10 Eateries Every Traveler to Hawaiʻi Island Should Visit
From pork chops at the state’s oldest restaurant to sweet bread from the country’s southernmost bakery, bookmark these spots for iconic eats on Hawaiʻi Island.
Hawaiʻi Island, nicknamed the Big Island, is known for its grand natural wonders. Travelers can witness a fiery eruption at Kīlauea, hike to a 420-foot waterfall, ride horses in paniolo (cowboy) country, swim with manta rays and trek to a black-sand beach—and more, all on the largest Hawaiian island.
Then, after working up an appetite, travelers can indulge in some of Hawaiʻi’s most popular foods. After all, Hawaiʻi Island is the birthplace of a few iconic dishes and home to unique specialties you won’t find anywhere else in the state. So be sure to add these food destinations to your Hawaiʻi Island itinerary.
1. Loaded loco moco from Café 100
Café 100 in Hilo calls itself the “home of the loco moco.” The old-school restaurant serves more than a dozen varieties of the dish.
Photo: Grace Maeda
The loco moco: white rice topped with a hot hamburger patty, runny sunny eggs and finished in brown gravy. It’s a humble dish that’s iconic to Hawaiʻi. The quiet town of Hilo on Hawaiʻi Island is considered its birthplace and Café 100 calls itself the “home of the loco moco.” Opened in Hilo in 1949, this old-school restaurant serves more than a dozen varieties of the dish. You can order the traditional loco moco (which is never a bad idea) or swap the hamburger patty with a different protein like Spam, Portuguese sausage or even a veggie burger. Just be sure to stop by Café 100 hungry because the portions are generous.
969 Kīlauea Ave., Hilo, cafe100.com
2. Saucy gravy burger from K’s Drive-In
Hilo’s the only place you can order a gravy burger, basically a loco moco in burger form.
Photo: Aaron K. Yoshino
Being the birthplace of the loco moco, it makes sense that Hilo’s the only place you can order a gravy burger, basically a loco moco in burger form. You just take a burger or cheeseburger, and the bun, and smother it in gravy. Diners can find gravy burgers at local restaurants like K’s Drive-In. If you’re extra hungry, you can opt for two patties.
194 Hualālai St., Hilo, ksdrivein.com
3. Strawberry mochi from Two Ladies Kitchen
Two Ladies Kitchen in Hilo is famous for its strawberry mochi.
Photo: Aaron K. Yoshino
For nearly 30 years, Two Ladies Kitchen in Hilo has been making a colorful array of Japanese mochi and manju—arguably some of the best in the Islands. At this hole-in-the-wall you can find fresh mochi filled with unique treats, from marshmallows and brownies to pieces of peach and lilikoʻi. But Two Ladies Kitchen is famous for its strawberry mochi: It’s so popular you have to order it ahead of time. The delicacy consists of a whole strawberry covered in hand-mashed sweet azuki beans, encased in soft handmade mochi.
274 Kīlauea Ave., Hilo, @twoladieskitchen_hilo
READ MORE: You Can’t Miss This Popular Mochi Shop in Hilo
4. Stuffed malasadas from Tex Drive In
The sugar-coated malasadas at Tex Drive In are large, pillowy and filled with flavors like Bavarian cream, chocolate, guava and mango.
Photo: Island of Hawaiʻi Visitors Bureau (IHVB)/Kirk Lee Aeder
Located in the northern part of Hawaiʻi Island, the quiet town of Honokaʻa lures travelers looking to witness the untouched beauty of Waipiʻo Valley and the Hāmākua Coast. But it’s also worth the trek to Honokaʻa to stop at Tex Drive In, known for its hot malasadas. These sugar-coated treats are large, pillowy and filled with flavors like Bavarian cream, chocolate, guava and mango.
45-690 Pakalana St., Honokaʻa, texdrivein-hawaii.com
5. A bag of cookies from Mrs. Barry’s Kona Cookies
Since 1980, Mrs. Barry has been selling her famous Kona cookies. She now has a loyal customer base across the Islands.
Photo: Nani Welch Keliʻihoʻomalu
When friends, family and neighbors hear you’re headed to Kona, they often put in requests for Mrs. Barry’s Kona Cookies. These baked goods are just that tasty. Located in an industrial plaza just a five-minute drive from the Kona airport, Mrs. Barry’s Kona Cookies is either the first or last stop for residents of neighboring islands tasked with picking up omiyage for friends and family. Although the shop also sells all of its cookies online, the bakery is the only place you’ll find Mrs. Barry’s Kona Cookies in person. At the shop you can pick up an assorted bag to sample all 13 cookie varieties, including chocolate chip macadamia nut, peanut butter, and coconut shortbread.
73-5563 Maiau St., Kailua-Kona, konacookies.com
READ MORE: Mrs. Barry’s Kona Cookies is Big Island’s Sweetest Hole-in-the-Wall
6. Locally grown Kona coffee
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You can’t visit Kona without tasting the region’s famous Kona coffee. With its warm climate and volcanic and mineral-rich soil, Hawaiʻi is known for producing some of the best coffee in the world. Within the state, Kona is largely associated with coffee production. Many local farms in Kona invite coffee connoisseurs and those curious about coffee production to sample varieties and learn more about how coffee is cultivated in the Islands. Greenwell Farms, which dates back to 1850, is one of the oldest coffee producers in Hawaiʻi. The family-run farm welcomes visitors to the property, offering complimentary tours and samples of its Kona coffee.
READ MORE: A History of Kona Coffee, Hawaiʻi’s Most Caffeinated Crop
7. ʻOno Okazuya from Kawamoto Store
Kawamoto Store is the go-to okazuya spot in Hilo. The maki sushi, shrimp tempura and nori chicken are must-try dishes.
Photo: Aaron K. Yoshino
Okazuya, Japanese-style delis, are living relics of plantation days and key contributors to the Islands’ one-of-a-kind cuisine. Back in the day, plantation workers would stop by the neighborhood okazuya to pick up ʻono food on their way to their jobs. It’s still common to see a morning rush, from lawyers and accountants to construction workers, all rubbing elbows as they order their lunches. Opened in 1947, the Kawamoto Store continues to be the go-to okazuya spot in Hilo. The family-owned business is known for its maki sushi, shrimp tempura and nori chicken.
784 Kīlauea Ave., Hilo, kawamotostore.com
READ MORE: This Mom-and-Pop Shop is Known for Building Better Bentos
8. Fresh poke from Suisan Fish Market
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Hilo’s Suisan Fish Market has been around for more than a century, serving both wholesale and retail options. So you know your poke bowl is going to be uber-fresh and delicious. The well-seasoned poke is a must-try.
93 Lihiwai St., Hilo, suisan.com
9. Golden pork chops from the oldest restaurant in Hawaiʻi
The restaurant at the Manago Hotel is the oldest continuously operating restaurant in the state. The golden pork chops are a favorite.
Photo: Megan Spelman
In Captain Cook, you can sit down and dine at the oldest continuously operating restaurant in Hawaiʻi. And if you have the opportunity, you should. Earning the 2023 America’s Classics Award from the prestigious James Beard Foundation, the 108-year-old restaurant in the Manago Hotel is a historic and culinary treasure. The establishment dates back to 1917 and today it’s run by fourth-generation sisters. The restaurant menu rarely changes, but that’s why customers love it. The main draw is the crispy pork chops, pan-fried until golden and smothered in brown gravy and onions .
82-6155 Hawaiʻi Belt Road, Captain Cook, managohotel.com
READ MORE: This Big Island Hotel Restaurant Won a James Beard Award—Here’s Why
10. Sweet bread from the southernmost bakery in the U.S.
Visit the country’s southernmost bakery for a loaf (or two) of sweet bread.
Photo: Courtesy of Punaluʻu Bake Shop
You can find the country’s southernmost bakery on Hawaiʻi Island. Located in Nāʻālehu, Punaluʻu Bake Shop is famous for its fluffy sweet bread that’s made from scratch following a generations-old recipe. You can pick up a loaf or two of the traditional sweet bread and also try the guava and taro versions.
Punaluʻu Bake Shop, 5642 Māmalahoa Highway, Nāʻālehu, bakeshophawaii.com
