The Absolute Best Meal on the Island--A Masterclass in Food & Service!…read moreIf I could give Seafood Bar & Grill 10 stars, I would. This wasn't just a dinner; it was our absolute favorite meal of the entire trip. We didn't even have a special occasion to celebrate--we just had a phenomenal experience here in the past and couldn't wait to return. They somehow managed to exceed every expectation. From the second we walked in, we were blown away. We loved the Tiki Bar, everyone is family when you walk in, history covering the walls ambiafamily-friendly; ev Seafood We were greeted by Dave Yurtin, the owner, who set up a fabulous table for us inside. But here is the kicker: Dave actually remembered us from our first visit two years ago! Talk about a total legend. We couldn't believe his memory--that is next-level hospitality. Our server, Ryan, provided spectacular, world-class service. He didn't write a single part of our big order down and got absolutely everything 100% right. He was attentive, fast, and incredibly sharp--he even remembered at the end that my mother-in-law had asked for onion rings once she was finished, before changing her mind. Incredible! Now, let's talk about the food and drinks because WOW. We started with the drinks, and these were hands-down the absolute best Mai Tais we have had on the island. Every single dish that hit the table was a home run: - Escargot: Wow, wow, wow, wow! Absolutely phenomenal. The pesto and cheese with the garlic bread? Unreal. - Seafood Quesadilla & Coconut Shrimp: Perfectly executed and delicious. - Braised Short Ribs: Out of this world. Fall-off-the-bone tender. - Pineapple Macnut Slaw: Insane flavor. Do not skip this! - Garlic Bread: Spectacular and perfect for soaking up every last bit of flavor. - Fish Linguine: A rich, perfectly balanced cream sauce packed with different types of fresh fish. Somehow, we saved room for dessert and tried FOUR different ones: the Key Lime Pie was unbelievable, the Lilikoi Pie and Kona Coffee Pie were spectacular, and the NY Cheesecake with Lilikoi Sauce was the perfect grand finale. Between Dave's legendary memory, Ryan's flawless service, and a kitchen that doesn't miss, Seafood Bar & Grill is an absolute must-visit. We will be talking about this meal until our next visit! Thank you for an unforgettable night!

We have been coming to Seafood Bar and Grill for years on our annual Hawaii vacation and it never…read moredisappoints. The owner Dave is always friendly and a pleasure to chat with. I got the ginger steamed clams and they were amazing. We also ordered an extra serving of Parmesan bread because it was so tasty. My dad got the prime rib, which is only available on Tuesdays, and it was great as always. Our server Matt recommended my mom try the black bean seafood combo, and she was pleasantly surprised by how much she loved her meal! My husband got the cajun style fresh catch and loved his meal! We highly recommend this restaurant and love supporting Dave and his team. It's always a great experience!

OMG the pancakes!! It comes with whipped cream & haupia sauce and holy cow it's the BEST!…read more The pancake is ginormous and normally comes with two but I didn't want to waste so asked for just one. Volcano omelet and crispy hash browns hit the spot Mahalo Mahalo Mahalo

There's not much parking in front so you might have to get a little creative. We waited for 35…read moreminutes for a table of 6 and were one of the last ones seated. It seemed fine until we realized they were slipping on the service. My uncle didn't get his tossed salad with his tripe stew but no biggie, and my son's kids meal that was only pancake, bacon, and an egg was the last to get to the table. Everyone was eating and trying to share their food with my hungry son who was in tears after waiting another 30 minutes for his food. They were very apologetic and our server (like everyone there) was SUPER sweet, and even brought him extra bacon for the inconvenience. I could see there were regulars in there who were getting better attention than us, it happens, which was kind of a disappointment in the service area. The large table sat after us all had their food rolling out the kitchen as soon as they ordered. The food was still great, very homey, and delicious as always. The place was nice and breezy due to a storm coming in soon. All in all a great place to come eat, just come earlier I guess so all the good stuff doesn't get 86'd before you get there...my uncle was looking forward to the lamb ribs but there's always next time and for this place, there's always a next time!!! One last thing, hands down BEST gravy I've ever tasted on a loco moco...I'm in tears just thinking of it!

My wife and I drove up to Ippy's in Waimea from Waikoloa while on vacation since we were in the…read moremood for real Hawaiian barbecue, and this spot is an absolute gem! The exterior, and interior, of the building is nothing special. As a matter of fact, that's part of what I loved about it; it helps you realize it's an all around fantastic food joint, not just somewhere that charges overpriced amounts for average food because of the "vibe." It's extremely busy inside this place, and staff was extremely friendly and pretty quick with turning out orders. I ordered a two entree plate, which consisted of their teriyaki chicken and pina colada shrimp, per the recommendation of the woman taking my order. The shrimp was incredible and the pins colada sauce that it comes with it's something I now dream about! The chicken was also great. It's dark meat, which is something to keep in mind in case you're a pickier eater, but the char and flavor of it was wonderful. For the sides I ordered rice and their mac salad. I'm not usually a mac salad kind of guy, but this changed my mind and I can now say I'm a true fan. This is perhaps one of the best places I've eaten between the two islands I visited on this trip, and I can't say enough good things about it!

Best mixed plate I've ever had in the Islands…read more I like how they allow you to choose from 20 different items for your plate.

BOMB We all got some…read morecombination of shrimp, short rib, and furikake chicken, which were incredible! The short rib was soooo tender, the shrimp was plump, and the chicken had the perfect fry on it. We loved the sauces that came with it, as well. The sides we got ranged from white rice, kimchi fried rice (fave!!), pickled cucumber, corn, and Mac salad. Place was packed but service was so quick! Tiny place but people were friendly and let you share tables.

Broke Da Mouth Grindz was one of our favorite and most memorable dining spots during our first and…read morerecent visit to the island of Hawai'i, so I def recommend a visit. Their cuisine appears to be a fusion of Hawaiian, Filipino and Korean cuisines. You will want to note their business hours. At the time of this review, they are closed Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays. Their lunch hours on other days are 11am-2:30pm and dinner hours are 4pm-7:30pm. It's a popular restaurant, so there is limited seating indoors. According to their website, this is the "Home of Da Garlic Furikake Chicken" so you'll want to try that dish. I ordered the Braised Beef Shortribs off their Specials menu and went with the Twisty Fries as my choice of side. The Shortribs were unbelievably tender but just a tad bit sweet for my liking, and the Twisty Fries were absolutely phenomenal. If we're ever able to visit the Big Island again, Broke Da Mouth will be one of the first spots we come back to!

Emma's Kitchen was one of the best finds of our family trip to the Big Island. We loved finding an…read moreauthentic, family-run Filipino spot while traveling. I ordered the beef sinigang and it was pure comfort, cozy, sour in the best way, and honestly a taste of home after days of trying new dishes (especially lots of fish-based meals). The sweetest surprise was seeing yema. I've been craving it for years and hadn't come across it in so long. They had a small pack of those little cellophane-wrapped treats, and it instantly transported me back to childhood. My parents were with us on the trip and they ended up going back to Emma's multiple times in the same week, which says everything. It's mostly takeout, with a few shared tables next to neighboring storefronts, but it's also easy to grab and go. Highly recommend!

Mellie is so friendly and courteous. Rolando, the cook was great and the food was delicious! We…read morewent back several times during our vacation and tried beef sinigang, pancit, half chicken, pork lechon, and their signature lumpia. We also bought yema for dessert. It was a great to have Filipino food during our visit to Hawai'i.

The food there is so delicious the staff is super nice which is my Family which I love aunty if you…read moreread this I love you

Side of the road. In the mountains. Awesome staff. Just watch out for people having driving issues…read morein the parking lot. This is another one of my YELP Bucket List places. 2 down 348 to go. We were heading to Captain Cook and then Volcano Village. On the way to a place to eat that after arrival, didn't look as good as we had hoped but I did notice a sign for Lau Lau. After pulling in and getting out of the car, the smell of home hits you. The whole place, inside and out isn't touristy at all but dang do they know where good food is. There are benches to sit on outside but not really outside seating. Although for this food I would eat next to the road with traffic driving by. I wouldn't care as long as the food was available. There are 2 big live edg tables inside. You have to sit like family. We met a couple from Utah. My Wife had the pork and cabbage. I chose the Lau Lau with 2 sides of Mac salad. The Auntie that brought out our food was exactly like my Auntie, just smaller. She was sweet to let me know about my food. She asked if I had it before. I said yes and she welcomed me back. Everything was amazing. I may have had a tear in my eye when I smelled my food. I immediately thought of my Grandma White. She was a great cook. We are already planning on coming back. The bill was 35.00. I bought a Poke plate a couple days ago that was 50 bucks so this was a great deal. We tipped $15.00 on 35. They tried to say it was too much and take some drinks to go. We said no, it was worth it.

Came by here last month on our drive up to Waimea and really enjoyed the food!! Service was…read morefriendly too. Sweet potato fries were sooo good. Tried all the sauces and they were all delicious. Parking is in the back lot, it's a good idea to come when they open to beat crowds but there's plentiful seating inside.

Food 5/5 Strawberry Lemonade $9 - Yum! Absolutely delicious…read more Lava Flow $16 - Tasty and delicious. Spicy Poke Bowl $26 - Just okay, nothing special about it. The flavor wasn't kicking nor was it really that spicy at all. BBQ Sampler Plate w/ fries & grilled pineapple $37.95 - Good price point for a sampler. We've eaten a ton of BBQ around the US and the brisket was one of my favorites. The ribs had a sweetness I really enjoyed. Reuben Spring Rolls $16 - Not pictured but loved them! Chocolate Cake $12 - Since it was my actual birthday, my partner wanted to get me a slice of cake but boy are they huge. It was absolutely delicious but we had to take it to go. I would recommend they have smaller slices as eating a ton of BBQ and devouring a huge slice of cake is due for a heart attack. Ambiance 5/5 Got a nice table by the window minus the horsefly. Service 3/5 The lady who sat us and took our drink orders is extremely sweet and friendly. Our service was just okay, she didn't really add to our experience as if there was something on her mind.

We had dinner at Merriman's in Waimea with our family of six, and it was one of the highlights of…read moreour trip to the Big Island. From the moment we arrived, the service was exceptional. Bianca and the entire staff were warm, attentive, and genuinely welcoming. They made us feel relaxed and well taken care of throughout the evening without ever being intrusive. The food was outstanding. Our table enjoyed the day boat catch, macadamia nut-crusted fish, Caesar salad, beet salad with goat cheese, cucumber salad, smoked taro hummus, and desserts including sorbet and seasonal ice cream. Every dish was fresh, beautifully prepared, and full of flavor. The combination of incredible food, gracious service, and a warm, inviting atmosphere made for a memorable family dinner. A heartfelt thank you to Bianca and the entire Merriman's team for making our evening so special. We can't wait to return on our next visit to the Big Island.

First of all, WHAT?! How can everything we had be a 10/10? Not just the food, but the service as…read morewell. I am so happy that my husband & I got to experience this restaurant while in Hawai'i. For starters, we ordered their special lobster salad (with lobster, mango, avocado, and pickled hearts of palm) and their mushroom side dish. Both were absolutely packed with flavor, and the lobster salad especially included very new flavors for us both. The mushrooms were out of this WORLD! For entrees, we ordered the spicy lobster ravioli and their mushroom side curried macadamia nut fish (swordfish). Each bite was a little taste of fishy heaven for both dishes. We are so happy with our visit here, and cannot wait for the opportunity to come back and try more amazing, home-grown food. Thank you for this wonderful experience!

Great little spot tucked in off the Main Street (Ali'i Drive)…read more The kalua pork plate, accompanied by rice, purple sweet potato, and obviously the pork, were delicious and filling! We also tried the kava, and my wife said it reminded her of jicama, if it were a made into a drink. The employee working at the counter/bar was super helpful in helping us understand about kava and its traditions.

We came here looking for authentic Hawaiian food and while it's not the largest spot - more of a…read morecafe with patio-style seating the food was solid. When we arrived it was a bit awkwards as it wasn't clear where to order and I have to say the service wasn't great and our server didn't really explain what kava is when we asked. Nevertheless we got a small mug of kava to try along with the lau lau which is pork wrapper in taro leaves. Loved the pork which was soft, tender and full of flavors. The poi and kava were a bit strange for my taste but overall interesting meal and it was a nice casual spot near downtown Kona.

Beautiful experience of carefully prepared food with delicious flavors. You are greeted at seating…read moretime and taken to your table. Limited reservations make this a cozy and intimate setting. The atmosphere of the dining area is like you are in someone's home. The sake included in the meal was so smooth and balanced, great way to start everything off. Each course is well thought out, beautifully presented and explained. Flavors were fresh and layered, uniquely different from things we have tasted before. We ordered a couple extra glasses of sake to have with our meal, one aged and one just finished a few days before. Both were delicious. Definitely a splurge but we enjoyed it very much!

This was a treat, very personal. The sake was very very good, I enjoyed being able to try all the…read moredifferent kinds at once. The food was also very good! My favorite part was being able to learn from the owner though, and learn about the sake.