Ditch Your Diet for Brunch in Kaimukī

(Sponsored) Unlike that salad you had for lunch, the dishes at Koko Head Café are indulgent, satisfying and worth getting out of bed for.

January 14, 2021

Marisa Heung,

Now through January 2021, use your First Hawaiian Bank Mastercard at any 2020 Hale ‘Aina Gold-winning restaurants and you’ll receive double points on your purchase.

Cornflake French toast. Photo: Steve Czerniak

If you watched season one of Bravo’s adrenaline-fueled Top Chef, you know two things: 1) Lee Anne Wong is one tough culinary cookie; and 2) she takes her brunch seriously. Following her time on, and behind, the camera (after season one, she became the culinary producer for the next four seasons of the show), the New York native moved to Honolulu and opened Koko Head Café, now one of Kaimukī’s hottest brunch spots and the Hale ‘Aina Awards 2020 Silver winner for both Best Breakfast and Best Brunch.

The world of brunch has never been one that caters to small appetites or diets. A true between-breakfast-and-lunch weekend meal is, as it should be, a celebration of carbs, butter and the many ways eggs can be cooked and enjoyed. Koko Head Café serves classic brunch bites with an Island-style twist, such as cornflake French toast, breakfast bibimbap, the Koko Moco and Elvis’ Revenge, made with peanut butter, banana tempura, billionaire’s bacon, local honey and toasted coconut on a sweet bun. Asian flavors can be found on the menu as well, in the forms of breakfast congee, Don Buri Chen and ramen of the day.

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If I could describe the drink menu at Koko Head in one word, it would be inclusive. While most might head straight for the brunch cocktails, there are also plenty of alcoholic options to choose from, even if they might not seem appropriate for late morning (who cares? It’s the weekend!): beer, wine and a long list of spirits.

For more information, visit kokoheadcafe.com. For updates, follow @kokoheadcafe on Instagram.