Willie's Hot Chicken - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

Vince Y.

If you’re in the mood for some fried chicken among the Hawaiian palm trees, this is the place to check out. We sat outside and listened to some live music among the cool breeze. Good place to chill after a long day of sightseeing. Check it out!

Andy A.

This place is clean with great service. We were there during the main dinner hour and they were getting people in and out. Chicken was delicious. They need to update the scale of how hot you want your chicken. I ordered middle of the road for hotness and it had no heat to it. Chicken was still good quality and a great atmosphere. I would go back.

John L.

I wanted so badly to love Willie’s Hot Chicken. The reviews looked good, the atmosphere is great, the staff was friendly and efficient. Even the Dr. Pepper tasted great! But both my wife and I thought that the Nashville Hot chicken (breast quarter) that I ordered had very little flavor. There was a touch of heat, but it was bland, no matter how I tried to dress it up with the bbq sauce I got, or the ranch she got with her meal. She got the Sweet Hawaiian and it was much more flavorful. Her sidewinder fries were also really good, with just the right amount of salt, compared to my waffle fries which seemed to have no salt. I think with all the positive reviews this place has, that I just somehow got a bad batch, because the restaurant was busy and everyone seemed to be having a good time.

Lucas H.

I’ve come here quite a few times and always it is great! I love the chicken and waffles and get them every time. Their syrup has an incredible hint of cinnamon to it that is subtle yet very present. Food always comes out hot and fresh. Atmosphere is great at any time of the day. Music, cars, birds, it all blends together and makes a quaint but lively dinner.

K P.

Willie's was an absolute treat! We went there for dinner last night and it did not disappoint. I had the Sweet Hawaiian Chicken Tenders with sweet potato fries and they were fantastic! I also loved my Cucumber cocktail. It was refreshing and just what the doctor ordered after a long day at the beach with the family. My family also loved their meals, the music was great, the atmosphere was lovely and the staff friendly! We were greeted by Willie, the owner, upon arrival and he was so kind and welcoming! We met so many fun and warm locals at this location and were able to chat and hear their stories about how they decided to relocate to paradise or grew up here. It was fun to sit back and people watch, lots of hellos and hugs, vocal gratitude and friendship, and of course great music and dancing! You can just tell this place is a community staple and somewhere that welcomes anyone and everyone no matter how they arrived! Thank you Willie for cultivating such a wonderful space for people to gather, break bread, and make memories together!

Mark S.

This was a nice find. We already had eaten a couple of times at Kona brewpub (great place!) this trip so thought we would give Willie’s a try.

We both had the tenders (one with tots and the other with Mac & cheese). They were out quickly and were tasty. We got ‘Nashville hot’ which was flavorful, but we might step up a heat level next time.

Employees were very friendly - thanks for a great visit!

Joe M.

Amazing chicken selection, from strips, wings, quarter chicken, half, etc. Their sides and heat selection were also good. They had a good live band playing, and we enjoyed every minute.

Tyler W.

I'm a meat eater but a glutton for Tempeh so I just had to try the Tempeh option. It was good, not a lot and a little light on flavor but when paired with the Honey butter....OMG!! And those sweet potato fries smacked!!! Gotta try WHC when in Kona town. And the ham/chicken sandwich my coworker had, is a monster.