4. Restaurants

Bongo Ben’s Island Cafe

75-5819 Alii Dr, Kailua Kona, HI, 96740
  • (808) 329-9203
  • Store is closed

Bongo Ben’s Island Cafe Menu

Sorry, We are updating this restaurant menu details.

Sorry, We are updating this restaurant blood pressure menu details.

Sorry, We are updating this restaurant cholesterol menu details.

  • Tanner T.

    I thought it would be an average place. I was too optimistic. My chicken should have been beer battered- it was frozen tossed in the fryer with some gross breading. My cheese fries were seeped in grease and had shredded cheese tossed on them. Just not my idea of an average place.

    (1)

  • Shan C.

    Great meals that are reasonable in price. Location is overlooking the ocean. This seems to be the number one choice in Kona with the locals We went for breakfast and dinner and both were wonderful. Entertainment at night. Bottomless cup of coffee. Just the best

    (5)

  • Creva V.

    So my mom came to visit from Arizona and we to go and grab breakfast. .. from the get go we new our experience would be a bad one. Our waitress looked like she just rolled out of bed needless to say we got our drinks then proceeded to take our order, my mom wanted to substitute tortilla for pancakes and the waitress explained that the cook was picky and to busy to make this change we gladly would of paid the difference. The waitress ruined the whole experience we canceled our order now and forever they won't see us again. .. Dennys restaurant was the quick fix!

    (1)

  • Kurt J.

    Awesome location awesome food awesome service especially Casey he's our guy for fast and friendly bloody marys.. a must visit place while in Kona.

    (5)

  • Megan F.

    After sampling various restaurants on the island, we found that Bongo Ben's was our favorite for "no nonsense" good food. Breakfast was delicious. Coconut syrup and pancakes? Delish! For dinner, my husband had a burger & fries while I enjoyed chicken Caesar salad (the chicken was perfectly charbroiled). Like I said, nothing fancy, just good eats for a pretty reasonable price. The excellent waterfront location is also a perk!

    (4)

  • Crissy K.

    I must be a glutton for punishment. I've been to Bongo Ben's 4 times and every time it fails to impress. My food is never hot and the service is always slower than average. The location is great and very convenient and they have a kids menu which is nice but everytime I go I wish I would have just went next door to Humpys.

    (2)

  • Justin B.

    Great view and better service. Our server Makai was awesome. Loco moco was great with fried rice. Do yourself a favor and order their homemade biscuit. You will not regret it! Would definitely come back.

    (5)

  • Conner J.

    Delicious loco moco, cheap breakfast options with a great view of the ocean. Also you can't beat $3.50 mimosas and bloody mary's to start your day!

    (4)

  • Melissa T.

    Our service was excellent and the food was great too! If we were locals, we would visit this spot again and again. Thank you, Stephanie, for being a super server. We loved our lunch and view!

    (5)

  • George S.

    I worry as I get older, am I becoming a fussy old fart. Are my standard raising? Are my taste buds dying? I'm i getting to critical of service? The meals here made all those feelings go away. The food, always well above average, Same with the service. We went here about 5 times in the 9 day stay. The last day I got the pork chop breakfast with fried rice and mushroom gravy, one of the best breakfast I have ever had. Mind you, cheaper prices, great value.

    (5)

  • Susan I.

    Best food on Ali'i Drive!! Awesome happy hour and fresh, local fish... Make sure to stop by here and try it out... Fabulous service and delicious food!

    (5)

  • Fritz W.

    Went there for breakfast one morning and I had a bacon online and my wife have the breakfast burrito. I only got 1 bit of bacon in my omelet but the wife loved her breakfast burrito. The waiter we had was less than friendly to us I'm glad locals came in was more than happy to see them. All in all it was a pretty good experience.

    (4)

  • David P.

    A beautiful spot with great, fresh food at reasonable prices. It's a "must do" while in Lailua-Kona! The banana Mac-nut and famous Bongo Benedict choices are terrific!

    (4)

  • Autumn K.

    The staff was very friendly always on it with refills for water or soda the prices were reasonable and the serving sizes were good for the prices I definitely will come back and eat here again Cathy was amazing too..

    (5)

  • A T.

    We had dinner at the restaurant while on vacation and were seated promptly. The staff was very friendly and informative when we asked questions about the menu items. The manager, Janet, personally came by our table several times to make sure we enjoyed our food and check if we needed anything. They have a large menu with a variety of foods. I had the pork chops and was worried they would come out dry, but I was surprised that they were moist. The food is good, but I think the service and ambiance makes everything better. We sat on the patio and watched the sunset. It was a nice way to end our vacation!

    (4)

  • Robert F.

    I was given a gift card by a friend almost a year ago. There was no expiration date on the card and I used it four times with no problems. I went in about a month ago, had breakfast and gave them my card. The manager confiscated the card and said it wasn't good anymore. Her reason was that there were new owners and there had been some fraud with the gift cards by the past owners or staff. Therefore they were not going to honor the cards anymore. I had over $100 on that card. So because there was fraud (don't know that it's true) by the last owner, the new owner can now refuse to honor all gift cards previously issued. This doesn't seem right to me. It may time for small claims court. Until then, I won't be going to Bongo Ben's again.

    (1)

  • Elise S.

    Janet was an outstanding server! You won't be disappointed if you start with the coconut crusted onion rings. The grilled fish sandwich was filling and well prepared. Incredible ocean view!!

    (5)

  • Noah F.

    Really terrible food. This is your classic tourist "great view bad service bad food beach place"

    (1)

  • Gay T.

    The best breakfast ever!!!! To all my Texan friends y'all need to check this place out !! Loco Moco one day Bongo Benedict the next !! NOM NOM

    (5)

  • Toure P.

    Very good service! The ocean front view is a very good way to kick off the morning!!!

    (5)

  • Rebeka J.

    Literally the best breakfast I've ever had. I feel like I got to pig out and then walked out feeling amazingly good. It's not heavy like soul food often can be, this place is true quality and the service would great. I highly recommend the biscuits and gravy.

    (5)

  • Butch S.

    Fast service, delicious food (I had the Loco Moco and it was great) plus an awesome view. Will be back.

    (5)

  • Jason R.

    This was out first stop in Kona right off the plane. The staff was very friendly and the food was great. They had some yummy coconut onion rings that we all loved. My pulled pork sandwich was great too.

    (5)

  • Ash M.

    I have no idea how this place got close to 4 stars. Pizza sauce had big chunks of onions , crust is thin, much like eating out of a cardboard. Water taste terrible and disgusting like old ice. They're so called the "Tempura fish" is not made from tempura batter, it's flour batter. Nothing special. Of the few times I stopped by this area, there's always shady people hanging out in parking lot. Don't waste ur time and $. Go somewhere else that has better food and service.

    (2)

  • Pedro P.

    The family and I went to Bongo for lunch. The view to the ocean was awesome and the customer service from the wait staff was superb! The beer....muy bueno. The food...meh. My wife and I split a pizza and it was ok. The crust was too thin and not that crunchy. I have had better pizza. My son's plate of spaghetti and meatballs was covered with a layer of oil. It was like something had a fight with an oil tanker and.loss. My other son had a burger and fries. He enjoyed that alot. Overall an ok experience. The service and view awesome. The food can be improved a bit.

    (3)

  • Dianna B.

    So good, we came back twice! Right on the main drag of Ali'i drive, with an awesome view, you can't get much better than this! The food, the drinks and the service is freaking amazing! I would recommend this to anyone!

    (5)

  • Mark H.

    This restaurant is officially our favorite restaurant in Kona. The fish is amazing, especially the seared sashimi and the Mai Tais are very good and only $5.

    (5)

  • Hali S.

    The food here was good. We went for supper. I got the strawberry spinach salad with the dressing on the side, my husband got the hula chicken sandwich, and we had the teriyaki steak and fries as an appetizer to share with our two year old. The only knock against it was the waitress took awhile. We wouldn't see her for ages, and then she would come around again, and then disappear. She was really friendly and great when she was there, though. Also, the night we were there, the hostess was never around. People would come in, not knowing what to do, and a few people sat themselves and waited for awhile with no one coming around until they got up and found a waitress. I understand it being busy, but it seems like there should have been a better system.

    (4)

  • Kurt S.

    Fish and chips were tasteless and over cooked. Calamari steak was tasty. Pancakes were good, fresh fish sandwich was awful, would only go back for pancakes. Our food took 45 minutes to be delivered, and they served our fish to some other table, causing an additional 10 minute wait. Service was lacking....

    (2)

  • Kayan H.

    Came here for breakfast and had an omelet with portuguese sausage, mushrooms, and bell peppers. It was good. Came with potatoes which were bland and a biscuit that was delicious and almost scone-like. Highly recommend choosing that over the toast. My husband had the healthy option ahi, which was over cooked and bland, but that's his fault for ordering off the healthy option menu. We came back for dinner and I had beef fajitas, which were very good. I tried my friend's seafood linguini, it was good but came out almost cold so that kinda killed it. Husband got a burger. It wasn't anything amazing. I'd go with fajitas.

    (4)

  • Stephanie H.

    We stopped in at Bongo Ben's while on the Kailua-Kona leg of our Big Island trip. We were staying at a hotel just a couple of blocks away. Bongo Ben's is conveniently located within walking distance of several hotels. We dined on the patio on a weeknight. There was a live band playing music on the stage and our table overlooked the ocean. It was a great atmosphere. I ordered a cheeseburger and fries. The cheeseburger was pretty huge and tasted pretty darn good. The fries were really good too. Their beer specials were competitively priced...way cheaper than the bar at the hotel. Hubby enjoyed his Ride Tom Burger and fries. We will definitely be returning to Bongo Ben's on future trips to the Big Island.

    (4)

  • Jenny K.

    Surprisingly good! Or I was just really hungry... The Story (if you even care): Thranksgiving night, all the good local places I really wanted to try were closed so we just walked around the Ali'i area and asked some drunk guy at a bar to tell us where to eat so we ended up at Bongo Ben's. Service: Very kind and generous folks. Nothing terribly bad or outstandingly awesome. Setting: In the heart of the touristy Ali'i area where there's an Outback steakhouse a stone's throw away and seemingly 10000 ABC Stores within a single block. Food: 1) Fresh Catch sandwich: It was mahi mahi that day and it was cooked to perfection. The fish was very tender and not dry or overcooked. The tartar sauce was light and not overpowering. The bun was a little odd but I like to pick away at 70% of the bun anyhow because I'm just another "one of those carb-hating girls" 2) Seafood linguinin: The BF got this and he was very pleased with it. Great sauce, pasta perfectly al dente. Generous supply of seafood.

    (4)

  • Nick H.

    Great wings and happy hour special. Server (KC) was awesome!!!! Absolutely great tour guide. The reason for the lower rating was the next day we had there breakfast and was not impressed. The pancakes and omelette taste like something I can make at home. Not bad, but definitely not impressed.

    (3)

  • Johnny B.

    I have eaten here a few times and it's mediocre. I would have given it 3.5 stars but that's not an option. Lunch and dinner are good and worth the price. Had the chicken burger and it was pretty good. The fries are awesone. The fish burger is good also. They claim to have the best breakfast in Kona. I'm not convinced that is true. They definitely are the busiest breakfast place in Kona and you can expect to wait for a table if you get there after 9am. Again, not bad for the price. Eggs were good. Pancakes were also good. The bacon was nothing special, very thin but most of the breakfast places in Kona serve the same. The only thing I don't like about this place is that the tables are very close together so it's very loud and the seats are not comfortable. They have live bands at night, as do most places on Ali'i, so it's quite loud. Do noir expect a quiet romantic meal here. The local stoners hang out across the street and sit on the wall in front of the ocean. If you want the best breakfast on the Big Island you will have to go to Waimea or Hilo to the Hawaiian Style Cafe. It's worth the drive to Waimea if you're in Kona.

    (4)

  • Breanna T.

    This is my third time here it's a great breakfast place, I understand why they were voted #1. Breakfast time can get really busy usually full house during this time. Prices are reasonable. The Huevos rancheros is only 10 bucks that's a good deal and comes with a side. Mimosas are $3. Oh and the oven view dining is amazing.. definitely stop here for breakfast.

    (5)

  • Lisa M.

    Ordered two bloody Mary's with olives and ice waters. Received bloody Mary's with other stuff an no water. Found out they were out of hollandaise and cinnamon buns at 11 am. Three strikes you are out, bongos, and so are we!

    (1)

  • Taco Y.

    Located almost across from Huggos on the rocks on Alii Dr at the start of the tourist section. There is an ocean view across Alii Dr at street level. Ate loco moco breakfast. Wife had the healthy half papaya with granola and yogurt. The loco moco was average and consisted of one hamburger patty rice two eggs and brown gravy. Gravy could use a llittle more flavor. Wife liked her granola papaya yogurt breakfast. The price for the breakfast was high but comparable to restaurants in the area. Would eat breakfast here again.

    (3)

  • Marc Z.

    Great spot on the water with a very friendly and courteous staff. Ahi tuna sashimi was amazing fresh and tasty. First night in kona think we found a place we will hit more then once.

    (4)

  • Cesar R.

    PORK yelp.com/biz_photos/OoJW… Tender, juicy pork with melty cheese and caramelized onions wrapped in fluffy egginess. BLOODY MARY yelp.com/biz_photos/OoJW… Spicy, refreshing early morning cocktail with a kick. the consensus? Hawaiian Breakfast of Champions. 'nuff fu*kin' said.

    (4)

  • Eric M.

    Great view, fast service at busy time. Live music is rocking!! Drinks are DRINKS, as they should be, not so for all the tourist spots. Decent food, great entertainment

    (4)

  • Mike D.

    For me this is the quintessential tourist trap. Breakfast is fine, but it is nearly impossible to mess up sausage eggs and pancakes. Food can be gawd awful sometimes. Happy Hour margaritas are undrinkable....When we had a drink of ours we immediately sent them back, but they still put them on our bill!!!! Brought this to their attention and they offered a dessert but insisted that we pay for the drinks. We let them know that our party of 15 had 13 kona residents, (possible repeat business) but still nothing. You have many better options.

    (2)

  • Sally R.

    Great view and the breakfast is okay. You will see dolphins spinning in the morning from your Ali'i Drive table.

    (2)

  • Sanjana S.

    The food was yummy! We went for dinner and despite the awful dinner reviews, it was good! The shrimp fajitas were DELICIOUS and were well worth another visit back. The chicken hula burger was good, for a chicken burger. :) Also, ask the staff what they suggest because it is really good. The staff was very nice and friendly. They were very sweet and helpful. It's a nice place and is really crowded for breakfast, which is supposed to be amazing.

    (4)

  • Mona L.

    Great service this time, been there before and it was just as good. Breakfast is pretty great-- Lunchtime: Food is nothing fancy and quality is so so but it equates to most in Kona and has the perfect location and view of Ali'i Drive. Parking in back gets busy but usually you can find a spot pretty easily. I recommend the Teiyaki Chicken sandwich for lunch. It is the best meal I have had there. The green tea wasn't my thing but my husband liked his. Sitting outside you see birds and it's nice... But they may come up to your plate so beware if that bothers you.

    (3)

  • Mary J.

    Great breakfast, good food, good service, fanastic view.

    (5)

  • sarah m.

    you know, the service here has always been bad. I think they keep hiring young little blond girls with no customer service experience. the BF and I have tried this place a few times, and we are always disappointed with service. Food is mediocre. I wouldn't recommend the place. :(

    (2)

  • James U.

    We came here twice on our trip for breakfast. Food was great, but the service was a little slow. Wasn't a big deal though when you have that kind of view.

    (4)

  • Jen M.

    The food was great and the server was nice but some of the staff seemed to be intoxicated. The patio is really nice though, after the sun goes down.

    (4)

  • Shannon M.

    Although the service is usually mediocre at best, I keep coming back for their grilled fish. It's very good. But seriously, the owner needs to school the wait staff in ' customer service'.

    (3)

  • Rob F.

    We ate at Bongo Ben's this past weekend for the second time in two weeks. The first time we went there my daughter really liked the BBQ pulled pork sandwich and wanted to eat it again. The first time we ate there it took 15 minutes before the waitress took our order, and we waited another 40 minutes for our lunch to come. We decided to go there again because I thought that we should give them a second chance, and I liked the Philly Cheesesteak sandwich. Well the second time was even worse than the first time. After being seated it took about 10 minutes for the same waitress to take our order, and it took almost 45 minutes for us to get our food. There were two tables next to us that came after we did, but they received their food before us. I ordered the cheeseburger with fries, which was ok. At no time did the waitress come and ask us if we needed anything: water, desert, "Is everything ok?"...the tab. For the second time I needed to walk up to the cashier to ask for the tab, because our waitress never came back to our table for anything! I understand that the restaurant is busy, but a little customer service please. At least the first time we ate there, a guy came by to refill our water. There was one waitress there that was helping a couple of other tables close by that was very energetic and super friendly, why didn't we get her as our waitress?! She actually came up to me at the cash register and asked me if she could help me. She got our tab for me and was extremely nice! I wish that I got her name, so I praise her in this review (kinda short, thin, super cool!!). I wanted to give Bongo Ben's a better review, but I was let down for a second time with the poor service. I have to agree with Brian M.'s review about the service. The food: Good (the sandwiches) The service: Poor The price: Fair

    (2)

  • Jason U.

    Stephanie and Janet were wonderful. They welcomed us with the Aloha spirit and were very attentive. The food was great as well but what really made it was the POG mimosa (a must have).

    (5)

  • Lydia H.

    Great view, sat facing the ocean. Busy and loud but lots of fun! Chicken katsu was so yummy!

    (4)

  • Hannah T.

    Bongo Ben's was our favorite spot for breakfast an had great, quick service. Mimosas, amazing macadamia nut banana french toast, the coastal breeze, and an incredible view of the water and morning swimmers. We can't wait to visit again!

    (5)

  • David O.

    Fun local flavor!

    (5)

  • Missy F.

    I ordered the calamari strips and fries. It tasted like it was previously frozen. I know they can do better, being fifty feet from the ocean... On another note, the service was friendly and the guitar player was excellent!

    (3)

  • Steve V.

    Service was okay but the food was awful. Chicken strips were all breading and no chicken. Fish and chips were not much better. Maybe we ordered the wrong things?

    (2)

  • Konrad F.

    With our party of seven we experienced terrible service and subpar food. The waitress was inattentive and mistook a number of our menus. We never even got our drinks we ordered and never had our water refilled. The music was fun and the location is nice, just not the best food and certainly not quality service.

    (2)

  • Michael J.

    I'd seen this place with its live music at night as I went to another watering hole, and decided to swing by the next morning for breakfast before I left Kona. It's a decent breakfast stop, probably one of the better ones along Ali'i and certainly not the worst. The pulled pork omelet is really good, and they give you a lot of carbs in the form of toast and rice, making this an ideal place to eat if you plan to hike Mauna Kea. The waitress brings you plenty of coffee, and good coffee at that. Offers a nice view of the ocean as well. Of course, you're enjoying that view across the street...a very busy street, with lots of cars and motorcycles roaring by. So if you have a track on your iPod called "Sounds of the Pacific Ocean" along with noise-cancelling headphones, this would be a good place to listen to it. Overall, it's worth eating here for breakfast and based on their live music, would probably make a good late night drink or dinner stop as well.

    (3)

  • Eff B.

    The wait took awhile for a setting for 7. But we got ocean front table with an awesome view. The breakfast prices were cheap and reasonable for Kona. Had the Bongo platter and it was delicious!

    (4)

  • Julie H.

    I gave Bongo Ben's 3 stars, but it's really 2 stars for the food and 3 stars because of the entertainment. Ordered the "works" pizza and it was alright. Lots of toppings, but not much of a crust. The burger was decent, but I admit I don't have much to say about the food. Best thing to do at Bongo Ben's is to grab a seat by the sidewalk, have a beer maybe fries and people watch. Across the street, sitting on the rock wall was a scruffy looking older man selling special herbs rather not so discreetly. I thought it was sweet watching an elderly patron ask his entire family to leave the table and meet them next door so he can pay the bill only to have an extra 5 minutes to talk to the waitress without his family around. Let me just say, as other reviews have mentioned the service is great. He had asked the waitress about herself and about another waitress that was there a year ago. Fun times. On another note, be prepared for sparrows flying and darting for scraps of food. Plenty of parking behind the restaurant so no need to drive around. Go for the people watching and not for the food.

    (3)

  • Jennifer D.

    Horrible service, had to ask for the bill multiple times after a very unpleasant dining experience and long waits for everything including forgotten drink orders. Horrible food. The fish was dry and unpleasant and I commented on it to the waiter after he had recommended the dish. I ended up getting some bad reactions later which have added to my unpleasant memories of this place. They had a hard time figuring out how to apply the Yelp check In discount as well and walked off with my phone to verify with the manager! As a tourist visiting the area don't get fooled by the signs about it being voted best breakfast! There are much better places in the area with much tastier coffee!

    (1)

  • Derek S.

    Gluten Free Pizza on the Big Island!!!! This place is great. My daughter and I enjoyed homemade fresh GF pizza here. So happy they have it. Michael the manager was very accommodating and assuring. His wife is GF and tests all the GF foods. They have fresh GF breads too.

    (5)

  • Glenn H.

    Stopped in on a Wednesday around 9AM. A bit busy, took about 15 minutes to take our order. Food was OK, although not piping hot. Don't forget you get 10 percent off with Yelp check-in.

    (3)

  • Lisa Q.

    The old bitter white lady made for a miserable start. She had the attitude as if you owed her something just by sitting down plus was really confrontational. I had coffee and 20 mins after it was out and I asked her for a refill she got a attitude. Plus she had food in her mouth while she was talking and it got in my food. The view was amazing but don't think I will be back

    (1)

  • Emily N.

    We've been once before for breakfast and it was great. Breakfast round two, not so great. DRINKS: I was fine with water, but the BF ordered an Irish coffee and a mimosa. It took 20+ minutes before either one came out. I had long finished my water and started on the BF's. No refills. Like, I still had half of my plate left to finish with no water, or signs of any waitstaff to flag down. I really hate places that only have the half-glass size cups because I'm a water hound - I can drink 10 of those in 5 minutes. Plus, doesn't it double the waitstaff's load having to come back MORE often to refill a smaller glass than a normal one? FOOD: Food finally comes about 10 minutes after the drinks and it was delicious!! I got the Island French toast while the man got the Basic Bongo. Well worth the wait. Until I got food poisoning.

    (1)

  • Stanley M.

    Excellent food, excellent service. Eight of us were there, three just for drinks. Beautiful sunset visible from our seats, overlooking the bay?harbor.

    (4)

  • Aimee S.

    We visited Bongo Ben's for our "after wedding breakfast" with 22 of our closest family and friends, and it was exactly what we were looking for. Exceptional service, amazing breakfast food, and great atmosphere to boot! I had spoken to Michael a few weeks prior and he was super accommodating and definitely went the extra mile. We had our own special menu selections printed up, beautiful centerpieces, and to top it off we got to sit by an incredible musician who played EVERYTHING nonstop the whole time... from the Cure to Dave Matthews ... he was brilliant. I got the french toast and it was awesome - super fluffy with mac nuts and sugar. My husband got the steak and eggs and a side of spam, and the plate was entirely cleaned off. Everyone really loved their selections and the mimosas were tasty too. We will certainly be coming back when we visit the Big Island again ... and make sure it's on a day when the guitarist is there. A big mahalo to everyone who helped us out that day!

    (5)

  • Mike R.

    Food was OK (pretty hard to screw up breakfast) but the service was awful. Server has an attitude problem and that's not a good thing when you're in a tourist area.

    (2)

  • Jamie G.

    Amazing service and the food is top notch. We have been here many many times and the food gets better and better every time. My favorite is the wings and rings. The onion rings are coated with coconut and my favorite thing in the world. My husband loves the locomoco, he was born and raised in Hawaii so he knows good locomoco. The mahi mahi sandwich is also to die for but honestly I've never had anything I didn't love. Now the best part about this place isn't even the food.... It's the staff. The bartender Nia is such a sweetheart and goes out of her way to make you feel welcome. The view from the front is amazing and the vibe is fun. There's a good mix of locals and tourists and even live music. I would highly recommend this place to anyone and everyone. It's family friendly and also a good party spot. It really is a well rounded and amazing spot!

    (5)

  • Tim Y.

    Great thanksgivings day breakfast. I had eggs Benedict, super! My wife had bongo bens basic. Plenty of food and good/great flavor. Add a Bloody Mary, sit back and enjoy the view of Kailua bay. A must stop for breakfast,

    (4)

  • Dick H.

    Went there twice for breakfast (ok, we're on vacation, and it was actually like 11:00 both times :) ). The food was good both times. Check out their happy hour! The loco moco is awesome! The service the first time was very friendly, efficient, helpful, relaxed, etc. Can't say enough about that. The second time was the absolute opposite. Unfriendly, slow, etc. We told the manager, who apologized. I'd say just inconsistent. But the views are good! Nice to sit down and chat with other tourists from across the world. Didn't see any locals - again, at 11:00 they're probably working, fishing, or staying out of the touristy areas. I'd try it again, but check out the server first before you sit down.

    (3)

  • Jak H.

    I had breakfast there this morning, an while their French toast is awesome, they have a problem. Service. The waiters were cool, but they ignored us for about 20 minutes. After they took our order it wasn't to bad of a wait, but if your really need a quick breakfast, Find another place. But if you want a leisurely breakfast, an don't mind taking your time or waiting, this is a great place to go. P.S The French toast is amazing

    (3)

  • Gordon H.

    A restaurant has a great view. Food is reasonable. It is a little bit pricy, but it is understandable as it is in the Kona downtown area. Just my two cents. Go there for lunch, but not dinner. Because you will miss the great view at night. And last, dont forget to check in for the check in discount. :)

    (3)

  • Patty W.

    Service was slow. My Father-in-Law's fish was cold. They lost the order for my daughter's pizza, which she ended up receiving when the rest of us were done eating. Other customers were getting impatient and asking whereas their orders were. The wait staff kept apologizing, saying "we are really busy tonight". If you want a loud place to get your drink on, you might give this a try. If you want a decent meal in a reasonable amount of time, go elsewhere.

    (1)

  • Michelle D.

    Went here for breakfast with 3 adults and 3 small children. Great food and drinks, and the service was super fast and friendly. Good place to eat, and it has a pretty decent view of the cove across the street.

    (5)

  • Kate B.

    My husband just loved this place. We came for breakfast one day and he had the pulled pork omelet. I had a breakfast burrito. We then cake for dinner one night and he had the fresh catch while I had pork fajitas. The portions were huge and the prices were quite inexpensive. We found the service to be very friendly and quick. It was nice to be seated facing the ocean. There was live music in the evening. They are also one of the only places were could find serving dinner so late.

    (5)

  • Courtney L.

    Had the macadamia pineapple banana pancake with whip cream, too die for !! so yum !! fast friendly service, great place to people watch :) Overlooks Kona Village .

    (4)

  • Shirley F.

    My husband & I stopped in for a light dinner about 7:00 pm. It was nearby & convenient to where we were staying. All of the help we encountered were friendly, helpful, attentive w/o being pushy. I had the BLT; my husband had a Club sandwich. Though the menu states white bread, I asked if I could have something else. I chose wheat bread. AMAZING flavor! The waitress said it was homemade. There was a hint of sweetness to it. We chose salad as our side dish. We sat at a bar close to the street & watched the sunset; saw a green flash. Good food & a good value. Not sure what it would take to get five stars, but we were more than satisfied. Will go back next trip.

    (4)

  • Robin W.

    Once I found Bongo Ben's mashed potatoes, it was difficult for me to try any other restaurants in Kona! Let's see...I've tried the rib eye with mashed potatoes and fresh vegetables twice, fettuccini, BBQ sandwich... For breakfast, the biscuits with sausage gravy & grits. So the food is definitely fit for comfort and I wouldn't want to be eating it everyday, but it was so good! Nice to be right across the street from the ocean. Next time I go to Kona, I'll be here...

    (5)

  • Dan B.

    This place was recommended to is by a local who said they had the "Best Breakfast on the Island". That's no joke! Really great, especially the homemade biscuits and delicious bloody marys. My wife enjoyed perfectly done eggs Benedict and I had the Big Bongo Omelette (meat lovers delight). Our server (Janet) had a terrific smile and was on top of all of our needs. Great ocean view to top it all off.

    (5)

  • jason l.

    Food is just OK. Service was slow but it looked like they may not have had enough servers that night. At least the drinks are cheap. The location is great though with a great view of the ocean.

    (2)

  • L M.

    Big disappointment. Sat at the street sidebar, my meal was poorly prepared as were the 2 guests on either side of me. The manager Mafferty, was extremely condescending and rude to the gentleman on my right as he tried to argue that the eggs on his plate were cooked properly. The customer just wanted some eggs, no runny yolks, Mafferty should have listened instead of trying to convince him that he was wrong. I was shocked and embarrassed to hear how Mafferty treated the couple. Such rudeness was really out of line. He actually took the guys plate away from him and didn't let him finish the other items like the fruit and rice, toast, etc. Never came back, never brought him something else, just snatched the plate away and stomped off like a petulant child making loud disparaging remarks to other wait staff that we could clearly hear all the way back to our seats. The couple were billed for the full amount of the bill, they paid it, left a tip for the waitress and left humiliated. Mafferty, shame on you, seriously, you're bratty behavior and callousness were just uncalled for. What a jerk!

    (1)

  • Daphne R.

    The best breakfast ever! Always good service. I'm from Oahu and every time I come to big island I have to come eat here. I've ate dinner once. Forgot what I had had i jus remember it was bomb.com . I do remember my brother had the spaghetti which was also really good.

    (5)

  • Alicia L.

    Great comfort food and awesome location! The waitress was extremely nice and accommodating. The food was slightly expensive but everything we got we were very pleased with. The portions were big and the fries pretty great. I would definitely recommend the hula burger-sweet, juicy, and flavorful, everything you could ask for. I highly recommend this place!

    (4)

  • Laura S.

    Delish breakfast and amazing view! Bongos Benedict is Ono!

    (4)

  • Randall S.

    Excellent food! The pork chops were great! They have a chocolate cake to die for. The service was great and the live music made the evening perfect. Bongo Ben's has a broad list of drinks and their menu has a plethora of items sure to make anyone happy.

    (5)

  • Stacey B.

    Worst meal on the big island for sure. Don't know how you can go wrong with a Cobb salad, but they did (could have been the pile of shredded, bland cheese that covered everything). Blech. Don't waste your money, even with the 10% off coupons they pass out as you walk by, it's not worth it. We came here to go to Lulu's upstairs, but no one was there, and this place was populated so we assumed it was the better restaurant; but we sure wished we'd tried Lulu's instead. My kids say the chocolate smoothies were very good though.

    (1)

  • Sarah T.

    Great view and fresh food. I had the seafood platter for brunch. It was HUGE and everything was tasty. Super fresh ingredients and the server was very attentive.

    (5)

  • Justin B.

    I am giving Ben's 4 starts. They are solid/enjoyable. They had a nice big menu and nothing was disappointing at all. The service was good as well.

    (4)

  • Chuck N.

    Saturday, 11:00AM. Breakfast/brunch buffet with beach front seats. Nice! Quickie: +Fresh pancakes/waffles made on the spot +Enchilada options +Biscuits and gravy +Rice! And then? Decent, but hearty b-fast. Great view. If you're lucky, harmless lizards will walk by during your meal too!

    (4)

  • T W.

    Great service...friendly, efficient. Eggs Benedict perfectly cooked. Spouse had Ben's Basic with gluten free bread and very tasty ham. I liked that they left a pot of coffee at your table. Price was reasonable, food was good, service was excellent. What more do you want.

    (4)

  • Tom L.

    Have been here for breakfast before, then today we had lunch. Had BBQ Kalua pork sandwich and coconut battered onion rings. Both were very good. We recommend Bongo Ben's

    (4)

  • Kim K.

    Nice really casual plastic chair sort of restaurant. We went there for breakfast. Coffee wasn't the best so next time upgrade and order Kona coffee. Tables sit close together. Outdoor seating looking out at the ocean!

    (4)

  • Fi G.

    Great service and good food. Went here for breakfast several times. Won't break the bank. Oceanfront location. Great for people watching or just watching the sun set over the ocean.

    (4)

  • Sarah M.

    Will never go back. Food tasted like it was from frozen and service was the worst. Of the six of us eating only one person somewhat enjoyed the food. Even my husband, who NEVER complains about food, felt the fish and chips he ate was HORRIBLE! We could also hear the waitresses complaining to each other about the lack of customers and their language was less than appropriate.

    (1)

  • Sarrah W.

    This place was nice and comfortable. The bartender made us feel at home. We had the happy hour pizza special. The pizza is really good. We watched the Bengal Steelers game and relaxed.

    (4)

  • Carl S.

    A local friend recommended this place. My wife and I had lunch; we split the Hula Chicken Sandwich which was very good. Good fries. Also enjoyed the POG iced tea. Waiter very helpful and friendly. Hostess made sure we got a seat where the breeze was best. All in all, a great experience. Update: We went back on our last night for dinner. Another great experience. Good bacon burger and nice crispy fries. Service good but not great. Live music was really nice and not too loud.

    (4)

  • James G.

    Excellent brunch and a great view of the ocean. I had the huevos rancheros and my wife had the granola and papaya.

    (5)

  • Lynne M.

    Ate here on our last night in Kona. We wanted something low key and relaxed with a view of the water, and it was a great choice. We sat at the counter facing the ocean and watched a gorgeous sunset while sipping tropical alcoholic drinks and listening to a rockin live band. The food was excellent--best chicken katsu I have ever tasted and that is saying something!

    (5)

  • Martha B.

    Great place for happy hour and breakfast, especially with kids. We sat outside and took in the sunset over $5 Mai Thais while the kids colored with crayons. Food is good basic food--burgers were good. Live entertainment was great. Kamalani was our server the first night we were there and she was the best! She brought extra fruit garnishes and umbrellas for the kids and was so sweet and accommodating to us. We wish we could have had her every time. We were traveling as four adults and three small kids, and we went to Bongo Bens three times for dinner and once for breakfast. All were good. I only give 4 stars because the food is not amazing, but it's good and well-priced and you can't beat the view from the patio and the family -friendly atmosphere.

    (4)

  • Maria M.

    Ate here our last day yummy french toast country fried steak. So good!

    (5)

  • Dahlia V.

    This place is always crowded for some reason but the food wasn't great (breakfast). Scrambled eggs were dry and fruits old & tasteless. Walk a bit north to the Daylight Mind and you'll get a totally better experience with gourmet food and spectacular view.

    (2)

  • Nhung H.

    We came here for dinner our first night on the island and unfortunately I was feeling a bit under the weather so I couldn't finish my dinner. I ordered the Shrimp Scampi, jumbo shrimp sauteed in white wine-butter sauce, served with parmesan linguini and hot garlic bread. My bf got the chicken terriyaki with rice. I had a taste of the shrimp and a bite of pasta and I only mostly tasted the butter. It was a bit overwhelming for me. Although the garlic bread was very good, again lots of butter, but still good. If you're a fan of butter this is your dish! :) I just don't like too much butter. The ENVIRONMENT was AWESOME! Very lively and fun! I really like the band that played that night and all the songs that they played. They accept tips :) Staffs were also super friendly, which always makes the experience more delightful.

    (3)

  • Matthew D.

    Pleasantly surprised at this spot! Been to a lot of places in beach locations that are just overpriced with crappy food. Bongo Ben's was not only reasonable but the food was really good. I had the fish tacos( which really was more of a fish burrito) that was delicious! Plus they always seem to have a drink special going. They are not going to win any Michelin Stars, but for a ocean side somewhat touristy restaurant/bar it's darn good!

    (5)

  • Crissy K.

    If you really want a great view of Alii Drive -- because maybe you're bored in Kona? -- then Bongo Ben's is the place to be. If you're looking for great grinds, great service and a relaxing atmosphere? Well, maybe not so much. Our server at lunch on Saturday never looked us in the eye. I suppose this comes with having been seated at the "belly bar" (that's what I heard the hostess call it) facing the street, but (a) it's not as if we asked to sit there, and (b) if you're gonna set things up that way, you might want to teach your staff how to adapt in being personable some other way. Turning on your heel as soon as our needs have been communicated doesn't quite cut it. I'm fairly certain I never actually saw our server's face. That just isn't normal, especially when you're eating in broad daylight. And the food . . . well, I guess it was food. I had the single eggs benedict with steak. The steak was all right, about 3 oz. and cooked to specs. The benedict was nothing special, and the egg itself was overcooked, so the yolk didn't really flow. Not horrible, but definitely nothing to write home about. If you have a table (or the belly bar) facing the street, you should know that Alii Drive is full of loud motorcycles and rental mopeds. It's not quiet at all. (I guess you wouldn't necessarily equate a place called "Bongo Ben's" with peace and quiet, so perhaps some of that blame rests on my faulty expectations.) For the atmosphere it seems to attempt to offer, Bongo Ben's could be anywhere; it completely fails to capitalize on its location across the street from the ocean. Now that I know better, I'll stick with Huggo's on the Rocks next time I feel like dining in Kailua.

    (2)

  • Alicia P.

    Another late night food search....we were trying to find some other local fare and found it was just a kava bar mostly. We wanted food and ended up on the tourist path on Ali'i Dr with everyone else. We just walked up feeling like we had been defeated on our search for local non-touristy places and were pleasantly surprised. The food was good! The staff was friendly!

    (4)

  • Kyla M.

    Great location within walking distance from our hotel and we LOVED their breakfast! We were there 7 days and we went 4/7 days. Everything was fresh, delicious, lots of choices and the homemade biscuits were to die for. Best Kona coffee we had found also (only $2, free refills). Decent service & live music at night. I checked in on yelp every day that we went and received 10% off of our bill every time! Highly recommend this spot for breakfast!

    (4)

  • Magdalena C.

    It is a solid, good value place. The service is very good; they bring your items quickly, they make sure you don't sit over dirty dishes. Also the prices are pretty low for the location. The food itself was very good. We had fish taco wrap and a Hawaiian pizza. Both dishes were fresh and very tasty. The fresh side salad was boring - mostly lettuce with literally one chunk of cucumber and one wedge of tomato. The dressing was perfect flavor though (garlic vinaigrette). The only thing I would definitely look into is changing the décor a little. Something to brighten it up. The basic concept is great - long bar-like table along the patio overlooking the ocean, but it needs a little help.

    (4)

  • Brian W.

    Great view of the Kona coastline. Can't think of a better place for a view-- for whatever reason, of all the restaurants here, the view here just works. The french toast is pretty good. Not the best I've had, but very good. Apple waffle is drenched in apples and the apple syrup, a bit too plain and just sweet, rather than apple-y... and the Portuguese sausage is 4 little round pieces for four bucks? Rip-off. The eggs were light and fluffy and damned good though, so next time skip the sausage (tasty as it was, it ain't worth a buck a piece) and just get the eggs. Service was excellent. Our servers were very attentive; juice arrived promptly, our meals did, everything came quickly. Okay, it could've been because we had several parties here on and off all week so they knew us, but even when they didn't recognize us service was still good. (maybe one of the cousins that was our tour guide called ahead...) Anyway, 3.5 stars. Didn't blow me away enough to be worth more than that, unfortunately...

    (3)

  • DENISE A.

    Wanting to enjoy the beautiful Kona Coast View, we took a chance on Bongo Ben's. The waitress was pleasant...the Menu was confusing...the food was "Lousy Diner quality:...and don't ask for Salsa, they charged me $3.00 for 1 ounce/Tablespoon to put on my eggs...The food is tastless, where's the flavor? ...Oh, hire Good Cooks & trash the Frozen-Foods...This is "KONA" & we expect Better!

    (1)

  • Somefood G.

    Loco moco! My personal favorite. Get it with the fried rice, whole new level! Service was great. Little dirty looking but not of to much concern. Can't beat the view. Mimosas are cheap, food is a fair price. Def worth a try.

    (4)

  • Vincent V.

    Tuna melt Sandwich and thai salad we had were great! Nice staff.

    (4)

  • Gopi V.

    The food is just ok, but the views of the ocean are great. A lively place, but the music can be loud at times.

    (3)

  • Ralph T.

    Our local friends love this place. Yes it is in downtown Kona in the tourist area but all the restaurants are there. I had the fish and chips. Great light, meaty flavor. Good fries and great beer. My wife had the fish-hey she's old and can't remember what it was. It was fish, veggies and rice, she does remember it was good. The happy hour Mai Tai's were weak. She finally got them to keep adding rum. After the third one it was right. I had the ice cold beers. We had a party of 6 but only two checks. The waiter billed the wrong credit cards and then blamed us for mixing up the credit cards. A little hard to do when he gave us the right bills when he delivered them. I'm sure he messed it up when he went to run the cards through. He argued with us and told us it would take 4 weeks to cancel the original charges if he had to run them through again, BS. Just being lazy and didn't want to admit the mistake. Otherwise great service and a fun place to be for some local music.

    (4)

  • Monica J.

    Our first night in town recommended by a local at our resort!! It was soo cute from facing the ocean to watch the sun set, the tiki torches and live music and a woman doing hula dancing, it set a perfect one for our vacation!! I had the coconut catch of the day Ono with fries!! It was moist, with a crunchy sweet batter!! Fries were yummy too!! My husband had the hula chicken sandwich! Had bacon, Swiss cheese and a grilled pineapple!! A bit messy but delicious!! We also drank a lava flow and blue Hawaiian!! Both were fruity and yummy!!

    (4)

  • Eddie G.

    Delicious food with a great view, and the employees are very friendly !!

    (5)

  • Martha M.

    Not fabulous, the food was just so-so. But this seemed more like a tourist trap than anything else. Not at all impressed.

    (2)

  • Heather M.

    I was pleasantly surprised by this place after going there for lunch with a few friends. I tend to stay away from the more touristy places around town since they tend to be very expensive and lack in flavor/taste. I had the fresh grilled fish sandwich, which was ahi that day. It was grilled perfectly! What I really liked was that they didn't try to hide the taste of the fish by dousing it in some sauce. The french fries were ADDICTING as well! They were perfectly cooked and salted without leaving a greasy mess. The calamari sandwich, the pork sandwich, and the fish and chips are delish too! Best part is, you get to chow down while enjoying the great view of the ocean. There is a large parking lot behind the restaurant so you don't have to worry about parking. Oh, but do watch out for the birds if you sit on the patio. They are relentless and will sneak a french fry in two seconds flat!

    (4)

  • Ancen K.

    We got greeted as soon as we walked in. Service was okay. Chicken Alfredo was good, but the chicken was a bit dry. Garlic bread was so yummy! My son really enjoyed their virgin piña colada too! :) haha.

    (4)

  • Mark N.

    The Poke is amazing. This was the last place I ate before leaving Hawaii. I wasn't disappointed. I ordered a Poke appetizer thinking it would be a few pieces. A plate piled 4" high with raw ahi chunks marinated in a perfect ponzu and sprinkled with sesame and seaweed came out. I ate the whole thing by myself and then polished off a cajun Ono fish sandwich. I was groaning in pleasure for the 6-hour flight back to the mainland.

    (4)

  • K. M.

    The kids had mac and cheese and a burger, which they all liked. My wife had shrimp scampi, which was good, and I had the Ahi tuna special, which was great. This was much better food than you usually get on the strip, and the price was quite reasonable.

    (4)

  • Danny C.

    Breakfast is really good. The Island French Toast with mac nuts & bananas are incredible. Great omelets and eggs benedict. We've gone there two times for breakfast and we're heading back for a third time. Good service too.

    (5)

  • Dustin H.

    Now here we have a nice spot in Kailua Kona to have a drink (or three) and just unwind, watch the sunset, listen to live music, nosh on something tasty and not feel like you're getting riped-off. Good service (for Hawaii), large portions, and very reasonable prices. They also have a really nice happy hour. Less then $4.00 for a beer! I'll be back for sure.

    (4)

  • Peter M.

    A kind of rowdy place on the commercial strip of Ali'i Drive. Pretty noisy. Live music was good if a bit too loud, interfering with conversation. Service was efficient if not super. Food was good and plentiful, but not great. A fun place for groups to sit and see the sunset over drinks and dinner or lunch.

    (3)

  • Erin S.

    A friend and I met here for lunch on a weekday. The seating area was about half full, and the waitresses seemed to be moving fairly quickly. As both of us were on our lunch breaks, we hoped to order something simple and get out in an hour or so. It took an hour and 20 minutes to get our hamburgers. At one point, our waitress even apologized for the wait, claiming that the burgers were half-pound burgers and took a long time to cook. That's my main complaint about the place. On to the good. The burger itself was pretty tasty and had some great toppings. I got the one with sundried tomatoes and a roasted red pepper sauce. My friend got one with guacamole and parmesan cheese. The waitress didn't ask how we wanted the burger cooked, but since we both like our burgers well done, the well cooked meat didn't bother us. My burger was $9 and came with the option of fries or a side salad. The salad was mostly lettuce and one slice of tomato, but it was good all the same. We saw the dessert tray and it looked really good, but after half a pound of burger, we were both really full. We decided, as we left, that it wasn't a bad place if you didn't need to rush.

    (3)

  • Martha M.

    This place is quick, fun, casual and delicious. We went for lunch and I had the fish "tacos" which were definitely more burrito-like. They were DELICIOUS though. My mom had tuna salad in a papaya which was good but a tad heavy on the pickle relish. The breakfast menu looked great, lots of unique and some healthy options. The atmosphere is fun and friendly with lots of outdoor seating and an ocean view. I will definitely go back here the next time I'm in Kona!

    (4)

  • Jason M.

    Standard beach-grill place, but I was able to watch the sun dip slowly into the ocean. Three stars for the food - I had the prime rib special, but they have the standard Hawaiian bar grill food, for pretty reasonable prices. However, our hostess and server were incredibly friendly, and the drink prices were extremely reasonable ($5 mai tai!). That and the live music in the evening was nice and chill.

    (4)

  • Angela C.

    We stopped to check out this place for an early lunch and decided to eat there because the hostess offered us a 20% off coupon. I guess the hamburgers are good. I don't eat meat, but when my hubby takes a bite into a burger and says "Wow!", I am impressed. I have never heard him say that about a burger before. My mahi mahi burger was yummy and my son had the chicken nuggets - they looked a bit overcooked, but they were nice enough to bring out his meal first so that he wouldn't get too hungry. And they gave him a rice krispy treat for dessert which made his day! Our waitress was super nice and gave us tips on some beaches we could/shouldn't visit. It's a family run joint, I know this because I was reading the family tree and family history on the walls. Looks like it would be a fun place to go in the evenings - apparently they have live bands that perform.

    (4)

  • Dryw F.

    We stopped in here by chance--there are tons of options along Alii Drive--but were so glad we did! The hostess and wait staff were remarkably friendly in a very genuine way. Even though the restaurant was quite busy, everyone took time to talk with us--both about the food and about Kona. (The hostess took time out to suggest a beach for snorkeling, coming back to finish the conversation after she seated some arriving guests.) The waitress suggested that their appetizer sampler was enough for three people to share, and told us that we should order it first and then decide how hungry we were for dinner! As it turned out, the sampler was a full meal for three of us. Everything on it was delicious--several kinds of seafood, some fried and some not, plus fresh tortilla chips. The waitress insisted that we stay and hear some of the live music, and we were glad we did. When we checked out, our receipt came with a coupon for free pancakes the next day, and we happily came back. Breakfast was also quite good, and the servers were again friendly and attentive. With all of the competition on Alii Drive, there's no reason to go somewhere that's not good, and I'd go back to Bongo Ben's any time.

    (5)

  • Mike C.

    Fun place on the water. We happened in to find a front row seat for the town's annual parade. Breakfast was good...everything from huevos rancheros to biscuits and gravy. Piia had a great bloody mary! Need to come back for sunset cocktails!

    (4)

  • Richard M.

    It's a nice place with a chain restaurant feel. Like your average red robin, or chilis, this place is standard. open bar, fruity drinks, absolutely fantastic sunset views. Live music in the evenings. The manager is a great people person, with a lovely table side manner. She'd bend over backwards to make it right. Her and her fantastic staff drag my score up from a mediocre to a great time.

    (4)

  • Pamela R.

    We went here three different times during our stay and each time all of us were happy with the food and with the service. The southwest salad was so wonderful that I ordered it on two different visits. My mom ordered the tuna salad and was ecstatic to see how fresh their fish was so ordered various other fish dishes on our other visits. The orange dreamcicle cake was just that-- a dream. They have live music at night, great food, great service, and they are on the beach-- what else could you ask for?

    (4)

  • Kevin K.

    This place was awesome. We we went 3 times for breakfast in a week. The Loco Moco was so big that I couldn't even fathom finishing it. Both my girlfriend and I wanted to so badly but it was so.....massive. The 3 dollar Mimosa's and BM's were also a add plus. I had both the tropical mimosa as well as the traditional one. The tropical one was really delicious and it fizzed for the duration of my meal. I also sampled the pancakes....made my own denver and devoured the potatoes and super badass biscuit. The service was hella prompt and more than friendly. The view was unbeatable and the fauna watching was great.....i.e. birds, gecko's and butterflys abound. 30 dollars gets a couple a full tummy and a nice head feelin. We'll definitely be back our next time. Also they had music at night Aloha

    (5)

  • Jon C.

    I was here when it was not crowded and the service was just ok and the food was average and overpriced.

    (3)

  • Cindy G.

    Four stars for what this place is - a tourist bar with an ocean view. Had delicious fish tacos for lunch and a couple of beers on the patio. If you go in expecting super amazing food and a fine dining experience, you'll be disappointed. But if you're looking for something good to eat in a casual place where you can sit outside and have a couple drinks, stop by.

    (4)

  • Rahul M.

    We had breakfast here every morning while we were in Kona. The atmosphere is very casual. The food is great for a morning hangover - I especially liked the Spanish omelet and the bacon. For a great experience make sure you go for the Sunday morning brunch -- they have a pancake station (chocolate chips!) and an omelet station - along with a buffet including chile rellenos, bacon, sausage, fresh fruit, and scrambled eggs.

    (4)

  • Yini G.

    We had a late lunch here with some friends. It was ok. I had the fish taco (which is really a fish wrap) and it was pretty good. However, it was a different story for my husband. I didn't know what he had ordered...When the food came out, I asked if he had gotten a grilled pork sandwich. Nope, it was a grilled fish sandwich! Wierd thing was that he said it also tasted like pork. My friend got fish nachos, which was ok, but GINORMOUS portions. They got her order wrong (she didn't want olives). They knew that before bringing her order out and asked whether she preferred a new one or didn't mind picking out the olives. Since we were starving (not because of the waitstaff or kitchen) and she's not that picky, she opted second choice. Her boyfriend got chicken fingers - no complaints from him.

    (3)

  • James Y.

    Great place to eat, drink etc when in Kailua Kona, Hawaii. Have diner with a great view of the water and the awesome Hawaii sunset! I highly recommend the specials, especially the Ahi or Ono fish entrees when they have them. I always get my ahi (tuna) uncooked. All the locals eat here as well as tourist's. The place is always packed. The prices are great and the beer is cheap!

    (5)

  • MJ B.

    Excellent restaurant and bar in south end of Kona town. Really good breakfast, friendly and attentive service. Definitely a must go, overlooks the ocean in open air environment

    (5)

  • Amy D.

    This place is the best lunch place in Kona!! I had the grilled fish sandwich, my husband had the fish tacos, my cousin had the teriyaki chicken sandwich and my son had the calamari steak sandwich. It was ALL GOOD!! I would definitely go back.

    (5)

  • Thomas A.

    Okay this may sound funny but living in Kona and going to Bongo Bens a few times I never noticed they had a breakfast buffet til I read someones review..I only went for lunch and dinner that's why. Never had breakfast there, but I will try it one day Thanks!

    (5)

  • Martin D.

    Great taste. Fantastic view. Industrial-strength servings. Give the Bong guy a thumbs up.

    (4)

  • Salma S.

    The food was good, waitress was great and accomodating. The street view from the tables were great for people watching. Definitely a good spot for either breakfast or lunch.

    (4)

  • Vanessa H.

    Great food for the value, service was quick and friendly. I ordered breakfast and the serving was more that I could even eat. I got an omlete and breakfast potatoes and I opted for the biscuit. It was a delicious buttermilk biscuit, it was huge and I didn't want to leave any of it on my plate. The patio had great views and I will be back on my next visit to the big island

    (4)

  • Kate C.

    The food is very tasty, but what made us come back was the music. Brian Vasquez and Scottie (sorry I don't know his last name) are very good. If we lived in Kona, I'd go back every week just to listen to the band. Loved it.

    (5)

  • carl h.

    had there breakfast, good food, nice portions very good red home fries. had the pulled pork omlette .5 stars , eat there looking to the ocean, nice view. a lot of tourists eat there.only went for breakfast.

    (4)

  • Cant F.

    We were looking for a nice relaxing place for a late breakfast and couldn't have found a better place than Bongo Bens. The food was excellent and the service was superb even though we came on one of only 10 days a year it ever rains here on the Big Island. My wife and I would strongly recommend Bongo Bens for a relaxing breakfast, lunch or dinner. Nice view of the ocean from your table too!! About half of the people eating here are locals so that speaks for itself.

    (5)

  • Richard G.

    Came for breakfast. Food and service were excellent. Positive hard working high performance team. Thanks!

    (4)

  • Jerry L.

    We have now eaten two meals here and one happy hour. Service all three times was incredible, even on a very crowded Sunday morning. I had the eggs Benedict and a friend had the bacon cheeseburger (he gave it a 10). My Benedict was incredible and the sauce was perfect. April, our server, was the best part of the experience. She was attentive, friendly and very personable. In my opinion, this place was a perfect 10!!!

    (5)

  • Denise L.

    Good place to catch a bite to eat. We went there for dinner. They had a lot to choose from. The best thing about the place were the servers - they're all really nice and work really hard to take care of their customers. That's why I'm doing the 4 stars. Food was ok. I had the ribeye. Heard the coconut shrimp was ok. Beer was all good. Its a good place to get a bite to eat.

    (4)

  • Judy N.

    Good service, food is OK

    (3)

  • Jesse I.

    The meal was 3 stars but I am giving 2 stars for my coffee cup with a lipstick stain still on it. Nothing much to talk about the food. It was just mediocre.

    (2)

  • S C.

    We ate at a lot of places during our vacation on the Big Island, and this place was one of my favorites. The food was incredible and freshly prepared. We stopped in for breakfast they have a wide variety of omelets and all were delicious. I ordered the Kuala pork omelet. Also the mimosa and bloody Mary's were mixed well. I enjoyed the open air sitting and sharing part of my biscuit with the little birds. The service was prompt and friendly.

    (4)

  • Ryan Z.

    Yuck! I can cook better food drunk on whiskey, one hand tied behind my back, with both eyes closed.

    (1)

  • Brian L.

    Fabulous - perfect Hawaiin chill experience!!!!

    (4)

  • Lina P.

    I ordered the eggs benedict. It was the smallest portion I have ever seen. I asked for no bacon sub avo, and they charged me $2 for a small sliver. Im not exaggerating, I got 2 small leaves of spinach. The place is crowded with picnic chairs, there was a slight order, and the place just felt grimy. I dont think I'll be going back.

    (2)

  • Traci B.

    Awesome breakfast in a prime location for sunrise. Good food, service, and location makes this a great place!

    (5)

  • Claire B.

    My girlfriend and I went out for Ladies Night and ended up sitting for a few hours at Bongo Ben's.. the atmosphere was very nice, open & airy, with local music playing in the background.. My friend was very impressed with the attentive waiter who checked on us just enough to give us time to relax as we slowly ate our food.. and the food was yummy! I had the Pork Sandwich, which was huge, and my girlfriend had the Fish Taco Salad, which was super yummy [she shared with me!] I would definitely go back there.. we watched the sunset while people watching, and the tiki torches near our table added to the 'vacation' feeling & ambiance.. a very nice overall Kona experience for sure! Mahalo Bongo Ben's!

    (4)

  • Savannah G.

    I would go just for the $3 bloody marys which were delicious!! The breakfast was good but nothing to write home about... We had the eggs Benedict which I would give a 4 because the hollandaise sauce was yum!! (order it with the homemade biscuits instead of the english muffin and you wont be dissapointed--promise!) We also had the island pancakes but those were mediocre at best! Great view and great waitstaff though!

    (3)

  • Erin H.

    Food was better than expected...but that being said I wouldn't say it was anything worth raving over. Our table was thisclose to our neighbors so we ending up chatting to them because it seemed like it would've been a bit rude not to! Our drinks were more fruit juice than anything else and neither of us really enjoyed our food. I'm not a fajita person, but nothing else really sounded good so I decided to go for it. Ugh, big mistake. First and foremost, get up and leave the table or don a raincoat when they serve this. Yes, I know it's supposed to sizzle, but this thing popped hot, greasy, beef-y oil all over my arms, my neighbors arm/foot, and not to mention all over my dress. This thing needs to come with a splash shield or at least a warning of some sorts - what a freaking mess. As if I wasn't peeved enough the beef wasn't even that good. A bit too chewy to leave me with any happy thoughts (argh and my dress!) The BF had the pastrami burger and he didn't seem to care for it much either. Maybe they're better at breakfast? We were going to head over there and give it a shot one morning but never did. The only good thing about this place is of course the people watching, the view, and the entertainment if you're lucky.

    (2)

  • Sheryll D.

    Oh how i miss this place. My BF and I came here on the last day of our trip because I said to my BF..."hey, lets try that place since it has your name on it" (which was a bad idea)....We had the Loco Moco and the Banana Pancakes....OMG the food was soooooooo good. SOOOOOOO good. I say it was a bad idea to go there on the last day, because we have been craving for Bongo Bens since. We should have hit this place up first, so we could have a week with Bongo Ben. =) So please, if you are on the island, eat at this place....its sooo worth it. Im drooling just thinking about the food. Errrrrr, maybe i need another trip to Hawaii....

    (5)

  • David B.

    The breakfast is outstanding. Service is always excellent even when there are lines out the door. Food is high quality, good flavor and the view is spectacular.

    (4)

  • Anthony L.

    As we looked at the menu trying to decide a greeter talked about the specials and we were not convinced yet. She handed us a 10% discount card (good marketing) and so we gave it a try. We split a fish and chip sandwich and a guacamole burger. Burger was decent, and fish and chips were good because it was fresh. My big disappointment was the Mai tai. Seemed like there was hardly any alcohol in it. Especially when you have other spots close by that make a stiffer drink. The other turn off was the live music. It was country night I guess which is not my favorite kind of music and the people that really seemed to enjoy it were a bit on the "older" side. Not a bad place but there were better close by IMO.

    (3)

  • Lisa H.

    Really great service. The food wasnt really special, but it totally hit the spot. The waitress was really helpful with helping me order, since I have a few diet restrictions. I ordered the basic breakfast, which I substituted yogurt for the meat. Then got a pancake and eggs and some yummy fruit. It was tasty, but not special. Prices were decent. Worth a stop by if u get tired of eating at the big island cafe ....which is the best breakfast on the island.

    (4)

  • Casey O.

    Pretty good over all. Breakfasts were consistently good. Hubby had a great fresh Ahi. Prepared like it should be. Perfectly medium rare. Service can be iffy.

    (4)

  • Benjamin L.

    This place is great, this was the meeting point for all my excursions in Kona, as Bongo ben's is owned by one of the family members. Food is alright, i mean everything on the street is similar, touristy, but hey it gets the job done. Family friendly, live music, hard drinks, decent food. And one thing i noticed about service in all of Kona? Slow... they are already in paradise, no need to hustle... Same way as people drive lol.

    (3)

  • Joseph C.

    Went here for breakfast one day on our vaca; amazing biscuits, and really inexpensive. The decor is more like a dive bar, but you have a view of the ocean and will leave very full for very cheap

    (4)

  • Dan M.

    I remember watching on Man vs Food and Adam mentioned a LOCO MOCO at a restaurant in Oahu, as a island dish, so when i saw it on the menu I had to try it. First off it is alot of food, The bottom of the plate is piled with sticky white rice, then scrambled eggs and huge burger on top of that and then on top of all that was some very thick brown gravy. It was very good and filling. I actually ate the whole thing and the waitress told me most people don't finish it. I had this at another restaurant but it was not as good as Bongo Ben's. My wife had the french toast and the kids gobbled up their pancakes. Food was good and a easy walk from our hotel. I will be back when I visit Kona again.

    (4)

  • Maritel C.

    Loved Loved Loved the ambiance of this place! The hostess/manager was super friendly and was walking around talking to every table making sure they were situated. We came for drinks and appetizers on a Thursday night and they had a GREAT band playing! We even bought their CD! Minus one star, cuz the mai tai was disappointing...it tasted like sun tan lotion...eck...But, my husband enjoyed the longboard beers and we even came for breakfast the next day which we enjoyed.

    (4)

  • Rachael G.

    Waitress was a sweetheart. Food was "meh" at best. Very disappointed. Sticky table. Music too loud. Not kid friendly due to noise level.

    (1)

  • Kimthy D.

    So I went here twice in my two week stay. The first experience was average. Server wasn't as attentive as she should be but the food & drinks definitely made up for it. The second time was even better than the first. We tried the cheeseburger & fish taco (more like a burrito) and mai tai's were delicious. Same consistency of food and drinks with a more attentive server. I thoroughly enjoy both experiences sitting in front, facing the waves!

    (4)

  • Kimberly M.

    Live music in the evenings.. across from ocean and a busy street for the view..good fish fajitas..very big!..good vittles overall.. strong drinks.. good breakfast.. downstairs from Lulus.. awesome wait staff..gets busy! Ben's is a win for Kona!

    (3)

  • Frank D.

    I visited here for a Sunday brunch. The restaurant was busy, but I was seated right away. I ordered a Bloody Mary to start, and the made my omelette selection, along with grits and biscuits. The omelette was tasty, I had a bacon stuffed omelette. The grits were creamy and properly cooked. The biscuits were very good, went well with the breakfast. I commented to Dana, one of the managers, that this was a good southern breakfast. She responded by telling me that Kona is further south than Florida (who knew?), thus a real southern breakfast! Great food, good value, good atmosphere, great people watching. Highly recommended!

    (5)

  • Kelton J.

    Let's make this quick. Food: Mediocre to bland. Service: Pretentious, High School-ish, wait staff hired for their butts and legs, not for their skills. Live music, but I know a local player who used to play there and he tells me the owner is known for drunken tirades at musicians. Boo. Me no go.

    (1)

  • Richard C.

    Great place for breakfast and lunch! Dinner is too loud (twangy musicians) and below Lulu's. They have the best Loco Moco in town (seriously!), and the best Tuna Melts.

    (4)

  • Megan M.

    I was very unimpressed with Bongo Ben's. We stopped in for a late lunch with our two children after a day of sightseeing on the Kona side. We were going to go to Outback but alas they weren't open and oh boy to I regret that. I ordered a Club sandwich with a salad which I figured couldn't be messed up to badly. The salad was dirty and limp. The garlic vinaigrette which is supposed to be "amazing" was bland, tasteless and had the consistency of gravy that had been in the fridge since Thanksgiving. The sandwich looked good but upon wolfing down the first quarter and glancing at the 2nd I realized the chicken was under cooked and pink. Yikes! My husband had the spaghetti and meatballs which he said were good, but then again he will eat just about anything as long as it doesn't kill him. The kid's meals were small portions and just microwave pizzas from Costco or Sams Club. Not worth the money. Service here wasn't much better, actually probably worse... The staff was inattentive, gossiped and talked loudly amongst each other. Waitresses were all over the place but were all too busy consoling what I can only assume was another waitress on her day off sobbing and drinking at the bar. I will never go back there and even with my husband's mouth and stomach eat a meal from there again. I spent the next day sick to my stomach and praying to the porcelain gods to forgive me for my trespasses at Bongo Ben's.

    (1)

  • Gail C.

    They were busy and there where 7 of us...We were seated right away and the food was great. We all loved it. A must eat!

    (4)

  • Jesse M.

    We are a family of 6. We showed up at 8 am for breakfast. Around 8:15 I ordered. Around 8:40 we got half of our drinks. Just after 9 we got the other half of our drinks. Not exaggerating at 9:30ish we got half of our food and it was all cold. 10 I asked for the check because they had not brought us the rest of our food. Then they tried to charge us for stuff we didn't order and never received. I ask for the manager and he said sorry we are busy. I could go on but really you should get the point. This was the worst dinning experience ever and we travel all over the world.

    (1)

  • Margene H.

    Great spot off the beach on Kona. Loved the Passionfruit Beer!

    (4)

  • John B.

    Great food and service! Try a biscuit with mango syrup!

    (4)

  • Justin K.

    Breakfast was amazing but service was par

    (4)

  • Joel P.

    After visiting here in January of this year I had to come back just to make sure I wasnt over-hyping this place in my mind. I went back and confirmed that indeed this place rocks! Not only was the staff friendly and attentive but helpful and patient with the 6 kids in our party. Food was awesome! I had the fresh fish with papaya salsa and grilled veggies and it was perfect. One of the people in our party had Fish Nachos and they rocked!!! Very family friendly, excellent drinks, terrific food, check this place out!

    (4)

  • Sarah C.

    We ate here 4 times while we were vacationing in Kailua Kona! We loved it and would've gone again had we been in town longer! It was good food at good prices- nice to find when you're already spending so much money on vacation! Seemed like a great mix of visitors and locals! Service was always great! The best location we found for watching the sunset! $3 bloody marys and mimosas from 7am until 2pm! What a deal! Love the "belly bar" where you can sit facing the ocean! Plenty of vegetarian options too! Garlic vinaigrette salad dressing is very good! Loved their breakfast- had the island French toast with bananas and macadamia nuts TWICE! yum yum!

    (5)

  • Creighton B.

    Ok breakfast, nothing to write home about... However, the coffee is weak and just plain bad...

    (2)

  • Jake G.

    Pork omelet was awesome. Banana Mac nut pancakes were ok. They were regular pancakes with mac nut and bananas on top. Does not compare with banana pancakes with Mac nut syrup that is elsewhere

    (3)

  • Ashley H.

    Let me start this review by saying i am an extremely picky eater! while on vacation we struggled trying to find good paces for food and drinks...until we stumbled into bongo bens. the food was so good we ended up going back for breakfast the next day! order yourself a Mai Tai and you wont be disappointed! hands down Nia makes the best Mai Tais on the island! loved their customer service! the waitress' are awsome!

    (5)

  • R H.

    Very good breakfast. I had the biscuits & gravy. Fresh water (no chlorine taste,) good coffee. Nice outdoor seating but some indoor as well. Lots of birds begging for bread which was kind of cute in it's own way. The staff was very friendly and helpful.

    (4)

  • Jim E.

    This is a great place. Very good food at very reasonable prices for the islands. Get there between 4 and 6 for happy hour. $1 off apps and drinks. A large frosty mug of beer including imports like Newcastle are $4 regular and $3 during happy hour. Wife had a island chicken sandwich and fries. It was a large chicken breast with teriyaki and pineapple. Very good for $9. I had a veggie wrap that was also very good. It came with fries also (or other sides) and was also $9 if I remember right. We will go back! I also added a review for Bongo Bob's in error. Too many Newcastles and I forgot the right name, but not the location... sorry about that.

    (5)

  • Lynn S.

    Food was good and service was great.

    (4)

  • Diane W.

    Great view. Good prices & food.. They give you a pot of coffee! Great biscuits!

    (5)

  • Greg B.

    Great service and good food. Nice location just across the street from the beach. Bongo!

    (5)

  • Justyna Y.

    My husband and I were rushing to get to our snorkel & dive activity and we didn't have a lot of time to eat. We stopped by this place and the waitress promised us a fast service. My husband ordered a cheeseburger and I got a veggie wrap. Both were very good. The service was really good and we were able to order, eat and pay within 20 minutes. The place overall is average, nothing special of fancy. It's located conveniently by all the other restaurants and shops and definitely it's worth stopping by if you're hungry for some comfort food. I would give it 3.5 stars if I could.

    (3)

  • Melissa T.

    Great service, great food and good prices.

    (4)

  • Alulubeth O.

    My kiddos & I just had breakfast @ Bongo Ben's this morning. Nice location overlooking the ocean. Huge menu, gigantic portions and very reasonable prices. The service was great. The ladies took very good care of us. Thank you, ladies!

    (5)

  • Jamie W.

    When you eat on one place three times while you're on vacation, one of only two things is true: there's either nowhere else to eat, or it's someplace you really enjoy. One of the best features of Bongo Ben's is the Belly Bar - the long side by side table looking out across the street and off to the horizon. It's a great place to have a great meal, to meet and chat with the nice people to either side of you and to watch the sunset. Oh, and if you're lucky, as we were, you might even get a visit from one or two of the local geckos (for which the restaurant is named). The establishment features Texas sized portions at reasonable prices. Everything's good! Try the catch of the day, I recommend grilled. Oh and their spaghetti is fantastic! Who would've imagined? Live music is featured in the evenings and a welcome addition that helps makes the visit a real island pleasure. Make sure to stop by for Breakfast, Lunch or dinner. Be friendly, and have a great time.

    (4)

  • Susie O.

    Another restaurant right next to our hotel in Kona so we stopped by and gave the breakfast a try..it had a nice view too. I ordered the breakfast burrito with a small fruit plate. It was good, They have a lot of options.

    (3)

  • Trisha M.

    Really enjoyed our last sunset dinner at Bongo Bens. Great, friendly and quick service. The food was fresh and tasted wonderful. Rowena was a wonderful sweet hostess... Would definitely recommend this restaurant.

    (5)

  • Adrienne T.

    Delicious food, live music, view of the water and friendly staff! We got the fish and chips, ice mocha, ice tea ---all tasty!

    (5)

  • Angela C.

    Loved it the first evening we came here, the nachos & fish fajitas the first time we came here were awesome and hit the spot just right. Also the view and ambiance of the ocean front was beautiful. The next time we came here for breakfast -not so good, it bumped my initial rating of 4 down to 2. It was wet, dirty and loud. And the food was just average.. nothing better than a Denny's. Maybe in daylight things don't look as good at Bongo Ben's.

    (2)

  • Gibby K.

    Great Place for Breakfast! We ate breakfast here on 3 occasions during our stay because the food was 1) Very good 2) large portions and 3) priced very reasonably. The pulled pork omelet and Loco Moco entrees give you a little taste of Hawaii. The Fresh Catch 'Ahi Tuna' and eggs was a great value deal. They probably have the best omelets on the Island. If you do the Shell Timeshare thing, you can get a coupon for 20% off the entire bill. Talk to 'JP' at the little kiosk in front of the restaurant. Aloha!

    (4)

  • Samantha T.

    Stopped here as part of a happy hour crawl along Alii Dr. I ordered a Jake's Punch and it tasted like jungle juice - dangerous stuff!

    (3)

  • Larry L.

    This by far is our favorite place to eat on the Island. After 3 weeks and many restaurants, we have been back to Bongo Ben's 3 times and always enjoyed great food and service! We will be back!

    (5)

  • Barry Z.

    Solid breakfast place with great view and people watching. They advertise cheap bloody Mary's but sadly they are cheap because they are weak. Ask for a "preferred" customer card and save 15% on all food. Service is OK as long as you do not get one of the gals that had too much fun the night before and therefore grumpy.

    (3)

  • Mehana K.

    Went for breakfast and got asked to leave by the manager because a friends 1 year old baby was "disrupting the entire restaurant"...(spoken by the manager herself)...never in my life have I ever experienced this before and I have been a server for 8 years...as has the mother of the baby. The baby was just simply communicating with us as most teething babies do!! They call themselves a "family restaurant"??? Pfffff that couldn't be any further from the truth! Never going there again...

    (1)

  • Carter F.

    Great views, friendly staff, $3 mimosa/bloody mary's, breakfast starting at $5, deserved a good review. Food is good, but sometimes not as much as you'd like for the cost. Live music at night was also great.

    (4)

  • Tony C.

    We went here for breakfast and everything was pretty good. I had the chili omelet. The chili tasted homemade and the eggs were quite fluffy and folded over nicely. The home fries were seasoned nicely too. My wife had oatmeal..can't screw that up (although people have somehow figured out a way to do that). My mother-in-law had the ahi tuna sahimi breakfast where she said the fish was quite fresh. My father-in-law had the banana nut pancakes. It was all very acceptable. Breakfast here was definitely cheaper than Island Lava Java, but it didn't quite have the same presentation. I'm not sure how big I am on presentation in the morning though. I'm just interested in eating breakfast food and having a nice cup of coffee. Actually, that does bring me to the only downer of this place: The coffee kinda sucked. Given there's Kona pretty much everywhere else, this stuff was weak Folder's roast. They should rename it caffeinated water.

    (3)

  • Mary L.

    This was a great place for breakfeast i had a few different things and it was all pretty good..... prices were not so bad... and where can you find $3 bloody mary s????view was great......

    (4)

  • L G.

    Yup. Great eggs Benedict. This place can poach an egg. We ate here about four or five times and I was pleased each time. The first breakfast we had some pancakes with delicious coconut syrup. While eating the pancakes a bright gecko strutted up to the plate to check out the meal, I did not share. For my last meal there, had eggs Benedict and steak... Along with a few $3 bloody marys. This will be the regular spot for my Kona breakfast.

    (4)

  • H T.

    The menu looked awesome with such a variety to choose from, but the food just tasted OK. The drinks were not mixed well and I would go somewhere else for mixed drinks too.

    (2)

  • Natasha P.

    Loved it! Beautiful view, live music, delicious food and drinks. Best fajitas I've ever had (pulled pork)!

    (5)

  • Flinders T.

    We had breakfast here one Sunday morning. We both got the Huevos Rancheros. They were delicious. We also got a mimosa. yummy. The staff is very friendly and the location is fun. Right on the strip. Every time we went buy in the evening it was packed and everyone was having such a fantastic time.

    (4)

  • Sarah E.

    Went here for lunch one day and was pleasantly surprised by how good the food was. At out table for four, we had the grilled ahi tuna, fish and chips, pulled pork sandwich, and calamari steak sandwich. Everything was delicious and filling. Our server was very nice and was great with refills. The seating is outside, but there is a nice coastal breeze. This is also a great place to people watch. And there is a big parking lot which is always a plus!

    (5)

  • Nhi K.

    A day after swimming with the dolphins we only had to eat at tour company's restaurant. This family owned restaurant is really poppin in the early morning and afternoon. It took a few minutes for us to be seated. I think people here like to cook their oil with eggs. My omelet was drenched in oil and was extremely salty. Sisters ordered the hula chicken sandwich and their grilled fresh fish sandwich- these were delicious! I totally ordered wrong! Always stick to the fish in Hawaii! Our waitress was attentive and friendly. The place is busy, so if you don't mind sitting about 5 inches from another party and ordering their non- breakfast items, this I the place to be.

    (3)

  • Daryl C.

    We walked to this place almost every morning. Fantastic breakfast and amazing views. It can get a bit crowded for breakfast so plan to wait, especially if you want to stare at the ocean while enjoying breakfast.

    (4)

  • Crystal D.

    Good food. Good prices. Great view. My fav- fish taco when ahi is in!

    (5)

  • starrynight c.

    This place is pretty solid for what you get. We came here right before heading to the airport...solid place for brunch, not too expensive, tons of options. They're more known for their burgers. The bf had a loco moco and the meat and sauce in there was yummy. I had a fish taco (which is really more of a fish burrito...why not just change the name?) and that was fresh, and hit the spot for leaving paradise for me. Again, nothing special. Friendly service, decent food.

    (3)

  • Anthony W.

    Stopped on by this place for breakfast on friday. Man oh man, was it delicious. Great service, good people. My kind of place. Right on the other side of the street but with a very nice ocean view. Worth your time walking down here and having some good eats. The staff were both nice, and courteous. When I come back to the island ill be hitting this place up again.

    (4)

  • Lucy D.

    Great ! My friend and originally wanted to have a late breakfast in the center of Kona but were put off by the 8 Dollar for 2 hours parking fee. So we drove a little away and found Bongo Ben's where we got free parking. We were sitting outside with views of the water which was great. There was shade so we didn't get a sunburn. My friend had a late breakfast while I got an early lunch. Both meals were large, tasty and reasonably priced. We both had coffee which was supposedly 100% Kona coffee, for just 2 Dollars per person with free refills. Whatever coffee that was, it was great ! And I sure am picky about my coffee. The service was great too. The place was busy but the waitress still managed to make us happy. The have many food choices, particularly if you come at the same time we did when both breakfast and lunch are served (I think breakfast is until 2pm, lunch starts at 11am). The bread and biscuits are home-made. I was impressed, most of the burgers come on a bun that they made ! The food is mostly American with lots of burgers including beef, chicken and fish burgers. The also have fish dishes.

    (5)

  • Jessica A.

    I wish I would have found this place earlier in my vacation, because it had the best breakfast! Good selection, friendly attentive service. Tasty food, and a killer ocean view.

    (5)

  • Heather B.

    This place has great breakfast! I got the banana mac nut pancakes and my husband got the chorizo scramble and we both loved it. The staff was friendly and it was affordable. The complete opposite of the place across the street.

    (5)

  • Darrell B.

    We came here for breakfast three times between April 25th and May 3rd. The prices for restaurant were very reasonable for Hawaii and breakfast here is pretty decent. The view is excellent as you look across the road at the beautiful downtown ocean front. The Huevos Rancheros and Banana Pancakes were great as were the Bloody Marys that were on sale for breakfast. The service is pretty good. Overall one of the best spots for breakfast in Kona.

    (4)

  • Jennifer C.

    Sunday brunch buffet is where it's at! Compared to our resort (Royal Kona Resort) brunch buffet, Bongo Ben's tops it every day, any day, all day! The buffet has an assortment of bacon, sausage, egg bake thingi, poke, enchilada, rice, chili rellenos, waffles, some desserts, and two stations: the pancake station and the omelette station. The pancake station had toppings such as blueberries, banana, nuts, etc. The omelette station had an assortment of veggies and ham. Each pancake was the size of the plate and the omelette took over half of a plate. They were ginormous in size and flavor!!!! and that's hard to find in a brunch buffet! The arnold palmer was too much ice tea and not enuf lemonade, but it was endless. :) If you ever visit kona, definitely stop by and give it a taste! you won't be sorry!

    (4)

  • V. S.

    $3 Spicy Bloody Marys are DELICIOUS! Thanks Bongo Ben's!

    (5)

  • Gary F.

    It's a tourist area so expect that. I did like it though. I was eying out the Prime Rib special but since we got here a little late, they were sold out. Had the Beef Fajitas instead. Came on a sizzling plate which was cool. 3.9 for good service but the food seemed kind of average. Good music but a bit too loud for me. Must be showing my age. haha G

    (3)

  • Monique L.

    We ate a couple of meals at this place while staying in Kona. Our waiter at breakfast one morning was out to lunch. Our theories on his "absentmindedness" were either super hung over or high as a kite. We had the breakfast burrito, a couple of omelets and the banana mac-nut french toast. The only really memorable dish was the pulled pork omelet. Dinner was much of the same experience. Many different dishes but the only memorable one was the pulled pork sandwich. We celebrated a birthday here and brought a cake. We didn't have much to decorate but the restaurant puts a purple orchid on each dish so we asked if they could put a couple on the cake before bringing it out. They decorated it but with parsley rather than orchids. We had a couple left from our main courses so we threw them on the cake. The good thing about this restaurant is the location, great for watching people walking down the street, and TONS of bikers riding by and parking right in front of the restaurant. The live band is also pretty good, a little corny at times but still entertaining and funny.

    (3)

  • Jonathan C.

    I have had a few breakfasts at Bongo Bens this week. Their food is very good, the service is friendly and they are very good about letting you have extra fruit or veggies instead of a breakfast starch. The fresh fish catch breakfast meal is excellent! I haven't had dinner there yet, but I have walked past many times while they have outdoor live entertainment. Everyone I have seen so far has been pretty talented.

    (4)

  • Nari H.

    came with some friends for a sunday lunch. I ordered the pulled pork sandwich with the salad and the sandwich was delicious. Had the salad with the balsalmic dressing which I really liked. I can't remember what my friends had, but everything we ordered we liked. Server was very nice, and we'd definitely come back.

    (4)

  • Kirk J.

    This place was recommended by the front desk of our resort. We walked there to have breakfast. Service was a bit askew due to trainees but we can work with anyone usually. The manager or trainer (maybe she does both) ended up taking our order after somewhat berating the waitress assigned to our table. Imagine our surprise when the food came out wrong and the bigger surprise when the check was over charging for what we received. The food was bland and uninspired. Breakfast is hard to screw up but Bongo Ben's managed to do it. Avoid this place at all costs.

    (1)

  • Mike C.

    Great view. 2 stars because of view only. Crappy food. Worse than a motel room service. Had fajitas...made in bqq sauce. Bad.... drinks bad. Flat beer. Asked for blended drink got on the rocks. Made again and was undrinkable. I don't know if wait staff was really bad or just really didn't care, but they sucked.... cheap plastic chairs that broke on an old guy eating....no one seemed to care.... Just sit in front of resturaunt for 5 minutes, take in the beautiful view, then RUN AWAY!!!!!!

    (2)

  • jen r.

    12 for a breakfast buffet!!!! need i say more? ok ok i will.. the service was awesome..everyone was super nice and on top of things, checking in on us - refills, cleaning up used plates, etc.. the food was delicious. we all had the buffet and there were several options, eggs, potatoes, meats, biscuits/gravy, omelette station, sweets etc. the view and ambiance was awesome laid back fun!!

    (4)

  • Ellie P.

    Very friendly and Helpful staff! Food was SO good!! Great view!!

    (5)

  • Kristine D.

    The atmosphere in this place is fun, fun, fun! I think the attitude of the staff and management has a great deal to do with that. Every employee we encountered was upbeat, pleasant and a joy to deal with. I don't know how some of them do it! The manager on deck during our visit was directing hungry guests waiting for tables at both the front and back doors. He somehow orchestrated this like an air traffic controller ignoring any grumbling he heard about empty tummies. If you're lucky, he'll give you some beautiful scenery to enjoy with your meal. He sat my family at one of the long tables that ring the edge of the patio. The seating is setup so these tables function like counters. From ours we enjoyed a view of Alii Drive and the ocean on the other side of it. It was a great way to start the day! Bongo Ben's offers a terrific kids menu. My daughter devoured the Kids' Bongo Breakfast --- one Island fresh egg, any style, choice of Bacon, Ham, Portuguese Sausage or Country Sausage and choice of home fries, grits or rice & choice of fresh biscuit or toast. (Lots of choices there Ben, sort of like a life lesson of breakfasts.) My son got a kick out of the Happy Face Pancake. The grownup menu includes heart healthy choices and lighter portions for those counting calories. We left energized and ready to take on the day. The food is good. Prices are reasonable. Service is decent and the setting is tough to beat.

    (5)

  • Shahin N.

    Made our first stop on the big island here after to eat. Food is pretty varied- burgers, tacos, chicken etc... fast, attentive service. Super cheap beers on tap, I got a volcano red ale for 3 bucks! All they're pints were that much. Food was greatly priced for the area too...10-13 for most stuff. I got the fish tacos which were pretty good, and the catch of the day burger was great. Also, worth mentioning that the coleslaw was made with pineapple, which was a welcome change. My sister had the pineapple chicken burger which she was raving about too. Overall terrific place to stop for an economical, fast, tasty meal

    (4)

  • Melanie M.

    Nothing special, some live music and nice view, but food is overpriced, greasy, bar food, and service was EXTREMELY slow, albeit friendly. I guess if you were looking to hang out and drink, no rush, and not eat, it would be worth it. Maybe.

    (2)

  • Yasmin V.

    YIKES! Came here with a big group of locals. Ordered Mai Tai, meh...watery and flavorless, not to mention weak. Ordered Coconut Fresh Catch Ono. Nowhere did I see on the menu that it was VERY deep fried. It was like Coconut scented deep fried CARDBOARD. Bad choice. Others ordered Fresh Catch Ono and it was tasty, so there you have it. Nice fresh vegetable side of mixed squash, yum. Nice Mango Salsa atop the fish. Would I go again? Not likely.

    (2)

  • LA G.

    We have eaten here at Bongo Ben's many times and have always had great service and delicious food. We love to sit at the counter facing the ocean so that we can watch life happen while eating. My little girl loves this place and we especially love to come for breakfast. We met the owner and he is a super nice guy. If you are coming to Kona then by all means eat here and see for yourself!!! :-)

    (5)

  • Bill M.

    Fish Tacos? No way, they were more like Fish Burritos. The Ahi was done all the way through, not dry, slightly seasoned. There was a tasty sauce and plenty of lettuce and tomato to make for a messy, filling experience. The view is spectacular from the outdoor, under roof seating. We had two folks helping us, the first gent took our drink order. I asked for a drink recommendation, he asked where I was from. When I said Ohio, he was pleased to emphasize the "O" on his hat, having gone to school at OSU. He then tells us that he commuted from Youngstown to Columbus for a while. What a small world. He's a native of Kona. I figure everyone knows somebody from Youngstown, OH. Hell, most everyone has left over the last 30 years, I guess that makes sense. To the drinks, he suggested a Blue Hawaii for the wife and a Mai Tai for me. Both were very good, my Mai Tai being better than the ones I'd had at the Hilton Waikoloa (sorry Tim). I switched to a Margarita, but quickly switched back to the Mai Tai. Yes, I had 3 drinks. I needed them to make that long walk back to parking in Kona. If you sit at the bar that overlooks the ocean across the street, keep an eye out for Chucky, the jam-eatin' green gecko. Don't miss this place.

    (4)

  • Gayle M.

    Stopped here for breakfast our first day in Kona & fell in love with this place! Had their biscuits & gravy & Eggs Benedict. The Hollandaise sauce was the best we've ever tasted! Decided we needed to come back for dinner that night. The hostess recommended the Ride Tom burger & we were not disappointed AT ALL! There was live entertainment, even got an impromptu hula from one of the local entertainers! About halfway through our meal it started to rain, but it was all good, we were under an umbrella. A very nice gentleman came & asked if we needed a towel & low & behold, it was the owner! He suggested we come back & try their Chicken Alfredo, so we decided right then we had found our new home on the island. Came back the next night for dinner & I tell you, it was the best, freshest Chicken Alfredo I have ever had! The prices are very reasonable, wait staff extremely attentive to our needs & a great atmosphere. Highly recommend stopping in for a meal. While there, try the Tropical Swamp Water. DELISH!!!

    (5)

  • K W.

    Da best! We ate here with two couples and all four of us loved the food. Is it nothing fancy, but it overlooks the ocean just across the street. The service was great and the food was excellent. We talk about it all the time. Can't wait to go back!

    (5)

  • Shirley M. J.

    Bad service at both Bongo Ben's and Lu-Lu's. Food was greasy. Meat market-not for me. Drinks=miniscule.

    (2)

  • Shellie W.

    Just got back from the islands and this place has a wonderful breakfast! My fav was the Banana Mac-Nut Pancakes, could only ever finish half but I am a pancake nut and they were the best pancakes I have ever had. Seriously, ya know the movie where the family travels across America and the kid always orders pancakes, that was seriously me for two straight weeks. My husband has endured many a mediocre breakfasts at IHOP so I could have the pancakes. True love! They also have a fabulous Bloody Mary in the morning for $3! Slammin!

    (4)

  • Kccstrong A.

    We're time-honored fans of arriving at 7 a.m. when they open up and aren't crowded yet, getting a road-side table to people watch, ordering coffee and a beer, and grinding on their pork chops with grits and eggs breakfast... 'great way to start the day.

    (4)

  • Camille F.

    Go for the Sunday Brunch Buffet!

    (4)

  • Jodie P.

    Bongo Ben's was the only place we went to breakfast in Kona, and we were not dissapointed one bit. $4 Mimosas and Bloody Mary's. My husband had Macadamia Nut French Toast with island bananas- it was out of this world. I had a delicious omelette and a side of fresh fruit. The food and the view were amazing. The only thing that was a downer... was the guy trying to sell us excursions at the booth a few feet from our table. He didn't work for Bongo Ben's... we don't believe. But we were trying to enjoy our nice breakfast and he kept asking us questions about what we plan to do while we are there. Was a bit annoying! But... we were in paradise and didn't let it get to us. We'd still return to Bongo Bens.... just make sure you sit far from the excursion booth

    (4)

  • Mike D.

    My fiancee and I spent a week in Kona this past April. We tried most of the restaurants on the strip, but had one of our best Breakfasts at Bongo Ben's. The food was 3 stars, but the outdoor "bar" type seating with a great view pushed my rating to 4.

    (4)

  • Kristine T.

    Fun live music when we were here on a Friday night though the band was done by 11pm which seemed a little early. We ordered the sashimi app which was seared slightly and rolled in some tasty seasonings. It was a little pricey considering the ambiance and size ($20 at market rate) but good. My bf had a dinner size salad (can't remember which one) and I had the quesadilla app. Both were very good, the salad was a good size. Drinks are decent, not too strong or weak. All in all it was a decent meal, I'd give it a 7 out of 10. The other dishes coming out of the kitchen looked good if that says anything....

    (4)

  • R T.

    Good location, but average food. Still giving three stars because kids liked the food more than we did. Veggie wrap was good but burgers were average.

    (3)

  • Kyoto W.

    Ahi was dry. Pizza was gross.

    (2)

  • Johnson H.

    Came here after it was suggested by Babette (BB) whose family owns the restaurant as well as the Manta Ray Tour program. First and foremost, Babette is a quite cool - provides a lot info about tours, her family has two restaurants and several tours you should check out. We went to Bongos for food on July 4th. They have daily live music. Relaxing atmosphere.

    (4)

  • Carol M.

    Great breakfast!! Good coffee with free refills!! Fantastic wait staff. And the VIEW!!!!

    (5)

  • Mike H.

    This was the first place I ate when I came to Kailua-Kona and loved the food, drink, band and staff. I had to pick up some people at the airport so I couldn't stay long. After picking my friends up we came back and had a great night. The next morning we asked some locals where to go for the best local breakfast and the told us Bongo Ben's so we went back and again we had great food, drinks and service. The next night we went to Lu Lu's upstairs so we don't spend the whole time eating and drinking at the same place but Lu Lu's had the worst service so we left and went back to Bongo Ben's. You guessed it another great night. Keep up the great work Bongo Ben's and I'll see you soon.

    (4)

  • Erica R.

    Eggs Benedict is awesome - its a lot of food & a half order would be more than enough. My boyfriend got the LOCO MOCO & was really happy. We'll be there again next year....see you then!

    (4)

  • Mark G.

    Great breakfast, cheap morning drinks! Definitely the best breakfast in Kona for our trip!

    (4)

  • Rose T.

    The atmosphere is fun & relaxing and if you get a seat right by the sidewalk, you'll have a nice view of the water. I like to people watch so sitting by the street was perfect. Both times that I have been there, I had a delicious egg white scramble with spinach. It was perfect every time. The waitress are very friendly and service is great, too. I highly recommend it if you like a casual atmosphere.

    (4)

  • Sheri M.

    I was totally surprised because the food and the service was great. And the view is perfect.

    (4)

  • crystel s.

    Mediocre food but awesome view and adorable servers! I had the Greek salad and boyfriend had the fish and chips. Both were ok.

    (4)

  • Linda M.

    You are on the street level so it Improves your view across Alii Dr and its great for people watching and we sat at a Bar so we all had front row seats The view is great but you have to look through a ton of traffic . Lots of street noise we just randomly walked in and decided to try it and it was simply put a island feel but with the type of food I associate with a chain nothing stood out . They serve same day fresh fish as do most places they just seem to overpower it with other flavor's. The Best thing was the Fresh Coconut Crusted Mahi too bad I did not get it till later they brought me the coconut crusted Prawns and I had to wait awhile for my food and everyone else was almost finished I personally hate this about eating out either everyone waits to eat with you and their food gets cold or you end up eating alone feeling rushed since your the only 1 still eating . So the Mahi was very good I simply did not enjoy it . Bacon Cheeseburger Broiled fresh ground beef patty with bacon and cheese I will not comment any more on the burgers I was thinking are you serious your eating burgers all over Hawaii when The fresh fish is everywhere oh and by the way they eat fish... Greek Salad topped with Fresh Ahi Rare but it was simply plain missing most of the traditional Greek salad ingredients and what was there was very skimpy.. The Calamari Appetizer was good but you can get it exactly the same at any chain .. We also Had chili cheese fries and they were tasty .. Fresh Catch Grilled Fresh Catch Ahi Rare, Topped with fresh Papaya fruit salsa, sauteed mixed vegetables, mixed green salad . Nice Fresh Ahi Last and the least liked My Mom has been watching me eat all of these fabulous fresh fish tacos so she tries the South of the border wrap it was awful it was simply overpowered by the chipolte sauce not as in heat just as in to much . She is game a soldered Thur it I would not have ate it . We ordered smoothies when we asked to mix flavor's it was a extra charge of $2 which i don't get its simply less of 1 kind and a little of another and they were bland . All in all I had a Lava Man Red Ale local beer and it was excellent . So Total bill was about $100 but I really thought it was mediocre food.. Our server was Leela she was pleasant but really was bored and didn't seem to care bringing the wrong food is not the customers fault and you should really try to make the experience improve from there not just go oh well and walk away ..

    (2)

  • Tom M.

    Been there couple of time and took carry out. Got burgers (including calamari one) on several occasions. Nothing fancy but OK - you definitely can get better burgers at Ultimate burger but you have to drive. Service is lacking - very slow on all occasions.

    (3)

  • Michelle P.

    beautiful view with a light papaya granola and yogurt breakfast. bloody marys are great, even the virgin ones.

    (4)

  • Mitchell F.

    I don't see why this place was so popular. Breakfast was interesting... There was dessert. Which is fine, I thought that was cool. The coffee pot was disgusting and the bathrooms were unsanitary.

    (3)

  • Kristina M.

    Great location, but the service was horrible. Our waitress looked like Cameron Diaz, and she wasn't quick to move for anything. The place was not even packed yet the manager assisted with our table. I wasn't overly excited about it and was ready to leave, and my boyfriend had to end up walking the check up to the register to complete the transaction.

    (2)

  • Cindy M.

    we go there every time we are on Island.. every year.. and the Mahi Mahi is ONO!!!! as in the best .. We have had nothing but great service.. and we also know that in any setting.. things can't be exactly perfect.. but, it's pretty much perfect for us.. Broke da mouff good grinds! not too pricey either.. good breakfasts as well.. remember when you're out to eat.. the people serving you are people too.. so be nice! you get more flies with sugar.. as the saying goes!! Aloha Nui Loa!!

    (5)

  • Gregg W.

    Fast service the chicken club kicked ass

    (5)

  • Angela S.

    I guess you just want a wide menu of grinds, then it's a place to go. However, the food is okay and it more feels like a feeding line of cows with the smell of stale beer from last night's feeding. SOOOOO many better places to go with a healthier and tastier eats.

    (3)

  • Phillip C.

    Been going to this casual eatery for quite a few.years and it has yet to disappoint me. From the smiling staff to the very good food and drinks to the pleasant entertainment you can't go wrong. The portions and drinks are huge with very moderate prices; so I recommend giving it a try.

    (4)

  • Michael O.

    Noisy place, noisy location. Food nothing to rave about.

    (2)

  • Khoi N.

    great food good price good portion. Live music at night is win with patio overlooking sunset. ate here for breakfast and dinner

    (4)

  • Lisa M.

    We stopped in at Bongo Ben's last Friday night 9-17 for a drink as there was some great tunes coming from the place. $3 drafts all the time! That was the ticket! As well we went back on Saturday evening for dinner and drinks and tunes again! The trio they had playing both nights were awesome local guys, Rock and Hawaiian tunes with a local flare, i.e. Electric Ukulele, this guy rocked the house down! A place we will definately return to when on the Big Island again next year ~ Mahalo!

    (4)

  • Aaron S.

    Very average food for a decent price- most nights it's a tourist trap but once in a while you can sneak in there without seeing to many sunburns. I would bring groups of people because they have a menu that can satisfy many. Always good service.

    (3)

  • Carousing F.

    Average in almost every way!!! We had average food, average service, in a cookie cutter location that looks like a lot of the other places in Kona. Not bad... but not extraordinary in any way.

    (3)

  • Alan A.

    My fiance and I arrived at the Royal Kona Resort later in the evening around 8:30pm. By the the time we changed and got down to ground level, we were told that many of the restaurants around the hotel would be closing soon. Luckily, we stumbled upon Bongo Ben's. The atmospere was pleasant enough with a band playing live music outside. I ordered the fish and chips, and my fiance ordered the fish tacos. The food was good, and the service was above average. The waitresses were very service oriented, and super friendly. I would definately go back there again.

    (4)

  • J J.

    This casual bar and grill is located in the town of Kailua-Kona about 1 mile from the pier. It resides where a dump of a restaurant, Durty Jakes was run to the ground. The owners gutted the place and now it's a wonderfully clean establishment that offers fresh and tasty breakfast, lunch & dinner, along with excellent customer service. The GM, Greg, comes from a fine dining background and knows a thing or two about customer service. My husband, 3 year old, and I enjoyed breakfast there yesterday morning. We had the Mac nut pancakes, Mac nut waffles, and our daughter had the "happy face" pancake and eggs. All of us devoured our meals, as we over looked the ocean and Alii Drive on the indoor/outdoor covered patio. Amongst us were many other families, as well as football fans watching Sunday games on their many flat screen TVs. On Sunday they also have a reasonably priced buffet brunch. We look forward to enjoying lunch and dinner here, trying their locally caught fresh fish and highly recommended pulled pork selections, as well as cocktails. More reviews to come.

    (4)

  • Nidhi S.

    This place is a definite try for those visiting Kona and taking a walk or a drive through Ali'i drive. Everything about this place is super awesome!! Location: Right on Ali'i drive and the outside patio seating looks out straight to the ocean. If you are lucky and dining outside you may spot a few Dolphins jumping in the waters. It's in the center of the Ali'i drive and about 5 mins walk from the hotels. Has a lot of gift shops and convenience stores very close to it. So the perfect location to dine if you are out shopping or taking a stroll near the seaside. Food: delicious food with lots of options on their menus. We tried the 100% veggie burger and the veggie pizza. Both were super good. The pizza was filled with fresh veggies and the house made pizza sauce and crust added to the crunch. Service: the service was quick and we were happy how perfectly they understood the customization that we had requested for (since we are vegetarian) As the name suggests, it's a perfect island. Don't expect it to be really prim and proper but that's the beauty of this place. You could probably spot one of those green Hawaiian lizards outside the patio. The relaxed island beachy feel is what this place is all about. A must try!

    (4)

  • Jesse G.

    I'll keep it fairly short and to the point. My wife and I went for breakfast. The place was hopping but not too much. We were seated right away. Nice so far. We made our orders for pancakes and a waffle, which came out in a decent amount of time. That's where it starts going downhill. The food was okay, but their version of island fruit on a waffle was some banana slices (not good ones) 3 small chunks of orange, and 2 small pieces of pineapple. We never saw the waitress again for about 45 minutes. Never refilled our drinks, never checked on us, never brought the check. The table next to us was there as long as we were. Tl;dr. Bad service, okay food. I wouldn't go back. Too many other good places.

    (2)

  • Sarah W.

    The staff and service were great, especially pointing out deals and specials like the fresh ahi and the $2 appetizers. The chips and salsa are terrific- the chips are made in house and are so good. The battered fish and chips and the fish sandwich are great, and the onion rings were freaking amazing. Crispy and perfectly done, and delicious. Their kids menu is a great deal, too: entree and chips or salad plus drink and a treat. The kids pizza received five stars from our 7 year old. The view is terrific, too, and we were made to feel so welcome we will surely be back on this trip. Mahalo!

    (5)

  • Ivette M.

    Good recommendation from our Wyndham Club Vacation hostess. Outside seating and view was amazing. Kids' menu was good enough for our girls with the standard kids favorites. Lunch was good and very generous portions. Hubby has the BBQ sandwich with cheese fries. He said it has good flavor but the meat could have been more tender. I had a burger and it was good, juicy and a very generous portion. I upgraded to the coconut onion rings that were AMAZING! Perfectly cooked, sweet and crunchy! Definitely get these if you like onion rings!! Service wasn't great, otherwise I would have given it 4 stars.

    (3)

  • Timothy H.

    Food is great, view is good, service was good. Came in for breakfast, having previously gone to lava java earlier on our trip. We enjoyed the food more than lava java, but the view isn't as nice since it's darker and more obscured by the presence of people unless you sit at one of the edge tables. When in Hawaii I figured that I should try the loco moco sometime and read on yelp that bongo bens made them well - yelp did not let me down. Upgraded the rice to fried rice on the waitresses recommendation, and I really enjoyed the gravy sauce that was generously poured on top. The eggs were perfectly over easy and I cleaned out my plate. Other members of my family ordered the garden omelette with a side of one pancake (and she claimed it was the best pancake she'd ever had, although I cannot confirm or deny this as I was too busy eating my own delicious entree), and the benedict which I was told was nothing special. I'm glad I gave bongo bens a try. I'd definitely recommend it and as a perk they have a 10% discount if you check in with yelp!

    (4)

  • Brendon C.

    Bongo Bens might be on a leaky drive with all the other tourist places but that doesn't mean you should avoid it. One of the best things about Ben's is their homemade gluten free bread it's some of the best I've ever had anywhere in the world and it's only a one dollar of charge. I highly recommend spending the money and getting the fresh catch for breakfast. You get a huge piece of fish usually tuna steak along with eggs fried rice and gluten free bread and fruit all for under 20 bucks its two meals in one and a very very good. Ben's also boasts a great view across the street of the ocean and Huggos.

    (4)

  • Marshall W.

    Worlds best fajitas. Mine was the shrimp one and portions were more than generous. Yes, there were only five shrimp but huge. In fact there was so much food in this fajita it fed two normal sized adults. It was not child sized. Waitstaff is quirky but efficient. Brother-in-law the fruit salad. Sister in law the onion ring app. Place has a beachy vibe and sits on the water for killer views of the sunset.

    (4)

  • Zach L.

    Read the reviews before coming in so didn't set the bar too high. Basically these people w one star ratings are kooks, place was great all around! Talk to John

    (5)

  • Eric P.

    This place proved that it's hard to mess up breakfast. We came for breakfast and it was decent, nice atmosphere and the food was good. That being said, stick with breakfast. We went for dinner.... Insert sad face. The Hawaiian pizza tasted like it was a low shelf frozen pizza with extra cheese, asked to have the burger to be medium rare, it was well done. Still a nice location, just not very good with the dinner meal preparation.

    (3)

  • Angela J.

    For the scenery alone it should get 10 stars! Bus besides that it gets 5 stars for food and service. Two times having breakfast here and two times fantastic! Papaya with granola and yogurt is SO good. I know it sounds simple but to a girl from Ohio, fresh papaya can't be beat! Mimosas are so tasty with the passion fruit juice. It was heavenly. I love this place! The end.

    (5)

  • Brittany S.

    $3.95 for one of the best bloody marys I've had in quite some time? Sign me up! I wasn't even looking to kick my day off with a cocktail but the $4 sticker price left me with no other option. Oh, before I forget - consider it a $3.60 BM given that this business offers 10% off your ticket when you check in on Yelp! ;) Yes, I said BM. So what made the Mary so tasty? The horseradish. Hands down. It was the perfect amount and the vodka was subtle yet you could still tell it was there. I ended up making up my own breakfast concoction in hopes of sampling a Hawaiian style breakfast: white rice, gravy and a side of sliced of avocado (not to shabby, Brittany). I highly recommend giving this a try. They also have cold pressed coffee. I can't remember the name of it but my boyfriend had some sort of heart stopping dish piled high with eggs, meat, gravy and rice. It wasn't the traditional loco moco that is very popular here but very similar. The service was very friendly and helpful and the location made it super easy to access both people watching and parking.

    (4)

  • Joe R.

    Aug, 9th 2015 ... Yuck!!! I won't use vulgarity but that's how I'd like to really review this place. I'll keep this quick. From first glance you can tell this is not fancy. We are a family of 6 not looking for an exceptional dinner experience and overall we are easy to please. This place was gross... Tables were dirty, yet against my better judgement we stayed. Wife had shrimp scampi .. Pasta came out on a plate and was ok shrimp came out in a bowl swimming in a butter sauce that looked like a soup. It cost almost $30.00 for that slop.. Knowing this is a risky establishment I chose the taco salad to "play it safe" It was a beef patty with no seasoning (frozen and put on a griddle I presume) on top of lettuce and cheese. I sent it back and requested it be removed. The manager came out and stated they intentionally don't season the hamburger and all items are intentionally bland.. ?? Kids sandwiches, they ordered the chicken club, was called chicken not sure I'd ingest it. The others got spaghetti n meatballs it looked like spaghetti o's.. Manager came out removed a few items and gave 20% off apologized for poor food and poor service. Entire meal never got drink refills... He stated they are known for breakfast not dinner and to "give us another try tomorrow... " Go somewhere else, it was so bad I almost wanted to tell people coming in run away, don't eat here!!! I'd bet you behind the scenes this place would make your stomach turn... Great location is the only logical reason it's still open..

    (1)

  • James B.

    Very good food. The famous bongos Benedict was tasty--the egg was perfectly prepared, muffin was moist and toasty. Food and service both were fantastic even despite how busy things were. If you happen by the big island I highly recommend this place!

    (4)

  • William K.

    I went here because my hotel offers an overpriced buffet that was good but not great. This place has reasonable prices and a good selection of breakfast items. I had the huevos rancheros with orange juice. The dish was very good, with excellent preparation and fresh ingredients. It comes with refried beans, guacamole, salsa and sour cream, with fruit on the side. The views of the ocean are gorgeous, with a nice breeze that can offer relief for warm days. The service was also very friendly. I would visit here again.

    (4)

  • Don W.

    Great location with nice views of the ocean. I went twice while I was in Kona, once for breakfast and once for dinner. For the breakfast I got the yogurt and granola, served in a fresh papaya. It was delicious! The service was OK. For the dinner I decided to try the pizza, as the menu said that all their breads were baked fresh daily on site. Well, I guess the pizza doesn't count as bread because I've had better pizza out of a grocery store freezer. The crusted was not fresh, and the sauce tasted canned. My friend had the sea food linguine, which he said wasn't much better. The shrimp & fish were well-cooked, but the pasta was not. And the sauce was under-seasoned. I'd go back for the breakfast.

    (3)

  • Lachlan T.

    Discussing Kraft American "cheese" on burger. Vinaigrette dressing was disturbingly thick and sweet: high fructose corn syrup? Wtf? Burger was more like a slider in a bun that could hold a burger that was a full pound of meat. Also burger was overdone. Salad was a pile of dried out chopped leaves with a single slice of cucumber. Tldr: awful go to lava java instead, it's only a minute away.

    (1)

  • Corrie G.

    So this is not a food related review. Rather, it's about the awesome kitchen staff who helped me this morning. I left my car in the lot, and battery died. They banded together to help get me jump started and running! I will definitely be patronizing this joint simply because of the awesome act of kindness of these guys and gals! Mahalo!!

    (5)

  • Steve C.

    The restaurant is located near Royal Kona Resort. It has a great view of the ocean. The wait staffs are great and quick. They are all very friendly. It's a large diner menu with a lot of selections. Food came out quick and was good. Definitely a place for a quick meal or to hang out and have a few drinks. I just wish is wasn't next to a loud rowdy bar next door.

    (3)

  • Donald W.

    Very short walk from nearby Kona resorts. Huge portions of food. We had the seafood appetizer and some entrees. The appetizer plate was very filling for our party of 5, and the entrees (burgers, pizza, pork chops) were great. I'd definitely return to Bongo Ben's!

    (4)

  • Mike P.

    Shrimp scampi was good and the rest of our meals were ok. Fed a family of 5 plus a couple of cocktails for mom and dad for $110. Everybody was happy and the view is awesome but it was hot on the patio otherwise we would have stayed longer.

    (3)

  • Mike D.

    I Love Bongo Ben's:) The Best Loco Moco with thick dark gravy is so Ono The Bloody Mary's are Fantastic Great View right on Ali'i Drive I took my Cuzzin's there and they are local and they loved it Can't wait to get back to Kona and my breakfast everyday is Bongo's

    (4)

  • Aaron N.

    the food is amazing, and a LOT of it! I will be back... And back ... And back again :: try it and you'll be back

    (5)

  • Ryan B.

    Let me start off by saying that this is a lovely venue. Prime spot to sit and watch the sunset while enjoying happy hour. We got here between 4-5PM and there wasn't anyone really here. After looking at the menu a few minutes waters were delivered and our waited disappeared without introducing themselves. Meanwhile, the table next to us got a wonderful introduction and she seemed very enthusiastic with her tables. Okay, whatever. We ordered two mai tais that took forever and a day to arrive. Sure the mai tais are $5 happy hour, but it's $5 of juice and a splash of rum. Pass. With the drink specials, we got an order of chips and salsa as well as the cheesy bacon fries. Again, another rather long wait. We got a fresh basket of newly made chips with some awesome salsa. I'm thinking we got our chips a little because we were one of the first people in the restaurant for the evening. That's still not a good excuse for the kitchen. After mowing down half the basket we were brought a plate of quesadillas. Now if you remember correctly, we ordered the cheesy bacon fried. If you didn't, it's okay because our waiter forgot too. It took some extra time for them to bring out the corrected item. When we finally got our fries, the melted cheese was already pretty solid as if it were sitting in the back for awhile. We decided to opt for a round of beer after the disappointing mai tais. By the time we got the beers and had our first sip, the waiter was handing us the check. It seemed pretty uncomfortable thay not only were we being neglected as customers, but we felt we were being rushed out. From what I heard from the waitress who was pretty vocal at the other table, there is a really high employee turn over rate. Maybe that's why our waiter was spread thin and covered nearly the entire front half of the restaurant. I hope that management improves on training staff, retention, and that they change out their tacky folding chairs for real chairs. Definitely won't be back. Only recommend if you don't really have a choice.

    (2)

  • Janet R.

    Came here for breakfast and dinner the day before we left Hawaii. Very good breakfast and variety for lunch and dinner. They serve breakfast till 2pm. Great view of the ocean. Their food was hot when served and delicious. Friendly staff. Will most likely be back for breakfast b4 we leave to airport.

    (5)

  • Shannon D.

    Ok breakfast spot. Nothing really too special. Can't beat the view of the ocean though. People watching on Ali'i drive is fun too.

    (3)

  • Jess F.

    You really can't beat the view here. The service was a little all over the place, they may need some better communication skills but over all the food itself was delicious. I really wanted a loco moco before I got on my flight back to the main land so I had something to hold me over and this one did just that. The menu over all isn't really that impressive to me typical food nothing to stand out

    (4)

  • Russell S.

    Not bad for a Sysco style restaurant. I had breakfast here a couple times and it hit the spot for what I was after. Both times I ordered the breakfast burrito, mainly because it is one of the few reasonably priced items. Ham n eggs wrapped up in a tortilla with some bland salsa. Nothing special, but got me going. The breakfast burrito at Huggo's was a bit better, but nearly twice the price. I also tried their fish and chips for lunch, which are good for standard pub chips. I rated this 3 stars mainly due to the inflated prices for what would be considered generic food on the mainland. On the other hand, the food is better here than most of the nearby breakfast spots. If you like cinnamon buns, they make a great one here!

    (3)

  • Mitchell G.

    I would really recommend the fresh catch fajitas, smashing. Come hungry, or be prepared to take home leftovers.

    (5)

  • Ed P.

    Been to Bongos a number of times now. Really like the place. I mostly go for Bkfst/brunch. Food is always good and I love the atmosphere...how can you beat a water view, and the people watching. Everyone , including the wait staff, are very friendly. Even though it's in the heart of tourist-ville, there are always let's of locals. Fun to strike up conversations when sitting at the outside counter. A regular for me.

    (4)

  • William B.

    So we saw the relatively good rating and thought we'd try this place for dinner - after all, its practically right on the water, what better place for sunset? On arriving @4:45, we kinda hovered around the entrance, wondering if it was 'seat yourself' as there was no host/ess and no sign saying 'wait to be seated' - so we kinda wandered in, wondered if we came in the 'wrong way' lol, and were about to seat ourselves when someone came rushing out and took care of us. It was a fairly decent haole/island menu, my two kids opted for the fajitas (one chicken, one shrimp), the wife got the fish (coconut batter) with potatoes, i ordered up the kalua pork/cabbage (island favorite it says!) and get an appetizer of coconut onion rings. The onion rings come with a spicy thousand island dip; ok, and it was a generous portion, definitely good enough for 4 of us. Everything else arrives, my sons shrimp fajitas only have 5 shrimp (wow, skimpi on the scampi here). But he's ok with, he's not paying, but i'm going '$20 for 5 shrimp'? But worse, I can easily see my wifes fish are fried to a crisp - dark brown. Chef Ramsey would be slamming that sucker down at the pass 'BURNT TO A CRISP!!'. Her first bite confirms it, cant even bite thru it. It takes a while to flag the waiter down and of course even longer to refire; we're all done when hers arrives. My kalua pork/cabbage with non-hand cut fries (i.e., frozen) is ok. Prices, surprisingly, werent highway robbery, but $20 for the 5 shrimp (they charged extra) was a little steep. My refillable drink was reasonable (i think $2.75). The takehome box needed for the wifes uneaten fish was styro, so not eco-friendly. Beats me why any restaurant on the islands is allowed to use styro when plastic bags are prohibited and everything recyclable has a deposit. So while generally the food wasnt awful, the kitchen mistake of sending out burnt fish and lackadaisical service left me pretty ho-hum. This place looked pretty packed at breakfast time and many reviews are positive, so maybe their breakfast is a different experience.

    (2)

  • Reg R.

    Amazing breakfasts with a great view of the water. My wife had the Huevos Rancheros (superb) and I the full stack of Macadamia nut pancakes. I rarely order pancakes, but the novelty got to me. What a treat! This place serves up a 100% Kona brew in addition to a 'regular' brew. If ordering the Kona, do try it black before you add any cream or sugar (IF you normally use that stuff). It's got an amazing taste all on its own.

    (5)

  • Sarah R.

    I LOVE Bongo Bens, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it! I ate here three times when I was in town for only a week. Ask to be seated on the patio and you'll get a killer view of the beach / and people watching on the sidewalk. Get there early to avoid the wait! Now, to be fair, I've only been here for breakfast so I cannot tell you how good the lunch / dinner options are but I can tell you - I wasn't ever disappointed with what I ordered for breakfast. The macadamia pancakes with coconut syrup visit me in my dreams. The service was fast and they couldn't have been nicer to us tourists. I tell all my friends traveling to Kona to visit Bongo Bens and they always thank me for the recommendation. Tip for you - at the bottom of your receipt (or at least they used to do this) there should be a coupon for a free short stack on your next visit. Additionally, if you stand around reviewing the menu, the folks working will offer you coupons to come give it a try.

    (4)

  • Rebecca G.

    We eat here 3-5 times during our stays. The homemade cinnamon rolls, 3.95$ bloody Mary's and their Nachos (homemade chips) are fabulous, along w/ big breakfasts. I don't understand the bad reviews. Sometimes things aren't perfect, but it's not a huge deal. There is always someone to greet us, sit us, even and hand out 15% off cards. Can't wait to be back for another loco moco.

    (5)

  • Bronsten K.

    Went to Bongo Bens with a friend to eat breakfast, and it wasn't what I was expecting. I had the cinnamon roll, it was dry, and lukewarm. Also, had the eggs Benedict with an order of potatoes. Potatoes were undercooked and had an extra coat of oil around it. The Benedict its self was very good, and enjoyed that. The scenery and overall location is a perfect place to chill out and have a couple of margaritas or beer while eating some mediocre food.

    (3)

  • Donna R.

    Wow! This place was really amazing. The food, the drinks, everything. We thought by the look of it that it would just be a fun island type of meal but were absolutely blown away. We both got the drink specials and they were really good. Tasted like they used fresh juice in both. The Mai tai here was actually better than Don's (which is the creator of the Mai tai). This place is only downstairs, not upstairs so we debated on leaving but I'm so glad we didn't! We got the ahi tuna appetizer which melted in your mouth. My fiancé got the fish special and I got the coconut shrimp. Both were absolutely incredible. We finished the meal with a fruit flavored cheesecake which was also amazing. It's easy to bypass this place on such a busy strip but be sure to come by for a meal. It was definitely worth it.

    (5)

  • Khimm J.

    Worst breakfast ever.... Note to chef... Please cook your potatoes. Nobody ways raw breakfast potatoes. Now I know why people around me were ordering their potatoes well done. Ham & cheese omelet should have cheese in it.

    (1)

  • Joani D.

    If you want an awesome Cinnamon Roll go here........NOT "the other place" on Alii. Better go early though because you want them fresh and warm right out of the oven......to die for!!

    (4)

  • Sean H.

    Fairly Fast sit-down style Friendly staff Ocean view Breakfast Sashimi $15 Plenty of parking

    (4)

  • J N.

    My boyfriend and I were just in Kona from January 7 through the 17th. We wanted a nice little place to have breakfast and we looked at reviews for breakfast places, but a local suggested we check out this place. We were sat at an outside table facing the water which was so awesome, our server was very busy but made sure to take care of all of her guests. They were out of what I originally ordered, so I ended up with their Bongo Benedict. AMAZING! I highly recommend the Bongo Benedict, we both had it and loved it. They comped my drink for being out of what I originally ordered too. The only thing I would love to see different is a better fruit side. We both ordered fruit and it was 2 thin slices of cantaloupe, a wedge of pineapple and a wedge of orange. I would have loved to see more pineapple, papaya, mango, starfruit, apple banana etc. The atmosphere was great, the servers seemed to be in good moods, their restaurant faces the water and food is amazing. Go here when you visit the Big Island!

    (4)

  • Donna Z.

    $3 mimosas and bloody marys?! Yes, please! We had a fantastic breakfast experience here, with the manager even personally checking on us a few times. Highly recommend the Loco Moco, the onion rings, and the pancakes! I'm only sorry we didn't find this place sooner. I would have come here every morning while staying in Kona.

    (5)

  • P J.

    Tammy was wonderful. Food was very good. The ocean view was fantastic.

    (4)

  • Sherri C.

    We did eat but the drinks were amazing. They were made by KC. He is amazing bartender. I would got back to the big island just for the KC experience :)

    (5)

  • Angie M.

    We had a party of 5. Hostess seated us promptly and we had a amazing view to watch the sunset. The menu had something for everyone- including vegetarian choices. Our waitress Candice was prompt, helpful and friendly. Everyone enjoyed their food. Total bill was 86.00. The dress is casual.

    (5)

  • Jallil T.

    Delicious food use the 10% off discount code and free wifi!! Fish and chips and coconut shrimp and chips hit the spot along with some Beers and happy hour $5 Mai tai! Perfect spot to end the days and gorgeous scenic view right in front of the ocean about 20 ft away!!

    (5)

  • Rachel C.

    Wow, what a breakfast! I had the chicken fried steak, my friend had the eggs Benedict, both were amazing! We come here every week and this was the first time we tried breakfast. The prices are reasonably competitive and the view is unmatched. I recommend this spot for locals and visitors alike.

    (5)

  • Bob C.

    Great location perfect for watching sunset over the ocean, excellent simple food, friendly service. Pepperoni Pizza - yummy! Wi-Fi for kids a bonus.

    (4)

  • Jeremy G.

    Wow! This place is amazing! My family and I ate here every day we were in Kona. The staff is on point and the food is delicious. Janet, Jen, Ashley, and Kelley are the best in town and always make sure you're completely taken care of. Definitely pop in here and tell them Jeremy sent you

    (5)

  • Chy L.

    Ack! God awful. .. We ordered the chicken katsu and chicken teriyaki. We had heartburns and felt acid reflux the next day. Plus it's a total tourist trap, prices are ridiculous for what they are and you don't get much with it. The service is slow since its mostly younger girls working the tables.

    (2)

  • Sandy P S.

    Good breakfast. Great place to watch the waves. We enjoyed watching the pod of dolphins while eating. We would eat here again.

    (4)

  • GinnyJo M.

    Friendly staff tasty food, great views and environment . A must for a hungry person. Can't go wrong!

    (5)

  • UBC A.

    We arrived in Kona late one evening and were really tired and hungry. We visited Bongo Ben's because it was across the street from our hotel and was still open. We were really impressed with the food and service and for the next seven days, had at least one meal daily at Bongo Ben's. When in Kona, Bongo Ben's is the place for meals. Exceptional service, great food, generous portions, and very reasonable prices. And of course, a breathtaking view. We look forward to our next visit to Kona and of course, Bongo Ben's.

    (5)

  • Shirley L.

    Check it out! Came for breakfast. Good spot, great view, $4 drinks. Def try the cinnamon roll...

    (4)

  • Ryan J.

    Breakfast, lunch or dinner this place is great. Relaxed and great vibes. The food is delicious and breakfast here is one of my favorites in Kona town.

    (5)

  • Rebecca R.

    Probably would give a 3.5 if I could. Went here for dinner right before sunset. The view was amazing and we ended up with great pictures from our seats in the restaurant (there is a pathway where you can quickly cross the street from the dining area to get unobstructed ocean view pics). Hubby had the rib-eye steak dinner and I had the fish and chips (not coconut crusted) but substituted the chips for salad. I had an iced tea, which was pretty good, not weak or watery. The fish was very good, with a nice crunchy breading and good sized pieces of fish. The tartar sauce blend that came with it was perfect. The side salad was fresh and plentiful but I thought their house dressing (garlic vinaigrette) was a bit too oily for my tastes. I lean towards something that is either creamy or more vinegary, but not so oily. There was a bit of cole slaw too which was not bad, but was just plain without any dressing on it. Hubby said the steak was a bit chewy, but did have good flavor. His bleu cheese dressing was ok, but not great. He also had a salad and some sauteed veggies. Veggies were good, but not great. Dessert was really good - mac nut pie. It was warm and had a dollop of whipped cream. It was decadent. Service was good and fast, but not so fast that you didn't have time to enjoy the view or relax. The steak was overpriced for what he received. My fish and chips was priced about average. We would go back again and try something new. 7/6/15 - Update - Went here for breakfast We had the Club Omelet and the 1/2 banana mac nut stack. The omelette was really good. It was cooked in some butter and a perfect combination of ham, fat, egg and cheese. Hubby is drooling right now talking about it. The chunks of ham were big, the cheese was plentiful and the eggs cooked perfectly. I have to say the pancakes were also good, but could have used a bit more bananas. There were plenty of macadamia nuts and the pancakes were tasty and thick, cooked perfectly, too. There was a little dollop of whipped cream on them and the coconut syrup they brought out complimented them nicely. A half stack was more than enough for me. The juice was also very good, OJ - and it was a nice, sweet, smooth flavor, not bitter. A solid 5 stars for breakfast. The price was $24 for the omelet, the pancakes and juice.

    (4)

  • Romel E.

    Stopped here for a quick beer and some bacon cheddar fries. Beer was refreshing, fries were delicious, service was good, view was great!

    (4)

  • Linda L.

    Love the place. Perfect place for great food, great service, great sunset. The kids had exactly what they wanted for dinner exactly the way the wanted it. My husband had the poke both nights. The first time here was serendipity. The second time was for the excellent food and service. We'll be back for breakfast tomorrow!!!

    (5)

  • Shannon M.

    This place used to have better service. The service has gone downhill since this place changed owners. The waitress ignored us and she only had 5 tables. My Mom ordered coffee and she brought it out without the half and half and she never returned. We needed to ask another waitress for it. The drink I ordered came after our food arrived which our food was ordered by another waitress who was unpleasant. When the food came out, no condiments offered so I had to look around the other tables to grab some. When we received our bill, she gave us the wrong ticket which then I had to get her she also short changed us the cents we were suppose to get. I left her 10%. I will no longer be coming back. Avoid and go elsewhere. No more aloha at this establishment

    (1)

  • Kim B.

    Are here 5 of the seven days we were in Kona. Really good food. Service was good as well. The view is out of this world. Definitely recommend.

    (5)

  • Analyst C.

    We walked in here cuz we were hungry and the guy was nice enough to approach us and told us it was their 'happy hour' and when i yelped it, i got a 10% discount too. We just ordered onion rings-huge serving! and spinach salad--good salad. The ocean view from this place is great. The service and staff are very friendly

    (3)

  • John D.

    Lunch began with a bird pooping on me, no joke. Then I ordered a burger with no mayo and cheese fries, got a burger with mayo and regular fries... Sent it back an they returned he same burger with the mayo scrapped off. I had to use a napkin to remove the remainder. Also instead of toasting a new bun I received one right out of the fridge, cold and inedible.

    (2)

  • Krystal M.

    Perfect spot for happy hour! My friends and I came here just before sunset for $5 Mai Thais. The mai Thais were delicious and we also tried the coconut calamari. The calamari was just as yummy with more than enough for the 3 of us. They also had live entertainment. Great atmosphere and friendly staff. Can't wait to go back

    (4)

  • Katherine L.

    American style food served in huge portions. The Seafood linguini portion was huge. Good meal of you are really hungry, want to split your meal with your friend or if you want to spend a few hours working on it...which might not be a bad idea since this location has a great view of the ocean. Downsides of the seafood linguini. It had a nice creamy sauce that didn't have much complexity. I got tired of the taste. The dish is also served very hot, which might not be a good idea if you are looking to cool down. The good thing is that the shrimp in the linguini was cooked perfectly. And was a nice complement to the loads of noodles in this dish. The filets of fish were okay. As a starter we got the seafood platter. The coconut shrimp had a nice crunch. The ceviche was not what I was expecting. More cucumber in it than shrimp. And the shrimp was cooked. Happy hour is a good idea. Beer is cheap.

    (3)

  • Lin C.

    If you get lucky and can sit on the first floor right in front of the ocean, the view is spectacular for breakfast. The ambiance of the place reminds me of a dive dinner. The bathroom is 3 flights of stairs up. So even though the restaurant has a ramp for folks on wheels, expect to climb 3 flights of stairs to use the restroom. Our family of four came for breakfast. It was delicious as it was affordable. They serve Kona Coffee, which is fantastic. A must have for coffee lovers. They do serve a coconut syrup for pancakes, it had an interesting taste. Service was friendly and fast. They do get flustered just as any other human being. So be kind. Know what you want and don't give sass. After all, you are in Kona.

    (4)

  • Alicia L.

    Great view. Nice staff. I had taco salad which surprisingly amazing. My husband had sirlion and said it was OK. Overall good location and food

    (5)

  • Craig W.

    That little voice in my head was telling me to pay attention to the fact that there were tables o'plenty at Bongo Ben's while many of the other local establishments along the waterfront were packed. Our waitress left her smiles at home and couldn't have been less interested in our family of four - we were relieved to note that it wasn't just us she was treating this way. Smoothies were ordered, but we were told that their blender (guess they only have one) was broken. Apparently there were no "specials" for the day. Either that, or the waitress just wasn't in the mood to share. When asked about the "Catch of the Day", she simply said "Ahi." What she should have said was "a packaged pre-cooked frozen thin slice of something that may indeed be Ahi from Costco". The pulled pork sandwiches were a soggy inedible mess for both my wife and son. I will say that my daughter seemed to enjoy the cheese quesadilla that arrived well ahead of the rest of our food. My suggestion to those of you who have made it this far in this happy review is to listen to that little voice in my head and check out something else in the area. I should have..

    (2)

  • Robert E.

    A place for a quick and tasty breakfast while watching the ocean. An omelette, some fruits and lots of coffee.

    (5)

  • Burton L.

    Wife had the coconut shrimp and they were great. Big oration and the sauce was fantastic. I had steak and shrimp fajitas. Really good only complaints are that was I need extra shells and was billed $2.50 for them. Actually the use 12" shells and cut them in half so $2.50 for 1 12" shell. Also noticed on the bill they offer free chips and salsa if you are having an entree. It would have been nice to know that or be asked if we wanted them. All in all great food but it is the little things that have pushed this rating down.

    (3)

  • Janie B.

    Best for breakfast! Lunch is great and price is not bad at all. Great people that work there and perfect ocean view! Must go there and eat. Defiantly worth it!

    (5)

  • David A.

    Had breakfast here today. Food was great,staff are very friendly and the price very low.Anytime you can say that you had a good cheap meal in Hawaii it can't be bad. Great view of the ocean probably 30ft away.

    (5)

  • Linh N.

    I came here for breakfast with my transgender friend, the employees treated her differently. With NO RESPECT. We came here for a nice breakfast but only received crap. They served us raspberry tea and it didn't taste like raspberry or tea, no, it tasted like flat coke. I ordered a tropical Belgian waffle and when my meal came they did not provide me with any syrup, I tried asking but they would just ignore me. My friend on the other hand built her own breakfast. Sunny side up eggs, bacon, and English muffins. While she was half done with her meal she flipped her eggs over and seemed to notice there was a big bug dead in her eggs. We told the waitress and showed her the piece of egg that had the bug lying in it, the waitress made a disgusted face and said, "ew what is that?" she took my friends dish to bring the plate to the manager, the manager came back with the dish and simply said, "oh it's just charcoal from the grill. Would you like to finish your meal?" Huh, really?! Charcoal?! It was a bug! She then asked if I wanted to finish my meal after it sat on table 5min while getting waitress attention. After she carried plate back to kitchen. At that point it was very cold anyway, numerous problems zero customer service, After all these issues she brought the bill with no discount.

    (1)

  • Yvette K.

    I've had breakfast at Bongo Ben's a couple of times and enjoyed it both times. I always get the catch of the day and eggs whenever I have breakfast out. My favorite breakfast used to be at Sam Choy's, but they no longer serve breakfast on the weekdays, but Bongo Ben's does a very good job. The service is always good and when I "Checked In" with Yelp I got a 10% discount, not sure why, but I showed the server the message in my Yelp app and she obliged. My only complaint about Bongo Ben's is that ahi is my least favorite of the local fish when cooked and I hope they have a different type of fish another time (how about spear fish?). Also, the ahi was a tad overcooked and the coffee was a little weak. Otherwise, I was quite happy and will return.

    (4)

  • Nicole T.

    Fastest and best service I've ever received. We sat down right away got served right away. We were in and out during the breakfast rush in under 30 minutes. Food and mimosas were wonderful too :) give this place a try! Great view also!

    (5)

  • Mike C.

    My dinner was not good. Cold chicken and deserts are over priced. Breakfast is still good but... need to check for quality assurance snd not preschool your food.

    (2)

  • Jama R.

    So good great happy hour coconut onion rings are exceptional and the sauce is pretty good

    (4)

  • Brendan N.

    Had lunch there today. Great views of the water. Service was good. We had the big bongo omelette and and the Ono beer battered fish and chips. Everything was well cooked and came in reasonable time. Price is very reasonable for a prime location. I have read previous reviews about poor service, but we had no issues today.

    (4)

  • Lori C.

    This place just makes 3 stars. Food is average but drinks are made and priced well. If this restaurant didn't have a great patio and ocean view I don't think it would make it based on the food. There is a very large selection on the menu. Happy hour is worth a stop with the calamari appetizer. Evenings sometimes have live music and that can be worth a stop too.

    (3)

  • Amber M.

    This place is one of our absolute favorite when in kona. A very "local" feel. Amazing breakfast.. Great pizzas, and yummy burgers! The calamari is very tasty, the coconut onion rings are great especially with the sauce it comes with! I was actually craving chicken wings, we ordered them here as a appetizer (although not really wings, more like boneless strips) they are sooooo good!!! Very friendly service... Great drinks and a great view of the ocean. It's our new go to spot for very fun casual dining when visiting the big island! Kid friendly as well!

    (5)

  • Aimee M.

    Nice place across the street from the water for a full breakfast. I had eggs, potatoes and a pancake, Lee had an omelette with sourdough toast and coffee. The waiter was attentive but looked a little harried as he zipped around the tables. Tables are a little too close to be comfortable having a conversation and every time I looked at the water it was a little uncomfortable as I was basically staring past the gentleman at the table next to us. That being said, the ingredients were fresh (okay except the syrup), and the food was cooked well. Prices were very reasonable for the location. A good place when you're looking for a full breakfast before a day of adventure.

    (4)

  • Laura V.

    When we came in we were told that they were under staffed however the service we received you couldn't even tell. Friendly staff and prompt service! The "Sp-iggy" made me feel like I was back home. Overall great experience and beautiful view of the ocean! To sum it up, delicious!

    (5)

  • Amanda D.

    Best loco moco!!! Seriously so delicious. We also got the macadamia nut pancakes with coconut syrup. Gorgeous views of the ocean. Wish we went here every day. Huge portions as well.

    (5)

  • Robbie M.

    This is the place to come for breakfast. They have an extensive menu. Homemade biscuits and breads! I had a biscuit. It was huge and tasty. The bacon was thick sliced and cooked perfectly. If the great food won't get you there the view of the ocean will. What a great way to start the day. I hated to leave and go to work.

    (4)

  • Mitch T.

    Had the bacon and eggs, scrambled, and thoroughly enjoyed it! When I took a bite into the eggs, I fell in love. I could taste the slightly butter taste, which I was told they use to cook their eggs. The meal comes with both starch and bread. What a value. As I ate my breakfast, I enjoyed a World Cup soccer match, which is great to take my mind off the hustle and bustle of the day Im about to face. If that's not for you, well, take a seat where the view of the ocean will!

    (3)

  • Mariposa M.

    Delicious food, had a great breakfast, amazing ocean view, good service and cheap

    (4)

  • Louis R.

    You wanna sit n eat with the tourist ha'oles? You wanna watch the triathelets and ironman competitors run by? You wanna watch the NY Giants get the shit kicked outta them at 7am? You wanna taste the phattest loco moco in the world?...holy ish Come here. Mahalo.

    (5)

  • Candi M.

    My first time ever to Bongo Ben's so ordered appetizers before deciding to order any entrees. Ceviche with chips - chips were served warm and salted but cevuche was flavorless, warm and rubbery...more tomatoe and onion in it than anything else. Guacamole lacked ... everything. I believe they left out the key ingredients of onion, lime, salt, cilantro and simply served mashed up avocado. Decided not to order anything else. Live music with Binti Bailey was fantastic, parallel to the stunning view of the sunsetting over the ocean.

    (1)

  • Richard D.

    What a great place. Found out all there bread and famous cinnamon rolls are made from scratch daily. Good people too. Highly recommend that you go here! Breakfast is the bomb too. And the view omg right on the ocean!

    (5)

  • Brian M.

    We were staying in Kona town and stopped in for breakfast here. Bongo Ben's opens at 7:00am for breakfast and have a nice breakfast menu. Ordered eggs benedict. yelp.com/biz_photos/bong… The eggs was over cooked but dish overall was descent. The savoir of the dish was their biscuit, it was really good with butter and honey. Service: Our server seemed like she was in a rush (We were the first ones there!). Not very friendly and when asked about the 10% discount on the YELP checkin she seemed like she wasn't too thrilled about it. Parking available in back of restaurant and located next to Lulu's. Overall Rating For Breakfast: Didnt take off 10% for Yelp check in. -1star! Eggs over cooked -1star! Server -1star! (You were the only one wearing a white top) Damn good Biscuit! +.05 star! Total 2.5Stars overall.

    (2)

  • Karen R.

    I like coming here when I'm on the Big Island. The food and prices are decent. I like to sit on the seats that face the traffic and water. Really wanted the cinnamon roll the morning but it was apparently still cooking :(

    (4)

  • L S.

    Tammy the manager was also our server and made our meal so pleasant the food was great and the service was even better

    (5)

  • Amber D.

    I really enjoyed their cheeseburger and bacon/cheese fries, it was honestly better than ANYTHING I've ever had from Annie's Burgers! My waitress was super sweet and the view was enjoyable! Prices were super reasonable!

    (5)

  • Scott D.

    This place is awesome! We walked here every night from our condo to enjoy the amazing view of the sunset and the reasonably priced happy hour! Plus the drinks were so good! Staff was so friendly and inviting next time we visit Hawaii we will for sure be back!

    (5)

  • Kris B.

    Nice busy place. I can always count on a great drink and affordable good food. Quick friendly service as well. The fish is always fresh and wonderful. I see a lot of new improvements since the business was sold a year ago! Much cleaner! Great menu and prices. Much better!

    (4)

  • Chris W.

    Got seated immediately at lunchtime 1130 wife ordered the BLT I had a grilled fish sandwich and hers was great mine was good hot fresh but just a lack of flavor needed more seasoning or a different fish but wasn't really bad ,,service was great got seated immediately the people were phenomenal the manager or owner walking around in the white shirt made sure everybody was being taken care of that says a lot. If my fish was better would give five stars for sure

    (4)

  • Rain Greg J.

    I give 4 stars for location, service, drinks and prices, three stars for food. Great place to watch the people parade, watch the sunset and smell the ocean! Drinks were very nicely priced and perfectly made. Dinner was average, not bad, just nothing spectacular. Fajitas were just ok, teriyaki chicken ok, and my son's bacon cheese burger satisfactory, the chicken Caesar salad was very good, chicken nicely cooked, thinly sliced and a pleasure, but as you can tell it's all pretty ordinary. Still for the location and the price, we'll be back.

    (4)

  • Mark A.

    Good restaurants are crowded especially when they have a great location . Great breakfast spot with very reasonable prices quick friendly service too People were standing in line in the rain to get in. A bit funky but great meal cheap with a killer view

    (4)

  • Suzanne H.

    I had Greek Salad w a grilled piece of ahi, it was good. Kahlua pork w cabbage was good. Service was good.

    (4)

  • Jess D.

    It felt like forever for waiting for my food... But when it came it was so DELICIOUS!!

    (4)

  • Andre R.

    Pretty good place to do some people watching while eating some pretty decent grub all while oceanfront.

    (4)

  • Jacky I.

    We walked here from our hotel and were seated right away. The service was great and everyone working there was friendly and genuine. The friendly service boosted this review to four stars, however we would rate the food at 3.5 stars. It was fine and did the trick, it just wasn't absolutely amazing compared to all of the other food we have had this week. We would probably return if we stay in this area again.

    (4)

  • Christina T.

    5- Star service, 3.5 - star food, 4 - star ambience. Everyone was super nice, and it was easy to make a reservation on OpenTable through Yelp (app win!). The waitress was attentive and helpful with her opinions on what to get. Food ranged from good to great. I got the spinach scramble, which was ok (pretty basic, but I ordered knowing what I was getting). My parents got the waffle, and it was "crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside." (Mama Beth's words). My dad: Baby, tell them the chorizo omelette was awesome! (My parents call me "Baby" like I'm in dirty dancing) I agreed. The chorizo was spicy and good. My brother said the pulled pork omelette "wasn't too dry" and good. He and l also got the tropical mimosa. OH MY GOODNESS. Get this. POG + champagne = the best. Beautiful ocean views and the games were on the TV. Plus a 10% discount for checking in on yelp! Overall win! We'll be back!

    (4)

  • Hilary B.

    Horribly slow, inconsiderate service. Asked to be moved to a quieter area of the restaurant, waitress was unaccommodating. Food was bland, nothing spectacular. Got our bills wrong, as well. Unfriendly.

    (1)

  • Al F.

    Great breakfast with a view. Staff very friendly and accommodating. You can get a cheaper breakfast but not on the coast.

    (4)

  • Laura P.

    Great breakfast at Bongo Bens today, would have given a 5 star review but we didnt have an ocean view.Waitstaff was very accommodating. We all had different menu items and all were very tasty. Big thumbs up on the Eggs Benedict

    (4)

  • Kristen R.

    Good location with $5 Mai Tais in the evening. Boneless buffalo strips were pretty tasty but not as crispy as we would have liked. Veggie of the day was sautéed squash and zucchini--fresh and better than I expected. Friendly staff, nice view.

    (3)

  • Mariam E.

    This is a great place if you would like simple food, great view and great service. People complaining that the prices are high, however, these are hawaiian islands, everything is expensive here. Service is great, food is fresh and delicious, for an outdoor restaurant, it's pretty clean too.

    (5)

  • Clayton T.

    Wen't here while on vacation from Texas. Out of all the places on Hawaii and Oahu, this is the most down to earth home style place I ran across to grab breakfast. It's quite affordable when it comes to Hawaii prices, plus good portions. You also have the options to sit with a view of the ocean.

    (5)

  • Miss C.

    "Voted best breakfast" my ARSE! Not the worst breakfast ever, but definitely not even close to the best. We had a round of biscuits because a friend told us they were really good. EW. Tasted fresh out of the fridge and then heated. My brother got a cinnamon roll and it was okay... the frosting was a bit odd, but it was alright. I thought the menu looked decent and ordered the banana mac pancakes. First of all, it was nothing more than buttermilk pancakes with banana/mac nuts sprinkled on top. Such a bummer. My husband got the breakfast burrito and that was nothing more than cheese and ham with some onions diced in. So cheesy, not too shabby... but not what I consider a fabulous "breakfast burrito" with tons of flavor. Overall, this place was underwhelming which is a bummer because I thought it would literally be the "best breakfast in Kona".

    (2)

  • AlyxandraMonique S.

    The workers here are great!!!! As you eat, you're overlooking the beautiful ocean and wonderful town of Kona. :) The chicken Katsu was pretty tasty, although it was a little over cooked.

    (4)

  • Candace H.

    This place was...okay. We ordered highly sub-par personal pizzas, which definitely tasted like they were made with a pre-made crust. We did have a nice seat at the bar overlooking the ocean, though. We tried this place for variety, but if I could do it again I'd probably go to Humpy's or Huggo's instead.

    (3)

  • Betsy K.

    The food and service was great! We both had the ahi with veggies and coleslaw. The coleslaw was creamy and sweet with pineapple mixed in. The only reason not to give 5stars was because they didn't have a working blender for piña colada's!

    (4)

  • Jason A.

    Good sized drinks for happy hour but the servers always seemed a bit cranky. We only tried a pizza the first night we arrived and it was okay. Nothing to write home about but very edible. We came for breakfast one morning but something just didn't feel right so we got up and left and went down the street.

    (3)

  • Shahin N.

    Made our first stop on the big island here after to eat. Food is pretty varied- burgers, tacos, chicken etc... fast, attentive service. Super cheap beers on tap, I got a volcano red ale for 3 bucks! All they're pints were that much. Food was greatly priced for the area too...10-13 for most stuff. I got the fish tacos which were pretty good, and the catch of the day burger was great. Also, worth mentioning that the coleslaw was made with pineapple, which was a welcome change. My sister had the pineapple chicken burger which she was raving about too. Overall terrific place to stop for an economical, fast, tasty meal

    (4)

  • Melanie M.

    Nothing special, some live music and nice view, but food is overpriced, greasy, bar food, and service was EXTREMELY slow, albeit friendly. I guess if you were looking to hang out and drink, no rush, and not eat, it would be worth it. Maybe.

    (2)

  • Yasmin V.

    YIKES! Came here with a big group of locals. Ordered Mai Tai, meh...watery and flavorless, not to mention weak. Ordered Coconut Fresh Catch Ono. Nowhere did I see on the menu that it was VERY deep fried. It was like Coconut scented deep fried CARDBOARD. Bad choice. Others ordered Fresh Catch Ono and it was tasty, so there you have it. Nice fresh vegetable side of mixed squash, yum. Nice Mango Salsa atop the fish. Would I go again? Not likely.

    (2)

  • LA G.

    We have eaten here at Bongo Ben's many times and have always had great service and delicious food. We love to sit at the counter facing the ocean so that we can watch life happen while eating. My little girl loves this place and we especially love to come for breakfast. We met the owner and he is a super nice guy. If you are coming to Kona then by all means eat here and see for yourself!!! :-)

    (5)

  • Bill M.

    Fish Tacos? No way, they were more like Fish Burritos. The Ahi was done all the way through, not dry, slightly seasoned. There was a tasty sauce and plenty of lettuce and tomato to make for a messy, filling experience. The view is spectacular from the outdoor, under roof seating. We had two folks helping us, the first gent took our drink order. I asked for a drink recommendation, he asked where I was from. When I said Ohio, he was pleased to emphasize the "O" on his hat, having gone to school at OSU. He then tells us that he commuted from Youngstown to Columbus for a while. What a small world. He's a native of Kona. I figure everyone knows somebody from Youngstown, OH. Hell, most everyone has left over the last 30 years, I guess that makes sense. To the drinks, he suggested a Blue Hawaii for the wife and a Mai Tai for me. Both were very good, my Mai Tai being better than the ones I'd had at the Hilton Waikoloa (sorry Tim). I switched to a Margarita, but quickly switched back to the Mai Tai. Yes, I had 3 drinks. I needed them to make that long walk back to parking in Kona. If you sit at the bar that overlooks the ocean across the street, keep an eye out for Chucky, the jam-eatin' green gecko. Don't miss this place.

    (4)

  • Gayle M.

    Stopped here for breakfast our first day in Kona & fell in love with this place! Had their biscuits & gravy & Eggs Benedict. The Hollandaise sauce was the best we've ever tasted! Decided we needed to come back for dinner that night. The hostess recommended the Ride Tom burger & we were not disappointed AT ALL! There was live entertainment, even got an impromptu hula from one of the local entertainers! About halfway through our meal it started to rain, but it was all good, we were under an umbrella. A very nice gentleman came & asked if we needed a towel & low & behold, it was the owner! He suggested we come back & try their Chicken Alfredo, so we decided right then we had found our new home on the island. Came back the next night for dinner & I tell you, it was the best, freshest Chicken Alfredo I have ever had! The prices are very reasonable, wait staff extremely attentive to our needs & a great atmosphere. Highly recommend stopping in for a meal. While there, try the Tropical Swamp Water. DELISH!!!

    (5)

  • K W.

    Da best! We ate here with two couples and all four of us loved the food. Is it nothing fancy, but it overlooks the ocean just across the street. The service was great and the food was excellent. We talk about it all the time. Can't wait to go back!

    (5)

  • Shirley M. J.

    Bad service at both Bongo Ben's and Lu-Lu's. Food was greasy. Meat market-not for me. Drinks=miniscule.

    (2)

  • Shellie W.

    Just got back from the islands and this place has a wonderful breakfast! My fav was the Banana Mac-Nut Pancakes, could only ever finish half but I am a pancake nut and they were the best pancakes I have ever had. Seriously, ya know the movie where the family travels across America and the kid always orders pancakes, that was seriously me for two straight weeks. My husband has endured many a mediocre breakfasts at IHOP so I could have the pancakes. True love! They also have a fabulous Bloody Mary in the morning for $3! Slammin!

    (4)

  • Kccstrong A.

    We're time-honored fans of arriving at 7 a.m. when they open up and aren't crowded yet, getting a road-side table to people watch, ordering coffee and a beer, and grinding on their pork chops with grits and eggs breakfast... 'great way to start the day.

    (4)

  • Camille F.

    Go for the Sunday Brunch Buffet!

    (4)

  • Jodie P.

    Bongo Ben's was the only place we went to breakfast in Kona, and we were not dissapointed one bit. $4 Mimosas and Bloody Mary's. My husband had Macadamia Nut French Toast with island bananas- it was out of this world. I had a delicious omelette and a side of fresh fruit. The food and the view were amazing. The only thing that was a downer... was the guy trying to sell us excursions at the booth a few feet from our table. He didn't work for Bongo Ben's... we don't believe. But we were trying to enjoy our nice breakfast and he kept asking us questions about what we plan to do while we are there. Was a bit annoying! But... we were in paradise and didn't let it get to us. We'd still return to Bongo Bens.... just make sure you sit far from the excursion booth

    (4)

  • Mike D.

    My fiancee and I spent a week in Kona this past April. We tried most of the restaurants on the strip, but had one of our best Breakfasts at Bongo Ben's. The food was 3 stars, but the outdoor "bar" type seating with a great view pushed my rating to 4.

    (4)

  • Kristine T.

    Fun live music when we were here on a Friday night though the band was done by 11pm which seemed a little early. We ordered the sashimi app which was seared slightly and rolled in some tasty seasonings. It was a little pricey considering the ambiance and size ($20 at market rate) but good. My bf had a dinner size salad (can't remember which one) and I had the quesadilla app. Both were very good, the salad was a good size. Drinks are decent, not too strong or weak. All in all it was a decent meal, I'd give it a 7 out of 10. The other dishes coming out of the kitchen looked good if that says anything....

    (4)

  • R T.

    Good location, but average food. Still giving three stars because kids liked the food more than we did. Veggie wrap was good but burgers were average.

    (3)

  • Kyoto W.

    Ahi was dry. Pizza was gross.

    (2)

  • Johnson H.

    Came here after it was suggested by Babette (BB) whose family owns the restaurant as well as the Manta Ray Tour program. First and foremost, Babette is a quite cool - provides a lot info about tours, her family has two restaurants and several tours you should check out. We went to Bongos for food on July 4th. They have daily live music. Relaxing atmosphere.

    (4)

  • Carol M.

    Great breakfast!! Good coffee with free refills!! Fantastic wait staff. And the VIEW!!!!

    (5)

  • Mike H.

    This was the first place I ate when I came to Kailua-Kona and loved the food, drink, band and staff. I had to pick up some people at the airport so I couldn't stay long. After picking my friends up we came back and had a great night. The next morning we asked some locals where to go for the best local breakfast and the told us Bongo Ben's so we went back and again we had great food, drinks and service. The next night we went to Lu Lu's upstairs so we don't spend the whole time eating and drinking at the same place but Lu Lu's had the worst service so we left and went back to Bongo Ben's. You guessed it another great night. Keep up the great work Bongo Ben's and I'll see you soon.

    (4)

  • Erica R.

    Eggs Benedict is awesome - its a lot of food & a half order would be more than enough. My boyfriend got the LOCO MOCO & was really happy. We'll be there again next year....see you then!

    (4)

  • Mark G.

    Great breakfast, cheap morning drinks! Definitely the best breakfast in Kona for our trip!

    (4)

  • Rose T.

    The atmosphere is fun & relaxing and if you get a seat right by the sidewalk, you'll have a nice view of the water. I like to people watch so sitting by the street was perfect. Both times that I have been there, I had a delicious egg white scramble with spinach. It was perfect every time. The waitress are very friendly and service is great, too. I highly recommend it if you like a casual atmosphere.

    (4)

  • Sheri M.

    I was totally surprised because the food and the service was great. And the view is perfect.

    (4)

  • Mark N.

    The Poke is amazing. This was the last place I ate before leaving Hawaii. I wasn't disappointed. I ordered a Poke appetizer thinking it would be a few pieces. A plate piled 4" high with raw ahi chunks marinated in a perfect ponzu and sprinkled with sesame and seaweed came out. I ate the whole thing by myself and then polished off a cajun Ono fish sandwich. I was groaning in pleasure for the 6-hour flight back to the mainland.

    (4)

  • K. M.

    The kids had mac and cheese and a burger, which they all liked. My wife had shrimp scampi, which was good, and I had the Ahi tuna special, which was great. This was much better food than you usually get on the strip, and the price was quite reasonable.

    (4)

  • Danny C.

    Breakfast is really good. The Island French Toast with mac nuts & bananas are incredible. Great omelets and eggs benedict. We've gone there two times for breakfast and we're heading back for a third time. Good service too.

    (5)

  • Michael O.

    Noisy place, noisy location. Food nothing to rave about.

    (2)

  • Khoi N.

    great food good price good portion. Live music at night is win with patio overlooking sunset. ate here for breakfast and dinner

    (4)

  • Lisa M.

    We stopped in at Bongo Ben's last Friday night 9-17 for a drink as there was some great tunes coming from the place. $3 drafts all the time! That was the ticket! As well we went back on Saturday evening for dinner and drinks and tunes again! The trio they had playing both nights were awesome local guys, Rock and Hawaiian tunes with a local flare, i.e. Electric Ukulele, this guy rocked the house down! A place we will definately return to when on the Big Island again next year ~ Mahalo!

    (4)

  • Aaron S.

    Very average food for a decent price- most nights it's a tourist trap but once in a while you can sneak in there without seeing to many sunburns. I would bring groups of people because they have a menu that can satisfy many. Always good service.

    (3)

  • Carousing F.

    Average in almost every way!!! We had average food, average service, in a cookie cutter location that looks like a lot of the other places in Kona. Not bad... but not extraordinary in any way.

    (3)

  • Alan A.

    My fiance and I arrived at the Royal Kona Resort later in the evening around 8:30pm. By the the time we changed and got down to ground level, we were told that many of the restaurants around the hotel would be closing soon. Luckily, we stumbled upon Bongo Ben's. The atmospere was pleasant enough with a band playing live music outside. I ordered the fish and chips, and my fiance ordered the fish tacos. The food was good, and the service was above average. The waitresses were very service oriented, and super friendly. I would definately go back there again.

    (4)

  • J J.

    This casual bar and grill is located in the town of Kailua-Kona about 1 mile from the pier. It resides where a dump of a restaurant, Durty Jakes was run to the ground. The owners gutted the place and now it's a wonderfully clean establishment that offers fresh and tasty breakfast, lunch & dinner, along with excellent customer service. The GM, Greg, comes from a fine dining background and knows a thing or two about customer service. My husband, 3 year old, and I enjoyed breakfast there yesterday morning. We had the Mac nut pancakes, Mac nut waffles, and our daughter had the "happy face" pancake and eggs. All of us devoured our meals, as we over looked the ocean and Alii Drive on the indoor/outdoor covered patio. Amongst us were many other families, as well as football fans watching Sunday games on their many flat screen TVs. On Sunday they also have a reasonably priced buffet brunch. We look forward to enjoying lunch and dinner here, trying their locally caught fresh fish and highly recommended pulled pork selections, as well as cocktails. More reviews to come.

    (4)

  • Dustin H.

    Now here we have a nice spot in Kailua Kona to have a drink (or three) and just unwind, watch the sunset, listen to live music, nosh on something tasty and not feel like you're getting riped-off. Good service (for Hawaii), large portions, and very reasonable prices. They also have a really nice happy hour. Less then $4.00 for a beer! I'll be back for sure.

    (4)

  • Peter M.

    A kind of rowdy place on the commercial strip of Ali'i Drive. Pretty noisy. Live music was good if a bit too loud, interfering with conversation. Service was efficient if not super. Food was good and plentiful, but not great. A fun place for groups to sit and see the sunset over drinks and dinner or lunch.

    (3)

  • Erin S.

    A friend and I met here for lunch on a weekday. The seating area was about half full, and the waitresses seemed to be moving fairly quickly. As both of us were on our lunch breaks, we hoped to order something simple and get out in an hour or so. It took an hour and 20 minutes to get our hamburgers. At one point, our waitress even apologized for the wait, claiming that the burgers were half-pound burgers and took a long time to cook. That's my main complaint about the place. On to the good. The burger itself was pretty tasty and had some great toppings. I got the one with sundried tomatoes and a roasted red pepper sauce. My friend got one with guacamole and parmesan cheese. The waitress didn't ask how we wanted the burger cooked, but since we both like our burgers well done, the well cooked meat didn't bother us. My burger was $9 and came with the option of fries or a side salad. The salad was mostly lettuce and one slice of tomato, but it was good all the same. We saw the dessert tray and it looked really good, but after half a pound of burger, we were both really full. We decided, as we left, that it wasn't a bad place if you didn't need to rush.

    (3)

  • Martha M.

    This place is quick, fun, casual and delicious. We went for lunch and I had the fish "tacos" which were definitely more burrito-like. They were DELICIOUS though. My mom had tuna salad in a papaya which was good but a tad heavy on the pickle relish. The breakfast menu looked great, lots of unique and some healthy options. The atmosphere is fun and friendly with lots of outdoor seating and an ocean view. I will definitely go back here the next time I'm in Kona!

    (4)

  • Jason M.

    Standard beach-grill place, but I was able to watch the sun dip slowly into the ocean. Three stars for the food - I had the prime rib special, but they have the standard Hawaiian bar grill food, for pretty reasonable prices. However, our hostess and server were incredibly friendly, and the drink prices were extremely reasonable ($5 mai tai!). That and the live music in the evening was nice and chill.

    (4)

  • Angela C.

    We stopped to check out this place for an early lunch and decided to eat there because the hostess offered us a 20% off coupon. I guess the hamburgers are good. I don't eat meat, but when my hubby takes a bite into a burger and says "Wow!", I am impressed. I have never heard him say that about a burger before. My mahi mahi burger was yummy and my son had the chicken nuggets - they looked a bit overcooked, but they were nice enough to bring out his meal first so that he wouldn't get too hungry. And they gave him a rice krispy treat for dessert which made his day! Our waitress was super nice and gave us tips on some beaches we could/shouldn't visit. It's a family run joint, I know this because I was reading the family tree and family history on the walls. Looks like it would be a fun place to go in the evenings - apparently they have live bands that perform.

    (4)

  • Dryw F.

    We stopped in here by chance--there are tons of options along Alii Drive--but were so glad we did! The hostess and wait staff were remarkably friendly in a very genuine way. Even though the restaurant was quite busy, everyone took time to talk with us--both about the food and about Kona. (The hostess took time out to suggest a beach for snorkeling, coming back to finish the conversation after she seated some arriving guests.) The waitress suggested that their appetizer sampler was enough for three people to share, and told us that we should order it first and then decide how hungry we were for dinner! As it turned out, the sampler was a full meal for three of us. Everything on it was delicious--several kinds of seafood, some fried and some not, plus fresh tortilla chips. The waitress insisted that we stay and hear some of the live music, and we were glad we did. When we checked out, our receipt came with a coupon for free pancakes the next day, and we happily came back. Breakfast was also quite good, and the servers were again friendly and attentive. With all of the competition on Alii Drive, there's no reason to go somewhere that's not good, and I'd go back to Bongo Ben's any time.

    (5)

  • Mike C.

    Fun place on the water. We happened in to find a front row seat for the town's annual parade. Breakfast was good...everything from huevos rancheros to biscuits and gravy. Piia had a great bloody mary! Need to come back for sunset cocktails!

    (4)

  • Richard M.

    It's a nice place with a chain restaurant feel. Like your average red robin, or chilis, this place is standard. open bar, fruity drinks, absolutely fantastic sunset views. Live music in the evenings. The manager is a great people person, with a lovely table side manner. She'd bend over backwards to make it right. Her and her fantastic staff drag my score up from a mediocre to a great time.

    (4)

  • Pamela R.

    We went here three different times during our stay and each time all of us were happy with the food and with the service. The southwest salad was so wonderful that I ordered it on two different visits. My mom ordered the tuna salad and was ecstatic to see how fresh their fish was so ordered various other fish dishes on our other visits. The orange dreamcicle cake was just that-- a dream. They have live music at night, great food, great service, and they are on the beach-- what else could you ask for?

    (4)

  • Kevin K.

    This place was awesome. We we went 3 times for breakfast in a week. The Loco Moco was so big that I couldn't even fathom finishing it. Both my girlfriend and I wanted to so badly but it was so.....massive. The 3 dollar Mimosa's and BM's were also a add plus. I had both the tropical mimosa as well as the traditional one. The tropical one was really delicious and it fizzed for the duration of my meal. I also sampled the pancakes....made my own denver and devoured the potatoes and super badass biscuit. The service was hella prompt and more than friendly. The view was unbeatable and the fauna watching was great.....i.e. birds, gecko's and butterflys abound. 30 dollars gets a couple a full tummy and a nice head feelin. We'll definitely be back our next time. Also they had music at night Aloha

    (5)

  • Jon C.

    I was here when it was not crowded and the service was just ok and the food was average and overpriced.

    (3)

  • Cindy G.

    Four stars for what this place is - a tourist bar with an ocean view. Had delicious fish tacos for lunch and a couple of beers on the patio. If you go in expecting super amazing food and a fine dining experience, you'll be disappointed. But if you're looking for something good to eat in a casual place where you can sit outside and have a couple drinks, stop by.

    (4)

  • Rahul M.

    We had breakfast here every morning while we were in Kona. The atmosphere is very casual. The food is great for a morning hangover - I especially liked the Spanish omelet and the bacon. For a great experience make sure you go for the Sunday morning brunch -- they have a pancake station (chocolate chips!) and an omelet station - along with a buffet including chile rellenos, bacon, sausage, fresh fruit, and scrambled eggs.

    (4)

  • Yini G.

    We had a late lunch here with some friends. It was ok. I had the fish taco (which is really a fish wrap) and it was pretty good. However, it was a different story for my husband. I didn't know what he had ordered...When the food came out, I asked if he had gotten a grilled pork sandwich. Nope, it was a grilled fish sandwich! Wierd thing was that he said it also tasted like pork. My friend got fish nachos, which was ok, but GINORMOUS portions. They got her order wrong (she didn't want olives). They knew that before bringing her order out and asked whether she preferred a new one or didn't mind picking out the olives. Since we were starving (not because of the waitstaff or kitchen) and she's not that picky, she opted second choice. Her boyfriend got chicken fingers - no complaints from him.

    (3)

  • James Y.

    Great place to eat, drink etc when in Kailua Kona, Hawaii. Have diner with a great view of the water and the awesome Hawaii sunset! I highly recommend the specials, especially the Ahi or Ono fish entrees when they have them. I always get my ahi (tuna) uncooked. All the locals eat here as well as tourist's. The place is always packed. The prices are great and the beer is cheap!

    (5)

  • MJ B.

    Excellent restaurant and bar in south end of Kona town. Really good breakfast, friendly and attentive service. Definitely a must go, overlooks the ocean in open air environment

    (5)

  • Amy D.

    This place is the best lunch place in Kona!! I had the grilled fish sandwich, my husband had the fish tacos, my cousin had the teriyaki chicken sandwich and my son had the calamari steak sandwich. It was ALL GOOD!! I would definitely go back.

    (5)

  • Thomas A.

    Okay this may sound funny but living in Kona and going to Bongo Bens a few times I never noticed they had a breakfast buffet til I read someones review..I only went for lunch and dinner that's why. Never had breakfast there, but I will try it one day Thanks!

    (5)

  • Martin D.

    Great taste. Fantastic view. Industrial-strength servings. Give the Bong guy a thumbs up.

    (4)

  • Salma S.

    The food was good, waitress was great and accomodating. The street view from the tables were great for people watching. Definitely a good spot for either breakfast or lunch.

    (4)

  • Vanessa H.

    Great food for the value, service was quick and friendly. I ordered breakfast and the serving was more that I could even eat. I got an omlete and breakfast potatoes and I opted for the biscuit. It was a delicious buttermilk biscuit, it was huge and I didn't want to leave any of it on my plate. The patio had great views and I will be back on my next visit to the big island

    (4)

  • Kate C.

    The food is very tasty, but what made us come back was the music. Brian Vasquez and Scottie (sorry I don't know his last name) are very good. If we lived in Kona, I'd go back every week just to listen to the band. Loved it.

    (5)

  • carl h.

    had there breakfast, good food, nice portions very good red home fries. had the pulled pork omlette .5 stars , eat there looking to the ocean, nice view. a lot of tourists eat there.only went for breakfast.

    (4)

  • crystel s.

    Mediocre food but awesome view and adorable servers! I had the Greek salad and boyfriend had the fish and chips. Both were ok.

    (4)

  • Linda M.

    You are on the street level so it Improves your view across Alii Dr and its great for people watching and we sat at a Bar so we all had front row seats The view is great but you have to look through a ton of traffic . Lots of street noise we just randomly walked in and decided to try it and it was simply put a island feel but with the type of food I associate with a chain nothing stood out . They serve same day fresh fish as do most places they just seem to overpower it with other flavor's. The Best thing was the Fresh Coconut Crusted Mahi too bad I did not get it till later they brought me the coconut crusted Prawns and I had to wait awhile for my food and everyone else was almost finished I personally hate this about eating out either everyone waits to eat with you and their food gets cold or you end up eating alone feeling rushed since your the only 1 still eating . So the Mahi was very good I simply did not enjoy it . Bacon Cheeseburger Broiled fresh ground beef patty with bacon and cheese I will not comment any more on the burgers I was thinking are you serious your eating burgers all over Hawaii when The fresh fish is everywhere oh and by the way they eat fish... Greek Salad topped with Fresh Ahi Rare but it was simply plain missing most of the traditional Greek salad ingredients and what was there was very skimpy.. The Calamari Appetizer was good but you can get it exactly the same at any chain .. We also Had chili cheese fries and they were tasty .. Fresh Catch Grilled Fresh Catch Ahi Rare, Topped with fresh Papaya fruit salsa, sauteed mixed vegetables, mixed green salad . Nice Fresh Ahi Last and the least liked My Mom has been watching me eat all of these fabulous fresh fish tacos so she tries the South of the border wrap it was awful it was simply overpowered by the chipolte sauce not as in heat just as in to much . She is game a soldered Thur it I would not have ate it . We ordered smoothies when we asked to mix flavor's it was a extra charge of $2 which i don't get its simply less of 1 kind and a little of another and they were bland . All in all I had a Lava Man Red Ale local beer and it was excellent . So Total bill was about $100 but I really thought it was mediocre food.. Our server was Leela she was pleasant but really was bored and didn't seem to care bringing the wrong food is not the customers fault and you should really try to make the experience improve from there not just go oh well and walk away ..

    (2)

  • Tom M.

    Been there couple of time and took carry out. Got burgers (including calamari one) on several occasions. Nothing fancy but OK - you definitely can get better burgers at Ultimate burger but you have to drive. Service is lacking - very slow on all occasions.

    (3)

  • Michelle P.

    beautiful view with a light papaya granola and yogurt breakfast. bloody marys are great, even the virgin ones.

    (4)

  • Mitchell F.

    I don't see why this place was so popular. Breakfast was interesting... There was dessert. Which is fine, I thought that was cool. The coffee pot was disgusting and the bathrooms were unsanitary.

    (3)

  • Kristina M.

    Great location, but the service was horrible. Our waitress looked like Cameron Diaz, and she wasn't quick to move for anything. The place was not even packed yet the manager assisted with our table. I wasn't overly excited about it and was ready to leave, and my boyfriend had to end up walking the check up to the register to complete the transaction.

    (2)

  • Cindy M.

    we go there every time we are on Island.. every year.. and the Mahi Mahi is ONO!!!! as in the best .. We have had nothing but great service.. and we also know that in any setting.. things can't be exactly perfect.. but, it's pretty much perfect for us.. Broke da mouff good grinds! not too pricey either.. good breakfasts as well.. remember when you're out to eat.. the people serving you are people too.. so be nice! you get more flies with sugar.. as the saying goes!! Aloha Nui Loa!!

    (5)

  • Gregg W.

    Fast service the chicken club kicked ass

    (5)

  • Angela S.

    I guess you just want a wide menu of grinds, then it's a place to go. However, the food is okay and it more feels like a feeding line of cows with the smell of stale beer from last night's feeding. SOOOOO many better places to go with a healthier and tastier eats.

    (3)

  • Phillip C.

    Been going to this casual eatery for quite a few.years and it has yet to disappoint me. From the smiling staff to the very good food and drinks to the pleasant entertainment you can't go wrong. The portions and drinks are huge with very moderate prices; so I recommend giving it a try.

    (4)

  • Nidhi S.

    This place is a definite try for those visiting Kona and taking a walk or a drive through Ali'i drive. Everything about this place is super awesome!! Location: Right on Ali'i drive and the outside patio seating looks out straight to the ocean. If you are lucky and dining outside you may spot a few Dolphins jumping in the waters. It's in the center of the Ali'i drive and about 5 mins walk from the hotels. Has a lot of gift shops and convenience stores very close to it. So the perfect location to dine if you are out shopping or taking a stroll near the seaside. Food: delicious food with lots of options on their menus. We tried the 100% veggie burger and the veggie pizza. Both were super good. The pizza was filled with fresh veggies and the house made pizza sauce and crust added to the crunch. Service: the service was quick and we were happy how perfectly they understood the customization that we had requested for (since we are vegetarian) As the name suggests, it's a perfect island. Don't expect it to be really prim and proper but that's the beauty of this place. You could probably spot one of those green Hawaiian lizards outside the patio. The relaxed island beachy feel is what this place is all about. A must try!

    (4)

  • Jesse G.

    I'll keep it fairly short and to the point. My wife and I went for breakfast. The place was hopping but not too much. We were seated right away. Nice so far. We made our orders for pancakes and a waffle, which came out in a decent amount of time. That's where it starts going downhill. The food was okay, but their version of island fruit on a waffle was some banana slices (not good ones) 3 small chunks of orange, and 2 small pieces of pineapple. We never saw the waitress again for about 45 minutes. Never refilled our drinks, never checked on us, never brought the check. The table next to us was there as long as we were. Tl;dr. Bad service, okay food. I wouldn't go back. Too many other good places.

    (2)

  • Sarah W.

    The staff and service were great, especially pointing out deals and specials like the fresh ahi and the $2 appetizers. The chips and salsa are terrific- the chips are made in house and are so good. The battered fish and chips and the fish sandwich are great, and the onion rings were freaking amazing. Crispy and perfectly done, and delicious. Their kids menu is a great deal, too: entree and chips or salad plus drink and a treat. The kids pizza received five stars from our 7 year old. The view is terrific, too, and we were made to feel so welcome we will surely be back on this trip. Mahalo!

    (5)

  • Timothy H.

    Food is great, view is good, service was good. Came in for breakfast, having previously gone to lava java earlier on our trip. We enjoyed the food more than lava java, but the view isn't as nice since it's darker and more obscured by the presence of people unless you sit at one of the edge tables. When in Hawaii I figured that I should try the loco moco sometime and read on yelp that bongo bens made them well - yelp did not let me down. Upgraded the rice to fried rice on the waitresses recommendation, and I really enjoyed the gravy sauce that was generously poured on top. The eggs were perfectly over easy and I cleaned out my plate. Other members of my family ordered the garden omelette with a side of one pancake (and she claimed it was the best pancake she'd ever had, although I cannot confirm or deny this as I was too busy eating my own delicious entree), and the benedict which I was told was nothing special. I'm glad I gave bongo bens a try. I'd definitely recommend it and as a perk they have a 10% discount if you check in with yelp!

    (4)

  • Brendon C.

    Bongo Bens might be on a leaky drive with all the other tourist places but that doesn't mean you should avoid it. One of the best things about Ben's is their homemade gluten free bread it's some of the best I've ever had anywhere in the world and it's only a one dollar of charge. I highly recommend spending the money and getting the fresh catch for breakfast. You get a huge piece of fish usually tuna steak along with eggs fried rice and gluten free bread and fruit all for under 20 bucks its two meals in one and a very very good. Ben's also boasts a great view across the street of the ocean and Huggos.

    (4)

  • Marshall W.

    Worlds best fajitas. Mine was the shrimp one and portions were more than generous. Yes, there were only five shrimp but huge. In fact there was so much food in this fajita it fed two normal sized adults. It was not child sized. Waitstaff is quirky but efficient. Brother-in-law the fruit salad. Sister in law the onion ring app. Place has a beachy vibe and sits on the water for killer views of the sunset.

    (4)

  • Zach L.

    Read the reviews before coming in so didn't set the bar too high. Basically these people w one star ratings are kooks, place was great all around! Talk to John

    (5)

  • Eric P.

    This place proved that it's hard to mess up breakfast. We came for breakfast and it was decent, nice atmosphere and the food was good. That being said, stick with breakfast. We went for dinner.... Insert sad face. The Hawaiian pizza tasted like it was a low shelf frozen pizza with extra cheese, asked to have the burger to be medium rare, it was well done. Still a nice location, just not very good with the dinner meal preparation.

    (3)

  • Angela J.

    For the scenery alone it should get 10 stars! Bus besides that it gets 5 stars for food and service. Two times having breakfast here and two times fantastic! Papaya with granola and yogurt is SO good. I know it sounds simple but to a girl from Ohio, fresh papaya can't be beat! Mimosas are so tasty with the passion fruit juice. It was heavenly. I love this place! The end.

    (5)

  • Ivette M.

    Good recommendation from our Wyndham Club Vacation hostess. Outside seating and view was amazing. Kids' menu was good enough for our girls with the standard kids favorites. Lunch was good and very generous portions. Hubby has the BBQ sandwich with cheese fries. He said it has good flavor but the meat could have been more tender. I had a burger and it was good, juicy and a very generous portion. I upgraded to the coconut onion rings that were AMAZING! Perfectly cooked, sweet and crunchy! Definitely get these if you like onion rings!! Service wasn't great, otherwise I would have given it 4 stars.

    (3)

  • Brittany S.

    $3.95 for one of the best bloody marys I've had in quite some time? Sign me up! I wasn't even looking to kick my day off with a cocktail but the $4 sticker price left me with no other option. Oh, before I forget - consider it a $3.60 BM given that this business offers 10% off your ticket when you check in on Yelp! ;) Yes, I said BM. So what made the Mary so tasty? The horseradish. Hands down. It was the perfect amount and the vodka was subtle yet you could still tell it was there. I ended up making up my own breakfast concoction in hopes of sampling a Hawaiian style breakfast: white rice, gravy and a side of sliced of avocado (not to shabby, Brittany). I highly recommend giving this a try. They also have cold pressed coffee. I can't remember the name of it but my boyfriend had some sort of heart stopping dish piled high with eggs, meat, gravy and rice. It wasn't the traditional loco moco that is very popular here but very similar. The service was very friendly and helpful and the location made it super easy to access both people watching and parking.

    (4)

  • Lachlan T.

    Discussing Kraft American "cheese" on burger. Vinaigrette dressing was disturbingly thick and sweet: high fructose corn syrup? Wtf? Burger was more like a slider in a bun that could hold a burger that was a full pound of meat. Also burger was overdone. Salad was a pile of dried out chopped leaves with a single slice of cucumber. Tldr: awful go to lava java instead, it's only a minute away.

    (1)

  • Joe R.

    Aug, 9th 2015 ... Yuck!!! I won't use vulgarity but that's how I'd like to really review this place. I'll keep this quick. From first glance you can tell this is not fancy. We are a family of 6 not looking for an exceptional dinner experience and overall we are easy to please. This place was gross... Tables were dirty, yet against my better judgement we stayed. Wife had shrimp scampi .. Pasta came out on a plate and was ok shrimp came out in a bowl swimming in a butter sauce that looked like a soup. It cost almost $30.00 for that slop.. Knowing this is a risky establishment I chose the taco salad to "play it safe" It was a beef patty with no seasoning (frozen and put on a griddle I presume) on top of lettuce and cheese. I sent it back and requested it be removed. The manager came out and stated they intentionally don't season the hamburger and all items are intentionally bland.. ?? Kids sandwiches, they ordered the chicken club, was called chicken not sure I'd ingest it. The others got spaghetti n meatballs it looked like spaghetti o's.. Manager came out removed a few items and gave 20% off apologized for poor food and poor service. Entire meal never got drink refills... He stated they are known for breakfast not dinner and to "give us another try tomorrow... " Go somewhere else, it was so bad I almost wanted to tell people coming in run away, don't eat here!!! I'd bet you behind the scenes this place would make your stomach turn... Great location is the only logical reason it's still open..

    (1)

  • James B.

    Very good food. The famous bongos Benedict was tasty--the egg was perfectly prepared, muffin was moist and toasty. Food and service both were fantastic even despite how busy things were. If you happen by the big island I highly recommend this place!

    (4)

  • William K.

    I went here because my hotel offers an overpriced buffet that was good but not great. This place has reasonable prices and a good selection of breakfast items. I had the huevos rancheros with orange juice. The dish was very good, with excellent preparation and fresh ingredients. It comes with refried beans, guacamole, salsa and sour cream, with fruit on the side. The views of the ocean are gorgeous, with a nice breeze that can offer relief for warm days. The service was also very friendly. I would visit here again.

    (4)

  • Don W.

    Great location with nice views of the ocean. I went twice while I was in Kona, once for breakfast and once for dinner. For the breakfast I got the yogurt and granola, served in a fresh papaya. It was delicious! The service was OK. For the dinner I decided to try the pizza, as the menu said that all their breads were baked fresh daily on site. Well, I guess the pizza doesn't count as bread because I've had better pizza out of a grocery store freezer. The crusted was not fresh, and the sauce tasted canned. My friend had the sea food linguine, which he said wasn't much better. The shrimp & fish were well-cooked, but the pasta was not. And the sauce was under-seasoned. I'd go back for the breakfast.

    (3)

  • Corrie G.

    So this is not a food related review. Rather, it's about the awesome kitchen staff who helped me this morning. I left my car in the lot, and battery died. They banded together to help get me jump started and running! I will definitely be patronizing this joint simply because of the awesome act of kindness of these guys and gals! Mahalo!!

    (5)

  • Steve C.

    The restaurant is located near Royal Kona Resort. It has a great view of the ocean. The wait staffs are great and quick. They are all very friendly. It's a large diner menu with a lot of selections. Food came out quick and was good. Definitely a place for a quick meal or to hang out and have a few drinks. I just wish is wasn't next to a loud rowdy bar next door.

    (3)

  • Ryan B.

    Let me start off by saying that this is a lovely venue. Prime spot to sit and watch the sunset while enjoying happy hour. We got here between 4-5PM and there wasn't anyone really here. After looking at the menu a few minutes waters were delivered and our waited disappeared without introducing themselves. Meanwhile, the table next to us got a wonderful introduction and she seemed very enthusiastic with her tables. Okay, whatever. We ordered two mai tais that took forever and a day to arrive. Sure the mai tais are $5 happy hour, but it's $5 of juice and a splash of rum. Pass. With the drink specials, we got an order of chips and salsa as well as the cheesy bacon fries. Again, another rather long wait. We got a fresh basket of newly made chips with some awesome salsa. I'm thinking we got our chips a little because we were one of the first people in the restaurant for the evening. That's still not a good excuse for the kitchen. After mowing down half the basket we were brought a plate of quesadillas. Now if you remember correctly, we ordered the cheesy bacon fried. If you didn't, it's okay because our waiter forgot too. It took some extra time for them to bring out the corrected item. When we finally got our fries, the melted cheese was already pretty solid as if it were sitting in the back for awhile. We decided to opt for a round of beer after the disappointing mai tais. By the time we got the beers and had our first sip, the waiter was handing us the check. It seemed pretty uncomfortable thay not only were we being neglected as customers, but we felt we were being rushed out. From what I heard from the waitress who was pretty vocal at the other table, there is a really high employee turn over rate. Maybe that's why our waiter was spread thin and covered nearly the entire front half of the restaurant. I hope that management improves on training staff, retention, and that they change out their tacky folding chairs for real chairs. Definitely won't be back. Only recommend if you don't really have a choice.

    (2)

  • Janet R.

    Came here for breakfast and dinner the day before we left Hawaii. Very good breakfast and variety for lunch and dinner. They serve breakfast till 2pm. Great view of the ocean. Their food was hot when served and delicious. Friendly staff. Will most likely be back for breakfast b4 we leave to airport.

    (5)

  • Shannon D.

    Ok breakfast spot. Nothing really too special. Can't beat the view of the ocean though. People watching on Ali'i drive is fun too.

    (3)

  • Jess F.

    You really can't beat the view here. The service was a little all over the place, they may need some better communication skills but over all the food itself was delicious. I really wanted a loco moco before I got on my flight back to the main land so I had something to hold me over and this one did just that. The menu over all isn't really that impressive to me typical food nothing to stand out

    (4)

  • Russell S.

    Not bad for a Sysco style restaurant. I had breakfast here a couple times and it hit the spot for what I was after. Both times I ordered the breakfast burrito, mainly because it is one of the few reasonably priced items. Ham n eggs wrapped up in a tortilla with some bland salsa. Nothing special, but got me going. The breakfast burrito at Huggo's was a bit better, but nearly twice the price. I also tried their fish and chips for lunch, which are good for standard pub chips. I rated this 3 stars mainly due to the inflated prices for what would be considered generic food on the mainland. On the other hand, the food is better here than most of the nearby breakfast spots. If you like cinnamon buns, they make a great one here!

    (3)

  • Mitchell G.

    I would really recommend the fresh catch fajitas, smashing. Come hungry, or be prepared to take home leftovers.

    (5)

  • Ed P.

    Been to Bongos a number of times now. Really like the place. I mostly go for Bkfst/brunch. Food is always good and I love the atmosphere...how can you beat a water view, and the people watching. Everyone , including the wait staff, are very friendly. Even though it's in the heart of tourist-ville, there are always let's of locals. Fun to strike up conversations when sitting at the outside counter. A regular for me.

    (4)

  • Reg R.

    Amazing breakfasts with a great view of the water. My wife had the Huevos Rancheros (superb) and I the full stack of Macadamia nut pancakes. I rarely order pancakes, but the novelty got to me. What a treat! This place serves up a 100% Kona brew in addition to a 'regular' brew. If ordering the Kona, do try it black before you add any cream or sugar (IF you normally use that stuff). It's got an amazing taste all on its own.

    (5)

  • Sarah R.

    I LOVE Bongo Bens, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it! I ate here three times when I was in town for only a week. Ask to be seated on the patio and you'll get a killer view of the beach / and people watching on the sidewalk. Get there early to avoid the wait! Now, to be fair, I've only been here for breakfast so I cannot tell you how good the lunch / dinner options are but I can tell you - I wasn't ever disappointed with what I ordered for breakfast. The macadamia pancakes with coconut syrup visit me in my dreams. The service was fast and they couldn't have been nicer to us tourists. I tell all my friends traveling to Kona to visit Bongo Bens and they always thank me for the recommendation. Tip for you - at the bottom of your receipt (or at least they used to do this) there should be a coupon for a free short stack on your next visit. Additionally, if you stand around reviewing the menu, the folks working will offer you coupons to come give it a try.

    (4)

  • William B.

    So we saw the relatively good rating and thought we'd try this place for dinner - after all, its practically right on the water, what better place for sunset? On arriving @4:45, we kinda hovered around the entrance, wondering if it was 'seat yourself' as there was no host/ess and no sign saying 'wait to be seated' - so we kinda wandered in, wondered if we came in the 'wrong way' lol, and were about to seat ourselves when someone came rushing out and took care of us. It was a fairly decent haole/island menu, my two kids opted for the fajitas (one chicken, one shrimp), the wife got the fish (coconut batter) with potatoes, i ordered up the kalua pork/cabbage (island favorite it says!) and get an appetizer of coconut onion rings. The onion rings come with a spicy thousand island dip; ok, and it was a generous portion, definitely good enough for 4 of us. Everything else arrives, my sons shrimp fajitas only have 5 shrimp (wow, skimpi on the scampi here). But he's ok with, he's not paying, but i'm going '$20 for 5 shrimp'? But worse, I can easily see my wifes fish are fried to a crisp - dark brown. Chef Ramsey would be slamming that sucker down at the pass 'BURNT TO A CRISP!!'. Her first bite confirms it, cant even bite thru it. It takes a while to flag the waiter down and of course even longer to refire; we're all done when hers arrives. My kalua pork/cabbage with non-hand cut fries (i.e., frozen) is ok. Prices, surprisingly, werent highway robbery, but $20 for the 5 shrimp (they charged extra) was a little steep. My refillable drink was reasonable (i think $2.75). The takehome box needed for the wifes uneaten fish was styro, so not eco-friendly. Beats me why any restaurant on the islands is allowed to use styro when plastic bags are prohibited and everything recyclable has a deposit. So while generally the food wasnt awful, the kitchen mistake of sending out burnt fish and lackadaisical service left me pretty ho-hum. This place looked pretty packed at breakfast time and many reviews are positive, so maybe their breakfast is a different experience.

    (2)

  • Donald W.

    Very short walk from nearby Kona resorts. Huge portions of food. We had the seafood appetizer and some entrees. The appetizer plate was very filling for our party of 5, and the entrees (burgers, pizza, pork chops) were great. I'd definitely return to Bongo Ben's!

    (4)

  • Mike P.

    Shrimp scampi was good and the rest of our meals were ok. Fed a family of 5 plus a couple of cocktails for mom and dad for $110. Everybody was happy and the view is awesome but it was hot on the patio otherwise we would have stayed longer.

    (3)

  • Mike D.

    I Love Bongo Ben's:) The Best Loco Moco with thick dark gravy is so Ono The Bloody Mary's are Fantastic Great View right on Ali'i Drive I took my Cuzzin's there and they are local and they loved it Can't wait to get back to Kona and my breakfast everyday is Bongo's

    (4)

  • Aaron N.

    the food is amazing, and a LOT of it! I will be back... And back ... And back again :: try it and you'll be back

    (5)

  • Rebecca G.

    We eat here 3-5 times during our stays. The homemade cinnamon rolls, 3.95$ bloody Mary's and their Nachos (homemade chips) are fabulous, along w/ big breakfasts. I don't understand the bad reviews. Sometimes things aren't perfect, but it's not a huge deal. There is always someone to greet us, sit us, even and hand out 15% off cards. Can't wait to be back for another loco moco.

    (5)

  • Bronsten K.

    Went to Bongo Bens with a friend to eat breakfast, and it wasn't what I was expecting. I had the cinnamon roll, it was dry, and lukewarm. Also, had the eggs Benedict with an order of potatoes. Potatoes were undercooked and had an extra coat of oil around it. The Benedict its self was very good, and enjoyed that. The scenery and overall location is a perfect place to chill out and have a couple of margaritas or beer while eating some mediocre food.

    (3)

  • Donna R.

    Wow! This place was really amazing. The food, the drinks, everything. We thought by the look of it that it would just be a fun island type of meal but were absolutely blown away. We both got the drink specials and they were really good. Tasted like they used fresh juice in both. The Mai tai here was actually better than Don's (which is the creator of the Mai tai). This place is only downstairs, not upstairs so we debated on leaving but I'm so glad we didn't! We got the ahi tuna appetizer which melted in your mouth. My fiancé got the fish special and I got the coconut shrimp. Both were absolutely incredible. We finished the meal with a fruit flavored cheesecake which was also amazing. It's easy to bypass this place on such a busy strip but be sure to come by for a meal. It was definitely worth it.

    (5)

  • Khimm J.

    Worst breakfast ever.... Note to chef... Please cook your potatoes. Nobody ways raw breakfast potatoes. Now I know why people around me were ordering their potatoes well done. Ham & cheese omelet should have cheese in it.

    (1)

  • P J.

    Tammy was wonderful. Food was very good. The ocean view was fantastic.

    (4)

  • Sherri C.

    We did eat but the drinks were amazing. They were made by KC. He is amazing bartender. I would got back to the big island just for the KC experience :)

    (5)

  • Angie M.

    We had a party of 5. Hostess seated us promptly and we had a amazing view to watch the sunset. The menu had something for everyone- including vegetarian choices. Our waitress Candice was prompt, helpful and friendly. Everyone enjoyed their food. Total bill was 86.00. The dress is casual.

    (5)

  • Jallil T.

    Delicious food use the 10% off discount code and free wifi!! Fish and chips and coconut shrimp and chips hit the spot along with some Beers and happy hour $5 Mai tai! Perfect spot to end the days and gorgeous scenic view right in front of the ocean about 20 ft away!!

    (5)

  • Rachel C.

    Wow, what a breakfast! I had the chicken fried steak, my friend had the eggs Benedict, both were amazing! We come here every week and this was the first time we tried breakfast. The prices are reasonably competitive and the view is unmatched. I recommend this spot for locals and visitors alike.

    (5)

  • Bob C.

    Great location perfect for watching sunset over the ocean, excellent simple food, friendly service. Pepperoni Pizza - yummy! Wi-Fi for kids a bonus.

    (4)

  • Jeremy G.

    Wow! This place is amazing! My family and I ate here every day we were in Kona. The staff is on point and the food is delicious. Janet, Jen, Ashley, and Kelley are the best in town and always make sure you're completely taken care of. Definitely pop in here and tell them Jeremy sent you

    (5)

  • Chy L.

    Ack! God awful. .. We ordered the chicken katsu and chicken teriyaki. We had heartburns and felt acid reflux the next day. Plus it's a total tourist trap, prices are ridiculous for what they are and you don't get much with it. The service is slow since its mostly younger girls working the tables.

    (2)

  • Sandy P S.

    Good breakfast. Great place to watch the waves. We enjoyed watching the pod of dolphins while eating. We would eat here again.

    (4)

  • GinnyJo M.

    Friendly staff tasty food, great views and environment . A must for a hungry person. Can't go wrong!

    (5)

  • UBC A.

    We arrived in Kona late one evening and were really tired and hungry. We visited Bongo Ben's because it was across the street from our hotel and was still open. We were really impressed with the food and service and for the next seven days, had at least one meal daily at Bongo Ben's. When in Kona, Bongo Ben's is the place for meals. Exceptional service, great food, generous portions, and very reasonable prices. And of course, a breathtaking view. We look forward to our next visit to Kona and of course, Bongo Ben's.

    (5)

  • Shirley L.

    Check it out! Came for breakfast. Good spot, great view, $4 drinks. Def try the cinnamon roll...

    (4)

  • Ryan J.

    Breakfast, lunch or dinner this place is great. Relaxed and great vibes. The food is delicious and breakfast here is one of my favorites in Kona town.

    (5)

  • Rebecca R.

    Probably would give a 3.5 if I could. Went here for dinner right before sunset. The view was amazing and we ended up with great pictures from our seats in the restaurant (there is a pathway where you can quickly cross the street from the dining area to get unobstructed ocean view pics). Hubby had the rib-eye steak dinner and I had the fish and chips (not coconut crusted) but substituted the chips for salad. I had an iced tea, which was pretty good, not weak or watery. The fish was very good, with a nice crunchy breading and good sized pieces of fish. The tartar sauce blend that came with it was perfect. The side salad was fresh and plentiful but I thought their house dressing (garlic vinaigrette) was a bit too oily for my tastes. I lean towards something that is either creamy or more vinegary, but not so oily. There was a bit of cole slaw too which was not bad, but was just plain without any dressing on it. Hubby said the steak was a bit chewy, but did have good flavor. His bleu cheese dressing was ok, but not great. He also had a salad and some sauteed veggies. Veggies were good, but not great. Dessert was really good - mac nut pie. It was warm and had a dollop of whipped cream. It was decadent. Service was good and fast, but not so fast that you didn't have time to enjoy the view or relax. The steak was overpriced for what he received. My fish and chips was priced about average. We would go back again and try something new. 7/6/15 - Update - Went here for breakfast We had the Club Omelet and the 1/2 banana mac nut stack. The omelette was really good. It was cooked in some butter and a perfect combination of ham, fat, egg and cheese. Hubby is drooling right now talking about it. The chunks of ham were big, the cheese was plentiful and the eggs cooked perfectly. I have to say the pancakes were also good, but could have used a bit more bananas. There were plenty of macadamia nuts and the pancakes were tasty and thick, cooked perfectly, too. There was a little dollop of whipped cream on them and the coconut syrup they brought out complimented them nicely. A half stack was more than enough for me. The juice was also very good, OJ - and it was a nice, sweet, smooth flavor, not bitter. A solid 5 stars for breakfast. The price was $24 for the omelet, the pancakes and juice.

    (4)

  • Romel E.

    Stopped here for a quick beer and some bacon cheddar fries. Beer was refreshing, fries were delicious, service was good, view was great!

    (4)

  • Linda L.

    Love the place. Perfect place for great food, great service, great sunset. The kids had exactly what they wanted for dinner exactly the way the wanted it. My husband had the poke both nights. The first time here was serendipity. The second time was for the excellent food and service. We'll be back for breakfast tomorrow!!!

    (5)

  • Shannon M.

    This place used to have better service. The service has gone downhill since this place changed owners. The waitress ignored us and she only had 5 tables. My Mom ordered coffee and she brought it out without the half and half and she never returned. We needed to ask another waitress for it. The drink I ordered came after our food arrived which our food was ordered by another waitress who was unpleasant. When the food came out, no condiments offered so I had to look around the other tables to grab some. When we received our bill, she gave us the wrong ticket which then I had to get her she also short changed us the cents we were suppose to get. I left her 10%. I will no longer be coming back. Avoid and go elsewhere. No more aloha at this establishment

    (1)

  • Kim B.

    Are here 5 of the seven days we were in Kona. Really good food. Service was good as well. The view is out of this world. Definitely recommend.

    (5)

  • Analyst C.

    We walked in here cuz we were hungry and the guy was nice enough to approach us and told us it was their 'happy hour' and when i yelped it, i got a 10% discount too. We just ordered onion rings-huge serving! and spinach salad--good salad. The ocean view from this place is great. The service and staff are very friendly

    (3)

  • John D.

    Lunch began with a bird pooping on me, no joke. Then I ordered a burger with no mayo and cheese fries, got a burger with mayo and regular fries... Sent it back an they returned he same burger with the mayo scrapped off. I had to use a napkin to remove the remainder. Also instead of toasting a new bun I received one right out of the fridge, cold and inedible.

    (2)

  • Krystal M.

    Perfect spot for happy hour! My friends and I came here just before sunset for $5 Mai Thais. The mai Thais were delicious and we also tried the coconut calamari. The calamari was just as yummy with more than enough for the 3 of us. They also had live entertainment. Great atmosphere and friendly staff. Can't wait to go back

    (4)

  • Katherine L.

    American style food served in huge portions. The Seafood linguini portion was huge. Good meal of you are really hungry, want to split your meal with your friend or if you want to spend a few hours working on it...which might not be a bad idea since this location has a great view of the ocean. Downsides of the seafood linguini. It had a nice creamy sauce that didn't have much complexity. I got tired of the taste. The dish is also served very hot, which might not be a good idea if you are looking to cool down. The good thing is that the shrimp in the linguini was cooked perfectly. And was a nice complement to the loads of noodles in this dish. The filets of fish were okay. As a starter we got the seafood platter. The coconut shrimp had a nice crunch. The ceviche was not what I was expecting. More cucumber in it than shrimp. And the shrimp was cooked. Happy hour is a good idea. Beer is cheap.

    (3)

  • Lin C.

    If you get lucky and can sit on the first floor right in front of the ocean, the view is spectacular for breakfast. The ambiance of the place reminds me of a dive dinner. The bathroom is 3 flights of stairs up. So even though the restaurant has a ramp for folks on wheels, expect to climb 3 flights of stairs to use the restroom. Our family of four came for breakfast. It was delicious as it was affordable. They serve Kona Coffee, which is fantastic. A must have for coffee lovers. They do serve a coconut syrup for pancakes, it had an interesting taste. Service was friendly and fast. They do get flustered just as any other human being. So be kind. Know what you want and don't give sass. After all, you are in Kona.

    (4)

  • Alicia L.

    Great view. Nice staff. I had taco salad which surprisingly amazing. My husband had sirlion and said it was OK. Overall good location and food

    (5)

  • Craig W.

    That little voice in my head was telling me to pay attention to the fact that there were tables o'plenty at Bongo Ben's while many of the other local establishments along the waterfront were packed. Our waitress left her smiles at home and couldn't have been less interested in our family of four - we were relieved to note that it wasn't just us she was treating this way. Smoothies were ordered, but we were told that their blender (guess they only have one) was broken. Apparently there were no "specials" for the day. Either that, or the waitress just wasn't in the mood to share. When asked about the "Catch of the Day", she simply said "Ahi." What she should have said was "a packaged pre-cooked frozen thin slice of something that may indeed be Ahi from Costco". The pulled pork sandwiches were a soggy inedible mess for both my wife and son. I will say that my daughter seemed to enjoy the cheese quesadilla that arrived well ahead of the rest of our food. My suggestion to those of you who have made it this far in this happy review is to listen to that little voice in my head and check out something else in the area. I should have..

    (2)

  • Robert E.

    A place for a quick and tasty breakfast while watching the ocean. An omelette, some fruits and lots of coffee.

    (5)

  • Burton L.

    Wife had the coconut shrimp and they were great. Big oration and the sauce was fantastic. I had steak and shrimp fajitas. Really good only complaints are that was I need extra shells and was billed $2.50 for them. Actually the use 12" shells and cut them in half so $2.50 for 1 12" shell. Also noticed on the bill they offer free chips and salsa if you are having an entree. It would have been nice to know that or be asked if we wanted them. All in all great food but it is the little things that have pushed this rating down.

    (3)

  • Janie B.

    Best for breakfast! Lunch is great and price is not bad at all. Great people that work there and perfect ocean view! Must go there and eat. Defiantly worth it!

    (5)

  • David A.

    Had breakfast here today. Food was great,staff are very friendly and the price very low.Anytime you can say that you had a good cheap meal in Hawaii it can't be bad. Great view of the ocean probably 30ft away.

    (5)

  • Linh N.

    I came here for breakfast with my transgender friend, the employees treated her differently. With NO RESPECT. We came here for a nice breakfast but only received crap. They served us raspberry tea and it didn't taste like raspberry or tea, no, it tasted like flat coke. I ordered a tropical Belgian waffle and when my meal came they did not provide me with any syrup, I tried asking but they would just ignore me. My friend on the other hand built her own breakfast. Sunny side up eggs, bacon, and English muffins. While she was half done with her meal she flipped her eggs over and seemed to notice there was a big bug dead in her eggs. We told the waitress and showed her the piece of egg that had the bug lying in it, the waitress made a disgusted face and said, "ew what is that?" she took my friends dish to bring the plate to the manager, the manager came back with the dish and simply said, "oh it's just charcoal from the grill. Would you like to finish your meal?" Huh, really?! Charcoal?! It was a bug! She then asked if I wanted to finish my meal after it sat on table 5min while getting waitress attention. After she carried plate back to kitchen. At that point it was very cold anyway, numerous problems zero customer service, After all these issues she brought the bill with no discount.

    (1)

  • Yvette K.

    I've had breakfast at Bongo Ben's a couple of times and enjoyed it both times. I always get the catch of the day and eggs whenever I have breakfast out. My favorite breakfast used to be at Sam Choy's, but they no longer serve breakfast on the weekdays, but Bongo Ben's does a very good job. The service is always good and when I "Checked In" with Yelp I got a 10% discount, not sure why, but I showed the server the message in my Yelp app and she obliged. My only complaint about Bongo Ben's is that ahi is my least favorite of the local fish when cooked and I hope they have a different type of fish another time (how about spear fish?). Also, the ahi was a tad overcooked and the coffee was a little weak. Otherwise, I was quite happy and will return.

    (4)

  • Nicole T.

    Fastest and best service I've ever received. We sat down right away got served right away. We were in and out during the breakfast rush in under 30 minutes. Food and mimosas were wonderful too :) give this place a try! Great view also!

    (5)

  • Mike C.

    My dinner was not good. Cold chicken and deserts are over priced. Breakfast is still good but... need to check for quality assurance snd not preschool your food.

    (2)

  • Jama R.

    So good great happy hour coconut onion rings are exceptional and the sauce is pretty good

    (4)

  • Brendan N.

    Had lunch there today. Great views of the water. Service was good. We had the big bongo omelette and and the Ono beer battered fish and chips. Everything was well cooked and came in reasonable time. Price is very reasonable for a prime location. I have read previous reviews about poor service, but we had no issues today.

    (4)

  • Lori C.

    This place just makes 3 stars. Food is average but drinks are made and priced well. If this restaurant didn't have a great patio and ocean view I don't think it would make it based on the food. There is a very large selection on the menu. Happy hour is worth a stop with the calamari appetizer. Evenings sometimes have live music and that can be worth a stop too.

    (3)

  • Amber M.

    This place is one of our absolute favorite when in kona. A very "local" feel. Amazing breakfast.. Great pizzas, and yummy burgers! The calamari is very tasty, the coconut onion rings are great especially with the sauce it comes with! I was actually craving chicken wings, we ordered them here as a appetizer (although not really wings, more like boneless strips) they are sooooo good!!! Very friendly service... Great drinks and a great view of the ocean. It's our new go to spot for very fun casual dining when visiting the big island! Kid friendly as well!

    (5)

  • Aimee M.

    Nice place across the street from the water for a full breakfast. I had eggs, potatoes and a pancake, Lee had an omelette with sourdough toast and coffee. The waiter was attentive but looked a little harried as he zipped around the tables. Tables are a little too close to be comfortable having a conversation and every time I looked at the water it was a little uncomfortable as I was basically staring past the gentleman at the table next to us. That being said, the ingredients were fresh (okay except the syrup), and the food was cooked well. Prices were very reasonable for the location. A good place when you're looking for a full breakfast before a day of adventure.

    (4)

  • Laura V.

    When we came in we were told that they were under staffed however the service we received you couldn't even tell. Friendly staff and prompt service! The "Sp-iggy" made me feel like I was back home. Overall great experience and beautiful view of the ocean! To sum it up, delicious!

    (5)

  • Amanda D.

    Best loco moco!!! Seriously so delicious. We also got the macadamia nut pancakes with coconut syrup. Gorgeous views of the ocean. Wish we went here every day. Huge portions as well.

    (5)

  • Joani D.

    If you want an awesome Cinnamon Roll go here........NOT "the other place" on Alii. Better go early though because you want them fresh and warm right out of the oven......to die for!!

    (4)

  • Sean H.

    Fairly Fast sit-down style Friendly staff Ocean view Breakfast Sashimi $15 Plenty of parking

    (4)

  • J N.

    My boyfriend and I were just in Kona from January 7 through the 17th. We wanted a nice little place to have breakfast and we looked at reviews for breakfast places, but a local suggested we check out this place. We were sat at an outside table facing the water which was so awesome, our server was very busy but made sure to take care of all of her guests. They were out of what I originally ordered, so I ended up with their Bongo Benedict. AMAZING! I highly recommend the Bongo Benedict, we both had it and loved it. They comped my drink for being out of what I originally ordered too. The only thing I would love to see different is a better fruit side. We both ordered fruit and it was 2 thin slices of cantaloupe, a wedge of pineapple and a wedge of orange. I would have loved to see more pineapple, papaya, mango, starfruit, apple banana etc. The atmosphere was great, the servers seemed to be in good moods, their restaurant faces the water and food is amazing. Go here when you visit the Big Island!

    (4)

  • Donna Z.

    $3 mimosas and bloody marys?! Yes, please! We had a fantastic breakfast experience here, with the manager even personally checking on us a few times. Highly recommend the Loco Moco, the onion rings, and the pancakes! I'm only sorry we didn't find this place sooner. I would have come here every morning while staying in Kona.

    (5)

  • Robbie M.

    This is the place to come for breakfast. They have an extensive menu. Homemade biscuits and breads! I had a biscuit. It was huge and tasty. The bacon was thick sliced and cooked perfectly. If the great food won't get you there the view of the ocean will. What a great way to start the day. I hated to leave and go to work.

    (4)

  • Mitch T.

    Had the bacon and eggs, scrambled, and thoroughly enjoyed it! When I took a bite into the eggs, I fell in love. I could taste the slightly butter taste, which I was told they use to cook their eggs. The meal comes with both starch and bread. What a value. As I ate my breakfast, I enjoyed a World Cup soccer match, which is great to take my mind off the hustle and bustle of the day Im about to face. If that's not for you, well, take a seat where the view of the ocean will!

    (3)

  • Mariposa M.

    Delicious food, had a great breakfast, amazing ocean view, good service and cheap

    (4)

  • Louis R.

    You wanna sit n eat with the tourist ha'oles? You wanna watch the triathelets and ironman competitors run by? You wanna watch the NY Giants get the shit kicked outta them at 7am? You wanna taste the phattest loco moco in the world?...holy ish Come here. Mahalo.

    (5)

  • Candi M.

    My first time ever to Bongo Ben's so ordered appetizers before deciding to order any entrees. Ceviche with chips - chips were served warm and salted but cevuche was flavorless, warm and rubbery...more tomatoe and onion in it than anything else. Guacamole lacked ... everything. I believe they left out the key ingredients of onion, lime, salt, cilantro and simply served mashed up avocado. Decided not to order anything else. Live music with Binti Bailey was fantastic, parallel to the stunning view of the sunsetting over the ocean.

    (1)

  • Richard D.

    What a great place. Found out all there bread and famous cinnamon rolls are made from scratch daily. Good people too. Highly recommend that you go here! Breakfast is the bomb too. And the view omg right on the ocean!

    (5)

  • Brian M.

    We were staying in Kona town and stopped in for breakfast here. Bongo Ben's opens at 7:00am for breakfast and have a nice breakfast menu. Ordered eggs benedict. yelp.com/biz_photos/bong… The eggs was over cooked but dish overall was descent. The savoir of the dish was their biscuit, it was really good with butter and honey. Service: Our server seemed like she was in a rush (We were the first ones there!). Not very friendly and when asked about the 10% discount on the YELP checkin she seemed like she wasn't too thrilled about it. Parking available in back of restaurant and located next to Lulu's. Overall Rating For Breakfast: Didnt take off 10% for Yelp check in. -1star! Eggs over cooked -1star! Server -1star! (You were the only one wearing a white top) Damn good Biscuit! +.05 star! Total 2.5Stars overall.

    (2)

  • Karen R.

    I like coming here when I'm on the Big Island. The food and prices are decent. I like to sit on the seats that face the traffic and water. Really wanted the cinnamon roll the morning but it was apparently still cooking :(

    (4)

  • L S.

    Tammy the manager was also our server and made our meal so pleasant the food was great and the service was even better

    (5)

  • Amber D.

    I really enjoyed their cheeseburger and bacon/cheese fries, it was honestly better than ANYTHING I've ever had from Annie's Burgers! My waitress was super sweet and the view was enjoyable! Prices were super reasonable!

    (5)

  • Scott D.

    This place is awesome! We walked here every night from our condo to enjoy the amazing view of the sunset and the reasonably priced happy hour! Plus the drinks were so good! Staff was so friendly and inviting next time we visit Hawaii we will for sure be back!

    (5)

  • Kris B.

    Nice busy place. I can always count on a great drink and affordable good food. Quick friendly service as well. The fish is always fresh and wonderful. I see a lot of new improvements since the business was sold a year ago! Much cleaner! Great menu and prices. Much better!

    (4)

  • Chris W.

    Got seated immediately at lunchtime 1130 wife ordered the BLT I had a grilled fish sandwich and hers was great mine was good hot fresh but just a lack of flavor needed more seasoning or a different fish but wasn't really bad ,,service was great got seated immediately the people were phenomenal the manager or owner walking around in the white shirt made sure everybody was being taken care of that says a lot. If my fish was better would give five stars for sure

    (4)

  • Rain Greg J.

    I give 4 stars for location, service, drinks and prices, three stars for food. Great place to watch the people parade, watch the sunset and smell the ocean! Drinks were very nicely priced and perfectly made. Dinner was average, not bad, just nothing spectacular. Fajitas were just ok, teriyaki chicken ok, and my son's bacon cheese burger satisfactory, the chicken Caesar salad was very good, chicken nicely cooked, thinly sliced and a pleasure, but as you can tell it's all pretty ordinary. Still for the location and the price, we'll be back.

    (4)

  • Mark A.

    Good restaurants are crowded especially when they have a great location . Great breakfast spot with very reasonable prices quick friendly service too People were standing in line in the rain to get in. A bit funky but great meal cheap with a killer view

    (4)

  • Suzanne H.

    I had Greek Salad w a grilled piece of ahi, it was good. Kahlua pork w cabbage was good. Service was good.

    (4)

  • Jess D.

    It felt like forever for waiting for my food... But when it came it was so DELICIOUS!!

    (4)

  • Andre R.

    Pretty good place to do some people watching while eating some pretty decent grub all while oceanfront.

    (4)

  • Jacky I.

    We walked here from our hotel and were seated right away. The service was great and everyone working there was friendly and genuine. The friendly service boosted this review to four stars, however we would rate the food at 3.5 stars. It was fine and did the trick, it just wasn't absolutely amazing compared to all of the other food we have had this week. We would probably return if we stay in this area again.

    (4)

  • Creva V.

    So my mom came to visit from Arizona and we to go and grab breakfast. .. from the get go we new our experience would be a bad one. Our waitress looked like she just rolled out of bed needless to say we got our drinks then proceeded to take our order, my mom wanted to substitute tortilla for pancakes and the waitress explained that the cook was picky and to busy to make this change we gladly would of paid the difference. The waitress ruined the whole experience we canceled our order now and forever they won't see us again. .. Dennys restaurant was the quick fix!

    (1)

  • Kurt J.

    Awesome location awesome food awesome service especially Casey he's our guy for fast and friendly bloody marys.. a must visit place while in Kona.

    (5)

  • Christina T.

    5- Star service, 3.5 - star food, 4 - star ambience. Everyone was super nice, and it was easy to make a reservation on OpenTable through Yelp (app win!). The waitress was attentive and helpful with her opinions on what to get. Food ranged from good to great. I got the spinach scramble, which was ok (pretty basic, but I ordered knowing what I was getting). My parents got the waffle, and it was "crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside." (Mama Beth's words). My dad: Baby, tell them the chorizo omelette was awesome! (My parents call me "Baby" like I'm in dirty dancing) I agreed. The chorizo was spicy and good. My brother said the pulled pork omelette "wasn't too dry" and good. He and l also got the tropical mimosa. OH MY GOODNESS. Get this. POG + champagne = the best. Beautiful ocean views and the games were on the TV. Plus a 10% discount for checking in on yelp! Overall win! We'll be back!

    (4)

  • Hilary B.

    Horribly slow, inconsiderate service. Asked to be moved to a quieter area of the restaurant, waitress was unaccommodating. Food was bland, nothing spectacular. Got our bills wrong, as well. Unfriendly.

    (1)

  • Al F.

    Great breakfast with a view. Staff very friendly and accommodating. You can get a cheaper breakfast but not on the coast.

    (4)

  • Laura P.

    Great breakfast at Bongo Bens today, would have given a 5 star review but we didnt have an ocean view.Waitstaff was very accommodating. We all had different menu items and all were very tasty. Big thumbs up on the Eggs Benedict

    (4)

  • Kristen R.

    Good location with $5 Mai Tais in the evening. Boneless buffalo strips were pretty tasty but not as crispy as we would have liked. Veggie of the day was sautéed squash and zucchini--fresh and better than I expected. Friendly staff, nice view.

    (3)

  • Mariam E.

    This is a great place if you would like simple food, great view and great service. People complaining that the prices are high, however, these are hawaiian islands, everything is expensive here. Service is great, food is fresh and delicious, for an outdoor restaurant, it's pretty clean too.

    (5)

  • Clayton T.

    Wen't here while on vacation from Texas. Out of all the places on Hawaii and Oahu, this is the most down to earth home style place I ran across to grab breakfast. It's quite affordable when it comes to Hawaii prices, plus good portions. You also have the options to sit with a view of the ocean.

    (5)

  • Miss C.

    "Voted best breakfast" my ARSE! Not the worst breakfast ever, but definitely not even close to the best. We had a round of biscuits because a friend told us they were really good. EW. Tasted fresh out of the fridge and then heated. My brother got a cinnamon roll and it was okay... the frosting was a bit odd, but it was alright. I thought the menu looked decent and ordered the banana mac pancakes. First of all, it was nothing more than buttermilk pancakes with banana/mac nuts sprinkled on top. Such a bummer. My husband got the breakfast burrito and that was nothing more than cheese and ham with some onions diced in. So cheesy, not too shabby... but not what I consider a fabulous "breakfast burrito" with tons of flavor. Overall, this place was underwhelming which is a bummer because I thought it would literally be the "best breakfast in Kona".

    (2)

  • AlyxandraMonique S.

    The workers here are great!!!! As you eat, you're overlooking the beautiful ocean and wonderful town of Kona. :) The chicken Katsu was pretty tasty, although it was a little over cooked.

    (4)

  • Candace H.

    This place was...okay. We ordered highly sub-par personal pizzas, which definitely tasted like they were made with a pre-made crust. We did have a nice seat at the bar overlooking the ocean, though. We tried this place for variety, but if I could do it again I'd probably go to Humpy's or Huggo's instead.

    (3)

  • Betsy K.

    The food and service was great! We both had the ahi with veggies and coleslaw. The coleslaw was creamy and sweet with pineapple mixed in. The only reason not to give 5stars was because they didn't have a working blender for piña colada's!

    (4)

  • Jason A.

    Good sized drinks for happy hour but the servers always seemed a bit cranky. We only tried a pizza the first night we arrived and it was okay. Nothing to write home about but very edible. We came for breakfast one morning but something just didn't feel right so we got up and left and went down the street.

    (3)

  • Tanner T.

    I thought it would be an average place. I was too optimistic. My chicken should have been beer battered- it was frozen tossed in the fryer with some gross breading. My cheese fries were seeped in grease and had shredded cheese tossed on them. Just not my idea of an average place.

    (1)

  • Shan C.

    Great meals that are reasonable in price. Location is overlooking the ocean. This seems to be the number one choice in Kona with the locals We went for breakfast and dinner and both were wonderful. Entertainment at night. Bottomless cup of coffee. Just the best

    (5)

  • Megan F.

    After sampling various restaurants on the island, we found that Bongo Ben's was our favorite for "no nonsense" good food. Breakfast was delicious. Coconut syrup and pancakes? Delish! For dinner, my husband had a burger & fries while I enjoyed chicken Caesar salad (the chicken was perfectly charbroiled). Like I said, nothing fancy, just good eats for a pretty reasonable price. The excellent waterfront location is also a perk!

    (4)

  • Crissy K.

    I must be a glutton for punishment. I've been to Bongo Ben's 4 times and every time it fails to impress. My food is never hot and the service is always slower than average. The location is great and very convenient and they have a kids menu which is nice but everytime I go I wish I would have just went next door to Humpys.

    (2)

  • Justin B.

    Great view and better service. Our server Makai was awesome. Loco moco was great with fried rice. Do yourself a favor and order their homemade biscuit. You will not regret it! Would definitely come back.

    (5)

  • Conner J.

    Delicious loco moco, cheap breakfast options with a great view of the ocean. Also you can't beat $3.50 mimosas and bloody mary's to start your day!

    (4)

  • Melissa T.

    Our service was excellent and the food was great too! If we were locals, we would visit this spot again and again. Thank you, Stephanie, for being a super server. We loved our lunch and view!

    (5)

  • Robert F.

    I was given a gift card by a friend almost a year ago. There was no expiration date on the card and I used it four times with no problems. I went in about a month ago, had breakfast and gave them my card. The manager confiscated the card and said it wasn't good anymore. Her reason was that there were new owners and there had been some fraud with the gift cards by the past owners or staff. Therefore they were not going to honor the cards anymore. I had over $100 on that card. So because there was fraud (don't know that it's true) by the last owner, the new owner can now refuse to honor all gift cards previously issued. This doesn't seem right to me. It may time for small claims court. Until then, I won't be going to Bongo Ben's again.

    (1)

  • Elise S.

    Janet was an outstanding server! You won't be disappointed if you start with the coconut crusted onion rings. The grilled fish sandwich was filling and well prepared. Incredible ocean view!!

    (5)

  • Noah F.

    Really terrible food. This is your classic tourist "great view bad service bad food beach place"

    (1)

  • Gay T.

    The best breakfast ever!!!! To all my Texan friends y'all need to check this place out !! Loco Moco one day Bongo Benedict the next !! NOM NOM

    (5)

  • Toure P.

    Very good service! The ocean front view is a very good way to kick off the morning!!!

    (5)

  • Rebeka J.

    Literally the best breakfast I've ever had. I feel like I got to pig out and then walked out feeling amazingly good. It's not heavy like soul food often can be, this place is true quality and the service would great. I highly recommend the biscuits and gravy.

    (5)

  • Butch S.

    Fast service, delicious food (I had the Loco Moco and it was great) plus an awesome view. Will be back.

    (5)

  • Jason R.

    This was out first stop in Kona right off the plane. The staff was very friendly and the food was great. They had some yummy coconut onion rings that we all loved. My pulled pork sandwich was great too.

    (5)

  • Ash M.

    I have no idea how this place got close to 4 stars. Pizza sauce had big chunks of onions , crust is thin, much like eating out of a cardboard. Water taste terrible and disgusting like old ice. They're so called the "Tempura fish" is not made from tempura batter, it's flour batter. Nothing special. Of the few times I stopped by this area, there's always shady people hanging out in parking lot. Don't waste ur time and $. Go somewhere else that has better food and service.

    (2)

  • Pedro P.

    The family and I went to Bongo for lunch. The view to the ocean was awesome and the customer service from the wait staff was superb! The beer....muy bueno. The food...meh. My wife and I split a pizza and it was ok. The crust was too thin and not that crunchy. I have had better pizza. My son's plate of spaghetti and meatballs was covered with a layer of oil. It was like something had a fight with an oil tanker and.loss. My other son had a burger and fries. He enjoyed that alot. Overall an ok experience. The service and view awesome. The food can be improved a bit.

    (3)

  • Dianna B.

    So good, we came back twice! Right on the main drag of Ali'i drive, with an awesome view, you can't get much better than this! The food, the drinks and the service is freaking amazing! I would recommend this to anyone!

    (5)

  • Mark H.

    This restaurant is officially our favorite restaurant in Kona. The fish is amazing, especially the seared sashimi and the Mai Tais are very good and only $5.

    (5)

  • Hali S.

    The food here was good. We went for supper. I got the strawberry spinach salad with the dressing on the side, my husband got the hula chicken sandwich, and we had the teriyaki steak and fries as an appetizer to share with our two year old. The only knock against it was the waitress took awhile. We wouldn't see her for ages, and then she would come around again, and then disappear. She was really friendly and great when she was there, though. Also, the night we were there, the hostess was never around. People would come in, not knowing what to do, and a few people sat themselves and waited for awhile with no one coming around until they got up and found a waitress. I understand it being busy, but it seems like there should have been a better system.

    (4)

  • Kurt S.

    Fish and chips were tasteless and over cooked. Calamari steak was tasty. Pancakes were good, fresh fish sandwich was awful, would only go back for pancakes. Our food took 45 minutes to be delivered, and they served our fish to some other table, causing an additional 10 minute wait. Service was lacking....

    (2)

  • Kayan H.

    Came here for breakfast and had an omelet with portuguese sausage, mushrooms, and bell peppers. It was good. Came with potatoes which were bland and a biscuit that was delicious and almost scone-like. Highly recommend choosing that over the toast. My husband had the healthy option ahi, which was over cooked and bland, but that's his fault for ordering off the healthy option menu. We came back for dinner and I had beef fajitas, which were very good. I tried my friend's seafood linguini, it was good but came out almost cold so that kinda killed it. Husband got a burger. It wasn't anything amazing. I'd go with fajitas.

    (4)

  • Stephanie H.

    We stopped in at Bongo Ben's while on the Kailua-Kona leg of our Big Island trip. We were staying at a hotel just a couple of blocks away. Bongo Ben's is conveniently located within walking distance of several hotels. We dined on the patio on a weeknight. There was a live band playing music on the stage and our table overlooked the ocean. It was a great atmosphere. I ordered a cheeseburger and fries. The cheeseburger was pretty huge and tasted pretty darn good. The fries were really good too. Their beer specials were competitively priced...way cheaper than the bar at the hotel. Hubby enjoyed his Ride Tom Burger and fries. We will definitely be returning to Bongo Ben's on future trips to the Big Island.

    (4)

  • Marc Z.

    Great spot on the water with a very friendly and courteous staff. Ahi tuna sashimi was amazing fresh and tasty. First night in kona think we found a place we will hit more then once.

    (4)

  • Cesar R.

    PORK yelp.com/biz_photos/OoJW… Tender, juicy pork with melty cheese and caramelized onions wrapped in fluffy egginess. BLOODY MARY yelp.com/biz_photos/OoJW… Spicy, refreshing early morning cocktail with a kick. the consensus? Hawaiian Breakfast of Champions. 'nuff fu*kin' said.

    (4)

  • Jenny K.

    Surprisingly good! Or I was just really hungry... The Story (if you even care): Thranksgiving night, all the good local places I really wanted to try were closed so we just walked around the Ali'i area and asked some drunk guy at a bar to tell us where to eat so we ended up at Bongo Ben's. Service: Very kind and generous folks. Nothing terribly bad or outstandingly awesome. Setting: In the heart of the touristy Ali'i area where there's an Outback steakhouse a stone's throw away and seemingly 10000 ABC Stores within a single block. Food: 1) Fresh Catch sandwich: It was mahi mahi that day and it was cooked to perfection. The fish was very tender and not dry or overcooked. The tartar sauce was light and not overpowering. The bun was a little odd but I like to pick away at 70% of the bun anyhow because I'm just another "one of those carb-hating girls" 2) Seafood linguinin: The BF got this and he was very pleased with it. Great sauce, pasta perfectly al dente. Generous supply of seafood.

    (4)

  • Johnny B.

    I have eaten here a few times and it's mediocre. I would have given it 3.5 stars but that's not an option. Lunch and dinner are good and worth the price. Had the chicken burger and it was pretty good. The fries are awesone. The fish burger is good also. They claim to have the best breakfast in Kona. I'm not convinced that is true. They definitely are the busiest breakfast place in Kona and you can expect to wait for a table if you get there after 9am. Again, not bad for the price. Eggs were good. Pancakes were also good. The bacon was nothing special, very thin but most of the breakfast places in Kona serve the same. The only thing I don't like about this place is that the tables are very close together so it's very loud and the seats are not comfortable. They have live bands at night, as do most places on Ali'i, so it's quite loud. Do noir expect a quiet romantic meal here. The local stoners hang out across the street and sit on the wall in front of the ocean. If you want the best breakfast on the Big Island you will have to go to Waimea or Hilo to the Hawaiian Style Cafe. It's worth the drive to Waimea if you're in Kona.

    (4)

  • Breanna T.

    This is my third time here it's a great breakfast place, I understand why they were voted #1. Breakfast time can get really busy usually full house during this time. Prices are reasonable. The Huevos rancheros is only 10 bucks that's a good deal and comes with a side. Mimosas are $3. Oh and the oven view dining is amazing.. definitely stop here for breakfast.

    (5)

  • Lisa M.

    Ordered two bloody Mary's with olives and ice waters. Received bloody Mary's with other stuff an no water. Found out they were out of hollandaise and cinnamon buns at 11 am. Three strikes you are out, bongos, and so are we!

    (1)

  • Taco Y.

    Located almost across from Huggos on the rocks on Alii Dr at the start of the tourist section. There is an ocean view across Alii Dr at street level. Ate loco moco breakfast. Wife had the healthy half papaya with granola and yogurt. The loco moco was average and consisted of one hamburger patty rice two eggs and brown gravy. Gravy could use a llittle more flavor. Wife liked her granola papaya yogurt breakfast. The price for the breakfast was high but comparable to restaurants in the area. Would eat breakfast here again.

    (3)

  • Eric M.

    Great view, fast service at busy time. Live music is rocking!! Drinks are DRINKS, as they should be, not so for all the tourist spots. Decent food, great entertainment

    (4)

  • Nick H.

    Great wings and happy hour special. Server (KC) was awesome!!!! Absolutely great tour guide. The reason for the lower rating was the next day we had there breakfast and was not impressed. The pancakes and omelette taste like something I can make at home. Not bad, but definitely not impressed.

    (3)

  • Mike D.

    For me this is the quintessential tourist trap. Breakfast is fine, but it is nearly impossible to mess up sausage eggs and pancakes. Food can be gawd awful sometimes. Happy Hour margaritas are undrinkable....When we had a drink of ours we immediately sent them back, but they still put them on our bill!!!! Brought this to their attention and they offered a dessert but insisted that we pay for the drinks. We let them know that our party of 15 had 13 kona residents, (possible repeat business) but still nothing. You have many better options.

    (2)

  • Sally R.

    Great view and the breakfast is okay. You will see dolphins spinning in the morning from your Ali'i Drive table.

    (2)

  • Sanjana S.

    The food was yummy! We went for dinner and despite the awful dinner reviews, it was good! The shrimp fajitas were DELICIOUS and were well worth another visit back. The chicken hula burger was good, for a chicken burger. :) Also, ask the staff what they suggest because it is really good. The staff was very nice and friendly. They were very sweet and helpful. It's a nice place and is really crowded for breakfast, which is supposed to be amazing.

    (4)

  • Mona L.

    Great service this time, been there before and it was just as good. Breakfast is pretty great-- Lunchtime: Food is nothing fancy and quality is so so but it equates to most in Kona and has the perfect location and view of Ali'i Drive. Parking in back gets busy but usually you can find a spot pretty easily. I recommend the Teiyaki Chicken sandwich for lunch. It is the best meal I have had there. The green tea wasn't my thing but my husband liked his. Sitting outside you see birds and it's nice... But they may come up to your plate so beware if that bothers you.

    (3)

  • Mary J.

    Great breakfast, good food, good service, fanastic view.

    (5)

  • Rob F.

    We ate at Bongo Ben's this past weekend for the second time in two weeks. The first time we went there my daughter really liked the BBQ pulled pork sandwich and wanted to eat it again. The first time we ate there it took 15 minutes before the waitress took our order, and we waited another 40 minutes for our lunch to come. We decided to go there again because I thought that we should give them a second chance, and I liked the Philly Cheesesteak sandwich. Well the second time was even worse than the first time. After being seated it took about 10 minutes for the same waitress to take our order, and it took almost 45 minutes for us to get our food. There were two tables next to us that came after we did, but they received their food before us. I ordered the cheeseburger with fries, which was ok. At no time did the waitress come and ask us if we needed anything: water, desert, "Is everything ok?"...the tab. For the second time I needed to walk up to the cashier to ask for the tab, because our waitress never came back to our table for anything! I understand that the restaurant is busy, but a little customer service please. At least the first time we ate there, a guy came by to refill our water. There was one waitress there that was helping a couple of other tables close by that was very energetic and super friendly, why didn't we get her as our waitress?! She actually came up to me at the cash register and asked me if she could help me. She got our tab for me and was extremely nice! I wish that I got her name, so I praise her in this review (kinda short, thin, super cool!!). I wanted to give Bongo Ben's a better review, but I was let down for a second time with the poor service. I have to agree with Brian M.'s review about the service. The food: Good (the sandwiches) The service: Poor The price: Fair

    (2)

  • Jason U.

    Stephanie and Janet were wonderful. They welcomed us with the Aloha spirit and were very attentive. The food was great as well but what really made it was the POG mimosa (a must have).

    (5)

  • Lydia H.

    Great view, sat facing the ocean. Busy and loud but lots of fun! Chicken katsu was so yummy!

    (4)

  • Hannah T.

    Bongo Ben's was our favorite spot for breakfast an had great, quick service. Mimosas, amazing macadamia nut banana french toast, the coastal breeze, and an incredible view of the water and morning swimmers. We can't wait to visit again!

    (5)

  • David O.

    Fun local flavor!

    (5)

  • Missy F.

    I ordered the calamari strips and fries. It tasted like it was previously frozen. I know they can do better, being fifty feet from the ocean... On another note, the service was friendly and the guitar player was excellent!

    (3)

  • Steve V.

    Service was okay but the food was awful. Chicken strips were all breading and no chicken. Fish and chips were not much better. Maybe we ordered the wrong things?

    (2)

  • sarah m.

    you know, the service here has always been bad. I think they keep hiring young little blond girls with no customer service experience. the BF and I have tried this place a few times, and we are always disappointed with service. Food is mediocre. I wouldn't recommend the place. :(

    (2)

  • James U.

    We came here twice on our trip for breakfast. Food was great, but the service was a little slow. Wasn't a big deal though when you have that kind of view.

    (4)

  • Jen M.

    The food was great and the server was nice but some of the staff seemed to be intoxicated. The patio is really nice though, after the sun goes down.

    (4)

  • Shannon M.

    Although the service is usually mediocre at best, I keep coming back for their grilled fish. It's very good. But seriously, the owner needs to school the wait staff in ' customer service'.

    (3)

  • Konrad F.

    With our party of seven we experienced terrible service and subpar food. The waitress was inattentive and mistook a number of our menus. We never even got our drinks we ordered and never had our water refilled. The music was fun and the location is nice, just not the best food and certainly not quality service.

    (2)

  • Michael J.

    I'd seen this place with its live music at night as I went to another watering hole, and decided to swing by the next morning for breakfast before I left Kona. It's a decent breakfast stop, probably one of the better ones along Ali'i and certainly not the worst. The pulled pork omelet is really good, and they give you a lot of carbs in the form of toast and rice, making this an ideal place to eat if you plan to hike Mauna Kea. The waitress brings you plenty of coffee, and good coffee at that. Offers a nice view of the ocean as well. Of course, you're enjoying that view across the street...a very busy street, with lots of cars and motorcycles roaring by. So if you have a track on your iPod called "Sounds of the Pacific Ocean" along with noise-cancelling headphones, this would be a good place to listen to it. Overall, it's worth eating here for breakfast and based on their live music, would probably make a good late night drink or dinner stop as well.

    (3)

  • Eff B.

    The wait took awhile for a setting for 7. But we got ocean front table with an awesome view. The breakfast prices were cheap and reasonable for Kona. Had the Bongo platter and it was delicious!

    (4)

  • Julie H.

    I gave Bongo Ben's 3 stars, but it's really 2 stars for the food and 3 stars because of the entertainment. Ordered the "works" pizza and it was alright. Lots of toppings, but not much of a crust. The burger was decent, but I admit I don't have much to say about the food. Best thing to do at Bongo Ben's is to grab a seat by the sidewalk, have a beer maybe fries and people watch. Across the street, sitting on the rock wall was a scruffy looking older man selling special herbs rather not so discreetly. I thought it was sweet watching an elderly patron ask his entire family to leave the table and meet them next door so he can pay the bill only to have an extra 5 minutes to talk to the waitress without his family around. Let me just say, as other reviews have mentioned the service is great. He had asked the waitress about herself and about another waitress that was there a year ago. Fun times. On another note, be prepared for sparrows flying and darting for scraps of food. Plenty of parking behind the restaurant so no need to drive around. Go for the people watching and not for the food.

    (3)

  • Jennifer D.

    Horrible service, had to ask for the bill multiple times after a very unpleasant dining experience and long waits for everything including forgotten drink orders. Horrible food. The fish was dry and unpleasant and I commented on it to the waiter after he had recommended the dish. I ended up getting some bad reactions later which have added to my unpleasant memories of this place. They had a hard time figuring out how to apply the Yelp check In discount as well and walked off with my phone to verify with the manager! As a tourist visiting the area don't get fooled by the signs about it being voted best breakfast! There are much better places in the area with much tastier coffee!

    (1)

  • Derek S.

    Gluten Free Pizza on the Big Island!!!! This place is great. My daughter and I enjoyed homemade fresh GF pizza here. So happy they have it. Michael the manager was very accommodating and assuring. His wife is GF and tests all the GF foods. They have fresh GF breads too.

    (5)

  • Glenn H.

    Stopped in on a Wednesday around 9AM. A bit busy, took about 15 minutes to take our order. Food was OK, although not piping hot. Don't forget you get 10 percent off with Yelp check-in.

    (3)

  • Lisa Q.

    The old bitter white lady made for a miserable start. She had the attitude as if you owed her something just by sitting down plus was really confrontational. I had coffee and 20 mins after it was out and I asked her for a refill she got a attitude. Plus she had food in her mouth while she was talking and it got in my food. The view was amazing but don't think I will be back

    (1)

  • Emily N.

    We've been once before for breakfast and it was great. Breakfast round two, not so great. DRINKS: I was fine with water, but the BF ordered an Irish coffee and a mimosa. It took 20+ minutes before either one came out. I had long finished my water and started on the BF's. No refills. Like, I still had half of my plate left to finish with no water, or signs of any waitstaff to flag down. I really hate places that only have the half-glass size cups because I'm a water hound - I can drink 10 of those in 5 minutes. Plus, doesn't it double the waitstaff's load having to come back MORE often to refill a smaller glass than a normal one? FOOD: Food finally comes about 10 minutes after the drinks and it was delicious!! I got the Island French toast while the man got the Basic Bongo. Well worth the wait. Until I got food poisoning.

    (1)

  • George S.

    I worry as I get older, am I becoming a fussy old fart. Are my standard raising? Are my taste buds dying? I'm i getting to critical of service? The meals here made all those feelings go away. The food, always well above average, Same with the service. We went here about 5 times in the 9 day stay. The last day I got the pork chop breakfast with fried rice and mushroom gravy, one of the best breakfast I have ever had. Mind you, cheaper prices, great value.

    (5)

  • Susan I.

    Best food on Ali'i Drive!! Awesome happy hour and fresh, local fish... Make sure to stop by here and try it out... Fabulous service and delicious food!

    (5)

  • Fritz W.

    Went there for breakfast one morning and I had a bacon online and my wife have the breakfast burrito. I only got 1 bit of bacon in my omelet but the wife loved her breakfast burrito. The waiter we had was less than friendly to us I'm glad locals came in was more than happy to see them. All in all it was a pretty good experience.

    (4)

  • David P.

    A beautiful spot with great, fresh food at reasonable prices. It's a "must do" while in Lailua-Kona! The banana Mac-nut and famous Bongo Benedict choices are terrific!

    (4)

  • Autumn K.

    The staff was very friendly always on it with refills for water or soda the prices were reasonable and the serving sizes were good for the prices I definitely will come back and eat here again Cathy was amazing too..

    (5)

  • A T.

    We had dinner at the restaurant while on vacation and were seated promptly. The staff was very friendly and informative when we asked questions about the menu items. The manager, Janet, personally came by our table several times to make sure we enjoyed our food and check if we needed anything. They have a large menu with a variety of foods. I had the pork chops and was worried they would come out dry, but I was surprised that they were moist. The food is good, but I think the service and ambiance makes everything better. We sat on the patio and watched the sunset. It was a nice way to end our vacation!

    (4)

  • Kate B.

    My husband just loved this place. We came for breakfast one day and he had the pulled pork omelet. I had a breakfast burrito. We then cake for dinner one night and he had the fresh catch while I had pork fajitas. The portions were huge and the prices were quite inexpensive. We found the service to be very friendly and quick. It was nice to be seated facing the ocean. There was live music in the evening. They are also one of the only places were could find serving dinner so late.

    (5)

  • Courtney L.

    Had the macadamia pineapple banana pancake with whip cream, too die for !! so yum !! fast friendly service, great place to people watch :) Overlooks Kona Village .

    (4)

  • Shirley F.

    My husband & I stopped in for a light dinner about 7:00 pm. It was nearby & convenient to where we were staying. All of the help we encountered were friendly, helpful, attentive w/o being pushy. I had the BLT; my husband had a Club sandwich. Though the menu states white bread, I asked if I could have something else. I chose wheat bread. AMAZING flavor! The waitress said it was homemade. There was a hint of sweetness to it. We chose salad as our side dish. We sat at a bar close to the street & watched the sunset; saw a green flash. Good food & a good value. Not sure what it would take to get five stars, but we were more than satisfied. Will go back next trip.

    (4)

  • Robin W.

    Once I found Bongo Ben's mashed potatoes, it was difficult for me to try any other restaurants in Kona! Let's see...I've tried the rib eye with mashed potatoes and fresh vegetables twice, fettuccini, BBQ sandwich... For breakfast, the biscuits with sausage gravy & grits. So the food is definitely fit for comfort and I wouldn't want to be eating it everyday, but it was so good! Nice to be right across the street from the ocean. Next time I go to Kona, I'll be here...

    (5)

  • Dan B.

    This place was recommended to is by a local who said they had the "Best Breakfast on the Island". That's no joke! Really great, especially the homemade biscuits and delicious bloody marys. My wife enjoyed perfectly done eggs Benedict and I had the Big Bongo Omelette (meat lovers delight). Our server (Janet) had a terrific smile and was on top of all of our needs. Great ocean view to top it all off.

    (5)

  • jason l.

    Food is just OK. Service was slow but it looked like they may not have had enough servers that night. At least the drinks are cheap. The location is great though with a great view of the ocean.

    (2)

  • L M.

    Big disappointment. Sat at the street sidebar, my meal was poorly prepared as were the 2 guests on either side of me. The manager Mafferty, was extremely condescending and rude to the gentleman on my right as he tried to argue that the eggs on his plate were cooked properly. The customer just wanted some eggs, no runny yolks, Mafferty should have listened instead of trying to convince him that he was wrong. I was shocked and embarrassed to hear how Mafferty treated the couple. Such rudeness was really out of line. He actually took the guys plate away from him and didn't let him finish the other items like the fruit and rice, toast, etc. Never came back, never brought him something else, just snatched the plate away and stomped off like a petulant child making loud disparaging remarks to other wait staff that we could clearly hear all the way back to our seats. The couple were billed for the full amount of the bill, they paid it, left a tip for the waitress and left humiliated. Mafferty, shame on you, seriously, you're bratty behavior and callousness were just uncalled for. What a jerk!

    (1)

  • Daphne R.

    The best breakfast ever! Always good service. I'm from Oahu and every time I come to big island I have to come eat here. I've ate dinner once. Forgot what I had had i jus remember it was bomb.com . I do remember my brother had the spaghetti which was also really good.

    (5)

  • Alicia L.

    Great comfort food and awesome location! The waitress was extremely nice and accommodating. The food was slightly expensive but everything we got we were very pleased with. The portions were big and the fries pretty great. I would definitely recommend the hula burger-sweet, juicy, and flavorful, everything you could ask for. I highly recommend this place!

    (4)

  • Laura S.

    Delish breakfast and amazing view! Bongos Benedict is Ono!

    (4)

  • Randall S.

    Excellent food! The pork chops were great! They have a chocolate cake to die for. The service was great and the live music made the evening perfect. Bongo Ben's has a broad list of drinks and their menu has a plethora of items sure to make anyone happy.

    (5)

  • Stacey B.

    Worst meal on the big island for sure. Don't know how you can go wrong with a Cobb salad, but they did (could have been the pile of shredded, bland cheese that covered everything). Blech. Don't waste your money, even with the 10% off coupons they pass out as you walk by, it's not worth it. We came here to go to Lulu's upstairs, but no one was there, and this place was populated so we assumed it was the better restaurant; but we sure wished we'd tried Lulu's instead. My kids say the chocolate smoothies were very good though.

    (1)

  • Sarah T.

    Great view and fresh food. I had the seafood platter for brunch. It was HUGE and everything was tasty. Super fresh ingredients and the server was very attentive.

    (5)

  • Justin B.

    I am giving Ben's 4 starts. They are solid/enjoyable. They had a nice big menu and nothing was disappointing at all. The service was good as well.

    (4)

  • Chuck N.

    Saturday, 11:00AM. Breakfast/brunch buffet with beach front seats. Nice! Quickie: +Fresh pancakes/waffles made on the spot +Enchilada options +Biscuits and gravy +Rice! And then? Decent, but hearty b-fast. Great view. If you're lucky, harmless lizards will walk by during your meal too!

    (4)

  • T W.

    Great service...friendly, efficient. Eggs Benedict perfectly cooked. Spouse had Ben's Basic with gluten free bread and very tasty ham. I liked that they left a pot of coffee at your table. Price was reasonable, food was good, service was excellent. What more do you want.

    (4)

  • Tom L.

    Have been here for breakfast before, then today we had lunch. Had BBQ Kalua pork sandwich and coconut battered onion rings. Both were very good. We recommend Bongo Ben's

    (4)

  • Kim K.

    Nice really casual plastic chair sort of restaurant. We went there for breakfast. Coffee wasn't the best so next time upgrade and order Kona coffee. Tables sit close together. Outdoor seating looking out at the ocean!

    (4)

  • Fi G.

    Great service and good food. Went here for breakfast several times. Won't break the bank. Oceanfront location. Great for people watching or just watching the sun set over the ocean.

    (4)

  • Sarah M.

    Will never go back. Food tasted like it was from frozen and service was the worst. Of the six of us eating only one person somewhat enjoyed the food. Even my husband, who NEVER complains about food, felt the fish and chips he ate was HORRIBLE! We could also hear the waitresses complaining to each other about the lack of customers and their language was less than appropriate.

    (1)

  • Sarrah W.

    This place was nice and comfortable. The bartender made us feel at home. We had the happy hour pizza special. The pizza is really good. We watched the Bengal Steelers game and relaxed.

    (4)

  • Carl S.

    A local friend recommended this place. My wife and I had lunch; we split the Hula Chicken Sandwich which was very good. Good fries. Also enjoyed the POG iced tea. Waiter very helpful and friendly. Hostess made sure we got a seat where the breeze was best. All in all, a great experience. Update: We went back on our last night for dinner. Another great experience. Good bacon burger and nice crispy fries. Service good but not great. Live music was really nice and not too loud.

    (4)

  • James G.

    Excellent brunch and a great view of the ocean. I had the huevos rancheros and my wife had the granola and papaya.

    (5)

  • Lynne M.

    Ate here on our last night in Kona. We wanted something low key and relaxed with a view of the water, and it was a great choice. We sat at the counter facing the ocean and watched a gorgeous sunset while sipping tropical alcoholic drinks and listening to a rockin live band. The food was excellent--best chicken katsu I have ever tasted and that is saying something!

    (5)

  • Martha B.

    Great place for happy hour and breakfast, especially with kids. We sat outside and took in the sunset over $5 Mai Thais while the kids colored with crayons. Food is good basic food--burgers were good. Live entertainment was great. Kamalani was our server the first night we were there and she was the best! She brought extra fruit garnishes and umbrellas for the kids and was so sweet and accommodating to us. We wish we could have had her every time. We were traveling as four adults and three small kids, and we went to Bongo Bens three times for dinner and once for breakfast. All were good. I only give 4 stars because the food is not amazing, but it's good and well-priced and you can't beat the view from the patio and the family -friendly atmosphere.

    (4)

  • Maria M.

    Ate here our last day yummy french toast country fried steak. So good!

    (5)

  • Dahlia V.

    This place is always crowded for some reason but the food wasn't great (breakfast). Scrambled eggs were dry and fruits old & tasteless. Walk a bit north to the Daylight Mind and you'll get a totally better experience with gourmet food and spectacular view.

    (2)

  • Nhung H.

    We came here for dinner our first night on the island and unfortunately I was feeling a bit under the weather so I couldn't finish my dinner. I ordered the Shrimp Scampi, jumbo shrimp sauteed in white wine-butter sauce, served with parmesan linguini and hot garlic bread. My bf got the chicken terriyaki with rice. I had a taste of the shrimp and a bite of pasta and I only mostly tasted the butter. It was a bit overwhelming for me. Although the garlic bread was very good, again lots of butter, but still good. If you're a fan of butter this is your dish! :) I just don't like too much butter. The ENVIRONMENT was AWESOME! Very lively and fun! I really like the band that played that night and all the songs that they played. They accept tips :) Staffs were also super friendly, which always makes the experience more delightful.

    (3)

  • Matthew D.

    Pleasantly surprised at this spot! Been to a lot of places in beach locations that are just overpriced with crappy food. Bongo Ben's was not only reasonable but the food was really good. I had the fish tacos( which really was more of a fish burrito) that was delicious! Plus they always seem to have a drink special going. They are not going to win any Michelin Stars, but for a ocean side somewhat touristy restaurant/bar it's darn good!

    (5)

  • Crissy K.

    If you really want a great view of Alii Drive -- because maybe you're bored in Kona? -- then Bongo Ben's is the place to be. If you're looking for great grinds, great service and a relaxing atmosphere? Well, maybe not so much. Our server at lunch on Saturday never looked us in the eye. I suppose this comes with having been seated at the "belly bar" (that's what I heard the hostess call it) facing the street, but (a) it's not as if we asked to sit there, and (b) if you're gonna set things up that way, you might want to teach your staff how to adapt in being personable some other way. Turning on your heel as soon as our needs have been communicated doesn't quite cut it. I'm fairly certain I never actually saw our server's face. That just isn't normal, especially when you're eating in broad daylight. And the food . . . well, I guess it was food. I had the single eggs benedict with steak. The steak was all right, about 3 oz. and cooked to specs. The benedict was nothing special, and the egg itself was overcooked, so the yolk didn't really flow. Not horrible, but definitely nothing to write home about. If you have a table (or the belly bar) facing the street, you should know that Alii Drive is full of loud motorcycles and rental mopeds. It's not quiet at all. (I guess you wouldn't necessarily equate a place called "Bongo Ben's" with peace and quiet, so perhaps some of that blame rests on my faulty expectations.) For the atmosphere it seems to attempt to offer, Bongo Ben's could be anywhere; it completely fails to capitalize on its location across the street from the ocean. Now that I know better, I'll stick with Huggo's on the Rocks next time I feel like dining in Kailua.

    (2)

  • Alicia P.

    Another late night food search....we were trying to find some other local fare and found it was just a kava bar mostly. We wanted food and ended up on the tourist path on Ali'i Dr with everyone else. We just walked up feeling like we had been defeated on our search for local non-touristy places and were pleasantly surprised. The food was good! The staff was friendly!

    (4)

  • Kyla M.

    Great location within walking distance from our hotel and we LOVED their breakfast! We were there 7 days and we went 4/7 days. Everything was fresh, delicious, lots of choices and the homemade biscuits were to die for. Best Kona coffee we had found also (only $2, free refills). Decent service & live music at night. I checked in on yelp every day that we went and received 10% off of our bill every time! Highly recommend this spot for breakfast!

    (4)

  • Magdalena C.

    It is a solid, good value place. The service is very good; they bring your items quickly, they make sure you don't sit over dirty dishes. Also the prices are pretty low for the location. The food itself was very good. We had fish taco wrap and a Hawaiian pizza. Both dishes were fresh and very tasty. The fresh side salad was boring - mostly lettuce with literally one chunk of cucumber and one wedge of tomato. The dressing was perfect flavor though (garlic vinaigrette). The only thing I would definitely look into is changing the décor a little. Something to brighten it up. The basic concept is great - long bar-like table along the patio overlooking the ocean, but it needs a little help.

    (4)

  • Brian W.

    Great view of the Kona coastline. Can't think of a better place for a view-- for whatever reason, of all the restaurants here, the view here just works. The french toast is pretty good. Not the best I've had, but very good. Apple waffle is drenched in apples and the apple syrup, a bit too plain and just sweet, rather than apple-y... and the Portuguese sausage is 4 little round pieces for four bucks? Rip-off. The eggs were light and fluffy and damned good though, so next time skip the sausage (tasty as it was, it ain't worth a buck a piece) and just get the eggs. Service was excellent. Our servers were very attentive; juice arrived promptly, our meals did, everything came quickly. Okay, it could've been because we had several parties here on and off all week so they knew us, but even when they didn't recognize us service was still good. (maybe one of the cousins that was our tour guide called ahead...) Anyway, 3.5 stars. Didn't blow me away enough to be worth more than that, unfortunately...

    (3)

  • DENISE A.

    Wanting to enjoy the beautiful Kona Coast View, we took a chance on Bongo Ben's. The waitress was pleasant...the Menu was confusing...the food was "Lousy Diner quality:...and don't ask for Salsa, they charged me $3.00 for 1 ounce/Tablespoon to put on my eggs...The food is tastless, where's the flavor? ...Oh, hire Good Cooks & trash the Frozen-Foods...This is "KONA" & we expect Better!

    (1)

  • Somefood G.

    Loco moco! My personal favorite. Get it with the fried rice, whole new level! Service was great. Little dirty looking but not of to much concern. Can't beat the view. Mimosas are cheap, food is a fair price. Def worth a try.

    (4)

  • Vincent V.

    Tuna melt Sandwich and thai salad we had were great! Nice staff.

    (4)

  • Gopi V.

    The food is just ok, but the views of the ocean are great. A lively place, but the music can be loud at times.

    (3)

  • Ralph T.

    Our local friends love this place. Yes it is in downtown Kona in the tourist area but all the restaurants are there. I had the fish and chips. Great light, meaty flavor. Good fries and great beer. My wife had the fish-hey she's old and can't remember what it was. It was fish, veggies and rice, she does remember it was good. The happy hour Mai Tai's were weak. She finally got them to keep adding rum. After the third one it was right. I had the ice cold beers. We had a party of 6 but only two checks. The waiter billed the wrong credit cards and then blamed us for mixing up the credit cards. A little hard to do when he gave us the right bills when he delivered them. I'm sure he messed it up when he went to run the cards through. He argued with us and told us it would take 4 weeks to cancel the original charges if he had to run them through again, BS. Just being lazy and didn't want to admit the mistake. Otherwise great service and a fun place to be for some local music.

    (4)

  • Monica J.

    Our first night in town recommended by a local at our resort!! It was soo cute from facing the ocean to watch the sun set, the tiki torches and live music and a woman doing hula dancing, it set a perfect one for our vacation!! I had the coconut catch of the day Ono with fries!! It was moist, with a crunchy sweet batter!! Fries were yummy too!! My husband had the hula chicken sandwich! Had bacon, Swiss cheese and a grilled pineapple!! A bit messy but delicious!! We also drank a lava flow and blue Hawaiian!! Both were fruity and yummy!!

    (4)

  • Eddie G.

    Delicious food with a great view, and the employees are very friendly !!

    (5)

  • Martha M.

    Not fabulous, the food was just so-so. But this seemed more like a tourist trap than anything else. Not at all impressed.

    (2)

  • Heather M.

    I was pleasantly surprised by this place after going there for lunch with a few friends. I tend to stay away from the more touristy places around town since they tend to be very expensive and lack in flavor/taste. I had the fresh grilled fish sandwich, which was ahi that day. It was grilled perfectly! What I really liked was that they didn't try to hide the taste of the fish by dousing it in some sauce. The french fries were ADDICTING as well! They were perfectly cooked and salted without leaving a greasy mess. The calamari sandwich, the pork sandwich, and the fish and chips are delish too! Best part is, you get to chow down while enjoying the great view of the ocean. There is a large parking lot behind the restaurant so you don't have to worry about parking. Oh, but do watch out for the birds if you sit on the patio. They are relentless and will sneak a french fry in two seconds flat!

    (4)

  • Ancen K.

    We got greeted as soon as we walked in. Service was okay. Chicken Alfredo was good, but the chicken was a bit dry. Garlic bread was so yummy! My son really enjoyed their virgin piña colada too! :) haha.

    (4)

  • Ryan Z.

    Yuck! I can cook better food drunk on whiskey, one hand tied behind my back, with both eyes closed.

    (1)

  • Brian L.

    Fabulous - perfect Hawaiin chill experience!!!!

    (4)

  • Lina P.

    I ordered the eggs benedict. It was the smallest portion I have ever seen. I asked for no bacon sub avo, and they charged me $2 for a small sliver. Im not exaggerating, I got 2 small leaves of spinach. The place is crowded with picnic chairs, there was a slight order, and the place just felt grimy. I dont think I'll be going back.

    (2)

  • Traci B.

    Awesome breakfast in a prime location for sunrise. Good food, service, and location makes this a great place!

    (5)

  • Claire B.

    My girlfriend and I went out for Ladies Night and ended up sitting for a few hours at Bongo Ben's.. the atmosphere was very nice, open & airy, with local music playing in the background.. My friend was very impressed with the attentive waiter who checked on us just enough to give us time to relax as we slowly ate our food.. and the food was yummy! I had the Pork Sandwich, which was huge, and my girlfriend had the Fish Taco Salad, which was super yummy [she shared with me!] I would definitely go back there.. we watched the sunset while people watching, and the tiki torches near our table added to the 'vacation' feeling & ambiance.. a very nice overall Kona experience for sure! Mahalo Bongo Ben's!

    (4)

  • Savannah G.

    I would go just for the $3 bloody marys which were delicious!! The breakfast was good but nothing to write home about... We had the eggs Benedict which I would give a 4 because the hollandaise sauce was yum!! (order it with the homemade biscuits instead of the english muffin and you wont be dissapointed--promise!) We also had the island pancakes but those were mediocre at best! Great view and great waitstaff though!

    (3)

  • Stanley M.

    Excellent food, excellent service. Eight of us were there, three just for drinks. Beautiful sunset visible from our seats, overlooking the bay?harbor.

    (4)

  • Aimee S.

    We visited Bongo Ben's for our "after wedding breakfast" with 22 of our closest family and friends, and it was exactly what we were looking for. Exceptional service, amazing breakfast food, and great atmosphere to boot! I had spoken to Michael a few weeks prior and he was super accommodating and definitely went the extra mile. We had our own special menu selections printed up, beautiful centerpieces, and to top it off we got to sit by an incredible musician who played EVERYTHING nonstop the whole time... from the Cure to Dave Matthews ... he was brilliant. I got the french toast and it was awesome - super fluffy with mac nuts and sugar. My husband got the steak and eggs and a side of spam, and the plate was entirely cleaned off. Everyone really loved their selections and the mimosas were tasty too. We will certainly be coming back when we visit the Big Island again ... and make sure it's on a day when the guitarist is there. A big mahalo to everyone who helped us out that day!

    (5)

  • Mike R.

    Food was OK (pretty hard to screw up breakfast) but the service was awful. Server has an attitude problem and that's not a good thing when you're in a tourist area.

    (2)

  • Michelle D.

    Went here for breakfast with 3 adults and 3 small children. Great food and drinks, and the service was super fast and friendly. Good place to eat, and it has a pretty decent view of the cove across the street.

    (5)

  • Jamie G.

    Amazing service and the food is top notch. We have been here many many times and the food gets better and better every time. My favorite is the wings and rings. The onion rings are coated with coconut and my favorite thing in the world. My husband loves the locomoco, he was born and raised in Hawaii so he knows good locomoco. The mahi mahi sandwich is also to die for but honestly I've never had anything I didn't love. Now the best part about this place isn't even the food.... It's the staff. The bartender Nia is such a sweetheart and goes out of her way to make you feel welcome. The view from the front is amazing and the vibe is fun. There's a good mix of locals and tourists and even live music. I would highly recommend this place to anyone and everyone. It's family friendly and also a good party spot. It really is a well rounded and amazing spot!

    (5)

  • Tim Y.

    Great thanksgivings day breakfast. I had eggs Benedict, super! My wife had bongo bens basic. Plenty of food and good/great flavor. Add a Bloody Mary, sit back and enjoy the view of Kailua bay. A must stop for breakfast,

    (4)

  • Dick H.

    Went there twice for breakfast (ok, we're on vacation, and it was actually like 11:00 both times :) ). The food was good both times. Check out their happy hour! The loco moco is awesome! The service the first time was very friendly, efficient, helpful, relaxed, etc. Can't say enough about that. The second time was the absolute opposite. Unfriendly, slow, etc. We told the manager, who apologized. I'd say just inconsistent. But the views are good! Nice to sit down and chat with other tourists from across the world. Didn't see any locals - again, at 11:00 they're probably working, fishing, or staying out of the touristy areas. I'd try it again, but check out the server first before you sit down.

    (3)

  • Jak H.

    I had breakfast there this morning, an while their French toast is awesome, they have a problem. Service. The waiters were cool, but they ignored us for about 20 minutes. After they took our order it wasn't to bad of a wait, but if your really need a quick breakfast, Find another place. But if you want a leisurely breakfast, an don't mind taking your time or waiting, this is a great place to go. P.S The French toast is amazing

    (3)

  • Gordon H.

    A restaurant has a great view. Food is reasonable. It is a little bit pricy, but it is understandable as it is in the Kona downtown area. Just my two cents. Go there for lunch, but not dinner. Because you will miss the great view at night. And last, dont forget to check in for the check in discount. :)

    (3)

  • Patty W.

    Service was slow. My Father-in-Law's fish was cold. They lost the order for my daughter's pizza, which she ended up receiving when the rest of us were done eating. Other customers were getting impatient and asking whereas their orders were. The wait staff kept apologizing, saying "we are really busy tonight". If you want a loud place to get your drink on, you might give this a try. If you want a decent meal in a reasonable amount of time, go elsewhere.

    (1)

  • Anthony L.

    As we looked at the menu trying to decide a greeter talked about the specials and we were not convinced yet. She handed us a 10% discount card (good marketing) and so we gave it a try. We split a fish and chip sandwich and a guacamole burger. Burger was decent, and fish and chips were good because it was fresh. My big disappointment was the Mai tai. Seemed like there was hardly any alcohol in it. Especially when you have other spots close by that make a stiffer drink. The other turn off was the live music. It was country night I guess which is not my favorite kind of music and the people that really seemed to enjoy it were a bit on the "older" side. Not a bad place but there were better close by IMO.

    (3)

  • Lisa H.

    Really great service. The food wasnt really special, but it totally hit the spot. The waitress was really helpful with helping me order, since I have a few diet restrictions. I ordered the basic breakfast, which I substituted yogurt for the meat. Then got a pancake and eggs and some yummy fruit. It was tasty, but not special. Prices were decent. Worth a stop by if u get tired of eating at the big island cafe ....which is the best breakfast on the island.

    (4)

  • Casey O.

    Pretty good over all. Breakfasts were consistently good. Hubby had a great fresh Ahi. Prepared like it should be. Perfectly medium rare. Service can be iffy.

    (4)

  • Benjamin L.

    This place is great, this was the meeting point for all my excursions in Kona, as Bongo ben's is owned by one of the family members. Food is alright, i mean everything on the street is similar, touristy, but hey it gets the job done. Family friendly, live music, hard drinks, decent food. And one thing i noticed about service in all of Kona? Slow... they are already in paradise, no need to hustle... Same way as people drive lol.

    (3)

  • Joseph C.

    Went here for breakfast one day on our vaca; amazing biscuits, and really inexpensive. The decor is more like a dive bar, but you have a view of the ocean and will leave very full for very cheap

    (4)

  • Dan M.

    I remember watching on Man vs Food and Adam mentioned a LOCO MOCO at a restaurant in Oahu, as a island dish, so when i saw it on the menu I had to try it. First off it is alot of food, The bottom of the plate is piled with sticky white rice, then scrambled eggs and huge burger on top of that and then on top of all that was some very thick brown gravy. It was very good and filling. I actually ate the whole thing and the waitress told me most people don't finish it. I had this at another restaurant but it was not as good as Bongo Ben's. My wife had the french toast and the kids gobbled up their pancakes. Food was good and a easy walk from our hotel. I will be back when I visit Kona again.

    (4)

  • Jerry L.

    We have now eaten two meals here and one happy hour. Service all three times was incredible, even on a very crowded Sunday morning. I had the eggs Benedict and a friend had the bacon cheeseburger (he gave it a 10). My Benedict was incredible and the sauce was perfect. April, our server, was the best part of the experience. She was attentive, friendly and very personable. In my opinion, this place was a perfect 10!!!

    (5)

  • Denise L.

    Good place to catch a bite to eat. We went there for dinner. They had a lot to choose from. The best thing about the place were the servers - they're all really nice and work really hard to take care of their customers. That's why I'm doing the 4 stars. Food was ok. I had the ribeye. Heard the coconut shrimp was ok. Beer was all good. Its a good place to get a bite to eat.

    (4)

  • Judy N.

    Good service, food is OK

    (3)

  • Jesse I.

    The meal was 3 stars but I am giving 2 stars for my coffee cup with a lipstick stain still on it. Nothing much to talk about the food. It was just mediocre.

    (2)

  • Cant F.

    We were looking for a nice relaxing place for a late breakfast and couldn't have found a better place than Bongo Bens. The food was excellent and the service was superb even though we came on one of only 10 days a year it ever rains here on the Big Island. My wife and I would strongly recommend Bongo Bens for a relaxing breakfast, lunch or dinner. Nice view of the ocean from your table too!! About half of the people eating here are locals so that speaks for itself.

    (5)

  • Richard G.

    Came for breakfast. Food and service were excellent. Positive hard working high performance team. Thanks!

    (4)

  • Maritel C.

    Loved Loved Loved the ambiance of this place! The hostess/manager was super friendly and was walking around talking to every table making sure they were situated. We came for drinks and appetizers on a Thursday night and they had a GREAT band playing! We even bought their CD! Minus one star, cuz the mai tai was disappointing...it tasted like sun tan lotion...eck...But, my husband enjoyed the longboard beers and we even came for breakfast the next day which we enjoyed.

    (4)

  • Rachael G.

    Waitress was a sweetheart. Food was "meh" at best. Very disappointed. Sticky table. Music too loud. Not kid friendly due to noise level.

    (1)

  • Kimthy D.

    So I went here twice in my two week stay. The first experience was average. Server wasn't as attentive as she should be but the food & drinks definitely made up for it. The second time was even better than the first. We tried the cheeseburger & fish taco (more like a burrito) and mai tai's were delicious. Same consistency of food and drinks with a more attentive server. I thoroughly enjoy both experiences sitting in front, facing the waves!

    (4)

  • Kimberly M.

    Live music in the evenings.. across from ocean and a busy street for the view..good fish fajitas..very big!..good vittles overall.. strong drinks.. good breakfast.. downstairs from Lulus.. awesome wait staff..gets busy! Ben's is a win for Kona!

    (3)

  • Frank D.

    I visited here for a Sunday brunch. The restaurant was busy, but I was seated right away. I ordered a Bloody Mary to start, and the made my omelette selection, along with grits and biscuits. The omelette was tasty, I had a bacon stuffed omelette. The grits were creamy and properly cooked. The biscuits were very good, went well with the breakfast. I commented to Dana, one of the managers, that this was a good southern breakfast. She responded by telling me that Kona is further south than Florida (who knew?), thus a real southern breakfast! Great food, good value, good atmosphere, great people watching. Highly recommended!

    (5)

  • Kelton J.

    Let's make this quick. Food: Mediocre to bland. Service: Pretentious, High School-ish, wait staff hired for their butts and legs, not for their skills. Live music, but I know a local player who used to play there and he tells me the owner is known for drunken tirades at musicians. Boo. Me no go.

    (1)

  • Megan M.

    I was very unimpressed with Bongo Ben's. We stopped in for a late lunch with our two children after a day of sightseeing on the Kona side. We were going to go to Outback but alas they weren't open and oh boy to I regret that. I ordered a Club sandwich with a salad which I figured couldn't be messed up to badly. The salad was dirty and limp. The garlic vinaigrette which is supposed to be "amazing" was bland, tasteless and had the consistency of gravy that had been in the fridge since Thanksgiving. The sandwich looked good but upon wolfing down the first quarter and glancing at the 2nd I realized the chicken was under cooked and pink. Yikes! My husband had the spaghetti and meatballs which he said were good, but then again he will eat just about anything as long as it doesn't kill him. The kid's meals were small portions and just microwave pizzas from Costco or Sams Club. Not worth the money. Service here wasn't much better, actually probably worse... The staff was inattentive, gossiped and talked loudly amongst each other. Waitresses were all over the place but were all too busy consoling what I can only assume was another waitress on her day off sobbing and drinking at the bar. I will never go back there and even with my husband's mouth and stomach eat a meal from there again. I spent the next day sick to my stomach and praying to the porcelain gods to forgive me for my trespasses at Bongo Ben's.

    (1)

  • Gail C.

    They were busy and there where 7 of us...We were seated right away and the food was great. We all loved it. A must eat!

    (4)

  • Jesse M.

    We are a family of 6. We showed up at 8 am for breakfast. Around 8:15 I ordered. Around 8:40 we got half of our drinks. Just after 9 we got the other half of our drinks. Not exaggerating at 9:30ish we got half of our food and it was all cold. 10 I asked for the check because they had not brought us the rest of our food. Then they tried to charge us for stuff we didn't order and never received. I ask for the manager and he said sorry we are busy. I could go on but really you should get the point. This was the worst dinning experience ever and we travel all over the world.

    (1)

  • Margene H.

    Great spot off the beach on Kona. Loved the Passionfruit Beer!

    (4)

  • John B.

    Great food and service! Try a biscuit with mango syrup!

    (4)

  • Justin K.

    Breakfast was amazing but service was par

    (4)

  • Joel P.

    After visiting here in January of this year I had to come back just to make sure I wasnt over-hyping this place in my mind. I went back and confirmed that indeed this place rocks! Not only was the staff friendly and attentive but helpful and patient with the 6 kids in our party. Food was awesome! I had the fresh fish with papaya salsa and grilled veggies and it was perfect. One of the people in our party had Fish Nachos and they rocked!!! Very family friendly, excellent drinks, terrific food, check this place out!

    (4)

  • Sarah C.

    We ate here 4 times while we were vacationing in Kailua Kona! We loved it and would've gone again had we been in town longer! It was good food at good prices- nice to find when you're already spending so much money on vacation! Seemed like a great mix of visitors and locals! Service was always great! The best location we found for watching the sunset! $3 bloody marys and mimosas from 7am until 2pm! What a deal! Love the "belly bar" where you can sit facing the ocean! Plenty of vegetarian options too! Garlic vinaigrette salad dressing is very good! Loved their breakfast- had the island French toast with bananas and macadamia nuts TWICE! yum yum!

    (5)

  • Creighton B.

    Ok breakfast, nothing to write home about... However, the coffee is weak and just plain bad...

    (2)

  • Jake G.

    Pork omelet was awesome. Banana Mac nut pancakes were ok. They were regular pancakes with mac nut and bananas on top. Does not compare with banana pancakes with Mac nut syrup that is elsewhere

    (3)

  • Ashley H.

    Let me start this review by saying i am an extremely picky eater! while on vacation we struggled trying to find good paces for food and drinks...until we stumbled into bongo bens. the food was so good we ended up going back for breakfast the next day! order yourself a Mai Tai and you wont be disappointed! hands down Nia makes the best Mai Tais on the island! loved their customer service! the waitress' are awsome!

    (5)

  • R H.

    Very good breakfast. I had the biscuits & gravy. Fresh water (no chlorine taste,) good coffee. Nice outdoor seating but some indoor as well. Lots of birds begging for bread which was kind of cute in it's own way. The staff was very friendly and helpful.

    (4)

  • Jim E.

    This is a great place. Very good food at very reasonable prices for the islands. Get there between 4 and 6 for happy hour. $1 off apps and drinks. A large frosty mug of beer including imports like Newcastle are $4 regular and $3 during happy hour. Wife had a island chicken sandwich and fries. It was a large chicken breast with teriyaki and pineapple. Very good for $9. I had a veggie wrap that was also very good. It came with fries also (or other sides) and was also $9 if I remember right. We will go back! I also added a review for Bongo Bob's in error. Too many Newcastles and I forgot the right name, but not the location... sorry about that.

    (5)

  • Lynn S.

    Food was good and service was great.

    (4)

  • Diane W.

    Great view. Good prices & food.. They give you a pot of coffee! Great biscuits!

    (5)

  • Greg B.

    Great service and good food. Nice location just across the street from the beach. Bongo!

    (5)

  • Richard C.

    Great place for breakfast and lunch! Dinner is too loud (twangy musicians) and below Lulu's. They have the best Loco Moco in town (seriously!), and the best Tuna Melts.

    (4)

  • Justyna Y.

    My husband and I were rushing to get to our snorkel & dive activity and we didn't have a lot of time to eat. We stopped by this place and the waitress promised us a fast service. My husband ordered a cheeseburger and I got a veggie wrap. Both were very good. The service was really good and we were able to order, eat and pay within 20 minutes. The place overall is average, nothing special of fancy. It's located conveniently by all the other restaurants and shops and definitely it's worth stopping by if you're hungry for some comfort food. I would give it 3.5 stars if I could.

    (3)

  • Melissa T.

    Great service, great food and good prices.

    (4)

  • Alulubeth O.

    My kiddos & I just had breakfast @ Bongo Ben's this morning. Nice location overlooking the ocean. Huge menu, gigantic portions and very reasonable prices. The service was great. The ladies took very good care of us. Thank you, ladies!

    (5)

  • Jamie W.

    When you eat on one place three times while you're on vacation, one of only two things is true: there's either nowhere else to eat, or it's someplace you really enjoy. One of the best features of Bongo Ben's is the Belly Bar - the long side by side table looking out across the street and off to the horizon. It's a great place to have a great meal, to meet and chat with the nice people to either side of you and to watch the sunset. Oh, and if you're lucky, as we were, you might even get a visit from one or two of the local geckos (for which the restaurant is named). The establishment features Texas sized portions at reasonable prices. Everything's good! Try the catch of the day, I recommend grilled. Oh and their spaghetti is fantastic! Who would've imagined? Live music is featured in the evenings and a welcome addition that helps makes the visit a real island pleasure. Make sure to stop by for Breakfast, Lunch or dinner. Be friendly, and have a great time.

    (4)

  • Susie O.

    Another restaurant right next to our hotel in Kona so we stopped by and gave the breakfast a try..it had a nice view too. I ordered the breakfast burrito with a small fruit plate. It was good, They have a lot of options.

    (3)

  • Erin H.

    Food was better than expected...but that being said I wouldn't say it was anything worth raving over. Our table was thisclose to our neighbors so we ending up chatting to them because it seemed like it would've been a bit rude not to! Our drinks were more fruit juice than anything else and neither of us really enjoyed our food. I'm not a fajita person, but nothing else really sounded good so I decided to go for it. Ugh, big mistake. First and foremost, get up and leave the table or don a raincoat when they serve this. Yes, I know it's supposed to sizzle, but this thing popped hot, greasy, beef-y oil all over my arms, my neighbors arm/foot, and not to mention all over my dress. This thing needs to come with a splash shield or at least a warning of some sorts - what a freaking mess. As if I wasn't peeved enough the beef wasn't even that good. A bit too chewy to leave me with any happy thoughts (argh and my dress!) The BF had the pastrami burger and he didn't seem to care for it much either. Maybe they're better at breakfast? We were going to head over there and give it a shot one morning but never did. The only good thing about this place is of course the people watching, the view, and the entertainment if you're lucky.

    (2)

  • Sheryll D.

    Oh how i miss this place. My BF and I came here on the last day of our trip because I said to my BF..."hey, lets try that place since it has your name on it" (which was a bad idea)....We had the Loco Moco and the Banana Pancakes....OMG the food was soooooooo good. SOOOOOOO good. I say it was a bad idea to go there on the last day, because we have been craving for Bongo Bens since. We should have hit this place up first, so we could have a week with Bongo Ben. =) So please, if you are on the island, eat at this place....its sooo worth it. Im drooling just thinking about the food. Errrrrr, maybe i need another trip to Hawaii....

    (5)

  • David B.

    The breakfast is outstanding. Service is always excellent even when there are lines out the door. Food is high quality, good flavor and the view is spectacular.

    (4)

  • S C.

    We ate at a lot of places during our vacation on the Big Island, and this place was one of my favorites. The food was incredible and freshly prepared. We stopped in for breakfast they have a wide variety of omelets and all were delicious. I ordered the Kuala pork omelet. Also the mimosa and bloody Mary's were mixed well. I enjoyed the open air sitting and sharing part of my biscuit with the little birds. The service was prompt and friendly.

    (4)

  • Trisha M.

    Really enjoyed our last sunset dinner at Bongo Bens. Great, friendly and quick service. The food was fresh and tasted wonderful. Rowena was a wonderful sweet hostess... Would definitely recommend this restaurant.

    (5)

  • Adrienne T.

    Delicious food, live music, view of the water and friendly staff! We got the fish and chips, ice mocha, ice tea ---all tasty!

    (5)

  • Angela C.

    Loved it the first evening we came here, the nachos & fish fajitas the first time we came here were awesome and hit the spot just right. Also the view and ambiance of the ocean front was beautiful. The next time we came here for breakfast -not so good, it bumped my initial rating of 4 down to 2. It was wet, dirty and loud. And the food was just average.. nothing better than a Denny's. Maybe in daylight things don't look as good at Bongo Ben's.

    (2)

  • Gibby K.

    Great Place for Breakfast! We ate breakfast here on 3 occasions during our stay because the food was 1) Very good 2) large portions and 3) priced very reasonably. The pulled pork omelet and Loco Moco entrees give you a little taste of Hawaii. The Fresh Catch 'Ahi Tuna' and eggs was a great value deal. They probably have the best omelets on the Island. If you do the Shell Timeshare thing, you can get a coupon for 20% off the entire bill. Talk to 'JP' at the little kiosk in front of the restaurant. Aloha!

    (4)

  • Samantha T.

    Stopped here as part of a happy hour crawl along Alii Dr. I ordered a Jake's Punch and it tasted like jungle juice - dangerous stuff!

    (3)

  • Larry L.

    This by far is our favorite place to eat on the Island. After 3 weeks and many restaurants, we have been back to Bongo Ben's 3 times and always enjoyed great food and service! We will be back!

    (5)

  • Barry Z.

    Solid breakfast place with great view and people watching. They advertise cheap bloody Mary's but sadly they are cheap because they are weak. Ask for a "preferred" customer card and save 15% on all food. Service is OK as long as you do not get one of the gals that had too much fun the night before and therefore grumpy.

    (3)

  • Mehana K.

    Went for breakfast and got asked to leave by the manager because a friends 1 year old baby was "disrupting the entire restaurant"...(spoken by the manager herself)...never in my life have I ever experienced this before and I have been a server for 8 years...as has the mother of the baby. The baby was just simply communicating with us as most teething babies do!! They call themselves a "family restaurant"??? Pfffff that couldn't be any further from the truth! Never going there again...

    (1)

  • Carter F.

    Great views, friendly staff, $3 mimosa/bloody mary's, breakfast starting at $5, deserved a good review. Food is good, but sometimes not as much as you'd like for the cost. Live music at night was also great.

    (4)

  • Tony C.

    We went here for breakfast and everything was pretty good. I had the chili omelet. The chili tasted homemade and the eggs were quite fluffy and folded over nicely. The home fries were seasoned nicely too. My wife had oatmeal..can't screw that up (although people have somehow figured out a way to do that). My mother-in-law had the ahi tuna sahimi breakfast where she said the fish was quite fresh. My father-in-law had the banana nut pancakes. It was all very acceptable. Breakfast here was definitely cheaper than Island Lava Java, but it didn't quite have the same presentation. I'm not sure how big I am on presentation in the morning though. I'm just interested in eating breakfast food and having a nice cup of coffee. Actually, that does bring me to the only downer of this place: The coffee kinda sucked. Given there's Kona pretty much everywhere else, this stuff was weak Folder's roast. They should rename it caffeinated water.

    (3)

  • Mary L.

    This was a great place for breakfeast i had a few different things and it was all pretty good..... prices were not so bad... and where can you find $3 bloody mary s????view was great......

    (4)

  • L G.

    Yup. Great eggs Benedict. This place can poach an egg. We ate here about four or five times and I was pleased each time. The first breakfast we had some pancakes with delicious coconut syrup. While eating the pancakes a bright gecko strutted up to the plate to check out the meal, I did not share. For my last meal there, had eggs Benedict and steak... Along with a few $3 bloody marys. This will be the regular spot for my Kona breakfast.

    (4)

  • H T.

    The menu looked awesome with such a variety to choose from, but the food just tasted OK. The drinks were not mixed well and I would go somewhere else for mixed drinks too.

    (2)

  • Natasha P.

    Loved it! Beautiful view, live music, delicious food and drinks. Best fajitas I've ever had (pulled pork)!

    (5)

  • Flinders T.

    We had breakfast here one Sunday morning. We both got the Huevos Rancheros. They were delicious. We also got a mimosa. yummy. The staff is very friendly and the location is fun. Right on the strip. Every time we went buy in the evening it was packed and everyone was having such a fantastic time.

    (4)

  • Sarah E.

    Went here for lunch one day and was pleasantly surprised by how good the food was. At out table for four, we had the grilled ahi tuna, fish and chips, pulled pork sandwich, and calamari steak sandwich. Everything was delicious and filling. Our server was very nice and was great with refills. The seating is outside, but there is a nice coastal breeze. This is also a great place to people watch. And there is a big parking lot which is always a plus!

    (5)

  • Nhi K.

    A day after swimming with the dolphins we only had to eat at tour company's restaurant. This family owned restaurant is really poppin in the early morning and afternoon. It took a few minutes for us to be seated. I think people here like to cook their oil with eggs. My omelet was drenched in oil and was extremely salty. Sisters ordered the hula chicken sandwich and their grilled fresh fish sandwich- these were delicious! I totally ordered wrong! Always stick to the fish in Hawaii! Our waitress was attentive and friendly. The place is busy, so if you don't mind sitting about 5 inches from another party and ordering their non- breakfast items, this I the place to be.

    (3)

  • Daryl C.

    We walked to this place almost every morning. Fantastic breakfast and amazing views. It can get a bit crowded for breakfast so plan to wait, especially if you want to stare at the ocean while enjoying breakfast.

    (4)

  • Crystal D.

    Good food. Good prices. Great view. My fav- fish taco when ahi is in!

    (5)

  • starrynight c.

    This place is pretty solid for what you get. We came here right before heading to the airport...solid place for brunch, not too expensive, tons of options. They're more known for their burgers. The bf had a loco moco and the meat and sauce in there was yummy. I had a fish taco (which is really more of a fish burrito...why not just change the name?) and that was fresh, and hit the spot for leaving paradise for me. Again, nothing special. Friendly service, decent food.

    (3)

  • Anthony W.

    Stopped on by this place for breakfast on friday. Man oh man, was it delicious. Great service, good people. My kind of place. Right on the other side of the street but with a very nice ocean view. Worth your time walking down here and having some good eats. The staff were both nice, and courteous. When I come back to the island ill be hitting this place up again.

    (4)

  • Gary F.

    It's a tourist area so expect that. I did like it though. I was eying out the Prime Rib special but since we got here a little late, they were sold out. Had the Beef Fajitas instead. Came on a sizzling plate which was cool. 3.9 for good service but the food seemed kind of average. Good music but a bit too loud for me. Must be showing my age. haha G

    (3)

  • Lucy D.

    Great ! My friend and originally wanted to have a late breakfast in the center of Kona but were put off by the 8 Dollar for 2 hours parking fee. So we drove a little away and found Bongo Ben's where we got free parking. We were sitting outside with views of the water which was great. There was shade so we didn't get a sunburn. My friend had a late breakfast while I got an early lunch. Both meals were large, tasty and reasonably priced. We both had coffee which was supposedly 100% Kona coffee, for just 2 Dollars per person with free refills. Whatever coffee that was, it was great ! And I sure am picky about my coffee. The service was great too. The place was busy but the waitress still managed to make us happy. The have many food choices, particularly if you come at the same time we did when both breakfast and lunch are served (I think breakfast is until 2pm, lunch starts at 11am). The bread and biscuits are home-made. I was impressed, most of the burgers come on a bun that they made ! The food is mostly American with lots of burgers including beef, chicken and fish burgers. The also have fish dishes.

    (5)

  • Jessica A.

    I wish I would have found this place earlier in my vacation, because it had the best breakfast! Good selection, friendly attentive service. Tasty food, and a killer ocean view.

    (5)

  • Heather B.

    This place has great breakfast! I got the banana mac nut pancakes and my husband got the chorizo scramble and we both loved it. The staff was friendly and it was affordable. The complete opposite of the place across the street.

    (5)

  • Darrell B.

    We came here for breakfast three times between April 25th and May 3rd. The prices for restaurant were very reasonable for Hawaii and breakfast here is pretty decent. The view is excellent as you look across the road at the beautiful downtown ocean front. The Huevos Rancheros and Banana Pancakes were great as were the Bloody Marys that were on sale for breakfast. The service is pretty good. Overall one of the best spots for breakfast in Kona.

    (4)

  • Jennifer C.

    Sunday brunch buffet is where it's at! Compared to our resort (Royal Kona Resort) brunch buffet, Bongo Ben's tops it every day, any day, all day! The buffet has an assortment of bacon, sausage, egg bake thingi, poke, enchilada, rice, chili rellenos, waffles, some desserts, and two stations: the pancake station and the omelette station. The pancake station had toppings such as blueberries, banana, nuts, etc. The omelette station had an assortment of veggies and ham. Each pancake was the size of the plate and the omelette took over half of a plate. They were ginormous in size and flavor!!!! and that's hard to find in a brunch buffet! The arnold palmer was too much ice tea and not enuf lemonade, but it was endless. :) If you ever visit kona, definitely stop by and give it a taste! you won't be sorry!

    (4)

  • V. S.

    $3 Spicy Bloody Marys are DELICIOUS! Thanks Bongo Ben's!

    (5)

  • Monique L.

    We ate a couple of meals at this place while staying in Kona. Our waiter at breakfast one morning was out to lunch. Our theories on his "absentmindedness" were either super hung over or high as a kite. We had the breakfast burrito, a couple of omelets and the banana mac-nut french toast. The only really memorable dish was the pulled pork omelet. Dinner was much of the same experience. Many different dishes but the only memorable one was the pulled pork sandwich. We celebrated a birthday here and brought a cake. We didn't have much to decorate but the restaurant puts a purple orchid on each dish so we asked if they could put a couple on the cake before bringing it out. They decorated it but with parsley rather than orchids. We had a couple left from our main courses so we threw them on the cake. The good thing about this restaurant is the location, great for watching people walking down the street, and TONS of bikers riding by and parking right in front of the restaurant. The live band is also pretty good, a little corny at times but still entertaining and funny.

    (3)

  • Jonathan C.

    I have had a few breakfasts at Bongo Bens this week. Their food is very good, the service is friendly and they are very good about letting you have extra fruit or veggies instead of a breakfast starch. The fresh fish catch breakfast meal is excellent! I haven't had dinner there yet, but I have walked past many times while they have outdoor live entertainment. Everyone I have seen so far has been pretty talented.

    (4)

  • Nari H.

    came with some friends for a sunday lunch. I ordered the pulled pork sandwich with the salad and the sandwich was delicious. Had the salad with the balsalmic dressing which I really liked. I can't remember what my friends had, but everything we ordered we liked. Server was very nice, and we'd definitely come back.

    (4)

  • Kirk J.

    This place was recommended by the front desk of our resort. We walked there to have breakfast. Service was a bit askew due to trainees but we can work with anyone usually. The manager or trainer (maybe she does both) ended up taking our order after somewhat berating the waitress assigned to our table. Imagine our surprise when the food came out wrong and the bigger surprise when the check was over charging for what we received. The food was bland and uninspired. Breakfast is hard to screw up but Bongo Ben's managed to do it. Avoid this place at all costs.

    (1)

  • Mike C.

    Great view. 2 stars because of view only. Crappy food. Worse than a motel room service. Had fajitas...made in bqq sauce. Bad.... drinks bad. Flat beer. Asked for blended drink got on the rocks. Made again and was undrinkable. I don't know if wait staff was really bad or just really didn't care, but they sucked.... cheap plastic chairs that broke on an old guy eating....no one seemed to care.... Just sit in front of resturaunt for 5 minutes, take in the beautiful view, then RUN AWAY!!!!!!

    (2)

  • jen r.

    12 for a breakfast buffet!!!! need i say more? ok ok i will.. the service was awesome..everyone was super nice and on top of things, checking in on us - refills, cleaning up used plates, etc.. the food was delicious. we all had the buffet and there were several options, eggs, potatoes, meats, biscuits/gravy, omelette station, sweets etc. the view and ambiance was awesome laid back fun!!

    (4)

  • Ellie P.

    Very friendly and Helpful staff! Food was SO good!! Great view!!

    (5)

  • Kristine D.

    The atmosphere in this place is fun, fun, fun! I think the attitude of the staff and management has a great deal to do with that. Every employee we encountered was upbeat, pleasant and a joy to deal with. I don't know how some of them do it! The manager on deck during our visit was directing hungry guests waiting for tables at both the front and back doors. He somehow orchestrated this like an air traffic controller ignoring any grumbling he heard about empty tummies. If you're lucky, he'll give you some beautiful scenery to enjoy with your meal. He sat my family at one of the long tables that ring the edge of the patio. The seating is setup so these tables function like counters. From ours we enjoyed a view of Alii Drive and the ocean on the other side of it. It was a great way to start the day! Bongo Ben's offers a terrific kids menu. My daughter devoured the Kids' Bongo Breakfast --- one Island fresh egg, any style, choice of Bacon, Ham, Portuguese Sausage or Country Sausage and choice of home fries, grits or rice & choice of fresh biscuit or toast. (Lots of choices there Ben, sort of like a life lesson of breakfasts.) My son got a kick out of the Happy Face Pancake. The grownup menu includes heart healthy choices and lighter portions for those counting calories. We left energized and ready to take on the day. The food is good. Prices are reasonable. Service is decent and the setting is tough to beat.

    (5)

Sorry, we don't have Q&A for this restaurant.

Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.

Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :7:00 am - 10:00pm

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : Yes
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : Yes
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Breakfast
    Parking : Private Lot
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
    Good for Kids : Yes
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Casual
    Noise Level : Average
    Alcohol : Full Bar
    Outdoor Seating : Yes
    Wi-Fi : Free
    Has TV : Yes
    Waiter Service : Yes
    Drive-Thru : No
    Caters : No

Categories

Burgers

Burger or Hamburger is savored as the most desired fast food meal in the United States. A hamburger is basically a sandwich prepared by stuffing ground meat patty, generally beef, between two slices of a bun cut in half. Hamburger is also famous for its seasoning. Most popular condiments used in hamburgers in the United States are mustard, mayonnaise, and ketchup. Besides ground meat patty, hamburgers are also stuffed with lettuce, onions, tomato slices, pickles, and cheese.

Hamburgers are also categorized into two types in the United States. Fast food hamburger and individual hamburgers served at restaurants are two basic types of burgers served in the United States. The individual hamburgers served at restaurants are prepared using everything including lettuce, onion, tomato, and sliced pickles as well as melted cheese on the patty or crumbled on top. American restaurants also serve veggie burgers for those who don't relish meat. Cheeseburgers are also hot favorite in the United States.

McDonalds is the most popular fast food burger restaurant serving different types of burgers in the United States. On the other hand, there are several restaurants such as Burger King are famous for serving the best hamburgers in the United States. Most burger restaurants in the United States often serve hamburgers with French fries and other condiments. If you have a liking for burgers in the United States, then you won't be disappointed. You can easily find the best burger restaurants in your city on our Restaurants Listings directory. Check the reviews and ratings of the top burger restaurants and savor yourself with the best hamburger in the city.

Bongo Ben’s Island Cafe

Share with your social network

WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES

Looky Weed - Buy Marijuana Online

Looky Weed is here to help you navigate the maze of legalized marijuana. We provide you with a complete dispensary directory.

© 2024 Restaurant Listings. All rights reserved.