Just stopped at South Kona Grindz on our way from Black Beach to our resort in Kona and had a great experience. Sit in the backyard/patio and you'll feel nature all around you and Hawaiian music in the background. In this day the weather got a bit darker and cool, so we sat there looking around taking in so much beauty. It was so relaxing! The menu had variety and the prices very reasonable. We had the veggie burrito, fish and chips and bbq sandwich. Everything was fresh and delicious. Too bad they didn't offer alcoholic drinks because I was really craving a Big Wave, but it's ok since I they did have local coffee. The lady kindly served it in a to-go cup and off we went. Great little place with Hawaiian vibes and good food! read more

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Friendly and welcoming staff. Relaxing setting. Seating toward the back of the restaurant offers a tranquil setting. Great place for lunch with friends and family. My favorite place for lunch! Phone orders are quick and food is always ready by the time I get there for my pickup. Some of my favs: Pineapple-Cilantro Grilled Ini Fish Tacos. Poke Nachos and Bel's Burrito. read more

Very good fresh fish(ono) and chips. Panko was on point ! Taste sooo fresh. The staff was so helpful and kind. The service was stellar! read more

South Kona Grindz - Fresh Ono panko fried - Fish & Chips Near Me - Captain Cook, Hawaii

Service was super friendly and our server was very accommodating, answering my multitude of questions. Food was excellent: I loved my Ono plate with fresh, hot sweet potato fries and hubby loved his Taco Tuesday Ono tacos. Don't miss their chips and pineapple salsa! Location is a little off-putting- doesn't look like much when you park and enter, but the back patio has a stunning view of the beautiful rainforest. Very casual. read more

South Kona Grindz - Back patio - Fish & Chips Near Me - Captain Cook, Hawaii

I found this place via Google Maps as it was highly rated. We stopped by yesterday as I was craving a smashburger. The burger was about $19 and it consisted of two patties, cheese, and fries. I think it would have been much better if there was lettuce, tomato, and other toppings. Burger was fine but just felt basic, and too heavy. The fries tasted like they were frozen and heated up, with some seasoning added on top. Service was quick. There's beautiful seating outdoors, but we got food to go. Parking can be limited, but luckily we were able to get a spot when we stopped by at off hours. Overall, I don't think I would get the smashburger again due to the lack of toppings. read more

South Kona Grindz - Smash burger after I took a bite out of it - Fish & Chips Near Me - Captain Cook, Hawaii

We got there a lil after 630 and the dining room was closed, we could only order take out. The server was kind and gracious letting us sit anywhere while waiting for our food and offered to refill our hydro flasks too (first place that we went to these past 3 days that offered water). The decor was eclectic and unique. Found out that the restaurant was a somewhat of a thrift shop/antique store from the original owner (rest in peace). The daughter and son in law fish and cook for the restaurant, hence the unique decor and the restaurant mix :) Food was amazing: Poke nachos- the fried wontons on the ahi were so delicious. Honestly I love wontons with poke better than when restaurants use tortilla chips or poi chips... just does have that Asian flavor. I order the special that night for the steak and garlic shrimp. Steak was so soft with a teriyaki sauce on a bed of white rice- I could literally tear apart the steak scraping it with the fork. The shrimp were so soft and sweet with the garlic butter sauce- I only wish they had more to include bc it was so good! Son ordered the grilled cheese- he finished it right away and the fries were crispy and hot, no soggy soft flavorless fries here! Lastly ended with the May Day Kine Ube cheesecake. Shavings of coconut on the edges were a nice touch to compliment the whip creamy texture of the cheesecake and the soft crumb crust was so yummy too. Thank you for the amazing service and great food- we only wish we could've come earlier to sit and enjoy the whole south Kona grindz vibe! read more

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Lovely outdoor seating area with abundant tropical plants in Kona coffee country. Food and service both average. Our server was pretty expressionless the whole time - not super welcoming but not rude. Panko-crusted fish and chips: Breading was nice and crispy, but fish pretty firm and a little chewy. Chips were fine. Ono tacos: Tacos were decent but portion size was small. Two tacos and not a lot of filling (I'm used to tacos in San Diego were everything just spills out hahaha). Tortilla chips were tasty (nicely seasoned) and the fruity salsa had a good kick as well. read more

South Kona Grindz - Fish and chips and Ono tacos - Fish & Chips Near Me - Captain Cook, Hawaii

The kitchen turned out good food for lunch the day we were there. My mushroom burger was perfectly cooked. Service was friendly and efficient. We enjoyed the eccentric decor, the outdoor dining, and even the family of chickens looking for handouts. Nice local place. Very casual. Good food. Good service. read more

Brilliantly amazing spot. Peaceful vibe, tasty food and swift service. Tacos are too good, try their grilled fish taco. read more

South Kona Grindz - Fish & Chips Near Me - Captain Cook, Hawaii

Meh.. food wasn't that great. Service was worse. I would not go back. Go into town and hit up Kona Brewing or Ola Brewing. Much better food and ambiance. Kona Brewing is beautiful. read more

Service was excellent. Menu options were very good. Atmosphere was relaxed and casual was very comfortable. Food was fantastic! Absolute perfect place to grab a bite before heading out to Hilo read more

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Delicious food, amazing service, and a warm atmosphere that makes it feel like you're having a meal with family more than sitting at a restaurant table. The locally caught "world famous" fish & chips was stellar! We got the 1/2 fish that is a sharing portion and also the poke nachos - we were stuffed and happy! Their homemade tartar is dilly and delicious and their spicy tarter is SUCH a great add. The chips and pineapple salsa was the perfect way to start - fresh, hit chips and a sweet and spicy salsa! Yum!! Our servers were so kind and happy to have us, truly felt like a priceless experience. read more

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We were starving after visiting the national park and snorkeling next door. We wanted something simple so we chose to visit South Kona Grindz. I got the grilled fish sandwich with onion rings and my girlfriend got a grass fed burger with fries. It hit the spot! The onion rings were some of the best I've ever had. The service was excellent. There was a young woman with some very cool tattoos waiting on us and I can confidently say she was probably the most attentive server we had while we were on the island. It has a nice, casual ambiance where you can just relax and enjoy a good meal. Their outdoor patio is so nice and relaxing. read more

After a hike to Captain Cook point we wanted something chill nearby. The outdoor space in the back was very nice and our service was great. The tamales special was so good! The burger was also very good and the onion rings were some of the best I've had. Highly recommend read more

The fresh fish they use in their dishes are good but outside of that everything else is just okay. The service is good and the people are friendly. The ambiance is nice but the mosquitoes are an issue there. I do occasionally eat there when I am hungry and always willing to give a local business another chance. read more

The food and the service were both awesome. I love sitting out on the patio and seeing all the greenery. we will come back again.

Great food! Really yummy Ono tacos, the waitstaff is terrific, & the ambiance was spectacular. A must stop if you're visiting south Kona.

Food, service, and environment great nothing wrong with this establishment would go back in a heartbeat.

Server was SO GREAT! Fast service and absolutely excellent food. We sat outside on the patio and it was so peaceful. We will definitely be coming back again. read more

South Kona Grindz - Grilled fish tacos - Fish & Chips Near Me - Captain Cook, Hawaii

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Such a great find, AMAZING smashburger, gorgeous setting, jungle sounds, casual, perfect music. The energy was exactly what we were looking for. Will be back! read more

Amazing ambiance, amazing smash burger, friendly staff -- highly recommended if you're hungry and in the area

Exceptional. We came a few years ago and remembered this place being special. All three types of fish and chips were tasty today. Fish is very fresh and comes in perfect sized slabs. Service is nice, venue is beautiful. read more

STOP here! You will not be disappointed with the fresh ingredients, authentic atmosphere and friendly staff and owner. Cute little lizards in the greenery kept the kids entertained, everyone left full and happy! We even got some good recommendations for the best beaches. Check out the pictures for the delicious foods we received. read more

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Great atmosphere, good food. Poke nachos were good, a little too much sauce on them. Fish tacos were good.

Initially drove past this place, but had to stop and turn around because it smelled so good! Was lucky enough to roll up in Taco Tuesday so I ordered the grilled fish tacos with pineapple cilantro salsa and pineapple coleslaw with a side of sweet potato fries. My friend got the loaded grindz burger. We are SO GLAD that we turned around because the food was DELICIOUS! A MUST TRY on the big island for sure! Honestly, we might be coming back tomorrow - best food we've had on the entire trip! read more

The jungle ambiance was casual and chill. We loved the resident chickens who were very well mannered. Our waitress was also very kind and friendly. If you're looking for a relaxed atmosphere with decent food this is a great spot. I was especially happy I could try the fried fish with my shellfish allergy. This place offers locally caught fish, no shellfish to worry about! read more

Great place to stop over for lunch in the garden. They have selection of sauces if you order fish and chips. Our kids loved their chicken and fries here. They have cat at the restaurant too. If you are a cat lover then you'll love the cat. I'm not into cat's. We enjoyed their garden and they had 70's and 80's songs in the background. I would recommend this garden if you are looking for a relaxing place with breeze and music. We saw the cat trying to drink water from their water tank. Haha. Skip getting water from the tank. Just get bottle water or soda. read more

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Fish tacos were great, they have sweet potato fries, rustic yet feels like you are sitting on a back porch in the jungle. Also had live music while we were there. read more

South Kona Grindz - Fish & Chips Near Me - Captain Cook, Hawaii

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Ok, so I am admitting partial bias, I was really in the mood for local fresh seafood. This place was really really local style, and on the big island, that means kinda "country" style. It was just after dark on a Saturday night, and it was nice to be so far away from "civilization" down the road on the Kona side of the island.. The menu was certainly influenced by what could be sourced locally, which was also exactly what I was after. The grilled fish and chips were just the ticket. It was delicious. The service was perfect. The seating was secluded and nice. After dark, the frogs were amazing, sounded like were in the jungle of Jurassic Park having dinner. So nice to be different that the city grind. Food was simple and very very good. read more

South Kona Grindz - In the entrance and gift shop, really cool vibe. - Fish & Chips Near Me - Captain Cook, Hawaii

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This place is truly a hidden GEM I have driven by but when I normally pass through it's early before they are open. Last night we made a great decision to go here for dinner. They by far have the best onion rings I have had on the island. BREADED & SEASONED .... They also change their oil properly and regularly and you can taste the difference. We split a pizza and a cheesesteak sandwich with amazing fries Looking forward to going back and trying some more of the amazing things we saw BTW May is phenomenal....... She was working floor w about half a dozen tables with many people UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE We went back again tonight and I have to say I wish Yelp had more than 5 stars. Fish and chips are phenomenal and MARIKA & JoJo were just so amazing as well. JOJO is PHENOMENAL in the kitchen as welll. read more

South Kona Grindz - Breaded and seasoned - Fish & Chips Near Me - Captain Cook, Hawaii

We've driven past S. Kona Grindz for several years, thinking we should give it a try sometime. Finally we tried them for the 1st time back in February, and we got the Captains' Platter (two types of battered fish, plus grilled ahi, fries and slaw) for take-out, but ended up eating it at their back garden tables. It was around 5pm when we ordered, and we thought they would have their fryer up to temperature then but both of the battered fish types tasted like they had just been microwave re-heated. Definately not fresh and hot out of a fryer. We were disappointed, but still thought it might be worth another try, maybe at a later time when their fryers would definately be hot and ready to go. We gave them another try in mid-April ordering at about 6:00pm for a 6:45pm pick-up, and this time we both ordered their "World Famous" panko battered Fish and Chips for take-out. Unfortunately the fish again was clearly re-warmed, not hot, and the taste was so disappointing that we only ate a few bites and then had to throw the rest away. We could tell that at some point when fresh out of the grill, this could have been really tasty fish, but we've been disappointed twice because apparently the owners or operators don't feel they need to make fish and chips hot and fresh for their customers. We might consider trying it again, and would even consider changing our rating if the owner would publish a specific time of the week when they have their fryers ready to go and up to temperature for a fresh, hot Fish and Chips dinner. And of course if it actually tastes good when they do. Until then, it is 2-stars at best. We've heard that their tacos are pretty good, and maybe they should just focus on them rather than getting a bad reputation for serving food the staff can't manage to cook (heating up the fryer)? read more

South Kona Grindz - Seating in the back garden area of South Kona Grindz is quite pleasant. - Fish & Chips Near Me - Captain Cook, Hawaii

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We are driving on the highway to the Green Sands Beach, everyone was hungry so this stop was a very good find for us. First off the location is a garden paradise. It is so lush and beautiful. My girls got the biggest kick out of seeing the green lizards. We met another 5 year old who was so excited to show my girls the lizard he had caught. Our server is one of the sisters here and she was so kind and generous. I loved the shirt she was wearing. Hehe wish I had taken a pic. We went with her recommendation of fish and chips both for us and for the kids. The fish and chips was piping hot and delicious. We all throughly enjoyed our meal. We had bought papaya at the fruit stand a few miles down. Our server was so kind to cut the papaya and scoop out the seeds for us. This place is a true gem. Highly recommend! read more

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We rarely go back to a place more than once while on vacation. We ate here twice in two days. Super laid back atmosphere, awesome food. The fish tacos made my eyes roll back in my head. Will probably be back again! read more

We stopped here on our way back from a day trip to Volcanoes NP. Looked cute from the road and their sign said Worlds Best Fish and Chips. Not sure what world they are talking about but these were close to the worst fish and chips we've ever eaten. Specifically you get dry, not flaky, tasteless fish nuggets. Not fish filets. It's way overpriced at $17.95. I will say they were nicely breaded and not greasy. But it took a full glass of water to wash them down. The Ono fish tacos weren't a lot better. Also dry with very little flavor. That could be because they were drowning in an over-onioned salsa. The service is good and the staff are friendly. Sadly though, the value for the quality of food isn't worth the stop again. read more

Best Hamburger on the Island. As for the fish and chips - I thought the beer battered was pretty bad, but the panko fish was absolutely amazing. The outdoor area to eat is somewhat of a garden setting with tropical surroundings and even a wild rooster running around. (I think his name was Carlos) One thing I will recommend is to use the mosquito repellent that they have available. I didn't realize it was there until after the 100th bite someone pointed it out to me as I was furiously scratching my bitten legs. If the panko and hamburger wasn't so delicious this place would have easily gotten 1 star. My order was lost and I basically sat there for an hour starving. I watched others who came before me get their food and mixed with the hunger did not bode well. The waitress actually comped the hamburger for the inconvenience which was nice, but I'm still taking a star for that. read more

South Kona Grindz - Best Hamburger on the island - Fish & Chips Near Me - Captain Cook, Hawaii

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I recommend this as a roadside road trip stop. Everything we ordered was tasty and good. Service was quick and friendly. Could use some update but outdoor tropical vibes you know nice read more

Stopped at this roadside restaurant after visiting the City of Refuge. It has a very, very beautiful outdoor garden in which you will dine. The inside of the facility doubles as a little shop where they sell locally made goodies. Though we didn't try any of their famous fish we did enjoy our choices. The onion rings and the sweet potato fries really are bomb. They have a cute chicken roaming around named "One Eyed Willy" and as a Goonies fan I appreciated him lol. The food was good. The hostess/server/owner? Was ridiculously sweet and lovely. And the playlist was absolutely EPIC! read more

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Popped in for lunch on a cold, rainy day and was delighted with the arty vibe and garden area. It was part of the SOKA art studio tour at the front, with art on display and the artists to talk to about their work. Then you walk to the back to the cafe and it opens up into a beautiful secret garden with eclectic seating in the dense greenery. We had local birdsong surrounding us and the rain pattering down and I was enchanted. My friend and I decided to share a larger sized fish and chips, panko, and it wascrunch, hot and finger licking good, especially in the cooler weather. Our server was literally running around the restaurant trying to keep up with everything, overworked and keeping it together with a smile, making sure he was updating people on their orders as he ran past piled high with plates. I would give him 100% for customer service. I live on Maui and we are severely short staffed in restaurants there too. This guy was amazing. So if they are short staffed during your visit give him a break and sit back and watch him. It is like watching someone on fast forward. We tipped him on mph and it was a good one:) I'm looking forward to returning to this cafe on my next visit to the Big Island as it is so charming and the food is great. read more

Best fish tacos on the island! We were out sight seeing and needed lunch, we came across Grindz and decided to try. We are so glad we did. We shared the fish and chips and fish tacos. Both excellent. You can choose your side and have fish fried or grilled. We went with grilled and had fries and onion rings. All excellent and the pineapple slaw on tacos was the best. Service excellent! Great vibe, seating outside with the chickens and rainforest feel. Clean restrooms. read more

South Kona Grindz is my favorite place to go when I'm on the big island! The food is all tremendously fresh and local. The fish and chips is my absolute favorite, the Ono is amazing and the panko breading is not too overpowering of the fish. The service is great and the owners are so so nice. The environment is cool and cozy with an outdoor area that is amazing if you want to bring the family. Prices are reasonable and food is great. read more