Kona Cafe is awesome

[LovingLife]

We have been to Disney only 3x since 1999 (we are not Floridians and wish we could get there more!!!) and have had breakfast at the Kona Cafe. We never tried dinner there so this year we said let's do it!

If you have not tried it, DO IT! The food is absolutely delicious. The staff is attentive and friendly.....our family of 7 tried the following. The pot stickers are so good. I ate all of them. Better than any I have had and taste just like a Chinese dumpling, only much better. The Sticky Wings were unbelieveable. The most moist chicken wings we all have ever had and the glaze was so sweet and sticky. The crab cakes were also very good. Little breading and alot of crab. They are small and stand up. The Ceasar salad was also very good. Healthy portions here.

Again, our 24yo niece with Celiac's had to be careful. The Chef came out and explained what he could do for her and made her a delicious meal of shrimp and scallops. He also had gluten free rolls served for her that were toasted. I tried a piece and they were delicious!!! She finally felt like she fit in while eating outside the home!!!!

Our table ordered 3 Char Crusted Filet Mignon's, a Coconut Chicken, Beef Teriyaki, and the 9 yo had Chicken Fingers and a Smoothie. The yukon gold potatoes were delicious and all vegetables were hot and not water logged.
All meat cooked to perfection and the servings were large!!!!

Desserts were awesome. Kiddie cones, Chocolate Macadamia Nut Tart, White Chocolate cheesecake...and our niece could have the Creme Brulee (the Chef had a special one done for her). You could easily share a dessert, but our eyes were def larger than out stomachs....

Staying at The Poly was great as we just walked over, so there was no transportation needed. And I will add that since we had such a wonderful evening with delicious and hot food, we came back another night.

I suggest you try this one! I do not think you will be disappointed.

 

[dixiedizfan]

You certainly gave a wonderful review of Kona, and I'd really love to try it. Only thing putting me off is the atmosphere ... rather like a coffee shop inside a lobby. If it was just hubby and me it'd be fine, but my teens prefer more atmosphere. Especially with 'Ohana just across the room!

 

[LovingLife]

I know how you feel...and we felt the same way which is why we never did dinner. But if you are not seated next to the "hallway" or "railing"....you do not notice that atmosphere.....we were so absorbed in our dinner and conversation, that we did not feel like it was a Cafe atmosphere.....

Thanks for your reply...I am new at this!!!!!!!!!!

 

[CamColt]

Thanks for the review, LovingLife! Kona is one of our favorites too. Only I feel the opposite. I request a table near the railing. I think having a view of the tropical foliage in the middle of the lobby really adds to the atmosphere.

And BTW, Welcome to the Dis!!!

 

[LovingLife]

Thanks CamColt...I never thought about it that way!!!!!!!!! But the food alone is worth the trip.....especially those Sticky Wings!!!!!!!!!!!!

Will try to add more icons and maybe a profile?????

 

[Dana49]

Thanks for taking the time to write such a nice review about the Kona Cafe. It's really one of our favorite restaurants. In fact, the Kona Cafe is one of the main reasons we stay at the Polynesian Resort.

 

[Madhatter266]

Thanks for posting about Kona. You've helped me make a decision for our last meal during our upcoming trip!

 

[Dizneydaz]

Kona-love it-tried it for the first time using Dining Plan Jan. 05. It's now our favorite dinner spot. And those sticky wings-my DD6 makes them her meal and even though we are not going for almost 5 months, she's already talking about those wings.

As for O'hana's we didn't like it.

 

[Quinn222]

Thanks for the review, we're having dinner there the first night of our trip (in less than two weeks!) and I'm really looking forward to it.

 

[byoung]

One word for Kona's---OUTSTANDING!!!

 

[Stacerita]

Thanks for the review. We have been going back and forth on if we should make an ADR for Kona or not. After reading your review, I think we will.

 

[jtopp]

Don't forget to try it for breakfast. Tonga toast is fabulous!

 

[wdw4pwe]

Thanks for the review !!

We're trying for first time this trip ... and now looking forward to it even more

 

[mkymouse4ever]

I saw the menu on deb's site and thought it looked better, than I remembered? Was planning on using this as an "just in case" fall back position, But do you really need ADR's? We have stayed at the poly several times, and have eaten there but never with an adr, and didn't wait.

So what's the adr position here? mky

 

[Belle for President]

I was going to try Kona on our last trip, but a friend talked me out of it. Now I'm disappointed. It sounds fantastic.

 

[Kae]

It's a nice place for lunch also.

Kae

 

[LovingLife]

We did make ADR's before we left for our first night. Then when we loved it so much and wanted to go again, we asked Concierge to assist us. They called up to Kona and got us in for several nights later. I see people waiting all the time...and I know that walk in's are common. I would make the ADR's so you have them!!!! Good Luck and we hope you love it as much as we did!!!

 

[magicmouse2]

Cool we have our first adrs here in September

 

[Cinders Mum]

we intend doing Kona whilst we stay at the polynesian this sept/oct, but I am hoping concierge will assist with this, as I have no idea when we will be doing it, but I can see us doing, breakfast, lunch and dinner here as we love Kona.

Thanks for the great review, it helps all of us who have a long time still to go, feel that little bit closer to our Laughing Place.

 

[granmaz]

We just loved Kona!!! Even after spending over an hour getting from POFQ on Disney transport to get there for 8am( ), we so enjoyed the breakfast. Later in the week we went for dinner and it was just lovely. Of all the places we ate we had the best servers those two meals.
I had the mahi mahi which I had never heard of, but it was just so delicious! The desserts are wonderful.

Once inside Kona, we forgot completely that we were in the hotel foyer.

We will certainly be eating there again on our next trip.


Maz