Huggo’s Restaurant ~ Kailua Kona, Hawaii – For over 40 years, Huggo’s restaurant has been delighting baby boomers with Hawaiian cuisine showcasing local products from Big Island farms, fisherman, and ranchers.

Adding to the allure  of the restaurant is its ocean-front setting on ‘Onea Bay in historic Kailua Village where boutiques, galleries, and specialty shops await you for an after dinner stroll.

In 1982, Eric von Platen Luder took over the day-to-day operation from his parents and restaurant founders, Shirley and Hugo, and carries on its family-owned traditions with a touch of  “New Hawaiian” cuisine.

After we were seated, I snapped the photograph above to share with you the wonderful setting and ambiance Huggo’s restaurant offers its guests.

We ordered a nice glass of wine and began our gastronomical journey with Tempura Big Island Ho’i’o Fern Shoots (Namasu and Ponzu Dipping Sauce). The fern is known in Maui as pohole ferns, ho’i’o on Hawaii, called pako in the Philippines and known as warabi in Japan and kosade in Korea.  The ho’i’o is a wild fern that grows in the moist rainforest environments of Hawaii, the Big Island. (Source: Specialty Produce Website)

Disposed to trying new things, we ordered and enjoyed!

Next on our journey was Half Dozen Big Island Farm Raised Kumamoto Oysters (Local Citrus Mignonette and Wasabi Tobiko).  Carol isn’t big on oysters, so I enjoyed five of these babies all by myself.  YUM!

For our third appetizer, we enjoyed Locally Caught Ahi Tuna Poke (Maui Onions, Hawaiian Chili Peppers, Exotic Chips and Poi Vinaigrette).  Major yumminess and worthy of applause!

We then shared an Arugula Salad and moved on to Huggo’s piéce de résistance:  Island Fresh Catch (Swordfish, Spicy Sichimi Togarashi, Molokai Sweet Potato Puree, Asian Sprout Salad, Lemongrass Haupia Sauce).  Wow!  This was right up there with the best fish we ever had.  Absolutely fantastic!

Well, we were ready to call it a night, but Huggo’s wouldn’t hear of it.  They insisted that we try their Hualalai Ice Cream Pie (Kona Coffee Ice Cream, Chocolate Cookie Crust, Topped w/ Fudge and Whipped Cream).  Not wanting to offend our hosts, we had to agree.  Right?

Wowza!  We didn’t put a dent in this monster, but it sure was good!

Well, as much as we hated to see the beautiful ocean sunset turn to darkness, it was now time for our wonderful journey to end as well.

We enjoyed a wonderful dining experience and can wholeheartedly recommend Huggo’s restaurant to you when you visit Kailua Kona on Hawaii, the Big Island.

Disclosure:  this wonderful dining experience was provided by the kind folks at Huggo’s restaurant.  Thanks!  Photography by David A. Porter.

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