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Cafe Ono
Categories: Restaurants Food Coffee & Tea Restaurants, Coffee & Tea [Edit]
19-3834 Old Volcano RoadVolcano, HI 96785
(808) 985-8979
- Hours:
Tue-Sun 11 am - 3 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
51 reviews for Cafe Ono
Review Highlights
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"The garlic bread is made with a nutty and chewy bread." In 5 reviews -
"...we spent time browsing the art and visited Ernest the goat." In 6 reviews -
"The soup, a corn and potato chowder, was amazing." In 3 reviews
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51 reviews in English
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Review from Jason K.
Littleton, CO
5/26/2012
Sometimes while traveling I have one thing to say "Thank you Yelp!"
After hiking around in Volcanoes National Park, my wife and I were in need of some food. We drove over to a cluster of restaurants near the park and started looking at some Yelp reviews. The best reviewed restaurant in the area was Cafe Ono.
It would be extremely easy to drive past Cafe Ono or to at least assume that there is not a restaurant in the building. It is a residential house that has been converted into an art gallery with a small addition on the back with a small dining room (I believe 4 tables) and a small kitchen. Yes I know I just used the word small 3 times in that sentence but it is very accurate. Also, there is a beautiful garden area outside with Japanese decor and of course the mascot Earnest the goat.
We showed up when there was one table already seated and somehow within the next couple of minutes the other 3 tables were full and there were two parties outside in the garden. This was a "rush" that at first had us waiting for service for a while but after calling in some reinforcements, was handled well. With that being said I would count on things taking a little longer.
The food is all vegetarian which somehow I had missed in the reviews before we went. I probably would not have went if I knew that but I'm glad that I didn't. Ira Ono (the owner) swung by our table and talked for a little bit and he let us know that a large percentage of the ingredients he uses were not only extremely fresh but most were sourced from the road that the restaurant is located on! Yes the road that takes 10 minutes to drive up and down. Amazing!
First of all, you have to order the iced tea. It is a custom blend between two different brews and it was absolutely delicious. I ordered the quiche and my wife ordered the lasagna. For the salads, I chose the balsamic dressing which was great but my wife ordered the garden goddess which is a tzatziki type dressing and it was outstanding! Out of the main dishes I would probably say that my quiche was better just because it still had a nice egg flavor to it. This is something I think quiche is usually missing.
We also ordered a slice of carrot cake that they had on special and it was the perfect end to our meal.
Overall I would say that you have to go here just for the experience. The decor is interesting, it's fun to walk through the art gallery composed of local artists, check out the beautifully decorated grounds, and of course pet Earnest. -
Review from L.A. W.
Portland, OR
4/24/2012
YUM and eat at this place!!!!! Yummy locally made soup and a great sandwich - light mist outside and the goat wandering around. It was great. Lots of great art pieces from local Hawaiian artists of all types and styles. Loved the place!!
Apparently they even have a cabin to let on property too - what a great idea for a get away or while running around on the volcanos for a couple of days!! -
Review from Steve W.
Westfield, NJ
2/5/2012
The garden goddess salad dressing was great over the salads that came with our meals. The food was surprisingly good, and the setting was perfect for a nice relaxing meal.
Be sure to talk to Ono and visit the tree room. -
Review from Chuck B.
Denver, CO
4/10/2012
We visited Cafe Ono for our last lunch on the island and it was wonderful. The vegetables tasted so good and the portion sizes are very generous. It was a very relaxing atmosphere and I would highly recommend this place for anyone staying in or near Volcano or a couple visiting the National Park.
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Review from Don I.
San Antonio, TX
3/15/2012
Great place thats tucked away. The art gallery was wonderful and the owner was super friendly. We ate in a great little greenhouse outside surrounded by art. Everybody enjoyed their food, good vegetarian fare and soup. We also fed Ernest the goat and saw the mystical wedding chapel. If you've got time to relax, it's a fun little place
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Review from Kathy Z.
12/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
Adorable little cottage in Volcano Village. On a rainy day, a bowl of vegetable soup or chili really hits the spot. I had the 4 cheese quiche, and my husband had the chili. The meal feel home-cooked and is a nice change in pace from all the tourist places. The cafe is set in a small art gallery and shop.
Lovely spot for lunch (only). It's a great place to slow down and relax for a few moments. -
Review from Michelle M.
Honolulu, HI
2/28/2012
The food was fantastic! The freshest salad I have ever had and the house dressing is yummy. I really cannot say enough about the food. The service is friendly and the owner is quite interesting. Be sure to check out the attached gallery.
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Review from Jason H.
Seattle, WA
The food here is good - yummy salad, dressings and soup. The problem is that it's way too expensive. $7.50 for literally a 1/2 cup of soup and two small pieces of bread is just not value for money. Same for $15 for half of a sandwich (open faced at that) small salad, and same 1/2 cup of soup. The food tastes very good - just wish there was more of it.
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Review from Alexandra S.
Watertown, MA
8/14/2011
First, you must have faith that down Old Volcano Road this cafe & gallery can be found. It's almost at the end, but believe me- it's there! We parked and walked through the owners' greenhouse gallery into their yard. We were greeted by one of the owners who was excited to have new visitors/customers. We told him we were there for lunch and he welcomed us in with gusto. He also introduced us to Ernest the Goat (a fan page, set up by my boyfriend after our time there, is on Facebook). The surroundings, the gallery, and the food were all absolutely perfect. I especially liked the peaceful tree sanctuary in the yard- what a place to ponder your existence while on top of a volcano!
If you're in the area, this is by far the place to go for lunch. Everyone is super friendly and accommodating (e.g. gluten-free substitutions are available with each dish). Their homemade bread (homemade by neighbor-friends) is OUTSTANDING. -
Review from julie c.
Volcano, HI
1/12/2012
Took a friend there today for lunch. I had the lasagna with salad, soup and garlic bread. It was all delicious or "ono" as the Hawaiians say! My friend had the chili and the seaweed soup, which she enjoyed very much. I will go back! Very sweet place, lovely gardens and art. All vegetarian menu.
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Review from Sarah N.
Santa Maria, CA
2/14/2012 1 Check-in Here
Wonderful vegetarian food here. We stopped here for a late lunch before hitting the Lava Tubes for a 4 hours hike. The food was wonderful and the atmosphere was just perfect. Be sure to look around the gallery while you wait for your food and if the weather is nice, sit outside.
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Review from Srilatha R.
Saratoga, CA
1/4/2012
Our family is vegetarian and it was a treat to lunch at cafe Ono. The mushroom soup and lentil soups were both excellent. The quiche, artichoke sandwich and purple sweet potato sandwich were delicious and well presented.
The teas were exotic, refreshing and served elegantly. We enjoyed the lovely cozy setting of the cafe, then bonsai, outdoor art, art gallery and the green and lush gardens. It is minutes from the volcano and a true gem for vegetarians especially. I would gladly have eaten a couple of more times there had it been closer to home! -
Review from Sarah M.
Kenmore, WA
2/2/2012
Stopped here because I had read good reviews on this place and we were not disappointed. When our group of 5 stopped for lunch we didn't know it was a vegetarian place but that was ok with us. The food was good for a little cafe and the staff was very friendly. Their homemade tea was phenomenal as was their coconut sorbet with chocolate brownie. I would definitely recommend one of their salads with their own dressing too. The attached gallery, shop is also very nice. Lots of jewelry, paintings, sculptures, etc. Definitely worth a stop on the way to see the volcano.
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Review from Dani O.
Norfolk, VA
2/1/2012
I was worried about finding vegetarian fare in Volcano and stumbled upon Cafe Ono while browsing in Volcano Garden Arts and discovered this green jewel. We started with both soups, the corn and potato chowder and the mushroom seaweed; both begging for seconds. My husband, a meat-eater, devoured the hearty lasagna while I relished in the deliciousness of the purple sweet potato casserole. To top it off we tried the homemade vanilla ice cream with brownie bites and the lemon bar, yum! Make sure you talk with Ira Ono and pop into the yard to say hi to Ernest the resident goat.
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Review from lonni f.
San Jose, CA
1/24/2012
As others have mentioned, this place is tiny, and hidden away on the property of a sprawling art gallery. They've got a total of 3 tables inside, and another 2 outside on the lawn. Service is prompt & friendly. The food is decent, although a bit expensive, even for Hawaii. The food tasted good, but wasn't anything exceptional.
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Review from Autumn H.
Irvine, CA
9/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
Great garden setting. Very quiet and away from it all. Art gallery is nice to look at and the goat might do some bleating while you're there.
Lasagna was great, the big side salad was good too and loved the multi-grain garlic bread. Prices might look a bit much at first, but then you realize it comes with soup, salad and garlic bread, so you're getting a very full meal.
Very nice servers, you can tell they're going back there to fix your plate.
Ice cream with brownie crumbled was very yummy. -
Review from Steph G.
El Cerrito, CA
5/6/2011
5 stars, Cafe Ono.
A family friend lives in Volcano, and took us here on our recent visit to the islands. Little did we know that we would have the best lunch of our entire trip at this quaint gallery/cafe/outdoor oasis!
We were greeted by owner Ira as he was cleaning the outside tables, each of which had it's own umbrella.
We enjoyed reading over the menu and hearing about the soups and specials, and were tickled by the story about the history of the building, meeting Ernest the Goat and looking at the lovely surroundings.
2 of us had the quiche, salad and mexican bean soup, while I had the beet pie with ww crust (Special) and the pea soup. Each came with a salad, and the soups came first.
This food was GOOD. full of flavor, bright colors, texture and a healthy dash of YUM-o!
Quiche was moist and delicious, and the salads were lovely with their house goddess dressing - made with celery, no less!
I fell in love with the beet pie - big chunks of mountain beet, cashews for texture, and the most flaky, buttery, delectable crust I've ever had - you wouldn't know it was whole wheat unless they told you.
The gallery and grounds are beautiful - everything (I think) is from local artists and it's all gorgeous. Although, they should feature more Debra Serrao, I love her paintings!
This needs to be a MUST for anyone heading up the mountain from Hilo. It won't disappoint and I can't wait for my next visit! -
Review from gloria c.
Los Angeles, CA
12/2/2011
i wanted to like this cafe. it is very charming w/ a garden outside, an art gallery attached w/ local hawaiian art for sale, and of course, ernest the goat (he is very friendly and will let you pet him). plus the menu is 100% vegetarian, which almost always scores bonus points w/ me.
but i can't give this cafe a good review, b/c the food was terrible! the potato chowder was bland and watery, the coffee tasted burnt, and the lasagna was just microwaved leftovers, probably from the previous night. i'm not exaggerating. we literally could hear the beeps coming from the back in the kitchen, as the server was nuking things in the microwave before bringing them out.
i understand if the place is too small for a standard kitchen, but in that case cafe ono would be better off just serving nice sandwiches or fresh salads (ie things that don't require a stove or oven). if i wanted to eat microwaved day old leftovers, i'd just eat at home (and not pay money to go out). -
Review from Cristina C.
Alpharetta, GA
1/10/2012 1 Check-in Here
Lovely place right outside the park. Delicious food and beautiful gardens. The gallery has great stuff. I highly suggest a stop here. You won't be disappointed.
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Review from Jenn M.
Honolulu, HI
12/7/2011
Yummy!! Everything we had was excellent! I generally don't like soup at all, but theirs won me over.
Friendly service, cute cafe, and great art. Definitely worth the lunch stop! They did a great job helping with my 2-yr-old. They brought her a coloring page of the goat just after she visited the goat outsde. -
Review from Tony T.
11/3/2010
I came here with a tour group for dinner and Ira was such a great host. The Cafe is usually not open for dinner but he opened for us and greeted us on a rainy, wet Halloween with a glass of white wine.
The restaurant is set in the back of Ira's art gallery and it is near Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. If you are in the neighborhood, drop by and have a bite to eat with Ira.
The food is all vegetarian. I started with a corn and potato chowder, which was creamy. It would have been perfect if the corn and potatoes were blended into the soup already but it was still pretty good. I should have gotten the peanut butter and pumpkin soup, which was a special that evening, since the people who got it raved about it. The salad was fresh and had an edible flower in it, along with a vinaigrette. The spinach lasagna was good, a little dry but hearty and filling. All in all this is a nice place to have a good meal with a wonderful background of art surrounding you. -
Review from Emily M.
Sacramento, CA
12/7/2010 1 photo
Thank you Yelp for helping me find this gem! We stopped here for lunch on the way to Volcano National Park. The setting is awesome. It's part of Volcano Garden Arts. When we drove up, we walked across the garden, said hello to Ernest the goat who was hanging out, then walked into the cottage/art gallery/cafe. The cafe is tiny, but they managed to accommodate our group of 8. Ira and the staff were super friendly, and we had fun perusing and shopping for jewelry and other fun items. The ambiance and friendly owner made it a 5 star experience. The reason I'm giving this four stars is because of the food.
I was excited to find out that the food is strictly vegetarian. I got the vegetarian lasagna, shiitake mushroom miso soup, and side salad with green goddess dressing. The soup was yummy but came out lukewarm. The lasagna was yummy and the salad was just okay (dressing was bland). The garlic bread that came with it was delicious and nutty. A few people in our group got the chili which they noted was bland, but they were able to kick up the flavor with a little hot sauce. All in all, we had a good dining experience, but I think we were hoping for more out of the food. This place is a total gem though, and we had a great experience overall. I would definitely go back if I had the chance. -
Review from Kevin O.
San Diego, CA
8/11/2011
Came here for lunch between hikes at Volcano Nat'l Park. The menu options were minimal but all looked enticing and heathy. I ended up choosing the sandwich, soup and salad option. The soup, a corn and potato chowder, was amazing. The sandwich, an open faced egg salad, along with a salad, hit the spot. I would definitely recommend a stop here for lunch. It was a nice change from all the heavy restaurant foods we've been dining on for the past week.
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Review from Angel A.
Redondo Beach, CA
9/10/2011
We found this casual little cafe from yelp and were excited to have a food option that was not overly priced. We came here for lunch between hikes at Volcano Nat'l Park. Unfortunately, we probably came too late as some items were sold out. But the sandwich I got was really tasty and so healthy and really big since you can add cucumbers, sprouts, lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, onions. The size was also very generous (the sandwich was almost enough for 2 people). Hub got the meatloaf, which was a little salty and probably been pre-cooked but still pretty good. The workers there also had such Aloha spirit and were very nice.
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Review from Melissa W.
Anchorage, AK
6/2/2010
The food is fantastic. The owners are wonderful. The gifts are one-of-a-kind. Do not miss this gem if you are near Volcano! We were staying in Volcano and visited Cafe Ono several times. It's a little of the beaten path (if that's even possible in Volcano) but so worth the 45 second drive from the main road.
Amazing vegetarian options! -
Review from Joshua W.
Kirkland, WA
1/31/2012
Nice, simple vegetarian cafe fare. Friendly goat and nice customer service. Eats start at 11am, so don't go looking for breakfast!
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Review from Vanessa W.
Royal Oak, MI
6/22/2011
Delicious and memorable, which in my world is the best combination. The pet goat, the food, the host(Ira), the art, the atmosphere........all wonderful. Yes, its 100% vegetarian and I love my meat, but on a hot Hawaiian afternoon it helps to have relaxing, light, tasty meal. Its not a ton of food, but you can just tell that it is made with love. Did I just say that? Made with love, so corny, but I'm gonna stick with it cause it was. Maybe I wish the cafe room was a bit bigger and that they served dinner although the tight quarters and limited hours didn't diminish my experience one bit. Go, thats all, just go.
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Review from Lorrie C.
Burbank, CA
2/2/2011
On a recommendation from a local, we ate lunch here. I couldn't have been more impressed! In a lovely setting, and you felt like you were having lunch at a friend's house. I loved that the people who work there are genuine and warm, and make you feel welcome.
AND, if you're wondering about the food... it was some of the best I had during my stay in Hilo. My mom even asked for the beet soup recipe.
It was an unforgettable part of my visit. -
Review from SK S.
Hilo, HI
9/29/2011 1 Check-in Here
I'm not a vegetarian but Cafe Ono made me forget. Great coffee. Great service. Great artistic ambiance. Even the customers are nice.
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Review from Muriel D.
Brooklyn, NY
5/3/2011
We had a pleasant lunch at cafe Ono. Our meals came with a soup and a salad. Everything was fresh and healthy for a reasonable price. I had the sweet potatoes with almonds, which was fine, and my bf had a sandwich with artichokes he liked very much. Great choice of vegetarian dishes and teas. Surprising garden. But what we liked the most were the price, this was the only good place in town with meals for a reasonable price. Too bad it is closed for dinner.
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Review from Jen J.
San Francisco, CA
7/6/2011
The cafe is located within a garden and also displays art. The ambiance is nice and calming. The food is delicious and healthy. Service great! Great experience away from the touristy areas!
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Review from Michelle L.
Vancouver, WA
8/21/2010 1 Check-in Here
Peaceful and artsy setting. Part of Volcano Garden Arts. Awesome food and friendly service. Good value in that you get huge portions. We had the artichoke hummus pesto sandwich, sweet potato pecan casserole, and spinach lasagna. They were all tasty and fresh. They came with a mixed green salad and we had the house vinaigrette. Yum!! The garlic bread is made with a nutty and chewy bread. Delectable! Can't wait to go back!!
Also, unique local art and jewelry available to peruse while you wait for your meal. -
Review from Linda B.
San Jose, CA
8/21/2011
Charming staff, tasty food, lovely surroundings, delightful host.
My family was treated...like family : ). What more can I say??? -
Review from Gail D.
San Diego, CA
11/15/2011 1 Check-in Here
Cute cafe about 1 mile away from Volcano national park. It is a bit of a challenge to find. The woman who waited on us told us that they aren't allowed to have a sign up to advertise. Tasty vegetarian food. I got the quiche combo which also came with garlic bread, salad, and soup. My baby inhaled the potato corn chowder. We will be back the next time we come to the Big Island.
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Review from Shahin N.
Kirkland, WA
8/30/2010 1 Check-in Here
Pretty good homemade comfort food. Don't expect nothin with meat, but still good none the less. Veggie lasagna wasn't that great, stick with veggie chili or pesto artichoke sandwich. Salads were great n fresh, and the potato soup was amazing. The homemade Ice cream was too much ice not enough cream. But good lunch before a long hike.
Was a real homely joint, people were super nice, prices were great for such a small, comfy place. Ira onos gallery was amazing too...some really great finds but overall pretty pricey...
its about a quarter mile past the Thai restaurant in volcano village...easy to miss so drive to the end of the road and its the second to last turn I believe
Lunch til 2pm -
Review from Karen P.
Honolulu, HI
7/9/2011
This place was very cute. The owner was friendly and our dishes tasted fresh and delicious. I had the mushroom soup (had a miso soup flavor) and salad, and the veggies tasted like they were just picked from a garden. It came with delicious bread and friendly service. It was a very tranquil and intimate setting. Keep driving down the road and past the other restaurants, it will be on the left before the residential area.
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Review from Anarchivangelis T.
Philadelphia, PA
4/24/2011
Fabulous!
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Review from Emily C.
San Jose, CA
10/2/2010
It's great that they are strictly vegetarian, but would it really be that taxing to, say, make the soups with a nice vegetable oil instead of butter? The food was tasty and fresh, and the adjacent grounds and art gallery lovely, but it was not very filling if you are vegan and can only get a salad and the hummus sandwich (sans cheese). The soups are not even creamy or cheesy -- just made with butter. Use a good oil and make this stuff friendly to all comers (well, except maybe the nut-allergic).
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Review from john b.
Hoboken, NJ
12/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
Excellent food and great service.
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Review from Eileen G.
9/21/2010 1 Check-in Here
We went right before closing but they were still accomodating to us. This place is beautiful as well as the food. Also, what is that chocolate heart shaped thing I ate after lunch? It was amazingly chocolately and delish! I highly recommend you go out of your way for lunch here if you are planning to hike Kilauea Iki Trail or see the Thyurston Lava Tube or drive the Chain of Craters Road. It's totally worth it.
