Kona Brewing Hawaii Kai — Restaurant in Honolulu

Absolutely terrible service at 3:30 on a Friday. I was devastated. I’ve been here several times and have always been impressed, but this visit really bothered me. My friend got her food 10 minutes before me and no one ever came to check on how the food was. It needed salt! I asked two passing servers for salt and it still took a while. By then my food arrived, ice cold. I mean cold cold. The cheese didn’t melt or even get sweaty. Not only did I not get to eat with my friend (she had finished and was watching me) but I had a cold dry burger with hard cheese and no sauce.

I ordered the teriyaki burger, medium, which comes with grilled pineapples, teriyaki sauce, and garlic aioli. The pineapple was cold out of the can, not grilled. The meat was well done, and there was only a dash of teriyaki, no aioli to be found. Then, as I’m mid bite, the serve comes and takes away the salt! I had ordered a second beer and it finally arrived, but the timing was off. Our assigned server was visibly playing on her phone while we were waiting on food, salt, beers, and the check. She brought us one check without asking and then zipped away before we could tell her to split it, which meant more waiting. Good thing I still had a beer to finish…

I told my friend this place was worth the drive, the food would be to die for. And I was so embarrassed about our experience. Perhaps this was just an off day for them, but for customers who typically visit Hawaii once in a lifetime and only get to choose a few restaurants during their stay, you can’t afford to have off-days. You get two stars because anyone whose read this far will agree their beers are great. That’s it.

Do better, Kona...

To be direct, the food is not good. I loved this place for years and years while growing up in Kona and while visiting Oahu after moving away. Seeing the menu changed so drastically was a huge letdown after being away the last couple years in the mainland. Keeping in mind almost everything was good and still wanting to have a great experience We still ordered fish and pork tacos. The tacos were cold, our side of fruit was warm and my pork tacos were sitting in liquid from the pineapple salsa and soggy. The pork was bland and overly salty and the tortilla was generic store bought. It sadly tasted like airline food and was a $20 plate. The best thing and only edible thing on the plate were the chips which were not house made. On the plate we’re 3 tacos and each of us only ate 1 and then left. I chatted with the server upon leaving and her agreed that the menu was not good and he’d chatted with the chefs about it in the past because of complaints on bland food. Had I been drunk the food probably would have been fine. Miss the puna pie, the roasted garlic appetizer and the kalua pork quesadillas as they were all solid high quality hits. It feels like they are catering to drunk tourists that don’t know any better now. Super crushed and disappointed and will never return with my family. I loved this place so much we had our engagement din we and wedding reception here and will not...

Whenever we’re on Oahu, a stop at Kona Brewing Company’s Hawaii Kai Pub is a non-negotiable treat. Located at 7192 Kalanianaole Hwy in the Koko Marina Center, this waterfront spot in East Oahu offers stunning views of the marina and the lush green mountains beyond. It’s about a 20-minute drive from Waikiki, far enough to escape the tourist crowds but close enough to make it an easy outing.

On our most recent visit, we timed it perfectly to catch their Happy Hour, which runs Monday through Friday from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM. The specials were a steal, and we couldn’t resist diving into a delicious pizza—perfectly crispy with that signature spent-grain dough that Kona’s known for. It paired flawlessly with the two beer flights we ordered, letting us sample a variety of their craft brews. After sipping our way through, we both agreed the Wailua Wheat was the standout—its bright, citrusy notes from the passionfruit made it the ultimate Happy Hour companion. Refreshing, tropical, and just the right amount of zing!

The vibe here is laid-back yet lively, with the open-air seating and marina breeze adding to the island charm. Everything felt fresh, and the service was friendly and spot-on. Kona Brewing Co. in Hawaii Kai has become our go-to for a relaxed afternoon of great beer and tasty bites—especially during Happy Hour. If you’re on Oahu, don’t skip this spot; it’s Liquid Aloha...