Kawamoto Store
A long-standing Hilo establishment serving authentic Japanese, Hawaiian, Filipino, and Chinese cuisine buffet-style. Famous for customizable bentos an...
Highlights
Must-see attractions
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Blue hour photography, calmer galleries
Kawamoto Store
Highlights
Must-see attractions
A long-standing Hilo establishment serving authentic Japanese, Hawaiian, Filipino, and Chinese cuisine buffet-style. Famous for customizable bentos and crispy tempura.
"This hidden gem offers a taste of local Hawaii with incredible flavors at unbeatable prices!"
Arrive Early or Call Ahead
Popular items sell out quickly; calling ahead ensures you get your favorites.
Try Long Rice or Nishime
These classic side dishes are highly recommended and complement fried items well.
Quick Facts
Cuisine
Japanese, Hawaiian, Filipino, Chinese
Price
Mid-range
Highlights
Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences
Diverse Culinary Fusion
Experience a unique blend of Japanese, Chinese, Hawaiian & Filipino flavors in one place. Authentic and delicious!
Customizable Bento Boxes
Craft your perfect meal with a wide selection of individual items or choose from pre-made bento boxes. Great value!
Crispy Tempura & Flavorful Grinds
Must-try tempura shrimp and Korean fried chicken that locals rave about. Always fresh and satisfying.
Plans like a pro.
Thinks like you
Menu
Most Popular Items
Insider Tips
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit
Arrive Early or Call Ahead
Popular items sell out quickly; calling ahead ensures you get your favorites.
Try Long Rice or Nishime
These classic side dishes are highly recommended and complement fried items well.
Picnic Style Dining
With limited seating, enjoy your meal at nearby parks for a relaxed experience.
Don't Miss Spam Musubi
A local staple, their Spam musubi is a must-try and easily found.
Tips
from all over the internet
Arrive Early or Call Ahead
Popular items sell out quickly; calling ahead ensures you get your favorites.
Try Long Rice or Nishime
These classic side dishes are highly recommended and complement fried items well.
Picnic Style Dining
With limited seating, enjoy your meal at nearby parks for a relaxed experience.
Don't Miss Spam Musubi
A local staple, their Spam musubi is a must-try and easily found.
What Travellers Say
Reviews Summary
Kawamoto Store is a beloved Hilo institution praised for its authentic, diverse, and affordable cuisine, particularly its bento boxes and crispy tempura. While lines can be long and seating is limited, the friendly service and consistently delicious food make it a local favorite and a must-visit for visitors seeking a true taste of Hawaii.
"This is one of a kind and original downtown Hilo. Great local food by the piece. Tempura shrimp, Ono two different ways, Korean chicken etc And get there early before it's gone. You can't go wrong with anything on that counter and the staff is super friendly. There is a reason they have been in business so long."
David Booth
"One minor feedback, shrimp tempura curled up in to a ball inside the batter instead of the usual length of the tempura today, batter is still amazingly crispy. Besides that still the best and tastiest okazuya I’ve ever had. The flavor of the food has been consistent for the 60 years I’ve been eating here. The workers and the customers maintain that unique Hilo friendliness and charm."
Dickson Ho
"This is a very local restaurant, and we loved it! They have a display showing all the options, and you can order by the unit to try different things or go for one of the bento boxes with set items. We got a bit of everything! There’s no seating area, but they pack the food really well so you can take it anywhere. Personally, I didn’t love the crab cake and roll, but everything else was wonderful. There was quite a line when we arrived, so it took about 30–40 minutes to order worth the wait!"
Sara Villegas
What People Like
What People Dislike
Frequently Asked Questions
Many visitors and locals recommend the tempura shrimp, Korean fried chicken, Spam musubi, and the long rice or nishime side dishes. Bento boxes are also a popular choice.
Kawamoto Store is primarily a take-out establishment with very limited seating. Many customers opt for picnic-style dining at nearby parks.
Kawamoto Store typically opens early, around 6 AM, but it's best to check their specific hours as popular items can sell out quickly.
Yes, calling ahead to place your order is highly recommended, especially during peak hours, to avoid disappointment and long waits.
They serve a unique fusion of Japanese, Hawaiian, Filipino, and Chinese dishes, often described as 'okazuya' style.
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Featured in these publications
10 Best Restaurants in Hilo, Hawaii’s Hidden Culinary Gem
A hidden gem in Hilo, Kawamoto Store features a tempting glass case filled with the best Japanese, Chinese, Hawaiian, and Filipino bites. Satisfy taste buds to the max by filling up a custom bento box with vegetable, shrimp, and ono tempura (the saltiest, crispiest batter on-island), spam musubi, cone sushi, Korean fried chicken, and more. It’s a local favorite for lunch grub, but also makes for one of the best beach meals you’ll ever experience.
Best Vegan Food In Hilo, Hawaii: 25 Places You Should Try!
A Hilo institution, Kawamoto store has been family owned and in operation since 1947. Seriously, if you can only have one meal in Hilo to learn about the town, its history and present day culture, make it a breakfast or early lunch at Kawamoto. Their old plantation style food is as beautifully varied as the Hilo community: whether you’re craving Japanese, Filipino, Chinese, or Hawaiian food, they have something that will hit the spot.
5 Great Okazuya Lunch Spots in Hilo
Kawamoto Store is the only lunch shop in Hilo that still looks like a classic okazuya, presenting its array of eats behind the paneled glass of a vintage wood-constructed showcase that’s as old as the store. The older I get, the more I love that nearly all of the choices here are authentic to a classic okazuya. True to its old-world origins, the showcase has no heating elements.
Go, see, eat: Big Island
The lines at okazuya or Japanese takeout lunch shops in Hilo are like family reunions. Waiting to pick our your nori chicken and musubi, you’re bound to run into your braddah’s ex’s half-uncle that came to your high school grad party like 20 years ago. At least that’s what it felt like standing in line at Kawamoto Store before my big drive to Kau.
hilo restaurants with a view
Japanese • $ Kawamoto Store 784 Kilauea Ave, Hilo, HI 96720. Hilo Tourism Hilo Accommodation Hilo Bed and Breakfast Hilo Holiday Rentals Hilo Holiday Packages Hilo Flights Hilo Restaurants Hilo . Hilo Bay Café: This upscale Hilo restaurant borders a beautiful Japanese garden on one side and gorgeous Hilo Bay on the other side.
11 Things you Must Eat on the Big Island
Like we mentioned above, Spam musubis are pretty easy to find at convenience stores and grocery stores across the island, but a few other spots you can check out to grab one are Puka Puka Kitchen (Hilo), Hilo Lunch Shop (Hilo), Kawamoto Store (Hilo), and Queen K 76 (Kona)
Top BBQ Places Hilo, HI - Barbecue Restaurants
At Kawamoto Store, they have a large selection of Hawaiian, Filipino, Japanese, and Chinese food, allowing for everyone in the family to eat what they want. From Bento to Tofu and everything in between, you will love what their chefs can make for you.
For a Hawaiian Foodie Adventure, Head to Hilo
And some of the best spam musubi anywhere in the Aloha State comes from a little hole in the wall here called Kawamoto Store.
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