So easy to call ahead and order - we called our order in about an hour after they opened and got everything we wanted. Easy street parking in front (we came on a weekday morning). Staff was super friendly - from the person who took my order, the person who rang us up, and the person who handed me my box. Everything was packed very neatly. We were so excited to eat...the shrimp tempura, fishcake, cone sushi, and nori chicken was so good! We ordered a lot of other stuff, but those were our favorites. The noodles were ok...the long rice was way better. Very reasonable prices here...our order was less than $30 for the 3 of us. Would definitely come back again! read more

Kawamoto is a great place to make your own bentos! They have a lot to choose from and prices are very reasonable and affordable. This shop opens super early and closes early around 12:00 PM. I highly suggest you come early so youll have more choices. I didnt get to try every one of them in the menu but somr I have tried are, spam musubi, maki, tempura, korean chicken. They were all pretty good for the price. However, some items are very salty but a lot of food in Hawaii are overly salty and sweet to my taste. Parking can be hard since they have no private parking lot. It is strictly street parking but if you wait, youll find one. Thats because people go in and out of here really fast since its a takeout place. Customer service is quick and great. As much as I want to frequent this place, its really hard for me to wake up early just to come here but I will try my best to come! read more

Kawamoto Store - My selections - Japanese Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

Loved trying this place out. We were even told that they were almost out of their offerings when we got there. We found more than enough delicious food to try out! Tempura, sausages, musubi, noodles, and more. Staff is super helpful and friendly. This would make a great place for breakfast or lunch. read more

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Food is Always a Hit At This Old School Okazu-Ya Joint! Personally I think There shrimp tempura and Ono (wahoo) Tempura is out of this word coupled with there cone sushi, nori chicken or Korean chicken and or all of ther other freshly made choices! The combinations are endless! Service is always welcoming! Fast and friendly and when you walk in the establishment that old school nostalgia and screen window with food take you back to being a kid again! That kind of ambiance is hard to find these days! Always a pleasure to indulge in this style food when in Hilo! read more

Kawamoto store on Kilauea is old-time okazuya in a time warp; I may be wrong, but I believe it's in its second coming with new ownership, but again, okazuya never had it so good! Be prepared to wait long time, the line goes slowly, but it's well worth the wait!!! read more

One of THE best Okazuya places on the Big Island. Today was my second time being able to taste their delicious food. There's always a long line out the door but I understand why they always have one! The food is that good! No matter how long the wait, I will stand in that line just to get my favorites. My go-to's are the Vegetable and Shrimp Tempura, Korean Chicken, Rice Ball, Spam Musubi and of course their Corned Beef Hash! I still yet have to try other stuff they have on their menu, that is, if I'm able to make the decision to switch up my regular order haha Customer service is great. The employees all know how to deal with the customers, especially if they've been waiting in the line for some time, got a mix up on the order or ran out of something. They truly do show the Aloha Spirit and are so kind. Definitely hit up Kawamoto's if you're looking for some ono Okazuya grinds in Hilo! read more

Kawamoto Store - Rice Balls, Spam Musubi, Maki Sushi, Eggplant Tempura, Corned Beef Hash, Korean Chicken, String Bean Tempura and Shrimp Tempura - Japanese Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

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Very friendly efficient staff, ono food, affordable, and great service. A must when in Hilo!!!

super cute, super friendly and efficient staff! line out the door so get here early! don't be intimidated if you've never been here before or if you're unsure how to order, they will talk you through it and explain options if you have questions. street parking available, CASH ONLY, plenty aloha :) Ricky is the best! read more

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Bite size yet full servings of handmade local cuisine. If you grew up in Hawaii this place will have everything you loved growing up. Their Korean chicken is perfectly seasoned and fried and something I will go out of my way for. All the items here aren't overwhelming but it hits a unique nostalgic taste that usually can't be satisfied elsewhere. Kawamoto will always be on my to go list here in Hilo. Get there early! Usually all the good stuff is gone by 10-10:30am! read more

Kawamoto Store - top left: Cone Sushi, top right: corn beef hash, bottom left: shoyu chicken, bottom right: Korean Chicken + Sausage. - Japanese Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

This was my favorite spot to stop in Hilo to grab a lunch or dinner on the way for an adventure. True Hawaiian style at local prices. The prices are unbelievably low, and there are a variety of items to choose from to make a tasty bento (to-go lunch box). The food is a mix of Hawaiian (shoyu chicken, long rice) and Japanese (tempura veggies, rice balls). You can either choose from one of the predesigned bentos, or choose your own sides. It tools us a few times to figure out how they measure things out, so make sure to communicate how many servings you want of each item before choosing a bento size. Everything we tried was delicious! The long rice is a little more sweet than other long rice, but I like the change! There is no seating inside, so be prepared to grab and go. They also don't have tip jars, or a line on the receipt, so don't forget to bring a few dollars to tip them! read more

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Kawamoto Store specializes in great bento boxes of authentic Hawaiian and Japanese foods. Place your order early. They sell out by noon. The $9 shoyu chicken bento had more food than we could finish. The spam musubi and macaroni salad are must haves. read more

I love to go to Kawamoto Store. They're so friendly and give us simple Japanese clean food. I'm originally from Japan so I know real Japanese food should be. I recommend their food to anyone who wants to try and enjoy Japanese cooking and bento! read more

The price is so good! Very reasonably priced compared to other okazuya places I've been to. The portions are a little small but that makes it easier to try out other dishes. The one thing that stood out to my boyfriend and I was the ono tempura. We haven't really seen fish, especially ono tempura, at okazuya places before. read more

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Lost in time. An incredible okazuya serving plantation style favorites since 1946. Housed today in the same old wooden building, paint peeling from the facade, unfinished concrete floors, old, worn wooden display cases and counters. This is food made the way grandma made it. The flavors long since extinct on commercialized Oahu. Perfectly flavored rice in seasoned age cones (not dripping in liquid). Baked shoyu chicken, the sweetened soy permeating the thigh to the bone, moist and tender, all fat rendered from beneath the skin. Sweet soy imbued chicken tofu and nishime and soft par boiled, sweet teri beef, oh so good. Finally green bean tempura (still maintains a crunch), shrimp tempura (fully cooked, not rubbery), Okinawa sweet potato (moist, fully cooked) tempura, all with minimal batter, properly crispy and oily at the same time, brightened by yellow food coloring. One bite of any will take you back to your childhood. Dirt cheap. $1.05 per serving of teri beef, $0.90 per serving of veg tempura (yes, it's often more than one piece), $1.20 per giant shoyu chicken thigh, $1.15 for a giant inari, $0.75 for a musubi. In the end, you'll score twice the food at half the price of any okazuya on Oahu. Incredibly friendly and proud service. Multiple staff help multiple customers at the same time, it's all good to criss cross others to call out your order. Well controlled chaos. Don't be rude, let your enthusiasm show and you'll fit right in. Street parking only. Take out only. Closing time varies. No food, not open. A part of Hilo's culinary history and hopefully one that last for many generations to come. read more

Kawamoto Store - Giant inari (cone sushi if you're from Hilo) - Japanese Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

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I suggest that you call in your order to save time. They are always busy. The food is great! The service is excellent. And the store is a kick back to old time Hilo. I love it! read more

$20 worth of food for four. People are nice and helpful. Parking in the street. We liked that it opened really early.

Kawamoto's offers exceptional okazuya in the town of Hilo. A visit to this establishment is highly recommended for anyone in the area.

Ohhh how I miss Kawamotos so much. I miss living on the big island and stopping by here on the way to class or the beach. Forever one of my favorite stops, and it's right by Just Cruisin' so it's a perfect morning stop. If you're in Hilo or on big island, you HAVE TO eat here. The family is also so nice that runs it. 10/10 recommend. read more

Kawamoto Store - Spam musubi!! - Japanese Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

So good just like old times when i was a little kid! Fish cakes and coco cookies so ono

Great authentic experience. We stopped by on our way from the cruise ship to Volcano Ntl. Park. About 3 hours later we enjoyed a delightful bento box over looking the crater. The fried ono and their homemade tarter sauce was to die for! read more

Bringing my grandkids from Texas to this special place. Great food for the road while we read more

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Onolicious food! From the fried chicken, nori chicken, noodles, hash patty's, to the maki and cone sushi, fried fish, namasu....ahh my mouth is watering all over again! There always is a small line so call ahead! Service is always the best! Mahalo Kawamoto's! read more

Awesome malasadas first Wednesday of the month. Large and soft. Love the Keiki bento. Went again sept 4 2019 9:30 long line for Masada best call day ahead sold out by 8:00 am but they had few extra for small amounts. Great service read more

Always a great stop for okazu-ya! We arrived late morning and not all our favorites were available, but we still got a small box that was enough for two. Really friendly and helpful staff. Good prices, much better than spending money on plate lunch. Next time we'll call ahead to order. Definitely recommend! read more

Always dependable and consistent. Staff are very cordial and provide great service. It's nice to be able to order ahead of time and not wait in line. read more

Food is amazing. Just wish parking was better. Workers are very attentive to customers.

This takeaway-only institution in the heart of Hilo draws hoards of locals as well as the occasional tourist. We knew there would be a line so we went early. Not too bad at 7 am, but the line moves slowly as people pick their items & then have it tallied at a register. The low ala carte pricing allows you to order freely. We ordered corned beef hash croquettes, long rice, mac salad, Korean chicken, shrimp & ono tempura, namasu (stewed veg). We ordered 2x most items. All was good, & with bottled waters & even a Kawamoto Store insulated bag, the bill was $28.00! A perfect picnic at Hilo's waterfront park. read more

We loved Kawamoto. Once we called ahead and they had our order ready for pickup and once we went in early morning and ordered in the store. Both experiences were great and the food was amazing. You cannot go wrong with the fish cake, Korean fried chicken, vegetable tempura (especially sweet potato), long rice, cone sushi, corn beef hash, nori chicken, nishime and BBQ meat. The shoyu and fried chicken felt a little dry both times we got it. The customer service was great and you can tell that they are loved by the locals and tourists alike! read more

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Best BBQ meat in Hilo flaky oily and greasy is just how I love it. The food here overall way better than Hilo Lunch Shop (theirs no mo taste like eating church food or Hilo Hawaiian expensive buffet!) BBQ meat on rice or make a sandwich with only best foods mayo and bread is BOMB! Their shrimp tempura is the best okazuya place in Hilo that I have personally ever ate. Ask for the Kraft tarter sauce packets. You need to go to a Japanese restaurant in order to get equivalent or better tempura. Cherry pick certain foods from here and Asami's Kitchen and get the best okazuya oh and from 7-11 Inari cone sushi with spicy poke. Skip Hilo Lunch Shop because lately their food had no flavor and quality control is lacking. read more

Kawamoto's has always been the best in Hilo for all their local foods! Get there early cause everything will be gone

Great local okazuya style lunch kitchen, if you're local at heart you can't go wrong, go early, close 12 noon, my favorites cone sushi, nori chicken, nishime, mahi-mahi tempura. Anytime in Hilo always try to stop by if line not to long. Good customer service, order online for quick pick up. read more

I got excited to try this place but this place seems to Be meh... the Korean sushi rice is too sweat. The Korean chicken seems to be dry and doesn't taste as freshly. I don't know how this place has 4 starts definitely won't be coming back again. read more

Super awesome Come sushi was magical Maki sushi was taking names Machiko chicken broke the mouth read more

Ozakuya! A must if you're in Hilo. So good, so ono. Lots of choices. Lots of GOOD choice. Try them all. Bring cash for this local gem. You won't regret it. This is more like a quick, food stall than a sit in restaurant and it's been like that for years. It's not uppity, but the food speaks for itself. If you want to eat like a local, this is the spot. If you want white tablecloth dining, go somewhere else. Grab a couple of things for the road to volcano or back to kona side or just hang by the beach. read more

What a great local Omiyagi..shrimp tempura, Korean chicken, vegetable tempura,noodles, sushi,maki sushi.. all da good local stuff. Prices are reasonable...service is awesome and friendly, it's a take out, but it won't disappoint.. It's been our favorite since we were kids.. read more

Love the food! Definitely have to get there early if you're wanting something specific

Ugh. They stopped making their delicious mixed vegetable tempura years ago hence why only 4 stars. If still had um, they'd get all 5.

Not sure why this place has so many good reviews. Only good thing were the chicken wings. Long rice was way too sweet. All the tempuras were oily. Fish tempuras were fishy tasting. And this place doesn't have any heat lamps where they hold the hot food. The pork and various tempuras were cold. This place seems like it's not in compliance with health and safety standards. read more

We are from Oahu and we always make sure to stop at Kawamoto store for breakfast before heading out of town. It's perfect finger food for long drives out to kapoho. The prices are very reasonable too. For a plate that we was expecting to spend about $20 on only came out to $13. Make sure to go before 9 am to get the goods before they run out. We got there before 8 and took the last batch of nori chicken since we ordered about 30 pieces. read more

Wah! I'm so sad I got here around 8:30-9ish and of course the nori chicken (that was highly recommended to me) was long gone. This is just a general okazu rant but why do they open so much longer but always run out so early, especially of something you know people will buy up! Anyway, back to this review... Ended up just with a bunch of spam musubis. They were cut pretty small - I would say one normal musubi equaled about 3 pieces of theirs - for 75-cents each. Also ordered some fish cake which was just ok as well. Street parking only and they accept credit cards. read more