Guidebook for Mountain View
Food Scene
Favorite diner on the island. With their humongous menu and different daily specials, you might need to go here more than once. Lots of local and traditional options, open 24/7, with fair prices and quick service. Very popular among locals and visitors – a true fixture of Hilo. You can’t go wrong here.
83 Einheimische empfehlen
Kens House of Pancakes
1730 Kamehameha AveFavorite diner on the island. With their humongous menu and different daily specials, you might need to go here more than once. Lots of local and traditional options, open 24/7, with fair prices and quick service. Very popular among locals and visitors – a true fixture of Hilo. You can’t go wrong here.
Excellent fresh home style Japanese cooking. Great for a light lunch, or make reservations for dinner. My vegan friends love this place.
46 Einheimische empfehlen
Miyo's
564 Hinano StExcellent fresh home style Japanese cooking. Great for a light lunch, or make reservations for dinner. My vegan friends love this place.
Delicious sushi, ramen, and sake bar. I’ve only gone here for dinner – it’s very lively and busy, and the food is great. My friend that’s allergic to gluten always wants to eat here.
14 Einheimische empfehlen
KANPAI - Sushi, Noodle, & Sake Bar
190 Keawe StreetDelicious sushi, ramen, and sake bar. I’ve only gone here for dinner – it’s very lively and busy, and the food is great. My friend that’s allergic to gluten always wants to eat here.
Hilo is rich in Thai food options, and you can’t really go wrong, but you’ll never find another place like Tina’s! The smoothies are superb, the servings are generous, and the options are unique! Where else can you find a Thai pizza?
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Tina's Garden Cafe
168 Kamehameha AveHilo is rich in Thai food options, and you can’t really go wrong, but you’ll never find another place like Tina’s! The smoothies are superb, the servings are generous, and the options are unique! Where else can you find a Thai pizza?
There’s lots of great local food options on the island, but Hawaiian Style deserves a special mention. Great for breakfast or lunch, with absurdly huge portions. So go hungry, and be prepared to bring home leftovers.
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Hawaiian Style Cafe Hilo
681 Manono StThere’s lots of great local food options on the island, but Hawaiian Style deserves a special mention. Great for breakfast or lunch, with absurdly huge portions. So go hungry, and be prepared to bring home leftovers.
Technically a fish market and not a restaurant, but the best place to load up the cooler before you head to the beach or out for a picnic. The biggest, freshest, and cheapest variety of poke (seasoned raw fish). Ask for a sample!
88 Einheimische empfehlen
Suisan Fish Market
93 Lihiwai StTechnically a fish market and not a restaurant, but the best place to load up the cooler before you head to the beach or out for a picnic. The biggest, freshest, and cheapest variety of poke (seasoned raw fish). Ask for a sample!
Wonderful for lunch, afternoon, or dinner. Local ingredients, vegan and gluten-free options. Delicious cocktails, appetizers, soups, salads, burgers, sushi, entrees, and desserts. Ask for the Awapuhi – my favorite fresh ginger and passionfruit cocktail, not on the menu! Dinner reservations recommended, and sit outside if you can.
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Hilo Bay Cafe
123 Lihiwai StWonderful for lunch, afternoon, or dinner. Local ingredients, vegan and gluten-free options. Delicious cocktails, appetizers, soups, salads, burgers, sushi, entrees, and desserts. Ask for the Awapuhi – my favorite fresh ginger and passionfruit cocktail, not on the menu! Dinner reservations recommended, and sit outside if you can.
Only open for dinner, and reservations recommended on the weekends. They don’t sell alcohol, but can serve you if you want to bring your own beer or wine. Paolo creates a fresh menu daily using local ingredients, and will often come out to greet diners. You might also get to meet some of his cats which wander about the dining room freely.
38 Einheimische empfehlen
Paolo's Bistro
15-2955 Pahoa Village RdOnly open for dinner, and reservations recommended on the weekends. They don’t sell alcohol, but can serve you if you want to bring your own beer or wine. Paolo creates a fresh menu daily using local ingredients, and will often come out to greet diners. You might also get to meet some of his cats which wander about the dining room freely.
Another of my favorite nicer sit-down restaurants worth getting a little dressed up for. Make reservations for dinner on the weekends when they often have live music. My favorite thing to do is split the Volcano Mist salad and BBQ Chicken calzone with a friend. And crème brulee for dessert! Also open for lunch.
139 Einheimische empfehlen
Cafe Pesto - Hilo
308 Kamehameha AveAnother of my favorite nicer sit-down restaurants worth getting a little dressed up for. Make reservations for dinner on the weekends when they often have live music. My favorite thing to do is split the Volcano Mist salad and BBQ Chicken calzone with a friend. And crème brulee for dessert! Also open for lunch.
I haven’t eaten here much but I know it’s fabulous. Voted best seafood for 16 years in a row, their menu is stocked straight from the 30-acre aqua farm surrounding the restaurant. Open only for dinner, and reservations recommended.
34 Einheimische empfehlen
The Seaside Restaurant And Aqua Farm
1790 Kalanianaole StI haven’t eaten here much but I know it’s fabulous. Voted best seafood for 16 years in a row, their menu is stocked straight from the 30-acre aqua farm surrounding the restaurant. Open only for dinner, and reservations recommended.
Best sushi on the island. This is the only restaurant I can recommend in the Kohala or Hawi towns because it is so good, I can’t bring myself to even try anywhere else if I’m in the area. Fantastic award-winning sushi in a cute little hole-in-the-wall setting. Great for lunch or dinner.
50 Einheimische empfehlen
Sushi Rock Restaurant
55-3435 Akoni Pule HwyBest sushi on the island. This is the only restaurant I can recommend in the Kohala or Hawi towns because it is so good, I can’t bring myself to even try anywhere else if I’m in the area. Fantastic award-winning sushi in a cute little hole-in-the-wall setting. Great for lunch or dinner.
Best burger on the island. You’d never know what a gem this food court burger joint is. A simple, small, customizable menu allows you to build your dream burger using fresh local ingredients. There’s also fish, vegan, and gluten-free options. A great “Kanak Attack” (food coma) option before lounging on the beach.
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Village Burger Waimea
67 - 1185 Hawaiʻi Belt RdBest burger on the island. You’d never know what a gem this food court burger joint is. A simple, small, customizable menu allows you to build your dream burger using fresh local ingredients. There’s also fish, vegan, and gluten-free options. A great “Kanak Attack” (food coma) option before lounging on the beach.
My personal favorite local pizza place, with a great selection of specialty options.
Big Island Pizza
760 Kilauea AvenueMy personal favorite local pizza place, with a great selection of specialty options.
You have to pre-order their award-winning coveted strawberry mochi. This is a VERY hole-in-the-wall local-style mochi shop, with inconsistent hours and a limited supply of their more popular flavors. Call ahead to check what they have, and bring cash! They don’t accept credit cards.
44 Einheimische empfehlen
Two Ladies Kitchen
274 Kilauea AveYou have to pre-order their award-winning coveted strawberry mochi. This is a VERY hole-in-the-wall local-style mochi shop, with inconsistent hours and a limited supply of their more popular flavors. Call ahead to check what they have, and bring cash! They don’t accept credit cards.
I don’t know why they’re called candies when they’re famous for their chocolate-dipped macadamia nut shortbread cookies. Though this is a big attraction compared to Two Ladies, it’s a hot spot for Hawaiian visitors from neighbor islands, and the local go-to for formal gifts. I love going in there just for sample and the great seasonal decorations (but my favorite is the chocolate-dipped iso peanuts!).
67 Einheimische empfehlen
Big Island Candies
585 Hinano StI don’t know why they’re called candies when they’re famous for their chocolate-dipped macadamia nut shortbread cookies. Though this is a big attraction compared to Two Ladies, it’s a hot spot for Hawaiian visitors from neighbor islands, and the local go-to for formal gifts. I love going in there just for sample and the great seasonal decorations (but my favorite is the chocolate-dipped iso peanuts!).
You won’t find these brews for sale in any store, but you can stop by and grab a bottle or growler to bring home with you. Better yet, relax a while and enjoy some food too. I met the people that own this place, and they love what they do – brewing is their passion.
88 Einheimische empfehlen
Big Island Brewhaus
64-1066 Mamalahoa HwyYou won’t find these brews for sale in any store, but you can stop by and grab a bottle or growler to bring home with you. Better yet, relax a while and enjoy some food too. I met the people that own this place, and they love what they do – brewing is their passion.
This place appeared recently and suddenly, and has exploded in popularity. It’s the Big Island’s own version of Chipotle, and it’s hugely successful. You customize your burrito, bowl, or tacos using a wide array of local ingredients. They even serve alcohol and my favorite local Kombucha.
WikiFRESH
1177 Kilauea AveThis place appeared recently and suddenly, and has exploded in popularity. It’s the Big Island’s own version of Chipotle, and it’s hugely successful. You customize your burrito, bowl, or tacos using a wide array of local ingredients. They even serve alcohol and my favorite local Kombucha.
The only Greek food in Hilo! I love this tiny place, and the funny woman that owns and runs it. She uses excellent ingredients, local and organic whenever possible, and she makes everything from scratch. She also works at some farmer’s markets and I really like supporting her.
The Oasis Cafe
211 Kilauea AveThe only Greek food in Hilo! I love this tiny place, and the funny woman that owns and runs it. She uses excellent ingredients, local and organic whenever possible, and she makes everything from scratch. She also works at some farmer’s markets and I really like supporting her.
The BEST Fish'n'Chips on-island, and the best value as well! Skip the fish'n'chips anywhere else, you'll feel ripped off after eating here. Get fist-sized chunks of fresh caught fish and a 1/2 lb of seasoned waffle fries!
57 Einheimische empfehlen
Pahoa Fresh Fish
The BEST Fish'n'Chips on-island, and the best value as well! Skip the fish'n'chips anywhere else, you'll feel ripped off after eating here. Get fist-sized chunks of fresh caught fish and a 1/2 lb of seasoned waffle fries!
Drinks & Nightlife
This is where I go to meet girlfriends for drinks and pupus before we go out. The open-air downtown location is fun and lively. They often have live music too. Formerly a Tapas restaurant called “Luna,” their appetizers are still their main strength.
128 Einheimische empfehlen
Pineapples Restaurant
332 Keawe StThis is where I go to meet girlfriends for drinks and pupus before we go out. The open-air downtown location is fun and lively. They often have live music too. Formerly a Tapas restaurant called “Luna,” their appetizers are still their main strength.
Essentials
Hilo KTA Super Stores
50 E Puainako StGrocery store with tons of great local options