Big Island Bakehouse is a can't miss when visiting Big Island! We made it over to this place on our…read moresecond to last day and we were greeted with so much cheer and the friendly staff gave recommendations and helped guide our choices. We tried the Bomboloni and Nutella Coconut croissant during our initial visit. The Bomboloni reminds me of a malasada but I enjoyed the creamy filling of this so much more. We ended up going back on our last day and tried some of the savory options - the goat cheese pesto croissant and then sausage roll were standouts for us. Enjoyed this place so much we hardly took pictures, but everyone should add this as a stop especially if visiting Volcano National Park!

Open only 3 days a week, this has become one of my favorite stops on the way to Volcano (from…read moreHilo). In fact, except Madam Pele does NOT necessarily keep to the same schedule as the bakery, would try to time my Volcano drives to coincide with Friday, Saturday, or Sunday! Hahah. Today got a sampling of Mediterranean scones (savory with olives and delicious seasonings), croissants, danish, and my favorite... the ube cruffin. Holy Moly Batman... that one item was worth the drive alone! Since there really wasn't any real estate in our tummies, we split everything 3 ways... over the course of the next few hours. Two weeks later, still thinking about that ube cruffin! Would definitely do a repeat on that as well as the Medeterranean scones while trying other items. And as the nice couple infront of us in line mentioned, will have to return for the sister deli across the parking lot. Heard it was featured in Guy Hagi's food vlog. And if its good enough for Guy Hagi its where I want to be my next mealtime!

A great place to grab a late night snack! Chillville is an ice cream shop located in downtown Hilo…read moreon Haili Street. Parking is freely available along the street or in parking lots in the area, so generally it's not too hard to find a parking spot. The interior of the shop is cute with pops of blue and white, with seating available in the form of wooden benches inside the shop. There are various games shelved to the side if you want to play something as you wait. Service was very helpful and friendly! The menu features various base flavors such as chocolate, vanilla, ube, matcha, etc that you can choose from, with various mix-ins and toppings that you can add. I got my chocolate ice cream with strawberry and oreo bits mixed in. My order came out promptly, and it was delicious! If you're craving a sweet treat, make sure to stop by and check this store out!

My niece recommended this place to my BIL and SIL as they had not tried it before. They thought it…read morewas really cool to watch them make it. Great little shop. They have kid's toys for little ones to play with. Will definitely come back again.

If you're into sweets, then this is your place! The interior is cute but seatings are only outside…read more My cousin and I tried the bing bong, lilikoi cake, and their brownie. If you have a sweet tooth then you're going to love it here. I, on the other hand, am not a sweet tooth. I found everything way too sweet for my liking. The brownie was just too rich for me. I did enjoy the lilikoi cake since the lilikoi gave a more citrus taste which masked the sweetness of the cake. Don't get me wrong, the cake was dense but also moist. My cousin loved her bing bong and ate all of it. Not sure why we didn't get banana bread, especially with the bakery called banananrama.

Bananarama is a hidden gem, and their lilikoi lemon bars are out of this world! The perfect mix of…read moretangy passionfruit and bright lemon on a buttery, crumbly crust creates the ultimate tropical treat. Every bite is fresh, vibrant, and unforgettable. The laid-back, welcoming vibe makes it a perfect spot to stop and treat yourself. Whether you're a local or visiting Hilo, don't miss out--Bananarama's lilikoi lemon bars are hands-down one of the best desserts on the island!

Cute little store with things I have a hard time finding things I can't find in other stores. They…read morealways have sky flakes crackers so I stop here to get a few containers every few months for my mom. I recently saw the trending mango and I think peach ice cream that looks like the fruit. They sometimes have the Jesse's Pianono rolls. Yum. The staff is always so friendly and helpful.

Store employees are nice and knowledgeable! They have unique items and the best prices! If you…read morecan't find it at the grocery store they probably have it! They even have those viral ice creams that look and taste like real fruit!

Puna Chocolate Company is one of my favorite local chocolate artisan shops, conveniently located in…read moreDowntown Hilo. Since my time away, they have beautifully renovated the interior to have a sit-down booth area. I love the abundance of nene decor honoring our state bird, along with high quality chocolates made in Hawaii. The store clerk was very knowledgeable and described how each cultivars of chocolate differ in their taste profiles. We had the horchata 50% milk chocolate bar, and I don't have a picture because we devoured it in one sitting! Overall, Puna Chocolate Co. is an elegant, delightful, and elevated experience that rivals big names like Big Island Candies and Dandelion Chocolates in San Francisco. Highly recommend in stopping by!

I stopped by Puna Chocolate Company for an afternoon coffee and ordered an espresso. It wasn't…read moreterribly busy in the store so my drink was prepared in minutes. The espresso was strong, not overwhelmingly bitter, and had a good consistency to it. While sitting at the bar, I noticed that they had a Day Drink menu with a bunch of coffee and chocolate cocktails, including an espresso martini and a cacao old fashioned. For $14 and $13 respectively, these seemed like very reasonable prices. Definitely something I'll check out on my next visit. On the right side of the store is a gift shop, while the left side has a bunch of seating for patrons. I noticed there were a few people here with their laptops out, so I can only assume it's also a good place to work as well. The store seemed pretty quiet, street parking outside was easy, and the staff I interacted with here was friendly. Puna Chocolate Company is a good rest spot to stop by to escape from the busyness of Downtown Hilo.

We've read about this place in many Big Island guides, so it was a must stop when visiting the Hilo…read moreside of the island. I must say, these are probably the best mochi balls I've had in my life. Every flavor came to life with every bite. It's very tight inside without any place to sit so be prepared to queue outside if the line is long. You can call in ahead to avoid the crowds. This is definitely one of the must visit spots on the Big Island. Even if you're on the Kailua Kona side.

We heard about this place from a YouTuber and decided to give it a try. Be prepared for a long…read moreline, as it seems to be a very popular spot. The mochi was soft, fresh, and came in some unique flavors that we enjoyed. It's definitely worth trying at least once for the experience and novelty. That said, after waiting in line, we're not sure it completely lived up to the hype. Overall, the mochi was good and we enjoyed it, but whether it's worth the wait may depend on how much time you have. If you're curious and it's your first visit, it's a fun stop, but expect a line.

What a cute little bakery shop!! It more than a treat shop…read morebut I actually got better stuff here than Merrie Monarch craft fair!!! Whaaaat? Yes I got the most gorgeous hair clip right at that store. The little fruit tart were delicious So glad we stopped there while visiting Hilo. Mahalo!

10/10 -- highly recommend! Kind, welcoming staff, a…read morebeautiful environment, and an amazing owner. Watching this business grow from markets to a farm stand and now into her own bakery has been truly inspiring. If you're looking to support local, this is absolutely the place to go. Go early -- she sells out fast! She also does custom orders for cakes and has a website now you can submit inquiries! If you love pink, you will love her Beautiful bakery! She supports local businesses inside bringing a farm stand inside I loved visiting and cannot wait to go back! Wish she was in puna! If you need anything desserts this is the one!

A solid neighborhood spot with a few standouts and some room to grow…read more We've been to Kaleo's a few times now, and we'll definitely keep coming back. It's close, there's always parking, and it's got that laid-back, local energy where you can laugh loud and no one's going to shoot you a look. It does get loud inside, but in that kind of way that makes it feel like everybody's having a good time, not like you're in a cafeteria. Just don't expect a quiet dinner conversation, unless you're reading lips. The service? Always sweet, always kind. Lily (I think that's the correct spelling!) has taken care of us more than once and she's a gem... warm, attentive, and easy to chat with. She's the kind of person who remembers what you ordered last time and tells you honestly what's good. As for the food... Bacon Blue Burger: My husband had this last time and it was yum. Juicy, flavorful, hits all the right rich notes without being greasy. That one's a solid order. Ribs: The barbecue sauce was really good... but the ribs themselves were dry and overdone. Not terrible, but not what I'd call a win either. If they could just dial in the texture, that sauce would carry it home. Kalbi Short Ribs: Best thing on the menu so far. Tender, rich, and full of flavor. Get those. Mashed Potatoes: "All mash" is the move. They're creamy and comforting... total comfort food. Hamburger Steak: Another standout. Probably one of the best in the area. Classic done right. Thai Chicken Pasta: Watch out... it's got some serious heat! Spicy, but good. Not for the faint of tongue, but worth it if you're into that kind of kick. Lilikoi Fizz: Really tasty but heavy on the lilikoi. If they eased up and added a little more club soda, it would be more balanced. Desserts: * Lava Cake was good... warm and classic. * Chocolate Decadent Cake was just okay. It comes fridge-cold (probably so it doesn't melt), but I feel like if they let it sit out for ten minutes before serving, it would be way better. * Brownie Sundae was yum, according to my husband... and I trust his dessert radar. All in all, Kaleo's is the kind of place you root for. You want them to keep getting better, and they mostly are. The hits are worth coming back for, and even the misses aren't deal-breakers. We'll be back, and we're excited to keep trying more of the menu.

Big birthday for me & hungry husband treated me to a trip to "Moku O Keawe" to visit our na…read moremo'opuna @ their new home! Eldest son suggested this nice bar & grill. Food choices were plentiful, lots of fancy drinks to choose from. This is an open restaurant where it's open air backyard kind of feeling. Feels like an old fashioned Lu'au!!! Acoustics are a bit loud because everyone is out talking each other. Parking is in the lot in the back. It's free if u no mind da "coqui " frogs!!! Would love to return & try other dishes! Ka ono! Our nine year old grandson ordered "Coconut shrimp & fries "-- no not from keiki menu--braddah can mop it up !!! I ordered a steak plate (4 got da name) . Son ordered a sautéed fish platter & hungry husband had a fancy kine,thick burger & we were all jealous! The wait for everything was a bit long; to wait for someone to take our order, bring back the drinks & very long before we got our food. Waitress was apologetic & sincere. We didn't mind. Extra points if you're like dat!!! On the cash wrap counter some Hawai'ian arts & crafts were displayed.....oh sistah! I gotta go lookie!!! He he he !!! Clay/foam like tropical flowers for your hair,laser cut wooden earrings,stationary & more! My dashing men (husband,son & grandson) let me oogle because they all know I support local artisans. Because I'm an "artsy-fartsy " myself!!! (I create all kine art) A few days lataz....was talking story wit my cousin & found out he was the fish cutter there a few years ago ! Loved dis place!!! Hope it does well!!!

Went for breakfast and looking fo Malasadas. Had the Korean fried chicken breakfast. The chicken…read morewas so good and flavorful. They cooked the hashbrowns exactly right. Our server was great.. she ended up going into the bakery to find Malasadas for us to go. Great experience.

Made to order and very good! Service was fast and staff was very kind, would recommendread more

New owners just took over and they are the best! So kind and friendly! One of the best Açaí…read morebowls I've had! So fresh and delicious!!! Highly, highly recommend!!! You will not be disappointed!!!

Ice cream was great as expected which this place is known for. I prefer the ube one…read more The staff was really nice and she helped adjust a coffee that we ordered. I'd recommend getting coffee elsewhere- the cold brew is a bit watered down. Small seating inside but super close to other stores so a great stop after a meal!