What a gem that's flung far from Kona, in the middle of nowhere off the side of Highway 11. It's…read moregot this old Hawaii meets Japanese comfort food charm that evokes a wistful presence from yesteryear. There's something about a flower being pinned to your hair as you're seated to eating a bowl of saimin as Unchained Melody plays in the background that brings a nostalgic smile to your face and makes you feel right at home. Oh - and if you ask the server what's in the Kona Beef Curry Stew... it's beef and curry. Ha. Tellin' them city folk like it is.

We tried out this legendary Japanese Hawaiian diner near the end of our trip. It is literally like…read morea slice out of history! Not to be missed! They have a TV showing historical clips of the Japanese immigrants who moved to Hawaii. We learned so much just dining there! The servers were very nice and friendly. They even offer free, hot green tea. It wasn't crowded when we went there for lunch. The server said we could order from the dinner menu too. The restaurant is decorated with a bunch of old family photos. It's not a fancy food location, but a place that is in the locals' hearts. Also, it's not standard Japanese American food, so don't come in looking for rolls and such! Instead, they serve fresh, perfectly prepared Japanese food with a Hawaiian twist, favorites like saimin and shrimp tempura. The large saimin ($16.17) was delicious and really hit the spot. Toppings were Spam, eggs, and veggies. Simple, but tasty! Shrimp tempura appetizer ($14.85) was a pretty large sized dish. The pieces have a lot of crunchy batter and the kids loved it. It was a bit greasy, but that's to be expected. DH got a Oyako Donburi with sashimi ($21.93). Wow, the sashimi was truly amazing! So tender, it just melts in your mouth. The eggs were cooked with bamboo pieces which kinda threw DH off. I liked them, but DH would've preferred it without. The flavor is sweet/salty and pretty mild. It came with miso soup and some pickles. Parking is right in the front and backs into the main road. It can be spicy getting out if traffic is heavy. They don't have a lot of bathrooms, so there might be a wait. Those are the downsides. Otherwise, a wonderful local place to eat!

If heaven has a lunch counter overlooking the Pacific, I think I found it…read more The Coffee Shack isn't just about the view (and trust me, the view alone is worth the drive)--it's about everything that comes with it. Let's start with the sandwiches. The Hawaiian bread is absolutely incredible. Soft, slightly sweet, fresh, and honestly the best sandwich bread I've ever had. Every bite made me wonder why every sandwich in the world isn't served on Hawaiian bread. Then came the pizza. Authentic, artisan island flavor with a homemade crust that tasted like it had been infused with fresh rosemary and other garden herbs. The pineapple and ham tasted wonderfully fresh, making the classic Hawaiian pizza feel like it was invented right here. And then there's the balcony. You look out over the emerald-green Kona coffee slopes as they tumble down to the brilliant blue waters of Kealakekua Bay. The Pacific stretches to the horizon, sailboats drift across the bay, and on a clear day you can even spot the Captain Cook Monument across the water. It's the kind of view that makes you forget your phone...at least until you realize you need to take another picture. Come hungry. Stay awhile. Order dessert and another cup of Kona coffee. You'll leave wondering if you came for lunch or for one of the most beautiful dining views in Hawaii. Mahalo, Coffee Shack--you've spoiled me for every sandwich and pizza that follows.

Delicious food with an incredible view. Breakfast and brunch are the main draws here. We love…read moresitting in the back room, where the unobstructed ocean views and cool trade winds make the experience even better. Expect a wait on weekends, but they use an app that lets you track your place in line and alerts you when your table is ready. Don't skip dessert--the coconut cream pie is a favorite. We also loved the macadamia nut scone.

They open early at 4am. If you're up that early or can't sleep and need something to do, visiting…read moretheir place of business is a welcome early morning treat. A mocha is a good way to go. Your choice of options (sweet and or type of cream). Enjoy a pie as well. Bacon n Cheddar or Old fashioned (pot pie). Anyways a lovely experience. Service is relatively quick. A repurposed service station is utilized with the rubber tire cables on the ground that ring a bell when each of your tires go over them. Sometimes two bells, sometimes four. Pull in, wait, order, receive and leave. It's So K!

Coffee was great. One of the best we've had in Kona. You'd think the home of Kona coffee it would…read morebe everywhere but most places on island are watered down and lack depth. This place makes up for those places. Definitely will become my new coffee stop. The girls that run it are super friendly and the banana bread was delicious. Can't wait to come back.

I had the strawberry bingsoo (milk shave ice) and salmon cream cheese sandwich with chips…read more Both were amazing. Everything seems to be made to order, and the sandwich was loaded with flavor and all of the ingredients tasted super fresh. The strawberry bingsoo was probably the best shave I've I've ever had. Fresh strawberries with whipped cream and incredibly fine shave ice. Wish they had this back on Oahu. Definitely drop by if you're in Kona!

We stopped by for coffee while walking around our hotel and tried the ube and pistachio cream top…read morecold brews. Of the 2, I liked the ube cream top more with a nice lightly sweet ube flavor. The cold brew is solid and while prices are a bit high (this is Kona) I thought overall it's a cute space with a nice little sitting area on the back patio facing the ocean.

HiCo is a super cute coffee shop I Kealakekua. There is a good sized parking lot and even a drive…read morethrough. We went at about 10:00 on a Wednesday morning and lucked out with the last parking spot. They have a cute outdoor seating area as well as tables inside. The place was busy with people on their laptops and families enjoying their morning coffee and snacks. We got haupia latte and a brown sugar latte. They asked if we wanted it hot or cold and we both chose cold. They also have hats, t shirts, jackets with their logo on it. The t shirts were nice but kinda pricey at $35.00. Service was quick and really no complaints. Would definitely recommend this place if you're in Kona.

Limited food options, but good food options. Always great staff here and calm atmosphere. Inside…read moreand outside seating. Love that there is a drive thru.

Staff has much Aloha spirit !I get a frozen Honu drink and it's always delicious ! store is…read morespotless and decorative . If you are looking for a great coffee place ; this is it !!!!

I visited this cute coffee shop after stopping at another place that I will never go to. That will…read morebe a different review. The Menehune Coffee Co. Was a pleasant surprise. We sat to quiet music in the background and an extensive menu. So many options. I highly recommend stopping here ove the other place I posted.

daughter made reservations for Moms day!…read more Table for 3 We were seating along the rail with an awesome View! Starters: Jalapeño poppers Onion rings Lemon Drop Pina Colada Ultra Ordered: Fish and Chips Mushroom bacon burger - Medium Fish Tacos All served fast with the amount of Moms at Brunch! Food was very tasty n satisfyin. Second round of Ultras for 2. Service was Quik m friendly.

Despite having played at KCC several times, we'd never wandered into the little gem…read more We visited in February after our round; pleasant open air seating we were quickly greeted and shuffled to a table. Perfect golfers menus; pu-pus, sandwiches, dinner entrees, and lots of fish options. I mean what else would you get with freshest fish on the planet? I had the fish tacos on flour tortillas, the tortilla was lightly cooked which helped hold it together. The battered fish was AWESOME, the aioli sublime, and those FRIES, super good. The View, stunning. We had great service, prices were reasonable, so dont tell anyone, ok? Oh, and the little birds, they be pretty aggressive, I had to share, you know, on the d-lo, I'm sure there was a dont feed the birds sign somewhere. lol.

Beautiful and tastefully designed oasis in the Holualoa Art village. So tranquil. Wonderful service…read moreand excellent fresh and delicious food. Highly recommend to visit.

First time to the restaurant and really wanted to give a local place 5 stars, but the service was…read morenot there. Waitress was a bit rude and pushy as came with friends to listen to the band, and had plenty of time to order. She was also unfamiliar with the menu and didn't know much about it and took a long time to return. On the other hand the food was tasteful and lots of flavors. The ambiance was also a great location in Holualoa with nice vibes and aesthetic was well put together.