




New Chiang Mai Thai Cuisine
About
A Taste of Northern Thailand in East Hawaii
Stepping into New Chiang Mai Thai Cuisine, the immediate scent of lemongrass and galangal transports you from the streets of Hilo directly to the bustling food markets of Northern Thailand. The walls are adorned with traditional Thai decor, creating a modest, no-frills setting that keeps the focus entirely on the bowl in front of you. This is the spot where locals head for a quick, soul-warming lunch or an unpretentious dinner after a long day.
Signature Spices and Local Favorites
The kitchen is well-regarded for its authentic approach to heat and aromatics. Their Pad Thai carries that essential balance of tamarind tang and charred wok-breath, while the green curry—generous with coconut milk and fresh Thai basil—offers a depth of flavor that is hard to replicate. If you are a fan of spice, don't hesitate to ask for your dish 'Thai hot'; the chefs here have a reputation for not pulling any punches when it comes to authentic chili levels.
Practical Dining Notes
The layout is intimate and occasionally lively, making it a great choice for casual groups or a relaxed solo meal. Be prepared for a bit of a hunt for street parking along the historic downtown blocks during the peak lunch hour, and keep in mind that the acoustics can get a bit loud when the room is full. Despite the modest footprint, the quick service and consistent quality make it a staple for anyone craving genuine Southeast Asian spices in the heart of Hilo. Whether you're a long-time resident or just passing through the Big Island, it remains a reliable destination for traditional khao soi and aromatic stir-fries served with a genuine smile.
Photos








Amenities & Features
Location
110 Kalakaua St, Hilo, Hawaii, 96720-2808
More to Explore
Reviews
Showing 10 of 187 community reviewsC HGoogle Maps
Recently
Only if I could give this place 6-stars! Amazing flavors and dishes. Nothing disappointed. From pineapple curry, spicy basil stir fry, basil fried rice, to spicy chicken salad! A definite must for all Asian food connoisseurs!
lily wuGoogle Maps
Recently
We walked in perfect mood, and walk out furious. The food is not yet on our table after 45 mins. The table next to us came in 10 mins after us, and already got their food for like 10 mins. We came in when the restaurant was pretty much empty and we waited until full house. The waiters were keen about water but that doesn’t help. We asked and they said the printer in kitchen was broken so the kitchen didn’t receive the order. Anyhow, it doesn’t seem the first time it was “broken” reading from previous reviews. The pad see ew was rushed and some noodles were hard and undercooked. The soup was ok
Adrienne BodineGoogle Maps
Recently
Ordered to go twice while staying in Hilo. Incredible food prepared quickly! They are open later than many other places making it very convenient after a day of exploring. The portions are generous and everything is fresh. So so good!!!
Kierann BaileyGoogle Maps
Recently
The food here was really good, and the main dishes come in big portions, which was great. Everything we tried was flavorful and satisfying. That said, the place REALLY NICKEL AND DIMES you. It’s $1.50 extra if you ask for no ice in your drink, the portion of rice that comes with the curry (no rice comes with other dishes) is very small, and they even CHARGE for TO-GO CONTAINERS. It kind of gives the impression they’d rather you waste food than take leftovers home. Overall, the food itself was excellent, but the extra little charges took away from the experience.
Sukant BlanaGoogle Maps
Recently
Food is amazing. Ambience is a quite, neat and well maintained place. Service can be better. Server kept forgetting full order and had to be reminded few times, impacting overall experience.
Amrish MajithiaGoogle Maps
Recently
Nice authentic Thai food. Good service. Can go again. Could have given 4.5 stars. Pictures show Papaya salad, Coconut soup, Red curry and Panang curry, all with Tofu and vegetables. Every dish had lots of vegetables. They were light on Tofu though.
Samyukta KamatGoogle Maps
Recently
This restaurant was one of the worst we have ever been to in the entire country. We ordered Corona beers which were expired (displayed in photos) - when we pointed this out to the waitress, she was not apologetic at all and simply went and got fresh ones which were not even iced. The servers here were extremely rude and disinterested. The food was dismal- the shrimp was unseasoned and the vegetables were undone. There were even insects on the chairs. They brought us the cheque without even asking and billed us for the beers nonetheless. Highly recommend not visiting this restaurant- it ruined our spirits thoroughly To be honest, they are lucky that we are not complaining to the Health Department.
Brad VanlandinghamGoogle Maps
Recently
Very good Thai restaurant with plenty of vegetarian and vegan options. Beautiful open decor with high ceilings, lovely furniture and art. It feels very relaxed and pleasant. The food has always been extraordinary and the portions are surprisingly large, so be sure to consider what you will take home!
Mark TashimaGoogle Maps
Recently
7/24/2025 New Chiang Mai Thai Cuisine 110 Kalakaua St Hilo, HI 96720 We went there for dinner on a Thursday. It's in downtown Hilo on a side street with street parking which was okay since most everything else was closed, could be more difficult for lunch. It's a clean and cozy table and chair setup with Thai ambiance. Service was fast and attentive. We ordered the Chicken Satay and shared the Green Curry. The Chicken had good flavor but was hard and a little dry. The Green curry was okay and not memorable. This place is owned by the family that has Nim's. The quality of food was okay but I would not repeat. There's a much better place in Hilo.
Luca CatolineGoogle Maps
Recently
Went here for a family dinner it was amazing! Service and food were amazing. My partner had the pad tai and had the black bean noodles ! We also got the crispy chicken with sweet sauce! Very tasty.They were so delicious and the portion sizes were huge. Plenty of food to take home! Very nice people there as well!
Comments & Reviews
Please sign in to write a review.
No reviews yet. Be the first to write a review!
Frequently Asked Questions about New Chiang Mai Thai Cuisine
Common questions from diners about New Chiang Mai Thai Cuisine in Hilo.
Nearby Restaurants
$
$
$