4. Restaurants

Tex Drive In

45-690 Pakalana St, Honokaa, HI, 96727
  • (808) 775-0598
  • Store is closed

Tex Drive In Menu

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  • Love Z.

    Yep. This place is the shizzle. Delicious food (though not a lick of it is healthy), great (clean and modern) atmosphere, and a cute little gift shop to boot. My hubby had the fish n chips. He didn't think they were that amazing, but I couldn't stop eating the chips, if that tells you anything. I had some kind of wrap. Again, it wasn't that amazing, but the side of freshly fried potato chips was AWESOME. And then there are the malasadas. This is the only place to get them on the island. Fresh, hot, sugary, and oozing with jelly. Lord help me if I ever return to Kona because I will probably overdose on those bad boys the next time I am there.

    (5)

  • Kay Y.

    As I was planning my tip to Hawaii , this was one of places I wanted to go on big island. Cute place of Honokaa town, we managed to find this bakery by asking locals multiple times after losing cell phone signal resulted in no map and gps which was our life line on this trip.....However, I was extremely surprised to see how many people were in there under heavy rain that day. : ) Three of us had plain malasadas here. ( we learned the lesson at Leopard's that filling would destroy whole texture and the flavors of the dough itself) We really enjoyed theirs after a long tiring drive. It was nicely portioned and had great densed texture, yet offered good amount of airness. Its hard to compare to Leopard's, because they are totally different in a good way in my opinion. Moreover, I was quite shocked by their reasonable strong and flavorful, bold yet balanced coffee to accompany those sweet goodies. For about a dollar and a change, it really worth the cup. Being from NY, I have had pretty bad coffee from those random diners, so this was a pleasant surprise. I highly recommend to try out what tbey are famous for. - If you are visiting from outside and relay on cell phone gps, try to make sure you map out the place in offline version, as the service in the area was almost non-existant. ( we had Att, Verizon, and t-mobile)

    (4)

  • Andrew T.

    Visited this place as part of a family vacation a couple weeks ago and the food was good, nothing crazy to rave home about. However, my low review is due to the fact that my cousin who has very, very severe food allergies to eggs/dairy specifically told the cashier to leave out the egg on her loco moco bowl. And when the food came out there was an egg of course, we showed the cashier that the order said "no egg" and that my cousin will need a brand new bowl because the egg contaminates the other food inside of the bowl and that the egg must NOT just be scooped out. After emphasizing that we needed a new loco moco bowl so many times, her new order without an egg came out. However, after a few bites into the bowl she saw a bunch of cooked egg whites. Luckily she didn't eat that much to receive any rashes yet. The malasadas were tasty and fluffy but due to the lack of IQ the customer service has we for sure won't recommend this place to any family or friends.

    (2)

  • TheMutts X.

    Yelp reviewers sure are easy going to be giving this place 5 stars. Plate lunches were bland and very average tasting for above average prices. Malasadas are nothing like Leonard's on Oahu. Not light and fluffy but only $1.10+tax for a huge one. Even 3 fried-food lovers couldn't finish 2 of these. That being said, they are super fresh, tasty, and beat Krispy Kreme donuts or any beignets here in OC -- hands down.

    (3)

  • Kyle Y.

    Best malasadas. They serve em to you hot & fresh. The dough is fluffy and flavorful. The amount of sugar is just right. Only wish they would use real fruit filling vs the fake stuff. A must stop if you are on this side of the island. Can enjoy this and catch a view of the ocean. Between the Strawberry, Apple & Guava all of which I tried. Definitely go with the Guava

    (4)

  • Tessa D.

    As a kid my mom and I would stop by Tex every time we were driving from Hilo to Kona, so I've eaten many a malasada. A malasada is kind of like a solid square donut? It's covered in sugar and you can have fillings put inside. I hadn't been in a few years because whenever I am in town and decide to go to Kona I usually take saddle road. I did however visit recently since my boyfriend was on the island and I decided it would be worth it to go the long route just so he could try the Tex malasada's. When we got there we ordered the plain malasada's as well as some regular dishes that I can't remember. They don't serve the best Hawaiian plates in my opinion, but it'll do in a pinch. I do like their kalua pork plate though, of course I'm always a sucker for kalua pork. I've had their loco moco's and something about their gravy just isn't quite right. My boyfriend wasn't too impressed with the actual food, but he doesn't like Hawaiian food that much in general, so he may not be the best judge. The malasada's were perfect as usual though. They were fresh and fluffy and perfectly sugared. I prefer the plain ones to the filled ones, but if you've never been before then I suggest trying all the ones they offer. The plain ones are $1.10 and the filled ones $1.75, so you can easily fill up on fried dough for less than $10. If you're ever driving from Hilo to Kona I highly suggest stopping by. Not only for the food, but they also have bathrooms that I'm sure you're gonna need to prepare for the two hour trip.

    (4)

  • Peg C.

    My Hubs and I read about Tex and their malasadas when we first planned our trip to Hawaii. Sometimes when you look forward to a place so much, it ends up not living up to your expectations. Not this place! The malasadas were like sweet pillows of deliciousness. We both really liked the plain ones with just sugar. So tasty with just the right amount of chew. If you must have a filling, go for the guava. My Hubs said it was very guava and not cloyingly sweet. Also, we both really enjoyed the burger and the grilled mahi sandwich. Seasoned just right and encased in awesome homemade buns. We recommend getting the mahi without the tartar sauce or get it on the side.

    (5)

  • Eric A.

    I was a bit disappointed with the malsadas here. They weren't as tasty as I imagined them to be and I ended up getting a box of 6 in which half of them ended up in the trash. The best thing to do is to just get one to try if you really want it. It just was not as good as I remember them to be like the ones in Leonard's bakery in Oahu. It's still a nice place to visit after stopping at Waipio Valley and they do have other options other than malsadas but do not go over board and get a box of them. It was just too much and not as good as they should be.

    (3)

  • Emily N.

    I love this place! As soon as you step in, you immediately smell the fresh malasada being baked. Their malasada are so good, the ones with cream and without! We got guava, mango, cream, plain, and chocolate. They were simply oozing with the fill and it was super warm. We also ordered the spam katsu musabi and two raspberry smoothies. The smoothies were good while the spam musabi tasted home made, which we loved. The workers there were also friendly & gave out recommendations on what were favorites. 5/5!

    (5)

  • Tim C.

    Malasadas? Yes, please! Tex knows how to make a spanking good malasada - it was love at first bite. The softness and chewiness of the dough... The amazingly-flavored yet not-too-sweet filling... The light coat of sugar on the outside... I'm drooling just thinking about it. I tried their mango and guava malasadas, and both were excellent choices. And for those who aren't familiar with what a malasada is: it's basically like a jelly or cream filled doughnut, but better! Why better? Well, the fillings are unique (mando, guava) and not artificial-tasting, the dough is slightly chewier, and overall, it's not as overwhelmingly sweet. Intrigued? Go to Tex and try one now! The service was nice and fast, and they have ample seating. Plus, their breakfast looked good (a bunch of people were eating breakfast there, but I was too busy eating malasadas, YUM).

    (5)

  • Julie P.

    I will definitely be craving Tex's malasadas on the mainland. But don't get the filling, just get the plain regular malasada. They overfill it and it's just regular syrup/cream. Nothing special. Were these the BEST malasadas? Not sure. Unless I had each malasada to compare for taste testing, I can't tell if these were the best. But these were pretty darn good. If you are staying in Kona, I wouldn't make a drive out here just for Tex Drive In. It's only worth it to come here if it's on the way to your destination. I can't really say much about their food because we solely went there because they were known to have the BEST malasadas in Hawaii. Maybe I just had way too high of an expectation.

    (4)

  • Jeff R.

    Set in an old random "strip mall" of all of two stores one of which was empty Tex Drive In is apparently the local economy. I say that because I think everybody was here tourists and locals alike. Everybody? EVERYBODY! The line was out the door reminding me of the time I stood in line for Backstreet Boys...errr... I mean Slayer tickets. Slayer! Where was I? They have a full menu of meals featuring local plate lunches, hamburgers, and Nathan hot dogs. We had already had lunch so we didn't get to try. However many customers were ordering lunch so by the sheer quantity I'd guess they must be good. I must note that the kids menu was chicken dinosaurs. Really? The Space Mountain attraction here are the malasadas, those Portuguese inspired doughnuts that have become a Hawaiian snack/dessert favorite. We each ordered two. I opted for one with chocolate filling and another with Bavarian cream. Plain cost $1.10 while filled cost $1.75. They came out steaming hot. The outside was a just crisp with a soft melt-in-your-mouth inside. The two fillings (yes I ate both in one sitting based on the strong principle that fresh is best so don't judge ) were creamy and not too sweet. The other flavors that day were raspberry, strawberry, and apple. I was tremendously disappointed that there were no "island" flavors available like lilikoi (passion fruit) or guava. This is definitely a great stop on the road between Kona and Hilo along the north.

    (4)

  • Janet F.

    OMG!! Light pillows of airy dough cooked to perfection !! A variety of fillings to choose from and cooked to order.. 7 Malasadas found there way into our box.. Will definitely be on the "must return to" list on our next trip to the Big Island.. They have regular food also but didn't try it..

    (5)

  • Mel B.

    I'm visiting my cousins in Kona and they want to drag me to this place on the other side of the island to eat lunch and malasadas. I told 'em you nuts. We going drive ova dea ova 1 hour to grind when we can just grind hea? I told them there is no way I was going do dat. No way in hell. So, on the way down, I stopped by McDonald's to get something to drink because that's a long drive down. Plus, I'm driving and it's my SUV rental. I'm figuring this won't be bad we talk stories and catch up. 10 minutes later every one is crashed out. Needless to say, the drive was uneventful, lonely and darn long. It's a little off the beaten tracks with not much around. Feels like we in the boonies somewhere. So, finally we get to this place and it has a retro clean look to it. Not bad. I'm not too hungry because we've been pigging out since we got here. I order a taco salad to split with my girlfriend and 3 of their malasadas; lilikoi, mango and pineapple. The salad was okay, I would order it again if I'm feeling kinda full and don't want anything heavy. Not your ordinary size malasadas, but double the size. I guess size does matter. The malasadas I would drive from the other side of the island to get these puppies. They were so delicious and not ridiculously sweet. Sweet, but not too overboard. I was able to eat 2 of them. I ate the third one about halfway back to Kona. Definitely worth it. There were mostly locals here eating their good smelling lunch plates. It is a nice lush area offering a fantastic view of Hilo Bay down to the ocean. Make this a place to stop on your circle island tour of the Big Island. Plus, you're going to need the sugar rush when you hike the volcano.

    (5)

  • Ciana Y.

    I can eat their Malasadas FOREVER! Nuff said. Delicious loco moco, fresh taco salad & crisp BLT. I could be so fat if I moved back that side. The service was kind but REALLY slow like they were understaffed.

    (4)

  • Kris G.

    Malasadas. That's why we came here. In fact, we made a special trip 46 minutes from where we were staying just to get them. We then proceeded to get right back in the car, eating them on the way, and drive the hour or so back to the airport so my friend could get in her flight. We both tried an Apple Malasada. It was warm and dusted in sugar. It was SO good. We both devoured it and were covered in sugar to prove it. They are large and although the dough is light I don't know if I could've finished two. I hear they sell out of flavors during the day and when we arrived at a little after 11am on a Sunday they had Bavarian cream, strawberry, guava, and apple. They have a menu of breakfast and lunch foods as well including plate lunches and a selection of loco mocos. I didn't try any, but the animal burger (which had pastrami on it) sounded interesting. I got a guava one too for the plane ride home later that evening.

    (5)

  • R. B.

    It doesn't matter that Rachel Ray didn't like the plate lunch here at Tex Drive In. She's not a local and needs to realize she is at a roadside diner not a 5 star restaurant. You have to go here for the Malasadas if nothing else! I like the plain ones with just the sugar on the outside. My favorite is the Teriyaki Beef and Shrimp plate lunch. You have to remember that you are long way from any other sources of food once you leave Tex Drive In. Welcome to the Big Island. Alohas!

    (4)

  • Ben M.

    Walk the walk and talk the talk. This place is no joke, there can be no substitute! The malasadas "doughnuts" are amazing and loaded with flavor! The Loco Moco is about as legit as can be. The service, it's a drive in. They got my order wrong but it's my own fault for changing it up. Best to go standard. This is a locals spot as much as its a place every tourist should hit up. It would be a a shame to drive right past this place not knowing, you'll kick yourself. While I was at breakfast a guy pulled up with a half a cow carcass in the back of his truck to grab some Loco Moco. The locals are cool, just remember it's the locals that keep this place going so respect the locals. The food is killer. It's simple and comforting full island style cuisine. Again, the malasadas are filled with a creamed filling and not to be missed. The menu has plenty to offer for even the pickiest eaters. The Loco Moco comes in many varieties.

    (5)

  • Howard H.

    MALASADAS! That is the only thing one needs to know about this place. My wife also scouted this place before our vacation and I am sooooo happy that she did. There's outdoor seating also and plenty of parking. We hit Tex on the way back from the Waipio Valley and we ordered a dozen for the 7 of us. We got plain, Bavarian creme, chocolate and mango filled malasadas. I will have to say that this place has ruined donuts for me forever. They were so airy, light and just the right amount of sweet it was obscene. They were also massive (about twice the size of the ones at Punaluu'u Bake Shop) and we got to watch them make it through the window while we enjoyed. My favorite was the plain and mango filled ones hands down. Now that I'm back on the mainland, I am completely lost as what to do about my island malasada craving.

    (5)

  • Vince P.

    Drove by and swooped myself the Kalua pork and cabbage, Loco moco with spam and a bunch of masaladas. Didn't finish it all but everything tasted so good!

    (5)

  • Shawn L.

    Everything we read about touted these as "the best Malasadas on the Big Island." Talk about overblown recommendations! Whereas the best malasadas I've had have a denser texture than donuts, and are freshly made, these tasted like jelly donuts that I could get at any donut shop in the states. All the "fruit" fills were fake, dyed, jellies that came out of a bottle, and were all way too sweet. The non-fruit ones (chocolate and custard) were decent, but nothing to write home about. All in all, this was an underwhelming experience. I've had much better malasadas on the side of the road.

    (2)

  • Jennifer Y.

    Heavenly. Eat the malasadas warm! Don't compare the malasadas to a donut, it has a much eggy-er texture. Great for breakfast the next day!

    (5)

  • Margarita G.

    A must have in Hawaii. This is the place to have Malasadas in the big island. Several filling options; Bavarian cream, chocolate, strawberry, guava and apple. You can watch them prepare them though a large window or if you're in hurry, drive-thru. They have a full menu for meals too. Nice place to stop, stretch your legs, make a pit stop, before driving to the other side of the island.

    (5)

  • Sara S.

    I heard about this place from one of the food shows on TV, but my aunt also told me about this place as they are known for their Malasadas. What's a Malasada you ask? It's a Portuguese confection, made of egg-sized balls of yeast dough that are deep fried in oil and coated with granulated sugar. They can be filled with multiple fillings such as: Balvarian Cream, Chocolate, Apple, Strawberry, Apricot, and Guava. My favorite was the Balvarian Cream! They are best when they are hot and fresh! We did eat some lunch here, but we weren't fans of our meal choices. So I would definitely recommend coming here for a Malasada, well maybe even 2-3 of them haha! Regular food would be a 3 star, but I'm not subtracting a star because the malasads are that good!!

    (5)

  • Trishia P.

    Nice little stop in Waipio Valley . Nice patio view, ocean breeze and ....MALASADAS!! I really enjoyed looking at their kitchen viewing window and waving at the malasada chefs! Watching malasadas be made was awesome. I ordered a ton of malasadas. I had one without a filling and then I also had the mango, guava, apple and apricot. All of them were delicious. Mango and guava was the best but apricot was also surprising yummy. They didn't have haupia... (sadface). Overall, the malasadas were tasty but a bit too bready? It was very thick dough and very large in size compared to Leonards Bakery in O'ahu. Also, I think Leonard's has a fried taste whereas Tex Drive In tastes totally baked. I prefer a little bit of a thinner, airy, or lighter bread but these malasadas were delicious in their own way. They stayed fresh for three days as I took a whole bunch back to my hotel to enjoy as snacks.

    (4)

  • Andrea N.

    Tex Drive In was on our to-do list while in Honokaa. Grabbed plate lunch and malasadas. The mango filled malasada was insane!

    (4)

  • Coleen F.

    Came here in October with my boyfriend who lives on the Big Island. He wanted to take my to his favorite malasadas joint and all I could say is: YUMMY! Tex Drive In is in such a cute location. It's on top of a hill and from the parking lot you have a beautiful view of the ocean. I was a little doubtful at first because on Oahu, our well-known malasadas place is Leonard's, but Tex Drive In was definitely an eye opener for me!! At first, I kept telling my other half that nothing can be Leonard's, but I was so wrong. The malasadas they provide at Tex is amazing. Definitely a must try and a beautiful drive on this part of the Big Island.

    (5)

  • Shannon C.

    Malasadas are THE BEST HERE ON THE ISLAND! Make sure you get here before they close: they stop making them fresh at 6 pm. I had their burger...it was ok, the meat was a little grainy but the bun was great. Husband had the kalua pork and cabbage, and it was ah-mazing!! Def coming back here!!

    (4)

  • Andrew K.

    If you only stop for one thing you will want to try the malasadas. I think they are best without any filling, but we tried the strawberry and chocolate as well and they were both excellent. I also loved the Loco food. Recommended.

    (5)

  • Joe P.

    We came here for malasadas, but we heard the plate lunches are pretty good too. The special part about any beef dish is they use Big Island Natural Beef. Tex's is on the corner of Pakalana & Mamalahoa Highway in Honoka'a. It is approximately half-way between the Kona side (western, and sunny side of the Big Island), and Hilo side (eastern, and rainy side of the Big Island) if you drive along the outer rim of the island. The malasadas are $1.10/each, or $1.75 filled. Fillings include bavarian cream, chocolate, strawberry, mango, apricot and guava. We bought 4 regular and 2 filled: One w/ chocolate and one w/ guava. I had the guava filled and it brok da mout!!! It was daresay, better than Leonard's on O'ahu because it was airier (is that a word?), and holds up better to reheating later: 5+++ Stars. On the other hand, there are 7 varieties of loco moco including one with taro ($6.95). I ordered the traditional, and received two patty & egg in soup containers. BTW, I didn't realize that there was 2 for 1 special on the day I went. If I had paid $6.95 for one container, I would not have been happy. In any case, the Big Island Natural beef was excellent. You could really taste the difference vs hormone induced beef. In addition, the gravy was nicely seasoned. Lastly, the egg was over easy as requested: 4 Stars (took away 1 Star for small portion). The service was typical Big Island slow. The malasadas came out quickly, but the loco moco took a long time: 3 Stars. The ambiance is cool and you can see the malasadas being made. Additionally, there is a little store adjacent. Lastly, there is a sizeable patio to sit outside, and a few tables located inside: 4 Stars. If you are staying on the Kohala Coast or Hilo, make the drive to the other side of the island. But be sure to stop here going in either direction, and eat some good local food, and enjoy some of the best malasadas in all the Islands!

    (4)

  • Neil W.

    Was excited to try Tex Drive In but didn't enjoy it as much as other people did. The staff was very friendly and helpful and it is cool to see how they make the malasadas from the window that looks into the bakery part of the kitchen. We ordered a Bavarian creme and mango malasada, spam loco moco and a Kalua pork & cabbage plate. The malasadas that everyone is raving about were honestly underwhelming at best. As several people have pointed out, the fruit filling was extremely artificial, both in color and flavoring and the cream overly sweet. The dough itself is nice and fluffy, the amount of sugar is right but all in all nothing to write home about. I betcha you've had better fried dough in your life. As many have advised it is probably best to get the malasadas without the filling. The other dishes were both pretty poor. The Kalua pork had more cabbage than pork, was under seasoned and came with overcooked rice. The spam, the egg and the gravy on the loco moco were all decent but the rice was also overcooked which sort of spoils the whole dish. If you're around it's cool to check out for cult/nostalgic value but I would get a few plain malasadas and get out.

    (2)

  • Paola A.

    We stopped in on our way to the volcano from waikiloa... What an awesome little spot! It's easy to find off of 19 on the left hand side- green and yellow sign. The view here is very scenic, which is really just the icing on the cake. The malasadas are pretty delicious- we got 3 filled with apple, chocolate, and guava. Guava was our favorite- so tasty! They come out hot and fresh as soon as you order, so they are warm and fluffy and the sugar adheres to the surface. Tex was out of Portuguese sausage when we stopped in, but I've heard it's really good too. Definitely worth a stop on the north side of the island. There is also a cute little gift shop with Tex and Hawaiian souvenirs. If we find ourselves on the big island again, this would definitely be a stop we repeat.

    (4)

  • Jaime G.

    Malasadas were fresh. Strawberry was my favorite flavor. Bavarian Creme, Chocolate, and Guava were just OK. The views of the ocean and the tall trees were amazing.

    (4)

  • Ruth C.

    Food was so-so and I seemed to miss all the excitement. Had the aloha breakfast. The brown rice was hard :(. The sugar container had lots of sugar lumps in it and the container had to be hit on the table to loosen it up so some came out.. Never have seen this before. Tried a bite of the malasadas and it seemed like it is just an undercooked doughnut. Perhaps my expectations just were not met based on the other reviews...and maybe I just ordered the wrong thing.

    (3)

  • Glenn H.

    The Malasada's aren't as good as Leonards bakery on Oahu, but still very good. Especially with the various chocolate and assorted variety of delicious pudding type stuffing. They have a great variety of local plate lunches and you can watch them make the Malasada's through the glass windows. Don't forget to drive down into Honokaa town which is minutes away...also famous WAIPIO valley!

    (4)

  • Justin C.

    What a far far drive to get some malasadas. I think the main reason for the drive is really to just get some malasadas. The rest of the food menu is just a bonus, and I am sure you will be hungry after sitting in the car ride over. The malasadas come in many different offerings. You can get the plain one that is not filled with any flavor at all. This is one of the best ones that you can pick. Or you can get some of the fruit filled cream, depending on your preference getting a plain and a filled one is the best way to go. Plus you did just drive all the way here to get some food, you can take one for the road. The malasada looks like a miniaturized loaf of freshly baked bread with some sugar sprinkled on time. Taking a bite of this is very fluffy and not so doughy were you have to chew over and over. This also has just the right amount of puff to feel light and delicious. It is well worth the drive, but I dont think you can leave with just having one.

    (4)

  • David R.

    On Tuesday, 7/15/14, my girlfriend and I decided to hit up Tex Drive In because we heard their Malasadas were really good. Atmosphere / Decor: The place is run down and outdated. There were a few seats inside and a few located outside as well. There's a little gift store inside of the drive in. You can see the employees making and filling the Malasadas through a glass window. Food: I decided to go with a breakfast plate which consisted of 2 scrambled eggs, two pieces of spam and hash browns. The eggs were burnt and lacked flavor. The Hash browns were disgusting and the worst I've ever had in my life! They were raw and ridiculously soggy. They tasted like crap! The spam tasted good but you don't have to do anything to the spam in order for it to taste good. My girlfriend ordered the Guava and Bavarian Cream Malasadas. She absolutely loved them! She said they tasted really good and light, nothing like a doughnut. She rated them a 5 for taste. Service: The lady that took my order was nice. Service was good. Overall: I didn't try the Malasadas but my girlfriend said they were really good. The regular food on the menu is horrible! If you come here don't order anything else except for the Malasadas. I trust my girlfriends judgement when it comes to food. Once again, the food here sucks! Aloha!

    (1)

  • Jaime J.

    If you're visiting the Waipao Valley on the Big Island, you must stop here for lunch. Or....maybe you shouldn't...as it breaks my heart to see my favorite places become tourist traps. Anyway - this is a great spot! We were introduced to Tex by a couple of hikers we met in the Valley and they offered to buy us malasadas. We had no clue what they were talking about! Turns out, they are pillows of fried dough filled with a cream or jelly filling....like chocolate or mango. Mmmmm! You can't pass up the Teri Beef sandwich! Thin slices of tender beef, char grilled, and smothered in Hawaiian Teri sauce and served on a sweet Hawaiian roll. Plus all of your drive in favorites, like fries, burgers, and plate lunch.

    (4)

  • Jon C.

    Had the malasadas and like everyone else I really enjoyed them. Hot, fresh and delicious. I think the bavarian cream one weighed in at over a pound easily.

    (4)

  • Summer T.

    They're most known for their malasadas. I prefer their filled malasadas over their plain ones. Definitely not the best that I've had but still very delicious and worth the trip and experience if you're in the area!

    (4)

  • Mane A.

    Said to have best malasadas on the island...they do NOT. They were way too big and lacked the chewy inside associated with a good malasada. I got saimin. It was just ok. The place is a truck stop. Run down and dirty. The bathrooms were so bad we just held it until we left.

    (2)

  • Jen B.

    One Word: MALASADAS! I went to high school in Honoka'a, which is right down the road from tex drive in. I would always get the Bavarian cream malasada and also the original. Its always so fresh when they serve it! It literally just melts in your mouth, amazing! The dough of the malasada is fluffy and soft, and the perfect amount of sugar coats the outside. I also love their chicken loco, which i believe on Thursdays, they do a 2 for 1 special. I dont care what anyone says, but when if comes down to the BEST malasadas on all the islands? its Tex Drive In!

    (5)

  • Joseph Y.

    The malasada was great. We ordered lunch plates and also burgers as well. The burgers were well made, grass fed beef you could tell. Lunch plates were standard, the pork was good. The Korean BBQ beef probably was better at other places. Portions were huge. The korean style fried chicken was not spicy like in other places. It was mostly salty and sweet at same time. You should really come here for the burgers and the malasada. Lunch plates were standard but portions were large.

    (3)

  • 808Mae 8.

    We drove from Kona to Tex Drive In - after waiting for 20 minutes we get our order for 4 different flavors of Malasadas and ALL PLAIN! - the girl told my son they have been calling our number and gave him the box - i called as we all took one and bit it and ALL PLAIN ... when I called To tell he girl they should check what orders they give their customers she says, "You guys took the wrong box" and i told her "What WE took the wrong one ?" so i told her "Well Thank You" - FAIL - NO STARS but because it is required ... we have to give them one

    (1)

  • Rich Z.

    Always a highlight of our trip to the east side of the island. Doesn't get any better for Malasadas! Get there early tho because some of the favors run out.

    (5)

  • Colleen M.

    The reviews were great so we stopped in for lunch. Out of Mahi. Out of Spam! Yikes no musubis. Very mediocre fried fast food. Nothing special. Wanted to save the experience with a Malasada but it would have been a 30 minute wait. We'd already waited 30 minutes for our fast food so we had to pass

    (1)

  • Cody Z.

    color me underwhelmed malasadas ? overrated : too doughy, too chewy the chocolate filling was uninspired.and chalky tasting food item ? hot dog + sweet bread buns = bad combination service ? took 15 minutes to receive sub par food place should be renamed : Tex Drive Away

    (1)

  • Mindy N.

    Holy smokes, still craving the amazing malasadas from this place!!! We had no filling and the bavarian cream - both SOOOO good! You really don't need the filing at all but yum if you do too! We also had the spam musubi (spam sushi) - SO good, would love to be able to get this at home!

    (5)

  • Jessi M.

    Cool little place, I was surprised at the choice on their menu. My friend said him and his dad used to make this place a tradition for the famous malasadas which are the Mexican version of beignets stuffed with your choice of cream.

    (4)

  • Christal M.

    I had been wanting to try a malasada and we were passing through the area so we stopped here to get their "world famous malasadas". This is a divey spot off the highway, but they have an outdoor patio with a view of the valley and ocean in the distance. The malasadas came out warm because it seems like they make them constantly. I tried the original, mango filled and bavarian cream filled ($1.10-1.75). The original is like a sugar donut without the hole. The bavarian cream was too sweet for me, but the mango was good. It was lunch time, so we also ordered loco moco ($6) and grilled cheese with spam ($7). Both were nothing special. They didn't follow our order to put the spam in the grilled cheese either and only put it on the side. I would normally have said something but I didn't want anyone to spit on my food. The employees aren't friendly. The girl taking orders didn't say a word to us the whole time and rudely pointed down at a piece of paper when we asked about the malasada flavors. She looked like she really didn't want to be there. The malasadas were pretty good, but not good enough to make me want to come back.

    (2)

  • Petri Y.

    best malasadas ever! yes better than leonards in Oahu... fresh, fluffy, not greasy, filled to the brim with yummy custards, jellies and goodness had the custard, guava, and bavarian cream ladder is my fav-- not for those watching their waistline but definetley a must stop in the big island.... we bought 4 and ate it over the next 2 days. cheap and cheerful hawaii institution!!

    (5)

  • Alice S.

    My husband's choice for how to spend Father's Day was to drive to Tex Drive in for hot malasadas. So after church we drove to the other side of the island and had delicious, fantastic malasadas. We loved every bite. No fruit fill to take away form the light fried treat. We did order a plate lunch of Korean Chicken and a hamburger. We all loved the chicken, the hamburger not so much. The five stars are for the malasadas.

    (5)

  • Nikki H.

    One word: Malasadas. If you're driving the Hamakua coast, make sure you stop in Honoka'a and drop by Tex Drive In to grab a malasada or six. They're super cheap, so stock up and make sure you're hungry! The malasadas are fresh, soft, warm, and delicious. They're similar to donuts, but more airy and slightly less sweet. The guava filled are my favorite. I've never ordered anything other than their malasadas (why would I?), so I can't comment on their regular food.

    (4)

  • Ashley T.

    This was my 2nd trip to the Island, and one thing I didn't want to miss out on was the Malasadas! Barbarian cream filled and guava for the plane ride home! I'm bringing one to my bf to represent the deliciousness of the island treats! We also had the Hawaiian plate lunch kahlua pork and cabbage! This was full of flavor, a great lunch! Also an amazing view!!

    (4)

  • Len B.

    Food was ok They messed up two of the seven meals & it took almost an hour to make the food. Was done wrong twice and fries were under cooked At least the donuts were delicious hence a 3

    (3)

  • Kirsten L.

    Famous masaladas made fresh! Melted in our mouths! They are basically like donuts with fillings of guava- oh so gooooood, strawberry- good, mango (haven't tried it yet but it's waiting for me in the kitchen), chocolate, Bavarian cream, and apricot. A local told us about it while driving to lookout out points. You need to go!!!!!!!

    (5)

  • Peter L.

    Malasadas are good. Hawaiian style donuts basically. It's a must try if you every visit. Some of the flavors are too sweet but I love the original when it's freshly made. Other stuff is pretty typical, fish and chips, sandwiches, wraps, locomoco. Basically what you would expect in an Hawaiian restaurant,

    (4)

  • Linda C.

    Possible the worst food that I had in the 9 days I vacationed on the Big Island. The salad was supposed to be a Chinese chicken salad. The dressing was something cross between soy sauce and vinegar. That's it, no other spices that I could taste. I thought the girl made a mistake. No, that's what they serve with their salad. I then got some papaya dressing to try to salvage my lunch. By now my salad is swimming in dressing. They didn't even bother to cut up the lettuce. Totally impossible to eat without a knife. I had a few bites and gave up. My husband ordered the soup which didn't resemble any soup that I recognize. After a few bites, he also gave up and we went in search of something edible. On top of the really bad food , the girl serving us was rude. My 2 star review is being kind.

    (2)

  • Mel J.

    We stopped to try the famous malasadas at tex drive-in. I'm eating one filled with guava. Tastes like a warm doughnut. Waiting for lunch. I ordered the Tex Hawaiian plate with Kalua local pork & cabbage & mashed potatoes & gravy and Mac salad for $9.99. The health plate haha...Not! There are tons of people devouring malasadas here in the middle of nowhere. (-; Is the food good? I'll tell you in a sec. Ate half my malasada before lunch. Heehee. There are lots of shady tables outside. Nope the food isn't good. Mashed potatoes taste like instant. Not much pork. Mac salad is too bland and I've had better in the Hawaiian islands. Tex drive-in has mediocre food, and it's pricey for the quality. Skip this place.

    (2)

  • Amy L.

    I think I've found heaven & they're inside the malasadas at Tex Drive In. No joke. The boy took 5 pictures of me [messily] eating a mango malasada & my face was pure bliss. They came out hot & gooey & amazing & oh my godddd. All the sugary goodness ever. The boy had an animal style burger, which I think was their take on In N Out's animal style burger, but it had pastrami in it? It was good, but not In N Out. But that's not their fault. I probably wouldn't come back for their regular food [pretty much diner food], but THE MALASADAS. Heaven, I tell you. Heaven.

    (5)

  • Joanne A.

    Tex Drive In is a must stop if you're making your way between Hilo and the west side of the island (e.g. Waimea, Kona). They're known for their malasadas (portuguese sweet bread fried donut), which you can get plain or with a filling (e.g. strawberry, guava, chocolate). Tex also has an extensive menu with breakfast food, salads, wraps, burgers and sandwiches, and plate lunches of local foods like loco moco, kalua and cabbage, and shoyu chicken. Tex is very easy to get to and is located right off the main highway. Parking is usually easy as they have their own parking lot. It can get busy, and there's usually a line to order and a wait for your food. Lots of tables and chairs inside and outside to enjoy your meal and/or malasadas, and a great view towards the ocean.

    (5)

  • Violet H.

    Tex's is getting a long overdue face-lift. That includes the ladies room, which is still small, but at least it's nice now. The restaurant is located right off the highway for easy access, and has plenty of parking. Despite the drive-in in the title, there is also indoor and outdoor seating, and a small garden area off the parking lot. The food is good - fresh, generous portions. The last time I was there I had a beef terriyaki sandwich. The beef was moist and tasty, piled on a large, soft bun. I'd plannned to have it as a snack instead of having breakfast, but it was so large, I had no room for lunch, and wasn't hungry again until early evening. The real star here is the malasadas. Plump, fresh, pillowy goodness. With or without filling, you can't go wrong. There are a variety of fillings to choose from - cream, lemon, mango, lychee, etc. They're even good cold. It's fun to watch them being made. Honokaa is a little less than an hour north of Hilo. Some bus tours stop there. Made sure you get enough malasadas! They really are delicious. This is a great place for for everyone, especially families.

    (4)

  • Don J.

    Awesome!

    (5)

  • Rich M.

    I had the Teriyaki Beef Plate(White Rice and Mac) with a Malasada. It was pure deliciousness. The only reason for four instead of five stars is the wait and the fact that they ran out of fried chicken for my wife's order. (She ended up getting Korean Chicken - which was still great).

    (4)

  • Jed N.

    Stopped in here on Thursday, 11/21/2013 around 5pm on way to Hilo from Hapuna beach. Only two customers in line. Despite this, incredibly slow service. If I hadn't needed the coffee, I would have left. Two malasadas and strong Kona coffee warrant at least a two star rating.

    (2)

  • Tom C.

    Love the malasada, must eat there while it is warm and fresh. I got Bavarian cream filling. It is basically a square donut with sugar outside and fillings inside. The menu is huge. Will have to come back for the other items.

    (5)

  • Dave G.

    Every culture has their fried dough with sugar on it. Beignet, Berliner, Zeppole, Churros, Funnel Cake; it doesn't matter what you call it, apparently Man can not evolve anywhere on this earth without learning to fry dough and put sugar on it. When I saw the word malasadas, I should have known. When in doubt with a new food name, guess that it is fried dough and you'll most likely be right. Malasada's are actually Portuguese donuts. I got a brief history lesson from a park ranger in Volcano National Park who had a Portuguese last name and was being asked about it by some European travelers. In the late 1800's to the early 1900's, Hawaii brought many Portuguese laborers to work the sugar fields. They were a "middle class" kind of laborer and were allowed to bring their families and given an acre of land. After their 1 year contract was up, most stayed in Hawaii and bought more land and worked their own farms. They also brought a lot of their culture, their biggest Hawaiian contribution being the Ukulele. Portuguese sausage is a big staple in Hawaiian food as is Portuguese Sweet Bread. Apparently their donuts were also a big hit. That brings me to Tex Drive In, who locals will tell you has the best Malasadas on the island. Tex Drive In is a great spot to stop off on the way from one side of the Island to the other. The malasadas were as fresh as can be since they are made to order. It takes a few minutes, but it's worth it when you bite into a nice warm donut. The dough was a little more dense than the usual donut. The sugar on the outside is a fine granule, not powdered like a beignet. What I found most impressive was the quality of the fillings. They have quite a few different fillings on the menu, but only had 5 available at the time. This is fresh homemade jam, not just some red goo they are putting in there. We tried 3 of them and went with the strawberry, guava, and raspberry. Each was fabulous with my favorite being the guava (reminded me of a Cuban dessert), but the strawberry was a close second. The raspberry had a nice tartness to it, just to remind you these jams are real fruit based. They also had chocolate and lemon. Hind sight I wish I tried those as well, but I'm guessing that every filling is top shelf. yelp.com/biz_photos/o5__… So the reason for 4 stars and not 5 is the rest of the food on the menu seems to be 3 stars. Just an average fast food style burger or fish sandwich and average french fries. Because I'm writing this now that I'm back on the mainland, I don't even know what I ate. I think I had a fish sandwich and I can't remember what my wife had. When I can't remember anything about food, then it wasn't bad or good. But the malasadas - I can remember everything about those for sure.

    (4)

  • John R.

    What a disappointment. Deli sandwich billed as stuffed with meat and big enough for 2 had lots of lettuce, about a quarter cup of sauce, and 4 slices of pepperoni. I picked off the pepperoni but the rest was a tasteless, sodden mess. Mac salad had 2 ingredients: mushy, over cooked macaroni and mayo. The onion rings were soured, as if the batter had been sitting out for a few days. We threw it all away.

    (2)

  • Carey C.

    Worst customer service on the islands! I've been coming to Tex's for twenty years my best friend from Hilo brought me here to try the famous malasadas. Yes they are good but order ahead and go dive thru to avoid the dumb and the rude service. But this time we wanted the full experience as we brought a friend with us. And we got an experience for sure. When they make a mistake you pay for it. Case in point I orders 6 Bavarian cream 6 chocolate. On the receipt it says 6 Bavarian 6 plain. I go up to ask to switch them out. The young woman who filled them heard the order and made it correctly but because I only checked the receipt I went up to the counter to fix it. Instead they charge me three bucks for their mistake. Bad bad customer service and you all know it. It's not the three bucks it's the experience. Owners: you need to work on this. I even popped into the new gift shop. The teenage girls working there never looked up to greet me and continued to give me their backs. Not a word. If you want to sell the goods in your gift shop perhaps friendly and helpful is a good idea to help pay for the construction. It's also a good idea to have more than one medium sized shirt. Inventory for goodness sake it's prime holiday shopping time.

    (1)

  • Nam N.

    M-A-L-A-S-A-D-A......om, nom, nom,nom.... Malasadas are the no-frills, no thrills just darn good eats. How could you possibly go wrong with fried dough rolled in sugar?! Traditionally a Portuguese sweet treat, I do my hardest to go on a malasada binge whenever I'm on the islands. From what I've been told, what Leonard's Bakery is to the malasada on O'ahu....Tex Drive In is to the malasada on the Big Island. So OF COURSE the bf and I had to stop by for a quick one or two on our way to Hapuna Beach. As it turns out, Tex Drive In is more than just fried confections. Their menu offers a variety of local grindz from lunch plates to burgers and sandwiches. When we walked in I literally RAN to the window to see an Auntie fresh frying the malasadas up yelp.com/biz_photos/o5__… And with as much restraint as I could possibly muster, the bf and I ordered only one each. His was filled with Bavarian Cream and mine with Chocolate Cream (they also had strawberry available). If you order the malasada without filling, it cost a whopping 96 cents...35 more cents will get you the filling. We go big. yelp.com/biz_photos/o5__… First bite, chocolate cream shooting out everywhere with sugar all over my face....that's always a good sign of malasadas! My chocolate was not too sweet, good cream consistency....and although the malasada was fresh and still warm something was missing for me. Perhaps the dough was not as light? Still yummy but I think I prefer Leonard's. Would I go back again? HECK YEAH! This mainland gal doesn't get the opportunity to indulge in malasadas often.

    (3)

  • Karen Y.

    This malasada is a lie. At least when compared to Leonards. This place's malasadas really are just filling filled donuts. The filling was good. And as a donut it's good. It's just not a fluffy malasada. The food was tasty though. I ordered the saimin which was only like $4. My dad throughly enjoyed his shoyu chicken and my brother liked his burger. The mac salad was ok, nothing amazing.

    (3)

  • Albert H.

    Leonard's only serious competition - and they're kind of out of the way and on a different island. We've been here a couple times over the years, and I still like the fact that they cook their malasadas to a nice golden brown rather than frying them until they're almost burnt. Unfortunately, the fillings are not quite up to par. At least not the Guava Jelly. Stick with the plain one and you can't go wrong. It's a big, casual place - part of the dining room seems given over to storage of various currently-unused restaurant equipment and artifacts. The decor is a mix of old and new and just quirky. There's always been plenty of parking when we've dropped by - it's really in the middle of nowhere in particular. Strangely, I've never tried any of their other food. Though technically a drive in, the malasadas are the main thing. There's even a nice glassed-in area where you can see them cooking the pastries.

    (3)

  • Justin B.

    Great Malasadas. I drove from the Kona side to get there and wasn't disappointed. Fruit filling seems to be better than the creams, which I was sort of surprised by (I prefer cream pies to fruit). Their service isn't super friendly, which is why they didn't get 5 stars. But don't let that deter you, the place is great!

    (4)

  • Tiffany E.

    Our wonderful friends, Marz and Justino, made sure we didn't miss out on this drive-in and it's epic malasadas of awesomeness. How awesome are they, you ask? Awesome enough that we went twice, within 2 days, even though we were staying about an hour's drive away. I hadn't had fresh malasadas in a while and I remember them as being very similar to sugar donuts, but square shaped, and roughly larger than the palm of my hand. When I saw Tex Drive-In's malasadas, piping hot, sugary, and roughly the size of BOTH of my palms, I instantly knew why our friends would drive an hour for these puppies. They were fluffy, perfectly fried, and oh so ono! And they still tasted good the next day! On our second trip out, we also tried the french fries and onion rings, but our fondest memories are of the malasadas. Someday we will return!

    (4)

  • Su-Lynn T.

    We stopped at Tex Drive In on the way to Hilo early one morning. I definitely wanted to try a malasada and they did not disappoint. However they were much larger than I expected, and although I ordered 2 I could only eat 1! They are large, fluffy and surprisingly square shaped. I thought they would be round, but I like that they are square...it's different. I got the plain because any filler would have been sugar overload for me. Since they pretty much dump it in a mound of sugar after deep frying them, they are already plenty sweet. Hubs got the curry stew because we heard it was good. You can get it with or without rice. It was pretty good, and it reminded us a bit of Japanese curry paired with beef stew. Probably not the sort of thing most people eat at 7 in the morning but hey, we were on NY time, so it was lunch! I like that they had their full menu at all hours and we weren't just limited to breakfast. Would they have been closer, we would have gone here more often as the prices were so reasonable. The Kona one opened right after we left! I guess we'll save it for next time...

    (4)

  • Janice H.

    To people who think Leonard's or Champion's malasadas are "the best" in the state .... forgive them, Father, for they know not what is ahead of them. *perform the cross, a Hail Mary, and a small prayer for all of the uniformed malasada consumers* This is the shrine, The Church, THE TEMPLE of malasadas I worship every time I come back to the Big Island. The mecca of malasadas: Tex's Drive In. O'ahuans, you have committed deep sacrilege by considering Leonard's to be "the best malasada" you've ever tasted. The oily, sugar-coated, carbohydrate-based diabetic coma you call a malasada cannot surpass the heavenly and anointed power that is Tex's. It's light and fluffy consistency is akin to an angel's wings, delicately sprinkled with sugar by the wings of doves, and bountiful in portions as is the Father who has thou bestowed this blessing upon us. I forgive you, I forgive you, I forgive you. Taste this heavenly blessing (in the form of half a dozen) and go forth into this world and spread his holy name forever and ever and ever ....

    (5)

  • HELEN K.

    We were craving Malasadas so we drove up past Waimea (we were staying on the Kohala Coast) to get some famous Malasadas from Tex Drive In. They did not dissapoint! The Malasadas were fresh and warm, we got the PIneapple, Guava, Mango and Custard filled ones. We polished them off in one sitting! So doughy and warm and covered in sugar. Our favorite was the custard.

    (4)

  • Sophia C.

    This review is for the new location in the Kailua Kona location. They don't seem to have a yelp account established for that one. Anywho, the new location was a 5 mins walk from our resort, which can be good or bad ;). I kept telling the hubby about these hawaiian malasadas that he needs to try since coming to the Hawaiian islands for the first time. And he absolutely loved them! We stayed in the Kona coast for 5 days, and for 3 mornings, the hubby always wanted a regular ol' malasadas. Most of the fruit fillings seem artificial flavoring, the chocolate filling was more like chocolate pudding, but the bavarian cream ones were quite delish! Most of the times we came, the sweet bread donuts were light and fluffy. There was one morning where it came off a tad stale, and it was around 9am. The staff here at the new joint was super friendly, and engaged in some of the trivial pursuit questions we were playing while waiting for our donuts. The kona coffee here stinks, you're better off going to another spot for it. We've only been here for the donuts, but their menu for food and lunch/dinner plates seem decent and priced comparable.

    (4)

  • Cece E.

    Fresh baked malasadas! Can't speak to the other food here but being able to watch as the malasadas are being made is well worth the visit.

    (4)

  • Cheif F.

    I love Malasadas.....but not the ones from Tex's. Wish I could say otherwise. They were warm. Yay. Beyond that, they were nothing special. The fillings were cheap tasting and filled off center- not a big deal, but worth mentioning because it was weird to get all filling, then none. We got Bavarian Cream, Raspberry and Cherry. Meh. If you are in the area and there is no line (our experience) then go if you want something sweet. Otherwise, you are not missing out.

    (2)

  • Jaynie K.

    Greasy comfort food, reminds me of the cafeteria from grade school, which is a good thing! We had the hamburger plate (hamburger patties smothered in gravy and onions, mashed potatoes, salad), meatloaf, Portuguese bean soup, and shared a strawberry malasada. The hamburger was well seasoned and the mashed potatoes were creamy good. And who can say no to gravy? Meatloaf was also very tasty, and the soup was kinda... ketchupy? We also ordered tater tots, which were hella good, but really who can ever do tater tots wrong? The malasada was okay, but not really anything to write home about. It was nice and hot and fluffy, but it was pretty standard to me. And the strawberry filling was just straight up Smuckers jam, nothing special. I'm still haunted by the insanely good lilikoi malasada from Punalu'u...

    (3)

  • Dana S.

    Clearly I'm in the minority, but I'm not sure what the hype is about here... it's normal drive in food, with malasadas, which are basically hot donuts. The fillings (we tried mango and pineapple) were overly sweet and tasted artificial. The wait for our food was ridiculously long, and we were so hungry we'd have eaten mud-filled malasadas, and even under those conditions we weren't impressed. Not bad, but not worth coming out of your way for.

    (3)

  • Keiko S.

    So...this is THE place to stop for a quick meal or snack when driving across the island from Kona to Hilo or Hilo to Kona. While it's supposed to be a "local" hangout, it's arguably more catered towards the local-wannabee tourists as the name is marked on many guide books and maps and is commonly recommended by tour guides. The food is something you'd expect from any fast food joint. When paying fast food prices (less than $10 per item), I guess we ought to lower our expectations. Plus, the place is more famous for their fresh, hot Malasadas (Portuguese hole-less doughnuts) than anything else. Strangely, however, no one seemed to be ordering when we stopped by. Didn't smell them either... Well, while the food was passable at best (and too bad we didn't get to taste the Malasadas), we did what almost every tourist does when making the long drive to Hilo and back. That's good enough for me! FOOD: 2 to 3 stars EXPERIENCE: 5 stars

    (3)

  • Brian B.

    Made a stop here on our way to the Wiapi'o valley and I'm glad we stopped. From the outside the place doesn't look like much and the inside doesn't either but the food is good. I had the Moco Loco and really liked it. But what really got me was the Malasadas stuffed with Bavarian Creme. Delish!!! I'll definitely want to have another of those and I learned that they've got a shop on the Kona side where we are staying. Looks like my cholesterol level is going to take a beating.

    (4)

  • Jill and Ying J.

    This place is apparently famous for their Portuguese donuts. What are Portuguese donuts? Who knows, but it's in THE big island travel book, and apparently, it's also in the itineraries of nearly every Asian tour grip on the island. But it's totally worth it. It tastes kinda like the sugar-coated fried frozen Pillsbury donuts you get at Chinese buffet's, but it's much bigger, much softer, MUCH more made from scratch. They're stuffed with various jellies. We got the Bavarian cream, raspberry, and mango. All were winners. You really can't lose with stopping here. Plus, if anything, it's got great views from the outside dining areas.

    (4)

  • J P.

    We stopped here, on the way back from Hilo, because we'd heard the malasadas were the best on the Big Island. We didn't have a clue what a malasada was, but came to a screeching halt as we passed the sign, remembered we had heard of this place, and did a 180 to go back. A malasada is basically a jelly-filled doughnut (or you can get plain), coated in sugar--something I would love but NEVER choose to eat because it is so not healthy. These taste different from a raised doughnut though--maybe eggier or butterier? Not sure. That aside, we each got a raspberry-filled one; they have lots of other flavors--chocolate, various tropical fruits, strawberry, cherry. They're served warm and go down WAY too easy. Very delish. My sweet-toothed husband cannot wait to find an excuse to return to that part of the Island. :) PS: We went back & DH got another raspberry & I tried the cherry. Liked raspberry better. Wanted guava but they were out so you KNOW it must be amazing. :)

    (5)

  • Matthew B.

    Fantastic malasadas. Came here on a recommendation, and they didn't disappoint. Be sure that you're in the mood for a lot of sugar as each of them has TONS of sugar and fat in it! At this location you can watch them making them, and your malasada comes out hot. Every other place we've had them their cold... so come here!

    (5)

  • Jimmy N.

    Malasadas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I don't care where I am, or where they're from, if I see malasadas on the menu, I want to order them. My wife and I have actually been here twice, the first time in '08 and the most recent visit was during our honeymoon on the Big Island earlier this summer. They have solid malasadas, but I can't help but compare them to Leonard's on Oahu. Their rendition here at Tex is very doughy and definitely a jelly doughnut is a good description of their product here. I prefer the lighter, airier Leonard's version, but I'm still a fan of Tex's malasadas for what they are-- delicious, dense, filled sugary fistfuls of powdered and liquid aloha. The guava and mango fillings are probably our favorites, but nothing beats the plain unfilled ones. Never had any of the other food here, we'll probably try it out the next time we're in town, or better yet, try out their new location in Kailua-Kona!

    (4)

  • Justin K.

    good burgers and malasadas Nice surprise on drive back from Hilo

    (4)

  • Carissa S.

    Dinner and malasadas. I came all the way from NYC for this. Friends from Hilo who now live on the mainland have told me their stories and I sought for it. The food alone was good. My friend's salisbury steak didn't stand a chance. I got a bavarian cream malasada: perfectly dense dough, soft bread texture, a light touch of sweetness with the bavarian cream, followed by the teasing crunch of biting into the sugar coating. There was no guilt from eating it. Life is too short to not eat well.

    (4)

  • Brian W.

    Malasadas... the Hawaii or Portuguese equivalent of a jelly-filled donut, only here at Tex's they are minus the heavy sweet filling or greasy dough part. Here they're light and fluffy just-shy-of-crispy deep fried dough, and a filling that is lighter than most, yet still deliciously sweet. The cherry is good but the pineapple is a little sweeter and you can still feel chunks of real pineapple pieces in it, yet they're sufficiently beaten down that they almost melt in your mouth. And the guava... oh man, how I have missed guava. Juuuuuuust right. The only thing stopping me from giving this place five stars is that I did not have time to make it to Leonard's on this trip to do a proper comparison. The price is right, the service is fast, and it's well worth the trip to Tex's. It's so good, in fact, that in under a week, we went twice. I literally could live my life without touching the inferior "donut" ever again if that meant I could make a once a year trip to Tex's.

    (4)

  • Lucy L.

    Only got a bite of my sister's hamburger, but it was delicious and I kind of regret not getting my own food there. Didn't know I was hungry until I tasted it. And by then we were on our way to Waipio Valley, not to come back again before the end of our trip. Why, oh why is that the only location in the world?

    (4)

  • Chad Y.

    So here is the deal...I can't comment on the drive in style food for Tex's since my friends and I didn't come here for that. We came here for the malasadas. No Joke. My friend said they were awesome so we came here and boy were they right. Since I am an Oahu boy, I am under the belief that no malasada can be better than from the storied Leonard's Bakery. Tex's certainly rivals that of Leonards and is quite good, but for a different reason. You are overwhelmed by the sheer size of the Tex's malasada. It almost seems as if you aren't going to be able to finish it all, but you will. For one reason. The dough is light and fluffy versus the standard heavy and greasy feeling that you normally come to expect. Seriously...it is pretty damn good and it will definitely make me coming back for more!

    (4)

  • Jennifer W.

    I can only review the Malasadas, which is why I'll only give 4-stars. Next time, I'll stay for lunch. The Malasadas are to-die-for. I had 2 Bavarian Cream ones mainly because I've never been a big fruit-filling person. They were the most delectable things I've eaten in ages. Warm is best, though still yummy at room temperature. Worth the drive. I almost returned a second day, but my drive out was taking longer than I planned, so I had to skip it. Still bummed: I should've gone :)

    (4)

  • Johnny E.

    When your on your Hawaiian vacation and you did not go here, then you did not truly experience the foods Hawaii has to offer. You have to get a Tex Malasada. Yeah it's basically a heavier sugar donut but a must try. The view of the drive is well worth it.

    (5)

  • A. H.

    I must admit that I personally don't think their malasadas are as good as Champion in Honolulu. However, stopped by there for breakfast on our visit to the Big Island, and was pleasantly surprised at how good it was. The buttermilk pancakes were big, fluffy and delicious. Their breakfast plate with ham was very good - they use "real" ham, not the canned/pressed stuff. This rating is for breakfast only as we didn't have any other meals there.

    (4)

  • Andrea V.

    One word: Malasadas. They may be fattening and messy to eat, but no donut will ever come close to matching the wonderful taste of a fresh, warm malasada from Tex. The melt in your mouth goodness will make up for the sugary mess covering your face, your shirt and your car seat. This is the perfect location for a stop off between Hilo and Kona. They have lots of other food available if you want a meal, and have a nice casual patio area to relax and enjoy your food. They do have a great variety of 'filled' malasadas, but do yourself a favor and at least try one of the regular ones so you can truly appreciate the deliciousness that is a malasada.

    (4)

  • Jarod B.

    My first time back in 12 years, I was pleasantly surprised. The original was light and fluffy with just the right amount of sugar. My previous experiences had me wolfing down a dense flavorless warm bun, while making my daily morning commute from Hawaiian Beaches to Waikoloa (Yes! DAILY!). But this time around, I enjoyed every bite of the original while the filled one was just ok! My #2 malasada only to that red striped wagon on O'ahu. I will definitely be back to try more of the Tex menu.

    (4)

  • Soo S.

    Bavarian Cream Malasada was TOO creamy. I liked the original. Saimin and Shoyu chicken were both delicious. Potato mac salad, also delicious. Not a fan of their Chicken moco. Husband enjoyed his hamburger. I 'think' he ordered their Hawaiian burger. They used the sweet bun, which added a subtle sweetness to the hamburger. Entrance is located at back of the building.

    (4)

  • Terry G.

    Went at 7:30pm on a monday night. They said they stopped making malasadas at 6pm. Been going there for over 30 years. First time that ever happened to us. If a business is built on a signature item, it is a poor business decision to not to have it available during business hours. Very disappointed.

    (1)

  • Ryan O.

    A definite pit stop when going from Hilo to Kona, or vice-versa. Tex's is known for their delicious malasada's which in my oppinion are best eaten plain. The filling costs like a whole dollar more and it over powers the yumminess of the treat itself! They also had some pretty tasty looking / sounding lunch stuff, but we had filled up before leaving Hilo leaving only enough room for a lone malasada... ='0(

    (3)

  • Mary M.

    Oh my! I wish I lived near the place. These malasadas are served warm and right to your window in their drive thru. You have to get there early if you want to get the guava or mango flavors. I tried twice, but they were sold out. The apricot was amazing, but my friends were fans of the raspberry!

    (5)

  • Pammy L.

    Arrived here around 9:30am on our way to Kona and opted for the burgers and malasadas! Bacon cheese burger - A decent size burger with lots of bacon, but the best part was the hawaiian sweet bread bun yum! Teriyaki burger - BF was surprised and a little disappointed there wasn't a beef patty but instead thin slices of beef....he likes his MEAT. Hawaiian burger - Beef patty with, lettuce, grilled pineapple, and thousand island dressing. Ehh it was ok....I'm not really a fan of pineapples in my burgers or thousand island dressing. Malasadas - Cream and apple were my favorite flavors.

    (4)

  • Kealoha V.

    One of the first places that my Dad said that he wanted to take me while I was here. He had planned to take me to the Kona side of the island and that one that day we'd stop by here for some Malasadas. I had no idea what they were, but thankfully he didn't leave me wondering and explained what they were and the various kind that they sell. I'm not going to take the time to explain what it is, other than it's a donut. By the time we got to Tex's we were hungry as we hadn't eaten breakfast. So it being lunch time we decided to get some malasadas in addition to lunch, which was fine by me. Gave me more to write about. The menu consisted of burgers, sandwiches, salads, soups, etc. I ALMOST got Saimin a Manapua, both I am very familiar with. However I went with the Teriyaki Beef Burger and Onions Rings. My mistake... I should have gone with my original choices as I am sure they could have possibly been the better option. I have had onion rings at numerous restaurants, fast food, frozen food section of grocery stores and these were really something else. They looked (and from what little my nose allowed me to...) smelled fine. However once you bit into them, you found a VERY mushy onion. I mean they weren't solid at all. The oddest thing I've ever encountered in an onion ring. I ate a very and then had to stop. Just too weird for me. The burger was another disappointment. They serve their burgers on bread that looks like a malasada that was made to be fluffy like a Hawaiian King's Roll. The teriyaki beef ended up being this super thin piece of beef that that was double the length of the bun, which they folded in half. Even then, it was still mostly bun. I ditched the lettuce, tomato and onion like I do at most places. Again even if I had, it still wouldn't have been much food. It barely tasted like it had been marinated or cooked in teriyaki. So that left me with the main reason people come here in the first place and that's the malasadas. After finishing my lunch, I decided to have one before we hit the road. My Dad asked for extra sugar when he ordered the dozen of them that we got and they sure where covered in sugar. I personally would try them as is, as it was simply so much sugar you have to be extra careful how and where you eat it. Also I found myself brushing my face (I currently have a beard) to get the excess sugar off myself. They tasted pretty good, nice and soft. All I could have asked for was a cup of coffee, but that's okay. I'll be enjoying one or two of them tomorrow morning with coffee. Another little fun thing about the place were the coffee cups in the middle of the outdoor tables, that had very old Trivial Pursuit cards in them. Gave us a little something to do while waiting for our order. One of those little things that put a smile on your face because it's so random. Next time I am in Hilo on a future trip, I will go back and try malasadas that have fillings and maybe that saimin and manapua as well.

    (3)

  • Steven O.

    The malasadas are excellent, best on the island I would say. They are a must try when visiting Honokaa

    (4)

  • Phil M.

    Yes! Yes! Yes! I'm not a big donut fan but the Tex Drive In Malasada's are awesome! Freshly made to order, sugar glazed and filled with your favourite filling... served hot!

    (5)

  • Gerard H.

    great...had the pork and cabbage, with rice and garden salad. for dessert, the malasada with Bavarian cream.. it hit the spot, and would come back again, next time we are visiting the Big Island !

    (4)

  • Forrest S.

    The quest for the best malasada on the big island continues, and I believe ends finally at Tex. Approaching delirium after several long days on the road with a tour group, we stopped in at Tex for lunch and malasadas. As always, the place was busy with a line extending out the door. But in spite of the crowd, we had our food at our table in less than a half hour, so don't be too intimidated if you see a long line, besides, there are worse places to be waiting in line at than Hawaii. I ordered the Hawaiian burger, onion rings, mac salad (you always have to have mac salad) and of course, a plain malasada for an appetizer. What? I was hungry. The malasadas are made when you order them, and nothing short of perfection. Piping hot, fluffy and not greasy like so many can be, this was the best malasada I have had yet, and all around one of the best donuts I've had. Being made fresh makes all the difference. My burger was good, but not great. It was certainly better than any fast food burgers and after having it on a sweet bread bun, it's going to be hard to have a burger on any other kind of bun. The beef was decent, but could have used a little less time on the grill. They say they serve beer battered onion rings, but I have heard people say otherwise. Not having been in the kitchen, I can't say, but I can say that they were, well, A-OK, as was my mac salad. I love the malasadas here, they are five star, and the food is good as well, but not something I would go way out of my way for. The service is fast, and the prices are affordable, especially for Hawaii. Even if you are too full from your food, get a malasada while you are here. you won't regret it. If you eat too much, just go lay on the beach for an hour or four and you'll be fine. I know I was.

    (3)

  • Dj E.

    This is the Lenard's of BI

    (5)

  • izumi n.

    OMGYG! I liked the malasadas here better than Leonard's! Its square, fluffy, not that oily and delish!! A must-have in Hilo: )

    (5)

  • Lyn K.

    Malasada was ok. Prefer Punaluu Bakery's malasada much, much better! Mango and guava fillings not too good. Also, service was not pro-customer. After purchasing 2 dozen malasada, i went back to the counter to get a few knives so that we could taste the different flavors of malasada. The lady gave me one knife. I asked for a couple more knives. The lady gave me a look, looked at the huge pile of plastic knives, and gave me ONE more knife. She said I could wipe the knives! Is that poor sservice, or what? We just pur- hased 2 dozen malasada from them! My mom had ordered 3 bags of their sweet potato chips for my son. When the order took too long, she inquired. They forgot to make the order for her! Instead of waiting for them to make them (after a long wait), she asked for a refund. The lady was going to reimburse her the chips, but not the tax that was paid! You won't find this type of poor service at Punaluu Bakery.

    (2)

  • Tiffany S.

    The malasadas are good but a little too bready. I prefer more greasy donut-ish.

    (4)

  • Mark D.

    Awesome!!! Shoyu chicken was great! Portuguese stew great! Malasadas great!

    (5)

  • brian m.

    The mahi mahi burger is my favorite! Nothing like anywhere.

    (5)

  • Jackie H.

    This is solely based on the malasadas since I rarely eat anything else here when I'm back visiting family. So it's coined as being home of the best malasada, on da Big Island maybe but in the state of Hawaii no, and I've had better malasadas here on the mainland as well. Though it is worth a stop if you're in the area or driving from/to Hilo side. They have a decent variety of fillings if you want and the malasadas have always been fresh. I normally can never finish one on my own so I usually just share. I've had plenty of malasadas in my life and these are definitely tasty but not the best you'll ever have (though I have been spoiled having fresh homemade malasadas my Auntie would make; also if you've had a Leonard's malasada you've been spoiled too). I don't think you'll find a better place on the big island so it's definitely worth the stop.

    (3)

  • Kevin C.

    Food was a little over cooked. We had a burger and ham and cheese omelet. Tons of meat in the omelet. Had the food not been over cooked, a definite five star.

    (4)

  • Maylee H.

    Local flare that's very affordable. Loco mocos are all great and surpringly, the pastrami sandwich was great!! But let's not forget why one comes here,,, the masalalas! Must get there early to get the popular flavors like guava and pineapple. But the mango is also delicious

    (5)

  • Robert K.

    Great place for local food. And And And The Malasada's....WOW!!! Their Known for their Malasada's, (fried donuts). The Best So Far! You can get the regular Malasadas or cream-filled in different places I ordered the Mahi Loco Moco! Different. But, good. Its a great stop for the drive from HILO to KONA.

    (5)

  • Will F.

    Malasadas???? It a square filled fried doughnut. They are made to order and u even get a choice of the filling u want. I picked Bavarian cream and strawberry. It was fresh and warm when i bit into it. Screw crispy cream cause the Malasadas ( not sure how to sound it out) was way awesomer. Will be back for sure. Beware afterwards you might fall into a sugar coma like i did.

    (4)

  • Brice B.

    One of the best burger's I've had in recent memory? Check. Closely accessible from the main road for those driving around the Big Island? Check. Malasadas that will have you on your knees and renouncing your citizenship for one more bite? Yep. Well, there you go. What else do you need, you greedy animal?

    (5)

  • Andy S.

    We stopped very briefly one morning for malasadas only. We waited in line for about 5 minutes, and my wife and I each had a malasada- hers was 'plain', mine with lemon filling. They were excellent, and I would stop there again if convenient on the way to/from Hilo or some other location. However the malasada, while great, wouldn't be worth the 1hr+ drive from our Kona-area hotel, or Waikoloa, etc. Frankly, the malasada I had from an old lady in front of K-Mart in Lihue, Kauai, was just as good :-)

    (3)

  • Susan H.

    This is not what I expected. For some reason I was expecting a roadside stand. Tex's is a clean, bright little drive in with outside seating. Ths is a great rest stop if you are on your way to Akaka Falls or Waipio Valley. The restrooms are clean and there is plenty of available parking. Tex's is mostly famous for their malasadas (portugese doughnuts) but they do also have a food menu. We stopped just for the malasadas and we were not disappointed!! Be sure to pack some up to go with a cup of coffee. Our favorite was the bavarian cream. Man, I can taste those now!! The service is fast and friendly and you will be glad you stopped whatever the time of day.

    (4)

  • Margaret R.

    Yummy. I got the Hawaiian burger - hamburger with a pineapple...mmmm delicious. I think the next time I have a barbecue, I shall make Hawaiian burgers. The malasadas are freshly made there so they are nice and warm when we ordered them. It tasted like a nice freshly made donut with filling, which is a good thing. We liked the mango filling the best because it was the least sweet.

    (4)

  • A L.

    Malisadas from Tex's is a great way to start off a day - warm fried dough - how can you go wrong?

    (4)

  • Felicia C.

    Drove all the way from Kailua Kona for the burger!! It was advertised in a magazine and we had to go! And they also had malasada. I ordered the Hawaiian Burger without the thousand island dressing. It was such a gooood burger! especially on the sweet bread!!! SO good. The meat was seasoned perfectly and it wasn't too thin of a patty. The grilled pineapple was sweet and gave a good contrast to the meat. They were so good my friend ordered another burger! The malasada reminded me of a Chinese donut... but a bit denser. I had the plain one and I enjoyed it. My friend ordered the bavarian creme and chocolate. It looked good, but did not try it. I don't know if I'd return back if I was far away, but I would if I was close!

    (3)

  • Raider J.

    We stopped by to do one thing......eat their famous malasadas. We had the guava and bavarian cream ones....soooo goood. The malasadas (fried donuts with suger fiiled w/ cream) were HUGE and simply melted in your mouth. SOOOO YUMMYY!!

    (5)

  • Tom T.

    Stopped here for a malasada because Lonely Planet said they'd be hot and fresh. They were. They were so good, I ate two. If I visit Hawaii again, I'll certainly return. To me, it was worth a two hour drive. The outdoor seating was really nice--lots of neat birds and a cool breeze.

    (5)

  • B R.

    Their bavarian creme malasada was 5 star. It's very tasty. The dough was just perfect. We ordered our food ahead of time. The staff were really nice and friendly. We also ordered rice, eggs, and spam for breakfast. That was just okay. We also ordered a turkey wrap and roast beef wrap that's also not exciting. The rating went down because of the other food.

    (4)

  • Prem T.

    Great place to eat especially if you're traveling between Kona and Hilo. Tasty filled malasadas (NOT better than what is found on Oahu, though), decent Saimin and super tasty Loco moco. Cheap price. I would come back in a second.

    (4)

  • Monique L.

    My mother and I stopped by Tex's on the drive from Hilo to Kona. As usual, we ordered malasadas which were great, but we also decided to order something to eat. I ordered breakfast with eggs over easy but the eggs were hard when I received them, so I asked them to make new eggs over easy, which they did without a fuss. The second order came w the eggs over medium (still not over easy ... I'm a stickler when it comes to eggs over easy). I gave up and ended up throwing the eggs away. The hashbrowns that came w my breakfast looked and tasted like leftovers from a couple days ago. Pork links were surprisingly good. My mother (a Japanese native) ordered miso soup that was so salty it was essentially inedible. I tried a sip and it didn't taste like miso soup at all to me. We also ordered some saimin to see how well they would do with that. The saimin was decent but not great. The saimin would have been better if they used different saimin noodles like Hula brand, one of our favorites, which they sell in the local grocery stores. I give Tex's a 3 rating since this place is a must stop if you want malasadas, but the other food leaves a lot to be desired in my opinion, even by local food standards.

    (3)

  • June O.

    Recommended by my other half's Hilo coworker, we went to try their famous Malasada. I had the Mango-filled, he had the pinneaple-filled and our daughter had the plain. The mango was delicious. They had a variety of other foods (regular menu) and there was a lot of people eating there but we were too full to munch on anything else. The place was pretty clean and had a decent bathroom. The malasada was better then the Leonard's malasadas in Oahu.

    (3)

  • Patrick W.

    What's a masalada? I dunno, what's a masalada wit' you? Like the other reviews, Tex is another local food wonder of Hawaii that is a must come visit. We came for the experience to taste the fresh masaladas. Not indigenous to Hawaii, but Tex is a popular hotspot for them. So, to answer the question; OK, it's a donut. Only with more surface area. The cream or jelly fillings are pretty original and are served fresh every day. If you haven't tried one before, come here. And don't get greedy ordering these fine, pillowey cakes of goodness. Order 2 for yourself and 2 for your honey and enjoy. You'll thank me later. Tex also serves other meals such as burgers, loco moco, and many other luncheonette meals, but we didn't come for that experience.

    (3)

  • Ariel L.

    Tourist or local, this place has the best Malasada's on the whole Island. The coffee isn't so good, but who cares when you have a pipping hot malasada sitting on your plate with your choice of filling. Go with the Bavarian Chocolate. You won't be disappointed.

    (4)

  • April A.

    You call that a malasada? Seriously? By the way the conciege was hyping the malasadas here, you would think that they would be worth the 400+ calories. Ok, ok... I live close to a Leonard's Malasada Truck, so I know what a real Hawaii malasada should taste like. Sorry... I was so disappointed.

    (2)

  • Nayeli B.

    What I would give to have a Bavarian Cream malasada every morning...day...or night! Mmmm! These are not your typical greasy, stale donuts. How on earth can I EVER go back to Kristy Kreme or Dunkin Donuts after trying these heavenly treats. The way the soft warm dough just melts in your mouth. The sweet gooey jelly. I feel like Homer Simpson...drool. The hubby and I stopped here during a drive back to Kona from a day of zip lining. The concierge at our resort recommended it as a "must try". Warm fluffy Portuguese donuts filled with delicious goodness? Hell yes, bring on the sugar comma! The chocolate filled malasada was a delight, but the bavarian cream was like an orgasm in my mouth. Typical donuts will never be the same!

    (5)

  • Kezo N.

    yup yip yep, dis is dakine, kine, place 2 get sum hot fresh, Malasada's when ur on da BIG ISLAND, U definitely have 2 order a Doz. of these yuummmiee delicioso kine of hawaiiana filipine donuts, i just go there just 2 get me sum Malasada's, it is a great place 2 stop as well when ur making that long A** drive from, Kailua/Kona to Hilo, one drawback is this place is usually always busy,...but worth the wait and drive,... ...enjoy, Mahalo nui loa, K/K. ps: i always make it a plan when i'm on da Big Island 2 hit, Tex's Drive-INN !!!!!!

    (5)

  • Vanya L.

    This place is confusing to find. I stayed in Honoka'a and felt I should try this place out (there really aren't a lot of options). I found the malasadas to be just... well... plain filled donuts. I wasn't impressed. They were fresh, but I guess I was thinking they'd be a little more exotic. Exotic they were not. I got the grilled fish sandwich and it was cooked fine but was fairly bland and not noteworthy. The macaroni salad was very bland. My daughter got a kids meal of preformed frozen nuggets, not a surprise, just very unremarkable. The service wasn't friendly and also not unfriendly. The place seems to be half used for storage. All in all, I wouldn't go back, but I don't like bland food or particularly crave filled donuts.

    (2)

  • Wayne S.

    Only thing that I know of is MALASADAS! Its a different kind of malasadas compared to Leonards or Champions but on so good. Its a must stop when traveling thru.

    (4)

  • Linda M.

    This is a difficult review for me . We had fabulous Malasada's we all loved the Malasada's I had 1 warm and 1 later and it was just as good. We had them plain it was perfect $1.00 each next time I will try filled 45 cents to add filling still very reasonable they are quite large And a simple run of the mill dinner just plain I went due to a food network shout out from Rachael Ray.. I had the teriyaki beef dinner , potato mac salad just so so, tasted like package gravy on my mashed potatoes and the beef was simply OK . $8.99 My Mom had the cheeseburger deluxe she said it was OK but very plain .$5.35 My Dad had Kalua and cabbage it was mostly cabbage it would have been nice to have a little more pork . $9.99 My Brother the Shrimp Plate, deep fried shrimp they were OK .$8.99 My sister in Law had the Hamburger Plate with French fries .$ 8.99 So as Rachael Ray says you can eat here cheaply but I honestly feel either you over paid for what you had.. They lost a plate so we did not get to eat together it came out about 5 minutes later then everyone Else's.

    (2)

  • Carlie C.

    We stopped by to try a malasada and see what all the hype was about. My husband and I split one with guava filling. When you get down to it, it's just a sugar donut stuffed with some flavoring. We certainly had no issues devouring the malasada quickly (we were pretty hungry), but I have had tastier sugar donuts at other establishments. However, its supposed to be the filling that makes these special. Unfortunately, the guava filling tasted somewhat artificial and over sweetened. A little bit of natural flavor could go a loooong way in improving the quality of the malasadas. Cheap, tasty, but definitely has room for improvement. Grab one if you're driving by, but I wouldn't go out of your way to drive across the island for it.

    (3)

  • Howard M.

    What, I can only give 5 stars?? Of all the restaurants, cafes, bistros, whatever on the Big Island, this one is the only one I really care about, deep in my heart of hearts. They can all close up shop but as long as Tex makes malasadas, all is right in the world. Nothing comes close to a warm Tex malasada fresh from the fryer or whatever that gate to heaven is called. You can have your Kona mud pie, your haupia, your macadamia butter'd dessert du jour, but I'd slap my mama for a Tex malasada. One day we were completing a "circle tour" of the island, and four of us were counting on stopping at Tex for malasadas to keep us from starvation. We even called ahead to make sure how late they were open. Imagine our surprise when we found out they stopped the fryer an hour earlier and they only had 3 MALASADAS LEFT!! It was bad enough for the four of us, but the people behind us in line almost led a mutiny. Hubby almost got wacked cuz he was announcing that we got the last 3. Eat as many as you can hold cuz they are not so good the next morning, even if you nuke them. We never get cream filled; just the basic sugar coated specimen.

    (5)

  • Joe H.

    Are you kidding me with this? I would have totally missed out on this were it not for Yelp. My sandwich was awesome and the malasadas were OMFGwhydonttheseexisteverywhere-magnificent. I recommend the guava. My sandwich was of the dope ilk as well.

    (5)

  • Aimee I.

    We drove almost an hour to get to this place because of the much talked about malasadas. We ordered the Bavarian cream, mango, guava, raspberry, and chocolate. Wow! The mango, guava, and raspberry were amazing. I've had malasadas from Leonard's, Oahu, that were amazing, but these made them pale in comparison. These were so light and fluffy and were still warm. We also tried some of the food there. I had the mahi mahi burger and the bf had the meatloaf with gravy. They were just mediocre compared to the malasadas though.

    (5)

  • Wes Y.

    I went here twice. Don't get the guava malasadas - the bavarian creme ones are where it's at. The regular ones and chocolate filled are good choices, but they don't rank above the creamy goodness of bavarian creme. Sure, they're basically donuts, but they taste good so I'm not complaining. I also tried the shoyu chicken (2 small chicken thighs) here which was pretty good. Nice and tender, very juicy. The sides that came with it were average - your typical mac salad and white rice. The last meal I had here was the curry beef stew. I wouldn't recommend it. Not enough beef. There were like 3 cubes of beef in it...come on!!!

    (4)

  • Janet S.

    Two stars for the lunch we had. Four stars for the malasadas. Heard about the malasadas from Yelpers and when we traveled to Hilo from Waikoloa, told the hubby we HAD to stop at Tex. Got a dozen plain malasadas thinking I'll take some home. But seeing that we were still days from going home, we ate them as breakfast appetizers the next few days. Really good even cold. But shoud have eaten them warm. As to lunch, I was dying for some good saimin. Ordered theirs at $3.99 and was disappointed. The noodles were a little overcooked; the soup stock was pretty flavorless. Came with two pieces of kamaboko, a few slices of spam and some sliced green onion. If there was anything else in there, I didn't notice. Made me miss the saimin I had at Zippy's Kahului last year. Hubby ordered the kalua pork plate lunch. Sure looked like more cabbage than pork. Came with one scoop rice and one scoop mac salad. He ate it. But he was hungry, so.... Don't remember the price, but I think the kalua pork plate at L&L is a better buy. Do go to Tex Drive In for the malasadas. To the argument of plain vs filled: I'm a traditionalist about that. Plain no ka oi!

    (4)

  • Candace I.

    Malasadas....mmmmmm!

    (4)

  • Leann B.

    Outstanding Malasadas as expected. Fresh and fruit filled. You won't go wrong here. We were disappointed to find that their sister drive in near the volcano had been closed. We felt lucky to find the original still doing a booming business.

    (5)

  • Amanda C.

    We went here on the way back from the observatory and to Waipio lookout. Very very good locomoco and saimin! A must eat if you're coming here! It was so good. Service was really great too! Seems like a locals spot and it was neat because they had trivia cards on the center of the tables. Fun. Malasadas were okay and they had lots of flavors! But, if you've ever been to Leonards in Oahu, I do think that these do not compare to those. BUT, that being said, these malasadas were good still just different from what I expected from Leonards. Malasadas here at Tex drive in were fresh, hot, and the dough was light! I'd recommend the bavarian custard! It was my favorite of all of them that we tried.

    (4)

  • Jesse M.

    To be honest, I'm basing this review on only one visit, after trying only one thing: the malasadas, of course. As far as Oahu goes, Leonard's malasadas, with all their red and white striped mobile glory, is the gold standard. Being bred on Leonard's, I was apprehensive to the claims that malasadas made at this little stop on the outskirts of Hilo were superior. However, I stood corrected. The difference is in the dough. Leonard's pastry is oily and heavy, and at the end of the day, when the oil in the fryer hasn't been changed all day, the batches taste accordingly. Tex's malasada is fluffier, lighter in weight and color, and far less oily. For someone used to the Leonard's style, you may not consider this a malasada at first... but once you've tried Tex's, you will change your definition.

    (3)

  • Jillian P.

    I love EVERYTHING about Tex Drive In! First of all, their MALASADAS are crazy-ridiculously deliciousssss. To this day I've never eaten a malasada better than their's. Thursday's is 2 for 1 on their Loco Mocos . . . And those are SOOOOO good too. =D They have regular (beef patty) loco mocos, chicken locos. Their burgers are HUGE and ONOOOOOOO. Oh my god, to die for. They have sweet-bread buns, which adds even more to the deliciousness. LOVE TEX DRIVE IN!

    (5)

  • Anthony W.

    malasadas, malasadas, malasadas. Thats right dont get just one, get at least 3. And if you plan on sharing dont! You get your choice of fillings and I can tell you its all good. Its worth driving here just for these beauties. But I was very hungry and it was lunch time. So I tried a double bacon cheese burger, with fries. OMG soo flipping good. This is a hidden gem to get your grindage on. Worth the drive to the northside of the island to get your grub on.

    (5)

  • Mike Y.

    Nice Malasadas~~~

    (4)

  • Steve K.

    OK, malasadas are good I guess (I am no expert). But the food was really good too. Stopped here after our opriginal lunch plans fell through. Wife had the mahi mahi fish sandwich. Just a fish sandwich - but fish was well cooked and the portugese-style bun complemented it well. The whole was greater than the sum of its parts. I had a Kalua (pork) and cabbage plate lunch that was just great in every way. Lots of flavor without being greasy. I was also happy to get the choice of a side salad instead of a macaroni salad and surprised that the salad greens were as good quality as they were. I came away feeling full, but not feeling nasty-full which can be a risk with that sort of meal. This is still just a simple drive in but I am writing this a few hours after the meal and am still nursing happy memories of the meal so figured I would give the place some love.

    (5)

  • Aga O.

    Malasadas are always off the hook here ... donuts w/o holes... filled w/ a custard, strawberry preserve, or chocolate pudding. I personally like'em plain sugar coated kine. Why embellish on a already good thing, no? Eat 'em while there hot... they're messy but worth it. We've had their musubi's and teri-sanmiches, pretty good. Hadn't had the chance to order anything else ... standard local fare. We always make a malasada run on our way to Kona... couple dozen. ;p

    (5)

  • Lux P.

    My grandma used to work here when they were in the other location. I have fond memories of her bringing us a fresh batch of malasadas when I was a kid. I went back a few years ago and they seemed to have changed. I got caught up in comparing them to Leonard's on Oahu. I have since been back a couple more times. Just like I appreciate many different pizza styles, I have once again gained appreciation for their ono malasadas.

    (4)

  • Fran T.

    2012: Just went back to Tex Drive-In. Sometimes fame changes a good thing. Instead of the smaller malasadas (tasty due to the dough-filling ratio being perfect) they used to serve, we found malasadas 4x the size. They were monstrous! Sometimes bigger isn't better. I was disappointed. Mind you, they still taste like malasadas - best eaten while warm and they are plenty delicious. They just aren't the special little malasadas with perfect dough-filling ratios as they used to be. Also, the filling choices were substantially limited. It seemed their filling choices in the past were monstrous while the malasadas were tastifully small. Now, choices are small and the malasadas are too big. The facilities have been updated and are cleaner and the menu is easier to read. But, the malasadas ... sad to see the little ones gone. Below, I'm leaving my older review - just so you know what I missed. Pre 2012 Review: I know that Leonards is synonymous with Malasadas on Oahu ... but honestly, the slightly smaller malasadas at Tex Drive-in has the best dough-filling ratio and they are THE BEST! Get there on your drive from Kona to Hilo ... early morning breakfast malasadas. And the flavor choices are ridiculous! How many flavors are there anyway? Love this place!

    (3)

  • Alyssa E.

    Tex's is renowned on the Big Island for their malasadas and we could hardly wait to try them. Once we did, we wondered what all the hoopla was about. The malasadas are good, especially the Bavarian cream, but nothing to write home about. Tex's has managed to spin their tasty but unremarkable Hawaiian donut into an unwarranted legend. The staff was unfriendly, and so was the owner, but she's fabulous at marketing her story and her business. There's no reason to drive all the way to Honokaa for one of Tex's malasadas unless you happen to be passing through. You can get an equally good one at KTA market in Waimea if you happen to catch them early in the morning before they're all sold out.

    (3)

  • Nari H.

    Came here for their Malasadas and their malasadas totally rock. The plain ones are so soft and moist. I had the mango filling which i heard was popular. It was a little too sweet for me, but still very good overall. I'd be back and would definitely tell my friends they gotta stop by here to try the malasadas. They've got other things here which we didn't have but heard were good.

    (4)

  • John K.

    Great malasadas. Plate lunches are okay too.

    (3)

  • Troy M.

    Malasadas! Rock. The food menu is like L&L but the food is a notch better. Great place to stop on the way to hilo or Kona.

    (4)

  • Eric Robert R.

    Simply DA BEST malasada in Hawaii and maybe in Portugal! Just a tip tho... eat it hot and fresh... it's huge and oh so onolicious! Been coming here since a toddler and even tho more touristy now... the malasada is still simply the best! This is the real thing and not like Leonard's greasy, small type...

    (5)

  • Erica M.

    SO GOOD. I tried the grilled mahi sandwich and enjoyed every bite. Then I got a bavarian cream malasadas that was divine. It was the perfect lunch spot on our drive from Waikoloa to Hilo, and it's very close to the Waipio Valley overlook. My friends and I were so pleased with this place.

    (5)

  • Stephen F.

    Awesome malasadas! I tried guava, pineapple and raspberry. We were disappointed they were out of Mango. I didn't try anything else on the menu, so you're on your own there. We were enroute to Waipio Valley Lookout, and and my sister said the malasadas alone were worth the drive from Kailua-Kona! They even have a windowed kitchen, so you can see the staff making the malasadas. For the uninitiated, the malasadas is like a slightly denser raised doughnut without a hole. At Tex Drive In, they dip it in sugar and fill it with fruit jelly. Available unfilled too. Definitely worth a stop, and a return even. We went coming AND going!

    (5)

  • Shahin N.

    The masaladas were pretty amazing, and definately worth the drive out. We got chocolate, bavarian creme, raspberry, and apricot. They were all incredible pastries! Prices were super reasonable too..like a buck fifty for the filled masaladas. Gotta stop by here if your on the big island, and get some to go! Wish I had gotten some sweet bread and food, but we weren't really that hungry. Great dessert though. *UPDATE* so we came back the next day because we were in the area and couldn't resist. Ordered the mahimahi and a salad with papaya seed dressing. Holy sh*t the dressing was good. The burger was fresh and tasty too...and great pric e ($7.99) for both. Definitely bumped my rating up a star just for the food, and of course another masalada!!

    (5)

  • Janet F.

    MALASADA'S!!! Mmmm...hot, fresh, soft, greasy goodness!!!! You can watch them making them from start to finish! We picked up lunch and half dozen for the road after going to the Waipio Valley lookout!!! Lunch menu: Hamburger plate with onions and standard potato mac and rice SPAM moco! Spam was soft I would make mine a little more on the crispy side but still delish! And of course...malasadas! 3 plain and 3 filled: strawberry, bavarian cream, and chocolate creme (one of each)!!!! Oh sooo yummy! They tasted great microwaved for 10 sec for a late night snack! We even had 2 left that made it home to OC!!! I didn't think they were going to be good 24 hours old...but man when my husband warmed it up and said come and try this at first I said no its ok you can have them.....he said just have a bite. So I did and ended up eating a whole one to myself!!!! LOL!

    (5)

  • Brooke B.

    Tex always smells like heavenly, sugary goodness due to the malasadas which everyone in my family loves. I am not a huge fan of donuts which are a 1st cousin of malasadas, but I could smell them all day. Their other food offerings, like burgers, fries, tots, are only so-so. Onion rings are pretty good, probably from being fried so deeply. It can get pretty crowded here with both locals and tourists.

    (3)

  • Veronica P.

    Tex was regarded as one of the Top 10 donut shops in the US a few years ago. I'm still trying to figure out why. The malasadas came out fresh from the fryer, but was still greasy and had a very heavy texture. The plain malasadas are just topped with sugar, while other malasadas have different fillings. The plain malasada was less greasy and dense than the filled ones, but had a mild burnt oil taste, like it hadn't been changed for a while. The custard filled malasada was heavy and greasy. The custard filling was pretty good, and had a rich vanilla flavor. The combination of the two, however, was too much for one person to eat that many.

    (3)

  • Sue C.

    This is the perfect place to eat between Kailua-Kona and Hilo. The food is really good yet cheap. Plus, the malasadas are to die for here. I really wished that we got a dozen (or at least a few more than just one for myself) as they are lighter and fluffier than regular donuts. I had cherry filling, which was on the sweet side but very good. My husband had the bavarian cream and didn't even offer me a bite (which means it was super tasty).We also had a breakfast plate with corn beef hash and a loco moco, which were both excellent. Simply stated, Tex is THE place to eat when you're traveling to anywhere between Kailua-Kona and Hilo via the northside of big island. It has a huge sign that is green on highway 19 so hard to miss it. Just make sure you get a dozen of malasadas. They would be perfect for your trip to the volcano park as there is no food up there.

    (5)

  • Tom B.

    Wife and I stopped at Tex Drive In on the way home from a Hilo day trip to our condo in Wakoloa. I got a custard filled malasada, so fresh it was indescribably delicious. If there are better malasadas, please don't tell me about them. These are tops! Had to place a 2nd order to take home for breakfast, a 2-day supply. Yummmmmmmmmmmm!!!! CAUTION: When you pull into the Tex Drive In lot you're looking at the back side of the bakery. It looks as if it is permanently closed. DRIVE AROUND TO THE OTHER SIDE!!! PS: I'm glad Tex Drive In doesn't have a Washington state location, otherwise you'd see me as a contestant on "The Biggest Loser!!!"

    (5)

  • V. L.

    4 stars only for their malasadas which are really good and cheap - there are so many flavors to choose from! I'd only stick to getting malasadas here. I tried a few of their meals, including a basic sandwich, and the taste was not good! (There was some kind of special sauce that didn't work with me).

    (4)

  • Jennifer K.

    We stopped here on the way home from Hilo for some malasadas (portugese donuts). We ordered a strawberry, raspberry & apple. They were all really good! (Although, I would have preferred that they had a _bit_ more filling in them, but other than being a bit skimpy on the filling, they were delish.) We did have them the next day, and they were still good. I am sure that if we had them the day of, they would have been even better. They also have the following flavors: Guava, Bavarian Creme, Chocolate Creme, Lemon. I guess that they also have a truck that sells these on the street down from Costco, but my parents said that they aren't as good as getting them from the actual Tex Drive In. A definite must on your way home from Hilo!

    (4)

  • Leah C.

    My dad lives on the big island on the Hilo side. He makes me drive myself to anywhere I want to go because he hates doing the touristy stuff. My sister and I said we were going to drive to Tex drive in for some Malasadas, my dad jumped up from his seat and hopped into the car. He declares these the best Malasadas in all of Hawaii. I don't have a huge sweet tooth but these are really good. The rest of the menu is mediocre but the malasadas make up for it.

    (3)

  • Ann K.

    If you like donuts, you will love the malasadas--warm and sugary, with tropical fillings, chocolate, or bavarian cream. I had the mango and someone in our party had the guava which she raved about. I can't wait to try another flavor next time. The rest of the food was fine but nothing fancy or special, really. We stopped for the malasadas and will definitely add this to our must-stop places when going to the Waipio Valley.

    (4)

  • Jenny H.

    BEST malasadas ever! I first had it when I was 11 in 1999 and I could not stop thinking about it ever since. I finally went back to the Big Island in 2009 and made sure I stopped by. Pros: - fresh and hot - it's HUGE! - super soft on the inside - it's underpriced - tons of seating, indoors & outdoors with shade - menu of other food, but idk what else they serve.. my focus was on the malasadas - you can see an employee making the malasadas, perfect for kids Cons: - inconvenient location Malasada wise, Leonard's and Punalu'u suck compared to Tex's.

    (5)

  • Cécile L.

    We only had the malasadas. They were delicious. I wanted to have several of them! We tried Mango and Pineapple, both great. So good after the hike in the Waipio Valley!

    (5)

  • James B.

    Maldadas are big and fluffy. Very tasty compared to Leonards in Oahu.

    (5)

  • Cher A.

    Growing up in Kohala (the north side of the island), driving to Hilo in our ford aerostar was a major road trip. But what made the two hour journey more bearable was stopping at tex's for malasadas. Fried dough coated with sugar...Mmmmmm....what 10 year old couldnt resist that? This past summer I flew down from CA with my boyfriend and decided to bring him to my fried dough haven. I was very surprised at how the "little drive-inn that could" had developed to a krispy-creme like entity. It even had a window where you could watch the malasadas being made. It was kinda sad to see it become so commercialized, but I was glad to see that business was booming. Anywhooo....the malasadas were still good, but not as good as I remember them. (Its alot less oily and sugary....which I guess is a good thing for the health conscious.) However, my boyfriend seemed to really like it. The Sock S. put it best...."BRING BACK THE GOOD OLD DAYS!!!"

    (4)

  • Sabine F.

    The Malasadas are hot and fresh. They taste like filled yeast doughnuts but much better and double the size. Don't go there if you are counting calories but go there to enjoy some homemade doughnuts. Get the Mango and Pineapple the kind of filling you don't get on the mainland. This is a must stop place when you are on the island.

    (5)

  • Thomas M.

    I was first introduced to Tex as a keiki, as my fam would stop by here on our "big road trip" over to Hilo since it was about half-way for us. The breakfasts here are ok, but the Hawaiian Style ones are WAY better. What this place is truly known for, though, are the malasadas. The plain ones are classic, the bavarian ones are a little glucky, but the guaivee (sp?) are the rarest kind but also the most delicious--comprising of a filling thats part strawberry, part guava. I think. Whatever its made of, its the best. If you're a tourist and you ask for one, the aunty or uncle at the counter will either be super impressed that you've heard of it, or denyingly defensive that you (of all people) got word of the mysterious guaivee malasada. Don't be afraid, put a hot malasada in your life!

    (4)

  • Julie H.

    Went there over the weekend! I'm used to Leonard's plain malasadas which are amazing so I was hesitant to try something stuffed. My boyfriend got the chocolate and I tried the guava and I loved it! I didn't care so much for the chocolate one but really enjoyed the guava. They are gigantic! I was super stuffed after just one. I like that you're able to watch them make it from the big window.

    (5)

  • Pang Houa T.

    We were excited to stop here for the malasadas, but unfortunately, they weren't very hot. We got a pineapple filled, a guava filled, and a something else-filled malasada, but I forget now because I didn't even make it as far as trying it, they were so bad. Filling flavors were good, but the fact that they weren't hot totally ruined it for me. The coffee was ok.

    (1)

  • Koa A.

    Although their Malasada's are excellent you need to make sure they are fresh, please ask the counter girls first before buying, if they aren't fresh don't waste your money. Not worth it. Also Tex Drive Inn is obviously money hungry, when I asked for a cup of iced water which they use to have complimentary, the tacky Filipino lady at the counter said "we only have bottled water." she didn't offer to fill my cup up with water after I purchased a soda for $2.00. I've never been to a restaurant or a drive inn where iced tap water was not complimentary. 0 stars for not having friendly or accommodating service.

    (1)

  • Ian N.

    I grew up on the east side of the island, and every time we took a road trip to Kona that wasn't through Saddle road, we would make a stop at Tex's. I just stopped here recently and the malasadas were not what I remembered from 20 years back. They have a new thing where they inject fillings in, and it is not my favorite thing. I had the bavarian creme, mango and the guava, as well as a few plains to go. The fillings are high quality, jam-like, but I prefer the original plains. The next time I am on the Big Island, I will definitely stop here again, Tex's is an institution, but I miss the Tex's of old.

    (3)

  • Callista D.

    We were on a Circle Island Tour and got lucky with a small tour group. Our Driver ended up taking us a few extra stops because we had plenty of time and this was one of the places he took us. Let me just say, I wish I had ordered a dozen malasadas because I've been dreaming of them ever since! The only place I can get them at home are at Fast Food Hawaiian places...it's just not the same!

    (5)

  • Betty N.

    Their Malasadas are the best!!! We ordered lemon, raspberry, and Bavarian chocolate. The chocolate was the best. YUM!!!

    (5)

  • Nick H.

    I had to hire a hypnotist to convince Mari C. to stop here. Apparently, the hypnosis wore off by the time she took a bite of the Maladasa and she wrote the review you see here. Actually, I was driving so she didn't really have too much choice in the matter. We were hungry and passin' through good 'ol Honokaa and there just didn't seem to be anything there worth eating. So we looked up Yelp on my oh so super-awesome blackberry mobile device and were directed to Tex Drive In. I usually don't mess with things that start with Tex, but when hungry I'm unstoppable. Seriously, then you don't want to mess with me. In any case, Mari C. got dragged along and we shared a Maladasa. It was fine - just a doughnutty thing with chocolate pudding inside that held us over until Waimea.

    (3)

  • C Y.

    Awesome , friendly, clean take-out or eat-in "fast food" Malasadas - Portuguese Donuts - Awesome and freshly made with options of different fillings - Bavarian Cream, Chocolate Cream, Apricot, Guava, Pineapple, Mango and about 3 others I can't remember. All good, I hear but I 'liked the mango and the bavarian cream - they had run out of Chocolate

    (5)

  • Grace T.

    I was so happy to see that they were open on the 4th of July because I was so looking forward to getting a malasada. My bf and I each got a malasada before heading down to Waipio Valley. I got the pineapple filled and he got the lemon filled. Upon my first bite I was in carb heaven. They're a bit different than the ones from Leonard's(Oahu), but still deliciously not good for you. Can someone please starting making malasadas in LA? On second thought keeping them on the Big Island gives me an excuse to go back.

    (5)

  • Thomas G.

    Wow! The malasadas are great. Don't bother with a filling. Their wonderful on their own! Drive out of the parking lot before you taste it or you won't be able to buy just one.

    (5)

  • Gary T.

    Ono local grinds Must stop and try Malasada's !

    (4)

  • Richard A.

    Tried some of the other flavors, but liked the mango the best. The malasadas are 5 star. The plate lunches were a good value, but we'll be coming back for the mango malasadas.

    (5)

  • Jeff W.

    the meal was NOT quick for fast food. and the flavor, texture, and execution did not satisfy. ahi tuna burger was overcooked. the brown gravy was over-salted in the loco moco (spam and over easy egg over rice). the Portugese stew was the only decent item. Portugese sausage and cabbage with plenty of veggies in a tomato stock. good flavor, very hearty and hit the spot and driving from Hilo. the malasada was fresh but nothing special. BUT it is a required stop when going from Hilo to Kona because of its location. after a morning hiking the Akaka waterfalls I needed some food so this was it. one extra star for location, location, location.

    (2)

  • Winter R.

    Tex Drive - In connotes good memories for me. Growing up in Hawaii, it was the 'go to' stop during many a family road trip from Kona to Hilo. And it wasn't so much the breakfast/lunch/ or dinner items that brought about happy thoughts, or the fact that it was kind of a 'dive' spot where you felt like you had to have hand sanitizer handy every time you went there, or even the fact that flies would come and go as they pleased with the hope they could get grub off your mixed plate. No, it was the malasadas - those fluffy delectable pieces of legendary local goodness - that made every trip to Hilo worthwhile. I say "legendary" because that is what Tex Drive - In malasadas are: legendary. Everyone who's from the Big Island or has been to the Big Island and experienced the island for what it is - and I don't mean none of that touristy stuff like 'sitting on the beach', getting the tan on, or shopping for overpriced souvenir magnets that have Obama's face on it and the word "Hawaii". I mean, experienced the real Hawaii which includes (but is not limited to) chicken -fights, searching for gecko's in the back yard, shooeing away mangooses from getting into the garbage - anyone who has experienced this will know that Tex Drive - In is the place to be for malasadas. And okay, beaches, tanning, over-priced souvenirs all make up the Hawaii experience as well - but to get a true sense of Hawaiian culture, one needs to experience such things as Tex Drive-In malasadas. Now, what's so great about these malasadas versus say, Leonards? Well, from what I remember about Leonards (and I've only had it once) is that when I put my malasadas on a napkin - it soaked up a lot oil and made me a little conscious on that I was eating an oily donut, but idk.. maybe it was that one batch. With Tex Drive-In malasadas, I'm usually not into that fancy bulvarian crème or guava filled malasadas, but find that the plain malasadas is what does it for me. I love the fluffiness of the donut and how it's not overly sugared or too sweet, but just right. It's a fairly big donut in donut standards. I seriously get put in my happy place when I bite into these donuts. Now, if they could only open a malasadas joint where I'm at.. I could be happy all the time.

    (4)

  • Sarah J.

    Fried dough filled with cream. What's not to love?

    (5)

  • Kristina M.

    This was my first experience with eating a malasada and O.M.G. it was de-lish!!! I ate the whole &^* thing!!!

    (5)

  • Lauren O.

    I always stop here when driving across the island. The fishburger is tasty with the sweet bread bun and the malasadas are winnahs. Brings back memories of my childhood since we always use to stop here.

    (4)

  • Louis W.

    Our family of 4 had to try the malasadas here. We are a fan of Leonards of course. The ones here are different. They are bigger than Leonards and very tasty. We had the strawberry, bavarian cream, and chocolate cream. We arrived about 10 am. We don't know if that made a difference. We also ordered a fried chicken plate with mash & macaroni salad and the chili and rice. Both were pretty good and fresh. Ample seating, tables were clean, and there was lots of parking.

    (4)

  • HarryandJean A.

    Every time we visit the Big Island we take the time to visit Tex's Drive in and Restaurant in Honoka'a for their tasty malsaladas. When you get them warm they are the best and you can get them plain or filled. We prefer the crème filled however we get the plain ones to heat up later. It's hard just to eat one. We highly recommend these treats.

    (5)

  • Jay T.

    I have to say this was probably the first place on the Big Island that I found friendly residents working there. Their food was delicious and well priced. My hawaiian burger was pretty good, but their malasadas are heaven on earth. My family pretty much ordered all the flavors, and I really don't think you can go wrong with any of them! I wish this place the best of luck in the future, because they really do deserve it and are one of the friendliest places we we went to!

    (5)

  • Cassandra W.

    A once popular place to come but not anymore. The grilled mahi burger was far from fresh I had to get my money back, they advertise beer battered onion rings but its your standard frozen onion rings, and there was a hair in my side salad! will never come back!

    (1)

  • Maylene D.

    Okay, we HAD to go to Tex's to get our malasadas! I had the chocolate filling and my husband had the bavarian creme and they were both delicious! They're better than any donut you'll eat and the view from the restaurant is beautiful!

    (5)

  • Jo N.

    5 stars when the Malasadas are fresh, 3 stars when they're not... The raspberry filling was my favorite. Beyond the Malasadas, the food was ehh.

    (4)

  • Kalani C.

    Love this place when I'm visiting Kamuela. Hands down, the malasadas is worth the trip. Light, fluffy and delicate. Comes with all types of fillings, however I enjoy it plain. Food is cheap and local style. The outside tables have cups of very old school Trivial Pursuit question/answer cards to help pass the time between deciding whether to have another malasadas (which you should)...when was the last time you were in Honoka'a? Not to be missed.

    (4)

  • Beka C.

    Malasada heaven... almost debating driving all the way over there just for one more. So amazing and super cheap.

    (5)

  • Mike S.

    Mmmmm... 'nuf said.

    (5)

  • Jerry S.

    Malasadas were amazing. Couldn't stop eating them. The fillings were excellent. Should of got a dozen. They are that good! A must stop. Didn't get to try the food maybe next time. Definitely the best on the Big Island!

    (5)

  • Dwight R.

    Malasadassssssssssss. We tried the Guava, Lemon, Strawberry, Chery, Bavarian cream, choco, and plain. This place is sick, you'd be a fool not to stop here when making the infernal gallop from Kona/Waikoloa to Hilo. Kids live the deep fried tater tots. The Sweet Hawaiian bread was just OK.

    (5)

  • Allan H.

    Considering the rave reviews and everybody talking about Tex's malasadas, we had to make a trip over here. Since it was on the way to Waipio Valley Lookout it was a no-brainer. Donut like in texture, but coated with sugar and filled with different fillings, they were great when they were warm. However, we forgot about them in the car and ended up finding them at the car return. By then, they were rock hard and inedible - in other words, DON'T TREAT YOUR MALASADAS LIKE THIS! I'd probably go back there but wouldn't eat more than 1 or 2...

    (4)

  • R R.

    Need a sweet treat on the way to Hilo? Definitely stop at Tex's drive in Diner for the Malasadas. They have plain, Bavarian cream, chocolate, strawberry, etc. It is worth a taste for some local goodness!

    (4)

  • Daniela A.

    Honoka'a's demogaphic consists mostly of Portuguese people, and Tex's Drive In reflects this. They have Portuguese bean soup, as well as all the other local favorites (lunch plates, loco moco, etc). However, what they are most famous for are their malasadas, also known as Portuguese donuts. These are the best malasadas you will EVER have- they are incredibly fresh and really cheap! I really recommend stopping here while you are on your way to either Hilo or Kona, for a snack. They also have coffee and sell preserve, Kona coffee, etc.

    (5)

  • B. K.

    Burgers and Fries are pretty good here but when we are in Hawai we usually come here for the "world famous" Malasadas. Friends of mine say the Teryaki Beef is just average.

    (4)

  • Kiana M.

    yummy!!! every malasada i've gotten from tex is amazing!!! it's still warm and soft like it came out of the oven like 3 seconds ago. i went today and got two guava. a little on the sweet side, but the malasada was sooo perfect. next time i will ask for about half a dozen bavarian and half a dozen plain. so yummy!!!

    (5)

  • Katniss B.

    I was excited to try Tex's malasadas since many of the reviewers claim that they're better than Leonard's. IMO it was nothing close to being as good as Leonard's malasadas. I'm not malasada expert, but it's so different from Leonard's. Maybe I didn't get a fresh malasada from Tex's, but judging by the texture of the dough, it was more dense and chewy - nothing special. I've had regular donuts that tasted better. At least the staff was friendly. This review is only based on the regular malasada.

    (3)

  • Emy B.

    5 stars for the hot malasadas. On our way to Hilo and my cousin Carol sitting in the back casually mentions that this place has the best hot malasadas on the island "hands down". I quickly yelled out to my hubby who was driving "oh no! turn around!"... We almost made a donut in the middle of the two lane road before making it over there. Finally in the lot we are practically running from the car to the counter to place an order (had no breakfast you see). We get a dozen (half of them filled with creme) and devour most of them outside on the tables. Man, I wish I was there right now...

    (5)

  • Penny P.

    Agree w/what everyone says, not as good as the old days back when they were located across the street where the laundromat now stands Ever since they have the huge machines though, all malasadas look the same and have less character. Still, the best malasadas on the Big Island. Still, it's a great stopover on your way to Kona. I don't like how it has become so touristy--the staff don't seem to like it either. And i just noticed on this last trip that the 5 and dime shop closed!? But the huge plant atrium makes money!? Not crazy about the creme filled, but i would not call this a "Krispy Kreme" in any way. Tex's is not a chain, and sells much more than donuts. Krispy Kreme doesn't also sell portuguese bean soup, and fried rice, miso soup, and portuguese sausage breakfasts. Tourists will find Tex's quaint, but I miss the old Tex's. The malasadas were much better and tour buses couldn't fit in the parking lot.

    (5)

  • Chris S.

    MALASADAS!!! I like the plain one's, m'self. Their other fare is not so, bad either. I got about as close I I'll ever come to moco loco, here, by ordering the chicken loco - egg, chicken katsu, and brown gravy over rice. Their miso soup is also decent, with a good quantity of thin-sliced onion. I'd call it a must-stop if you are on your way from the Kona side to Waipio Valley or Hilo.

    (4)

  • Rocky L.

    We had a malasada with mango filling and one with guava filling. The mango filling was better than the guava filling. We had a manapua which was a cha sao bao. We had a curry stew and a shrimp sandwich. Both were good. The food was better than Zippys.

    (4)

  • Lucky M.

    This was a really nice break on our quick tour of the island. Hubby had the loco moco and I had the Spam moco. Both were really good--their gravy was delicious! We finished our meal off with malasadas. YUM!

    (4)

  • Mari C.

    "Malasada" in Spanish = "badly broiled". hmmmmmmmmm... what a coincidence... We did the drive-thu and got one, but only because Yelp told us to. Bad Yelp, bad! It was nothing more than a mediocre jelly doughnut filled with chocolate pudding, and I'm talking the kind that's made from a box mixed with water. Not your Aunt Rosie's homemade puddin. We didn't get any of the typical-looking fast food, thank goodness. Further evidence that most of the food on this volcano tastes like badness.

    (2)

  • Bad Ass Chic K.

    ouch, my freshly lard encrusted arteries hurt!

    (1)

  • tom-e e.

    Depending on the mood ur in, what ur taste buds r craving,.....food anywhere(majority) is good....someone once told me.....if u have "A" recipe and ten people make the same recipe.....all ten WILL not taste the same. So all u people that are having a bad day with ur taste buds, mood, etc....have some respect....if u think u can do better...by all means.....become an employer, in the food industry and make that difference! Have a wonderful day, every day......SMILE!, WWWWWOOOO--SSSSSAAAAAAAA!

    (5)

  • Nicole A.

    I was told by two different people to try the malasdas here and I was not disappointed. They were absolutely delicious! We even went back for more. I tried them with chocolate filling the first time and plain the second time. Should've tried a fruit filled one too! Ha!

    (5)

  • Ryan R.

    when on the go, and having the feeling of a quicky, stop by here for some hot malasadas! the cream filled are satisfying. warm weather, rain, and a hot malasada. lifes good

    (3)

  • Jesse W.

    malasadas = fried donut that isn't all that = big disappointment = wasted calories. no thanks. i don't think its worth the hype, coffee here also was disappointing. (This is a popular destination/pit stop for anyone driving up the hamakua coast to/from Hilo and Waimea).

    (1)

  • Richard T.

    Best Deal on the Big Island. This is a welcome change to the high priced breakfast spots in the Tourist District of Waiakola. Truly a local hang out where you can pay under $3 for a plain, freshly made malasada and a cup of coffee. A don't miss on your way to the Hilo.

    (4)

  • Allan A.

    The malasadas are great here. Definitely worth the stop between Hilo and Waikoloa. Also, the window into the kitchen was pretty cool especially while they are making the malasadas.

    (4)

  • Dona K.

    Place to stop in, stretch your legs, and pick up fresh and yummy malasadas on the way to Hilo.

    (4)

  • Shannon F.

    Nothing much different to say here. Hands down, the BEST Malasadas on the Big Island. I can't comment on the food, because I usually only stop here to get malasadas on the way to Kona from Hilo and vice versa.

    (5)

  • ser s.

    So, I'm wondering why no one has mentioned the tasty "fish burgers" here? Had to stop here after the long drive from Hilo. We weren't overly impressed with the local fare, until the Mahi-Mahi burger on Portuguese sweet bread. Why I never thought to combine the two ever before leaves me scratching my head now. It was fantastic! Very moist burger. Very simple. Very good.

    (5)

  • Tiffany O.

    Eh - I had better. My husband and I took a day trip out to Hilo to see the Volcanoes and thought we should stop by for some Hawaiian donuts - malasadas. Well - this place was recommended by the hotel, but they didn't tell us that the service wasn't that great. We drove up to the drive thru and waited a good 15 minutes before someone took our order. After we got the malasadas - I was disappointed, it wasn't as good as I thought - they were just ok. My daughters enjoyed them because they love donuts - so nothing spectacular!

    (3)

  • omar b.

    The drive from Hilo to Kona is always too long as i think of warm, fluffy, scrumptious malasadas to just devour once we get to Tex's. The lunch plates here are also tasty- best bets are the loco-moco, mahi burger, or actually any kine burger--all super yummy. The malasadas are now served creme filled and are delish, but i prefer them plain and served fresh and warm. Highly recommend going here and taking a box back home with you ^ ^

    (5)

  • Nat K.

    It's all about the malasadas when they're just warm and delightful and fresh from the deep-fryer. A must-stop for your drive around the island.

    (4)

  • Kate C.

    If you love Krispy Kreme donuts, you'll love the malasadas. Basically, just pudding filled squares of dough. The plate lunches are tasty and you have the option of skipping the potato/macaroni/mayo salad which is something to be eternally grateful for.

    (3)

  • Michelle C.

    When I told people I was going to the Big Island, all I heard was, "Go to Tex's and get Malasadas". Luckily, I planned more exiciting things to do when we were on the Big Island because the malasadas were overrated and the food that we got at Tex's was absolutely disgusting. Then again, I am not a big fan of Hawai'ian food. So, maybe that was the real problem?

    (2)

  • The Sock S.

    No, it's not as good as it used to be. But it's still good. I love the malasadas here, except now they try to make them like Leonard's. Not as good, especially with the fillings. I'm a purist, I guess. I still like Tex's malasadas more than Leonard's, but it's gotten closer. Bring back the good ole days!

    (4)

  • Melissa C.

    We came here for the malasadas. It was delicious. On the mainland, I don't see too many drive-ins making them. This place had them covered w/ chocolate, stuffed with strawberry, and bavarian style. Make sure you stop by this place and try it. Eat it while it's hot, because they won't taste the same later.

    (4)

  • Elizabeth C.

    Great place to stop over as you drive from Hilo to Kona or vice versa. The loco moco with spam had a great gravy. The mahi mahi sandwich was delicious.....and of course for dessert bavarian creme, plain, strawberry, and mango flavored malasadas. Didn't expect much from a fast food joint but the food was quite good. Beware, even though it is a "fast food" place, the food takes a while. Also, they aren't sure what mile marker they are located, so you must pass the waipo valley junction from hilo to reach them.

    (4)

  • lisa g.

    good malasadas - not Leonard's (Oahu) good, but good.

    (4)

  • StefnScottman I.

    i like the manapua....the malasadas are ok....kinda thick...compared to leonard's in oahu...but it will satisfy your craving! :) husband got the beef stew....it was really good and mom in law got the saimin....she said it was ok!

    (3)

  • Rachael O.

    Man cannot live by malasadas alone, even if they are so darn good. On a windy, rainy day, we needed real sustenance. Maybe it was an off day, but the main dishes were just so-so (tough beef in the stew, lackluster mac salad) and service was confused and less than enthusiastic. But the worst thing was getting home to Oahu and noticing on my bank statement that I was charged twice, for a total of $60--for one mixed plate, one cup of stew, two malasadas and a cup of coffee. That's $20 worth of food, folks! Was it sloppy service or intentional? Either way, its unacceptable to be charged 3X the amount for the food that we purchased.

    (2)

  • J P.

    Second time at Tex's! It hasn't changed at all. I like the doughy-chewy-fluffy malasadas. Leonard's doesn't even come close to this place but everyone has different tastes. Awesome malasadas! Need I say more?

    (5)

  • Kristin L.

    Holy amazing malasada! So fluffy and good. Got the barvarian creme, puts all other donuts and pastries to shame! I would come back to the Big Island just to visit Tex Drive In!! Highly recommend!

    (5)

  • Fiona C.

    Awesome awesome malasadas (review based on malasadas only). Love the fresh plain malasada paired with a cup of kona coffee. Definitely worth the trip from Hilo!

    (5)

  • Chris L.

    MALASADAS FTW. We had one of each flavor. The custard and guava were pretty good. They are only $1.50 each! Service is friendly and efficient. Mac salad was ok. This is a must for all tourists.

    (5)

  • Jason B.

    Malasadas 4 stars. Food, barely 3. But it's in a great location, perfect after ziplining. Was really hoping for better food. Kalua pork was bland and tough, like it was old. They ran out of shoyu too! But the Malasadas are why you normally come here. 2nd best I have ever had. Grew up with Leonard's on Oahu and I think they are the best.

    (3)

  • Julie H.

    The only reason this place got 4 stars is for the malasadas. These are AWESOME! And to people who think they are just donuts, they are so much more! I had the guava one and tried my husband's apple. The guava was definitely better. I would actually give the malasadas 5 stars, but we also got lunch which was pretty meh. I probably would not eat lunch here again, but would definitely stop by for some malasadas!

    (4)

  • Shradha A.

    We missed our turn to Waipio and chanced upon this place but the tater tots and malasadas were so good that we returned a few hours later for lunch. The taro vegetarian burger was good, but the fish was quite dry.

    (4)

  • A L.

    Best malasada/sonho in town. And the best place to stop half way to Kona/Hilo. Grab a malasada and a coffee then sit down and enjoy the view.......

    (5)

  • Racquel T.

    Drove an hour to get here from hilo! It was worth it! Malasadas was delicious! But Leonard's malasadas on Oahu is better (to me). We ordered the Bavarian cream and it was good! Bf approved!

    (5)

  • Raymond L.

    Nice atmosphere, the cashiers were very friendly, watching malasadas being made was neat. The malasadas were hot, big and the filling was generous! Overall, we were all pleased with our meals. It was a perfect way to top off being on this side of the big island.

    (5)

  • Daniel H.

    I arrived at a perfect time! there was no one in line. I walked away to check out the shop and bam ! 10 people were in line. I got in line and 20 more people came in behind me. I was a fan of the malasada however I dont know if it worth going out of the way to get. If you are going to Waipio Valley or passing by then it is worth stopping. I also ordered an animal burger which is okay but the buns were awesome !

    (3)

  • El H.

    Malasadas are soooooo good here... And fresh... Haven't had anything else but malasada said but they offer and full menu and it's always busy in here. Restrooms are quite clean and in order.... Highly recommend!!

    (5)

  • Jason B.

    this review is only about the malasadas which they boast about to be honest, being an ignorant mainlander, this wasn't all that to me. still great but nothing special. trust me still worth trying at least once as they serve them hot and fluffy. also do yourself a flavor and get the PLAIN ONE. the filled ones are just overboard imo ORDER: at counter JEANS: OK by far all we got was the

    (3)

  • Rob J.

    Tex's drive in is a staple of of our family trips to the Big Island. Hawaii wouldn't be complete without their hot malasadas. If you've never had one of these Portuguese treats, then you have to make this trip. Malasadas are light donuts with fillings inside. The tough part for us is that we always seem to come by here late in the day. All of the tropical flavors are the first to go. They usually have pineapple, lillikoi, passion fruit, strawberry, chocolate and Bavarian cream. The lillikoi is my personal favorite. Tex's is the perfect locals place to stop for a bite to eat. They have all sorts of standard drive in fare. At some point we'll have to try the regular food here, but it will take some work to pry us from the malasadas.

    (4)

  • Denny M.

    Holy sh** this place has ridiculous Malasadas! Translation- retarded good handmade filled donuts for us non- locals. Ate the Loco Moco with beef teriyaki which was awesome and got a box of these Malasadas for the hour drive back to Kohala coast. Worth every friggin calorie!!

    (4)

  • Gwen K.

    My go to for breakfast. Portions are plenty. Also malasadas are great too. Eat em while they're hot!

    (5)

  • Christopher R.

    Perfectly delicious malasadas that you must consume immediately! It's like a Krispy Kreme Hawaiian/Portuguese style! The locals hang here and talk story. Listen in for some added ambiance and pidgeon English rolling off the tongue. You will feel like you have broken the code to a foreign language when you translate anything.

    (5)

  • Linda P.

    The best Malasadas. Also had the Terri Bowl with rice and the Chicken Katsu Loco Moco. What's not to love?

    (5)

  • Brody G.

    Food was good...buns are Hawaiian Sweet Bread and burgers were tasty. But the real stars of this place were the Malasadas!! Like a donut...only better. They are larger than normal donuts and are heavier...until you bite into one. Then you realize they are light and fluffy like edible clouds filled with cream filling love. Definitely get one if you pass by.

    (4)

  • Mitilia M.

    This place is delicous I love their malasadas and enjoyed their burger if your in hilo and want malasadas but dont know where to go tex drive in its the greatest place on the island for malasadas

    (4)

  • Jason B.

    By far the best thing we have eaten on our trip to the Big Island. We made the mistake of souring a taste buds with a Bismarck and malasada from Punalu'u Bake Shop a few days earlier and was a little hesitant. But once we walked into Tex Drive In and could smell the hot malasada we knew we would have a much better experience. My wife and I ordered two coffees and six malasadas, 5 original and one cream filled. Now I must say, I am not much of a donut or pastry lover, but these things were the best I ever had! We sat at the small bar and watched them make the malasada as we enjoyed the hot, fluffy and sugary pastry. My wife could not stop raving about them! A well worth it trip and a must if you are anywhere near the area.

    (5)

  • Katherine B.

    Holy moly! I know doughnuts but now I know malasadas kick doughnuts in the nuts! I've never had such an amazing thing in my mouth. Please, do yourself a favor and stop by.

    (5)

  • Jameson B.

    AMAZING!!!! YOU MUST MUST MUST EAT HERE. Don't be fooled by the "back" of the building when you first pull in the parking lot. Drive around to the other side and dive right in. Double bacon cheeseburger was easily in the top 5 best burgers I've ever had. Bacon, perfect. Meat, perfect. Bun, perfect. Delicious. Teri beef and Fried chicken plate was THE BEST FRIED CHICKEN I HAVE EVER HAD HANDS DOWN. Wow wow wow. Crunchy and perfectly seasoned batter on the outside and moist perfectly cooked meat on the inside. Malasadas were a gift from God! Filled mine with Bavarian cream and it was the best doughnut I've ever had. DO NOT PASS THESE UP! Fries were the boring fat school lunch fries but, everything else was good enough to overlook this. This is hands down one of the best restaurants I have ever been to. Great job guys. AMAZING!!!

    (5)

  • Derek S.

    The malasadas are for sure the best thing here. While i have only been here once on vacation, it was clear by the choices of others around me that the malasadas are the go to order. Even though i was here on vacation, I thought eating donuts for lunch was still out of the question, so I ordered a mahi mahi sandwich...it was pretty filling but fresh and a good change of pace from the resort meals (and prices). Fun local spot and definitely recommend!!! I will be back!

    (4)

  • Tavy P.

    I'm a fan of Leonard's Malasadas on Oahu, so I was curious about Tex Malasadas and all the raves I heard about it when I moved to Hilo. Tried their traditional malasadas and a few of their filled ones and I have to admit that I enjoyed them very much! Applause! Applause! Not as oily as Leonard's, but must definitely be consumed right away! Service could be better, wait was a bit ridiculous, but that's probably because of all the tourists. Aside from the malasadas, they have a fairly large food menu that isn't too bad either. Just an FYI, you must call ahead to go through their drive-thru. :)

    (4)

  • Dorothy T.

    Their bavarian cream malasada is the best thing I ate in Big Island! It cost about $3.70. They are so popular that you usually have to wait about 5-10 minutes for your order because they are constantly being made through out the day. It's about a 2 minute drive from Waipo waterfalls.

    (5)

  • Domenic V.

    I came for the malasadas. The locals gave Tex's malasadas resounding kudos, particularly the filled ones. Couldn't decide which to order so the voices told me to get all seven flavors. Then I proceeded to chow down in the parking lot. I'm now a local.

    (5)

  • Brian C.

    We had been driving around the island sightseeing and my wife remembered hearing about the malasadas here. We almost missed it, but are so glad we didn't! We tried five different flavor as a family and everyone was AMAZING!!! The place was filled with tons of locals and their food also looked terrific! People were wonderful, and it's the kind of place you'd love to spend hours at to enjoy.

    (5)

  • Joyce B.

    Great malasadas! Plain malasadas are $1.06/each, filled are $1.56/each. We bought 10, some plain and some filled. My favorites were the plain and Bavarian filled. I can't handle desserts that are too sweet, so some of the other fillings were a bit much for me. I also ordered the Korean Chicken plate ($8.99). a bit too sweet for my liking. My bf ordered the animal burger with an egg on top and served with fries ($10.99 + $1.00/egg). The burger was good, just a bit messy. Based on their menu, all their beef patties are grass fed beef. There's seating inside and outside the restaurant and a few stools to watch the making of malasadas from glass windows. There is also a gift shop with Tex Drive In and other souvvenirs. I recommend coming here for malasadas, but I'm not a huge fan of the other food. Maybe I'll have some better luck the next time I visit!

    (4)

  • Evan A.

    Everything else you read about this place will mention it, so all I'll say is: the malasadas live up to the hype. And for $1.10 apiece they are a fantastic value too. We had lunch there and decided to take advantage of their offering of local grass-fed beef. All four of us had something with beef, and they were all fantastic. The burger with pineapple was well-cooked and super juicy, the teriyaki beef was tender and flavorful (on brown rice for 50 cents extra), and the beef curry was generous with the meat, complemented with large chunks of carrot and potato.

    (5)

  • Chris T.

    Reviewed wrong business

    (5)

  • Tokujiro S.

    Poor customer service, long wait for food. Ordered and paid for a bottle of water, no one acknowledge my presence at the counter, had to get their attention to get bottle of water. Food of poor quality. Not like our last visit to Hawaii.

    (2)

  • DC R.

    The malasada is worth the stop! Passion fruit center FTW! Skip the Bento: 30 minute prep time.

    (5)

  • Carol C.

    This review is for their malasadas. I had the chocolate and my friend had the guava. We couldn't get enough of the fluffy, custardy goodness. Although we wanted more, we were sadly watching our waistlines. I love this place, but I don't think their malasadas beat Leonard's in Waikiki.

    (4)

  • Nicole Y.

    A great local spot to get your malasada fix. I suppose it's a little out of the way, depending on where you're staying. Probably about an hour or so from the resorts down in Waikoloa. My bf and I were staying in Waimea and it was about a 20 minute drive. Malasadas were good, but they were out of almost all of the flavors once we got there which was sort of a bummer. No tropical ones left, so we got vanilla, chocolate, and lemon. They were fluffy and sugary and the fillings were tasty. We also snagged some breakfast as well - a loco moco and a plate breakfast. Both were tasty and filling and the loco moco was super authentic (served in a cup instead of on a plate!) Would definitely go back, maybe earlier in the morning so I can try the Guava fillings!

    (3)

  • Isabelle C.

    I have fond memories of eating malasadas here as a kid. Not sure what happened, but it seems the quality of the malasadas have decreased lately as far as their fillings go. My bavarian creme and chocolate malasadas tasted like cheap box pudding. Really hoping that this is not a permanent thing! Plain ones are just as good as I remember them.

    (4)

  • Brian H.

    OK first let me say that I've lived in Hawaii 35 years so I'm pretty well versed in local food. 34 years on Oahu and about 6 months now on Hawaii Island in Waimea. The best thing about Tex's is the location and the botanical garden walk next door. For Malasada's go to Leonard's, Champion's or Agnes' on Oahu. The rest of the food items are less than average, although the fries are pretty good. We tried it again today after vowing last time that we wouldn't go back, but this time I promise.......... never again! Not sure what the high rating is about other than tourist hype...

    (2)

  • Jackie T.

    Best malasadas that we found in Kona! Highly recommend the bavarian cream or mango filled. These were the freshest and lightest puffs of sugary goodness. Good luck just eating one!

    (4)

  • S. S.

    Been here 4x and it was excellent each time. Bought boxes of warm malasadas that were all outstanding. Not too sweet, fabulous and exotic variety, beyond yummy! The portuguese bean soup was incredibly good and the salad, seaweed salad and mac salad were all fantastic. We had to go back for seconds to take back to our hotel for breakfast the next day. We even bought a box to take on the plane, but it never made it to the airport, it got demolished before it had any chance of air flight. Ridiculously seductive! This is a MUST if you are on the big island. It's just THAT GOOD!

    (5)

  • Louis R.

    Malasadas. Ever have em? No? Soooooooo ono!!!! Definitely hit this spot up. Mahalo.

    (5)

  • Jia X.

    Worst teriyaki bowl I had in my life:((( ginger all over the beef, super salty, what kind of Teri is this? Yuk!!!

    (1)

  • Kay M.

    Tex's hit the spot after spending a rainy day in Waipio Valley. A large variety of local food to choose from such as saimin, loco moco, hamburgers, or plate lunches- so there's something for everyone! A large window allows you to see the pastry chef making fresh malasadas. Much bigger than the malasadas at Leonard's but they have more of a sugar donut taste and are not as puffy. But hey, you can't go wrong with a hot ball of dough covered in sugar! Try the Bavarian creme or mango.... Delicious!!

    (4)

  • Mina L.

    This is a good stop between Kona and Hilo. The malasadas were ok. We got plain, cream filled, choc filled. I recommend getting filled malasadas. The plain ones are just too dense. Plate lunches and hamburgers are ok. Good place to stretch your legs.

    (4)

  • Johana D.

    Came for the malasadas that a friend raved about. To my and my husband's disappointment they weren't all that great. They were good but nothing to rave about. However it was a cute cozy spot. 2 stars because it wasn't anything out of this world like our friend had built it up to be.

    (2)

  • Kitt H.

    I learned that I don't like malasadas, or at least I don't like Tex's. However, the rest of my family did enjoy them, so it's perhaps a matter of taste and why I'm giving 3 stars rather than fewer. My favorite donut is a Krispy Kreme glazed donut, so I'm definitely not anti-fried-pastry. They were out of many of the flavors when we visited, only having strawberry, apple, chocolate, and Bavarian creme. I also ordered a bowl of saimin that was tasteless.

    (3)

  • Vi L.

    I came here really excited because it was probably the only place on the Big Island where they sold malasadas. I have been anxiously waiting to eat my fair share of malasadas ever since my trip to Oahu 2 years ago. Sad to say, I was pretty disappointed. The malasadas reminded me of just a typical cream filled donut I can get back home. It's not light and fluffy like the ones I tried at Leonard's in Oahu. I think it can be cause they're not as fresh when you come here later in the day (I arrived here around 4pm), but no excuses. We also got a burger and mahi mahi plate. The food was okay, not the best compared to other places on the island. The mash potatoes and gravy was good though. There was ample seating, so we didn't have to wait. Overall, this place is OKAY. I don't think it's worth going out of the way for but not bad if you want something quick and easy.

    (3)

  • Cynthia L.

    After visiting Waipio Valley lookout, next stop was Tex Drive In. I had no idea what my fiance was doing here at the time as we rolled up to the drive thru window. He ordered two plain sugar malasadas. That's it. Well then, sounds good! The malasadas seemed freshly made as they were still warm, soft and fluffy. They were tasty and not too rich. The only other place I've had malasadas was back in Honolulu at Leonard's. Compared to Leonard's, Tex Drive In wasn't as good. Leonard's is still king! Price: $2 and some change for two pieces.

    (4)

  • Aimee P.

    Malasadas.. or Filled Donuts rolled in sugar.. in abundance in various flavor. Unfortunately, we were more worried about eating breakfast which we were full and couldn't stuff ourself with these fantastic pastries. But it was still good after a good day of trekking in Hilo. But I've got to try other malasadas in order to justify a 4 or 5 star rating from me. Still the experience was good.. it is set on a cliff so you just look out to the Hawaiian blue seas.. aaaaah.

    (3)

  • Jenifer G.

    I grew up on the Big Island, and Tex's sure is different from how it was back in they day. Even the malasadas are very different, and not in a good way. :( - Malasadas: WHAT HAPPENED TO THE MALASADAS I grew up with here? They are now huge, and white/light, square and don't even look nor taste fully cooked? Lol. + Sweet Potato chips (Okinawan): they were delicious, not too thin and not too thick, a nice crisp, and cheaper than the regular fries. Also less greasy that fries too! - Grilled Cheese Sandwich: bah. The bread is doused with butter so there's a nice brown finish on the bread but it is quite greasy. In it is a layer of processed cheese, it is overpriced but I can see how people would pay for it because it looks beautifully made. - Loco Moco: Oddly enough, served in 2 separate containers, like two half dishes. The meat patty was actually tender, then again I always hold Big Island beef in high regards, assuming it is local!, and the gravy was a nice thick light brown and tasty. + Meatloaf Sandwich: It didn't taste like a traditional meatloaf, which I was happy to see (meaning not that deep red/brown color so not doused in ketchup). again, the beef was very tendy and easy to eat. All of the food is a bit overpriced but that's the Big Island in general? Also, what's up with the crowd, I didn't see many locals so it just looks like a tourist or transplant trap. The line was long, out the door, and I was a little entertained hearing the guys behind me trying to explain what malasadas are and how the Portugese ended up in Hawaii. :) However, I did like that there's inside booths and outside tables so you can enjoy the beautiful Hamakua coast fresh air -- one side towards the highway is a gorgeous plume of tall skinny trees, and on the other is towards the coast, almost an ocean view but not really. It gets super crowded during lunch, even at 11:15 on a weekend it was 20 minutes in line, another 15+ minutes to get our food, but still it was an enjoyable meal. I doubt I'll be back here for a while but it was nice for some nostalgia.

    (3)

  • Pink S.

    Just as delicious as they were on my last visit 2 yrs ago. Love the bavarian creme. They were served hot, ahhhh. We're leaving in 2 days and tempted to go back all the way there fr Waikoloa...

    (4)

  • A L.

    I came here last Saturday when a friend and I were just driving around. This was the only place to go to, so our hopes were not high. But the food was great. The double bacon cheeseburger was made with real burgers that you really need to bite into, not like those thin patties you get at McDonalds or Burger King. The fries were hot. I had Korean chicken for the first time -- and so, I have found a new dish that I love. I also had a malasada for the first time. It was excellent with black coffee. What a delightful surprise on a Saturday afternoon of just driving around.

    (5)

  • Jodell C.

    I am a local born and raised in Honokaa. tex Drive Inn was always the place to eat. However, there's new owners now. & I just went there this morning to order a beef curry stew with rice on the side. The cashier told me she cannot do that. She went in the kitchen to ask the manager / boss on duty & came back to say she cannot put my rice on the side!!!! I even offered to pay for the extra plate. She said she can't do that... That is very bad business ethics !!!! If u are the owner of Tex Drive Inn & reading this, that was rude of you, to not accommodate your paying customers!! I will keep writing bad reviews about your business until you learn how to service your customers.. Even if people say you have the best malasadas on the island. Having that kind of attitude towards your customers will not make you successful!!!! Disappointed w/ Tex Drive Inn. No Aloha Spirit!!!! Some Shame U Guys!!!

    (1)

  • Odille C.

    I love the malasadas here, if you go to Tex and don't get a malasada then your trip there was a waste. Their malasadas are basically gold in the form of baked goods, also they serve filled ones, whats not to love? I wish they were closer to Hilo, I would go everyday.

    (5)

  • Cesar R.

    MALASADAS Warm, fluffy no-hole donuts filled with delicious sweet gooey apple stuffs? yes. yelp.com/biz_photos/o5__… A sophisticated review on the finer points of fried dough? not quite. Hey! This is yelp. You get what you pay for. Ok. ok. they were DAMN tasty. that is all.

    (4)

  • Steven U.

    Went to Tex for the first time and I liked it. We got malasadas, plain and filled. I also got a Korean chicken plate for the road. Keep in mind I don't really like malasadas. I don't know why, but they just aren't my favorite thing. Give me an apple fritter or kruller and I'm good. Anyway, they have a window where you can watch them make the malasadas by hand...it's pretty cool. Tex malasadas don't come out as dark as Oahu malasadas. Tex malasadas are lighter in color and it seems they don't fry them as long too. We tried a few flavors, I think apricot and rasberry....they were good. My Korean Chicken was also very good, but different than Oahu Korean chicken. Oahu Korean chicken is boneless and Big Island Korean Chicken seems to be bone-in wings and drummettes(from the few places I've had). The Oahu chicken is easier to eat, but I think the Big Island chicken is more flavorful and juicier (IMO). The mac salad came with potatoes in it which was good as well. I opted for the mashed potatoes and gravy instead of rice, and it was good....the gravy was better than the mashed potatoes. I will go back and try some of the other food. 3 stars

    (3)

  • Pamlyn C.

    My sister got the Malasada (no filling). It was warm and fresh, but I didn't think there was anything special about it. It was just fried dough with sugar on the outside. I got the macaroni salad which I am a big fan of. It was delicious. The lines took forever. I think they need a new system.

    (3)

  • Jessica G.

    Dear Tex Drive-in, Your malasadas, and in particular, the ones filled with chocolate, would seriously be the death of me if I lived anywhere near enough that I could come to you on a regular basis. I am almost thankful that I can't, though now I shall pine for them in a most unusual way. Soft, pillowy doughnuts filled with chocolate pudding bordering on the verge of tasting like chocolate frosting. Where I come from, this is a good thing. A very good thing. Very delicious overall. Sincerely, The Girl With Potential for a Serious Bakery Issue PS - please have more than just a couple of the flavors listed on your menu - we wanted to try more than just the 4 that were available so that was a little sad for us.

    (4)

  • Bill H.

    I was the only guy there, I should say I was the last guy in a line of five or six. The kids taking orders were fun to watch...they would stand at their registers and stare at their finger nails. We were cued up like good little minions, waiting for the girls to call us up. They wouldn't do it. We, the customers, got to talking amongst ourselves, wondering just WFT was going on. Finally, one lady, cute, petite, auburn hair, got really pissed, she must have been one of the first in the cue. She walked up to the kid at the register, said "we've been waiting here 10 minutes, what the heck is going on." The kid said, " you're here now, what do you want." This exact exchange occurred twice. I thought the red-headed lady was going to shoot lightning bolts out her ass! RHL left the building, I thought to summon the dark forces of Gozar, but she never returned. Too bad. I eventually got to order some food, and it was all messed up. It took them fifteen minutes to make a double cheese burger, they forget the bacon. The patties were really good, but the bun looked like a malasada cut in half. It literally dissolved on the meat. My drink never made it, I had to ask for it again before I left. An 8 ounce smoothie for $4.50. I got a box of six malasadas, because the kid who took my order said I could only buy boxes of six or 12. No other options, like only one maybe? They actually come filled with goo, but the kid never brought that up either. Two stars because the meat was pretty good and do love their malasadas. I will never forget that red haired woman, though!

    (2)

  • Mabel H.

    The burgers and plate lunches are meh, but the malasadas are the best on the Big Island (although best in the state honour goes to Leonard's in Honolulu). The custard and guava malasadas are my personal favourites. And it takes Tex's malasadas longer to go stale than any others I found - I bought a dozen the day before flying back to the mainland and 2 days later they were still delicious.

    (4)

  • Reed N.

    Tex is a long standing food stop on the lonely road between Waimea and Hilo. Who doesn't like donuts? Truthfully?? I mean, every country has its own fried dough and they are all pretty darn good... especially when warm and fresh. The Masaladas are no exception. You must get some and eat them. You just must. : ) I also had the Local Wrap... Kalua Pork and cabbage. It was a bit runny due to the braising liquid... but tasty. They are currently remodeling, so the may lose that old diner divey feel. But the food is the deal.

    (4)

  • Scott K.

    Based solely on the Malasadas, I would definitely come back. We stopped in the mid afternoon, so we did have a chance to sample the rest of the menu. The Malasadas were the best I have ever had.

    (4)

  • Jill E.

    On our first visit to the big island some years ago, a friend said you must stop by Tex Drive in and have the malasadas. Having no idea what they were, we did and were hooked. I try to eat pretty healthy but there are exceptions to every rule and this is one of them. They have a pretty big menu but i have no idea how anything tastes because we only go for the warm, gooey filled malasadas. I think the last time we went I had chocolate filling and this time had the Bavarian Cream. I do believe those two are better than the fruit fillings. These remind me of a warm Krispy Cream donut which I never eat either. Thank goodness for vacations where you can let go and indulge.

    (3)

  • Chris P.

    Animal burger w pastrami and grilled onions perfect. Onions were grilled w "special sauce".

    (5)

  • Tony R.

    Malasadas. Raspberry. Drive through. $3 for 2 slices of heaven... If the drive wasn't worth it alone, you could get by on just the donuts. Warm, sweet, soft, delicious. Raspberry was great but they come in all flavors. Definitely a must on your way around the top of the big island. We did want by on our way back to kona from Hilo, stopped by Akaka falls and then refueled here for some malasada bomb digity ness... Check it out.

    (5)

  • Charlene C.

    Love this place! Great ambiance and great food. You can't ask for anything more.... hey you're in Hawaiiiii! :P I've had their malasada, 2 eggs breakfast with Portuguese sausage & toast, beef taco salad, chicken sandwich, and pork & cabbage wraps. Everything is good... I have no complaints. :) Please don't bring alcohol here and drink it outside. They don't have a liquor license. We've witnessed this. SIDE NOTE: There is another Tex Drive In on Kopiko Street in Kailua-Kona. It's NOT the same!! Don't even think about going there. Do yourself a favor & stick to this one.

    (5)

  • Raizel G.

    My mom and I loved their malasadas so much that we ended up stopping there twice during the week we spent on the Big Island. I tried the mango flavor and the bavarian cream flavor one and they were both great! They can be pretty messy if you try to eat them in the car, though! I would recommend this place to anyone who has a sweet tooth and finds themself on the Big Island. They malasadas are fresh and delicious and come in a bunch of different flavors. It's very casual and a great stop for anyone who happens to be driving by! You can even watch them making the malasadas. :) There were always people there when I went, but it never took long to get our order. They also have a gift shop and both indoor and outdoor seating.

    (4)

  • E L.

    It's OK. Best ones are in Oahu.

    (3)

  • Eric C.

    This place has gone downhill more and more over the past years and they will eventually stop trying (they already did in my opinion). The reason they won't go bankrupt is because they have a deal with the busses to bring tourist here which is a shame because just down the hill are two amazing places... I always try to give them another shot and order something different but I've been fooled too many times and this is the last time I'll come here. Service- when they're busy with tourist they run around like chickens without their heads. They try to be nice but they just come off as stingy and hiring high school/ young kids to man the front with no training is just not a smart business idea. Food- this is the most horrific place to eat on this island. I just had the curry and could not eat another bite because I could tell it was old. The beef was dried out and it didn't even smell like curry. You can tell the employees making the malasadas don't know what they're doing or have been taught wrong. The malasadas are dense, heavy and too pricy. You need to WEIGH your portions and let them rise. You can't punch the dough several times in the day because you aren't selling as much. I guess the original owners didn't tell them that because its just disgustingly oily. Price- I don't know why it has one money symbol when it should have three compared to the other restaurants around here. A small curry bowl goes for $5.00. The milkshake is $4.00 and they serve it with ice in it. Honestly, who does that?!? Atmosphere- when its slow the place seems very nice. When it's busy everyone in the back is yelling at each other and it's hard to have a relaxing time with them blaring numbers over the speakers or when the speakers are broken to have the cashiers yell them out... I wish I could give this place no stars and giving them one is probably too generous.

    (1)

  • Kameron T.

    Its Mallasada Day today.

    (4)

  • Justin V.

    Try malsadas! Try the malsadas! Did I mention to try the malasadas? The last time my wife and I came here in 2007, I don't remember the portuguese style donuts being this good. But wow, its fantastic. The Tex Drive In has expanded and accommodates more seating with in and outside tables. This is definitely worth the drive if you're staying on the Big Island. My family drove 40mins from Waikaloa just to have breakfast and try the malasadas. The original sugar ones are great but they also have jelly filled ones. I love this place and would come back just for the malasadas!

    (4)

  • Jennifer W.

    A friend recommend this place as a must for Hawaiian food and malasadas. This was a perfect stop for lunch after riding ATVs all morning. The malasadas were awesome; it's basically a deep friend donut with filling inside. The chocolate was super tasty, especially when it's warm! The portions for the steak plate I got was large; it came with scoops of rice and macaroni. This place was better than others I've tried on Oahu. Every time I see malasadas now, I think of Tex Drive In. If you're in the area, it's definitely worth a stop!

    (5)

  • Lynette T.

    Went twice! It was on the way to our adventures in the north side of the island. Strawberry malasada for him, mango for me on the first visit. Bavarian custard for him, cherry for me on the second. We were sad that the list of fillings were limited on our visits. But what we had was excellent! (and in our opinions, better than Leonard's on Oahu) These malasadas were big! And square. yelp.com/biz_photos/o5__… Picked right out of the fryer. yelp.com/biz_photos/o5__… The dough was light. The sugar coating wasn't overwhelming. The fillings were delicious. We traded bites of each other's malasadas. yelp.com/biz_photos/o5__… He tried to snag an extra bite of my mango one, but it was too good. I had to do the "I'm gonna flick your nose" gesture at him. You've got to keep your eyes open on the road or you might miss it. "U-turn! U-turn! I think I saw the sign!" yelp.com/biz_photos/o5__…

    (4)

  • C. R.

    Beware the Portuguese Bean Soup. Its flavor is only SALT. Not worth the $5.00. Again, very salty.

    (2)

  • Ginger L.

    Had heard about their malasadas so had to go check them out. Had a delicious mahi mahi plate lunch. Plenty of food and very tasty. My friend had a meatloaf sandwich that was as good as she remembered it being when she had been there before. The malasadas were good. The square shape was cool and they were bigger than most. But they were not as good as Leonards... the texture was more like a donut and not as light as I'd like...but definitely worth the trip...

    (4)

  • Sheree M.

    I wish I could give this place more stars. I seen others posts and I've decided I think we ordered the wrong food. The grilled cheese sounded good which is a bit abnormal for me..it was ok. My husband ordered the chicken "boat" which we assumed was chicken tenders and fries..wrong. It was fried chicken wings very little breading and no seasoning. He probably ate 2 wings and some fries and was over it. We also got a side of tator tots which were good but extremely hard to mess those up. The place smelled like fresh donuts I almost wish we had gone there just to try the malasadas. The staff was friendly but food was just ok.

    (2)

  • Larry K.

    The only place for malasadas on the Big Island.... But good... You'll find them a little denser than the famous malasadas from Leonard's but they are excellent piping hot from the fryer... Worth the search... Can't comment on the rest of the food...

    (4)

  • Cara S.

    My second trip here and they don't disappoint. Good place to stop when craving a hamburger, but they have lots of other variety on the menu too.

    (4)

  • Russell C.

    Ok so this is pretty much the quintessential middle of nowhere spot that does something really well so we gotta stop there kind of place. I've recently become more accustomed to this little town because it is where my fiance originates from so going here is pretty much a given every trip there. We usually get the chicken loco moco, which comes in a Styrofoam bowl, with white rice, a chicken patty , over easy egg and brown gravy. Its pretty good, because they are all made fresh. Now to the most important part and the main reason why everyone comes here, is the malasadas. Which is also the reason why i gave this place only 3 stars. 1st off the headliner is the bavarian creme filled malasada, which out of the last 4 times ive been there has only had them once. Not because they sold out, but the excuses ranged from the person who makes its isnt working today, to we dont have the ingredients to make it because our orders werent delievered. So when they did have it, it was good, i still think Leonards on oahu is better. But they are not bad by any means. So if you are in the area stop by and have a little rest from your long drive and have a malasada and coffee.

    (3)

  • Cherie T.

    Thanks to Kalani C.'s Big Island list and Jenny H. ...i have found this gem! it was my first time trying malasadas. I have nothing to compare with. But I will admit that these malasadas reminds me of sugar donuts but lighter and fluffier. i normally don't like donuts will fillings but these malasadas were good. I tried the regular (plain), guava, pineapple, and mango fillings. My favorite flavor is the guava. You know these malasadas are fresh cuz you can see them making them in their open kitchen.. I"ll definitely go back to this place if i'm ever back at the Big Island again.

    (4)

  • Michael L.

    their fresh malasadas are as good as any i have had. you can also get them with various fillings. i have had the one with bavarian creme but i guess when it comes to malasadas i am kind of a traditionalist and prefer mines plain. they also serve lunch/dinner foods but we usually stop by for the malasadas. it is in the small town of honokaa but worth the drive.

    (4)

  • PatrickJ T.

    Tex Drive-In makes my favorite malasadas in the world!! Forget about Leonard's in Oahu. They've got nothing on Tex Drive-In!! The bavarian cream filled malasada is my absolute favorite!!! With each bite, it tastes like a piece of paradise. We stopped by Tex-Drive-In quite a bit while we were staying for the week on the Big Island. We did try some of their entrees like the loco moco, kalua pork, teriyaki beef, and teriyaki chicken. They all tasted fine, but make sure you save room for the malasadas. They are ONO (Delicious!!!) From reading some of the reviews, it seems that I was fortunate to always have my favorite malasada available. We were always able to even take some back with us to our timeshare in Kona. It is so worth taking the time to come to Tex Drive-In, and you also get great views too.

    (5)

  • Lauren E.

    I kept hearing about malasadas and that Tex Drive In was the place to get them. One of the best dessert foods I've had in Hawaii, Tex's malasadas were freshly made. They were warm with a slight crisp on the outside and chewy center. Unfortunately when we went, the only fillings they had available were Bavarian creme, chocolate and strawberry. Normally they have tons of other fillings. The Bavarian creme was my favorite. If only I could get these on the East Coast!

    (5)

  • Christine E.

    Total fan of the Malasadas! BEST on the Big Island! I bought a huge box of assorted so I could try them ALL but the plain are the best. They are served fresh and hot! I didn't try anything else on the menu but there was a line out the door and it was crowded! This place is very popular with the locals and it's conveniently located right off of the highway! Can someone please open one up in San Jose CA? The owner is from Seattle, so I say, WHY NOT?!

    (5)

  • Jackie A.

    Best place to get warm and tasty Malasadas!! You can even watch them make them:) A fun place to visit and a must if you haven't tried a Malasada!! Aloha!!

    (5)

  • John S.

    Back in my first home -- Chicagoland -- we would call the "malasadas" "Bismarks". The difference is that at Tex they're rectangular -- and better than anything I ever had in Chicago. That might be because this is the only place I expect to get the malasadas warm -- or even hot -- from the kitchen. I've had other food at Tex, but I plan my trips from Kailua-Kona to Hilo and save up the calories by skipping a meal or two so I can have two absolutely fresh malasadas and a cup of coffee. They are that good!

    (4)

  • Leana L.

    We hit this place up on our drive to Hilo since it was right off highway 19. I heard about this place from the Food Network and had to look it up on yelp. I was debating whether or not to get malasadas for the first time from Tex's or from Leonards when we go to Oahu, but decided on Tex's since it was featured on the Food Network and there's plenty of other places I want to try on Oahu. Arriving at Tex's, it was super easy to find, and even though we weren't hungry for a snack, I talked my mom and sister in to trying a malasada with me. Outside, there were several tables filled with people enjoying their malasadas or other breakfast plates. I asked the lady at the counter for her suggestion and she said the bavarian cream was their most popular, so I ordered that one. My mom ordered the guava, and my sister ordered the mango filling. For about $4.41, we got three warm malasadas covered in sugar. She threw them in a paper bag and we took a seat in one of the booths. Inside, there's a cooler for water with little paper cups and old trivia cards in mugs on the tables. When I bit into my malasada, it was sweet goodness. There was a little too much sugar covering it, for my taste, but it reminded me of a nice fluffy doughnut, and who doesn't like doughnuts? I tried my mom's guava, which tasted like a mixture between guava and strawberry. My sister's mango was my favorite for sure. The refreshing fruit flavor was a nice contrast to the sweet dough. The malasadas were pretty good sized and I barely had room to finish mine, but I couldn't let it go to waste! The one thing I wish they had done, was make them circular because when you took a bite of the corners, you didn't have any filling! Overall, if you want some fried sugary goodness filled with a unique tropical fruit flavor or something creamy like bavarian cream or chocolate, this is the place! It looked pretty popular with some locals, too, for breakfast. Since this is my first time trying malasadas, I 'm not sure if this is the BEST place, but it was good!

    (4)

  • Denice C.

    The Bavarian Creme Malasada is very flavorful! Good thing they have a drive-thru. Didn't get the chance to dwell on other flavors as we were in a hurry rushing to the Emergency Room. I swear it wasn't my idea to stop and get dessert! Kudos for keeping me sane while I waited outside of the hospital. I hate hospitals. And the malasadas made me feel comfortable enough to make me forget where I was at.

    (5)

  • Nicole K.

    On a recent trip to the Big Island, my family and I made a stop at Tex Drive In for their famous malasadas. As an Oahu-born, Leonard's lover, I was skeptical of their "World Famous" claim, but was quickly proven wrong when I bit into their delicious, light, sugary, and square malasadas. Tex's malasadas are not as dough-y with a more flaky texture reminiscent of sweet bread. It is a lighter flavor and color and seems to be much less oily than other malasadas. The fun part of eating at Tex's is watching them fry the malasadas through large windows looking into the kitchen. You can see the dough being mixed, the squares being cut, and the malasdas floating in a vat of yummy cooking oil. Add a cup of coffee on a cold day, and you have the making of a great breakfast or snack!

    (4)

  • Katharine A.

    Famous for their malasadas. They cook them to order. I am a fan of the regular/plain and not so much of the filled ones (fruit jellies and pudding basically). They are much better fresh than stale, so keep in mind that you won't have the same experience if you take them to go. You can reheat them easily, but they are not the same. I also got some bread which was also good. This is a casual place with many other food options, but I didn't try any of them. I stuck with the carbs. There is a gift shop here too with trinkets. Lots of parking and seating. Very casual.

    (3)

  • Rebecca S.

    Honestly, I planned a week of activities for our recent vacation to the Big Island, and I wanted to include good local food for my kids to try......wanted to avoid any type of fastfood chain. Tex Drive-in is a great choice. We went mainly to try the malasadas. Can't beat the price! Huge! We opted for the originals (no filling) and they were great, This place is right off the main rode---can't miss it. Definitely worth the stop.

    (5)

  • Megan W.

    My guide book said this place had the best malasadas on the island. The others must be inedible because I thought the ones here were pretty bad. They had the taste and texture of a regular doughnut; similar to kripsy kreme (whose doughnuts I dislike) not similar to malasadas. Didn't even finish it, threw it away. The other food here might be good but the malasadas are not!

    (1)

  • Ren N.

    Excellent malasadas. I can't speak for any other items on the menu. A wonder small family type environment situated on top of a hill. Good breeze and big place with plenty of seating. Make sure you check if they already ran out of malasada before you show up cause I waited in line for nothing.... It's worth it because the malasadas come out warm!!!

    (4)

  • Gina M.

    WOW! I was taking a long drive out to Waipio Valley from Hilo and decided to make a pit stop for a malasada, so glad I did. I picked up three for the road. One apple, one bavarian cream, and one plain. I ate the apple on the drive to Waipio and it was amazing. I ate the other ones for breakfast the other days and they were fabulous! I have to admit the place is totally touristy and feels out of place in the Hilo area but it was packed and has great malasadas. They also serve lunch which I can't vouch for because I only got the malasadas. Definitely good for a quick stop if you're in the area.

    (5)

  • Nancy S.

    Tex Drive in is the place to get the BEST Malasadas. The cream filled ones are our favorites. These are fresh delicious and well worth waiting to try your first Malasada here.

    (5)

  • Bob L.

    Malasadas! Deep fried dough filled with fantastic fruit or sugary fillings! Service was friendly, and the menu is large!

    (4)

  • TianChee S.

    Only one reason to come here and it's to eat their famous Malasadas. I just ate the regular one as I'm not one that likes fillings in a doughnut (like a Boston cream doughnut). It's good and freshly made. If it's on your way to Kona or Hilo (whichever direction you are traveling to), I'd say it's worth a stop but only for Malasadas. Their other food items didn't really appeal to me nor did many people go there ordering food that wasn't Malasadas.

    (4)

  • Dallas M.

    We stopped by on our way back from zip lining today. Delish! Period. We couldn't decide which of their 7 flavors to order so we ordered 1 of each. We also are here for 7 days and have a kitchen so warming them back up wasn't a problem. These have to be eaten fresh or warmed the latter is not the way to go but in a pinch it works. The chocolate is clearly the weakest is the options. All of them are extremely tasty. Wish they were closer to the hotel

    (5)

  • Cara H.

    I'm an Oahu girl, so nothing beats Leonard's Bakery. However Tex malasadas are also pretty bomb! It is almost like a fried bread donut. I liked it and it is good in its own way!

    (4)

  • Marivic L.

    2 stars for malasadas only. I've only had malasadas on Oahu, so I'm used to the round, very light ones from Leonard's. The ones here were kind of like standard donuts to me. They weren't bad, just not what I was expecting. Just big ol' squares of denseness. I'd stop by again if I wanted a 'regular' donut thing or their other food offerings, but I wouldn't get my hopes up for the malasadas I'm used to.

    (2)

  • Erica A.

    Amazing Malasadas! I recommend the passion fruit filled malasada. My friends and I ordered the Bavarian creme, raspberry, plain and passion fruit. All were highly enjoyed. Perfect road trip stop.

    (4)

  • Wan L.

    I'M A FAN! Malasadas = Portuguese Donuts If you've never tried, you're missing out! You can get it plain or filled (10 types of fillings). GET THE BAVARIAN CREME FILLING! yelp.com/user_local_phot…

    (4)

  • Amy C.

    This review is STRICTLY for their malasadas. The malasadas here are just A-Ok, especially if you have already tried Leonard's on Oahu and can't seem to get that idea of deliciousness out of your head. My hubby and I stopped here on our way to Hilo from Waikoloa to visit my hubby's aunt. We weren't even planning on stopping here when I realized that sign we had just passed on the highway was a place I had bookmarked on Yelp! The place itself is super cute and is located in a small strip mall. To my surprise, there was no line inside, like Leonard's. Staff was very nice and helpful. I ordered their plain, Bavarian Cream, Mango and Pineapple malasadas. They were nice and hot, but when I first bit into one, the first thing that came into my head was it reminded me of a regular sugared donut from any generic donut shop I could get back on the mainland. It didn't have the same consistency or taste as Leonard's and the shape was on the square side? WTH? When we arrived to my hubby's aunt's place in Hilo, I offered her and her 92 year old mother some of the malasadas we had just purchased. Her mother said, "You know those aren't real malasadas. Those are for haoles (white people). The real malasadas are on Oahu at Leonard's." hahahahahahha My hubby's aunt told her to be quiet and eat one. :) I have learned that it is really hard to find a good malasada away from Oahu. But if you have never been to Leonard's, this place is A-Ok! :) When I return to the Big Island, I definitely want to try other food items on their menu.

    (3)

  • Cathy C.

    Very yummy. They are better then Leonards not as oily. We visited twice during our 4 day vacation.

    (5)

  • Lisa Y.

    3.5 Stars This review is for the malasadas only. If you've been to Leonard's on Oahu, then you will be disappointed. Tex offers the tradition plain malasadas along with a variety of fillings to choose from. You can't go wrong with the traditional plain malasada, but I'm also a fan of the guava, mango and Bavarian cream. These are probably the best malasadas you'll find on the Big Island, so it's worth checking out.

    (3)

  • Makoto K.

    I had only malasadas here, but it was good!

    (4)

  • Kevan H.

    This is a must not miss destination if you want a local food experience. Known for their Malasadas (you can watch them being made on site), they have a varied menu for breakfast and lunch. Prices are more than reasonable. Check this joint out - you won't be disappointed!

    (5)

  • Samuel M.

    I enjoyed Tex Drive In's malasadas on a school trip to Hawaii, and from now on, regular American donuts will not suffice! The pastry was light and fluffy, the chocolate filling was creamy and delicious, and the sugar dusting was the perfect finish to a tasty treat! I purchased a malasada at the grocery store the following day, but it simply could not compare to the warmth and fresh taste at Tex Drive In! I did not try any of the other food items on the menu, but if they are anything like the malasadas, I'm sure they are delicious! If you are staying anywhere on the Big Island, it is well worth the drive! In fact, wherever you are, hop on a plane now and get to Tex Drive In!

    (5)

  • Lyn C.

    Dropped by here on the way back from Hilo to Kona. I guess they are known for their malasadas, but there were no more since we got there late. They have typical plate lunch type food. I got the loco moco & saimen, and had some kalua pork too. There were different loco moco options, but I stuck with the hamburger patty. Decent comfort food but nothing spectacular. Filling dinner after a long day of hiking that hit the spot. The service is a little on the slow side, especially because it didn't seem like it was too crowded. The girls behind the counter were nice though. Indoor seating was limited, but we were eventually able to snag a table. Wish I got to try out the malasadas, but at least we were able to have some solid dinner! Side note: I was playing fake jenga with the boxes in the hallway, but didn't see the sign that said "DO NOT TOUCH BOXES". Oops, sorry! Heads up, dont touch the boxes.

    (4)

  • Hion L.

    Malasadas - a fancy word for fried doughnuts. Made fresh they are pretty amazing, but then again, any kind of donut is pretty amazing when served piping hot. The malasadas have a little bit more dimension than a traditional donut. It is a bit more chewier and is what I would expect if I took Portuguese bread dough and deep fried it. The fillings however, were not up to par with the malasadas. Bavarian creme tasted like a cheap made from powder filling with a strange aftertaste. Chocolate was like canned chocolate pudding. Strawberry was ok. They were out of their other more tropical fillings such as pineapple, guava, and mango. I can't understand why they are always out of these flavors. I didn't drag my ass all the way to the other side of the island so I could have chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry. They are worth a try if you find yourself out near Hilo. I would stick to the fruit filled ones as they seem to have a better quality filling.

    (3)

  • Andrew T.

    Their Hawaiian donuts are freaking delicious... If you are feeling guilty about eating them, do the hike to the Waipi'o Beach first to earn it.

    (4)

  • Jules S.

    We normally stop for the warm delicious malasadas. Warm sweet bread filled with your choice of strawberry, chocolate, mango, apple or bavarian cream. Mouth watering and calorie free ( I wish). Plenty of parking and easy to find just off the Highway. I have not tried any of their meals but the food smells delicious. The fresh sweet bread is also a nice take home treat.

    (5)

  • Suzi M.

    Reviews were Right! Malasadas were great. They were like glazed filled donuts, but my fiance liked it better than Leonards. His 3 egg breakfast w/ sausage was awful, making McDonald's better!! My moco Loco was lukewarm, expensive-$6.59 n small. The beef is organic and raised locally. I'll order beef here on the island. So, the rule is order malasadas, n something w/ beef. Skip everything else!!!

    (1)

  • D B.

    Tex Drive In is worth the effort. Everything 'Honoka'a" is measured from this landmark, and for good reason, killer malasadas.This place also pops out an credibly good brown rice dish that's a good juxtaposer to the sweetness of the malasada-that-rules-the-Islands. Have both and decent coffee before you head out for a hike at the Puako petroglyphs, the Polulu trail, or Kalopa State Park.

    (5)

  • Samantha G.

    Thank you Monica B. for telling me about Bavarian cream-filled malasadas! I haven't had malasadas in years and figured Tex Drive in would be the place to get the craving satiated. I love how we just went in the drive in and got the malasadas fresh from the fryer. You really can't go wrong with fried dough and Bavarian cream though. Best part is that they're just $1.56 each!

    (4)

  • Lina O.

    BEST MALASADAS! even better than Lenoard's on Oahu! we got a box and they were piping hot, super soft and flakey. we got the custard, chocolate and guava filled ones. they were all really good. plenty of parking but a little out of the way. worth the drive though!

    (5)

  • Arial P.

    Malasadas here are to die for! Sugar on them is just enough to make your tunmy happy:)

    (5)

  • Jackie L.

    We fell in love with the malasada in Kauai at the coffee tasting plantation. These are nothing like them. This is a glorified sugar donut in a square shape. The ones in Kauai tasted closer to a funnel cake, shaped like a donut hole and covered in powdered sugar. Good thing this was on the way to something and we didn't just drive here for this. Btw, don't bother ordering anything other than malasadas. It's taken them over a half hour and we are still waiting for our breakfast order.

    (3)

  • Karen R.

    We had lunch, hawaiian burger on sweet bread was enjoyed by my guy. We also picked up an apple and a bavarian creme malasadas and they were Delicious!! Though we had enough with lunch, we simply had to eat these while they were still warm. May have to go back for a repeat later in the week!

    (4)

  • Darrell S.

    Plenty of food selections and they are supposed to be known for their Malisadas a pastry. We only got Malisadas and they are the bomb great light pastry filled with guava, chocolate,mango, or plain probably varies by the day. These are known by the locals and folks come from all over the island just to get a fix.

    (4)

  • Georgina T.

    Delish! Had their "donuts" in original, chocolate, Bavarian cream, and guava. Original was the best. Were from LA so definitely better than Krispy Kreme.

    (4)

  • Stella T.

    Malasadas will be like treasures in your hotel room for the rest of your stay. I would recommend fruit filled and original. Get at least 6-they look so cute in the box. Awesome spot for picking up food too if you're in the area looking for some good healthy eats.

    (4)

  • Anna T.

    We stopped by Tex's on the way to Hilo. Great stop for inexpensive and an extensive menu. We had the malasadas and the filled ones were too sweet but the plain with sugar were great. These are made to order and so good to eat warm. The service could have been quicker though.

    (4)

  • Kenny N.

    Wow! Came for the famous malasada, ended up eating dinner. Burgers and salads are awesome!

    (5)

  • Nam Tswv Tuam V.

    Ordered teriyaki beef combo - teriyaki was not salty as others had stated here. It was good. Combo comes with slices of gingered teriyaki beef, 2 scoops of rice, a choice of Mac/potato salad or tossed green salad. The breaded chicken combo was good too. Did not order any burgers but they all looked greasy and juicy....which translates to yummy. :)) The malasadas were hot and soft. These donuts taste similar to the chinese ones at buffets. Taste good too but I prefer the chinese donuts that are slightly crunchy on the outside. Will definitely stop by again. So many food items on the menu. The line was long but there were plenty of seats and we got our food fast.

    (5)

  • Britni M.

    Do not pass this place by!! Stop and get a malasada..or a dozen!! They're amazing!! This place is great for a quick breakfast as well. They have lots of different breakfast sandwiches. But seriously do not leave the island without trying their malasadas!! Cute gift shop too!

    (5)

  • Laura M.

    Malasadas with Bavarian creme! So good. Grab with a coffee and hit the road. Also, really good loco mocos.

    (5)

  • Wes J.

    Outstanding Malasadas..... Made fresh, nice and warm. We got the chocolate, mango and bavarian cream ones and they were the best We've ever had. We didn't eat any of the food but if it's as good as there malasadas then in sure I won't be disappointed.

    (5)

  • Sharra C.

    Heck yes on the malasadas. Everyone here has posted way better photos than I could (especially since my folks n I dived into the batch n had 3 half eaten malasadas before we remembered to take the picture...oops). They are fluffy heaven and worth the stop on the way to waipio. The only reason for the 4* is the joint is kinda far and the rest of the food is just meh. The shrimp boat comes w plenty fries but only 4 shrimp...sad face. The other stuff was fine but nothing spectacular. Still, I'd go back for the malasada.

    (4)

  • Jessie I.

    There aren't a lot of options for malasadas on the Big Island (at least, not that we were aware of based on Yelp and Google searches), so Tex Drive In was definitely on our list of destinations. It's in Honokaa, about an hour-long drive from our villa in Kailua Kona, but close enough to places like Waipio Valley that it was easily incorporated into a tour of that part of the island. And there are touristy gift shops along the main drag in Honokaa so it makes for an interesting half-day. My family ate malasadas (with cream, chocolate, mango, pineapple, and guava fillings), roast pork, curry stew, kalua pork+cabbage wrap with Hilo-made tortilla, burgers, teri beef/fried chicken plate lunch. Everything was good, and reasonably priced... and you know it's local but still tourist-friendly - not part of a chain, although I think they want to expand and franchise locations on other islands. There's a window inside through which you can watch them hand-make the malasadas to order. In Hawaii, the Bavarian cream filling is popular, but my family liked the GUAVA filling the BEST. A little tart, and true to guava fruit flavor. And the malasadas are big, about 3"x4" and 2" thick. Covered in granulated sugar, so they get messy. So delicious. I think they were like $2 each.

    (4)

  • Eddie T.

    A nice and cheap food establishment. The hype over the Malasada's are crazy on Yelp, but it's not that great. It's too sweet, the fillings are already sweet, and the Malasada is covered in layers of sugar.

    (3)

  • Hannah C.

    Nothing amazing about malasadas. Just a doughnut with filling covered in sugar. Meh. Maybe for malasadas, these are "the best". Definitely wouldn't go out of my way to try these.

    (3)

  • Napualokelani K.

    Tex, why do you do this to me??!! One could surmise that it would make sense for a dining establishment that is amongst the most popular in its small town to notify all customers of certain regular specials, right? Yes, SO... hakum on my recent visit to Tex's on my way to Waipi'o Valley back in late June, my two girlfriends and I order a loco moco each and - to our surprise - we each receive TWO LOCO MOCOS!? Well, my fellow Yelpers, it's because the loco mocos are buy one get one free on Thursdays! Would've been nice to have known this, but I guess for Tex they would rather sell two per person and then have them waste one (maybe) and pocket the money. WTF! We were in a rush so luckily, my one GF was able to at least give hers away to some folks at the next table, however, mine went to the trash can. Lucky mynah birds, eh? Later while back on O'ahu, I'm talking about going to Tex's with my cousin's husband who is from Honoka'a and he cuts me off and says, "Oh yeah, loco mocos buy one get one free on Thursdays!" So apparently everybody that is from the Big Island knows this... annoying.com ! Their malasadas still hit the spot, but are still not better than Leonard's on O'ahu. And Leonard still bows down to the poi donuts from Kamehameha Bakery... and so goes the pastry circle of life. See you soon, Waipi'o Valley & Honoka'a Town! Not sure about you, Tex's...

    (3)

  • Eva M.

    We are from Pahoa, Hawaii and had heard that this was the place the best burgers on the island by a very close friend. Quite a long drive, but beautiful scenery. Then again this is The Big Island of Hawaii... The place was packed with people when I got there. There were four people in my party and we all ordered the same thing. Double Bacon Cheese Burgers and three bags of fries. The cost of that, $36.00. The service was okay. Tables were not overly clean but still enough to sit at with your family. The food was okay the fries were salty and the burger meat was fried. It tasted like meatloaf meat. The view was pretty sitting outside. It was a nice drive and there was much on the menu. I just hope that the next thing I try there will be better and hopefully the prices go down. *£vå Måri£ *

    (3)

  • Lani B.

    This review is only for their plain/original malasadas and they are NOT the real deal...they tasted like regular donuts. One thing about malasada dough that it is special...crisp and sugary on the outside, fluffy but dense sweet bread quality with a slight chew. My husband and brother in law, who were born and raised in Hilo, said that back in the day they were real malasadas then years ago the recipe changed. They will never, ever buy Tex's malasadas and neither will I. Just wanted to see what the rave was all about and I was definitely disappointed. Since I live on Oahu the go to spots for malasadas are Leonards, Paalaa Kai and Agnes.

    (1)

  • Love Z.

    Yep. This place is the shizzle. Delicious food (though not a lick of it is healthy), great (clean and modern) atmosphere, and a cute little gift shop to boot. My hubby had the fish n chips. He didn't think they were that amazing, but I couldn't stop eating the chips, if that tells you anything. I had some kind of wrap. Again, it wasn't that amazing, but the side of freshly fried potato chips was AWESOME. And then there are the malasadas. This is the only place to get them on the island. Fresh, hot, sugary, and oozing with jelly. Lord help me if I ever return to Kona because I will probably overdose on those bad boys the next time I am there.

    (5)

  • Kay Y.

    As I was planning my tip to Hawaii , this was one of places I wanted to go on big island. Cute place of Honokaa town, we managed to find this bakery by asking locals multiple times after losing cell phone signal resulted in no map and gps which was our life line on this trip.....However, I was extremely surprised to see how many people were in there under heavy rain that day. : ) Three of us had plain malasadas here. ( we learned the lesson at Leopard's that filling would destroy whole texture and the flavors of the dough itself) We really enjoyed theirs after a long tiring drive. It was nicely portioned and had great densed texture, yet offered good amount of airness. Its hard to compare to Leopard's, because they are totally different in a good way in my opinion. Moreover, I was quite shocked by their reasonable strong and flavorful, bold yet balanced coffee to accompany those sweet goodies. For about a dollar and a change, it really worth the cup. Being from NY, I have had pretty bad coffee from those random diners, so this was a pleasant surprise. I highly recommend to try out what tbey are famous for. - If you are visiting from outside and relay on cell phone gps, try to make sure you map out the place in offline version, as the service in the area was almost non-existant. ( we had Att, Verizon, and t-mobile)

    (4)

  • Andrew T.

    Visited this place as part of a family vacation a couple weeks ago and the food was good, nothing crazy to rave home about. However, my low review is due to the fact that my cousin who has very, very severe food allergies to eggs/dairy specifically told the cashier to leave out the egg on her loco moco bowl. And when the food came out there was an egg of course, we showed the cashier that the order said "no egg" and that my cousin will need a brand new bowl because the egg contaminates the other food inside of the bowl and that the egg must NOT just be scooped out. After emphasizing that we needed a new loco moco bowl so many times, her new order without an egg came out. However, after a few bites into the bowl she saw a bunch of cooked egg whites. Luckily she didn't eat that much to receive any rashes yet. The malasadas were tasty and fluffy but due to the lack of IQ the customer service has we for sure won't recommend this place to any family or friends.

    (2)

  • TheMutts X.

    Yelp reviewers sure are easy going to be giving this place 5 stars. Plate lunches were bland and very average tasting for above average prices. Malasadas are nothing like Leonard's on Oahu. Not light and fluffy but only $1.10+tax for a huge one. Even 3 fried-food lovers couldn't finish 2 of these. That being said, they are super fresh, tasty, and beat Krispy Kreme donuts or any beignets here in OC -- hands down.

    (3)

  • Emily N.

    I love this place! As soon as you step in, you immediately smell the fresh malasada being baked. Their malasada are so good, the ones with cream and without! We got guava, mango, cream, plain, and chocolate. They were simply oozing with the fill and it was super warm. We also ordered the spam katsu musabi and two raspberry smoothies. The smoothies were good while the spam musabi tasted home made, which we loved. The workers there were also friendly & gave out recommendations on what were favorites. 5/5!

    (5)

  • Tessa D.

    As a kid my mom and I would stop by Tex every time we were driving from Hilo to Kona, so I've eaten many a malasada. A malasada is kind of like a solid square donut? It's covered in sugar and you can have fillings put inside. I hadn't been in a few years because whenever I am in town and decide to go to Kona I usually take saddle road. I did however visit recently since my boyfriend was on the island and I decided it would be worth it to go the long route just so he could try the Tex malasada's. When we got there we ordered the plain malasada's as well as some regular dishes that I can't remember. They don't serve the best Hawaiian plates in my opinion, but it'll do in a pinch. I do like their kalua pork plate though, of course I'm always a sucker for kalua pork. I've had their loco moco's and something about their gravy just isn't quite right. My boyfriend wasn't too impressed with the actual food, but he doesn't like Hawaiian food that much in general, so he may not be the best judge. The malasada's were perfect as usual though. They were fresh and fluffy and perfectly sugared. I prefer the plain ones to the filled ones, but if you've never been before then I suggest trying all the ones they offer. The plain ones are $1.10 and the filled ones $1.75, so you can easily fill up on fried dough for less than $10. If you're ever driving from Hilo to Kona I highly suggest stopping by. Not only for the food, but they also have bathrooms that I'm sure you're gonna need to prepare for the two hour trip.

    (4)

  • Peg C.

    My Hubs and I read about Tex and their malasadas when we first planned our trip to Hawaii. Sometimes when you look forward to a place so much, it ends up not living up to your expectations. Not this place! The malasadas were like sweet pillows of deliciousness. We both really liked the plain ones with just sugar. So tasty with just the right amount of chew. If you must have a filling, go for the guava. My Hubs said it was very guava and not cloyingly sweet. Also, we both really enjoyed the burger and the grilled mahi sandwich. Seasoned just right and encased in awesome homemade buns. We recommend getting the mahi without the tartar sauce or get it on the side.

    (5)

  • Eric A.

    I was a bit disappointed with the malsadas here. They weren't as tasty as I imagined them to be and I ended up getting a box of 6 in which half of them ended up in the trash. The best thing to do is to just get one to try if you really want it. It just was not as good as I remember them to be like the ones in Leonard's bakery in Oahu. It's still a nice place to visit after stopping at Waipio Valley and they do have other options other than malsadas but do not go over board and get a box of them. It was just too much and not as good as they should be.

    (3)

  • Kyle Y.

    Best malasadas. They serve em to you hot & fresh. The dough is fluffy and flavorful. The amount of sugar is just right. Only wish they would use real fruit filling vs the fake stuff. A must stop if you are on this side of the island. Can enjoy this and catch a view of the ocean. Between the Strawberry, Apple & Guava all of which I tried. Definitely go with the Guava

    (4)

  • Tim C.

    Malasadas? Yes, please! Tex knows how to make a spanking good malasada - it was love at first bite. The softness and chewiness of the dough... The amazingly-flavored yet not-too-sweet filling... The light coat of sugar on the outside... I'm drooling just thinking about it. I tried their mango and guava malasadas, and both were excellent choices. And for those who aren't familiar with what a malasada is: it's basically like a jelly or cream filled doughnut, but better! Why better? Well, the fillings are unique (mando, guava) and not artificial-tasting, the dough is slightly chewier, and overall, it's not as overwhelmingly sweet. Intrigued? Go to Tex and try one now! The service was nice and fast, and they have ample seating. Plus, their breakfast looked good (a bunch of people were eating breakfast there, but I was too busy eating malasadas, YUM).

    (5)

  • Julie P.

    I will definitely be craving Tex's malasadas on the mainland. But don't get the filling, just get the plain regular malasada. They overfill it and it's just regular syrup/cream. Nothing special. Were these the BEST malasadas? Not sure. Unless I had each malasada to compare for taste testing, I can't tell if these were the best. But these were pretty darn good. If you are staying in Kona, I wouldn't make a drive out here just for Tex Drive In. It's only worth it to come here if it's on the way to your destination. I can't really say much about their food because we solely went there because they were known to have the BEST malasadas in Hawaii. Maybe I just had way too high of an expectation.

    (4)

  • Jeff R.

    Set in an old random "strip mall" of all of two stores one of which was empty Tex Drive In is apparently the local economy. I say that because I think everybody was here tourists and locals alike. Everybody? EVERYBODY! The line was out the door reminding me of the time I stood in line for Backstreet Boys...errr... I mean Slayer tickets. Slayer! Where was I? They have a full menu of meals featuring local plate lunches, hamburgers, and Nathan hot dogs. We had already had lunch so we didn't get to try. However many customers were ordering lunch so by the sheer quantity I'd guess they must be good. I must note that the kids menu was chicken dinosaurs. Really? The Space Mountain attraction here are the malasadas, those Portuguese inspired doughnuts that have become a Hawaiian snack/dessert favorite. We each ordered two. I opted for one with chocolate filling and another with Bavarian cream. Plain cost $1.10 while filled cost $1.75. They came out steaming hot. The outside was a just crisp with a soft melt-in-your-mouth inside. The two fillings (yes I ate both in one sitting based on the strong principle that fresh is best so don't judge ) were creamy and not too sweet. The other flavors that day were raspberry, strawberry, and apple. I was tremendously disappointed that there were no "island" flavors available like lilikoi (passion fruit) or guava. This is definitely a great stop on the road between Kona and Hilo along the north.

    (4)

  • Janet F.

    OMG!! Light pillows of airy dough cooked to perfection !! A variety of fillings to choose from and cooked to order.. 7 Malasadas found there way into our box.. Will definitely be on the "must return to" list on our next trip to the Big Island.. They have regular food also but didn't try it..

    (5)

  • Mel B.

    I'm visiting my cousins in Kona and they want to drag me to this place on the other side of the island to eat lunch and malasadas. I told 'em you nuts. We going drive ova dea ova 1 hour to grind when we can just grind hea? I told them there is no way I was going do dat. No way in hell. So, on the way down, I stopped by McDonald's to get something to drink because that's a long drive down. Plus, I'm driving and it's my SUV rental. I'm figuring this won't be bad we talk stories and catch up. 10 minutes later every one is crashed out. Needless to say, the drive was uneventful, lonely and darn long. It's a little off the beaten tracks with not much around. Feels like we in the boonies somewhere. So, finally we get to this place and it has a retro clean look to it. Not bad. I'm not too hungry because we've been pigging out since we got here. I order a taco salad to split with my girlfriend and 3 of their malasadas; lilikoi, mango and pineapple. The salad was okay, I would order it again if I'm feeling kinda full and don't want anything heavy. Not your ordinary size malasadas, but double the size. I guess size does matter. The malasadas I would drive from the other side of the island to get these puppies. They were so delicious and not ridiculously sweet. Sweet, but not too overboard. I was able to eat 2 of them. I ate the third one about halfway back to Kona. Definitely worth it. There were mostly locals here eating their good smelling lunch plates. It is a nice lush area offering a fantastic view of Hilo Bay down to the ocean. Make this a place to stop on your circle island tour of the Big Island. Plus, you're going to need the sugar rush when you hike the volcano.

    (5)

  • Ciana Y.

    I can eat their Malasadas FOREVER! Nuff said. Delicious loco moco, fresh taco salad & crisp BLT. I could be so fat if I moved back that side. The service was kind but REALLY slow like they were understaffed.

    (4)

  • Kris G.

    Malasadas. That's why we came here. In fact, we made a special trip 46 minutes from where we were staying just to get them. We then proceeded to get right back in the car, eating them on the way, and drive the hour or so back to the airport so my friend could get in her flight. We both tried an Apple Malasada. It was warm and dusted in sugar. It was SO good. We both devoured it and were covered in sugar to prove it. They are large and although the dough is light I don't know if I could've finished two. I hear they sell out of flavors during the day and when we arrived at a little after 11am on a Sunday they had Bavarian cream, strawberry, guava, and apple. They have a menu of breakfast and lunch foods as well including plate lunches and a selection of loco mocos. I didn't try any, but the animal burger (which had pastrami on it) sounded interesting. I got a guava one too for the plane ride home later that evening.

    (5)

  • R. B.

    It doesn't matter that Rachel Ray didn't like the plate lunch here at Tex Drive In. She's not a local and needs to realize she is at a roadside diner not a 5 star restaurant. You have to go here for the Malasadas if nothing else! I like the plain ones with just the sugar on the outside. My favorite is the Teriyaki Beef and Shrimp plate lunch. You have to remember that you are long way from any other sources of food once you leave Tex Drive In. Welcome to the Big Island. Alohas!

    (4)

  • Ben M.

    Walk the walk and talk the talk. This place is no joke, there can be no substitute! The malasadas "doughnuts" are amazing and loaded with flavor! The Loco Moco is about as legit as can be. The service, it's a drive in. They got my order wrong but it's my own fault for changing it up. Best to go standard. This is a locals spot as much as its a place every tourist should hit up. It would be a a shame to drive right past this place not knowing, you'll kick yourself. While I was at breakfast a guy pulled up with a half a cow carcass in the back of his truck to grab some Loco Moco. The locals are cool, just remember it's the locals that keep this place going so respect the locals. The food is killer. It's simple and comforting full island style cuisine. Again, the malasadas are filled with a creamed filling and not to be missed. The menu has plenty to offer for even the pickiest eaters. The Loco Moco comes in many varieties.

    (5)

  • Howard H.

    MALASADAS! That is the only thing one needs to know about this place. My wife also scouted this place before our vacation and I am sooooo happy that she did. There's outdoor seating also and plenty of parking. We hit Tex on the way back from the Waipio Valley and we ordered a dozen for the 7 of us. We got plain, Bavarian creme, chocolate and mango filled malasadas. I will have to say that this place has ruined donuts for me forever. They were so airy, light and just the right amount of sweet it was obscene. They were also massive (about twice the size of the ones at Punaluu'u Bake Shop) and we got to watch them make it through the window while we enjoyed. My favorite was the plain and mango filled ones hands down. Now that I'm back on the mainland, I am completely lost as what to do about my island malasada craving.

    (5)

  • Vince P.

    Drove by and swooped myself the Kalua pork and cabbage, Loco moco with spam and a bunch of masaladas. Didn't finish it all but everything tasted so good!

    (5)

  • Shawn L.

    Everything we read about touted these as "the best Malasadas on the Big Island." Talk about overblown recommendations! Whereas the best malasadas I've had have a denser texture than donuts, and are freshly made, these tasted like jelly donuts that I could get at any donut shop in the states. All the "fruit" fills were fake, dyed, jellies that came out of a bottle, and were all way too sweet. The non-fruit ones (chocolate and custard) were decent, but nothing to write home about. All in all, this was an underwhelming experience. I've had much better malasadas on the side of the road.

    (2)

  • Jennifer Y.

    Heavenly. Eat the malasadas warm! Don't compare the malasadas to a donut, it has a much eggy-er texture. Great for breakfast the next day!

    (5)

  • Margarita G.

    A must have in Hawaii. This is the place to have Malasadas in the big island. Several filling options; Bavarian cream, chocolate, strawberry, guava and apple. You can watch them prepare them though a large window or if you're in hurry, drive-thru. They have a full menu for meals too. Nice place to stop, stretch your legs, make a pit stop, before driving to the other side of the island.

    (5)

  • Sara S.

    I heard about this place from one of the food shows on TV, but my aunt also told me about this place as they are known for their Malasadas. What's a Malasada you ask? It's a Portuguese confection, made of egg-sized balls of yeast dough that are deep fried in oil and coated with granulated sugar. They can be filled with multiple fillings such as: Balvarian Cream, Chocolate, Apple, Strawberry, Apricot, and Guava. My favorite was the Balvarian Cream! They are best when they are hot and fresh! We did eat some lunch here, but we weren't fans of our meal choices. So I would definitely recommend coming here for a Malasada, well maybe even 2-3 of them haha! Regular food would be a 3 star, but I'm not subtracting a star because the malasads are that good!!

    (5)

  • Trishia P.

    Nice little stop in Waipio Valley . Nice patio view, ocean breeze and ....MALASADAS!! I really enjoyed looking at their kitchen viewing window and waving at the malasada chefs! Watching malasadas be made was awesome. I ordered a ton of malasadas. I had one without a filling and then I also had the mango, guava, apple and apricot. All of them were delicious. Mango and guava was the best but apricot was also surprising yummy. They didn't have haupia... (sadface). Overall, the malasadas were tasty but a bit too bready? It was very thick dough and very large in size compared to Leonards Bakery in O'ahu. Also, I think Leonard's has a fried taste whereas Tex Drive In tastes totally baked. I prefer a little bit of a thinner, airy, or lighter bread but these malasadas were delicious in their own way. They stayed fresh for three days as I took a whole bunch back to my hotel to enjoy as snacks.

    (4)

  • Andrea N.

    Tex Drive In was on our to-do list while in Honokaa. Grabbed plate lunch and malasadas. The mango filled malasada was insane!

    (4)

  • Joseph Y.

    The malasada was great. We ordered lunch plates and also burgers as well. The burgers were well made, grass fed beef you could tell. Lunch plates were standard, the pork was good. The Korean BBQ beef probably was better at other places. Portions were huge. The korean style fried chicken was not spicy like in other places. It was mostly salty and sweet at same time. You should really come here for the burgers and the malasada. Lunch plates were standard but portions were large.

    (3)

  • 808Mae 8.

    We drove from Kona to Tex Drive In - after waiting for 20 minutes we get our order for 4 different flavors of Malasadas and ALL PLAIN! - the girl told my son they have been calling our number and gave him the box - i called as we all took one and bit it and ALL PLAIN ... when I called To tell he girl they should check what orders they give their customers she says, "You guys took the wrong box" and i told her "What WE took the wrong one ?" so i told her "Well Thank You" - FAIL - NO STARS but because it is required ... we have to give them one

    (1)

  • Rich Z.

    Always a highlight of our trip to the east side of the island. Doesn't get any better for Malasadas! Get there early tho because some of the favors run out.

    (5)

  • Joe P.

    We came here for malasadas, but we heard the plate lunches are pretty good too. The special part about any beef dish is they use Big Island Natural Beef. Tex's is on the corner of Pakalana & Mamalahoa Highway in Honoka'a. It is approximately half-way between the Kona side (western, and sunny side of the Big Island), and Hilo side (eastern, and rainy side of the Big Island) if you drive along the outer rim of the island. The malasadas are $1.10/each, or $1.75 filled. Fillings include bavarian cream, chocolate, strawberry, mango, apricot and guava. We bought 4 regular and 2 filled: One w/ chocolate and one w/ guava. I had the guava filled and it brok da mout!!! It was daresay, better than Leonard's on O'ahu because it was airier (is that a word?), and holds up better to reheating later: 5+++ Stars. On the other hand, there are 7 varieties of loco moco including one with taro ($6.95). I ordered the traditional, and received two patty & egg in soup containers. BTW, I didn't realize that there was 2 for 1 special on the day I went. If I had paid $6.95 for one container, I would not have been happy. In any case, the Big Island Natural beef was excellent. You could really taste the difference vs hormone induced beef. In addition, the gravy was nicely seasoned. Lastly, the egg was over easy as requested: 4 Stars (took away 1 Star for small portion). The service was typical Big Island slow. The malasadas came out quickly, but the loco moco took a long time: 3 Stars. The ambiance is cool and you can see the malasadas being made. Additionally, there is a little store adjacent. Lastly, there is a sizeable patio to sit outside, and a few tables located inside: 4 Stars. If you are staying on the Kohala Coast or Hilo, make the drive to the other side of the island. But be sure to stop here going in either direction, and eat some good local food, and enjoy some of the best malasadas in all the Islands!

    (4)

  • Neil W.

    Was excited to try Tex Drive In but didn't enjoy it as much as other people did. The staff was very friendly and helpful and it is cool to see how they make the malasadas from the window that looks into the bakery part of the kitchen. We ordered a Bavarian creme and mango malasada, spam loco moco and a Kalua pork & cabbage plate. The malasadas that everyone is raving about were honestly underwhelming at best. As several people have pointed out, the fruit filling was extremely artificial, both in color and flavoring and the cream overly sweet. The dough itself is nice and fluffy, the amount of sugar is right but all in all nothing to write home about. I betcha you've had better fried dough in your life. As many have advised it is probably best to get the malasadas without the filling. The other dishes were both pretty poor. The Kalua pork had more cabbage than pork, was under seasoned and came with overcooked rice. The spam, the egg and the gravy on the loco moco were all decent but the rice was also overcooked which sort of spoils the whole dish. If you're around it's cool to check out for cult/nostalgic value but I would get a few plain malasadas and get out.

    (2)

  • Paola A.

    We stopped in on our way to the volcano from waikiloa... What an awesome little spot! It's easy to find off of 19 on the left hand side- green and yellow sign. The view here is very scenic, which is really just the icing on the cake. The malasadas are pretty delicious- we got 3 filled with apple, chocolate, and guava. Guava was our favorite- so tasty! They come out hot and fresh as soon as you order, so they are warm and fluffy and the sugar adheres to the surface. Tex was out of Portuguese sausage when we stopped in, but I've heard it's really good too. Definitely worth a stop on the north side of the island. There is also a cute little gift shop with Tex and Hawaiian souvenirs. If we find ourselves on the big island again, this would definitely be a stop we repeat.

    (4)

  • Jaime G.

    Malasadas were fresh. Strawberry was my favorite flavor. Bavarian Creme, Chocolate, and Guava were just OK. The views of the ocean and the tall trees were amazing.

    (4)

  • Ruth C.

    Food was so-so and I seemed to miss all the excitement. Had the aloha breakfast. The brown rice was hard :(. The sugar container had lots of sugar lumps in it and the container had to be hit on the table to loosen it up so some came out.. Never have seen this before. Tried a bite of the malasadas and it seemed like it is just an undercooked doughnut. Perhaps my expectations just were not met based on the other reviews...and maybe I just ordered the wrong thing.

    (3)

  • Glenn H.

    The Malasada's aren't as good as Leonards bakery on Oahu, but still very good. Especially with the various chocolate and assorted variety of delicious pudding type stuffing. They have a great variety of local plate lunches and you can watch them make the Malasada's through the glass windows. Don't forget to drive down into Honokaa town which is minutes away...also famous WAIPIO valley!

    (4)

  • Justin C.

    What a far far drive to get some malasadas. I think the main reason for the drive is really to just get some malasadas. The rest of the food menu is just a bonus, and I am sure you will be hungry after sitting in the car ride over. The malasadas come in many different offerings. You can get the plain one that is not filled with any flavor at all. This is one of the best ones that you can pick. Or you can get some of the fruit filled cream, depending on your preference getting a plain and a filled one is the best way to go. Plus you did just drive all the way here to get some food, you can take one for the road. The malasada looks like a miniaturized loaf of freshly baked bread with some sugar sprinkled on time. Taking a bite of this is very fluffy and not so doughy were you have to chew over and over. This also has just the right amount of puff to feel light and delicious. It is well worth the drive, but I dont think you can leave with just having one.

    (4)

  • David R.

    On Tuesday, 7/15/14, my girlfriend and I decided to hit up Tex Drive In because we heard their Malasadas were really good. Atmosphere / Decor: The place is run down and outdated. There were a few seats inside and a few located outside as well. There's a little gift store inside of the drive in. You can see the employees making and filling the Malasadas through a glass window. Food: I decided to go with a breakfast plate which consisted of 2 scrambled eggs, two pieces of spam and hash browns. The eggs were burnt and lacked flavor. The Hash browns were disgusting and the worst I've ever had in my life! They were raw and ridiculously soggy. They tasted like crap! The spam tasted good but you don't have to do anything to the spam in order for it to taste good. My girlfriend ordered the Guava and Bavarian Cream Malasadas. She absolutely loved them! She said they tasted really good and light, nothing like a doughnut. She rated them a 5 for taste. Service: The lady that took my order was nice. Service was good. Overall: I didn't try the Malasadas but my girlfriend said they were really good. The regular food on the menu is horrible! If you come here don't order anything else except for the Malasadas. I trust my girlfriends judgement when it comes to food. Once again, the food here sucks! Aloha!

    (1)

  • Jaime J.

    If you're visiting the Waipao Valley on the Big Island, you must stop here for lunch. Or....maybe you shouldn't...as it breaks my heart to see my favorite places become tourist traps. Anyway - this is a great spot! We were introduced to Tex by a couple of hikers we met in the Valley and they offered to buy us malasadas. We had no clue what they were talking about! Turns out, they are pillows of fried dough filled with a cream or jelly filling....like chocolate or mango. Mmmmm! You can't pass up the Teri Beef sandwich! Thin slices of tender beef, char grilled, and smothered in Hawaiian Teri sauce and served on a sweet Hawaiian roll. Plus all of your drive in favorites, like fries, burgers, and plate lunch.

    (4)

  • Jon C.

    Had the malasadas and like everyone else I really enjoyed them. Hot, fresh and delicious. I think the bavarian cream one weighed in at over a pound easily.

    (4)

  • Summer T.

    They're most known for their malasadas. I prefer their filled malasadas over their plain ones. Definitely not the best that I've had but still very delicious and worth the trip and experience if you're in the area!

    (4)

  • Andrew K.

    If you only stop for one thing you will want to try the malasadas. I think they are best without any filling, but we tried the strawberry and chocolate as well and they were both excellent. I also loved the Loco food. Recommended.

    (5)

  • Jen B.

    One Word: MALASADAS! I went to high school in Honoka'a, which is right down the road from tex drive in. I would always get the Bavarian cream malasada and also the original. Its always so fresh when they serve it! It literally just melts in your mouth, amazing! The dough of the malasada is fluffy and soft, and the perfect amount of sugar coats the outside. I also love their chicken loco, which i believe on Thursdays, they do a 2 for 1 special. I dont care what anyone says, but when if comes down to the BEST malasadas on all the islands? its Tex Drive In!

    (5)

  • Colleen M.

    The reviews were great so we stopped in for lunch. Out of Mahi. Out of Spam! Yikes no musubis. Very mediocre fried fast food. Nothing special. Wanted to save the experience with a Malasada but it would have been a 30 minute wait. We'd already waited 30 minutes for our fast food so we had to pass

    (1)

  • Cody Z.

    color me underwhelmed malasadas ? overrated : too doughy, too chewy the chocolate filling was uninspired.and chalky tasting food item ? hot dog + sweet bread buns = bad combination service ? took 15 minutes to receive sub par food place should be renamed : Tex Drive Away

    (1)

  • Christal M.

    I had been wanting to try a malasada and we were passing through the area so we stopped here to get their "world famous malasadas". This is a divey spot off the highway, but they have an outdoor patio with a view of the valley and ocean in the distance. The malasadas came out warm because it seems like they make them constantly. I tried the original, mango filled and bavarian cream filled ($1.10-1.75). The original is like a sugar donut without the hole. The bavarian cream was too sweet for me, but the mango was good. It was lunch time, so we also ordered loco moco ($6) and grilled cheese with spam ($7). Both were nothing special. They didn't follow our order to put the spam in the grilled cheese either and only put it on the side. I would normally have said something but I didn't want anyone to spit on my food. The employees aren't friendly. The girl taking orders didn't say a word to us the whole time and rudely pointed down at a piece of paper when we asked about the malasada flavors. She looked like she really didn't want to be there. The malasadas were pretty good, but not good enough to make me want to come back.

    (2)

  • Petri Y.

    best malasadas ever! yes better than leonards in Oahu... fresh, fluffy, not greasy, filled to the brim with yummy custards, jellies and goodness had the custard, guava, and bavarian cream ladder is my fav-- not for those watching their waistline but definetley a must stop in the big island.... we bought 4 and ate it over the next 2 days. cheap and cheerful hawaii institution!!

    (5)

  • Alice S.

    My husband's choice for how to spend Father's Day was to drive to Tex Drive in for hot malasadas. So after church we drove to the other side of the island and had delicious, fantastic malasadas. We loved every bite. No fruit fill to take away form the light fried treat. We did order a plate lunch of Korean Chicken and a hamburger. We all loved the chicken, the hamburger not so much. The five stars are for the malasadas.

    (5)

  • Nikki H.

    One word: Malasadas. If you're driving the Hamakua coast, make sure you stop in Honoka'a and drop by Tex Drive In to grab a malasada or six. They're super cheap, so stock up and make sure you're hungry! The malasadas are fresh, soft, warm, and delicious. They're similar to donuts, but more airy and slightly less sweet. The guava filled are my favorite. I've never ordered anything other than their malasadas (why would I?), so I can't comment on their regular food.

    (4)

  • Ashley T.

    This was my 2nd trip to the Island, and one thing I didn't want to miss out on was the Malasadas! Barbarian cream filled and guava for the plane ride home! I'm bringing one to my bf to represent the deliciousness of the island treats! We also had the Hawaiian plate lunch kahlua pork and cabbage! This was full of flavor, a great lunch! Also an amazing view!!

    (4)

  • Len B.

    Food was ok They messed up two of the seven meals & it took almost an hour to make the food. Was done wrong twice and fries were under cooked At least the donuts were delicious hence a 3

    (3)

  • Mindy N.

    Holy smokes, still craving the amazing malasadas from this place!!! We had no filling and the bavarian cream - both SOOOO good! You really don't need the filing at all but yum if you do too! We also had the spam musubi (spam sushi) - SO good, would love to be able to get this at home!

    (5)

  • Jessi M.

    Cool little place, I was surprised at the choice on their menu. My friend said him and his dad used to make this place a tradition for the famous malasadas which are the Mexican version of beignets stuffed with your choice of cream.

    (4)

  • Kirsten L.

    Famous masaladas made fresh! Melted in our mouths! They are basically like donuts with fillings of guava- oh so gooooood, strawberry- good, mango (haven't tried it yet but it's waiting for me in the kitchen), chocolate, Bavarian cream, and apricot. A local told us about it while driving to lookout out points. You need to go!!!!!!!

    (5)

  • Peter L.

    Malasadas are good. Hawaiian style donuts basically. It's a must try if you every visit. Some of the flavors are too sweet but I love the original when it's freshly made. Other stuff is pretty typical, fish and chips, sandwiches, wraps, locomoco. Basically what you would expect in an Hawaiian restaurant,

    (4)

  • Linda C.

    Possible the worst food that I had in the 9 days I vacationed on the Big Island. The salad was supposed to be a Chinese chicken salad. The dressing was something cross between soy sauce and vinegar. That's it, no other spices that I could taste. I thought the girl made a mistake. No, that's what they serve with their salad. I then got some papaya dressing to try to salvage my lunch. By now my salad is swimming in dressing. They didn't even bother to cut up the lettuce. Totally impossible to eat without a knife. I had a few bites and gave up. My husband ordered the soup which didn't resemble any soup that I recognize. After a few bites, he also gave up and we went in search of something edible. On top of the really bad food , the girl serving us was rude. My 2 star review is being kind.

    (2)

  • Mel J.

    We stopped to try the famous malasadas at tex drive-in. I'm eating one filled with guava. Tastes like a warm doughnut. Waiting for lunch. I ordered the Tex Hawaiian plate with Kalua local pork & cabbage & mashed potatoes & gravy and Mac salad for $9.99. The health plate haha...Not! There are tons of people devouring malasadas here in the middle of nowhere. (-; Is the food good? I'll tell you in a sec. Ate half my malasada before lunch. Heehee. There are lots of shady tables outside. Nope the food isn't good. Mashed potatoes taste like instant. Not much pork. Mac salad is too bland and I've had better in the Hawaiian islands. Tex drive-in has mediocre food, and it's pricey for the quality. Skip this place.

    (2)

  • Amy L.

    I think I've found heaven & they're inside the malasadas at Tex Drive In. No joke. The boy took 5 pictures of me [messily] eating a mango malasada & my face was pure bliss. They came out hot & gooey & amazing & oh my godddd. All the sugary goodness ever. The boy had an animal style burger, which I think was their take on In N Out's animal style burger, but it had pastrami in it? It was good, but not In N Out. But that's not their fault. I probably wouldn't come back for their regular food [pretty much diner food], but THE MALASADAS. Heaven, I tell you. Heaven.

    (5)

  • Joanne A.

    Tex Drive In is a must stop if you're making your way between Hilo and the west side of the island (e.g. Waimea, Kona). They're known for their malasadas (portuguese sweet bread fried donut), which you can get plain or with a filling (e.g. strawberry, guava, chocolate). Tex also has an extensive menu with breakfast food, salads, wraps, burgers and sandwiches, and plate lunches of local foods like loco moco, kalua and cabbage, and shoyu chicken. Tex is very easy to get to and is located right off the main highway. Parking is usually easy as they have their own parking lot. It can get busy, and there's usually a line to order and a wait for your food. Lots of tables and chairs inside and outside to enjoy your meal and/or malasadas, and a great view towards the ocean.

    (5)

  • Rachael O.

    Man cannot live by malasadas alone, even if they are so darn good. On a windy, rainy day, we needed real sustenance. Maybe it was an off day, but the main dishes were just so-so (tough beef in the stew, lackluster mac salad) and service was confused and less than enthusiastic. But the worst thing was getting home to Oahu and noticing on my bank statement that I was charged twice, for a total of $60--for one mixed plate, one cup of stew, two malasadas and a cup of coffee. That's $20 worth of food, folks! Was it sloppy service or intentional? Either way, its unacceptable to be charged 3X the amount for the food that we purchased.

    (2)

  • J P.

    Second time at Tex's! It hasn't changed at all. I like the doughy-chewy-fluffy malasadas. Leonard's doesn't even come close to this place but everyone has different tastes. Awesome malasadas! Need I say more?

    (5)

  • Kristin L.

    Holy amazing malasada! So fluffy and good. Got the barvarian creme, puts all other donuts and pastries to shame! I would come back to the Big Island just to visit Tex Drive In!! Highly recommend!

    (5)

  • Fiona C.

    Awesome awesome malasadas (review based on malasadas only). Love the fresh plain malasada paired with a cup of kona coffee. Definitely worth the trip from Hilo!

    (5)

  • Chris L.

    MALASADAS FTW. We had one of each flavor. The custard and guava were pretty good. They are only $1.50 each! Service is friendly and efficient. Mac salad was ok. This is a must for all tourists.

    (5)

  • Jason B.

    Malasadas 4 stars. Food, barely 3. But it's in a great location, perfect after ziplining. Was really hoping for better food. Kalua pork was bland and tough, like it was old. They ran out of shoyu too! But the Malasadas are why you normally come here. 2nd best I have ever had. Grew up with Leonard's on Oahu and I think they are the best.

    (3)

  • Julie H.

    The only reason this place got 4 stars is for the malasadas. These are AWESOME! And to people who think they are just donuts, they are so much more! I had the guava one and tried my husband's apple. The guava was definitely better. I would actually give the malasadas 5 stars, but we also got lunch which was pretty meh. I probably would not eat lunch here again, but would definitely stop by for some malasadas!

    (4)

  • Shradha A.

    We missed our turn to Waipio and chanced upon this place but the tater tots and malasadas were so good that we returned a few hours later for lunch. The taro vegetarian burger was good, but the fish was quite dry.

    (4)

  • A L.

    Best malasada/sonho in town. And the best place to stop half way to Kona/Hilo. Grab a malasada and a coffee then sit down and enjoy the view.......

    (5)

  • Racquel T.

    Drove an hour to get here from hilo! It was worth it! Malasadas was delicious! But Leonard's malasadas on Oahu is better (to me). We ordered the Bavarian cream and it was good! Bf approved!

    (5)

  • Raymond L.

    Nice atmosphere, the cashiers were very friendly, watching malasadas being made was neat. The malasadas were hot, big and the filling was generous! Overall, we were all pleased with our meals. It was a perfect way to top off being on this side of the big island.

    (5)

  • Daniel H.

    I arrived at a perfect time! there was no one in line. I walked away to check out the shop and bam ! 10 people were in line. I got in line and 20 more people came in behind me. I was a fan of the malasada however I dont know if it worth going out of the way to get. If you are going to Waipio Valley or passing by then it is worth stopping. I also ordered an animal burger which is okay but the buns were awesome !

    (3)

  • El H.

    Malasadas are soooooo good here... And fresh... Haven't had anything else but malasada said but they offer and full menu and it's always busy in here. Restrooms are quite clean and in order.... Highly recommend!!

    (5)

  • Jason B.

    this review is only about the malasadas which they boast about to be honest, being an ignorant mainlander, this wasn't all that to me. still great but nothing special. trust me still worth trying at least once as they serve them hot and fluffy. also do yourself a flavor and get the PLAIN ONE. the filled ones are just overboard imo ORDER: at counter JEANS: OK by far all we got was the

    (3)

  • Rob J.

    Tex's drive in is a staple of of our family trips to the Big Island. Hawaii wouldn't be complete without their hot malasadas. If you've never had one of these Portuguese treats, then you have to make this trip. Malasadas are light donuts with fillings inside. The tough part for us is that we always seem to come by here late in the day. All of the tropical flavors are the first to go. They usually have pineapple, lillikoi, passion fruit, strawberry, chocolate and Bavarian cream. The lillikoi is my personal favorite. Tex's is the perfect locals place to stop for a bite to eat. They have all sorts of standard drive in fare. At some point we'll have to try the regular food here, but it will take some work to pry us from the malasadas.

    (4)

  • Denny M.

    Holy sh** this place has ridiculous Malasadas! Translation- retarded good handmade filled donuts for us non- locals. Ate the Loco Moco with beef teriyaki which was awesome and got a box of these Malasadas for the hour drive back to Kohala coast. Worth every friggin calorie!!

    (4)

  • Gwen K.

    My go to for breakfast. Portions are plenty. Also malasadas are great too. Eat em while they're hot!

    (5)

  • Christopher R.

    Perfectly delicious malasadas that you must consume immediately! It's like a Krispy Kreme Hawaiian/Portuguese style! The locals hang here and talk story. Listen in for some added ambiance and pidgeon English rolling off the tongue. You will feel like you have broken the code to a foreign language when you translate anything.

    (5)

  • Linda P.

    The best Malasadas. Also had the Terri Bowl with rice and the Chicken Katsu Loco Moco. What's not to love?

    (5)

  • Mane A.

    Said to have best malasadas on the island...they do NOT. They were way too big and lacked the chewy inside associated with a good malasada. I got saimin. It was just ok. The place is a truck stop. Run down and dirty. The bathrooms were so bad we just held it until we left.

    (2)

  • Coleen F.

    Came here in October with my boyfriend who lives on the Big Island. He wanted to take my to his favorite malasadas joint and all I could say is: YUMMY! Tex Drive In is in such a cute location. It's on top of a hill and from the parking lot you have a beautiful view of the ocean. I was a little doubtful at first because on Oahu, our well-known malasadas place is Leonard's, but Tex Drive In was definitely an eye opener for me!! At first, I kept telling my other half that nothing can be Leonard's, but I was so wrong. The malasadas they provide at Tex is amazing. Definitely a must try and a beautiful drive on this part of the Big Island.

    (5)

  • Shannon C.

    Malasadas are THE BEST HERE ON THE ISLAND! Make sure you get here before they close: they stop making them fresh at 6 pm. I had their burger...it was ok, the meat was a little grainy but the bun was great. Husband had the kalua pork and cabbage, and it was ah-mazing!! Def coming back here!!

    (4)

  • Brody G.

    Food was good...buns are Hawaiian Sweet Bread and burgers were tasty. But the real stars of this place were the Malasadas!! Like a donut...only better. They are larger than normal donuts and are heavier...until you bite into one. Then you realize they are light and fluffy like edible clouds filled with cream filling love. Definitely get one if you pass by.

    (4)

  • Mitilia M.

    This place is delicous I love their malasadas and enjoyed their burger if your in hilo and want malasadas but dont know where to go tex drive in its the greatest place on the island for malasadas

    (4)

  • Jason B.

    By far the best thing we have eaten on our trip to the Big Island. We made the mistake of souring a taste buds with a Bismarck and malasada from Punalu'u Bake Shop a few days earlier and was a little hesitant. But once we walked into Tex Drive In and could smell the hot malasada we knew we would have a much better experience. My wife and I ordered two coffees and six malasadas, 5 original and one cream filled. Now I must say, I am not much of a donut or pastry lover, but these things were the best I ever had! We sat at the small bar and watched them make the malasada as we enjoyed the hot, fluffy and sugary pastry. My wife could not stop raving about them! A well worth it trip and a must if you are anywhere near the area.

    (5)

  • Katherine B.

    Holy moly! I know doughnuts but now I know malasadas kick doughnuts in the nuts! I've never had such an amazing thing in my mouth. Please, do yourself a favor and stop by.

    (5)

  • Jameson B.

    AMAZING!!!! YOU MUST MUST MUST EAT HERE. Don't be fooled by the "back" of the building when you first pull in the parking lot. Drive around to the other side and dive right in. Double bacon cheeseburger was easily in the top 5 best burgers I've ever had. Bacon, perfect. Meat, perfect. Bun, perfect. Delicious. Teri beef and Fried chicken plate was THE BEST FRIED CHICKEN I HAVE EVER HAD HANDS DOWN. Wow wow wow. Crunchy and perfectly seasoned batter on the outside and moist perfectly cooked meat on the inside. Malasadas were a gift from God! Filled mine with Bavarian cream and it was the best doughnut I've ever had. DO NOT PASS THESE UP! Fries were the boring fat school lunch fries but, everything else was good enough to overlook this. This is hands down one of the best restaurants I have ever been to. Great job guys. AMAZING!!!

    (5)

  • Derek S.

    The malasadas are for sure the best thing here. While i have only been here once on vacation, it was clear by the choices of others around me that the malasadas are the go to order. Even though i was here on vacation, I thought eating donuts for lunch was still out of the question, so I ordered a mahi mahi sandwich...it was pretty filling but fresh and a good change of pace from the resort meals (and prices). Fun local spot and definitely recommend!!! I will be back!

    (4)

  • Tavy P.

    I'm a fan of Leonard's Malasadas on Oahu, so I was curious about Tex Malasadas and all the raves I heard about it when I moved to Hilo. Tried their traditional malasadas and a few of their filled ones and I have to admit that I enjoyed them very much! Applause! Applause! Not as oily as Leonard's, but must definitely be consumed right away! Service could be better, wait was a bit ridiculous, but that's probably because of all the tourists. Aside from the malasadas, they have a fairly large food menu that isn't too bad either. Just an FYI, you must call ahead to go through their drive-thru. :)

    (4)

  • Dorothy T.

    Their bavarian cream malasada is the best thing I ate in Big Island! It cost about $3.70. They are so popular that you usually have to wait about 5-10 minutes for your order because they are constantly being made through out the day. It's about a 2 minute drive from Waipo waterfalls.

    (5)

  • Domenic V.

    I came for the malasadas. The locals gave Tex's malasadas resounding kudos, particularly the filled ones. Couldn't decide which to order so the voices told me to get all seven flavors. Then I proceeded to chow down in the parking lot. I'm now a local.

    (5)

  • Brian C.

    We had been driving around the island sightseeing and my wife remembered hearing about the malasadas here. We almost missed it, but are so glad we didn't! We tried five different flavor as a family and everyone was AMAZING!!! The place was filled with tons of locals and their food also looked terrific! People were wonderful, and it's the kind of place you'd love to spend hours at to enjoy.

    (5)

  • Joyce B.

    Great malasadas! Plain malasadas are $1.06/each, filled are $1.56/each. We bought 10, some plain and some filled. My favorites were the plain and Bavarian filled. I can't handle desserts that are too sweet, so some of the other fillings were a bit much for me. I also ordered the Korean Chicken plate ($8.99). a bit too sweet for my liking. My bf ordered the animal burger with an egg on top and served with fries ($10.99 + $1.00/egg). The burger was good, just a bit messy. Based on their menu, all their beef patties are grass fed beef. There's seating inside and outside the restaurant and a few stools to watch the making of malasadas from glass windows. There is also a gift shop with Tex Drive In and other souvvenirs. I recommend coming here for malasadas, but I'm not a huge fan of the other food. Maybe I'll have some better luck the next time I visit!

    (4)

  • Evan A.

    Everything else you read about this place will mention it, so all I'll say is: the malasadas live up to the hype. And for $1.10 apiece they are a fantastic value too. We had lunch there and decided to take advantage of their offering of local grass-fed beef. All four of us had something with beef, and they were all fantastic. The burger with pineapple was well-cooked and super juicy, the teriyaki beef was tender and flavorful (on brown rice for 50 cents extra), and the beef curry was generous with the meat, complemented with large chunks of carrot and potato.

    (5)

  • Chris T.

    Reviewed wrong business

    (5)

  • Tokujiro S.

    Poor customer service, long wait for food. Ordered and paid for a bottle of water, no one acknowledge my presence at the counter, had to get their attention to get bottle of water. Food of poor quality. Not like our last visit to Hawaii.

    (2)

  • Denice C.

    The Bavarian Creme Malasada is very flavorful! Good thing they have a drive-thru. Didn't get the chance to dwell on other flavors as we were in a hurry rushing to the Emergency Room. I swear it wasn't my idea to stop and get dessert! Kudos for keeping me sane while I waited outside of the hospital. I hate hospitals. And the malasadas made me feel comfortable enough to make me forget where I was at.

    (5)

  • Nicole K.

    On a recent trip to the Big Island, my family and I made a stop at Tex Drive In for their famous malasadas. As an Oahu-born, Leonard's lover, I was skeptical of their "World Famous" claim, but was quickly proven wrong when I bit into their delicious, light, sugary, and square malasadas. Tex's malasadas are not as dough-y with a more flaky texture reminiscent of sweet bread. It is a lighter flavor and color and seems to be much less oily than other malasadas. The fun part of eating at Tex's is watching them fry the malasadas through large windows looking into the kitchen. You can see the dough being mixed, the squares being cut, and the malasdas floating in a vat of yummy cooking oil. Add a cup of coffee on a cold day, and you have the making of a great breakfast or snack!

    (4)

  • Katharine A.

    Famous for their malasadas. They cook them to order. I am a fan of the regular/plain and not so much of the filled ones (fruit jellies and pudding basically). They are much better fresh than stale, so keep in mind that you won't have the same experience if you take them to go. You can reheat them easily, but they are not the same. I also got some bread which was also good. This is a casual place with many other food options, but I didn't try any of them. I stuck with the carbs. There is a gift shop here too with trinkets. Lots of parking and seating. Very casual.

    (3)

  • Rebecca S.

    Honestly, I planned a week of activities for our recent vacation to the Big Island, and I wanted to include good local food for my kids to try......wanted to avoid any type of fastfood chain. Tex Drive-in is a great choice. We went mainly to try the malasadas. Can't beat the price! Huge! We opted for the originals (no filling) and they were great, This place is right off the main rode---can't miss it. Definitely worth the stop.

    (5)

  • Megan W.

    My guide book said this place had the best malasadas on the island. The others must be inedible because I thought the ones here were pretty bad. They had the taste and texture of a regular doughnut; similar to kripsy kreme (whose doughnuts I dislike) not similar to malasadas. Didn't even finish it, threw it away. The other food here might be good but the malasadas are not!

    (1)

  • Ren N.

    Excellent malasadas. I can't speak for any other items on the menu. A wonder small family type environment situated on top of a hill. Good breeze and big place with plenty of seating. Make sure you check if they already ran out of malasada before you show up cause I waited in line for nothing.... It's worth it because the malasadas come out warm!!!

    (4)

  • Gina M.

    WOW! I was taking a long drive out to Waipio Valley from Hilo and decided to make a pit stop for a malasada, so glad I did. I picked up three for the road. One apple, one bavarian cream, and one plain. I ate the apple on the drive to Waipio and it was amazing. I ate the other ones for breakfast the other days and they were fabulous! I have to admit the place is totally touristy and feels out of place in the Hilo area but it was packed and has great malasadas. They also serve lunch which I can't vouch for because I only got the malasadas. Definitely good for a quick stop if you're in the area.

    (5)

  • Nancy S.

    Tex Drive in is the place to get the BEST Malasadas. The cream filled ones are our favorites. These are fresh delicious and well worth waiting to try your first Malasada here.

    (5)

  • Bob L.

    Malasadas! Deep fried dough filled with fantastic fruit or sugary fillings! Service was friendly, and the menu is large!

    (4)

  • TianChee S.

    Only one reason to come here and it's to eat their famous Malasadas. I just ate the regular one as I'm not one that likes fillings in a doughnut (like a Boston cream doughnut). It's good and freshly made. If it's on your way to Kona or Hilo (whichever direction you are traveling to), I'd say it's worth a stop but only for Malasadas. Their other food items didn't really appeal to me nor did many people go there ordering food that wasn't Malasadas.

    (4)

  • Dallas M.

    We stopped by on our way back from zip lining today. Delish! Period. We couldn't decide which of their 7 flavors to order so we ordered 1 of each. We also are here for 7 days and have a kitchen so warming them back up wasn't a problem. These have to be eaten fresh or warmed the latter is not the way to go but in a pinch it works. The chocolate is clearly the weakest is the options. All of them are extremely tasty. Wish they were closer to the hotel

    (5)

  • Cara H.

    I'm an Oahu girl, so nothing beats Leonard's Bakery. However Tex malasadas are also pretty bomb! It is almost like a fried bread donut. I liked it and it is good in its own way!

    (4)

  • Marivic L.

    2 stars for malasadas only. I've only had malasadas on Oahu, so I'm used to the round, very light ones from Leonard's. The ones here were kind of like standard donuts to me. They weren't bad, just not what I was expecting. Just big ol' squares of denseness. I'd stop by again if I wanted a 'regular' donut thing or their other food offerings, but I wouldn't get my hopes up for the malasadas I'm used to.

    (2)

  • Erica A.

    Amazing Malasadas! I recommend the passion fruit filled malasada. My friends and I ordered the Bavarian creme, raspberry, plain and passion fruit. All were highly enjoyed. Perfect road trip stop.

    (4)

  • Georgina T.

    Delish! Had their "donuts" in original, chocolate, Bavarian cream, and guava. Original was the best. Were from LA so definitely better than Krispy Kreme.

    (4)

  • Amy C.

    This review is STRICTLY for their malasadas. The malasadas here are just A-Ok, especially if you have already tried Leonard's on Oahu and can't seem to get that idea of deliciousness out of your head. My hubby and I stopped here on our way to Hilo from Waikoloa to visit my hubby's aunt. We weren't even planning on stopping here when I realized that sign we had just passed on the highway was a place I had bookmarked on Yelp! The place itself is super cute and is located in a small strip mall. To my surprise, there was no line inside, like Leonard's. Staff was very nice and helpful. I ordered their plain, Bavarian Cream, Mango and Pineapple malasadas. They were nice and hot, but when I first bit into one, the first thing that came into my head was it reminded me of a regular sugared donut from any generic donut shop I could get back on the mainland. It didn't have the same consistency or taste as Leonard's and the shape was on the square side? WTH? When we arrived to my hubby's aunt's place in Hilo, I offered her and her 92 year old mother some of the malasadas we had just purchased. Her mother said, "You know those aren't real malasadas. Those are for haoles (white people). The real malasadas are on Oahu at Leonard's." hahahahahahha My hubby's aunt told her to be quiet and eat one. :) I have learned that it is really hard to find a good malasada away from Oahu. But if you have never been to Leonard's, this place is A-Ok! :) When I return to the Big Island, I definitely want to try other food items on their menu.

    (3)

  • Cathy C.

    Very yummy. They are better then Leonards not as oily. We visited twice during our 4 day vacation.

    (5)

  • Lisa Y.

    3.5 Stars This review is for the malasadas only. If you've been to Leonard's on Oahu, then you will be disappointed. Tex offers the tradition plain malasadas along with a variety of fillings to choose from. You can't go wrong with the traditional plain malasada, but I'm also a fan of the guava, mango and Bavarian cream. These are probably the best malasadas you'll find on the Big Island, so it's worth checking out.

    (3)

  • Makoto K.

    I had only malasadas here, but it was good!

    (4)

  • Kevan H.

    This is a must not miss destination if you want a local food experience. Known for their Malasadas (you can watch them being made on site), they have a varied menu for breakfast and lunch. Prices are more than reasonable. Check this joint out - you won't be disappointed!

    (5)

  • Samuel M.

    I enjoyed Tex Drive In's malasadas on a school trip to Hawaii, and from now on, regular American donuts will not suffice! The pastry was light and fluffy, the chocolate filling was creamy and delicious, and the sugar dusting was the perfect finish to a tasty treat! I purchased a malasada at the grocery store the following day, but it simply could not compare to the warmth and fresh taste at Tex Drive In! I did not try any of the other food items on the menu, but if they are anything like the malasadas, I'm sure they are delicious! If you are staying anywhere on the Big Island, it is well worth the drive! In fact, wherever you are, hop on a plane now and get to Tex Drive In!

    (5)

  • Lyn C.

    Dropped by here on the way back from Hilo to Kona. I guess they are known for their malasadas, but there were no more since we got there late. They have typical plate lunch type food. I got the loco moco & saimen, and had some kalua pork too. There were different loco moco options, but I stuck with the hamburger patty. Decent comfort food but nothing spectacular. Filling dinner after a long day of hiking that hit the spot. The service is a little on the slow side, especially because it didn't seem like it was too crowded. The girls behind the counter were nice though. Indoor seating was limited, but we were eventually able to snag a table. Wish I got to try out the malasadas, but at least we were able to have some solid dinner! Side note: I was playing fake jenga with the boxes in the hallway, but didn't see the sign that said "DO NOT TOUCH BOXES". Oops, sorry! Heads up, dont touch the boxes.

    (4)

  • Hion L.

    Malasadas - a fancy word for fried doughnuts. Made fresh they are pretty amazing, but then again, any kind of donut is pretty amazing when served piping hot. The malasadas have a little bit more dimension than a traditional donut. It is a bit more chewier and is what I would expect if I took Portuguese bread dough and deep fried it. The fillings however, were not up to par with the malasadas. Bavarian creme tasted like a cheap made from powder filling with a strange aftertaste. Chocolate was like canned chocolate pudding. Strawberry was ok. They were out of their other more tropical fillings such as pineapple, guava, and mango. I can't understand why they are always out of these flavors. I didn't drag my ass all the way to the other side of the island so I could have chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry. They are worth a try if you find yourself out near Hilo. I would stick to the fruit filled ones as they seem to have a better quality filling.

    (3)

  • Andrew T.

    Their Hawaiian donuts are freaking delicious... If you are feeling guilty about eating them, do the hike to the Waipi'o Beach first to earn it.

    (4)

  • Jules S.

    We normally stop for the warm delicious malasadas. Warm sweet bread filled with your choice of strawberry, chocolate, mango, apple or bavarian cream. Mouth watering and calorie free ( I wish). Plenty of parking and easy to find just off the Highway. I have not tried any of their meals but the food smells delicious. The fresh sweet bread is also a nice take home treat.

    (5)

  • Suzi M.

    Reviews were Right! Malasadas were great. They were like glazed filled donuts, but my fiance liked it better than Leonards. His 3 egg breakfast w/ sausage was awful, making McDonald's better!! My moco Loco was lukewarm, expensive-$6.59 n small. The beef is organic and raised locally. I'll order beef here on the island. So, the rule is order malasadas, n something w/ beef. Skip everything else!!!

    (1)

  • D B.

    Tex Drive In is worth the effort. Everything 'Honoka'a" is measured from this landmark, and for good reason, killer malasadas.This place also pops out an credibly good brown rice dish that's a good juxtaposer to the sweetness of the malasada-that-rules-the-Islands. Have both and decent coffee before you head out for a hike at the Puako petroglyphs, the Polulu trail, or Kalopa State Park.

    (5)

  • Stella T.

    Malasadas will be like treasures in your hotel room for the rest of your stay. I would recommend fruit filled and original. Get at least 6-they look so cute in the box. Awesome spot for picking up food too if you're in the area looking for some good healthy eats.

    (4)

  • Anna T.

    We stopped by Tex's on the way to Hilo. Great stop for inexpensive and an extensive menu. We had the malasadas and the filled ones were too sweet but the plain with sugar were great. These are made to order and so good to eat warm. The service could have been quicker though.

    (4)

  • Kenny N.

    Wow! Came for the famous malasada, ended up eating dinner. Burgers and salads are awesome!

    (5)

  • Nam Tswv Tuam V.

    Ordered teriyaki beef combo - teriyaki was not salty as others had stated here. It was good. Combo comes with slices of gingered teriyaki beef, 2 scoops of rice, a choice of Mac/potato salad or tossed green salad. The breaded chicken combo was good too. Did not order any burgers but they all looked greasy and juicy....which translates to yummy. :)) The malasadas were hot and soft. These donuts taste similar to the chinese ones at buffets. Taste good too but I prefer the chinese donuts that are slightly crunchy on the outside. Will definitely stop by again. So many food items on the menu. The line was long but there were plenty of seats and we got our food fast.

    (5)

  • Britni M.

    Do not pass this place by!! Stop and get a malasada..or a dozen!! They're amazing!! This place is great for a quick breakfast as well. They have lots of different breakfast sandwiches. But seriously do not leave the island without trying their malasadas!! Cute gift shop too!

    (5)

  • Laura M.

    Malasadas with Bavarian creme! So good. Grab with a coffee and hit the road. Also, really good loco mocos.

    (5)

  • Wes J.

    Outstanding Malasadas..... Made fresh, nice and warm. We got the chocolate, mango and bavarian cream ones and they were the best We've ever had. We didn't eat any of the food but if it's as good as there malasadas then in sure I won't be disappointed.

    (5)

  • Sharra C.

    Heck yes on the malasadas. Everyone here has posted way better photos than I could (especially since my folks n I dived into the batch n had 3 half eaten malasadas before we remembered to take the picture...oops). They are fluffy heaven and worth the stop on the way to waipio. The only reason for the 4* is the joint is kinda far and the rest of the food is just meh. The shrimp boat comes w plenty fries but only 4 shrimp...sad face. The other stuff was fine but nothing spectacular. Still, I'd go back for the malasada.

    (4)

  • Jessie I.

    There aren't a lot of options for malasadas on the Big Island (at least, not that we were aware of based on Yelp and Google searches), so Tex Drive In was definitely on our list of destinations. It's in Honokaa, about an hour-long drive from our villa in Kailua Kona, but close enough to places like Waipio Valley that it was easily incorporated into a tour of that part of the island. And there are touristy gift shops along the main drag in Honokaa so it makes for an interesting half-day. My family ate malasadas (with cream, chocolate, mango, pineapple, and guava fillings), roast pork, curry stew, kalua pork+cabbage wrap with Hilo-made tortilla, burgers, teri beef/fried chicken plate lunch. Everything was good, and reasonably priced... and you know it's local but still tourist-friendly - not part of a chain, although I think they want to expand and franchise locations on other islands. There's a window inside through which you can watch them hand-make the malasadas to order. In Hawaii, the Bavarian cream filling is popular, but my family liked the GUAVA filling the BEST. A little tart, and true to guava fruit flavor. And the malasadas are big, about 3"x4" and 2" thick. Covered in granulated sugar, so they get messy. So delicious. I think they were like $2 each.

    (4)

  • Eddie T.

    A nice and cheap food establishment. The hype over the Malasada's are crazy on Yelp, but it's not that great. It's too sweet, the fillings are already sweet, and the Malasada is covered in layers of sugar.

    (3)

  • Hannah C.

    Nothing amazing about malasadas. Just a doughnut with filling covered in sugar. Meh. Maybe for malasadas, these are "the best". Definitely wouldn't go out of my way to try these.

    (3)

  • Napualokelani K.

    Tex, why do you do this to me??!! One could surmise that it would make sense for a dining establishment that is amongst the most popular in its small town to notify all customers of certain regular specials, right? Yes, SO... hakum on my recent visit to Tex's on my way to Waipi'o Valley back in late June, my two girlfriends and I order a loco moco each and - to our surprise - we each receive TWO LOCO MOCOS!? Well, my fellow Yelpers, it's because the loco mocos are buy one get one free on Thursdays! Would've been nice to have known this, but I guess for Tex they would rather sell two per person and then have them waste one (maybe) and pocket the money. WTF! We were in a rush so luckily, my one GF was able to at least give hers away to some folks at the next table, however, mine went to the trash can. Lucky mynah birds, eh? Later while back on O'ahu, I'm talking about going to Tex's with my cousin's husband who is from Honoka'a and he cuts me off and says, "Oh yeah, loco mocos buy one get one free on Thursdays!" So apparently everybody that is from the Big Island knows this... annoying.com ! Their malasadas still hit the spot, but are still not better than Leonard's on O'ahu. And Leonard still bows down to the poi donuts from Kamehameha Bakery... and so goes the pastry circle of life. See you soon, Waipi'o Valley & Honoka'a Town! Not sure about you, Tex's...

    (3)

  • Eva M.

    We are from Pahoa, Hawaii and had heard that this was the place the best burgers on the island by a very close friend. Quite a long drive, but beautiful scenery. Then again this is The Big Island of Hawaii... The place was packed with people when I got there. There were four people in my party and we all ordered the same thing. Double Bacon Cheese Burgers and three bags of fries. The cost of that, $36.00. The service was okay. Tables were not overly clean but still enough to sit at with your family. The food was okay the fries were salty and the burger meat was fried. It tasted like meatloaf meat. The view was pretty sitting outside. It was a nice drive and there was much on the menu. I just hope that the next thing I try there will be better and hopefully the prices go down. *£vå Måri£ *

    (3)

  • Lani B.

    This review is only for their plain/original malasadas and they are NOT the real deal...they tasted like regular donuts. One thing about malasada dough that it is special...crisp and sugary on the outside, fluffy but dense sweet bread quality with a slight chew. My husband and brother in law, who were born and raised in Hilo, said that back in the day they were real malasadas then years ago the recipe changed. They will never, ever buy Tex's malasadas and neither will I. Just wanted to see what the rave was all about and I was definitely disappointed. Since I live on Oahu the go to spots for malasadas are Leonards, Paalaa Kai and Agnes.

    (1)

  • DC R.

    The malasada is worth the stop! Passion fruit center FTW! Skip the Bento: 30 minute prep time.

    (5)

  • Carol C.

    This review is for their malasadas. I had the chocolate and my friend had the guava. We couldn't get enough of the fluffy, custardy goodness. Although we wanted more, we were sadly watching our waistlines. I love this place, but I don't think their malasadas beat Leonard's in Waikiki.

    (4)

  • Nicole Y.

    A great local spot to get your malasada fix. I suppose it's a little out of the way, depending on where you're staying. Probably about an hour or so from the resorts down in Waikoloa. My bf and I were staying in Waimea and it was about a 20 minute drive. Malasadas were good, but they were out of almost all of the flavors once we got there which was sort of a bummer. No tropical ones left, so we got vanilla, chocolate, and lemon. They were fluffy and sugary and the fillings were tasty. We also snagged some breakfast as well - a loco moco and a plate breakfast. Both were tasty and filling and the loco moco was super authentic (served in a cup instead of on a plate!) Would definitely go back, maybe earlier in the morning so I can try the Guava fillings!

    (3)

  • Isabelle C.

    I have fond memories of eating malasadas here as a kid. Not sure what happened, but it seems the quality of the malasadas have decreased lately as far as their fillings go. My bavarian creme and chocolate malasadas tasted like cheap box pudding. Really hoping that this is not a permanent thing! Plain ones are just as good as I remember them.

    (4)

  • Brian H.

    OK first let me say that I've lived in Hawaii 35 years so I'm pretty well versed in local food. 34 years on Oahu and about 6 months now on Hawaii Island in Waimea. The best thing about Tex's is the location and the botanical garden walk next door. For Malasada's go to Leonard's, Champion's or Agnes' on Oahu. The rest of the food items are less than average, although the fries are pretty good. We tried it again today after vowing last time that we wouldn't go back, but this time I promise.......... never again! Not sure what the high rating is about other than tourist hype...

    (2)

  • Jackie T.

    Best malasadas that we found in Kona! Highly recommend the bavarian cream or mango filled. These were the freshest and lightest puffs of sugary goodness. Good luck just eating one!

    (4)

  • S. S.

    Been here 4x and it was excellent each time. Bought boxes of warm malasadas that were all outstanding. Not too sweet, fabulous and exotic variety, beyond yummy! The portuguese bean soup was incredibly good and the salad, seaweed salad and mac salad were all fantastic. We had to go back for seconds to take back to our hotel for breakfast the next day. We even bought a box to take on the plane, but it never made it to the airport, it got demolished before it had any chance of air flight. Ridiculously seductive! This is a MUST if you are on the big island. It's just THAT GOOD!

    (5)

  • Louis R.

    Malasadas. Ever have em? No? Soooooooo ono!!!! Definitely hit this spot up. Mahalo.

    (5)

  • Jia X.

    Worst teriyaki bowl I had in my life:((( ginger all over the beef, super salty, what kind of Teri is this? Yuk!!!

    (1)

  • Kay M.

    Tex's hit the spot after spending a rainy day in Waipio Valley. A large variety of local food to choose from such as saimin, loco moco, hamburgers, or plate lunches- so there's something for everyone! A large window allows you to see the pastry chef making fresh malasadas. Much bigger than the malasadas at Leonard's but they have more of a sugar donut taste and are not as puffy. But hey, you can't go wrong with a hot ball of dough covered in sugar! Try the Bavarian creme or mango.... Delicious!!

    (4)

  • Mina L.

    This is a good stop between Kona and Hilo. The malasadas were ok. We got plain, cream filled, choc filled. I recommend getting filled malasadas. The plain ones are just too dense. Plate lunches and hamburgers are ok. Good place to stretch your legs.

    (4)

  • Johana D.

    Came for the malasadas that a friend raved about. To my and my husband's disappointment they weren't all that great. They were good but nothing to rave about. However it was a cute cozy spot. 2 stars because it wasn't anything out of this world like our friend had built it up to be.

    (2)

  • Kitt H.

    I learned that I don't like malasadas, or at least I don't like Tex's. However, the rest of my family did enjoy them, so it's perhaps a matter of taste and why I'm giving 3 stars rather than fewer. My favorite donut is a Krispy Kreme glazed donut, so I'm definitely not anti-fried-pastry. They were out of many of the flavors when we visited, only having strawberry, apple, chocolate, and Bavarian creme. I also ordered a bowl of saimin that was tasteless.

    (3)

  • Vi L.

    I came here really excited because it was probably the only place on the Big Island where they sold malasadas. I have been anxiously waiting to eat my fair share of malasadas ever since my trip to Oahu 2 years ago. Sad to say, I was pretty disappointed. The malasadas reminded me of just a typical cream filled donut I can get back home. It's not light and fluffy like the ones I tried at Leonard's in Oahu. I think it can be cause they're not as fresh when you come here later in the day (I arrived here around 4pm), but no excuses. We also got a burger and mahi mahi plate. The food was okay, not the best compared to other places on the island. The mash potatoes and gravy was good though. There was ample seating, so we didn't have to wait. Overall, this place is OKAY. I don't think it's worth going out of the way for but not bad if you want something quick and easy.

    (3)

  • Cynthia L.

    After visiting Waipio Valley lookout, next stop was Tex Drive In. I had no idea what my fiance was doing here at the time as we rolled up to the drive thru window. He ordered two plain sugar malasadas. That's it. Well then, sounds good! The malasadas seemed freshly made as they were still warm, soft and fluffy. They were tasty and not too rich. The only other place I've had malasadas was back in Honolulu at Leonard's. Compared to Leonard's, Tex Drive In wasn't as good. Leonard's is still king! Price: $2 and some change for two pieces.

    (4)

  • Aimee P.

    Malasadas.. or Filled Donuts rolled in sugar.. in abundance in various flavor. Unfortunately, we were more worried about eating breakfast which we were full and couldn't stuff ourself with these fantastic pastries. But it was still good after a good day of trekking in Hilo. But I've got to try other malasadas in order to justify a 4 or 5 star rating from me. Still the experience was good.. it is set on a cliff so you just look out to the Hawaiian blue seas.. aaaaah.

    (3)

  • Chris P.

    Animal burger w pastrami and grilled onions perfect. Onions were grilled w "special sauce".

    (5)

  • Tony R.

    Malasadas. Raspberry. Drive through. $3 for 2 slices of heaven... If the drive wasn't worth it alone, you could get by on just the donuts. Warm, sweet, soft, delicious. Raspberry was great but they come in all flavors. Definitely a must on your way around the top of the big island. We did want by on our way back to kona from Hilo, stopped by Akaka falls and then refueled here for some malasada bomb digity ness... Check it out.

    (5)

  • Jenifer G.

    I grew up on the Big Island, and Tex's sure is different from how it was back in they day. Even the malasadas are very different, and not in a good way. :( - Malasadas: WHAT HAPPENED TO THE MALASADAS I grew up with here? They are now huge, and white/light, square and don't even look nor taste fully cooked? Lol. + Sweet Potato chips (Okinawan): they were delicious, not too thin and not too thick, a nice crisp, and cheaper than the regular fries. Also less greasy that fries too! - Grilled Cheese Sandwich: bah. The bread is doused with butter so there's a nice brown finish on the bread but it is quite greasy. In it is a layer of processed cheese, it is overpriced but I can see how people would pay for it because it looks beautifully made. - Loco Moco: Oddly enough, served in 2 separate containers, like two half dishes. The meat patty was actually tender, then again I always hold Big Island beef in high regards, assuming it is local!, and the gravy was a nice thick light brown and tasty. + Meatloaf Sandwich: It didn't taste like a traditional meatloaf, which I was happy to see (meaning not that deep red/brown color so not doused in ketchup). again, the beef was very tendy and easy to eat. All of the food is a bit overpriced but that's the Big Island in general? Also, what's up with the crowd, I didn't see many locals so it just looks like a tourist or transplant trap. The line was long, out the door, and I was a little entertained hearing the guys behind me trying to explain what malasadas are and how the Portugese ended up in Hawaii. :) However, I did like that there's inside booths and outside tables so you can enjoy the beautiful Hamakua coast fresh air -- one side towards the highway is a gorgeous plume of tall skinny trees, and on the other is towards the coast, almost an ocean view but not really. It gets super crowded during lunch, even at 11:15 on a weekend it was 20 minutes in line, another 15+ minutes to get our food, but still it was an enjoyable meal. I doubt I'll be back here for a while but it was nice for some nostalgia.

    (3)

  • Pink S.

    Just as delicious as they were on my last visit 2 yrs ago. Love the bavarian creme. They were served hot, ahhhh. We're leaving in 2 days and tempted to go back all the way there fr Waikoloa...

    (4)

  • A L.

    I came here last Saturday when a friend and I were just driving around. This was the only place to go to, so our hopes were not high. But the food was great. The double bacon cheeseburger was made with real burgers that you really need to bite into, not like those thin patties you get at McDonalds or Burger King. The fries were hot. I had Korean chicken for the first time -- and so, I have found a new dish that I love. I also had a malasada for the first time. It was excellent with black coffee. What a delightful surprise on a Saturday afternoon of just driving around.

    (5)

  • Jill E.

    On our first visit to the big island some years ago, a friend said you must stop by Tex Drive in and have the malasadas. Having no idea what they were, we did and were hooked. I try to eat pretty healthy but there are exceptions to every rule and this is one of them. They have a pretty big menu but i have no idea how anything tastes because we only go for the warm, gooey filled malasadas. I think the last time we went I had chocolate filling and this time had the Bavarian Cream. I do believe those two are better than the fruit fillings. These remind me of a warm Krispy Cream donut which I never eat either. Thank goodness for vacations where you can let go and indulge.

    (3)

  • Jodell C.

    I am a local born and raised in Honokaa. tex Drive Inn was always the place to eat. However, there's new owners now. & I just went there this morning to order a beef curry stew with rice on the side. The cashier told me she cannot do that. She went in the kitchen to ask the manager / boss on duty & came back to say she cannot put my rice on the side!!!! I even offered to pay for the extra plate. She said she can't do that... That is very bad business ethics !!!! If u are the owner of Tex Drive Inn & reading this, that was rude of you, to not accommodate your paying customers!! I will keep writing bad reviews about your business until you learn how to service your customers.. Even if people say you have the best malasadas on the island. Having that kind of attitude towards your customers will not make you successful!!!! Disappointed w/ Tex Drive Inn. No Aloha Spirit!!!! Some Shame U Guys!!!

    (1)

  • Odille C.

    I love the malasadas here, if you go to Tex and don't get a malasada then your trip there was a waste. Their malasadas are basically gold in the form of baked goods, also they serve filled ones, whats not to love? I wish they were closer to Hilo, I would go everyday.

    (5)

  • Cesar R.

    MALASADAS Warm, fluffy no-hole donuts filled with delicious sweet gooey apple stuffs? yes. yelp.com/biz_photos/o5__… A sophisticated review on the finer points of fried dough? not quite. Hey! This is yelp. You get what you pay for. Ok. ok. they were DAMN tasty. that is all.

    (4)

  • Steven U.

    Went to Tex for the first time and I liked it. We got malasadas, plain and filled. I also got a Korean chicken plate for the road. Keep in mind I don't really like malasadas. I don't know why, but they just aren't my favorite thing. Give me an apple fritter or kruller and I'm good. Anyway, they have a window where you can watch them make the malasadas by hand...it's pretty cool. Tex malasadas don't come out as dark as Oahu malasadas. Tex malasadas are lighter in color and it seems they don't fry them as long too. We tried a few flavors, I think apricot and rasberry....they were good. My Korean Chicken was also very good, but different than Oahu Korean chicken. Oahu Korean chicken is boneless and Big Island Korean Chicken seems to be bone-in wings and drummettes(from the few places I've had). The Oahu chicken is easier to eat, but I think the Big Island chicken is more flavorful and juicier (IMO). The mac salad came with potatoes in it which was good as well. I opted for the mashed potatoes and gravy instead of rice, and it was good....the gravy was better than the mashed potatoes. I will go back and try some of the other food. 3 stars

    (3)

  • Pamlyn C.

    My sister got the Malasada (no filling). It was warm and fresh, but I didn't think there was anything special about it. It was just fried dough with sugar on the outside. I got the macaroni salad which I am a big fan of. It was delicious. The lines took forever. I think they need a new system.

    (3)

  • Jessica G.

    Dear Tex Drive-in, Your malasadas, and in particular, the ones filled with chocolate, would seriously be the death of me if I lived anywhere near enough that I could come to you on a regular basis. I am almost thankful that I can't, though now I shall pine for them in a most unusual way. Soft, pillowy doughnuts filled with chocolate pudding bordering on the verge of tasting like chocolate frosting. Where I come from, this is a good thing. A very good thing. Very delicious overall. Sincerely, The Girl With Potential for a Serious Bakery Issue PS - please have more than just a couple of the flavors listed on your menu - we wanted to try more than just the 4 that were available so that was a little sad for us.

    (4)

  • Bill H.

    I was the only guy there, I should say I was the last guy in a line of five or six. The kids taking orders were fun to watch...they would stand at their registers and stare at their finger nails. We were cued up like good little minions, waiting for the girls to call us up. They wouldn't do it. We, the customers, got to talking amongst ourselves, wondering just WFT was going on. Finally, one lady, cute, petite, auburn hair, got really pissed, she must have been one of the first in the cue. She walked up to the kid at the register, said "we've been waiting here 10 minutes, what the heck is going on." The kid said, " you're here now, what do you want." This exact exchange occurred twice. I thought the red-headed lady was going to shoot lightning bolts out her ass! RHL left the building, I thought to summon the dark forces of Gozar, but she never returned. Too bad. I eventually got to order some food, and it was all messed up. It took them fifteen minutes to make a double cheese burger, they forget the bacon. The patties were really good, but the bun looked like a malasada cut in half. It literally dissolved on the meat. My drink never made it, I had to ask for it again before I left. An 8 ounce smoothie for $4.50. I got a box of six malasadas, because the kid who took my order said I could only buy boxes of six or 12. No other options, like only one maybe? They actually come filled with goo, but the kid never brought that up either. Two stars because the meat was pretty good and do love their malasadas. I will never forget that red haired woman, though!

    (2)

  • Mabel H.

    The burgers and plate lunches are meh, but the malasadas are the best on the Big Island (although best in the state honour goes to Leonard's in Honolulu). The custard and guava malasadas are my personal favourites. And it takes Tex's malasadas longer to go stale than any others I found - I bought a dozen the day before flying back to the mainland and 2 days later they were still delicious.

    (4)

  • Reed N.

    Tex is a long standing food stop on the lonely road between Waimea and Hilo. Who doesn't like donuts? Truthfully?? I mean, every country has its own fried dough and they are all pretty darn good... especially when warm and fresh. The Masaladas are no exception. You must get some and eat them. You just must. : ) I also had the Local Wrap... Kalua Pork and cabbage. It was a bit runny due to the braising liquid... but tasty. They are currently remodeling, so the may lose that old diner divey feel. But the food is the deal.

    (4)

  • Scott K.

    Based solely on the Malasadas, I would definitely come back. We stopped in the mid afternoon, so we did have a chance to sample the rest of the menu. The Malasadas were the best I have ever had.

    (4)

  • Charlene C.

    Love this place! Great ambiance and great food. You can't ask for anything more.... hey you're in Hawaiiiii! :P I've had their malasada, 2 eggs breakfast with Portuguese sausage & toast, beef taco salad, chicken sandwich, and pork & cabbage wraps. Everything is good... I have no complaints. :) Please don't bring alcohol here and drink it outside. They don't have a liquor license. We've witnessed this. SIDE NOTE: There is another Tex Drive In on Kopiko Street in Kailua-Kona. It's NOT the same!! Don't even think about going there. Do yourself a favor & stick to this one.

    (5)

  • Raizel G.

    My mom and I loved their malasadas so much that we ended up stopping there twice during the week we spent on the Big Island. I tried the mango flavor and the bavarian cream flavor one and they were both great! They can be pretty messy if you try to eat them in the car, though! I would recommend this place to anyone who has a sweet tooth and finds themself on the Big Island. They malasadas are fresh and delicious and come in a bunch of different flavors. It's very casual and a great stop for anyone who happens to be driving by! You can even watch them making the malasadas. :) There were always people there when I went, but it never took long to get our order. They also have a gift shop and both indoor and outdoor seating.

    (4)

  • E L.

    It's OK. Best ones are in Oahu.

    (3)

  • Wan L.

    I'M A FAN! Malasadas = Portuguese Donuts If you've never tried, you're missing out! You can get it plain or filled (10 types of fillings). GET THE BAVARIAN CREME FILLING! yelp.com/user_local_phot…

    (4)

  • Samantha G.

    Thank you Monica B. for telling me about Bavarian cream-filled malasadas! I haven't had malasadas in years and figured Tex Drive in would be the place to get the craving satiated. I love how we just went in the drive in and got the malasadas fresh from the fryer. You really can't go wrong with fried dough and Bavarian cream though. Best part is that they're just $1.56 each!

    (4)

  • Lina O.

    BEST MALASADAS! even better than Lenoard's on Oahu! we got a box and they were piping hot, super soft and flakey. we got the custard, chocolate and guava filled ones. they were all really good. plenty of parking but a little out of the way. worth the drive though!

    (5)

  • Arial P.

    Malasadas here are to die for! Sugar on them is just enough to make your tunmy happy:)

    (5)

  • Jackie L.

    We fell in love with the malasada in Kauai at the coffee tasting plantation. These are nothing like them. This is a glorified sugar donut in a square shape. The ones in Kauai tasted closer to a funnel cake, shaped like a donut hole and covered in powdered sugar. Good thing this was on the way to something and we didn't just drive here for this. Btw, don't bother ordering anything other than malasadas. It's taken them over a half hour and we are still waiting for our breakfast order.

    (3)

  • Karen R.

    We had lunch, hawaiian burger on sweet bread was enjoyed by my guy. We also picked up an apple and a bavarian creme malasadas and they were Delicious!! Though we had enough with lunch, we simply had to eat these while they were still warm. May have to go back for a repeat later in the week!

    (4)

  • Darrell S.

    Plenty of food selections and they are supposed to be known for their Malisadas a pastry. We only got Malisadas and they are the bomb great light pastry filled with guava, chocolate,mango, or plain probably varies by the day. These are known by the locals and folks come from all over the island just to get a fix.

    (4)

  • Russell C.

    Ok so this is pretty much the quintessential middle of nowhere spot that does something really well so we gotta stop there kind of place. I've recently become more accustomed to this little town because it is where my fiance originates from so going here is pretty much a given every trip there. We usually get the chicken loco moco, which comes in a Styrofoam bowl, with white rice, a chicken patty , over easy egg and brown gravy. Its pretty good, because they are all made fresh. Now to the most important part and the main reason why everyone comes here, is the malasadas. Which is also the reason why i gave this place only 3 stars. 1st off the headliner is the bavarian creme filled malasada, which out of the last 4 times ive been there has only had them once. Not because they sold out, but the excuses ranged from the person who makes its isnt working today, to we dont have the ingredients to make it because our orders werent delievered. So when they did have it, it was good, i still think Leonards on oahu is better. But they are not bad by any means. So if you are in the area stop by and have a little rest from your long drive and have a malasada and coffee.

    (3)

  • Cherie T.

    Thanks to Kalani C.'s Big Island list and Jenny H. ...i have found this gem! it was my first time trying malasadas. I have nothing to compare with. But I will admit that these malasadas reminds me of sugar donuts but lighter and fluffier. i normally don't like donuts will fillings but these malasadas were good. I tried the regular (plain), guava, pineapple, and mango fillings. My favorite flavor is the guava. You know these malasadas are fresh cuz you can see them making them in their open kitchen.. I"ll definitely go back to this place if i'm ever back at the Big Island again.

    (4)

  • Michael L.

    their fresh malasadas are as good as any i have had. you can also get them with various fillings. i have had the one with bavarian creme but i guess when it comes to malasadas i am kind of a traditionalist and prefer mines plain. they also serve lunch/dinner foods but we usually stop by for the malasadas. it is in the small town of honokaa but worth the drive.

    (4)

  • PatrickJ T.

    Tex Drive-In makes my favorite malasadas in the world!! Forget about Leonard's in Oahu. They've got nothing on Tex Drive-In!! The bavarian cream filled malasada is my absolute favorite!!! With each bite, it tastes like a piece of paradise. We stopped by Tex-Drive-In quite a bit while we were staying for the week on the Big Island. We did try some of their entrees like the loco moco, kalua pork, teriyaki beef, and teriyaki chicken. They all tasted fine, but make sure you save room for the malasadas. They are ONO (Delicious!!!) From reading some of the reviews, it seems that I was fortunate to always have my favorite malasada available. We were always able to even take some back with us to our timeshare in Kona. It is so worth taking the time to come to Tex Drive-In, and you also get great views too.

    (5)

  • Lauren E.

    I kept hearing about malasadas and that Tex Drive In was the place to get them. One of the best dessert foods I've had in Hawaii, Tex's malasadas were freshly made. They were warm with a slight crisp on the outside and chewy center. Unfortunately when we went, the only fillings they had available were Bavarian creme, chocolate and strawberry. Normally they have tons of other fillings. The Bavarian creme was my favorite. If only I could get these on the East Coast!

    (5)

  • Christine E.

    Total fan of the Malasadas! BEST on the Big Island! I bought a huge box of assorted so I could try them ALL but the plain are the best. They are served fresh and hot! I didn't try anything else on the menu but there was a line out the door and it was crowded! This place is very popular with the locals and it's conveniently located right off of the highway! Can someone please open one up in San Jose CA? The owner is from Seattle, so I say, WHY NOT?!

    (5)

  • Jackie A.

    Best place to get warm and tasty Malasadas!! You can even watch them make them:) A fun place to visit and a must if you haven't tried a Malasada!! Aloha!!

    (5)

  • John S.

    Back in my first home -- Chicagoland -- we would call the "malasadas" "Bismarks". The difference is that at Tex they're rectangular -- and better than anything I ever had in Chicago. That might be because this is the only place I expect to get the malasadas warm -- or even hot -- from the kitchen. I've had other food at Tex, but I plan my trips from Kailua-Kona to Hilo and save up the calories by skipping a meal or two so I can have two absolutely fresh malasadas and a cup of coffee. They are that good!

    (4)

  • Jed N.

    Stopped in here on Thursday, 11/21/2013 around 5pm on way to Hilo from Hapuna beach. Only two customers in line. Despite this, incredibly slow service. If I hadn't needed the coffee, I would have left. Two malasadas and strong Kona coffee warrant at least a two star rating.

    (2)

  • Tom C.

    Love the malasada, must eat there while it is warm and fresh. I got Bavarian cream filling. It is basically a square donut with sugar outside and fillings inside. The menu is huge. Will have to come back for the other items.

    (5)

  • Leana L.

    We hit this place up on our drive to Hilo since it was right off highway 19. I heard about this place from the Food Network and had to look it up on yelp. I was debating whether or not to get malasadas for the first time from Tex's or from Leonards when we go to Oahu, but decided on Tex's since it was featured on the Food Network and there's plenty of other places I want to try on Oahu. Arriving at Tex's, it was super easy to find, and even though we weren't hungry for a snack, I talked my mom and sister in to trying a malasada with me. Outside, there were several tables filled with people enjoying their malasadas or other breakfast plates. I asked the lady at the counter for her suggestion and she said the bavarian cream was their most popular, so I ordered that one. My mom ordered the guava, and my sister ordered the mango filling. For about $4.41, we got three warm malasadas covered in sugar. She threw them in a paper bag and we took a seat in one of the booths. Inside, there's a cooler for water with little paper cups and old trivia cards in mugs on the tables. When I bit into my malasada, it was sweet goodness. There was a little too much sugar covering it, for my taste, but it reminded me of a nice fluffy doughnut, and who doesn't like doughnuts? I tried my mom's guava, which tasted like a mixture between guava and strawberry. My sister's mango was my favorite for sure. The refreshing fruit flavor was a nice contrast to the sweet dough. The malasadas were pretty good sized and I barely had room to finish mine, but I couldn't let it go to waste! The one thing I wish they had done, was make them circular because when you took a bite of the corners, you didn't have any filling! Overall, if you want some fried sugary goodness filled with a unique tropical fruit flavor or something creamy like bavarian cream or chocolate, this is the place! It looked pretty popular with some locals, too, for breakfast. Since this is my first time trying malasadas, I 'm not sure if this is the BEST place, but it was good!

    (4)

  • Violet H.

    Tex's is getting a long overdue face-lift. That includes the ladies room, which is still small, but at least it's nice now. The restaurant is located right off the highway for easy access, and has plenty of parking. Despite the drive-in in the title, there is also indoor and outdoor seating, and a small garden area off the parking lot. The food is good - fresh, generous portions. The last time I was there I had a beef terriyaki sandwich. The beef was moist and tasty, piled on a large, soft bun. I'd plannned to have it as a snack instead of having breakfast, but it was so large, I had no room for lunch, and wasn't hungry again until early evening. The real star here is the malasadas. Plump, fresh, pillowy goodness. With or without filling, you can't go wrong. There are a variety of fillings to choose from - cream, lemon, mango, lychee, etc. They're even good cold. It's fun to watch them being made. Honokaa is a little less than an hour north of Hilo. Some bus tours stop there. Made sure you get enough malasadas! They really are delicious. This is a great place for for everyone, especially families.

    (4)

  • Don J.

    Awesome!

    (5)

  • Rich M.

    I had the Teriyaki Beef Plate(White Rice and Mac) with a Malasada. It was pure deliciousness. The only reason for four instead of five stars is the wait and the fact that they ran out of fried chicken for my wife's order. (She ended up getting Korean Chicken - which was still great).

    (4)

  • Dave G.

    Every culture has their fried dough with sugar on it. Beignet, Berliner, Zeppole, Churros, Funnel Cake; it doesn't matter what you call it, apparently Man can not evolve anywhere on this earth without learning to fry dough and put sugar on it. When I saw the word malasadas, I should have known. When in doubt with a new food name, guess that it is fried dough and you'll most likely be right. Malasada's are actually Portuguese donuts. I got a brief history lesson from a park ranger in Volcano National Park who had a Portuguese last name and was being asked about it by some European travelers. In the late 1800's to the early 1900's, Hawaii brought many Portuguese laborers to work the sugar fields. They were a "middle class" kind of laborer and were allowed to bring their families and given an acre of land. After their 1 year contract was up, most stayed in Hawaii and bought more land and worked their own farms. They also brought a lot of their culture, their biggest Hawaiian contribution being the Ukulele. Portuguese sausage is a big staple in Hawaiian food as is Portuguese Sweet Bread. Apparently their donuts were also a big hit. That brings me to Tex Drive In, who locals will tell you has the best Malasadas on the island. Tex Drive In is a great spot to stop off on the way from one side of the Island to the other. The malasadas were as fresh as can be since they are made to order. It takes a few minutes, but it's worth it when you bite into a nice warm donut. The dough was a little more dense than the usual donut. The sugar on the outside is a fine granule, not powdered like a beignet. What I found most impressive was the quality of the fillings. They have quite a few different fillings on the menu, but only had 5 available at the time. This is fresh homemade jam, not just some red goo they are putting in there. We tried 3 of them and went with the strawberry, guava, and raspberry. Each was fabulous with my favorite being the guava (reminded me of a Cuban dessert), but the strawberry was a close second. The raspberry had a nice tartness to it, just to remind you these jams are real fruit based. They also had chocolate and lemon. Hind sight I wish I tried those as well, but I'm guessing that every filling is top shelf. yelp.com/biz_photos/o5__… So the reason for 4 stars and not 5 is the rest of the food on the menu seems to be 3 stars. Just an average fast food style burger or fish sandwich and average french fries. Because I'm writing this now that I'm back on the mainland, I don't even know what I ate. I think I had a fish sandwich and I can't remember what my wife had. When I can't remember anything about food, then it wasn't bad or good. But the malasadas - I can remember everything about those for sure.

    (4)

  • John R.

    What a disappointment. Deli sandwich billed as stuffed with meat and big enough for 2 had lots of lettuce, about a quarter cup of sauce, and 4 slices of pepperoni. I picked off the pepperoni but the rest was a tasteless, sodden mess. Mac salad had 2 ingredients: mushy, over cooked macaroni and mayo. The onion rings were soured, as if the batter had been sitting out for a few days. We threw it all away.

    (2)

  • Carey C.

    Worst customer service on the islands! I've been coming to Tex's for twenty years my best friend from Hilo brought me here to try the famous malasadas. Yes they are good but order ahead and go dive thru to avoid the dumb and the rude service. But this time we wanted the full experience as we brought a friend with us. And we got an experience for sure. When they make a mistake you pay for it. Case in point I orders 6 Bavarian cream 6 chocolate. On the receipt it says 6 Bavarian 6 plain. I go up to ask to switch them out. The young woman who filled them heard the order and made it correctly but because I only checked the receipt I went up to the counter to fix it. Instead they charge me three bucks for their mistake. Bad bad customer service and you all know it. It's not the three bucks it's the experience. Owners: you need to work on this. I even popped into the new gift shop. The teenage girls working there never looked up to greet me and continued to give me their backs. Not a word. If you want to sell the goods in your gift shop perhaps friendly and helpful is a good idea to help pay for the construction. It's also a good idea to have more than one medium sized shirt. Inventory for goodness sake it's prime holiday shopping time.

    (1)

  • Nam N.

    M-A-L-A-S-A-D-A......om, nom, nom,nom.... Malasadas are the no-frills, no thrills just darn good eats. How could you possibly go wrong with fried dough rolled in sugar?! Traditionally a Portuguese sweet treat, I do my hardest to go on a malasada binge whenever I'm on the islands. From what I've been told, what Leonard's Bakery is to the malasada on O'ahu....Tex Drive In is to the malasada on the Big Island. So OF COURSE the bf and I had to stop by for a quick one or two on our way to Hapuna Beach. As it turns out, Tex Drive In is more than just fried confections. Their menu offers a variety of local grindz from lunch plates to burgers and sandwiches. When we walked in I literally RAN to the window to see an Auntie fresh frying the malasadas up yelp.com/biz_photos/o5__… And with as much restraint as I could possibly muster, the bf and I ordered only one each. His was filled with Bavarian Cream and mine with Chocolate Cream (they also had strawberry available). If you order the malasada without filling, it cost a whopping 96 cents...35 more cents will get you the filling. We go big. yelp.com/biz_photos/o5__… First bite, chocolate cream shooting out everywhere with sugar all over my face....that's always a good sign of malasadas! My chocolate was not too sweet, good cream consistency....and although the malasada was fresh and still warm something was missing for me. Perhaps the dough was not as light? Still yummy but I think I prefer Leonard's. Would I go back again? HECK YEAH! This mainland gal doesn't get the opportunity to indulge in malasadas often.

    (3)

  • Karen Y.

    This malasada is a lie. At least when compared to Leonards. This place's malasadas really are just filling filled donuts. The filling was good. And as a donut it's good. It's just not a fluffy malasada. The food was tasty though. I ordered the saimin which was only like $4. My dad throughly enjoyed his shoyu chicken and my brother liked his burger. The mac salad was ok, nothing amazing.

    (3)

  • Albert H.

    Leonard's only serious competition - and they're kind of out of the way and on a different island. We've been here a couple times over the years, and I still like the fact that they cook their malasadas to a nice golden brown rather than frying them until they're almost burnt. Unfortunately, the fillings are not quite up to par. At least not the Guava Jelly. Stick with the plain one and you can't go wrong. It's a big, casual place - part of the dining room seems given over to storage of various currently-unused restaurant equipment and artifacts. The decor is a mix of old and new and just quirky. There's always been plenty of parking when we've dropped by - it's really in the middle of nowhere in particular. Strangely, I've never tried any of their other food. Though technically a drive in, the malasadas are the main thing. There's even a nice glassed-in area where you can see them cooking the pastries.

    (3)

  • Justin B.

    Great Malasadas. I drove from the Kona side to get there and wasn't disappointed. Fruit filling seems to be better than the creams, which I was sort of surprised by (I prefer cream pies to fruit). Their service isn't super friendly, which is why they didn't get 5 stars. But don't let that deter you, the place is great!

    (4)

  • Tiffany E.

    Our wonderful friends, Marz and Justino, made sure we didn't miss out on this drive-in and it's epic malasadas of awesomeness. How awesome are they, you ask? Awesome enough that we went twice, within 2 days, even though we were staying about an hour's drive away. I hadn't had fresh malasadas in a while and I remember them as being very similar to sugar donuts, but square shaped, and roughly larger than the palm of my hand. When I saw Tex Drive-In's malasadas, piping hot, sugary, and roughly the size of BOTH of my palms, I instantly knew why our friends would drive an hour for these puppies. They were fluffy, perfectly fried, and oh so ono! And they still tasted good the next day! On our second trip out, we also tried the french fries and onion rings, but our fondest memories are of the malasadas. Someday we will return!

    (4)

  • Su-Lynn T.

    We stopped at Tex Drive In on the way to Hilo early one morning. I definitely wanted to try a malasada and they did not disappoint. However they were much larger than I expected, and although I ordered 2 I could only eat 1! They are large, fluffy and surprisingly square shaped. I thought they would be round, but I like that they are square...it's different. I got the plain because any filler would have been sugar overload for me. Since they pretty much dump it in a mound of sugar after deep frying them, they are already plenty sweet. Hubs got the curry stew because we heard it was good. You can get it with or without rice. It was pretty good, and it reminded us a bit of Japanese curry paired with beef stew. Probably not the sort of thing most people eat at 7 in the morning but hey, we were on NY time, so it was lunch! I like that they had their full menu at all hours and we weren't just limited to breakfast. Would they have been closer, we would have gone here more often as the prices were so reasonable. The Kona one opened right after we left! I guess we'll save it for next time...

    (4)

  • Janice H.

    To people who think Leonard's or Champion's malasadas are "the best" in the state .... forgive them, Father, for they know not what is ahead of them. *perform the cross, a Hail Mary, and a small prayer for all of the uniformed malasada consumers* This is the shrine, The Church, THE TEMPLE of malasadas I worship every time I come back to the Big Island. The mecca of malasadas: Tex's Drive In. O'ahuans, you have committed deep sacrilege by considering Leonard's to be "the best malasada" you've ever tasted. The oily, sugar-coated, carbohydrate-based diabetic coma you call a malasada cannot surpass the heavenly and anointed power that is Tex's. It's light and fluffy consistency is akin to an angel's wings, delicately sprinkled with sugar by the wings of doves, and bountiful in portions as is the Father who has thou bestowed this blessing upon us. I forgive you, I forgive you, I forgive you. Taste this heavenly blessing (in the form of half a dozen) and go forth into this world and spread his holy name forever and ever and ever ....

    (5)

  • HELEN K.

    We were craving Malasadas so we drove up past Waimea (we were staying on the Kohala Coast) to get some famous Malasadas from Tex Drive In. They did not dissapoint! The Malasadas were fresh and warm, we got the PIneapple, Guava, Mango and Custard filled ones. We polished them off in one sitting! So doughy and warm and covered in sugar. Our favorite was the custard.

    (4)

  • Sophia C.

    This review is for the new location in the Kailua Kona location. They don't seem to have a yelp account established for that one. Anywho, the new location was a 5 mins walk from our resort, which can be good or bad ;). I kept telling the hubby about these hawaiian malasadas that he needs to try since coming to the Hawaiian islands for the first time. And he absolutely loved them! We stayed in the Kona coast for 5 days, and for 3 mornings, the hubby always wanted a regular ol' malasadas. Most of the fruit fillings seem artificial flavoring, the chocolate filling was more like chocolate pudding, but the bavarian cream ones were quite delish! Most of the times we came, the sweet bread donuts were light and fluffy. There was one morning where it came off a tad stale, and it was around 9am. The staff here at the new joint was super friendly, and engaged in some of the trivial pursuit questions we were playing while waiting for our donuts. The kona coffee here stinks, you're better off going to another spot for it. We've only been here for the donuts, but their menu for food and lunch/dinner plates seem decent and priced comparable.

    (4)

  • Cece E.

    Fresh baked malasadas! Can't speak to the other food here but being able to watch as the malasadas are being made is well worth the visit.

    (4)

  • Cheif F.

    I love Malasadas.....but not the ones from Tex's. Wish I could say otherwise. They were warm. Yay. Beyond that, they were nothing special. The fillings were cheap tasting and filled off center- not a big deal, but worth mentioning because it was weird to get all filling, then none. We got Bavarian Cream, Raspberry and Cherry. Meh. If you are in the area and there is no line (our experience) then go if you want something sweet. Otherwise, you are not missing out.

    (2)

  • Jaynie K.

    Greasy comfort food, reminds me of the cafeteria from grade school, which is a good thing! We had the hamburger plate (hamburger patties smothered in gravy and onions, mashed potatoes, salad), meatloaf, Portuguese bean soup, and shared a strawberry malasada. The hamburger was well seasoned and the mashed potatoes were creamy good. And who can say no to gravy? Meatloaf was also very tasty, and the soup was kinda... ketchupy? We also ordered tater tots, which were hella good, but really who can ever do tater tots wrong? The malasada was okay, but not really anything to write home about. It was nice and hot and fluffy, but it was pretty standard to me. And the strawberry filling was just straight up Smuckers jam, nothing special. I'm still haunted by the insanely good lilikoi malasada from Punalu'u...

    (3)

  • Dana S.

    Clearly I'm in the minority, but I'm not sure what the hype is about here... it's normal drive in food, with malasadas, which are basically hot donuts. The fillings (we tried mango and pineapple) were overly sweet and tasted artificial. The wait for our food was ridiculously long, and we were so hungry we'd have eaten mud-filled malasadas, and even under those conditions we weren't impressed. Not bad, but not worth coming out of your way for.

    (3)

  • Keiko S.

    So...this is THE place to stop for a quick meal or snack when driving across the island from Kona to Hilo or Hilo to Kona. While it's supposed to be a "local" hangout, it's arguably more catered towards the local-wannabee tourists as the name is marked on many guide books and maps and is commonly recommended by tour guides. The food is something you'd expect from any fast food joint. When paying fast food prices (less than $10 per item), I guess we ought to lower our expectations. Plus, the place is more famous for their fresh, hot Malasadas (Portuguese hole-less doughnuts) than anything else. Strangely, however, no one seemed to be ordering when we stopped by. Didn't smell them either... Well, while the food was passable at best (and too bad we didn't get to taste the Malasadas), we did what almost every tourist does when making the long drive to Hilo and back. That's good enough for me! FOOD: 2 to 3 stars EXPERIENCE: 5 stars

    (3)

  • Brian B.

    Made a stop here on our way to the Wiapi'o valley and I'm glad we stopped. From the outside the place doesn't look like much and the inside doesn't either but the food is good. I had the Moco Loco and really liked it. But what really got me was the Malasadas stuffed with Bavarian Creme. Delish!!! I'll definitely want to have another of those and I learned that they've got a shop on the Kona side where we are staying. Looks like my cholesterol level is going to take a beating.

    (4)

  • Jill and Ying J.

    This place is apparently famous for their Portuguese donuts. What are Portuguese donuts? Who knows, but it's in THE big island travel book, and apparently, it's also in the itineraries of nearly every Asian tour grip on the island. But it's totally worth it. It tastes kinda like the sugar-coated fried frozen Pillsbury donuts you get at Chinese buffet's, but it's much bigger, much softer, MUCH more made from scratch. They're stuffed with various jellies. We got the Bavarian cream, raspberry, and mango. All were winners. You really can't lose with stopping here. Plus, if anything, it's got great views from the outside dining areas.

    (4)

  • J P.

    We stopped here, on the way back from Hilo, because we'd heard the malasadas were the best on the Big Island. We didn't have a clue what a malasada was, but came to a screeching halt as we passed the sign, remembered we had heard of this place, and did a 180 to go back. A malasada is basically a jelly-filled doughnut (or you can get plain), coated in sugar--something I would love but NEVER choose to eat because it is so not healthy. These taste different from a raised doughnut though--maybe eggier or butterier? Not sure. That aside, we each got a raspberry-filled one; they have lots of other flavors--chocolate, various tropical fruits, strawberry, cherry. They're served warm and go down WAY too easy. Very delish. My sweet-toothed husband cannot wait to find an excuse to return to that part of the Island. :) PS: We went back & DH got another raspberry & I tried the cherry. Liked raspberry better. Wanted guava but they were out so you KNOW it must be amazing. :)

    (5)

  • Matthew B.

    Fantastic malasadas. Came here on a recommendation, and they didn't disappoint. Be sure that you're in the mood for a lot of sugar as each of them has TONS of sugar and fat in it! At this location you can watch them making them, and your malasada comes out hot. Every other place we've had them their cold... so come here!

    (5)

  • Jimmy N.

    Malasadas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I don't care where I am, or where they're from, if I see malasadas on the menu, I want to order them. My wife and I have actually been here twice, the first time in '08 and the most recent visit was during our honeymoon on the Big Island earlier this summer. They have solid malasadas, but I can't help but compare them to Leonard's on Oahu. Their rendition here at Tex is very doughy and definitely a jelly doughnut is a good description of their product here. I prefer the lighter, airier Leonard's version, but I'm still a fan of Tex's malasadas for what they are-- delicious, dense, filled sugary fistfuls of powdered and liquid aloha. The guava and mango fillings are probably our favorites, but nothing beats the plain unfilled ones. Never had any of the other food here, we'll probably try it out the next time we're in town, or better yet, try out their new location in Kailua-Kona!

    (4)

  • Justin K.

    good burgers and malasadas Nice surprise on drive back from Hilo

    (4)

  • Carissa S.

    Dinner and malasadas. I came all the way from NYC for this. Friends from Hilo who now live on the mainland have told me their stories and I sought for it. The food alone was good. My friend's salisbury steak didn't stand a chance. I got a bavarian cream malasada: perfectly dense dough, soft bread texture, a light touch of sweetness with the bavarian cream, followed by the teasing crunch of biting into the sugar coating. There was no guilt from eating it. Life is too short to not eat well.

    (4)

  • Brian W.

    Malasadas... the Hawaii or Portuguese equivalent of a jelly-filled donut, only here at Tex's they are minus the heavy sweet filling or greasy dough part. Here they're light and fluffy just-shy-of-crispy deep fried dough, and a filling that is lighter than most, yet still deliciously sweet. The cherry is good but the pineapple is a little sweeter and you can still feel chunks of real pineapple pieces in it, yet they're sufficiently beaten down that they almost melt in your mouth. And the guava... oh man, how I have missed guava. Juuuuuuust right. The only thing stopping me from giving this place five stars is that I did not have time to make it to Leonard's on this trip to do a proper comparison. The price is right, the service is fast, and it's well worth the trip to Tex's. It's so good, in fact, that in under a week, we went twice. I literally could live my life without touching the inferior "donut" ever again if that meant I could make a once a year trip to Tex's.

    (4)

  • Lucy L.

    Only got a bite of my sister's hamburger, but it was delicious and I kind of regret not getting my own food there. Didn't know I was hungry until I tasted it. And by then we were on our way to Waipio Valley, not to come back again before the end of our trip. Why, oh why is that the only location in the world?

    (4)

  • Chad Y.

    So here is the deal...I can't comment on the drive in style food for Tex's since my friends and I didn't come here for that. We came here for the malasadas. No Joke. My friend said they were awesome so we came here and boy were they right. Since I am an Oahu boy, I am under the belief that no malasada can be better than from the storied Leonard's Bakery. Tex's certainly rivals that of Leonards and is quite good, but for a different reason. You are overwhelmed by the sheer size of the Tex's malasada. It almost seems as if you aren't going to be able to finish it all, but you will. For one reason. The dough is light and fluffy versus the standard heavy and greasy feeling that you normally come to expect. Seriously...it is pretty damn good and it will definitely make me coming back for more!

    (4)

  • Jennifer W.

    I can only review the Malasadas, which is why I'll only give 4-stars. Next time, I'll stay for lunch. The Malasadas are to-die-for. I had 2 Bavarian Cream ones mainly because I've never been a big fruit-filling person. They were the most delectable things I've eaten in ages. Warm is best, though still yummy at room temperature. Worth the drive. I almost returned a second day, but my drive out was taking longer than I planned, so I had to skip it. Still bummed: I should've gone :)

    (4)

  • Johnny E.

    When your on your Hawaiian vacation and you did not go here, then you did not truly experience the foods Hawaii has to offer. You have to get a Tex Malasada. Yeah it's basically a heavier sugar donut but a must try. The view of the drive is well worth it.

    (5)

  • A. H.

    I must admit that I personally don't think their malasadas are as good as Champion in Honolulu. However, stopped by there for breakfast on our visit to the Big Island, and was pleasantly surprised at how good it was. The buttermilk pancakes were big, fluffy and delicious. Their breakfast plate with ham was very good - they use "real" ham, not the canned/pressed stuff. This rating is for breakfast only as we didn't have any other meals there.

    (4)

  • Andrea V.

    One word: Malasadas. They may be fattening and messy to eat, but no donut will ever come close to matching the wonderful taste of a fresh, warm malasada from Tex. The melt in your mouth goodness will make up for the sugary mess covering your face, your shirt and your car seat. This is the perfect location for a stop off between Hilo and Kona. They have lots of other food available if you want a meal, and have a nice casual patio area to relax and enjoy your food. They do have a great variety of 'filled' malasadas, but do yourself a favor and at least try one of the regular ones so you can truly appreciate the deliciousness that is a malasada.

    (4)

  • Jarod B.

    My first time back in 12 years, I was pleasantly surprised. The original was light and fluffy with just the right amount of sugar. My previous experiences had me wolfing down a dense flavorless warm bun, while making my daily morning commute from Hawaiian Beaches to Waikoloa (Yes! DAILY!). But this time around, I enjoyed every bite of the original while the filled one was just ok! My #2 malasada only to that red striped wagon on O'ahu. I will definitely be back to try more of the Tex menu.

    (4)

  • Soo S.

    Bavarian Cream Malasada was TOO creamy. I liked the original. Saimin and Shoyu chicken were both delicious. Potato mac salad, also delicious. Not a fan of their Chicken moco. Husband enjoyed his hamburger. I 'think' he ordered their Hawaiian burger. They used the sweet bun, which added a subtle sweetness to the hamburger. Entrance is located at back of the building.

    (4)

  • Lyn K.

    Malasada was ok. Prefer Punaluu Bakery's malasada much, much better! Mango and guava fillings not too good. Also, service was not pro-customer. After purchasing 2 dozen malasada, i went back to the counter to get a few knives so that we could taste the different flavors of malasada. The lady gave me one knife. I asked for a couple more knives. The lady gave me a look, looked at the huge pile of plastic knives, and gave me ONE more knife. She said I could wipe the knives! Is that poor sservice, or what? We just pur- hased 2 dozen malasada from them! My mom had ordered 3 bags of their sweet potato chips for my son. When the order took too long, she inquired. They forgot to make the order for her! Instead of waiting for them to make them (after a long wait), she asked for a refund. The lady was going to reimburse her the chips, but not the tax that was paid! You won't find this type of poor service at Punaluu Bakery.

    (2)

  • Tiffany S.

    The malasadas are good but a little too bready. I prefer more greasy donut-ish.

    (4)

  • Ryan O.

    A definite pit stop when going from Hilo to Kona, or vice-versa. Tex's is known for their delicious malasada's which in my oppinion are best eaten plain. The filling costs like a whole dollar more and it over powers the yumminess of the treat itself! They also had some pretty tasty looking / sounding lunch stuff, but we had filled up before leaving Hilo leaving only enough room for a lone malasada... ='0(

    (3)

  • Kealoha V.

    One of the first places that my Dad said that he wanted to take me while I was here. He had planned to take me to the Kona side of the island and that one that day we'd stop by here for some Malasadas. I had no idea what they were, but thankfully he didn't leave me wondering and explained what they were and the various kind that they sell. I'm not going to take the time to explain what it is, other than it's a donut. By the time we got to Tex's we were hungry as we hadn't eaten breakfast. So it being lunch time we decided to get some malasadas in addition to lunch, which was fine by me. Gave me more to write about. The menu consisted of burgers, sandwiches, salads, soups, etc. I ALMOST got Saimin a Manapua, both I am very familiar with. However I went with the Teriyaki Beef Burger and Onions Rings. My mistake... I should have gone with my original choices as I am sure they could have possibly been the better option. I have had onion rings at numerous restaurants, fast food, frozen food section of grocery stores and these were really something else. They looked (and from what little my nose allowed me to...) smelled fine. However once you bit into them, you found a VERY mushy onion. I mean they weren't solid at all. The oddest thing I've ever encountered in an onion ring. I ate a very and then had to stop. Just too weird for me. The burger was another disappointment. They serve their burgers on bread that looks like a malasada that was made to be fluffy like a Hawaiian King's Roll. The teriyaki beef ended up being this super thin piece of beef that that was double the length of the bun, which they folded in half. Even then, it was still mostly bun. I ditched the lettuce, tomato and onion like I do at most places. Again even if I had, it still wouldn't have been much food. It barely tasted like it had been marinated or cooked in teriyaki. So that left me with the main reason people come here in the first place and that's the malasadas. After finishing my lunch, I decided to have one before we hit the road. My Dad asked for extra sugar when he ordered the dozen of them that we got and they sure where covered in sugar. I personally would try them as is, as it was simply so much sugar you have to be extra careful how and where you eat it. Also I found myself brushing my face (I currently have a beard) to get the excess sugar off myself. They tasted pretty good, nice and soft. All I could have asked for was a cup of coffee, but that's okay. I'll be enjoying one or two of them tomorrow morning with coffee. Another little fun thing about the place were the coffee cups in the middle of the outdoor tables, that had very old Trivial Pursuit cards in them. Gave us a little something to do while waiting for our order. One of those little things that put a smile on your face because it's so random. Next time I am in Hilo on a future trip, I will go back and try malasadas that have fillings and maybe that saimin and manapua as well.

    (3)

  • Steven O.

    The malasadas are excellent, best on the island I would say. They are a must try when visiting Honokaa

    (4)

  • Phil M.

    Yes! Yes! Yes! I'm not a big donut fan but the Tex Drive In Malasada's are awesome! Freshly made to order, sugar glazed and filled with your favourite filling... served hot!

    (5)

  • Dj E.

    This is the Lenard's of BI

    (5)

  • izumi n.

    OMGYG! I liked the malasadas here better than Leonard's! Its square, fluffy, not that oily and delish!! A must-have in Hilo: )

    (5)

  • Mary M.

    Oh my! I wish I lived near the place. These malasadas are served warm and right to your window in their drive thru. You have to get there early if you want to get the guava or mango flavors. I tried twice, but they were sold out. The apricot was amazing, but my friends were fans of the raspberry!

    (5)

  • Pammy L.

    Arrived here around 9:30am on our way to Kona and opted for the burgers and malasadas! Bacon cheese burger - A decent size burger with lots of bacon, but the best part was the hawaiian sweet bread bun yum! Teriyaki burger - BF was surprised and a little disappointed there wasn't a beef patty but instead thin slices of beef....he likes his MEAT. Hawaiian burger - Beef patty with, lettuce, grilled pineapple, and thousand island dressing. Ehh it was ok....I'm not really a fan of pineapples in my burgers or thousand island dressing. Malasadas - Cream and apple were my favorite flavors.

    (4)

  • Mark D.

    Awesome!!! Shoyu chicken was great! Portuguese stew great! Malasadas great!

    (5)

  • Jackie H.

    This is solely based on the malasadas since I rarely eat anything else here when I'm back visiting family. So it's coined as being home of the best malasada, on da Big Island maybe but in the state of Hawaii no, and I've had better malasadas here on the mainland as well. Though it is worth a stop if you're in the area or driving from/to Hilo side. They have a decent variety of fillings if you want and the malasadas have always been fresh. I normally can never finish one on my own so I usually just share. I've had plenty of malasadas in my life and these are definitely tasty but not the best you'll ever have (though I have been spoiled having fresh homemade malasadas my Auntie would make; also if you've had a Leonard's malasada you've been spoiled too). I don't think you'll find a better place on the big island so it's definitely worth the stop.

    (3)

  • Kevin C.

    Food was a little over cooked. We had a burger and ham and cheese omelet. Tons of meat in the omelet. Had the food not been over cooked, a definite five star.

    (4)

  • Maylee H.

    Local flare that's very affordable. Loco mocos are all great and surpringly, the pastrami sandwich was great!! But let's not forget why one comes here,,, the masalalas! Must get there early to get the popular flavors like guava and pineapple. But the mango is also delicious

    (5)

  • Robert K.

    Great place for local food. And And And The Malasada's....WOW!!! Their Known for their Malasada's, (fried donuts). The Best So Far! You can get the regular Malasadas or cream-filled in different places I ordered the Mahi Loco Moco! Different. But, good. Its a great stop for the drive from HILO to KONA.

    (5)

  • Will F.

    Malasadas???? It a square filled fried doughnut. They are made to order and u even get a choice of the filling u want. I picked Bavarian cream and strawberry. It was fresh and warm when i bit into it. Screw crispy cream cause the Malasadas ( not sure how to sound it out) was way awesomer. Will be back for sure. Beware afterwards you might fall into a sugar coma like i did.

    (4)

  • Brice B.

    One of the best burger's I've had in recent memory? Check. Closely accessible from the main road for those driving around the Big Island? Check. Malasadas that will have you on your knees and renouncing your citizenship for one more bite? Yep. Well, there you go. What else do you need, you greedy animal?

    (5)

  • Andy S.

    We stopped very briefly one morning for malasadas only. We waited in line for about 5 minutes, and my wife and I each had a malasada- hers was 'plain', mine with lemon filling. They were excellent, and I would stop there again if convenient on the way to/from Hilo or some other location. However the malasada, while great, wouldn't be worth the 1hr+ drive from our Kona-area hotel, or Waikoloa, etc. Frankly, the malasada I had from an old lady in front of K-Mart in Lihue, Kauai, was just as good :-)

    (3)

  • Susan H.

    This is not what I expected. For some reason I was expecting a roadside stand. Tex's is a clean, bright little drive in with outside seating. Ths is a great rest stop if you are on your way to Akaka Falls or Waipio Valley. The restrooms are clean and there is plenty of available parking. Tex's is mostly famous for their malasadas (portugese doughnuts) but they do also have a food menu. We stopped just for the malasadas and we were not disappointed!! Be sure to pack some up to go with a cup of coffee. Our favorite was the bavarian cream. Man, I can taste those now!! The service is fast and friendly and you will be glad you stopped whatever the time of day.

    (4)

  • Margaret R.

    Yummy. I got the Hawaiian burger - hamburger with a pineapple...mmmm delicious. I think the next time I have a barbecue, I shall make Hawaiian burgers. The malasadas are freshly made there so they are nice and warm when we ordered them. It tasted like a nice freshly made donut with filling, which is a good thing. We liked the mango filling the best because it was the least sweet.

    (4)

  • A L.

    Malisadas from Tex's is a great way to start off a day - warm fried dough - how can you go wrong?

    (4)

  • Felicia C.

    Drove all the way from Kailua Kona for the burger!! It was advertised in a magazine and we had to go! And they also had malasada. I ordered the Hawaiian Burger without the thousand island dressing. It was such a gooood burger! especially on the sweet bread!!! SO good. The meat was seasoned perfectly and it wasn't too thin of a patty. The grilled pineapple was sweet and gave a good contrast to the meat. They were so good my friend ordered another burger! The malasada reminded me of a Chinese donut... but a bit denser. I had the plain one and I enjoyed it. My friend ordered the bavarian creme and chocolate. It looked good, but did not try it. I don't know if I'd return back if I was far away, but I would if I was close!

    (3)

  • Raider J.

    We stopped by to do one thing......eat their famous malasadas. We had the guava and bavarian cream ones....soooo goood. The malasadas (fried donuts with suger fiiled w/ cream) were HUGE and simply melted in your mouth. SOOOO YUMMYY!!

    (5)

  • Tom T.

    Stopped here for a malasada because Lonely Planet said they'd be hot and fresh. They were. They were so good, I ate two. If I visit Hawaii again, I'll certainly return. To me, it was worth a two hour drive. The outdoor seating was really nice--lots of neat birds and a cool breeze.

    (5)

  • Monique L.

    My mother and I stopped by Tex's on the drive from Hilo to Kona. As usual, we ordered malasadas which were great, but we also decided to order something to eat. I ordered breakfast with eggs over easy but the eggs were hard when I received them, so I asked them to make new eggs over easy, which they did without a fuss. The second order came w the eggs over medium (still not over easy ... I'm a stickler when it comes to eggs over easy). I gave up and ended up throwing the eggs away. The hashbrowns that came w my breakfast looked and tasted like leftovers from a couple days ago. Pork links were surprisingly good. My mother (a Japanese native) ordered miso soup that was so salty it was essentially inedible. I tried a sip and it didn't taste like miso soup at all to me. We also ordered some saimin to see how well they would do with that. The saimin was decent but not great. The saimin would have been better if they used different saimin noodles like Hula brand, one of our favorites, which they sell in the local grocery stores. I give Tex's a 3 rating since this place is a must stop if you want malasadas, but the other food leaves a lot to be desired in my opinion, even by local food standards.

    (3)

  • June O.

    Recommended by my other half's Hilo coworker, we went to try their famous Malasada. I had the Mango-filled, he had the pinneaple-filled and our daughter had the plain. The mango was delicious. They had a variety of other foods (regular menu) and there was a lot of people eating there but we were too full to munch on anything else. The place was pretty clean and had a decent bathroom. The malasada was better then the Leonard's malasadas in Oahu.

    (3)

  • Patrick W.

    What's a masalada? I dunno, what's a masalada wit' you? Like the other reviews, Tex is another local food wonder of Hawaii that is a must come visit. We came for the experience to taste the fresh masaladas. Not indigenous to Hawaii, but Tex is a popular hotspot for them. So, to answer the question; OK, it's a donut. Only with more surface area. The cream or jelly fillings are pretty original and are served fresh every day. If you haven't tried one before, come here. And don't get greedy ordering these fine, pillowey cakes of goodness. Order 2 for yourself and 2 for your honey and enjoy. You'll thank me later. Tex also serves other meals such as burgers, loco moco, and many other luncheonette meals, but we didn't come for that experience.

    (3)

  • Ariel L.

    Tourist or local, this place has the best Malasada's on the whole Island. The coffee isn't so good, but who cares when you have a pipping hot malasada sitting on your plate with your choice of filling. Go with the Bavarian Chocolate. You won't be disappointed.

    (4)

  • April A.

    You call that a malasada? Seriously? By the way the conciege was hyping the malasadas here, you would think that they would be worth the 400+ calories. Ok, ok... I live close to a Leonard's Malasada Truck, so I know what a real Hawaii malasada should taste like. Sorry... I was so disappointed.

    (2)

  • B R.

    Their bavarian creme malasada was 5 star. It's very tasty. The dough was just perfect. We ordered our food ahead of time. The staff were really nice and friendly. We also ordered rice, eggs, and spam for breakfast. That was just okay. We also ordered a turkey wrap and roast beef wrap that's also not exciting. The rating went down because of the other food.

    (4)

  • Prem T.

    Great place to eat especially if you're traveling between Kona and Hilo. Tasty filled malasadas (NOT better than what is found on Oahu, though), decent Saimin and super tasty Loco moco. Cheap price. I would come back in a second.

    (4)

  • Nayeli B.

    What I would give to have a Bavarian Cream malasada every morning...day...or night! Mmmm! These are not your typical greasy, stale donuts. How on earth can I EVER go back to Kristy Kreme or Dunkin Donuts after trying these heavenly treats. The way the soft warm dough just melts in your mouth. The sweet gooey jelly. I feel like Homer Simpson...drool. The hubby and I stopped here during a drive back to Kona from a day of zip lining. The concierge at our resort recommended it as a "must try". Warm fluffy Portuguese donuts filled with delicious goodness? Hell yes, bring on the sugar comma! The chocolate filled malasada was a delight, but the bavarian cream was like an orgasm in my mouth. Typical donuts will never be the same!

    (5)

  • Kezo N.

    yup yip yep, dis is dakine, kine, place 2 get sum hot fresh, Malasada's when ur on da BIG ISLAND, U definitely have 2 order a Doz. of these yuummmiee delicioso kine of hawaiiana filipine donuts, i just go there just 2 get me sum Malasada's, it is a great place 2 stop as well when ur making that long A** drive from, Kailua/Kona to Hilo, one drawback is this place is usually always busy,...but worth the wait and drive,... ...enjoy, Mahalo nui loa, K/K. ps: i always make it a plan when i'm on da Big Island 2 hit, Tex's Drive-INN !!!!!!

    (5)

  • Vanya L.

    This place is confusing to find. I stayed in Honoka'a and felt I should try this place out (there really aren't a lot of options). I found the malasadas to be just... well... plain filled donuts. I wasn't impressed. They were fresh, but I guess I was thinking they'd be a little more exotic. Exotic they were not. I got the grilled fish sandwich and it was cooked fine but was fairly bland and not noteworthy. The macaroni salad was very bland. My daughter got a kids meal of preformed frozen nuggets, not a surprise, just very unremarkable. The service wasn't friendly and also not unfriendly. The place seems to be half used for storage. All in all, I wouldn't go back, but I don't like bland food or particularly crave filled donuts.

    (2)

  • Wayne S.

    Only thing that I know of is MALASADAS! Its a different kind of malasadas compared to Leonards or Champions but on so good. Its a must stop when traveling thru.

    (4)

  • Linda M.

    This is a difficult review for me . We had fabulous Malasada's we all loved the Malasada's I had 1 warm and 1 later and it was just as good. We had them plain it was perfect $1.00 each next time I will try filled 45 cents to add filling still very reasonable they are quite large And a simple run of the mill dinner just plain I went due to a food network shout out from Rachael Ray.. I had the teriyaki beef dinner , potato mac salad just so so, tasted like package gravy on my mashed potatoes and the beef was simply OK . $8.99 My Mom had the cheeseburger deluxe she said it was OK but very plain .$5.35 My Dad had Kalua and cabbage it was mostly cabbage it would have been nice to have a little more pork . $9.99 My Brother the Shrimp Plate, deep fried shrimp they were OK .$8.99 My sister in Law had the Hamburger Plate with French fries .$ 8.99 So as Rachael Ray says you can eat here cheaply but I honestly feel either you over paid for what you had.. They lost a plate so we did not get to eat together it came out about 5 minutes later then everyone Else's.

    (2)

  • Carlie C.

    We stopped by to try a malasada and see what all the hype was about. My husband and I split one with guava filling. When you get down to it, it's just a sugar donut stuffed with some flavoring. We certainly had no issues devouring the malasada quickly (we were pretty hungry), but I have had tastier sugar donuts at other establishments. However, its supposed to be the filling that makes these special. Unfortunately, the guava filling tasted somewhat artificial and over sweetened. A little bit of natural flavor could go a loooong way in improving the quality of the malasadas. Cheap, tasty, but definitely has room for improvement. Grab one if you're driving by, but I wouldn't go out of your way to drive across the island for it.

    (3)

  • Howard M.

    What, I can only give 5 stars?? Of all the restaurants, cafes, bistros, whatever on the Big Island, this one is the only one I really care about, deep in my heart of hearts. They can all close up shop but as long as Tex makes malasadas, all is right in the world. Nothing comes close to a warm Tex malasada fresh from the fryer or whatever that gate to heaven is called. You can have your Kona mud pie, your haupia, your macadamia butter'd dessert du jour, but I'd slap my mama for a Tex malasada. One day we were completing a "circle tour" of the island, and four of us were counting on stopping at Tex for malasadas to keep us from starvation. We even called ahead to make sure how late they were open. Imagine our surprise when we found out they stopped the fryer an hour earlier and they only had 3 MALASADAS LEFT!! It was bad enough for the four of us, but the people behind us in line almost led a mutiny. Hubby almost got wacked cuz he was announcing that we got the last 3. Eat as many as you can hold cuz they are not so good the next morning, even if you nuke them. We never get cream filled; just the basic sugar coated specimen.

    (5)

  • Joe H.

    Are you kidding me with this? I would have totally missed out on this were it not for Yelp. My sandwich was awesome and the malasadas were OMFGwhydonttheseexisteverywhere-magnificent. I recommend the guava. My sandwich was of the dope ilk as well.

    (5)

  • Aimee I.

    We drove almost an hour to get to this place because of the much talked about malasadas. We ordered the Bavarian cream, mango, guava, raspberry, and chocolate. Wow! The mango, guava, and raspberry were amazing. I've had malasadas from Leonard's, Oahu, that were amazing, but these made them pale in comparison. These were so light and fluffy and were still warm. We also tried some of the food there. I had the mahi mahi burger and the bf had the meatloaf with gravy. They were just mediocre compared to the malasadas though.

    (5)

  • Wes Y.

    I went here twice. Don't get the guava malasadas - the bavarian creme ones are where it's at. The regular ones and chocolate filled are good choices, but they don't rank above the creamy goodness of bavarian creme. Sure, they're basically donuts, but they taste good so I'm not complaining. I also tried the shoyu chicken (2 small chicken thighs) here which was pretty good. Nice and tender, very juicy. The sides that came with it were average - your typical mac salad and white rice. The last meal I had here was the curry beef stew. I wouldn't recommend it. Not enough beef. There were like 3 cubes of beef in it...come on!!!

    (4)

  • brian m.

    The mahi mahi burger is my favorite! Nothing like anywhere.

    (5)

  • Janet S.

    Two stars for the lunch we had. Four stars for the malasadas. Heard about the malasadas from Yelpers and when we traveled to Hilo from Waikoloa, told the hubby we HAD to stop at Tex. Got a dozen plain malasadas thinking I'll take some home. But seeing that we were still days from going home, we ate them as breakfast appetizers the next few days. Really good even cold. But shoud have eaten them warm. As to lunch, I was dying for some good saimin. Ordered theirs at $3.99 and was disappointed. The noodles were a little overcooked; the soup stock was pretty flavorless. Came with two pieces of kamaboko, a few slices of spam and some sliced green onion. If there was anything else in there, I didn't notice. Made me miss the saimin I had at Zippy's Kahului last year. Hubby ordered the kalua pork plate lunch. Sure looked like more cabbage than pork. Came with one scoop rice and one scoop mac salad. He ate it. But he was hungry, so.... Don't remember the price, but I think the kalua pork plate at L&L is a better buy. Do go to Tex Drive In for the malasadas. To the argument of plain vs filled: I'm a traditionalist about that. Plain no ka oi!

    (4)

  • Gerard H.

    great...had the pork and cabbage, with rice and garden salad. for dessert, the malasada with Bavarian cream.. it hit the spot, and would come back again, next time we are visiting the Big Island !

    (4)

  • Terry G.

    Went at 7:30pm on a monday night. They said they stopped making malasadas at 6pm. Been going there for over 30 years. First time that ever happened to us. If a business is built on a signature item, it is a poor business decision to not to have it available during business hours. Very disappointed.

    (1)

  • Forrest S.

    The quest for the best malasada on the big island continues, and I believe ends finally at Tex. Approaching delirium after several long days on the road with a tour group, we stopped in at Tex for lunch and malasadas. As always, the place was busy with a line extending out the door. But in spite of the crowd, we had our food at our table in less than a half hour, so don't be too intimidated if you see a long line, besides, there are worse places to be waiting in line at than Hawaii. I ordered the Hawaiian burger, onion rings, mac salad (you always have to have mac salad) and of course, a plain malasada for an appetizer. What? I was hungry. The malasadas are made when you order them, and nothing short of perfection. Piping hot, fluffy and not greasy like so many can be, this was the best malasada I have had yet, and all around one of the best donuts I've had. Being made fresh makes all the difference. My burger was good, but not great. It was certainly better than any fast food burgers and after having it on a sweet bread bun, it's going to be hard to have a burger on any other kind of bun. The beef was decent, but could have used a little less time on the grill. They say they serve beer battered onion rings, but I have heard people say otherwise. Not having been in the kitchen, I can't say, but I can say that they were, well, A-OK, as was my mac salad. I love the malasadas here, they are five star, and the food is good as well, but not something I would go way out of my way for. The service is fast, and the prices are affordable, especially for Hawaii. Even if you are too full from your food, get a malasada while you are here. you won't regret it. If you eat too much, just go lay on the beach for an hour or four and you'll be fine. I know I was.

    (3)

  • Candace I.

    Malasadas....mmmmmm!

    (4)

  • Leann B.

    Outstanding Malasadas as expected. Fresh and fruit filled. You won't go wrong here. We were disappointed to find that their sister drive in near the volcano had been closed. We felt lucky to find the original still doing a booming business.

    (5)

  • Amanda C.

    We went here on the way back from the observatory and to Waipio lookout. Very very good locomoco and saimin! A must eat if you're coming here! It was so good. Service was really great too! Seems like a locals spot and it was neat because they had trivia cards on the center of the tables. Fun. Malasadas were okay and they had lots of flavors! But, if you've ever been to Leonards in Oahu, I do think that these do not compare to those. BUT, that being said, these malasadas were good still just different from what I expected from Leonards. Malasadas here at Tex drive in were fresh, hot, and the dough was light! I'd recommend the bavarian custard! It was my favorite of all of them that we tried.

    (4)

  • Jesse M.

    To be honest, I'm basing this review on only one visit, after trying only one thing: the malasadas, of course. As far as Oahu goes, Leonard's malasadas, with all their red and white striped mobile glory, is the gold standard. Being bred on Leonard's, I was apprehensive to the claims that malasadas made at this little stop on the outskirts of Hilo were superior. However, I stood corrected. The difference is in the dough. Leonard's pastry is oily and heavy, and at the end of the day, when the oil in the fryer hasn't been changed all day, the batches taste accordingly. Tex's malasada is fluffier, lighter in weight and color, and far less oily. For someone used to the Leonard's style, you may not consider this a malasada at first... but once you've tried Tex's, you will change your definition.

    (3)

  • Jillian P.

    I love EVERYTHING about Tex Drive In! First of all, their MALASADAS are crazy-ridiculously deliciousssss. To this day I've never eaten a malasada better than their's. Thursday's is 2 for 1 on their Loco Mocos . . . And those are SOOOOO good too. =D They have regular (beef patty) loco mocos, chicken locos. Their burgers are HUGE and ONOOOOOOO. Oh my god, to die for. They have sweet-bread buns, which adds even more to the deliciousness. LOVE TEX DRIVE IN!

    (5)

  • Anthony W.

    malasadas, malasadas, malasadas. Thats right dont get just one, get at least 3. And if you plan on sharing dont! You get your choice of fillings and I can tell you its all good. Its worth driving here just for these beauties. But I was very hungry and it was lunch time. So I tried a double bacon cheese burger, with fries. OMG soo flipping good. This is a hidden gem to get your grindage on. Worth the drive to the northside of the island to get your grub on.

    (5)

  • Mike Y.

    Nice Malasadas~~~

    (4)

  • Steve K.

    OK, malasadas are good I guess (I am no expert). But the food was really good too. Stopped here after our opriginal lunch plans fell through. Wife had the mahi mahi fish sandwich. Just a fish sandwich - but fish was well cooked and the portugese-style bun complemented it well. The whole was greater than the sum of its parts. I had a Kalua (pork) and cabbage plate lunch that was just great in every way. Lots of flavor without being greasy. I was also happy to get the choice of a side salad instead of a macaroni salad and surprised that the salad greens were as good quality as they were. I came away feeling full, but not feeling nasty-full which can be a risk with that sort of meal. This is still just a simple drive in but I am writing this a few hours after the meal and am still nursing happy memories of the meal so figured I would give the place some love.

    (5)

  • Aga O.

    Malasadas are always off the hook here ... donuts w/o holes... filled w/ a custard, strawberry preserve, or chocolate pudding. I personally like'em plain sugar coated kine. Why embellish on a already good thing, no? Eat 'em while there hot... they're messy but worth it. We've had their musubi's and teri-sanmiches, pretty good. Hadn't had the chance to order anything else ... standard local fare. We always make a malasada run on our way to Kona... couple dozen. ;p

    (5)

  • Lux P.

    My grandma used to work here when they were in the other location. I have fond memories of her bringing us a fresh batch of malasadas when I was a kid. I went back a few years ago and they seemed to have changed. I got caught up in comparing them to Leonard's on Oahu. I have since been back a couple more times. Just like I appreciate many different pizza styles, I have once again gained appreciation for their ono malasadas.

    (4)

  • Fran T.

    2012: Just went back to Tex Drive-In. Sometimes fame changes a good thing. Instead of the smaller malasadas (tasty due to the dough-filling ratio being perfect) they used to serve, we found malasadas 4x the size. They were monstrous! Sometimes bigger isn't better. I was disappointed. Mind you, they still taste like malasadas - best eaten while warm and they are plenty delicious. They just aren't the special little malasadas with perfect dough-filling ratios as they used to be. Also, the filling choices were substantially limited. It seemed their filling choices in the past were monstrous while the malasadas were tastifully small. Now, choices are small and the malasadas are too big. The facilities have been updated and are cleaner and the menu is easier to read. But, the malasadas ... sad to see the little ones gone. Below, I'm leaving my older review - just so you know what I missed. Pre 2012 Review: I know that Leonards is synonymous with Malasadas on Oahu ... but honestly, the slightly smaller malasadas at Tex Drive-in has the best dough-filling ratio and they are THE BEST! Get there on your drive from Kona to Hilo ... early morning breakfast malasadas. And the flavor choices are ridiculous! How many flavors are there anyway? Love this place!

    (3)

  • Alyssa E.

    Tex's is renowned on the Big Island for their malasadas and we could hardly wait to try them. Once we did, we wondered what all the hoopla was about. The malasadas are good, especially the Bavarian cream, but nothing to write home about. Tex's has managed to spin their tasty but unremarkable Hawaiian donut into an unwarranted legend. The staff was unfriendly, and so was the owner, but she's fabulous at marketing her story and her business. There's no reason to drive all the way to Honokaa for one of Tex's malasadas unless you happen to be passing through. You can get an equally good one at KTA market in Waimea if you happen to catch them early in the morning before they're all sold out.

    (3)

  • Nari H.

    Came here for their Malasadas and their malasadas totally rock. The plain ones are so soft and moist. I had the mango filling which i heard was popular. It was a little too sweet for me, but still very good overall. I'd be back and would definitely tell my friends they gotta stop by here to try the malasadas. They've got other things here which we didn't have but heard were good.

    (4)

  • John K.

    Great malasadas. Plate lunches are okay too.

    (3)

  • Troy M.

    Malasadas! Rock. The food menu is like L&L but the food is a notch better. Great place to stop on the way to hilo or Kona.

    (4)

  • Eric Robert R.

    Simply DA BEST malasada in Hawaii and maybe in Portugal! Just a tip tho... eat it hot and fresh... it's huge and oh so onolicious! Been coming here since a toddler and even tho more touristy now... the malasada is still simply the best! This is the real thing and not like Leonard's greasy, small type...

    (5)

  • Erica M.

    SO GOOD. I tried the grilled mahi sandwich and enjoyed every bite. Then I got a bavarian cream malasadas that was divine. It was the perfect lunch spot on our drive from Waikoloa to Hilo, and it's very close to the Waipio Valley overlook. My friends and I were so pleased with this place.

    (5)

  • Stephen F.

    Awesome malasadas! I tried guava, pineapple and raspberry. We were disappointed they were out of Mango. I didn't try anything else on the menu, so you're on your own there. We were enroute to Waipio Valley Lookout, and and my sister said the malasadas alone were worth the drive from Kailua-Kona! They even have a windowed kitchen, so you can see the staff making the malasadas. For the uninitiated, the malasadas is like a slightly denser raised doughnut without a hole. At Tex Drive In, they dip it in sugar and fill it with fruit jelly. Available unfilled too. Definitely worth a stop, and a return even. We went coming AND going!

    (5)

  • Shahin N.

    The masaladas were pretty amazing, and definately worth the drive out. We got chocolate, bavarian creme, raspberry, and apricot. They were all incredible pastries! Prices were super reasonable too..like a buck fifty for the filled masaladas. Gotta stop by here if your on the big island, and get some to go! Wish I had gotten some sweet bread and food, but we weren't really that hungry. Great dessert though. *UPDATE* so we came back the next day because we were in the area and couldn't resist. Ordered the mahimahi and a salad with papaya seed dressing. Holy sh*t the dressing was good. The burger was fresh and tasty too...and great pric e ($7.99) for both. Definitely bumped my rating up a star just for the food, and of course another masalada!!

    (5)

  • Janet F.

    MALASADA'S!!! Mmmm...hot, fresh, soft, greasy goodness!!!! You can watch them making them from start to finish! We picked up lunch and half dozen for the road after going to the Waipio Valley lookout!!! Lunch menu: Hamburger plate with onions and standard potato mac and rice SPAM moco! Spam was soft I would make mine a little more on the crispy side but still delish! And of course...malasadas! 3 plain and 3 filled: strawberry, bavarian cream, and chocolate creme (one of each)!!!! Oh sooo yummy! They tasted great microwaved for 10 sec for a late night snack! We even had 2 left that made it home to OC!!! I didn't think they were going to be good 24 hours old...but man when my husband warmed it up and said come and try this at first I said no its ok you can have them.....he said just have a bite. So I did and ended up eating a whole one to myself!!!! LOL!

    (5)

  • Brooke B.

    Tex always smells like heavenly, sugary goodness due to the malasadas which everyone in my family loves. I am not a huge fan of donuts which are a 1st cousin of malasadas, but I could smell them all day. Their other food offerings, like burgers, fries, tots, are only so-so. Onion rings are pretty good, probably from being fried so deeply. It can get pretty crowded here with both locals and tourists.

    (3)

  • Veronica P.

    Tex was regarded as one of the Top 10 donut shops in the US a few years ago. I'm still trying to figure out why. The malasadas came out fresh from the fryer, but was still greasy and had a very heavy texture. The plain malasadas are just topped with sugar, while other malasadas have different fillings. The plain malasada was less greasy and dense than the filled ones, but had a mild burnt oil taste, like it hadn't been changed for a while. The custard filled malasada was heavy and greasy. The custard filling was pretty good, and had a rich vanilla flavor. The combination of the two, however, was too much for one person to eat that many.

    (3)

  • Sue C.

    This is the perfect place to eat between Kailua-Kona and Hilo. The food is really good yet cheap. Plus, the malasadas are to die for here. I really wished that we got a dozen (or at least a few more than just one for myself) as they are lighter and fluffier than regular donuts. I had cherry filling, which was on the sweet side but very good. My husband had the bavarian cream and didn't even offer me a bite (which means it was super tasty).We also had a breakfast plate with corn beef hash and a loco moco, which were both excellent. Simply stated, Tex is THE place to eat when you're traveling to anywhere between Kailua-Kona and Hilo via the northside of big island. It has a huge sign that is green on highway 19 so hard to miss it. Just make sure you get a dozen of malasadas. They would be perfect for your trip to the volcano park as there is no food up there.

    (5)

  • Tom B.

    Wife and I stopped at Tex Drive In on the way home from a Hilo day trip to our condo in Wakoloa. I got a custard filled malasada, so fresh it was indescribably delicious. If there are better malasadas, please don't tell me about them. These are tops! Had to place a 2nd order to take home for breakfast, a 2-day supply. Yummmmmmmmmmmm!!!! CAUTION: When you pull into the Tex Drive In lot you're looking at the back side of the bakery. It looks as if it is permanently closed. DRIVE AROUND TO THE OTHER SIDE!!! PS: I'm glad Tex Drive In doesn't have a Washington state location, otherwise you'd see me as a contestant on "The Biggest Loser!!!"

    (5)

  • V. L.

    4 stars only for their malasadas which are really good and cheap - there are so many flavors to choose from! I'd only stick to getting malasadas here. I tried a few of their meals, including a basic sandwich, and the taste was not good! (There was some kind of special sauce that didn't work with me).

    (4)

  • Jennifer K.

    We stopped here on the way home from Hilo for some malasadas (portugese donuts). We ordered a strawberry, raspberry & apple. They were all really good! (Although, I would have preferred that they had a _bit_ more filling in them, but other than being a bit skimpy on the filling, they were delish.) We did have them the next day, and they were still good. I am sure that if we had them the day of, they would have been even better. They also have the following flavors: Guava, Bavarian Creme, Chocolate Creme, Lemon. I guess that they also have a truck that sells these on the street down from Costco, but my parents said that they aren't as good as getting them from the actual Tex Drive In. A definite must on your way home from Hilo!

    (4)

  • Leah C.

    My dad lives on the big island on the Hilo side. He makes me drive myself to anywhere I want to go because he hates doing the touristy stuff. My sister and I said we were going to drive to Tex drive in for some Malasadas, my dad jumped up from his seat and hopped into the car. He declares these the best Malasadas in all of Hawaii. I don't have a huge sweet tooth but these are really good. The rest of the menu is mediocre but the malasadas make up for it.

    (3)

  • Ann K.

    If you like donuts, you will love the malasadas--warm and sugary, with tropical fillings, chocolate, or bavarian cream. I had the mango and someone in our party had the guava which she raved about. I can't wait to try another flavor next time. The rest of the food was fine but nothing fancy or special, really. We stopped for the malasadas and will definitely add this to our must-stop places when going to the Waipio Valley.

    (4)

  • Jenny H.

    BEST malasadas ever! I first had it when I was 11 in 1999 and I could not stop thinking about it ever since. I finally went back to the Big Island in 2009 and made sure I stopped by. Pros: - fresh and hot - it's HUGE! - super soft on the inside - it's underpriced - tons of seating, indoors & outdoors with shade - menu of other food, but idk what else they serve.. my focus was on the malasadas - you can see an employee making the malasadas, perfect for kids Cons: - inconvenient location Malasada wise, Leonard's and Punalu'u suck compared to Tex's.

    (5)

  • Cécile L.

    We only had the malasadas. They were delicious. I wanted to have several of them! We tried Mango and Pineapple, both great. So good after the hike in the Waipio Valley!

    (5)

  • James B.

    Maldadas are big and fluffy. Very tasty compared to Leonards in Oahu.

    (5)

  • Cher A.

    Growing up in Kohala (the north side of the island), driving to Hilo in our ford aerostar was a major road trip. But what made the two hour journey more bearable was stopping at tex's for malasadas. Fried dough coated with sugar...Mmmmmm....what 10 year old couldnt resist that? This past summer I flew down from CA with my boyfriend and decided to bring him to my fried dough haven. I was very surprised at how the "little drive-inn that could" had developed to a krispy-creme like entity. It even had a window where you could watch the malasadas being made. It was kinda sad to see it become so commercialized, but I was glad to see that business was booming. Anywhooo....the malasadas were still good, but not as good as I remember them. (Its alot less oily and sugary....which I guess is a good thing for the health conscious.) However, my boyfriend seemed to really like it. The Sock S. put it best...."BRING BACK THE GOOD OLD DAYS!!!"

    (4)

  • Sabine F.

    The Malasadas are hot and fresh. They taste like filled yeast doughnuts but much better and double the size. Don't go there if you are counting calories but go there to enjoy some homemade doughnuts. Get the Mango and Pineapple the kind of filling you don't get on the mainland. This is a must stop place when you are on the island.

    (5)

  • Thomas M.

    I was first introduced to Tex as a keiki, as my fam would stop by here on our "big road trip" over to Hilo since it was about half-way for us. The breakfasts here are ok, but the Hawaiian Style ones are WAY better. What this place is truly known for, though, are the malasadas. The plain ones are classic, the bavarian ones are a little glucky, but the guaivee (sp?) are the rarest kind but also the most delicious--comprising of a filling thats part strawberry, part guava. I think. Whatever its made of, its the best. If you're a tourist and you ask for one, the aunty or uncle at the counter will either be super impressed that you've heard of it, or denyingly defensive that you (of all people) got word of the mysterious guaivee malasada. Don't be afraid, put a hot malasada in your life!

    (4)

  • Julie H.

    Went there over the weekend! I'm used to Leonard's plain malasadas which are amazing so I was hesitant to try something stuffed. My boyfriend got the chocolate and I tried the guava and I loved it! I didn't care so much for the chocolate one but really enjoyed the guava. They are gigantic! I was super stuffed after just one. I like that you're able to watch them make it from the big window.

    (5)

  • Pang Houa T.

    We were excited to stop here for the malasadas, but unfortunately, they weren't very hot. We got a pineapple filled, a guava filled, and a something else-filled malasada, but I forget now because I didn't even make it as far as trying it, they were so bad. Filling flavors were good, but the fact that they weren't hot totally ruined it for me. The coffee was ok.

    (1)

  • Koa A.

    Although their Malasada's are excellent you need to make sure they are fresh, please ask the counter girls first before buying, if they aren't fresh don't waste your money. Not worth it. Also Tex Drive Inn is obviously money hungry, when I asked for a cup of iced water which they use to have complimentary, the tacky Filipino lady at the counter said "we only have bottled water." she didn't offer to fill my cup up with water after I purchased a soda for $2.00. I've never been to a restaurant or a drive inn where iced tap water was not complimentary. 0 stars for not having friendly or accommodating service.

    (1)

  • Ian N.

    I grew up on the east side of the island, and every time we took a road trip to Kona that wasn't through Saddle road, we would make a stop at Tex's. I just stopped here recently and the malasadas were not what I remembered from 20 years back. They have a new thing where they inject fillings in, and it is not my favorite thing. I had the bavarian creme, mango and the guava, as well as a few plains to go. The fillings are high quality, jam-like, but I prefer the original plains. The next time I am on the Big Island, I will definitely stop here again, Tex's is an institution, but I miss the Tex's of old.

    (3)

  • Callista D.

    We were on a Circle Island Tour and got lucky with a small tour group. Our Driver ended up taking us a few extra stops because we had plenty of time and this was one of the places he took us. Let me just say, I wish I had ordered a dozen malasadas because I've been dreaming of them ever since! The only place I can get them at home are at Fast Food Hawaiian places...it's just not the same!

    (5)

  • Betty N.

    Their Malasadas are the best!!! We ordered lemon, raspberry, and Bavarian chocolate. The chocolate was the best. YUM!!!

    (5)

  • Nick H.

    I had to hire a hypnotist to convince Mari C. to stop here. Apparently, the hypnosis wore off by the time she took a bite of the Maladasa and she wrote the review you see here. Actually, I was driving so she didn't really have too much choice in the matter. We were hungry and passin' through good 'ol Honokaa and there just didn't seem to be anything there worth eating. So we looked up Yelp on my oh so super-awesome blackberry mobile device and were directed to Tex Drive In. I usually don't mess with things that start with Tex, but when hungry I'm unstoppable. Seriously, then you don't want to mess with me. In any case, Mari C. got dragged along and we shared a Maladasa. It was fine - just a doughnutty thing with chocolate pudding inside that held us over until Waimea.

    (3)

  • C Y.

    Awesome , friendly, clean take-out or eat-in "fast food" Malasadas - Portuguese Donuts - Awesome and freshly made with options of different fillings - Bavarian Cream, Chocolate Cream, Apricot, Guava, Pineapple, Mango and about 3 others I can't remember. All good, I hear but I 'liked the mango and the bavarian cream - they had run out of Chocolate

    (5)

  • Grace T.

    I was so happy to see that they were open on the 4th of July because I was so looking forward to getting a malasada. My bf and I each got a malasada before heading down to Waipio Valley. I got the pineapple filled and he got the lemon filled. Upon my first bite I was in carb heaven. They're a bit different than the ones from Leonard's(Oahu), but still deliciously not good for you. Can someone please starting making malasadas in LA? On second thought keeping them on the Big Island gives me an excuse to go back.

    (5)

  • Thomas G.

    Wow! The malasadas are great. Don't bother with a filling. Their wonderful on their own! Drive out of the parking lot before you taste it or you won't be able to buy just one.

    (5)

  • Gary T.

    Ono local grinds Must stop and try Malasada's !

    (4)

  • Richard A.

    Tried some of the other flavors, but liked the mango the best. The malasadas are 5 star. The plate lunches were a good value, but we'll be coming back for the mango malasadas.

    (5)

  • Jeff W.

    the meal was NOT quick for fast food. and the flavor, texture, and execution did not satisfy. ahi tuna burger was overcooked. the brown gravy was over-salted in the loco moco (spam and over easy egg over rice). the Portugese stew was the only decent item. Portugese sausage and cabbage with plenty of veggies in a tomato stock. good flavor, very hearty and hit the spot and driving from Hilo. the malasada was fresh but nothing special. BUT it is a required stop when going from Hilo to Kona because of its location. after a morning hiking the Akaka waterfalls I needed some food so this was it. one extra star for location, location, location.

    (2)

  • Winter R.

    Tex Drive - In connotes good memories for me. Growing up in Hawaii, it was the 'go to' stop during many a family road trip from Kona to Hilo. And it wasn't so much the breakfast/lunch/ or dinner items that brought about happy thoughts, or the fact that it was kind of a 'dive' spot where you felt like you had to have hand sanitizer handy every time you went there, or even the fact that flies would come and go as they pleased with the hope they could get grub off your mixed plate. No, it was the malasadas - those fluffy delectable pieces of legendary local goodness - that made every trip to Hilo worthwhile. I say "legendary" because that is what Tex Drive - In malasadas are: legendary. Everyone who's from the Big Island or has been to the Big Island and experienced the island for what it is - and I don't mean none of that touristy stuff like 'sitting on the beach', getting the tan on, or shopping for overpriced souvenir magnets that have Obama's face on it and the word "Hawaii". I mean, experienced the real Hawaii which includes (but is not limited to) chicken -fights, searching for gecko's in the back yard, shooeing away mangooses from getting into the garbage - anyone who has experienced this will know that Tex Drive - In is the place to be for malasadas. And okay, beaches, tanning, over-priced souvenirs all make up the Hawaii experience as well - but to get a true sense of Hawaiian culture, one needs to experience such things as Tex Drive-In malasadas. Now, what's so great about these malasadas versus say, Leonards? Well, from what I remember about Leonards (and I've only had it once) is that when I put my malasadas on a napkin - it soaked up a lot oil and made me a little conscious on that I was eating an oily donut, but idk.. maybe it was that one batch. With Tex Drive-In malasadas, I'm usually not into that fancy bulvarian crème or guava filled malasadas, but find that the plain malasadas is what does it for me. I love the fluffiness of the donut and how it's not overly sugared or too sweet, but just right. It's a fairly big donut in donut standards. I seriously get put in my happy place when I bite into these donuts. Now, if they could only open a malasadas joint where I'm at.. I could be happy all the time.

    (4)

  • Sarah J.

    Fried dough filled with cream. What's not to love?

    (5)

  • Kristina M.

    This was my first experience with eating a malasada and O.M.G. it was de-lish!!! I ate the whole &^* thing!!!

    (5)

  • Lauren O.

    I always stop here when driving across the island. The fishburger is tasty with the sweet bread bun and the malasadas are winnahs. Brings back memories of my childhood since we always use to stop here.

    (4)

  • Louis W.

    Our family of 4 had to try the malasadas here. We are a fan of Leonards of course. The ones here are different. They are bigger than Leonards and very tasty. We had the strawberry, bavarian cream, and chocolate cream. We arrived about 10 am. We don't know if that made a difference. We also ordered a fried chicken plate with mash & macaroni salad and the chili and rice. Both were pretty good and fresh. Ample seating, tables were clean, and there was lots of parking.

    (4)

  • HarryandJean A.

    Every time we visit the Big Island we take the time to visit Tex's Drive in and Restaurant in Honoka'a for their tasty malsaladas. When you get them warm they are the best and you can get them plain or filled. We prefer the crème filled however we get the plain ones to heat up later. It's hard just to eat one. We highly recommend these treats.

    (5)

  • Jay T.

    I have to say this was probably the first place on the Big Island that I found friendly residents working there. Their food was delicious and well priced. My hawaiian burger was pretty good, but their malasadas are heaven on earth. My family pretty much ordered all the flavors, and I really don't think you can go wrong with any of them! I wish this place the best of luck in the future, because they really do deserve it and are one of the friendliest places we we went to!

    (5)

  • Cassandra W.

    A once popular place to come but not anymore. The grilled mahi burger was far from fresh I had to get my money back, they advertise beer battered onion rings but its your standard frozen onion rings, and there was a hair in my side salad! will never come back!

    (1)

  • Maylene D.

    Okay, we HAD to go to Tex's to get our malasadas! I had the chocolate filling and my husband had the bavarian creme and they were both delicious! They're better than any donut you'll eat and the view from the restaurant is beautiful!

    (5)

  • Jo N.

    5 stars when the Malasadas are fresh, 3 stars when they're not... The raspberry filling was my favorite. Beyond the Malasadas, the food was ehh.

    (4)

  • Kalani C.

    Love this place when I'm visiting Kamuela. Hands down, the malasadas is worth the trip. Light, fluffy and delicate. Comes with all types of fillings, however I enjoy it plain. Food is cheap and local style. The outside tables have cups of very old school Trivial Pursuit question/answer cards to help pass the time between deciding whether to have another malasadas (which you should)...when was the last time you were in Honoka'a? Not to be missed.

    (4)

  • Beka C.

    Malasada heaven... almost debating driving all the way over there just for one more. So amazing and super cheap.

    (5)

  • Mike S.

    Mmmmm... 'nuf said.

    (5)

  • Jerry S.

    Malasadas were amazing. Couldn't stop eating them. The fillings were excellent. Should of got a dozen. They are that good! A must stop. Didn't get to try the food maybe next time. Definitely the best on the Big Island!

    (5)

  • Dwight R.

    Malasadassssssssssss. We tried the Guava, Lemon, Strawberry, Chery, Bavarian cream, choco, and plain. This place is sick, you'd be a fool not to stop here when making the infernal gallop from Kona/Waikoloa to Hilo. Kids live the deep fried tater tots. The Sweet Hawaiian bread was just OK.

    (5)

  • Allan H.

    Considering the rave reviews and everybody talking about Tex's malasadas, we had to make a trip over here. Since it was on the way to Waipio Valley Lookout it was a no-brainer. Donut like in texture, but coated with sugar and filled with different fillings, they were great when they were warm. However, we forgot about them in the car and ended up finding them at the car return. By then, they were rock hard and inedible - in other words, DON'T TREAT YOUR MALASADAS LIKE THIS! I'd probably go back there but wouldn't eat more than 1 or 2...

    (4)

  • R R.

    Need a sweet treat on the way to Hilo? Definitely stop at Tex's drive in Diner for the Malasadas. They have plain, Bavarian cream, chocolate, strawberry, etc. It is worth a taste for some local goodness!

    (4)

  • Daniela A.

    Honoka'a's demogaphic consists mostly of Portuguese people, and Tex's Drive In reflects this. They have Portuguese bean soup, as well as all the other local favorites (lunch plates, loco moco, etc). However, what they are most famous for are their malasadas, also known as Portuguese donuts. These are the best malasadas you will EVER have- they are incredibly fresh and really cheap! I really recommend stopping here while you are on your way to either Hilo or Kona, for a snack. They also have coffee and sell preserve, Kona coffee, etc.

    (5)

  • Emy B.

    5 stars for the hot malasadas. On our way to Hilo and my cousin Carol sitting in the back casually mentions that this place has the best hot malasadas on the island "hands down". I quickly yelled out to my hubby who was driving "oh no! turn around!"... We almost made a donut in the middle of the two lane road before making it over there. Finally in the lot we are practically running from the car to the counter to place an order (had no breakfast you see). We get a dozen (half of them filled with creme) and devour most of them outside on the tables. Man, I wish I was there right now...

    (5)

  • Nicole A.

    I was told by two different people to try the malasdas here and I was not disappointed. They were absolutely delicious! We even went back for more. I tried them with chocolate filling the first time and plain the second time. Should've tried a fruit filled one too! Ha!

    (5)

  • Ryan R.

    when on the go, and having the feeling of a quicky, stop by here for some hot malasadas! the cream filled are satisfying. warm weather, rain, and a hot malasada. lifes good

    (3)

  • Jesse W.

    malasadas = fried donut that isn't all that = big disappointment = wasted calories. no thanks. i don't think its worth the hype, coffee here also was disappointing. (This is a popular destination/pit stop for anyone driving up the hamakua coast to/from Hilo and Waimea).

    (1)

  • Richard T.

    Best Deal on the Big Island. This is a welcome change to the high priced breakfast spots in the Tourist District of Waiakola. Truly a local hang out where you can pay under $3 for a plain, freshly made malasada and a cup of coffee. A don't miss on your way to the Hilo.

    (4)

  • Allan A.

    The malasadas are great here. Definitely worth the stop between Hilo and Waikoloa. Also, the window into the kitchen was pretty cool especially while they are making the malasadas.

    (4)

  • Dona K.

    Place to stop in, stretch your legs, and pick up fresh and yummy malasadas on the way to Hilo.

    (4)

  • Shannon F.

    Nothing much different to say here. Hands down, the BEST Malasadas on the Big Island. I can't comment on the food, because I usually only stop here to get malasadas on the way to Kona from Hilo and vice versa.

    (5)

  • ser s.

    So, I'm wondering why no one has mentioned the tasty "fish burgers" here? Had to stop here after the long drive from Hilo. We weren't overly impressed with the local fare, until the Mahi-Mahi burger on Portuguese sweet bread. Why I never thought to combine the two ever before leaves me scratching my head now. It was fantastic! Very moist burger. Very simple. Very good.

    (5)

  • Tiffany O.

    Eh - I had better. My husband and I took a day trip out to Hilo to see the Volcanoes and thought we should stop by for some Hawaiian donuts - malasadas. Well - this place was recommended by the hotel, but they didn't tell us that the service wasn't that great. We drove up to the drive thru and waited a good 15 minutes before someone took our order. After we got the malasadas - I was disappointed, it wasn't as good as I thought - they were just ok. My daughters enjoyed them because they love donuts - so nothing spectacular!

    (3)

  • omar b.

    The drive from Hilo to Kona is always too long as i think of warm, fluffy, scrumptious malasadas to just devour once we get to Tex's. The lunch plates here are also tasty- best bets are the loco-moco, mahi burger, or actually any kine burger--all super yummy. The malasadas are now served creme filled and are delish, but i prefer them plain and served fresh and warm. Highly recommend going here and taking a box back home with you ^ ^

    (5)

  • Nat K.

    It's all about the malasadas when they're just warm and delightful and fresh from the deep-fryer. A must-stop for your drive around the island.

    (4)

  • Kate C.

    If you love Krispy Kreme donuts, you'll love the malasadas. Basically, just pudding filled squares of dough. The plate lunches are tasty and you have the option of skipping the potato/macaroni/mayo salad which is something to be eternally grateful for.

    (3)

  • Michelle C.

    When I told people I was going to the Big Island, all I heard was, "Go to Tex's and get Malasadas". Luckily, I planned more exiciting things to do when we were on the Big Island because the malasadas were overrated and the food that we got at Tex's was absolutely disgusting. Then again, I am not a big fan of Hawai'ian food. So, maybe that was the real problem?

    (2)

  • The Sock S.

    No, it's not as good as it used to be. But it's still good. I love the malasadas here, except now they try to make them like Leonard's. Not as good, especially with the fillings. I'm a purist, I guess. I still like Tex's malasadas more than Leonard's, but it's gotten closer. Bring back the good ole days!

    (4)

  • Melissa C.

    We came here for the malasadas. It was delicious. On the mainland, I don't see too many drive-ins making them. This place had them covered w/ chocolate, stuffed with strawberry, and bavarian style. Make sure you stop by this place and try it. Eat it while it's hot, because they won't taste the same later.

    (4)

  • Elizabeth C.

    Great place to stop over as you drive from Hilo to Kona or vice versa. The loco moco with spam had a great gravy. The mahi mahi sandwich was delicious.....and of course for dessert bavarian creme, plain, strawberry, and mango flavored malasadas. Didn't expect much from a fast food joint but the food was quite good. Beware, even though it is a "fast food" place, the food takes a while. Also, they aren't sure what mile marker they are located, so you must pass the waipo valley junction from hilo to reach them.

    (4)

  • lisa g.

    good malasadas - not Leonard's (Oahu) good, but good.

    (4)

  • StefnScottman I.

    i like the manapua....the malasadas are ok....kinda thick...compared to leonard's in oahu...but it will satisfy your craving! :) husband got the beef stew....it was really good and mom in law got the saimin....she said it was ok!

    (3)

  • B. K.

    Burgers and Fries are pretty good here but when we are in Hawai we usually come here for the "world famous" Malasadas. Friends of mine say the Teryaki Beef is just average.

    (4)

  • Kiana M.

    yummy!!! every malasada i've gotten from tex is amazing!!! it's still warm and soft like it came out of the oven like 3 seconds ago. i went today and got two guava. a little on the sweet side, but the malasada was sooo perfect. next time i will ask for about half a dozen bavarian and half a dozen plain. so yummy!!!

    (5)

  • Katniss B.

    I was excited to try Tex's malasadas since many of the reviewers claim that they're better than Leonard's. IMO it was nothing close to being as good as Leonard's malasadas. I'm not malasada expert, but it's so different from Leonard's. Maybe I didn't get a fresh malasada from Tex's, but judging by the texture of the dough, it was more dense and chewy - nothing special. I've had regular donuts that tasted better. At least the staff was friendly. This review is only based on the regular malasada.

    (3)

  • Penny P.

    Agree w/what everyone says, not as good as the old days back when they were located across the street where the laundromat now stands Ever since they have the huge machines though, all malasadas look the same and have less character. Still, the best malasadas on the Big Island. Still, it's a great stopover on your way to Kona. I don't like how it has become so touristy--the staff don't seem to like it either. And i just noticed on this last trip that the 5 and dime shop closed!? But the huge plant atrium makes money!? Not crazy about the creme filled, but i would not call this a "Krispy Kreme" in any way. Tex's is not a chain, and sells much more than donuts. Krispy Kreme doesn't also sell portuguese bean soup, and fried rice, miso soup, and portuguese sausage breakfasts. Tourists will find Tex's quaint, but I miss the old Tex's. The malasadas were much better and tour buses couldn't fit in the parking lot.

    (5)

  • Chris S.

    MALASADAS!!! I like the plain one's, m'self. Their other fare is not so, bad either. I got about as close I I'll ever come to moco loco, here, by ordering the chicken loco - egg, chicken katsu, and brown gravy over rice. Their miso soup is also decent, with a good quantity of thin-sliced onion. I'd call it a must-stop if you are on your way from the Kona side to Waipio Valley or Hilo.

    (4)

  • Rocky L.

    We had a malasada with mango filling and one with guava filling. The mango filling was better than the guava filling. We had a manapua which was a cha sao bao. We had a curry stew and a shrimp sandwich. Both were good. The food was better than Zippys.

    (4)

  • Lucky M.

    This was a really nice break on our quick tour of the island. Hubby had the loco moco and I had the Spam moco. Both were really good--their gravy was delicious! We finished our meal off with malasadas. YUM!

    (4)

  • Mari C.

    "Malasada" in Spanish = "badly broiled". hmmmmmmmmm... what a coincidence... We did the drive-thu and got one, but only because Yelp told us to. Bad Yelp, bad! It was nothing more than a mediocre jelly doughnut filled with chocolate pudding, and I'm talking the kind that's made from a box mixed with water. Not your Aunt Rosie's homemade puddin. We didn't get any of the typical-looking fast food, thank goodness. Further evidence that most of the food on this volcano tastes like badness.

    (2)

  • Bad Ass Chic K.

    ouch, my freshly lard encrusted arteries hurt!

    (1)

  • tom-e e.

    Depending on the mood ur in, what ur taste buds r craving,.....food anywhere(majority) is good....someone once told me.....if u have "A" recipe and ten people make the same recipe.....all ten WILL not taste the same. So all u people that are having a bad day with ur taste buds, mood, etc....have some respect....if u think u can do better...by all means.....become an employer, in the food industry and make that difference! Have a wonderful day, every day......SMILE!, WWWWWOOOO--SSSSSAAAAAAAA!

    (5)

  • Eric C.

    This place has gone downhill more and more over the past years and they will eventually stop trying (they already did in my opinion). The reason they won't go bankrupt is because they have a deal with the busses to bring tourist here which is a shame because just down the hill are two amazing places... I always try to give them another shot and order something different but I've been fooled too many times and this is the last time I'll come here. Service- when they're busy with tourist they run around like chickens without their heads. They try to be nice but they just come off as stingy and hiring high school/ young kids to man the front with no training is just not a smart business idea. Food- this is the most horrific place to eat on this island. I just had the curry and could not eat another bite because I could tell it was old. The beef was dried out and it didn't even smell like curry. You can tell the employees making the malasadas don't know what they're doing or have been taught wrong. The malasadas are dense, heavy and too pricy. You need to WEIGH your portions and let them rise. You can't punch the dough several times in the day because you aren't selling as much. I guess the original owners didn't tell them that because its just disgustingly oily. Price- I don't know why it has one money symbol when it should have three compared to the other restaurants around here. A small curry bowl goes for $5.00. The milkshake is $4.00 and they serve it with ice in it. Honestly, who does that?!? Atmosphere- when its slow the place seems very nice. When it's busy everyone in the back is yelling at each other and it's hard to have a relaxing time with them blaring numbers over the speakers or when the speakers are broken to have the cashiers yell them out... I wish I could give this place no stars and giving them one is probably too generous.

    (1)

  • Kameron T.

    Its Mallasada Day today.

    (4)

  • Justin V.

    Try malsadas! Try the malsadas! Did I mention to try the malasadas? The last time my wife and I came here in 2007, I don't remember the portuguese style donuts being this good. But wow, its fantastic. The Tex Drive In has expanded and accommodates more seating with in and outside tables. This is definitely worth the drive if you're staying on the Big Island. My family drove 40mins from Waikaloa just to have breakfast and try the malasadas. The original sugar ones are great but they also have jelly filled ones. I love this place and would come back just for the malasadas!

    (4)

  • Jennifer W.

    A friend recommend this place as a must for Hawaiian food and malasadas. This was a perfect stop for lunch after riding ATVs all morning. The malasadas were awesome; it's basically a deep friend donut with filling inside. The chocolate was super tasty, especially when it's warm! The portions for the steak plate I got was large; it came with scoops of rice and macaroni. This place was better than others I've tried on Oahu. Every time I see malasadas now, I think of Tex Drive In. If you're in the area, it's definitely worth a stop!

    (5)

  • Lynette T.

    Went twice! It was on the way to our adventures in the north side of the island. Strawberry malasada for him, mango for me on the first visit. Bavarian custard for him, cherry for me on the second. We were sad that the list of fillings were limited on our visits. But what we had was excellent! (and in our opinions, better than Leonard's on Oahu) These malasadas were big! And square. yelp.com/biz_photos/o5__… Picked right out of the fryer. yelp.com/biz_photos/o5__… The dough was light. The sugar coating wasn't overwhelming. The fillings were delicious. We traded bites of each other's malasadas. yelp.com/biz_photos/o5__… He tried to snag an extra bite of my mango one, but it was too good. I had to do the "I'm gonna flick your nose" gesture at him. You've got to keep your eyes open on the road or you might miss it. "U-turn! U-turn! I think I saw the sign!" yelp.com/biz_photos/o5__…

    (4)

  • C. R.

    Beware the Portuguese Bean Soup. Its flavor is only SALT. Not worth the $5.00. Again, very salty.

    (2)

  • Ginger L.

    Had heard about their malasadas so had to go check them out. Had a delicious mahi mahi plate lunch. Plenty of food and very tasty. My friend had a meatloaf sandwich that was as good as she remembered it being when she had been there before. The malasadas were good. The square shape was cool and they were bigger than most. But they were not as good as Leonards... the texture was more like a donut and not as light as I'd like...but definitely worth the trip...

    (4)

  • Sheree M.

    I wish I could give this place more stars. I seen others posts and I've decided I think we ordered the wrong food. The grilled cheese sounded good which is a bit abnormal for me..it was ok. My husband ordered the chicken "boat" which we assumed was chicken tenders and fries..wrong. It was fried chicken wings very little breading and no seasoning. He probably ate 2 wings and some fries and was over it. We also got a side of tator tots which were good but extremely hard to mess those up. The place smelled like fresh donuts I almost wish we had gone there just to try the malasadas. The staff was friendly but food was just ok.

    (2)

  • Larry K.

    The only place for malasadas on the Big Island.... But good... You'll find them a little denser than the famous malasadas from Leonard's but they are excellent piping hot from the fryer... Worth the search... Can't comment on the rest of the food...

    (4)

  • Cara S.

    My second trip here and they don't disappoint. Good place to stop when craving a hamburger, but they have lots of other variety on the menu too.

    (4)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :6:30 am - 8:00pm

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : No
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : Yes
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Lunch
    Parking : Private Lot
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
    Good for Kids : Yes
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Casual
    Noise Level : Average
    Alcohol : No
    Outdoor Seating : Yes
    Wi-Fi : No
    Has TV : No
    Waiter Service : No
    Drive-Thru : Yes
    Caters : No

Tex Drive In

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