If you're driving on Highway 19 and passing by Paauilo, stop by Earl's Paauilo Store for a snack! This was seriously the best stop we made on our way from Waikoloa to Hilo. Ok so the store looks a little beat and a bit sketchy from the outside, but inside they offer some of the best tasting sushi rolls around. We picked up some rolls for the car ride to Hilo, and we killed them all in just a couple minutes. They have pretty good variety of sushi, ranging from spam musubi to "bento" rolls. My favorite was the Korean chicken bento roll... which had flavorful chicken, spam, kamoboko (fish cake), and furikake (Japanese rice seasoning)... just like a bento all wrapped into a sushi roll. How genius is that?! Why don't all sushi bars make sushi like this?? The teriyaki beef roll is also really good. And the best part is you can grab one of these delicious rolls for under $5.00! A roll like that at any Japanese restaurant would cost you over $10 for sure. Besides the amazing sushi, you can grab other random items from the store. There's not a whole lot you can get, but there are random things to buy ranging from drinks and Hawaiian specialty food items, to cleaning supplies, and even hoy hoy roach traps. Definitely stop by if you're passing through town! read more

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Get the bento rolls! They're the perfect snack on you drive up the Hamakua coast. There is a variety of fillings but all contain kamaboko, egg, and spam. This trip we got the smoke meat and orange chicken. Both were really good but I was particular to the smoke meat. Both rolls had generous fillings. The store is located next to the post office. If your heading out of Hilo towards Waimea it will be on your left hand side. read more

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I swear we must have stopped for a dozen snacks on our way from Hilo to Kona....but as my honey insisted, Paauilo's was a definite must for their maki rolls. There aren't too many places to grab food on the highway and when we finally pulled up to the Paauilo Store, I was a bit hesitant. From the outside, it looks like an old mini market....a bit run down. But my foodie instincts perked up because these are the places that have the tastiest goodies that only locals know about :) On a rack next to the register (look closely because you might just miss it even if you're in the store!) lay half a dozen different kind of maki sushis and musubis. Spam, Korean Chicken, Smoked Tuna...all kinds!! Having just picked up a few rolls earlier that morning at KTA, we just grabbed a package of the Korean Chicken. Once in the car, I popped one into the bf's mouth and took one for myself.......Hmmm, wait a minute....this doesn't taste like chicken? Aww nuts! We grabbed the smoke tuna by accident! Still VERY tasty but a little confusing when we were expecting the chicken! Our bad!!! Loved it though..........Paauilo is such a hidden gem and a MUST STOP if you're driving through. Keep a close eye out or prepare to ask a local because it's easy to miss! read more

Great little store offering delicious food, snacks and bentos for your road trip to the other side of the island! I had the Chicken Katsu sushi bento and this was probably one of my best eats this trip! I will definitely be back the next time I visit lovely Big Island! read more

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Lets put it this way: the bento's here are so good, that they have a "bento truck" that drives hours away to the Kona-side of the island to provide a lunch for all the workers at all the big hotel and county construction sites. You best believe that despite the "union-designated" times for lunch, your break begins as soon as the Earl's truck pulls up. read more

If you are in Hilo, you need to make the trek here. If you are in Kona, you need to make the trek here. If you are going from Hilo to Kona or vice versa, you absolutely need to make a stop here! Earl's is truly a hidden gem that you would quickly bypass. I know I would. This country store off the highway between Waimea and Hilo is a place I'd stop at if I really needed a soda. That being said, my friends brought me all the way out here and boy...I have to say. They have some of the best sushi I have ever had. Now, before I go into the details of the sushi. It isn't fancy shmancy, nor is it going to wow you at first glance. It is however a bento in a roll and truly has me sold. Our group was hungry....so we bought a lot of sushi. We ended up getting a couple rolls a piece of the Korean Chicken, Chicken Katsu, Smoked Pork, and Teri Beef. Each are about $4 or $5 if I remember right and have about 6 or so pieces in each roll. The Korean Chicken was good with the chicken basted in a shoyu/garlic sauce which like I said was good, but didn't wow. The Chicken Katsu was like eating a chicken katsu plate, with the chicken, sauce, and rice. It was bites of heaven in my mouth. The smoked pork was true in Hilo fashion with the smoked flavor of the pork permeating through the rice and made it a true pupu delight! The Teri beef roll was alright with teri beef meat seasoned well and with a decent flavor profile. The store sells other wares and food, but go there for the sushi. There is plenty of parking out front and I've heard you have to go fairly early so that you can get some. I went around 12 and they still had quite a bit! One thing to note, they are cash only! No seriously. If you are on the Big Island, stop by here. You will not regret it. read more

I come here a few times a week with my regular post office run. It's worth visiting, grabbing a musubi or other kine thing. They're friendly, always open when they say they'll be, and it's a good deal to pick something up at. read more

Paauilo Store Bento Rolls are Legendary on this side of the Island. Seems like everyone knows this place. Any of the rolls are fantastic and perfect portable pupu's for your Drive to the "Big City" for Whatevas. I moved to Paauilo recently and Snag one whenever I am in a rush. You'll see all the Locals here, as it is right next to the Post Office. If you are driving past Paauilo, get a Bento roll for sure.......sooooo ONO! read more

I'd been wanting to try Earl's famous bento rolls for a while now, but every time we happened to drive by, they were closed. Sad face. Luckily this past trip we were able to go on a Friday, and hooray, they were open! We tried the fish, and the korean chicken bento rolls, both were great! Bento rolls for the win!! read more

This store was leveled recently, but no worry....they rebuilt it and now are in a new location in conjunction with a post office. That's the story my Dad told me. I don't care about all that though, I just was looking forward to trying out the maki sushi rolls. I had the chicken katsu roll and it was super duper ono! They are not kidding around with these rolls! It is mostly the good stuff and just a little rice. I will definitely stop by on my next trip to the Big Island! Oh, and the staff was friendly too. read more

Being originally from Paauilo, I fondly remember the old Paauilo Store, but the food is great now! My son's favorite is the orange chicken sushi, but the other sushi rolls and bentos are also tasty and filling. In the course of 1 week on the Big Island, we went there 3 times...it would have been 4 but they were closed on Sunday. Yummy! read more

I love this place!! Great Bentos! I grew up with them and so did my kids! My son when he was younger he would call it "the musubi store" highly recommend to stop there if u need a quick place to stop and grab a bite. Also the owners are so sweet and inviting read more

Does Hawaii not have any food regulations? I stopped by here because I heard about the delicious rolls and snacks. When I got here, I wasn't sure if I was in the right place. It was a small run down convenience store, pretty bare bones. I couldn't find these so called snacks anywhere. When I asked the cashier, she pointed to a small wood shelf right in front of her. We saw about a dozen rolls in disposable packaging, just sitting on on a shelf. No refrigeration. I asked her if these were fresh, and she didn't answer just rolled her eyes at me. I was hoping that meant they were fresh and it was just stupid of me to ask. Anyway, the snacks were decent, but it was hard to eat not knowing how long they sat out. Um fyi, meat and fish are not safe to eat after sitting out for more than two hours. read more