The 16 Best Restaurants in Hilo, Hawai‘i | Eater

"In operation since 2006, New Chiang Mai is a cozy, family-run, wood-paneled restaurant that serves classic Thai American fusion cuisine. If you can handle the heat, you are in for a complex array of Thai spices that will make your eyes water. Ingredients are either sourced from Thailand, acquired from the Big Island, or shipped from O‘ahu. Ask co-owner and head chef Thanrika “Nim” Thaoyot what she recommends, and she’ll probably point you to the Chiang Mai fried rice, pad kee mao (spicy stir-fried noodles), the house Buddha Rama Curry, or maybe the Evil Dish: your choice of tofu or meat along with a variety of vegetables flavored with Thai spices, chile oil, and salted soybeans, all topped with peanut sauce. Pro-tip: On a rainy Hilo night, there are few things better than the Chiang Mai Thai Noodle Soup, made with star anise that adds a licorice-like, peppery-sweet warmth." - Maya-Lin Green