We came here for lunch today. The location is awesome and the vibe is great. There are a ton of tourists who lunch here. Â I ordered a honuanua pizza and although it wasn't bad, I was very much underwhelmed. Â The middle part of the circular crust was soggy and there wasn't much taste. Â Our server pretty much forgot about us towards the end of our visit and I had to ask the host for our check and a box for my pizza.
Maybe this place is better for a cold beer on a hot afternoon rather than a yummy lunch.
We ate here on a Sunday (our last night in Honolulu) and I was very impressed with this restaurant and the way they handled an unanticipated situation. We were seated right away but the restaurant was busy and the service a little on the slow side, which isn't usually a problem for me (I don't expect super fast service when a restaurant is as busy as they were) but after we placed an order for appetizers, I got a mobile alert that our flight back to the mainland had been bumped up by 40 minutes! Ok, now the slow-ish service was a concern because we needed to leave for the airport within 40 minutes and we didn't even have the appetizers yet.
When our server stopped to get another round of drinks going, he apologized that the appetizers were taking so long. We took the opportunity to let him know we were suddenly on a tight time frame so he told us he would have the kitchen fire our entrees ASAP. When he brought the apps out about 5 minutes later, he again was very apologetic for the wait. We told him it wasn't a big deal but that we had a flight to catch that had just been bumped up and asked him to bring the check with our entrees.
Our server was very upset with the request in the sense that he somehow felt personally responsible for the delay even though it wasn't the restaurant's fault at all. If our flight hadn't been accelerated, we never would have said a word because the service was not really lacking, just a touch slow. Our entrees came out right after the appetizers thanks to the server getting them going right away. A short time after our entrees came out, the manager stopped by to personally apologize for the slow service and to let us know they had taken 20% off our check. That was completely unexpected and just a really nice thing to do.
The beer was delicious (I highly recommend the Pipeline Porter if you look coffee beer) but it took awhile to flag down our server to get another round. Our table had the blackened snapper and blackened tuna, kalua pork and porterhouse dip. Everything was great with the exception of the kalua pork sandwich which was oddly not salty enough. Overall this was a great experience with a staff that was wiling to go well above and beyond to accommodate us when we developed an unexpected time restraint DURING the meal!!
Came here with a bunch of friends on a Friday evening.
NOTE: They don't take reservations unless you have a party of 8 or greater.
I'm not much of a beer person but all of my friends ordered a bunch of different types of beer. They seemed to enjoy their choices. I ordered a melona bar(one of their special drinks). Kinda pricey at almost $10.
The food is alright. The nacho portion was HUGE. we couldn't even finish it. The pizza was good. Best part was their soft crust. If you are a thin crust fan, then this is not the pizza for you.
Overall a good experience. Live music and nice outdoor view. Great place for people who enjoy their beer.
This is a must do when on the island. Â We first tried Kona Brewing on the Big Island. Â I have to say I think the food was ever so slightly better there, however our pizza was still yummy with *fresh* pineapple. Â The patio is a nice place to sit with a view of the harbor. Â The brews of course are fresh and delicious.
Review Source:We hit Kona Brewing Company on a Wednesday night while on vacation from the mainland. We had been drinking their beer since arriving island side and thought we'd give their restaurant a try. It sits on the marina in the Koko Marina Shopping Center, has a great view and is away from the tourist-y hustle and bustle of Waikiki.
In a nutshell, the pizza is better than good - we had the pepperoni, combination, chicken bacon ranch, pizza margarita and BBQ chicken pizzas - and everyone seemed happy with their choices. A couple of our party ordered a BBQ chicken sandwich and a turkey club and both reported they were less than average sandwiches and would definitely not order them again. The best part was their side salads and ranch dressing. The salads were crisp and fresh and it appeared the ranch dressing was homemade. It was the best ranch dressing we've ever had!
The big bummer about this place is the food took FOREVER, about 45 minutes from the time we placed our order to when it was delivered. That was pretty bad considering we had kids with us. And, the food server balked at doing 3 separate checks for our 11-person group so we said "nevermind". Then, unbeknownst to us, she made separate checks anyway but had categorized the items incorrectly so it was even more confusing than one bill would have been.
So stick to the pizzas when you go here and be prepared for a bit of a wait. Or maybe you can just use it as an excuse to drink more of their beers (not a bad thing, they have some pretty tasty options). Or maybe they're better with smaller groups...?
This place has a great atmosphere and very friendly staff. The food is pretty good but their appetizers are even better. The garlic and cheese with bread plate is pretty unique and delicious, for instance. As a vegetarian, I had more options than most places for what I could choose from if I didn't want a salad. The beer options feature their Kona Brews, obviously. They have all the bottles and then seasonals/specials on tap. I suggest the Hula if you like wheat ales.
I would go back for atmosphere and to share a beer.
Bottom line: Nice casual place to enjoy a beer and wide menu with family and friends.
Overall the restaurant is great! We had our dog and they were very friendly even gave us water for our dog. Everyone was friendly except our server. I am a fair person when it comes to tipping. Â Unfortunately for us but fortunate for our server the 18% was added since we had 9 in our group. HORRIBLE waitress! Don't remember her name Asian girl, she had a nose ring. I guess for some people if you know your tip is automatic you will do the absolute minimum, which she was a pro at and had an attitude whenever we asked for something. Whenever she left the table she'd mumble something to the hostesses very obviously something negative. Other than the service this is a nice laid back place to dine.
Review Source:This was a great place to eat after doing Koko Head Stairs :) They offer all kinds of food from pizza to salads to sandwiches to actual entrees. I had the Turkey Club sandwich, YUMMY! It had this great mustard on it with avocado aioli. Service was fine and restaurant was clean. Thank you! Will come back soon :)
Review Source:We did not have food as we already had a poke bowl meal at nearby Paina cafe. Â we just came in here to try the beer. Â I had the Castaway IPA and it was just okay, not the same IPA I'm accustomed to back in NorCal, i.e. Russian River Brewery, so that might not be fair comparison. Â The atmosphere is just okay, I wish they took advantage of it being in Hawaii, it was dark in the bar area.
Review Source:My husband and I had a really nice lunch here.
We were sat by the water, but ended up moving because we were getting wet from the rain outside.
We had a pretty good waitress, she checked on us often, but never refilled the water glasses.
It was a little pricy for lunch, but I'm sure we would return.
Five years ago I lived in Hawaii Kai and was a regular at KBC. Â Since moving to Honolulu I have dined there only a time or two each year when mainland friends are visiting and we are returning from windward side sightseeing. Â Each visit has gotten worse and yesterday's has convinced me that I will no longer be going back. The point is that yesterday's experience was not a single event. Â The place over the last few years has gone from decent/mediocre five years ago to a status where I won't be going back. Â
Even though there were a number of open tables my friend and I were sat at the table at the entrance to the men's restroom in the very back of the restaurant.  There was a gentleman with three little kids sitting at the table next to us.  Since, his kids were so "active" he had moved his food and drink onto our table.  When the hostess was about to seat us he removed his plate, leaving the remnants of his meal and drink on the table (crumbs and drink) and the hostess simply sat us and was gone without cleaning the table.  This table is situated such that every gentleman who goes to the restroom squeezes between where I was seated and the next table so I either got a butt in my face or a crotch in the face.  The gentleman on the other side of us (who had used our table as his) and the kids were doing exactly what 3 boys will do at this age.  Be loud, throw things, and move around a lot.  I am getting butt in face on one side and the antics of three little boys on the other side, while also seeing the hostess seat other parties at decent tables.  I pondered what to do for a short while.  I didn't want to embarrass the father so, when the waitress came I tried to quietly ask her if we could have a different table.  She asked why and I said "you" have sat us next to some rather rowdy young kids.  I used the term "you" meaning  Kona Brewing Co. and she as an employee of the establishment but, she definitely took offense to that and loudly said, "it wasn't me that sat you here!, I'll see what I can do".  She did sit us at a different table and then she sent the manager over to talk to me even though I had not asked to speak to him.  While, explaining what had happened he interjected that he knew who the gentleman with the kids was and he had on more than one occasion had had too much to drink, been obnoxious, had to be cut off and asked to leave.  So, not only did they seat us at the worst table in the joint when others were available, next to three rowdy kids, it was also next to a freak they knew had caused trouble multiple times in the past.  $35 for a pizza, one beer, one ginger aid (non-alcoholic) drink.  Yes, it is one of the only "shows in town" for "local" beers.  But, for me the negative experiences have now far outweighed a water view table in Hawaii Kai (that water view is only if they don't put you at the corner table where you instead have a view of butts and crotches of gentleman on the way to relieve themselves).
The hostess sat us at the worst table in the place even though others were available and the table was dirty (She had to wait for the guy next to us to move his dirty dishes before she sat us at the table). Â The waitress copped an attitude even though I was trying, without embarrassing anyone, ask for a different table. Â Other than her attitude, she was adequate, I'll give her that. Â The manager, I guess made an attempt at letting me know I was entirely justified for not wanting to sit next to someone who is frequently drunk and belligerent in his establishment. Â But, I don't need someone to do that. Â I can figure that out on my own. Â You can read about the food and beer in all the other reviews.
My friends and I went in for lunch. Â The service left much to be desired. Â It took over 30 minutes for the two people who ordered appetizers to arrive. Â The entrees took nearly 90 minutes. Â I don't blame the waitress; she had a lot of tables to take care off. Â The management should consider hiring more wait staff. Â It took almost 3 hours for our lunch experience to be over. Â I won't be going back anytime soon.
Review Source:What do you do after hiking 1000ft at Koko crater trail?? Well you go to Kona for a beer to reward yourself! Needless to say I was tired, and sweaty and found a seat at the bar for a good beer. The bartender was super friendly and let us try a few beers before we decided. I ordered the IPA and my wife ordered the wheat. Both were great. We also ordered a half strawberry salad with chicken. Was real good but took a while because the restaurant was so busy. I'm a big fan of Kona beer and wish I could get more selection back home in AZ!
Review Source:We stopped in for drinks and sandwiches after hiking Mariner's Ridge (yes, we're trespassers!). Â Service was quick, drinks were cold, and the sandwiches were great. Â My favorite is the roasted portabella on focaccia. Everyone else loved the fish tacos. And the green papaya slaw is a nice twist. Â We didn't try any beers, though the list was tempting. Â It's a very open space on the water in the marina.
Review Source:What the h3L! happened to Kona Brewing Co? This used to be my spot when I lived in Hawaii two years ago! I would go here several times a year to celebrate my birthday, anniversary or just when I was craving some good pizza! I brought all my out of town guests here as well!
I went here a few weeks ago on a visit back to Hawaii. I was so excited to be back, as I had so many great memories of this place! My margarita was so tasteless, I had to send it back, only for it to be replaced with one that was not much better. I let that slide ... then the pizza came out. It was a disgusting mess! The crust was half-done and doughy! I do not remember KBC being so horrible! Did they undergo new management or something because they need to hurry up and call the old management and get back to basics ... quick and in that order!
This is a tough one....
Beer is fantastic... Â Pizza is pretty good... service is spotty.
The girls doing the seating should probably be fired. Â The staff of kids are all flirting with each other and not caring about their jobs which is a bit of a theme in HI. Â I would go back, but set the bar low for service.
I want to write a good review, I really do. But my first experience at the Kona Brewing Company wasn't the best.
The plus is that they were very accommodating when we wanted to change seats. We were first placed outside but it was very windy, and with wind comes cold. So it was too cold. They changed us to a table inside, next to a window. Ironic we thought because it was still windy ... but ended up not being quite as cold.
So why the low rating? I guess I just expected more from this place. Yes, I'm sure their beers are awesome but nothing I could try. Their menu items looked great, if they would have had it all.
My company all ordered drinks and got them before (talking about 10 minutes) before I got my soft drink. Even though she said three times, "I'll get your drink" or "your drink is coming up". Yeah? When? When she asked my company how they liked their drinks I answered "It's delicious, taste a little like air". After that I had my drink in two seconds.
How about the food then? Well, the food was good. Everyone was happy. Except for those that ordered pot rost or meatloaf. They were both out. Waitress didn't know but ended up coming back two times to tell us. I'm not saying anything about being out of food because those two especially you make for those days. BUT when you do run out let the staff know instead of having them order, find out and go back to the table. TWICE.
She went MIA when my company then wanted to order more drinks for the food. So they started giving their order to the person who brought up their food when she suddenly popped up and they unhappily had to repeat their orders.
Like I mentioned, I wanted to write a good review. I expected more from this place. I'm sure that sitting down on a calm (wind free!!) evening and enjoying a beer here is really nice, but dinner seemed .. okay.
I don't think I'll take people here again, not unless they find it on their own and really really really want to go. Then maybe.
Pretty decent restaurant. Why I come here, though, is the bar. Really like the variety of KBC brews on tap, plus it's on the marina. Can't really go wrong with a good variety of brews on the water. Food is all right, but there are other places to eat in the area that offer better grub - come for the beer!
Review Source:I would personally recommend the chili bread-bowl (but then again, i'm a sucker for bread-bowls!) Â If you do decide to get the Chili, I will warn that it had a bit of a kick to it. Â I got a caesar salad on the side, but it almost tasted like those prepackaged ones that you get from the grocery store. Beer wise, I enjoy the Dukes blonde ale, it's light, refreshing and crisp. Â I gave it a 3 star rating though because of the price point, I understand it's looking out the marina, but it was still a decently priced meal for what it was. Â Let's put it this way though, I live in Hawaii, so I probably won't go unless I was someone who's visiting to have a nice view. Â Should you go if you're a tourist on vacation? Totally ! Â Just be sure to have a DD and try the beers !
Review Source:This is one of the best places to eat in East Honolulu. My husband and I are regulars for several reasons!
I mean, the BEER--hello! So good. We're big fans of well-crafted micro brews, and of course, Kona Brewing Co beers are exceptional.
The main reason we started coming here was the beer, and the secondary reason that makes us keep returning is because of our dog, Max. What the heck would a dog have to do with Kona Brewing Company, you ask?
Well, basically, KBC loves Max and Max loves KBC. The patio in front of the restaurant is dog friendly. There's enough tables with enough seats and the umbrellas provide just the perfect amount of shade on those crazy sunny days. Max is always comfortable there. Secondly, the staff are all dog lovers, so they always come by and say hello and bestow friendship on our big teddy bear of a dog, as well as bring him some nice cold water. The fact that most of the staff has gotten to know Max by sight (if not by name) is pretty awesome. They've also gotten to know us a bit because of Max.
The food is pretty darn good, even for us rabbits (vegetarians). My husband, who is vegan, is also able to find some options on the menu as well. Though the vegan fare is more limited, the choices we do have are pretty delicious and really filling. He usually orders the hummous/pita plate without the feta, or he gets the strawberry spinach salad with the seared tofu. I'm a pescetarian, so I often order the fish tacos with rice pilaf, but on the days I'm feeling adventurous and want some serious comfort chow, I'll order a pizza. I'm not going to break down which of the pizzas are the best. They're all good, especially if you're a carnivore.
All the pupus are delicious, of course. And the beer menu is unrivaled in its sheer awesomeness. My favorite is the Wailua Wheat--a nice light beer with a subtle essence of lilikoi (passion fruit).
There is also a gluten-free menu with two gluten-free beer options by Omission: a lager and a blonde ale. Both beers are pretty good, even if not as tasty as the Wailua Wheat or the rest of the KBC line up. If you're sensitive to gluten, the menu options are pretty good. Plus there's beer you can drink--pretty winning if you ask me.
You don't need a reservation. You can make one, but my husband and I never have, even when it's busy, we are able to get seated pretty quickly as walk-ins. We've never ever had a problem with bringing Max. There are sometimes several families with dogs on the patio and there's never been a problem.
The pricing is moderate. It's not cheap, but it's not super pricey either. The atmosphere is always friendly with a good energy. Thursday through Saturday, they usually have some kind of live music inside next to the bar, which you can hear all the way out to the patio. And bonus, unlike some places in Honolulu, KBC actually takes credit cards. Awesome!
Parking: during peak hours, can be tricky--lot is shared with the rest of the shopping center and is next to 24 Hour Fitness and Jamba Juice.
Hours: decent. 11AM - 10PM, 7 Days a week.
Bonus: Free Wifi for those compulsive Instagrammers, Yelpers and Facebookers among us.
I've never had a bad experience here. As creatures of habit, my husband and I love coming to this place over and over and ordering the same things over and over again. If you always have a good time and enjoy yourself at a place, why not repeat that time after time? If something ain't broke... just sayin'!
We're slowly getting to know the servers names as time goes on, so I'm giving a special shout out to Amber (our usual server by good fortune!) and Doc, who always go out of their way to make us feel at ease and welcome.
In summary: Love this place.
I have to be honest. Â I didn't have high hopes for my recent trip to the Kona Brewing Company. Â It had been about a year between my most recent visit and my last visit, and I am glad to say that my expectations were way off.
I came here with my wife on a Saturday night at 7pm - we didn't have a reservation. Â Not having a reservation didn't seem to matter as we got a table in about five minutes. Â The restaurant itself is a very typical brew pub type atmosphere with ample bar space and lots of tables for dining. Â The walls are windows or open air above some docks on Kuapa Pond. Â The scenery is very peaceful and pleasant when enjoying a dinner around sunset.
In terms of the food and beer, this restaurant met expectations. Â The beer was very good, which I had known from the last time I was here. Â There are seasonal and other brews on tap that are not available in stores and anytime a restaurant or brewery has such an option, I am all over it. Â The seasonal ginger wheat beer and the Black Sand Porter were both excellent and I would highly recommend either one. Â As for the food, it was typical pub food. Â My wife and I shared some nachos for an appetizer. Â The small size was more than enough for two people. Â And I had the cubano sandwich for my meal. Â I had so many nachos that I could only eat about half of the sandwich. Â This is OK because I am a huge fan of leftovers for lunch.
Overall, the Kona Brewing Company does a great job of delivering on the beer front, average job of delivering on the food front, and a good job of delivering on the atmosphere front. Â I would recommend this restaurant to anyone in the mood for standard American bar food.
I love this place. Â Every time my wife an I go there it gets better and better. Â This latest time (yesterday) we brought two friends of ours visiting from the mainland. Â They now love this place too. Â Our waiter, whom I forget the name, (sorry) was absolutely the best. All we did was pupus, beer and iced tea. Â They brought us some skewered bacon-wrapped shrimp that was stuck into a small block of pineapple that was all delicious. Â We also had a salad of some sort that included strawberries (cool idea.). We also had the yummy roasted garlic. But the best part was the service. It was very very good, and all with a sincere smile and served with good humor.
Review Source:Beautiful location overlooking the marina. Â Being from Chicago, I'm a huge fan of beer and also a huge fan of all things from Hawaii. Â It was fun to order the sampler and try a few different beers--my favorite is the Big Wave Golden Ale. Â It was cool and refreshing on a sunny day.
I was very disappointed with the service and the food. Â First of all, it took at least 10-12 minutes for the server to greet us after being seated. Â Secondly, she was slow and unfriendly. Â The food was mediocre at best--we ordered garlic twists, fish tacos and the salad with the seasonal fish. Â Nothing to write home about. Â If I ever return, I'll come for the beer and just order an appetizer or two.
My boyfriend and I come here a lot since it is so close to where we live.
My favorite things to eat are: the roasted garlic, the quesadillas, the wings (buffalo-style), and the kohala pizza. Â The wings don't really taste like buffalo wings --my boyfriend is from buffalo--but we both still like them a lot.
I really enjoy the wailua wheat, and I also like to try the seasonal offerings. Â They recently had a port wine that was very good. Â
The location is very nice, and you can sit at a table that looks out on the marina.
I love this place for the atmosphere and the selection of draft beers. They also have a ton of other great drinks. The food has hefty portions, except for seafood items like the bacon wrapped shrimp. I wish the merchandise they sold was cheaper, but they have to make money off the tourists, but one day I'll fork over $30 for a KBC shirt.
There are plenty of place to eat in the area, but the tranquil view and relaxed vibe makes this place a favorite in my book.
Terrible service. Okay food. If you want to have a waiter that instead of greeting and delivering the check sweeps then this is your place. Took forever to get our drinks and she forgot about one and still charged us. The manager was nice enough to understand but still I probably won't be back.
Review Source:Kona Brewing Company is my go-to Hawai'i Kai restaurant. Â It's great after hiking at Kokohead Stairs/Makapu'u or after a swim at Hanauma Bay, or even for date night before a movie in the nearby theater.
On Saturday nights they have live Hawai'ian music and Blues. Â If you sit near the bar they usually have the game on.
I love how much cheese and garlic is on the menu. Â In fact, the roasted garlic is a tasty pupu and dirt cheap during happy hour to boot! Â The gourmet pizzas are great (especially the goat cheese with mushrooms), but my favorite is probably the Big Wave Shrimp melt. Â
Wash the food down with microbrews! Â I'm not a fan of their standard/seasonal IPA's, but the Pipeline Porter is a treat. Â You should also ask about their seasonal beers!
Okay food, okay beer, okay service. Â I'd still recommend going here, just don't have expectations too high (Maui Brewing is much better if you're on Maui!).
Their IPA isn't very good. It tasted slightly stale or oxidized when we were there. Â However the Wailua wheat, Pipeline porter, hefeweizen, and Black Rock porter are good.
The pizzas were recommended on Yelp but I was disappointed. The crust was soft and doughy, not crispy on the outside like a pizza cooked in a hot pizza oven.
Another good locals spot! GREAT happy hour! They have pizza rolls (9 total), garlic bread (8 total), & one other item that escapes me on the happy hour list. Sit at the bar if you want quick service during this happy hour otherwise it can take awhile. It took awhile even while sitting at the bar as it gets packed! Relaxed atmospher w/ a view of the water.
For 2 people w/ an app each (on the happy hour menu) & 2 beers each it was just about $20. I haven't tried the food outside of the happy hour, but eating & drinking for $10 is hard to come by, ESPECIALLY in Hawaii Kai! Good pre-gaming for sure! Def try all the beers as they have a sampler plater of beers, small tastes of goodness!
I'm a big fan of Kona Brewing. Â It has good food, great atmosphere, and when it's nice you simply cannot beat drinking a nice cold glass of Wailua Wheat next to the water.
Here are some secrets that I haven't seen mentioned in other reviews:
* check out the specials on the board as you walk in - they have a pizza/soup of the day so see what's good
* ask your server what the seasonal beers on tap are - I enjoy the coco loco and the barley wine anytime they have those on tap - otherwise they have a great selection of "standard" beers like Wailua Wheat, Longboard Lager, Black Sand Porter, that are great. Â Which leads me to...
* they have a great beer sampler so if it's your first time go for it!
* they have live music some evenings it's great local music but the bands can get pretty loud (or maybe I'm just getting old) if you plan on having actual conversations you may want to ask to sit farther away from the "bar" area
* pets are allowed in the front outside dining area - my dogs are not the most sociable animals but I love seeing other people's dogs.
Lots of other reviews talk about the pizzas, sandwiches, etc. Â The meal I love best is the pizza slice and a salad. Â You can get a slice of plan, pepperoni, or the slice of the day (see secret #1) and a salad. Â I love the strawberry spinach salad. Â It's a good meal at a good price and it definitely leaves room for dessert. Â Sometimes my wife and I will split a large strawberry spinach salad and get an order of pepperoni rolls. Â Those are sinfully yummy!
Leave room for dessert and prepare to share!
Good food and even better beer! Â The location is a bit out of the way but is worth the trek. Â I definitely suggest going for happy hour, the beer is the only worthwhile part of that. Â But for me the beer is what I'm looking for. Â The place has never been crowded and we've gotten great seats each time. Â The offer a terrific flight which is the best way to experience the offerings. Â When there I like the Duke's Blonde Ale...I know, I know, its a lighter beer. However I can drink a few and feel pretty happy about life :) Â My boyfriend goes for the Lava Man red and its quickly becoming his favorite. Â
The beer names are great as are the labels (another good reason to order a flight is to see their nifty placemat which shows the locations that inspired each beer). Â The service has been efficient and friendly.
They have some great pizza selections and to be honest a lot of the food sounds great too. Â Last visit I had the french dip and it was delicious. Â More food to try and I am more than up to that task!
Fun tip: Â as you drain you glass look at the bottom. Â Can you see the islands etched into it? Â Not all have this but its great when you find one! Â They have some fun looking merchandise and I've been considering it for future gifts - my family on the mainland loves their brews. Â However I haven't checked into their prices so stayed tuned for that.
In this same area is a movie theater, making this location great for a dinner and movie combo. Â So head over for happy hour and then see the latest release. Â Plenty of time to enjoy some beers and be ready to drive home by the time the movie ends!
Kona Brewing Company is one of my favorite places to hit up when I'm in Hawaii Kai. Â Maybe it's the smooth Wailua Wheat on draft that calls to me (love this easy drinking beer brewed with passionfruit) or perhaps just the promise of good food watching the waves lap up in the marina...I don't know what it is but I wish I was there now. Â
If I could teleport myself there, I'd be eating the most delicious baked garlic with such ferver you'd think a vampire was waiting out in front of the restaurant to bite me. Â I'd be smashing that soft, pungent clove onto my tiny slice of sourdough, smothering with that gorgonzola sauce then shoveling....repeat repeat repeat. Â I'd also be eating those kahlua pork nachos loaded with meat, cheese and all the fixings. Â And maybe I'd be eating those while waiting for my pizza to arrive.
If it was Friday or Saturday night, I'd be able to hear live music in the bar. And if it was happy hour time, I'd be scoring a great deal while I ingested worthwhile calories that melt my heart (and my stomach). Â Ahhh, Kona Brewing Company...what a lovely time, but instead I'll just sit here at my computer in Nor Cal's 40ish degree weather!
Yelp 100 Challenge: Review #16/100
My friends lived in Hawaii Kai and took me to Kona Brewing Co. on my first night on the island. I loved blonde beers and my friend suggested the Wailua Wheat which is infused with passion fruit. LOVED it. I debated between the Big Shrimp Melt and the Macadamia Crusted Fish of the Day entree. Both had my mouth watering but I chose to go for the cheaper option of the Big Shrimp Melt with kettle chips. The sandwich was delicious. Jumbo shrimp with melted cheese, spinach, and topped with avocado aioli.
The customer service was awesome  (the manager even gave us free beer tickets when we had a question about our receipt) and the atmosphere for a Saturday night was chill. Highly recommend.
When people ask me to describe my background, after internally laughing my ass off at such a vast exercise, I tend to say I'm from Portland-by-way-of-Hawaii-by-way-of-Northern-ÂCalifornia. It's not an easy spot to find on a map, but it's the best answer I can come up with to the "where I'm from" question. Likewise, I became a fan of the Kona Brewing Company brand, but I had never tried it until living in Portland. But I will say that the Wailua Wheat is one of the greatest beers to drink on a hot day, preferably by a body of water, whether's it's the Pacific Ocean or a small creek off the Sandy River. The Big Wave Golden Ale is also really pleasing.
How I wish I could muster up the same enthusiasm for the KBC location near my parents' home in Hawaii Kai (same parents as Kate V, not a coincidence). In fact, the last time Crime Partner and I went to see the folks, we all had dinner at the Greek Marina in the same shopping center. My parents love that shopping center. But when I said that we would stick around to have a beer or two at the Kona Brewing Company next door, my mom was basically like, "Ehhhhh."
As it happens, ehhhhh is pretty dead-on. The beer is not the issue. We ended up getting a beer sample platter each and, as is often the case with beer samples, there were some we liked and some we did not. And you can get over the mostly sterile and generic upscale local-kine brewpub ambiance, especially if you're the only daughter currently on the island and your mom has offered to give you a ride home so you don't have to drive (thanks, Mom!). But the service is so non-existent after the initial ordering process that you begin to think you're being , bless your wayward heart, a pushy mainland tourist by asking about things like bills or water. It's odd and sets a rather cool tone for a place that should be super laid-back. It's beers! In Hawaii!
I'm only giving 2 starts because I liked the beer and the nice view.
Decided to have dinner there last weekend, while visiting Honolulu. My boyfriend ordered the beer sample and I ordered the ginger ale drink, but I had to request something else because it was too strong for my taste. The menu doesn't have enough variety for my taste. We decided to get wings and kalua pork quesadilla. The wings were just average, nothing special at all. I had better in Honolulu and in the mainland. The kalua pork quesadilla wasn't even a quesadilla, instead of flour tortilla they used pizza dough, put cheese and the pork tasted unseasoned. It totally sucked. Taco bell's kalua pork quesadilla tasted better!
Although they have a nice view outside, and the whole atmosphere of the restaurant is nice. The food is definitely a minus to this place.
However, I did like the beer, and so my boyfriend.
If we ever come back, we'll make sure we don't eat there, just drink.
I go here often to watch a friend of mine play music so I feel compelled to provide a review. Â Quite frankly, Â if it wasn't for that, I don't think I'd go here as much. Â
Starting off with the food. Â The food is decent. Â They serve an assortment of burgers, sandwiches, pizzas and appetizers. Â I like the Hanama Bay Hummus - they make their own hummus and it shows - its very tasty. Â My family often orders a pizza - the captain cook, I believe. Â Meh . . I've had better pizza (see my review for Harbor Pub). Â My son usually orders his meal from the appetizer menu. Â The portions are big enough to be a meal, so that's definitely a good thing!
Now, the beers are pretty good. Â I'm not a big beer drinker, so when I drink beer, it has to be . . . well, unique. They have seasonal brews which I have grown pretty fond of. Â They had a lemongrass one that was pretty good. Â The Barley Wine brew packs a wallop, and I believe they limit you to only 2 since the alcohol content is so high. Â For their standard beers, my hubs loves the Lavaman, which is a red ale and I opt for the Koko Brown which has a hint of coconut. I don't like coconut, but for some strange reason, I like this beer. Â Its good. Â
As for the service, I have to say, its just not consistent. Sometimes you get stellar service and other times it sucks. Â We had one very unacceptable experience, where our waiter had his friends there he was serving only them, and we were completely ignored. Â Had to bring it to manager's attention and she took care of us (we got a round of drinks on the house and she had another server take care of us). So they do take care of you if you bring the poor service to their attention.
The atmosphere is pretty good. Nice view and pretty clean. Sometimes gets hot in there, because its open air, so dress accordingly.
Kona Brewing Company is one of my favorites on the main land, so you can only imagine that I was more than excited to go there for lunch after our trip to Hanauma Bay. Â We took a seat outside on the water, which is a boating dock. I was almost too excited to try my favorites on tap, but wasn't even prepared for the food.
I had a really hard time not wanting to order my favorite beers, but I am all about trying new ones - so to settle that, we both ordered a beer sampler. Some favorites, some new ones, some mixed beers - yes they mix them up for the perfect combination of sweet vs. hops. Â <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fgoo.gl%2F8O2Qp&s=6c19ada29e33cb44ee2389f2aac7de29483f4421a42620a378277eb89ff5d646" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://goo.gl/8O2Qp</a>
Me and my honey like to share dishes, so we settled on the bacon wrapped shrimp and the Imu Pork Sandwich with coleslaw. The Bacon Wrapped Shrimp were not only beautiful, but very good. <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fgoo.gl%2FwHLiI&s=bf205bca8a842982a5a243333a667c7dce9cf32d333e907c25cdf21a99ce2b5b" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://goo.gl/wHLiI</a> Â A sculpture we happily took down and devoured. The Imu Pork is a Kaluha pulled Pork Sandwich on a soft bun with melted cheese. <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fgoo.gl%2FOZBIr&s=839143b61918959dd7af04bb7fa550dd0f2d2a3381041b789f1fd2557a84329e" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://goo.gl/OZBIr</a>
Although this is all I had at Kona, he came back again and had a couple other things on the menu that looked amazing. It is one thing to have great local beer, but the food and view put this place over the top and that's why Kona Brewing Company is about as good as it gets.
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