Umekes
Umekes Fish Market Bar & Grill
The Hawaiian word for bowl, “Umeke”, is exactly what the majority of entrees are served in at Umekes Fish Market Bar & Grill in Kailua-Kona.
Using ingredients of the highest quality brought in fresh from the waters around the Big Island, this seafood restaurant offers a variety of traditional Hawaiian favorites, from poke bowls and teriyaki chicken to kauai shrimp and grilled fish – and dessert poppers! Customers are even allowed to customize their own meals with their choice of side dishes such as rice, quinoa, broccoli, poi, and others.
The result: an exciting twist of local cuisine meets modern mixtures.
Fusing passion with creativity
Growing up, Nakoa Pabre had a keen interest in helping prepare food for parties. A lifelong learner, he was always watching and advancing his skills. Although he continued down the path towards becoming a plumber, a role which he undertook for over 11 years, he decided to leave that behind and focus all of his efforts on his passion for food.
Having had the privilege to travel around the globe and taste some of the world’s most delicious and daring flavors, he wanted to share his experiences through the most colorful and flavorful creations that Hawaii had ever seen. Thus, he opened Umekes Fish Market Bar & Grill in 2015.
Serving as the restaurant’s head chef, he is a two-time winner of Sam Choy’s Keauhou Poke Contest. His specialty dishes have also been publicized on popular TV shows on the Food Network, including “Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives,” and “G. Garvin Road Trip.”
A tropical paradise for the eyes, heart, and stomach
Open Monday through Saturday from 11am until 9pm and Sunday from 11am until 8pm, Umeke Fish Market Bar & Grill is the perfect place for any seafood lover with a hearty appetite. Voted “Best Poke in Hawaii” in 2016 through 2019, the local eatery offers an assortment of daily specials and a wide selection of wines and beers from around the globe.
Sitting among the inviting outdoor dining areas, you can enjoy the tender and savory poke-inspired dishes that chef Pabre has to offer. And once you have finished your meal, it is just a one-block walk down to Kailua-Kona’s waterfront and shops.
Umekes Fish Market Bar & Grill takes great pleasure in providing you with the ultimate dining experience while allowing you to soak up the aloha spirit. By dipping your feet into this local delicacy, you can expect nothing less than perfection.
