Not a whole lot of variety on the menu, but that did not matter. The food was excellent. Loved the decor and style of the restaurant. I had their curry shrimp, and wanted to bottle up the sauce and take it home. Super delicious. In a cute little town too. A must eat in that area. read more

We didn't get to enjoy the ambiance of this place in the evening and with the live music...we happened to hit it for early lunch after a trip to the Waimea farmer's market and a drive on the Kohala mountain road. Our family (with a couple kids next door enjoying the awesome pretzels at the Deli) ordered the combination platter, and the fresh catch of the day ( a bit overpriced at $15.95). Some items were tasty, such as the fresh salsa, but some items were a bit strange, particularly the pot stickers. All in all, the food was inconsistent to us, and there weren't a lot of choices, but we could tell that, with the right entree, and the dinner setting with with slack key guitarist, it would work. read more

As with many of the 'off the beaten path' eateries on the big island, this is one of the local favorites. It has an eclectic, beautiful ambiance with parasols hanging from the ceiling, hammocks strung across walls, Christmas lights hanging around the stairs, etc. The restrooms are as unique as the dining room and quite clean. The menu is somewhere between Hawaiian, southern comfort, Thai, and deli. 3 of the 4 adults at our table had Kailua pork with cabbage, the other had Kailua pork hash with passionfruit hollandaise, which was also very good. Worth a stop if you decide to head to the northern end of the island. The vibe of the local shops seems to be reminiscent of free-spirited, peace-loving individuals from another period in time. read more

We initially found this little gem on the Food Network app 'On the Road' - apparently Ms Rachael Ray visited here for $40 a day. The trek to this small town/village is worth it. The Hawaiian hospitality is immediately realized at the door with the super sweet hostess. I am not a huge seafood person but after this trip I am a convert! Fresh coconut flakes on a piece of deep fried Mahi Mahi was one of our dishes. That dish came with mashed potatoes, and veggies. Our other dish was Mahi Mahi in a lemon caper sauce served with polenta triangle pillows along with asparagus. Both dishes were divine - packed with flavor and left me not wanting to leave any tasty morsels (or sauce) behind. Take the drive - enjoy the amazing food in this historic hotel. You can even buy the cookbook and enjoy the gift shop/gallery! PS - have them tell you the Rachael Ray story - you will NOT get out of there for less than $40 #justsayin read more

I am blessed to visit the big Island every other year. Every visit, always includes this wonderful restaurant. This would be number seven for me, and it was memorable. We were seated for lunch, and lo and behold our server, Kehau, recognized us from two years ago. I was also happy to learn that Ono (Wahoo), was their featured grilled fish. Although I miss their old Bamboo menus, I'm told the waitstaff enjoys not having to lug a big stack of those hefty one-of-a-kind books anymore. The new menus, included some portion pricing, more ingredients listed, and lots of options. Well, the Ono came perfectly cooked, delicately flaking with a light fork. I ordered the smaller lunch portion, yet had a nice sized fillet. She brought me both the tropical salsa, and the tartar sauce. I really like their sticky rice that accompanies many of the dishes. A dense scoop (or two), with the sprinkle black toasted sesame seeds. It has a unique mild flavor. I would go easy on the soy sauce. Served on a bed of tossed lettuce & veggies, I think. An exquisite balance of flavor and texture, So good!! My friend had his usual kalua pork, good as always. It was also great to see "smiling" Jack. He is always making sure the water/iced tea glasses get re-filled promptly. The "Aloha Vibe" created by the seasoned staff is evident every time I set foot in Bamboo's. I also had a Mai Tai this visit. Even though it may deviate from the strict Trader Vic's, or Donn Beach recipes, as most do, it still made my top five list. Might it be the lilikoi juice blend, and no lime juice? It is not too sweet and refreshing, try it. The food served here, maybe a little pricier, due to the fact they source it from some of the higher quality vendors, and local farms. They take pride in providing a genuine "farm to table" menu. Totally worth it In my opinion. I know, I have dined at both Merriman's & Pueo's Osteria in past visits, so just my point of reference for foodies in the Kohala area. I also recommend, the "dessert bites", (get all three), if your group is still undecided on which individual ones to order, or you want just enough to satisfy your sweet tooth. The great teamwork service remains a hallmark of this establishment. I would however note, that my preference is for my server to take the payment; (they drop the bill off in these clever little bamboo sections). That way I can thank them personally, clarify the bill, etc. Just a little quirk of mine. I guess some people wish to pay and go. Need to book a later flight out on a Sunday, so I can experience their brunch for once. The reviews and pictures leave me rather jealous. I have missed "happy hour" too. OK, next time for sure. Tips: Parking is also available in the back, as street spots fill up fast. Reservations for dinner are highly recommended, make them closer to the start of service, savor the time. They have a nice website. Menu descriptions are detailed. No prices shown. The happy hour menu. although not listed, can be viewed in current yelp photos posted. Ask questions, about the preparation, and portion sizes, any options. I have always found them accommodating with any reasonable requests. They also are very knowledgeable as to how their offerings may differ in taste, or spiciness. If something isn't as you expected, please, please, ask to speak with your server, They really care that you leave satisfied. The owner, Joan is often there. Just remember; GIVE ALOHA-RECEIVE ALOHA. I can't give any credence to reviewer's who say nothing then and there, yet become an expert food critic, once back at the keyboard, sniveling about the prices, and what not. Mahalo. read more

Hello Joan, It's me. I dined here during christmas break, and I was disappointed. To be honest, that salad, the one with the noodles, was vague. I was reminded of Paula Deen influenced by the color gray. The fish was ... fishy. Sad. The mahi mahi (the fishy thing) was intriguing, because at first I did not believe it was fish. I looked it up later, on the Google, and I was glad to know that you guys serve pulverized fish jerky. That's what mahi mahi is, right? I LOVED the service, but the bathroom was sus as fuq. See Joan, *sigh*, I may not be old to be "deteriorating in human spirit", but I am old enough to face whatever comment you make on this review. I hope to hear back from you soon. Love, Zat read more

So delicious, staff super friendly and historic building and town. Worth the drive from Kona!

Unfortunately I would have to say don't bother taking the long drive out to Hawi for Bamboo. The staff was super nice and accommodating but the food was not exceptional. First off, the chicken potstickers were mostly nuts. I really couldn't taste the chicken but was told it was ground. My son ordered the calamari which seemed like a calamari steak sliced steak up. That may have been ok, but not what we're used to(tentacles and rings) but it didn't smell fresh either. The ribs seemed boiled. My Hawaiian take on Chicken Cordón Bleu seemed like it was previously frozen & the vegetable medley served with it was wilted. We ordered another item but you get the picture. We were bamboozled! read more

Bamboo is pretty much the only act in Hawi town for semi-fine dining. I would say it is a little overpriced for what you get, but that is expected on vacation. The staff is very friendly and attentive. Try: Lilikoi tea Any of their fancy cocktails Fresh locally caught fish Kalua pork quesadilla I like the cordon blue stuffed with kalua pork. It can be a touch dry but the flavors are nice. I had the shrimp and chicken wonton appetizers, price for what you get. I prefer the shrimp to the wontons. There is an art gallery/shop inside which is neat if you are looking for gifts for people back home as well. read more

Very kitschy but apparently the only game in town for a decent lunch. Service slow, food sub par. It is housed in a really old building which is. Art gallery upstairs. None of it really well done, but somewhat in line with the town itself. We had hoped to see hula dancers based on prior reviews and website review, but were told there were none available during our visit. read more

If I could, I'd give them 10 stars. The food was delightful and full of flavor. Our party of five all ordered different things, and each plate was amazing. I ordered the fish sandwich (fish of the day was Ono) and it just melted in my mouth. I couldn't believe how tasty it was. My husband and father ordered the pork sandwich, my sister ordered the stir fry, and my mom ordered a salad with potstickers. We also ordered two piña coloada's (one virgin)- some of the best we've had. Definitely stop by if you get the chance. My husband wishes he could relive the experience :p read more

Food was just ok. The aloha Cuba sandwich would've been delicious but the Hawaiian bread was toasted beyond recognition. Had to scrape it off to eat it. But the environment was fun and the staff were the nicest around - and that is saying something as EVERYONE on the big island is so nice and hospitable. Thanks for the reply Joan. Yes, I'm fully aware it is a toasted sandwich, thank you. We ordered two and one was toasted perfectly; with the slight charred marks you'd expect from a toasted or grilled piece of bread. The other was blackened burnt; the entire surface area of the bread. I'm just surprised it was allowed to be served. We would've asked but the order took long enough as it was. We were the first to be seated and had already out-waited/outstayed people who came after us. He was offered a free dessert by our very friendly server. read more

This was a lengthy drive from our Waikoloa Beach resort for a meal but definitely well worth it. We read positive reviews everywhere and were interested. I thought it may be a high-end fancy restaurant by a celebrity chef but it's more comfortable, unique and relaxing. We drove right by the restaurant on our way through this one-block town of Hawi. We were considering spending more time there but realized it was really just some art galleries and an ice cream shop. The restaurant opened for dinner and there were tons of people there all of a sudden. The decor is really unique and feels like a Mexican restaurant back home but with Hawaiian decor. It feels really casual and relaxing with top-notch service and food. The staff was super friendly -- they seemed to be from the same family. Service was excellent. We ordered exotic drinks with their signature passionfruit juice (bottle on the table as a suggestion -- we left having bought two of them). I had a mai tai and my wife had a martini -- both using the juice. I ate a fish dish and my wife had vegetables. Both were excellent. Having dropped a good amount of money on food (and well worth it), my wife then spent $50 in unique Hawaiian items next door in their gift shop. We both loved this restaurant and will definitely return some day. read more

Loved this place in a quaint little town on the North side of Hawaii! Favorites were the Bamboozle Iced Tea and chicken stir fry! This restaurant has a great shop too! read more

We stopped at this restaurant on the way out of town and the food was good, but not fantastic. Hubby has the kaluha pork with waffle fries and cole slaw and I had the cheeseburger with the same sides. The waffle fries were hot and crispy. The cole slaw had a really good flavor - a vinegar base, not cream base. The burger had a nice topping of lettuce, tomato, pickle and mayo. The kaluha pork had the same toppings. The pork was good if you ate it on the bun, but since hubby and I split our meals with each other, I ate mine without the bun. It was very salty that way. It had good flavor, without needing bbq sauce, but just a bit too salty. The sandwiches were decent sized, the number of waffle fries you got was about 8 or so and the cole slaw you received was in a very small dish. It was enough food without being wasteful. The Pepsi tasted pretty bad, it was flat or something. Service was really good, the waitress came around several times checking on us, refilling water, etc. We had no wait for a table, but we were there mid-day during the week. The price was about $12 per sandwich. The restaurant itself if very big, with lots of seating and these overhead hanging umbrella things and lights for decoration. There is a store on one side of the restaurant where you can buy Hawaiian items, including different types of cloth napkins similar to the ones they use in the restaurant. read more

Hawi is such a cute town and Bamboo is a decent if a little pricey restaurant to try for happy hour or dinner if you are there. Hawi feels very authentic even though you know that it's kind of jazzed up for tourists. Something I've learned, and maybe this makes me a bad person, is that I like my Hawaii a little Disney-fied. Not full on San Francisco Tonga Room fake, but just a touch. Bamboo definitely is made for tourists but doesn't feel like the Tiki Room. They have a happy hour with discount appetizers and drinks from 4-6 that was a winner since all the food in Hawaii seems totally overpriced. Their chicken satay gyoza were really great and seemed house-made. For dinner, my husband had the kalua pork and cabbage plate, which was really heavy, and I had the vietnamese salad. I didn't like the dressing on the salad - seems like Hawaiian chefs love to put that very sweet gooey chili sauce on everything- but the server brought me 3 other options when I asked for an alternative. Super nice of her! They are known for their lilikoi (passion fruit) mixed drinks, and even though I was pregnant and had my margarita virgin, it was still sweet and refreshing. It's not San Francisco food, but we're spoiled and we know it. read more

Beautiful rural setting on the north side of the island. Very tasty food, decent size portions, and fresh ingredients.

While this has been an island favorite and does have some great food (the fish and waffle fries in particular), charm does not make up for, what amounts to downright unfriendly business practices like $3 soda refills... on an 8oz glass... And, have to say it, diminishing food quality. Bummed to have to write anything less than a 5 star rating but as they've grown from a local business needing, and deserving business, to a well known stop on the north coast, the quality just isn't keeping pace. Hopefully that changes back. read more

In the center of tiny Hawi in North Kohala, situated in a small stretch of shops in the center of town, we stopped for lunch. Next time in the area, we'll stop again. 1. Food: good to very good, depending on the dish. We had the house dumplings to start and quickly complained about how bad they were, so we ordered a second time to make sure (yep, the unique peanut taste was really hard to swallow - all eight times). Highly suggest trying them if you like Thai-inspired flavors, and the garnish was as good as the dumplings, in a good way. Next, we had a burger and chicken quesadilla. The former was cooked with just enough red left to keep it flavorful, and for some reason, I really liked the cole slaw (I don't usually comment on cole slaw, but it was fresh - appears they take the garnish as seriously as the main components, nice touch). The quesadilla was good - not amazing, but better than most I've had, although I can't tell you why. Most, if not all, of the items are homemade. We also had some adult beverages: tried both beer and cocktails (there's a full bar, which is great). 2. People: Probably the main reason for the score. We were greeted by a very friendly young lady, joked about this/that and for the rest of the lunch they were just on their game: they all help each other and are very cognizant of everyone's tables. The beverages come out with lightning speed, and the food is paced a little fast (if I have to find one thing to poke about, I'd delay the main dish a few extra minutes...and I'm stretching it to find something). Everyone has a personality (including some sass), and they came off as genuine, which was great. 3. Location/Ambiance: fun and alive - holiday lights mixed with tasseled lampshades, with a tropical vibe. 4. Other: art upstairs, gift shop downstairs with nice people all around. Mahalo for a great experience! read more

Yummy food and great service. My burger was a little undercooked but I was fine with it. Server noticed and automatically tool that off the bill. My wife loved the Ono grilled fish plate with rice. read more

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Amazing drinks! Good service and food! Just check hours because they are limited. Try the piña colada with dark rum!

This was the first place we had dinner on our 1st full night on the Big Island and we picked a winner. Our motley crew of 6 tried everything from drinks to dessert and nothing disappointed. Service was very friendly from the time we called to ask about reservations until saying goodnight, libations were strong and the live music was perfect. The 100 year old building that houses Bamboo, the varied / well selected menu and warm personalities of the entire staff make it a truly unique and delicious experience. Some of the highlights - THE BIG BAMBOOZLER (best Pot Stickers I've probably ever had), BARBECUED BABYBACK RIBS (excellent), GREEN PAPAYA SALAD for starters. Entrees - COCONUT CRUSTED Monchong, HAWAII THAI with Monchong and PACIFIC STIR FRIED NOODLES with Thai coconut sauce / Monchong (it's a wonderful fish!) and my youngest son had their Teri-chicken. Desserts were all homemade, I recall Orange-ginger Creme Brulee and a Kona Coffee ice cream with Brownie pieces. I would definitely return if ever given the chance and highly recommend to anyone. read more

Most wonderful lunch on the island! Great staff, delicious food and perfectly refreshing drinks. I especially loved the hula girl (drink). The small dessert bites was a nice way to wrap up a great meal. Wish we found this place sooner so we can try more of the menu. I'll be dreaming about that hula girl! read more

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A very nice quaint restaurant in a very old historic building. A little gift shop and art gallery are in the same building. You can shop while you food is getting prepared. The passion fruit iced tea was very good and rhe glass didnt sit empty for long. Top-notch friendly service by the staff. I ordered the Aloha Vietnam sandwich. It was tasty but the only drawback was the amount of pork on the sandwich. There was just a little bit of meat. I think i ordered the Chocolate Macadamia Cheesecake. That was very creamy and tasted excellent. I would go back! read more

Waiting for Healthy Pupus during happy hours, Lettuce wraps, Joan we love coming to Happy Hour But have a hard time ordering greasy Pork Quesadilla, Calamari strips, Crispy fried chicken wings, prawns Fried, onion rings fried, When the last time u have added a new item ? Please have a look yourself at the choices We're Looking after our health even tho we're on vacation...... And living here also. Joan we would Gladly pay for Healthy Pupu's as u say it's expensive to prepare.... Just try instead of ranting. Be creative as You're been in creating your Lovely Bamboo Restaurant. read more

Great Sunday brunch. Only place around you can enjoy an adult beverage with your meal. Eggs were cooked perfectly. Nice relaxing tropical vibe. read more

Bamboo was the best meal we had during our stay on the Big Island- and we had a lot of good food that week. We drove into Hawi on the way to check out Polulu valley. We were pretty hungry first stopped to try and get a late lunch around 3 o'clock, but unfortunately they were closed for a short period between normal lunch hours and happy hour. A host/server recommended a place we could go for a quick bite, or suggested we come back after 4 for happy hour. We decided we'd check out Polulu valley and then come back for happy hour. We worked up a pretty big appetite hiking down to the valley and back and by the time we got back to Hawi we were hungry! We got to Bamboo and were seated and ordered several pupus: Korean chicken wings, pork quesadillas, artichoke risotto, and thai coconut prawns. At $4 a plate they were pretty good serving sizes (except the prawns were $9). And they all were DELICIOUS. The chicken wings were the perfect blend of flavor and texture, the quesadillas were fantastic and the risotto was just amazing- it had artichokes, tomatoes, and capers in it. I could have just eaten the risotto non-stop. "Well, let's just take a look at the dinner menu. Just a look... Okay that looks good, that looks good, that looks good. Looks like we're staying!" Our service was wonderful. Joan, the owner, frequently checked in with us to make sure everything was going great. She was very friendly and she told us some very funny stories. The busser was extremely FUNNY- she had moved from Waimea to Hawi because Waimea was getting to crowded. Our servers, both for dinner and happy hour were great. Basically, almost everyone in the restaurant at one point was talking to us (it wasn't terribly busy). For dinner I had the Aloha Asia style fish (fish of the day was Ono). It was really tasty. I don't think I've ever had Ono before so this may just be how it normally is cooked, but it was just a little tough. It didn't detract from the awesome flavors though. It was served in a shittake broth with rice noodles. It kind of made a spicy (mild) fish soup toward the end which was quite good. Needless to say I cleaned my plate. I also had a Pina Kohala which was tasty and made with a secret ingredient. While I'm not 100% sure, my guess would be Kahlua. It was tasty! Overall, 5/5 stars for pupus, 5/5 for service, 4/5 for the dinner, 3.5/5 for price (although 4.5/5 for happy hour). read more

Ok so I wasn't contacted at all from the restaurant so I am not sure what you mean by I was not willing to be contacted. (Maybe it's yelp thing?) I did update it to 2 stars because you're right, there were other things on that plate. In terms of being accurate, the sauce was a part of shrimp,which was the only thing that was good to eat on that plate as I mentioned earlier. The salsa was very small and under the quesadilla so I wouldn't call that a separate element. The side salad you mentioned only had 3 green leaves and I DID NOT get papaya salad or the coconut rice. So yeah maybe I didn't get the rightful experience as I came right before the kitchen closed. - which is the reason why I am giving it a benefit of doubt and increase the 1 star to 2 stars. In terms of other reviews, I don't see how my giving 5 stars to my friend joke has anything to do with my restaurant reviews. But hey you gotta do what you gotta do to defend your business I guess? read more

We have been here each time we have visited the Big Island and it has never disappointed. We went for brunch today and my 3 year old and parents were equally satisfied. Our group ordered French toast, hash, stir fry and the catch of the day. Everything was delicious as always! The surrounding shopping is delightful also. read more

Came here for lunch with 4 others because the BBQ place was closed. It was a good 2nd choice. I had a salad with ribs. The ribs were good - the sauce was excellent. Good drinks. Friendly service. I'm pretty sure I was at this place in the past. I'll come back if I'm in the area. read more

This place....Holy Moly!! If you are NOT interested in eating outstanding food....then go elsewhere cause this place is the BOMB!! The staff is off the chain, service excellent and be sure to ask for Voila...or is is Violin or is it oboe? Regardless the place is wonderful!! read more

Best place for dinner in town by a long shot. The burger was fresh and perfectly cooked. One of the best, most tender I've ever had. The fish was caught fresh and was just awesome. Plus the staff is just super friendly. read more

A Haiku Review of Bamboo Restaurant: Starved after hiking. Best meal I had all week long. Great service to boot. read more

This was a great Restaurant. The ' naked chef' listed on the specials board was our tour guide at the Eco tours across the street. My friend had the local fish curry- which was caught on the dock behind the restaurant. Seriously... so fresh. I had curry too and it was deli sh. The drinks are house specialties and everyone was friendly and the service was fast. It is a great local place for tourists with some crazy inside decor. If I am back in Hawaii, I am coming back! read more

We could not wait to return for lunch again this year! The likiloi margarita is so yummy. The chicken dumpling appetizer is so delicious. And the local fish sandwich with the WAFFLE fries is the way to go. Truthfully the roll sucked on the sandwich but everything else was great. I could eat those waffle fries all day every day. Take the time to check out their little gift shop. We always find a great gift or two in there. read more

Bamboo Restaurant - Pina colada and liloki margarita. Yum! - Hawaiian Near Me - Hawi, Hawaii

We went for a sunday brunch and were pleased overall with the food quality but not large on the portions. The second time not so much. Had the Hawaiian stir fry. Vegetables were steamed well and firm but almost no chicken on top and noodles were mediocre. Again small portions for the prices Atmosphere is not much, with a view of the main road out the front and just a old run down building with some eclectic sparse decorating. Both times there we had a lot of flies and mosquitoes bothering us and other patrons....saw one woman waving her menu at some. Second time wait staff was good but first time indifferent. For the prices I would probably try somewhere else. read more

We picked a night when the whole town was celebrating Christmas. All the shops were alive with people. The Bamboo was filled with diners and music lovers. In this festive atmosphere it was hard to enjoy the total experience. We plan to return again for the ambiance. Regardless of the holiday cheer, the food was wonderful. The diners were mostly locals. The menu was a perfect fit for the diners. Fresh fish, produce and wonderful sauces combined to create tasty, hardy and creative food. In addition to the restaurant Bamboo has a gift shop and art gallery. Visit the. Both before you lea read more

On our drive to the northern part of the Big Island today, we stopped at Bamboo for lunch. Very interesting restaurant located in an old hotel. We shared the Big Bamboozer and a salad. Very good. Service was excellent. read more

Hands down my best meal on the big island, you have to go here! Great place for authentic food with great service. We each had the mahi mahi sandwich and it was to die for. We had fries on the side which were also great! The service was also great and they were super friendly which is always a bonus. Can't wait to go back! read more

Cuban sandwich toooooo salty and a true Cuban sandwich should have been panini style. As well over priced and presentation lacks, plus only 4 waffle fries. read more