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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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Overlooking Hilo Bay from its towering perch on the waterfront, this popular, upscale restaurant with great water views has a sophisticated second-floor dining room that looks like it's straight out of Manhattan. A sushi bar complements the excellent selection of fresh fish, pork, beef, and vegan options. Premium wines and sake are available.
123 Lihiwai St., Hilo, Hawaii, 96720, USA
Known For
- Creative use of fresh local produce
- Blue Bay burger with shoestring fries
- Hilo's most upscale restaurant
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.
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This authentic little pizzeria with tables inside and outdoors might just make the best hand-tossed pizza on the Kohala Coast, if not the whole island. The New York–born owner does not scrimp and has even imported special pizza ovens and dough machines from New York, as well as Fontanini-brand ingredients, to give his pizzas that extra pizzazz. Try the Dr. Goody, named after a beloved local ER doctor. It's baked to perfection with ricotta, mozzarella, Parmesan, banana peppers, sausage, arugula, garlic, and mushrooms. The chicken pesto and Gorgonzola are other standouts. Because each pizza is custom made, there might be a wait. For the quickest service, order online and pick up.
68-1330 Mauna Lani Dr., Waimea (Hawaii County), Hawaii, 96743, USA
Known For
- Good prices
- Innovative pizza toppings
- Fresh local ingredients
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Upstairs in a historical building, this seafood tiki bar has been a hot spot for years, known for a dynamite and well-priced bar menu with tasty pupus, signature seafood dishes such as the coconut shrimp and poke burger, and even a prime rib special on Tuesday. Don't let the retro appearance deter you; this place is frequented by legacy celebrities whose names you know or whose records you've bought. Service is impeccable. Happy hour runs daily from 3 to 6, and the calamari is a standout.
61-3642 Kawaihae Harbor (Hwy. 270), Kawaihae, Hawaii, 96743, USA
Known For
- Funky tiki theme
- Seafood quesadilla
- Excellent service
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There's a reason why locals flock to this hideaway for the best Thai cuisine in Hilo. Fresh local ingredients highlight proprietor Sombat Saenguthai's menu (many of the herbs come from her own garden) to create authentic and tasty Thai treats like coconut curries, fresh basil rolls, eggplant stir-fry, and green papaya salad. Most dishes can be prepared with your choice of tofu, pork, beef, chicken, squid, or fish.
88 Kanoelehue Ave., Hilo, Hawaii, 96720, USA
Known For
- Famous pad Thai sauce available for purchase
- Friendly service
- Single owner and chef
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. No lunch
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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In the heart of Hawi, this popular restaurant provides a historical setting in which to enjoy a menu brimming with Hawaiian country flair. Most of the entrées feature fish and chicken prepared several ways, although if the kitchen gets busy, you might get a mediocre plate. Bamboo accents, bold local artwork (both for sale), and an old, unfinished wooden floor make the restaurant inviting.
55-3415 Akoni Pule Hwy., Hawi, Hawaii, 96719, USA
Known For
- Fresh catch with ginger, cilantro, and peanuts
- Passion fruit margaritas
- Weekend entertainment
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. No dinner Sun.
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Located in a beautiful high-ceiling venue in the vintage S. Hata Building, Café Pesto offers creative pizzas with ingredients such as fresh Hamakua mushrooms, artichokes, and Gorgonzola. You can also make a full meal of the Asian-inspired pastas and risottos, fresh seafood, delicious salads, and appetizers. Products from local farmers feature heavily on the menu—Kulana free-range beef, Kawamata Farms tomatoes, and Kapoho Farms lehua-blossom honey. Happy hour is 2–5 pm.
308 Kamehameha Ave., Hilo, Hawaii, 96720, USA
Known For
- Use of local farm produce
- Wood-fired pizza
- Featured on the Food Network
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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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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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Just 20 minutes south of Kailua-Kona, this nicely appointed restaurant with a warm, woodsy vibe serves delicious dinners with Brazilian, Asian, and European flavors, highlighting fresh ingredients from local farmers. Favorites are the Brazilian seafood chowder or peanut-miso salad, followed by pasta primavera smothered with a basil-pesto sauce. There's an extensive wine list, or you can sip a refreshing mojito or a good champagne before dinner. If your party is smaller, you may opt to eat on the lanai.
79-7511 Mamalahoa Hwy., Kealakekua, Hawaii, 96750, USA
Known For
- Most upscale restaurant in South Kona
- Live dinner music
- Cash-only place and reservations are essential
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon. No lunch
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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
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Simply unbeatable proximity to the ocean is part of the draw of this lively restaurant in the heart of town: you just can't get any closer to the water without getting wet—and sometimes you do! It's popular to come here for sunset for drinks and appetizers such as the truffle Parmesan fries or the kalua pork arancini. Otherwise, stick with a burger or sandwich, as the mains can get pricey. Beloved local musicians Lopaka Roots and LT Smooth play nightly.
75-5770 Alii Dr., Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, 96704, USA
Known For
- Innovative appetizers such as fried garlic avocado
- Large portions
- Specialty craft cocktails
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Perched on the waterfront overlooking a scenic pond at Reeds Bay Beach Park, this restaurant has the look and vibe of an old-fashioned, harborside steak house and bar. The menu features a good range of burgers and salads, steak, and seafood. Every Thursday is lobster night, with 8-ounce lobster tails served a variety of ways. Live music happens most evenings.
135 Kalanianaole Ave., Hilo, Hawaii, 96720, USA
Known For
- Thursday lobster night
- Excellent fish-and-chips
- Popular Sunday brunch
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Tues. and Wed.
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Perched above a shopping center with a million-dollar panoramic view, this open-air "fast casual" restaurant offers customers the chance to enjoy cocktail service table side and then order entrées directly from the counter. The ahi wrap is the star of the show, and the macadamia nut–encrusted ono is a close second. Be sure to try the key lime pie with some Kona coffee. They also have a drive-up window where you can get takeout. The fast casual concept takes a little getting used to, but if you're in a hurry, it can be super convenient. Don't worry, though; you can sit at your table and leisurely enjoy the view and sunset. Happy hour runs daily from 2 to 6.
78-6831 Alii Dr., Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, 96740, USA
Known For
- Limited parking for such a popular place
- Fast-casual concept useful if you have limited time
- The best views in town
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.
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Creative sushi and contemporary Asian cuisine take center stage at this entertaining restaurant at Queens' MarketPlace, where you can make a meal out of appetizers and sushi rolls or feast on great entrées from both land and sea. Though it has tried-and-true mainstays, the menu is consistently updated to include options such as Hawaiian moi (a local fish) sashimi rolls and Japanese yellowtail nori aioli poke.
201 Waikoloa Beach Dr., Waikoloa, Hawaii, 96738, USA
Known For
- Sushi bar specials
- Panko-encrusted ahi sashimi roll
- Karaoke on the weekends
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch
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Everything is cooked to order at this low-key oceanfront restaurant with an excellent selection of Thai food at decent prices. The menu brims with choices, including five curries, a green-papaya salad, and deep-fried fish. A popular platter combining spring rolls, satay, beef salad, and tom yum (lemongrass soup) is great for sharing. You might even see a green flash at sunset as you sip a creamy piña colada while taking in the beautiful view of Kailua Bay. This best-kept secret might have one of the top five ocean views in town.
75-5799 Alii Dr., Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, 96740, USA
Known For
- Great views with both indoor and outdoor seating
- Appetizer platters for sharing
- Convenient to village shops
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Tues.
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The food is authentic and the prices are reasonable at this little Volcano Village find with Thai art and silk wall hangings in the pleasant dining room. A steaming-hot plate of curry is the perfect antidote to a chilly day at the volcano, and the chicken satay is excellent—the peanut dipping sauce a good blend of sweet and spicy. And speaking of spicy, "medium" is more than spicy enough, even for hard-core chili addicts. The service is warm and friendly.
19-4084 Old Volcano Rd., Volcano, Hawaii, 96785, USA
Known For
- Reliable Thai cuisine with plenty of spice
- Full bar
- Quick but friendly service
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Wed. and Thurs.
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In the heart of Historic Kailua Village, the open-air Hawaii location of the popular Monterey, California, restaurant offers an expansive menu for breakfast, lunch, and dinner in a vintage building with a bayfront view. Inventive fresh-fish specials as well as simple fish-and-chips are among the local favorites. The lunch menu is tantalizing, especially the seafood entrées. There's also a comprehensive wine list, plus a happy hour menu in the bar from 2 to 9:30.
75-5683 Alii Dr., Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, 96740, USA
Known For
- Award-winning clam chowder
- Good lunch menu
- Signature Volcano flaming cocktail
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This fine-dining restaurant overlooks the rim of Kilauea Caldera and the expansive Halemaumau Crater. Featuring two bars (one of which is adjacent to a lounge) and live entertainment nightly, the restaurant highlights island-inspired cuisine and locally sourced ingredients. Families will appreciate the keiki (children's) menu. Before dinner, you can sit in front of the fireplace in the lobby or peruse the gift store in search of volcano-themed souvenirs. The hot buttered rum recipe was created by a bartender at Volcano House in the 1950s. It's the perfect cocktail on a cool Volcano evening.
1 Crater Rim Dr., Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii, 96718, USA
Known For
- Views of Halemaumau Crater
- Hilo coffee–rubbed rack of lamb
- Well-priced Taste of Hawaii lunch special
