42-1027 Hawaii Belt Road Paauilo, Big Island Hawaii…read more Legit. I know now what a delicious tamale tastes like. Thank you Reinaldo for opening my eyes and taste buds to the best tamales in Hawaii. Masa from a bag but not dry or hard. The tamales here are flavor FULL with very tasty fillings of beef, cheese and green chile, chicken and pork. At $5 each they are expensive compared to what you can find in LA. But hey! We live in the middle of the ocean and it's cheaper than a plane ride. Reinaldo honed his skills while working at the Frontera Grill in Chicago. Not in the kitchen as he will humbly tell you, but as a server...Still, he picked up the needed knowledge to really turn out truly delicious offerings. Cash only! So I ended up driving 9 miles to the nearest ATM and back to buy more tamales to take home to Oahu. Looking forward to my next meal here and a little storytelling about Reinaldo's world travels. Park out front next to the sign that says tamales!

My family and I stopped by this spot due to the excellent reviews we saw on Yelp. Let me tell you…read morethat the 5 star reviews are all legit. The food in this place is by far the best Mexican food we ever had. We had the guacamole along with a steak burrito and some tacos. We were full till the next day as the portions were very generous for the price. Don't be fooled by the location or the look of the place, the food is excellent and the service from the owner was amazing. Everything we ordered tasted fresh and healthy. This restaurant is definitely a must try. A+ for the service and A+ for the excellent food

Worth the drive over to Waimea! Follow the cloud of smoke past the main part of town. Huge BBQ pits…read moreset up with chicken pork and beef bbq cooking. We shared the 3 meat plate and still had leftovers. It looked and smelled so good we grabbed a blanket and ate on the grassy area next to the parking lot. The chicken was super juicy, pork bbq wasn't too fatty, beef rib was huge and meaty. We loved everything dipped in the chili water sauce! Also got the pancit and a couple packs of suman (rice cakes wrapped in banana leaves) They reminded us of the suman in the Philippines - so yummy! Service was friendly and efficient. Super busy with cars coming in and out of the parking area next to the pits and ordering tent.

This place was busy so we decided to give it a try. On the plus side, the chicken was a generous…read moreportion, between the two of us we couldn't eat an entire half chicken. The sauce was tasty, though didn't have any of the pineapple flavor that some Huli Huli chicken has and overall the meat was a bit bland. If you just get a half chicken, they put it in a plastic bag so very hard to eat, especially since it is piping hot. Hot food in a plastic bag is also not a good idea as the plasticizers can leach into the food and none of us need more microplastics in our food! If you can plan ahead, bring your own plate and a knife and fork instead. You will also need to take it somewhere to eat if you want to site down, or like we and many others did, eat it off of your tailgate or hood of your car.

WOW! The last thing I ever expected, was great Tex-Mex in the strip shopping center, a mile from…read morethe Kona (Hawaii) airport! They had a really great menu... pictures which I have included. I got the Chili Relleno and a chicken enchilada combination meal. It was exceptionally good! The Relleno was full of cheese! Some of the best refried beans I've ever had came with it. And, excellent hot sauce! Service was very friendly and helpful. I would highly recommend this place to anyone who is in this area. I definitely be back!

Very welcome and friendly customer service. The ambiance of the restaurant is upbeat and vibrant…read more I ordered a soursop juice, a great healthy drink to bring in some positive and uplifting energy! I ordered the carne asada burrito (flavorful, juicy, and steak was cooked to perfection! I also ordered a baja fish & baja shrimp taco! Both of these were chef's kiss! The baja fish was nice and crispy, and the slaw added a special touch. The baja shrimp was zesty and yummy! I enjoyed the salsas, my favorite was the HOT salsa!!! Cheers!

Great food, great selection,. Great service! We are lucky to have them in our community.read more

Amazing empanadas and sauces. Three delicious vegan options to choose from. Highly recommend.read more

Let's just start by taking them first recognizing us by name when we arrived for our reservation…read more The staff, from the valet parking young men to our hostess and beyond, were as polite as we wish to be hosted. Our server, Indana is a lovely young lady. Kind, polite, helpful, and knowledgeable of her treats and establishment food menu as well as beverage. She suggested wine from Croatia that was delicious. The food was delicious, we ordered grilled octopus for appetizer , a local beet and tomatoes salad and a paella with shrimp and clams. Everything was delicious, but.... The smoked paprika added and the caramelized rice gave to the paella a whole new take on the traditional one. Thank you Chef Soto for your creation and for taking the time to talk with us. Wonderful experience!

Rome Meets the Pacific: A Revelation at Meridia…read more There is a specific kind of bravery required to order Carbonara on a tropical island, especially when you are dining with your mother-in-law and your palate is still vibrating from a trip to Italy just a month ago. We had recently dined at a prestigious "Tre Gamberi" trattoria in Rome, so our skepticism was high. We expected a heavy, cream-laden resort interpretation. We were wrong. Under the guidance of Chef Soto, the Carbonara here is not just an imitation; it is an act of alchemy. It is a Roman-meets-Norcia masterpiece--a glossy, golden emulsion of egg, cheese, and guanciale/pancetta, elevated by the earthy whisper of truffle. We were seated at a gorgeous table near the cove often frequented by sea turtles (tartarughe), making this a perfect moment of enjoying a tartufata near the tartarughe. It was, without hyperbole, as good as what we had in Italy. The rest of the meal followed suit in a dizzying display of technique. The Japanese scallops were silken and precise, tasting of the clean, cold ocean. And do not let the whimsical name of the "Poi-cotta" deter you. What sounds like a kitschy pun is actually a dessert of haunting texture and depth--far more compelling and sophisticated than its charming title suggests. Chef Soto visited our table after the meal, his passion for these ingredients palpable. Meridia has always had the view; now, finally, it has the soul to match.

Been craving something different and was introduced to some ono empanadas. Found this place also…read morethrough Instagram (suggested by a friend) to try. Located at the intersection of Kawili and Puainako is a pop up tent "Colombian Empanadas", 5 flavors: Beef, Chicken and Rice, Adobo, Kalua pig, and cheese and potato and they are all good the sauce is really good too. $2.00 each empanadas and she fries them on the spot or you can take them frozen. I like the Beef the best though they are all awesomely good.

Disgusting. Found a cocroach in my food. Then found out how dirty and filthy this person is!!!…read moreDon't go there. She doesn't use gloves to cook and prepare food!!!

Fun fact this is not the Wailuku on Maui, this brewery is named after the Wailuku River…read more Had a wonderful time chatting with the owner on a Sunday afternoon. Their standards are good and they also have a barrel program which has some room for improvement, but is coming along. Where else can you find a barleywine in Hawaii. They also make their own ginger beer and their Dark and Stormy was delicious. My favorite beers were the barleywine and the tripel. I tasted 8 total. The tasting room is well appointed. I appreciate a comfy bar stool. The bathroom was nice and clean. They also have food trucks or food daily. This day they had Uncle Bob's smoked ribs, with truffle mac and cheese, and a cornbread muffin. Probably the best ribs I have ever had. They were seasoned so well I didn't even need sauce. Next time you are in the area, do yourself a favor and stop in. They also have a crowler machine for to go.

Decided to give this place a go on Super Bowl Sunday despite that we don't watch football and hate…read morecrowds It was AWESOME! The table spacing and soundproofing on the walls allowed for a pleasant environment and the beer was great. We tried almost all of them via 2 flights and were very pleased. The poke and pretzels were stupid good and there's a wing guy out back that brings your order in when it's ready. Very clean and functional given the limited size but they had a lounge open upstairs for overflow. The staff was so lovely and very warm, making a little time for each table so it felt more like a social occasion rather than a transactional one. Definitely looking forward to going back!

What a lovely experience. All decorated for Christmas, with all of the windows, the setting…read morecouldn't be more perfect. Our server Anna was amazing. She was so nice and helpful and was just an added bonus to the evening. We came in to celebrate my birthday a week early and she made the night so special. The food was delicious. We are suckers for pre fixe menus, and theirs didn't disappoint. Started with lumpia, then the most delicious potato crushed fish and tender short ribs. Ending with the most perfectly cooked chocolate lava cake that I was tempted to dig into while it was way too hot! The meal couldn't have been any better. From top to bottom Anna made sure we were taken care of, that our drinks were never empty and that the timing of each course was on point. Highly recommend!

I'm gonna start with how the service here is so good so much aloha…read more Food: Was ok, it wasn't bad but nothing crazy? I was hoping for a "Wow" since they're pretty pricey but the place I've been to has been better tbh. What a beautiful view and set up it felt expensive and good for an anniversary or romantic occasion.

Stopped by this place because it's one of the only shaved ice places opening a Tuesday. I got the…read morematcha blueberry shaved ice with sweet milk. And when I tell you it's one of the BEST shaved ice I have had...it truly was! The staff were friendly and fast at bringing it out. You get to eat at a really nice view point as well. I enjoyed watching the chickens and friendly cat in the area as well. I only got one, but I hope I can make it out again to try other flavors before my vacation ends!

Certified broke da mouth! Auntie that run this food truck…read moreshowed all the aloha and let me do a half/half combo plate bc I couldn't decide between the tempura and ahi katsu plate. Tempura was so crisp and ono. Ahi was so fresh and good, the way only Hawaii can do it. I was a dummy and also forgot to get a drink before getting charged for my meal (I believe the minimum for a card is $5?) and auntie said no worries, on the house. 5/5 all around, highly recommend.

I give Randy's a five because the service is exceptional always a smile and a big aloha. The food…read moreis Ono delicious. Now realize it is not a brick and mortar eatery it is more like a food truck feel. They do have plenty of parking and outdoor picnic style tables. I love it but I don't eat there I only take away. Usually order a plate lunch and take home a whole chicken. Don't know where he gets his chickens but they are the biggest I have never seen lol. The chicken is so large that I use one half for a Randy's Huli Huli Chili. Yummy. The other half I freeze to use later for maybe an enchilada dish or just re heat and serve with rice. Highly recommend for locals (realizing all locals know about Randy's) and certainly worth the while for visitors.

The best bbq spot!! Big fan of their pork in gravy, and chicken!! But get the combo and try them…read moreall. Their Mac salad is amazing too. Can't wait to try the macaroni and cheese with some brisket next time. Everything looks and smell so good. Their bbq sauce I could drink! It is so tasty and not spicy. So delish! Definitely stop if you're driving by.