Yi Xin Cafe
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Finding that perfect spot for a family-style feast in Honolulu? Yi Xin Cafe in Market City is an absolute must-visit. Their fusion approach to Cantonese, Malaysian, and Singaporean flavors is honestly next level. You cannot leave without trying the Salted Egg Yolk Chicken Wings-the crunch and flavor are unreal. Other standouts that hit the spot for me are the Thai Style Pork Cheeks and the Beef Omelette on Rice. Refresh your palate with the Instagram-able HK ice lemon tea with an iced teddy bear. Staff was attentive. Vibes gave me a Chinese resturant feel. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DZOBd1dyCJH/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==
Met a friend for a late lunch. I arrived just before 3:30 on a Monday afternoon. There were no diners but the cafe was open. I was greeted warmly and seated at a table with existing settings. The waitress brought two iced waters without prompting, and checked on me a couple of times. Other diners started trickling in one after another. My friend ended up being late so I decided to order for us both. The waitress was very patient with my questions. I decided to order mostly from the Chef's Specials menu: salted egg chicken fried rice, black pepper sizzling steak, salted egg yolk chicken wings (wasn't a chef's special but fellow Yelper Violet B said it's good). Friend wanted the curry crab with naan coz she was influenced, until she learned it's $78 per crab. Also it'd take 15-20 minutes to prepare since the crab would need to first be picked from the tank (she had to rush off somewhere else after our appointment) Food didn't take long; they were served not long after she arrived. Everything was tasty and portions were good for 3-4 persons. I had looked forward to the chicken wings most, but it fell a little short. They were crispy no doubt and perfectly fried, but I wish there were chunks of actual salted yolk in the sauce, which would have made it creamier. The wings weren't coated in the sauce either; the sauce was drizzled over them. Salted fish chicken fried rice had the wok fried fragrance, and the ratio of rice to salted fish, chicken, and veggies was perfect. My absolute favorite was the sizzling black pepper tenderloin steak! The meat was tender, juicy, and the black pepper sauce was delicious. It paired very well with the fried rice. Total was approx. $70. Service was attentive, although toward the end it felt like they were rushing us to pack up even though there were maybe two other tables of active diners. Interior decor is very bright and cheerful, definitely has Hong Kong vibes with the retro mosaic aesthetic, which is quite mahjong-esque.
I saw local UTuber Sean Kaleponi (The Hawaiian Traveler) eat at YXC, and I said I gotta hit this place. Its located in the Foodland Mall in Kaimukī. We had to order one of their sig crab dishes, and we rounded out the meal w/ beef and long beans, sweet & sour pork belly, eggplant and fried rice. The crab was amazing! The curry sauce was so deep & complex. In addition, the crab was fresh bc they have tanks in the restaurant. Of course I called dibs on the head, and it was packed with goodies. I added rice to the head (in Ilocano this is called "labay", adding rice to soup or broth to extend the meal). I was in heaven. The other dishes were all big portions and very good. The meat was tender, and the veggies were fresh and crunchy. I believe all the other dishes were ~ $20/each. The staff was super nice. We didn't have a res, but luckily we were seated in 20 min on a busy Sun night. Regarding the dining area, its tight but comfy. You have to wash your hands after, and the bathrooms are clean. I will def return the next time I come home. I want to try another crab dish (about 8 versions), and build a meal around the crab.
My first time here and definitely not my last. One of the best food I've ever had. Started off with our HK milk teas (hot and cold) and our foods arrived fast. Everything was so delicious and flavorful. Our total bill before tip was around $120 and with the 4 of us it came out to $30 per person before tip, pretty reasonable. Restaurant atmosphere was great. Our server was awesome. Free parking either in front or behind Market City Shopping Center. Parking does fill up fast.
Visited at 3pm to avoid the crowd. Ambiance was nice and less noisy at this time. Friendly server took our order and the food arrived promptly. Bitter melon and egg was soft and tender. Pork chop was salty and crispy. Honey walnut shrimp was big, juicy and the candied walnuts was plentiful. Malaysian fried rice tasty, and the Singapore rice noodle flavorful. The meal was scrumptious and delicious like a well prepared home cooked meal! Will definitely be back to try new items on the menu.
This place is very crowded and you need to make reservations. We were late for our reservation and were nervous they wouldn't seat us but they kindly did. When we left there was a very long line outside the door also. All the food we got was very tasty. The salted egg yolk chicken wings and green beans were my favorite. We didn't try the crab although we heard that was good. If we go again, we'll have to try it. I like our food and glad we got to try it. I think as long as you make reservations, you shouldn't have to wait or have any problems.
Stopped into the Yi Xin Cafe because I could not find the place we were Looking for and it turned out to be a great accident. We went inside and were greeted right away and the restaurant was busy and Inviting. Our server was very friendly and answered all of our questions. We ordered the Flat Noodles with Beef and the Baked Pork Chop with Tomato Sauce and Cheese. The Flat Noodles were great! Super tasty and not too oily like they can be at some places with very tender beef. The Bakes Pork Chop with Tomato Sauce and Cheese was an experience. I saw it at a Hong Kind restaurant in NYC and almost got it so when I saw it here I knew I had to try it. The dish has great flavor and the Pork was tender. It is certainly an odd choice to pair with Flat Noodles but we enjoyed it. The food here is outstanding and you should definitely stop ready and get in here!
The views out here are stunning and what better way to enjoy them than with a nice ice cold coffee! I am so glad I got to try this place. When you walk in, there's tons of baked goods and cute merchandise all over with small tables and chairs to sit inside. The outside also had plenty of picnic tables to sit at ans the light sign when you walk in with. Grass background was just so welcoming. The women who took our order was so kind fo us and patient which was nice because it was my first time trying Mele Mele Bakery. We ordered the ice Matcha Latte with the pistachio edge and almond milk and a cinimom roll with no icing. Oh my goodness it was amazing! The matcha was so refreshing, the almond milk didn't water it down either and the pistachio edge was just so delicious! It all made for such a refreshing drink! The Cinnamon Roll was also delicious, it wasnt freshly made or warm but that was a good thing because it was hot out. It has such beautiful spice and texture. It paired so well with our drink! Overall, a really good place to grab some coffee and a sweet treat. I would definitely come back and recommend it to anyone!
Yi Xin Cafe is one of those places where you just have to be patient--but it pays off. It's a pretty big space, but seating and food both take some time, especially on weekends. The crab dishes (like the curry crab and chili crab) are made to order, so expect to wait a bit. Parking is also pretty tight, so just keep that in mind. But the food? So worth it. The curry crab was rich and super flavorful, and the string beans with minced pork were amazing. Everything we had was honestly really good. Service was attentive, and I liked seeing the live crab tank--it made the whole experience feel fresh and authentic. Definitely a spot I'd come back to.
We had to try the curry crab because of Bretman Rock, and it definitely lived up to the hype. The curry crab had amazing flavor, although it was pretty difficult to crack open because of all the sauce. The curry also stained our nails, which gave us a good laugh. The crab dishes were around $78 each. The Malaysian fried rice was really good too -- great texture and full of flavor without being bland. The bitter melon and beef dish was definitely bitter, but eating the beef and melon together helped balance it out a bit. The mapo tofu was just okay, and honestly, we could've skipped it. The restaurant itself is on the smaller side, but luckily we didn't have to wait for a table. The food also came out pretty quickly. Overall, I'm glad we came to try the crab.
We were looking for a new place we haven't tried yet. Thanks to all our Yelp friends with great reviews, we decided to give it a try. It is located in the Market City Shopping Center, a restaurant formally known as Anytime Cafe. Waitress Yvonne greeted us and took us to our table. The ambiance was modern, clean, and with an Asia decor. She informed us of the best sellers in the menu and told us it was South Asian Infusion. Food: 4/5-Salted Egg Yolk Chicken Wings. It was different than your regular buffalo wing. It had more of a powdery crispy outside and yet mushy on the inside. It was an acquired taste, and to me, it was just okay. But I think I like the more traditional way. 4/5-Baked pork chops with tomato sauce, cheese, green peppers, and onions. Pork chops were slightly dry, but the sauce made it work. It was flavorful. 5/5-Beef Chow Funn was my fav. It was more on the chinese style, which was very good and tasty. Perfect texture and well balanced with all the ingredients. 5/5-The Star of the show, HK Style Iced Lemon Tea with frozen ice tea bear. It was a little on the sweet side, which balanced the taste buds of the food. An incredible presentation and creative idea. After we ordered it, other people were asking and ordering it too, lol. I would love to come back and try their shrimp dishes and other unique items. Great experience! read more
I saw this place everywhere on social media while planning my trip to Hawaii and knew I just had to try it. I came with a large party of 9 which was perfect to try everything on the menu. The Masala Curry Flavor French Fries were addicting, and we couldn't help but keep grabbing for more. My favorite item on the menu were the Salted Egg Yolk Chicken Wings. They were perfectly crispy and had so much flavor. This is a must have for me if I ever come back to visit. I honestly could have eaten the whole plate by myself and would have been fine with just that. The HK Style Iced Milk Tea w/ Frozen Bear has a good tea flavor and is not too sweet. The taste most definitely holds up to its looks. The only downside of the bear is that it doesn't melt down that well. By the time we left the restaurant, 3/4 of the bear was still remaining, but it is still most definitely worth the try. The staff were so nice and very accommodating to the cranky babies in our party. It was an overall great experience coming to dine here. read more
I wanted to come to this cafe after seeing a few of my Yelp buddies - Da FAMOUS Auntie Nadine C., Bruddah Daniel C., Jo Y., Li Y., & Kristina C. & Lori L. all post their wonderful reviews & pics. What Cafe am I talkin' about??? "Yi Xin Cafe" of course, and don't ask me how to pronounce the business name cuz I would probably butcher it! Lol! Located at the Market City Shopping center, you can find this little café just next door to the famous Cafe Kalia. Yi Xin Cafe took over the old spot where Anytime Cafe used to be. The menu here basically features Chinese food, yet there are other food items on the menu that I wouldn't consider Chinese food (just check out my menu pics). What drew me here was not the cutesy frozen bear drink, but the Frrrrrrried Chicken wings with shrimp paste (which I ended up not getting) Buwahahahahahaha! So many delicious looking items, but only one stomach so I guess I'll have to come back another time to try more items. I came here with my friend on a Saturday morning & we ordered the following items - 1. Salted Egg Yolk Chicken Wings 2. Shrimp WonTon Egg Noodles in Soup 3. Beef Chow Funn What can I say about the grub? The Salted Egg Yolk Wings was interesting. The wings had good texture, and the salted egg yolk was pored over the wings. I would say it's best to eat it hot, as the sauce can make the wings soggy if you let it sit too long. I ordered the Beef Chow Funn, and I must say it was the highlight meal of the day! The noodle had the nice "wok hei" flavor, and although I don't eat red meat anymore, I just picked out the beef from my dish, as my friend was the lucky recipient of the beef! Lol! My friend had ordered the Shrimp Wonton. She said it was just "okay", and also agreed with me that the Beef Chow Funn was the highlight meal. Service here was kinda spotty, but of course they were pretty busy on a Saturday late morning/early afternoon. The restaurant decor was cozy, and although the restaurant wasn't that big, the crowd that was waiting outside for a seat in the restaurant was minimal. Food was pretty good, but service could use some improvement. Overall a solid "4"! read more
3 years ago
Free parking, delicious food, fun drinks, and great service is how I would describe this place! After reading so many reviews I thought to take a drive to market city to try something new. On a Friday night, there was a short wait but hostess was very nice explaining that it would not take long. She was right and we were seated quickly. First thing I did notice was the cleanliness of the restaurant! The menu was easy to read and the waiter came by to ask if we had questions and mentioned customer favorites. We ordered the milk tea with the frozen bear. Super cute when it came and we plopped it into the cups where it bobbed up and down. Foods arrived quickly. The running flavor on all dishes was the curry Malaysian smell and taste. The chicken wings we ordered was crispy and fresh! The fries were addicting. Sizzling beef reminded me of a bell pepper onion dish I have had. Fried rice was good and complemented our Ong Choy. Curry with the potatoes had a homey feel. Everything was delicious! I really enjoyed the milk tea with a kissing head. Will definitely return! read more
It's a sunny Saturday and we're on a mission to find a new lunch spot! Got our pedicure appt in town so decided to go Market City Shopping Center since there's lots of good food options!! Hot Pot... Pho... South Asian Fushion?! Let's gooooo! And there's that cute Bear iced tea I want to try! ;) Thanks to our Yelp friends for posting!! This newly renovated cafe took over Anytime Cafe. Clean tables. We were greeted & seated quickly by Yvonne, who was very kind and helpful with the menu. She took our order and mentioned this was Hong Kong Style dishes. I asked if we can do no MSG and she said she can request "no additional MSG" - that's fine. They had 2 types of chicken wings. Fried Chicken Wings with Shrimp Paste or Salted Egg Yolk? Yvonne suggested we try Salted Egg Yolk Chicken Wings: Presentation is nice, but unusual chicken wings. I took one bite: it's more of a powdery egg flavor since they ground the egg yolk. Reuben liked it, but next time will try the other *Chef Special: Fried Chicken Wings with Shrimp paste. Read a Yelper's Review about the Baked Pork Chop with tomato sauce, cheese, and rice being good so had to try! It also came with green bell peppers and onions. Very good flavors. Pork chop was cooked well. I thought the cheese would be too much, but portions were enough. Beef Chow Funn: very good stir fry noodles with classic soy sauce and some bean spouts! Reuben's fave! HK Style Lemon Tea with Frozen Bear! Adorable presentation with slices of lemon! The Ice cube Bear is made of Tea! Refreshing flavors! Subtle sweet tea and lemon. A must-try! We took home leftovers but it's all best eaten right away! Forgot to take pic of their other Special Menu on the table but it was unique fusion curries and fried rice. Next time! read more
1 year ago
Our first stop and our last stop in Honolulu every trip. Yummy Chinese food and good service. A not so hidden gem in HNL. read more
Yi Xin Cafe is a very nice place to get some good Malaysian/Hong Kong/ Singaporean food with friends or family with good service. My Gf and I came here today on a Sunday afternoon after we saw posts about their bear ice cube tea drinks. (pics below) but we did not know that their food was gonna be the best part of the experience we had there. We ordered the rice omelet tonkatsu and the Malaysian fried rice, they give big portions so those two plates were more then enough for the two of us. The fried rice was so good and flavorful and the rice omelet tonkatsu was even better. Now for the reason we came, the bear ice cube teas were great. You can either get a lemon ice tea or a milk ice tea, and they are served in a glass mason jar mug with the ice cube bear on top. These drinks are not just for looks, they tasted awesome too! Overall the experience was good, the service was fast and it wasn't that packed inside. The only down side is trying to find parking out front. But there was plenty of parking in the back! Until next time! read more
1 year ago
Kaimuki has discovered Yi Xin Cafe. Its succinct menu features Hongkongese favorites such as seasoned Dungeons crab, stir fry beef spaghetti, and beef omelettes. There was a short wait when we arrived and all the people wanting to try the new restaurant kept every table full through 8 pm. Drinks and food come out in any order they are prepared. The Salted Egg Wings were crispy and brushed in an egg yoke oil. The Hong Kong Beef Curry is full of potatoes and has a mild, coconut curry sauce. The Baked Pork Chop tastes like tomato soup and Mexican cheese blend. The full dinning room vibrates with voices. Service is quick and the owners are very friendly. They are a welcome addition to Market City. read more
Very solid and classic/authentic Cantonese style dishes. Even the pics of Hong Kong districts in the restaurant makes me think back on my last visit many years ago. The portions are decent and the prices reasonable for today's high inflation. Some highlights: Pork cheek - easily favorite dish. Pork is sliced very thin but yet not dry. The sauce is excellent with a subtle Kaffir lime flavor. Must order. Fried Shrimp - big shrimps and well seasoned... Actually a little on the salty side. Crispy and came out hot... Love the slices of jalapeno peppers black beans. Service is excellent and there is no need to speak Cantonese. The servers will explain everything well. The restaurant is nice and clean and parking is good. The reason why not 5 stars is because the dishes are a tad too salty and not real bargains. read more
Lunch in Kaimuki, Honolulu, Hawaii... To get to the point, I saw a cute picture of the Frozen Bear on Social Media and I wanted one! The Frozen Bear comes with the HK style Iced Lemon Tea and also the HK style Iced Milk Tea. I ordered the Iced Lemon Tea... And I was so happy! The Hong Kong Style Iced Lemon Tea was served in a Mason Jar mug and included four slices of fresh lemon! It tasted great - not too sweet and not too tart! I maneuvered the bear into the mug from its lounging position on the rim of the mug. If I submerged him, the mug would have overflowed! The bear didn't melt down by the time I was ready to leave (even though I chipped away at it with my straw to make it slushy), so, I asked for a takeout cup. No problem! I also got a Shrimp WonTon Egg Noodles in Soup (wonton min). There were six dumplings - each filled with shrimp and minced (not ground) pork! Interesting! The noodles were slightly softer than usual, but nicely thin and chewy enough. The Choi sum (vegetables) were not mushy nor too crunchy, but just right! Everything was in place for a Five Star Experience: 1. Free shared parking at Market City Shopping Center 2. Convenient restroom 3. Efficient service - the servers checked on me several times 4. Air conditioning 5. Clean, bright environment Other reviews noted that Yi Xin Cafe took the place of Anytime Cafe, next to E.A.R.L. Kaimuki and Cafe Kaila. Another fact is that this establishment is related to Sing Ma Tei at Ala Moana Center. I visited a little after opening time (10:30am) and got a seat right away. Soon after, every seat was filled! I want to return soon and try other dishes. The fragrance of the sizzling platter from the table next to me was delicious!!! read more
Our first time coming here even though we pass by it all the time at market city shopping center. We started with the chicken which was yummy. I enjoyed everything else and it seemed more homey. We got the honey lemon tea with the bear which was adorable. We were seated and served pretty fast but we had a reservation. Tight parking since it's at market city so get there early if you're going for dinner time. read more
3 years ago
Where anytime cafe used to be is now Yi Xin Cafe! They have a lot of parking and it's very easy to spot. We got lucky last night, and we didn't have to wait! ***What we ordered **Honey Kong Lemon Tea (9/10) ~ Decent flavors from the black tea and lemon. Love that it's not overly sweet, but it was pretty good! **Sizzling beef with black bean sauce (5/10) ~ It was a little tough and there wasn't much flavor from the black bean sauce. Was a little oily, but not too bad. Definitely could be better though. **Beef Omelet on Rice (5/10) ~ Fried rice didn't have much flavor and everything tasted somewhat separate. This was really oily I would not get this again. **Beef Chow Funn (8/10) ~ Had a really good smokeyness from the wok. It added another dimension to the dish. Although it was a little oily, but it was still really good. Overall, I highly suggest the Lemon and beef chow funn! Everything else was eh. Service wasn't really the best too. Not too sure if I'd come again. read more
3 years ago
Food - Excellent Chinese restaurant in town. Good variety of dish options but not crazy overwhelmingly so. The curry crab was good but quite messy and a bit expensive. The shrimp fried rice with salty egg was fantastic! Also the chicken wings, sizzling beef, and green beans were yum! The beef chow fun and the won ton noodle soup were just alright. Service - The servers were on top of things and the food came out pretty quickly. The customer service was good. Ambiance - It is in a strip mall so parking wasn't too difficult to find. The restaurant itself is pretty new with a medium sized area to eat indoors. We were a group of 7 and they had a space for us immediately, but it was full after that point. The bathrooms were not the cleanest but it was almost closing time, so you get a break there. read more
3 years ago
Food was pretty good here! We tried a couple dishes among the 6 of us. The menu wasn't big so it wasn't much of a choice dilemma haha. The tastiest things we've tasted was the pork neck, and the egg yolk chicken wings, must order! The wonton noodles could be better. The noodles weren't chewy enough, and the wontons weren't that flavorful with the skin to filling ratio a bit off. The spicy fried rice was very underwhelming. Not spicy enough and not enough flavor or wok hei (charred flavor). Overall great experience. Would like to come back to try their curry crab! read more
Yi Xin Cafe takes the spot of Anytime Cafe in Market City, Kapahulu. Food offerings similar in the Chinese offerings; different in that there are now Singaporean and East Indian dishes along with the Cantonese and Hong Kong fare. Have visited two times now and noticed the place always seems to be packed at lunch time. The first time our party of 5 had to wait about 30 minutes for a table. Second time our party of two walked right into a still very busy restaurant. Food was tasty. The chicken wings were a bit on the greasy side yet crispy and delicious. We all enjoyed the salted egg flavored wings more than the shrimp paste flavored ones as we felt they had just a bit more taste. Fried rice was delicious and with a nice balance of ingredients. While the baked spaghetti had that familiar Chinese comfort seasoning, it was a little lacking. And the friend who had the pork cutlet/baked spaghetti combo said the pork was a little on the dry side. Stir fried ong choy and sautéed green beans were both nicely seasoned and delicious. A couple of us ordered the signature lemon iced tea with ice bear and the Hong Kong milk tea with ice bear. Ice was made from the drink base itself so as to maintain the drink integrity. Can't wait to return to try one of their Singaporean or Indian curries or house specialty stir-fried prawns, To always enjoy great company, and of course...to get another milk tea with cute and happy ice bear! read more
1 year ago
There are many Chinese restaurants in Honolulu. But the ones that make delicious crab can be counted on the fingers. This is a special restaurant that cooked delicious crab especially the salted egg crab and the black pepper crab and the crab sauce very good, which are also delicious. There are many other tasty dishes, but I come here specifically to eat crab twice this week. Yummy read more
3 years ago
I was hesitant to share this review because I wanted to keep the secret to myself...it was really that good!! The restaurant is kept nice and clean. The staff are all friendly made sure to regularly check up on us. The overall winner was the food! We had a pretty big group so we decided to try a bunch more of different dishes. We ordered Masala Curry Fries, Thai Style Pork Cheek, Salted Egg Yolk Chicken Wings, Beef Chow Fun, Shrimp Wonton Egg Noodles In Soup, Fried Green Beans, Malaysian Beef Fried Rice, Sizzling Beef w/ Black Bean Sauce, Hong Kong Style Garlic Stir Fried Prawns, and Beef w/ Bitter Melon. Everything was delicious! My favorites would have to be the Salted Egg Yolk Chicken Wings and the Garlic Prawns! Packed with so much flavor! We also enjoyed the HK Style Iced Lemon Tea w/ Frozen Bear and the HK Style Milk Tea w/ Frozen Bear. So cute and refreshing. I really enjoyed the lemon tea. I'll definitely be back! read more
3 years ago
I've been seeing this on Instagram lately and finally found the time to eat here. My husband and I came last Saturday around 7:00pm, and we only waited 5-7 minutes. It took a bit of time for our waiter to come, and I did notice the couple who got seated after us, they got their menu and water first. But we got them few minutes after they got theirs. I looked ahead on Yelp and it said it's BYOB so we brought our own soju and beer. And we just asked our waiter for a cup of ice. I love how straightforward the menu is. I wanted to get the milk tea with the bear, but a lot of reviews I read, it was cute but not memorable. So we just ordered: * Singapore Cracker Shrimp -- so so crispy! And they were huge pieces, I thought we'd need more but the portion was generous. * Salted Egg Yolk Chicken Wings -- very crispy too, but I couldn't really taste the salted egg yolk. It was very subtle. Nonetheless, very delicious! * Beef Chow Funn -- this was my favourite! Got a smoky taste, chewy noodles and just absolutely delicious. * Malaysian Beef Fried Rice -- nothing too memorable. It wasn't spicy either. It's just like regular fried rice but it did have lots of beef in it. * Sizzling Beef with Black Bean Sauce -- Beef was tender, and savory. It was good, but not a must order. Plenty of places to park at as well, especially for a Saturday night. I'm glad I got to try this place, not sure if I'll return, though. read more
Yi Xin Cafe is located in Market City Shopping Center where Anytime Cafe was formally located. If you don't know where that is, they are top level near T-mobile, Cafe Kaila and EARL in the corner. You can't miss them. They are new and I came during their soft opening. Their menu struck my interest so I made plans to come check them out. When you enter, you'll see the main dining room. There is a flat screen hanging from the ceiling in the back, cashier in the front next to a fridge with soda and two rows of tables. The place is clean and modern. Condiments are on the table and they don't have their own sauté sauce or chili oil. I came here when they opened (10:30am) and the place was pretty busy considering it was a weekday. The server was busy when I arrived so I waited to get seated but the customer service here was amazing. Yes, you heard me right, customer service at a Chinese restaurant was exceptional. I ordered their Baked Pork Chop w/Tomato Sauce & Cheese on Rice and a take out of their Singapore Rice Noodles for a client due to a horrible lunch experience previously at another restaurant. My order was delicious! Reminded me of eating in Hong Kong. It really hit the spot and I left full. Only wish that the pork chop was bigger but aside from that, it was legit. 4.5 stars! read more
This asian fusion restaurant took over the old Anytime Cafe in market city. Anytime Cafe has a special place in my family's heart so I'm happy that a hardworking family took over the spot. Yi Xin Cafe is owned by the same wonderful people as Singma Tei in the Ala Moana Food Court, and serve up a wide variety of asian fusion dishes (with a focus on Singaporean, Malaysian and Thai). I really enjoyed the Tonkatsu Omelette Rice, Salted Egg Chicken Wings and Beef Chow Fun, and the super cute & instagrammable Teddy Bear Milk & Iced Teas were also amazing with a strong tea in both. read more
1 year ago
We tried this new restaurant that we saw on social media. I like to see for myself. I don't get compensation for my reviews. I will also state if I do get free food. The restaurant is trendy, lots of families and friends since it's a pre grand opening. The prices are steep for a cafe, We ordered the Shrimp fried rice with salted preserved fish. The rice was really good with about 6 large shrimp. Some of the rice had wok crispy char which was a nice surprise. $17.95 The Shrimp Won Ton Mein soup was weak, the only vegetables were Bok Choy and Green onions. $14.95. I have had better. We did receive a 10% discount for dining during the soft opening. I probably won't be back to try any more. read more
Good service, good food. No frills and not a touristy place. Hong Kong style cafe. They have sizzling beef, pork cheeks, noodles and the Frozen bear drink is so cute! This is located in a plaza so there is a parking lot. Close to Foodland and right off the freeway. I would totally come back here on our next visit, read more
Yi Xin Cafe, a new restaurant, opened in Market City Shopping Center. They feature Hong Kong, Signaporean and Malaysian style foods. We went to their soft opening during dinner time. We made a reservation, which was a good thing because they certainly got very busy and had a waiting list. There is a 10% off total bill during the soft opening. They had a limited menu during the soft opening to tempt their customers' palate. Sadly, their famous salted egg yolk chicken wings were sold out from lunch. No crab because their tank was not set up yet. And they were also out of milk tea frozen bears! Oh my! We were able to order: Thai style pork cheek that came with two pieces of romaine lettuce and a mild spicy sauce. The pork cheeks were tender and moist. The sauce was on the tangy side, so salivating. Sizzling beef with black bean sauce was too salty for my taste. However, the beef was tender, and its cut was not too thick. Beef was cooked with sliced onions and green and red bell peppers. Hong Kong style garlic stir-fried prawns were okay. Although they had a good amount of finely chopped fried garlic, it was not garlicky enough as the title of the dish implies. Baked meat sauce with tonkatsu on spaghetti. I was very curious how the spaghetti would be in texture and taste as I do not recall ordering a spaghetti dish at a Chinese restaurant. I love my pastas, and I was definitely surprised and blown away how good this spaghetti was! Mmm, mmm, mmm! The tonkatsu was perfectly breaded and cooked. Sometimes pork is easily overcooked and thus dry, but this tonkatsu was just right. Malaysian beef fried rice was tasty and soft. This dish had small pieces of chopped beef and lettuce. This rice dish was seasoned so well that I wanted to keep eating it! Hong Kong style curry beef stew. This dish was good. The curry reminded me of the S&B Golden curry mix. Big chunks of beef, potatoes, and bell peppers were served with white rice and a generous amount of vibrant yellow curry sauce. Since there were no frozen milk tea bears, I ordered a Hong Kong style hot milk tea. It was enjoyable, although it is not as strong as compared to Hong Kong's milk tea. Overall, the dishes were delicious. I was impressed. Hats off to the cooks. Upon entering the restaurant, we were greeted and led us to our table almost immediately. Our server was very courteous and attentive and explained any questions we had. Dishes were served pretty quickly after ordering. They sell beverage drinks. They have their own restroom inside the restaurant at the back. Parking is ample. On the way out of the restaurant, employees thanked us for coming. The restaurant's atmosphere sure made our visit comfortable, relaxed and very enjoyable! read more
1 year ago
Love this place! I've always wanted to try different Hong Kong style restaurants since my husband's family is originally from there! We finally paid a visit last April, and I still think of the yummy lunch we had! My first impression: Yi Xin Cafe's customer base was a nice mix of grandparents, Gen Z, and everyone in between! I'm not sure if it's just me, but nowadays, I don't really see many older customers try new restaurants! Hubby and I ordered Singapore rice noodles, fried green beans with minced meat and sambal, Hong Kong style milk tea, and Hong Kong style lemon tea. They had already sold out of the frozen bears, but we loved everything we ordered! On top of the homey and inviting feeling of the restaurant, the restaurant was enticing me every time servers would walk past us, bringing sizzling beef with black bean sauce plates to different tables! Flavorful food and drink, cozy environment, and friendly customer service. What more can you ask for? read more
5 months ago
9 months ago
2 years ago
Five stars for the creativity of photo worthy super cute bear ice lemon and milk tea. Service was good and fast, with lots of items to choose from. Food tasted above average for us who's from Cali, but better than most Chinese restaurants we have visited in Hawaii. We had beef chow fun (good), wonton noodle soup (good), Singapore fried vermicelli (too much curry powder mix) and pork cheeks (could be more crunchy). read more
1 year ago
Food had good taste, service was OK, It was a Resturant setting, with well lit, bathroom was clean all around was very clean and professional, read more
5 months ago
4 months ago
3 years ago
Conveniently located in Market City, Yi Xin Cafe took over the former space of Anytime Cafe. I made reservations for my husband's birthday on Saturday night for a group of 10. Good thing we had reservations because when we got to the restaurant there was a crowd of people waiting outside as well as inside the restaurant on the chairs. The menu has some items that are recommended for family style or sharing type dishes. So it's perfect if you're with a group of people. We ordered the ong choy, shrimp chips, French fries, fried chicken wings with shrimp paste, beef omelette on rice, tonkatsu baked spaghetti, and Thai style pork cheeks. The favorites of the night were the French fries, shrimp chips, chicken wings and pork cheeks. Everything was very tasty and service was fast even though the restaurant was completely full! Unfortunately, they ran out of the frozen bears for the lemon tea (and this was at 6:30) so if you want the bear then go earlier in the day. Overall, the menu is similar to Anytime Cafe but more limited in items offered. However, they have several "chef specialities" along with some unique offerings like the now infamous lemon tea/milk tea with frozen bear! (We heard that a table seated next to us actually left the restaurant after they were told that they ran out of the bear!) I would come back for the appetizers alone since my toddler boys loved the fries and shrimp chips! I love how Yi Xin Cafe is toddler/kid friendly with their kiddie dishes. We had a great experience and look forward to returning again soon! Happy eating! read more
2 years ago
Family style restraunt located in Market City. We tried 4 dished and it was great The beef Omelet Was flavored just right not overly saturated and the beef was tender!. The salt and pepper shrimp and black bean beef was perfect! The spicy one Choi was alright. If your in the area stop by and give this place a try. If you lobe bubble tea add a signature ice teddy drink to your meal. read more
A newly opened cafe that took the spot of Anytime Cafe at Market City Shopping Center. They're located in the corner next to Earl. The same family owns Sing Ma Tei in Ala moana food court, so we've been excited to see what this spot would have since Sing Ma Tei is already a hit. We saw on social media that people were going for the soft opening so we decided to check it out! From now to March 25, 2023 is their soft opening, closed on Mondays. Soft opening hours are 10:30 am to 8:00 pm (last seating) Grand opening is set for Sunday, March 26 celebrate with them at 10:30 am with a lion dance blessing at 11:30 am. Inside is nicely decorated with some local decor and city decor! Restaurant looks clean and new. We tried 3 dishes and all were amazing packed with flavor: Thai style pork cheek Sizzling beef with black bean sauce Singapore style rice noodle with shrimp As it is their soft opening be patient with the new staff, they ran out of the beef chow fun so we tried the Singapore noodles and it was all delicious. The Thai style pork cheek, of course pork cheeks are soft and tender which is always awesome but the Thai sauce that comes with it is amazing! Always love it when restaurants make food you can't replicate at home. The sizzling platter came out hot and sizzling and the taste was spot on! Packed with flavors and a great match to the Singapore noodles. Only down side was that we didn't have more people with us to try different dishes. We will definitely be back to try other dishes, lots of people around were order the rice and pasta dishes, noodle soup, wings. Everything looked great. They also have novelty drinks that come with a frozen bear, we will get that next time! Take a bunch of people then you can try more dishes! read more
One of our favorite neighborhood shopping malls is the Market City Shopping Center, as we've often found ourselves eating and marketing here, but usually during the daytime. During our several visits to this mall, we noticed Yi Xin Cafe had replaced our former favorite Chinese diner, Anytime Cafe. After eating at Kamitoku Japanese Hot Pot, we wandered to Yi Xi Cafe to check out the restaurant and menu. My meager and faded Chinese language skills recognized two Chinese characters 茶餐 on the sign and quickly pulled up my Google Translate to confirm 茶餐廳 to mean "Tea Restaurant." Tea restaurants 茶餐廳 or cha chaan teng are commonly found in Hong Kong, Macau, Canada, Australia, the U.K., and the United States and are typically known as Hong Kong diners or Hong Kong-style cafés. Although often referred to as "diners," these tea restaurants are nothing like the American diners, frequently called "greasy spoons." The Tea Restaurants typically serve Hong Kong cuisine and Canto-Western cuisine, and the mention of Cantonese cuisine got my husband's appetite fired up. The other night, while a cold front was hitting our islands, we dipped out for dinner at this café. Because it was so crowded, we put our names on the waiting list and stood outside for about 15 minutes before being called in. The hostess/server greeted us with a smile and led us to a clean table with menus while she mentioned the Specials posted on the blackboard outside. Because we had been standing out in 65°F temperature and wind, we had reviewed the menu, made up our menu decisions, and placed our food orders immediately. Meanwhile, she brought us glasses of iced water, chilling our already cold and hangry bodies as she efficiently serviced the other occupied tables. FOOD: - Thai-style Pork Cheek: as fans of "nose-to-tail" cuisine, we enjoyed the soft-bite or tender and fatty (not oily) pork cheek marinated with Thai seasonings and grilled to perfection. The pink meat marbling combined with the jiggly fat for a tasty start to dinner. It made me want to run to the wineshop downstairs for beers or wine. $14.95 - Salted Egg Yolk Chicken Wings: My husband's favorite fried chicken part, or wings, had a delicious "treatment" as a Singaporean flavor favorite. My husband's facial expressions told me he was channeling the "finger-lickin' good" mantra while eating the crazy crispy and crackly-crusted fried chicken wings. I had to warn him not to fill himself because more food was coming. $14.95 - Baked Meat Sauce with Tonkatsu on Spaghetti: Our porkaholic leanings were satisfied with this unique Canto-Western dish. The boneless pork chop was in its glory of having a light and crisp breading covering flavorful, tender, and juicy meat. The meat sauce or Bolognese tasted of ground beef and pork and wasn't overly tomatoey or acidic. There was a lot of ooey, gooeyness from the melted cheese, which made this dish not only tasty, comforting, and warming but mouth texturally pleasing. $18.95 - Sizzling Beef with Black Bean Sauce: Speaking of mouthfeel contrasts, the sizzling/stir-fried and aromatic beef dish with black bean sauce hit our palates. Their use of the Chinese fermented black beans didn't overpower the beef and vegetables, nor was the gravy too dark and salty from soy sauce or excess black beans. It was one of the better black bean sauces we've tasted at restaurants. $19.95 - Honey Walnut Shrimp: We opted to get this modern Western-inspired Cantonese dish as our seafood dish. This dish was impressive with its perfectly cooked and tender-crisp shrimp, moderate use of mayonnaise, and lightly sweetened candied walnuts. $20.95 We're sure that our server wanted to laugh at us since we ordered so much food and managed to eat a good portion of the dishes while asking for only one takeout container for leftovers. But, heck, when we're cold, our appetites are ravenous, especially for great-tasting food. You can't liken Yi Xin Cafe to an American diner or "greasy spoon," even though it is a Canto-Western diner. read more
2 years ago
I brought my boy with me to give this place a try. He's not a fan of most Chinese food, so was upset with me when he first looked at the menu. I asked him the quest I've asked many friends, "do you not like Chinese food or do you dislike the Chinese fold that is most common here?" It really does make a difference! I'm happy to find a new place that specializes in more than just "thin sliced meat in bland sauce" which is so much of what I am served in other restaurants. I ordered a standard Mapo Tofu along with Sichuan green beans, but the Singapore noodles and salt and pepper fish were both made with a focus on perfectly fried foods with a distinct flavor depth. We particularly enjoyed the noodles, as they were not at all greasy. Service was quick and efficient, as there was a wait for the simple tables. We never felt rushed, but our table had new diners before we had stepped foot outside the doors. The space is not huge, but they were able to seat a few dozen people at a time without an issue. I'll just say one thing about the tea bears. They are adorable, but add $2 to the drink just for a quick photo op. I'll stick to ordering just the tea on its own next time, especially as it will help me avoid drinking out of a mason jar- one of my true pet peeves. Please give me an actual glass unless you are a themed restaurant! I also now know that I'd prefer their milk tea served hot, as it was thick and rich and just tasted cozy. Next time! My boy wasn't completely won over, but agreed that it's the best Chinese food he's had here since we lost Little Village Noodle House. I'd promised him that we could stop for a second meal if nothing made him happy. So I take that as very high praise indeed! read more
More info about Yi Xin Cafe
2919 Kapiolani Blvd
Unit 218
Honolulu, HI 96826
Directions
(808) 738-0818
Call Now
Visit Website
https://marketcityhawaii.com/yi-xin-cafe/
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Ask the Community - Yi Xin Cafe
Do they allow 'free' BYOB as of today (August 30,2025)?
There is no corkage fee as this restaurant does not serve alcoholic beverages.
Do we get to keep the cup with the teddy bear ice tea?
Hello Lee I m so sorry the cup is use at the restaurant only But for left over milk tea or iced tea… Read more
Any crab or lobster dishes?
They have live crabs in tanks, so I assume you can get something with crab in it
Is MSG added to dishes?
From what the kitchen says, most dishes do have MSG added.
Do they have liquor license & serve beer & wine?
No, no beer or wine served. You can bring your own!
Why does Yelp recommend reviews?
17 reviews that are not currently recommended
The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.
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Yi Xin Cafe - hkcafe - Updated June 2026
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