I guess you could consider these one of the hole in the wall places tucked away right in Kakaako which is weird because it's located on the street right outside Salt. Given it's name I assumed it would be open late night but it's perfect for those craving pho and bahn mi for breakfast or lunch. I went around 9/10am on a Monday and it wasn't too crowded but then again it was a holiday. When you walk in you're greeted by the owners and you go to the counter to tell them your order. After placing your order you'll take a seat and pay for your food post meal. I ordered the beef pho which was really good. The broth had a nice flavor and they gave a decent amount of fatty slices of meat. The spring rolls were good as well but might have been fried for a little too long. It didn't have that super burnt taste though which was fine. The location itself is quite small and can get quite crowded when customers are coming in and out to order coffee. Overall, I would come back again but the only thing is that the food takes a little while which is understandable because it's only the wife and husband taking the orders and cooking. Parking is either metered street parking or validated parking at Salt which is free for the first hour. You could also chance parking at the park nearby as well. read more

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

A small coffee shop that serves everything from ice coffee to pho. Their menu has a lot of variety. Their ban mien lemongrass is excellent and you can smell the aroma when they are making it. Their summer rolls can be made with tofu,shrimp,chicken fora healthier alternative. They are run by a husband and wife who are the friendliest people you can find. A lot of takeout orders . read more

Insomnia - Tofu summer roll - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

See all

Pho was tasty as well as the summer rolls. Friendly service. Clean and comfortable inside seating but only 4-5 small tables.

Delicious sandwich with egg, ham, cheese, and grilled onions. Lovely setting and polite service.

Love love their Vietnamese coffee! 1st time having it and loved it so much that I went back the next day but they were closed, it was a Sunday. I went to another coffee place but it wasn't the same and I was sooo annoyed but anyways waited until Tuesday and got my iced Vietnamese coffee so happy, never going anywhere else. Very friendly owners, they are super sweet, funny and so nice! Love their service and cute coffee shop. I found my new coffee shop! Aloha my friends. read more

See all

DO NOT SLEEP ON THIS VIETNAMESE COFFEE. It is the real deal and this couple is adorable, Absolutely made my morning read more

CoViD 19- "NEW" Dine In Review #4 What was a small establishment to begin with became even smaller with the "NEW" dine in experience because of CoViD. 1) There are 5 tables that seat 2 patrons each. There are 2 high top chairs facing the street. 2) Menu and pricing still the same (no CoViD surcharge) 3) If you park in the Salt structure, they will validate your parking 4) All food and drink even for dine in served in disposable serve ware I stopped in for a quick bite since I was in the Salt area and fell in love once again with the chicken banh mi. Their Vietnamese coffee can be flavored to your taste if you tell them when ordering (YUP! The caffeine in the coffee will definitely give you Insomnia) Great place for a quick stop! read more

Words can't describe how amazing this place is. You need to let the flavors speak for itself. Service was top notch. Very welcoming and patient. Even with my specialized order I did not get push back rather got my food delivered as requested. No notes taken. Love it. Did I say this "couple" that runs the entire shop was friendly... felt like I was at a friend's house and their parents were serving us up. We even got a table added since we had little top space. The food had lots of flavor. Tuna rolls was a first, it's like a summer roll with tuna. It was interesting but delicious. Spring rolls was a hit. It's not cut in half and advertised as two.. rather one means one full spring roll. The sauce was unique and good. I got more of a cuttlefish than that fishy taste and there was a kick of spice. The beef pho comes with 3 different meats and a lot of it too. You could have a meat in every bite. Not to mention my the best pho soup I've ever tasted. The lemon chicken cold noodle was also good. Yes u need sauce but I loved the sauce. I thought it looked small portioned but it filled me quite fine. I think there's a tad bit of ginger put in there. They also gave little clementines in the beginning with our waters. They didn't refill but there's a container of water. Overall amazing!! Worth more than 5 stars. read more

See all

If you want to get all of your work done, fly to the moon and cure cancer in the same day... their Vietnamese Iced Coffee gets it done. Seriously, youll be seeing through walls. 1000x better than Starbucks. The anuty that works the shop is super nice and friendly. Parking is not too crazy on the street around 10 am. read more

Wish they opened longer hours because I would love to get dinner here more often! Their mangolian beef plate was sooooooo delicious!!! It was this savory garlic shoyu mangolian beef with rice and salad, absolutely delicious! Need more!! read more

Not sure what to eat today? Look no further, call Insomnia to order some food. They have really great lemon grass chicken dishes. And the mongolian beef plate is also awesome. When you call, the sweetest lady answers and gives you the best customer service. She's super friendly and are felt a welcoming vibe from her. During these times, we need to pull together and support our local community. So don't waste anymore time, you've got to check this place out and see what a gem it is. read more

Insomnia - Updated Menu 2020 - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

See all

I freaking love insomnia! it's the only cafe in the area that opens up super early that fits with my schedule so I love grabbing a strong viet coffee here. I haven't tried the food yet but the couple operating this joint is always so nice and friendly. the place itself is so cute and very open and airy. I plan on ordering from them soon bc the prices are so affordable. read more

They are super nice and the food an sandwiches and salad was amazing definitely coming again

Excellent food and service. Run by the kindest couple. My favorite is the breakfast egg/ham sandwich but everything is delicious. We served their sandwiches at a recent party and they were a hit. Highly recommend! read more

I LOOVE this Place! Best iced Vietnamese Coffee and a warm croissant in the Kakaako area. The croissant sandwich is slightly toasted...perfect. Egg, cheese, and Ham. There's nothing better than to wake up early and have a toasted warm crunchy French bread that is fluffy on the inside with a house made tuna salad filling with fresh cilantro, shredded carrots, and pickled crunchy radish. Their Vietnamese iced coffee is strong and not too sweet....prefer it. There is always soft instrumental music playing in the background. This place has a wonderful feel to it. The vibe of this place is sooo positive!!! I love sitting here and enjoy the morning views of large voluminous clouds and morning showers. This is THE BEST Vietnamese cafe in town!!!!!!!! read more

See all

Recently was in the mood for a banh mi and always passed by Insomnia, so what better time to try out a new restaurant than when a craving hits? Located in Salt Kaka'ako, this is a really cute Vietnamese shop/cafe run by an older couple. Very sweet and friendly people! Since they're the only ones working, the wait time was a little longer than I expected, but regardless; it's always great to support smaller businesses like this! Note that the interior is pretty tiny, tables only accommodate 2 people (there was only 1 table for 4 available). They do offer outside seating which is nice; especially if you want to enjoy the outdoor scene. They recently upped their prices ($1 additional for food items, $.50 on drinks). However the prices itself isn't too bad; especially in Kaka'ako. I ordered the lemongrass chicken banh mi which had cilantro, cucumber, pickled daikon+carrots and a tomato (this was a new addition to what I usually see in other banh mis). Unfortunately, I didn't feel like my craving was fully satisfied. The sandwich was quite small; and I feel like the inside could be filled with much more of everything. Flavor wise, it was decent; nothing too mind blowing. Overall, I just wish there was more. Parking: There is plenty of parking located in Salt (free for the first hour?). read more

If you are in the need for a pick me up this is spot. Order a iced Vietnamese coffee, medium sweet. read more

See all

This is one of my favorite place to eat at Salt. It's been here for a few years and the same couple have owned it . Great food but they do get busy so best to order ahead read more

I love Vietnamese food, and this mom & pop restaurant makes food that hits the spot. They are located on the bottom floor of SALT at Kakaako, on Auahi Street side. The lemongrass chicken with cold noodles is so tasty! My mom and I agreed that the lemongrass chicken here is our favorite. The noodles aren't the typical vermicelli noodles, but more like a thin udon noodle. The service is good and they are prompt to clean up the area, but not rush you. They are truly generous with their service and food. If you eat inside the shop, they usually give complimentary fruits. My family loves that this restaurant is also dog friendly. You can bring your pup with you and sit outside, enjoy the sun and breeze. read more

Insomnia - Complimentary fresh fruit - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

See all

I came here with my parents for lunch during our first trip to SALT. Insomnia sounds like a place that only serves coffee and bubble tea, but in reality, they also serve cheap Vietnamese food too. Coffee and bubble tea are under $5 and most of the food is under $10. It's a hole-in-the-wall shop, but the interior is very modern. They have beta fish terrariums on the wall and a display of coffee brewing equipment behind the register. It's a family-owned business and the owners are extremely friendly and attentive. They pay special attention to plating and make sure that their customers feel at home. Oh, and they serve complimentary pineapple slices at the end. 5/5 for food, service and atmosphere!!! read more

First time here, greeted by owner who is very friendly! Appreciated that we are here! Had the lemon grass chicken sandwich! Would return to try other dishes! read more

Insomnia - Lemon grass chicken sandwich - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Insomnia is one of the best pho places I have been to!! The spring rolls are the best ones I have ever had and I strongly recommend everyone try them! The pho was full of flavor and all of the sides and sauces were great additions! To top it all off the owners provided exceptional customer service that you don't see often anymore and I would go back just to experience this welcoming feeling again! read more

See all

This tiny coffee drink place also sells some Vietnamese food. They have salads, sandwiches, pho, entrees and coffee drinks. So far I tried their lemongrass chicken and special pork chops. It's been awhile since I tried the lemongrass chicken, but I remembered it was good and my coworker really liked it. When I think of this place, I can't forget their amazing Pan Fried Pork Chops with her House special seasonings was so amazing. It was really tender and tasty. Not sure what's in their seasonings but maybe perhaps some fish sauce was used. I tried other places and it wasn't as tender and flavorful as Insomnia. The lady makes it to order in her small side kitchen so I would recommend to call in your order ahead of time especially if you're placing orders for your office. You won't be disappointed. Everyone so far who tried the pork chops from office, agreed it was really good. It may had a tinge of spiciness but it was yummy. The Pork chops comes with jasmine or brown rice and salad. The couple who runs the place, are very friendly and nice. Her husband does the cashiering and drinks and the wife does the cooking. There's street parking, parking at the SALT's structure or in the front by Starbucks. No validation is necessary if it's less than an hour, otherwise you need to get a validation and pay a $1 for the next hour. If you prefer not to park, you can have also have someone run in as you drive in front for pick up. I'm glad insomnia still around after all the changes at The SALT. If you are ever in the area, I would highly recommend the Pan Fried Pork Chops. I'm sure their other dishes are just as delicious but after trying the pork chops, I was just ordering the pork chops. =) read more

The coffee here is amazing !!! We got a regular iced coffee and a Vietnamese iced coffee, both were amazing z so good that we returned a second time on our vacation. Food wise, we ordered breakfast the second day. Got the breakfast on the French roll and the ham egg and cheese. Amazing as well !! 10/10. And the service... all I can say is this couple is soooo cute and attentive to their costumers. Truly make you feel welcome. Love it here read more

Love goin to Insomnia for the chicken bahn mi and vietnamese coffee. Aunty and unko are the best!!! The pho is good too.

Pho is sooooo yummy. The broth is the absolute best before you add sauce or anything additional just take a sip of the broth and enjoy. The restaurant is clean with a great atmosphere. Auntie behind the counter is always so kind. read more

This little shop is so sweet and great. I saw on the outside window they did matcha bubble tea so I popped in to check it out. They sell Vietnamese food, coffee, and boba ! I ended up with a fresh fruit strawberry banana smoothie with boba. The woman who helped me was so sweet, took my order and made sure I knew adding the bubbles would be an extra dollar (love when restaurants let you know of an up charge). She quickly made my smoothie and was so nice. Offered me a boba straw that she grabbed with a napkin while gloved (even tho the straws were already individually wrapped), but I had my own. I asked where the nearest restroom was and it turns out they have their own little restroom they let me use. Very nice and clean. I'd definitely stop by again to try some of their food and get another drink. read more

See all

I happened to stumble upon this place after trying to figure out what to eat for lunch with friends. Location: This place is located at SALT next to Arvo. There is a lot of parking in this area. The parking garage is along Keawe St. and meters across this restaurant. BTW: This restaurant does validate your parking ticket. Food: We all got Vietnamese Iced Coffee. I got the lemongrass chicken with cold noodles and the typical dressing. My other friends got the lemongrass chicken with rice and Pho. The coffee is strong. Stronger than other places. It woke me up real quick. Food is very tasty. The chicken is very flavorful and fresh. Service: When we arrived, the uncle immediately made room for us. He was very friendly and courteous. He gave us his best service during the lunchtime rush. The food did take a little bit longer than usual, but it was understandable. Overall: After my experience here, I would come back to support this Mom and Pop shop. Plus, I want to try other food dishes. read more

See all

I'm having insomnia thinking about the food at Insomnia. Located in Kaka'ako, this is an adorable mom-and-pop restaurant run by the most adorable Vietnamese couple. I call them auntie and uncle, and the atmosphere feels so home-y. I love coming here for the lemongrass chicken and the Vietnamese coffee! I've had the lemongrass chicken sandwich as well as with rice, and they are both so delicious. Definitely a must if you visit this restaurant. The Vietnamese coffee is nice and strong, which makes for a wonderful pick-me-up at any time of day. The summer rolls are also yummy and pair well with their peanut sauce. You can tell all the food is made with so much care and love, which makes me love this place even more. They serve breakfast in the morning in addition to lunch. I highly recommend checking out Insomnia if you're in Salt. It's sandwiched between Arvo and Bevy. You absolutely won't regret it! read more

Insomnia - chicken & shrimp summer roll / lemongrass chicken sandwich - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

See all

My friends! (an cute inside joke for those that have been here.) Located at SALT Kakaako. You could park in their parking structure ($1/hr) or you can find street parking (hope you have good timing!) Their Lemongrass chicken with rice is great! It had a mild spice that I wasn't expecting, but it's wasn't unmanagable. Also had the Vietnamese iced coffee...and let me tell you that it has a PUNCH to it. Very strong and sweet, I loved that it left me awake the rest of the day. It's a very cute shop with indoor and outdoor seating (probably only 1-2 tables outdoors. I know some pictures show the indoor seating as 2 person, but the owner of the place has no problems with combining tables and chairs to accommodate extra seating. The owner is so a friendly! This was really a cute homey restaurant. The wait for the food was longer than expected but I'll cut them some slack since it was getting to the lunch hours and they are only staffed with 3 people. This is absolutely a place to come and show some local support to this mom and pop shop. read more

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

See all

Okay, this breakfast is worth the visit IF you are into Bahn-mi. They make a ham and egg bahn mi that has all of the Bahn-mi layers of flavor (nothing pickled) and with the beautiful bread, is wonderful. I have fantasized about my return for this breakfast since. Dreaming about it with the wonderfully nutty thick coffee that they make fresh...yummmm. It comes in the usual Vietnamese metal single serve drip container which they let "brew" while they prep your food. And a real plus is that when I walked in at 7 am - only one in the place! it was a private quiet spot to gather myself. I'm sure I just caught the place in a lull as this place is absolutely jumping during lunch service. For lunch I have eaten their pho many of times. It is tasty and it is a staple in our pho rotation. But it is the breakfast that has really peaked my interest to return and try more items. Like others have said, part of the charm of this place is the wonderful couple that owns it. You can really feel their love in sharing their food. I am definitely a fan. read more

Insomnia - Breakfast sand - eggs, ham & cheese with Vietnamese flair on a beautiful French roll. Yum! And the coffee...omg yum. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

It's close to midnight. I should be asleep. Instead, I turn to Yelp to write a review, in hopes that I tire myself into dreamland (without my phone falling on my face). But, I won't because I have.... INSOMNIA. noun. Inability to obtain sufficient sleep, especially when chronic; difficulty in falling or staying asleep; sleeplessness. This review is long overdue. Before all of the new hip and trendy restaurants & cafes popped up at the SALT complex, Insomnia has been a hidden gem off of Auahi St serving up caffeinated drinks and Vietnamese food! My go-to lunch selection is the Lemongrass Chicken Plate which comes with white rice and tossed salad for less than $10. With a generous amount of peanuts sprinkled all over the julienne prepared pickled radishes and carrots, the chicken is moist and full of lemongrass flavor. It. Is. So. Good. Pho is also served here! Every now and then I need a Vietnamese noodle soup fix. Choice of beef, chicken, or veggie, the broth is good enough to make me come back for more! If you dine-in, a complimentary plate of fruit is provided. I always look forward to the pineapple wedge! Need your daily caffeine fix? Their specialty is Vietnamese Coffee - a bold brewed coffee with condensed milk. Other drinks such as Thai tea, lattes, espresso, or just a regular cup of joe are also available. If you're ever in the Kakaako area, give Insomnia a try! The owners are a lovely couple cooking up a storm in the tiny kitchen, while the guy behind the register taking orders and bussing tables is the boss! He runs the cafe like a well-oiled machine. read more

Insomnia - Eating in? Complimentary pineapple! Thai Iced Tea $2.75. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

See all

I tried Insomnia spur of the moment. I typically go to 9bar HNL and sometimes Arvo but was in the mood for something different. Insomnia did not disappoint. The owners (adorable, friendly couple) were so welcoming and eager to take my order. They kept addressing each customer as "my friend". I ordered the Matcha latte which comes with boba and Lemongrass Chicken Banh Mi. It was delish. Simple and fresh. The bread was crispy on the outside but easy to tear apart. I devoured it! . The matcha was strong and so yummy. You could tell they didn't skimp on the matcha powder but also was mixed well and didn't do that gross gathering at the bottom of the cup. I will definitely be back. read more

Super nice people. Great option for breakfast. Interesting Vietnamese coffee. Pho was good. Big size plate.

The two workers, I think are the owners, were so adorable and nice. Either there are a lot of regular customers or they just treat everyone like they're regulars, either way it makes me want to come again because of the welcoming atmosphere. Nice area to dine in or even sit outside to eat. Lemongrass chicken sandwich was delicious. The lemongrass flavor is not too strong but overall very flavorful and filling sandwich. 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

See all

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

See all

This five star rating is for both the amazing insomniac homemade Vietnamese coffee that Letu makes, the BBQ pork and pate banh mi AND the amazing customer service that the owners gave us. We came in for a quick stop to grab some Vietnamese coffee and to share a sandwich, and as luck would have it, our car died. We were visiting from the mainland and thought we might have a chance to restart the car if we were able to reset the car's computer system. This required tools and by chance, we asked Letu and her husband if they had any on hand, and they loaned us their entire set. The aloha that they extended to us during our Time of need, really elevated overall experience with them. If you're looking for amazing Vietnamese coffee that will keep you up and running all day, as well as some delicious, authentic Vietnamese sandwiches, this is the place to visit. You'll leave feeling well cared for and spoiled. read more

See all

This place is very special, that's all I can say. The couple who run this business is so very loving and charming. You can taste it in the food! Their pho is outstanding. You can tell they take great pride in it. It reflects the owners sweet and gregarious nature. If you have a chance to dine in, it's like a spa; peaceful music, delicious food, and just all around love. It's my favorite spot, hands down! read more

* Pho 3 stars - Substandard broth and minimal meat but interesting noodles. * Iced coffee 4.5 stars - Generous portion of coffee. Strong. Their own blend with FLAVORS of hazelnut. Love that they don't use a lot of condensed milk but it's still perfectly sweet. Amazing. * Breakfast sandwich 4.5 stars - Simple but amazing breakfast sandwich served on one of the most incredible fresh soft french rolls I've had in awhile. Savory and delicious and very Ono * Shrimp wonton soup 3 stars - Substandard small bowl of wonton soup. The broth is very sweet and served with saimin-like noodles. Not my favorite. They also have drip coffee, tea lattes available. Breakfast until 10 read more