Food was delicious, service was friendly and attentive! Great spot for lunch after our morning zipline adventure. read more

If you're in Hilo looking for some good fish and chips, stop here. The garlic dill aioli tartar sauce is amazing! I now always add garlic and dill to my tartar sauce when I make it at home. read more

Excellent! When I'm in the mood for fish and chips, this is exactly what I'm looking! It was a beautiful day in Hilo following the Merrie Monarch festival and this place did not disappoint. We were able to sit outside and enjoy the breeze and view of the bay a couple blocks down. We had the fried ono and shrimp plate. Their sauces are homemade and delicious. I loved the smoked mozzarella and marinara!! The marinara was cooked down and garlicky. Brought my leftovers all the way back home to Oahu. I also had the shrimp on a skewer with their homemade tartar sauce. I didn't care for my fountain drink next time, I'll get the lime aid. Servers were great too! read more

See all

This would be a five star review if it were not for the terrible service. The food was excellent although it was a much longer wait than the 10 mins that the server said was to be expected when we ordered. The servers there act like they aren't even working it's very strange to watch. I ordered a drink that never came. When she finally brought out the food I asked about my drink and she acted as if I was just ordering it. My husband's soup came out with the entree and once your food is on the table forget about ever getting the servers attention again! A couple of people came in and sat at the table next to our but after about 10mins got up and left because the server never came to them. It was not busy when we went! So, If you're not too hungry and have plenty of time to wait around and don't mind getting up to chase a server around to ask for what you need then by all means eat there. read more

It's been a few years since I've eaten here. The bread is different on the mahi mahi fish sandwich compared to before. Instead of a soft burger bun it's now a thick ciabatta bun. Not as good as I remembered. It just felt too bready. We got the panko fried vegetables that were good, but really greasy. Very filling and satisfying meal overall. Pricey, but big portions. Next time I'll try the fish and chips as they offer options for fish choice. read more

Mohala’s Bayfront Fish & Chips - Mahi mahi sandwich - Fish & Chips Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

See all

My favorite restaurant in Hilo. Fried fish is simple and hard to screw up but Mohala's actually does some great things to improve on the fried food experience. We had the captains platter which included fried fish, shrimp, scallops, and calamari. The fried food all stayed moist on the inside and crispy outside. Not too oily either. The fried scallops were so good, perfectly cooked being not chewy at all. The fries and onion rings were good as well. The highlight from the meal comes the sauces. The garlic dill aioli adds a ton of that dill flavor and the malt aioli adds the malt vinegar flavor you love but isn't overpowering and adds a creaminess to the fried food it needs. The only negative was how long it took to order and get our food. It took 15 minutes before we ordered and 30 minutes for our food to come out. This is the only place in Hilo that I do highly recommend going to. read more

Thoroughly enjoyed our stop in to this cozy little bar with attached restaurant serving Ono grindz. Perfectly situated on the bay we saw some surfers catching a rare swell. Oh and try not to miss the live vocalist on the weekend. A rare treat for your ears! read more

Come here for top quality fried fish, but leave here feeling like you've known all of the wait staff for years. Honestly focusing on good people and good food is where they really succeed. I wanna like the people touching my food and I wanna trust the bartender recommending my drink. And they got that here. The fried calamari is honestly like nothing I've had before, it's soooo soft and buttery. All the sauces are made in house so you got some good dips to dip into. They have really put time and effort into their bar menu, so even if you just want a drink while walking downtown you should stop in. read more

My mom and I stopped into Mohalas while visiting Hilo. Neither of us were super hungry so we decided to split the choice of 2 and got the Ono and shrimp. It was a huge serving and perfect size to split! The shrimps were very large and a good portion of fish in each piece. Everything was fried to perfection and the dipping sauces were delicious as well. My favorite was the garlic & dill aioli. Our server was very sweet, she recommended the Ono as the best fish choice. We were very satisfied! read more

See all

In a prime spot in downtown Hilo, Mohala's has always produced great fish-oriented dishes. You can never go wrong with their classic fish and chips and other seafood offerings. My partner and I decided to get their Ono plates, and I have to say, I was impressed by the amount of fish we received. It was a good-sized portion. The fries that came with it were pretty good as well. Not to mention, we also ordered their chicken wings with BBQ sauce and were pleasantly surprised by that as well. However, I will say the services were subpar. We ordered a 6:30 takeout but didn't receive the food until 30 minutes after the designated time. I didn't get much of an update on why it took so long for a scheduled pick-up, but it is what it is. Overall, the food and portion sizes were solid, but this service mishap will keep me away for a bit. read more

Had the fish & chips and added the Cole slaw. Very crispy & delicious fish. Would come back. Casual atmosphere and attentive, friendly service. read more

Mohala’s Bayfront Fish & Chips - Mohala fish & chips - Fish & Chips Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

Ok, so I'm a TERRIBLE person and in the time it took me to bring my mother back to her home I forgot my fabulous server/bartender/superstars name... Henna??? Dammit!!! Anyhow... I eat here every time I visit Hilo and it never disappoints. The standard is the Ono Fish and Chips Which are always superb! My mom had the same but added the House Salad with the liliikoi vinaigrette which was sublime. Here's the kicker.... I also ordered the fried Zucchini (perfection) but I'm not a "ranch" guy so I ordered the bbq sauce for dipping. Yes she made fun of me but I LOVED it! Go figure ‍ Thinking it could become a trend! Looking forward to my return already!! Cheers read more

We ate here on a Sunday night, around 7'ish, and had the whole restaurant to ourselves. The waitstaff was friendly and helpful. Dinner was fish & chips (with mahi-mahi & the garlic/dill aioli) and a fish sandwich. The fish was lightly coated, crispy and not greasy. The garlic/dill aioli was okay, though a tiny bit too salty for me. The portions were the perfect amount. I was on the fence about eating at Mohala's but I'm glad we went. It was the perfect bite to end our vacation. read more

Mohala’s Bayfront Fish & Chips - Fish sandwich. - Fish & Chips Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

See all

I'm so glad we stopped here. This was by far one of the best spots that I had out in Hilo. The fries were delicious! The fish was bomb too! Like, I have no complaints about anything my family ordered. We had the calamari, the shrimp, the fish and chips, my daughter loved the soup and salad combo. Legitimately great service too. read more

Quick service, fresh and extremely tasty food. My husband said the fish and chips was probably the best he's ever had.

delicious fish and chips. no question about that. the portions are small however, and service is slow and so so. dining area could use a deep clean. just get your food to go and don't forget to ask for malt vinegar. read more

Ordered to go, staff pleasant and accommodating. Not my order but niece enjoyed the Ono and chips. The order itself was very generous; can't wait to try it for myself! read more

The food and services were awesome had fish and chips will return soon to try more ideas of the menu !!

Got the wrong kids meals- ordered chicken got fish. Service was rude, soda fountain was broken. Fish was dry and still fishy in flavor. read more

Food was good, but service was terrible. The place isn't huge but only one server working is not enough. It took 30 minutes for our table to get 3 iced teas and nearly an hour to get food. I ordered the shrimp and mahi combo, but they forgot the shrimp as well as my sauce. The server brought out some shrimp for me which was sufficient. read more

Tasty and delicious takeout lunch orders. My wife's workplace decided to treat its employees. She came home and we shared each other's plates. read more

Mohala’s Bayfront Fish & Chips - Fish & Chips Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

We stopped by Mo's Fish and Chips in the heart of downtown Hilo on Saturday evening after hearing the lovely live music drifting out from the restaurant, right across from the weekend farmers market. The bartender was knowledgeable and accommodating to both my partner and me -- and as a bartender myself, I really appreciate when someone can craft a truly delicious cocktail. We ordered Mai Tais, and they were among the best I've had in Hawaii -- rich, balanced, and clearly made with locally sourced ingredients and a mastery of the classic recipe. Our drinks arrived quickly, and we were lucky enough to get front-row seats to Corinne, a talented singer with a beautifully haunting, soulful voice who moved seamlessly through different genres. We appreciated her music so much that we left her butterfly origami tips as a small token of gratitude. The ambience was relaxed, romantic, and whimsical -- warm lighting, seaside charm, and just the right mix of coziness and energy. Whether you're looking for a casual date night or a great hangout spot with friends and family, I highly recommend stopping by. An unexpectedly enchanting evening. read more

The service was horrible and so was the food. My husband got his order after waiting for an hour. I never received my food, so I shared his. The fish tasted like frozen fish sticks and the server didn't care if we got our food or not. It was my worst restaurant experience in my life! read more

Last year I wrote a 3 star review and the owner said that she was making improvements. I finally went back again today and I have to say-- I think it actually has improved. In particular the fish was back to the old portion size (big!) and the quality and cook was great. So that's a big improvement. On the other hand, the fries are still mediocre bagged frozen fries. The homemade ones they used to have were excellent. I'd pay extra to have them back. Also, we asked if the fish and chips still comes with cole slaw and were told that it does, but that they don't have the right container for it. I asked if I could just have the small portion of cole slaw in a bigger container, and the server said she wasn't allowed to. Feels very weird and cheap to not give me something that's supposed to be included because you didn't stock the containers properly. Not a huge deal, just weird. Anyway, the fish was good enough that I'll probably come back and I'm happy it's not like it was a year ago. I'm really only invested enough in this restaurant enough to write reviews because it used to be the best fish and chips anywhere in the world and I'm rooting for it and hoping it returns to its former glory. read more

Have visited this amazing place since it's opening will continue to go great food. Great service great people.

This low key place has one of the best fish and chips I've ever had. This is small place but has nice staff and good indoor and outdoor seats. read more

Frequent patrons. Great food! Today was Mahi and scallops. Outstanding as always. This is a regular lunch stop for us. Consistently good, enough said. Will we come back? C'mon, definitely!! read more

Mohala’s Bayfront Fish & Chips - Fish & Chips Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

Aloha, I really enjoy this place. Their fish is fried but it is jot greasy. It is cooked to perfection every single time. This was my second time and the service is great, friendly, attentive and funny. Liz was great and very attentive. For sure she has been doing this for a couple of days . She is a veteran and it shows! The restaurant is clean and neat every time that I have been here. If you are looking for a good Fish and Chips experience, look no further than this restaurant. Mahalo for having such a great product! read more

Mohala’s Bayfront Fish & Chips - Fish and chips - Fish & Chips Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

Great lazy afternoon hangout for a beer & fish & chips. Mahi, Ono, & Cod are offered as options. We had the mahi & it was moist, tender, flavorful with a light crispy batter served in generous portions with crispy fries. The clam chowder was also very good. The server was friendly but no as attentive as I would prefer. Classic old Hilo town ambiance with a fishing & boating theme was quaint & comfortable. Overall, it was a pleasant place to leisurely enjoy the late afternoon. read more

Nice staff, great beers & cocktails - definitely stop by this place next time you're in town!

Man, I'm missing all the great food we had in Hawaii, catching up on all my review drafts I wrote for myself when I was there about a month ago... certainly if I lived in the area, I'd be here all the time. Since we were only going to be here once, though, obviously we ordered the combo platter for 2 ($32, or 35 with a side). Service is table-side - I was sort of amused by the apology for the delay, after waiting all of about 4 minutes (service was great). Anyway, I can confirm, the combo platter was a pretty solid value - their fries are great, their garlic aioli was wonderful (the tartar sauce was just tartar sauce, but you can't have fish & chips and not get tartar sauce). The fish was perfect (they had a few choices - we went with the ono, which I also learned just now, fittingly, is literally just the Hawaiian word for "delicious", which it was). The shrimp, calamari and scallops were also quite good, though I think if I were back, I'd just go right for the fish. (The scallops, in particular, were on the small side, the sort that, when fried, end up just tasting like "fried".) And their coleslaw, I also thought was great - though if you don't like coleslaw that's rather mayo-y and full of pieces of pineapple and raisins, you wouldn't like theirs (my wife is weird about sweet things in her savory things - more for me!) And after totally stuffing our faces, we still had a non-trivial amount of leftovers for, in our case, breakfast for both of us the following morning. It's listed as food for 2, but you could probably feed 3 people with that combo. Only one tiny complaint - they *do* have a solid craft beer (and one cider!) program, but they don't a list posted anywhere, you just have to ask what they have. This also meant, I realized after asking for the cider, that I had no idea how much it was goin to cost. It was an entirely reasonable $9, just saying, it would have been nicer to get to see a drink menu. That's a pretty minor complaint, though. And the cider was great.) They do also make a great citrus-aid (I tried some of my wife's) - it is listed as lemonade, though the day we were there, it was actually a lime-aid. Great, though very sweet. So yeah - would definitely recommend this place, and would likely be one of the places I'd try to make it back to if I were ever back in Hilo. read more

Mohala’s Bayfront Fish & Chips - tasty coleslaw - avoid if you don't like a bunch of fruit in your coleslaw, like my wife doesn't :D - Fish & Chips Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

See all

Casual and laidback open-air restaurant that serves up some of the best and most fresh seafood. Perfect better to protein ratio! I hate biting into a chunk of fried batter and getting skimped out on the actual food I paid for. Here, you won't get that. The garlic aioli and tartar sauce were so good. I'm drooling thinking about it now. I highly recommend this place for those in search of good fish fry/fried seafood. The girl was working both the coffee bar & waiting tables. She was very pleasant and did a great job running the place. read more

See all

Literally took an hour for a self placed order at the kiosk. For a simple fish and chips. Barely any patrons at all in the restaurant so not sure why it took so long. Our friend ordered tempura vegetables and rice and that took an additional hour. Then when the friend went to ask about it, the server was super rude and told us she couldn't find us even though we were sitting out front and she had seen us several times. AND she waited for our friend to approach before asking what vegetables she wanted (35 minutes later) Food was nothing special, dips were over seasoned. The overall wait of 2 hours alone made us have to cancel some visits in our trip. Just don't go here. The best part was sitting on the patio away from this garbage place. Should've been offered refunds but we weren't. read more

Great food!!!!! We loved the mahi mahi and seeet potato fries! Definitely recommend for seafood

It was some months ago that my family and I dined in here, didn't wanna miss out on doing a review for this hidden gem! Aunty at the front counter was full of aloha and had small kine talk story session while we waited for our food. Such a sweet and kind soul. The food came out hot and so so fresh! They have fresh catch of the days and a selection of fish to choose from, we had the ono (fish) and chips and my goodness, was ONO to da max! Huge pieces of crispy tempura style hot fish wow!! And the sauce for dipping was a honi to da chef! Fries were crispy sooo good too! The calamari was wonderful! Our 'opus were extremely happily satisfied! We had a good portion of leftovers to snack on later. What a wonderful experience we had here, definitely will be back! Mahalo nui loa aunty and Mohalas! read more

See all

I've been to Mohala's several times for fish and chips and every time I leave I swear to myself not to go back. Tonight I gave them another chance and had the worst dining experience. She waited until after I ordered to tell me they were out of chicken tenders, served my husband warm beer that was at the bottom of the tap, gave me regular fries even tho I ordered sweet potato, forgot my veggie sticks and then when they brought them out, the carrots weren't peeled and the celery was rotten. Absolute disaster! Never again. read more

Mohala’s Bayfront Fish & Chips - Rotten celery. - Fish & Chips Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

This place cannot be beat - hands down best everything we had!! Captains platter was great w/fries & coleslaw. Fish & sweet potato fries JUST HOT HOT WOW DELICIOUS!! App Shrimp lumpia SO SO GREAT! Our waitress was so nice & kind & so sorry we don't have her name to mention here. Ask her for the chili pepper water dip!! None of the items needed dip because they were fantastic all alone - just tasty & so very glad we went here our 1st time will NOT be our last! We are so lucky to live here & to find a great place like this?!!! We are thankful read more

Over the years, we've tried a few seafood places on island and Mohala's has been the best!! Nice and fresh!! Great flavors! Aloha and smiles every time!! read more

I would avoid eating here due to the horrible service. I recommend going to Pineapple or Jackie Rays instead since we have always gotten great service and food. The waitress here was unbelievably rude for a number of reasons. One of our main dishes came out and a piece of fish fell onto the table. The waitress did not offer to replace it and was irritated when we asked it be replaced. One of our party had to then wait another 15 minutes for his food even though everything was ordered at the same time. Then our appetizer never showed up so I asked that we please cancel the appetizer and she gave a ton of attitude and said they just started it (after the main dish came out) Once we paid, she checked us out without giving us a break down for the cost then got annoyed when we requested a receipt. She also never refilled waters or checked on us to even replace napkins. May 26, 7pm read more

Amazing place, the only thing that kept me from giving it a 5 star was because of the parking, other than that everything was perfectly made and the service was excellent read more