Koko at Kalia: Waikiki's Best-Kept Breakfast Buffet Secret! BLUF: If you're active-duty military or a military retiree visiting Waikiki, don't waste your money on the overpriced hotel breakfast buffets! Koko at Kalia, located inside the Hale Koa Hotel, is an absolute winner! Fantastic food, an impressive selection, made-to-order omelets, delicious macadamia nut pancakes, wonderful service, and all for less than half the price of many nearby hotel buffets. What's not to love?! The Details: We've been staying next door at the Hilton Hawaiian Village and finally discovered what might be the best breakfast buffet value in Waikiki! Koko at Kalia, located inside the beautiful Hale Koa Hotel, offers an outstanding breakfast buffet for eligible military patrons and their guests. And let me tell you, this place gives some of the much more expensive hotel buffets in Waikiki a serious run for their money! First off, the selection is fantastic! There's an impressive assortment of breakfast meats, fresh tropical fruits, juices, pastries, cereals, and all the traditional breakfast favorites you could want. But two things really stood out for me: 1. The made-to-order omelet station! A chef prepares your omelet right in front of you, with a terrific selection of fresh ingredients to customize it exactly the way you like. Nothing beats a freshly prepared omelet instead of something that's been sitting under a heat lamp! Bring a dollar to tip the cook to show your Aloha! 2. The macadamia nut pancakes! These were absolutely delicious! The pancakes had that wonderful homemade taste and texture that makes you suspect someone back in the kitchen is mixing up the batter from scratch. Definitely not your ordinary hotel buffet pancakes! Not did it taste like boxed batter. The fresh fruit selection was another highlight, with beautiful displays of tropical favorites including pineapple, papaya, melons, and bananas. There were also plenty of pastries, breakfast breads, and toppings to satisfy anyone with a sweet tooth. The dining room itself is spacious and comfortable, with large open-air views overlooking the lush tropical grounds toward Waikiki Beach. It's a wonderful setting to enjoy a leisurely breakfast while taking in the island scenery. Service was excellent, too! The staff helped make the entire experience that much more enjoyable. And then there's the price! At less than half what many neighboring hotel breakfast buffets charge, the value here is simply outstanding. Better yet, you're not sacrificing food quality, selection, or atmosphere to save those dollars! Our only regret? We didn't discover Koko at Kalia sooner! Needless to say, this has become our breakfast destination for the remainder of our Waikiki stay. Why spend twice as much elsewhere when you can enjoy a fantastic breakfast here and save the extra money for another island adventure or perhaps a tropical cocktail later in the day? A terrific find for eligible military families and retirees visiting Waikiki. Highly recommend! read more

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Great Food and Exceptional Omelets, But Watch out for the Ceiling! ​We came to Koko at Kalia for Sunday brunch, and the food was truly delicious. Overall, we had no complaints about the meal itself--the omelets in particular were absolutely exceptional! Everything was cooked well and full of flavor, making for a great dining experience on the plate. ​The only reason I'm giving four stars instead of five is an issue with the physical space. There was condensation dripping from the ceiling right above our table, dropping onto myself and several other diners around us throughout our meal. ​If they can get that ceiling issue fixed, it would easily be a five-star experience. Great food and a wonderful brunch menu--just be mindful of where you sit! read more

Koko At Kalia - Buffets Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

More of a higher end dinner type place but quantity/quality of food was well worth the price, really liked my tonkatsu (thicker than normal katsu) and my family enjoyed their meals as well. Would recommend outdoor seating for beachwear as it's a nicer restaurant and the interior is also cooler. Outdoor seating also has a great view of the nice little tropical garden. read more

Koko At Kalia - Tonkatsu - Buffets Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

On September 5, 2026, our family celebrated a Happy "99th Surprise"Birthday breakfast/brunch for our mother/grandmother at Koko At Kaila in the Halekoa Hotel. As mom/grandma was dropped off, her eyes opened wide to see and greeted by local and mainland family relatives and of course her McDonald's (gang) friends. What a surprise and extremely happy to see everyone! A big Thank You shout out to Koko At Kaila General manager "Cesar" and Assistant General manager "Bonnie" for scheduling and accommodating us with a semi-private area for our surprise birthday celebration. The breakfast buffet selection was excellent and everyone enjoyed the food and the experience in making their own waffles and having a custom chef prepared omelettes and along with all the "onolicious" entrees. Also thank you "Cesar" for having your baker prepare a delicious chocolate haupia birthday cake to celebrate our mom's/grandma's 99th birthday. Thank you to all the wonderful staff workers that assisted our family, friends and guest. They were extremely professional and friendly and made this celebration for our mom/grandma very memorable. Lastly, just sharing what mom/grandma said....she just wanted to enjoy breakfast brunch at Koko At Kaila with immediate family not knowing it was a surprise party for her with extended family and friends. She was in tears and very happy to have it at Halekoa Hotel as it was a very special place for her, after working 10 years in the personnel department, that allowed her to collect social security benefits following many many years working for the federal government. Also, to have 2 of 3 younger sons worked at Halekoa many years ago brought back memories to her. Again, thank you Cesar, Bonnie and staff! Best wishes! Aloha & Mahalo! PYO, CNO, HKO, RKO2, RKO1, JKO, TKO, MMAN, TKON & MTWN Ohana read more

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Koko at Kalia is a fantastic hidden spot. Located in the Hale Koa hotel. It is tucked in the back of the Hotel. We stay here regularly and had never been here before. The view of the ocean was a welcomed surprise! The breakfast buffet was more than ample and it had a very nice selection fir the price! It was clean and well lit. Food was good and service phenomenal!! Well worth it!! read more

Breakfast Buffet located at the Hale Koa Hotel. Affordable, for military and retired guests and hotel guests, less than $30 with ocean views and your common breakfast buffet. We came at the perfect time on a Friday morning before 8am and before the rush arrived. We got a nice outdoor table with the views of the ocean and outside, there are nets so birds can get in. You can order drinks and smoothies for a charge. There is an omelette station and I think you can request special plates, but overall it's a traditional continental breakfast buffet with salmon eggs benedict, French toast, and some Hawaiian dishes too. Located at the Kalia side of the towers on the side where check in is. The parking garage is across the street from the hotel. You can also charge to your room or pay there, I think my parents got a senior citizen discount. Convenient if you're staying at this hotel. read more

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This is my favorite breakfast buffet on island hands down the waffles is absolutely amazing crispy and fluffy the omelette is awesome and there corn beefwoth the eggs Benedict is amazing and price is very reasonable definitely won't be disappointed read more

Located at the Hale Koa Hotel, they only serve breakfast buffets for less than $30 per person. Their menus differ each day so check their website daily menus at https://www.halekoa.com/dining-drinks/koko-kalia. They serve each day 6:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. The restaurant is for uniformed military, military retirees, and their guests. They will ask to see an ID card to ensure you are eligible. Parking is available across the street from Hale Koa. Food is excellent! They have scrambled eggs, made to order omelets, waffle stand, fresh island fruit, pastry, bacon, turkey sausages, white rice, fried rice, eggs benedict, variety of pancakes each day, and much more. I highly recommend visiting this restaurant. read more

Koko At Kalia - Scrambled eggs, turkey sausage, fried rice, and bacon. - Buffets Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Honestly, for $26 a person, it's a good buffet with even better views of the ocean. Typical buffet food (sausage, bacon, etc.) but also local Hawaiian like li hing mui pineapple and pineapple teriyaki fried rice. read more

Koko At Kalia - Buffets Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

The restaurant is located inside of Hale Koa Hotel. We went to the breakfast buffet there. The service and view were great, but the coffee was not good at all. It had a weird taste, like the plastic from the coffee maker. The omelette was cooked at the corner of the buffet section and excellent. The other food at the buffet was mediocre. Overall, it was okay. Nothing was significant except for what was mentioned, unfortunately. read more

Koko At Kalia - Omelette Section - Buffets Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Great food, great service, awesome omelet made to order. View is beautiful as well. Discounts for those 65+. Have been twice and will definitely be back. read more

Breakfast buffet at Koko at Kalia at the Hale Koa was very nice. It overlooked the beautiful blue ocean on this bright sunny day. It was easy to navigate throughout the stations of food. Omelet station, hot foods, desserts, fruits, waffle and oatmeal station, and drink station. Each day has a different breakfast menu. Our waitress was on point, collecting our plates, filling coffee and water cups. The ambiance is very nice, on the mellow side. No loud chattering or constant clanging of dishes. Parking is across the street. Restaurant validates, just pay a few dollars for a few hours. read more

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One of the best brunches in Waikiki, period. Actually, one of the old time brunches when quality mattered. The brunch is part of the Hale Koa offerings to our military patrons, guests, and qualified personnel. There are no reservations taken, so it pays to come early. The food stations are amazing. Waffles, an omelet to order station, bakery, fruit, meat, eggs and dessert tables. All beautifully arranged. Koko At Kalia is located in the rear of the building, with a spectacular view of the beach, open to the fresh and salty air and the views of Diamond Head. A unique place to enjoy a wonderful brunch. read more

Omg. Get the macadamia nut crunch pancake. THE BEST I've ever had. Service was on point. Orange juice was fresh! Outdoor dining was the icing on top. read more

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I wish we would have tried it early in our trip, as we would of ate here everyday. The quality of the food surprised me, the views were beautiful and service was friendly. I don't usually love buffets, but this was an exception. 10/10 for us. read more

Koko At Kalia - Buffets Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Spent Father's Day brunch at Koko's! What a way to celebrate with a wide variety of selections. I wanted to try the omelette but the queue was outrageously long so I skipped. However their menu was still great otherwise! I loved how our server accommodated our tables so quickly. Honorable mention for their hot chocolate with whipped cream, we loved it. Ambiance gave off your usual buffet style. Their fruit selection was really good too. 10/10 I would definitely recommend. read more

Koko At Kalia - Buffets Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Located in Hale Koa Hotel, you need to be either active or retired military, or an employee of DOD. You just need to show your government CAC ID if you are a DOD employee. We went to the Saturday breakfast buffet because they offered smoked salmon egg benedict and kalbi. The hot foods in general is ok, but more processed meats (sausage, links, bacon), and salty. The smoked salmon was a little fishy, and the kalbi was very salty. The highlighted items were the omelette made to order station, and the self serve waffle station, with a lot of toppings to choose from. The buffet also offered pastries, oatmeal, fruits, pineapple bread pudding, french toast, etc. Service was great. Very friendly, waters were filled, but my decaf coffee was way too strong and bitter. Although in general the food was average, you cannot beat having a breakfast buffet for only $27, without tax. Lots of parking in the parking lot across from Hale Koa Hotel. Validation is $3 for 4 hours. Note, I have a picture of the AC that runs across the ceiling. It has water condensation and drips from time to time. We were unfortunate to be seated at a table a little too close under it, and didn't notice it until water dripped on one of us, but fortunately not on our food, I think. read more

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We had a nice little buffet breakfast at Koko at Kalia on Christmas Eve we showed up around 9 am and there was a bit of a line to get in but it didn't take very long to get seated, even with several large groups. The buffet had a wide spread of options including Lychee pancakes, eggs Benedict, eggs, veggies in balsamic vinegar, fried and steamed rice, oatmeal, coffee, several juices, bacon, sausage and fruit. We didn't really have anything bad while here. The bacon stuck together so you ended up getting a ton at once which was nice. I had an omelette made and it was delicious, the eggs were very fluffy and they had a good amount of toppings to include. The place itself was busy, but still felt nice. They have an oceanfront balcony which is a peaceful way to eat. The staff was all very friendly and we were in and out in a good amount of time. read more

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Breakfast buffet here is great. Super nice staff, delicious food, and decent pricing too. When we stay here, we always eat breakfast here at least a few times. They have all the breakfast staples you can think of, but my highlights are the eggs benny, the papaya, and when available, the bread pudding! I request. At least on Sundays maybe up the price $5 and include some premium offerings like some roast. Oh and kalua or portugese sausage fried rice! That would be insane. Ok, my fat self needs to go eat. read more

Decent place for a good breakfast. The atmosphere is nice and the selection of food is excellent. Not nearly as good as the brunch they used to serve in one of their larger rooms pre-COVID, but good none the less. read more

Good place to get breakfast, mid range pricing, and staple food options. Also an indoor outdoor restaurant with a view

Perfect place to have breakfast at Hale Koa Hotel. Their fruits are so sweet and juicy. You can make own waffles at waffle station with all toppings including coconut syrup! The omelette station is amazing. It is the most relaxing restaurant to start your day! Service is excellent. Very attentive! Don't forget to have coffee. read more

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We came to Koko At Kalia and had a delicious breakfast. The hostesses and Cindy -our server- were awesome. Very friendly, respectful and professional. Kudos to the chef who was very nice and served a delicious vegetable omelette. The restaurant does have room for large groups and you are able to see the ocean while dinning. Overall, the meal was excellent. Enjoy! :) read more

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Please note: To eat here, you must be retired, or active military! Now that we got that out of the way, I would like to drop a review about my breakfast experience at the Koko Kalia restaurant located inside of the Hale Koa Hotel............... It's so funny that I've been to the Hale Koa Hotel many times for weddings, and a few one year old birthday parties, but never had the chance to dine at the Koko at Kalia restaurant until a few years ago. Again, to eat here, you must be either active, or retired military, and lucky for us my dad's friend is retired from the DoD and has privileges so that's how I ended up here for breakfast on a Saturday morning. The Koko at Kalia restaurant is located on the lobby floor level, kinda towards the back of the hotel, facing the ocean side. The Breakfast Buffet here is pretty good......as they had an array of breakfast food items like - 1. Fresh Fruits, Yogurt & Granola 2. Breakfast Danishes & Pastries 3. Skillet Grilled Hash Brown Potatoes. 4. Fluffy Scrambled Eggs. 5. Classic Eggs Benedict. 6. Amaretto French Toast. 7. Warriors Creamed Beef w/Mini Biscuits. 8. Pineapple Bread Pudding. 9. Bacon, Pork Link Sausage, Turkey Link Sausage. 10. Omelet's Made to Order. (Omelet Station) 11. Waffle Station 12. Hot Oatmeal Cereal. 13. Local Style Tofu Fried Rice. 14. Deconstructed Loaded Potatoes. 15. Included with the buffet breakfast - Coffee, Decaf Coffee, Hot Tea, & Ice Tea. Note: An 18% service charge will be added for groups of 8 people or more. The Koko at Kalia restaurant is pretty spacious, & the restaurant has a beautiful ocean view. No complaints about the service here, as service was impeccable! Besides the beautiful views, & very nice décor of the restaurant, the best thing about coming here is the very reasonable prices that they charge for the buffet! The Koko at Kalia is only open for Breakfast from (6:30 AM to 11:00 AM) & they also do a Dinner here. Koko Kalia doesn't do lunch here (see my pic for the operational business hours). As good as the breakfast buffet was, upon reading my Yelp buddies Dinner reviews...........oh man, I hope to have the opportunity to come here to try the dinner buffet one day! read more

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I've been here over the years. If you're the same, then you know what to expect. Food is still the same, which is good. I noticed the omelette dude is different the other day. The price is still decent for what they offer. The waiter was friendly and helpful. My coffee and water was rarely less than half full. This is a clutch place to have breakfast if you are in Waikiki and can get in (DoD id required). read more

Birthday Breakfast this morning at Kokos! So bitter sweet, every year my Birthday is spend out of state or country but this Birthday was the most special and most wonderful Birthday ever. The way we were welcomed was the warmest greeting I've ever had it brings happy tears to my eyes. Thank you for making my Birthday so special ALL at Kokos! the food was amazing and a special thanks to our omelette expert this morning for making the best omelette I've ever had! Breakfast buffet located in Hale Koa Military Resort price is based on military rank. Delicious and beautiful ocean front dining. From fruit, cereal and pastries to the meats and omelets. Quick pictures take before leaving, enjoy! read more

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Definitely worth the money... My husband and I tried the breakfast buffet while we were on our staycation at the Hale Koa this past weekend and both enjoyed it! The kimchi fried rice and omelet station were my favorite! Also enjoyed the build/make your own waffle station. The fruit was fresh and sweet. Didn't order any brunch cocktails because we had some waiting for us in our room but saw they were all fairly priced(for Waikiki) around $7-$8 on the menu. We will for sure be back again!! read more

Koko At Kalia - Buffets Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

As of September 6, 2021, the Koko At Kalia located at Hale Koa hotel did not offer the breakfast buffet [insert sad face here]. Instead, we ordered a la carte, which wasn't as fun and tasty compared to our previous dining experiences at the buffet, but we were in good company and good service! I started out with a Michelada, with my choice of Coors Light for the Bloody Mary mix. Nothing memorable but definitely refreshing since the dining room was a bit warm. The Hawaiian Sweet Bread French Toast was your average French toast. But the mac nuts, toasted coconut, and fresh strawberry toppings definitely elevated the taste and flavor. The rest of the party enjoyed Classic Breakfasts with Portuguese sausage. But the real winner of the day was the fresh papaya and lime! Yum! Each party must be sponsored by at least one active duty/retired military/DOD member - show ID. Everyone in the party must be present in order to be seated. Guests must park across the street in the parking structure. If needed, first drop off your party at the top near the hotel and entrance, park, and then meet the group at the restaurant towards the back right side. When you're done, walk around the property and check out the beach! Don't forget the small Navy Exchange on the ground floor. read more

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You know the food is good when you go three out of the four mornings you are at the Hale Koa! The service is amazing, the view is stunning, and the food is incredible! read more

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Best place to go for Mother's Day. Just a small wait to get in. Buffett style with an omelette station. Great waitress she was on top of our drinks. There is seating with ocean view or you can eat closer to the food . read more

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First breakfast in Honolulu and why not stop by the all you can eat breakfast buffet not that I can put it down like I used to but me and the Mrs. Venture from our room to indulge in the many fruit choices cantaloupe honeydew watermelon pineapple pears lining dusted pineapple. The hot bar has everything from a made to order omelette station, fried rice, hash browns turkey sausage, bacon salmon. French toast and much more... The servers were attentive and the overall vibe was relaxed open and inviting everything was good the bar could have used a few more hot food options but what was available was good read more

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This place is fabulous! If you are ever given the opportunity to eat here... Jump, leap and snap at the chance! First off the people are ALL very friendly and extremely nice and helpful! Just true wonderful people! Secondly the atmosphere of the place is so inviting. Thirdly the food is outstanding, bar none! 6 of us arrived for Breakfast this morning. The choices are wonderful and tasty! From scrambled eggs to custom omelets and eggs. From island bread pudding to eggs Benedict. From Bacon and Sausage to Fresh cut fruits. Everything about this place is Awesome! My only regret is that my stomach was not big enough for a third trip! 5+ stars all the way! read more

My aunt and uncle live here and always like to take us to Koko at Kalia. They offer a really delicious breakfast with many, many choices. The omelette station is top notch and there is a wide array of pastries, toast, fruit, bacon, waffle station, sausage, biscuits etc. It is a good value breakfast considering it's in Waikiki! In fact, we are going back tomorrow and taking other family members there. The space inside the restaurant is quite large and food was fresh. Service was excellent, quick and friendly. Shout out to Juana! They serve the breakfast buffet until 10:30am. read more

Nice buffet bunch for mother's day and families visiting. The buffet and customer service was excellent. This was my second trip to the Koko at kalia buffet and it's pretty good regardless of the day you visit. read more

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Koko at Kalia has one of the best affordable buffets in Waikiki, especially on the weekend nights when it's surf and turf! Located in the Hoa Koa hotel, the restaurant can be a little hard to find but walk past the ballrooms toward the back of the hotel and you will eventually find it. It isn't a vast buffet with mass amount of options but what they have is quality and delicious. I enjoy the prime rib, crab legs and main entree items like lamb, ham and fish. The crab legs are meaty, and the prime rib slices are huge. They also have exceptional desserts, with an ice cream bar with homemade whipped cream and other yummy toppings. I don't know where they get the ice cream or if they make in house but it's so creamy and delicious! I'd go to the buffet just for the ice cream! Not just anybody can go here. You need to present military ID or DOD ID to get in. Check the Hoa Koa hotel first before you get down there to make sure you have the right kind of ID. Also there's no reservations so you just have to come and wait when you arrive. I've waited anywhere from fifteen minutes almost an hour for a table. read more

Koko At Kalia - Desserts - Buffets Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Servers are always quick and friendly here. Hostesses can be a hit or miss. They also need to do a better job of managing their lines during peak hours (or just take reservations). Food is okay. Just the regular food items you'd expect from a local breakfast buffet, nothing worth going out of your way for but everything tastes decent. Omelette line can be quite long depending on the time you go as well. read more

This restaurant is located in the Hale Koa Hotel. For those of you who don't know, this is a military hotel that carters to veterans and active duty. The Hale Koa was my first hotel stay in Hawaii thanks to my Navy Dad. Since the Father-in-Law is retired Navy, we were able to dine at Koko. Please note that you can only dine here if you are with someone who has a military ID. If you don't, kick rocks and eat somewhere else. You can't even book here to stay, let alone make any type of purchase. Glad the hubs and I can still enjoy military perks as an adult (as long as we have one of our parents with us). The service was slow, but they were kind and accommodating. Our waiter didn't even take notes on our order. He memorized everything. I'm impressed because I always walk into the kitchen and forget what I'm doing. LOL. The food was really good! Get the Portuguese sausages. They were super tasty! The eggs were cooked to my liking, the fruits were fresh, the coffee was military strong, and the mimosas with guava did not disappoint. I'm thankful for this experience since I'm not able to dine here as a civilian. Thank you to all our service members. You guys deserve the Hale Koa and all the perks. read more

I had my baby shower here for about 30 guests on a saturday for their breakfast buffet! It is priced cheap for about $18/per person and $9 for kids.. You get your own semi private part of the restaurant too. I like it coz its hassle free. I communicated with them via email and will charge $100 for date reservation. Everything goes put perfectly. I requested extra tables for gifts and decor. Don't forget to tell your guests that they don't need to falll in line to get to your party. Just have them go straight inside the restaurant or they will get stuck in line. They validate parking too! Love my experience and the whole staff was very efficient, funny and nice! read more

Koko At Kalia - The reserved area for my baby shower party - Buffets Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Wonderful breakfast buffet! Everything here was delicious! Service was on point as well!

Had brunch with hubby and a couple friends here. The service was great. We had a really nice view of the beach. The food was great. There were a lot of selection. read more

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