Don't be scared if there's a wait it's worth it sit outside and take in the view. Their menu was unique and all the food offerings were fresh and on point. Pineapple juice tasted fresh and so real! The papaya breakfast plate was awesome. French toast and breakfast potatoes were also really good. The cheesecake was housemaid and the crust was perfect graham crackery goodness. One of our best meals only the island. read more

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Parking: very small Restroom: Restroom was clean here and hardly a line. Customer service: we arrived and were told 45-60 mins. It is small diner, so waiting is not uncommon. At the 45 minute mark went to the counter to follow up where we are at on the list. Was told 15 more minutes by the lady at the counter. When I repeated 15 minutes to confirm, the lady at the counter snarked as I walked away and said I told you it would be an hour. Poor customer service manners especially since I suffer with memory issues (what military vet doesn't). I simply repeated the information so I wouldn't forget it and sadly had a rude comment from the lady at the counter. Our waiter didn't show us to the table. We came as a party of 7 and were in separate tables. Asked for honey to go with our papaya dish we ordered. Waiter said yes and never came back until he was picking up empty plates. Went to the counter and the lady there rationed me about a 1/4 of an inch of honey for our table of 7. Minus 1 star for the customer service experience. The attitude here was the waiter who basically felt that he didn't have to do much because he was going to be tipped anyways. And the lady at the counter who made a rude remark to someone who has a disability. Food: Shoutout to the cooks for making up in food in what the customer service failed to do. I am highlighting the cooking staff for getting our food out right away hot and perfect. They are the backbone of this place and so I tipped them better than our waiter because they were on point where the rest of the staff lacked. The French toast reminded me of bread pudding and it was delicious. Papaya was also amazing. View: The view is amazing if you get a table with a view. We didn't. The view was blocked from where we sat in the corner. They have a very confusing system in place on how they seat parties. So if you eat here, don't be shocked if you didn't get a table with the view. Would I eat here again? Personally, no. I am huge on customer service and this place really missed the mark for us. I have a rule not to eat at any place that makes me feel bad about being a paying customer. read more

Great location to stop in for breakfast on your way to explore the island heading south from Kona. The views are phenomenal and the food and coffee are wonderful as well. The staff is friendly and quick. Parking tends to fill up during busier times so have patience. It is worth it! read more

Super hyped coffee shop with little to no seating. The espresso machine was broken so they only offered iced drinks today. Lack of adequate parking and lots of people visiting due to silly popularity made it even more inconvenient. As if this was not enough, the lady at the counter (wearing a yellow tie dyed sweatshirt) was super rude and had a 'couldn't care any lesser' attitude! We came in with high expectations and this lady ruined it with her attitude. I took a picture of her's but am not posting here since I am not mannerless like this lady, or should I say girl. When asked for what flavors they have for coffee, she just pointed us to the line of bottled syrups. Anyway, we ordered iced hazelnut latte and a slice of lily koi cheesecake. Latte was good but the cheesecake was so sweet..omg ! I am surprised at how people are recommending this place..this dessert should probably come with a warning for diabetes. When asked for seating near the patio with the so called "awesome" view, she tersely said that she already had a wait-list. There were like 4 empty seats that could have been taken. Definitely not coming back. read more

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We came around 2 hours before closing and it's lucky we did, because the wait was around 50 minutes! Makes sense because the place is pretty small. There's a lot of 2-person tables so there's probably less wait for smaller parties. But it was so worth the wait - the view is amazing and the food is decent. Didn't see any geckos because of the rain :( We got a 3 sandwiches and the house soup (cream of mushroom) and it was perfect for the 4 of us. Also tried the cream pie which was so yummy!! read more

The Coffee Shack - Hot Pastrami Sandwich - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Captain Cook, Hawaii

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Excellent Food, Coffee, Service and Views! The owner Kathryn, is super nice and went way out of her way to make sure we were satisfied customers. I highly recommend The Coffee Shack! read more

My recent days in Hawaii were a steady flow of coffee & cocktails ... and this tiny Coffee Shack stood out as the "Best Coffee" we had on the Big Island. Maybe it was the caffeine and buzz, but the line and wait were way worth it. Of course, the view from the little Lanai overlooking Kealakekua Bay in the distance is magical, but the real unicorn was an Iced Honey Mocha Latte. It's one of Coffee Shack's specialties because it is a cool spellbinding coffee swirl flowing with chocolate, milk, and honey. Get one to go ... and then wonder later why you didn't get two. If you can find a parking spot and have the time, why not get brunch or whatever "meal with coffee" fits into your day? Going at an off time, means you'll likely get your coffee and food faster. My wife went with an Americano with extra shot. It was genuinely the best 100% Kona Coffee we sipped on the BI. The third reason the Coffee Shack ranks as a full 5 stars was the cool and ridiculously-busy barista. She was hustling to get everyone their enchanting coffee while still taking time to make sure each one was perfect. Mahalo!! read more

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Lovely little breakfast and lunch place with fantastic views. Service is great and prompt. Good food and REAL hollandaise sauce. If you're in Kona, it's worth the stop. Be prepared to wait. read more

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Clearly a tourist destination. The parking is an absolute nightmare, with people ignoring all etiquette and propriety just to park a few dozen feet closer to the restaurant. Once you get there, especially if it is busy, you can expect to wait at least half an hour for a table. That said, it is worth it for the combination of good food and amazing views. They brag about their famous hollandaise sauce, and that is truly something worth bragging about. The coffee is also excellent, and the service was incredibly fast once we got seated. read more

The food and service at The Coffee Shack is amazing. You may have to wait to be seated, but I assure you, you will not be disappointed. read more

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The Good: One in a million view Food and Service Clean Bathrooms Bad: Crowded but not their fault Parking Visited my brother who lives in Kona. Made the beautiful drive out to this happy shack. Came early Saturday, took pictures, and got the outside corner table. I marveled at the height of this patio near the even taller avocado tree loaded with fruit; with lush vegetation and the beautiful Pacific in the background. The temperature was 72 degrees in early May, and we came hungry. Getting in and out of the front parking lot can be a challenge, but we did fine. I had the Kona Breakfast combo with the linguisa (Portuguese sausage), country style potatoes sauteed with bell peppers and onions, scrambled eggs, and pillow soft macadamia nut infused luau bread. My brother had the same but with perfectly cooked bacon. $14 for each. His wife had the same but with poached eggs, rice, coconut pound cake for an extra $1.50, and rice. We all had a bottomless cup of coffee. Very prompt with refills. Food came out in 10 minutes. A cute little gecko came by, and thankfully it did not tout any insurance companies like the GEICO commercial. By now, every seat in the place was taken. People came from all over the US were eating here that day. All a very nice time. We had such a nice time, I decided to compose a short poem for the Coffee Shacks's honor. THE COFFEE SHACK Totally Hedonistic Experience Coffee shop Outside/Inside Fantastic Food Excellent Service and Employees Scenic view Hole in the Wall A-rated and Close to Kona read more

Overall good food with a beautiful location. My wife got the pastrami sandwich on French, and I got the cinnamon roll w/ an egg and breakfast potatoes. The star of the show for us was the potatoes, and the sandwich. Egg was cooked perfectly medium well, which I appreciated! Cinnamon roll was okay. I wasn't a huge fan of the hot coffee but my wife really enjoyed her iced coffee w/ hazelnut syrup. The service was also really great also, we were seated immediately and the food came out very quickly. read more

I cannot say thank you enough to the entire staff! I had an amazing experience and the views were breathtaking. The food and coffee was phenomenal. This place made my day, thank you! read more

The Coffee Shack - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Captain Cook, Hawaii

Great find! Love the rustic environment with tremendous ocean views. Cappuccino was very good and tried the delicious Cubano with homemade luau bread. Will return! read more

Fantastic view and delicious coffee and banana bread. Also enjoyed the eggs Benedict and the hollandaise was to die for! Definitely on the list next time as well! read more

The Coffee Shack - Mimosa, hot coffee and banana bread - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Captain Cook, Hawaii

Great food, great views pancakes are the bomb! Lack of parking is only drawback. Good, but expensive lattes. All in all, totally worth it!

Love this place. It was recommended to us when we first came to Kona 5 years ago and visit every time we come on vacation from CA. Beautiful view, great coffee and the food is delicious! Get there early as this place gets packed! read more

The Coffee Shack has some pretty awesome views! The restaurant itself is fairly small and well-known so get there early if you don't want to wait in line. Like many restaurants in the area, The Coffee Shack offers an indoor/outdoor space. The Kona drip coffee was very good and we had great food too! I had a benedict and loved the perfectly crisp potatoes that came on the side. My husband had a breakfast sandwich on onion dill bread that was delightful. Overall, they do seasoning well, the food is good, and there is no better ambiance to start your day. read more

One of my favorite lunch spots on the Big Island! Service is always fast and with a smile. Gorgeous views with a cozy vibe, especially in the back room. Food and coffee is consistently delicious with satisfying portions. Lilikoi cheesecake is a must, not too sweet with an amazing crust! read more

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Everything chocolate was amazing . Their food was great and they had a lot of variety (lots of amazing choices!! ). The people are also very nice and easy to communicate with. The view was breathtaking, truly. You can see all the colors of the rainbow in an amazing view! If you are an animal lover, there are also cute colorful geckos that wander around, but don't worry, they don't bother you. read more

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Food and view here is amazing! You also see little geckos running around everywhere that are really cute that makes the experience a bit exciting. I personally felt kind of anxious, because of the small lot, so parking was hard to find, but the wait to get a space wasn't too bad on a weekday. I also was kind of scared of the geckos jumping on my food or something, but appreciate the reassurance from the server that they don't do that. Overall, great experience! Loved the macademia French toast, eggs Benedict, Portuguese sausage and all. read more

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Great Breakfast !! Small little place it doesn't sit much people and there is a wait, but the food is delicious. So worth the wait. The waiter was super attentive and making sure we where happy with our food at all times. The parking is not great since it's right on the side of the road.. just also have to be patient on waiting for a spot or you can park a little ways down. The area to eat is a lanai... its very breezy and relaxing.. makes it feel as if you are eating outside your own lanai. I'm definitely returning here when I visit Kona again. It's a must place to stop and have breakfast!! read more

The Coffee Shack - outside lanai - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Captain Cook, Hawaii

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The coconut cream pie here is the best pie I've ever had! Incredible. It's worth it to come here just for the pie.

I recently visited The Coffee Shack and was thoroughly disappointed with my experience. First off, the mocha drink I ordered tasted nothing like mocha; instead, it was overwhelmingly dominated by the taste of oat milk. I mean, come on, it's called The Coffee Shack for a reason, right? Also, all the food we ordered was lackluster. To add insult to injury, my order was incomplete as they missed not one, but two cinnamon rolls and one lilikoi cheesecake. As if that wasn't bad enough, they had the audacity to force me to tip for a takeout service. Seriously? Not one but 2 people forced me to tip. I usually don't mind leaving tip but this is something I give when I dine in or the service was exceptional or the servers have a warm and good attitude. Here they were dismissive and cold. If you guys require tip, it should b just be included in the price of the food or you should have a better model of paying the workers more. In the end because I was forced to tip, I did leave some but this just left a bad taste in my mouth. I will, however, give them credit for promptly issuing a refund when I called to complain about the cinnamon rolls. I forgot I ordered the cheesecake at the time so I didn't tell them about that missing. Overall, a disappointing experience that I won't be repeating anytime soon. read more

Overall: This place is far over hyped given the value. Yes, it has a great view, but the staff is overwhelmed and confused during the Sunday breakfast rush and it will be a waste of your time. We arrived at 8:50am on a Sunday and were told it was a 30 min wait for a table for 2, so we opted to get a to-go order. In the 40 min waiting for our food, every group (except one that arrived 30 min later) was seated with groups ranging from 2-6. So, there wasn't really a wait at all - we were duped. We ordered a banana bread and a fried egg sandwich. 10 min after ordering, we were given our banana bread - it was quite the fiasco getting the bread cut. Multiple times we heard someone yelling "Can I get a piece of banana bread" and "6 pieces per loaf". We were given an uneven end piece, so whoever got the next piece got lucky. The bread was flavorful and had nice banana chunks, but we didn't get much given our slanted slice (and paid $3.50!). After 40 min, my husband went in to ask about our sandwich. It had been ready and sitting on the counter behind the hostess. When we went to eat it, we could tell that it had been sitting out for at least 10 min. It was cold and the potatoes were hard. We weren't allowed to wait inside (due to COVID, which we understand), but because the hostess was doing a million things, no one let us know when our food was done. At this point, we were annoyed and super hungry, so we stood by the parking lot rock ledge at ate. The sandwich was fine, but the potatoes were horrible. No seasoning, cold, and no condiments. But was it worth $14 - no, skip the trip! read more

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We had read great reviews about this place and arrived to get brunch at around 11:30 am on a weekday. We were kept in a waiting line with a wait time of 30 mins and had to wait outside - the views of the ocean outside are amazing so we didnt really mind the wait. We parked in a spot right outside the restaurant after waiting for another car to leave but little did we know, there is a dedicated average sized parking lot at one end, its entrance is hidden from direct view so it's easy to miss. So we were called in via text after around 30ish mins. The views from the indoor seating of the ocean and avocado laden tree, along with other plants were amazing too. Below my ratings: 1. Veggie omelette: rating: 4/5 Yummy omelet, served with toast, butter, jam and a helping of rice. We ordered another toast as per our requirement as we had gotten extremely hungry after the wait. Although the side of rice with omelette was a first for me. 2. Papaya special : rating 4/5 It came with mixed fruits - cantaloupes, pineapples and water melon in my case, were cut and filled inside of half a de-seeded, unpeeled papaya. It was also filled with flavored yoghurt. The sides were a loaf of banana bread and scrambled eggs. I am not a fan of sweet breakfast but Hawaii had made me fall in love with fresh fruits, hence I ordered this dish. The fruits were fresh, scrambled eggs were yumm too, and the banana bread was soft, aptly sweet for my liking and fresh. The yoghurt was a bit too sweet for me. I used the hot sauce they served on the side with the scrambled egg, along with rice from the veggie omlette plate we ordered to make this entire combination really work for me. The staff were nice and they ensured covid protocols were being followed by only allowing few people inside to order/be seated. read more

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Unbelievable view, Onolicious Ono on Luau bread baked on site, had this several times but I hear the chicken salad on the same bread is excellent too. Lovely staff and then there's the view, OMG the best. Did I mention the deserts..... read more

The Coffee Shack - View from the deck - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Captain Cook, Hawaii

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Terrific brunch! Had the specials. With visiting geckos watching on window sill. Awesome view and great service from Aspen. Chatty customers. Fun! I hear the blt is great. I had sausage scramble, my wife had spinach one. Both delicious. And local Hawaiian bread can't be beat! Worth the wait. And you probably will have a wait. Get to know others in line. Nice crowd. read more

Recommended by a local we met on the beach and we are SO impressed. The view is absolutely stunning! The food was delicious and fast. Home made bread, delicious coffee and the Greek salad was amazing! The staff is very kind and they got us in quickly. This is a must do stop on Kona side! read more

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One of my top Hawaii favorites. The Lilikoi Cheesecake is LITERALLY the best cheesecake I have ever tried. The passionfruit syrup drizzled on top matches so well with the creamy, smooth cheesecake. The cake itself has the perfect sweetness and goes really well with the famous Kona coffee. If you are hiking or snorkeling by Captain Cook, this place is a must-stop place!! Sad that I only got to try their lilikoi cheesecake but will definitely go back to try their foods as well:) read more

The Coffee Shack - Lilikoi Cheese Cake - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Captain Cook, Hawaii

For the past 22 years I've been coming to Kona for two weeks. I go for breakfast to one place only. The Coffee Schack. My wife and I go there two or three times per week. Their breakfast menu is awesome and so is their staff. The view of Captain Cook bay is spectacular. Last year for the first time we went there for lunch. This week on our third day in Kona instead of going for breakfast we decided to go for lunch. When I saw that they had Cubano sandwich on the menu I began to salivate at the thought of a French roll stacked with pulled pork, ham and melted cheese oozing down that French roll. Instead I was served on sourdough bread a thin slice of pork, a slice of ham and a slice of cheese which barely covered the bread. My wife ordered a chicken salad sandwich which was mostly bread. When the sandwiches were served I kept quiet that my sandwich was not on a French roll. We all make mistakes and I accepted it. To the owners, your breakfast menu is fantastic and I will continue coming to your charming restaurant but you need to improve your lunch menu. Aloha! read more

The best mixed veggie omelette we had on Big Island. Service was fast and loved the location. read more

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This place doesn't really need another review, but happy to chime in. I popped in for a late breakfast while exploring the Kona coast and was very glad I'd heard about this place. I had the fried egg sandwich and coffee. Lots of places do breakfast sandwiches but this is one of the best I've ever had. It has eggs, melted Swiss cheese, garlic mayo (think aioli and you get the drift), and your choice of meat on your choice of bread. A couple of the bread choices are slightly unusual -- I had the onion dill bread which gave the whole thing a slightly different twist. For meat I had Canadian bacon, which came in big, hearty slabs. Oh, and the coffee was good, though I wouldn't have minded a refill. An unexpected bonus, eating on the outdoor patio: Two of Hawaii's ubiquitous geckos happened by on the railing next to my table, took a look at me, then went on about their business. I'd have invited them to stay and have a bite but there was a bit of a language barrier. read more

The view at The Coffee Shack was phenomenal. While it's small, we got there early and barely had to wait. I had regular Eggs Benedict while my husband enjoyed the Ono Benedict. Both were delicious as was the side of bacon. I had a yummy cup of coffee they happily put in a to go cup so I could take it with me. This place is off the beaten path and we loved it. Would recommend to anyone looking for a good breakfast and a view. Tip: Parking is tight so take it carefully! read more

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The place was packed with people and there aren't a lot of parking spaces. The service was super good, however the food was not the best and it took about 6 minutes to get our drinks and the food took around 20 minutes for my french toast. I would recommend if you have time to stop and sit down but if you don't have time I would recommend finding another place. read more

Such a delightful spot located on the side of the mountain. Amazing views of the ocean while you dine! Parking lot is a bit small so get here early! As soon as we stepped out of the car we were greeted with yummy smells from the kitchen. They have 2 dining areas both covered. One is open lanai style and the other is in a room with open windows. Both offer amazing views of the mountain side down to the ocean. Service is amazing! The waitstaff is attentive without being intrusive and so kind. We got the breakfast special 'Super Pesto Scramble' and opted for skillet potatoes. It was a large portion so we split between 2 people. The Mac nut pesto was soo good! They brought out cholula and ketchup with the order A+! Added half a papaya and Portuguese sausage on the side. read more

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One of my favorite places in Kona! The food was amazing, staff was super friendly and the geckos made our day! The view is stunning! You can call ahead and get your name on a waitlist! This place is a must! read more

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Lots of people suggest coming here for 2 things: the food and the view. Personally, I think I would only recommend coming for the view. From their lanai you get a beautiful view of the coast and a nice breeze, along with some geckos as your meal mates! There are quite a lot of bugs though, so I would even suggest putting some on before coming - at least on your legs. Food was decent but not out of this world. I got the sautéed ono fish sandwich on luau bread. The fish was a little bland / dry, so the sandwich could have used a sauce or spread. As for the veggie pizza, they ran out of pepperoni so my friend got sausage but he was quite disappointed by it because it didn't look that high quality. It was also a little hard to eat because everything was falling off - but I think because you aren't meant to eat it with your hands but instead a fork and knife. Prices are also on the high side for not super special food (but still decent!), so that's another reason I wouldn't necessarily recommend it. However, we WERE very full after eating , so I guess the price balances out. The pie was very sour as it should be, the cream was very soft, but the crust was a little bland and not tasty. It kind of just tasted like dough. Again, the food was fine, I just wouldn't expect something super remarkable. You are definitely coming for the view. Service wise the place is phenomenal. The server was super friendly but we did have to ask twice for the red pepper flakes, but that wasn't a big deal. He apologized and got it immediately. I would recommend just coming in the mid afternoon for a slice of pie or two or coffee. That way you can avoid the typically long wait times but still enjoy the view and a nice breeze. The view is definitely worth stopping by for. read more

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What's not to love here? Food, Service, Ambiance.... And those views!!!! Must go to for breakfast!! read more

There is just something about this place that really cheers you up! The food was great and the service was also excellent but that is not what make this place great. I think its the location and the overall feeling you get when visiting such a beautiful setting surrounded by nature. This is perfect place to stop by on your way to other activities for the day. We had the French toast and the eggs benedict. Both were excellent and very filling. Once done eating, walk around a bit and enjoy the awesome view before departing. Me and the wife did and it was one of the best and most memorable experience I took with me! read more

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