Restaurants in Kailua-Kona

“Flew over from Oahu to check out Journey Cafe. Not disappointed. Delicious food, nice ambiance, location could be better-like OAHU! Please come to our island! And bring the vegan ice cream � SO ONO!”

“Seems to be the best poke place while on Big Island. They have some standard types of poke and to me, it’s sufficient enough to satisfy the desire for good poke.”

“Amazing Tacoz with unique sauces! highly recommend!”

“Excellent food, friendly staff, excellent experience!”

“Best burgers and fries I've ever had! On our 8 day vacation, we've been here twice. Such good beef and fresh, quality ingredients! The sauce for the fries is sooo good!”

“Our food was delicious and made to order. Kalua Loco moco was the first for me but so glad I tried it. Husband had the fresh ahi tuna sandwich, cooked great. 👍🏻”

“A Hidden Gem for Coffee Lovers - Mountain Thunder Coffee

While exploring the Big Island, I knew I had to visit a Kona coffee farm--after all, Kona coffee is world-renowned for its quality and flavor. During my search on Google Maps, I came across Mountain Thunder Coffee, and the best part? Their tours are completely free! In Hawaii, where everything else tends to come with a price, a free tour was a welcome surprise.

They open at 9:30 AM, and we arrived about 10 minutes after they opened. Unfortunately, we missed the start of the first tour, but they run one every 30 minutes, so we decided to explore on our own. The gift shop is fantastic--full of coffee samples (which are free to taste) and a wide selection of souvenirs. We also decided to pay $10 to take the self guided walk through their beautiful nature preserve. It's only $10 per family, but be aware that some parts can be steep and slippery, so signing a waiver is required. You also get a little booklet explaining a lot of the plants and things on the property.

During our visit, we had the pleasure of meeting one of the resident cats, Miss Princess--she's absolutely gorgeous and wandering around the property like she owns the place! After our self-guided stroll, we joined a guided the guide--who I wish I could remember her name--was fantastic. She was a slightly older woman with gray-brown hair, full of humor, and answered all our questions with enthusiasm. She explained the process of making Kona coffee, what sets Kona apart from other Hawaiian coffees, and the different types of beans, like Peaberry, as well as caffeine content.

The gift shop is a must-visit. While the tour is free, I probably spent over $100 on coffee, honey, and souvenirs. They also offer a discount if you sign up for their email--$5 off for purchases of $25 or more. I couldn't resist their retro print featuring a beautiful Hawaiian girl and a vintage airplane, which now proudly hangs above my coffee bar. We also picked up some coffee and honey to share with friends and to enjoy ourselves.

If you're in the area, Mountain Thunder Coffee is a must-see for any coffee enthusiast. The combination of free tours, beautiful scenery, friendly staff, and delicious products makes it a standout visit on the Big Island.

Would you like me to tailor it more towards a specific tone or audience?”

“I need to start out by acknowledging how incredible the staff was. Engaged with our daughter, great about being patient while we ordered and taking time to make us feel like we were regular customers. That right there, is how you build loyalty. Nothing but love from this Canadian. Everyone working December 5th 2024, is who you want always representative of your business.

Now, the secondary qualities: the coffee is perfect. Not even a hint of bitterness or lqcking any substantial flavor. Just get a 12 of black coffee and appreciate what quality coffee does as a consumer.

The frozen Ube coffee was awesome, full flavor, not overly sweet, and really just hit all the spots for us.

The music wasn't overly loud, the atmosphere was so much easier to take in and appreciate, and the vibe they've worked on establishing is already there and balanced for any customer. We'll be back, and will make a point to support HiCo moving forward.

Update: went back and ordered the loaded spam musubi, the food is absolutely also a valid reason to visit. The strawberry gin is incredible as well. Cant recommend enough.”

“Super great food, with an Asian touch. The poke and the fries were amazing!”

“Love the food We are making this our favorite food spot. The BOYB was great”

“The food is so incredible for a reasonable price! the owners are very friendly. fav dish is pad thai with shrimp, beef or chicken.”

“Having found (and loved) Magics on a prior visit to the Bug Island, it was an easy call to start this trip with a beachside lunch immediately after arriving. Nothing cures travel fatigue better than relaxing under an umbrella on Magics' deck over the waves with a brilliant mai tai and an order of firecracker ono tacos. Really good food and drinks, friendly staff, perfect location.”

“We had our best Sushi ever 🇯🇵 😀👍”

“Very good, especially avocado, bacon, and sour cream crepe, cozy place😉”

“The food at Fish Hopper,Kona, was great! My husband thought the pulled pork sandwich was the best he had ever had! My parmersan crusted fish was excellent! We do wish the wings weren’t just during happy hours.”

“Very nice casual restaurant inside Kona's Foru Seasons Hotel. Italian based restaurant. Very delicious pizza made from authentic wood burnt oven. Sunset view from the restaurant that is second to none. ”

“Eaten here numerous times, never disappointed. We love the beer and the food. The pizza dough/crust is so good and perfectly crafted with the toppings. The smash burger and pork tacos are delicious too!”

“The Ultimate Beach Bar… .”

“Very good food at reasonable prices. The large portions could not be eaten, we had to take them with us. Huge selection of everything. Excellent fried shrimp. If you want to eat well and cheaply, I can only warmly recommend it.
We had to come back here again because the food is excellent and the prices are excellent.”

“Friendly staff, great food and atmosphere. Usually really good drinks. A great place to celebrate 🎉”

“Our second visit this vacation and by far our favorite foods and drinks of all the island. Great staff to top off the experience.”

“Even though considering they don’t have much competition in style of food on this island, their service is usually always good. What’s not to like? Finger-licking good food with a couple cold beers! It’s a nice way to treat the fam”

“The specials/specials on the menu are also worth checking out. The salt and pepper soft shell crab (slightly spicy) and the pork belly with pickled vegetables (compared to other places in the United States) are both delicious😋”

“Big Island Abalone is a unique aquaculture farm located in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, specializing in premium abalone. They offer a variety of experiences, including a food truck serving freshly prepared abalone dishes and a DIY barbecue area called Kona Barbeque.
We visited the food truck without a reservation and enjoyed a set that included both oysters and abalone. The staff was incredibly friendly and made our experience enjoyable. Both the abalone and oysters were fresh and delicious.
Wanderlog
For those interested in the Kona Barbeque experience, it's important to note that reservations are required. This self-grilling BBQ area allows guests to cook their own meals using locally sourced ingredients, including abalone, lobster, shrimp, oysters, beef, and vegetables. The venue provides all necessary equipment, such as grills, utensils, and tableware. Reservations can be made online, and it's recommended to book at least 48 hours in advance.
Overall, Big Island Abalone offers a memorable culinary experience that combines fresh seafood with interactive dining. Whether you're stopping by the food truck or planning a BBQ, it's a must-visit spot for seafood lovers.😍”

“I always get laulaus when going to Hawaii. This is one of the best places to get them. They also have the usual Loco Moco, rice, macaroni salad, Kalua pork, and several other local foods. It's a fast food restaurant with no table service. You order at the counter. Very good local food.”

“Food was pretty standard pho cuisine. Employees weren't friendly but the place seems very authentic. Still, gonna have to give it four stars since it didn't rock my socks.

Vegetarian options: No Tofu options.”

“Food was very very good. Freshly made i could see the mamasun in the black using the wok and the flame full blow. Large portion and good price for the food. Highly recommended.”

“Best Asian ribs and sushi ever!”

“Great restaurant. Food, service and atmosphere... a trifecta!”

“We had a Birthday party there. Excellent food. Staff was super friendly and so helpful.”

“WOW! These are the best donuts I have ever had. We came here with our young family of 6 and started out with 6 donuts and ended up licking the box clean and got another 6. They are perfected, delicious but not too sweet so you can eat and eat! also they are not your regular donut so ask about the flavors!!”

“Ono food guys! Go check out my brother Nephi!”

“Recently I came across Koholā Coffee. I had no idea how reasonably priced the incredible food would be, how yummy the smoothies and other drinks are. The owner is a bright eyed beauty full of incredible Aloha and all of her staff are equally as awesome. I love whales and so does Jeannette🐋‼️ THE BEST‼️”

“The food is awesome the owner is friendly the view is amazing ❤️”

“Great gelato excellent service.”

“Lovely Coffee Shop! Five Stars⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️”

“The staff are wonderful & their food is incredible.”

“Having a paint party on there lanai , they have the best Kona coffee and chai in town”

“I am so sad this place is closing! The donuts are wonderfully delicious and they come up with all kinds of combos that are yum!! The workers are great! Helpful and kind. My favorite was the bacon one. We will miss you! #damnCovid2020”

“Fantastic Acai bowls. We visited recently from the UK and as soon as we discovered them we returned every day until we left!!”

“We love this place because the coffee is so good. Staff kind and knowledgeable. They offer a cool mail order service with nice savings to keep you supplied with beans. Great gift shop. A fun time in Naalehu.”

“Fantastic!!! The line was out the door so I took a walk came back and line was shorter but still out the door. Now I know why. It was Awesome food. I highly recommend this place. The wait in line is worth it.”

“amazing food and amazing people thank you so much 💗 delicious 😋”

“Fireart Cuisine has some of the best Asian food we have ever had! We are on a short visit to Hawaii, but we’ve already been there twice - the food is so good we had to come back! Both the beef and broccoli and the shrimp and broccoli have delicious flavor with perfectly cooked broccoli. The braised green beans and chicken (mild) was also delicious. And for desert, this was our first time ever trying fried ice-cream - delicious and so much fun! Staff are super kind and on the ball. Everyone seems to want to put out the best - for those who love great food, this little spot is an awesome find!”

“This place is special. Awesome crew , killer food and amazing live music! Only a few years old and already a Kona landmark! Do yourself a flavor and get ya some Willies!!🤙🏽”

“Love their signature Boneless Chicken Thighs and their potato salad too! 👍👍”

“Delicious Açaí Bowl and good portion. The small size was filling! Small menu but all great options. You can sit upstairs and look out at the ocean. It’s more of a to-go place though. Highly recommended for a good Açaí bowl!!!”

“I love the coffee so much that my husband and I buy Kona Coffee online and have it shipped to us. We have tried their medium roast and we just purchased the Dark Roast Peabody. We love it.”

“Best sushi place I went to on the Big Island while visiting for a week! Quite possibly has the best California Rolls I’ve ever had! They have a big menu with lots of options.”

“Located in a local, non touristy food court. Food was fine but we carried the food back to the car to eat as the tables and chairs were full of bird poop (open air setting). Bathrooms facilities require a code to enter but was not very clean.”

“The people were nice, the food was delicious, including the pastries, and it is a nice little shop to have a bite to eat. Would definitely return if I come back to area.”

“When in kona you must grab something from here. Everything is amazing and the people are awesome.”

“The great joy of finding a Cajun, French blend to Hawaii! They’ve found their niche and do it well! A very unique menu with great snack offerings as well as solid lunches. Don’t change your style!”

“This was the culinary highlight of our trip to the big island! Sam and Jennifer are super kind in explaining the business-all local ingredients! Premium ingredients (local chocolate, Kona hinted brownies-Mac nut base ice cream)-wowza! Serious stuff! Come support this incredible shop. Yum!”

“Walk to this great location and views, personable service and recommendations, good drinks, and prices. Cash only ("machine is down").
Note: This is a (Las Vegas) Raiders bar; say you are a pirate and you'll be fine.
PS: photos show much more "blue" than your eyes see.

Parking: Maybe 40 seats total.

Kid-friendliness: 21 and older.

Wheelchair accessibility: Not ADA accessible.”

“Our server Angel was amazing! Super friendly, prompt and engaging!”

“I ate at the store. 2 people ate 2 slice pizzas, the price was cheap, the quantity was plentiful, parking was plentiful and it was free :) Hawaiian pizza was delicious!”

“Friendly staff and fantastic food 😋”

“Killer pizza! All that needs to be said...”

“Great place to meet friends for the amazing schooners!”

“We had a great time the staff was there and attentive and the karaoke was so much fun! I will go back!”

“Was our first time and so yummy”

“It’s a cute cafe, nice girly vibe, coffee drinks are good, it’s a little expensive but not too bad, it’s a great place to hangout with friends or family. It has great WiFi but It is not ideal for working or studying/doing homework as it is noisy and outdoor seats have a lot of disturbance from the road, nice view of the ocean.”

“My bbq jackfruit wrap ROCKED. Honestly, years ago I wasn't a big fan of Loko Wraps, now I'm gonna put it in my rotation of local food establishments. It was amazing, and the dragon fruit lemonade was delish as well. 10/ 10 I will go again. (see what I did there?)🤙”

“I can’t say enough good things about 808 Grindz Cafe. We ate here TWICE during our vacation because the food was absolutely amazing, and the flavors were spot on. Everything tasted so fresh and well-prepared. The atmosphere was welcoming and relaxing, perfect for enjoying a great meal with family or friends.

The prices were very affordable, especially considering the quality of the food and service. It’s rare to find such a gem that delivers so much without breaking the bank. I was so caught up in the experience that I forgot to take any photos, but trust me—it’s worth it. Highly recommend checking it out!”

“A true hidden gem. Tucked away beneath the King Kam hotel, this place has absolutely delicious breakfast, sandwiches, and coffees. We went here nearly everyday during our vacation to try everything from the donuts, to croffles, to grilled cheese, to the paninis.”

“Glenn was a good server. Easy to communicate with.”

“Plenty of flavors also a cheat sheet inside to help those who don’t know”

“Variety and close to where you stay”

“This place never disappoints l! Always create amazing beverages!”

“We came across this cute café on our way out from the cruise ship. There was a musician with great music and voice, the food was delicious and it was a great spot to just sit and relax. They have indoor seating with games and outdoor seating as well.

Vegetarian options: My husband and I had an egg and cheese wrap and a cheese pizza.”

“Okay I was very skeptical when this was suggested in my group. As tourists, it seemed like a weird hang. I was proved wrong. Go to the left side of the building, away from the bowling alley, and it was quieter and more diner like.The teriyaki and the pork and cabbage plates was delicious. Lots of food given! We may just be back and bowl next time :)”

“The food and coffee here are so yummy!! I’ve been coming for a while and I’ve always been impressed with the quality. I went in today and we had the nicest, sweetest barista she made my whole day! Can’t recommend enough!!!”

“awesome atmosphere, great staff, Locals always a Hoot . . .”

“If I could eat their food everyday I would. I’m grateful these guys are in town.”

“We were very impressed with the quality of these coffee beans. I wanted to bring home to Michigan authentic Kona Coffee. I paid a high price, however, it was worth it! This coffee is freshly grown in Kailua-Kona. The Peaberry Med Roast is a smooth cup of coffee! We loved it!”

“Great food and great service. Coleslaw a must.”

“I recently stopped in to get lunch and they started serving the kalua pork again (My Favorite) this bowl with all the yummy veggies plus the brown rice, extra sweet potato, edamame and miso good dressing was the BOMB! The service here is outstanding, super friendly and nice staff. Definitely recommend stopping here for a healthy and great lunch!”

“My wife and I celebrated our 20th Anniversary on the Big Island and wanted to experience the best the island had to offer. Ulu Ocean Grille did not disappoint! Here is a summary of our dinner: We thoroughly enjoyed the Ebi Tempura roll - (it was good enough that we have encouraged several family members to join us at Ulu this evening for sushi and dinner) For our entrées we had the Mahi Mahi and the Spicy Crab Noodles. Both were perfectly prepared, very flavorful, and the presentation was perfect. For dessert, we couldn't decide between the chocolate or vanilla (the flavor of the evening) soufflé, so we got one of each (you only celebrate 20 years once!). Again, perfectly prepared and presented and was thoroughly enjoyed. And I can't overstate how excellent the service was. The staff went out of their way to make the experience memorable. It was the best dining experience I have ever had and I don't expect to top it soon, unless they outdo themselves when we return this evening. Ulu & Four Seasons Resort - well done!”

“I ate there twice in March, and twice in April, not brisk service, Hawaiian leisure!, but incredible food! The coconut shrimp, with either sauce (although I loved the sweet chili), both panko and beer battered fish and chips were delicious, and I never expected to find THE tastiest BLT sandwich I have ever eaten!”

“Food o Hawaii is by far the best delivery service. Noah is the best as well!!”

“Love the food We are making this our favorite food spot. The BOYB was great”

“the place was really good and had great customer service and it was very welcoming I recommend going there”

“I need to start out by acknowledging how incredible the staff was. Engaged with our daughter, great about being patient while we ordered and taking time to make us feel like we were regular customers. That right there, is how you build loyalty. Nothing but love from this Canadian. Everyone working December 5th 2024, is who you want always representative of your business.

Now, the secondary qualities: the coffee is perfect. Not even a hint of bitterness or lqcking any substantial flavor. Just get a 12 of black coffee and appreciate what quality coffee does as a consumer.

The frozen Ube coffee was awesome, full flavor, not overly sweet, and really just hit all the spots for us.

The music wasn't overly loud, the atmosphere was so much easier to take in and appreciate, and the vibe they've worked on establishing is already there and balanced for any customer. We'll be back, and will make a point to support HiCo moving forward.

Update: went back and ordered the loaded spam musubi, the food is absolutely also a valid reason to visit. The strawberry gin is incredible as well. Cant recommend enough.”

“Fantastic lunch today. Great view and excellent service”

“Killer pizza! All that needs to be said...”

“Fantastic!!! The line was out the door so I took a walk came back and line was shorter but still out the door. Now I know why. It was Awesome food. I highly recommend this place. The wait in line is worth it.”

“Best burgers and fries I've ever had! On our 8 day vacation, we've been here twice. Such good beef and fresh, quality ingredients! The sauce for the fries is sooo good!”

“This place is special. Awesome crew , killer food and amazing live music! Only a few years old and already a Kona landmark! Do yourself a flavor and get ya some Willies!!🤙🏽”

“Delicious lunch to-day— crab cakes especially tasty and moist with side of garlic mashed potato and other diner enjoyed a chargrilled fish burger with a side of fresh vegetables. Wait staff very friendly and efficient and service was very fast. Altogether a memorable lunch in a magnificent setting looking down on the waves crashing onto the rocks across the road. Thank you to the team at Foster’s kitchen”

“Great restaurant. Food, service and atmosphere... a trifecta!”

“We ate here after 12 hours of traveling and could not have been happier. The service was so friendly and outdoor seating with tiki torches and a view of the water was great. My son isn’t always the most adventurous eater but he asked to try the clams from my seafood stew and pronounced that he “loves clams more than pizza”. It was his first time trying it. He had the kid’s grilled cheese with fries, and myself and my friend had the Crabby Patties crab cakes, cocktails, fish n chips and seafood stew. Everuthing came out quickly, hot and fresh. It was just what we needed after airport food all day.”

“Our food was delicious and made to order. Kalua Loco moco was the first for me but so glad I tried it. Husband had the fresh ahi tuna sandwich, cooked great. 👍🏻”

“Best Asian ribs and sushi ever!”

“Amazing Tacoz with unique sauces! highly recommend!”

“We had a quick lunch. Service was pretty quick and the view of the bay was nice.”

“I can’t say enough good things about 808 Grindz Cafe. We ate here TWICE during our vacation because the food was absolutely amazing, and the flavors were spot on. Everything tasted so fresh and well-prepared. The atmosphere was welcoming and relaxing, perfect for enjoying a great meal with family or friends.

The prices were very affordable, especially considering the quality of the food and service. It’s rare to find such a gem that delivers so much without breaking the bank. I was so caught up in the experience that I forgot to take any photos, but trust me—it’s worth it. Highly recommend checking it out!”

“Glenn was a good server. Easy to communicate with.”