You want local food at great prices and you're staying on the Kona side? Then head on over here, brah. They have pretty much everything you're looking for right here in terms of island staples. And the pricepoint for their huge menu is more than reasonable. And yes, they serve the LEGENDARY Yoshino's Hamburger steak here. Luckily, they didn't run out when I arrived. As stated, there is so much going on with the menu that you will be sitting there thinking about what's good. They even have off-the-menu daily specials. Everything sounds good! So yeah, had to try the Yoshino plate that comes with two patties, rice, and mushroom gravy. Huge portion that filled me up quick. The patty is tender and just reminds me of a handcrafted burger from home, not some processed crap. You can tell that they use an old-school, bread-crumb based recipe. Comfort food at its finest. The dish came with a side of Mac salad. Their's is elite as well. They make it with tuna, and it works! It's like a meal in itself. Like I said, so many food options to choose from. There's no reason to miss out on this culinary gem if you're a fan of local food. Run, don't walk. read more

Pine Tree Cafe - Yoshino hamburger plate. Forgot to take the before pic! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

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Pine Tree Cafe is proof that you don't need fancy tablecloths when you've got food this good. This place has a menu so big that even the pickiest eater in your group will eventually surrender and say, "Yep, I'll have that!" The service is fast, friendly, and makes you feel like a regular, even on your first visit. The restaurant is spotless, the prices won't make your wallet cry, and they're some of the best you'll find anywhere on the island. Breakfast? Outstanding. Lunch plates? Absolute home runs. Whether you're fueling up for the beach or recovering from it, Pine Tree Cafe delivers every time. If you're in Kona and leave hungry, that's on you not Pine Tree Cafe. Highly recommended! read more

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Food: *** Service:**** Ambiance:**** FIRST TIME We just arrived on island and were hungry, needed coffee n food. Grab our rental car and saw this place was busy with locals as we were cruising the parking lot. We were going to the other coffee shop in same strip of stores but glad we picked here. Place was clean, self serve soda n a lot of condiments from soy sauce to hot sauce. We had amazing breakfast n coffee. Lots of people but found a place to sit n wait for food. Definitely a good spot if you want quick local food, close to airport. We will definitely stop here again. Forgot to take pictures of food, too hungry read more

Pine Tree Cafe - Just arrived on island, need food. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

At our condo a uncle Evan and uncle Gerald told us we needed to visit the Pine Tree Cafe. This is where the locals eat and they were absolutely right. The menu selection is perfect and the daily specials made me want to order them all. The inside reminds me of a diner with individual tables. You might have to scout out the table situation and maybe even ask to borrow a chair. But everyone from staff to diners are all so friendly and helpful. From the time I walked up to the counter to order my food to the muffled order call out with my name when the order was ready. All is good here read more

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We had breakfast here the morning of our departure back to the Bay Area. We were here on Thursday around 7:30am. Unlike lunch time there's no hustle bustle. It was very relaxing. Ordered- * hubby & daughter both had the single patty loco moco. * I had the Hawaiian sweetbread French toast with one egg and Portuguese sausage. My breakfast was very good. The French toast had a good amount of egg mixture. * spam musubi for the airplane snack - I'd pass on buying it here. No umami. $3.50 each. The counter taker emphasized the cost. That should have been a red flag. Other than the spam musubi our breakfast was great. A nice way to conclude our vacation. read more

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Our favorite local restaurant when on the Big Island. It's our go-to for local food once we land. The portions are big and the prices fair. Our favs are the katsu, loco moco and mahi mahi. But you can't go wrong with anything on the menu. The service is great and fast. The restaurant has ample seating indoors and out! read more

Pine Tree Cafe - Mac, double loco moco and katsu - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

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PARKING: Free in the shopping center lot MENU: Very comprehensive, breakfast is until 11am. Also desserts, bottled drinks, and fountain drinks, including Orange Bang on fountain tap! Is busy at lunch time, but many tables and chairs VIBE: Casual, eating out of take out containers, and plastic utensils read more

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Nice casual place with a decently sized parking lot, so it wasn't hard to get a spot even though it was pretty busy during the lunch rush. We ordered at the counter and were able to nab a table, but it was pretty busy since there were so many people. There are some outdoor tables nearby though in case it's really full. Food was pretty quick and simple, and there are lots of options. Only complaint is that the mahi-mahi was kind of dry and tough so it was hard to chew. Otherwise flavors are good, portions are not bad and seems like a nice easy place to grab a quick bite. read more

Pine Tree Cafe - Fried mahi mahi with rice, loco moco - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

I got the spicy poke bowl for $10. My husband had the spicy pork bowl. We got an order of cheesecake $3! And some macaroons (?). I was all good and tasty! Wanted a quick meal before departure for home. Kinda weird that the poke bowl either comes spicy or fried. No ram unspicy. And it wasn't very spicy! Workers are super friendly. It could have been faster but maybe they had to cook his pork? I'd stop there again preflight! read more

Pine Tree Cafe - Spicy Pork bowl after a couple bites - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

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Warning! The portions are so huge. I should have shared a plate with my wife. Cost about $20 but equivalent to two meals! The macaroni salad was so good! Teri pork was great. They took a while to prepare the food, but it was really busy. A lot of other menu items I want to try next time. I was walking around looking at everyone else's plates. read more

Pine Tree Cafe - Teriyaki pork plate. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

Unassuming delicious food. We had the fried oyster sandwich and the pulled pork plate. Both excellent. Easy parking. Plenty of tables. Extensive menu. Breakfast is not all day so be careful of timing if going for breakfast food. read more

Ordered Tempura Ono Fish and Chips and wasn't disappointed. There were 5 pieces of fish: fresh and not tough. The tempura crust was crisp and quite good. Tartar sauce fresh. A superb value. read more

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(4/5) Pulled up to Pine Tree Cafe ready to eat like a champion... and the food absolutely delivered. Local plates were solid, flavorful, and hit that "I need a nap after this" level of satisfaction. No complaints there. Now the service... let's just say the vibe at the register felt like I personally offended someone by existing Not the warmest welcome, but hey, I came for the food, not a TED Talk on hospitality. Would I come back? 100%. I'll just emotionally prepare myself at the register and then reward myself immediately with some bomb food. read more

Pine Tree Cafe - Loco moco - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

The misoyaki butter fish was fabulous. It was cooked perfectly and the sauce that came with it was great - perfect with the rice. My husband and friend said the fried chicken and spicy garlic chicken were both bland. I would go back for the fish. read more

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This place was delicious!!! I ordered the Roast Pork open sandwich; it's called open sandwhich because the bread is at the bottom. This dish comes with Mac salad on the side and mashed potatoes with gravy. The parking lot can get really packed so be prepared for that. read more

Pine Tree Cafe - Mac Salad pn the side - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

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Food here is always good & great portions. I got the mini plate this time and it was a good amount for me! There was a long line when we got there at about 11:30 am but it moved quickly. I recommend the spicy garlic chicken there's a lot of indoor tables and some outdoor as well. read more

Pine Tree Cafe - Spicy garlic chicken mini plate (left) & chicken katsu reg plate (right) - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

Stopped by Pine Tree Cafe after a nearby coffee tour and it was a solid pick for lunch. The menu has a good amount of variety, which worked well for our group of 6 adults and 1 toddler. Seating was a bit tight, but we were able to squeeze everyone at one table. I ordered the pork adobo and it was the standout: tender, flavorful pork with two scoops of rice and a side salad. Everything felt satisfying and quick, and at $20 it was a good value. Great spot for a fast and delicious lunch. read more

Pine Tree Cafe - Specials menu - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

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Nice local spot near the airport to grab a quick bite. Pine Tree was our first meal on the Big Island and it was a great taste for what was to come! It's in a plaza and we came around lunch time all the tables were taken but people are pretty quick around eating or grabbing on of the tables outside. We tried a loco moco (small so just one patty) and then the fried calamari. The loco moco was solid - rice was cooked well and the patty had a nice char taste to it. We were sharing a meal so the small was devoured quickly but if you're hungry I would recommend getting the large with extra gravy. The shrimp dish was a little underwhelming with the 6 pieces and the size in comparison to the pricing. Would probably skip it and get the chicken next time after reading reviews. Their menu is massive and even some specials so be sure to read it ahead of time if you are unsure what you want to try. They also have some combos so you can mix and match under $15. As we were waiting we noticed a case with desserts and drinks but we didn't get to try them this time. They looked decadent though! read more

Pine Tree Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

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Locals spot with plate lunches. Love the options for combos and that I can do a mini plate or full plate depending on how hungry I am. Comes with crab Mac salad as the side and rice. Indoor and outdoor seating with a small parking lot as well. read more

Pine Tree Cafe - Mini chicken katsu plate - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

FOOD - Pine Tree Bento: teriyaki beef, hot dog, spam, fried chicken and fried calamari over rice. Everything was very good. 4.5/5 SERVICE: Fast and friendly mom and pops restaurant. 4/5 FINAL THOUGHTS: I would come back. The food was good and there's tons of options. I like that they have half portions too. read more

Pine Tree Cafe - Pine tree bento: teriyaki beef, hot dog, spam, fried chicken and fried calamari - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

Got the spicy pork and katsu dip. My husband thought the spicy pork was too fatty, I liked it though. The katsu dip was unbelievable. I thought it was going to come with sauce on top, but instead it's dipped in sauce before being cooked. I've never had a katsu with this much flavor!! Highly recommend. For sides, you choose white or brown rice and can get Mac salad. Seating Tons of tables inside for small and large groups. There are also some tables outside for groups of 4. When we were there for lunch on a weekday it was pretty busy and all the tables inside were full. Bathrooms These are located outside around the corner as part of the shopping center. Parking Easy parking, there is a shared lot. Vibes Super chill inside. No need to look nice. read more

Pine Tree Cafe - Spicy pork on the left and katsu dip on the right - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

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The spicy garlic chicken was underwhelming, and I think I'd rather go down the street. Some of the pieces were too tough to bite. Flavor was good, but not that spicy. Mac salad was okay, I think I tasted tuna in there as well? Otherwise, service is always friendly. Counter service but plentiful seating inside. I have enjoyed the breakfast from here before! It's a very casual spot but convenient if you're on the way/heading from the airport. read more

Pine Tree Cafe - Spicy garlic chicken - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

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Their fries and French toast and plate lunches - oh my!!!!! Never forget your garlic aoli! read more

Downgrading my rating after my third visit -- and unfortunately, it's earned. At this point, I'm convinced the kitchen has flagged me, because there is no other explanation. Came in with a team of five, and every single one of them had finished their food by the time mine finally came out. I didn't order anything complicated either -- a fried egg sandwich and a side of hash brown. Nothing that should take that long. And before you tell me it's the grill, my coworkers also ordered items from the grill and didn't have to wait. To be fair, the counter staff was great and took my order quickly. This is squarely in the kitchen. Whether it's an honest oversight or something else, three visits are enough of a pattern that it's hard to ignore. The food itself? Tasty. No complaints there. But good food only counts for so much when you're sitting there watching your entire table finish their meals while you're still waiting. Not a great feeling, especially with a group. Won't be rushing back for a fourth visit. read more

Pine Tree Cafe knows how to serve Hawaiian comfort food! Food packs so much flavors! Lots on the menu but I went the chicken katsu which was out of this world. It's crispy and flavorful and the side of mac and rice makes for the perfect meal! Still dreaming about this meal. read more

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This has been my go to spot for years in Kona! I always go here after landing at the airport, it's close and convenient. Personal favorite for me is the spicy garlic chicken, which of course I ordered and is in the picture below. It's crispy and juicy, but what really completes it is the sauce the drizzle on top. I'm pretty sure it's sriracha mayonnaise or some variation of it, and it's super addicting. The chicken comes as a plate lunch, which includes two sides. All of the sides are good, but I definitely would recommend getting the French fries and white rice. The teriyaki beef is definitely an underrated pick. It's super flavor, and tender throughout. Huge portions, you will for sure get your money worth. Just note that wait times can be pretty long. Pine tree cafe often gets crowded and orders pile up. When I go it takes anywhere from 15-30 minutes, which can feel like an eternity when you're hungry. read more

Pine Tree Cafe - Teriyaki beef and Spicy Garlic Chicken. Sides: fries, rice, house salad, Mac salad - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

Pretty disappointed with the food. It was definitely uneven at the best. Not quite what we were hoping for after all the positive reviews. Another member of our group went a couple days later to try the loco moco and was disappointed too. Service was great...but food was not what we expected. read more

I ordered a double Loco Moco from this place and the serving size was enormous. My girlfriend and I were able to split it between the two of us and I felt it was more than enough food to feel full. (I usually eat a ton if that means anything) They have a huge menu which serves breakfast as well as regular dishes and hamburgers. read more

Pine Tree Cafe - Loco moco - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

I was in Kona for a week and came here 4 different times - it was SO GOOD. Felt like I hit the jackpot on finding a genuine local spot. Their menu is massive and I didn't eat a bad dish. A lot of the food is fried, but a good portion of their menu is not. The portion size of the poke bowl is a little on the smaller side (the price should be an indicator), but the rest of the portions were huge. They have an option for you to order smaller portions which I'd recommend. There is a decent amount of seating inside, every time we came it was packed but we still managed to find a table (you self seat here). read more

Every time I'm in Hawaii I go every day to a different restaurant to try out the Loco Moco. The prices are reasonable here so you order at the counter and they will call your number when the food is ready, the service was quick. The meal was more than enough to feed two people and it was very fresh tasting but I added a little bit of sriracha sauce for flavor and heat. read more

Pine Tree Cafe - Loco Moco ready SEP2025 - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

Went to Pine Tree Cafe on a weeknight. We ordered 2 combo plates, one with the spicy garlic chicken and katsu dip and another with spicy garlic chicken and shrimp. The Katsu Dip was amazing, it was the perfect balance of crispy and sweet and the chicken was tender on the inside. Highly recommend the Katsu dip. The spicy garlic chicken was good and I enjoyed the sauce drizzled on the top. It is not really that spicy though, which I am completely fine with! I think the I'm the plate with the shrimp, there could have been some more shrimp. Service was a little slow, however it was during dinner so to be expected and the staff was kind and helpful, additionally the food makes up for it. Good price for the amount of food. Left feeling full and with leftovers. Pine tree cafe has lots of options for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and a casual ambiance that is good for families. You order at the counter here as well. Overall, would come back when in the area! read more

Pine Tree Cafe - Spicy Garlic Chicken & Katsu Dip - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

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Stopped in for a quick lunch on the way to the airport. There was a slight line and I had to wait for a bit...someone in the back noticed the line and came to take my order. Ordered the Pine Tree bento... Food came quick and looked slightly like the description...overall appearance for the price was ok... Overall I prob would not order this again as the food was just ok. Nothing stood out and the portion size for the price was just average... Have had other things here that were better so this was probably my fault for ordering the wrong thing... read more

Pine Tree Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

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Very unassuming spot, with great food. Negatives -not much to mention here Positives -taste: I got fried poke and crispy garlic chicken. The flavors were great. -value: the bowl was more than enough for us. -ambiance: it's a quick stop and go spot with great authentic Hawaiian food. Overall 5/5 read more

Pine Tree Cafe - Crispy garlic chicken and fried poke - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

Got the goods to go and ate it at the airport. I would suggest grabbing some food arriving or departing. It's a great locals spot I feel like. I def needed a loco moco, and it was great. Also got some Musubis to go. They have so many different types here. Nothing fancy in here but there's plenty of seating. P.s. next door is a coffee shop. read more

Casual dining where you can eat at the restaurant or order takeout. This is a great place to stop by after you arrive or ready to leave to the airport. It's about a 9-10 minute drive to the airport and it's on the way to Costco. I love the variety of options they offer here at the restaurant and everything is cooked to order. We were lucky enough to catch the tail end of breakfast and also ordered from their regular menu. The pancakes and eggs were cooked nicely, but nothing that stood out to us. The garlic chicken was delicious and fried to a perfect crisp. Service was great and they were quick to take our orders. There is a parking lot in the plaza and it's right next to Matsuyama market. read more

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Pine Tree Cafe is the absolute bomb. It is officially my favorite restaurant in all of Hawaii, and there is no comparison if we're strictly talking grindz. In my two visits, I was able to try over 8 different items and not a single one was disappointing. The Korean combo is very well crafted, with the Kalbi (beef short ribs) being the highlight. I've come to expect anything fresh catch to be exceptional in Kona, but the mahi mahi here tastes ridiculously fresh, without a hint of fishiness to be found. I liked it so much I tried it also in fish sandwich form and it was even better!! I always love a big sauce bar, and the options at Pine Tree made me supremely happy. The best "sauce" has to be the pepper water, though--if you don't know what that is, you're missing out big time. It's definitely a pretty long wait for food, but it's absolutely worth it! read more

Pine Tree Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

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Found this place on Google Maps on a whim and got a delicious grilled cheese sandwich for $6.50 +tax here. It is fast casual/takeout with ample seating indoors. Easy parking outside. There was a steady flow of customers but not much of a line today for lunch. Food was ready in about 8 min. Menu is extensive and I would love to try other things here in the future! 5/5 read more

This was our first meal in Hawaii on the Big Island, and we originally came for the chicken katsu, but unfortunately, they were sold out. That probably says a lot already! Anyways, I was craving a hot dog and decided to try a chili dog without really knowing what to expect. I thought it would be a hot dog with onions and a little topping, but it was completely covered in chili (minced meat). I could barely see the dog at first! It turned out to be much heavier and greasier than I expected. That was totally my fault since I just didn't know what a classic chili dog actually is. If you love chili dogs, you'll probably really enjoy it. It just wasn't my personal taste. Now the garlic chicken... WOW. That completely made up for it. It was absolutely delicious: flavorful, juicy, and perfectly cooked. We genuinely loved it! For both dishes, we paid around $50, which felt very reasonable. The food quality was great overall. The only small downside was the seating inside. It wasn't very cozy or comfortable. We ended up taking the food back to our hotel room, which worked out fine. So, if you're on the Big Island, I would definitely recommend checking this place out. read more

I heard such good things about this place and wish I loved it more. I tried one of their fried chicken and fried fish combos. I loved how much they gave you, but I felt like the flavor was ok. I also tried their loco moco, which was good but nothing that blew me out of the water. Everything was cooked just fine and the overall meal was ok. read more

Pine Tree Cafe - Chicken Fish Belly Combo - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

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Ono garlic chicken! I saw the reviews for it here online and it didn't disappoint. The chicken is fried and crispy with a delicious garlic sauce. It is served with rice and Mac salad or green salad. Excellent, kind service from the woman at the register. She was wonderful and gave my daughter a plumeria flower -- very sweet and my daughter loved it! Ambiance is casual. There is plenty of seating indoors. read more

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