Are you planning a trip to the Big Island and want to know the best food spots? Find out where to eat on the Big Island with kids for families who love tasty food!
This list of kid-friendly Big Island restaurants was written by Marcie Cheung (a Hawaii travel expert) and may contain affiliate links, which means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. All opinions remain my own.
Planning a family vacation to the Big Island?
The Big Island is a great place for families because there is so much to do and see. With incredible restaurants all over the island, it can be hard to decide where to eat. That’s why we’ve put together this guide on the best restaurants for kids on the Big Island!
You will be able to find amazing food that your whole family will love at any of these restaurants. No more worrying about what to eat – we’ve got you covered!
Why trust my tips? I’ve traveled to Hawaii more than 40 times, so I really know my stuff.
Here is your ultimate guide on finding the best restaurants on the Big Island for kids!
Want to skip all the planning and just access my detailed Big Island Itinerary complete with daily schedules, fun activities, and travel hacks? Click the button below.
Best Restaurants on the Big Island for Kids
The following are some of the best restaurants on the Big Island that offer kid-friendly food and a family atmosphere.
1. Village Burger
Village Burger is one of the best Big Island restaurants if your family loves a good burger.
From fish burgers to vegetarian to regular beef, this place has it all! Add your own toppings to create the perfect burger for each family member. It also has some of the best freshly made fries!
Village Burger is located in Waimea and is open daily from 10:30 am to 5:00 pm.
2. Zippy’s
Zippy’s is another great kid-friendly restaurant on the Big Island. It is a family-owned and operated business that has been around for over 50 years.
Here you will find various food options, including burgers, sandwiches, salads, and more. They also offer breakfast items like pancakes and loco mocos. You will also find Ohana meals, where you can order a meal for the entire family.
Zippy’s is open from 6:00 am to 7:00 pm every day of the week and is located in Hilo.
3. Hilo Bay Cafe
One of the best restaurants in Hilo is the Hilo Bay Cafe, which has been in business for over 30 years. They have a wide variety of food and drinks, including a Keiki menu for children under 12 years old.
Choose from sashimi, pasta, fresh fish, lamb chops, BBQ ribs, and so much more. There are even chicken nuggets on the Keiki menu for those picky eaters!
The Hilo Bay Cafe is located right on Hilo Bay, so you can eat and enjoy incredible views of the ocean. It is open from Wednesday to Saturday from 11:00 am to 8:30 pm.
4. 808 Grindz Cafe
For one of the best places to eat in Kona, stop by the 808 Grindz Cafe. Here you will find plenty of delicious breakfast options you can eat all day long. This is the perfect place if you have meat lovers and pancake lovers in your family.
Choose from a wide variety of delicious breakfast meals, including a few variations of a loco moco, macadamia nut pancakes, steak and eggs, crab cakes, and so much more. While it is mainly breakfast items, you can easily make this your lunch!
808 Grindz Cafe is open from 7:00 am to 2:00 pm every day except Monday.
5. Umekes Fish Market Bar & Grill
Umekes Fish Market Bar & Grill is a seafood Kailua-Kona restaurant you will want to visit if your family loves eating fresh fish. Most of this place’s food is from local farmers, so you know it will be good and fresh!
If your family does not enjoy seafood, the Keiki menu still offers plenty of great American food items, such as burgers, chicken nuggets, quesadillas, and teriyaki beef. Otherwise, enjoy some poke nachos, sashimi, oysters, and plenty of other seafood options.
You can grab a bite to eat here any day of the week from 11:00 am to 9:00 pm.
6. Ken’s House of Pancakes
If your kids love pancakes and breakfast meals all day long, they will love Ken’s House of Pancakes! It has been open since 1971 and is a favorite of both tourists and locals.
From pancakes to waffles, loco mocos, eggs, steak, bacon, and more, you cannot go wrong eating here with your kids.
You won’t just find breakfast items, though. You can also enjoy some delicious sandwiches and burgers and a ton of other great entrees. This place literally has it all!
Ken’s House of Pancakes is open every day from 6:00 am to 9:00 pm.
7. Luquin’s Mexican Restaurant
Luquin’s Mexican Restaurant is about 45 minutes past Hilo in Pahoa and has some of the best Mexican food the entire family will love.
The menu includes tacos, burritos, enchiladas, tamales, quesadillas, tortas and more! This is also an affordable place, with nothing on the menu being over $11!
While there is not a kid’s menu here, if your family loves Mexican food, this restaurant is one of the most authentic Mexican places to eat on the Big Island.
This is one of the best Big Island Hawaii restaurants, so they are finally going to have a new location in Hilo soon too! You can visit the Pahoa location every day of the week from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm.
8. Foster’s Kitchen
One of the best Waikoloa restaurants that is family-friendly is Foster’s Kitchen. Here you will find only the best local ingredients.
It is also considered a “scratch kitchen,” which means they try to prepare the majority of their menu items in their kitchen from scratch. Because of this, some items on the menu do take longer to cook, but it will be worth it!
A kid’s menu offers simple items your kids will love, including mac and cheese, chicken breasts, cheeseburgers, and a few other options. Other menu items range from BBQ chicken to pasta, pork chops, fish tacos, and so much more.
You will find one restaurant in Waikoloa and another in Kailua-Kona, but both locations are open from 11:00 am to 9:00 pm. You will definitely want to come to visit this place!
9. Kuhio Grille
For some of the best food in Hilo, stop by Kuhio Grille. Here you will find breakfast, lunch, and dinner options and a fun, family-friendly atmosphere. It’s another great location to eat at during your family vacation to the Big Island.
While there is no kid’s menu, the entire family will love the incredible food options. Choose from some delicious local favorites like a loco moco or kalua pig or some classic foods such as fried chicken, burgers, sandwiches, and more.
The Kuhio Grille in Hilo is open every day except Tuesday from 9:00 am to 7:30 pm.
10. Broke Da Mouth Grindz
Broke Da Mouth Grindz is a restaurant that serves some of the best food in Kona. Their delicious menu will leave you and your kids wanting more. Forget your diet when you pick Broke Da Mouth Grindz for lunch or dinner.
The restaurant has a wide variety of dishes to choose from, including their famous garlic furikake chicken, pork belly fat, burgers, and more.
They are open from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm Tuesday through Saturday and closed on Sundays and Mondays.
11. Quinn’s Almost by the Sea
One of the top restaurants in Kona that is also family-friendly is Quinn’s Almost by the Sea. It is located across from the pier, right in the heart of Kona. You will find daily specials, local fresh caught fish, and so much more!
From chicken wings to sashimi, sandwiches, Mahi Mahi, burgers, and shrimp, you can choose from a wide variety of meals you will love. They also have a Keiki menu that offers 7 different food options that even picky eaters will enjoy.
This restaurant is open every day from 11:00 am to 10:00 pm except on Wednesdays.
12. Island Ono Loa Grill
The Island Ono Loa Grill is a restaurant that specializes in Hawaiian cuisine. It is located in Kailua-Kona at the Ali’i Sunset Plaza. The restaurant has been serving up some of the best Hawaiian food on the island, as well as burgers, sandwiches, and more.
The Island Ono Loa Grill is very family-friendly, with a Keiki menu that your children will surely enjoy. Grab some fish tacos, kalua pork sandwich, loco moco, or other delicious options for some great food the entire family will love.
They are open for lunch, and dinner from 11:30 am to 8:00 pm most days and are closed every Wednesday.
13. Chubby’s Diner
Chubby’s Diner is an awesome diner located in Lanihau Center at Kailua-Kona. It has been there for as long as anyone can remember. The diner is famous for its short-stack pancakes and Sunrise Breakfast, but it also serves a variety of meals such as burgers and pizza that your kids will love!
The diner is open from 9:00 am to 10:00 pm Sunday through Thursday but remains open all the way to midnight on both Fridays and Saturdays!
14. Pineapple’s Island Fresh Cuisine
Another great kid-friendly option in Hilo is Pineapple’s Island Fresh Cuisine. This is a casual open-air place to grab some fresh, tasty food. There is even live music every night to enjoy while eating your dinner.
Here you will find vegan and gluten-free options and a Keiki menu for kids under 12 years old. Get some fish and chips, pumpkin curry, lemon chicken, poke, or burgers, amongst other options.
Pineapple’s Island Fresh Cuisine is open from 11:00 am to 9:00 pm most nights and is closed every Monday.
Where to Eat on the Big Island with Kids Wrap Up
No matter where you stay on the Big Island with kids, your family will enjoy eating at any of these top restaurants on the Big Island. With all the kid-friendly restaurants, you can enjoy plenty of different places each day of your trip!
