Island Lava Java
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Been coming to Kona now every month for about 2 years. Each morning starts with a swim with the pier swimmers followed by breakfast at the Java Lava. So far, I have yet to have any sort of negative experience whatsoever. The food is always good, the coffee is tasty, and the staff is always super friendly! Nothing beats an early morning swim and then a wonderful breakfast as you look out to the ocean and listen to the waves crash just across the street. It's one of my favorite parts of my business travel, and so far it's been great!
Great location and view of the ocean while dining. Plenty of options for breaks, lunch, and dinner. Expect a wait on the weekends if you're not there early. Overall worth checking out for a quick bite and drink along the ocean.
Pancakes were nice and fluffy. Bigger than I expected and the coconut syrup was a nice touch. Bacon could have been a little crispier but the taste was very nice. Vanilla latte was way too sweet (personally) but I did add vanilla syrup and cold foam so that's on me. Just didn't taste much of the coffee. Biscuits and gravy were delicious and the pork had amazing flavor. Waffle was a little dried out (we sent it back due to it not being crispy enough and we believe they just reheated the waffle). But the flavor was still good with the macadamia nuts and bananas The Bloody Mary was great, however, they could do with a little more spice and a little more tomato base. As far as bloody Mary's go, this was on the weaker side. Loved the Black Sea salt rim. Shoutout to our server, Terri, who was fabulous the whole time.
Had the Ube Bliss and Island Style Belgian Waffle. The Ube Bliss was very pretty! I'm not much of a coffee person, but this was relatively light and sweet, so it was enjoyable. A slight hint of ube and the coconut cream. The waffle was good as well! The coconut cream syrup was a nice island twist. It paired well with the mac nuts and banana slices. Great! Not to mention the views of the ocean right next to us. We saw a pod of 10-20 dolphins hanging out! Great staff. Mahalo!
Two years later so we figured we'd give it a try again, this time for lunch We had the fish sandwich and the smashburger The burger was fine. We ordered green salad as the sides and they were really good . Mixed greens, no iceberg, served with a tasty balsamic vinaigrette. The fish sandwich wasn't great. We' chose the seared ahi. It was cooked completely through, which was probably a good thing because it was FAR from fresh--extremely "fishy." We've had a lot of ahi that past two weeks and this was the worst. Service was friendly and prompt, although it was clear we arrived at the end of our server's shift. We' were handed the check when we were nowhere near finished with our sandwiches. This wasn't a huge issue for us, but some people might feel put off by that. Cleanliness was still an issue--the tables really be a good deep cleaning. You can't beat the view! There was construction right out front this time (not the restaurant's fault)) but at least it was interesting
We've been coming to Lava Java for years and it's our favorite spot for breakfast. It has a great view of Kona's oceanfront and it's relaxing to drink your mimosa or Mocha (or both as my wife does it) and watch the boats and para-sailors. The service is very good, especially if you are upstairs when Tawny is working. I used to get the Portuguese sausage, eggs, and rice. However, I tried the hollandaise a few visits back and I have been hooked ever since. Now I get the eggs Benedict with home fries and extra sauce for the potatoes. Make sure to visit this spot when you're looking for a tasty, easy going breakfast.
Went here during the evening and everything was pleasant! The waiter didn't catch his name was super active and made sure we were well off. The Mahi Mahi was the fresh catch and definitely was a well fit for the tacos! Highly recommended. The only unfortunate was that they lacked a bar tender so no mixed drinks only beer/wine. Other than that 5
We had breakfast at Island Lava Java and the location alone makes it worth visiting. It's right across from the ocean, the views are beautiful, and we even got to see dolphins while we were eating, which made the experience extra special. I had the island style pancakes and they were delicious. The coconut syrup was the perfect addition, and the Portuguese sausage was also really good. My husband had the luau scramble, which was alright but felt like it was missing a little something. My brother in law ordered the loco moco and really enjoyed it. Overall, we had a nice breakfast and would definitely go back.
Definitely wouldn't recommend. The food was average, not a lot of flavor at all. They sat us a table without an umbrella, we were the only ones without when there were others empty. Worst part about this place was the server eric did something shady with the tip amount. I pressed the total amount on the hand held payment and when I saw the charge it was more.
Stopped by for breakfast because it was across the street from our resort. Terri our server was so sweet and helpful. Never kept us waiting. We started with the French press Kona coffee which was complex and delicious. My wife loved her fresh catch Benedict I had the lava java breakfast and it was fantastic. Waffle was a little chewy was the only critique. Will definitely be coming back.
Great top notch service. The view alone and that ocean breeze our worth the wait. Food is delicious and portions our perfect. Be sure to reserve just in case and travel hack pay for parking at restaurants to get half off.
I found this place on TikTok and was really excited to give it a try. I ordered the Loco Moco, and my boyfriend ordered the Luau Scramble. At first, the Loco Moco was okay. It was a little saltier than I expected, so I started separating everything on my plate while I was eating. That's when I found the first strand of hair underneath the rice. I pulled it out and honestly tried to brush it off. A few bites later, I took another bite of the patty and rice. When I went to wipe my mouth, another strand of hair came out of my mouth. At that point, my boyfriend and I decided to completely separate the food, and that's when we found a third strand of hair embedded in the rice. After finding three hair strands of hair, I completely lost my appetite. If anyone thinks I'm exaggerating, I recorded the entire experience, and it'll be included in my YouTube video. As for whether I'd recommend this place or come back, unfortunately, no. Maybe the other menu items are better, but based on my experience, I definitely wouldn't recommend ordering the Loco Moco.
This morning was already a bit stressful because we couldn't decide where to eat, and in the end we chose this place because of the many reviews. Unfortunately, it ended up being disappointing. We ordered a vegetable omelet to share and two drinks, and the total was almost $70, which felt very overpriced for what we got. The portions were small and the food itself was nothing special. It definitely wasn't exquisite or memorable in any way. The view, however, was beautiful. We were seated on the second floor with an ocean view, and that part was truly lovely. But even with the scenery, the experience didn't feel worth the money. My husband's coffee also wasn't good at all. The waitress was polite, but the service was quite slow. Overall, the location and view are the best things about this place. Sadly, the food, drinks, and value didn't live up to the hype, and we left feeling frustrated.
1 year ago
Our server was phenomenal! Props to Makamae L it was Thursday Happy Hour (7/10/25 @2:30pm) and she was alone for a while! We even saw the cook come out to help clean tables. Great teamwork!! The place was packed and she was super busy but still extremely nice, cheerful & helpful. Food was good but their coconut drink and bartender special hibiscus cocktail were delicious! Love the ocean view from our table. Hope to dine here one more time before going home. read more
9 months ago
came here for my birthday brunch, love the seating on the second floor with great views of the ocean and some great people watching. We started off with the hibiscus gin lemonades and they were refreshing on the hot morning. Loved the Big Kahuna breakfast and got surprised with a birthday cinnamon roll for dessert. This place is one of the busiest at all times. Be sure to book a table in advance to avoid long wait times and the night vibe here is one I will have to come back for and experience. Mahalo! read more
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Jeff F.
Mahalo, Luis! We love the pictures, please check your inbox when you…
3 years ago
There is a free parking lot limited to 3 hours parking nearby. It's about a 5 minute walk from the restaurant. The restaurant has seating upstairs as well so there's quite a lot of seating available. There are a ton of restaurants/shops located nearby. The staff here are super friendly and the food was delicious. This place was so great, we came here twice for brunch. This is what I ordered: Island Eggs Benedict (5/5): This is my first time ever having an egg benedict on a croissant and my gawshhh... what a game changer! This was absolutely DELICIOUS!! If you're an egg benedict lover, definitely give it a shot! And let me tell you... the potatoes were so seasoned, so good and they're literally making my mouth water just thinking about it. Luau Scramble (5/5) with Spinach and Tomato: I was torn between the luau and the garden scramble so I decided to add some veggies to the luau scramble to resolve the issue. I found this to be a very good decision as it satisfied my cravings that day. I loved the Portuguese sausage as it was so flavorful and complimented the meal very well. Fresh Juice Bar (5/5): The first day, I had apple, cucumber, and orange as my fresh juice. This was very refreshing and light. The second time, I had apple, ginger, and pineapple. This was also very refreshing. Pineapple flavor was definitely strong but it was still very good. A little more on the tart side. I really like that they offer this drink option as it was healthier and not so sugary especially in the morning. read more
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Jeff F.
Glad to hear you enjoyed your visit, Serenity! Check your inbox for a…
9 months ago
(IG: @foodwithdeni) #dEATs *Went to @islandlavajava for lunch with the family and we shared Ahi Poke, Island Lava Java Salad, Macadamia Nut Crusted Fresh Fish & LJ's Fresh Catch N Chips *We were late for their popular brunch menu but hopefully next time I can try it! *Favorite dish-- LJ's Fresh Catch N Chips, crispy coating & loaded with fries Address: 75-5801 Ali'i Drive, Bldg 1 Kailua Kona, HI 96740 FEATURING-- Ahi Poke Island Lava Java Salad Macadamia Nut Crusted Fresh Fish LJ's Fresh Catch N Chips read more
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Jeff F.
It's great to know we've given you an amazing experience, Denise!…
1 year ago
Went there for brunch as well as dinner. Staff was very kind and service was great. Food was delicious! A great view of the sunset as well! read more
8 months ago
9 months ago
2 years ago
This place was great! We sat outside and had a gorgeous view of the ocean. We are staying right down the street from here so it was extremely convenient for us to walk here. The food was so yummy! They served our kona coffee in a big mug and I ordered a freshly squeezed apple and ginger juice. They had many to choose from and you could mix whatever you wanted. I got a fresh fish Benedict with Ono and it was so delicious. They do their Benedict's on a croissant. I loved it. Served with fresh fruit that was perfectly ripe and sweet. My mom ordered an egg scramble with cheese, onions, pineapple and pork and it was incredible as well. Service was quick and friendly. We would definitely go back here! read more
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Jeff F.
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Sunday 11 am we were able to get w table right away upstairs. Server very nice brought water right away. Ordered fish tacos with salad and a luau scramble with bacon and potatoes. My husband is a big eater and we shared both plates and both left satisfied. Everything else being served around us looked great too and everyone looked happy. Great view- recommend! read more
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Jeff F.
Mahalo, Jolie! We love the pictures, be sure to check your inbox when…
1 year ago
You need to go here, whether it's for a meal, coffee or for a quick breakfast pastry. They have a walk up counter where you can order your coffee to go and get a breakfast treat. We ordered a sit down breakfast and we were not disappointed. It was one of the best meals we had on the island. The service was friendly and efficient. The views were impeccable. How can you go wrong with the ocean across the street and delicious food! read more
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Jeff F.
Mahalo for your feedback. Check your private inbox when you have a…
4 months ago
4 months ago
2 years ago
Fresh catch was way over priced. A few asparagus with small pieces of mahi was $40. The bartender was very friendly but our server was not. She almost threw plates on the table when putting down. Other than this, food tastes pretty good. So service 3, price is 3 Food is 4-5 read more
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Jeff F.
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8 months ago
1 year ago
Came in looking for a cute brunch spot and was not disappointed. The waterfront view is awesome and the tables/decor are a nice touch. The food was very tasty, although the service was a little slow. The waitress and staff were friendly though, so no big complaints here. read more
8 months ago
Best bloody Mary's!! The breakfast I think is the best in Kona as well!! Went once and then again, and again every morning we were in vacation! read more
1 year ago
Location is great, service was quick, seafood was delicious and at market price, nice outdoor seating options read more
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Jeff F.
Mahalo for your feedback. Check your private inbox when you have a…
A very disappointing visit to this restaurant last night. Our calamari was on the chewy side & a small portion. By far the most disappointing was the fresh fish tacos. I was shocked when the plate was placed in front of me. The 2 fish tacos are half filled, flopping all over the plate & the sweet potato fries were burnt to a crisp. They were inedible! A chef with eyes (and a server) would know that these could be not be eaten but they served them anyway on my fish taco plate & on my husband's chicken sandwich plate. I just looked at other pictures of fish tacos 'from this restaurant & they are served with 2 salsas & a decorative orchid - mine had none! How can there be these inconsistencies? When I finally flagged down the waitress & told her about the visibly burnt sweet potato fries & if they could give us ones we could actually eat - instead of apologizing & jumping on it - she said she "would ask" (the kitchen) I'm assuming! They took at least 15-20 min to bring them out ~ by which time we had finished our meal. So very disappointing as we had read the good reviews & were really looking forward to eating here. read more
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Jeff F.
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Somewhat average food, a little overpriced for what you get. The guava ribs were pretty tasty but the burger and fish fell a little flat. If I was to come back, I'd probably try the breakfast instead of lunch. read more
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Jeff F.
Rachel,…
1 year ago
Great food, friendly service, good coffee and ocean views. Garden scramble was delicious. Order the pesto on the side and drizzle over a side of potatoes. It's the bomb! The pineapple upside down French toast is a must for those who love sweets, but not too sweet, treats. read more
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Jeff F.
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2 years ago
Excellent food and view. I got the fish tacos with fries and it was absolutely delicious. You can tell the fish is fresh. My brother got the pizza and said it was really good. Service and view was great. No wait either. read more
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Jeff F.
Mahalo, Melanie! We've sent you a message to your inbox.
2 years ago
Christmas Dinner Island Lava Java * Kona, Hawaii * December 25, 2024 We arrived! We were in Kona. It was Christmas. Time for the family's Kona Christmas! A hearty "Aloha" to 75-5801 Ali'i Dr Building 1, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740, the bustling oceanfront restaurant: Island Lava Java. This dinner had been months in the planning, with matching "Kona Christmas" tee-shirts designed by Danielle Gro'ak. Our stomachs were rumbling, tumbling, ready to go tummy-to-toe with a menu of delicious Island offerings. https://stephenjgroak.blogspot.com read more
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Jeff F.
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10 months ago
Great service with a view! Definitely recommend getting breakfast here while enjoying views of the ocean!! read more
1 year ago
Visiting from Oahu and was looking for an open place for breakfast. This place was opened and right next to the water. The waitress was knowledgeable and overall employees were friendly. I had the croissant sandwich and was very filling, it could be shared. I also ordered an unsweetened matcha with oat milk which was okay but I wasn't expecting this but the coffee to be good. This place is nice for a sit down meal beside the ocean with great staff and vibes. read more
We went here for breakfast and ordered the garden scramble which was DELICIOUS! It came with many veggies and was topped with goat cheese and Mac nut pesto! We also ordered the pineapple upside down French toast which they make their own syrup and that was filling and delicious! I ordered the Matcha Latte which was perfect! Super creamy and not too sweet. My girl ordered the Hibiscus Mimosa which came with the flower inside and she ate that at the end! She def got a buzz off of this :) Our server was super attentive, and it's right on Alii drive so we were able to walk there from our room and have a view of the ocean! read more
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Jeff F.
Mahalo for your review, Sara. We responded to you privately so check…
5 months ago
2 years ago
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Jeff F.
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9 months ago
1 year ago
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Jeff F.
Mahalo for your feedback. Check your private inbox when you have a…
Came back again during our week to outstanding service (thanks Tawny!) and tasty food. We were seated upstairs this time with another amazing view of the ocean. Thanks again! read more
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Jeff F.
Mahalo, Jill! Be sure to check your inbox when you get the chance.
Good location; quick service. Friendly staff. The ahi was fresh and tasty- I enjoyed the wasabi aioli on top of it- felt light and not too heavy. The French toast was recommended by our waitress and I really wanted to like it- it was so dry- almost like they used 3 day old bread and DIDN'T soak it in an egg mixture. It had potential. If they could soak it longer and use fresh pineapple vs the canned stuff I think it could be a home run. read more
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Jeff F.
We want to personally connect with you regarding your recent…
2 years ago
This place was great, we liked the food the staff was nice, we went there around 7:30am so it wasn't busy at all when we got there. We were overlooking the water, it was great. read more
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Jeff F.
Aloha,…
3 years ago
Oh how I loved the Island Lava Java! I came here twice for dinner, once with my parents and once on a date. I would definitely say that this place is arguably one of the top date night spots on Ali'i drive. The ambiance is very romantic with the lovely sunset ocean view that it has. Let's talk about the food. The first time around we ordered the sunset burger and LJ's fresh catch-n-chips. The burger was good, nothing special but did the job as our first meal after landing. The fish and chips however were soooo good! I think the fish was ono that day but it was super fresh and tasted amazing. Add a little lemon juice to it and you have perfection... *chefs kiss.* The second time around I ordered the wedge salad with chicken and my date ordered the island lava java salad. We were shocked at how huge the salads were but they were refreshing, delicious and we both enjoyed them! I think the chicken here is also a great add to any salad, it was super tender and melts in your mouth. It seems as though this restaurant is famous for its breakfast which unfortunately I never got the chance to try. It all looks phenomenal though. The staff - all waiters I had were very friendly, helpful, and answered any questions with great recommendations. They were also very attentive and checked in on us several times. I had a pleasant experience and got to create some wonderful memories here. I hope to be back sometime in the near future to stop by for brunch! read more
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Jeff F.
Aloha Hosanna! Please check your inbox for a direct message. We truly…
5 months ago
I had the Hana House cocktail to start. It had ocean vodka, guava purée, fresh orange, pineapple and lime juices. A pleasant enough drink but no trace of alcohol although the bartender said it was masked by the fruit juices. I had the poke bowl which I can't complain about. The chunks of ahi were larger than the ones back home. The restaurant was an open air affair woa beautiful view of the water across the street. read more
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Jeff F.
Mahalo, Robert! We love the pictures, be sure to check your inbox…
Stayed consistent with what was shared about This location the "POKE BOWL'S " were Bomb!!! & Their Passion fruit Tart Dessert enough for 2-4 people had a Beautiful presentation & was Delicious! The Cocktails were worth it & tasted Great as well!!! read more
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Jeff F.
Mahalo, Kassie! We love the pictures, be sure to check your inbox…
Al fresco dining with beach views in Kona town. Server was friendly and helpful with menu suggestions. Service was a good even For a busy Sunday crowd. We had the lava Java breakfast island style and the hoku croissant sandwich. Waffles came with a coconut sauce which was not too sweet with Mac nuts that gave it some crunch served with bananas- delicious. Croissant was solid. We enjoyed our meal and expect to come back again. read more
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Jeff F.
Aloha Rowena,…
More info about Island Lava Java
75-5801 Ali'i Dr
Bldg 1
Kailua Kona, HI 96740
Directions
(808) 300-5672
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http://www.islandlavajava.com
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Ask the Community - Island Lava Java
What's good for lunch?
Fish and chips if you're on vacation. If you are leaning healthy, the Lava Java salad with the grilled shrimp. The goat cheese on that salad is fantastic!
Can you get lunch all day? For example, we would like to come for breakfast, but also pick up sandwiches to have at the beach later that day.
The entire lunch menu is NOT available all day. However, they do offer a brunch menu that includes some lunch items.
What are the Ube wraps or tortillas you use, please tell me?
Breakfast served all day?
No. Breakfast is served until 11:00 and then they switch to their lunch menu.
I am looking for a place to host a small wedding reception dinner in September. I would like it to be outside with an amazing view of the water. Ideas?
Try thesr In downtown Kona. https://www.daylightmind.com/…
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Island Lava Java - tradamerican - Updated September 2026
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