Are you planning a trip to the Big Island on a budget? Scroll to find out the best Big Island cheap eats that taste amazing!
This list of Big Island cheap eats and restaurants on the Big Island on a budget was written by Marcie Cheung (a Hawaii travel expert) and contains affiliate links which means if you purchase something from one of my affiliate links, I may earn a small commission that goes back into maintaining this blog.
My son is obsessed with the burgers at Ultimate Burger in Kona.
Every single trip, before we’ve even unpacked, he’s asking when we’re going.
I get it.
Grass-fed Big Island beef, a bun baked that morning, and a burger that costs less than the resort would charge for a plate of fries.
That’s the whole spirit of Big Island cheap eats: real food, real flavor, and a price tag that doesn’t make you wince.
Hawaii has a reputation for being brutal on a food budget, and a lot of that reputation is earned.
But after 40+ trips to the islands, I’ve learned that the Big Island in particular has a strong local food scene that never bothered chasing resort prices. You just have to know where to look.
This list covers 14 spots I’ve either eaten at myself or researched carefully for current hours, prices, and status, because restaurants close and change hands more often than people realize.
I’ll tell you exactly which is which as we go.
Quick Verdict
Best for locals-only vibes: Big Island Grill in Kailua-Kona (cash-friendly, huge portions, no tourist markup)
Best road trip stop: Tex Drive-In in Honoka’a (my go-to for loco moco and malasadas)
Best splurge-that-isn’t-a-splurge: Ultimate Burger (my son’s favorite, and mine too)
Budget to plan around: $12 to $18 per meal at most spots on this list
You’ll need wheels to hit most of these, since they’re spread across the island from Kona to Hilo.
If you haven’t locked in a rental yet, Discount Hawaii Car Rental is who I use and recommend, since their rates consistently beat what you’ll find booking direct with the big agencies.
And if you’re still deciding where to stay, an Expedia search for Kona or Waikoloa hotels will show you what’s within easy reach of most of this list, since half of it clusters around Ali’i Drive and the Kings’ Shops.
Best Cheap Eats on the Big Island
1. Big Island Grill (Kailua-Kona)
This is the one locals send you to when you ask where they eat. Loco moco, roast pork, fried shrimp, and most of it under $15.
There’s a catch, though: hours have tightened up considerably since the pandemic, and a lot of older lists still don’t reflect it.
As of this update, they’re open Tuesday through Saturday, 8am to 2pm, with dinner service Tuesday through Thursday added back in from 4:30 to 8pm. Closed Sunday and Monday.
Cash and card both work, but budget a short wait during the breakfast rush.
2. Manago Hotel Restaurant (Captain Cook)
The pork chops here are the reason people drive across the island for lunch.
Manago has been in South Kona since 1917, and the restaurant kept serving straight through a change in hotel ownership in late 2024, so if you stumble on older reviews about booking a room, know that part of the business has shifted even though the kitchen hasn’t skipped a beat.
Wednesday through Saturday, 11am to 2pm and 5 to 7:30pm. Closed Sunday through Tuesday. Most entrees run $8 to $18, and it pairs naturally with a South Kona coffee farm morning.
3. Island Fish & Chips (Waikoloa)
Small, easy to miss, and worth finding anyway. This takeout counter at the Kings’ Shops has been frying local fish since 2000, and the gazebo seating overlooking the koi pond makes it a nicer lunch stop than the strip mall exterior suggests.
Coconut shrimp, fish tacos, and crab cake sliders all land around $15. Tuesday through Sunday, 10am to 8pm, closed Monday.
4. Foster’s Kitchen (Waikoloa location)
Farm-to-table comfort food with a Kona Coast twist, and the small bites menu (steak, ribs, chicken tenders, fish, all under $16) is where the real budget play is.
One thing worth knowing: the original Ali’i Drive location in Kailua-Kona is temporarily closed until October 1, so head to the Waikoloa location at the Kings’ Shops instead. Open daily, 11am to 9pm.
5. Hawaiian Style Cafe (Waimea and Hilo)
Between the two locations, this is one of the most consistent Hawaiian comfort food spots on the island, and the macadamia nut pancakes have a following that goes well past tourists.
Waimea keeps it simple: daily, 7am to 1pm, Sunday until noon. Hilo runs longer hours and adds dinner service several nights a week, so call ahead if you’re planning to go for anything past lunch. Most plates are $10 to $16.
6. Tex Drive-In (Honoka’a)
I’ve stopped here more times than I can count, and I always order the same thing: loco moco and a mango or passion fruit malasada, still hot from the fryer.
Tex has been serving the Hamakua Coast since 1969, and it’s earned every bit of its reputation for the best malasadas on the island. Nothing on the menu runs over $16.
Open daily, 6am to 6pm. Go early if you want first pick of malasada flavors, since the popular ones sell out by afternoon.
7. Ultimate Burger (Kailua-Kona)
My son has requested this place on every single trip since he first tried it.
Ultimate Burger uses 100% grass-fed Big Island beef, never frozen, with buns baked fresh daily and fries that are double-blanched the way they’re supposed to be.
A regular burger runs about $8, and the loaded four-patty version tops out around $16. Daily, roughly 10:30am to 8pm, a half hour later on weekends.
It’s also one of the few cheap eats spots with a solid fish burger, worth ordering if you want something lighter.
8. Naung Mai Thai Kitchen (Hilo)
Family-run and now in its third generation, this small Thai spot leans into central Thai flavors with local Hawaiian produce mixed in.
The pad thai and panang curry get repeat mentions from regulars, and most dishes stay under $15.
They’re closed one day midweek, though which day has flip-flopped between Tuesday and Wednesday depending on who you ask, so a quick call ahead is worth it if you’re set on going.
9. Quinn’s Almost by the Sea (Kailua-Kona)
Dinner entrees can climb, but the burger, sandwich, and appetizer menu stays in budget territory at $10 to $16, and the patio is one of the few pet-friendly spots in Kona if you’re traveling with a dog.
The days off changed at some point in the last couple of years, so double-check before you plan around it: they’re currently closed Wednesdays and Saturdays, open the rest of the week from 11am to 10pm.
10. Kona Brewing Co. (Kailua-Kona)
This one’s now open all seven days, 11am to 9pm, a real change from the shorter Tuesday-through-Saturday schedule it ran for years.
Pizza, sandwiches, and salads keep most checks around $15.
11. Pine Tree Cafe (Kailua-Kona)
Good for takeout if you want local plate lunch food without a sit-down wait. Order the mini plate size here: same flavor, smaller portion, smaller price.
Spicy garlic chicken and fried rice with Portuguese sausage are the standouts. Daily, 6am to 7pm.
12. Poi Dog Deli (Kailua-Kona)
If you’re craving a real sandwich instead of another loco moco, this is the spot.
The menu blends Hawaiian, Arizona, and New Orleans influences, tops out around $17, and the portions are big enough to split between two people. Monday through Saturday, 10:30am to 6pm, closed Sunday.
13. Broke Da Mouth Grindz (Kailua-Kona)
Garlic furikake chicken is the dish people come back for, and most plates run $12 to $16, with a mini plate option to bring that down further.
Worth knowing before you go: the days off are now Monday and Tuesday instead of Sunday, so this is a different schedule than what you’ll find on some older recommendation lists.
Open Wednesday through Sunday, 11am to 2:30pm and 4 to 7:30pm.
14. Humpy’s Big Island Alehouse (Kailua-Kona)
We watched a full rainbow arc over Kailua Bay from the upstairs balcony here once, and it’s stuck with me as one of those small, unplanned moments that ends up being a trip highlight.
The food is what earns it a spot on a budget list, though: most of the pub menu, from loco moco to buffalo wings to fish tacos, stays around $15, and the upstairs seating gets you an ocean view without an ocean-view markup.
The kitchen now runs daily from 8am to 2am, longer than the midnight close it kept in past years. Happy hour is Monday through Friday, 3 to 6pm, worth timing a visit around if you want to stretch the budget further.
Tips for Finding Cheap Eats on the Big Island
One thing travelers get wrong about Hawaii food is assuming it has to be expensive across the board. A few habits go a long way toward keeping your budget in check:
- Hit the grocery stores. Foodland and Costco both carry ready-to-eat local food (poke, musubi, plate lunches) that’s cheaper than a sit-down meal and just as good.
- Order off the keiki menu. A lot of Big Island restaurants serve portions large enough that the kids’ menu size works fine for an adult with a smaller appetite.
- Split a plate. Most entrees on this list are big enough for two people to share, especially at places like Manago Hotel and Tex Drive-In.
- Cook a few meals if you have a kitchen. Grab produce from a farmers market and staples from Costco. A soft-sided cooler bag makes this easier if you’re bouncing between the beach and your rental, since you can pack a cold lunch instead of buying one twice.
- Keep cash on hand. A few of the smaller spots (Big Island Grill, Tex Drive-In) still run cash-friendly, and it speeds up the line.
- Build restaurants into your itinerary ahead of time. Knowing where you’re eating each day keeps you from defaulting to whatever’s closest (and priciest) when you’re hungry and tired.
If figuring out where to eat, sleep, and drive on a Big Island trip feels like a lot to coordinate on your own, this is the kind of thing I help people sort out in a Hawaii travel consultation, whether you need a full Hawaii trip planning guide or just want a second opinion on realistic Hawaii itineraries before you book anything.
I also cover practical Hawaii travel advice for the Big Island on my podcast, Hawaii Travel Made Easy, if you’d rather listen through the logistics on your drive to work.
Cheap Eats in Hawaii: Quick Answers
What are the cheapest things to eat on the Big Island?
Plate lunches, musubi, poke bowls, and acai bowls are consistently the most affordable options, usually under $15 and filling enough to count as a full meal.
How can I eat on the Big Island on a budget?
Stick to the local spots on this list instead of resort restaurants, split entrees when portions are large, and mix in a few grocery store or farmers market meals during your trip.
How much should I budget for food per day on the Big Island?
Plan around $40 to $50 per person per day if you’re eating at places like these for most meals, with room for one nicer dinner if you want to splurge.
Bottom Line
You don’t have to choose between a good Big Island trip and a reasonable food budget.
These 14 spots prove you can eat well, eat local, and still have money left over for the things that matter more, like snorkel gear rental or that sunset catamaran tour you’ve been eyeing.
Save this list, build a few of these stops into your route, and let the resort restaurants be the exception instead of the default.
Planning the rest of your trip? My Big Island travel guide covers where to stay and what to prioritize, and if you’re island-hopping, my Hawaii island-hopping guide walks through how to structure it without wasting a day in transit.
And if you’re still weighing Maui vs Oahu vs Kauai vs Big Island for this trip, that’s a whole different conversation worth having before you book flights.
