Customer Reviews

50 Thrifty Big Island Restaurants: Dining on a Budget, Island Style

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Hubby and I recently went to The Big Island, and we were soooo glad that I brought this book because we enjoyed local food and food finds. Although the prices in most of the restaurants listed in the book has gone up since it's publication, it was still a great source to find places that we would have NEVER known about as tourist.

My husband and I used this book as a guidebook for finding great places to eat as we explored the Big Island for two weeks in September 2010. As we traveled all across the island, we referred to the book to plan our meals and it was so much fun! I'm always health conscious but don't mind splurging while on vacation. By using this book we were able to eat fantastic meals at every opportunity without a single wasted calorie on less than stellar meals. Favorites included those hot malsaldas from Tex Drive In in Honokaa, everything at Taco Tako, and those fabulous, enourmous desserts at the Big Island Grill. We even sweetended gas station-bitter coffee one morning with a scoop of Tropical Dreams ice cream-- heaven. We had the best pizza ever at Pau's in Waimea which was listed under another name but at same address as another restaurant in the book. Enjoy every aspect of your hawaiian vacation. Take this book with you!

What you will find in here is great information about several restaurants across the Big Island of Hawaii. Now granted, I've only been to a hand full of these restaurants and the descriptions that are listed in those are pretty spot on. The information about each restaurant is quick and detailed enough for you to make a decision whether or not to patronize the establishment or not. I like how it breaks it down by "region" so that you know specifically what are located in the areas that you will be or you plan to visit. Then it breaks it down to breakfast, lunch, or dinner for you liking.

One recommendation is if you are on the Hilo side of the Big Island, visit Ken's House of Pancakes (listed in here). Very good selection of food and a great atmosphere to be in.

If only I'd known about this wonderful little book before landing on the Big Island. I would have made it a point to eat twice as much twice as often. Jessica Ferracane gives you the inside track on all the best eats on the Island. Now I have to go back for the Big Island roll with ahi, avocado and macadmaia nuts at the Ocean Sushi deli in Hilo. Thank goodness I made it to the bustling Hilo farmers market in time for incredible Green Papaya salad. I'll be back to check out all the hot tips in this great guide to dining local style.
Linda Ballou, author of Wai-nani, High Chiefess of Hawaii