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    Mama Bear’s Kitchen

    4.9 (81 reviews)
    Closed 7:00 am - 2:00 pm

    Mama Bear’s Kitchen Photos

    MAMA BEAR’S KITCHEN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Dogs allowed
    Good for kids

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    Mmm
    Kalae M.

    Always good quality food. Never disappointed. My girls love the simple bearwiches and fries. I've basically tried most of the menu items some of my faves are the ahi sandwich and daily specials

    Food truck fans and grass area to eat.
    Tiffany D.

    Mama bear sign is not very noticeable on the street and you may need to turn around if you miss this food truck area. I insist you get their loco moco, absolutely delicious! Fast friendly service! Definitely will be back next time I'm in the area!!

    Pastrami Philly Style and Fries
    Garrett L.

    This is a great stop if you're hungry. I got the Philly style Pastrami Sandwich (a Thursday special), my dad got the smash burger, and my mom got a chicken caesar. The sandwich was quite large and did not skimp on meat, and while greasy and messy, the pastrami was extremely flavorful. It came with a generous portion of fries, which were also crispy and well-seasoned. My only complaint is that the fries could have been a little bit hotter, but they were still warm. My dad also enjoyed his burger, and my mom said her salad was fine, but nothing special (though it is hard for a caesar from a food truck to be too spectacular). At $18 for the sandwich and fries (I believe the burger and fries was the same price), it is not exactly cheap, but typical for Kauai prices, and you will definitely leave full and with good quality food.

    Garden salad with chicken
    Lisa P.

    The food was delicious and the service was fast! We were exhausted after snorkeling and heard about this place from Captain Andy's crew. Everything hit the spot! Perfect post snorkeling fuel!

    Elizabeth N.

    Came here before our big day at waimea canyon and it filled us up with such delicious foods!! Tried their monte bear cristo which is pictured. It was soooo good and the jam is dreamy! It's like a french toast with jam but a sandwich. Da gourmet burger was delicious but my son ate it all. The kale and beet salad was delicious and refreshing. The avocado toastie was so good too but it needed a sprinkle of sea salt. That's the only complaint. The people were also lovely. Please visit!!

    Menu on the side of the truck
    Jay B.

    The food was delicious. I had their special of the day curry katsu chicken. You order and they deliver to your car. They make your food after you place your order.

    Burger
    Addie L.

    Old school food truck in the rural part of Kauai. Yes lives up to hype.. it's a good find for well made food, good portions (can compete with more expensive places on Oahu) and big plus reasonable prices. For example the blackened ahi sandwich for $15 is an absolute steal. Fresh ahi that's slightly fried on the outside enough to give a good crispy shell. The tartar sauce is excellent. Service is friendly and helpful. They didn't assume that ahi was going to be raw in the middle would be ok and gave the courtesy in asking. Maybe they thought I was a mainlander. Another excellent sign see a steady flow of locals coming here. Highly recommended.

    seating available under trees

    Had smash burger came with cheese, grilled onions, bbq and fries. Amazing, enough for two. Can't believe it came from a food truck. Would drive anywhere on the island for their burgers.. fries the bomb as well! Great service. We could sit on some rocks near by all fine.

    Mama Bear's food truck in Waimea.
    Daniel T.

    This place was the highlight of our trip! Da Smash Burger, delicious and hearty portions with fries. It hit the spot. 5/5 The Thursday Special, Blackened Ahi sandwich was out of this world. The ahi was cooked to perfection. Just the right amount of red onion and the aioli was to die for, all on the perfect delivery device, the brioche bun. 5/5 Grilled cheese and fries for the kids were scarfed down so quick, I didn't get a chance to try. 5/5 The family that runs Mama Bear's are the absolute sweetest. Highly, highly recommend!

    a food truck
    Pablo S.

    You must stop and go here if you haven't before. Boujee Bfast and Bearrito are my go to options when I stop here in the mornings. The smash burger is also amazing. The specials go quick so if one looks good when you there, might as well get it. Great food, great owners. Worth the stop, all the time.

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    4 months ago

    We had the Monte bear Cristo and the loco moco. Hospitality and food are excellent! We'll be back...

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    1 year ago

    We stopped in on the way to a boat tour. The Smashburger and fries are delish at this little roadside food truck.

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    1 year ago

    Fresh delicious and filling! Just what we needed after a morning at Waimea canyon. Food was made to order and came out quickly.

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    Business owner information

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    1 year ago

    This is the best burger on the island. You need to find this truck. I dream about this food. Honestly.

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    Ask the Community - Mama Bear’s Kitchen

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    If you're anywhere on the Big Island, do yourself a favor and make the drive to Fish and the Hog in…read moreWaimea. Trust me your stomach will thank you. We rolled in with a family of 10, which is usually enough to make any restaurant quietly panic. To make things even more interesting, our group was split in two, with the second half arriving about 20 minutes later. The staff didn't miss a beat. They made sure everyone was accommodated and able to enjoy lunch together without making us feel like we'd just thrown a wrench into their afternoon. That's the kind of service you don't forget. Speaking of service, the wait staff was warm, friendly, and incredibly efficient. They struck that perfect balance of making you feel welcome without hovering over the table asking if you're "still working on that." Now for the food... wow. The BBQ sampler was loaded with smoky, tender goodness, the poke nachos disappeared faster than I could claim a second helping, and the tacos were absolutely delicious. Every bite reminded us why people rave about this place. And then... dessert arrived. The banana cream pie and the chocolate cake didn't just end the meal they stole the show. If you leave without trying one (or both), you may want to reconsider your life choices. The rustic décor and relaxed atmosphere make this BBQ joint feel like you're eating at a friend's house and if your friend happened to be an incredible pitmaster. Fantastic food, outstanding service, and a staff that genuinely cares about their guests. Fish and the Hog isn't just worth the drive it's worth planning your day around. Five stars without hesitation. We'll definitely be back... preferably wearing stretchy pants.

    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.

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    Smash Daddy’s

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    All I can say is wow! I'm not kidding when I tell you this is the best burger I've ever had!…read more We heard about this burger spot from some people at our hotel and after a week of eating Hawaiian food, we decided to switch it up. When we walked in, it was very lively, with a singer and guitarist, and most tables were full! We decided to split a double cheeseburger with onion rings along with a side of fries. The burger was SO good, it was thin but also filling at the same time. The onion rings were super tasty and the fries were also very good! Overall great experience. Please bring a smash daddy's to Arizona!!!

    Smash Daddy came highly recommended from a local we met at the resort in Waikoloa we were staying…read moreat. As someone originally from the Midwest, it's hard to turn down a good burger, so we had to try it. When I tell you this was arguably the best smash burger I've had in my life's I'm not lying. I ordered "The Dubs" which is basically a double smash burger with cheese. For the toppings, I ordered their smash sauce (insanely good!), onions, and pickles. The burgers also come with a side of salt and pepper fries by default, but I ordered some onions rings as well. The onion rings were cooked perfectly, with the onions being sweet, and the batter being a nice consistency and not too thick. The fries were also great, and I loved the thicker, more coarse pepper they use to season them. The place appears to do a great amount of business, but only judging by their reviews, but by the fact that it was very busy during dinner time. The atmosphere inside is very enjoyable, with a small bar up near the front counter, sports on some TVs in side, and live music (island themed) was also being played inside. If you want a great burger, this is your spot!

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    Casual setting in Waimea. Pay at the counter. Had a friendly counter person bring the food to the table.
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    Kohala Burger & Taco

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    4.3
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    This was one of our tastiest stops on the big island. We loved our food. The hula burger with the…read morejalapeño 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!

    The food isn't bad and the ingredients seem fresh, so I understand why this place is popular. That…read moresaid, 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.

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    Inside
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    Giant onion rings. Had to finish them for dinner with those amazing fries
    Giant onion rings. Had to finish them for dinner with those amazing fries
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    Cactus cooler dole whip. Yum!

    Mama Bear’s Kitchen - foodtrucks - Updated July 2026

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