Kona or Ohana's

[mhmcduff]

Trying to decide for dinner - which do you prefer?
thanks

 

[tallwoman03]

We ate at both last week and weren't disappointed! That's a hard decision. We ate at Ohana our last night and my DH said we saved the best for last. I guess I'd say Ohana. If you can get Kona, too, you won't be disappointed.

 

[abc999]

Depends on what you are looking for. 'Ohana is more entertaining, especially for children, since they get to participate in a number of events. However, my family did not enjoy the food, all the meat was overcooked.

 

[JennyDrake]

Each has its ups--and downs. Kona has the better food, IMHO, but in three visits service has been lackluster at best and deplorable at worst. it was so bad the last time we even talked to the manager who did NOTHING to help. We waited over 40 minutes for our check, among other attrocities.
O'Hana has variety and lots of food, but as PP said, the meat is very, very well done.

 

[Bama_C]

also depends on what you like to eat...

At O'hana you get salad, wontons, sticky chicken wings, grilled shrimp, turkey, steak, and pork, and of course the bread pudding with Bananas Foster sauce.... mmmmmmmm. This is all served family style to your table aka all you care to eat.

As for Kona, they serve what is probably my favorite meal on Disney property, the Tuna Oscar. Their desserts are awesome, too, especially the Kilauea Torte. I have also asked for some of the O'hana bread pudding as my dessert on 2 separate occasions and both times were allowed by our waiter to get it.

You really can't go wrong with either, in my experience, and I agree with the PP who said you could even go for both.

 

[WDW1st-timers]

O'hana is a absolute FAV with our family. Every year we go to Disney we have to eat there. That is a MUST. Mind you we have never ate at Kona but I think we are going to try it for this trip.

 

[ma2jr]

I'd have to say O'Hana is a favorite

 

[MickeyNicki]

Why we like Kona:

Better wings
Better bread
DH is in love with the teriyaki steak

Why we like Ohana:

The best dessert in all of WDW
Love the broccoli
Love the salad

Kona wins for us, and I have read that you are able to order Ohana dessert at Kona for $5....they dont advertise it but if you ask they can get it for you.

I know at Ohana you can order a pressed pot coffee from Kona, we have done it before.

If you are talking breakfast, both are great but we prefer Kona

 

[ROEDISNEY]

We Like Kona better.

 

[Gina35]

As a PP said, it depends on what you're looking for. 'Ohana is one of our family's favorites, and it's usually our kick-off dinner. We try to book an ADR for the 1st evening of every trip. I love all of the appetizers at 'Ohana. Yes, the meat tends to be somewhat dried out; but sometimes it's better than others. I happen to love Kona's wings & teriyaki steak; I think they're amazing.
However, my family doesn't want to go back to Kona....so I'll have to dine alone to have them again!! They never liked the atmosphere (somewhat like a coffee shop), and the last 2 times our service was HORRIBLE. So they say they don't want to return to Kona. Hopefully I'll be able to convince them some day...but I know it won't be for a while! They all LOVE "Ohana.

 

[inkkognito]

Hmmmm...hard to choose, but I'd have to say Ohana because my husband is obsessed with grilled shrimp and can polish off all he wants for one price. We were just there yesterday...service was good but almost a little hurried (they were anxious to take away stuff from the table). Lots of games for the kids as usual, and delicious food. I don't like the shrimp myself, so I focus on the bread, noodles, and wontons. This was the first time we've had the hot sauce instead of the chimichurri and it was good...almost like a cross between BBQ and hot Chinese mustard.

 

[disneygirlinnj]

I LOVE Kona... not a fan of the whole family style eating at Ohana but thats just us

 

[Out of These Waters]

We ate at both restaurants last week: Kona on our first night and Ohana on our last. I would say that, overall, I preferred the food at Kona (my husband had the Pan-Asian noodles and I had the ginger-glazed rib eye -- both were yummy!). Our server at Kona (ask for Marisol!) was friendly, efficient, and good with our children, and we didn't feel rushed at all. Of course, the atmosphere at Kona IS more like a coffee shop, as a previous poster noted. IMO, the desserts at Kona were far superior to Ohana's, but then again I'm not a lover of bananas or caramel.

Our children preferred Ohana because of the children's activities (dancing, limbo). My husband loved the quantity of food and thought that everything was great except the turkey (too dry). I preferred the nonmeat items because, again, as previous posters noted, the meat tended to be a bit overcooked and dry at times (and we're a family who orders steak cooked medium to medium well!). I thought the pork was the tastiest meat. We polished off all the starter items though! The sauces were great too.

I'm extremely glad that we ate at both restaurants, but I'd say that if you have children, Ohana is probably the better family experience. On the basis of the food alone, I'd probably pick Kona. You can't go wrong with either choice, and you can always try your second choice on your next trip.

Enjoy!

 

[mhmcduff]

Thanks everyone- after these reviews i am going to attempt to get both in. One question though- we have been to kona before so we know the set up but where should we ask to sit at ohanas for a 7 pm dinner- can you see fireworks from there so should we go later? Is there a certain room or area that is better for the kids games etc?
Thanks

 

[Out of These Waters]

We were seated in the area directly behind the cooking area. We were 1 table away from the window, though, so we could still see down one of the main aisles. We were so disappointed to be seated there, because we wouldn't have a view of the chefs, and we also assumed that we'd miss seeing the kids' activities.

Much to our delight, however, once the activities started, the "Auntie" in charge walked all the way around the restaurant to gather the children, who followed her like they were following the Pied Piper. The limbo, etc., took place in the aisles around the central seating area. We could still watch the majority of the fun from our seats (although we did move to take pictures). My husband remarked that he was glad that we were seated where we were. We didn't have kids bumping into or crowding our table, which we did notice happening in the area where the fun was taking place. It was our last night, so we relished the moment of relative peace after a week of crowds!

It seemed that those patrons who were seated in the area nearest the host/hostess stand at the entrance to the restaurant had the poorest view. Try for a view of the cooking area or a table along the wall of windows directly facing the Magic Kingdom. Next time we'll know better!

We ate at 6:30, so we didn't see the fireworks (they started at 10:00, and we left at 8:45 or so). If you have a chance to see them, a table along the window facing MK is best!

 

[photomama]

why not both Ohana for dinner and Kona for breakfast!! That's a winning combination

 

[emmaleigh47]

I think this is the age old question, Kona or Ohana.

Well here is my opinion. I am obsessed with Ohana and it is one of my favorite restaurants on the property. And this is from someone with a severe coconut allergy so no bread or dessert for me ---and STILL one of my favorites!

We are only eating twice at 2 restaurants on our upcoming 14 day trip - Ohana and LTT lunch. I love Ohana.

Kona last trip was the first time and it was OK --- not bad and not spectactular either. But I think I didnt give it enough chance, so we are going to try a late night dinner at Kona this time too.

Ps. The wings I think are better at Ohana than Kona, but thats just me.

 

[Tinkerbell10403]

Have eaten at both places.....I really think Ohana is the better, as well as more entertaining of the two.

Good Luck!!

 

[Gina35]

Ask for a seat along the windows and plan for dinner about 1-1 1/2 hours before the fireworks begin. We are going in August, and Wishes is at 10, so we have an 8:30 ADR. We usually make it that time b/c it usually takes at least a few minutes to a half hour to get into the restaurant, and we like to be there for Wishes. (Perhaps it takes that long b/c we are waiting for a window seat.)