The food is delicious - top notch actually....and the portions are huge…read more Service is a tad slow initially, but it's all with a smile.

There service is fair food is tasty and fulfilling. Relaxing for people who like being around…read moreothers.

Best buttah cups on da island!!! Can't go wrong with guava butte. Great customer serviceread more

Butter baby butter. Super nice people. Burgers for days...always stop here, too friendly &…read moredelicious.

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.

OMG the pancakes!! It comes with whipped cream & haupia sauce and holy cow it's the BEST!…read more The pancake is ginormous and normally comes with two but I didn't want to waste so asked for just one. Volcano omelet and crispy hash browns hit the spot Mahalo Mahalo Mahalo

after 6 years we finally made it back for my much improved breakfast experience. And redemption for…read moremy terrible ordering the first time...after a 30 minute wait ( normal for here it's always busy and worth it ) only open until1pm ... a typical hawaiin meal ... after deliberating the many combinations available, and a little valuable help from our waitress, I ordered the 2 egg , hash browns, with a choice of side i got the yummy sweet french toast (2 pieces) and bacon! a feast fit for a very hungry me . it did not disappoint!! The eggs medium over were perfectly prepared, as were the french toast and hash browns. Erv ordered the same with pancakes( 2 ginormous) and ham... we shared. i don't know which i liked better... french toast or pancakes... scott got pork hawaian mac and rice. which he enjoyed! steph had the pancakes with coconut cream and whipped cream cream ... we had several doggy bags for breakfast tomorrow!!!

Make a beeline for Manas Aloha Fruit Stand. We tried the fresh coconut, and it was so good, I half…read moreexpected it to start singing "Aloha" to me. It was like drinking the very essence of Hawaii cool, sweet, and refreshingly perfect. Seriously, I'm pretty sure coconuts were invented just for this moment. The banana nut bread. It's like if a cloud and a muffin had a baby. Warm, soft, and so perfectly balanced between banana and nutty goodness that I almost bought another loaf just to avoid the heartbreak of it being gone. Don't ask how many pieces I ate just know I left with crumbs in my soul. This stand is the kind of place that makes you feel like you're in on a local secret, and by the time you leave, you're planning your next visit. Stop in, grab a coconut, and try not to devour the entire loaf of banana nut bread before you get to your car. It's worth the stop and maybe even the calories. But wait.....there's more! They've got pineapple, sugar cane, and star fruit that'll make you wonder why you ever settled for regular fruit. Each bite tastes like a burst of sunshine, and you'll feel like you're living your best tropical life.

My daughter wanted to drink out of a coconut on our vacation and this spot delivered! They were…read morefriendly and it was fresh and delicious! Highly recommend hitting this spot when visiting Akaka Falls.

Kawamoto Store has the best lunchbox foods ever! Their menu varies and everything they serve is…read morefreshly cooked daily! They are definitely a staple when traveling to Hilo on the Big Island of Hawaii! They make the best Cone Sushi (Inari Sushi or for those not aware, it is sushi rice in seasoned fried tofu pouches (or aburaage, in Japanese) EVER! The staff are super helpful and provide quick service! At times, they may come across a bit short but it's only because there customer lines are super long the entire time they are open. Their hours are from 6:00 AM - 12:00 PM. The staff are truly 'dialed-in' with they provide, so you can totally count on receiving efficient service! Kawamoto's gets my personal 5-Shaka rating!

Stopped by to pick up breakfast. There were about 5 people in line around 8:30am, but it moved…read morepretty quickly. Staff were friendly and food was good. My favorite was the nori chicken. Parking is limited, but we were able to find street parking in front of the store.

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.

That garlic rice! Get the garlic rice. Ahi don with the garlic rice is my go-to. Even the bentos…read morethey make are great if you're in a bit of a hurry.

I ordered the Katsu and it was fantastic, with tender meat and a crunchy crust. The garlic rice is…read moretasty with a hint of curry flavor. The salad was fresh and the sesame vinaigrette was well balanced. Highly recommend!

Just realized I didn't take any pictures. Sad! Well let me paint one for you…read more If you're missing your fancy big city food then this is the place to come. While they appear to be a casual, local, hippy establishment (and they are). The food and wait is worth every penny, (and pennies are more valuable now). You will hear live music when you approach building. It's bright and colorful, open air and you can feel your inner artist being inspired. The place is packed but you find a seat and listen to the laughter, singing, and sizzles from the kitchen. It's small and bundles of fruit seam to just be around everywhere. Your server gives you a menu and you think. "Oh wow! That's a bit pricy." But you're all in. Considering this place is proud of its farm to table reputation. Yes, nothing goes to waist here and it as fresh as you can possibly get. So you order and wait. And you wait, and you wait. Finally the plate arrives and it's beautiful. A paradise of fruit, veggie filled omelet and some things you're not sure if you can eat them or if it's just decoration. (You can eat them) Have you ever heard of a cranberry hibiscus? I'm not a fan of salsa with my eggs but they make their own from scratch and they also sell it. So I have to at least try it. "What is in this! Magic?" Before you know it a whole days life experience has just happened. There were ups, there were downs, and surprises. Not just from the food but the whole surroundings. Let's just say nothing was left on the plate and I have stories to tell. Our server was the sweetest older lady who you can tell just loved her job and people. In fact all the workers were just rays of sunshine and smiles. Did I just have breakfast or walk into a magical world where time stood still and surrounded me in song and colors. I swear I don't do substances, it's just that good.

I'm not even exaggerating when I say this was one of the best things I've ever eaten. They filled…read moremy foodie heart with joy. The ambience was so cute as well. This woman with the coolest dreads I've ever seen was singing. There was art all over the walls. And my server (David) was so so sweet and joyous. This is my fav restaurant in Hawaii and I def recommend checking them out!! They also have a farm tour so I will definitely be back to check that out next time. :)

Everything is amazing! Parking - awesome…read moreStaff - super friendly Food - omg, delish And while you wait, browse the crack seed area and buy some snacks! Love this place!!!

Crack seed. For us…read morelocals in Hawai'i, these snacks were childhood staples. The crack seed store, a classic place where vibes of nostalgia are generated every time I walk into one. 'Cause I grew-up with li hing mui and arare. There's a small number of locally-owned crack seed shops on the Big Island of Hawai'i and in Hawai'i in general. This is one of them, the "local-style candy store" for an island boy like me. I enter 5-Spice, located in East Hawai'i after the intersection of Kilauea Ave and W Puainako St, heading south. I remember frequenting this business when it used to be at Puainako Town Center. Their popularity over the years gave them the ability to move to a larger space. Now independently located in their own building with ample parking. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Would I be able to control myself, holding onto what's desired without adding anything extra? It's always impossible for me to do so. Everytime. Yummy preserved items in large display jars, others placed in vacuum sealed bags. All priced by-the-ounce. I become curious, wanting to taste it again. I go to my favorites, seeking them first while browsing through the visual display of many others. Cracked seed goodness on one side, bagged candies and sweets on the other. I've seen this all before yet, I stand still with the desire to place it all in my hands. And I sure do, my hands are full. I mail them to the U.S. mainland in care packages, travel to the neighbor-islands as omiyage, and personally enjoy them at work or at home as snacks. They make great gifts for friends and coworkers too. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Let's talk about food, where mouth-watering plates and yummy burgers are prepared. Bentos are packed to-go on the countertop. Offering an extensive menu for a take-out, all made to enjoy outside on picnic tables or elsewhere. Daily specials are available along with catering + platters too. Front service by the team at the counter is pleasant, attentive. Gratitude is always extended for every purchase. Comfortable, courteous, welcoming. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ "Meat Jun Plate" A light egg batter and thinly sliced beef served in an upscale fashion due to care in preparation and quality of flavor. The soft and indulgent texture of each meat jun piece, perfectly seasoned + cooked. Your choice of tossed greens, purple sweet potato or macaroni salad. "Honey Chicken Plate" Featuring a crazy yummy sweet and savory glaze, sticky and glossy. This sauce, this recipe creation is glorious. Chicken pieces are tender yet slightly crispy on the exterior. "Bibimbap" Freshly made Korean banchan, thinly sliced seasoned beef over white rice. I pour the gochujang over everything and mix-in the sunny side egg, bringing forward a creamy texture along with heat + depth. Choose the sweet potato salad as your side. "Gravy Burger Combo w/ French Fries" This massive burger patty is filling, satisfying. Charred and smothered in rich brown gravy served with lettuce and mayo. Choose the sweet bread bun, the seasoned salt on their fries makes all the difference. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Delicious food to-go with generous portions, sealed bags of cracked seed items + sweet treats at 5-Spice. For enjoyment at home, to share at work, gifts or omiyage. Find this charm, this unique and tasty experience on the Big Island of Hawai'i - East side. Locally owned and operated.