Seemor

Best Restaurants in Big Island

67 restaurants analyzed out of 322 identified · United States

The Big Island has two distinct dining centres in Hilo and Kailua-Kona. Hilo leans local and diverse with a strong Asian and Japanese influence alongside Hawaiian and American cooking, while Kailua-Kona has more of a resort orientation with Hawaiian and seafood leading. Both towns have solid food quality with the majority of analysed restaurants in the B-grade range. Prices are mostly moderate across the island.

Big Island has 67 analyzed restaurants. Top cuisines include Seafood, Hawaiian.

Grade Distribution

Top Restaurants in Big Island

• Paul's Place A · Brunch, American · Hilo — Exceptionally personal two-to-three-table brunch cafe with standout waffles, benedicts, and a unique crispy noodle...
• Moon and Turtle A · Hawaiian seafood, Seafood · Downtown Hilo — Intimate, creative Hawaiian seafood spot delivering standout small plates and a strong cocktail program; reservations...
• Hilo Bay Cafe A- · Contemporary Hawaiian, Seafood · Hilo — Destination bay-view spot with creative island-influenced cooking and sushi; excellent highs, but occasional service...
• Poke Market, LLC A- · Poke, Hawaiian · Hilo — Destination-quality poke with creative toppings and very fresh fish; mostly takeout with limited seating and portions...
• Vegan Shop A- · Vegan Vietnamese, Vietnamese · Hilo — A beloved vegan Vietnamese counter spot with bold flavors, generous portions, and standout pho and mock meats; arrive...
• Pho 99 A- · Vietnamese, Southeast Asian · Downtown Hilo — Cozy, family-run Vietnamese spot with standout pho, friendly hospitality, and fair prices; expect occasional irregular...
• Big Island Grill A- · Hawaiian comfort food, Hawaiian · Kailua-Kona — Casual Hawaiian comfort spot with generous plates, friendly fast service, and standout loco moco and desserts at fair...
• Kona Seafood Market A- · Seafood market, Seafood · Kailua-Kona — A small, friendly seafood market for very fresh local fish and custom-cut poke; selection can be limited later in the...
• Shaka Tacoz A- · Tacos, Mexican-inspired · Kailua-Kona — Destination-level tacos with standout Ono fish and signature sauces, but expect waits and a sweet-leaning flavor...
• Jackie Rey's Ohana Grill Hilo A- · Hawaiian-inspired seafood, Seafood · Downtown Hilo — Polished Hawaiian-inspired seafood and grills in a restored bank with strong happy hour and generally attentive...

Browse by Area

Explore restaurants by neighborhood and district

Hilo

130 restaurants · 7 top-rated · Known for Brunch
Hilo has the most genuinely local dining scene on the Big Island, with American, Asian, seafood, and Hawaiian cooking as the dominant categories and a strong Japanese presence. The food quality is...

Kailua-Kona

94 restaurants · 4 top-rated · Known for Seafood
Kailua-Kona has American, Hawaiian, and seafood restaurants at a consistently solid quality level, with about two-thirds of analysed spots in the B-grade range. Prices are mostly moderate, and the...

Tried and True

Outstanding food without the experimental edge

• Pho 99 A- · Vietnamese, Southeast Asian — Cozy, family-run Vietnamese spot with standout pho, friendly hospitality, and fair prices; expect occasional irregular...

Cuisine Strengths

• Seafood — 6 restaurants, 4 rated A- or higher
• Hawaiian — 13 restaurants, 3 rated A- or higher

Best Value

• Tetsumen B+ — Crowd-pleasing ramen shop with rich broths, big portions, and mobile ordering; expect waits at peak...
• Mohala’s Bayfront Fish and Chips B+ — Crispy, crowd-pleasing fried seafood with standout sauces and frequent slow service; great for...

Find Your Next Meal in Big Island

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