If you don't like cockroaches, stay away from Manta Restaurant! I was so excited to eat at Manta, but ended up having a disappointing experience. This was the most expensive restaurant we went to on the island, but the worst experience. Our server was actually very nice and professional. The food was pretty good and the soufflé desert was actually excellent. Then, during the desert, our guest had a huge cockroach land on his head. Next, a cockroach was climbing up my husband's leg. Suddenly cockroaches were on the floor invading the restaurant. The wait staff actually started chasing after them and started stomping on the cockroaches, leaving smooshed insects on the ground. The staff looked as if they were experienced in the cockroach killing dance. Needless to say, we asked for our check and bolted out of there! read more

We booked on Resy for our pre- anniversary celebration. The views were spectacular with Manta diving taking place right in front of you. The service was impeccable and courteous. We started off with a breadstick basket and churned butter followed by Mac nut crusted Mahi-mahi and Batik curry for me( I am a vegetarian). It was flavorful with taro, eggplant, bakchoy and herbs. The rice was really exquisite and aromatic. My husband enjoyed the Mahi mahi, he found it really fresh and properly done. We had the Vanilla soufflé and a complimentary chocolate crepe cake slice. The souffle was large and well topped crust but was a bit eggy tasting while digging further. This place is in Mauna kea resort and takes only valet parking. read more

Manta - View - Hawaiian Near Me - Kamuela, Hawaii

See all

Beautiful dining experience at a beautiful restaurant which is overlooking tranquil and secluded beach. We went in around 6pm to enjoy the sunset. The service was good but for the price we are paying I didn't expect anything less. The food was typical Hawaiian/seafood. Everything we had was good but nothing special and mind blowing. You can get the same quality food at any other nice hotel restaurants in Hawaii. Yes, they are overpriced but you are paying for the location and its ambiance. The highlight was watching manta rays nearby after dinner. read more

The setting at Manta is perfect to escape the daily grind of life. Overlooking Kaunaoa Bay, and blessed with postcard worthy sunsets, the ambiance is amazing. The food is also tasty, creative, and the portions generous. Staff is also accommodating and professional but their true talent is the way they anticipated the needs of our party and the rest of their guests that dined that evening. There was also a duo performing jazz standards and were blessed by a Mr Washburn on keyboard, and Mr Jessie Snyder on drums and saxophone. Smooth and oh so tasty applies not only to our meal but to the music as well. I only wish Mauna Kea Beach Hotel would provide music EVERY NIGHT! read more

Beautiful restaurant with amazing view, free bread, very expensive dishes, but hey, what do you expect. We wanted the full resort experience, and dine here every night. We had their special of the day for the 3 nights we stayed , they were Snappers and Onos. Fresh and delicious. They also gave me a free Mauna Kea dessert for free of my Birthday. The critics are, our servers for the first two night were excellent, but the one on the third night was robotic. Free bread was good but the bread on the third night tasted humid & old. We had rain the third night and it seemed like the bread might have became humid due to the rain. But they didn't switch out the humid bread and were still serving them. For a high end restaurant that charges triple the price, they should pay more attention to the quality of the food. read more

See all

What a way to end our trip to Big Island! I am so thankful my friend is a super planner and booked this restaurant a few weeks in advance. Great ambiance, food, and entertainment (in the form of manta rays). We reserved a table for 8 and were seated in their outdoor dining area right at sunset. I ordered the Frutti di Mare which was so freaking delicious. Every piece of seafood tasted fresh, flavorful and was cooked to perfection. The dish also came with a farro risotto which introduced some texture to the dish and complemented it well. For dessert, our group of 8 shared three soufflés - chocolate, vanilla and gluten free chocolate and all were fantastic. Best soufflé I've ever had! Right before dessert we walked down the steps next to the overlook and saw a few mantas swimming around! Overall, would definitely come back for another fancy night out in Hawaii! read more

See all

Infested with cockroaches. We had 2 cockroaches within 1 minute fall from the ceiling. One landed in our food, one on someone at our table. The waiter was at our table when it happened and walked away without saying anything. The table next to us later squashed a cockroach. The waiter happened to be there again when the other table had one, and again walked away. No waiter or manager cared. On our way out, we saw another cochroach on the way our crawling under a table. Paying $75 for an entre, its unacceptable. Health and safety need to come and inspect. read more

Manta - Cochroach - Hawaiian Near Me - Kamuela, Hawaii

Manta was a beautiful restaurant. Our server was nice and witty to go along with our play on comical remarks. That made it an enjoyable dinner. However, the biggest criticism I have is on the food. I will say that my friends who had Steak - seemed to enjoy it more. My wife and I got the chicken and the Lamb, respectively. The chicken was "ok" at best and surrounded by flowers that didn't look edible. My Lamb was cooked medium but was not tender and did not justify a $65-75 price tag. I think I would have been happy with paying $25-30 for it. Overall the food (save the Steak) was very overpriced. To be honest we had way better food at venues for 50% of the price earlier in the week. I highly suggest if you go, to order steak. If not, I would certainly go elsewhere. read more

I want to give this a five star but my steak was overcooked and dry but everyone else's was perfect and everything was tasty. Excellent wine list. My family is gluten and dairy free so eating out is difficult but they readily accommodated our needs and even had a wonderful vegan, gluten free bread. We never get to eat the bread at restaurants! The chef came out to discuss our needs and then checked on how everything was. We ate here on their first night open since COVID and the entire team at the Mauna Kea was stellar. Everyone was friendly, helpful and super hospitable. Bravo to the chef and staff. Thank you and keep up the good times. read more

See all

Came for dinner around 6pm. Good amount of people but not overly crowded. Made reservations and took about 5-10 min to get seated. The food was decent but nothing to write home about. Great presentation and good flavor but nothing you wouldn't expect from an expensive restaurant. Everything on the menu is about $60-70 which, if it were just for the food I would say it's not worth it but what you're really paying for here is the view. The view is pretty darn hard to beat and if you go around sunset you catch it perfectly. Definitely the place to go for date night if the scenery is more important to you than the food. Overall, I would recommend cause the staff was nice and the atmosphere was great but I don't think it's a go to more than once type of spot. Also, it's a longgg drive just to get there if staying in Kona read more

Great food and excellent portions. Crappy check in and getting seated was incredibly disorganized especially for an expensive restaurant. Cocktails good but uninspiring. read more

We had an EXCELLENT dinner at Manta. Nick was the most knowledgeable server we have ever had and very friendly. Our meal was, by far, the best on island. The view of the ocean is unbeatable. Every dish was superb but I didn't think to take photos until dessert. read more

Manta - Hawaiian Near Me - Kamuela, Hawaii

Incredible views and beautiful grounds. From what I saw of the hotel, the interior is gorgeous and clean. We were sat outside for my birthday dinner. Perfect view of the water and was quite a nice/intimate setting. The server was not particularly friendly or attentive. We split a few apps and ordered one entree to share and she made a judgmental comment about only ordering one plate. We had already been drinking quite a bit and we all know you can only pick one to do well!! We were disappointed as we saw really kind / attentive servers at our surrounding tables and all of the staff who brought out food or filled waters were great. Cocktails, wine and food were good! Ordered a mezcal cocktail and asked for less sweet. Was less sweet but definitely much more tart and less balanced. Expected just a bit more from an upscale restaurant/bar. Extensive wine list and was pleased to see one of our favorite Washington wines on there (though 4X the winery retail lol). Oysters were $24. This is on the pricier end but not so unusual for oysters. Lobster on the salad was amazing! Mac crusted mahi was probably the best fish I've had. Rounded out with some bok choy and potato purée and butter sauce mmm. Amazing dish! Had a nice birthday treat on the house. Overall good experience and great food but left on the lookout for a better service experience. Wouldn't shy away from this restaurant based on our dinner though. Manta definitely met expectations as our one "nice" dinner out on this trip. read more

See all

The breakfast buffet is excellent! The service is great and you can't beat the view! Larry did an awesome job! read more

Manta - Hawaiian Near Me - Kamuela, Hawaii

It's with great sadness that I write this review because I was so excited to visit Manta while in Kona. I heard from so many locals that this was the place to go. The menu looks absolutely enticing. Truth is it was a major overpriced let down. The food was generally bland and lacked creativity. We had the shrimp tempura (4 measly shrimp), ceasar (meh), the roasted chicken (better), souffle (good). Overall the best thing about the entire experience was the views and the atmosphere. Honestly I recommend going here for drinks and maybe breakfast. I figure you cant mess breakfast up that much. read more

See all

You're coming here for the view, and the food is a bonus. I was pretty impressed by the food quality. The bique was delicious. Maybe the best thing we had that night. Rack of lamb and Seafood pasta was also good. The view is killer. Definitely make a reservation to secure your outdoor seat! read more

Manta - Hawaiian Near Me - Kamuela, Hawaii

See all

This was hands down the best breakfast buffet I've ever had. At first I was skeptical for paying $37 for a breakfast buffet, but after trying it and seeing how diverse their selections were, it was clear it was worth the price. Best parts of the buffet were starting out the mornings with a complimentary slice of banana bread and the smoothie of the day, and then seeing what in-house bread was baked the night before. Our favorite parts were the miso soup and japanese pickle bar, the incredible cheese blintzes, and their absolutely divine olive bread and pepper cheese breads. We also came in a few times for dinner, and those experiences were delightful as well, with one of the most beautiful sunset dining settings on the island. Wine list is great, and the dessert options of souffles tickled my fancy. Service was always friendly and prompt, and no need for a reservation as there were always open tables. Would definitely return! read more

See all

The ono was cooked fine, but the shrimp were under cooked in both mine and my wife's plate. I've never had a restaurant under cook shrimp, usually its the opposite. Unfortunate their cooks don't know how to properly prepare shrimp. View is great and kamaaina cocktails were free the night we went. Great to see 6 mantas swimming at the flood light. That was a treat. Next time we'll eat before we go and just get cocktails and an appetizer and enjoy the sunset. read more

Lobster, lobster, lobster. Must order, was the best thing we've had all week. Good cocktails, incredible sunset. read more

See all

4.5 Stars 5 stars for setting, views 5 stars for Service 4.5 Stars for food Date night with dear husband (left kids at rental) Pure bliss - got to watch the sunset, enjoy a Mai tai, some rather tasty dishes. Definitely recommend! read more

See all

A great, romantic dinner spot. There was a slight delay in our reservation due to some rain and the team handled it swimmingly. They were welcoming and warm. The food was great, I recommend the cheesecake. Our server was also wonderful and left us with a smile on our face. read more

Views- 5 stars Ambience- 5 stars Service- 4 stars Food- 3 stars I made a reservation to celebrate our anniversary via Open Table. I put a note saying that we are celebrating anniversary, and I requested an outside table with a sunset view. The hostess took us to an outside table with no view because there's a huge tree blocking the sunset. I asked for a different table, which we did get a table with a view after all. I guess no one reads the notes on Open Table or they just don't care. Our server was the only one mentioned our anniversary to us. I work in a hospitality so I guess I was expecting more. read more

We celebrated on October 5th at Manta and what a perfect location to enjoy a delicious dinner at sunset made all the more special by Jessica. The drinks were wonderful as were the Lobster tempura, A5 Wagyu carpaccio, Caeser salad, veal chop and prime NY strip. The cornbread with jalapeño butter was sublime. We were happy we'd made this reservation and were able to be seated outside fro enjoy the ambiance and the stunning sunset. Thanks, Jessica and thanks, chef & staff. read more

I have to say we were a little disappointed on this trip To this beautiful setting. The reason for the three stars is because the food really wasn't that great. It's not cheap either considering. The ingredients were good but they just did not pull off but I felt dictated a $40 piece of fish. As I said the setting is spectacular and the hotel itself is one of the classic hotels in all of Hawaii. You can sit right at to this beautiful setting. The reason for the three stars is because the food really wasn't that great. It's not cheap either considering. The ingredients we're good but they just did not pull off what I found dictated a $40 piece of fish. We started with tempura pahole ferns. We love those local fern shoots but they were very greasy. I guess that's what you get when you order tempura we've had some in other places that was much lighter. Caesar salad what is a bit overdressed and soggy. Beet salad was nothing inspiring. As I said the setting is spectacular and the hotel itself is one of the classic hotels in all of Hawaii. You can sit right at your table and watch the manna rays swimming in circles down by the Shoreline because they have lights to attract the krill that the scoop up. Be sure to make time to walk the grounds and the beach which is a perfect little Crescent Cove in front of the hotel. read more

See all

Our 3rd time here and all have been perfectly prepated. My wife had maybe the best prepared filet we've ever encountered, and my ribeye was also great. The venue is pretty special too, so if you're looking for something special, and can look past the cost, this is amongst the top. read more

Everything was delicious! I especially enjoyed my seafood pasta and oysters with the incredible view. We had their buffet breakfast earlier that day, and loved it so much we went back for dinner. I would highly recommend Manta, when visiting the big island. We will definitely be back on our next visit. Mahalo for the yummy food and great service. read more

See all

We ate here a couple of days ago and was amazed by the service and the atmosphere. Food was good but could be better. I had the Caesar Salad and Shrimp cocktail to start and had the Snake River Farms Ribeye Medallion, Beef Fat Root Vegetables, Mushroom, Bearnaise. For dessert, my husband and I shared the chocolate soufflé and that was wonderful! Great experience overall except the homophobic bastards sitting next to us that kept saying how great they feel about Florida Governor DiSantis passing the Don't say "gay" initiative. read more

The location of this restaurant could not be any better. We've been vacationing at Mauna Kea for 14 years, so this is a seasoned review. We have been here in high season and summer. It is far busier in the high season so it's important to get to the restaurant early and get your name on the list for a coveted outside seating. However, even when you request a table number, they will not guarantee that you get the table. The tomatoes in the tomato salad are cold and milly. Would not get again. The grilled Caesar is nice though. The sweet and sour pork ribs are very flavorful. They give you three. The macadamia encrusted Mahi Mahi is delicious. Be sure to order the soufflés for dessert. They are all excellent. There are free roaming cats that walk around the tables. The New York Strip loin was seasoned very well and cooked perfectly. The fingerling potatoes and grilled thin asparagus were perfect compliments. After dinner when it's dark, walk along the sidewalk away from the hotel and stroll to the lights shining down on the ocean and if you're luckily, you'll see Manta rays swimming in the ocean. read more

Manta - Hawaiian Near Me - Kamuela, Hawaii

See all

SPECTACULAR VIEWS Located in the Mauna Kea Beach resort, this open air restaurant is what I'd imagine Hawaii to be if I didn't actually live in Hawaii. The service/timing for the prixe fix menu was slow, but the food is good with the usual resort pricing for fancy dining ($40-50/entree), and they have a 3-course kids menu so the kids enjoyed it too. FOOD We both got the tasting menu which seemed like the best deal and must've been good because we didn't have any leftovers or food left on the table. GLUTEN FREE OPTIONS They have gluten free menu options and even offer GF bread instead of the regular bread basket. I had the fresh catch of the day with mashed potatoes and it was delicious. MANTA SHOW After dinner the flood lights come on down by the shore and the mantas come up to play! This was pretty cool, there are businesses that take snorkelers out to swim with them but if you're eating here just go down around 8p and you can see them for free without getting wet. STARGAZING I'm so used to being in the bright lights that I rarely see this many stars. We saw the Milky Way from the manta viewing area. We visit this area every year and have eaten at a lot of places along the Kona/Waikoloa coast right on the beach for sunset dinners and this one is now my favorite for overall experience. read more

See all

I was highly recommend to Manta. During the end of our dinner, a cockroach crawled over our guest's head, and then one proceeded to crawl up my leg. I am not very scrimmage, However this was at least 2 inches or bigger! Our wives pulled up all their purses off the ground, as more were invading! The staff attempted to stomp out many of the roaches right in front of us !!However they could not get them all. Needless to say we left as quickly as we could. I called six times to let them know about the situation. I left multiple messages with managers, I never received a callback. I would seriously consider other restaurants on the island a little more attentive to the customer service and far less roaches. read more

Great spot for breakfast overlooking the ocean and the beautiful Mauna Kea resort. We came for breakfast and had a wonderful time. Service was excellent. Our waitress, also named Jenny, was a delight. She was so helpful and friendly and we had a great conversation with her about the area. The food was good, just not spectacular, but the ambiance and view are unmatched. We were served a complimentary bread and fruit plate appetizer which was a nice touch. Overall, a great experience for a relaxing breakfast. read more

See all

Pretty amazing experience at this restaurant. We called and made a reservation the night before so no problem there. We were seated immediately up front to a great view of the ocean and sunset. Our waitress was wonderful. The STRAWBERRY LEMONADE IS OUTSTANDING. I ordered those all night! The bread provided before dinner was really tasty. I ordered lobster ravioli as my appetizer. Loved it! My husband and I both ordered rib eye steak for our entrees! Cooked to perfection! The potatoes needed more salt and butter for my taste and the "buttered asparagus" was EXTREMELY bland. Other than that, we had a perfect night. The waitress brought us our check with a plate of desserts (dark chocolate and chocolate covered macadamias). The macadamias were yummy! I want more of those! read more

See all

Bottom Line: Spectacular views of the ocean and a great breakfast I have not ventured to Manta for dinner but their breakfast buffet is delicious and seems like a fair deal at $35. We enjoyed omelettes, Belgian waffles, eggs benedict and plenty of other guilty pleasures as part of the "Manta" buffet. Manta actually offers three different levels of their buffet. Manta is the most comprehensive at $35 but there is a lighter version and a Japanese version. Later in the day Manta offers a brunch buffet which seems pricy around $70 per person. So if you want the breakfast buffet, make sure you get there during breakfast hours. Manta is so named because Manta Rays swim up nearby at night and they can be seen from an overlook. You do not need to dine at Manta to look for the Manta Rays though. Just head down the path towards the light shining on the ocean and the tiki torches and with any luck you'll see the graceful rays. read more

Manta - A view from the lanai. - Hawaiian Near Me - Kamuela, Hawaii

See all

Boy do they have their stuff together. They are true professionals that love what they're doing. They make sure everyone has fun, gets to see the mantas and all are safe. We learned a lot in a short period of time I'd do it again read more

Views and chews is how I would describe my experience here. My travel companions and I dined at this resort restaurant for breakfast one morning and it was a great time. We all opted for the breakfast buffet and all of us were glad we did. There were so many options and everything was so fresh and tasty. And the views of the beach and ocean while dining were so relaxing.The service and staff were so awesome that I'm thinking about staying at this resort in the future. read more

See all

Really nice ambiance. Perfect location to catch the sunset for dinner. Enjoyed my meal here, had a steak that was cooked very well along with some scallop appetizers. Would say that there were a good amount of people although it was a weekday night, but the property seems quite busy in the summertime. Our meals were served on time, service was great and attentive, we got our drinks refilled fairly quickly every time, and were suggested certain dishes. Really overall a nice atmosphere and food was great too. read more

See all

A lot of BEST here in this review: * Best Maitai with Kona Rum * Best Shrimp Tempura (Pea shoots, Gochujang vinaigrette, truffle soy dashi) MUST TRY! * Best Fish entree dish (Grilled Kampachi with carrot ginger puree and fern shoots and my partner had the crusted Mahimahi one) * And lastly best view ever Somtimes restaurants have good food but no view; this restaurants have everything. The seafood were fresh and delicious. You can watch the sunset over the beautiful beach from the table; everything around is just so beautiful. Highly recommend this place when you visit Big Island . Pro tip: book a table so you can sit in the balcony with nice view. Fun fact: the restaurant is located on Kauna'oa Beach where many generations of a Manta Ray family live and feed here (that's why the restaurant is called Manta Ray). You can actually do night snorkeling to see these rays (which I did and it was one of the greatest experience I've ever had). Will post the night snorkeling on my stories. read more

See all

1. Left waiting for table for at least 25' 2. Seated in high traffic table, an area that should not even have a table 3. Food mediocre at best 4. Hostess extremely rude 5. Wine came 2/3 of the way through our meal 6. Salad sitting in puddle of dressing 7. Denied request for coffee-told coffee machine was "down" as they were putting up chairs for the evening. 8. Overpriced, many other restaurants deserving of your business! Will never return. read more

My favorite place to eat on Big Island. The restaurant is right on the water and is incredibly luxurious. I felt like a queen dining here! The food is delicious, especially the seafood appetizer and the oysters. We ordered the pork chops (delicious) which paired very well with the Malbec on the menu. Most importantly, the service was fantastic and our waiter gave us incredible recommendations. Can't wait to come here again! read more

Manta - Oysters and seafood platter - Hawaiian Near Me - Kamuela, Hawaii

OMG. This is a beautiful beachfront setting, and at night there are lights attracting Manta rays that are swirling around. Their Mai Tai is the fucking BOMB. Best mai tai anywhere., It has lilikoi foam and is just perfect. That's where everything falls apart. We had Nick as a waiter, who was SO bad we talked about it the rest of the trip. Nick the waiter was pretentious and terrible. He tried to sell us the most expensive bottle of white wine without telling us...then resented when we ordered our own choice....brought our $75 entrees out 30 min late and cold and dry....and never apologized. We weren't served our entrees until 2 hours after we arrived. It was so bad and so painful. Easily our worst meal and our most expensive.....the food was good but certainly not exceptional, except in cost. The service was terrible. Mai tais were the best. I would avoid eating here like the plague. read more