Had the Belgium Waffles and Eggs Benedict. Both delicious. :) Ambiance is cozy and cute. Mellow music soothes in the background. If you get the pressed coffee, go for the large. It's $7, but if you love coffee, well worth it. The small only gave me a cup an a half and was $4.95. Wanted more! :) Service is excellent! :) read more

Paul's Place - Belgium Waffles. $6.95 - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

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This place is special not just because it serves incredible food but it is an extremely intimate setting with only 3 tables in the whole restaurant. Plus Paul cooks from a small kitchen area that is visible from your table. It was such a joy to watch him cook everything from scratch all with the freshest ingredients. It is hard to find a restaurant where so much love, care, and attention is given to every dish. This was my most memorable restaurant experience on the Big Island and the food was incredible (I'm still dreaming about my fish bowl and the waffles!). If any place deserves five stars, it is Paul's Place. Thank you so much, Paul, for a truly wonderful experience. Some people have complained about the prices but if I bought everything that went into the dishes (especially the fish bowl dish) including all the different herbs and spices, I would end up spending much more per dish than he charges. I think the prices are extremely reasonable since each dish is very intricate and made with great care by Paul himself. I would gladly pay much more for the food and experience even. read more

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Small hole in the wall but amazing prices & service. Very fast informative and delicious all without breaking the bank!

This is Hilo's hidden secret. I love this place and the food is awesome. You should make reservations because seating is very limited. read more

Paul's Place - He has the best eggs benedicts. We had the salmon and the bacon benedicts and they're always so delicious! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

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Friendly people and fantastic food. I had the Belgian waffles with bacon, strawberries and bananas. These were the lightest and crispiest waffles I have ever had. The maple syrup was served warm. My girlfriend had the smoked salmon eggs Benedict which was made to perfection. The owner was so nice and the place was super clean. It is small, only 3 tables so a reservation is recommended. They are only open for breakfast and lunch. Highly recommended. read more

We snuck in to the last table (the second table) and were lucky enough to enjoy the most amazing breakfast ! The staff was so warm and welcoming and the restaurant is small it has such a lovely and cozy feel . The breakfast capers it probably the best thing ever invented! You should probably make a reservation as we were just lucky read more

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The service here was rude. I didn't appreciate how the owner helped customers behind me and sat them first, then apologized saying that there was not any seating. read more

If you are in Hilo you have to eat here for breakfast or lunch! Only three tables so make a reservation Snd order everything!

All of their food is so fresh and good! My favorite is SS BLT and Eggs Benedict I am not a fan of hollandaise sauce but his one is really good I miss those days I could just walk in though! Make sure to call and make reservation!! read more

I haven't been to Paul's in awhile, but coming back is like coming home. New menu item alert: Breakfast Caprese...great for any time of day! Crostini topped with capers, olives, poached eggs, mozzarella cheese and tomatoes with bacon. Delicious! read more

Paul's Place - Breakfast Caprese...another "must" to add to my list of "must eat at Paul's". Must have the Belgian waffles, Caesar salad and fish bowl. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

Best little breakfast spot in Hilo!! Make reservations way in advance!! Prices are reasonable, Paul will make you feel at home! read more

You have to try Paul's Place!!! And if you want to, please book a table in advance :) (They only have three tables). Paul's Place is a good choice to start your day in Hilo. We had the eggs benedict (one original and one with salmon). It has a good quality and it tasted great. read more

Understandable due to space limited. The food, service is awesome. Highly recommend and you get your money worth. Perfect for couples and family. read more

Disappointed. Never answers the phone. This business would never survive any where else. Probably a front business for something else going on or in the witsec program. A business model of how not to do do business. Covid doesn't stop anyone from answering the phone or posting a note on the front door. Stop using excuses. Everyone else on the island makes it happen. No worries. Wont ever be back. Take my business to Koji's read more

Paul's place has three tables and a very relaxed ambience. Fresh ingredients (except the pre packaged lox) and a small menu enables uncle Paul to focus on perfecting everything on his menu as well as introducing chef/produce inspired specials. Best waffles you can get on the island, delicious coffee and a chill spot is why I'm making reservation there right now. read more

Pompous and arrogant. Given the third degree when we stop bye to try and have breakfast. I guess you have to be a local to eat here without a reservation. No thank you there's plenty of other places to eat read more

Absolutely the best breakfast and brunch available on the Big Island. Make your reservation and enjoy something truly special. I love that there is only three tables and that Paul always treats you like family. I eat the waffles and beg part of the eggs Benedict from my dining partner. It's a negotiation that's worth the effort! read more

A memorable breakfast experience every time I've been here. Paul is amazing and it's simply magical what he can create in that tiny little kitchen. It reminds me of the final scene in ratatouille. No he's not a rat, but his passion for food and his customers is in every bite. I kid you not, words cannot describe the food. It emotes a feeling of pure happiness. Ok that's enough emo imagery, lol. The food is great. I've had the benedict and the breakfast caprese. If you can't decide, just ask Paul to decide for you. You will love it. Make reservations! Make reservations! Make reservations! And if you can't find the place, keep walking around until you do. The place isn't big, you'll be fine. read more

Prime example of quality over quantity as chef/owner Paul apparently has no desire to expand beyond his current 6 seats. So yeah, surprisingly, reservations are recommended for this modest breakfast/lunch joint. From the genuine aloha spirit as you walk in the door to the immaculate presentation of your plate, everything is done with great care. The first bite of my eggs benedict brought a BIG smile to my face from the lemony aioli used instead of hollandaise. The aioli incorporates lemon juice, lemon zest, and rosemary. The benedict was done "Paul's Way" with lettuce, tomato, bacon, perfectly poached eggs, and the aforementioned aioli. I ate it super slow so that I could be happy again when I got to the second half of the portion. I'm not kidding. It made me happy twice. My friends eat here once a week and swear it's the best food in Hilo. She got the legendary waffle and I was hoping she wouldn't be able to finish it so I could assume the leftovers, but no, she cleaned her plate. Her husband got his "pasta special" with a fried pasta cake covered in something yummy. Another completely clean plate by the time we were done. When every plate on your table goes back completely clean you know the food was good. Hours and seating are limited so you gotta plan ahead or just get lucky. The dining room area and open kitchen are immaculate. read more

Superb breakfast spot with friendly service. I was lucky enough to get seated right when I got there without any reservation. Coffee was good. Eggs Benedict was different from the typical, but was oh so tasty. I will definitely come back! read more

Paul's Place - Eggs Benedict - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

You might not believe that such delicious morsels could be developed in such a small kitchen, but that is exactly what happened during our visit to Paul's Place. First, we were lucky to get a seat as we just walked in off the street, without a reservation. Paul accepted us like family. And while the menu is slightly limited, with 6-8 choices for breakfast and 6-8 choices for lunch, the selections covered a wide array of options. We chose from the lunch menu: the BLT for my teenage daughter; the fish sandwich for my wife; and the fish bowl for me. The BLT was loaded with savory, thick cuts of bacon and the freshest, locally sourced lettuce and tomatoes. It included a small "greek-type" salad. The fish sandwich was a finely diced raw ahi tuna served with lettuce, tomatoes and sprouts on a croissant. This was also served with the greek salad. Finally, the fish bowl had two 1" thick crosscut, sauted pieces of Ono that were delivered atop a hearty bed of angel hair pasta. The pasta was dressed with fresh tomatoes, capers, sardines and greek olives. While this was a lunch sized portion, I am a big eater and I WAS STUFFED. The best part of the meal was the interaction with Paul. With the cozy size of his entire facility being not much bigger than my mother's kitchen, we shared conversation and jokes while he cooked our meal. He was warm and inviting, and his delivery of our meals didn't miss a single detail. If you are going to be in Hilo, a visit to this bistro is an absolute must. PS...I almost forgot to mention, as we were Paul's final customers of the day, rather than throw out his remaining waffle batter, he surprised us (gratis) with a beautiful double-stack waffle with hot "real" maple syrup, fresh strawberries and bananas, and whip cream on top. This literally put our meal experience over the top. Thanks Paul! read more

Great food and Place, Owner is very nice. Very personable. Fish Bowl is great, Lots of tea selections. The atmosphere is relaxing and peaceful. Food is just amazing. read more

Paul's Place - GReat Food and Place, Hospitality Amazing, Fish Bowl - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

Needed to come to Hilo from Waikoloa to pick up some Hawaii famous moichi from Two Ladies so thought I would look for a new breakfast place in Hilo. Paul's definitely lives up to and deserves it's reputation. Had the Eggs Benedict. One of the most flavorful meals I have ever had the good fortune to eat. Non- tradtional sauce: lemon, dill rosemary aoli sauce over perfectly poached eggs, sweet local tomatoes, crisp flavor packed but not dry bacon all on a bed of toasted english muffin. Believe or not, reservations recommended because it's only three tables. Owner is the head chef and the food server Koa (you can call me Freckles) offered a relaxed, non rushed service with a lot of Aloha. Very clean, comfortable ambience. On my visit, Tony Bennett/Lady Gaga collaboration of old school ballads were playing. Paul obviously takes great pride in the preparation and presentation of his food. What a treat to find a restaurant that lives up to its many 5 star reviews. Don't forget to call for reservations. Word of caution... this is not diner grub. Nothing wrong with that. Ken's Pancake House for that type of fare. read more

Paul's Place - Eggs Benedict with a lemon,dill rosemary aoli sauce. Eggs poached to perfection,fresh sweet local tomato. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

The place in Hilo to enjoy an absolutely exceptional breakfast. Let me begin by saying Paul has three tables so it is best to make a reservation. Each meal is a work of art to the eye and pallet. The bagel, lox and cream cheese, arrives with lox arranged as a rose, my caprice was a unique array of flavors and textures. And Paul is the artist in charge. read more

Paul's Place - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

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MAKE A RESERVATION!!! Don't take the chance on getting turned away. Only 3 tables. This may seem abnormal, but the quaint environment allows for an amazing experience. Paul can flat out cook, has a great sense of humor, and his server was warm and friendly. They catered to our every need throughout our breakfast. Phenomenal service. Great food. Amazing atmosphere. Paul's Place is 2nd to none. Belgium Waffle covered in fruit was epic. Not your traditional eggs Benedict, but amazing nonetheless. Don't miss out, and did I mention.... MAKE A RESERVATION!!! read more

Paul's Place - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

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After sitting outside for a half hour because they don't open at 7 it's 730 I was told I had to have a reservation and there was no one in the restaurant. Very upset and party of one. read more

Best waffles I've ever had. Breakfast caprese was off the charts. Presentation was beautiful. Service was fab. Paul himself was a delight. You can tell he loves what he does and it comes through in the food. We will be back! read more

Amazing breakfast! Note: make sure to make reservations. There are three tables only (which adds points onto the "intimacy" meter). We got lucky and were able to eat without a reservation but other people were turned away. I had eggs Benedict and my wife had waffles with fresh fruit on top. The ingredients were very fresh and the meal was delicious. The chef and waiter are very attentive and helpful. Five stars!! read more

Paul's Place - Benny eggs & and famous waffles!!! YuM!! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

Paul's place is hands down the hidden jewel of Hilo !!! Best Restraunt with the sweetest staff. Wish I could eat there every day. Highly recommend you making a reservation though. read more

One of the best meals we had in Hawaii! We split the Belgian waffle and Eggs Benedict. The waffle was amazing...definitely the best I've ever had. And the flavors in the egg Benedict were incredible. A nice twist on the traditional dish. We came here on a recommendation from someone in Texas. We are so happy we did. Way to go, Paul. Your food rocks! read more

Absolutely love this place! Paul is an amazing Chef with a kindhearted personality. He has a smile that brightens the room and energy that makes you feel at home. Highly recommend this place! You won't be disappointed. read more

This little local spot is precious. Two tables - seating for 6 in the whole restaurant. Paul cooks right there on a little hot plate. His passion for his food is in every single bite. The presentation is beautiful. Even in the yogurt parfait, the homemade granola was some of the best I have had. The salon Benedict was my friends favorite and my husband could not rave any more about his waffles. We will return! read more

I was here for breakfast and had egg's benedict first. Sadly It was not very impressive in taste and the portion was small. So for that pice it wasn't satisfactory at all. The service should improve by genuinely listening to customers' requests. ( I asked for extra plates- we were going to share the orders- and repeated this but just got one plate but we were two people) The waffle was the best part. super delicious. I would definitely go back for the waffles. But not anything else because of the price, portion and taste value. read more

Great food and nice man. He used to have a food stand outside Home Depot. The eggs Benedict is delicious.

the Caprese was delicious. it came served on crostini bread that was a delicate level of crisp. but equally notable, Paul is a easy going person who engages easily with his patrons. he's a funny man who cooks great food! would come back again. the place with homey and small so it fills up quick. may need to make a reservation. read more

I love this eclectic place, and Paul is a great cook, although closed due to covid. Patiently awaiting his reopening....

Delicious food. Fantastic staff!! We could not have asked for a better meal on the Big Island. We wish that we would have found this place earlier on in our trip! YOU MUST MAKE A RESERVATION! All the love! read more

Cute little breakfast place that is perfect for a romantic or friendly brunch. Reservations ahead of time are required I believe... unlikely that a table will be open upon walk in. But worth it read more

Easily the best waffle I've ever had in my entire life. There really are just three tables which seat 2 people each, so make a reservation! Paul is so friendly and kind. He made our breakfast even more enjoyable, not that the Belgium waffles needed any help to be incredible. I am not one who can usually finish an entire plate of waffles, but I made it my personal mission to make sure that not one bite of these was left. If you couldn't tell already, I would highly recommend this place to anyone and everyone looking to find the most delectable and lovingly made food in Hilo. read more

Cute little cafe with amazing food and friendly employees! Their Belgian waffle is a must try! Salmon Benedict was delicious and so was the Loc & Bagel. Everything about this place was great! Need to call ahead and make reservations but it is so worth it! read more