We enjoyed several meals here including brunch on the weekend. There's an ocean view and friendly staff. read more

Island Lava Java - Mango Moon Pono Mai Tai - American Near Me - Kailua Kona, Hawaii

Okay, this is my last Yelp review from last month's trip to Hawaii. I thought I was done, but I had this unfinished review from brunch at Island Lava Java on our last day in Hawaii. I had the Island Style breakfast, which consisted of island-style pancakes (topped with chopped macadamia nuts, bananas and either coconut or guava-flavored syrup) with fruit and grilled potatoes. Despite the lack of spam and eggs, this breakfast was as good as it sounds! I wasn't expecting to finish the plate, but did so with relative ease. While we had a table outside with a very serene ocean view, there is a bird problem so you have to be careful where you sit. We first sat at a table that was between two umbrellas. This turned into a bad situation as the birds lined up along the edges of the umbrellas. We quickly realized how bad it was when the birds started bombing away! Luckily, another table opened up that was directly under an umbrella and out of harm's way. You also still need to be careful about leaning back, because the back of the chairs may not have been cleaned since the last bombing run. Despite the bird issues, it was a very good and relaxing breakfast. Good food and a good view was a great way to start the day...and the long journey home. read more

Island Lava Java - Island Style Pancakes - American Near Me - Kailua Kona, Hawaii

I've been driving by for a week and it's always full. I had to try it before we go back home. So we came by this morning. My husband and I trying to get attention from the staff was impossible. The girls that work here seem like they're too busy posing for a camera than actually working. Being a blond, rude tattooed girl with a tan must be the prerequisite for working here. It took at least 5 minutes for one of them to rudely tell us to sit at any seat outside. At this point, I was ready to just walk out. The only reason I stayed was because my husband said the food smells good. The Waffles and Eggs Benedict were delicious! The coffee and pineapple juice we got were great. When we finished our coffee, the Barbie that was serving us, walked by several times and never asked if we wanted more coffee. When we asked for more coffee, she seemed shocked! This is a split decision... The food/coffee get 5 stars The service less than 1 stars. This is big since I'm always sympathetic to those that work on their feet and in the service industry. I could understand one person having a bad day and having a bit of an attitude. Not one person was pleasant or welcoming. Very disappointed with the service. Enough that I won't be coming back. read more

BREAKFAST This is my friend's and my favorite place for breakfast. For some reason I still haven't gone for dinner though and I've been going here for years haha. Eggs Benedict is my favorite breakfast food and they do it the best. They put it on a croissant, so simple and so good. I always get a side of potatoes. Sometimes if I want something lighter I get the Hoku croissant sandwich, it's so good! Make sure to get a side of Mac but pesto with it! My friends get pancakes a lot which are yummy too! Great options! Mimosa Monday's mean $5 mimosas! They are pretty yummy! Options for the juice are great too. Smoothies and a hard pass!! Not good, taste like ice haha. Coffee is OK, I'd rather get regular drip coffee from there and get a latte from a coffee shop. The view is the best, can't beat Lava Java's view or eggs bene! read more

Excellent service at this breakfast place. Our server got my boyfriend's order wrong and she came back with the correct order and took 50% our bill for her mistake. We were so grateful but told her she didn't have to. She did anyway! I got the Waipio Stack Breakfast and he ordered the Belgian Waffle Breakfast that came with Portuguese sausage. Everything was good, simple and nicely presented. Prices aren't bad for a touristy spot. read more

Island Lava Java - Waipio Stack Breakfast - American Near Me - Kailua Kona, Hawaii

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My honey and I were in need of some good coffee and tasty eats on our second day in Kona. A quick search on Yelp showed that Island Lava Java was quite popular and since it was just a quick 5 minute walk from our hotel, it was perfect! One look around the place and I knew we were in good shape to get some tasty breakfast eats. All of the patrons seemed quite pleased with their heaping plates of eggs, waffles, and steaming coffee. We placed our order for a breakfast burrito for the bf and a waffle breakfast for me. After grabbing our freshly brewed Kona coffees from the counter, we grabbed a table outside and waited for our breakfast. The view was delightful!!! Clear blues skies, surfers coming in and out of the break, and the beautiful ocean merely yards from us. Perfect! Our food came over shortly late and yumm-o!!!! http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/akg7B2mkNiZbCyE1RgP05Q?select=2XPxBZErAuVw1xN654KzfQ http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/akg7B2mkNiZbCyE1RgP05Q?select=fDjqD5FNhSnHAm2grQHi0g My waffle was delish--crunchy and not too sweet. The bf loved his burrito and it was huge! As for the coffee....it was the best I had yet on that side of the island. And that is saying a lot!! Tummies filled, we were ready to tackle another day in Kona! read more

Island Lava Java - Waffle Breakfast with Herb Potatoes and Portugese Sausage - American Near Me - Kailua Kona, Hawaii

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Great breakfast place!! Fantastic view, good food and yummy coffee!! Very friendly staff!!

This is a very nice place situated right in downtown Kona on Ali'i with the road between you and the beach. Great ocean view! No a/c but lots of shade and fans. Chock full of tourists! I had the luau omelet with rustic potatoes and Portuguese sausage. Hubby had the lava java breakfast with a Belgian waffle and Portuguese sausage. My omelet was a thing of beauty and tasted delicious. The eggs were cooked perfectly, light, and not crispy. They wrapped around a generous filling of shredded pork and pineapple bits. Amazing combination of flavors! In contrast to that taste sensation, the potatoes tasted like they had been prepared much earlier and held in a steam tray. Hubby's waffle was soggy but the batter had good flavor. The Portuguese sausage was tasty but the serving was only three thin slices. This would be four star place but food in less touristy areas has been phenomenal and cheaper. Also, the bathrooms are upstairs if you have mobility issues. Service was excellent! read more

Overpriced? Yes. Great food? No. Okay food? Yes. Excellent ocean view? Yes. Worth it? No. We stopped by this little café with good Yelp reviews hoping for a decent meal on our last night in Kona. We ordered the Guava BBQ ribs ($27.95) and Kalaunu beef burger ($14.95). There was nothing exciting about either. The portions were okay, but the side salad was uninspired (think Costco mixed greens) and the pineapple slaw looked and tasted no different than the salad (did they run out?). I thought the fries tasted okay (maybe the rest of the meal desensitized my taste buds), but my partner in crime said they were stale. Maybe ILJ is worth a stop for coffee, but I would not come here for a meal again. read more

We hit this spot for breakfast on our first morning on the island. We had a great waterfront view from our table along the rail and the food was scrumptious! The banana, macadamia nut, coconut pancakes were wonderful along with fresh fruit and applewood bacon. Of course there were lots of yummy choices! You can't go wrong!Great start to our vacation! Highly recommend! read more

One of the many fine days in paradise brought us down to the little beach town of Kialua-Kona where we wanted to get a good hearty breakfast before a day of hiking. For the price (yes, the prices in Hawaii make New York City look like Lincoln, Nebraska in prices, but it's so worth it) this was a pretty sweet deal. Island Lava Java serves large (jumbo!) portions, lots of fresh, local ingredients and the coffee is 100% Kona. I have just two words for you: cInNaMoN rolls! They're hand rolled daily; buttery, moist and delicious. Oh, and the coffee is served in nice porcelain mugs (you won't find Styrofoam here) that are about twice the size of a typical cup-o-joe, elsewhere. If you're a coffee drinker and you're in or around Kialua-Kona... stop by, you won't regret it. Lets put aside the delicious food, generous portions and coffee kicks, and admit why we really picked this restaurant. The outdoor seating, peaceful ocean view, friendly service, local art all around and good energy made this a difficult place to pass by. read more

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Food here is straightforward nothing bad just nothing amazing. If your alone getting a seat at the bar is a lot faster than waiting for a table. You may sit at the bar for a solid 20 min before you get service. And throughout your experience you get to watch the bartender enjoy cocktails .. at 10am on the clock. Aside from this it's got a great atmosphere. read more

We ate here twice in a week during our stay. The first time, we just ordered on the app and the food was delivered without much interaction. The second time, our entire family of 15 was seated at 2 separate tables and they refused to let us sit together because of regulations. That's fine, but the service employee who let us know was incredibly rude. I simply asked if we could move our table together since it was our first meal "out" as a family since we'd been cooking together at our vacation rental. Whoever I interacted with was incredibly rude to me about a very simple question. The server was nice and food was good, but unfortunately one rude employee really soured the night for me. As a family in the restaurant industry, we would be appalled if one of our employees talked to someone like that. read more

Food is fine here. But it's more for tourists. So don't put too much expectations. That's why I only give 4 stars. 3.5-star is more accurate. You could hear live music here all time. That's a good thing to enjoy. read more

Great clean and delicious food. Right in front of the ocean. The place gets very busy so it's recommended you make a reservation. Walk in and sit at the bar. That's what I did. Cool breeze and fun playlist. There is big screen TVs to watch SPORTS. . Their muffins are huge and can be shared. Super good!!! Had the vegetarian sandwich and their appetizer ribs. Both phenomenal. read more

Barely two stars. The Waikoloa Village restaurant has suffered from the pandemic and the service and food quality have gone way down. I can understand and accept increasing the prices. But no aloha - just an irritating app that takes your order. No more pancakes the last 2 times we came -- just weird deep fried (yes, deep fried and dry) waffles. Very disappointing. read more

Had a great breakfast experience here! I got the macadamia nut pancakes with a cocounut/mac nut syrup which was OFF THE HOOK. Amazing! How can I go back to consuming regular syrup? I could drink buckets of that stuff (if diabetes/caloric intake/waistline measurements were not a factor). The pancakes were encrusted with mac nuts and it gave me just the right nutty flavor. They were also superbly fluffy :-) mmmmm... I also sampled my friend's veg omelette. I was really impressed by how light the eggs were. I don't think you can go wrong with anything here! Also, their pastries are a work of art. Definitely drool-worthy. read more

I love love love this place. Love! It's in downtown Kona and right across from the water. You can get outside seating, which I always do. The last time I was here, there was a freakin cute Hawaiian guy singing Hawaiian style covers of pop songs and it seriously just put me in the happiest mood ever. I mean, just imagine me, sitting outside, perfect weather, calm wind blowing through my hair, eating egg bennies with a side of pancakes drowned in mac-nut syrup, ice cold coffee (and I don't even drink coffee), instagramming photos of this Hawaiian guy on the guitar. That is the dream. Island Lava Java also has a great pastry menu. Not everything's listed so you'll have to walk up to the pastry counter and take a look. They run out of their popular ones early so don't get there too late!! I love the cinnamon roll. I loved everything. read more

As if eating right on the ocean wasn't good enough - the food is also simple, fresh, and amazingly delicious. The iced coffee was fantastic, but even better was my lunch: a fresh tuna poke wrap that was enormous, but also probably the best meal I had in Hawaii. This is a simple cafe that looks unassuming from the outside: I actually though it was just serve decent coffee and average pastries, but everything on the menu we tried was perfect and my brother (a resident of the island) also reported everything he's eaten there was unquestionably delicious. If you can, steal a seat outside and relax while casual and friendly service helps you enjoy your experience. read more

Very cool atmosphere by the water. The portion sizes were decent and the food was pretty good. Slightly pricey on the coffees. Friendly staff. read more

This restaurant has solid breakfast. It's a seat yourself place, so just pick up a menu and find an open table. Come here early because it gets crowded fast, especially if you want a table with the view of the water. We came here twice on our stay on the island because we were fans of their Island style waffle breakfast. It comes with your choice of bacon or Portuguese sausages and a cup of fruit. The waffles are delicious! It's topped off with macadamia nut and bananas with a side of coconut syrup. I like the syrup because it's not super sweet or rich. We also tried the Island style pancake breakfast which is basically the same thing but with pancakes instead of waffles. Those were also very good. I also tried their Luau omelet which was okay. It was lacking a lot of flavors and I wouldn't recommend ordering it. We also ordered a Mochaccino and Ice Kona mocha with whip cream. The mochaccino was very good but was unimpressed by the Iced Kona, especially considering that the name of their restaurant is Island Lava Java. You would think their coffee drinks would be exceptional. read more

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Food: We had the island eggs benedict (house-made hollandaise sauce on two poached eggs, sliced ham, and toasted croissant), Portuguese sausage and pancakes with coconut syrup (the coconut syrup was to die for), the cinnamon roll, and the lava java shake. I highly recommend the pancakes with the coconut syrup and the lava java shake. The coconut syrup was flavored so well that I wanted to dip everything in it. If you get the cinnamon roll, make sure you share it because it's a huge portion (see picture below). They have a variety of plates from pancakes and waffles to croissant sandwiches, pastries, bagels, and bagelwiches. Service and Ambiance: It took a while to get a table but when we did get a table, it was all worth the wait. We sat outside near the live music and had a gorgeous view. I absolutely loved it. Tip: If you stay at the nearby hotel (Courtyard King Kamehameha's Kona Beach House), I recommend just walking here and around this area. read more

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Summary: Awesome view, pretty good food (excellent coconut syrup), standard service,  Note: If you don't like birds, be advised that if you sit outside there is the occasional presence of dive bombing birds. Came for early breakfast (630) on a Sunday and was immediately seated at one of the outdoor tables with a killer view. The crowd started to come in around 7. The food: Sunday's brunch menu is different than the standard menu, which is disappointing since they said they aren't able to make anything off of the normal menu.  Kalua pork omelet with the side of Portuguese sausage: the omelette had a decent amount of pork and the sausage was nice and tasty, if not a bit on the oily side.  Catch of the day: seared ahi - this was a bit disappointing as the fish didn't seem to be all that fresh and wasn't all that tasty Pancakes with Mac nuts and bananas -THESE were delicious, especially when doused with their delicious coconut syrup! service was fine. The lady with the British accent seemed to be in charge and she was extremely nice. read more

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Their Kona coffee is okay as it was not hot Service is also just okay that makes you look for host, asks how everything is when you are mouthful, and makes you wait for servers. However I cannot stand saggy waffle, wet sausage and mashy fruit, thus applying 2 stars. Pancakes didn't look great either. While some other brunch menu items look better, but who knew. :-/ read more

Island Lava Java - Bay view tables at side walk. - American Near Me - Kailua Kona, Hawaii

Very good food and beverages! Wonderful view and great service. Couldn't have asked for a better dining experience. Definitely going back next time I visit. read more

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We absolutely loved and frequented Island Lava Java in Waikoloa Village and were excited to try the one in Kona for Farther's Day breakfast. Huge mistake. We ordered fish eggs Benedict, garden omelette, and kids pancakes. Food came cold and tasted awful. So awful that I had to spit it out into a napkin. Potatoes were burnt. Coffee was cold and tasteless. We will not be back. read more

We had breakfast on 11/28/19. Great experience, love the food, location and ambiance. I had their papaya with granola and vanilla yogurt. It was amazing. read more

Very good views, and open early. We visited on a nice December morning right before our flight back home. I ordered the catch of the day fish tacos, my girlfriend ordered yogurt, granola and fruit, and we had a must have cinnamon bun to share. With two coffees came out to around 40 and we were stuffed! read more

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Friendly staff, great food and relaxed atmosphere not to mention the views of the water and the sea breeze. Was a great stop for family and group on the way to Volcano Nat'l Park. Salads, burgers and Mahi Tacos were on point! Kiddo enjoyed the chocolate chip pancakes something for everyone if you want breakfast or lunch around lunchtime read more

This place is awesome. The food is amazing, the coffee is some of the best I have had and I am a coffee snob, and the view is unbelievable. This is the only place on the island that we chose to go to twice, it was that good. I had the macadamia banana pancakes and they were delicious. I dont even like pancakes but these are a little piece of heaven. They are expensive, but it is Hawaii and to be expected. My daughter had the Oatmeal Brulee which she loved. It was so pretty - she almost didnt want to eat it! We had a cinnamon roll to go and it was one of the best I have ever had. We actually fought over it and it was huge. The view is pretty - overlooking the water. The road is in between the water and the restaurant but it doesnt distract from the view. The only reason this place loses a star is the service. The first visit the waitress was just kinda snippy. Honestly she didnt do anything overtly rude but she was abrupt and just not real warm or friendlly. The second visit we got a different waitress but she acted the same way. I dont know if they think tourists are a pain in the butt, even though we are paying their bills, but that is kinda the feeling I got. If you can look past the service and high prices, this place is awesome. read more

The view of the water + live music was great and relaxing. However, the food was lacking. The portions were quite big considering the price but there was not much seasoning on any of the items. My hubby ordered the Big Island Basics and the meat was so thin, he was left a tad hungry afterwards. read more

This place located on the water and has a nice view of the ocean. There's plenty of parking in the back, but be very careful because they actually monitor how long you stay in the shopping center. My friend got a parking ticket after they ate breakfast and went to get their nails done. I had the Luau omelette and I really enjoyed it. It came with rosemary potatoes and a choice of bacon or Portuguese sausage. The grilled pineapples and onions complemented the pork. One cool thing about this place is that they allow you to BYOB for mimosas. Ask your server for details. read more

Island Lava Java - Luau omelet - American Near Me - Kailua Kona, Hawaii

Our go to place for breakfast. My husband loves the mac nut pancakes and I usually go for the eggs benedict. Never disappointed. Sometimes it can get busy and you may have to wait for awhile, but I know they are doing the best they can with limited staff. read more

I liked Lava Java, but the food didn't wow me. I had lunch with my sister and had a completely fine experience here, but I just didn't love my meal. Other than the lovely view and outdoor seating the best thing about the experience was our waitress who was very accommodating and friendly. The fish in my tacos was cooked nicely, but I swear it said something about chipotle chile on the menu, but I didn't taste that flavor at all. The mild mango salsa was fine, but personally I prefer spicy. The black beans and the side of pasta salad were under seasoned and bland. My sister liked her tuna niçoise salad, but I didn't try it. The ginger iced tea we both had was VERY strong and I wouldn't order it again. If you like pastries, ice cream and coffee Lava Java would be a great place to hang out, but frankly I thought the food was ok, but nothing I will ever crave. I would be happy to eat here again and maybe my opinion will change. read more

Not sure why this place got such high reviews. But my review is for breakfast/brunch. We waited for about 15 mins on a Friday, which was okay considering that it is high tourist season. We were seated outside, which was nice. We ordered a couple of coffees and a simple breakfast plate and a waffle breakfast plate. The waffle was okay..somewhat soggy. So was the bacon. It was soggy and oily. Food came out before drinks but that was fine. Bongo Ben's was better breakfast compared to this. read more

Island Lava Java - Belgium Waffle breakfast. Bacon was super oily and soggy. - American Near Me - Kailua Kona, Hawaii

The views from this restaurant are absolutely amazing. I had the eggs Benedict and it was really good along with the side of potatoes that were seasoned perfectly. The mimosas were pretty tasty as well. Very friendly staff with no wait to be seated. Great breakfast spot! read more

Service was terrible and only 6 tables! We ordered two fish taco plates at $22 each and got one and a large Caesar salad! No idea where that came from. Couldn't get a second drink after waiting 25 minutes for second taco plate one ate while the other watched. No apology, and they wanted to charge us full price. Tacos were passable and the cold black beans were awful. Not coming back and I live here. Not recommend. I kept flagging for a cocktail refill and finally the bartender called me over then wouldn't help me till I walked back for my mask! I wear a mask everywhere! Go elsewhere. read more

My friends and I ate here while on vacation. Most of us ended up getting the luau omelette. It was delicious. It has kalua pork, pineapple, onion, and cheese. It was served with some pretty tasty potatoes also. I asked for bacon as my side, and my friends got Portuguese sausage instead. I wish I would have gotten the Portuguese sausage! The only thing that was terrible about our visit was our waitress. We could see her talking behind the counter to another worker when we were trying to leave and get our check. She did not notice us staring at her through the glass door. She was even slow when she finally did pick up the payment. I would not let her deter your from trying the food here though. Just reflect how you really feel when you tip. read more

Island Lava Java - The luau omelet - American Near Me - Kailua Kona, Hawaii

If there are any upsides to the pandemic one is that we've tried restaurants that we assumed were strictly tourist oriented. Lava Java is one of those. We've been impressed by the food and the friendly service. Love the fish tacos in particular. We've now had lunch here several times and plan to keep coming. A tip: make a reservation as it can fill up. read more

After being seated, waters were promptly served. And then we waited. We were hoping for menus -- about 10 minutes later our waiter showed up and we finally got our menus. He was pleasant. We ordered drinks and a calamari appetizer. The calamari arrived before our drinks. The calamari could be described as rubbery at best. We then had to flag down our nice yet inattentive waiter to order our sandwiches. We both ordered the 'blackened' mahi mahi sandwich. My husband added cheese to his but this was forgotten when received and had to be sent back to add the cheese. Flavor was absolutely bland. Overall, rated mediocre. read more