Moon and Turtle

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

"In 2013, husband-and-wife duo Mark and Soni Pomaski (who operate as the head chef and front of house manager, respectively) bought Thai restaurant Full Moon Cafe, and after some rebuilding, rebranding, and fine-tuning, they opened Moon and Turtle the following year. Born and raised in Hilo, Mark traveled to the mainland for college and began working in the food industry, eventually cooking in restaurants like Nobu in New York and training with Roy Yamaguchi as part of the opening team for his restaurant Roy’s in Honolulu. At Moon and Turtle, Mark and Soni focus on an eclectic mix of dishes reflective of the numerous cultures and flavors found in Hawai‘i. Ingredients are sourced locally whenever possible, drawing on sources like Suisan Fish Market and Adaptations, a Kona-based food hub that gathers products from local farms. The small menu changes frequently, depending on what’s fresh and in season, though you’ll often find the standout smoky sashimi; inspired by Mark’s time at Nobu, the combination of fresh local fish, smoked soy sauce, chile pepper water, extra-virgin olive oil, and shredded daikon is a simple plate with a wallop of flavor." - Maya-Lin Green