First time trying Aloha Mondays. It was close to my workplace for the day and highly recommended. I…read moreopted for the Caprese Beet Salad and it was delicious! Loved the mozzarella, tomatoes and pesto toppings. They set a new menu every Monday and have at least one vegetarian option. I want to go back the next time I'm in Hilo.

One of my favorite specialty take out places that boasts a weekly changing menu. Lunch and dinner…read moreonly, pay attention to their ordering times. Order online with options to pay online and in person, in addition to ordering in person. I can't attest to the in person ordering wait time since the online ordering is super convenient for me. Pro tip: follow their instagram, they will normally post their weekly menu via insta story on Mondays, then they post photos of that weeks menu items usually on Tuesday when they open for business; it helps me decide if I'll be paying a visit that week lol. I also like that they always have at least one full vegetarian option and a dessert option. They might seem slightly pricey for take out but I do believe they offer restaurant quality food which makes it reasonably priced in my book.

Great food, great selection,. Great service! We are lucky to have them in our community.read more

Amazing empanadas and sauces. Three delicious vegan options to choose from. Highly recommend.read more

Stopped for a quick bite on my way back to my hotel. Building is on the side of the road with only…read morea small sign. Recommend use GPS to help you navigate. Parking is very limited. Spaces were full when I arrived so I parked across the street in the lot for the park. Very casual place with small menu. There is a gift shop type area for local purchases and a fruit stand on site. I ordered a smoothie and pork tacos from the menu. Tacos were good. Smoothie was refreshing. Menu selection is small but with a decent amount of variety. I would recommend for a quick bite or a smoothie stop.

So Ono! After an…read moreamazing morning exploring the waterfalls near Akaka Falls, we stumbled upon this hidden gem of a country market and café -- and wow, are we glad we did! The menu might be small, but it packs serious flavor. The Ono sandwich was, well, *ono*! Perfectly cooked protein, fresh veggies, and a tangy sauce that brought it all together -- simple, fresh, and unforgettable. And don't even get me started on the Kalua pork tacos -- tender, smoky, and paired with just the right amount fresh tomatoes. The setting was relaxed and rustic, with just the right amount of charm. We grabbed a shaded table outside and enjoyed our food while soaking in the peaceful surroundings. It felt like we'd discovered a local secret. If you're in the area sightseeing or taking in waterfalls, do yourself a favor and stop by. Great food, and a perfect slice of island life. This place is a true treasure! Other: -$$ -Pay with card or tap -Parking all around -Shaded seating out side -one bathroom, up the stairs and to the right - local cats around

One year ago today, AJ and Sons catering helped make beautiful memories for our wedding overlooking…read morethe waves at Hilo Bay. Being that we live on the mainland, we coordinated everything via email and phone, and everything worked wonderfully. The food was fabulous and Audrey made everything easy for us from set up, to serving and cleanup. Having used multiple caterers for many occasions, AJ and Sons was the BEST!

I recently contacted Dean Shigeoka of AJ and Sons Catering to cater a friend's destination wedding,…read moreand we received excellent service and excellent food! With only about three weeks notice, Dean was able to put together a great menu and cater a small wedding on the Hamakua Coast. He worked with me to decide a menu based on our budget and tastes. For $30 per person we got: - Appetizers (all three as a trio): stuffed Hamakua mushroom, Porchetta on bruschetta, Hamakua tomato jam with puma goat cheese on crostini - Salad: farmers market salad with lilikoi dressing - Main: local fish (market choice), sautéed, served with porcini risotto and farmer market veg - Vegan: vegan yellow curry and jasmine rice - Dessert: Fruit tart, incorporating local coconut, lilikoi, and pineapple. All of the food was AMAZING! My favorites were the vegan yellow curry, lilikoi dressing, and Hamakua tomato jam. I would order EVERYTHING again. Dean communicated well with me via an in-person meeting, email, and phone on narrowing down a menu, making food decisions, and finalizing plans. He and Audrey (mom and co-owner) arrived early to prep and setup a buffet line, cleared plates once people were finished, and cleaned up. I could not have asked for better food or better service. I highly recommend AJ and Sons Catering. They do any size party, though there is a $100 charge for parties smaller than 25, which makes total sense to make the event cost effective for them. Most caterers won't even consider doing small parties. I might even contact AJ and Sons Catering for future parties instead of going to a restaurant!

The evening was beautiful; a great meal overall. The atmosphere is a bit casual with the use of…read morefolding tables and chairs; but the meal made up for the casual setting. Host just left without an introduction to the support staff and has a lackluster approach to sharing details of each item on the menu. We understand the chefs mission and want to support this vision. Unfortunately; not sure if the menu warrants a second visit. Hawaii has lots of beautiful sustainable food resources that are unconventional. I will caution the use of wild deer meat for carpaccio. There is a concern to cook game meat before eating it. Venison can carry pathogens that cause brucellosis, campylobacteriosis, and listeriosis, and freezing, drying, pickling, and smoking are ineffective at killing these bacteria.

Na'au celebrating the "guts of the heart and mind". Chef Brian Hirata and his team, seeking to…read morebring global awareness and appreciation of Hawai'i cuisine, has created this experience for the lucky few able to dine with them. Reservations are required. At this time each evening's seating is limited to 24 persons. What you will experience: A drive to a remote area just on the outskirts of Hilo; Driving through sugarcane fields and farm roads to get to current location at Whitehaven Farm. Location opens up to a beautiful and scenic area on the bluffs overlooking the ocean. Prix fix menu changes monthly, or for special bookings. Each dish highlighting sourced ingredients from Hawaii. Each dish with a story behind it as so magically described by Robert, our host for the evening (and also found on their website). Highlights in food for me were the local breadfruit appetizer duo made into tostone and hummus and garnished with green big island plums dressed as olives, also the salad created out of ho'i'o, pickled hapu'u hearts, and kimpira takenoko... so very creative creating an ahh or an ohhh in every bite. Wait a second, that big island kanpachi prepared two different ways, kauai shrimp croquettes in the most delicious lemongrass red curry brown butter reduction, the big island lamb served 3 different ways...tantalizing the taste buds. All so very memorable. Not to be outdone, a dark chocolate tart with whipped lemon chevre dessert finished the evening. No liquor sold here, you are welcome to bring your own with a modest $20/bottle charge. If there were only one suggestion it would be to finish off dessert with a nice french pressed cup of Kona or Hualalai or Ka'u coffee or cup of Big Island mamaki tea. Then I would know I was in heaven on earth. Bravo Chef Brian, former Chef of the Four Seasons Hualala'iand Instructor at Hawaii Community College Culinary School, and recent James Beard nominee. Thank you for your innovative creations while educating us about the beauty of Hawai'i Cuisine. Do I recommend? I recommend staying at the Whitehaven property (they also have cabins and rooms to rent) so that you can dine here every single night of your Hilo stay!

After a disappointing experience at a nearby restaurant, I walked to this grocery store. The only…read morereal vegan breakfast option on the hot bar was potato wedges, and they had some cold vegan food nearby that didn't look great either. So I opted to get this, which was also mid. Better than nothing, though.

This store is awesome!…read more This is the original island naturals market, the second location is in Kailua Kona. It's easy to find, located in a shopping center with parking. There are outside tables to eat. Inside is full of so many great items and their own deli foods and bakery items. The employees are nice. I highly recommend going here!

We initially didn't realize that this bakery was only open twice a week. Patrons were ordering a…read moresizable amount of bread with one guy taking at least a half dozen mini baguettes and two big loaves. At the rate people were buying, this house of flour, water, yeast, and salt would be out of bread in no time. We got two focaccia slices: goat cheese roasted pepper basil and an ali'i mushroom garlic. Both were chewy but airy at the same time. The mushroom was spicier than expected requiring bites of the goat cheese slice to cool the palete. The roasted peppers and basil added extra flavors to the richness of the goat cheese. Both were delicious, large slices of bread, and you should absolutely make a stop here, just make sure they're open. And get there early. These Hilo natives love their bread and there may not be much left if you get there late! For those of you familiar with Honolulu's famous Breadshop in Kaimuki, this may be slightly better, but don't take my word for it. Parking in whatever street parking you can find.

Pane Nudo opened two years ago in Downtown Hilo, taking place of another favorite bakery location…read more My friend told me about this place and said it was a must try here. Their store is only open on Wed and Sat, so you should definitely plan ahead to visit this store on those days in the morning to have a better selection of bread choices. I tried their Asian Pear foccacia and it was absolutely amazing; pear, honey, and manchego cheese was a perfect harmony of sweet and savory flavors akin to well-balanced charcuterie board. Pane Nudo is a must try in Hilo. Highly recommend their foccacia bread!!!

Great music Tuesday night & awesome vegetarian choices with incredible fresh ingredients!read more

Went to the big island on vacay and tried a few local kombucha brands before finding Big Island…read moreBooch. Every flavor I tried was rich and delicious. I was particularly fond of the Jun varietals - very unique and delightful. If you're looking for a fantastic fermented brew search no further than Big Island Booch!