REVIEW: NEW Menu Items Hit This Underrated Disney World Hotel Restaurant

Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort is known for many things, but two of the most prominently talked about are the vibes and overall theme of the resort, as well as the different dining options available.

It’s time to eat!

However, when people talk about this hotel and the dining spots you’ll find there, they often rave about ‘Ohana or Tambu Lounge, and while we’re not saying those places don’t deserve the praise, there’s also another spot that’s much easier to get reservations for, and it’s right near by — here’s why we don’t think you should forget about Kona Cafe, especially with these new menu items!

Kona Cafe is located inside the main lobby of Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort on the second level (which you’ll enter on if you come from the Monorail). It’s right in the middle of all the action, and while it is a table service restaurant, which means reservations are required, they’re often not as popular as others, so you can usually find one available, or you can check the walk-up waitlist.

Kona Cafe

We heard there were new menu items to try out here, so we grabbed a reservation ASAP. We started out with the complimentary Bread Service that’s brought to every table, which is four fluffy bread rolls served with a slab of butter. The bread wasn’t anything to write home about, but the rolls were soft, and while we felt the pineapple flavoring in them wasn’t made equally — some had more pineapple flavor than others — it was still a slight taste we enjoyed, so we have no complaints!

Bread Service

The first new menu item we took a bite of was the Dynamite Roll for $26, which is Hamachi, Salmon, Asparagus, Carrot, Yuzo Kosho, and Wasabi Sauce. The fishy taste of the salmon was pretty strong, so you’ve gotta be a fan of sushi to enjoy this. There wasn’t any spice to this roll, and while we did enjoy the crunch of the vegetables, we don’t think it affected the flavor too much. The soy sauce didn’t add a ton of flavor either, even though we added more than we normally would, so overall, it was solid, but we wouldn’t make a trip here just to try it.

Dynamite Roll

Next up was the Mirin-Teriyaki Burger for $25, which is Pressed Patties, Seared Pork Belly, Pineapple, and Provolone served with French Fries or Purple Potato Salad.

Mirin-Teriyaki Burger

This was SUPER filling, and we loved the mix of sweet and savory flavors. The pineapple especially adds some tangy flavors with the teriyaki sauce, which blends beautifully. The bun itself was slightly toasted, which we loved, and while the patties weren’t soft enough to melt in your mouth, they were far from tough. We’d totally get this one again!

We loved the flavors!

Finally, we tried the Grilled Chicken Kimchi Sandwich for $19, which is made with Kimchi, Provolone, Spicy Mayonnaise, Arugula, with a choice of French Fries or Purple Potato Salad.

Grilled Chicken Kimchi Sandwich

It comes served with the chicken and cheese on the bottom bun, and then the kimchi and arugula on the other. We don’t feel the bun was as fresh on this one, and we warn you that this one definitely DOES have a kick to it! We had to grab our water and drink it pretty fast, and that’s definitely coming from the kimchi. The chicken and arugula do help balance out that spice, and we appreciated that the chicken was cooked well on the grill and was very juicy. The kimchi works well with the sandwich as a whole, but since it doesn’t have a ton of flavor other than spice and heat, we don’t recommend eating it on its own unless you know it’s something you love.

It’s certainly got some heat!

We’ll continue to bring you all the latest Disney World reviews and news, so stay tuned to DFB!

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Which of these items are you planning to grab? Tell us in the comments!