Great food and the friendliest, sweetest couple ever! Really nice find that we accidentally stumbled upon.

We stumbled in here the other day and my girlfriend and I have been talking about it all week and can't wait to go back. Would've gone back today but it says it closed sundays. Well we both had the lemon grass chicken sandwich and it was great. The bread was soft and crunchy exterior. The lemongrass chicken tender and juicy while also flavorful. Each bite was excellent. It also came with a cutie tangerine and we paired this meal with latte and ice coffee. read more

Insomnia - Lemongrass chicken - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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the lemongrass chicken plate was delicious. very flavorful and loaded with both fresh and pickled veggies. super affordable and as many say the owners are so sweet. I also liked that I could lunch at 9 am. ordered takeout and it was ready and waiting for me when I got there. read more

I thought that this place was named for me because I sometimes have insomnia. Really? Why? Could it be because I work the graveyard shift? Anyway, this place sounded like a night time hang out spot, but it is not! They serve smoothies, won ton mien, Vietnamese sandwiches, pho, and, of course, coffee! My lunch buddy and I secured a small table (there are about 8 tables inside and a couple outside) before the lunch crowd appeared - wow, this place is popular! We were lucky to get metered street parking. Remember to bring your quarters for these old school parking meters! There are only 3 workers in this small shop. The friendly lady works well with her brother and her husband. Their teamwork is great! Brother works the front by taking orders, serving the meals, and collecting the payment. Husband works in the kitchen while the Mrs. floats between front and back! It's amazing to watch their dynamics! The food was pretty good! We had the Spring Rolls, Summer Rolls, and Vietnamese Iced Coffee. The standout was the Lemongrass Chicken French Sandwich. Loved the bread with the crisp crust and soft interior with flavorful, moist meat with the contrasting tang of the veggies - yum! The iced coffee was strong and "thick" - hah! I kept looking at the decorations, especially the 4 aquariums with live fish. The alligator head with the loaf of bread in its mouth was amusing, but I was drawn to the sign that read, "Won Ton Mien". It haunted me, so I went back... a few days later... Won ton noodle soup is one of my favorite dishes, especially if the Chinese dumpling has a shrimp in it - and this one had shrimp! The pi (wrapper) was nice and thin on the 5 won tons. I only wished that the noodles were firmer and that the bowl was bigger... The veggies were a great enhancement to the broth! Since I wasn't full, I got the pho... (Yes, I can eat!) It was okay with flavorful soup. The noodles were a bit softer than I'm used to. However, the bowl was large enough so that I wasn't able to finish - yay! I also got the Thai Iced Coffee. It's not as strong as the Vietnamese Iced Coffee, but both can keep you alert! Next time, I'd probably get a plate lunch. The fish entrée sounded good... it's kind of calling to me right now... hahaha! Looking forward to my next visit! read more

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Awesome place for great food. I usually get lemongrass chicken (whether it's in a sandwich or plate with rice or noodles). It's always so tasty and fresh. The espresso shake is my favorite drink. The owners are so personable and always remember me, my family and friends. They make it to order so it can take a bit to come out. Just order it, take a walk around to browse at other shops and come back to enjoy it. read more

This place is BUSY!! I had lunch here with my lunch buddy and we got there about 11am. There was only one table that was occupied but was on their way out. We took our time to look at the menu and check out their off the wall decor. Good thing we ordered because the lunch rush came in and it was crazy! All the tables inside and outside were full within minutes! A line started to form and people were standing on the side waiting for their take out orders. We ordered a few dishes to try since this was our first time. The dishes were Spring Rolls, Summer Rolls, Lemongrass Chicken French Sandwich and Vietnamese Coffee. Spring Rolls came out in 4 pieces and all the sides you normally get with the order (lettuce, noodles, slices of cucumber, basil, pickled veggies and the dipping sauce). It was good but nothing special. Summer Rolls came out in two pieces that were cut in half. It was a typical order of Summer Rolls with the peanut sauce on the side. I thought the shrimp slices were small and thin but it did come with a lot of noodles in the roll. Lemongrass Chicken French Sandwich was good. It had a hint of lemongrass where it didn't overpower the sandwich. The pickled veggies added a nice flavor to compliment the chicken and the bread came out nicely toasted. Vietnamese Coffee was strong. It had a flavor that I couldn't put my finger on but it wasn't bad. I have to say that the bitterness to the drink was just right. It wasn't drowning in condensed milk so thumbs up to this drink. Great little spot and customer service was great. The owners mentioned that they have parking in back so you don't have to street park and worry about your meter. It is a mom and pop type place so it does take time to get your order during the lunch rush so keep that in mind. read more

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Coffee was delicious. Cannot duplicate the taste! Tried with my own drip device and coffee but major fail. Lol The sandwich was ok. Needed more veggies. read more

Did not know there was a Vietnamese place at Salt before I ate here. Sure wish I did. The food was delicious and the prices reasonable. I had the beef pho and the lemongrass chicken banh mi. The man behind the counter, who calls everyone friend, is super nice. Never felt so welcome at a place. It was lunch time. It wasn't completely packed but they were busy. Longer wait than I normally experience getting pho, but worth it. They kept our water glasses full and threw in some fruit at the end. Will be back when I can! read more

Insomnia - Beef pho - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

I would come here just the service. 6+stars! The couple that runs this place are probably the nicest people ever. They make you feel so welcome. If your parents are on the mainland and you miss them, just come here, you'll feel at home. And they always seem to be in a good mood, even when I called I could hear it in the sound of their voice. I've only ever got the pho and coffee here. Can't go wrong with any type of pho or coffee :-) enjoy!! read more

Insomnia - Sooo good :-) beef pho - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

The owners of Insomnia are a positive group to be around. They radiate positive energy and are extremely friendly. I like coming here not only for the food, but for the service which is FANTASTIC! I got the handsome service (inside joke) on my last visit. If you are a regular, they give you the VIP treatment which keeps me coming back. I usually order the saute chicken with insomnia spicy special sauce. This comes on a bed of rice (white or brown), picked vegetables, and salad. It's is perfectly seasoned and not overbearing in taste. Parking is limited to metered on the street. You have the option to sit inside or outside. Just make sure to come early to beat the lunch crowd. If you are desperate and don't want to wait, phone orders and take out can be an option. You'll enjoy this place as much as I have. read more

My brother took me to this wonderful little spot located at SALT of Kakaako. It's a very quaint coffee shop that also serves Vietnamese food. I was already sold upon entering with its charming decor. It was still a little early for lunch but luckily they were serving their lunch option anytime which was great cause I was craving something other than breakfast food which they do also serve. My brother got the sautéed chicken and I got the shrimp won ton mein soup. I enjoyed it very much. It was our type of comfort food. They even served complimentary fruit. The Vietnamese couple who run the shop take the time to know their customers and go above and beyond to make them feel at home. That alone would warrant anyone to come back. read more

Insomnia - Sautéed Chicken - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Friendly owners, fast service and the food was really good! We ordered Bahn mi, pho and their Vietnamese coffee. They give free oranges too. read more

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My wife and I discovered this charming spot while roaming through SALT. As another reviewer said, "the coffee is strong", just the way I personally like it. We had the omelet that was perfectly cooked, full of ham and onions and only $7.25. All of the items are very affordable and the sweet couple running the place will make sure you're happy with your meal. Great customer service in a tastefully decorated, small, comfortable restaurant. Don't miss it!! read more

My friend and I went here to study the couple who owns the place were so exceptionally friendly and sweet! I ordered the vegetable pho and it was one of the best I've ever had! Would highly recommend this place for a cozy atmosphere and amazing Vietnamese food :) read more

Insomnia - Bahn Mi and Veggie Pho - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Everything is so yummy , fresh and authentic!!! Flavor is on point, not over seasoned like many of other restaurants on Oahu. Vietnamese coffee is also great to have. You can taste the owner's love in their food. read more

A very sweet Vietnamese couple runs this cafe. I've tried the bahn mi and the beef pho. Both were excellent and reasonably priced. Definitely one of the best places in the Salt complex. I'll definitely be back! read more

Top fave vietnamese cafe we walked to for lunch. Lemongrass chicken w/cold noodle is so fresh & healthy!! We also ordered the fish and so good also. Cảm ơn for the extra dipping sauce for my chix plate!!! read more

This is one of my favorite places to grab a latte and breakfast sandwich in the morning while reading emails. They actually have bagels which make the best breakfast sandwich. Everything is made to order, so it's super fresh. Vegan options too. The owners are very friendly and will remember you when you come back. read more

Hands down my favorite coffee shop in Hawaii, actually probably the entire world! I'm from Los Angeles but I wish I lived here so I could come here every single day. Best place to relax, eat, get some work done and not to mention to have some incredible Vietnamese coffee, the best bang for your buck dose of caffeine in all of Waikiki. Their Mongolian Beef plate is actually the best meal I've had in a very long time. And not to mention their service is unparalleled. How is it possible to experience the feeling of being at home? Right here at Insomnia Espresso Coffee. If you come here, you'll never go back to any other coffee shop on the island of Oahu. Probably one of a kind of place in the world! read more

AMAZING Vietnamese iced coffee. i've only drank 1/2 of mine and i'm already seeing through space and time. Taste 10/10. Plus the owners are super sweet and nice, the shop is cute too. read more

Delicious pho with a lovely mom & pop feel. Can get a bit loud and crowded inside, but great if you like that.

Update September 2016: Had the delicious breakfast sandwich on the fresh, crusty french bread. (See photo.) Grab one when you get your coffee; you won't regret it. There are several shiny new places that have opened up in Kakaako SALT recently. This is not one of them. This is a slightly hidden gem that has been around for awhile that is definitely worth your time. As noted by other reviewers the couple who own Insomnia are so very nice and welcoming. It's a small place and they are smart in knowing what they can handle (and do well), given the size of the place and of the staff. So there's a good-sized drink option menu, and a modest-sized food menu. The place fills up at lunchtime and there's a lot of takeout, and most of it is quick because it's mostly sandwiches and a few other more involved selections, such as pho, steamed fish, Mongolian beef, etc. The diamond of the food menu is the lemongrass chicken banh mi. French roll that is crispy crust outside, soft on the inside. (Could describe some of the guys I know. . .) A nice balance of chicken to vegetables and cilantro on the inside. All delicious and fresh without anything being overwhelming. You can get a sandwich meal deal, which comes with a bag of chips and a soda. The most expensive thing is less than $9.00. I've also had and enjoyed the spring rolls, Mongolian beef, and pho. Really tough to tear one's self away from that lemongrass chicken. It's a favorite of multiple people in my office. Someday I'll try the pork chop. I have not had breakfast here, nor have I had any of the drinks. Friends have had several different types of coffee, smoothies, and bubble drinks. The drinks are large in size and my friends have certainly enjoyed all the ones they have tried. It's difficult to go wrong here - such friendly owners, good, fresh food, and reasonable prices. Parking garages or street parking, and many buses stop about a block away on Ala Moana Blvd. (19, 20, 42, 55, 56, 57, 57A, 88A). read more

Insomnia - Delicious breakfast sandwich. One side open so you can see the ingredients. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

This is my favorite place to eat in Kakaako! Nice older Vietnamese couple runs the place, and the husband refers to everyone as "my friend". I'm all about their lemongrass chicken sandwich. So tasty!!! My husband loves the Vietnamese coffee (it's like rocket fuel). They give you fresh fruit to start, which is a very thoughtful touch. The decor is surprisingly hip for this kind of mom and pop shop - very soothing ambience. Easy parking on the street or in the Salt structure. Don't miss this place! read more

Just had lunch here. Excellent Pho. The family that runs this place is very nice. Highly recommend

I will assume from the other reviews that their Vietnamese sweet coffee and their espresso shots are good. Ironically, the day we finally went there, none of us ordered either so it is a little unfair of me to review on just their green tea bags and brewed coffee here. But neither was particularly good and there were some strange aspects that made me give a four star review. Firstly, they have a hand written price list, large, behind the counter, and right above that a small sign saying each item is +$1 dollar, due to the pandemic. So prices are not as seen on the big poster board. I found that to be akin to a hotel price going up $80 a day due to hidden taxes and add-ons. Misleading pricing to my eye. Secondly, the staff (who might be the proprietors), for whatever reason, had such loud voices that it almost hurt to hear it. Perhaps they are hearing-impaired in which case I apologize now for mentioning it. They might have just been trying to speak above the very noisy equipment in the hard space. So please consider that we tried neither their espresso-based drinks nor their Vietnamese coffee, nor their food, besides a plain baguette, which was excellent. I will return and try espresso or Vietnamese coffee, and perhaps a meal, as I am often doing business close by. But I might slip in some ear plugs first. read more

Friendly staff makes you feel at home and the food is fresh and ONO! Loved my shrimp ramen soup and summer roll! The Mocha Bubble Delight made everything just right. Nice touch of serving a local candy apple banana with chocolate sauce for dessert! Can't wait to try French roll breakfast sandwich next visit! read more

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Wow! I didn't know this treasure was here for 13 years! Great alternative location from Chinatown for a bowl of yummy beef Pho! My boyfriend has always declined dining in Chinatown because he has always been weary of the food safety conditions there- so he would not dare venture going to try some of my favorite authentic Pho restaurants. Wait until I take him to Insomnia - and a bowl of Pho is only $8.95! Cheaper than Chinatown, but only 1 size is offered. Restaurant is small with a few tables available for customers to dine in. Lot's of traffic from the lunch crowd so you can expect to wait to be served. But, they did leave a full water pitcher on your table so you don't have to worry. Because of the popularity of the restaurant you can find some dishes sold out around lunch time. This place is run by a cute older Vietnamese couple and they did hire a very young man to help them. Fresh fruit is given on the house at the end of the meal. One time I had papaya while another time I had pineapple. read more

My go to place, lemon grass chicken and pork chops.....lunch and dinner... Husband and wife runned hole in the wall type Vietnamese food, so be patient when busy, or go off hours before 11 or after 1.....onolicious. read more

Mmm Vietnamese Iced Coffee. Love that they offer different sweetness levels when you order. I prefer full/regular sweetness but still great that they automatically offer the option. There are a few coffee shops in the complex but I still prefer to come here. They're so friendly here too. Great customer service. read more

Great mom and pop place. Aunty is so happy to have business and uncle always says, "what can I do for you friend?". Great feeling all around. Keep in mind that mom and pop means that service may be a little slower than usual. It's only them two I think. Call ahead and order if you don't want to wait. They do take out and eat in. Never thought Pho for breakfast would make me so full! The soup base is flavorful, hearty, and not overly salty. Good portions of meat! Good coffee either iced or hot. If you order a hot coffee, it's self serve. read more

Insomnia - Beef pho - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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[Location & Parking] Insomnia is located inside SALT, near Bevy. Parking is located in the parking structure. 1st hour is free and 2nd hour is $1 with validation. [Service] I just love the couple who runs this shop! They are so welcoming and friendly. They remind of your typical asian parents hospitality. I was outside reading the menu and then they told me to come indoors and take a look at the menu in the shade haha. [Food] Lemongrass Chicken French Sandwich - Really delicious. It had a good balance of meat and veggies. Strawberries - No this isn't something that's ordered off the menu but the couple was so sweet, they gave us complimentary fruits while we waited for our order [Overall] The best part of this meal (besides the food) was the friendly service provided by the couple. The food was delicious and the prices are pretty cheap for a decent meal. I will definitely be back to try their other Vietnamese food and coffee. read more

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Located at SALT kakaako and owned by THE CUTEST COUPLE! They are super nice and gave us complimentary clementines. I got the veggie Vietnamese sandwich and my sister got the Vietnamese cold noodle dish. The perfect foods to eat in the summer! The food is great and exceeds my expectations. One of my favorite places for Vietnamese ice coffee. If you really need to stay awake just ask for the ice coffee to be less sweet. On my next visit I will try the pork Vietnamese sandwich! I honestly just want to go back again to see the couple though because they are so cute and friendly. read more

Insomnia - Vietnamese cold noodle - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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We did a take out order and I love the flavor of the lemongrass chicken. It's not salty and the chicken is not dry. The romaine lettuce with cucumbers is very refreshing. Their dressing us my fave too. read more

Insomnia - Lemongrass Chicken with Jasmine Rice & Fresh Salad - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Without a doubt, Insomnia is my favorite part of SALT. Not just SALT though, probably the whole island when it comes to all things Vietnamese. First and foremost, the food. Here in Honolulu there is absolutely no shortage of Vietnamese eateries. Having sampled many of them over the past couple of years, I can say without a doubt that Insomnia provides the most consistency. Their pho is truly excellent from the noodles, to the fresh beef or chicken, and (most importantly) the perfect broth. Every time. I'm also a big fan of their iced Vietnamese style coffee. In my opinion Insomnia gets the ratio of coffee to condensed milk down cold so it isn't too sweet...taking away from the delicious coffee flavor. You can definitely ask for more milk if it isn't sweet enough though! Aside from the truly great food and coffee is the service. Insomnia is truly a family business. On every visit I'm warmly greeted by the owners who always remember me and my friends. It's a always great place to stop by on your way home from the airport or just to break up a long day with some warm food and the truly excellent hospitality from these lovely folks. Definitely give Insomnia a try! read more

Must GO place while you stay in Oahu. Best fried spring rolls I ever had in my life!! read more

Insomnia - Fried spring rolls - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

I was mislead by the name of the place, originally thinking this was some seedy late night sketchy bar with deliciously cracked-out bites, but, no - it's not. Haha. I also thought the hours would be more "insomnia" -like or -friendly, but whatevs. It works. Anyway, do not be fooled like I was; this place is pretty great! Unpretentious and homey. Good food, but with even better service! BEEF PHO ($8.95) Meat balls + brisket + rare steak Yes, all three meats, and a decent amount of each. The broth is tasty, clear, and clean-tasting - no weird lingering flavors, no murkiness, and no mystery black bulbs or balls or naturesque-looking things (like twigs and such). I would definitely order this again. I really like the balls - juicy and meaty, just how I like 'em. Side note - If the pho broth is tasty, like at Insomnia, I eat most of my pho "as is" to appreciate the genuine broth flavors (with all the accompaniments . I dip the meat in sauce and slurp the untainted broth until about 3/4 of the way done, then kick it up with hoisin and sriracha. SUMMER ROLLS (2 rolls for $5.25) Two large summer rolls. Pretty standard. SERVICE The owners are the cutest couple, ever. They are so genuinely welcoming and excited! I felt immediately happier and excited about stepping foot into that place. We were warmly greeted and catered to! I really felt like a valued guest or even part of the family! VERDICT Hungover or not, Insomnia is great. Pho is always a good idea when you're suffering from the night before, but it's also great when you're not! Haha. Good food, great service, and a cherry location - yes, I am a fan. read more

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Mom and pop style. I love calling in my order and auntie is always so kind and always remembers me whenever I come in. Favorite saying is he strong. I love this place so so much read more

Very cute and friendly little ma and pop Vietnamese cafe with urban vibes. We walked in and the lady immediately greeted us. She starts making recommendations right away, "do you like Vietnamese coffee?." My husband does so immediately that's what he ordered. The lady even asked if he prefers sweet or less sweet, which was great because he actually doesn't like his coffee sweet. She asked me if I like Thai tea, which I do, so that's what I ordered. We also ordered shrimp summer rolls. It comes with a peanut sauce. It was really good. They even gave us a little mandarin with our order. It reminded me of the orange slices that is sometimes offered at some Asian restaurants at the end of your meal. The bathroom is clean and nice. They take credit card and offer a validation ticket for the SALT parking structure. There is outdoor patio seating so it might even be dog friendly. We will definitely come back to for their beverages and maybe to try some of the Vietnamese sandwiches. read more

Insomnia - Vietnamese coffee and Thai tea - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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We love Insomnia! It's a cute mom-and-pop shop that serves delicious Vietnamese food. AMBIENCE: It's a quaint peaceful hole-in-the-wall in Salt in Kakaako. They just renovated over the summer with natural tones in the woods in their shelves and counter. There's also outdoor seating in the shade as well. FOOD: I'm not a pho fan, so for me say I'll eat their pho is a shocker to my family. But I'll only eat it from here. I love their beef pho! But my absolute favorite thing here is the lemongrass chicken bàhn mì. It comes with a yummy toasted bun. Their lemongrass chicken cold noodle is yummy too. Basically, anything lemongrass chicken on the menu is delicious! SERVICE: They are the sweetest couple who always call you "my friend" as soon as you walk in the door. They truly take care of their customers with a lot of love. OVERALL: We've been here many times, and we'll continue to come back to this amazing place. read more

This is a true story.....I first came here always before work to get my morning coffee. This was in 2010 for three consecutive months. I left my job only to come back two years later in 2012. Of course, I came back for a coffee one day, and the minute I walked in, they new exactly what I was going to order. Again I disappeared for almost four years, only to come back the other day to again remember where I worked and what I order! Simply amazing...this cute couple alone deserves five stars. The restaurant is really a coffee shop with the basic Vietnamese cuisine thrown in. I use it for a quick need pho fix! Another testament to this place is that it has survived the massive transformation of the kakakko neighborhood. It is the beacon of days of old, as the little champ against the surrounding big skyline....wish you many more years guys. read more

Insomnia - Yep..and alligator head on a stick....drop the mic! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii