Island Lava Java
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Been coming to Kona now every month for about 2 years. Each morning starts with a swim with the pier swimmers followed by breakfast at the Java Lava. So far, I have yet to have any sort of negative experience whatsoever. The food is always good, the coffee is tasty, and the staff is always super friendly! Nothing beats an early morning swim and then a wonderful breakfast as you look out to the ocean and listen to the waves crash just across the street. It's one of my favorite parts of my business travel, and so far it's been great!
Great location and view of the ocean while dining. Plenty of options for breaks, lunch, and dinner. Expect a wait on the weekends if you're not there early. Overall worth checking out for a quick bite and drink along the ocean.
Pancakes were nice and fluffy. Bigger than I expected and the coconut syrup was a nice touch. Bacon could have been a little crispier but the taste was very nice. Vanilla latte was way too sweet (personally) but I did add vanilla syrup and cold foam so that's on me. Just didn't taste much of the coffee. Biscuits and gravy were delicious and the pork had amazing flavor. Waffle was a little dried out (we sent it back due to it not being crispy enough and we believe they just reheated the waffle). But the flavor was still good with the macadamia nuts and bananas The Bloody Mary was great, however, they could do with a little more spice and a little more tomato base. As far as bloody Mary's go, this was on the weaker side. Loved the Black Sea salt rim. Shoutout to our server, Terri, who was fabulous the whole time.
Had the Ube Bliss and Island Style Belgian Waffle. The Ube Bliss was very pretty! I'm not much of a coffee person, but this was relatively light and sweet, so it was enjoyable. A slight hint of ube and the coconut cream. The waffle was good as well! The coconut cream syrup was a nice island twist. It paired well with the mac nuts and banana slices. Great! Not to mention the views of the ocean right next to us. We saw a pod of 10-20 dolphins hanging out! Great staff. Mahalo!
Very good service and a quality breakfast. The fresh fish Benedict and the island style waffles were very good and there is a great view. Coffees were decent but the highlight was definitely the food.
Two years later so we figured we'd give it a try again, this time for lunch We had the fish sandwich and the smashburger The burger was fine. We ordered green salad as the sides and they were really good . Mixed greens, no iceberg, served with a tasty balsamic vinaigrette. The fish sandwich wasn't great. We' chose the seared ahi. It was cooked completely through, which was probably a good thing because it was FAR from fresh--extremely "fishy." We've had a lot of ahi that past two weeks and this was the worst. Service was friendly and prompt, although it was clear we arrived at the end of our server's shift. We' were handed the check when we were nowhere near finished with our sandwiches. This wasn't a huge issue for us, but some people might feel put off by that. Cleanliness was still an issue--the tables really be a good deep cleaning. You can't beat the view! There was construction right out front this time (not the restaurant's fault)) but at least it was interesting
We've been coming to Lava Java for years and it's our favorite spot for breakfast. It has a great view of Kona's oceanfront and it's relaxing to drink your mimosa or Mocha (or both as my wife does it) and watch the boats and para-sailors. The service is very good, especially if you are upstairs when Tawny is working. I used to get the Portuguese sausage, eggs, and rice. However, I tried the hollandaise a few visits back and I have been hooked ever since. Now I get the eggs Benedict with home fries and extra sauce for the potatoes. Make sure to visit this spot when you're looking for a tasty, easy going breakfast.
We had breakfast at Island Lava Java and the location alone makes it worth visiting. It's right across from the ocean, the views are beautiful, and we even got to see dolphins while we were eating, which made the experience extra special. I had the island style pancakes and they were delicious. The coconut syrup was the perfect addition, and the Portuguese sausage was also really good. My husband had the luau scramble, which was alright but felt like it was missing a little something. My brother in law ordered the loco moco and really enjoyed it. Overall, we had a nice breakfast and would definitely go back.
Stopped by for breakfast because it was across the street from our resort. Terri our server was so sweet and helpful. Never kept us waiting. We started with the French press Kona coffee which was complex and delicious. My wife loved her fresh catch Benedict I had the lava java breakfast and it was fantastic. Waffle was a little chewy was the only critique. Will definitely be coming back.
This morning was already a bit stressful because we couldn't decide where to eat, and in the end we chose this place because of the many reviews. Unfortunately, it ended up being disappointing. We ordered a vegetable omelet to share and two drinks, and the total was almost $70, which felt very overpriced for what we got. The portions were small and the food itself was nothing special. It definitely wasn't exquisite or memorable in any way. The view, however, was beautiful. We were seated on the second floor with an ocean view, and that part was truly lovely. But even with the scenery, the experience didn't feel worth the money. My husband's coffee also wasn't good at all. The waitress was polite, but the service was quite slow. Overall, the location and view are the best things about this place. Sadly, the food, drinks, and value didn't live up to the hype, and we left feeling frustrated.
We came here twice. Once for breakfast and once at lunchtime. The restaurant has a beautiful ocean view. If you are able to get a table up front, you will have an unobstructed view of the Pacific ocean. Sometimes you might even be able to see some whales or a school of dolphins if you go during the right season. Our first visit was during lunch. It was around the time they were turning over their menu from breakfast/brunch to lunch and we were told that menu items would be limited or we could wait 10 more minutes while they complete the transition in the kitchen. We decided to share a pizza which was one of the no waiting option and the ahi bites. The Kona combo pizza had pepperoni, Italian sausage, olives and onions. It was large enough for the two of us to get full. The ahi bites were excellent. We had to wait for 10 more minutes to get them but they were worth the wait. The house wasibi aoili and umagi glaze were so flavorful and definitely elevated the taste of the ahi nuggets. Service was quick and friendly. Our server checked on us often enough to make sure we had drinks and that the food were delivered to our table. Our breakfast visit was the following day. Unfortunately, service was slower and our waitress was not very attentive. My husband ordered the island bagel and lox and I had the drag it through the garden croissant breakfast sandwich. While the food was good, the overall visit was like night and day from our previous experience. I'm still glad we came for breakfast though as the place does have a lot of great options as far as food went.
Definitely wouldn't recommend. The food was average, not a lot of flavor at all. They sat us a table without an umbrella, we were the only ones without when there were others empty. Worst part about this place was the server eric did something shady with the tip amount. I pressed the total amount on the hand held payment and when I saw the charge it was more.
Wife liked her French toast, the pancakes were middling at best. The gripe I have is I had to sit and listen to two ladies yap in meetings while working remotely at the table beside us. I hear enough corporate double talk and have to sit through enough useless teams meetings every day. I didn't fly all the way to Hawaii to have breakfast in the middle of one. They hadn't even purchased meals and were sitting and drinking water and disturbing the whole space. Never again.
Atmosphere? Well your literally sitting with the view of the beach, it cannot get any better than that. Service was very good, no complaints. Attentive and were always checking to make sure any refills were needed. The breakfast we ordered was great and the coffee was hot and robust. The eggs benedict were picture perfect and the waffle came out looking like something out of a food network show. Plain and simple, way better than anything at Dennys. read more
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Jeff F.
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1 year ago
We came during a busy time but were sat quickly . Our server was nice and we got food /drinks in a timely manner. The food was awesome some of the best French toast I've had !! My only complaint was that some of the wild life (small birds ) wanted some of our food too read more
Great brunch place! We went on a Friday morning, got seated immediately. Beautiful view of the ocean. Our server, young white male adult, was great and very attentive! read more
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Jeff F.
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Stopped in for dinner, ordered the fresh veggie bowl with chicken added and it was very tasty! The service was also excellent and the view is awesome so hence the 5 stars! read more
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Jeff F.
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2 years ago
I kinda forgot to take pics of the food! I was so busy and in a rush to eat! The restaurant is so cute! It has a beautiful view of the ocean, great vibes! Love love love the view! The mimosas were delicious! We had the lilikoi mimosa yummm. We made a reservation and they seated us early! Win! Off of the breakfast plate I will say the pancakes were HUGE I could not finish, the potatoes were the best part! So seasoned! Highly recommend! read more
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Jeff F.
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4 months ago
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5 months ago
Food and services were excellent. We had Toscana chicken pizza, daily catch taco and coconut shrimp. All of them were great and very special. read more
Saw this place on DDD and had to check it out. The croissant sandwich was good but small and didn't come with any side potatoes, veg or fruit. The island style pancakes were about average, wish there was macadamia in the actual pancake not just on top. Side of fruit consisted of cut melons, grapes and old strawberries you would expect at any continental breakfast in the continental US - I was hoping for some fresh tropical fruit! Located in a cute shopping center in a busy area of Kona. Make sure u get a reservation so u can sit on the edge with the ocean view. Service was a bit slow, you could tell the one server was dealing with the entire upstairs patio so she was over-extended, but she was very friendly at least. read more
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Jeff F.
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2 months ago
Back to Lava Java, this time for breakfast. We were able to find parking in the free lot in the back so we didn't have to hassle with the down town paid parking fiasco, $6 cups of coffee but they were really good and endless. The Island Benedict was excellent with perfectly poached eggs, seasoned potatoes and fancy ham on a croissant. Hubs got the Lavender Java breakfast, and he very nearly finished it. Service was prompt and thoughtful. I felt our server was really trying to make sure everything was perfect for us and she did a great job. Ambiance is comfy and we got a table on the waterfront right when they opened at 7am. Really great! read more
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Jeff F.
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I was here for breakfast before and it was pretty good, so decided to stop here for dinner. Great island ambiance, downstairs with live music and upstairs, beautiful sunset view. Very friendly server too! Kanaka fries was interesting. Mount of fries with sweet savory and wasabi sauce with sesame seeds...Mmmm... Wasabi lover will really like this dish. Ono fish & chips - soft and fresh Ono was sweet and tender. My chicken sandwich was okay, I wish I ordered fish & chips though. Also ask for today's special drink! They do come up with some interesting and delicious mixed drinks. read more
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Jeff F.
Aloha,…
Complete tourist trap. The only thing that was decent was the coconut shrimp. Everything else was subpar. The mahi mahi fish tacos were the driest fish tacos i've ever had. It came out cold, overcooked, and dry. The fries that came with it were also cold (not luke warm, just plain cold). The poke lacked in flavor and fell flat. The burger looked unappetizing, on par with a fast food joint. read more
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Jeff F.
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6 months ago
2 years ago
We ate here on a Monday morning around 10 and just beat the crowd. I did reservations ahead of time but I think we could've easily walked in. The hostess was wonderful and sat up front for the perfect seaside view. Food: Everything was delicious! They were out of the pineapple upside down French toast, so I ordered the banana and macadamia nut pancakes. What makes them so delicious is the coconut syrup. It was so good I asked for extra to go. The portions are also large. I could've shared my plate. Service: From the hostess to the wait staff, everyone was friendly and thoughtful. Our water glasses were constantly refilled and were frequently checked on even as the restaurant got busier. Parking is also validated. I recommend doing it right after being seated. The wait staff can tell you how. read more
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Jeff F.
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1 year ago
Came here for breakfast and it was delicious! View was unbeatable, food was SO good (especially the side of potato's!) and the service was beyond amazing! Thank you Island Lava Java! read more
1 year ago
My hubby and I came here for our first breakfast on the Island. Delicious! I had the veggie scramble and he had luau scramble whilst sharing local Kona French press coffee . Lovely open air place with views of the ocean and sweet, wild little birds checking you out. We were fantastically taken care of by Duke- many mahalos! read more
3 months ago
Love this coffeehouse / breakfast hot spot on the Big Island of Kona across . With spectacular views of the ocean across from the cafe, this Cafe was perfect for their signature large Cinnamon rolls and coffee breakfast. Service was served ohana style with good vibes and kind words. read more
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Jeff F.
Mahalo, Zo!
6 months ago
6 months ago
2 years ago
I was excited to try this place out for brunch. We got there maybe 12:30-12:35 PM on Sunday and were given brunch menus as well as their all-day menu. We needed a couple minutes to decide what to eat and at 12:50 PM tried to place our order and we were informed that they stopped serving brunch as 12:40 PM. I was extremely disappointed because I came here specifically for brunch and we were not informed what time they stopped serving brunch. It would've been nice to get some kind of warning from the hostess or our waitress, or to even have an end time listed on the brunch menu. The waitress was at least nice enough to offer some suggestions from their all-day menu but I was honestly still pretty upset. We ended up getting the fish tacos, macadamia nut crusted mahi mahi, and guava bbq ribs. The fish tacos were okay- the tortilla was soft but there was a little too much sauce. You get to choose a side of salad, fries, or sweet potato fries and the sweet potato fries were great. The macadamia nut crusted fresh catch was pretty good but the fish was a little tough and the rice was fragrant but weirdly oily? The guava bbq ribs were a nice surprise. The meat is very tender and comes off the bone easily and is not too sweet. Our waitress was very friendly and seemed lovely, but it still would've been nice to get some kind of warning that brunch was ending soon. Food wasn't bad, but nothing spectacular. It's mostly outdoor seating and it's quite close to the water, so with good weather the views are great. read more
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Jeff F.
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8 months ago
Stopped there after we landed at Kona International Airport. Had a nice brunch the fam. Had the hummus with taro chips (delicious! The chips almost tasted like bacon!!) we also ordered the fish tacos and the basic island breakfast. Service was a bit slow and uninspired but ok. Good ambiance right across the water. Parking all around. read more
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Jeff F.
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6 months ago
3 years ago
Friendly aloha spirit here! Stumbled upon this place when we were turned away from a more well-known place. Couldn't be happier. Happy hour is spectacular- $6 Mai Tais- and they were strong! Ample soace at the bar too. Local vibe as much as it could be in Kona Town. Its kitschy and touristy but I love it- I hope it always remains the same. read more
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Jeff F.
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1 year ago
Pleasant open air bistro by the downtown Kona waterfront. Service was good and food was a decent range of choices for departure day breakfast.. complimentary public parking validation in back makes this and other restaurants on this stretch easy good choices.. read more
Quick and friendly service on a bomb beach front restaurant. The blackened shrimp tacos with house chipotle sauce and fresh fries were amazing! And very popular. The luau scramble with pork and pineapple was unique and also bomb, just wish there was more pork! Drinks were yummy and not strong at all- the hibiscus lemonade came w a candied hibiscus... I could eat a whole bbq stick of just that hahaha read more
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Jeff F.
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The wings were delicious - if you prefer saucy, lightly crisp, not heavily battered wings. They were nice, chunky wings, too, and not skimpy little things. They were served with carrot sticks and ranch, for a nice pupu with our drinks. Lost a star for not blending any of their drinks. Come on - it's Kona! Lots of people are gonna want a blended drink as the sun sets over the bay, no? However, we were super lucky that my "line fairy" was looking out for me. We got a table right at the rail with the best view without a wait. The wait staff seemed slammed and not so friendly, but who wouldn't be less than cheerful if too many people called out sick on you. read more
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Jeff F.
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Food taste: 4/5 Location: 5/5 Ambience: 5/5 The best thing about this restaurant is really the location. Perfect vibes watching the waves roll in as you eat your meal. Located in a beachy part of town. Not hard to find street parking nearby. I was disappointed a bit by the food. I had a fish taco and calamari. The calamari wasn't great--kinda chewy and the fish taco was just ok. Alot of reviews recommended it for breakfast and it may just be that they have better breakfast food than lunch food. But you can't beat the vibes! read more
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Jeff F.
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3 years ago
The rooftop is a must for breakfast. We watched dolphins and there was a whale too. The food was soo good. I got a 100 percent Kona bean French press and I think the caffeine is still hitting me a week later. The food was amazing and the coconut syrup is dreamy. I did eat the entire plate. I'd do it again. read more
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Jeff F.
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Stopped in for a lovely breakfast. The proximity to the water and views were amazing. I had the pineapple upside down french toast and my wife had the macadamia pancakes. Both were really tasty. The french toast had a nice caramelized brown sugar sauce, tender pineapple and toasted pecans. The only thing missing may have been a nice dollop of whipped cream. My wife elected to have strawberry subbed instead of the bananas and she was very pleased. The coconut creamy syrup brought it all together. On an early morning and not so sunny my wife loved stay warm with a nice cup of Thai Chi Latte. read more
I so love this place! Sitting across the street from the water, in downtown Kona, is Island Lava Java. It is open air and many tables have a great view of the water. We came here 3 or 4 times while we were on the Big Island for both Breakfast and Happy Hour. To start, breakfast was oh so yummy with both savory and sweet options and absolutely wonderful coffee. I really enjoyed my garden omlet and the potatoes were served crispy and perfect. The Happy Hour had great drinks and the aps were yummy. We are vegetarian and they had really good lettuce cups that we had with our drinks. The customer service was great and you felt super welcome. I really liked the fact that you could reserve a table on open table and request a view of the water. There was a parking lot in the back and we never had a problem finding a space. Honestly, one of my favorite spots in downtown Kona to drink and eat. I will be back! Thanks for making our trip to the Big Island awesome. Aloha! read more
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Jeff F.
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2 years ago
I've been coming to Lava Java for over a decade. I love this place and I want it to succeed which is why I am compelled to write this review. This review is NOT about the service. I always eat at the bar 99% of the time when I come here so please keep that in mind. The bartenders, Jessie and Lizzy, are great. For additional context, I also follow a keto lifestyle when I eat (low carb, high protein, moderate fat for satiety). My 'go to' bar meal at Lava Java is the guava BBQ rib appetizer. The best I've had in Kona so far. Today I decided to try LJ's Steak & Frites. The menu describes this as a 10oz sliced Angus NY strip steak w/fingerling potato "frites." sautéed broccolini, shiitake mushroom & smoked bacon Bordelaise sauce at $42. I decided to order the LJ Steak & Frites w/the steak cooked medium (without the frites) and extra broccolini to see if this is something I would add to my Kona Keto dining-out options in the future. Here are the results: (1) The NY steak was well done (totally cooked through), not medium (mostly cooked with some pink). I decided to 'live with it' and ate the steak well-done steak. It was not tough, and the Bordelaise Sauce contributed to the taste which I appreciated. (2) The item came with broccoli, not broccolini. The broccoli was plentiful but undercooked. I ate it anyway because I was trying to get my intake of cruciferous veggies. I like broccoli but I prefer broccolini with steak. I told the bartender that the veggie was broccoli, not broccolini. She looked up the difference on her phone and went to the kitchen to report the difference. She came back and said they were out of broccolini and hadn't updated the menu. (3) I was a little skeptical about the Bordelaise sauce but I feel like it saved the steak, in part, given that it was overcooked. The key question is whether I would order this again. The answer is no. I have ordered other steaks (ribeyes) at a couple of other restaurants in Kona that are comparably priced, not overcooked and with appropriately cooked Keto veggies. I still love Lava Java, and I will continue to come here for the view and guava BBQ rib appetizers at $17.50 as of the date of this review. I love the bar, the ribs are good, it's chill, and it's a good place to eat and drink while watching the water, especially if you are a solo female traveler. I will return but won't order the NY strip again. read more
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Jeff F.
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7 months ago
We stopped here for breakfast and it did not disappoint! We had the Loco Moco and the Island Style Waffle with coconut syrup. Yum! Even the coffee was amazing. Service was great and the view is beautiful. You can't go wrong. read more
1 year ago
Amazing restaurant, We were sat right at the front with a great view. They were quick and friendly and the food was great. I really recommend both dishes. read more
1 year ago
Delicious food and great views. Our waitress was amazing. I wish I remembered her name. She helped on the second floor deck. read more
1 year ago
Breakfast was delicious. The Mac nut pancakes with the coconut syrup was to die for. 10/10 recommend. Also our server gave us excellent service. read more
More info about Island Lava Java
75-5801 Ali'i Dr
Bldg 1
Kailua Kona, HI 96740
Directions
(808) 300-5672
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http://www.islandlavajava.com
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Ask the Community - Island Lava Java
What's good for lunch?
Fish and chips if you're on vacation. If you are leaning healthy, the Lava Java salad with the grilled shrimp. The goat cheese on that salad is fantastic!
Can you get lunch all day? For example, we would like to come for breakfast, but also pick up sandwiches to have at the beach later that day.
The entire lunch menu is NOT available all day. However, they do offer a brunch menu that includes some lunch items.
What are the Ube wraps or tortillas you use, please tell me?
Breakfast served all day?
No. Breakfast is served until 11:00 and then they switch to their lunch menu.
I am looking for a place to host a small wedding reception dinner in September. I would like it to be outside with an amazing view of the water. Ideas?
Try thesr In downtown Kona. https://www.daylightmind.com/…
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