🌋 Local Hilo Meal Deals
We re-audited this page in August 2026 against each restaurant's own menu. Cards marked ✓ VERIFIED had their price read off an owner source (the restaurant's own site or its own ordering page). Cards marked ⚠ PRICE CHECK PENDING are places we believe belong here but whose owner menu posts no prices or runs on a bot-blocked ordering platform — the figures are our best read, so check before you count on them.
Cafe 100
Home of the Loco Moco
The birthplace of the loco moco (1946) and a true Hilo institution — a no-frills drive-in that's survived two tsunamis and now lists 30-plus loco moco variations (beef, Spam, Portuguese sausage, katsu, even tofu). Loco mocos and mixed plates run about $7–9, so two eat for around $15–18. Reliable, filling, historic local food.
Suisan Fish Market
Poke Bowl ~$13 (Feeds Two)
Hilo's bayfront fish market where poke is priced daily at market rates — the small bowl is the value play, and two people sharing a bowl with rice can still land near $20. Portions and prices have shifted under new ownership, so check the case before committing.
Hawaiian Style Cafe
Split the $17.95 Loco Moco (Feeds Two)
A Manono St local legend whose plates are so enormous locals warn first-timers to eat light first. The owner menu prices the loco moco and mixed plate at $17.95, and a single plate genuinely feeds two — so one shared order lands under $20. Two separate full plates would run over ($16.95–$24.95 apiece), so split one big plate; add a $10.95 waffle or short-stack if you're extra hungry. Put your name down and bring an appetite (or a to-go box).
Kuhio Grille
Home of the 1lb Laulau
A family-owned local favorite by the bayfront park, home of the famous one-pound laulau — pork (or chicken) steamed in taro leaf, big enough to share — plus mix plates, saimin and chicken katsu. The giant laulau plus a side or a bowl of saimin keeps two around $20. Friendly, full of aloha, and very Hilo. Closed Tue.
Hilo Lunch Shop
Okazuya · Nothing Over $3
A decades-old okazuya (Japanese-Hawaiian deli) where you build a tray from a glass case of fried fish, chicken, fishcake, tempura and musubi — and almost nothing tops $3, with most items $1–2. Two can assemble a big shared spread for well under $20. Made fresh daily, mostly takeout, beloved by locals. Closed Sun–Mon.
Puka Puka Kitchen
Chicken Katsu · Garlic Ahi
A tiny downtown hole-in-the-wall near the farmers market with huge, flavorful plate lunches — the crispy chicken katsu with curry-garlic rice is the move, plus garlic ahi and a fried-shrimp curry. Plates run $12–15 and the servings are big enough to share, so two eat for around $20. Little seating; plan on takeout. Closed Sun.
Hiro's Place
Local Plates · Bento
Think a local version of Panda Express — a fast, friendly counter of ready-made Hawaiian plates and bento (nori chicken, beef stew, curry, fried rice) at rock-bottom prices. One reviewer fed a family of four for $12, so two eat for well under $20 with leftovers. Grab-and-go with sturdy outdoor tables. Closed Mon–Tue.
Nori's Saimin & Snacks
Hilo-Style Saimin · Loco Moco
A Hilo saimin legend now running takeout-only — the saimin, chow fun, and famous chocolate mochi cake travel just fine. Two big bowls still come in under $20. Fri–Sun, roughly 11am–6pm.
Saucy Dogs
Gourmet Local Hot Dogs
A small, locally-owned spot building a huge menu of creative hot dogs — the kalua dog, the Mac Attack (mac-and-cheese, bacon, teri and spicy mayo), Chicago and Portuguese-sausage dogs. Prices are reasonable and they don't skimp, so two can load up on dogs and sides for well under $20. A few outdoor tables or takeout. Closed Sun–Mon.
Two Ladies Kitchen
Famous Strawberry Mochi
A Hilo legend of nearly 20 years famous for its whole-strawberry mochi — a fresh berry wrapped in pillowy mochi and sweet bean — plus peach, chichi, butter and more. Prices are lower than most mochi shops (around $36 for 16), so two share a big assorted box for well under $20. Order ahead; there's always a line. Closed Sun–Mon.
Munchi Box
Fresh Made-to-Order Malasadas
A tiny, beloved malasada spot frying made-to-order Portuguese donuts in avocado oil, in flavors from classic cinnamon-sugar to lilikoi butter, ube glaze, haupia coconut and parmesan-truffle. Great prices and a kind owner, so two share a box plus drinks for well under $20. Limited days, so plan around the hours.
Tetsumen
Hilo Ramen
A cozy little ramen gem on Manono St that locals say feels teleported from Japan — rich garlic ramen, grilled skewers, fresh sashimi, with order-from-your-phone convenience. Toppings are moderately priced and a bowl runs in the low-to-mid teens, so two eat for around $20. The garlic ramen is the standout. Closed Wed.
Ken's House of Pancakes
Two "Da Kwiki On Da Run" — $19.90
The Hilo institution — open 24 hours since 1971, the whole town's diner. The owner menu prices its "Da Kwiki On Da Run" (a Portuguese-sausage-and-egg breakfast sandwich) at $9.95, so two of them come to $19.90 on the line before tax. It's the one clean two-under-$20 play here: most Ken's plates run $18.95 and up, so two full entrées go over — the Da Kwiki is the move.
💡 Pro tip: All deals are community-verified but prices and availability change. Always check the restaurant's website or app before making a special trip — and if something's expired, flag it on our main directory so we can update it.
See all national chain deals →
🇺🇸 Also Valid Nationwide
National chains with a confirmed Hilo store, checked against each chain's own locator.
Domino's
Two Sandwiches — $17.98 (Feeds Two)
The Hilo store (315 Maka'ala St, in the Walmart center) prices sandwiches — Italian, Buffalo Chicken, Chicken Parm, Chicken Bacon Ranch — at $8.99 each on its own online menu, so two run $17.98. A medium 12" pizza is $15.99 and feeds two under $20 on its own. Read off the store's own ordering page; carryout.
Taco Bell
Cravings Value Menu — Two Eat Cheap
Two Hilo stores (2100 Kanoelehua Ave and 326 Kilauea Ave) per the chain's own locator. The Cravings/Value Menu builds two full meals for well under $20, but Taco Bell's site doesn't post per-item Hilo prices (they live in the app), so we couldn't lock a figure from an owner source — confirm in-app.
📍 Hawaii Chains
Island plate-lunch chains with a real Hilo address.
L&L Hawaiian Barbecue
Two Hawaiian BBQ Bowls — $19.50
The Honolulu-born plate-lunch chain, cheapest at home. Read off the Downtown Hilo store's own menu (348 Kinoole St): the Hawaiian BBQ Bowls — BBQ chicken/beef, chicken katsu curry, or kalua pork — are $9.75 each, so two come to $19.50. Cheaper still: hamburgers $3.99, a SPAM saimin $5.45. Two mini plates ($10.39 each) tip just over, so bowls are the move. Prices vary by location.
Zippy's
Hawaii's Saimin & Plate-Lunch Institution
The quintessential Hawaii chain's first Big Island location, in Prince Kuhio Plaza (111 E Puainako St) — saimin, chili, plate lunches and Napple pies. Saimin and mini items are cheap enough that two clear $20, but Zippy's own online menu doesn't publish prices, so we couldn't confirm a figure from an owner source — check in-store.
See All 3,400+ Deals
Browse the full directory — 186 cities, national chains, updated August 2026.
Browse the Directory