Tex Drive In

So light & fluffy and delicious! So happy we went driving up to Tex. So huge and very filling. Definitely come here again and again.

I will drive miles out of my way when I’m on the Big Island for a Tex Drive In malasada! The first time I went there was YEARS ago when some friends and I drove from Kona to Hilo one weekend and I never forgot those delicious malasadas. More recently I traveled to the Big Island twice for work and was fortunate enough to rediscover Tex Drive In. Both times I had the chocolate filled malasada and they were HUGE, soft and doughy (but not too much — just perfect!) on the inside and crisp and sugary outside. Just heavenly for malasada lovers. I’ve had great malasadas in the past, but Tex Drive In has the best, in my opinion.

+The Malasadas are amazing.
–The new young cashier could learn some aloha.
The malasadas are probably the only reason to stop here, but a very good reason, especially after hiking out of Waipio Valley. If you must eat, it’s nothing you can’t get anywhere else but the burgers are decent.
I think they need to train some employees to smile, or put them in the back.

Oh their hot malasadas are pretty darn fantastic! We ordered plain, apple, chocolate and Bavarian cream. The Bavarian cream was definitely the winner. All the my husband ate the apple one in 2 seconds flat. The malasadas are big and definitely with sharing a few flavors. And super cheap. Plain one is a dollar and its 65 cents more for a filled one. Deeeelish! We saw a lot of people having lunch. They have a good menu. Very casual and lots of locals. They even have a great little gift shop where of course we bought a mug to commemorate the best malasadas we’ve ever had!

A fantastic place for malasadas on the big island. However, all other foods on their menu is a hit or miss. Remember this place is a truck stop not some fancy restaurant. The malasadas are their specialty.

The best malasadas I have had! Pillowy dough with a sugar crystal coating. And so much filling in them that when you take a bite, there’s filling oozing out of it. How much better could it get?
My favorite was the guava filled, because I like guava a lot and I could really taste it here! I also got the Bavarian cream, which was just sweet enough, because it didn’t have that too strong vanilla flavor that you can often get, like in a Boston cream donut.
So which flavor will you choose? Well, I recommend you get both! They complement each other well. Or try a different fruit flavored one, and get the Bavarian cream malsada to go with it. I love my sweets, so I had no problem finishing two.
Also, try to eat them right when you get them. When they were still warm, I took a couple bites before driving over to Waipio Valley. It’s close by too, and I’m betting that these two experiences will be at the top of your list of the things you checked off while on the Big Island!

Sloppy craft work on the malasadas… these malasadas are on the large side, but they had barely any filling.

I am not sure this is 5-​star, Doris.
Malasadas are donuts without holes, filled with whatever you chose. They are absolutely delicious: in-​between tradition American donuts and Krispy Kream style fluffy kind. They were amply sprinkled with sugar, instead of glazed. Most patrons order a box (about 6) and down two of them before they have reached the car.
Loco Moco is your choice of protein topped with a over-​easy egg on top of the rice bed. Very easy, very comforting, and not expensive.
This is clearly a local favorite for a quick and satisfying bites.

Came here for the malasadas as everyone had recommended and was not disappointed.
Tried the chocolate, raspberry, Bavarian cream, Apple, guava and plain.
I personally like the plain the best, they are really fluffy and not overly sweet.
The fillings were good, the guava was one of the better ones! Unfortunately I found that usually one side was filled. So you need to take a big bite to not end up with half a plain one, which really isn’t a bad problem.

We were looking for proper food on Unilocal and came across this, but then everyone said great malasadas. So we came here specifically for the malasadas. I got a Bavarian crème one (most popular filling) and a plain one, and they were so good! A bit too sweet with the sugared outside, but the outside was nicely toasted and the inside was soft and chewy. The Bavarian crème was very pudding-​like, and it wasn’t too sweet which I very greatly appreciated. Also, when you order, the ones they give you are hot! It’s great. Each one is $ 1.10, and filling is an additional $.65 I believe. Quite good, highly recommend!

While driving from Hawi to Hilo side we made a stop at Tex Drive In for their malasadas. My mom has been to this spot several times and knew it was good. When we got there, I’d say aroun 10:30 am, it wasn’t too crowded on a Saturday.
We ordered:
— 3 malasadas (2 Bavarian cream, and 1 guava)
— SPAM loco moco
Malasadas were under $ 2 each, and the loco moco I think was around $ 6, so this spot was inexpensive. The malasadas come out piping hot! They were soooo good! I liked the cream one the best. The loco moco was also pretty tasty with plenty of gravy poured on it and 2 slices of SPAM. Definitely a good spot to stop at!

BEST malasadas I’ve ever had. I’ve now been here twice and have yet to review anything but the malasadas. I’m sure one day I’ll go back to try their actual food but I end up stuffing my face with warm sugary malasadas I’m too full to try anything else.
I’m grateful this place is 90 minutes from my house otherwise I may have to take up running!

Thank you to ALL the Unilocalers. After doing Waipio Valley we stopped to get the recommended Malasadas.
Let me tell you; you may think you had a good Malasada but you will truly find out when you try Tex’s. Not only are they huge but they come out warm and oh so delish!!! I was skeptical because we love Leonard’s but they are right. Where Leonard’s are small and airy for a light taste these are dense and huge. Yummy yummy!
We tried the Strawberry, Guava, Apple, Barvarian Cream, and of course the Plain. Our favorite was the Plain and Guava.
I recommend that if you are with other people you buy 1 of each so that everyone can have a taste of all of them and then if you are not satisfied buy your favorite.
There is even a window that you can watch them make it.

Nice location and large place to eat and has gift shop. We came here solely for the highly reviewed Malasadas. It was weird because they were not listed on their menu nor was the price posted anywhere either but almost every person was buying them.
Maybe my expectations were too high with all of the reviews but I was not impressed with them at all. They were good on the outside coated in sugar and I tried the custard filling which was average at best. My wife loved them but I would rather have a Voodoo donut or Krispy Kreme over these any day.
Overall, I say they were good not great. I would not go back just for these in the future.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.