Mahina Cafe
82-6123 Mamalahoa Hwy, Captain Cook, HI, 96704
Mahina Cafe Menu
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Address :
82-6123 Mamalahoa Hwy
Captain Cook, HI, 96704 - Phone (808) 323-3200
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :7:00 am - 3:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Breakfast
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Kristin S.
After a few hours of snorkeling in the Honaunau Bay, this was the lunch we were looking for! They served us fresh malassadas which were very good and unexpected. My boyfriend got the Portuguese bean soup with homemade focaccia bread while I ordered the panko crusted chicken with salad and rice. The food was so fresh and delicious! Also, the waitress was so friendly which made it an overall great experience.
(5)Katie B.
Found this place through a referral of a local. Breakfast was absolutely amazing and the service was greats. Family owned and food cooked fresh. I highly recommend this to anybody looking for an amazing meal.
(5)Everett H.
Food was very good! Atmosphere was good, waitress was accommodating! Would recommend this place for 1-6 people. Not that big on the inside or outside which made for a very nice dining experience.
(5)Jannet F.
Amazing find! Super casual, farm to table well prepared and amazing food! Amazing! Absolutely the best chef salad I have ever ever had! We all shared lilikoi cheesecake for dessert and it was fresh and homemade. Best ever. The owner and her daughters run this gem and need to be recognized for their talents. Not a fancy place, but super clean, friendly and great casual food. Would definitely go back!!!
(5)Don F.
We ate breakfast here and really enjoyed the small place. Good loco moco and good coffee. Great service and interesting selections of baked goods to choose from. We got free refills on the coffee. We got a few of the bars to eat during the day and they were great.
(5)Mari C.
We had the Hawaiian plate. I found the laulau to be too fatty and the other meat to be a bit tough. The bread was to die for, and my daughter enjoyed the Portuguese bean soup.
(3)Steve K.
I don't get up mauka as much as I'd like, but had a reason to be up to take some photos early in the morning. My wife and I stopped on the way down the hill, and we were happy that we did. Our friendly server brought out a malasada as we waited for breakfast. Fortunately I had not ordered coffee or I might have just sat there eating malasadas and drinking coffee all day. My wife had pancakes with bacon that were quite good, and I had a loco moco that was your typical loco moco, with the grass fed burger and gravy, sauteed onions. We spent 20 bucks on breakfast and left happy. This is not a location to go to for a view, but I enjoyed the friendly service and neat, clean interior. I was really pleased to find this place thanks to the yelpers who liked it here. I agree and will be back.
(4)Mike T.
Came here for a late lunch after snorkeling near City of Refuge. Everything we ate was great and she gave us free malasadas while we waited. I had the ham panini and fries, my wife had the stuffed French toast, and my daughter had the chicken katsu. We will definitely come back again! We have tried three restaurants in the area from Yelp reviews and this was by far the best one. Fresh food with excellent flavors! I wish they were open for dinner.
(5)Nat W.
My mom and I stopped by for late lunch after Greenwell's coffee tour. I did not look this place up on yelp beforehand but it turned out to be great! The server is very friendly :) They have reasonable menus and use fresh local products. My avocado sandwich was great...filled with avocado and other veggies and their bread is amazing. I was bummed that they were out of malasadas :( I would recommend this place for reasonable and delicious breakfast and lunch.
(4)Tom L.
We have eaten at this small locally owned place several times. The place is clean, comfortable, reasonably priced and the food is fresh and tasty. They often give a free taste of fresh malasadas as you sit down. Wait staff are friendly and attentive. I heartily recommend their fresh fish sandwich or plate lunch, but you almost can't go wrong with anything on the menu.
(5)M K.
Great service. Food was nicely prepared. But despite the menu mentioning freshly baked items, the fish sandwich and hamburgers were on rolls I would have expected at McDonalds!
(3)Nancy Z.
My husband and I stopped in for lunch shortly after Mahina first opened. We had a turkey pesto sandwich on their homemade foccia bread. The sandwich was a nice size and came with a small salad on the plate. I should have stopped at half but just didn't have the will. Yep, I ate the whole thing. It was delicious. The only drawback at the time was the slow service. Aside from another party of two, we were the only ones there. Mom was sitting at the counter holding the grandbaby while the daughter was working the room and the cook was in the kitchen area. Mom and daughter were chatting while my hypoglycemic husband started getting a little crabby. He wasn't the most polite when he asked if we could have some service....the type of thing that makes me nervous when eating out. Anyway, the daughter was very nice but my husband was not inclined to return. We've driven by Mahina's numerous times since and have been unable to figure out when they're open and when they're closed. I think they've been trying to figure out a schedule which makes sense economically. We were told they have regular hours and are now open for dinner Friday through Monday. That said, we went to Mahina's for our most recent girls' night out. As with my last visit, aside from another table of four, we were the only patrons. Service was much improved. We each ordered something different - Portuguese soup/salad, vegetarian chili/salad, miso soup, fresh fish sandwich, and a side of focacia bread. Everything was fresh and yummy. They brought us a complimentary platter of malasadas....yum. We also split a lilikoi cupcake...meh. We really enjoyed our meal. The prices were reasonable. The food really good and fresh. Really nice presentation. The road noise can be a bit much, but there's nothing they can do about that. Mahina's seems to be hitting their stride. I hope their business picks up.
(4)Debbie B.
Enjoyed coffee and breakfast before heading to the Captain Cook hike. Staff gave us great tips and directions. The food is delicious and we will definitely be coming back! Thank you!
(5)Frank S.
Came here on a Monday night when my nearby hotel (the Manago Hotel) restaurant was closed. I ordered the fresh catch of the day, which was ono, and it came with 2 rice balls and a salad. It was quite good and fresh. I also ordered a cup of the Portuguese Soup, and it was EXCELLENT! A bowl of this with some of the house-made baked bread and you will be full and content. Try it and you will find a great, inexpensive meal. The service is also very friendly, but not to pushy. All in all, delicious food and a comfortable setting. Dinner is only Fri - Mon, 5-9 PM. I guess the main attraction is actually breakfast and lunch. Note: This is one of the few places on the Big Island making malasadas; grab them when you can.
(5)Natasha B.
This was exactly what we were looking for! The food was great and the conversation, with the owner, was very pleasant. Very nice lady She gave us a little history lesson of the area and the island. We had a great time.
(4)Sandi C.
We stopped in this restaurant for lunch based on the yelp reviews. There are times when yelp reviews are reliable and other times, not so much. Our experience is that this restaurant is not good. We had the combo plates and nothing tasted good. It's hard to believe that we paid almost $20 for our subpar lunches but that's what happened, .
(1)Robin V.
My husband and I went here shortly before closing time- Everything is local and fresh The fish was amazing, the house vinaigrette so good, the house made bread on paninis and fresh fruit that came alongside a meal was delicious, coffee was great too. The free malassadas are heavenly I would eat them for breakfast everyday if I could :) The service was phenomenal, would definitely recommend you stop here on your way out or in to Kona Town. Easily one of my favorite spots I've found on the island so far!
(5)David N.
Had lunch here earlier today - service was good and the food was okay, but it wasn't as amazing as a lot of these five-star reviews make it sound. I had the loco moco and my wife had the Portuguese bean soup. The gravy for my moco loco tasted like it had come from a packet, and the burger was overcooked, dry, and tough to the point that I struggled to cut through it. The over-easy egg was perfectly cooked though, and the bean soup was very good. It may have been that I picked the wrong thing with getting the loco moco, but I can only review based on what I had, which was only okay.
(3)Bob F.
Went here after touring city of refuge. Wonderful! Lovely people. Fresh and homemade and delicious food. . Fish sandwich on homemade bun. The lilllikoi cheesecake was amazing. Mahalo!
(5)Sandy C.
Mahina Cafe is the next best thing to home cooking & feels like family anytime we stop by! Mahalo to Lianne & her girls for stirring up some of the best meals in town!
(5)Christian C.
We made it just in time before the breakfast rush. Selection was great and I loved that they used local ingredients for their food. I ordered the Hawaiian plate for breakfast and it was a deal for the price you pay. I left with a happy belly.
(5)Grace H.
A very charming cafe owe and run by two sisters who were born and bred in the area. I only had coffee and pastry and they were lovely. We had a lovely discussion of the famous local MMA fighter of BJ Penn and how locals feel about the big five American companies which donated the production of some agricultural products. Aside, the deco is funky and cheerful. Coffee is cheap with free refill. The pastries is very nicely done, all house made. I wish I had the chance to have lunch there. It closes rather early like 4:30 pm or 5 pm. So don't go there fore dinner........
(4)Nina R.
Wow! This family restaurant is awesome! The perfectly balanced cinnamon rolls taste perfect with tea or coffee and have a doughy pull and chew! These malasadas are hot and wonderful. Get a half dozen. I ate the Japanese breakfast and my bf ate the Mac nut pancakes. I enjoyed the savory Japanese flavors. He liked his pancakes and thought the coconut and macadamia flavors were excellent. This place is a great spot!
(5)CL P.
I once ate a fluffy short stack It was topped with nuts of Mac And when I dug in My head started to spin The haupia was as tasty as crack! Got the pancakes with Mac nuts and haupia ($9.50). The pancakes were huge! (More to share!). The nuts gave a good contrasting crunch. And while I'd prefer my haupia a tad bit less sweet, I wouldn't let that deter me from ordering this again! The loco moco and chicken katsu are also best with the gravy. Also- the owner is incredibly friendly!
(4)Mo K.
My wife found this place on yelp while searching for a place that served malassadas, boy are we glad we came here. Everything we ordered was excellent, service was great and those malassadas just sealed the deal. We are definitely going back before leaving the big island.
(5)Alan B.
Good food Grass fed burger is always a thumbs up Tasty Malasadas Nice family runs this place ..helpful guides to island
(5)Alissa C.
Oh my gosh I am so sad, today is my last day here in Kona and my last meal at Mahina. Locally owned friendly staff, like genuinely friendly and helpful this place is a must go for breakfast on the Island. The Malassadas...forgive the spelling, are delicious. When you sit down and wait for your order they give a complimentary one to nosh on. Warm doughy and sweet balls of goodness. Half a dozen to go is just five bucks. The loco moco is awesome, pancakes and Portuguese sausage, I am licking my teeth still they tasted so good. Way to go Mahina! I wish you were in Oakland.
(5)Joshua W.
This place is great.. Awesome Loco Moto, very well priced..cinnamon rolls made from scratch out of the oven and very nice people
(5)S K.
Excellent food....nice people...fresh baked bread. Fairly priced. One of best meals I had on the Big Island
(5)Chris R.
The Portuguese bean soup was fantatic, and Mahina serves the best fish sandwich I've ever had. Full stop. We would have eaten here again, but it was closed on New Year's day. Guess we'll have to make a return trip to Kona!
(5)S R.
Fantastic meal. Family run. It's like you're in Mom's kitchen. The pork is delicious I had the pulled pork with cabbage. My wife had the Hawaiian plate/sampler - one of the items was a cured beef that could have been bacon; another was pork wrapped in taro leaves. All delicious! And if they have the mango cheesecake, you have to try it as the crust is made with buttery macadamia nuts.
(5)Michelle T.
Staff were nice and helpful with giving directions. They were so pleasant. I knew that we were running late, so we didn't sit to eat. We just grab a cup of coffee & malasadas and then hit the road. Well, actually.....we slowly walked to the car to eat a malasada before getting in the car. Then we hit the road.
(4)Crissy K.
I adore Mahina Cafe. I think I could easily get addicted to their chips and salsa. The employees are always so patient and sweet.
(5)John D.
We ate breakfast at this place 2 or 3 days in a row on our visit to the Big Island. I ate some regular breakfasty things and also tried some traditional Hawaiian dishes. It was all very, very good. It's very clean and has some beautiful Hawaiian art on the walls. Best of all: it's a small family operation... very friendly. These people know hospitality!
(4)Sheila C.
We were on our way site seeing and were looking for a breakfast place. Along the stretch od road, we were on there were not many options and I was getting very hungry! We finally drove by this and another restaurant, but this one won out. Best breakfast on our vacation! A local diner, serving local Hawaiian food that was very fresh and service very friendly. Though it is typical Hawaiian, not fast paced, take it easy attitude. We finally got to try the malasadas, which were very yummy and fresh! Their french toast is to die for and their spam musubi was delicious as well. My husband ordered the typical egg breakfast, you can't go wrong with that. Great local place!
(4)Audrey C.
Serving breakfast all day, we decided to stop at lunch time for breakfast food. Great choice! The homemade biscuits and gravy were the best I've had in Hawaii! Even better than a restaurant specializing in southern cooking. You even get a free malasada!
(5)Dawn S.
This might possibly be the best piece of fish I have had on a fish sandwich. Ever. Waitress, who was was super sweet, said it was sashimi grade ahi! Their buns are homemade. Potato salad was Ono! My husband had the Portuguese bean soup which he said was delicious. This is in an old KFC drive-through building. But highly recommend for lunch!
(5)Aimara F.
Small and informal place with friendly staff and tasty food. I had the spam musubi and chicken katsu, very good. We were also served complimentary Portuguese sweet bread. Good experience!
(3)Mitch T.
Looking for malasada's? They got it here in Captain Cook, and it's delicious!! Stopped by Mahina Cafe for the first time, for breakfast and boy am I glad we stopped. Only problem is, we couldn't stop eating. I had the loco moco, my daughter had the pancakes, and my wife, the banana pancakes. They even give you a free malasada, too! D-e-l-i-c-i-o-u-s! We also had a piece of their Strawberry cake, then it was off to bed---again! True Polynesian Paralysis!
(4)Pamela W.
I hadn't been in to Mahina's for quite some time, so I was very pleased to see the new menu with all of the local products. I decided to try their fish and chips and was delighted with both. The batter on the fish was light, the fish itself was moist and tender, and the shoestring potatoes were crisp. My friend had the BLT with ripe red local tomatoes and the homemade focaccia bread. A nice lunch for just under $25.
(4)Revan L.
This place is amazing!!! the service is even more amazing !!!!!! lilakoi cheesecake IS THE BEST CHEESECAKE a lot of us have ever had before. We went back a few days later and ordered a whole one (can't beat the $25 ) . It is seriously better than the cheesecake factory's frozen cheesecakes (which are usually pretty awesome). The service at Mahina Cafe is so impeccable also. I forget our servers name and who also helped us with our take out order + cheesecake a few days later but it was the same sweet girl who is overall such a friendly face and smile and makes you feel beyond welcomed and if you have to ask for anything you may have forgotten instead of seeming annoyed she just smiles and does such a kick A job!!! this place will be in business forever not just because the food and dessert is so amazing, but because their customer service also reflects on the complete experience you know you're always going to have at Mahina. **UPDATE went back again and the server who is amazing is Neeka. she is the BEST waitress we have ever had, always smiles and happy to help. Goes the extra mile.
(5)Dwight H.
Family run place with true Hawaiian aloha, we had a wonderful breakfast and great conversation with the owner and her daughter while enjoying their tasty breakfast. I asked the owner about the list of pies you can order (24 hours in advance) and next year I'm definitely doing it. The thought of a fresh island pie topped with Tropical Dreams Ice Cream, now that is some serious vacation dessert, after 51 weeks of being good and careful. Why 4 stars and not 5? Blame Pat of Patz Pies fame. His filled malasadas from years back set the bar so high that the very good, but unfilled, ones here can't quite reach that bar. Pat's legendary lillikoi cream filling has never been equaled. How's that for a quibble? The real rating would be 4.5 stars.
(4)Eric D.
We found this place at the bottom of the mountain we were lodging at last week in Captain Cook. Right away we felt welcomed. They make great malasadas (think beignets on Hawai'i). They were out of malasadas the first morning we were there and our server said they would be making more and we mentioned coming back after snorkeling to pick them up. They closed at three on Sunday and we got there about 10 before and she had saved us some. The food is very good local whole food fare. They had a soy b'fast 'sausage'. The cafe is covered in beautiful artwork made of sand and reeds. This place has a friendly and welcoming spirit and was a great find. Cheers Lianne and daughters for creating such a super spot.
(5)Jane H.
When you are driving around Hawaii at night and your phone is dead, and you are hungry, but it is almost 9PM, you had better find a stop to eat, and fast. Situated right off the highway, this place was easy to find, and our hunger finally said, STOP NOW! We were glad we did! They had pretty good food, I loved the soups they had. They offered great bread as a start for our meal. It was so tasty and the butter was SO good. Sister said the bread bowl to her soup was more of a vessel than bread, but the clam chowder was amazing. I think we were all satisfied by this pit-stop. The place was a little cold with the air conditioning, but the decor was charming. I loved the sand created wall decorations all over the place. Amazing. The service was quick and polite -- the way I like it!
(4)Omayra O.
SO DELICIOUS! Malsadas (portugese donuts) are dang good! If you are lucky they will give you a free malasada with your meal. Every meal we ate here was great and we visited often. My boyfriend is a big coffee drinker, he loves their coffee and also that they give you free refills. My personal favorite was the Portuguese Bean Soup. I love beans and the soup has huge chunks of Portuguese sausage and comes with two scoops of rice. Apparently it's an old family recipe that they cook for two days! I also loved their spam musubi. Not all spam musubies are created equal! My boyfriend's favorite was the french toast. The service was top notch too. It's so nice that it is family owned and operated.
(5)Sarah S.
Mahina's Cafe is one of our "go to" places and probably my favorite local spot. They really have great local Hawaiian food that is always fresh, well prepared and served with a smile. The owner and staff are so friendly. They have always brought out things for us to try just because. "Hey I made a fresh batch of guacamole, wanna try it?" HELL YEAH! Their malasadas are an early morning treat. The drive thru window is a god send when I need coffee before I sit in the morning commute traffic.
(5)Chris S.
Some of the best French toast I've had. Everything was awesome and the service was fantastic.
(5)Mary M.
This is a great little family run restaurant. We loved the complimentary malasada's and the wonderful friendly service.
(5)Maggie C.
Everything about this place just feels good! Love the name (Hawaiian moon glow) the feeling of aloha as you enter, service with a smile, the great tasting food, honest value, excellent presentation, clean open kitchen, no mysteries here . . .its all so right and good. They even have a drive thru window! So Cool. * Burgers are excellent, Kona coffee is goodness in a cup and the lilikoi cheesecake is over the top delicious. We will be back - as often as we can. Mahalo!
(4)Becky B.
Good food and very hospitable! Mahalo Racheal!
(5)Roger R.
Been here several times and had most things on the menu. The restaurant is owned and operated by a mom and her two daughters. All very friendly and helpful. The food is very good especially any of the breads and desserts which mom makes daily. Good variety of local and American style food but definitely order whatever dessert mom whipped up that day.
(5)Ray R.
Great food at a great price I found on the way to the Volcanic State Park. The owner's family was the 2nd owner of Chris's Bakery (now closed). I had freshly made Malasadas (Portuguese donut) and they were delicious and cheap.
(5)Renee A.
..ok this place.... so special. the food, the vibe, the prices are on point and saturated with aloha. i had a simple breakfast there most mornings, eggs, toast and hash browns. super yummy. i had dinner there one night--teriyaki chicken which was really good. and there massaladas were off the hook. simple, yet solid food. and let me tell you there is something special here, the vibe is just right. go and see. i promise you wont be disappointed! they also hooked us up for our trip home to the mainland by making us some delicious sandwiches. thanks ladies!
(5)Sylvia R.
This is a great family run local restaurant and my husband and I frequent this restaurant regularly. The baked goods are homemade and the BEST, from the rosemary infused bread bowl (clam chowder) to the homemade biscuits (biscuits & gravy). Everything tastes homemade. The desserts and pastries vary from day to day (e.g., malasadas, Long John's, bismarks, lilikoi cheesecake, banana bread), and are reasonably priced and always tasty and satisfying. They also have lattes and smoothies. Most entrees come with a simple tossed salad. The local plates are our favorites, although the chicken nugget-like appetizers were so good. The service always comes with a smile and if you come regularly, you will get to know the family that runs this restaurant. They are open for breakfast and lunch daily and serve dinner on the weekend.
(5)Anjanette S.
Had a decent fish plate. Good ahi with nice salad and rice. Malasadas were a nice treat.
(4)Zoe M.
I must disagree with the reviewer that said it was the best French toast he ever had. I found it very mediocre. All around the food was standard diner food. The server was VERY friendly but I wouldn't necessarily recommend this place.
(3)Ashley R.
After an early morning snorkeling trip, my husband and I stopped into Mahina Cafe after a quick Yelp search. We were seated right away and waited a bit before our order was taken. One thing I've noticed about restaurants in Hawaii is that they expect you to order your drinks and entree at the same time. I prefer to sip on my coffee while I peruse the menu, but hey whatever. The coffee was pretty good compared to some of the others we tried there. While we waited for our food, the waitress brought out a complimentary malasada (which is essentially a Portuguese doughnut) that came dusted in sugar. Mmm. My husband and I ordered two dishes to split (one sweet, one savory, that's how we roll). The first dish was the egg breakfast that came with hashbrowns and your choice of meat (we went with the vegetarian sausage). The eggs were cooked perfectly, the hashbrowns well seasoned but not oily, and the veggie sausage extra scrumptious. Our other dish was the french toast which was also quite good. I loved that the portions sizes were just right and we didn't leave feeling absolutely stuffed. We actually thought this breakfast was much better than The Coffee Shack which appears to be a little more popular here on Yelp.
(4)Nicole M.
We were looking for a local place to have lunch and stumbled upon this cute cafe. Our family was pleased with the quality of the food, from the fish and chips featuring fresh ahi tuna, to the Teri-beef made with a homemade teriyaki sauce that is a family secret. The owner was so, super friendly and we enjoyed her as much as our delicious food. We will definitely return!
(5)Gina V.
Loved the food and the service here. Our waitress was so friendly and let us try some of their delicious malasadas. My husband said it was the best loco moco he's ever had and that's quite a compliment coming from him. Coffee was great too. Would definitely recommend!
(5)Kama K.
Family owned and operated. Tasty home cooked food. Friendly staff. Freshly made pasta and ramen noodles. Freshly made and homemade baked breads, malasadas, cheese cakes. Support local owned and operated businesses.
(4)