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    Cafe 'Alalā

    4.7 (32 reviews)
    Open 9:00 am - 2:00 pm

    Cafe 'Alalā Photos

    CAFE 'ALALĀ ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Dogs allowed
    Outdoor seating

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    Irene M.

    Came for the matcha... Stayed for some lunch as suggested from the other location at Aloha Tower as this Topa Financial Center location have a full menu including sandwiches and looking at their menu there was some familiarity from the former Cafe Daisy and to find out that it's exactly the same so I'm not sure if it was just a name change and thought it was strange as their clover screen still says Cafe Daisy at Topa and my receipt says Cafe Daisy as well. Like I said I came for the matcha or specifically the new item "Banana Bread Matcha" and as my first sip was exactly that the creator of the syrup smiled and agreed with me as we talked about it further and couldn't get enough of it and wished I could have this every day. For lunch it was the "Jalapeño Grilled Ham n Cheese and made it a combo to add Tomato Soup was absolutely delicious the insane cheese pull that went on with each bite was filled with ham and jalapeños making it a perfect pair. The staff is so nice and friendly and love that they have lots of seating as I enjoyed my lunch at my leisure but ended up enjoying the rest of my matcha on the Rooftop Garden as the elevator to the top of the parking structure was just steps away from the restaurant which was a nice way to take in the beautiful view. Thank you!

    cafe
    Tiana H.

    matcha - AMAZING! i got an iced banana bread matcha latte after hearing many good things about it on social media. safe to say it did not disappoint! both the banana bread and matcha flavors were strong and meshed perfectly together. this was especially perfect for this time of year in fall. i'm definitely coming back :) service - super quick and friendly staff! ambiance - a small cafe at aloha tower, mainly catering towards HPU students so more of a grab and go type of cafe. there is no indoor seating, but they do have lots of outdoor seating.

    Lisa P.

    Really tasty pumpkin dirty Chai. Courteous worker. There were many other delicious concoctions, I had a hard time deciding at first but I never had a dirty chai. There is alot of parking. You need to ask for a code to the bathroom.

    Ruth M.

    In the topa financial building I just was here for someone else, I'm never downtown! Lol theres a lot of little food cafes and bento shops in here so I'm glad I got to try something new! This place is near the security desk and across from aloha bakehouse cafe. This place has a lot of seating. They have a breakfast menu and lunch menu. I ordered a strawberry matcha and the it was pretty good! Strong match taste and it was one the thicker side. They have fresh juices but note that it comes in a pretty small cup I saw. It's quite pricey starting $8.99 for 12 oz. I got an avo egg cheese croissant and it was tasty! They have bagels, espressos, smoothies, juices, matcha, and specialty lattes, cold brews and frappes. Lunch menu is pretty much same as breakfast with wraps and sandwiches but with salads. Very convenient for employees and people in this area. Service was fast and friendly.

    Strawberry matcha
    Germaine J.

    MATCHA -- I came here for the matcha because of the social media hype. I got the strawberry matcha. I would say that their strawberry flavor is more on the artificial side -- similar to a Nesquik strawberry milk flavor. You can taste the matcha pretty well. SERVICE -- The barista/cashier is friendly. My friend forgot to substitute their milk for oat milk and the barista was able to accommodate their request even after already paying for the drink. I asked for extra napkins since I had a runny nose and she gave me a great amount of it. She also gave us the restroom code in the building when we needed to use it. AMBIANCE -- The store is pretty small, there was still a considerable amount of space when you enter but there were no seating inside the store. It was almost always empty when I visited around noon-early afternoon on a Wednesday during the summer. There were Aloha Tower outdoor seating right outside of the store, perfect for hanging out. It was such a hot week in July and it was shaded and breezy in that spot. Review is for my visit on July 30, 2025.

    Kona Cold Brew with strawberry foam
    Ashton Celine Q.

    I have been coming here way before their rebrand as Cafe 'Alalā and I can always say that their drinks never miss. I love their house beans and I'm so happy that they brought another espresso bean option which is Kona. The drink I got today was their Kona Cold Brew with the strawberry foam they use in their strawberry matcha #iykyk. If you love their strawberry matcha but feel like switching matcha for coffee, I HIGHLY recommend this drink! Staff is always so nice and friendly, and I appreciate their drink recommendations when I'm feeling indecisive. If you're ever in the downtown/Aloha Tower area, this is definitely a place to check out!

    Banana bread matcha latte w/ macadamia nut milk, Pistachio foam matcha latte w/ almond milk.

    Banana bread matcha latte: 10/10! So, so good. Matcha was rich and bitter, syrup was a bit on the sweeter side, but had a really good nutty banana flavor. Pistachio foam matcha latte: also 10/10! Really good as well, perfect balance of sweetness and matcha flavor. Parking in the underground parking garage is ridiculously expensive, 21 minutes was $6.00. No validation. Better to find street parking and walk. Baristas were super nice and helpful! Lots of seating, good place to study or catch up w/ friends :)

    The awesome owner, Jean, of Cafe Alala!

    Another great drink and sandwich from Cafe Alala!! I got the ham, egg, and cheese croissant with avacado and a matcha brown sugar with oat milk. DELICIOUS!! I also had some of their homemade tomato sauce to go with the sandwich...I mean seriously..., the container it comes in definitely needs to be bigger! Thank you Jean for always taking the time to 'talk story' a little when I come visit. See you next week

    Alala cafe has clean and cool design. I tried the Kona coffee cold brew, and it was really delicious. I also had the salmon bagel the salmon was soft and full of flavor. Everything was well-balanced and tasted amazing. The friendly staff also made the whole experience even better.

    Pistachio Cream Latte with Oat milk

    Love this place! I work nearby, so I would always visit this location when it was Cafe Daisy. I was surprised to find this Aloha Tower Location and the one in the Topa financial building rebranded, but they have the same friendly staff and yummy coffees. They changed their look and vibe, plus added some new additions to the menu! I was about to go into cardiac arrest once I saw a LOX BAGEL and PISTACHIO cream latte, two of my favorite things ever! Plus, the lox is so reasonably priced! It's hard to find lox bagels that don't cost an arm, a leg and my soul. Side note: As an Italian, I love strong, smooth espresso. They also offer Kona beans now next to their signature blend, which I decided to get with my pistachio cream latte. Very delicious. Excited for this new chapter of Cafe 'Alala!

    Lauren P.

    I work hybrid but every time I'm in Downtown, I have to come here. Usually I get their matcha banana frappe (shoutout nik, ash, & Jean for always remembering LOL), but I wanted to their new menu item. Think it was called expresso cream latte w the brown foam. It was so GOOD UGH. All my downtown baddies, this is the spot!

    Jennifer H.

    not a lot of people here when we went! it was so peaceful and quiet. we got the strawberry matcha and the banana bread matcha! it was truly so tasty and it might be one of my new favorite matcha places!

    Absolutely love this place and it's super cute. Had some trouble figuring out what to get and the staff were super friendly and patient. I ended up with a lox cream cheese and it was done super quick and so yummy.

    bacon croissant

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    1 year ago

    Amazing service! All the baristas are amazing and have a great energy. The cafe has a great atmosphere and delicious drinks!

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    1 year ago

    The staff is so attentive and remembers me! The quality of beverages is so good! A great start before class!

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    1 year ago

    I always come here before classes. Great Service! I usually get a turkey egg and cheese croissant and a strawberry and creme redbull.

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    1 year ago

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    1 year ago

    Amazing customer service! Accommodating and also the breakfast sandwiches were great and priced perfectly.

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    1 year ago

    Yummyyy so sweet people and delish coffee and great location will def come back soon I haven't tried the food yet

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    1 year ago

    absolutely love cafe 'alalā! jean is amazing and always makes every drink with love and you can tell! definitely recommend stopping by :)

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    Review Highlights - Cafe 'Alalā

    . If you love their strawberry matcha but feel like switching matcha for coffee, I HIGHLY recommend this drink

    Mentioned in 8 reviews

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    Delicious all around! Such a fantastic breakfast/brunch spot, and I'd definitely come back…read more // Smoked Ahi Salad (Ahi is served as a spread!) A great high-protein, lower-carb way to start the day! The salad had a nice variety of colors, textures, and crunch from the pistachios and onions. It also came with a small cup of sweet and savory dressing that tied everything together beautifully. The smoked ahi spread was fresh, flavorful, and not overly fishy. It was served with a slice of freshly toasted garlic bread that was warm, fragrant, and perfectly crisp without being overly toasted. // Wailua Moana Açaí Bowl So refreshing! Easily one of the best açaí bowls we've had. The texture was thick and smooth with a great balance of fresh fruit, crunchy granola, and healthy fats from the nuts. Every bite was delicious. // Matcha We ordered both the regular matcha latte with coconut foam and the strawberry matcha latte. I was so disappointed they no longer offer the lilikoi matcha- I know that flavor combination would've been amazing! Hopefully they bring it back someday. The matcha itself was on the lighter side compared to richer ceremonial matchas, but it was still smooth, well-balanced, and not at all astringent. It paired really well with the oat milk, and both drinks were enjoyable. There was a line out the door during breakfast/brunch hours, which shows just how popular this place is. Despite the crowd, the service was friendly and efficient, and we were able to grab a small table to dine in. It's located on the upper level of the Royal Hawaiian Center, making it a convenient stop while shopping in Waikiki. I'd definitely come back to try more of the menu (hoping the lilikoi matcha will make a comeback too)!

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    Taro Bagel with Ube Cream Cheese
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    Waffle and Berry

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    Waffle and berry is one of my favorite spots for an acai bowl! The acai is more of a sherbet…read moretexture rather than a smoothie texture, so it's more thick. There's a topping station where you can add toppings like chia seeds and honey to the acai bowl too. It's unlimited! Mr. C, the man that runs the place, is also super kind and welcoming. Whenever I bring a new person, he offers them a sample of the acai so they can try it before deciding what to get. Waffle and berry is in the middle of Waikiki. You'll have to go down some stairs to find it, but it's worth hunting down to try! There's lots of seating available and a turtle in a tank in the store to keep you company while you enjoy your sweet treat.

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    We sat near the kitchen and we loved the mocktail we tried
    We sat near the kitchen and we loved the mocktail we tried
    Berries and cream half size waffle
    Berries and cream half size waffle
    Peanut Butter Banana Waffle

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    I love this place. I come time and time again…read more I got the monkey kine smoothie and the steak sandwich. Though my favorite is the steak wrap. I love the little cacao nibs in the smoothie. The sandwich was so good. Omg. So many flavors. I always never order steak, but I always do when at Nala.

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    Logo items for sale
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    We had heard good things about this local coffee chain, so we decided to give it a try during a…read moreshopping trip to Ala Moana. It's a little tricky to find, but that seemed to be a theme at this rather poorly labeled mall which had few directories. Eventually we found it, though! It's quite small with only a few tables, but the decor is very cool and Hawaiian inside. The staff were also very friendly and explained different aspects of the various beverage since this was our first time visiting. I had the frozen banana kona mocha which was really pleasant and extremely refreshing on a warm tropical day after strolling around this largely open air mall. The drink was extremely smooth and refreshing, although I will say it was a bit light on the banana flavor but still very good overall! This is a good option to grab a beverage during your Ala Moana shopping trip!

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