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!
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.
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.
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.
4 years ago
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Jeff F.
Mahalo for the 5-star review! We've sent you a private response.
5 years ago
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Jeff F.
Thanks, Marla, please check your inbox for our personal message!
6 years ago
So good we ate twice! They have amazing happy hour menus everyday so make sure to go between 3-5pm! Breakfast was amazing! Don't splurge on the fresh juice tho it isn't worth the price read more
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Jeff F.
Mahalo for the great review, Trish! We've reached out in a private…
4 years ago
We did brunch; the wait was reasonable, service friendly and quick (Thank you, Tawnie), the meal was delicious, but the views were outstanding! We were lucky to be seated on the second-floor deck overlooking Ali'i Drive and the bay, and it didn't feel crowded at all at the time we were there. We stared at the water as long as we could. The Kona coffee was quite tasty for coffee, and I'm not a big coffee person. I ate the garden scramble with macadamia pesto and fresh fruit; it was all tasty. The starfruit was sweet but not too sweet--really refreshing! I recommend the ginger tea as well; it has a great zing but isn't too strong and is also refreshing! I would love to come back. read more
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Jeff F.
Mahalo for the wonderful review! We've sent a private message to your…
3 years ago
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Jeff F.
Thanks for your feedback. Check your private inbox when you have a…
4 years ago
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Jeff F.
Hi there, we sent you a private message so please check your inbox…
2 years ago
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Jeff F.
Mahalo, Shawn! Please check your inbox when you get the chance.
5 years ago
Excellent place for breakfast. Our waitress Tawney was the best. Great views while you eat. Definitely a must try, they have a waffle with macadamias nuts that was the best I ever had. read more
4 years ago
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Jeff F.
Thanks for your feedback! Check your private inbox when you have a…
3 years ago
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Jeff F.
Mahalo, Rachel! Be sure to check your inbox when you get the chance.
I'm glad I didn't read the mixed reviews before stopping here for breakfast or I might have not have even attempted to enter. Now I'm kicking myself for living up the street for almost 3 years and never eating here! We came for breakfast on a bustling Friday morning, the crowded tables up front and inside almost turned us away, but little did I know that there are outdoor tables that extend all the way to the back, so don't let the coziness of the front fool you. Our hostess was friendly and seated us right away, giving us the choice of indoor or outdoor seating. We chose to sit outside as it was a beautiful morning and the waves were banging out front and we opted for the view. She was even very accommodating with my daughter's huge jogging stroller. As busy as it was, we had our drink order taken right away, I asked to have my Americano iced and it was delicious. Dare I even say better than Starbucks?? We had our waitress shortly stop by after to take our food order and the food didn't even take as long as we expected. I would say less than 15 minutes which is enough time to appreciate the oceanfront view and enjoy the chill ambiance of live music! Hubby had the Basic Breakfast and he loved how the Portuguese sausage was grilled and he cleaned his plate! I ordered the Luau Omelet, wasn't fond of the pineapples in there which at the time of ordering I thought sounded good. It was ok though because my baby loved it and I was pleasantly surprised with the side of lomi lomi. The roasted potatoes were also amazing and I'm not a potato person at all. The baby throughly enjoyed her order of chocolate chip pancakes and she was loving on the applewood bacon which I honestly scarfed down three pieces myself. Breakfast for three and a coffee was about $35 before tip, a little pricy, but so very worth it! Maybe the negative reviewers on here came at an off day/time or their expectations were just unreasonable? I don't know, but we absolutely loved it here and would definitely recommend it! read more
Great casual breakfast spot in the city of Kona. While staying close by at our hotel, we took the trolly into town and noticed many people eating here. The wait time for 5 on a weekend morning was about 30 minutes. We noticed many different sweets inside behind the glass counter, coconut muffins, cinnamon pineapple muffins, cinnabons, etc. For breakfast I ordered the strawberry banana smoothie which was very refreshing and delicious. I got a regular breakfast with eggs, bacon, and waffles. The waffles came with just butter, and i asked for syrup also....they brought me out regular syrup and a coconut syrup which was really good. Others in my party had the fish, rice, and egg whites dish....which was pretty healthy and plain but good, the breakfast croissant sandwich which was also good, and bagels and lox. Everyone in our group thought the food was pretty good and that the service was nice. They have many different drink options (smoothies, coffee drinks, fraps, etc.) We ended up ordering some muffins and sweets to go for later in the hotel. If the wait is not too long I would definitely recommend this as a good breakfast spot in Kona across from the water. read more
4 years ago
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Jeff F.
Mahalo, Susana! We sent you a private message so please check your…
4 years ago
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Jeff F.
Thanks for the kind words, Curtis! We sent you a private thank-you,…
4 years ago
The pineapple upside down French toast was delicious, although my husband thought it was a little too sweet for his taste. I thought it had the perfect fluffiness to their bread, a little tart from the pineapple, and sweet from the sauce with a little pecan crunch. The ube pancakes were a "special". It didn't have as much of an ube flavor as I'd like it, but it's good if you like coconut. read more
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Jeff F.
Great photos, Moneque! We sent you a private message so please check…
6 years ago
Amazing eggs Benedict! For the omelette with pulled pork I wish the pork was juuuuust a smidge more tender. Sides of potatoes were very good as well. The pancakes with macadamia nut, banana, and coconut syrup were great (but very rich). read more
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Jeff F.
Mahalo for the great review and pictures! Please check your messages…
5 years ago
This place was my favorite breakfast spot on the big island! There egg Benedict is awesome! Coffee is on point! French toast is delicious! read more
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Jeff F.
Mahalo for the great review, Morgan! Check your inbox for our…
2 years ago
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Jeff F.
Aloha Kona - We want to personally connect with you regarding your…
I love this place! We went almost every day for breakfast and dinner. We enjoyed the view and our food was always amazing. The waiters were also very nice and awesome to me and my family. On our last day there, we were so amazed on how good the employees were that we decided to tip our waiter really good! She was sweet and fast. This place was worth every penny! We will be back here again. read more
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Jeff F.
Mahalo, Elsa. Check your inbox for a private message from us!
4 years ago
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Jeff F.
Aloha Harry,…
5 years ago
Came here for breakfast in Kona. Loved the vibe. It's right on the beach and the staff are super friendly. read more
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Jeff F.
We've sent you a private message as a personal thank you for this…
7 years ago
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Jeff F.
We switched to takeout yesterday, 3/23/20 and appreciate you sharing…
6 years ago
I'm so glad we stopped here for breakfast! We came here before heading to 2 hours away and everything was delicious and I LOVE a restaurant that has a big menu so, there's something for everyone. They even had an extensive breakfast drink options and our party was served in a timely manner. They also offer the option to have a sever or you can order and pay online at your table and they bring it to you so, that is also nice. I would recommend stopping here as well for the view. You get a great view of the beach read more
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Jeff F.
So glad you had a great time with us, Angelica! Please check your…
It is so hard to give this place only three stars. Let me tell you my salad with seared tuna on it was out of this world. Tasted great. I ordered the half salad with a full order of seared tuna. Don't do this, I think I got ripped off on the salad portion big time. The tuna was seared perfectly and was awesome. I also ordered an Arnold Palmer. Be careful!!! They are five dollars each and the waitress for our table charged me five dollars for a refill as well. She even tried to sell me another Arnold Palmer at the end, she did not mention that there were not free refills. So she was going to try to scam me with $15 worth of Arnold Palmers. Thank God I said no I was done. When I got the bill and saw that she double charged me for Arnold Palmer's to the tune of 10 bucks that's when the value did not exceed the cost. It is shit like this that pisses customers off. All she had to do is say would you like another Arnold Palmer refills are five dollars as well? I would've said no. But you know what she thought she was going to pick up an extra buck on that 20% tip. But guess what the tip was about 20% after that shenanigans. My girlfriend ordered fish tacos with corn tortillas. She specifically said corn and I also repeated it to the waitress. And when the tacos were delivered they had taro tortillas. My girlfriend pointed this out to the waitress and she said well they're good too. But it's not what she ordered dingbat! Based on appearances I think she was more concerned with getting in her training for the next triathlon than taking care of her tables. Food was great, service was subpar. This alienated customers. I won't be back. It's a shame because every time we visit the big Island we visit this place. But not anymore! Aloha! read more
3 years ago
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Jeff F.
We've reached out to you in a private message to thank you for taking…
6 years ago
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Jeff F.
Mahalo for the feedback! We've sent you a private message to speak…
8 years ago
Perfect open air cafe right on the waterfront of the Kona coast bay. Downstairs are cafe tables with tents and trees, upstairs is roof covered but also open to the fresh breezes of the ocean. We had the Island Benedict on a large open faced croissant (delicious!) Roasted potatoes had thyme sea salt seasoning. The breakfast wrap was delicious with eggs, Kalua pork and cheese. Croissant breakfast sandwich stuffed and crunchy, topped it off with a cinnamon roll as big as my face! Excellent island eatery, fast and super friendly service. All the wait staff wore fun looking socks (apparently the restaurant is sponsored by a sock company), so fun! read more
8 years ago
First morning breakfast in Kona, Hawaii! I stayed pretty close so wanted to give this place a try. And it happened to be Monday mimosas! $5/mimosa I ordered the waffles, 2 eggs, and portugese sausage breakfast and it was pretty good. The waffles were fluffy and soft versus crispy (I prefer it to be crispy on the outside and soft on the inside). Service was great though and I think it's a common reoccurring theme in Kona. The people here are just so friendly. Mimosa was yummy though but I don't think you can mess up a mimosa. It felt pretty strong after I finished it but yummy nonetheless. I loved how they served my mimosa before my actual meal, haha. If you're in the area, give this place a try. It's not the most amazing breakfast but the service and vibe are pretty darn good. read more
5 years ago
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Jeff F.
Aloha Jackie! I sent you a private message to say thanks for your…
Great Location and View of the Bay! Enjoy breakfast while people watching and gazing dreamily out at the bay. The food is good too! So... went here Saturday after Christmas... Yes, it was slammed but we were in no hurry. I don't remember the name of the dish... but it was the Fresh Fish of the day (Ono in this case) along with 2 eggs, potatoes or rice (I picked rice) and a fruit cup. The fish was good size.... I'd say... 6-8 oz. It was like a dinner size piece of fish. Perfectly cooked... not dry nor overcooked. It was light and moist. YUM! Mom had the meal that came with pancakes or a waffle (she went with waffle) and it was topped with bananas and mac nuts and coconut syrup served along with Portuguese sausage or bacon (she went with sausage)... again... All of it was YUM! The waffle was light and fluffy. And you just can't go wrong with Portuguese sausage! :) Hubby had the omelet that had Kalua pork in it... it was big. He seemed to really enjoy it because I only got one small bite. :). Of course, I was "helping" Mom eat her waffle. Net, Net... Ono Grinds! (Note... it's not cheap... I think each of our dishes were between $12-15 each. But the portions are good size and you will not be left hungry.) read more
12 years ago
Popular breakfast spot in downtown Kona. Beautiful ocean view and often has a musician playing pretty little jingles. I recommend a reservation on weekends or expect a 10-20 min wait. If you do happen to wait, don't stand in front of everyone's pretty view, sit on the adjacent stone walls. Rude not to be considerate. Fresh juice and tasty expresso drinks. Fiancée liked the croissant breakfast sando. I opted for the island pancakes with banana, macadamia nuts and coconut syrup. Very islandy! Very sweet sweet and filling, couldn't finish it. Nice serving staff. Will come again :) read more
Excellent food and very friendly service. Outside patio pretty much right on the water. The coffee was awesome and the OJ taste like fresh squeezed. Really impressed with the breakfast here. update: breakfast for two cost $50 before tip. Breakfast was good, but not that good. read more
We had brunch here and had an awesome view of the waves coming in. I ordered the pancakes with macadamia nuts and coconut syrup...which was fluffy and sweet, delicious! My friend ordered the burger, medium rare, cooked just how she likes it. Just watch out for the little birdies who will be joining you at the table to eat the crumbs. read more
Great brunch. Ordered the smoked salmon eggs Benedict on a croissant and is was delicious. The salmon was extra smoky and very fresh. The coconut latte is also a must. If you order the waffles or pancakes, be sure to add the coconut syrup, macadamia nuts and sliced bananas. read more
3 years ago
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Jeff F.
Mahalo, Brit! Be sure to check your inbox when you get the chance.
6 years ago
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Jeff F.
Mahalo for the short and sweet review and for awarding us your five…
Happy hour review. Lots of choices at reasonable prices: Calamari $7 was good. Nice size. Nothing special, not a lot of flavor however not bad at all. Gin & tonic $4 was good. House whiskey on the rocks was very good. Caution (if you care about happy hour prices) although on their happy hour menu it lists whiskey if you as for whiskey "on the rocks" instead of the $4 listed they will charge you $7 for the whisky. Service was fast and server was friendly. read more
5 years ago
Our last stop for dinner and some Mai Tais as we squeezed as much time out of our Hawaii vacation as we could. Drinks were great, food was good for being right in the center of the tourist area. The view and the service, from the bartender to the host to the servers: outstanding. Funny reading the reviews complaining about their covid-19 QR code strategy... The pandemic continues, after all. We sat at the bar so ordered directly from the bartender, but it's not that unusual to order via QR code menu, and the touch less pay via web-app was a nice way to reduce physical exchange of cards, etc. As HCW we appreciated these touches. read more
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Jeff F.
Mahalo for your review and wonderful pictures! Please check your…
3 years ago
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Jeff F.
We want to personally connect with you regarding your recent…
2 years ago
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Jeff F.
Aloha Veronica - I've sent you a private message to personally…
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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