Measuring over 4,000 square miles, the Big Island has a lot of ground to cover. Naturally, you’ll want to spend your mornings and afternoons here outside, so you’ll need a satisfying lunch to keep you fueled up. for your island adventures Here’s a list of our favorite spots for a tasty lunch on the Big Island.
We have cross-checked our picks with top sites like Frommer’s, Hawai’i Magazine and Tripadvisor to make sure we’re offering you the best lunch to enjoy on the Big Island. Bon appetit!
Big Island Lunch Map
Best Lunch in Kona
Kona Brewing Co.
74-5612 Pawai Place, Kailua-Kona
808.334.2739
This popular, casual pub is serving up hand-tossed pizzas and a wide selection of pupus (appetizers) in addition to the standard pub fare. Kona Brew Co. has so many handcrafted beer flavors on tap that it’s probably best to start with a flight for the taste-testing purposes. Open Monday through Saturday 11am to 8pm. Closed Sunday. konabrewingco.com
Umekes Ali’i Plaza
74-5599 Pawai Place, Kailua-Kona
808.238.0571
Umekes serves traditional Hawaiian cuisine using locally-sourced ingredients — as their saying goes, “so fresh it’s off da hook!” They’ve got lau lau (steamed tender pork wrapped in taro leaves and slow cooked) served over rice or you can try their loco moco. Open daily 11am to 9pm. Happy hour is daily 3pm to 5pm. umekesrestaurants.com
Best Lunch in Kohala / Waimea
Big Island Brewhaus
There are lots of microbreweries popping up on the islands lately, and Big Island Brewhaus is one of the best. The food here is just as tasty as the beers — the menu of Mexican-style dishes and standard pub fare is made from locally sourced ingredients. Open daily 12pm to 8pm with happy hours 3pm to 5pm. bigislandbrewhaus.com
Cafe Pesto
This 1912 building was restored to create this beautiful cafe, offering the perfect ambiance for a leisurely lunch. There’s an ohia wood-fired pizza oven in the kitchen and a menu full of the flavors of Hawai’i Regional Cuisine. There are so many tasty choices — coconut calamari, locally sourced salad, award-winning pizza, saffron risotto — how do you choose just one? Open daily 11am to 8:30pm with happy hours 2pm to 5pm. Brunch Tuesday through Sunday 9am to 11am. cafepesto.com
Merriman’s
65-1227 Opelo Rd., Waimea
808.885.6822
Chef Peter Merriman is one of the godfathers of HawaiiÆs farm to table movement, and Merriman’s is leading the way for culinary excellence on the islands. Their lunch menu has all the fixings of a great midday meal — we recommend the Caesar salad to start, followed by the fresh-catch fish sandwich and accompanied by a couple glasses of chardonnay. Open Monday through Friday 11:30am to 2pm and 5pm to 8pm, Saturday 11:30am to8:30pm, and Sunday 10:30am to 2pm and 5pm to 8:30pm. Reservations required. merrimanshawaii.com
Best Lunch in Hilo
Volcano House
1 Crater Rim Dr., Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
844.569.8849
Located in the unique landscape of Volcanoes National Park, this historical retreat is unlike any other experience in Hawaii. Volcano House was established in 1846 and has welcomed many guests over the years, including Mark Twain and Franklin D. Roosevelt. Overnight guests may enjoy their room service, but if you’re just driving through, stop at Uncle George’s Lounge — it’s open for takeout and grab and go. Open for breakfast 8am to 10:30am, lunch 11am to 2pm, and dinner 5pm to 8:30pm. The all-day menu is offered 11am to 11pm. hawaiivolcanohouse.com
Did we miss your favorite restaurant?
Our always-hungry team of foodies have compiled this list.
Please let us know if we’ve missed your favorite eat@localgetaways.com.
