When Moena first opened, I used to come kind of frequently until I realized how pricey everything was. The food is good--don't get me wrong, but it is just not worth it to drive out to HK for. I've had the banana chantilli pancakes, fried rice, loco moco, fruity French toast, banana Nutella crepe, spinach florentine, Kalua pork Benedict, and the acai bowl. They were all good, but the dishes tasted like any other brunch place--just more expensive. The fruity French toast is $15 and with tip almost $20. Additionally, the wait is always so long. I do think that Moena is the best place to get brunch if you live on that side of the island, though. There is cute brunch appropriate decor inside and the food is good. The service is also usually good. I ordered takeout the other day which they had ready for me even though I went to pick it up a few minutes early. However, personally there are other brunch places I would go to before choosing Moena. read more

I've tried this place a few times and each time I'm just left feeling completely unsatisfied. Pancakes and waffles are chewy and lack flavor. Strawberry milk sauce had no strawberry or milk flavor. Bacon - overcooked. Fried rice - was definitely not fresh and the salads are completely underwhelming. I don't think I'll be back. read more

Service was stellar for LA , for Hawaii, off the chain! The only problem, they have very complicated names. Greyson and Emily were fun and accommodating to my lame mainland demands of attention. Thank you! The loco moco was way better then the usu. short rib instead of a fatty fat grizzle slab of hamburger. Well done kids. The coffee gets a free refill, nice touch but... Come on guys, you got nothing on the iced thai latte at the powerhouse corporation (Starbucks) down the way. read more

Came for breakfast after a hike on Kokohead with friends, and arrived to a wait. It was long-ish, but we were hungry and determined. There isn't much outdoor seating, or waiting areas, for that matter, but eventually we got a table for three. It was surprising to find that it is a little nicer of a cafe than you would expect, with nice plates and table settings. The server was nice and got everything right. I had to corned beef hash- it was done right. It had actual chopped, distinguishable cuts of meat, and was paired nicely with onions and some great seasoning to help it set itself apart from other corned beef hashes. I'd go again. Prices are higher than normal for the same dish elsewhere. Inside was a little small. Overall, they did a nice job. read more

This is a small place and on busy days you may have to wait a bit, but when we went it was busy but we were seated right away This restaurant specializes in light fare and breakfast items...but, oh my, what a breakfast. I had a Nutella & banana crepe, which was overstuffed with bananas wih just the right amount of Nutella. A member of my party had an Acai bowl and, it was delicious. Looking around at the other diners' plates, everything looked yummy and was very beautifully presented. read more

We've wanted to come here since they opened, but there was always a line. That wasn't the case when we dropped by on a Monday sometime in the afternoon. Yay, finally! My husband ordered the Crab Benedict which had big chunks of real crab meat. I say "real crab meat" because other restaurants sometimes use imitation crab meat, which is a huge difference. I ordered the Kalua Pig Benedict which is my favorite. Both were very delicious! The server was very helpful (I think his name was Jim) and we left very satisfied, so we'll definitely be coming back! read more

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The food here is really good. Best pancake I've even eaten - I got the Chantilly banana with coconut. We also ordered the Loco Moco, but it's the only one we ordered while in Oahu, so can't really compare. It was ok. We also ordered a vanilla milkshake and coffee, which were very tasty. The place is simple and clean. The only complain, which isn't a big deal is that they were cleaning the restaurant when we arrived, 45 minutes before we sat, which felt like they rushing people out of there. read more

come to this place right now. the food is literally so good and all the portions are huge. the DENVER OMLET will make you fall in love with your life and the banana pancake is super yummy. read more

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My husband and I were looking for a place to eat that was nearby and so we decide to stop by this place for breakfast. we order the banana Chantilly pancake (the small stack) and it was huge. I thought it was a mistake that they gave us the big stack but the waitress stated that it it was the small stack. we order the pineapple sausage on the side of the pancake and the sausage was sweet and salty at the same time. it was delicious. We also order the crab egg Benedict and it was really good. i was hesitating at first but after the first bite, I couldn't put it down. I devour it in minutes. it was a very trendy and cozy cafe and had a great breakfast menu. so if you are looking for a breakfast place,come by and check this place out. Plenty of parking space and the price is reasonable on the portion of the food they serve you. read more

I've been here when they first opened and it was great. I went on Sunday the 8th and it was not a great experience. we ordered the shortrib loco moco. what a disappointment. it was over $15 and had two little tiny pieces of meat. It felt like i was eating gravy and rice with an egg for $15. My mom's side fried rice was not bigger than a miso soup bowl and it was $6. I guess not that they are popular, they can cut portion size. they also take forever to serve. we will not be going there again for sure. this is more of a place for the atmosphere than anything. a hip trendy place to go but you pay the price. read more

Came in after a morning hike with friends. Waitress had great suggestions so we needed up getting the corn beef hash, eggs Benedict with avocado on French bread and the chantilly banana pancakes. The food and service was good. Could use a busser because there was only one server and also more napkins. Will come back for sure. read more

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This is my go to place after a hike on this side of the island. Sometimes the wait is long, but I don't think I've waited longer than 45 minutes for a table. This restaurant is clean, trendy and comfortable. I like that their water is lemon flavored (their water jugs have slices of lemon in it), and all of the wait staff have been very friendly so far. I love their eggs benedict and my girlfriend was raving over their salmon benedict. My hiking partner likes eggs, meat and starch - so he's always happy wherever we go. LOL. read more

What a pleasant surprise Moena Cafe was! My mom, brother and I were driving aimlessly and we were starving. We assumed we would stumble upon some place in this strip-mall type shopping center, but nothing as amazing as what we ended up finding! Not something I would've ever expected next to a nail salon and Spirit Halloween store, that's for sure. Moena Cafe is a pretty small restaurant with the capacity of maybe 20 people with a few staff members. We showed up around 10AM-11AM and were lucky enough to beat the brunch rush, plus it was a weekday. Put our names on the list and were seated within 10 minutes. Our waitress was incredibly friendly and our food order was placed quickly and food came out in a reasonable amount of time. My mom and brother shared a veggie omelet and another side, while I got eggs bennie. This is pretty much my go-to food these days for breakfast, but I have never been wowed by it before. This eggs bennie came on garlic toasted french bread and a super thick piece of ham. The egg was perfectly poached and the hollandaise sauce was the bomb. Seriously, I'm daydreaming of it now. I don't know if I can ever go back to english muffins with eggs bennie. It took a while to get our card swiped after getting the bill, but the food was amazing enough to overlook this bit. :) If you're in for some good breakfast, check out Moena Cafe. read more

Portions could be a lot bigger for the price, but everything we ate for breakfast was delicious. Not really digging the seating... I felt very squished! read more

Ugh the food at this place is ridiculously amazing. Their banana Chantilly pancakes are to die for! But when I tried their " special of the day" which was the ahi Benedict, it wasn't that great. I'll definitely go back though, their short rib loco moco and crab Benedict sound really good! read more

Moena Café - Banana Chantilly pancakes - Cafes Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Felt like rewarding myself for going to the gym AND working out, so after reading Emi's epic review I had to check out this place. It's nestled amongst the row of restaurants (couple doors down from Bubbies') and it's not too big so I actually walked right past the first time. And it was a bit on the noisy side since they were full, but my take out order for the short rib loco on fried rice came out fairly quickly. It wasn't until I got home that I realized how good this dish is. As I scooped up each spoonful of amazing gravy (and mind you, I'm not a huge gravy person either) laden rice, I was transported to my happy place...until reality came crashing down when I had to fend off my parents who were vying with me to scoop up the next bite. And although I initially thought "wow, they're kinda stingy with the meat" it actually worked out perfectly since the short rib is pretty rich and the gravy + rice is the star of the show. I'm now torn because I want to try some of the other menu items but this dish was so good, I don't know if I can bring myself to order anything else. Decisions, decisions... read more

First of all u have to wait at least 20-30 minutes to get in. That being said the food is worth it. It's times like today that pissed the crap out of anyone. Ordered, wait... 20 minutes later I realize that 3-4 tables seated after are eating. A party of 8 all received their food and we ordered before they sat down. So we hail the waitress and she said sorry they lost the ticket... they were busy back there. If she knew that earlier she could have came out and told us. So unsat... like some of the other reviews, from one of the top places for breakfast to one of the worst... their recovery and apology too little too late... shame on them... sucks that we are the only ones that get the short end of the stick. read more

Tried Moena café for breakfast with my three best friends. I was craving for Acai bowl and expecting something decent from Moena Cafe based on their good ratings. I have to say I was disappointed by what I ordered. While my Acai bowl looked vibrant and inviting, my first bite of the Acai purée and granola was over-the-top-sweet! It made the fruit topping bland and even sour in comparison. The purée was also runnier than the ones I enjoyed. My friends tried it and all grimaced in unison. We asked our server whether their Acai bowl has always been this sweet. Our server replied that it has always been made to the same standard. To the standard I couldn't understand, I thought as my brain became numb by the sugar. Seeing that our server didn't have the intention to adjust it for me and not wanting to waste my money on it, I chowed down the bowl with what my friends saw as apparent reluctance on my face. I think I just had my whole day worth of sugar back there and I am starting to crash from the rush. The bowl is a NOT AGAIN for me. On a lighter note, my friends' MC and sausage hash were both very good. The potatoes were delectable, though the rice on the short rib loco moco was unpleasingly stale and hard. I am not sure if I want to come back. read more

Moena Café - Acai bowl, looks really good but... Way too sweet. - Cafes Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Moena Café is lovely! The menu is huge. There's sure to be something for every person and every mood. Clean crisp interior. Delicious food! I've tried their açaí bowl (would go easy on the honey next time) and the Teri-Burger (add avocado). Both meals were delicious. I'll be recommending this place anytime someone is looking for a breakfast/lunch spot in Hawaii Kai. read more

Ordered the short rib loco moco and the banana pancakes. We unfortunately had a hair in our loco moco however Hana apologized and had a fresh order out within minutes and comped the order. The way the staff handled the problem was excellent and the food was delicious as usual. read more

I had a decent experience here when I came over a year ago. Unfortunately this past weekend was very different. Quality has slipped. The "fresh brewed iced tea" now comes out of a soda fountain. They've added an avocado toast which was just a thin smear of avocado on some mediocre multigrain bread and then piled high with arugula. Crab benedict was bland and had just a meager dollop of hollandaise sauce. The only redeeming quality was that the staff was nice. This place has the feel of somewhere that used to be good but then decided that they needed to up the profits by cutting corners. Maybe that's not the case but that's what it felt like. Very disappointing way to start the day. There are a lot of other options and I won't be coming back. read more

Quite the lil gem in the midst of everything in the strip mall. Came recommended by a friend that works at the establishement. It's a small quaint place with maybe about 10-12 at most. The food is amazingly good! So fresh & so filling. You can't go wrong w/ anything ordered. From the 3 of us that ordered food I got to sample the belguim waffles, eggs benedict, & turkey & bacon sandwich. Everything tasted SO good! Def the spot for breakfast as a local or tourist! read more

Some of the best acai bowls I've had. Cool little spot. Often has a wait. Right on the water. The fried rice is good also. Ate here twice. Will be back next time I'm in Hawaii Kai. read more

Moena Café - Acai to go - Cafes Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

My boyfriend and I came here on a Sunday morning, ~1130am. We waited about an hour to be seated at a table. He ordered the eggs benedict and I ordered the short rib loco moco with fried rice. Both dishes were good. I liked my dish better than his, and he liked his dish better than mine --so everyone was happy. Eggs benedict was rich. The short rib was tender, fried rice was flavorful, and it was topped with over easy eggs and gravy. Enough said. Delicious meal. A bit pricey. Be prepared for a long wait. read more

Tried this place for the first time and it was 5-stars good. Banana Chantilly pancake for me and short rib loco moco for my pal. Both dishes were unbelievable. The wait wasn't that bad, either -- of course we were okay sitting at the bar. I look forward to going again soon. What a gem! read more

Fancy Honolulu steez. I'm from LA so I imagine this being food you'd eat in Manhattan Beach or on the strand. We ordered the short rib loco moco and the sausage hash. Both very flavorful and decently portioned. You could tell a lot of attention was put into the menu on unique flavors. Staff was friendly and attentive. If you're looking for "Ono Grindz" this isn't the place, there are places elsewhere for that. This is definitely is a place for a "brunching" crowd. read more

Big portion & food was DELISH but just a lil pricey. Carb overload on the giant pancakes but well worth the carbs. read more

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No need for filter. Thanks to yelp commenteers(lol) we got the banana chantilly petite pancakes, which was SO SO SO SOOOO ONO!! He had the corn beef hash, and I had the short rib loco Moco. We will definitely be coming here again and again. Great service and yummy food read more

Moena Café - No need for filter. Thanks to yelp commenteers(lol) we got the banana chantilly petite pancakes, which was SO SO SO SOOOO ONO!! - Cafes Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

This place is mediocre, not worth your time and energy to wait on a 45 minute line or wait list just for a simple breakfast food. The food is extremely overpriced, I had an açaí bowl for $17 and I can get one exactly the same, if not, better somewhere else for $10. Nothing special, would not recommend. read more

If you are looking for that great breakfast that's different than the normal cookie cutter breakfast. Look no further. We started with a cinnamon roll pancake that I need to go back for. I had the Loco Moco, not hamburger, but braised short ribs, Yum! The coffee is way above the regular generic swill that you find in other spots. Don't want to name names. So go and see if I'm wrong. I love good breakfasts and I like it that they do it with a spin on the old but tired fare. But when you go, be prepared to be treated like family. Yes, like family. I truly do not remember service like that. Go enjoy. Rick read more

Good food. Great service. Great atmosphere. The menu could be expanded ever so slightly... otherwise it's our go-to spot in Hawaii Kai. Tourists stay away. You are not welcome here ;) read more

My husband and I have been here about 3 times in the last few months....and we love it! The short rib loco moco is delicious! We hardly go here because the wait can be long but the service and food is awesome! read more

Just got done eating here and have to review ASAP. the food here was absolutely delicious. I had the eggs benedict which was on garlic bread (yum), my mom had the sausage hash which was the table favorite, and we all split an acai bowl which had ripe, fresh fruit on it. We had about a 15 minute wait to be seated, after being seated there was barely any wait for coffee and food. The coffee is the best we have had so far at any breakfast place we've been to. Highly recommend for a great breakfast after snorkeling at Hanauma Bay! read more

Moena Café - Cafes Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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I went there for the first time a few weeks ago and had a great time. Both the staff and food were excellent. We ate at the bar to bypass the wait time, which was a brilliant idea, it was comfortable and helped us stay more engaged with the staff and find out more about the menu. I got the fried rice, waffle and omelette. My friend got eggs and their hug pancake. I look forward to tackling that next time. Maybe I'll use it to load up on carbs before doing the lighthouse or koko head hike. I look forward to going back again and trying something new. read more

Always good here. Had the chicken and Cranberry salad sandwich again. Was excellent. My son had the fried rice with scrambled eggs. That was good too. read more

Moena Café - Chicken and Cranberry sandwich. - Cafes Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

As a Benedict lover I'm always on the lookout for a great breakfast spot. Their Pork Benedict was the best one I've had in my life. I don't think I even came up for air during my meal! Great staff. Clean. Highly recommend. read more

Moena Café - Cafes Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Went there on a recommendation of my friend to eat the braised short rib loco moco. It was absolutely out of this world!!! I loved that they serve brown rice, which was not hard and grainy, the short rib was so tender it could be cut with a thin plastic fork, then they slather it with a Demi glaze that makes the usual brown gravies taste like salty mud water (excuse the analogy). Definitely worth eating if you're a loco moco person. read more

Really wonderful little cafe. Excellent breakfast. Last time I was there I got the Pineapple Sausage hash, the other two people at the table got a great looking crepe and a short rib loco moco. Everything was excellent, service was great, and this place has some of the very best coffee on the island. It's worth the wait if you don't get there on time on the weekends. I'd recommend to all. read more

Moena Cafe is a very cute breakfast/brunch place in Hawaii Kai. I made a trip all the way there just to try their fried rice Loco Moco and I was happy I did. It was really really good. The time we went was almost the closing time so we didn't have to wait at all. I couldn't try their pancakes but will do next time! read more

Friendly and sociable staff makes for a better interactive meal! I had the short rib fried rice loco moco and it tasted like fine dining! Located in Koko Marina, this was the perfect spot to unwind and rest, while enjoying a great meal. Just make sure to avoid the main lunch hour as it does get pretty packed. Plan some hiking or activities that go into the lunch hour and head over after 1pm or 130pm. read more