Dining

In the dining descriptions on this page, note that the restaurant names are linked to their online presence. Also note that the cost indicators are on a bell curve for island prices. For the most part, establishments with entrees under $20 = $; entrees under $30 = $$; etc. Because prices change without notice, these indicators should be confirmed against the restaurant's current menu prices before booking.

Fresh catch of the day is obviously a much sought-after focus of Hawaiian cuisine. However most people don't think of ranches and cowboys on an Hawaiian island. But the Kohala coast is home to many wonderful ranches making beef another option for farm to table options. Add this to the many traditional (and not-so-traditional) Hawaiian go-to's and you are sure to eat well!

To have a well rounded, Hawaiian-inspired, dining experience, try these while on the island:

1. Malasadas

2. Poke

3. Portugese sausage

4. Hawaiian shaved ice

5. Furikake Chicken

6. Kona Coffee

7. Hawaiian Breakfast

8. Loco Moco

9. Kalua Pork

10. SPAM Musubi (allegedly....lol)

Kai Kona Eats $$ Slightly gourmet casual. If you get there a bit early you don’t always need a reservation. Good sunset, ask for seating by the railing facing the sunset

Papa Kona $$ This is a larger venue that offers good bar food and nice sunset views if you can get seating on the west end of the lanai. Ask for seating by the railing facing the sunset. Try the pork arancini. The venue regularly has live music and can get lively, or loud, depending on what you are looking for!

Jack Rey’s Ohana Grill $$$ (there is also a Hilo location) Great food, a little more upscale, one of our favorite places. The chili edamame is great. Fantastic dinner place despite lack of water view. Fresh catch of the day entrees is usually fantastic. Reservations recommended, but you can also sometimes show up in the 5-6:00 PM range and snag a couple seats at the bar. There is usually some sort of magical multi-colored sauce decorating the plate under the fresh catch of the day that we would love to bottle up and take home.

Fishhopper $$ Breakfast here is wonderful, ask to be seating by the windows. Other meals are also good.

Island Lava Java $$ Great breakfast but food at all meals are good. It opens at 7:00 AM and there is usually a line before they open. They do take reservations.

Roasted Toasted Café $ Wonderful, easy and light breakfast toast options and a few other simple selections (including smoothies) and coffee. Very cost effective for a good start to the day.

Umekes Fish Market Bar & Grill $$ Not on the water but great food.

Da Poke Shack $ Grab-and-go poke. Often said to be the best on the island.

Magics Beach Grill $$ Good bar food and you can people watch the beach. You need reservations at any meal, including lunch usually. Sometimes you can grab a bar seat without a reservation for one or two.

808 Grindz $ Fantastic breakfast with traditional and Hawaiian-traditional favorites.

Kamana Kitchen $$ Great Indian food. We often call ahead on the way back from Waikoloa and order pickup. The eat-in atmosphere is nothing to write home about, but the food is great. It's located in the same building as Papa Kona, so we usually drop someone off to do pickup and circle the block so we don't have to find parking.

808 Picnics We've put this under Kona because it's not township-specific. This is a really unique experience. They offer a variety of options but two notable ones are: private sunset picnic on the beach and a helicopter ride to a private picnic by a waterfall (in collaboration with Paradise Helicopters). The fully stage a picnic dining area and, of course, provide the meal itself which will be remote-dining-friendly (think charcuterie). Unsurprisingly, the prices are not low. But for special occasions or those wanting an intimate atmosphere, you may want to check it out. Their Instagram is @808.picnics.

Tropics Tap House $$ (lunch and dinner only) Great bar food with island flair very close to CheCa Hale. Ask to sit by the windows. Highly recommend trying the da furikake fries.

Bianelli's $$ (dinner only; closed Sunday and Monday) More than decent pizza and pasta very close to CheCa Hale. You can order ahead for pickup which is nice. You will not however have a bad meal from Bianelli's. There is no ocean view. If you are looking for pizza with a view, we venture south to Blackrock Pizza in nearby Captain Cook.

Sam Choy's Kai Lanai $$ (lunch and dinner only) Menu items include locally-grown vegetables and fruits, Big Island cattle and locally caught seafood. The location offers expansive views. On chilly nights they turn on the outdoor firepits and you can have cocktails by the fire against an ocean backdrop.

Peabody & Galette $ (closes at 2:00 PM) Crepes and coffee breakfast just up the road.

Rebel Kitchen $$ Kealakekua (which is sort of SE of Kona up the hillside)

Gypsea Gelato $ Kealakekua (they just opened another location in Waikoloa also)

Pinetree Café $$ You can eat in, or takeout. It feels like they make everything. The food is good, the place isn’t fancy. You can order ahead and pick up. This is a nice option for days you are leaving early or running late or just don’t feel like cooking or going out and need to meets divers preferences. It’s outside Kona to the North, before you get to Costco, on the West side of the highway.

Brown’s Canoe House (the Fairmont) $$$$ Great sunset. Smaller setting, seating on the beach. Reservations definitely needed.

Napua (Mauna Lani) $$$$ Great sunset. Reservations definitely needed. Check to confirm they are accepting reservations from non-guests.

Kamuela Provision Company (Hilton Waikoloa) $$$$ Great sunset. Reservations definitely needed. Ask to sit closets to the water if possible. If you can get one of these prime tables there is nothing between you and the view! (Note that it takes a bit of time to park and get to the restaurant. This resort is huge. After parking (valet is available) and reaching the lobby, you can either take a 10-15 minute stroll through the impressive grounds past the Dolphin Quest pools to reach the restaurant, or you can take a tram. Either way, keep the travel time in mind when planning.)

Lava Lava Beach Club Closed until October 2022 for renovations. (A-Bay) $$$ Great sunset. No reservations taken. So also, a great place to have lunch if you spend the day on the beach. There are often turtles swimming off this location. For sunset, arrive - about 1 hour before sunset to get your name on the list. There is a bar-bus and seating while you wait. Ask for seating on the sand if they have it.

Rum Shack (at Kuleana Rum Works at Queen's Marketplace) $$$ Casual dining. Supposedly great cocktails. We haven't been but it's been recommended.

Mai Grille $$$ It's not on the water, but they have a great breakfast and also a good lunch menu.

Bamboo Restaurant and Gallery $-$$ (Hawi) Bamboo offers a unique island experience. Browse the in-restaurant art gallery and locally crafted creative offerings with a delicious cocktail in had while waiting for your Pacific Rim meal to be prepared. If you make it this far north on the island, Bamboo should not be missed. Open for lunch and dinner and offers takeout. Check out the dinner menu on their website for an interesting history of the restaurant.

Kawaihae Kitchen $ Beware that Google identifies the address for Kawaihae Kitchen as in Waimea, it's not "in Waimea" as in Waimea town. The area referred to as Waimea is quite large. Kawaihae Kitchen is north of Waikoloa, near Spencer's Beach. It's basically a walk-up window for lunch (open 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM - closed Thursday and Sunday), a perfect, easy lunch spot while relaxing on the far north shores. You order your food at a window and wait for it to be prepared. Not fancy, but does not disappoint!

Merriman’s $$$$ Amazing. Locally sourced, changing, menu curated by Chef Peter Merriman, one of the original founders of Hawai'i Regional cuisine. Hawai’i Regional cuisine is dining focused on the 'aina (land) and experiencing Hawai’i's seasonal tastes and textures. The restaurant has an intimate, upscale Hawai'i atmosphere but, remarkably, remains very ohana (family) friendly. The Merriman's Mai Tai with Honey-Lilikoi Foam - Wow. Also, get something with the jalapeno whipped potatoes. Reservations needed and accepted within 90 days of dining only.

FORC $$$$ Amazing. Locally sourced, changing, menu curated by Chef Allen Hess. Hess' self-proclaimed focus is modernizing Hawai'i Regional cuisine. The restaurant is located at at the historic Waimea Country Lodge and has a relaxed, open and ohana-friendly atmosphere.

The Fish & Hog $$ Scratch cooking focused on slow and low smoked brisket, pork, ribs and chicken. Meats are made in house. Fish is locally caught and never frozen. Go early. Since everything is scratch, once it's gone for the day, it's gone.

Hawaiian Style Café $ Local breakfast diner; good place for loco moco.

Blackrock Pizza $$ (10 minutes south of CheCa Hale) They do have a high-seating bar on a covered lanai from which you catch the sunset. The pizza is great and the pepperoni balls are phenomenal.

The Coffee Shack $ (15 minutes south of CheCa Hale) Great breakfast plus, on the hillside with amazing water views. Lots of cute little geckos climbing on the windows. Opens at 7:00 AM; get there early to get the best seats with amazing views.

Shaka Tacoz $ (10 minutes south of CheCa Hale) It doesn't look like much from the outside, but don't be fooled. The food is great and the views are amazing. There is a large lanai with a bar-counter facing the ocean where you can watch the sunset.

Ken’s House of Pancakes $ This diner has and old-time feel. The waitresses are hopping in their aproned attire as it's always very busy. Sit at the counter and you can watch the kitchen tickets go up on the spinning metal wheel between the wait staff and the kitchen. The speed at which they move is pretty impressive.

Pineapples - Fresh Island Cuisine $$ Delicious local fare, with a flair. Lunch and dinner. There offer a Mai Tai flight which is fun. Reservations recommended.

TEX’s Drive In $ (Honoka’a) This is near Waimea. Amazing. Honoka’a also has multiple fun antique and other local shops with cool trinkets and whatnot. It’s a small town but worth a visit.

Manuela's Hot Malasadas Truck $ (Waikoloa) By Beach 69 between Waikoloa and Kona

Punalu’u Bake Shop $ (Na’alehu) You pass Punalu'u Bake Shop on the drive from Kona to Volcanoes National Park and it’s somewhat near the black sand beach. We recommend stopping on the way down, not the way back. They do sell out.

Paradise Bakery $ (Kona) They also have an assortment of pretty impressive donuts that the keiki think are pretty great.

Click here for a list of our go-to island resources.