Moon and Turtle

Loved everything about this place. What a Hilo gem. The place was cute and clean. The owners Mark and Sunny were kind and the staff we're very friendly. Everyone in this restaurant helped each other out. Always water being poured, tablets being cleaned just really exceptional service (a well oiled machine). The food was absolutely fantastic. A new experience for the pallet. I would highly recommend if you are in Hilo... there's a reason it's been in business for 12 years. Make reservations ahead of time.

Great dining option in downtown Hilo offering a blend of traditional flavors mixed with dinner international influences. Book a table in advance. Good to share dishes. Cocktails are worth a try, too.

Everything at this restaurant comes from the big island of Hawaii! I have been here more times than I can count and have never had anything that tasted short of amazing! Every time someone visits me in Hilo, I have to take them here. Make sure to make a reservation before you go! It's a small restaurant and seating is limited.

It was my first time to this spot last weekend while I was visiting my ohana. My sister surprised me with reservations on a Friday night. I'm an world traveling foodie, I love to dine out, eat well and be doted on. So I'm not easily impressed. This placed rocked. From the quaint vintage Hilo atmosphere to the warm patient staff, and down to the epic dishes offered, my mind is blown. Check it out, probably the best spot in Hilo.

Absolutely incredible dining experience at Moon and Turtle in Hilo! Every single dish was insanely delicious — bursting with flavor and clearly made with so much care and creativity. The staff was exceptionally warm and welcoming, making us feel right at home from the moment we walked in. Each plate not only met our expectations — it exceeded them by a hundred times. If you’re visiting Hilo, this place is an absolute must. Can’t wait to come back!

Happy, just happy place… enjoyed the awesome food and services with my family, servers and fellow customers at the bar during happy hour. Each drink, dish and dessert we ordered met the high bar. The ambiance was also interesting to look at. made my day!!

First experience. What an incredibly enjoyable meal. Excellent food. Impeccable service. Warm and inviting atmosphere. The only thing that bothers me is that I waited so long to dine here.

The BEST food. I might have moaned. The food made me understand how Guy Fierre can use so many adjectives and make those faces he makes. We travel fairly frequently to various USA states, and I would say this has been our favorite restaurant ever. Wonderful staff. Super polite and helpful. We did not have a reservation, but were lucky that bar seating was available. Atmosphere feels …. Upscale but like a place to gather. Friendly. Not fancy, but fancy.

The food was so very good - the freshest local seafood. The preparations were original and DELICIOUS. We ordered a number of dishes, all of which made the two of us very happy. The service was top notch. We just needed to get out and celebrate a little and they treated us so well. We left agreeing that it was a great idea to dine here tonight. Looking forward to the next time. Mahalo, M&T!

Charming Spot on the Big Island We absolutely love this place on the Big Island! We've tried to visit each time we come, but without a reservation, it can be tough to get in -- I highly recommend booking in advance. It's a very small, super cute restaurant with a peaceful, mellow ambiance. The menu is seasonal, so while it's not huge, every choice feels thoughtful, and the food is excellent. The service is warm and attentive, and they also offer some great wine options. It's the perfect intimate spot for dinner, whether you're with friends or your partner. I would definitely return and can't wait for the next chance to visit!

Quick and friendly service, on what was almost a walk-in. Everything was so great we couldn't help but not have leftovers.

The best food I've had in Hawaii! Stayed in Hilo for two nights and a reservation at Moon & Turtle was a must. Every bite was amazing, albeit a bit salty overall. I was expecting the smoked ahi to be the star of the show, and it was as unique as I had expected it to be, but the mushroom risotto was the absolute highlight for me. Half portions are possible, and it is a must! The service was impeccable. Our waitress was beyond accommodating, and the corkage is reasonable. My next trip to Hilo will not be complete without another visit.

This place needs to be on your must try list when in Hilo. Unbelievably friendly customer service and the food is incredible. I devoured the Mushroom risotto. That's one of my favorite dishes and this restaurant may be the best I've ever had. The bartender, Sony, is one of the owners and she makes not only delicious cocktails but they're beautiful. This restaurant is a bit smaller so definitely plan to make a reservation. Enjoy!!!!

Place is great! One of a kind. Awesome chef with great ideas on fish and local foods and vegis.

The food was to die for! Very tasty and thoughtful! The service was on point and the drinks were well crafted. Can't wait to go back!

Check out Moon and Turtle if you're in Hilo! They be serving up some serious local-style grinds that'll make you pass on your mamas cooking. This small restaurant is all about showcasing Big Island ingredients with mad skills, turning fresh seafood and local produce into dishes that are straight-up ono. For me, the standout dishes were absolutely the smoked sashimi and the mushroom risotto - these two plates were total game changers. Although my dad said that all of the plates were a 10/10 here. The smoked sashimi had this incredible depth of flavor that just blew my mind, with a smokiness that complemented the fresh fish perfectly. And the mushroom risotto? Creamy, rich, and packed with local mushrooms that tasted like they were picked that morning. Sometimes they even sell their special smoked shoyu if you want to take a piece of this place with you home.

Everything was amazing! Great service, and even better food and drink! One of the best Caeser salads we have ever had. The Ahi belly was delectable! The farfalle pasta with Portuguese sausage ragu was amazing. Ended everything with a wonderful Affogato. Highly recommend this place!

Yet another amazing experience at Moon & Turtle a few weeks ago when we visited family in Hilo. We lucked out by snagging very last minute reservations this time! I didn't think they could get any better but somehow, they did! They had their comforting classics like the smokey ahi sashimi & mushroom risotto, but also a few different items on the menu which were absolutely delish. - Ulu fritters w/ crispy prosciutto: I don't know how to explain this, but it was crispy, dense? and delicious. - Market fish: panko crusted Ono with a light tomato sauce & clams. Yes and yes. Service was as good as always - never intruding and letting us take our time to enjoy the experience. Thank you Moon & Turtle, don't change. Ever. lol.

This is fine dining! Fresh as can be, in an intimate, clean and friendly atmosphere. You can see the clean kitchen, and the service was wonderful. Everyone helps you, and it is family style, where sharing is encouraged. Quality food over quantity, here. We had a birthday, and 2 other locals were there for their birthday, as well. My favorite was the smoky sashimi, and we wound up ordering it twice! If you love mushrooms, the mushroom risotto is the best comfort food for the soul. The more food I tried, the more I felt like a happy, female, Anthony Bourdain! I found a winner! I will definitely be back and highly recommend.

I've heard many good things about this place from family and friends, and I had the opportunity to try it out during my staycation in Hilo. First, I recommend a reservation. The night my partner and I went, they had a sign saying they were completely booked for dinner service. This was a good sign of what was to come! Upon entering, the hostess greeted us kindly and seated us next to the window. To begin our dining experience, we ordered three of their small plates - smokey sashimi (fish of the day was Uku), Uku sashimi, and Sizzling Tetsuyaki Poke. All three dishes were a different experience, and I found them impressive, especially the smokey sashimi and Uku sashimi, since both were served raw. My preference ranking would be 1. Smokey Sashimi, 2. Sizzling Tetsuyaki Poke, and 3. Uku Sashimi. The smokey sashimi was the standout. The combination of soy sauce and Hawaiian chili pepper water gave it a unique and spicy flavor I had never quite tasted before. The Sizzling Tetsuyaki Poke was a close second. It was well-seasoned, and I enjoyed it, both seared and raw. The Uku sashimi was very refreshing, thanks to the tomato ponzu, starfruit, and calamansi. We then ordered a large plate of Portuguese Sausage Campanelle. I'm not the biggest pasta fan, but this dish makes me question why I'm not sometimes. It packed a lot of flavor, the pasta itself was perfection (handmade, not the store-bought BS), and the Portuguese Sausage was not overpowering; instead, it complemented the pasta. As you know, we all have that second stomach for dessert, and we got the Miso Besque Cheesecake. I was initially optimistic about how this would taste, but it was the perfect sweet and savory combination to finish the night. The interesting combination reminded me how fresh wasabi pairs well with vanilla ice cream. Overall, what a great experience! This restaurant lived up to the hype, and I believe it is the best of the best on the Hilo side. I highly recommend you try this place because I know I will be back!

This hidden gem was the best dinner we've had on any of the islands. The relaxed vibes, attentive waitstaff, interesting take on fusion, make this a do not miss place. You might have to judge for yourself but we thoroughly enjoyed it. Note that the menu changes based on local availability and freshness of ingredients. Make a reservation. Go.

Probably one of the best restaurants in HILO, food wise. They have a revolving menu, but still have some other signature items. If you eat one thing on the menu, you must get the sizzling poke.

Food was very tasty and the service impeccable. Portions are small so left feeling hungry. Market vegetables included corn and diced carrots making it resemble frozen veg.

Now starting the long and arduous process of catching up on reviews. Starting with a real winner. I really should have reviewed this place immediately after we went there- I mean the food at this little restaurant was so very good. And even the fact that we sat next to a couple of a**holes didn't even really ruin it for us (which it totally, normally would)... I'm sure the menu has changed since then (did I mention I'm way behind on reviews) but here's what we had in order of excellent to excellent: the snapper collar, mushroom risotto (and risotto isn't even my thing), the mahi entree with ube dumpling (wonderful), and the sausage pasta. Perfect meal from start to finish AND the best restaurant we experienced on the Big Island. Not to be missed...

Delicious little spot in Hilo! the restaurant is small so definitely make reservations. From the drinks to the food to the dessert, everything was super high quality and delicious! While the menu wasn't extensive, it was hard not to try everything on it as all items looked unique and delicious. You can't go wrong with anything on the menu, but would definitely recommend the Poke appetizer and the Lilikoi dessert! The staff was also incredibly helpful and friendly. Would highly recommend!

Amazing food, service, and ambiance! Always friendly service, memorable conversations and delicious food/drinks.

Wow! I read about this restaurant in 2019 and, after my cancelled trip in 2020, I have been pining ever since. The small restaurant is an oasis in a bit of a depressed area of Hilo. The bright and colorful dining room reflects the sunny disposition of the staff. All are friendly and warm. Every bite is outstanding and INSANELY reasonable. For four people, we had 4 small plates and 1 large plate. It was a generous meal. With a few glasses of wine and a dessert, we had a meal for under $170 (including a 20% tip). The wines were fairly priced and delicious. Check out HH from 5:30 to 6:30. Each dish was delicious. I especially loved the shrimp and daikon cakes. They were perfectly smooth and harmonious and loaded with flavor. Frankly, there was not a bad bite. We loved the poke, the Caesar, the Brussels and the risotto as well, but those cakes sang. The chocolate pot de creme was a sweet ending to a fantastic meal. This is an absolute MUST in Hilo. Frankly, we made a day in Hilo from Kona just to come here, and it was so worth it.

Everything was excellent! Food, service and atmosphere... so glad we made reservations ahead of time.

Food was fantastic and the service was even better! Definitely recommend a visit when in Hilo.

This place speaks for itself. It's been around for a minute and never disappoints. The menu changes often which I love because we get to return to the same excellent service which being able to try new things that the chef prepares. You will definitely need a reservation! This place is always booked! Just try it!

The parking was great if you can find street parking. We went for dinner at 5:30 and worked out great- parking right in front! The ambiance was great- good for date night- the waitress was polite and brought out the food for the kids right away- we were impressed with the octopus and my Ahi entree

Nice folks and talented kitchen but perhaps not so so talented as they think. It's all good--and that risotto is deeply satisfying--but the other dishes are good without knocking your socks off. Getting a reservation is more difficult than expected. Walking around downtown waiting for a later reservation is less fun than you might imagine.

Wow... just wow. This was by far some of the cleanest food I've ever eaten. I say that because everything tasted like it was harvested at the exact moment of peak freshness, and then cooked to perfection with such care and respect. The menu is changed frequently, and we wanted to try everything, so we did! The dining room is small... maybe 6-8 tables, so it is very quiet and intimate. We actually met our server outside before the restaurant opened, so we were excited when she introduced herself at our table. The food came out a bit too fast for the size of our table, and could have been coursed out a little better, but that is my one and only critique. Wine and cocktails were great as well. Overall, fantastic experience!

The flavors of this place were super fun! I loved the combos of Easter and western! The portion size though are small so order more items than you would at other not pre fixe places. It was pretty convenient to add more dishes though.

The seasonal menu was amazing, every dish was so good despite being something we normally wouldn't order. The truffle mushroom risotto was the stand out item of the night! Great place for a date night or special occasion.

Moon and Turtle is a charming and cozy restaurant located in downtown Hilo with amazing food! The dining room is quite ambient with illuminated paper lanterns (made from their past menus), Japanese masks, and photographs of Hilo adorning the walls. Their menu changes daily so there's always something new to look forward to, but with a few of their top dishes kept in the rotation. It's recommended to make a reservation because they have a small, intimate dining room that can accommodate only a few groups at a time. The food is truly spectacular. Everything we tried was delicious and the portion sizes were small, yet enough to share. That's perfect, because you are going to want to try everything on the menu! For appetizers, we enjoyed their Smokey sashimi and fried Brussels sprouts. The ahi sashimi was so fresh and surrounded by a salty, umami, dark, smokey, and lightly fruity (from the olive oil) sauce. The fried Brussels sprouts were crispy and salty and the small fried fish on top had just the right amount of fish flavor. Even if you're not a fan of fish, I'd say to give this dish a try. The tiny fried fish add more of a crunchy texture, not a strong fish taste. :) Our main dishes were the Portuguese sausage campanelle and mushroom risotto. I love how the campanelle was a play on the Portuguese sausage and egg breakfast. It was salty, spicy, and had a bit of a pepperoni flavor (in a great way!). The mushroom risotto was lovely. So creamy, smooth, cheesy, rich, and comforting. We got a small portion, but could've gone for the regular size since it was so good! We ended our meal with the miso caramel basque cheesecake. The miso caramel was deep, toasty, and butterscotch-like. It was perfect with the creamy and sweet basque cheesecake. Just the right size so we didn't feel overly full after all the food! Moon and Turtle is a gem in downtown Hilo. We are so happy that we finally got to have dinner there. Highly recommend having a meal here at least once, but you'll probably want to go back again and again just like us!

Wow Wow Wow! Moon & Turtle is amazing from the food, to the service, to the vibe... it felt like a truly elevated experience. It was pretty busy but our server made sure she spent time explaining the menu to us. It seemed like she was as excited for us to try the dishes as we were to try them! She had great energy. The food was top tier made with all local ingredients. I don't think you can go wrong with anything you pick. I do have to say the mushroom risotto was my absolute favorite. The creaminess was to die for. I'm just going to say it... this is the best risotto I have ever had & that includes many risottos in Italia! I will absolutely be back! No need to book a flight for great food when it's right here at Moon & Turtle.

Amazing dinner with drinks on point. We had the risotto, but vegan and non vegan and it is the best I've ever had. The vegan was just as good as the non. Not sure what Chef has done, but damn, it was phenomenal. Also had steipped marlin which was just incredible on the seafood plate. Also had the Ono civeche with fish out of the water that morning. The staff was amazing as well. 6 stars

Absolutely amazing experience. Must dine here. Better than all the fancy resort restaurants we tried in Kona. Moon and Turtle is a downtown Hilo establishment. The restaurant is located in what appears to be a historic storefront with a modern and tasteful, (but not kitschy) hawaiian vibe. The service is excellent and the servers are all extremely friendly and accommodating. The food is absolutely amazing. We had the smokey sashimi, seared ahi belly, house caesar salad (made with ahi dressing and cured egg yolk) and ono ceviche (speciality off-menu item for the night) and a hawaiian chocolate cup for dessert. All the dishes were a culinary delight. Prepared amazingly and each had their own unique delicious taste. Portion size of the small plates were not that small, but more of a small medium. (4 plates was enough for two people). Plus they have a great selection of mixed drinks. The bill for 2 drinks, 4 small plates and a dessert was about $100. Phenomenal! If you are on the Big Island of Hawaii you MUST dine at Moon and Turtle. This is the BEST restaurant on the island. Even if you're staying in Kona, take a drive to Hilo for dinner or you'll regret it. Definitely make sure to get reservations in advance.

Nice little place. Love the small menu . Definitely get the smoked sashimi and mushroom risotto. Very tasty.

Absolutely phenomenal! Every visit to this restaurant is a treat--food, drinks, and service are all top-notch. The chef makes creative and delicious dishes using the freshest local ingredients, and the flavors never disappoint. The smoked sashimi is an absolute must-try, and the lemon peel lemonade is a fun and refreshing adult beverage. I've been here countless times and have never had a dish I didn't love. My favorite way to dine? Going with a group, ordering one of everything, and sharing it family-style. If you haven't been yet, you're missing out!

Everything about this place was amazing! Food, service, drinks! Ambiance was great! I don't have one bad thing to say. So glad we stopped in one night

Yes. Yes. Yes. Food--bring someone to share with because you will want to try everything on the menu. And you will be so happy you did! Service--check! They were pretty busy but our server took fantastic care of us! Thank you! Beautiful ambiance. A little closely packed. But we all got to sing happy birthday to the young man seated at the bar! Also great happy hour drinks!

I was going to keep this one a secret because I want to be able to go whenever I want without booking weeks in advance but it's too good not to share. Their Portuguese Sausage Puttanesca is food for the gods. Hands down the best pasta I've ever eaten and I've eaten A LOT of pasta. Their Mushroom Risotto is also divine. During lychee season, their lychee cocktails are a must if you partake in alcohol. Service makes you feel like family and the ambiance is elegant, cozy and friendly. Kudos to one of my all-time fave restaurants!

The food is excellent, the service was very good as well and the ambiance is very nice. We enjoyed our meal here but just wanted to let you know that you should have a reservation. Highly recommended from many people, and we agree 100%!

Food was mayjah, highly recommend if you want an awesome meal, with good service and a cozy feel.

Food was amazing. We lived sitting at the bar...Sony was delightful and my cocktail was so yum.

Our friends love this place, but we were not fans. None of the three entrees sounded good (2 wild boar dishes and one mushroom risotto we sent back). So I ordered two small appetizers. I wanted a nice quiet spot to enjoy a good dinner, but this wasn't a good choice for us.

Made a reservation about 3 weeks before our trip. We went to a bar and they also recommended this restaurant so we knew this was the spot. The service was so quick and attentive. We had the happy hour preserved lemon cocktail and lychee soda. Both were delicious. I love preserved lemon peel but know it's not everybody's jam. Smoky sashimi 5/5 our favorite! The flavors in the dish were savory and the fish was so fresh! Pastrami style kampachi 3.5/5 I think this was supposed to resemble the flavors of a Reuben. The smoke of the kampachi was good but not too memorable. Sizzling poke 3/5 the presentation was definitely captivating when it came out but it missed the mark. You would have to take the fish out quickly to avoid overcooking it and it was slightly too salty. Mushroom risotto 5/5 this was our second favorite. The reviews do not lie when they say GET THIS. We were glad to be able to order a half order but honestly, we would have devoured the full order too. Small restaurant with focus on a few dishes done well and a diverse cocktail menu. A good option for your time in Hilo!

Service is super nice and food is good. Their food is good quality and well prepared.

This was the highlight restaurant of my family's Hilo trip. After a long day of hiking and taking in the sights around Hilo we arrived for a wonderful dinner at Moon & Turtle. We had a group of 5 so we wound up ordering one of everything from the menu. This was July 9, 2024. I think this place changes the menu often, and tired me forgot to take a photo of the menu. Good thing their Facebook page has the menu so I can fill in the blanks with the photo captions (mahalo!). The food was awesome - very, very tasty and good sized portions. For example, their smokey Caesar salad was the best Caesar salad I have ever had. They used a smokey Caesar salad dressing that adds a unique and flavorful taste that I thought worked well with the salad. Prices for the food are also very reasonable to me for the caliber of restaurant this is. If you are looking to choose between the different offerings, we thought their small plates were super awesome and would have ordered more of those if we had room in our bellies. We were given the option of ordering more after we finished the menu, but one of everything from the menu was enough to fill my family's bellies and, combined with the excellent service, drinks, and dessert, we left very happy and content. I highly recommend this place.

Highly recommended by a friend along with the mushroom risotto. When trying to make reservations, it filled fast! It did not disappoint! Menu changes often and we happen to have clam campanellle, smoked sashimi (don't ever forget to order that), garlic butter belly and 1/2 order of mushroom risotto. Every. Thing. Was. A. May. Zing! Service was over the top great! Andy 8 y.o. couldn't stop talking about all we ate.

Total five star. Favorite restaurant in Hilo. We've never been dissatisfied. The menu is family style and changes with the seasons. Always a delight! The service is spot on. We recommend you make reservations way in advance since this gourmet gem in downtown Hilo is the talk of the town!

What an amazing meal! Friendly service, great laid back atmosphere and the food was phenomenal! Our favorites we're definitely the fresh ono ceviche, the tomato caper ahi belly and the mushroom risotto! The ceviche was fresh and bursting with flavors. The ahi belly (no picture because we ate it too fast) was perfectly prepared, and the mushroom risotto was cream and flavorful (and delicious the next day!).

Really delicious food served family style...enough to share! Very attentive service and comfortable indoor seating. Parking can be difficult so plan to get there early.

We had some close friends visiting us for a week recently, and we wanted to celebrate one of their birthdays at a very nice place that none of us had ever been to so we made reservations well in advance for Moon and Turtle. There were a total of five of us and two of us really do not eat seafood, but there are options on the menu at all times for non-fish eaters. I think we ordered all of the appetizers plus the catch of the day, the pasta with pork sausage and the mushroom risotto. Those that ate the fish thought it was some of the best they've ever tasted. There were flavors they never experienced before. They were all raving about how wonderful it was. The pasta was delicious and so was the mushroom risotto. Dessert was amazing. We had their cheesecake and I forget exactly what kind it was, but it was absolutely delicious. We ordered a few desserts. Overall, it was an excellent experience. The service was friendly and efficient. The restaurant is cozy and the lighting is just right. It could've been a little lower but compared to other places that turn the brightness too high. This is a nice change. The Good: Excellent menu. The fish dishes are outstanding. Flavors of the dishes are amazing. The vibe of the restaurant is very nice. Service is great and friendly. The Bad: Other than sometimes having to find parking on a busy weekend night, nothing that I can think of. Chances I'll Be Back: Well.. specifically for me most likely not as I really don't eat seafood. However, if there are friends visiting town that enjoy great seafood this is the number one place I would go. There are options for non-fish eaters so it's easy for everyone to enjoy their meal.

Sadly it's a hot spot & reservations need to be made far in advance. It was fully booked while I was in town for 5 days even for a party of ONE.