Best Restaurants on the Big Island of Hawaiʻi for a Date
The Big Island's food scene is split between Hilo — genuinely local, underrated, and mostly untouched by resort pricing — and the Kohala Coast, which has some of the best destination dining in the state. Here's how to navigate both.
Hilo side
Downtown Hilo institution with a wide menu, reliable quality, and a setting in one of Hilo's historic buildings. The wood-fired pizza is the thing, but the fresh fish preparations change based on what came in that day. One of those local restaurants that out-of-towners are always surprised to find in a town they expected to be more limited.
In the town of Pahoa in the Puna district, this is the kind of local spot that doesn't appear on most restaurant lists but that people who live in lower Puna treat as their neighborhood restaurant. The food leans toward local comfort food with strong local-sourcing emphasis.
Kona/Kohala side
The best oceanfront dinner experience on the Big Island — set literally at the waterline with the Pacific in front of you, and exceptional fish and seafood that's genuinely local. Hotel restaurant pricing, but the setting and quality justify it for the right occasion.
Another Kohala Coast resort restaurant, but consistently one of the best sunset dining experiences on the island. The menu changes seasonally and the oceanfront lawn setting at dusk is the kind of thing that photographs well but is actually even better in person.
For a more casual waterfront option that doesn't require resort prices — this coffee and breakfast spot on Kona's main waterfront strip is reliable, local-feeling, and good for a morning or lunch date where you want to be outside watching the water without the formality of a dinner restaurant.