Big Island Grinds

Great new little Japanese lunch shop in Downtown Hilo! It’s really just a hole in the wall, but the quality of food was super yummy and prepared with love.

Pork curry, crisp tofu croquette, brown rice, and a fresh salad with really yummy miso dressing. ($6.50). I really loved the curry. It was rich and flavorful yet didn’t taste too oily. Pork was tender and juicy. It went perfectly with everything else. I was happy!

Bev had a small bento ($3.50) of beef bulgogi and rice. It was great! Bev said the rice was cooked perfectly too.

Tamari Japanese Lunch Shop
Open Mon-Sat, 10am-2pm
22 Furneaux Ln, Hilo Hawaii
(808) 933-1323

Chicken Katsu Don ($10.75). Light and crispy slightly sweet batter. Juicy chicken. Not too oily. Nice curried rice underneath. Beautiful fresh salad with a rich yogurt dressing.

Also highly recommended is their Ahi Don!

Located right in downtown Hilo. Perfect place for a quick lunch while cruising downtown.

Where else can you get all of this for around 20 bucks in Hawaii?

From top left, clockwise:  eggplants, okra, avocados (so buttery), apple bananas (sweetest), white sugar loaf pineapple (like pure sugar), cilantro (super fragrant), long beans, bittermelon, jalapenos, and the most juicy ripe local tomatoes.

We go to the farmer’s market here in Hilo at least once a week to stock up on our produce with the tastiest organic fruits and vegetables ever, grown locally.  So much cheaper and better than the stuff shipped in… why buy anywhere else?

I find it crazy when I go to a restaurant here and find a tastless rock hard tomato on my burger or salad.  We live in such a fertile place with cheap produce.  Buy local!

It was 12:30pm.  A long line formed at this bright neon green lunch truck.  (photo was taken after I left)

By the time I got in line, everything was sold out except lasagna and chicken.  The guy in front of me ordered the last two servings of hamburger steak.  Their menu was even taken down.  Bummers.

“What kine chicken you get?” , I asked.  ”Katsu, Spicy Korean, Spicy BBQ, Cutlet w/gravy”, this big but friendly man replied.   I took a cutlet with gravy.  $5 bucks.

What a happy surprise when I opened my plate!  They put in a hamburger steak too!  Awesome.  The cutlet was the highlight.  Soft and juicy and very fresh and crispy outside.  Gravy was good.  Not too salty.  Hamburger steak was average… a little tough, but I wasn’t complaining.  Mac salad was really good.  It may seem like a simple thing, but it takes skill and passion to make a well balanced mac salad.

Definitely will be back.  Just a little earlier next time!

Koji’s Bento! So easy to miss… just a small hole in the wall near the Hilo Farmer’s Market. This place has been here forever… they are famous for their homestyle loco mocos, but offer all kine local comfort foods. Took a few snaps of their menus…

Here it is… Koji’s Deluxe Loco ($6.50)!

My good friend introduced this to me back in college days and it’s exactly how I remember it. 2 hamburger patties, 2 eggs, portugese sausage, kim chee, and mac salad. (btw, this was ready in less than 3 minutes… they are so fast here). Isn’t it a thing of beauty? Sure, it may not be the most gourmet loco, but judging it as a whole with the great homemade kim chee and mac salad, it truly is amazing.

Another must try… the best hangover cure ever… Koji’s Breakfast Burger:

Homestyle teri burger, egg, crispy bacon, lettuce, tomato, grilled onions on a fresh sweet bread bun.  Super good.

Koji’s Bento Korner Inc.
52 Ponahawai St
Hilo, HI 96720

(808) 935-1417

This place is located right behind Hilo Lunch Shop and seems very popular for their $5 bentos. While eating in, there was a steady stream of bentos going out. We were happy to have found a great Korean place in Hilo!

Service was nice. We got some great tasting vegetables to start with.

BBQ Chicken ($9)

Tender, juicy, nicely charred and well seasoned/marinated. Bev really liked it and ate it all!

Meat Jun ($9)

Super good! Soft and juicy. The meat was really tender which is always important with meat jun. Portion size was generous too.

Great place with great flavor and service.

CHAM CHAM Korean BBQ
421 Kalanikoa St, Ste 102, Hilo, HI 96720
(808) 961-4741