This is the perfect restaurant if you are looking for VEGAN, VEGETARIAN, GLUTEN-FREE options in the…read morearea. Our 5 year old is vegan & gluten-free and we were worried about what we would find for lunch... the rice and beans plate was perfect. Plain white rice (no broth), vegan refried beans, mild salsa, corn tortilla (upon request). He loved it. Hubby and I shared the vegetarian enchiladas with ranchero sauce (made vegan), and the tofu/cabbage taco with flavorful cilantro sauce (which came with chips and house made salsa). Mmmm delish! Portion sizes were big. Prices were very reasonable. $40 for all 3 of us. A BIG shout out Michelle for who was super helpful, super efficient, and super knowledgeable (requesting the kitchen to clean the area due to our GF request), making our experience seamless!

Expectations. Always set expectations. You show up to a Michelin restaurant you expect service and…read morefood. You show up to Island Tacos you expect a vibe and food. Two maybe three people working. Be patient. They will get you your tacos. It was as good as expected. Just remember to be patient.

Best service EVER! Best food EVER!!!…read moreGreat place! Thank you again ! The best is your open all the time! The park is fun too!

This is a must eat in Wimea. It is not fast food. It is good food…read more Great service. And the perfect location right in Wimea. Be sure to stop in if you are in the area and they are open. Not a crappy chain restaurant. Looks and feels like a family owned local spot. Highly recommend.

Pro Tip: Enjoy a Luxury Resort Without Staying There…read more Here's a little Big Island travel hack... You don't have to be a guest at the five-star Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection to soak up its incredible atmosphere. Simply tell the valet you're dining at Surf Shack, enjoy a bite, a drink--or both--and they'll validate your parking. The complimentary valet alone feels like a win. The resort is consistently recognized as one of the Big Island's premier luxury destinations. Once you've eaten, take your time exploring the property. Stroll the beautifully landscaped grounds, relax in the open-air lounges, wander the shoreline, watch the waves roll in, browse the upscale shops, and enjoy one of the most peaceful resort settings on the Kohala Coast. The ambiance is worth the visit all by itself. As for Surf Shack, the setting is fantastic. The food? Good, but definitely priced with a luxury resort zip code. We enjoyed our meal, but you'll likely pay a premium for what you order. So here's the hack: Pay for lunch... get the resort experience for free. Between the validated valet parking, stunning grounds, oceanfront setting, and laid-back luxury vibe, it's one of the best values on the Big Island if you know the secret. Just don't tell too many people.

We happen to be in town for Taco Tuesday. They offered fresh Al pastor, from a spit and a mushroom…read moretaco. I had two Al pastor tacos and they were heaven. The green salsa was a winner. We also ordered the fish tacos, which is always on the menu. They were fresh and delicious.

Delicious smoothies, mango sticky rice is second to none, and freshly cut fruit…read more There's also freshly made curries if you're craving some of that. Will definitely stop in again.

Pleaaaaaaaase come here for the Mango Sticky Rice!!!!…read more The Banana Coconut smoothie was thick and delicious! When I come back to Kauai, I will be visiting again! Find your way to Coconut Corner!

Paniolo BBQ is a hidden gem that offers a wonderful experience for both kids and adults. They have…read morefun stories, live music, majestic views, enjoyable games, and the food is amazing!

This was our second time attending the Paniolo BBQ dinner, this time with our family group of 18…read more It was fantastic as usual! The view from the top of the mountain is incredible! The historical storytelling, the gracious staff, the food, all just wonderful!! I highly recommend attending!!

Cipriano's Kitchen - Kawaihae's Italian Treasure…read more Cipriano's Kitchen is one of those rare restaurants that keeps you thinking about your meal long after you've left. Chef Gino is generous with both his talent and his portions. Every dish showcases fresh ingredients, expert preparation, and a genuine love of Italian cooking. The menu is seafood-forward, featuring fresh local catches, handmade pasta, and flavors that are both authentic and creative. This family-run restaurant is made even more special by Claudia, Chef Gino's wife and culinary partner. Claudia bakes fresh focaccia daily and prepares the restaurant's gnocchi and pasta from scratch. As hostess, she warmly welcomes every guest and effortlessly serves as the restaurant's "walking menu," describing each dish with passion and detail. The presentation is stunning. Lobster, octopus, shrimp, clams, scallops, and house-made pasta arrive beautifully plated and bursting with flavor. The fresh focaccia alone is worth the visit. Every meal feels thoughtfully prepared, from the first bite to the last. What keeps me coming back is that the food is genuinely craveable. I find myself dining here every couple of weeks for lunch, and more often than not, I leave with a takeout order for dinner because I know I'll be thinking about it later. Cipriano's Kitchen isn't just serving Italian food--it's creating an experience centered around family, hospitality, and exceptional cooking. Kawaihae is fortunate to have this gem, and anyone who appreciates fresh seafood, handmade pasta, and heartfelt hospitality should make it a destination. A true Big Island favorite. "Come hungry. Leave happy. Plan your next visit before you've even finished your meal."

We had a reservation for three for dinner. We arrived 10 minutes early and we were explicitly told…read morewe were early and then we stood waiting until our reservation time when they seated us. Tables are mainly outside with loud street traffic noise. We were brought water fairly quickly and had our menus to review. We then waited for 13 to 15 minutes until a young waitress returned answered our questions and we ordered some focaccia bread and three glasses of Sangiovese. $19 a glass for a very poor red wine and then seven dollars for six small pieces of focaccia bread. The least expensive wine by the bottle was $79. Their corkage fee if you brought your own bottle was a mind-boggling $179. We got our wine and bread in a reasonable time and then had to wait another 10 minutes to place an order. We were in the mood to have salad, but the least expensive was a Caesar, $25 for a small plate. We ordered two pasta dishes And one ravioli dish, which came with three cheese ravioli. The dishes in price ranged from $48-$56 each. Our food came out, reasonably on time. We requested some Parmesan cheese and olive oil for the side. The pasta was handmade, fresh and delicious. We very much enjoyed the entrées taste and presentation. One of the pasta dishes was just lukewarm when served. Our bill for three adults was $250 before tax and tip. While the food was excellent, we felt that the service and location, along with the ambience was not worth that price.

Tom yum and basil stir fry are amazing Dumplings also good…read moreMade fast and very nice Not very spicy

Welp, this was the best Thai food I've ever eaten! On top of that the prices were incredibly…read morereasonable and portions sizeable. I'm fairly certain you can't go wrong with anything on the menu but I can personally recommend the pork with ginger tamarind sauce, the fried rice, tom ka soup, pad Thai, and sauteed vegetables (yeah, we ordered a lot)! The owners are fantastic and cooked the fried rice for our toddler so it came out first which he was thrilled about (everyone else was too because we dug in too). Each dish came out as soon as it was out of the pan, under normal circumstances this wouldn't be ideal with 5 people but everything was so delicious we shared it all!