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!

Came as a party of 2 at noon on a Sunday, and we were seated right away! The ambiance definitely…read moregives a nice island sports bar vibe. Only street parking is available. There was also live music with a lady playing guitar solo and singing! Service was amazing! We never had to wait long to order/get the bill. We were most impressed by the fact that the waitress made sure to split our Hilo local plate into two plates to make it much easier to share! We almost thought we had received two orders because of how well-plated they were. - Poke tower (8/10): Solid choice for an appetizer! There were ample portions of poke, and the flavors were nice. Not a super stand out dish though. - Hilo local plate (9.5/10): If you want to taste a wide range of Hawaiian cuisine in one dish, I would highly recommend getting this one! The Kalbi ribs were sooo good! They were juicy, tender, and bursting with flavor. The Kalua pork was pretty good, and both meats paired well with the rice which had an interesting savory haupia sauce drizzled on it. The mango chili slaw and pineapple salsa added a nice tang to balance everything out. - Triple lilikoi pie (5/10): Wayyy too sweet and sugary for our liking, and you can barely taste the lilikoi flavor. We ended up just picking at the graham cracker crust and couldn't finish the rest. It seemed like one of those desserts that are premade unfortunately, and we wish we hadn't ordered this dessert.

We chose Pineapples Island Fresh Cuisine because it's one of the highest-rated sit-down spots in…read moreHilo, but it ended up being just okayyyy. The menu felt very "meh"...nothing particularly exciting or memorable. The cocktails looked great in photos, so we ordered the piña colada flight, but it tasted like there was little to no rum in it. Pretty presentation, but very mediocre overall. Food was just okay. The burger wasn't bad, but definitely not anything special. The fried shrimp dish was disappointing and lacked flavor. The big letdown was the ambiance. We were seated facing the street and parking lot the entire time ...no view...., just sad street. Overall, it didn't live up to the hype. Not terrible, but definitely not worth going out of your way for. The staff were all very nice though. Service friendly.

Made a day trip from Oʻahu to the Big Island and had to stop at Cafe 100 -- home of the original…read moreloco moco. As a born-and-raised local, rice, gravy, and eggs will win me over every time, and I really wanted to love this place for the history alone. I'll be honest though -- the hype set the bar high, and I left a little let down. The regular loco moco was just okay. The hamburger patty tasted pre-made or frozen, though the gravy was solid (thank goodness). The beef stew also tasted pre-made and was lighter on the tomato flavor than I prefer. I ordered the steak as well (around $30), and it came out very well done. On the positive side, they offer a ton of plate lunch options, the space is extremely well kept for a local diner, and there's plenty of parking. It's covered outdoor seating only, but it's comfortable and clean. What surprised me most was the lack of visible history. I expected to see more storytelling about the loco moco origins -- photos, signage, staff sharing pride in it -- something that really leaned into that legacy. It felt a little missing. Still glad I tried it for the experience, but for me, it didn't quite live up to the legendary reputation.

I planned for my husband and I to grab a quick bite at Cafe 100 before leaving Hilo. With more than…read more2000 reviews on Google and 30 varieties of loco moco, it was hard to ignore. Cafe 100 is a casual, local spot with window (staff) or kiosk (automated) ordering and plenty of semi-outdoor seating (i.e., you are technically inside and covered, but you can still feel the heat from outside). I will admit the menu felt a bit overwhelming at first glance because there are so many options available, but we visited on a weekday when it was not busy, so we were able to take our time deciding. Anticipating larger portions, we decided to share a mixed type loco moco plate along with a drink. That turned out to be a great call, as the portion was more than enough for the two of us, especially since we would not easily be able to take leftovers with us. This is casual, familiar comfort food done well. No complaints here, and I have already recommended Cafe 100 to a few friends :)

When we lived in Kona, we would frequent the Jackie Reyes there. The food was good, but for the…read moreprice, the entire experience - not even the old, nonfunctional classic car out front - was worth it. BUT, the Jackie Rey's in Hilo has now become our go-to fine restaurant in Hilo town. The building is classic. An old town Hilo bank, with the vault intact. High ceilings, comfortable tables and decore and an artistic antique wooden bar that would be a gem in the crown of any European city. The management and personnel are the most wonderful people. Always happy to accommodate you in the best way they can. After one kamaaina visit the servers will know your name. They'll make you feel welcome and that you are a part of their experience too, something that is nearly impossible to find in other town dining. They have rewards programs for kamaaina which includes a point system that gives you significant savings on your next visit. The food is first rate, from the pupus to the main dishes to the desserts. Sauced and presented in five star fashion, without feeling pretenious. We will be their peskiest and most loyal customer as long as we are in the area. Kudos to Jackie Rey's Hilo.

My wife and I went to Jackie Ray's this past Friday. We got a window table and was able to see the…read moreactivity across the street since it's was Friday downtown open market. If you dine here and are not a big person don't get a booth table as it's the most uncomfortable seating I've ever experienced. The seat is way too far from the table and I needed to lean forward and sit on the edge of the seat. I would recommend getting a table its chair so you be able to adjust yourself to the distance from the table. Server was just Ok and with them placing a water decanter on the table for refill they didn't come around as often. The decanter water has no ice so whatever ice you have in your cup to cool the water. Last time eating at this establishment was better and my only complaint was the window seats next to the picture window and the flys that was buzzing there. Only thing is again there were two big flies buzzing the windows and I had to waved them away. The doors are always shut and only when customers walk in could the flys get in. Staff should walk around before opening and get rid of them. We entered about 5:10 PM so it was opened for just 10 minutes and shouldn't have flys. Air conditioning was on but the temperature was a bit warm and a cooler temperature of maybe 10 degrees be perfect. I had the mochico Ono and it was just ok tasting but on the plate presentation was nice. My wife had the pork chops and she really liked it but said was just a little over cooked. I did try a small sample and to me it was just ok also. ambiance in the restaurant is nice and most of the staff were very attentive. The server we had wasn't and I needed to Get his attention to get my bill even though he had passed multiple times and didn't or should have noticed we were done dining. Probably not be dining again at this establishment again and do know of better dining spots in Hilo.

That garlic rice! Get the garlic rice. Ahi don with the garlic rice is my go-to. Even the bentos…read morethey make are great if you're in a bit of a hurry.

I ordered the Katsu and it was fantastic, with tender meat and a crunchy crust. The garlic rice is…read moretasty with a hint of curry flavor. The salad was fresh and the sesame vinaigrette was well balanced. Highly recommend!

Arrived at 6:30 PM on a Monday. 7 open tables...45% of the…read morerestaurant was open. A young lady dropped off water- didn't even acknowledge us... Order taken at 6:42 PM... Free bread and butter with Hawaiian Black Sea Salt= yummy Calamari- flattened steak (not tentacles or rings) lovely sauce 10/10 Crab Dynamite Skillet- 10/10 Shared the fried fish which was Opaka Paka that day. 10/10 The food here is always delicious. Sometimes the staff is not the most attentive. So really it more like a 4.5. The food is always on point. The drinks are always on point. The service somewhat on point. $200 meal before tip; 4 drinks, 2 apps, and 1 shared plate.

The vibe is on point! If you want a relaxing dinner with…read moresome great live music and Ono food, come to Lehua's Restaurant at Imiloa Observatory. When I go to Hilo it's a must do, one of my favorite dinner spots! You won't regret ordering the lamb chops, everything on the plate is delicious, from the perfectly cooked and seared lamb, to the roasted potatoes underneath.

First time eating at new location as several times it was closed when I attempted to go…read more Parking fills up fast in morning. Same menu with the one pound Lau Lau. Newly renovated really like how clean and organized it is. Will be back... tons of local foods.

My order~ Original Fried Rice Loco Moco…read more Pros +Comfortable seating +Friendly staff +Easy to find parking +Tasty food +Affordable prices Wish their reusable bags were more affordable. $20 seems steep.

Kawamoto Store has the best lunchbox foods ever! Their menu varies and everything they serve is…read morefreshly cooked daily! They are definitely a staple when traveling to Hilo on the Big Island of Hawaii! They make the best Cone Sushi (Inari Sushi or for those not aware, it is sushi rice in seasoned fried tofu pouches (or aburaage, in Japanese) EVER! The staff are super helpful and provide quick service! At times, they may come across a bit short but it's only because there customer lines are super long the entire time they are open. Their hours are from 6:00 AM - 12:00 PM. The staff are truly 'dialed-in' with they provide, so you can totally count on receiving efficient service! Kawamoto's gets my personal 5-Shaka rating!

Stopped by to pick up breakfast. There were about 5 people in line around 8:30am, but it moved…read morepretty quickly. Staff were friendly and food was good. My favorite was the nori chicken. Parking is limited, but we were able to find street parking in front of the store.

We stumped on this place looking for a quick lunch pick up and I was pleasantly surprised because…read morethe poke bowl was so delicious!! Ahi was super fresh and just a right amount of seasoning and spiciness. I had to go back very next day for another poke bowl . They have burgers too and kids enjoyed their food too. Definitely I will be back again when I come to Hilo!

After stopping by Kula Shave Ice next door for some shaved ice, I did a loop inside of Poke N Sides…read moreto see if there was a quick savory snack I could pick up. Having just discovered ube coconut for the first time at another poke spot on the island earlier on my trip, I was filled with excitement when I saw the purple mounds of uala in the fridge. I ordered a 4 oz portion in a small plastic cup and immediately regretted that I did not order a larger size after trying out the first bite. The uala here is delicious! I loved the consistency and texture -- smooth and creamy, but there were still chunks of potato throughout that had not been completely mashed up. There was plenty of shredded coconut mixed in, along with some fresh scallions for a bit of freshness. While I can't comment on the poke, the uala itself is a five star in my book and is enough to get me coming back for more if I'm in the area.

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.