A longtime Hilo breakfast institution known for big portions, tropical pancake syrups (coconut, lilikoʻi, and guava), loco moco, and oversized Sumo meals. Older guides say it's open 24 hours, but it isn't anymore.
Why we love it
Big plates and island syrups make this exactly the breakfast you want before a day at the volcano.
What to expect
Ken’s is a full-service, sit-down family restaurant on Kamehameha Avenue in Hilo, with hostesses at the door, wait staff at the tables, and a cashier up front. Ken Pruitt and Bonnie Twitchell opened it in 1971 as the first round-the-clock business on the island’s east side. The Ching family bought it in 1990, turned the attached Tapa Room cocktail lounge into extra dining space, and expanded the menu. Debra Ching-Maiava and Ric Maiava still manage it. Breakfast is the headliner, but the full lunch and dinner menu means it works for any meal of a Hilo day.
Know before you go
- Hours
- It’s open 6am to 9pm daily, a schedule in place since June 2020. Ignore older listings that say 24/7.
- What to order
- Go for the macadamia nut pancakes, drizzled with the tropical syrups: coconut, lilikoʻi, and guava. Big appetites can try the Sumo Size Loco Moco or Sumo Size Saimin.
- Crowds
- Weekend mornings are the busiest, so go early or plan a weekday breakfast.
- Takeout
- Call (808) 935-8711 to place an order. The menu was last updated in March 2026, so confirm items by phone if you’re set on one.
Illustrative photo — not taken at Kens House of Pancakes.
Photo: christian razukas from Honolulu, Hawaii via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0
