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Pancakes with powdered sugar, butter and whipped cream rest on a plate.

Classic pancakes with whipped cream at Kona’s Coffee, a Hawaiian pancake cafe found throughout Japan. (Juan King/Stars and Stripes)

Get your coffee and much more at this large, Hawaiian-themed cafe in metro Tokyo and beyond.

Lunch time was a delight at Kona’s Coffee, a Hawaiian pancake cafe in Tokorozawa city that has locations in Tokyo and throughout Japan.

This eatery combines coffee, pancakes and a great Hawaiian dining experience.

Kona, a brand of coffee bean grown on the Big Island, has been around since the 1800s and quickly became prominent across the world. If you’re a coffee drinker, the inviting smell of coffee at Kona’s Coffee will be irresistible.

My family and I settled into comfortable seating in the homey, Hawaiian setting on a not so busy day. The cafe seats 36 people.

A white coffee cup is piled high with a mountain of whipped cream and caramel sauce.

A caramel macchiato at Kona’s Coffee, a Hawaiian pancake cafe found throughout Japan. (Juan King/Stars and Stripes)

I could not pass up a hot caramel macchiato for 700 yen, or about $4.40. The coffee was strong and not overpowered by the thick whipped cream, extra caramel and cinnamon drizzled on top. It was an absolute sugar boost, but delicious.

I decided to double my caffeine intake and selected a frozen coffee smoothie for 880 yen.

It was served in a tall glass containing rich coffee and crushed chocolate cookies. Whipped cream added extra sweetness but the drink maintained its coffee flavor.

Pancakes remain a household favorite, and those made here outdid many I’ve ever tasted. From the grand menu, my son and I both opted for classic pancakes with whipped cream for 890 yen. They aren’t very big, so we added an extra to our plate for 209 yen more.

They were thick, fluffy and buttery, with powdered sugar spread across them and whipped cream tossed on the side. Maple syrup wasn’t needed because of the richness, but I added a little.

I also added a small acai bowl to my meal. It comes with sliced bananas, strawberries, blueberries and granola atop an acai puree.

A plate of pancakes, grilled chicken, salad and Doritos make a colorful combination at Kona’s Coffee.

Grilled chicken Caesar salad pancakes at Kona’s Coffee, a Hawaiian pancake cafe found across Japan. (Juan King/Stars and Stripes)

My wife ordered grilled chicken Caesar salad pancakes. It sounded like an odd combination, but the pancakes were separated to one side, so she could enjoy the green salad featuring pineapple seasoned with Cajun spices, Doritos, avocados and other vegetables. She found it appetizing along with the pancakes.

My son chose guava from the six fruit juices available. There’s also a variety of lemonades, sodas and other drinks.

Other enticing menu items included a myriad other pancake combinations, burgers and other Hawaiian dishes. It was my first visit here and worth many more.

Kona’s Coffee

Location: 1-2-61 Kitano, Tokorozawa city, Saitama Prefecture, 359-1152

Hours: Open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Friday; 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday and Sunday

Prices: Expect to pay between 1,000 to 2,000 yen, including tax, per person. Some menu items are not available at every store.

Dress: Casual

Directions: About a 25-minute drive from Yokota Air Base.

Information: phone: 04-2949-8284; online: stores.konas-coffee.com

author picture
Juan King is a reporter, photographer and web editor at Yokota Air Base, Japan. He joined the U.S. Navy in 2004 and has been assigned to Stars and Stripes since 2021. His previous assignments have taken him to Afghanistan, Bahrain, Guam and Japan.

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