We came to Honokaa on a whim for some site seeing. Decided on a little treat for our drive back home. So we got a dozen original malasadas. They were made fresh, some of the best malasadas I've ever eaten. Their dough was light and fluffy. It wasn't greasy at all. And when we ate it a few hours later, it warmed up well! We will be coming back for these! (For those that are from Oahu, these are much different than Leonards. I'd say from my humble opinion, better) read more

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The very first malassada I ever had was many years ago at Tex Drive In. I just remembered how delicious these were, and if I ever came back to the Big Island, I'd have to come back to Tex. So it's been about 20 years, and the place is no longer the "hot spot" (maybe because we came on a weekday). There were a few locals having breakfast outside, but we were able to walk right up and order several different malassadas. We tried strawberry and guava filling, and they were quite good. It does make the malassada a bit overly sweet, though. I still prefer their plain malassadas. They are like sugar donuts without the hole. Now that I've had other malassadas to compare to, I find Tex's to be on a breadier side. I've had others in Oahu that were lighter and fluffier, which I now prefer. But no where have I found any malassadas as big as Tex's. So maybe Tex's has lost it's charm a bit, but they still serve up some pretty yummy malassadas. read more

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This place used to be good. I don't know who owns it now but it seems nearly dead. The menu is very expensive for what is served. The building is in disrepair. There is poultry wandering in and out. Sad. We asked for a paper plate to eat a $13 sandwich on and were told we would have to pay $.68 more. What happened to this place??!! read more

The malasadas are delicious - super fluffy and not overly sweet. The service is fast, and you can choose between multiple fillings. I've tried mango and banana cream fillings. They were good, but I found them to be a little too sweet. If I visit again, I will just get the plain malasadas! Each malasada is pretty big, so you can split one between two people if you don't want a large dessert. I would recommend checking out the inside of the store. They have a window that lets you see the bakery area. You can also visit the gift shop, but most things there are expensive. Visit on a weekday to avoid lines! read more

Tex Drive In - Malasadas - multiple flavors - Fast Food Near Me - Honokaa, Hawaii

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We have been here before and yes their Malasadas are delicious but today was just an exercise in frustration! The place is clearly understaffed and we arrived to long lines and several grumpy customers asking where their food was! They are known for their Malasadas so why not have them ready to go for customers - but instead what should be a simple process is held up but every other order for burgers, breakfast and beyond! The girls at the front counter were taking orders, dealing with the drive through, packing orders and kept disappearing off the register where you placed orders! When after over 15 minutes waiting we got to the front - one girl wandered off and the other opened up another register - and started serving some customers that has JUST walked in - leaving our line 4 deep ! Finally we gave up and left! This is a popular place but very understaffed and not worth the wait! read more

Tex Drive In - Malasadas - Fast Food Near Me - Honokaa, Hawaii

Super easy parking and ordering. Service is great and you get your food pretty fast. We got our malasadas right when we checked out and they were so yummy! My faves were the banana cream and guava! The saimin was full of noodles and filling for the price. read more

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Such delicious malasada donuts and they're filled to the brim! Really soft texture and loved every flavor We got the Mango, Guava, and Bavarian Cream Malasadas and favorite was probably Mango. A sweet treat but not overly sweet. Highly recommend a stop on the scenic drive on this side of the island! For the donuts there really is just a drive through. Parking lot and restaurant seating inside if you order hot food. read more

Tex Drive In - Mango, Guava, Bavarian Cream Malasadas - Fast Food Near Me - Honokaa, Hawaii

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Our MUST HAVE MALASADAS place once a month. The drive up is gorgeous and the food is delicious. The staff is always lovely and welcoming and I love the various flavors offered. Even just plain without filling is mouth watering. On occasion we eat our breakfast or lunch here too and it is hands down my favorite for hamburgers, hot dogs and fried. read more

Tex Drive In - Delicious banana Malasada - Fast Food Near Me - Honokaa, Hawaii

We came here after getting breakfast in Waimea just to get Malasadas. Yes we we're already full, but we probably wouldn't be getting back here on this trip. You have to be intentional to get here, as they're not really close to Hilo or Koma- but if you decide to make the drive you won't be disappointed. OMG! We got 6- the box was so heavy for donuts. Which is weird as they are very light to eat. The guava and chocolate filled were among the early favorites. They all looked great though. 5 stars for a hole in the wall away from everyone who does things the right way! read more

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After our shuttle trip down through the beautiful Waipio Valley, we stopped at the Tex Drive In for lunch. My wife had the fish and chips at i had their loc moco with hamburger. Those meals were good but not in anyway extraordinary. We each had a malasada for dessert (Bavarian cream and guava). Those were a 4 *. Service was great. We ate outside on their patio. read more

7/25/2025 Tex Drive In 45-690 Pakalana St Hwy 19 Honokaa, HI 96727 We stopped by on a Friday morning on the way to Kohala. It's on the roadside on the north edge of Honokaa about an hour drive north of Hilo. It's a local fast food place known for its malasadas, with an outdoor eating area. The order line is on the RHS and order pick up when your number is called is in the center of the counter. There is a menu board behind the counter. There was long fast moving line when we were there. We had the Kalua Loco Moco, Spam Musubi and a guava Malasada. My Loco had a good quantity of smoky shredded pork smothered with gravy over rice topped with an egg. The Loco was ono and filling. The malasada had a sweet guava tasting filling. Everything was good. Tex's deserves its reputation and is definitely repeatable. read more

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Ok worth the hype and was delicious but it was a lot, wish we were hungrier. Yes nice staff. read more

Tex Drive In - Fast Food Near Me - Honokaa, Hawaii

Our first local place to try while on vacation in Hawaii is Tex Drive in. Located next to an Ace Hardware and a bank. We tried the Malasadas with guava. Delicious and filing. It was only $1.95. Our meals were kalua pork and cabbage. It was $19 but the flavor was $$$$$$$ amazing. Rice was done well and the macaroni wasn't my favorite but still pretty well made. My daughter had beef and shrimp meal. Beef was so gooooood. The shrimp was cooked perfectly. I added an island smoothie and was so happy that I did. The staff was friendly and welcoming. Our food wasn't long behind placing our order so the wait time is short. The atmosphere was local and clean. I totally dug the island vibe and how they handled the decor. read more

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This is a pretty large facility with a little gift shop next to it. I came only for the malasadas and it was worth it, get the Bavarian cream and the basic no filling if that's your style. Both were very good. There's plenty of outdoor and indoor seating. Nothing fancy at all. Limited restrooms (had a wait). read more

Stopped by on the way for a quick bite and it had a constant flow of people ordering food. Many people seemed to stop by for malasadas. We ordered the hamburger, loco moco and malasadas. The standout was the bread in my opinion. Loco moco and hamburger was mediocre and the malasadas tasted best when it was fresh. The texture of the bread is more dough-y than Leonard's malasadas. There is indoor and outdoor seating available with plenty of chickens roaming around. read more

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Delicious Loco Moco. My family and i had the Kalua Pig and traditional Loco Moco. Also ordered a 6pack of Malasadas. Nice to see a variety of loco moco on a menu. The malasadas were nice, pretty big in size. Parking was easy as we went in the morning. Service was quick and friendly. Very nice place to pull off on the drive over to Hilo. read more

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Found this place by accident while driving back to my hotel. I think this might be a local spot because I didn't see any tourists. Menu is sizable considering the location. Everything it takeout with some seating outside. Service was good with friendly staff and not long wait times for your food. I ordered a Hawaiian plate with fried shrimp, rice and macaroni salad. There were half a dozen fried butterfly shrimp, two scoops of rice and a scoop of macaroni salad. It was a sizable amount of food. All freshly prepared. I ordered a turkey wrap for later. It was just a simple turkey and cheese wrap. What made the meal was the homemade potato chips. Sooo good. They are a popular spot for homemade malasadas. I could not leave without trying these donuts. I am no expert but have to say that I was disappointed. I ordered two, one guava and one mango. They needed more filling. It was mostly dough. It was okay but to be honest, I have had better. I would highly recommend if in the area and in need of some good eats. read more

I heard that Tex Drive-in is the place for malasada's on the Big Island. So while visiting Kona and having to head up to Waiea we added Tex Drive-in to our agenda and started the long drive. As you pull into the drive way you'll see Ace Hardware and to the right the Tex Drive-in sign, you'll need to drive around to the back of the building as that's where the front entrance is. You'll see a packed parking lot with plenty of customers, outdoor seating and another sign. First impressions as we walked in was the old school Drive-in vibe. We ordered 4 plain malasada's that are made square not oval or round and their big along with a cheese burger that's also big. The malasada's were freshly made not overly sugar coated but a little on the heavier side, still fluffy, great tasting and would definitely eat them again. The cheeseburger however was a different story, at first glance, it was impressive being that it was bigger that any other restaurant bought burger but sadly it had absolutely no taste. What a let down at the cost of $11. Lesson learned don't go hungry, but go for dessert, for the malasada's. read more

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If you are driving up or down the Hamakua cost, to or from Hilo, this place should be on your list. The malasadas are all made fresh and so good. The service is quick. read more

Delicious onigiri. Freshly filled masaladas.Everytime im on the big island. I come here. Its always a bit of a drive but the ambience and food is something that is only found in Hawaii. With chickens roaming the restaurant and the road outside. It's very fun to sit here and enjoy your meal. My son enjoys chasing the chickens around like he did when he was a kid. He didn't come on this visit but I find the memories of this still amusing to me. Anyways they have a little factory inside and you get to watch them make your orders fresh. Sometimes there's a line. And there's always a wait. But it's entertaining to watch for sure! They do prioritize the drive thru. So sometimes eat in orders take forever. We got the strawberry and a few banana cream donuts and they were hot fresh and delicious. I specially liked the cream filled donuts personally as the fruit filled one's were overly sweet. Like stuffed with fruit jam. My favourite thing I ordered was the onigiri which come in a variety of flavours. The chicken katsu was the best for sure and I gobbled that up wishing I had ordered a few of them. The spam one was good too but not as good as the deep fried chicken which was warm and moist still! This I highly recomend. They have a bunch of Hawaiian plated dinners or lunches too. All somethered in a sort of gravy. It's heavy and rich. And personally I don't like Hawaiian meals bc of this. But you gotta try it once. It's just not my personal type of meal I would like to eat on a holiday to the beach! Get the masaladas and their onigiri!both are the best I've had on the island so far. read more

I heard that this place is really good and highly recommended by the locals. We drove an hour to get there on time. We even called ahead of time to verify their closing time. We arrived around 4 pm. But when we got there, we just missed the last serving of malasadas. They are not making anymore as no working at the window where you can watch them bake it. So we technically drove for nothing as we only wanted malasadas nothing else. I understand the process but they could have at least told us that they stop making them at certain time and once it's gone, we might not be able to buy anymore. Instead of driving there with big hopes but leaving with nothing. read more

On our way back from the Hawaiian Vanilla Company, we had to stop by Tex's Drive-in and pick up some malasadas. We ordered a dozen (6 plain, 2 guava, 2 chocolate, 2 mango) all came in at under $30. Everyone has their idea which malasadas are better, Punahou Bakery or Leonard's in Oahu, all in all they're all good but different. The young gal that helped us was nice and friendly. read more

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Nice little stop on our drive back from Hilo to Waikoloa along the north shore! We were full so didn't get any actual food, just malasadas. I recommend getting the plain malasadas as the malasada itself was very good - sugary top and fresh doughy texture. The Bavarian cream filling was way too sweet and not good, imo. Banana cream was less sweet and much better. Both fillings were on the liquidy side and not as thick and creamy/custardy as I imagined. read more

Everyone told us to grab a Malasada from Tex. They are made fresh and you get to see the process. It was cool. The malasadas were big- almost 5 inches square. I also ordered burgers. The patties were definitely homemade, tastes good. The hot dog- pass. It was so big,, mostly bread. read more

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I would have given this place 1 star if it wasn't for their breakfast sandwiches and the fact that I've been coming here since I was a little kid. I grew up going to Tex Drive In with my mom and it's a very nostalgic place for me, so this isn't me just coming here once and deciding to complain. I've been eating here for years, and I honestly feel like the food used to be way better when I was younger. The only thing that keeps me coming back is the bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich, because when they actually make it right, it's really good. But aside from that, almost every experience I've had here has been frustrating. Every single time I go, they either get my order wrong or the customer service is terrible. And I really mean every time. I can't think of a single time they've gotten my order completely right the first time. Because they mess it up so often, I make sure to clearly repeat my order more than once. I say exactly what I want, but somehow they still end up putting things like mayo and vegetables on my sandwich that I did not ask for. Not even trying to be disrespectful but how hard is it to put three ingredients in a sandwich. Then the sandwich gets all soggy, and I have to go back and ask them to remake it, which I hate doing. And every time I ask, they act like I'm the problem for wanting the order I actually paid for. At this point, if you go here expect to spend over $30+ expect to wait around for 30 minutes, expect attitude, and expect there to be a good chance your order will be wrong. The breakfast sandwiches are the only reason I still come back, but the customer service and consistency are honestly so bad that it ruins the experience every single time. That's why I just stopped going here. read more

A must stop when on the big island! So yummy. The malasadas are huge, fluffy, doughy. There is a lot more dough than filling. My favorites are the cream flavors. Service was good, just order at the counter. Ambiance is a cute casual diner! read more

Tex Drive In - Fast Food Near Me - Honokaa, Hawaii

No wonder locals are coming less and less. Why did we come back? Nostalgia--because my wife is from this town. The (long) line was mostly tourists/visitors. They do have delicious tasting malasadas, and some good food items, but everything else is disappointing. This review is to let others know what to expect as the behavior and attitude of the restaurant management has not changed (and it should). They don't care about your experience as a customer... I'm not going to focus on the (high) prices. For me it's the poor service. We arrived and were in line at 10:47 (based on a text message I sent to my wife). When we finally got to the counter at 11:04, they refused to accept our breakfast item order saying they stop serving breakfast at 11AM. I kindly informed them that we have been standing in line for over 15 minutes since before 11AM and the girl went to a back room and asked her boss to make the decision--DENIED. wow. She said it was due to the egg shortage (which passed a while ago). Nonsense. That issue aside, they served another customer who bypassed the long line (his partner stayed in line and he simply stood at an empty register until someone came up to him). The server took his order in complete disrespect for everyone else who had been (and still were) waiting in line. Sad to see such disregard for all of the other customers respectfully waiting their turn. Poorly run, poor policies, poor management. Multiple bathrooms were out of order and there was a constant line. Oh, and the milkshakes are a joke. Tiny. (See photo). They're mostly blended ice and for $9 are a total waste of money. No longer worth the drive out for us. At this rate, they will become another thing of the past... read more

Tex Drive In - Chocolate milkshake - disappointingly small - Fast Food Near Me - Honokaa, Hawaii

Stopped here for malasadas and a bathroom break while driving through the island - cute little place! Malasadas were good - a little on the bready side, but good. We ordered different fillings like guava and mango. They also have food which we did not try this time. The line can get long. read more

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It's a very old building and when I drove into the parking lot, my wife didn't even realize this was it. So not a great immigration but we tried it anyway because it's famous. They do have a drive-thru, but they also let you order inside at the counter and have an indoor/outdoor eating area. I noticed the two types of patrons were either really old folks, or clearly locals. Interesting. The steak and shrimp teriyaki was so-so. The steak was not tough, but it did have a leathery texture. The shrimp were battered well with good flavor and cooked crispy. My wife had the kaluha pork and cabbage. Thanks goodness for cabbage because the meat was very dry. Mac salad was pretty decent, but then again, it's mac salad. And of course we tried their famous malasada. I got the guava filled which in hindsight I think was a mistake. It was overly sweet and far too over-filed. The breading was not soft and overall kind of bland. And all this food was pretty expensive. Unfortunately, even though it's a neat place, I can't rate them high on quality. read more

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The malasadas are not Leonard's but they are okay. The chicken wings were not like I remembered it was alittle bit salty today. But definitely yummy. I got the Korean chicken 20 pieces for 30.99. The malasada we got one of each flavor. Warm and not bad. Chocolate wasn't super chocolately. read more

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Sooo good! It almost felt like they were cooked to order. But that was not possible because I got them as soon as I got my receipt! Totally understand why they say they are the best on the Big Island. Fresh, not too sweet, light and fluffy. read more

I asked the cashier if the beef stir fry was gluten free. I was told sternly "Nothing is gluten free". That was all. It was unfriendly and not helpful. Something about the way it was said felt so mean. They had burgers. One without a bun would've been ok in a pinch. Even with Celiac I would have been ok. There were eggs. That would've been ok too. I had brown rice. I would not go back. The interior was not very clean and was very rundown. They sold a lot of Masala's. I can't have those. But maybe that's why people come here. read more

Blessed, another trip to Big Island with extended family. Always a must in 1st couple of days fo to Waipio Valley and stop for a great cup of coffee and hands down the BEST Malsadas anywhere. If you're not sure what a Masada is Google it . Like a donut but no hole and stuffed with excellent fillings of your choice. Right off the highway. You can stop here on your way to Hilo or on your way rhrough as your heading to Waimea. Of all the old reliable and memorable places to visit this remains in my top 3 and has not changed a bit in over 15 years. Give it a try and you won't stop off on side of road to get one or shop other places. They are fresh, warm and delightful!!! read more

This was our first time here and after our Chocolate Tour, this was perfect for lunch! As we arrived, 5 families came in behind us! So I'm glad we got our orders in! Everyone liked their dishes, we got a hot dog, grilled Mahi Mahi plate, fish and chips, teriyaki burger, shrimp burger and a turkey sandwich- we have yet to try all 5 malasadas! My Boyfriend LOVED the guava one though! We sat outside and there were these adorable little dove- like birds with a light blue around their necks. There was a nice breeze, and we got shade. So everything was nice, although we were outside. read more

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This is the "best of the best" of malasada places on the big island. We were here 14 years ago and still remember the amazing treats we had....so we were eager to come back and experience the deliciousness all over again. I think part of what makes Tex malasadas so good is that they are SO fresh. You can witness them being made (sort of like Krispy Kreme - but by actual humans, not machines). Best part? They are served WARM!! You can't do better than that. Employees are incredibly friendly and there's spots to sit inside and outside. I thought we'd try the other food available there this time, but we just couldn't go for anything but malasadas. Stand out favorites are chocolate and custard filled. Yes, they are that good. And yes, they are worth the drive. We'll be back, hopefully before another 14 years go by! read more

Tex Drive In - Assorted malasadas - Fast Food Near Me - Honokaa, Hawaii

Worth the drive from wherever you are on the island. Hands down the best malasada in all the islands, as they're big and fresh. And if you get filled malasadas, prepare to get messy as they cram delicious creams of your choice inside. It's cool to see this place grow and thrive over the years into what it is today. Make a day out of it and stop by some of the beautiful scenic spots along the way: Honoli'i Beach, Onomea Bay, Kolekole Park, Waipio Valley, among others. Worth the drive. read more

Tex Drive In - Fast Food Near Me - Honokaa, Hawaii

The malasadas were delicious and worth the drive! We phoned our order in and staff was friendly. They had a large outdoor patio to sit and enjoy your food. read more

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My family and I came in here for the donuts and they were some of our favorite on the island. The dough was thick and the filling was just the right amount. We got a crème filled, banana, and guava. We liked them all. The guava was more like a jam and the banana was more of a cream. They came out hot and within 5 minutes. The more is tables but this isn't the nicest place to be. read more

Tex Drive In - Banana, cream, guava - Fast Food Near Me - Honokaa, Hawaii

This place wasn't that busy when we went. But it did get busy a little after we ordered. The place had inside and outside seating which was nice. We sat inside to eat. I got the breakfast burrito wrap it came with 3 eggs and the meat I had was Portuguese sausage and hash browns. My girlfriend got French toast which was also good. We also had the famous Malasadas which was pretty yummy. read more

Tex Drive In - Breakfast burrito warp with hash brown. - Fast Food Near Me - Honokaa, Hawaii

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Easy ample parking and outdoor seating. Service was fast and friendly without any issues. Note that their malasadas are extremely thick and similar to a bread stuffed with filling Guava filling malasadas are delish It's delish and worth trying if you haven't read more

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