Only slightly off the beaten path is the Pāpa‘aloa Country Store & Café, situated along the dramatic Hilo-Hāmākua coastline. This historic building and store has been serving the community in various forms for over 100 years, back through the sugar plantation days, though the recent iteration opened in 2015. Half of the store is still a general store with everything from shampoo and sunscreen to liquor and ice cream, with a small counter for takeout plate lunch meals and baked goods.

The other half is tucked behind the community’s modest post office, overlooking the blue Pacific as it serves as a sit-down restaurant, café, and music venue. The food, including the smoky BBQ Tri-tip Sandwich that uses local beef, is cooked to perfection, sliced thinly, and covered in slightly sweet and smoky Aunty Donna’s BBQ sauce, then sits on a bed of lightly dressed slaw on a soft bun. Other standouts include Fresh Fish Tacos, Fish & Chips. Chicken Katsu Plate, and Poke Bowl served with your choice of raw or seared fresh fish, white or brown rice, and comes with avocado, furikake, cucumber, Asian coleslaw and spicy mayo—yum! The café also serves up many local staples like Lau Lau and Loco Moco. Their indulgent garlic butter fries alone is definitely worth stopping in for. This charming eatery also serves good burgers and pizza for those craving something more mainstream and great live music, too.

And for those with a sweet tooth, desserts are baked fresh daily, and include sticky buns à la mode, or smaller bites such as lip-puckering liliko‘i (passion fruit) tarts or honey-dripping macadamia nut baklava—truly the perfect ending to any meal. Just be sure not to miss the country store, hidden on the makai (ocean) side of Highway 19.

Pāpa‘aloa Country Store & Café is located at 35-2032 Old Māmalahoa Hwy, near the community of Laupāhoehoe along the Hilo-Hāmākua Coast. Visit PapaaloaCountryStore.com for more information or call (808) 339-7614.