Can a pescetarian (non-meat eater) like me find happiness at a burger joint? The answer is an astounding “yes!” when I’m on the Big Island. And with most prices hovering around $10.00 or less, my wallet and stomach felt satisfied. I’d discovered another Hawaii deal.
Village Burger has been serving up low cost meals and getting rave reviews. It’s no wonder when you consider the credentials of their chef and owner, Edwin Goto. He has a solid track record of success from Lodge at Koele, Manele Bay and Mauna Lani.
Honolulu Magazine named Village Burger a top cheap eat. Since Beat of Hawaii readers are looking for deals, I decided to see for myself what the talk is about. I’m glad I did.
On my visit I tried both the Hamakua Mushroom Burger and the Asian Style Ahi Burger. I also added an order of their hand cut, twice baked french fries smothered in Parmesean.
The fresh ingredients from the Big Island enhanced the flavors. There’s nothing fast food about Village Burger. This is gourmet fast food where you least expect it: a shopping center. Everything is uniquely handmade with generous portions.
Of the two burgers I tried the Hamakua was my favorite. With Big Island mushrooms and an expert chef to bring out its intensity, I was ready to order another one if I only had room. Another table next to me ordered their Epic Shake. I’m saving that for another time.
If you’ve been to Village Burger let me know your thoughts.
Follow Village Burger on Facebook and Twitter. Better yet, visit their location on the Big Island in person. Located at Parker Ranch Shopping Center in Kamuela/Waimea. Open Monday through Saturday from 10am to 9pm and Sunday from 10:30am to 6pm. Telephone 808-885-7319. Website: http://www.villageburgerwaimea.com
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The Village Burger is an integral stop on every trip we take to the West side of the island! Mushroom burger might change your life!
Aloha,
You may also want to try Hanalei Pizza on Kauai’s North shore. The owner Karlos is an extremely friendly man who totally took care of us when we went. I too have an issue with eating meat outside, particularly pork (for religious dietary reasons). When my wife and I went to his restaurant, I asked him to cut our pizza with a clean knife (one that hadn’t touched any meat). Not only did he clean the knife, he washed down the whole board where he made the pizza and made sure that none of the ingredients for our pizza had come in contact with any meat products. I was deeply impressed by this as I have never seen anybody else do this for us. And all the while he was washing the board and making the pizza, he struck up a friendly conversation with us about religions of the world and about how he has studied different religions and different cultures. I walked into his restaurant expecting to pay no more than $15-$20. I spent a total of $40 (because I chose to) to help support his business. I also bought drinks for both my wife and I and a T-shirt to help them in their pursuit of buying a better oven for their customers. This man truly cares about his customers and I have the utmost respect for him because of that. If I ever go back to Kauai, this is one spot that I will be sure to go back to. Oh yeah the pizza was excellent too!
Btw, you can read the reviews of Hanalei Pizza on Yelp, TripAdvisor, and Urbanspoon and see that they all pretty much say the same thing. This guy really is great and the pizza is fantastic too.
So, reading this, (Taro burger, mushroom burger) Are they strictly a vegetarian joint? Or do they also server a more “meatier” fare?
Hey Ed,
You’re funny. Actually, it isn’t a joint at all. Anyway, yes, you’ll be fine, so long as you like any kind of burger. They have local beef and veal burgers too.
Aloha, Rob
Their taro burger is even better than their mushroom burger.
But the best taro burger ever (superb!) has been taken off the menu at the Ice Cream shop on the right side as you enter Hawi (just before the shop “As Hawi turns”) Sometime between March ’10 and November’10 they took it off the menu, but it was the stuff dreams are made of. As you know, vegetarians and nonmeateaters don’t always have a lot of choice in the Islands and what choices there are are not always tasty.
If you could use your powers of persuasion and hint of potential media coverage to get them to put it back on the menu, I know you will not be sorry!