Big Island Eats: 5 Locals’ Picks for Food on Hawaii

Last Updated: April 20, 2026

The Big Island of Hawaii is best known for lava fields and luaus, yet it’s a surprisingly rich food destination with fresh local flavors—if you know where to look. From the local team at Hawaii Zipline Tours, here are a few of our favorites on the Big Island. Whether you’re touring the Hilo side, exploring the Kona coast, or winding through upcountry Honokaa, these local spots are worth going out of your way for.

 

Suisan Fish Market

Poke shops are popping up left and right over on the west coast, but here in Hawaii, we have been enjoying this delicacy for years. For those of you who don’t know, Poke is a raw fish salad served as an appetizer and sometimes as a main course in Hawaiian cuisine. You can’t get any fresher than straight from the Fish Market itself. Suisan Fish Market has some of the freshest fish on the island, you literally can see fishermen dropping off their massive catches as you walk in to their store front. This spot has a bunch of different flavored Poke, and the most popular are the Ahi Poke made from yellowfin tuna. You can also request a sample to see if you are more of a spicy ahi, or Hawaiian style type of guy or gal. The locals usually get a poke bowl, which comes with rice and makes an awesome, mouthwatering lunch!

Address: 93 Lihiwai St, Hilo, HI 96720

Hours: Mon, Tue, Thu–Sat 9 AM – 3 PM • Closed Wed & Sun

Kona Brewing Company

This is a must stop place on the list. This brewing company’s restaurant has a perfect variety of eats from salads, pizzas, burgers and local favorites. This is a place that everyone in your group will enjoy.  There is also a variety of locally brewed beers available, our favorite thing to order is the sampler which is a flight of six sample-size beers of your choice. This is the perfect way to try a bunch at once! This spot is also located near Alii Drive, which has shopping and beaches. Kona Brewing Company’s original pub is the perfect place to grab a pizza and a beer on a hot day!

Address: 74-5612 Pawai Pl, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740

Hours: Daily 11 AM – 9 PM

TEX Drive in

This is the number one spot on the island for a malasada. A malasada is a Portuguese donut, made of egg-sized balls of yeast dough that are deep-fried in oil and coated with granulated sugar. TEX Drive In also fills theirs with Bavarian cream, mango, chocolate, haupia, guava and a few other options! This would be a good stop for breakfast or a snack along the Hamakua Coast drive on your way back to Kona. You might also want to grab a box to go because, trust me, you will want more. The shop opens early and sells out fast, so plan to arrive in the morning.

Address: 45-690 Pakalana St, Honokaa, HI 96727

Hours: Daily 5 AM – 1 PM 

 

Ululani’s Shave Ice

No Big Island food list is complete without shave ice, and Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice is the standard-bearer on the Kona side. This company originally opened in Maui, but just recently opened their first location on the Big Island. Ululanai’s has a way of making their ice super smooth, and their flavors just seem to pop in your mouth. You can also get ice cream, condensed milk and li hing mui added for an extra creaminess or sour flavor. This treat is a must have when visiting the islands, and Ululani’s will not disappoint.

Address: 75-5660 Palani Rd, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740 (inside Courtyard King Kamehameha Hotel)

Hours: Daily 11 AM – 5 PM

Two Ladies Kitchen

This famous tiny mochi shop is one of the most popular stops for all visitors to Hilo Town. 

Two Ladies Kitchen offers more than 20 different flavors, colors and creative shapes of mochi treats, from the non-traditional—filled with sweet potato, peanut butter or malted milk balls—to traditional mochi lightly scented with yomogi (mugwort leaf) and filled with azuki bean paste. The shop also sells a half-dozen varieties of manju. Most popular on the menu are the fresh fruit filled mochis, with strawberry at the top of the list. They also will have seasonal flavors during the holidays, such as pumpkin pie during Thanksgiving. 

Mochi is a perfect dessert or midday snack, so grab a box of your favorite flavors, or try them all! 

Important: Two Ladies Kitchen no longer accepts walk-in orders. Call ahead at (808) 961-4766 to place your order the morning before your visit, Wednesday through Saturday.

Address: 274 Kilauea Ave, Hilo, HI 96720

Hours: Wed–Sat 10 AM – 4 PM (No walk-ins)

Work Up a Big-Island Appetite on a Waterfall Tour

The best way to earn your poke bowl is a morning on the zip lines at Hawaii Zipline Tours. Our hiking and zipline tours depart from Honomu — just minutes from Hilo — and put you high above the rainforest canopy with views of the Hamakua Coast. After a few hours of adventure, you’ll have plenty of reasons to make the rounds on this list. Book your tour online or call us at 808-963-6353.