Honolulu Weekly

Big Island

Adriana’s Mexican-Salvadorian Food

A classic hole-in-the-wall takeout place with great south of the border fare. Order take-out for the beach, or eat at one of the several outdoor tables (no inside seating). Tip: Most of the food is mild, so if you like it hot pay the extra buck and get some of Juanita’s homemade hot sauce. You won’t be disappointed.

82-6066 Mamalahoa

Hwy., Captain Cook

808-217-7405

Bamboo Restaurant and Gallery

This gem of a place evokes the spirit of old Hawai’i because the building still is old Hawai’i. Built almost 100 years ago, the green storefront was originally a hotel housing cane workers, merchants and prostitutes. Then, from 1926-91, the Takata family ran it as a general store. These days Bamboo serves pricey East-West fusion cuisine in a dining room decorated with old photographs, Matson Line menus, inverted Asian parasols, and art from their adjoining gallery up the creaking wooden staircase. Lunch and Dinner menus offer fresh fish and locally grown ingredients featuring the labors of North Kohala farmers and fishermen. Bamboo claims to use the most lilikoi juice of any restaurant in Hawai’i, and serves the original Lilikoi Margarita at their bar. Friday and Saturday nights the dining room is filled with music as local favorites John Keawe or Pahoa perform. At a time when shiny new chains proliferate on the Kohala Coast, it feels decadently retro to stagger across an uneven wooden floor with a lilikoi margarita in one hand and a Thai coconut prawn in the other. Perhaps one day those termites will stop holding hands, but until then we have the Bamboo to remind us of a Hawai’i that was.

Akoni Pule Hwy.

Hawi

808-889-5555

Boston Basil’s

Good home-style Italian comfort food served with aloha. Casual, charming decor reminiscent of an Italian trattoria. Good people-watching, generous portions, fair prices and the best homemade pizza dough in town. Their roasted red pepper pesto sauce is also definitely a winner. Wide menu selection, a unique wine list, and Sam Adams/local brews on tap. Delivery, curb-side pick-up, take-outs available. Upstairs private dining room for meetings, private parties and special occasions. 10 percent kama’aina discount!

75-5707 Alii Dr., Kailua-Kona

326-7836

Harrington’s

Good selection of pupus; check the artichoke crab dip. Prompt and friendly service in a casual atmosphere; bar-lounge on site; tempting dessert tray. Nice view overlooking Hilo Bay and Banyan Drive.

135 Kalanianaole St, Hilo,

808-961-4966

Ken’s House of Pancakes

In Bogart’s Casablanca, everybody goes to Rick’s; in Hilo, everybody goes to Ken’s. An extensive selection of classic diner fare (including saimin, loco moco and other local faves) with everything on the menu available any time. Come at 4am. and stay till dawn to watch the changing of the guard in this 24-hour diner and local institution–when the up-all-nighters and the gotta-start-work-at-six-a.m folks share breakfast and coffee (lotsa coffee) before going their separate ways. Thousands of human dramas play out every day on this island–more than a few of them at Ken’s.

Kanoelehua Ave. and

Kamehameha Ave., Hilo

808-935-8711

Luke’s Place

Luke’s in Hawi has been a local tradition ever since the Luke family ran it for three decades, beginning in the ’50s. When it reopened under new management last summer, it had been redone literally from top to bottom, but keeps the old character. The swank new Luke’s offers just about every type of seating a diner (or drinker) could desire, from the crow’s-nesty Sky Lounge to overstuffed chair-dominated Tiki Lounge to the elegant dining room to the outdoor tables in the courtyard. The menu is equally varied, from crab cakes to pizza to prime rib.

Our experience after several visits: the service is polished but the food a bit inconsistent; sometimes it’s excellent, sometimes, ummm, not so excellent. But we keep returning, and are confident they’re working out the glitches.

55-510 Hawi Road

Hawi

808-889-1155

Millie’s Deli & Snack Shop

Extensive menu with an assortment of sandwiches, wraps, burgers, salads and desserts. Nice and clean 50’s decor atmosphere. Take out and delivery available.

94 Kalanianaole Ave, Hilo

808-969-1241

Miyo’s Japanese Restaurant

Outsiders hail Miyo’s for the spectacular view. But what brings local people to Miyo’s time after time is the home-style Japanese cooking, which reminds us all of grandma’s (or mom’s) kitchen.

This Hilo hot spot is almost always busy so make sure you make reservations and don’t be pushy with the sometimes slow service. Chill, if you will. Just sit back, relax and enjoy the view of Wailoa Park with its arching bridges and windy footpaths. Ozen-style dishes is the only way to do Japanese at Miyo’s, where they serve you top notch miso soup and tsukemono while you wait for your order. The family-run business is home to the world’s best sesame chicken and the local favorite ahi tempura. But the reasonably priced menu goes on and includes vegetarian dishes such as the vegetable tempura or the vegetarian shabu-shabu.

Miyo’s Japanese Restaurant

Waiakea Villas

400 Hualani St.Hilo

808-935-2273

Sombat’s Fresh Thai Cusine

The key here is ‘fresh’–Sombat’s doesn’t get into the so-hot-it-puts-hair-on-your-chest spicyness that turns some Thai dinners into a macho culinary smackdown. Superior versions of the Thai basics (including especially well prepared Shrimp Spring Rolls and a coconut flavored Thai iced tea). Their Mee Grob (lighter than air, flash pan-fried vermicelli style noodles, prawns, tomato sauce, sugar, lemon juice, garlic, shallots, sauce, coriander, fish sauce and fresh red chilies) is to die for.

88 Kanoelehua Ave. (Hwy 11), Hilo

969-9336

Teshima’s Restaurant

Back in 1929 Shizuko Teshima, then 22, began running her father’s general store. Under her guidance the family business not only survived the Depression–it’s taken in stride everything that’s happened since then, too. In 1960, the family converted the store into a restaurant that’s been the social heart of Kainaliu ever since. Back in 1929, Grandma Teshima probaby never dreamed that she’d still be greeting customers on her 100th birthday in 2007. (HIJ named her a Hawai’i Island Living Cultural Treasure on that occasion).

Teshima’s isn’t a fancy place, but it serves consistently good, down-home local Japanese cooking at reasonable prices in a friendly, family atmosphere. Teshima’s is like a favorite living room easy chair, a bit worn but worn in all the right spots, and full of pleasant memories.

There will never be a Teshima’s franchise, because you can’t franchise authentic comfort. You have to come go to Honalo and experience it yourself.

Honalo

808-322-9104