




Ling's Chop Suey House
About
A Hilo Culinary Tradition
Stepping into Ling's Chop Suey House feels like a portal back to mid-century Hilo. For generations, this establishment has served as a cornerstone of comfort food for locals seeking the familiar, salt-forward profiles of traditional Cantonese-American cooking. The interior is refreshingly unpretentious, defined by well-worn booths and the persistent, comforting hum of a commercial kitchen that has seen thousands of plate lunches cross its pass.
Signature Bites and Regional Staples
The menu is an exercise in consistency, focusing on heavy-hitters that define the island's unique fusion of flavors. Regulars almost exclusively gravitate toward the signature Chop Suey—a generous, steaming mound of crisp vegetables and tender proteins tossed in a light, savory gravy. It is the kind of meal that demands a side of hot, fluffy rice to soak up every drop of the sauce. You will also find the crispy gau gee and sweet-and-sour pork dishes hitting tables with clockwork reliability.
The Hilo Dining Experience
Visiting this local favorite isn't about white-tablecloth service; it is about the honest, no-frills experience of Hawaii-style dining. Expect the air to be thick with the aroma of sesame oil and sizzling ginger. Be prepared for a bit of a challenge when maneuvering for parking in the immediate vicinity—the tight spaces reflect the historic, compact nature of Hilo town’s older commercial districts. It is an ideal spot for those who value authentic history over modern polish, perfect for a quick, filling lunch that honors the culinary roots of the Big Island.
Photos








Amenities & Features
Location
2100 Kanoelehua Ave, Hilo, Hawaii, 96720-6500
More to Explore
Reviews
Showing 10 of 13 community reviewsNella KaleiwaheaGoogle Maps
Recently
Horrible place!! Had cockroaches where we were eating, the food tasted awful and very expensive for no reason.Do not recommend!!
michael phillipsGoogle Maps
Recently
take out service is awesome fast friendly staff....my favorite as i order it lemon chicken with cake noodles on bottom soaked in lemon sause under 10 dollars for half order pictured on the left or full order feeds two people on the right
Mr. William Sherman SeniorGoogle Maps
Recently
Great Chinese restaurant, personable service and as you can see by the photos consistently great grade meals there’s a steam table or you can order off the menu. It’s delightful atmosphere. It may not be much to look at, but it’s peaceful serene and it’s very authentic come with friends, family by yourself but just come here and realize this is a gem in Hilo.
KatiGoogle Maps
Recently
Very expensive just for a basic chinese fried chicken/fried rice plate. Food was bland, not as good as it was back in my younger days. I Can no longer justify coming here for the price especially since you could go to Pandas for almost half the price and with more options.
I IGoogle Maps
Recently
Food tasted old.Wonton no pork hash filling. Crispy gau gee mein, noodles look and taste like spaghetti pasta. Sad, they use to have very good food before. Sorry
Name_Unknown_Google Maps
Recently
The wonton is the worst ive ever had, ordered 12 and got 3 burnt ones, all soggy and drenched in oil. Lemon chicken is okay i prefer chengs over lings. Was not greeted properly, or was told to have a nice day even though i myself greeted and said my farewells. Atmosphere is run down things look dirty and ghetto. It hurts me to say such bad stuff about anyplace or anyone but its my honest opinion. I did tip 20%, wish i didnt. But this is the last time i tip for take out anywhere for the rest of my life. I really am a nice guy but for even me to say such bad things speaks volumes.
Shaydlynn GraceGoogle Maps
Recently
My bf bought a two choice plate today with white rice, lemon chicken, oyster chicken, & a side of wontons, decided to split the plate with him (because it’s a fairly large portion and the bill came out to 30$) so I scooped half of it into a bowl only to find a maggot in the food 🤮 we won’t be returning.
Dallas LGoogle Maps
Recently
Oh my god.. The guy who took my order was extremely rude. He didn’t even say “hello”, “goodbye”, or even “thank you” to me, as soon as I finished ordering he just hung up. I ordered my food in separate plates and received almost everything in the same plate. The cake noodles were dryer than an old lady’s foot, literally no sauce. Found somebody’s hair in the oyster chicken, and I know it wasn’t anyone of my family’s because the hair was blonde-ish, wavy, and too short, and we’re the complete opposite. I am disgusted.
Christopher LambGoogle Maps
Recently
I called an order in in advance. Was told that it would take about 20 minutes for the food to be ready. No problem, I was stopping by somewhere else to pick up food for another person. Upon arrival they tell me that their credit card machine is broke and cannot accept my form of payment. I did not bring cash with me. This is totally unacceptable I should’ve been told over the phone that the credit card machine was down so that I could bring cash or for a good customer service they could’ve given me the plate being that they were going to throw it away anyways. Really unresponsible of a business to have a credit card machine down and not contact a person to let them know to bring an alternative method for payment.
Roman AndersonGoogle Maps
Recently
The egg foo yung was decent. However, after my 3rd time at Lings I won't be going back. The lemon chicken was not edible. It was hard on the outside and chewy on the inside. Was like eating leather. The fried rice was only half as bad but still bad.
Comments & Reviews
Please sign in to write a review.
No reviews yet. Be the first to write a review!
Frequently Asked Questions about Ling's Chop Suey House
Common questions from diners about Ling's Chop Suey House in Hilo.
Nearby Restaurants
$
$
$