Kona for dinner - not worth the price

[granball]

We have been to O'hana's several times and really enjoy it. We thought we would try kona's as the menu looked really good. I would just like to say that the food to us was nothing special, though it sounded like it would be. The bill was over $70 for the two of us and it was really not worth it. It wasn't bad, it just wasn't really good either.

I felt that o'hana's was so much more of a value, and I enjoyed the food much more. In fact, when it came to dessert I requested the O'hana dessert and they did get it for me. Totally scrumptious. We will stick with O'hana's next time we go.

 

[dizneydiva2005]

We have been to O'hana's several times and really enjoy it. We thought we would try kona's as the menu looked really good. I would just like to say that the food to us was nothing special, though it sounded like it would be. The bill was over $70 for the two of us and it was really not worth it. It wasn't bad, it just wasn't really good either.

I felt that o'hana's was so much more of a value, and I enjoyed the food much more. In fact, when it came to dessert I requested the O'hana dessert and they did get it for me. Totally scrumptious. We will stick with O'hana's next time we go.

Funny, I'm the total opposite. Being on the dining plan I rather go to Kona's then Ohana's. NOT that I've even been to Ohana's. I keep making ADR but end up canceling them... and go to Kona's. I like picking an appetizer, meal, and dessert.
The menu at Ohana's just doesn't appeal to me. Next time we go to Disney w/out the dining plan, I'll consider Ohana's.

 

[maggiew]

What did you have granball? Did you have apppetizers and desserts too? We have Kona scheduled for 4 of us! I hope it won't be $140!

Maggie

 

[granball]

Hi Maggie - For appetizers we shared a chicken soup (we just had a hankering for it) and crab cakes. For a main course my hubby had steak terryaki and I had coconut chicken. For dessert he had a chocolate cake with a chocolate sauce in the middle, and I had the dessert from O'hana's which is a bread pudding with caramel banana sauce and vanilla ice cream. We both had coffee.

Personally, I would radically prefer O'hanas. See if you can get a window seat. The view is just beautiful.

 

[shellybaxter]

I love the food at Kona and think it is head and shouders above the food at Ohana - to each his own I guess. I'm sorry that you didn't enjoy your dinner. If you decided to go back you should try the noodle bowl and the sticky wings - I think they are excellant

 

[granball]

I'm sure the sticky wings would have been great as they are the same as at Ohana's. We tried to order different items than those being served at Ohana's to try new things. Thanks for the tip - we may stay at that resort down the road and who knows. A noodle bowl sounds good.

 

[keypooh90]

We love Kona! We used to love Ohana as well, but we do not as much now due to the menu change.

 

[Belle5]

Kona over 'Ohana here! I have eaten most of the foods you ordered and enjoyed them all tremendously!

 

[goodeats]

I'm the exact opposite, I'd much rather go to Kona. And maybe there's something wrong with me, but I don't find $70 outrageous for a three course dinner for two at a world class resort destination.

I've tried 'Ohana and I don't think I'll ever go back. Everything from the atmosphere to the service to the food was a big let down. Oh, I take that back the drinks were really good, but you can order those anywhere at the Poly. It was a quantity over quality kind of place.

But different strokes for different folks, right?

 

[magicmouse2]

This is one of the first negative posts I have read about Kona. Sorry you didnt like it. We love Ohana, and are also trying Kona for dinner next trip.

 

[Mickey&Donald]

I've never been to Kona or Ohana, though we have an ADR for a dinner at Kona in August. From the things I've seen around here, it sounds like we'll really enjoy it. And $70 for a nice dinner in WDW is not even close to ridiculous, IMO -- on our honeymoon we spent at least $80 on every dinner. There's a difference between regular expensive and Disney expensive, IMO... Sorry you didn't enjoy your experience!

 

[NMW]

Our family are huge fans of 'Ohana, but we LOVE Kona. We ate dinner there for the first time this past Dec and are doing it again in Oct. In Dec we were not on the dining plan and we did not find Kona expensive at all. In fact, I'd say it was inline with mostly every other table service restaurant in Disney. It's not as expensive as a signature restaurant (like Flying Fish).

The food was really good. Service was great too.

 

[Cookie Princess]

We have done both and would pick Kona. Our first trip to Ohana was great, but subsequent trips featured dry meat and poor service.

 

[Familyofsix]

We also have done both. Ohana's was OK but we really enjoyed Konas. In fact when making ADR's for our next trip we didn't even have to think twice, we found Konas to be a better value just didn't have the view of Ohanas.

 

[Grendalynn]

What did you have granball? Did you have apppetizers and desserts too? We have Kona scheduled for 4 of us! I hope it won't be $140!

Maggie

Hi

My family went to Disney last October. As a family of 4 - DH and I, DS's were 6 and 2.5 at the time, we had no dining plan and averaged about $80 - $90 for our dinners. That was with a few beers and/or glasses of wine, and 2 meals off the kids menu. Kona's was $88.00 for the 4 of us, I rememeber for some reason. We spend closer to $90 at the Wispering Canyon at WL, and that was our favorite meal - the most funa nd memorable for sure! We did not budget, we ordered what we wanted, as we were on vacation. That was the Land part of our Land and Sea adventure. We knew we would spend less on the cuise, or so we thought! Hope this helps!

 

[LuluLovesDisney]

Kona Cafe is one of my favorite restaurants. Tonga Toast or Pineapple Macadamia pancakes for breakfast, sticky wings, Kona chowder, Mahi Mahi for lunch or dinner- yum! I've been there about 6 times and I have three ADR's- one for breakfast and one for lunch this August, and one for breakfast in November. Sorry you didn't like it.

But that's what's so awesome about Disney- so many different places so everyone will find something they like. Personally, I am done with 'Ohana. I used to love it until last year's menu changes. I left hungry (except for the awesome dessert) (actually, I also ate salad and wings) in December and I won't be back with the current menu in place. I miss the shrimp wontons, fried rice and fresh green beans and didn't care for the wonton chips, sausage and other replacements at all.

That was really nice of them to get you a dessert from 'Ohana! That was the one part of my 'Ohana meal that I really loved, so I may do the same thing in August (if I can convince myself not to get the banana caramel creme brulee!). Thanks for the info.

You're right about the view at 'Ohana, though. Two years ago, my boyfriend and I took my nephews to Florida, and we took a day trip to WDW. We had a SPECTACULAR meal at 'Ohana, highlighted by a gorgeous view of the Castle from a window seat. It made my day!

I would encourage you to try it again if you like the Poly- maybe breakfast?

 

[CamColt]

I'm sure the sticky wings would have been great as they are the same as at Ohana's.

Actually, just to clarify, they are diferent types of wings. Or at least they have been when Ive gottem them at Ohana twice and Kona many times.

I loved both Ohana and Kona for different experiences and I had a hard time picking a favorite out of them. However, now that Ohana has gotten rid of the rice I will have a hard time going back there. So for now, I guess Kona is my favorite of the 2. Love those sticky wings !!!!

 

[Dizneydaz]

We too are the opposite. We LOVE Kona. We'll probably do it twice next trip (have to use those 10 TS each!) My DD6 makes a meal out of the sticky wings-she's already talking about having them again.

We tried Ohana's a few trips ago (before menu change) and we'll never go back. We were seated alone (just us 3) at table for eight and were too far from the games (there was only one during our time there) My DD was disappointed that by the time we got there, the coconut race was 1/2 over. But the worst part was the food. All our skewers were tough, dry, and overdone. Maybe it's because we were there early in the night and they had been sitting. But they were just bad. The best part was the starters (of which they've changed ) and my DD really enjoyed the huge beach pail snowcone. But that's not enough to get us to go back. It's Konas for us-all the way. Sorry you didn't care for your meal. Our favorite meal (DDP) is sticky wings, filet WITH scallops, and one of their fantastic desserts. I'll ask for the bread pudding nest time as it is my favorite. If we share a meal we'll actually be able to eat the dessert there instead of taking it back to the room.

Thanks for sharing. To each his own, like OP have said-that's why there's such a wide selection of dining choices.

 

[Kaycee]

I'm sorry to hear you were disappointed in your dinner at Kona. We love Kona, and feel it is an excellent value for the quality of food we get. On the other hand, 'Ohana was a big waste of money for us. There were only a couple of items that we liked, so we didn't eat much at all. We don't have young children to participate in the games, and the yelling by the CM who was leading the games was very annoying.

We won't be going back to 'Ohana, but Kona is a must-do for us every trip.

One of the great things about dining at WDW is that there is such a wide variety of restaurants, there's something to please everyone!

 

[Slapster]

We ate at both places this past trip and loved them both. They are radically different restaurants, though. If you prefer one style of cooking (and eating) over the other that will influence which one you like better.

I think the crab cakes at Kona have lost a step. They weren't packed with crabmeat like they were the first 2 times we ate there. Maybe crabmeat isn't in season, or they are trying to save some $$$. Everything else we had was delicious as usual.