Restaurants

Island of Hawaiʻi Restaurants

Thanks to innovative chefs and delicious homegrown ingredients, the island of Hawaiʻi is fast becoming a hot spot for foodies. Fresh and local produce is at your fingertips throughout the region, whether you’re splurging on an elegant beachside dinner at a Kohala resort, feasting on kālua pig and poi at a lūʻau or grabbing a quick al fresco lunch of grilled shrimp and slaw from a food truck.

In many locales, all around the island, you’ll find creative eateries taking full advantage of the island's cattle ranches, fresh seafood and hearty vegetables grown in the island’s rich, volcanic soil. From traditional Hawaiian cuisine to refined New American fare and a variety of Asian cuisines, the choices are as vast as the landscape. No matter where you eat, a cup of locally grown coffee is the perfect way to finish off any meal on the island of Hawaiʻi. The local beans are so good, you might want to consider a tour and tasting at one of the nearby coffee farms in Kona or Kaʻū.

Video: Food in Hawaiʻi

Take your taste buds off the beaten path with the flavors of Hawai‘i. Discover local comfort foods, island favorites, and authentic tastes from farm-to-table and gourmet, to hidden spots and must-tries.

Dining on the Island of Hawaiʻi

Please note: We apologize for any inconvenience, but our preferred business listings below are in English only.

Eat Like a Local

Display of Hawaiian plate lunches, including containers of kimchi fried rice, gourmet chili, and kalua pork, with soups in the background.

Smiling girl holding a bowl of colorful shave ice, topped with green and pink flavors, served with a spoon and straw.

Plate of Hawaiian poke garnished with green onions, seaweed, and edible flowers, served as a pupu or appetizer.

Close-up of a hand reaching for sugar-coated malasadas inside a box, showcasing the golden doughnuts.

Plate of Hawaiian loco moco featuring rice topped with a hamburger patty, fried egg, and rich brown gravy.

Plate Lunch

Consisting of two scoops of rice, macaroni salad, and everything from kālua pork, Korean barbecue, chicken katsu, beef teriyaki, or mahimahi, the plate lunch is a staple of local food.

Shave Ice

No matter what island you’re on, grab a shave ice to cool off. These finely shaved snow cones are served with colorful flavors on the top with a choice of ice cream or azuki beans on the bottom.

Pūpū

“Pūpū” is the Hawaiian term for appetizer, and every local restaurant in Hawai‘i offers a wide range of creative pūpū platters to dine on, from poke dishes to sushi.

Malasadas

Treat your sweet tooth to a hot malasada (a Portuguese doughnut). Although Leonard's Bakery in Kapahulu is popular on O‘ahu, ask any local and they can tell you their favorite bakeries on each island to find these fresh and tasty treats.

Loco Moco

For big appetites, try a “loco moco,” which is a hamburger steak and egg over rice, covered in gravy. You can find loco moco served throughout the islands, but Café 100 in Hilo on the island of Hawai‘i is said to have originated the name.