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January 2024 by Dave Oltman
Didn't try the food, but a fun shop to pick up treats and spices.
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December 2023 by Deanna T.
I'm slowly attempting to clear a few drafts here on Yelp, and as it happens this review is exactly 22 months delayed. 5-Spice is a small mom and pop shop that dually functions as a retailer of Asian snacks/spices/seeds and roadhouse for island comfort food to-go. They offer plate lunches for individuals as well as large platters for parties. Prices were very reasonable as of February 2022. Lunch was made to order. It looked like we had arrived past the prime lunch hour too as there were only one or two others. We chose three plate lunches and a soup: Furikake Chicken, Meat Jun, Furikake Fish and Chicken Long Rice Soup. Each plate lunch came with two scoops of white rice and a choice of macaroni salad, sweet potato salad or a toss salad. We were so lucky to even score the last scoop of purple sweet potato salad - super thankful as it was very good! Both the Furikake Chicken and Fish were fried perfectly and tasted fantastic with or without the accompanying sauce. Barely any oil drippings. The Meat Jun was absolutely mouthwatering and the Chicken Long Rice Soup was to die for (it was way too hot to drink especially with a small plastic spoon, but I had never heard of this soup and of course had to try it). It's essentially Hawaii's chicken noodle soup. So simple, yet so flavorful. Each plate was $13.99 with the soup being only $6.25. The main entrée for each plate lunch was quite generous, particularly the meat jun portion. Service was standard, but I'm giving 4.5 stars because even though they had a few foldable chairs inside (looks like they're for customers waiting on their orders), they don't have any outdoor seating, so as visitors we just literally squat out in front to eat our lunch. When it got too hot and our legs started cramping, we shuffled into the car with the AC running to finish our lunch. I don't know how to describe it, but it's just not easy drinking hot soup in a car. Maybe 5-Spice should really re-consider including an outdoor area for guests to dine before departing.
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December 2023 by Gregory Arianoff
Great place to get lunch bentos, burgers and large platters for parties!
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December 2023 by Lehua K.
I thought I'd see what all the rave reviews were about, and stopped in for some treats and a plate around 11 am. I was so disappointed; all the bentos looked like they had been sitting out forever, cold and soft/mushed. So I ordered a spicy pork plate; the sauce was nice and flavorful, but the meat was too tough as to be inedible. Seriously. They used a tough cut of meat and it was in chunks, I couldn't get through it. Everything is expensive these days. I understand shop owners have to make a living, and I will pay it if it's worth it, but I expect more from a $19 plate lunch than meat that I can't chew through. I washed the pork chunks, minced them, and fed them to my pets, so as not to waste the money. But I won't return.
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November 2023 by Carrie B.
By far some of the best food we had on the island! A must stop! We had the meat Jun and the Korean chicken! So delicious, and tons of treats to purchase as well!
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November 2023 by Solo T.
I like the Korean grocery store they have here in the same room as the cafe. No seating.
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November 2023 by Tiger F.
Just good local grinds. Shop is super clean, portions huge. This is a take out spot behind KTA Hilo.
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November 2023 by Aron N.
Ahhh 5-Spice! When Aunty was running the shop there were incredibly delectable bentos. The kind that you immediately knew took tons of time and care to create. When you gave them away, people always remarked at how beautiful and tasty they were. Well the next gen has taken over and they have a beautiful new building and it really looks great. They are efficient and the store is run smoothly. Breakfast can be ordered as you like and there are plenty of bentos available on the counter. The bentos are stuffed with rice and protein and they look like bentos that most other places also have. The breakfast I got was not much to look at but tasted good and the eggs were cooked as I like them. Delicious seed and snacks all around. Decent parking. Everything's there except Aunty with the beautiful bentos that took so much time and care to create.
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October 2023 by Sandra P.
We're visiting family and our cousins brought us here, everything is we ordered was delicious! Great home cooked island food. Service was fast and they have a variety of candy/snacks to shop for while you wait for your food to be ready. The store is clean and organized.
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October 2023 by Brandon B.
Fantastic and authentic Hawaiian food. Will go back for sure. No seating, so find a local park and enjoy!
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October 2023 by Casey
Food was flavorless and awful. Tasted like gas station food. I think they are allergic to salt.
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October 2023 by CrisA M.
This was recommended to us by a friend who is a local. We consider ourself short rib snobs and these held up. Portions were super generous! We did have to wait longer than about 5 people who ordered after us, could have been the tourist hotel bracelet but even after that, would probably go again.
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September 2023 by Alice C
Cute little shop for take-out lunch plates and by-the-pound snacks.We ordered a chicken katsu with salad and 2 scoops of rice. Plenty of food for 2 (not very hungry) adults to share.Quick service, pleasant folks, and easy parking at 2pm. Would consider going back for dinner.Parking: About 8 parking spots in the lot
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September 2023 by Francis G.
Thank you Yelpers for recommending me 5-Spice! I was on my way up to Hilo from the volcanoes and my buddy saw this joint on Yelp with almost 5 stars. I read a few reviews and I said heck yeah let's do it! The spicy pork was on point super flavorful with a handful of spices, lemongrass, peppers, carrot, and onions! The spice level is about a medium it isn't HOT HOT but enough to feel it! Sweet potatoes (Ube) salad was on point! Sweet, salty, and creamy ain't nothing like it. My boy had the bulgogi burger and I have no pictures but he tore that thing apart. One thing I wish the place had was a place to sit and eat which would've made it easier for us to enjoy our meal. The joint is super clean and the staff is extremely nice. They also sell a lot of Li Hing and fermented fruits.
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August 2023 by Rianna A.
This restaurant was recommended to me on Yelp and I was not disappointed! The people were so nice and the food was tasty! It may not look it on the outside, but this store is filled with charm. I ordered the boneless Korean chicken and it was delicious and I absolutely recommend it! I will say, however, if you're not a fan of breaded chicken you may not love this place as much - but it's still worth it to give it a try!
