First the bad: We had a server who was new and when I asked if the fries were in a shared fryer, she got flustered and confused and she said, “Usually people who are gluten free know what they can and cannot eat.”
It was pretty bad and I almost requested someone new, but later the manager came out to help us and talk us through the menu.
Now the good: Good tacos. Shrimp and grits was excellent. They were out of GF buns so didn’t get to try the burger.
FIVE STARS! I'm vegetarian and my friend is gluten free and pretty much all their food catered to both of us. Fresh. Healthy. Delicious. Unique food. Lovely staff. Cosy atmosphere. Coming again and again for sure. 100% recommend.
I’ve eaten here twice and had no issues. There is a separate GF menu so ask for it at the front. I had the shrimp skewers and Hawaiian ono with no symptoms afterwards.
The food was amazing. I'm glad we made a stop for more local caught seafood. The service was very friendly, but I was a little disappointed to not receive my side dish. I had to order gluten-free, and was told I would get mixed greens, but instead I just got three full scoops of furikake rice. Delicious. But more rice than I needed.
The food was great and everyone enjoyed their dishes. Semi casual inside. A nice place to enjoy a family dinner.
Definitely stop at Umekes for poke. I was really happy to try the gluten-free Hawaiian poke. It was a generous helping of high quality, delicate and buttery fish with some tasty seasonings. Yum!
Great for anyone with allergies. Very accommodating! I have celiacs and can eat here without worry. Chicken is delicious and has a dedicated gluten free fried for the chicken and French fries. One of my favorite spots in Kona!
For planet friendly food this is my happy place in Kailua-Kona. It's a food truck like shack in the middle of a parking lot, with shaded seating areas with reed screens and a drive-through option. Free 1 hour parking for an hour. I appreciate how tasty the jackfruit nachos and gluten free pizzas are.
I'm a vegetarian and finding some real good veg food here is difficult for me.
Kai is just wonderful in this aspect. You get a lot of vegetarian options along with other stuff + gluten free vegan meals are an option too.
Their special Mango Tango Pizza is a must try along with the special Lemon Kai Fry
wonderful little restaurant with amazing ocean views. wonderful gluten free (sensitive) pancakes. Large portions and very friendly staff. Will definitely be going back there for breakfast.
Amazingly fresh and wide variety of poke, would recommend going earlier in the day before other options run out, but still great quality towards the end of the day. They are knowledgeable about which varieties are gluten free
Quite a nice surprise. The owner of L&L Hawaiian Barbecue recommended we head over here when I asked her about gluten free offerings. The food here is really satisfying. Only a few items on the menu are not gluten free. Everyone working here knew exactly what I could order and what to avoid. Down to the possible barley malt in the granola for the smoothie bowls. My spouse said the ground beef on the nachos tasted good but that the pork in my bento box tasted even more delicious. If you prefer sauce or dressing on the side let them know upfront. Good music and positive vibes.
Great place to eat. Lots of gluten-free items. Had the pineapple fried rice, and so good we came back and I got drunken noodles. Arrive early before sunset. It fills up closer to sunset and it since in a great spot to watch the sun go down! They try to position the seats for a great view.
Great atmosphere, nice outdoor seating with views of the ocean in Kona. Delicious poke and pork plates. Service was very fast, the food and views were great. Highly recommend!
This was also a great spot for gluten free poke. I had the spicy ahi and avocado poke with a side of rice and it was fantastic.
We have these in Alaska. We expected the same service and food. The food was tasty but if you need condiments, it may not happen. The service deserves a zero! You seat yourself. We waited to be served longer than needed. The young lady that finally waited on us was not friendly. She took our order and literally disappeared. The young man that brought our food was nice and helped as much as he could.
There were at least four tables waiting to pay as our waitress was MIA. The young man reappeared to help us out.
My advice to the restaurant, seat everyone on the same level. If you’re short on good help, at least your guests will get acknowledged.
As a guest, I’d advise to sit near the bar. You’ll get waited on there.
The views are great. The ambience of this place is great. The food was tasty. We had the eggs Benedict and the omelette. I was thankful for gluten free options. It’s really the service that was bad.
Great ocean view seating. Best Kahlua pork!! The server was excellent!! Gluten free buns and a gf menu available. That’s rare. Happy hour drinks are awesome from 3-5. We highly recommend Mai tais. We will return!
This was hands down the most memorable experience of our visit to the island. The wait staff was incredibly friendly, knowledgeable, and accommodating to our allergen requirements (celiac).
We called ahead to book a reservation and they were able to put together a gluten free sushi offering for us with a dedicated prep station, cutlery, and rice to avoid any cross contamination. The fresh wasabi was also a delight.
An expensive but outstanding restaurant. The tableside poke is 100% worth it, as is the soufflé.
The crispy chicken was also outstanding, especially for my wife who has celiac and has to eat gluten free.
The entire restaurant is an architectural and design masterpiece. Every table looks out over the ocean and delivers incredible sunsets.
Great location, short & expensive menu with the only salads being a small garden salad or a small Caesar salad. No gluten-free options. Great view for sunset.
This was my favorite meal all week. I tried malai kofta for the first time and it was outrageously delicious. I also got a Masala chai (not too sweet which I prefer) and cheese nann and both were amazing. Loved the view too, we watched dolphins swim by from our table. Great spot!
There is something for anyone who enjoys spices. Lots of vegan, vegetarian and gluten free options on the menu but also plenty of meat too. Would highly recommend.
When considering a five-star review for a restaurant, you might focus on several key aspects:
The food is consistently delicious, with high-quality ingredients and a wide variety of well-prepared dishes.
The service is exceptional, with friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable staff who make you feel welcome and valued.
The atmosphere is inviting, with a comfortable and clean environment that enhances your dining experience.
The restaurant offers excellent value for money, with reasonable pricing for the quality and portion sizes provided.
The menu accommodates different dietary needs and preferences, offering options for vegetarians, vegans, and those with gluten sensitivities.
The restaurant maintains high standards of hygiene and safety, ensuring a clean and safe environment for diners.
And the overall experience consistently exceeds expectations, making it a place you would happily return to and recommend to others.
The quality and freshness of the tuna and salmon were the best we'd had on Hawaii. The rice was also the best we'd had. When we asked for gluten free options, the staff knew exactly which of the ingredients were and weren't safe. They even asked about cross contamination concerns.
When they were building my poke bowl, they took their time and asked me if I wanted more of an ingredient if the one they normally use has gluten in it. They even gave me more salmon than my wife's poke bowl and she said they treated me special because the clerk thought I was handsome! LOL!
We are from California where we have amazing fresh farm to fork food! These guys rival any of it! From the Texas caviar, pulled pork, slaw, fettuccine alfredo, nachos, loco moco (gluten free!) And even the cookies! We have hunted them down twice and will find them again before we leave the island! Better than the 4 star we went to! Keep up the good work and great food!
Wow! Incredible food the carna asada quesadilla's and the pork burrito's were next level! They also have a number of gluten free options and they are all delicious!
They have Gluten Free options and were able to seat is pretty quickly when we were super hungry. Service is a little scattered, but once we ordered, we got food pretty quickly. Overall, good but not amazing food and reasonable enough prices. Nice location, with outdoor seating overlooking the surf. Would come back.
I love this place :)
I am celiac and they make wonderful gluten free crepes. I personally love the Carmel apple ( rich ) when I have a sweet tooth. But the turkey spinach mushroom & grilled veggie for savory are really great option as well.
Also, very important note; they have the best London Fog on island. Their herbal blend already has Lavender in it 💜
Highly recommended.
This review is for the assistance I received from the lovely lady at the front. I inquired about a few plates and asked about gluten free options. She was so nice. She recommended I go a few doors down to an establishment that was more allergy friendly. She said a couple of the items I wanted to enjoy at L&L were sadly not gluten free. I appreciated the honesty, and what ended up being a great recommendation. Mahalo!
So glad we found this place. Everything up the coast was holding 1.5-2h wait times. This was across the street from our condo and we wish we had found it sooner. Very helpful with gluten and dairy free needs and the food was generous and delicious.
Our server, Trent?, was so helpful and friendly. Don’t pass this place up. The terrace is beautiful and looks out over the water perfectly to watch sunset.
Celiac friendly
