Manta

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

Where the Pacific Rim Meets the Big Island Table

Perched at the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel on Hawaii's Kohala Coast, Manta offers one of the most genuinely beautiful settings for dinner in the Hawaiian Islands. As the sun drops into the Pacific, guests settle into the Bar & Lounge with a signature cocktail — perhaps the Manta Signature Mai Tai, built on house-selected Kuleana rum and Hamakua Coast macadamia nut orgeat — while watching chefs work in the open exhibition kitchen just beyond.

The kitchen's guiding principle is stated plainly: sustainable, seasonal, local. The menu describes itself as "curated plates inspired by the Pacific Rim," and the sourcing backs that up. Ahi comes wild-caught from Hawaiian waters, kanpachi from Kona, prawns from Kaua'i, beef from Parker Ranch and Cedar Creek — ranches whose names appear on the menu without apology. It is Hawaiian cuisine in the truest sense: a place-specific table rather than a generic resort spread.

Signature Plates Worth the Trip

Standout dishes lean into that local identity. The Macadamia Crusted Mahi-Mahi arrives with pipinola, Waimea shiitake, and a saikyo-yuzu miso that bridges the island's Japanese culinary heritage with its agricultural present. The Kona Kanpachi pairs sweet soy and yuzu with wasabi gnocchi — a quietly clever combination. For something more land-driven, the Parker Ranch Beef Tenderloin "Ala Bistek" brings ox-tail marmalade and beef tallow rice to a cut that could easily have been treated more conventionally.

Desserts carry the same local thread. The Bombe Alaska layers macadamia nut crumble, liliko'i purée, and salted caramel ice cream beneath toasted meringue. The Big Island Goat Cheesecake rests on a speculoos biscuit with aged balsamic — simple, confident, and rooted in what the island actually produces.

An Evening, Not Just a Meal

Manta earns its Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence — recognized again in 2024 — through a list built to complement Pacific Rim flavors across a wide range of styles and price points. Live jazz on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays (6–9 PM) fills the room without overwhelming conversation. The outdoor seating and bar extend the experience well past the last course.

For anyone seeking Hawaiian cuisine that takes its ingredients as seriously as its views, Manta is a clear destination on the Kohala Coast.