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    Kai Coffee

    4.5 (50 reviews)

    Kai Coffee Photos

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    KAI COFFEE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Dogs allowed
    Outdoor seating
    Good for working

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    Recommended Reviews - Kai Coffee

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    Kai Coffee entrance
    Lamond M.

    Kai Coffee is an astonishing hidden beautiful little coffee shop gem with incredible espresso & coffee drinks ... tasty marvelously yum sandwiches too. I just love the comforting feeling the joyful staff gives you to. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Indoor & outdoor sitting... this is so nice[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]

    Menu as of Oct 2025
    Amy L.

    Kai latte $7 - Mac nut latte iced. At first glance I thought it was a bit too much milk but the coffee taste was strong. Would order again!

    Lovely swan!
    Madison G.

    [[HIGHLIGHT]]This place was lovely![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I stopped by after a hike and the employees were so nice, [[HIGHLIGHT]]the shop was cute[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]], and the coffee was lovely & delicious! The barista made me a swan whack I thought was pretty neat too! I hope to come back next time I go to the east side for a hike!

    Hours
    Tessa R.

    Absolutely LOVE Kai coffee. I usually go to the one in kapahulu but the traffic is tiresome. So I'm so happy they opened one in Hawaii kai. Tons of free parking in a private and safe parking lot. I don't need to park on the street now! Seating area inside and outside in a completely shaded area and air conditioning inside. Very clean bathrooms that you will need to ask a key for. Staff was kind and happy. They were very busy with only 2 people working. I went around 10:00am on a Saturday. I ordered my usual, iced kai latte and it never disappoints. They have hot foods and bakery items something for everyone's appetite. I will be here often!

    Jennifer F.

    I saw the lines, but thought it was just due to being in a great location close to the beach. Wrong. We had a delicious Mac nut iced latte, and banana bread latte. Great festive Hawaiian taste and flavors.

    Storefront
    Irene M.

    The perk in the area... Kai Coffee Hawaii newest location is out in Kalama Valley which I think is a great addition to the area because if you do a Yelp search not a coffee place for miles. It is a simple complex with various tenants like Oahu Pool and Spa to Hawaii Balloon. This cozy spot is simple with two tables and a comfy sofa on the inside with a few tables on the outside including a couple picnic style tables with umbrella though on this gloomy day a couple of ladies hoarded the tables inside so I sat outside freezing lol! With that I had their Matcha Latte which comes unsweetened so I did add a touch of syrup...it was okay not the strong matcha flavor that I crave and they do Ave milk alternatives as well which is nice as I do enjoy changing it up sometimes. Along with my tea I decided on a deluxe breakfast sandwich on ciabatta which comes with an egg, cheddar, bacon, ham and garlic aioli which is served warm and was decent though almost paid $20 for the two considering my tea is $6.25 the sandwich was not worth it at all. The service was bleh for a morning coffee no greet, no thank you for the tip...the whole experience just not worth the drive out here unless you live in the area which would be going out of your way. Thank you!

    Açaí bowl
    Rebecca C.

    Chai latte was very milk heavy, so the chai flavor didn't shine! Order came out quickly though. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Really kind servers and spots for indoor and outdoor seating.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Next time I order here, might just have to stick to coffee.

    Tricia F.

    I usually don't write reviews but I 100% recommend! We had the sweetest girl serve us (Alyssa)! She has such a friendly & welcoming presence. We tried the seasonal sandwiches & they were 10/10! The coffees were also very smooth. I don't drink black coffee but my friend got the cold brew & I would've ordered one for myself too if I didn't already get the Kai coffee (which was also really good) our big backs also got every single pastry which all were 10/10 LOL TLDR; service was unmatched & food was amazing

    Quinn V.

    Good coffee. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Nice place.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Great service. Both the boss and the young guy were super nice to the customers. The only thing I didn't like was an interaction I saw my first time there when the boss was being mean to the young guy working behind the counter. The boss was outside talking to a couple of customers and when he came back in, he was annoyed at the guy that had a couple of orders that were not completed yet. There was a line of customers ordering (7:30 am on a Saturday) so the guy had to take their orders. No one else was back there making drinks so the guy couldn't help it. I think no need to be mean to the guy. He wasn't slacking off or anything. Please be nice to your employees. They work hard for you!

    Lemon poppy seed cake.
    Ray L.

    Fairly new coffee spot in east Honolulu. [[HIGHLIGHT]]They have plenty of free parking and lots of nice outdoor seating.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I was blown away by the lemon poppy seed cake I had. It was warm and a nice portion slice. I enjoyed it with a nice hot cup of tea.

    Kailani P.

    [[HIGHLIGHT]]A beautiful hidden gem![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I got the Kai latte & my husband got a iced black coffee. Both really nice, [[HIGHLIGHT]]there's lots of seating indoors and outdoors.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The service is great, very kind and knowledgeable! [[HIGHLIGHT]]We love coming here with our puppy![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]

    Iced macadamia nut latte
    Michelle H.

    It's awesome that Kai Coffee opened in the Kalama Valley shopping center, bringing a little more life into the sleepy plaza. Kai coffee is a local chain with a few other locations on island. At this location, there is ample parking and plenty of shaded seating outside to sit a while and enjoy your drink, perfect for a coffee date or if you're waiting for your car next door. On our visit, we walked over from Kalama Valley park just a few blocks away. We decided to try an iced macadamia nut latte and a blueberry scone. Prices are a bit high, but our drink and scone were both delicious and hit the spot. They do sell coffee beans here as well!

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    Review Insights

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    1 year ago

    Probably the best latte I have ever had! Macadamia for the win and service was excellent.

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    2 years ago

    Love having a local coffee shop option in Hawaii Kai. Their sandwiches are delicious as is their coffee.

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    2 years ago

    [[HIGHLIGHT]]Nice atmosphere and great staff ![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Their coffee is delicious ! Highly recommend if you're a coffee lover :)

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Kai Coffee

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    Livestock Tavern

    Livestock Tavern

    4.2
    (1.2k reviews)
    12.3 mi
    $$$

    Didn't realize I never reviewed them. It's been a hot minute since I've been. They used to be…read moreopen lunch time, so was easy to go. Now only dinner. Baby and I had date night. Had a glass of wine and baby had watered down lemonade. Her drinks were put in plastic cups with covers and those horrible paper straws. Eyes always bigger than my stomach, we ordered: - Cornbread - when i grabbed it I thought would be super dense but really wasn't. I thought it was very corny and tasty. Lightly toasted. Honey drizzle which wasn't too sweet...or maybe I just ate the parts that didn't have. Baby ate almost 1.5 pieces and even liked the Jalapeno Butter that I just dabbed on her bread. She said wasn't spicy but think she just didn't have enough. - Bone Marrow - lit it on fire to burn off the alcohol. Pretty sure it ddin't get it all so I cut baby off once I realized it. Other than needing some salt, really good. Choke mushrooms on top. One half was scrawny, but hubs had the other half for leftovers and choke marrow. YUM. - Sunchoke and Brussels - YUM. Baby ate some but was not really thrilled about it. I loved it. - Scallop and Mushroom Risotto - YUM. Delish. Baby liked it too. So much leftovers of everything. Realized when we ate it for leftovers it was all pretty oily and needed a pinch of salt. But otherwise great. Staff really nice and helpful. Love that the place is spread out and open. Bathrooms are not assigned which I'm sure can get gross, but is great to not have to wait for just the women's. There is a big stall which was perf since baby is potty training and had to go #1 and #2! Only thing missing was a hook to hang my purse and her bag. Great dinner...but if anyone is listening...bring back the shrimp and grits!!!

    First time visiting to celebrate my friends birthday. Inside was nicely lit and clean. Our server…read morewas nice and introduced himself and mentioned specials and what they ran out of for the evening. However, his service was not great but not terrible. We ordered drinks and took around 15 mins to come, then we looked for our server to order our food. The appetizers cane out in a timely manner but our entrees took quite a while. The Duck Confit was yummy! I thought the duck was going to be super dry, but when you eat it with the jam that came with it, it's very good. I requested for a little bit more of the jam but was given just balsamic glaze... My friend said her scallop risotto was watery and not the same as the last time she went. My bfs prime rib was okay. Bone marrow was okay. The chicken pasta, octopus appetizer, salad, and mac n cheese were lacking flavor and tasted okay. I would recommend dining here if you do not have plans after.

    Photos
    Unclean bathrooms 0/5 stars
    Unclean bathrooms 0/5 stars
    Lobster moco
    Lobster moco
    Old fashion

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    Old fashion
    Local Joe

    Local Joe

    4.6
    (626 reviews)
    12.3 mi
    $$

    I honestly don't understand the hype surrounding this place, the reality is completely misleading…read more I called 15 minutes ahead to place an order. The employee took it and immediately hung up on me--no name taken, no "thank you," no "goodbye." When I arrived, the parking was a mess, so I had to be dropped off. Inside, the food display looked sad, and the cashier looked completely miserable and unpresentable. While waiting patiently on the side for 15 minutes, I watched the kitchen staff preparing food. Red flag: they literally microwave their eggs instead of cooking them fresh. After 30 minutes of total waiting time, I finally went up to check on my order, only to find out the cashier hadn't even handed my ticket to the kitchen yet. She sent it back right in front of me without a single word of apology--just a blank stare. I cancelled my order on the spot. Horrible service, zero management, and low-quality food prep. Save your golden time & money and go somewhere else. Definitely not a place where I'd want my food prepared!

    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.

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    Counter
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    Turkey Bacon Breakfast Burrito
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    Liliha Bakery

    Liliha Bakery

    3.7
    (2.4k reviews)
    12.7 mi
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    Liliha Bakery had always been my goat ngl. I love their poi mochi donuts and their restaurant has…read moregreat staples done well. The clam chowder was a hidden gem, it was AMAZING! It reminded me of the chowder I had in Seattle, which is high praise. The salmon salad was also amazing, I couldn't stop eating it. The dressing on the salad was a nice sweetness to balance out the salmon.

    What can't you like? Simple, delicious, ono Hawaiian food with amazing pastries!…read more Get the guava plantation iced tea and if you don't order an entree (ie garlic fried rice, kimchi fried rice, etc.) you DON'T automatically get a butter roll, but you want one. Trust me. Get their jelly to go as well (by the pastries). Kitchen messed up our order. We got kimchi fried rice instead of the garlic but it was quickly fixed! Definitely get SPAM as your meat. It's quintessentially Hawai'i. For dessert, grab a coco puff or chocolate cream puff (or two, or three...) for to-go. Their other desserts are quite as exciting, imo. Overall, I think their breakfast is the best bet and their fried rice is also great. Huge bowls of saimin as well. Where they get iffy is lunch/dinner like fried chicken, prime rib, etc. They do make a good (and HUGE) BLT on a croissant. Can't miss this! In between East and westbound Nimitz next to Tokyo Joe's steakhouse. Parking is around all four sides of the building but can be hard to find a space during busy hours (9-11am).

    Photos
    Coco puffs, pastries
    Coco puffs, pastries
    Toasted roll with raspberry sweet spread
    Toasted roll with raspberry sweet spread
    That SMOKE PORK BELLY strips (so good and yummy) *2/15/23

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    Sweet E's Cafe

    Sweet E's Cafe

    4.7
    (3.4k reviews)
    9.1 mi
    $$

    They were very nice and the service was quick. I like that you can take your coffee in a to go cup…read more The prices are very reasonable. As far as food goes, I found my scrambled eggs to be a bit dry. Nothing that my wife or I tried was particularly ground breaking, but overall the food was quite good. A great place to go for a solid, affordable breakfast.

    @fortunefoodfinds: "Words cannot EGGS-press how much I L.O.V.E. you! A Corned Beef Hash Eggs…read moreBenedict with Fried Rice n' a Stuffed Banana & Cream Cheese French Toast topped with Fruits from Sweet E's Café off of Kapahulu. After all these years since my last visit, they are still seriously so good. A great spot to have breakfast or brunch, oh how I've missed you so much!" SERVICE: fast, friendly, n' fully staffed INTERIOR: good amount of indoor n' outdoor seating. Chose indoor to stay in the AC. EXTERIOR: off of Kapahulu WAIT TIME: got on waitlist n' seated 10 mins later PARKING: very tiny free lot, this is the only downside OVERALL COMMENTS: the last time I went here was 9 yrs ago so I was way overdue. Picked a sweet dish n' a savory dish. The Corned Beef Hash Eggs Benedict with Fried Rice is bomb! Big enough to share. The corned beef isn't super crispy but it's all about the flavor. The way they seasoned the corned beef n' hash is so good. The eggs were cooked nicely with a runny yolk n' the fried rice was delicious. The Stuffed Banana & Cream Cheese French Toast topped with Fruits was soft, sweet, n' creamy. It complimented the savory dish so well. Place is kid friendly, my 1 y/o was crying n' a staff member brought out toys. I need to come back more frequently!

    Photos
    Inside seating
    Inside seating
    Corn Beef Hash Eggs Benedict with potatoes
    Corn Beef Hash Eggs Benedict with potatoes
    Hawaiian scramble with added spinach and hashbrowns and side of garlic fried rice... YUMMY!!

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    Nami Kaze

    Nami Kaze

    4.5
    (801 reviews)
    13.3 mi
    $$

    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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    Nami bento
    Nami bento
    Nami Kaze
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    Kai Coffee - coffee - Updated August 2026

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