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From its upstairs, open-air dining room decorated with kitschy surfer chic, this new restaurant invites customers to enjoy views of the pier and a bustling corner of Alii Drive. Fortunately, an excellent, extensive menu makes it well worth a stop; fresh fish plates including fish tacos are a sure bet. The clam chowder is some of Kona's best. Try the smashburger (a cooking technique that adds flavor while reducing grill time) or the marinated sirloin or New York strip. Death by Chocolate is the dessert to die for. They also serve breakfast from 7 until noon, and there's a happy hour as well as live music nightly. Great prices keep the locals coming in.
75-5663 Palani Rd., Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, 96704, USA
Known For
- Full bar menu of island-style cocktails
- Five types of eggs Benedict
- Clam chowder
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Ocean breezes flow through this open-air, bayfront restaurant on Alii Drive, known for a quality menu infused with Cajun and island influences; almost all dishes are made to order and feature non-GMO, hormone-free, or USDA-certified organic ingredients. A must-try is the seafood pesto puff pastry on the appetizer menu, and for dinner, the steak house pasta (creamy mushroom pasta topped with a New York strip steak) is a good bet. Signature cocktails blend freshly muddled fruit and fresh juices with no commercial mixes. With happy hour daily from 3 to 5, and live entertainment nightly, Foster's Kitchen is a cool spot to enjoy a sunset cocktail or late-night libation.
75-5805 Alii Dr., Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, 96740, USA
Known For
- Scratch-made food and cocktails
- Live entertainment nightly
- Great happy hour prices
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On the docks at Kona's sleepy harbor, this open-air restaurant is an authentic place to grab a beer and a bite after a long day fishing, beach-going, or diving. The venue is nothing fancy, but it's one of the best spots in Kona for fresh-fish sandwiches, a variety of fried fish-and-chip combos, and even burgers. Frosty 18-ounce schooners of Kona Brewing Co. ale cannot be beat price-wise anywhere on the island, either. Come early, though: it closes at 6 and on Sunday at 5. Happy hour is from 3 to 6.
74-425 Kealakehe Pkwy., Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, 96740, USA
Known For
- Chilled schooners of Kona Brewing Co. lager
- Fresh fish right off the incoming boats
- Fun waterfront dining on the way to or from the airport
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Tiny and locally owned, this sushi shack in the heart of town has gained an incredible following and specializes in "reverse" (rice on the outside, nori on the inside) rolls, filled with three or four ingredients of your choice. It's super popular and gets crazy crowded, so expect a long wait—but it's worth it. (Wait times can exceed an hour, but they let you know how long before you order.) Hayashi's has been in take-out mode only since COVID-19 (call to confirm this), so you have to phone your order in. The restaurant also makes fantastic party platters that you can order in advance.
75-5725 Alii Dr., Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, 96740, USA
Known For
- Affordable, take-out sushi rolls
- Small, low-key location
- Local favorite
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.
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An ultrapopular destination with an outdoor patio, Kona Brewing offers an excellent, varied menu, including famous brews, pulled-pork quesadillas, gourmet pizzas, and a killer spinach salad with Gorgonzola cheese and macadamia nuts. The sampler tray, a good value, offers four of the 10 available microbrews. Try the notable Hefeweizen. If you're staying in town, purchase beer to go in a half-gallon jug ("growler") filled on-site from the brewery's own taps.
74-5612 Pawai Pl., Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, 96740, USA
Known For
- Longboard Lager and other famous brews made on-site
- Live music
- Selling growlers of to-go beer from taps
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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With vintage memorabilia and a bluesy soundtrack as a background, this cool deli in a tiny strip mall has a lot more to offer than the average sandwich shop. Yes, there are gourmet sandwiches, salads, and wraps, but Poi Dog's wide-ranging menu extends to an impressive list of wines, craft beers, ales, and pilsners from all over the world. On the lighter side, they have a great mix of hard ciders as well. But there are also kombuchas, coffees, and other nonalcoholic beverages to choose from. Hailing from New Orleans, the proprietors love to bring a touch of the Big Easy to Kona, which you'll feel throughout the place.
75-1022 Henry St., Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, 96740, USA
Known For
- Salads featuring house-made Cajun croutons and house dressings
- House-made soups
- Ranch House Reuben
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner
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With the bar in the front and the dining patio in the back, Quinn's may seem like a bit of a dive at first glance, but this venerable restaurant serves the best darn cheeseburger and fries in town. The menu has many other tasty options, such as fish-and-chips and beef tenderloin tips. If time gets away from you on a drive to the north beaches, Quinn's, which stays open until 10, awaits your return with a cheap beer and a basket of fried calamari. Drinks are strong—no watered-down cocktails here. Breakfast is served from 7 to 10:45 during football season, and it's sure to be lively, especially if the Green Bay Packers are involved. Park across the street at the Courtyard King Kamehameha's Kona Beach Hotel and get free 90-minute parking with validation.
75-5655 Palani Rd., Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, 96740, USA
Known For
- Strong cocktails
- Comfort food like meatballs
- Old Kona vibe
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Wed.
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Locals flock to this downtown Kailua-Kona restaurant for good reason: the poke is the most onolicious (superdelicious) in town, and the many other seafood offerings are just as stellar. Poke does not get more authentic than this, and you can get it by the bowl or the pound. Sandwiches, burgers, desserts, and salads round out the gourmet menu. A kids' menu features affordable burgers, poke bowls, and sides. Happy hour runs from 3 to 5.
74-5599 Pawai Pl., Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, 96740, USA
Known For
- Daily specials using the freshest fish
- Locally sourced ingredients
- Authentic Kona experience
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With indoor and outdoor seating, this easygoing Italian restaurant in a Keauhou shopping center serves gourmet pizzas and a tasty selection of pasta dishes, calzones, sandwiches, and salads. Everything is made from scratch, and they even have dairy-free cheese and gluten-free options. There's live music on Wednesday nights.
78-6831 Alii Dr., Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, 96740, USA
Known For
- Excellent wine selection
- Delivery available
- Option to take pizza and bake at home
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon. No lunch.
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This beloved local-style restaurant has switched to drive-up only and serves huge portions of pork chops, diet-busting loco moco (meat, rice, and eggs smothered in gravy), and an assortment of fish specialties at very reasonable prices. At this writing, the drive-up window is open until 2 pm, but you can call to confirm.
75-5702 Kuakini Hwy., Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, 96740, USA
Known For
- Authentic local vibe
- Succulent Kalbi short ribs
- Large saimin portions
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed weekends
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The largest open-air tiki bar in Kona has the absolute best view of Kailua Bay in town. This is the perfect spot to relax with a pupu (appetizer) such as the coconut-crusted shrimp or "Hapa" poke bowl, or to dig into something more substantial like the kiawe wood–smoked prime rib. The Breezeway Lounge is excellent for watching giant surf or breaching whales, and Don's hosts first-rate Hawaiian performers on Thursdays. During happy hour from 4 to 6, the famous mai tais are only $8. Save room for dessert; the mud pie is deliciously sinful, or order one of the luscious dessert coffees.
75-5852 Alii Dr., Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, 96740, USA
Known For
- 10 types of mai tais
- Worthy desserts and dessert coffees
- Hawaiian performers weekly
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A Kona icon since 1969, family-owned Huggo's is one of the few restaurants in town with prices and atmosphere comparable to the splurge restaurants at the Kohala Coast resorts. Dinner offerings sometimes fall short, considering the prices, but the pupus (appetizers) and small plates are usually a good bet. If you're on a budget or just want lunch, Huggo's on the Rocks, next door, is a popular outdoor bar in the sand, and the burgers are pretty darn good, too. It's also Kailua-Kona's hot spot for cocktails and live music nightly.
75-5828 Kahakai Rd., Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, 96740, USA
Known For
- Fine dining at the water's edge
- Next-door bar with toes-in-the sand dining
- Nightlife hot spot
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This place is usually packed for a reason: the more than 36 craft brews on tap, plus an upstairs and downstairs bar with plenty of outdoor seating. Take in the oceanfront view with amazing sunsets while chowing down on stone-baked pizza, fresh salads, fish-and-chips, fish tacos, burgers, stone-baked subs, and lots of appetizers. The steamed clams are a highlight, along with the soft and warm Bavarian pretzels. For dessert, the Maunakea Mud Pie is a winner. During the annual Kona Brewfest, they offer festival draft brews to try. Great live entertainment rocks the house nightly.
75-5815 Alii Dr., Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, 96740, USA
Known For
- Largest selection of craft beer on the island
- Great steamed clams
- Good nightlife (for Kona)
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With cocktail bars both upstairs and downstairs, oceanfront Island Lava Java serves eggs Benedict for breakfast, fresh fish tacos for lunch, and pasta, Big Island beef, and seafood for dinner, plus towering, fresh bistro salads. There are also pizzas, sandwiches, and plenty of choices for both vegetarians and meat eaters. Portions are large, food is made from scratch, and most of the menu is fresh, local, and organic.
75-5801 Alii Dr., Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, 96740, USA
Known For
- Large portions using mostly local organic ingredients
- Bar with extensive cocktail menu
- 100% Kona coffee
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The brightly decorated, open-air restaurant is a favorite lunch and dinner destination of visitors and residents, thanks to generous portions and a nice variety of chef's specials, steaks, and seafood dishes. The lunchtime menu offers such diversity as beer-battered fish-and-chips, kalua (earth oven–baked) pork quesadilla, and guava-glazed baby-back ribs. Entrées can be pricey, but good happy hour selections and prices keep locals coming back.
75-5995 Kuakini Hwy., Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, 96740, USA
Known For
- Strong local following
- Great-value lunch menu
- $5 happy hour
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch weekends
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This is a popular local hangout, and not just because the kava drink makes you mellow. The Hawaiian proprietors also serve traditional Hawaiian food, including fresh poke, bowls of healthy organic greens, opihi (limpets), and traditional Hawaiian laulau (pork or chicken wrapped in taro leaves and steamed). Organic kava root, used for relaxation, is harvested on the Hamakua Coast and transformed into a traditional, slightly bitter brew. Seating is at a premium, but don't be afraid to share a table and make friends.
75-5803 Alii Dr., Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, 96740, USA
Known For
- Kava served in coconut cups
- Pulled kalua pork
- Squid luau (the leaf from a taro plant)
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With black-lacquer tables and lipstick-red banquettes, Kenichi offers a more sophisticated dining atmosphere than what's normally found in Kona. This is where residents go when they feel like splurging on top-notch sushi, sashimi, steak, and Asian-fusion cuisine. The signature rolls are creative, especially the always-popular Dynamite Shrimp. To save a buck or two, go early for happy hour (4:40 to 6:30 pm Tuesday through Sunday), when sushi rolls are half-price, or hang out in the cocktail lounge, where menu items average $6. Its shopping center location feels like a secret, but it's worth seeking out.
78-6831 Alii Dr., Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, 96740, USA
Known For
- Upscale dining at much less than resort prices
- Happy hour discounts on sushi
- Cheaper lounge menu of small plates
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. No lunch
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All of this family-owned coffee company's businesses—growing, roasting, brewing, and serving their authentic Kona coffee—operate within a 10-mile radius of the farm. At their homey little café, they offer a staggering array of coffee drinks, along with upscale deli items such as lox and a veggie focaccia sandwich; breakfast goodies include acai bowls. Stop by the café/outlet on Wednesday (starting at 8:30 am) for a free curated tasting with the baristas, and shop for other Hawaiian-made treats, from honey to chocolate-covered coffee beans. There's a happy hour daily from 3 to 6; a small selection of beer and wine is available.
74-5588 Palani Rd., Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, 96740, USA
Known For
- Small-batch, estate-grown coffee
- Kona coffee tastings every Wednesday
- Hawaiian-made food treats for sale
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner
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It's quite simply the best New York–style pizza in Kona. At this small, no-frills shop, the proprietors take great care to obtain the highest-quality ingredients for their pizzas, including large gourmet olives, banana peppers, and even meats sourced directly from Fontanini in New York. They shipped their special pizza ovens and mixers directly from New York too, adding to the pizza quality and authenticity. Try the Kona Supreme, smothered with mozzarella, sausage, red peppers, bacon, onions, and other fresh toppings. The homemade drizzles range from olive oil to BBQ sauce to ranch to sriracha. Online ordering makes it easy to call in your order and pick it up hot and ready to go. Kona Crust is open daily until 8 pm.
74-5586 Palani Rd., Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, 96740, USA
Known For
- Pizza by the slice
- Homemade drizzles
- Authentically sourced ingredients
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This vintage open-air restaurant at the historical Kona Inn Shopping Village offers a beautiful oceanfront setting on Kailua Bay. The view and the bar are Kona icons, and it's a great place to have a mai tai and some appetizers later in the day, or to enjoy a calamari sandwich, clam chowder, or salad at lunch. Dinner is also available, but the entrées can be hit or miss, and for the prices there are better options once the sun disappears.
75-5744 Alii Dr., Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, 96720, USA
Known For
- Sunset-watching spot
- Nice bar and lounge at all times
- Inconsistent food at dinner
