Hello from the Monorail Resorts! Nothing makes us happier than boarding the Monorail on our way to the Magic Kingdom!
This time we stopped at each resort along the way and collected a bunch of updates for you! [Read more…]
food IS a theme park
Hello from the Monorail Resorts! Nothing makes us happier than boarding the Monorail on our way to the Magic Kingdom!
This time we stopped at each resort along the way and collected a bunch of updates for you! [Read more…]
We continue to celebrate our new e-Book — The DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining — with fun info from the book! To give you an idea of what you’ll be getting, here’s another helpful tip from the e-Book!
As many of you know, it can be difficult to find a great cup of joe in Walt Disney World. Oh, sure, there’s plenty of that Nescafe instant stuff to wake you up. Yet, for those guests that want more than a morning jolt from their mug of coffee, you’ll have to arm yourself with a treasure map (or a copy of our e-Book!).
For travelers staying at the Polynesian Resort, you have two locations for a great cup of coffee. Try the Kona Cafe and/or the Kona Island Coffee Bar next door! Guests visiting the Magic Kingdom can easily stop at the Polynesian to grab a cup to go. The coffee bar is located just inside the doors on the second floor — just steps from the monorail!
The Kona Blend used by these locations is grown in Hawaii and is served regular and decaf, and you can order a Regular or Grande size. (We recommend the Grande since it’ll be a while before your next good cup of coffee.)
Read more about the Kona Cafe plus 2 more pages full of information on great coffee hot spots in Walt Disney World!
What are your favorite hot spots for coffee in WDW? Let us know in the comments below!
By AJ 15 Comments
Many thanks to Amanda Tinney, writer of the fantastic DisneyEveryDay.com, for guest blogging about this fun food spot! Can’t wait to try it!
Ah YES…Joy and Rapture! Disney has added another Sushi Bar to the Walt Disney World Resort! As a Disney Veteran I am embarrassed to admit that I just recently found out about this latest addition last month and come to find out… they have been serving up Sushi for about a year now. Shameful!
Welcome Disney epicureans to the Kona Island Sushi Bar!
Specs and Eats
If you’re guessing that this Nosh Spot is in the Polynesian Resort…You are correct! The Kona Island Sushi Bar is situated right next to the Kona Café on the second floor of the Polynesian. In the morning this hot spot is the Kona Coffee Bar, but it is magically transformed in the late afternoon to serve Sushi to hungry tourists and locals alike.
The bar is open from 5 p.m. until 10 p.m. and has two seating areas, which will accommodate roughly twenty people, total. A little over half of the seating is at a bar on a glass wall that overlooks the beautiful gardens and water features that make up the entrance to the resort. The remaining seats are directly in front of the bar where the chefs prepare the sushi. But do not despair if you can’t get a seat at the bar; the full sushi menu is served at Kona Café and vice versa — the full Kona Menu is served at the Sushi Bar.
Here’s a peek at the Sushi Menu…
We sampled the Volcano Roll, Dragon Hand Roll, and California Luau Roll. Everything we had was delicious!
The California Roll was a nice surprise as it had pineapple in place of the standard cucumber and the citrus flavor made it taste even fresher than sushi normally tastes.
The Volcano Roll, made with Spicy Tuna, Seafood Lau’ai and Tempura Crunch, filled the entire plate….
I was so excited to eat the Dragon Hand Roll that I forgot to take a picture of it. I am a big fan of eel and had never eaten a hand roll before so I dug in without thinking…sorry.
But! While we were at the bar, someone ordered the Tuna Poke. When the chef placed it on the bar I snapped a picture of it. It was beautiful! It looked like three large tortelloni (a tortellini-ravioli hybrid) with diced tomato on top, but was actually the most perfect, red tuna salad served over round crisps.
And here’s a shot of the Shrimp Tempura Roll, which consists of Tempura Shrimp, fresh mango, and Lilikoi (Passion Fruit) Sauce:
…and the Kona Crab Cake Roll which is made with a Fresh Jumbo Lump Crab Cake, avocado, and Asian tartar sauce…
Costs and Cocktails
If you think you’ll have to break the bank to eat here, think again. Prices are very reasonable considering the quality of food that you will get for your money. The chefs that we spoke with that night had worked at The California Grill at the Contemporary. Plates start at $8.99 and go up to $15.99.
I was also surprised to discover that Kona Fire Rock Pale Ale is served here! I got a chance to sample it at the 2009 Epcot Food and Wine Festival and gave it a rave review!
The Kona Island Sushi Bar also serves traditional sake as well…
If you decide to check out this eatery on your next visit make sure to look for the Hidden Mickey in the bar.
As a local…I will definitely be returning for some nom nom’s at the Kona Island Sushi Bar! Amanda Tinney signing out! Dewa kore de! Bye for Now!