Café Kalawe

Sweet place with delicious food! Ate here for breakfast twice and food was great, pricing is pretty good as well (also available online to see in advance). Moku moco, hashbrowns, breakfast sandwich, omelette and pancakes were are so good! Plenty of seating and attentive staff! Can’t wait to go back!

We came across this spot as we were leaving the botanical garden and are so glad we did! The food was excellent, with a great variety of options on the menu to choose from. The service was warm and attentive, making the experience even more enjoyable. Everything from start to finish exceeded our expectations. Highly recommend!

Located at the old Dean's Drive Inn, this is a very nice, friendly place! The food and the staff were so good. Definitely felt welcomed and will be returning soon! Please go and say hi to Handsome George😄

This place is a lovely local restaurant that never fails to offer delicious food and wonderful service. It is a must stop if you are visiting the island! The people are just enjoyable as their food and music, great place to relax and eat in the morning or around lunchtime.

We ran in to this place by accident and wow. What an absolutely amazing experience from the moment we walked in the door. They made you feel at home and the food was incredible. Thank you for a wonderful experience.

During Sunday they have live band playing in the background. I ordered mini loco moco and kim chee fried rice, and it’s delicious. I am feeling like most people dine in here are local. Recommend for visitors who want to try authentic local brunch.

Craving native Hawaiian food, this could be your spot. Place was so busy for brunch that there were no parking spots available and wait time was 20 minutes. Live music, good service and amazing food made this a great experience! I had their coffee, eggs with hash browns and loco moco mini. Everything tasted amazing but I really liked their loco moco and coffee. I also tried their bread dessert and those were also good. Restrooms were clean and usable. Definitely recommend this place.

Always good at Cafe Kalawe. Plenty of parking, breakfast and lunch options from open to close. Chantilly pancakes and waffles are so good. They had some great looking desserts but we were too full from breakfast. Staff are so friendly too.

Staff was very welcoming. Our young waiter was very helpful and attentive. Our brunch items; Hapa Loco Moco and Chantilly Pancake were yummy although my friend and I agreed that the Loco Moco gravy was a little on the salty side. We got there early enough to be seated right away before the it got busier. Pleasantly surprised to have soothing live music while we dined! We loved his playlist! Found out it's a regular event on weekends! Looking forward to going again soon!

Update on Cafe Kalawe this is my first time here ever since they moved . This was Deans drive in before and before that Zippy's. Day after Christmas took my sister and brother in law here for breakfast because originally we wanted to check another place but they were crowded. I ordered their Kim Chee fried rice omelette it was good came with toast or English muffin. I also ordered a side order of original pancake it was nice a buttery not bad . Nice amount of parking right in front of restaurant and they also have brunch items to choose from along with their homemade desserts . Unfortunately I was full from my breakfast didn't have room for dessert. Support local when in the area

Best loco moco in town and it's so well reasonably priced! Hapa Moco is the best of both worlds with the meatloaf-style party and corned beef hash patty. The proteins are super flavorful with a slight char taste to it which adds another dimension of flavor. On weekends, they also have live music by the owner which is a total vibe!

Update on Dec 26,2025. Came here to eat because the original place we wanted to go was 50 people deep in line. I ordered their fried rice with egg, my brother ordered Kim chee fried rice with a single pancake. My husband ordered spinach mushroom ham omelet. My fried rice was good and so much I took the half home. My brother's Kim chee fried omelet was ok the pancake was good. My husband omelet was ok too but the ham was in chunks instead of slices. He's side order bacon was good my brother made a comment and said next time we go order lunch.

I'm going to have to give this place a solid 4 stars. Their pancakes were delicious but my breakfast wasn't good. The corn beef potato hash was kinda dry and the potatoes were tough to chew. Cups were on the small side. Service was good by our waitress. Very nice and checked up on us a couple times.. Place is family owned. I would give this place another try. The inside was cute and bright with white walls. Lots of staff on hand.

Service was amazing, out waitress was very sweet and always made sure we were satisfied. Food was very good, first time having a loco moco. Ambiance was cute it felt like a good local spot which can be hard to find. 100% recommend

First time trying a moco loco at any extend and this was absolutely amazing. I really enjoyed this dish and it's was A LOT. Definitely shareable as I saw a lot of customers with to go plates. The spot is big with lots of seating and service was amazing. Super friendly people and very attentive. There's tons of parking but also seems to get pretty busy in this shopping center. I will definitely be back.

I can't believe I never wrote a review on Cafe Kalawe. For well over a decade, Raymond and his wife have been putting out simply good food. Known for their variety of Loco Moco bowls, and Chantilly pancakes. I have known Raymond for over 45 years. He puts his sweat and soul into everything they produce. They also have live music during brunch on Sundays as well as other days you can check there website for actual times. There is plenty of parking pro tip would be to go as soon as they open or in between breakfast and lunch they did expand their interior to accommodate a lot of people, but this place is so popular. It gets quite busy at times.

Not only is the food delicious but the warmth of the atmosphere is wonderful! We have been eating here since they first opened and now bring our entire family! Thank you Raymond, Nani & your entire Ohana!

Great mom and pop spot to have breakfast. Lots of parking but we went during the week so could be different had we gone on a weekend. Upon entering, we were greeted by a gentleman and were seated right away. I ordered a mini loco moco and my husband got the fresh corned beef and eggs. Food didn't take long at all. I had to add a little salt to my food but not a big deal as I'd rather have it unsalted rather than overly salted. They have a base with a bunch of desserts but we didn't get any. Next time!! I hear I need to try the fried rice so I can't wait to go back. Definitely a local spot as the place was filled with families and friends gathering.

I thought I would give the Kahuwai fried rice another try today and I'm glad I did! It was much more flavorful than a couple of months ago when I was here for a weekend lunch. Very wonderful notable about their poached egg-this is the first restaurant I've ever been served one that wasn't swimming in water on the bottom of the poached egg dish. I loved it! I didn't mind paying an extra $1 for the egg on this entree. The temporary price up charge on the eggs are clearly marked at the entry, on the table and menu. In these days of increasing prices, this establishment has done a great job to keep it inexpensive while providing ample portions and is well-staffed. I am pleasantly greeted upon entering by the host, the server, and the staff as I walk by. I feel so appreciated, valued, and cared for during my visits. I want to be sure to come back when there is live Hawaiian music performed as I have heard in past visits. I faced the stage area while eating because it is so nicely decorated. This cafe lives up to its motto, "Spoonful of blessings."

my fav spot to go for breakfast! i always get the steak moco or banana chantilly pancakes. staff is so friendly and the food is always good.

Support local! We are seeing it far too often these days, local businesses, some that have been around for decades, making the tough decision to close their doors. Whether you live windward or make the journey from the other side, why not stop by? Go in for a visit, call to make an order or do what we did and use their easy and quick online service! You don't even need to leave your vehicle to pick up your order since they have a super convenient drive-thru! We came from town twice last week for breakfast sandwiches. We sat in parking lot, enjoying our home-cooked comfort food and reveled in the mood that is Kāneʻohe. This place is gem with their homestyle comfort food and feeling of 'ohana. Let's do what we can to kākoʻo!

One of the best places for brunch on the Windward side. Cafe Kalawe is where we enjoyed a hapa loco moco (hamburger patty and a corned beef hash patty) and a fried rice omelet. #bigboyproblems

I love love love everything about this place. The large sitting area with live Hawaiian music and so clean. Perfect. The food is amazing and cooked with aloha. Made me feel like i was an eating home cooked meals like my mom would make it. The service was excellent.

So good, this place makes you feel at home and the loco moco is delicious! We did the small order and it was more than enough! The lite breakfast gets you right where you need to be Service was great We will be back!

After searching on Yelp for a breakfast spot nearby the first thing that popped up at Café Kalawe so we went to dine in. Greeted by such friendly employees. We sat down for our menu and browsed. Lots of seating, i'm sure this place gets super busy at peak times but when we arrived at opening, there were only 3 other tables in use. I knew I wanted to eat something with rice and I haven't had loco moco in a few months so I ordered a mini loco moco and full order of french toast. Everything came out pretty quick. Loco moco looked and tasted good. My over easy egg was cooked perfectly. Only con was the patty was a little bit over cooked. The french was tasty and had a good amount of cinnamon flavor. Would come back again.

Best place to support local! The wait was worth it, but they do offer online ordering and a drive-thru. Everything is homemade and although you can get any of these dishes elsewhere, it just tasted different. Kinda like comfort. It's like if grandma made it... You know what I mean? Basically made with a loving touch. The inside is just cozy and nostalgic if you're born and raised here. We got lucky and also got to listen to live music too. Service is quick and the food was 'ono. Can't complain!

We LOVED having breakfast here. The service was so welcoming and they really treat you like family. The food was delicious. My husband got a loco moco and I got an omelette fried rice. Still thinking about it and wishing we lived in the area to grab some! We will be back.

Great food and AMAZING Staff!!! Make you feel like family!! Best place to go!!! You will not be disappointed!!!!!

Micro Review Breakfast of champs! This spot is so cute and the service is friendly. Try ordering a side of gravy to dip your toast or hash browns. Phenomenal. A fun local spot! They do fresh desserts too!

I am my sister in law really enjoyed Cafe Kalawe. Our waitress so cute and all the staff were so kind and inviting. Their menu was an eye opener. I wanted to try everything but we came a bit late. However we ordered three dishes and I must say it was tasty and a must to try more. The Hapa Moco was spot on with smooth gravy over easy eggs corn beef hash and homemade huge hamburger done right. Added mushrooms and onions on a bed of white rice was comforting and filling. The other was NY Steak medium and eggs scrambled over amazing fried rice i truly love the texture. Not oily or salty at all loved it. Portions awesome. That's why I needed to take home and enjoyed it the second time around. Thank you! Not to for get their lemonade with strawberries was perfect too not too sweet or sour and using good lemons and fresh strawberries. A 32oz cup that you could also bring back to refill for a discount great . Thank you again I will return for more.

Café Kalawe has some of the most unique foods you could ever imagine! The flavors of the islands are combined with traditional breakfasts. For instance, you can get chocolate chip pancakes with papaya. Or a breakfast sandwich that has spam instead of sausage. If you don't want breakfast, they serve lunch type foods like fried rice or loco moco's (rice topped with hamburger and an over easy egg). The service at cafe Kalawe is amazing and the people are very friendly. The restaurant itself makes you feel at home. This restaurant also has a little gift shop inside which is super cute.

This is an update of my previous review. I tried the Loco moco with corn beef hash and it is the same as I previously ordered. The corn beef hash was mostly potatoes with very little corn beef, making it very dry. I should have ordered extra gravy, which would have helped with the dryness. I want to commend them on how they implement their ordering system. They will text you initially how long before your order will be ready, then they send another text when your order is ready and you can pick it up at the drive thru window. I will definitely try a different dish the next time.

One of the best hole in wall brunch spot in Kaneohe side of Oahu, Hawaii. The service and the waiting system is super organized even on the weekend brunch time. The food is very traditional or super local Hawaiian vibe brunch. Everything is cooked to exactly how it should be cooked and delivers the perfect balance of each flavor and execution of ingredients. The savory Loco Moco style dish absolutely on point with its well balanced unami impactful gravy. The Kalbi is simply super well marinated teriyaki style Hawaiian taste meat. The papaya bowl is well decorated but it taste great as it looks. Simply one of the best family place to go for brunch in Hawaii. Its a weekend repeater for sure once you understand how awesome local Hawaiian style brunch really is. I would recommend this restaurant for anyone looking for good family time whether visiting the Island or a Local like myself.

The staff have so much aloha for their customers.Everytime we go we see people we know and can talk story with. Love to support another Hawaiian ʻohana from Kāneʻohe. It's nostalgic to see all the old pictures of Koʻolaupoko on the walls. The food is so ʻono and portions are geneous.

So glad we came here to eat, felt Akua (God) right in this place. The kaukau (food) was ono (delicious)- The gravy is to live for! Brought my other half here because he was nuha , but now he's so grateful! Mahalo nui to all of the staff and oversee kiss the chef(s) for us. From Albuquerque and Kaua'i, stay blessed

Basic food But basic price Ambience is good Iced coffee is just hot coffee on ice Reminds me of my childhood McDonald's hashbrowns But hey for 7$ I'm all over it

Lovely morning breakfast at Cafe Kalawe and special @hoku_zuttermeister local Kaneohe native who performed for customers. Delicious Ko'olaupoko breakfast sandwich with meat and fried egg on Hawaiian sweet bread hit the spot! Fruit and coffee is great! Service is warm and welcoming. Ambiance is friendly and everyone is enjoying themselves! Ono!

This is my second time here and omg... it's so delicious. I got the ko'olaupoko with Portuguese sausage. And my friend got the pork chop. It was seasoned perfectly, maybe a little to the salty side if we're being picky. The service was so quick, and I love the live music on the weekend. 10/10 experience both times.

Hey, Cafe Kalawe is the real deal! It has great fun vibes, good food, and lots of choices. I recommend viewing the menu before you go or else you can have a hard time making decisions. Consider going with a group if you can because then you can taste (hopefully) several dishes for your next visit. Also if you can, go on a weekend morning to enjoy the Hawaiian entertainment. I went with my church group on Sunday and we had made a reservation. A good decision because it was packed. But everyone was so friendly from the staff to other clients that it was a welcoming atmosphere. And the food was delicious. On my first visit to breakfast places, I usually order fried rice with eggs over easy. That's a test for me and here it is a 4 out of five. I've had better fried rice but then everyone has different tastes. Thanks to my friends, I got to try loco moco (flavorful gravy) and huge omelettes with homemade corned beef hash (both yummy), shoyu chicken on fried saimin, (yummy), and really good French fries! I will have to return to try the sweet entrees like pancakes and French toast- - next time, since we all want to go back. Do check the location before you go because it is a block off the main road (Kam Highway) so you know where to turn On John Henry Road. Plenty parking in back. PS: another thing I like is that English Muffins can be chosen instead of toast, no extra charge. It is family run, has a nice gift shop.

Just the feel of the place when you walk in is so welcoming! We finally made it for breakfast and will be going back soon because I NEEED to try the Chantilly pancakes. I didn't notice it until after I ordered... should have just order it but that's ok...next time ....haha. I think I was distracted a little cause Kapena was the next table over and of course hes so respectful said aloha as he was leaving. Good food...plenty parking and extra on the aloha. Love it

Update: A second visit here after about 3 weeks, since our last visit, a good friend came from Kona & my wife suggested he would like Cafe Kalawe. Went on Wednesday morning about 9:40 am busy & steady , not full. Chantelle was one of our server's last time, so she knew my wife loved their delicious Chantilly syrup. Ordered & was wanting Papa to be playing & singing his variety of great guitar & vocals, he 's there only on the weekends! He really adds to the vibe, but all the staff are so friendly & professional. Food came in a timely manner, French toast for mom Wifey had the grilled chicken salad, Kona friend had the lup cheong egg fried rice omelette, me the Chantilly waffle. While everyone enjoyed their dishes, I felt the waffle needed to be crispy on the exterior ,it was taken off the iron to soon! Inside it was cooked.Of course the Chantilly sauce was Ono! We didn't have to ask, wifey got a take home container of Chantilly sauce for $5.00. Pancakes tomorrow! Mahalo Chantelle!

Our waitress did not check on us for a while. Did not get no water refills and had the small cups of water. It was slow not really busy and was thirsty to a point I was only drinking coffee. I wanted to see is she was going to fill up the water but she didn't. A little bummed food was great tho will always come back but I wish I had more water too. Ohh and they were out of acai bowls.... waitress name is danitra

I was already greeted at the door and my set was set with water and the menu for us. Amazing service and super family oriented. The food was so comforting I would highly recommend their dishes here and their homemade desserts sheesh!! The restaurant is clean and feels like you've been invited to a family's home lol. The menu is huge so I can't wait to try more items.

This was a take out order for the Lite Breakfast with corned beef hash. I didn't think it meant lite on the corned beef. To be clear, I enjoy everything about this restaurant - service, food, feels like home vibe, and I will continue to go there & recommend to others. I love corned beef hash, don't get to eat it often, and was disappointed in this order.

Staff gracious for my table of one. Went several times. Had pancakes which were fluffy and delicious. Had the Kim Chee fried rice with egg. This had just the right amount of Kim Chee. I was surprised with the upcharge for eggs - I didn't read the signs carefully. The papaya and fresh fruit were fresh and cold. The cafe is usually full and customers seem happy. Paying the bill the first time was confusing, had to ask a fellow customer for help since servers didn't check up on me. I'm sure I'll see friends again at the local cafe.

Fantastic experience. Quick service, very filling food, extremely kind staff. Skip the fast food and try this!! Felt overwhelming care as a visitor. The Zaifala was so good!! Highly recommend. Blueberry pancakes (full stack) were very big! Breakfast sandwich was surprisingly filling as well- very well done. Perfect textures! Light breakfast was very tasty.

First time eating at this adorable café blessed with Hawaii adornment, staff and style! Breakfast and coffee was great! We had the lup cheong fried rice omelet, hapa moco, and we especially enjoyed the Chantilly pancakes. They even accommodated our order requests lol. Great family business even the owner stopped by to talk story. Everyone is so nice and the service is quick and great! We'll definitely be back...maybe next time during live music!

Fast, efficient- great customer service. Family ran business. Food was good! Good parking .

We decided to come here due to the great reviews. There were positives AND negatives. First of all, the young man who served us did an excellent job! We think he was very new here, but was very efficient & sweet. In fact, all of the employees we met were super friendly! Negatives: Hubby prefers his coffee on the weak side but said it was REALLY weak. I just added enough vanilla creamer to call it a weak Latte. The smaller than usual cups (5 or 6 oz) were only refilled once with a promise for a second refill that didn't happen & was overpriced for the size & service. The food was just typical, diner quality. Perhaps we should have ordered from the "Locals" options because they looked good as they were delivered to other tables. Better than our traditional mainland style choice of a Pancake & Omelette. Fortunately, we have found some very good breakfast places while here.

First time at Cafe Kalawe and wasn't disappointed. This review isn't about the food. The pictures and countless reviews can speak to that. We had their loco moco, Aloha Aina loco moco (veggie patty) and to round it off I also had a short stack pancakes covered with the chantilly sauce. I had told our server Fia that I was hoping my eyes weren't bigger than my stomach and she laughed. She knew what I meant and was sure that I could finish it off. Sure enough, the food was pounded. I had hoped to have the pancakes and my loco moco come out at the same time but as luck would have it, the pancakes came out last. And....that worked out fine. The chantilly sauce was sweet and seemed more like a dessert than a main meal and it was so ono. This review is about service. You will always see return visitors to your business if they are treated well. Greeted when they come in. Thanked when they leave. Services with a smile and a genuine feeling of appreciating that you are there. We experienced all this when we serviced by Fia. Her personality was bubbly, with a huge smile on her face and we really felt welcome. Thanks for the great service today Fia. See u on our next visit.

Delicious. We've eaten here twice in the last 6 months, and it lives up to its reputation. The ambiance is cute family diner, humble but welcoming. The food is of good consistent quality. I especially LOVED the loco moco plate, and for a week after I kept thinking about it and wanted more. You have to sub with the LUP CHEUNG because it was incredible. Seriously. Don't miss out on that goodness. We hesitated ordering the Tea Girls tea because it cost as much as a small plate, BUT LET ME TELL YOU, that alone is amazing. We were so glad we got it. I would totally stop by and get just a Tea Girls tea as an afternoon snack meal. We would go here more often if it weren't a 45 min drive from our house. Totally recommend 1

As soon as you walk in , greeted with aloha from everyone. The place is packed , people laughing and talking story , enjoying the food and company. And a gentleman is singing in the corner! My first time here and I was amazed at how great the energy was and everyone was so nice , food was awesome, big portions and priced right . I used to go to the previous place at this spot. It has been transformed into a clean bright welcoming eatery. Can wait to go back and share with friends!!

This was an amazing little local spot!! We were on our way to Kualoa Ranch and stopped here for breakfast! The friendliest staff, great food and atmosphere! Definitely recommend if you are in that area!!!

Came here after church. The restaurant was packed and there was a sign in, however, we only waited about 10 minutes to get our table. The menu has quite a variety. I had the regular pork chops, 2 scoops of brown rice, and a salad. Everything tasted great. I ended up packing up half of it because I was full. Everyone in my party liked their food. It took forever for the omelette order to come out though. We think someone either forgot to put the order in or forgot to cook it. They have ample parking in the lot surrounding the building. They even had entertainment! The restaurant has many tables and is probably good if you have a large party.It's a nice place to have brunch and I plan to come back again.

Wow! I had a wonderful breakfast with my friend here the other week. We were looking for places to eat in Kaneohe. I'm so glad Yelp led us to Cafe Kalawe. Parking I got a spot right in front of the restaurant. The parking lot wasn't crowded. Staff We were greeted and seated right away. The staff were friendly. Our server took great care of us and helped us with the menu and gave us suggestions. There is a sign on the table that says to limit your meal to 60- 90 minutes I think. We ended up staying for 2+ hours because we were talking and catching up. The server said we could stay because the restaurant wasn't too busy. That was nice of them. Food I ordered the iced coffee (10/10) and the kimchee fried rice omelette with the hash browns. It was big and delicious. Next time I'll add some Portuguese sausage and cheese to it. The hash browns were a perfect golden crunchy triangle and I had three. My friend got the mini loco moco and a hot coffee. The hot coffee came with free refills. We shared a single Chantilly pancake - SO ONO! The pancake had a thin crispy shell and was so moist in the middle. It was covered with a chantillly spread . I wish we got the 3 stack order. There also some desserts you can purchase to go - pumpkin crunch etc. It looked delicious! Atmosphere Cute and cozy. Clean and bright. Love the sayings on the walls. We will definitely be back.

Stepping into Cafe Kalawe feels like a warm hug from family you haven't seen in awhile. We were greeted right away by Tatum, one of the beautiful daughters of the owners, and seated promptly. We decided to come on a Sunday despite most Sundays being busy. This day was nice because it was Super Bowl Sunday and most people were getting ready for the big game. We were also treated to live Hawaiian music, a little something they do on the weekend for guests. Once we were seated, our waitress brought us our waters and came back for our drink orders. Not long after that she was given a large party so another server came by to take our meal orders. I like that the employees here all work together to help each other out. It's apparent in the dining area and what we could see from the kitchen. A family environment that extends to their customers. We received both our drinks and food in a timely manner respectfully. I loved my hot chocolate with a generous dollop of whipped cream and after our Diamond Head hike with one of my besties, Charlsie, Dillon had sprite to cool down. Since I wanted to try a little of everything I decided on the lite breakfast with bacon, an over easy egg, and upped my starch to kim chee fried rice with a side of the sweetbread French toast with chantilly. It was the perfect amount of deliciousness I needed after that sunrise hike. Dillon got the full order of Lup Cheung fried rice with a scrambled egg on top. He devoured it pretty quickly. Cafe Kalawe marries delicious local and Hawaiian inspired dishes with the warmth of family, incredibly well. It's a little hidden down William Henry Road on the right after you turn from Kamehameha highway nestled down a slope with a good amount of parking and even a drive through for phone orders. If you happen to be in the area I highly suggest you prioritize a stop here. If you happen to be on the other side of the island I still suggest you make the trip out here for breakfast or lunch, you'll be happy you did!

Amazing place, made up for my visit to Rainbow Drive. This place had good prices, great serving sizes and quality product. The meal was amazing, the server was super friendly and they had fresh baked desserts. The place is small but spacious, they have a drive thru if visiting the great botanical garden close by. A must try, the beef plate was top notch.