Always a wonderful date night ( 51 years with hubby !! ) here. Tonight Chatles , a new employee seated us and was super friendly. Great hire Jeff !! Emily was our server and she couldn't have been more attentive and also great spirit ! This is why we always return again and again. Great food and the true Aloha spirit every time. Breakfast, lunch dinner and even happy hour always consistent !! Mahalo Island Lava Java Arnold and Laura Phillips read more

This was the best food and evening we have had yet on Big Island. We had the option of the Happy Hour Menu and took full advantage. We had several cocktails, 4 menu items (Ahi Tuna, Guava BBQ Ribs, Fish Tacos, and Kona Special Pizza) plus two Keiki (Kids) meals and a Pineapple Macadamia Tart for desert. All of the food was delicious and the service was great. The prices from the Happy Hour Menu were less than mainland prices and the food was excellent! The best part of the night was the entertainment! "Station 6" are a firefighter duo from down the beach at Captain Cook. (Thank you for your service!) They played a cool mix of music on guitar and ukulele. Sometimes rockin da house and others songs that made everyone sing along. Very cool guys and really made my family's night special. We will be back before we leave the island! read more

I went here last week and was extremely disappointed. The staff were "half wearing" their masks and the food and service was lacking. Not going back until the threat of the virus is gone. Our server would come to our table with his mask on and then pull it down to talk with us.. ridiculous! Not once, but every time. I should have said something . read more

It's a popular spot! Pretty crowded when we arrived around 10am on a Monday morning but we put our names down on the waitlist, stood in line to get a beverage and less than 10 minutes later (before we even reached the counter), we were seated at a nice table right outside the door with a great view of the ocean and front row seating for the live music entertainment - a one man guitarist who played Hawaiian music! I ordered the Luau omelette without pineapple (allergy) and cheese (not really into cheese unless it's mozarella). However, the cheese was in it when it arrived and since they were super busy I didn't want to complain and wait for another one so I mustered it out. Admittedly, it's probably rare for anyone to ask for no cheese in their omelette so maybe that's why my request was overlooked, and normally I wouldn't care too much about that mistake but since the boyfriend and I were planning to do some hiking into one of the beaches that day (at least 2+ miles one way), I really didn't want to risk getting a stomachache in the middle of nowhere, where there were no toilets in sight, so damn right I asked for no cheese! I tried scraping off the cheese except it was pretty useless and totally sucked for me - the omelette was cooked to perfection and what I could eat tasted sooooo good. I also ordered a mocha before we ordered the food and due to some kind of problem with the espresso machine or other, I had to change it to something else because they thought they wouldn't be able to fix it but at the last minute (near the end of our meal) the waitress brought me what I had originally ordered. On the plus side, since she brought it out super late and there was confusion about the machine working, she didn't charge us for the mocha, which made me feel a little better about the snaffoo with my omelette. In any case, this is a really great spot to chill in the mornings when you just want to have breakfast and coffee, listen to some soothing Hawaiian music and look out at the ocean. Even with a big crowd, it's actually very relaxing when you catch excellent seating! read more

Island Lava Java - Super good omelette without pineapple (allergy) and cheese - except there was cheese in it (disappointment) - American Near Me - Kailua Kona, Hawaii

Awesome food and awesome location! Can't wait to go back! This is definitely one of my favorite stops in Kona. I hope to one day own a restaurant like this. The food is super fresh and super delicious. You have to stop in here if you're in Kona!! :) :) :) If I lived here I'd be at this place ALL the time! read more

Island Lava Java - 20oz 100% Iced Kona Coffee w/Sugar-Free Macadamia Nut Syrup and a gorgeous Hawaiian view - American Near Me - Kailua Kona, Hawaii

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Beautiful view, live music, the service is friendly and efficient, the food came out promptly!! There wasn't anything else I could ask for!!! read more

Island Lava Java - The Drag It Thru The Garden - American Near Me - Kailua Kona, Hawaii

Excellent Island pancakes and eggs Benedict were enjoyed by my friend. Coconut syrup was awesome. Great place for breakfast by the beach read more

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

Really amazing place serving breakfast, lunch and a new dinner service that is central to downtown Kona on Ali'i drive. This is the refuge for locals and visitors alike and brings coffee and breakfast food to a new level. Inviting, efficient and delicious. Ate here twice on our most recent trip to Kona and enjoyed everything from the traditional breakfast )eggs and bacon) to my Ahi plate to an incredible papaya / granola / yogurt concoction that was out of this world (and gone so fast...). Go for he coffee and food, don't worry about the line (they're fast) and enjoy the view while someone brings your food around. Super friendly and just great. read more

Excellent atmosphere. It is right on the water and we were able to watch a beautiful sunset..We were there for three hours and the singer did not take one break. His music was very enjoyable. It wasn't too loud, so we were able to enjoy our company. The food was on the OK side, I ordered half portion of Java Lava salad with chicken. It was very filling. My son and daughter-in-law shared an order of ribs. They said they were OK. The crab mac and cheese was a super large serving...enough for a doggie bag. The service was excellent. We stayed a long time and they didn't kick us out. read more

I have been here many times for their great breakfasts and came for dinner for the first time. Our party had 4 different dishes and they were all great. The fish was moist and perfectly done, the ribs fell off the bone. The service was good as well. I would recommend this restaurant to all. read more

Lava Java is simply magical. This place has the best waterfront breakfast in Kailua Kona. Our server Amy was delightful. She was warm, welcoming, and had wonderful recommendations for activities around the big island. THANK YOU AMY WE LOVE YOU! It was Bloody Mary Tuesday, which I highly recommend! Dylan the bartender made mine to perfection, with black salt around the rim and a fat piece of bacon. Wonderful experience. My lady and I were able to choose a waterfront two top and watch the waves on a blissfull sunny morning. I ordered the Salmon and cream cheese everything bagel, which was heaven, and my lady ordered the benedicts, which she loved! Fantastic service, amazing food, perfect ambiance. Mahalo Lava Java. Simply Magic! read more

Island Lava Java - Lava Java Waterfront Bloody Mary! - American Near Me - Kailua Kona, Hawaii

This is hands down the best breakfast/ brunch spot in Kona. My dad used to come here for years and now I bring my kids here. It's got a banging view of the water and the live ukulele is just the sweetest thing. Servers are kind, food is bomb, and trust me when I say this is the one breakfast you do not want to miss on the Big Island. read more

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

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Good place, great view, had Mai tai , salmon with pinapple and kalamari, all great. The service except for the tired hostess was good. I ll go back. read more

We ate here on vacation. Pancakes are to die for! Coffee is delicious and the eggs Benedict was perfect. Definitely recommend!

Beautiful view and the omelette with pork and grilled pineapple was AMAZING! Don't take directions straight from yelp as they moved locations so just type in "island lava java" in maps. Gorgeous view and we will be returning for dinner and sunset soon. (Also - the coco-mocha is TO DIE FOR) read more

Island Lava Java - Pancakes, Luau Omelette, coco-mocha, and a gorgeous view - American Near Me - Kailua Kona, Hawaii

The food was indescribably great. We were lucky enough to be seated up top and the view is just stunning. Our server was super on it, always made sure we were satisfied and our drinks were topped off. The live music was lovely, not too loud but just a nice touch to the mood of the place. All around I highly highly recommend this place for breakfast! Normally we don't go to the same place twice while on vacation so that we get out of our comfort zones buuut we might make an exception and come back for dinner, it's just so good! read more

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Staff was fantastic, helpful, friendly. I had a very good Maitai. I would return for a drink, but definitely not the food. We had fish & chips, and it was just terrible. Mushy fried, soggy fish. I wish I could just rate it based on the Bartenders, and drinks, but there are so many options along that stretch of shops & restaurants. Go if you want drinks only, The staff was great read more

Island Lava Java or Island Java Lava if you say it really fast..whatever the case, it's a place that won't be forgotten. This was my breakfast go to spot the whole time I was in paradise. Lava Java is situated right on Kona's downtown strip facing the pacific ocean. There wasn't a spot outside that did not have a great view of the ocean. The breakfast offerings was a good mix of items. Whether you're craving for sweet or savory breakfast items, there's options for everyone. Like their homemade cinnamon buns to Portuguese sausages. Then there is their basic items like pancakes and waffles, or eggs benedict served on home made croissant if you're seeking something more decadent. If you're lucky you might get a table outside with a view of the baker inside making their homemade breads. How often do you run across a place that bakes their own bread for toast? The servers are very friendly. On some days there is live music from a local playing cover songs while playing the ukulele. read more

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

A place you go to daily during your first trip to Kona, HI should probably earn 5 stars, right? I agree. My favorite dishes were the Waipi'o Stack Breakfast and the Bread Pudding French Toast. Note, the french toast is only served on Sundays. I stopped in for a to-go order before my flight and they didn't have the regular breakfast menu. I impulsively decided on the bread pudding french toast and have been thinking about it for four months now. It was crazy good. I tried dinner here once and was not particularly impressed. I would recommend only visiting for breakfast treats. Hawaii is expensive and while I didn't think the menu itself was insanely expensive, things start getting pricey when you want to add items on the side. I just had to taste an island pancake during one of my visits (about $6 for a pancake) and wanted a side of fruit during another visit (which was around $5 for a very small cup). I sort of regretted those decisions once I saw the bill. Maybe just stick with menu selections if you're being cost conscious. The restaurant is very easy to walk to from the Courtyard King Kamehameha's Kona Beach Hotel and you can get a good view of the ocean the whole way. It's a gorgeous walk. Restaurant accepts paper and plastic (cash and credit). I would recommend pottying before you go here...the bathroom situation is a little shady (involving a key, a longer-than-expected walk, and a creepy single bathroom that patrons from all the nearby restaurants seem to use. read more

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We were recommended this place from a family friend, and it did not disappoint. Coffee was tasty and the food was bomb. The pancakes island style I would highly recommend, which my husband got! I got this yummy stack. read more

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

Ate here twice on while in Kona. Beautiful view while you dine. Both times the food was fresh and tasty. Definitely recommend.

It's such a cute spot on the strip. Super friendly staff and they had live music at like 9am. The food was pretty good. Their macadamia nut pancakes with coconut syrup was really good. Fruit was very fresh. If I could've brought that coconut syrup to bring back home in a bottle, I would've. I also got a coconut muffin, it was average. And an iced chai latte which was also good. Overall a nice spot for breakfast. read more

This has been our go to spot for breakfast in Kona. The view is incredible and the food is great as well. I've had the pull apart Cinammon buns, the oatmeal brûlée, and two smoothies so far into our trip. The staff is friendly but could me a little more knowledgable about the special Ironman Menu. Our first visit was meant to be quick and we were very pleased with the time it took from when we ordered to when we got our food which was easily less than 12 minutes. (We ordered mostly croissants and simple food.) The second visit was meant to be more savory and we took our time with an ocean front view. I feel like we would try other breakfast locations if there were any easy to find, easy to order places but this seems to be the main one. read more

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After reading the good yelp reviews, I decided to visit Lava Java for breakfast one morning during my Kona visit. I ordered a strawberry banana smoothie, and waffle with Portuguese sausage. The smoothie was very refreshingly fresh, the only thing is that I couldn't really taste the bananas. Maybe it was just me, or maybe the taste of the strawberries over power the taste of the bananas? Whatever the case, it didn't make it taste bad, so it didn't really matter. The waffle was huge, moist, and fluffy just how I like it and the Portuguese sausage slices were huge too. (3 pcs) Awesome view, live entertainment, friendly service, and great food. Can't go wrong.... except for the birds flying over you (waiting for you to share some of your delicious food with them). TIP: Sit inside to avoid the birds. read more

Island Lava Java - Beautiful ocean view - American Near Me - Kailua Kona, Hawaii

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Located in a nice area, cool outdoor seating but food was blah. Sounded great but didn't deliver in flavor or execution. The poke appetizer was just just the fish, no sides to eat along with it. The grilled salmon on pine apple was mediocre, glazed ribs with sweet potato fries with coleslaw was way too fatty and flavorless, the pizza crust was so soggy... it was reminiscent of Digorno frozen pizza, the lemon chicken was salty, and chicken sandwich tasted frozen and was bland. This was just the opinions and ratings of less than half our group. Overall our group of 18 people did not like their respective plates. Would definitely not recommended! Average cost of a plate $22-25. read more

I've been here twice in the one week I'm at the Big Island and I thought the place was worth going a third time but due to time constraints, I had to pass. I give bonus points to the luau omelette since they took a regular American breakfast item and fused it with their Hawaiian touch. The shrimp pizza was pretty good too even though I don't really like seafood on my pizza. You should try the pancakes with the coconut syrup since maple is something you can always try at home Referring to another review I read, those aren't hairs on the cups. Those are actually the rag or towel they used to quickly dry the cups since the place is really busy and they seem to recycle cups frequently. I know because I have a similar rag/towel at home that sheds like that and also I asked the waitress "what the heck is that?!" read more

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

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Looooved having breakfast here. Location is great as you can look at the ocean while you eat if you are seated outside. They also hire a guy to play and sing island music while you eat. The whole environment is just so nice and peaceful, what you would imagine a low key casual breakfast place to be like in Hawaii. The food is really good too, using fresh fruits everyday. However, note that things do run out if you arrive later in the day. They ran out of fruit salads and only had papaya and no more cinnamon roll by the time I came. They substituted with other things and it was still all delicious. You can't really go wrong with anything you choose on the menu so go with what your heart desires. read more

Island Lava Java - Regular pancakes with side of eggs and bacon - American Near Me - Kailua Kona, Hawaii

Visiting kona, I'd knew there'd be coffee everywhere. I haven't tried many, but I did certainly enjoy Lava Java's coffee. My only gripe is no free refills, but you can't have it all! The main attraction for us was the giant cinnamon rolls. And they are giant. And they are delicious. Very much recommend. I had the veggie wrap, a wrap of veggies, eggs, and goat cheese. Does not disappoint. I'd happily go back for a second round if there weren't other places I'd like to try before heading back to the mainland. Oh, and the service was wonderful. Very nice, very helpful. Update: went back for a second round and it was still awesome. Had a different dish than I had the first time and was very pleased. read more

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

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We visited this place the first night we arrived to Kona. The service was excellent, the food excellent as well. My sister and I tried the fish of the day ( I had Blackened) and it was super tasty and fresh. Our server (fellow from Lacey, WA), was super nice. We were ready for something local to drink. He offered Pineapple cider from Ola Brewery. It was delicious!!!!...they have a musician playing the guitar and it was super entertaining and good music to hear while eating. They also offered some homemade bakery treats at the end of the night for last guests!!:)...we went there 3 days in a row!...everything perfect everyday!!...Thank you for the great service!! read more

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

After spending the entire afternoon at the beach, I drove down to Lava Java for lunch. I heard they have incredible breakfast, so I'll have to try it next time I visit. I ordered the Island Lava Java salad. It came with grilled chicken, Lehua Farm's organic greens, shredded carrots, Big Island goat cheese, Minvista Farm's macadamia nuts, and tossed in a vinaigrette dressing. This salad was so fresh and tasty! The chicken was flavored and grilled perfectly. read more

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

Delicious food, friendly staff, great service. And to to it off there was an amazing sunset happening right across the street! We started with the fried calamari...super tasty and tender. Then I had the Island Lava Java salad and my husband had the potato soup...the salad was light and flavorful and the soup was creamy goodness with a little kick. For my entree I had macadamia encrusted Mahi Mahi and my husband had the pork chops...both were cooked well and tasted great. The pork chop came with a side of corn that had sour cherries in it, which strangely worked...it also came with mashed potatoes which were yummy. Our server Christina was very nice and totally on point. Oh, and the cocktails were great also. I had the Coco-Mo and my husband had the Hana Hou...which was SO good I switched over to that for my meal. read more

Island Lava Java - Sunset - American Near Me - Kailua Kona, Hawaii

First off I just want to say my boyfriend and I were looking forward to eating at Lava Java for the first time. Unfortunately walking up to the stairs firstly not being greeted. Instantly we noticed the hostess was on her phone. Happy hour menus still out so I asked her how long happy hour was until.. without any acknowledgement the host looks up and back down to her phone completely ignoring me. Walking past after eating somewhere else the host stares at us as we walk by.. as if she deliberately was ignoring us. Personally I find this unacceptable as I've worked in the restaurant business all my life as well as I've been a hostess myself. no exception for her phone being out. 1/19/18 5pm Hopefully there are better hosts working. Still haven't dined in, although have sat at the bar upstairs on a number of occasions. No complaints from any time. Good food & good drinks. :) read more

WE had a delicious breakfast. We saw the beautiful ocean from our table. My food was fantastic. The wait staff was busy, but did well with all the customers. read more

Great kona coffee, excellent service, prime location! My husband and I shared the guava bread pudding French toast with fresh berry compote and it was wonderful!! Probably up there amongst the best French toast I've had. They even plated it separately for us! They seem really busy in the evening as well so we might have to pull ourselves away from the brewery one night to try it! :-) read more

Island Lava Java - Guava bread pudding French toast - American Near Me - Kailua Kona, Hawaii

Great service. Food was 4 star but not quite 5. View is awesome. Coffee was DELICIOUS!! Would recommend and go again. They also have a live musician. It's nice to have the sounds of Hawaii but it was a little too loud sometimes too. read more

Island Lava Java - Croissant sandwich with a bagel. - American Near Me - Kailua Kona, Hawaii

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I'm definitely a fan of this place. Love coming here for early breakfast. The location and view is great so it tends to be really packed at peak times, I've seen them on a wait for tables fairly often. What's great is that you can get a full breakfast here along with high quality coffee and espresso drinks rather than the standard kona blend drip coffee you see at so many breakfast spots. They also have great baked goods. The cinnamon pull apart bread is to die for! Enough sugary cinnamon syrup at the bottom of the plate to dip every bite into! My favorites are the roasted veggie omelet and eggs benedict. The combo of pesto and goat cheese with those roasted vegetables and eggs is so good I have a hard time ordering anything else. The breakfast potatoes are excellent as well, with a touch of rosemary and the perfect amount of seasoning. Love that you can get a benedict with ham, fish or smoked salmon. Love the smoked salmon one the most, and it's on a croissant! Luxurious step up from an english muffin. The bagel and lox is great too, it's nice to have different kind of options, you could go for a massive breakfast plate, one of their smaller items, or just coffee and pastries. I've only been here for dinner once. My friend and I split a pizza since we were on more of a budget- menu appears a little pricy- and the pizza was delicious! Since it's outdoors they allowed her to have her dog at the table, super helpful since it's hard to find a place to eat out while taking care of your furry loved one. Overall, I don't come here too frequently but every time I've had a great experience. Mahalo Island Lava Java read more

Great Breakfast place... Service was a bit quicker here than others as well as classy and yummy! Great coffee drinks and live ukelele music, perfect for a soft morning session. Overlooks the ocean and friendly staff!!! read more

Stopped in for lunch at the advice of a 20 year Kona regular. The view from the bar was so relaxing and the bartender was extremely friendly and easy going. My friend and I shared a salad with shrimp and the fish tacos. The tacos were by far the best thing we ordered--the salad was a bit bland. But great portions on both and stellar Thursday drink deals. I'd definitely recommend for a casual lunch. read more

Beautiful view, great staff, delicious food! I came here for dinner on a Saturday night, and although it was busy, the staff was very friendly and attentive! We had just missed their happy hour, but even without the happy hour discounts, the prices were worth it to me based on the quality and the portion size! I got the poke bowl with half tuna half tofu, and asked for less rice and more greens! It was soooo tasty and fresh, and HUGE! We also tried their blackened shrimp, burger, and pizza! The blackened shrimp was good, but was definitely very blackened so you might want to ask them to go light if you're sensitive to too much of that taste. The drinks were also on happy hour all night, and I loved their mai tais which came with a sweet cherry and pineapple! Of all the things we got, the pizza was actually the most expensive at $21 for a 10 in pizza, so next time I probably wouldn't order that again. But we were definitely satisfied with everything else! read more

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

Great for breakfast. It gets packed so expect a wait. Hawaiian style pancakes are the bomb. My fav breakfast spot on the bog island.