to the person in charge who gave me the instructions. This is a really disappointing restaurant, as the food was delicious. Hospitality needs to be improved."
Poke • Cafe • Diners • Hawaiian
"Love this spot! As soon as you walk in , you are greeted with a smile and an Aloha! welcome. THE SERVICE: The host/manager (Jeffrey is very prompt about greeting you and also seating you. I was able to witness this over and over as it got busier and busier throughout the breakfast 'rush hour '. Service was very consistent for all the workers there. You can tell they run a tight ship! I was very impressed at the 5 star excellent service I received. As soon as I sat down I was greeted by another service/hostess/waitress who took my drink order within like 30 seconds of me sitting down. My Waitress (Heather was very attentive, friendly and on top of it. THE FOOD: There were so many delicious looking options on the menu , but I opted for the Omelette. It came with my choice of hash brown or rice, and pancake or waffle. (I ordered hash brown and ? waffle SO ONO!!!!! I would fly back to Hilo just to eat this same thing. The homemade whipped butter was to die for. It went beautifully with the soft but just crispy enough waffle THE PARKING: Lots of parking available in the parking lot next to restaurant. It 's a one way so you can loop around to find more Parking."
Cafés • Juice • American • Sandwiches
"We stopped here for lunch after Visiting Akaka falls and on the way to the Kiluea Visitor Center. Parking was difficult and we had to wait a bit for a spot to open up. The restaurant is surprisingly large inside with decent sized tables. You order up front first before finding your own table. We tried the sugarcane juice which was ok and watered down with coconut water imo. The mung bean soup was good and the quinoa and bean burger was fantastic. We also had the avocado, sprouts sandwich and the side of tabouleh salad with mint was excellent. Service was quick and efficient. Definitely worth the visit if you are in the Hilo area."
Coffee • Grocery • Ice Cream • Chocolate
"The staff here are incredibly friendly. They offer the best chocolate milkshakes I've ever had! Instead of spending $8 on a fake shake at a fast food place, why not indulge in a genuine milkshake at Baskin Robbins? Also, it would be great to have a typing option on the card reader, so if someone doesn't have cash, they can still communicate their order to the staff!"
Thai • Fish • Curry • Vegan
"My goodness! What a gem! We ordered about 30 mins before close not only did they accommodate us, but they even added extras. They were so kind and hospitable. Food was ready fast, even when we added fried spring rolls at check out. I had a noodle dish which was good, average Thai to me. However, the yellow curry was AMAZING. Best curry I’ve ever had and has some special flavor I couldn’t put my finger on (cardamom maybe? . Idk. She also added a tapioca coconut pudding that is the stuff of dreams. So good. Food portions were big. Only feedback is the Thai tea was smaller than I expected, but everything else was 5 stars! Great!"
Pizza • Steak • Korean • Chicken
"A group of friends and I went to Kenichi 's for a birthday dinner this evening. Upon entering the restaurant, a lady who I presumed to be the hostess did not bother to give us a proper greeting or welcome (as a host/hostess should) Rather, she/he told us in a rude tone, I can help you guys, as if they were directing traffic in a curt and awful manner. She then said, one check yeah. A snotty way of explaining to us that split checks weren 't available. As a customer, I don 't expect every service worker to smile at me or welcome me with energy or joy. However, you need to be respectful and have the decency to treat your customers/guests with civil service. This host/hostess was terrible and needs an attitude check as well as a good look in the mirror because her facial expressions and the way that she looks at her guests is insulting. On a more positive note, our waiter was very friendly and helpful, as well as the rest of the staff that acknowledged/serviced us."
Wine • Cafe • Food • Italian
"My wife absolutely loves this place. There are very few dine in restaurants around the shops near Hilo Bay. This is a good one. It doesn't have that hole in the wall/dive feel like most, and it offers some rather unique food options also. I highly recommend their seafood pasta dishes. The fish is fresh and tasty. They also make a nice juicy burger. So, it's a pretty safe spot for the less adventurous also. ? They have a full bar, and some fun signature cocktails. I personally like to kick dinner off with a cookie and drinks as an appetizer. The wait staff is super friendly, and our water glasses were refilled repeatedly, so it's also a great place to hydrate after an afternoon of kicking around in the shops."
Fish • Coffee • Desserts • Breakfast
"We were referred by Paul since we didn't have a reservation, but this place is fantastic! The croissant was the best I've ever had—fresh and handmade. It's a must-try, especially if Paul’s breakfast is fully booked, haha! I also ordered the quiche, which was absolutely delicious. I highly recommend this place!"
Fish • Seafood • American • Japanese
"We are foodies and this place did not disappoint. We originally had dinner table reservations but for later than we actually needed (didn't know that when we booked a quick call got us moved up earlier but from a table to the bar...and that turned out to be a great thing! The menu is the same but we got to enjoy the conversation and direct recommendations of our bartender/server she was awesome! The menu is always changing but the choices are wonderful. The drinks were so tasty and the food was exceptional. We chose 5 courses of sharable plates plus dessert...and that was just right for the 2 of us. (Actually, we had 4 selections but 5 courses...one was worth repeating. The dining pace never felt rushed nor were we ever left unattended (even though our server was so busy with all the others...not an easy feat in this hopping place. Based on the size of the restaurant, I suspect that getting reservations in advance is advisable...but again, the bar area was perfect for us on short notice. The atmosphere/vibe was lively and enjoyable; the decor is a quirky blend of art and miscellany added to the experience. We highly recommend this and will definitely be back should we ever be here again (although, as for many, 6 time zones away doesn't make for a frequent trip ."
Asian • Delis • Hotels • Hawaiian
"This place is the best place to eat in Hilo. I'm a picky eater, very picky. I love Japanese foods. This place has foods that remind me of older Hawaii. Like grandma's cooking. Simple yet tasty. You cannot order just one item! Lines can get long, and if you go too late foods can run out! The customer service here is one of a kind. These days it's so rare to find customer service like what this place offers. Really, like old Hawaii customer service. You know. Before all the big corps and foreigners. This business has my lifetime support! (as long as they don't sell ; Kawamoto, please never change!!! I miss business styles like this!"
Thai • Pizza • Asian • Fusion
"The Tina's Garden Café is a small restaurant in the heart of downtown Hilo. The restaurant serves a curry that contains a whole avocado the size of a bomb, as well as other locally produced ingredients. These ingredients can cut the heart of the palms like wrinkles, kabocha, and fresh coconuts shot in a bright and herbal green curry with turmeric, ginger and lemongrass. The curry is more like a broth than a thick coconut milk engraving. Tina's restaurant always serves very generous portions. I started Thai pizza and then moved to Papaya salad. Although Thai pizza is enormous, I did not find it had enough taste. On the other hand, the Papaya salad is incredibly delicious. I scanned both foods with a low and a medium degree of heat. My personal preference is for a medium heat, but either is an excellent choice if you are looking for something less fiery."
Soup • Sushi • Asian • Cheese
"we went to this restaurant as part of our slumber weeks. both my man and I love sushi and fresh fish, but I can live it where we live. I really enjoyed our dinner here. I have a tempoura garnel roll, sharp ahi poke bowl and my man has two other rolls. everything was very tasty, my only complicity was that half of my roll, which I had saved for lunch the next day, had become unusable overnight. I kept it in a closed container in a refrigerator, but the next morning the rice had become hard and dried and the fish smells something. So if they decide to eat here, they make sure they eat everything they order in this night."
Pub • Pubs • Lunch • Burgers
"We initially drove past the restaurant and found it uninviting, so we decided to go somewhere else. However, as we walked down the street, we ran into some friends, and we were so glad we ended up together. Jordan and Dao were the only staff members on duty that night, and despite there being about 20 diners, they managed everything superbly. The food was fantastic, and the drinks went beyond our expectations. The staff was incredibly friendly and attentive, providing great service in a timely manner. Overall, it turned out to be a wonderful experience!"
Pub • Meat • Juice • Coffee
"This restaurant used to be fantastic, but lately it has become a bit disappointing. I've noticed some people behaving inappropriately, which makes me feel uncomfortable. They used to have an incredible salad bar, but unfortunately, they've removed it, and I really miss it. On a positive note, their vegan spicy Thai noodles are excellent! The staff is incredibly friendly, and I truly appreciate them—I would happily support them if I had the means. Overall, I would give it a 9/10 and would definitely return, but I really hope they bring the salad bar back!"
Cafés • Indian • Chicken • Kitchen
"Overall more like a 2.5 star. We came after a very long day at the volcano park and were starving. Food was very average and mediocre. Some dishes were okay some were less okay. The only saving grace was that the food came somewhat early. We ordered palak paneer, confirmed it and then they came and gave us kadai paneer. We never got our palak paneer. The place itself also wasn’t super clean. Bathrooms were nasty with no hand soap and the table had liquid stains on it. In the end we appreciated having some semblance of comfort food after a long day. Can’t be too mad but there was room for improvement. Vegetarian options: Good if you want something to eat. Kid-friendliness: They noticed that we had kids and gave them special plastic cups."
Cheese • Hawaiian • American • Sandwiches
"You should definitely ask for the vegan menu, as it offers a wide variety of mouthwatering options. I sampled both the mushroom and tomato dish and the Veggie Stir Fry. The mushroom and tomato dish was decent, but the Stir Fry was absolutely incredible! The drinks were also excellent. Our server, Lindsey, was fantastic—being a vegan herself, she provided us with great recommendations for other vegan spots. My omnivorous friends claimed this was the best restaurant we visited during our trip, so there truly is something for everyone. Plus, they offer a gluten-free menu as well!"
Thai • Cafés • Asian • Coffee
"You want some good Thai food? Cause this is the best. The curries that are made here will beckon you to come back again and again. The full flavors in the pumpkin curry leaves one in awe. A must add on to your order is the chilli oil they have. Wow wow wow. I promise you haven’t had one this one. So flavorful and with a sufficient spice level. They are so so so kind here to. They always make my partner and I feel so welcome, they know our different order combinations so well we hardly have to order all the way. It’s a Hilo must."
Steak • Hawaiian • American • North American
"Avoid coming around 9-10 am unless you want lunch instead of breakfast. Extremely unstaffed and they take way more customers seated than how many they can actually serve. After getting seated, we waited for about 20 minutes but no one ever came by our table to take the orders. The waiters were good at avoiding eye contact and were reluctant talking to us. The waitress who were supposed to take our orders (according to the waiters) were always in the other half space of the restaurant. And there were at least 6-8 tables that have been waiting longer than us. We left after overcoming the guilt of drinking their tap water. There are better ways to spend our time in Hawaii than staring at their menus."
Asian • Sushi • Grill • Japanese
"Service is a little weird. They aren’t very good at it…let’s just say that. Mostly bad at timing. Food is relatively good. Except for their salads….which are big chunks of iceberg lettuce and a cucumber slice. Flavors of most dishes are great. The 60min max seating time (when busy) is just a bad policy. When people drop over a hundred dollars…you don’t wanna rush out only night out all week. Attention management: erase this policy!! Normal prices and great ambiance."
Cafe • Lunch • Coffee • Cheese
"My wife absolutely loves this place. There aren't many dining options near Hilo Bay, which makes this spot a real gem. Unlike typical hole-in-the-wall restaurants, this place has a more polished vibe and offers some uniquely delicious food choices. I highly recommend the seafood pasta dishes; the fish is fresh and tasty. They also serve a beautifully juicy burger, making it a safe choice for those who might not be as adventurous with their food. The full bar offers a selection of fun cocktails, and I personally enjoy starting with a cookie and drinks as an appetizer. The waitstaff is incredibly friendly, and our water glasses were consistently refilled, making it a great place to hydrate after a busy afternoon of shopping."