Hawaii Island or the Big Island has no shortage of fantastic food. And some of the most delicious food that we ate on this trip to Hawaii was on Hawaii Island. Take a look at these locally owned businesses that are legendary for their food.
Because our arrival to Hawaii island was at noon the first thing we are seeking is a repast. The car drives past the scrub and faded pastel buildings bordered by purple bougainvillea. Our destination is an eatery called Broke Da Mouth Grindz which is on our way to the hotel in Kona. Grindz is local slang for food and Broke Da Mouth means that the food is so delicious and moreish that you will eat until you can't eat any more.
The owners of Broke Da Mouth are Chef Robin Ganir and his wife Jean Nguyen. The food at Broke Da Mouth is Filipino crossed with Hawaiian. The number 1 best selling item is the garlic furikake chicken, deep fried boneless chicken pieces with a sweet brown sugar soy glaze and furikake seasoning. With each meal you get to choose a side dish and a starch (rice or potatoes). I also order the beef short ribs as well as the kimchi rice, twisty fries, egg macaroni and broccoli and imitation crab. The wait is around 15 minutes. Broke Da Mouth is strictly takeaway and while there's a seated area where you can wait for your food, no eating is permitted there. The options to eat are to drive to the old airport 4 minutes away but we decide to take it to our hotel.
We opted for the spicy garlic furikake chicken (truthfully not overly spicy) and one bite in and I realise that it deserves all the accolades. It's luscious, crispy and so full of flavour even into the chicken itself so there's definitely some deep marination happening there. The twisty fries are curls of potato chips, a curlyish version of fries that resembles dried apple (but less curly than curly ringlet fries). I also love the egg macaroni with carrot and I usually dislike pasta salad of any kind. This egg macaroni is just so damn creamy I think I ate the whole tub.
The beef short rib is also wonderfully soft and melting with three large chunks of soft, sweet beef that melts in the mouth. They go well with the egg macaroni and that tasty kim chi rice.
Another day on the way back to the airport we head back to the strip mall at Kaiwi Square. Nephi's Smokehouse, named after owner Nephi Agustin is located right next to Broke Da Mouth and is also a locally owned restaurant.
Their specialty is smoked meat (pork) and you can eat in the restaurant that has around half a dozen tables. We order a plate of smoked meat that comes with 2 scoops of steamed or fried rice and a scoop of macaroni salad. The pork slices are delicious, ringed with luscious fat and remind me of char siu except darker in colour and smokier.
We take our bags around the corner to the Kona International Market behind 76 gas station. There are around half a dozen places for lunch at this food court. At Tenkatori Kona the Japanese karaage fried chicken is very popular and the stall holders are very friendly.
$9.99 buys you 12ozs of piping hot boneless chicken and a sauce of your choice. There are also chicken wings available and larger sizes. The chicken is super juicy although I think I'd love some chilli pepper water to upp the flavour which is like a delicious version of Tabasco.
For something sweet head to Paradise Donuts for a malasada or circle donut. They often sell out by 11am so your best bet is to arrive at 8:30am if you want a full array to choose from. The display is a bit depleted by the time we reach there at noon but there around a dozen left.
We order a coconut iced donut which is puffy and light with coconut frosting and desiccated coconut on top. The guava malasada is also light and airy and filled with guava jam. Just one thing: the donuts are around $6USD each plus tax and tip so they may be the most expensive donuts you will every buy (and there are no prices showing so you don't know until you order them). But the staff are very friendly and helpful and they are good donuts.
We eat these on the plane along with the cookies that the Outrigger Kona had given us as a farewell checkout gift. They're a sweet memory of an island that we cannot wait to return to.
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