Foster's Kitchen Kona

Oh. So. Good. Traveling with Celiac is so challenging and Foster’s Kitchen removed that stress! The food was just delicious and the service was phenomenal! The owner or manager (not sure which) wanted to show me the safety of their kitchen for preparing my food. The kitchen has windows you can look right in at! Thy kitchen was immaculate! The cook was making the delicious fries as I watched. Plenty of choices for someone who has a dietary restriction. The owner/manager was so knowledgeable about it and they have a great protocol. I actually ate here twice during my stay. Darling place!!! It is just adorable down to every detail. Beautiful view.

Food, service and ambience were great! Views of the sea and the street adds to the experience. The cajun fish tacos were spot-on. We ordered fresh catch of the day, which was Ono and tasted delicious. After the fish arrived, we saw it wasn’t fully cooked in the center, which they agreed, took back and brought fully cooked and it tasted better than before. The cajun fries were delicious! Overall, it was a good experience and we had a good time. Would recommend this place!

The fish & chips were really good! Our waitress was very nice BUT 1 of the worst servers we've ever had AND they weren't busy AT ALL! We ordered 1 meal to share which she knew, never came back to check on us, my empty glass was at the edge of the table to let her know i wanted another & of course nothing, she didn't even ask when she brought the check.

Went here for lunch. Was able to validate my parking here so didn't have to pay for parking. not many people were here at the time so was seated immediately. Service was great! View was awesome! We split the fish sandwich and chose the deep fried marlin. Was light and crispy. Could have chosen the grilled Ono. The fries were light and crispy. Thank you!

Foster's Kitchen is a very cute, open-air restaurant right in downtown Kona. The food was alright but the atmosphere was very nice. Our waitress was lovely and my Lava Flow drink was the star of the evening. Someone in our party ordered a bananas foster dessert that looked amazing.

Excellent dining choice for lunch. The view of the ocean is amazing and the service is wonderful. I appreciate the owner being so attentive.

This was the best meal I've eaten since coming here a week ago!!!! Came for lunch, right at opening. Was seated promptly and our server was so lovely! Had a nice table with a view of the water. We ordered an iced team and limeade to drink (they were out of lemonade). Might opt for water next time as the drinks alone for non-alcoholic were $12 with no refills on the $8 limeade. For lunch, we have the whipped goat cheese bruschetta and the seafood pasta. Both were love at first bite. Enough for two to share and be full. Wanted to try the banana bread pudding, but didn't have room (drank a coffee first downstairs, also delish!) The pasta was soooooo yummy we both said we needed to eat here again before leaving. For our app, entree and the two drinks, was about $70 with tip. If we'd just had the food, could have saved about $15. But all in all, great experience, amazing table with a view of the water and exceptional food with friendly service!

Always my number one spot to go on the island! We ordered the blackened shrimp and grits and the ahi stir fry. The balance of flavor was on point. Staff was friendly and wait time for food was normal. I’ll be back soon!

We were hesitant to eat here because of some of the reviews. I am so glad we ignored them! The service and food was phenomenal. Thanks for making our anniversary dinner memorable. We would eat here again in a heartbeat and you should too!

Truffle fries are a go-to item for my wife and I. Wings are flavored well, and we've never had a bad burger either. Can get a bit noisy during happy hour and shortly after, but it's a wonderful location with staff that's pleasurable to interact with. My only gripe, and it's no fault of the business, is the predatory parking situation. Kamaaina - DONT PAY WHEN YOU PARK. Your parking will be validated with your meal. Malahini - sorry, you're SOL, just another cost of your expensive Hawaii vacation. Again, not the fault of the establishment.

We ate dinner here a couple nights ago. It was our last night on the Big Island and we just wanted something quick and casual. We had wings, crabcakes, a mixed salad and a burger. Overall, the food was acceptable but not great. And although they were not busy, the service was inattentive. We saw our server standing around and dancing while we just wanted to get our check and leave. I realize it's tough, but I think this place could do a little better. I don't think I would eat here again.

We searched high and low for some actual, local Hawaii beef... and finally found it here. But first a word from our sponsors... The service and view here were very nice. We came right at sunset, with the great orb of fire in the sky diving rapidly into the ocean. Magical... it really was. And we got to see the "green flash" and everything (look it up). But I digress... Foodwise, yeah the beef was not the best. And out spear fish was a bit overcooked... But the view- that's why we still loved our evening. You probably will too...

Foster's I would say is very middle of the road. The cuisine ideas are a little bland but done well. We had a chicken pasta with macadamia nut pesto and while the sauce was really great, the chicken was bleh. Service was fine and quick and the ambiance is nice, you can see the ocean depending on where you are. I would come here again, but would just stick to the simpler teams.

My husband and I dined in for dinner. I ordered the tomato bisque with the "gourmet" grilled cheese. The food was not very good. The "gourmet" grilled cheese was definitely not my definition of gourmet. As you can see, it was barely there cheese and a couple onions. I'm not trying to be mean or gross but do you know the taste of vomit and how your throat feels after you get sick? This is what the tomato bisque tasted like and left a gritty texture down my throat. It was not good at all and it did not taste house made. I was super disappointed. I would not go back.

Food is great. Really appreciate the great service It can get a bit noisy during the peak times but the views are great Appreciate Andreas as the best host to greet us and get us seated. His smile is contagious!

Enjoyed drinks and appetizers while watching the views of the ocean and Alii drive. The candied bacon chicken sandwich was delicious ($24). The drinks MaiTai and Margarita were nice. The calamari appetizer was interesting ($16). Sliced calamari steak grilled was beautifully presented. Friends of ours rave about it. We liked it okay, not as tender as we wished it could be. The staff were friendly and attentive. ***TIPS on the Parking fees! Don't pay upfront. First go to the restaurant to get validated and activate your 90 minutes free parking (you have a 15 minute grace period after parking to start your time. You also get another 15 minute grace period at end, and you can either add time at a reduced fee or go visit another restaurant to activate another 90 minute free session).

View and ambiance nice... right in the center to Kona town so lots of action and lots to look at. Server was nice and attentive. Food was not great- ribs were a little tough and chicken was dry. My hubby took a few bites and had a hard time cutting with steak knife. Shrimp and grits were just okay- 6-7 shrimp. Wouldn't come back for the chicken/ribs, but will try it again as we love the vibe of the restaurant and it's a cool place to people watch.

Located on 2nd floor in the shopping area. Parking lot is close and parking available with dining at this restaurant. Staff friendly and welcoming. Large outdoor seating with many open tables. Nice view of ocean. Ordered a few dishes: -cheese burger with truffle garlic fries $21 +$3: ok but burger way more well then requested, little dry and fries weren't that truffle tasting. -fish and chips, but with fried fish $24: came with 3 hearty tacos with generous portion of fish ( I think ono?!) but not sure cause I'm not the best with fish types. Fish cooked well and not over fried, batter was crunch with cornmeal. They also provided local hot sauces to try as well. Convenient place for lunch or dinner if you are in the area and good for bigger parties.

Posting this for anyone out there with a kiddo who likes to see photos before they order. The kids' menu doesn't have photos on the website so I'm sharing a photo of the kids Mac and cheese. It was a sizable portion considering it is from the kids menu. Two people from our group ordered the burger and were very happy with it. Crab cakes got two thumbs up. Salads were fine but not amazing. Our waitress was great, view was amazing, ambience is on the louder side. I would go back.

Food was good. View was great! Not sure there was alcohol in the grown-up drink that I ordered. I felt nothing, no buzz at all, no warming feeling. Just watered down juice. My pasta dish was bland. Everything on the menu either had seafood or tomatoes which I couldn't eat, so I was limited on choices. The view makes this place. It's a nice place to sit and watch visitors walking by or just watch the ocean crash on the rocks, maybe have an overpriced beverage. The service was unremarkable.

Best ahi tuna I've ever had!! Service was great....amazing view ...everyone had a great attitude

We stopped in for drinks and some appetizers. Sat at the bar and Kate was the mixologist. She was friendly, providing great service and conversation. Coincidentally she grew up close to where my family lives in Indiana. The drinks were expertly crafted and well balanced. We ordered the bruschetta, which consisted of crispy garlic crostini with a chèvre, cream cheese and garlic whipped spread, cherry tomatoes, caramelized Maui onion, basil, and a drizzle of balsamic reduction. What a flavor bomb!!! This was the best bruschetta I have ever eaten. So on to dessert... the banana pudding which was a buttery crispy puff pastry shell filled with house made vanilla pudding and bananas, caramelized with local dark rum. WOW!!! This was bananas foster turned on its head!!! Amazing service, & good atmosphere stop in and enjoy this eatery. Thanks Kate!!! Go Hoosiers.

I hate to say this as I've enjoyed lots and I mean LOTS of great meals , but tonight was not good and I sent my food back to be prepared w/ no red in my steak.... Well it still has red....... My wife's favorite "Smothered Chicken" was burnt.... Sarah do you think you can contact us for a refund? Thanks a lot!

Everything was tasty! Party of six, my oldest, a burger connasieur, said his steakhouse burger was the best burger he's ever had. The chicken wings were fresh (made from scratch) and extraordinary, same with the chicken sandwich. My husband said the chicken sandwich was the best one he's ever had. The lemonade was yepic, my middle child's word, so there's that.

We came here on a busy night, so taking that into consideration. I got the shrimp and grits and it was good, but my wife's pasta was a little heavy. The server was nice and not pushy. And the sunset with dinner was a nice touch.

I had dinner at the bar by myself, sad I know, but sometimes you just have to fly solo. The location is great, in the middle of Ali'i drive, right on the water and if you get a table it'll have a great view of the coast. The service was pretty good at the bar, the bartender was friendly and mostly quick with getting me anything I asked for. For dinner I had the pork chops. They were so very tasty; battered, fried and served with a very flavorful brown gravy. As there were two pork chops, it was a good amount of food, probably too much. The mashed potatoes that accompanied the pork chops were good, but if I ate them again, I'd demand that gravy is sloshed on them. The veggies that completed the dish were ok, but not really great. They looked promising but definitely could've been cooked better.

We have been coming here for years and have always loved it. But I feel like it has been slowly declining. And this last time was the worst. The food just wasn't any good. The crab cakes were so heavily salted, I couldn't eat them. The tomato bisque was so over-seasoned, it tasted like a bowl of cumin soup. Which was odd to have in tomato soup anyway. Service is still friendly and the location overlooking the water is always so beautiful. But I don't think we will be back. The food wasn't edible.

Pretty tasty! I took my mom here for a late lunch. It's located on the 2nd floor, and the signage reads FK, so it took a minute to find. I'm not sure if there's an elevator, so I'd call ahead if someone in your party needs one. The whole restaurant is open and airy, and had a calming beach vibe. The menu is decent, without an overwhelming amount of options. There's several GF options, including fish and chips! I haven't had that dish in years. Happy Hour is $2 off all alcoholic drinks and apps. We tried the Stuffed Mushrooms. The marinara sauce was pretty tasty, and I ate every last drop of that. Overall, we had a good time. The prices are pretty on point with what you'd expect to pay in a Hawaiian tourist spot.

Didn't have to wait for a table around 7pm. Very nice views. Food was my favorite in Kona. I got the ahi tuna stir fry. I loved the whole entree with the veggies, rice, and sauce. My mom got the fish and chips and the fish tasted like it was more breaded than fried. My brother got the pasta and asked for the veggies on the side. He said it was good. We got the garlic truffle fries to share and it was delicious. Big portions of food. Great service.

Fosters is great. Super consistent. I loved the crab cakes and the drinks here(Mai Tai was definitely the favorite) The service was wonderful, friendly staff and very timely. Ambiance is lovely, just above the streets of Kona which can get a little chaotic! Good dessert too, the chocolate cqke(flourless) is quite good and the views of the ocean are lovely.

Found a staple in my food. Server was super apologetic and gave me 15% off the meal and replaced it right away. Food was good but there was that staple...

Over the years, Foster's kitchen used to be one of my favorite celebratory type of restaurant whenever we would find ourselves in Kona. I would put it high on my recommendation list whenever friends told me they were visiting the islands as well. Recently visited again, and although the quality and taste was still there, the portion size got astonishingly small. The seafood puff pastry was really good; bits of seafood mixed with pesto in delicate pastry wrapping. We actually enjoyed these more than our actual entrees. I didn't take a picture of my friends' food but they both ordered the grilled fish. Although they agreed it was prepared well, the size as smaller than a fist. I got the stuffed chicken and was also surprised that it was smaller than my fist too. The side of veggies was bigger. I used to rave about the garlic mashed potatoes but it wasn't up to par either. Maybe we visited on an off day? But hopefully they're back to being the same Foster's Kitchen I'm familiar with on my next visit.

Lovely view at sunset. Reallyt good, fresh, local food. Friendly service. Ate there a few times while in Kona. Gets busy after 5:00 so reservations are good idea.

Came here after attending Sunday Service for lunch around 12:30 and we were immediately seated. . Parking: Back parking lots Accessibility: This was the most challenging. The restaurant is on the 2nd floor and we had a hard time looking for the elevator for our 91 year old mother-in-law. Went around and through a store to get to the elevator. Food: 1) Popular dish recommended to us was their Stuffed Chicken plate. It was okay. The chicken was kinda dry. 2) Chicken club sandwich- was regular too 3) Pork Chop- THIS WAS THE WINNER. It had a crispy coating and gave flavor to each bite. The mash potatoes and vegetables were spot on too. Restrooms: Outside the restaurant and requires a code but very clean

Stopped by Foster's Kitchen for lunch on a Wednesday afternoon. This place is definitely on "Hawaiian" time. I ordered the Cajun fish tacos with the fresh catch of the day. The tacos were delicious and two others at my table ordered the tacos and agreed. Definitely worth stopping in, but not if you are in a rush.

This was the best meal I've eaten since coming here a week ago!!!! Came for lunch, right at opening. Was seated promptly and our server was so lovely! Had a nice table with a view of the water. We ordered an iced team and limeade to drink (they were out of lemonade). Might opt for water next time as the drinks alone for non-alcoholic were $12 with no refills on the $8 limeade. For lunch, we have the whipped goat cheese bruschetta and the seafood pasta. Both were love at first bite. Enough for two to share and be full. Wanted to try the banana bread pudding, but didn't have room (drank a coffee first downstairs, also delish!) The pasta was soooooo yummy we both said we needed to eat here again before leaving. For our app, entree and the two drinks, was about $70 with tip. If we'd just had the food, could have saved about $15. But all in all, great experience, amazing table with a view of the water and exceptional food with friendly service!

The service was fine but the food was mediocre at best. The stuffed chicken was not good. It had brown gravey drowning it - tasted like lawreys powdered gravey. It was over cooked chicken and dry. Mashed potatoes were dry and cold. The vegetables were fresh but were partially cooked and mostly raw. Great view but I wouldn't go there.

We really wanted to like this place. The menu had a lot of choices. The ambiance was great with an ocean view. We ordered a couple of drinks which were very reasonably priced and tasted good. I ordered the Ono fish sandwich, blackened with fries. First the Ono was in two very small pieces. The fish didn't even fill to the edges of the bun. It looked kind of sad. Also there was no discernible blackening seasoning. I asked about the seasoning and was told that it was how they prepare it. If I wanted more seasoning they could bring it out. I didn't bother to do that, but unfortunately the bun just over powered the fish. It was disappointing and unmemorable. The fries were not hot. We wanted to see about dessert as the reviews raved about the bananas foster! "Sorry, they didn't make any today. We are down a person in the kitchen........" Blah, blah, blah I am getting so tired of the excuses. Not worth going back. Forgettable dining experience.

Foster's kitchen is a must when in Kona. Food is good, prices are reasonable for what you get, they have TONS of gluten free options and food is fresh. This restaurant is phenomenally accommodating for anyone who has either celiac or a gluten allergy. If you are celiac and miss fried food you are in luck they have a separate fryer for all gluten free dishes. The service is a bit slow but this is because they are understaffed for the size of the restaurant. The food is phenomenal with my favorites being the fish burger, the grilled calamari, the fried marlin, and the fresh catch, which is always amazing. Fosters also has an amazing location being right in the bay it is a great place to go if you would like to eat dinner and view the sunset.

Attempted to visit and dine at Fosters while on vacay and I had a family member with special food limitations with me. So we ordered her food from a healthier location. When we came in the waitress passed us by to go and clean a table when there was 25 avail tables. I asked do we seat ourselves or? Because she didn't greet us or ask if we needed help walking passed us 2xs. She said no wait and walked away to clean a table as the bartender laughed at her blatant disreguard & dismissal. I approached the perfect table & asked if we could sit there..she shrugged & said sure. She brought the menus over and I explained that my daughter has a food limitations and that she had her soup in Bag but i will be buying her drinks & maybe dessert. She goes to ask the Mgr if that was ok. So she comes back n says she can not eat her soup here sorry its illegal. So I said ok I will order my food..I'll do the special that is posted on the door. She says let me check 2 see if we have that. Comes back and says oh no sorry we don't. I felt discriminated against for not only the health condition my daughter has by not allowing her to eat even though I was prepared to spend well over $100 myself buying us both drinks and dessert. The waitress and her extra efforts 2 make us feel unwelcomed & uncomfortable eating anything she was appalling & I designate Fosters as beneath my standards. Waitress referring to herself as a Bad (female dog) loudly in the dining area as we entered the establishment. False advertisement on special of the day posted at entrance I could go on & on

Food was delicious, server was helpful and the view off the patio was a beautiful ocean sunset. I ordered Cajun fries and the steak salad without Gorgonzola cheese and added goat cheese and chili vinaigrette. Great gluten free option for me and I cleaned my plate!

The ocean view, open-air second floor seating, and robust menu are highlights of Foster's Kitchen. There were numerous items on the menu I would have loved to order but I settled on the Garden Salad adorned with ono fish. The entree was delicious as were the accompanying macadamia nut encrusted goat cheese balls. Our waitress, Jacq M, was super friendly and effective. Highly recommend!

Incredible food, great drinks, atmosphere is top notch. I had the stuffed chicken and it was delicious. Server was enigmatic and kind the whole visit.

Great service and great food. My wife got the 6oz sirloin and I got the fried chicken. We were not disappointed. Their gravy was amazing and the collard greens were surprisingly great. Our waiter, Alika, is the man. He really made us feel like locals and even family at times. Made sure we were taken care of. Funny dude and super hospitable. We'll definitely be back next time we come out.

Food was really good. I had the fish Benedict. They were extremely short staffed yet managed to get us our drinks and food in a friendly and timely manner. We will go back next time in Hawaii.

This place is fantastic. The views are amazing. I was here twice - once with kids and a large group and once with a small group. Service was great each time. And everyone loved their food. That is hard to achieve when half the party are picky eaters. Will come back if I get a chance.

Wow this place is worth the hype for sure, it was so good! We had two appetizers and we all ordered different entrees but everything was divine! Portions were so big, I could only eat about half of it so I took the rest back to the VRBO. My daughter had a huge sandwich (see pics) and they gave her a ridiculous amount of fries! I'm not usually a huge truffle oil person but her truffle garlic fries were amazing! We had the sweetest server that checked on us not too much and not too little either, perfect balance. The restaurant had the best view too of the sunset and the ocean, if I can get my child to send the pics to me, I will post it later.

We ordered the hush puppies, fish tacos, chicken pesto pasta, ribs, and the buffalo chicken sandwich. The hush puppies were nice and crunchy and the honey butter was a great compliment to them. The ribs were tender and had a nice sauce and the pasta had good flavor. The rest of the food ranged from not worth mentioning to slightly disappointing. The truffle fries had no sign of truffle and the vegetables that came with the ribs were inconsistent as some were undercooked and some were borderline mushy. The fish tacos and mashed potatoes arrived lukewarm/cold. Our food took over an hour to arrive and a table seated after us received their food and finished eating before ours came. Overall the food is ok and I think others will likely have better service than I experienced. The restaurant has a nice lively atmosphere and good view of the ocean, so I think it's still worth trying if you want to eat dinner along the water.

Found this amazing restaurant on Find Me Gluten Free and it was everything I had hoped for. Fish 'n Chips are naturally gluten free and with the Truffle Fries probably the best meal I've had on the island so far. I had this with a Hibiscus Heat, which was not spicy but ultimately refreshing especially enjoyed I. The breezy dining room in the second floor, overlooking the ocean. Other party members enjoyed the Shrimp Cobb Salad, Sichuan Ahi salad, BBQ Chicken Sandwich, and Goat Cheese Bruschetta. Everyone was happy and raving about the food. The service was really great, our server is a member of the family and had some great recommendations. Tom's of gf options, perfect ambiance to chill in the afternoon and we will definitely be back for dinner to watch the sunset!

Had lunch there, Sarah was our waitress. she was wonderful. The food was great, restaurant was clean and well kept. Overall a great experience!!

Foster's offer very reliable good food we like to keep coming back. Today we were surprised by how delicious their gumbo is! We do recommend trying their bowl of gumbo, not a cup as you wish you'd lie, to have more! Very friendly service, servers are happier than other places on the strip, professional, happier in general. Good cocktails, especially the margaritas. My friend loved her grits too. I like here as they offer some different menus other than a typical "Hawaiian" flavors. If you go to Foster's often, do sign up for the royalty membership! You'll get points which will result into some percentage off from your bill. Very open atmosphere, laid back island feel with beautiful sunset if you time it right.

Food was bleh, drinks were worse. Most workers were friendly, unfortunately EXCEPR for our actual waitress. Seemed like an angry school teacher. Food didn't come out at the same time. Birthday niece celebrating her bday never got her promised cheesecake. Much of the food still on our plates at the end, but no desire to take any home ... which is a good indicator of the mediocrity.

Fosters Kitchen wasn't really what I was hoping for. Seemed to be a lot of hype and didn't really live up to it. Making a reservation online they call "waitlist", when I registered online I was number 17 on the list. When I got to the restaurant there were so many open tables and people waiting. Ordered the stuffed mushrooms which were drowning in marinara sauce, just a little marinara sauce on the bottom would have been good enough. Main course I asked the waiter did he like the stuffed chicken or the seafood trio. I always ask recommendations from the waitstaff, he responded saying "the stuffed chicken is a bit too salted due to the ham, I'd go for the seafood trio". Of course the trio is more money but thought sure why not I am on vacation. The fish of the day is mahi mahi, he said it was fresh. Crab cake and blackened shrimp, along with veggies and garlic mashed potatoes. The veggies looked good but I am not a fan of broccoli. The potatoes were pretty lumpy and I did not taste the garlic at all. The mahi mahi I felt was over cooked and small portions for what I was paying for, the shrimp was good and the crab cake was alright. I ordered the cowboy colada, it was tasty. Would I eat here again, probably not, the menu was confusing and not a lot of items were Hawaiian recipes. And speaking of the menu, old and worn, my menu was sticky and could have used a good wipe down and cleaned! Also the print on the menu was coming off making it look worn.

Food has declined in the recent year. This is definitely not a Triple D restaurant anymore. The serving portions have decreased significantly but the prices have not. This restaurant is not worth the price...

This place is a train wreck. Apparently some of their staff walked out in the middle of a shift. a normal place would just stop taking orders and regroup until they had new staff. This place didn't and continued to make commitments to customers that they could not keep. We walked out after 40 minutes. Do better or shut down until you can.

After a long drive to volcano and back we were looking for somewhere convenient, fast and good near our hotel. This little gem came up after a quick yelp search. Overall a very yummy and experience and it checked all of our boxes. On a Sunday night we were quickly seated. The interior is clean and cool relief from the Kona heat! Our hostess seated us quickly and our server Emily passed us our menus and took our orders because I think we looked super exhausted and hungry. Food came out quickly! Fish and chips were crispy and tasty however portion size was on the smaller size. Steak salad very delicious with a nice charred flavor to the protein..loved the bit of goat cheese and dressing was not too heavy. Tomato cup of soup had a tortilla type flavor with a strong cilantro flavor and a surprisingly good size grilled cheese sandwich. My kid really enjoyed the Mac and cheese however it probably could use a bit more salt..think it's kid bland flavor with less than Al dente noodles. Overall food was very fresh although for the prices the portions were on the smaller size. With that said we would come again if in the area.

We found Fosters through Yelp while we were exploring the downtown Kona area. It is located on the second floor above a coffee shop so it can be easy to miss if you are not looking for it! The restaurant has surrounding ocean views and offers both bar seating, as well as table seating. We tried the fish and chips, Thai chicken salad, and grilled fish. Everything was fresh, the salad was decent, fries were delicious and the fish was fresh. The bartender was very friendly and offered several recommendations to us for sightseeing during our stay on the big island. I'd love to return for their daily happy hour 3:00pm-5:00pm to try some of their other dishes!