Tex Drive-In

4/15/25 - Delicious, fluffy, thick donuts that somehow feel light, with a thick coating of white sugar. A light yeasted taste. - The bavarian cream was my favorite, with a nice light cream that was balanced by the sugar coating - The strawberry, mango, and guava all felt a little heavier with the jam, but were still tasty; sweeter but also has a nice tinge of sourness from the fruit

I haven't tried enough places on the island to make a fair local comparison between shops, but I've had me some Hawaiian malasadas over the years and you need to know that these malasadas are absolutely AMAZING. Large, fresh and hot. Super yummy filling choices, and it's quite cool to watch them being made fresh as you wait. Delicious!!!❤️ Ok. We've returned a few times since my original review, just to be sure. It's all true -- these are the best malasadas. Big, fresh, sugary, warm, filled with your favorite, and absolutely the tastiest dough. Do not fail to stop by.

A great local spot for a quick breakfast or lunch! Their malasadas are incredible. We tried the loco moco, kailua pork and cabbage plate, and burger and they were all great.

Tex Drive-In in Honokaa on Hawaii's Big Island is a classic roadside gem. Nestled right off of Highway 19 with stunning Hamakua coast views (when it isn't raining), this no-frills spot is famous for its world-class malasadas—huge, warm, Portuguese-style donuts available plain or filled with flavors like guava, chocolate, or bavarian creme. They're fluffy, not-too-sweet, and absolutely addictive (many locals call it a monthly must-stop). The menu also features solid Hawaiian plate lunches (kalua pork, loco moco, curry stew), burgers, sandwiches, and breakfast items, all at very reasonable prices. Service is friendly and efficient, with a drive-thru and indoor/outdoor seating. We loved the loco moco with Teri beef, Mahi sandwich, and beef curry. There is one option for the keiki meal: Dino bites with fries. It's the perfect lunch stop during a Big Island road trip.

We stopped by Tex Drive-In and ordered two malasadas — one apple and one guava — and both were very good! The flavors were delicious and fresh, and you can’t beat the prices. The only downside was the filling-to-dough ratio. The filling was gone pretty quickly, leaving quite a bit of plain dough toward the end. A little more filling would make them perfect. We also had the onion rings, which were crispy and satisfying. Overall, great value and a solid stop if you’re craving malasadas in a laid-back local spot.

The malasadas were very yummy - dough was fluffy yet chewy and covered in sugar. We got the Bavarian cream and banana cream, personally they weren’t my favorite flavors, but they were still good. We also got the two eggs and portugese sausage with hash - it was decent, nothing special

Before coming to Hawaii, I researched many restaurants, including some of the most famous ones over the years. Unfortunately, I think this place is overrated. I paid $41 for my boyfriend and me, and while the food was okay, it was very dry. I ordered fish and chips, and it tasted like both the fish and the fries were fried twice. My boyfriend’s food was also okay but extremely dry. The staff was not very friendly, and overall the experience did not meet our expectations. I personally would not recommend this place.

This is definitely a locals place. We were told to go specifically for the Masala’s as they are the best on the entire island. The advice was correct. They also have a lot of other food options. We’re pretty much anyone in your group could find something good to eat. If you’re out and about, this is a great place to stop. They have covered outdoor seating, walk up counter, takeout service or a drive-through.

This was highly recommended to us and I was disappointed. The malasadas were definitely not fresh and fairly dry. Way too much filling in them. All the rest of their food was greasy and tasteless. I would not eat here again.

Our first local place to try while on vacation in Hawaii is Tex Drive in. Located next to an Ace Hardware and a bank. We tried the Malasadas with guava. Delicious and filing. It was only $1.95. Our meals were kalua pork and cabbage. It was $19 but the flavor was $$$$$$$ amazing. Rice was done well and the macaroni wasn’t my favorite but still pretty well made. My daughter had beef and shrimp meal. Beef was so gooooood. The shrimp was cooked perfectly. I added an island smoothie and was so happy that I did. The staff was friendly and welcoming. Our food wasn’t long behind placing our order so the wait time is short. The atmosphere was local and clean. I totally dug the island vibe and how they handled the decor.