Great service. Great food. Nice people. Easy to get to and friendly staff. Menu has a great variety. Drinks are the best

I wish I could update this in a good way, but they haven't improved since they lost one of their chefs. Took my sister and brother in-law this time. They were highly disappointed, as their second visit, and first was dismal as well. I wish I could report a better experience, but this was the last time, and our family is not going back again. What a shame, as the servers are So nice! I wonder how many people say nothing, because the servers are very nice, but they just won't be back. read more

We decided to try this place after hearing about it on the radio several times and seeing other reviews. It's a very small space. We were almost elbow to elbow with the table next to us. There was no a/c and biting flies were coming in from the open windows facing the road, and going after food left on the table beside us. I got chewed up pretty bad, in the first few mins of being there. The food came pretty fast, the waitress was sweet, however the portions were incredibly tiny for the price. We ordered the BLT bomb salad and the Kiawe chicken tacos. All I'm going to say is .....you're going to leave still hungry! These are incredibly small portions for the price. My tacos came out on a paper plate and the chicken was so salty, that's all I could taste! My tacos were soggy on the paper plate and fell apart when I picked them up. I remember thinking "Wow, that's definitely not what the website advertised." The BLT bomb salad was more like an appetizer sized portion. Maybe they were having an off day, who knows, but my family prob won't be going back. read more

We found it again but didn't make reservations so waitlist was 45 min on Sat at 6:30. Casual bar with good food. Rating it so we can return again but make reservations beforehand read more

Timing. I was the only one in there and it took 45 min. To get my Ribeye. I sent it back. Looked boiled and tasted like propane. Really disappointed. I might comeback... someday read more

Inspired, fresh eats (and drinks) in a hip setting, in Hilo! The local owners first opened The Temple Bar in Kona (we haven't been yet and so need to check that out next), and after success there, opened this second location in Hilo. Per their website: "The Temple is a high-end but casual modern craft food, beer, cocktail and wine bar." Their ingredients are locally sourced from the Big Island, and as mentioned, their menu is creative and inspired! We were visiting Hilo for just an afternoon and were thrilled to find The Temple Bar open for lunch. It's a cozy spot tucked next to tourist spot, Jackie Rey's. The Temple Bar offers pupus, salads, flatbreads and more, focusing on hyper-local and hyper-seasonal ingredients. Everything sounded amazing. We kept it light with 2 salads: BLT Bomb Salad Bacon, lettuce, tomato, scratch sourdough, pumpkin seeds, smoked Jalapeño aioli, smoked gouda + ADD AVOCADO Backyard Pumpkin Salad A tribute to local Pumpkin: Roasted pumpkin, pumpkin seeds and blossoms all tossed in house made Jalapeño Ranch with radish and cornbread croutons. + ADD CHICKEN Both were incredibly fresh and full of flavor! Dreaming of these substantial salads right now. We will 100% visit the Kona location on our next visit to the Big Island, and can't wait to explore more of their food menu, and to try their drinks! Cheers! read more

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Excellent dinner experience for Taco Tuesday - our large party had all three types of tacos, the oysters, the tri tip, the Babaganoush, and more! All was delicious and the drinks were on point! The server took such good care of us! read more

The Temple Kitchen + Bar - Dill pickle cocktail! - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

The drinks were incredible. The shrimp dish was maybe the best I've ever had. The manager was bartending today and was knowledgeable, personable and so good at making drinks. Chill vibes on a Monday afternoon too. It was my second time there and I'm sure I'll go back again read more

The Temple Kitchen + Bar - Shrimp, drinks - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

Good cocktails and upscale menu, with TV's for sporting events. Had the tri-tip flatbread that was flavorful and daughter had ceasar salad.

The drinks and food were superb and flavorful! Excellent service as well. Loved the elegant decor, ambiance of the seating and high ceiling. Fun alternative to your typical sports bar vibe. read more

The Temple Kitchen + Bar - Friends, cocktails, and sports on TV! - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

Patty our server was very kind. Attentive and brought refills without asking. Food was delicious and fresh. Very chill ambiance. Will come back! read more

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The Temple Bar is a very pleasant craft food cafe & bar with old Hilo ambiance tastefully renovated to feel like you're in an upscale bar in a larger city. The staff are very friendly & knowledgeable about the food & drink options. The service was reasonably quick & the food & drink presentation was impressive. The Temple Baba Ganush was our epicurean highlight & possibly the best baba ganush I've ever had. It had hints of tahini & black sesame, dollops of macnut cheese, & accented with farm tomatoes & shaved radish & cucumbers. It was an amazing dance of flavors when swiped with slivers of toasted naan bread. The Clams de Spana was delicious with a unique slightly citrusy & spicy white wine & butter sauce with chorizo bits. The Seared Ahi nicely balanced out the other wonderfully distinct tastes. Their crafted drink selection displayed inspired mixology creativity & their Through the Looking Glass, a gin based lilikoʻi cocktail with egg white foam, sprinkled with lavender petals is awesome! The Temple is definitely a repeat must do establishment to thoroughly explore their entire menu. read more

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Service was slow and not welcoming. Apparently Cody was out of town and she was someone another establishment had recommended when I told them my first time here wasn't inviting. Bloody Mary mix was plain and salad had no flavor. read more

I didn't even get a photo -- that's how good it was! We ordered the Temple Baba Ganoush, Pan-Fried Kalo & Cassava, and the Ahi Carpaccio. Each dish was fresh, vibrant, and beautifully balanced. The eggplant spread with macadamia nut cheese was creamy and rich, the kalo and cassava were perfectly crispy, and the ahi -- wow -- citrusy, tender, and unforgettable. The flavors here celebrate local ingredients without overcomplicating. Casual vibes, serious flavor. I'd go back in a heartbeat. Don't sleep on this spot -- just maybe take a picture before your first bite (unlike me!). Service was just the right energy -- we felt genuinely welcomed. read more

The best late night food in Hilo I could find, and all their mixed drinks are great as well. This and Lehua were the food highlights of our trip to the Big Island. read more

Food was delicious and nice sized servings - great for sharing if you want to try a number of items. Juliet, our server (our everything - she was the only one working the floor), was amazing. My water was always filled and she stopped at the right time to check on us. Kudos to her for her recommendations also. Ambiance was nice - smaller, intimate space with lots of fresh air. They also have 3 large screens, which had a game on and movie playing. read more

The Temple Kitchen + Bar - Bourbon bread pudding with a scoop of vanilla ice cream cream - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

One of my favorite bars in Hilo. Not to mention the food/pupus/tapas are incredible. I actually crave their pumpkin side dish whenever I'm back on Oahu because I can't seem to find anything like it on that island! Their cocktails are excellent. When they first opened, I spoke at great lengths with the creator of the cocktail menu - I am not sure if that mixologist is still at the restaurant but they have kept many of the drinks he designed and I'm obsessed with them. My favorite is their Through the Looking Glass - it's a gin cocktail with lilikoi/passionfruit. It definitely gives the feel of a lemon drop with much more tart and sweet flavors. If the gin wasn't so strong, I would drink them all night long. Their oysters are also excellent. Locally grown and the ponzu/yuzu is delicious, not to mention the solid kick you get from the jalapeños on top! I can't wait to go back! Not pictured but another excellent choice is their goat cheese flat bread. It's surprisingly savory with a slight sweet taste to them. Delicious! read more

The Temple Kitchen + Bar - Seasonal Oysters* - Half Dozen, Roasted Pumpkin, Through the Looking Glass - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

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Had a really nice meal and cocktails, excellent and very friendly service from Soleil! Shout out!

We came on a Tuesday evening and it wasn't very busy at all. The place was spacious, the music choice was on point (I'm a sucker for 90s jams), and our server was really nice and welcoming. The only con I could even think of is that we had to wait a while for our order; there was only one server at the time, not sure how many cooks, but she was very apologetic. I can't say how the drinks are since I'm expecting, but the food was pretty good! We had the Backyard Pumpkin Salad (one of the best salads I've ever had), Pork Belly Poke (since we're eating tapas, I was not expecting a big serving of pork belly... such a pleasant surprise), and Carnitas Street Tacos. Definitely recommend this spot for chill vibes and good eats. read more

The Temple Kitchen + Bar - Street tacos - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

We love Yelp. Sometimes you just find a diamond in the rough and this restaurant is all that, we ordered the tako salad, which was a beautiful, roasted octopus, olives, and a nice arugula salad. The octopus was nice and tender, then we had the roasted squash that was fabulous, not your typical pumpkin type squash, but a little bit smaller one that was just seasoned perfect then we had a baba ghanoush that was so unique so flavorful and to top it all off we had some beautiful Aji tacos. I will say Grace the chef did a fabulous job if you're ever in the Hilo area please make this one of your special lunch destinations. read more

Always a great experience at temple bar. I've been to both locations and they are great. I had two different Zach's at the Hilo location and Bri in Kona. Everyone was amazing. The food is spectacular, the drinks are delicious and the service is awesome. Love this place. Keep it up! read more

Food was delicious. Pork tacos and Charcuterie board were legit. And the place has a cool open air vibe. The Old Fashion was great as well!

Before meeting up with friends in Hilo, we asked them to recommend their favorite spots. This one made the list, and after perusing the menu, we were in! It's a small space with high ceilings and good sound-proofing. The chef greeted us and let us choose where to sit. There's the bar, which faces the kitchen, a large sofa area that easily sits half a dozen or more, and the high-top tables. We chose a four-seater table in the middle of the restaurant on a drizzly evening. To start, we had some cocktails including non-A bloody Marys, which were a hit. Then we got straight to ordering anything that the chef recommended including steak carpaccio (very good!), pork belly poke, the pickle sampler, shrimp ceviche, chicken tacos, and the goat-cheese and honey pumpkin. Everything was delish and the service was terrific. Highly recommend coming on a weeknight, when it's not as busy. read more

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The skinny: This place is solid. Good cocktails and drinks in a great location. The overview: We came here while visiting Hilo looking for some good food and craft cocktails - and The Temple Bar hits the nail on the head. We tried a few different things on the menu. The seared ribeye was delicious - a perfectly cooked medium rare, tender, and paired with a yummy Chimichurri sauce that we kept and dipped everything else in. Other highlights were the seared oyster mushrooms and the pan fried kalo cassava (light in flavors but we were really into it). The garlic shrimp itself was yummy, but a little less garlicky than we wanted (we were hoping for the super garlicly shrimp that you can get in honolulu) and on the smaller side (doesn't come with rice). Overall everything we had was solid. Would I come back: Yes! We almost came back again in our short time in Hilo. read more

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I just want to say Zack the bartender is a gem. We literally just left The Temple a few minutes ago and had such a lovely time. Zach not only made fantastic drinks but gave helpful tips on visiting the Volcano and best of all how to make the fantastic Martini concoction "Dill with it"! We cant wait to go back next time in Hilo. Thank you Zach. Mahalo! read more

The Temple Kitchen + Bar - "Dill with it" martini - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

Great food and drinks. It was crowded and we had to wait about 45 minutes for our table. The ahi carpaccio is a must! It's an open window bar and no air conditioning so just be prepared for the humidity. read more

had the most delicious ribeye carpaccio and my friend had the carnitas tacos . This was a terrific little bar at the end of town on down town Hilo. The food & service was amazing and there was a note on the back of the menu that says $14 buys a 6pack for our kitchen staff , it was so good we bought them the 6 pack. Next time we are in hilo we'll definitely be back . Ambiance was chill and peaceful . the table with the couches was a welcome sight after we just trekked Akaka Falls state park . read more

4.5 stars Very beach town feel to it given its small size and it's wide open windows, but the view isn't much to look at (just a parking lot on the other side of the road). I tried one of their specialty cocktails, which was good, as well as their pickle sampler plate (which included pickled jalapenos and kimchi) and their bread & butter plate. All of it was really good, and this is a place that I would definitely make my way back to if I find myself in Hilo again. read more

The Temple Kitchen + Bar - Tasty -- Pickled platter sampler at The Temple (which included pickled jalapenos as well as kimchi) - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

The place is named The Temple because the building it's in originally was Hilo's Masonic Temple. Kona's the second location to open, and I haven't tried that one, but Hilo's is AMAZING. The freshness and creativity are beyond compare. The best entre I've ever had in my life was here. It was a fish with a fresh fig sauce. When people are visiting and ask where I like the food the most, I say here. I've tried a lot of their cocktails and pupus. There's not one thing that was just average. read more

Great spot in town with a happy. Sat at the bar and service was wonderful. Taco Tuesdays!!! read more

The Temple Kitchen + Bar - Taro root fritters omg!!! - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

Serendipitously, the spot that our group planned to eat at had a lengthy wait so we ended up walking down the street to Temple Bar where our group of six was seated right away (this was Sunday afternoon last week of the year). The whole staff was helpful when needed and unobtrusive when not. I sampled the sourdough bread which was fairly mild in flavor, had a slightly open crumb, and crust with some color and more chew than crunch; however, it was the (cultured?) butter that caught my attention. The roasted pumpkin side was superb. It's tough to say what I enjoyed most about it but the heady cinnamon cloud that accompanied that first bite was special. Now when I'm enjoying roasted squash at my local spot, I'll be thinking about this dish an ocean away. The chef's special was luau pork stew with chili ahi poke, white rice, and poi. Let's do this. The pork stew seemed to consist of seasoned, slightly spicy, finely minced taro leaves and pieces of lean pork. It reminded me of Filipino liang. The ahi though! Cooked and lightly seasoned with a fragrant chili oil and aromatics- A+. read more

The Temple Kitchen + Bar - Luau Pork Stew - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

We went here for lunch on Saturday based on good Yelp reviews, and they were accurate. The place is quite small, only 4 tables for eating. The bar/restaurant was not busy so we got one of the tables. We started with half a dozen oysters and they were fresh and delicious. Good flavor with a kick because they add a slice of fresh pepper. Very good and worth the $28. The wife had a Caesar salad and enjoyed it very much. They put the sardines on top, not in the dressing. Very good salad. I had "cheesy" flatbread that was crispy and very tasty. I liked it a lot. Surprisingly, the tap beer selection was quite limited so I had a can of some kind of local IPA, perfect with the food. Service was friendly and efficient. Overall, a very good experience. We would return. read more

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in my experience, this is the most consistent dining place in Hilo. Excellent quality of food and drinks. Fair prices. Very pleasant ambience, local vibe, devoid of tourist influence. read more

Thanks to yelp, we found this AMAZING Place! according to their website they are, "The Temple is a high-end but casual modern craft beer and wine bar located in Hilo Hawaii with roughly 30 max capacity." We walked in and were quickly greeted and seated, by the window. There are several different areas to sit including tables, bar height tables and a quaint little area with a sofa and a table in the middle. The atmosphere in the restaurant was electric. High energy, people talking and laughing and enjoying the delicious food and beverages. After we were seated we were quickly greeted by an affable young man by the name of Zachary. We started off with a beverage, Wifey had the Viognier. it was a very nice wine - this one from France. Being a fan of the Hazy Beers, I opted for the Neon Rainbow - which was very good as well. So we started off with an order of the "Scratch Made Sourdough" bread with smoked salt flakes. Apparently this bread is made by a Local woman and delivered fresh regularly. Served with the bread is that butter with smoked salt flakes and I have to say it was truly AMAZING! We often share a meal so we ordered the Caesar Salad and The Street Taco Plate with Tri-Tip and an extra Taco. The salad was AWESOME. They make their own dressing which was very flavorful with anchovy in it. The salad was fresh romaine and tomatoes with croutons made of that AMAZING Sourdough Bread. There was even a couple pieces of anchovy in the salad and I love that! The Street tacos were very good. The trip tip was flavorful. The tortillas were slightly crunchy and delicious. Cilantro and onions were sprinkled on top of the meat. The accompanying salsas (red and green) are made in-house. I put both of them on my tacos and was very pleased with the plate. Zachary was an incredible waiter. Very attentive without being intrusive. The two waiters helped one another to make sure all the guests were properly taken care of. Every single facet of this experience was EXCELLENT. The food, atmosphere and the service was; in my humble opinion, flawless. If there was a SIXTH star available, they would get it!!! Thank you read more

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We needed a late night bite so we came here. Everything and I mean everything was to die for beautiful and delicious. Do not miss the squash or whatever this was... it was like a hummus salad elevated to the highest heights. read more

The Temple Kitchen + Bar - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

The pandemic made everything change and either we like it or not adapting it is a must! When visiting Hilo expect that 24-hour eateries aren't a thing anymore and majority of them closes 9pm. And if you are looking until 10pm The Temple Bar is the few restaurants that do that. Goodness! We arrive Hilo downtown around 9pm and again I am super hungry and needed to eat. As aforementioned goodness they open until 10pm. We were greeted by a friendly woman and help us seated. T'was a pretty straightforward event. They handed us the menu, we took time to decide what to order and the waitress came over and took our orders. FOOD: Seared Oyster Mushrooms, locally grown oyster mushrooms with scratch made Marsala cream sauce is salty. Texture is so rich and I love the toasted garlic they topped on it. But they put extra salt on it and came out a bit off. Pan Fried Kalo & Cassava, locally grown kalo & cassava pan fried until crispy & served with chimichuri is good. But the definition used which is "crispy" doesn't match the food. It's more of a baked version. But taste good though and it's light for an evening grub which is just perfect for a late dinner. Torched Tako Salad - torched tako, arugula, crispy kalo, kalamata olives, parmesan and tossed in lemon juice & garlic rosemary olive oil. What a perfect salad for a pescatarian diet! Holy grail for my dinner at the time. With this alone I'm already full. Even my husband who don't like seafood loved it! The dressing elevate the salad even more. Seared Ribeye - hand cut premium ribeye with charred scallion, chimichurri & smoked maldon salt. Juiciest sliced ribeye for that day. Perfectly cooked through my bandit's request and is seasoned well. T'was a great pupus on their menu. Chimchurri sauce is the perfect dip for ribeye. Lemony and savory! Texture is really good and meat is tender. Drinks: Lime inDa Coconut for the man's drink and ginger beer for the lady. Customer service is efficient and topnotch. Ambiance is cozy and great place to chill with friends and lover. Though their specialty are wine & spirit, they still offer some kines to grab and non-alcoholic drinks to virgins. Overall, either you drink or not, I will recommend you to dine in here and experience its ambiance. Mahalo for reading & happy juandering fellow yeeps. read more

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My group and I ordered oysters, Manila clams, a pickled plate, and tempura shrimp. It was a convenient spot to grab dinner after a day of exploring the island, and I appreciated that it stayed open later than most other places in the area. Overall, the dining experience was pleasant, though the food was fairly average and not particularly memorable. The Manila clams, in particular, had an overwhelming wine taste; they could have used more lemon, but thankfully there were plenty of lemons available when I requested some from the kitchen. This place might appeal to some, but for me, the food didn't quite hit the mark. However, given that it's one of the few places open late on the island, it's still a decent option if you're looking for a place to eat after hours. read more

Loved this place! Our server was amazing and attentive and checked on us frequently. We sat facing the street with windows wide open. There were sofa that you could sit and lounge as well as high top tables. The food was a good size portion and tasted wonderful. We enjoyed our cocktails and each dish we ordered. Will definitely ba back to visit and if you're considering stopping by, this place is a must. read more

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Not so "Happy Hour" - you only get A DOLLAR off drinks... But, the food was good, the cocktails were exceptional, lovely atmosphere, great service. Just don't wait for Happy Hour because it doesn't save you any money. We saved $2 off $114. read more

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Food is great. Service is excellent. Location is super convenient! Love this place!! My go to for every first date.