Puka Puka Kitchen

I have entered Puka Puka Kitchen's doorway numerous times over the past few years, and I have always left satisfied. Located on Kamehameha Avenue in downtown Hilo, this tiny restaurant offers a diverse menu, flavor-packed food, and a charming place to watch the bustle of Hilo town.

Puka Puka's menu caters to everyone. HawCC student Lilli Royale appreciates their vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options. For vegan food lovers, they offer a falafel pita ($8.66), a vegetable curry ($9.39), a vegetable don plate ($9.39), and a large green salad ($7.29). Meat-lovers will appreciate the chicken katsu, barbequed chicken, or local lamb plates ($10-12 each). Ahi plates and breaded and deep-fried shrimp, oyster, and scallop plates await the seafood aficionado ($11-12 each). Puka Puka also makes a variety of to-go bentos, but these are so popular that they are often sold out before lunch!

Royale also loves Puka Puka because "They put more flavor into their food."

After enjoying a falafel pita at Puka Puka, I agreed with Royale. I had my choice of French fries, sautéed garlic rice, or salad on the side, and I'm glad that I chose the salad. Every vegetable in the salad seemed to have said to me, "I've had a wonderful life, and you are lucky to be eating me." The tomatoes were luscious, the bell pepper slices juicy, and the celery curled into fun shapes. Gracing this work of art was a salad dressing with a subtle, pleasing tang.

UH Hilo student Jerilee Negrillo, who served as co-reviewer, ordered the chicken katsu. This plate is served with both sautéed garlic rice and salad.

Without hesitation, she said "The chicken katsu gets an ‘A.'"

Every seat in Puka Puka has a great view of coconut palms and the foot traffic of downtown Hilo. This makes the restaurant a wonderful place to end a shopping tour, to people watch, or meet up with friends. This restaurant may be small in size, but the menu has an item to please every palette, and the food here bursts with flavor, freshness, and nutrition.