Hana Hou Restaurant — Restaurant in Hawaii

1st Visit: I ordered Loco Moco with hamburger but received pork. No worries, it was decent, and they were slammed (full parking lot). My partner had the Chicken Papaya salad that lady at the register recommended since she has a gluten allergy (not a preference) and had asked for recommendations. The lady gave a short "well off the top of my head" slightly rude response, which seemed odd, but we brushed it off. My partner absolutely loved the salad! So much so that we had to return! I also want to mention that the wait was reasonable and the restaurant was well kept and clean.

2nd Visit a few days later: I grabbed a Burrito at the Taco shop that shares the same building (excellent choice BTW). My partner got the Papaya salad at Hana Hou again and simply asked if there was anything that needed to be left off for it to be gluten-free, again because it's an allergy situation and she wanted to double check if it had to made differently since she specified GF prior. It's quite common for the GF option to have an ingredient substituted or left off. Since it's an allergy, we always specify that to make the restaurant aware so that it's prepared correctly. The same lady from before again seemed agitated and gave a snarky response about it being GF already. Like eating out with a food allergy isn't already tough enough. Being treated poorly for asking a simple food allergy related question is simply unacceptable. The parking lot was empty and we were the only ones at either restaurant.. so it's not like she was flustered during a busy rush or something.

Both times, we were kind, so the rudeness was one-sided for no apparent reason. We literally gave her the benefit of the doubt since it was busy the first time. We will not be making that mistake again.

I wasn't going to leave a review as I don't like to leave negative reviews on small businesses. However, after two similar negative experiences and seeing the negative reviews from others, the rude attitude appears to be common, which is honestly just unfortunate. Based on the numerous complaints of rudeness, along with the unprofessional responses to negative reviews, I suggest someone else deal with the customers and review responses. It'll be better for the customers and the business in my humble opinion.

2 out of 5 for the delicious Chicken Papaya...

Went for a drive to the South Point and decided to get lunch at Hana Hou. My wife had the pastrami sandwich and I had a bite... This was a really good sandwich. As a side note, my wife was disappointed as she wanted a soda and they don't have any... We've run into this at a few establishments on the big island, not sure why?

I went with the panko squid with coconut shrimp. The coconut shrimp was cooked perfectly, looked nice, and was really tasty, but only tarter sauce to dip in doesnt fit the flavor profile... Needed a sweet and spicy sauce... was offered Tabasco, but that isnt a sweet chili sauce, just a vinegary heat sauce.

The panko fried squid was all kinda wrong as it was soggy, oily, and a very light tan (almost white) vs. a golden brown crust, and again the tarter sauce as a dip for the soggy squid adds more oil to an already mushy, oily dish... Perhaps a lemon wedge or something very light would be more appropriate (if cooked correctly, nothing could have rescued the crust on this one)... Overall, the panko squid had ZERO crunch and was pretty unappetizing. The mac salad and rice however, were both perfect, but couldn't make up for the soggy squid. (really liked the addition of peas and shredded carrots to the mac salad).

With 20/20 hindsight, I should have gone with the pastrami or a pizza.

ps. I didn't send back the panko squid as I was not interested in waiting to eat the squid separately, so just chalked it up to experience and moved on with our great day on the...

Hana Hou Restaurant – A Hidden Gem at the Southern Tip of the U.S.

During our road trip to Green Sand Beach and Volcanoes National Park, we stopped for lunch at Hana Hou, the southernmost restaurant in the United States. This funky little diner, recommended by a couple from Seattle on our Green Sand Beach truck ride, turned out to be a fantastic find!

The atmosphere is quirky and charming, with cow-print decor and bright red tables that give it a laid-back, old-school diner feel. The service was warm and welcoming, making us feel right at home after a long morning of exploring.

As for the food—delicious! We tried a mix of local favorites: • Ahi special with dill slaw and rice – Fresh and flavorful, a great choice if you love fish. • Pizza – Greg’s choice, and while unexpected for a small diner, it did not disappoint. Nice having left over Pizza for the 2 hour drive home. • Smashburgers – Greta and Nick both ordered these, and they were cooked perfectly. • Hamburger steak – Erik’s go-to comfort food, and it was rich, hearty, and satisfying.

Everything tasted homemade, and the portions were generous. It’s the perfect spot for a relaxed, casual meal while exploring the southern part of the Big Island.

Tip: If you’re making the drive down to South Point or Green Sand Beach, this is definitely worth a stop! It’s not fancy, but the food, service, and small-town charm make it a memorable experience. Would definitely eat here again! We bought a few...