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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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
Our GPS directed us to this place on our way to Kona from Hilo. What a find!
The pretty island goddess behind the counter suggested a few things for us to try and she did a great job! My burger featured two thick slabs of pineapple and just enough grease to make it perfect.
Don't go to Tex if you are on a diet. Go for a fat Malasada filled with hot raspberry or a variety of other fillings. Go to watch all the colorful birds dive bomb pieces of leftover hamburger buns. Go to enjoy the rainforest-like views wrapped in a thick blanket of fog.
You will regret driving past this place!
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!
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.
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 http://www.yelp.com/bi...
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. http://www.yelp.com/bi...
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.
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!
Ono local grinds
Must stop and try Malasada'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
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!
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.
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
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.
Tex's is supposedly the holy grail for malasadas (Portuguese donuts). They do everything in their power to trick out those fried dough balls, including using tropical fruit-flavored doughs, or filling them with different creams or custards.
But seriously, folks, these malasadas taste just like the stale sugared Krispy Kremes you can get from your local gas station.
If, for the sake of being a tourist, you insist on stopping at Tex en route to Waimea, just get the plain malasada. It's least bad that way.
The actual food at Tex's is absolutely disgusting, with no care taken to provide quality cuts of meat. Yet again, the "gross Hawaiian food" stereotype is reinforced. Thanks, Tex.
Don't know about the other foods, but the Malasadas rule!
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!!!"
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...
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.
"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.
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...
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.
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.
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.
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).
Fried dough filled with cream. What's not to love?
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.
Place to stop in, stretch your legs, and pick up fresh and yummy malasadas on the way to Hilo.
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.
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.
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 ^ ^
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.
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.
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!
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?
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.
good malasadas - not Leonard's (Oahu) good, but good.
Love the malasadas. The food was just okay.
Kamuela, HI
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