The ambiance was great as well as the staff were very friendly. The bacon was fantastic and the pineapple upside down French toast was very sweet with the sauce/syrup but super tasty! Get a bit more syrup on the side! read more

Island Lava Java - Upside down pineapple French toast - American Near Me - Kailua Kona, Hawaii

Good: cinnamon roll Ola Porter beer ($8.5 / 13 oz) One waitress actually smiled and engaged with us Bad: Waiter (seemed very annoyed with us and poor vibe) Pancakes (disappointing Island style) $14.5 Bloody Mary (very weak and watered down) Tacos (fish was very bland and needed seasoning) Me and my family were excited to come here. It had good reviews on Yelp. 4/5 stars. We were seated quickly so the day started off really well. For some reason our wait staff was not very welcoming. I kind of wrote it off to them having bad customers before. Our waiter just seemed annoyed he had to serve us. If that was the case, just ask another waiter to trade tables. Venue itself is excellent. It's across the street from the waterfront with a spectacular ocean view. Parking is tight; just like any other beach town. read more

See all

Arrived at 10:30 am on a Thursday and had no wait! Obviously a great option to grab a drink/snack with a view of the water. Service was friendly and fast. They utilize the QR code scan and order on your phone which is nice and quick. They had an all day Thirsty Thursday special going on, good prices on draft beer and wine. Ordered a beer and Bloody Mary. Bloody had good spice to it but not too spicy. Tuna poke was fresh and had great flavor. Big Island pizza really was awesome, I would totally come back and order again! Overall, great place to see the views and grab a snack along the way! read more

Island Lava Java - Tuna Ahi Poke, Beer, Bloody Mary - American Near Me - Kailua Kona, Hawaii

See all

GOOD WATERFRONT SPOT This is one of the better restaurants along the Kona waterfront. Good food, nice staff, not too touristy. The seafood is fresh and well-prepared. read more

Took a while to get service from the watress, but things were good after the wait. The Ono Fish Benedicts was pretty good. The highlight was French press of 100% Kona Coffee was really tasty and helped finish the meal nicely read more

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

Never ever ever order curbside. Their curbside pickup area is an active roadway that people are constantly going from the main highway (kuakini) to Ali'i Dr. When I tried to tell the woman who worked there, Karen, she told me I should have just waved the many cars behind me around me while I waited. She told me she "only took a minute" but I was gone. Blaming me for having me wait in an active road and suggesting that I direct traffic around me. If you make the mistake of ordering here just walk in. To the business, don't offer curbside if you require customers to direct traffic and block an active road to get it. Wish I could give less than one star. read more

Ali welcomed us from the moment we came in. We hadn't seen a sunset yet so I wanted to go upstairs to eat even though it was empty and she accommodated us and kindly set us up upstairs. Then Ali managed to be both upstairs and downstairs all at once. Magical. This was a delicious and affordable place for my family to eat with an incredible view. We had 4 people; an 11 year old, and a vegetarian 13 year old and my husband and I. The $7 Happy hour mai tais were delicious. We had the happy hour nachos ( chicken on the side), Ahi scoops and baked Brie. We added the mixed green salad which was incredibly fresh and dressed perfectly. After a week of eating dinners out this was a great balance of vacation food and yummy healthy food. Lava Java has a beautiful view, yummy food (vegetarian friendly) great happy hour drinks, and amazing service (thanks Ali!) Not sure what else you would want but I'm a huge fan. read more

My breakfast was basic but good. I didn't take a picture of it . My husband thought his was bland. Pros: Beautiful scenery on the sea coast Potatoes were seasoned My waitress was nice Fruit served with every meal Clean restrooms upstairs Easy order and pay through the code Was kind of ignored by a waitress and they kept forgetting parts of my food Cons: Bland Coconut syrup? Over prices Cappuccino was disgusting read more

Island Lava Java - Island "Straight-Up" Pancake Breakfast House made coconut syrup - American Near Me - Kailua Kona, Hawaii

This restaurant sits right across the street from the ocean, on Ali'i Drive, which is the main drag in Kona. So you get the ocean view and the people watching, while enjoying your drinks and appetizers. We went there for the Happy Hour, as we didn't feel like having a full dinner meal that day. The drinks were good, but the food was so-so. We ordered the coconut shrimps, and a Brie dip. Both are just average. But then again, you're in Hawaii, and just having average foods with an ocean view makes a nice enjoyable experience! read more

Food was good.. Service so so.. Ambiance was good..Egg Whites Roasted Veggie Omelet Breakfast Sandwich read more

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

See all

There are 2 ...one in Waikoloa Village. No ambiance. The other on Ali'i Drive in Kailua-Kona. Perfect island environment. Big menu. Great service. Reasonable prices for a quality meal. read more

Great view and good food! There was about a 30 min wait to get in when we went on a Sunday afternoon. The unobstructed view of the ocean is great as you dine there. We got a breakfast platter. The fish was slightly less seasoned than I would have preferred but it was still good. The freshly squeezed juices are great. Overall great experience. read more

My fiancée came here in 2017 for a meal & weren't impressed. Here now with my mom & brother & out of exhaustion, I didn't care to stand my stubborn ground of not returning & instead went with the flow. I ordered the ahi & spicy French fry appetizers for my dinner. Ahi came out warm...I wonder how long it was left out to be room temp if not slightly above. It did not make me sick which of course I'm grateful for, but I didn't eat much because of this concern. The fries were terribly salty. The wasabi sauce was salty. So this was just an overload of salt. Didn't eat much here. It's disappointing to waste so much nasty food, worse when your server can tell you didn't like & doesn't acknowledge knowing the food wasn't up to par let alone offer replacement. Mom ordered the bbq ribs app, not impressed. Brother order the pasta which he did really enjoy. Two visits. Confirming to me, eat elsewhere. A lot of places along Ali'i Dr have epic views and unfortunately they can get away with crap food because of the prime real estate, people will come. read more

First off, if you start reading this. read it all. The food was very bland and had no flavor. I sent back my pancakes 3 different times because they spilled syrup all over my eggs, pancakes, and bacon. I sent it back and the bacon and pancakes are the same but different eggs. The eggs were very slimy and uncooked. I sent it back and here again the eggs were very bland and was over cooked now. The lady that serviced us was very nice and understood everytime I sent it back and was very nice to my family and I. The environment I was in was nice, it had quite a nice view but there were birds everywhere eating everybody's food and standing on tables. service. - 5 ambiance - 3 food - 2 I was not impressed with this place and I believe you shouldn't go here. read more

See all

Do you love a good cinnamon roll? Then this is it! Great local spot next to the beach. read more

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

The food was great, the hostess was nice but the servers were not very friendly. Pictured is the garden scramble, veggie bowl, steak and eggs (the crispy potatoes were really delicious) and a pineapple upside down French toast (my favorite). read more

Island Lava Java - Garden scramble, veggie bowl, steak and eggs, pineapple upside down French toast. - American Near Me - Kailua Kona, Hawaii

We went to Island Lawa Jawa for Brunch and it was packed on a weekday! Thats how much this place is popular! It had live music! Food was good- we had fish tacos and sushi. Mai tais were excellent and all of this with a gorgeous view of the sea! What else do you need on a Hawaiian vacation? Go for it! read more

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

See all

Our server Phil was attentive, friendly, and eager to help. Really liked him and he was the highlight. Food was good for brunch. Nothing extraordinary but solid. The biggest issue with this place is they are still stuck in the pandemic-era "electronic menu" that you can only access on your phone. The service they use for the electronic menu, toasttab.com, is extremely difficult to use and didn't work on our phones. You have to enter your name to even access the menu, and once you do, it may or may not work. They do have a few laminated physical menus available, but they don't have all the available items. read more

So the view is incredible. This is a perfect place to bring a large group and you'll have a great view from anywhere you sit. The service was good, especially for how packed the restaurant was. Easy free parking. The only reason I don't get it for stars is because the menu options are fairly limited, especially for breakfast. I had the eggs Benedict. Not a huge fan of having this on a half of a croissant. Potatoes were excellent though. The other person with me had the sausage which was fairly dry. It would've been nice to have an option of a traditional breakfast just eggs, hashbrowns, toast, bacon, or sausage, but they did not offer that. read more

See all

The pineapple upside down French was toast was like a dessert! Great service and view of the ocean

Don't really get the hype here? Aside from it being oceanfront view, the food is nothing to rave about in my opinion. I didn't think anything special of the banana mac pancakes nor did my husband really care for his fish benedict. We left not hungry but not amazed. read more

Luau omelette had us come back for seconds the next morning. During this time, the volume of visitors to Hawaii is low. My mom really liked the coffee ice cream shake. The view of the ocean the beach vibes make this an excellent spot for breakfast. We didn't have to wait which is probably not the case during busy times. Pancakes were solid. Our waitress was very nice and attentive. read more

Island Lava Java - pancakes were solid.... fluffy perfectly cooked i didn't touch the sausages bc i don't like sausages or bacon - American Near Me - Kailua Kona, Hawaii

See all

Well, if it's good enough for Guy Fieri, sign me up! This dinner was absolutely delicious! First off, we made reservations and it happened to be during happy hour (until 5:30, who knew?!) so we got some discounts. We had Mai tais which were delicious and shared the guava ribs. They were literally fall off the bone tasty! I had the Ono fish and chips. It was so good, loved the light breading and the fries were also excellent. The fish tacos were a hit and the Ono catch of the day was also yummy. Prices were reasonable (under $25) per plate. I'd highly recommend this place!! read more

See all

Super good fish tacos are so delicious and the place is big super good everything drinks are delicious

Great views and great eats. It was the first place I stopped at while on the big island and I would go back. read more

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

It was definitely worth leaving our hotel to have breakfast here. We had the chance to enjoy this food on a previous trip. They have a nice variety on the breakfast menu. There are even fresh baked goods as well to enjoy. The pancakes are large and tasty. Our servers Alicia and Deborah were quite helpful. There is also an unobstructed view of the ocean to enjoy with your meal. It's definitely worth checking them out read more

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

Service was swift and kind, worker was efficient and accommodating. The food was delicious and fulfilling. Eggs were made to perfection. Atmosphere was great, got to look towards the ocean. read more

Island Lava Java - Had the buttermilk pancakes w/ bacon and the Hoku Croissant Sandwich. - American Near Me - Kailua Kona, Hawaii

See all

The view at this brunch spot was amazing! I ordered the Lava java Breakfast - Island Style. The portion size was huge, can definitely feed 2 people. I was really looking forward to the pancakes but it was a bit of a let down. Wasn't as flavorful as I thought. Overall, it was a good experience. read more

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

Ate here twice for breakfast during a week in Kona. Everything we tried was excellent. The waitstaff is friendly and attentive. The French press Kona coffee is to die for. read more

Everything was perfect and fast!!! Our server was so kind, the food and drinks were all delicious. Yes, it is expensive but you get what you pay for here. read more

Food is good. They open early and it was Easter Sunday and we got seated without a reservation. The island waffle is great. Good amount of nana and macadamia nut. I have creamy sauce for my waffle and that was good compared to syrup. read more

See all

Nice water front space to dine. Food was average. Nothing spectacular. Server seemed overwhelmed however maintained managing the service of the entire 2nd floor very well. For the view and a simple meal I would recommend. If your looking for Something unique and you don't care about the view then this would not be your place. read more

See all

Fantastic breakfast / brunch spot! Menu consists of a combination of breakfast classics and local, Hawaiian dishes. Service was quick and attentive. Enjoyed both of the dishes we ordered. The Island Eggs Benedict came with a runny poached eggs over a large slice a ham and either rice or potatoes. The luau omelet was unique and filled with juicy Kalua pork, grilled pineapples, onions and oozing cheese. We both opted for the side of breakfast potatoes which came warm and fresh! Coffee was freshly brewed and locally sourced. By the time we finished our meal, a line started to form outside of the restaurant. Definitely a popular spot and recommend making a reservation. By favorite breakfast on Big Island! read more

I came here for dinner and the drinks were good and strong. The food was decent but i can't say i understand the hype. Everyone talks up the fish tacos ($18 was the market price when i went FYI) but it wasn't the most amazing tacos I've had. Also, i had the big island pizza and it was a bit greasy and underwhelming. I like the traditional Hawaiian pizza better, sadly this missed the mark for me. I may come back for breakfast because a lot of fellow yelpers seem to like the breakfast but first thoughts were this place is a little overpriced for what they offer. read more

See all

Overall: We came here for breakfast. The food is pretty standard, but you honestly are paying for the view. The waterfront tables were all reserved so we were sitting along the side - call ahead if you are planning on going to get the best seats! Service: We were super hungry when we arrived so it was relieving to know we could order right away through Toast (and then pay quickly when we were ready to leave). The staff was very friendly and made sure we had what we needed. Food: They have your basic breakfast options like eggs, omelettes, and pancakes. We tried to order the more specialty items to really get a sense for the place. Everything was slightly over priced. Island Style Pancakes: the pancakes were nice and fluffy with a ton of maca nuts, but the nuts overpowered the few slices of banana (couldn't have been more than half of a small banana). We did really like the coconut syrup. Waipio Stack: Maybe the eggs were oddly small, but I swear we only had one egg. It felt like I was mostly eating bread, arugula, and sauce. Wouldn't recommend. read more

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

Staff was nice and pleasant! Now let's get into the negative, I forgot my phone at home, so I immediately could not look at the menu. It's one of those places where you have to scan a QR code to get a menu, I had to wait until my husband finished his phone journey before I could look, no fun. We both ordered the Sunset burger and fries, plates came and it looked great, except meat was well done (I ordered medium rare) and the brioche bun fell apart as soon as we picked it up! Literally no flavor, just a overdone burger on a bun that fell apart. My husband had to eat his with a fork and I just gave up. Didn't finish because what's the point if it isn't very good. We were both disappointed, we don't get out much together because of our work schedules, thought we'd give it a try! Probably won't return, which is sad. Our bill for 2 burgers was $40, no drinks. read more

they burn the pizza twice,and they told us this burned trash was good to eat~we spent 122 including the tips for the whole meal,my kid expected his pizza for like an hour, We felt super crossed when they told us to eat this trash, We just walked away left the whole pan there on the table! And just check out yourself how much they charge for the pizza～it's only a personal size~Don't judge me, you will feel the same way when you wait your food for an hour.Other food looked fancy, but tasted super blend~we have to grab the salt and pepper to swallow the whole stuff down~ read more

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

See all

I really wanted to give Island Lava Java a better review, especially in these tough times, but unfortunately I cannot. Upon arriving at the restaurant, they did seem a bit understaffed, even with our reservation it took more than a couple minutes to get seated, and they were short both menus and table settings. I wouldn't describe the restaurant as busy either, but there were definitely some people. From driving by over the past month, it does seem they are at their busiest a bit earlier in the day. There was live music, but by 6:45 when we arrived it seemed to be dying down. I ordered the Guava BBQ ribs entree, with tropical slaw, and my friend ordered a burger - we also ordered calamari to split. The wait time was nothing to write home about; it took my friend over 15 minutes to get a diet coke. That would be okay if they were busy and this was an isolated mistake, but they were not. The calamari was passable - I feel like with breaded calamari, it's generally agreed upon that the breading should be crispy, which it was not. Our entrees took about an hour to arrive the first time around. For the burger, my friend requested it without tomato and onion; lo and behold, it came with tomato and onion. In terms of taste, my friend said the burger was bland and that the burger at Papa Kona had much better flavor. Regarding my ribs, I specifically asked if the "tropical slaw" that accompanies the ribs contained pineapple (I am allergic) and if it came on the side. She informed me that it did have pineapple but that it would come on the side. The slaw was strewn all over the top of the ribs. They quickly remade it, but this seems like a far graver error than the prior ones. The ribs tasted very good, but taste was not at the forefront of my mind at this point. On top of all this, our server didn't even check in with us after we received the second rendition of our food. I feel like it's okay not to receive a free dessert or something with the mistakes that occurred given every restaurant's tough financial situation, but to not even check in and ask if our food was okay the second time around after consistent errors was quite surprising. All in all, as much as it hurts to write a negative review, I would definitely recommend some of the other restaurants in the area of similar prices and cuisine - Papa Kona, Magic's, and Foster's were all meaningfully better in my opinion. Each of the mistakes alone would have been okay, but combined made for a subpar experience. Would not return unless I was returning for some specific purpose. :,( read more

Island Lava Java - Calamari (this was not how it was served, just a close up) - American Near Me - Kailua Kona, Hawaii

Lava Java is one of the BEST restaurants in Kona!! We were there at 7:15am (they open at 7:30) & were promptly greeted by the nicest host & hostess!! They sat us upstairs in a corner overlooking the ocean... the view was spectacular!!! Our server Tawney was amazing!!! She was pleasant and brought us our coffee & mimosa's (pineapple & guava) right away!! We then ordered the Eggs Benedict & Veggie Scramble w fruit... it was served piping hot & tasted delicious!!! Our coffee was topped off often & she checked in at just the right times!! Thank you Lava Java & Tawney for the spectacular view, service & amazing food!! We'll be back!! read more

See all

We drove from the Hilo side hoping for breakfast but got there at 11:30... they stop serving breakfast at 11:15. So that was a bummer. It's in a nice location and you can look out over the water and people watch. It was a bit pricey but I get it because of the location. I ordered the fish sandwich and it was tasty and my husband ordered the ribs. The ribs were fall off the bone tender and had a nice taste to them. They were serving $5 mimosas so that was a nice treat. The waitress was nice and food came out in a timely manner, the restaurant looked clean and well maintained. Nothing special about this place... although the bar upstairs looked pretty cool. read more

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

See all