Mar 12, 2021, 4:44 pm
Last edit by: italdesign
Recommended restaurants, from north to south:
The Fish and the Hog in Waimea, https://www.fishandthehog.com/
Merriman's in Waimea, https://www.merrimanshawaii.com/waimea/ book ahead on Open Table
Seafood Bar and Grill, Waimea, https://seafoodbarandgrill.com/
Hale l'a Da Fish House, https://www.yelp.com/biz/hale-ia-da-fish-house-kamuela - open 9-5 Mon - Fri, poke
Manuel Malasada, malasada truck that parks on the side of the highway at 1 Puako Drive, 9 to 5:30 Tues-Sun, closed Mon
Manta Restaurant, Mauna Kea Hotel, https://www.mantarestaurant.net/ Call to book
Meridia, Westin Hapuna, https://www.meridiarestaurant.net/menu/ book on Open Table
Canoe House, Mauna Lani, https://aubergeresorts.com/maunalani/dine/canoe-house/, 5-9 pm - booked thru April 11
Napua, Mauna Lani Beach Club, https://www.napuarestaurant.com/
Lava Lava Beach Club, Lava Lava Beach Club. https://lavalavabeachclub.com/bigisland/ For a fun beachy "sand in toes" experience, with tables right on the beach, and some nights live music. Just keep expectations in check on food and service.
Pueo's Osteria, http://www.pueososteria.com/#welcome Italian food up in Waikoloa Village at Waikoloa Highlands Center, this place also features outdoor, semi-covered dining.
'Ulu Ocean Grill, Four Seasons, https://www.fourseasons.com/hualalai/dining/restaurants/ulu_ocean_grill/
South of Airport:
Patricio's Mexican, http://www.patriciostaqueria.com/, 10:30 - 8
Fish Hopper, Kailua-Kona, https://www.fishhopperkona.com/ Daily, 7am to 9pm
Da Poke Shack, https://dapokeshack.com/ Daily 10am-4pm
Archived Thread: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/hawaii/284220-big-island-consolidated-south-kona-kona-north-kohala-waimea-restaurants-thread.html
The Fish and the Hog in Waimea, https://www.fishandthehog.com/
Merriman's in Waimea, https://www.merrimanshawaii.com/waimea/ book ahead on Open Table
Seafood Bar and Grill, Waimea, https://seafoodbarandgrill.com/
Hale l'a Da Fish House, https://www.yelp.com/biz/hale-ia-da-fish-house-kamuela - open 9-5 Mon - Fri, poke
Manuel Malasada, malasada truck that parks on the side of the highway at 1 Puako Drive, 9 to 5:30 Tues-Sun, closed Mon
Manta Restaurant, Mauna Kea Hotel, https://www.mantarestaurant.net/ Call to book
Meridia, Westin Hapuna, https://www.meridiarestaurant.net/menu/ book on Open Table
Canoe House, Mauna Lani, https://aubergeresorts.com/maunalani/dine/canoe-house/, 5-9 pm - booked thru April 11
Napua, Mauna Lani Beach Club, https://www.napuarestaurant.com/
Lava Lava Beach Club, Lava Lava Beach Club. https://lavalavabeachclub.com/bigisland/ For a fun beachy "sand in toes" experience, with tables right on the beach, and some nights live music. Just keep expectations in check on food and service.
Pueo's Osteria, http://www.pueososteria.com/#welcome Italian food up in Waikoloa Village at Waikoloa Highlands Center, this place also features outdoor, semi-covered dining.
'Ulu Ocean Grill, Four Seasons, https://www.fourseasons.com/hualalai/dining/restaurants/ulu_ocean_grill/
South of Airport:
Patricio's Mexican, http://www.patriciostaqueria.com/, 10:30 - 8
Fish Hopper, Kailua-Kona, https://www.fishhopperkona.com/ Daily, 7am to 9pm
Da Poke Shack, https://dapokeshack.com/ Daily 10am-4pm
Archived Thread: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/hawaii/284220-big-island-consolidated-south-kona-kona-north-kohala-waimea-restaurants-thread.html
Big Island: Consolidated "South Kona-Kona-North Kohala-Waimea restaurants" Thread
Mar 12, 2021, 1:55 pm
#1
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Big Island: Consolidated "South Kona-Kona-North Kohala-Waimea restaurants" Thread
Who can suggest favorite restaurants, whether near the Kona Airport or further north toward Mauna Kea along the west coast of the island? We're happy with food trucks; we're happy with local foods; we're happy with any food that is really well prepared irrespective of price. If you have recent experience as to what is open during the pandemic, it would be very helpful.
Mar 12, 2021, 3:13 pm
#3
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I was expecting you to ask; I was about to bump up the old thread but with COVID, think it better to start a new one.
I have not been to The Fish and The Hog in Waimea but I did enjoy it in its original incarnation as Huli Sue's.
Merriman's in Waimea remains a favorite for dinner; one of the previous times I was there, PremEx was at the next table.
CanoeHouse at the Mauna Lani at sunset would be magical, I think.
On my list for the next time I am in Kona is Patricio's Mexican
I have not been to The Fish and The Hog in Waimea but I did enjoy it in its original incarnation as Huli Sue's.
Merriman's in Waimea remains a favorite for dinner; one of the previous times I was there, PremEx was at the next table.
CanoeHouse at the Mauna Lani at sunset would be magical, I think.
On my list for the next time I am in Kona is Patricio's Mexican
Last edited by FlyinHawaiian; Mar 13, 2021 at 5:31 am
Mar 12, 2021, 4:30 pm
#4
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My favorites...
CanoeHouse
Manta
Meridia
Napua
Beach Tree
U'lu
Merrimans has an awesome wine list but I don't think the quality of food/service is up to where it was pre-Covid.
CanoeHouse
Manta
Meridia
Napua
Beach Tree
U'lu
Merrimans has an awesome wine list but I don't think the quality of food/service is up to where it was pre-Covid.
Mar 12, 2021, 10:41 pm
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CanoeHouse is great. There is also a road-side Huli Huli truck near the Hawi Visitors Center (which I believe is called GJ's) which is the best Huli Huli chicken I've had on the islands. I think they also make regular appearances in Waimea.
Mar 12, 2021, 11:03 pm
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Mar 13, 2021, 12:04 pm
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Last edited by FlyinHawaiian; Mar 13, 2021 at 12:18 pm Reason: consecutive posts merged
Mar 13, 2021, 2:12 pm
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I haven't been there for a couple of years, work used to take me there every year, but I enjoyed my meals at Fish Hopper, in Kailua-Kona.. Get a good seat and with good weather it's good vibe, I suspect the food isn't that brilliant but you end the evening feeling you've enjoyed yourself. The town itself is a bit wierd, in a nice way, and has the merit of having several other restaurants all within half a mile of each other. There was a New Zealand (?) run coffee place around there, the name of which escapes me, but I appreciated the colonial comfort food!
Mar 13, 2021, 2:49 pm
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I'm not familiar with malasadas. They look like a filled doughnut. Right? Wrong?
Mar 13, 2021, 3:08 pm
#11
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A malasada can be filled (like a jelly doughnut) but in its traditional form (as served in Hawaii) it is not. It's a fried ball of yeasty dough. I prefer my malasadas unfilled, rolled in a little sugar or cinnamon and sugar. They are delightful paired with a cup of Kona Coffee or a nice spot of tea.
Mar 13, 2021, 7:04 pm
#12
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In addition to a few of the places mentioned above, had the chance to try the following in January:
• Seafood Bar & Grill https://seafoodbarandgrill.com
This place was pretty busy both times we visited. It was a low key option outside of the resorts to have dinner. It has outdoor dining on the balcony which was appreciated although the view is of industrial silos.
• Da Poke Shack https://dapokeshack.com
Have been several times in the past although not quite as good as I remembered it. Still enjoyable, however.
• Pueo's Osteria Pueo's Osteria - Waikoloa Italian Restaurant | Food | Wine | Fun | Kohala Coast, Hawaii Island
Up in Waikoloa Village at Waikoloa Highlands Center, this place also features outdoor, semi-coverd dining. It's not a bad choice for Italian food on the Big Island. It was quite busy when we were there and the service was a bit slow but the staff were friendly and the food was respectable.
• Seafood Bar & Grill https://seafoodbarandgrill.com
This place was pretty busy both times we visited. It was a low key option outside of the resorts to have dinner. It has outdoor dining on the balcony which was appreciated although the view is of industrial silos.
• Da Poke Shack https://dapokeshack.com
Have been several times in the past although not quite as good as I remembered it. Still enjoyable, however.
• Pueo's Osteria Pueo's Osteria - Waikoloa Italian Restaurant | Food | Wine | Fun | Kohala Coast, Hawaii Island
Up in Waikoloa Village at Waikoloa Highlands Center, this place also features outdoor, semi-coverd dining. It's not a bad choice for Italian food on the Big Island. It was quite busy when we were there and the service was a bit slow but the staff were friendly and the food was respectable.
Mar 13, 2021, 8:14 pm
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You must have some extraordinary pull. My understanding is due to capacity limits, CanoeHouse is only open to guests staying at the Mauna Lani Auberge. Owners within the Mauna Lani complex were not able to get reservations.
Mar 13, 2021, 8:56 pm
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U'lu and Beach Tree at Four Seasons. Fantastic food, service, and views.
Also, with the caveat the food and service is average, (and at times falls short), Lava Lava Beach Club. For a fun beachy "sand in toes" experience, with tables right on the beach, and some nights live music. Just keep expectations in check on food and service.
Also, with the caveat the food and service is average, (and at times falls short), Lava Lava Beach Club. For a fun beachy "sand in toes" experience, with tables right on the beach, and some nights live music. Just keep expectations in check on food and service.
Mar 14, 2021, 12:04 am
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Napua is really tight on capacity though. For lunch, it is restricted only to Mauna Lani owners. Although there's ways around that too.
Tourists may not be filling up the resort hotel rooms, but they are filling up the restaurants. I went to Manta and Meridia last week and they were both packed as if there was no pandemic.
I'll also second that Pueo's is a good option with much more reasonable pricing.
There are places I miss due to COVID though. The Hillton got rid of Kamuela Provision Company aka KPC which had great food and even better views, especially in whale season. And then Ruth's Chris Steakhouse had an awesome happy hour and fun wine dinner nights but they permanently closed and left the island.