Moena Café

Delicious spot right by the marina. The building is a bit small but they seemed to get people in and out quickly.
They have an espresso machine so there coffee was on point! I ordered their short rib loco moco over garlic fried rice and it was delicious. I would definitely recommend this if you are in the area or just finished hiking kokohead in the morning.
The parking lot is the shared lot infront of the movie theater/​marina so it can get a bit crowded there.

So we decided to come here after early morning snorkeling at Hanauma Bay. This place was sooooo worth it! My wife had been wanting to take me here, but its kind of a drive from where we live. So what a better excuse than being right down the road?
It took us about 20 mins to be seated. It’s not a huge restaurant, but at 9am, it was already full! Upon being seated, we promptly ordered coffee. I don’t know what kind of coffee they brew there, but it was very tasty! It was not the folgers/​maxwell house stuff you get at diners. For an order of coffee, you get two cups, so use it wisely!
My wife ordered the Crab Benedict with avocado. I ordered the Banana Chantilly pancakes (short stack). I tell you what, this place has my heart. Like literally, my heart yearns to eat breakfast here!!!
The eggs benedict was cooked to perfection. The yolk was nice & runny. It was topped with real crab meat (not imitation). When combined with their bread, it was perfection! I’m not kidding. I did not need to add hot sauce, salt, or pepper. It was that good! Yes, it was not served on a split english muffin. It was on toast. This is a definite must to order. Even if you don’t like crab meat, just order the eggs benedict. You will not be disappointed!
The banana chantilly was equally amazing! I did not want a «sweet» pancake & this one fit the bill. Fresh slices of banana were throughout this ginormous pancake. And it was topped with this syrup that was to die for. Words cannot really describe the expression of my tastebuds, but I will say that an explosion in my mouth might be a good start! There was not a crumb left when I was done.
The service staff was very nice & friendly. They were totally on top of our table & ensured we had everything we needed despite how busy the restaurant was. I give this place a clear 5-​stars. Try it out!

Oh gosh. What to say about this place. I NEED TO COME BACK! Why does it have to be so far away?
I had a three day staycation last weekend out in Hawaii Kai and the first two days, I ignored this place because of the way it looked from the outside. The third day, I asked my host to recommend some place for brunch and he recommended Moena Café, saying that it was awesome.
I was wary because of some of the reviews but my date and I decided to go anyway. We were not disappointed…
The moment you walk in, it’s a completely different feel. Much more classy and chic than the storefront lets on to be. I would never have guessed how nice it was inside. Definitely nice enough for a date!
My date and I got different omelets – he got a veggie one and I did the kalua pig. My only qualm is that the kalua pig was so tasteless, like it could’ve been seasoned with shoyu or salt or something and possibly cooked longer or in less water because it was a bit chalky/​mushy. Nonetheless, the omelet was pretty good and everything else tasted really «fresh» or healthy for some reason.
Being the gluttons that we are, we also ordered the cinnamon roll pancake in the same sitting lol. Oh gosh that was delicious. Soooooo good! Next time I want to try the strawberry milk pancakes :).
Our wait help was very friendly and I think I noticed that about everyone working actually. They were classy people and smiling and kind with each other and their customers. Definitely love a place with great people.
I recommend Moena not just if you’re out in Hawaii Kai but also if you want some breakfast ALL DAY and want to eat somewhere kind of nice :). I will be back soon!

The Banana Chantilly Pancakes are amazing. A short stack has only 1, but it is enormous. I wonder how anyone can finish the regular stack.
The short rib loco moco is also very good. It’s very rich and flavorful without being heavy – just enough to leave you full and satisfied.
One bummer is that you only get 1 refill per order of coffee. It’s good enough that you’ll definitely use it though so that’s a plus.

Bro. BOMBEST. PANCAKES. EVER.
Thanks to other local pancake ‘sturants around the island, I lve always doubted the pancake that had the audacity to value itself above $ 10. Moena’s pancakes, specifically their cinnamon roll and banana chantilly flavors, is the only exception. To have a Moena pancake is like finding a girl you never knew you wanted. The perfect lady that creeps up on you after many other failed pancake relationships.
The pancakes are bomb.
The service is top notch.

We stopped here for a quick breakfast before snorkeling since it was raining.
This is a cute little café, our waitress was a Hawaiian woman and she was efficient.
My BF ordered the Belgian waffle and he liked it but didn’t rave about it, we both got coffee his vanilla and mine caramel that came in three layers. I decided to be a little out of my usual box and ordered the short rib loco Moco just to try it out. The heaviness and salt content did not do it for me. I was looking forward to trying loco Moco for months. I sadly was not satisfied. Again, this is only MY opinion. I have never had the original hamburger patty loco Moco before so my taste buds are not familiar with how it SHOULD taste. I am Asian and have had my fair share of different types meats, rice and eggs all accompanied by one another but not loco Moco.
The flavor to me was really salty, it may have been that they salted the short rib, then separately the fried rice and the egg. It was just too much altogether for me. I usually have eggs for breakfast but this was a very hearty meal. The short rib was ok, it was tender but I didn’t enjoy the flavor much. The egg was not over easy but for me that’s a good thing I like then over medium anyway. The fried rice was covered with gravy so I don’t know how that tasted alone.
I wished I had gotten something else here. I liked this vibe in this place it was quiet and peaceful especially with rain. I enjoyed their calm music including Jack Johnson songs.
I would probably return if in the area and next time try a waffle instead.

Came here on a Monday for brunch located in Koko Marina. No one greets you as you walk in and you just sign in and wait to be called. The wait wasn’t too long as we ended up sitting at the bar. The ambiance is very nice, they are also very clean. Service was very friendly and attentive.
I ordered the MC Breakfast $ 10.50 for 4 strips of bacon, 2 eggs and fried rice. My husband ordered the short rib Loco moco for $ 17.50, $ 2 extra for fried rice and we shared a short stack banana Chantilly pancake for $ 9.
It was «ok» the MC breakfast wasn’t anything extra spectacular. It was like an average breakfast the fried rice had lots of meats and peas and carrots, but not really any flavor, just seemed like it was coated with shoyu. The bacon was crispy which I love and eggs over easy was perfect but not award worthy.
The banana Chantilly pancakes again were good, fluffy, but not something I would rave about.
My husband liked the short rib Loco moco, more traditional flavor when it came to the gravy, it was moist and flavorful, BUT for $ 17.50 not worth it. It was only two small pieces of meat and my husband said worth maybe like $ 10 if comparing it to a plate lunch.
Overall, would say this place is decent, not a bad place, but then again don’t believe it’s award winning like the plaques say on their walls. We’ve had better and for cheaper.
Would we go again? Not by choice, but would be OK to go if it was someone else choose it and they wanted to try it out.

First of… This place was highly recommended on Unilocal and some others… So my expectations are already up there. Anyway, as we walk in, there’s no reception area. Just a note pad and a pen to write your name. No one there to ask question how long is the wait… and you can’t just «hang» around cuz the table settings are set to the brim of that place. It’s best to wait outside. We finally sat down, we ordered our food immediately. We have a preset menu we’d like to try. Short-​rib loco moco, Banana chantilly pancakes and Kuala eggs Benedict.
The review: after waiting awhile… I mean awhile, food finally came. I can only described it as Hawaiian food fusion style. It’s not one of those «in your face» large servings Hawaiian food. Loco-​moco is just alright. So was the kalua eggs Benedict. It could use a little more seasoning. They were thinking outside the box when they try to recreate it but unfortunately, for me it didn’t work. I would stick to their Banana Chantilly pancakes.
The hype on this place was there was always a line outside… It must be good… The only 3 reason there’s always a wait outside was 1. No waiting area inside, 2. The inside of the this restaurant is very small, 3. The service was very slow. Also for the amount of $ they charge, I expect to get more food. Overall experience, it was alright but there are others. I gave it 2 stars for the service (long wait) the size/​taste of the food and it’s a bit pricey.

Breakfast place in Koko Marina with a long wait! We waited about 30 minutes or so. The place was neatly décor and had a cute set up.
Four of us decided to order 2 dishes and share it since we were full from a previous meal. We got the strawberry and milk pancake ($ 14) and the short rib loco moco $ 15.50. The loco moco came was served first, small portion. The sauce tasted a little bit salty. Not a lot of meat in the dish. The pancakes came out after. The pancakes was pretty big in size. Bigger than your hands! 3 slice of pancakes with strawberry and milk syrup and sliced strawberries on top. There wasn’t enough syrup at the bottom so the pancakes were pretty dry. Wish they would add more to it. Overall, the food was alright. There was nothing special about the taste. Maybe it looked nice?
Service was alright. It was slow, even though there were a few of them walking around. It was difficult to flag them down when they weren’t even near our area.
This is an expensive breakfast restaurant. To be expected if it’s in Hawaii Kai.

I stumbled across Moena Café on Unilocal before coming to Oahu to visit family. All of the pictures and reviews and picture drew me right to it. First I ordered coffee and was very pleased to see that each cup is freshly brewed to order and they steam your milk to order as well. So delicious. For breakfast, I ordered the short rib loco moco and pretty much the only reasons this place doesn’t have 5 stars is my eggs were a little over cooked (asked for over med and got over well) and my meat was a little fatty but overall it was so delicious and the meat that wasn’t fatty was so tender and delicious. My husband ordere the ««MC» breakfast. Very basic breakfast but he ate the whole thing and said it was really good. The service was really great. I had a super friendly and attentive server. I plan on going here for breakfast every day while I’m here and updating my review as I go.

Breakfast was great! fast friendly service. rich smooth kona coffee. outstanding!
Had the eggs benidict very good. girlfreind said her food was good also. only thing was the 30 minutes wait time. Well worth it. I’ll be back !

After hiking from Makapu Lighthouse, we stop by KoKo Marina. The café was full and we wrote down name. The waiting time was not too bad but after we sat down at the table, we waited a long time get our food…
We ordered;
Acai bowl — It was so good and refreshing especially after hiking! It’s very similar to Bogart’s but way more expensive as $ 14.50…
Crab egg Benedict– my son add bacon $ 2 to it.
Oh yeah! He enjoyed them a lot!
Fresca Panini — my mom loved them so much!

3 words: Banana Chantilly Pancakes! Get it!!! Soooo yummy!
When in Hawaii Kai, this is definitely thee brunch place to be! Of course, like all the other brunch places on the island, expect there to be a wait.
I’ve come here 3 times so far and I’ve gotten something different each time! I’ve tried their Eggs Benedict, Pineapple Sausage Hash, the MC Breakfast, and of course the Banana Chantilly Pancakes. The food is good but extremely small portions for the price. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to give this place a 3 or a 4 because of the slow service and small portions.
The first time I came here, I was super disappointed the Eggs Bene didn’t come with any sides. For around $ 14 just for Eggs Bene, pretty steep. The hash wasn’t what I expected either. It looked yummy but was eh. It was diced sausage and potato with an egg on it. The pieces were so tiny, it was pretty difficult to eat cause you could only get so much on your fork at once.
Most recently I got the MC Breakfast, fried rice, 2 eggs, and breakfast meat of your choice. It was a lot of food but not sure it was worth $ 10.50.
I seriously only come here for those pancakes! They are huge and worth sharing. At $ 9 for just one pancake, eh it’s definitely a splurge but hey! If you share it amongst 3 ppl like we did, it’s not so bad. It’s a giant banana pancake topped with chantilly and coconut shavings. So yummy!
As for service, we noticed the manager or owner was there yesterday when we came in. The wait was 25 minutes for a table of 3 of us. As we waited we noticed there were 3 tables open at all times but for some reason weren’t seating people. We walked around, used the bathroom, came back and they had only called NO parties in the 10 minutes we were gone! Wth. The owner was trying to teach the bus boys how to properly set tables which was good but turn around time was just wayyyy too long!
This is definitely a place where you just so happen to be in the area. I would not drive all the way out to HK just for this place. But I’d have to say, you have to try their pancakes at least once!

One of the few breakfast places in Hawaii Kai. We went in at about 11 am on a Monday. The place was almost full but we were immediately greeted and seated. The waiter took out order within 3 – 4 minutes and our food came out quite quickly. The Mo Egga $ 12.50 — artichoke spread on garlic toast topped with poached eggs– was quite disappointing. Didn’t taste much artichoke spread and the poached eggs were way overcooked to the point of hard boiled eggs. The Fresh Corned-​beef Hash $ 13.95– was better but the sunny side up eggs were also way overcooked. However the corned beef has was quite good. Made with diced potatoes and onions. Not your typical corned beef hash where the potatoes and corned beef are mashed and shredded then mixed together.
Service was excellent all the way through. A bit disappointed that a breakfast place can’t make eggs correctly. Maybe we just caught them on bad day.
The menu does have a lot of unique and interesting items. We will definitely come back and give it another try.

Read the rest of the reviews. I don’t think I can add much more. Only one star docked because of the size of the place which is out of their control but can cause you to wait 30+min if they’re busy.
Would it be worth the wait? Hmm… depends on your mood. Very hungry? In a rush? Go somewhere else. Don’t mind waiting for some monster pancakes? then yeah wait it out.
This is a good place to stop by if you’re going to or coming from koko head, the shooting complex, hanauma bay, sea life park, etc.

Moena Café is a great little breakfast spot located in the Koko Marina Center. The restaurant is both popular and tiny so wait times can be a little lengthy. I went there for brunch on a Saturday and waited almost 30 minutes for a table (party of 2) and personally, my meal was worth the wait. The main reason I was dying to give Moena Café a try was to have some Banana Chantilly Pancakes. The verdict: yes, they were great but the real winner of my meal was the bacon.
Their pancakes are huge and a petite stack usually comes with 1 pancake (the size of a dinner plate) and 1 side meat. However, the specialty pancakes, like the Banana Chantilly, doesn’t come with the side of meat so I ordered a side of bacon. I thought $ 5 for 3 strips of bacon was kind of pricey until I bit into the first strip. If you love bacon like I do, you will definitely appreciate their thick and crispy slices of bacon. I’m not sure what type of bacon it was but the flavor was definitely on point.
Again, the Banana Chantilly pancakes were good but I don’t think they were as great as others made them out to be. My pancake had a nice crispy edge and was fluffy but just a liiitle undercooked in the middle. I would totally just go back for the bacon. Customer service was good and I like the décor in the restaurant. It’s clean, and they have bright floral pictures on the wall and cute decorations on the bar. I’ll definitely be back for breakfast and also wouldn’t mind trying their lunch items-​the loco moco looked great.
P. S. Their fried rice and homemade corned beef hash (with potatoes) were really tasty too.

Came here for breakfast after a crazy hike from koko head.
They have amazing Loco moco and had their sausage Hash which is really huge portion.
I also saw a lady beside me order pancake and they have one of biggest pancakes ever. I think I’ll try that next time.
Food is delish and love their chain tea latte. Gotta check this out for sure.

Worst service ever. I came here for breakfast and it wasn’t that busy when my party got here. First, they got our food wrong, second they got our food half right, but we were too hungry to ask for redo. People who arrived after us got their food. Okay, maybe there was a mixed up in the kitchen. Food was mediocre. Our server was not attentive at all nor possess any listening skills, didn’t refill our coffee when it was empty, didn’t give us new silverware when we ask for it. We had to go up to the counter and ask for it. Never again.

The servers here are very nice and helpful. With a decent menu selection they take the time to explain their favorites and answer any questions you have. We ended up getting a split Benedict of 1 crab and 1 kalua pig. (They let you mix the protien!) we also shared a banana chantilly pancake which was amazing. Try it out if you’re in the area. We ate here after our koko head hike so we came with an appetite :)

I would give this place a 3.5 star if it was an option but I feel like I received mediocre service. I came here right after the Koko Head hike (didn’t eat breakfast) and right before snorkeling so I needed a bite to eat bad. On a short time crunch I decide to order right away and inhale my food before going snorkeling.
I ordered the Loco Moco and the presentation was amazing. I would have to say the food is sub-​par for a $ 17.50 Loco Moco with Fried Rice. The sauce is extremely bold and it doesn’t really have flavor of anything I had to drown it in Tabasco for it to be decent enough to enjoy.
Lastly, as we finished our meal we were on a time crunch and I asked for the check the server then proceeded to help 2 tables ever so slowly. I then asked another employee at the establishment if he could print the check for me and he told me that he couldn’t that the tab was registered under our own servers name. I pre-​calculated our bill and 20% tip and then left.
Maybe this is something that happens on a rare occasion but it definitely urked me.

My fiancé found this place on Unilocal while we were nearby for the sunrise. Stopped in, and was impressed from the moment I walked in. The place is clean, the staff is friendly, and the food is AMAZING. I had the Hawaiian omelette and the waffle, both of which were excellent. Pork on the island is incredibly tasty, and the omelette didn’t disappoint.
Couldn’t be happier with the choice to come here this morning, will definitely be coming back here!

I had breakfast with my girlfriend here after a hike. It was delicious! I had the sausage hash, and had to keep myself from devouring the whole thing. The hash was made with potatoes and pineapple sausage and it was topped with two eggs made any way you want. Service was great for a busy Sunday. Tables are very close to each other, so I’m pretty sure the couple next to us heard my entire conversation. Great place for breakfast! Go early, I imagine the wait can be ridiculous.

This place was easily one of my favorites during our Hawaii trip! There was quite a bit of wait when we got there for breakfast but we didn’t mind. I had the MC breakfast with the Portuguese sausage. It was delicious! It’s like a typical filipino breakfast, eating rice in the morning! I washed it all down with the passion orange guava juice! It’s so light and refreshing! The fiancé had the short rib loco moco and he really liked it. I had a bite of it and it was good! I really liked the décor inside too! Very modern and homey. If we ever come back to this island, I would come out here again!

Was in Hawaii Kai after a hike so I was thirsty and hungry. I wanted to try a place that I have not eaten before. According to Unilocal pic their short rib loco moco looked good so I had to try it. The table next to us ordered a pineapple sausage hash which looked good so I had to order it too. I was lucky bc the table next to us gave us some to try and it was good. The loco moco was good too. The only draw back was this place was a little pricey. The loco moco was $ 17.50 and the side of hash was $ 7. The drinks was $ 2.50 so I made sure I had at least 3 refills. Service was good though bc the hash I ordered was not a regular menu item that can be sold separately. This place was worth a try. They had mostly breakfast items… so if you want a quality breakfast it is worth a try.

So after finishing a hike on the East side my brothers and I were starving so I suggested this cute place in Koko Marina. We had to wait maybe 20 – 25 mins since we came around 9 but it didn’t seem too long.
The décor is very fresh and clean! The white walls, grey ceilings & metallic wallpaper really accent the space and it gives off a very relaxing vibe.
We ordered the Strawberries & Cream pancakes, «MC breakfast» (2 eggs, choice of meat & either potatoes or fried rice) & the sausage omelette. The pancakes were such a pretty sight that I almost had a hard time digging into them. My brothers really enjoyed their meals & I fell in love with the pancakes. The topping was very light & not too sweet.
Definitely stop by if you’re in the area and don’t mind waiting a little while. You’re gonna have a hard time ordering as you see everyone’s food pass your way! Choose wisely!

Breakfast all day and no town crowds! Polite and fast service.
Favorite so far short rib loco moco and sweet bread French toast. Love their espresso and shake treats!

Competent food, mixed service (sometimes adequate, often slow), prices what you’d expect for Hawai’i Kai (li’l on the higher side but affordable-​ish). For the same $ or a little less, Café Kaila is a worthy competitor, providing brunchy meals prepared with greater attention to detail and considerably less sugar.
Benedicts are okay; basic ones run around $ 10 – 12 including a veggie spinach-​tomato one, and more pricey versions with seafood running closer to $ 20ish. They hit the spot without being particularly memorable. They sometimes have scones or other baked goods, with just as much personality. Blah.
We keep on goin’ back, so honestly, it doesn’t suck. But often more out of convenience than anything else – not many nice, sit-​down breakfast places in the area. You get more volume down the lane at Zippy’s at cheaper prices, but Zip’s doesn’t do those sweetsie chantilly pancakes, does it? And feels kinda grimy, with all the open-​air seating next to the marina – at least at the fast-​food side.
All in all: Just okey dokey – pretty environs, capable cooking. Just no personality, in that kind of inoffensive, Japanese-​tourist-​pleasing way.

What a great little place! In a mall, I wasn’t sure, but you walk in and the atmosphere is wonderful! Hubs had the Bleu cheese burger and I had the turkey and avocado sandwich. Both came in ciabatta rolls with choice of chips or salad. We both had chips. Hubs said burger was excellent and cooked properly. My suggestions would be to use real turkey versus lunch meat and real cheddar– the natural color isn’t orange. The sun-​dried aioli sauce was fabulous! I would absolutely recommend and come back!

I love new breakfast place! Got to try this cute little café right before our Banana Boat adventure all the way in Hawaii Kai in Koko Marina Center. We got there around 11 ish, which was prime time for brunch. The wait was about 30 minutes and although it was so hot waiting outside, the worker always came to check up on us, which I thought was great customer service.
Once we were finally seated, I could not decide what I wanted since everything on the menu looked so good! The wait really made me hungry, but I ended up with the Kalua Pig Benedict. The type of bread that this benedict was on was a little difficult to eat, but it was still delicious. My boyfriend got the Fresh Corned Beef Hash, which looked yummy too. One of our friends got the Strawberry & Milk Pancakes, which was too pretty to eat! I think we were all debating whether to get that or the Banana Chantilly Pancakes, but of course we went with the «prettier» one for pictures haha! I think the strawberry cream on top was too sweet for me, but still delicious with the strawberries!
Next time I want to try the popular Banana Chantilly Pancakes! And will definitely come earlier, or not when I’m extremely hungry, just in case there is a long wait.

Had heard good reviews about the place but the food was just about okay. The quantity was too less for the amount they charged. They also took a really long time to get our food which was a little frustrating.

I usually go here for a nice breakfast or brunch because it is nearby and has relatively good food. The only thing that makes or breaks my dining here is the line outside of the door. On the weekends, this place can get pretty busy! That’s why it’s very important for anyone to go at least 15 – 20 min before their desired dining time. Also, allot time to find parking as businesses in Koko Marina can get busy, filling the parking lot quickly.
Otherwise, the service is great and the food is pretty good. The location is quaint and small but it doesn’t bother me.
From the times I’ve been there, I have ordered and tasted various dishes. The Bleu Cheese Burger is pretty tasty. It has a nice, thick patty and is topped with onions, Bleu Cheese and a tasty aioli sauce. The Garlic Chicken Sandwich is also pretty tasty. It’s not too heavy so don’t expect to be stuffed but it has enough to make you feel content. The combination of the toppings all compliment each other very well and is a healthy alternative. The Italian Panini sandwich is a very good choice as it is flavor packed with my favorite meats and a yummy sauce. I have also tried the Short Rib Loco Moco and it is very delicious. The sauce is not gravy-​like, as it is more flavorful than your average gravy and compliments the short Rib perfectly. However, some times we’ve been there, the serving was unusually small — 3 small pieces of meet. I guess it depends on who’s coming that day. Other than that, its a delicious dish!
I recommend that people try this place at least once and try their favorites, such as the Short Rib Loco Moco.

I love this place! It is an appealing little café. Will definitely be coming back.
Service: Amazing! Offered great recommendations. Quick seating: waited 10 minutes for a group of 5. Often checked up on us because it is a small café. Very nice workers. Food came out in 10 minutes or less.
Taste: ¹⁰⁄₁₀. Everything is tasty and would recommend the Kalua Pig Benedict. One of their best sellers.
Price: Reasonable for a nicer café. Expect 15 $ with tip per person. Maybe 20 $ with more items /​treating yourself.
Portions: Average. You’ll leave content, but as a growing boy, I wasn’t stuffed! For a girl, probably perfect!
Parking/​Area: Plenty of parking in the shopping center. Many things to buy or check out in the area as well.

Yes, trekking out to Aina Haina at 6:30 a.m. just to eat at Moena – and not dealing with hangry brunch crowds – is worth it.
This has to be one of my favorite breakfast places on the island, due to ambiance and menu selection. Granted, some of the items are pretty pricy. But, if you’re looking to treat yourself once in a while for breakfast – and want to enjoy a meal in a more peaceful setting – Moena provides the perfect solution.
I didn’t feel like waiting until a traditional brunch hour, so a friend and I woke up early Saturday morning to check this place out. It’s easy to find in the Koko Marina Shopping Center and there’s lots of parking available.
We were actually the first ones in the café for breakfast that morning, and when we were leaving around 7:30 a.m., more people were starting to come. We had a relaxing, enjoyable breakfast … and I really liked the décor and feel of Moena itself. It’s not a huge café but still trendy and upscale in décor.
There were so many items to choose from on the menu, but since I was craving pancakes – my go-​to when it comes to breakfast fare – I went with that. But I also wanted to try something savory, so my friend opted for the «Short Rib Loco Moco.»
Because we came so early, we hardly had to wait for anything. Our order was taken really quickly and our food came out fast as well. I can hardly wait for my return to Moena. It was definitely a good idea to go early and avoid the crowds; plus, eating delicious food in a nearly-​empty restaurant is quite peaceful in of itself.
Here’s what we got:
«Cinnamon Roll Pancakes»: I love the flavor of cinnamon (aka Cinnabons), so choosing this pancake was a no-​brainer. Of course, the «Strawberries and Milk» option intrigued me, but I decided to save that choice for another visit. I just ordered one of the cinnamon roll pancakes (instead of getting two), but one was a generous size. I was full but not stuffed afterwards, but I didn’t eat again until dinner. The pancake is large in size/​diameter, but it’s on the thinner side. Although I prefer thicker, fluffy pancakes, this pancake surely didn’t disappoint. It did taste lighter and I enjoyed the cinnamon glaze on top. This sweet treat is sure to please any cinnamon lover — or if you just prefer sweeter things for breakfast as well.
«Short Rib Loco Moco»: I hardly order short ribs, but I’m a huge fan of this loco moco. My only regret: That I didn’t convince my friend to get the fried rice version (now that I know what this tastes like, I would gladly upgrade, given the option). The short rib was super flavorful and tender; the meat boasted a melt-​in-​your-​mouth consistency. When my friend broke the egg in half and the yolk oozed all over the meat, gravy and rice, each bite was an explosion of flavor. If you love loco moco, I would highly recommend this dish. It’s definitely a unique twist on loco moco, and I would not hesitate to order it for myself.
«Kalua Pig Benedict»: If I were craving eggs benedict, this is the meat version I would opt for first. I’m curious to see what this café’s hollandaise sauce tastes like, and they used roasted garlic bread for the starch part. I do love kalua pork, so I’m sure this entrée would be a hit.
«MC Mac and Cheese»: If I ever deviate from the breakfast menu and want something for lunch, I would love to try this mac and cheese entrée. It features macaroni baked with a homemade three-​cheese blend and ham. Yum! When it comes to mac and cheese, the cheesier, the better, so I absolutely can’t wait to try this concoction one day.

Food: 4 stars
Service: 4 stars
Interior décor: 5 stars
Speed: 2 stars :(
I don’t like waiting for 20 minutes before I even get inside the restaurant!

Tiny café in a strip mall serving a wide variety of breakfast treats, sandwiches and salads with super slow service the day we visited.
We arrived a bit after 1:15 on a Sunday looking for a quick lunch after a long hike. We found this place on Unilocal and were encouraged by the strong reviews. When we arrived there was a wait but there were a number of tables being cleared, so we wrote a name on the clip board wait list then sat down outside to wait. There was no one to give us an idea what to expect for wait time. There were about 8 names ahead of us. This place is pretty small so the wait ended up being 30 minutes plus (probably wouldn’t have waited had we know how long it would be but the wait list is sort of self service-​no one to tell you how long the wait will be when we visited).
Finally our name was called and we got a table. We were given water almost as soon as we sat down by the efficient bus staff but then had another 5 min wait for our server. Since we had endured such a long wait we gave her our order right away. After 20 more minutes waiting for the food, I was considering just paying for our drinks and leaving. Just as I was about to get up we got the food-​1 Cesar salad (just ok), chicken salad sandwich with chips (good) and blue cheese burger and chips on focaccia (average and a bit under done).
The food was fine but not worth the long wait by any stretch. It was Christmas week and the island was busy everywhere we went but they seemed to have plenty of staff-​at least servers and bus boys-​but certainly no sense whatsoever of urgency or hustle. It took several minutes to just get a tablespoon of ketchup and later to run a credit card. When we left at 2:45 our server gave us a couple of white chocolate scones as a reward for our patience.
Not sure if our experience was typical given all the raving reviews or if our standards for good service are higher. For me, my bottom line on this spot is if I saw more than 3 parties ahead of me I’d try some place else.

Ok, I thought I did make a review already. Anyways, here we go!!!
Food:
We tent to favor the breakfast than the lunch side. The one and only time the wifey had a lunch item, she was very disappointed. I can’t remember which sandwich, but she wasn’t happy and went somewhere else for her to eat. At the same time, I had a breakfast item and it was good! All the breakfast items we’ve ever ordered came out hot and good! Ok, sometimes it might take a lil while to come out, but when it does… **ahhhhh** choir sings**. Hehehehe I usually tend to finish my food, but the wifey… Yeah she always has leftovers. Trust me, I’m stuffed like a lil piggy, but I finish all/​98% of my food before I leave. Guess it’s my upbringing– mom and dad always said to finish my food before leaving the table. Had about ½ of their breakfast items and so far so good. Love em! (Knock on wood!!)
Cleanliness /​ambiance:
They’re always clean! They don’t have a bathroom inside the restaurant, but they do give you the code for the bathroom in the shopping complex. The place turns over tables so many times that there’s always someone cleaning up tables.
Service:
It’s been pretty good for my taste. Of course my taste is kinda picky. Wifey and I used to work in food service and know what to look for and all that. The waitresses/​waiters can up it a bit on being attentive to their tables. The turnover is so quick that they need to be borderline «bothersome». Because the place is so small you can waive down the wait help if you need anything. Another thing that bothers me is that almost no wait help intros themselves anymore! Doesn’t seem personable. When we were kids… Popo and Grandma were always about service, attentiveness, and politeness in a server. Where’d that go?
Overall:
Heck yeah we’ll be goin back! We love their breakfasts items! I might try their lunch menu one day, but not the wifey.

Came here after we hiked Koko Crater Trail. Good thing we started out hike early and was able to hit this place up before the rush.
Super cute café. Came here mainly for the Loco Moco… with short ribs… over fried rice. WORTH IT! My advice is don’t share this with someone… you are going to want your own (that is what happened with us).
Parking: Ample since there is a big lot.
Service: Extremely friendly
Overall: Highly recommend coming here! Even better is to come here AFTER your hike so you have something to work toward.

Reading other Unilocal reviews, there was one recurring theme: the short rib loco moco was outstanding.
Now, having tried it for myself, I can say I agree. Short rib often winds up tough, but these were flavorful and tender. The bed of fried rice it was on was also tasty, but not overly salty to take away from the dish as a whole.
Definitely recommend this to anyone who loves loco moco.

Came here early one morning around 8am before we went on our hike. No reservations so we wrote our name down and it took around 15 – 20 minutes before we got seated. They were packed early morning! Sat down and ordered juice and my strawberries and cream pancake (only one slice because it is huge!) and the short ribs loco moco. My pancake was larger than my head! And coveted in strawberries and cream with pistachio bits — yum! It was delicious and oh-​so fluffy! The short ribs loco moco was a bit heavy for breakfast and on the saltier side — but my boyfriend killed it lol! Highly suggest the pancakes!
Tip: ask for the code if you need to use their restrooms, it is outside of the restaurant to the right.

Location/​Parking:
The restaurant is located near Zippys in the shopping center near Koko Head. Parking is plentiful but parking fills up quickly during the lunch rush hours.
Wait Times:
The wait wasn’t that long. We waited 10 minutes on a Saturday around 11am.
Food:
Our party of four ordered the ribeye Loco Moco with Fried Rice, Crab Benedict and a short stack of Banana Chantilly Pancakes. The ribeye Loco Moco was good but I wished they gave more meat. The Crab Benedict had fresh crab, hollandaise sauce and French bread. It was unique tasting and tasty. The Banana Chantilly Pancake was huge. It was good! The food in general was great!!!
Price:
The Crab Benedict and ribeye Loco Moco were both around $ 18. The short stack of pancake was around $ 10.
Overall, I’m glad I was able to visit this restaurant. I love breakfast and I would say the foods I tried are my top 3 that everyone needs to try.

Cute little café. We were nearby at the shooting range and found this place for us to try during brunch. There was four of us that checked in around 11 am and waited no longer than 15 minutes. I guess we came in at a good time before the lunch madness and was able to get seated in decent timing.
So many breakfast choices to choose from, I was stuck between omelettes and benedicts. I decided to go with the crab benedict since I always get omelettes at other breakfast places. The crab benedict was bomb. I love that they use real crab instead of imitation crab. Hence why price for this was at $ 17. Explains why seafood is always on the higher end due to market price. The benedicts are prepared differently than other benedicts. They use garlic bread instead of english muffins which I liked better.
We also got one of the recommended dishes, the short rib loco moco with fried rice. It was okay, not the greatest of loco mocos we’ve tried but decent enough to try. Maybe if there was a little more short rib in the dish to even out the amount of fried rice then possibly it could have made the dish a little more better. We also got the banana chantilly pancakes that was so goooood! One short stack fed the 4 of us to try a piece of it. Totally recommended!
The menu is priced higher than most breakfast places but I still wouldn’t mind returning to try the other menu items if ever I’m in the area again.

Came here on a Monday around 10am. Its in a strip mall/​shopping mall type place, and near the back of the buildings. We were seated promptly but sat for a time before anyone came to take our drink order, so we were ready with our food order as well.
My coffee was quite delayed from the time of my order (others got theirs before me, maybe they were regulars) It was decent, but is capped at 2 cups. We split the Kahlua pig benedict with a side of potatoes and they did split if for us on two plates. Its served on toast instead of English muffin and did get a little soggy before i could finish.
Overall the presentation was great (condiments served in small dishes when requested) food and service was just OK. I wouldn’t probably chose to go here myself (prices are higher) but would go back if others were interested.

As soon as I walked through the front door, I immediately fell in love with this restaurant!
My cousin told me about this place and how delicious the food was, and me being a huge breakfast foodie needed to try it out!
The décor was beautiful! A nature/​rustic type feel to it, it’s totally me. As soon as i got the menu it was so hard for me to decide what to get, I mean I seriously wanted like three things lol. I ended up getting the Eggs Benedict with avocado. My cousin got the Kalua Benedict and my brother got some artichoke thingy I totally forgot the name.
We also got a blueberry waffle to share.
Food: My food literally melted in my mouth! It was the most divine thing I have ever tasted, I mean I was totally blown away. The bread had Chunks of roasted garlic inside and it was just so Ono. The sauce and the eggs and the HAM! Oh boy it was perfectly pieced together especially with the creamy avocado. I couldn’t get enough. The waffle was really yummy as well. The whipped cream and the syrup gave it an awesome sweet taste perfect In every way.
I will DEFINITELY be back to eat at Moena Café, i really enjoyed the food and the atmosphere.

There were five of us so we decided to order four different dishes to share. Out of the four, the SHORT RIB LOCO MOCO was the dish that left a lasting impression. I am still waiting on that day when I can sink my teeth into that tender well flavored short rib once again. If only the original loco moco was made with short rib, then I wouldn’t have to drive for miles just to get my fix. From what I remember, the other three dishes were just ok. We all felt that maybe we should’ve just ordered four short rib loco moco plates. My only gripe about this place is that for the price paid, I’d expect the portions to be a little more or maybe more than just a little more.

Couldn’t help craving that amazing «Strawberries & Milk Pancake» that I kept on seeing on my Instagram feed! I just had to know if it tasted as amazing as it looked! The funny thing is, the first time I went to Moena Café, I didn’t even order the pancakes. I had the the savory Sundried Tomato, Spinach, and Cream Cheese crêpe, which was okay… as it didn’t hit the spot as I thought it would. I learned that I didn’t like sundried tomato in more than the occasional chunks in sundried tomato bagels, haha. There were just tons of whole sundried tomatoes in the crêpe, and with all the cream cheese, it was a bit overwhelming.
The Fresh Corned Beef Hash was delicious, and it looked nothing like the soggy corned beef has I grew up eating. It was chunks of diced corned beef, potatoes, and onions, with a side of two eggs done any style you want. There was so much corned beef hash, the person who ordered it ended up sharing a lot of it.
The Banana Chantilly Pancakes were amazing… and honestly, the «Petite Stack,» which is 1 pancake, is more than enough. It’s definitely for the banana cake fan who loves chantilly sauce. And who doesn’t love chantilly? I don’t even care for coconut, but the toasted coconut it was topped it really completed the dish.
I finally got the Strawberry and Milk Pancakes the second time I went. It was probably more delicious than I thought it could be. The strawberry cream is very light. My boyfriend thought it was cream cheese at first, but it’s light in texture… almost like a whipped cream? I ordered the petite stack and it came with pistachio topping. I almost, ALMOST finished it by myself! That says a lot!
The Boyfriend claims that their Kalua Pig Eggs Benedict is probably the best eggs benny he’s ever had. In place of the usual English muffin, the eggs and pork sat on garlic bread. Garlic bread makes everything hundred times more delicious! Can’t wait to go back. Wish I could get both the pancakes AND eggs benny all to myself and not get sick, haha!

I sneaked in for coffee and delicious Banana Chantilly pancake, topped with toasted coconut. It was available in two sizes, I suggest you get the petite stack, if you are not too hungry. Even though I enjoyed my sweet giant disc, it was hard to finish.
Four Unilocal

A recommander!
J’y ai dégusté d’excellents œufs Bénédicte, parfaitement cuits, sur un pain a l’ail savoureux!
La version au crabe est très bonne également.