Twice voted Best Poke in Hawaii

best poke in kona

Award-winning ahi poke and traditional Hawaiian food, served boat to bowl from three locations in Kailua-Kona.

Three Umekes cajun ahi tacos with avocado, pico de gallo, and purple slawUmekes fresh ahi poke bowl with rice, seaweed salad, and tako poke
Restaurant
11 AM – 9 PM Daily
Fish market
11 AM – 6 PM Daily
Happy hour
3 – 5 PM Daily
fresh off da hookfresh off da hookfresh off da hookfresh off da hookfresh off da hookfresh off da hook

locations

  • The Umekes sign over the Kona restaurant entrance on Pawai Place

    Umekes Restaurant and Fish Market

    74-5599 Pawai Pl
    Kailua-Kona, HI 96740
    11 AM – 9 PM Daily

  • The Umekes KOA storefront and patio seating at Kona International Airport

    Umekes KOA

    73-200 Kupipi St
    Kailua-Kona, HI 96740
    11 AM – 9 PM Daily

  • The Umekes Saddle Stop sign over the entrance on Saddle Road

    Umekes Saddle Stop

    44-5400 Daniel K. Inouye Hwy
    Waimea, HI 96743
    5 AM – 8 PM Daily

  • An Umekes chef finishing trays of catering pupus for an event in Kona

    Umekes Catering

    74-5563 Kaiwi Street
    Kailua-Kona, HI 96740

our story

Chef Nakoa Pabre pleases his guests by offering a variety of popular traditional Hawaiian food creations with a modern twist. Pabre has twice been awarded “Winner Overall” of the prestigious Sam Choy's Poke contest, and his restaurants were voted “Best Poke in Hawaii” in both 2016 and 2017. In addition to winning many other awards, Pabre and his specialty dishes have been featured on Food Network's popular television shows “Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives” and “G. Garvin Road Trip.”

Chef Nakoa Pabre at the bar inside Umekes Fish Market Bar & Grill
A bowl of Umekes ahi poke with rice, furikake and fresh greens

our famous poke

Ahi caught off the Kona coast, cut in house, and mixed the same day. Choose Hawaiian, Da Avo, Sweetie, Hottie, Kanaka, or the vegan Aina poke, by the bowl or by the pound from the fish market counter.

off da hook

happy hour

Join us daily from 3 – 5 PM Daily for discounted drinks and special bites. The perfect way to kick off your evening the Umekes way.

A bartender pulling a draft beer at the Umekes bar in Kona
Plates of poke over rice and tropical drinks on an Umekes table

so fresh its off da hook!

Poke bowls, fish tacos, lau lau, katsu, and whatever came off the boat this morning. Aloha served daily, at all three Umekes locations.

Umekes fish tacos on a stone plate beside a lilikoi cocktail
The Umekes ahi belly sandwich with curly fries

aloha served daily

Cut fresh every morning at the fish market counter, sold by the bowl or by the pound, and catered anywhere on the Big Island.

A full tray of fresh cut ahi poke carried out of the Umekes kitchen

frequently asked questions

Where is Umekes located?

Umekes Fish Market Bar & Grill is at 74-5599 Pawai Place in Kailua-Kona, in the heart of the Kona restaurant district. We also have a location inside the Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at 73-200 Kupipi Street, and our catering kitchen at 74-5563 Kaiwi Street.

What kind of food does Umekes serve?

Traditional Hawaiian food with a modern twist. We are best known for fresh ahi poke, made from locally caught Big Island fish, alongside lau lau, kalua pork, fish tacos, katsu, seafood pasta, and a full bar. Vegan and gluten-free options are on the menu too.

What is the fish market at Umekes?

Our Kona restaurant has a fish market counter open 11 AM to 6 PM daily, where you can buy fresh slabs of ahi and other locally caught fish to take home, alongside poke by the pound.

Does Umekes offer catering?

Yes. Umekes caters weddings, corporate events, birthday and holiday parties, and office lunches throughout Kailua-Kona and the surrounding towns. Food is typically served buffet style with full setup and a manager on site. We ask for at least 72 hours notice, and a 50% deposit secures your date.

What are Umekes hours?

All three Umekes locations are open 11 AM to 9 PM daily. The Kona fish market counter closes earlier, at 6 PM. Happy hour runs daily from 3 to 5 PM.

How far is Umekes from the Kona airport?

The Kona restaurant on Pawai Place is about a 15 minute drive south of Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport. If you are flying out, our KOA location is inside the airport itself, so you can get poke before takeoff.

Does Umekes take reservations?

Call the Kona restaurant at 808-238-0571 for large parties. For everyday dining we mostly seat walk-ins, so you can stop in without booking ahead.

Can I rent the event space?

Yes. Our Kaiwi Street venue seats groups for birthdays, weddings, and business dinners, and includes tables, chairs, lounge seating, two speakers, microphones, and a karaoke system. The rental fee is $600 for 3 hours plus $100 for each additional hour, with a $250 cleaning fee.

Review 1 of 5

“I've been here three times already and I honestly love this place. The poke bowls are always super fresh, full of flavor, and beautifully put together.”

Anna N.

why our ohana loves umekes

Locals and visitors have been telling us the same thing since 2011: it tastes like the fish came off a boat this morning, because it did.

umekes locations

Happy hour daily, 3 – 5 PM Daily.