The best restaurants Hawaiʻi

A restaurant very popular with the locals because it offers typical Hawaiian dishes. Some of them are revisited in a sophisticated and contemporary way with a beautiful creativity in the plate. But if the locals like this place so much, it's also because Hawaiian bands play there on Thursdays and Sundays (check the facebook page to know the program). We also appreciate the drinks program: on Sundays it's sangria and the happy hour on mai tai and margaritas is every day from 3pm to 5pm.

A lovely setting with high ceilings, checkerboard floors and a great view of Hilo Bay to boot! Italian-Hawaiian cuisine, with pizzas, pastas, sandwiches and salads. The establishment started with simple take-out pizzas and then, due to its success, expanded into a restaurant. The products used are local and fresh, which makes the difference. On the menu: seafood or chicken and chanterelle risotto, luau pizza with Kalua-style pork and grilled pineapple or artichoke, gorgonzola and rosemary pizza.

Located right next to Hilo's market, Poke n Sides has a full house every lunchtime. And for good reason, in addition to its breakfasts (loco moco and pancakes) and its burgers, the address proposes local dishes of the day: smoked Kalua pork plate or lau lau style, fish tacos or fish & chips with Ahi. Our preference remains the poke bowl. Three fishes and sauces are proposed according to the arrival, deliciously seasoned, with a choice of two accompaniments. We recommend the purple sweet potato and the "soy beans" with sesame.

Sister address of Naalehu Restaurant, Taco tita specializes, as its name indicates, in take-out tacos. You will have the choice between several meats (pork, chicken, beef or snapper) or vegetables and starches for the vegetarian option as well as a sauce (cream-based, tomato-based, spicy...). Also worth trying are the nachos, served in generous portions, accompanied by homemade passion fruit lemonade or Horchata, a drink made from rice and almond milk. Payment in cash only.

Shaka Tacoz is an institution on the West Coast, better to reserve in advance by phone so as not to wait too long on the spot. On the menu: tacos, bowl or burrito with a choice of meats (pork, beef, fish, asada, vegetables) and a choice of sauces (lemon and cream, mango or lava, more or less spicy). Salad or quesadilla option. The products are fresh and the dishes are copious. Discounts on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Shaka Tacoz also recently opened a bar-truck in Kona at 75-6129 Ali'i Dr. from Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 5pm.

Here is a 100% local address on the heights of Captain Cook, along the road that leads to Two Steps and the south of the island. Run by native Hawaiians, this small family restaurant offers traditional dishes: lomi lomi salmon, kalua pork or even pork or chicken laulau. It is simple but consistent and well prepared. It is possible to eat there but we advise you to go a little further to find a spot with a view. For dessert, don't miss the Haupia Pie with coconut and sweet potato, a real treat.

Very popular with the locals, Umeke is a poke restaurant ("umeke" means "bowl" in Hawaiian) made famous by its chef Nakoa Pabre who has participated in many television shows in the United States. On the menu: traditional Hawaiian dishes revisited with a modern touch like the "next level laulau" or the "mo loco" and of course poke bowls with several sauces to choose from (da Avo with avocado, Aina with sweet potato and broccoli...). A treat. Live music from 6pm to 8:30pm.