While a rare and precious commodity in almost any town, the 24-hour restaurant is almost unheard of in Hawai'i. Thank goodness then for Ken's HOP, which not only serves all night long, but is reputed to serve the very best breakfasts on the Island of Hawai'i. It has won a half-dozen people's choice awards in the past few years for service, food quality and all-around excellence. Everything from the famous pancakes to spaghetti to Kalua pig is on the extensive menu. All-you-can-eat specials are featured on Wednesday and Sunday.
Do not let the name fool you, this is no simple cafe. It is one of the most highly rewarded, oft-mentioned restaurants on the island of Hawai'i. Serving a unique fusion of Pacific Basin and Continental cuisines, this place is perfect for a memorable occasion. The decor is simple. The food, on the other hand, is marvelously complex. Signature items include the Wok-Fired Shrimp and Scallops, Chili Grilled Shrimp Pizza and the Island Seafood Risotto. There is another location on the West Side, Kohala Coast.
Dine by the fire in this charming, jewel-like restaurant at the Kilauea Lodge. With its distinctive decor, gourmet cuisine and mountaintop location, this is truly a unique place to enjoy a meal. It has been awarded by "Gourmet Magazine" and "Honolulu Magazine." It is also the place that locals choose to go when they want to splurge. The menu, which changes daily, is continental with local touches, featuring exotic game and seafood. Menu items can include Duck L'Orange and German Sausage plate with homemade sauerkraut.
Established in 1946, Cafe 100 had humble beginnings as a diner, and today is a Hilo institution for hearty breakfasts and meals. Choose from a fantastic selection of Hawaiian specialties with some great daily specials to tickle your taste buds. The Loco Moco is the restaurant's claim to fame and they offer no less than a whopping 30 varieties to delighted patrons, who just can't seem to have enough of it. Apart from this, a selection of burgers and sandwiches offer something for lighter appetites. Groups are well catered to with the selection of platters offering great value for money. Opening at 6.45a, it's a delight for the early risers looking for a satisfying breakfast. Comforting food, a cheerful atmosphere and great value for money; what more could one want?
Located at the quiet end of Kilauea Avenue, this tiny Thai eatery is a colorful and friendly spot to sit with friends and to enjoy red and green curries or a slew of tasty dishes with fresh island ingredients. The eatery is not one of the easier ones to find, but it's worth the few blocks up slope from the bay front to sit in the colorful dining room and enjoy the bold Thai flavors at reasonable prices. The side streets in Hilo also lend to the restaurants Asian atmosphere. Street parking is available on a limited basis.
Hawaii's oceanic bounty makes it one of the best places for seafood and among the top dining destinations in the Aloha State is the award-winning Seaside Restaurant and Aqua Farm in Hilo, run by the Nakagawa family. Put this restaurant on your itinerary as here you will experience seafood at its best- fresh as caught and prepared using traditional techniques, favored by both locals and tourists since the early 1920s. In fact, their dishes like the Chinese style Moi, Macadamia crusted Mahi Mahi and fried Aholehole bring in loyal patrons even from outside the continental U.S. And all the magic happens in an awe-inspiring setting, on the edge of a 30-acre natural fishpond. The food, service and quality will certainly leave a mark. But the place gets pretty rammed for both lunch and dinner, so make sure you walk in well ahead of time.
One of the more interesting in a row of small restaurants off of Kilauea Avenue in Hilo, the setting at H&K is fresh and inviting, offering lots of local favorites and Korean standards. The plate lunch list is long and inexpensive, and each plate comes with the obligatory rice and mac salad. Choose from a yummy and hearty beef stew, chicken katsu and hamburger steak. Other options include a Korean kalbi plate and barbecue chicken. Parking is limited but functional for the take-out traffic it attracts.
Nothing can be more local than okazuya (Hawaiian lunch stop/deli). If you thought Hawaii got the poke thing right, then get ready for okazuya. Order up at the counter and build a bento of assorted goodies like sushi, tempura, chicken and other delicacies for the beach picnic or splurge on the larger box to take home for the family. It's all good and it all goes fast. Arrive after noon and there will most likely be nothing left to choose from. Arrive early and queue up with locals because this place begins to buzz before the sun rises over Hilo Bay.