When nothing else will do but homestyle Japanese cuisine served with a bright aloha spirit, you need to visit Miyo’s Restaurant. Now set in the Manono Marketplace shopping center, this eatery has proudly served as a true Hilo favorite since 1987. Their loyal patrons keep the tables full as a result, but their food is well worth the wait, for sure.
Day in and day out, owner, operator, and chef Miyo Harumi creates every menu item with care using fresh ingredients and time honored recipes. Her unique culinary style infuses all her creations with exquisitely complex flavors that never fail to hit the spot. Each dish comes out of the kitchen with a gourmet aesthetic yet always satisfies the need for true comfort food.
The artistic plating is so good, in fact, that you’ll want to snap a photo before digging in. The wonderful scent of pure deliciousness coming your way will make that rather difficult, however. So, if you must take a photo make it quick, and then dive into your order with reckless abandon.
If you want to see just what the chef is serving up, you’ll need to make a reservation well ahead of your visit. Otherwise, you can count on having quite a wait ahead until you’re able to get a table. Their menu is built for multiple courses, after all, especially if you split your plates with your tablemates. So, you could very well end up spending more than an hour working through your appetizer, main entrées, and more.
Their friendly service also goes a long way in keeping you feeling cozy at your table. Every guest gets greeted through the doors like family, and then invited to get comfy in their seat. Then, the servers go above and beyond in making sure that you always have a lovely dining experience from start to finish. Their restaurant always boasts good vibes as a result, making you feel right at home from the second you walk through the doors.
Their top choices include:
Combination Special Bento
When you cannot decide between all the tasty menu items, treat yourself to the Combination Special Bento. To build this dish, you must select two items from their long list of fan favorites, like Chicken Katsu, Fried Tofu, Beef Teriyaki, and Sauteed Eggplant. They have seafood, too, but it’s an extra charge. After you make your selections, they serve it all up with shrimp and veggie tempura, rice, and miso soup.
Shabu Shabu
The Shabu Shabu is more than just a meal – It’s a full dining experience. This hot pot specialty starts with flavorful fish broth simmering in an individual pot. Then, they add fresh veggies, udon noodles, and beef, if you’d like. You can also leave out the meat if you prefer. Rice comes in the pot as well while miso soup lands alongside. On top of that, you get a delicious ponzu dipping sauce on the side.
Tempura Zaru
If you love noodles, tempura, and seafood, then the Tempura Zaru is bound to satisfy all your cravings. To kickstart this dish, the chef dips assorted veggies in tempura, and then fries them until golden brown. Then, they saute the shrimp until perfectly cooked through. After that, the shrimp and tempura veggies go over cold noodles to complete this awesome dish.
Don’t have time to make it into the restaurant? Use the online ordering system on their website to get delivery. You must be in their service area to get your food dropped at your doorstep. Otherwise, you’ll need to swing by to enjoy your selections in-house or pick up your food to go.
Insider Tips:
-If you want to make reservations for lunch, call the restaurant between 10:30am and 2pm. Want to book a table for dinner instead? Call between 4pm and 8pm.”
-They do not allow any substitutions on their menu items.
-Want more sauce, tartar, or dressing with your meal? It’ll be an extra charge.
-They have complimentary green tea available, but you have to ask for it.