Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Kai Coffee

    4.5 (50 reviews)

    Kai Coffee Photos

    Business Info

    KAI COFFEE ATMOSPHERE

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

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Kai Coffee

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    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. Indoor & outdoor sitting... this is so nice

    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.

    This place was lovely! I stopped by after a hike and the employees were so nice, the shop was cute, 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!

    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.

    Açaí bowl
    Rebecca C.

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

    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!

    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!

    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. Nice place. 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. They have plenty of free parking and lots of nice outdoor seating. 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.

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

    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!

    Cocoa F.

    Love this coffee spot. Great coffee and matcha latte. Drinks don't come overly sweetened. Food is delicious too.

    ka hui smoothie and kai latte

    See all

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Coffee tastes more like water than coffee. Had a bit of an after taste. I tried it twice.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Mike M.
    79
    27
    1

    2 years ago

    Very convenient for the neighborhood and hope they stick around for a while. House coffee is very nice.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    The sandwich and crepes are freshly made and taste good. Cashier is courteous and nice and the environment is nice and peaceful.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Great food and nice ambiance. The staff were very attentive to making sure our experience was great.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 2 of 2

    Ask the Community - Kai Coffee

    You might also consider

    Livestock Tavern - Flambé bone marrow

    Livestock Tavern

    4.2(1.2k reviews)
    12.3 miDowntown
    $$$

    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!!!

    Made a reservation just a few hours in advance and had no issues at all. We arrived about 30…read moreminutes early and were surprised that they were able to seat us almost immediately. The interior was beautiful with perfect lighting, ideal for a date night. The food and drinks were both excellent, and the service really tied everything together. Overall, a great experience and we'll definitely be back!

    Photos
    Livestock Tavern - Unclean bathrooms 0/5 stars

    Unclean bathrooms 0/5 stars

    Livestock Tavern - Lobster moco

    Lobster moco

    Livestock Tavern - Old fashion

    See all

    Old fashion

    Local Joe - Breakfast croissant & lox for us  Local Joe be there for us when we need a break from fluorescent light.

    Local Joe

    4.6(622 reviews)
    12.3 miDowntown
    $$

    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.

    I was actually on my way to another coffee shop, but I saw Local Joe when I turned on Smith, so I…read moreturned on that side street, Marin, and there was a parking spot right there. Meant to be! I ordered the Royal Hawaiian. This was delicious! I also had a slice of banana bread. It was heated in the oven with a pat of butter on it. Sooooooo good! Said I'd come back for the pumpkin bread, and I did a few days later. Ordered the Royal Hawaiian again. Can't get enough of it and the pumpkin bread heated the same way. Lots of people getting coffee to go and food. It's in a great location! I was also looking for a new coffee supplier. I used to go to Downtown Coffee but the last batch I bought was not very good. I bought Guatemala, Columbia, and Hawaiian. Had them all ground fine. Each one proved to be a winner with the family! So happy to have found this not so hidden gem! It is now my go to for beans! The staff is great! The owner too! And it's a comfortable place to take a break at! Mahalo Joe!

    Photos
    Local Joe - Counter

    Counter

    Local Joe - Turkey Bacon Breakfast Burrito

    Turkey Bacon Breakfast Burrito

    Local Joe - Thai latte

    See all

    Thai latte

    Liliha Bakery - Poi Donut

    Liliha Bakery

    3.7(2.4k reviews)
    12.7 mi
    $$

    First impression, I thought the location was kinda hidden and small. But when you enter inside,…read moreit's actually huge! They have the bakery, sit down restaursnt area, and an open kitchen. We came around 4PM and were surprised it was almost empty (but slowly it did get busier). Our food came with complimentary bread with guava sauce. It was really good! The bread is toasted, crispy, and buttery. Everyone in my party enjoyed it. We did not expect our food items to come in really large portions. I loved the chicken karaage! The batter was light and crispy with great flavors and had a yummy sauce drizzled on top. It also came with a scoop of rice, buttered corn, and Mac salad. Mac salad was delicious! Prime rib sandwich came with salad and au jus sauce and a side of salad. It's good but also very filling. I didn't try the burger or teriyaki chicken but was told both were delicious. After dinner, we ordered a few items from the bakery to eat on the plane. You have to take a number and wait for them to call it. I got 2 kouign Amannn, 2 Dubai coco puff, and half dozen green tea puff. The kouign amann is a circular croissant. I liked that it was soft and flaky and had a sweet, crispy glaze over it. The Dubai coco puff had a strong pistachio crunchy flavor but I thought it was way too sweet for me personally. The Star of the show are the green tea cream puffs! I would come back to just order that! The top filling tasted like a thick creamy brown butter green tea-flavored icing. The filling inside doesn't taste like brown butter and less thick but still really good. Overall, they had really good food and items from the bakery. Highly recommend the infamous green tea cream and chicken karaage dish! Customer service was quick and professional though I felt like our server wasn't that friendly lol. The restaurant was very clean and had plenty of seating.

    First time here and loved our breakfast. They started us with warm butter rolls served with red…read moreguava....the red guava was REALLY good on top of the rolls. I ordered the ultimate waffle which came with whip cream, blueberries, strawberries, butter and nuts. Also had a side of the fried potatoes...it was all very good. My friend had the loco moco with white rice and he said it was good, one his favorite. Service was perfect, waiter was very friendly and accommodating. There bakery has an amazing variety of sweets and we decided to get Cocoa Puffs to go...was told by a local that they are delicious and their signature item so had to try (when I'm not stuffed). I am no longer stuffed and tried the Cocoa Puffs....so good! Gotta go back and get the frozen Cocoa Puffs to take home! Lots of locals here so it must be good! Definitely recommend and will definitely return!

    Photos
    Liliha Bakery - Yummy cheat day

    Yummy cheat day

    Liliha Bakery - Toasted roll with raspberry sweet spread

    Toasted roll with raspberry sweet spread

    Liliha Bakery - That SMOKE PORK BELLY strips (so good and yummy) *2/15/23

    See all

    That SMOKE PORK BELLY strips (so good and yummy) *2/15/23

    Liliha Bakery - Lilikoi Portuguese Malasada.

    Liliha Bakery

    4.3(4.1k reviews)
    12.1 miKalihi
    $$

    Everything prepared with Love here You can tell that the bakers and cooks enjoy and take pride in…read moretheir work, deliciousness tastes like it Service is genuinely kind; consistently smiling whether from behind the dining counter or wonderful pastries and chantilly cakes or poi donuts Ohh how they are experts at making poi donuts : Liliha Bakery has the most moist tender flavorful POI DONUTS try the poi donut - do-nut eat just one! I dare you to try eat just one! Must have 2? (I confess, I've eaten 3!! Such a warm Ohana feeling when you dine in and enjoy the welcoming atmosphere whether Larger location Pearlcity or their original mostly take out location favorite counter/kitchen service It's like good therapy coming here!

    There's something quietly electric about stepping into Liliha Bakery on Kuakini, It's not just a…read moremeal, it's a front-row seat to a Honolulu classic in motion. Their famous pancakes, fluffy, golden, and just the right kind of indulgent, paired with a hearty omelet that hits that comfort-food sweet spot. The coffee keeps things grounded, rich and reliable. And the service? Warm, attentive, and genuinely local. But the real magic lives in the back. Watching the bakers at work feels like peeking behind the curtain of a show, trays sliding, hands moving with purpose, decades of tradition humming along in real time. It's equal parts diner, bakery, and local legend. You come for the pancakes, but you stay for the rhythm of it all.

    Photos
    Liliha Bakery - My mom is paying for our treats!

    My mom is paying for our treats!

    Liliha Bakery - Potato Mac salad (Dec 2025)

    Potato Mac salad (Dec 2025)

    Liliha Bakery - Dinner@Liliha Bakery; 10/29/2024. I Ordered, *Country Style Omelet w/Bacon*, so Stuffed right now! Da Cook, is a Very good Cook & he's Cool!

    See all

    Dinner@Liliha Bakery; 10/29/2024. I Ordered, *Country Style Omelet w/Bacon*, so Stuffed right now! Da Cook, is a Very good Cook & he's Cool!

    Sweet E's Cafe - Enchanting Blueberry & Cream Cheese French Toast with Add On Fruit

    Sweet E's Cafe

    4.7(3.3k reviews)
    9.1 mi
    $$

    If you're looking for a breakfast place that has wonderful food and good value for money, Sweet E's…read moreCafe is the place to go. Service: Awesome. We were actually asked about 3 times by 3 different servers if we wanted a different drink besides water, which was ok with us. We appreciated them being very attentive to each table's needs. Food: 10/10. I ordered the Veggie Eggs Benedict and it tasted really good. I liked how the ingredients taste fresh and how the benny complemented very well with the potatoes. I also sampled my brother's fried rice and it was amazing. The Extreme Mess was flavorful too, a little bit on the saltier side for me but my boyfriend enjoyed it. Ambiance: We were seated outside but it was covered and well-ventilated. The place is well-maintained and clean, and has a "local brunch place" vibe which I liked. Parking: We lucked out and got parking at the available space by their lot, around 11am on a Saturday. There's also street parking available.

    Excellent Experience at Sweet E's Café…read more We had such a great experience at Sweet E's Café. Even though they were busy, we didn't wait long at all. The servers were incredibly attentive from the moment we sat down--they brought us water right away, handed us menus, got our drinks first, and gave us plenty of time to look through the menu without feeling rushed. They were welcoming, friendly, and on top of everything. Our food came out fairly quickly and everything was fresh and delicious. The herb roasted potatoes were amazing, perfectly seasoned and cooked. The pancake was so fresh and fluffy. My omelette with Kahlúa pork was very good, full of flavor. My son's side of white rice and crispy bacon was cooked perfectly, and the corned beef hash was also delicious. We really appreciated the unlimited coffee and water refills, too. The overall experience was excellent--great service, great food, and a welcoming atmosphere. I would highly recommend this place and we'll definitely be back.

    Photos
    Sweet E's Cafe - Inside seating

    Inside seating

    Sweet E's Cafe - Corn Beef Hash Eggs Benedict with potatoes

    Corn Beef Hash Eggs Benedict with potatoes

    Sweet E's Cafe - Hawaiian scramble with added spinach and hashbrowns and side of garlic fried rice... YUMMY!!

    See all

    Hawaiian scramble with added spinach and hashbrowns and side of garlic fried rice... YUMMY!!

    Nami Kaze - Dining area

    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.

    Photos
    Nami Kaze - Nami bento

    Nami bento

    Nami Kaze
    Nami Kaze

    See all

    Kai Coffee - coffee - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...