We've been serving up contemporary food with an emphasis on fresh, local ingredients, since 2003 - and did we mention the view? Hilo Bay Cafe is located right on Hilo Bay with sweeping views of the ocean, Mauna Kea, and Hilo's historic downtown. Join us in our dining room or on the lanai! If you're in the mood to scoop up fresh eats to go, we also offer curbside pick up of our full menus and more via our Take Away program.
A great gift for any occasion, and you can send it on its way all from the comfort of home! HBC gift cards are conveniently available online.
A great gift for any occasion, and you can send it on its way all from the comfort of home! HBC gift cards are conveniently available online.
Services
Hilo Bay Cafe started in 2003, opened by a small group of dedicated food lovers. For 10 years, the 70-seat restaurant flourished against odds in a small central Hilo strip mall location. From the start, it was well loved by locals and visitors alike, serving seasonal and organic food and wines with a fun and comfortable "come as you are" attitude.
Even when we are not currently hiring, we always welcome rsums of individuals interested in joining us. We keep rsums on file for 6 months, and if we have an applicable opening become available in that time, we will contact individuals whom we feel are both qualified and a good fit for our team. What are we looking for?
Reviews (25)
Paul W.
Jan 29, 2022
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During the three days we stayed in Hilo we went to Hilo Bay Cafe twice for dinner! This is a beautiful restaurant with incredibly friendly service and delicious flavorful food. They have a fair number of plant based options so there is food for everyone to eat. The vegan sushi and poke were delicious, but my favorite was the Brussels and mushroom dish. There is also a farro/kale/mushroom side that was delicious. Portion sizes are substantial and there is also a decent wine list.
Obviously I will be back next time in Hilo!
Obviously I will be back next time in Hilo!
Matthew Arnold
Jan 22, 2022
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Alexandra O.
Jan 22, 2022
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I do not understand why this restaurant doesn't have 10/5 stars. Our dining experience was fantastic. From booking a table for dinner same day with their friendly staff, to the expert hostess who knew how to create a welcoming experience, our amazing waitress who knew when to check in or give us more time, to the DELICIOUS food, and authentic drinks to our drunken sharing of how this was the best dining experience we have had since this whole pandemic started - they were PRO. The sushi was delicious (we are from Cali and are spoiled with our sushi options - ain't no gas station sushi
Grant Williams
Jan 20, 2022
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Year 2022 - Yes! As awesome as always. You won’t get a better meal on the Island at this price, or maybe not at all. This jewel remains our family’s favorite restaurant on the Island. Sushi, entrees and the cookie dessert. Local coffee is a winner, too. Fish and chips are 100% as wonderful as always. Thanks for always delivering a fantastic experience. 👍👍
Year 2018 - Wonderful meals, consistently one of our favorites on the island. We have been dining at HBC since it was a tiny jewel tucked away in a strip mall near the WalMart, for more than 10 years. The quality and value remains excellent
Year 2018 - Wonderful meals, consistently one of our favorites on the island. We have been dining at HBC since it was a tiny jewel tucked away in a strip mall near the WalMart, for more than 10 years. The quality and value remains excellent
KaiAnne P.
Jan 16, 2022
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No Stars today, Saturday, Jan 15, 2022.
The "non Hawaiian" host was very rude to customers who were dining for lunch & 2 friends stopped in. We were unaware they were closing however, guest were still inside eating. We were asked leave. This was not a very Hawaiian gesture. And this was our second visit to Hilo Bay Cafe.
There are polite & kinds way of communicating with repeat customers. The actions/statements were offense to other patrons.
This hostess implied that he was the manager and if that is the case, the Hilo Bay Cafe should be removed as a preferred cafe of Hilo.
The "non Hawaiian" host was very rude to customers who were dining for lunch & 2 friends stopped in. We were unaware they were closing however, guest were still inside eating. We were asked leave. This was not a very Hawaiian gesture. And this was our second visit to Hilo Bay Cafe.
There are polite & kinds way of communicating with repeat customers. The actions/statements were offense to other patrons.
This hostess implied that he was the manager and if that is the case, the Hilo Bay Cafe should be removed as a preferred cafe of Hilo.
Martina Nkeiruka Okeke
Jan 11, 2022
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Caleb Naugle
Dec 29, 2021
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Ok, so you've made it to Hilo, the real Hawai'i!
Hopefully you have hit the Farmers Market for fun fruits, the street food stands to wake up your taste buds, the fresh fish market; now it's time to up your thread game from t-shirts and flips to get a little fancy and this is the spot to do it at!
You will not get in without reservations so plan ahead. Be smart about asking for your table, outside is perfect for the ocean views.
The beautiful breeze and fresh ocean air are just the beginning of your sensory overload because every dish we ordered here was amazing. If you're not here for a romantic
Hopefully you have hit the Farmers Market for fun fruits, the street food stands to wake up your taste buds, the fresh fish market; now it's time to up your thread game from t-shirts and flips to get a little fancy and this is the spot to do it at!
You will not get in without reservations so plan ahead. Be smart about asking for your table, outside is perfect for the ocean views.
The beautiful breeze and fresh ocean air are just the beginning of your sensory overload because every dish we ordered here was amazing. If you're not here for a romantic
Ruth Dunlap
Dec 12, 2021
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We had a lovely experience. The food was outstanding. We came 45 minutes too early and were pleasantly surprised to be accommodated. The waiter, Christian, recommended the perfect dishes. He has a very pleasant… and open personality. He checked in with us from time to time to make sure everything was good. Highly recommend this place. The ambiance, the food, the staff and the prices are very reasonable. Thank you for a great dinner. 4 star all around.
Richard Scott Egli
Dec 09, 2021
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Christine Newman
Dec 04, 2021
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Mike Z.
Nov 22, 2021
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It was our second visit to HBC. Once we dined inside & the second time out on the patio. Both times 5 stars but this review will focus on our most recent visit. There is a new menu for the winter season. We ordered a half order of warm bread & the pork belly lettuce cups. Wow the lettuce cups were amazing. I'm not one that likes cole slaw but the slaw that was part of the lettuce cup as really good. For the mains I ordered the Pork Chop...well I always order a pork chop if it's on a menu since I LOVE pork chops. My partner ordered the Chicken Thighs. We were extremely impressed
Ashley C.
Oct 21, 2021
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Unfortunately, will not be coming back.
Was excited to try this restaurant after they were named a finalist in the Hale 'Aina awards 2021. The outdoors views look amazing and already full so we sat indoors. Spacing was great during covid. Far away from other tables and families, which was much appreciated. Great ambiance and amazing friendly staff.
After you sit for a bit indoors you start to be overwhelmed by the fruit flies. We had to change out our waters and start covering our drinks. We ordered alcoholic beverages and more flies swarmed. Wasn't long before the flies were swimming
Was excited to try this restaurant after they were named a finalist in the Hale 'Aina awards 2021. The outdoors views look amazing and already full so we sat indoors. Spacing was great during covid. Far away from other tables and families, which was much appreciated. Great ambiance and amazing friendly staff.
After you sit for a bit indoors you start to be overwhelmed by the fruit flies. We had to change out our waters and start covering our drinks. We ordered alcoholic beverages and more flies swarmed. Wasn't long before the flies were swimming
Chris Thornton
Sep 14, 2021
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Charlie K.
Sep 04, 2021
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The Hilo Bay Cafe was located about a block from our hotel, so we decided to order take out since there was a wait to dine in due to COVID protocols. We ordered the duck plate and crispy fried chicken, which took about 40 minutes to put together. The meats on both the duck and chicken were tender, moist and juicy, pretty much everything that you're looking for when cooking these kind of meats. The seasoning and side dishes complimented the entire dish well, I'd say it's definitely worth a visit if you're in the Hilo area.
Best,
Charlie
Best,
Charlie
Dan W.
Sep 03, 2021
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This is a favorite of mine whenever I am visiting Hilo.
The cafe is set on stilts (no doubt a vestige of the old days when the building needed tsunami protection), and you enter via a long staircase (or by the elevator in the back). They have a private lot for you to park in.
Inside, it's fresh, modern, and tastefully decorated. It's a casual dining vibe, but you'll likely see a lot of Hawaiian/polo shirts. If the weather is nice, see if you can sit out on the patio, because the view of the bay is gorgeous, and there's nothing like enjoying a meal al fresco while the sun
The cafe is set on stilts (no doubt a vestige of the old days when the building needed tsunami protection), and you enter via a long staircase (or by the elevator in the back). They have a private lot for you to park in.
Inside, it's fresh, modern, and tastefully decorated. It's a casual dining vibe, but you'll likely see a lot of Hawaiian/polo shirts. If the weather is nice, see if you can sit out on the patio, because the view of the bay is gorgeous, and there's nothing like enjoying a meal al fresco while the sun
Ai I.
Sep 03, 2021
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Food was delicious as always! We got almost of the appetizers, crab cake salad, and one entree dish to share as family style.
Minus one star for me because of the inconsistency with all the cocktails. I guess it's really up to the bartenders, but it is really a hit or miss with this place since we've been here multiple times already and the same drinks never tasted the same.
My advice to you is to call them early and make a reservation first since they only do outdoor seating now. And if you want to drink cocktail then order just one drink first and see how it goes.
Minus one star for me because of the inconsistency with all the cocktails. I guess it's really up to the bartenders, but it is really a hit or miss with this place since we've been here multiple times already and the same drinks never tasted the same.
My advice to you is to call them early and make a reservation first since they only do outdoor seating now. And if you want to drink cocktail then order just one drink first and see how it goes.
Kristine K.
Aug 26, 2021
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We ordered the duck duck demi, buttermilk fried chicken and the lava cake. Everything about my chicken was good. The meat was juicy and the breading was crunchy. I wish I had more green beans because it was a good break from the the bacon and the chicken. Whatever they put on the rice was addicting!
I didn't personally try the duck duck demi so I can't comment on that.
The molten lava cake was good on its own, better with the Kona coffee ice cream. I'd typically want vanilla ice cream with my lava cake, but I wanted to also try the Kona coffee ice cream. It has a mild coffee
I didn't personally try the duck duck demi so I can't comment on that.
The molten lava cake was good on its own, better with the Kona coffee ice cream. I'd typically want vanilla ice cream with my lava cake, but I wanted to also try the Kona coffee ice cream. It has a mild coffee
R. S.
Aug 07, 2021
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We happened to visit Hilo Bay on a sunny Saturday morning for brunch. The views are spectacular of the bay and the mountains! It is so lush and green around it.
The food was fantastic! We ordered poke, tataki, fish and chips and some cocktails. The tataki salad was so fresh and the fish was fresh. The poke was the best of all the ones we have had in last 12 days in Hawai'i.
The cocktails were innovative and service very friendly. Highly recommended! And our server Cayenne was excellent as well!
The food was fantastic! We ordered poke, tataki, fish and chips and some cocktails. The tataki salad was so fresh and the fish was fresh. The poke was the best of all the ones we have had in last 12 days in Hawai'i.
The cocktails were innovative and service very friendly. Highly recommended! And our server Cayenne was excellent as well!
Jai Maa
Jul 31, 2021
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Mouthwatering meal and outstanding service (thank you, Zack, for making my birthday special!). We had the brussel sprouts and mushroom appetizer, I had the “special” ahi tuna resting on a bed of forbidden rice and sauce that was to die for, and my fiancé had a cauliflower hot iron dish that made me want to be a vegetarian. My tiramisu dessert and his cookie hot iron dessert were on point, and the view over the ocean was perfect. This place is a “must” if you experience Hilo, Hawaii.
Becky N.
Jul 07, 2021
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Cool upscale-vibe place that is on the bay though there is a large yard between the restaurant and water that fishermen and others use as a picnic spot. Friendly service and plenty of parking. We arrived early for our reservation but they weren't able to accommodate us much before - there is a small but nice waiting area that we could have taken a drink to had we desired. We had a fun moment with our server when our son sent a fork careening off the edge of the balcony, leaving us mortified, and she admitted to accidentally losing a lava cake over the same edge! One of a few authentic moments
Rob B.
May 25, 2021
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Hard to quibble. Came for lunch and despite the space during COVID, you really need a reservation. I was happily surprised by the Seedlip mock tails on the menu, I tried the Dream I and the No Mule preferring the latter. The Chicken Mushroom and curry pot pie was fantastic though a bit low on the star ingredients. Fantastic service.
Jack F.
Apr 28, 2021
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Ben B.
Mar 15, 2021
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I had to make a lunch reservation to this place, which is never a good sign. If the place is packed by people who have nothing to do during the day, I tend to take that as an indicator of quality. I didn't, this time, and regretted it.
I'm being extra hard here because I feel like there SUCH good places all around that I have trouble understanding why this exists. I got a table for one and they took that as permission to stick me in a corner and forget about me for most of my meal. The view was beautiful (what I could see of it), but you get a better view from the picnic tables outside
I'm being extra hard here because I feel like there SUCH good places all around that I have trouble understanding why this exists. I got a table for one and they took that as permission to stick me in a corner and forget about me for most of my meal. The view was beautiful (what I could see of it), but you get a better view from the picnic tables outside
Nikki C.
Feb 22, 2021
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First impression is wow this place just looks really aesthetically pleasing. Almost like a museum/restaurant cafe combination. The art work, the energy, the kindness of all who work there really good vibes. Not to mention the killer view of the water that we were lucky to have at our table on the terrace. It is in your best interest to make a reservation ahead of time to not only have a seat but an outdoor seat.
Our server Madison was super helpful and attentive. We were really lucky to be placed in her section.
Drinks
The glow
Very pretty looking especially with the purple flower decoration
Our server Madison was super helpful and attentive. We were really lucky to be placed in her section.
Drinks
The glow
Very pretty looking especially with the purple flower decoration
Danni J.
Jan 17, 2021
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Overall: Nice view and wide menu options (good for groups with varying interests). Food was good, but not great. We had a few issues with burnt / over cooked items.
Warm bread du jour: I usually order the bread when a restaurant has it in their menu, but I would recommend passing in this. The first order that came out was unfortunately burnt. Our waitress was super sweet and brought us another batch. But sadly, the bread was bland and chewy.
Parmesan custard: I haven't seen something like this on a menu before. It was like a deconstructed eggplant parm with bread for dipping. It was a
Warm bread du jour: I usually order the bread when a restaurant has it in their menu, but I would recommend passing in this. The first order that came out was unfortunately burnt. Our waitress was super sweet and brought us another batch. But sadly, the bread was bland and chewy.
Parmesan custard: I haven't seen something like this on a menu before. It was like a deconstructed eggplant parm with bread for dipping. It was a
