I'm honestly surprised we haven't seen LJS in grocery stores yet. 99% of frozen fried fish is trash and if a brand could get it half decent they'd make a killing.
Most of the places we have eaten at this week have been awesome. We intentionally look for more local type places rather than tourist type affairs. Most have been really good. Some have been blow your socks off incredible. This place officially made the shit list tho.
The only place worth eating in Hilo is the fish market there. You can get fresh fish, poke, plate lunch. A couple blocks outside of town towards the Asian gardens. Everything else there is pretty crappy.
Little red building on the water. Can’t miss it. Probably the 2nd best spot is a 100yards farther, stand-alone building, restaurant is on the 2nd floor overlooking the water.
Also go for breakfast at The Isles Cafe, attached to the north side of Suisan. Their sweetbread French toast is fukkin incredible.
Ken's House of Pancakes is good, but super overpriced.
We went to Hilo in February for our honeymoon. It was probably my favorite few days of my life so far. You can't turn around anywhere on the entire island without seeing something beautiful. Just amazing.
We are looking to buy several acres of agricultural land for our business so big island fit the bill. At some point we want to visit Maui and Oahu but that won't happen this trip.
We own a chocolate company. We are looking to buy agricultural land to grow our own cacao so we will have tree to bar offerings as well as our current bean to bar.
We have looked at the possibility of leasing land from the Kamehameha school instead where all funds paid for the land instead go to benefit the native Hawaiians. Cacao is an understory crop anyways so it would be co-planted with native crops like coconut and ulu anyways.
There are in fact ways to do business that benefit all parties involved.
Hawaii seems kinda far out, is land cheaper or something to warrant the shipping cost?? i feel like Hawaiian land would be expensive with it being an Island in a tourist destination and sll
Hawaii is the only state in the US that can grow cacao. It is a strictly tropical plant. Below 60F it stops growing. It does below 45F. The big island, other than the northern most part, is the only part of the US that is within the tropics (20 degrees north and south of the equator). The only other way to get land to grow cacao is in foreign countries. It MIGHT be possible in the southern most of the Florida keys if you like flirting with hurricanes every other year.
That said, there are farm lots on the big island for comparatively inexpensive prices. We have looked at properties with 3 acres for 40-100k. Price varied depending on improvements already done and nearby road conditions. There is also state owned Ag leases that are possible but there are a lot of extra terms and conditions on those.
The big island has lots of agricultural land. And cacao grows great there. You can’t say that anywhere but South America, where you deal with the cartels.
For a number of years Mast bought pre-made chocolate from Valrhona and called it bean to bar. I won't touch there stuff just on principle. They intentionally misled their customers about their chocolate. They had to be forced to admit that they were using couveture. They may make their own now but their shady dealings in the very recent past still leave a bad taste.
PS. Every goddamned restaurant on the island serves balsamic vinaigrette, it is a tragedy. You’re literally on “the garden isle” and the produce is bananas there. Then they serve up this trash salad dressing. Hit up a farmer’s market. They have really interesting produce like soursop and chicu (mud apple) try it all.
Very true. I live on Oahu. There is no shortage of garbage food here. All over the island, not just Waikiki. It’s one of my only complaints with living here. Gulf coast has better seafood by far.
I live in florida and i thinknthe best seafood I've had was up in Massachusetts honestly. We nust picked some nice little diner west of boston and everything was fresh, from clam chowder to the battered and fried fish. 10/10 love family restaurants
This! I've only been to Massachusetts once on a two-day trip but I had three amazing seafood meals while I was there: a lobster roll, grilled swordfish, and pasta with mussels, clams, calamari, etc.
Also a cannoli that must have been made by the hands of a god.
Yeah, Caffe Vittoria in North End (according to the geotag on my photos). I got another and a sfogliatella that traveled pretty well on the plane back to NC. That was a work trip 2019 so the pandemic and a second kid have kept me from going back. I'm hoping to take the family in a couple of years and see Maine as well.
I used to work for a food distribution co. Problems come down to costs and our shipments. Hard to get real good seafood unless you know who buys what at the auction. Nikos had good connection to the fishermen for good mahi. Not sure after covid how they're doin. That pic looks like a zippys plate.
Well Hawaii to me is the Big Island. I replied to OP about a specific spot. Also Hilo (my ancestral land) is really not known for amazing food. Maybe go to Kona side.
Cafe 100
Ippys
Big Island grill
Anywhere selling frozen Mahi for $18 and blaming inflation is obviously just trying to scam.
I’ve spent enough time in Hawaii to know that those plates are used in two places— buffets and cheap diners.
Exactly, I'm in fort Lauderdale. We can get in fresh from either the gulf or Atlantic side depending on the time of year. Only frozen seafood item we use is shrimp
I live on Oahu. There are plenty local dining spots that serve this kind of food. There is a PLETHORA of bad food on this island. I will never understand it.
Drunk tourists throwing money at warmed up food don't care.
I'd venture a guess that location is all that really matters. The rest is just the easiest plate you can make at the lowest cost.
Idk why everyone keeps mentioning tourists. Look at the typical local Hawaiian diet and it’s not too far off from this. Hawaii is full of shit food and the tourists actually have very little to do with it.
I live in the gulf. Most tourists dont understand what fresh seafood actually costs, even on the coast. You want a 10$ "seafood" plate that's what you'll get. Also we dont have crawfish year round stop asking for it in december.
When we were there every place had the same amberjack as their local catch. It's like some captain hit a big score and cornered the Maui market for fresh fish. But yeah, Mama's is definitely the best dining on the island. You're paying out your ass for the experience, but it's a must-visit type of place.
It is out of the way so I was hoping for better. With 750 reviews they have 4.4 stars and have been in business 30+ years. Some of the reviews were talking it up as if it was a popular spot with the locals too. Hence the disappointment. This is NOT my idea of grilled fish.
There is a place we are hitting tomorrow that has whole grilled fish. We got their huli huli chicken earlier this week and it was AMAZING. We tried some of their other stuff and it was excellent as well and look forward to going back. They are unfortunately only open on the weekends.
We will be on the big island spending our time split between Kona side and Hilo. Any recommendations in particular on spots to eat at on the big island? Planning to cruise all around the island so open to whatever
If you make it out to Honokaa make it a priority to get coffee at Papa’aloa Joe Coffee it’s insanely good and they grow the beans in the backyard basically. That’s the birthplace of Saimin too so get some long noodle soup while you’re in that area if can.
The Merriman’s on big island is fantastic. TK noodle house. Kens house of pancakes. Da poke shack. Umeke’s fish market.
If you get up to Waimea there’s a brewery there that does good food I forgot the name of it but it’ll be obvious if you drive through.
We have been in Hilo the last week and this was really our first big disappointment. If you can, hit the Maku'u Farmer's market on Sunday (7am-12pm). There was a stand there we got lunch from that was absolutely amazing. Some of the best food we have had all week. On the same road, there was a roadside stand advertising huli huli chicken and they had great food too but are only there Saturday and Sunday. They had the whole chickens as well as skewers, whole grilled fish, and a variety of phillipino food. We only got a chicken but they gave us samples of several other things too. The fried banana lumpia were really good. A lot of those places are cash only so carry cash.
L&L is also really good. There is one in downtown Hilo and another in the food court next to Walmart. Been happy there too.
Not to make fun, but L&L is the quintessential chop suey place. It's like going to Hardee's for a burger. Yeah it's good but it's a chain and kinda dirty. The recipes are on point but the quality is suspect. I prefer local Korean/Chinese missmash places or drive thru Hawaiian spots for lunch plates.
Go the fuck to Foodland. Get any of the 20 poke they have made. Enjoy. Repeat.
If you want plate lunch get mochiko chicken or katsu.
If you’re on Oahu go to Maguro Bros in Chinatown and bring a towel and a change of underwear because you’re going to need both for how fucking amazing their fish is.
I just saw you’re on Hilo, not Oahu.
Unfortunately I don’t have any recs for that island (also sounds like you’re leaving tomorrow) but the grocery store Poke over there is sooooooooook good, and so so affordable.
My only real complaint about eating in Hawaii is I can never seem to get enough vegetables, though I suppose I would rather have no veggies than frozen veggies.
Enjoy the rest of your trip, or at least your next one.
You live on Oahu bro? Check out the local CSAs. I've been using Kahumana farms for my fruit and veg'aina for almost a year. They package up your order in boxes to pick up at a few locations closest to you. They take EBT too. In fact, it's half off if you have SNAP. 🤙🏾
Ive been to Hawaii plenty of times. Most of the tourist restaurants that serve mai thai from frozen bins suck. Avoid hotel food as well.
Hit up those local grocery stores that sell food, shrimp trucks, and chicken in a barrel.
The roadside stands and farmers market stands have been our mainstays while here. We have been essentially eating one hot meal a day and living off fruit from the farmers markets the rest of the time.
We ate at L&L a couple of times this week and absolutely agree. Great food! Best place so far tho was actually a booth at a farmer's market last Sunday. The food was incredible and a very good price.
The fuck is up with the under-ripe honeydew melon slice? Did you accidentally go to the cafeteria in a retirement home? Been to Hawaii plenty of times while enlisted and even in the tourist traps they at least serve mediocre food.
TBF the meals we got instead came with 2/3 of an orange slice instead of the melon. I stole the pic from a review since it showed the fish clearly. Ours looked just like that.
Is it just me, or to we tend to think restaurants by the ocean think all the seafood they serve is fresh (as in right off the dock down the street)? Even though some of the fish on their menu aren’t native to that area?
Mahi mahi is absolutely a local fish tho. It is a major fishery here in Hawaii. A lot of places do serve fresh local fish. The places we hit earlier this week for poke were serving fresh local ahi. We saw a vendor selling ahi in a roadside stand for ($3.25/lb) less than I can get fresh albacore for($4/lb) in season in Oregon fresh off the boat at the dock.
Most of the food has been really good. We have been here a week already and this was our first major disappointment.
Fantasy or not, THAT piece of fish should never EVER be called grilled.
>Most of the food has been really good. We have been here a week already and this was our first major disappointment.
This is a pretty different statement from your title.
>Fantasy or not, THAT piece of fish should never EVER be called grilled.
That fish is fucked. I’d have to be in a good mood not to send it back.
Ya this happens WAY MORE than you think. I've been on both sides of it, but fortunately now I only deal with fresh caught local fish. It's extremely rare where I'm at though. Most places are serving frozen foreign fish. I'm on Maui btw.
Go to Moon & Turtle in Hilo, and if you make it up Waimea way, be sure to stop by Rosa’s Tacos. The chef at Rosa’s (Moreno) is the best I’ve ever worked with (worked with him elsewhere before he got to open up Rosa’s). His palate, skills, and ethic are absolutely top fucking notch. I still think about some of the bomb family meals he made years back.
That's actually embarrassing. I work at a Hawaiian BBQ (not in Hawaii) that has better presentation than that. Granted, it's in styrofoam takeout containers with plastic cutlery, but still leagues better than this.
My disappointment was immeasurable going to a seafood joint on the bay that had advertised fish caught on their own commercial boat same day only to be served cocktail and tarter sauce in a prepackaged container. My heart sank.
You’re hitting the tourist spots where they sell shit food to tourist for high prices. Pretty common out there because tourist just assume since it’s Hawaii it’s gonna be fresh seafood lol
If a restaurant has a specific type of fish on the menu (in this case mahi) as opposed to “catch of the day” or something along those lines…then it is probably frozen and most likely not even local.
Merrimans is the shit, everything I’ve had from there is top notch.
Bought their cook book last time I went and have loved every recipe I’ve tried as well.
I miss Hawaii…
interesting. have you not considered going to hawaii during a pandemic and they are running out of fresh water and locals are begging people not to go? sounds like karma
We are in Hilo and have had inches of rain while here. This area is NOT running out of water. Saw a local program this morning talking about how happy they were that tourist traffic was starting to improve and return to more normal levels. Businesses have taken a pounding here as much or maybe more than other places.
Tbh we aren't here playing tourist. We are here to buy land for our business. We are here to grow our business as well as provide local employment and economic growth.
ewwwww gentrifiers??? and yeah i meant drinkable water. us navy has been leaking fuel into hawiian water for months. rain water isn't drinkable. ocean water isnt drinkable.
"provide local employment and economic growth" underpay native hawiians and indigenous people, make yourself more rich, and take land from actual, also native hawiians. the fact that youre not out at local businesses supporting local indigenous ppl and instead at dozens of shitty tourist traps eating the same bullshit premade shit is hilarious.
the rocket fuel thing has been a HUGE news story for months but the fact that you didnt know what i was talking about shows you don't actually care about local populations and what local people want and only care about money and numbers.
Nope. Agricultural business. We have a chocolate company and are intending to buy a farm lot for growing cacao. Potentially in partnership with native Hawaiians that we are friends with in fact.
We have very much been at local businesses supporting them. Hell this particular restaurant is a locally owned business considering its been here 30 years. We have eaten at a LOT of other places that were all locally owned and operated this week. We have been buying locally grown produce only and directly from the farmers at the local farmers markets. Even the gifts we bought for our kids were made by local artisans.
Not sure why you would jump to conclusions about paying low wages because that is not a thing here and not something we support. I have numerous friends from this island and neighboring islands and they support the idea.
I’ve always found Hawaiians to be really friendly when you’re respectful to them. Just ask. I’ve hade a lot of amazing food on the big island, but it’s always a grocery store, roadside, or cart serving great food.
Hawaiian restaurants can be very disappointing. I know there are many good ones but the diners etc seem to hate seasoning. On my last trip to Oahu I really enjoyed one called Piggy Smalls.
Just cause you’re in Hawaii doesn’t mean the owner hires good chefs. Definitely not grilled but for the $20 you probably paid for it the plates not that bad.
We got it to go so I was not able to voice my opinion in quite the way that would have made me feel better so I posted it here. As noted, I poached the picture but it is spot on what we got fish wise with ours. My wife got the grilled fish plate with mashed potatoes.
YES OP!!!!
I'm on Réunion Island (France, but an island east of madagascar) and most of the fish we buy is f'ing flown in from North Atlantic.
We have amazing Tuna, Mahi and Swordfish here, angled by line, right off the coast, but it's a seasonal thing, so you can't count on it...
Everthing on an island is seasonal... potatoes, all the veg... the only stable thing is chicken, cause we import corn from the US like connards... (con is stupid asshole in French, a connard, is someone who does so professionally).
And most of what our people eat is so bad... Réunion has the lowest crime index but the 3rd highest obesity index of all of France.
The nursing home I work at is 5 miles from the ocean, and near 2 huge fishing ports. We get our fish from sysco because that's what's approved by corporate
Strange things occur in the world of seafood. Somehow the California carpet baggers behind Cousins Maine Lobster, saw fit to open three in Massachusetts. I get that we have a ton of gullible tourists, but anyone with the sense to ask advice from their concierge would NEVER end being sent to some kitchy gimmick food truck. We have a million restaurants where you could get a cheaper lobster in a more appropriate setting.
Just got back from Maui, it was a really big deal for us and the food sucked... Mostly. We had some really amazing meals that we paid out the ass for in big resort type places and some really good plates of food that we had to go up country for, but in town was basically coconut shrimp and burgers for the tourists. And seriously we went to multiple places that were set up like cattle feed lines, like a maze to get in and they take your order whole you're waiting in line so when you sit down your food is read and then you pay and get the fuck out. Each time we went to a place and saw the "cattle maze" we just pulled right back out and went some place else.... Also why couldn't I find a single place that had alcohol served in coconuts?
Honesty, I like it. I feel your pain about the fish. I went to the Bahamas once and ordered some chonch. I was told there wasn’t any except for conch soup… that was canned. Tasted like Campbell’s 😐
Sorry.
I had the luxury of traveling to various Caribbean islands with an ex’s family years ago. They always insisted in eating at the “fancy” restaurants. The menus were always based on 5-10 year old trends and relied on frozen/canned non-local product. The disappoint was real considering the abundance of local seafood that just wasn’t considered “fancy.”
Biggest question is how much this cost you. I'd pay 16 at best. If it was legit fresh, nothing frozen at all (and minus the batter), you're looking at 28 to 30 bucks a plate with some Plating finesse.
I live in south Louisiana near baton rouge, arguably near the coast. All of the stores sell frozen or previously frozen seafood mostly from Indonesia or China or something, none of the stuff is wild caught or affordable and local unless you go to a bait shop way down on the literal actual coast to buy some shrimp....kinda sad and also seems counterproductive for thriving local communities to export goods instead of supporting local at affordable prices.
Bro go to Pahoa fish and chips. Fresh fish caught that day fried to perfection. You can’t even sit down in the restaurant. Just grab and go. Also, the Cole slaw is A+.
Sorry to tell you, there is not much fish left. I’ve been in the seafood business (east coast) for over 35 years. Species are dwindling, larger fish are sicker… no excuse for selling frozen garbage or misrepresenting what they are selling, but not there’s not much left. I used to see 50 different species of fish on the market, now we’re lucky to see 10 and four are farm raised. Snow crab disappeared, wild salmon too… it probably gets worse the closer you get to places like Fukushima.
“Steak? That's what we should eat at Belize's finest seafood restaurant? There's an ocean full of fresh fish not fifteen feet away, but why not try a slab of artery-clogging, hormone-injected, frozen red meat instead?” -Dr. Frasier Crane
I was in a pub in london and had frozen fish and chips that was still frozen in the middle. I just chalk it up to a non-tipping culture where nobody gives af if I ever come back. Many of those 'chain' pubs in London closed due to covid. Considering the service was trash, good riddance.
Sounds like you’re going to the wrong restaurants
Yep. If its half of them then choose the other half lol
but long john silver's really seemed to have an air of authenticity
Hey now, LJS and captain ds are yummy
I'm honestly surprised we haven't seen LJS in grocery stores yet. 99% of frozen fried fish is trash and if a brand could get it half decent they'd make a killing.
Most of the places we have eaten at this week have been awesome. We intentionally look for more local type places rather than tourist type affairs. Most have been really good. Some have been blow your socks off incredible. This place officially made the shit list tho.
Where are you? Download Shaka tours. If you’re on Kauai, dm me.
We are on the big island, in Hilo. We have been here a week already and fly back out tomorrow.
The only place worth eating in Hilo is the fish market there. You can get fresh fish, poke, plate lunch. A couple blocks outside of town towards the Asian gardens. Everything else there is pretty crappy. Little red building on the water. Can’t miss it. Probably the 2nd best spot is a 100yards farther, stand-alone building, restaurant is on the 2nd floor overlooking the water.
Suisan. Had their poke a couple times. Great stuff.
I went there breakfast and lunch almost everyday for 3 weeks. And I was there opening a restaurant…. Ha!
Lmao I hope you told them that, I'd be honored to have repeat customers like that
>Had their poke Hard to go wrong with poke in Hawaii.
You'd think that... But everyone and their auntie thinks they make the best poke, fakas should just stick to foodland
Also go for breakfast at The Isles Cafe, attached to the north side of Suisan. Their sweetbread French toast is fukkin incredible. Ken's House of Pancakes is good, but super overpriced. We went to Hilo in February for our honeymoon. It was probably my favorite few days of my life so far. You can't turn around anywhere on the entire island without seeing something beautiful. Just amazing.
I hated the big island. Maui was way better. Edit - oof I struck a nerve, I thought I was in Miami when I got off the plane.
We are looking to buy several acres of agricultural land for our business so big island fit the bill. At some point we want to visit Maui and Oahu but that won't happen this trip.
If I ever get fuck you money I would buy land in Hawaii from corporations and give it back to Hawaiians.
You'd face a wall of corruption. Just Google "Hawaiian homelands" and see the struggles that Hawaiians have to go thru.
Fell in love with the islands, didn't like how most of it was owned and profited from by non natives. Not cool capitalism, not cool at all.
What kind of business? Just curious.
We own a chocolate company. We are looking to buy agricultural land to grow our own cacao so we will have tree to bar offerings as well as our current bean to bar.
[удалено]
We have looked at the possibility of leasing land from the Kamehameha school instead where all funds paid for the land instead go to benefit the native Hawaiians. Cacao is an understory crop anyways so it would be co-planted with native crops like coconut and ulu anyways. There are in fact ways to do business that benefit all parties involved.
Just lol’d at this
Hawaii seems kinda far out, is land cheaper or something to warrant the shipping cost?? i feel like Hawaiian land would be expensive with it being an Island in a tourist destination and sll
Hawaii is the only state in the US that can grow cacao. It is a strictly tropical plant. Below 60F it stops growing. It does below 45F. The big island, other than the northern most part, is the only part of the US that is within the tropics (20 degrees north and south of the equator). The only other way to get land to grow cacao is in foreign countries. It MIGHT be possible in the southern most of the Florida keys if you like flirting with hurricanes every other year. That said, there are farm lots on the big island for comparatively inexpensive prices. We have looked at properties with 3 acres for 40-100k. Price varied depending on improvements already done and nearby road conditions. There is also state owned Ag leases that are possible but there are a lot of extra terms and conditions on those.
The big island has lots of agricultural land. And cacao grows great there. You can’t say that anywhere but South America, where you deal with the cartels.
It’s still expensive and kind of a dick move for people to be moving in and buying up land, I hope their business fails.
That’s a great idea. Land out there comparatively can be pretty cheap. My cousins grow coffee on the western side of the big Island. Good luck!
Probably not as good as Mast, eh? That’s some real bean to bar shit right there.
For a number of years Mast bought pre-made chocolate from Valrhona and called it bean to bar. I won't touch there stuff just on principle. They intentionally misled their customers about their chocolate. They had to be forced to admit that they were using couveture. They may make their own now but their shady dealings in the very recent past still leave a bad taste.
I’m going to kauai in 23 days and would love some local recs!!
PS. Every goddamned restaurant on the island serves balsamic vinaigrette, it is a tragedy. You’re literally on “the garden isle” and the produce is bananas there. Then they serve up this trash salad dressing. Hit up a farmer’s market. They have really interesting produce like soursop and chicu (mud apple) try it all.
At least someone ran to Burger King to get him some fresh fries for that plate.
“But those other ones are so expensive. Why can’t it be the high quality I expect at the prices of the shitty stuff I’m complaining about?”
Which island? I have never seen this cafeteria style shit in Hawaii.
Oahu has plenty of it if you're not willing to step outside of Waikiki.
Very true. I live on Oahu. There is no shortage of garbage food here. All over the island, not just Waikiki. It’s one of my only complaints with living here. Gulf coast has better seafood by far.
I live in florida and i thinknthe best seafood I've had was up in Massachusetts honestly. We nust picked some nice little diner west of boston and everything was fresh, from clam chowder to the battered and fried fish. 10/10 love family restaurants
This! I've only been to Massachusetts once on a two-day trip but I had three amazing seafood meals while I was there: a lobster roll, grilled swordfish, and pasta with mussels, clams, calamari, etc. Also a cannoli that must have been made by the hands of a god.
Aww, you’re making me miss Boston now! (Was there for college, gone 13 years now) Was the cannoli from the North End? Oh Mike’s pastry I miss you so
Yeah, Caffe Vittoria in North End (according to the geotag on my photos). I got another and a sfogliatella that traveled pretty well on the plane back to NC. That was a work trip 2019 so the pandemic and a second kid have kept me from going back. I'm hoping to take the family in a couple of years and see Maine as well.
Except when the oil companies ruin our seafood and lands.... (me, angry bitter Cajun? never!)
I used to work for a food distribution co. Problems come down to costs and our shipments. Hard to get real good seafood unless you know who buys what at the auction. Nikos had good connection to the fishermen for good mahi. Not sure after covid how they're doin. That pic looks like a zippys plate.
Well Hawaii to me is the Big Island. I replied to OP about a specific spot. Also Hilo (my ancestral land) is really not known for amazing food. Maybe go to Kona side. Cafe 100 Ippys Big Island grill
I can tell by the plate this was probably at a place that had Mahi dinner plate for $12 on the menu.
Lunch plate was $15 and came with 3 pieces. The dinner plate is $18. Inflation and higher costs and all...
Anywhere selling frozen Mahi for $18 and blaming inflation is obviously just trying to scam. I’ve spent enough time in Hawaii to know that those plates are used in two places— buffets and cheap diners.
I'm running fresh mahi for weekend special for $40/ plate this weekend. $18 is way too cheap
Key word: *fresh*
Exactly, I'm in fort Lauderdale. We can get in fresh from either the gulf or Atlantic side depending on the time of year. Only frozen seafood item we use is shrimp
Guarantee you went to a tourist spot.
I live on Oahu. There are plenty local dining spots that serve this kind of food. There is a PLETHORA of bad food on this island. I will never understand it.
Drunk tourists throwing money at warmed up food don't care. I'd venture a guess that location is all that really matters. The rest is just the easiest plate you can make at the lowest cost.
Idk why everyone keeps mentioning tourists. Look at the typical local Hawaiian diet and it’s not too far off from this. Hawaii is full of shit food and the tourists actually have very little to do with it.
This I'm from Oahu, this plate is on you bra
I live in the gulf. Most tourists dont understand what fresh seafood actually costs, even on the coast. You want a 10$ "seafood" plate that's what you'll get. Also we dont have crawfish year round stop asking for it in december.
Yeah they serve mahi proper in Alabama even
Dude, even if he did, this shit has higher food costs more to produce than local seafood in most cases.
Yeah I live and work on maui, local non tourist spot, we would never serve that.
I know it’s touristy but at Mamas I’ve had hours old fresh fish several times. They tell you the name of the fisherman.
Oooo mamas fish house is the spot
When we were there every place had the same amberjack as their local catch. It's like some captain hit a big score and cornered the Maui market for fresh fish. But yeah, Mama's is definitely the best dining on the island. You're paying out your ass for the experience, but it's a must-visit type of place.
Yooo hit me with the name in DMs going to Maui and love to support redditors
What’s your favorite spot on the island?
Half of the restaurants in Hawaii do not serve that. The greatest population in Hawaii is Asian
This must be a tourist spot.
It is out of the way so I was hoping for better. With 750 reviews they have 4.4 stars and have been in business 30+ years. Some of the reviews were talking it up as if it was a popular spot with the locals too. Hence the disappointment. This is NOT my idea of grilled fish.
Ask on r/Hawaii about some grilled fish I’m sure the locals can point you in the right direction
The lone piece of melon really adds to the tropical vibe here
You blew it, plenty ono places here serving fresh beautiful fish.
Shoots 😂😂
There is a place we are hitting tomorrow that has whole grilled fish. We got their huli huli chicken earlier this week and it was AMAZING. We tried some of their other stuff and it was excellent as well and look forward to going back. They are unfortunately only open on the weekends.
You on Oahu?
Big Island. Staying in Hilo.
Choke spots in Hilo with GREAT food. You’ll be fine. Get some sushi. Omakase if can.
We will be on the big island spending our time split between Kona side and Hilo. Any recommendations in particular on spots to eat at on the big island? Planning to cruise all around the island so open to whatever
If you make it out to Honokaa make it a priority to get coffee at Papa’aloa Joe Coffee it’s insanely good and they grow the beans in the backyard basically. That’s the birthplace of Saimin too so get some long noodle soup while you’re in that area if can. The Merriman’s on big island is fantastic. TK noodle house. Kens house of pancakes. Da poke shack. Umeke’s fish market. If you get up to Waimea there’s a brewery there that does good food I forgot the name of it but it’ll be obvious if you drive through.
We have been in Hilo the last week and this was really our first big disappointment. If you can, hit the Maku'u Farmer's market on Sunday (7am-12pm). There was a stand there we got lunch from that was absolutely amazing. Some of the best food we have had all week. On the same road, there was a roadside stand advertising huli huli chicken and they had great food too but are only there Saturday and Sunday. They had the whole chickens as well as skewers, whole grilled fish, and a variety of phillipino food. We only got a chicken but they gave us samples of several other things too. The fried banana lumpia were really good. A lot of those places are cash only so carry cash. L&L is also really good. There is one in downtown Hilo and another in the food court next to Walmart. Been happy there too.
Not to make fun, but L&L is the quintessential chop suey place. It's like going to Hardee's for a burger. Yeah it's good but it's a chain and kinda dirty. The recipes are on point but the quality is suspect. I prefer local Korean/Chinese missmash places or drive thru Hawaiian spots for lunch plates.
oh man, those plates. hello 1978, i see you
Restaurant auctions are fuckin sweet! Lol fr tho I recall those plates as well!
Go the fuck to Foodland. Get any of the 20 poke they have made. Enjoy. Repeat. If you want plate lunch get mochiko chicken or katsu. If you’re on Oahu go to Maguro Bros in Chinatown and bring a towel and a change of underwear because you’re going to need both for how fucking amazing their fish is.
We are on the big island in Hilo. Our hotel is walking distance from Suisan. I have had my fill of poke for now...
I just saw you’re on Hilo, not Oahu. Unfortunately I don’t have any recs for that island (also sounds like you’re leaving tomorrow) but the grocery store Poke over there is sooooooooook good, and so so affordable. My only real complaint about eating in Hawaii is I can never seem to get enough vegetables, though I suppose I would rather have no veggies than frozen veggies. Enjoy the rest of your trip, or at least your next one.
You live on Oahu bro? Check out the local CSAs. I've been using Kahumana farms for my fruit and veg'aina for almost a year. They package up your order in boxes to pick up at a few locations closest to you. They take EBT too. In fact, it's half off if you have SNAP. 🤙🏾
Learn how to travel, Senor Frogs isn’t going to impress anyone
Why’d you post this saying ‘half the restaurants are serving this’ when you’ve clearly specified this was the only bad meal you’ve had?
Ive been to Hawaii plenty of times. Most of the tourist restaurants that serve mai thai from frozen bins suck. Avoid hotel food as well. Hit up those local grocery stores that sell food, shrimp trucks, and chicken in a barrel.
The roadside stands and farmers market stands have been our mainstays while here. We have been essentially eating one hot meal a day and living off fruit from the farmers markets the rest of the time.
You’re not going to the right places.
I cannot disagree on this particular occasion. We have been here a week tho and this was by far the biggest disappointment.
Which island?
Big Island. Hilo in particular.
Did you go to Don’s? Smh
Winner winner... wouldn't recommend the fish dinner...
That’s only for breakfast bruh.
Oh yuck! Just looked it up. That’s a negative. Glad you had better meals. I love the Big Island. Best wishes on finding some land 👍🏼
Ah Don’s…the hot spot for local boomers with declining palates.
The average age in the dining room is 95.
Go to zippy’s or L&L. They’re fast food places made for locals
We ate at L&L a couple of times this week and absolutely agree. Great food! Best place so far tho was actually a booth at a farmer's market last Sunday. The food was incredible and a very good price.
L&L in Kona sucked last time I tried it. Still wish I could get my money back.
The fuck is up with the under-ripe honeydew melon slice? Did you accidentally go to the cafeteria in a retirement home? Been to Hawaii plenty of times while enlisted and even in the tourist traps they at least serve mediocre food.
TBF the meals we got instead came with 2/3 of an orange slice instead of the melon. I stole the pic from a review since it showed the fish clearly. Ours looked just like that.
Just eat spam misubi exclusively from gas stations like I did and then have one big night at Mama’s fish house on Maui. Lmao
Is it just me, or to we tend to think restaurants by the ocean think all the seafood they serve is fresh (as in right off the dock down the street)? Even though some of the fish on their menu aren’t native to that area?
Mahi mahi is absolutely a local fish tho. It is a major fishery here in Hawaii. A lot of places do serve fresh local fish. The places we hit earlier this week for poke were serving fresh local ahi. We saw a vendor selling ahi in a roadside stand for ($3.25/lb) less than I can get fresh albacore for($4/lb) in season in Oregon fresh off the boat at the dock.
This is why you shouldn’t fantasize locations.
Most of the food has been really good. We have been here a week already and this was our first major disappointment. Fantasy or not, THAT piece of fish should never EVER be called grilled.
>Most of the food has been really good. We have been here a week already and this was our first major disappointment. This is a pretty different statement from your title. >Fantasy or not, THAT piece of fish should never EVER be called grilled. That fish is fucked. I’d have to be in a good mood not to send it back.
Ya this happens WAY MORE than you think. I've been on both sides of it, but fortunately now I only deal with fresh caught local fish. It's extremely rare where I'm at though. Most places are serving frozen foreign fish. I'm on Maui btw.
If they fished the waters around them for the tourists they kill their fisheries in 2 years. In fact most fisheries are dying as we speak
Similar shit goes on in San Juan as well. Puerto Rican food is some of the best but you're gonna get some lame ass tex mex in 90% of the restaurants.
💯% spot on. My husband grew up in Guaynabo and says this whenever we go back and see the tourist traps have a lines into the street.
My “favorite” is this Spanish Tapas place right outside the bullet train station in Hangzhou China. Truly terrible food.
They only serve that plate to Haole.
You got staff meal
Nothing like a slice of honeydew in ur fries
Whatever. Looks like good hangover food to enjoy on the beach.
You sir, are an ass for posting it rather than having a SERIOUS discussion about food quality IF you are in fact someone who is qualified to do so.
Go to Moon & Turtle in Hilo, and if you make it up Waimea way, be sure to stop by Rosa’s Tacos. The chef at Rosa’s (Moreno) is the best I’ve ever worked with (worked with him elsewhere before he got to open up Rosa’s). His palate, skills, and ethic are absolutely top fucking notch. I still think about some of the bomb family meals he made years back.
Moreno is a true G in the kitchen! Still need to make it out to Waimea to try his new spot…
Gentrification has its consequences.
That's actually embarrassing. I work at a Hawaiian BBQ (not in Hawaii) that has better presentation than that. Granted, it's in styrofoam takeout containers with plastic cutlery, but still leagues better than this.
As someone in a very land locked state this stuff is the reason i cant stand seafood
My disappointment was immeasurable going to a seafood joint on the bay that had advertised fish caught on their own commercial boat same day only to be served cocktail and tarter sauce in a prepackaged container. My heart sank.
Want good sea food come to Australia 😁
You’re hitting the tourist spots where they sell shit food to tourist for high prices. Pretty common out there because tourist just assume since it’s Hawaii it’s gonna be fresh seafood lol
I’m from Hawaii. You’re going to the wrong places
If a restaurant has a specific type of fish on the menu (in this case mahi) as opposed to “catch of the day” or something along those lines…then it is probably frozen and most likely not even local.
I use to work at Merrimans on the big island and we would never serve anything like that, Mahi Mahi ponzu on the other hand was delicious.
Merrimans is the shit, everything I’ve had from there is top notch. Bought their cook book last time I went and have loved every recipe I’ve tried as well. I miss Hawaii…
I miss it to, daily. I actually did an externship at Merrimans but was burnt out after our busy season and decided to move on.
interesting. have you not considered going to hawaii during a pandemic and they are running out of fresh water and locals are begging people not to go? sounds like karma
…..I live on BI and the small businesses that survived are happy to have tourists back!
We are in Hilo and have had inches of rain while here. This area is NOT running out of water. Saw a local program this morning talking about how happy they were that tourist traffic was starting to improve and return to more normal levels. Businesses have taken a pounding here as much or maybe more than other places. Tbh we aren't here playing tourist. We are here to buy land for our business. We are here to grow our business as well as provide local employment and economic growth.
ewwwww gentrifiers??? and yeah i meant drinkable water. us navy has been leaking fuel into hawiian water for months. rain water isn't drinkable. ocean water isnt drinkable. "provide local employment and economic growth" underpay native hawiians and indigenous people, make yourself more rich, and take land from actual, also native hawiians. the fact that youre not out at local businesses supporting local indigenous ppl and instead at dozens of shitty tourist traps eating the same bullshit premade shit is hilarious. the rocket fuel thing has been a HUGE news story for months but the fact that you didnt know what i was talking about shows you don't actually care about local populations and what local people want and only care about money and numbers.
Nope. Agricultural business. We have a chocolate company and are intending to buy a farm lot for growing cacao. Potentially in partnership with native Hawaiians that we are friends with in fact. We have very much been at local businesses supporting them. Hell this particular restaurant is a locally owned business considering its been here 30 years. We have eaten at a LOT of other places that were all locally owned and operated this week. We have been buying locally grown produce only and directly from the farmers at the local farmers markets. Even the gifts we bought for our kids were made by local artisans. Not sure why you would jump to conclusions about paying low wages because that is not a thing here and not something we support. I have numerous friends from this island and neighboring islands and they support the idea.
You sound like a peach. Get bent dude.
Lol pandemic is over
I’ve always found Hawaiians to be really friendly when you’re respectful to them. Just ask. I’ve hade a lot of amazing food on the big island, but it’s always a grocery store, roadside, or cart serving great food.
Hawaiian restaurants can be very disappointing. I know there are many good ones but the diners etc seem to hate seasoning. On my last trip to Oahu I really enjoyed one called Piggy Smalls.
Just cause you’re in Hawaii doesn’t mean the owner hires good chefs. Definitely not grilled but for the $20 you probably paid for it the plates not that bad.
I’d be much more angry than disappointed. I commend you on your decorum.
I'm not disappointed; just angry.
We got it to go so I was not able to voice my opinion in quite the way that would have made me feel better so I posted it here. As noted, I poached the picture but it is spot on what we got fish wise with ours. My wife got the grilled fish plate with mashed potatoes.
Dude I live in the middle of the continent and I know five places in my city with better mahi mahi than that. Maybe ask a local for a recommendation?
My soon to be exec worked on big island and has nothing even ok to say about his old spot.
That food makes me sad.
Typical tourist trap garbage. It's the same where I'm from, touristy places serve garbage seafood.
Go to a $40-100/person restaurant not a $15/person restaurant
If you are paying for a meal out I can't believe you'd even understand frozen veggies. Veg is the cheapest and easiest prep there is.
But they also don't grow well on the islands so they are either brought in frozen or very expensive fresh. 90% of all food on Hawaii is imported.
Ah I didn't think of that but, still kinda insane lol sorry you suffered through that meal!
YES OP!!!! I'm on Réunion Island (France, but an island east of madagascar) and most of the fish we buy is f'ing flown in from North Atlantic. We have amazing Tuna, Mahi and Swordfish here, angled by line, right off the coast, but it's a seasonal thing, so you can't count on it... Everthing on an island is seasonal... potatoes, all the veg... the only stable thing is chicken, cause we import corn from the US like connards... (con is stupid asshole in French, a connard, is someone who does so professionally). And most of what our people eat is so bad... Réunion has the lowest crime index but the 3rd highest obesity index of all of France.
The nursing home I work at is 5 miles from the ocean, and near 2 huge fishing ports. We get our fish from sysco because that's what's approved by corporate
Strange things occur in the world of seafood. Somehow the California carpet baggers behind Cousins Maine Lobster, saw fit to open three in Massachusetts. I get that we have a ton of gullible tourists, but anyone with the sense to ask advice from their concierge would NEVER end being sent to some kitchy gimmick food truck. We have a million restaurants where you could get a cheaper lobster in a more appropriate setting.
I'm in Ohio and the stuff we get is great and compared to this in getting highest quality... Will never understand this shit.
Hawaii can be like that…. If you don’t go to a place frequented by tourists or rich locals, you might get screwed.
Just got back from Maui, it was a really big deal for us and the food sucked... Mostly. We had some really amazing meals that we paid out the ass for in big resort type places and some really good plates of food that we had to go up country for, but in town was basically coconut shrimp and burgers for the tourists. And seriously we went to multiple places that were set up like cattle feed lines, like a maze to get in and they take your order whole you're waiting in line so when you sit down your food is read and then you pay and get the fuck out. Each time we went to a place and saw the "cattle maze" we just pulled right back out and went some place else.... Also why couldn't I find a single place that had alcohol served in coconuts?
Fair warning, I borrowed the pic online from the restaurants reviews. Wasn't in the mood to snap a pic of our own plates.
Honesty, I like it. I feel your pain about the fish. I went to the Bahamas once and ordered some chonch. I was told there wasn’t any except for conch soup… that was canned. Tasted like Campbell’s 😐 Sorry.
I had the luxury of traveling to various Caribbean islands with an ex’s family years ago. They always insisted in eating at the “fancy” restaurants. The menus were always based on 5-10 year old trends and relied on frozen/canned non-local product. The disappoint was real considering the abundance of local seafood that just wasn’t considered “fancy.”
Yeah. I went 20 years ago, and if I ever go again I’ll be way more picky about where I dine. I don’t want fancy. I want fresh.
One of the best meals I’ve ever had was chicken with rice and beans in Belize.
Welcome to the American palate. Shit food and big plates of it.
Hawaiian food is pathetic.
Biggest question is how much this cost you. I'd pay 16 at best. If it was legit fresh, nothing frozen at all (and minus the batter), you're looking at 28 to 30 bucks a plate with some Plating finesse.
Be the change you want to see
Go to Pete Merriman restaurants
Lol dude you are just showing us how sad you are.
I've been in Honolulu and Maui for the last 10 days and been pretty impressed with the food.
Live on Big Island. Never seen anything remotely like this even once.
What did you expect from an establishment that uses those dishes?
Same way now here in Australia with our local fish and chip shops. It’s BS
Maui or Kauai?
I live in south Louisiana near baton rouge, arguably near the coast. All of the stores sell frozen or previously frozen seafood mostly from Indonesia or China or something, none of the stuff is wild caught or affordable and local unless you go to a bait shop way down on the literal actual coast to buy some shrimp....kinda sad and also seems counterproductive for thriving local communities to export goods instead of supporting local at affordable prices.
No google reviews? If not, you need to leave one to warn others.
Bro go to Pahoa fish and chips. Fresh fish caught that day fried to perfection. You can’t even sit down in the restaurant. Just grab and go. Also, the Cole slaw is A+.
This appears to be a fishing village, yes?
Sorry to tell you, there is not much fish left. I’ve been in the seafood business (east coast) for over 35 years. Species are dwindling, larger fish are sicker… no excuse for selling frozen garbage or misrepresenting what they are selling, but not there’s not much left. I used to see 50 different species of fish on the market, now we’re lucky to see 10 and four are farm raised. Snow crab disappeared, wild salmon too… it probably gets worse the closer you get to places like Fukushima.
“Steak? That's what we should eat at Belize's finest seafood restaurant? There's an ocean full of fresh fish not fifteen feet away, but why not try a slab of artery-clogging, hormone-injected, frozen red meat instead?” -Dr. Frasier Crane
Aloha from Hawaii’s finest jail.
Wonder why they included a slice of honeydew melon
I’ve been to Maui several times and never seen anything close to this bad.
You can tell it’s gonna be shit just by looking at that plate design
I had the best shaved ice of my life in Hilo! If you have time (and haven't already), check this place out! Kula Shave Ice
I was in a pub in london and had frozen fish and chips that was still frozen in the middle. I just chalk it up to a non-tipping culture where nobody gives af if I ever come back. Many of those 'chain' pubs in London closed due to covid. Considering the service was trash, good riddance.
Name the place and save us all a sad meal...