Big Island Hawaii - Where to Eat

Pine Tree Cafe - One of the best local food places in my opinion. It has staples like korean chicken, teriyaki chicken and beef and it has some original items like spicy garlic chicken (pictured above) and Furikake Ono. The helpings are large and the prices are reasonable, but it’s more than that, it’s great food. It’s two stop lights from the airport so it’s the first place I stop if I can, if not, I go there as soon as I can for my spicy garlic chicken fix. I’m not a fan of the potato/mac salad but you can’t please everybody, you can substitute green salad, but be aware of the issues with unwashed greens on the island.

Matsuyama - 73-4040 Hulikoa Dr, Kailua, HI 96740. This is a small local market with 2 locatons, one right on the way from the airport and the other on the upper road by the school. Both are great for quick snack pickup or beer/wine on the way home, prepared food is available and on Monday, Wednesday and Friday there is fresh mochi available made locally by Uncle Chad in flavors like chocolate peanut butter and sweet potato cream, you can also get butter mochi and other flavors. My niece wasn’t able to make this trip because she started a new job, so I sent some to her in Spokane, WA, and I have to say that our group ate a lot of mochi during this trip, i wish I brought some home for myself.

This was Randy’s Huli Chicken& Ribs - it’s off Mamalahoa Highway, only open 2 days a week for limited hours. We were lucky enough to find it on our way back from 2 step and were so happy with the food we chose. I’ve seen it before and my friend Kim, a local recommended it, we will look for it on all future trips.

One Aloha - This shave ice is the best on the island, and it’s not just me that says it. It is award winning since it opened in 2015, so much so, that it had to move to a larger location on Kuakini Highway in Kailua-Kona from a much smaller location. The shave ice is soft and light and all the flavors are organic, natural and house made, such as lilikoi, mango, guava, coconut and other standards like strawberry and lime you can choose up to 3 per order. They have suggestions of combinations if you have a hard time deciding and they have Li Hing Mui (sour plum powder to sprinkle on top) The owner spoke to my mother in Japanese sharing that she used to live there and took a group photo of our party of 7 for their dynamic display in the store. I wish we were able to go there every day we were there, I can never get enough of this. We were at the Kona airport waiting for our departing plane and saw a shave ice cart, the flavors looked like they were bought at a wholesale outlet that they attached a pump to a gallon jug of artificial flavors and colors and I couldn’t bring myself to get one even though it was hot and I wanted it to be good, I knew I would be disappointed. One aloha or nothing! TBH this picture was taken at a previous visit because I couldn’t wait long enough to take a picture this time, it was gone within 5 minutes of receiving it and wish I could have gone back every day (sadness).

Kona Cold Lobster - This is a wholesale seafood warehouse one light from the airport, I go there to purchase lobsters by the pound and make dinner at our condo or house. This time it was a celebration for my son and his girlfriend, they both completed their AA’s at Community College and are headed for San Diego State University. Both have been working and going to school to support themselves and I wanted to recognize their accomplishments with a dinner in their honor. I was so proud of them both and wanted to make sure they knew this.

KTA and KTA Express - this is a local grocery store with a hot and prepared food counter, good for plate lunches or a quick bite for the beach.

Original Thai Cuisine - This restaurant in the heart of Kailua Kona was a recommendation from Pete, a ranch hand at Na’alapa Stables where we went horseback riding on Monday, it is award winning serving up large portions of thai food for reasonable prices. I ordered Drunken Noodles with Shrimp and got 2+ meals from the serving and the additional spicy sauce was welcomed. Most of our group ordered curry, red, massuman, yellow and green and all were pleased with the dishes. It was served with sticky, white or brown rice and provided at least 2 meals, which is a lot considering these are 20 something young men/women..

Island Naturals - Kaiwi St - this is the island equivalent of Whole Foods, organic, non gmo, local foods are available along with imported items. You can find ‘Bitchen Sauce’ a delicious dip made of almonds and spices, curry, garlic, jalapenos etc, it’s great on chips, cucumber slices, carrot sticks and so on.

Rebel Kitchen - Great food with craft and local beer and a small outside area with tables, tell them Captain Nick sent you.

Loco Wraps - They describe themselves as Island Style Mexican Food, I consider it casual delicious food in the Ace Hardware strip mall. Tacos, burritos, nachos and salads, my favorite is the pulled pork or BBQ jackfruit. In addition to the choice of protein you get to choose the sauce, sweet to hot and sides. Tiny space, but gigantic flavor.

Lava Lava Beach Club: This place has great food, but even better views. After eating lunch we went swimming at the beach next door and ended up swimming to the site right in front of where we had lunch. There was a honu visible when we were waiting for our food, but when we entered the water from the bay, it was murky and the visibility wasn’t very good. The location was great and there was shade, a restroom and it was close to food and parking, and there was very little swell or wave.

Queens Marketplace - Island Gourmet Market has hot foods and prepared sushi in addition to local food, snacks and gifts. Here you can find take out lunches, chips, cookies and chocolates in addition to my favorite Hi-Chew in local flavors like lilikoi and mango and a great collection of wines. I bought my favorite dress of this trip here and cant wait to go back, i come here every time i’m in the northern part of this island.