Journey Cafe Big Island image

Journey Cafe Big Island

Restaurant Cafe Vegetarian restaurant Vegan restaurant Vegetarian cafe and deli

One of the Best Places To Visits in Kailua CDP


Address

75-5729 Ali‘i Dr C-106, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740

Website

journeycafebigisland.com

Contact

(808) 731-7194

Price rating

$$ $$

Rating on Google Maps

4.70 (616 reviews)

Open on Google Maps

Working Hours

  • Monday: 10 AM to 4 PM
  • Tuesday: 10 AM to 4 PM
  • Wednesday: 10 AM to 4 PM
  • Thursday: 10 AM to 4 PM
  • Friday: 10 AM to 4 PM
  • Saturday: 10 AM to 4 PM
  • Sunday: 10 AM to 4 PM

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: good (22) vegan (18) Kona (7) jackfruit (7) restaurant (6) order (6) Doria (6) delicious (6) amazing (6) service (6)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 5/5 k G. 10 months ago on Google
    This restaurant is wheelchair accessible. They have tables inside and outside (wheelchairs can do both), they had some Incredible Dishes. Michael was very kind, restrooms Are avail with a key around the corner, but it’s steep so you may need two people to Push the wheelchair up, bathrooms are well kept. Great vegan Place and portions are large.
    4 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Yi Z. 1 year ago on Google
    The most unique and the best breakfast we had on Big Island. Novel recipe, fresh ingredients, appealing presentation and great taste! Usually vegan restaurant food could be oily, but not here. Great decor and music choice too. So good that we returned the next day and convinced our travel companions (two other families) to join!
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 2/5 Nova T. 1 year ago on Google
    First, they don’t let you know when you order a dish that some of the fruits included on the menu description will not be there when served. Second, if you traveled all the way to Hawaii don’t go here. You can find this type of food in any biggish city in the US. Third, the food is overpriced and honestly not very good. The avocado flatbread was okay but nowhere near the best Ive had especially for the price. The chickpea omelette I did not enjoy at all. The ultimate tropical toast was pretty good because of the sauce, but also something you can find across the US so not worth it if you had to travel to Hawaii. Lastly, it takes about 30 minutes for your food to be served which isn’t an issue but just something to note!
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 L B. 9 months ago on Google
    We were a family of 4 visiting our local Kona family, and no one else is vegan but us. So we took 5 omni fam out to this super cool vegan joint. They all were pleasantly surprised by how much they loved it! They raved and raved about it!!!! Some of what we had was: the Feisty Fajita Salads, a Mac n Cheeze, Japanese Doria, Tomato Soup, Falafal Salad, Garlic Knots, and we even got ice cream next door at their relate soft-serve shop. Everything was over-the-top delicious!!!!!!!!! Service was kind and patient with our large party. A total hit!! So good we went back for lunch the next day just the 4 of us. I truly believe we could eat here for a week straight and always find something to enjoy! We are so grateful that delicious vegan food is so easy to find in Kona!!!! 💚💚💚
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Tony T. 8 months ago on Google
    When you're on the big Island, this is a MUST. Not just for vegans, but our omnivore friends as well. Everything is fresh, organic and incredibly tasty. My particular favorites are the jackfruit tacos, the Mac and Cheeze, and the Pancakes! Every bit as good as the food, is the incredible positive energy, and the peace you feel when you walk in. They are located in the Kona Marketplace in Kailua-Kona. I highly recommend this place to anyone that wants to fill the belly, and warm the soul.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Jean J. M. 2 years ago on Google
    Corn chowder and Doria (rice, mushroom with bechamel sauce) So good. Their kombucha is also good..(ginger turmeric and hibiscus). The only thing I did not like is the location because the parking is in the back and I have to pay for parking.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Gena E. 1 year ago on Google
    It was a neat little restaurant attached to a cute little dessert place. They have a full vegan menu with quite a few options. Only one dish there was served with rice though, just an FYI for those rice fans out there similar to me. I got the Japanese doria I think it was called. I got the one with spicy jackfruit and it was served over a bed of rice.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Shelby T. 1 year ago on Google
    Wow, this place was amazing!! Definitely the best food I’ve eaten at on our big island trip. I’m vegan and my husband eats meat- he agrees as well! We got the jackfruit sourdough pocket, jackfruit tacos, and Mac & cheese with slaw. 3 entrees for 2 people was obviously too much food, but we really wanted to try the Mac and cheese as a side. Was worth it for sure. 11/10 would go back again! Cute ambiance and friendly staff.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Peter B. 1 year ago on Google
    This place rocks! We went twice, once for dinner and once for breakfast. Both times the food was beautifully crafted and delicious. The atmosphere was relaxing and the service was good. I wish I had more pictures, the food was so good we tore right in. This is an awesome whether or not you are plant based, but knowing the whole menu is vegan was exciting for us!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Yufeng L. 1 year ago on Google
    Such a cute atmosphere, outdoor and indoor seating available. We had the Japanese Doria, which was an amazing cheesy and creamy confection baked in a ramekin, and the jackfruit pita pocket, which was like a dream. The pita was beautifully toasted and wrapped in the most delicious bread and filled with so many different and deep flavors. Absolutely can't recommend this place enough for vegan food!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Casey E. 11 months ago on Google
    LOVE this place. Great for a small breakfast and drinks, they have music playing and the atmosphere is very inviting. Their cold brew coffee and house made kombucha are very good as well. The staff is very nice and super accommodating.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 MaKayla H. 9 months ago on Google
    Sooooo good! I couldn’t believe how good their vegetarian and vegan options are. We got the Mac n cheese upgrade and it was phenomenal. The indoor vibe was great, outdoor was peaceful and open. Would definitely eat there again.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Vijay S. 8 months ago on Google
    Enjoyed all the items we ordered. Drinks passion fruit and blue moon magic just different. Kale soup is good. Will recommend and try again.

  • 5/5 Archana V. 2 years ago on Google
    Stopped by for lunch with my family and we left so satiated and happy with the meal. Their smoky pizza is phenomenal, and their pita bread from the Mediterranean plate tastes like it's home made. Loved their food, including desserts, and soup, and their friendly staff. For the prices, the portions were very reasonable and every dish was great! Visiting again while here :).

  • 5/5 M L. 5 months ago on Google
    Always one of my favorite places to eat on island. I think the jackfruit Doria recipe has changed but is still delicious! If you have a chance, also try Sweet Journey, which has amazing nondairy frozen treats! The hours have changed, so they don’t seem to be open for dinner now, but I’m grateful I can order online for pickup while I work remotely. It’s set back from Ali’i Drive in the World Square Marketplace with pay parking in the back.

  • 5/5 Eunbyul K. 5 months ago on Google
    Everything was on point. Especially loved the Japanese Doria, hummus, and the tomato soup. Loved the food, and I wish I lived nearby this place. None of us were vegan, but we agreed this was one of our fav restaurants in Kona!

  • 5/5 David Y. 5 months ago on Google
    Delicious local, organic, plant-based place for all. Really high-quality food. Our favorite was the Pizza al Taglio. That was a really unique, filling, tasty dish that would be my first choice to eat here again. The jacked up Doria was good and interesting. The ube pancake was really tasty. The mauna kea lava pasta had a nice bake on top, though was not super filling. The drinks and salad were nice. The best part was probably the tomato bisque with the buttered garlic bread on the side. I didn't know we could order the soup separately, but looking on the online menu, you can! We had a mixed bag with service. We came our first day in Kona and the gentleman working there was fantastic. The second day, I don't know if there were too many customers or something else happening. The older blonde lady working there told us to come up to her to order, so we had no table service and we had to tip before eating. Then, despite obviously sharing a meal, she only gave us one utensil for the soup. When my partner started getting frustrated at waiting so long, she checked with the kitchen and saw our order was missed due to there being multiple similar orders. She was disciplining the chef (who seemed new) pretty audibly and explained the situation to us but did not really apologize. She sent a younger blonde server who we had not met yet to apologize to us and offer a free drink or ice cream. The server also saw we were sharing and offered us an extra utensil for the meal. On our third visit, the same younger blonde lady was there and seemed to be working with even fewer staff during a pre-Thanksgiving rush yet gave us fantastic service on a pick-up order. She saved the day for the restaurant and is why I am writing this positive review. We're really happy to see a high-quality vegan restaurant right in the heart of Kona. We hope to see improvements in the service. And if you have made it this far, definitely try Journey's attached ice cream place. It's one of a kind.

  • 5/5 Jackie C. 5 months ago on Google
    We grabbed lunch here and it was the best vegan Mac and cheese ever! There is seating inside and outside and free self serve water. Service was super friendly and food came quick

  • 5/5 Diana J. 9 months ago on Google
    Avocado toast was so flavorful and satisfying! High quality ingredients, good quantity of protein, and ridiculously good seasonings make this a real winner. Comes with a side of soup or hummus plus bread. The bread is a heavenly, tangy slice of perfect crunch but still soft. There is so much more I'm eager to try. I'd be a regular if I lived in the area for sure and confidently could bring any omnivore with me for a sure to please vegan meal.

  • 5/5 Viraj W. 11 months ago on Google
    Absolutely incredible food, so good and well made. It is worth the premium price. Server was really nice to us! Such a good time ❤️

  • 5/5 Brianne M. 11 months ago on Google
    Delicious food and quick service! I got the Lava Pasta Bake and it was amazing 😍 My non-vegan boyfriend got the Falafel Pita and loved it. Soup or hummus was served immediately, and before we even finished the sides our meals were there.

  • 5/5 Marc G. 1 year ago on Google
    What a calm and easy place to have a wholesome fortifying meal. I stopped in mid evening and had the Collard Green with Jackfruit wrap with a side of hummus. Spicy and sweet with a nutritional punch. The food here actually makes you feel better as you eat it. Everyone on staff was really cool, personable and welcoming. (Thanks to you all), and thanks Nichi for the good energy brother. I can't say much more than drop in and have some very good, real food -food that makes you feel happy. See you again soon!

  • 5/5 Katrina S. 1 year ago on Google
    This restaurant specializes in healthy, delicious, plant-based foods. They had the best "mac N' cheeze," which is made from macadamia nuts. Also, their vegan ice cream is extremely addictive and sourced from local ingredients. This is a business worth supporting!

  • 5/5 Mona S. 1 year ago on Google
    Went here for brunch on a Sunday. Quiet place. Not too many people at the cafe when we left. But it got full real quick. We took Mac and cheese, baked lava pasta, chickpea omelette and garlic knots. We also had a kombucha, chai latte and lavender latte. Good and drinks were really amazing. I would definitely say everyone should visit this place at least once. I would give it a 100 stars if I could.

  • 4/5 Piyush J. 1 year ago on Google
    Really nice vegan food. Ordered their burger and jackfruit nachos. Bit different but good taste. Their dragonfruit smoothie was amazing. Taken a star out because of small serving size compared to the price. But remember the food on the whole island is a bit expensive.

  • 5/5 Brandon A. 2 years ago on Google
    Excellent vegan food! Had lunch for the first time here a few days ago and it was phenomenal. Was so good we came back a second time during our brief stay in Kona. The dorias are really special - I've never had a vegan bechamel sauce like that before. Definitely try the ice cream. My family really likes the strawberry-dragonfruit, but I'm partial to the chocolate.


Call (808) 731-7194 Open on Google Maps

Amenities


  • Parking
    • ✓️ Paid parking lot
    • ✓️ Paid street parking
  • Payments
    • ✓️ Debit cards
    • ✓️ Credit cards
    • ✓️ NFC mobile payments
  • Offerings
    • ✓️ Coffee
    • ✓️ Quick bite
    • ✓️ Comfort food
    • ✓️ Small plates
    • ✓️ Vegan options
    • ✓️ Organic dishes
    • ✓️ Healthy options
    • ✓️ Vegetarian options
  • Popular for
    • ✓️ Lunch
    • ✓️ Breakfast
    • ✓️ Solo dining
  • Accessibility
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible seating
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible entrance
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible parking lot
  • Dining options
    • ✓️ Lunch
    • ✓️ Brunch
    • ✓️ Dessert
    • ✓️ Seating
    • ✓️ Breakfast
  • Service options
    • ✓️ Dine-in
    • ✓️ Takeout
    • ✓️ Delivery
    • ✓️ Outdoor seating

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