Best Restaurants in Hilo Hawaii include loco moco, 24-hour diner food, fresh poke, and Italian-Hawaiian fusion. This guide only includes real, currently open spots with verified links. Hilo sits on the Big Island’s rainy east side, away from the resort strip. Therefore, its restaurants lean local, with fewer tourist-focused menus than Kona or Waikiki.
Cafe 100 has served Hilo since 1946, when founder Richard Miyashiro opened it after returning from World War II. The loco moco, now offered in more than 30 varieties, got its start here. Additionally, the restaurant survived two tsunamis and rebuilt each time. It’s a walk-up counter, so expect quick, casual service.
Ken’s House of Pancakes has served breakfast, lunch, and dinner around the clock since 1971. Coconut pancakes, oxtail soup, and a build-your-own omelet menu keep both locals and visitors coming back. However, expect a wait during peak breakfast hours. It sits at the corner of Highways 19 and 11, between downtown and the airport.
Suisan Fish Market has sold fresh fish and poke along Hilo Bay since 1907. Hawaiian-style, spicy ahi, and shoyu ahi are the daily standards, though options vary with the catch. Meanwhile, poke is sold by the pound or in ready-to-eat bowls. Popular flavors often sell out before closing, so early visits pay off.
Cafe Pesto has served wood-fired pizzas and island-inspired pasta from downtown Hilo since 1992. The restaurant sits inside the restored S. Hata building, a survivor of past tsunamis and earthquakes. Because of that, the space carries as much history as the menu. Fresh local seafood and Hawaii Regional Cuisine influences round out the dishes.
Hilo’s best restaurants tend to favor history and substance over polish. Still, that mix of old diners, family-run fish markets, and fusion kitchens gives the town real character. Because of that, it’s an easy place to eat well away from the Big Island’s resort crowds.