How is Hilo Bay Cafe restaurant rated?

Name: Hilo Bay Cafe
Address: 123 Lihiwai Street, Hilo, HI, United States, 96720
Telephone: (808) 935-4939
Price range: $31 to $50
Rating: 4.5

Hilo Bay Cafe

4.5 (2026)

$31 to $50

Fusion / Eclectic

123 Lihiwai Street, Hilo, HI 96720

About this restaurant

Great for scenic views
Romantic
Good for special occasions

RESERVATIONS RECOMMENDED. WHEN MAKING ONLINE RESERVATIONS, BE ADVISED THAT OPEN TABLES WILL SUGGEST ALTERNATE DAYS/TIMES IF YOUR PREFERRED SLOT IS NOT AVAILABLE. YOU MAY ALSO CALL US (808)935-4939. WE WILL DO OUR BEST TO ACCOMMODATE YOUR RESERVATION PREFERENCES. Contemporary restaurant with emphasis on innovative cuisine using fresh, local, and organic ingredients--a Hilo town favorite gathering place. Full food and beverage service with indoor and outdoor lanai seating and large room for special events. From nearly every seat, the restaurant has expansive views of Hilo bay, Mauna Kea, Hilo town, and the ocean. Full bar, original recipes, artisan sushi, and keiki menu. Large parties are welcome. Come as you are or come as your best dressed self--we appreciate both!

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Dining areas

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Elegant
Price
$31 to $50
Cuisines
Fusion / Eclectic, Organic, Hawaii Regional Cuisine
Hours of operation
Wed–Sat 11:00 am–2:00 pm Wed–Sat 5:00 pm–8:30 pm
Phone number
(808) 935-4939
Website
http://www.hilobaycafe.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, JCB, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Casual Dress
Executive chef
Joshua Ketner
Catering
We are currently not offering off-premise catering.
Private party facilities
We are currently not accepting new private event bookings..

Location
123 Lihiwai Street, Hilo, HI 96720
Neighborhood
Hilo
Cross street
Kamehameha Street
Parking details
Our private parking offers quick, comfortable access to the restaurant. Covered handicap stalls available only a short distance from elevator.
Public transit
Banyan Drive pick-up and drop-off site for public transportation. Available Monday through Saturday from early morning until 4 pm.
Additional
Beer, BYO Wine, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine

French Onion Soup$9.00
Warm Bread du Jour^
balsamic olive oil
- Whole$6.00
- Half$4.00
Parmesan Custard**$14.00
roasted eggplant + red peppers, basil-macadamia pesto, house marinara sauce, toasted rosemary bread
Grilled Broccoli^$10.00
romesco, golden raisins, cotija cheese, cashews
Brussels + Mushrooms^ ^^$14.00
crispy brussels sprouts, hāmākua mushrooms, mustard-maple glaze, oven-roasted macadamia nuts
Pacific Oyster Shooter*$12.00
uni garnish, house ponzu, green onion, tobiko
Chilled Edamame^ ^^$6.00
sesame-garlic or kimchee
- Shrimp$13.00
Pork Belly Lettuce Cups^^$9.00
crispy pork belly, bulgogi sauce, creamy kimchee apple slaw, sesame seeds, scallions
Hawaiian Ahi Poke* ^^$16.00
(choice of style: mild or spicy) hawaiian chili oil, onion, shoyu, purple sweet potato chips
Classic Hand-Cut Fries^$7.00
truffle mayo, organic ketchup

Nigiri + Sashimi

Hamachi* ^^$12.00
yellowtail
Shake* ^^$8.00
salmon
Maguro* ^^$10.00
ahi
Uni* ^^$18.00
sea urchin
Tamago**$7.00
egg
Ebi^^$8.00
shrimp
Unagi$12.00
freshwater eel
Hotategai$8.00
shredded scallops
Tobiko* ^^$7.00
flying fish roe
Masago* ^^$6.00
smelt roe
Ikura* ^^$8.00
salmon roe

Specialty Sushi Rolls

add spicy tuna to any roll +$5

Rainbow* ^^$17.00
crab, cucumber, avocado, ahi, smoked salmon
Tempura Lobster$18.00
tempura lobster tail, sea asparagus, tobiko, yuzu mayo
Makai$14.00
roasted unagi, tempura crisps, avocado, teriyaki aioli
Warabi^ ^^$14.00
fiddle fern, cucumber, avocado, crispy quinoa, teriyaki aioli
Crispy Pork Belly$15.00
pork belly, cucumber, spicy mayo, pickled daikon + carrots, jalapeño, crushed peanuts, cilantro microgreens
Torched Hamachi*$16.00
hamachi, sugar snap peas, blistered shishito peppers, shichimi tōgarashi, chili oil, house ponzu, microgreens
Spicy Yuzu Salmon* ^^$15.00
salmon, jalapeño, masago, sesame seeds, spicy yuzu mayo, radish microgreens, green onions

Classic Sushi Rolls

Tekka Maki*$6.00
ahi
California$13.00
crab, cucumber, masago
Shinko Maki^$5.00
pickled daikon
Kappa Maki^$5.00
cucumber
Spicy Tuna*$10.00
ahi, spicy mayo, tobiko, cucumber

Chirashizushi

'Aina^ ^^$22.00
vegetable poke, macadamia nuts, nori, sushi rice
- Spicy Tuna*$27.00
Traditional* ^^$34.00
sashimi + poke, tamago, masago, ocean salad, nori, sushi rice

Salads

Beets Me, Pumpkin** ^^$14.00
arugula, feta, salt-roasted beets, maple-roasted pumpkin, red onion, pepitas, cashews, flax vinaigrette
- Chicken$20.00
- Shrimp$21.00
Crab Cake$18.00
mixed greens, heart of palm, grape tomatoes, house-made wonton chips, sweet chili mayo, honey-sesame vinaigrette
BLT Gem Salad$14.00
little gem lettuce, bacon bits, crispy tabasco onions, radish, grape tomatoes, fried egg, chives, bleu cheese dressing
Tataki$22.00
mixed greens, cucumber, heart of palm, grape tomatoes, radish microgreens, shichimi tōgarashi, sliced + seared ahi, creamy ponzu sauce, yuzu-wasabi dressing

Sandwiches

choice of hand-cut fries, potato salad, or jicamalilikoʻi slaw / substitute greens salad +$4

1/2 Pound Bleu Bay Burger$18.00
local beef, gorgonzola, brioche bun
Taro-Quinoa Veggie Burger^$16.00
carrots, beets, cucumber, mixed greens, basil mayo, brioche bun
Big Kid Grilled Cheese**$16.00
smoked mozzarella, herb-marinated tomato, roasted eggplant, house pesto, sourdough
Buttermilk Chicken Wrap$17.00
lettuce, tomato, chipotle creamy garlic, cotija, blistered shishito peppers, flour tortilla

Mains

Fresh Catch Fish + Chips$22.00
kona longboard beer batter, hand-cut fries, petite salad with white balsamic vinaigrette, lemon-caper tartar sauce
Hāmākua Mushroom Pot Pie**$16.00
yellow curry vegetable filling, pastry crust, mixed greens side salad
- Chicken$17.00
Wet Chipotle Kālua Tacos^^$18.00
corn tortillas, cilantro, onion, mozzarella + cotija, sour cream crema, side salad, salsa

Sides

Mixed Greens Salad^ ^^$8.00
Crab Cakes (2)$10.00
Jicama-Liliko'i Slaw ^ ^^$4.00
Potato Salad$5.00
Sweet Heat Pickles^ ^^$4.00

Keiki

for 12 & under only, mahalo

Cheesy Pasta$9.00
Chuggin' Nuggets$9.00
fried chicken, sautéed green beans, "awesome sauce," choice of hand-cut fries, potato salad, or jicama slaw
Keiki Fresh Catch$12.00
fried fish, sautéed green beans, tartar sauce, choice of hand-cut fries, potato salad, or jicama slaw

What 2,026 people are saying

Hilo Bay Cafe reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

4.5

4.5 based on all time ratings

4.5Food
4.5Service
4.5Ambience
4.1Value

Noise • Moderate

2,026 Reviews

SA
SheilaAhmad1
Nashville21 reviews
5.0
Dined on May 20, 2022
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
A beautiful serene setting by the calm Hilo Bay, right opposite Liliuokalani Park. We sat outside for lunch. They have a great drink menu as well. I had a pot pie with chicken curry filling. My husband had the charred shishito peppers. They were both so good! Our server was a lovely young lady. Will definitely recommend it to everyone visiting Hilo. Mahalo for a lovely afternoon!
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JB
JanetB
California Central Coast26 reviews
5.0
Dined on May 20, 2022
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
One of the best meals I’ve had in a tour of 5 islands, and eating at some highly rated restaurants! I love duck, and this chef prepared it more perfectly than any I’ve had before. For once, the breast wasn’t practically raw, and the sauce was delicious, as was the glaze on the confit! Everything here was top notch, and the service was fast and our waitress so responsive and easy to talk to! Highly recommend!
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KM
KarenM VIP
San Diego7 reviews
5.0
Dined on May 19, 2022
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
The Mai tai was amazing! We also LOVED the fish (was so fresh) and the Parmesan custard was to die for! Super recommended
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Atlanta6 reviews
5.0
Dined on May 14, 2022
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Fabulous location and view. We enjoyed the park across the street before having lunch. We were seated outside overlooking the beautiful bay view. The food was excellent. We ordered in somewhat tapa style, savoring the many different flavors of several appetizers. We ended by splitting a crab cake salad. Our server was also awesome. A great experience.
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SS
SandraS
Hawaii1 review
5.0
Dined on May 13, 2022
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Had a wonderful experience with perfect seating out on the lanai!
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PR
PnRTraveling
Hawaii2 reviews
5.0
Dined on May 8, 2022
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Hilo Bay doesn’t disappoint! My husband & I have been there twice, staff is friendly, polite and they don’t rush you. Food is delicious, fresh and makes you want to come back again to try something new. We will definitely be back!
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DE
DEBO
Hawaii4 reviews
5.0
Dined on May 6, 2022
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Excellent as usual. Outstanding menu additions for Mother’s Day weekend menu.
Is this helpful?
ES
EileenS
Hawaii3 reviews
5.0
Dined on May 6, 2022
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
As usual, it was a great dining experience! Our Mainland guests loved it.
Is this helpful?
L
Laney
Greater Boston2 reviews
4.0
Dined on May 1, 2022
1. Overall 4
2. Food 3
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Great views! Food was good. Drinks were good. Service was good. I would recommend it, but we did go to another restaurant in Hilo that we liked even more and it was a bit less expensive.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Hawaii1 review
5.0
Dined on April 29, 2022
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
I am definetly coming back!
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FAQs

Hilo Bay Cafe is rated 4.5 stars by 2026 OpenTable diners.

Not available on OpenTable

Unfortunately, this restaurant is not on the OpenTable booking network. To check availability, please contact them directly.

Is this your restaurant?

Claim this listing

123 Lihiwai Street, Hilo, HI 96720

Dining areas

Additional information

Cross street
Kamehameha Street
Neighborhood
Hilo
Hours of operation
Wed–Sat 11:00 am–2:00 pm Wed–Sat 5:00 pm–8:30 pm
Price
$31 to $50
Cuisines
Fusion / Eclectic, Organic, Hawaii Regional Cuisine
Dining style
Casual Elegant
Dress code
Casual Dress
Parking details
Our private parking offers quick, comfortable access to the restaurant. Covered handicap stalls available only a short distance from elevator.
Public transit
Banyan Drive pick-up and drop-off site for public transportation. Available Monday through Saturday from early morning until 4 pm.
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, JCB, Mastercard, Visa
Executive chef
Joshua Ketner
Additional
Beer, BYO Wine, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
http://www.hilobaycafe.com/
Phone number
(808) 935-4939
Catering
We are currently not offering off-premise catering.
Private party facilities
We are currently not accepting new private event bookings..

Hilo Bay Cafe

About this restaurant

Not available on OpenTable

There’s more to explore

Dining areas

Additional information

Starters + Bites

French Onion Soup$9.00

Warm Bread du Jour^

Parmesan Custard**$14.00

Grilled Broccoli^$10.00

Brussels + Mushrooms^ ^^$14.00

Pacific Oyster Shooter*$12.00

Chilled Edamame^ ^^$6.00

Pork Belly Lettuce Cups^^$9.00

Hawaiian Ahi Poke* ^^$16.00

Classic Hand-Cut Fries^$7.00

Nigiri + Sashimi

Hamachi* ^^$12.00

Shake* ^^$8.00

Maguro* ^^$10.00

Uni* ^^$18.00

Tamago**$7.00

Ebi^^$8.00

Unagi$12.00

Hotategai$8.00

Tobiko* ^^$7.00

Masago* ^^$6.00

Ikura* ^^$8.00

Specialty Sushi Rolls

Rainbow* ^^$17.00

Tempura Lobster$18.00

Makai$14.00

Warabi^ ^^$14.00

Crispy Pork Belly$15.00

Torched Hamachi*$16.00

Spicy Yuzu Salmon* ^^$15.00

Classic Sushi Rolls

Tekka Maki*$6.00

California$13.00

Shinko Maki^$5.00

Kappa Maki^$5.00

Spicy Tuna*$10.00

Chirashizushi

'Aina^ ^^$22.00

Traditional* ^^$34.00

Salads

Beets Me, Pumpkin** ^^$14.00

Crab Cake$18.00

BLT Gem Salad$14.00

Tataki$22.00

Sandwiches

1/2 Pound Bleu Bay Burger$18.00

Taro-Quinoa Veggie Burger^$16.00

Big Kid Grilled Cheese**$16.00

Buttermilk Chicken Wrap$17.00

Mains

Fresh Catch Fish + Chips$22.00

Hāmākua Mushroom Pot Pie**$16.00

Wet Chipotle Kālua Tacos^^$18.00

Sides

Mixed Greens Salad^ ^^$8.00

Crab Cakes (2)$10.00

Jicama-Liliko'i Slaw ^ ^^$4.00

Potato Salad$5.00

Sweet Heat Pickles^ ^^$4.00

Keiki

Cheesy Pasta$9.00

Chuggin' Nuggets$9.00

Keiki Fresh Catch$12.00

Overall ratings and reviews

FAQs

How is Hilo Bay Cafe restaurant rated?

Not available on OpenTable

Dining areas

Additional information