The place is beautiful hands down. The bar is spectacular. That's what gives my last visit 3 stars. It was our second visit. First time the service was alright. Today the service was decent. But our $18 burger and the "moena burger " was raw on the inside. On just pink but red. I should Have taken a picture but I didn't because the response I received was just bullshit. I brought it to our server's attention that it was quite undercooked. Her answer for me Is that the kitchen marinates the meat (teriyaki marinade) and that's what gives it the red color . I looked at her and said "for real-that's what u gonna tell me?" We were still charged for the $18 undercooked burger. Bill was $85.03 and of course I left the $100 bc I want to with good intention leave good tips for the staff. But ya - idk if I going moena again Hawaii kai or Kapolei... too bad bc I really love yo eat in beautiful and elegant places. But hey Violets in Kapalama - here I come When I want a decent burger and it's like $5 read more

Been hearing about this place for a while from Yelpers and non-yelpers so I was excited to try it. After being told the wait was 1hr at Kaila, we decided to make the trek to Hawaii Kai. We were seated immediately. Score! My friend was starving, I swear if he was an animal at that moment he would have been a coyote snarling, drooling, with intense eyes burning a hole through the wall to the kitchen. Okay, might be an exaggeration but when my indecisive self changed my order he made sure with the waitress that his order of eggs benny's was still a go. Good thing our food came out at lightening speed, no one likes a table wet with drool. :) I ordered the veggie omelet which was filled with spinach/mushrooms/peppers/jack-cheddar cheese and topped with sliced avocado. I commend them on not skimping out on the filling but it was way too oily. I can usually handle a good greasy breakfast but this was a little too much. So my main complaint would be, use HALF or a QUARTER the amount of oil please The eggs benny was a little different from the norm, and served atop a slice of bread instead of the usual english muffin. The bread still soaked up all the hollandaise sauce and was a tasty savory option. The service was quick and efficient and I will definitely be back to try some of their sweet breakfast options. read more

Before I had kids, I could get talked into doing a hike with not too many complaints. After kids, my strongest desire over everything is to stay home and sleep. Anything about getting up early, going outdoors to walk over a mile to see the ocean from a mountain top would have me throwing a tantrum like my two year-old. Tell me I'll get Moena's cinnamon roll pancakes after a hike. I'll be up, dressed, sneakers on and water bottle in hand before the sun is up. It's that good! read more

I'm so sad to report that i haven't come here in a few months, but after returning with a few of my friends, I'm so happy to report that it's still just as good as i remembered! Everything from beginning to end is enjoyable, especially if you have the right company to wait with. Don't get me wrong, I hate waiting just like any other person but this place is well worth the wait just like i said before in my previous post, i'll say it again...WORTH THE WAIT! Because everything looks and sounds delicious, i highly recommend going with others so you can share plates. Order...everything...okay, if you can't handle everything at least order the following.... Cinnamon pancakes Short rib loco moco (extra gravy, trust me this is very important) kalua pig eggs benedict any omelet...maybe veggie to be slightly healthy and to wash it all down, COFFEE. not that crappy coffee, but legit smooth coffee, plus if you don't finish it or didn't have your refill, they'll gladly ask if you'd like it to go. You can't go wrong with the service and quality of food here. Clean, friendly, and delicious. best of all worlds! read more

One of my fav breakfast places. You have to get their chantilly pancake! It's the best one I've had. There Benedict's are good as well. This place is always on my list when friends or family come to visit me. Everyone has enjoyed it. The only thing I would say is there coffee shots are very diluted and weak. My lattes usually taste like watered milk but I think that's due to the machine they use. There food is always consistent and the girls are super sweet! read more

Food was good. I've been craving a good Benedict! And I love their crab Benedict. I love the fact that you can also order half benedicts! The only thing is that we sat at the bar and this waitress kept coming behind the bar in front of us to tend to her text messages in the middle of service. And we could clearly see her. And we CLEARLY needed coffee and water refill but we were not important enough... I guess that's what happens when you hire a bunch of high schoolers to run your restaurant. Oh well. read more

Moena Café - Needed more coffee and water, but texting was clearly more important. Our refill left next to the machine - Cafes Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Sad. After several weeks open and giving it 3 shots, nothing improved. Today was the last time spending our money there. The service here is rediculous. I mean, please, hire at least some people with expirience and skills. 3 breakfasts in 3 weeks, and no improvement. Once you are seated, the service is over. Don't get me wrong: these girls are all ver nice and polite, but they do not know a thing about this business. And we are talking about the upper price range here. Charging 11.--$ for a mediocre, untoasted Ciabatta with turkey from a package and two slices avocado?! Again, sad! I was full of hope when they opened, and the owner came across very nice after a total mess with our check. We came back. Again, not too satisfiing. But today, different girls, different mess, and nobody ever asked me again if I would like more coffee...:( Update May 2014: Came back today after a long time, and we tried it again. Much better service and enough staff.... Food, unfortunately, no improvement. Had the Turkey Sandwich w "salad" again, also an Americano. My wife got the Veggie Omelet. Sorry, but that was not even standard, and my Americano was just dark water. Far to overpriced and no knowledge in the kitchen... read more

I had been wanting to try this place out for the longest time but I rarely commute to Hawaii Kai side. I finally got my chance when we decided to go hiking at Hanauma Bay. Our group of 7 arrived there on a Saturday morning after our hike around 11:00 am. After a short wait, we were seated. This place is not that big and gets crowded fast so come early. My friend and I decided to share, so we ordered the crab benedict and strawberry and milk pancakes. Everything about the crab benedict was delicious. The crab was ono but the thing that really made it perfect was the roasted garlic bread it sat on. It was yummy. The pancakes were good as well and was huge! There aren't too many good breakfast spots in Hawaii Kai so I would definitely come here again. read more

Moena Café - Crab Benedict and Strawberry Milk Pancakes - Cafes Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Hawaii Kai has needed a good brunch place for a while, and this place is it. My mom and I like to come here for late breakfasts (they have all-day breakfast and lunch starting at 11 am). We usually split the veggie omelet and one other dish. The last time we came here, we had the veggie omelet, the caprese panini with chicken, and the Belgian waffles. The omelet is always good, and it comes with toast and avocado, which I love. The caprese panini was a little disappointing - instead of fresh mozzarella, it had shredded mozzarella, and just one sad slice of tomato. We took home half of it, and I ate it later that day after doctoring it up with fresh sliced grape tomatoes and basil from our yard. I wouldn't order it again, unless they changed it up to make it an actual caprese. The waffles were delicious - hot, fluffy, not too sweet, and covered with fresh blueberries and strawberries.... mmmmm. Their coffee is outstanding, and it comes in a large mug with a free refill. Service is usually quick and friendly, and the restaurant itself is very clean, cozy, and relaxing. The only downside is that the food is quite pricey... but I think there is a 15% I.D. card discount Monday to Friday. I hope they stick around so I can continue to come for brunch and coffee! read more

We've eaten here TWICE - once at lunch and once at breakfast. The wait is about 15 to 20 minutes on the weekend depending on when you get there. We went last Sunday and only waited about 15 minutes. The sun was nice and warm so we enjoyed the day as we waited. Veggie Omelette - I had this - AWESOME taste, not too huge, not too small and stuffed a lot of veggie goodness and cheese. I also got a side of fried potatoes and these were delicious. The omelette came with wheat toast and the bread had nice textture. It was the perfect breakfast! Short Rib Loco Moco - fiance had this - very savory!! Not too heavy and it had a really good taste to it - can't put my finger on it - but you just want another bite and another bite and another etc.... LUNCH: Chicken - cranberry sandwich - OMG! This is the BEST sandwich - the flavors are balanced of sweet and savory I've had this twice and I love it. The bread is soft, the chicken is tender and youd don't bite into any "surprises" like fat or cartilidge - eww. This sandwich is just wonderful. I had the salad that comes with it, or chips, but go for the saland - that balsamic dressing is awesome!! Cuban - finace had this - nice mix of lean pork and crunch pickles - soft bread. I don't think there is anything bad on this menu! Desssert - Banana Chantilly Pancakes - oh boy - this is just a delight. It's huge so we got one and shared it - perfect pancake EVER!! Soft, fluffy and the chantilly sauce is to die for!! SERVICE- for a busy bustling place- the servers are really nice. Sometimes you have to call them over- but can't blame in - they HUSTLE! The water and iced teas are filled and they are just all around nice folks. COME EAT - YOU WON'T BE DISSAPOINTED!! I'd come for dinner too!! Finally a great place in Hawaii Kai!! read more

Stopped in around noon on a Saturday. The crowd was a mix of older and younger adults and looked to be a mix of locals and tourists. The sandwiches are a bit on the small side, but are accompanied with a choice small mixed greens side salad or kettle chips. The wait wasnt too long and the food came out hot. I had the vegetable panini w/ chips, companion had the turkey sandwich with chicken instead of turkey, which they swapped free of charge. Again both were good just a bit too small for a large appetite. We noticed the oversized pancakes arriving at others' tables and had a bit of entree envy. We'll return to have brunch. read more

Great breakfast spot near Hawaii Kai in the Koko marina town center. There is sufficient parking and the wait was not long. We ordered breakfast - I had the eggs benedict. Very good with garlic bread toast. The portuguese sausage, scone, and coffee were good. Food serving was too much for me. Next time, I will order a half plate instead. read more

Moena Café - Eggs benedict! - Cafes Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Adorable little cafe tucked away in a shopping plaza, this restaurant is a gem! Even on a Friday morning, there was a waiting list for larger parties. Luckily, as a party of two, we were seated right away. We ordered the crab Benedict and the salmon crepe to share. Oh my goodness, heaven! The crab was so fresh and the eggs poached exactly to my liking. The crepe did not skimp on the amount of smoked salmon and was well balanced with the cream cheese. The staff was very fast and friendly. read more

Moena Café - Half of a crab Benedict and what was left of my half of the salmon crepe... I was too excited to eat! - Cafes Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Well this was a disappointment. Reviews looked good, interior was super cute/clean, reasonable wait time, and a tight focused menu all whispered of an excellent brunch. Then we sat down. Wow. 3.50 for black coffee with one refill. 4-5$ for a latte or cold tea. That's a bit high- but there was also zero alcohol selection which is pretty integral to the brunch experience. Additionally our 15$+ entrees were pretty standard items with lackluster execution. Corn beef hash was 80% potato and 20% dry beef but somehow managed to be greasy. The Cuban sandwich came without mustard but was decent. The side of Portuguese sausage was 5$ for 4 silver dollar slices. However the 3$ carrot and cream cheese scone was EXCELLENT and highly recommended. The seated wait time, high prices, lack of bar, and lackluster food really limit the potential of this cute and well located brunch spot. read more

We decided to drive all the way out to Hawaii Kai to see what all the buzz was about. We choose to come on King Kamehameha day in hopes that it wouldn't be that busy. Considering that most people who work in the private sector jobs have to work. I was so wrong.. When we got there it was packed. We put our names on the waitlist and was hearing from other people that the wait was about a half hour. While waiting, we seen another group go up say that they gave away their table. At first I thought it was because that group maybe just wasn't paying attention until I seen it happen again involving us this time. When I went to the list to check our spot I seen there was one group in front of us with the same amount of people in their group. Sure enough, she calls our group first hahahah! I was going to say something but the other group jumped in fairly quickly. Then another host comes out and calls the group who just went in before us. I had to tell them that they were already seated. So then after all that mess we finally get seated. Once seated we were attended to very quickly. Im guessing because of the line they had to flip tables as fast as they could. I already knew what I wanted prior to being seated. I ordered the short rib loco moco. Presentation was very nice http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/hoTuLYuVvkS_4mBv2pIuOg?select=aRlKf8ow-5D6GBEk-QP8eA#zIv6YOIXnLXOHbNwaoRoBg The egg was cooked perfectly, the gravy was good. Slightly on the salty side (which is how I actually like mine), and the meat was tender. The dish was very good until I got to the rice. The rice was soggy, which surprised me since that should be the easiest thing not to mess up. I also got to sample my sons French toast and my wifes fried rice. I wasn't too impressed with the fried rice as it lacked a little flavor. In my opinion, you should clearly be able to taste a balance of sweet and salty or even slightly heavy on the either side of the spectro scale. Their fried rice was too weak on both ends. My sons french toast was very good though. It had a crispy top while the inside was very moist. Last but not least we also got to try samples of their Chantilly pancake which was really good. Too bad I got to sample that after my order was already taken. Oh well, next time. The place actually looks pretty nice inside. Modern and Clean. Service was very good once we were seated at our tables. I do think they need to work on their waitlist organization though. Overall, this place was okay but I do feel I will need to give this place another try. Its one of those restaurants where you want to be a fan but will need to go there a few times to truly find out. I will update the next time I go. read more

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

Moena Cafe is exactly what Koko Marina Shopping Center needed. A breakfast and lunch restaurant that uses fresh local ingredients. A lot of eateries don't survive in Hawaii Kai but Moena Cafe will do just fine and you can tell by how popular this place is. It's not uncommon to be wait listed and they don't take reservations (because I tried). I got the short rib loco moco with brown rice. It was the perfect size and it tasted great. The only thing I'd change about it is to make the short rib even more tender. I'm a short rib snob sorry. The vanilla latte was delicious but wasn't pretty like I saw on a picture on the website. I love latte art, it's the only reason I get it. It makes me happy. :) The service was perfect. I heard a lot of bad things about the service prior to dining here but they must have worked out the "new restaurant" kinks. Or maybe I just had the most awesome server that worked there? It's not a cheap place but sometimes you gotta pay for quality and by the looks of it, people are willing to pay. I'll just bring my clients here so I can expense it. :) read more

Short-rib loco moco with over-easy eggs and fried rice. That was my inspiration to finish my first hike ever at Koko Head. The gooeyness of the egg mixing with the tenderness of the short-rib and the fried rice was extremely satisfying. The pomegranate iced tea hydrated me back to my normal self too. I'm really a fan of this place. If I didn't live so far away, I'd come all the time. Hmm, I guess I have to hike Koko Head more? read more

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

Who doesn't love brunch?? First off - come early. Arrive anytime after 9am and you're going to end up waiting for a bit for your table. Approximately 40-60 minutes. The food is really just that good, though! I've tried a lot of their menu items: lox bagel, fried rice, pancakes, coffee... I have not yet been disappointed. Prices are average, I would say. You'd definitely need to come here more than once to really get a taste of all their foods. Unless you come with a whole bunch of friends and try some off their plate. Parking lot is huge, but there are other businesses in the area. You shouldn't have a difficult time looking for parking though, if you are willing to walk a little. Next time I go, I'll take pictures. I always forget when I'm here since the food is just so inviting! Enjoy! read more

Absolutely delicious Loco Moco with fried rice. Excellent customer service for a busy lunch time. You won't be disappointed read more

Moena Café - Cafes Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

This place never disappoints us. We don't come here too often because it is just too busy on the weekends. However, we try to get there whenever I am free on the weekdays. I ordered their Kailua Pig Benedict with spinach, it was so tasty! I am so glad that I tried it. My daughter selected their MC Breakfast. She just returned from Chicago and wanted eggs with Portuguese Sausages. Nothing special but she enjoyed it too. Service was quick and friendly. We will always return here the food is always wonderful. read more

My dear old friend and I were excited to try this cafe because of its positive reviews and because we like to visit new places. We arrived at about 7:45 on a Saturday morning. It was already busy, but there were at least 5 empty tables. The instructions said to sign in and then we'd be seated. We did and just stood there for what seemed to be an unreasonably long time. Two people in front of us became disgusted with the wait--they had been waiting since before we arrived--and left. Two people behind us also left. The waiter came over and said he'd be right with us. My friend said, "You've already lost 4 customers." The waiter replied, "We're having printer problems," which made no sense to us but made perfect sense to him. Did he mean they were short-staffed because staff members were in the back wrestling with a printer? An already-seated customer motioned for the waiter and ordered a cappuccino; the waiter started making the drink while cleaning and setting tables. My friend and I were still standing. Now, I'm a pretty patient person, but this inane move by the waiter annoyed me because there was a clean 2-person table available. Wouldn't it make more sense to seat us there with menus first, and then go behind the counter for the cappuccino and our water? During this entire time, another staff person was behind the counter apparently swamped by ringing up orders--that's my best guess anyway. It took the arrival of two other staff members before we were seated--one young man in white who disappeared into the kitchen and one young woman who ran in and said over her shoulder, "I'll be right with you." Hmm, we'd heard that before, but she was true to her word. After being seated, our order was taken in a reasonable amount of time and their water with fresh lemon was delicious; however, our two orders of eggs benedict with one side order of potatoes took long enough for my friend and me to get through a long story and much political discussion. The chef brought our food to the table as he did to all tables. This is a nice touch, but it doesn't play well when the rest of the service is so wanting. The food was ideal--perfectly poached eggs on very thick ham, both sitting on real garlic toast. The coffee too was amazing--too bad it came halfway through my meal. Here's the thing--the service became SO much better at the end of the meal with admonitions not to rush (though there was a line building outside) and extra offers of water. I find restaurant staff who do this suspicious; I suspect they want a decent tip after mostly horrible service. By the way, we did leave a decent tip for the serving chef and his fabulous food. However, we won't be returning anytime soon. read more

I'm not much a pancake person, but my friend recommend it and wow was it good! Banana Chantilly Pancakes with toasted coconut with Portuguese sausage was delicious. The Chantilly sauce and toasted coconut added flavor and crunch. By far the best pancakes I've ever had and its huge! read more

Moena Café - Banana Chantilly Pancakes with toasted coconut with Portuguese sausage was delicious. - Cafes Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Do I dare say that this is my favorite breakfast place in Hawaii? Hellz yeah! Okay, okay...so there is a wait and that's not my favorite part about it. But if you get there early enough (read: when they open at 6:30am or even as late as 7:30), you have no problem getting seated quickly! For a geriatric like me that's typically awake by 6am on a Sunday, it's no big deal. But if I go to yoga first and then come to eat here after, it's a wait! Another tip: if you can come here with just one other person, it's easier to get a seat as a 2-top instead of a 4-top. I feel like my public service announcement for the restaurant has been made and my job here is done. You can read the other reviews to see what people recommend to eat. My go to is their short rib loco moco but if I want something sweet, I love their cinnamon roll pancake or strawberry waffle (get it with whipped cream, it makes the dish more photogenic to post on social media!). Lunch here is also great. I've had their acai bowls and Panini. Really, anything you get here has been delicious so you can't go wrong! read more

This cafe is definitely the place to stop and have delicious breakfast we tried 5 different items we had fruity French toast super flavorful a Cuban sandwich it was perfect my son enjoyed his veggie omelette and the sausage hash plate was perfect must try this cafe our server Stephanie was so sweet and very attentive she was amazing thank you Stephanie you took great care of our family read more

Moena Cafe is the best that it gets in Hawaii Kai. I don't think their food is amazing enough to wait over half an hour for it, but it is good. I've been here several times, and it's been full every time, even on weekdays. I HIGHLY recommend the short rib loco moco. The meat is so tender, and it's a great spin on the classic loco moco. Sure, it's a little pricey, but I assure you that it is worth it. Likewise, their chantilly pancakes are super good. I'm usually not a fan of bananas, but these pancakes were heavenly. I'm not sure it's on the menu, though. The corned beef hash was a little strange for me. It's good but in a way I'm not used to. I don't think I'd get it again, but it was, indeed, tasty. Their interior decoration is gorgeous. Whoever designed it gets five stars from me. I just wish the restaurant were bigger in order to accommodate more people. One side note - the first time I came here, I had a bad experience with the hostess (I believe it was the chef's wife?). She was rather cold and unfriendly, almost snooty. However, in the subsequent times I've eaten here, I haven't had any other bad encounters with the staff, although some seem like they don't really know what they're doing. read more

They have a lunch menu now as well and I'm in love with the short rib sandwich! They unfortunately raised the prices, but it's still so worth it. The staff is always friendly, the interior is cute, and the food is consistently to die for! read more

Moena Café - Cafes Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Upon entering the first impression was that the decor and seating arrangement was a little cramped and unimaginative...not a deal breaker, but not a positive either. Ordered an eggs benedict, which as noted before didn't include potatoes or rice (you need something to counter the saltiness and sop up the remaining egg yolk and ham grease), so ordering a side of either makes this rather overpriced (the taste was good but not special). And for God's sake at least use some decent (not tap) water for customers if you're going to charge that much. The final and telling factor was the overall atmosphere...it was obvious things were very forced and technical, rather than naturally enthusiastic. People were nice because they had to be. So it doesn't appear there is any meaningful integration between ownership and staff (reminds me of when I worked some part-time jobs in university). Overall, this place exhibits adequate cooking knowledge but comes off as rather souless. read more

I really wanted to like this place since it's the only breakfast joint in Hawaii Kai, but the food is just not to my standards. Some picky breakfast points...Eggs Benedict is on an English muffin, not a baguette. Corn Beef Hash should't be so chunky...and needs to include toast. Service & decor is great so 2 stars. Salad & fried rice were decent. Maybe one last chance (3x already). read more

I came here with some friends to grab some breakfast! It was a weekday so luckily our wait was only 5-10 minutes, but I hear that this place gets really crowded during the weekends! The decor inside is really cute, nicely laid out and not too bit or small. The wait staff was very friendly and gave us a nice table. The menu is pretty standard for breakfast, with pancakes, french toast, crepes, omelets, eggs benedict and a few lunch items as well. I went with the regular eggs benedict, which also comes in a variety with crab or salmon, but I decided for traditional. It was actually very yummy, as instead of an english muffin, they put it on a toasted baguette, which was so delicious! The portion was just perfect for me! The coffee brew here was also delicious! Definitely want to come back for more! read more

Food and service here is always excellent! I always tell people to try here if they haven't!

I got to check this place out after a long hike up Koko head and boy I had an appetite. Moena Cafe is located in the Koko Marina shopping center between Bubbies and Zippys. They're open daily from 6:30a-3p. Parking isn't too bad being that it's in the shopping center. We ended up waiting about 10 minutes to be seated. It wasn't to busy until we sat down. I'm glad we beat the rush cause once we sat down the place was pretty packed. The cafe in itself isn't that big so if you have a big group you might have to wait long. They don't take reservations. The Ambiance is like any other cafe. The cafe is long and narrow. The staff was really nice and we didn't have to wait too long before we got our orders taken. They did forget my girlfriends extra side of bacon but it was pretty packed so I won't hold that against them. I ended up having the "MC" Breakfast; fried rice, eggs, portuguese sausage and country potatoes ($11.25). The portion was not to big or small but enough to fill you up. The fried rice was good, not to greasy. Would I go back? Yes, I would. I know there's one in Kapolei as well. If you're ever in Kapolei or Hawaii Kai, check out Moena Cafe. read more

best cafe i've been to, on the island or the mainland not a big pancake gal but our sweet waitress told us how much she loved the banana chintilly so i hadta try & it was just drool worthy. seriously get them. i split the pancake (it was humongo) and eggs benedict with my sister & we both looooved both as stuffed as i was, when the food got smaller and smaller i got sad about the meal ending my friend got a side of fried rice and it was so yummy and even dare i say refreshing?? just delish read more

Moena Café - Banana Chintilly Pancakes (with some strawberries on top) - Cafes Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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I don't get what the fuzz is all about. There must be a reason they didn't get the Hale Aina award on 2018. Had the rib loco moco and mc breakfast - there weren't l anything special about it. Got the tiniest scone which is more like a cookie. Wasn't worth the wait nor the value. read more

Would have rated higher if we didnt wait over an hour. So we found this place on yelp and because we were in the area we decided to check it out. We did as many yelpers recommended... as soon as you get there sign in. We were told it would be about a 30 to 45 min wait because of the holiday. So we walked around and came back in 30 min. The waitress siad im glad you waited because many people left...they decided to eat else where because of the wait. When we check the sign in they seated 4 groups after us. I asked what the wait was she said we are waiting for other parties to leave so they could seat us...then i couldnt belive they would think it is okay to break up our group of 8 and wanted to slpit is on opposite sides of the restaurant, granted the place is only so big but if we wanted that then we would have separated our group on the sign in sheet (fyi i wasnt going to have my kids sit by themselves) All the food that was recommended by our server was good so that wasnt a problem, the environment is very clean but i wonder how long the seats and walls will stay white, and the food didnt take long to come out. I believe they are off to a good start if they can figure out how to move more people in and out *tip- when people are done eating start taking away dirty dishes and ask politely if there is anything elses they would like and if not bring them their check right away so more peopke can be serviced. *** will give them another shot when in the area and update review as needed. read more

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Very good breakfast and lunch food. Extraordinary beef short ribs loco moco. I get this every time I go here, and I make it a point to get here every trip to Honolulu. read more

Must get the loco short ribs and banana pancake. Chai tea and Carmel macchiato was incredible too. Absolutely loved this place!

My family and I had just finished at Hanauma Bay and were driving around for a place to eat. Because we live in Kaneohe, we rarely venture out to Hawaii Kai side and really, with 3 kids we hardly eat out. I spotted Moena Cafe as we drove around towards Zippy's in the Koko Marina Shopping Center. My first impression of Moena Cafe was that it would be a bit pricey. I thought that maybe I should give the Cafe a chance when the hostess saw us and stepped outside to greet us. She offered us a view of the menu and since I was already inside I thought, what the heck. The decor is lovely. It is done up in very soothing, easy tones. The prints on the walls are relaxing to look at and very pretty. I love the light fixtures. We were seated right away. The restaurant wasn't crowded at 12:10PM on a Sunday, so lucky us. Someone came to take our drink orders within 5 minutes of us being seated. Things were looking pretty good so far. At 12:32PM, we have been seated at our table for about 22 minutes and no drinks, no orders taken. We ordered 2 hot chocolates ($2.75 each), 1 vanilla shake ($4.95), and 1 Pepsi ($1.75, refillable). We are looking around and there are empty tables with 3 servers standing behind the counter.Then, lo and behold, our friendly and overly apologetic server Ian came to take our orders. He kept apologizing and took our orders. My husband asked about our drinks and apparently we had to reorder them through Ian. Bleh. the 2 hot chocolates and the Pepsi arrived quickly, but the shake didn't get to our table until 12:41PM (Yes, I recorded the time). Perhaps if our drink orders went through the first time with the first server... I must say, though, that our food did arrive (12:47PM, about 10-15 minutes after order was taken) relatively quickly from the time we placed our orders. I'm wondering, though, if this fast service was due to the fact that we were ignored for a good 20 minutes. I shall have to test this theory, but that will have to be at a much later date. Going in, I knew this meal was going to be a little pricier than a meal at some of our other favorite breakfast/lunch spots. I was hoping, however, that it would at least be worth it. I guess if you could put a monetary value on the decor and friendly staff, the price of the food and portions (or lack thereof) would be worth it. Unfortuntely, I can't feed my children and husband on a restaurant's good looks and charm. Maybe that's why this cafe is in Hawaii Kai and not in town or in Kaneohe. Okay, okay.... food... My son ordered the "MC" Breakfast ($8.50). This came with two eggs, fried rice, and my son chose link sausages. His meal was an okay portion. I was expecting a little more, but my son isn't a picky eater and he seemed to enjoy the food. It wasn't too much for him and may have been just a little not enough. My daughter ordered the Keiki Fried Rice and Scrambled Egg ($4.00). She wanted white rice instead and it came with lots of rice and one scrambled egg. Eh... nothing to swoon over. She ate her food, but the question is...did she enjoy it? My husband ordered the Eggs Benedict ($10.95) and boy was he disappointed. The meal didn't come with rice or potatoes and the meal itself really wasn't that spectacular. He suffered through it and we ended up heating leftovers at home when we got home. I ordered a "MC" Mac-N-Cheese ($9.00) for my little one, thinking that since this Mac and Cheese was priced $5.00 more than the keiki Mac and Cheese, the portion would be bigger and my two girls could share it. The "MC" Mac-N-Cheese came in a tallish ramekin dish that looked to be about 6 inches in diameter and about 2 1/2 inches tall. Not the portion I was expecting for $9.00. My little one didn't like this dish much. For myself, I ordered the Moena Salad ($9.50). It was a decent sized salad that comes with Romaine lettuce, chopped up pieces of tomato, green onions (there were a lot of the white parts of green onions, which I don't particularly care for), a whole boiled egg cut in half, cilantro, dried cranberries, broccoli, and pita chips instead of croutons. The dressing on the salad was okay. It was a little bland and watery for my taste. I shared my salad with my little one. I gave an egg half to each of my two older children. I ate the rest of it after sharing a few bites with my husband. Our total bill with tax came out to $59.32. Add in tip and we spent $70.00 on this meal for 2 adults and 3 children. Our water didn't get refilled during our meal, but Ian did refill my husband's Pepsi once. Overall, the food portions didn't suit us, and was anti-climatic. I don't mind splurging every now and then, but I prefer to splurge and at least get decent value. read more

Love the food. Very delicious. Atmosphere is perfect. Quaint little cafe with wonderful wait help. Coffee is also delicious.

Moderately priced, tasty, & very popular. We had a 15 min wait, but the decor, service & menu made up for it. Some items a bit pricey, like $17 açaí bowl, but the fruit portions (blueberry, strawberry & banana) were huge! Try their fried rice & 2 eggs dish. Simple but sublime. My veg omelette was superbly cooked. read more

Can I start this review by asking everyone to stop coming here? I was trying to keep it a secret..buuuuut based on my ever-expanding wait times for Sunday breakfast of late, word is out. Plus, I lost my 4SQ Mayorship, so what is there to live for anymore? So. I might as well come clean: its my new favorite breakfast place. Note to restaurateurs: Hawaii Kai is desperate for a good breakfast. Moena Cafe to the rescue. I've had lots of the breakfast items here and I can't say that I have a favorite. Well, if pressed..I'd say the Eggs Benedict. Or maybe its the breakfast sandwich. Or, how about those Cinnabun pancakes? Oh. See? It's impossible to choose. Just about the only thing "meh" here is the breakfast potatoes which are fresh out the freezer bag. But there is so much else to choose from - I forgive them. So let's get to the coffee. The ridiculously awesome, individually brewed, perfectly hot (but not too hot) in a huge, lovely mug. I'm never going to Starbucks again. The coffee here is so much better. Something else I think is really sweet (besides those killah pancakes)? Once in awhile, the Chef (owner?) brings out the food himself. As if he wants to see the look of pure epicurean joy on your face when he delivers you the breakfast you always knew you deserved. The rest of the service is also very good, but the Chef is particularly endearing. The restaurant is small, and you are guaranteed to have a tiny table and be waiting behind a group of 15 who decided a restaurant with 20 seats is THE place for them. But I put up with all this. Somewhat happily because of all the things I mentioned above. In my future I see an ever expanding waist-line to match the ever expanding wait. For my birthday next year, I want Moena Cafe to expand into the space next door so wasted on Duane "The Dog's" retail space. If you go: just call me so I can go with you. read more