Great food, great location, great staff and the wife was extremely happy... love the bloody marry and bacon. read more

Island Lava Java - Great waffles and morning cocktails. - American Near Me - Kailua Kona, Hawaii

This was the very first restaurant on the island that we tried due to all of the positive reviews/local recommendations and we were not disappointed! Everything from the service to the food to the location was absolutely perfect!!! I cannot recommend this place enough we've already sent some other travelers their way! I got the fruit & yogurt w/ *fresh* granola my husband got the Fresh Fish Benedict & we both had a Kona coffee. The portions were great, price comparable to the mainland & believe me when I say everything here is SUPER FRESH!!! The server was so friendly and engaging and we got to look to the sea the entire time we were there! This is a must go!!! ALSO make sure you have a reservation because it's always full read more

Island Lava Java - Fresh Fish Benedict Papaya , Yogurt & Granola - American Near Me - Kailua Kona, Hawaii

If you're staying/visiting this very central location for tourists in Kona, Island Lava Java Kona is a great place to sit at the patio and enjoy the Hawaiian breeze, ocean waves, sunset, etc. It's also a great place to people-watch! The have a decent happy hour and the bar food was delicious. Beware of a the brave birds that try to steal your food! Definitely a place to check out if you're planning a bar hopping night in this part of town. read more

The food was flavorful and had a good texture. The service was good because they allow you to customize their food. Potatoes could be done better . Can't beat the views read more

Let's start by saying this is now my favorite restaurant in Kailua-Kona. Five months into this crisis with no tourists clouding my judgement I have come to really appreciate what they do here. The place oozes Ohana. You can see it in how they treat their customers and how they treat each other. The vibe is contagious and rubs off on everything they do. As I reached out and explored the menu I can really taste the effort that goes into each and every dish. While next door they too advertise fresh local ingredients, I have found Island Lava Java has the better balance. My hats off to the Chef and kitchen workers ... your the best in town! The wife and I usually sit at the bar talk story and take in the wonderful view. My one critique is the drink specials are a bit tired, let those creative bartenders freshen up & rotate the action and this living breathing picture will continue to paint itself. Outstanding! read more

Excellent servers, friendly and professional. Food was delicious and savory. We went on a Sunday and enjoyed the acoustic music and bevies of the ocean. read more

What a huge disappointment! Service was poor at best. Nice view!! We had to ask for coffee and tea 3 times...never were asked for a refill. Food came out fairly quickly but it was fair at best...think Denny's. We will never go back and will tell friends to go somewhere else. read more

Do NOT pass up on this place for Mac nut pancakes. The coconut syrup is to die for!!! Loved the ocean view while we ate as well

This is a nice open air place right across from the ocean that we went to for breakfast. I ordered the Waipi'o Stack Breakfast, it was pretty good but I would order something else next time. My wife loved the Island Style Pancakes. Service was very prompt and friendly. I thought it was overpriced for the food but there's added value in the view! read more

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

Isn't everything better on vacation. Based on other Yelp reviews, we chose this place after hopping around the island. We were looking for a casual bite to eat and an adult libation or two. Island Lava Java did not disappoint. After looking over the menu while sipping wine, my travel partner chose the Fish Taco's and I the Ali'i Chicken Sandwich, that was made with a garlic & herb chicken breast , provolone cheese, and a chipotle aioli. The open air dining, wine, and good flavorful food was a good finish to a great day. read more

Great food great service. Hanaleia was our server and she was amazing! Very clean and pleasurable restaurant.

Food looked good but unfortunately we sat for 20 minutes without anyone even bringing us water.

A beautiful setting with views of the beach right in downtown Kona. The staff was very accommodating to our large group of 9 people. We did call ahead for a reservation. Most of us ordered from the brunch menu. The waffles with bananas and Mac nuts were outstanding, as was the coconut cream topping served with waffles. Burgers were also very good. Portions are very generous. Bonus: the mimosas are just $5 on Monday! The hibiscus and mango mimosas were especially good. read more

Great food, drinks and atmosphere! Our server, Tammy went above and beyond treating us so well!

We are kama'aina so I know how busy this place gets. I called not seven minutes ago. Was told there was no wait at present and that breakfast orders would be taken till 1045. Arrived before then to a sign that said no more breakfast orders were being taken and lunch orders wouldn't start till 1145; no names taken. Not a great way to start off our Valentine's/35th wedding anniversary. Glad to say that A Bay, mere steps away, treated us much better. read more

Dining on their porch was a wonderful experience. Food was delicious. Waitress was super friendly and on top of things. Loved the food presentation, it was pretty, and served hot. Great place. Would definitely come back :) read more

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SO GOOD! Go here for breakfast if you are on the Big Island. Thursday is Thirsty Thursday so the drinks are also fairly priced. My family had the cinnamon roll, breakfast potatoes, belgian waffle and the drag it through the garden sandwich (add bacon, it's amazing). Honestly one of the best meals that I have had during my week in Kona! read more

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Good stop. My view was the ocean. Literally sat across the street on a charming porch from the bay. Deep mahalo feels on this view. Service...Mija was friendly, helpful & everything you'd hope for at 6:45 am. I'm not a morning person so I grade on a curve. Food was fine. Got the Luau Omelette: pulled pork with pineapple among other delectables. Needed salt and pepper. I don't think it had been seasoned at all. Too much cheese too. Took over the dish. Rustic potatoes and bacon we're on the money. It's worth a stop but keep the salt and pepper handy. read more

Island Lava Java - Breakfast view. Life is good. - American Near Me - Kailua Kona, Hawaii

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We haven't explored much of seaside Kona but we are so glad we did today! I loved the chai tea latte (dirty - with espresso). Presentation was great! The food was fresh, prompt, and delicious! Our waitress, Natalia, was sweet and professional. Will definitely come back on future big island trips! read more

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

Lava Java redeemed themselves with better service this time and yummy food, although nothing had to be cooked to order where it went wrong prior to this. Thanks to wait staff for upping their game with good service this time! read more

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

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The view is awesome but the service is Crap! We asked for a shot idea. Her reply was I don't know. We asked about the beers on tap, she didn't know. Our table was filled with empty glasses, food plates and they could care less. As we were about to leave we suddenly got a little 'service' of fresh water. I'd rather be at Humpy's! read more

Stopped here for breakfast/brunch. Not a long wait and super friendly staff. Got a smorgasbord of items. The cinnamon roll was huge and so delicious! The poke app was so fresh, the pepperoni pizza was so cheesy and yum, and the crusted fresh catch was amazing! Definitely recommend this place for a good meal! read more

Island Lava Java - Massive cinnamon roll - American Near Me - Kailua Kona, Hawaii

Upon visiting it seemed like a very well busted tourist stop. Their pineapple upside down french toast reminded me of banana foster , it was sooo good. I also enjoyed their bacon you can pick crispy or soft and their crusty was perfect. The yogurt I wasn't a big fan of while it was cute that they served it in a papaya. I'm a very big cocktail person and their cocktails weren't mixed well and the mimosas were very lack luster although they had different variety. I tried the mango mimosa which tasted nothing like mango but the pomegranate mimosa was much better. The purple Hawaiian was better than the Hana hou . I feel like there probably are better restaurants on the strip. With outdoor seating the bust service was a little slow so we did get a good show of birds attacking left overs .they give you the option to order through your phone don't do it just get a menu and order from a waitress. I get the concept but the communication is lost especially between the bar the app and the waitress. By time you get your drink due to all the confusion it's melted and outside temperature read more

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These good folks get 5ive stars for sincerity and good food. We were in a bit of a hurry, so we ordered the breakfast, let the server (gracious lady) know that we were short on time, and paid as we gave her the order. One half hour passed, no food. Folks that came in after us were served their orders. As we looked around, I noticed that the server looked concerned. She came over, we explained our frustration. We could not be late for a tour. In a few moments the owner (I think she was) came to us, apologized, took full responsibility. Our orders had been split up and sent to other diners. She was sincere. The reduced the bill by 50%, and showed class by not reducing the servers tip. It wasn't her fault. Some restaurants cheat their help. Not Lava Java. By the way, the meal was great. Good eats. read more

I went here for breakfast since there were such high ratings but quickly became disappointed with the service. We got our waters quickly but took about 20 minutes for the server to come back to get our orders with us having to wave her down and then felt like a decade to get our checks. The wait for the food was not well worth the wait, the omelette I had was surprisingly just typical and nothing outstanding. I thought it'd taste more refreshing and tropical with the mix of pineapple but honestly could barely taste it. Although I have to say there was a generous amount of pork and the size of the omelette was large but honestly $15 for an omelette it should be. read more

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

Service was excellent, and there was a great view for sunset. I had the beet salad--best ever--and my husband had fish and chips. He said the batter was a little heavy, but enjoyed the meal. I want to return and have another beet salad before we leave the area. It was that good. read more

The veggie pizza was so yummy! The orange pineapple juice was great too. The Ahi bowl had too much wasabi/ mustard sauce while the fish was super fresh. The table for 2 was kinda small. read more

Best fish Benedict ever. Genius idea to serve it on a croissant. And the serving size is enormous. I order a to go box when I put in my order. It's often crowded but usually you can find a seat at the bar. It's open air, across the street from the ocean and the staff are professional and friendly. It's a bit pricey so I don't go as often as I would like. Hence the 4 stars. read more

A must-visit! Amazing breakfast menu, the omelettes are incredible. Delicious Bloody Mary and Hibiscus Lemonade from the bar. Friendly staff, fun Island vibes and a beautiful view of the ocean. Got some lattes to go, our favorite coffee thus far. Brought our little dog with us and the staff was so kind and sweet to her. Will definitely be back! read more

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

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Beautiful spot across from the ocean. The food was delicious and they seated a group of 10 fast! I'd go back any time.

I've been to Kona 4 times and the first three times, this place was my among favorites to visit--the location is awesome, and the food has always been solid. On my most recent trip (7/2021), things had changed for the worse. Most notably, they have leaned in HARD on QR codes and online ordering. I don't mind using a QR code to look at a menu, and their signs said they had paper menus available on request. We were told that we could use either the waiter or the website, but after the waiter was MIA after 10 minutes we went ahead and ordered online. My wife and I ordered juice, a coffee, fruit, and two breakfasts. After we ordered online, the waiter came by to see if we knew how to use QR codes and was glad we ordered online. He told us, relieved, "people always ask a million questions when they order in person." So that was cool. All of the food came at once and was the first stuff out. We asked the person who dropped it off, who was not our waiter, about our coffee. He brought coffee to us. Then our waiter came and asked what size coffee we had ordered, which was confusing because it was online and the coffee had already arrived. I told him, and said we still hadn't seen our juice. The juice came with the check which, after 10 more minutes of waiting, we also paid online. All-in-all, this is the sort of service I'd expect at a counter, not a place where you're paying $25 per person for breakfast. (As an aside, do you still tip 20% when you take your own order, get your own menu, and take your own check?) I know that covid has impacted restaurants, but we went plenty of places in Kona with excellent service, many of which were also busy and not nearly as expensive. I'd head across the street for an Açaí bowl. read more

This place can be pretty crazy and so the service is pretty slow and bad here. I got a drink and salad, both were only okay.

The bartender was great. The Manager, Jess, on the other hand, was far from welcoming - her tone was arrogant. She was serving as the hostess when we got there. We asked if one of the tables up front were free or reserved since we wanted an ocean view and she responded with an arrogant tone and said no but tables towards the mid-back were available, "they all have an ocean view". We ended up going to the bar. She was condescending when talking to her staff and not once did she say "please" or "thank you" when talking to them. Poor leadership with this place. Go else where. read more

Autumn was awesome at the bar and got my order in and food out so quickly, Highly recommend it to anyone that wants good food and great service. thanks again Autumn we will definitely be seeing you again. read more

I got the standard breakfast of all breakfast places, an egg omelet. It was probably the best one I had during the whole visit to the island where the breakfast food was pretty disappointing overall. Four stars though because I also got the Belgian waffle which ended up being sad and floppy. read more

This is the only restaurant that we thought was worth a repeat visit during our trip. That's how much we liked Island Lava Java. And here's a tip if you're slightly jet-lagged - their happy hour is from 2pm-5pm, and it's a really good deal. Just get a bunch of small items to make your dinner. For us, the stars were the poke, Huli wings, truffle fries, and the burger. The truffle fries are almost as good as the garlic fries at Gordon Biersch, if you know that restaurant in the Los Angeles area. Beers are only $5 during happy hour. It's too bad we weren't staying closer, because I wish I could have tried breakfast or lunch, but the happy hour is definitely a hit. read more

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We had breakfast here a day ago and it was fantastic to say the least. I had the Big Kahuna with Mahi Mahi as the meat and was super surprised at how tasty the whole breakfast was. I have never even thought of fish for breakfast and am so glad I tried it. The view was also incredible so we were very happy with the experience eating here. We have other couples joining us for a few weeks and will definitely bring them here. And remember you are on vacation so don't be in a big hurry. Enjoy the experience and don't dwell on time. The staff was polite and working their asses off to accommodate all the tourists. Please try this restaurant for real " Island " food experience. Mahalo read more

We had a 730 open table reservation. Checked in at 7:33. Were told we may not be seated because we were late. After discussion by hostess ( with manager?) were told kitchen closes at 7:30 but if we order really fast they will seat us! Are you kidding??? We left- very rude people. If your kitchen closes at 730 your last reservation should be at 7 or earlier!! Go Somewhere Else!! read more

I have visited Kona once or twice a year for the past 13 years. My husband is a flight attendant and when he had a kona layover I jumped in it. We both were excited for our usual breakfast at Lava Java. We ventured over to where the restaurant was and we discovered it had moved a half a block south. Great new location, more of a restaurant now than a coffee shop. So what had us both down is apparently quite a bit changed with their location. The island style pancakes that use to have macadamia nuts in the pancakes now just had them sprinkled sparsely ontop, the coconut syrup was just sweet and didn't taste much like coconut as it has before. My husband had a breakfast with the breakfast potatoes. He use to hate potatoes for breakfast but many years ago java lava changed his mind. Today they didn't have rosemary on them and were just tasteless. The bacon which has in the past been thick cut, has turned into Denny's bacon. So apparently the recipes also changed along with a new address.... very sad. read more

Our drug rep ordered and paid for lunch today and when we received our lunch we were all amazed at how our orders were packaged individually so nice and neatly!! It was a huge order too just over 10 lunch orders!! Amazing job Lava java peeps and the food was so delicious Thank you for all your hard work!! read more