When in Hilo, two must stop places are Two Ladies mochi and George's meat market! Back before 9/11…read moreever took place, we would stop at George's with our cooler bag and stock up on prepared meats (oxtail being my favorite) and head back to Oahu. Once 9/11 occurred it made stopping at George's a little more effort so that we could get frozen meat back home without ice. However, George's came up with their absolutely delicious thin beef jerkies and that has been a must buy ever since!! And now, they have the best snacks and energy bars! I've not been able to go lately but a friend of mine was gracious enough to offer to purchase for me and bring it back to me!! I feel ever so lucky to have bags of beef jerky and energy bars in my hands!! Hoping to get to George's myself soon!!

Have been a fan of crispy beef jerky since the first time I had it on Oahu a few years ago…read more George's Meat Market, you have spoiled me for all other brands. If George's isn't the oldest, original crispy beef jerky, it's certainly one of them. Reading reviews dating back since 2010 referencing their crispy beef chips, they have had many years to perfect their product. And it's true, once you try George's crispy jerky... paper thin, crispy like a chip, deliciously flavored... you won't want any other! There are one or two labels I do enjoy from Oahu still, given the choice... I will choose George's! So happy that Stacey, proprietor of George's, mentioned they can ship. Give them a jingle and get your supply now! So far I have limited my consumption to what I can fit in my suitcase. Traveling friends were laughing when they saw half my suitcase filled with George's crispy beef jerky. After making pre-arrangements with Stacey, my small reunion group was able to taste a number of flavors of crispy jerky. Stacey was so nice and accommodating. It's a good thing as, after gathering a bunch of crispy jerky, energy bars, and other snacks we must have spent about $300. And I will continue to send people over to George's for the most delicious treats and meats. I have tried just about all their flavors. My favorites being the spicy chili pepper and shoyu, their bulgogi Korean bbq, and their sweet char siu flavored crispy jerky. Ohh but wait, they also have really delicious energy bars. And if your lucky enough, grab a container of gummie candies which are kicked up with lemon peel bits. Meats, tender and marinated. ...Whatever your craving, get it at Georges!

This market was a blast. Everybody was super friendly and nice and holy guacamole. Did you see the…read moresize of those avocados? I will say everyone was super friendly and kind. I was happy to get to try a couple of samples from some of the vendors and some educated me on a lot of different things that I didn't know about the island. There are multiple species that you don't ever see outside of Hawaii or often at least. Was happy to know that I'll never see an avocado of this size in Alaska, but it still made me sad because it did taste delicious.

Amazing fruit and veggies available Beautiful flowers and…read moreplants Huge and will take a nice portion of the day. Very clean

Great products and great staff highly recommend it. A lotta unique items from Hawaii.read more

My go-to grocery store. They cater to the local community and support the local community. I love…read morebeing able to make it my first stop in the morning to get breakfast, lunch and groceries for home later. Sometimes prices are a bit high for certain items, but if you watch for sales, they aren't too bad! I shop at KTA at least 3-4 times a week.

Way bigger than the downtown location, plus they have a selection of Two Ladies mochi just like…read moredowntown. Checkout was a little backed up but not bad. Plenty parking. Big selection. Decent prices. Everything you need in a market. Also got some perfectly yellow local bananas - back on Oahu, it seems like all the apple bananas are greener-than-green and take 10+ days to ripen. We were able to tear into these in the car!

The produce was not fresh, very wilted. There were expired things on the shelves. Sticky floors and…read morerusty shelves. They have most of the Filipino and Chinese stuff, not so much Korean or Japanese. There is also some Vietnamese and Thai stuff. Considering that it's like the only place in Hilo to get Asian stuff for cooking at home, it's okay

It was dark and a bit sketchy inside. The parking lot is full of trash. I really couldn't…read moreunderstand shots here. I didn't buy anything. Just walked in felt uncomfortable and left. It's a shame because it seems like with a little care and clean up, it could be a nice market.

Everything is amazing! Parking - awesome…read moreStaff - super friendly Food - omg, delish And while you wait, browse the crack seed area and buy some snacks! Love this place!!!

Crack seed. For us…read morelocals in Hawai'i, these snacks were childhood staples. The crack seed store, a classic place where vibes of nostalgia are generated every time I walk into one. 'Cause I grew-up with li hing mui and arare. There's a small number of locally-owned crack seed shops on the Big Island of Hawai'i and in Hawai'i in general. This is one of them, the "local-style candy store" for an island boy like me. I enter 5-Spice, located in East Hawai'i after the intersection of Kilauea Ave and W Puainako St, heading south. I remember frequenting this business when it used to be at Puainako Town Center. Their popularity over the years gave them the ability to move to a larger space. Now independently located in their own building with ample parking. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Would I be able to control myself, holding onto what's desired without adding anything extra? It's always impossible for me to do so. Everytime. Yummy preserved items in large display jars, others placed in vacuum sealed bags. All priced by-the-ounce. I become curious, wanting to taste it again. I go to my favorites, seeking them first while browsing through the visual display of many others. Cracked seed goodness on one side, bagged candies and sweets on the other. I've seen this all before yet, I stand still with the desire to place it all in my hands. And I sure do, my hands are full. I mail them to the U.S. mainland in care packages, travel to the neighbor-islands as omiyage, and personally enjoy them at work or at home as snacks. They make great gifts for friends and coworkers too. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Let's talk about food, where mouth-watering plates and yummy burgers are prepared. Bentos are packed to-go on the countertop. Offering an extensive menu for a take-out, all made to enjoy outside on picnic tables or elsewhere. Daily specials are available along with catering + platters too. Front service by the team at the counter is pleasant, attentive. Gratitude is always extended for every purchase. Comfortable, courteous, welcoming. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ "Meat Jun Plate" A light egg batter and thinly sliced beef served in an upscale fashion due to care in preparation and quality of flavor. The soft and indulgent texture of each meat jun piece, perfectly seasoned + cooked. Your choice of tossed greens, purple sweet potato or macaroni salad. "Honey Chicken Plate" Featuring a crazy yummy sweet and savory glaze, sticky and glossy. This sauce, this recipe creation is glorious. Chicken pieces are tender yet slightly crispy on the exterior. "Bibimbap" Freshly made Korean banchan, thinly sliced seasoned beef over white rice. I pour the gochujang over everything and mix-in the sunny side egg, bringing forward a creamy texture along with heat + depth. Choose the sweet potato salad as your side. "Gravy Burger Combo w/ French Fries" This massive burger patty is filling, satisfying. Charred and smothered in rich brown gravy served with lettuce and mayo. Choose the sweet bread bun, the seasoned salt on their fries makes all the difference. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Delicious food to-go with generous portions, sealed bags of cracked seed items + sweet treats at 5-Spice. For enjoyment at home, to share at work, gifts or omiyage. Find this charm, this unique and tasty experience on the Big Island of Hawai'i - East side. Locally owned and operated.

Pāhoa Fresh Fish is pure joy on a plate. If you know, you…read moreknow. Pāhoa Fresh Fish is one of those places that instantly puts you in a better mood before you even take a bite. The fish is consistently fresh, perfectly cooked, and incredibly ono, especially the mahi, which somehow manages to be tender, flavorful, and satisfying every single time. What really sets this place apart is the unique way they prepare the fish. It's simple, honest, and done right no gimmicks, just skill, care, and respect for good ingredients. You can taste the experience and the love in every bite. This is the kind of food that makes you stop talking for a second because you're too busy enjoying it. And let's talk about the French fries, because they deserve their own shout-out. Crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside, perfectly seasoned absolute comfort food perfection. Paired with the fish, it's a combo that never misses. The vibe at Pāhoa Fresh Fish is just as good as the food. It's friendly, down-to-earth, welcoming, and full of aloha. The people working there are kind, relaxed, and genuinely happy to see you. It feels like a place made for the community, not just another stop to grab food. This spot creates a lot of happy, happy people. You see it in the smiles, the satisfied silence at the tables, and the way folks keep coming back again and again. We're incredibly lucky to have a place like this in our town a place that feeds people well, lifts spirits, and brings a little extra joy into everyday life. Mahalo nui loa to Pāhoa Fresh Fish for the amazing food, the good vibes, and all the full bellies and happy hearts you've given our community. Mahalo KAPONO JIM

The service is quick, and friendly, I liked that you can pick more than one kind of fish in your…read moreorder. The fries are a nice side and their slaw was delicious. There's limited seating. We didn't try the desserts but a local "Lava Punch" of ginger and tumeric was awesome.

Flavors were incredible! Service was outstanding. Portions were plentiful. Some of the food (mashed…read morepotatoes and vegetables) were served below acceptable temperature (room temperature). Mostly a great review! To the owner/management: "Market Price" on the menu is not a ticket to gouging. And...the 'newly renovated' addition below, while beautiful and surely scenic, is very loud and would benefit from some acoustic insulation!!! Then, we'll be back.

So happy to return to Seaside-to celebrate the holiday season with my dear friends in Hilo…read more The restaurant has bar seating, semi-private room seating, and 2+ tops for pairs, families, groups, and more! (I've attended speaker programs there, for example.) Tonight, we were down the few steps right past the restrooms, near the koi pond, and got to help sing happy birthday to someone during dinner! (FYI The staff really do sing well!) Chenoa's service was cheerful and bubbly, thank you so much! And she really tried to help me choose my entree ('cause the Hilo peeps all knew what they wanted, while the townie from Honolulu couldn't make up her mind amongst the many choices). We enjoyed calamari with their yummy sauce (with just a tad of a kick), escargot, salads, cocktails (some peeps), an array of entrees, and of course, desserts! Entrees included bacon wrapped scallops with pasta, shrimp with pasta, miso salmon, tekka maki and salad, and I was so happy with the furukake salmon that I finally chose! Some of us opted in for the $7 addition of soup (last night it was carrot ginger which I also would have loved, or salad (which I chose for the greens), and a warm bread with butter. Desserts included an affogato, mango lychee sorbet, sorbet trio (of mango lychee, raspberry, and pineapple), and a scoop of the kona mud pie ice cream. Everything was delicious and some had leftovers, perfect for lunch the next day! (And of course, Chenoa brought a clean cup of teriyaki sauce for that take out serving!) I also love that they keep a carafe of ice and water on tables with groups-so we could refill our glasses constantly. Oh, and mahalo to the owner who visited us, and helped sing happy birthday to our fellow guest. (Sorry, I didn't catch his name.) Mahalo Seaside, for yet another delightful evening and yummy meal, and Merry Christmas to you all!