where to eat near BI hotels

[alexadeparis]

We were not overly impressed with either Kamuela Provision Company or Lava Lava.

Did you do the tasting menu at KPC or regular menu?

 

[Luanne]

Did you do the tasting menu at KPC or regular menu?

Regular menu.

 

[letsgobobby]

thanks for all the suggestions we will get a couple reservations going

 

[letsgobobby]

we have reservations at FORC and will reserve at Napua at 30 d out. maybe Pueo osteria but we can get good Italian here. definitely will drive to Kona a few times for poke shack and umeke fish market based on reviews, and shave ice even though it won't be waiola.

anything else in Kona we shouldn't miss?

we have a large group so for most of our dinners we'll need to figure out some kind of take out.

 

[lynne]

we have reservations at FORC and will reserve at Napua at 30 d out. maybe Pueo osteria but we can get good Italian here. definitely will drive to Kona a few times for poke shack and umeke fish market based on reviews, and shave ice even though it won't be waiola.

anything else in Kona we shouldn't miss?

we have a large group so for most of our dinners we'll need to figure out some kind of take out.

Just be advised if you are going to Pueo's Osteria, they will add a 3% fee if using a credit card.

If you are looking for a unique takeout experience, I can recommend Chef Noah at Puako Provisions and Catering. An FYI, Noah is Terry Bradshaw's son-in-law.

Chef Noah Hester - Catering & Private Chef Services

Custom meal prep and delivery. Fresh or frozen homemade family meal kits. Private Chef Services. Picnic Baskets. Food Delivery. Custom Meal Kits. Catering.

chefnoahhester.com

 

[cowboy]

Try Jackie Rays in Kona. Great food great service no view.

 

[Luanne]

We always liked Huggo's in Kona. Great view.

 

[letsgobobby]

FORC had the best quality ingredients but the preparations were at times muddled with too many flavors. Good steak and lamb, good fish.

Napua has a nice setting. The menu is somewhat limited. Steak is not Big Island and was not particularly great. Mahi was less interesting than the opah.

Pueo's was fun. I'm told it was good pasta - not a good match for Passover. Great sides apps and veggies.

Umekes was good, we ate there twice.

Tried Broke Da Mouth but too long a wait.

near Waikoloa the Island Gourmet market had decent poke and surprisingly good malasadas. the Foodland is small and limited but had poke. The nearest daifuku mochi is in Waimea Foodland.

The best poke we had all week was at Kawaihae Marketplace north of Hapuna Beach. the poke was fresh and flavorful and a good size. Da poke shack was very fresh but less flavorful and kinda small.

we had some great shave ice. best is Original Big Island shave ice in King's Shops. Second was Kula shave ice in Hilo. Next was Ululani in Kona. The shave ice in Kawaihae was terrible.

Prices were high everywhere.

Overall a good week, we definitely prefer Oahu for variety, elevated cuisine, and competition leading to slightly better pricing.

Hope this helps some folks!

 

[sponger76]

I suggest Sam Choy's. He's been making awesome food since I was a kid.

 

[SmithOp]

I suggest Sam Choy's. He's been making awesome food since I was a kid.

Have you been there lately? The online reviews are terrible, Sam is not involved. They serve on paper plates with plastic forks, you have to order and pay at check in and pick up your own food.

 

[sponger76]

Have you been there lately? The online reviews are terrible, Sam is not involved. They serve on paper plates with plastic forks, you have to order and pay at check in and pick up your own food.

It has been quite a few years. I didn't realize he wasn't involved any more. It's a shame, I have very fond memories of his food going back to my childhood.

 

[cowboy]

Great view at Sam Chow’s lousy menu. Go for a drink for view.

 

[ScoopKona]

Sam Choy's served me the worse fried calamari I have ever eaten. The only reason I went there is that one of my friends who used to live on BI told me it's like the Millennium Falcon -- doesn't look like much, but it's got it where it counts. This is a restaurant which gave up caring about anything and caters to people who don't know any better. The food was, frankly, insulting.

Maybe back in the day, 20 years ago, they lived up to their reputation of a "sleeper." Today? Total rip off. Worse than the other Haolewood restaurants I've seen in this thread.

 

[lynne]

Sam Choy's served me the worse fried calamari I have ever eaten. The only reason I went there is that one of my friends who used to live on BI told me it's like the Millennium Falcon -- doesn't look like much, but it's got it where it counts. This is a restaurant which gave up caring about anything and caters to people who don't know any better. The food was, frankly, insulting.

Maybe back in the day, 20 years ago, they lived up to their reputation of a "sleeper." Today? Total rip off. Worse than the other Haolewood restaurants I've seen in this thread.

When Sam had his restaurant in the industrial area (same street as Home Depot), it was wonderful. The menu was prix fix and posted daily on a big board. Very local clientele, locally sourced ingredients and a very reasonable price.

We have been to the restaurant in Keauhou shopping center once quite a few years ago, it was not great and not worth going back.

 

[TheHolleys87]

When Sam had his restaurant in the industrial area (same street as Home Depot), it was wonderful. The menu was prix fix and posted daily on a big board. Very local clientele, locally sourced ingredients and a very reasonable price.

We have been to the restaurant in Keauhou shopping center once quite a few years ago, it was not great and not worth going back.

Yes, my parents took us to eat at the one in the industrial area many years ago, on one of our first visits to the BI, and we enjoyed it then. They continued to eat at Sam's restaurants through the years. My dad still hasn't forgiven us for refusing to go to the one in the Keauhou shopping center on our last trip several years ago, when we took the recommendation of the desk clerk (DH asked her where she'd go to eat) and had wonderful fresh mahi at a little place next to the boat ramps at Keauhou Bay, watching a couple of outrigger canoes practice. He brings it up all the time.

 

[sponger76]

When Sam had his restaurant in the industrial area (same street as Home Depot), it was wonderful. The menu was prix fix and posted daily on a big board. Very local clientele, locally sourced ingredients and a very reasonable price.

We have been to the restaurant in Keauhou shopping center once quite a few years ago, it was not great and not worth going back.

The industrial area was the first one I went to, and it was great. All local clientele, he hadn't become a big enough name to get put on the tourist circuit yet. I was sad when that location closed. Even when he became more known, his cooking show started, and tourists started frequenting his newer "fancier" spots, the food was still good. It just really bums me out to hear what his legacy has become.