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    Koa Pancake House

    3.7 (607 reviews)
    Closed 6:30 am - 2:00 pm

    Koa Pancake House Photos

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    KOA PANCAKE HOUSE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Koa Pancake House

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    Loco Moco $14.50

    Pancakes are fluffy and soft. And the gravy of loco moco was flavorful. Loco Moco (Hamburger patty) $14.50 Chunky Monkey Pancakes Short Stack $11.95

    Receipt Feb 2026 for 2 people
    Julianna H.

    It took us too long to discover this place! The fast service, affordable prices and food quality is perfect for us. It has a classic feel to it and everything we've gotten has been so yummy. I recommend getting a few things and splitting, the portions are generous!

    portuguese sausage, fried rice, vegetables and over easy egg
    Jessica R.

    Best Hawaiian breakfast spot everrrr! The service is friendly and local, and the place is small, cozy, and a true hidden gem. I'll be back again and again ordering the same thing every time: over-easy eggs, fried rice (comes with Spam cubes), Portuguese sausage (total flavor bomb), and a side of veggies (stir fried in tasty fat)

    Lite Bite
    Ashley C.

    Came here strictly because of the name (our dog who recently passed was named Koa!) but the food was definitely solid! It seems like a pretty typical local breakfast joint, with multiple locations. This one has a parking lot in back too which is nice since the street parking is limited in Kaimuki. The food is simple but hearty, served on paper plates because they know their food is delicious enough to bring people back! Not to mention food comes out quickly so it's a nice sit down choice if you've got antsy kids. -Koa Moco: this was my favorite dish! It's a loco moco with the hamburger patty and corned beef. It's huge so it's a good one to share. The eggs were cooked perfectly and there was plenty of gravy. - Guava Lava Mochi Waffle: had high hopes for this one, I liked the guava sauce but the waffle itself was soggy and didn't seem chewy like mochi batter. I wish it had some crunch on the outside like butter mochi! - Banana Pancakes: couldn't come here without getting pancakes! They were good but not as much banana flavor as I'd like, you can probably skip on these. - Lite Bite: Only $7.50 and it was the perfect serving for our two toddlers to share! Nothing fancy here but just some good solid Hawaiian breakfast at an affordable price!

    Leah H.

    I forgot to take my food pictures,. I enjoyed the guava, lava mochi waffle! It was so good, I would have like more guava sauce but it was good. This is a little diner with some good food. As you come in you order then find a table. They bring the food you ordered to you. Fresh squeezed OJ was so good!!

    Salsa and sour cream
    Jackie W.

    You'll walk out smelling like food and oil but your stomach will be full and satisfied. Walked in and immediately ordered and got a table. Waited less than 10 minutes for my order. The service was quick. The food was delicious. I was so hungry I forgot to take a picture before digging in. The Vinha D'alhos Burrito is one of my favorites. If you like vinegar, you have to try this. The vinegar is not too overwhelming. It comes with salad and sour cream on the side. The burrito stays intact while eating it which is important. There's a paid parking lot or street parking. Cute shops to look at around the area if you're gonna look around after.

    The lite breakfast
    Jo-Anne S.

    I found a spot right in kaimuki near my doggies grooming! It's spacious and clean and they offer dine in service as well as take out. A nice selection in menu choices, but always enjoy the lite breakfast and can't go wrong for the price. Under $10 for 2 hotcakes, 3 bacon and 1 egg! What a deal! Food is good (except my hotcake was a little cold today) and service is great! Will be back!

    Fresh orange juice
    Sunny V.

    I love having breakfast here and there's so many options! It's open seating so You can order at the counter to get a number then sit anywhere you like and put the number on the holders. OR you can sit down and order and pay from the QR code on each table. The staff is always friendly and they bring you your food when it's ready. There are condiments on the table to use and foil in the front of you want to take it home. I recommend the fresh orange juice!

    Arthur C.

    Solid place for breakfast with large portion sizes. I got the entree plate with macadamia nut pancakes, meat and eggs, which were more than filling and pretty affordable for Honolulu.

    What we ordered tag says over easy got scrambled.
    Lori F.

    Sad to write this review because I love Koa Pancake house in Waipahu and Aiea! Kaimuki is a definite NO GO- I been to this location a few times now and each visit there was an issue with my order. I can't understand why when they seem to have a team checking the food and putting it in the bag. How can you think it's ok to serve burnt food and not check if the order is right?? This will be my LAST visit because it ain't cheap to waste food. Potatoes and meat was no doubt burnt and tasted so gross totally not edible. I order 1egg Fried Rice Egg over easy as you can see in the order tag and got scrambled. The picture of my plate is almost gone because fried rice was good. But as we sat here and talked about all our experiences here - I got more disappointed and upset- because it's food and money WASTED! However have to shout out to a nice local older lady that is sweet that works there. She adds a smile to your day! She deserved a star

    Jayson D.

    Great breakfast without all the bougie frills. Order at the counter and sit down. They'll bring your food to your table. Favorites include loco moco, omelettes, and spam or Portuguese sausage and fried rice. But do try their namesake--the pancakes. I had the chunky monkey pancakes: a stack of fluffy hotcakes cooked with bananas and covered in mac nuts and chocolate chips. Done fast and done right. I'll be back!

    Blueberry pancakes
    Sara B.

    This is a hole in the wall off 12th street. My husband and I happened to come across it when we tried to go to another breakfast down the street. We were pleasantly surprised. Not a fancy, location yet the service is great. You order and pay at the counter then find your seat. They give a number for your order and they bring the food out to you. The cashiers taking your order are super sweet and very efficient! All the people that work there are helpful. I've been there 2 times in the last 5 weeks and both times the service was great! The pancakes are delicious! Light, fluffy and full of flavor! I've ordered their mushroom omelette, my husband has order the loco mocos and corn beef hash and the servings are generous. We share 1 order of pancakes since they are so big and we still have left overs. Food is great and reasonable considering their generous servings.

    Chocolate chip pancakes (very reasonable price)
    Karl F.

    EAT LIKE A LOCAL. Always a dilemma: eat at a tourist spot or go where the locals are eating. There are definitely glitzier breakfast spots in Honolulu but Koa offers tasty food with generous portions. It's not fancy but the service is great. The price is right and you'll definitely fill up. Portuguese sausage was crisp and generously sliced. Koa omelette (Portuguese sausage and mushroom) was a local delight. Corn beef hash was fresh. The eggs florentine was served bubbling and large portion. No foo foo tiny portions here. Breakfast potatoes were ok but I prefer hash brown style (just my preference). Fried rice was pretty good (bacon and spam) but could use a tad more shoyu for flavor. Parking is scant at breakfast time and is pay parking. Ambiance is simple. Order food at counter and it's brought to table. No need to dress up here

    You have to try the Vinha D'Alhos marinated pork!! Shown on top right--it was so tasty!!

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    21 days ago

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    Nice picture! Mahalo for stopping by!

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    6 months ago

    Amazing food, very clean facilities, staff was friendly and efficient. Would definitely return!

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    Page 1 of 16

    Koa Pancake House Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Koa Pancake House

    Is the mochi waffle, a normal item or a special?

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    Took our friend here for her birthday and what a hidden gem this place was. Tucked away in the…read moreheart of Kaimuki, Carte Blanche was definitely a delightful surprise! When our party first walked in, we were a tiny bit skeptical because of the empty room (which was beautifully decorated). However as each course came out, we were blown away and didn't know how the restaurant was not way busier for a Saturday night! Each dish/course was well thought out and prepared to perfection. We were all taken by surprise in a great way. The head chef Anthony was very passionate and excited about his work and that was very refreshing! Overall a wonderful experience and we will be back!

    If you're looking for Kaimuki's most romantic date night spot, look no further than Carte Blanche…read more We recently experienced their summer prix fixe menu (which changes twice a year), and it was one of those meals you remember long after the plates are cleared. The progression of dishes felt thoughtful and creative-- * Crispy Salt & Vinegar Chicken Skin (the perfect starter crunch) * Soupe de Poisson (deep, comforting flavors) * Pina Colada Granita (a refreshing palate cleanser) * Pan Seared Scallops (my personal favorite--perfectly caramelized and tender) * Double Cut Rack of Lamb (succulent and cooked to perfection) * Lemon Crème Brûlée Tart (a sweet, bright finish) Every plate was elegant, well-executed, and beautifully presented. The atmosphere strikes a balance between sophisticated and welcoming. Dim lighting, intimate tables, and quiet elegance make you feel like you've stepped into a hidden gem in the middle of Kaimuki. Honestly, I felt like a celebrity dining here. Service was polished but never pretentious--our server was attentive, knowledgeable about the courses, and kept the pacing of the meal just right. For the level of creativity and execution, Carte Blanche feels like an affordable luxury in Honolulu's dining scene. Perfect for anniversaries, date nights, or anytime you want an elevated experience without flying to the mainland. Highly recommend booking a reservation--you'll want to savor every moment here.

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    Carte Blanche
    Carte Blanche
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    4.3(1.4k reviews)
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    Excellent service, even better food! the chef made it a very comfortable experience, I felt right…read moreat home at the surfing pig! the sweetest hostess and the vibes were immaculate. will definitely be returning soon

    This place has AWESOME customer service, food, and ambiance, I would give it 6 stars if I could…read more Customer service was EXCELLENT, starting with my phone call to fix my reservations. Ray was extremely helpful in helping me correct an error I had made using the website to make our reservations and we were able to not only get reservations in the restaurant but in the speakeasy as well. Then there was Callie our waitress, she was bubbly, friendly, and very attentive. She created a warm and welcoming expereince for us and just that would make us come back. The food was SUPER ONO, at IYKYK we had the Midnight Musubi Arancini. I was hesitant to order it as I have had choke musubis over my lifetime and was thinking how different could these musubis be...? But, WOW, it was soooo good. The combination of ingredients filled each mouthful with a mixture of flavors that complimented each other. I would definitely order this again and encourage everyone to try it. We also had the Pork medallions and a kalua pig sampler, they too were delicious and our cocktails were very unique, delicious, and strong. We then moved from the speakeasy to the restaurant and we had the Pele's Pit Ribs and the Tsunami Burger for dinner. The ribs were very delicous, it was a dry rub so very clean and easy to eat with the fingers and the fried rice was tasty. My wife loved her burger and if you look at the pictures you can see why. The ambiance was VERY COOL. The deliberate and cohesive mix of dim red lighting, and comfortable lounging chairs totally created that speakeasy atmosphere. The restaurant portion was quaint, warm, and not too loud creating a good atmosphere for conversing. Overall we were very pleased to have come here, we will definitely come back and bring friends along too. As far as parking...its good. There is a metered parking lot behind the restaurant, no roof so your big 2500 4x4 boat hauler will easily park in it and there are clean male and female bathrooms in the restauant so you can drink and eat up.

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    Mud Hen Water - (fs) Kiwi Bean Brownie, Sesame Gelato - this was a little too sweet. The gelato didn't have a strong sesame flavor.

    Mud Hen Water

    4.1(676 reviews)
    0.3 mi
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    Fried ulu, chicken long rice croquette, roasted carrots, he'e luau, hand cut ragu pasta, lemongrass…read moreclams & sausage, meatballs, sourdough cornbread. Everything was delectable. Standouts were the clam & sausage, he'e luau and hand cut ragu pasta. Service was friendly without being intrusive. Only wish the lighting was a little brighter as my old eyes struggled a bit. There is a back area with brighter lighting, next time we may request that. Wished we had bigger stomachs or more people so we could have ordered more bc so many dishes on the menu looked tasty! I really enjoyed seeing the John Young artwork on the walls - a mix of his well known horse and children works and some abstract pieces too - such a fantastic local artist. Highly recommend! Parking can be tough but is possible, just may have to walk a little. The parking lot in back is small with only a handful of spaces.

    Favorite place visited this trip! Interesting food, well balanced drinks, and plenty of gluten free…read moreoptions. Service was great. Cozy neighborhood feel. 5/5 fried ulu (fan favorite for a reason) 5/5 okra dish (fresh veggies) 5/5 fried chicken (reminded me of peking duck) 5/5 octopus (coconut greens were a nice touch) 5/5 brownie with sesame ice cream (gluten free yum, warm and cold) Drinks - 5/5 shrub a dub dub (refreshing) 5/5 tumeric drink (interesting)

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    Mud Hen Water - Nice ambiance

    Nice ambiance

    Mud Hen Water - Peanut Tofu ($13) - pickled mushroom, ginger, sesame, sweet shoyu. This was my fav dish.

    Peanut Tofu ($13) - pickled mushroom, ginger, sesame, sweet shoyu. This was my fav dish.

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    (fs) 1/2 J. Ludovico Fried Chicken - lime salsa verde, tsukemono. Doesn't taste overly fried, almost like baked chicken.

    et al. - Crispy Soft-Shell Crab Benedict, avocado, Kamuela tomato, arugula, béarnaise, taro muffin, 'ulu rosti | 22

    et al.

    4.1(779 reviews)
    0.8 mi
    $$

    I came here after graduation with some friends, we walked in with no reservation and were able to…read moreget seated fairly quickly. However, I would say if you wanted "good" seating, I would recommend reserving a spot as we had to settle for the large shared table in the middle of the establishment, sitting between two different parties. The service was okay, nothing exceptional. We ordered: * Et Al Burger: 10/10, my friend ordered this and he said it was very good. The meat was done perfectly (medium rare) and the fries were a good pairing. * Chicken & Waffles: 10/10, my other friend ordered this and we all got to try a bite. The black sesame butter was perfection and amazing addition to the waffles and syrup. The chicken also came with like a Korean fried chicken syrup (kind of reminds me of zippys iykyk). * Short Rib Loco Moco: 8/10. I got this, it was okay, it was flavorful but the short rib / gravy flavor wasn't really appealing to me in that moment. I liked the fried onions which helped to break up the textures. * Soft-Shell Crab Benedict: 9/10. Another of my friends got this and I got to have a bite. I think this was pretty good and I liked all aspects of it (especially the side of hashbrowns hah). Our main critique was the small portion, as most people I've been that served benedict dishes would have two benedicts not just one. Overall, I would recommend this spot to others. I don't think I would personally come back though, as there weren't many items that sparked my interest (maybe besides the chicken & waffles, which I got to try already this time) and the price point/ portion don't particular draw me in.

    3rd time here for lunch. Solid burger and risotto!…read more The cheeseburger & fries are truly delicious. The quality of the patty, the toppings are all working together and the housemade bun stood up. The fries are crispy and well seasoned. The mushroom risotto is usually terrific (today it was a touch gummy and over seasoned). The mushroom flavor is soooooo good! Had the short rib loco moco. It was pretty tasty. The menu said garlic rice but I couldn't taste any garlic flavor. We tried the bulgogi pizza and WoW it was yummy! The kim chi and sauce and cheese were such a good flavor combination. Usually the service is very attentive. Today was crazy busy with large parties. The big, bright dining area is very pleasant. We joined the waiting list and were 45 minutes to an quoted an hour & 1/2. Though I never got a text, we returned at the hour & 1/2 mark and there were lots of tables available. After such a massive lunch rush, I think the staff had a lot of catching up to do. After being sat, we waited a while for a server to take our order. Thankfully, the food came out in a reasonable fashion. Even with the service not being quite as good as usual, we still enjoy this restaurant.

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