Best Neighborhood Gem Restaurants in Kawaihae

We’ve been to big island 4 times now and this is always a must visit. You do need a reservation and you’ll still wait 10-15 minutes but the food is always great. It’s not cheap but that’s typical for Hawaiian restaurants, expect to pay more for an excellent meal and you won’t be disappointed

Most of the food was good, but not great. Fresh / real wasabi is a nice touch. It felt a bit like a Japanese restaurant trying to cater to American tastes (which could be a positive or a negative depending on what you’re seeking). Our biggest issue was confusion with the menu. The menu at the restaurant didn’t match the online menu, we received two different menus at our table (half of which were outdated), then several of the drinks listed on the latest menu were not available.

Table was ready when we arrived. Rebecca served us immediately and the food was excellent. The bartender Ben could have been more attentive when we arrived (and the restaurant was setting up for lunch) but he makes a great bloody mary so all is forgiven.