This was one of our tastiest stops on the big island. We loved our food. The hula burger with the jalapeño cheese was so good. Thin slices of jalapeños. It was a wonderful suggestion from Tami who took care of us. Also notable items were the tsunami fries and the coco loco drink. Our kids also loved the dole whips and they were a perfect size for them. We came to this small burger shop after a day at the beach. We have littles and they were tired and hungry. Tami was so kind to our family and so patient. It was a welcoming and friendly lunch. Mahalo from our family! read more

Kohala Burger & Taco - Hula burger with tsunami fries - added the jalapeño cheese and it was amazing. Loved the burger. - Burgers Near Me - Kawaihae, Hawaii

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The food isn't bad and the ingredients seem fresh, so I understand why this place is popular. That said, I was surprised by the pricing and think it's important for visitors to know what to expect. The burger is only available as a combo for about $25, the fish tacos were $36, fries are $7 (and unfortunately not very memorable), and the restaurant adds a 7.5% service fee before prompting for an additional gratuity. By the time everything is totaled up, what looks like a casual lunch turns into a very expensive meal. If you're looking for a splurge, the food is fine. If you're expecting a laid-back burger-and-taco spot with reasonable prices, you may experience some sticker shock. I'd happily come back for the food if the value proposition were better, but next time I'd probably look elsewhere for lunch. read more

Kohala Burger & Taco - Fries - Burgers Near Me - Kawaihae, Hawaii

We had such a great experience! Tammy took our order and she was absolutely wonderful. Friendly, attentive, and made us feel really taken care of. I ordered the tiki burger with fries and my husband had the rolled chicken tacos, and everything came out fresh, hot, and full of flavor. Definitely a spot we'll be coming back to. Highly recommend! read more

Food was very good. The manager was so kind and accommodating, very patient with all our questions about all the good choices. Menu seems basic at first (tacos and burgers right) but after a long day in the water with multiple kids at Spencer Beach Park every detail matters when ordering a burger or mahi tacos or chicken tenders and a cold milkshake concoction with passion fruit or something. Very convenient. read more

Hole-in-the-wall kind of place with good burgers. We had the "original" burger (with beef patty) and a tiki burger (with black bean veggie patty). It's hard to find a good veggie patty, but this was perfect. Moist, crispy edges, looked homemade (I think it was?). Tiki burger could've used more sauce, maybe, but it hit the spot. We had onion rings on the side with housemade ranch dressing. The burgers weren't too huge or messy. They offered to let us fill our own water bottles, which we did. No wait at about 1:30 pm, and the food came out quickly! The staff is very pleasant. Inside is pretty tiny, but we had an ideal table by the window where the breeze felt like air conditioning. Next time, we'll also try the shave ice or ice cream. read more

Kohala Burger & Taco - Tiki burger (black bean patty) with onion rings - Burgers Near Me - Kawaihae, Hawaii

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Been here a few times now and its one of our favorites. Nothing beats a fresh fish taco. So good. Pineapple milkshake was amazing! The Baja fish tacos are excellent too. You may have to wait if they're busy, but so worth it! Great place! read more

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Super friendly service. Casual, clean, and comfortable. We ordered the fish tacos and classic burger. Both dishes were delicious and done right. The beef was cooked to perfection on a brioche bun. The fish tacos were second to none. Definitely a repeat! read more

Kohala Burger & Taco - Classic burger with grass fed beef. - Burgers Near Me - Kawaihae, Hawaii

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Solid place for lunch, nothing special but hits the spot after a beach morning. A little pricey but what restaurant isn't nowadays. We had the fish and chips, chicken tenders kids meal, and burger and fries. read more

After spending the morning swimming with turtles at A-Bay and working up an appetite, we drove up the coast to try this local joint and pretty much fell in love. Got the Jefe's Baja fish tacos, which were hot, fresh, and delicious, along with chips and guacamole and a coconut cooler. The perfect post-beach lunch. Next time will try one of their burgers. read more

Kohala Burger & Taco - Coconut cooler - Burgers Near Me - Kawaihae, Hawaii

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We stopped by this spot after a beach day. The special looked good but we were too early so I got the western bacon burger. The wife got the fish burger and kiddo got a regular burger. The fries were pretty good. My only negative to mention is the automatic tip added to the bill. The rest was good. Staff were amazing and friendly. Our meals hit the spot. It had a hole in the wall vibe but good use of the decor they chose. The prices were higher than we were used to but not a deal breaker. I'd say it's worth the stop. Also, they have cards and comic books. A neat little extra. read more

Really cute cozy burger joint in the middle of nowhere in Hawaikae. There are 4 picnic tables inside but large tables so you can squeeze in and share with other customers. My mahi burger was a bit smaller side but tasty with mayo and fresh greens. Do order the combo so you'll get unlimited refills in the fountain soda! Tacos were sold out already by 1:30p, so get there sooner if you want to eat the tacos. It says "15% service charge will be added" up in the front, so keep that in mind before ordering. Frozen treats are super popular especially in a hot day. Pineapple passion cooler looked like a winner. I'll have to come back for that yummy treats! Parking in front or on the back too. read more

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I think this is my new favorite restaurant on the big island! It's a small place. You can stand in line to order on the tablet and there are a few tables inside to eat at. The food is ready very quickly. My husband and I shared: - Pineapple Passion Cooler - Tiki Burger with G'rilla Onions - Fresh Ahi & Avo Tacos - Kohala Coleslaw Tsunami Style Everything was fantastic. The fish tacos were probably my favorite, but I also love smash burgers and they make a great one. I loved the POG dole whip float. Definitely get the coleslaw tsunami style if you get it. The only downside is the portion sizes are pretty small considering you don't get a side and the prices aren't cheap. I'll definitely be back to try more of the menu on my next trip! read more

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Fast service, friendly servers and delicious food! Ordered a burger and it came with fries and a drink for 16.95. The burger had bbq sauce, onion rings, bacon and all the rest of the normal stuff that makes a burger. Quality and delicious! read more

Kohala Burger & Taco - Burgers Near Me - Kawaihae, Hawaii

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Hit this local burger and taco spot before our tour of Kuleana Rum Works (something to put on your list of to-dos when you're done with the beach and Mai Tai crawl!). Hit the place just in time as it does get crowded and only has maybe half dozen tables inside. Limited parking in this small strip center. Small in size, but big in taste. We ordered Jefe's Baja style tacos and the Market fresh. Jefe's is definitely the better deal if you like breaded fish, as the fresh one's are seared rare and the Baja style was nearly half the price). This day was Mahi day. Service with a smile, food came up quick. Both tasted fresh with a side of chips and salsa. Kicked it up a notch with the house hot sauce...ah, perfect. Hit the spot and gave us that needed protein for our foray with the rum runners. If you're traveling up the northwest coast, put this on your itinerary. read more

The BEST tacos we had in Hawaii! We had the daily special tacos--panko-crusted fish--and they were sooo good! Fish was cooked perfectly, and the tortillas were cheesy and crispy, which just made the texture amazing. The salsa was fantastic too. We also split a cheeseburger, and it was great--super satisfying all around. And it came out in 5min! read more

Kohala Burger & Taco - panko fried tacos - Burgers Near Me - Kawaihae, Hawaii

The flavors are unbelievable and delicious along with great welcoming and friendly servers with an amazing view from the window.

The people were very nice and attentive! The foo came out very quickly and the chef even came out to thank us for coming in. The fish tacos were quite yummy and came with a side of homemade salsa. The space was nice but could use some reworking in the "flow" the register is right in the middle of the room and breaks up the space. I think they could add more tables and organize storage space if they moved tribe register up to the front left of the building. Overall great spot! Great food! Great people! read more

Kohala Burger & Taco - Market Fresh Fish Tacos - Burgers Near Me - Kawaihae, Hawaii

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The best lunch food on the big island. We loved it so much . We've had the fish tacos and huli chicken burger' and they were off this world delicious!!! Thank you lovely lady that took care of us during lunch. I would give them 10 stars . read more

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A really good burger, amazing fries and a very warm staff made this one of my favorite stops on the island. We showed up on our way from Hapoona to Hawi on a day when there were widespread power outages in the area, so they had a limited menu and were accepting cash only. Also, the fish tacos on corn tortillas were absolutely amazing - they used very fresh marlin and guacamole made from scratch. Really glad we found this spot! read more

Kohala Burger & Taco - Lots of surfer themed wall decor! - Burgers Near Me - Kawaihae, Hawaii

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The best service in a while. You walk in and order off a screen. The lady coached and made sure everyone was comfortable. Seating is small and there aren't tables outside from what we saw. Unfortunately the day we went there wasn't fresh fish so we both had the burger. Hubs got fries and I opted for the tsunami coleslaw. We enjoyed the burgers and it's nice to get off resort property and try local places. read more

First time here. The reviews were excellent so I was hyped and hungry to have fresh fish. We got there at 2:30 and they were out of the fish sandwich so my husband had the single burger which was pretty small. Luckily he had a chocolate milkshake with whipped cream so his tummy was somewhat satisfied. My fresh fish tacos with avocado were good but at $22 for two tacos and no sides, it kind of freaked me out. I guess we're not in Kansas anymore Toto! Life in the big city and big city prices. Service was good and friendly and I enjoyed looking at all the antique signs and comic books and baseball cards. A for ambiance!! be aware that there is a 15% service charge that will help pay their employees living wages, and not raise the cost of your meal anymore than it already is. This is a cute place and a small business that is trying to make ends meet and stay afloat. I originally gave this three stars, but I'm changing it because the owner was kind enough to reply and explain how it is the only way that he can pay his employees living wage and not charge nine dollars for the hamburger given the cost of goods and labors on the island in the off-season. I respect his approach and his answer and I need to adjust my expectations when I am eating out on the islands. read more

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This is great stop to grab a meal for treat! Service was excellent. She was patient with us trying to figure out what we wanted and checked in on us as well. Burgers were good, Alaskan cod tacos were really good and the pineapple el coco loco frozen treat was yummy! Ambience was fun with beach vibe posters all over. read more

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If you're wondering if you should come here. The answer is, yes! We got the ahi bowl special and hot chicken sandwich special and everything was truly made with love. Our kids liked their quesadillas, but ate a bunch of our food first. Unbelievably fresh and flavorful. Great service as well. Shout out to Tammy. read more

Burgers, fish tacos amd service are awesome. Can't wait to go back and tey their breakfast.

Their classic double is a fantastic burger. I would put it up against any burger, anywhere. It's that good! Their fries were also really good. They were crisp and lightly salted. That was one of the best meals we had in the big island. On top of that, everyone working there was super nice. If I get to come back to the big island, I'm definitely stopping here for a burger! read more

Kohala Burger & Taco - Burgers Near Me - Kawaihae, Hawaii

Great place to eat burgers and fries. I also tried their fish tacos but their burgers were way better than tacos. If I am around the area, I would go back! They have good amount of free parking spots too. read more

We come here every time we're visiting our family in Honoka'a. The hours are kinda wonky but the food is absolutely fantastic. The tacos are some of the best on the entire island. The folks are nice and even though they are COMPLETELY over priced, they do have Pokemon cards for sale, hard to come by on the big island. Thanks for being awesome ! read more

Kohala Burger & Taco - Excellent fish tacos - Burgers Near Me - Kawaihae, Hawaii

The retro decor of this upstairs casual restaurant is visually intriguing. We chuckled at the Alaska ad in this Hawaiian establishment. The prices were reasonable even with the mandatory 15% service charge. The Coco Freeze was on special costing a mere $3.59. Several families dined on the four picnic tables while we were there and everyone appeared to enjoy the relaxed atmosphere. read more

Kohala Burger & Taco - Coco Freeze - Burgers Near Me - Kawaihae, Hawaii

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Absolutely incredible, I want to eat here every day! This is one of the the best burgers I've had and the tsunami fries were out of this world. Everything was so scrumptious and made hot, fresh, and fast. They brought the food straight to our table to enjoy and even took the time to chat with us and showed us the incredible fresh catch they just picked up! It's a smaller spot but there was plenty of seating and parking was ample. Super duper cute space, very beachy but not in a boomer/tourist way. . To say I loved it would be an understatement!!! read more

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We stopped here for lunch and had a cheeseburger, a regular burger, and a veggie burger. They were not bad, but not great either- especially for the price. The burger was pretty dry and thin, and the surf sauce didn't taste like much. The fries and free soda refills were the best part of the meal. The service was also a bit chaotic. The gentleman who was in charge of taking orders and 'assigning' tables was quite abrasive. Everyone else who worked there, including the waitress who brought our food and the gentlemen who bussed our table, were super friendly and helpful. Overall, would not return. read more

Kohala Burger & Taco - Veggie burger - Burgers Near Me - Kawaihae, Hawaii

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This place is an excellent throwback. Great food and the free baseball cards are a nice touch.

Tammy was so friendly & gave great service. Their food was delicious. We had fish tacos & a burger. Both were very good. The burger is a bit smaller so you'll probably want two. We'd eat here again for sure! read more

The food was delicious and fresh. The owners were running the kitchen and they were very helpful and friendly. The casual atmosphere was comfortable and clean. Highly recommend this place! read more

If you don't want to walk up stairs, park in the lot off of Kawaihae-Mahukona Rd/Akoni Pule Hwy, or you can park in the lower lot off of Kawaihae Harbor and take a few steps up. It is immediate to the right once you get to the top of the stairs. Parking space aplenty. Service was pretty good, everyone was friendly and prompt. They ran out of a few things by the time we got there, so make sure you get there early. We ended up getting a Keiki Pokemon Meal w/ cheese burger, Fresh FIsh Tacos, Dole Whip and a Surf Burger. All the food were great, burgers were on point, fries were nice and crispy and the fish tacos were fresh. They even threw in an extra token for dessert for the kids meal. Overall, top notch place! read more

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Very small seating area, but the food was excellent. I had the classic double burger and my wife had the fish tacos. They were both delicious. read more

Good was so good we forgot to get photos! Family got the fish and chips, basic burgers, a burger with grilled pineapple, LOTS of fries and dole whip of course. Service was fast. It was crowded inside so we were grateful for the QR code located on the menu outside. We ordered and proceeded to roam the other shops while we waited for our food. The inside is small, as it's take out service but it was a great meal. I'm read more

Delicious burgers, very friendly staff, great service and tunes. The perfect spot after swimming in the ocean. Thank you, Kohala!

Good food, but it gets busy here. The space inside is pretty small so be mindful that takeout might be the way to go. My party of 5 managed to snag a table and the service didn't take too long and the food really hit the spot. read more

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Loved this place! Just got in from a flight from California. Decided to do a short tour using Shaka Guide - and they mentioned Kohala Burger & Taco as a great place to eat. It sure is! Casual, comfortable, (lots of take out orders). Tammy up front knew so many of the folks coming in by name. Super friendly!!! Always checking in with those of us dining in and asking if we need more to drink and how our meals were. My brother-in-law had the classic burger and fries...which he loved. My husband and I had the Baja fish tacos and onion rings. The onion rings were crispy and hot and the fish tacos were amazing!!! I would come here everyday of our trip if it were up to me!!! read more

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Our family group of about seven went here upon local recommendations. The kids gobble down the fries, and the adults ate the burgers and the fish tacos. Service was quick and friendly. It's a well-known local place that everybody loves, and there's a reason! The food was delicious! We went back several times during our stay to experience it. Must go!! It's basic country type casual dining on picnic tables and doors. But it's all about the food. read more