Hi-Ho Mongolian Grill
Sweet, a brand new restaurant right in the heart of Hilo! Hi-Ho Mongolian Grill, a franchise with other locations in Illinois and Iowa, opened just a few days ago. It was pretty busy when we got in, like any new place opening in Hilo… anything new is super exciting for us!
It’s a pretty neat concept: you choose a bowl size (little khan, mighty khan, barbarian khan), or all you can eat, then you fill it up with a nice variety of veggies and meats…
… they had seafood too… shrimp and scallops…
… some noodles too… don’t be shy to pile it up since it shrinks.
Then the fun part, putting on your sauces! I wasn’t feeling too adventurous so I just followed the recommended recipe on the sign and added a bit more of the “mongolian fire oil” — spicy stuff! (click on the image to make big)….
Then you hand it over to one of the chefs and they cook your food on this HUGE flat wok which gets super hot. It was a lot of fun watching — they totally put on a show, throwing the bowls and food in the air.
Finished bowl (mighty khan “medium” size). Pretty huge. Next time I’ll get the smaller bowl… or get the bigger bowl and take home the leftovers. 
Served with a great tasting egg drop soup and bowl of rice. It’s a lot of food!
They even have a little desert which comes with the meal… some fresh fruits and pudding.
It was all very yummy and fresh. I would come back another time. Next time I will change my sauce recipe… it was a bit too sweet and salty for me. I’ll be more adventurous next time.
Prices are pretty reasonable (click to make big):
Service was very nice and friendly too. It’s great that we have this new place in Hilo!
Hilo, HI 96720
September 14th, 2008 at 11:03 pm
A posting! I has been a while…
I have tried this sort of concept back on the mainland, you can do quite well or end up with something just barely edible. It helps to have a little experience, or simply good sense, in selecting what ingredients go well together. Might put this one on the list next time over on that side of the island.
September 15th, 2008 at 9:02 am
Interesting, I’ve been waiting for this place to open since the signs went up. My shop is close by, but I haven’t heard any radio ads, flyers posted, etc.
Regardless, the place has a badass name! Don’t remember a restaurant in Downtown Hilo that attracted so many people since L&L first opened up.
Looking forward to your review of the mysterious Ice Pond Diner(?).
September 15th, 2008 at 9:06 am
You have a great blog! Since you seem like a foodie, you should check out this new site called http://www.behindtheburner.com.
It’s going to provide tips and tricks about anything and everything in the culinary world. Check it out!
September 16th, 2008 at 3:39 am
looks ono brah…i bet da big bruddahs go foa da buffet. I went to a mongolian grill in Tucson, AZ , and da buggah was suprisingly good. I wondah if they had mongolian katsu??….i hope they at least has some fruit punch brah.
September 16th, 2008 at 11:07 am
Interesting concept. Just wondering how the company picked Hilo for their first Hawaii location. No offense, cause I’m from there. Just wondering.
September 19th, 2008 at 4:38 pm
Plenny places li’dat up hea in da DC area. I love em too. Da grindz is ‘ono!
September 20th, 2008 at 9:35 am
THANK YOU, FOR VISITING OUR RESTAURANT, HI-HO MONGOLIAN GRILL. MY WIFE AND I MOVED BACK TO HILO 9 YRS AGO FRON ILLINOIS WHERE I LIVED FOR 20 YRS. AFTER LEAVING HILO AT THE AGE OF 21. MOVED BACK HOME, WINTERS WHERE GETTING TO LONG. I JUST WANTED TO BRING SOMETHING I FOUND SO FAR FROM HOME, THAT REMINDED ME OF HOW MY MOM COOKED WITH VEGGIES AND MEATS, ALWAYS ONO. AGAIN THANK YOU FOR YOUR VISIT. P.S. SAY HI WHEN YOU DROP BY.
MAHALO PLENTY
TED TAKA
September 26th, 2008 at 8:58 pm
Went by the Hiho Mongolian Grill on the weekend and it was pretty good!
The best part was listening to live Slack Key music! Totally made the experince feel like fine dinning!
On another note, I would like to mention my Puka Puka Kitchen experince. A very awesome new find and right on bayfront Kam Ave! It was so pleasing to experience a cross of cultures in their offering. I had the BBq chicken which is the one the won 1st place at the recent Hilo Bay BBQ challenge. On the same plate was this garlic rice which reminded me of something from India. The garlic Ahi don was also very special! My daughter had the coconut shrimp and it was on of the best I have ever had!
Awesome place!
October 1st, 2008 at 9:30 am
Yummy! That looks great! I’ve definitely had my share of fixing the not so tasty dish before.. lol
The great thing is that it’s all up to you, so you can’t complain about anything, but the way you prepared it.
I’m hungry. I think I’m off to get some Mongolian BBQ!
October 4th, 2008 at 1:56 am
I have been to their Chicago locations a few years ago. What I liked best is that it is very healthy food, it is almost impossible to make bad choices, other than eating too much! We are moving to Hilo in a few weeks and I am excited that Hilo has another new restaurant!
October 22nd, 2008 at 12:27 pm
I was going to suggest that you go eat here, but you already have! I love it, it’s great food. When I was in Tahoe, we ate at a place called Fire & Ice, and it was the same concept (but on a bigger scale, and with more food options), and I came back raving about how neat it was. Then two days later I discovered Hi Ho Mongolian Grill!
November 10th, 2008 at 2:52 pm
[...] I really want to go to the Mongolian BBQ resturant that recently opened in Hilo. I’ve been wanting to go there since I was here in [...]