Refreshing beverage in Downtown, Honolulu, Hawaii…read more.. I saw Instagram posts of Sama Sama at Union Plaza. It took the place of It's Tea, next to the former location of Mr. Donut, near Hotel Street. It's just window service with no dining-in area. Takeout only. France was the efficient, knowledgeable, patient cashier/barista. She explained that this downtown location has a limited menu. I adjusted my order accordingly... and got the Butterfly Pea Flower Tea with Calamansi flavor and a Taho (dessert made with silken tofu, Boba, and syrup). Both were refreshing and delicious! I wanted the halohalo, but it's not available here... and it's not dairy-free... (sad face) Hours of operation: Monday to Wednesday from 11am to 2pm Support this local, Filipino-inspired business!

5/2/25 I was looking forward to getting a boba drink but the shop was closed. :(…read moreAlthough Yelp lists their closing time as 3:00pm, everything was closed when I got there before 2pm. Per their IG, the downtown location is "limited hours". But since there's no specific schedule posted or no updates on their IG, you wouldn't know if it's open or closed unless you go.

I didn't think to photograph the outside of this locally owned business. It is located on the…read moreground floor of the Court House Building to the Right of the Metal Detectors. I popped my head in here after paying my parking ticket at the court house and was pleasantly surprised. The owner is a loving, kind soul and provided excellent customer service. He recommended I try his homemade "Mochiko Chicken Burger w/ Aoli Sauce". This sandwich was delicious with a perfect balance of sweet and savory, it was exactly what I needed to pick up my mood in the morning. I also purchased an apple juice and received a free Vickie's Salt and Vinegar Chips. The owner does seem to have a visual impairment in his right eye and I believe that's where the name of his establishment came from. Get it? Da Blind Spot? Maybe I'm reaching, but definitely swing by this establishment. You'll be blessed with conversation from a loving, genuine man.

horrible service, horrible selection, horrible food, horrible vibe overall. go somewhere elseread more

We were at H-Mart this past weekend and were having family dinner here…read more After grabbing dinner, we decided to stay and pick up some desserts. Fortunately, Gold Miss was nearby and we had previously grabbed dessert from them. Aunty was nice and friendly. Unfortunately, the Milk Tea I ordered was less than desirable. The tea itself was fine, but the boba was not chewable. Extremely disappointing since we took our order to-go. The location itself is okay. There is plenty of seating at H Mart however, H Mart itself has grown incredibly well traveled. The bathrooms are dirty. The walls are damaged. It's just not like how it was in the beginning.

Duplicate listing but copying over. Maybe closer to a 3.5 rounded up. Decent boba in the food court…read moreabove H Mart. Solid post dinner drink or dessert. Unfortunately they do not support sugar adjustments so drinks are on the sweeter side. House Milk Tea w/ Boba - Boba was very slightly undercooked resulting in a chew on the firmer side. Decent marination however, so there was flavor. A classic house milk tea blending the aroma of black tea with sweetness and creaminess.

So happy they were open on a holiday. Needed my morning coffee fix and the sun was already heating…read moreup the day. Convenient location, fast and friendly service, and tasty iced white mocha latte. Will be back to try the banh mi and other food items.

Refreshing beverage in Downtown Honolulu, Hawaii…read more.. Teapresso is a known name with over 15 locations on O'ahu, including Kaneohe, Ala Moana, Wahiawa, Mililani, and Waipahu. This Teapresso Express is a cozy shop at Bishop Square. They featured some grab-and-go meals that are convenient for people who work in the area. There's outside shared seating areas around Bishop Square. I ordered a Peach Cantaloupe iced tea which was nicely fruity and pleasantly delicious! It was a fun pick-me-up on a warm summer day!

I just discovered this cute food trailer "Cafe Parkside" on Yelp as I was looking for restaurants…read morein Kalihi. Not sure where it was located in Kalihi, but I was determined to find it. I was at Richies Drive inn when I remembered to check out this place. It was about a couple lanes or two further down North King Street heading west and sure enough you can spot the cute food trailer in the parking lot. Did you know the family built this wooden cafe on the trailer together?! The Kids helped built this with the direction of their father. They are parked near the street in the shared parking lot with the Pawn shop & Jackson Hewett Tax Servive. It's across the Kapalama Post office but before the old Pizza Hut location and I think after Palace Saimin You would only see the cafe on the trailer from Tuesday-Friday from 11am -5pm. There are some picnic benches and chairs under the canopy tent while you wait. In the beginning they started out in Waimanalo but for now they are here in Kalihi. They are known for their Steak and Shrimp plate and their two huge pieces of boneless fried chicken. They have some regular items and some specials of the day. Best to call ahead and place your order. The fried chicken would take the longest about 10 minutes wait time. They have some other items which sounded good like pot roast pork which is not offered all the time, hamburger steak. Kalbi, loco moco, bbq chicken, etc. On a hot day, shave ice and slushies and slushes floats would be refreshing. They have lemonade and orange aid slushies , but I got an orange aid slushie float with ice cream. I decided to get the fried chicken since I had some time to wait. it was huge as the photos posted and it was $12! It was hot and crispy in a seasoned flour battered. I couldn't wait to take a bite as I was driving, but I just tried part of the fried batter. It was seasoned so it was a little salty for me perhaps I just ate the batter part. The chicken gravy given was really good but having two humongous boneless chicken, I may need more gravy than the large portion cup given. Chicken tasted better after pouring some of the gravy over it. The gravy was yummy and not the brown gravy, but the light tan gravy! I'm looking forward to try more dishes like the rib eye steak, pot roast pork or some other specials. Please support this family own business! Daily specials are posted on their Instagram page @cafeparkside808. They were so nice and down to earth. I was grateful for their great & friendly service and they even offered to bring my order to my car since I wanted to wait in my car. They have some regular customers now but could use more customers since they are a new business. Prices were reasonable with generous portions. Still need to try more plates but I'll give them a rating of 4.5 stars rounded up! Thanks for reading my reviews =)

Sashimi Platters $10 n Sesame Poke $8 lb. They never had this on their menu before but let me tell…read moreyou, buggah is ONO! I called in the order incase I never make in time to pick it up. They have other options of food and They all taste "ONO"! any ways, check them out if you have time Cafe Parkside

Keeping it Kaka'ako…read more.. I absolutely love that Surfers Coffee is now in Kaka'ako though it's very different from their Wahiawa location which I think it's great since it shares its spot with The Vintage Hawaii. Located in Kaka'ako Business Center that has a few customer parking stalls painted in yellow lines which always appreciated especially in this part of Kaka'ako sometimes is difficult to find. Walking in I didn't know what to expect and was just so thrilled to see how clean and spacious it was along with several types of seating in a separate area from the coffee bar which is so bright and welcoming with various merchandise and menus including their "underground drink menu" featuring various crafted coffees but they had me at "Nutella Mocha" which is dark mocha latte with Nutella...ya that was hard to resist and loved it was simple. The staff is very awesome and friendly as I asked various questions where they filled in information that there's also a pottery area and that classes will be available soon these kind of craftiness I do love in a place that shares its passion for the community including collecting school supplies is so heartwarming. Love a place that supports local in so many ways and that opening at 7am is also great for those that early start in their day. Thank you!

Today I met a friend at Surfers Coffee located on Waimanu St. Never thought there's a coffee shop…read morelocated here. From the front door it looks like a warehouse but once you walk in there's sitting area along with the order counter . I ordered an iced caramel macchiato it was made with good Kona coffee beans it was very flavorful. Downside the location is kinda out of nowhere it's on the side street I probably won't be coming back soon unless I'm in the area . Support local

Laverne, the shop owner, was making colorful ribbon leis when I walked in just after 8:00 am. She…read morewas welcoming and recognized that I wasn't local. We chatted a bit about family as she made my Waffle Dog. KC Original Waffle Dog is her best seller. She prepares daily specials for the lunch crowd. The local newspaper neighborhood shop is small with only one table. A few shelves offer leis, candy and other souvenirs. I order at the rear one of the KC waffle dogs. Lavern starts the griddle and pours the batter and adds a hot dog. It as fun to watch her cook. The waffle batter has crispy edges, which are good. The dog is very hot and I have to eat it with care. Laverne provided Tartar sauce to dip the dog. It's a great little snack. I'd return to try her lunch specials. The prices are really reasonable and I love the local vibe.

Better late than never…read more March 26, 2024. Prince Kuhio Day. A group of us foodies decided to meet up at Mr. Coffee Bean Head (which unfortunately closed) for coffee to support local. Auntie (aka Nadine C.) recommended us to try them, especially new, local small businesses. After we got our cup of Joe, we sat down to discuss our foodie and travel adventures. None of us had eaten breakfast and it was now 8am where adjoining business of Da Ohana Kine Snack Shop (DOK) opened. DOK started off at Ohana Hale Marketplace where several Yeeps on the table remembered this booth. I did see waffle dogs at Ohana Hale Marketplace but never patronized them. Waffle dogs bring back fond memories of KC Drive Inn as they were an iconic business on the top of Kapahulu Ave. I was introduced to them when I'd hang around with my calabash cousin and family. I recall pulling up to this business where they'd order waffle dogs and the peanut butter milkshakes. Before we could even stand up, Peter Y. generously ordered waffle dogs for everyone. It was the first order of the day for the owner and she seemed thrilled. We waited patiently for the grill to get hot so she could prepare them. I love hot dogs with mustard and these waffle dogs are no exception. I generously placed French's yellow mustard on top and chowed down. Loved the crispy edges and the semi sweet doughy center. Great texture and flavor contrasts to the hot dog and yellow mustard. Perhaps it was too early but the owner could have been more customer friendly. Overall, a great experience at DOK where I'd be game for a repeat visit. The waffle dogs hold a special place in my heart as it recalls the fond memories of my childhood days.

Great service and good taste. The Chocolate chip, oatmeal…read morecookies were so good. I bought whole bunch to share with friends. Owner smiled and explained so thoroughly about his pastries and cakes. One of the best taste pastries in town.

Omg I love this place and I love Don quijote so being Nextdoor to each other is awsome! I'm from…read moreHilo but u better know I'll always drop buy and grab the cream horns there my favorite!! Actually me and my other half just celebrated our birthdays with a fruit cake! And even better she has a cake knife and super cute candles for when u don't have one. And the owner is so sweet service is top tier very attentive!