3/18/21 3/18/21

Kona Cafe Lunch Review

Kona Cafe, located at Disney's Polynesian Village Resort, is one of our favorite resort table service restaurants on Disney property for delicious special diets meals and affordable prices. Normally, we dine at Kona Cafe for dinner or breakfast, but on this visit, we decided to grab an early first seating lunch. We were excited to dine at Kona as it had been quite a few months since our last meal there.

*This gluten free dining experience took place in February 2021. It includes information about dairy free options, as well as fish/shellfish, peanut, hazelnut, cabbage, and chicken & turkey allergies.

Lunch at Kona Cafe

COVID-19 & Reopening Notes

On this particular visit, we made reservations for the restaurant a few days before we dined there. I used the My Disney Experience app and found that there was a first lunch seating, which we decided to book (the restaurant opens for lunch at 11:30 a.m. but does serve breakfast earlier in the day). The app worked as it normally does, and we were able to add in our special dietary needs in the app and alert cast members of our needs when we arrived at the restaurant. We were able to use the online check-in when we arrived with no issues.

The restaurant itself featured many mechanisms to provide sanitization, social distancing, and safety for both guests and cast members. All cast members wore facial masks and some cast members also wore protective shields, as well. All servers in the restaurant wore both facial masks and protective shields. We also noticed on this visit that there was some overflow seating for Kona Cafe on the walkways outside of the restaurant since the monorail is not currently operating.

As a note, at the time of writing this review, we have been to several of the Disney Resorts, including the Animal Kingdom Lodge, Boardwalk Resort, Contemporary Resort, Coronado Springs Resort, Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Old Key West Resort, Polynesian, Riviera Resort, and Wilderness Lodge Resort along with all of the theme parks. All locations have the same protocols, as far as we have observed. Be sure to check with restaurants and the official Disney World website for additional information about current guidelines and recommendations.

Atmosphere

We've reviewed Kona Cafe many, many times. So, we won't go into a lot of the theme in this review. You can find some of our other reviews with more photos and information on the blog.

Kona Cafe - Entrance / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Generally, the restaurant is a contemporary take on modern Polynesian decor. But, the restaurant has not been updated in many years. So, you may find that the decor has a bit of a 1990s feel to it. There's lots of bright colors and patterns featured on the carpet, upholstery, and decorations at Kona Cafe.

The restaurant is also "open" in that it's a lobby restaurant that fully opens to the 2nd floor walkways. Depending on where you're seating, you might get a lot of people watching in.

Kona Cafe - Seating Area / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

When we dined at the restaurant, the breakfast and lunch hours were just switching over. So, that meant it was very quiet. If you are looking to avoid large crowds or prefer quieter times, we highly recommend an earlier or later lunch which seem to be the best when dining indoors with less people right now during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This photos also gives you a good idea of what the interior of the restaurant looks like along with the general theme and atmosphere that you'll experience when dining at Kona Cafe.

Kona Cafe / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

The restaurant does include social distancing measures throughout. And, we found that dining at 11:30 a.m. helped make the restaurant feel even quieter and more socially distanced due to the low number of diners.

The Food

Like most Disney owned restaurants, Kona Cafe does have an allergy-friendly menu. You can, of course, always speak to a chef when you dine at Kona Cafe too to discuss different options, modifications, and any questions that you might have.

Because we have dined so much at Kona Cafe, we don't always speak directly with a chef. But, because our server noted our multiple special dietary needs, she recommended that we bring a chef out to discuss the options. It was actually a great thing to do, as I was able to make a special request for a to-go order, which I'll talk about later in this post.

Up first were allergy-friendly rolls. These are gluten free, dairy free & free of the top 8 common allergens and vegan. The current brand used was Bloomfield Farms, which I really love. They were very well heated and tasted great, as always. I also got some Smart Balance vegan buttery spread on the side. The restaurant does usually offer Earth Balance, but due to supply issues they only had Smart Balance (both of which are gluten free, dairy free & vegan) at this time. It's always a good idea to ask a chef when dining at a restaurant what dairy free & vegan options are available.

For my entree, I decided to get the Kona Chicken Stir-Fry which came with Rice Noodles, Napa Cabbage, Carrots, and GF Teriyaki Sauce. This dish is marked safe for Gluten/Wheat, Egg, Fish/Shellfish, Milk, and Peanut/Tree Nut Allergies.

I had this dish on a previous visit and really enjoyed it. The last visit, I found the dish to be a bit heavy on the GF teriyaki sauce, which I enjoy but thought was just a bit too much. This time, the noodles had the perfect amount of GF teriyaki sauce. The chicken was really well cooked and the vegetables were flavorful and tasty. If you enjoy noodles and stir-fry, this is a great option for gluten free and dairy free guests.

Brandon absolutely loves Kona Cafe's Pork Belly Noodle Bowl, and you would be hard-pressed to see him ordering anything else from Kona Cafe for his entree. This dish is marked safe for Fish/Shellfish, Milk, and Peanut/Tree Nut Allergies. It was also made safe for chicken & turkey and cabbage allergies by swapping out the bone froth for a vegetarian Jasmine broth and omitting bok choy and other types of cabbage from the vegetable medley in the noodle bowl.

Brandon absolutely loves all the flavors of this dish and always raves about it. If you enjoy noodle bowls and pork belly, this is a great dish for you.

On this visit, we had briefly mentioned that it was my birthday the day before. Unexpectedly, the chef brought out a lovely platter of special diets treats for us to enjoy for dessert. This included Enjoy Life Cookies Snickerdoodles & Chocolate Chip Cookies, fresh fruit, coconut macaroons, and a gluten free, dairy free & vegan tapioca pudding. Everything was gluten free on the plate and all but the coconut macaroons and chocolate decorations were dairy free. If you're a dessert fan, I do highly recommend the tapioca pudding. There's lots of bright citrus flavors in it, and I absolutely love the creaminess of it. We enjoyed it all, and it was such a thoughtful treat from the chef.

The special request that I mentioned earlier was a to-go order. Because were dining just after the breakfast and lunch switchover at Kona Cafe, I asked the chef if it was possible to order a to-go order of breakfast food -- specifically the gluten free macadamia nut pancakes. The chef checked in the kitchen to see if that was possible and was able to make this dish to-go. If you are dining at Kona Cafe for breakfast, the GF version of the macadamia nut pancakes are not listed on the allergy-friendly menu, but you can order them upon request. I had these the next morning, and they reheated really well! It was a nice treat and good to know that you can sometimes get take-out during that switchover period if you ask.

If you want to get more information about our visit to Kona Cafe, we did film our visit for our YouTube channel.

Overall

We always really enjoy our meals at Kona Cafe. And this visit did not disappoint. We absolutely loved the entrees that we ordered, which were repeat dishes for both of us. And, we also really loved the surprise dessert platter. All of the food we had was great! Our experience with the chef and low crowds was also outstanding. We so appreciate that the chef could accommodate a breakfast to-go order too. While it may be a bit before we're back at Kona Cafe again, we always enjoy it and can't wait to have another great meal there.

Have you been to Kona Cafe? What was your experience with the special diets options there?

9/4/20 9/4/20

Kona Cafe Dinner Review

Kona Cafe, located at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, reopened in July 2020 after the Disney Parks & Resorts closed temporarily due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Kona Cafe is one our favorite resort table service restaurants for a reasonably priced and delicious special dietary needs safe meal. So, Brandon and I were thrilled to be able to finally get back to the restaurant for a meal when we went in August 2020.

*This gluten free dining experience took place in August 2020. It includes information about dairy free options, as well as fish/shellfish, peanut, hazelnut, cabbage, and chicken & turkey allergies.

Dinner at Kona Cafe

COVID-19 & Reopening Notes

On this particular visit, we made a last minute reservation on the same day that we dined. I used the My Disney Experience app and found that there was a 8:30 p.m. seating, which we decided to book (the restaurant closed at 9 p.m.). The app worked as it normally does, and we were able to add in our special dietary needs in the app and alert cast members of our needs when we arrived at the restaurant. We also utilized online restaurant check-in when we arrived at Kona Cafe. Online check-in includes using your My Disney Experience app to check-in yourself. It's super easy, and I hope Disney keeps this going forward too.

The Polynesian Village Resort itself featured many mechanisms to provide sanitization, social distancing, and safety for both guests and cast members. All cast members wore facial masks and some cast members also wore protective shields, as well. All servers in the restaurant wore both facial masks and protective shields. In addition, there were many portable hand sanitizer stations for guests to use. We also saw cast members regularly cleaning surfaces and restrooms throughout our visit. The resort itself was fairly quiet — making social distancing very easy. The restaurant was a little busier than expected (it is currently the only table service restaurant open in the resort), but the tables were well spaced out to provide social distancing.

As a note, at the time of writing this review, we have been to several of the Disney Resorts, including the Contemporary Resort, Old Key West Resort, and Riviera Resort. All locations have the same protocols, as far as we have observed. Be sure to check with restaurants and the official Disney World website for additional information about current guidelines and recommendations.

Atmosphere

Kona Cafe has Polynesian inspired decor. The restaurant decor hasn't been updated in many years, so the restaurant theme does feel a bit on the dated side. Still, there's a lot of charm and nostalgia for me in this restaurant.

Kona Cafe - Sign / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Kona is located on the second floor of the main building at the Polynesian Village Resort and is open to the second floor lobby area. It's a good spot to watch other guests walk by as they head onto the monorail and other Disney destinations.

Kona Cafe - Interior / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

The restaurant is definitely very bright and cheerful. There's a lot of seating options including standard tables and booths with plush seats.

During our visit, we both agreed that we felt in terms of the seating that the front area of the restaurant, with the booths and plusher seating, seemed to be more of a challenge for social distancing. We were seated in the far back of the restaurant and felt the spacing there was definitely more comfortable for our personal preference.

We did also dine at one of the last seatings of the evening, so your mileage may vary on seating and capacity depending on the time that you visit.

The Food

Like most restaurants at Disney World, Kona Cafe does offer an allergy-friendly menu. We were also told by our server that we could speak with a chef at any time. As far as protocols and offerings, we found the restaurant to be just as accommodating as they are during normal times.

The only interesting part about our visit was that the allergy-friendly menu that we were sent by a reader from the week before was different than the one that we received on our visit. So, on whatever visit you have to a Disney restaurant, be aware that the menus can change depending on supplies and availability. For the most part, the biggest changes we have seen in the past few months is that restaurants are slowly adding more dishes back to their menus, which is great news.

To start our meal, Brandon and I were served the Bloomfield Farms brand Allergy-Friendly dinner rolls. These are gluten free, dairy free, egg free, nut free, and vegan. We were also served regular butter, but the restaurant does offer Earth Balance Vegan Buttery Spread, as well.

We have had these rolls at pretty much every Disney restaurant that we've dined at this summer. So far, Kona Cafe was the restaurant that did the worst on heating these rolls up well, but overall, we enjoy the flavors of these rolls and love having them as an allergy-friendly option whenever we dine out at Disney.

Brandon wasn't initially a fan of these rolls, but he has come to enjoy them a lot -- especially if they are well-heated.

For my entree, I asked if I was able to get the Gluten Free and Dairy Free Chicken Teriyaki Stir-Fry that had been on the allergy-friendly menu the previous week (but wasn't on the menu when we visited). I was glad to hear that this was not an issue and easy to accommodate.

The dish included rice noodles, grilled chicken, lots of veggies, and gluten free teriyaki sauce. Overall, I really enjoyed this dish, especially because they used the GF teriyaki sauce that is normally served at 'Ohana. So, I totally had 'Ohana vibes at our meal.

My only slight criticism was that the stir-fry was heavily sauced. I probably would have cut the sauce in half as it was a little too much sauce for my taste (and I am a huge fan of sauces!). I would definitely get this again if it's still on the menu the next time we visit.

Kona Cafe - Pork Belly Noodle Bowl — Kona Cafe / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

For Brandon's entree, he ordered his favorite dish at Kona Cafe -- the Pork Belly Noodle Bowl. It is marked safe for Fish/Shellfish, Milk, and Peanut/Tree Nut Allergies. They also swapped the broth out and used vegetable broth instead to make this dish chicken & turkey free. And, they also made sure to not include bok choy, as Brandon is also allergic to cabbage.

If you have read any of our other reviews of Kona Cafe, you know just how much Brandon loves this noodle bowl. It's a must on any visit to Kona for him.

The other dish that Brandon always orders at Kona Cafe is the Mashed Potatoes. Normally, you can order a large side of these. But, on this visit, Brandon was served a small bowl -- as the potatoes aren't currently on the menu (but were available that night the the short ribs entree).

Creamy, rich, and super tasty -- the mashed potatoes at Kona Cafe are a great gluten free, fish/shellfish free, and peanut free side dish.

If you want to get more information about our visit to Kona Cafe and the Polynesian Village Resort, check out our vlog that we recorded on our YouTube channel.

Overall

Kona Cafe is always a must-visit restaurant for us at the Disney Resorts. It's a restaurant that we visit again and again for solid special dietary needs food options, delicious meals, and reasonable prices. We are hoping that it remains open to guests during the upcoming refurbishment of the resort too, because would hate to miss out on this great restaurant for a year.

Have you been to Kona Cafe? What did you enjoy when you dined there?

1/1/20 1/1/20

Kona Cafe Dinner Review

Kona Cafe, located in Disney's Polynesian Village Resort, is one of our favorite go-to spots for an affordable dinner on Disney property. Brandon and I really enjoy the pan-Asian flavors highlighted in the meals at Kona. Recently, we had dinner at Kona on a few occasions -- once with a friend who'd never been before and once with my family who were at Disney World on vacation.

*This post contains dining reviews took place in November and December 2019. It includes information about gluten free options, in addition to dairy free, fish/shellfish free, cabbage free, peanut free, hazelnut free, and chicken & turkey free options.

Dinner at Kona Cafe

Atmosphere

Kona Cafe is a true lobby restaurant, located on the second floor of the Polynesian Village resort's main building and lobby area.

With an open-air concept, you can actually view guests walking by and see the monorail entrance, as well.

Kona Cafe - Seating / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Kona Cafe has bright colors and lots of Polynesian touches, though as I've mentioned in several reviews, I do think the restaurant could use a refurb. I feel like the decor is a bit stuck in the late 1990s as far as color scheme and patterns.

As you can see from the photos here, the restaurant is quite spacious, with lots of different types of seating. On our second visit, we were one of the last tables in the restaurant for the night, and I was able to get a few rare photos of the restaurant virtually empty.

The Food

Like most Disney owned restaurants, Kona Cafe does carry an allergy-friendly menu. In addition to this, guests can also speak to a chef directly about questions, modifications, and other special dietary needs.

On both visits, our servers brought Brandon and I allergy-friendly rolls, which are Deanna's Gluten Free brand. These are both gluten free and dairy free. I have also been served both regular dairy-filled butter and Earth Balance vegan buttery spread. The Earth Balance is available upon request. Lately, Kona Cafe has been hit or miss on how well these rolls have been heated. Sometimes they're great and other times they are not.

Kona Cafe - GF Airline Chicken — Kona Cafe / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

On our first visit, I was determined to try something different because I often get sushi or a sandwich there. Based on the recommendation of our server, I ordered the Asian-Marinated Airline Chicken with Sticky Rice, and Bok Choy. It was supposed to come with an Asian glaze, but I was told the glaze contains gluten, so I was brought gluten free soy sauce on the side. This dish was marked safe for Gluten/Wheat, Egg, Fish/Shellfish, Milk, and Peanut/Tree Nut Allergies.

Of all the dishes I've had at Kona Cafe, this was my LEAST favorite dish. Not only was the chicken fairly bland, but the portion was oddly small. It doesn't look as small in this photo, but when it was brought to the table everyone started laughing because it was served on a large plate and looked even tinier. I would definitely avoid this dish and can't recommend it to anyone who visits Kona.

Kona Cafe - Beef Pho — Kona Cafe / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

On our second visit, I had the Beef Pho. This was marked safe for Gluten/Wheat, Egg, Fish/Shellfish, Milk, and Peanut/Tree Nut Allergies. Overall, I really enjoyed this dish, though I wouldn't say it's the best pho I've ever had.

The beef was extremely tender and flavorful, and I really enjoyed the vegetables in the dish. The weakest spot of the dish was the broth -- something that should be spot on for pho. It had a good amount of seasoning, but there was just something lacking in it. It wasn't bad enough that I wouldn't get it again. But, it also wouldn't be at the top of my list for gluten free dishes served at Kona.

On both visits, Brandon ordered the Pork Belly Noodle Bowl. This dish is marked safe for Fish/Shellfish, Milk, and Peanut/Tree Nut Allergies on the menu, and with some modifications (including swapping the bone broth out for vegetable broth) it was also cabbage free and chicken & turkey free.

This continues to be one of Brandon's most favorite dishes at Kona. He absolutely loves the pork belly and says the flavor combinations are always outstanding.

Overall

While my dishes were a bit hit or miss on these last two visits, both Brandon and I do very much enjoy Kona Cafe. I think the restaurant shines with their sushi, noodle bowls, and sandwiches. In the future, those will continue to be at the top of our list for dishes to try when we dine at Kona Cafe.

Have you been to Kona Cafe? What did you enjoy when you dined there?

12/31/19 12/31/19

Kona Cafe Breakfast Review

Kona Cafe, located in Disney's Polynesian Village Resort, is a table service restaurant that serves classic American fare with a Polynesian twist. Brandon and I both really enjoy Kona Cafe for breakfast and dinner. Recently, I stopped by the restaurant to try out the new gluten free and dairy free Tonga Toast sliders, which I had heard about as a new offering from my friend Alexis at Alexis's Gluten Free Adventures.

*This gluten free dining review took place in December 2019. It includes information about dairy free options too.

Breakfast at Kona Cafe

Atmosphere

Kona Cafe is located on the second floor of the Polynesian Village Resort lobby area. With an open concept, it is essentially a lobby restaurant in the truest sense.

Polynesian Village Resort Decor / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

I do love taking a look at the lobby's decor when we dine at Kona Cafe. The refurb they did a few years ago to the resort incorporated some phenomenal new touches. I especially love the decorative lights in the main lobby area.

As you can see, the restaurant is fairly open. And, you'll have good views of the monorail and other lobby area activity. I wouldn't say the decor is very fancy, but it does have a subdued Polynesian twist. I personally think the restaurant could use a refurb itself, as some of the decor is pretty dated and looks like the restaurant hasn't been updated since the late 1990s. Despite the dated decor, the restaurant is charming overall.

The Food

Of course, the real reason I visit Kona Cafe is the food. On this occasion, I stopped by myself on a weekend to see if the restaurant could accommodate the Tonga Toast sliders. In addition to speaking with a chef (which I always highly recommend), the restaurant does carry an allergy-friendly breakfast menu.

The allergy-friendly menu is a bit more limited than the actual offerings available. In speaking with a chef, I have been able to get the macadamia nut pancakes gluten free and the Polynesian Egg Platter gluten free and dairy free served with an Erin McKenna's Bakery NYC donut too. On this occasion though, I had my heart set on gluten free Tonga Toast Sliders. I was very excited to learn that yes, this is currently an option at the restaurant.

To go with my Tonga Toast sliders, the server brought me both 100% pure maple syrup and house-made Strawberry Compote. The compote has always been gluten free, but they now have made it dairy free and vegan too.

Our friends at Vegan Disney World reported on this a while back, and it was great to check it out in person. I have heard (though I didn't confirm with the chef on this visit) that the compote now has coconut milk in it. If you're interested in this compote, I would recommend double-checking with a chef. I will say that I personally found the strawberry compote very sweet, so a little bit goes a long way in my opinion!

When the gluten free and dairy free Tonga Toast Sliders arrived at my table, I will admit that I wasn't that impressed by the look of them. They looked a little "burnt," and I was worried that they wouldn't be that tasty. But, once I took a bit, I was hooked. The sliders are made using Deanna's Gluten Free (and dairy free) rolls and are stuffed with banana, deep fried in a dedicated fryer, and smothered in cinnamon-sugar. Wow!

I have never had the original Tonga Toast, but I was pretty impressed by this dish. It wasn't very pretty looking, but the taste was great. I preferred my sliders topped with maple syrup, but I know the strawberry compote is the classic way to enjoy this Kona Cafe favorite. I would most definitely get this dish again, and I really hope they keep it on the menu. Interestingly enough, there's seems to be some inconsistency with how it's made. While I got the sliders, I've actually seen several photos of a stacked version made with gluten free bread slices instead of the rolls. So, your mileage may vary on which version you get.

Overall

Kona Cafe is always a fantastic place to get breakfast or dinner. And, with the addition of the gluten free and dairy free Tonga Toast sliders, there's even more of a reason to get there during breakfast hours. Whether it's this new breakfast treat, the GF macadamia nut pancakes, egg platter or one of their other special diets options, you'll be pleased with whatever breakfast option you get at Kona Cafe. I can't wait to go back again soon to try the Tonga Toast sliders again soon!

Have you been to Kona Cafe for breakfast? What did you enjoy when you dined there?

9/29/19 9/29/19

Kona Cafe Breakfast Review

Kona Cafe, located in Disney's Polynesian Village Resort, used to be one of my family's favorite table service restaurants for breakfast on Disney property. Sadly, the last few years have seen quite a bit of change to the breakfast menu at Kona Cafe. And, so my family slowly stopped going there regularly due to the declining quality of the food, service, and overall options. Recently, my family came into town and wanted to go out to breakfast at Disney. After a two-year gap in eating there for breakfast and hearing how much Brandon and I have been enjoying the new dinner options, we decided to give it a try after a long break.

*This gluten free dining experience took place in September 2019. It includes information about dairy free modifications.

Breakfast at Kona Cafe

Atmosphere

The Polynesian Village Resort is one of my family's all-time favorite resorts on property. We all love the mid-century modern construction and decor. Plus, who doesn't want to feel like they're in Hawaii?!

Polynesian Village Resort Interior / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

I always love just hanging out in the resort lobby. The second floor, where Kona Cafe and Ohana are located can be a bit crowded, but if you're there when it's quiet, the cozy chairs on the second floor are a great spot to rest and relax.

Kona Cafe Sign / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Kona Cafe is a bit of a lobby-style restaurant, in that it's directly located in the second floor lobby area. Unlike Ohana, where you can walk into a more secluded restaurant area, Kona Cafe is open to the lobby with guests walking by to the shops or the monorail entrance.

There is plenty of spacious seating, and if you like a more quiet meal, I always recommend asking for a seat in the back of the restaurant.

As you can see from this photo, the restaurant's decor includes bright mid-century modern colors. Although I do enjoy the charm of this restaurant, the decor does feel a bit dated in Kona Cafe. I swear it hasn't changed since the 1990s, and it could use a bit of a refresh one of these days. But, it's always nice and relaxing to eat at this restaurant -- even if the interior feels a bit dated.

The Food

Like most Disney-owned restaurants, Kona Cafe does carry an allergy-friendly breakfast menu. While it does include a lot of options, I always recommend speaking directly to a chef, especially if you're interested in something not marked safe for your special dietary need on the allergy-friendly menu. As you'll see from this review, I ordered two dishes not marked on the menu but that the chef was able to easily accommodate and modify.

On this visit, my mom and I were talking before we got to the restaurant, and she asked if we could split an order of allergy-friendly Mickey waffles. My mom does not have any special dietary needs, but she actually prefers the allergy options over the regular ones. Neither one of us loves super sweet options at breakfast. So, we decided we would split two entrees to get a little bit of sweet and savory breakfast options.

When the chef came out, I did ask what allergy-friendly Mickey waffle mix they were using. I had heard from my friend Alexis at Alexis's Gluten Free Adventures that the restaurant was using Carbon's Golden Malted Gluten Free Waffle & Pancake Mix. I'm not at all a fan of the flavor of that mix or the texture. And, quite frankly, the waffles made with this mix are just plain gross. On top of that the mix does contain soy. And while it's certified gluten free, the company does not disclose that the mix is made on shared equipment with wheat and several other top eight allergens. I would much rather eat the mixes from Bob's Red Mill or Namaste, which are infinitely tastier and that have much better transparency with their food production and allergy-friendly safety.

That being said, the chef did tell me that they still have Namaste Gluten Free Pancake & Waffle Mix that can be used for pancakes. This was great news because I was very interested in the gluten free macadamia nut pancakes.

We decided to order the Polynesian Egg Platter which came with Two Eggs-Any Style with Fresh Fruit Poke, an Erin McKenna's Bakery NYC Donut, and Home-fried Potatoes with Bacon. This dish is not on the allergy-friendly menu. But, the chef said he could easily accommodate this. The only real swap was the regular muffin that comes with it for a gluten free, dairy free, and vegan donut from Erin McKenna's Bakery NYC. The entire dish was gluten free and dairy free.

Both my mom and I agreed that we would 100% get this breakfast entree again. The savory components with the eggs, bacon, and potatoes were all excellent. And, it was nice to get a healthy side of fruit along with the breakfast pastry. I was also pleasantly surprised at the taste of the Erin McKenna's Bakery NYC donut. I have found that sometimes they taste a little stale when they're served at a restaurant. But, this one was fresh and very tasty.

Of course, the best part of our breakfast were the Macadamia Nut Pancakes. This includes the pancakes made with Namaste Gluten Free Pancake & Waffle Mix and served with with Macadamia Nut Butter, Pineapple Sauce, and a side of Ham. This dish is gluten free but does contain dairy. You may be able to get a version of these gluten free and dairy free, and I would recommend talking to a chef directly if you're interested in that option.

Both my mom and I were wowed by these pancakes. The flavor was incredible. And the texture was fantastic. The pancakes do contain macadamia nuts in the pancake batter and in the butter served with it. The pineapple sauce was super delicious and added a nice bit of sweetness. Topped with 100% pure maple syrup, this was hands down one of the best sweet breakfast entrees I've had in a very long time at Disney World.

The overall portion was huge too. My mom and I split both entrees, and we both couldn't finish the pancakes because the portion was so big. But, we both agreed that splitting these two entrees was a great way to sample all the different dishes Kona Cafe has to offer. Though, I have to admit, I might lean towards ordering the pancakes over the Polynesian Egg Platter next time I go!

Overall

Kona Cafe has definitely redeemed itself from our previous lackluster experiences a few years ago. While I still miss the old days of Kona Cafe with their famous Big Kahuna Entree, I'm glad to see that the restaurant has added some options that offer some sweet and salty options in one dish. And, I absolutely love the gluten free Macadamia Nut Pancakes. These will be high on my must-order list for breakfast at Kona next time I visit.

Have you been to Kona Cafe for breakfast? What did you think of their options?

*This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase products using these links, I will receive a small commission, which helps support my blog. It does not change the price you pay for the products.

7/19/19 7/19/19

Kona Cafe Dinner Review

Kona Cafe, located at Disney's Polynesian Village Resort, has become an instant favorite with us (and especially Brandon) after we visited a few months ago when they launched their new all-day lunch & dinner menu. We enjoy the low-key atmosphere and some of the new menu items, along with classic favorites.

*This gluten free dining experience took place in July 2019. It includes information about dairy free modifications, fish/shellfish, peanut, and chicken & turkey allergies.

Dinner at Kona Cafe

Atmosphere

The Polynesian Village Resort is one of my favorites on Disney property. I absolutely love the retro Mid-Century Modern / Tiki vibe.

Polynesian Village Resort / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

On the night we went for dinner, the weather was pretty stormy outside -- perfect for a tropical storm vibe, but not so great for guests planning on going to the Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show. In fact, we both commented on how busy the lobby and general public areas of the resort were. It's definitely the busiest I've seen it in a long time.

Kona Cafe Menus / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Because it was so busy, we were told that we would be seated close to our reservation time instead of early. So, we took that time to wander the surrounding shops and found a nice cozy spot to sit and relax before dinner.

I forgot to take too many photos while we were in the restaurant -- mostly because the restaurant was really extremely crowded. I usually only see Kona that crowded during breakfast, so this was definitely a surprise. The photo I took above was taken as we were leaving the restaurant and the table seatings were started to empty a bit.

As you can see, the restaurant is open to the second floor, so it's very open and you can watch a lot of the action nearby, including the lines for the monorail!

The Food

Like most restaurants at Disney World, Kona Cafe does offer guests an allergy-friendly menu. I do always recommend that you speak with a chef too, if you have any questions or want to talk about other potential options for you to enjoy. I also especially recommend this if you have multiple special dietary needs.

After we ordered our meals, our server brought us bread service to enjoy. I was served the Deanna's Gluten Free allergy-friendly rolls. These are gluten free, dairy free, and cover several other special dietary needs, as well. I was served regular butter, but you can request Earth Balance Vegan Buttery Spread too.

I can pretty much make a meal out of these and some sushi when we dine here for an easy and filling meal. I've had good luck with the rolls being properly heated here, and they have been enjoyable on every visit I've been there. For some reason 'Ohana right next door never seems to properly heat these rolls, which is a bit odd since they share kitchen space.

Because Brandon can have gluten, he was brought the classic rolls served at the restaurant. These are peanut free.

Kona Cafe - Cheddar Burger — Kona Cafe / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

For my entree, I ordered the Crispy Baked Cheddar Cheeseburger with Smothered in Crispy Cheddar, Maple-Black Pepper Bacon, Roasted Tomato, and Braised Onions. This is served on a gluten free bun. It is also marked safe for Egg, Fish/Shellfish, Peanut/Tree Nut, and Soy Allergies. It does contain dairy, but you could get a burger plain without cheese.

If you're a cheese person, this is a must-order burger at Kona Cafe. There was so much cheese, that it was kind of a bit ridiculous. I absolutely loved the crispy baked cheddar crisp served on the burger. And, I especially loved the maple-black pepper bacon and braised onions. This was a pretty big burger, and all of the toppings were super flavorful. If you can have dairy, this is definitely a great option. One word of caution, the burger is fairly messy and greasy. So be prepared!

The fries served with it were also good (and made in a dedicated allergy fryer), but these are the fries you can get pretty much everywhere at Disney. So, they weren't anything special.

Kona Cafe - California Roll — Kona Cafe / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

If you can't have dairy or are looking for something a bit lighter or seafood-based, look no further than Kona's sushi options. On a previous visit, I ordered the California Roll. This is marked safe for Gluten/Wheat, Fish, Milk, and Peanut/Tree Nut Allergies. I am always really impressed with the quality of their sushi. They do a great job, and everything always tastes really fresh. Plus, they have gluten free soy sauce on hand too!

Kona Cafe - Pork Belly Ramen — Kona Cafe / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Brandon has been loving the Pork Belly Noodle Bowl with Bone Broth, Rice Noodles, Soy Egg, Mushrooms, Bok Choy, and Hot Sesame Oil. This is marked safe for Fish/Shellfish, Milk, and Peanut/Tree Nut Allergies and it's also chicken & turkey free too. He's ordered this three times now, so I'd say it's a winner.

One interesting note about this dish and even the mashed potatoes he's ordered several times. We both have noticed that these are not consistently prepared. The noodle bowl, for instance, sometimes has one type of mushroom and other times not. And, on this visit, his pork belly looked quite different from previous visits. He was also served the soy marinated egg, which he has not always had in his noodle bowl. We double-checked everything, but we were still noticing that the dish seems to vary depending on the night we visit.

Brandon also really enjoys the mashed potatoes. These contain dairy but are safe for Gluten/Wheat, Egg, Fish/Shellfish, Peanut/Tree Nut, and Soy Allergies and are also chicken & turkey free. These are super creamy and rich. So, they're a good side to order if you really love mashed potatoes.

As you can see from this photo and the one above, the mashed potatoes have also been slightly inconsistent too. On Father's Day, when we took Brandon's dad out, we were served potatoes with the skins mashed into the dish. On this occasion, they weren't, and we had the addition of green onion. So, I'd say consistency could be an issue at this restaurant. Thankfully, despite the consistency issues everything has tasted great for both of us, even with the variations.

Overall

With a much larger all-day menu that includes sandwiches, entrees, noodle bowls, and sushi, there's just about something for everyone at Kona Cafe. Add to that a good amount of options for guests with special dietary needs, and you have the makings for a great table service option for lunch and dinner. Both of us agreed that this is definitely a location we'll keep going back to for an easy-going and filling meal in one of our favorite resorts.

Have you been to Kona Cafe? What do you think of their new lunch & dinner options?

5/31/19 5/31/19

Kona Cafe Dinner Review

Kona Cafe, located at Disney's Polynesian Village Resort, is a table service restaurant with a la carte options that include sandwiches, sushi, and ramen bowls for lunch and dinner. Brandon and I have both been fans of dinner here for their rice and noodle bowls for meals that are easy, filling, and reasonably priced. On this visit, we stopped by for a quick dinner after returning from a 3-day cruise on the Disney Dream. Neither one of us wanted to cook dinner the day we got back and Kona Cafe is always easy to get last minute reservations to for dinner.

*This dining experience took place in May 2019 and includes notes about gluten free, dairy free, peanut free, fish and shellfish free, and chicken and turkey free options.

Dinner at Kona Cafe

Atmosphere

Both of us love the atmosphere of Disney's Polynesian Village Resort. As one of the first resorts opened at Walt Disney World back in the 1970s, we both appreciate the nostalgia and retro vibe that this resort has too.

When the lobby of the Polynesian Village Resort was refurbished back in 2015, I was pretty sad to see the water fixture that was a mainstay in the lobby go. But, I have to admit, some of the new updates, like the decorative lights shown in the photo above, were pretty terrific additions.

Kona Cafe is located on the 2nd floor of the Polynesian Village Resort -- just above the lobby. With an open-air concept, the restaurant really feels like a lobby restaurant. You'll get plenty of chances to people watch while you dine.

Kona Cafe - Seating Area / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Inside the restaurant itself, the colors are bright and vibrant -- though I do think it could use a bit of an update. It feels a little like the decor is stuck in the 90s with Polynesian flair. Still, the seating is fairly comfortable and the theming is generally pleasant and low-key -- a bit like the overall experience I feel you get at Kona Cafe. It's all very nice, but I wouldn't say it's particularly special.

The Food

Like most restaurants on Disney property, Kona Cafe does carry an allergy-friendly lunch and dinner menu. You can, of course, always ask to speak with a chef when you visit too to discuss options and potential customization. I recommend asking for a chef, because the menu is often very easy to accommodate for gluten free guests (and even dairy free) with simple modifications.

On this visit, we requested to speak with a chef due to Brandon's new allergies. Our biggest concern were his chicken and turkey allergies, which are fairly unusual. The chef was fantastic at talking through options and ensuring that Brandon had something safe for his special dietary needs.

After speaking with the chef, our server brought us rolls for the table. I had the Deanna's Gluten Free Rolls which are gluten free, dairy free, and free of the top common allergens. Kona Cafe serves the rolls with Macadamia Nut Butter or Earth Balance Vegan Buttery Spread, depending on your special dietary need.

Brandon was given the regular gluten-filled rolls, as they were safe for his peanut allergy.

Since we had been eating a ton on the cruise ship, I wasn't all that hungry. I opted to get the Seafood Coconut-Curry Soup which was listed as safe for Gluten/Wheat, Egg, Fish, Milk, Peanut/Tree Nut, and Soy Allergies.

This was a really delicious but spicy soup. The flavor was excellent, but I think I would have not enjoyed it if it was much spicier because it was fairly close to being too spicy for me. I also enjoy spice a lot, so if you're not a fan of spicy food, you may want to skip this soup. Overall, it was very good and had a good amount of seafood in it. So, I would definitely order it again.

Kona Cafe - California Roll Sushi — Kona Cafe / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

For my entree, I chose to get sushi. Many of the sushi options are gluten free or can be easily modified. I opted for the classic California Roll with Jumbo Crab, Citrus Mayonnaise, Cucumber, and Avocado. This is listed as safe for Gluten/Wheat, Fish, Milk, and Peanut/Tree Nut Allergies.

I have to say that Kona Cafe always does an excellent job with sushi. If you're looking for reasonably priced sushi at Disney, this is a great option. I always find that the seafood in my sushi is really fresh and very tasty. They also have gluten free soy sauce/tamari on hand for sushi too. Be sure to ask the chef and your server about it.

Brandon was really craving the noodle bowl that Kona Cafe used to serve. But, since it's no longer on the menu, he ordered the Pork Belly Noodle Bowl with Bone Broth, Rice Noodles, Soy Egg, Mushrooms, Bok Choy, and Hot Sesame Oil. This dish was listed safe for Fish/Shellfish, Milk, and Peanut/Tree Nut Allergies, and it was also safe for Chicken and Turkey Allergies too.

Brandon raved about this Ramen bowl. He said the broth was really flavorful. And, he loved the crispy pork belly. I was shocked as he was eating it just how much pork belly they included in the dish. So, if you're looking for a hearty portion, the noodle bowl is definitely a great value.

Kona Cafe - Mashed Potatoes — Kona Cafe / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Brandon didn't think the noodle bowl would be very big, so he asked to order a side of mashed potatoes. Clearly, we were both still on cruise mode asking for lots of options! You can imagine how surprised we both were when we were brought a giant platter of mashed potatoes. The serving was huge and definitely a shareable dish meant to accompany one of the steaks on the menu.

The Creamy Mashed Potatoes were very good. Were they the best mashed potatoes we've ever had? No. Would we get them again? Maybe depending on what we ordered. We both agreed that next time we'd stick with our main entrees and skip the side.

The mashed potatoes are safe for Gluten/Wheat, Egg, Fish/Shellfish, Peanut/Tree Nut, and Soy Allergies.

Kona Cafe - Tapioca Pudding — Kona Cafe / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

I had heard that Kona Cafe and 'Ohana both had a vegan tapioca pudding dessert. When the chef mentioned that the desserts came in smaller portions, I decided to give it a try.

The Coconut Tapioca with a Pineapple-Coconut Jam base topped with Fresh Fruit and Assorted Boba is safe for Gluten/Wheat and Milk allergies and is vegan. Brandon did not want to try this, so we did not ask about peanut or tree nut allergies.

Overall, I really enjoyed this dessert, but I didn't love it. I really really dislike boba balls, so I made sure to remove these immediately. I just do not like the texture of them at all. The pudding itself was creamy and rich tasting. And, I loved the fresh crushed pineapple on the bottom of the dish. It added a nice bit of sweetness and acidity to a very rich dessert. I would definitely order this again minus the boba balls.

Overall

Both Brandon and I really enjoyed our dinner at Kona Cafe. Neither one of us thought the new combined lunch and dinner menu was that amazing. But, we really enjoyed what we ordered. We both agreed that we'd come back again for the sushi and noodle bowls without hesitation. We'd skip it for steaks though because there are far better restaurants for steak on property. But, if you're looking for sandwiches, sushi, or noodle bowls, Kona Cafe is a great choice.

Have you been to Kona Cafe at Disney's Polynesian Village Resort? What did you think of the dinner options?

10/16/18 10/16/18

Kona Café Dinner Review

*This gluten free dining experience took place in October 2018. It includes notes about dairy free options.

Dinner at Kona Café

Kona Café is a table service restaurant located at Disney's Polynesian Village Resort. It used to be one of my all-time favorite restaurants at Disney World for a delicious allergy-friendly breakfast, but I admit that it's slipped off my list the last few years due to menu changes and reduced options. So, it's been a while since I've been to Kona. On this particular occasion, Brandon and I decided to get dinner at Kona Café during a weeknight for a rare mid-week restaurant meal to see how the dinner options were.

Atmosphere

Disney's Polynesian Village Resort is hands down one of my favorite resorts on Disney property. I love the island vibe and the charm of the mid-century modern décor. Kona Café is bright and cheerful, though I have to admit I think it could use a bit of a refresh.

Brandon had actually never eaten at Kona Café before -- though we've walked past it a million times -- and his initial reaction was that it seemed like it needed a refurbishment. I can't say that I disagree, as the benches and general seating area fabric has seen a lot of wear and tear.

As you can see, the décor definitely reflects a bit more of a contemporary (or perhaps a early 2000's) version of Polynesian décor.

There are lots of bright patterns and quite a few seating areas with fabric benches.

All in all though, the restaurant is bright and chipper, which I think I prefer more for breakfast versus dinner. Both Brandon and I agreed that the restaurant could benefit from a bit less lighting, as it was very bright inside. I'd love to see this restaurant get a bit more of a mid-century modern refurbishment too!

The Food

Like most restaurants owned and operated by Disney World, Kona Café has an allergy-friendly dinner menu. Guests can also speak to a chef at any time if they have questions or want to discuss options available to them. On this visit, I did not speak with a chef, as I ordered an item on the menu with a slight modification that was easy to make without talking to a chef.

Kona Cafe - Allergy-Friendly Rolls / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

First up, our server brought me some Deanna's Gluten Free rolls which are both gluten free and dairy free. I was impressed that they were well-heated on this visit. I have had hit or miss experiences with these rolls being heated well at the Polynesian Village Resort restaurants. So, I was very happy they were heated properly on this visit.

The only dairy that I had on this visit was the Macadamia Nut Butter that came with my rolls. Kona Café also carries Earth Balance Vegan Buttery Spread, so be sure to ask if you are dairy free or vegan for this option. I decided to try the Macadamia Nut Butter on this visit, as I have never actually tried it before.

Kona Cafe - Macadamia Nut Butter / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Overall, I thought it was tasty but entirely too sweet for my personal preferences. Next time, I think I would just get the Earth Balance instead. I think this butter would be terrific with gluten free & allergy-friendly Mickey waffles or pancakes though!

Kona Cafe Allergy Friendly Rice Bowl with Chicken / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

For my entrée, I ordered the Chicken Asian Stir Fry in an Allergy-Friendly Sauce. This dish normally comes with rice noodles (that are gluten free), but I much prefer rice. When I ordered I asked the server if I could swap noodles for rice, and he said that was not a problem. I've done this pretty much every time I've ordered the stir fry, so it's nice to know it's an easy swap.

The Chicken Asian Stir Fry is listed as safe for Gluten/Wheat, Egg, Fish/Shellfish, Milk, and Tree Nut Allergies. It does contain peanuts in the dish.

This was such a delicious entrée. Brandon ordered the chicken stir fry with noodles and regular soy sauce and also loved his version too. We both thought the portion size was decent for the price and that the flavors were outstanding. This will definitely continue to be my go-to dish at Kona Café for dinner.

Overall

While I wouldn't say that our meal was anything special, we both found the Chicken Stir Fry to be extremely tasty and filling. In looking at the dinner menu at Kona Café, we both agreed that the Chicken Stir Fry is going to be our go-to at this restaurant. Add in some delicious gluten free rolls, and you have a delicious and easy table service meal.

Have you been to Kona Café for dinner? What did you order when you dined there?

12/5/17 12/5/17

Kona Cafe -- Breakfast -- Table Service -- Polynesian Village Resort

*This dining experience took place in November 2017.

Breakfast at Kona Cafe

Kona Cafe, a table service restaurant located at Disney's Polynesian Village, has been a long-time favorite breakfast spot for me and my family. It's one that I go back to again and again for a solid meal and great special diets options, especially their allergy-friendly Mickey waffles. On this occasion, I stopped by for breakfast with my brother before doing some monorail resort hopping to check out the holiday decorations.

Atmosphere

One of the things I love most about Kona Cafe is its location. The Polynesian Village Resort is one of my favorites. I just love the decor, theming, and overall atmosphere.When we visited, they also had holiday decorations up. But, I somehow managed to only get a photo of the water feature near the resort's main entrance.Kona Cafe is located on the second level of the main building of the resort. It has a view of the monorail going by, which is always nice to sit and watch. This isn't a big restaurant though, so the seating area (which is open to the resort) is not all that large. And, this restaurant can get busy fast. So, definitely make reservations if you're looking to dine here.

The Food

The thing I love most about Kona Cafe is, of course, the food. I have always loved the menu, which features breakfast classics with a Hawaiian style vibe. But, recently, they have changed the menu, and my favorite -- the Big Kahuna platter -- is now gone. This is a bit of a bummer, since it had a bit of everything to sample in the dish, including allergy-friendly Mickey waffles. But, I'm guessing it wasn't very cost-effective for the restaurant, so it's no longer an option.With this in mind, I took a look at the allergy friendly breakfast menu and decided on getting the Two Eggs-Any Style breakfast entree with a side of allergy-Mickey waffles. This is listed as safe for Gluten/Wheat, Fish/Shellfish, Milk, and Peanut/Tree Nut Allergies.I opted for scrambled eggs for my egg option, and I asked for ham as my breakfast meat. Do be sure to ask about the ham options. On the regular menu, it lists both plain breakfast ham and spiced breakfast ham. The allergy-friendly menu only lists spiced ham. It turns out the spiced ham is actually SPAM breakfast meat, which I definitely did not want. The chef confirmed that the regular ham is still gluten free and dairy free. But, it's just odd that it's not on the menu.The breakfast entree was good. The eggs were really well cooked, the ham is always a winner, and I liked the breakfast potatoes. I could do without the peppers and onions in the potatoes, but they were still good. Of course, the standout were the allergy-friendly Mickey waffles. These are some of the best on Disney property and are super crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. So good!

Overall

Kona Cafe continues to be a great breakfast spot on Disney property. I'm a bit bummed at the recent menu changes (and price increases), but I was glad I could still get really good allergy-friendly Mickey waffles and a hearty meal. I really hope that maybe they'll adjust the menu again at some point to bring the Big Kahuna and other dishes back. Still, it's a restaurant that I'll continue to visit for a delicious and safe breakfast.Have you been to Kona Cafe? What do you love to order when you dine here?

12/28/16 12/28/16

Kona Cafe -- Lunch -- Table Service -- Polynesian Village

*This dining experience took place in December 2016.Kona Cafe, located at Disney's Polynesian Village Resort, is a table service restaurant that has been a long-time favorite for me for both breakfast and lunch. Offering affordable options, I enjoy the Polynesian inspired food and reasonable prices. Plus, they have some of the most best allergy Mickey waffles on property. Kona Cafe also serves dinner, but for some reason, I'm just not as big of a fan of the options at dinner.On this particular visit, we had lunch at Kona Cafe for my mom's birthday. It was her pick for a Disney restaurant, and she always loves the lunch options at Kona too.When we arrived, I checked out the restaurant's allergy friendly lunch menu which had some new items, including the Loco Moco -- a classic Polynesian brunch offering (more on that later). I ended up talking to a chef because I was craving the Island Chicken Sandwich, which has been one of my favorite Kona Cafe lunch choices, but isn't listed on the allergy friendly menu.The Island Chicken Sandwich is easy to make gluten free. There are two modifications -- serving it on a gluten free bun, in this case Local Oven brand, and removing the crispy fried onions. Otherwise, this dish is pretty easy to enjoy gluten free.Because I've been adding a bit of dairy back into my diet, I did get this sandwich with Swiss Cheese on it (which is normally lactose free for those who are lactose intolerant), but you can easily get it without it. It's actually the first time I've had it on the sandwich, and I will say it was good but didn't elevate the dish in my opinion, so I might order it without cheese next time.The sweet potato fries made in a dedicated fryer were as delicious as ever. Usually when I get this sandwich, my favorite component is the curry mango mayonnaise, but the restaurant has changed the recipe. The curry flavor has been reduced and the mango flavor is much more prominent. I wasn't as big of a fan of this version, but I still thought it was pretty decent. My stepdad ordered the Loco Moco, a new lunch and breakfast offering. It's made with a tower of Rice, a grilled Hamburger Patty, House-made Chorizo Gravy, Two Eggs-Any Style, and topped with a Tomato Salsa and is marked gluten free (but not dairy free) on the allergy friendly menu.My stepdad raved about this dish, especially the chorizo gravy, which he said was a bit spicy and really flavorful. I'm not sure how much dairy is in this dish, but it looked delicious and something I could see myself ordering for brunch.Overall, we had a great meal at Kona Cafe for lunch. The food options here are solid and there are plenty of gluten free and dairy free options. If I don't seem something I like on the allergy friendly menu, I always recommend talking to a chef, as the ones at Kona always seem up for modifying dishes to be safe.Have you been to Kona Cafe? What do you think of the special diets options there?

5/6/16 5/6/16

Kona Cafe -- Dinner -- Table Service -- Polynesian Village Resort

*This dining experience took place in May 2016.It's been ages since I've been to Kona Cafe for dinner, and when I looked back here on the blog, I realized it's been 3 years to the month! I always assumed it hadn't been that long because I eat at Kona a fair amount for both lunch and breakfast. It's a good thing then that I had the chance to have dinner here recently with a friend.Kona Cafe is a table service restaurant located at Disney's Polynesian Village Resort. The food and atmosphere are island inspired. My friend and I both enjoy that kind of cuisine (having stuffed ourselves silly at Ohana on his previous visit), and neither had been to Kona in quite some time, so it seemed like a nice spot to grab a meal.Kona Cafe does carry an allergy friendly dinner menu, which is helpful, as a starting point when deciding what to order. Neither my friend or I were really feeling some of the side dishes for the entrees and had some questions so we asked to speak with a Disney chef.While waiting for the chef, our server did bring us some Deanna's Gluten Free rolls (formerly known as GNI brand), but did not bring us any extra virgin olive oil or Earth Balance vegan margarine. We asked if we could get some when the chef came out, but it took a really long time to get the Earth Balance, and the rolls got really cold before we could enjoy.Something we did enjoy; however, was the sushi. My friend and I opted to split the Volcano Roll which was served without tempura crunch, and oddly, the accompaniments on the side. Weird. I've never seen a Volcano Roll deconstructed this like but still, we found it to be really tasty.The side of seasoned shrimp was delicious, as was the side of spicy mayo. The fish was super fresh, and the rolls were perfectly put together. The restaurant also carries San-J Gluten Free Tamari too, which made our sushi experience even better.This is definitely one I'd get again.For our entrees, we both chose the Pan-Asian noodles but asked if we could get rice instead of rice noodles. Neither one of us are huge fans of noodles, and I can eat rice for days. I have no clue why, but I just love rice.We both got chicken and shrimp as protein in our rice bowls, which were served with sauteed veggies and a garlic-ginger-soy sauce.Overall, I found the dish to be really good. I wouldn't say anything super special or exciting but delicious, hearty, and filling. It's one i'd definitely get again.Kona Cafe does have some really nice special dietary needs options, and my friend and I both enjoyed what we ordered there. There were a few hiccups here and there with service but overall, the meal was enjoyable. I think I still prefer the lunch options over dinner, but would diner here for dinner again if I had the chance.Have you been to Kona Cafe? What's your favorite meal to dine there?

11/30/15 11/30/15

Kona Cafe -- Lunch -- Table Service -- Polynesian Village

*This dining experience took place in September 2015.Kona Cafe, located at Disney Polynesian Village Resort, is one of my regular restaurant visits for breakfast and lunch. Breakfast offers my favorite modified Big Kahuna and lunch is almost always the Kona Island Chicken Sandwich with sweet potato fries and curry mango mayonnaise. It's a hands down must for me.On this particular occasion, I got a chance to check out the new allergy friendly menu. While I was tempted to order something different, I couldn't help but order that Island Chicken sandwich. The sweet potato fries and curry mango mayonnaise pull me in every time! The sandwich was served on a GNI brand bun, which, unfortunately, fell apart pretty easily. The chicken was grilled perfectly, and I absolutely love the bacon they use at Kona (not that awful stringy Disney bacon). The curry mango mayonnaise is divine, and I always ask for a side of it to dip my sweet potato fries in.Overall, I really enjoyed this entree, as always, though maybe next time I'll try something different. For other options at Kona Cafe, check out Gluten Free in Orlando's lunch reviews from September, as well.Have you been to Kona Cafe? What did you order when you dined there?

3/24/15 3/24/15

Kona Cafe -- Lunch -- Table Service -- Polynesian

*This dining experience took place in March 2015.It's been quite some time since I've been to the Polynesian Resort and Kona Cafe. The biggest reason has been the ongoing refurbishment/construction of the resort. The resort itself still has a fair amount of construction to be done, but on this visit, I got to see all the progress they've made. The lobby has been completely redone and has some gorgeous new lights and terrific looking new furniture. The one thing it's missing is the old water fixture but I'm glad to see they have a small one, as an homage to the former lobby.On this particular occasion, I visited Kona Cafe for lunch. After admiring the new lobby (and the soon to be opened Trader Sam's Grog Grotto), I checked in for lunch at Kona. The staff noted my special dietary needs, though I was given a regular menu instead of the special diets menus that I've received in the past. When I server came to the table, she said she would need to get the chef because of having multiple dietary needs involved in my order. I'm not sure if the special diets menus are still at Kona, though I suspect they are and aren't given out to guests who have multiple dietary needs, unless requested. I'll have to check on this the next time I'm there.I was greeted by Chef Johnny, who has been a chef at the Polynesian for sometime now. He was at Kona for a very long time but then moved to Ohana. However, I'm told he bounces back and forth between restaurants now. For my lunch, I ordered my favorite lunch item - the Kona Island Chicken Sandwich with sweet potato fries and curry mango mayonnaise. The curry mango mayonnaise is the best and so delicious on the side as a dipping sauce with the sweet potato fries.Overall, the entree was really good. The only real downfall for me was the GNI brand bun. It was really tiny for my sandwich, and it was also not heated very well (which meant it was beyond crumbly). I'd love to see the Local Oven bun or even the Udi's Gluten Free bun as an alternative, as they are both much larger and also less apt to be crumbly. The bacon used for the sandwich is terrific thick-cut bacon, and it all combines together for a great sandwich.I was pleased to see that my favorite curry mango mayonnaise was still at Kona, as was the Island Chicken Sandwich. I will definitely pop by again for lunch because this is consistently one of my favorite sandwiches on property. Have you been to Kona Cafe? What do you like to order when you dine there?

1/15/15 1/15/15

Kona Cafe -- Breakfast -- Table Service -- Polynesian

*This dining experience took place in December 2014.Kona Cafe located in Disney's Polynesian Resort has long been a staple in my family as a great restaurant and a particularly great go-to spot for breakfast. It helps that they had great gluten free and dairy free offerings for years too!It's been a bit since I've been to Kona Cafe or the Polynesian for that matter. It's been under a lot of construction in 2014, so I haven't been since I had lunch in May. As you can see from the photos, when I visited the lobby area was still under construction (since then the lobby renovations have been revealed).When we arrived at Kona, I knew I would be given one of the new gluten free menus, but I was pleasantly surprised when I also received a dairy free menu. I would love to see combined menus, but I was easily able to cross reference the menus and see which options were safe for me. One thing I didn't notice was the beloved Big Kahuna breakfast entree, which is a bit of a breakfast sampler of sorts. That's been my go-to choice for years at Kona. Our server asked if I had questions and went to get the chef who was on duty.I asked the chef if it was possible to get the Big Kahuna modified, and she said that wasn't a problem at all. In fact, she said a lot of special diets guests request it, so they are still happy to prepare this dish for guests. When I mentioned Mickey waffles, she said they now had Stitch waffles instead of Mickey shaped ones. I was curious to see if they were still as good as the Mickey versions that Kona and Ohana have been serving for years.I have to say, that in some ways this entree has definitely changed over the years. I remember when this was a ginormous entree that you would have to split between you and one of your fellow diners. Of course, if I'm very hungry, I have no problems polishing this entree off (and I certainly didn't that morning).My favorite parts of the Big Kahuna are the breakfast potatoes and breakfast ham. The Stitch waffles were really good, and I can see kiddos loving the fun shape; however, I missed having my traditional Mickey waffles just a bit! I was excited to see that Kona Cafe still serves Earth Balance (not the soy free version), which is nice to top on your piping hot waffles.You can also get gluten free (and dairy free) pancakes too. Check out Gluten Free in Orlando's review of Kona Cafe for breakfast that includes pancakes!Overall, I enjoyed our meal at Kona Cafe. It was nice to have special diets menus to refer to. I would love to see more of these integrated into restaurants, as it is really helpful for guests to get an idea of what is safe before speaking with members of the culinary team.Have you been to Kona Cafe for breakfast? What's your favorite thing to order?

9/19/14 9/19/14

Kona Cafe Gluten Free Breakfast Menu

Kona Cafe at Disney’s Polynesian Resort (as of 12/2014) – This is strictly a gluten free menu. Check with the restaurant for additional offerings. Note: This is also a trial menu being introduced to select Disney restaurants. For photos of the children's gluten free menu, head to Gluten Free in Orlando.Entrees:Steak and Eggs - char-grilled New York strip served with 2 eggs and home-fried potatoes - $14.49Ham and cheese omelet with home-fried potatoes -- $11.49Egg white omelet with roasted peppers and goat cheese -- $10.99Fruit plate - fresh fruit served in a half pineapple -- $8.99Two eggs, any style, with home-fried potatoes and your choice of sausage, bacon, or ham -- $10.99Pancake with your choice of ham, bacon, or sausage -- $9.49Mickey Shaped Waffles - waffles shaped like our good friend Mickey with choice of ham, sausage, or bacon -- $9.49The Samoan - two poached eggs atop smoked pulled pork hash, finished with hollandaise sauce --$9.99Sides:Bacon -- $3.99Ham -- $3.99Sausage -- $3.99Oatmeal -- $5.49Fresh fruit cup -- $4.99

Kids’ Meals (for guests ages 9 and under)

Mickey Check Meals (served with a choice of small lowfat milk or small Dasani water) – $6.49

Scrambled eggs with broccoli, tomatoes, and breakfast potatoes, served with fruit salad and yogurt

Oatmeal and dried cranberries served with turkey bacon and fruit salad

*Meets Disney nutritional guidelines for complete meals without substitution.

OrAll entrees below served with choice of small lowfat milk, small Dasani water or small Minute Maid apple juice.

Choice of one (1) entree -- $6.49 (all meals include choice of one (1) side item: bacon, sausage, or fruit cup)

Scrambled eggs with broccoli, tomatoes, and breakfast potatoes, served with fruit salad and yogurt

Donald's Choice - one egg, quacked and scrambled, with cinnamon toast

As always, make sure to contact a Disney Cast Member when ordering so that they can ensure the best standards for dealing with cross contamination, etc.

If you have a new quick service special dietary needs sheet and want to share it with readers, you can send it to me via email at gfdf.wdw@gmail.com

5/5/14 5/5/14

Kona Cafe -- Lunch -- Table Service -- Polynesian

*This dining experience took place in May 2014.It doesn't happen often that I eat at a Disney restaurant this closely together, but this lunch was a last minute meal. My family had made ADRs here, and I joined them unexpectedly for lunch (they were in the parks & I met them there). I never turn down an excuse to enjoy the Polynesian, although I have to say the current construction makes it a bit more challenging to visit. I also had to take photo of the water feature in the middle of the lobby. It's being removed for the new refurbishment of the resort, and I have to say I will miss it!But back to the food! While waiting for my family, I noticed the dinner menu was up for display. It looks like there are a few changes with the recent April 30th menu switchover in the parks & resorts. The lunch menu has virtually no changes, so I pretty much knew it was between a salad, sushi, or my favorite Kona Island Chicken Sandwich.We were greeted by our server, and I mentioned that I didn't see the sushi menu (we got one last week for lunch), and he said they are no longer serving sushi at Kona. Say what?! He said it was just a test, and that they decided to remove it for now. Well, that was a bummer. I wanted something light and had been hoping for some sushi. Which meant option #2 was on the table...salad.After a few minutes we were greeted by Higgins who is the manager at Kona. I was surprised to see him with the special diets yellow pad. He explained that they were short staffed that day and the chef was unable to come out and assist me. A first for me at a table service. I know this menu really well so I asked if I could have the Grilled Steak Salad with chicken instead of steak. He said that he was pretty sure that was possible, and he said he'd take this meal request to the chef and make sure that everything was safe. I will say that I didn't see a chef once during my meal (and it was a bit lengthy), so it sounds like they were a bit busy. This salad comes with mixed greens tossed with grilled chicken, vegetables, and cashew-lime vinaigrette. I have to say, the chicken was grilled perfectly and the salad itself was very fresh. It had sesame oil in the dressing, which was light and flavorful. I am a big fan of vinaigrettes so this worked perfectly for me. I will say, flavor wise, the steak is the better protein option with the vegetables served here, but chicken does work well too. I just don't really steak, so chicken tends to be my go-to protein.My only complaint would be that I think the price and portion ratio was a bit off. This salad is $15.99, and I would order the cobb salad at the Brown Derby any day over this. That salad is huge and this one is just a bit small (it looks bigger in the picture). As a light meal though, it was absolutely perfect for me. I just wouldn't want to order it if I were really hungry!Overall, I found the salad to be a good meal choice. The experience here was a bit mediocre this time. Our server was nice but we have found the last few lunch visits to be extremely slow paced. I hope that having a manager come out and speak to a guest isn't a normal occurrence here now. The manager was great but his knowledge of the food options is a bit more limited.Overall, I'd give this experience a 6.5 out of 10 for this visit to Kona Cafe.

4/30/14 4/30/14

Kona Cafe -- Lunch -- Table Service -- Polynesian

*This dining experience took place in April 2014.Aloha! It's been a while since I've dined at Kona Cafe for lunch. It's long been one of my favorite spots for a quiet and low-key table service lunch option, with one sandwich being a staple in my lunch rotation - the Kona Island Chicken Sandwich.On this particular occasion, I stopped by for lunch with my mom in between a visit to the salon (Bamboo Salon - close to Disney with great service & rates) and shopping in Orlando. While there are fabulous restaurants in Orlando (and you can see many of them listed on sites like Gluten Free in Orlando, Celiac in Orlando, and Eating Out Without), I tend to make a trip to Disney because I know that I'll have a safe meal.When we arrived, we were greeted by Chef Brett, who has assisted me before. I already knew that I wanted the Kona Island Chicken Sandwich, so that was the easy part. I asked him if I could have a combination of both sweet potato and regular fries. It's a combination I love with a bit of the best of both worlds when it comes to fries. I also always ask for the curry mango mayonnaise that is typically on the sandwich to be served on the side. As you know, I'm the condiment queen, and I will dip my fries in the curry mango mayo. It's amazing (and highly recommended!).The sandwich typically comes with fried onions and cheese, both of which are removed. Sometimes they can make me grilled or sauteed onions but this time Chef said he was unable to do it. Onions don't make or break the sandwich so that was OK with me (if it had been the curry mango mayo, well...that might have changed my mind!).I also asked about the bun. I knew that Disney was beginning to transition into a new bun from a company called Local Oven. Chef Brett said he thought that they had GNI still but as it turned out, they ended up with Local Oven. He also mentioned that my food was going to take a bit longer to prepare, as they were down a dedicated fryer and he would have to fry them in a pot.My sandwich looked great, though I noticed that I was missing bacon (which it comes with). This was quickly rectified and my bacon made the perfect accompaniment to the sandwich. The French fries were excellent as always, and made even better by the delicious curry mango mayonnaise. I should have asked for more because it's great slathered on your sandwich and with fries.I was surprised to see how big the new Local Oven buns were. They seem to be somewhere in the middle texture wise to Udi's & Ener-G. A bit soft but somewhat spongy in texture. The taste was actually quite pleasant. I think it might have needed to be heated up just a bit, but otherwise, I could definitely seem myself eating these readily the next time I visit. I was never a big fan of the GNI buns which were very small and had a really weird texture. I still prefer Udi's buns but I'm glad these are available. Local Oven buns are gluten, dairy, soy, and corn free. They contain egg whites, so they are not egg free.Overall, I really enjoyed my meal. There was a lengthy wait time due to the frying but that was to be expected. The service was a little off that day but the restaurant was a bit busier than normal.For this visit, I would rate the experience a 7 out of 10.

12/19/13 12/19/13

Guest Review -- A WDW Vacation Free of Gluten -- Day Five

This series of guest reviews comes from blog reader Jaime. Her enthusiasm, excitement and love for Disney just shine through in her trip report, and I think you'll agree when you read them. Speaking with her before her vacation, I was just so excited to hear her recap when she returned. Jaime provided a thorough trip report, so I have broken it up by days. You'll want to make sure to read them all (I'll link to them in each post)! Thank you again, Jaime, for your awesome reviews!

Read Day One HERE

Read Day Two HERE

Read Day Three HERE

Read Day Four HERE

Saturday, November 30, 2013

This morning, we are having breakfast with our friends, Mark and Louise Mullen, at Kona Cafe.

Photo copyright Jaime J.

I’m the only one of the 4 of us to have eaten here before (it’s one of my favorite breakfast spots!)My sister always, always gets the Tonga Toast and I always, always get the Big Kahuna or the Macadamia Pineapple Pancakes. But I’ve come across something in all my internet research the last few weeks – I saw a blog somewhere (and cannot figure out where exactly now) that said you could get Tonga Sliders here that are made with GF rolls! I decided that if I could get those, I’d go with that instead of one of my usuals.Chef Josh comes to the table and there’s some small talk while Ethan orders the Big Kahuna modified to be GF (allergy Mickey waffles instead of the pancakes and French toast). Chef Josh looks at me and I say “I heard a rumor that there’s something called Tonga Sliders?…” and his mouth fell open! He asks where I heard it. I incorrectly credit (blame?) Sarah since that’s where I got most of my GF info on eating at WDW. He says only he does them and he only started doing it 3 weeks ago and he can’t believe how fast that information traveled! (Sarah's note: I knew they used to be able to make a gluten free version and that they can make a vegan version with advance notice, but I had been told they stopped making these, so it's neat to see that they are starting them back up. Jaime's correct that I hadn't heard this!) -- UPDATE 3/2014 - The Tonga Toast Sliders are NO LONGER available. The restaurant stopped serving them due to cost.Here’s Ethan’s modified Big Kahuna:

Photo copyright Jaime J.

And here’s my GF Tonga Sliders:

Photo copyright Jaime J.

And for comparison – this is what the real Tonga Toast looks like:

Photo copyright Jaime J. (Sarah's note: This is NOT gluten free)

I’m in heaven! I traded Ethan one Mickey waffle for a Tonga Slider. Chef Josh comes out during the meal and is checking on us. I ask about the Macadamia Pineapple Pancakes being modified and they don’t have a dedicated griddle, just the waffle iron. I asked, for future reference, if they’d do the allergy Mickey waffles with the pineapples and macadamia butter, because I really love them. He said yes, and then ran into the kitchen to bring me some of each! It was amazing! I put it on my waffle and on the Tonga Slider!

Photo copyright Jaime J.

This was an even better breakfast than I’ve had there before! I can’t say enough about Chef Josh or the Tonga Sliders!Lunch was at EPCOT today before we have to head back on the road to go home – what a fast weekend! We end up at La Cantina de San Angel since Mexican food is one of the easier ones to work around being GF. We were extremely hungry by the time we stopped, so I didn’t even bother with the manager, I just made sure the chips were corn, not flour. And I have no idea what anyone else ordered… (Sarah's note: the corn tortilla chips are not made in a dedicated fryer the last time I checked and were not gluten free. :( Ask a manager on-hand to make sure when you visit, as this may or may not have changed)

Photo copyright Jaime J.

I ordered the Nachos - corn tortilla chips with ground beef, nacho cheese, fresh tomatoes, jalapenos, black beans, and sour cream.

Photo copyright Jaime J.

It was fine, basic nachos… we were also very tired and bummed that we were leaving right afterwards.All in all, I was very impressed with the Disney training for counter service locations: every cast member we encountered was very knowledgeable about handling an allergy situation for a guest. As for the table services, it seemed hit or miss on whether you got a chef who enjoyed what he did or was just accommodating you.We’re going back in February and will go back to a few of these (Be Our Guest for lunch and dinner, Kona for breakfast, Mara for breakfast) and we’ll add some new places to Ethan’s list (Prime Time, Boma, Chefs de France). It will be interesting to compare the experiences since we were there over a holiday weekend vs. a slow week of crowds!Thank you so much Jaime for all the awesome reviews!! Do you have a trip report with a special diet that you'd like to share? Let me know by emailing me!

11/11/13 11/11/13

Kona Cafe -- Breakfast -- Table Service -- Polynesian

*This dining experience took place in November 2013.

Modified Big Kahuna

This is just a brief review of my breakfast at Kona Cafe in Disney's Polynesian Resort. I recently visited with blog reader Laurie & her family. It was awesome to catch up with them and also to grab a great breakfast with others who have a special diet. Laurie is gluten free and her daughter is dairy free.Upon arrival, we were greeted by Chef Johnny who I know quite well from my ridiculous amounts of visits to Kona Cafe! He took Laurie & her daughter's orders (Laurie got breakfast potatoes & sausage and her daughter ordered allergy Mickey waffles) - I, of course, go the Big Kahuna modified, as usual. I asked for extra ham instead of the sausage and scrambled eggs. And, since I was running the Jingle Jungle 5K the next morning I was ready to carb it up!This was really good, as usual. The allergy Mickey waffles were nice and crisp and very tasty. I always enjoy the ones that are made here (and also served at Ohana--they use the same waffle maker!).Overall, I'd give this a solid 8 out of 10 for this meal. Definitely one of my favorites made even better by my visit with Laurie & her family!Have you been to Kona Cafe for breakfast? What's your favorite breakfast dish to order there?

8/2/13 8/2/13

Kona Cafe -- Breakfast -- Table Service -- Polynesian

*This dining experience took place in July 2013.

Entrance to Kona Cafe

This will be a very brief review, as I come to Kona a lot, and you can see lots of recent reviews here on the site for Kona Cafe for breakfast. It's just one of my favorites, plain and simple. Although I will say that I think Kouzzina has overtaken Kona as my favorite table service (non-buffet) breakfast choice. But, Kona does a terrific job of offering tasty breakfast options at a reasonable price. They are terrific and they have some of the best allergy friendly Mickey waffles!On this particular visit, I was greeted by Chef Miguel, who I've not met before. He seems like a new Disney chef. He was very nice, and I sort of just told him what I wanted because I knew I wanted the modified Big Kahuna, which I always get. I went for scrambled eggs, bacon, ham--no sausage, potatoes and allergy Mickey waffles. YUM! It's my usual order, so nothing too fancy.I will say that he was really up on his game that morning. He gave me Earth Balance, ketchup and my own maple syrup. Plus, he came back later to check on things and make sure it was all OK.

Big Kahuna indeed!

As usual, this was all very good. I'm digging that they are giving me extra portions of those Mickey waffles. Chef Amber was right--Mickey waffles are better in 4s! :)One thing I will say, is that if you ever just want pancakes, they can make them here. I was toying around with the idea of allergy friendly pancakes that morning with blueberries but opted for my Big Kahuna. But, you could easily get pancakes and maybe even add the pineapple sauce (it's GF/DF). The chefs are great here and willing to really help make a great meal.Overall, as usual, I give this a solid 8 out of 10. Love the breakfast here!

Lunch at Kona Cafe

COVID-19 & Reopening Notes

Atmosphere

The Food

Overall

Dinner at Kona Cafe

COVID-19 & Reopening Notes

Atmosphere

The Food

Overall

Dinner at Kona Cafe

Atmosphere

The Food

Overall

Breakfast at Kona Cafe

Atmosphere

The Food

Overall

Breakfast at Kona Cafe

Atmosphere

The Food

Overall

Dinner at Kona Cafe

Atmosphere

The Food

Overall

Dinner at Kona Cafe

Atmosphere

The Food

Overall

Dinner at Kona Café

Atmosphere

The Food

Overall

Breakfast at Kona Cafe

Atmosphere

The Food

Overall

Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW