The food is def not the saving grace of this place, but the beachy casual atmosphere, the live music, and the hula dancing show (we got lucky to be there on the right night) made me feel good about our decision to have dinner/drinks here. Â As a tourist, I was able to enjoy this spot and apparently a few locals make it a regular place to go as well. Â We sat at the bar and enjoyed the company of the native bartender who was happy to serve us our cocktails and extra water! Â His small talk might have even won an extra .5 star for this place. Â He fit right in with my general consensus about people on the Big Island - friendly and hospitable.
I will spare the details of the mediocre plates served and just reinstate that the music and 'get up and dance because you're on vacation' vibe really made our visit to Huggo's enjoyable.
I had heard this was the place to go to when on the Big Island, but I hate to say it, but I was not impressed, other than the location on the water and the friendly customer service by the bartender Jeff.
We came for happy around 4pm and the deals were not that great, I think only $1 or $2 off the regular price and the happy hour food choices and prices were not spectacular either.
Overall, compared to other bar/restaurants we experienced, this was near the bottom of the list.
I liked Huggos on the rocks because the food was delicious and you have a great view of the sea, plus live music almost every day! I ordered soup of the day which tasted good and creamy so I drank the bowl up in a few minutes. There was no one playing music the first time we went, but there was the second time.
The second time we went we had already gone to two happy hours so we were stuffed when we got there but ordered Kona coffee ice cream and there was music and a hula dancer. The service both times were very good; both of our waiters were very nice.
This is a great place to grab a bite if you're in Kona. It's definitely geared toward tourists, but it's pretty cool. I went here with a group of 5 after we spent a day shopping and exploring Kona. Huggos is right on the shore, so you get a great view of the ocean. There are even tables on the sand so it's an interesting dining experience. They have plenty of drinks and food to choose from from sandwiches to fish tacos to salads. They also have live entertainment sometimes.
I had the Bulgogi Fried Rice Bowl and it was much better than expected. The Guava Lava drink was good too and refreshing on a hot day. Even though they are outdoors, they have a lot of shade so you don't have to worry about it being too hot. The presentation of the food is great also, for those of you who like taking pictures of your food!
In all, I would go back. I think it's a cool place to bring your friends who are on vacation!
I wouldn't know how the food or drinks are. My boyfriend got off the boat from kamuna tour manta ray night snorkel (totally awesome experience and crew) & found this place across from where our deck hand told us to, Humpy's. We saw this as a more low key option to Humpy's. We both went in to change and when I came out I had my e-cig out and was at the front waiting to be seated. Mind you this is all outdoors and there is no smoke from these. Apparently the , manager doesn't know what they are because he kicked me out for having it. Â When I explained what it was, he says "the owner doesn't want to give off the wrong message. " Â oh, the message to not quit smoking or at the very least be considerate to the people around you? Â The hilarious part about this, I walk out and there are 8-10 people right outside smoking pot! Go here if you want a contact high, but can't smoke legal things...
Review Source:Went here for a happy hour visit. Great location overlooking the bay and nice live music. The drinks were ok. The food was ok as well, just wish the happy hour menu was a bit bigger. The little birds are bold. Saw one grab a bite off the bar before it could be served. Kind of amusing.
Review Source:We came here for drinks and appetizers. Â The drinks were a little weak, but they were still good, and the appetizers were delicious. Â The reason I gave this place 5 stars though is for its location and atmosphere...it is located on the rocks right above the beach and there is sand under all of the tables so it is as if you are sitting on the beach enjoying your drinks, listening to music and just relaxing. Â Cant wait to go back :)
Review Source:This is a tourist trap, but a beautiful one at that! At least the scenery. Right on the water, with a sand floor, so you feel you are right on the beach. They have a great selection of drinks and meals. A little pricey, but all the food on the island seems that way. Service was fast and easy.
I ordered the mai tai, very tasty. For an appetizer we ordered the Kona Poke Pie, very delicious as well. My daughter claimed that it was the best one she had the week we were there and we ordered poke almost every meal!
I had the Oneo Bay Salad with the fresh fish of the day which was good, my daughter had the 'Opae (Shrimp) and Chips which was awesome and my husband ordered the Kona Fish Tacos, they were ok, they lacked flavor.
This place was recommended by the locals and it did not disappoint. Definitely try it out!
All about the happy hour. Â Perfect atmosphere for happy hour and decent drink prices and some food specials. Â The part of the retaurant closest to the ocean is in the sand! Â Standard pool/patio furniture. Â Nothing fancy but a great view of the water, good live music, and brews make this place a nice place to unwind.
Review Source:Sat down. Â Looking at the menu. Guy comes out from behind the bar and says we can't sit there because my son has a shaved ice from a vendor outside the front door. Place was not full. Plenty of open tables. Â We said we were planning to order. Â He said we had to leave. Â Even if we had brought in a bottle of water. Â We took our business across the street.
Review Source:First time in Kona (6/15), got hungry and spotted Huggo's. Â Saw the chalk board menu (Clam Chowder) and we were in. Wonderful atmosphere, over looking the ocean.
Prices were terrific and the portions on spot. Â Tried the Rainbow Happy Hour drink, sweet, colorful delish. Â My daughters had virgin Pina Colada's that they loved. Â Husband said, Chowder was the best. Â I had the Ahi Tuna Burger, nice size portion, wonderfully season and drizzled with wasabi/mayo spread on foccacia roll. Â Of course had fries that were just the right amount of crisp and seasoning. Â Girls had sliders and pasta with clams - both enjoyed their food. Â
Saved room for dessert, Coffee Mud Pie - enough for all four of us to share!
The whole meal was made perfect by the setting, excellent music and hula dancer. Our waitress was very attentive and helpful. Â Manager came by to ask if everything was okay. Â Would definitely go back!
Great  "Happy Hour" here!!! Â
This was the best "happy hour" we had in Kona. Â Amazing view of the sunset, good drinks and the nachos (large size, NOT the small happy hour size) was so yummy with shredded pork and guacamole and it was enough for the 5 of us! Â Sliders were basic, but nothing special. Â The ladies ordered the rainbow happy our special drink...pretty and tasty, but on the sweet side.
Outdoor seating with sand on your feet, great music and what a good time!
Service was really good, too. Â If we stayed longer in Kona, we would definitely have gone back for another one of their "Happy Hours"...or two...or three. Â So fun!!!
We stopped here on 4/17 after the lack of service at Lava Java just across the street. I ordered an ahi burger and the wife ordered soup and salad. Soup of day was cheddar potato with bacon soup. My ahi burger was delicious, and I'd go out of my way to stop by to have it again. It's the best fish sandwich I've ever had.
The food gets four stars, but the service is definitely lacking, which brings it down to three.
Do not mistake this for Huggo's Restaurant. This restaurant is next door. I have to say, the view is fantastic! Literally right on the ocean. You smell the ocean scent and feel the breeze pass through in spite of the humidity.
We read the reviews and thought we would try this place out. Â We decided to try it for breakfast and let me say that aside for the views, this place was a MISS for us.
The food and the service....lacking. I had the American omelet which was microwaved. My partner had the lox and bagel. You picked your own bagel, you sliced it and toasted it yourself. They brought us our food on paper plates. I got a cup of coffee that was luke warm. We had to get our own water. The lady that brought our food seemed annoyed that we asked her to wipe down our table. To top it off, they ask that you bus your own table. Come on, I'm on vacation. Â I don't want to clean my table before I eat and then bus my table after it. Â I certainly didn't want to toast my bagel and refill my own water. Â This is not what I expected! Â What got me is they expected a tip. Â I understand the spirit of Ohana but that's pushing the concept.
The American omelet (which came with bagel, cream cheese and  'tropical fruit" which was really just a slice of papaya with 2 grapes), the bagel and lox (which came with cream cheese and a slice of papaya with 2 grapes), and a large coffee: $30.45. Come on.  We had lunch at Lava Java down the street with the same great views with a burger, a sandwich and two ice teas for less than $30.
Here's a tip: for the amount of money they charged, go to Lava Java or some other restaurant on Ali'i Drive. They all have great ocean views and provide great food with the service you would expect and are more likely less expensive.
We found this place to be quite exceptional. Â We were visiting from 5/15 to 5/22 and actually came here 4 different nights for happy hour and some food. Â Loved the location and the friendly staff was awesome. Â Eric, I heard you read all these reviews and I just wanted to say you run a class operation. Â I am sure you have made your parents proud by continuing such an excellent operation. Â
Good training definitely shows through the good service as well as good food. Â
On our last visit we actually decided to ask to speak with the manager. Â Star (manager on duty) came over and we let him know that he probably hears a lot of complaints but probably is seldom called to a table to hear a compliment. Â Great to chat with him he was thankful.
If you want a relaxing, friendly spot with good food and drinks this is it! Â Thanks Huggos team for giving us a great experience 4 separate times!
According to my girl, this place had the best pina coladas in Kona. Â Then again, her lightweight self was one-beer in, so take it for what it's worth. Â There was live music when we went so that was pretty awesome. Â Beers are standard price at $6 each. Â I'd definitely return if I ever make the trek back to Kona.
Review Source:We've been here for a week and this quickly became one of our favorite happy hour spots. Great sunset and fast friendly bar service. Go in and say hi to Denis - he pours a mean mai tai. We walked here almost every night not only for the drinks but the music is fantastic! Â Happy hour is until 6pm with food and drink specials. Huggo's is worth a visit!
Review Source:If you want to feel like you're In the mainland come to Huggos on the rocks. Asked about the menu, owner couldn't be bothered and answered In a rude condescending way. Skip this spot. Menu looked mediocre. We walked right out after we felt disrespected. Not a good idea to be hostile towards tourists visiting your restaurant.
Review Source:If you're looking for that oceanfront, laid back beach bar that serves some great dishes too... Huggo's is that place.
And the kicker: the floor is sand that you can bury your toes in while those happy hour drinks keep comin'!
We had a blast every time we came out to Huggo's on our vacation. Live music, great happy hour specials and some of the best food (honestly) on the strip. It's attached to it's sister restaurant Huggo's but we never ventured to go inside when the outside area was too awesome to leave and had all the amenities we could ask for.
Ask for Hannah; if she hasn't been appointed by Prince Kamehameha to be the island's official server. She's that great and made our experience that much more enjoyable!
So grab a Mai Tai and some onion rings (WOW!) and have a chill at Huggo's on the Rocks.
We were staying at some condo close by and we asked the front desk person where the best Mai tai was with great views, but not too expensive. He didn't even hesitate, "Huggo's on the rocks". So with the intention of not driving home, we walked down to this pleasant place and had a rocking good time! (Good thing we walked!)
First off, the place has the killer views! Second, the floor in the restaurant is all sand, which I loved,(but I saw a few women in high heels that were a bit upset about it) and third, they have live music after dark. How good can it get? Oh I almost forgot, there is an excellent happy hour from 3-6 pm with mai tais and selected Pupu's (appetizers) half off. The food is very decent for a cool beach bar. Not excellent but decent. I recommend the Caesar salad with fresh fish of the day and the ahi burger. Ono.
If there was one drawback, and the reason why I am giving the place 4 stars, it is the seating arrangement. There is no wait list, they do not take reservations and it is VERY popular come sunset. You have to wait, in a lurking sort of way, for some table to pick up and leave, then you swoop down and garb a seat before someone else arm wrestles you for it. I suggest arriving about 4-5pm so you can enjoy happy hour and waiting patiently with drink in hand till a table opens up. Or arrive AFTER sunset and a bunch of people leave right then and the music starts. We found that if you strategically position one person at each end of the restaurant, then you can pounce on a table from either end. Awkward? Yes. Worth it? Yes. We went back three times while we were there.
Went here while on vacation to take in the sunset & some live music, dancing, food & drinks. Â It is "seat yourself" which is uncomfortable. We lucked uopn a couple leaving & were able to grab their table. Â Sitting in the sand might seem cool but it is actually hard to get up & your chair sinks.
The food was not very good. Â The sell here is the location. Â I had a salad with shrimp. Â The shrimp were good the salad was a salad. Â Hubby got the fish tacos. Â Probably the saddest fish tacos ever. Â Did not like eating out of the plastic steamer bowl.
I would go again just for a drink & to listen to music & watch the sunset.
The food is good, they even have gluten free options! And their Lava Flow is delish! The only downer was seating. The sign says, "seat yourself" and if there aren't any spots you usually hover until one opens up.
But, one night, the rules had suddenly changed. Some guy working there had a line of people, and he was finding them seats. So, when another young couple offered me their table because they were leaving, I took it. And then this "host/bouncer" ousted me from the fairly won table (according to their usual rules) and seated another family there. That family didn't want it. So, then another couple ahead of us in "line" (by that time we had given up and joined the line of people waiting to "seat themselves") was given the table. THEN, that couple was kind enough to offer for us to join them. So, we ended up having a good night, but it was off to a confusing, frustrating start!
Had a nice lunch here on a recent trip to the Big Island. Â The cool ocean breeze was great after walking around Kailua-Kona and even better were the cold mai tais. Â
We came at the tail end of the lunch rush and service was slow even though the crowd was thinning out. Â The server was apologetic at least. Â
Tried the kailua pork sandwich and loved it. Â The rib special (only available on certain days I think) was also pretty good - the ribs were huge! Â The taco salad was just ok - nothing special. Â
Would have gone with 4 stars if the service had of been more prompt - but I Â wouldn't hesitate to visit Huggos again on my next visit to Kona.
We came here a few times while on vacation in Kona. I loved the mock beach setting (althought it was annoying to be trapped in a chair once it sunk deep into the sand), and being so close to the water was great. I love hearing the ocean waves at night!
There was a band two nights that we were there, playing Island music. In Cleveland, I would have hated it. Here? Perfection.
The Pina Colada was the best I've ever tasted! I am guessing it is made from actual coconut and pineapple and not from a mix. It was really delicious!
We ate here once - I got the Korean tacos, my husband got the vegetarian panini and my brother got the poke pie. Nothing really stuck out to any of us.... It was a little on the expensive side, but then again, so is most everything downtown.
All in all, a great venue that provided lots of great vacation memories. I will definitely be back to Huggos on the Rocks, probably every night, on my next trip to Hawaii!
The drinks were great (and so was the very amicable bartender). The seafood chowder and poke appetizers were good. Then, came the entrees. Disgusting. Being from SF, I expect delicious, quality food for $36. My fish was something you'd find at Denny's at 4am after clubbing. Disgusting. The service was horrendous. Our waiter was not what you'd expect from an "upscale" experience. Very disappointing. We had to send back a dirty wine glass TWICE. Then, he sarcastically asked if this was clean enough. The views were great, the food was not. Get yourself a lean cuisine and call it it a day. I rarely write reviews, but this place deserves a big fat zero.
The white wine was not chilled and then the ice bucket had a leak in it. Seriously, felt like we were being played. Very disappointing.
Folks, eat here at your own risk. Avoid the entrees and expect less than great service.
Mahalo.
Good happy hour! I made it just in time for some drinks! Â Got the bf a mai tai because he's been mentioning it for days during our trip lol...pretty good mai tai! Â Then I got a local Kona beer, which was nice. Â Bartenders and waiters were on point and so laid back.
Situated on the ledge facing the ocean. Â We listened to live Hawai'in music, watched some hula dancing, and of course, the sunset descending upon the rocks and water.
Visited on a lark because we got the Sheraton Luau date wrong. Â Awesome mistake on our part...Huggos is the bomb! Â Live music, Hula lessons, nice people, good drinks, etc. Â great cap to my week long vacation! Â Go there!
Talk to the Dude who runs the show there, Nakies Constantinou, he was really friendly and cool, making sure our experience was superior. Â Photos of food and drinks don't do much for me. Â It's all about the reality of the atmosphere, service, eating and drinking to render the experience, and reviews. Â Take pleasure in Hawaii and make sure you visit Huggos when you are in Kona.
Beautiful spot for drinks and sunset views but not worth it to eat the food. Their Mai tai is my favorite drink! $4 at happy hour!
But we tried several appetizers, all mediocre bar food at best. And the service was awful.
They do have live entertainment though... So worth a trip for a Mai tai
We really liked this restaurant, but the food wasn't that great.
Pros:
- Fabulous setting, nice view of sunset right on the beach, sand on your feet.
- Parking easy, across the street, along the road.
- Fun music (had a band when we went, and I think they always have music).
- Waitress was good and efficient.
- Happy Hour with $3 beer.
Cons
- The food. Â Mediocre at best.
We recommend going for drinks at sunset because it's very Hawaiian... then you don't have to eat much of the food.
Went here on our first night on Big Island and it was a good place to grab a bite to eat, have a beer or two, and watch some really nice hula while listening to music.
This is not a locals hang out by any means, but the atmosphere is fantastic since it right on the water, the drinks are cold and the food is decent. We had the fish tacos and the mahi mahi is blackened, not fried, which was nice and the portion was well worth the $15 (ish) price tag. About 5 different local beers from Kona Brewing Company was on tap and service was good as well.
Food was ok, service was pretty good, though clearly overwhelmed. Food is expensive, portions are small and drinks were low in alcohol.
You sit on a mock-beach, in low chairs that I found uncomfortable. The sand is none-to sanitary, with lots of cigarette butts (and who knows what else) it it. I was creeped out in sandals. Music was too loud.
I imagine the view everyone keeps going on about would be great, had we arrived at sunset or during the day. For a late dinner though, its just dark. . .so who cares? I don't see how a place can get by on view alone.
Huggo's on the rocks feels like a tourist trap, no matter how much they advertise, their food is fine, but nothing spectacular. I am glad I got out-voted, and we didn't go to the more expensive Huggo's
If seats are available, you are practically sitting on the ocean and able to put your feet in the sand while eating a fabulous meal and enjoying cocktails. Â Vacation heaven, as far as I'm concerned.
I was with a party of four and not one of us had a complaint about anything. Â I drank a delicious, kick-you-in-the-pants Mai Tai and ate flavorful fish tacos, both of which happened to be on special. Â Happy holidays to me! Â Service was efficient and friendly. Â
My spouse calls me the "bathroom inspector" because I have to use it everywhere I go (out of necessity, not nosiness, thank-you!). Â I was very happy to see that thought was put into the restrooms here in that they are decorated well and kept up despite the fact that they are single patron restrooms basically off of the beach. Â Not all establishments care about this but in my opinion, it says a lot about them. Â
If the weather is nice, Huggo's is a no-fail situation. Â If I ever were to return, I'd hope the experience would be the same.
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