Morning Works — Restaurant in Kadena

On a recent vacation to Okinawa, my son had stopped here. He said we had to go. So... on our vacation, we went twice.

OK. It is a breakfast place really. I will talk to the waffles, pancakes, eggs benedict, and the fried chicken. I will mention the poke bowl and the coffee too.

FOOD. Get the Elvis! I could stop my review right now and be ok. GET THE ELVIS! If I go there again, I will probably only get that for breakfast. Incredible. Fried chicken, bananas, waffles, and a peanut sauce? All of those items makes me want to shoot my TV! Everyone in our family kind of went in different ways. But stuck to waffles the first time. When it comes to waffles and pancakes, they are real good! I do not see anything bad if you got those. The fruit they use is real fresh with good taste.

The next time, three of us went the eggs benedict route. And while they were ok, there was a big room for improvement. I personally feel the Hollandaise was a weak component. As the sauce did not taste rich enough. As if no, or little butter was used. And I could not taste any citrus in it. The other ingredients (salmon, bacon and avacado) were fantastic. And they did a decent job on the poach. Poached eggs are tough to do... And while overall I think the dish was ok. I know I would not order it again.

Coffee was good. Got a latte one day, and the espresso soda the next time. I loved the espresso soda, and will make those here at home in the summer time. And on the second time, they gave us a tasting of the poke bowl. I like it a lot. I think the tasting was the hawaiian spicy sauce? But I think I'd order that at lunch for sure!

If you have the chance to ditch the fries for the salad? Do it. The fries are not that good here. The Hollandaise and the fries were the two things I did not care for.

They have a lot of parking. Store front, and a few meters away. This place is packed with Americans and tourists. The two times I was there, I was not sure if there were any locals there? Not that it matters.

I dig the vibe inside. There is a hustle and bustle to it, but laid back too. The ladies at the counter were cheerful and nice.

My family enjoyed this place a lot! I would probably go back, if we went back. And I have co-workers who will come down to Oki, and I will recommend...

Dear Owner, I welcome your reponse. There is an expectation of quality and service when someone pays a premium cost for breakfast.

Morning Works failed to deliver anything savory, sweet, and remotely delicious.

Sure, one might argue the cost is the cost. But $10 - $20 for cold waffles and a latte is unacceptable. The original chicken needs work. I suggest a recipe that promotes more seasoning and less of an oily aftertaste.

Service is a joke. I encourage anyone to deny this. The entire experience is do-it-yourself. From ordering, to utensils, to payment you must work for your own service. But wait there's more! There is even a Tip Jar to pay gratuity to the staff for simply standing behind the counter.

To be fair, I tried to ask for a hot waffle after seeing how the clump of butter had no chance of melting on the waffle. The staff response was, "the chicken took long to cook so the waffle was waiting." For a $13 breakfast the staff need to understand cook times to prepare warm foods.

I suspect some Instagram or Tik-Tok influencer overhyped Morning Works and raised it Google rating to 4+ stars, but be not deceived. The reality is that there is significant room for improvement in customer service, food quality and taste.

The good news is there is time for Morning Works to make a turnaround. Relying of review stars that do not truly represent reality might soon cause a sunset...

🥞 All-in-One Pancake Plate This plate is a breakfast dream come true. Fluffy pancakes form the foundation, topped with crispy bacon, creamy avocado, a sunny-side-up egg with the perfect runny yolk, and golden fries on the side. But the surprise? Juicy karaage (Japanese fried chicken) and a touch of grated cheese—savory and satisfying from start to finish. Add in a fresh garden salad, and you’ve got balance on a plate.

🍳 Build-Your-Own Omelette With so many topping options, this dish becomes truly yours. Ours had mozzarella, chicken, and mushrooms, paired with a side of French toast and their Hawaiian spicy sauce. The omelette was fluffy, filled generously, and the sauce added a nice kick. The salad was crisp and colorful, featuring corn, cucumbers, and bell peppers—nothing fancy, but refreshing.

☕ Coffee & Smoothies The cappuccino was rich and comforting with a caramel drizzle on top. But the real highlight was the acai smoothie—vibrant, thick, and ice-cold, bursting with natural berry flavor. It’s the perfect match for Okinawa’s warm weather.

🏝️ Atmosphere Casual, beachy, and full of locals and tourists alike. The self-service vibe and cheerful team make you feel right at home. Expect a short wait during peak brunch hours, but it’s absolutely worth it.

💰 Value Dishes range from around ¥1,200–3,000 depending on your build, and for the portion size and quality, it’s...