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?
Ohana -- Dinner -- Table Service -- Polynesian Village
*This dining experience took place in September 2016. 
Ohana, a table service restaurant located at Disney's Polynesian Village Resort, offers family style meals with an Asian and Polynesian flare. Ohana has long been a favorite in my family (fitting, since Ohana actually means family).On this particular visit, I dined with my mom and stepdad for dinner. Ohana also offers breakfast, but my family always prefers dinner. There's so many options, and it's such a solid and filling meal. You can read about my most recent visit in May 2016 with my friend Ron, here on the blog.After being seated, Chef Rodney came out to speak with me about options. For family style meals, they bring separate special dietary needs plates for me, except in the cases where the dish is already safe for me to eat.
First up was the Lilikoi Salad, which is both gluten free and dairy free naturally. My family has spent enough years with me gluten free that they know about sharing dishes and avoiding cross-contamination. Every makes sure to scoop salad safely, as they each got pieces of regular gluten-filled bread and already had that on their plates.I really like the Lilikoi Salad and often find it to be under-dressed. This was not the case this visit, as it was filled with a good amount of vegetables (including edamame, shredded carrot, and red onion) and papaya mango dressing. I really enjoyed it, and even had a second helping.
I was also given one Deanna's Gluten Free roll (formerly known as GNI Brand rolls) along with some Earth Balance Vegan Buttery Spread. I don't know what it is about Ohana, but they can never seem to heat these rolls well.This one was probably the most well-heated gluten free roll I've ever had at Ohana, but it was still pretty crumbly. I'm glad that Chef Rodney only brought me one out for my meal, as I wouldn't have eaten a second one.
Chef Rodney also brought out steamed white rice, chicken wings (plain without sauce), sauteed vegetables, and gluten free Sweet & Sour Sauce. I also asked for gluten free Teriyaki sauce, but didn't end up getting that with my entree.I am a huge white rice fan (don't ask me why; I just find it really comforting), so I love having a nice sauce to add to it along with the veggies. The vegetables always seem really undercooked to me and a little too crunchy for my liking. I usually end up eating a few pieces of broccoli cut up really well and mostly eat the sauteed onions and smaller vegetables that have cooked longer.
For my money, Ohana is all about the grilled meats. There are currently three grilled meat offerings at Ohana -- sirloin, sweet & sour chicken, and grilled shrimp. All three are gluten free and dairy free, and all three are really delicious.The steak for me is a bit iffy, as sometimes it's really good and other times the meat is really grisly. I had one really amazing piece on this visit, and the rest were kind of gross. I always love the grilled sweet & sour chicken and the grilled shrimp. Both were delicious, and I may have eaten my weight in both of them.
For dessert, Chef Rodney brought me Rice Dream non-dairy ice cream, sliced strawberries, fresh raspberries, topped with Enjoy Life Crunchy Cookies and Hershey's Chocolate Syrup. It's pretty much what they serve me on every visit.Usually, I'm so full I can't eat much of it. I did my best though on this visit. I'd love to see them change up the dessert offerings here. Maybe even offer a version of the Pineapple Dole Whip. I'd much prefer that to ice cream I get when I visit. Or, even better, I remember when Ohana used to serve fresh pineapple slices for dessert. That to me would be a perfect way to end such a big meal.Overall, I can't help but love Ohana. The food is delicious and plentiful. It's definitely one that my family and friends enjoy visiting, and I always look forward to a meal here.Have you been to Ohana? What did you think of your meal there?
Ohana -- Dinner -- Table Service -- Polynesian Village Resort
*This dining experience took place in May 2016.You can also hear me talk about Ohana in depth (including covering the character breakfast options) on Episode 37 of the podcast. You can also check out the YouTube video of the Electrical Water Pageant that I took while at the Polynesian Resort after dinner at Ohana. 
Aloha cousins! Ohana, located at Disney's Polynesian Resort, is a popular table service restaurant that offers up family style meals with Polynesian and Asian-inspired flavors. It's definitely a family favorite in my family. I just love all the gluten free and dairy free offerings here and always end up stuffing myself silly with all the delicious food.On this particular occasion, I dined at Ohana with a friend (who is also gluten free and dairy free) who is in Orlando visiting. In fact, the last time I dined here was with my friend when he visited back in November, so it's definitely a tradition to go here for dinner. We also went to Kona Cafe the week before, so we were making our rounds with the Polynesian Village restaurants.When we arrived at Ohana, we were greeted by the chef who went over the options with us. Thankfully, much hasn't changed since last fall, so both my friend and I knew the drill on options.
First up, we enjoyed the Lilikoi salad. It comes with a fruit based vinaigrette and has fresh red peppers, chopped red onions, mushrooms, and edamame (aka soybeans) tossed in with it. While, I like this salad well enough, both my friend and I thought it was pretty underwhelming and not very well seasoned or dressed. I've had better versions of this salad, and I do miss the honey lime vinaigrette that Ohana used to serve years ago.
We were also given Deanna's Gluten Free rolls (aka GNI brand rolls) with some Earth Balance vegan buttery spread. Sadly, these rolls were so poorly heated that they were a dry styrofoam mess. Not even the Earth Balance could save them.Both my friend and I agree that for some reason Ohana just can't seem to heat these rolls well. It's strange because they were heated well next door at Kona, so you'd think they would have no problems. Next time I go, I'll probably skip the bread.
Because we were both gluten free and dairy free, we were served a large platter of steamed white rice, sauteed veggies, and chicken wings -- all safe for both of us to eat.I also asked for a side of the gluten free and dairy free sweet and sour sauce and teriyaki sauce, which make for great dipping sauces.The chicken wings were some of the best I've had at Ohana. They are the same recipe but for some reason they just tasted really good this particular visit. They had lots of meat on them and were nice and tender.The sauteed veggies were a disappointment to me because they were basically raw veggies. They were barely sauteed and so raw that they weren't really very palate pleasing. Next time, I will ask that they cook the veggies a bit more, as I like that medley just not the way in which they were cooked.And the white rice is always a solid starch for me. I don't know why but I could literally eat white rice all day every day.
My favorite part of any Ohana meal is the meat course. Ohana grills three different kinds of meats currently on an open oak fire (which means the restaurant smells amazing). This includes beef, chicken, and shrimp. All three meats are currently gluten free and dairy free, which is kind of amazing.The beef marinade almost has a peanut sauce type marinade on it. We both liked the beef but found that if you're not careful, you'll end up with rare meat. This always seems to be the problem with the beef here, it's either undercooked or overcooked for my taste. We got some very rare beef early on and asked our server if we could get some that were more well done, and she was happy to oblige.The chicken is a real palate pleaser for everyone. Simple and delicious, this is one I always get seconds on.But the real favorite for me is the sweet and spicy shrimp. These are peel and eat, so prepare to be a bit messy (it's totally worth it!). In fact, I may have eaten my weight in shrimp on this visit. They were so good!In fact, I was so full I didn't even get dessert. Neither of us did. You can get dessert options that include non-dairy ice cream, cookies, and brownies (depending on your special dietary need).
If you time your dinner right, you may be at Ohana during Wishes. They do have great views of the Magic Kingdom, and they will dim the restaurant lights and pipe in the music. On top of that, there is great entertainment throughout the evening with live music and fun activities for the kiddos (can you say coconut races?!).Overall, Ohana remains a favorite of mine for great solid gluten free and dairy free options. It's tasty; the food is plentiful; the ambiance great; the entertainment fun!Have you been to Ohana? What did you enjoy while visiting there?
Kona Cafe -- Dinner -- Table Service -- Polynesian Village Resort
Polynesian Resort
Kona Cafe
GNI Brand Rolls at Kona Cafe
Volcano Roll Sushi at Kona Cafe
Rice Bowl Kona Cafe
*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?
Ohana -- Dinner -- Table Service -- Polynesian Village
*This dining experience took place in November 2015. 
Ohana means family, and this restaurant, located at Disney's Polynesian Village Resort is a favorite among my family and friends. It's one we repeatedly go to for special occasions and big get-togethers or when my friends come into town for a visit. There's just something about the family style meal and tropical atmosphere that makes Ohana fun for everyone.On this particular occasion, I had dinner with my friend who was in for a visit to Disney World. Both he and I love Ohana and having dined at Boma on a previous visit, knew we wanted another all-you-care-to-eat meal (yep, we're totally foodies for life!). Both of us dined gluten free and dairy free, so our food was easily shared among us -- something that rarely happens when I dine out, so it was nice to have a "normal" meal experience.
Ohana does not have an allergy friendly menu currently, but the chef will still come out and speak with you. The chef let us know that he would bring us safe rice, chicken wings, sauteed vegetables, and sauces, and that the grilled meats and salad were all safe for us to eat as is.
First up, he brought out GNI brand rolls for us with Earth Balance vegan margarine. The rolls weren't as well heated as they could be and were a bit crumbly, so neither of us really ate much of the rolls. And let's face it; we were there for the grilled meats that Ohana is famous for!
The Lilikoi Salad has been at Ohana for a bit now. It replaced my beloved house salad with honey lime dressing (oh, how I miss it!). I will say that I do like this salad a lot. It's got a bit of a sweet and sour taste and the addition of the edamame, red onions, and shredded vegetables is nice. It's not my favorite part of any meal at Ohana, but I do often go back for seconds on it, which is saying something for a family style salad.
After our salad, the chef brought out a plate filled with heaping amounts of white rice, sauteed vegetables, and chicken wings. We were also given gluten free sweet and sour sauce and teriyaki sauce. The teriyaki is definitely my favorite of the two, but both are really good and great for adding to your rice and veggies.
The piece de resistance of Ohana are the grilled meats prepared over an oak wood open flame found directly in the center of the restaurant. In years past, only some of the meats were safe but now, the shrimp, beef, and chicken are all gluten free and dairy free. Of the three, my hands down favorite is the shrimp. Grilled to perfection and smothered in a sweet and slightly spicy chili sauce, these peel and eat shrimp are worth every bit of effort you have to give in peeling them. Don't worry, you'll be given a warm washcloth to help with any messiness from the shrimp.The steak and chicken were both also delicious. The chicken probably being my second favorite meat. I love the marinade on the beef but find that the beef can be either perfect for my tastes or too underdone. It's hit or miss for me when I dine there. But the flavor is great on the steak for those who are steak lovers.
By the time dessert came, my friend and I had already indulged in several rounds of meat skewers and oh too many chicken wings to count. Suffice it to say, we were stuffed. The chef did bring out some Rice Dream, fresh fruit, Enjoy Life cookies and Hershey's chocolate syrup as a dessert option, but both of us had a hard time eating it. We were just too full! This is one of those restaurants where I really don't feel badly skipping dessert.Overall, we really enjoyed our meal at Ohana. We both left completely stuffed, which is exactly what I expect every time I dine there. It continues to be a favorite.Have you been to Ohana? What did you think of your meal experience there?
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?
Ohana -- Dinner -- Table Service -- Polynesian
*This dining experience took place in November 2015.
Aloha! Ohana located at Disney's Polynesian Village Resort has long been one of my family's favorite restaurants on Disney property. We love the fun and friendly atmosphere, the Polynesian theme, and, of course, the food! The menu itself has changed a lot over the years, and while we often lament some of our favorites that are no longer on the menu (oh, how I miss the honey lime vinaigrette salad dressing), we still very much enjoy the offerings available at Ohana.On this particular occasion, I visited with a friend, who also happens to be gluten free and dairy free too. It's always fun to dine out with friends, and especially those that have special dietary needs!I actually dined at Ohana this summer, but I realized I hadn't blogged about it yet (yikes! We'll chalk that one up to all the new job and moving craziness). But, as I was telling my friend, I actually haven't dined at Ohana in a couple of years because it's often hard to get a reservation when you are local and don't make 180 day in advance plans (I know, I know, local problems!). So, it was awesome to be dining here twice in the span of a few months!
Both my friend and I were ready to dig into our meal at Ohana and both knew going in we were going to be plenty full by the time the meal was over. Ohana definitely keeps the food coming, as a family style dining option.After being seated, the chef greeted us and let us know that we would be getting salad (with the removal of wontons), GNI brand rolls with Earth Balance vegan margarine, white rice, sauteed veggies, chicken wings, sweet and sour sauce, and could enjoy all three grilled meats: Shrimp, Chicken, and Steak. I also asked if they still had the gluten free teriyaki sauce (which they do) and was able to get that as well. And, of course, everything began to come out quickly...Let the food photos begin!
First up was the salad. This contained shredded vegetables (such as carrot), mushrooms, edamame, and red onion along with a vinaigrette. I really enjoyed this in July but both my friend and I found it to be woefully underdressed this time.
The GNI rolls we received were also poorly heated. Very crumbly and dry, while I ate one of them, my friend opted to skip, because -- of course -- it's all about the other food here!
We also got a plate to share of steamed white rice, sweet and sour sauce, teriyaki sauce, sauteed vegetables, and chicken wings. The chicken wings continue to be a favorite with a nice spicy dry rub. I also love having some rice and veggies along with the sauces they provide. Overall, it's definitely a good mix of options.
But, the best part about Ohana are the grilled meats that come out Brazilian Steakhouse style on skewers. All three grilled meats are now gluten free (which I love). I do miss their pork but the new sauces and rubs on the meats have definitely improved the meats offered. The steak that I had in July was perfectly cooked to my liking and nicely seasoned. This time, I found the meat to be just a bit too rare for my taste, so I didn't go for a second round. The chicken had a nice sweet and sour sauce on it and was delicious. Yep, I totally went for seconds on that. And, my hands down favorite is the shrimp. Sure, you have to peel them, and they are messy, but if you aren't enjoying a messy meal like this...you're doing it wrong! Between my friend and I, I think we ate our weight in shrimp!Between all the courses, we were both quite stuffed. Though we were brought dessert both of us didn't eat much of it.
Dessert at Ohana is always underwhelming. But, then again, it's not why I go there. Served Tofutti with Enjoy Life cookies, fresh fruit and Hershey's Syrup, it was just OK. Still, props for the cute hidden Mickey on the plate!Overall, we both really enjoyed our meal at Ohana. Our main courses were exactly why we dined here and while some of the sides were just OK, we both left the meal satisfied and totally stuffed. Ohana is definitely a must do tradition for my family and friends. Plus, the entertainment there is great. Kiddos can get in on coconut racing and the live singing is delightful.Have you been to Ohana? What did you enjoy most there?
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?
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
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.