Big Island Brewhaus
64-1066 Mamalahoa Hwy, Kamuela, HI, 96743
Big Island Brewhaus Menu
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant menu details.
Visit below restaurant in Kamuela for healthy meals suggestion.
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant blood pressure menu details.
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant cholesterol menu details.
Sorry, we don't have Q&A for this restaurant.
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
-
Address :
64-1066 Mamalahoa Hwy
Kamuela, HI, 96743 - Phone (808) 887-1717
- Website https://bigislandbrewhaus.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 8:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
Categories
Mexican Cuisine
If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.
Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.
Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
Looky Weed - Buy Marijuana Online
Looky Weed is here to help you navigate the maze of legalized marijuana. We provide you with a complete dispensary directory.
John M.
Pretty good beers for Hawaii. Lots of good ratings but still looking for a great IPA? Excellent service. Wonderful,people. Good Mexican food. Check it out.
(4)Pocho D.
STAY AWAY! This has got to be the worst Mexican restaurant. But what makes it even worst is the service. We could've eaten at a fine dining restaurant nearby and gotten out faster. Server uses an iTouch to take your orders and he said it was faster that way, then their old system. I can't imagine their old system! We waited over 35 minutes for our food, only for mine to come out wrong. I had one cheese enchilada and one chicken. It came out one cheese and a chile releno! How can you get that wrong?? I thought maybe I ordered it wrong, but my friend said no you totally said one cheese one chicken and the waiter noted it in on his iTouch. So back my food went and 10 minutes later the correct order came out. No one ever apologized for it. Then after eating it took us, I'm not lying, another 20 minutes to get our check. This after I had to ask someone for it! Then another 10 minutes for him to run the card. I never tip less than 15-20% but he only got 12% and that was being generous. My food was served cold, except for the chicken enchilada which was served warm. My friends fish burrito was "just okay." GO SOMEWHERE ELSE!!!!
(1)Nicole D.
So this place pulls a black and white split in terms of reviews. Today Sunni was our waitress and she was great. This seems to be the bigger sticking point of poor reviews. I'm from Phx so I assume "Mexican" food outside the Southwest is not authentic. Keep that in mind and the food is fine. The one issue is they seem to frequently be "out" of menu items. My dad liked his beer and everyone's food was fine. The salsas are by far their highlight. In all, it's worth going. Ask for Sunni!!
(4)Jason H.
Beer selection is incredible! You can taste the love in each pint. With awesome beer I thought the food might be left wanting but I was wrong. The food was great. The staff we're passionate about the beer and knowledgable about their brews. The Hoptopias IPA is one of the tastiest beers I've ever had. Highly recommend!!!
(5)Timothy N.
We have lived close to Kamuela for years and had never eaten at this place. Today we decided we would try it. As we were seated, the server brought us the standard fare at Mexican restaurants, chips and salsa. I didn't think the chips were bad actually, tasted homemade. The salsa, although comfortably spicy had little to no flavor, not even tomato flavor. More like watered down tomato paste flavor. I couldn't eat it. We then ordered guacamole, bad mistake. It tasted like no guacamole I have ever had. The flavor was so absolutely weird I can't even describe it in human terms! I wanted to say just gross, but my dining companion disagreed, but thought it was also very weird and didn't taste very good at all. Each time I tried to order something I was told I could not change anything as it had all been pre made! Taco Bell (if you can call it Mexican food) can serve MADE TO ORDER food, yet this place pre makes their burritos, enchiladas, Chimichangas, all made ahead of time. Absolutely NO Mexican restaurant I have ever been to in my life serves pre made entres, NONE! What is the problem BI Brewhaus?? I really wanted to like this place, I had such high hopes, but alas like many of the Big Islands restaurants they serve horrid food! I don't know where the people giving such glowing reviews have ever experienced Mexican food that they could compare this place to and think this place is good. But I can tell you that Mexican food, much like pizza is at least good even when it's bad and I've eaten a lot of it. I can't even say that about this place. I'm SO disappointed. I was warned it wasn't your typical Mexican food, which isn't true actually. It is typical Mexican food, just very very bad Mexican food in my opinion. I have no idea what their beers are like. My guess is they concentrate more on that than the food sadly.
(2)Greg H.
Go for the beer!! Great Taps and a pour for every beer palate. Food was not great but solid as well. We happened in on a Thursday night for this visit and the only thing I can say is go any other time!!!! Must have been open mic night, tone def singers and way too loud. If I was not dying for their beer, I would have gone elsewhere, since outside seating was packed. Buy a growler and take some of their fine beer home.
(4)Jay V.
We ate here twice over our week stay on the Big Island. Limeade is awesome. Fish tacos are tasty. Salsas are very good. Prices are just right. Service was great both times, and we went on a Saturday night around 7 p.m. and it was jumping! I will be back, if I get back...
(5)Aaron M.
The 5 stars is for the beer. I think it is better than Kona. The food is not bad either. I appreciate that their hottest sauce is actually kind of hot. This isn't close to the best Mexican food ever, but their burritos are pretty solid, standard Mexican restaurant quality. Pleasant dining and drinking environment too. Don't get a chili relleno though.
(5)Mary M.
Great Beer, fast and yummy! Super friendly service! I had the fish tacos:)
(4)Samsonite B.
This place does not understand customer service. Waited 45 minutes before beer arrived. Food was delivered before the first glass of water or beer hit the table. Food was good. Beer was experimental, which is good in some ways but not refined like the Oregon brews.
(2)Mark E.
Awful This place wouldn't last a week in a place that had any sort of even standard issue Mexican food for competition. I ordered the fish tacos with beans and rice and it was the driest plate of food I think I've ever had. There was not an ounce of moisture on that plate. The beans were more like marbles and the rice had the texture of dry oatmeal. The service was pretty terrible on top of it all.
(1)Terence M.
Minibrew beers pretty good. I found the smokey flavor of the Paka Bock very interesting. I also enjoyed the White Mountain Porter. I'm not a fan of Mexican food (actually I tend to avoid Mexican food), so I can't really comment on the food, but I would certainly return for drinks.
(4)Josh M.
Sad day for the BI Brewhaus... Service was horrible, and as a result the beer came out warm, water didn't make it out until the food, and the food took forever... Bottom line, increase your staffing and improve your service!
(1)Marc W.
A three plus but definitely not a four. I love dive-bars but a place int the tropics needs air conditioning or it needs to be completely open-air. Choices here are inside or picnic tables under a carport. The picnic tables would've been fine if screened, but there were tons of flies. On the plus side, the food is outstanding and the beer is pretty good.
(3)M L.
The beer is a 5. The service is a 0. I've been coming here for years, have family that live nearby. Service was always good.......however, it has gone to hell!! The servers are not happy to be there, you have to ask for another beer...after your glass has been empty for 10 minutes. Kind of a bummer, used to love coming here. Can't deal with poor service!! Wait, scratch the previous review....it's worse. Just saw a waitress grab a french fry off a plate and dip it in the fundito sauce AND then watched the other waitress bring it to a table........are you kidding me!!?? Disappointed, this used to be a favorite place.....will not go back now. Too bad, this was an unbelievably poor experience!
(1)Chuck K.
Killer place! Very eclectic! Have been a home brewer for 23 years and the beer was fantastic...we vacation in Hawaii twice a year and wherever we go we check out the microbreweries...good food...we liked the setting so much that we paid for a couple local kids dinner without telling them...they sat next to us about half way through their meal and talked to us very friendly...very friendly local place! Will come back here on our next trip!
(5)Charles G.
I really have a love hate relationship with this place. The beer is great the atmosphere is comfortable, the service is ok and the food is not very good. If the food was better I would rank this my favorite place on the Island if not for the food. If this was just me I would let it be but it's everyone I know that comes here. But the truth is the beer is world class and I will still stop by once a week or so.
(4)Albert H.
Wow - actual decent craft brew in Hawaii. And by that, I mean something like a dozen taps, all made there on site, and as far as I can tell, all *GREAT* quality beer, true to style. It doubles as a reasonable Mexican restaurant - our fish taco was generously sized, though not quite as flavorful as some. But the beer - these folks have it down.
(5)Michael P.
That elusive fifth star is only better food away. I can't say enough about this wonderful brewhaus' craft beers. Every beer I tasted in the flight was delicious and unique. If you are headed to the Big Island for vacation or you're a local who hasn't discovered this place, do yourself a favor and try it! The food really is not terrible. It's American-style Mexican food. It's just not as special as the beer which really throws the low quality into contrast. A Kobe beef burger or a delicious club sandwich would do the real attraction to Big Island more of a favor. The only con of note is that due to the small size and how crowded it seems to get, service is not awesome. But as long as you go knowing what to expect you'll have a great time downing some delicious locally made brews.
(4)Jono L.
I eat here a lot. Every time I find myself in Waimea, I seem to find myself sitting here. Not sure if this is a Mexican restaurant with great beer or a bar with home brewed beers and great Mexican food. No matter. Eat here when you are on the island. I'll be the bald guy at the corner table flirting with the waitresses.
(5)William C.
Great fish tacos and the beer was a wonderful compliment to the food. Definitely recommend!
(5)Roger R.
Didn't eat here but the food looked and smelled good. A very wide variety of good beer. Friendly staff and reasonable prices. Reminds me of Sierra Nevada before it got fancy.
(5)Adam D.
We stopped here as a midway point between Waipio valley and Kona. Coming from San Francisco, I wasn't expecting much in the way of Mexican food, but Brewhaus proved to be up to the task. I got an enchilada and chile verde combination plate that was delicious. The green salsa for the chips is also a selling point.
(4)B.B. W.
We live locally and went to the Brewhaus for dinner with friends. We've been there many times as we enjoy the casualness of the restaurant and the variety of beer is always good. This was a particularly disappointing experience, starting with the service. We waited a very long time for someone to take our orders, one of the food orders was wrong, and there was no offer to compensate for that. Of particular annoyance to us, however, was the table next to us. The diners brought their very large dog who was quite curious and did not do particularly well at sitting or lying quietly. Our aim was to go out, enjoy our friends and have a nice dinner. I doubt we'll go back. While none of us have anything against dogs, we don't want to go out and practically share a table with one.
(2)BRUCE S.
Great beers, ok food. Caution -the tostada salad is TINY! The best reason to go here is for their award winning beers.
(4)David L.
An amazing variety of brews for such a small place. I was able to sample all 14 currently on tap and there were two more due out soon. Blackhole and Golden Sabbath were both very good. Food was better than expected from such a small place. A taco hut in Hawaii would normally be taunting the volcano, but this was great! I don't know how common it is to use cinnamon in black beans but I'm a fan now. It was also nice to go to a local watering hole. All due respect to Kona Brewery, but Brewhaus made them feel like Red Robin (with soggy pizza).
(5)John A.
I would give it 2.5 stars but I can not on yelp. It actually got the 3 stars because the limeade. But the black beans I got tasted like cinnamon. It was a weird taste. Also the salsa was unseasoned but the pineapple salsa was amazing. I can not say that the place was awful but I would not be planning to go there again. Please take this note and DO NOT get the black beans. (By the way, to help the salsa put two packets of salt in and mix it in) Age:9
(3)Tim L.
On our trip to the big island we found solidly average food most everywhere we went, and Big Island Brewhaus wasn't much different. Nothing was bad, but nothing amazed either. The fish tacos were fine, if too bready... but the beer! You must try the White Mountain Porter, if porter's your thing. If it's not, try it anyway! It has a great balance of flavors. The beer's worth five stars, the food is three, so it averages out. Enjoy!
(4)Jerry L.
Great find on a road trip. Awesome nachos, take home beer, gottta try it guys!
(5)Richard G.
If you like beer, there is at least one thing here you will enjoy. We tried many of them and took some with us in a jar, which we had refilled when we passed back through Kamuela. The menu is primarily Mexican, and they do a fine job of it. Some of the beers are unbelievable. We really loved the seasonal orange brew that uses the oranges from the bike shop next door. I enjoyed the stout they had that day, and they have a ginger beer that was probably my favorite. They give Maui Brewery a run for their money, and they don't even give Kona Brewing a fighting chance. It appears they have plenty of music here at night.
(5)Kit T.
"Humulus IPA" in a growler that looks like an "I Dream of Jeannie" bottle? Love it! The beer is fantastic, their attention to detail and obvious love of the brewing craft shines through. In the beers, the menu, and the range of taps. Standouts (besides the Humulus) included the Overboard IPA, the Paniolo Pale Ale and the Ginger beers. To the brewmasters: You are on the path! Go even more crazy with lots of different kinds of hops! Go bigger, BIGGER, with the resiny, floral, fruity, green tea and grapefruit peel taste of hops! Go kookoo bananas with it! We can take it! We will drink it! We will buy it! You are challenged. The gauntlet is thrown. Paf! We went with a party of 6 and were very happy with the service, salads and the mexican fare - nommy, rich quesadillas (vegetarian and vegan friendly) go really well in the crisp Waimea air. Nice array of hot and hotter sauces. Most of all, we steadfastly support Hawaiis craft beer scene, and I am proud to say that we managed to smuggle one of the growlers back to Honolulu to share with likeminded pals. Respect!
(5)Tony S.
This is a great place to relax with your friends and have a beer. The Mexican food is not the best, but the service, charm, and entertainment all make it worthwhile. I went here in early November 2012 and it was pretty cold at night so bring a jacket or sweater.
(3)Kendall W.
I feel like I'm kind giving this place 2 stars when I had a 1 star experience there, but I'm giving it the benefit of the doubt, as I've only been there once and maybe they were really off that night. It must be said that when we were driving through Waimea my wife and I were really indecisive about what to eat and I was craving something else. I do love good craft beer, so I thought that might spice up a meal when I wasn't really wanting Mexican food. I read the rave reviews of the White Mountain Porter and I got excited because I do love a porter. As soon as we were approached by a server I put in a order for the White Mountain Porter and they were out. Fair enough, so I ordered the stout. 10 minutes later and we put in our food order. Still no stout and no word on the stout. I reminded our server and she said they were having problems with the tap. That's OK. That happens. We ordered the fish tacos based on some other Yelp reviews. Then our food arrived. Still no stout. I was about halfway through the mediocre tacos and finally got my stout. I'm not going to comment on the stout because sometimes beer can off nights and stout is finicky and I really wanted the highly touted Mountain White Porter. But I will comment on the food. If you're craving Mexican food, this is not the place. Store bought tortillas that were a couple days old, mediocre fish (that's hard to do in Hawaii), blah salsa and they didn't get the beans right. I might have tolerated the mediocre stout and the sub-sub-mediocre food pawning itself off as "Mexican," but our service was horrendous. They completely ignored us. I had to track down my stout. My wife had to go in and track them down to pay after they forgot about us. And this is really mean and really petty but I have to get it off my chest: I can't take anybody that wears UGGs seriously. As soon as I see UGGs on a person, their IQ drops at least 40 points in my mind. At least 2 of the servers here had UGGs. Ladies, save the UGGs for slippers or at least learn how to pick up your feet when you wear these ugly boots.
(2)Ariel L.
This place deserves 2.5 stars, but since i can't give i that, it gets a 2: Good beer but horrible food. The Brewhaus makes their own beer, which is usually a good sign of things, and with regards to the beer we were all very pleased. But we ordered dinner as well and were very disappointed. First of all, the restaurant is expensive for Mexican Food. Second, neither I or my three friends enjoyed any of the food we ordered. We had both types of fish tacos, a taco salsa, guacamole and chips. I believe the chips were freshly made, but the Guacamole lacked any flavor. The salsa's they brought out were awful, and the fish they used in the tacos might have been bad (luckily no one got sick). The hard taco shells were the cheap kind you buy at the grocery store and that pretty much sealed the fate of the food. I would not eat here again. That being said, the brew was quite good, and i would probably drive there just to have a few drinks. From what I'm told they have live music occasionally as well, but from the size of the place i don't see how that's possible.
(2)George P.
What a great little spot to eat on our way back from our hike to Waipio Valley. It was busy but we managed to grab a table just in time! Tasted the Irie Irish Stout, Overboard IPA, Red Giant Ale and the Graham's Pilsner - excellent craft beer. The Overboard IPA was awesome!!! We had the nachos, which were a nice size portion but could have been more flavorful. The Quesadillas were good but not great. Great ambiance, fun spot and the beer is so worth it! You can also get your growler here and refilled (at great prices!). They plan on bottling beer by the end of the year - cannot wait!!! Great local Hawaiian beer!!!
(4)David T.
Really enjoyed the beer here, especially the Overboard IPA and the White Mountain Porter. The place was nice and laid back and the food was really good also. Very reasonably priced. Now please start exporting that stuff to California! I much prefer this to Kona Brewing Company.
(5)Jj R.
The beer would get 5 stars. You should go there for the beer. It is really good and full of variety. But.. The food is off. First, the chips were served dry, unsalted and cold. The salsa was very good, tho. You almost didn't care about the chips. We've been twice and both times they put cinnamon in the food, without telling us - anyplace. I am a big fan of *authentic* Mexican food and I have never seen weird spices used before. Both times we ate here, we spent about $60 for two people and the food seems experimental at best. One good test of a Mexican joint is the chile relleno. In this case the chile rellenos are dry and deep fried. Really. One might expect a good sauce on this dish. There was no sauce for the chile relleno at all. If you order it with an enchilada, you can use that sauce. But, otherwise, it is a dry chile relleno. They seem to be proud of this. Another thing to consider about a gringo Mexican joint is the cheese. I know Mexicans don't use much Queso. Nonetheless, if you are gong to be a faux Mexican place, some cheese beyond a modest grating would be nice. Normally, I would not write a review for a mediocre experience. I am doing this now because it is much later and I can still taste residual cinnamon. The cooks must be cigarette smokers because the idea of subtle tastes escape them. Be warned about the food. Drink beer here, but eat down the street. There are many good places to eat in Waimea HI.
(2)Karina J.
I read the good and bad reviews and decided to come because as my husband says, I am a beer snob. I loved the beer! I had a sampler with Holy Humulus IPA, Oktoberfiesta Lager Bier, Starshine Ginger Bier, Red Giant Ale, and Dark Sabbath. All were very good and exactly as described on the menu. For food-midday-already had lunch and too early for dinner, we shared the half order of nachos with chili verde pork, black beans, ordered spicy. They were great. The guacamole was really, really great! To finish off I had a Golden Sabbath. Again, very good and was just as described. My husband, the non-beer guy then drove, as the Golden Sabbath is an 8.5 abv. I thought the service was just fine. There if I needed, but not bothersome. I will come back.
(5)Kari P.
5 for beer, 4 for food. Stopped here on a Friday exhausted from a day of exploring. Had a quick meal of Mexican - nothing unusual/special and then enjoyed a flight of beer. This place knows their beer - lots of flavors and none disappointed. Doesn't mean I enjoyed them all - but I could appreciate the flavors and care that went into each one. Fun band jamming out the whole time to top it off. Great place! They also sell beer - if we came back I'd buy a jug of their porter to bring back to the hotel, hands down. Yum.
(5)Dana S.
Four stars for the two beers they had ready when we stopped by this afternoon. The pale ale was fantastic, and the lager was also really good (tho I'm not really a lager girl). The menu is island taqueria, but we only had the chips and salsa, and the prices are totally reasonable. Overall, a great chill place to get some beers and relax.
(4)Jenny L.
went here with my husband because reviews were good well i dont normally give anyone a bad review but this place was horrible first i ordered two beers for us the waiter comes back and ask again what we wanted ok then after waiting almost 20 minutes for our beer he says he does have the ipa i ordered suggested a lager which is not what i ordered so i ordered a different ipa ok after another ten minute wait it takes our food order we ordered fish tacos he decides to tell us now they have no fish today !!! ok so we orderd nachos ugh meat tasted like it came from a can :( they were horrible then he gives almost gave our check to someone else the service food and beer were not good i would never come back or recommend it to anyone else needs a bar rescue if you ask me :(
(1)eric i.
Food was just ok, but there were six of us and every order was screwed up in one way or another. Not really Mexican food, but passable. Beer was good, but seriously our server was dyslexic or something.
(2)Steve H.
Good beer and great salsa. The pineapple salsa is OK, but the "standard" red salsa and habanero salsas are excellent. This was actually my second experience dining here (missed the first check-in back in January) and I found the service this time better than the first with lots of wait staff. The place was jamming with plenty of blissful customers. As Pacific Northwest beer lovers, the only beer I can say we truly love is their Hoptopia's, however, their porter is quite delicious if you're a porter drinker. Overall, great job Brewhaus. Keep up the fabulous Mexican food and brewin'
(4)Frank S.
Wife and I had lunch today at Big Island Brewhaus because of a positive recommendation from a work associate. We have been looking for a good Mexican restaurant since moving from Seattle and we have finally found one. I tried their 5 beer sampler for $6. You get to choose from all of their beer offerings. My favorites were the "Overboard", Ginger beer and a dark malt that had very distinct coconut/vanilla flavors. My wife had a margarita which she said was good. Chips and two salsas served like most restaurants but their chips were thicker than normal with a different flavor than we are used to (not a strong corn flavor). Good but different. Salsas were also different as well. Green version had a sweet finish. Both were tasty but different. (Note: we asked for a refill but were not told that there is a charge for refills on the chips and salsa). Only $1.95 but they should make customers aware since there is usually not a charge in most restaurants. Minor complaint. For food, my wife had a tamale and a kailu pork enchilada. Very subtle flavors. Again, good but different. I tried the fish tacos which were generous in size with very fresh ingredients. Served with fresh local salad greens. Ice tea was verry tasty without sugar. We ordered a brownie with locally made vanilla ice cream. Both were excellent. Decor was very colorful, clean and interesting to the eye. They have an outdoor patio but we chose to dine inside. Waitress was a little reserved at first. No smile. She was ending her shift so maybe that had something to do with it. A second waitress told us that they were changing shifts and that we needed to cash out that check before ordering dessert. Struck us as odd especially since both my wife and I were in the restaurant business for years and we were would never say that to a customer. Again, small blunder. As it turns out our original waitress continued to wait on us. She forgot to place our dessert order but a third waitress took care of it for us. She was the most friendly of the three. Our waitress did apologize and that was when she finally smiled. Prices are very reasonable. I watched what looked like some of the owners sampling and talking about some beer samples. They seem to have a passion for micro brews. All in all, we found it very enjoyable and will revisit, bring family and friends and recommend to tourists. I am a sales manager at Martin and MacArthur and often am asked by tourists for restaurant recommendations. I would feel very comfortable recommending this restaurant.
(4)c e.
Lots of options for beer and food. Fish taco plate, tofu veggie burrito, mountain porter, belgian pilsner, and chips & salsa. Simple and easy.
(4)Kristin D.
Stopped for lunch after riding horses. Small, local place with great local beers. Overboard IPA was really good. Food was good too and very fast. Fish burrito and pineapple salsa - yum! Service was prompt and friendly. We will be back.
(4)M E.
Here is the funny part. The beer is good and the owners are very nice people. The service here is so awful you almost have to go here to believe it. They take great pride in ignoring customers and serving crappy food. Don't feel bad. They treat locals just as bad as you will be treated. Pack your patience if you go here. Day or night, busy or slow, they will make sure you don't get what you expect in any timely fashion at all, but dammit, the beer is good.
(1)Mike Z.
I've been meaning to try this place for awhile. It's very unassuming on the outside. Don't be afraid, venture in. I was quite surprised how nice it was. Lots of beers to choose from. We sat at a table and our very nice server presented the menus and beer list. I chose the Velvet Red and my partner chose one of the wheat beers. Both were excellent. Chips and salsa arrived at the table. Fresh homemade chips and tasty salsa. The menu is extensive. I went with the carne asada burrito with pinto beans and cheese. Wet with red sauce. My partner chose the Baja tacos, grilled not fried. We asked for a side of the extra spicy habanero salsa. The food arrived and I must say, it was quite delicious. Best Mexican food I've had on the island. Better than I dare say Lucy's! Very authentic. Flavorers were good and the habanero salsa was amazing! VERY hot but flavorful. Service was great, food was great, atmosphere was great! Oh hell, I was going to give 4 stars cause that's what I always do... But I'll give my first 5 star on the island to Big Island Brewhause! High point: the food! Tasty and fresh Low point: the owner could have stopped by our table to say hi... But no biggie. Chances we'll be back: a definite yes! I want to try more beers and other menu items
(5)Linda D.
Stopped here on a whim while driving trough on vacation. Glad we did.. Food.. Service and hospitality was fabulous. Met a great guy... Cyrus . A new life long friend
(4)Brittany A.
Great beer! You can pick from a wide variety creating your own flight and then get your pint. All of them were really good it was hard to pick just one! Way better than Kona Brewing Co. and not as touristy either. The food is nothing spectacular but it is done well. Really cool atmosphere- will be back for sure!
(4)Todd C.
Great beer is not easy to find on Hawai'i. Big Island Brewhaus has great beer. And the food is really good as well. The pineapple tomatillo salsa is amazing! Parking can be hard to find (as anywhere on the island). I am currently around Colorado craft brews and homebrew. I feel that these beers rank right up there.
(4)Richard M.
Dropped by last week while on vacation, driving from Waikoloa to Hilo. Arrived right as they opened at 11am. Service was good. Food was outstanding. Great fish tacos, burgers etc. We will definitely go back. They were busy by the time we left, and service still good, people were raving about the beer as well.
(4)Christopher R.
We've gone twice now. Both times it was pretty full and there is sometimes live music. Food is decent and portions are large. The beers are what you'll go for. It has a small town brewpub feel... which is nice!
(5)Chris S.
Had an oustanding lunch when we happened across this place on the way to waipio valley. It was so good we went back for dinner the same night. Amazing craft beers and some awesome mexican food.
(5)Cathy S.
We stopped in during our drive from Hilo to the gold coast. This place is conveniently located off Highway 19 which makes it perfect to stop when driving from Hilo to the other coast. We arrived and found seats right away at the bar. I was impressed at how many of their own brews they have on tap. We tasted a few of their brews and finally selected the Red which had a very nice amber-like flavor but not hoppy. We enjoyed the fresh tortilla chips, but the salsas were a bit on the runny side. We both orders burritos and they were very large. My husband had wished we had shared one, but I insisted we each get our own. If you're not super hungry you could probably go either way on sharing. Overall, we really enjoyed our stop here and the servers were very friendly and quick.
(3)Susan K.
We liked it so much that we made a return trip the next day! The selection of freshly brewed beers on tap is impressive with such variety! The hubby & I each got a sampler so we could try five different beers. So,so good! My favorite was the Mandarin Gold and I also enjoyed the White Mountain porter. The atmosphere was friendly, laid back with good service. The menu was Mexican and spicy! Seating is a little crowded but all eight of us found space at the bar. We will return soon!
(4)Marty C.
It is the Big Island Brewhaus (you can see the old Taco Taco sign leaning against the wall around back). The food was good. I had the chicken Quesadila and my wife had the Beer Battered Fish. We both enjoyed the food. The chips and salsa were excellent. The Paniolo Pale Ale was excellent. The parking really sucks, and we had to be persistent to get in here. We are glad we did. The price is extremely right, and you can't go wrong. Check out the Elton John Autographed picture on the wall. The servers were very attentive. The place has been around awhile, so don't expect a lot glitz and shine. It has character.
(4)Gina S.
As we don't drink beer I can comment on that but looks like a fantastic selection. The food was just okay. My rice was under cooked. The ground beef was a little spicy for my little one. The guacamole was a little tasteless. My husband had the fajitas and loved them. Pretty cute restaurant but just ok for food. Go for the beer.
(3)MissJ D.
Beer! I love it; they have it. Therefore, by the transitive property, I love Big Island Brewhaus. It has creative Mexican food that seems like it's probably organic. There's usually a singer or other entertainment. The seating is community style, so if you have a big group then you're either golden or out of luck.
(5)Josh J.
When I moved to Waimea last year Big Island Brewhaus was Tako Taco, a Mexican/Southwestern restaurant offering a nice little bar and decent food. Now turned into the Brewhaus, it offers an increasing variety of fine beers brewed right there on location. They offer 1/2 gallon growlers and other sizes of container to go, as well as pints with fresh chips and salsa in the restaurant. The beers are excellent but the food is just okay. I would recommend eating elsewhere and then getting some fresh beer from the Brewhaus. Outside seating is best since the inside gets VERY crowded and they usually have some live music crammed in there too.
(4)Tassie C.
Five stars for the beer and the service. Wish I'd gotten here before I ate lunch, the menu looks excellent (Mexican, both traditional and creative, and VEGAN options!). They had the Tropo Lilikoi IPA on tap today, lots of floral between the lilkoi and the hops. Overboard IPA with 55 IBU was my companion's choice. Highly recommend that you stop here is you are circumnavigating the Island or just hanging around the Waimea (Kamuela) area!
(5)Ricky G.
This review is only for the food, service and atmosphere. Upon arrival, we were greeted by this lovely stench of a dumpster, even though the dumpster was out of sight. My wife and I were really looking forward to some wonderful Mexican cuisine, and what we got was a subpar experience. The server stated they were out of Haus Brew Soda which is brewed on site. Next, my wife asked for a "side serving" of guacamole. The server stated that she can't offer a side of guacamole because the kitchen only makes/made enough for the guacamole that accompanies the entrees. Huh? We were baffled because the menu indicates that there are four sizes of side guacamole. Deep breath. Next my wife asked for chicken fajitas instead of steak. I never heard of a mexican restaurant only offering a steak fajita option. The server stated that they usually don't substitute, but she was willing to ask the kitchen. What a joke. She finally comes back after a few minutes and says that the chicken substitution is OK. Whoopie do da. The meal finally arrived. The food appeared hot and fresh. The fajitias were decent, although the tortillas were somewhat chewy in texture. Oh, rice and beans were extra too. What kind of Mexican restaurant doesn't include rice and beans with a fajita dish? Absurd if you ask me. On the way out of the main entrance, the "dumpster" stench hit me in the face again. Yuck. We won't be back.
(2)C O.
Non touristy little place with great beer, tasty Mexican food and live music!
(5)Jen M.
Make the Drive to Waimea I am not sure what some of the other reviewers were eating but we just had a fantastic experience at Big Island Brewhaus. The beers are world class- IPA and Porter on par with anything you are going to find anywhere. IPA was hoppy and sharp- just perfect. The porter had coconut and coffee flavors and a thick creamy head- fabulous. We were not at all disappointed in the food- They bring over chips and salsa and the chips are warm- enough said. Had the Fajitas and the Paniolo Burrito with catch of the day. Portions are more than generous. With the Burrito you can choose your salsa and beans- I suggest combo on the beans. The fajita was a huge portion of local beef with peppers, onions and great tortillas-arrived sizzling and hot to the table- not too salty with the meat cut in pieces that allowed you to really taste it not little tiny cut up chunks the size of the peppers. The staff were attentive and pleasant- maybe others had a different experience but for us it was fun, friendly and tasty! This is a great part of the Island where "real" people live and work I hope you enjoy it.
(5)Laurie H.
We had a good experience here. Helpful staff, great beer, and we all liked our food. My San Diego son was so happy to finally have a good burrito in Hawaii, and my daughter inhaled her fish tacos. The chips were really good and crisp - salsa was a little on the mild side for us, but we like really spicy. We would come back here again.
(4)Hannah L.
So worth waiting through the shift change! You could taste the FRESH lilikoi in the margarita and the Combo Plate was the BEST!!!! I couldn't keep my family off my plate.
(5)Phil F.
Had lunch there a couple weeks ago. Beer ranks 3-star, food is 2-star. Unlike others, I was disappointed in the porter. I always go for the porters and stouts, and their porter did not seem to have character and maltiness that I crave. I sampled other brews and found that their lagers and IPA were decent but low on hoppiness - it seems that the IBU's that they claim on the menus are a lot more aggressive than the real taste. I'd stick to the lagers and IPA at this place. Food is what I call hippie-Mexican. Lots of herby flavors, it feels like I just ordered from an organic restaurant that specialized in vegetarian dishes. Some people might like the flavors, but it was too herby for me.
(2)Serena F.
Delicious fish tacos. Fajitas were excellent too. A nice local hangout with community seating. Noise level was loud. Nice artsy decor.
(4)Scott G.
I have been here a couple of times and I have enjoyed myself each time. The parking situation is really bad here as there have been numerous times I have tried to go here but could not find parking and I had to go somewhere else instead. Being from southern california I have had the opportunity to have very authentic mexican food and the fact that I enjoyed my meal both times here shows that this place is the real deal. They have quite of a few house brews and while I have only had the stout and the porter they were both tasty and coming from a beer snob like myself thats a big compliment. The service is speedy and for the most part friendly. No one has ever been rude it just seems as if the fact that some outsiders came into the restaurant the servers become not as personable. It honestly could be because I am coming from a resort where everyone kisses your ass so it could just be in my head. Dont get me wrong the service is not bad at all. I was also impressed with their kids menu, finally a kids menu on the big island that isn't overpriced. $2.95 for a large quesadilla, thats what I am talking about! If you ever venture up to Waimea you have to check this place out for a great change of pace from everything else on the island.
(4)Theresa W.
I can't think of anything I didn't love about this place. I mean even the bathrooms were cool. Delicious beer, yummy and affordable food, and of course Hawaiian service is always so chill and kind and authentic. We stopped here after a long drive around the island and it was a great way to end the afternoon :)
(5)Flinders T.
Hubby and I drove from Pahoa to Wiamea to get out of the rain and explore. After that boring Saddle Road drive we arrived in Wiamea. I needed a restroom after that long ride and we are always in the mood for mexican food and a margarita...so we ended up at Big Island Brewhaus. It was so small. They had an outdoor patio, but it was a bit too chilly for me to sit out there. We got the last table inside. Did I mention it is really small? Fast paced atmosphere, large menu, lots of beer. The margaritas were fine. The taco I had was pretty good. The table next to us looked as if they hadn't eaten on their entire trip yet. Their food looked amazing...smelled amazing too. Alas, we were just having a pit stop though...so with the margarita and the single taco gone we headed back out to explore. If we were staying on this side of the island I'd come here again. Especially for the atmosphere.
(3)Natalie F.
Five stars for beer. Other is three. Enjoyed the stopover for fish tacos, Overland IPA.
(3)Chris T.
Food great (local steak is ono), beer fantastic, service a little slow. Would definitely come back and retry all the beers and dinner too of course.
(5)Erin C.
Such great food! The taco-Tako sign is on the back so if you are looking for that then you can find it. Or look for the Big Island Brewhaus sign on top. It's some of the best food we had on the island.
(5)Charlene P.
Not a place I would have normally tried but my husband had heard the beer was good. Which he said it was. The food was out standing. Mexican is not something you think about getting while in Hawaii, much less good Mexican. Definitely give the place a try.
(5)Guy T.
Stopped by on my way back from Hilo. Great brews on tap, although was disappointed they were out of the Porter. Their Irish Style Stout was excellent with a nice creamy top. I also gave the sampler a try so I could sample 5 other flavors. The IPA has a bright refreshing hoppy touch that wasn't overpowering. When I got there the kitchen had already closed so I did not eat anything except the chips and salsa which was served complimentary. Finally, the owners are Oregon Duck fans so for me, a great added bonus.
(4)Melinda J.
My husband and I stopped in here for fish tacos and beer. My husband really liked his beer and the fish tacos came with, (lo-and-behold) Real Lettuce (not iceberg)! Everything tasted great and, of the 6 dinners out we had in Hawaii, this was the best. The service was slow. I don't think they were terribly concerned with tourist-customers. Fortunately, we sat at the bar, so we could easily get someone's attention when we needed it, but I don't think the customers at tables were that lucky.
(4)Elliot P.
This place needs to put Alka Seltzer on the menu. Went there tonight for a reunion with dear friends, and really expected better. Big Island Brewhaus is developing quite the reputation for its beers - being written up in magazines and getting ready to double their brewing capacity. My mistake was in assuming a good brew house would equate to a good brew pub. Not so, not by a long shot. True, the beers appear to be top flight. I tried the Paniolo Pale Ale and a really hoppy IPA, and both were very good. But the food at this place was barely passable, and an hour after I ate, I was out at the mini mart looking for plop-plop, fizz-fizz. This was more road house than brew pub, with raunchy atmosphere and lots of sketchy characters jammed into a relatively small space. Live "music," but more old-hippy-rasta-stoner appeal and not the kind of good rock or blues you might expect at a real Brew Pub. Sketchy "Mexican" menu of mostly nachos and quesadillas on greasy, burnt flour tortilla chips. And did I mention the service? What service? If you're a beer lover, a few cold ones outdoors on a pleasant Kamuela afternoon would be okay. Otherwise, keep on truckin'.
(2)Scott D.
Best IPA on the island! IPA People sit back and relax with a very good beer. we also enjoyed our freshly made food, the chef cares. House made chips and salsa. Very nice down to earth neighborhood brewery at 2764' above sea level. Great view but I was there at night.
(5)Sherrie B.
Yay a brewhouse that has tequila too! Fresh squeezed limeade for the margaritas, excellent beer for my better half. While I wouldn't call the food Mexican we loved it and there was lots of it. If you're drinking as well, you may want to split a meal with a friend. Chicken burrito with black beans and chicken enchiladas. Tasty cookies. Kind of hippie style Mexican I guess. Very casual, friendly, difficult parking scene!
(4)J B.
Selection was good, had many items that looked amazing on the menu such that it was hard to choose. Really excellent vegetarian selection and server was very conscientious about confirming non-vegan items. Food quality was good, thought my burrito was really tasty. Lilikoi Cream soda was really delicious and unique. The New Mexico Green Chili salsa was excellent. Enchiladas were great. Filling, large portion size and reasonably priced. Beer was good, with many options to choose from. Will definitely be back.
(4)Tim O.
Great beer and good food at reasonable prices. The pineapple-tomatillo salsa is interestingly unique and tasty. Not big or fancy, but a nice place to get a quick bite to eat.
(4)k k.
Finally tried the Brewhaus which was Tako Taco. The good part is the beers are GREAT! The food still tastes like a joke though... There were about 12 beers on tap. From blondes to IPA's to dark. Huge selection of great micro brews. That part was tasty and awesome. Throw in some live music and local crowd and its a great spot. The staff is all great and friendly. Also more of local than tourist oriented. The bad part is they are still serving crappy food. I don't get it. Huge menu of funky bad mexican food. Place could easily be 5 stars with just the great beer alone but food is 2 stars. Huge menu too... How about slim the menu down to 4-5 choices and get a real Mexican to show you how its done. We'll return for the great beer but will have to grind somewhere else. Or maybe just have to have their dark beer for a meal. It was great...
(3)Tim O.
A small local place. Not fancy, but comfortable and the local patrons seemed friendly. Very reasonably priced and a good selection of local beers. The pineapple salsa was interestingly good. The grilled fish tacos were excellent. The shells were freshly cooked, not store bought. We came back again and both food and service were consistent, although the taller of the two waitresses was much friendlier. The live music on Friday night gave the place a fun feel.
(4)Dan M.
Amazing beer and excellent fish tacos. A great little place to stop for lunch when traveling around the island.
(5)Jill S.
Don't order the baja fried fish tacos! I read a review describing them as bland and didn't heed it - they were just blah. One of the 2 tacos was fishy too. My husband liked his chicken enchiladas and his beer. Average food and much more affordable than the plethora of pricey upscale restaurants and good scene with local, bohemian crowd & live music when we were there, but we wouldn't drive 30 minutes to get there like we did this time due to experience with food. Worth a stop if you're driving by but again - don't order the fish tacos.
(2)Eugene B.
First off, the beer here is VERY good, and i'd argue it is probably the most solid brewery on the island. tastes fresher than KBC, more variety than Mehana (though i'm a fan of mehana red ale, but that's another story). I had the overboard IPA, and the aromatic hops were intense and aromatic. very fresh. My dad had the red ale, and it had a nice, malted and slightly caramel taste. The IPA was strong though and probably dulled my taste buds to anything else. 5+ star for the brew Some people are saying the food here is bad. I think it's overshadowed by the beer, but I really enjoyed my meal. Note that this place is NOT like a taqueria back in California, the prices are higher and the spices are different. I had a chile relleno/ chicken enchilada plate with black beans and rice. the chile relleno was unique in that it was an aneheim instead of a pasilla chile, the cheese i think had some crema in it that kept it runnier, and the breading was crispy, like a fish stick. I really enjoyed it, despite being so different it was very tasty. The chicken enchilada had a good salsa, and juicy chicken, but i felt the chicken lacked seasoning. The black beans and rice were... unique. I liked them, but I could see how people could be put off by them. the black beans tasted like they had cinnamon or kola nut, definitely not like you'd find at a mexican taqueria at home, and the rice had some other spices that I would say tasted more southeast asian than mexican. almost tropical. Just like tex mex, this is some sort of unique take on mexican food in my opinion, and I like it.
(4)Gregory C.
Stopped in for a quick bite on the drive from Waikoloa to Hilo. As a fan of Big Island's bottled beers I was pleasantly surprised to find a more robust in-house selection. The Hoptopias Double IPA was well crafted. The food was also excellent. The unique take on a chile relleno with Anaheim chile and Big Island goat cheese was perfectly executed; light and crispy with a cornmeal crust. And the green chile burger was cooked and seasoned perfectly. Definately a highlight of my trip to the Big Island.
(5)Sarah S.
Simple place with friendly staff. Beer is the best we have found on the island. I'll admit, I'm not an expert but the hubs and fam (who are mega beer snobs and home brewers) thought it was really good. Food is alright, not amazing, but I liked it! Here in Hawaii, we don't have incredible, authentic Mexican food on every corner (like all you Californians) so I may be easy to impress!
(4)Barbara R.
We had an awesome lunch at the Big Island Brewhaus. It was recommended to us by Brian at Skyline Eco-Adventures. The main course of grilled hanger steak with onions and mushrooms was very good, but the tacos we had for starters were fantastic. My bf had a fish taco, and he said it was the best he'd ever had. I tried the wonton taco which was poke in a crispy wonton. It was so good!
(4)Becky P.
Excellent service. In visiting, came at crossed this place and it was perfect. Great sample of beers and live music , on a Tuesday night!!!!
(5)Alyson K.
I recently stopped in here for a quick lunch with a friend, it was really great, a perfect accompaniment to the old west cowboy style of Waimea and a real asset for the Big Island. The food was excellent and the prices reasonable. So many choices I had trouble deciding, so I know I will return next time I'm in the area. I had the fish taco - very generous portion for a good price. And the local grown tomato & feta with balsalmic reduction (fresh and yummy). The fish taco was really wonderful (I'm not a big fan of spice so next time I'll order the fish taco without the spice). I was just in town for lunch so I didn't have time to sample the beers, but the homemade limeade was yummy. Whether you just need a quick bite, or have the time to hang out and enjoy the beer and their heartier menu. This place is worth the stop! Here's hoping they open up a place in Hilo, closer to my home. P.S. Just went to the Hilo Bay Cafe and had the Big Island Brewhaus' Golden Sabbath beer. EXCELLENT!!!! Just like the beers I had in Belgium.!!! Glad they are on the island, and will endeavor to try more of their beers.
(5)Katy T.
Saw this place on the side of the road and stopped for a beer. Best choice ever! Got two flights and tried all the beers, the dark beers were my favorite! Also have a vegetarian section of the menu and I got the black bean dip which was nice and spicy and filling and yummy. Also the prices are super reasonable. I will definitely come back when on the island!
(5)Debbie H.
The White Mountain Porter is excellent! I purchased a couple of bottles to bring back home with me. It went so good with my delicious Wonton Tacos. We made a stop here while leaving Kona heading over to Hilo. I like it a tiny bit more than Kona Brewery- it's smaller inside, the locals hang out here, less touristy, the people working here are super friendly. My little ones loved their burgers and I loved those garlic fries. We also bought a Belgium Ale from them called "Golden Sabbath" we had it back at the rental property in Hilo that night and we wished we got more to bring back home.
(5)Dominique Y.
We were referred to this place by another ale house on the island. We were surprised by how high the place was as far as elevation. It was raining and in the 60s up there. But their beer and food warmed us up. We did the sampler for beers and gold sabbath was definitely our favorite. The food was yummy. The bartender was very helpful. Everything was great!
(5)Gloria F.
Best local joint of our trip with an amazing vibe. I don't drink beer (gluten intolerant) but they also had an amazing selection of locally brewed beers and options for different flights. There were a lot of little things one could order so it was great to sample. I adored the fish tacos and the salad with a side order of fish was Delish. Definitely worth a visit but dress warmly because 2700 ft at night is a bit chilly.
(5)Sterling B.
Ok, start with some award winning beers - and some truly bizarre ones. Tall, Dark, and Mandarin? A stout with orange and chocolate? Red Sea of Cacao? Chocolate again? My taste buds were reeling. The Overboard IPA - OUTSTANDING! Then, add locally sourced grilled steak with mushrooms, onions, and enough garlic to keep me celibate for a week... If you get to Kamuela, do yourself a favour and swing by. You won't regret it.
(5)Ann B.
This review shall be short and sweet. It wasn't until we returned to Kona that we realized we missed visiting this brewery while in Waimea. What a crying shame. While in Kona, we sampled three of the Big Island Brewhaus beers in the 22 oz. bottle form. The following words come to mind: spectacular, huge, gnarly, delicious....mouth watering. This beer resonated with me. It's like it was made, exclusively, for me. If you are at all a microbrew buff, this beer should be on the top of your list to try. I had the Overboard IPA, Golden Sabbath (twice), and the Hoptopias IPA. Your mission now, if you choose to accept it, is to find this beer in Anchorage, AK. p.s. you must tell me if you do.
(5)Ira W.
Great food, Great beer, especially the Overboard IPA, and the waitress suggested black and tan mix. we were there on a Thursday for the open mic. Everyone there was super friendly.
(5)Daniel P.
This place is amazing. The whole set up is beautiful. Will come back again. Food/Service was fantastic. Whoever the chef is was on point today. Definitely recommended!!
(5)Tony R.
Driving up to the Brewhaus, you end up around 2800 feet above sea level. The temp and topography is much different than that near the coast. Bring a hoodie as it can dip to the lower 60s. The place itself is very simple. A restaurant building with seating inside and out, and the brewery operation is located in a separate building just behind the restaurant. It's comfy and you don't need to worry about a dress code. The food was "okay." Definitely restaurant food as opposed to some breweries that offer "filler" food just to keep you there. Go for the fish taco--the regular one in the tortilla, not the "crackery" one. The beer was on-point (good) and worth the drive alone.
(4)Liz W.
The Bacon and Bleu Quesadilla is hands down the most delicious quesadilla I have ever had. Thick bacon, pineapple and blue cheese, salsa and guacamole, I'm stunned.
(5)Amy W.
I liked the cozy ambiance as well as the live music that was playing on the Friday night that my brother and I came here. I felt that the beers here had flavor and character. The food was pretty good and reasonably priced. I especially enjoyed the chili!
(4)Patrycja S.
This place is phenomenal. Some people told us to go here and we did....and it way exceeded our expectations. Food is great, beer is amazingly fresh with a great selection, and the people are fabulous. Prices are great and the atmosphere very laid back and wonderful. Highly recommended and best place we went on the Big Island. Go there. Now. Why are you still reading this? Leave.
(5)Christopher D.
Wanting to try the "other" brewery on the island for quite sometime, we drove up to check it out after a weekend in Waikoloa. The restaurant was very east to find on the main road and the signage was seen easily from a distance. Parked right out front and walked in on a Monday afternoon around 3:00pm. Place was pretty quiet, with only a few guests at the bar and a few on the front lanai. Staff was immediately upon us with menus after we sat ourselves. Friendly, smiling and helpful, we ordered a sampler to try a few different ones we haven't seen locally in bottles. The beers were all different and the IPA (not the Overboard) was the standout here, with the wheat coming in a close second. The lager was good, standard tasting and crisp. The others were good, just had a few strange aftertastes. Ordered the Kung Pau spiced mac nuts, Paniolo burrito and a Brewhaus Falafel Sandwich. Mac nuts were awesome and had a slight back end heat to the finish. The Falafel Sandwich was so delicious and I wish I could make it at home. The Paniolo Burrito was good, nothing exciting...didn't have enough chicken. The burrito came with side of slaw which had a great flavor and a hint of cilantro. Overall, a good place to stop for a bite and brew if you happen to be in the area. I would definitely come back to try the beers they were out of and some more of the menu.
(3)Amber T.
So I actually tried Big Island Brewhaus a year ago. To sum up the experience, the beer was great but the food was no bueno! Because of this I didn't want a write a review because I was so torn between food and beer. But since the beer was so great we had to come again. This time crossing our fingers that the food would be better. I noticed that there were changes to the menu, and they were for the better! For beer we drank the Golden Sabbath and the White Mountain Porter. Both are great beers! I'm more of a blonde ale gale myself, but was totally digging the porter as well! The Golden Sabbath has actually won awards (which I don't remember where they are from) but I can see why, because it is a delicious beer. As for the food. We ordered french onion soup, fish tacos, and a burger. I really liked the french onion soup. It had a lot of flavor, and only had little pieces of bread in it. I liked this because with most french onion soups the bread absorbs most of the broth before I can even get to ingesting it myself lol. The fish tacos were good, I liked the sauces on them. Also I can't remember the burger we got but it was flavorful as well. So in all, the changes to the menu were for the better. Same great beer, and better food now. Also too our waiter was super cool and provided good customer service. Will definitely be back!
(4)Laurie M.
Living in Kona, we do not get to Waimea too often. Love the Brewhaus! The food is fresh and there is a nice variety of craft beers. The black bean burrito is Not skimpy, the chips and salsa are fresh and the grilled steak and fries have a tasty seasoning. Our waitress Lurline was awesome, nice, curtious and had a beautiful smile. Wish there was a second place in Kona.
(5)Alia G.
AWESOME craft beers! I like beer but I don't love it. This place could change that. It's a small place in Waimea on the corner. Parking is tight ... there's like 8 spots but there is parking at other nearby places. Again... inside is small but they have several picnic tables on their covered patio so it's pretty easy to accommodate a large group. The Beers... Try them all. The 5 that I tried were fantastic... smooth with no bite like most beers. Great flavor and some were distinct and unique that you would never think you'd like it and then it hits your palate and your taste buds are surprised with delight. I ended up getting a glass of the golden Sabbath and their red ale. The Food.... Pretty simple but done well. We started with the Garlic Fries to nibble while figuring out what beers we wanted to order. And then we ordered the Kung Pao Mac Nuts because it sounded interesting. Turns out they weren't all that spicy or hot. They did have a nice flavor tho. For dinner, I ordered the Fish Burrito.... it was big and filling. Their ingredients are fresh... not fancy and they don't to be which is refreshing for a change. Why be something you are not. Do what you do and do it simply and do it well. And they do! Others in my group ordered the burgers and they said they really enjoyed them. BIB tries to source locally for as much as they can... so the fish was fresh that day and the beef was sourced from the area. This place is totally LOCAL! I love supporting LOCAL... and this place is just that. I hope they do well and that they can expand without losing any of their craft.
(4)Steve D.
Let me start by saying that the brew was really good. Possibly the best beer on the island. I had the sampler, and although I didn't absolutely love all of them, there were none that I did not like. The service, however, was awful. We did not get our drinks until we were finished with the food, the food was slow and not cooked right, and they got two out of our four orders incorrect. they have a long way to go before they get my return service, at least in terms of food. I would not mind going back and filling up a growler or two though.
(2)Martha S.
Not a beer drinker but loved this place! The food was great. The boiled tomato and goat cheese was my favorite. Can't stop thinking about it. Also had the soup of the day (pork something) and the chili. Both great. Also ordered a taco and it was good but didn't get to eat much of it because I was already full.
(5)Jessabelle R.
We love this place! Affordable! Great value for what you get. Neighborhood cosy feel. Fast and pleasant service. Great selection of beer! I recommend getting the beer sampler. The margaritas are some of the best I have had on the island. I suggest getting the lilokoi flavor. Wonderful selection of tequilas too. The food! Where to start.... Everything we ordered was taste bud tantalizing. My favorite it the Kalua pork & romaine - moist full of herbs, right amount of spices and macadamia nuts, topped with creamy spiced aioli. The Steak & local mushrooms is suburb. The skinless Sausage and black beans is addictive - wonderful spices, mushrooms, perfectly cooked beans. The Chili relleno is a must get, cornmeal crust and stuffed with local goats cheese served with avocado salad. Dessert I had the sea salt brownie- perfect balance of chewy, fudgy & crumbly. There is local live music Tuesdays, Thursdays and weekends.
(5)Lisa C.
Stopped here on the way back from Akaka Falls. It was great. Quaint and nicely decorated beer garden patio. Inside is festive and high energy. The fish tacos were delicious! Great flavor, not overcooked. Dining mate #1 had a black and blue burger that she raved about. She is a tiny thing, but wouldn't stop until she finished it all. If you had only seen her eyes. She was in a happy place. Dining mate number 2 had the black bean falafel burger. Not my thing, but she might as well have been mewing "nom nom nom" the whole time. The beer I had was excellent! Don't remember the name.. Something like Mele Molokai, or something like that. I happily recommend Big Island Brewhaus for a bite to eat, sip a good brew, and enjoy a wonderful, friendly atmosphere.
(5)Jason H.
I love this place so much that I visited it twice on our trip. Not only is the food awesome but the craft beer is out of this word. I was skeptical at first that they could do an IPA that would be better then my local brewhouse in Chicago but they knocked me off my feet. Probably has something to do with the fact that the owner went to Oregon State. I recommend this place to all those people who are looking for a truly local experience. Not only did we stay for the Tacos and the Margaritas, but we ended up hanging out with some locals at a birthday party past closing time. This place gives Rick Bayless a run for his money.
(5)Shama O.
While cruising through the beautiful town of Waimea, I looked out of the driver's side window and exclaimed, "BEER!" I was super excited to see a brewhaus in this little town of rolling meadows and greenery, so the moment my stomach had some wiggle room, I convinced my bf and friends to gather there. I have been hearing yummy things about their beer, but did zero research on their food...hmm, yeah, I probably should have looked that up too. Turns out, this joint serves Mexican food, what?! My tummy had planned for fish 'n chips, but ended up with a lack luster vegan ranchero tofu burrito. My company had a chicken burrito which was passed around; a burger with green peppers tucked in and fries served with melted cheese, the cheese was the best part; and fish tacos that made my bf long for the delicious fish tacos from our hometown of Honolulu. But enough of that nonsense, let's talk about the beer! YUM! There were over a dozen beers on the menu and a few special flavors, all Big Island Brewhaus made. Beer samplers of five could be ordered at a really descent price. I wanted to try them all so the closest I got to that was my bf and I both getting a sampler. IPAs, porters, lagers, and who knows what else were in the mix. The only flavor I really didn't care for was the kaffir lime; it tasted very floral. There's inside bar style seating or outdoor picnic tables. A small private parking lot. Quirky servers. I really wish their food was sooooo much better because if I ever moved to this town, I could see this place becoming my usual spot.
(3)Carrie C.
This is by far the best brewery on big island. The beer they create is truely unique and a delicious experience. They also have an outstanding menu to accompany the beer selections. After a year on the island tasting everything I can taste, Big Island Brewhaus is by far top 4 in places to eat, and number 1 in beer.
(5)Carly L.
This was a fun place. I went here for dinner spur of the moment with my bf last night. This place fills up fast, so I recommend arriving early. What is unique about Brewhaus are the crafted beers they have on tap. 13 brews of their own creation available. If you don't know what to get, they have an awesome sampler that lets you try five out of the 13. We started our meal with the wonton tacos, which I honestly loved more than my entree. My meal was very good, though. I had the falafel sandwich with side garlic fries. Very yummy. My falafel was moist, which was nice considering falafel can sometimes be dry and disappointing. Service was friendly and helpful. Overall great experience.
(5)Savannah R.
This place is awesome. Low key, nice outside seating. Staff is super friendly, their beer is the best, and the food is amazing!
(5)Justin S.
Awesome spot. I didn't try the beer but everyone said they liked it. The poke tacos were pretty incredible and the burrito was pretty good too. Awesome service, great food, and very fairly priced.
(5)Jenn S.
Went in after a long day of touristy activities, like watching the sunset on the beach. The family all agreed on this place, which is already an accomplishment in itself. The Brewhaus has pretty big portions and a large variety of food. As a vegetarian, I was very impressed by the vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free labels for each item on the menu - it was so easy to find something to eat and there were so many options! Many of the menu items come as vegetarian with the option to add fish or meat of your choice, so everything is very customizable to your personal preference. Fish taco was made with a fresh catch, homemade guac and the warm bean dip (ordered as an appetizer) was delicious. The nacho plate was small if ordering as an appetizer/for a group but perfectly sized for one young adult. Burritos are large but worth it. The beer selection is definitely notable - the Golden Sabbath was excellent and my sister got a sampler because she couldn't decide on just one. Wait service was very friendly and helpful, live music is on the patio (provided the weather is good enough). Well worth the stop!
(5)Ted R.
Gotta give the 5. Ridiculously low prices given what we've found so far in Hawaii. Delicious and so local. Get the poke or fish bites. Tiana was a great server and there was live music on a Thursday.
(5)Alyse H.
Yummy food, great beer, excellent service. Fish tacos, nachos, black and blue burger are the best!!! Worth the drive from kona.
(5)S S.
Great beer, awful food. Actually, the fries were great, but the tacos were really bad and the slider was dry and overdone. Hard to imagine the food being any more disappointing after such good fries. Service was friendly but slow, though I did see a server sticking his nose in a plate of garlic fries (thankfully not ours).
(2)Rachel S.
Ok, there are three reasons you could be stopping by Big Island Brewhaus; 1. For Food 2. For Delicious Beer or 3. For Both This is what we learned, The beer is AWESOME the food is just ok. We are huge craft brew people so we had to hit every brewery on the island, to our knowledge there are three. Kona, Mehana and Big Island Brewhaus. This place rocked the beers! They had a coconut cream beer that was fantastic, their Kaffir lime beer was interesting and tasty, and don't even get me started on the IPAs. This place knows their beer and they have awards to prove it. If we had more time in Hawaii and had stayed closer to this brewery we would have tried every single beer twice over. The bartender was great and she literally was working non-stop from the moment we came in. She had a great handle on everything and still had time to make us feel welcome and joke with us. Now, the food is mostly Mexican and it is Hawaii. I'm originally from Ohio so I don't know a lot about Mexican food, but now that I live in California, like a lot of the tourists who go to Hawaii, I have so many choices of good, authentic Mexican food that you can tell it just is not their bread an butter. Brandon had the special which was fish and chips- with fresh caught fish straight from the water off shore, it was tasty. I had the burrito, unfortunately the balance of ingredients was off as well as the flavors. I would say I'd give them another try with the menu, but I heard from enough locals that the food is a miss. I know Mexican food goes amazingly well with the delicious IPAs they have but it just misses the mark. Maybe bring in some more Hawaiian dishes or even more bar food choices. The short of it all is the beer is AMAZING, do not come just for food, if you do order food, order the fish! Also, they could easily be a five with a menu update!! The bar, service and beer is that good!!
(3)Andrea P.
Food great for burgers, fish tacos, and some mexican. Great beers! Had the sampler & was very satisfied. I normally don't care for dark beers but the white mountain porter, so good! Taste of coconut & coffee yumo! Friendly service from Olga, thanks. If you're on the big Island check them out!
(4)Kela V.
Delicious beers on draft brewed on property. There is a brew for every pallet each with a name unique to the island. The master behind the beer is always experimenting with ingredients. It is a unique experience that every tourist or local needs to try (if you are 21+ of course). If beer isn't your drink of choice they also make delicious lilikoi margaritas. Don't miss out on Rocky's famous fish bites or the garlic fries. The beers are strong so make sure you make driving arrangements!
(5)Brandon A.
Very outdoorsy place with a laid back feel. Nice place to go after the beach. Chips and Salsa: Very nice blend of spices with a good kick. Chips were nice and crispy. Sloppy Jose Burrito: Big Island spicy meat with cheese wrapped in a large burrito topped with salsa and cabbage. It was a little on the oily side but it was quite delicious. I would recommend this dish. Blackened Ahi Tacos: Not your typical blackened Ahi that has a raw center (cooked all the way through) but very nice taste. It was an Asian spin off of a Mexican taco. Service was so so but it did get busy pretty quickly. Servers take orders with their phones
(4)Brendan F.
I've never wanted to give a business 5 stars more. Because the beer here is so good. But I can't. The beer is excellent, the food is excellent, their sourcing methods and options are all fantastic. The staff are friendly and as helpful as you could expect. Seriously, go here and have the best beer experience in Hawaii. Just don't fill up your growler. This experience was worth 2 stars for me. I bought a 32oz growler to fill up after having dinner and a flight of beers. They charge $12 for filling up 32oz of pilsner. Pilsner. Granted, it's a great pils. But that is highway robbery. At my local brewery in Hilo I can fill up the same amount for $4.00; $5:00 for a premium beer. Got home and the growler was only 3/4 filled and the beer was room temp. *My growler is insulated, vacuum sealed and has transported many a brew without fail. Argh. It's maddening because Brewhaus is amazing and I love the beer. It's too bad I won't be taking any home with me next time. If you are in the area, do not miss this brewery.
(3)Jill E.
We always come here when we come to the Big Island, so we made a bee line for Kamuela soon after we arrived. Color me disappointed. They had amazing Mexican food which is why we came but apparently the contract for that food ran out and now they serve mainly burgers and fish with a few mexican dishes thrown in. I had some nachos which were ok, very different from what I've ever had before and my husband had a huge burrito which he said was good but not wonderful. All around us people were eating and smiling so perhaps it was only because our expectations were different from what we had. Parking is still bad but they do post signs on the door where you can park and service though cheerful is slow probably due to the size of the kitchen. The beer is still good and they have a great assortment of tequila.Prices are still good considering it's Hawaii but we won't make the special trek back just because we can get Mexican food elsewhere and that's why we went.
(3)M A.
Awesome hospitality service!!!! Great Pours!!! Can't give 5 stars since we only ordered their garlic fries with siracha aoli, very friendly atmosphere, definitely recommend a visit, and with all their awards I see why, thank you Big Island Brewhaus for getting us out of the rainy road.
(4)Rod D.
Ok, 1st off this eclectic joint brews ALL their beers on site. Nobody else on Hawaii is doing that, world class and award winning beers at that. I love everything about this establishments ethics and values, they do things the right way - not the easy way. Excellent food and good vibe all around is the result. Everything was exceptional that our group of 6 tried - from Pork topped Nachos, fantastic salads, all entrees and Dark chocolate brownies with Tahitian vanilla ice cream. Caitlynn (who had hiked up a mountain that day) had enough energy left to take good care of us and offered honest input to make sure we got exactly what we all wanted. If I were fortunate enough to live here this place would be a regular watering hole for sure. Keep up the great work!
(5)Thomas B.
We had the Flat Iron Steak, Green Chile Burger and Paniolo burritos w/ fresh fish. Each has healthy portions and were excellent. That said, the beers stole the show: the porter, breakfast stout and IPAs were all amazing.
(5)Rocco C.
I travel from Kona to Waimea to experience this place regularly. Kona brew gets all the fame but cannot backup the craftsmanship like this Brewhaus can! Get your ass to the best brewery on the Big Island, it is so worth the drive! The food is amazing, I recommend the steak and fries. It compliments the experience of fantastic craft beer so much if you're hungry. This place is no joke, ultimate aloha, ultimate best craft brew, ultimate Brewhaus food. You won't beat it on this island! The beer menu changes according to season which is great! You can always try something new but impressive. My all time favorite is the Red Sea of Cacao. Everything it sounds like! Elegant and powerful with notes of chocolate, and at 8.1 who can fault it for anything!
(5)P J.
Stopped here on the way to Waipi'o Valley. What a treat! The green chile stew was amazing!! Will return every time we are in the area. Other highlights were the garlic fries, bacon corn chowder and bacon & bleu quesadillas. Our server was friendly and very accommodating. My new favorite restaurant in Kamuela.
(5)James N.
Great beer! Got the golden sabbath it's 8.5% but goes down smooth. The fresh fish sandwich was bomb!
(5)Peter E.
Come here for the beer because it is the best you will find in Hawaii...nothing else is even close. For those of you familiar with great American Craft beer from Deschutes..Sierra Nevada..Stone..Ballast Point...etc ..you will be absolutely shocked at how good this beer is..whoever makes these beers is very talented and Hawaii should be proud to have brew of this quality...if you stop by make sure to have the Paniolo Pale ale...it is the finest Pale Ale I have ever had...
(5)Matt H.
Let me start out by saying that if the review was based solely on my meal, this place would get five stars. The house brewed beer selection was great, and my black and blue burger made me question every burger I had ever eaten in my adult life. We got the fish bites to start out with, and they were delicious. They were seasoned well and served with a tasty dipping sauce. My girlfriends food however, was very underwhelming. She ordered the signature salad and added the chicken to it. It came out looking super fresh with locally sourced ingredients, which was awesome! A few bites in she was really disappointed. The chicken had no flavor and lacked salt, the guacamole was decent, and the salsa was bland. After the meal she admitted that she should have just sent the chicken back from the get go and gotten a different protein. She ate everything except about half the chicken. Overall good food, great beer, and even better service. Everyone was helpful and friendly. We'd definitely go back!
(4)Cindy H.
Thursday nites open mic. My husband's island debut! So much fun! Great food - fish nuggets and fish tacos and poke taco and salad. All yummy! And great beer options. Wonderfully fun place
(5)Ralna B.
This is a seat yourself restaurant. There are seats/tables outside which they call the "Beer Garden". After you sit down you will be served freshly cooked tortilla chips and salsa. You can order a beer sampler of 5 beers. I ordered the pork soft tacos which comes with Mexican rice and pinto beans, black beans or both. The BF ordered the beef burrito. It was a bit spicy for the both of us but the meat had a good flavor. For dessert I ordered the brownie ala mode which is topped with 4 scoops of Tahitian vanilla bean ice cream and sprinkled with cinnamon. The service was good, decor resembles art by Ralph Lewis. The music was pretty loud and you can hear the cooks in the kitchen singing along. Sounds like they enjoy what they do!! The prices are reasonable compared to most of the restaurants in the area.
(4)Savanna G.
It's good and fun however it's a serious joke when it comes to up charges. They will find every and any way to charge you an extra penny . Extra salt or Li hing mui on a rim of a 10$ margarita is an extra 50 cents . Chips and salsa are now being charged at about 4$ . Very sad to see such a good place get greedy.
(3)Jackie P.
Love that all the ingredients are local. Excellent customer service! Wonton taco--get it. You will not regret it! Ordered 2 5-beer samplers. My boyfriend loved Red Sea cacao, and golden sabbath was my fave. Definite must-drink stop in Waimea
(5)Rain Greg J.
This place is great!!! Loved the unique menu! Service was great, food was great, prices were great, we are staying in Kona and we'd drive an hour just to eat here again. I had the falafel burger with salad, and my husband had the falafel burrito with the best slaw we've ever had! Margaritas were perfect! Though they had some great regional beers on tap. The place was hopping! Lots of locals, they know where the good food is!
(5)Kasey A.
Delicious, carefully crafted and adventurous beers--and so many types. Get the flight so you can try 5 different flavors. My favorite: Tall, Dark, and Mandarin. If they have it, your' choice is over! Unlike many brewpubs, the food was good, with a lot of variety in the menu. I had the black and bleu burger with garlic fries--this is more food than I generally eat over the span of SEVERAL meals, but I didn't stop until my plate was licked clean! Delicious!
(5)Tami L.
First time here & sad that as a tourist it'll probably be the last. What a find. I love unusual craft beers & they have some amazing combinations like I've never had before. Prices are incredibly reasonable (from an East coast perspective ) and the fish taco left me wanting another. Don't drive by- you want to eat & drink here.
(5)Carrie S.
Went here when I was on the Big Island in March, tasty eats and my husband loved the beer! Even though it was super crowded on a Friday night, service was very personal. Definite go to if you are in the area!
(5)Glenn O.
Ugh, the brew haus. After three weeks of travel on Oahu and the big island this ranks as the worst dining/drinking experience by far. The beer was ok. We were unable to try a number of their more interesting beers because they had lost power over the holidays and the lines were still warm. The pils was nice and my wife liked the breakfast. I would recommend going here just for a sampler and then leaving. Unfortunately we didn't do this. The menu looked great and we fully support their commitment to local and sustainable. The burritos we had were not tasty at all though. They had no flavor, uninteresting and took over 30 min for a burrito! The chile rellano was ok but cold on the inside. The service though is the primary reason for the one star. It was slow slow slow. And seriously why do you need to use an iphone to place a beer order to the bartender right behind you! And then it take ten minutes for the flight to be poured. I thought I overheard a local talking about new ownership here. I hope that's the case otherwise I have no explanation for the disaster this place is. Grab a beer at the store and watch the sunset outside with it instead of going here.
(1)Tony I.
This is our 8th day in Hawaii, this was the best meal so far. 4 of us ordered different items & all 4 were hits. 3 of us said "this is the best meal I've had so far" & mine is tied for best. The beer was fantastic. The girls ordered margaritas & raved that they were the best, so there ya go, it's the best!
(5)T T.
Yes to the beer, food and service! We had the slider, carnitas quesidilla and the chimichanga. It was all fabulous. The slider was temder, well seasoned.and went perfect with the Red ale. We sat on the patio and listened to live music. My new favorite place!
(5)Ethan L.
This review is for the beer only, not the food since I didn't order any. Went through about 5 items, (not to mention about another four that I could find in bottle shops), and was very impressed. As far as I am concerned it's the best brewery on the Big Island. Standouts here are the off items, but many of the classic regular lineups are solid such as the White Mountain Porter, and Overboard IPA. Many limited beers though are impressive. Mandarin Gold is truly a great fruit option with a good soft vanilla flavor and texture. Red Sea of Cacao with it's pink salt, chocolate, and Tall Dark And Mandarin with it's chocolate and mandarin orange all have wonderful aromas, with palates that are truly unique and make you want more. Service is a little slow, particularly when it's busy, but it's not horrifically bad. The location is of course not in the most populated areas of the island but it is easily worth going to. The ambience here is also a lot of fun with many people who are visiting and some locals who are all out having a great experience. A very worthy stop on the island for a brew, and prices here for beer are actually pretty reasonable.
(4)Mike G.
When I landed on the Big Island of Hawaii I had never even heard of this brewery. I happened to go to a store where I was staying and found some bombers of beer from them. They were so good I looked the brewery up. When I saw it was only an hour away along a scenic highway loop I decided I had to go! The Brewhaus brews amazing craft beer with lots of ales and a few lagers. I really recommend trying their IPa's. Their food is just as amazing though. They serve very tasty Mexican food of very high quality. I had the spicy beef tacos and my girlfriend had the cheese enchilada both were amazing! I recommend anyone coming to the island to drop everything and make a pilgrimage out to this brewery. You will not regret it! Bring the yelp app to BlackBerry 10!
(5)Filip K.
Ever had gourmet Mexican food? Yeah I haven't either. This place however will blow your socks off with the quality of food... And their beer is pretty d@mn good too. :) I have had Mexican all over the U.S. And Mexico itself yet nothing compares to the sweet savory deliciousness that this little gem has to offer. Bottom line here is that you need to do yourself a favor and try this place out. You will not be disappointed. On to the beer, its clean its crisp it has all the essential greatness of a locally sourced and made will love beverage. Do I need to say more??!!
(5)Charlie C.
Tough review here, I am tossed between 2 and 5 stars... so 3 it is. Location/vibe: 4ish stars. I liked the little hut that this place is in, I liked the music and the clientele...and outdoor seating area. Nice. Beers: 4 stars. Some of them were certainly less deserving that others. I stuck near their hoppy ones (which most were, hoorah) but ended up landing on their overboard IPA. They claim its won awards, I will believe it. I enjoyed its flavor, was hopped well, but not overly so that it had a soapy aftertaste and cutting edge on the nose. They were appropriately priced, I would have drank more had I not been tired from a long day of adventures! Food: I had their sloppy burrito. It was above average, 3 stars. Certainly a load of heavy greasy goodness. So if you want your beach-bod ready the next day... steer clear. More on food at the end. Service: Our waitress forgot about us, and was really wanting her night to be over. It was frustrating, I had to go to the bar to ask for more beer, and she told us that there were no more chips. (we had, had 1 bowl at that point...) Anyway, other tables were getting them... she was just sitting on a stool texting and talking to her friends elsewhere in the place. Annoying! Overall- we got a speech from our waitress as the other tables did that went something like this: We are out of these 2 beers. We are out of the fresh catch, pork, breaded fish, avacados, and about 4 other things... The menu was crippled by this no-food disaster. Luckily I drank my fill, but was very sad at the lack of selection/preparation for a Friday night in this tiny-town.
(3)heather m.
Good food, good service, great atmosphere. Fish tacos were good. Fish bites we're so yummy. Delicious passion fruit margaritas! Everyone left happy
(4)Katie E.
Wow, drinks and food were outstanding! Every item has a unique homemade twist to it. Order the Lilikoi margarita, it's the best margarita I've had in a very, very long time. Big Island Brewhaus has an authentic light ambiance and great music. This is the best place I have eaten on the island! A true gem!
(5)Rachael D.
Love this place! The Red Sea of Cacao is he best beer I've ever had. Food was fresh, well presented and delish. Waitress was friendly and great. We drive across the island just to visit.
(5)Beth L.
Beers were good, we had the sampler and the Pilsner. The food was decent. Nachos with goat cheese was great. But the device was super slow.
(3)Veronica T.
5 stars for the service we got arriving 30 min before closing. Service was inviting, beer was good and the Mexican food was legit. I heard Hawaiian/Mexican food was good, but wow, an entire burrito the size of my arm was gone in minutes. Even my husband was impressed. This is also only 10 miles from Hapuna Prince. Worth the drive to avoid the insane resort restaurant prices.
(5)George B.
Best brewery and food joint in North Hawaii!
(5)Paul D.
I'm a "beer guy". I love beer. Fresh real beer the better. Beer made by people who care about beer and who know what they're doing. This place has been an MVP for my drinking/eating game since it opened and is only getting better and more consistent. If what you're concerned about is quality and trying new things do yourself a favor and drop in. Just be a good parker :-)
(5)Shelly B.
All my drinking buddies love it. But as a non drinker I couldn't wait to leave. It's so loud and the food is terrible and way over priced. Never again
(1)Denny M.
I took the family here on a recent vacation. We sat in the outdoor area during happy hour. The Overboard IPA was very, very good. The rest of the family had margarita's. We all ordered different food. My tacos were good, but meat was not very spicy or flavorful. It seemed like a place more suited for locals with a low key vibe. Not very touristy, which I actually appreciated. Prices for food very reasonable, particularly for where you are.
(4)Scott M.
Everything is Local and Everything is Amazing!! This is a must come non- tourist trap to support local mom and pop business!! Unlike kona brewing, the beer is made local for the locals! My favorite beer is the "Red Sea of Cacao!" It is very unique!
(5)Adam F.
Delicious locally sourced food. Fantastic burgers and fries. Get the habanero dipping sauce or the special sauce. So many good beers and some can be taken home in growlers or mason jars. Darts and live music on the patio with picnic tables. Hard to beat. Worth the drive from Kona.
(4)Tiffany C.
I loved this place! We were looking for a place to grab some drinks and boy did we! Positives (+): (+) The beers are phenomenal. Like all of them were amazing tasting. (+) Great happy hour prices - we got two beer samplers and a pint and we paid a whole whopping $13. (+) Nice staff - our waitress was really friendly and didn't mind at all that we weren't going to get anything to eat, just drinks. She was attentive to our needs and very nice. (+) Great selection of beers (+) The food looked pretty good too, although I can't judge on that. (+) Nice atmosphere, everyone seemed friendly and it was a nice casual place. (+) Clean bathroom Negatives (-): (-) I wish they had a TV so people could watch the sports games while they're having an amazing tasting beer. I had to keep track of the Niners game by refreshing my phone to see the latest score.
(5)Millsy M.
Oh, the selection of beers, pale ales and largars- all brewed in Hawaii. The Big Island Brewhouse is the epitome of a local and low key brew house. Warm and egalitarian, it is peppered with locals that range from old school time pot ranchers to Keck scientists. We were jonesing for Baja style fish tacos, and they did not disappoint!
(5)Paola R.
Some friends and I took a day trip to Kona from Oahu and made the hour or so trek to Big Island Brewhaus. It was totally worth it. We were surprised to find that the Brewhaus served Mexican food, and it did not disappoint. The food came out quickly, and the portions are huge (as Mexican food should be!) I had a carne asada burrito, which tasted amazing. And everyone gets free chips and salsa! And now for the beer: it really is my favorite beer brewed in Hawaii. My favorite is the porter, but I also enjoyed their red ale. Definitely get a taster so that you can try 5 of their beers.
(5)Barbara L.
Really nice beer, with lots of choices. Well worth a stop. I just had a dip and chip snack to go with and it was quite tasty. My only complaint would be that the outdoor seating area was on a busy corner, and although it was fenced in, was very noisy.
(4)Victoria G.
By far my favourite spot on the island: it was something I did not expect and had amazing food! great live music, their own made beer, super delicious tacos and irresistable margaritas! definitely a go!
(5)Cheri S.
Brewhaus is awesome! Service, food, and drinks are top notch Will definitely be back!!
(5)Dania-Maria K.
We came here for lunch and it was packed. We ended up sitting outside. My boyfriend order the taco salad with carnitas, which I wanted as soon as our server set it in front him. I ordered a veggie burrito. Prior to our food we also received some chips and salsa. The taco salad continued to look good the more it got eaten. The veggie burrito was quite good though. I opted for both black and pinto beans along with mild salsa, I just wished the burrito would have had a little extra juice in it, perhaps more salsa. It was filling and I did eventually try the taco salad and still wanted it even though I was full. So, note to self and to others try the taco salad! Will be back to try other dishes as well.
(3)Jan A.
Have been there before and wanted to take out of town friends to try some great beer. That's the only thing good there. We went for lunch and got there before the "rush", put in our order and waited...... It wasn't until an hour later and watching other tables come and go that we asked about our order. We were one of the only "local" tables there, mostly tourist. Safe to say if you aren't "local" you'll be served first. I'll never recommend to friends from the islands.
(1)Rosa M.
Our favorite place to eat and drink on the Big Island. Many vegan and gluten free selections. Live music/open mic on some nights, great beers, fast service and not heavy and greasy like most Mexican restaurants tend to be. I love the lilikoi margarita, while the husband likes the White Mountain porter. Friendly environment, good mix of tourists and locals.
(5)Megan M.
A local I met at Kona Brewery recommended this gem. During my 10 day visit we went in twice. We started with the black bean dip and broiled tomatoes. We devoured them within minutes. For my meal I had the fish tacos and they were messy but delicious. We sat on the patio both times. Service was friendly, efficient and welcoming. The beers were refreshing and unique. I wish I lived closer than a 7 hour flight.
(5)Susan W.
Stopped here on our way to ride quads in Waipio Valley. A friend had told us we should check them out. Hubby & I weren't starving so we split a combo plate. It gave us a little taste of everything. Started out with a basket of chips & salsas. The chips could have been hotter & needed salt bad! I was practically drinking the pineapple salsa. It was sooooo good! Hubby asked for some hotter hot sauce & got their mango habanero sauce. It too was delicious!! It would be killer on hot chicken wings. The standout star of the combo plate was the chile relleno. I would order a couple of those alone next time. Posted opening time is 11am & they were just a little slow on that. 2 other people went to the door at 11:05 and left. I would make sure to have your doors open as soon as you possibly can. Sit people down with water,chips & salsa & they will be happy. Cool sink in the ladies room. ;)
(4)Jesse U.
Completely worth the trip from Kona side of the island, or any part! Brew was fantastic, with unique and exceptional tones of pink sea salt and pink peppercorn in the red sea of cacao , and rich, smooth dark chocolate and mandarin in tall dark and mandarin. Very unique spot, great food to accompany the beer and the location is small, quaint and an experience in itself. For the food/brew connoisseur, this is a must do on your trip to the big island.
(5)Mark C.
Excellent selection of beers from the light pilsner to the stronger IPAs and Golden Sabbath. The beer alone is worth the trip but the food is an unexpected bonus. Excellent Baja Tacos and southwestern US fare. This spot is a little off the beaten path but I recommend making the trip of you like quality beer with locally infused flavor like coconut, coffee, ginger and honey. Trust me: it works.
(5)Angela H.
I would give 5 stars for the beer if I could, food not so much. It was ok, but high priced. Would recommend for a great place to sample tasty beers.
(3)Makayla A.
This food was simply not good. Living in California, I am used to delicious Mexican food and wanted some Mexican food while on vacation. This food was very disappointing. I had the steak fajitas ( the waiter telling me they were the best item on the menu ) and a supreme carnitas burrito. The steak fajitas were not great but okay. The burrito however was gross and I couldn't eat much of it. The service was good but the food was really not. I would not recommend eating here.
(2)J T.
The price was great and the beer was interesting and I loved it. It hit my missus wrong and she thought it was "ok". The nachos were good but only get a 6.5 out of 10. Id come back again though
(4)Scott M.
4 stars for the beer alone. Humulus IPA is a standout. The food menu is varied and our salad and black bean burger were enjoyable. Other entrees were just ok, it was a bad sign when four orders of food arrived 5 minutes before the beer. We will be back for the beer (which is better then Kona brewing company by far).
(4)Crystal C.
Used to come here and it was always amazing. Just came back today and was very disappointed. First the beer came out warm. Then got my lunch and there was a big bug on my lettuce. The food was cold and the iced tea was extremely watered down. Prices with up portions are less. I'm sad to say we won't be coming back.
(1)Kim B.
Um YUM. Garlic fries with cilantro aioli you need this. Delicious beers especially the one with cacao in it. And super friendly service. Happy we stumbled upon this gem in a rainy Monday.
(5)Deb S.
Some of the best beer we had while visiting Hawaii. Crisp, bright, bold, and hit the spot completely. Service was good, guacamole was dull (sorry) but salsa was fresh and spicy. Nice spot to stop for a beer!
(4)Loic C.
Probably 4.5 stars for the home brewed beers. The variety is great. There is a flavor for everyone. They have seasonal beers, they use local spices, and products. They are planning to grow there own hops, and wheat. The menu is exhaustive yelp.com/biz_photos/big-… The inside decor is great yelp.com/biz_photos/big-… Live bands play on the outdoor patio. It is a great place to hangout. The beers are well poured. Check out the head on this pic yelp.com/biz_photos/big-… Some of the flavors are unusual. I tried a beer which had smoked wood flavor. It was not the best, in particular with no food. It will be in my book next to the jalapenos flavor beer I tried in Pittsburgh. The food is ok. I recommend to just drink here and grab a burger at the amazing Village Burger ( too bad it closes at 8pm). These two places should merge. They will have the perfect combo beer / burger.
(3)Linda C.
Interesting and tasty craft beers, and for eats as well as meat burritos they also offer choices for vegans and vegetarians. What let this place down was the lack-luster service. I had to ask two different waitresses for water and they seemed begrudging that I asked. Eventually some was brought out, but it was towards the end of our meal. Just didn't feel very welcome compared with other places that we visited on the island. Shame, as their beers and food were very good.
(3)Miss G.
The beer is good!! But don't come here for the food or the service. I've never had a good experience with food(mediocre at best--possible food poisoning at worst) or the service(ALWAYS very slow unless you can find a seat at the bar & inevitably mistakes with food orders, but ah well)--it's all about the beer. Great brews. And don't get pulled over by the cops stationed across the street. The end.
(1)Shal J.
Delicious vegetarian options! "Falafel" made with black beans - fun way to add protein to veg dishes. Good beer & tequila. Loved the live music on Fri night!
(5)Carissa L.
Fun, unique beers that are local to the area. My favorite beer was the White Mountain Porter... best Coconut Porter I've tried yet!!! It's nice that they offer a sampler where you can choose the 5 beers you'd like to try out. When you are seated your server will bring chips and salsa to the table, which the salsas go good with the beer, in fact they can help to bring out additional undertone flavors in the beers. Bring in a growler with you too and then you can get it filled with the favorite beer you had while there and enjoy the taste at home later on.
(4)Robert R.
Excellent fusion type food with great prices. The beer is more for beer drinkers though. For the occasional beer drinker it may be a bit strong.
(5)Filip F.
This is one of my favorite places to visit when on big island. Beers are awesome. My favorite is Hoptopius double IPA that goes down way too easy for a 10%er. Pork Nachos are great. Burritos are awesome. Complimentary chips and salsa are really really good. Most of people in here are locals. Some reviews complain about slow service. I never experienced it. But this is a friendly and a warm place. If you have to wait a bit, it is not a necessarily a bad thing. I recommend going on a hike or a bike ride in the area and coming here for few delicious beers and some greasy and delicious snacks.
(5)Craig B.
Excellent brews. Great stop on the way from Hilo to Kona side. The Red Giant was our favorite.
(5)Jennifer C.
Beer rating only (IMHO) Malama lager - light with a bit of bitterness, citrus White Mountain Porter - coffee, rich, my fave! Red Giant - honey/caramel, warm Pau Hana - citrus, slightly bitter Overboard IPA - caramelly Paniolo Pale Ale - light ale Golden Sabbath - wheaty Red Sea - caramel, chocolatey Graham's Pilsner - pear, light Hoptopias IPA - The most bitter beer here, voted best IPA in the USA (says a sign in the BI Brewhaus) Staff is friendly and environment is casual. Fun to come with friends :)
(4)Lena D.
The variety of beer and overall quality is better than Kona Brewing Company. I highly recommend the Belgian IPA and the porter. Samplers (flights) of beer are only $6.50. I had the carne asada burrito covered in green chile and I thought it was quite tasty and reasonably priced (about 12 dollars) Golden Sabbath beer alone is worth the drive. Even more worth it if you're making the way back from Hilo. I didn't have any problems with the service, and I thought they were very friendly.
(5)Gina T.
you can always count on a good time coming here. the girls bust their butts getting you drinks and food even though it's always jamming. great local beer that packs a punch; if you know what I mean :]
(5)Olivia L.
Absolutely WORST SERVICE. Never had worse service from any restaurant. Waited 1 and a half hours to get water for our table. Waiter complained to us about being called into work. Server came back half an hour later after we ordered to tell us that they were out of stew. Then came back another half an hour later to tell us that they were out of steak. After sitting for one and a half hours half of our table didnt get any of their food. Server didnt apologize or try to accomodate at all. He was rude, sarcastic, and didnt seem to care about anything. We left the restaurant after asking for the manager and no one helped us.
(1)B G.
Have driven by before but never stopped in. Picked today just because. The place looks cool, and they claim Mexican food and home brew. Gotta be a great combo. Hit them around 5 and they do a happy hour. Had a pint of Paniolo pale ale. Having spent the last 5 years on the east coast I was glad to find a nice hoppy local brew at an affordable price. My fiancée had a lime margarita/rocks. No make that 2 of them. Pretty damn good. We split the Baja fish taco plate with a side of pintos and rice. Plenty of food for the two of us. Tacos were excellent. Nice flavoring, enough fish to satisfy. The accompanying salad was locally sourced and delicious. The beans and rice was...beans and rice. A good helping so we were happy. The salsa and chips are worth comment. I like the heavier tortilla chip. And the tomatillo salsa was blended with a hint of pineapple or pineapple juice, outstanding. It's a noisy joint so if you need quiet, come earlier in the day. Will we go back? Definitely!
(4)Levi R.
So in you think kona brewing is awful, you'd be right. But if this makes you think that the island produces no good beer, then you'd be wrong. And if thought that there wasn't anywhere to get some mexican food and beer on the big island, well then you are double wrong. The deal is that no matter where you are on the island, this place isn't that far away. I mean the whole island only takes like 2 hours to cross. And if you are on a different island, then take time out of your day to make it to this place. I mean only if you want the best food that Hawaii has to offer along with the best beer in the pacific.
(5)Bruce H.
We had a decent experience (maybe 4 stars) 1st time we went around 90 days ago, so we went back again when passing through Waimea. Gotta say, this 2nd visit was pretty bad. Here's the good & bad of it: Good: - Tasty Beers. - Outdoor seating Bad: - Service (Place wasn't busy, but it took 10+ minutes to place a drink order, had to chase down our bill.) - Training (Our server didn't know ANYTHING about the menu. Didn't know they didn't take AMEX until after I gave it to her to pay & waited 5 minutes for her to come back & say something. - Food (The house made tortilla chips for chips & salsa were WAY overcooked - essentially burnt. The fish taco was mushy,) If you want good Mex Food - head down to KBAT instead. I don't blame the server, I blame mgt who would put someone untrained, inexperienced, and unmonitored in front of customers while putting out pretty weak food.
(2)Phil A.
The menu has changed for the worse. The food smacks of profit maximization. No more local beef and flavorless burritos full of filler. The beer is great as usual but the food really is now bland and not memorable. The carnitas are over seasones without spice. Just a sad day. I would pay more with old menu but now I won't be back.
(2)Hanna C.
for dinner I had the two taco plate with a hard shell and Mexican rice = $8.95. The tacos came with the shell, meat and cheese no tomatoes, no lettuce and no sour cream! The rice was very tasteless and a little on the hard side. I won't be ordering any food from them in the future.
(2)Sherry S.
Stopped by for lunch. Between the three of us we had almost every beer on tap. Every one was "the best beer I ever had"! Sounds corny -but we go to a LOT of craft breweries. The food was really good- we had burgers. The best part was sitting at the bar. A few of the bottlers were there having a cold one and we had a great chat. I'm so sorry that I can't get this beer on the mainland!
(5)Cec R.
The beer was fine, margarita was "I've had better," and the Tako food would be worth missing. No flavor...just one note across the palate. Cilantro, cumin, and garlic would be a revelation here. The locals do come here, which is usually a good sign, but I didn't appreciate sitting next to drunk druggies. The place just felt dirty. Some wait staff was good, but it was slow. I'd skip this unless you want drink and this is your scene.
(2)Brian P.
Hands down the best beer on the big island. They have lots of very solid craft beers (although I'm not sure I believe that their IPA should be as highly ranked as they claim) and their price is unbeatable. The one standout beer that I had was the Tall, Dark, and Mandarin, which is a mandarin-flavored imperial stout and unlike anything I've had before (and I drink a lot of beer). I'd go back just for that, but the added bonus of having pretty solid mexican food is an added bonus. It's definitely nice to have chips and salsa to munch on with your beer.
(5)Chelsea M.
Their nachos used to be excellent! Now, not so much. They seem to have cut their portions in half while keeping the same price. Also, what happened to the free chips and salsa?! The food was a bit disappointing but the beer is still good.
(3)DJ. N.
The kalua pork on romaine is so tasty. There was entertainment the night we where there. We were 9 people and they were able to accomdate us without a reservation. There was a man helping people get a parking spot. The beer is good and the food is very good. We had fish bites, fish taco and fish wonton, burgers with bacon, pork burritos. We had the bean dip. The only thing that was not fabulous was the sausage and beans. Yummy lilikoi margaritas.
(4)Laura Y.
Beer: 10 (pick up and leave immediately), Service & Food: NEGATIVE100,000. This is hand's down the worst restaurant experience ever, repeating since Tako Taco changed to the Brewhaus over the last few years. I AM NOT A TOURIST. However, since I look like one, the young woman who waited on us was the nastiest server I have ever had, came over, reluctantly, after 10 minutes of us sitting at the bar, lied to us about the price of bags in HI when she literally handed us paper plates of food ordered TO GO, and told us they were out of guac at 5pm (but kindly allowed us to pay for it, once we insisted we were worthy). That woman should not be allowed in public, much less a in a customer service position. My "cheese" enchiladas were filled with spinach and artichoke dip from Costco -- no joke, people. The beer is great, but I hope they close from the unemployable servers, terrible cooks, and management who shouldn't be allowed to keep a restaurant open.
(1)Rosella M.
This place has a good selection of beers. The food is good too, the fish bites were excellent.
(4)Heather C.
I love beer and my review is based on that fact. I also love mexican food. Sadly, any local knows that there is no such thing REAL mexican food in hawaii. This places comes kinda close and the portions are ridiculously huge. So my rating is based on hawaii mexican food standards not real mexican food. And just to give myself some street cred, my last name is mexican. boom.
(5)Aaron E.
What a great place for lunch and a beer! The bacon and bleu cheese burger was the best I have ever had. Couple that with the excellent beer and very attentive wait staff to round out our visit. And they are located in beautiful Waimea!
(5)Carolyn C.
Best beer on the island...hands down. If you like beer, come straight here!!! We haven't eaten here (they have Mexican food, and we have great Mexican food options at home), but have visited several times and the beer is phenomenal every time.
(5)Kim g.
Great service and amazing food. Get the garlic fries and cilantro aioli. I can't remember the beer name of the one we loved but it's something with cacao in it. Yummy. Great find.
(5)Louis R.
This spot is in the middle of the island...on a pretty busy highway (well, for Hawaiian standards)...and tough to find. So the mexican food here is meh but the craft beers are off-the-Hawaiian-chains. Love the open-air communcal tables where you can chill, eat and mix it up with the locals. All the waitresses look like my sister and they be hella slow. Mahalo.
(4)Nicole N.
This place deserves negative stars. They ran out of guacamole before we got here. The waitress said we could have any extra items on our dishes since there was no guac on hand [i.e. Salsa, cheese, etc] then proceeded to charge us for it. Also we were stoked to get the lilikoi margaritas with this red salt the waitress offered us and she never said their was an up charge for it. We got wet burritos and there was a sparse amount of green chile sauce on it and the inside of the burrito was overly dry. Overall not too happy with outcome and would not recommend this place ever.
(1)Matthew A.
Great staff, great beers, hearty mexicanish food. Fish tacos served on full sized tortillas was nice. Growlers to go too! Very friendly & local, they know their stuff.
(5)Joe P.
Started with the beer flight sampler. Haka bock was a little smoky. Interesting and tasty but maybe a whole pint might have gotten annoying. Wheat was good, not too much of that banana taste, ironic for a place that puts tropical flavors into so much of their stuff. Dark Sabbath, robust belgian dark beer. White Mountain Porter...yes! Loved it, coffee and coconut flavored porter, def tastes more of the coconut than the coffee, but the best part was the overall balance still tasted like porter not a dark coconut beer. Look they're doing some twists on mexican food, so comparison with your corner taqueria or your shopping mall chain Mexican is not too fair. Don't know if I'd call it an island influenced mexican...but def not the same ol same ol. Baja fish tacos were fresh, nicely sized, had plenty of moisture in the fish and the right amount of mayo seasoned with what I think was fresh cilantro. Needed a little salt IMO, otherwise perfect. Pineapple green salsa was good...an interesting idea though I'm just not much into sweet salsas. The red salsa was good but also unsalted though a packet or two of the table salt fixed that quickly. Black beans had cinnamon in what I thought was a refreshing twist. But they used them in my daughter's keiki menu bean burrito and she wasn't big on the novelty, so refused to finish it. Wife loved her ranchero tofu burrito!
(5)Tim B.
Great Mexican food, super service and I will recommend this place to all who come to the big island! I love beer and great beer too
(5)Gary E.
First up., should be noted that I'm tapping this out on the lanai, beverage in hand, in the middle of my Hawaiian holiday to the Big Island. I should have more important things to do, but instead I'm reviewing Big Island Brewhaus. Because the memory is fresh in my mind, and I think it's THAT important to share. To say that I "like" beer is like saying that Mitt Romney "likes" money and his magic underpants. It goes beyond like, through love, careens into lust, and bounces off addiction. But not just any beer. Good beer. A good pint is a wonderful thing. The Earth moves. The angels weep. A bad beer is a horrible thing. A sin. A travesty. Alright, made my point. So why am I reviewing this place instead of enjoying a Mai Tai, or trying to cajole my wife away from her romance novel? Because Big Island Brewhaus is bloody amazing, and blew my socks off. Three beers enjoyed. Their Overboard IPA kicked off the visit, and was a bloody good brew. At risk of sounding like a snobby idiot, if I want IPA I don't think of Hawaii, I think of my locals in the Bay Area, or the occasional fountain of goodness from San Diego or Oregon. But the Overboard can go toe to toe with any of them. Beautifully hoppy, nicely balanced, and not over the top in terms of ABV. A VERY nicely sessionable IPA. Which was followed by a pint of their Red Giant. Holy shnikeys, another winner. Hops at the forefront, but nicely balanced by sweet malts this time. And then I saw it. White Mountain Porter. Kona has their Pipeline Porter infused with coffee. It's a tasty beverage. Maui Brewing has their Coconut Porter. It's a tasty beverage. Big Island rolls big. They look upon their neighbours' Porter offerings, laugh a bit, and up the ante. "Coffee AND Coconut, bizitches. That's how WE roll." It PROBABLY shouldn't work taste wise, but... it does. It's outstanding. A truly excellent beer. It honestly, truly, blows their Island competition out of the water. And this from a man who lurrrrrves his porter. So there you go. Beer out of the way. What about the rest of it? Well, I notice that down the page here is a two star review, citing it as "a road house with a raunchy atmosphere, full of sketchy characters." I'm not sure if the circus was in town when Eliot swung by, but when the four of us entered with bags in tow, sporting massive out of town touristy behaviour (two Irish accents, one Jersey boy, and the wife. Who's perfect, ahem) one of the regulars took note and said "Hey guys, want to share our table, we'll move down." Goddamn sketchy bastards. Then there was that horrible service mentioned... which for us involved being asked if we wanted another before our beers ever hit bottom, our waiter apologizing to us when he came back to take our order and we STILL hadn't made up our mind, and our food coming out quickly and nicely done? On a Friday night? And the "sketchy 'Mexican' menu"? I had a bloody good burger smothered in green chiles, on a soft wholewheat bun with crinkle-cut fries and a cheese sauce that was really bloody tasty. My friend had a chimichanga that he inhaled that he raved about. (Had to take his word for it, selfish bastard never offered anyone a bite) The ladies had fish tacos which disappeared quickly. Was it gourmet five-star fare? No. It was outstandingly done bar food, and was just the thing to enjoy with a few pints. All of this is a long way of saying that if you're a beer fan and find yourself on the Big Island of Hawaii, do yourself a favour. Give Kona Brewing a rest, and instead hop in your rented Sebring convertible or Jeep, and head to this place. You absolutely will NOT be disappointed.
(5)Will B.
Average together the beer, food and service, and you get 4 stars. The beer is really good craft beer, and it's still improving. It tends to be on the heavier side -- there's at least three different IPA's, a porter, and two strong Belgian ales for starters. I want to try it all! The White Mountain Porter and the Overboard IPA are my favorites so far. The food is solid Mexican. If you're from somewhere that excels in Mexican food, like, y'know, Mexico, or California or Texas, then you probably won't be impressed. But if you've been living in Hawaii for a while, this is a pleasant find. The service could improve. The servers don't come around much and don't seem too focused on serving.
(4)Andrew T.
Waimea's handsomer version of Kevin Costner was seated near us while Waimea's (younger) versions of Dolly Parton, Lily Tomlin, and Jane Fonda downed brews at the bar and smiled warmly at all single men. Amazing variety of brews, brewed ON THE BIG ISLAND by an award winning brew master. Really the best beer I've had in years. I'm getting thirsty just thinking about it. Did you notice my capitalization of "ON THE BIG ISLAND" ??? This is because I've recently learned that Kona Brewing Company actually brews almost all of their beer on the mainland now, and ships it back to the big island. NOT SO at Big Island Brewhaus. Good inexpensive mexican food. We were there early, and there was already a party atmosphere with live music and attractive well-lubricated friendly 40-somethings inside. Seemed like a fun local hang-out spot. You can also sit outside for a more mellow dining experience. I'm looking forward to going back and I will definitely be INSIDE!
(4)Shane H.
5 stars for the beer. Great IPAs, pale ales, porter, and stouts. Usually the service isn't good at all but last time we went it was awesome thanks to Morgan! Food is not very good, we typically just go for the beer. If you are thinking of getting a growler don't waste your money. The beer is flat every time I get a growler because of the way they fill them.
(4)Chebator C.
Good bear. Good food. Bad service. But I'm told by locals that the service is normally better.
(4)AsianRunningDiva S.
The beer here is AWESOME! They make it with local ingredients too! We get flights to start and then a pint of our fav from the flight choices! The food here was okay...we got the Sloppy Jose and it was soupy! I get that it's supposed to be "sloppy", but when the tortilla is SOGGY, it just doesn't taste good! I recommend putting some rice inside the tortilla to soak up some of the sauce. I tried the chicken stew and it was SPICY, but really good! :)
(4)Sally M.
Ok, I guess this place used to be a Mexican restaurant once but it sure isn't now. They have Mexican-ish items on the menu but the food is really sub-par here and I'm not being a snobby Mexican. I had their fish burrito which was barely ok. The rice has zero flavor, mahi mahi was pretty dry and it was one of the smallest burritos I ever had for that price ($10.50). Think the same size as a beef and bean burrito from Taco Bell. The mushroom steak enchiladas my boyfriend had were dripping with grease and bland. Our waitress never brought us the complementary chips we saw everyone else get but we were only driving through so we just ate and tried to find her to ask for the check so we could get to our destination. The waitress for some reason was always preoccupied chatting up some guys and then asked two diners to leave and pay their check before they were even ready to so she could seat two other customers. Rude and weird, and she took forever to come by our table for any reason. I didn't really want to go back after this but we were back in Waimea visiting friends and they really liked it there because it's pretty much the only game in town. Not much night life in this area and they have live music sometimes. I was hungry so I figured since their Mexican food sucks terribly I'll keep it simple by ordering french fries just to have something to soak up the beer. Well, guess what? 45 minutes after I ordered them I was told that they were all out. Good thing they remembered to bring me the chips and salsa this time. The chips are pretty greasy but ok. They serve them with a selection of salsas that sound great when described but each is missing something. They lack depth and flavor and are very watery. I didn't taste any cilantro, oregano or garlic in any of them. I went hungry that night because I refuse to overpay for crappy food. They do have good White Mountain Porter. It was really good, but this woman cannot live on beer alone. The people there seemed nice and if they'd put even a minimal amount of effort into their kitchen as they do into the beer then they'd have something there. I honestly would not have returned there had I not had friends take me back there and started declining their invitations to meet them there as our visit went on. Boo.
(2)Mandi B.
3 stars for food, 4 stars for the beer... Overall rating is 3.5 on my first visit. I had the seasonal Octoberfest offering and the Dark Sabbath. Both were verryyy good. I would have loved to hang out and do a sampler, but didn't have the time on this visit. I will definitely be trying the Porter and Golden Sabbath next time! For food, I couldn't decide on just one dish, so I had a half order of nachos with the chile verde pork and I added a Baja taco a la carte. The taco was a bit disappointing and didn't have all the flavors I had hoped for between the guac and cilantro. It also came on a 9" flour tortilla which was twice as big as necessary. The nachos were really tasty and I couldn't even finish the half order. All in all, I will plan to go back next time I'm on the island, simply for the beer. I will probably stick to the tastier pork creations in the food department!
(3)Robert H.
The staff was great, the food was great, and the brews were the best. If we are back in the area we will definitely want to come back!
(5)Kelli H.
It sucks that I'm giving them two stars. If I had to give them a rating based on their beer I'd give them a 4 to 4.5. But, since I'm rating the whole experience, it's gotta come down... The whole outside seating area was a mess. Empty tables with plates and glasses laid on the tables for our whole time there. Birds and flies were swarming the tables and the servers just left them dirty. Obviously the place wasn't busy since they didn't need those tables, so I'm not sure why they wouldn't just clean them. Our server was young and very unfriendly. She seemed bothered by us and knew nothing about beer. I'm not sure if they only like locals to come here, but that was the vibe we were getting. Service was slow. The food...yikes. I guess I'm super spoiled in California but this Mexican food was not good. My fish tacos were served in an 8" flour tortilla. It was all just dry cold tortilla. The fish inside was alright, but I could make better fish tacos myself. My husbands burrito was okay. The only thing that was good was the salsa, which we were never offered more. Though their beer is excellent, it'd be great if you could get it at other restaurants, because their own is seriously lacking.
(2)Suzanne A.
Good food and great service! Our server was Rachel and she was on top of everything!! She was very friendly and full of knowledge when it came to the beers. The food was so good and felt homemade. I'm glad I let the boyfriend drag me here. :)
(5)Josh S.
After a long hike and sweating my arse off this place hit the spot. The beer was cold and the margaritas were strong. I had the green chile burger and it was awesome. We shared the fish bites and they were a great appetizer for 4. I would definately go again. Right next to the road so it's a little noisy if you sit outside but don't let that dissuade you, this place was very good.
(4)Loosey B.
Why, oh why, didn't I read the bad reviews first? I believed the 4 stars overall. You have got to be kidding. The food was cold and bland. They hadn't got the beer hubby wanted. The waitress. What can I say? Servers make or break a place, and ours was just not interested. If she'd bothered to come back after we got our food we could have told her it was cold and maybe saved the meal. But she didn't. I give the other girl credit for not charging for my food, but if these restaurants had any sense, instead of comping your meal they would give you a gift certificate so you have to go back and give them another chance to prove they are better than you think. As it is, we'll never go back. Just drive by every few months and remark on how terrible the service was there.
(1)Paul M.
We came here last year and loved it! So this year we made it a point to come back. We got here around at 430pm and the place was already packed. We managed to get a spot against the wall and ordered a 5 beer sampler. All of the beers were good but our two favorites were the Red Sea (chocolate. Sea salt) and the White Mountain porter (coconut and coffee-ish). We snacked on the chili verde nachos and loved every bite. Just like last year, we loved it. Our waitress was great and we will be going back before the end of our trip. Something to note: Food is on the spicy side. I love spicy so it doesn't bother me but if your one of those people that can't handle spice then stick to beer.
(5)Doug F.
Do NOT confuse slow service with bad service. Took awhile to get served so had to suffer through drinking great beer and listening to great live music while waiting for our food. Food was great, staff was very friendly and place was Friday night packed. Place is definitely a locals hangout that is friendly to tourists. Plus...and this is HUGE...the owner is a big Duck fan with helmets and gear on display. Highly recommend you get away from the resorts and go inland for this.
(5)Jason K.
Ok, let me start off by saying that the beer here is good. I don't remember what I got, but I couldn't get the first one I wanted because the "keg busted" or something. Ok. This is one of those places that when you walk in, you have no idea what to do. There is a huge menu board up, so I thought we had to order our food up there. People in front of us were taking forever looking at souvenirs or something, when finally, after 5 minutes or so, a server said we could sit down if we're dining in. I got a taco plate. Seems like a pretty standard thing for a Mexican place, but everything was very bland, including the chips and salsa. Since we were there close to closing, the cook came out and informed me that the rice was "hard" and asked if would I accept a salad instead. I didn't really have a choice in the matter, though. Sorry, but salad does not replace rice. I suppose making more rice was too much of a hassle. I wanted some sour cream with my tacos, but after our food arrived, I never saw the waitress again, except in the back where I saw her snacking on something. About 20 minutes after we were done eating, she finally came back and asked us if we wanted another beer. I said we'll take the check, which took another 10 minutes. If you're coming through the area, there's got to be better places to go.
(2)keri r.
This review is only for the beer. I've wanted to go to Big Island Brewhaus for a while, since I had their Overboard IPA and White Mountain Porter at REAL in Honolulu and didn't want to keep spending $18/bottle. I was finally able to visit last weekend, and ended up going twice because we loved their beer so much. Here is what I had/sampled: Holy Humulus IPA Overboard IPA White Mountain Porter Irie Irish Stout Although Overboard is an award winning IPA (and amazing), I really enjoyed the Holy Humulus and recommend trying both to see the differences. The Irie Irish Stout was good, but I enjoyed the White Mountain Porter more. We ended up bringing two growlers back home to Honolulu (of the Overboard and Humulus), so we were able to enjoy our vacation a little longer. Growlers are usually $26 ($14 for the beer and $12 for the bottle), and they will refill growlers from any brewery (unlike CA laws). Overall, if you're a beer fanatic, you must go here to try their beer. They definitely have the best craft beer in the state.
(5)Amber C.
The first time I went here was dinner time and it was so good. Second time was lunch and it was ok. Downfall is we sat down and I swear we waited for like almost 10 min without anyone acknowledging us. Seriously thought about getting up and leaving. No one said hi, or gave us water or menus till like later. When the waiter arrived though he was super nice, and apologized said they were short handed. I like their Baja fish tacos, and my son had the most fanciest quesadilla I've ever seen. Good choice on cheese too.
(3)Kari M.
Visited here twice while on vacation. I personally enjoyed the Carnitas Tacos, Chili Rellani, and cheese enchilada. Also, try the samplers for beer! Many delicious varieties!! I enjoyed the Coconut Creme Ale, Mele Mai Boc and Kaffir The Beer the best.
(5)J B.
We were told by staff at two other bars that they really enjoy this place, so we made the trek across the island to try it out. Our beer sampler was full of warm-ish and pretty disappointing if not plain bad beer, not a single one was worth ordering a pint of . The black bean dip was accurately named because it was just black beans smashed/warmed and put into a bowl, not really an inspiring dip or appetizer. The atmosphere and staff were good, but that was about it, we won't be back nor would we recommend stopping here.
(2)Asuka N.
While we were driving from one side of the island to the other, my fiancee and I decided to grab lunch at Big Island Brewhaus on the way back towards the Kohala coast. We didn't realize that they made their own beers in-house, but given the high reviews, we figured we'd stop by for lunch as well. There's both indoor and outdoor seating, with a small bar inside, along with a large communal table. I wasn't really pleased with the service; the waitresses seemed to be inattentive at best, with most of their time spent not checking in on the customers - we had to walk up to the front to ask for someone to take our order. It's got a very casual feel to it, reflective of Hawaiian casualness, and a crowd that seems to be relatively regular and get along well. Once our orders were taken, the food did some quickly, as did our drinks. Speaking to the beers first - I liked just about every one I tried from the sampler; in particular, I'd say the Golden Sabbath (with its Belgian background and honey undertones) and the Looking Glass wheat beer (which was a firmer wheat beer with more depth to it than most) were my favorites. There are a good number on tap, although a few appeared to be out, and unfortunately, given how small a brewery it is, only a few of the beers are available to take out as bottles (I hooked myself up with another Golden Sabbath). That said, the prices are pretty reasonable - the beer sampler (5 different beers) comes out in the $6.50 range, which is a decent price for tasting a big pint's worth of beers. As for the food - it's pretty much Mexican themed, but it was a bit of a mixed bag. While I did like the quantity of food that came with both our tacos and tostadas, it wasn't anything particularly memorable. The most memorable part was how absolutely plain the fresh guacamole that was served was. It wasn't bad, but it was weird - it had absolutely zero flavor, not even really the natural flavor of an avocado. Salt was definitely missing, as was cilantro, but it had to be the plainest guacamole I've ever had - even store-made guac has a bit more character. It's a solid price (a 4-ounce bowl costs under $3), but not even worth that. In all, the beer here is very good - one could definitely argue that it's superior to what Kona Brewery puts out, both in variety and in execution. But the restaurant itself leaves something to be desired on both the food and the service front, taking a few marks off of it. I would definitely come back to try more of their beers, though.
(3)Jacob T.
Best IPA on the island. And the Mexican food is awesome. Even better than when it was Tako Taco. I highly recommend the carnitas Quesadilla
(5)Walt R.
To the Point -Beer, very good,, the lager and red were very tasty! -food, chips n salsa ok but not great, the burrito was sloppy goodness! -service,, very slow and looked disorganized, however the waitress was sympathetic, apologized and said they were short staffed due to the holiday.. after seeing us still waiting, comped us beer... good customer relations. -came out with a rare burger, the wrong order for my wife, semi vegetarian apologized again and took it off the bill, let her keep the salad and fries.. I will go back but earlier in the day (4pm ish) and enjoy some more of their good tasting beer..!
(4)Nicole S.
A+++ food A+++ service A+++ atmosphere Good place to stop on the way from Hamakua to Kona. How have I not heard of this? Lots of great vegetarian options and good beer (and I don't even like beer) - try the coconut porter. My boyfriend even bought a couple of bottles to bring home. Definitely recommending this to all my friends and coming back!
(5)Bonnie S.
The beers are good, especially the Breakfast Beer, Pau Hana Pale Ale and Overboard, but come hungry because the food exceeded my expectations. Many times breweries overlook food, not here. Order the pork and lettuce app, the wonton taco and fish tacos. They all rocked. My husband and I actually hit this place twice during our week on the island. It was well-worth the drive.
(5)Lance T.
Unique beer flavors made with quality ingredients. Food is ono too.
(5)Sheree M.
Good food and beer! My husband had a couple beers and really liked them. I had the pink peppercorn beer is was very tasty and I'm not that into beers. I had the bean tostada which was excellent. My husband had a taco salad...it could have had more salad. He said it was average. We had Nick (i think that was his name he's from Cali) our server he was awesome. He is very knowledgable about the beers and super friendly.
(4)Nicole Y.
I believe this place used to be called Tako Taco. I've only been here once, but it was fabulous enough to write a glowing review. You guys are AWESOME. Seriously. Super friendly staff and spectacular service. The salsa was so fresh and delicious I had to forcibly stop myself from eating more so that I could enjoy the massive burrito that was going to be placed in front of me. I got the super paniolo burrito and it was heaven. I would not have been able to finish it, had I not gotten the beginnings of the drunchies from...oh you guessed it...multiple margaritas. Rimmed with li hing mui. I don't think I spent more than $30 for all of this awesomeness. What a great place! Now I just have to get back there...!!
(5)Angie B.
Absolutely wonderful. I has the Big Island steak tacos with black beans, next time try the spicy black beans. Tom said the taco salad was great. Nachos were fantastic. Needless to say the beer was a strong 4 stars.
(4)Noe V.
Grew up in this town and when I come home for a visit this place is my first stop! A true local brewery! The brew master is always trying new combinations to make truly unique beer. Every time I go home he has something new on tap. I usually go for the white mountain porter or the looking glass wheat. Go for the sampler to find out what you like. Unfortunately the food is pretty terrible, given it a bunch of chances but really not good. I'd go in for chips, salsa, and a few beers and then go down the street for Aka sushi or Paus for dinner.
(4)Alex B.
Great brewpub with crafty food. The beer and the atmosphere are the best on the island. Way better beer selection than Kona Brewery. Order the sampler of beer and their blue quesadilla. It's a great appetizer. Service is awesome and the customers are a great crowd.
(5)Tracy S.
My husband and I stopped here for lunch on our North Kohala drive and tour after a 9 mile hike and I have to say that we didn't have high expectations just from reading some of the reviews and other things we had read, but he wanted to try the beer, so it was just convenient to eat there. He really enjoyed the beer and liked it as much as the Kona Brewery, though their beers are lighter in style and the Brewhaus has more porters and darker beers. The chips and salsa was complimentary with the salsa having a nice spicy kick to it and the chips were the thick crunchy style, some were a little greasy, but they were good none the less. My husband had the fish burrito with the fresh catch of the day, Ono and I had the fish salad with the Ono. Both dishes were tasty and flavorful and hot. (another review that we saw said that the food was luke warm, not the case today). The service was laid back, but I only review on the food. Unless the service is horrible.
(4)Sam B.
As a home brewer, I like to think that I have a distinguished beer palate. The beer here is phenomenal. My 2 favorites were the white mtn porter and the overland ipa. The IPA had a very well balanced hop flavor without being overly bitter. But I think the best of all is the White Mountain Porter. It is a great porter, I had to get a growler, a bit pricey at $26 but the growler is cool and a great souvenir. The food was also flavorful, delicious, and the service was easily 5 stars. Who doesn't like beautiful, friendly hawaiian women serving them delicious beer? It is a great hawaiian brewery. A definite must visit for anyone who likes beer.
(5)Mike J.
Unique little place in the hills away from the beach, in a smallish town. I was going to say off the beaten path, but on the island of Hawaii, there is only one path, and it is on it. Food was really good, it was a different slant on mexican food. I found it really refreshing, but it could have been hotter (temperature, not spice). We ate there, and then PD left me and went to a quilt store. So I stayed there and sampled a few different beers. All of them were good. She drove back. Next I will write a review on the quilt store.
(4)Lilac L.
We have been here five times and there is good reason we always come back to this laid back, beachy (not near a beach) , cozy restaurant. For one thing, they brew excellent craft beers. You could spend all day drinking your way through their beer list. Or order a paddle of beer for 5 thirst-quenching samples, then buy a growler of your favourite one to take with you. If you bring in your own growler, make sure you have a lid as they don't supply them. The food. I probably have a bias (I listed burrito as my last meal on earth) but I love eating here. Besides an extensive selection of non-veg food (fajitas, tacos, burritos, salads, etc.) they have 2 vegan burrito options, the Tofu Vegan or the Garden Vegan. I usually get the Garden Vegan Burrito because I love the guacamole, but you can also build your own burrito if you are feeling creative and/or picky. And I love the complimentary chips and salsa they serve you before your meal arrives. It's a nice way to tame the hungries as you enjoy your delicious beer. The chips and salsa are both made in-house and sometimes, you may be delightfully surprised with what they serve up. The last time we were in (on Wednesday), in addition to their regular tomato salsa, they served us a dish of green tomatillo salsa that tasted like Christmas in my mouth. The service is nothing to rave or belly ache about. Sometimes they get busy and you might have to throw an arm out to grab a server's attention, but you are basically dealing with a staff of authentic and kind folks who will deliver the best common sense service they can. It's all part of the charming, cozy feel of this place: everyone from the regulars sitting up at the bar to the family in touristy prints to the group of rowdy dudes chilling out on the patio all get treated with the same decent service. In other words, don't come in here acting like a diva expecting to be waited on hand and foot. Some nights, they have live music. It's hard to believe they have the room when you see this place on a regular day, but they make it happen! So plan your visit accordingly if you have a desire/aversion for/to live music.
(5)Janet D.
Casual, delicious and flavorful dishes.. faves are chimichanga and famous green chili stew.
(5)Mei C.
Love, love, love the care put into the beers here. Got one order of nachos and was on cloud nine. They know what they're doing and it's worth the drive from Kona to experience what they have to offer. If it weren't for the drive back, I would have stayed and had a couple of pints.
(5)Robert H.
Changed the menu since my last visit. I don't think it was for the better. Was more Mexican, now it's just the same bar food you can get anywhere. Beer is the obvious draw, but no domestic beers here. Only their own brews. Sorry they don't appeal me.
(2)Ryan F.
Awesome food and even better brews. Hands down best Mexican I've had since moving to the islands 8mo ago!
(4)Amanda T.
We stopped here on our way to the falls and volcano and had a fish taco (yummy) and beer. Our waitress was friendly and helpful with information on other local favorites.
(4)Emi H.
Two very important things to note about Big Island Brewhaus: 1) Beer good. 2) Food bad. And it's that simple folks so please don't say I didn't warn you. My BF & his bromance (aka our neighbor Roger) love beer almost as much as they love one another. I'm just glad one of them isn't a woman or else I might be done for. But all joking aside, they love beer and were very excited to visit the Big Island Brewhaus. We drove 30 minutes to Kamuela during our trip to the Big Island just for a late lunch and our party of four walked in hungry. We seated ourselves and the waitress came over promptly to serve us. We each got a pint of beer and ordered mexican fare from their fairly extensive menu of eats. Our beers were all tasty and although I am not a big beer aficionado, I still enjoyed the blonde ale. My BF & his bromance smiled as they sampled one another's pints and ordered the beer samplers. To start the waitress brought us a big basket of deep fried tortilla chips and two kinds of salsa. There are so few places in Honolulu that make chips from scratch that we all clapped our hands with glee! The chips were my favorite part of the meal and the only edible thing I had for the rest of time there. Yup, that's what I just said. Everything else continued into this weird downward spiral that I quite frankly was not expecting. I ordered the fish tacos and they were barely edible. The fish was overcooked and mealy. I was disappointed because we live on an island with an abundance of fresh fare so this should never happen. The worst part were the beans served with my combo that tasted as though a giant ladle of salt had been added to the meal. It made my tongue hurt and I stopped eating after that. The rest of our party had a similarly poor experience and we all looked at our partially eaten plates in disappointment. I love to support local businesses but please Big Island Brewhaus, FIX YOUR FOOD! We really love your been but a girl can't survive on just chips and salsa alone!
(2)Craig L.
Small and homey, small town feel. Nice assortment of beers brewed here. Food is quite good and reasonably priced. Fajitas, tacos, chili relleno and chicken enchilada were all good. Rice was bland but a little salt helped. We would come here again if in the area.
(4)Andrew V.
The fish tacos with the house-made habanero sauce are out of this world. I tried several places around the island looking for the best fish taco, and I have to say Big Island Brewhaus was the winner. Make sure to add their habanero sauce.
(5)Trevor A.
Not as expected. I had huge expectations for this place. After reading other reviews I thought I would experience great IPA's. I was wrong. The IPA's lacked the hoppiness I associate with great brews. I'll have to admit this review is for beer only, as we did not try any food. The atmosphere was a very "locals" only vibe, but our waiter was very friendly, and informative. If you're seeking good IPA's this is not the establishment, as there may better brews at your local grocery store.
(2)Glo R.
Not as good as it would seem. The lilikoi margs were meh, but then again this is a brewhaus. With that being said, there was only one beer I really seemed to like. (Sorry, the marg must have wiped out my recollection of which one that was.) I also don't recall the food being as up-to-par as I would have expected. Portions were not very big either. Too bad, because the concept of this place and it's location seems so promising...
(2)Koyu W.
Took forever to get our food. My friends ordered a steak salad and they ended up getting a fish salad. They were not nice about it even though they sent it back. Worst service ever. Never going back.
(1)Josh F.
We stopped in for a quick beer on the way to a hike to Akaka Falls, and were extremely surprised by the quality of the beer and the food. Honestly, the Hoptopius IPA was one of the best I've had in some time. The food, Mexican-oriented, was simple but extremely flavorful. This was my first trip to the big island, but we'll definitely come back next time. I hope their distribution gets wider so we can get some at home.
(5)Carol F.
This is an award winning brewery. If you are into craft beer then it's worth a trip here. Personally, I didn't like any of the beer. They are heavier and more bitter than I like. I like hefs and fruitier beers. Food is ok for a brewery. I would say average for Mexican food. But I am from San Diego and we have some killers Mexican food places so my opinion is somewhat skewed. Service is below average. They weren't very busy and we waited a long time to get service. On the big island I still prefer kona brewery.
(2)