One of my favorite places to grab a bite to eat at is Kona Cafe. Not only is the food delicious, safe for allergens, and reasonably priced… but it has the perfect location if you are spending the day at Magic Kingdom.
This is the table service option for The Polynesian and stands beside other great options like Ohana and then the quick serve Capt. Cooks. There’s also a bar, but that doesn’t really need a review LOL!
To get here you’d take the monorail from Magic Kingdom (or a bus to the ticket and transportation center and then walk over). You’ll also be able to walk on the new walkway in 2021 (maybe even a little earlier!)
This has been a family favorite because it’s so close to Magic Kingdom and we can pop over for a quick bite to eat. We also like to get reservations here during the holidays because you can then watch the fireworks from the fake grass out on the back lawn (the view of Cinderella’s Castle is incredible!)
Ready to plan your dining options for Disney World Food Allergy eats? Check out the Best Food Allergy Restaurants at Disney World
â If this is your First Time to Disney World, you’ll want all the insider tips and done for you plans found in the Food Allergies at Disney World Made Easy Guide , If you’ve been here before and just need the best places to eat and snacks, see the Touring Plan and Snack Guide. Just Gluten Free? There’s a guide for that too!
***As Always, please speak to a qualified restaurant employee when ordering food. In order to see the most accurate ingredients and risk assessment, you will need to confirm allergy safety in real-time. This is my personal experience, I am not employed or endorsed by companies or brands mentioned.***
Allergy Menu and Review of Kona Cafe November 2022
Kona Cafe just reopened after a refresh and we’ve got the updates on some good eats!
For starters, they have the Bloomfield Farms top 8 friendly and Gluten Free rolls available for the Table.
Then I started with the Chef recommendation, the Mahi Bacon, Lettuce and Tomato, which is labeled for Egg, Peanut, Treenut and Soy Allergies. I had it modified for Gluten Free also. It’s not recommend for Shellfish because of the cross contact issue. It contains Fish.
Next up, for my husband with Gluten and Shellfish issues, he got a Burger. It’s not completely worth it for a Shellfish Allergy, but you certainly won’t go hungry. My husband said this was one of the best burgers he’s had at Disney World. Fries contain soy oil and are made in a dedicated gluten free fryer.
Labeled the Big Kahuna Burger, it is listed for Gluten/Wheat, Peanut, Treenut, Fish/Shellfish Allergies. It was on a Gluten Free Bun, and can be made Dairy Free Soy Free and Egg Free with Modifications.
Last up we had dessert! I’ve had this tapioca pudding MANY times at Kona Cafe. Normally it comes in a small dessert dish, but this time it was served in a bowl with flowers and fruit. Truly a beautiful display! This dish contains coconut.
Newest Allergy Menu and Gluten Free Menu for Kona Cafe
Our review and what we ate 2019 (see below for updated review!)
We had the whole family there for this review! Since soy, gluten and dairy are big issues for us, we had the Chef come out.
And they did have a gluten free soy sauce (my husband was excited!) So he got that with the Poke Bowl (gluten free of course).
I opted for a simple burger and fries as I was slightly wary of MSG/nitrates and possible soy contamination (as it is used in many of the vine grates!)
Served with our meal was Ener-g Rolls and regular butter. (They didnât have Earth Balance options)
For the kids, we grabbed a plain unseasoned chicken breast with potatoes and fruit. The potatoes were overcooked (but most meals come with at least one item that isnât always cooked properly). So the kids just ate around that.
Our server was pleasant and we LOVED people watching. This was an open air restaurant facing the large walkway at the Poly and monorail.
TIP: the Kona Cafe has a little offshoot where you can order some treats and coffee. We love coming here on Magic Kingdom days and getting coffee and Erin McKennaâs Donuts before heading into MK. Pickings are slim for a multi-allergy friendly breakfast meal!
Normally, we take the Resort Monorail from the Ticket and Transportation Center, stop at the Poly, and then get back on to head to the Magic Kingdom!
2020 Update to Kona Cafe
As you know, the world has changed with the Covid-19 virus and Disney has been quite impacted. In fact, while Kona Cafe is available to eat at, staying at the Polynesian is limited to DVC options with a resort closure till next summer.
Letâs talk about some eats!
Some things that stayed the same are the dedicated fryer and the dedicated grill area. Yes, things are different and allergies arenât quite the same post reopening, but itâs a pleasure that we still have some options for dedicated areas in the kitchens!
There are also still a LOT of modifications available, especially for those of you dealing with a soy allergy, sesame allergy, or nut allergy. This means that youâll need to talk to the Chef and break down the menus. Donât take the allergy menu at face value.
For good eating I grab pan-fried (no breading) chicken for an appetizer. There was no sauce or flavoring, but it was quite good. (Hard to mess up plain fried chicken!)
I was also served the incredible top 8 friendly rolls with Earth Balance butter. These rolls were first spotted in late 2019 with a new partnership with Bloomfield farms and I am so happy they have hung around!
On our visit to Disney World in summer 2020 all we saw were these rolls- I think the ener-g brand are gone from Disney for the time being.
Main course was a rice noodle bowl with several modifications- safe for top 9 allergies! WOOO.
The main star of the show was the Vegan-as-is tapioca pudding! There are nuts in these desserts, but for the rest of the top allergens this would be a safe and delicious treat!
The Allergy Menu at Kona Cafe
So here’s the lunch menu, but it’s almost identical for dinner with only some price and select meal changes.
