Breakfast at Kalaheo Cafe & Coffee Co, Kalaheo

Another great breakfast near the South shore on Kauai is the Kalaheo Cafe and Coffee Co. I liked it so much, that I actually ate there twice on my visit (and it was a quick trip out there!). The place is just a few miles from Poipu and is right off the main highway, so it’s easy to find. It can get pretty busy in the morning with both locals and tourists, but there is a large parking lot and the service is quick.

Going inside, the restaurant is very cute with a great Hawaiian, coffee shop feel to it. Peruse the menu, order at the counter and take a seat so servers can bring your order out to you. There is also a take out counter for bakery and coffee items. The menu features lots of egg dishes, omelettes, pancakes and french toast. If you want something a little lighter, there are also egg breakfast sandwiches available, like the Longboard, which was like a BLT with egg and provolone cheese added to it.

One of my favorite things was the self-serve coffee bar. If you ordered a “for-here” coffee, you were given a mug of one of their daily brews. Several coffee carafes were set out with different coffees to choose from, and you can simply get up and help yourself to as many refills as you’d like (and as many different coffees, too) while you’re in the cafe.

Their signature item is cinnamon knuckles.  Walking in, I had no idea what to expect from a food with such an unusual name. It turns out that they are cinnamon-heavy rolls made with a light, flaky, croissant-like sticky bun dough. Instead of being sticky with caramel, they are drizzled with a sweet icing that makes them deliciously addictive – and an absolutely perfect match for some of their coffee. Since there is a to-go bakery line, these are a great treat to pick up if you’re not stopping for a full breakfast.

Here, I opted for the Kahili Breakfast, a three egg scramble made with Portuguese sausage, ham, green onions and tomatoes then topped with Monterey Jack cheese served with white rice (hash browns and brown rice were also options). The Portuguese sausage was great and the whole dish was very satisfying. It’s enough to split if you’re getting a couple of cinnamon knuckles to go with your breakfast and coffee.

Kalaheo Cafe & Coffee Co, Kalaheo
2-2560 Kaumualii Highway
Kalaheo, HI 96741-8316
(808) 332-5868
Open 6:30am – 2:30pm Mon-Sat, 6:30am – 2pm Sun