We visited Kona Cafe twice during our recent trip to Orlando, specifically to eat their well-known Tonga Toast for breakfast. The staff were happy to accommodate our dietary requirements & made us vegan-friendly Tonga Toast (made with rice milk & served with either plant-based sausage or a fruit salad, as well as the standard maple syrup & strawberry compote. Although we had to wait a little while for our food, we didn’t mind at all as the atmosphere is nice & our food was being prepared & cooked fresh for our order. The Tonga Toast itself is HUGE - crisp outside, fluffy inside, stuffed with warm roasted banana & covered in cinnamon sugar. A fantastic (if indulgent!) way to start the day at Disney!
Melinda Machado
Wanted a three top table but was told it was reserved. Put at a 2 top and the waitresses banged my chair at least 5 times before I moved my chair to the side (never apologized) Was there almost 2 hours and no one sat at the three top, then when my Sushi roll was served I almost broke my tooth after two crab shells were in my roll. And my friend was served raw salmon. After they replaced it the chef that we were told would come out never did. And the waitress was not very personable or seemed to genuinely care. Told the manager of our not so good experience (Been here 3 times before) I feel like he really didn’t care. Offered to comp my friends meal but not mine. I won’t be going here in the future.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 2
David C.
Breakfast was amazing, try the French toast
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
MC
Got served raw chicken wings and management still made our server charge us $10 for our drinks. Management couldn’t even apologize or say a single word to us. Very embarrassing, definitely not coming back
Food: 1
Jorge Mancilla
It was the best time. My wife was soo happy 😊. Jose he was super. Excellent serve.
Monica Droa
Amazing food and service
April Veal
Rocky start to our meal when they seated us at a table that was soaking wet and refused to wipe it dry. I had to fan it with my menu for several minutes because they wanted to argue that the cleaner was alcohol based and would quickly dry. It didn’t. We were served coffee but only one spoon for both of us and had to ask for sugar/artificial sweeteners because there weren’t any on our table (all the other tables had them in little containers). Ditto for salt and pepper. Three stars because our server was nice and the food was decent. However, I would not return.
Amy Sik
Kona Café at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort is such a lovely spot—relaxed, welcoming, and full of tropical charm. It’s the perfect escape from the parks while still soaking in that Disney magic.
I absolutely loved the Turkey Banh Mi—fresh, flavorful, and such a unique twist that totally hit the spot. The combination of savory turkey, crisp veggies, and bold seasoning was perfectly balanced and left me wanting more.
The service was friendly, and the setting is bright and peaceful, with just the right touch of island atmosphere. It’s a great place to unwind and enjoy a truly satisfying meal.
Highly recommend Kona Café for anyone looking to try something a little different while still enjoying the quality and care Disney dining is known for. A wonderful dining experience all around!
Destanie Fonoimoana
Our server Matti was a sweetheart. Breakfast was affordable and cute very standard choice. Short wait easy to book online reservation. we were late and the hosts was so personable and got us on the list again and sat quickly (Rachael?) . Todd was professional. Would recommend. Not like sooooo amazing on the food - but affordable, great service, regular food, great location. Great vibes.
Jordan Hill
The food was great but the service my wife and I Received was awful ! As I am in Hospitality Management they have some Improvements that need to be made !
Servers Need to Stop Bad Mouthing there Guests out on the Dining Floor
Food was good , the experience was not so great. My husband and I wanted to get drinks after walking around the parks all day but yet they said our IDs were invalided cause they looked “weird” even though we got drinks every where else in Disney with the same IDs. The manager had to call over a bunch of people to look at our IDs as if they were taking a poll on whether they can serve us or not. Server Maryellen is not that great. She did not check in on our table and placed a random spoon and soy sauce down without saying anything. Also the Kids sushi is not appetizing at all. It’s fried chicken on dry rice. Hope they can figure out their management situation and can analyze IDs better without bringing the spirit squad out. :)
Comede Et Explora
We thoroughly enjoyed our breakfast at the Kona Cafe! Peanut butter French toast was pheonomenal with a crispy crunchy cinnamon sugar outside and a delectable sauce. Additional we enjoyed the loco loco that came with creamy eggs and a delicious gravy. Ambience is cute and an open airy restaurant. Vibes of the Polynesian hotel lobby can't be beat! Serving sizes are large so most entrees can be split.
lip89
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.
jpm0703
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.
lilirishstar
We have enjoyed breakfast here many times, but this was the first we had lunch here. We were seated at a nice table and had Jose as our server. We just had a couple of apps, Pork Bao Buns and Pot Stickers for a total of $25. The Pot Stickers were really good, the Bao Buns were good as well, just not as good as the Pot Stickers. With my $5 Iced Tea our tasty lite lunch was $30.
We visited Kona Cafe twice during our recent trip to Orlando, specifically to eat their well-known Tonga Toast for breakfast. The staff were happy to accommodate our dietary requirements & made us vegan-friendly Tonga Toast (made with rice milk & served with either plant-based sausage or a fruit salad, as well as the standard maple syrup & strawberry compote. Although we had to wait a little while for our food, we didn’t mind at all as the atmosphere is nice & our food was being prepared & cooked fresh for our order. The Tonga Toast itself is HUGE - crisp outside, fluffy inside, stuffed with warm roasted banana & covered in cinnamon sugar. A fantastic (if indulgent!) way to start the day at Disney!
Wanted a three top table but was told it was reserved. Put at a 2 top and the waitresses banged my chair at least 5 times before I moved my chair to the side (never apologized) Was there almost 2 hours and no one sat at the three top, then when my Sushi roll was served I almost broke my tooth after two crab shells were in my roll. And my friend was served raw salmon. After they replaced it the chef that we were told would come out never did. And the waitress was not very personable or seemed to genuinely care. Told the manager of our not so good experience (Been here 3 times before) I feel like he really didn’t care. Offered to comp my friends meal but not mine. I won’t be going here in the future.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 2
Breakfast was amazing, try the French toast
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Got served raw chicken wings and management still made our server charge us $10 for our drinks. Management couldn’t even apologize or say a single word to us. Very embarrassing, definitely not coming back
Food: 1
It was the best time. My wife was soo happy 😊. Jose he was super. Excellent serve.
Amazing food and service
Rocky start to our meal when they seated us at a table that was soaking wet and refused to wipe it dry. I had to fan it with my menu for several minutes because they wanted to argue that the cleaner was alcohol based and would quickly dry. It didn’t. We were served coffee but only one spoon for both of us and had to ask for sugar/artificial sweeteners because there weren’t any on our table (all the other tables had them in little containers). Ditto for salt and pepper. Three stars because our server was nice and the food was decent. However, I would not return.
Kona Café at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort is such a lovely spot—relaxed, welcoming, and full of tropical charm. It’s the perfect escape from the parks while still soaking in that Disney magic.
I absolutely loved the Turkey Banh Mi—fresh, flavorful, and such a unique twist that totally hit the spot. The combination of savory turkey, crisp veggies, and bold seasoning was perfectly balanced and left me wanting more.
The service was friendly, and the setting is bright and peaceful, with just the right touch of island atmosphere. It’s a great place to unwind and enjoy a truly satisfying meal.
Highly recommend Kona Café for anyone looking to try something a little different while still enjoying the quality and care Disney dining is known for. A wonderful dining experience all around!
Our server Matti was a sweetheart. Breakfast was affordable and cute very standard choice. Short wait easy to book online reservation. we were late and the hosts was so personable and got us on the list again and sat quickly (Rachael?) . Todd was professional. Would recommend. Not like sooooo amazing on the food - but affordable, great service, regular food, great location. Great vibes.
The food was great but the service my wife and I Received was awful !
As I am in Hospitality Management they have some Improvements that need to be made !
Servers Need to Stop Bad Mouthing there Guests out on the Dining Floor
Restaurantji Recommends
Food was good , the experience was not so great. My husband and I wanted to get drinks after walking around the parks all day but yet they said our IDs were invalided cause they looked “weird” even though we got drinks every where else in Disney with the same IDs. The manager had to call over a bunch of people to look at our IDs as if they were taking a poll on whether they can serve us or not. Server Maryellen is not that great. She did not check in on our table and placed a random spoon and soy sauce down without saying anything. Also the Kids sushi is not appetizing at all. It’s fried chicken on dry rice. Hope they can figure out their management situation and can analyze IDs better without bringing the spirit squad out. :)
We thoroughly enjoyed our breakfast at the Kona Cafe! Peanut butter French toast was pheonomenal with a crispy crunchy cinnamon sugar outside and a delectable sauce. Additional we enjoyed the loco loco that came with creamy eggs and a delicious gravy. Ambience is cute and an open airy restaurant. Vibes of the Polynesian hotel lobby can't be beat! Serving sizes are large so most entrees can be split.
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.
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 have enjoyed breakfast here many times, but this was the first we had lunch here. We were seated at a nice table and had Jose as our server. We just had a couple of apps, Pork Bao Buns and Pot Stickers for a total of $25. The Pot Stickers were really good, the Bao Buns were good as well, just not as good as the Pot Stickers. With my $5 Iced Tea our tasty lite lunch was $30.
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