Pine Tree Cafe

Most food looked really good Loco moco patty that was handmade was really good. The gravy seemed like it came out of a can and was not very warm. Looks like the burgers are very popular The club sandwich looked amazing

If you are looking for a local place with classic Hawaiian fare you are in the right place. The Loco Moco was good as was everything we ordered. Busy popular place, lots of locals. Indoor and outdoor seating. Lots of free parking, minutes from airport. Our flight was delayed so we made a stop, nice way to end the trip. Service was fast despite how busy they were.

The restaurant is clean and a majority of the food was good. I just didn't like the flavor of the Philly cheese steak. It just seemed a little bland but the food was cooked a good and I Ate everything. They do Have a variety of options , so that is good.

Huge menu with many options- a little on the pricey side for some items but food was good. We got the fried rice omelette and the fried rice was very yummy- simple and not too salty or mushy. Lots of space and our order was ready quickly, however, there were some teeny flies that were very bothersome when trying to eat.

Great customer service. Food was good! Teriyaki chicken was YUMMM!! their Mac tuna salad is pretty good too. Reasonably priced

So happy to find a place with some tasty local food options amongst all the touristy burger and taco places. The spicy garlic chicken (mild spice) was so yummy, as well as the loco moco and korean chicken! So good we came back the next day for more!

Incomplete order, instant mash potatoes, overpriced...I order Korean chicken take out with mashed potatoes and Mac salad. The Korean chicken was plain fried chicken with no sauce? Since my order was take out we only saw that something was wrong after receiving, but we were 20 minutes away and couldn't take it back. So they didn't check orders before they go out. Also as a menu options was mash potatoes/rice/fries, if I knew it was instant I wouldnt have picked mash and didnt assume it was since it's $20 a plate which is the price of a nice meal in a restaurant with an ocean view..it tasted like cardboard along with the unseasoned plain fried chicken they gave us. I tried to eat the chicken but it was completely dry and unseasoned and we didn't have anything for it so that was a total waste. The Mac salad was the only edible thing. Our other plate teri chicken with rice, the teri chicken was super dry like sun dried jerky hard to chew no flavor. Super disappointed overvalued no quality check wish I could undo it wasted $45

Great portions at a decent price. Expansive menu with authentic tasting food. No nonsense setup, great for quick & hearty meals on the go

A perfect fast casual local spot for your trip to Kona. I went here for both breakfast and lunch during my trip and both offered many options. Get the spicy garlic chicken for a plate option since the pieces are HUGE and they give you so many. For breakfast, I ordered two eggs over easy with fried rice and Portuguese sausage. The prices are decent for Hawaii and a great value for anyone no matter their budget.

In Oct 2024, my wife and I spent a few days in Kona and we ate here 3 times for breakfast. The meals were all good. We had eggs, Portuguese sausage, bacon, spam, and fried rice. Once my wife had their French toast and she said it was good. We assumed this was a sit-down restaurant, but it is like a Zippy's -- you order and pay at the counter, then pick up your food and find a seat. The most important thing is the prices are right and the food is good!!

Great option for last airport or first landing meal! Food: we got the famous spicy garlic chicken with rice and Mac salad and I felt like it had so much more potential. The chicken was good with good flavors and not really spicy at all but it was a lot of overfried bits of chicken and stringyness with hard pieces of batter. It's basically a chicken thigh cut into strips and fried and coated with sauce. The pieces that I found with meat were tender though. The rice was good and the mac salad contains peas which I wasn't bothered by. We also got the fried ahi tuna belly which was tender and fatty! The food here is like a quick plate lunch diner feel. Parking: lots of parking available Service: service was quick as this is a go to the counter and order and find a table type of place so perfect when you're rushing to your flight Overall, not amazing food but pretty decent considering the limited options nearby

The perfect meal before heading to the airport. Delicious and filling. First time trying the katsu dip and it was tasty. Prices increased since the last time I came and the place is even more packed. I'd call ahead if you can because the line can get long.

Love love loveee Pine Tree Cafe!! Their Kalbi tasted great, and their Mahi Mahi was so fresh. We got spam musubis to-go for the beach and they hit the spot!! The tiramisu we had for dessert was also heaven!!!! One of my Big Island faves, we loved it so much we returned the morning of our flight to grab some food to eat on the plane while flying home. Definitely would return :) One thing I will point out for people dining in though is that there are no restrooms, and the place can get pretty busy around lunch time. Calling ahead was easy to do though!

The reviews here were mixed, so I wasn't sure what to expect. Unfortunately it was miss when I went yesterday. Maybe if you are a local and eat there a lot you know what's good. Based off others reviews we ordered the shrimp burger, Korean chicken bowl, and spicy garlic chicken bowl. My dad said the shrimp burger was about as expected and wasn't bad. The Korean chicken was three chicken wings that were just ok and a lot of rice without sauce and some pickled cucumbers. The garlic chicken was three smaller pieces of chicken, a lot of rice, not a lot of sauce, and pickled cucumbers. Some of the chicken was good and once piece was overcooked. I haven't had a meal in a while that I felt like I was wasting my calories. Maybe we went on a bad day, but based off this experience I would not go back. Nice that it's right next to the airport, but that's about it.

Not as good as I remembered or recalled. Tried it twice and both times chicken was slightly overcooked so it was tough to chew. The katsu dip itself has a nice crunch but beyond that... I wish for the old days. See old pictures. Happened to have two other plate lunches that day and even comparing the rice, all of which aren't the highest quality, the rice here was lacking.

Yummy, tasty food, with pretty decent sized portions. Their burgers are huge! We ordered a bunch of stuff to share, like a double cheeseburger with fries, cheeseburger, chicken strips, Caesar salad, pork chops, lilikoi cheesecake, and a tiramisu. The burger Patty is pretty massive so if you want a burger either share or have a hearty appetite lol. The pork chops come with an onion gravy and three thin cut chops. The chicken tenders and fries were awesome and breaded in panko, so it's nice and crunchy. The salad was very green and good. For dessert, I only tried the tiramisu and it was great!

DAY 1 of Vacation - officially landed in Hawaii! We were hangry after a 5 hour flight, and this location was otw to our hotel. Parking: They're located in a big lot, so parking is easy to find. Free parking lot. Ambiance/Environment: This is a local dining spot. Plenty of indoor seating. No outdoor seating. Service: Quick and efficient. The cashier was nice and knowledgeable about the menu items. Throughput was less than 5 minutes. Food: I ordered the Ahi Tuna Poke Bowl. Wow .. poke hits different on the islands. The fish was fresh, and its sauce had so much flavor. The rice was cooked well and not too mushy. I really enjoyed my dish.

A group of us were in Kona for a day and stopped for dinner. The menu was lengthy and breakfast was no longer served. I ordered I think second or third in the group. I ordered the mahi mahi sandwich tempura style with crispy fries and a cup of water. Everyone in the group before and after got their order. The 10 or more people behind me got their order. I went up to the counter to check. They could not find my order ticket. They saw it then did not see it. I guess one cannot ask for crispy fries. Even a phone in order with a sandwich and fries left the counter. They kept saying my order will come out even if they lost my order ticket. They found it on the floor and it seemed they would not make it. So they said order was not ready and the fries were not done. While waiting a sandwich was taken out of a big plate lunch box and the fries were taken out by hand back into the fries tray. The sandwich moved around to different locations and the fries were put in some of the orders. I was waiting over 15 minutes and the rest of the group was finishing their plate luch orders. The 5 to 6 military men who were after us received their orders and left before I received my order. Too bad I paid cash. The woman with small eyes gave a very soft "sorry" with accent when the two paper bags with my order was put in my hand. It was a bit suspicious aka fishy. Why they would not make my order until they found my order ticket on the floor. When I went to the counter to inquire about the sandwich they were silent. No one asked the cooks about my order. When I ordered she asked my name and took my money and said they would call me. I could not get a receipt. The fish was tasty but looked like beer battered fish - kind of like the frozen ones you fry - almost burnt. The fries were crispy. I did not see onion rings on the menu and 3 trays came out while I was waiting and 1 tray of fries came out. Order onion rings they cook them faster. One of the male workers said he saw my order ticket when she said my ticket was not there. She was flipping the stack of orders. She said my ticket was not there. Later it was found on the ground. Disappointing experience for a kamaaina customer. Customer beware. I guess they do not want my business. Maybe asking questions ticks them off.

HIGHLY RECOMMEND this local hotspot. We tried the spicy garlic chicken bowl, then came back for more a few days later. Chicken was crispy and flavorful with just the right amount of sauce. We ate it with the Daikon Kimchi - sooo good! Service was good. They were friendly and accommodating knowing we were first timers at Pine Tree Cafe. We appreciated their aloha spirit. We will definitely come back for again. Bathrooms are located outside. As you go out the door, take a left to the public strip mall bathroom.

Pine Tree is my go to stop before heading to the airport. It's one of the few spots with decent food near the airport, and it's convenient with lots of parking. I got the Caesar salad with grilled ahi. The fish was juicy and seasoned well, and the salad was made with good ingredients. The salad was over $20, and for the amount of fish we got, it was rather overpriced. There's a decent amount of seating inside and the workers are friendly.

Too bad we found this place on our last day. Should have been the first place we went to right after we arrived from the airport. Got a spicy poke bowl ($10) and got a keiki chicken strip with fries ($10). We were here at 2pm and it was busy with locals and tourists. Location is pretty close to airport so you can walk over to kona mountain coffee at the end of the mini mall to get fresh coffee (20 oz for $4!) and then walk over here to eat something.

Quick and simple - the Loco Moco here is the BOMB! The fried rice, gravy and perfectly cooked beef is just how we remembered it from 8 years ago!!! So glad it was still open and busier than ever!! We LOVE this place and made sure to make it our breakfast of choice 3 x while here on the Bi for 14 days. The last time I just got their fried rice and brown gravy on the side - YUMMY!!!!!! The inside is roomy with tables and the staff is friendly and quick to get you in/out if it's a quick order to go. Until our next visit Pine Tree Cafe! Mahalo!

Met up with friends there before hubs, baby and I had to head to airport to come back Oahu. I love their Pulehu ribs...little fatty just b/c of the cut, but not terrible. We all ate some of that and then brought the rest of the ribs home. Baby liked the peas in the mac salad, some rice and meat. Hubs just ate some meat since he also had saimin. Saimin was tiny tho. Probably good size for me, but way too small for any local guy. I'll still go back...and I know what I'm always getting.

We love pine tree!! With its super convenient location close to Costco and the airport we always stop here at least once when we visit the big island! They have great tasting food and a large portion size. We usually get the kalbi ribs, noodle salad, loco moco and Mac salad! The Mac salad was so good! I'm not a huge fan of mayonnaise and I really liked this one!! Kalbi had amazing flavor as per usual! And this time we tried the beef stew! It was so nostalgic of this tomato beef stew my grandpa used to make and it was really nice. The poke wasn't my fave here, but that's okay! I can go somewhere else for poke and I'll come here for everything else! It's a super casual ambiance, lots of tourists and local people here too!

Plenty of parking but it gets very busy! Menu is vast and pricing is similar to most tourist places. Their drink menu is more limited for a cafe but the food was fresh! Service was very quick considering the line. Wish the katsu had a dip but they offered sauces on the side

You know a local joint is good when you see police officers in line in front of you. Extensive menu of local plates, bowls, sandwiches and burgers. Their dessert display will have your sweet tooth jumping for joy. Hubby had the Shoyu Chicken plate, which comes with a variety of starched and sides. His plate had three plump thighs, which he devoured - he said the brown rice and mac salad were ok. I had a fantastic cheeseburger (requested bacon on it) - patty was smash burger style and it was cooked slightly medium rare - perfect! For all you Diet Coke fans, you'll have to get a bottle, only Coke Zero in the fountain.

We stopped here for breakfast one morning during our trip in Hawaii. You order at the counter and then find a table. There's plenty of seating in the restaurant so we had no issue finding somewhere to sit. My wife ordered one of their specials, which was banana pancakes, and I had a Denver omelette with fried rice. The banana pancakes were pretty good, especially with the haupia butter they provided. I thought the fried rice was just alright but found the omelette to be quite tasty. For two meals and two drinks, the price came out a little over $40. Overall, I would say it was a little high price-wise relative to the quality and portion size, especially since there aren't waiters or anyone coming to your table. However, it was still good enough we would consider coming back next time we are in the area.

We read many reviews that we have to stop here while we are visiting. We came for breakfast right after we landed in Kona, it is about a 10-minute drive from the airport. I ordered the loko moco and my boyfriend got a meat omelet. The portion sizes of the food were very big, enough for two meals for each of it. We were not impressed with the food itself. The burger on my meal was dry and overcooked, the gravy tasted and looked like it came from an instant packet. The omelet was very salty but better than my meal. They had a big menu and a little desert area too. NO bathrooms, just a sink for handwashing. Here you order and pick up at the counter, they had indoor and outdoor seating available and ample parking.

I was looking for a place near the airport to grab a quick bite before our flight. But there's almost nothing around this area. So imagine my delight when I found this gem of a restaurant. Don't be fooled by its name cafe, it's got a gigantic menu of hearty food and huge portions. I ordered two things. The small size loco moco and the spicy fried chicken w/ brown rice. The loco moco was quite standard but so addicting. Rice topped with/ a patty and egg, covered in a warm gravy sauce. It's a very comforting dish. The spicy garlic chicken plate was sooooo good. The chicken was fried to perfection, crispy outside, tender inside. The slightly sweet and garlicky glaze over the chicken really worked well w/ the spicy aioli that topped it. I'd definitely order this again. The service was quick and there were plenty of seats to dine in even though they were quite busy.

I think my husband is addicted to the deluxe bacon cheeseburger no lettuce and a side of onion rings. Best when headed to the beach. Mahalo for making them early . Always ready when we call the order in. Fantastic taste and quality can't be beat. Consistently great service.

I was visiting big island for a few days and wanted to try a local Hawaiian restaurant. Pine Tree was the perfect spot! It was very casual and we ordered at the counter before finding a table. They also had water which was nice. We got the house salad with teriyaki chicken and a large loco moco. The meal was incredible! The loco moco had amazing flavor and the salad was refreshing. Both dishes had huge portions-I was shocked at how much chicken came with the salad! Definitely a great value spot for a nice hearty meal.

Check out the menu before arriving because it can be overwhelming. Portions are significant, so I appreciate that you can order mini (or half sized) plates. I never considered eating my tonkatsu with ketchup before, but it was surprisingly good. My partner got the spicy soy garlic chicken, which was also good. Note that the macaroni salad contains tuna; we liked it, but it's worth noting if you don't eat fish. The place is quite busy, so the tables didn't get bussed while we were there, but we felt fortunate to be able to grab a table.

So good you have to bring with you on the plane ride back home!!! Yes, we definitely got looks from others but it was WELL worth it. Luckily was able to try Pine Tree twice in one trip! First time I had their Sonia Omelet which I feel is the most bang for your buck in terms of meat! I didnt even get to finish it! Second time I got the spicy garlic fried chicken, which is the one we took on the plane ride home -- 100/10 would do it again. I also recommend the country omelet. This seemed to be a crowd fave in the group. My bf cleaned his plate when he got it...safe to say its good! Once again, always support local when visiting the island!

Friendly local plate restaurant. Large portions that are like homemade by auntie. Nice way to start a Big Island holiday and great Aloha before heading home.

Heaven on Earth! This foodie could eat here everyday. The beef rib or teriyaki beef is outstanding. We ate here 17 years ago we always came in for teriyaki meatloaf but I didn't see it in the menu. We came to vacation and I love good food so I refuse to eat crap at the Alii Drive restaurants. Here everything is savory and portions are generous. I enjoy my food. Not to mention no fuss, because you place your order, they'll call your name and you can eat inside, outside or take it to the beach or your room. I am getting a plate to go for the plane. Ohh yes I am. I highly recommend this spot, and don't forget to get a nice cold one next door at Matsuyamas to wash this goodness down. Cheers!

Pros: close to airport so it's a great plane to get lunch after you arrive super hungry or wanna fuel up before you depart. Good portions. Freshly made food. Yummy mac and cheese. The hot sauce collection was great. Ambiance is clean. OK's: My hubby and I are not a big fan of sweet/sugary inspired savory items and to our shock both the dishes we ordered are sweet. The star dish and the one I was most looking forward to try Loco Moco had Sweetish brown sauce. Beef hamburger patty which my hubs said is fine, runny egg as we requested. We picked white rice. Garlicky spicy chicken: an entree, Korean fried chicken with again a sweet infused garlicky sauce and topped with scallions. The French fries that we picked were crispy and yummy as usual. Not sure if that's how Hawaiian dishes are supposed to taste but we weren't fully impressed with it. Bad: no restroom.

Came to Kona,Hawaii today and right off the plane we went here cause the reviews were good and we didn't want to go anywhere else on our first day. The menu is huge from breakfast foods to dinner. We got a couple of kids meals chicken tenders no picture. Cheeseburger meals. We also got the Korean fried chicken with the Kabli beef which was outstanding we also got the kaarage chicken which was also good too. Now the shoyu chicken was not awesome it tasted like boiled chicken in soy sauce but the one thing it doesn't taste a lick like soy sauce which I wished it did cause I hate boiled meat specifically chicken. And with all that liquid that they give you think they give you rice but no they give you French fries which I thought was weird the onion rings and French fries were ok. The service at this place also is OK. They didn't give us any forks with our food so we had to go back up there and it took a really long time for them to give it to us which was also weird. The ambiance isn't anything to write about you can't see a beach or a sunset or waves or anything it was breezy. In the end I'm glad that we went here cause now I know what the bar is like here. I won't be coming back to this place again now to my next destination.

Love this place for lunch! The food is terrific and the service is very quick. Very popular place though so if you wanna go for lunch, you'll either have to get there before or after the rush. But trust me, it is worth it!

Holy Hula! Recommend from the rental car agent. Walked in and packed with locals on a Monday morning!(always a good sign) The French toast was amazing, loco moco incredible, service friendly and efficient and most of all the locals were hospitable to haole! Mahalo!!

Please don't waste time looking for a good plate lunch spot, because you've found it. On our recent trip, my partner and I ate here twice and honestly I wish we had time for additional visits. We loved the garlic chicken and short ribs, but every item on the menu looks amazing. The staff is SO nice and clearly cares about your experience and enjoyment of the food, which can be hard to convey at a place where you're ordering at the counter. Definitely stop here if you're in Kona!

Great local eat for something fast, casual as well as comfort! This place is a local favorite. We got the omelette with the fried rice and the main star was their French toast! It was amazing and do yourself a favor and get the Haupia butter. It was like butter but with coconut cream that just made the French toast top notch!

I had one of the best meals of my vacation at this cafe. I stopped for breakfast on the way to the airport and was rewarded with a very fresh, hot cheese omelet with toast and perfectly crisped hash browns. Coffee was good, too. Nothing fancy, but it was so well prepared that I had to write this review.

Our favorite restaurant for true local Hawaiian cuisine. We've been here for breakfast and lunch and plan to come back at least one more time before we fly home.

Strategic location, just 3 miles outside of airport. We stopped by right after we landed, around 1.30 pm on a Friday afternoon. The place was full. We placed our order swiftly at the counter: spicy garlic chicken platter, beef stew and oyster platter. We waited quite a bit by or our food. When I approached the counter, they're waiting for the chicken to be ready. We decided to eat the other 2 first- which was a good decision because the chicken still wasn't ready after we finished our 2 other meals. I really enjoyed the beef stew. My husband and son enjoyed the spicy garlic chicken and oyster.

Love stopping here for a snack. Not a fancy place, in fact, very simple and more like a truck stop. But counter service is always friendly and food is always good for a quick bite. Don't expect much but do enjoy a nice meal near the Kona airport!

There's a large indoor seating area so you'll definitely find a table. We ordered a spam musubi, small loco moco plate, and the tuna poke. The spam musubi was very mediocre; the rice was hard and the spam was very salty. The loco moco plate was alright. It comes with a ton of rice and a fat patty but the patty was a little firm. The tuna poke was amazing. My girlfriend doesn't usually like tuna but she thought this was delicious. The sauce was also delicious.

The food is the Real deal for local Hawaiian food. Hawaiian, Korean and Japanese all in one place, this description is for new arrivals to the Hawaiian Islands. Conveniently located next to the KOA airport. Quantity and quality is priced right. Ordering Service is quick but because of the popularity of the place your order may take some time. You can sit and eat but many use it as a take out to eat at the beach or etc. Or take it on the plane for that return home trip. I alway come at least once on my trips to the Big island. Usually when I first arrive and when I leave. I am from San Francisco for reference. There is no Hawaiian food in SF that can compare.

This place is easy to get to, if you are in the Airport/Costco area. Good quality food, large portions, happy staffs and chefs. We had breakfasts twice, in a day. Yes, in one day :-) My favorite quick bite is the fried poke bowl, taste like tender chicken cubes in poke flavor. All the omelettes we tried were professionally made, fluffy eggs like pillows. The large loco moco is huge, good for two ladies to share. The beef stew is amazing, tender soft beef cubes in classic tomato base oriental sauce. Just love everything that we had it here.

I'm from Hilo and after a Costco run, my son took me to have lunch at Pine Tree. I've got to say the chicken cutlet with white gravy was the best cutlet and gravy I've ever had! Seriously. Juicy, tender, real chicken covered with obviously homemade gravy. Their tossed salad that came with the meal was generous and fresh. I tasted my son's Mac salad with tuna and that was really good too. He had the chicken Katsu and that was also juicy--not thrown in a deep fryer and cooked to a crisp like most take-out places. Next time I'm in Kona, I will for sure go there again. Gonna spread the word in Hilo!

Isn't Hawaii making money from the tourists? Maybe treat them nicer offering utensils, bags or etc. I don't even know if the food is good but I guess there is no options for many Asians. So do not treat people rude unless you do not want the support from the tourists. The price is already so overpriced given that this place is a fast food restaurant. Not coming back.

Pine Tree is our fast food stop after a Costco run in Kona. Been here countless times and it has never failed us! They don't need my review to confirm that the food is legit and the portions are huge. Go give it a try!

Pine Tree Cafe offers a large menu and looks to be popular with locals. It's in a strip mall so there is plenty of parking, and there are several tables inside. The employees were polite and patient as I tried to decide what I wanted. However, the food took forever to come out, so long that we started to wonder if our orders had been lost. And it appeared that customers who placed orders after us were getting their food before us. Luckily our lunches finally emerged, just before we were about to inquire. They did leave out a cheesecake that we had paid for, but we were able to get it after bringing it up. The food was all right. The portions were very generous!

After a few hours at nearby tidepools, the in-laws asked me if I knew of a good place to have lunch. So of course I open the Yelp app and Pine Tree Cafe pops up. Solid average rating, lots of items on the menu, and indoor seating - let's gooo! When we arrived, the place was packed! All tables were taken and there was a crowd of customers in line to order, and waiting for their orders. We waited patiently for a couple of tables to clear out, and we were lucky to get two close to each other. The portions for the plate lunches were HUGE! I would suggest planning to share if you have an average appetite. The sandwiches are regular size so no sharing necessary for those. :) Fries is sold separately. The spicy garlic chicken is comparable to the Alley's tasty chicken - highly recommend!

Delicious and fast service. Moco loco was the bomb. Oniony and flavorful. The garlic chicken was amazing as well. Lightly coated but surprisingly crunchy. Large chicken chunks. No frills but delectable food

If you have a big group and can't decide or everyone wants something different, this is your spot. They have a huge menu offering ranging from loco moco to spicy chicken to grilled fish. I had the grilled mahi mahi plate that came with rice and salad and I devoured that thing in record time. So fast I forgot to take a photo! Great for dinner or lunch (even breakfast). We came back for breakfast and tried their spam masubi which I would also recommend. Prices are a bit high but average for the island , about $20 for the fish plate. Plenty of seating area.

The food here is absolutely amazing EVERY time we stop!! Which is every time we're on island. My husband always gets the loco moco (small) and I switch between the French toast and the breakfast burrito. I went with the burrito this time and it was the best one yet. I got it with the Portuguese sausage. The tortilla shell is really light and the combination of veggies is so tasty!! Service is generally fast and always friendly! I'm glad they finally got rid of the plexi glass!!

This was my childhood favorite local spot growing up, and it still holds up today even though I only get one thing here The Katsu dip plate is a mix of crunch I chicken Katsu but it's dipped in the sauce used for Korean chicken, so you get a blast of umami with the crunch of Katsu, and it's the best A massive stack of chicken on a bed of rice (you can get Mac salad but I'm not a fan in general) and it's good enough for 2-3 people (so I've been told, but I'm also not most people so I eat it in one sitting because it's so good) and I would be getting this at least once a week If you're coming or going to Kona's airport, this is a must stop by, just know that at lunch time it's going to be packed so be prepared to wait or call ahead, but the staff is nice, plenty of seating and very home style cafe