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    Kai Coffee

    4.1 (323 reviews)
    Closed • 6:00 am - 9:00 pm

    Kai Coffee Photos

    Business Info

    KAI COFFEE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Dogs allowed
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Kai Coffee

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    Reviews With Photos

    Açaí Bowl
    Cynthia P.

    I stopped by Kai Coffee multiple times during my visit in Hawaii. They open at 6 AM and was located right next Alohilani. There wasn't a long line when I went around 6-6:30 am, but around 7, the lines begins getting longer and longer. We have tried their coffee, peach tea, acai bowl, banana bread, pesto sandwich. Long black coffee was ok. It tasted a bit burnt in our opinion. It tasted like they brew the coffee instead of pulling an expresso shot. We wouldn't get it again. However, the tea was pretty good and refreshing. Acai bowl is also good and a good amount of fruit balance. Banana bread was delicious. Pesto sandwich was a bit more dry. Overall, I still think Kai Coffee is a pretty decent coffee shop for breakfast or mid day coffee etc!

    Crunchy crepe! I wish it was less crunchy
    Anandita S.

    We had an a coffee break today as we needed caffeine in the middle of the day! Super friendly service, I will say coffee hit the spot. The crepe Could have been less crispy! But overall it was a great experience

    Menu
    Joan L.

    LOVE coming to Kai Coffee and highly recommend to anyone I know visiting Oahu! The line may look long but it's definitely worth the wait! Why? The coffee is great, the breakfast options are delicious, and their baked items (scones and breads) are rich and delicious! The baristas are happy and seem to love their jobs. Shoutout to Julian for his expertise in recommendations -- ie Macadamia milk with lattes (not cappuccinos) I ALWAYS get a cold brew (less ice) because it is honestly my FAVORITE cold brew on the island! The woman who took my order was smiley, pleasant, and patient. All businesses should have employee morale that matches Kai Coffee -- happy employees make a happy environment which leads to happy (and repeat!) customers like me! The seating, both indoors and patio, are comfortable. When sitting at the long indoor table, you'll likely make some new friends from around the globe! Also, if you walk across the street (beach side) there's a little Kai spot as well to order and sit and watch the beach- and surf-goers.

    Lilikoi Matcha and Kai Latte
    Robert R.

    My normal stop on the morning everyday on Waikiki. Loved the Mac Nut Kai latte. I tried the Lilikoi Matcha Iced latte, and the Vanilla nut latte. I also had the Banana Bread latte. Some time it had a huge line, and other times it wasn't so long. Friendly service and great coffee and made it the most visited spot on my tome In Oahu. Also the beachfront location also was the same great service and coffee.

    Sitting down with our coffee looking out toward Waikiki.
    Joe C.

    We were up early for Sunday Mass at St. Augustine by the Sea." On our way back to our hotel, we walked pass Kai Coffee and since there was no line, we went in. I had a medium drip which was very smooth. By the time we got our orders and sat down the line got huge! Good reason for it but glad we got in before the line. Loved be able to sit and look out to the beach I also had the cinnamon coffee cake which was moist and delish!

    Lemon poppyseed
    Mary V.

    Don't be discouraged if the lines are long, the staff move very quickly and efficiently. The coffee is ok here but the baristas do let the shots sit for a long time so it becomes a dead shot (bitter). Theres really nothing that stands out at this place except that it's a typical tourist trap.

    Mikey H.

    Kai is a really great place for coffee! We were on a long walk, but on the way back, I really needed coffee. We stopped here and I got the Kai Coffee signature drink. I asked for macadamia milk which enhanced the flavor. This is a really good drink! So well balanced! The staff is really friendly especially under pressure because they were busy. Lots of tourists...and not friendly ones either...LOL! Lighten up! You're in Waikiki...it's always busy! Debs and I grabbed two chairs and sat to the side. Great place to watch everyone. Mahalo Kai!

    Shalini G.

    I was worried that going to a chain on the beach would not be anything more than an ordinary experience I was truly wrong I ordered the macadamia nut latte, which seems to be their special and it was perfect Not sweet at all They had a macadamia nut milk that I could upgrade to you so I decided to try 100% recommend

    Seana A.

    I am staying in Waikiki for the next few days. I decided to stop at Kai Coffee before heading to my conference. This place is super cute. I love the vibe and the set up. You wait in line to put in your order. The line seems long but you get through it pretty fast. After putting in your order and paying for it, you go to the other side to wait for them to prepare your drink and call your name. For as busy as it was, I didn't have to wait long. I got a coconut frappicino with oatmilk. It was delicious and a great way to start my morning. If you are in the area, you should definitely check it out.

    Inside signage
    Bob R.

    We stopped by Kai Coffee located in Waikiki Beach Honolulu. This is quickly becoming one of my favorites coffee spots in Honolulu. The staff is friendly and helpful with menu questions and suggestions. The offer a great macchiato that I really like! Check out Kai Coffee when you're in Honolulu, you'll be glad you did!

    Lupita M.

    This was my first Kona coffee and I absolutely loved it! The service here was great. I ordered the Kai coffee and you must try their tiramisu! Great location, you can enjoy the sunset drinking a delicious coffee at their tables outside.

    David L.

    Grabbed an iced Kai Latte and a Deluxe Breakfast Sandwich to enjoy with a view of the ocean. Definitely one of the best coffee drinks we had on Waikiki Beach!

    Morning line
    Jen D.

    I was pleasantly surprised when I got a message after I had posted my review so I wanted to write an update. I love that they took the review as a way to see how they can improve; they promised to address everything that was mentioned. I genuinely appreciate every effort to make this unpleasant experience right for us. Any company or business owner with integrity will take accountability instead of just make an excuse. Great location as it is right across the beach, and walking distance to hotels and restaurants.

    Coffee

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    8 months ago

    I haven't been in a year but my daughter still loved it. Great place to start the day with a latte and açaí bowl overlooking the beach.

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    6 months ago

    had the kai coffee latte it was so yummy and made pretty quickly , long line but it moved fast, def worth trying if u have the time!

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    1 year ago

    Best coffee on island. Try Kai latte it's amazing. Staff was awesome , so nice and great service. Love this place!!

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    Page 3 of 9

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    Im torn. I would love to gate keep this place but it deserves to be talked about more. I was lucky…read moreenough to get a reservation at 7:30 last minute for Mother's Day and that is hard to come by for special occasions. We were expecting good things due to other reviews and we were not disappointed. We loved the restaurant rustic vibe, the servers were on it, food came out in excellent time frames and the food itself.... Delicious! Not pictured was the ox tail Mac & cheese, lobster spinach artichoke dip and the cornbread which were bigger portions than we expected. I would even go back just for the black cherry soda. With that being said with seasonal menus I'm excited to go back to try other dishes and I Highly recommend this restaurant

    Gf wanted to go have the Smoked Prime, so a few of us had girls night dinner. Baby with us, so…read moreearly dinner and home early. Staff always so nice there. But food fell short this time... I was staaaarving so for me and baby I ordered: - Cornbread - I love their cornbread. This was my fave of all the dishes we had. - Bone Marrow - This was probably the biggest marrow I've had anywhere. Like choke marrow. Awesome. Alcohol didn't light on the whole plate so only had little bit and baby couldn't have any. Think no bourbon next time. Just sprinkle some salt and it would be perf. - Chopped - All kine goodies in this salad but the dressing was very "nothing." I added some garlic salt when I ate the leftovers and it kicked it up a notch. - Chicken Pappardelle - The pasta was terrible. So thick and doughy. Took away from the chicken which was okay. Ended up dumping the leftover pasta...which was pretty much the whole thing. - Oxtail Mac & Cheese - This was more like an Oxtail Helper (like Hamburger Helper). Very not cheesey. Baby ate some but think she wanted more cheese. Tasted better the next day. Friends had the Prime. The temp on each was given to the wrong person, which needed to be right since 1 person didn't get the roasted pot. The medium-rare one was cold. Like COLD. Strange. Overall think they fell a little short on the food. Some things GREAT, some thing the opposite, so balanced out. Will I go back? Of course, but now I know what not to get.

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    Smith & Kings - Blueberry French Toast

    Smith & Kings

    4.1(671 reviews)
    3.6 mi•Downtown
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    Been here a couple of times when we're downtown for a show at Hawai`i theater. They're ok for what…read morethey do, in a unique older building, but unfortunately, this last time was not even up to that level of service. Waited over ten minutes to even get greeted and was not sure if this would cause us to miss happy hour. I did see one of the servers more focused on a baby in a carrier then waiting on tables. When our server finally came, different from the baby lady, we had to ask for menus but knew we needed to order a couple of HH food items cause it will take a while. They were out of Stella so settled for a Japanese Pilsner, which was surprisingly better than expected. Daughter ordered their Mac and cheese with chix. Sad to say it took a long time to get our food and had to constantly look back attempting to get our server's attention for refills of my beer and checking on when our food order would arrive. Daughter commented we should have sat at the bar. They seemed to get beverage orders much quicker and I imaging food as well. If there is a next time, sitting at the bar is the plan. Better yet, find a better place with better service.

    We are back in town visiting with friends and family and wanted to do happy hour and possibly…read moretrivia and behold we found the perfect place. Parking is tough but we found a spot a few blocks away. It's seat yourself and at the time there was plenty of seats. If you're going for trivia it's popular and started filling up around 530. Our server came over and got us started pretty quick. 3 in the group ordered mules and by the time I was ready to order one they ran out of ingredients for mules. This kind of sucked mid way through happy hour and one of the main drinks on that menu is not available. Not to worry, we tried a few of the other selections including the cucumber collins, and the mojito. We also ordered some appetizers and food, the fried mozzarella was very good, along with the wings. The wings were cooked well and were crispy. Our friends had the chicken sandwich and the fish and chips and both were enjoyed. Overall it was a good time with food and drinks and trivia. If you're around give them a try.

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    Local Joe

    4.6(627 reviews)
    3.6 mi•Downtown
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    Did my research to find Kona coffee for my upcoming visit to Vancouver, so I walked from home and…read moretook shelter in Local Joe's to cool off and order some 100% Kona Mauna Kea Estate coffee and have it ground. Liv was so delightful and clearly the right person for the job so I knew I was in the right place. In the meantime I ordered an iced coffee (which was delicious!!!!) and sat down and watched folks come and go. This is clearly a popular local coffee and snack shop so I will keep this place in mind since it's locally owned and operated and their decaf is processed via osmosis, not chemicals. That's a big plus.

    A small little coffee shop located in downtown. There are a few tables outside to enjoy your…read morecoffee. I've stopped by twice so far and each time, I've been greeted with friendly service. The tables are usually taken so I just take my drink to go. I ordered a strawberry matcha drink on my first visit and a French Toast latte on my second visit. The second time I went, they didn't know how to make my drink so the girl had to read the ingredients that were listed on their own menu posted on the counter for customers. Maybe hardly anyone orders it or she was new and learning? It did take a while for me to get my coffee. The waiting area is quite small so there wasn't much room for me to go anywhere. Overall, the drinks have been good with a variety of seasonal drinks and specials as well. I'll probably return for my coffee fix as it seems to be one of the few coffee shops in the area open on Sundays. Happy Drinking!

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    Liliha Bakery - Poi Donut

    Liliha Bakery

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    If you are looking for a casual dining sit down restaurant, Liliha Bakery is one of the best places…read moreto go to. It's the table and space is very spacious that you don't have be afraid of been squished with other people. Besides that, they have a pretty good selection too! Price is reasonable with the portion of the food is serve. Miso Butter Fish 5/5: I will never be tried of eating & ordering the miso butter fish. It's definitely one of the best butter fish in a non-Japanese restaurant. It's buttery, with the perfect level of the miso flavor that's not salty or blend/no miso flavor. The fish it's cooked into perfection that's not overcooked. Although it's pricery compare to other dishes, but it's worth it; especially the butter fish is a pretty big size that comes w/ salad and rice. Grilled Garlic Chicken 4.5/5: The garlic chicken is not the same as a regular garlic chicken that you get from a barbecue restaurant; it doesn't have that barbecue sauce flavor. However, it's still taste pretty good. The garlic flavor is there, but not so strong that over power the taste of the chicken. More importantly, chicken is not overcooked as some restaurants can overcook the chicken. However, it comes w/ gravy on top of the chicken. If you eat it w/ the gravy, you probably will it be able to taste the garlic. Mac Nut Waffard 4.5/5 This is not the regular waffles. This "waffard" it's the Mac nut waffle that comes with their iconic custard, fruits and whipped cream. The waffle is super soft & fluffy with a crispy outside edges. Also, the waffle is not mushy, rather, it has a slightly mochi/chewy texture. The waffle is also not over sweet that actually can be pair with their famous custard fillings. Pancakes 5/5 I normally not a pancake person because I am afraid that it can be over sweet or very bland that has no taste but a flour flavor. But I fall in love with the pancake at first try because it's soooo fluffy and soft! More importantly, it's not sweet that actually can be paired with syrup and butter. However, it's also not bland that can be just eaten by itself without syrup or butter. Hands down on it! Plus, the size of the pancake is actually pretty big.

    Pretty disappointed w/this visit. They placed us at table that was literally 'windy' because the AC…read morewas so strong. I asked them to move us, only to be put in the back where the music was so loud, I felt like I was at a nightclub. I asked manager if it was possible to turn music down so I could hear the people at my table, and she said it wasn't possible. (I find that hard to believe) Food and service was pretty good, although it would have been nice to have all our meals at one time rather than watching my daughter have almost all her food finished before we even received ours. So we just watched her eat. I think we'll just stick to picking up pastries and bringing them home.

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    Nami Kaze - Dining area

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    4.5(801 reviews)
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    It was so sad this business is closing down by Oct 31st. With rising food costs, inflation and…read morestaffing, it's understandable but I wish best endeavors for Chef Jason Peel and his staff. My fiance won a gift card actually 2 of them (from his coworker whom could not get a reservation secured), we knew we had to make the trip over before they officially close. We had multiple dishes, but staff made Kauai prawns and tomato miso black cod dishes on the house since they ran out the Hokkaido scallops. We ordered the short ribs, lobster appetizer, hamachi crudo and lastly sashimi moriawase to finish food palate. Lukki lemon dessert was great way to end to night. Ordered the Milk tea bouquet cocktail while my better half had water ( either way the food coma knock him out cold the rest of the night lol). To be honest, it was difficult to determine which dish was the best because the staff kept quality there despite it being busy every night since they announce the closure. Sashimi moriawase, fish was so fresh, reminded me of my time spent in Hokkaido and Sapporo. Short ribs was soft and rich in flavor. Both me and my fiance liked the lukki lemon dessert, like lemon meringue pie but broken down version. If you have a chance to dine here before closing and got a reservation, definitely will have a lovely dining experience and your stomach will be full by end of the night.

    Husband and I tried Nami Kaze in our recent trip to Hawaii. This place is huge! I was so glad to be…read moreseated in the side room because I found it to be a lot calmer, less people and no TV. The staff were friendly and very helpful with giving us recommendations. We ordered 3 appetizers and 2 entrees, and honestly it was too much food for us. We had leftovers for breakfast the next day! - For appetizers we got: Ulu Tots, Japanese Eggplant, and Corn Beignets. The Corn Beignets was the best. - For entree we got: Tomato Miso Black Cod and the Short Rib. Both were delicious and worth a try. Sad to see that this restaurant appears to be closing.

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    Kai Coffee - creperies - Updated October 2026

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