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    Piilani Kitchen

    5.0 (85 reviews)
    Open 10:00 am - 4:00 pm

    Piilani Kitchen Photos

    Business Info

    PIILANI KITCHEN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Outdoor seating
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Piilani Kitchen

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    An L.

    Made a pit stop at this little gem! All the sandwiches were amazing and the tacos were also great! The kitchen was located inside a little store that sold beverages, snacks, and little gift shop trinkets. We got the food to-go and ate outside at the picnic tables. We got to eat in the company of the local stray cats! We would absolutely come back here!

    grilled cheese
    Terri P.

    Stopped by for lunch after visiting the Honomu goat farm. I remember coming here couple years ago when it was part of Onomea market; but when I arrived I saw a sign Piilani kitchen at the take out food section. They still sell ice shave like the former but my daughter and I were hangry so we ordered real food....grilled cheese, kalua tacos and a smoothie. There's a nice shady breezy seating area in front of the market and we were given a pager that lit up when our food was ready. It was a quick wait and our plates were abundantly filled with food. My daughter's grilled cheese was ooey gooey grilled deliciousness. The homemade pickles was a nice salty crisp addition to each sandwich bite. My tacos were robust with kalua, hefty, smoky and meaty. I could only eat two. The banana berry smoothie was freshly made and was a highlight of the meal. My daughter mopped up that smoothie and didn't want to share. It's bit of a drive off the main highway but google map will show you the way. It's really worth a stop if you're looking for some yummy eats. Next time we will stop by to get some ice shave.

    Pastrami
    Hannah M.

    We stumbled on Piilani Kitchen and we're so glad we did! There's plenty of parking and a few picnic tables out front, so it's a great spot to sit down and enjoy your food. It's also conveniently located right next to a little shoppette, which makes it an easy and convenient stop if you're cruising around the area or headed north where there isn't too many road side stops. We had the Pastrami and Caprese sandwiches -- both were super ono! Loaded with flavor, fresh ingredients, and the housemade pickles gave it that extra kick. But the real standout was the ulu mac salad. Being from O'ahu, the mac salad on Hawaii Island had been kinda hard for us to get used to -- different style, yeah? But this one was the closest to what we're used to, and the ulu added a nice local crunch that took it to the next level. You can tell they put plenty aloha into their food. Service was maybe 5-10 minutes? Worth it. Real good kine grinds, and chill vibes all around. We'll definitely be back next time we're on Big Island.

    Italian sub week special
    Jennie Z.

    I just had the most incredible Italian and birria sandwiches! As a Mexican from California, I know my birria, and this place nails it. Don't miss out on this hidden gem--I'll definitely be coming back again and again! Shout out to Chef Fly, he's so cool and so Fly.

    Cubano with Mac salad
    Yvette C.

    Adding another five star review to this yummy stop. It's right along the scenic view along the coast. I ordered the Cubano sandwich. It was delicious. The homemade pickles were amazing.

    Outside
    Jonelle R.

    This little gem is nestled on the scenic route of the Hamakua coast, and it truly is a gem. The quality of food being served is amazing! I ordered the Kim chee Reuben... corned beef with Kim chee is not something I would've thought would go together on my own. It was really tasty! I love the fusion of flavors that they play with on the menu. I do suggest if you love pickles to get a double order at the least because there is something special about those pickles. The service was great! The girl behind the counter was super nice and also the man that was there too... I think he might've been the owner. It's a great place to stop for some good food and good vibes. Ps the drinks are great too!!!

    Detour stop on the way to Foodland. Cute little deli/market/liquor store! The shaved Ice was delicious! The flavors we chose are blue vanilla, pineapple and guava flavored and I added a scoop of ice cream! So GOOD! GREAT and friendly service. Stop bye and say MAHALO!!

    Birria Sandwich

    DON'T HESITATE, JUST GO! this place is easily the best food we have had on the island. Everything we had was so tasty and just beyond our expectations. We had the Birria sandwich and the Cubano with the Mac salad and WOW! It was so good we ended up staying for shave ice and a special Hawaiian brownie (not THAT kind of special, but still super yummy). The prices are more than fair too. Don't walk, run, definitely make this place a top stop on your list!

    Outdoor Seating
    Frank W.

    After enjoying The Umauma Falls Experience on, we were hungry and looking for something authentic and nearby. Piilani Kitchen had great reviews on Yelp, so we went here. I ordered the Chicken Salad Sandwich and was intrigued by the addition of macadamia nuts and cranberries. As we waited for our food at one of the outdoor picnic tables, we enjoyed the reggae island music. My sandwich was everything I expected. I enjoyed the blend of flavors and textures. Three of us ordered smoothies. My pina colada smoothie was refreshing. The service was decent and the wait for our food was not excessive. All in all, we had an enjoyable island dining experience!

    Piilani Cafe and Hawaii Plantation Museum
    Katie L.

    Phenomenal food served with intention and love. Very informative and quaint Hawaii Plantation Museum next to Piilani cafe that is perfect to browse while waiting for your lunch. The owner was very personable and friendly and our family of 5 will absolutely visit again.

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    1 year ago

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    6 months ago

    Quaint roadside stop. Great food. Chill vibe. Homemade pickles are worth the trip themselves.

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    11 months ago

    Delicious food, everything we try is fantastic! Great counter service and little picnic tables outside. Highly recommend!

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    1 year ago

    Fantastic food! We stopped by after the falls and high recommend it for lunch. We ordered 3 different meals and enjoyed all.

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    2 years ago

    Whether you are a local or a tourist, this place is delicious. And it's located along a beautiful scenic drive!

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    1 year ago

    This was such a find! Best food we had on the Big Island and the staff was so friendly. Highly recommend the pickles!!!

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    2 years ago

    Incredible food, sweet vibe, and refreshing location! We came together as after a work field trip to the Botanical Gardens. 5 Stars!

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    Page 2 of 3

    Ask the Community - Piilani Kitchen

    Aloha, any plans for more plant-based friendly foods? I loved the 'ulu based bowls in the past. I'd love to stope by again soon 🙌 🫶

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    The Booch Bar

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    (774 reviews)
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    We stopped by the Booch Bar on our way into Hilo before a day of adventuring, and it was a great…read morelittle stop for breakfast. We tried the simple breakfast plate and a breakfast sandwich, and both were tasty and really hit the spot. Since we went on a weekday, it wasn't too busy inside, which made for pretty quick service. Overall, it was a solid breakfast stop and a nice place to grab a bite before heading out for the day.

    We had an amazing vegan dish here for our little brunch we did in mid morning earlier today…read more We saw this restaurant yesterday when we were browsing Hilo a few nights ago. We didn't think of anything when we saw it the first time. By just looking at the name of it though, my immediate reaction was, "Is this a kombuchas bar??" Well, it is but it's not just kombuchas they serve; it's more than that. The breakfast/brunch dishes they serve (although they don't have a huge selection) are quite diverse. I do incorporate a lot of vegetarian/vegan diet into my daily meal routine so when I saw the Verdant Vegan I simply couldn't skip it. As my daughter and I usually split a plate when we dine together she agreed to this option of mine. Glad we did. This plate has all sorts of goodness included in it. Sautéed veggies, house-made lentil walnut chorizo, ginger beet kraut, fire-roasted jalapeno cashew crema, fire-roasted tomato salsa, and it's topped it off with sprouts. This whole thing comes with either purple sweet potato home fries or red rice (which we went with the purple sweet potato fries and ended up getting a side red rice. We also got the side kimchi and one egg sunny side up.) And we shared a 16oz Ceremonial Matcha latte as well. This vegan plate is way more than vegan. It's mighty as hell. For those who are still not sure about vegan options will definitely second guess it for something that isn't vegan/vegetarian. It's truly nutrition packed in so many different ways. If I lived close to this cafe, I would eat here once a week to enjoy this delightful meal. I am not kidding. I enjoyed the matcha latte very much although my daughter rated it as "okay". She likes her matcha in a very particular way so it unfortunately didn't impress her. This is not to say that she disliked it. She said it wasn't bad either. This place is a "walk in, order upfront, pick a table where you want to sit and one of the staff will bring your food to you" style cafe. Water is self-served. Once you are done with your meal you'll put your dirty dishes in the designated tub. I like this efficient style of serving food. This place has great vibes as well. A bit hippie-ish where bright dark colors such as purple and red are incorporated into the interior. There is even a stage where bands perform on certain days/times. Quite cool-looking. If you are visiting Hilo soon then put this place on your "must visit" restaurant list. Friendly staff, reasonable prices and quality food will entertain you for sure.

    Photos
    Kombucha from the tap and virgin Bloody Mary
    Kombucha from the tap and virgin Bloody Mary
    Fish sandwich w/ blackened catch of the day well seasoned 5/5. sweet potato with green onion 3/5. pickle 5/5 spicy with a crunch.
    Fish sandwich w/ blackened catch of the day well seasoned 5/5. sweet potato with green onion 3/5. pickle 5/5 spicy with a crunch.
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    Naʻau

    Naʻau

    4.4
    (7 reviews)
    0.6 mi

    The evening was beautiful; a great meal overall. The atmosphere is a bit casual with the use of…read morefolding tables and chairs; but the meal made up for the casual setting. Host just left without an introduction to the support staff and has a lackluster approach to sharing details of each item on the menu. We understand the chefs mission and want to support this vision. Unfortunately; not sure if the menu warrants a second visit. Hawaii has lots of beautiful sustainable food resources that are unconventional. I will caution the use of wild deer meat for carpaccio. There is a concern to cook game meat before eating it. Venison can carry pathogens that cause brucellosis, campylobacteriosis, and listeriosis, and freezing, drying, pickling, and smoking are ineffective at killing these bacteria.

    Na'au celebrating the "guts of the heart and mind". Chef Brian Hirata and his team, seeking to…read morebring global awareness and appreciation of Hawai'i cuisine, has created this experience for the lucky few able to dine with them. Reservations are required. At this time each evening's seating is limited to 24 persons. What you will experience: A drive to a remote area just on the outskirts of Hilo; Driving through sugarcane fields and farm roads to get to current location at Whitehaven Farm. Location opens up to a beautiful and scenic area on the bluffs overlooking the ocean. Prix fix menu changes monthly, or for special bookings. Each dish highlighting sourced ingredients from Hawaii. Each dish with a story behind it as so magically described by Robert, our host for the evening (and also found on their website). Highlights in food for me were the local breadfruit appetizer duo made into tostone and hummus and garnished with green big island plums dressed as olives, also the salad created out of ho'i'o, pickled hapu'u hearts, and kimpira takenoko... so very creative creating an ahh or an ohhh in every bite. Wait a second, that big island kanpachi prepared two different ways, kauai shrimp croquettes in the most delicious lemongrass red curry brown butter reduction, the big island lamb served 3 different ways...tantalizing the taste buds. All so very memorable. Not to be outdone, a dark chocolate tart with whipped lemon chevre dessert finished the evening. No liquor sold here, you are welcome to bring your own with a modest $20/bottle charge. If there were only one suggestion it would be to finish off dessert with a nice french pressed cup of Kona or Hualalai or Ka'u coffee or cup of Big Island mamaki tea. Then I would know I was in heaven on earth. Bravo Chef Brian, former Chef of the Four Seasons Hualala'iand Instructor at Hawaii Community College Culinary School, and recent James Beard nominee. Thank you for your innovative creations while educating us about the beauty of Hawai'i Cuisine. Do I recommend? I recommend staying at the Whitehaven property (they also have cabins and rooms to rent) so that you can dine here every single night of your Hilo stay!

    Photos
    Whitehaven pop-up: The dining area is located on the lanai in the back of the main building.
    Whitehaven pop-up: The dining area is located on the lanai in the back of the main building.
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    Pineapples Island Fresh Cuisine

    Pineapples Island Fresh Cuisine

    4.3
    (2.6k reviews)
    7.5 mi
    $$

    First of all... just go! Happy hour in the bar is highly…read morerecommended! Hubs enjoyed a Lava Burger (5/5) and a mango margarita 4/5 I had nachos with pork (4.5/5) and a watermelon margarita (5/5).

    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.

    Photos
    Bar with loads of fresh pineapples
    Bar with loads of fresh pineapples
    Ahi poke tower
    Ahi poke tower
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    Piilani Kitchen - sandwiches - Updated June 2026

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