Everything about Koko Head Cafe was top-notch -- the staff, the food, the location, all of it! I tried the lavender sea salt biscuit, which was their special, and WOW. It was amazing! It came with honey butter and jam, and everything is house-made. You can absolutely taste the difference. Such a great experience from start to finish. The food was delicious, the staff was wonderful, and this is definitely a place I'd come back to! read more

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My friend and I came to Koko Head Cafe for brunch after a hike, and we really enjoyed it! We ordered the Ohayou eggs and the cornflake French toast to share, both dishes were fantastic! We were especially impressed by the Ohayou eggs. All of the ingredients together in that creamy, savory sauce were so good, especially paired with the baguette. We even ordered extra baguette to make sure we could soak up every bit of the sauce from the skillet! The cornflake French toast was sweet and decadent. With the gelato on top, it almost felt like it was a dessert. Even though the restaurant was quite busy, we were seated right away. Our server was friendly, and our food came out within a reasonable amount of time. I really liked this spot for brunch and would come here again! read more

Koko Head Cafe - Ohayou eggs - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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I'm not really sure where to begin with this place... Let's start with the good: -the food. very interesting ingredients and the food is prepared very well. That said, the food is very expensive for pretty small portions. We ordered: - 2 (plain) coffees ($11) - vanilla sea salt biscuit ($8) - natty skillet ($24) - steak and eggs ($40) For those prices I was expecting larger portions. Instead we got a small biscuit with butter, a small skillet, and a medium sized plate for the steak and eggs. The waitress was nice enough. Not super attentive but nothing to complain about. The ambiance was cute.. but we were seated in a doorway... which was weird. What really got me tho was when they brought us the bill. They immediately tack on a 5% "Kitchen Service Charge", which they write at the bottom is "optional". They are clearly are banking on the fact that either people won't notice, or people will be too shy to ask them to remove it. And then their suggested tip at the bottom is based off of a number HIGHER than even the new total withthe 5% gratuity already on it. Ie: our total before tax (without the 5% gratuity) would have been $83. With the 5% gratuity (which thankfully they calculated correctly) it was $87.15. The suggested tips were, however, calculated based off a total of $89.88. (I calculated this based on their suggestion: their new suggested total for a 20% tip was $107.86, so dividing that by 1.2 should give us the original pre-tip total. 107.86/1.2=89.883) I'm not sure exactly how they came up with these tips but this is very dishonest, which is why I am giving them 2 stars. Really they deserve 1 star for this, but I am giving them 1 additional star since the food was actually pretty good. TLDR: come but pay attention to your bill with the gratuities and be ready to do the math your self read more

Want to start by saying I took way more photos, for some reason by the time we were done eating and I was ready to write my review most were all zapped out of Yelp. Been wanting to try this place for awhile and glad we did. Everything was good and had a certain nuance to it, but I wasn't wowed by anything. I think from me it was a little under flavored, but well executed. Liked the casual ambience and service. It's in a part of town that can get busy and mostly paid parking, except for free street parking on Sundays. read more

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The whole place is an experience! Unique Hawaii flavors with an Asian twist. Delicious! Service was good and the place was nice and clean. They kitchen it open and if you tip them, they'll cheer for everybody. The shoyu chicken tempura style is AMAZING! read more

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You're doing too much. We were excited to try this spot, especially knowing the owner competed on Top Chef, but unfortunately almost every dish felt overcomplicated. Sometimes less really is more, and in this case, the fusion and number of competing flavors seemed to overtake the dishes themselves. We ordered the Volcano Eggs, Chicken & Eggs, and Ricotta Pancakes so we could try a little of everything. The chicken itself was good, and so were the pickled onions, but the Chicken & Eggs as a complete dish just didn't work for us. There was so much happening on the plate that the individual components seemed to fight each other rather than come together. The Volcano Eggs had a similar issue; lots of bold flavors, but they didn't blend particularly well. The ricotta pancakes probably had the most potential. The pancakes themselves were delicious and, with real butter and maybe a light jam, could have been amazing. Instead, they were buried under a complicated sauce that overpowered them. I kept thinking: just let the food shine! A couple of other things took away from the experience. Each time the kitchen staff received a tip, there was loud yelling/celebrating from the kitchen. It happened about four times during our brunch and became excessive and disruptive. The suggested gratuity also starts at 19%, which felt a little off-putting given the already higher price point. Our waiter was very nice and provided good service. Just be aware that dining times seem to be fairly strict , once your allotted time is up, you definitely get the feeling that it's time to go. There are some genuinely good components here, and clearly a lot of creativity and thought goes into the menu. For us, though, simplifying the dishes and letting the quality ingredients speak for themselves would make a huge difference. read more

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Came here with some friends for brunch and had a great experience. Everyone enjoyed the meal. We ordered the breakfast bibimbap, volcano eggs, ricotta pancakes, and pickle plate. Had a Bloody Mary to complement my meal. Service was excellent, someone was always refilling and taking plates away as we finished. read more

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Came here after hiking Diamond Head. We got here when it opened and were seated right away. Service was welcoming from the start and our waiter was very helpful and friendly. We got multiple things and everyone was very pleased with their dish. My daughter absolutely loved her fish and eggs. My koko moco was so amazing. A very generous and fresh patty and all the flavors were just heavenly. The haupia pancakes were an absolute favorite as well. The restaurant is cute, modern and bright with spacious seating. read more

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Our big group walked in on a Tuesday for lunch and they accommodated us right before the kitchen closed, which we really appreciated! Highlights were the cornflake French toast and Koko moco. Also loved the POG juice and breakfast bibimbap. Can't recommend this place more! read more

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Okkkkkk first Hawaiian stop! And it was amazing! The service was great!! Our waitress was super friendly and the vibes at the restaurant were super great! We were thought of as locals! Always a great feeling when we blend in a bit! But overall the food was delicious, service was great and I didn't think it was overly priced either It was also a pretty busy place. read more

Koko Head Cafe - Breakfast Bibimbap - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Koko Head Cafe is such a fun spot to stop by after hiking Diamond Head! They have a huge variety on the menu, and everything we ordered was absolutely delicious. I got the pho dumplings, which were so flavorful and unique and definitely a standout for me. The service was AMAZING too. Our waiter was so friendly, helpful, and made the whole experience even better. The restaurant was also super clean with plenty of seating, which was nice after a hike. Definitely adding this to my list of must-visit spots in Honolulu! read more

It's been a while since I've been to Koko Head Cafe and I'm happy to report it's just as good as it was years ago! I decided to book a table here because this restaurant is one of the few places that accepts reservations for weekend brunch. Love that! The restaurant was lively on a Sunday, yet service was still good. I ordered the volcano eggs skillet, which was a little salty, but it was great for dipping my bread into. The restaurant also had a few specials and we ended up ordering a biscuit with guava jam - star of the show! The biscuit was amazing!! I liked that there were a lot of local ingredients featured and dishes were very unique, and not your standard pancakes, French toast and eggs and breakfast meat type of place. Overall, a great spot for brunch. read more

Koko Head Cafe - Volcano Eggs - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Unique flavors with a local twist, beautiful presentations, and generous portions. We received a lot of awesome tips from the server who was friendly, helpful and gracious. We ordered a variety of entrees to share family style for dinner Every dish was packed with flavor. The top five: 1. Garlic Butter Shrimp Dumplings 2. Lamb Special 3. No Kings Caesar Salad - literally a showered with parmigiana 4. Mapo Tagliatelle 5. Desserts - Chocolate Lilikoi We also enjoyed the Fried Jidori Chicken, the Pork Katsu, Canoe House appetizer and the garlic rice skillet. A relaxing and delicious dining experience with great friends! read more

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Always a great go-to brunch spot tucked in Kaimuki!service is great, definitely try to make reservations in advance as it can get busy on weekends! Been here multiple times and tried something new, everything tasted great! Signature potato hash brown is a must along with their breakfast skillet read more

Koko Head Cafe - Kimchi bacon cheddar scones - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Came on a Friday morning to try Koko Head Cafe for the first time and got out of the restaurant feeling satisfied. The interior of the restaurant felt homey. The menu boasts unique & well-executed twists on your familiar breakfast items. Their Specials menu also seem to change everyday. I ordered the Breakfast Congee, my boyfriend ordered the Koko Moco, and we had the Strata from their Daily Specials, to share. Breakfast Congee: 9/10. Comforting and yummy. I wasn't expecting that all of the toppings would mix well together and elevate the seemingly simple taste of congee. I could taste a bit of spice due to the chili oil, which added to the combination of many other flavors. I needed something comforting in the morning so it really hit the spot. Koko Moco: pretty good in terms of the taste but the portion was a little smaller than expected, but we had the Strata to share and felt satisfied after having that. Strata: Reading the description on the menu sounded very interesting, but all the ingredients really blended well together! I found myself eating the congee and strata alternately during our meal. Although there was a bit of a wait for the food to arrive (it was a busy Friday morning with a 25-40 minute wait to be seated), the service was great and the staff were attentive to our needs. Ample parking at the Kaimuki Municipal Lot with entrances by 12th Avenue. read more

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cornflake French toast - good and not too sweet don buri chen - good Portuguese sausage - skip it read more

I really like the vibe of this place. The staff were excellent and attentive. Food was yummy. My husband tried the congee, expecting it to be like jook. Nope. So many different flavors. All of which somehow complimented each other. Savory, but light? How? Go try it for yourselves. read more

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Food - Volcano eggs (half veggie okra mix/half Portuguese sausage), bibimbap, ricotta pancakes, pickled veggies. All delicious. The ricotta pancakes with Haupia sauce and coconut flakes were so moist and fluffy. These were among the best pancakes I have ever had, ever! Drinks - mimosa, old fashioned, Bloody Mary. All simple but good. Service - we were sat down quickly with a reservation. Food came out quickly. Server was nice and got everything right. No complaints! :) read more

Koko Head Cafe - Volcano eggs with toast - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Natty skillet: Lots of different ingredients with some pickled veggies. The fried poke was better than I expected. Refreshingly different. The crispy rice on the bottom of the skillet is crunchy. Nice but tasteless. They have a breakfast bimbimbap which has gouchijan would make it so much better. And I did! I ordered a side of go chi Jang and it is so much better with the rice!! The morning milk shake warning - lots of alcohol. With bacon and granola... Not for me. Service was excellent. Our server was very attentive. read more

Koko Head Cafe - Natty skillet - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

The world food tour duo reconvened at Koko Head Café in Kaimuki. I learned that this popular breakfast / brunch venue is now open for dinner, so I checked the menu, then made a reservation. We hadn't been in this restaurant since it was it was the 12th Avenue Grill ... The décor looked like it hadn't changed, we were seated at a table across from the bar, which was nice as it was quieter than the tables near the windows. We perused the menu and I ordered a 2023 Non Confunditur, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Sangiovese from Toscana ($70). It was rich, full of dark fruit, and chocolate ... A surprisingly good wine available in stores for about $25. We opted for the Ulu Fried Feta ($24) and Mothers Mushrooms ($24) as appetizers and Mapo Tagliatelle ($36), Lamb Rendang ($44), and Garlic Rice Skillet ($10) for our entrée. Each appetizer was petite, colorful and flavorful, especially the ulu. It was topped with herb salad, slices of cucumber, candied pistachios and surrounded by a balsamic glaze and pieces of Ka'u orange. Slices of mushrooms were atop smoked goat cheese, topped by a frisee herb salad, kataifi and a soy vinaigrette. We wondered what the Mapo Tagliatelle would look like ... Imagine Mapo tofu with minced pork over Onda tagliatelle pasta, topped with fried shallots and cilantro. It was spicy with a good amount of heat; surprisingly good over pasta. I scooped spoonfuls of Mapo tofu atop the garlic rice. The rice was wonderful, crisped on the bottom and topped with a generous heaping of green onion and what looked like toasted millet. The lamb was so tender and so rich in flavor. It was served with pieces of fried ulu flatbread and came with three dishes of pickles, string bean, daikon, and pineapple (we think). I would have preferred naan bread with the lamb. The ulu flatbread was delicious, but it made a precarious platform for the lamb as it was very crispy. We had lots of leftovers but one must order dessert. We opted for the Bottom of the Bowl ($8). It was a scoop of vanilla ice cream topped with fried cornflakes and salted caramel. I cannot eat ice cream, but I took a spoonful ... Yum! I had an Americano ($4.50) as they didn't have coffee. It was too light for my taste; give me real coffee every time. We enjoyed our time at Koko Head Café ... It was nice to see that it was pretty full when we left. The dinner menu is not large, but we were able to find dishes that appealed to us. There was a 5% Kitchen Service Charge added to the bill. I didn't notice it; I might have reduced the tip amount I left. ... Rating: 4. read more

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We recently went to Koko head cafe as first timers for brunch and were so impressed, we returned for dinner ! Reservations on open table was easy to make. When we arrived, it was far less busy than the brunch crowd so we were seated quickly. I'm in a wheelchair and a worker kindly opened the door for us with a smile. There's a standard menu and a separate menu for specials. I wish the main menu was separated: appetizers, salads & entrees but it's all just 1 menu so you have to guess what is a pupu & how big of a portion something is based on cost which is frustrating as a customer. We asked our server how she liked the mother mushrooms and she was honest and said she never tried it because she doesn't like mushrooms and said there's no feedback from it from customers because no one orders it. Ok that means I have to try it because I color outside of the lines. Ok now about the food, for pupus (so we guessed it was) we ordered (of course) mother mushrooms and market veg (a special). Mother mushrooms were delectable, so had great structure. The addition of the kataifi was smart highlight to the dish and added great texture. I thought it had a wee bit too strong of a vinegar bite that left me coughing after the last bite... or was the vinegar in the beets? Now I'm second guessing. The market veg was essentially a beet salad. Loved the addition of golden beets and cheese. I had to look set the menu again to see what kind of cheese it was because I couldn't quite put my finger on it. It was tofu feta whip. As a non vegetarian, I was like whaaaat they make feta out of tofu?? Anyway it was a split decision, hubby liked the mother mushrooms and I liked the market veg Hubby ordered the heritage pork katsu and I ordered the lamb rendang(on behalf of our friends who just moved back to Hawaii from Indonesia). The lamb rendang read "local braised lamb" so I was like bet. Braised is fall off the bone but I would have liked some cubes or chunks but it was just a ramekin of shredded lamb with curry crunch. It came with delicious ulu flatbread and some pickled vegetables. I felt that it could have used a salad with vinaigrette dressing too break up all that heavy meat, the pickles weren't enough. The heritage pork katsu was delicious but I wish it were more cronchy, yes cronchy. That is what you expect from katsu. The watercress and green papaya salad was delicious and had that needed acid We also ordered the garlic rice skillet. The rice at the bottom was very crispy and I believe it's the same rice they serve during breakfast/brunch. We shared the "bottom of the bowl" dessert which was actually the star of the show, we tasted every single flavor with each bite to the last. Frosted flake gelato, macadamia blossom honey & cereal crunch. *muah* But all in all, I definitely will go back...for brunch read more

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Why haven't I been here before!! This was recently recommended by a friend of mine who recently moved here and Wowww! I have been under a rock for this one! Absolutely am so impressed by the quality and menu choices. The food comes out as pectin and the ideas and curations are so clever. Exactly what I have been wishing for. This is definitely not your local Denny's or IHOP. I am addicted. everything is over the top, delish.. hash browns, pancakes, mandoos , ( pot stickers) bibimbap skillet,the front hostess (Malia) is out standing we met the manager who served us then the second time we had a gentleman and server named JT I believe.. Such a gem of a place ..,will be back at least once a month. Love to all and hats off to the chefs ! read more

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Last minute trip & as we landed we looked to see if there were reservations..yes, 12:30p! Parking can be tough in this area so arrive a little bit earlier. Staff was great, very attentive & nice. We were seated within 5 minutes of our reservation. Staff was consistent with recommendations so that's what we had. Chicky & Eggs: $26 this was the best of the 3 items we had. Wish there was more chicken that came with the dish. The dipping sauce was the star. Nice touch with the skillet rice but ended up too crunchy for my liking. Maybe if we didn't share & poured the sauce into skillet, it might've softened the rice? Dumplings All Day Wong: Market Price listed. $16 for 4 pieces Was a bit disappointed by the flavor & price per piece. It was presented as a chicken bacon fried dumpling with a whole list of other ingredients. Tasted like a regular dumpling. Didn't taste like anything like it was described. KokoMoco: just didn't hit the spot. Nothing bad but nothing good to say. $26 Maybe I was expecting more because we loved the food at Papa' aina in Maui. Service was great, understand the cost of ingredients but the let down of the flavors was lost this day. For this price point that doesn't sit as well for us. Will try again but won't go out of the way. read more

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This place was great, beautiful restaurant. Not to mention, the food was even better. I had their loco moco with fried tempura kimchi and it was not what I was expecting. The dish, despite sounding quite heavy, turned out to be quite light and balanced. The kimchi tempura was a beautiful add on to the loco moco to add texture and lightness to the dish. Would recommend anyone who comes here to try this. Service was fast and good as well. read more

I'm a fan of Top Chef, and I was excited to try Lee Ann Wong's Koko Head Cafe for brunch. Our group went after hiking Diamond Head, so we came hungry. We didn't have a reservation, but they luckily had space and were able to seat us. The interior is bright and airy, with local decor. The service was amazing, the service in Hawai'i had been consistently friendly, but it was particularly good at the cafe. We tried a variety of brunch cocktails, all were well made. My friend also started with their rotating biscuit, she got the last vanilla biscuit of the day. It was amazing on its own, but it also came with an amazing butter and mixed fruit jam. I already knew I wanted their take on the loco moco, and decided to split this and the volcano eggs with a friend. Each came in a hot skillet, the volcano eggs reminded me of a Shakshuka. We did a mix of the veggies and sausage. The ingredients were perfectly paired in the right proportions. While it was a great dish, it was the loco moco that will continued to be talked about. The crispy rice, the flavor of the gravy, the right about of spice. It was perfect. Do not miss bunch here if you are on the island, and consider making reservations. read more

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Wow, first visit here on a Monday. We walked in and sat at the bar. It was the perfect seats to see all the dishes coming out of the kitchen. Bi bim bap was so delish as well as the marinated fish and delicately prepared eggs! How do they cook those light and fluffy eggs?? Dumplings were sooo tasty and could not get enough of the dipping sauce! Great service and servers all seemed to enjoy working there! Will be back to try more dishes!! read more

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Excellent brunch spot with a bit of wait. Highly recommend reservations and be prepared for some parking adventures. Our first time at Koko Head Cafe and was completely satisfied. The quoted wait time for a table during our visit was 45 minutes, however we're fortunate enough to secure a last minute availability at the bar. The space reminds me of a diner with bench seating areas. Their menu looked promising and we immediately decided on our entrees. My husband ordered the steak and eggs and I opted for the Koko Moco. The Koko Moco was served in a hot skillet. The crispy rice with the gravy was wonderful! The beef patty was perfectly cooked and topped with a sunny side egg. I tried my husband's steak and eggs which was also delicious. The Australian Wagyu steak was cooked medium rare, topped with hollandaise sauce, and served with a side of hash brown and rice. Drinks were also noteworthy. The queens mimosa was delightful. A perfect blend of sparkling wine, elderflower, and guava juice. Pricing was on the higher end however worth it. Service was excellent and I wouldn't hesitate to return to try other items from their menu. read more

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Great place for brunch. We went on a Friday at noon and no wait. All servers were chill and friendly. Nice open feel. They have a good selection of local beers. The Koco Loco was great loco moco. read more

Koko Head Cafe - Interior - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Post surf brunch was yummy. We got the bibimbap and koko moco. Our server did a great job of offering the chef's recommendation cooking like "sunny side up egg" and "medium rare beef". The skillet kept our meal hot the entire time we were seated. And I'm a huge fan of the crispy rice! This was my first time at the new location (I know I know it's been like 5 years now) and it's SO CUTE! Lots of pretty art to view along the walls and little plants and terrariums throughout. We were sat at a booth section which is my preference in any dining venue, and I didn't even ask! Huge points for that. read more

Koko Head Cafe - Bibimbap + Loco Moco - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

We were nearby & on a whim, decided to pop in. My expectations were high due to being an avid brunch maker & the rave reviews. There was no wait for an outdoor table without reservations. Service: 3.5* Friendly, prompt & helpful with the menu. Food: $21 Ricotta Pancakes: 2.5* When they arrived, I was shocked to see them stacked because when I make lemon ricotta pancakes, they are light & airy & would not deflate them by stacking. These were heavy & dense. Not much flavor in the pancakes so a topping is a must. Nothing special. $26 Cornflake French Toast: 3* The French toast appeared to be deep fried. I tried a bite, it tasted good & had a crunchy exterior. Unfortunately the person who ordered the Cornflake French Toast does not care for black pepper, the server said the billionaire's bacon could be replaced with strawberries. Considering the regular (not billionaire's) bacon side is $6, expected a bunch of strawberries...Well, there was only 1 sliced strawberry. The server offered to replace the creamy black pepper maple with haupia syrup. When the bill arrived, there was a charge for the replacement. Overall was not impressed. read more

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The presentation is beautiful and the service is genuinely friendly. Overall, the experience is enjoyable, but for the price, the flavors fall short. They serve one of the better loco mocos I've had, and I appreciated their take on Korean bibimbap, but nothing extraordinary. We ordered the steak and eggs, which tasted great thanks to the sauce and crispy hash brown, but the portion was so small for a $40 dish. The Volcano Eggs themselves didn't really do it for me. All I tasted was basic tomato sauce, and the okra made the texture a little too slimy. I was SOOO disappointed by the French toast. I was really looking forward to it, but it just tasted like old oil. To make things worse, all of the bacon came out cold, like it had just been pulled from the fridge. If it wasn't for the boozy morning milkshake, I would have been more disappointed. read more

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We've always loved Koko Head Cafe for brunch, but their new dinner service completely won us over. After celebrating my dad's birthday here recently, we knew it would be the perfect Valentine's spot -- and it absolutely was. Executive Chef Lee Anne Wong truly runs something special at Koko Head Cafe. You can taste the intention in every dish -- layered, bold, and thoughtfully executed. If the dumplings are available, they're a must. Non-negotiable. Brunch here is homey and bustling, but dinner shifts into this warm, cozy vibe that feels intimate yet still spacious. (And yes -- the AC is freezing cold, so bring a layer .) Cocktails are just as impressive as the food -- beautiful presentation, bold flavor, perfectly balanced. Service is genuinely local and hospitable, the kind that makes you feel taken care of without being overbearing. Make a reservation -- dinner fills up quickly and you don't want to miss out. A true must-go in Honolulu. read more

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Been a while since we our last visit - first time back since they moved locations. Our server, JT, was great in that he offered recommendations and checked on us often. During our recent visit, it took about 40 minutes for our orders to arrive. JT was apologetic about the wait. The vanilla biscuit arrived warm and still as good as I remembered it. Hubs went with one of the special omelets (forgot the name) which came with a good sized salad - tasty. I went with the Natty Skillet. Although each component (the fried poke, eggs, crispy rice, ong choy) was ok, for me, there was something missing about this dish as a whole that left me unsatisfied. Usually, I'm a big fan of all their offerings so this was a first for me. read more

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We went for lunch on a Thursday and had no trouble getting a table. Beautiful clean looking place that serves brunch all day. The menu was a bit outside the box for me. Kimchi, I am not a fan, and many things looked too heavy or too sweet. I went for the Egg Handwich, French style eggs were perfectly executed and the Best Hash Browns ever were just that but a small portion. My husband ordered the fresh catch and eggs. It was Marlin and you get a little surprise with this one. Have your Chee-hoo ready. Fresh Guava juice was amazing. This was on the pricey side but it's Honolulu and quality ingredients come at a price. The bathrooms were immaculate! read more

3.5/4 stars (opted for 4) I was really excited to come back to Koko Head Cafe after my 10k race -- especially since I haven't been here in about two years. This spot used to be one of my favorite local brunch places back when I first moved to the island in 2018. It's still extremely popular, especially with the Asian-fusion twist that makes it stand out in Kaimuki, but my experience this time around felt a bit different. Food The flavors are still tasty and unique, but I couldn't shake the feeling that something has changed. I ordered the special-of-the-day dumplings and the eggs Benedict. The Benedict came with only one egg, and it was a bit overcooked for my liking -- not as runny as I prefer. The bacon pieces were bite-sized rather than full strips, and the dish overall was smaller than expected. They definitely leaned into creaminess with the sauces and smashed avocado, but portion-wise, it just didn't feel like much. The dumpling special was crispy wontons with hamachi, pesto, creamy goat cheese, and another sauce I'm forgetting -- definitely creative, and something you won't find at many other places on the island. It was good, but again, I remember the food being better years ago. Maybe it's the new location, maybe it's the hype, but the flavors don't hit quite the same anymore. If you know, you know. Service I sat at the bar, and the guy working it was great -- friendly, attentive, and honestly deserves a promotion. The woman behind the bar was also pleasant. The hostesses at the front were a bit less warm, but they were clearly busy, so I get it. Ambiance I miss the charm of their old location, but the new space is definitely more spacious and practical. They can serve more people now, which is great for business. There's bar seating, indoor tables, and outdoor options. It's clean and has the vibe you'd expect from a modern Oahu brunch spot. Overall Will I be back soon? Probably not. After two years away, I was hoping for that "wow" factor I used to feel, but the portions stayed the same while the prices went up, and the food just didn't impress me the way it used to. If you're a tourist or it's your first time, it's still worth trying -- it's a well-known spot for a reason. But if you're local and remember how it used to be, you might understand why I'm on the fence. I'd only return if I'm really craving something specific from their menu and feeling optimistic. read more

Koko Head Cafe - Eggs Benedict - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Koko Head Cafe is a great place for brunch if you're in Hawaii. The food is delicious and definitely worth trying. I got the ricotta pancakes with haupia, and my friend ordered the bibimbap skillet--both tasted great. The only small downside with the pancakes was that they could've used a little more of the haupia syrup. It does get very busy, so I highly recommend making a reservation--otherwise expect a long wait. Parking is pretty horrible and can be frustrating, which takes away from the experience a bit. Overall, once seated, the food makes it worth it. Would still recommend and would return. read more

Koko Head Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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TLDR: My FAVORITE place for an excellent breakfast in O'ahu. Come here for Imaginative yet delicious takes on classic Hawaiian and classic American breakfast entrees presented by an enthusiastic friendly and attentive crew. Bright light-filled dining area with high ceilings and modern tasteful wood decor. My favorites: Koko Moco - A loco moco with a Korean twist! This starts off innocently with the usual burger patty and brown gravy, but it gets better - Your Loco Moco then gets crowned with big onion ring chunks, and underneath it all is a bed of rice with a crunchy umami crust from being cooked directly in the clay pot that it is served on! Absolutely TOP! 10/10! Ricotta Pancakes with diced mango compote topping: Indescribable.. You just have to try it. So pillowy soft, and the Mango compote just makes this dish absolutely delightful. Beyond perfection! 10/10 They have specials here too, and we loved being with the friendly personable servers and staff. Everyone seems to have a great time here - BOTH customers and staff! I came back here three times during our stay in O'ahu! Getting Here: Just a few minutes from Waikiki, It's well worth the drive to Koko Head. There's a big yet inexpensive public parking lot right next to the restaurant. Once parked, be sure to pay for parking up front at one of the parking kiosks. Verdict: Yep.. let's GO! read more

Showed up on a Saturday at 11:15, party of 6, and even though they said the wait was 45-60 minutes, we were in by 11:45. Cute place with such delicious food! Standouts were everything sweet and baked: biscuit, scone, French toast, pancakes. The skillets had gorgeously browned crispy rice at the bottom. Service was friendly- can see why there's always a wait! read more

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Amazing food great service nice atmosphere we sat outdoors and was beautiful fast service and the best loco loco its goes by the koko moco

I had high hopes for Koko Head Cafe after seeing long waits and full tables. We went on a weekday and didn't have to wait since we sat at the bar. The servers checked in frequently, so we placed our order quickly and waited about 10 minutes for the food. We ordered the Koko Moco and the Chicky and Eggs, both skillet dishes. The Koko Moco was a very basic loco moco with some crispy rice, nothing particularly memorable. The Chicky and Eggs was overly sweet, and the tempura chicken was very dry. read more

Koko Head Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii