LOVE LOVE LOVE Bamboo Restaurant. We make a point of bringing visitors here as well as making the drive from Waikoloa for Sunday brunch, so at least 6-8 times a year. Joan hasn't been there our last two times but Jack is just as delightful. Food is always good, good cocktails and I always get emotional watching the Kapuna hula. read more

We found this place while driving back to Kona after hiking at Pololu and parked on the street nearby. We were able to be seated right away. The vibe is very beachy/hawaii tourist themed. It's a cute little place, used to be a hotel. The Kalua pork was pretty good, but simple and a little expensive for what it was. The fish sandwich was not bad, but the fish could use more flavor. It was cooked well though! Service was good and overall was not a bad experience, but nothing particularly stood out for the prices. read more

Bamboo Restaurant - Grilled Fresh Fish Sandwich - Hawaiian Near Me - Hawi, Hawaii

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One of our favorites on the Big island. We've been a number of times, so I'm not going to speak of a specific meal. Just what we like. The Peanut Satay Potstickers are one of the best things we've ever eaten, and original. Doesn't taste like anything else. Amazing! The fish coconut curry style is so good too. Not spicy, just flavorful. Ive had Ono and Mahi Mahi, both were great. My wife loves the ribeye. The demi glaze with it is perfect. We normally split a house salad- as good as any on the island. Covid really hurt this place, but last time we were there they seemed to have recovered. Its a really cool resteraunt with unique food and art. A treasure on the big island. If you're staying in Waikoloa, this is well worth the drive. read more

We were welcomed warmly and seated quickly. Server was very nice. Drinks were great. Kahula pork and cabbage was wonderful. Seared ahi salad was great. Again, thaw staff was attentive and friendly. read more

Bamboo Restaurant - Mai Tai - Hawaiian Near Me - Hawi, Hawaii

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Fresh catch was among the best I've ever had! There are numerous employees, & all are very laid back and friendly. The atmosphere is very old. Cool old though! Like, the kitchen has been in service and unchanged since 1911 old! We loved it here, & certainly recommend! read more

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What a gem in the lovely, artsy town of Hawi! We were taking a Shaka Guide audio tour through the north Kohala Coast and stopped at this restaurant per the recommendation (and Yelp reviews). There were musicians playing lively music at the coffee shop across the street, adding to the magical feeling on the town. This restaurant used to be a hotel. Now, it houses a restaurant, a gift shop and a gallery. It's only open for lunch on certain days, so make sure to check. The ambiance I would describe as Hawaiian saloon? I'm sure someone else could describe it better. Macy or Maisie was our server. She was knowledgeable and friendly, steering us toward the more popular choices per our request. I had the lili-tini which was a vodka or gin martini with a splash of lilikoi--delicious! Others had the piña colada (though it was called something else). It was the old fashioned version and tasted like there was no artificial flavoring or sweetener. So good! I got the Thai stirfry with the soba noodles and shrimp. It was delicious! Cooked perfectly and had local veggies--cabbage, carrots. Servings were reasonably sized. I highly recommend visiting this spot and town! read more

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The laid-back atmosphere, delicious food, and amazing staff are reasons why Bamboo Restaurant is a fantastic choice. Our hotel concierge recommended it, and we quickly understood why it's so popular. The staff was friendly and had a wonderful sense of humor. We were the first guests seated, giving us the chance to enjoy the decor. They serve lunch from Tuesday to Sunday, 11:30 AM to around 2:00 PM "ish". Yes, there is a sign posted on the door that quoted the end time "ish". We kicked off our meal with drinks. I tried a Lili Mojito and was pleasantly surprised by the lilikoi flavor. It was incredibly refreshing and unique. For appetizers, we ordered calamari strips and a kohala chicken quesadilla. The calamari was tender and hot from the fryer, while the quesadilla came with a tasty pineapple salsa and was still steaming. For my main dish, I had the herb grilled fresh fish featuring their catch of the day, which was ahi tuna. It was cooked to a perfect medium rare and absolutely delicious. The meal was served with two scoops of rice, organic greens, and fresh vegetables. The portions were generous and could easily serve two people. I wanted to save room for dessert, and I was glad to find out they offer small bites of their desserts for just $1.99 each. I also ordered a mai tai, which was both refreshing and potent. I chose the dark chocolate mousse torte and mocha cappuccino cheesecake for dessert. These were small sweet bites and excellent way to end the meal. My friend opted for three vodka shots, which were great, though I still don't know the exact mix since it was a surprise. I'll definitely return to this place when I'm back in Kona. With fresh local fish, delicious drinks, and a welcoming staff, it's a restaurant worth visiting! read more

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Food was great, the waitress was great, and the history and story behind the building and area is awesome. We also bought some artwork from the shop for our new home in Waikoloa! Definitely go! read more

Bamboo Restaurant - View from table, just showing the additional shopping space. - Hawaiian Near Me - Hawi, Hawaii

We stopped in after a drive to Pololu Lookout and had a great meal! They were offering BBQ ribs as a special, which were delicious! The Hawaiian coleslaw was very tasty as well. The best for last was the lilikoi cheesecake - so very ono! We left wishing we had the whole pie! Would definitely eat there again. read more

Cute old historic building with lots of fun stuff in the gift shop. Very crowded during winter tourist season. Kohala salad with tofu was ridiculously small, served essentially on a teacup plate. About one half cup of unremarkable mixed greens, 4 small cubes of tofu, one tomato wedge, three taro chips and an orange slice that belonged as a cocktail garnish. $20, really? Waitress started out and remained snarky. Try another place. read more

Every time I visit The Bamboo Restaurant in Hawi, it's like stepping back into "Old Hawai'i." The building, originally constructed in the 1920s as a grocery store, is filled with nostalgic photos of the Big Island, creating a truly authentic atmosphere. From the moment I arrived, Hi'i Poi, the hostess, greeted me warmly and even remembered me from my visit last year! Service here is incredible -- Chasity was my server, and Alexis behind the bar makes an unforgettable Mai Tai (worth the drive on its own!). The kitchen team, Allen and Ola, turned out an incredible lunch: the catch of the day and the teriyaki chicken stir-fry -- both fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. The Bamboo Restaurant is an absolute gem. Whether you're coming from Kona or anywhere else on the island, it's well worth the drive. Five stars for the food, and ten stars for the people who make it all happen. This will definitely be my go-to spot before I head to the airport! read more

Overpriced food with bad portions. Waited for a long time when we ordered only 3 dishes. They said 6 spring rolls but turns out it's three spring rolls cut up into six pieces. And the teriyaki sauce was way too sweet. Overall, seems like the chef was trying to be experimental and didn't turn out well. Restaurant decor is very nice though, has an 80s feel. read more

NICE PLACE TO DINE IN HAWI ========================= My sister and I drove all the way up to the Pololu Valley Lookout one day, but the parking situation was awful. We originally wanted to hike, but decided to head back to the northernmost part of the Big Island and have lunch in Hawi. My sister has dined at Bamboo many times so we went there for lunch. The food and service are very good. If you are near Hawi check this place out. The food, drinks, and service were all good. The building is historic. Read the information on my photo called The Bamboo Story. read more

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"Stir Fry" - Migos. I told my son we must skip Maunakea Visitor's Center driving from Hilo to Hawi because I wanted to eat at The Bamboo Restaurant before it closed. It got a LOT of great ratings and some kind of award. I loved the pictures of the interior and wanted to see the little gift shop too. Last time I was in Hawi town was about 20 years ago and it felt magical back then. We found parking in a dirt lot off the side of the road and walked over to The Bamboo. I was pretty excited. The restaurant itself was like a little magic oasis, with cool tropical decor of day's past. The service was super friendly and attentive (5-stars). The food was very disappointing. Maybe we came on an off-day. BANANA SMOOTHIE (5-stars): $9.00 By far the best we've tasted. Fresh fruit instead of fruit-flavored syrup. Nice generous tall glass. My son said this is the best, ever. CALAMARI STRIPS (4-stars): $17.00 Nice pieces of calamari, lightly breaded, with two different sauces. The price on the menu I believe was $15.95 but when the server asked me if I wanted two sauces, I said yes. I didn't know I was going to get charged for extra sauce, but that was OK because both sauces were delicious. THAI COCONUT STIR FRY (2-stars): $19.50 Tofu Thai coconut stir fry supposed to come with "sticky rice". It was just plain white rice that was a little crusty on the outside, like the rice dried up, or old. The stir fry lacked flavor except for the sweetness, it was very sweet, which I found odd. There was no savory taste; it just tasted like coconut milk with sugar. The last time I added white table salt to my food was years ago, at Tuk Tuk Thai Food Truck's pad thai because it had no flavor. Same here. The veggies were mostly Bok Choy Chinese cabbage and some carrots. I was expecting a variety of different vegetables. On the plus side, the tofu chunks were pretty nice-sized. CHEDDAR BURGER (2-stars): $19.50 Fries were soggy with the flavor of old grease, luckily it was a small portion. The beef tasted "old and microwaved" according to my son. The coleslaw was VERY sweet. There was no salt in it. My son likes sweet things and he did not eat it after tasting it. I tried it too, he wasn't kidding. I'm used to coleslaw with some mayo, salt, vinegar and a touch of sugar, not 100% sugar mixed with mayo. Overall super disappointed with the food but loved the ambience, the atmosphere and the service. Total bill: $83.70 including tip, tax and the $2.68 fee for using a credit card instead of paying cash. read more

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We happened upon this little gem by accident. Walking in, we just loved the old Hawaii ambience and charm of the place. It was built around 1911-1915 and the floors are the original from 1926. The restaurant has a great menu and we loved our drinks (mine came in a half coconut shell). On the back of the menu is a very interesting story of the building's history. The food available is a very interesting mix of Thai and island cuisine which we enjoyed. The staff (despite being short handed) were extremely friendly and helpful. We will absolutely come back to Bamboo when we return to the town of Hawi. read more

another wonderful restaurant beautiful little town, nice old building. The restaurant is in again with this one. I felt the portions were a little small or the price was a little high for what you get but the food was excellent again. I would highly recommend this just be aware it's gonna cost you a little bit more than the average burger restaurant but they did have the best calamari strips so far I've had on the island. read more

We've been going here for last 30 yrs.Now we live on Island.Took our friends from mainland to Sunday brunch. They let us know they're short staff yet we didn't wait long for our Lilikoi Mimosa's & Bloddy Mary's. We had the Ono plate, Boozy omlete w/shrump, Pulled pork & cabbage, Bamboo eggs. Our friends are foodys & gr8 chefs themselves. All orders were gr8. We'd all order the same & go back in heartbeat. Also we're entertained by 3 huladancers, well done Hope they keep this restaurant alive. Now they're to have live music we'll be coming back again Joan! Mahalo Jessica,Chasitity, Macy, & Jack for pulling together to make it a great brunch. read more

This is one of my favorite restaurants in Hawaii. The culture in this restaurant is like none other. All the employees are so helpful and happy. Even the owner (Joanie) came by our table to say hi and ask how our food was which was amazing and they also have the best Mai Tai !!! Bamboo is a locally owned restaurant with the freshest food and great employees. They seem like a big happy family and no they are not related...I asked. It's a very charming place. Unfortunately I only get there once a year but I never miss it when I visit. read more

The fish sandwich was fantastic! Everyone finished their plates, and the service was excellent.

Laid back Asian/Hawaiian restaurant. Perfect for local offerings. Grilled ahi was perfection.

Came here on a Friday at 6 pm with a reservation for two. The interior gives a nice vibe. Here is what we ordered. Lilikoi Smoothie - This was absolutely delicious and would recommend. It's sweet but not too sweet and just is very soothing. (5/5) Hawaii Thai Coconut Shrimp - This was the best thing we got here. Shrimp was super fresh and it came with an flavorful curry sauce. Portions are small though it comes with four shrimps only. (5/5) Kohala Meatloaf - Pretty solid dish especially since I love meatloaf. Texture is a bit soft and melty yet still packed with flavor. The sour cream mash potato definitely hit the spot. (4.5/5) Kalua Pork and Cabbage - I would say this was a pretty flavorful dish too. Some parts of the pork was a bit dry for me but the overall flavor was outstanding. (4/5) Overall a nice place since there isn't too much in the area. Hours are a bit weird and it's definitely a bit pricey for what you get. Paying with credit card has an extra charge of 4% which can really add up. For the three food items and one drink I got the total was $93 before tip which ain't cheap. Service is top notch though, waitresses were constantly refilling water and checking up. Great experience! read more

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Took a Sunday drive up to Hawi just to have Sunday brunch at Bamboo! Always feel like I stepped back in time to old Hawaii when I walk through those doors. Pulled pork and ono fish are our favorites. Drinks are great too. They also have a lovely gallery with many local things. They also carry the 100 year rattan purses! read more

We came here for the pot stickers. Had them over 8 years ago and could not wait to enjoy again. Very delicious and worth the drive to this cute little town. Pina Coladas are tasty with the magical ingredient - ice cream! read more

We come here every time we visit the big island and even after covid the food is still so tasty. They've had to revamp their menus because of sourcing problems but still good choices Like every place else they are suffering from staffing shortages but the staff is so friendly. They now have to charge for using a credit card so if you can pay cash you save 4% I had the grilled fresh fish sandwich. It came with pineapple salsa and either rice or fries. So yummy. Hi as has their version of a Cuban sandwich and he smiled when He bit into it. It also came with rice or fries. Both had passion fruit ice tea but they have lots of special cocktails read more

Bamboo Restaurant - Very local and very good - Hawaiian Near Me - Hawi, Hawaii

Great restaurant in a small town. We went exploring on the big island and found this great place. Their hours are different, so double check before you go, but everyone on the staff were amazing. Drinks were great and we only got appetizers for a small lunch. Those were perfect for what we needed. The coconut shrimp was the best we had on the island and we compared every other one to this place. read more

Excellent food, good service and creative cocktails. We come here every time we visit the Big Island, probably 4 times separated by years. It's always good. Unusual decor reflects it's origins on the early 1900's. Our daughter loved her vegetarian selection, my wife and I had Ono prepared with coconut cruse or lemon caper sauce. Son-in-law had Bamboo burger. read more

Outstanding food, very friendly service and a very charming window into old Hawaii. What a relaxing and wonderful meal. I would highly recommend it over any other dining experience we had in Hawaii. read more

We just had a wonderful lunch at Bamboo Restaurant. The service and ambience are top notch, offering a true island experience. We enjoyed both the pina kohala and the old fashioned mai tai which were delicious. Possibly the best pina colada I've had! But the real star was the Ono. A tender and delicious fish, cooked to perfection with a creamy coconut sauce and adorned with fresh vegetables. It was absolutely delicious. We won't be returning to the big island of Hawaii without a visit to this delicious oasis. Mahalo, Bamboo Restaurant! read more

Lovely spot to eat in the northern part of the island. The food is fusion-type with a lot of really good choices. The staff/owner are really nice and attentive. There's also a gallery by the front and upstairs, with lots of local art on display. read more

Bamboo Restaurant - Hawaiian Near Me - Hawi, Hawaii

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We had freshly caught Ahi Tuna. It was cooked medium rare and was amazing. I don't write many reviews, but this is a place I am happy to suggest to others. read more

The food is local cuisine, I had a coconut milk stir fry with ahi tuna and my husband had a pulled pork sandwich and a French press cup of coffee. Everything was delicious! The service is excellent. It's a fun place to visit, and I love the unique decor. We've been coming here for years, and I highly recommend it! read more

When visiting Hawi, there is not many options to choose from. But I was not distraught by this!! Bamboo was such a cute and fun place to have lunch. It's decorated well and has plenty of seating for large and small groups. It is all street parking, but we didn't have a problem finding a spot. Our servers were extremely nice and attentive to our needs. The food came out fairly fast and it was presented well. The taste of our dishes was SO good! I had the potstickers with pineapple salsa and sticky rice. It was such a unique flavor! read more

Bamboo Restaurant - Chicken Sate Pot Stickers - Hawaiian Near Me - Hawi, Hawaii

It does not get more local than this wonderful restaurant. The staff are wonderful. Food is delicious and the atmosphere is really local Hawaii. read more

I've been coming to the Bamboo Restaurant for twenty years. they have the best Thai chicken satay potstickers in the world! Really! and the staff are so friendly. This has to be one of the best places to dine on the Big Island. read more

Bamboo Restaurant - Hawaiian Near Me - Hawi, Hawaii

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The staff were so so friendly and welcoming. They were personable and made the time to have conversations with us. The food was absolutely amazing as well. I'm usually kind of picky when it comes to eating out, and I rarely finish my food, but I cleared my plate. It was so pretty inside the restaurant as well. Really a wonderful experience that I'll remember for many years. read more

What an absolute flavor extravaganza the melding of Hawaiian influences with the Vietnamese bánh mì sandwich is absolutely amazing! I ordered my mommy sandwich with the fish of the day which happened to be all. He had an absolutely perfect choice. Instead of pickled daikon and carrots and jalapeños, they serve it with a Hawaiian coleslaw, and then a aïoli sauce that has it Hawaiian flavor. The Hawaiian sandwich sliced bread isn't quite as beautiful as typical Vietnamese-French roll, but wow, so tasty the flavors mailed so well! My only complaint is the pitiful amount of french fries that accompanied. My lunch date ordered the stirfry with the teriyaki sauce. She selected chicken has her protein and soba noodles. There's also other choices of sticky rice or regular rice. She absolutely loved the soba noodles which were cooked perfectly, and the flavoring was absolutely perfect as well. We arrived a few minutes before 11am but they didn't open until 11:30am, so we walked around and visited some artsy stores on the road and returned at 11:20am to find a long line of people waiting. This is a very popular place. Luckily it's huge on the inside few minutes before 1130. We were all seated without any issue and instantly had our orders taken . Service was delightfully fast and sweet. This place has a very quirky fun atmosphere. Absolutely love this place will always be returning when I'm on the island. read more

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We almost didn't eat here; do not let the outside deter you. One of the best meals I've had on this island. The burger, made of local Kona beef, is perfection. Splurge for the Swiss cheese and crispy bacon add-on. Worth a drive to Kohala for this. The fish burger gave the beef burger a run for its money though. It was ahi, and we asked for it rare, and they nailed the cook - a rarity. The barest of sears, and served with an awesome homemade tartar and pineapple salsa. Fries were also good. Give the kids chicken nuggets a miss - pretty bad, even with a chicken nugget low bar. The Lilikoi martini wasn't flavorful enough for me. The kids got the slushies (virgin daiquiris basically) and those were way better. Desserts can be sampled at $2 apiece. Service was friendly and attentive. They had a small hula performance when we were there. And there's a cute gallery and shop too. Great find! read more

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Came here last month with friends for lunch and we really enjoyed this spot! The staff was super friendly and the food was amazing! I also loved that there's a cute shop at the front of the store with trinkets, art pieces, etc. What I ordered: - Fresh catch of the day - Calamari strips - Margarita Definitely stop by and eat! read more

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no prices on menu online. no message on menu in store that 5 people dine in is automatic gratuity. 4% on top of that for credit card use. bland food too update: looks like she replied lol well y'all see for yourself on how the owner responds and what kinda place it is, when we just asked menu questions second update:please explain why you are giving us such a label. we just asked price differences for substitutions, and things like no cheese/making things well done. nothing really that crazy read more

Stoped in here for lunch after hiking Polulu! Super good food. Yummy cocktails greats ambiance and the staff were all so nice. Make sure to come here when you are in Hawi read more