Hidden gem in Kakaako!! The owners are very fun and inviting, and their food is legit! Cute little place with indoor restroom. Must try!

Easily one of my favorite Vietnamese restaurants on the island. The owners are so sweet and friendly - I'm always greeted with a sincere smile. I've only had the lemongrass chicken, wonton soup and fresh spring rolls off their menu but I'm always impressed with how flavorful it all is. I'm sad that they're temporarily closed down for construction until August but I'm looking forward to seeing the new establishment. read more

Insomnia - Lemongrass chicken with rice noodles and Vietnamese iced coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Close to where the NCL cruise ship docks at Pier 2, this Gem is well worth the short walk. The owners are lovely and super friendly. The cafe itself is sparkling clean, and adorably decorated. Hubby had the combination Beef Pho, with 3 types of beef. The flavors are fresh and delicious. Noodles, and vegetables were spot on. Loved the broth. We shared the Vietnamese Fresh Spring Roll. So good, with delightful peanut sauce. I had the Lemongrass Chicken Vietnamese Sandwich. Wow! It was killer Great. Fresh baguette warmed up with fantastic ingredients. A must Eat place while in Honolulu. read more

The owners are literally the sweetest! A husband and wife pair that makes vietnamese coffee so strong that you will have insomnia. "Should we get rice?" I asked mostly to myself... and to the friend with me when ordering the lemongrass chicken. The owner immediately responds, "of course! eat rice to be big and strong!" She made me feel right at home. It was like speaking with an auntie I have known forever. She takes care. Menu: Everything is simple. It is a little Vietnamese coffee shop that serves sandwiches, pho, salad, and some rice dishes. Beware, the Vietnamese drip coffee is strong! But don't fret.. they will ask if you want more cream. Food: We ordered the lemongrass chicken with rice, Mongolian beef with rice, and spring rolls. Everything was perfect. The lemongrass chicken, with its tender texture and lemon taste. The Mongolian beef was a surprise as there was a hint of a lemon/sour taste which worked perfectly with the beef. My friend loved it! The spring rolls will forever be my favorite. The cut up pieces of lettuce stole my heart. It was all delicious and I am coming back for sure! read more

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One of the great things about SALT At Our Kakaako, is that they have so many new and existing tenants. Some are modern and chic, and others are simple and cute like Insomia. Together with co-workers, I've ordered food to go a ton of times before, but I had never been to Insomnia physically until a couple of weeks ago. It's a popular family owned and operated business where the food is good and the service is excellent. I have not been disappointed with anything that I've tried from here, but my favorite remains to be the Lemongrass French Sandwich, and the Lemongrass Chicken on Jasmine Rice. So flavorful and good! If you plan on dropping in for lunch, be advised that this place slams during those hours with lots of phone orders as well as dine in customers. Parking is available in the SALT structure or in metered stalls on Auahi St. read more

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If you are at the Kakaako area and looking for delicious pho, Insomnia is the place for you! Located at SALT Kakaako, you can find street parking around the area (I had great timing and found parking right in front of the restaurant) or use their parking structure ($1/hr). I ordered the Ice Coffee and the Beef Pho (Vietnamese Noodle Soup) which came with meat balls, brisket and rare steak. If you are looking to jump start your day, the Ice Coffee is exactly what you are looking for. However, if you don't like your drinks sweet, I would recommend letting the server know to add less sweetener. It was a bit too sweet for my liking. The Pho was right one point. The broth had the perfect amount of saltiness, the meats were tender and plentiful. The portion size was pretty good too. I had to take half of my meal home and had it for dinner that night. It was just as good! If you are ever around the area, please stop by and say hello to my friend! For those of you who have been there, you will truly understand the genuine customer service this restaurant has! read more

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Great quality food and coffee for a very reasonable price. Worth a trip from Waikiki just to eat here. I wanted a light lunch so I asked for the steamed fish with salad and no rice. It was soooo delish and light and very flavorful. The coffee was really good too - even better than your normal coffee options. read more

Wow! The Vietnamese Coffee really packs a punch, though it doesn't come in Large because it's /that/ strong. Overall, a really cute place with reasonably priced coffee. The owners are so friendly and are always smiling. read more

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My wife is part vietnamese so she is always excited to try new vietnamese eateries in the neighborhood. Had this spot bookmarked for awhile so gave this place a go! Service 5 stars, food 3.5 stars. Uber nice couple run this quaint coffee shop. Aunty comes across as tender and motherly--actually grandmotherly. She treats me like my grandmother would. and Uncle, he was friendly and jolly. A lot of positive energy emanating from this cozy spot. There is a sign at the counter that their lemongrass chicken banh mi is their best seller. Well, of course, let's try your best! Being banh mi lovers, we each had a sandwich. Better than your average banh mi. Chicken freshly cooked, bun fresh as well. Could have used more of that sweet banh mi mayo. Twas good but not great. Would eat it again but have eaten better banh mis in chinatown. Friendly couple comped us some fruit since we dined it. Customer service here is through the roof! Appreciate the freshly made food here and the nurturing hospitality. Will be a repeat customer here! read more

Great, affordable breakfast or lunch spot in the regentrified Salt area. It's refreshing to still see a "mom & pop" business still going. The husband & wife combo here is cute. They have breakfast plates, Bahn Mi breakfast or lunch sandwiches, Pho & coffee. The Pho is pretty good. I like coming for the breakfast sandwich which is packed with flavor (& I'm not even a sandwich person) as well as the Vietnamese coffee. They have really great baguette for the sandwiches, crispy on the outside & soft on the inside. Plus that Vietnamese coffee could wake the dead. No need for crack anyone, just get this coffee for around $4. The atmosphere is very casual & there is only a few tables. Lunch time gets pretty busy, I suggest takeout. They take phone orders. read more

Insomnia - Breakfast Banh Mi (packed with flavor & great texture of the toasted baguette) with a Vietnamese coffee that'll wake the dead. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Hands down best Vietnamese coffee on the island! Hubby and I have been hunting for a good Vietnamese coffee place and we've finally found it! I'd like to mention how nice the owners are and attentive to your requests. I got Vietnamese coffee hot and added soy milk but I heard the iced version was more popular but I still enjoyed it! Hubby got mocha and loved it. Our standards for coffee are very high and we've only found a handful of coffee shops on the island that meet them. They use real coffee beans that are high quality. We had a very nice chat with Auntie and will definitely be coming back! Mahalo! read more

Auntie and uncle are super friendly!! And their Vietnamese coffee is super delicious!! I only ordered the coffee today but I'll definitely be back soon and try their famous lemonglass chicken sandwich :) read more

Insomnia - Vietnamese coffee. Freshly brewed and has great flavor! I just love it :) - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

I haven't actually eaten here yet but the Thai iced coffee is legit! But be warned this is not for the weak. This coffee is like liquid yummy crack in a cup! Check out the picture and you will get an idea of how strong it is but it also taste good. The owners here are also super friendly. read more

Insomnia - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Pros: Very crunchy toasted French sandwich Tasty pho soup especially on this cold windy day So friendly service Comfortable atmosphere - alligator head with bread tongue Very fresh unblemished basil Cons: Small restaurant with 2 staff that cooks to order, may have to wait for a while Unsolicited spiciness in lemongrass chicken ******************* Comments: Closes early when runs out of soup 8 small 2 seat tables and table outside read more

Delicious Vietnamese iced coffee (bold & smooth!), nicely decorated shop & super nice folks!

People know this restaurant as simply Insomnia or by its registered name as Insomnia Expresso Coffee. The first thing that comes to my mind is coffee, so I surmised that their specialties were coffee and related drinks to help keep you awake, hence the name Insomnia. Little did I know that it's more than coffee, thanks to the positive reviews by Emi H. and other Yelpers. This coffee shop is owned/operated by a charming Vietnamese husband and wife team who are able to prepare a variety of coffees, teas, and bubble drinks; as well as light salads/sandwiches and some Vietnamese foods: - Salads - garden, tuna, chicken Caesar, Oriental chicken, chef - Sandwiches - turkey, tuna, roast beef, ham, chicken, veggie, lemongrass chicken, French, Vietnamese. - Main entrees - steamed fish fillet, Mongolian beef, sautéed chicken, pork chops, lemongrass chicken, beef or chicken/veggie pho, shrimp won ton mein - House Specials - spring rolls, summer rolls, tuna roll They also serve limited breakfast items. We ordered the Beef Pho (with meat balls, brisket, and eye round steak) and the Pork Chops with Insomnia Sauce (with rice and tossed veggies). The pork chops also came with a complimentary small bowl of soup. While I was tasting my husband's pho, the congenial owners mentioned that the complimentary soup was identical to the pho broth; what a nice gesture! As an added touch, complimentary apple bananas were provided for dessert. Both entrees were reasonably priced ($7.25 for the pho, and $7.95 for the pork chops); and both were tasty, flavorful, and delicious. (The Mongolian beef and spring rolls looked good; that will be for the next time.) http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/insomnia-honolulu?select=RvfpJHkzh7CxE2wCyh4eJw http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/insomnia-honolulu?select=3mF1GzTIMxaLzqf_FFcuuw The restaurant's owners are the most humble, pleasant, and friendly people that you can ever imagine! Both were all in smiles and so cheerful in trying to accommodate everyone in their coffee shop that they make you feel as if you're their special guests in their home. When we walked in, they asked us how we were doing for the day and engaged us in small talk. We were impressed as to how friendly they were, considering that we had never met them before. The restaurant seemed to have a large following, as there were people constantly walking in to dine in or to order take out. The owners apologized to us for waiting for our entrees, as they had to tend to those customers that came in before us. But what surprised us was that, we didn't even have to wait very long, so no apologies needed! (And to think of those times of slow service we've experienced at other restaurants without any apologies whatsoever!) They were very attentive to our needs by refilling our water glasses and periodically asking us if there was anything else that we needed. Even when we were ready to leave, the owners thanked us for coming and suggested we use their restroom before resuming our errands - such motherly caring! Insomnia is a small and cozy hole-in-the-wall restaurant. It is clean and artfully decorated with wall hangings, fish aquariums, and tasteful art objects and figurines. There's even an alligator head lamp in one of the corners! There's also a magazine rack for your reading enjoyment while sipping your drink or eating your meal. Their unisex restroom is super clean and also decorated with subtle art objects. Overall, the restaurant's pleasant ambiance made it a great place to just sit and relax, with no one rushing you to hurry up and get out of there. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/insomnia-honolulu?select=7etQMVEjX_iLJq_7vVECfA http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/insomnia-honolulu?select=ioXRE9fGEExhgsZG9m6T-A We certainly enjoyed our time there and will certainly return to try their many drinks and other entrees. How can you not resist with the couple's captivating and delightful ways? read more

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This is hands down my favorite mom&pop shop!! If you are looking for a home away from home than this your place!! This amazing couple run this little cafe with so much love & have the humblest hearts. I love their steam fish with brown rice & also love their lemongrass chicken with noodles. Best prices in Salt at our Kaka'ako too! Trust me, you will not be disappointed read more

Insomnia - Breakfast omelette for under $7!! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Adorable place! Go there every week! The lovely husband & wife owners really put their hearts in their cooking and service. Very clean place too! read more

This place is open M-F at 7am. They serve sandwiches, main entrees, breakfast food & House Special dishes. I ordered PHO.. def hit the spot after a night out. Tasty and a good amount served. Indoor and outdoor seating. Food was delivered quick. read more

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Nice quality food & drinks. Amazing Service , these people really care about your dining experience. $3.50 for a Fruit Smoothie? WOW! Once you go you'll be hooked. enjoy... read more

Amazing food and people. 18 years in this spot!!!i got the Bahn Mi sandwich Vietnamese style with pork and pate. Get the PHO before 2p. Aloha read more

My friend and I noticed Insomnia Espresso Coffee was located right next door to Arvo, and we vowed to check out the shop the next time we were in the area. Parking wasn't a problem for me this time - I read Yelp reviews prior and realized I could park in the Kakaako structure and Insomnia would validate parking. Definitely was a good option, since my friend and I were there for a longer period of time and I didn't have to worry about running out to refill the parking meter. Insomnia wasn't busy on this particular morning, and it was a relaxing place where my friend and I could enjoy good coffee and catch up. I heard Insomnia sometimes has a lunch rush, so it was good to beat the crowd. There were only a few customers who came in to enjoy breakfast and an early lunch during our visit. The banh mi sandwiches looked amazing, and I can't wait to taste one someday. However, this coffee shop sufficed when it came to getting something hot or cold to drink, and there are lots of options on the drink menu. I already cannot wait for my next visit to Insomnia. The owners were really nice - the guy especially, as he kept refilling my friend's and my cups of water without us even saying. Here's what my friend and I ordered: "Mocha": I was torn between ordering the iced mocha or the hot version, but I ended up ordering the hot version on this morning because the weather was cooler. I liked the rich, creamy taste of it. Mocha is probably my go-to choice at various coffee shops, and the one at Insomnia definitely didn't disappoint. I'll go with the iced version next time when the weather's hotter (and too hot to even contemplate ordering something warm). "House Special: Vietnamese Iced Coffee": My friend really likes Vietnamese iced coffee, so for her, ordering this drink was a no-brainer. This is probably the most popular drink at Insomnia, but I didn't really know what to expect until I saw the owner bring out the little machine to make the coffee tableside for us. What a neat experience. I haven't been to many places where I saw this before, but my friend said this was normal at a lot of Vietnamese restaurants she's been to. The coffee blend was made fresh and the owner added ice to the cup later and poured in the coffee. My friend said the coffee tasted amazing and she would order it again from here, hands down. After seeing the entire process unfold, I definitely wouldn't mind ordering this one day. "Espresso Shake": This was one of the other drinks I was contemplating ordering on the menu, but since I was going out later during the day, I didn't want to feel all sugared-out by ordering a shake mid morning. However, if it's a hot day, I definitely wouldn't mind trying this option one day. read more

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The older couple that run it are very nice. They make the environment very comfortable and homely. They have Thai coffee and Vietnamese coffee which was cool. They don't over sweeten,so don't except Starbucks sweet,but you can ask them. read more

While my friend and I were trying to find somewhere to eat lunch, we drove past Insomnia and my friend said we should eat there. I looked at him incredulously and was like, "Uh, the sign says it is a coffee and tea place..." He replied, "No, my friend said it has awesome Vietnamese food." Perplexed and somewhat hesitant, I agreed to go to Insomnia for lunch. But boy, am I glad we went there! Aside from coffee and tea as advertised on the sign outside, Insomnia offers a small, but solid, array of Vietnamese food. I went with Pho with steak and brisket. The broth was super flavorful and the meat was good quality (i.e. not just fat like at a lot of other places). But the real reason this place gets five stars from me is the service. I was amazed by how warm and welcoming the old couple that runs this place was. They were seriously the sweetest people EVER. The wife was adorable. When we went to pay, she was asking us how we enjoyed our meal and wishing us a good day. I know the staff at a lot of restaurants do that, but you could tell she really meant it. The husband kept coming over to talk to us and calling us "my friends." My heart was melting. They also gave everyone in the restaurant a little banana drizzled with chocolate as a treat. If you need your day brightened, just go to Insomnia. Really. This couple can put a smile on anyone's face. read more

Insomnia - Pho - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

I havent been here in over 3 years but aunty still remembers us Such a special place in a neighborhood thats forever changing...today we got the deep fried spring rolls and tuna sub on french bread. So yummy! Stop by if you're ever in the kakaako area...you won't be disappointed. read more

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If you've been following my reviews, you know I LOVE customer service. Insomnia is the perfect example of great customer service. They are super friendly, as I dined in during my lunch break earlier in the week, almost every customer that walked in was greeted by their name. Husband and wife run this little shop located across the street from compUSA diamond head side, right around the corner from Score's bar and grill. I wanted to come back a second time before writing a review. Today I came by and wanted to dine in but there were no available tables so I ordered to go. As I waited for my food the wife still greeted customers, took orders and prepared the foods. Never breaking stride, husband and wife kept their composure as customers poured in. Letting me know along the way that she hasn't forgotten about my order put me at ease. Day 1 - I ordered the Saute' chicken for $7.91. Its a boneless chicken thigh with a spicy seasoning. The chicken came on top a bed of brown rice (no additional cost) and some lettuce, cucumber slices, carrots, daikon and onions decorated the plate. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/C_sHqrOyfbuCEa8Q36-BlQ?select=EeeAlz-DxTwj6TWB_xG4yg This plate is the best chicken plate I've had at any Vietnamese restaurant. The spicy seasoning was perfect and the veggies were fresh and complimented the plate very well. The brown rice was premium quality short grain rice. Cooked perfectly to the way I love! I dislike dry loose rice. Day 2 - I ordered the boneless pork chop plate for $7.91. I don't know too much about pork chops but this tasted really good, it came with 3 pieces and it was not too tough and whatever seasoning they used made it taste really good. It had the same veggies as the Saute' chicken plate. Both plates came with the famous Vietnamese fish sauce. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/C_sHqrOyfbuCEa8Q36-BlQ?select=VapgKCXu6JaGLFDg2cVQUw They also have sandwich specials for $$6.99, it comes with a side salad, a can juice or soda and a small bag of chips. I would recommend asking for the Milton brand bread (multi-grain). I also tried their Thai iced tea which was A-OK. They have a clean bathroom you may use. Customer service is top notch here and food is above par, I would definitely come back. Yelp 365 Challenge # 12/365. read more

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Warm and friendly! Such lovely people here! Very good coffee and an excellent selection of American and Asian meals and sweets. A nice place to stop in Kako'Ako, they offer sidewalk dining. Perfect for a slow morning of people watching! I slightly prefer this over the larger, trendier coffee shop down the corner. read more

I'm grateful for three things when eating out: good hospitality, delicious food and AC! Thankfully, Insomnia has the trifecta. My lunch homies and I decided to make our way over from the office, but google maps can be deceiving sometimes. Especially when you're hungry. A short stroll turned turned into a full on journey under the beaming hot sun, and I was more than relieved to walk into Insomnia which had its AC on blast! The owners were behind the counter, and their friendly greetings of "helloooo dear!", made me all the more happier to be dining there! Insomnia has a lot of coffee goodies, drinks and shakes but the main draw for us to come here was the food! They have a handful of Vietnamese dishes to choose from, including sandwiches, pho, rice and bun dishes. The lemongrass chicken is freakin' delectable. I literally demolished my plate. I usually pass on rice too, but in this case I cleaned up because everything just tasted so good! I ordered a Thai Iced Tea to go with my food, and while it was a little watered down, the sweetness and the distinct flavor the tea really hit the spot. We dined in so that we could soak up the AC before heading back to the office, and halfway through our meal, we were presented with some fresh cut pineapple! Talk about service! The prices here are reasonable and everything is delectably tasty. The best part though, is how friendly and welcoming the owners are. The husband and wife duo (I'm assuming!) are just so cute! Stepping into their restaurant makes you feel like you're seeing old friends, and their happiness and kindness is absolutely contageous. Heck, I feel all warm and fuzzy just thinking about visiting Insomnia again. read more

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Delicious Vietnamese food served by friendly Vietnamese Aunty & Uncle in a calm coffee shop environment with trendy earthy decor. This place is the best of both worlds! The pho broth was deliciousssss. I would definitely recommend and come again. read more

Just writing an updated review--a year from now.. I visited Insomnia a few days ago after dropping off my significant other to school and I must say that the old couple still offers the friendliest and heartwarming welcome that I have ever experienced.. it was like rainbows being thrown at your face when you open their door. Woosh! Upon coming in, I was greeted, "Hello my friend" by the older gentleman and his wife politely asks if I wanted to dine in or take out. I dined in; I patiently waited while being entertained by the hideous fish with the large forehead. I ordered the lemongrass chicken rice plate. Ugh its soo good, just thinking about it makes me want one now. The chicken is cooked perfectly and it is marinated thoroughly so you can taste the lemongrass in every bite. You also have an option to put peanuts on the dish. Funny thing, when I was done eating, the lady says "Good girl, you eat all of it" over the counter. Haha swear to go the owners are the sweetest. They remember me from the first time I visited. I wanna cry because I can't believe they actually remember me! Haha read more

Insomnia - Lemongrass chicken rice plate for $8+ - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Adding to my previous review, tried their popular Lemongrass Chicken on cold noodle (like bun) for the first time. AMAZING. Take out menu says $8.25 but it's $7.25 as their Thursday Special. but she charged me the lower price today (Tuesday), maybe because she knows I've eaten there before but never tried their Lemongrass Chicken yet? What a dear! The chicken is so flavorul and so tasty, topped with slices of onion, daikon, showered with chopped peanuts (she asked if I wanted peanuts..that was thoughtful to ask in advance!), and she even gave me two containers of fish sauce. I hardly touched the 2nd one, it had more than enough flavor. Always friendly service. Always available parking (during non peak hours! lol). I shall upload some pics.. read more

Insomnia - Lemongrass chicken on cold noodle (take out). Delicious! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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This is the perfect little coffee shop to get to before that inane 9am Monday morning meeting. Luckily it's super convenient for me and not terribly inconvenient for most other people in the area since there's parking all around as long as you don't mind a small fee. I'm not much of a coffee drinker either. Heck I don't even drink my coffee black. I just need the caffeine, not the taste, so the Vietnamese iced coffee is my go-to here. It's super strong and very sweet. Of course you could get it toned down as needed but I find it to be perfect as is. There's quite a selection, and between all the shops within distance, I still find myself coming back to this shop every week to start my week off right. The best part? Definitely the aunty who runs the show. My first visit was only for a light breakfast, no coffee. I only went back about 5 months later on a whim. As soon as I walked in, she asked me if I wanted the same breakfast again! It's not like I got anything special or had it prepared differently, just a simple ham and eggs breakfast. I was extremely impressed with not only her memory, but how nice she was about it too! Of course, reading through some of my other reviews you might understand how much customer service means to me, and if she hadn't won me over as a loyal customer right then and there, then the coffee definitely sealed the deal. Unfortunately, no I don't get the breakfast every time as well though (Like i said, it's really nothing special, and I don't quite make enough to justify eating breakfast out every day). My only gripe would be that it opens at 8am due to Covid, so I can't go first thing in the morning before work starts, I just need to take that 15 coffee break instead. read more

Cute, Quaint, Friendly, Relaxed... I'm just throwing out a few adjectives for Insomnia Cafe. Sure, they don't relate to food, but that's kind of my point. Because yeah, its pretty out of the way and a little off the beaten path... its close to Hanks Haute Dogs and close to where they have Eat the Street. So unless you work around there, its not exactly near the main path of businesses. However, I do admire the friendliness, warmth, and cheer of the husband and wife owners. They definitely do their best to make you feel welcomed to their place. And its why I'd like to go back. The ambiance is pretty fun... given they are an older vietnamese couple, I was surprised at the inventive and quirky decorations. They have alligator jaws, a panda, fish tanks galore, and a spice rack. The food is pretty tasty... I'm usually only there for breakfast, so my staple is ham, egg, and cheese on toasted bread. The way they make it is a little different, but the taste grows on you. However, in terms of the meal, the standout is the coffee. Vietnamese Coffee or Thai Coffee, either way, damn, that is good coffee. Its smooth, rich, and strong, and so its always the highlight of the meal. But returning back to my main point, Insomnia Cafe is really friendly and relaxing. I like it a lot. I'll use my friend to illustrate a point. This guy is a regular here. And in general, he can be quite particular because he studied business and he watches restaurant/bar rescue shows, and so he really likes to look at the little things people do to show they care about the customer. So the fact that he is a regular at Insomnia demonstrates to me how much Insomnia is doing right. read more

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I give it 5 shining stars because of the ambience, hospitality, quality and quantity of the food. The owners are very generous with great customer service and awesome food! It's such a great feeling coming here knowing that you'll get great food and service all the time, it's like a family - like visiting aunty's house.. It's such a warm feeling.. read more

Insomnia - Who would have thought! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Hey, five months ago the owners changed and now this shop is the most welcoming and comfortable place with amazing staff. Any older negative reviews are from the previous owners. Best spot to work and meet friends. read more

The food. The ambiance. The coffee. The espresso. The super nice couple who own the establishment. The customer service. The food. The ambiance. The coffee. The espresso. The super nice couple who own the establishment. The customer service. All reasons that this is a 5-star rating. But seriously. You walk into the store and you just get that feeling like it's a nice place to eat and hang out. For example, I've been here for an hour just chilling and I finished eating like 40 mins ago. I recommend you order the lemon grass chicken sandwich and a Vietnamese ice coffee. Thank me later. read more

Insomnia - The new breakfast sandwich special: sautéed onions, ham, and eggs, a bit of cilantro, and some sriracha sauce - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

My very first yelp review!! And I'm glad to say it's a great one. This is the the cutest little mom and pop Coffee/Vietnamese cafe, located in the heart of Kakaako. I actually stumbled upon this place while I was next door to their competition (brue bar). The owners of the shop were very friendly- and probably the main reason I give this place a 5/5. They actually said they've been there for 11 years!!!!!! Their coffee menu is definitely for those who like it strong! I personally like my coffee on the sweeter side (but not too sweet) so I got the Vietnamese Iced Coffee. The husband brought the coffee to my table so I could watch it drip before he stirred and poured it over ice (so cool!). This was actually my first time trying Vietnamese iced coffee and even though it was on the strong side, I really liked it. It was just the right amount of sweet. I also got the lemongrass chicken french sandwich. I love Vietnamese sandwiches, so I was really excited to try this one. They tied it in a plastic bag, so you have to eat it right way otherwise the bread will get tough. The bread the a little over toasted (which I didn't mind). The chicken was nice and tender, with a mildly spicy kick, and the pickled veges and sauce were also very flavorful. I got to excited and ate my sandwhich before I got to take a pic lol, so I'm posting my brother sandwich instead- he got the Vietnamese french sandwich (he liked mine better, I didn't try his bc I don't care for char sui to much) I'm so glad that I live in the area, I might just make this place my one stop shop for coffee! read more

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Oh... my gdness. Delish!! Not what we were expecting at all. With the quaint outer appearance, and what seems as only two (husband & wife) managing all of the undertakings.. cooking, cashier, serving and taking phone-in orders as well, they do a fantastic job all around. You order at the counter (dine in or take out) & if its dine-in, they bring it to you, beautifully presented, on nice dishware, with sides of insomnia sauce & what appears to be cabbage soup. There is also a full coffee & espresso bar, white & brown rice options if you get a plate meal. The wait was only about ten minutes, and the older gentleman brought us a fresh slab of pineapple mid-way through the meal, which was a nice little surprise. As we sat and ate, many by-name customers came in and were cheerfully greeted. Everything is very low price, especially considering the spread; the quality of food, service & the timeliness. We will definitely come back next time we're in the area! read more

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

The breakfast French roll is amazing. Their prices do not feel like Hawaii at all. Very reasonable!!!!! The nicest couple run this place. They will always remember you and treat you like family. Amazing little hole in the wall. Believe it or not for such a small place, their coffee is actually really good too!!! Try it. Go say hi and become a part of their family. read more

Insomnia - Macchiato - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Wish I'd discovered them earlier. Great food (I'm craving their lemongrass chicken right now). I also tried their Saute Chicken yesterday and it was a home run! Very juicy and flavorful. My usual order about 2x a week is their lemongrass chicken plate with rice. Love the mom and pop feel and their prices are reasonable and food is freshly made to order. read more