I’ve eaten here twice and had no issues. There is a separate GF menu so ask for it at the front. I had the shrimp skewers and Hawaiian ono with no symptoms afterwards.
The food was amazing. I'm glad we made a stop for more local caught seafood. The service was very friendly, but I was a little disappointed to not receive my side dish. I had to order gluten-free, and was told I would get mixed greens, but instead I just got three full scoops of furikake rice. Delicious. But more rice than I needed.
The food was great and everyone enjoyed their dishes. Semi casual inside. A nice place to enjoy a family dinner.
Definitely stop at Umekes for poke. I was really happy to try the gluten-free Hawaiian poke. It was a generous helping of high quality, delicate and buttery fish with some tasty seasonings. Yum!
Great for anyone with allergies. Very accommodating! I have celiacs and can eat here without worry. Chicken is delicious and has a dedicated gluten free fried for the chicken and French fries. One of my favorite spots in Kona!
For planet friendly food this is my happy place in Kailua-Kona. It's a food truck like shack in the middle of a parking lot, with shaded seating areas with reed screens and a drive-through option. Free 1 hour parking for an hour. I appreciate how tasty the jackfruit nachos and gluten free pizzas are.
I'm a vegetarian and finding some real good veg food here is difficult for me.
Kai is just wonderful in this aspect. You get a lot of vegetarian options along with other stuff + gluten free vegan meals are an option too.
Their special Mango Tango Pizza is a must try along with the special Lemon Kai Fry
Menu is smaller than I remember from 2 years ago but everything was delicious and there are quite a few gluten free menu options. I had filet mignon and shrimp. Both were cooked yo perfection. Accompanying sauce and veggies were also delicious. Service was excellent.
Amazingly fresh and wide variety of poke, would recommend going earlier in the day before other options run out, but still great quality towards the end of the day. They are knowledgeable about which varieties are gluten free
Quite a nice surprise. The owner of L&L Hawaiian Barbecue recommended we head over here when I asked her about gluten free offerings. The food here is really satisfying. Only a few items on the menu are not gluten free. Everyone working here knew exactly what I could order and what to avoid. Down to the possible barley malt in the granola for the smoothie bowls. My spouse said the ground beef on the nachos tasted good but that the pork in my bento box tasted even more delicious. If you prefer sauce or dressing on the side let them know upfront. Good music and positive vibes.
We have these in Alaska. We expected the same service and food. The food was tasty but if you need condiments, it may not happen. The service deserves a zero! You seat yourself. We waited to be served longer than needed. The young lady that finally waited on us was not friendly. She took our order and literally disappeared. The young man that brought our food was nice and helped as much as he could.
There were at least four tables waiting to pay as our waitress was MIA. The young man reappeared to help us out.
My advice to the restaurant, seat everyone on the same level. If you’re short on good help, at least your guests will get acknowledged.
As a guest, I’d advise to sit near the bar. You’ll get waited on there.
The views are great. The ambience of this place is great. The food was tasty. We had the eggs Benedict and the omelette. I was thankful for gluten free options. It’s really the service that was bad.
Great ocean view seating. Best Kahlua pork!! The server was excellent!! Gluten free buns and a gf menu available. That’s rare. Happy hour drinks are awesome from 3-5. We highly recommend Mai tais. We will return!
This was hands down the most memorable experience of our visit to the island. The wait staff was incredibly friendly, knowledgeable, and accommodating to our allergen requirements (celiac).
We called ahead to book a reservation and they were able to put together a gluten free sushi offering for us with a dedicated prep station, cutlery, and rice to avoid any cross contamination. The fresh wasabi was also a delight.
An expensive but outstanding restaurant. The tableside poke is 100% worth it, as is the soufflé.
The crispy chicken was also outstanding, especially for my wife who has celiac and has to eat gluten free.
The entire restaurant is an architectural and design masterpiece. Every table looks out over the ocean and delivers incredible sunsets.
Great location, short & expensive menu with the only salads being a small garden salad or a small Caesar salad. No gluten-free options. Great view for sunset.
My wife and I just finished an evening at The Big Island grill and it was fantastic! They had a great Dairy and Gluten free option for my wife and the sword fish was some of the best fish i have ever tasted! We aee definitely hoping to return later this week for dessert!
When considering a five-star review for a restaurant, you might focus on several key aspects:
The food is consistently delicious, with high-quality ingredients and a wide variety of well-prepared dishes.
The service is exceptional, with friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable staff who make you feel welcome and valued.
The atmosphere is inviting, with a comfortable and clean environment that enhances your dining experience.
The restaurant offers excellent value for money, with reasonable pricing for the quality and portion sizes provided.
The menu accommodates different dietary needs and preferences, offering options for vegetarians, vegans, and those with gluten sensitivities.
The restaurant maintains high standards of hygiene and safety, ensuring a clean and safe environment for diners.
And the overall experience consistently exceeds expectations, making it a place you would happily return to and recommend to others.
We are from California where we have amazing fresh farm to fork food! These guys rival any of it! From the Texas caviar, pulled pork, slaw, fettuccine alfredo, nachos, loco moco (gluten free!) And even the cookies! We have hunted them down twice and will find them again before we leave the island! Better than the 4 star we went to! Keep up the good work and great food!
Go here. Caveat I have very inconvenient allergies (gluten, cane sugar, cocoa). My husband wanted to have gelato - fine, I say, I’ll go with so you can pick something up. As the women working say “we’ll add an extra spoon for you” I let them know of my allergy woes. And can you even believe it - they have a gelato that - yes true - does not have sugar (monk fruit and erythritol instead). Insanely good. Flavor varies they tell me so if you have life constraints like I do - go and check as you’ll likely be delighted.
Came here a few months ago, my gluten free wife loved the flight of alcoholic juices, and I really enjoyed the beer. It has a great little brew-bar atmosphere, and I'm hopeful they are living up to their mission of helping Hawaiian farmers by buying and showcasing local ingredients.
So glad we found this place. Everything up the coast was holding 1.5-2h wait times. This was across the street from our condo and we wish we had found it sooner. Very helpful with gluten and dairy free needs and the food was generous and delicious.
Our server, Trent?, was so helpful and friendly. Don’t pass this place up. The terrace is beautiful and looks out over the water perfectly to watch sunset.