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    Top Tea + Espresso

    4.4 (171 reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 9:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Order Top Tea + Espresso Takeout or Delivery

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    TOP TEA + ESPRESSO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Top Tea + Espresso

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    Ube Milk, Ube Taro Milk Tea, and Ube Black Milk Tea
    Generous Y.

    Cozy boba spot tucked around the corner of a Subway. Ample parking because of the entire plaza. Seating is available but no restrooms. We snagged a plethora of drinks but most notably, the ube trifecta. Ube Black Milk Tea w/ Boba - milk tea was light but very refreshing. The ube mixed alright but as ube is a subtle flavor, the overall taste didn't change much. Definitely more aesthetic but I'd opt for another ube option or a classic milk tea.

    2 medium sized Brown Sugar Tiger Milk drinks with boba
    Amber R.

    Came here on Feb. 18th because I was really craving boba so I got 1 for me & 1 for my grandma and its still the absolute best for both of us and she genuinely gets so excited when I ask her if she wants a drink too because she hardly ever comes to this side of the island unless she absolutely has to for something health related so definitely will continue to come here!

    Brown sugar and Ube Taro
    Michelle S.

    This t-shirt might be hard to find but if you look for the Times Supermarket and nice day Chinese restaurant it's just around the corner. A huge assortment of drinks to choose from which you can vary the sugar and Ice level which I appreciate. They also have dairy Alternatives which I definitely appreciate! I got the Ube Taro milk tea with pudding soy milk light ice and zero sugar. My friend got the brown sugar milk tea with boba. The bobaristas were friendly, our drinks came out fast and tasted great! There are some tables outside so you could sit and enjoy your drink and it looks like they also offer a small menu of food but we didn't get any.

    Jasmine milk tea with Oreo
    Lili A.

    Hard to find boba spots with so many options! The Tea was so flavorful and we enjoyed all the drinks. I recommend this spot

    Lava  Flow Smoothie
    Emily L.

    Amazing once again. Everytime I go, I love their drinks. My absolute favorite is the Strawberry Black Milk Tea, half sweet.

    Egg tarts & my Iced Americano
    Hazel M.

    Located around the corner of Times this unassuming shop is my boyfriend's favorite place to get an iced americano. They offer a variety of drinks and desserts and have a few tables inside where you can sit and enjoy their offerings. We're always greeted with a smile and enjoy their service even if it's brief. On our last visit we got to try their egg tarts, they were freshly baked so we tried our best to let them cool before sinking our teeth in them and they were so yummy. Not too sweet & the crust was light & flaky, just how we like them. They participate in Five Stars so make sure you always put your number in to rack up those rewards!

    Personal containers
    Lou C.

    I came here with a group of my former coworkers from almost 20 years ago. One suggested to meet at the boba tea shop at Liliha Square. She didn't tell me the name. I had to coordinate with my other coworkers. She finally revealed the name when she arrived at Top Tea + Espresso next to Subway. I normally research the restaurants before I get there. So, I would know what to order from reading the reviews from everyone local. This time, I did a quick glance at the pictures people posted. There were too many to choose from. I ended up getting my usual Honeydew with tapioca balls aka boba. The drink tasted ok and the price was really reasonable. I was complaining about the weak straw until my local friend told me it was because they used biodegradable straws. Ah ok. It cracked all over the directions. I couldn't use it to suck up the boba. I had to use a spoon to scoop them out. The location is kind of funky. We sat at the concrete table on the walkway. There were transients walking toward the public restroom. Quite a scene that busy night. Oh. One more thing. Don't be mistaken this "Top Tea" with "Tea Top", which is an international franchise from Taiwan and the mainland. This is definitely a locally owned and operated restaurant on Oahu.

    Menu (1/3) as of March 2024
    Rachael K.

    Lately, price of boba is climbing and quality is declining. But Top Tea knows how to make a perfect bubble tea, and their prices are more than reasonable! I'm not in the Kalihi area often but when I am, I stop by Top Tea + Espresso because (1) Their teas and smoothies taste fresh! (2) Their boba is perfectly sweetened and the texture is delightfully chewy. (3) Customer service is excellent. The staff is always kind, friendly and happy! Today, I enjoyed a large mango green tea, 50% sweetness with boba. It was exactly what I wanted. Craving satisfied! My boyfriend enjoyed his mango peach smoothie with boba. Tip: You cannot adjust sweetness for smoothies. Also, you can choose up to 2 flavors!

    Menu April 2025
    Fate L.

    Very neat store and it make the drink in decent time. Is another hidden gem that you don't want to missed it. This is another place you can get nice drink and they also offer ice cream too.

    Thai Tea. 75% sweetness.
    Bella B.

    Patient, kind service. Delicious. Refreshing. Small venue; 4 tables inside; seats about 16. Milk options include whole, almond, and soy. We sat outside tables; posted sign says limited to 1 hour.

    The amount of ice they put is unbelievable, it fills almost the entire cup and leaves very little actual drink.

    ube black milk tea and black milk tea with boba

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    1 year ago

    Honestly the staff are imbeciles. Horrible time management, by the time we got our "blended" drinks they were basically juice.

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    3 years ago

    Average boba place but that doesn't mean it's terrible! Great customer service with a discount for students and locals!!

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    Page 2 of 5

    Ask the Community - Top Tea + Espresso

    Do you have and sugar free options? I'd love to pay for a black coffee drink with crushed ice, no dairy and no sugar (I'm diabetic). Or tea would work, too. Thank you.

    Yes. We do. You might order Americano which is black coffee. For tea options: plain tea like black tea, green tea or oolong tea. For milk tea options: we use non-dairy… Read more

    What are their current hours of operation?

    We currently open from 11a to 6p daily until further notice. Thank you

    What is "Top's Black Milk Tea"? How does it differ from the regular "Black Milk Tea"?

    It is steeped longer so the tea is stronger in taste

    Do they have brown sugar milk tea and cheese toping?

    Hi there, Yes, we do! Thanks

    What flavor is Okinawa flavored milk tea? Is it a type of brown sugar?

    Hi There, You’re right. Okinawa flavored milk tea is like Okinawan Brown Sugar. It’s slightly different than regular brown sugar taste

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Hello Again

    Hello Again

    4.4
    (91 reviews)
    0.6 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.

    Went to China town with a group of friends, and we love coffee, café vibes and matcha. We ordered a…read morenumber of things like their tiramisu latte, matcha haupia (this one was great), cereal latte and the cardamom rose latte. We even sat, took some photos and enjoyed the cute doggie wall of photos. Unfortunately however, a forth down the latte we ended up throwing them away because the Cardamom latte had a live cockroach clinging onto the inside of the cup and upon further inspection, one of the tiramisu latte had a roach leg. We ended up throwing them all away! And talk about gross...

    Photos
    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!
    Local Joe

    Local Joe

    4.6
    (626 reviews)
    0.7 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
    Ali'i Coffee - Honolulu

    Ali'i Coffee - Honolulu

    4.7
    (400 reviews)
    0.6 mi
    $$

    Ali'i Coffee is such a cute little spot in downtown Honolulu. There's paid parking nearby, and they…read morealso offer online ordering, which is great if you're in a hurry. The café itself is on the smaller side, but the menu has a great selection of drinks and food options. I ordered the Royal Ube Matcha Latte over ice, and it was delicious. It's actually one of my favorite places on Oʻahu to get an ube latte--the flavors are balanced well, and you can still taste both the matcha and the ube. What really stood out to me was the staff. Everyone was incredibly friendly and personable. At one point, I genuinely thought a customer was a friend of one of the employees because their conversation felt so natural and welcoming, but they had actually just met. That's the kind of atmosphere they create. The whole shop has a warm, bubbly energy and feels very much like a neighborhood coffee spot where people know each other and enjoy being there. If you're looking for great coffee, friendly service, and a cozy local vibe in downtown Honolulu, Ali'i Coffee is definitely worth checking out.

    Located downtown near the corner of S. Beretania and Bethel St., directly across the street from…read moreKukui Plaza. Metered street parking or there's a paid parking lot right across the street on Bethel. There's also paid public parking jn Kukui Plaza. Clean shop. My drink and food were made fast. Got The Queen- I liked the toasted coconut topping. The espresso wasn't overpowering. Get an extra shot if you like that coffee taste. Wasn't too sweet. I just wish the drink was hotter. It was warm. The breakfast burrito was good. I would definitely try it. It was pricey- $15. There's a lid station. You put your own lid on your drink.

    Photos
    Ali'i Coffee - Honolulu
    Mouth is watering just taking this photo. This is the egg sandwich with everything bagel absolutely delicious. Great breakfast.
    Mouth is watering just taking this photo. This is the egg sandwich with everything bagel absolutely delicious. Great breakfast.
    Ali'i Coffee - Honolulu

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    Bread House

    Bread House

    4.2
    (132 reviews)
    0.6 mi
    $

    Breadhouse Honolulu - Downtown Hours:…read moreMon-Fri: 6:30AM - 3:00PM Sat-Sun: 7:00AM - 3:00PM Must-Try: The banana bread loaf is my favorite--flavorful and perfectly sweet. Bummer I didn't get a pic... it didn't last long! Parking: Street parking is available but can be limited; there's also a paid lot nearby. Location: Downtown Honolulu - convenient for a quick stop or a relaxed breakfast.

    A co-worker and I go out and pick up breakfast a couple of times a week. It's usually dim sum, a…read moremuffin, breakfast bento, or pastries. When we want the latter, we gravitate to Bread House on Maunakea Street. They offer a variety of pastries, some of Asian orientation like red bean buns, char siu bao, and more standard offerings like doughnuts, bread, and rolls. They offer some interesting savory pastries, including an onion roll, which is a light roll with pieces of onion and mayonnaise, some with hot dog or sausage incorporated into the roll, and some strange (to me) rolls with corn and tuna. They sometimes offer blueberry cream cheese scones ... These are delicious, but I haven't seen them offered in a while. My favorites include the onion roll and the chicken curry doughnut. The person running the register could be friendlier, and you need to ask for a bag, otherwise you'll be carrying individual bags of pastries back to your office. I'll give them a 4+ rating for their pastries and a 2.5 for their "friendly" service.

    Photos
    Blueberry cream cheese scone (interior)
    Blueberry cream cheese scone (interior)
    Hot dog bun from Bread House.
    Hot dog bun from Bread House.
    Blueberry cream cheese scones

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    Blueberry cream cheese scones
    Drip Studio

    Drip Studio

    4.7
    (155 reviews)
    0.7 mi
    $$$

    I'm so glad I got to try here! I've worked at multiple…read morecoffee shops so I know a good share about coffee. Let me tell you, Drip has GOOD coffee. The beans they use tastes nutty and chocolaty, very different from other coffee places I've tried. I can see Drip is passionate in what they do and they were very friendly and shared their knowledge of what they know.

    drip studio got the drip! haha i am so funny. sorry. anyway i walked in dripped out and walked out…read moredigesting uhhh very potent food laxatives. oahu's coffee scene for me is still a bit lacking, but drip studio has a lot of potential. location - near chinatown, hpu...easy to find since its all blue. everything is blue. giving percy jackson. service - baristas are super super friendly and nice! they are so fun to talk to. if you need to touch some grass just start a convo. the drinks - as i said were a bit lackluster. they rotate thru different beans and roasters apparently. i guess they were still dialing in when i ordered? i dunno cause unfortunately the coffee did not make me feel like a super powerful demigod who could battle a greek god and pummel his sorry butt. cortado was alright. couldn't taste any notes except for maybe some fruit - it was quite acidic. milk was steamed well but a bit bubbly and i wonder if that's cause the acid in the shot curdled the milk. matcha was pretty good! handwhisked to order HOORAY!!! too sweet with vanilla syrup added so get it non sweetened. they also have food, hojicha, chai etc. overall not bad but may need to dial in better. service needs NO improvement they are all expert extroverts

    Photos
    Coffee and accessories for sale
    Coffee and accessories for sale
    Cold Fashioned with house made cold foam
    Cold Fashioned with house made cold foam
    Side salad

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    Side salad
    Tea at 1024

    Tea at 1024

    4.4
    (388 reviews)
    0.6 mi
    $$

    Every time I have tea here whether it is with friends or if it is by myself I am always amazed at…read morehow terrific the service is here. With their menu now having a seasonal rotations I am constantly in for a delightful surprise. I was last there during the Christmas Menu. My favorite sandwich there is hands down the Smoked Salmon but that Roast Beef Crostini was fantastic. As it was Christmas I was there when everything had the cutest Christmas Trees. Even though the setting is really quite intimate and close and can at times get loud you do not really feel that when you're seated at your table. The staff is super attentive and great at making you feel welcomed. I definitely will be back in the near future!

    This is for my catering experience with Tea at 1024…read more For Galentines, me and my girlfriends decided to take the experience to us. The ordering process was easy thanks to their amazing staff. Their guidance from online ordering to communication over the phone and text, they made our event successful and memorable. There was 5 of us , with a moderate appetite. So, We went with two orders of the "Catering - Sandwiches TO GO" and one order of the "Catering - Scones TO GO". Then our choice of their teas: 1oz Sakura Cherry Rose and 1oz of their Cookies and Cream, which is great with milk and sugar btw. 1oz =at least 12 pours of the tea. If you want 2oz =24 pours of tea. The sandwiches were also delicious, a cute tiny bite of flavor. Which to this day I wish I ordered more since I'm more of a savory girlie. You can choose the sandwiches from their catering or seasonal menu and it comes in 4 pieces. We ordered: Sandwich flavors 24 pieces 1 Sweet egg salad (4) 1 Smoked Salmon with Dill Creme (4) 1 Nutella & Strawberry (4) 1 roasted veggies & hummus (4) 1 Crab & Cheese (4) 1 Cucumber & Avocado (4) My personal Favorites were the Smoked Salmon with Dill Crème and Roasted veggies & Hummus. The scones only available flavors were vanilla bean & earl grey and it also comes with potted cream and jam packed in a to-go cup. If you decide to host a little tea party with your girlfriends, I highly recommend trying them out.

    Photos
    2 Tier - High Tea Time (pot of tea, salad, assorted sandwiches, petite sweets, scones, jam and cream included)
    2 Tier - High Tea Time (pot of tea, salad, assorted sandwiches, petite sweets, scones, jam and cream included)
    You get to choose your own teacup. How cute is this?
    You get to choose your own teacup. How cute is this?
    Yummy scones with cream/jam

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    Yummy scones with cream/jam

    Top Tea + Espresso - bubbletea - Updated June 2026

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