Paul's was one of my favorite dining experiences I've ever had. Yelp only allows for five stars, I…read morewould give more if I could. If you are able to visit Hilo, make a reservation. And you need a reservation. The tiny restaurant only has three two person tables (the other party of four had two pushed together). And it is only open Wednesday thru Saturday, 7:30am- 2pm. I made the reservation for my friend's Birthday lunch by text. It is conveniently located by the farmers market, and there is plenty of free parking in the area. The space is airy, and on our visit, decorated for Easter. We were immediately greeted by Paul. The restaurant is staffed by him, and one other employee. The menu is short, and all the better for it. Paul explained the menu and gave us recommendations. I was already interested in the Pasta de Marco, which appears to be a part of a regular menu. Angel hair pasta, lightly fried, tossed with fresh veggies and pesto, and lightly toasted baguette on the side. We also had the tuna, two ways, and papaya salad. Both were perfect, incredibly fresh, all ingredients balanced, beautifully presented. Paul had us end with the Belgium waffle. I've had waffles in Belgium, and these were the best I've had. Crispy, soft, with berries, whip cream, and powdered sugar, it didn't even need the (warm!) syrup. This experience felt like being a guest in the chef's home. Paul treated all customers as a friend, he was funny, relaxed, and personable. I also personally appreciated it is the safest restaurant for me to eat at as he hates bell peppers as much as I do! The only disappointment when the meal ended. Mahalo!

The cafe is very small and cozy, we had to have reservations in advance to get in as Paul has very…read morelimited seating, about 3 tables. He is always busy and has a rule with no Togo orders as far as I know. The service is good, and the servers and Paul himself is very friendly, laidback, and easy to talk to. Be respectful of his rules, he's a nice guy and it felt like he really cares about the food he makes. Playing is very nice and simple in a good way, has a very clean aesthetic. The food itself is extremely fresh, every single thing felt very refreshing to the palette and not heavy. It was one of the pricier spots me and my partner went to in Hilo, but it is extremely popular and the quality of the food is nice, as I said, I think this is the place in Hilo so far that I've eaten at with the "freshest" tasting food. I had not yet tried his Belgian waffles, but I saw they were served to another customer and they looked fantastic. After our meal, Paul also highly reccomended them for next time. Definitely would like to come back next time we are in Hilo, it was one of my partner and her Uncle's favorite spots (they are local to Hilo, so it's gotta be good haha). They both vouch for the ingredient quality.

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.

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. :)

If you are headed to 'Akaka falls, Mr. Eds is a must stop on your way there or back. This bakery…read moreoffers some delicious, homemade baked goods and even better service. Mr. Ed himself helped my husband and I decide on many pastries to try and none of them disappointed! I only snapped a photo of one, as the others we'd eaten before I even thought to take photos. They were too good to wait! While getting our pastries, Mr. Ed was also kind enough to share some of his story and it was wonderful to hear directly from the shop owner why he is there and his love for the island and the town. The shop is cozy and feels family ran so it was just a lovely stop on the big island for not only delicious baked treats, but wonderful company as well.

Rolled through town and decided to stop and check the place out. Cute store with lots of baked…read moregoods. We ended up trying a bunch of the preserves and mustards and grabbed 2 jars to bring back home to the mainland. The little street is the tourist version of what smalltown Hawaii could be. Not that I am complaining.

We always come here after (or sometimes before) taking visiting family and friends to the botanic…read moregarden nearby. A wide range of smoothies, shakes, and drinks - everyone can find something they love here. They are also open to customizing, which was perfect for our kiddo who loved everything in one smoothie but the papaya. No problem to make it without. I had a hard time deciding between the mint chip and the ube shakes - ultimately went with the ube and was very happy with it! They also have a kona coffee drink that sounds amazing but too much caffeine for me in the afternoon - maybe next time we come by in the morning! Plenty of outdoor seating on picnic tables, but easy to take your treats to go.

Best smoothies and shakes…read more That have their own fruit farm and that's where all the goodies come from Was sent here by a fan in Reno, NV He was right. Happy people making drinks. Farm stand vibes.

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!!!

We dined as walk in's for an impromptu date night and were pleasantly surprised! Valet parking is…read morevalidated. This is an open air restaurant and at first I was hesitant because of maybe having to deal with flies but we didn't run into any issues. There was live music playing. We ordered the farmer's plate of veggies to accompany the muhammara dip (which came with 4 pieces of wood fired bread). It was flavorful, fresh, and light. My husband ordered the skirt steak and I ordered the ahi steak. We also ordered the frozen fruit punch twice. This was plenty of food for us so we skipped on dessert. Everything turned out delicious to us and we quite enjoyed our evening.

One of the best dining experiences we had during our 3-week trip through Hawaii!…read more I had been looking for Mediterranean food through our stays in Oahu and Maui, but wasn't able to find any til we landed here on Big Island. We went during sunset and it was sooooo beautiful. We ordered: * the 3 dips - loved their muhammara!! Plus the bread is so squishy and soft it absorbs the flavors of the dips so well * burrata salad - very refreshing and well seasoned. I believe it's peach or melon served with it, a very nice touch * grilled octopus - loved the tomato(?) sauce it was served with, and the way they grilled was perfection. Reminded me of the octopus I'd have in Kerekennah, a small island off the coast of Tunisia. Fresh & well seasoned. * Cacio e pepe + chicken: really appreciated how they noticed my husband and I were sharing everything, so they had split the pasta into two bowls. Deliciously made, with it had a bit more sauce tho and that the chicken wasnt so dry. * inside out smores: YUMMY. loved the combo of the graham cracker ice cream with the roasted marshmallow and chocolate sauce + inside the marshmelllw too. In all we spent $190 for 2 people including tax and tip (no drinks). Sure a bit on the pricier side, but we had been spending $90-110 for very average or not even good meals across Hawaii anyways, so didn't seem too bad. Parking is free! Valet only, but give your ticket when you get the check to get a 3-hour validation stamp.

FPO and I are holoholoing on Hawai'i Island (or the Big Island if you're of a certain generation)…read more We went to Ken's House of Pancakes because FPO was feeling nostalgic and wanted their pancakes. I had the regular size Won Ton Mein. I have to say, the portions are huge! The omelet and pancakes were everything FPO remembered. My Won Ton Mein was a little bland. The service was fantastic. The people very friendly.

we love Kens whenever we travel to Hilo this is our lunch spot…read morestaff super friendly wide range of menus options

We arrived shortly before closing, but the staff were very kind and took our order for our late,…read morelight lunch. We enjoyed the mushroom ginger soup, which was flavorful and and a soup and fresh green salad combo. Everything was delicious, flavorful, and just right. And the pricing was affordable. Woo hoo! Seated amidst the interesting and unique art of the gallery, with views outside to the gardens, it was a calm and peaceful dining experience.

After what felt like a long half day at Volcanoes National Park nearby, my husband and I were…read morelooking for a little pick-me-up before heading back to the park after dark. We found Cafe Ono online, but realized it was closing soon. We decided to stop by anyway to check out Volcano Garden Arts, if anything, and we are so glad we did. The staff working at the cafe were so kind and still hooked us up with some caffeine, even though they were technically already closed - we really appreciated that. We got our coffee (good but nothing extraordinary tbh) and a snack, chatted a bit with the owner, and then decided to explore the grounds instead of sitting indoors the entire time. It was so fun to wander through the little shop (with their "please touch" policy) and gallery, check out the outdoor dining areas, meet one of the famous NZ bunnies (I think there were supposed to be 2 though..?), and walk through their forest and gardens. Even on a slightly rainy and damp day, the outdoor walk was enjoyable. The space is whimsically decorated with art, sculptures, and local products for sale, and at times it gave off an Alice in Wonderland vibe. We're not sure when we'll be back in this area or on Big Island in general, but if/when we are I'd love to return and explore again.

Stopped in for breakfast after the falls. Very small, 4…read moretables and curios to buy. Breakfast sandwich to split n coffee

Muggy day in Hilo and after a walk around Alaska Falls, I needed to quench my first. Luckily, when…read moredriven up to the falls, we saw a few shops all lined up. Luckily, one of them was The Hive. As soon as I parked and before checking the other stores, I put my order and they had a Butterfly Pea Tea combo. I had to have it and mew I was going to Yelp It. The iced tea hit the spot, not too sweet at all. While waiting for my drink, the one employee was making a chicken salad sandwich that looked really good. Btw, all menu items are reasonably my priced. The store is super cute. If u lived here, I would spend some quiet time here either studying or reading. It wasn't noisy at all. Very comfortable. No bathroom though, you'll have to walk down to the General Store for that. Thank you Hi e for the hospitality.