Umekes Fish Market Bar & Grill

Restaurant · Kailua Kona

Umekes Fish Market Bar & Grill

Restaurant · Kailua Kona
74-5599 Pawai Pl, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740

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Umekes Fish Market Bar & Grill by null
Umekes Fish Market Bar & Grill by null
Umekes Fish Market Bar & Grill by null
Umekes Fish Market Bar & Grill by null
Umekes Fish Market Bar & Grill by null
Umekes Fish Market Bar & Grill by null
Umekes Fish Market Bar & Grill by null
Umekes Fish Market Bar & Grill by null
Umekes Fish Market Bar & Grill by null
Umekes Fish Market Bar & Grill by null
Umekes Fish Market Bar & Grill by null
Umekes Fish Market Bar & Grill by null
Umekes Fish Market Bar & Grill by null
Umekes Fish Market Bar & Grill by null
Umekes Fish Market Bar & Grill by null
Umekes Fish Market Bar & Grill by null
Umekes Fish Market Bar & Grill by null
Umekes Fish Market Bar & Grill by null
Umekes Fish Market Bar & Grill by null
Umekes Fish Market Bar & Grill by null
Umekes Fish Market Bar & Grill by null
Umekes Fish Market Bar & Grill by null
Umekes Fish Market Bar & Grill by null
Umekes Fish Market Bar & Grill by null
Umekes Fish Market Bar & Grill by null
Umekes Fish Market Bar & Grill by null
Umekes Fish Market Bar & Grill by null
Umekes Fish Market Bar & Grill by null
Umekes Fish Market Bar & Grill by null
Umekes Fish Market Bar & Grill by null
Umekes Fish Market Bar & Grill by null
Umekes Fish Market Bar & Grill by null
Umekes Fish Market Bar & Grill by null
Umekes Fish Market Bar & Grill by null
Umekes Fish Market Bar & Grill by null
Umekes Fish Market Bar & Grill by null
Umekes Fish Market Bar & Grill by null
Umekes Fish Market Bar & Grill by null
Umekes Fish Market Bar & Grill by null
Umekes Fish Market Bar & Grill by null
Umekes Fish Market Bar & Grill by null
Umekes Fish Market Bar & Grill by null

Highlights

Umeke’s serves fresh, flavorful Hawaiian poke bowls and island favorites in a spacious, casual spot with a lively bar and live music.  

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74-5599 Pawai Pl, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740 Get directions

umekesrestaurants.com

$20–30 · Menu

Reserve

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74-5599 Pawai Pl, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740 Get directions

+1 808 238 0571
umekesrestaurants.com
Umekes
𝕏
@umekesfbandgril

$20–30 · Menu

Reserve

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Last updated

Jul 30, 2025

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Jenny Harris

Google
Best fish tacos I’ve had in a long time with a GF variation lettuce wrap. Amazing and we’re going back for poke nachos! The bar tender was very nice and funny, she made the visit even more enjoyable. No wait to sit at the bar if you don’t have kids with you, otherwise small wait time right at the start of happy hour.

Yulily

Google
05/10/2025 (Sat) We chose Umekes Fish Market Bar & Grill for the final dinner of our trip, as it’s said to be a popular local spot known for its fresh seafood. When we arrived around 7:00 PM, the restaurant was packed, and we were told there would be a 40–50 minute wait. Thankfully, we were seated in under 40 minutes. The restaurant has both indoor and outdoor seating, as well as a bar area. On that evening, the indoor seating was already full, and the outdoor area was lively despite the rainy weather. A tent covered the terrace, but rain from earlier had blown in from the sides, leaving some tables and the ground damp. Since we had already had a heavy meal earlier in the day, we weren’t very hungry. So we decided to share the Big Boy Plate ($32) and Poke Nachos ($24), along with two iced teas ($4.50 each). Despite the crowd, our food came out in about 20 minutes, which felt fairly quick. The staff were polite and friendly, though it was a bit difficult to get their attention when we wanted a refill on our drinks — understandably, as they were very busy. As for the food, everything seemed fresh, but we felt that the different scoops of marinated tuna on the Big Boy Plate, while seasoned individually, lacked distinct flavors and came across a bit too similar to each other. The natural quality and freshness of the tuna didn’t quite shine through as we had hoped. The poke nachos were decent, though the chips were slightly soggy. One of the highlights of the evening was the live band playing outside — they had a great sound and really lifted the atmosphere. They even extended their set, which made for an extra enjoyable vibe. By the time we left, the rain had cleared, and overall, it was a fun and memorable way to wrap up our trip.😊✨

Jennifer Zindler

Google
One of the best meals I've had...the big boy poke bowl was fantastic....my family akso loved the fish tacos and seafood pasta. Incredible desert and cocktails as well. Highly recommend!

Dylan Chitwood

Google
Food, service, this place had it all. We stopped in here for lunch and they were a bit busy but we were able to secure a spot at the bar. Our bartender, Liam, was probably the most energetic and personable server I've ever had. He really seemed like he enjoyed his job, which is hard to find nowadays. I had the Oho tacos (oh man, these are to die for) and my wife had one of the Poke bowls. We both very much enjoyed our food and the service was fantastic. I would say if you have a group larger than 5, call ahead and get your name on the list to minimize the wait time if at all possible.

Jon Ghoddoussi

Google
A friend told us this place was a must during our visit to the big island. She wasn't wrong! I had the poke bowl and my wife had the teriyaki beef bowl. The fish was great, super fresh and flavorful. Beef bowl was also very good! Service was fast and friendly, and the prices were great. Honestly it was one of the least expensive meals during our visit (where everything else seemed overpriced). In fact it was so good we returned for dinner that same day!

Ben Bergin

Google
Local family but still enjoy Umeke's! Good portion size means I usually have lunch leftovers. Delicious poke at a reasonable price! Great service! Outdoor area even has mistfor the heat! Live music can sometimes be a bit too loud inside but still a great spot!

Echelle Avelar

Google
We had this restaurant recommended by our tour guide as one of his favorites and it did not let down. 5 stars for sure!! Best fish tacos ever!! We were lucky to go on a Saturday with a wonderful band playing outside on the patio! It was a great date night and perfect end to our big island honeymoon 😍

David Kennedy

Google
We visited on our last trip. So, on this trip we went straight there after arriving at the airport. What a great plan. We were able to get a table in 15 minutes and the biggest problem was picking the entree. Several varieties of poke to meet different tastes. I picked the Caesar salad with Ahi...good pick. Nice relaxing location for poke.
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Eric J.

Yelp
I probably can't give the most thorough review because i ordered to go. But i had my uber go there on my way home. He didn't even need to park the food was served so quickly like i called it in The cashier lady didn't have to and still hooked me up with a container of sweetie pokie on the side for me to try after i couldn't decide what to get This has become the norm on this island. People are extra giving and friendly. Hard to choose which was better between the sweetie and the da avo. Loved both. Glad i got recommended this spot. Everything taste so fresh like they just caught it Next time I'll have to come in and sit down and get the full experience
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Stephanie T.

Yelp
My husband & I arrived at 8:30 but they were no longer using the waitlist so we sat at the bar. The bartender ladies were so friendly & they made such amazing drinks! Christie our bartender made their version of Pina colada & it tasted amazing, just like a dessert during Xmas. My plate was the poke flight. Their poke choices were only ahi. I asked for salmon poke for one of the 4 options & they allowed it. All poke were delicious: I chose Da Avo, hottie, P.O.D & Salmon sweetie. The POD catch of the day was blue marlin - it was my first time trying it in raw & it was so my favorite out of the 4! Would def return here if we come back to this island. Good service, good food, good vibes!
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Amy N.

Yelp
Traveling to Big Hawaii for the first time, and this was my first meal! My cousin and I each ordered a Big Boy Plate with Hawaiian poke and Da Avo poke and sides of lomi salmon and macaroni salad. We both agreed that the lomi salmon was the best part! It was basically salsa with fish and was so good! Both my cousin and I liked the Da Avo poke more than the Hawaiian. The Hawaiian flavor is very clear and allows you to better taste the tuna but it was very salty for both of us. It got saltier the more I kept eating and I ultimately was not able to finish it. Portion sizes for the plate were generous. The menu said "market price" for the big boy plate. Today each plate cost $32, which feels a little pricey for me. The passionfruit+orange+guava juice is refreshingly tangy and good! Not too sweet. Would recommend trying it! The restaurant has a parking lot but it was full when we went. We were lucky enough to find street parking pretty easily.
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Nathalie G.

Yelp
The BIG BOY PLATE at Umekes is a straight-up feast, and it's not playing around. We went for the HOTTIE (spicy aioli with onions) and DA AVO (avocado, onions, and creamy avocado aioli), and each bite was like a flavor punch to the face in the best way. The HOTTIE brings the heat, while DA AVO is smooth, creamy, and exactly what you want when you need comfort food that's still fresh. The sides were just as solid: LOMI SALMON was like a love letter from the sea, and the SPICY KRAB is your new best friend spicy, crispy, and totally addictive. Big plate. Big flavor. Big regrets when you can't finish it. Highly recommend.
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Vanessa H.

Yelp
Great place to have some fresh, local fish! Our server Andi was excellent -- he gave us great recommendations on the menu and even brought out samples of 3 different poke so I could try them before ordering. I ended up with The Hottie with a side of Lomi salmon and rice. It was delicious and the fish was so fresh! Our party also ordered the Cajun fish tacos and grilled shrimp -- both were well loved and devoured. We also got some ube cookies from here. We tried the white chocolate chip ube cookies and also the refrigerated crinkle cookies with Chantilly cream. I would highly recommend the crinkle cookies -- super soft cookie with a light chantilly cream in the middle. Super super yummy!
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Lesley D.

Yelp
Good cocktails, great poke. If you are visiting the island you will find the kids menu to be a breath of fresh air after paying obscene resort prices for kids meals.
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Kristen S.

Yelp
'Umeke's was one of a couple stops on a walking food and drink tour over a 3 day adventure in kailua-Kona. I had been on previous visits to Hawaii island, but this was the first time to their new storefront. We chose to takeout and indulged in the large poke bowl, which was plenty for 2 people to share for lunch. It included two scoops of rice, two scoops of poke (of any choice), and two salads. The fish is definitely fresh, and I am always thrilled to enjoy locally grown ingredients in our food when visiting--definitely try their ho'oilo salad!! There's a sit down restaurant on one half and outdoor tables on the takeout side. Ladies serving and behind the counter were incredibly friendly and gave great recommendations. Plenty of parking, so if you're not wanting to wait, to go is definitely a good option.
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Christine L.

Yelp
I'm a big food network fan, and when the Flavortown king (Guy Fieri) tells you to go somewhere you go! His recommendation was the fried Lau Lau, but instead I tried the regular, and also split the avocado tuna poke bowl and fresh catch of the day. The Lau Lau was good with tender pork and soft steamed taro leaves, I should've gotten the fried one though for some textural contrast. The poke though was incredible! So fresh and tasty! The catch of the day was ahi and it was served grilled- nice flavor and very tender. It was happy hour outside, so I also got a HH Mai Tai which was strong and tasty. Service was fine, if a bit slow, and luckily there wasn't a wait to be seated outside, but the inside was packed so definitely recommend making a reservation.
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Jacqueline M.

Yelp
We came here on the advice of Yelp! The ambiance was casual and modern. The staff are well trained as they immediately brought us water and greeted us. Our server was knowledgeable and friendly. I had an oyster shooter and it was tasty. We started with calamari and it was tender and the breading was crisp. We all got different dishes: I had the poke sampler. The poke was vibrant in my mouth and had plenty of flavor. My husband got the chicken teriyaki with rice and macaroni salad. My friend got the tofu. Our other friend tried the catch of the day which was Ono. The food was tasty, prices fair, and the service wonderful. We will be back soon, Mahalo!
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Kerwina S.

Yelp
Okay, this was the best food I had on the big island! Whether it's seafood or red meat, it's all delicious. Service was great and the ambiance is really chill. I ordered the combo plate - Pulehu beef & boneless kalbi ribs. Both meats were very tender. I barely had to chew. Ordering them together was honestly the perfect combo. The beef was more savory while the kalbi was a little sweeter marinade. Parking was pretty easy with the parking lot at the back but there is some street parking. It does get full fast so plan accordingly. Overall, this is my new fave & I will be returning!
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Linda S.

Yelp
This place was recommended to us by a local resident. They have won 12 years in a row for best poke bowls. We had the option of indoor or outdoor seating. The place had a fun bar located in the center of the restaurant. We had Andy and he was helpful with our decision making. We ordered the chef's POD (poke of the day). We enjoyed all of the dishes. The bill was taken care of at the table which was convenient. They serve breakfast too.
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Ashley H.

Yelp
There were some mixed reviews online. However, with limited option in Big Island, we decided to give it a try. And we were pleasantly surprised!! The two of us got the big boy plate and the mixed plate with Galbi & the ahi katsu. The Big Boy Plate was 2 scopes of poke and the poke was great, one of the best ones we had during the trip. And the ahi katsu was also fried to perfection and galbi was favored perfectly. We also had 2 drinks, the Coolacoda and the Big Island Mai Tai. And we love both of the drinks. I would recommend people coming here. Very good and stable option. The menu was so big, we wanted to come back to try more things.
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Robert K.

Yelp
The calamari here is as good as anything that has passed over my lips. So tender. Cut with a fork. Melts in your mouth. Dreamy even! WoW! It is a must order item .
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Ai Vy N.

Yelp
One of our favorite restaurants on the Big Island that we visit every time we come to Hawaii! If you want the freshest, delicious seafood that's also reasonably priced, this is it! Everytime we come here we would order at least 4-5 dishes total cuz everything just sounds so good on the menu. Our go to dishes are Get in My Belly, Umekes Ahi Fish Tacos, and Poke Nachos. The portions are huge so great to share! The restaurant is popular but also pretty spacious so most of the time you don't have to wait too long to get seated. This past visit, our toddler being a toddler and accidently knocked over my mil's wine glass. The hostess, our waitress, and the bartender were all so nice and understanding. They quickly helped us clean up and even offered a replace glass to my mil free of charge. If you're on the Big Island, especially Kona, definitely come here at least once. You won't regret it.
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KJ E.

Yelp
I am so happy I came to Umekes and enjoyed all the pork lau lau and mac salad my little heart desires. Slow cooked goodness. I prob could've used more mac salad? But I always feel like that. My friends and Uber driver suggested I come, and happy I followed suit. I devoured EVERYTHING. Other notes: Easy bar seating for one! And when I came across the Umekes at the Kona airport? I bought more mac salad and their ube cookies for said friends
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Vivian H.

Yelp
Came here for a weekday lunch and had a little wait. We ordered the kalua pork nachos and ahi katsu - both really good! We did not finish the wonton chips but enjoyed the seaweed salad on the nachos. The katsu was a treat and loved the ho'io salad - our first time trying it. Very filling meal, huge portions. Good beer selection too - I had a rotating sour. Service was great. Inside is nicer I think - it's usually a little hot and humid outside inland and it's a street view. We snagged gift cards while we were at Costco which also can cover gratuity apparently so you can easily spend $100. Few days later returned to pick up some poke from their takeout market. Got the big boy poke plate to share, and was surprisingly disappointed. Ahi was good but man both our poke choices were SO salty. Believe we had the kanaka and sesame/avo special. MP was ~$33.
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Ken G.

Yelp
It was my first time here and, overall, this was a good spot for tasty and fresh fish. I had the Hottie poke as a bowl, with brown rice and seaweed salad. The poke was fresh and well seasoned. With the rice and salad, it was a good portion for a satisfying meal, although if you were very hungry, you'd probably want to order something additional. The service was friendly and the atmosphere was lively - most of this part of the island is very quiet in the evening and this place is definitely busy with people. Umeke's is very popular, so if you go during peak hours, be prepared for a bit of a wait.
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Darren O.

Yelp
Always our go to. The best Hawaiian comfort food i know of. The Hottie and the Sweetie are two of the best Poke's we've ever had. Like butter- so fresh. I can't tell you how good this is! Hope this place never changes! It's the bomb! If you were a fan of da kitchen on Maui, you'll love Umeke's!
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Jonna G.

Yelp
Our first meal when we arrived. We got seated outside which was nice! Food: - Poke nachos: This dish was just everything! We enjoyed every bite we had. We got to choose which poke we wanted so we just opted for the chef's choice. We loved how everything was portioned out. Kona Mixed Plate: we decided to get ahi katsu and pulehu beef. It also came with a side of mac salad. The Mac salad was not my favorite. I was more on the vinegar side which I'm not used too. However. The pulehu beef was tender and the ahi katsu was delicious.
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Millena P.

Yelp
DAY 2 of Vacation - After a long day filled with activities, we wanted to end our day right with a fulfilling meal. My bf and I had this spot saved a while ago while doing research, so we were excited to try it. Parking: There is free street parking. We visited on a Friday night, and finding a spot was a bit difficult. We had to park pretty far down. Ambiance/Environment: They have a large space with plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. We requested to sit outside. Great for groups of all sizes. They had a live performer which made our evening more enjoyable. Service: We didn't get our server's name, but she was patient, efficient, and knowledgable about the menu. She checked on us a couple times. Throughput took a while; we waited almost 25 minutes for our food. What we ordered: 1) Poke Bowl - I ordered this. I decided to go with the chef's choice. All their poke is made with freshly caught ahi. I also chose to eat this with brown rice and mac salad. I was speechless when I took a bite of the poke. It just hits different on the islands. You can tell it's fresh. I really enjoyed my dish. 2) Ahi Katsu - My BIL ordered this with white rice and Lomi Salmon. He agreed with me that fish on the islands hit different. I tried one of the ahi katsu, and it was crispy and delicious. The Lomi Salmon contained diced tomatoes, onions, and salted sockeye salmon. I didn't try this part, but my BIL said he liked it. 3) Boneless Kalbi Short Ribs - My bf ordered this with brown rice and Lomi Salmon. This dish contained 5 hour braised beef with their signature kalbi sauce. I tried one of the beef; it was cooked medium rare, soft, and filled with flavor. My bf completely devoured his dish, so safe to say he enjoyed it. 4) Grilled Teriyaki Chicken - Our parents ordered this with white rice and spicy krab. Their dish came with grilled chicken thigh marinated in their signature Hawaiian teriyaki sauce. The spicy krab was imitation crab tossed in spicy aioli. They gave me a piece of their chicken and some imitation crab to try. The teriyaki chicken tasted as expected, and the krab was definitely spicy.
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Rob B.

Yelp
Was so excited to visit but admittedly a little crestfallen. The reception and service were obviously unhappy to be there, maybe ad it was January 2nd. Despite being told it was a 15-20 minutes wait ; were seated in 5 minutes, don't go by the hostess. Unfortunately, my Kalbi was even saltier than the staff. Ahi Katsu fried to a hard fish cracker. Not giving up, everyone has an off day. On a positive note the Ho'io salad was fantastic!
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Kaleo L.

Yelp
Food was superb. Definitely recommend anything on the menu especially with fish (I sampled my friends dishes). Service was friendly and we could get four of us seated quickly on a Saturday night. My only critique is that I got the burger, but it wasn't served with a knife to cut it which should be standard for a big sized burger like that one. I asked my server for one, but by the time I got it I had already eaten most of it. I guess that shows how good it tasted though.
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Chelsea W.

Yelp
This placed looked popular so we thought it was good option for fresh fish in Kona! I had the sweet and sour fish which was ok. I didn't like the sauce and it was served on the side which I thought was weird. The fish was crispy! I really liked the calamari and the sauce on that. We sat outside on the patio but it's in a business park so it's not the nicest ambiance. Service was good but this was the ONLY time on my two week trip to Hawaii I felt like the server didn't like us because we were tourists.
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Eli C.

Yelp
I went here about 7 years ago and they have since moved to a much larger building near Kona Brewery. There are lots of options with tuna, salmon, shrimp, etc and sides. There is something for everyone! We just got takeout. When you enter from the parking lot you can go straight into the restaurant or to the right is a glass case with poke, sides, and a case with canned and bottled drinks to go. There is a special of the day as well. We ended up getting some half pound containers to try several. 1.25 pounds of three kinds of poke and a side of rice was $38. They also have plates you get with poke rice and side(s). It tastes very fresh and much better than what we've got at the grocery stores. Highly recommend! Employees were friendly and there were lots of smiles!
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Kenneth T.

Yelp
Been here before and the poke was subpar. A group of friends went and highly recommended Umekes. Hence I'm back to give it a try again. Unfortunately, the poke was subpar. Yes, the Da Avo poke is tasty but overdressed that I couldn't really taste the poke and the poke wasn't as tender. I've since found another poke location that I'll rather go anytime over Umekes The two redeeming things from the poke blunder are the boneless kalbi and seafood pasta. The kalbi was delicious! Tender and full of flavor, plus reasonably priced. Same goes for the seafood pasta. Our toddler chow down the pasta very quickly and we enjoyed the grilled fish - juicy, melts in your mouth, and the flavor was phenomenal. Verdict, I won't be back for their poke, but I will be back for their seafood pasta and boneless kalbi.
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Sydni K.

Yelp
Umeke's is one of my go-to spots in Kona for their solid poke, as well as other dishes. I came here for lunch on a Wednesday right when they opened, and good thing we did because it was packed when we were leaving. I got the fish tacos, which were so ono! There was a generous portion of fish, the dressing was flavorful, and there was a good amount of crunch from the cabbage. The best thing was that the fish was juicy! We also got an order of poke nachos to share. I loved the wonton chips. Poke here is always super fresh and never fishy. This is one of my favorite places for poke, but I definitely recommend coming early!
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Darlene M.

Yelp
HIGHLY RECOMMEND. Umekes Fish Market Bar & Grill did not disappoint. We were a group of six, and we were seated immediately. It was our first visit, and our server was very helpful. Our table shared the POKE NACHOS with wonton chips with seaweed salad, lomi salmon, garlic aioli & unagi glaze. I ordered the KONA MIXED PLATE with choice of any 2 entrees listed above. I chose the pulehu beef & garlic shrimp - such a great choice. I would order it again! Yes, it's a more expensive dining experience but you get what you pay for. And, it's worth it! I would definitely be back.
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Joshua B.

Yelp
It was only a few minutes to get an outdoor seat. The service was excellent and friendly and atmos0here was casual. There was even a stray cat navigating around the tables, which Didnt bother anyone. I ordered a Coconut Hiwa Porter. I'm not really big on porters but wanted something local and this was an excellent choice. For appetizer we chose the grilled oysters. My wife and I was extremely pleased with these and the seasoning was wonderful. For the main course I went with the pulehu beef cooked to a perfect medium rare and seasoned to perfection as well. It was very tender. I went with the mac salad side, which was okay but I'd probably order a different side next time around. For dessert we shared a lilikoi cheesecake. Not bad, but neither of us could taste the lilikoi as much as we hoped. They also offered Ube ice cream and my wife had a bit of regret not going with that option, but that is something we can get back home as well.
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Denise H.

Yelp
First impressions - long line outside the restaurant so it must be good! Live music as we walk up, and there was open bar seating. Bartenders were really kind and we were chatting it up with the other patrons. The food was pretty good - I fulfilled my poke craving for the day with the poke nachos, and then we had the surf and turf. I thought the fish of the day was a little too salty for my liking, but my partner thought everything was tasty. If I go back, I'd like to try the other poke types!
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Candie S.

Yelp
Key lime pie. If anything, you need to go here just for this. It is fantastic!! But in all seriousness, we went in on a Friday night and didn't have reservations so we sat at the bar. Colin was our bartender and he was great. We ordered the fish and chips and the flat iron steak. Everything was delicious and I'm so glad we got the pie!! It's a very generous portion so be sure to save room!
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Sarah M.

Yelp
Poke bowls and a side of wonton chips. The fish is so good that even though we had to wait two hours before we could eat it because we almost missed our flight home, it was some of the best poke we've had. And we live in Hawaii. The restaurant is cute with a whole wall mural and local art. The servers were nice even though it was very busy and we ordered to go. No pics cause we were eating in the car on the way home.
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Elgin W.

Yelp
The service staff is amazing. The food looks like a work of art. The location was great, near downtown Kona. There's a karaoke lounge, across the street, we plan to attend tonight afterwards. Love this location. My lovely lady is in awe of the food.
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Gerald L.

Yelp
Very cool place with indoor and outdoor seating. They also have a place where you can buy food to go. And of course, all the touristy T-shirts and hats. The food was a different story. The fried calamari and poke appetizers were really good. But the Lau lau and tuna melt were not good. The waitress was very nice though. And the musician was a guitarist singer/soloist and was playing music from classic rock to the grunge 1990's.
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Leila D.

Yelp
Must stop when in the Big Island. Super ono! Poke flight was the best to taste a variety. Great bar and vibes. Was out in the lanai area so super busy. I saw Guy Fieri's pic on the wall so it's DDD approved
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Mel Y.

Yelp
Great food, cute but busy restaurant, and nice staff. Umekes is in an area with other shops and restaurants and was quite busy on a Saturday night. Good mix of locals and tourists. Lots of fresh items to choose from and good portion sizes. Not the cheapest meal but definitely worth it! Would highly recommend, especially their tacos and poke.
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Angela W.

Yelp
Poke is fresh and amazing. We ordered 2 types of poke with rice and mac salad. Couldn't finish my plate. After awhile the poke and mac salad had the same texture in my mouth. I wanted something different to go with it. Perhaps kalua pig or a salad next time. Didn't have to wait long to get a table at lunch on Saturday.
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Denise F.

Yelp
Waiting on my family to arrive in Hawaii we found this little gem. It was in a nice area in Kona with other restaurants and bars next door. We chose this place because we were hungry and wanted some seafood. We sat at the bar and had a nice porter and shared a meal. Fish of the day with macaroni salad it was delicious.
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Kami H.

Yelp
Great vibe inside and out. You can dine in or order take out which is great! Saw the yelp reviews and was excited to try this place. The service - we felt like they only had one waitress for the entire restaurant. We saw runners but many other tables like us looking for our waitress. She never came back to check on us until 3/4 of our meal was finished after a runner dropped it off. My son's calamari was cold by the time he could even ask for additional sauce, which the calamari needed. The calamari was crunchy and cooked to perfection just lacked a bit of seasoning and needed more sauce. The Garlic Shrimp was cooked well but again lacking seasoning. The Poke Bowl was a bit bland for my taste and have had much better here in Kona. The Tuna however was VERY fresh and almost melted on your tongue. Just be careful if you don't like raw onion. When I finally got a chance to ask our waitress why she didn't mention raw onion in the daily special, as I would have chosen something else, her response was all their poke have raw onion. I think this is something that should be mentioned when describing a daily special. Had I been allergic, we could have a really bad experience. Now if you like raw onion, you will like their poke bowls. I personally didn't enjoy my dish because everything including the tuna tasted of raw onion. Now for the star of the table - the fish tacos with ahi. Absolutely delicious! Well seasoned ahi and great portion size on each taco. We all wish we ordered the fish tacos!
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Betty C.

Yelp
We chose this place because so many others were already closed by the time we left for dinner. So glad we gave it a try. Everyone was happy with the tastes. The daily special of the fried fish was a smaller portion than my hubby would've liked. So dessert was ordered at the end of the meal and enjoyed. Service was friendly. They added a 20% gratuity charge because we had 7 people (6 or more incurs the fee). We paid cash to avoid 3% credit card service charge.
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Carolyn D.

Yelp
Loved the fish tacos, probably the best one we've tried in a while. The kanaka poke was a bit fishy so we opted to get double of the sweetie poke which the waitress graciously allowed us to switch out. Overall it seems like the fish quality could be a hit or miss here. I'd stick to the non poke items next time
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Hope B.

Yelp
The food was incredible. Almost everything was cooked to perfection. The chicken teriyaki was tender, seasoned well and the teriyaki sauce had the right blend of sweetness and saltines. Then sweetie and avo (avocado) poke just melted in your mouth. It was tender (perfect texture), fresh, and seasoned to perfection. The calamari was out of this world. The breading was light and perfectly seasoned. The calamari itself was fresh, tender and had the perfect texture. Both aioli's made the perfect sauce and the cabbage bed gave it a nice crunch. There was plenty of parking. When we came during lunch then another time for dinner, we found parking right away. It's in a private lot but there's also curbside. For lunch we waited 5-7 minutes and there was no wait for dinner (inside seating) but 15-20 minute wait for the outside seating. The hostess was welcoming. Make sure sure you put your name on the waiting list via the iPad. The service was great in both occasions. The servers were friendly and mindful. The only downside was the kabli beef. Though it was tender and seasoned perfectly, it was in the dry side. I probably wouldn't order that next time. Taken everything in consideration, definitely 4.5 stars for rating. Since there's no .5 (lol), Umeke's gets a 5-star. Definitely recommend.
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Daniel Y.

Yelp
Food quantity is 5/5 Food quality is 4/5 -- a little salty imo Ambiance is 4.5/5 Pricing is standard. Expect to spend $20-$30 something for lunch per person. Would definitely come back.
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Sophia W.

Yelp
This place was super busy when we went but there are a lot of shops around to visit while we waited. The portions are generous, we definitely had leftovers. The flavors were on point, very fresh ingredients. Docked a star for slow service of food and not as much attention from the waitress but overall would go again.
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Art C.

Yelp
We did takeout from here. Waited a long-ass time too. Was very pricey... they overcharged us for something so had to go back and get that fixed. You'd think with all the rigmarole we would rate this place lower... But nope, the food was excellent. Excellent all-around. Every dish... Pricey but very, very good. So whatever... I'll give them the nod.
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Ellen L.

Yelp
Very Nice servers, professional and attentive, food is ok. I would recommend that the patio furniture and grounds be washed and cleaned. FYI $115.00 for lunch. 2 cocktails 1 poke bowl, 1 fish and chips.
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Uni C.

Yelp
I visited Umekes Fish Market Bar & Grill and had a great experience! Known for their fresh seafood and Hawaiian flavors, this spot really delivers on quality and taste. We tried their poke bowls and grilled fish plates, and everything was super fresh and flavorful. The poke was well-seasoned, with generous portions of fish, and the toppings added a nice variety of textures. The grilled fish was cooked perfectly, with a tender, flaky texture and just the right amount of seasoning. The atmosphere at Umekes is relaxed and casual, with a friendly island vibe that makes you feel right at home. Service was attentive and efficient, which made the experience even better. If you're in the area and craving fresh, delicious seafood with Hawaiian flair, Umekes Fish Market Bar & Grill is definitely worth checking out!
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Keila P.

Yelp
If you plan on going here, I recommend you make a reservation if you have a larger party. Overall my party had a good experience. We walked up and joined the waitlist, we waited about 45 minutes. We were seated outside which was good for socializing and enjoying the weather. They were busy so service was a bit slow, we were on vacation so we didn't mind. I was a big fan of the calamansi cocktail, I would be interested in returning to try the other drinks. Mahalo
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Gen B.

Yelp
2.5 stars. I should have trusted Yelp and looked for something else when I saw they had a 4.1. But folks recommended Umekes, so we tried it. It was disappointing overall. The service was lacking and the food was standard -- in short, it doesn't justify the prices. We tried the calamari, garlic shrimp, and lau lau. I was expecting more traditional calamari, not thick strips with heavy breading as served here. The garlic shrimp and lau lau were nothing special -- I've had better elsewhere. If I remember correctly, just these three dishes were pushing $100 before the tip. Our waitress walked by three times, making eye contact each time, before even greeting us and bringing water. It took a long time to get our food once we ordered and waters went without refills for a while. Even putting in your name (and then trying to flag someone down after you get a text that your table is ready) was self service. They also charge a sneaky 3% credit card processing fee (it's in the fine print on the bill), which is pretty ridiculous because it would be difficult to cover their prices with cash. The bad service was more memorable than the food. I suggest looking elsewhere!
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Jim L.

Yelp
Great large bowls with lots of food, but a little expensive for the poke. About 10 tables that are large enough to hold 4 kids and 4 adults, we squeezed one more little butt on a bench. Basically an upgrade of bento with higher quality fresh fish. The mac salad has large potatoes, the kalbi was too little for thr price, but probably because beef prices shot up. Cajun flavored fish tacos are worth it. They have a deli too, if you want just their high quality poke. Service was great nice staff. Chill bar vibe. Will come back, best in area, only better if you find mom and pop store that makes it from scratch too.