Sunset Dinners, Volcano Views & Warm Malasadas: The Big Island, One Bite at a Time

We didn't eat anywhere on the Big Island just because it was famous. Every stop in this post is a place we actually sat down, actually ordered, and actually enjoyed (or didn't — we'll be honest about that too). If you're planning your own trip, consider this the "where we ate" companion to our Hawaii Volcanoes National Park post and our Kohala Coast day.

Lava Lava Beach Club: Dinner With Your Toes in the Sand

This is the one meal on this list that felt like a magazine spread come to life. A table steps from the water, the sun dropping into the Pacific, live music drifting over from the bar. We already gushed about the sunset here in our Kohala Coast day post — but it earned a full mention here too, because if you only book one dinner reservation on the island in advance, make it this one.

We split the garlic sizzling shrimp with toasted bread, a bowl of clam chowder, the fall-off-the-bone ribs with tots and a teriyaki steak and chicken plate. And yes, we raised a round of "okole maluna" (that's "bottoms up" in Hawaiian).

And here's the detail that made us laugh out loud: the restroom doors aren't marked "men's" and "women's" — they're marked with an actual Ken doll in floral swim trunks and an actual Barbie in a yellow swimsuit, each displayed in their own little wood-framed shadow box on the wall. It's exactly the kind of unserious, only-in-Hawaii touch that makes a place memorable.

The gift shop next door is worth a peek too — walls of Aloha-branded surfboards. A staff member even offered to model one of their dog caps for us so we could judge the fit before buying one for our pup back home.

Honest tip: request oceanside seating when you book — it's the difference between a nice dinner and THE dinner. Sunset time shifts throughout the year, so if you want golden hour with your meal, check what time the sun sets on the day you're going and book your reservation an hour or so before.

The Rim at Volcano House: Dinner on the Edge of the Caldera

After a full day inside Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, we didn't want to drive far — so we didn't. The Rim, inside Volcano House, sits right on the caldera rim, and depending on the glow that night, dinner can come with a literal view of an active volcano.

There's an indoor viewing area where you can sit and watch the volcano through the windows, or step outside for open-air viewing — just know that if it's actively erupting, the air carries that sulfur smell along with the view. The dining room itself has these wonderful old-style slate glass windows, which look beautiful but are honestly a little hard to see through on your way in.

Patti went with the Volcano House Pesto Pasta with shrimp (macadamia nut pesto, tomato, bell pepper, and broccoli), while Stanton, Doug, and I all ordered the fish with lobster tail — likely kampachi, though we're not 100% sure. It's a completely different mood from Lava Lava: quieter, cooler air, and a little bit surreal."

If you're spending the day at the park, this is the easiest dinner logistically — you're already there.

Tex Drive In: The Malasada Stop You Didn't Know You Needed

Not every great meal on this trip was a reservation. Some of the best bites were a roadside stop for a bag of malasadas, still warm, sugar still settling. Tex Drive In is a classic for a reason — cheap, fast, and exactly the kind of stop that makes a road trip feel real instead of curated.

The Rest of Where We Ate

We didn't stop at three. Here's the rest of the actual lineup:

The Roost (in the same space as Biscuits, Queen's Marketplace) — What actually got us in the door was the Prime Rib for two ($65) — the kind of dish that's built for sharing and worth the splurge.

Hugo's on the Rocks

— We ordered a mix here: crispy nachos loaded with pulled meat and cheese sauce, sliders with fries, and crunchy fried shrimp with fries. Our waitress talked us into the yakisoba noodle salad — and honestly, it wasn't very good. We're telling you anyway, because that's the deal here: real opinions, not just pretty plates.

Laverne's, Alii Drive

—This one's right on the water on Alii Drive, and that view is honestly what pulled us in. The guys mostly stuck to drinks here while we soaked in the ocean-front setting.

Zippy's, Hilo

— We stopped here for one reason: saimin. If you haven't had it, it's Hawaii's own take on noodle soup — a rich broth, springy noodles, and whatever add-ins that day (ours came with char siu, egg, and greens). It's simple, it's a local institution, and it's exactly the kind of stop we love including — no glamour, just genuinely good food.

Turn This Meal Into a Plan

A few of these dinners are a natural jumping-off point if you're building out your own Big Island days:

Ate at The Rim after a volcano day? Book a Volcanoes National Park tour

Dreaming about that Lava Lava sunset? Look at sunset cruise options

Grabbing food near Kona? You're close to two of our other favorite mornings — manta ray night snorkel and our Kealakekua Bay snorkel post.

🍽️ Honest Tip

None of these restaurants paid us to be here, and we skipped a few well-known spots that just weren't for us. This list is only what we'd actually tell a friend to book.

This post contains affiliate links. If you book or buy through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. I only share places and gear we've actually used and loved.

Planning your own Big Island trip? Grab our full Big Island travel guide on Etsy with the day-by-day itinerary, restaurant picks, and all our honest tips in one place.

RetiredWife.com

Retirement, one real adventure at a time.

Follow Retired Wife

🛍️ Shop My Favorites