Top 5 Best Places to Eat (and drink) on the Big Island

These are our, personal top picks for flavorful, fun island food – Big Island

This is a mix of different caliber restaurants, based on our last Hawaii trip. We ranked on the following criteria:

• Food/Wine
• Ambiance
• Service
• View
• Price

Of the places we visited, these were favorites of ours (in order) that we would 100% visit again, given the chance. 

1. Browns Beach House – SO stinking, stonking romantic! Gah! This was the top of our list getting some triple 10’s in food, ambiance and view. Go here for a sunset dinner, as the remarkable view gets better and better every, single, second. And, if it is a clear enough day, you will get a glimpse of the island of Maui. There is live local music to really wrap the Hawaiian culture around you, and the food and wine were absolutely incredible! For this magnificent dinner, expect to pay a premium price, even if, like me, you order an appetizer as a meal (I knew I wouldn’t eat it all). Soooo romantic, so Hawaii, and so worth it!  And don’t be in a rush! It doesn’t work that way here.

2. Hawaiian Style Cafe – There are two on the island, so you should be able to make it to one! We hit up the Waimea location on the way from Waikoloa headed to Akaka Falls. And with yummy food and prices like this, if you are like us, you are going to try to jam a second (or third) visit to eat here more than once. We came for breakfast and FELL IN LOVE!!!

You must, you must, you MUST try the Loco Moco! And, if there is at least one other person at your table (portions are frigging HUGE ya’ll!) order ONE Haupia pancake. Holy hell, this food is so damn good, and so damn reasonable! 

3. Lava Lava Beach Club – A feisty, colorful, tasty, fun, beachy-kinda-vibe restaurant, which is EXACTLY what you thought it would be, and maybe better! Food is local, fresh and delish, it is on a hot, happening beach (Kua Bay), and just as expensive as you would think a place like this would be. Recommend a if you have purchased a catamaran or  snorkel cruise in/out of Kua Bay – because it is legit RIGHT THERE!

TWO WAY TIE

Cafe Pesto Hilo – When you are spending the day in and around Hilo, make sure you check out this local gem! Some in our party ate here multiple times. The items on the menu seem much more upscale than the price, and everything that we had here was amazing. 

4. Tex Drive In – We happened upon this place by sheer, happy accident. Just fyi, if you are wanting to visit the town of Honokaa after you have done some morning hiking and have worked up an appetite – well….this is going to just about be your only option! Food is cheap, local and fantastic! You know you have hit the jackpot, when everyone sitting around you is local. Try the malasadas!

4. The Rim / Volcano National Park – You cannot beat this super-cool, one-of-a-kind view overlooking the caldera. Friggin amazing! Food is average, this place wound up in number 5 on the list because of the flies! People were entering and exiting to take pictures and there were a lot of flies. 🙁

We loved, loved, LOVED the food on the Big Island! Even the grocery store foods have really good to grab and go! We never ate ANYTHING that we hated. Fish, vegetables and fruits are fresh and fantastic. These just happen to be our faves.

Did we miss any? What are your fave places to eat on the Big Island?