Some places feed you lunch, and some places feed a whole town’s memory. In Hilo, one walk-up counter has served comfort food for generations and kept its doors open through two tsunamis.
Families come back for a menu with around 30 versions of one famous rice bowl, plus plates that stay friendly to the wallet. Keep reading to find out where it is, what to order, and how to plan the perfect stop.
A Walk-Up Window on Kilauea Avenue
Hilo has plenty of lunch counters, but only one carries the nickname that locals tie to the loco moco itself. Cafe 100 Inc sits at 969 Kilauea Ave, Hilo, HI 96720, on the east side of Hawaii’s Big Island.
The setup is simple. It is a quick-serve Hawaiian restaurant, not a sit-down dining room with servers and tablecloths.
Guests order at a kiosk or online, then wait for their name at the pickup window. Food goes to covered picnic tables outside, so the whole visit stays casual and fast.
The menu leans hard into island comfort food. Loco moco leads the lineup, with around 30 varieties, and it shares space with pupu platters, burgers, and other local classics.
Families who grew up nearby treat it as a dependable lunch stop. Travelers often add it to a Hilo day because it is easy to find and easy to fit into a schedule.
With more than 2,000 Google opinions behind a 4.3-star score, the place clearly draws a crowd. The rest of this story explains why that crowd keeps returning.
Two Tsunamis and a Third Restaurant
Resilience is baked into this kitchen’s history. The restaurant survived the tsunamis of 1946 and May 1960, and then the owners built a third location.
That detail appears in the Exploring Historic Hilo booklet, published in 2007 by Waterhouse Publishing in Honolulu. Author Leslie Lang noted that the cafe was known for its loco mocos.
For local families, that history matters. Grandparents who ate here can bring grandkids to the same name on the same island, and the habit simply carries forward.
Many people call the spot the home of the original loco moco. Some even describe Hilo as the birthplace of the dish, which gives a bowl of rice and gravy real hometown pride.
Plenty of restaurants talk about tradition. Fewer can point to a printed history booklet and two major natural disasters they outlasted.
Every plate here carries a little of that comeback story, served with a side of rice.
Thirty Ways to Say Loco Moco
Around 30 versions of one dish might sound like a lot. At this counter, it is the whole point.
The classic loco moco starts with rice, then adds a hamburger patty, gravy, and eggs. Many regulars still say the original is the best choice on the board.
From there, the menu branches out with other proteins and combinations. Portuguese sausage shows up often in conversations about favorite picks, and the Super Loco gets its own share of attention.
Loco moco is mentioned in about 475 Google comments, far more than any other topic. That number tells you what most people come for.
The size of the menu can cause some decision trouble. A smart move is to try the original first, then work through the variations on later visits.
Families like that approach because everyone can order the same famous dish without ordering the same plate. Choice paralysis, it turns out, is a pretty tasty problem.
The Patty and Gravy Question
A loco moco lives or dies by two things: the patty and the gravy. Here, both get plenty of praise.
The hamburger patty is often described as tender, not a hard commercial-style puck. Some note a good char on the meat.
The gravy earns compliments for being smooth, beefy, and not too heavy or salty. An over easy egg on top completes the classic stack.
Not every opinion lands the same way. A few people find the dish ordinary, comparable to versions elsewhere, and some dislike the processed cheese slice on certain variations.
Portions also split opinion. The standard bowl fits in a fairly small container, so hungry eaters may want a larger option or an extra side.
That honest mix is useful for planning. Order the version that matches your appetite, and the classic tends to deliver what fans expect.
Plate Lunches Beyond the Bowl
Not everyone in the family wants loco moco, and that is fine. The menu covers a broad range of island plates.
Beef stew gets strong praise, sometimes even more than the signature dish. Tripe stew, curry chicken, Korean chicken katsu, and laulau combos also show up on many trays.
The BBQ plate and laulau come in large portions. Miso mahi is described as huge, and braised beef with noodles has its own fans.
Potato mac salad rounds out many plates. Kalua cabbage has also impressed people who tried it.
Bentos are available too, though one fried chicken and teri beef combo did not win everyone over. Results can vary by item.
The takeaway is simple. This kitchen is a full plate lunch stop, and the famous bowl is only the headliner.
Daily Specials Worth Checking
Here is a small tip that regulars know well. The specials rotate, so the plate you loved last week may not be there today.
That can be a surprise if you arrive with one dish in mind. It can also be a nice bonus when something new appears.
A meatloaf plate lunch special once stood out as the best item at one family’s table. It came with mashed potatoes made from real potatoes.
Daily specials add a reason for locals to keep stopping in. A familiar menu with a changing corner keeps routines from getting stale.
Families who eat here often tend to check the special first. If it looks good, they grab it, and if not, the regular menu is still waiting.
Flexibility pays off here, and the specials board rewards anyone willing to go off script.
Room for Something Sweet
Dessert at a loco moco counter might sound like an afterthought. It is not.
The cascaron, a coconut mochi donut, is a fun pick. It is described as not too sweet, with a generous coconut mochi filling.
Cream puffs and Chantilly puffs also appear on the menu. They make an easy treat to share after a big plate.
Kids often aim straight for the sweets case. Parents tend to appreciate that the portions are easy to split.
One wish has come up over the years: shakes. They are not part of the lineup, so plan on puffs or mochi instead.
A small dessert turns a quick lunch into a little celebration, and that is a habit worth keeping.
Kiosks, Apps, and a Fast Line
Old-school food meets new-school ordering here. Guests place orders at a kiosk or online, then pick up when their name is called.
The kiosks accept card, Venmo, PayPal, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. That range is handy for families splitting a bill.
The system helps the kitchen run smoothly even when staffing is short. Lines can grow long, but they tend to move quickly.
Some guests miss having a cashier to talk to. A tip prompt without counter service has also bothered a few people.
Still, most find the setup efficient. Food often comes out fast, which matters when kids are hungry.
Ordering ahead online is a smart trick for busy lunch hours. It keeps the wait short and the mood sunny.
Picnic Tables Under Cover
Forget the fancy dining room. Meals here happen at covered picnic tables, and that is part of the charm.
Seating is outdoors. The covered area gives shelter from Hilo’s frequent rain.
The space is small and simple. Some say it lacks a polished dining atmosphere, but they still praise the food.
Ample parking makes arrivals easy. A portable restroom is available on site.
Many people grab their food and head to a nearby park instead. That option suits families who want room for kids to move.
It also works well after a day of sightseeing. Some travelers stop here to refuel after a hike at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
Casual seating keeps the whole experience relaxed, and nobody worries about spilled gravy.
Prices That Keep Families Fed
Affordability is a big reason the same families keep returning. A plate here usually feels fair for the amount of food.
Years ago, a loco moco cost around $6, and a family of four ate for $35. Loco moco dishes were later noted at less than $10.
Prices have gone up since then. Even so, many still call it a good value for the portion size.
Not everyone agrees. A few people feel the cost does not match the plate.
Large plates like the BBQ and laulau earn the most value praise. Sharing a big plate is a smart move for smaller appetites.
Check the current menu before you go, since prices change. A little planning helps the budget stay as relaxed as the setting.
Timing Your Visit Right
Show up on a Friday and you will find a closed window. The cafe is closed on Fridays and Saturdays.
Monday through Thursday, hours run from 7 am to 2 pm. Sunday hours are 10 am to 3 pm.
That schedule makes it a breakfast and lunch stop only. Dinner plans will need another destination.
Peak meal hours bring heavy crowds, including many travelers. Arriving early in the morning or ordering online can cut the wait.
The early weekday opening is handy for families heading out on a day trip. Grab food at 7 am and hit the road.
Confirm hours on the official website before you go. A quick check saves a hungry drive.
A Hometown Habit Worth Sharing
Some restaurants chase trends. This one chases nothing and still keeps a line out front.
Families return for familiar plates, fair prices, and a history that stretches through two tsunamis. The loco moco variations give everyone a reason to try something new.
It is not perfect. Seating is basic, opinions on the signature dish vary, and some plates hit better than others.
Still, the overall picture is clear. This is a casual local stop that does comfort food the island way.
Start with the original bowl, add a side of beef stew, and save room for a mochi donut. Then plan your next visit around the variation you skipped.
That small promise of a return trip is exactly how a lunch counter becomes a family tradition.
Enjoyed this story?
Add Fast Food Club as a preferred source to see more of our reporting on Google.