This was published 6 years ago
Hilo, Hawaii places to eat: Chef Roy Ellamar 's seven dishes you must try
Ahi poke bowl on brown rice.Credit: Shutterstock
STRAWBERRY MOCHI, TWO LADIES KITCHEN
Fresh local strawberries wrapped in the most tender mochi and Japanese adzuki beans. Ask for Nora Uchida, the owner and genius behind these artisanal, handmade "only in Hilo" creations. (No website. Kilauea Ave, Hilo.)
CARAMEL AND CHOCOLATE-DIPPED SHORTBREAD COOKIES, BIG ISLAND CANDIES
Mochi-wrapped strawberry and azuki bean.
This is a must-stop for anyone visiting Hilo. Its cookies and confections are a constant "omiyagi" gift. You can watch the ladies hand dip each cookie as you peruse the shop and sip on complimentary Kona coffee. See bigislandcandies.com
FRESH COCONUT, HILO FARMERS' MARKET'S THE FRESH COCONUT GUY
Tourists and locals queue up to watch in awe as the "Coconut Guy" masterfully skins and hacks open a fresh coconut held in one hand and a giant machete in the other. Make this your first stop at the market and enjoy sipping on the ice-cold juice while you shop for the most amazing produce at one of the best farmers' markets in the country. See hilofarmersmarket.com
Loco Moco, a traditional Hawaiian dish of teriyaki flavored ground beef patty and a fried egg on a bed of rice, smothered in gravy.Credit: Shutterstock
NORI CHICKEN/CONE SUSHI, KAWAMOTOS
A true local gem and pride of Hilo, Kawamotos lunch shop is one of the last true okazuya in Hawaii. Okazuya is a type of quick-serve lunch shop that was born in Hawaii during the plantation era. Here you can pick up a "box lunch" to take to the beach or picnic. Make sure to go early before 8am as the Nori Chicken runs out early. Sweet soy marinated boneless chicken thighs wrapped in nori and dredged in mochi flour then deep fried. Also, their Cone Sushi is one of the best around. Seasoned sushi rice is stuffed into a tofu skin and is a true study in balance of sweet, salty and sour. This is my kind of comfort food. See kawamotostore.com
LOCO MOCO, CAFE 100
The loco moco was invented in Hilo and now is a staple across Hawaii and Hawaiian restaurants on the mainland. Steamed rice, grilled hamburger patty, fried egg and brown gravy. This is where it all began and it has a whole menu dedicated to it with creative variations on this Hilo classic. See cafe100.com
MY MUM'S PUTO
My mum makes the most creative and flavourful Puto I know. Puto is a Filipino steamed rice cake – it can be sweet or savoury. My mum makes sweet ones flavoured with coconut, lilikoi (passion fruit), mango and a slew of tropical flavours.
POKE BOWL, SUISAN FISH MARKET
The best poke bowl in Hilo, and maybe even all of Hawaii. The fish comes straight off the boat and into the shop for the freshest poke around. Get a bowl with brown rice, Ahi Shoyu poke and avocado, then go to the park behind the shop and watch the boats go in and out of Hilo Bay. See suisan.com
The Harvest by Roy Ellamar restaurant in The Bellagio hotel, Las Vegas, showcases New American cuisine and seasonal menus inspired by regional farms and chef Roy Ellamar's upbringing in Hawaii. See bellagio.com
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