Koa Cafe

Honolulu

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PERMANENTLY CLOSED

Koa Café in Moiliili is a fast-casual breakfast joint that cooks up traditional first-meal-of-the-day dishes with unexpected, modern Asian twists, displayed on an illuminated screen behind the counter, like a gritty Chinese takeout joint. Here, buttermilk pancakes are substituted with butter mochi pancakes topped with glazed nuts and fresh berries, and steak and eggs with a 6oz kalbi steak, eggs any style, and kimchee quinoa. The Koa Cristo, the restaurant’s version of a Monte Cristo, stands out for its use of vinha d’alhos (a welcome stand-in for ham), Gouda, jalapeno aioli, and secret maple dip. Try and get there early to beat the crowds.