I need to replenish my nutrients! After a hike up to the top off Koko Head, someone from my group suggested breakfast at Moena Cafe. The cafe is located within a mile of the trailhead so it was a quick, easy drive after an arduous hike. Moena is a quaint little eatery serving breakfast and lunch. We got there about 0830 so we had breakfast. A quick overview from one of my group mates highlighted the huge pancakes, which I saw on someone else's plate and determined that I wasn't *that* hungry. I opted for the eggs Benedict with avocado instead. It came on sourdough with a slice of pineapple and half a strawberry as garnish. It was delicious. I was also able to try the pineapple sausage. I couldn't tell if it was infused with pineapple juice or had chunks of pineapple but, either way, it had the sweet pineapple flavour. You wouldn't expect the two to pair together but, it was a delicious combination. Both the cappuccino and coffee we equally good. The coffee is rich in flavour. We had creamer at our table and I was pleasantly surprised that it was warm. I often wonder why other places served cold creamer. Definitely a plus. One thing I didn't like - there was not a bathroom in the restaurant, which was understandable given the small space. The bathroom was shared with the other businesses on the strip. What I didn't like was that is was UPSTAIRS. Usually this wouldn't be a problem but, after just climbing Koko Head, the last thing I wanted to do was climb more stairs. Another thing - I typically tip good. I have no problem with tipping, especially if the staff does well, which they did. While I know gratuity is usually automatically included for large groups, I still like having the option of deciding what I want to tip or at least being forewarned about it. We each paid separately. Our group was about 12 people and an 18% gratuity was included on EACH of our tabs. read more

Moena Café - Breakfast spot after climbing Koko Head. - Cafes Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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This is perhaps the best place I've come for brunch. Ever. Located in the Koko Marina Shopping Center, Moena Cafe's seats are filled with many hungry bellies waiting to order their delicious food. There is usually a waitlist to eat here but it is definitely worth it! (We waited about 30 mins.) Before we were seated we knew what we wanted to order as we had plenty of time to look at the menu and photos on Yelp. My friend ordered the veggie breakfast sandwich which she really enjoyed. It had an egg, spinach, tomato, avocado and crispy cheese melts inside. My other friend ordered the crab eggs Benedict which was also very good. I ordered the short rib loco moco which was BOMB! Best thing I ever ate for brunch! I want to eat it again and again if I could. Everything we at was super delicious and (again) worth the wait. We also ordered a stack of their pancakes. Banana chantilly pancakes were good but maybe ask for extra chantilly sauce if you can! The service was also on point. Server was sharp and waters were filled. All staff members were so nice too. The only things you need to prepare yourselves for are the parking (lot can get crowded sometimes) and the wait time as the place is small. read more

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Dogs allowed?? Did I Miss that?? Oh no!! I'm really disappointed right now as someone just strolled in with their Fido. Sorry, no offense to dog owners but please let me know before I sit down to eat this is a dog friendly place. Would have eaten somewhere else had I known. Minus one star for that. Well, So I'm over it. Doggie or not food is good here. I had the MC 2 egg breakfast with pineapple sausage and fried rice. Other reviewers were accurate in this is all really really good!! Rice was not exactly fried but still moist and lots of flavor bits and veggies. Pineapple sausage was sliced and pan fried. Very good. Hawaiian omelet with roasted pork, cheddar cheese and green onions. Good sized portion and yummy. Had to add some spice as with everything but other than that it was perfect as is. Service was good here too. Seated promptly after 5 minute wait but we most likely timed it right. read more

Moena Café - Hawaiian omelet - Cafes Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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This is my second time here, and I've overall enjoyed both experiences. First of all, their Iced Chai Latte has to be the best I've ever had, and that's saying a lot since it's my "go-to" drink Lolol. I did ask the waiter for his recommendation on food, since the item I ordered the last time was no longer on the menu. His suggestion was the Short Rib Loco Moco. So that's what I ordered, however, I must say it wasn't the best. I found the short ribs to be a little too fatty. Furthermore the gravy, rice and eggs were very well prepared. If ever you're at Moena cafe when they're serving the Carbonara pasta--do not hesitate to order. I remember it being sooo good. I believe it's usually a chef's special of the day. read more

Moena Café - Short Rib Loco Moco - Cafes Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Love this place. Best brunch / breakie in HK. I like to eat here as often as financially possible. read more

Moena Café - Cafes Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Located in an older plaza with plenty of parking. Came here after an early morning workout on Koko Head. Got here ~7a and didn't have to wait but when we left there was a line of people. Staff is friendly and but food took a while to come out. Cinnamon roll pancake - it was really big, a short stack can easily feed two people. The icing was sweet but not too much to take over the entire thing. It was a bummer they were out of coconut syrup. The pancake itself had a cinnamon swirl if flipped over but wasn't really giving "cinnamon" roll taste other than the frosting. 6/10 Fried rice with sausage links - this was ok, nothing too amazing to make it stand out. It was tasty, not too salty. 6/10 The iced coffee with almond milk was pretty good, not super strong and slightly sweetened from the almond milk. 7/10 read more

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Do not skip this place!!! Moena Cafe was not on our to do list but so incredibly happy we found this little gem! A bit of a morning wait but totally worth it! The staff & their service was great! All worked as a team, all were upbeat, attentive & friendly! We were a party of 9. Staff didn't miss a beat! Prices are reasonable and food & drink quality was fantastic. Short Rib Loco Moco was fantastic!!! Just writing about it makes me sad that I won't be having until my next visit! The best Loco Moco I've had! Packed with flavor, juicy, Short Rib & eggs cooked to perfection! Fruity French Toast, MC" Fruity Waffle, Pancakes were all fantastic. When they say the pancakes are big, it's no joke. They are huge & flavorful! We purchased sandwiches to go and they did not disappoint! We purchased a few bags of their coffee & pancake mix, so glad we did!! If only I could have brought their Loco Moco back home.... read more

Moena Café - Delicious pancake! - Cafes Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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While visiting Hawaii I ordered take-out from Moena Cafe. Prices are great, food is delicious, and employees are friendly! Our order was ready at the specified time. We ordered the breakfast sandwich with avocado and the sweet bread french toast. The breakfast sandwich does not come with any sauce so we asked for sriracha aioli on the side and it was a perfect addition to the sandwich. The ciabatta roll was soft and fresh. They do not short you on the avocado. I would definitely order the breakfast sandwich again. The sweet bread french toast was tasty. It comes on one huge piece of sweet bread with the right amount of cinnamon flavor. Overall, we loved our food and highly recommend Moena Cafe! read more

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After hiking Koko Head, we were starving and in need of some protein. It's located in the Marina plaza not too far from Koko Head. Plenty of parking in the plaza. The inside is a bit small and it was packed for morning brunch. We were seated shortly after and our waitress was really friendly. We ordered the fresh corned beef hash. It came on a giant plate with two over-easy eggs. The portion was ridiculously big which is why I'm glad we didn't order more food. The hash potatoes were extra crispy and beef was spot on. Lots of flavor that you didn't need a dip. Eggs over-easy was also cooked just right. A great spot to grab brunch in the area or put some protein back in your body after that hike. read more

Moena Café - Cafes Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

# g r a t e f u l This was a new place to eat for me. Kat and Tyler are both profoundly helpful and the food is made by great cooks. The avocado toast is awesome. It has hollandaise, arugula, avocado, and with scrambled eggs it was so good. also the best home fries I've ever had. read more

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We stopped to grab something to eat after snorkeling at Hanauma Bay and it was so perfect to sit and relax. The server was prompt and kind, bringing us extra plates so we could split two dishes. The food was delicious; we got the açaí bowl and avocado toast. Overall a great meal! read more

Loved this cafe! The iced caramel macchiato was delicious and the pancakes were super fluffy. The staff were friendly, making it a great spot to relax and enjoy a treat! Definitely recommend! read more

Everything was amazing in this restaurant and I would go back in a heartbeat. The matcha latte is a MUST try.

Would I come back: I would but depends on the wait. Food: Sweet bread French toast - 3.5/5 - This version of French Toast wasn't bad. It was tasty with the sweet bread but nothing overly special about it. Portuguese sausage - 3/5 - Standard faire...could have used a little bit more. Service: 4/5 - Friendly service by the staff. Ambiance: 3.5/5 - Because of the wait I took this to go instead of waiting. The inside looked pretty casual. read more

Great food, amazing service. He even packed me my free coffee refill to go :). All food was fresh. The matcha/oreo scones were a nice surprise as well. read more

A 20-minute wait to finally get to try this place. Service was attentive and quick. Food was delicious. It was busy for Sunday breakfast so it was a bit noisy. But, would definitely patron again since they have a variety of other good foods I want to try. read more

Moena Café - Savory crepe with sundried tomatoes, spinach, onions. - Cafes Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Wish I could give 10 stars. The only downside and I mean only is that there is a bit of a wait. BUT... This place is worth the wait. And the staff manages the line expertly and always with a smile. Now....the food. So fresh. So delicious. Perfect portions. Not skimpy and not overloaded and we still had leftovers. The fried rice....the sausages....the PANCAKES. I selfishly hate to give this place such a strong review for fear the lines will grow even longer ;-) but to be true to Yelp I must be honest and honor the system. This place is an absolute MUST. And ask for Kat. She made our experience even better. Friendly. Helpful. Smart and adorable. :--) read more

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Service: The service here was OK. The servers were very friendly and attentive. Food: For the price it is definitely not my usual because it is a little expensive, however, it is worth it! the pancake that we ordered was delicious! The strawberry whipped cream topping on the pancake wasn't too sweet and it was just right! It is also a plus that they put a lot of fresh strawberries on top. I also got the vegetable omelet which tasted delicious as well. HOWEVER, As everyone else says which is why I am giving the 4 stars is be careful of the kitchen tip that's already included in the bill. It is unfortunate they do this in secret without telling you because not a lot of people actually read the receipt (which is our fault). However the fact that they would still require or expect people to give top service tip at 20% kinda blows by mind when they are already charging us 4% in the bill for kitchen tips. To me this just shows they are cheap and not willing to pay their kitchen staff top dollar or else they wouldn't require the customers to tip for them if you know what I mean... Like I said for the price it is a little steep in my opinion but the food is good. read more

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First time going here but I've been seeing photos of this for so long! Hawaii Kai is kind of far for us but on a weekday there's not much traffic so it's pretty good. Located in Koko Marina Shopping Center, it's on the mauka end of the big parking lot. It was pretty full when we got there, so we signed up on the list, and about 10 minutes later we were called in. I got the corned beef hash with over easy eggs and a cup of the most delicious coffee! We also split a really yummy apricot scone that came with whipped cream. Everything was REALLY DELICIOUS and the corned beef hash was so big I had to bring half home! I hope to be back...tomorrow. And the next day. And the next! read more

Moena Café - Apricot scone with whipped cream - Cafes Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day. A really good breakfast fuels the rest of my day and puts me in a good mood. Moena Cafe has a reputation for serving a solid breakfast. I was looking forward to having the short rib loco moco because the last time we were here, my husband said it was amazing. Let's just say, the best part about breakfast was the coffee. It was served extra hot and was absolutely delicious. I'd return just for another cup of coffee. The short rib loco moco fell short for me. It was under seasoned and failed to wow me. There wasn't much short rib and the demi glacé gravy was just ok. My Dad had the eggs Benedict and said it was ok but nothing special. Service was friendly and efficient. I liked that our waitress checked on us often and gave us refills of the amazing coffee. If in the area I'd give breakfast another try as long as the wait wasn't too long. LOCATION: 4/5 FOOD: 3/5 (coffee 5/5) SERVICE: 4/5 VALUE: 3/5 AMBIANCE: 3/5 CLEANLINESS: 4/5 PARKING:5/5 read more

Moena Café - Short rib loco moco - Cafes Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Well my third time back, can't say it was any better. The place was not very busy, but it took about 40 minutes to make eggs pancakes and bacon. It seems like only two employees working the waitress was cooking and taking orders and the other person was just cleaning. The food was fine, except the bacon. They always had good bacon but the waitress after I told her I want my bacon crispy brought me almost raw bacon. She then came back and asked me if this was ok. I told its still not very well cooked, so there she goes back to the kitchen and came back with a over microwaved bacon. I felt sorry for her so I said it was ok. I guess it hard to fine good cooks these days. So are wages so high now that waitress and chef are one person now. We are in trouble now. read more

The food and service are always great. It's so convenient to order on-line and they inform you when your food will be ready for pick up. The food is always consistently delicious! read more

Moena Café - Cafes Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Absolutely incredible! Few restaurants would be able to match the eating experience at Moena Cafe. And I say "eating experience" because what puts Moena above the rest is not just the delicious food. Moena is a small well located brunch/lunch eatery. While the interior is a clean and has a modern natural look, the service is the true gem. Today, I was fortunate enough to be served by Ren. Ren was kind, patient, explained questions we had, and gave stellar recommendations. She was constantly on the lookout if we needed anything. And even servers who were not assigned to our table would go out of their way to fill up water if we needed or get us extra napkins (thanks Asia). All the waitresses such as Asia, Hana, and Kat (if you are lucky enough for her to wait tables) are incredible. The servers will list some of their personal favorites on the menu and even give pro tips on how to spice up the dishes by requesting garlic toast for the avocado bread or cheesy extra-toasted sausage hash. The food itself is incredible, every dish I've tried here, from the Spinach Florentine to the enormous Cinnamon roll Pancakes, the perfectly balanced avocado toast, and mouth watering savory crepes are all top notch. The scones are all a MUST HAVE. Delicious and fresh baked and comes with a bit of whipped cream that makes it so much better. I came for the food, but I will come back again and again for the service. read more

Moena Café - Avocado Toast with garlic toast - Cafes Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Moana Cafe, Food was ONO! Portions were ok for the price $$. Service well, I was the only one in there at the time, there were about 3-4 college aged servers. Looked at me funny as if there are not many locals that dine here. Cafe Latte was really nice. I tried all the popular dishes to write this review. By far the French toast was my fav. Ambience MEH! Service MEH! Food ! The wait I've heard is HORRIFIC! read more

Probably one of my favorite food spots on the island out of everything I've tried. Good service, good food. A decently long wait though when they're busy. Came here at around 11:30 and had to wait about 20 minutes on a Sunday. I'd definitely recommend the short rib loco moco here. They don't really use gravy, it's more of a cleaner tasting sauce that's still really flavorful. Apparently you can ask for extra sauce too. Other noteworthy things include - 1. The coffee! Their lattes are one of my favorite out of the coffee shops I've sampled in and around the area. Sweet, but still packs enough of the espresso taste. 2. Specialty pancakes. They are indeed pretty special. I have a big sweet tooth, so it was perfect for me, but admittedly it's on the sweeter side. 3. Omelettes. Not gonna lie, the omelettes were a little under seasoned. A helpful dosing of hot sauce really helped. I'd still get it again because the overall flavor was pretty good. My friends and I also tried the açaí bowls here, but I can think of a few better on the island alone. It's still good, maybe a little overly sweet. I'd probably still order it out of convenience if I were to crave an açaí bowl, but I'd likely ask for less honey if I ordered it again. read more

This place is locally owned and delicious! I had the eggs Benedict on garlic toast and it was superb. I also had a raspberry oat milk latte and it was so good. The staff is very nice and friendly. We will be back! Support local! read more

Came here for a sit down lunch and got the Hawaiian omelette. I didn't have to wait very long for my food. Portions definitely met my expectations for the price (I ate everything and was stuffed!). My dish was a tad bit on the blander side but I appreciated that my food was not greasy or oily. Service was friendly and efficient. Thumbs up! read more

Moena Café - Cafes Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Anytime I'm in Hawaii Kai I try to make it to Moena Cafe. The banana chantily pancake is so delicious you'll wanna go back again and again. It's a small restaurant so there may be a wait, but it's worth the short wait as the staff is always so nice and friendly and the food is always delicious. They make really amazing coffee as well! The restaurant is very clean and the natural light makes it the perfect brunch spot. read more

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The food here was really good and fresh. The service was fast to bring out food and drinks. It's slightly crowded but not noisy. The staff are not welcoming at all that is why I put it at three stars. It made me feel that I was inconveniencing them. They took a long time to cash me out so I stood up near counter and they asked me to sit. With the food it could be the perfect place for breakfast. But I think the staff is possibly overwhelmed or relying on reputation and food too much. read more

Moena Café - Denver omelette with fried rice. - Cafes Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Try the pancake, for a few bucks more you can get two. They fill the whole plate, delisus.

We had a thoroughly enjoyable dining experience at Moena Cafe. The staff was exceptional nice and personable. The interior was impeccably clean. The food fresh, tasty, and carefully prepared. I had the veggie crepe and our waitress added a side of balsamic dressing, she said it was her favorite and it really added a lot of depth to the dish. I would definitely go back. read more

Moena Café - Veggie crepe topped with avocado - Cafes Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Coffee isn't the best, but avocado toast was the best I've ever had. French toast was really good too!

I always look forward to a meal at Moena Cafe. They seem to have something for everyone. What I mean is, you can visit for a nice couples brunch, take your Aunties out for an appreciation lunch, or even treat the kids to plenty of gigantic(!) pancake calories after a Koko Head or other nearby hike. The food at Moena Cafe is both delicious and elegant without being remotely pretentious. The atmosphere is relatively quiet and peaceful but not so quiet that you feel like you have to whisper. The decor is clean, pleasant, and light. During my most recent visit at the time of this review, I ordered the Veggie Crepe, which was full of fresh vegetables (bell pepper, onion, tomatoes, spinach) with just the right amount of cheese (not overly cheesy) to compliment. The veggie crepe also normally contains mushrooms, but I asked to have them left out, and our very kind server said it would be no problem. It also came with fresh avocado on top and fresh fruit on the side. Understandably, Moena Cafe place is normally very busy, but when we arrived at 10 AM on a Wednesday, we put our name on the list and were seated within 10 minutes (just enough time to wash hands in the public bathroom nearby and internally debate whether to order an egg dish or a pancakes/waffles/French toast dish). TLDR: The service, food, and atmosphere are 10/10, and I highly recommend Moena Cafe to anyone who likes food! read more

Moena Café - Veggie Crepe! (spinach, tomatoes, onions, bell peppers, and cheese - yum; normally served w mushrooms also) - Cafes Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Good service. Ordered the short rib loco moco. Good service size. Short rib tad bit dry and lack flavors. The Gravy gave it the flavor. read more

Moena Café - Cafes Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Food and ambience is great. Sometimes there is a wait time but it is well worth it. Their portions are favorable and the menu has good range. One of my favorites. I'm thankful to have been introduced to this restaurant. read more

Cute little cafe with great service! Server was super personable and helpful with recommendations. Coffee was good, avocado toast was excellent! Wasn't a fan of the Loco Moco. Rice was hard and not much meat for the price. Over all was a nice spot for breakfast and would come back to try other things! Waffles and pancake/crepe looked delicious! read more

Depending on when you come there might be a wait, but it's a delicious brunch spot! You put your name on the waitlist outside and someone will come call you in. Service is a bit slow, so I recommend ordering as fast as you can. Short Rib Loco Moco - Delicious take on a classic Hawaiian dish! The gravy is the best part while the rib just falls apart in your mouth. The egg is perfectly runny too. I just wish there was more short rib! Pro Tip - Leonard's Bakery Truck is parked super close by if you need a sweet treat after. read more

Moena Café - Short Rib Loco Moco - Cafes Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Service was good. Ambiance was also good. I got the breakfast coffee smoothie with banana. That was very tasty. I had the banana pancakes. Those were huge. But pretty tasty in restaurant. Not very good take home tho. read more

=== 1. VERDICT/VALUE Breakfast with a zing in Hawaii Kai - if you're looking for something different than the usual breakfast fare in HK, then Moena's your bet at reasonable prices! === 2. FOOD Banana Chantilly Pancakes ($10 single, $13 for two): the signature pancakes at Moena. There are other flavors but the staff will encourage you to get the banana chantilly and they do not disappoint! Very large, fluffy pancakes with unburned banana bits sprinkled within, topped with chantilly sauce - don't eat for a day before trying to finish this large dish! Eggs Benedict - you can mix and match Kalua Pork and Smoked Salmon ($18.50): a benedict is a benedict...until you bring in the savory tastes of warm shredded pork or cool smoked salmon, both sitting on top of crisp, baguette-style bread instead of the usual soggy English muffin. Could one eat this every day?? I can only hope so! Arugula and Quinoa Salad ($16) topped with Ahi ($7): this isn't cheap...but you're paying for freshness - light and wispy arugula mixed in with nuts, dried cranberries and goat cheese. Need protein? Three pieces of warm, pan-fried ahi are available and a great, healthy combo on a hot day in the 808. Coffee lovers will enjoy the fact that it tastes like the Illy coffee served at Tango...with free refills! === 3. SERVICE It's great - friendly, attentive to our wants, accommodating of babies in strollers, an full of smiles. Food came out relatively quickly despite the restaurant being full and drinks (coffee, water, and pink lemonade) were often refilled without our needing to prompt. === 4. ATMOSPHERE Modern decor and a variety of 2-seat and 4-seat tables greet you in a small-medium (i.e. cozy) environment. It's always busy so be prepped to put your name on the list and wait outside. Parking is (relatively) plentiful in the Koko Marina shopping center lot. read more

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Super great food!!! The pancakes are huge and so good! I also got the roast and rice thing and it was amazing! Highly recommend!