Begin your Disney Day at Kona Café!
When I close my eyes and think of iconic resorts at Walt Disney World, it doesn’t take long for my Disney fan brain to land at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. Its low-slung dark wood ceilings, its stone floor, and its faint ozonic scent combine to wrap me in a blanket of classic Walt Disney World goodness every time I step inside the Great Ceremonial House. I recently had the chance to begin my Disney day in this wonderful old-school Disney-ness with breakfast at Kona Café, and friends, I must say that it was exactly what I needed.
You’ll find Kona Café on the second floor of the Great Ceremonial House, adjacent to ‘Ohana. Once you have your entire dining party, you’ll check in at the host stand and then wait for a text to notify you that your table is ready. Kona is unique in that it is open on one side to the two-story lobby, allowing light and ambiance to flow through.
Kona Café’s breakfast menu has something for everyone, with traditional favorites that you’d expect to see and Hawaiian dishes that might surprise you. I rolled into the meal in cahoots with my hubby to get the best of both Kona Café breakfast worlds. You see, the fan-favorite Tonga Toast ($17.50) tops the menu, but is incredibly sweet. It is two slices of Texas Toast battered, fried and rolled in cinnamon and sugar and stuffed with caramelized bananas, after all. Also being offered is the Hawaiian local favorite Loco Moco ($18), which is a savory-lover’s dream come true. My hubby and I sat down at the table knowing that our plan to order both entrees and split them was wise, and I must say that we weren’t wrong.
If you’ve never had Loco Moco, please let me bring you up to speed. First things first: it has nothing to do with mocha. We’re talking moco, not mocha. Save that for your after-breakfast latte at the Kona Island coffee counter just outside the restaurant. Moco Loco begins with a bed rice (here at Kona, it’s white rice; at Disney’s Vero Beach Resort’s Wind & Waves, it’s fried rice) and then builds up from there. I know it might seem strange, but the next thing you’ll find in the dish is a hamburger patty. Friends, stick with me; it’s all gonna be okay in the end. The hamburger is topped with a fried egg, pico de gallo, and chorizo gravy. Cut into that fried egg and let that runny yolk mix in with everything and you’ve got a hearty breakfast that’ll both get you going and keep you going throughout your Disney park day.
My mom-in-law chose the Seasonal Pancakes ($18) as her entree, and she declared them to be the best pancakes she’s ever eaten. This is no small praise, friends. At the time of writing, the seasonal pancakes being offered are of the cinnamon roll variety, and I must say that they were delicious. I highly recommend this dish.
My father-in-law opted for the caramel-banana sauce-covered French Toast ($15) and savored every single bite. As with most of the other entrees on the menu, guests have their choice of breakfast meats, and my father-in-law chose bacon.
If you’re a coffee lover, please know that Kona Café’s got you covered. The standard cup of coffee is Joffrey’s Hawaiian Kona Blend, and if you’re a fan of something a bit fancier, you/ll want to opt for their Hawaiian Kona Press Pot that serves two ($10.25).
In my opinion, you can’t go wrong beginning your day at Kona Café (hey, that rhymes!). But seriously, it’s a taste of Hawai’i in the middle of a gorgeous and bustling Disney resort. What’s not to love?!
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