Koko Cafe

What Koko Cafe does

Koko Head Cafe is a privately held, single-location restaurant in Honolulu, Hawaii, founded in 2014 by Executive Chef/Partner Lee Anne Wong and Chef Kevin Hanney. The business operates an island-style brunch service daily and a Hawaiian-inspired dinner service Friday through Monday, with craft cocktails, a curated wine list, and a private dining room accommodating up to 25 guests. It also generates ancillary revenue from catering, online takeout (via Toast Tab, weekdays only), and eGift cards. The restaurant relocated in March 2022 to the larger former 12th Ave Grill space, materially expanding seating capacity, and is supported by a network of 27 local Hawaii farms, producers, and suppliers that underpin its farm-to-table positioning. Marketing is community-driven, leaning on national earned media (Bon Appetit, Food and Wine Magazine), OpenTable reservations, and a forthcoming 2025 cookbook. The company has no external institutional investment, operates with approximately 13 employees, and is exploring geographic expansion via a planned Tokyo location and Chef Wong's Papa'aina project on Maui.

Name

Koko Cafe

Website

https://kokoheadcafe.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Koko Head Cafe is a Honolulu restaurant founded in 2014 by Chef Lee Anne Wong and Chef Kevin Hanney, serving Hawaiian-inspired brunch daily and dinner Friday through Monday, with private dining, catering, and a 27-partner local sourcing network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Restaurant Dining Services

NAICS

Full-Service Restaurants (722511), Caterers (722320)

SIC

Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)

akta.pro primary industry

All-Day Dining Restaurants (THAFACAJ)

Keywords

• Island style brunch
• Hawaiian-inspired cuisine
• Private dining events
• Locally sourced ingredients
• Restaurant catering services

Headquarters

HQ city

Honolulu

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Dine-in Service: The primary revenue stream is from dine-in service at the restaurant location, offering breakfast, brunch, and dinner menus. The restaurant serves customers at both indoor and outdoor seating areas.
2. Takeout and Online Orders: Guests can order takeout in person or through the website link (Toast Tab platform). Takeout orders are not accepted on weekends.
3. Private Dining and Events: Revenue from private dining room reservations with minimum spend requirements ($500-$1000 depending on party size and meal period). Additional revenue from catering services for off-site events.
4. Beverage Service: Revenue from craft cocktail menu, tropical cocktails, premium spirits, curated wine list, and local pour-over coffee (Bean About Town).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Koko Head Cafe is an island-style brunch and dinner restaurant in Honolulu, Hawaii, founded in 2014 by Chef Lee Anne Wong and Chef Kevin Hanney. The restaurant serves brunch daily and dinner Friday through Monday, featuring Hawaiian-inspired cuisine made from scratch with locally sourced ingredients from 27 Hawaii-based farm and supplier partners. The restaurant also offers a private dining room (capacity 25 guests with minimum spend requirements), off-site catering services, online takeout ordering via ToastTab, and eGift cards, along with weekly Industry Night Mondays specials.

Product overview

Koko Head Cafe is an island-style brunch and dinner restaurant in Honolulu, Hawaii, founded in 2014 by Chef/Partner Lee Anne Wong and Chef Kevin Hanney. The restaurant operates two core dining services: brunch (daily, featuring innovative dishes like Koko Moco, Ricotta Pancakes, and Dumplings All Day Wong) and dinner (Friday-Monday, offering Hawaiian-inspired chef-driven plates). Supporting services include a Private Dining Room for events up to 25 guests, catering services, online ordering via ToastTab, eGift cards, and Industry Night Mondays specials. The restaurant relocated in March 2022 to a larger space with expanded seating and private event capabilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Brunch Service Daily island-style brunch served at the Honolulu restaurant, featuring creative local cuisine such as Koko Moco, Ricotta Pancakes, Dumplings All Day Wong, and Chicky and Eggs using locally sourced ingredients. Brunch is served Monday–Thursday 8am–2pm and Friday–Sunday 7am–2pm.
• Dinner Service Hawaiian-inspired chef-driven dinner menu served Friday through Monday from 5pm–9pm, featuring locally sourced ingredients and seasonal flavors from O'ahu, paired with a craft cocktail menu, tropical cocktails, premium spirits, and a curated wine list.
• Private Dining Room Private event space at the restaurant accommodating up to 25 guests for birthdays, corporate dinners, rehearsal dinners, and special occasions. Brunch/lunch reservations require a $500 minimum spend for parties of 10 or fewer ($50/person for 11+ guests); dinner reservations require a $1,000 minimum spend for parties of 10 or fewer ($100/person for 11+ guests). A 20% service charge and 5% Back of House fee are added to bills.
• Catering & Events Off-site catering services for events and gatherings in Honolulu, featuring the restaurant's signature locally sourced Hawaiian-inspired menu options.
• Online Takeout Ordering Takeout ordering via the ToastTab platform, available through the restaurant's website; takeout is not available on weekends.
• eGift Cards Digital gift cards redeemable at Koko Head Cafe, sold through the ToastTab eGift card storefront.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Partnerships

25 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and supporting.

• Hawaiian AirlinesflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Chef Lee Anne Wong joined Hawaiian Airlines as a guest chef in 2016 and was named Executive Chef for the airline from 2018 until 2021, leading the culinary program and menus for both domestic and international flights. This partnership extended the restaurant's brand to air travel.
• Kevin Hanney (12th Ave Grill)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Chef Kevin Hanney partnered with Chef Lee Anne Wong to open Koko Head Cafe in 2014. Hanney, who previously operated 12th Ave Grill for 18 years, provided industry expertise and later Koko Head Cafe took over the 12th Ave Grill space in 2022. Plans for Tokyo expansion (Tokyo KHC) are in development.
• La'paau FarmscoreOthersLocal mushroom supplier providing specialty mushrooms for Hawaiian-inspired dishes. Featured in menu items like 'La'paau Farms Mushrooms, Shoyu Garlic Butter'.
• Ho FarmscoreOthersHawaii-based farm providing fresh produce for the restaurant's scratch-made daily menu.
• Ma'o Organic FarmscoreOthersOrganic farm partner providing sustainable, locally-grown produce supporting the restaurant's farm-to-table mission.
• Kahumana Organic FarmscoreOthersOrganic farm partner contributing to the restaurant's commitment to locally sourced, sustainable ingredients.
• Kolea FarmsupportingOthersLocal farm supplier supporting the restaurant's farm-to-table concept.
• Small Kine FarmsupportingOthersHawaii-based farm contributing to the local sourcing network.
• Mari's GardenssupportingOthersLocal garden supplying fresh produce for the restaurant.
• Kākoʻo ʻŌiwi FarmsupportingOthersHawaiian agricultural initiative providing locally grown ingredients.
• Big Island Coffee RoasterscoreOthersCoffee supplier providing locally roasted coffee, supporting the restaurant's commitment to local Hawaii producers.
• Grok CoffeesupportingOthersLocal Hawaii coffee roaster serving as a coffee supplier.
• Sun NoodlecoreOthersSpecialty noodle supplier supporting Hawaiian-inspired and Asian-fusion menu items.
• La Tour BakerycoreOthersBakery supplier providing fresh baked goods for the restaurant's menu.
• Via GelatosupportingOthersLocal gelato supplier for dessert offerings.
• Govinda's JuicesupportingOthersJuice and beverage supplier providing fresh juices for the menu.
• Hawaiian Rainbow BeessupportingOthersLocal bee products supplier supporting the restaurant's commitment to local sourcing.
• Eggs HawaiicoreOthersLocal egg supplier providing fresh eggs for breakfast and brunch dishes.
• Garden Valley Isle SeafoodcoreOthersSeafood supplier providing fresh local fish and seafood for Hawaiian-inspired dishes.
• Local IʻasupportingOthersLocal seafood supplier supporting the restaurant's commitment to locally-sourced ingredients.
• Hawaii Seafood CouncilsupportingOthersSeafood industry partner ensuring sustainable and local seafood sourcing.
• Maui Cattle CompanycoreOthersLocal cattle supplier providing locally-raised beef for menu items like steak and burger offerings.
• Adaptations Big IslandsupportingOthersAgricultural supplier from the Big Island providing specialty produce.
• Mana ʻAisupportingOthersPartner providing native woodwork for restaurant elements and supporting the restaurant's commitment to local Hawaiian producers.
• Burnshop DesignssupportingOthersGraphic design and laser woodwork provider for restaurant branding and signage.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Liliha Bakery: Long-standing Honolulu bakery and diner serving local-style breakfast and brunch dishes. Comparable as a Honolulu-based breakfast/brunch destination with strong local following and island-cuisine identity.
• Chef Mavro Restaurant: Honolulu chef-owned restaurant featuring seasonal French-Hawaiian fusion tasting menus with local sourcing. Comparable as a single-chef, locally-anchored Honolulu fine-dining destination.
• MW Restaurant: Honolulu-based chef-driven full-service restaurant offering contemporary island cuisine for brunch and dinner. Highly comparable as a same-city, same-daypart, farm-to-table competitor targeting residents and visitors.
• The Pig and the Lady: Vietnamese-inspired Honolulu restaurant known for creative brunch service and locally-sourced ingredients. Comparable as a chef-led Honolulu concept with strong brunch identity and national media profile.
• Alan Wong's Restaurant: Iconic Honolulu chef-owned restaurant pioneering Hawaiian regional cuisine with locally-sourced ingredients. Comparable as a chef-led, farm-to-table Honolulu fine-dining institution with strong national recognition.
• Senia: Chef-driven Honolulu fine-dining restaurant emphasizing local Hawaiian ingredients and seasonal menus. Directly comparable in culinary positioning, local sourcing ethos, and target dining occasion in the same Honolulu market.
• Highway Inn: Local Hawaiian cuisine restaurant in Honolulu emphasizing traditional and contemporary island dishes with locally-sourced ingredients. Comparable as a Hawaii-cuisine concept operating in the same metropolitan market.
• Over Easy Honolulu: Honolulu brunch-focused restaurant group operating in the same daypart and target market as Koko Head Cafe. Directly comparable on brunch positioning, casual full-service model, and Honolulu customer base.

Broad incumbents

• Roy's Hawaiian Fusion Cuisine: Established Hawaiian-fusion restaurant brand founded by the late Chef Roy Yamaguchi with multiple locations. Comparable as a broader incumbent in Hawaiian-inspired cuisine with chef-led origins and national brand presence.

Regional players

• Mama's Fish House: Iconic Maui restaurant featuring fresh local Hawaiian seafood and island cuisine in a destination-dining format. Comparable as a Hawaii-based chef-driven, locally-sourced restaurant concept in a different island market.

Market position

Strengths3 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/koko-cafe

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Koko Cafe