Just realized I didn't take any pictures. Sad! Well let me paint one for you. 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. read more

I'm not even exaggerating when I say this was one of the best things I've ever eaten. They filled my 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. :) read more

Pele's Kitchen - Blintz - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Pahoa, Hawaii

It bothers me that I had to give this establishment one star. The food was not much better than what you will find at 7/11. The service was adequate but after a run in with the apparent owner who smelled of intoxication raising his voice to me in a public setting after being served inadequate portions of improperly prepared meals, I will nerve spend a single cent there again and I highly suggest that no one else do either. It won't be long before someone catches rat lung worm from improperly washed produce. Or the alcoholic owner being physically beaten in his own establishment. Have a beautiful day and Aloha read more

Great service, great food! I got the fish Benedict and I devoured my plate! Also get the fruit platter for some good local grown products! read more

Pele's Kitchen - Fish Benedict and fruit platter - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Pahoa, Hawaii

This was not what we were looking for. We had to exercise our most flexible mindset. We were starving and food took possibly 30+ min. We were a party of 4 and plates were brought out with 3-5 min difference. The vibe was supper hippy, earthy, which is fine. But the music was on in the kitchen, there was live bi-neural solo-guy playing and there was the noise of a construction and the cars outsise. We we never rude but accepting. We seriously did not like the food, the seasoning was cumin-y. The Cassava patty was all curry and cumin. People were nice, but the place did not look clean. And the sweets brought as complimentary as soon as we sat in tasted like stale old cake. So happy that this restaurant is pleasant for many people, but it was not for ourselves, and this review may help other people have a better idea of what to expect. read more

Pele's Kitchen - Cassava Patty - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Pahoa, Hawaii

Local cool vibe with a colorful garden inside. I really enjoyed the abundance of colors and life here. The green plants and artwork on every surface inside brought such a joyful feeling, which added to the delicious breakfast. The pancakes were superb! Oh, the service was authentically friendly and real. Real people. Real lives being lived bringing fruit directly from local farms. Such a wonderful experience. read more

Pele's Kitchen - Inside - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Pahoa, Hawaii

Amazing service. And great farm to fork tasty food. Fresh local fruits and juices. Delicious foods. Great vibe. If in Pāhoa this place is the go to breakfast. Really good service with great suggestions. The food was fresh and very tasty. Great find while visiting big island south of Hilo. I had blintz and other family were very happy with all their choices. read more

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I really, really wanted to love this place, the ambiance is fantastic but the sevice left much to be desired. After getting a very wonderful greeting we were told to sit any where we chose a table then waited. And waited. And waited. A waitress acknowledged us, but never came to take our order:After about 30-35 minutes i went to the counter to order: Breakfast, a small fruit sampler, coffee and tea. After giving the order, the waiting continued. We were treated to the smell of marijuana? but not to the coffee or tea we ordered. After another 25-30 minutes the fruit sampler came. It was delicious but we still had not received any beverages. Eventually our beverages arrived. Then we waited for our breakfast. We watched as dinner people who arrived and ordered shatter us received their food. 12 noon came and the restaurant was now closed. The waitress came to clear the fruit plate and offered to bring us the tab and then remembered we did order something else. Not wanting to wait any longer we asked to cancel the rest of the order. We ended up at Burger King but that's a whole other story read more

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We really enjoyed the aloha and hugs we received when we came. It was busy on Sunday morning, but worth the wait. Hubby and I had the loco moco with a side of spam. Yummy. Second time here. Recommend!! read more

Super cool place in pahoa. Small fruit platter and the big breakfast is enough for 2 people to share and have leftovers. It's not a dine and dash type place but the servers and staff make the wait go by quickly and the food is worth it. read more

Loved the vibe of this place as soon as we walked in! The entire building had a personality behind it. The service was amazing, very welcoming and friendly. I ordered the small exotic fruit sampler and it was not very small! It came with way more than I was expecting. The waiter took the time to explained the different fruits to me which was extremely helpful. He also mentioned these fruits were grown in their farm, which made it feel that much closer. Moody the cat was also part of the welcoming committee and let me give him some pets. read more

Pele's Kitchen - Moody the cat. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Pahoa, Hawaii

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If you're anywhere on the East side of the big island, add this spot to your must try list! Pele's is located in Old Pāhoa and offers authentic Hawaiian classics with amazing hospitality from the staff (thank you Steph!) The interior is extremely inviting and warm with all the colors and decorations all over. Try their Puna exotic fruit platter! All ingredients like fruits and veggies are locally grown from their farm not too far from the restaurant. Their farm also offers tours of their cocoa trees and fruit gardens. Parking was very easy in this area and allows for easy access to other small businesses nearby! read more

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You can't miss Pele's Kitchen when driving down the adorable town of Pahoa - it's the brightly colored art-painted building. The inside is just as inviting, such a cool and artistic vibe! My son and I were looking forward to breakfast here to celebrate our last day of our trip, and it didn't dissapoint. We were greeted by the sweetest server who took the BEST care of us the entire time. She went above and beyond to be sure we were taken care of! We were so impressed with all of the delicious vegan options on the menu, and they didn't disappoint. We tried the jungle juice (SO good!), exotic fruit plate, tofu scramble - and my son had the french toast. Everything was so fresh and delicious. Pele's Kitchen is such a vibe, we will definitely be back! read more

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The food was good, the staff was friendly. They have a huge variety of breakfast selections and I love the blend of vegan, vegetarian and local style. Will be coming back again. read more

Server was good but food was awful. How can someone mess up on hash browns and scrambled eggs so bad.

Cool vibe with great food and service. They had live entertainment while we were there, and it was pretty good.

WORST CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE!! I'm going to start off by saying I was a server & bartender for many years & know the industry well. Our server today greeted us & was friendly taking our order. Pele's was obviously understaffed with only one server who looked like she was in her 70s. We ordered and waited for a long time, but the past experience here was also a long wait, so I wasn't surprised or upset. I had my 2 year old with me, so we did walk outside a couple times because he was struggling sitting still. After 30 minutes, a party of 6 came in, sat down & ordered their food. Within 15 minutes, they all got their food & were enjoying their meals. I asked the server about our meals & told her that we would need to make it "to go" now, because my son couldn't sit still any longer. She said okay. My son then accidentally knocked over a cup of water which spilled all over the table and onto the floor. I used the one napkin we were given & some paper towels from the bathroom to clean as much of the mess as I could. I let the server know & she said she would bring a mop, but never did. At this point, it had been a full hour after we ordered. I went to the counter and the server said she couldn't rush the kitchen, it should be out soon. I overheard the owner was out front & I went up to him to explain the situation. He did apologize and offered a free chocolate bar, but then went on to say "Yeah, I've heard a lot of stories" & "We're not a fast food restaurant" & "There's no way to know what time the order went in". He was rude and totally gaslighting me. I showed him a text from my husband with his order at 8:34am. It was 9:45am. The owner said "That's not proof". I was shocked by his tone & lack of understanding. The server was standing right there beside us and just looked down & never said a word. I kept asking her to tell him what happened, but she wouldn't make eye contact or say anything. I asked the owner to verify my story with the server or the cooks, but he said it didn't matter. I told him it was challenging with my two year because he was losing patience. The owner looked down at my child & said sarcastically "yeah, he's definitely losing it". I literally would have still paid full price and tipped well if there was communication from the server as to why things were taking longer or the owner was understanding & compassionate. The owner did end up giving me $20 off and we got our food 1 hr and 15 minutes later. They didn't give us utensils, napkins or butter for the pancakes. The food was cold & subpar. I walked out crying because of how I felt when the owner was speaking to me & how he made it seem like I was making up a story. I'm a great patron and a great tipper, but this was an awful experience. I will never go there again. As I was walking out crying, the water spill was still all over the table/floor & the owner was sword fighting a customer with wooden sticks inside the restaurant. I couldn't even make this stuff up. What a shit show. AVOID THIS RESTAURANT!! read more

Pele's Kitchen - The server. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Pahoa, Hawaii

The service and experience was amazing. The live music was perfect for breakfast. The food is all homemade and with fresh ingredients. The fruit with each plate was perfectly picked and ripe. The Moco Loco was delicious. The coffee was local and brewed fresh. I highly recommend this location. read more

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Awesome experience at a great local spot. We loved the local fruits and house made juices and syrups. Our server, Dave, was great. The owner, Casey, is super friendly and so is his bird (who deserves a bag of pistachios). Highly recommend. read more

I loved getting the jungle breakfast, it was like being able to try a little bit of everything that's offered. I loved the ambiance probably the most though and hawaiian music, and while I am on vacation and am searching for authentic hawaiian food and vibes, I couldn't help but be reminded of home aswell and I honestly loved that. I would definitely recommend trying their homemade hot sauce too, while the food was good, I am a lover of spice and it definitely enhanced my food. Everyone working was very nice and I wish I could come here daily and am sad I have to part with such a gem. read more

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Delicious local farm to fork food. If you like spicy, definitely grab a jar of pickled Hawaiian Chili peppers! Ono Kine! Live music, eclectic, artsy ambiance, excellent service and great vibes. read more

Pele's Kitchen - Indoor dining room - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Pahoa, Hawaii

We popped in for a simple breakfast, and they delivered. The entire place is painted, showcasing art, (and at night evidently has live music? I don't know what we drove by...) But for the morning - it was just us. My partner had a simple breakfast, it filled her up and got her some spam (lightly grilled, very tasty). I opted, as always, for the loco moco. Thicker gravy than elsewhere, perfectly cooked eggs. Great flavor. And a small side of fruit (just enough to add some sweetness to breakfast). It's worth hitting the nearby parking lot and walking over for a nice simple breakfast and coffee. read more

Pele's Kitchen - Breakfast plate with spam 10/2023 - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Pahoa, Hawaii

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Customer service and better food. It took so long to get some.coffee Wenhave been there 3 times and service was sub par read more

Pele's Kitchen is just one of those places you'll be going back to again and again. Heart of the Old Pahoa Town and lovely staff!

Give back the basket of fruit and day old sweet breads. Take away the chicken fried steak crap breakfast. read more

Sadly, today was my third and last visit to Pele's Kitchen. The food was mediocre the first two times but I came back because the ambience is fabulous and there aren't a lot of options in Pahoa. The inside is vibrant and artistically decorated and the outside garden area is lovely. We ordered 1 omelette, 1 eggs Benedict, and 2 coffees - the tab was $74 for two (including a $12 tip). My eggs Benny was yuk. The eggs were overcooked, the muffins were soggy, and the hollandaise sauce was clearly not the real deal. I was super hungry so I ate it , but I could not eat the hash fries. I sat there trying to figure out what was wrong with them, they didn't even taste like potatoes, very weird. Thrice frozen? They would do well to cut their menu in half and put more care into their food. So bummed. read more

We had a wonderful breakfast here! Staff was friendly and welcoming, food was delicious and great portions, we had some live music accompaniment even at 9:30am. We had the Kalua eggs Benedict, sausage/spinach/feta scramble, breakfast burrito, and mango/coconut blintzes. So good! We also picked up some jams, sauce, and chocolates that they make on their farm, too! Highly recommend supporting a local business like this! read more

Pele's Kitchen - Kalua pork Benedict, sausage/spinach/feta scramble - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Pahoa, Hawaii

Beautiful artisanal breakfasts made with care. From a sample of fresh baked goods to our colorful spreads of island delicacies, everything was fresh and delicious. As for the ambience, the hand-painted walls are as unique as the menu items themselves. Go around back and you'll befriend two cheeky parrots, a sweet tortoise, a pretty Kitty, couple Guinea pigs, and white rabbit in their lush garden. All ingredients on the menu are locally sourced and seasonally chosen with care. Some may even come from their garden. Fantastic all around & quite a memorable dining experience. read more

Well came in for breakfast, told to Hold on, because one of the workers cut there had and cannot work. Me and my son were seated , I ordered coffee and my son had a juice drink which he really enjoyed. He ordered a two egg plate which included pancakes with spam , bacon and fruit . Nothing fancy. There was a person playing a steel ufo drum. With drinks and tip was $40. I think it was pretty steep. But being the type Willing to try something new. Why not. One of the more expensive places to eat. read more

My Vegan friend said this place was worth the drive out to Pahoa just for breakfast. I figured I'd get a twofer by hitting the farmers market afterward since it was a Sunday. WRONG! It took us 3 hours round trip from Hilo just to eat breakfast!! When we arrived there were 5 people ahead of us at the door where we all stood for the next 45 min or so. After we finally got our foot in the door we were asked to share a table with another couple which was fine because they were cool people to talk to. Another 15 min just to order. 10 more min or so for our fruit plate to arrive followed by another 15 min wait for our cooked food. Thank goodness for the complimentary cinnamon rolls cuz we were good and hangry by then. Despite the horrendous wait, I still gave this place 5 stars for the farm to table quality, taste, and beautiful presentation of the food as well as the super cool and unique vibe of the handpainted ceilings, walls, and floors of the interior. It's like the whole inside of the restaurant is a colorful mural. Love it! Service was also polite and friendly even though they were grossly short-handed and seemed a bit overwhelmed. (This was our experience at every restaurant and attraction all over the Big Island for 5 days due to lots of visitors and a labor shortage.) FOOD: Fruit plate: gorgeous assortment of local mountain apple, papaya, mango, pineapple, banana, watermelon, and lychee cut in half seed and all. Each plate is a work of art so no wonder you have to wait. Unfortunately not all the fruits were as sweet as they looked and we noticed not all fruit plates were created equally. Still you should get it because it will arrive faster than the other food. Waikoloa Scramble: delicious mixture of eggs, with the best sun dried tomatoes, mushrooms and goat cheese Ulu waffle- a little denser that a regular waffle, comes with 3 choices of syrup - coconut, lilikoi and ? (Oops forgot) Yum! DRINK: the menu lists a whole bunch of interesting juices that I was eager to try but apparently they are not all available. The juice of the day was pineapple- mango which was a beautiful blend of the two neither overpowering the other. Love this place as does apparently everyone else in Pahoa, but not the wait! Will have time wake up earlier next time. read more

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Unbelievably fresh fruit and ingredients, kind service, and delicious juices. We went out of our way to go to PK and we were so glad we did! You can taste the aloha in every bite! read more

Wonderful breakfast options. Gluten free waffles. Pahoa ambiance. Everything I tried has been great!

A very fortunate find for breakfast this morning. Characterized by an artistically eclectic ambiance, wholesome local flavors and familial atmosphere, Pele's Kitchen is a truly special place. Everything was outstanding. read more

AMAZING Customer service! Bang is the man, I asked for a surprise plate to show me Hawai'i and the chef personally made me an omelette that I'll never forget! read more

Pele's Kitchen - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Pahoa, Hawaii

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Even if the food was awful here it would be tough not to want to come back! After a few days traveling in the Big Island seeing volcanoes and lava -rimmed beaches found this gem of a local restaurant named after the goddess of the volcano. Floors and ceiling painted with a folk art style. All very neat. Such friendly and efficient service starting with a tray of free pastries on Sundays - outstanding! Meals came with a fresh fruit cup. I had my first moco loco and my wife had the juevos rancheros with a cup of orange ginger juice. Huge portions all cooked to perfection. This place is worth the trip!!! read more

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Possibly the best meal I ate while in Hawaii! While the food was fantastic, it was the service and ambience that really made our dining experience so spectacular. The staff was so kind, and we were able to enjoy some live music during our meal! read more

Pele's Kitchen - restaurant - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Pahoa, Hawaii

Freakin' awesome place. I'm so glad we went there because we were on our way to a usual spot. Loved brunch in the garden and they were so kind to us! We had loco moco, pancakes, and the fruit sampler, which was enough to take home and have for breakfast the next day. Aloha Pele's Kitchen. read more

Cozy, island-inspired and authentic decor designed with love. Live music played during our breakfast. Sincerely kind service. Strong coffee. And lovely food! We had breakfast quesadillas and whole grain pancakes. The quesadilla was spiced perfectly and included black beans and scrambled eggs. The pancakes were hearty, served with 3 kinds of syrup to choose from, including coconut! Definitely do not miss this perfect, sweet breakfast spot full of aloha. read more

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The ambiance, art, decor, service and food are all 5 stars! Had the opportunity to enjoy breakfast here 2x during our stay and enjoyed every sip and bite both days. Everything is farm to table and delicious. One thing to note is that the fresh pressed local juices go quickly in the morning, so plan to rise and shine accordingly :) Highly recommend! read more

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5 Black coffee Water Iced mamske tea Kalua pig benedict Loco Moco spam Puna exotic fruit sampler King Kamehameha lau lau platter Buttermilk pancakes grilled pineapple Country fried steak n eggs Came in for breakfast on Sunday. Put in our order, we got an extra coffee and no water. Once the coffee came out, there wasn't any utensils so we had to flag down a waiter, everyone was busy doing their thing. Finally asked an older waitress and she said ok and then she disappeared to help the people in front of us, and she never brought the utensils. By this time my coffee is all cold. How was I suppose to stir my coffee? I was able to Flag down the younger dude, took him 15 mins to bring out the utensils, where tf did he go ? The Himalayas to get it? the spoon was huge and he only brought one when there were 5 coffees on the table. Meanwhile all the people that came in after us got their commentary bakery and utensils. Out of all the restaurants we went to in on our trip to Hawaii, this takes the cake for the worst service. There were many attempts from my parents trying to get up and leave but us kids said let's just wait and so we waited and waited and left pissed off. It took 1:15 mins to get our food, at that point, McDonalds would have been a better choice. read more

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