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Big Island restaurants
As with other Hawaiian islands, fine restaurants on the Big Island often serve "Hawaii regional cuisine," an early-'90s phenomenon pioneered by such chefs as Alan Wong, Roy Yamaguchi, Sam Choy, Beverly Gannon, and Peter Merriman. Its hallmark is a commitment to fresh, local ingredients, often used in haute or healthy renditions of local favorites—grilled short ribs, poke (marinated raw fish), kalua-style shredded pork—the original (greasier) versions of which are typically sold for $7 a plate at take-out joints. Vegetarians and people watching their cholesterol should proceed with caution: Big Island food tends be salty and oriented to red-meat eaters.
The majority of upscale restaurants on the Big Island are located on the Kohala Coast, many of them in five-star hotels. However, the agricultural area of Waimea (an hour away from Kohala) hosts two of the island's best, the namesake restaurants of Hawaii chefs Daniel Thiebaut and Peter Merriman. Along the spectacular scenic drive of the Hamakua Coast, you can find esoteric gems like Tex's Drive-In. Hilo, the largest town on the island, has mid-range (and delicious) restaurants, like the Asian-influenced Miyo's and Hilo Bay Café.
A local favorite in the sleepy town of Hawi for more than ten years, this restaurant has finally been discovered by mainlanders. Still, locals swear by these...more
Everything is just right in this happy place—the production area is clean and pristine, the goods are beautifully packaged, and most importantly, the...more
This is the place that stole every local's heart years ago, and with good reason. It has fresh local fish and great poke—the sesame-and-soy marinated tuna...more
Casual island dining where the locals and the tourists happily coexist. Be sure to get the Big Island Luau plate—traditional Hawaiian foods like pork lau...more
This is Hawaii regional cuisine at its most accessible, familiar enough to appeal to locals (the vast majority of diners at Hilo restaurants), and yet...more
This bustling little scene of about 250 local vendors is a great place to stop and get cheap, tasty snacks (tamales, Vietnamese spring rolls, bento boxes,...more
Alii Drive is pretty insufferable, especially at night when hordes of spring breakers are on the prowl. That's why it's best to experience Kona's oceanfront...more
All that's left of the historic hotel built in the early 1900s is this popular open-air oceanfront bar, grill, and restaurant. Adorned with old black-and-white...more
Located in Pahoa town—a hippie strip about 20 minutes from Hilo—this popular hangout is still a little feral on the edges but wins people over every...more
It feels like a little place you've discovered, but many have already raved about Peter Merriman, one of 11 top chefs in the state who spearheaded the "Hawaii...more
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