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Lion Cafe and General Store

4.4 (332 reviews)
Open 6:30 am - 3:00 pm
Updated 1 month ago

Lion Cafe and General Store Photos

Business Info

LION CAFE AND GENERAL STORE ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Quiet
Good for working
Good for kids

Recommended Reviews - Lion Cafe and General Store

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Reviews With Photos

Crème Brûlée Latte
Cody P.

We visited Lion Coffee on a Friday morning. The store wasn't very busy, but parking was difficult. I got the creme brulee iced latte. It was very good. Coffee was high quality and kept me functioning throughout the day. Bathrooms are available inside the store.

Jessica N.

Ordered the toasted coconut cold brew. Coffee taste was strong. Service was okay. Only street parking.

Alexander G.

Lion Coffee is a Honolulu staple roaster, this is their general store and factory in Kalihi, which is worth a visit if you're a coffee lover. Oahu only has one coffee farm (not this company), so all their coffees come from other islands and beyond. Lion's red bags are mostly blended varieties, some flavored, with their gold bags all Hawaii grown (mostly from the Kona Coast). I really enjoy their coffee and often get them for gifts for friends while traveling. All are available in whole bean or pre-ground. Prices are consistent with grocery stores, their coffees may be cheaper at wholesale or on sale elsewhere. Its' really fun to visit this place in person. It's all street parking in a commercial area of Kalihi. The entrance area is a spacious cafe, gift shop, tour area, and restrooms. They have all their coffees available for purchase to-go, plus merchandise and souvenirs. At the back is a small area to take people through the coffee roasting and blending process, see their website for details to book. The main part is the coffee counter and cafe; they have a large selection of drinks and light baked goods. Prices are reasonable and a fun place to take a break on a tour. If you're a coffee fan, it's worthwhile to stop by!

Macadamia latte
Laura D.

Triple shot macadamia nut latte with oat milk - OBSESSED. Very cute shop with table and chairs. You can also buy their bagged coffee and other Lion branded items like bags, apparel, and drink ware.

General layout of the Lion Cafe and store.
Warren N.

The Americano was priced about right for a 16 oz. Cup. $5+ for a bagel and cream cheese was a bit much. Yes, it's "touristy," but it's better than MccD when your waiting fir your car to be serviced at Firestone. Sketchy neighborhood with sketchy people walking around. Parking us scarce, too.

Blanche M.

Recently visited while in the area because we were excited and needed our coffee fix. Not too far from the main strip of Honolulu, but definitely need a ride there. Cute spot, and they have their museum on lion coffee. We ordered their iced coffees, and they were both good. Great place for souvenirs for your coffee connoisseur.

Museum room.
Dan A.

Ordered a Matcha Frappe while waiting for another establishment to open shop. It was the worst matcha beverage that I've had. Artisinal shops - regardless if they specialize in tea or coffee - will whisk their matcha beverages ( hot or cold ) upon order. It makes for a earthy, delicious drink. Corporate chains - I get it, it's about convenience - will have a matcha base pre-made. Those chains have all beem better. I' ve had good coffee-based beverages before...and that is what I have to stick to at Lion Cafe & General Store.

Michelle M.

When I fly in from Cali this is my first stop to grab an iced coffee and shop to grab my favorites. It's a nice open space cafe/ general store, also WiFi if you need to sit for a bit while enjoying your coffee. They do have tours and a cool lil museum inside. Great Staff so Friendly and excellent service! Lots of Logo Merch too! Will certainly be back again soon Favorites Cafe Honolulu , Vanilla Macadamia and Classic

Inside
Jaimie S.

Love the smell of coffee in the morning! You can literally smell them brewing when you drive through Kalihi. If I'm at not Starbucks, I'm definitely here. It's close to the school so after dropping my kids off I like to come here and get "mom fuel" the only down side is I wish the parking situation to this place was better. I usually come alone and I have the hardest time finding parking. When I come with someone I usually just let them stay in the car and I run in or I let them run in and grab me a drink too. The service is good and they are quick with making the the drinks, they do everything right in front of you. The ambience is a cute coffee shop with the warehouse right next to it so you know it's fresh as it gets. thanks lion coffee for making a shop! I also love bringing my family from the mainland here because it's so cute and they have so much history for my family to take photo ops.

Iced caramel macchiato with sweet cream cold foam

Last-minute Sunday morning coffee run--clean, quiet, and great food! I stopped by Lion Coffee Cafe & General Store on a Sunday morning and was pleasantly surprised by how quiet and peaceful it was. There were only two workers on shift, but the service was steady and the vibe was perfect for a relaxing morning. The Atmosphere & Shop: Super Clean & Vibrant: The space is bright, open, and has a great energy to it. They did have restrooms. Plenty of Seating: Lots of areas to sit down and relax. Merch & Souvenirs: They have an awesome selection of retail items. If you're looking for coffee beans, bags, clothes, hats, mugs, or tumblers, they've got you covered. Parking: It is street parking. The Food & Drink: Iced Caramel Macchiato with Sweet Cream Cold Foam (8/10): This hit the spot! It was just right for me. The cold foam on top did make it sweeter. Tali's Ube Bagel: I paired my drink with an ube bagel from Tali's, served with Philadelphia cream cheese. It came out nicely toasted and was a delicious local treat. Overall, it's a fantastic, clean spot in Kalihi to grab a solid breakfast, a great coffee, and browse some cool local merch.

Inside
Ellen D.

Alway love coming here for some morning coffee! Great service and quick to make. Lots of seating inside and is always so clean when I come. Im obssesed with their mac nut latte Can't wait to be back as always!

Best cold brew !!
Li Y.

Love stopping here for a nice refreshing cold brew. I think they make it best here! Also available hot and frothy cold drinks. Great place to bring out of town visitors as there is a cute selection of coffee and related gift items, a great chill sitting area, well maintained bathrooms! Love that there is both a happy hour and a customer loyalty program here. Service always with a smile. Conveniently located in the industrial area of Dillingham. I always find myself driving by the area and my car knows to auto stop at Lion's Coffee Shop!

Cup of 100% #konacoffee for $4! Way better than Starbucks! @LionCoffeeCafe @HILionCoffee #caffeinefix #coffee #kalihi #luckywelivehawaii
Berneta A.

I absolutely love this place! It's dangerously close to my family's house, so every time I fly back to the mainland, half my suitcase is packed with their coffee. This spot is their coffee factory, but it's also a cozy café where you can sip on some of the best coffee around. They even offer factory tours, and learn some cool coffee history about Hawaii. I've never tried the food here because, honestly, I'm too busy chugging coffee like it's going out of style. But if I ever needed a place to hide away and get some work done, this would be it--great coffee, laid-back vibes, cool people that work here, and plenty of spots to hunker down. This place is a hidden gem for coffee lovers!

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1 month ago

ambiance and food is great! there's only 2-3 workers per shift and they get your food ready asap.

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2 months ago

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6 months ago

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3 months ago

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8 months ago

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16 days ago

The overall ambiance of the cafe is inviting and spacious. Highly recommend the Kona coffee cold brew with sweet cream topping! So 'ono!

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11 months ago

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3 years ago

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7 months ago

Great Coffee very chill place to kick back relax reflect plan or work on your laptop try a Thai Latte very tasty ...

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8 months ago

Good tasting coffee and a nice vibe insde. If you're in HI you gota visit this place.

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3 years ago

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Lion Cafe and General Store Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Lion Cafe and General Store

Kona Coffee Purveyors

Kona Coffee Purveyors

4.4
(2.6k reviews)
4.7 mi
$$

Good things come to those who wait. I only wish there were more people here specifically waiting…read morefor the coffee because it was absolutely delicious! Sadly, it seemed more folks were there for the pastries though. First off, I'm surprised I found such a fabulous cup of coffee in what feels like the epicenter of tourist life on this island. While visiting another island nearly establishment had signage stating they served Kona and/or Hawaiian coffee, but nearly every establishment's coffee was absolutely awful. Seeing the location I fully expected them to phone in the coffee, but it's clear that coffee comes first here, even if many of the guests are trying to get pastries! You'll be shocked by the line, but just know the staff is efficient and it moves fast. They offer a variety of their own locally roasted beans here, with options for batch brew, espresso drinks and even pour overs (impressive considering the volume of customers). The coffees are well described and the baristas have the additional knowledge you may be seeking when you order, and all in all this went as quickly as I could have expected. Truly, the coffee was delightful, and the fact I was drinking a hot drink on an extremely hot day didn't even phase me. I wanted so badly to bring home a bag of each one, but given that everything is more expensive in Hawaii, these were all 4x the price of the specialty coffee I buy on the mainland and I just couldn't make it happen. What will happen is me telling everyone to visit this shop when they're in Hawaii because it is 100% worth it. Won't you consider opening one in Reno NV?

Long line, oven was broken, so only coffee and desserts available…read more Ordered a "Kona" coffee for $5. Quite frankly it's one of the worst cups of coffee I had. Watery, flavorless. This can't be Kona coffee, and if it was, they don't know how to brew it. Terribly horrible, really expensive coffee. Don't bother.

Photos
Sample drink
Sample drink
Delicious dessert
Delicious dessert
A cup of Americano

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A cup of Americano
Tradition Coffee Roasters Cafe And Tours

Tradition Coffee Roasters Cafe And Tours

4.7
(144 reviews)
8.7 mi
$$

TL;DR: Aromatic and high quality coffee including Kona coffee, for take home in bags as well as…read morebrewed at shop. I highly recommend the nitro! It's also located in a cool area with other small businesses including the Manoa Chocolate Factory (you can book a tour). 1/ DRINKS. The nitro brew is smooth, and not too bitter or sour. That's difficult to achieve with nitros but they do a really good job here. You can also get the standard drinks like lattes, americano, and even steamers. They pull espresso with precision. The latte doesn't taste burnt, but rather is rich and smooth and very easy to drink. 2/ TAKE AWAY. You can buy roasted beans whole or ground. They have the top tier Kona coffee at $90 for 12 oz but also more standard roasts for $20 for 12 oz. 3/ SERVICE. The staff and owner are top notch--super friendly and prompt. We managed to order over $100 of beans and got a free canvas bag! They also offer tours of the roastery. We didn't take it, but I'd imagine is a good follow-on tour to the Mano Chocolate Factory tour which is just one block away.

Another YELPTASTIC visit to da Traditional Coffee Roasters Brew House on a YELPTASTIC Sunday…read moreafternoon! Banana Bread Latte is delicious. Somehow that put grandmas baked banana bread flavor inside a coffee cup! Friendly Service overflowing with Aloha and that local vibe of welcome here! Mahalo for that Java Jolt and yummy flavor to savor!

Photos
Good coffee and this! Perfect.
Good coffee and this! Perfect.
Matcha and pineapple muffin! mmm.
Matcha and pineapple muffin! mmm.
Amazing matcha and gf pineapple muffin!

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Amazing matcha and gf pineapple muffin!
Ali’i Coffee

Ali’i Coffee

4.5
(226 reviews)
3.3 mi
$

I am so sad to hear that this location has to close. The Ward Center has always been here when I…read morevisit! And now, it's going to be gone. I loved coming to this location because parking was always easy. The staff was always friendly and welcoming! I usually get The Prince, but I ordered The Queen for a change, and was hooked. At least I can go to the one near Chinatown. Hopefully they open in a new location! Again, I will miss coming here! Mahalo!

They always have different fusions of drinks so I enjoy going here to try whatever they have! I've…read moretried a pistachio matcha latte, an ube drink, etc. Atmosphere - Cute atmosphere, definitely coffee shop vibes and sounds. There is seating, bench style along the wall with wood stools on the opposite site. There is also "bar" seating along the window but not too many seats, maybe like 2 - 4 people. Then there is seating outside as well, around 4 - 6 seats, 2 seat table type of seating. Service - Everyone is friendly, will answer questions and can provide recommendations! Cost - Depends on if you're getting only a drink or if you're getting food as they do have food! Around $8 - $25 dollars if you get a drink and food. Parking - This is in Ward Village so there is a small parking structure right behind the business and it's free or any of the structures around ward village works too! Easy to walk to! Location - Ward Village area, same row as a ramen place, dessert shop and shirt store. It's fun hanging out and catching up with friends here or to grab a coffee and go!

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Seating area. Really nice artwork, cool furniture.
Seating area. Really nice artwork, cool furniture.
Cinnamon toast. Somehow dry AND delicious AND perfect. how??
Cinnamon toast. Somehow dry AND delicious AND perfect. how??
Masala Chai Tea and Island Breakfast Tea

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Masala Chai Tea and Island Breakfast Tea
Cafe 'Alalā

Cafe 'Alalā

4.7
(32 reviews)
1.5 mi
$

Needed an afternoon matcha pick-me-up or else I'd fall asleep at my desk. I remembered this spot…read moreused to be Cafe Daisy. Menu looks pretty similar with the fancy-smancy lavender lattes and food items such as wraps and bagels. I ordered an iced matcha latte with oatmilk. Taste was okay, the drink looked very green and left a little gritty aftertaste in my mouth. Their preparation method is similar to Starbucks; Don't expect a handcrafted matcha beverage. Cashier was nice and greeted me with a smile. She offered me a stamp card with my purchase. But other than that she looked a little bored being there. My drink came out quickly and I was on my way. Overall, it's an okay spot. Would probably return if I don't feel like walking too far lol.

Based on My Visit only…read more I ordered the iced strawberry cold-foam matcha latte with oat milk. The flavor was okay not bad at all but not quite as delicious or visually appealing as I hoped. My friend had an iced latte with whole milk and it tasted lighter than expected, especially considering the price and compared to similar spots nearby. Overall, the drinks were just average for us, so we'd give them around a 5/10 based on this visit. The staff were genuinely lovely. Everyone was welcoming, had great service energy and seemed happy to be there. This was definitely the highlight of the experience. The space is clean, simple and has plenty of outdoor seating which is always a plus. It's a nice spot to sit and relax. Overall: For us, it wasn't something we'd drive far specifically for yet but we appreciate the effort and hope to see how they continue to grow. This is just our personal experience and others may enjoy different menu items more.

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Cafe 'Alalā
Ham egg & cheese bagel sandwich
Ham egg & cheese bagel sandwich
Cafe 'Alalā

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Local Joe

Local Joe

4.6
(626 reviews)
1.4 mi
$$

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 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!

Photos
Counter
Counter
Turkey Bacon Breakfast Burrito
Turkey Bacon Breakfast Burrito
Thai latte

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Thai latte
Hello Again

Hello Again

4.4
(92 reviews)
1.5 mi

Hello Again will have me coming back again! My friend Li Y. recommended we stop by here so I could…read moretry their matcha. I'd been curious about trying their matcha offerings, so I was excited. We came on a holiday morning, and there wasn't anyone inside. The cafe is cute and vibey! Love how pet-friendly it is with the polaroids--I'd definitely bring my pup here. There's also a decent amount of seating to hang out or work at. Service was fine. I ordered at the register, and she made my drink immediately. I was intrigued by their Haupia Matcha Latte. I love all things Haupia, so it seemed like the perfect match. I got the Haupia Matcha Latte with Oat Milk, and it was superb. I loved how creamy it was, how the sweetness of the haupia shone, but the earthiness of the matcha was still there. I'd definitely recommend this drink and am curious about their others. Hello Again is a nice cafe addition to Chinatown. With all the cafes in the area, it's worth a visit if you're a matcha lover like me. Find the cafe off Nuuanu Ave., unassuming on the outside but nicely sized once you go in! Parking is limited to the street or nearby municipal parking.

Yes please! Enjoy the comfy cozy sitting area. Hello Again is tucked away downtown. Parking can…read morebe a challenge tho there are metered spaces just outside door and municipal parking lots not far away. The drinks are heavenly. I enjoyed a coconut matcha. Can't wait to return and repeat!

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Inside the shop
Inside the shop
Haupia Matcha Latte (Oat Milk)
Haupia Matcha Latte (Oat Milk)
Haupia Matcha Latte is yummy!

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Haupia Matcha Latte is yummy!

Lion Cafe and General Store - coffee - Updated July 2026

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