Cheap, tasty and off-the-beaten-track

Believe it or not, SPAM is big here in the islands.  Yes, canned meat, of all things.  You can walk into any McDonald's or Burger King and order bacon, sausage or Spam with your breakfast.  Chili & rice is a big favorite, too.  Another local island specialty is a "plate lunch".  This is a plate with two scoops rice, one scoop macaroni salad and your choice of entree selection (for example, Korean chicken (our favorite!), marinated pork, seared tuna, etc.)

There are free dining guides for tourists you can pick up at the airport or grocery stores and you can find lots of fancy and plain restaurants everywhere.  However, here are several very local eateries you will never see listed on a dining guide, that we think are outstanding, inexpensive and fun:   

 

•      Big Island Grill - is consistently good food and our family's favorite!  A local favorite, also --it's packed at noon, so get there early or late.   Located 3 blocks from our condo at Hanama Place on the north end of Kuikini Highway, it's very reasonably priced with "choke grinds, dude"  (excellent food, man).  Malted waffles, Loco-Moco, shrimp omelettes, sweet potato coconut cheesecake, coffee and mango ice cream desserts, coconut shrimp on organic greens, Korean chicken, Teryaki Beef (John's favorite!) grilled fish, hamburgers, etc. Entrees $6 - $12

 

•      Don's Chinese Kitchen -    Big John often dreams of the  House Pan Fried Noodles here made fresh to order (not from the buffet).  Frankly, I don't get it, but to each, their own.  However, if they have them, try the "mochi" balls.  They're kinda like doughnuts (instead of flour, they use pounded rice for dough) with either a sweet coconut center, or a sweetened adzuki bean center.  Located on Palani Drive, just down from the Wal-Mart on the north side of the road in a little strip mall, behind the Starbuck's and the Wendy's Hamburgers.   NEW FAVORITE:  BA-LE Sandwiches & Bakery - three stores down from Don's Chinese Kitchen, next to the KTA Grocery.    A common Hawaiian comfort food is clear noodle soup (or "Saimin" as they call it) and this place has been voted Kona's Best Saimin for several years running.   They make their Vietnamese Pho soup with the freshest beef marrow bones and brisket flanks long simmering with fresh herbs and spices.  Served with bean sprouts, thai basil, lime and chili peppers.   Yum, yum!!!    Their croissant and hard rolls are made fresh every morning and you will often see this place packed with locals around noon and suppertime.  :)    (Also try the tapioca pearl drinks ---- excellent and fun!)

 

•      Royal Thai Cafe -  there are several Thai places in town, but this one seems the cleanest, friendliest and has the best tasting food.  The meal ingredients are just always so FRESH and crisp.  Kim's favorite meal here is a Thai iced tea, fresh basil rolls with peanut sauce and homemade plum sauce, and a bowl of Tom Kah soup (hot & sour with lime and coconut milk, plus vegetables and either succulent shrimp or chicken).  Cup of soup $2.50, appetizers $5 - 8, entrees $7 - 13.  Located at the Keauhou Shopping Center, (next to the Cinemas). (Keahou Shopping Center is at the south end of Alii Drive, OR, take the main Highway 11 south from downtown Kailua to Kamehameha Ave.  This is a great little mile drive from the highway down to Keahou:  great views and lots of fragrant plumeria trees, so have your windows open! 

 

•     Hotel Manago - Located south of Kailua-Kona on Highway 11 in Captain Cook (makai side, or ocean side) about 20 minutes, it's an old hotel with a cafe.   (In fact, I think it's the oldest family owned hotel in the islands - the photos on the walls are very interesting)  Their pork chops were voted best in the islands by an Oahu food critic, and their grilled fish is excellent (they always have at least 5 kinds of fish to choose from).  They serve family style, with odd and simple shared bowls of mac salad, black eyed sweet peas, rice, vinegar sprouts, cucumber salads, pickled seaweed, etc. with the meal.  (Make sure you wander around a bit to see the Japanese garden and three foot long koi.)  Entrees $5-$12

 

• Hawaiian Style Cafe in Waimea - We dare you to eat everything on your plate!  The helpings of everything are HUGE and CHEAP and just down-home good.  The place ain't much to look at from the outside and you gotta look for it, but it's worth it.  The pancakes are the size of hubcabs, and light and fluffy.  64-1290 Kawaihae Road on the main highway through Waimea.  $5-$8  (breakfast and lunch only)

    

FUN TIP:  don't be afraid to experiment and try new things!  Even in a supermarket or convenience store, try weird oriental candies and ice cream treats (like "melona" bars from Korea - that taste just like honeydew melon, or li hing mui flavored plums from Japan - pucker up!).  Some are icky, but many are downright good.  Half the fun is finding out and we invite you to just live a little, and have a ball!   We hope these little tidbits can help you enjoy the island a little better and we welcome feedback on any of our ideas, plus new ones you find on your own.  Maholo and aloha, we hope to see you there!  -----Kim, CWC

 

Our 3 favorite "touristy" eateries!

Bubba Gumps - Right on ocean only a couple blocks from our condo, you can watch boogie boarders while you stuff yourself silly with whatever kind of shrimp you want.  Lots of trivia and movie props from the film "Forrest Gump".  Colorful and eclectic - expect to pay $10 - 30 person here.

Outrigger Keauhou Beach Resort - Right next door to Kahalu'u Beach, we recommend you go just for their FABULOUS drinks.  Our favorite thing however, is looking over the railing into the tidal pools below.  The hotel shines big spotlights down into the ocean at night   One time in a 10 minute period, we saw 6 eels and about 30 big turtles roaming around - way cool!!!!  Night life under the sea . . . .ooooo, aaaaahhhh.

Kona Brewing Company  - Kim's favorite dark beer in the world - Kona Brewing Co. Stout with hints of coffee.     Yum, yum.  (They'll cut you off at two glasses, though, 'cause the alcohol content is like 15% or somethin')  Try all their weird beers - it's a blast.  Excellent gourmet pizza with weekend live entertainment.  (Hint, when they say the flavors are spicy hot, they MEAN it, holy cow.)   Look for coupons in the tourist guides.  Located a couple blocks up the hill from King Kam Hotel.

 

Desserts

 

Scandinavian Shave Ice - best shave ice on the planet!  Try it with ice cream in the middle.  They are HUGE, so order small or have 6 people share the first one, hehe.  (downtown on Ali'i Drive - across from Hulihe'e Palace)

 

Original Thai - Tapioca pudding doesn't sound like a big deal, but it is absolutely scrumptious here.  They hand make this warm, clear tapioca stuff and smother it in a decadently sweetened coconut sauce and fresh strawberries.  The food is light fresh and flavorful here, too.  (Located in 'Ilima Place strip on corner of Palani and Kuikini, behind the Firestone - kinda next to the Kona Brewing company on the back side.)

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