Where to Find the Best Lunch on the Kohala Coast

Where to Find the Best Lunch on the Kohala Coast

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Clean Plate Club

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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 on the Kohala Coast for a tasty lunch on the Big Island. 

But wait, there’s more. We’re here to help demystify some of the unusual words you might see on menus like furikake, laulau and lilikoi — and explain which meat is being served and why. And possibly most importantly of all, provide the fun facts on the origins of local dishes

If you’re happy with your meal, tag us @LocalGetaways on Instagram to share the love.

For more suggestions on best restaurants on the Big Island, the best things to do on the Big Island, and the best places to stay on the Big Island, click here.

Feature Photo: Cafe Pesto

Best Lunch in Kohala / Waimea

A close-up of a person holding a fork digging into a plate of creamy penne pasta garnished with herbs and bits of what appears to be bacon or ham, arguably the best lunch on the Kohala Coast. Two crispy garlic bread slices are placed on the rim of the white plate.
Photo: Courtesy of 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 11pm to 8pm. 

A delicious pizza topped with artichoke hearts, greens, and other ingredients sits on a silver tray. The crust is golden-brown and the toppings look fresh and flavorful. Enjoy the best lunch on the Kohala Coast as you savor every bite in a kitchen setting slightly out of focus.
Photo: Courtesy of 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? Cafe Pesto open daily 11am to 8:30pm. 

A plated dish features a grilled steak topped with herb butter, a halved lobster tail garnished with parsley, a charred lemon wedge, and a portion of Romanesco broccoli. The plate rests on a wooden table, making it the best dinner in Hilo, Big Island.

Chef Peter Merriman is one of the godfathers of Hawaii’s 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. Currently open Wednesday through Saturday for lunch from 11:30am to 2pm, Saturday and Sunday for brunch from 10:30am to 1pm, and daily for their “Taste of Waimea” Prix Fixe dinner from 5pm to 8:30pm. Reservations required and Merriman’s has multiple locations, so double check your reservation to make sure it’s at the right place.

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