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.

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!

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!

We’ve been hearing a lot about this fish n’ chips place in Pahoa and had to try it for ourselves!  Going in, it looks like a fishing supply place, but during the time we’ve spent here for lunch, I think all they’ve sold was their fish n’ chips, and we now understand why.  We ordered a large plate to share ($10.75).

Their “large” plate comes with five large and juicy pieces of either mahi mahi or ono.  I usually prefer mahi mahi because it’s more tender.  These were huge pieces…. seemed like almost 1 pound of fish and they were perfectly cooked.  You could tell it was very fresh.  They batter and fry up each plate to order right in front of you.  Waffle fries were good and the cole slaw was crunchy and mild.  Best fish n’ chips I’ve had on the Big Island.

In the Pahoa Village Marketplace (808-965-8248).

… Ken’s House of Pancakes serves oxtail soup on this day!  Ken’s may be more well known for their epic Oxtail Stew served everyday, but you got to try their soup served every Friday.  It’s the best I’ve had in Hilo.  Beefy and super rich… it’s not the traditional clear type of soup, which makes it a little different.  Anise and shitake mushroom flavors are well balanced and it’s not too salty.  Oxtails are huge.  The portion size is really generous (barely could finish!).  Well worth the $13.25.

Ken’s House of Pancakes
1730 Kamehameha Ave.
Hilo , HI 96720
(808) 538-1877
Open 24 hours.

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

New gourmet burger joint in the Parker Ranch Center food court.

“Hawaii Rancher” and “Hawaiian Red Veal” with fries.

“Hawaii Rancher” burger ($7.50) with local cuts of chuck and brisket. Excellent! The beef almost melts in your mouth… so tender and juicy. We saw them form our patties on the spot and they grind their own meat fresh. That extra effort really shows. I preferred this one over the veal (probably since it was more fatty!). The bun was soft and sweet… and veggies were fresh… tomatoes ripe and red.

These fries were yummy. Crisp, light and potatoes had a nice sweetness. ($3.50)

Close-up

Great place if you are looking for a mean local beef burger and don’t mind spending a little more.

Village Burger, Waimea
67-1185 Mamalahoa Highway, Kamuela, HI 96743-7304
(808) 885-7319‎

Fresh ahi poke, smoke pork w/guava jelly, Big Island beef burger, and $5 huge mugs of beer (happy hour). Meeeaan brah!

Hawaiian style Ahi poke ($9.95), more than half pound. Might be my favorite poke on the island! Perfectly seasoned and always fresh here.

Smoked pork w/guava jelly. Very addicting combination. Only $4.00 (half-off) during happy hour!

Big island beef burger on sweet bread roll. Good!

Service here is really friendly and family style. Definitely one of my fav places on the Big Island!

Pakini Grill
65-1144 Mamalahoa Hwy
Kamuela, HI 96743
(808) 885-3333
http://pakinigrill.com/