Kona Cafe at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort is one of our favorite table service restaurants in Walt Disney World. It’s easy to get reservations here and the menu is always changing. In fact, this is the second change to the menu we’ve seen this year! The restaurant is located on the 2nd floor near the monorail platform in the gigantic open-air lobby. Kona Cafe is known for its fantastic breakfast (Tonga Toast, anyone?), but today they rolled out a new all-day Lunch and Dinner menu. Let’s take a look!
Nothing is new under the sushi rolls or poke’ bowls, but noticeably gone from the specialty rolls section is the Spicy Alaskan King Crab rolls. However, we did receive a new Vegetable Nigiri sampler, which comes with a chef’s choice of five pieces of Nigiri, for $16.00.
While no new items were created for the sushi rolls, all of the prices for these went up for each roll costing $18.00 each, a two-dollar price increase for the California Roll and Dragon Roll. Also, the small Kona sampler is now priced at $22.00, a one-dollar price increase for that item.
The dinner menu went through a lot more changes than the sushi menu did, so let’s dive in. We’ll start with the appetizer section, where you may notice the fan-favorite Glazed Chicken Wings are back! Though they are to be served in a different sauce, you can get these for $12.00. They also added a Seafood Pu Pu Platter, with calamari, rock shrimp and crab legs for $18.00. Noticeably gone from the menu are the Fire-Roasted Pork Wings, the Coconut Mussels and Pickled Farmer Salad. Also, the Lobster and Crab Macaroni & Cheese received a promotion in life and is now offered as at $15.00 appetizer, as opposed to a side.
The chef’s recommendations also went through some changes, with the addition of an Asian-Marinated Airline Chicken for $24.00 and a Steak Salad for $23.00. Gone is the Poached Chicken Noodle Salad, and the price for the Polynesian Tuna Nicoise actually went down. That’s right! This dish used to cost $28.00 and you can now buy it for $22.00, a six-dollar decrease.
Under “Entrees,” we received a new dish. The Kona-Braised Short Ribs, served with creamy mashed potatoes and roasted broccolini for $36.00.
The burgers didn’t see any changes, except for a one-dollar increase on the Crispy Cheddar Burger, making it now priced at $21.00.
Under the “Dashi Bowls” section, we lost the Kanpachi Dashi for a Beef Pho, that we can’t wait to try. The Beef Pho is priced at $24.00.
Steaks and Seafood was also not immune to changes, going from having five offerings to now only three. Previously, you could enjoy the Perfect Porterhouse Steak and the 20-oz Bone-In Black Angus Ribeye. Those items have been taken off the menu. However, the New York Strip did go down in price, by two-dollars, now making it an even $40.00.
Lastly, under “Sides” we lost the Over Roasted Heirloom Carrots.
For reference, here was the previous menu prior to the changes:
Will you be trying any of the new changes? Leave us a comment below!
I’m curious. What the heck is “Airline Chicken” in the above menu?
Airline chicken is the cut of chicken, a boneless breast with the drumette attached and the skin intact.
The menu for this place like five years ago was bangin. This is just kind of “meh” to me.