Big Island Local Food

Lau lau on the Big Island

At 83-5409 Mamalahoa Hwy in the small town of Captain Cook, you’ll find what seems to be the definitive popular answer to the question “where is the best lau lau on the Big Island?

Kaaloa’s Super J’s is open every day except Sunday from 10 am until 6:30 pm. While the name itself may be a little perplexing, the reason why the hungry flock here won’t be. The traditional Hawaiian food, including lau lau that has wowed tourists and television presenters alike, is raved about by virtually every person you can find who has been. Hidden behind the walls of this unassuming yellow roadside building is perhaps some of the best local cuisine in the state, and certainly some of the very best lau lau.

Mixed Plate on the Big Island

Being the biggest and whatnot, the Island of Hawaii has tons of killer options in terms of the mixed plate.

Perhaps the most famous is Broke Da Mouth Grindz in Kona. Just across the street from Kona International Market, this neighborhood favorite is often busy with hungry visitors. The plates here are raved about as much if not more than any other local spot. One raver is Guy Fieri, who had lots of high praise to deliver after trying a plate with fried chicken on his Food Network show.

Broke Da Mouth Grindz is open every day except Sunday from 11 AM to 7 PM.

Malasadas on the Big Island

Next up is the Island of Hawaii. Here, you can once again find unexpected innovations in the world of malasadas if you know where to look.

The Big Island has several KTA Superstores in Hilo and Waimea and multiple in the Kona region. The bakeries in these superstores, believe it or not, are, in fact, a jackpot for supreme malasadas; not only that but extreme, wacky malasadas, too.

Most are available year-round, including flavors like Taro (somewhat like sweet potato) and Chantilly (whipped cream). When "malasada season" starts coming around in late winter and "Fat Tuesday" approaches, they go all out, making numerous renditions of malasadas, including passionfruit, banana, and even BLT!
If you're aiming for more of a traditional malasada experience, you can find that here, too. The Punalu'u Bakeshop proudly proclaims itself to be the "southernmost bakeshop in the US," which, given its location at the bottom of the Big Island, is geographically probable. It's also a delicious place to stop if you're visiting Volcanoes National Park, a south Big Island must-see.

Tex Drive Inn, located in Honokaa, has been a beloved local eatery since 1969. Situated in what was once a thriving sugar plantation area on the Hamakua Coast, it offers a rich blend of history and culinary delight. This establishment is renowned for serving "ono kine grindz" (delicious local Hawaiian food) and various popular menu items. One of their most famous offerings is the Malasadas. Customers can watch these being handcrafted in the bakery through a viewing window, adding a unique interactive element to the dining experience.

Poke on the Big Island

Most in the loop agree that the freshest seafood, including poke, on The Island Of Hawaii can be found at Suisan Fish Market at 93 Lihiwai Street in Hilo. In addition to being a source for your own cuts of fresh fish, the market also sells takeout poke meals. Not only are they delicious, you will also have an easy time finding a great spot to chow down, since the market is right by the water in Hilo Bay.

The history of Suisan goes way, way back. It was originally founded by two Japanese fishermen and business partners on September 7th, 1907, making this one of the rare local food stops you can visit on the islands that are over a century old.

Suisan has seen and survived much of modern Hawaiian history, including WWII, tsunamis, and fire. This fish market is a testament to the human spirit as much as it is a place to get ridiculously tasty fresh fish. After all these years, they’re still open today - from 9 am to 3 pm every day except Sundays and Wednesdays.

Shave Ice on the Big Island

Although Hawaiian shave ice has roots in the Japanese treat kakigori and was first introduced by Japanese immigrants in the mid-19th century, there is reason to suspect that the Island of Hawaii (or Big Island) might be where “Hawaiian” shave ice was first born. This is where many of the plantations these immigrants worked were located, and where the treat’s uniquely refreshing powers may have first worked their magic.

It often goes by a different name here, and here alone: the inverted “ice shave.” It is also home to the boldly-named Original Big Island Shave Ice Co. Though a few years younger than Matsumoto’s on Oahu, this shave ice shop has been open for more than 50 years and is certainly another staple in the history and modernity of Hawaiian shave ice.

Loco Moco on the Big Island

The Big Island’s main east-side location is arguably still the epicenter of authentic loco moco.

Koji’s Bento Korner, located in Hilo just off the Hawai'i Belt Road and the Kamehameha Highway, is carrying on the legacy by serving some of the most ravingly reviewed...food on Earth, quite honestly. Seriously, read some of the Google reviews. This takeout-only, ultra-local, ultra-popular spot is giving people loco moco plates that leave them borderline deranged.
 
If this sounds like the kind of brain-state your stomach is asking you for, you can find it from 7 am to 2 pm every weekday and 9 am to 2 pm on Saturdays at 52 Ponahawai Street.