We noticed that you're using an unsupported browser. The Tripadvisor website may not display properly.We support the following browsers:
Windows: Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome. Mac: Safari.

Ratings and reviews

RATINGS
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere

Details

CUISINES
American, Cafe, Contemporary
Special Diets
Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options, Gluten Free Options
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Brunch
View all details
meals, features
Reviews (305)
Filter reviews
291 results
Traveller rating
261
13
8
4
5
Traveller type
Time of year
LanguageEnglish
More languages
Traveller rating
261
13
8
4
5
Show reviews that mention
All reviews eggs benedict belgian waffles tuna salad fresh fish three tables make reservations tiny place home kitchen limited menu breakfast or lunch local ingredients big island hollandaise hawaii
Sort and selected filters
Sort FilterEnglish
Updating list...
Reviewed 3 days ago

When I sat down Paul came over and walked me through the menu (because in his words, nothing is done the regular way. Every item is special in its own way). It all sounded (and smelled) delicious, but he told me (and the next few...tables) that his favorite dish to cook is Pasta al Marco. When a chef tells you their favorite dish … you order it. It’s a nest of angel’s hair pasta, tossed with an egg for cohesion sautéed in olive oil until it develops a crust and turns into a pasta patty, served over a nut-free pesto and topped with crispy bacon, two kinds of cheese, a little salmon, olives, capers, and a salad. It … shouldn’t work. It really shouldn't. It totally does anyway. Spectacularly weird, and just plain spectacular. I have to go back for the Belgium waffle; it smelled so. damned. good. If you're going to be in Hilo, get a reservation. Super small; three tables, any two of which could probably be a three-top at any given time.More

Date of visit: March 2024
Helpful?
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 1 week ago

This is a very special place. Paul is simply an artist and no one, no one, makes better food . But more than that, he and his staff infuse the atmosphere with love. Get a reservation, show up on time and be engulfed in one...of the best foo-atmosphere encounters you will likely ever encounter.More

Date of visit: March 2024
Helpful?
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 11 December 2023

This is a very charming but tiny restaurant; only 3 tables for 2. You definitely need to make a reservation. The food is delicious. We shared the Greek Salad and Pasta De Marco. The Chef cooks on a single hot plate (I am not sure...how he manages) so it may take a while for your meal to be served but it is well worth the wait. This is our new go-to restaurant whenever we visit Hilo.More

Date of visit: December 2023
Helpful?1  
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 10 December 2023

Pauls place is the best. I dream of those waffles. I think it's time to return for more! If have not experienced the food and excellent customer service at Paul's place, I highly recommend you try them!

Date of visit: January 2023
Helpful?
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 17 August 2023 via mobile

Definitely 5 stars! Delicious food and adorable atmosphere. Cannot recommend enough! Owner and his niece are super nice.

Date of visit: August 2023
Helpful?1  
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 16 June 2023

Our experience at Paul's Place was phenomenal. Paul and his neice were great hosts, and the breakfast was some of the best we've ever had (not just in Hilo or on the Big Island, but anywhere). We would probably order the breakfast caprese and waffle...every morning if we could. All of the 5 star reviews are well-deserved and completely accurate. There are only three tables, which is a big part of the charm, so reserve early. We got lucky with a last minute reservation and were so happy we did!More

Date of visit: June 2023
Helpful?2  
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 4 June 2023 via mobile

We visited Paul’s Place this morning. It was so yummy! First off…MAKE A RESERVATION. He only has 2 tables (2 top and 4 top). It was a cute little restaurant and Paul carried on conversation with us while he was cooking. Made the whole experience...feel personal. I’m more of a sweet breakfast person so I got the Belgian Waffles, husband is more of a savory breakfast person and he ordered the breakfast Caprese . Both were delicious! If you’re in Hilo, definitely give this place a try!More

Date of visit: June 2023
Helpful?1  
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 13 May 2023 via mobile

Be sure to make reservations for this lovely place. There are 3 tables. It is very small but very good. Small menu but everything seems to be very good. They have breakfast and lunch. Limited menu. The people are so friendly and did not miss...the details. Our silverware was beautifully wrapped over a lavender napkin.More

Date of visit: May 2023
Helpful?
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 27 April 2023 via mobile

This little place is a foodies delight! It has but three small tables, is run by the chef and one other person. Usually can’t get a seat unless you make a reservation. This is true everyday of the week. Has a limited menu. Everything on...it for breakfast is five star. Our group had the two Benedict’s, the Breakfast Pasta, Waffles. All were raved about. I had the pasta, which was very much like a frittata. Excellently seasoned. Paul is not a cook. He’s a chef and it shows. One quirky thing is that the place is nice but they use plastic place ware for logistic reasons. Weird, but don’t let that keep you from going here. It was the best place we ate in Hawaii. The highlight was the Marcos Pasta and the Benedict. The Benedict is not done with a hollandaise but with an aioli made out of citrus. Glorious! Good job Chef Paul!More

Date of visit: April 2023
Helpful?
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 13 April 2023 via mobile

Paul treats everyone like family (ohana) in this darling small (3 table) cafe. The food is fantastic and tasty, fresh and homemade. You should make a reservation by texting them. We happened to get extremely lucky that they had an opening just as we got...there for a brief quick lunch because he had reservations for the rest of the day. The tuna salad was delicious! I highly recommend Paul’s!More

Date of visit: April 2023
Helpful?
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 12 February 2023 via mobile

There is no better place for breakfast or lunch in Hilo. The food is both delicious and a work of art to look at. Paul does it all in his tiny kitchen and every dish is carefully prepared just for you! There are only three...tables so be sure to make a reservation. And Paul seems to know everyone dining with him - lots of repeat customers just like us. This place is a gem.More

Date of visit: February 2023
Helpful?1  
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 24 January 2023

This would be a 4.5 if we could give that rating, but we can't, so it's a 5 with some caveats. First, the good. The food is very good, you definitely need to eat here if you're in Hilo. The family staff is friendly. And...Paul is someone you'd just want to hang out with for an afternoon if you could. Now the frustrations. It's the tiniest place imaginable with space for 3 tables of 2, and Paul cooks for you in what is basically a home kitchen. So not many will get in. Making matters worse, they don't indicate anywhere that reservations are strongly recommended (if not required), so if you're dumb enough to try to walk in like we did, you'll be turned away or told the next available reservation isn't for 2 hours. When you do try to make a reservation, there's no way to do it online so you have to dig to find a phone number, then when you call the voicemail system says to contact them via Instagram to get a reservation. It's not an ideal setup. But even with those frustrations, we definitely recommend you try to get in to eat at Paul's Place. I don't know if it's the best restaurant in Hilo, though that's not a super high bar. But it's definitely worth eating here if you can get a reservation.More

Date of visit: January 2023
Helpful?
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 1 January 2023 via mobile

My wife always finds the best places to eat breakfast, and this not an exception. Paul kindly squeezed us in when we showed up without a reservation. We had the house specials of Belgian waffles and the Breakfast Caprese. Both were delicious. I would describe...the food as elevated home cooking. The ingredients were fresh, and the service was warm and friendly. Watch out for Paul’s dry sense of humour ;)More

Date of visit: January 2023
Helpful?1  
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 21 October 2022 via mobile

We stumbled into Paul's Place at 7:00 a.m. while visiting Hilo and still on West Coast time. We were starving and lucky to get a reservation for 7:30 a.m. Yes, be advised: you'll need a reservation even for breakfast as this teeny Cafe only has...two tables. Paul and his waitress are charming and friendly. Try the breakfast caprese.More

Date of visit: October 2022
Helpful?
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 11 October 2022 via mobile

If you want not just food but memory in cozy Hilo, here is the right place. His waffle and egg Benedict were excellent. You can enjoy jazz with Hilo's air. Three tables are enough to feel these. 😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😋😋😍😍😋😋😋😋😋😋😋😋😋😋😋😋😍😍

Date of visit: October 2022
Helpful?
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
View more reviews
Best nearby
Best nearby hotelsSee all
Dolphin Bay
778 reviews
.98 km away
Waiakea Villas
25 reviews
1.52 km away
Hilo Hawaiian Hotel
2,419 reviews
1.98 km away
Grand Naniloa Hotel Hilo - a DoubleTree by Hilton
1,758 reviews
2.15 km away
Best nearby restaurantsSee all
Two Ladies Kitchen
393 reviews
.16 km away
Pineapple's Island Fresh Cuisine
2,098 reviews
.17 km away
Cafe Pesto Hilo Bay
1,936 reviews
.15 km away
Best nearby attractionsSee all
Hilo Farmers Market
1,098 reviews
.13 km away
Extreme Exposure Fine Art Gallery
59 reviews
.28 km away
Hilo Guitars and Ukuleles
10 reviews
.02 km away
Nautilus Dive Center
73 reviews
.07 km away
Questions & Answers
Ask a question
Priscilla H
5 July 2016|
AnswerShow all 3 answers
Response from lovetotravelhk | Reviewed this property |
Best to call Paul on his cellphone
0
Votes
sharonlz
10 April 2016|
AnswerShow all 3 answers
Response from gina22devine | Reviewed this property |
If you plan far enough in advance he might do it.
0
Votes
Is This Your Listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim Your Free Listing

Paul's Place, Hilo - Menu, Prices & Restaurant Reviews - Tripadvisor

Frequently Asked Questions about Paul's Place

Paul's Place is rated accordingly in the following categories by Tripadvisor travellers:
  • Food: 5
  • Service: 5
  • Value: 4.5
  • Atmosphere: 4.5