The Temple Bar Hilo

Super fresh food. The pan fried cassava is a must try. The ceviche was also great. Also the egg fried rice - yum! Lots of dairy free and gluten free options; the staff was accommodating with substitutions.

Love this place! Great food and drinks and service. Love their flatbread pizzas!

The ice cream and sorbets are fabulous with creative flavors - the miso chocolate chip was our favorite and I loved the lilikoi too. The fried ulu and cassava were so flavorful that we kept trying to guess what they did to make them so delicious, accompanied by the best chimichurri I’ve ever had. My backyard pumpkin salad was well balanced and the add-on smoked chicken was unexpectedly outstanding. The fried rice was the true sleeper star - another flavor bomb - I would definitely go back for more. We had delicious cocktails as well, but the food and frozen desserts were truly unforgettable! We actually went back a second time to have an ice cream flight after a really disappointing dinner next door and it helped make up for most of my regrets over not just going back to Temple in the first place.

If Taco Tuesday (half price margarita's and street taco's) is any indication as to the quality of food and cocktails served at your establishment...... we will go elsewhere. The margarita's were so very heavy on the lime juice that my wife couldn't drink hers and the street taco's we had were dried up pieces of beef on a corn tortilla with nothing on top to hold them in place. The pieces kept on rolling out of the tortilla onto the floor while trying to eat them.

This review is way past due. We visited Hilo a while back and found this little gem for cocktails and appetizers which is open late. Brittany helped us have a great experience. Thank you very much 😊

Great drinks and food, but definitely pricier than I’d generally want. They have very creative food and even ice cream, and the drinks are very tasty. Something for all spirit lovers. Only issue I have is the place runs out of seating fast and you can feel very cramped.

Had a wonderful experience here at Temple Bar. We just loved their food and tried almost all types of seafood including their Garlic Prawns with fried Rice, Ahi Carpaccio, Ceviche, Pork Belly poke, Belgian Mussels and Kumamoto Oysters. All these dishes were very well prepared with the rite amount of flavouring esp the oysters, mussels and Ahi. We found the Pork a bit strong for our taste buds. The staff were very attentive and sweet including their young chef. While it's priced a bit high, this place is definitely worth the money.

We ate at The Temple here and in Kona. Amazingly similar experiences at both places, which is to say, outstanding service and excellent food. Ahi tacos, tri tip tacos, pork poke bowl, fried taro & cassava, ceviche....all prepared perfectly. We visited this place after Kona and would go back again to either one. Nice decor as well. At both places, the bartender prepared an incredible lilikoi-pineapple non-alcoholic drink - ask for it!

Inspired, fresh eats (and drinks) in a hip setting, in Hilo! The local owners first opened The Temple Bar in Kona (we haven't been yet and so need to check that out next), and after success there, opened this second location in Hilo. Per their website: "The Temple is a high-end but casual modern craft food, beer, cocktail and wine bar." Their ingredients are locally sourced from the Big Island, and as mentioned, their menu is creative and inspired! We were visiting Hilo for just an afternoon and were thrilled to find The Temple Bar open for lunch. It's a cozy spot tucked next to tourist spot, Jackie Rey's. The Temple Bar offers pupus, salads, flatbreads and more, focusing on hyper-local and hyper-seasonal ingredients. Everything sounded amazing. We kept it light with 2 salads: BLT Bomb Salad Bacon, lettuce, tomato, scratch sourdough, pumpkin seeds, smoked Jalapeño aioli, smoked gouda + ADD AVOCADO Backyard Pumpkin Salad A tribute to local Pumpkin: Roasted pumpkin, pumpkin seeds and blossoms all tossed in house made Jalapeño Ranch with radish and cornbread croutons. + ADD CHICKEN Both were incredibly fresh and full of flavor! Dreaming of these substantial salads right now. We will 100% visit the Kona location on our next visit to the Big Island, and can't wait to explore more of their food menu, and to try their drinks! Cheers!

This location has nice ambiance. The staff is friendly. The food selections are nice. They do need to get a new chef, because the two times I visited here in the last 6 months, the flavors of the food had a lot to be desired. Under-seasoned or Oddly seasoned, Overcooked, and the flavor in general was a bit off. The strange thing was that it was different each time. The first time, the food didn't have an "off" taste, but Ribeye was overcooked when my other half asked for medium rare. It came out brown all the way through. A good chef knows not to be THAT off. Perhaps someone else ordered a Ribeye well done at the same time? The second visit, the Baba Ghanouj was very strange flavored. Almost like there was soap in it. We ate about half of it, but since we know what Baba Ghanouj is supposed to taste like and not soapy, we just left the rest (they don't give a lot to begin with). Lastly, I wanted to mention.. we both had Caesar Salads one time, that will be the last. WHO PUTS TOMATOES IN A CAESAR SALAD?!!! I think the chef needs to go back to school, or figure out why they're doing what they are. Everything about the location is nice, but the way the chef chooses to season and prepare their food is really just too far off. If they want to do weird fusion stuff, then don't give it a name of a plate you're going to expect to be done as it's known for. Maybe call the Caesar a "Tomatoey Caesar"? Maybe the Baba Ghanouj should be called "Fusion Baba Ghanouj"...Because it's not what you'd expect. Highly disappointing this way. Maybe a disclaimer should be placed on the table to say "We make wacky versions of well known dishes"... maybe even better - don't call them the name of the dish they aren't. It's more like "Inspired by ______". Then that would be okay, and would set precedent for expecting something totally different. Last laughable example is naming "Tapas Platter". What? Tapas is a saucer of a couple bites that goes on top of a beer. That's the purpose. The person who created the menu doesn't have a concept of what all this means. I hope one way or another, they fix the names, because the staff was very eager and friendly, and one mentioned that I wasn't the first to say this (I'm assuming they hear it a lot). For the food, I give it a 2/5, but for the staff, I give them a perfect 5/5, but I don't go to restaurants and pay to socialize, but to eat, so I have to give it a 2/5.

I just want to say Zack the bartender is a gem. We literally just left The Temple a few minutes ago and had such a lovely time. Zach not only made fantastic drinks but gave helpful tips on visiting the Volcano and best of all how to make the fantastic Martini concoction "Dill with it"! We cant wait to go back next time in Hilo. Thank you Zach. Mahalo!

One of my favorite bars in Hilo. Not to mention the food/pupus/tapas are incredible. I actually crave their pumpkin side dish whenever I'm back on Oahu because I can't seem to find anything like it on that island! Their cocktails are excellent. When they first opened, I spoke at great lengths with the creator of the cocktail menu - I am not sure if that mixologist is still at the restaurant but they have kept many of the drinks he designed and I'm obsessed with them. My favorite is their Through the Looking Glass - it's a gin cocktail with lilikoi/passionfruit. It definitely gives the feel of a lemon drop with much more tart and sweet flavors. If the gin wasn't so strong, I would drink them all night long. Their oysters are also excellent. Locally grown and the ponzu/yuzu is delicious, not to mention the solid kick you get from the jalapeños on top! I can't wait to go back! Not pictured but another excellent choice is their goat cheese flat bread. It's surprisingly savory with a slight sweet taste to them. Delicious!

Thanks to yelp, we found this AMAZING Place! according to their website they are, "The Temple is a high-end but casual modern craft beer and wine bar located in Hilo Hawaii with roughly 30 max capacity." We walked in and were quickly greeted and seated, by the window. There are several different areas to sit including tables, bar height tables and a quaint little area with a sofa and a table in the middle. The atmosphere in the restaurant was electric. High energy, people talking and laughing and enjoying the delicious food and beverages. After we were seated we were quickly greeted by an affable young man by the name of Zachary. We started off with a beverage, Wifey had the Viognier. it was a very nice wine - this one from France. Being a fan of the Hazy Beers, I opted for the Neon Rainbow - which was very good as well. So we started off with an order of the "Scratch Made Sourdough" bread with smoked salt flakes. Apparently this bread is made by a Local woman and delivered fresh regularly. Served with the bread is that butter with smoked salt flakes and I have to say it was truly AMAZING! We often share a meal so we ordered the Caesar Salad and The Street Taco Plate with Tri-Tip and an extra Taco. The salad was AWESOME. They make their own dressing which was very flavorful with anchovy in it. The salad was fresh romaine and tomatoes with croutons made of that AMAZING Sourdough Bread. There was even a couple pieces of anchovy in the salad and I love that! The Street tacos were very good. The trip tip was flavorful. The tortillas were slightly crunchy and delicious. Cilantro and onions were sprinkled on top of the meat. The accompanying salsas (red and green) are made in-house. I put both of them on my tacos and was very pleased with the plate. Zachary was an incredible waiter. Very attentive without being intrusive. The two waiters helped one another to make sure all the guests were properly taken care of. Every single facet of this experience was EXCELLENT. The food, atmosphere and the service was; in my humble opinion, flawless. If there was a SIXTH star available, they would get it!!! Thank you

We came on a Tuesday evening and it wasn't very busy at all. The place was spacious, the music choice was on point (I'm a sucker for 90s jams), and our server was really nice and welcoming. The only con I could even think of is that we had to wait a while for our order; there was only one server at the time, not sure how many cooks, but she was very apologetic. I can't say how the drinks are since I'm expecting, but the food was pretty good! We had the Backyard Pumpkin Salad (one of the best salads I've ever had), Pork Belly Poke (since we're eating tapas, I was not expecting a big serving of pork belly... such a pleasant surprise), and Carnitas Street Tacos. Definitely recommend this spot for chill vibes and good eats.

We needed a late night bite so we came here. Everything and I mean everything was to die for beautiful and delicious. Do not miss the squash or whatever this was... it was like a hummus salad elevated to the highest heights.

had the most delicious ribeye carpaccio and my friend had the carnitas tacos . This was a terrific little bar at the end of town on down town Hilo. The food & service was amazing and there was a note on the back of the menu that says $14 buys a 6pack for our kitchen staff , it was so good we bought them the 6 pack. Next time we are in hilo we'll definitely be back . Ambiance was chill and peaceful . the table with the couches was a welcome sight after we just trekked Akaka Falls state park .

Before meeting up with friends in Hilo, we asked them to recommend their favorite spots. This one made the list, and after perusing the menu, we were in! It's a small space with high ceilings and good sound-proofing. The chef greeted us and let us choose where to sit. There's the bar, which faces the kitchen, a large sofa area that easily sits half a dozen or more, and the high-top tables. We chose a four-seater table in the middle of the restaurant on a drizzly evening. To start, we had some cocktails including non-A bloody Marys, which were a hit. Then we got straight to ordering anything that the chef recommended including steak carpaccio (very good!), pork belly poke, the pickle sampler, shrimp ceviche, chicken tacos, and the goat-cheese and honey pumpkin. Everything was delish and the service was terrific. Highly recommend coming on a weeknight, when it's not as busy.

The skinny: This place is solid. Good cocktails and drinks in a great location. The overview: We came here while visiting Hilo looking for some good food and craft cocktails - and The Temple Bar hits the nail on the head. We tried a few different things on the menu. The seared ribeye was delicious - a perfectly cooked medium rare, tender, and paired with a yummy Chimichurri sauce that we kept and dipped everything else in. Other highlights were the seared oyster mushrooms and the pan fried kalo cassava (light in flavors but we were really into it). The garlic shrimp itself was yummy, but a little less garlicky than we wanted (we were hoping for the super garlicly shrimp that you can get in honolulu) and on the smaller side (doesn't come with rice). Overall everything we had was solid. Would I come back: Yes! We almost came back again in our short time in Hilo.

Came in for a quick happy hour treat. We got some cocktails and the charcuterie board. Cocktails were strong! It is a very small establishment, with community seating. This would be a great place for a private party, date night, or a solo outing.

Serendipitously, the spot that our group planned to eat at had a lengthy wait so we ended up walking down the street to Temple Bar where our group of six was seated right away (this was Sunday afternoon last week of the year). The whole staff was helpful when needed and unobtrusive when not. I sampled the sourdough bread which was fairly mild in flavor, had a slightly open crumb, and crust with some color and more chew than crunch; however, it was the (cultured?) butter that caught my attention. The roasted pumpkin side was superb. It's tough to say what I enjoyed most about it but the heady cinnamon cloud that accompanied that first bite was special. Now when I'm enjoying roasted squash at my local spot, I'll be thinking about this dish an ocean away. The chef's special was luau pork stew with chili ahi poke, white rice, and poi. Let's do this. The pork stew seemed to consist of seasoned, slightly spicy, finely minced taro leaves and pieces of lean pork. It reminded me of Filipino liang. The ahi though! Cooked and lightly seasoned with a fragrant chili oil and aromatics- A+.

If you're into being greeted by roaches before the staff, this is your spot. Service was slow and inconsistent. The waitstaff were polite but unprofessional sitting down at our table while taking our order made for an uncomfortable experience. Portion sizes were SHOCKINGLY VERY small. The $42 "8oz" steak was nowhere near 8oz, and the sashimi was sliced so thin you could practically see through it. Most dishes seemed portioned for someone on a juice cleanse. The only item that felt worth the price was the tacos. Overall: overpriced, underwhelming, and not worth the limited seating.

This is a bar. Seating is limited at tables. Service was slow at the tables. We had to seat ourselves and get our own menus. This is a very noisy place with customers talking loudly. Not the place for a quiet meal. Food was not memorable a day later. We had a mushroom appetizer that was okay.

super wine beer cocktail bar. love the topas. the ribeye our patio is wonderful. Really nice Vibe and staff.

Excellent food, with really great bartenders. While it's tad more expensive than your average place, the vibes are great and worth the price.

I have dietary restrictions including Gluten Free. Our server Brittnay was absolutely amazing. She was incredibly patient, thorough and mindful of all our needs. Our dinner was absolutely wonderful. We had the roasted Pumpkin, Mushrooms Marsala and garlic shrimp. Our main course was the Rib Eye which was altered to include all of the Rib eye carpaccio ingredients. (should have taken a photo but was so delicious and we ate too quickly) It was truly outstanding. Highly recommend the food, service and it was a very fun relaxed environment.

Great spot in town with a happy. Sat at the bar and service was wonderful. Taco Tuesdays!!!

The food and drinks are excellent!! I couldn't get over how tender the octopus was. Best I've ever had!

Service is great! Love having all the windows open for lovely fresh air. Nice vibe. Willing to change the TV to the All Star Game. Food ok. Tacos were not great--crispy overcooked chicken. Flatbread ok.

4.5 stars Very beach town feel to it given its small size and it's wide open windows, but the view isn't much to look at (just a parking lot on the other side of the road). I tried one of their specialty cocktails, which was good, as well as their pickle sampler plate (which included pickled jalapenos and kimchi) and their bread & butter plate. All of it was really good, and this is a place that I would definitely make my way back to if I find myself in Hilo again.

We stopped by for lunch and had a wonderful experience. The server was friendly and helpful and the food is unique and delicious. We especially enjoyed the pork belly poke and the wonderful sauce that was with the shrimp. We are local and can't wait to stop into their new location on the Kona side. Mahalo!

My group and I ordered oysters, Manila clams, a pickled plate, and tempura shrimp. It was a convenient spot to grab dinner after a day of exploring the island, and I appreciated that it stayed open later than most other places in the area. Overall, the dining experience was pleasant, though the food was fairly average and not particularly memorable. The Manila clams, in particular, had an overwhelming wine taste; they could have used more lemon, but thankfully there were plenty of lemons available when I requested some from the kitchen. This place might appeal to some, but for me, the food didn't quite hit the mark. However, given that it's one of the few places open late on the island, it's still a decent option if you're looking for a place to eat after hours.

The Temple Bar is a great find. Cocktails and food offerings were fantastic. I found the recommendation on EATER- always great. I don't know how YELP hit me for a review. YELP SUCKS, totally biased unverified curated reviews. The employees and management are an just an entitled group of self- important Millennials and Gen Alpha dullards. Hey YELP, your welcome for the epic review of your business: YELP

This was a special occasion and our party of 6 was accommodated with seating together. Service was impeccable, and the creative menu was amazing as always! We love this place and can't recommend any else more highly. My favorites were the desserts, including the house made ice cream flight. We tried jackfruit, Oreo coffee, taro coconut, and pumpkin flavors! Each one was uniquely delicious!

What a fantastic little bar. My wine, charcuterie board, backyard pumpkin salad, and sophisticated bread pudding were all outstanding. We had such a wonderful Sunday afternoon at this wonderful little gem of a place. Highly recommend!

Christen and Serena are the best!!!! They always recommend my favorite IPAs and are awesome helping all the customers treating us like family

We went here for lunch on Saturday based on good Yelp reviews, and they were accurate. The place is quite small, only 4 tables for eating. The bar/restaurant was not busy so we got one of the tables. We started with half a dozen oysters and they were fresh and delicious. Good flavor with a kick because they add a slice of fresh pepper. Very good and worth the $28. The wife had a Caesar salad and enjoyed it very much. They put the sardines on top, not in the dressing. Very good salad. I had "cheesy" flatbread that was crispy and very tasty. I liked it a lot. Surprisingly, the tap beer selection was quite limited so I had a can of some kind of local IPA, perfect with the food. Service was friendly and efficient. Overall, a very good experience. We would return.

Great food with super service. Staff were fantastic and served up a great Aloha Vibe!

Food 5/5 - We had the Torched Tako Salad, Ahi Tacos, Seared Oyster Mushrooms, Pickle Sampler, and Garlic Shrimp. Everything was delicious, especially the mushroom, full of umami flavor that we can eat every day! Service 5/5 - The kitchen got a lot of orders all at once so it was a little slow but the waitress kept us informed. Once she saw how much food we were ordering, she brought over the table next to ours so we could spread out. Ambiance/location 5/5 - It's a really lively place with a lot of young locals coming in and out. It reminded me of places in SOHO NYC. The vibe was great. We sat by the window and could also hear live music from the street corner. It was a fun experience.

Not so "Happy Hour" - you only get A DOLLAR off drinks... But, the food was good, the cocktails were exceptional, lovely atmosphere, great service. Just don't wait for Happy Hour because it doesn't save you any money. We saved $2 off $114.

Awesome joint on the back side of Hilo strip. Accommodating to food allergies and knowledgeable about liquor available! Ask for the secret menu and try something new

Loved this place! Our server was amazing and attentive and checked on us frequently. We sat facing the street with windows wide open. There were sofa that you could sit and lounge as well as high top tables. The food was a good size portion and tasted wonderful. We enjoyed our cocktails and each dish we ordered. Will definitely ba back to visit and if you're considering stopping by, this place is a must.

The food was delicious! There were so many options, and everything we tried was amazing! Plus, the staff was fast and super kind.

This place is a must visit on your list in Hilo. The food was beyond excellent I actually dreamt about it.

Food is yummy, service is friendly and ambiance is full of aloha! The bar tenders went out of their way to make me a special virgin cocktail which was greatly appreciated

It was a happy hour end-of-the-work-week "brah" night out. As an NKOTB, I had no clue where to go, so Braddah Sly was like a guru guide and we ended up at The Temple Bar. It's not your typical cubical and space is limited, so when you get there at the right time take a moment to chill and let time fly bye... It's a cozy place to watch some games or people cheerfully walking along downtown Hilo's Farmers Market. The cocktails are sanctimonious, the prices are honorable, and the service is venerated. It was one of the best pious happy hours of my life. Naturally, I gave into temptation and indulged in their bon viveur pu pu's. Two mischievous angels popped out and landed on my shoulders. One tempted me with the Caprese Bites and each one was a delight, especially with a swirl of prosciutto. Shortly after the second mischievous angel whispered in my ear, "Smokey Flatbread with Smokey Jalapeno". Aye yai yai... I will confess. I gave into my epicurean desires within the sacred walls of The Temple Bar.

Quality food. Quality drinks from drafts to cocktails to shots. And service is always great. Also very upscale looking in a not upscale part of town. Not going to lie, higher price tag but you get what you pay for.

On "Da Big Island", Hilo, is easily missed but worth the search! Outrageous Octopus Salad, a very decent bar and gregarious service! Inside, but open air small but efficient establishment worth the visit. Along that thought, stay over 2 or 3 nites to savor this side of the island

Fun dive bar on the Big Island! Good live music and friendly service. Many beers from which to choose. You know it's good when there are so many regulars hanging out. Got to watch the @MemphisGrizzlies win, too!

Everything was great! Service, food, and drinks! Location is right downtown and feels more like a bar in Oakland or San Francisco than Hilo but really liked it. Better for smaller groups or couples.

All the drinks we ordered was very good. The service was attentive and friendly. We ordered a couple of pupus (appetizers) and they were ok. I definitly would come here and order only drinks. The oysters were a little too salty, and the ceviche was good but was extremely small portioned.

The pandemic made everything change and either we like it or not adapting it is a must! When visiting Hilo expect that 24-hour eateries aren't a thing anymore and majority of them closes 9pm. And if you are looking until 10pm The Temple Bar is the few restaurants that do that. Goodness! We arrive Hilo downtown around 9pm and again I am super hungry and needed to eat. As aforementioned goodness they open until 10pm. We were greeted by a friendly woman and help us seated. T'was a pretty straightforward event. They handed us the menu, we took time to decide what to order and the waitress came over and took our orders. FOOD: Seared Oyster Mushrooms, locally grown oyster mushrooms with scratch made Marsala cream sauce is salty. Texture is so rich and I love the toasted garlic they topped on it. But they put extra salt on it and came out a bit off. Pan Fried Kalo & Cassava, locally grown kalo & cassava pan fried until crispy & served with chimichuri is good. But the definition used which is "crispy" doesn't match the food. It's more of a baked version. But taste good though and it's light for an evening grub which is just perfect for a late dinner. Torched Tako Salad - torched tako, arugula, crispy kalo, kalamata olives, parmesan and tossed in lemon juice & garlic rosemary olive oil. What a perfect salad for a pescatarian diet! Holy grail for my dinner at the time. With this alone I'm already full. Even my husband who don't like seafood loved it! The dressing elevate the salad even more. Seared Ribeye - hand cut premium ribeye with charred scallion, chimichurri & smoked maldon salt. Juiciest sliced ribeye for that day. Perfectly cooked through my bandit's request and is seasoned well. T'was a great pupus on their menu. Chimchurri sauce is the perfect dip for ribeye. Lemony and savory! Texture is really good and meat is tender. Drinks: Lime inDa Coconut for the man's drink and ginger beer for the lady. Customer service is efficient and topnotch. Ambiance is cozy and great place to chill with friends and lover. Though their specialty are wine & spirit, they still offer some kines to grab and non-alcoholic drinks to virgins. Overall, either you drink or not, I will recommend you to dine in here and experience its ambiance. Mahalo for reading & happy juandering fellow yeeps.

Great food, fun environment, good drinks! Every Saturday and Sunday they have $5 Bloody Mary/Maria specials all day! They have a jalapeño tequila they use the the bloody Maria and it is delicious and actually pretty spicy! I really enjoyed their house mix! They have flatbreads and oysters that are my usuals when I go here!

We had a great meal and wonderful specialty cocktails. Service was great and Cody, our server, went above and beyond to make our visit special. Highly recommend it.

Really attractive bar and light casual restaurant. Salads aren't huge but excellent. Ice cream "flight", all made in house, was terrific. Good service. Very friendly, even to a " senior couple" that may have not " fit in" to a typical bar. A+

The mixed drinks were fun and tasty but the price was higher than we expected even for being in Hawaii ($19 for a cocktail); so we didn't get any food and went elsewhere after our first. But the bartender was very friendly and I liked the open-air vibe the bar had with the front windows open.

Our first time to The Temples and won't be the last! The food was amazing! We had the flat bread, kumamoto oysters and the kobocha pumpkin; all very delicious. Very quaint and comfortable. Mixed drinks and food our pricey but worth it. The bartendress was also the server. She was very nice and welcoming. Can't wait to go again soon.

Always the best FRESH food, good vibe and amazing service!!! The specials rock, even though I'm a regular I'm never bored with the constant, amazing special options. It's a bar with an experience. If you looking for a night out with amazing service this is the best place in Hilo!!! Leyla is my favorite bartender, genuine, real conversation and always great drinks!