I was with a party of 4 for dinner and everything was shared family style. There are some dishes that could easily be eaten by one person but it's also good to be shared family style. The service is great even when there's a dinner rush. Highlights for me were the shrimp dumplings, mother mushrooms, and the ulu fried feta. read more

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I've tried Koko Head Cafe at the previous location before but this is the first time I came to their new location at Kaimuki. There was more seating at this location and it was much more comfortable. We had the Ohayou Eggs and Cornflake French Toast. Both dishes were amazing. Also had a vanilla latte and it was surprisingly really good. Everything was great and I would 100% come back again. read more

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Koko Head Café is a very strong brunch spot. The skillet options in particular are outstanding, and are easily the highlight of the menu. Anything with eggs is worth ordering. They're prepared in a light, fluffy French style that really elevates the dish beyond typical brunch fare. Everything feels thoughtfully executed, and the service is great. Overall, a great place if you're looking for a well-made, creative brunch. read more

I'm visiting Hawaii because of a family emergency and today was my last day before I head out. My friend wanted to treat me to here after all the chaos and stress I went through for these past two months. Looking at the menu, I was excited and looked forward to eating here. Food was although not delicious, it was ok (pancakes were pretty good) but service was disappointing. It was not full and we had to flag down to order and when I asked for salt, we were given an empty salt shaker. Coffee cup remained empty and I'd get it if it was super busy but it wasn't. I used to work as a server at a popular breakfast/brunch spot so I get that things can get hectic but today wasn't it. Low energy and just overall, the service was to the point where I'm wasting 3 minutes of my life to write this review. Overall, for the amount of money we paid for breakfast ($140 for a party of two).... It was a mediocre and disappointing experience eating here. read more

I've been to Koko Head Cafe when they were at their OG location, but this was the first time I came to their new location. They were busy as usual, but there was seating at the bar. It was just my hubby and I, so it was perfect. Since it was around 11:30, a lot of their daily special were sold out. This made it difficult to make a choice. We ended up ordering: 1. Ricotta pancakes with haupia - soooo moist and yummy! I've never had ricotta pancakes before, but I have to say that they are now my fave! 2. Bibimbap - small, but so deceiving! It was loaded with toppings! 3. Don buri Chen - sooo yummy! Must try! 4. Dumplings all day Wong - very good and tasty! Staff were super nice and helpful with recommendations. Parking lot is huge. No validation. There is outdoor, indoor, and bar seating. Restrooms located inside the restaurant. We definitely left feeling full! read more

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Had a few items and it all hit the spot! Service was fast and efficient for how busy they were. We had reservations and went on a weekday so we're able to get seated right away. May be bit of a wait if it was on a weekend. Bacon egg sandwich - 5/5 -Simple and delicious Cornflake French toast - 4/5 - I don't like maple and yes I read that it had maple lol it was actually good despite me not liking maple. But I think it was a lot a bit too sweet for me. Koko Momo - 10/5!!!! This was sooooo good! A twist in your classic loco moco. I'm no loco moco expert but this was amazing! The crispy rice made it beyond words! Make sure to ask for hot sauce. That made it even better because I like spicy food lol Can't wait to come back! read more

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I only ordered one dish (the loco moco) and wow, it was absolute perfection. It arrives sizzling in a hot skillet, which gives the rice a beautiful, crisp layer at the bottom. The gravy is rich and savory without being overly salty or heavy, and the patty?? Cooked exactly as requested, yum! That loco moco was worth waking up early to hit up - it's that good! The restaurant itself is spacious and welcoming with attentive, top-notch service. They even have a fun little shout from the staff whenever someone tips the kitchen, such a charming touch to the experience! :D Didn't see a parking lot nearby, but found ample street parking during our visit. Excited to try their other dishes next time! read more

Koko Head Cafe - Koko Moco - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Excellent breakfast options. Many choices to choose from. The place is simple and nicely decorated. The staff were super friendly. We had a table near the door as we had a large party. Going during the week wasn't too busy. Choices made egg handwich, fluffy pancakes with mango, lectin skillet and roasted pork skillet. Everyone was happy with their choices. Want to go again before we leave the island. read more

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Cute and pleasant layout. Friendly staff. Food is good, portions a little small though. read more

Koko Head Cafe - Koko Moco - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Second time eating here and it was just as good as the first time. This time we brought family along with us and they fell in love with the food too. We've almost tried everything on the menu and everything is good, you genuinely can't make a wrong choice here. Service is always great as well and their bathrooms are super clean. We've gotten here twice before 8:30 and never waited but when we leave around 9:30 it's packed and there's a wait. read more

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Started off with Shrimp dumplings with a buttery sauce, such a great combination and sooo delicious! Main dish was steak ramen with onion rings bbq king oyster mushrooms watercress and a perfectly cooked poached egg. All ingredients were of high quality. The mushrooms were tough and hard to eat but overall a good dish. Bottom of the bowl was great! Good service and informal ambience. read more

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You can never go wrong with brunch at Koko Head Cafe! I had a couple friends in town so we stopped by on a weekday for a lovely brunch together. We had to have Chef's dumplings of the day - this is a must! We were already happy with this part of our meal. My friends loved the pork omelette and the donburi - so Ono! I had the Koko Moco and would love to have this again too. Koko Head Cafe gave us a great service and it was a lovely place for us to chat and catch up over an Ono meal. Mahalo nui loa! read more

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Cute little brunch spot in Kaimuki, came here on a whim after our early morning hike. Arrived a little after 7am and we were seated right away by the friendly host. We ordered: Breakfast Bibimbap - perfectly crispy rice with savory Korean veggies tossed in (this dish can be made vegan or gluten-free). Don Buri Chen - the scrambled eggs were light and fluffy and the pork belly was tender. I loved the house pickles it came with. Excellent service from our waiter, who checked on us throughout our dine-in experience. Disclaimer: They do add on a 5% "kitchen service charge" to every check. This service fee provides their workers an additional incentive on top of their wages. Times are hard out here. read more

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Been here a couple of times, came here since like forever. The food is comfort food, hits the spot with my mimosa. I'm in love with French toast cornflakes, was perfect and sure filled my tummy! Yummy! The the breakfast burger was oh so perfect! Hash brown was different from your normal kine, was excellent. Mimosa was beautifully delicious, and holiday cocktail was dreamy good. Ohayou eggs was very oh so sassy good! Lots of parking, in the heart of kaimuki. Staff was very welcoming, prompt, helpful with menu. Excellent service. The restaurant was cozy and homey. Love the Christmas decor. Coming back for more! read more

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JAN 24, 2026 Food: 9.3/10 Service: 9/10 Ambiance: 10/10 Garlic Butter Shrimp Dumplings- 8.5/10 The filling was classic with a crunch, and the sauce wasn't overpowering. Would've liked more than just 4 dumplings! Fried Jidori Buttah Chicken- 9.5/10 The chicken was fried so delicately and the chutney sauce was heavenly! I'd lick this plate if I could. Heritage Pork Katsu- 10/10 This dish is so well thought out, and its extremely balanced. The katsu wasn't heavily breaded, and it came in a slightly acidic dressing. Amazing dish! Service: We had a Saturday night reservation but weren't seated until 15-20 minutes after. The servers were attentive once we were seated, and the check came quickly when we said we were ready. Ambiance: The restaurant is high ceiling and the seating arrangement is thoughtful. There's plenty of room for big parties and smaller tables for date night couples. BONUS! Parking: There's plenty of street parking, and there's 2 lots nearby. One has a gate where you grab a ticket, and the other is a meter lot. read more

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Made a reservation here for Sunday morning, definitely recommend as they were very busy and the waitlist was about 1.5 hours at 10am. Service was very courteous, quick, and friendly. Got the dumplings as a starter, which the sauce was delicious. The filling was beef and was a bit dry but the wrapper was deep fried which had a great crunch. The hash brown is HUGE and amazing. I wish it had a bit more seasoning but the luau on top and kalua pork paired perfectly with the hash brown. The cornflake French toast was definitely the star of the show, especially if you're a sweets person. The gelato was refreshing and light. The bacon was smokey, and the French toast was light, chewy, crunchy. It was almost like a bread pudding! Inside is lively and cute. There is also outdoor seating and bar seating. read more

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Well. Today I'm on crutches. And while it's not a "norm" for me (thank goodness) it is so telling when the door is a hard open and the hostess watched me get a crutch stuck under the door and stumble. Then when I finally got unstuck, the door whacked me on my way in. She just went "oh, haha, sorry" rather than helping me. The food is good but so very pricy. The poke omelette was $28 and it was loaded with more aioli (mayo) than fish. The steak was cooked perfect. And the pork omelette seemed generous. The haupia pancakes were just as sweet as you would imagine it to be. My mom had the volcano eggs - and while the name "volcano" implies hot, there is no description of spice on the menu: Volcano Eggs 23 GF housemade marinara sauce, baked eggs, cheddar, choice of daily vegetables, Portuguese sausage or both, served with toasted baguette Oh well. Our waitress was nice. But all the other people were a bit rude. The person who brought hr out the food just put everything in front of me and expected me to hand it out to whoever ordered it. From the front door to the food service. I would rather not. Unfortunately- not as good as the original location. And not someplace I'd plan to return to. It was sadly disappointing. 3 stars because the food was ok and the waitress was nice. Other than that it would have been a 1. read more

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This might possibly be the best brunch I've had in a while. I found out about Koko Head doing some breakfast research and had to come check it out based on the menu alone. We came on the early side to be safe, around 7:30 AM on a Tuesday, and it wasn't too busy at all. Very easy to find street parking in front. To start we got a POG juice and a matcha latte. Both were as expected nothing crazy. For food we ordered the daily dumpling which was like a Pork/Mapo Tofu dumpling, Breakfast Congee, and a Breakfast Bibimbap. First off, the dumplings were crazy good. The pickled chilis on top with the flavorful gravy was amazing. The Breakfast Bibimbap was so large and filled with veggies. The bacon, Portuguese Sausage, and egg made things even heavier but the crispy garlic rice really made the dish. The Breakfast Congee was also huge. I only had a little but it was one of the more unique congees i've had. Those bacon fat croutons were a great topper. Service was quick, maybe a little cold but it was early. Would definitely come back for a breakfast/brunch here to try the daily dumpling and their other many offerings. read more

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This was a bit overhyped and not worth the wait. Maybe I set my expectation too high but the food was just average. The fusion donburi lacked flavor besides the chili pepper that was on top. All of the other ingredients were pretty bland. Portion size was also a bit small for the amount they are charging. I'd say this can be skipped and they were plenty of breakfast options in the area. read more

Koko Head Cafe - Koko Moco - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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I love celebrating local chefs, especially when they break out big, especially when the owner is as extraordinary as Chef Lee Anne Wong. Well after becoming a fan favorite on the competition series Top Chef, Chef Wong left her hometown of New York for sunny Hawaii where she would partner with Chef Kevin Hanney to open Koko Head Café in what was once his 12th Ave Grill near the Lunalilo Freeway. By using Chef Wong's notoriety, Koko Head Cafe has managed to become a favorite with locals and out-of-towners alike thanks to their creative dishes that emphasize locally sourced ingredients. Since I was a fan of the show and Chef Wong's work, I made it my mission to get to Koko Head Café during a recent visit to Waikiki. Of course getting across the freeway by public transportation was the biggest challenge, as a distant walk once I was dropped off blocks away. By the time I arrived at about 10 a.m. on the weekend morning that I arrived to Koko Head Café, I assumed that they would be packed with customers, and although there was a line out the door, I was able to seat myself along their counter area, which was not filled with other customers at all. Thanks to the personable bartender/ server Samantha, I was able to take my time and enjoy the welcoming atmosphere that Koko Head Cafe provided with their homey diner-like interior. The brunch/ lunch menu at Koko Head Café is separated into categories including their Daily Specials, Sweeter Side, Kung Fu Fighting, Eggs, Skillets, Sides & More, and of course their signature Drinks. To start off my meal I ordered their Strawberry Hula cocktail which had Rumhaven coconut rum, strawberry guava shrub, pineapple juice and ginger. It was a nice refreshing way to start my meal without being overloaded with sweetness. I didn't want anything too heavy this morning, so to start my meal I ordered their Savory Scone, which was made with kimchi cheddar bacon and served with creme fraiche. For my main entrée, I ordered their Dumpling All Day Wong from their Daily Specials menu, which were four fried pork wontons served in a pastele stew topped with pickle red fresno chilis, fresh cilantro, tostone and achiote. As I sipped on my cocktail, I was presented with my scone and although slightly dry as many scones tend to me, the overall flavor of the kimchi cheddar bacon really shined through. I was then presented with my Dumpling All Day Wong which were light and tasty and was accentuated by the abundance of pastele stew with the only caveat being that I just wish there was more! This stew was so sweet and tasty that I wanted to pair this small dish with something else so I immediately ordered a accompaniment in their Vanilla Sea Salt Biscuit which was served with house-made jam and local honey butter. The perfect way to end a perfectly simple meal at Koko Head Café, my total bill was $52.77 before gratuity was added in. Dining at Koko Head Café gave me a true sense of what it means to eat within the Honolulu community. It's the kind of place where locals know their servers by name, which is a sure sign that people return here time and again. A more fuller meal will be in store for me upon a return visit with their Ohayou Eggs and Don Buri Chen being at the top of my list of things to sample in the future. Everything at Koko Head Café is described with such aplomb that it doesn't seem that you will go wrong with any dish they offer here. At Koko Head Café their reputation just keeps growing and growing and it's only a matter of time that Chef Leann Wong's empire in the greater Honolulu area just grows and grows and I for one can't wait to see where they head next. read more

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Food was ok Service ok Ambiance nice Open parking Went for breakfast Maybe lunch n dinner is better? Would go back to try something else. read more

Parking can be found either on the streets or in the paid parking lot behind. The wait wasn't bad, and we were seated pretty quickly. Once seated, they took our drink order then offered to come back to take our food order. The service wasn't too bad. We were treated fairly, however they didn't check up on us as you would expect. The food was great however the food is a bit overpriced. The cornflake French toast was crispy, lightly sweetened, and flavorful. It was a very small portion including the small scoop of iced cream. The porridge was alright. Good for hangovers lol. I enjoyed the toasts in it, but it was an interesting dish. Dumplings were my fave, as it was light, crispy, and just a good serving for sharing. Would come here to try something new, but maybe not as often due to the price range. read more

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One of my favorite spots during my visit to Oahu! I tried their Loco Moco and Cornflake French Toast, which were amazing. The Loco Moco is made in a skillet and isn't your average Loco Moco. The rice is crispy at the bottom, and the portion isn't huge. I personally loved the mushroom gravy and hit the spot. The Cornflake French Toast is unique, and I've never had a dish quite like this. It was super sweet and fluffy. It had more of a fluffier texture than French toast, and I wouldn't have even compared it to that, to be honest. It felt like a sweet pastry, lol. The syrup at the bottom of the dish was a lot, too. It made the dish overwhelmingly sweet, and I would get this for dessert instead of during our normal entree meal. I loved this spot so much, but it was so pricey, it was more than the Chirashi Bowl spot across the street. It came out to be the most expensive meal of the trip. You may be saying, hey Evan you ordered three dishes, but looking at the portions and price, it just didn't align for me. read more

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One of my favorite meals we had in Honolulu!! We came in on a weekday afternoon in between two planned hikes, and we were seated immediately. We tried the Koko moco, Don burri Chen, the chicky & eggs, and the poke omelette, and the dumpling of the day which was a mapo style dumpling with boiled pork in a Szechuan style sauce. Truly, everything was amazing, and you couldn't go wrong with any of those. The dumplings were my favorite- so extremely flavorful and juicy! Just when we thought things couldn't get better than this, we had the carrot cake bread pudding, which was divine. We loved the casual ambiance of the cafe and the friendly and quick service as well! Koko head cafe does everything so well and we will certainly be back!! read more

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Finally had a chance to try Koko Head cafe after all this time. We arrived about 11:30 am on a weekday and was seated immediately. We perused the menu and saw many different dishes which some I have seen on other social media clips. We finally decided on the Bi Bim Bap skillet and the Koko moco. Both of these dishes you could say are their most popular favorites. I also added the ube bread pudding for sharing. Both orders were placed and read back to us by our efficient server that the eggs to be over hard and meat cooked well done. During our wait, there were times where the kitchen would get into an uproar yelling and cheering. I found out later that they would do that when they received a tip. Those episodes actually create a ruckus and overtake the entire dining room while it lasts. I am no killjoy to celebrations but I think possibly a nice ring of a bell might be more appropriate to celebrate this? The Ube bread pudding arrived first and it was served in a med size bowl topped with what I think was mac nut ice cream. The ice cream with real mac nuts was a nice touch and the warm bread pudding flavorful and rich. I really enjoyed this dish. The two entrees arrived and noticed that they were prepared wrong. The bi bim bap egg was prepared sunnyside up where I asked for over hard. The hamburger patty on the Koko Moco was served rare when it was supposed to be well done. Isn't a breakfast place or when your menu is more than 50% breakfast items important to get your simple egg and meat requests done correctly? They finally took the whole Koko Moco dish back to redo it which took another 15 minutes. In the meantime, I'm eating my dish and finish it alone. While waiting for the food to arrive, I read through some other Yelp reviews and totally agree with some comments that the price and size of the dishes do not match. The dishes with eggs such as the koko moco and bi bim bap comes with one egg only where any other restaurants typically serves two eggs for the ~+$20 price. The skillet is actually fairly small and if you are hungry, be ready shell out for another side or entree. Be aware also that they add a 5% kitchen charge on top of the entire bill. The management did actually come over to apologize for the error and waived the bread pudding charge. But all that kitchen celebrating to get the basics of our order wrong just did not go over well with us. Pricing for their menu is high and capitalize on the creative twist of basic dishes. Many items are labeled market price and found them to be too high for this breakfast diner. read more

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This place was recommended to me. This place offers a variety for everyone! There's a mixture of Japanese, Korean, and Chinese influences in the dishes. Ohayou eggs- I was excited for this dish by the description. I do love me some eggs and bread. It was good but Personally, it's too heavy for me as a brunch dish. I got the hashbrown and it was delish but definitely on the pricier side. My family ordered other dishes and they thought it alright. Creative, yes! Service was alright as well. They were really busy. We were lucky to have been seated after 15 minutes. I would come back to try other dishes if I come back to visit! read more

I really wanted to love this place, but I left feeling ripped off. We ordered the Koka Moco, Pancakes, Hash Browns, and the Chick & Eggs. Honestly? The food was average, especially for what they are charging. Everything lacked flavor and felt overpriced for the quality. The biggest issue: The pricing is a total scam. The prices on the final bill did not match what was listed on the menu. Charging people more than the advertised price is deceptive and honestly feels illegal. I've only ever seen this kind of "tourist trap" behavior in places like Egypt. Watch your receipt closely here, what they are doing is a true scam. Save your money and go somewhere honest. read more

Koko Head Cafe - They over charged us extra for every item we order. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Koko Head Cafe is one of the great breakfast/brunch spots in Kaimuki. They're always busy whenever I go and the service is usually pretty good. This particular visit, my party definitely waited longer than usual for our food (we had observed that multiple tables had gotten their food before us despite being sat after us and us ordering before them) but at least our server was nice. There is a parking lot and I think it's 75¢/hour. The ambiance inside is always nice and cozy which makes it a more laidback atmosphere. The food was delicious and flavorful as per usual, very tasty and their menu has a unique creative twist on it. Do keep in mind that the portions are definitely on the smaller side for the price that you're paying. Other than the long wait time for our food, I don't have any complaints and will definitely return! read more

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Came back for the umpteenth time and it never disappoints! Had the kimchi scone and wow! It's easily going to be a staple on my visits. Great food, great staff...will always come back! read more

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Went in for breakfast on a Friday, and it wasn't busy at all. The server was attentive and helpful with guiding our group through the menu. The kimbap was really good. The rice was crispy and the portion was decent. One cool thing that they do is whenever the BOH gets tipped, they do a cheers thing. It's fun and quirky. Creates a unique and upbeat environment. I wouldn't necessarily go there for breakfast again, but I am interested in going there for dinner. read more

One day in Oahu before heading to California, and we made a stop at Koko Head Café by Chef Lee Ann Wong. First things first, the cornflake French toast? Yeah, that lived up to the hype and then some. The table basically went silent for a minute and then we immediately ordered seconds. NO CAP, it's that good. The loco moco was solid, good flavor, well executed but on the smaller side compared to what I'm used to around Hawaii. I've had loco mocos everywhere from roadside spots to sit-down joints, and this one was definitely more "refined portion" than "you're not leaving hungry." That said, the presentation in the hot skillet is doing a lot of the heavy lifting here, and I get why you're paying for that style. Service was mid. Not terrible, not memorable. There were a decent amount of people coming in and out, definitely escaping the Waikiki chaos, but I had to ask a couple times for a tea refill. Meanwhile, I watched coffee get topped off at the table next to us without issue, so yeah, timing could've been better. Overall, if you're going for the vibe, it's definitely a vibe. Cool spot, trendy energy, and some standout dishes. But if we're talking pure food value, there are other places on Oahu giving you more food for a better price. Next trip, I'd probably try it again for lunch or dinner just to see if it hits differently later in the day. read more

Came here before meeting others for dinner. Had the "Drop the Beet" cocktail. Had not been here since they changed locations. Monday is not crowded, and Jordan the bartender was friendly. More people need to come here. Heard the guy next to say it was the best burger he has had. It was the Ancho Burger. read more

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No yeah, this place is great! The food is presented very well, unlike most casual diners. So it's a visual and tasty combo! Service was smooth and easy going for the start of the morning. We came for breakfast and were not disappointed. With a morning cocktail and mocktail - we were pleasantly surprised with how delicious the drinks were. When our food arrived it was pretty much flavor-town from then on. I would say the chef's inspired dishes are spot-on for flavors and fusion. If you are a true-foodie, this is the place you should try in Oahu. Nice one Koko Head Cafe!! read more

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Every time I visit the island of Oahu I have to have breakfast/brunch at Koko Head! Upon walking in we are always greeted quickly and with a smile! You cannot make reservations, but you can look ahead at the wait time to see if it is busy. They are now offering dinner reservations though! The ambiance is a cute little breakfast spot where you can sit inside or outside under a tent. Now to the good stuff - the food! Every single thing I have ordered ( and the bites I steal from my family!) has been mouth watering! 10/10 you must visit! Also, if you're a fan of Top Chef, it is owned by the famous Lee Anne Wong! read more

Koko Head Cafe - Dumplings All Day Wong - handmade everyday and so delicious! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Very nice employees. The food was definitely not as good as it was 5 years+ ago. Prices have gone up as expected and I have to agree with other posts regarding how annoying it is for them to add on 5% for the kitchen staff that they explain on the check is optional. You add it and then call it optional as if you expect us to ask the server to take it off. If it's optional, you place a separate blank line under wait staff tip for customers to fill in. In the old days, companies would pay chefs more money than the competition to retain them, not ask customers to pay 5% in order to retain them. They have priced themselves out of my market. read more

This is our favorite brunch spot on Oahu and recommend it to anyone visiting. I've seen some of the lower reviews and I honestly can't understand it. I've been here many times and both the service and food have only been excellent. It's a busy, happening place and always has a line and wait. But that just proves it's where people want to eat. It's light and bright with ample comfortable seating. We always request Emmy because he's the greatest server around. He has so much personality and seems to really love his job and is proud of the food they are serving. We always ask for his recommendations and he always delivers. There are some tried and true dishes, but there are always specials or something new. In fact, it becomes harder and harder to order because we want everything. Everyone that we've sent there have come away saying that was one of their highlight meals of their trip to Hawai'i and that they too will recommend it to their friends. read more

This is my first time here since I think they changed locations? It definitely lives up to the hype. I really like that they do the online waitlist as we joined it as we left our place in Manoa and walked in right on time (so didn't have to wait at the place). That being said, there are many amazing shops nearby in Kaimuki if you are waiting. I recommend Da Shop, Crack Seed Store, Bead It! and Keep it Simple. Our server was very friendly and helpful. I wish I got her name to shout her out, but she had a "Cancer" necklace. They have a nice, breakfast-y ambiance along with some outdoor tables. They make a really nice fuss of people on their birthday as well. Now to the food: I got the fresh fruit which was incredibly delicious and a bit on the overripe side, all to be sweeter. I also got the special hash brown, which tasted surprisingly healthy for a hash brown (it includes kale and some gravy). My husband got the Koko Moko, which is rightly one of their most favorited dishes. The rice in particular is delicious; super fluffy but also crispy at the bottom, and soaked in gravy. They gave us 2 hot sauces, papaya jerk and pineapple, but I asked the person at the table next to us for the ones they were given when they were done, which were jalapeno lime and ginger turmeric, and I liked those better. I am not sure how they decide which hot sauces to give. Overall, I think it is worth the hype. read more

It had been a while since I've been to Koko Head Café. Since my last visit, they moved to a different location, still in Kaimaki but much bigger. There is a municipal paid parking lot next to the café. This time we came for brunch and had the skillets. Don Buri Chen (as a skillet) and Breakfast Bibimbap. Food was OK, I remember it being better the last time I was here. Service was friendly and fast. read more

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We wanted a nice breakfast after hiking Koko head trail. What better place than Koko head Cafe in Kaimuki ? We had a very difficult time finding parking. We drove into the large pay lot next to the restaurant but couldn't find any parking. We circled the restaurant and finally found street parking. It was pretty far away. The only seat they had available for us was at the bar. We found out a few days later they charged us a $3.50 extra for eating at the bar. We weren't advised of the up charge. I liked that the menu was labeled with gluten free options. I would be sure to tell the server if you need to eat gluten free because several items on the menu was really gluten free option. I ordered the breakfast bibimbap $25. It was labeled gf but the server did say they would remove some gluten ingredients from the recipe. The food was ok and I thought it was expensive for what I got. The server was really good but it did take a long time for us to get our food. The restaurant was super cute and fun. read more

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The food was decent and the service was friendly. I don't mind coming here if friends or family wanna come here because they like it. But I personally would not choose to come here because although the food was good, the ingredients they serve don't justify the price at all. Looking through the menu, most of the breakfast dishes are above $20, and they're just serving eggs with some sauce or some simple protein and veg. The best part might be the crispy rice at the bottom of the iron skillet, but that would still not justify the price imo. Mind you they tag on a 5% kitchen charge and a minimum suggested tip of 20%. So they're expecting customers to pay 25% more on top of the already inflated menu prices... for example, this time I tried their luau and eggs. Decent but not memorable. It's rice, some tempura veg, egg and luau (mashed taro leaves with coconut milk). They charge $25, with the extra 25%, you're paying $31 for it. Meanwhile, you can get a large plate lunch of luau somewhere else for less than $20. That's my point. I dined at some $$$$ restaurants before and walked out happy. I don't mind paying more if the value is there. The service was at least friendly and the dining atmosphere was comfortable. I also liked their somewhat open kitchen and there's a smaller dining room suitable for groups. I hope they could reevaluate how the charge customers. I don't think I'm the only reviewer saying this. read more

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