8 Things You’ll Love About Kona Café At Walt Disney World

Kona Café is a special restaurant to me. It’s our go-to “First Night at Disney” meal. And I love it every time. Here are some things I think you’ll love about Kona too:

8. The Main Menu

Kona’s menu provides a great way to get some authentic Asian and Polynesian flavor, without being scary for those less taste-adventure inclined. There are so many delicious options, though, really anything you pick will be amazing. And Kona Café is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, which is super convenient. I’ve heard they’re pretty famous for their breakfast – I mean, who wouldn’t want to try pineapple pancakes or the famous Tonga Toast?! I most often go for dinner, where an order of pot stickers and sticky wings are a must. Seriously.

7. The Sushi

If sushi’s your thing, Kona is a sure thing. I happen to adore the raw stuff. Their lunch and dinner menus give a brilliant selection of nigiri, sashimi, rolls, and poke for you to choose from. They have samplers, too, if you can’t make up your mind – I never can. What’s even cooler is the onstage sushi kitchen, which means you can actually watch the skilled chefs make your roll.

6. The Vibe

Kona is actually advertised as a relaxed café, and it really is! Following the traditions of its culture, the atmosphere of the restaurant is very laid back and inviting. You don’t need to dress up for Kona, although you can if you want. And it’s definitely a family affair. While Ohana is next door, the message of that restaurant still applies to this one. Kona is all about ohana and having a good time.

5. The Location

The Polynesian is one of my favorite resorts on Disney property. I love its style and how chill it is. It’s awesome to come up from the lobby and immediately have this great restaurant choice that is exactly the same. Also, it’s super convenient that Kona happens to sit right next to the Monorail. You can easily hop on or off and slip in or out. Plus, if you’re eating dinner at Kona, make sure you’re done by fireworks time – I hear the Polynesian beach provides an awesome view!

4. The Bread

If it seems silly that bread would get its own category, you clearly have not tried Kona’s bread and butter. This isn’t just your average French rolls and pats of butter. This is honest-to-goodness Hawaiian bread and macadamia nut butter. Hawaiian bread is sweeter than normal bread and soft and fluffy. Your server brings you a massive loaf that you can tear chunks off. The butter is soft and fluffy, too, now that I think about it and has actual macadamia nuts in it. The mix of the sweet bread and nutty butter is something I dream about.

3. The Open-Kitchen

The first thing you see when you walk into Kona is its kitchen. The kitchen is actually a partially open kitchen. So the majority of the action happens behind the wall, but there’s a small bar that protrudes slightly into the dining room so that you can watch the pastry chefs do their magic! In your first time visiting Kona, you’ll be given a short tour of the bar area and can check out the massive chocolate carvings and get a sneak peak at your dessert!

2. The Coffee

Yes, there’s coffee everywhere in Walt Disney World. But Kona coffee is special. The Kona coffee is a special blend just for this restaurant. Well, it’s a special Hawaiian blend that you can only get here. The quality is very good with subtle hints of richness. It comes in a French press pot, which only heightens the flavor and means you get a lot of it. You can even take this coffee home with you! You can purchase bags of beans, whole or ground, at the end of your meal.

1. The Décor

Kona’s décor follows that of the Polynesian itself with an authentic island theming. The Polynesian lobby almost flows into the café. The ceilings are lined with giant fans-like-leaves and wooden beams. Island flora is also all over this restaurant, making you feel like you are somewhere tropical. These decorations are all so carefully chosen and placed and make your dining experience incredibly cool.