Mahina Cafe

Captain Cook, United States

4.7

20 reviews

Accepts Credit Cards

Contacts

QR code, vCard

Telephone:
+1 808-323-3200
Address:
82-6123 Mamalahoa Hwy, Captain Cook, HI, 96704
Categories:
QR code
Download QR Image Download vCard

Map

Streetview

Activate map

Bussiness info

Takes Reservations
No
Delivery
No
Take-out
Yes
Accepts Credit Cards
Yes
Good For
Breakfast
Parking
Private Lot
Bike Parking
Yes
Good for Kids
Yes
Good for Groups
Yes
Attire
Casual
Ambience
Casual
Noise Level
Quiet
Alcohol
No
Outdoor Seating
Yes
Wi-Fi
No
Has TV
No
Waiter Service
Yes
Caters
Yes

Today

Today –
Local time (Captain Cook) 7:31 PM Wednesday, June 25, 2025

Business hours

Monday –
Tuesday –
Wednesday –
Thursday –
Friday –
Saturday –
Sunday –

Description

Specialties

Pacific fusion, Hawaiian and American cuisine

History

Established in 2011.

Opened in 2011, owned and operated by local family. Big-​Island grass-​fed beef, local and organic produce, 100% Kona coffee, fish fresh from Kona waters. All breads, desserts and specialty cakes made in-​house from scratch in our bakery — Christopher Smiles Bakeshoppe.

Meet the Business Owner

Mom N.

Business Owner

After experiencing family tragedies in 2010, Mom, along with Dad, wanted to see how they could be of support in fulfilling their daughters’ passions. After discovering that two of them were interested in having a cupcakery and a café, they sought out a venue to satisfy these dreams and together Mahina Café was built.

Mom oversees the daily operations of their bakery, Christopher Smiles Bakeshoppe, assists with menu preparations, and serves as waitress on some days (a position she had to learn at the young age of 50!). Her specialties are the daily malassada (which is an ethnic fried bread from Portugal), pies and cheesecakes. Her daughter, Korie, designs and makes all of the specialty cakes for customer Weddings, Anniversaries, Birthdays, Baby Showers, etc., along with managing the kitchen.

Customer reviews state that they love our local atmosphere, our reasonable prices, fresh and tasty cuisine, and that there is no shortage of the Aloha Spirit.

Related places

Explore similar places:
2.1
mi
Caffe Florian
81-6637 Mamalahoa Hwy
3.3
mi
Rebel Kitchen
79-7399 Mamalahoa Hwy
3.5
mi
Martha’s Seascape Restaurant & Cooking School
79-7346 Mamalahoa Hwy
3.5
mi
Keoki’s Roadside Cafe
83-5293 Mamalahoa Hwy
6.1
mi
Mama’s Coffee @ Sheraton Kona
78-128 Ehukai St

Vicinity

Near this location:
230
ft
Patz Pies
82-6127 Mamalahoa Hwy
780
ft
Amy B.H Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden
82-6160 Mamalahoa Hwy
780
ft
Manago Hotel Restaurant
82-6155 Mamalahoa Hwy
800
ft
Manago Hotel
82-6155 Mamalahoa Hwy
850
ft
Choice Mart
82-6066 Mamalahoa Hwy
850
ft
Takako’s Hair Salon
82-6066 Mamalahoa Hwy Ste E

20 reviews of Mahina Cafe

No registration required
Place rating: 5
Fullerton, CA
I loved this place. Family owned, freshest ingredients, very quaint and local vibe. I had the loco moco, and my wife had the fish burger. Both were excellent! Very friendly service, feel-​good wall décor, and bottomless 100% Kona iced coffee. Zing!
Place rating: 5
Captain Cook, HI
Always a good meal at mahina café. Friendly staff make u feel at home. Breakfast is always great. Many house made pastries and cakes and the famous malasadas. I like love the burgers made with local beef. Great little spot
Place rating: 5
Roseburg, OR
Great little find just north of the Sheraton Hotel in Kona… little café run by family. Food was wonderful, tasty and there was lots of it. Staff very friendly and catered to our every need. Small menu, but food was excellent.
Place rating: 3
Olympia, WA
Had lunch here earlier today — service was good and the food was okay, but it wasn’t as amazing as a lot of these five-​star reviews make it sound.
I had the loco moco and my wife had the Portuguese bean soup. The gravy for my moco loco tasted like it had come from a packet, and the burger was overcooked, dry, and tough to the point that I struggled to cut through it. The over-​easy egg was perfectly cooked though, and the bean soup was very good.
It may have been that I picked the wrong thing with getting the loco moco, but I can only review based on what I had, which was only okay.
Place rating: 5
Mission Viejo, CA
Found this place through a referral of a local. Breakfast was absolutely amazing and the service was greats. Family owned and food cooked fresh. I highly recommend this to anybody looking for an amazing meal.
Place rating: 5
Fairbanks/Northwest Crossing, Houston, TX
Food was very good! Atmosphere was good, waitress was accommodating! Would recommend this place for 1 – 6 people. Not that big on the inside or outside which made for a very nice dining experience.
Place rating: 5
Sunnyvale, CA
My husband and I went here shortly before closing time–
Everything is local and fresh
The fish was amazing, the house vinaigrette so good, the house made bread on paninis and fresh fruit that came alongside a meal was delicious, coffee was great too.
The free malassadas are heavenly I would eat them for breakfast everyday if I could :)
The service was phenomenal, would definitely recommend you stop here on your way out or in to Kona Town.
Easily one of my favorite spots I’ve found on the island so far!
Place rating: 5
Cape May, NJ
After a few hours of snorkeling in the Honaunau Bay, this was the lunch we were looking for! They served us fresh malassadas which were very good and unexpected. My boyfriend got the Portuguese bean soup with homemade focaccia bread while I ordered the panko crusted chicken with salad and rice. The food was so fresh and delicious! Also, the waitress was so friendly which made it an overall great experience.
Place rating: 5
Honolulu, HI
Mahina Café is the next best thing to home cooking & feels like family anytime we stop by! Mahalo to Lianne & her girls for stirring up some of the best meals in town!
Place rating: 5
Mililani, HI
Came here for a late lunch after snorkeling near City of Refuge. Everything we ate was great and she gave us free malasadas while we waited. I had the ham panini and fries, my wife had the stuffed French toast, and my daughter had the chicken katsu. We will definitely come back again! We have tried three restaurants in the area from Unilocal reviews and this was by far the best one. Fresh food with excellent flavors! I wish they were open for dinner.
Place rating: 3
Las Cruces, NM
We had the Hawaiian plate. I found the laulau to be too fatty and the other meat to be a bit tough. The bread was to die for, and my daughter enjoyed the Portuguese bean soup.
Place rating: 5
Honolulu, HI
We made it just in time before the breakfast rush. Selection was great and I loved that they used local ingredients for their food. I ordered the Hawaiian plate for breakfast and it was a deal for the price you pay. I left with a happy belly.
Place rating: 5
Sherman, CT
We ate breakfast here and really enjoyed the small place. Good loco moco and good coffee. Great service and interesting selections of baked goods to choose from. We got free refills on the coffee. We got a few of the bars to eat during the day and they were great.
Place rating: 4
Kailua-Kona, HI
I don’t get up mauka as much as I’d like, but had a reason to be up to take some photos early in the morning. My wife and I stopped on the way down the hill, and we were happy that we did. Our friendly server brought out a malasada as we waited for breakfast. Fortunately I had not ordered coffee or I might have just sat there eating malasadas and drinking coffee all day.
My wife had pancakes with bacon that were quite good, and I had a loco moco that was your typical loco moco, with the grass fed burger and gravy, sauteed onions.
We spent 20 bucks on breakfast and left happy. This is not a location to go to for a view, but I enjoyed the friendly service and neat, clean interior. I was really pleased to find this place thanks to the Unilocalers who liked it here. I agree and will be back.
Place rating: 5
Seattle, WA
Went here after touring city of refuge. Wonderful! Lovely people. Fresh and homemade and delicious food.. Fish sandwich on homemade bun. The lilllikoi cheesecake was amazing.
Mahalo!
Place rating: 4
Washington, DC
A very charming café owe and run by two sisters who were born and bred in the area. I only had coffee and pastry and they were lovely. We had a lovely discussion of the famous local MMA fighter of BJ Penn and how locals feel about the big five American companies which donated the production of some agricultural products. Aside, the deco is funky and cheerful. Coffee is cheap with free refill. The pastries is very nicely done, all house made. I wish I had the chance to have lunch there. It closes rather early like 4:30 pm or 5 pm. So don’t go there fore dinner…
Place rating: 4
Washington, DC
I once ate a fluffy short stack
It was topped with nuts of Mac
And when I dug in
My head started to spin
The haupia was as tasty as crack!
Got the pancakes with Mac nuts and haupia ($ 9.50). The pancakes were huge! (More to share!). The nuts gave a good contrasting crunch. And while I’d prefer my haupia a tad bit less sweet, I wouldn’t let that deter me from ordering this again! The loco moco and chicken katsu are also best with the gravy.
Also– the owner is incredibly friendly!
Place rating: 5
Oakland, CA
Oh my gosh I am so sad, today is my last day here in Kona and my last meal at Mahina. Locally owned friendly staff, like genuinely friendly and helpful this place is a must go for breakfast on the Island.
The Malassadas… forgive the spelling, are delicious. When you sit down and wait for your order they give a complimentary one to nosh on. Warm doughy and sweet balls of goodness. Half a dozen to go is just five bucks. The loco moco is awesome, pancakes and Portuguese sausage, I am licking my teeth still they tasted so good.
Way to go Mahina! I wish you were in Oakland.
Place rating: 5
West Los Angeles, CA
Wow! This family restaurant is awesome! The perfectly balanced cinnamon rolls taste perfect with tea or coffee and have a doughy pull and chew! These malasadas are hot and wonderful. Get a half dozen.
I ate the Japanese breakfast and my bf ate the Mac nut pancakes. I enjoyed the savory Japanese flavors. He liked his pancakes and thought the coconut and macadamia flavors were excellent.
This place is a great spot!
Place rating: 5
Walnut Creek, CA
My wife found this place on Unilocal while searching for a place that served malassadas, boy are we glad we came here.
Everything we ordered was excellent, service was great and those malassadas just sealed the deal. We are definitely going back before leaving the big island.