Hawaii (Big Island) Restaurant Tips by GracesTrips

Aloha Theatre Cafe: Also, on the way to snorkeling areas

On our way back from snorkeling, we stopped here for lunch. Odd name for a restaurant but turns out is IS a theatre as well. We had a peek at saw the stage crew setting up for the evening's show.

I enjoy food so to eat local food that I can't get back at home is a must for me. I ordered the Hawaiian mixed plate of Lau Lau (Roast pork wrapped in taro leaves), rice and potato mac salad (yes - potato salad and macaroni salad mixed together). Perfect! It was delicious and added surprise to find some taro in my lau lau which is not usually done. Not great ambience, no view of the ocean but I enjoyed my lunch none-the-less.

Address: 79-7384 Mamalahoa HWY (HWY 11)

Comparison: about average

Directions: 8 miles south of the Kailua-Kona

Phone: 808.322.3383

Price: US$11-20

Rating: 3

Theme: Local

Tex Drive In: Malasadas

Always looking for the unusual things to eat, I ran across this recommendation and made it a point to seek it out!

Malasadas are a type of Portugese style donut. Soft, warm, generously rolled in sugar. You can have them with filling such as fruit, Bavarian cream, chocolate or jalapeno jelly. I don't eat donuts much but this was extremely, delightful! Warm, soft, fluffy, not too sweet and filling! It was really good!

Address: 45-690 Pakalana Street, Honokaa, HI 96727

Comparison: least expensive

Directions: Visible from the main highway

Phone: 808.775.0598

Price: less than US$10

Rating: 4

Theme: Local

Keoki's Roadside Cafe: Fish & Chips, Local Fish!

Big sign out front that reads, "Fresh Local Fish & Chips"! So, one day we stopped by for the fish & chips. My boyfriend and I shared a plate and instead of "chips" we opted for the onions rings instead for $1.00 more. Forgot to take a photo of the food but it was good. The fish, that day, was Ono. And, as we were nibbling on our fish, a guys strolls in with a huge fish to the back. The fish was about 5 feet long. My curiosity got the best of me and I had to check it out! It was in fact an Ono! They use one whole fish a day. It doesn't get any fresher than that! Located in the Captain Cook area of the Big Island.

Address: 83-5293 Mamalahoa Hwy., Captain Cook, HI 96704

Comparison: less expensive than average

Directions: 15-20 minutes south of Kailua-Kona in the Captain Cook area

Phone: 808.328.2259

Price: less than US$10

Rating: 3

Theme: Local

The Fish Hopper Restaurant: Good Fish - Lots of Choices

I used my android phone to look on my opentable.com ap to find a restaurant. This was in the vicinity and the reviews looked good so I booked my reservation and off we go.

Easy to find on Alii drive. Great ocean views. My dinner was very good. I had the Macadamia Nut Mahi Mahi with rice and mango papaya salsa and citrus cream sauce. My boyfriend chose a fish dish served with ravioli. Unfortunately, his dish was not prepared with the ravioli and was sent back. When the plate came back, it seemed the fish was overcooked.

Address: 75-5683 Alii Drive, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740

Comparison: more expensive than average

Phone: 808.326.2002

Price: US$21-30

Rating: 3

Theme: Local

Website: http://www.fishhopper.com/kona/

Pancho & Lefty's Cantina: Mexican Food in Kona

We went into the main town of Kailua-Kona to check it out and wanted a quick bite for lunch. We chose this restaurant because a drink and quick bite sounded good and hoped we wouldn't get too filled up so we would still be able to have dinner.

The restaurant is located on a second level allowing for great outside views of the Alii Drive. The cruise ships dock at Kailua-Kona and the tourists go crazy with shopping. Sorta fun to watch from above.

The food was good and the beers and mai tais were cold. Not too fancy, just a casual place to grab a bite. Not too expensive, either.

Address: 75-5719 Alii Drive, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740

Comparison: about average

Phone: 808.326.2171

Price: less than US$10

Rating: 3

Theme: Mexican

Website: http://www.bigisland-bigisland.com/kailua-kona-restaurants-pancho-leftys-mexican.html

Krua Thai Cuisine: Tasty Thai Food in Kona

We were driving around aimlessly trying to find a place for dinner as our first choice wasn't open. So, he happened up this restaurant that turned out to be Thai food. I really like Thai food so I was a happy camper!

We ordered a yellow chicken coconut curry dish with lime leaves and a stir fried fish dish with fresh basil, onions, carrots and asparagus. Along with a couple orders of sticky rice, it was very tasty!

Simple decor, nothing fancy, clean. Make sure your bill is added up correctly. Nothing wrong with our bill but noticed a few other customers did.

Address: 75-5705 Kuakini Hwy., Kailua-Kona, HI 96740

Comparison: about average

Phone: 808.327.5782

Price: US$11-20

Rating: 3

Theme: Pan-Asian and Pacific Rim

Hana Hou Restaurant and Bakery: Decent food in the middle of no where

So, we took a drive to the southern area of the island. Checked out the black sand beach and the Volcano National Park. It was a very long drive from Kona. It's about lunch time and our choices are extremely limited. But we managed to find a place to eat and the food wasn't bad.

The fried rice was tasty and the Asian slaw was pretty good, too! Nothing fancy but it was good food.

Restaurant claims to be the southern-most restaurant in the United States.

Address: 95-1148 Spur Road, Naalehu, HI 96772

Comparison: less expensive than average

Directions: Visible from the main HWY 11, it's a yellow building off on a side street. Cross street is Kaalaiki Road.

Phone: 808.929.9717

Price: less than US$10

Rating: 3

Theme: Local

Pizza Hawaii and Deli: Best Pizza!

So, visiting in Hawaii had us craving fish because we know the fish is fresh and absolutely delicious. But after days and days of eating fish, we were left wanting something different. So, we opted for pizza and I have to say this was extremely good pizza.

Located on the Hilo side of the island, this is a hole in the wall kind of place with a few table and chairs. No wine but they allowed us to buy wine at the market a few doors down and bring it back to have with our pizza. They even provided some wine glasses.

We ordered a medium pizza half with the Hawaiian (bacon, ham, pineapple and scallions) and New York Combo (pepperoni, Italian sausage, onions, mushrooms, bell peppers & sliced olives). It was delicious! We ate every bit of it!

Address: 2100 Kanoelehua Ave., Hilo, HI 96720

Comparison: about average

Directions: Located on the west side of the road in the Puainako Town Center

Phone: 808.959.9932

Price: less than US$10

Rating: 4

Theme: Pizza

Website: http://www.pizzahawaiideli.com/menu/

Jackie Rey's Ohana Grill: Off the Beaten Path but worth while

While on vacation, enjoying a meal is a big deal and ambience, location plays into all of that. We were having a difficult time trying to figure out where to have dinner as some of our options were not available on a Sunday or Monday evening. So, we found this place and a decent choice it was.

I ordered the Mochiko crusted fresh catch (Ono) served with Molokai Sweet Potato and stir fried vegetables. My boyfriend ordered the Summer fresh catch (Mahi Mahi) with citrus herb, cous cous and grilled vegetables. Both of our fish dishes were slightly over cooked. It was still tasty. We mentioned to our waitress that perhaps the chef should be informed about the fish.

I would eat here again but would make sure my fish isn't over cooked next time.

Address: 75-5995 Kuakini HWY, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740

Comparison: more expensive than average

Phone: 808.327.0209

Price: US$21-30

Rating: 3

Theme: Local

Website: http://www.jackiereys.com/index.htm

Huggo's on the Rocks: Great hang out in the evening!

Our first evening on the Big Island and this looked like the place to check out and grab a bite to eat. A nice couple, leaving, pointed to the table they just left and suggested we take it since a great view can be had from it. We found ourselves walking in sand to the table and sat in fairly low chairs. The sun was setting and the tikki torches were lit up and the ocean was right there. We had a great view. Entertainment for the evening was a guitarist singing and playing various Hawaiian songs and some early 60's music Hawaiian style. Very nice ambience.

The menu is simple, nothing fancy. We were hungry so it didn't matter. I had an Ono burger with salad and it was good - a little messy to eat. My boyfriend had the Ono as well but crusted and served with rice and salad. I ordered the Rainbow Hawaiian cocktail and it was really, really good!

Address: 75-5828 Kahakai Rd., Kailua-Kona, HI 96740

Comparison: about average

Directions: Very close to Alii Drive in the downtown area of Kona.

Phone: 808.329.1493

Price: US$11-20

Rating: 3

Theme: Local

Website: http://www.huggos.com/all/rocksdefault.htm