The service, local food, and location ...also awesome choices to eat the Pancakes is unbelievable…read morehuge and there waitress service is amazing and fast the prices for eating your choices is amazingly affordable and walking out with full satisfaction

Great choices at great prices. The service is pretty good too. When very busy it can be a bit of…read moretime but well worth the wait.

Easily one of the best places to get a fulfilling meal on Hawai'i Island. Please know the portions…read moreare very generous! My soul just feels happy after a meal here. Highly recommend the kalbi plate. I usually eat kalbi with rice but you can opt for fries instead, and omg it is an amazing combo that I never knew I needed. Some of the most tender and tastiest kalbi I've ever had with the crunchiest fries. Even if I tried to recreate this combo elsewhere, I know it won't hit the same way. The stack of mac nut pancakes is huge and very shareable. I prefer this over the coconut pancakes. Actually, just ignore the coconut pancakes. The day we came, the mac nut pancakes came with a whooping serving of butter. Paula Deen, was that you? I also like that you can have all the haupia, guava, and lilikoi syrup you want too. They're all delicious. The coffee servings are also generous. You get a whole carafe to yourself. Also check out their specials of the day. If they serve the oxtail stew, get it. Get it!! It's hearty, savory, and feels comforting. In terms of service, you're not getting top notch service. It's a diner! So you're getting diner service, mostly from aunties who know what they're doing. Service is just right. I think those who complain about it are probably those who are unfamiliar with the slower pace out here. Relax! In terms of vibes, this truly feels like a diner from back in the day. The oldies music playing throughout the day and the warm orange mid-century-esque booth seats feel like you're back in time, but the art work on the walls focused on local life also make you feel like you're in present-day Hilo. I don't know any other place that can do that. Do you? For wrestling fans, check out the framed photos of wrestlers, some signed, in the front part of the restaurant. What I love most is that Ken's is a local spot, and yes, tourists are welcomed. But there's nothing pretentious or gimmicky about this place that tries to cater solely to tourists. It's got its own distinct culture, with amazing food, and great vibes that can't be replicated, and I think that's why I'll always keep coming back.

Nostalgia. Been going here for decades which isn't nearly as long as it's been around. But the…read morelocal diner feel and the food jus brings you back to small kid days. We did take out cuz we were going aunty's house and had to bring something but hard since we visiting from oahu. Chronic over-orderer spent $250 for 2 big boxes of food...pretty sure they had nuff leftovas for the whole week. Kids liked the grilled cheese...2 small girls should have shared 1 but of course I ordered 2 in case others wanted. 2 noodles...not my fave. 1 alfredo...that was YUM. 1 burger - I didn't even touch it. 1 taco salad and 1 chinese chicken salad both good in their crispy bowls. haha...I can't remember what else we got...but everything not bad all the way to YU-U-UM. And if nothing else, the workers are so nice. The girl putting our box together was jam'n. Super on it. Lucky for me since I didn't remember my whole order!

I've been traveling around the world for four decades, and I've been traveling to Japan three times…read morea year for the past 25 years. Over the years, my palate has become accustomed to experiencing different flavors, seasonings, and textures, so I really appreciate food that is well prepared and thoughtfully seasoned. The food here was awesome, and the seasonings were definitely there! Our waiter was attentive, knowledgeable, and very friendly. He even gave us a kamaʻāina discount since we were born, raised, and live here in the islands. I thought that was such a wonderful gesture. It's always nice when a restaurant takes care of and appreciates the local community. The left side of the restaurant was beautiful, with a gorgeous mural of a woman surrounded by flowers. The view was also spectacular and really added to the overall experience. The only disappointment I had was with the menu. There were items listed on the online menu that were not available on the menu at the restaurant. In fact, the main reason I went there was because I wanted to try the calamari I had seen online. Unfortunately, it wasn't on the current menu. I really wish they would keep their online menu updated so customers know what is actually available. I also ordered the seared scallops, which were $44 for three scallops and a scoop of fried rice. For me, that felt quite pricey for the portion. Overall, I enjoyed the food, service, atmosphere, and beautiful view. I just hope they update their online menu and reconsider some of the pricing and portions.

I'm not sure that I have ever felt the need to talk about a hotel restaurant before but much to my…read morepleasant surprise, this place, to me, warrants it. Over our time in Hilo, we ate here a few times trying both lunch, dinner and late-night bar stuff. Let me start with some links: 1. Is the link for dining at the Doubletree in general 2. The current lunch menu 3. The current dinner menu They do have a menu for their lobby bar, but it is not online and then a separate late night bar menu after 9pm which is just a salad and three or four pizza varieties which cannot be ordered at other times. www.grandnaniloahilo.com/dining-bar.htm www.grandnaniloahilo.com/files/7344/Ka_Lihikai_Lunch_Menu_8.2026.pdf www.grandnaniloahilo.com/files/7344/Dinner_Menu_5.2026.pdf The one noteworthy quirk here is that between 4pm and 5pm the only things you can order are the few small light bites from their Happy Hour menu. Lunch stops at 4pm and dinner starts 5pm just like at the bar late night, technically it says the kitchen is open until 11pm but the bar staff will tell you to get your orders in by 10:30 at the latest. We tried a wide range of things such as the pizza (basil-pesto was great), edamame from the happy hour menu, north shore garlic shrimp, lamb chops and the seared scallops. All were good with the only real knock being that the scallop dish only had three scallops which to me is an app, not an entree. No issue with anything in terms of quality or flavor and if you're sitting close to the rear windows or out front when the doors are open, the breeze and ambiance are great. There is also live music a few nights a week which was an added bonus. It goes without saying that the pricing is definitely island/hotel pricing but all of the staff we encountered were great and the food was more than good enough that we enjoyed spending a meal in. No problem coming back.

This place is a gem!…read more My partner & I were looking for healthy food and coffee options in Hilo, but weren't finding much open at 8am. Fortunately, Vibe Cafe exceeded our expectations. Staff was friendly from the moment we walked in (which was right after they turned on the "Open" sign). There were fresh flowers on all the tables (so fragrant!) and modern decor. We got the Jus Avo with egg, strawberry smoothie with protein, coconut yogurt parfait, and a monthly special latte made with Koji rice milk, espresso, and rose petals. The parfait was topped with an edible butterfly, which was such a charming detail! Service was fast (we were in & out in 35 minutes) casual (pay when you order). We also appreciated the ample parking lot. Will definitely be back next time!

Such a cute little place!! I ordered a cold brew and my niece ordered something with ube, which she…read moreabsolutely LOVED!! The place was so welcoming and cute!! I absolutely loved the set up, clean and comfy. We didnt order any food, but we saw some delivered and it looked amazing!! Coffee was so delicous!! Definitely coming again

I really enjoyed the customer service of Vanessa the Donut girl, she is always upbeat and makes my…read morevisits enjoyable. She knows her items very well and is always ready to make a suggestion. Because of her I know I always spend more then I should. Sorry to hear she left after 4 years. Food was good, but the load noises from the kitchen take away from the atmosphere.

Variable food quality. Some of the doughnuts were okay, the flatbread was pretty good, and the…read morepopovers were fine. Most of their "puffs" had quite artificial fillings, and I'd rather attempt eating a rock than one of their scones again. Service is an absolute mess. We ordered pickup via DoorDash and I'm convinced we were the first people to ever do that, because the employees were so confused by the entire concept. Overall, I don't think I'd recommend and we definitely had better breakfasts in Hilo.

This community cafe offers vegetarian fare from fresh ingredients sourced from their farms…read more The jalapeño ulu burger was fantastic (add the mango hot sauce they offer). The lunch was so good we bought the carrot cake and a French press coffee for desert. Highly recommend!

I'll be honest I was looking for another Vegan place nearby that I've been to before my first time…read moreon Big Island but I saw this place and was why not.... Really cool place and pretty big inside.... I think I spoke to the owner and she was really nice and helpful...I was in a rush though since I was trying to change my flight to an earlier flight to get back to Oahu.... I ended up choosing the Hungry Farmer Salad - regular size since I don't generally eat lunch often.... I opted for the chipotle black bean burger for it...and they said it it house made and I believe them...really good... I'm not a big caesar dressing person but that is what came with it but overall this salad was really refreshing and good... They have some good size tables so i was able to bring my notebook in so i can do some work as well. Will come here again!

From the moment we walked in, we had a wonderful experience. The cashier was incredibly…read moreknowledgeable and kind, offering great recommendations when we asked. I also appreciated that she mentioned they have smoothies after my kids asked for one, I hadn't even realized they offered them! The food was absolutely amazing. The beet salad was delicious, and the seared tuna on top was perfectly seasoned and cooked just right--tender without being too firm. The fish burger was also outstanding, and the bánh mì was just as delicious. I've been buying their Jun kombucha from the store for a while and have always loved it, but finally dining here made me appreciate this place even more. Everything we tried exceeded our expectations. I'll definitely be coming back every time I'm in Hilo!

We had an amazing vegan dish here for our little brunch we did in mid morning earlier today…read more We saw this restaurant yesterday when we were browsing Hilo a few nights ago. We didn't think of anything when we saw it the first time. By just looking at the name of it though, my immediate reaction was, "Is this a kombuchas bar??" Well, it is but it's not just kombuchas they serve; it's more than that. The breakfast/brunch dishes they serve (although they don't have a huge selection) are quite diverse. I do incorporate a lot of vegetarian/vegan diet into my daily meal routine so when I saw the Verdant Vegan I simply couldn't skip it. As my daughter and I usually split a plate when we dine together she agreed to this option of mine. Glad we did. This plate has all sorts of goodness included in it. Sautéed veggies, house-made lentil walnut chorizo, ginger beet kraut, fire-roasted jalapeno cashew crema, fire-roasted tomato salsa, and it's topped it off with sprouts. This whole thing comes with either purple sweet potato home fries or red rice (which we went with the purple sweet potato fries and ended up getting a side red rice. We also got the side kimchi and one egg sunny side up.) And we shared a 16oz Ceremonial Matcha latte as well. This vegan plate is way more than vegan. It's mighty as hell. For those who are still not sure about vegan options will definitely second guess it for something that isn't vegan/vegetarian. It's truly nutrition packed in so many different ways. If I lived close to this cafe, I would eat here once a week to enjoy this delightful meal. I am not kidding. I enjoyed the matcha latte very much although my daughter rated it as "okay". She likes her matcha in a very particular way so it unfortunately didn't impress her. This is not to say that she disliked it. She said it wasn't bad either. This place is a "walk in, order upfront, pick a table where you want to sit and one of the staff will bring your food to you" style cafe. Water is self-served. Once you are done with your meal you'll put your dirty dishes in the designated tub. I like this efficient style of serving food. This place has great vibes as well. A bit hippie-ish where bright dark colors such as purple and red are incorporated into the interior. There is even a stage where bands perform on certain days/times. Quite cool-looking. If you are visiting Hilo soon then put this place on your "must visit" restaurant list. Friendly staff, reasonable prices and quality food will entertain you for sure.

I honestly can't stop thinking about their coffee! I need…read moreto get my own espresso machine. My go-to drink I got 3 days in a row while I was back home was the Iced Breve - espresso with cream, with no sweetener & no added flavor. It was perfect for me. I wish I got the large every day I was there. Because I was busy with things throughout the day. It kept me alert & awake with no crash (which most coffee does to me :( ) - but the breve from here didn't. For those watching their sugar intake, or wanting a keto-friendly drink with a good balance of espresso coffee & cream fat, I highly recommend this. All the other coffee shops I went to while on Oahu, I couldn't find breve on the menu. I first tried this place a while back in 2017, my cousin brought us here. And got the Iced Toddy, cold brewed coffee, which was way too strong for me at that time. We went inside this time, it's a small shop. It's a drive-thru as well, so it's perfect when it's raining out. Service is 5 stars as well. All of the drinks we got were onoliscious, no complaints. I miss this place. I will do my best to make my own at home till I come back. Mahalo & Alohaaa!

10/10 always a must have whenever I'm in Hilo! I always get a peanut butter frappe my favorite!!…read moreAnd a bagel breakfast sandwich! Something about the combo and it being from just cruising it just feels like home in a sense. Also the drive thru aspect is so fun. The baristas/servers are always so nice and have a smile. Can't be in Hilo without just cruising coffee. Also the signature whip cream makes my heart happy.

The gals working were so sweet and professional! I asked if they could custom-make me an Ube Ice…read moreCoffee and they made it happen-- ONO!!!

We have found our go to coffee joint and we've been going every day while we were on vacation. The…read moreVietnamese coffee got me through out the day but really liked the honey girl and mostly the white Mac nut

Get your reservation asap! Each entrée was amazing! Pasta De…read moreMarco was amazing! We also had the eggs Benedict, which had a great twist added to them!

If you're visiting Hilo, do yourself a huge favor and don't miss brunch at Paul's Place. This tiny…read morespot only has a few small tables (total seating for about 6 folks at a time). Reservations are mandatory, but a visit is well worth it! Paul is a sweetheart and an amazing cook. His secret ingredient is love. He really loves what he does and that passion for his craft really shines through to the entire experience dining at this small hole-in-the-wall. Don't expect to find air conditioning here, but definitely expect a delicious meal. My family sampled several favorites on the menu, including Paul's take on a smoked salmon benedict, his outrageous Belgian waffles, and the breakfast caprese, a really creative dish you'll only find here. Paul, thank you so much for a memorable meal! I hope to see you again if I'm ever back in Hilo :)