Kona Cafe

Kona Cafe has long been a breakfast favorite of my family for many, many years. Located on the second floor of the main building at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, it’s an aesthetically pleasing restaurant for which reservations are highly recommended. Unless you are staying there, walk over, or ride over using another mode of Disney transportation, you need a dining reservation to park on property. The rest of this review is going to be a love letter to their legendary Tonga Toast breakfast entree. Tonga Toast is essentially a large piece of bread that is turned into French toast and rolled in cinnamon sugar. There’s half a banana inside- we think it gets mushy and ask for it on the side. It comes with a side choice of like 4 meats. And you can have syrup or Strawberry Compote. We never fail to ask for extra compote and pour it over every inch of that cinnamon coated bread. Amazing. Kids probably need to share one- it’s a lot for one adult to handle. It’s in my top five breakfast dishes of all time. It lives up to the hype, served in a really nice restaurant in a beautiful resort.

Kona Cafe is always a hit and the food never disappoints. You get the Polynesian vibe right in the center of everything and a second best to being at Ohana. Someone always get the short rib which is delicious. Other great options are the pork chop, salmon, and Asian chicken! Plus if you love the Ohana noodles they are a secret menu idea that can be requested. Apps we get are the pot stickers and wings which h always hit!

We were able to snag a last minute reservation for dinner as a break from the park. (Suggestion just keep checking because they will open up!) It was my daughter’s birthday and our server made sure to make her feel special the entire time. The food was amazing! The braised short rib was just falling off the bone and the chicken was so juicy and flavorful. Our son loved that they had a kid-friendly sushi option.

Love the hotel and the atmosphere in the Kona Cafe. Matti was an excellent server. I had the Loco Moco and it wasn't horrible, but it was horribly bland. The hamburger patty had ZERO seasoning -- not even a bit of salt. The gravy was mostly flavorless. The eggs were good. I added ketchup just to give this dish some flavor. I asked for some breakfast potatoes on the side; they were cooked well, but again, no seasoning. Had to douse them in ketchup. My husband had the macadamia nut pancakes. He thought they were okay, but you guessed it, they had zero flavor on their own. If you didn't put some of the pineapple on top, they would be completely bland. The coffee was great. I had a pot of decaf and he had the Kona Coffee press pot and both were very good.

This place is busy with tons of families with school aged children. The food isn't very exotic if you eat take out Chinese but it's sweet and tasty. As a single adult dining alone I felt out of place but the waitress was very lovely. I wish I got her name - she was the best server of my whole visit. The Hawaiian rolls are very soft and sweet. The Boa was great and even if you're kids don't like the filling they can unfold them and eat the bun. (The kids at the table next to me did this somewhat to my amusement.) The ribs where we're tender and my waitress recommended that I just swap the pureed carrot for the pureed potatoes which was an excellent decision and had no additional cost. She recommended the bread pudding. I eat the ice cream (very large scope) and enjoy the pudding for breakfast. She also without asking brought water to go. I was a little surprised but by the time I made it back to the Contemporary on the monorail - and back to my room the large water was in fact all gone. I would recommend just asking for water to go at the end of any table service in the summer.

Normally, someone else might have given a 1 because of what happened, but I'm giving a 3 for the sake of the other dishes. First, the positives: the burger and the soup were quite good—especially the burger, it was really nice. The service was very slow, and the food took a long time to arrive. The main issue was that we ordered three dishes containing tuna—one of them was a rainbow poke bowl, another was a tuna poke bowl, and the other was something like tuna sushi. Everything with tuna smelled really bad, and as you can see in the photos, even the color was gray. We informed them about it, and they did respond, but since we knew any replacement would take a long time, we didn’t order anything else.

Had the pot stickers and the soup of the day to start which both were nice however the mains came out about 5 minutes after we started eating and they said they’d take it back and keep it warm which isn’t really something you’d want happening when spending $150+ on food. So we had to rush and finish what we could leaving half the soup. By the time we got the ribs it’s was warm at best and pretty dry, we added on the mushrooms and potatoes which were nice and definitely helped but at $40 per plate for the ribs alone I expected better

We made reservations for a relaxing breakfast on the last day of our trip. We were staying in the new Island Tower at the Polynesian Resort, so we decided to try the Kona Cafe. It was pretty busy that morning, but the service was quick and friendly. The server came by multiple times and checked in on us. From the time we ordered until we received our food, it was probably around fifteen minutes. The breakfast menu is kind of limited, with less than ten options, which are kind of different versions of the same thing. We both ordered the Breakfast Platter. The platter comes with 2 eggs, potatoes, ham, bacon, sausage, french toast, and mini pancakes. It was quite a bit of food. I did not leave hungry. The pancakes come with a macadamia nut butter and a pineapple compote, very good. We did not try any of the specialty drinks, just juice and coffee. I will go ahead and just say that our breakfast was delicious! Our overall experience at Kona Cafe was pretty great. The atmosphere was nice, the service was quick, and the food was delicious. I would eat here again, and I would recommend that you also give them a go, especially if you are staying at the Polynesian. It was nice to have such a nice place to eat not far from our room. Trip stay // March 30 - April 3 2025 Overall Experience // 9 of 10

When you walk into the Polynesian Resort you're taken back with the hotels ambiance. You're automatically greeted with Aloha when you get inside the hotel. Kona Cafe is located on the second floor and it's next to Ohana restaurant. The service was wonderful. I got the Tonga Toast and Bacon, spectacular. The Tonga toast is French toast with cinnamon sugar on the outside stuffed with bananas inside, served with a strawberry compote and syrup on the side. Also, My mom ordered the Polynesian egg platter which is two eggs any style with fresh fruit poke, fresh-baked muffin, home-fried potatoes, and your choice of Ham, Spiced Ham, Bacon, or Sausage. My mom was able to replace the muffin with toast. Also, they had seasonal pancakes that included pumpkin/ pumpkin spice. All around the breakfast was delicious. I recommend anyone going to Kona Cafe, 10/10.

Why 4 stars? Because we are always down for anything Hawaiian related. --- --- --- For our final meal of our long weekend vacation in Orlando, we headed to Kona Cafe before I took the wife and kiddo to the airport and then transitioned into work mode for an event I was in town for. The good news: we really enjoyed our meal here. The bad news: I'm too old to eat a bunch of pancakes before a long day of work. My wife and I shared a loco moco and some macadamia nut pancakes. We enjoyed both of them, despite the loco moco being a bit different than any we've ever had. I think it might have been the salsa on top that threw us off? Either way, it was enjoyable, but just different. The macadamia nut pancakes were also a bit different, in that, they had pineapple on top. I didn't dislike it, it was just not what I was expecting. That being said, the quality of the pancake was great... it's just that aforementioned carb coma I was in for like the next 7 hours that was a bummer.

Kona Café is the kind of place you walk past at the Polynesian thinking, "Eh, just another hotel restaurant." Wrong. This is where legends are born. Specifically, the Tonga Toast--a breakfast dish so ridiculous, so over-the-top, it makes you wonder if the chefs were drunk on rum when they invented it. Picture this: an entire brick of sourdough bread, stuffed with bananas, deep-fried like a county fair experiment gone rogue, and then rolled in cinnamon sugar until it looks like it just crawled out of Willy Wonka's factory. They plop it on your plate, hand you strawberry compote, and say, "Good luck." It's not breakfast--it's an edible dare. You don't "eat" Tonga Toast, you battle it. One bite in, and you realize this is the most decadent, absurd, glorious thing you'll ever have before noon. You'll need a cardiologist on speed dial, but it's worth it. The rest of the menu is solid--macadamia nut pancakes, poke bowls, Kona coffee strong enough to revive Walt himself--but let's be real: everyone's here for the Toast. Tourists whisper about it like it's contraband. Locals treat it like a rite of passage. Order it once, and you're in the club. The vibe? Casual, friendly, and just chaotic enough to remind you that yes, you are indeed in Disney World, and yes, you are about to spend $20 on fried bread and love every second of it. Kona Café is proof that sometimes the best thing in life is also the most unnecessary. Tonga Toast is excessive, indulgent, and downright stupid in the best possible way. It's breakfast as performance art. If Trader Sam's is the Polynesian's party, Kona Café is the Polynesian's mic drop.

My husband and I went to Kona for lunch. I think we both like the menu for breakfast and dinner better, but we still had a positive experience. The location is great, and we had a wonderful server. They start you off with Hawaiian rolls and butter. We got the seasonal soup, which was very tasty. This past weekend, it was a corn bisque with a chili lime crema. It sounds weird, but it was good! For his main he got the steak salad and I would get that again. I got the teriyaki noodle stir-fry. This is probably the best bang for your buck, lots of food! The poke bowl sounded good but the table next to us got it, and it looked very small, I think I would have still been hungry. Overall, we would definitely go back to Kona, maybe just not for lunch.

I really enjoyed the food at this spot! It's not the best ambiance when it comes to restaurants in the Polynesian, but it's perfectly fine and the food was very good! I liked the hamachi tuna roll.

After a long day of hanging out and laughing with the family, we made reservations for dinner following the fireworks show at Magic Kingdom. We ended our night at the Polynesian Resort and dined at Kona Café. This restaurant inside the Polynesian is incredibly themed, featuring bright colors, enchanting decor, and gorgeous lighting. Our service was exceptional for a Disney resort. Our drinks, appetizers, and food arrived in an orderly fashion. The bao buns were soft and airy, packed with delightful flavors. The sushi was fresh and beautifully prepared and presented. Both meats we ordered were tender and fresh. Honestly, everything we tried was excellent. We even had a sugar-free dessert that exceeded our expectations. I highly recommend Kona Café if you are looking for a quicker, more affordable dining option at the Polynesian.

My first time at the Polynesian. What a gorgeous property! Everything we ate was delicious and fresh. I ordered a lapu lapu , and requested the 151 to be on the side. Good thing, the drink was strong, so my husband ordered chicken added it to his drink. Our server was okay, friendly, attentive but average. The ambiance was also average, pretty plain compared to the other restaurants on the property. Will plan better next time and try some of the other places.

Kona cafe is one of my go-to places to eat on Disney property... and a big part of that is the bread service. SO. GOOD. I love the options they have on their menu and the kids menu is fine for picky eaters like mine as well. The atmosphere can be a little less intimate and louder than a typical restaurant because it's sort of open to the lobby but it's not bad at all.

Wow all the times we've been at the Polynesian & never went here. Make a reservation they fill up, we went for breakfast, I think the last time is 1030 then they start switching over to lunch. Hub had the Loco Moco, he fell in love with it in Hawaii & it's hard to find here. I had the Tonga Toast (banana filled) & ham, ham was meh, Tonga Toast was YUMMY, saw it too many times watching You Tube. They bring you a coffee pot so you're not looking for refills.

Pros: Beautifully themed restaurant in the middle of the beautiful Polynesian resort. Very islandy vibe. Very chill. Service was on-brand A+ Disney. Prompt service, refilled drinks, perfect. Food was good. Very fun, giant hunk of French toast. A nice breakfast platter option for those who like variety. Cons: The giant hunk of French toast was a little dry, even with the strawberry goo it came with. Portion sizes were a little small. Classic Disney. Tips: Don't just pour the goo all over the French toast. Cut it up first, so the goo can permeate all the way through. Get the Spam. It's so good!

Overall impressed with The Polynesian & all the restaurants there. The service is super friendly, the wait is reasonable and the food is amazing. Portions are a little small for the price but the flavor makes it worth it. I also ordered a Lychee Mocktail for my kids which they made special since the mocktail on the menu comes with alcohol alternative. The whole breakfast hit the spot and it was a great way to start our day at Disney. I love everything about this resort.

The ambiance was great. Our waitress was on top of everything. My poke bowl ratio of rice to tuna was very off. It was great tuna but I wanted more sushi and "umph" to the bowl. It lacked ingredients.

Kona Cafe at Disney's Polynesian Resort is always such a great experience. Our server Alyssa was excellent and always on top of our drinks and service. We started with the pot stickers and wings and both were full of flavor and very fresh. We split the chicken for our entrée which was more than enough we were stuffed! However we saved a little room for the highlight of the meal which was the pineapple coconut bread pudding which was absolutely amazing. The atmosphere is relaxed but still has that special Disney magic. Highly recommend Kona Cafe if you're looking for a great meal without needing to leave the resort!

We stopped in for breakfast here. It is a Disney Resort Restaurant, so you get all the good and not so good. A little overpriced and pretty loud here. I thought the food and service were adequate overall. I ordered the Polynesian Egg Platter. My eggs were fine but others were way overcooked. A friend ordered the Moco Loco. In Spanish that is like "Crazy Booger". They should really have researched that name. He said it tasted ok but there wasn't much there. Not much chorizo gravy and not many eggs. My home fries were good and my meal came with a fruit bowl that I gave to my still hungry friend.... There was also a muffin my hungry friend took a look at and finally refused.

I ordered the poke bowl and it was interesting... essentially just fish and rice with no veggies and a minimal soy based sauce. It's also quite a small serving so I wouldn't recommend it if you're hungry. However the fish itself was very fresh and delicious. It's not an indulgent dish but could hit the spot if you're looking for something lighter! There's also complimentary bread which was a basic dinner roll. Overall not a place I'd return to but glad to have tried it out!

We've been coming here for over 15 years. The quality has never faltered. Hidden Disney gem!! Love it!!!

We stopped by Kona Café at the Polynesian Resort to celebrate Stitch Day, and it was the perfect lunch spot! The resort's island aesthetic instantly made us feel like we were on vacation, and the atmosphere was so fun and relaxed. We were greeted by friendly staff who were just as excited about Stitch Day as we were--it really added to the experience. For lunch, we ordered the shrimp tempura sushi roll (fresh and flavorful!) and the teriyaki wings, which were flash-fried and coated in a delicious sauce. The fries on the side were seasoned really well--maybe a bit heavy for some, but we enjoyed every bite. The kids loved their Stitch piña coladas, adorably topped with edible Stitch ears! The kid's macaroni was just that... classic and simple, but the portion was generous. After lunch, we couldn't resist stopping by the dessert counter for a Stitch dome cake. Cute and tasty,totally worth it. Overall, a fun and flavorful experience that matched the festive Stitch Day vibes. We'll definitely be back!

From the outside this place looked really nice. I had placed my order via mobile order pick up and their service was not good. I felt like someone who was an outsider that isn't welcome. Like, here's your food or pick it up here and then shoo go away. Whenever I double checked my order they just say everything's there and walk away. What they lacked in service, the food was bomb in my opinion. Tongan toast. - surprise of banana in the middle with strawberry compote. It was heaven Breakfast plate- More than enough fuel that you'd need to function for the day..or take a nap before you start your day after all the food Loco moco - delicious, I just wished it came with more gravy and rice. Chicken pot sticker - ginormous but was fresh, juicy, and flavorful. It didn't need the sauce but the soy sauce goes good with it. Didn't care for the other sauce. Short rib- Super tender that you don't even need a knife. I really wish it came with rice or that I'd be able to order a side order of rice.

While staying at the Polynesian Resort, we made reservations the night before for breakfast the next day. It was mid-week and not busy at all. They must only allow a certain number of reservations because of not having that many staff members because reservations were scarce but the restaurant wasn't anywhere near full while we dined. Our waitress was great and helped explain the difference between ham and spiced ham (spiced ham is Spam!). Overall I wouldn't seek this restaurant out if I wasn't staying at the Polynesian Resort. It was yummy food, but nothing blew me away. The Macadamia Nut Pancakes were good but not unlike anything I've had before. The restaurant has a nice open air feel into the lobby on the second floor. You feel secluded from the lobby but it's still open enough to see what's happening around you.

This was probably my favorite meal on our last Disney trip. We had breakfast here on our last day and it was amazing. The server was so sweet, my kids just loved her, and the ambiance is family friendly and calm (despite the main building in the Polynesian being a little crazy at times). We ordered the Loco Moco, Tonga Toast, Ham and Cheese Omelette, and Minnie's French Toast. I always make a point of trying a bite of everyone's food, and it was all so, so good. The Loco Moco was by far my favorite though. Highly recommended!

So underrated, this place blows me away every time! I do not know why I don't see it on the top Disney places to eat. I have had at least two breakfasts and at least two dinners here since my kids were really little. This day was breakfast again, and it never misses. Their pot of Kona blend coffee is so amazing. I am typically a cream or cream and sugar person, but this is a must drink black kind of coffee. I dream of this coffee. I also dream of their French toast and pancakes. Again, I got the pineapple macadamia nut pancakes. So good, still high quality food and a giant portion. This time I tried the spam, it was so good it went perfectly with the loco moco. This was the first time trying that dish here. While it was a bit small, especially compared to the other breakfast plate, it was flavorful and brought back all of the good Hawaiian memories and feels. Plus eating the spam with it enhanced the dish. We also had the tongo toast, which is a must eat every time we dine here. The kids had a fun mocktail and a smoothie, and I had the pog juice, which the portion was nice and large. Of all of our Disney experiences, this place is still a favorite and top notch. This is also one of the places that still beat Universal. We had gone to the Royal Pacific and these pancakes at Disney still beat theirs. Disney, please continue to be amazing at Kona because I still hope to come back real soon.

Totally came here for the Tonga Toast and it did not disappoint! The breakfast platter was fantastic too--super flavorful and filling. Lana was a delightful waitress, so friendly and attentive. As always, Disney nails the Hawaiian-themed decor, making the whole experience feel like a mini island escape. I highly recommend checking this place out if you're in the area!

My daughter and I were sad there was no luau at the Polynesian while we stayed in WDW. We'd gone to that on a previous visit and it was a wonderful experience. So we booked one of our dining plan meals at Kona hoping to recapture a little bit of Aloha spirit. We were not disappointed. We arrived early after a hot and exhausting day in Magic Kingdom. The host cheerfully took our information and promised to seat us as soon as he could. We waited in the lounge area in the blessed air conditioning, enveloped in the tropical aromatherapy WDW pumps into their resorts. We waited only 15 minutes. The food was good. I had the tuna poke, a Mai tai and a passion fruit napoleon (that was sinfully delicious.)

Made a last min ressie for dinner with two kids. Service was a little slow To start but picked up by the end. Potstickers, two sushi rolls, tuna poke bowl and kids Mac made up the full order. Sushi rolls are costly for the size. $19 each and in comparison to anywhere outside of Disney would be 10$ or so. They were made fresh at the counter but they lacked depth or flavoring we expected. Potstickers were delicious and the sauce was a real showstopper. Tuna bowl was bland and really didn't have great flavor. I will say the tuna seemed fresh and plentiful which was nice but needed more crunch aspects. Overall a fine dinner but wouldn't be back against our other preferred Disney restaurants

I had a cold brew Martini, the Macadamian pancakes with ham and my husband had a mimosa, with a omelet, oatmeal, fruit and 2 slices of ham after he had a bite of mine and i wouldn't give him more.. The "Martini" was delicious! It was sweet in the right kinda way and it was nice and cold delicious! Recommend if you are a coffee drinker for sure. The Macadamia nut pancakes had pineapple and Macadamia nuts through out the pancakes. It was FANTASTIC I loved it not to sweet just perfect soft fluffy pancakes with the perfect crunch from the nuts. The HAM, grilled juicey delicious! Never had grilled ham but now i know that's the way ham should be made!!! This is why my husband ordered 2 more slices and why I guarded my slice! My husband liked the "mimosa" although didnt really taste the whiskey in it said the omelet was really good, it came with two biscuits and made a happy face! The oatmeal was nice and hot and came with brown sugar and milk. The fruits were nice and sweet as well. Overall delicious breakfast and vert attentive server. Very cheery and very good recommendations. The resteraunt has more of a subtle hawaiian theme but I definitely still loved the decor and the Hawaiian music! A++ overall will definitely recommend and hopefully Come back!

Kona Cafe is a hidden gem. I enjoyed my meal. not much in terms of theming like other disney dining spots, but the vibe is relaxed and chill. While everyone is over at Ohana, they're missing out on this place. I came here for lunch and ordered a Backscratcher: super sweet, fruity. Porkbelly Bowl: this is delicious. Savory, smokey. The server recommended I mix it, and I agree! It has a very strong sesame flavor and if you don't mix everything you will get slapped with the sesame flavor! The pork belly is very very smokey. Wasn't expecting that but it really paired with all the other flavors in the bowl. I really liked it overall. No Sugar added Pineapple Cake: tiny, perfect for a solo diner or two people after a big meal. I really really liked this. It was the perfect ending to a meal without it being slap in your face with sugar! Everything was delicious. I highly recommend coming here and giving it a try. Next time I want to try the sushi, looks incredible! The potstickers looked good too. Something to look forward to.

I hadn't been to Kona Cafe since the early 00s, and that was only for lunch. Having been to Hawaii, though, I wanted to give it a try for breakfast because I liked that they had traditional Hawaiian options that are different from any other restaurant at WDW. It's also much easier to get into and cheaper than 'Ohana. I've also been wanting to walk the sidewalk around Seven Seas Lagoon from the Polynesian to the Contemporary, past the Grand Floridian and the new Poly DVC tower, so this worked out perfectly. We were seating pretty quickly with our reservation after I checked in. After we were seated, I noticed half of the restaurant has bright lines shining on the tables and the other half have dimmer lighting fixtures that create a better ambiance. Thankfully, we were on the latter. I think they need to consider converting the brighter half. I ordered the Loco Moco for my entree, and my partner ordered the Polynesian Egg Platter. I considered changing my order when the teenage girl at the table next to us commented how good the eggs were, but I wanted to try the Loco Moco. In hindsight, I should have ordered differently. The Loco Moco was good, but it really needed more sauce/gravy. It was a bit dry. I would have asked for more, but we hardly saw our server. And only one of my over-easy eggs was truly over easy, so that didn't help with the dryness either. On the other hand, I tried bits and pieces of the Polynesian Egg Platter. The scrambled eggs were very creamy and delicious. The breakfast potatoes were wedges and very flavorful with spices. The Coconut Macadamia muffin was scrumpious. Because we hardly saw our server (and when we did, he was double-sat with tables and busy with them), we had to wait an extremely long time for our check. When he finally brought it and we paid, he didn't leave a pen with the receipt. LOL I finally went up to the host stand to ask for one. However, even though I had some concerns, I thought the experience at Kona Cafe for breakfast was enjoyable overall, and I definitely want to return. I'll have a better idea of what to order, and I don't think our server's slowness was indicative of the restaurant service as a whole.

This place was so cute! The restaurant was so pretty and really felt like you were in Hawaii. The staff was nice and the food was good. The toast was good and the caramel sauce was delicious. This is a must have. And the juice was delicious.

Amazing experience. The food was really authentic and delicious. First time going and I was surprised how filling it was. The wait was a little long, but for Disney, it wasn't as bad as I expected

We came here for a late dinner and basically tried the entire appetizer menu. It was absolutely delicious. I really liked the open air seating where you still feel like you're on the balcony of the hotel. The service was really quick and attentive. Our favorites were the seasonal soup which was a pork and potato soup. And we loved the chicken wings. My sister wasn't a big fan of the bowel buns because the pork was overpowering. But that was my favorite thing about it. I can't wait to be back.

Okay so we came for dinner and breakfast. The people working here are all so, so, so, so nice. Our flight got delayed 3 hours and we had a dinner reservation but we were only just going to make it. I called to ask if they would hold our reservation and they said they would hold it for the 15 minutes allowed and then work with us afterwards if we were later. Well...I ran there and was a few minutes late, but the hostess reassured me that they still had our table. I could have cried from their kindness! Dinner was a little underwhelming flavor-wise. It was good, but also not as unique flavors as I was expecting. What we got for dinner: -Rainbow Poke Big presentation plate, little portion. This was just ok. There was no sauce? It was just sashimi over rice with some togarashi seasoning sprinkled over it. It was fine. But nothing special. - Polly Lolly Roll It had a fun texture and the sauce was actually very unique. But small portions here. - Bok Choy This was actually my favorite haha. They grill it! I don't know why that's novel to me. But it was delicious. - Kids Mac and Cheese It's standard mac and cheese like that of a college campus. The deal here is that it comes with milk/bottled water, plus sides. So you can get fruit and veggies into your children's bodies. What we got for breakfast: - Loco Moco This delivered the unique factor of the theme that I was expecting! So good. The gravy was a different take than the classic Hawaiian version. But definitely a hearty meal to set you up for all that walking (or to soak up a hangover?). - Polynesian Egg Platter Holy macadamia nuts! The muffin is so good. And that's not even the main part of the dish. - Kids Meal: Mickey-shaped Pancakes This is a fun factor. How can you not? It was a good pancake though! TL; DR I say breakfast is definitely worth it. Dinner, maybe not so much.

Had lunch at Kona Cafe at the Polynesian resort in Disney. Wifey wanted the Kona stir fry with chicken so I ordered it also. The menu doesn't have has many entrees as it did prior to Covid but the stir fly was delicious. Forgot to take a photo but my wife had leftovers to take with, I ate like a pig and enjoyed it in the restaurant. Had a 12:30pm reservation but the restaurant wasn't very busy on a Monday at that time. Of course good parking was available with our reservation. Disney is funny because they may not let you in without the reservation because they save parking for the hotel guess.

The Kona Cafe is located at the Disney Polynesian Village Resort. My friend and I came here for dinner after a long day at Magic Kingdom. Oddly we didn't eat that much at the park so by the time we came to Kona Cafe I was already hangry lol. They provide Hawaiian rolls and butter upon seating which is nice. I ordered the Big Kahuna Burger which is pastrami, corned beef, pepper jack, mustard aioli on a brioche bun. It tasted pretty good. My friend order a few sushi rolls which she enjoyed. For dessert we shared the S'Mores shooter which was the perfect size. All in all, a good choice for dinner at Disney World.

I'll admit it--I didn't expect much from Kona Café. Tucked just off the lobby of the Polynesian Resort and often overshadowed by its more hyped neighbors like 'Ohana or Trader Sam's, it seemed like one of those spots you settle for when other reservations fall through. But color me surprised--this place was actually really good. From the moment we sat down, the service was warm and efficient without being overbearing. Our server was friendly, knew the menu inside out, and gave honest recommendations (which I appreciate). The vibe in the dining room is laid-back and casual, with just enough tropical theming to remind you you're still on Disney property without going full tiki overload. Now to the food-- We started with the potstickers, and they were a total win. Perfectly crisped on the outside, packed with a flavorful filling, and served with a tangy dipping sauce that had just the right amount of kick. I've had plenty of forgettable potstickers over the years--these weren't those. For the main, I went with the slow-braised short rib, and it was outstanding. Fork-tender, rich without being heavy, and plated with creamy mashed potatoes and a savory reduction sauce that pulled the whole dish together. It tasted like something from a much fancier restaurant. And I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the sweet rolls that came out warm, sticky, and slightly sweet--somewhere between a Hawaiian roll and a sticky bun. I didn't expect to like them as much as I did, but I found myself reaching for more. They're the kind of thing that sneaks up on you and then suddenly becomes the highlight of the meal. Bottom line: I walked in skeptical and walked out a fan. Kona Café is a sleeper hit in a resort packed with dining options. It may not be the most buzzed-about restaurant on property, but it delivers quality food, great service, and a relaxing break from the park madness. If you're staying at the Polynesian (or even just hopping over on the monorail), don't write this place off. I'd absolutely return.

First off this is one of my favorite breakfasts on property (Tonga Toast!). However, lunch was mediocre at best and kind of disappointing. I ordered the Shrimp Stir Fry and it was bland, flavorless, and the noodles were overcooked. It was also full of slices of sweet potato. I counted 12 slices which basically was equivalent to a full potato. Aside from that there were a scattering of scallions and even less mushrooms. It was just overall not a good plate of food for the price. Others at my table got sushi and soup and also said it was just...ok. You definitely can't beat the ambiance of the resort but this was a place I would just stick to breakfast at.

This is our second attempt in the last year to have dinner at this restaurant. Both times we made reservations and sadly both times we've had to remove ourselves from the reservation list because we checked in for our reservation and waited 30+ minutes for a table. The reservation times in themselves are usually for really early or really late and with two little kids, anything after 7:30 is a gamble. I can't speak to the service or the food because we have yet to have dinner there, but I can tell you that the weight even with reservations is ridiculous . I was honestly very surprised that we waited 45 minutes last night which was a Tuesday at 7:50. Menu looks good. You'll pay Disney prices $$$ if you can get a table.

Delicious food!! Visited here at the end of the day after exploring Disney World Magic Kingdom. We took the ferry to the Polynesian Village Resort for dinner because this is one of the only places we could find resos for. I will first off start by saying this hotel is AMAZING!! I really enjoyed the interior and decoration of the place, so that for me was already 5 stars. The food was good, but as expected was slightly overpriced for what the served. My favorite were the appetizers, the potstickers and chicken wings were really good and full of flavor. It wasn't super busy so we were able to check out in time to see the 9pm fireworks outside of the hotel. Overall had a magical experience and can't wait to go back!

If Denny's had a Polynesian theme: GOOD: - walkup party of 2 at dinner time. Expected no luck, seated within 10 minutes - hostess, server, and food runner (think that is the title) were all very gracious - pan fried dumplings were tasty - Asian chicken was tasty - Bahama Momma was a dangerous drink - did get a anniversary gift of macarons, chocolate gems, and macaroons and that was very pleasant. NOT SO GOOD: - unsalted butter with Hawaiian rolls? Elvis is turning in his Blue Hawaiian grave - Bok choy was way too salty. Was able to eat the base due to its density, but the leaves were nearly not consumable unless with rice - the chicken breasts were not consistent in size. We know that some chickens workout and some don't. But a difference in 1/3rd size makes you question value (yeah it's a theme park) BONUS GOOD!! - server did suggest soppin' the dumpling sauce with with bread. That was a pixie dust level suggestion.

The service was absolutely amazing! It is way overpriced for the portion sizes, and the pot sticker appetizer was really weird.

Kona Cafe was okay, definitely on the pricier side for what you're getting. I must say the bread service was my favorite part though, very delicious bread! Staff were kind as well and the wait wasn't too bad to get in. Maybe I just didn't get the right item but my fiancé's plate also did not meet expectations. Would rather spend a couple of extra $ and go to Ohanas right next door.

(March 2025) Earlier tonight, my wife and I finally made it in during her birthday trip after canceling on July and December 2024. We started with the soft and warm Hawaiian rolls, which came with butter. Afterwards, I ordered the glazed chicken wings ($15) and my wife got the Kona braised short rib ($40), which she ordered with broccoli (in place of the bok choy). The food was amazing! We also drank unsweetened ice tea ($4.99), which was a little too murky and too strong. It didn't help that the restaurant uses paper straws which disintegrates into the tea. Unfortunately, the restaurant doesn't offer free desserts for birthdays, which knocks down a star. However, we still had to try the pineapple coconut bread pudding with a side of vanilla ice cream ($13). All in all, we recommend Kona Cafe and hope to be back someday.

We were able to add a few extra people to our reservation last night for dessert. Our waitress was very gracious. My complaint was about this dessert. DO NOT ORDER the Haupia cake. It has zero flavor. I realize it is a " no added sugar" dessert, but I have no idea what could be used with that much blandness.

We had a lovely meal at Kona. The drinks were cool, refreshing and tasty. The food was tasty and fresh. My turkey bang me was great, but it definitely had some heat to it. The airline chicken was hot and well seasoned. The dessert was ok, not my cup of tea, but my husband loved it. Mohammed took great care of us. This place gets packed for dinner so make sure you make your reservations early, especially if you have a large party. A little on the pricey side, but it is a fun reason to dress up and have a good meal. Great for families or a date.

Food - I went for breakfast, got my usual French toast. Best French toast I've had. Comes with this banana sauce that is so good with the syrup. Side of bacon as well. Service - Always good service, went around 10am on Sunday so it was pretty busy. Server was running around and kept all her tables happy. It's a really good, enjoyable location for a good breakfast. I've yet to have a bad meal here and I highly recommend it.

I have eaten here many times. Food and service is always amazing. My favorite thing to get is the Polynesian egg platter. It comes with eggs,potatoes,meat (bacon for me),fruit and a donut. I have eaten dinner here once. Got the chicken wings which were amazing and the burger. This is my favorite breakfast place

This was a decent place to have breakfast in the Disney bubble. It is on the quieter side, which some may like. Service was good, it was what you expect from Disney. Allergies were definitely noticed there and you were well taken care of and knew your food was safe if you have them. They have the famous Tonga toast, which was pretty good. The POG juice is always a favorite with us, but you can get this in other places too. There were some food items that we recognized from Ohana as well. I'm glad I got to try the Tonga toast, however, this is more one a one and done for me personally. Others I've eaten with said they would eat there again.

Checked in for my reservation with my family. Went to the counter and it took 3 minutes before I was acknowledged with the hostesses who were just there talking until one of them looked up. We got seated, then it took another 5 minutes before our waitress came to us. I observe things all the time. You could say she was busy but she wasn't. She was at the coffee bar (next to kona) and she was just talking, how do I know, because we were seated next to the coffee bar as well. Her personality was not disney appropriate, very bland and boring. Didn't recommend anything at all. Ordered the tonga toast, loco moco with sunny side up eggs, kids mickey pancakes and the macadamia nut pancakes. The food came out in 45 minutes, I do time how long it takes to come out. 1. Tonga toast- hard as heck, filling was bare in the inside. Very chewy. 2. Loco moco- came out with scrambled eggs asked for sunny side up eggs. The frozen ground beef is ridiculous and the gravy was stale. There was no flavoring in anything. It was a huge disappointment for an Islander who cooks this on a daily. Sad to say, don't listen to those bloggers they clearly have no taste for food. Also, what Hawaiian put pico de gallo on a loco moco? Not a common practice in Hawaii and the islands. 3. Kids mickey pancakes were a disgrace. They made 1 huge pancake and 2 small ones and layered it on top of each other. Like wtf? Anyone can do that. 4. Macadamia nut pancake was ok. Nothing fancy to write about. Overall, this was a whole let down. I should have booked at Ohana instead.

This review is on the Mobile Order option for Kona Cafe. I Mobile Ordered off of the kids lunch menu and was pleasantly surprised with the portion/price! Kids' Sushi Served with choice of two (2) Selections and choice of Small Lowfat Milk, Small Dasani® Bottled Water, or Small Minute Maid® Apple Juice $11.50 Pass holder discounts can also be applied at this location! The kids sushi included a few pieces of tempura sushi, chicken nuggets, tuna, and rice with a large serving of fruit and french fries, as well as a small water bottle.

3 stars for food quality, 5 stars for service, 5 stars for atmosphere. Sadly, a few years ago I would have said Kona Café was a 10/10 spot. But it's food quality has dropped and been replaced with larger but less Disney standard options. Our ham was ok, but honestly had less flavor than it used too. The Tonga Toast wasn't as soft as normal, requiring a knife and some elbow grease to really cut it. That being said, we still got that incredible Disney service, as you would expect. The Cast Members always do a fantastic job. And, the Polynesian is a gorgeous Disney hotel, one of my favorites. Seats are comfy/padded as well.