The food worth planning around in Kailua-Kona is casual: poke sold by the pound, plate lunch, and Kona coffee grown a few miles up the hill. Much of it sits off the Aliʻi Drive harbor strip. Several of the places we return to are a block back from the water, and a few are a short drive south into Captain Cook.
This page is for travelers who want to eat well without circling the same tourist blocks two nights running. The picks run casual to sit-down, a poke counter for lunch and an oceanfront table at Huggo’s or the Kona Inn for dinner, each sorted by budget and situation.
Table of contents
- Restaurant Recommendations + Map
- Restaurants in Kona
- Oceanfront Sit-Down Dinner
- Restaurants in the South Kona district
For a special-occasion splurge, book Merriman’s up in Waimea;. If you like what you find here, our Hilo restaurant picks are worth checking before you cross to the east side.
Where to Eat in Kona: Quick Picks by Situation and Map
Q: What is the best place to have breakfast in Kona?
We love going to the Fish Hopper in downtown Kona for the views over Kailua Bay (big breakfasts, so try for a table by the windows), or to Arise Bakery and Cafe for a simpler coffee-and-pastry start. If you’re staying further south, Teshima’s is a good option.
Q: What is the best place to go to for take-out and a sunset beach picnic in Kona?
Magic’s Beach Grill (across the street from Magic Sands Beach) and Broke da Mouth Grindz (a few blocks from Old Airport Beach) are good options for take-out and sunset viewing.
Q: What is the best place to go to for Poke in Kona?
Da Poke Shack is our #1 choice for take-out poke, and Umekes is a great place to go for a sit-down poke bowl.
Q: What is the best local restaurant in Kona for lunch?
Big Island Grill serves loco moco and teriyaki chicken in big portions at honest prices, 8:00 am to 2:00 pm Tuesday through Saturday. Da Poke Shack sells fresh poke to take to the beach. Pine Tree Cafe is good for takeout if you want something quick and local such as spicy garlic chicken or fried rice with Portuguese sausage.
Q: Where should we eat in Kona for a casual dinner?
Magic’s Beach Grill has outdoor seating across from Magic Sands Beach, a solid drink menu, and a broad menu. Broke da Mouth Grindz serves hearty portions of local Hawaiian and Filipino plates at a fair price. For sushi in a sit-down setting, Kenichi’s is worth it despite the mall location.
Q: Where should we go for an oceanfront dinner in Kona?
For a sit-down dinner with the water in view, Huggo’s and the Kona Inn are the two oceanfront rooms on Aliʻi Drive. Book ahead for a sunset table at either.
Prices, details, and map locations below last verified June 2026.
| Name | Best for | Price Range |
|---|---|---|
| 1Pine Tree Cafe (Details ↓) | Take-out and a sunset beach picnic | $10-20 |
| 2Arise Bakery and Cafe (Details ↓) | Pastries and coffee | $10-20 |
| 3Kaaloa’s Super J’s (Details ↓) | Authentic Hawaiian dishes | $10-20 |
| 4Peaberry & Galette (Details ↓) | Coffee and Galettes (pancakes) | $10 |
| 5Teshima’s (Details ↓) | Japanese comfort food, breakfast | $20-30 |
| 6Magic’s Beach Grill (Details ↓) | Sunset beach dinner | $20-30 |
| 7Broke da Mouth Grindz (Details ↓) | Takeout for a picnic at Old Airport Beach Park | $20-30 |
| 8Umekes (Details ↓) | Poke bowls | $20-30 |
| 9Big Island Grill (Details ↓) | Value | $20-30 |
| 10Willie’s Hot Chicken (Details ↓) | Spicy fried chicken, quick lunch | $20-30 |
| 11The Fish Hopper (Details ↓) | Ocean view breakfast | $20-30 |
| 12Da Poke Shack (Details ↓) | Poke bowls | $20-30 |
| 13Coffee Shack (Details ↓) | Breakfast + Lunch | $20-30 |
| 14Black Rock Pizza (Details ↓) | Pizza | $20-30 |
| 15Kenichi’s (Details ↓) | Sushi, date night | $30-50 |
Restaurants in Kailua-Kona
The restaurants below are in or just outside central Kailua-Kona.
Pine Tree Cafe
Pine Tree Cafe (website) is takeout only, and one of the better takeout stops in Kona. Go for the spicy garlic chicken or the fried rice with Portuguese sausage.
Teshima’s
Fifteen minutes south of Kailua-Kona, Teshima’s (website) is a long-running spot for simple Japanese comfort food in an old-school dining room. Order the fried pork chops, or come for breakfast.
Arise Bakery and Cafe
Arise (website) is a bakery and coffee shop in a bright, relaxed space. We go for the freshly baked pastries, but they also do breakfast and lunch sandwiches and their own sourdough.
Magic’s Beach Grill
Magic’s Beach Grill (website) sits across from Magic Sands Beach, so you can swim before or after. The kitchen does creative plates and a solid drink menu. Grab a seat in the sand out front, or the back deck for sunset.
Broke da Mouth Grindz
Broke da Mouth Grindz (website) serves hearty portions of locally sourced Hawaiian and Filipino plates at a fair price. If it’s packed inside, order takeout and head to nearby Old Airport Beach for a sunset dinner.
Kenichi’s
Kenichi’s (website) is in a mall, but the sushi is good and reasonably priced. Check hours before you go.
Umekes
Umekes (website) is the sit-down poke bowl pick, and also has fish tacos and fresh catch.
Big Island Grill
Honest local food in big portions for a fair price. Try the loco moco or the teriyaki chicken if you can’t decide. The decor is nothing special.
They serve breakfast and lunch from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm Tuesday through Saturday, and dinner Tuesday through Thursday from 4:30 pm to 8:00 pm. Closed Sunday and Monday. More information on their website.
Willie’s Hot Chicken
If spicy, southern-style fried chicken is your thing, Willie’s Hot Chicken (website) is a solid stop for a quick lunch.
The Fish Hopper
The Fish Hopper (website) is our favorite breakfast spot in downtown Kona, with big plates and ocean views over Kailua Bay.
Peaberry & Galette
Peaberry & Galette (website) is a small coffee shop in the Keauhou shopping center that makes galettes.
Da Poke Shack
Da Poke Shack (website) sells fresh poke by the pound; start here if you’re new to poke bowls. It’s easy to take out, so grab a plate for the beach or a nearby beachfront park.
Fresh fish at Da Poke Shack.
Oceanfront Sit-Down Dinner on Aliʻi Drive
Huggo’s (website) has been on the water just off Aliʻi Drive since 1969, and it still serves steak and fresh fish with the surf a few feet from the table. Dinner runs daily from 5:00 pm, though kitchen hours vary, so call ahead on a slow night.
Next door, its sister bar On The Rocks is open-air over the water, with cocktails and a casual lunch, plus live music some evenings. We like starting there for a drink before the table fills up at Huggo’s.
Kona Inn Restaurant (website) is the other proper sit-down option, a few minutes up Aliʻi Drive. The open-air dining room looks west over Kona Bay, so your table faces the sunset. The menu centers on fresh seafood and prime rib. It opens daily at 11:30 am, so you can go for lunch or dinner, and happy hour runs 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm.
Both cost more than the casual spots on this list.
Restaurants in South Kona / Captain Cook
These three are along the South Kona coast, a stop if you’re driving south.
Kaaloa’s Super J’s
Kaaloa’s Super J’s is a small, family-run food stop serving Hawaiian plates. Order the pork and poi lau lau for a local classic.
More information on their facebook page.
The Coffee Shack
The Coffee Shack in Captain Cook does breakfast and lunch, with good coffee and homemade bread. The terrace looks straight out over Kealakekua Bay, so if you’re already driving the South Kona coast for a coffee farm tour or a stop at Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park, stop here.
The Coffee Shack overlooks Kealakekua Bay
Black Rock Pizza
Black Rock Pizza in Captain Cook makes the sauce and the crust by hand. The patio looks out over the hills, and the service is unhurried enough to stay a while.