How is Hilo Bay Cafe restaurant rated?

Hilo Bay Cafe

4.5

2076 Reviews

$31 to $50

Fusion / Eclectic

Top Tags:

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
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
Hawaii
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

Popular dishes

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 2,076 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

4.5

4.5 based on all time ratings

4.5Food
4.5Service
4.5Ambience
4.2Value

Noise • Moderate

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Filters

SA
SheilaAhmad1
Nashville
16 reviews
vip
5.0
16 reviews
Dined on May 20, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
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!
JB
JanetB
Central Coast
22 reviews
vip
5.0
22 reviews
Dined on May 20, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience4
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!
KM
KarenM
San Diego
4 reviews
vip
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on May 19, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
The Mai tai was amazing! We also LOVED the fish (was so fresh) and the Parmesan custard was to die for! Super recommended
OT
OpenTable Diner
Atlanta
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on May 14, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
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.
SS
SandraS
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 13, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Had a wonderful experience with perfect seating out on the lanai!
PR
PnRTraveling
Hawaii
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 8, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
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!
DE
DEBO
Exclusive
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on May 6, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Excellent as usual. Outstanding menu additions for Mother’s Day weekend menu.
ES
EileenS
Hawaii
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on May 6, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
As usual, it was a great dining experience! Our Mainland guests loved it.
L
Laney
New England
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on May 1, 2022
overall4food3service5ambience4
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.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Hawaii
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 29, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
I am definetly coming back!
JG
JoyG
Hawaii
5 reviews
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on April 28, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Wonderful, as always.
DS
DoreenS
Hawaii
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on April 27, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Excellent food & great atmosphere! Can't wait to return!
OT
OpenTable Diner
Hawaii
2 reviews
vip
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on April 24, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great for a date night for you and your other half. Atmosphere is wonderful and the food is delicious. I recommend the garlic bread as an appetizer!
T
Tony21
Hawaii
27 reviews
5.0
27 reviews
Dined on April 23, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience3
Good food. Excellent service.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Hawaii
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on April 22, 2022
overall4food3service4ambience3
Generally everything was fine. My potpie wasn't as good as previous times I have had it. Had some loud patrons so it was hard to have a conversation at our table.
R
Rrrr
San Francisco
68 reviews
vip
4.0
68 reviews
Dined on April 22, 2022
overall4food4service4ambience5
Lovely food and service. AMAZING setting.
DW
DaveW
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 21, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Best French Onion soup I have ever tasted..The Maui tum BBQ ribs was very tender and delicious..Bread was great and Greek salad was very good..would highly recommend this place.
O
Oiaio
Hawaii
6 reviews
3.0
6 reviews
Dined on April 21, 2022
overall3food4service2ambience3
We didnt get the great service we normally get
C
Chic
Seattle
17 reviews
5.0
17 reviews
Dined on April 21, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
always great lovely views of hilo bay from deck.
OT
OpenTable Diner
San Francisco
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on April 17, 2022
overall4food5service5ambience4
We were a party of four — three in the party were celebrating birthdays. This special occasion was mentioned upon booking the reservation. However there was no acknowledgement of the birthdays by anyone working at Hilo Bay Cafe.
DJ
DenisJ
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on April 17, 2022
overall3food2service4ambience4
We love this place. However, last night a reservation at 5 pm was anything but great. Not 1 dish was anything you would like to see. Tasteless, tepid when it should be hot, and a rainbow roll that was without color or flavor. Our waitress Sierra was great, on top of her game but everyone else was confused and without direction. A busier brought the rainbow roll, pushing aside the tostada plates with the rainbow rolls plate, cramping our little table more so. I asked him to remove the 2 plates and without missing a beat he said I'll be right back. He never came back. The lackluster Quinoa burger was just that. An untoasted brioche bun, a tiny dollop of basil Mayo and tepid fries. Damn. What a bummer and waste of good money. Additionally, my review is not to shame the HBC but rather express my total dismay on what went wrong last Saturday evening. The experience left my wife and I confused as to why such a great cafe would allow such poor quality be prevalent even for a brief moment.
H
Hardy
Hawaii
3 reviews
4.0
3 reviews
Dined on April 16, 2022
overall4food2service5ambience5
Aloha, This was our 4th visit. Drove over from Kona on a pouring rain day. Food has always been consistently excellent...My fish and chips were sadly overcooked.. In consequence, fish was dried out. But we will be back ! 2nd and 3rd chances for everyone this year !!!! Mahalos
MK
MichaelK
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 16, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
The Hilo Bay Cafe was recommended in a guide book we purchased. We made reservations and hoped for the best. The food was excellent and service was really good, despite staffing shortages in all restaurants. We sat outside overlooking the bay and just had a great evening!
H
Hopey
1 review
2.0
1 review
Dined on April 15, 2022
overall2food2service2ambience4
Food looks good but it’s not tasty. The server never took any dirty dishes away from the table instead they stacked the plates in the middle of the table and left them until we payed for our food.
g
gloro
New York Area
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 15, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Eveything was excellent. Of course it comes with a price, but worth it for a special occasion.
h
heidic
Exclusive
1 review
1.0
1 review
Dined on April 15, 2022
overall1food1service1ambience1
Bad sevice! I made reservations one month ago. I still waiting take table! It took too long bring beverage and main dishes. The food was terrible. Sushi taste no good either!!.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Los Angeles
1 review
2.0
1 review
Dined on April 15, 2022
overall2food2service4ambience3
Underwhelming. Food was not amazing and restaurant seems over rated. We arrived 30 minutes early and had to wait until after reservation time even with open tables. There was a wait list to even get a drink at the bar while no one was sitting at the bar.
SM
SherryM
San Francisco
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on April 14, 2022
overall5food5service4ambience4
Frequently bring out of town guests here. View of Hilo bay is quite nice. Food is great and cocktails are well made.
LJ
LisaJ
Hawaii
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on April 14, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great service, food and ambience. We'll definitely be back!
OT
OpenTable Diner
Hawaii
12 reviews
5.0
12 reviews
Dined on April 14, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
First time visitor. Absolutely thrilled with the food and service. Crab cakes were spectacular. Duck Duck Dim was perfectly cooked. Leg confit was melt in you mouth. Seasonal fruit crumble (pineapple/peach) was unbelievable, enough for two. I sent my wife’s spoon back! She can get her own next time, maybe tomorrow!
NC
NancyC
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 13, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
We have celebrated two anniversaries here and never disappointed. We appreciated HBC's attention to detail, friendliness, and professionalism. Such a lovely experience and we so enjoy the view from the balcony. Mahalo for making our 16th anniversary a decadent day to remember.
LS
LisaS
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 10, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
We ate at Hilo Bay Cafe as a recommendation from friends and our "Big Island Revealed Book" and cannot say we were disappointed. The ambiance was more toward a romantic date feel, and we felt a bit underdressed, but that's ok. We came for the delicious food! My husband and dad ordered the Curry Chicken Pot pie and it was just tasty. My mom ordered the fresh catch of the day.. which I believe was Mahi Mahi and I ordered the Miso Garlic Buttered noodles and it was beyond flavorful! We would definitely recommend this place and would definitely visit again when we come to the BI.
PG
PuaG
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 9, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Overall best experience I’ve had at a restaurant. Definitely will be back.
B
Becka
New York Area
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on April 9, 2022
overall5food4service4ambience5
This was by far the best food we ate in Hawaii during our week-long stay. The sushi was unique, flavorful, and high quality. The side dishes and ribs were as well. Fabulous view, and a welcoming environment. Thank you for a great experience!
HF
HawaiianFoodExpert
San Francisco
8 reviews
4.0
8 reviews
Dined on April 6, 2022
overall4food5service4ambience3
Best drinks in this island. Food was pretty good too.
b
busygal
Hawaii
27 reviews
vip
4.0
27 reviews
Dined on April 3, 2022
overall4food4service4ambience2
Hilo Bay Café has an excellent menu with diverse cuisine. The presentation is very clean, not pretentious or fussy. The flavor profiles meticulous. There's no particular ambience and would be nice if tables have cloths at dinner. The same cannot be said for most of the patrons, beyond casually dressed as if they're going to a Beach bar. That's a shame, it feels disrespectful to the food and service. And of course practically everyone was on a cell phone completely immune to the views of Hilo Bay. We didn't get the playlist music, seems random, annoying, adding nothing to the ambience, Island culture or contemporary mood. But the culinary experience is excellent, one of the very best in town.
AC
AnaC
Miami
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on April 3, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Excellent and consistently good food. Chef always keeps menu fresh and delicious. Our server Keith was very professional and courteous. Beets’me salad with carpaccio on the side was delicious. Best restaurant in Hilo!
LB
LenB
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 3, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
This restaurant has a very unique menu with varied choices and everything we ordered from the crab cakes, entrees and skillet chocolate chip cookie was delicious. Our server, Cayenne, only added to our enjoyable evening. She was helpful and attentive and delightful.
SD
SylviaD
Exclusive
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on April 2, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
One of the best places to eat in Hilo. Fabulous food, friendly service, fun & relaxing ambiance for both locals & visitors alike. Everything on the menu is fresh, with an eye towards locally sourced veggies and fish - the sushi is exquisite. Highly recommend the signature cocktails and the catch of the day - and save room for dessert.
E
Ellie
Exclusive
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on April 2, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
The restaurant was amazing. The food was delicious, the waiter was very observant and took great care of us.

Safety precautions

Cleaning & sanitizing
- Surfaces sanitized between seatings
- Digital, disposable or sanitized menu provided
- Common areas deep-cleaned daily
- Sanitizer or wipes provided for customers
- Contactless payment available
Physical distancing
- Limited number of seated diners
- Distancing maintained in common areas
- Extra space between tables

Protective equipment
- Waitstaff wear masks
- Diners must wear masks unless eating or drinking
Screening
- Sick staff prohibited in the workplace

FAQs

Hilo Bay Cafe is rated 4.5 stars by 2076 OpenTable diners.

Not available on OpenTable

Unfortunately, this restaurant is not on the OpenTable reservation network.

If you like, we'll notify you by email if this restaurant joins.

Is this your restaurant?

Claim this listing

Dining areas

Additional information

Cross street
Kamehameha Street
Neighborhood
Hawaii
Hours of operation
Wed–Sat 11:00 am–2:00 pm Wed–Sat 5:00 pm–8:30 pm
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

Not available on OpenTable

Dining areas

Additional information

French Onion Soup

Crab Cake

BLT Gem Salad

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

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Cleaning & sanitizing

Physical distancing

Protective equipment

Screening

FAQs

How is Hilo Bay Cafe restaurant rated?