Visit Big Island: Keaʻau Filipino Food Store

I don't get to Keaʻau very often, but since I was in the area, I decided to visit the Keaʻau Filipino Food Store.

They have a huge selection of products imported from the Philippines, as well as Filipino products manufactured in Hawaiʻi, as well as in other states and countries.  

I of course left with some snacks - I bought some Chippys, Puto (which they make in-house), as well as Pianomo Rolls and Mamon (both from Golden Coin).  

Some of the snacks brought me back to my childhood, as I would frequently eat puto and pianomo rolls.

The shop also has veggies, meats, and more.

Keaʻau Filipino Food Store
16-577 Old Volcano Rd

Keaau, HI 96749

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Visit Big Island: Countryside Cafe

Countryside Cafe is a great breakfast option near Hilo.  Located in Kea‘au, this eatery offers a nice variety of all-day options sure to satisfy (fun fact: they have a Wai‘anae location, which I visited 8 years ago!).

Corned Beef Hash Loco Moco

I had the Corned Beef Hash Loco Moco with Fried Rice.

It was very tasty and filling.  The corned beef hash patty was nice and crispy, just the way I like it, and they smothered it with gravy.

My friend liked the burger and appreciated that it was housemade.

Mushroom & Onion Burger

Service was warm and friendly, and some of the best I've experienced anywhere. 

I highly recommend Countryside Cafe as a breakfast option near Hilo! 

Countryside Cafe
16-586 Old Volcano Road

Keaau, HI 96749

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Visit Hilo: Peppercorn Spice House

I saw all sorts of positive posts about the recently-opened Peppercorn Spice House in Kea`au, so I decided to check it out.

The social media posts raved about the food, and they noted that the owners used to own Lemon Grass, which is an eatery nearby.

Lemongrass Chicken

I thought the Lemongrass Chicken was really tasty, despite not having much lemongrass flavor.  The chicken was seasoned well, and although some pieces were a bit tough, I liked the smoky flavor.

Drunken Noodles with Chicken

I love Drunken Noodles, and I liked this dish too.  The noodles were a bit too chewy, but I liked that there were lots of pieces of chicken and veggies throughout.

Basil, Tofu, Eggplant

The Basil, Tofu, Eggplant dish had a very strong basil flavor, and I loved how tender the eggplant was. 

Pork Egg Rolls

The Pork Egg Rolls, full of seasoned pork and veggies, were nice and crispy.  This was my fave of all the dishes ordered, with the Basil, Tofu, Eggplant coming in second.

Overall, I thought the food was good and I wouldn't hesitate to order from them again!

Peppercorn Spice House
16-569 Old Volcano Rd

Keaau, HI 96749
 

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