Best of Hawai‘i Island 2022: Food and Drink

Home to the original loco moco, Hawaiʻi Island has some of the best old-school favorites you’ll find in the Islands, including sweet bread and saimin. While the island is big on local classics, you can also taste an exciting variety of dishes at award-winning establishments. So, bookmark these restaurants that our readers voted as their favorite.  

Best Restaurant

1. Roy’s Waikoloa Bar & Grill
2. Merriman’s Hawaiʻi Island
3. Jackie Rey’s ‘Ohana Grill
4. ‘Ulu Ocean Grill at the Four Seasons Hualālai
5. Brown’s Beach House at The Fairmont Orchid

Best Bar or Lounge

1. Don the Beachcomber at the Royal Kona Resort
2. Kona Brewing Co.
3. Lava Lava Beach Club
4. Huggo’s
5. Kona Inn

Best Hotel or Resort Restaurant

1. Don the Beachcomber at the Royal Kona Resort
2. Rays on the Bay at the Outrigger Kona Resort and Spa
3. Brown’s Beach House at The Fairmont Orchid
4. Beach Tree at the Four Seasons Resort Hualālai
5. ‘Ulu Ocean Grill at the Four Seasons Hualālai

Best Bakery

1. Punalu‘u Bake Shop
2. Two Ladies Kitchen
3. Short N Sweet Bakery & Café
4. Tex Drive-In

Best Breakfast

1. Island Lava Java
2. Hawaiian Style Café
3. Ken’s House of Pancakes
4. The Coffee Shack

Best Burger

1. Hilo Burger Joint
2. Village Burger Waimea
3. Ultimate Burger
4. Cronies Bar & Grill

Best Cheap Eats

1. L&L Hawaiian Barbecue
2. Da Poke Shack
3. ‘Umeke’s Fish Market
4. 808 Grindz Café
5. Café 100

Best Farm-to-Table Restaurant

1. Merriman’s Hawaiʻi Island
2. Hilo Bay Café
3. Foster’s Kitchen
4. Holuakoa Gardens Restaurant and Café
5. Moon and Turtle

Best Loco Moco

1. Big Island Grill
2. Hawaiian Style Café
3. Ken’s House of Pancakes
4. Café 100
5. Pine Tree Café

Best Noodle, Saimin or Ramen

1. Ken’s House of Pancakes
2. Noodle Club
3. Nori’s Saimin and Snacks
4. Tetsumen
5. TK Noodle House Kona

Best Pizza

1. Kona Brewing Co.
2. Big Island Pizza
3. Café Pesto
4. Bianelli’s Gourmet Pizza & Pasta
5. James Angelo’s Underground Pizza

Best Plate Lunch

1. Big Island Grill
2. L&L Hawaiian Barbecue
3. ‘Umeke’s Fish Market Bar & Grill
4. Pine Tree Café
5. Café 100

Best Poke

1. Da Poke Shack
2. ‘Umeke’s Fish Market Bar and Grill
3. Suisan Fish Market
4. Poke Market
5. Kona Grill House

Best Seafood Restaurant

1. The Fish Hopper
2. ‘Umeke’s Fish Market Bar & Grill
3. The Seaside Restaurant
4. Jackie Rey’s ‘Ohana Grill
5. ‘Ulu Ocean Grill at the Four Seasons Hualālai

Best Shave Ice Stand or Store

1. Aoki’s Shave Ice
2. One Aloha Shave Ice Co.
3. Original Big Island Shave Ice Co.
4. Scandinavian Shave Ice
5. Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice

Best Steak House

1. Roy’s Waikoloa Bar & Grill
2. Ruth’s Chris Steak House
3. Kamuela Provision Co.
4. Merriman’s Hawaiʻi Island
5. Outback Steakhouse

Go back to the main Readers’ Choice menu or visit:

• Best of All Islands
• Best of O‘ahu
• Best of Maui
• Best of Kauaʻi
• Best of Lānaʻi & Molokaʻi
• Best of Hawaiʻi Island