A Little Hidden Gem Filled With Aloha Hana Hou Restaurant was honestly the best food experience we had during our entire 8-day trip to the Big Island. We stayed in Waikoloa Village and explored Kona, Hilo, Volcano Park, South Point, the Green Sand Beach, and the Black Sand Beach, so we had plenty of opportunities to try different places. And somehow, this little hidden gem ended up being our favorite. We're from the Los Angeles area and were traveling with my husband and our teenage son, and from the moment we walked in, we felt something different here. The service was genuinely friendly, the employees seemed happy to be there, and there was such a warm aloha spirit throughout the restaurant. That kind of genuine hospitality was missing at some of the other places we visited. Even something as simple as sitting down for a cup of coffee on the morning of Day 5 of our trip felt like a pleasure. The vibe was relaxed, welcoming, and local. You could feel that this was a place connected to the community. And the food was AMAZING. My son ordered the pizza, and it was HUGE -- so big that he had enough left over for the next day. My husband had the chicken, and I ordered the noodles. Everything was delicious. But I have to talk about the papaya. I do not like papaya. At all. I was just craving some fresh fruit, so I asked what they had, and they told me they only had papaya. I figured, okay, I'll try it. It was HANDS DOWN the best papaya I have ever had in my life. I loved it so much that later in the trip, when we stopped at a fruit stand and I bought papaya, I was immediately disappointed because it wasn't even close to the papaya we had at Hana Hou! We've been to Maui and Oahu before, and this was our first trip to the Big Island. If you're traveling around the island, I highly recommend making a stop here. Don't let the fact that it's a little tucked away fool you -- this place is a true hidden gem. We're so grateful we found Hana Hou. The food was wonderful, the people were wonderful, and most importantly, we felt the aloha spirit here in a way that really stayed with us. Mahalo, Hana Hou, for being one of the highlights of our trip! read more

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Service was good and food was even better. It's a hole in the wall find with a variety of food. The beef and fish are local. We had the catch of the day which was ginger scallion ahi tuna, Mac salad and dill slaw. All wonderful and fresh! My husband has the blacked ahi tuna sandwich and it was fresh as well. This place was a wonderful find after a full day of driving and hiking to Green Sand Beach and playing at Black Sands. read more

Need a place to eat on the way back from volcano. Hana Hou is the place. Just down the street from Punalu'u so it's the southern most restaurant in the US! Fresh fish, sandwiches, pizza, and local classics all in one place! What makes this place even more special is they are from Lahina but lost their restaurant in the fires. Made it back to build this place. Ono saimin and very reasonable. read more

We're staying in Kona but wanted pay homage to this part of the island after the devastating hurricane, so we took the 2-hour drive down to have lunch. So happy we did this. Little restaurant was so quaint and friendly and perfect. I ordered the Kailua pork with gravy and rice and coleslaw. Excellent, and plenty to eat. But I still saved room for dessert and shared a piece of lime pie with my dining partner which we both thought was excellent. Our wait person Terry had suffered significant damage in the storm and we wish her well. read more

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There are so many items on the menu. So if you have a large group of people this is a good place so they can have many options. Also there are weekly or monthly items available like coffees or treats. There is also a little arcade and some games for kids and even adults. Located conveniently off Ali'i. read more

Fantastic! So much fun. Great service, delicious food and nice atmosphere. Located in a small quaint town. read more

Hana Hou Restaurant - Comfort Food Near Me - Naalehu, Hawaii

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3/4/26 Huli Huli Chicken Welcome to the southernmost restaurant of the USA! Welcome to the southernmost village! We came by on a weekday around 4 PM, and were quickly seated. They have ample parking out front, and as this is situated in a slightly more rural part of the island, I wouldn't expect them to be extra extraordinarily busy. They are also right across the street from a renowned bakery for Malasadas (donuts with no hole). Service was quick and kind throughout our stay. Huli Huli Chicken (7/10) - they give a massive entire half chicken! As expected, the thigh and wings were super tender. I will know, that this chicken breast was probably one of the most tender chicken breast that I've ever had. SOOO JUICY!!! the meat itself was super succulent and each bite was very tasty. - my only complaint is regarding the flavor. Huli Huli chicken is usually barbecued outside, with a pretty crisp and dark exterior. However, this chicken's exterior was quite pale, and I'm unsure if they grilled it. It's possible that it is a baked chicken. Overall, the spot is unique because it claims it's the southern most restaurant of the USA. The Huli Huli chicken is super tender, like the exterior signature barbecue flavor that other local spots have. read more

Hana Hou Restaurant - Huli Huli Chicken (7/10) - Comfort Food Near Me - Naalehu, Hawaii

Food was good! Service was great!!! Cute place!! Food was amazing! Our friends had a variety of meals! read more

Hana Hou Restaurant - Big Fat Hamburger Steak Plate - Comfort Food Near Me - Naalehu, Hawaii

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Sunday lunch was busy here but we were seated right away by friendly staff. They had regular menu and specials. I had their ahi belly special which came with caramelized onions and macaroni salad. It was very fresh fish and so flavorful and I appreciated not drowning the fish in sauce. It had perfect amount of soy sauce flavor. The ono sandwich hubby had was also very fresh. It had salt and pepper flavor and topped with tomato and coleslaw; an absolute perfect combination. The restaurant didn't have AC as most restaurants in the area don't seem to take advantage. However, they had all the windows open so the breeze that came through felt nice. Highly recommend!! read more

Hana Hou Restaurant - Ahi belly special - Comfort Food Near Me - Naalehu, Hawaii

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At one of the southernmost villages in the union (at least it's self-proclaimed seemingly in every restaurant there), they serve the typical Hawaiian fare that you might see everywhere. Stuff like loco moco, local beef burger, fish steaks. We got some onion rings, the loco moco, and a burger. The gravy on the loco moco is quite good, and I also enjoyed the mac salad. There's something about the ground beef they used in both the burger and the loco moco that is extra lean, which isn't something I'm particularly used to, and I desired a bit more juiciness there. To be fair, loco moco tends to be leaner than, say, a Japanese hamburg steak, but the preparation here is definitely a bit chewier than I liked. Maybe I just don't really like the local beef They also have a cute dessert case up front, but the cupcakes were just a tad too sweet for us. The service was *slow*, but we are on an island having a vacation so I suppose that is alright, especially when the staff was actually very nice during all our interactions. There isn't a whole lot of food around here since it's pretty out of the way -- on this particular day, most of the food trucks are also not open due to a holiday. I suppose if you are in town, it's a solid place to dine at. read more

We stumbled upon this place, and we were pleasantly surprised. I thought that because it's a touristy spot that it may not be so good. I was so wrong! The service was great. Our server was efficient and helpful. The food was really good. One of the better pastrami sandwiches I have had! The papaya chicken salad was so unique and delicious. They even had cocktails! Such a bonus. This is a great spot to stop on your drive. read more

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Fabulous food, great service and friendly atmosphere....a real treat! Don't skip dessert! The macadamia nut cream pie is incredible! read more

One of the best loco moco it is a bit on the saltier side but it was so good!!! service was friendly & fast! Parking was easy for us but we didn't go during a rush! read more

Hana Hou Restaurant - Comfort Food Near Me - Naalehu, Hawaii

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7/24/25 Hana Hou 95-1148 Naalehu Spur Rd Naalehu, HI 96772 We stopped here for lunch on the way to South Point on a Thursday. It is the only restaurant in the area and it was really good. Parking is on dirt across the restaurant. It just opened and we were the first there, so service was no issue but good anyway. There is an interior table and chair dining area as well as outside, which can get windy. We ordered the "Sunday Loser" Spicy Chix Sando and the Butter Garlic Lemon Shrimp. Wifey's Chicken sandwich was delicious with a flavorful light breading, thick, moist and tender filet. The fries were also very good. My shrimp also had a light crispy breading in a mild flavorful garlic sauce. The Dill slaw was tasty with a light Dill flavor. Both dishes were exceptional, the chicken was one of the best I ever had. If you are in the area, this is a must stop. Definitely repeatable. read more

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Once we escaped the orbit of the resorts on the west side of the island, the food became more delicious and made with love. That was the case with Hana Hou. After a long hike at the volcano and some beach time, we stopped by for lilikoi lemonades, hot sandwiches, and a loco moco. It really hit the spot. The food had soul and old-time Hawaiian charm, with portions that made you feel like ohana. I would recommend going out of your way to have a taste! read more

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Fresh fish! It was super good, they had a special menu and I got the fresh seared ahi for market price which was $25 when I got it. It was very flavorful and when everything was combined was great. The rice was a perfect touch, the mac salad wasn't too strong so it worked really well. They were playing hawaiian music which was really nice and the nice breeze from the windows felt really good. A nice chill sit down restaurant. The service was prompt and great. Probably one of the best restaurants i've had so far in my hawai'i vacation. read more

Hana Hou Restaurant - menu - Comfort Food Near Me - Naalehu, Hawaii

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Great food, atmosphere and drinks. Excellent fish dishes perfectly cooked. Highly recommended read more

Hana Hou Restaurant - Bar area - Comfort Food Near Me - Naalehu, Hawaii

Clean small town diner with classic local selections and locally sourced beef and fish. Service is fantastic and desserts are fantastic. Chef Zane takes care if his community and serves up high quality food! read more

So happy to see this place open and relatively undamaged from the hurricane! Hana Hou has always been such a lovely place but the way they stepped up and fed the community after the hurricane was incredible, especially since they were probably experiencing their own hardships at home. Not only is Hana Hou the Sourhernmost restaurant in the US but they are a wonderful example of true aloha and community. The food is delicious, the location is lovely, and the service is excellent! Ask for Aunty Sam, she will treat you like gold! Mahalo Aunty Sam! So good to see you please consider donating to their Ka'u meal voucher program so Hana Hou can continue giving to those community members who have been severely impacted by Hurricane Lala. Mahalo nui loa Hana Hou read more

My son and I made he pitstop here during our fishing trip to South Point. Great service and we were definitely not disappointed by their meat lovers pizza. I would definitely try them again! read more

While I read (mixed) reviews, the location was also recommended from the place I stayed. Honestly nearly $65 for one person pretty steep for (tasteless) Ahi burger, fries and something (terrible) in a small cup I think an attempt at coleslaw. Before leaving I grabbed a Dubai Brownie to go. Not very attentive service, it was quite could use a thorough dust/cleaning. Overall underwhelmed. read more

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Love the place . The southernmost restaurant in the entire United States . I get family vibes when I'm there . Food was excellent! It's conveniently located in between Papakolea green sand beach and Punalu'u Black sand beach making it the perfect stop for lunch in between on your excursion . Tammy our server was awesome ! I recommend the smash burger or the ahi yakitori and the macadamia pie for desert . They had a refreshing drink made with unsweetened tea and local lilikoi (passion fruit) read more

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After a long day in the volcano national park, we were recommended to stop here by a local guide, and it did not disappoint! We tried a variety of dishes, had a great bottle of wine, and the macadamia nut pie was delicious and unique (and not overly sweet)! We loved all the dishes: some of the specials like the Siamin, sauteed Mahi Mahi, and the regular items like loco moco and the Pastrami, plus the veggie pizza. So glad we made it, and were kind enough to let us stay past closing for the late meal! read more

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Great atmosphere and staff is so nice. The food is locally sourced and fantastic! Great restaurant

Visited this place while visiting green sand beach and black sand beach in the area and glad we did! The fish was amazing and really cooked with super flavor and just a good touch to seasoning. All the plates we had were really delicious and cooked perfectly and felt like 5 star restaurants meals! I would definitely recommend and eat here again! Just a good restaurant out of the way of everything that makes you feel good you choose it! The service was good and the ambiance had the feel of a locals dinner and lunch spot that really only locals and go to.! I will definitely be back again! read more

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Delicious and fresh! What a surprisingly unique find on the side of the road on the way to the Volcanoes National Park. The ingredients are all so fresh and all their dishes have unique spins. The chicken salad in a fresh papaya was delightful. The Haole Boy pizza was every Hawaiian pizza lovers dream. The dessert fridge was a party for the eyes. So many delicious and unique desserts from pumpkin pie to Dubai Brownies. There is something for everyone! The ambience is wonderful too! With local paintings adorning the walls and the restrooms. A must stop and must see! Also plenty of room for a crowd outside at the picnic tables in the front and on the side. read more

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Delicious food. We got the locomoco, however I'm just remembering that the rice wasn't cooked all the way. However, the waitress was very attentive to us. Nice atmosphere. And so many tasty treats in their bakery case. I resisted that though since I'm overweight. read more

First and foremost, the southernmost restaurant in the USA! After a long day of driving, we were starving and many know there aren't too many options in the evening for dinner. Hana Hou was somewhat of a last resort for us, but merely based on time, not quality! We were starving and wouldn't make it back in time for dinner, so we made our way to HH on our drive. Very upbeat atmosphere and the service was good. I went with a burger patty smothered in gravy, which I feel you can never go wrong with comfort food. Mr. went with a beef dip, which he enjoyed as well. We still had a bit of a drive, so a lot of water was consumed. We were given a sticker when we cashed out, which now resides on our camper! I wouldn't hesitate to stop by next time we're on the big island! read more

Delicious! We had a party of 6 and everyone liked what they ordered. Our server was excellent and food was delicious! read more

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Very cute appearance from the outside. Friendly employees and always smiling when being greeted. Service was great and food was excellent. Very clean restaurant and nice atmosphere. read more

Love this place and the people who run it. One of the best restaurants in the entire island!

Pretty amazing food on the road between Volcano and Kona-Kailua. I definitely recommend the plate with ahi, chicken and shrimp. It was really good. The cole slaw was the best I've ever had. We stopped CB in for dinner and came back the next morning because the food was so good. Owners were burned out in Lahaina and have found a new home in Na alehu. Their bad luck turned into good luck for the Big Island read more

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Hana Hou happens to be the southern most restaurant and is a savior if you're looking for some place open after 6PM. The place is cute, they have lots of baked goods and ample vegetarian options to choose from as well. Tried their pizza which said had an Alfredo sauce base with pesto however, I could unfortunately hardly taste the Alfredo though. And wasn't a big fan of the crust either. But tasted good though. Service was great and they were really friendly and kind! read more

Hana Hou Restaurant - Comfort Food Near Me - Naalehu, Hawaii

Absolutely love this place! Our main courses were amazing. Loved it so much. I had to grab a T-shirt on my way out the door. Super friendly staff and just a great environment inside the restaurant. My only critique was that our desserts were a little dry. But, we were in for a late lunch early dinner so maybe they had been out all day. However, that doesn't stop me from absolutely recommending this place. read more

Update: We went back again this evening and met Mark the owner, very hospitable, our waitress Donna was super and there was live music by Dan. It just gets better every time. I got salad with Shrimp and lilikoi vinaigrette dressing and my husband got the ahi tuna special. Both were very delicious!!!! Amazing meal at Hana Hou. I came for the Loco Moco and it did not dissappoint. You can get it with pork or beef, I chose beef. It came with mac salad that was so creamy and delicious. My husband got the Huli Huli chicken with rice and mac salad. It was perfectly cooked, so tender he effortlessly pulled out the bones. They have specials of the day, fresh fish of the day, today was ahi tuna day. They also have homemade desserts, desserts, desserts, so many delicious ones we each got 2. One for there and one for home. They offer a variety of beer, wine, liquor drinks and yummy lilikoi lemonade. Seating is inside and outside. Our server was the best and helped guide us through our questions. This is Hawaiin style food that is fresh and hot and Fantastic in a quaint little restaurant, I highly recommend!!! read more

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Are you hungry? Do you want to have good food? Do you want food and friendly service? Come here and you will get all of it. We really enjoyed our meal here. So come and eat! read more

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The restaurant is pretty cool, and the food was good. Waitress was very friendly. Only issue is it's a bit too warm inside read more

Hana Hou Restaurant - Comfort Food Near Me - Naalehu, Hawaii

Food is excellent in my opinion but I would recommend to ask all your questions before ordering, pastries are awesome try the apple pie cupcake and ube coconut. We had a horrible experience with one of the ladies super rude and super racist towards me and my family she literally had us standing for our food and pay even tho we were dining in we saw other families just walk in and sitting down everyone got drinks water and we got nothing towards the end thanks to a nice lady she wears glasses and wears a flower( not the older lady with glasses but she was awesome too) They should do better for service we would have enjoyed our stayed but we literally had to beg to get our food and drinks read more

Solid grub at the Southernmost restaurant in the US. I have come to expect great quality protein on the Big Island and this was no exception. Probably the most flavorful beef I have ever had in a loco moco, and the garlic shrimp was very pleasant also. Nothing exceptional, but extremely homey and filling. The aunties were so kind and welcoming! read more

Hana Hou Restaurant - Comfort Food Near Me - Naalehu, Hawaii

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Expecting the same menu as they've had for decades, so we were surprised to see their new breakfast menu! Can this be real? Spam or bacon or Portuguese sausage with two eggs and rice for just $5? Well I had to try their Ka'u Con-3 Moco (prime rib, eggs on a bed of rice topped with gravy) for $5 more than reg loco moco. The prime rib portion was huge, seasoned & seared and so ono! There's also a pastry section - we be had to sample the carrot cake and lilikoi cheesecake (yumm)! And both the interior and exterior are embellished with beautiful and endearing paintings of animals, bold and striking colors. We'll definitely be back! Maybe lunch - the huli huli smelled awesome coming from the kitchen! read more

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