Poi Dog Deli

Sandwiches were phenomenal. Got the Turkey BLT and the Curry Chicken Salad sandwiches. Snacked on fresh popcorn while we waited for our food. Staff was very sweet.

There was five of us (one was a child who does not eat sandwiches so we did not even spend any money on her). It was $85 for two half sandwichs, one full sandwich, and 5 drinks. We paid $2 for an upgrade to pineapple. It looked like it was for a child or for pineapple on a pizza. It was cubed small and a tiny portion. Not worth $2. It was maybe one slice off the pineapple. I ordered the caprese sandwich. When I ordered the lady smirked and slightly laughed when I asked for no avocado. She has absolutely zero idea why I can't have avocado and yet felt the need to express how the customization to MY sandwich was wrong. But that wasn't the worst part. It was the worst sandwich I've ever had. And I don't say that lightly. It was two slices of bread. Two slices of tomato. Two slices of mozzarella. And I think they showed the balsamic to it. It was the driest sandwich I've ever had. There as maybe a drop of balsamic on it. Oh, and I didn't even get a pickle spear...... Also how the heck is popcorn a side for a sandwich? Having chips with a sandwich shouldn't be an upgrade I have to pay for. Absolutely the worst $85 spent. Will not be back and do not recommend.

This is a really unique, "dog themed" sandwich shop that has won the award for Big Island's best sandwich for the past 6 years in a row! The owners' love for dogs goes beyond the decor. They actually partner with local animal shelters to help find owners for homeless dogs. Instead of taking your name when you order, they give you a flag with the picture and name of an adorable shelter dog. And this is how your server finds you at your table! The vibes here are really positive with great music and happy, smiling employees. I ordered my go-to comfort food, the Hot Tuna Sandwich. They gave me a paper bag filled with popcorn to munch while I was waiting, and there's even a self-serve "buffet" of popcorn toppings to choose from! The sandwich was crisp and gourmet with some relish mixed into the tuna that definitely took it up a notch. The hearty slice of fresh tomato on this melt was what really made me say "yum!" And their home made dill pickle was so good that it "tickled my pickle!" The only thing I didn't like was the price. At over $18 for just a sandwich (no drink, no side), it broke da mouth and da bank!

Oh my gosh, this is the cutest, best tasting sandwich shop I’ve ever been to! The service was amazing, the decor was so fun to look at, and the food was… Delicious! Mmmmm I had the turkey orbit and a kitchen sink salad and would definitely go back for the same, But there were so many more things to try. On my short stay here I will go there often.

Poi Dog Deli is maybe my favorite place to eat on the entire island! Most importantly, the food is top notch. It’s so good to find a serious sandwich spot with fresh, quality ingredients, crispy grilled bread and an awesome craft beer selection! My whole party got the Ranch house Reuben which featured hickory turkey, Swiss cheese, jalepeno sauerkraut, and homemade 1000 island sauce. The flavors were complex yet cohesive, perfectly balanced in every bite. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed their sandwiches and were glowingly reflecting on them the rest of the day. Adding to the experience- the ambiance is so cool! Being from Louisiana, I love that one of the owners is as well and you can tell from the thoughtful decorations throughout. There are cool details in every corner of the room, and you can tell so much love was put into every aspect of decoration, down to the cafe du mond coffee tins for holding utensils and straws. Finally- they are LGBTQ friendly and also huge advocates for rescue dogs!! It doesn’t get any better than this. Instead of a table number used for the server to bring your food, they use a photo of a rescue dog from the local humane society! As the dogs get adopted (hopefully helped by the boosted exposure!) their picture gets moved to the wall so their happy ending can be celebrated forever! Service was so friendly! Happy smiling faces that seemed genuinely interested in making sure you were having a great time while there. The best vibes all around. They also occasionally have live music, and even offer simple free meals to children in the community! Such cool ways to foster a positive environment. Can’t recommend them enough! Get off the strip and tuck into this cozy spot for a memorable lunch. Lots of parking right out front!

We're visiting the Big Island from the mainland for 8 days and we were in the area so decided to stop in for a quick lunch. I had the rueben and absolutely loved it! The bread was crispy and the sandwich was hot and fresh and the corned beef was super tasty and lean. My wife had the turkey BLT and loved it. Loved the inside and the staff were so nice. Definitely recommend stopping in and enjoying a freshly made sandwich! Thanks!

They have the best tuna melt on the island. The atmosphere is lovely and they have a generous happy hour every day from 3-5. Friendly staff. (As for the review just before mine- I witnessed the encounter. The man was asked whether he would be ordering anything after 30 minutes of him sitting in the corner, streaming loudly from his phone and acting strangely. The waitress eventually asked whether he would like to order anything and he threw an entitled fit, immediately threatening her by taking her picture and pictures of the restaurant when she suggested he charge his phone next door at Starbucks if he wasn’t interested in ordering. Bit embarrassing for him, I’d say. Poi Dog remains a lovely spot to eat!

My wife and I came here during our Honeymoon a little over three years ago and we still speak highly of it. It was one of the best places we ate while we were in Hawaii. The food was great. The staff were very welcoming. And the ambience was really cool. It makes me sad that a trip to Hawaii may not happen for a long time because I’d love to come back.

I tried this place after working out today and it was absolutely delicious. I was craving something comforting so I ordered the "Cheesus That's Good" and it was GREAT! They add some honey mustard inside the grilled cheese, which added a touch of sweetness that definitely hit the spot. The sourdough was also so buttery and provided the perfect crunch on the outside. I definitely recommend upgrading your side to the tomato soup, which is great for dipping your sandwich into! Will definitely be back!

Cute little place! We needed a quick dinner on our way to the airport and this option presented itself. My biggest complaint is that I just want more options... More sauce choices, more types of salads, etc. It was decent for the price as Hawaii prices go. I opted for the choose two combo and got the green salad and the Notorious PIG. My sandwich was burned unfortunately but it was served hot. My husband got the same sandwich and his was toasted nicely. The salad was fine but super basic. I did like the cheesy corn bread which I had to pay extra for since it was a combo. The popcorn on the side concept is fun & original too though again since I got a combo I didn't get that either. My husband had some and it was very salty.

Our favorite sandwich spot! Such good vibes, yummy food, and good drink options. The service is also prompt and friendly! This is a cute little spot to come for lunch after the beach, a hike, or even to catch up with an old friend.

Amazing staff, $3 beer of the day, complimentary popcorn as I wait for the most amazing sandwich. Ahhhh bliss! Plus, incredible awareness of all the pups waiting for furever homes at the local humane society. And, an adorable Keiki corner to keep the literate little humans entertained. Such a fantastic space!

Great Grinds, and we love rescue dogs! Great deli restaurant where we enjoy our lunches! Definitely will be back more from Pāhoa!

This was the perfect spot to stop in and pick up some sandwiches or salads for our trip up Mauna Kea to see the sunset and then wait for nightfall to see the stars. The sandwiches and salads were delightful and there were a lot of good options. The inclusion of popcorn instead of chips was a fun treat! It's a fairly small space and can be in the middle of the insane traffic at the wrong time of day. The staff was friendly and it was a fairly short wait for our orders. If you're in the area, I recommend giving it a try!

Came in expecting a decent dinner and nothing special. Boy was I wrong, lady at front was so pleasant and really had a positive vibe to everybody. Great service and she was actually trying to help us make our order cheaper and was honest about the prices. Food was like an adventure of textures and popcorn was a nice salty change of flavors from the meal. 5 stars. Thanks for the great experience

After reading rave review of the Poi Dog Deli, my friend, my wife and I decided to give it a try. We arrived just after opening on September 6, but there were a lot of phone orders already placed, so although we were near the front of the line, it took about 30-40 minutes to be served our sandwiches after ordering. We had the full-sized (whole) Spicy Puna Cheese Steak sandwich for $18.99. It had grilled Jalapeno peppers and spicy goat cheese. The sandwich was very small for the price (about 40% smaller than I expected based on other Philly Cheese Steak sandwiches I've had), but was spicy as advertised. The free popcorn was great. Given the small portion size for the high price, I'm sad to think I won't be going back. There was a couple of beautiful great danes out front and we got to pet one. This is a dog-friendly restaurant.

I ordered the hot tuna and it was delicious! Loved the seasoning options for the popcorn while you wait. My family had a separate order for 4 people and they waited quite a while for their food. Also the pickles were a little weak imo.

One of my greatest joys at the moment is to find a place where I can say 'yes' to my gluten free kiddo. Are you hungry? Yes! What do you want to eat? Ham and cheese sandwich Usually I'm scrambling to find a place, but here comes a quick search leading me to Poi Dog Deli. Ham and cheese on gluten free bread? Pickup in 10 minutes! Oh, and here's your bag of popcorn on the side. Epic. Thank you!

Delicious sandwich. Love the doggy element so much! But I do find it to be too expensive especially for the veggie sandwiches.

This place was amazing! I had the turkey orbit and kitchen sink salad and it was so delicious! The place was so cute. I stared at the walls for 20 minutes reading things... The service was over the top good. Big smiles everywhere! Kudos to you guys for winning best food seven years years running! I see why!

Great spot to stop in for sandwiches. I had the steak sandwich and really liked it. Lots of good choices. My wife loved the BLT. Lots of craft beer choices. Small restaurant with bench seats and picnic style tables. Friendly service. Try it for a quick delicious meal.

Visiting Kona and saw this spot. We had the Curry Chicken Salad sandwich. INCREDIBLY GOOD, quick service, beer garden table style seating, and instead of a number they give you a pic of a dog up for adoption! We wish we were here longer to try more of the sammy's!

We stumbled upon this place on our way to Starbucks and ordered a reuben. Sandwich was good and tasty. The bread was a little over toasted to my liking. It was also a bit pricey for the sandwich with a bag of chips, which cost extra. Service was amazing though.

Server was nice but $20 for a small, tasteless turkey sandwich is steep. Avocado was half brown and looked bad. No mustard as per the menu. Bare sliver of pickle. Bread was good. First and last for me.

There are so many positive reviews for this place that I was excited to try it. Now, I'm wishing I hadn't. How hard is it to make a good sandwich? Seriously, they aren't that complicated to make! Ordered turkey and pastrami sandwiches. They were so drrrrryyy and spicy. Nowhere in their menu does it say spicy in the description so I had no warning before I sunk my teeth into it. Wish I knew beforehand because I wouldn't have ordered it. Also, when I bit in there was a weird old food flavor and sure enough, when I peeled back the bread, I find a rotten avocado in my sandwich. (See pics) my kid's turkey sandwich had the same kind of rotten avocado as well. So effing disgusting. Also, whoever made our sandwich was so chintzy with the meat. ONE slice of turkey per sandwich? Really? I've heard of stingy but maaaan. The other sandwiches had mixed reviews from my kids. One thought it was gross the other thought it was fine. I'm extremely disappointed. Paid a lot of money for rotten avocados in ew food. I also couldn't tell if the sour and spicy taste was coming from coleslaw or sauerkraut. (Seriously , what was that?) Won't be eating here again.

Lovely place for lunch! Yummy sandwiches. Service is awesome. Happy hour is great. Soup & specials of day o

Delicious flavors in the sandwich, but very overpriced. $18+ for a full sandwich and basically one piece of meat. For that price I expect to be full, not left hungry. I've come here for years and hope you take this and other reviews seriously as many people are saying the same. I won't be back unless the value improves. Best Wishes

A bit surprised by the reviews here. I got the puna cheesesteak and it tasted pretty good. But oh my goodness was it small. About 20 bucks for the full size and I was in disbelief. I got it to-go, so I didn't notice until I was already gone but it really isn't right to serve that small of a sandwich for the price. Employees were nice and the place had a good energy. Unfortunately I won't go back considering I know I won't be getting full.

Great food and great staff! I live the salad and sandwich combo and they give you free popcorn too! The atmosphere is so aloha and as a bonus the business supports the humane society. The chicken salad is delicious and the strawberry salad and the fresh tomato soups...really everything I've had here is delicious !

We were looking for a hot dog place and this deli came up, but low and behold the dog is not a hot dog, but a real dog. However, they did have a fabulous selection of deli sandwiches and salads. No fountain drinks - only cans (ice tea is from a pot) Prices are reasonable and portions are large. We got the 1/2 Reuben sandwich with a strawberry salad, the spicy Philly cheesesteak sandwich with a side salad and a whole turkey BLT on grilled rye bread. Many of the items come with a basket of freshly popped popcorn. Would come back again to try something different.

I have been to this restaurant a few times and I like their food. The prices are reasonable and it's a relaxed ambiance. The staff is friendly and the food is good. It seems very popular and always a lot of people. I would recommend this place.

Great find prior to driving towards the East of the Island. Friendly staff and tasty hot sandwiches. Once you place an order, they give you fresh popcorn while you wait! Philly cheese steak was delicious and bread was soft and warm. The grilled cheese and notorious PIg were also good. Perfect lunch! Only comment - wish they had hot link or some hot dog on the menu. I had misconception with the name and had that in mind prior to coming so that brought a little disappointment LOL.

Great sandwiches and beer selection! My picky family of ladies found something for everyone...And they loved it!

Delicious sandwiches. SMALL sandwiches. $20 for a snack and then I had another $20 lunch elsewhere. But the sandwich was very good. The only other beef is I saw a jar of delicious looking dill pickles on the counter. $2.50 for a pickle, well that is the way things are nowadays. What I received was 1/8th of a pickle for $2.50. A little skinny sliver. So they are actually selling PICKLES for $20 a piece. They should show slices before you order because it honestly looks like you are getting a whole pickle for $2.50. But delicious sandwiches. BYOP

One of our favorite places in Kona. Favorite dishes include the reuben and veggie sandwiches. The kitchen sink salad is always fun - changes daily. I always buy a couple of cornbreads and brownies to take home. And popcorn! Efficient staff.

Found this place right after getting off my plane at KOA, delicious Mardi Gras wrap with an incredible ocean sunset view! I didn't forget how great it was throughout my vacation here and ended up getting the same thing on the last day too. No regrets. My favorite part of this business was the rescue dog profiles on the cards they give you, very creative and a great cause. The woman who takes your order is extremely kind and helpful and I can tell she wants to make everyone's experience memorable. Great spot for a meal and a beer!

Food was great. I got 1/2 a spicy puna cheesesteak and if I had know it was so hood I would have gotten a whole one. Not that I needed it. My husband had a sandwich that had pork, ham, jalepenos and cheese. Our friend had pastrami, bacon and cheese. Everything was wonderful and to top it off they give you a bowl if popcorn. They have gluten free bread.

On our last night on Kona we were trying to find something to eat before making our way back to the airport. After driving around the various shopping centers in the area not finding anything that really caught our attention. Then we found the Poi Dog Deli. Hands down one of the best dinner choices we made on our trip! Fantastic local spot with well prepared hot sandwiches with just the right amount of flavor and crunch. This place was fantastic. If you're on this side of island and on your way back from a beech, you owe it to yourself to check it out at least once!

Absolutely delicious!! Had to go twice while we were there. The sourdough Philly was epic and craveable!

Really cool folks work here and it's animal friendly. They have pics of dogs that have been adopted from the nearby animal shelter and I think that's awesome. Any restaurant that is friendly to dogs, is a friend of mine. I found out about them from the shelter when I took a dog out for a day trip (if you haven't done this ... do it. It was an amazing experience). Their food is solid, too. They give free popcorn while you're waiting for your food to be prepared. Came here twice (once with the pooch and once without) and both times were great. Saturday night before we left, they had live music. Definitely check them out!

Definitely my go to place when I'm working on island. Super friendly staff, awesome food. I like the popcorn.

Good but very expensive for a sandwich. Honestly the most delicious thing was the free popcorn. Enjoyed my puma sandwich, but it wasn't super clearly stated to me the bread type, etc etc as it seems it may have changed. My partner loved the avocado turkey bagel, thought the bagel was the best part but had to peel off the avocado as it overpowered the sandwich.

Grilled cheese - The cheese is very stretchy and tasty. Also super crispy as well. Would've been a lot better if it was hot but that was on us since we wanted to drive to the beach to eat it haha. Also loved the side of pickles!! - It was also very well cooked, both the sandwich bread and the meat. The pineapples didn't go well with it honestly, but I ate it by itself.

Best deli on the island. Love the Reuben's The Tuna melts and kitchen sink salads are also awesome. As are the people who wok there

Strange name but delicious food. Gourmet sandwiches. Fun decor. Helpful service. Look forward to going back.

Great place for a sandwich! My avocado caprese sandwich had quality ingredients and plenty of filling. A nice touch for hungry patrons is free popcorn while you wait. Small place with a fun atmosphere!

Great place to go if you like good food and dogs. I love the Turkey Orbit sando on an everything bagel. Never walked in without seeing several dogs inside, all extremely friendly.

The Reuben sandwich is the best I have ever had. Previously I ordered the salad with mahi. It was HUGE! Great value. The service is always helpful and even when super busy takes the time to be friendly. This is my new go to for lunch when I'm in Kona. The only negative is the parking can be difficult. I highly recommend

Hot tuna sandwich was toasted to perfection. They have so many sauce options (I think they have like 5-10 hot sauce options, I picked slap yo mama verde, not my favorite but still good hot sauce!) Really chill spot, with good food. I bought a bottle of Kona Coffee Kick hot sauce, let's see how it is

I picked up a dinner to go. The turkey, cheese and avocado on "everything" bagel with sauce and spice was DEElish! The counter worker was personable, and the two people in the kitchen even gave me smiles through the pass-thru!

Highly recommend this place! I was tired of fried food and rice and was craving something fresh so glad I found this place on Yelp. They have a variety of sandwiches, alcoholic beverages, salads and even popcorn. I have never been to a place where popcorn is offered as a side and it was honestly such a great idea. They have seasonings on the counter for your popcorn which made it even better. My husband and I enjoyed our sandwiches and salad. You have to check this place out! Also, service was great a gentleman placed our order and took our food to us he was very kind and attentive.

The Notorious P.I.G. My favorite sandwich. That's all I have to say. Wow this is another gem in an unlikely place. Across from Walmart and wedged between a Starbucks and a Cricket, it's the last place you would expect to find a really cool hangout.

Great sandwiches. Service can be slow during peak times. We waited 20 minutes for food at 11:15 today, but the freshness of the food is worth the wait. Lots of good choices. The turkey but is my fav while hubby likes the sliced beef.

Love everything about this place. I got the turkey orbit which was delicious, and all sandwiches are served with popcorn! The decor is cool and when they give you a number it comes with a picture of one of the dogs, love the concept that they are helping dogs. Very friendly staff as well.

This place was great! Made a carry out order, they didn't miss a thing! Food was delicious, family loved it! Busy place but organized and clean! Definitely recommend!

Stopped by this place for lunch a couple times now. The sandwiches are very good but have to say this place is extremely over priced even by Hawaii standards... Sandwich, a beer, and popcorn was $22.50 Sandwich was $12.99 Beer was $4.50 maybe the popcorn was $5? Seems like that should be free but who knows... Sandwiches are on the small side for the price. Edit: after looking at my recite my tiny cheesesteak was actually $16.99! Even though the menu board says $12.99... either need to change the board or I was over charged. Changing to two stars...

Great experience, brought a sweet dog from the Hawaii Humane Society on a field trip and stopped in for lunch. We had a delicious Reuben, reasonably priced. Love that you're dog friendly! Highly recommend!