Came as a party of 2 at noon on a Sunday, and we were seated right away! The ambiance definitely…read moregives a nice island sports bar vibe. Only street parking is available. There was also live music with a lady playing guitar solo and singing! Service was amazing! We never had to wait long to order/get the bill. We were most impressed by the fact that the waitress made sure to split our Hilo local plate into two plates to make it much easier to share! We almost thought we had received two orders because of how well-plated they were. - Poke tower (8/10): Solid choice for an appetizer! There were ample portions of poke, and the flavors were nice. Not a super stand out dish though. - Hilo local plate (9.5/10): If you want to taste a wide range of Hawaiian cuisine in one dish, I would highly recommend getting this one! The Kalbi ribs were sooo good! They were juicy, tender, and bursting with flavor. The Kalua pork was pretty good, and both meats paired well with the rice which had an interesting savory haupia sauce drizzled on it. The mango chili slaw and pineapple salsa added a nice tang to balance everything out. - Triple lilikoi pie (5/10): Wayyy too sweet and sugary for our liking, and you can barely taste the lilikoi flavor. We ended up just picking at the graham cracker crust and couldn't finish the rest. It seemed like one of those desserts that are premade unfortunately, and we wish we hadn't ordered this dessert.

We chose Pineapples Island Fresh Cuisine because it's one of the highest-rated sit-down spots in…read moreHilo, but it ended up being just okayyyy. The menu felt very "meh"...nothing particularly exciting or memorable. The cocktails looked great in photos, so we ordered the piña colada flight, but it tasted like there was little to no rum in it. Pretty presentation, but very mediocre overall. Food was just okay. The burger wasn't bad, but definitely not anything special. The fried shrimp dish was disappointing and lacked flavor. The big letdown was the ambiance. We were seated facing the street and parking lot the entire time ...no view...., just sad street. Overall, it didn't live up to the hype. Not terrible, but definitely not worth going out of your way for. The staff were all very nice though. Service friendly.

When we lived in Kona, we would frequent the Jackie Reyes there. The food was good, but for the…read moreprice, the entire experience - not even the old, nonfunctional classic car out front - was worth it. BUT, the Jackie Rey's in Hilo has now become our go-to fine restaurant in Hilo town. The building is classic. An old town Hilo bank, with the vault intact. High ceilings, comfortable tables and decore and an artistic antique wooden bar that would be a gem in the crown of any European city. The management and personnel are the most wonderful people. Always happy to accommodate you in the best way they can. After one kamaaina visit the servers will know your name. They'll make you feel welcome and that you are a part of their experience too, something that is nearly impossible to find in other town dining. They have rewards programs for kamaaina which includes a point system that gives you significant savings on your next visit. The food is first rate, from the pupus to the main dishes to the desserts. Sauced and presented in five star fashion, without feeling pretenious. We will be their peskiest and most loyal customer as long as we are in the area. Kudos to Jackie Rey's Hilo.

My wife and I went to Jackie Ray's this past Friday. We got a window table and was able to see the…read moreactivity across the street since it's was Friday downtown open market. If you dine here and are not a big person don't get a booth table as it's the most uncomfortable seating I've ever experienced. The seat is way too far from the table and I needed to lean forward and sit on the edge of the seat. I would recommend getting a table its chair so you be able to adjust yourself to the distance from the table. Server was just Ok and with them placing a water decanter on the table for refill they didn't come around as often. The decanter water has no ice so whatever ice you have in your cup to cool the water. Last time eating at this establishment was better and my only complaint was the window seats next to the picture window and the flys that was buzzing there. Only thing is again there were two big flies buzzing the windows and I had to waved them away. The doors are always shut and only when customers walk in could the flys get in. Staff should walk around before opening and get rid of them. We entered about 5:10 PM so it was opened for just 10 minutes and shouldn't have flys. Air conditioning was on but the temperature was a bit warm and a cooler temperature of maybe 10 degrees be perfect. I had the mochico Ono and it was just ok tasting but on the plate presentation was nice. My wife had the pork chops and she really liked it but said was just a little over cooked. I did try a small sample and to me it was just ok also. ambiance in the restaurant is nice and most of the staff were very attentive. The server we had wasn't and I needed to Get his attention to get my bill even though he had passed multiple times and didn't or should have noticed we were done dining. Probably not be dining again at this establishment again and do know of better dining spots in Hilo.

We stopped by the Booch Bar on our way into Hilo before a day of adventuring, and it was a great…read morelittle stop for breakfast. We tried the simple breakfast plate and a breakfast sandwich, and both were tasty and really hit the spot. Since we went on a weekday, it wasn't too busy inside, which made for pretty quick service. Overall, it was a solid breakfast stop and a nice place to grab a bite before heading out for the day.

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.

Had lunch here And everyone was happy…read more Cobb salad, fried mahi sandwich, and 2 kid burgers.

If you love excellent beers than this is one of the places to hit up when in Hilo…read more All though the food can be occasionally inconsistent at times, the good selection of Ola brews and great service can somewhat make up for it. Don't get me wrong on the food, it's good. If you come here and eat something delicious, on the next visit you want that same dish to be equally as good or better. Getting anything on a lower scale can be disappointing. I've experienced it first hand, but still am a fan of Ola's Brew restaurant. Every place has its hiccups, they are no different. Hopefully it's an off day. Also as a non soda drinker (wife's a soda fan) I think they should offer a few name brand soft drinks for families, though I do give them kudos for trying to substitute it with their own mixtures, but sorry soda drinkers are very picky just like most beer drinkers. I do love that they have free parking available and the restaurant itself is kept very clean and can accommodate larger groups. Overall a place to check out when in Hilo.

We came here with friends who are Hilo locals, so I knew this place had to be good. The restaurant…read moreis located up a flight of stairs. The restaurant has a very open and relaxing vibe. We sat outside overlooking Hilo bay, and I felt I could have sat here all afternoon. The lunch menu includes various sushis, salads, and warm entrees. What we ordered: + Lihiwai Louie salad - this is a salad of butter lettuce, avocados, 5 large shrimps, and lots of cheese shavings. This was light and very tasty. + Fish and chips - the fish was very fresh and was quite yummy This is a great place to sit and relax and enjoy some drinks and good food.

Big restaurant but doesn't feel that way. They accommodated our large party easily. It's up a big…read morestaircase but there is an elevator for those who need. Lovely view of the water. Drinks were okay, and they have mock tail options, too. I had the sage pineapple margarita and it was fine, not spectacular. The regular margarita seemed a bit nicer. Fish and chips was a generous portion, and the fish was meaty (I assume mahi mahi?) and came with a salad/slaw. I split a keiki sundae with someone which was the perfect bit of sweet to finish off the meal.

Fantastic food service, great taste and family friendly environment. Waiter was attentive and…read morehelpful. Red Curry Chicken and large Shrimp were very tasty. The spiciness was spot on for me as I asked for spicy but not the top. If you like spicy this is a definite. Definitely would go back and family owned which makes it great.

Do you know how excited I was to finally try this place? Olympic-level excited. I know good Thai…read more I've eaten Thai in places where the menu doesn't apologize to you in English. The reviews sold me. And then... reality arrived. The server was lovely but clearly trapped in a one-person reenactment of Kitchen Nightmares. Two of us ordered dinner at the same time. My partner received their entrée. Then their sides. Then time to reflect on life. I received... nothing. Not even "sorry"' from the kitchen. Only the server had the decency to acknowledge the mess. About 40 minutes later--after my partner had fully completed dinner, digestion, and emotional closure--they brought my entrée. I asked for extra veggies and "Thai hot." What I got was Mild Regret of neither with a garnish of panic: two heaping tablespoons of raw hot peppers dumped on top like a dare. That's not "Thai hot," that's "we forgot and now we're improvising." At this point, I asked for it to go, because I wasn't about to sit there eating solo like I missed the memo that dinner was a relay race. Also: summer rolls require basil. Basil. Not iceberg lettuce. Iceberg lettuce belongs in a 1994 suburban salad bar, not in Thai cuisine. There was zero concept of food arriving together, or being cooked to order, or basic culinary logic. That said--I'm a generous soul. They need a chance to redeem what was, without exaggeration, a masterclass in how not to run dinner service.

Fantastic service and attention from the whole staff! Cozy atmosphere with great music. Every dish…read morewas meticulously crafted with unique flavors, perfectly cooked. We loved the sizzlin tepanyaki poke with Ono and the desserts. Chef Mark and the staff do a wonderful job of showing off the flavors of Hilo...miso infused caramel on a fluffy cheesecake...I'm gonna be thinking about that dinner for a long time!

My wife and I stopped by Moon & Turtle for dinner during our brief visit to Hilo and we had a…read morefantastic meal. We showed up right when they opened at 5:30 p.m. without reservations on a Wednesday evening and was luckily able to get seated at the bar. Between the two of us, we ordered a bunch of items off the "small" section of the menu, including the smokey sashimi, sizzling tetsuyaki poke, smoked tonnato caesar, crispy rice, and their special of the day -- agedashi wontons. Of the items we ordered, the crispy rice and the agedashi wontons were my favorite items. The crispy rice is priced per piece, and you'll certainly want to order at least two per person, because one is simply not enough. The rice block is fried a beautiful golden brown -- similar to a hash brown. The crispy rice pairs perfectly with the ono mixture on top of it. With the agedashi wontons, I initially thought the filling was a bit under-seasoned at first, but when enjoyed with the broth, the wonton comes out tasting perfectly seasoned. The broth had so much umami to it and the wonton had the perfect crunch to it I always love a good Caesar salad and the one here is spectacular. With anchovy croutons, shaved cured egg yolk, and smoked ahi dressing, you're getting some creative, premium ingredients in this salad and everything works so well together. Even if you're not a salad person, I would definitely recommend giving this dish a try. On top of delicious food, the service at Moon & Turtle was spectacular. Food was promptly brought out after we placed our order, pacing didn't ever feel rushed, our water cups were never empty, and our server checked on us regularly to make sure we had everything we needed without being overbearing. I would definitely stop by Moon & Turtle again if I'm in Hilo.

Don's Grill kept popping up on my yelp so I finally decided to give it a try. I'm so glad I did!…read moreIt's a cute little diner with amazing service and good food! The prices are really good especially considering we are in Hawaii. There is a mix of diner food and local specials. We ordered a French dip and a saimin and was not disappointed! I will definitely be back to try more things on the menu.

The classic American diner experience. No frills but tasty large portions. Did have to wait a while…read moreto be served but the food was great for the price point. Ordered a seafood platter that came with shrimp, calamari, and mahi fish. Served with a side salad and Hawaiian roll. Fish was nicely cooked, not too salty or dry at all. Shrimp had a good crunch and calamari was the perfect texture, not too chewy at all! Also had a chocolate pie for dessert. Decent size and had a nice chocolate cream texture without being overly sweet. Total for the food was $27. 21 for the entree and 6 for the dessert. Would recommend if looking for a cheaper alternative to the fancy restaurants around the resort area for a nice filling meal without any frills

I ordered the vegan gyro because of a good review on HappyCow. When I called, they said that the…read moresauce is not vegan so vegan ones are served without the sauce. They still ended up giving me the sauce, though? And the food was fine, nothing special or filling. Not worth the price. The fries aren't vegan because of duck fat.

The girl working was super nice and attentive and I think the only one working the truck so I had…read moreto wait a little bit. I ordered the beef and lamb gyro which came with the sauce on the side. The gyro itself was just okay as a whole but the meat was flavored exceptionally well and was also crispy !! Overall though the pita bread was mid and the sauce wasn't enough.

i dined there today (3/15) and our server was super sweet and taking good care of us and the tables…read morearound us even though it was busy. however our food took over an hour and i heard the kitchen cussing and using inappropriate language towards our server. it has very disheartening to hear when she was treating everyone with kindness and doing her best.

The service is excellent! The Mushroom Swiss Burger with half order onion rings and half fries is…read moremy favorite. It's always my go to Sports Bar.