While staying at the Polynesian Resort, we made reservations the night before for breakfast the next day. It was mid-week and not busy at all. They must only allow a certain number of reservations because of not having that many staff members because reservations were scarce but the restaurant wasn't anywhere near full while we dined. Our waitress was great and helped explain the difference between ham and spiced ham (spiced ham is Spam!). Overall I wouldn't seek this restaurant out if I wasn't staying at the Polynesian Resort. It was yummy food, but nothing blew me away. The Macadamia Nut Pancakes were good but not unlike anything I've had before. The restaurant has a nice open air feel into the lobby on the second floor. You feel secluded from the lobby but it's still open enough to see what's happening around you. read more

Kona Cafe - Macadamia Nut Pancakes - Sushi Bars Near Me - Lake Buena Vista, Florida

The complimentary bread was super delicious and was a great start. I ordered the chicken wing appetizer which was good overall. However, when I ordered my main course, which was the rainbow roll, I found it bland, even with the soy sauce. Nevertheless I recommend. read more

This was probably my favorite meal on our last Disney trip. We had breakfast here on our last day and it was amazing. The server was so sweet, my kids just loved her, and the ambiance is family friendly and calm (despite the main building in the Polynesian being a little crazy at times). We ordered the Loco Moco, Tonga Toast, Ham and Cheese Omelette, and Minnie's French Toast. I always make a point of trying a bite of everyone's food, and it was all so, so good. The Loco Moco was by far my favorite though. Highly recommended! read more

We stopped by Kona Café at the Polynesian Resort to celebrate Stitch Day, and it was the perfect lunch spot! The resort's island aesthetic instantly made us feel like we were on vacation, and the atmosphere was so fun and relaxed. We were greeted by friendly staff who were just as excited about Stitch Day as we were--it really added to the experience. For lunch, we ordered the shrimp tempura sushi roll (fresh and flavorful!) and the teriyaki wings, which were flash-fried and coated in a delicious sauce. The fries on the side were seasoned really well--maybe a bit heavy for some, but we enjoyed every bite. The kids loved their Stitch piña coladas, adorably topped with edible Stitch ears! The kid's macaroni was just that... classic and simple, but the portion was generous. After lunch, we couldn't resist stopping by the dessert counter for a Stitch dome cake. Cute and tasty,totally worth it. Overall, a fun and flavorful experience that matched the festive Stitch Day vibes. We'll definitely be back! read more

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I really enjoyed the food at this spot! It's not the best ambiance when it comes to restaurants in the Polynesian, but it's perfectly fine and the food was very good! I liked the hamachi tuna roll. read more

Came for breakfast at 10 AM. We made a reservation with the Disney World App, we were able to check in via the app as well. When our table was ready, the app alerted us, that easy! Service was fine, nothing special or extraordinary. We ordered our food, our server Jose was pleasant. I ordered the loco moco and creamy Gouda grits. Grits were SO good. The loco moco was average. The meat the overdone and really thin. Overall 3/5 but will give 4/5 as the service was quick. read more

Kona Cafe - Loco Moco - Sushi Bars Near Me - Lake Buena Vista, Florida

If Denny's had a Polynesian theme: GOOD: - walkup party of 2 at dinner time. Expected no luck, seated within 10 minutes - hostess, server, and food runner (think that is the title) were all very gracious - pan fried dumplings were tasty - Asian chicken was tasty - Bahama Momma was a dangerous drink - did get a anniversary gift of macarons, chocolate gems, and macaroons and that was very pleasant. NOT SO GOOD: - unsalted butter with Hawaiian rolls? Elvis is turning in his Blue Hawaiian grave - Bok choy was way too salty. Was able to eat the base due to its density, but the leaves were nearly not consumable unless with rice - the chicken breasts were not consistent in size. We know that some chickens workout and some don't. But a difference in 1/3rd size makes you question value (yeah it's a theme park) BONUS GOOD!! - server did suggest soppin' the dumpling sauce with with bread. That was a pixie dust level suggestion. read more

My daughter and I were sad there was no luau at the Polynesian while we stayed in WDW. We'd gone to that on a previous visit and it was a wonderful experience. So we booked one of our dining plan meals at Kona hoping to recapture a little bit of Aloha spirit. We were not disappointed. We arrived early after a hot and exhausting day in Magic Kingdom. The host cheerfully took our information and promised to seat us as soon as he could. We waited in the lounge area in the blessed air conditioning, enveloped in the tropical aromatherapy WDW pumps into their resorts. We waited only 15 minutes. The food was good. I had the tuna poke, a Mai tai and a passion fruit napoleon (that was sinfully delicious.) read more

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Made a last min ressie for dinner with two kids. Service was a little slow To start but picked up by the end. Potstickers, two sushi rolls, tuna poke bowl and kids Mac made up the full order. Sushi rolls are costly for the size. $19 each and in comparison to anywhere outside of Disney would be 10$ or so. They were made fresh at the counter but they lacked depth or flavoring we expected. Potstickers were delicious and the sauce was a real showstopper. Tuna bowl was bland and really didn't have great flavor. I will say the tuna seemed fresh and plentiful which was nice but needed more crunch aspects. Overall a fine dinner but wouldn't be back against our other preferred Disney restaurants read more

Kona Cafe - Potstickers - Sushi Bars Near Me - Lake Buena Vista, Florida

This was a disastrous meal. In the past this restaurant has been excellent but this time was a major letdown. First, we were served spoiled soy sauce. I didn't know that could happen but it can. And one of our party was ill. They messed up the allergy accommodation too for my son. I could not believe it. The waitress was good and very nice. I am waiting on a response from Disney. Update: I got a response from Disney and they promised to do better in the future. read more

Always a fan, came back for the steak again to grab a photo. Kids always love it and great service. Ohana's has gotten too salty for us and you can get a lot of the same things off of their menu at this restaurant. read more

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Our favorite breakfast at WDW! We were able get a reservation the day before. Seated promptly. Service was fantastic. Our table had a view of the resort gardens. We had the breakfast platter and shared a French press of coffee. read more

Kona Cafe - Breakfast Platter - Sushi Bars Near Me - Lake Buena Vista, Florida

So underrated, this place blows me away every time! I do not know why I don't see it on the top Disney places to eat. I have had at least two breakfasts and at least two dinners here since my kids were really little. This day was breakfast again, and it never misses. Their pot of Kona blend coffee is so amazing. I am typically a cream or cream and sugar person, but this is a must drink black kind of coffee. I dream of this coffee. I also dream of their French toast and pancakes. Again, I got the pineapple macadamia nut pancakes. So good, still high quality food and a giant portion. This time I tried the spam, it was so good it went perfectly with the loco moco. This was the first time trying that dish here. While it was a bit small, especially compared to the other breakfast plate, it was flavorful and brought back all of the good Hawaiian memories and feels. Plus eating the spam with it enhanced the dish. We also had the tongo toast, which is a must eat every time we dine here. The kids had a fun mocktail and a smoothie, and I had the pog juice, which the portion was nice and large. Of all of our Disney experiences, this place is still a favorite and top notch. This is also one of the places that still beat Universal. We had gone to the Royal Pacific and these pancakes at Disney still beat theirs. Disney, please continue to be amazing at Kona because I still hope to come back real soon. read more

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I tried to like this place. After all these years this location just can't make it. Best thing on the menu is the pot stickers. Cheers!

This cafe was at Polynesian. We always do the character breakfast at O'hana but wanted to give this a try. This was good for adults and ambiance was wonderful. read more

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I hadn't been to Kona Cafe since the early 00s, and that was only for lunch. Having been to Hawaii, though, I wanted to give it a try for breakfast because I liked that they had traditional Hawaiian options that are different from any other restaurant at WDW. It's also much easier to get into and cheaper than 'Ohana. I've also been wanting to walk the sidewalk around Seven Seas Lagoon from the Polynesian to the Contemporary, past the Grand Floridian and the new Poly DVC tower, so this worked out perfectly. We were seating pretty quickly with our reservation after I checked in. After we were seated, I noticed half of the restaurant has bright lines shining on the tables and the other half have dimmer lighting fixtures that create a better ambiance. Thankfully, we were on the latter. I think they need to consider converting the brighter half. I ordered the Loco Moco for my entree, and my partner ordered the Polynesian Egg Platter. I considered changing my order when the teenage girl at the table next to us commented how good the eggs were, but I wanted to try the Loco Moco. In hindsight, I should have ordered differently. The Loco Moco was good, but it really needed more sauce/gravy. It was a bit dry. I would have asked for more, but we hardly saw our server. And only one of my over-easy eggs was truly over easy, so that didn't help with the dryness either. On the other hand, I tried bits and pieces of the Polynesian Egg Platter. The scrambled eggs were very creamy and delicious. The breakfast potatoes were wedges and very flavorful with spices. The Coconut Macadamia muffin was scrumpious. Because we hardly saw our server (and when we did, he was double-sat with tables and busy with them), we had to wait an extremely long time for our check. When he finally brought it and we paid, he didn't leave a pen with the receipt. LOL I finally went up to the host stand to ask for one. However, even though I had some concerns, I thought the experience at Kona Cafe for breakfast was enjoyable overall, and I definitely want to return. I'll have a better idea of what to order, and I don't think our server's slowness was indicative of the restaurant service as a whole. read more

This place was so cute! The restaurant was so pretty and really felt like you were in Hawaii. The staff was nice and the food was good. The toast was good and the caramel sauce was delicious. This is a must have. And the juice was delicious. read more

Kona Cafe - Sushi Bars Near Me - Lake Buena Vista, Florida

We've been coming here for over 15 years. The quality has never faltered. Hidden Disney gem!! Love it!!!

Totally came here for the Tonga Toast and it did not disappoint! The breakfast platter was fantastic too--super flavorful and filling. Lana was a delightful waitress, so friendly and attentive. As always, Disney nails the Hawaiian-themed decor, making the whole experience feel like a mini island escape. I highly recommend checking this place out if you're in the area! read more

Amazing experience. The food was really authentic and delicious. First time going and I was surprised how filling it was. The wait was a little long, but for Disney, it wasn't as bad as I expected read more

Kona Cafe - Rainbow Poke* - Sushi Bars Near Me - Lake Buena Vista, Florida

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Bland overcooked food. Asked for a burger medium rare all three orders were well done. Poor service. never again.

Okay so we came for dinner and breakfast. The people working here are all so, so, so, so nice. Our flight got delayed 3 hours and we had a dinner reservation but we were only just going to make it. I called to ask if they would hold our reservation and they said they would hold it for the 15 minutes allowed and then work with us afterwards if we were later. Well...I ran there and was a few minutes late, but the hostess reassured me that they still had our table. I could have cried from their kindness! Dinner was a little underwhelming flavor-wise. It was good, but also not as unique flavors as I was expecting. What we got for dinner: -Rainbow Poke Big presentation plate, little portion. This was just ok. There was no sauce? It was just sashimi over rice with some togarashi seasoning sprinkled over it. It was fine. But nothing special. - Polly Lolly Roll It had a fun texture and the sauce was actually very unique. But small portions here. - Bok Choy This was actually my favorite haha. They grill it! I don't know why that's novel to me. But it was delicious. - Kids Mac and Cheese It's standard mac and cheese like that of a college campus. The deal here is that it comes with milk/bottled water, plus sides. So you can get fruit and veggies into your children's bodies. What we got for breakfast: - Loco Moco This delivered the unique factor of the theme that I was expecting! So good. The gravy was a different take than the classic Hawaiian version. But definitely a hearty meal to set you up for all that walking (or to soak up a hangover?). - Polynesian Egg Platter Holy macadamia nuts! The muffin is so good. And that's not even the main part of the dish. - Kids Meal: Mickey-shaped Pancakes This is a fun factor. How can you not? It was a good pancake though! TL; DR I say breakfast is definitely worth it. Dinner, maybe not so much. read more

Kona Cafe - Mickey-shaped Pancakes - Sushi Bars Near Me - Lake Buena Vista, Florida

We came here for a late dinner and basically tried the entire appetizer menu. It was absolutely delicious. I really liked the open air seating where you still feel like you're on the balcony of the hotel. The service was really quick and attentive. Our favorites were the seasonal soup which was a pork and potato soup. And we loved the chicken wings. My sister wasn't a big fan of the bowel buns because the pork was overpowering. But that was my favorite thing about it. I can't wait to be back. read more

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First off this is one of my favorite breakfasts on property (Tonga Toast!). However, lunch was mediocre at best and kind of disappointing. I ordered the Shrimp Stir Fry and it was bland, flavorless, and the noodles were overcooked. It was also full of slices of sweet potato. I counted 12 slices which basically was equivalent to a full potato. Aside from that there were a scattering of scallions and even less mushrooms. It was just overall not a good plate of food for the price. Others at my table got sushi and soup and also said it was just...ok. You definitely can't beat the ambiance of the resort but this was a place I would just stick to breakfast at. read more

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The ambiance was great. Our waitress was on top of everything. My poke bowl ratio of rice to tuna was very off. It was great tuna but I wanted more sushi and "umph" to the bowl. It lacked ingredients. read more

Kona Cafe - Poke bowl - Sushi Bars Near Me - Lake Buena Vista, Florida

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Kona Cafe is a hidden gem. I enjoyed my meal. not much in terms of theming like other disney dining spots, but the vibe is relaxed and chill. While everyone is over at Ohana, they're missing out on this place. I came here for lunch and ordered a Backscratcher: super sweet, fruity. Porkbelly Bowl: this is delicious. Savory, smokey. The server recommended I mix it, and I agree! It has a very strong sesame flavor and if you don't mix everything you will get slapped with the sesame flavor! The pork belly is very very smokey. Wasn't expecting that but it really paired with all the other flavors in the bowl. I really liked it overall. No Sugar added Pineapple Cake: tiny, perfect for a solo diner or two people after a big meal. I really really liked this. It was the perfect ending to a meal without it being slap in your face with sugar! Everything was delicious. I highly recommend coming here and giving it a try. Next time I want to try the sushi, looks incredible! The potstickers looked good too. Something to look forward to. read more

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Of all the years coming to Disney, this place at the Polynesian was our favorite but recently things have changed. The menu and come of our favorites are gone. Staff is always friendly. Just a bit disappointed. The food was ok and the atmosphere is very loud. Lol It's Disney and lots of families, so it's to be expected. read more

Had lunch at Kona Cafe at the Polynesian resort in Disney. Wifey wanted the Kona stir fry with chicken so I ordered it also. The menu doesn't have has many entrees as it did prior to Covid but the stir fly was delicious. Forgot to take a photo but my wife had leftovers to take with, I ate like a pig and enjoyed it in the restaurant. Had a 12:30pm reservation but the restaurant wasn't very busy on a Monday at that time. Of course good parking was available with our reservation. Disney is funny because they may not let you in without the reservation because they save parking for the hotel guess. read more

Kona Cafe - Fruit plate - Sushi Bars Near Me - Lake Buena Vista, Florida

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3 stars for food quality, 5 stars for service, 5 stars for atmosphere. Sadly, a few years ago I would have said Kona Café was a 10/10 spot. But it's food quality has dropped and been replaced with larger but less Disney standard options. Our ham was ok, but honestly had less flavor than it used too. The Tonga Toast wasn't as soft as normal, requiring a knife and some elbow grease to really cut it. That being said, we still got that incredible Disney service, as you would expect. The Cast Members always do a fantastic job. And, the Polynesian is a gorgeous Disney hotel, one of my favorites. Seats are comfy/padded as well. read more

Kona Cafe - Macadamia Nut Pancakes, MASSIVE - Sushi Bars Near Me - Lake Buena Vista, Florida

The restaurant is in the second floor of the Polynesian resort. The restaurant offered contemporary island inspired cuisine. The potstickers had a great crispy covering and was amazing. TRY THE POTSTICKERS. It's doesn't look great but it's delicious! The glazed wings were good too. The service was friendly and fast. We loved their caring, charming demeanor. The decor has an open island feel. The noodle yokisoba dishes with steak was incredible. It was full of teriyaki flavor and roasted veggies. We loved the noodles. read more

Kona Cafe - Mahi, Bacon, Lettuce, and Tomato - Sushi Bars Near Me - Lake Buena Vista, Florida

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I'll admit it--I didn't expect much from Kona Café. Tucked just off the lobby of the Polynesian Resort and often overshadowed by its more hyped neighbors like 'Ohana or Trader Sam's, it seemed like one of those spots you settle for when other reservations fall through. But color me surprised--this place was actually really good. From the moment we sat down, the service was warm and efficient without being overbearing. Our server was friendly, knew the menu inside out, and gave honest recommendations (which I appreciate). The vibe in the dining room is laid-back and casual, with just enough tropical theming to remind you you're still on Disney property without going full tiki overload. Now to the food-- We started with the potstickers, and they were a total win. Perfectly crisped on the outside, packed with a flavorful filling, and served with a tangy dipping sauce that had just the right amount of kick. I've had plenty of forgettable potstickers over the years--these weren't those. For the main, I went with the slow-braised short rib, and it was outstanding. Fork-tender, rich without being heavy, and plated with creamy mashed potatoes and a savory reduction sauce that pulled the whole dish together. It tasted like something from a much fancier restaurant. And I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the sweet rolls that came out warm, sticky, and slightly sweet--somewhere between a Hawaiian roll and a sticky bun. I didn't expect to like them as much as I did, but I found myself reaching for more. They're the kind of thing that sneaks up on you and then suddenly becomes the highlight of the meal. Bottom line: I walked in skeptical and walked out a fan. Kona Café is a sleeper hit in a resort packed with dining options. It may not be the most buzzed-about restaurant on property, but it delivers quality food, great service, and a relaxing break from the park madness. If you're staying at the Polynesian (or even just hopping over on the monorail), don't write this place off. I'd absolutely return. read more

This review is on the Mobile Order option for Kona Cafe. I Mobile Ordered off of the kids lunch menu and was pleasantly surprised with the portion/price! Kids' Sushi Served with choice of two (2) Selections and choice of Small Lowfat Milk, Small Dasani® Bottled Water, or Small Minute Maid® Apple Juice $11.50 Pass holder discounts can also be applied at this location! The kids sushi included a few pieces of tempura sushi, chicken nuggets, tuna, and rice with a large serving of fruit and french fries, as well as a small water bottle. read more

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I'm not a Disney fanatic but one of my co-workers is so at a recent conference in Orlando, we dined at Disney resorts a couple of times. Kona was casual but excellent, both in service and food. We totally overate, starting with the surf-n-turf roll plus the potstickers. The potstickers came out in a weird looking fried clump, but once we turned them over, they looked like normal. They were great! The surf-n-turf roll was outstanding. We should have just stopped there but we also ordered entrees. I tried the short ribs and I was glad that it was not a mound of mashed potatoes piled with three our four slabs of meat. It was the perfect portions. We did not, however, have any room for pineapple whips after! read more

Kona Cafe - Surf 'n Turf Roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Lake Buena Vista, Florida

We had an excellent dinner here on Friday. Ryan was our server and took great care of us. My daughter had the short rib for an entree with the bao buns as an appetizer . I had potstickers as the app and the char sui duck as an entree. We both had the bread pudding which is to die for as our dessert. Service was quick, tasty and thoroughly enjoyable. It was my daughter's birthday too. read more

This is my first time here so my expectations weren't high. The customer service was mid. Our server, she seemed like she had a long day. She tried and gave her a good tip to help her day. The restaurant esthetics and environment was mid too. Maybe it's me but the furniture seemed outdated. I noticed when they cleaned out the table, all they did was wipe it down and let all the trash from the table fall on the floor. So we had all the leftover food underneath the table. A little disappointing. As for the food, it was pretty good. The Gyoza was different. A round shape with pretty good sauce around it. I ordered the salmon and just took pictures of what everyone else ordered. The salmon was made well With good flavor and a bit of crisp on the skin. The green rice was a bit different but couldn't really taste any flavor. Then I ordered the pineapple mule which taste like your average mule with a taste of pineapple. Then, I ordered the laup laup which was a bit sweet and rum added to the drink. It was good to try but not my cup of tea. Overall, decent experience but probably wouldn't come back. I had better service and experience over at Beauty and the Beast and at La Hacienda. read more

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After a last-minute plan change, we ended up here for a late dinner! I love dining at the Polynesian - the tropical scenery and relaxing music make it a great visit every time. It had been years since I ate here, so I wasn't sure how the menu had changed. We started off with the potstickers, which to my knowledge seem to be a same/similar menu item to the Ohana menu - they were tasty and large! Definitely a good shareable. I went with the short rib for my entree, and it was a fantastic choice! The meat was fall apart tender and the Kona coffee-mocha sauce paired perfectly with it -unique but not overpowering! The sides of mashed potato and broccolini were exactly what I was looking for, and it was a good value meal. My boyfriend enjoyed the Turkey Banh Mi sandwich, and he loved the kick of spice in it! Service was kind and prompt as it should be at a Disney restaurant, and I'd recommend this as an easy, quality dinner spot at a lower price point than Ohana! read more

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This is our second attempt in the last year to have dinner at this restaurant. Both times we made reservations and sadly both times we've had to remove ourselves from the reservation list because we checked in for our reservation and waited 30+ minutes for a table. The reservation times in themselves are usually for really early or really late and with two little kids, anything after 7:30 is a gamble. I can't speak to the service or the food because we have yet to have dinner there, but I can tell you that the weight even with reservations is ridiculous . I was honestly very surprised that we waited 45 minutes last night which was a Tuesday at 7:50. Menu looks good. You'll pay Disney prices $$$ if you can get a table. read more

Kona Cafe - Polynesian resort - Sushi Bars Near Me - Lake Buena Vista, Florida

I had a cold brew Martini, the Macadamian pancakes with ham and my husband had a mimosa, with a omelet, oatmeal, fruit and 2 slices of ham after he had a bite of mine and i wouldn't give him more.. The "Martini" was delicious! It was sweet in the right kinda way and it was nice and cold delicious! Recommend if you are a coffee drinker for sure. The Macadamia nut pancakes had pineapple and Macadamia nuts through out the pancakes. It was FANTASTIC I loved it not to sweet just perfect soft fluffy pancakes with the perfect crunch from the nuts. The HAM, grilled juicey delicious! Never had grilled ham but now i know that's the way ham should be made!!! This is why my husband ordered 2 more slices and why I guarded my slice! My husband liked the "mimosa" although didnt really taste the whiskey in it said the omelet was really good, it came with two biscuits and made a happy face! The oatmeal was nice and hot and came with brown sugar and milk. The fruits were nice and sweet as well. Overall delicious breakfast and vert attentive server. Very cheery and very good recommendations. The resteraunt has more of a subtle hawaiian theme but I definitely still loved the decor and the Hawaiian music! A++ overall will definitely recommend and hopefully Come back! read more

Kona Cafe - Macadamian nut pancakes with grilled ham - Sushi Bars Near Me - Lake Buena Vista, Florida

I would choose this place before Ohana every day. We were staying at the Polynesian so I booked Kona one night and Ohana the second night. For both the food and the price, I prefer Kona. I love the Lapu Lapu. It's a rum drink in a pineapple. Ok, I'll be honest, I'm not a huge fan of the drink itself, but drinking out of a pineapple really fills that island spirit. We got macaroni and cheese with fries and strawberry yogurt for one kid and cheeseburger with yogurt and french fries for the other. Although when I was at Ohana, they were able to grab us chicken tenders off menu so next time if my son still only eats chicken tenders I should ask them to do that. My favorite part of the meal was probably the kids food. The macaroni and cheese was very good. I also enjoyed the cheeseburger. My kids don't really eat so I end up eating a lot of their food. My younger son loved the strawberry yogurt so that was a winner. I got the short rib and truffle mushroom for a side and I was disappointed by how tough the short rib was. For that price I'd expect it to be more tender. My husband did enjoy his New York Strip. My friend got sushi and they were tiny. It was actually kind of hilarious how tiny a $19 roll can be. Her husband got the Polly Lolly and that one was substantial (although I would hope so at $26). Main takeaway is don't get the sushi here. Overall, we had a good experience. I wouldn't go out of my way to eat here, but I won't say no if someone else wants to go. read more

Kona Cafe was okay, definitely on the pricier side for what you're getting. I must say the bread service was my favorite part though, very delicious bread! Staff were kind as well and the wait wasn't too bad to get in. Maybe I just didn't get the right item but my fiancé's plate also did not meet expectations. Would rather spend a couple of extra $ and go to Ohanas right next door. read more