Moon and Turtle

Wow... just wow. This was by far some of the cleanest food I've ever eaten. I say that because everything tasted like it was harvested at the exact moment of peak freshness, and then cooked to perfection with such care and respect. The menu is changed frequently, and we wanted to try everything, so we did! The dining room is small... maybe 6-8 tables, so it is very quiet and intimate. We actually met our server outside before the restaurant opened, so we were excited when she introduced herself at our table. The food came out a bit too fast for the size of our table, and could have been coursed out a little better, but that is my one and only critique. Wine and cocktails were great as well. Overall, fantastic experience!

This is my favorite restaurant I’ve ever been to. Actually planned a trip to Big Island to back country hike around the availability of a reservation here! The food is unbelievably delicious. I had striped marlin with clams and Kauai shrimp that melted in my mouth. Bananarama cocktail was smooth and fresh. Sizzling poke with ogo I wouldn’t miss.

This place was amazing. I love the rotating menu because each visit is unique. My partner and I ordered one of every small plate, and that was perfect (there were 5). Definitely recommend making a reservation

We ordered 2 appetizers and one main and the food was all very good. The ingredients were so fresh and the fish was cooked to perfection! The atmosphere was cozy and service was fast and the servers friendly. The food came out a little fast for our liking. The cocktails were delicious (leeche lady) and wine was cold. We would recommending giving it a try.

I’ve raved about this place here before, but if you’re in Hilo, you really ought to check this place out. They’re playing the entire Abbey Road album as I dig into seared poke and mushroom risotto. High end food, modest price, and a front and back of the house that’s firing on all cylinders.

We had a very enjoyable experience at Moon and Turtle! We made reservations for a Saturday on a Tuesday earlier that week and the only available table for 2 was the bar at 5:30pm. Turns out it was the best seat in the house. The bartender, who was also one of the owners, was very sweet and attentive. The food was amazing. We ordered the smokey sashimi, mushroom risotto, and the cheesecake. All were excellent. I also had the lychee press cocktail that I recommend. We would visit Hilo again just to eat at this restaurant!

The food was extremely good. You have to get the mushroom risotto. It it so good. I ate the entire plate.

I visited Moon and Turtle during my one-day trip from Oahu to Hilo. The menu is mostly seafood, ahi (tuna), which is great since that's a local fish, so it is fresh. A lot of the ingredients used in the food are local as well. We ordered a few small bites and one entree to share. The mushroom risotto was the best thing! The smoked fished and the pipkaula mac salad were also good. The prices ranged from $10 - $30. We had a reservation for the first dinner seating, 5:30pm and we were done by 7:20pm. I took our dessert, basque-style miso cheesecake, to go. For parking, we got lucky and had a space right in front of the restaurant but there is street parking available around the area. They are in downtown Hilo, a few blocks from the Hilo Farmers Market.

Wow... just wow. This was by far some of the cleanest food I've ever eaten. I say that because everything tasted like it was harvested at the exact moment of peak freshness, and then cooked to perfection with such care and respect. The menu is changed frequently, and we wanted to try everything, so we did! The dining room is small... maybe 6-8 tables, so it is very quiet and intimate. We actually met our server outside before the restaurant opened, so we were excited when she introduced herself at our table. The food came out a bit too fast for the size of our table, and could have been coursed out a little better, but that is my one and only critique. Wine and cocktails were great as well. Overall, fantastic experience!

This is my favorite restaurant I’ve ever been to. Actually planned a trip to Big Island to back country hike around the availability of a reservation here! The food is unbelievably delicious. I had striped marlin with clams and Kauai shrimp that melted in my mouth. Bananarama cocktail was smooth and fresh. Sizzling poke with ogo I wouldn’t miss.

This place was amazing. I love the rotating menu because each visit is unique. My partner and I ordered one of every small plate, and that was perfect (there were 5). Definitely recommend making a reservation

We ordered 2 appetizers and one main and the food was all very good. The ingredients were so fresh and the fish was cooked to perfection! The atmosphere was cozy and service was fast and the servers friendly. The food came out a little fast for our liking. The cocktails were delicious (leeche lady) and wine was cold. We would recommending giving it a try.

I’ve raved about this place here before, but if you’re in Hilo, you really ought to check this place out. They’re playing the entire Abbey Road album as I dig into seared poke and mushroom risotto. High end food, modest price, and a front and back of the house that’s firing on all cylinders.

We had a very enjoyable experience at Moon and Turtle! We made reservations for a Saturday on a Tuesday earlier that week and the only available table for 2 was the bar at 5:30pm. Turns out it was the best seat in the house. The bartender, who was also one of the owners, was very sweet and attentive. The food was amazing. We ordered the smokey sashimi, mushroom risotto, and the cheesecake. All were excellent. I also had the lychee press cocktail that I recommend. We would visit Hilo again just to eat at this restaurant!

The food was extremely good. You have to get the mushroom risotto. It it so good. I ate the entire plate.

I visited Moon and Turtle during my one-day trip from Oahu to Hilo. The menu is mostly seafood, ahi (tuna), which is great since that's a local fish, so it is fresh. A lot of the ingredients used in the food are local as well. We ordered a few small bites and one entree to share. The mushroom risotto was the best thing! The smoked fished and the pipkaula mac salad were also good. The prices ranged from $10 - $30. We had a reservation for the first dinner seating, 5:30pm and we were done by 7:20pm. I took our dessert, basque-style miso cheesecake, to go. For parking, we got lucky and had a space right in front of the restaurant but there is street parking available around the area. They are in downtown Hilo, a few blocks from the Hilo Farmers Market.

I've heard many good things about this place from family and friends, and I had the opportunity to try it out during my staycation in Hilo. First, I recommend a reservation. The night my partner and I went, they had a sign saying they were completely booked for dinner service. This was a good sign of what was to come! Upon entering, the hostess greeted us kindly and seated us next to the window. To begin our dining experience, we ordered three of their small plates - smokey sashimi (fish of the day was Uku), Uku sashimi, and Sizzling Tetsuyaki Poke. All three dishes were a different experience, and I found them impressive, especially the smokey sashimi and Uku sashimi, since both were served raw. My preference ranking would be 1. Smokey Sashimi, 2. Sizzling Tetsuyaki Poke, and 3. Uku Sashimi. The smokey sashimi was the standout. The combination of soy sauce and Hawaiian chili pepper water gave it a unique and spicy flavor I had never quite tasted before. The Sizzling Tetsuyaki Poke was a close second. It was well-seasoned, and I enjoyed it, both seared and raw. The Uku sashimi was very refreshing, thanks to the tomato ponzu, starfruit, and calamansi. We then ordered a large plate of Portuguese Sausage Campanelle. I'm not the biggest pasta fan, but this dish makes me question why I'm not sometimes. It packed a lot of flavor, the pasta itself was perfection (handmade, not the store-bought BS), and the Portuguese Sausage was not overpowering; instead, it complemented the pasta. As you know, we all have that second stomach for dessert, and we got the Miso Besque Cheesecake. I was initially optimistic about how this would taste, but it was the perfect sweet and savory combination to finish the night. The interesting combination reminded me how fresh wasabi pairs well with vanilla ice cream. Overall, what a great experience! This restaurant lived up to the hype, and I believe it is the best of the best on the Hilo side. I highly recommend you try this place because I know I will be back!

Yet another amazing experience at Moon & Turtle a few weeks ago when we visited family in Hilo. We lucked out by snagging very last minute reservations this time! I didn't think they could get any better but somehow, they did! They had their comforting classics like the smokey ahi sashimi & mushroom risotto, but also a few different items on the menu which were absolutely delish. - Ulu fritters w/ crispy prosciutto: I don't know how to explain this, but it was crispy, dense? and delicious. - Market fish: panko crusted Ono with a light tomato sauce & clams. Yes and yes. Service was as good as always - never intruding and letting us take our time to enjoy the experience. Thank you Moon & Turtle, don't change. Ever. lol.

We were Hilo for the Christmas market and heard about this hidden gem we were put on a waiting list and were called back within 20 min to fill a cancelled reservation, food was phenomenal and the service outstanding! just made reservations for New Year's Eve! I cannot think of a better way to ring in the new year.

Check out Moon and Turtle if you're in Hilo! They be serving up some serious local-style grinds that'll make you pass on your mamas cooking. This small restaurant is all about showcasing Big Island ingredients with mad skills, turning fresh seafood and local produce into dishes that are straight-up ono. For me, the standout dishes were absolutely the smoked sashimi and the mushroom risotto - these two plates were total game changers. Although my dad said that all of the plates were a 10/10 here. The smoked sashimi had this incredible depth of flavor that just blew my mind, with a smokiness that complemented the fresh fish perfectly. And the mushroom risotto? Creamy, rich, and packed with local mushrooms that tasted like they were picked that morning. Sometimes they even sell their special smoked shoyu if you want to take a piece of this place with you home.

This hidden gem was the best dinner we've had on any of the islands. The relaxed vibes, attentive waitstaff, interesting take on fusion, make this a do not miss place. You might have to judge for yourself but we thoroughly enjoyed it. Note that the menu changes based on local availability and freshness of ingredients. Make a reservation. Go.

Now starting the long and arduous process of catching up on reviews. Starting with a real winner. I really should have reviewed this place immediately after we went there- I mean the food at this little restaurant was so very good. And even the fact that we sat next to a couple of a**holes didn't even really ruin it for us (which it totally, normally would)... I'm sure the menu has changed since then (did I mention I'm way behind on reviews) but here's what we had in order of excellent to excellent: the snapper collar, mushroom risotto (and risotto isn't even my thing), the mahi entree with ube dumpling (wonderful), and the sausage pasta. Perfect meal from start to finish AND the best restaurant we experienced on the Big Island. Not to be missed...

The parking was great if you can find street parking. We went for dinner at 5:30 and worked out great- parking right in front! The ambiance was great- good for date night- the waitress was polite and brought out the food for the kids right away- we were impressed with the octopus and my Ahi entree

The flavors of this place were super fun! I loved the combos of Easter and western! The portion size though are small so order more items than you would at other not pre fixe places. It was pretty convenient to add more dishes though.

My family and I had a great evening dinner at Moon & Turtle! We made a reservation prior, and I recommend everyone to do so. We got seated quickly & the server was awesome! Very attentive and since it was our first time, she let us know roughly of what we ordered would be enough to feed the four of us. Everything we ordered off the menu was cooked and prepared with perfection! We ordered the smoked sashimi, sizzling poke, Portuguese sausage noodles & the seafood fish plate, delicious! We also had dessert, mango sorbet, liliko'i and chocolate desert was divine! I can't wait to dine again at Moon & Turtle :)

Wow! I read about this restaurant in 2019 and, after my cancelled trip in 2020, I have been pining ever since. The small restaurant is an oasis in a bit of a depressed area of Hilo. The bright and colorful dining room reflects the sunny disposition of the staff. All are friendly and warm. Every bite is outstanding and INSANELY reasonable. For four people, we had 4 small plates and 1 large plate. It was a generous meal. With a few glasses of wine and a dessert, we had a meal for under $170 (including a 20% tip). The wines were fairly priced and delicious. Check out HH from 5:30 to 6:30. Each dish was delicious. I especially loved the shrimp and daikon cakes. They were perfectly smooth and harmonious and loaded with flavor. Frankly, there was not a bad bite. We loved the poke, the Caesar, the Brussels and the risotto as well, but those cakes sang. The chocolate pot de creme was a sweet ending to a fantastic meal. This is an absolute MUST in Hilo. Frankly, we made a day in Hilo from Kona just to come here, and it was so worth it.

We try to eat at Moon & Turtle every time we are in Hilo. The food is delicious! Do make a reservation because they do get fully booked. There is bar seating, so maybe that is for walk-in.

Moon and Turtle is a charming and cozy restaurant located in downtown Hilo with amazing food! The dining room is quite ambient with illuminated paper lanterns (made from their past menus), Japanese masks, and photographs of Hilo adorning the walls. Their menu changes daily so there's always something new to look forward to, but with a few of their top dishes kept in the rotation. It's recommended to make a reservation because they have a small, intimate dining room that can accommodate only a few groups at a time. The food is truly spectacular. Everything we tried was delicious and the portion sizes were small, yet enough to share. That's perfect, because you are going to want to try everything on the menu! For appetizers, we enjoyed their Smokey sashimi and fried Brussels sprouts. The ahi sashimi was so fresh and surrounded by a salty, umami, dark, smokey, and lightly fruity (from the olive oil) sauce. The fried Brussels sprouts were crispy and salty and the small fried fish on top had just the right amount of fish flavor. Even if you're not a fan of fish, I'd say to give this dish a try. The tiny fried fish add more of a crunchy texture, not a strong fish taste. :) Our main dishes were the Portuguese sausage campanelle and mushroom risotto. I love how the campanelle was a play on the Portuguese sausage and egg breakfast. It was salty, spicy, and had a bit of a pepperoni flavor (in a great way!). The mushroom risotto was lovely. So creamy, smooth, cheesy, rich, and comforting. We got a small portion, but could've gone for the regular size since it was so good! We ended our meal with the miso caramel basque cheesecake. The miso caramel was deep, toasty, and butterscotch-like. It was perfect with the creamy and sweet basque cheesecake. Just the right size so we didn't feel overly full after all the food! Moon and Turtle is a gem in downtown Hilo. We are so happy that we finally got to have dinner there. Highly recommend having a meal here at least once, but you'll probably want to go back again and again just like us!

Wow Wow Wow! Moon & Turtle is amazing from the food, to the service, to the vibe... it felt like a truly elevated experience. It was pretty busy but our server made sure she spent time explaining the menu to us. It seemed like she was as excited for us to try the dishes as we were to try them! She had great energy. The food was top tier made with all local ingredients. I don't think you can go wrong with anything you pick. I do have to say the mushroom risotto was my absolute favorite. The creaminess was to die for. I'm just going to say it... this is the best risotto I have ever had & that includes many risottos in Italia! I will absolutely be back! No need to book a flight for great food when it's right here at Moon & Turtle.

This place speaks for itself. It's been around for a minute and never disappoints. The menu changes often which I love because we get to return to the same excellent service which being able to try new things that the chef prepares. You will definitely need a reservation! This place is always booked! Just try it!

Absolutely amazing experience. Must dine here. Better than all the fancy resort restaurants we tried in Kona. Moon and Turtle is a downtown Hilo establishment. The restaurant is located in what appears to be a historic storefront with a modern and tasteful, (but not kitschy) hawaiian vibe. The service is excellent and the servers are all extremely friendly and accommodating. The food is absolutely amazing. We had the smokey sashimi, seared ahi belly, house caesar salad (made with ahi dressing and cured egg yolk) and ono ceviche (speciality off-menu item for the night) and a hawaiian chocolate cup for dessert. All the dishes were a culinary delight. Prepared amazingly and each had their own unique delicious taste. Portion size of the small plates were not that small, but more of a small medium. (4 plates was enough for two people). Plus they have a great selection of mixed drinks. The bill for 2 drinks, 4 small plates and a dessert was about $100. Phenomenal! If you are on the Big Island of Hawaii you MUST dine at Moon and Turtle. This is the BEST restaurant on the island. Even if you're staying in Kona, take a drive to Hilo for dinner or you'll regret it. Definitely make sure to get reservations in advance.

Wow... just wow. This was by far some of the cleanest food I've ever eaten. I say that because everything tasted like it was harvested at the exact moment of peak freshness, and then cooked to perfection with such care and respect. The menu is changed frequently, and we wanted to try everything, so we did! The dining room is small... maybe 6-8 tables, so it is very quiet and intimate. We actually met our server outside before the restaurant opened, so we were excited when she introduced herself at our table. The food came out a bit too fast for the size of our table, and could have been coursed out a little better, but that is my one and only critique. Wine and cocktails were great as well. Overall, fantastic experience!

What an amazing meal! Friendly service, great laid back atmosphere and the food was phenomenal! Our favorites we're definitely the fresh ono ceviche, the tomato caper ahi belly and the mushroom risotto! The ceviche was fresh and bursting with flavors. The ahi belly (no picture because we ate it too fast) was perfectly prepared, and the mushroom risotto was cream and flavorful (and delicious the next day!).

Service was fantastic, just the right amount of attention so we could enjoy our time there w/out feeling like we had another guest at the table. Not sure where to start with the food, because it was all delicious. Several small plates, combined with the rissotto and a couple of beers was perfect - and dessert was the perfect way to finish up. Will be looking fwd to the next visit.

I was going to keep this one a secret because I want to be able to go whenever I want without booking weeks in advance but it's too good not to share. Their Portuguese Sausage Puttanesca is food for the gods. Hands down the best pasta I've ever eaten and I've eaten A LOT of pasta. Their Mushroom Risotto is also divine. During lychee season, their lychee cocktails are a must if you partake in alcohol. Service makes you feel like family and the ambiance is elegant, cozy and friendly. Kudos to one of my all-time fave restaurants!

We had some close friends visiting us for a week recently, and we wanted to celebrate one of their birthdays at a very nice place that none of us had ever been to so we made reservations well in advance for Moon and Turtle. There were a total of five of us and two of us really do not eat seafood, but there are options on the menu at all times for non-fish eaters. I think we ordered all of the appetizers plus the catch of the day, the pasta with pork sausage and the mushroom risotto. Those that ate the fish thought it was some of the best they've ever tasted. There were flavors they never experienced before. They were all raving about how wonderful it was. The pasta was delicious and so was the mushroom risotto. Dessert was amazing. We had their cheesecake and I forget exactly what kind it was, but it was absolutely delicious. We ordered a few desserts. Overall, it was an excellent experience. The service was friendly and efficient. The restaurant is cozy and the lighting is just right. It could've been a little lower but compared to other places that turn the brightness too high. This is a nice change. The Good: Excellent menu. The fish dishes are outstanding. Flavors of the dishes are amazing. The vibe of the restaurant is very nice. Service is great and friendly. The Bad: Other than sometimes having to find parking on a busy weekend night, nothing that I can think of. Chances I'll Be Back: Well.. specifically for me most likely not as I really don't eat seafood. However, if there are friends visiting town that enjoy great seafood this is the number one place I would go. There are options for non-fish eaters so it's easy for everyone to enjoy their meal.

Food was absolutely delicious Would recommend it to anyone! Service was good too, friendly.

Nice vibe. The ceviche was to die for! Very tangy with warm fresh chips. Risotto was also great, tons of umami, the half portion was plenty. The market fish was alright, didn't love the couscous.

Be sure to make a reservation at the Moon & Turtle, or you might not be able get into this wildly popular restaurant! Their Smokey Ahi Sashimi appetizer is a MUST!

Sadly it's a hot spot & reservations need to be made far in advance. It was fully booked while I was in town for 5 days even for a party of ONE.

Really delicious food served family style...enough to share! Very attentive service and comfortable indoor seating. Parking can be difficult so plan to get there early.

Made a reservation about 3 weeks before our trip. We went to a bar and they also recommended this restaurant so we knew this was the spot. The service was so quick and attentive. We had the happy hour preserved lemon cocktail and lychee soda. Both were delicious. I love preserved lemon peel but know it's not everybody's jam. Smoky sashimi 5/5 our favorite! The flavors in the dish were savory and the fish was so fresh! Pastrami style kampachi 3.5/5 I think this was supposed to resemble the flavors of a Reuben. The smoke of the kampachi was good but not too memorable. Sizzling poke 3/5 the presentation was definitely captivating when it came out but it missed the mark. You would have to take the fish out quickly to avoid overcooking it and it was slightly too salty. Mushroom risotto 5/5 this was our second favorite. The reviews do not lie when they say GET THIS. We were glad to be able to order a half order but honestly, we would have devoured the full order too. Small restaurant with focus on a few dishes done well and a diverse cocktail menu. A good option for your time in Hilo!

I went once many years ago and I thought it was just okay -- so okay that it's taken all these years for me to return. I ended up going for a birthday dinner recently and was pleasantly surprised! We got everything to share and ordered one of everything on the menu. Everything was absolutely divine! Our favorites were the Sizzling Poke and the Mushroom Risotto. The poke was so fresh flavorful and the mushroom risotto was rich and savory. Our waitress was also very pleasant and knowledgeable about their menu. Everything was perfect! If I haaaad to find something to complain about, I do wish the food came out all at once (I know, there's a warning on the menu stating dishes will come out one at a time) just so we would have known if we had ordered enough food at the beginning of the meal. Another word to the wise: dress cool, as there is no air conditioning so it can get pretty warm in there.

I've raved about this place here before, but if you're in Hilo, you really ought to check this place out. They're playing the entire Abbey Road album as I dig into seared poke and mushroom risotto. High end food, modest price, and a front and back of the house that's firing on all cylinders.

This was the highlight restaurant of my family's Hilo trip. After a long day of hiking and taking in the sights around Hilo we arrived for a wonderful dinner at Moon & Turtle. We had a group of 5 so we wound up ordering one of everything from the menu. This was July 9, 2024. I think this place changes the menu often, and tired me forgot to take a photo of the menu. Good thing their Facebook page has the menu so I can fill in the blanks with the photo captions (mahalo!). The food was awesome - very, very tasty and good sized portions. For example, their smokey Caesar salad was the best Caesar salad I have ever had. They used a smokey Caesar salad dressing that adds a unique and flavorful taste that I thought worked well with the salad. Prices for the food are also very reasonable to me for the caliber of restaurant this is. If you are looking to choose between the different offerings, we thought their small plates were super awesome and would have ordered more of those if we had room in our bellies. We were given the option of ordering more after we finished the menu, but one of everything from the menu was enough to fill my family's bellies and, combined with the excellent service, drinks, and dessert, we left very happy and content. I highly recommend this place.

This small chef owned restaurant has incredibly inventive asian fusion choices. I give it 6/5!

What a wonderful experience dining at the restaurant. First time here visiting and celebrating my husband's 40th birthday! It was truly remarkable!!

Just had an amazing dinner at Moon & Turtle! I made the reservation a few weeks ago and am glad I did because they had a sign by the door indicating there was no room for walk-ins. The menu changes regularly based on their locally sourced ingredients, and everything is served family style. For 2 people, our waitress recommended we get 3 smalls and 1 large and her suggestion was spot on! We had (in the order they arrived): 1. Lehi Sashimi (small) with olive oil, lemon and chili flakes (the lemon zing was the standout flavor) 2. Sizzling Tetsuyaki Poke (small) with onions and seaweed (teriyaki sauce was delicious!) 3. Portuguese Sausage Campanelle (large) with a soft poached egg in the center 4. Mushroom Risotto (small) with truffle oil (super creamy and flavorful) Sadly we were too full for dessert (another scrumptious menu), but we still walked away with a cookie treat from a local bakery Nell's Creations in honor or Moon & Turtle's 10th Anniversary! I cannot reiterate how good the food was. Get yourself a reservation if you plan to be in Hilo for dinner!

We heard great reviews and decided to try this restaurant. We thought the food and drinks were mediocre at best. Good luck. It wasn't for us.

This establishment SHOULD PUT IN HERE THAT THEY ARE "BY RESERVATION ONLY." We came and was asked if we have reservation. I said no. I asked if we can be on the list to wait. I was told they are booked all night. I also asked what about tomorrow. Shesaid all hooked as well. The heck! Put here "BY RESERVATIONS ONLY." Too bad we leave the island Sunday. We have a good amount of money to spend and tgere are 4 of us.

A must try dining experience in Hilo! Booked my reservation a week in advance before heading to the Big island from Tennessee & had a great meal here with stellar service. The space is aesthetically pleasing & located on a side street in downtown Hilo. Inside the tables are small & intimate. Service was exceptional. For some reason I'm having a hard time recalling everything we got as it's been awhile & I'm just getting around to finish this draft I had saved, I do remember the smoked sashimi, local salad, Campanella, & risotto were all very good. I had a particularly strong & tasty drink but can't find the name on here as well. This was a nice splurge local dining experience I'd recommend to anybody visiting. Made 20 hours of total travel time from Nashville less painful as I had a great meal before getting some rest.

Small , intimate, rsv required. Being a concierge / tour guide for over 30 years , I hesitate to tell you how great the food is, since eating there already requires rsv. Yet , I do it, so very often from my table at the farmers market a few blocks away. So may as well tell the world! This is a true rare gem farm to table menu. Everything on it is outstanding! My wish for 2025, would be that they expand, but keep the great food quality.

Everything was top notch from food to service! Ella our server was so friendly and we loved all we had. We had all but one of the small plates, the fried fish was our favorite!

It's not just a place to have a meal. It's a place to have a true, local experience (but it sure doesn't hurt that the food is some of the best in Hawaii!!!)

I saved this one for near-last as far as review of our trip a couple months ago mainly because I never quite know how to rate expensive restaurants in terms of value - as yes, it's a bit of a splurge. Totally worth it though - perfect service, and of course, wonderful food. Though this was a couple months ago, and it sounds like a lot of dishes rotate in and out - we basically tried all the small plates plus one "large". Basically everything we had was wonderful, other than the pasta was a little bland, and not huge for being a "large" - tasty sausage though. The sizzling poke (I think they're known for specifically) was a ton of fun, the scallop consomme the dumplings we got were served with was phenomenal (the dumplings were pretty good too), the smoky sashimi was great, and the first dessert we got was so good, we ordered another dessert. (Both the basque cheesecake and the passionfruit pot du creme were excellent.) They also have a small, but surprisingly reasonably priced, selection of local beers. Definitely glad we made a reservation, and I'd totally come back if we were back in Hawaii - especially since there'd probably be mostly new dishes to try.

4.5 stars. In Hilo, this was our favorite place for dinner: FWIW make your reservations in advance (preferably the week prior to your trip) in order to snag a seating time that is ideal for you. We really liked the decor, and the service was top notch. I got some sort of Mezcal Ginger Mule (the name escapes me), which was refreshing and tasty. We thoroughly enjoyed our shareables of Smokey Sashimi and Crispy Stuffed Wontons (Gau Gee). I am not a risotto fan, but I did enjoy their risotto (probably the best I've ever had....but I liked the sashimi and wontons much more, as those lean towards my style of eats). The main of Market Fish Ono was good, but I found it to be nothing special...I'd probably try something else instead next time.

Dined in for my birthday dinner. A quaint, intimate, and cozy restaurant that makes you feel right at home. The food was cooked to perfection with quality and quantity. I can't rave enough about this place. If you are ever in Hilo, make reservations ahead of time and check it out! Highly recommend it.

Absolutely in LOVE with this place..international fusion with pacific emphasis. Locally sourced food tucked away in Hilo town. Honestly one of the best food and dining experience I experienced in Hilo. Highly recommend you make reservations weeks in advance to secure a table. There is bar seating available as well. Ambiance was A+ and service was great! Our waitress was friendly and professional. Family style recommend for dishes since they are shareable. Plus --it's the best way to eat and connect with your loved ones! We ordered 4 dishes and many cocktails. All were excellent. My absolute favorite was the Sweet Potato Gnocchi, Mushroom Truffle Risotto, and Sizzling Poke. Mindblowing flavors. Can't miss this place if visiting in Hilo. You won't regret it!

Everything was Wonderful! We enjoyed the food , drinks oh and the Deserts . Amazing. Buenísimo!! The Service the ladies were all Welcoming and so Nice Get reservations or get there when they open . It gets Busy and it was a Tuesday and raining and all tables full .

This is our first time in Hilo so of course we did plenty of research before coming luckily we have friends that are locals born and raised in Hilo and they all said we had to come to Moon and Turtle which was already in our list because of the amazing photos and reviews online. This place was so delicious we can back 2 nights in a row! The food, service, and cleanliness was immaculate! 10/10 the owner/bar tender was amazing friendly knowledgeable and attentive! Definitely come back again and again!

Waiters are knowledgeable of the menu and food is served in random order. A la carte and dishes are family style. Limited amount of dishes , high quality. Flavors are there. Menu changes weekly. Not pictured here, sweet potato gnocchi, it was okay. Pickled cabbage with the gnocchi was a good balance. Barely tasted the sweet potato in the gnocchi and was on a more chewier consistency. Love the mushroom risotto-- creamy, barely tasted the truffle oil, was slightly on the salty side. Vegetarian friends loved this one. Perfect for the colder nights in Hilo. And tomato caper ahi belly was the star of the show. Buttery and indulgent. Wanted more. They ran out of crispy wonton and Macadamia Nut Pot de Crème with Chocolate Ganache for dessert. So instead defaulted to Hilo Tangerine 'Creamsicle' Pot de Crème. Not too sweet and well balanced with citrus fruit. Good dessert. But wouldn't go for seconds. They decorated the lights with folded boxed up origami of previous served menu s as a reminder of previous successful dishes. Overall loved it. Would come back again. Split between 6 people was around $39 each.

We were recommended by our neighbors in California so I made reservations for my boyfriend's birthday dinner. Menu was simple, not overwhelming with choices. I we had the Smokey sashimi, sizzling poke and Mahi Mahi with kimchee fried rice. Everything was delicious! They were even able to put happy birthday on their printed menu, it made it more special. The location is off the main strip but cute, they had folded old menus into lanterns.

The staff and service are wonderful. But it seems to have missed a beat lately. The menu is stagnant and lacks the innovation and experimentation it once had.

Absolutely delicious! We shared the Smokey ahi sashimi, tako and potatoes, and the mushroom risotto. Everything was so good, flavors balanced well, and fresh tasting. The ambiance was perfect for a date. Btw - they have a small portion of the risotto which was more than enough to share between the two of us! Enjoy!

By far, the most memorable meal of our Hilo trip. I was told to make a reservation here early, and I'm really glad I listened. For my husband's 40th birthday, we planned a weekend getaway to Hilo, and we chose Moon & Turtle to celebrate. They had a cute, red birthday hat ready and waiting at our seat, so of course I made him put it on for a few photos. First, the service was perfect. We sat at the bar, and the bartender never missed a beat. She was busy all night, but somehow took amazing care of us, too. My two favorite dishes were the smoked sashimi and the sizzling tetsuyaki poke. I could have eaten 3 servings each of both of these dishes. The flavors, out of this world. I haven't eaten anything quite like either of these before, and believe me I regret not having ordered more. Overall a fantastic experience.