The Best Restaurants on The Big Island

Where to Eat on the Big Island

Feature Photo Courtesy of Umkekes

Check out our extensive list of our favorite eateries in and around Kona, Hilo, Waimea, the Kohala Coast, and beyond.

Local Picks for All the Popular Big Island Destinations

Kona

A colorful acai bowl topped with fresh fruit, reminiscent of the best smoothies on the Kona Big Island, Hawaii. Sliced strawberries and bananas are arranged neatly beside whole blueberries. The bowl also contains granola and a sprinkle of shredded coconut, all set against a vibrant turquoise background.

Where to Find the Best Smoothies and Acai Bowls in Kona

A close-up of the best dinner in Kona by the sea. The dish features grilled fish topped with a cream sauce, green beans, red cherry tomatoes, and a serving of colorful quinoa. The plate is white with a decorative design, and sunlight reflects off the water in the background.

Where to Find the Best Dinner in Kona

A takeout container filled with a colorful assortment of food that surely makes for the best lunch on the Big Island. It includes two rice balls topped with green seasoning, a portion of vibrant seaweed salad, shredded carrots, and creamy mixed poké with chunks of fish and vegetables.

Where to Find the Best Lunch in Kona

Top-down view of a table with five plates of the best breakfast foods in Kona, including a waffle topped with bananas, home fries, over-easy eggs, toast, a papaya half, and a plate with shrimp. A cup of coffee is also visible.

Where to Find the Best Breakfast in Kona

Kohala Coast, Waikoloa, Waimea

A plate with the best lunch on the Big Island features a gourmet meal: grilled steak topped with herb butter, a lobster tail garnished with herbs, a charred half lemon, and green Romanesco broccoli. The meal is served on a white plate with a brown rim.

Where to Find the Best Dinner on the Kohala Coast

Four beautifully presented appetizers are arranged in a line on a white plate. Each is topped with diced tomatoes and onions, sitting on a bed of shredded lettuce and carrots, making it the best lunch on the Kohala Coast. A small yellow flower is placed decoratively beside them.

Where to Find the Best Lunch on the Kohala Coast

A close-up of one of the best breakfast burritos on the Kohala Coast, cut in half on a white plate. The burrito contains beans, rice, corn, tomatoes, and scrambled eggs. Topped with a lime wedge, it is served with a small container of light-colored dipping sauce. The dish is well-lit with natural light.

Where to Find the Best Breakfast on the Kohala Coast

Hilo, Volcano

A gourmet dish of seared tuna slices artfully arranged on a slate plate awaits you at the best sunset dining spot on the Big Island. The tuna is garnished with thinly sliced radishes, green onions, and edible seaweed, accompanied by colorful vegetable cubes, a white sauce dollop, and a drizzle of black sauce.

Where to Find the Best Dinner in Hilo

A rectangular white plate holds an artfully arranged trio of dishes: a slice of tuna sashimi garnished with greens, a small mound of soba noodles topped with thinly sliced scallions, and a piece of white fish with a cilantro garnish. White flowers decorate the setting, making it the best lunch on the Big Island.

Where to Find the Best Lunch in Hilo

A close-up of a plate featuring French toast slices dusted with powdered sugar. One slice is topped with a pat of melting butter. To the side, a small metal cup holds a serving of syrup. A slice of orange garnishes the plate—truly the best breakfast Hilo has to offer.

Where to Find the Best Breakfast in Hilo

Foodie Guide to Local Restaurants on the Big Island

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Happy Hour

Smoothie Bowls

Sushi

Burgers

Sunset Dining

Learn About Hawaiian and Local Food

Four bowls of colorful and diverse poke bowls are shown from a top view, each filled with a variety of fresh ingredients such as avocado, sliced vegetables, seasoned meats, and rice, garnished with black sesame seeds. Chopsticks rest next to one of the bowls—truly an entry from a Hawaiian Food Glossary come to life.

Foods That Define Hawaiian Culture: A Glossary

A table is set with a variety of colorful dishes: a blue plate with spice remnants, an orange plate with hors d'oeuvres and dip, a bowl of soup with herbs, flatbread with an egg, and a platter of assorted appetizers showcasing foods that define Hawaiian culture. Various condiments and garnishes are also present.

Foods That Define Hawaiian Culture: International Influences

A platter of assorted sashimi is artfully arranged on fresh green leaves. The varieties include seared tuna, sesame-crusted tuna, and traditional raw tuna slices. A small bowl of bright red pickled ginger and a container of wasabi sit nearby—offering the best lunch on the Big Island.

Where to Find the Best Hawaiian Food on the Big Island