Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Kona Craft Cafe

    4.0 (51 reviews)
    Open • 7:00 am - 2:00 pm
    Updated 1 month ago

    Kona Craft Cafe Photos

    Business Info

    KONA CRAFT CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Dogs allowed
    Outdoor seating

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Kona Craft Cafe

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Kalua pork quesadilla
    Craig Z.

    Good food and great service! Tara was cool and kept us full and hydrated! The prices were decent as well.

    Curvy fries - fresh, crunchy and hot
    Anthony S.

    My Breakfast burger was good although missing the bacon. Server made up for it by supplying me with three fantastic bacon strips. My wavy fries were hot and fresh with just the right amount of crunch. I'd definitely return.

    Drink menu
    Sophia N.

    I'm always on the hunt for a great latte that reminds me of Hawaii so I had to check this place out. Right in the heart of the village so it's easy to walk to but not so easy to park. I tried the Iced Haupia Latte and it was great! Perfect if you're a coconut lover. It was $7.55 with oatmilk so I feel like that's a pretty standard price nowadays. Enjoyed it on the chairs outside for a while. I would definitely come back!

    Island Style Pancakes {5/5}: fluffy goodness topped with flavorful coconut syrup, Mac nuts, and a touch of pomegranate seeds
    April Y.

    They had me at coconut/Mac pancakes (Island Style Pancakes) and loco moco. Add to that, the outer patio is dog friendly - with a server that was a dog-lover - so we were happy campers (including our doggie). The Island Style Pancakes was it for me! We also had the Broke Da Mouth Loco Moco - which was good - but the pancakes with the coconut was fluffy and flavorful and the pomegranate seeds was a really good unexpected complement to it. We generally love loco moco so we were happy with that too. But I'd say it was truly the pancakes that "broke da mouth". We also had the coconut latte which was kinda "meh". It had coconut cream chunks which didn't really infuse flavor into the coffee nor was it like having boba or pudding in a drink where it was drinkable either. It was too sweet and gloppy for my tastes. So skip the fancy coffees, but definitely get the pancakes!!! Thank you Kona for a nice beach vacay meal!

    Pastry case
    Elyse J.

    After grieving the loss of Daily News Cafe, I decided to go try Kona Craft Cafe. Tera, who had worked at this location for over 20 years, is still there, along with some other familiar faces. She is a superhero in the food service industry and know how to make a great experience. She is charming, quick, gives updates, and recommendations. The decor is nautical, cutesy, and has color changing lights on the ceiling. The pastry case is still there. And the food - wow! Lots of the same Daily News menu items and some elevated/contemporary dishes. Huge drink menu with a large variety of mimosas. Still has a local feel. Highly recommend!

    Loco moco, crab cake Benedict, and country fried steak
    Tiffany M.

    Our server was super friendly, though I did feel like she forgot about us. Got the country fried steak and it was our favorite of the meal. Loco moco was good, but the beef was dry. Both dishes could've used more gravy. Crab cake Benedict was good too! Sad piece of asparagus didn't need to be there. Would I come back? Maybe

    Iced tea and Beach bum
    Amanda B.

    Kona Craft is a cute cafe that took over the Daily News spot in the Carlsbad Village. It has a Hawaiian touch on everything- Hawaiian coffee, pineapple burger, tropical iced tea, etc. They didn't renovate anything so the termite damage and faded art is still there. Number for this location is the bathroom is a journey away. Upstairs and behind a coded door but it's nice. All the food was extremely delish.

    Bre R.

    We visited on a Friday lunchtime. Busy place in the village. We sat outside under umbrellas it was great. Expect to wait on weekends. Extra friendly service, and a fantastic Loco Moco here, eggs cooked perfect - over easy. We did ask for extra gravy. They have some variations that look good too like Kalua Pork. We do recommend.

    Loco Moco
    Krysten S.

    It was good. Great? Not great. I'm not sure how to feel about it considering they're supposed to have like a half Hawaiian-inspired theme going on? Came here for lunch with my coworkers on a Thursday, so it was considerably slower but we were able to find open seating quickly. The server was nice, she did seem kind of frazzled at points and needed help locating things on her handheld POS, which fine, of course I don't mind helping. The food was just okay, to be honest I think the idea of their menu was more enticing than the actual food. Not to say that it was bad, it was just middle of the road? I didn't taste anything exceptionally Hawaiian? My katsu sandwich was a little burnt and didn't have any salt, my coworkers steak was rare and he didn't get asked for cooking preference so I guess that's either on him or the server? The poutine was decent, didn't taste like kalua pork but I guess that's it? I'm ambivalent because maybe we just got the wrong things? Or maybe it wasn't great and they were having an off day. In any sense I would maybe go back but I wouldn't seek it out?

    Island Style Pancakes. $17
    Jennifer Z.

    Stopped by on a Sunday morning for breakfast. Great location right next to the Carlsbad Inn. We were greeted by a friendly hostess and they sat us outside on the patio which had heaters. Service was friendly. Prices were reasonable based on the quality and freshness of the food. We ordered Kona coffee, the California three-egg omelette with fruit and a biscuit, and the Island Style pancakes. Everything was tasty - the star of the show was the pancakes with a coconut glaze, macadamia nuts, and pomegranate seeds. We are already making plans to return and try some of their delicious looking cinnamon rolls.

    Broke da Mouth Moco

    Kona Craft Café is super close to Carlsbad Inn, and I was happy to find a spot serving Hawaiian food. Our party ordered the green chilaquiles, Spam musubi, buttermilk pancakes, and Broke da Mouth Moco. The chilaquiles had good flavor, though I wish the chips were crunchier. The pancakes were pretty good, with no complaints. I'd probably skip the Spam musubi--I've had better. The Moco was mostly rice compared to the meat, but still decent. Overall, the food was good, but I've had better Hawaiian food, which is why I'm giving it 4 stars. I'd still come back.

    2 EGGS BREAKFAST (scrambled with bacon, a rosemary-cheese biscuit, and a fruit bowl with berries, bananas, and pomegranate arils)
    Scott T.

    keep seeing pop-up ads for KONA CRAFT CAFE in my activity feed. since I grew up in the islands, figured it was a sign from the Yelp gods I should (actually "ought" since it's a moral imperative) give the place a try. had to try the SPAM MUSUBI (grilled, house-made Spam served nigiri-style: sushi rice, nori (seaweed) strip, and a soy-based glaze with toasted sesame seeds). interesting spin on an old staple. being a natural-born fool for herbie-cheese baked goods, had the 2 EGGS BREAKFAST (scrambled with bacon, a rosemary-cheese biscuit, and a fruit bowl). eggs were a bit under-stirred (you can tell in the photo by how they set), but otherwise did not disappoint. pomegranate seeds were a great add to the fruit bowl. the bottomless pit, nineteen-year-old son ordered the MIXED LUNCH PLATE with Kalua pork, grilled Portuguese sausage (Linguiça), island-style mac salad, and steamed rice. filled that rascal up and we waddled out fat and sassy. looking forward to return visits which will almost certainly include one of the mocos (the Hawaiian version with eggs, meat, steamed rice and brown gravy NOT the pigeon Spanish one with boogers).

    Monica J.

    Excellent location at the entrance of Carlsbad Village. Plenty of parking. The place is clean. The staff is friendly. The fresh squeezed orange juice is a must. Recommend if in the area

    See all

    2 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 days ago

    Helpful 6
    Thanks 3
    Love this 3
    Oh no 2

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    15 days ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Amanda B.
    205
    1110
    11430

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    7 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of C R.
    51
    185
    57

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Scott T.
    100
    1080
    10461

    5 months ago

    Helpful 8
    Thanks 1
    Love this 13
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    15 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    20 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    7 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Diana W.
    132
    28
    13

    2 months ago

    Our server was super sweet, but the food was pretty bland (especially the potatoes) and super overpriced.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    23 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Went for breakfast. Had a mimosa which was good. Pricey for 4. Cinnamon roll was flavorful but could have been a little warmer.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of joel
    0
    1
    0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    21 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of R T.
    0
    128
    139

    6 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Craig N.
    40
    10
    10

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    27 days ago

    Delicious food and great vibes! A great place for brunch if you're in the Carlsbad area.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    The food was just ok. The POG was the highlight of our meal. I'll just order POG to go!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Amy T.
    0
    8
    19

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Kona Craft Cafe

    You might also consider

    The Goods - Vegan donuts

    The Goods

    4.5(1.5k reviews)
    0.2 mi
    •$$

    I travel all over the world and one of my favorite things to do wherever I go is find the local…read morecoffee shops. I've had a lot of coffee in a lot of places, and The Goods is one of those little gems that genuinely stands out. Natalie, the manager, is incredible. She has that rare kind of warmth that makes you feel welcome the second you walk in, and you can tell there's real care behind what they're doing here. I ordered the honey lavender latte and it was beautiful. The lavender was subtle, the honey added just enough sweetness, and most importantly, you could still taste the coffee. My friend ordered an Americano and I stole a sip of that too. To me, black coffee is the real test. There's nowhere for mediocre beans or a bad roast to hide, and this Americano was smooth, rich and genuinely delicious. Then there was the donut. I don't even like donuts, which makes what I'm about to say slightly ridiculous, but it was honestly one of the best things I've ever tasted. I would come back for that alone. There are plenty of places that can make a pretty latte. The Goods has something more. Really good coffee, ridiculously good donuts and people who make you want to come back. If you appreciate finding special local coffee shops when you travel, put this one on your list. The Goods is an absolute must try in Carlsbad.

    What a fun little donut & coffee stop! Delicious fresh and not heavy donuts. Service is also…read morerefreshing and friendly! Cute decor! Love seeing people succeed in singles ownership. We'll be back for sure! Brown sugar sea salt was my fave! Oh and the coffee! yummm!

    Photos
    The Goods - Inside (April 2026)

    Inside (April 2026)

    The Goods - Croissants

    Croissants

    The Goods - Seasonal berry, maple, vanilla glazed, and banoffee

    See all

    Seasonal berry, maple, vanilla glazed, and banoffee

    Cafe Elysa - The ultimate sandwich: one of the best breakfast sandwiches i ever had

    Cafe Elysa

    4.0(564 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    •$$

    Cafe Elysa is a nice place to have breakfast, brunch or lunch…read more Love their location. It is very close to the beach. Parking is in the neighborhood. The cafe has a large patio. The line was long but it moved very fast. We placed our order first , paid then they give us a number for our table. The menu has various assortment of dishes, sandwiches, burgers,quiche,waffles, pancakes, French toast, drinks, pastries and hand-made chocolate. We ordered : - Hot veggie sandwich with fruits 5/5 It was warm, very flavorful and huge. One of the best veggie sandwich I have tried recently. - Ham and cheese omelette with fruits and hash browns 5/5 The omelette was rich, savory complimented with ham and ooey gooey cheese. -ultimate breakfast sandwich 5/5 It had eggs, ham, cheese, and hashbrown. -strawberry pancakes. 5/5 The pancake was large, warm, fluffy with perfect texture. We couldn't leave without ordering many pastries and chocolate. We got the following to go ; -apricot tart 5/5 It was flaky, buttery and rich with zesty tang taste of apricot. - cinnamon custard roll 5/5 It was very flaky , buttery with an adequate taste of cinnamon. - ganache heart truffle - marshmallow truffle My goodness! I loved their ganache heart truffle as well as the marshmallow! It was decadent, silky texture, just luxurious! - Brownie 5/5 Moist, chocolatey, perfectly sweetened and indulgent. For drinks we got Strawberry Matcha & Raspberry Matcha. They were refreshing. We had such a delicious brunch, excellent service and such a fantastic time.

    the pup and I took a delightful walk along the beach wall and settled in for breakfast with our…read morebuddy Kevin at CAFE ELYSA. you order at the register inside. all the baked stuff under glass looked amazing. the SALMON TOAST special was weak: two slices of toasted Wonder-style bread, a wafer-thin slice of cured salmon, heavy on the sprouts and feta. between the cheese and the fish cure, way too salty. the menu had a lot of more interesting offerings, but I was craving a bagel and was seduced by the low, sweet siren song of a piss-poor stand in. that's kinda on me. Kev had the HAM and SWISS CHEESE QUICHE with toast and hashbrowns. he raved about the egg pie and it looked straight up amazing until he slathered on the ketchup. Jersey-boy by way of Florida -- what can you expect? next time Scout and I stroll along the beach wall, we'll stop again, and I'll try to do a better job of ordering.

    Photos
    Cafe Elysa
    Cafe Elysa - Sausage egg and cheese

    Sausage egg and cheese

    Cafe Elysa

    See all

    Naked Cafe - Optimism Bowl

    Naked Cafe

    4.2(896 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    •$$

    Stopped in for coffee and a snack; perfect place for a relaxing moment…read more Ordered an Americano, Naked Mocha, and Carrot zucchini bread. Coffee is fresh and hot; the carrot zucchini bread was fresh and tasty. Service was excellent, and both the outdoor and indoor dining areas were chilled, with tables available. Will make it a point to do a full dining experience in the future.

    When no one was excited with any of the other options for birthday brunch and dinners are always…read morecomplicated for my family/extended family... Naked Cafe immediately popped into my brain! Everyone, especially my dad because it was his first experience (and he's picky) loved the food, coffee drinks and liquid therapy! The 6 adults (me included) easily finished the pitcher of mimosas, we chose the pomegranate lemonade. Don't even get me started on all the specialty coffees and teas that are amazing and come with art! Everyone loves tea or coffee in my family, my go to is the Blue planet because I love spuralina but I got the yummy Chaggaccino (see photo). My dad loved his espresso! My nephews have returned for the 3rd time and one has some dietary restrictions and was happy they both devoured the strawberry chocolate pancakes. I'm vegan and so happy this is a brunch place that has numerous options instead of 1-2 choices at most other establishments. Super happy with they use JustEgg to make an egg dish vegan friendly! I had the pesto quesadilla with black beans and rosemary potatoes, it was delicious. Can't remember our servers name but she easily a group 6 adults, an almost 15 yo and an 11 yo. She returned to the table several times to ask if we needed refills, another drink and how we were enjoying everything. I feel it was a victory for me that I got my parents hooked on this place and they both loved the food! I love taking people here! Than you Naked Cafe and staff for a wonderful birthday brunch yesterday !

    Photos
    Naked Cafe - I am very disappointed with this place and the staff, the staff acted like I wasn't there, they just didn't notice me.

    I am very disappointed with this place and the staff, the staff acted like I wasn't there, they just didn't notice me.

    Naked Cafe - Hot Cocoa

    Hot Cocoa

    Naked Cafe - WOK BOWL

    See all

    WOK BOWL

    Kona Craft Cafe - breakfast_brunch - Updated October 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...