Home of the legendary Tonga Toast, Kona Cafe gets a whole lot of love from Disney World fans, and it absolutely earns every bit of it. We LOVE stopping at this spot, especially for breakfast. Kona Cafe is tucked on the second floor of Disney's Polynesian Village Resort, right next door to the famous Ohana (which we also love). The restaurant is open-air directly into the happenings of the Great Ceremonial House lobby, so depending on what's going on out there, it can get a bit noisy. That said, when we stopped in one evening we were surprised how quiet it remained inside despite all the activity happening just beyond the dining room. The atmosphere isn't over-the-top themed, but getting to look out over one of the most beautiful resort lobbies on Disney property is genuinely a perk all on its own.
Kona Cafe Quick Breakdown
- Service: Table Service
- Cuisine: American with Polynesian flair, Sushi, Seafood, Vegetarian-Friendly, Allergy Options
- Price Range: $$
- Location: Second floor, Disney's Polynesian Village Resort
- Hours: Breakfast 7:30 AM to 11:15 AM | Lunch 12:00 PM to 2:45 PM | Dinner 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM
- Disney Dining Plan: Yes, 1 Table Service credit per person
- Discounts: Annual Passholder and Disney Vacation Club discounts available
- Features: Reservations strongly recommended, full bar, allergy-friendly options
- Good For: Casual dining, breakfast before the parks, families, vegetarian-friendly groups
- Menu: Official Disney Dinner Menu
A Look Inside Kona Cafe
Located on the second floor of the Polynesian's Great Ceremonial House, Kona Cafe features Polynesian-themed decor with bamboo accents, warm earthy tones, and pops of tropical color throughout. The seating is comfortable and spacious with a mix of tables and booths that works well for both small and large parties, creating a relaxed and welcoming environment.
The restaurant has an open-concept layout that looks right out into the iconic Polynesian lobby below, which is one of the most stunning resort interiors at Walt Disney World. Just outside the entrance to the dining room you'll find Kona Island, a counter that doubles as a coffee bar in the mornings and a sushi-to-go spot in the evenings. It's worth knowing about, especially if you want a quick coffee fix before your reservation or a post-dinner sweet treat.
Getting to Kona Cafe
One of the great things about Kona Cafe is that you do not need a park ticket to eat here. It's located at a Disney resort, which means you can visit on a rest day, before the parks open, or on your arrival or departure day. That flexibility makes it a really smart reservation to have in your back pocket.
Getting there is easy from multiple directions. You can hop the resort monorail from Magic Kingdom and be there in minutes, take a short boat ride from the Magic Kingdom area resorts, or walk from the Ticket and Transportation Center, which is only a short stroll away. If you're walking from the Grand Floridian it's doable but a bit of a trek, just so you know.
Kona Cafe Dinner Dishes
Kona Cafe really does shine at all three meal times, and if you've only ever been for breakfast you are missing out on a seriously solid dinner menu. The kitchen leans into Pan-Asian flavors with Polynesian-inspired twists, and there's something here for adventurous eaters and stick-to-the-classics folks alike.
The Bread Service
Before we even get to the food, let's talk about the bread service. Rolls come out warm and pillowy, served with that legendary macadamia nut butter we mentioned from breakfast. It is sinfully good and you will be reaching for more before you even realize it.
Pork-Vegetable Pot Sticker
The menu has been recently updated and the pot stickers have gotten a refresh. They're now pan-seared instead of crispy-fried, served with soy cream and mirin teriyaki. Still filled with a flavorful mixture of pork and vegetables, still a great way to start the meal. A perfect warm-up for the rest of the evening.
Sushi at Kona Cafe
One of the things that genuinely surprises people about Kona Cafe is how solid the sushi program is. The restaurant has a visible sushi kitchen where chefs hand-roll fresh sushi throughout service, and it shows in the quality of what comes out. The sushi here is almost on par with what you'd get at California Grill, which is high praise for a resort restaurant at this price point.
The current sushi menu features the California Roll ($18) with crab, cucumber, and avocado, the Spicy Tuna Roll, the new Dynamite Roll ($26) with hamachi, salmon, asparagus, carrot, yuzu kosho, and wasabi sauce, and the Combination Platter ($49) for those who want a sampler of spicy tuna, California roll, nigiri, and sashimi all in one go. For sushi lovers, this is genuinely a great value and quality combination for a theme park resort restaurant.
Kona-braised Short Rib
This is the dish that our friends got us hooked on, and we are so grateful. The braised short rib is a Kona Cafe signature for a reason. It's topped with a Kona Coffee-Mocha Sauce and, in its updated form, now comes with carrot-ginger purée, peanuts, and bok choy instead of the mashed potatoes and broccolini it used to be served with. The Kona coffee element gives the sauce a depth that just completely works, and the dish has that perfect warm-your-soul home-cooking energy, especially welcome during the cooler months. This is the one we keep coming back for.
BBQ Chicken with Fried Rice and Spam
The airline chicken dish at Kona has been a long time favorite of mine. It's evolved over the years from a lemon, to terikaki to now BBQ!
New Dinner Additions
The menu refresh has added some exciting new options worth highlighting. The Char Siu Duck ($33) comes with farro, miso-cream sauce, and asparagus, bringing a roasted richness that pairs beautifully with the tropical setting. The updated New York Strip Steak ($41) now arrives with black garlic mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables, and a mirin-teriyaki chimichurri, which is an upgrade worth noting for steak lovers.
