Cafe 100

Great quick stop for authentic Hawaiian food! Rotating specials so be aware if you are planning on wanting a specific item. Kalua cabbage was amazing had great flavor, was tender, juicy and comforting. Loco moco was good, had great char flavor and gravy was not too heavy or salty. Plenty of seating and food came out quickly. Make sure you stop for a quick lunch in Hilo!

This downtown Hilo classic has been around for a reason! Local grinds done well and home of the original loco Moco! The braised beef and noodles, wow. The miso mahi is huge and delicious. Grab some food and hang out or go to the park. Daily specials and quick service also 🤙

One of the most delicious food we had in the big island! The place is small and does not provide good dinning atmosphere. But all the points go to the food. The bbq plate and lau lau were super good, and very large portion, definitely worth the price!

Self serve restaurant to try local Hawaiian cuisine - loco moco - rice topped with gravy, choice of protein and eggs. Try the cascaron - coconut mochi donut. It’s not too sweet but with a good filling of coconut mochi

Truly a must! Has great authentic Hawaiian snack foods. 100% the best MocoLocos on the island! Service and staff are amazing!

Even though prices have gone up, the food is still a pretty good price for the amount you get. Overrun by tourists during peak meal hours. However, it isn’t all hype. The loco moco is very solid and is one of the best I’ve had in the state. Also got some cream puffs for dessert and they were pretty good.

Good sized portions, flavourful and tasty. The fries could have been cooked a smidge longer so it was more crisp. Lots of rice, gravy was smooth and not too salty. Service was quick. Ample parking and outdoor seating. Portable potty available

Absolutely one of our favorite spots for local food and especially loco moco! We tried the spam, and pork, and the original versions and they were all great! The fries and gravy were a nice touch as well!

Excellent food and they give a LOT of food for decent prices. I recommend any of the different loco moco variations.

Very disappointed. Ordered a Beef Curry Moco as I have done before. Lots of rice, two medium chunks of potatoes, two chunks of carrots, Curry sauce and an egg. The beef was a single one inch cube. I'll be going to K's or Verna's from now on.

We came because we heard this is the home of the loco moco - we got the super version which is double the amount of the normal. To be honest, the portions are quite generous and the original probably would have sufficed. Also got the mahi mahi - fish was quite tender, and I liked the potato side! Everything leaned a bit salty. The cafe is not really like a closed shop - more like the kitchen is covered and extends to an awning over the seating, which is in the style of picnic tables.

Note that seating is open aired, and there is a parking lot dedicated to this area! We came right before closing and even then there were still patrons. We ordered at the window and food arrived pretty fast. You pick it up when they call your number. we got a loco moco and a katsu plate. Loco moco was pretty small in portion, but the katsu was extremely generous. Both were delicious. The loco moco wasn't overcooked and gravy was generous, overall, one of the better loco mocos I've had! The katsu was a little too thin, but was extremely well breaded. The Mac salad was also extremely delicious. Good to eat either there or on the road. Glad we stopped by here!

Just came across this old photo in a box. The current Cafe 100 on Kilauea Avenue has always been a landmark in Hilo.

Nice lil spot on Hilo. Open air seating...order at the register. We tried the Loco Moco...we have tried MANY loco Mocos and this one was one of the best! Loved their Mac salad! Service: nothing to really say. You order, you go.

We stopped here on a tour of Hilo and the volcano park. It's got a cool story, the founder was a Japanese American and after Pearl Harbor he joined the Army to protect the USA. He was part of the 100th Battalion, and when he got out after the war, started this cafe. The place was spotlessly clean. Lots of picnic table style seating (covered) to sit at. Great menu of local favorites. I got the Loco Moco, which is a burger patty over rice with a fried egg and brown gravy on top. SO GOOD! The service was friendly and everything was made fresh, so it took a few minutes but it was worth it!

Loco Moco reportedly originated in Hilo but there has been debates as to which establishment actually created it. So, when in Hilo, had to stop by Cafe 100, considered the home of the Loco Moco for our first dinner for the original and the fish moco. Loved how they have so many moco varieties including non-beef ones as well as double patties if you so choose. I do wish that it came with more gravy though. Lots of parking and seating available if you want to dig in on site. Like many spots in Hilo, it does close early (6PM) so plan accordingly if you want it for dinner.

We saw Cafe 100 on YouTube and made a trip over from Kona just to have the loco moco here. My husband loved it! Cafe 100 is clean, the food is good and the employees friendly. I had a burger and fries. The fries were 5 star too. I recommend.

Simple, unassuming restaurant with the BEST, highest quality, outstanding, DELICIOUS loco moco! This is a staple, daily stop for us in Hilo. To not eat here when on the big island would be criminal! My fave is the spam loco!

We made it to Cafe 100 before they closed on Friday night! Well, there was a rush of people arriving behind us. They have a big menu! We got Aloha Friday (beef stew and lau lau) and Island Girl (fried shrimp and beef teri). The lau lau was so good! It was tender and flavorful. The beef stew was classic style with carrots and potatoes. The fried shrimp were hot and crispy and the beef teri were big slices of beef in tasty sauce. We really should have only eaten half, but it was too yummy to stop. Cafe 100 is classic and a must visit. They get weekends off, so don't wait!

Went to try something other than the local moco. Was very disappointed. My whole family didn't like what they ordered, the local girl teriyaki was more like beef jerkey. The shrimp was frozen from a box. Chicken Heaka was dry and un appealing. WILL NOT GO BACK AGAIN. Too bad

This place is for locals who love eating local food. We're taking Loco Moco with spam and Portuguese sausage. Fried port over rice, The good suff. Served in a real diner environment by real people. Bring it on baby!!

I heard this is the OG loco moco spot in Hawaii so we had to check it out. It's a take out spot with outdoor seating and porter potty. You order at the front and seat yourself as you wait for your order. We got the super loco moco to share which was heavy amount of food and filled us two up with some leftovers (we had small bites earlier so we weren't extremely hungry). We saw that they have burgers and other items on the menu that we wished we had the appetite to try. The pricing is decent too, definitely more affordable than a plethora of restaurants across the island. The super loco moco comes with a ton of rice topped with brown gravy, two meat patties, Portuguese sausages, and spam. The meat patty was okay, I was expecting something similar to another spot we had in Maui but the flavor tasted like it was regular beef patties. Frozen beef patties perhaps? I make loco moco myself hence my slightly high standards. The spam was spam, but my favorite item would have to be the Portuguese sausages. This is more of a quick and easy meal that I see locals grab. Overall a comforting meal and would be back if I stay closer to Hilo area.

Two Words - LOCO MOCO. Very generous serving and the hamburger patties (I got the double), were pretty hefty. Rice was tender and hot. Gravy was flavorful. My only disappointment were the eggs. Not runny, but fried hard. Overall, I would still recommend it. Lots of parking and a variety of other items if someone in your party is not feeling the Loco Moco.

So glad we had time to stop by this restaurant before they closed at 6pm. Came here about 30 minutes before they closed, though we noticed that people were still stopping by up until 556pm! I don't blame them because it's good portions for a good price and it was delicious. Also, super friendly staff! There was plenty of parking when we got there. There was a bit of a line but it moved really fast. By the time we got there, it was a limited menu. Next time we stop by, we wanna get there early because my sister said that the pork adobo was life changing. They just means another visit to the Big Island soon! In any case, the menu has lots of options, even if it was limited. The price point is fair for the amount of food that you get. We ordered the hot dog loco moco and the super loco loco and some fries. We wanted the fried chicken and unfortunately, they just ran out for the day. The order was ready pretty quickly. They ask you if you want shoyu, Tabasco and/or ketchup. Yes to all. But to be honest, we didn't need the shoyu because the gravy was flavorful and we didn't want it to be salty. The eggs were cooked the way we asked and the over easy was yolk perfect. The hot dog was huge and had a nice char texture, if that's even a description. The spam was spam and the Portuguese sausage was good. Well, let's be honest, all the proteins went well with the gravy, rice and egg combo. Each bite was perfect. We also found that the proteins weren't that salty, so we appreciated it. The rice was freshly cooked, even late in the day. At least that's what I heard when another customer asked. Oh, the fries! They were good. It was liked seasoned fries and plentiful. Of course I had to dip it in ketchup but the hubby didn't. Btw, all the seating is outdoors but it's very clean. It's also great to see the photos of the owners and learn a little bit of history about them. Overall would definitely come back again and again and again.

We went there solely because it is touted as the inventer of loco moco. Upon arrival we were a bit disappointed because it was a walk up fast food joint with not much to offer other than some basic outdoor seating. As far as the loco moco, even with their gravy, we found the meat patty to be somewhat dry. We were neither over or underwhelmed with the best word to describe our experience as being meh.

So DISSAPOINTING! $17.70 for a sad little fish sandwich and a boring little burger with wilted lettuce. One pack of mustard and one of mayo for two sandwiches. Nothing more. Be smart. Don't go.

BIG ISLAND HAWAII 2023 VACATION #3 - NO HEAVY LOCO During the week leading up to Memorial Day I was staying at Kailua-Kona for six days. I made a day trip to Hilo on a Thursday. Since that drive was going to be a 3-hour round trip I made itinerary of what I wanted to do while I was at Hilo. The first stop was Cafe 100. I didn't have breakfast in the morning as I decided to come here for lunch. Knowing that this place opens at 11:00 AM I wanted to be one first ones to be here. I arrived around 10:30 AM that day and was the first person in line. Initially I was going to order a single loco. When I was the first in line order I changed my order to double loco because I thought to myself when is the next time is I'm going to Hilo. The next item I had no indecision as I ordered the cascaron, which is a Filipino donut that you see display on trays at family parties. I admit I was nervous when I got my double loco as though the gravy and extra patty would be heavy. To my surprise delight the double loco wasn't heavy at all. The more I ate the double loco I wasn't getting bloated. I'll be honest loco moco served at the mainland makes you bloated. The double loco was a hearty meal as beef patties weren't greasy and the gravy wasn't oily. Seeing the cascaron was great delight to see as it rekindled memories of seeing sticks of cascaron at Filipino family parties. What makes a great cascaron? They are sweet and crispy on the outside yet soft inside that you can taste the mochi texture. In the past I ate some cascaron that weren't edible because the outside was too tough. The cascaron I ate at Cafe 100 was crunchy and soft. The sweet cascaron supplemented the savory double loco. Eating a double loco and cascaron at Cafe 100 was a very good way to start a day.

This is the only place I will eat Moko Loco! We all ordered different versions of it and it was amazing! Every time I go to Kona, I drive over to Hilo for Café 100! People are very friendly. Services is great and ambience symbol outdoor dining tables.

I was excited to try this hawaiian spot. From the outside, it looks like a no frills drive thru. I went at 3pm and there was still quiet a few locals grabbing a snack. Lots of options but we got: Oxtail soup ($17): soup was very heavily flavored with msg. Think the free soup from a cheaper Chinese restaurant. With pieces of Chinese greens and tender oxtail. It's okay, but i won't be getting this again. Loco moco ($8.50): small container with the basics. Steamed rice, hamburger patty, gravy, and a sunny side up egg. Gravy tastes like the powdered kind. Nothing mind blowing. And quality wise, it's pretty cheap. But it's good. If you're looking for a quick bite to get, this might be a good place for you! But just be warned the quality isn't very high. But this is also the price point you're paying. Food is expensive here.

Went back to Cafe 100 after a few years. Just wanted to see how the beef stew tasted after decades. We also wanted to see how the teri beef sandwich was. I heard they had a gravy burger as well, so this was going to be interesting. Well, right off the bat, the prices are way up, I was surprised that the teri beef was $7.25. The gravy burger was $6.40. So interesting to see the prices go up over the years. One thing that was awesome was the goody good - which was still available. It's basically soda and condensed milk and frozen. The teri beef was underwhelming.... with just bun, teri beef, lettuce and bun. It was dry - maybe put some mayonnaise or something??? The gravy burger was ok, just not as good as it could be. It was probably the gravy. The goody good was as good as decades before! So the memories remain, but Cafe 100 is not the same as before. They are not even open on weekends - I don't understand that... And the stew...... not made on the day I went. Very sad.

I don't like leaving bad reviews but after spending the amount of money I spent, I did not get good quality food. Customer service was good. But the food was warmed up. Nothing was freshly made.

"Marty, Don't Be Such A Square. Everybody Who's Anybody Drinks..." - Back to the Future Cafe 100 in Hilo is not only iconic because it's been around since 1946, named in honor of the legendary Nisei 100th Infantry Battalion of WWII, but Loco Moco has been served here for 70+ years! Cheers to that! On my weekend visit to Hilo I had Cafe 100 as a must. The typical tourist, or recent transplant, just might not get it, but I do, having been here before. My Dad before me, and Uncle's before him. Why? It's simple, it's affordable, but what makes Cafe 100 so special to me is it's a throwback to the plantation days. A time well before iPhones, television, and Pacific Rim Cuisine. The simplicity of a time once was is why I go! And of course the iconic Loco Moco. Many stories swirl on origin of the Loco Moco, but one thing is certain is it's origins are from Hilo, Hawaii. I only heard the urban legend stories as told by elders or our Kapuna, but those that did the research confirm it was first placed on the map by "the Lincoln Wreckers Sports Club" a group of teenagers post WWII that would visit the now obsolete Lincoln Grill in Hilo. Wherever the Loco Moco story goes it always finds it's way back to humble Hilo town. On my latest visit I ordered the original Loco Moco... Hamburger over Rice, Eggs over Easy, Brown Gravy over everything! I add Lilikoi (less than 5% fruit lol) drink. The recipe sounds simple, it really is that simple, yet it's attention to detail and consistency allows Cafe 100 to call theirs the "original" Loco Moco for decades. It starts with Hamburger that is farm fresh, Rice just cooked, Island Eggs from KTA, and perhaps the most important, the Brown Gravy not over salted, the perfect consistency for the Rice to soak up all the remaining Gravy! Ohh! Cafe 100 is a "plate lunch" open-air diner popular with the locals, many descendants from plantation workers and farmers. A relaxed vibe from start to finish. The counter service always friendly and no one in a rush. Oh! My bestie also noticed that many variations in Loco Moco now, including Spam & No Meat options! Large parking lot for cars, monster trucks, or horses! In the end, I do admit Cafe 100 is not for everyone, especially the Waikiki tourists or fancy types headed to the Waikoloa Resorts, but I highly recommend to those seeking comfort foods from days long gone. Old Hawai'i. The simplicity of the Loco Moco symbolizes the simplicity of yesteryear. Maybe, just maybe, the old way was always the better way... Dedicated to my OG, Hilo girl, Terry K.

This is use to be one of our go to places. Ever since I was a small kid and then with our own kids and now with our mo'opunas. Affordable, good food and great service. Today we ordered Chicken Hekka, Island Girl and Loco Moco. When we got home and opened the Chicken Hekka plate we was flipping out. It should've been called Chicken and bamboo shoots. It was a pile (not kidding) of bamboo shoots and some dried out chicken pieces. As for the Island Girl the Teri beef was dried out, no flavors. And the Mac salad had an onion flavor and watery. Cannot go wrong with Loco Moco, the reason for the two stars. I have had Cafe 100 Chicken Hekka and always liked it. My husband most of the time goes for the Island Girl. We threw our plates away. I know it's not original owners but did they change the way they are making their food? Such a disappointment. Can't get over the Chicken Hekka! Literally Bamboo shoots and pieces of chicken. No noodles whatsoever! Is this their way of making it?

Overwhelming amount of menu items. And yet, service is super fast. Perfect portion sizes. The gravy on the loco moco was perfect, and I love the smaller sized offerings.

Named in honor of the bravest battalion in U.S. Military history, a continuing source of local pride. Of course if those Hawai'ian soldiers ate here too much they would be too fat to fight effectively. On the other hand, I've seen some pretty tough mokes so what do I know? Well I know that this is some broke da mouth tasty local plate lunch. I don't call this place a hole in the wall, it's local aesthetic, clean and friendly. You can argue about where the best loco moco and burger plate lunch is, but this is one of the best and it's been around long enough to prove it. Aloha and mahalo!

Great comfort food. Good price with large portion of food. Loco moco is a must! Would recommend to anyone visiting Hilo

I grew up in Hilo and the food was great but I came back for a visit after many years on the mainland and the menu has shrunk in half but the prices almost tripled in cost but I can understand prices increase but the food was terrible I believe when the older generations ran the place they instilled quality but now the next generation is only about money,This is so sad,I won't be back

Are you sure this place is home of the Loco Moco? Stopped here on the way to Volcanoes National Park from Kona. The food was average, nothing special, but not bad. The eating area is outside only on picnic-like tables. There is shade. Order came out quickly. Portions are not big enough for sharing if you are hungry. Food is packed well to eat in the car if you want.

Home of the Loco Moco! A must try if you are visiting Hawaii. I really do believe that this is one of the best loco mocos in the state. There are many different spin off creations that you can try besides the traditional. Today we had the Terri burger loco moco for the first time. The sweet teriyaki sauce mixed with the brown gravy and creamy egg yoke was so satisfying. There is a lot of parking right in front of the restaurant. Just make sure you check the hours of operation before you go. You can't go wrong with any of the loco mocos on the menu. Hope you like it too.

Food was delicious price is right on those portions!!! Had the Super Loco and the Beef Curry as well as the Liliko Drink. Staff was very efficient and kind! Ambiance was relaxed and more so Sunday morning brunch takeout vibes. A must go if you're on the big island!

Not exactly the best loco moco i've ever had but it definitely hit the spot. This is exactly the type of place I think of when i'm in Hawaii and want good value (portion vs price) Hawaiian BBQ food. I recommend the Super Loco as that has pretty much all the standard meats (spam, hamburger, sausage). The macaroni salad was pretty disappointing though.

We stopped here after shopping at Walmart. I was hoping they had kailua pork and cabbage but they only have it on certain days. The server suggested the katsu curry so we decided to get that and also a chicken sandwich with fries. Katsu curry was ok. I'm not really a big fan of curry in general. I'd probably try one of the mocos since that's wwhat they are known for.

Cafe 100, the home of loco moco. Cozy place with plenty of clean outdoor seating and parking. I had the Super Loco Moco. It was delicious. Eggs over easy done perfect and char on the burger with tasty gravy. I would order it with double patty next time. It was that good. They have an extensive menu of other Hawaiian dishes. I'll be back to try them. Service is friendly and fast. Need to stop at Cafe 100 and try the loco Moco. You won't be disappointed.

Cafe 100 is supposed to be the creator of loco moco so we wanted to give this place a try. Although their dining area is outdoors you cannot eat in yet. It is only take outs, and be sure to mask up. They have overwhelming variations of loco moco to choose from, not to mention a lot of menu items. We went with traditional loco moco with one hamburger patty, over easy egg, and white rice. We also got their special - grilled mahi mahi. I personally thought loco moco was a bit bland, but it was as expected. I think the real winner was the grilled mahi mahi! Meaty, flavourful, and especially with their homemade tartar sauce it was so satisfying. I believe this is their Friday only special. We went to a park across from Cafe 100 and ate our food.

Call ahead because it can get crowded! And the phone line even says they may not answer the phone line if they're busy...but if you have time keep calling so you don't have to wait a long time. Really enjoy the gravy cheeseburger, even more so than the loco moco (shhhh). It's got a grandmas kind of cheeseburger flavor and the old school white bun, and the gravy is, well I mean these guys know loco moco so the gravy on the gravy cheeseburger is good. Enjoy the loco moco and chili moco too. Don't let the size fool you. It looks like a small square container but it's FILLING. If you're really hungry go for it but otherwise try it the size they serve before thinking you need to order another one. I might try one of the other derivative loco mocos next time, but i'm an old school person who just really enjoy a regular loco moco! Fries are good too!

This is the quintessential eatery in Hilo. The birthplace of the loco moco. Servings are massive (I frequently get 2 meals from one serving) and the prices are reasonable. Service is generally quick. Admittedly there are only a few tables available but most people carry out.

The Loco Moco is as advertised. Amazing delicious tasty. You need a mask to order here even though no open seating due to COVID , still. So it's all to go out of the window. We got the Super Loco- 2 eggs. 2 burger Pattys. With one egg. Portuguese sausage and lots of rice. Enjoy.

Five stars for crispy french fries and orange bang. Loco moco was nothing special but the kids wanted their childhood memories.

Loco moco is the best in state. Had it twice on different days and consistently Ono. Except their beef stew moco had some chewy pcs of meat but not all of it.

Good choices for local loco mocos. Portion are good size which is fare for the price. Service is friendly, but ambiance is lacking. I will take my order to go or eat in the car. Nothing fancy or worthy to write home about, but meets one's needs in a pinch.

Loco Moco is always one dish we try to get when visiting Hawaii and was intrigued when we heard Cafe 100 may have been the origin of the dish. We were visiting Hilo and decided to give it a shot. The restaurant has an unassuming appearance. You order from a window outside. Currently, they are doing take out only. Super Loco: Comes with 2 hamburger patty, spam, Portuguese sausage, egg (cooked your preference) and Mac-potato salad. The Mac-potato salad was unique and I think you'll either love it or hate it. I actually thought it was pretty goo I've had better loco moco, but they do an okay job. Flavors were fine, but nothing special. I wouldn't necessarily make a trip to come here, unless you are already in the area.

Cafe 100 is a local style plate lunch restaurant. They serve Loco Moco and its variations, with other Hawaii style plate lunch foods such as beef stew, chicken katsu (special on certain days), burgers, etc. The loco moco portion sizes are reminiscent of the "mini" sizes which are smaller servings of the usual plate lunch plate. Today, was not feeling up for a traditional loco moco, so we had the stew loco - basically rice, beef stew and an egg. The traditional loco moco consists of rice, hamburger steak patty, with an egg on top. Your preference on how your want your egg done - sunny side up, easy over, etc. Lots of parking here. With shaded al fresco seating on picnic tables. This place is really busy during the lunch hours. Even coming here at 2pm, there was a line of 5-6 people ahead of us. They make it easy for take-out orders by giving you a cardboard box to take your orders to go. You order your food at the window, wait for the food, they call out your number, you grab your food. Up to you if you want to stay and eat or take it to a nearby park for a better view.

This place is a good option when most restaurants are closed for dinner. Typical local foods. We wanted to try the fried chicken and by 5:00pm they were already sold out for the day. Our dishes included loco moco, chicken katsu plate and the steak plate which was on the Wednesday special. The loco moco is more like a mini size. Sadly it did not include the Mac salad, just a scoop of rice, eggs and patty with the gravy. Serving was really more like a kids size, so definitely order the others on the board for an adult portion. It tasted Iike any other loco moco. Katsu was good, serving was a good size. I would pass on the steak plate. Steak was flavorless and tough. They don't offer steak sauce for it, just ketchup and soy sauce. Mac salad included in the katsu and steak plate. Very good!

Delicious Hawaiian comfort food. Huge portions that are worth the price. For a very busy restaurant, I got my order pretty quick maybe within 10 minutes. They all working so hard in the back, kudos! Their breakfast plate is one of my favorites: smoked sausage, eggs & rice

The loco moco (regular) was pretty mediocre. I've had much better. Service was quick at least but portion small and flavors bland, with bad rice.

While in Hilo, we ate here multiple times. Their mac salad is so good! Loco Moco is fantastic. Just really great comfort food here! The lilikoi drink is amazing! Everything we tried was great. The people were friendly. It's just a small outside dining restaurant, but it was a great experience all around.

We visited this place on a weekday night. There was relatively little wait, but one thing to note is there is no indoor or outdoor dining due to COVID. The cashier was super nice and patient in explaining the different parts of the menu, especially since we had people with food restrictions. We ordered the Oyako (Chicken) Loco, the Gardenburger Loco and the Gardenburger sandwich. We were not able to taste the Loco with gravy, as there were no non-beef substitute available. Overall the food was pretty good and the patties were super juicy, though I wish were able to taste the gravy. Overall, definitely enjoyed eating here and trying the Loco Moco if you can!