Ken's House of Pancakes
About
A Hilo Institution Since 1971
Stepping into Ken's House of Pancakes feels like entering a time capsule of Hilo charm. Since opening its doors over five decades ago, this corner landmark on the Big Island has served as the unofficial town square. You will hear the constant clatter of ceramic mugs and the lively, overlapping conversations of locals, students, and early-rising tourists blending together in a space that never truly sleeps.
Signature Island Comfort
The menu is an exercise in excess, featuring a sprawling list of comfort foods that cater to every imaginable appetite. While the name highlights their famous golden-brown macadamia nut pancakes, the true draw for Hilo residents is the extensive selection of local plate lunches. The Loco Moco here is a heavy hitter—a towering assembly of rich gravy, ground beef patties, and eggs that demands a nap shortly after the final bite. If you visit late at night, the atmosphere shifts from a bustling morning hub to a quiet, neon-lit sanctuary for night owls and road-trippers finishing a long drive along the Hamakua Coast.
Practical Realities for Your Visit
Be prepared for the occasional wait, especially on weekend mornings when the line stretches toward the door. While the parking lot can feel tight and aggressive during peak hours, the trade-off is a reliable, no-frills meal served by a staff that has seen every shift change imaginable. It isn't refined dining, but it is an authentic slice of Hilo life that remains open 24 hours a day, providing a steady, warm glow of hospitality in the heart of the city.
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Amenities & Features
Location
1730 Kamehameha Ave, Hilo, Hawaii, 96720-4639
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Reviews
Showing 10 of 2891 community reviews
Paige LuttrellGoogle Maps
Recently
Huuuuuge portions! Super yummy! Nice breeze going through the restaurant and it seemed to run like a well oiled machine. My friend absolutely LOVED the O’NY E’SY with lup cheong and hollandaise. My French toast was sweet and soft. All the things you want!!
Emily AkayGoogle Maps
Recently
Wonderful experience! Hostess seated us quickly and immediately got us waters and coffee, the waitress was also quick and attentive. And the food! I got the Tuesday special of oxtail breakfast enchiladas (YUM) and my husband got the banana mac nut waffle with a side of bacon. We are already planning on making it back there. The waffle was just how I love them, fluffy with crispy edges (I mean is there any other way?). The 3 syrups made in house were oh so delicious and I've never had anything like it, there was guava, passion fruit, and coconut. Definitely recommend for comforting diner food!
Surfer DadGoogle Maps
Recently
100% wanted to experience an "American style diner" and this place had it with a mild Hawaiian influence. So glad we had breakfast here while in Hilo. Staff are great. The atmosphere so diner vibe cool it was awesome. And the food delicious for all of our group. We heard the Sumo gong and asked our hostess. It's a "thing" whenever someone orders a Sumo meal and we lucky enough to observe this go down at a nearby table. Really cool.
GabriellaGoogle Maps
Recently
Great place to go with the family. They’ve got a great menu consisting of classics and specialties—like their sumo plates. Service is super friendly and the inside is hectic, in a fun way, as they tend to the rapid turnover and often ring a gong when someone orders a sumo plate. The pancakes were ultra-fluffy and even came with some homemade syrups to try—Guava, Coconut, and Lilikoi. Would recommend the pancakes over their other breakfast items, though all were well prepared. Definitely stop by if in the area!
S AndrewsGoogle Maps
Recently
Y’all!!! Yes we are from Texas and yes this was the best breakfast we’ve had l week. The food was phenomenal, Hubs and I split the Sumo Bruddah and we ALMOST finished it. They had homemade coconut, guava, and passion fruit syrups that were sooo good! We even used the coconut in our coffee! The service was down to earth and phenomenal. They answered all of our questions and were incredibly personable. Food was quick for us and fresh. The macadamian pancakes were sooo yummy. Highly recommend. If we’re back on this Island, it’ll be our first stop!
Jackie W.Google Maps
Recently
We had a great brunch while spending some time in Hilo while on the Big Island! We had a huge waffle with strawberry topping, and a grilled cheese sandwich with fries. Coffee was great and I loved the Aloha message at the bottom of the mug!! We were seated quickly, which we were very pleased with as it was super busy. Our Server was friendly and efficient and food came out super fast. We thoroughly trying all of the homemade toppings, I included that photo, maple, coconut and guava. A great place to visit if in the area.
Marlene JohnstonGoogle Maps
Recently
A great place for great food! The menu had so many delicious options I had a hard time deciding. I chose the 1/2 Crabcake Benedict with rice... oh my delish! The benedicts here are topped with black olives, which I have never had before. My hubby loves food and was excited to try one of the Sumo challenges. He ordered the Sumo Loco and was in heaven. He ate every bite including the 2 pancakes that comes with every Sumo entrée. Great customer service, great food, and a yummy dining experience!
Eric DingGoogle Maps
Recently
Ken's is a total local gem that we almost passed on. We were staying in Hilo for a couple of days and despite seeing it on so many recommendation lists, we thought "how good can a diner be?" and didn't go until our last night in Hilo, and honestly wish we went earlier because we would have gone back to try more things on their menu. We aren't really pancake people, and these pancakes didn't blow our minds, but they were fluffy and nice. The real star is the syrup though. The guava, lilikoi, and coconut were all so good. The best thing we got was definitely the oxtail though. HIGHLY recommend. Fall off the bone tender, in a flavorful beef stew with root vegetables. I still think about it weeks later. Honestly one of the best things I ate on the island.
Greg Anderson (ganderson)Google Maps
Recently
Best hashbrowns. Shredded. Coffee was ok. Service was fantastic. We had a sweet heart of a waitress. Pancakes were excellent. Love the bang on the gong when someone orders the sumo meal! The atmosphere is nostalgic for sure. Just like going back to 1974.
Angel BaiGoogle Maps
Recently
This place makes you feel like home. I really enjoyed the vibe and how they decorated for Christmas. Highly recommend the oxtail stew and the loco moco — both were super comforting and exactly what we wanted after a long day. People here are so friendly. Our server was the sweetest lady: warm, attentive, and just made the whole experience better. She even gave us a sticker with our checkout/order paper, which was so cute. And being able to dine in before 9pm is such a huge plus. We got there at 8:50pm and they still welcomed us in for dinner, which we really appreciated.
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