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    Pine Tree Cafe

    4.1 (1.4k reviews)
    Open 6:00 am - 7:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Pine Tree Cafe Photos

    Business Info

    PINE TREE CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Classy
    Moderate noise
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Pine Tree Cafe

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    Teriyaki beef and Spicy Garlic Chicken. Sides: fries, rice, house salad, Mac salad
    Nate S.

    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.

    Fried mahi mahi with rice, loco moco
    Ariel C.

    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.

    Fried chicken with fries
    Jennifer G.

    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.

    Teriyaki pork plate.
    Bryan W.

    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.

    Mang Y.

    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.

    Spicy garlic chicken mini plate (left) & chicken katsu reg plate (right)
    Dianna C.

    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.

    Loco moco
    Marcus S.

    (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.

    Mac Salad pn the side

    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.

    Specials menu
    Carlie H.

    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.

    Keizzel C.

    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!

    Pine tree bento: teriyaki beef, hot dog, spam, fried chicken and fried calamari
    Jennifer N.

    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.

    Spicy pork on the left and katsu dip on the right
    Annie S.

    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.

    Bacon breakfast burrito

    One of the best lunch fast casual restaurants in Kona. Can order ahead and pickup. The bacon breakfast burrito (also has veggies in it) is the best I've probably ever had. It comes with sour cream and salsa and you can grab whatever other condiment and hot sauces from the side station. BUT PLEASE PINE TREES IF YOU'RE LISTENING- figure out your salsa recipe. It's inconsistent and goes bad quickly, too tangy. That's all I ask, pretty please. Mahalo and much love, sincerely every Kona resident pine trees burrito lover

    Spicy garlic chicken

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    28 days ago

    Love this place! Always come here on our way off the island! Quick service. Huge menu. Lots of tourists and locals.

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    Page 2 of 35

    Pine Tree Cafe Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Pine Tree Cafe

    What do they have for drinks?

    They have a variety of sodas, juice, and water in cans or fountain drinks. Order a large Fruit Punch!

    Is this counter or table service?

    Counter service. They'll call your name when your food is ready.

    Yes, please: Do they have wifi?

    They do not.

    Any good GF lunch options here, other than a salad?

    Here's their website where you can find their menu: pinetreecafehi.com. A lot of their food has soy sauce and/or is fried, so I'm not sure.

    What time do they stop serving breakfast?

    M-F 6 am - 10 am Sat 6 am - 11 am Sun 6 am - 11 am

    Can you deliver to the airport?

    They don't deliver. Uber eats may though.

    Does this restaurant deliver?

    We currently do deliveries for large orders and caterings.

    Do you have saimin or ramen?

    They have Saimin

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Ultimate Burger

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    4.1
    (1.2k reviews)
    3.8 mi
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    Locally sourced ingredients
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    We liked this place so much, we ate here twice in less than a week!…read more We are always on the hunt for epic veggie burgers. I mean, we have literally had a veggie burger all over the country and Caribbean. You can say it's our thing...except we really didn't plan for it to become our sole mission in life. Alas, here we are, and veggie burgers are tasty, so there are worse missions to have. In any case, Google steared us to this restaurant, and we were happy with the suggestion! The restaurant is very small inside; there are probably 8 tables inside. Just something to keep in mind right at the beginning. You order at the counter, then take a seat should you want to dine-in, and they bring your food to you. My husband and I both did a veggie burger with fries. Service was very quick, which is great when you're so hungry you threaten to eat a chair whilst chewing on your hat. I mean, we've all been there, I'm sure! The fries come with a garlic aioli, and it was very good! The fries themselves were equally good and served nice and hot. The burgers were really good! They weren't super tiny, and the bread choice was a great one. The flavor of the patty was fantastic and didn't taste generic, but it also wasn't full of massive chunks of vegetables like some places do. My husband is super picky at times, and he enjoyed everything...even the garlic aioli, which was super surprising! They have a pretty decent menu for regular burgers too!

    As usual, a fantastic burger! Cooked to order (med-rare), nice thick, tender, and juicy patties…read more You can only have two patties on the bun because it's too big to fit in your mouth. Had to eat the third by itself. Can't say it enough. Best burger, best value in town!

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    Kona Brewing

    Kona Brewing

    4.0
    (3.4k reviews)
    4.4 mi
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    If you are looking for an exceptional brewery experience on the islands, the Kona Brewing tour is…read morean absolute must. For $25, it is easily some of the best money you can spend. The tour itself is fantastic and educational if you want to learn the actual science and craft behind beer brewing. A major highlight of the experience is discovering that this specific brewery brews exclusively for the islands, keeping production local rather than shipping it out for mainland distribution. It gives the entire visit a truly authentic, exclusive feel. What truly elevated the entire experience from great to unforgettable, though, was our tour guide, Dave. Whether you know him as "Dave the coffee man," "the man," "Dave the heavy pour guy," or "the Costco rotisserie 4.99," he is hands-down the best tour guide ever. His knowledge, energy, and humor made the educational breakdown incredibly engaging and fun. Great beer, fascinating local insights, and world-class guiding. Don't skip this one!

    I think this is the first time I've actually been to Kona Brewery. I've had their drinks from the…read moreSupermarket and Costco and the last time I visited, there was only enough time to visit the merch store and grab a souvenir for myself. As far as the food and drinks, I actually enjoy Kona Brewery's beer more than Maui Brewing Co. I lean towards IPAs and Hazy IPAs but tried a flight which included a double IPA and a blonde and all were enjoyable. The food and service was just okay. I think we wanted something along the idea of French fries but was told that there is no fryer here so that threw us off a little. Especially when we thought we saw portobello fries online as an option from perhaps a different Kona Brewery restaurant menu. Our food orders included Kohala pizza, poke bowl, fish taco, and a cheeseburger. We wanted to grab a can of one of the IPAs to-go at the Growler Shack outside but they don't sell singles.

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    Servers at the kitchen station
    Servers at the kitchen station
    Ahi tar tar - 8.5/10 avocado overpowered the fish a little but the rice, teriyaki sauce avocado work really well together.
    Ahi tar tar - 8.5/10 avocado overpowered the fish a little but the rice, teriyaki sauce avocado work really well together.
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    Big Kahuna Beach Grill

    Big Kahuna Beach Grill

    3.8
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    Locally owned & operated
    Happy hour specials

    Walked across the street from our hotel for a late lunch and ended up at Big Kahuna Beach Grill…read more The place was packed, but we still snagged a table for four without too much trouble -- always a win when you're hungry and don't want to wait. Service was on the slower side, but honestly, it was hard to hold it against them. The place was slammed, and they were working with only a couple of wait staff, so you could tell they were doing their best. I ordered the Breakers BLAT -- essentially their version of a BLT. I don't eat bacon, and without a fuss, they were happy to leave it off, which I appreciated. The fries were a highlight -- extra crispy and not even a little soggy, exactly how fries should be. Big Kahuna isn't going to blow you away, but it's solid, convenient, and gets the job done. Sometimes that's all you need. Would pop in again if I'm staying nearby and need a quick, reliable bite on a work trip, but probably not if I'm on vacation.

    Such a disappointing meal on our last night. Starting with a…read morepositive, the hostess was very friendly and accommodating. The location is fine (although you cannot see the ocean at night) and the stairs leading up to the restaurant are very well lit. However, our waiter - Jonah C, who was TRAINING someone, was less than stellar. He didn't introduce himself or tell us he had a trainee, I just gathered that from the girl standing with him. They took our order, brought the drinks, and then disappeared until I had to go looking for them to ask for the check when we were done eating and sat there for 10 minutes or so. They never came by to ask how we were doing after other people delivered the food. We were also confused by the apparent lack of alcohol in our cocktails. Two of us ordered non-alcoholic beverages, and the other 4 had fancy drinks that tasted like they were NA, but we paid the full $12-$15...? Lastly, the cars driving by were really loud at times with the booming music (which is not the restaurant's fault, just an extra observation). I would not recommend this restaurant for dinner.

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    Chubby's Diner

    Chubby's Diner

    4.1
    (455 reviews)
    4.4 mi
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    The food was amazing, I had my family from Maui visit me. They wanted me to pick somewhere for…read morelunch. In total there were 5 of us . They are all picky eaters but I knew Cubby's would not disappoint. All of our dishes came out in a timely manner . Staff very efficient and kind. Portions were huge . Everything was good . Something for everyone. Menu is huge Ambiance is great very comfortable With large tables to fit everyone Thank you great experience

    Service was terrible. We came in around 9:50p. It was busy, which is fine. Girls working register…read moreweren't very friendly. They gave everyone before us a number to claim their food, but not us. They said we would get a text when it was ready and it would take 45 min to an hour. Food was ordered at 10:10 We sat at a table the whole time waiting. 11:12 pm - still no food. I go to the cashier to inquire about our order. "You need a box?" No, I wanted to check on my food, it's been More than an hour. "Oh it's here." Hands me a bag. You never texted us. "We were calling your name." I was at that table waiting the whole time, you never called my name. How long has it been done? "20 minutes" Are you serious? Why didn't you text us? You said you would text. "We don't text, the system does. If it doesn't text we don't know what to tell you." This kind of service is unacceptable. My food was cold. I had a cheeseburger, the fries were rock hard. I complained. "Do you not want your food?" I waited more than an hour and no where else is open, I paid plus I tipped (I wish I didn't) I'm too nice. She gave me new fries bc I complained they were rock hard. The new fries were also shit. This is my second time here. It will be my last. Learn better customer service. Food was mediocre. Burger was gross - maybe bc it was cold. We also ordered a hamburger / Korean chicken plate: cashier got our order wrong and gave us just hamburger with gravy. So disappointed.

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    Willie’s Hot Chicken

    Willie’s Hot Chicken

    4.2
    (546 reviews)
    4.3 mi
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    The service here is ALWAYS great whether a regular or a visitor! Bartenders are fun and friendly…read moreand the food is great! My favorite are the tenders in Nashville heat with mac and cheese (which is AMAZING) or their mash potatoes and gravy! Therefore, I don't understand what Michael L. is complaining and regarding his bartender and her personal beliefs that she's ABSOLUTELY is entitled to; as are you! Unless you believe that freedom of speech is just good for a select few? And while your political views differ, it doesn't give you or anyone else the right to push your own OPINION and BELIEFS on others given actual FACTS and TRUTH about the actual state of things! And I find it ABSOLUTELY ironic that you call her anti-Amercan given that supposedly America is supposed to stand for I higher moral compass and protection of humanity, yet, at the moment let's reassess how things are going right now. Furthermore, learn your history bc I also think it's super F****n ironic that you're in Hawai'i talking about being anti-American. Why yes, of course we are anti-America since they have been illegally occupying our Kingdom for over a 100 years! And of course, like everything else America does it's all for FINANCIAL gain. They don't care about who they hurt! #doyourresearch #hawaiididnotwamttobethe50thState Leave my cool people at Willie's alone! They are professionals and they treat all people the same, UNLESS, you want to push your opinions on them and trash them for their beliefs. #constitutiom #freedomofspeech

    I'd like this restaurant because I like the style of chicken in the upbeat snappy feel of the place…read moreas well as the general idea of various levels of hot chicken using chicken tenders having things like macaroni and cheese and chicken nuggets on the menu. These are all positives however!! I am a retired restaurant owner and I know something about food, both myself, and my friends have gotten food poisoning and quite sick from that restaurant twice. The first time I called the owner he was extremely nice about the situation offered to leave a tab for me to buy $100 worth of food (which I never did use) and after about two months, I went back and tried the restaurant and nothing went wrong. I continued to eat there with my friends over the next year and a half or two years until a few days ago and both myself and another chef who works at a high-end restaurant here in Kona went there for lunch and within an hour or two both of us were quite sick with what we considered to be food poisoning ---- so although I do like this place I offer a word of advice in warning to people considering going there you can't get sick from the food. They're serving chicken after all which requires intense scrutiny in terms of getting bacteria into the chicken.

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    Bar area
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    Outdoor seating area. Live music!
    Broke Da Mouth Grindz KONA

    Broke Da Mouth Grindz KONA

    4.4
    (2.7k reviews)
    3.9 mi
    $$

    Sadly missed out on trying this the last time I was visiting Hawaii but glad we made it out this…read moretrip. Excellent food. We did the 3 meat combo: Garlic Chicken, Short Rib, and Panko Fish w/ adobo fried rice + sesame corn on the side. I typically would order a mac salad and garlic shrimp but wanted to switch it up randomly for this occasion. Also grabbed two of the Hawaiian Sun drinks for $3.50 per drink which was expensive, but convenient, as we were driving out to catch the sunset and star gazing immediately after picking up our food. If I were to reorder, I'd do the same 3 piece combo, highlighting that the panko fish was surprisingly crispy on the outside and soft on the inside so this was a great option. I'd probably go with mac salad and give the kimchi fried rice a try. A friend did let us try the purple sweet potato salad side. This was a nice change of pace similar to the traditional mac salad.

    If you're looking for a quick bite that hits the spot, Broke Da Mouth is a super convenient option,…read moreespecially for a fast lunch break or grabbing takeout for a beach day. Plus prices are also set at a fair setting. The vibe inside is cozy but definitely on the smaller side with limited seating, so it tends to get pretty crowded, and you might experience a bit of a wait. While the staff was incredibly kind and welcoming, the food itself left a little to be desired. I ordered the Animal Burger expecting something a bit more flavorful, but it ended up tasting pretty ordinary. Some might disagree and absolutely love it, and while it wasn't anything too special for me, it's still a solid, friendly spot. I'd still recommend it if you need a quick, convenient stop for a casual meal!

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    Worth the wait
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    Animal Cheeseburger upgrade to Pork Bell Fries
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    Garlic shrimp braised short ribs and Korean chicken.

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    Garlic shrimp braised short ribs and Korean chicken.

    Pine Tree Cafe - breakfast_brunch - Updated June 2026

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