The food is delicious - top notch actually....and the portions are huge…read more Service is a tad slow initially, but it's all with a smile.

The food is always excellent and the service is very good. The quantity is very large, it would be…read morenice to have a choice for keiki and Kapuna. Hawaiian Style is legendary!

FPO and I are holoholoing on Hawai'i Island (or the Big Island if you're of a certain generation)…read more We went to Ken's House of Pancakes because FPO was feeling nostalgic and wanted their pancakes. I had the regular size Won Ton Mein. I have to say, the portions are huge! The omelet and pancakes were everything FPO remembered. My Won Ton Mein was a little bland. The service was fantastic. The people very friendly.

we love Kens whenever we travel to Hilo this is our lunch spot…read morestaff super friendly wide range of menus options

Great setting, underwhelming food & drinks…read more The location is beautiful--right on the water--with friendly, fast service. Unfortunately, the food and drinks missed the mark. The Mai Tai tasted very watered down. Buffalo wings used good-quality meat but were coated in an extremely salty sauce; the fries were similarly inedible from salt. The pesto pasta was decent, but without a protein option it felt heavy--nothing to balance the sauce. Bottom line: Gorgeous waterfront vibes and kind staff, but the execution on cocktails and seasoning needs work.

Perched right on the water on the ground level of the Grand Naniloa, Ka Lihikai impressed during…read moreeach meal. The servers, hosts, hostesses and bar tenders were all very friendly. The food was much much than when I stayed in the past. We tried versus items at different times and everything was cooked perfectly. The happy hour clams are delicious. The fisherman's stew was the highlight of dinner but everything hit perfectly. Not too expensive compared to many other Hawaii eateries. Definitely be back again.

Cute little cafe. The taro sandwich was amazing with added…read moreextra hummus. The hummus was awesome. The bread was great too. The açaí bowl was standard made from frozen stuff you get in super market.

Such a cute little place!! I ordered a cold brew and my niece ordered something with ube, which she…read moreabsolutely LOVED!! The place was so welcoming and cute!! I absolutely loved the set up, clean and comfy. We didnt order any food, but we saw some delivered and it looked amazing!! Coffee was so delicous!! Definitely coming again

My husband and I shared: - Turkey, Cranberry, and Cream…read moreCheese Popover Sandwich - Pastrami Popover Sandwich - Ube Donut - Lilikoi Butter Mochi Both sandwiches were fantastic. I love popovers and it's such a great idea to turn them into a sandwich. I think I had a slight preference for the turkey one, but you can't go wrong with either. The desserts were a little disappointing. The donut was dry and the butter mochi was just ok. If you're in Hilo, come here for lunch!

Wow! So good! Something interesting about Hawaii is they don't care for too much about the…read moreaesthetic and interior design. Upon walking in, you see a mom and pops with a weird table layout of their baked goods. But actually eating it is such a different story! Great value for lots of yummy breakfast

This community cafe offers vegetarian fare from fresh ingredients sourced from their farms…read more The jalapeño ulu burger was fantastic (add the mango hot sauce they offer). The lunch was so good we bought the carrot cake and a French press coffee for desert. Highly recommend!

Sweet Cane is a health-conscious, organic, farm-to-table cafe, offering sandwiches, fresh…read morejuices/smoothies, and vibrant acai bowls. My favorite items are the acai and pitaya bowl as they are loaded with fresh banana, granola, coconut flakes. I also chose to get the omega add on for bee pollen, honey, chia, and hemp seeds for extra fiber! I am so happy to see that their bowls are still amazing as always. Highly recommend their fruit juices and bowls for nature's dessert to give you a boost for the day.

We stopped by the Booch Bar on our way into Hilo before a day of adventuring, and it was a great…read morelittle stop for breakfast. We tried the simple breakfast plate and a breakfast sandwich, and both were tasty and really hit the spot. Since we went on a weekday, it wasn't too busy inside, which made for pretty quick service. Overall, it was a solid breakfast stop and a nice place to grab a bite before heading out for the day.

We had an amazing vegan dish here for our little brunch we did in mid morning earlier today…read more We saw this restaurant yesterday when we were browsing Hilo a few nights ago. We didn't think of anything when we saw it the first time. By just looking at the name of it though, my immediate reaction was, "Is this a kombuchas bar??" Well, it is but it's not just kombuchas they serve; it's more than that. The breakfast/brunch dishes they serve (although they don't have a huge selection) are quite diverse. I do incorporate a lot of vegetarian/vegan diet into my daily meal routine so when I saw the Verdant Vegan I simply couldn't skip it. As my daughter and I usually split a plate when we dine together she agreed to this option of mine. Glad we did. This plate has all sorts of goodness included in it. Sautéed veggies, house-made lentil walnut chorizo, ginger beet kraut, fire-roasted jalapeno cashew crema, fire-roasted tomato salsa, and it's topped it off with sprouts. This whole thing comes with either purple sweet potato home fries or red rice (which we went with the purple sweet potato fries and ended up getting a side red rice. We also got the side kimchi and one egg sunny side up.) And we shared a 16oz Ceremonial Matcha latte as well. This vegan plate is way more than vegan. It's mighty as hell. For those who are still not sure about vegan options will definitely second guess it for something that isn't vegan/vegetarian. It's truly nutrition packed in so many different ways. If I lived close to this cafe, I would eat here once a week to enjoy this delightful meal. I am not kidding. I enjoyed the matcha latte very much although my daughter rated it as "okay". She likes her matcha in a very particular way so it unfortunately didn't impress her. This is not to say that she disliked it. She said it wasn't bad either. This place is a "walk in, order upfront, pick a table where you want to sit and one of the staff will bring your food to you" style cafe. Water is self-served. Once you are done with your meal you'll put your dirty dishes in the designated tub. I like this efficient style of serving food. This place has great vibes as well. A bit hippie-ish where bright dark colors such as purple and red are incorporated into the interior. There is even a stage where bands perform on certain days/times. Quite cool-looking. If you are visiting Hilo soon then put this place on your "must visit" restaurant list. Friendly staff, reasonable prices and quality food will entertain you for sure.

A lot of places aren't open on Sundays in Hilo, and I'm so glad Just Cruisin is. Their drive thru…read moreline was fairly slow on a Sunday mid-morning, but I don't mind waiting for their quality food. My friends and I all got some form of the Mac nut pesto. I got mine in a salad, and I really enjoyed the dressing it came with. The Mac nut pesto topping was super flavorful and light. This is a great spot to grab a bite, and I love that you don't have to get out of your car.

I was leaving Hilo to return to Honolulu and my son took me to Just Cruising Coffee. They have…read moredrive through service that goes both ways and it is always pretty busy in the AM. Though it is strictly drive through service there are no widows here. The girls just walk up to your car for your order and the walk up again to give you your order. I don't know what kind of iced coffee I had but I loved it. I just told my son to order what him and his wife were having, it was a good move. Might be a morning ritual for me to come here before my flight. Definitely coming back.

While exploring Hilo we stopped at Hilo Iced Coffee, which operates out of a mobile truck and feels…read morevery much like a local staple. It is casual and no frills, but that is part of the charm. I ordered the ube iced latte and it was easily one of the prettiest drinks I had on the trip. The purple color is vibrant and eye catching without feeling gimmicky. More importantly, it tastes as good as it looks. It was lightly sweet, well balanced, and still very much coffee forward, not overly sugary like some flavored lattes can be. Service was quick and friendly, and it is the kind of spot that makes you slow down for a minute and just enjoy your drink. If you are on the Hilo side and want something a little different from your standard iced coffee order, the ube latte is absolutely worth trying.

Surprisingly good coffee. My preferred cup is a "black…read moredrip" They offered iced coffee, I ordered two and had them fill my 42oz cup. Their specialty coffee (espresso based) was good if you like sweet and creamy coffees. It is a food truck. They have a small sitting area but this is best for quick grab and gos. *location can be a little hard to find. Drive slowly.

Paul's was one of my favorite dining experiences I've ever had. Yelp only allows for five stars, I…read morewould give more if I could. If you are able to visit Hilo, make a reservation. And you need a reservation. The tiny restaurant only has three two person tables (the other party of four had two pushed together). And it is only open Wednesday thru Saturday, 7:30am- 2pm. I made the reservation for my friend's Birthday lunch by text. It is conveniently located by the farmers market, and there is plenty of free parking in the area. The space is airy, and on our visit, decorated for Easter. We were immediately greeted by Paul. The restaurant is staffed by him, and one other employee. The menu is short, and all the better for it. Paul explained the menu and gave us recommendations. I was already interested in the Pasta de Marco, which appears to be a part of a regular menu. Angel hair pasta, lightly fried, tossed with fresh veggies and pesto, and lightly toasted baguette on the side. We also had the tuna, two ways, and papaya salad. Both were perfect, incredibly fresh, all ingredients balanced, beautifully presented. Paul had us end with the Belgium waffle. I've had waffles in Belgium, and these were the best I've had. Crispy, soft, with berries, whip cream, and powdered sugar, it didn't even need the (warm!) syrup. This experience felt like being a guest in the chef's home. Paul treated all customers as a friend, he was funny, relaxed, and personable. I also personally appreciated it is the safest restaurant for me to eat at as he hates bell peppers as much as I do! The only disappointment when the meal ended. Mahalo!

The cafe is very small and cozy, we had to have reservations in advance to get in as Paul has very…read morelimited seating, about 3 tables. He is always busy and has a rule with no Togo orders as far as I know. The service is good, and the servers and Paul himself is very friendly, laidback, and easy to talk to. Be respectful of his rules, he's a nice guy and it felt like he really cares about the food he makes. Playing is very nice and simple in a good way, has a very clean aesthetic. The food itself is extremely fresh, every single thing felt very refreshing to the palette and not heavy. It was one of the pricier spots me and my partner went to in Hilo, but it is extremely popular and the quality of the food is nice, as I said, I think this is the place in Hilo so far that I've eaten at with the "freshest" tasting food. I had not yet tried his Belgian waffles, but I saw they were served to another customer and they looked fantastic. After our meal, Paul also highly reccomended them for next time. Definitely would like to come back next time we are in Hilo, it was one of my partner and her Uncle's favorite spots (they are local to Hilo, so it's gotta be good haha). They both vouch for the ingredient quality.