A much under-rated locally owned restaurant in Pahoa. Great…read moreFood, very clean, consistently friendly staff and a relaxed, laid back atmosphere. Highly recommended!

Every time we are in town eat at least 2-3 times. This has got to be my favorite Thai restaurant,…read moreidk about ever, but one of my tops for sure. All their curries are amazing, but my favorite is the green one! Crab fried rice is insanely delicious! The staff is friendly, ingredients fresh, everything is flavorful and cooked to perfection. I am left satisfied each time. The restaurant is always packed, it's colorful and full of people enjoying their meals. The place feels authentic and on a strip with shops and bars. Going back tonight after having dinner there just yesterday, haha! Yes, it's that good! Enjoy xx

A solid neighborhood spot with a few standouts and some room to grow…read more We've been to Kaleo's a few times now, and we'll definitely keep coming back. It's close, there's always parking, and it's got that laid-back, local energy where you can laugh loud and no one's going to shoot you a look. It does get loud inside, but in that kind of way that makes it feel like everybody's having a good time, not like you're in a cafeteria. Just don't expect a quiet dinner conversation, unless you're reading lips. The service? Always sweet, always kind. Lily (I think that's the correct spelling!) has taken care of us more than once and she's a gem... warm, attentive, and easy to chat with. She's the kind of person who remembers what you ordered last time and tells you honestly what's good. As for the food... Bacon Blue Burger: My husband had this last time and it was yum. Juicy, flavorful, hits all the right rich notes without being greasy. That one's a solid order. Ribs: The barbecue sauce was really good... but the ribs themselves were dry and overdone. Not terrible, but not what I'd call a win either. If they could just dial in the texture, that sauce would carry it home. Kalbi Short Ribs: Best thing on the menu so far. Tender, rich, and full of flavor. Get those. Mashed Potatoes: "All mash" is the move. They're creamy and comforting... total comfort food. Hamburger Steak: Another standout. Probably one of the best in the area. Classic done right. Thai Chicken Pasta: Watch out... it's got some serious heat! Spicy, but good. Not for the faint of tongue, but worth it if you're into that kind of kick. Lilikoi Fizz: Really tasty but heavy on the lilikoi. If they eased up and added a little more club soda, it would be more balanced. Desserts: * Lava Cake was good... warm and classic. * Chocolate Decadent Cake was just okay. It comes fridge-cold (probably so it doesn't melt), but I feel like if they let it sit out for ten minutes before serving, it would be way better. * Brownie Sundae was yum, according to my husband... and I trust his dessert radar. All in all, Kaleo's is the kind of place you root for. You want them to keep getting better, and they mostly are. The hits are worth coming back for, and even the misses aren't deal-breakers. We'll be back, and we're excited to keep trying more of the menu.

Big birthday for me & hungry husband treated me to a trip to "Moku O Keawe" to visit our na…read moremo'opuna @ their new home! Eldest son suggested this nice bar & grill. Food choices were plentiful, lots of fancy drinks to choose from. This is an open restaurant where it's open air backyard kind of feeling. Feels like an old fashioned Lu'au!!! Acoustics are a bit loud because everyone is out talking each other. Parking is in the lot in the back. It's free if u no mind da "coqui " frogs!!! Would love to return & try other dishes! Ka ono! Our nine year old grandson ordered "Coconut shrimp & fries "-- no not from keiki menu--braddah can mop it up !!! I ordered a steak plate (4 got da name) . Son ordered a sautéed fish platter & hungry husband had a fancy kine,thick burger & we were all jealous! The wait for everything was a bit long; to wait for someone to take our order, bring back the drinks & very long before we got our food. Waitress was apologetic & sincere. We didn't mind. Extra points if you're like dat!!! On the cash wrap counter some Hawai'ian arts & crafts were displayed.....oh sistah! I gotta go lookie!!! He he he !!! Clay/foam like tropical flowers for your hair,laser cut wooden earrings,stationary & more! My dashing men (husband,son & grandson) let me oogle because they all know I support local artisans. Because I'm an "artsy-fartsy " myself!!! (I create all kine art) A few days lataz....was talking story wit my cousin & found out he was the fish cutter there a few years ago ! Loved dis place!!! Hope it does well!!!

Food was excellent. The coconut calamari was crisp but not overcooked to the point of being rubbery…read more- the sauce was sweet with a tang of spiciness. The orzo salad was a large serving. The mushroom cheese burger was cooked perfectly - juicy and tasteful. Service was attentive and very welcoming. Always an enjoyable experience!

There were 5 of us for dinner on a Saturday at 6pm. Each plate was great with a local flair and…read morecarefully prepared. Simply delicious! the ambience is relaxed yet lively and the Service was great. We will definitely eat there again and again.

We make it a mission to stop into local grocery stores when we travel and we were really impressed…read morewith this one. We were very impressed with the Poke and hot food offerings, all of it looked so good but my wife settled on the fish bento box. She said it was the best fish she's had in our entire trip and her only regret was she didn't get two! I was a fan of the cool wall mural as well, 10/10 would recommend.

Just down the road a bit is this market, the even has a bar with Togo howlers, they call them…read moregrowler but that is 64 oz vs. 32 for the howler. The beer menu changes so this time no stout beers, the darkest was modelo negro, several local breweries. And one sour. But you can take draft beer home. Poke selection is nice at the deli section, the hot foods and sushi is very tasty. The baked good are definitely worth it. Ube cake!!! The salt and vinegar chicharon for $10 is amazing. Fried chicken skins seems to still have feathers attached. Great customer service.

Every year I have the Pleasure of going to Black Rock Cafe in Pahoa! I just turned 72!…read moreAnything you want is probably on the menu. Service is Outstanding! Atmosphere is not an important thing here. You just come in with a Smile and you will be treated like so!

Yes , another reason you live on the big island .Mine are people. They are friendly and kind…read more Being Filipino means that we show how much we love each other by food. If the food isn't good they don't like you. They love us here. From the fried oyster appetizer to a teriyaki burger and fries. Side note came alone in a Tuesday night, for a couple of drinks and friendly conversation with bartender (Amy) and patrons. Onion rings are delicious. Even the fried ice cream was shared and was a big hit with the family.

Dropped by here for lunch, super friendly staff!…read more Handful of poke options, I got the 2 choice poke bowl with ahi Taegu and ahi honey garlic. Both soo good! Will be back next time I'm in Hilo and try the other ones.

This is a fish market so you can get fresh fish and poke at competitive prices…read more They close at 3:00 p.m. so they're usually busy and it does attract tourists as well. We went on a Monday afternoon and there was a couple of people in front of us and a small line forming behind us. The employee that helped us was friendly, patient and helped us sample many different pokes, answered our questions and made helpful suggestions. I got the shoyu and Korean poke, and my friend got the Korean Marlin. Decent portions and you know it's fresh. Great place for poke bowls.

Easy five-star review. Hidden gem in Hilo, HI. An old bank converted into a fine dining…read morerestaurant with a Hawaii vibe. Menu items run the gamut from fish and chips, steaks, and the Mochiko Crusted Fresh Catch (ono), which I ordered. The appetizers, main course, and desserts are all presented in five-star fashion. Stop in if visiting the Hilo side of the Big Island if you get the chance.

When we lived in Kona, we would frequent the Jackie Reyes there. The food was good, but for the…read moreprice, the entire experience - not even the old, nonfunctional classic car out front - was worth it. BUT, the Jackie Rey's in Hilo has now become our go-to fine restaurant in Hilo town. The building is classic. An old town Hilo bank, with the vault intact. High ceilings, comfortable tables and decore and an artistic antique wooden bar that would be a gem in the crown of any European city. The management and personnel are the most wonderful people. Always happy to accommodate you in the best way they can. After one kamaaina visit the servers will know your name. They'll make you feel welcome and that you are a part of their experience too, something that is nearly impossible to find in other town dining. They have rewards programs for kamaaina which includes a point system that gives you significant savings on your next visit. The food is first rate, from the pupus to the main dishes to the desserts. Sauced and presented in five star fashion, without feeling pretenious. We will be their peskiest and most loyal customer as long as we are in the area. Kudos to Jackie Rey's Hilo.

My wife and I had a very pleasant dinner. The staff was very friendly and attentive. We had five…read moredifferent plates, a shared dessert and drinks. Everything was excellent! This was our first visit to Moon & Turtle but I'm sure we'll be back.

My wife and I stopped by Moon & Turtle for dinner during our brief visit to Hilo and we had a…read morefantastic meal. We showed up right when they opened at 5:30 p.m. without reservations on a Wednesday evening and was luckily able to get seated at the bar. Between the two of us, we ordered a bunch of items off the "small" section of the menu, including the smokey sashimi, sizzling tetsuyaki poke, smoked tonnato caesar, crispy rice, and their special of the day -- agedashi wontons. Of the items we ordered, the crispy rice and the agedashi wontons were my favorite items. The crispy rice is priced per piece, and you'll certainly want to order at least two per person, because one is simply not enough. The rice block is fried a beautiful golden brown -- similar to a hash brown. The crispy rice pairs perfectly with the ono mixture on top of it. With the agedashi wontons, I initially thought the filling was a bit under-seasoned at first, but when enjoyed with the broth, the wonton comes out tasting perfectly seasoned. The broth had so much umami to it and the wonton had the perfect crunch to it I always love a good Caesar salad and the one here is spectacular. With anchovy croutons, shaved cured egg yolk, and smoked ahi dressing, you're getting some creative, premium ingredients in this salad and everything works so well together. Even if you're not a salad person, I would definitely recommend giving this dish a try. On top of delicious food, the service at Moon & Turtle was spectacular. Food was promptly brought out after we placed our order, pacing didn't ever feel rushed, our water cups were never empty, and our server checked on us regularly to make sure we had everything we needed without being overbearing. I would definitely stop by Moon & Turtle again if I'm in Hilo.