We rarely make it to Kawaihae as we live in Kona but I highly recommend this cute little restaurant…read moreif you're in the area to visit! Mainly Italian but have some Peruvian dish also on the menu. NOT cheap but they make everything from scratch and all the dishes were presented beautifully and tasty!! They are only open for breakfast and lunch except Saturday night dinner. We got lucky to get seated but recommend making reservations for lunch. We had a Caesar salad to start with and had a pork belly sandwich and Italian meat ball sandwich. The pork belly sandwich was delicious!!

Cipriano's Kitchen - Kawaihae's Italian Treasure…read more Cipriano's Kitchen is one of those rare restaurants that keeps you thinking about your meal long after you've left. Chef Gino is generous with both his talent and his portions. Every dish showcases fresh ingredients, expert preparation, and a genuine love of Italian cooking. The menu is seafood-forward, featuring fresh local catches, handmade pasta, and flavors that are both authentic and creative. This family-run restaurant is made even more special by Claudia, Chef Gino's wife and culinary partner. Claudia bakes fresh focaccia daily and prepares the restaurant's gnocchi and pasta from scratch. As hostess, she warmly welcomes every guest and effortlessly serves as the restaurant's "walking menu," describing each dish with passion and detail. The presentation is stunning. Lobster, octopus, shrimp, clams, scallops, and house-made pasta arrive beautifully plated and bursting with flavor. The fresh focaccia alone is worth the visit. Every meal feels thoughtfully prepared, from the first bite to the last. What keeps me coming back is that the food is genuinely craveable. I find myself dining here every couple of weeks for lunch, and more often than not, I leave with a takeout order for dinner because I know I'll be thinking about it later. Cipriano's Kitchen isn't just serving Italian food--it's creating an experience centered around family, hospitality, and exceptional cooking. Kawaihae is fortunate to have this gem, and anyone who appreciates fresh seafood, handmade pasta, and heartfelt hospitality should make it a destination. A true Big Island favorite. "Come hungry. Leave happy. Plan your next visit before you've even finished your meal."

Cute little locally owned cafe on the corner. We went here after our Waipio Valley tour. There are…read moremaybe 4 tables, window seating, 2 two tops outside, and then counter seating. We had a party of 6 and when we arrived there were no tables available so we did counter seating. Tofu appetizer - looked great but was bland Cheeseburger - very good Shrimp plate - bland Short rib plate - tasty but tough Fried chicken sandwich - very good Chocolate creme pie w whipped cream - great Waitress was lovely. Parking - free street parking

Very nice service. Clean and rustic at the same time. We got some appetizers that were all tasty…read more The short ribs were a little fatty but the flavor was good. Karage was super crispy and great flavor. Good size pieces of shrimp and good portion. I wanted to try the oxtail but unfortunately it needed another hour. We're just passing through but it's a solid choice to stop. The custard pie was not too sweet and super delicious

Great selection of beer, food is great and service moved quickly. Patio seating or inside, tvs for…read moreentertainment.

We came in for a dinner after a long day of touring the Big Island. We were craving American food,…read moreand this spot hit our cravings. The fried pickles were a tasty app, and I enjoyed my spicy chicken sandwich. They have a good kids' menu also. They have a bunch of local beers on tap, and I had a few different ones. They also have a ton of TVs for watching games.

Best Chinese food I've had on the Big Island, no contest…read more The sizzling chicken was the highlight. Super tender, incredibly juicy, and full of flavor in a way that's hard to find. Every piece was cooked just right. I don't usually write reviews, but this one earned it. If you're anywhere nearby, it's worth going out of your way for.

The place is really nice and clean with lots of parking. We didn't dine in and ordered takeout to…read morebring back to our hotel room. We got there and they greeted us politely and I only waited another extra 5 minutes before the food was done. Everything smelled great driving home and we couldn't wait to eat. Okay the food...all pretty much tasted the same with the exception of the vegetables and proteins that were used. Anything with vegetables had sooooo much more vegetables to protein, and for example my mother in laws shrimp with broccoli was super sad. In the whole ala carte item of $19-$21 were a Manini 8 small shrimps swimming in sauce and broccoli. Same went for the chicken and mixed vegetables! The dried chicken with chilis had 8-9 pieces of chicken for the whole order ala carte. The only thing worth the price was the general tsao chicken, which tasted just like the orange chicken with a little tiny zing we got the day before. We gave this place two tries only for lack of options in the Waikoloa Village area. If this were on Oahu, nobody would come here. The food all taste the same and the protein is almost non existent in pricey ala carte items.

The pork belly miso soup is amazing! Japanese treats at a Farmers Market on the Big Island. Awesome!read more

I have been ordering the Pork Belly Miso Soup from Emi's Kitchen at the Waimea Town Farmer Market…read moreon Saturday mornings. It is an amazing soup of perfectly stewed potatoes, carrots, onions and pork belly in a rich miso broth. I'm hooked on this dish as a perfect "comfort food" meal, both right at the farmers market as well as for me to take home for my lunch or dinner meal. Each time I've ordered it over the past few weeks the richness and flavor have been consistent. I highly recommend this dish as well as the other authentic "home cooked" dishes offered by Emi and her family.

What a great experience. Service was friendly, welcoming. The food was outstanding! We dug right…read morein and forgot to take any pictures. We were a party of 4. Ordered a smash burger with Mushroom, Swiss and garlic aioli; loco moco; Monte Cristo; chicken caprese sandwich. Everyone was very happy with the food. Portions so generous, we've got leftovers for dinner later! We're only visiting for a week, but I suspect we'll be back. Thank you guys for making our day!!

This is a small, local business in Waikoloa Village. We ABSOLUTELY recommend this place!!! The…read moreburgers are perfectly messy that you'll need more than one napkin or a sleeve! The fries are fresh and yummy that you really don't need ketchup. This is a chill place with indoor seating that's shared amongst the other food establishments. The service is friendly and efficient! We'll need to bring more people because we want to try the other items on the menu but we can't separate ourselves from the smash burgers. Support this business! We will definitely come back when passing through! Mahalo nui!

Extraordinary vegan food. The pita was freshly baked when I placed my order. Best falafel that I…read morehave ever had!

Egyptian falafel sandwich. Pita cooked on site. Fava bean falafel cook fresh to order. Clean vegan…read morefood. Carl, the owner was very helpful. Saturday market was peaceful.

The vibe is so relaxing. Beef shortrib loco moco is also very delicious. The gravy is not too heavy…read moreand the egg is perfect. Kids waffle is only 10bucks and is made heartily. Whenever we are back to Kona, we go to this place for a proper meal.

The food here is excellent! I had dinner 3 times at HāLani during my stay. The service is also top…read morenotch. I tried the following: Ahi carpaccio: 5/5 I can't stop thinking about this carpaccio, it is so good! The eggplant and pine nuts add a beautiful touch. This is a must order. Wagyu skirt steak: 5/5 perfectly cooked and seasoned. I'd highly recommend this dish. The potatoes that come with are also solid. Grilled broccolini: 5/5 no notes, delicious Mediterranean orzo: 5/5 great flavor and perfectly cooked. All beef hot dog (Keiki menu): 5/5 Great hotdog! The bread is lightly sweet which comp This was my favorite restaurant on property!